Acoustical properties of a model rotor in nonaxial flight. [wind tunnel model noise measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hinterkeuser, E. G.

1973-01-01

Wind tunnel measurements on model rotor blade loads and acoustical noise were correlated to a theoretical formulation of the rotational noise of a rotor in non-axial flight. Good correlation between theory and data was achieved using actual measured rotor blade pressure harmonic decay levels and lift, drag and radial force magnitudes. Both pressure and acoustic data exhibited considerable scatter in hover and low speed forward flight which resulted in a fairly wide latitude in the noise level prediction at higher harmonics.

Proceedings for the Annual Symposium and Exhibition on Situational Awareness in the Tactical Air Environment (3rd), Held at Piney Point, Maryland, on 2-3 June 1998

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-06-02

derived from the literature and positively reacted to by aviators - cue- recognitio 𔃻 training. This is important, because it is a first step in linking...The HMD would not only need to accommodate a wide variety of face structures, but also it must integrate with life support and protective equipment...locomotion on earth are often of considerably higher velocity than that encountered by pilots in aircraft. The fundamental problem facing pilots and other

Solid state d.c. power controller design philosophies and their evaluation.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maus, L. G.; Williams, D. E.

1972-01-01

Evaluation of remote power controllers (RPC), which has enhanced knowledge of the capabilities of various design philosophies and has indicated certain limitations that RPC's exhibit. Additionally, this activity has clearly emphasized that certain RPC design parameters merit further consideration in development. The major design parameters to be analyzed in more detail are the rates of change of the rise and fall times of the output current. The major reason why transient voltages and currents should be reduced is the minimization of the reverse collector-to-emitter voltage. The requirement for higher bus voltage coupled with the present problem of improving the efficiency of power control points out the urgent need for improvement and advancement of higher current, voltage, and gain power semiconductors.

Unusual dynamics of extinction in a simple ecological model.

PubMed Central

Sinha, S; Parthasarathy, S

1996-01-01

Studies on natural populations and harvesting biological resources have led to the view, commonly held, that (i) populations exhibiting chaotic oscillations run a high risk of extinction; and (ii) a decrease in emigration/exploitation may reduce the risk of extinction. Here we describe a simple ecological model with emigration/depletion that shows behavior in contrast to this. This model displays unusual dynamics of extinction and survival, where populations growing beyond a critical rate can persist within a band of high depletion rates, whereas extinction occurs for lower depletion rates. Though prior to extinction at lower depletion rates the population exhibits chaotic dynamics with large amplitudes of variation and very low minima, at higher depletion rates the population persists at chaos but with reduced variation and increased minima. For still higher values, within the band of persistence, the dynamics show period reversal leading to stability. These results illustrate that chaos does not necessarily lead to population extinction. In addition, the persistence of populations at high depletion rates has important implications in the considerations of strategies for the management of biological resources. PMID:8643661

Quantum and isotope effects in lithium metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ackland, Graeme J.; Dunuwille, Mihindra; Martinez-Canales, Miguel; Loa, Ingo; Zhang, Rong; Sinogeikin, Stanislav; Cai, Weizhao; Deemyad, Shanti

2017-06-01

The crystal structure of elements at zero pressure and temperature is the most fundamental information in condensed matter physics. For decades it has been believed that lithium, the simplest metallic element, has a complicated ground-state crystal structure. Using synchrotron x-ray diffraction in diamond anvil cells and multiscale simulations with density functional theory and molecular dynamics, we show that the previously accepted martensitic ground state is metastable. The actual ground state is face-centered cubic (fcc). We find that isotopes of lithium, under similar thermal paths, exhibit a considerable difference in martensitic transition temperature. Lithium exhibits nuclear quantum mechanical effects, serving as a metallic intermediate between helium, with its quantum effect-dominated structures, and the higher-mass elements. By disentangling the quantum kinetic complexities, we prove that fcc lithium is the ground state, and we synthesize it by decompression.

Tissue Variability and Antennas for Power Transfer to Wireless Implantable Medical Devices.

PubMed

Bocan, Kara N; Mickle, Marlin H; Sejdic, Ervin

2017-01-01

The design of effective transcutaneous systems demands the consideration of inevitable variations in tissue characteristics, which vary across body areas, among individuals, and over time. The purpose of this paper was to design and evaluate several printed antenna topologies for ultrahigh frequency (UHF) transcutaneous power transfer to implantable medical devices, and to investigate the effects of variations in tissue properties on dipole and loop topologies. Here, we show that a loop antenna topology provides the greatest achievable gain with the smallest implanted antenna, while a dipole system provides higher impedance for conjugate matching and the ability to increase gain with a larger external antenna. In comparison to the dipole system, the loop system exhibits greater sensitivity to changes in tissue structure and properties in terms of power gain, but provides higher gain when the separation is on the order of the smaller antenna dimension. The dipole system was shown to provide higher gain than the loop system at greater implant depths for the same implanted antenna area, and was less sensitive to variations in tissue properties and structure in terms of power gain at all investigated implant depths. The results show the potential of easily-fabricated, low-cost printed antenna topologies for UHF transcutaneous power, and the importance of environmental considerations in choosing the antenna topology.

Tissue Variability and Antennas for Power Transfer to Wireless Implantable Medical Devices

PubMed Central

Bocan, Kara N.; Mickle, Marlin H.

2017-01-01

The design of effective transcutaneous systems demands the consideration of inevitable variations in tissue characteristics, which vary across body areas, among individuals, and over time. The purpose of this paper was to design and evaluate several printed antenna topologies for ultrahigh frequency (UHF) transcutaneous power transfer to implantable medical devices, and to investigate the effects of variations in tissue properties on dipole and loop topologies. Here, we show that a loop antenna topology provides the greatest achievable gain with the smallest implanted antenna, while a dipole system provides higher impedance for conjugate matching and the ability to increase gain with a larger external antenna. In comparison to the dipole system, the loop system exhibits greater sensitivity to changes in tissue structure and properties in terms of power gain, but provides higher gain when the separation is on the order of the smaller antenna dimension. The dipole system was shown to provide higher gain than the loop system at greater implant depths for the same implanted antenna area, and was less sensitive to variations in tissue properties and structure in terms of power gain at all investigated implant depths. The results show the potential of easily-fabricated, low-cost printed antenna topologies for UHF transcutaneous power, and the importance of environmental considerations in choosing the antenna topology. PMID:29018637

Considerations of the Effects of Naphthalene Moieties on the Design of Proton-Conductive Poly(arylene ether ketone) Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Wang, Baolong; Hong, Lihua; Li, Yunfeng; Zhao, Liang; Wei, Yuxue; Zhao, Chengji; Na, Hui

2016-09-14

Novel sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketones) (SDN-PAEK-x), consisting of dual naphthalene and flexible sulfoalkyl groups, were prepared via polycondensation, demethylation, and sulfobutylation grafting reaction. Among them, SDN-PAEK-1.94 membrane with the highest ion exchange capacity (IEC = 2.46 mequiv·g(-1)) exhibited the highest proton conductivity, which was 0.147 S· cm(-1) at 25 °C and 0.271 S·cm(-1) at 80 °C, respectively. The introduction of dual naphthalene moieties is expected to achieve much enhanced properties compared to those of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketones) (SNPAEK-x), consisting of single naphthalene and flexible sulfoalkyl groups. Compared with SNPAEK-1.60 with a similar IEC, SDN-PAEK-1.74 membrane showed higher proton conductivity, higher IEC normalized conductivity, and higher effective proton mobility, although it had lower analytical acid concentration. The SDN-PAEK-x membranes with IECs higher than 1.96 mequiv·g(-1) also exhibited higher proton conductivity than that of recast Nafion membrane. Furthermore, SDN-PAEK-1.94 displayed a better single cell performance with a maximum power density of 60 mW·cm(-2) at 80 °C. Considering its high proton conductivity, excellent single cell performance, good mechanical stabilities, low membrane swelling, and methanol permeability, SDN-PAEK-x membranes are promising candidates as alternative polymer electrolyte membranes to Nafion for direct methanol fuel cell applications.

Microtube strip heat exchanger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doty, F. D.

1991-10-01

This progress report is for the September-October 1991 quarter. We have demonstrated feasibility of higher specific conductance by a factor of five than any other work in high-temperature gas-to-gas exchangers. These laminar-flow, microtube exchangers exhibit extremely low pressure drop compared to alternative compact designs under similar conditions because of their much shorter flow length and larger total flow area for lower flow velocities. The design appears to be amenable to mass production techniques, but considerable process development remains. The reduction in materials usage and the improved heat exchanger performance promise to be of enormous significance in advanced engine designs and in cryogenics.

Health and safety evaluation of a modified tunnel borer design for application to single entry coal mine development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zimmerman, W. F.

1982-01-01

A health and safety analysis of a single entry coal tunnel borer system is given. The results of the health analysis indicated that while the tunnel borer design offered improvements in dust control through the use of water sprays, a higher face ventilation rule, and the application of spalling rather than the conventional grinding process, it interjected an additional mutagen and toxic compound into the environment through the use of shotcrete. The tunnel borer system easily conformed with the prescribed fatality limit, but exceeded the required limits for disabling and overall injuries. It also exhibited projected disabling and overall injury rates considerably higher than existing continuous mining injury rates. Consequently, the tunnel borer system was not considered an advanced system.

The fractal architecture of cytoplasmic organization: scaling, kinetics and emergence in metabolic networks.

PubMed

Aon, Miguel Antonio; O'Rourke, Brian; Cortassa, Sonia

2004-01-01

In this work, we highlight the links between fractals and scaling in cells and explore the kinetic consequences for biochemical reactions operating in fractal media. Based on the proposal that the cytoskeletal architecture is organized as a percolation lattice, with clusters emerging as fractal forms, the analysis of kinetics in percolation clusters is especially emphasized. A key consequence of this spatiotemporal cytoplasmic organization is that enzyme reactions following Michaelis-Menten or allosteric type kinetics exhibit higher rates in fractal media (for short times and at lower substrate concentrations) at the percolation threshold than in Euclidean media. As a result, considerably faster and higher amplification of enzymatic activity is obtained. Finally, we describe some of the properties bestowed by cytoskeletal organization and dynamics on metabolic networks.

Development of segmented polyurethane elastomers with low iodine content exhibiting radiopacity and blood compatibility.

PubMed

Dawlee, S; Jayabalan, Muthu

2011-10-01

Biofunctionally active and inherently radiopaque polymers are the emerging need for biomedical applications. Novel segmented polyurethane elastomer with inherent radiopacity was prepared using aliphatic chain extender 2,3-diiodo-2-butene-1,4-diol, polyol polytetramethylene glycol and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) for blood compatible applications. Aliphatic polyurethane was also prepared using hexamethylene diisocyanate for comparison. X-ray analysis of the polyurethanes revealed good radiopacity even at a relatively low concentration of 3% iodine in aromatic polyurethane and 10% in aliphatic polyurethane. The polyurethanes also possessed excellent thermal stability. MDI-based polyurethane showed considerably higher tensile strength than the analogous HDI-based polyurethane. MDI-based aromatic polyurethane exhibited a dynamic surface morphology in aqueous medium, resulting in the segregation of hydrophilic domains which was more conducive to anti-thrombogenic properties. The polyurethane was cytocompatible with L929 fibroblast cells, non-hemolytic, and possessed good blood compatibility.

Noise and range considerations for close-range radar sensing of life signs underwater.

PubMed

Hafner, Noah; Lubecke, Victor

2011-01-01

Close-range underwater sensing of motion-based life signs can be performed with low power Doppler radar and ultrasound techniques. Corresponding noise and range performance trade-offs are examined here, with regard to choice of frequency and technology. The frequency range examined includes part of the UHF and microwave spectrum. Underwater detection of motion by radar in freshwater and saltwater are demonstrated. Radar measurements exhibited reduced susceptibility to noise as compared to ultrasound. While higher frequency radar exhibited better signal to noise ratio, propagation was superior for lower frequencies. Radar detection of motion through saltwater was also demonstrated at restricted ranges (1-2 cm) with low power transmission (10 dBm). The results facilitate the establishment of guidelines for optimal choice in technology for the underwater measurement motion-based life signs, with respect to trade offs involving range and noise.

An insight into non-emissive excited states in conjugated polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Zhongjian; Willard, Adam P.; Ono, Robert J.; Bielawski, Christopher W.; Rossky, Peter J.; vanden Bout, David A.

2015-09-01

Conjugated polymers in the solid state usually exhibit low fluorescence quantum yields, which limit their applications in many areas such as light-emitting diodes. Despite considerable research efforts, the underlying mechanism still remains controversial and elusive. Here, the nature and properties of excited states in the archetypal polythiophene are investigated via aggregates suspended in solvents with different dielectric constants (ε). In relatively polar solvents (ε>~ 3), the aggregates exhibit a low fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of 2-5%, similar to bulk films, however, in relatively nonpolar solvents (ε<~ 3) they demonstrate much higher fluorescence QY up to 20-30%. A series of mixed quantum-classical atomistic simulations illustrate that dielectric induced stabilization of nonradiative charge-transfer (CT) type states can lead to similar drastic reduction in fluorescence QY as seen experimentally. Fluorescence lifetime measurement reveals that the CT-type states exist as a competitive channel of the formation of emissive exciton-type states.

Feasibility of high recovery highwall mining equipment. Final report

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

Not Available

1981-01-01

Three equipment systems exhibited significant promise: the RSV Miner, a surface longwall using standard underground equipment, and the variable angle auger. Other equipment systems showing considerable merit were the surface shortwall, and the two extended depth augers. Of the three most significant systems, the RSV Miner exhibits the greatest versatility and adaptability. It may be used competently in many surface mining applications and readily adapts to geologic anomalies and changing seam heights. The machine employs steering and guidance equipment and provides the necessary capabilities for extended depth operation. Safety is good, as no men are required to work underground. However,more » most important is the system's recovery factor of approximately 75% to 80% of the in-situ coal reserve within reach. The surface longwall system using standard underground equipment (preferably a ranging drum shearer in conjunction with shield supports) is most suited to either a trench mining or a modified area mining application. Both applications would allow the length of the face to be held constant. Another important consideration is legal requirements for a tailgate entry, which would necessitate additional equipment for development in a modified area mining application. When compared to surface shortwall, surface longwall exhibits higher productivity, a far greater equipment selection which allows system tailoring to geologic conditions, and greater roof control due to the significantly smaller section of overburden that must be supported. Recovery should approach, and possibly exceed, 90% of the coal in-place. The variable angle auger, which is currently only a concept, fills a very real need for which no other equipment is available at this time.« less

Establishment of a captive all-male group of proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) at the Singapore Zoo.

PubMed

Sha, John Chih Mun; Alagappasamy, Sam; Chandran, Subash; Cho, Khin Maung; Guha, Biswajit

2013-01-01

Surplus male proboscis monkeys at the Singapore Zoo pose a considerable problem for maintenance and maximizing of exhibition potential. In 2008, a new exhibit was constructed to house and display a group of six proboscis monkey males born in Singapore Zoo. To document and monitor the all-male group establishment in the new exhibit, we conducted observations on intragroup interactions between the monkeys, spatial use of their new exhibit, and visitor effects on their behavior. We found contact aggressive interactions between the monkeys to be consistently lower than noncontact aggressive interactions and by week six of introduction to the new exhibit, contact aggression was almost nonevident. Affiliative interactions also developed between individuals in the group, with an interface of aggressive and socioreconcilatory behavior influenced by food competition and a dominance hierarchy. This was evident from significantly higher overall aggression and affiliation during feeding times compared to nonfeeding times, and this was reduced when food competition was mitigated by modifying the feeding regime. We measured the groups' spatial use of the exhibit and the relation to behavior, crowd size, and density. Our results showed that the proboscis monkeys utilized the available exhibit space, were largely unaffected by visitor crowd size and density, and were able to exhibit a variety of natural behaviors, including swimming. Our accomplishment in maintaining and displaying an all-male group of proboscis monkeys in captivity provides viable options for more comprehensive captive management and breeding programs for this endangered species. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

HPLC profiling of phenolics and flavonoids of Adonidia merrillii fruits and their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties.

PubMed

Vafaei, Ali; Bin Mohamad, Jamaludin; Karimi, Ehsan

2018-03-12

In this study the antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of the Adonidia merrillii fruits were investigated using different solvent polarities (methanol, ethyl acetate and water). The results showed that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extract was higher compare with other extract with respective values of 17.80 ± 0.45 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight (DW) and 5.43 ± 0.33 mg rutin equivalents/g DW. Beside that The RP-HPLC analyses indicated the presence of gallic acid, pyrogallol, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, naringin and rutin. In the DPPH, NO2 and ABTS scavenging assays, the methanolic extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity as compared to the ethyl acetate and water extracts. The extracts exhibited moderate to weak cytotoxic activity in the assays using human hepatocytes (Chang liver cells) and NIH/3T3 (fibroblasts cell) cell lines. The findings showed the Adonidia merrillii fruit extracts to possess considerable antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties. The fruit, therefore, is a potential candidate for further work to discover antioxidant and cytotoxic drugs from natural sources.

Concorde noise-induced building vibrations, Sully Plantation - Report no. 2, Chantilly, Virginia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Noise-induced building vibrations associated with Concorde operations were studied. The approach is to record the levels of induced vibrations and associated indoor/outdoor noise levels in selected homes, historic and other buildings near Dulles International Airport. Representative data are presented which were recorded at Sully Plantation, Chantilly, Virginia during the periods of May 20 through May 28, 1976, and June 14 through June 17, 1976. Recorded data provide relationships between the vibration levels of windows, walls, floors, and the noise associated with Concorde operations, other aircraft, and nonaircraft events. The results presented are drawn from the combined May-June data base which is considerably larger than the May data base covered. The levels of window, wall and floor vibratory response resulting from Concorde operations are higher than the vibratory levels associated with conventional aircraft. Furthermore, the vibratory responses of the windows are considerably higher than those of the walls and floors. The window response is higher for aircraft than recorded nonaircraft events and exhibits a linear response relationship with the overall sound pressure level. For a given sound pressure level, the Concorde may cause more vibration than a conventional aircraft due to spectral or other differences. However, the responses associated with Concorde appear to be much more dependent upon sound pressure level than spectral or other characteristics of the noise.

High frequency measurements of reach scale nitrogen uptake in a fourth order river with contrasting hydromorphology and variable water chemistry (Weiße Elster, Germany)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunz, Julia Vanessa; Hensley, Robert; Brase, Lisa; Borchardt, Dietrich; Rode, Michael

2017-01-01

River networks exhibit a globally important capacity to retain and process nitrogen. However direct measurement of in-stream removal in higher order streams and rivers has been extremely limited. The recent advent of automated sensors has allowed high frequency measurements, and the development of new passive methods of quantifying nitrogen uptake which are scalable across river size. Here we extend these methods to higher order streams with anthropogenically elevated nitrogen levels, substantial tributaries, complex input signals, and multiple N species. We use a combination of two station time-series and longitudinal profiling of nitrate to assess differences in nitrogen processing dynamics in a natural versus a channelized impounded reach with WWTP effluent impacted water chemistry. Our results suggest that net mass removal rates of nitrate were markedly higher in the unmodified reach. Additionally, seasonal variations in temperature and insolation affected the relative contribution of assimilatory versus dissimilatory uptake processes, with the latter exhibiting a stronger positive dependence on temperature. From a methodological perspective, we demonstrate that a mass balance approach based on high frequency data can be useful in deriving quantitative uptake estimates, even under dynamic inputs and lateral tributary inflow. However, uncertainty in diffuse groundwater inputs and more importantly the effects of alternative nitrogen species, in this case ammonium, pose considerable challenges to this method.

Role of CB2 receptors in social and aggressive behavior in male mice.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Arias, Marta; Navarrete, Francisco; Blanco-Gandia, M Carmen; Arenas, M Carmen; Aguilar, María A; Bartoll-Andrés, Adrián; Valverde, Olga; Miñarro, José; Manzanares, Jorge

2015-08-01

Male CB1KO mice exhibit stronger aggressive responses than wild-type mice. This study was designed to examine the role of cannabinoid CB2r in social and aggressive behavior. The social interaction test and resident-intruder paradigm were performed in mice lacking CB2r (CB2KO) and in wild-type (WT) littermates. The effects of the CB2r selective agonist JWH133 (1 and 2 mg/kg) on aggression were also evaluated in Oncins France 1 (OF1) mice. Gene expression analyses of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT), 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT), and 5-HT1B receptor (5HT1Br) in the dorsal raphe nuclei (DR) and the amygdala (AMY) were carried out using real-time PCR. Group-housed CB2KO mice exhibited higher levels of aggression in the social interaction test and displayed more aggression than resident WT mice. Isolation increased aggressive behavior in WT mice but did not affect CB2KO animals; however, the latter mice exhibited higher levels of social interaction with their WT counterparts. MAO-A and 5-HTT gene expression was significantly higher in grouped CB2KO mice. The expression of 5HT1Br, COMT, and MAO-A in the AMY was more pronounced in CB2KO mice than in WT counterparts. Acute administration of the CB2 agonist JWH133 significantly reduced the level of aggression in aggressive isolated OF1 mice, an effect that decreased after pretreatment with the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630. Our results suggest that CB2r is implicated in social interaction and aggressive behavior and deserves further consideration as a potential new target for the management of aggression.

Effect of Fibroblast-Like Cells of Mesenchymal Origin of Cytotoxic Activity of Lymphocytes against NK-Sensitive Target Cells.

PubMed

Lupatov, A Yu; Kim, Ya S; Bystrykh, O A; Vakhrushev, I V; Pavlovich, S V; Yarygin, K N; Sukhikh, G T

2017-02-01

We studied immunosuppressive properties of skin fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells against NK cells. In vitro experiments showed that mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from human umbilical cord and human skin fibroblasts can considerably attenuate cytotoxic activity of NK cells against Jurkat cells sensitive to NK-mediated lysis. NK cells cultured in lymphocyte population exhibited higher cytotoxic activity than isolated NK cells. Mesenchymal stromal cells or fibroblasts added 1:1 to lymphocyte culture almost completely suppressed NK cell cytotoxicity. This suggests that fibroblast-like cells can suppress not only isolated NK cells, but also NK cells in natural cell microenvironment.

Stability and change in levels of depression and personality: a follow-up study of postpartum depressed mothers that were hospitalized in a mother-infant unit.

PubMed

Vliegen, Nicole; Luyten, Patrick; Besser, Avi; Casalin, Sara; Kempke, Stefan; Tang, Eileen

2010-01-01

This prospective longitudinal study investigated the role of the personality dimensions of dependency and self-criticism in the course of depressive symptoms in a sample of inpatient severely postpartum depressed mothers (n = 55). Depressive symptoms and personality were measured during hospitalization and on average 3 1/2 years later. In line with previous research, a considerable subgroup of mothers (39%) reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression at time 2. In addition, although these mothers did not exhibit more depressive episodes during follow-up period compared with mothers with a less chronic course of depression, their depressive episodes were considerably longer, and they had higher levels of severity of depression as well as of dependency and self-criticism at Time 1. Finally, self-criticism, but not dependency, assessed at Time 1, predicted both depression diagnosis and levels of depression at follow-up, supporting a vulnerability model positing that self-criticism confers vulnerability for depression over time.

Creating Library Interiors: Planning and Design Considerations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Plummer Alston, Jr.; Barton, Phillip K.

1997-01-01

Examines design considerations for public library interiors: access; acoustical treatment; assignable and nonassignable space; building interiors: ceilings, clocks, color, control, drinking fountains; exhibit space: slotwall display, floor coverings, floor loading, furniture, lighting, mechanical systems, public address, copying machines,…

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine-Grained Al-6061 Prepared Using Intermittent Ultrasonic-Assisted Equal-Channel Angular Pressing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Jianxun; Wu, Xiaoyu; Wu, Zhaozhi; Liu, Zhiyuan; Guo, Dengji; Lou, Yan; Ruan, Shuangchen

2017-10-01

Equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is an efficient technique to achieve grain refinement in a wide range of materials. However, the extrusion process requires an excessive extrusion force, the microstructure of ECAPed specimens scatters heterogeneously because of considerable fragmentation of the structure and strain heterogeneity, and the resultant ultrafine grains exhibit poor thermal stability. The intermittent ultrasonic-assisted ECAP (IU-ECAP) approach was proposed to address these issues. In this work, ECAP and IU-ECAP were applied to produce ultrafine-grained Al-6061 alloys, and the differences in their mechanical properties, microstructural characteristics, and thermal stability were investigated. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the necessary extrusion force for IU-ECAP was significantly reduced; even more, the microhardness and ultimate tensile strength were strengthened. In addition, the IU-ECAPed Al alloy exhibited a smaller grain size with a more homogeneous microstructure. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the intensities of the textures were weakened using IU-ECAP, and a more homogeneous microstructure and larger dislocation densities were obtained. Investigation of the thermal stability revealed that the ultrafine-grained materials produced using IU-ECAP recrystallized at higher temperature or after longer time; the materials thus exhibited improved thermal stability.

Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte therapy for metastatic melanoma: analysis of tumors resected for TIL.

PubMed

Goff, Stephanie L; Smith, Franz O; Klapper, Jacob A; Sherry, Richard; Wunderlich, John R; Steinberg, Seth M; White, Donald; Rosenberg, Steven A; Dudley, Mark E; Yang, James C

2010-10-01

Adoptive cell transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can mediate objective tumor regression in 49% to 72% of patients with many long-term durable responses. To undergo treatment a patient must have (1) a resectable tumor from which (2) TIL can be generated that (3) exhibit tumor-specific reactivity. From July 2002 to July 2007, 787 tumors from 402 patients were processed for possible use in the generation of TIL, leading to the eventual treatment of 107 patients (27%). Viable TILs were generated in 376 patients (94%), and active, specific TILs were identified in 269 patients (67%). Patient demographics and tumor characteristics were analyzed for possible prognostic factors for growth and activity. Gastrointestinal-derived TIL grew less frequently, whereas lymph node and lung-derived TIL exhibited specific activity more often. TIL that grew and exhibited specific reactivity were from tumors that were larger in diameter and digests that had a higher percentage of lymphocytes. Despite these considerations, active, specific TIL could be generated from almost any site of metastasis. As more centers begin exploring the use of adoptive transfer with TIL, this compendium may provide a framework for therapeutic decision making and future investigation.

Environmental drivers and reproductive consequences of variation in the diet of a marine predator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gladics, Amanda J.; Suryan, Robert M.; Parrish, Julia K.; Horton, Cheryl A.; Daly, Elizabeth A.; Peterson, William T.

2015-06-01

Ocean conditions can greatly impact lower trophic level prey assemblages in marine ecosystems, with effects of ocean state propagating to higher trophic levels. In many regions throughout their range, common murre (Uria aalge) exhibit narrow dietary breadth in feeding chicks and therefore are vulnerable to recruitment failures of dominant prey species during the breeding season. Contrastingly, common murres nesting in the northern California Current off Oregon, exhibit high species diversity and variability in dominant prey consumed. We studied the diets of common murres over 10 years between 1998 and 2011, a period in which the northern California Current experienced dramatic interannual variability in ocean conditions. Likewise, murre diets off Oregon varied considerably. Interannual variation in murre chick diets was influenced by environmental drivers occurring before and during the breeding season, and at both basin and local scales. While clupeids (likely Pacific herring, Clupea pallasii) were an important diet component throughout the study period, in some years murre diets were dominated by Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus) and in other years by osmerids (likely whitebait smelt, Allosmerus elongatus and surf smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus). Years in which the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and local sea surface temperatures were higher during summer also showed elevated levels of clupeids in murre diets, while years with higher North Pacific Gyre Oscillation index values and greater local winter ichthyoplankton biomass had fewer clupeids and more sand lance or smelts. Years with higher values of the Northern Oscillation Index during summer and an earlier spring transition showed higher proportion of smelts in the diets. Nesting phenology and reproductive success were negatively correlated with gradients in sand lance and clupeids, respectively, reflecting demographic consequences of environmental variability mediated through bottom-up food web dynamics.

Characterization of Coconut Oil Fractions Obtained from Solvent Fractionation Using Acetone.

PubMed

Sonwai, Sopark; Rungprasertphol, Poonyawee; Nantipipat, Nantinee; Tungvongcharoan, Satinee; Laiyangkoon, Nantikan

2017-09-01

This work was aimed to study the solvent fraction of coconut oil (CNO). The fatty acid and triacylglycerol compositions, solid fat content (SFC) and the crystallization properties of CNO and its solid and liquid fractions obtained from fractionation at different conditions were investigated using various techniques. CNO was dissolved in acetone (1:1 w/v) and left to crystallize isothermally at 10°C for 0.5, 1 and 2 h and at 12°C for 2, 3 and 6 h. The solid fractions contained significantly lower contents of saturated fatty acids of ≤ 10 carbon atoms but considerably higher contents of saturated fatty acids with > 12 carbon atoms with respect to those of CNO and the liquid fractions. They also contained higher contents of high-melting triacylglycerol species with carbon number ≥ 38. Because of this, the DSC crystallization onset temperatures and the crystallization peak temperatures of the solid fractions were higher than CNO and the liquid fractions. The SFC values of the solid fractions were significantly higher than CNO at all measuring temperatures before reaching 0% just below the body temperature with the fraction obtained at 12°C for 2 h exhibiting the highest SFC. On the contrary, the SFC values of the liquid fractions were lower than CNO. The crystallization duration exhibited strong influence on the solid fractions. There was no effect on the crystal polymorphic structure possibly because CNO has β'-2 as a stable polymorph. The enhanced SFC of the solid fractions would allow them to find use in food applications where a specific melting temperature is desired such as sophisticated confectionery fats, and the decreased SFC of the liquid fractions would provide them with a higher cold stability which would be useful during extended storage time.

Fetal Liver Bisphenol A Concentrations and Biotransformation Gene Expression Reveal Variable Exposure and Altered Capacity for Metabolism in Humans

PubMed Central

Nahar, Muna S.; Liao, Chunyang; Kannan, Kurunthachalam; Dolinoy, Dana C.

2013-01-01

Widespread exposure to the endocrine active compound, bisphenol A (BPA), is well documented in humans. A growing body of literature suggests adverse health outcomes associated with varying ranges of exposure to BPA. In the current study, we measured the internal dose of free BPA and conjugated BPA and evaluated gene expression of bio-transformation enzymes specific for BPA metabolism in 50 first- and second-trimester human fetal liver samples. Both free BPA and conjugated BPA concentrations varied widely, with free BPA exhibiting three times higher concentrations than conjugated BPA concentrations. As compared to gender-matched adult liver controls, UDP-glucuronyltransferase, sulfotransferase, and steroid sulfatase genes exhibited reduced expression whereas β-glucuronidase mRNA expression remained unchanged in the fetal tissues. This study provides evidence that there is considerable exposure to BPA during human pregnancy and that the capacity for BPA metabolism is altered in the human fetal liver. PMID:23208979

The schedule effect: can recurrent peak infections be reduced without vaccines, quarantines or school closings?

PubMed

Diedrichs, Danilo R; Isihara, Paul A; Buursma, Doeke D

2014-02-01

Using a basic, two transmission level seasonal SIR model, we introduce mathematical evidence for the schedule effect which asserts that major recurring peak infections can be significantly reduced by modification of the traditional school calendar. The schedule effect is observed first in simulated time histories of the infectious population. Schedules with higher average transmission rate may exhibit reduced peak infections. Splitting vacations changes the period of the oscillating transmission function and can confine limit cycles in the proportion susceptible/proportion infected phase plane. Numerical analysis of the phase plane shows the relationship between the transmission period and the maximum recurring infection peaks and period of the response. For certain transmission periods, this response may exhibit period-doubling and chaos, leading to increased peaks. Non-monotonic infectious response is also observed in conjunction with changing birth rate. We discuss how to take these effects into consideration to design an optimum school schedule with particular reference to a hypothetical developing world context. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparative study on luminescence extraction strategies of LED by large-scale fabrication of nanopillar and nanohole structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Wei; Li, Junmei; Sheikhi, Moheb; Jiang, Jie’an; Yang, Zhenhai; Li, Hongwei; Guo, Shiping; Sheng, Jiang; Sun, Jie; Bo, Baoxue; Ye, Jichun

2018-06-01

Light extraction and current injection are two important considerations in the development of high efficiency light-emitting-diodes (LEDs), but usually cannot be satisfied simultaneously in nanostructure patterned devices. In this work, we investigated near-UV LEDs with nanopillar and nanohole patterns to improve light extraction efficiency. Photoluminescence (PL) intensities were enhanced by 8.0 and 4.1 times for nanopillar and nanohole LEDs compared to that of planar LED. Nanopillar LED exhibits higher PL emission than that of the nanohole LED, attributing to a convex shape sidewall for more effective outward light scattering, and reduction of quantum-confined-stark-effect owing to strain relaxation. However, nanopillar LED exhibits lower electroluminescence intensity than the nanohole sample, which calls for further optimization in carrier distributions. Experimental results were further supported by near-field electric field simulations. This work demonstrates the difference in optical and electrical behaviors between the nanopillar and nanohole LEDs, paving the way for detailed understanding on luminescence extraction mechanisms of nanostructure patterned UV emitters.

Study of Reactive Melt Processing Behavior of Externally Plasticized Cellulose Acetate in Presence of Isocyanate

PubMed Central

Erdmann, Rafael; Kabasci, Stephan; Kurek, Joanna; Zepnik, Stefan

2014-01-01

Two types of externally plasticized cellulose acetate (CA) were chemically modified using 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) as crosslinking agent. Crosslinking was performed in the molten state by means of melt mixing in an internal mixer. The viscoelastic properties of the non-crosslinked, externally plasticized CA show typical temperature dependence, similar to conventional thermoplastics. A strong increase in storage modulus is observed with increasing crosslink density indicating that the crosslinked compounds exhibit predominately elastic response. The complex viscosity also increases considerably with increasing crosslink density and does not reach the typical Newtonian plateau at low radial frequencies any more. The viscoelastic properties correlate well with the data recorded online during reactive melt processing in the internal mixer. In comparison to the non-crosslinked CA, the crosslinked compounds show higher glass transition temperature, higher VICAT softening temperatures, improved thermal stability and lower plasticizer evaporation at evaluated temperatures. PMID:28788273

In-vitro nanodiagnostic platform through nanoparticles and DNA-RNA nanotechnology.

PubMed

Chan, Ki; Ng, Tzi Bun

2015-04-01

Nanocomposites containing nanoparticles or nanostructured domains exhibit an even higher degree of material complexity that leads to an extremely high variability of nanostructured materials. This review introduces analytical concepts and techniques for nanomaterials and derives recommendations for a qualified selection of characterization techniques for specific types of samples, and focuses the characterization of nanoparticles and their agglomerates or aggregates. In addition, DNA nanotechnology and the more recent newcomer RNA nanotechnology have achieved almost an advanced status among nanotechnology researchers¸ therefore, the core features, potential, and significant challenges of DNA nanotechnology are also highlighted as a new discipline. Moreover, nanobiochips made by nanomaterials are rapidly emerging as a new paradigm in the area of large-scale biochemical analysis. The use of nanoscale components enables higher precision in diagnostics while considerably reducing the cost of the platform that leads this review to explore the use of nanoparticles, nanomaterials, and other bionanotechnologies for its application to nanodiagnostics in-vitro.

Study of Reactive Melt Processing Behavior of Externally Plasticized Cellulose Acetate in Presence of Isocyanate.

PubMed

Erdmann, Rafael; Kabasci, Stephan; Kurek, Joanna; Zepnik, Stefan

2014-12-04

Two types of externally plasticized cellulose acetate (CA) were chemically modified using 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) as crosslinking agent. Crosslinking was performed in the molten state by means of melt mixing in an internal mixer. The viscoelastic properties of the non-crosslinked, externally plasticized CA show typical temperature dependence, similar to conventional thermoplastics. A strong increase in storage modulus is observed with increasing crosslink density indicating that the crosslinked compounds exhibit predominately elastic response. The complex viscosity also increases considerably with increasing crosslink density and does not reach the typical Newtonian plateau at low radial frequencies any more. The viscoelastic properties correlate well with the data recorded online during reactive melt processing in the internal mixer. In comparison to the non-crosslinked CA, the crosslinked compounds show higher glass transition temperature, higher VICAT softening temperatures, improved thermal stability and lower plasticizer evaporation at evaluated temperatures.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of selected essential oils and some of their main compounds.

PubMed

Wanner, Juergen; Schmidt, Erich; Bail, Stefanie; Jirovetz, Leopold; Buchbauer, Gerhard; Gochev, Velizar; Girova, Tanya; Atanasova, Teodora; Stoyanova, Albena

2010-09-01

The chemical composition of essential oils of cabreuva (Myrocarpus fastigiatus Allemao, Fabaceae) from Brazil, cedarwood (Juniperus ashei, Cupressaceae) from Texas, Juniper berries (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae) and myrrh (Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl., Burseraceae) were analyzed using GC/FID and GC/MS. The antimicrobial activity of these essential oils and some of their main compounds were tested against eleven different strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by using agar diffusion and agar serial dilution methods. Animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning and spoilage bacteria were selected. The volatile oils exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all tested organisms, except Pseudomonas, using both test methods. Higher activity was observed against Gram-positive strains in comparison with Gram-negative bacteria. Cabreuva oil from Brazil showed similar results, but in comparison with the other oils tested, only when higher concentrations of oil were used.

Chemical composition and mass closure of ambient coarse particles at traffic and urban-background sites in Thessaloniki, Greece.

PubMed

Grigoratos, Theodoros; Samara, Constantini; Voutsa, Dimitra; Manoli, Evangelia; Kouras, Athanasios

2014-06-01

Concentrations and chemical composition of the coarse particle fraction (PMc) were investigated at two urban sites in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, through concurrent sampling of PM10 and PM2.5 during the warm and the cold months of the year. PMc levels at the urban-traffic site (UT) were among the highest found in literature worldwide exhibiting higher values in the cold period. PMc levels at the urban-background site (UB) were significantly lower exhibiting a reverse seasonal trend. Concentration levels of minerals and most trace metals were also higher at the UT site suggesting a stronger impact from traffic-related sources (road dust resuspension, brake and tire abrasion, road wear). According to the chemical mass closure obtained, minerals (oxides of Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, and K) dominated the PMc profile, regardless of the site and the period, with organic matter and secondary inorganic aerosols (mainly nitrate) also contributing considerably to the PMc mass, particularly in the warm period. The influence of wind speed to dilution and/or resuspension of coarse particles was investigated. The source of origin of coarse particles was also investigated using surface wind data and atmospheric back-trajectory modeling. Finally, the contribution of resuspension to PMc levels was estimated for air quality management perspectives.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of polyphenolic fractions from selected Moroccan red wines.

PubMed

Tenore, Gian Carlo; Basile, Adriana; Novellino, Ettore

2011-01-01

The present study is the first effort to a comprehensive evaluation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of fractionated red wines from Morocco. The results obtained revealed that the wine samples were characterized by a higher phytochemical concentration than the same variety of wines with a different geographical origin and other more consumed red wines, confirming what was reported in a previous authors' work. The most phenolic-rich fractions were the ones containing phenolic acids and quercetin glucoronides from Syrah and Merlot wine samples while Cabernet Sauvignon exhibited the highest monomeric anthocyanin content. The antioxidant activity of wine extracts was tested by ferric reducing antioxidant power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl assays. Samples revealed a higher reducing capacity than radical scavenging property and a good correlation between antioxidant activity and polyphenolic content values. As regards the antimicrobial properties, each fraction exhibited activity against a broad spectrum of food-borne microorganisms, revealing not only a moderate to high natural preserving capacity, but also potentially beneficial influence on human health. In consideration of the scarcity of data regarding composition and biological properties of Moroccan red wines, the present study may represent a valuable reference for wine consumers and producers. © 2011 Institute of Food Technologists®

Effect of cycling on the lithium/electrolyte interface in organic electrolytes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Surampudi, S.; Shen, D. H.; Huang, C.-K.; Narayanan, S. R.; Attia, A.; Halpert, G.; Peled, E.

1993-01-01

Nondestructive methods such as ac impedance spectroscopy and microcalorimetry are used to study the effect of cell cycling on the lithium/electrolyte interface. The reactivity of both uncycled and cycled lithium towards various electrolytes is examined by measuring the heat evolved from the cells under open-circuit conditions at 25 C by microcalorimetry. Cycled cells at the end of charge/discharge exhibited considerably higher heat output compared with the uncycled cells. After 30 d of storage, the heat output of the cycled cells is similar to that of the uncycled cells. The cell internal resistance increases with cycling, and this is attributed to the degradation of the electrolyte with cycling.

Fracture Response Enhancement Of Aluminum Using In-Situ Selective Reinforcement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abada, Christopher H.; Farley, Gary L.; Hyer, Michael W.

2006-01-01

A computer-based parametric study of the effect of reinforcement architectures on fracture response of aluminum compact-tension (CT) specimens is performed. Eleven different reinforcement architectures consisting of rectangular and triangular cross-section reinforcements were evaluated. Reinforced specimens produced between 13 and 28 percent higher fracture load than achieved with the unreinforced case. Reinforcements with blunt leading edges (rectangular reinforcements) exhibited superior performance relative to the triangular reinforcements with sharp leading edges. Relative to the rectangular reinforcements, the most important architectural feature was reinforcement thickness. At failure, the reinforcements carried between 58 and 85 percent of the load applied to the specimen, suggesting that there is considerable load transfer between the base material and the reinforcement.

The Relationship between Charge Nurse Leadership Style and Staff Nurse Job Satisfaction

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-12-01

8217 Leadership Styles and Number of Each Style ............................................ 43 13. Staff Nurse Job Satisfaction Information and Charge -a Nurse... leadership styles , were possible: 1. high consideration-high structure 2. high consideration-moderate structure 3. high consideration-low structure. 4...exhibit particular leadership styles . The study also revealed other factors relating to job satisfaction among staff nurses, which can be used by nurses

Bismuth heterocycles based on a diphenyl sulfone scaffold: synthesis and substituent effect on the antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Murafuji, Toshihiro; Fujiwara, Yudai; Yoshimatsu, Daisuke; Miyakawa, Isamu; Migita, Kouto; Mikata, Yuji

2011-02-01

A series of heterocyclic organobismuth(III) compounds 2 [ClBi(5-R-C6H(3)-2-SO2C6H(4)-1'-): R=Me, Ph, MeO, Cl, H, t-Bu, CF3, F, Me2N] was synthesized in order to study the relative importance of structure and specific substitutions in relation to their lipophilicity and antifungal activity against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A clear structure-activity relationship between the size of the inhibition zone and the value of ClogP was found for 2. These results suggest that the higher the lipophilicity, the lower the antifungal activity. Thus, 2e (R=H) and 2h (R=F), which had ClogP values of 1.18 and 1.45, respectively, were most active. In contrast, 2b (R=Ph) and 2f (R=t-Bu) had ClogP values of 3.06 and 3.00, respectively, and exhibited no antifungal activity. Compound 6b ClBi[5-(OH)C6H(3)-2-SO(2)-5'-(OH)C6H(3)-1'-] had an estimated ClogP value of 0.81 but exhibited only low activity in spite of its low ClogP value, suggesting that such a considerable decrease in lipophilicity lowers inhibition activity. Bismuth carboxylate 7b derived from p-nitrobenzoic acid and 2e exhibited inhibition activity comparable to those of 2e and 2h despite its higher lipophilicity (ClogP=2.68). Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Impact of ester promoieties on transdermal delivery of ketorolac.

PubMed

Liu, Kuo-Sheng; Hsieh, Pei-Wen; Aljuffali, Ibrahim A; Lin, Yin-Ku; Chang, Shu-Hao; Wang, Jhi-Joung; Fang, Jia-You

2014-03-01

Different types of ketorolac ester prodrugs incorporating tert-butyl (KT), benzyl (KB), heptyl (KH), and diketorolac heptyl (DKH) promoieties were synthesized for the comparison of percutaneous penetration. The prodrugs were characterized according to their melting point, capacity factor, lipophilicity, solubility in 30% ethanol/buffer, enzymatic hydrolysis, in vitro skin permeation, hair follicle accumulation, and in vivo skin tolerance. Interactions between the prodrugs and esterases were predicted by molecular docking. Both equimolar suspensions and saturated solutions in 30% ethanol/pH 7.4 buffer were employed as the applied dose. All of the prodrugs exhibited a lower melting point than ketorolac. The lipophilicity increased in the following order: ketorolac < KT < KB < KH < DKH. The prodrugs were rapidly hydrolyzed to the parent drug in esterase medium, skin homogenate, and plasma, with KT and KB exhibiting higher degradation rates. KT exhibited the highest skin permeation, followed by KB. The flux of KT and KB exceeded that of ketorolac by 2.5-fold and twofold, respectively. KH and DKH did not improve ketorolac permeation but exhibited a sustained release behavior. KT and KH revealed selective absorption into follicles and a threefold greater follicular uptake compared with ketorolac. KB, KH, and DKH slightly but significantly increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) after consecutive administration for 7 days, whereas ketorolac and KT exhibited no influence on TEWL. According to the experimental results, it can be concluded that an optimal balance between lipophilicity and aqueous solubility is important in the design of a successful prodrug. The acceptable skin tolerance for safe application is also an important consideration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Role of sediment size and biostratinomy on the development of biofilms in recent avian vertebrate remains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peterson, Joseph E.; Lenczewski, Melissa E.; Clawson, Steven R.; Warnock, Jonathan P.

2017-04-01

Microscopic soft tissues have been identified in fossil vertebrate remains collected from various lithologies. However, the diagenetic mechanisms to preserve such tissues have remained elusive. While previous studies have described infiltration of biofilms in Haversian and Volkmann’s canals, biostratinomic alteration (e.g., trampling), and iron derived from hemoglobin as playing roles in the preservation processes, the influence of sediment texture has not previously been investigated. This study uses a Kolmogorov Smirnov Goodness-of-Fit test to explore the influence of biostratinomic variability and burial media against the infiltration of biofilms in bone samples. Controlled columns of sediment with bone samples were used to simulate burial and subsequent groundwater flow. Sediments used in this study include clay-, silt-, and sand-sized particles modeled after various fluvial facies commonly associated with fossil vertebrates. Extant limb bone samples obtained from Gallus gallus domesticus (Domestic Chicken) buried in clay-rich sediment exhibit heavy biofilm infiltration, while bones buried in sands and silts exhibit moderate levels. Crushed bones exhibit significantly lower biofilm infiltration than whole bone samples. Strong interactions between biostratinomic alteration and sediment size are also identified with respect to biofilm development. Sediments modeling crevasse splay deposits exhibit considerable variability; whole-bone crevasse splay samples exhibit higher frequencies of high-level biofilm infiltration, and crushed-bone samples in modeled crevasse splay deposits display relatively high frequencies of low-level biofilm infiltration. These results suggest that sediment size, depositional setting, and biostratinomic condition play key roles in biofilm infiltration in vertebrate remains, and may influence soft tissue preservation in fossil vertebrates.

Extremes in East African hydroclimate and links to Indo-Pacific variability on interannual to decadal timescales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ummenhofer, Caroline C.; Kulüke, Marco; Tierney, Jessica E.

2018-04-01

East African hydroclimate exhibits considerable variability across a range of timescales, with implications for its population that depends on the region's two rainy seasons. Recent work demonstrated that current state-of-the-art climate models consistently underestimate the long rains in boreal spring over the Horn of Africa while overestimating the short rains in autumn. This inability to represent the seasonal cycle makes it problematic for climate models to project changes in East African precipitation. Here we consider whether this bias also has implications for understanding interannual and decadal variability in the East African long and short rains. Using a consistent framework with an unforced multi-century global coupled climate model simulation, the role of Indo-Pacific variability for East African rainfall is compared across timescales and related to observations. The dominant driver of East African rainfall anomalies critically depends on the timescale under consideration: Interannual variations in East African hydroclimate coincide with significant sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies across the Indo-Pacific, including those associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the eastern Pacific, and are linked to changes in the Walker circulation, regional winds and vertical velocities over East Africa. Prolonged drought/pluvial periods in contrast exhibit anomalous SST predominantly in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific warm pool (IPWP) region, while eastern Pacific anomalies are insignificant. We assessed dominant frequencies in Indo-Pacific SST and found the eastern equatorial Pacific dominated by higher-frequency variability in the ENSO band, while the tropical Indian Ocean and IPWP exhibit lower-frequency variability beyond 10 years. This is consistent with the different contribution to regional precipitation anomalies for the eastern Pacific versus Indian Ocean and IPWP on interannual and decadal timescales, respectively. In the model, the dominant low-frequency signal seen in the observations in the Indo-Pacific is not well-represented as it instead exhibits overly strong variability on subdecadal timescales. The overly strong ENSO-teleconnection likely contributes to the overestimated role of the short rains in the seasonal cycle in the model compared to observations.

Spermine and spermidine act as chemical chaperones and enhance chaperone-like and membranolytic activities of major bovine seminal plasma protein, PDC-109.

PubMed

Singh, Bhanu Pratap; Saha, Ishita; Nandi, Indrani; Swamy, Musti J

2017-12-02

The major bovine seminal plasma protein, PDC-109, binds to choline phospholipids of the sperm plasma membrane and induces an efflux of cholesterol and choline phospholipids (cholesterol efflux), which is crucial for sperm capacitation. PDC-109 also exhibits chaperone-like activity and protects target proteins against various kinds of stress. Here we show that the polyamines spermine and spermidine, present in high concentration in the seminal plasma of various mammals, increase the ability of PDC-109 to perturb membrane structure as well as its chaperone-like activity. Interestingly, spermine/spermidine alone did not perturb membrane structure but exhibited chaperone-like activity by protecting target proteins against thermal and oxidative stress. When spermine/spermidine was used along with PDC-109, the observed chaperone-like activity was considerably higher than that expected for a simple additive effect, suggesting that PDC-109 and the polyamines act in a synergistic fashion. These results indicate that at the high concentrations present in the seminal plasma spermine/spermidine exhibit a positive modulatory effect on the chaperone-like activity of PDC-109 and may also function as chemical chaperones and protect other seminal plasma proteins from various kinds of stress. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of the colloidal stability, bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of corn protein hydrolysate and sodium caseinate stabilized curcumin nanoparticles.

PubMed

Wang, Yong-Hui; Yuan, Yang; Yang, Xiao-Quan; Wang, Jin-Mei; Guo, Jian; Lin, Yuan

2016-07-01

The aims of this work were to construct corn protein hydrolysate (CPH)-based curcumin nanoparticles (Cur NPs) and to compare the colloidal stability, bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of the Cur NPs stabilized CPH and sodium caseinate (NaCas) respectively. The results indicated that Cur solubility could be considerably improved after the Cur NPs fabrication. The spectroscopy results demonstrated that the solubilization of Cur should be attributed to its complexation with CPH or NaCas. The Cur NPs exhibited good colloidal stability after 1 week's storage but showed smaller (40 nm) size in CPH than in NaCas (100 nm). After lyophilization, the Cur NPs powders showed good rehydration properties and chemical stability, and compared with NaCas, the size of Cur NPs stabilized by CPH was still smaller. Additionally, the Cur NPs exhibited higher chemical stability against the temperature compared with free Cur, and the CPH could protect Cur from degradation more efficiently. Comparing with NaCas, the Cur NPs stabilized by CPH exhibited better bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity. This study demonstrated that CPH may be better than NaCas in Cur NPs fabrication and it opens up the possibility of using hydrophobic protein hydrolysate to construct the NPs delivery system.

Prospect of future housing and risk of psychological distress at 1 year after an earthquake disaster.

PubMed

Nakaya, Naoki; Nakamura, Tomohiro; Tsuchiya, Naho; Narita, Akira; Tsuji, Ichiro; Hozawa, Atsushi; Tomita, Hiroaki

2016-04-01

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, many of the affected have been forced to live in temporary housing or at a relative's house. Special attention needs to be paid to the negative health impacts resulting from such changes in living conditions. This study examined the association between future housing prospects and the risk of psychological distress 1 year after the earthquake. In 2012, a questionnaire was completed by a cross-sectional study of people aged 20 years or older living in Shichigahama Town, Miyagi, northeastern Japan, an area that had been severely inundated by the tsunami. Future housing prospects post-earthquake were classified into four categories: already settled in permanent housing, moving to new housing, under consideration, or unable to make any plans. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Kessler 6 scale, defined as ≥5 points out of 24. We performed multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounding factors. Of the 3614 individuals studied, subjects whose future housing was under consideration (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-2.7, P < 0.01) and those who were unable to make any future housing plans (OR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.4-2.5, P < 0.01) exhibited a significantly higher risk of psychological distress compared with subjects who had already settled in permanent housing. In this study, subjects whose future housing prospects were under consideration and those who were unable to make any future housing plans were at a higher risk of psychological distress 1 year after the earthquake disaster. © 2015 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2015 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.

A dimeric form of a small-sized protein binder exhibits enhanced anti-tumor activity through prolonged blood circulation.

PubMed

Kim, Tae Yoon; Seo, Hyo-Deok; Lee, Joong-Jae; Kang, Jung Ae; Kim, Woo Sik; Kim, Hye-Min; Song, Ha-Yeon; Park, Ji Min; Lee, Dong-Eun; Kim, Hak-Sung

2018-06-10

Small-sized non-antibody scaffolds have attracted considerable interest as alternatives to immunoglobulin antibodies. However, their short half-life is considered a drawback in the development of therapeutic agents. Here we demonstrate that a homo-dimeric form of a repebody enhances the anti-tumor activity than a monomeric form through prolonged blood circulation. Spytag and spycatcher were genetically fused to the C-terminus of a respective human IL-6-specific repebody, and the resulting two repebody constructs were mixed at an equimolar ratio to produce a homo-dimeric form through interaction between spytag and spycatcher. The homo-dimeric repebody was detected as a single band in the SDS-PAGE analysis with an expected molecular size (78 kDa), showing high stability and homogeneity. The dimeric repebody was shown to simultaneously accommodate two hIL-6 molecules, and its binding affinity for hIL-6 was estimated to be comparable to a monomeric repebody. The serum concentration of the dimeric repebody was observed to be about 5.5 times higher than a monomeric repebody, consequently leading to considerably higher tumor suppression effect in human tumor xenograft mice. The present approach can be effectively used for prolonging the blood half-life of small-sized protein binders, resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanomechanical modeling of interfaces of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/clay nanocomposite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paliwal, Bhasker; Lawrimore, William B.; Chandler, Mei Q.; Horstemeyer, Mark F.

2017-05-01

We study interfacial debonding of several representative structures of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/pyrophillite-clay systems - both gallery-interface (polymer/clay interface in the interlayer region containing polymer between clay layers stacked parallel to each other) and matrix-interphase (polymer/clay interphase-region when individual clay layers are well separated and dispersed in the polymer matrix) - using molecular dynamics simulations, while explicitly accounting for shearing/sliding (i.e. Mode-II) deformation mode. Ten nanocomposite geometries (five 2-D periodic structures for tension and five 1-D periodic structures for shearing) were constructed to quantify the structure-property relations by varying the number density of polymer chains, length of polymer chains and model dimensions related to the interface deformation. The results were subsequently mapped into a cohesive traction-separation law, including evaluation of peak traction and work of separation that are used to characterise the interface load transfer for larger length scale micromechanical models. Results suggest that under a crack nucleation opening mode (i.e. Mode-I), the matrix-interphase exhibits noticeably greater strength and a greater work of separation compared to the gallery-interface; however, they were similar under the shearing/sliding mode of deformation. When compared to shearing/sliding, the tensile peak opening mode stresses were considerably greater but the displacement at the peak stress, the displacement at the final failure and the work of separation were considerably lower. Results also suggest that PVA/clay nanocomposites with higher degree of exfoliation compared with nanocomposites with higher clay-intercalation can potentially display higher strength under tension-dominated loading for a given clay volume fraction.

Multi-susceptibile Single-Phased Ceramics with Both Considerable Magnetic and Dielectric Properties by Selectively Doping

PubMed Central

Liu, Chuyang; Zhang, Yujing; Jia, Jingguo; Sui, Qiang; Ma, Ning; Du, Piyi

2015-01-01

Multiferroic ceramics with extraordinary susceptibilities coexisting are vitally important for the multi-functionality and integration of electronic devices. However, multiferroic composites, as the most potential candidates, will introduce inevitable interface deficiencies and thus dielectric loss from dissimilar phases. In this study, single-phased ferrite ceramics with considerable magnetic and dielectric performances appearing simultaneously were fabricated by doping target ions in higher valence than that of Fe3+, such as Ti4+, Nb5+ and Zr4+, into BaFe12O19. In terms of charge balance, Fe3+/Fe2+ pair dipoles are produced through the substitution of Fe3+ by high-valenced ions. The electron hopping between Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions results in colossal permittivity. Whilst the single-phased ceramics doped by target ions exhibit low dielectric loss naturally due to the diminishment of interfacial polarization and still maintain typical magnetic properties. This study provides a convenient method to attain practicable materials with both outstanding magnetic and dielectric properties, which may be of interest to integration and multi-functionality of electronic devices. PMID:25835175

Multi-susceptibile single-phased ceramics with both considerable magnetic and dielectric properties by selectively doping.

PubMed

Liu, Chuyang; Zhang, Yujing; Jia, Jingguo; Sui, Qiang; Ma, Ning; Du, Piyi

2015-04-02

Multiferroic ceramics with extraordinary susceptibilities coexisting are vitally important for the multi-functionality and integration of electronic devices. However, multiferroic composites, as the most potential candidates, will introduce inevitable interface deficiencies and thus dielectric loss from dissimilar phases. In this study, single-phased ferrite ceramics with considerable magnetic and dielectric performances appearing simultaneously were fabricated by doping target ions in higher valence than that of Fe(3+), such as Ti(4+), Nb(5+) and Zr(4+), into BaFe12O19. In terms of charge balance, Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) pair dipoles are produced through the substitution of Fe(3+) by high-valenced ions. The electron hopping between Fe(3+) and Fe(2+) ions results in colossal permittivity. Whilst the single-phased ceramics doped by target ions exhibit low dielectric loss naturally due to the diminishment of interfacial polarization and still maintain typical magnetic properties. This study provides a convenient method to attain practicable materials with both outstanding magnetic and dielectric properties, which may be of interest to integration and multi-functionality of electronic devices.

Multi-susceptibile Single-Phased Ceramics with Both Considerable Magnetic and Dielectric Properties by Selectively Doping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chuyang; Zhang, Yujing; Jia, Jingguo; Sui, Qiang; Ma, Ning; Du, Piyi

2015-04-01

Multiferroic ceramics with extraordinary susceptibilities coexisting are vitally important for the multi-functionality and integration of electronic devices. However, multiferroic composites, as the most potential candidates, will introduce inevitable interface deficiencies and thus dielectric loss from dissimilar phases. In this study, single-phased ferrite ceramics with considerable magnetic and dielectric performances appearing simultaneously were fabricated by doping target ions in higher valence than that of Fe3+, such as Ti4+, Nb5+ and Zr4+, into BaFe12O19. In terms of charge balance, Fe3+/Fe2+ pair dipoles are produced through the substitution of Fe3+ by high-valenced ions. The electron hopping between Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions results in colossal permittivity. Whilst the single-phased ceramics doped by target ions exhibit low dielectric loss naturally due to the diminishment of interfacial polarization and still maintain typical magnetic properties. This study provides a convenient method to attain practicable materials with both outstanding magnetic and dielectric properties, which may be of interest to integration and multi-functionality of electronic devices.

Identification of sources of environmental lead in South Africa from surface soil geochemical maps.

PubMed

de Villiers, Stephanie; Thiart, Christien; Basson, Nicholas C

2010-10-01

The bioavailability of lead in soil is of considerable importance to human and animal health. Although selective extraction has been explored as a more appropriate technique than total heavy metal analysis in environmental pollution assessments, such studies remain scarce globally and are almost non-existent in developing countries. Results for a large-scale study of extractable lead levels in undisturbed soil samples in South Africa identify several geographic areas of concern. Lead levels are considerably elevated relative to background levels in the Johannesburg urban and industrial area. Areas of active lead mining also exhibit higher surface soil values. Interestingly, areas of active and intensive coal mining activity display relatively low soil Pb values, possibly attributable to the relatively low heavy metal content of South African coal. In all instances, distribution of cadmium, a carcinogenic element, correlates with that of lead. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the quick and easy Mehlich-3 single extractant technique, an established technique in micronutrient studies, to simultaneously provide valuable environmental data for toxic metals such as Pb and Cd.

Studies of silicon pn junction solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindholm, F. A.; Neugroschel, A.

1977-01-01

Modifications of the basic Shockley equations that result from the random and nonrandom spatial variations of the chemical composition of a semiconductor were developed. These modifications underlie the existence of the extensive emitter recombination current that limits the voltage over the open circuit of solar cells. The measurement of parameters, series resistance and the base diffusion length is discussed. Two methods are presented for establishing the energy bandgap narrowing in the heavily-doped emitter region. Corrections that can be important in the application of one of these methods to small test cells are examined. Oxide-charge-induced high-low-junction emitter (OCI-HLE) test cells which exhibit considerably higher voltage over the open circuit than was previously seen in n-on-p solar cells are described.

Doing the Scut Work of Infant Care: Does Religiousness Encourage Father Involvement?

PubMed

Demaris, Alfred; Mahoney, Annette; Pargament, Kenneth I

2011-04-01

Considerable debate exists regarding whether religiousness promotes or impedes greater father involvement in parenting. Our study addresses this issue using a Midwestern longitudinal dataset that tracks the transition to first parenthood for 169 married couples. We focus on performance of the "messier" tasks of infant care. We find little evidence that religiousness enhances father involvement in this domain. Biblically conservative couples exhibit a greater gender gap in childcare than others, with mothers more involved than fathers. The gender gap is also greater the more fathers work outside the home, the greater mothers' knowledge of infant development, and the more unadaptable the infant. Average daily childcare is lower the greater spouses' work hours, but higher with difficult pregnancies or fussy babies.

Enhancing academic achievement for children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: evidence from school-based intervention research.

PubMed

Jitendra, Asha K; Dupaul, George J; Someki, Fumio; Tresco, Katy E

2008-01-01

Although children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit significant academic difficulties in school settings, considerably less attention is devoted to remediating their academic problems when compared to behavioral and social difficulties. The purpose of this article is to review empirically supported academic interventions for children with ADHD. Specific evidence-based academic interventions are described under the categories of reading and mathematics, with examples that illustrate teacher-mediated interventions focusing on basic skills (e.g., phonological awareness in reading, mathematics computation) and higher-level cognitive skills (e.g., collaborative strategic reading, CSR; schema-based instruction, SBI). Finally, implications for educational practice and directions for future research on school-based academic interventions for students with ADHD are discussed.

Ground and excited states of CaSH through electron propagator calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz, J. V.

1990-05-01

Electron propagator calculations of electron affinities of CaSH + produce ground and excited state energies at the optimized, C s minimum of the neutral ground state and at a C ∞v geometry. Feynman-Dyson amplitudes (FDAs) describe the distribution of the least bound electron in various states. The neutral ground state differs from the cation by the occupation of a one-electron state dominated by Ca s functions. Described by FDAs with Ca-S π pseudosymmetry, corresponding excited states have unpaired electrons in orbitals displaying interference between Ca p and d functions. Above these lies a σ pseudosymmetry FDA with principal contributions from Ca d functions. Two FDAs with σ pseudosymmetry follow. Higher excited states exhibit considerable delocalization onto S.

Highly mobile type II twin boundary in Ni-Mn-Ga five-layered martensite

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

Sozinov, A.; Lanska, N.; Soroka, A.

2011-09-19

Twin relationships and stress-induced reorientation were studied in Ni{sub 2}Mn{sub 1.14}Ga{sub 0.86} single crystal with five-layered modulated martensite crystal structure. Very low twinning stress of about 0.1 MPa was found for twin boundaries which deviated a few degrees from the (011) crystallographic plane. However, twin boundaries oriented exactly parallel to the (011) plane exhibited considerably higher level of twinning stress, above 1 MPa. X-ray diffraction experiments and calculations based on approximation of the martensite crystal lattice as a tetragonal lattice with a slight monoclinic distortion identified the two different kinds of twin interfaces as type II and type I twinmore » boundaries.« less

Effect of Reinforcement Architecture on Fracture of Selectively Reinforced Metallic Compact Tension Specimens

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abada, Christopher H.; Farley, Gary L.; Hyer, Michael W.

2006-01-01

A computer-based parametric study of the effect of reinforcement architectures on fracture response of aluminum compact-tension (CT) specimens is performed. Eleven different reinforcement architectures consisting of rectangular and triangular cross-section reinforcements were evaluated. Reinforced specimens produced between 13 and 28 percent higher fracture load than achieved with the non-reinforced case. Reinforcements with blunt leading edges (rectangular reinforcements) exhibited superior performance relative to the triangular reinforcements with sharp leading edges. Relative to the rectangular reinforcements, the most important architectural feature was reinforcement thickness. At failure, the reinforcements carried between 58 and 85 percent of the load applied to the specimen, suggesting that there is considerable load transfer between the base material and the reinforcement.

Doing the Scut Work of Infant Care: Does Religiousness Encourage Father Involvement?

PubMed Central

DeMaris, Alfred; Mahoney, Annette; Pargament, Kenneth I.

2011-01-01

Considerable debate exists regarding whether religiousness promotes or impedes greater father involvement in parenting. Our study addresses this issue using a Midwestern longitudinal dataset that tracks the transition to first parenthood for 169 married couples. We focus on performance of the “messier” tasks of infant care. We find little evidence that religiousness enhances father involvement in this domain. Biblically conservative couples exhibit a greater gender gap in childcare than others, with mothers more involved than fathers. The gender gap is also greater the more fathers work outside the home, the greater mothers’ knowledge of infant development, and the more unadaptable the infant. Average daily childcare is lower the greater spouses’ work hours, but higher with difficult pregnancies or fussy babies. PMID:21966024

Transgenic tobacco plants with improved cyanobacterial Rubisco expression but no extra assembly factors grow at near wild-type rates if provided with elevated CO2

PubMed Central

Occhialini, Alessandro; Lin, Myat T.; Andralojc, P. John; Hanson, Maureen R.; Parry, Martin A. J.

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Introducing a carbon concentrating mechanism and a faster Rubisco from cyanobacteria into higher plant chloroplasts could improve photosynthetic performance by increasing the rate of CO2 fixation while decreasing losses caused by photorespiration. We previously demonstrated that tobacco plants will grow photoautotrophically using Synechococcus elongatus Rubisco, although the plants exhibited considerably slower growth than wild-type and required supplementary CO2. Because of concerns that vascular plant assembly factors might not be adequate for assembly of a cyanobacterial Rubisco, prior transgenic plants included the cyanobacterial chaperone RbcX or the carboxysomal protein CcmM35. Here we show that neither RbcX nor CcmM35 is needed for assembly of active cyanobacterial Rubisco. Furthermore, by altering the gene regulatory sequences on the Rubisco transgenes, cyanobacterial Rubisco expression was enhanced and the transgenic plants grew at near wild-type growth rates, though still requiring elevated CO2. We performed detailed kinetic characterization of the enzymes produced with and without the RbcX and CcmM35 cyanobacterial proteins. These transgenic plants exhibit photosynthetic characteristics that confirm the predicted benefits of non-native forms of Rubisco with higher carboxylation rate constants in vascular plants and the potential nitrogen use efficiency that may be gained provided that adequate CO2 can be concentrated near the enzyme. PMID:26662726

A Visual Haptic System for Children with Learning Disabilities: Software and Hardware Design Considerations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Subrahmaniyan, Neeraja; Krishnaswamy, Swetha; Chowriappa, Ashirwad; Srimathveeravalli, Govindarajan; Bisantz, Ann; Shriber, Linda; Kesavadas, Thenkurussi

2012-01-01

Research has shown that children with learning disabilities exhibit considerable challenges with visual motor integration. While there are specialized Occupational Therapy interventions aimed at visual motor integration, computer games and virtual toys have now become increasingly popular, forming an integral part of children's learning and play.…

Study of anticancer and antibacterial activities of Foeniculum vulgare, Justicia adhatoda and Urtica dioica as natural curatives.

PubMed

Batool, R; Salahuddin, H; Mahmood, T; Ismail, M

2017-09-30

High-throughput technologies, such as synthetic biology and genomics have paved new paths for discovery and utility of medicinally beneficial plants. Bioactive molecules isolated from different plants have significantly higher biological activities. The present study was done to analyze antibacterial potential of some medicinal plants against multi drug resistant (MDR) pathogens and anticancer effect against MCF-7 cell line. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts were tested for their antibacterial activity by disc diffusion method against six MDR bacterial strains and for cytotoxicity evaluation by MTT assay. Ethanolic extracts of the three tested plants exhibited growth inhibitory effect against Klebsiella pneumonia, Serratia marcescens and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more resistant to all extracts as its growth was least inhibited by the extracts of all tested plants. Ethanol extract of Foeniculum vulgare exhibited significant inhibition of cancer cells proliferation. Methanol extract of Justicia adhatoda also showed considerable inhibition of cancer cells. Future studies must converge on detailed investigation of modes of action of extracts of tested plants.

Vertically Emitting Indium Phosphide Nanowire Lasers.

PubMed

Xu, Wei-Zong; Ren, Fang-Fang; Jevtics, Dimitars; Hurtado, Antonio; Li, Li; Gao, Qian; Ye, Jiandong; Wang, Fan; Guilhabert, Benoit; Fu, Lan; Lu, Hai; Zhang, Rong; Tan, Hark Hoe; Dawson, Martin D; Jagadish, Chennupati

2018-06-13

Semiconductor nanowire (NW) lasers have attracted considerable research effort given their excellent promise for nanoscale photonic sources. However, NW lasers currently exhibit poor directionality and high threshold gain, issues critically limiting their prospects for on-chip light sources with extremely reduced footprint and efficient power consumption. Here, we propose a new design and experimentally demonstrate a vertically emitting indium phosphide (InP) NW laser structure showing high emission directionality and reduced energy requirements for operation. The structure of the laser combines an InP NW integrated in a cat's eye (CE) antenna. Thanks to the antenna guidance with broken asymmetry, strong focusing ability, and high Q-factor, the designed InP CE-NW lasers exhibit a higher degree of polarization, narrower emission angle, enhanced internal quantum efficiency, and reduced lasing threshold. Hence, this NW laser-antenna system provides a very promising approach toward the achievement of high-performance nanoscale lasers, with excellent prospects for use as highly localized light sources in present and future integrated nanophotonics systems for applications in advanced sensing, high-resolution imaging, and quantum communications.

YCL047C/POF1 Is a Novel Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Adenylyltransferase (NMNAT) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

PubMed Central

Kato, Michiko; Lin, Su-Ju

2014-01-01

NAD+ is an essential metabolic cofactor involved in various cellular biochemical processes. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is an endogenously produced key pyridine metabolite that plays important roles in the maintenance of NAD+ pool. Using a NR-specific cell-based screen, we identified mutants that exhibit altered NR release phenotype. Yeast cells lacking the ORF YCL047C/POF1 release considerably more NR compared with wild type, suggesting that POF1 plays an important role in NR/NAD+ metabolism. The amino acid sequence of Pof1 indicates that it is a putative nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT). Unlike other yeast NMNATs, Pof1 exhibits NMN-specific adenylyltransferase activity. Deletion of POF1 significantly lowers NAD+ levels and decreases the efficiency of NR utilization, resistance to oxidative stress, and NR-induced life span extension. We also show that NR is constantly produced by multiple nucleotidases and that the intracellular NR pools are likely to be compartmentalized, which contributes to the regulation of NAD+ homeostasis. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis and regulation of NAD+ metabolism in higher eukaryotes. PMID:24759102

Effect of heat, pH, ultrasonication and ethanol on the denaturation of whey protein isolate using a newly developed approach in the analysis of difference-UV spectra.

PubMed

Nikolaidis, Athanasios; Andreadis, Marios; Moschakis, Thomas

2017-10-01

A newly developed method of analysis of difference-UV spectra was successfully implemented in the study of the effect of heat, pH, ultrasonication and ethanol on the denaturation of whey protein isolate. It was found that whey proteins exhibit their highest stability against heat denaturation at pH 3.75. At very low pH values, i.e. 2.5, they exhibited considerable cold denaturation, while after heating at this pH value, the supplementary heat denaturation rate was lower compared to that at neutral pH. The highest heat denaturation rates were observed at pH values higher than neutral. High power sonication on whey proteins, previously heated at 90°C for 30min, resulted in a rather small reduction of the fraction of the heat denatured protein aggregates. Finally, when ethanol was used as a cosolvent in the concentration range 20-50%, a sharp increase in the degree of denaturation, compared to the native protein solution, was observed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

EFFECTS OF COLD STRATIFICATION AND GA3 ON GERMINATION OF ARBUTUS UNEDO SEEDS OF THREE PROVENANCES.

PubMed

Pipinis, Elias; Stampoulidis, Athanasios; Milios, Elias; Kitikidou, Kyriaki; Radoglou, Kalliopi

2017-01-01

Arbutus unedo is a valuable Mediterranean shrub as an ornamental plant as well as fruit tree. Fresh fruits of A. unedo are a good source of antioxidants, of vitamins C, E and carotenoids and also are characterized by the high content of mineral elements. The effects of gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) and cold stratification (CS) on seed germination performance were investigated in A. unedo seeds collected from three provenances in the Northern part of Greece. Seeds of each provenance were soaked in solutions of GA 3 (500, 1000 or 2000 ppm) for 24 h and subsequently were subjected to CS at 3 - 5°C for 0, 1, 2, and 3 months. Non-stratified seeds of the three A. unedo provenances which were not treated with GA 3 solutions exhibited very low germination. However, seed germination was significantly improved after a one-month period of CS. Similarly, the non-stratified seeds of all three provenances became non-dormant after the treatment with 2000 ppm GA 3 and they germinated at high percentages. However, in untreated seeds with GA3, after a one-month CS period the seeds of the Pieria provenance exhibited higher germination percentage than that of Rodopi provenance seeds. Furthermore, in non-stratified seeds, the Pieria provenance seeds treated with GA3 germinated at higher percentages and more rapidly than those of the other two provenances. The results indicated that untreated seeds exhibited very low germination at 20/25°C. However, in all three provenances seed germinability was significantly improved by a one-month period of CS or treatment of seeds with 2000 ppm GA3. Furthermore, there was a considerable variability among seed provenances in response to the treatments which were applied.

Hypothyroidism and depression: salient aspects of pathogenesis and management.

PubMed

Duntas, L H; Maillis, A

2013-12-01

Hypothyroidism has been linked to depression as there is irrefutable evidence that it triggers affective disease and psychic disorders. Depressive patients have a higher frequency of hypothyroidism and patients with hypothyroidism have a higher occurrence of depressive syndrome. Hypothyroidism exhibits considerable alterations in blood flow and glucose metabolism in the brain. Furthermore, patients with major depression may have structural abnormalities of the hippocampus that can affect memory performance. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies have, moreover, been positively associated with trait markers of depression. Depressive symptomatology is variable and is influenced by susceptibility and the degree, though not always, of thyroid failure. In addition, glucose homeostasis and rapid weight loss have been associated to thyroid hormones and increased depressive symptoms. Thyroxine treatment in patients older than 65 years does not improve cognition. In contrast, T3 administration is the therapy of choice in patients with resistance to antidepressive drugs, and especially to SSIR. Genetic variants of thyroid hormone transporters or of deiodinases I and II may predispose to depression and, therefore, a personalized approach should be implemented.

Formation and ecotoxicity of N-heterocyclic compounds on ammoxidation of mono- and polysaccharides.

PubMed

Klinger, Karl Michael; Liebner, Falk; Fritz, Ines; Potthast, Antje; Rosenau, Thomas

2013-09-25

Ammoxidation of technical lignins under mild conditions is a suitable approach to artificial humic substances. However, carbohydrates as common minor constituents of technical lignins have been demonstrated to be a potential source of N-heterocyclic ecotoxic compounds. Ethyl acetate extracts of ammoxidation mixtures of the monosaccharides glucose and xylose exhibited considerable growth inhibiting activity in the OECD 201 test, with 4-methyl-1H-imidazole, 4-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-imidazole, and 3-hydroxypyridine being the most active compounds. The amount of N-heterocyclic compounds formed at moderate ammoxidation conditions (70 °C, 0.2 MPa O2, 3 h) was significantly lower for the polysaccharides cellulose and xylan (16-30 μg/g of educt) compared to glucose (15.4 mg). Ammoxidation at higher temperature is not recommendable for carbohydrate-rich materials as much higher amounts of N-heterocyclic compounds were formed from both monosaccharides (100 °C: 122.4-160.5 mg/g of educt) and polysaccharides (140 °C: 5.52-16.03 mg/g of educt).

Batch anaerobic digestion of synthetic military base food waste and cardboard mixtures.

PubMed

Asato, Caitlin M; Gonzalez-Estrella, Jorge; Jerke, Amber C; Bang, Sookie S; Stone, James J; Gilcrease, Patrick C

2016-09-01

Austere US military bases typically dispose of solid wastes, including large fractions of food waste (FW) and corrugated cardboard (CCB), by open dumping, landfilling, or burning. Anaerobic digestion (AD) offers an opportunity to reduce pollution and recover useful energy. This study aimed to evaluate the rates and yields of AD for FW-CCB mixtures. Batch AD was analyzed at substrate concentrations of 1-50g total chemical oxygen demand (COD)L(-1) using response surface methodology. At low concentrations, higher proportions of FW were correlated with faster specific methanogenic activities and greater final methane yields; however, concentrations of FW ⩾18.75gCODL(-1) caused inhibition. Digestion of mixtures with ⩾75% CCB occurred slowly but achieved methane yields >70%. Greater shifts in microbial communities were observed at higher substrate concentrations. Statistical models of methane yield and specific methanogenic activity indicated that FW and CCB exhibited no considerable interactions as substrates for AD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chlorophyll and carbohydrate metabolism in developing silique and seed are prerequisite to seed oil content of Brassica napus L.

PubMed

Hua, Shuijin; Chen, Zhong-Hua; Zhang, Yaofeng; Yu, Huasheng; Lin, Baogang; Zhang, Dongqing

2014-12-01

Although the seed oil content in canola is a crucial quality determining trait, the regulatory mechanisms of its formation are not fully discovered. This study compared the silique and seed physiological characteristics including fresh and dry weight, seed oil content, chlorophyll content, and carbohydrate content in a high oil content line (HOCL) and a low oil content line (LOCL) of canola derived from a recombinant inbred line in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The aim of the investigation is to uncover the physiological regulation of silique and seed developmental events on seed oil content in canola. On average, 83% and 86% of silique matter while 69% and 63% of seed matter was produced before 30 days after anthesis (DAA) in HOCL and LOCL, respectively, over three years. Furthermore, HOCL exhibited significantly higher fresh and dry matter at most developmental stages of siliques and seeds. From 20 DAA, lipids were deposited in the seed of HOCL significantly faster than that of LOCL, which was validated by transmission electron microscopy, showing that HOCL accumulates considerable more oil bodies in the seed cells. Markedly higher silique chlorophyll content was observed in HOCL consistently over the three consecutive years, implying a higher potential of photosynthetic capacity in siliques of HOCL. As a consequence, HOCL exhibited significantly higher content of fructose, glucose, sucrose, and starch mainly at 20 to 45 DAA, a key stage of seed lipid deposition. Moreover, seed sugar content was usually higher than silique indicating the importance of sugar transportation from siliques to seeds as substrate for lipid biosynthesis. The much lower silique cellulose content in HOCL was beneficial for lipid synthesis rather than consuming excessive carbohydrate for cell wall. Superior physiological characteristics of siliques in HOCL showed advantage to produce more photosynthetic assimilates, which were highly correlated to seed oil contents.

A knitted glove sensing system with compression strain for finger movements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryu, Hochung; Park, Sangki; Park, Jong-Jin; Bae, Jihyun

2018-05-01

Development of a fabric structure strain sensor has received considerable attention due to its broad application in healthcare monitoring and human–machine interfaces. In the knitted textile structure, it is critical to understand the surface structural deformation from a different body motion, inducing the electrical signal characteristics. Here, we report the electromechanical properties of the knitted glove sensing system focusing on the compressive strain behavior. Compared with the electrical response of the tensile strain, the compressive strain shows much higher sensitivity, stability, and linearity via different finger motions. Additionally, the sensor exhibits constant electrical properties after repeated cyclic tests and washing processes. The proposed knitted glove sensing system can be readily extended to a scalable and cost-effective production due to the use of a commercialized manufacturing system.

Aging properties of Kodak type 101 emulsions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dohne, B.; Feldman, U.; Neupert, W.

1984-01-01

Aging tests for several batches of Kodak type 101 emulsion show that storage conditions significantly influence how well the film will maintain its sensitometric properties, with sensitivity and density increasing to a maximum during this period. Any further aging may result in higher fog levels and sensitivity loss. It is noted that storage in an environment free of photographically active compounds allows film property optimization, and that film batches with different sensitivities age differently. Emulsions with maximum 1700-A sensitivity are 2.5 times faster than those at the low end of the sensitivity scale. These sensitive emulsions exhibit significantly accelerated changes in aging properties. Their use in space applications requires careful consideration of time and temperature profiles, encouraging the use of less sensitive emulsions when the controllability of these factors is limited.

Numerical Simulation of Metallic Uranium Sintering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berry, Bruce

Conventional ceramic oxide nuclear fuels are limited in their thermal and life-cycle properties. The desire to operate at higher burnups as is required by current utility economics has proven a formidable challenge for oxide fuel designs. Metallic formulations have superior thermal performance but are plagued by volumetric swelling due to fission gas buildup. In this study, we consider a number of specific microstructure configurations that have been experimentally shown to exhibit considerable resistance to porosity loss. Specifically, a void sizing that is bimodally distributed was shown to resist early pore loss and could provide collection sites for fission gas buildup. We employ the phase field model of Cahn and Hilliard, solved via the finite element method using the open source Multi-User Object Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) developed by INL.

The puzzle of Muslim advantage in child survival in India.

PubMed

Bhalotra, Sonia; Valente, Christine; van Soest, Arthur

2010-03-01

The socioeconomic status of Indian Muslims is, on average, considerably lower than that of upper-caste Hindus. Muslims nevertheless exhibit substantially higher child survival rates, and have done for decades. This paper analyses this seeming puzzle. A decomposition of the survival differential confirms that some compositional effects favour Muslims but that, overall, differences in characteristics and especially the Muslim deficit in parental education predict a Muslim disadvantage. The results of this study contribute to a recent literature that debates the importance of socioeconomic status (SES) in determining health and survival. They augment a growing literature on the role of religion or culture as encapsulating important unobservable behaviours or endowments that influence health, indeed, enough to reverse the SES gradient that is commonly observed. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fragmentation of care and the use of head computed tomography in patients with ischemic stroke.

PubMed

Bekelis, Kimon; Roberts, David W; Zhou, Weiping; Skinner, Jonathan S

2014-05-01

Computed tomographic (CT) scans are central diagnostic tests for ischemic stroke. Their inefficient use is a negative quality measure tracked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. We performed a retrospective analysis of Medicare fee-for-service claims data for adults admitted for ischemic stroke from 2008 to 2009, with 1-year follow-up. The outcome measures were risk-adjusted rates of high-intensity CT use (≥4 head CT scans) and risk- and price-adjusted Medicare expenditures in the year after admission. The average number of head CT scans in the year after admission, for the 327 521 study patients, was 1.94, whereas 11.9% had ≥4. Risk-adjusted rates of high-intensity CT use ranged from 4.6% (Napa, CA) to 20.0% (East Long Island, NY). These rates were 2.6% higher for blacks than for whites (95% confidence interval, 2.1%-3.1%), with considerable regional variation. Higher fragmentation of care (number of different doctors seen) was associated with high-intensity CT use. Patients living in the top quintile regions of fragmentation experienced a 5.9% higher rate of high-intensity CT use, with the lowest quintile as reference; the corresponding odds ratio was 1.77 (95% confidence interval, 1.71-1.83). Similarly, 1-year risk- and price-adjusted expenditures exhibited considerable regional variation, ranging from $31 175 (Salem, MA) to $61 895 (McAllen, TX). Regional rates of high-intensity CT scans were positively associated with 1-year expenditures (r=0.56; P<0.01). Rates of high-intensity CT use for patients with ischemic stroke reflect wide practice patterns across regions and races. Medicare expenditures parallel these disparities. Fragmentation of care is associated with high-intensity CT use. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

Fundamental properties of cooperative contagion processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Li; Ghanbarnejad, Fakhteh; Brockmann, Dirk

2017-10-01

We investigate the effects of cooperativity between contagion processes that spread and persist in a host population. We propose and analyze a dynamical model in which individuals that are affected by one transmissible agent A exhibit a higher than baseline propensity of being affected by a second agent B and vice versa. The model is a natural extension of the traditional susceptible-infected-susceptible model used for modeling single contagion processes. We show that cooperativity changes the dynamics of the system considerably when cooperativity is strong. The system exhibits discontinuous phase transitions not observed in single agent contagion, multi-stability, a separation of the traditional epidemic threshold into different thresholds for inception and extinction as well as hysteresis. These properties are robust and are corroborated by stochastic simulations on lattices and generic network topologies. Finally, we investigate wave propagation and transients in a spatially extended version of the model and show that especially for intermediate values of baseline reproduction ratios the system is characterized by various types of wave-front speeds. The system can exhibit spatially heterogeneous stationary states for some parameters and negative front speeds (receding wave fronts). The two agent model can be employed as a starting point for more complex contagion processes, involving several interacting agents, a model framework particularly suitable for modeling the spread and dynamics of microbiological ecosystems in host populations.

Profiling of ARDS pulmonary edema fluid identifies a metabolically distinct subset.

PubMed

Rogers, Angela J; Contrepois, Kévin; Wu, Manhong; Zheng, Ming; Peltz, Gary; Ware, Lorraine B; Matthay, Michael A

2017-05-01

There is considerable biological and physiological heterogeneity among patients who meet standard clinical criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that there exists a subgroup of ARDS patients who exhibit a metabolically distinct profile. We examined undiluted pulmonary edema fluid obtained at the time of endotracheal intubation from 16 clinically phenotyped ARDS patients and 13 control patients with hydrostatic pulmonary edema. Nontargeted metabolic profiling was carried out on the undiluted edema fluid. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were conducted to find discriminant metabolites. Seven-hundred and sixty unique metabolites were identified in the pulmonary edema fluid of these 29 patients. We found that a subset of ARDS patients (6/16, 38%) presented a distinct metabolic profile with the overrepresentation of 235 metabolites compared with edema fluid from the other 10 ARDS patients, whose edema fluid metabolic profile was indistinguishable from those of the 13 control patients with hydrostatic edema. This "high metabolite" endotype was characterized by higher concentrations of metabolites belonging to all of the main metabolic classes including lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. This distinct group with high metabolite levels in the edema fluid was also associated with a higher mortality rate. Thus metabolic profiling of the edema fluid of ARDS patients supports the hypothesis that there is considerable biological heterogeneity among ARDS patients who meet standard clinical and physiological criteria for ARDS. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Profiling of ARDS pulmonary edema fluid identifies a metabolically distinct subset

PubMed Central

Contrepois, Kévin; Wu, Manhong; Zheng, Ming; Peltz, Gary; Ware, Lorraine B.; Matthay, Michael A.

2017-01-01

There is considerable biological and physiological heterogeneity among patients who meet standard clinical criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that there exists a subgroup of ARDS patients who exhibit a metabolically distinct profile. We examined undiluted pulmonary edema fluid obtained at the time of endotracheal intubation from 16 clinically phenotyped ARDS patients and 13 control patients with hydrostatic pulmonary edema. Nontargeted metabolic profiling was carried out on the undiluted edema fluid. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were conducted to find discriminant metabolites. Seven-hundred and sixty unique metabolites were identified in the pulmonary edema fluid of these 29 patients. We found that a subset of ARDS patients (6/16, 38%) presented a distinct metabolic profile with the overrepresentation of 235 metabolites compared with edema fluid from the other 10 ARDS patients, whose edema fluid metabolic profile was indistinguishable from those of the 13 control patients with hydrostatic edema. This “high metabolite” endotype was characterized by higher concentrations of metabolites belonging to all of the main metabolic classes including lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. This distinct group with high metabolite levels in the edema fluid was also associated with a higher mortality rate. Thus metabolic profiling of the edema fluid of ARDS patients supports the hypothesis that there is considerable biological heterogeneity among ARDS patients who meet standard clinical and physiological criteria for ARDS. PMID:28258106

Psychosocial correlates of parenting a child with autistic disorder.

PubMed

Dardas, Latefa Ali; Ahmad, Muayyad M

2014-09-01

The lifelong experience of raising a child with a complex developmental disability such as autistic disorder is considered one of the most significant parenting stressors, with the potential to spill over into various areas of the life of parents. Therefore, studying the psychological functioning for parents of children with developmental disabilities requires the consideration of multiple factors acting and interacting concurrently. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between two sets of variables in a sample of parents of children with autistic disorder. The first set was composed of the parents' characteristics and the coping strategies used. The second set was composed of three stress subscales-parental distress (PD), parent-child dysfunctional interaction (PCDI), and difficult child (DC)-and the parental quality of life (QOL). Canonical correlation multivariate analysis was used to examine the relationship between the sets of variables in 184 Jordanian parents of children with autistic disorder. The analyses revealed that the parents who have higher incomes, use diverse problem-solving strategies, exhibit less escape-avoidance, and exhibit less responsibility acceptance behavior tended to report lower PD, PCDI, and DC scores and a higher QOL score. The analyses also revealed that being an older parent, having more time since the child's autistic diagnosis, and using more distancing coping strategies were associated with lower PD scores, higher PCDI and DC scores, and better QOL. This study is the first to investigate a wide range of parental psychosocial impacts as well as several sociodemographic factors that are possibly associated with raising a child with autistic disorder. The results indicate that health professionals working with parents of children with autistic disorder need to consider holistically the factors that can potentially affect the parents' health and well-being and provide care that focuses on the parents as both clients and caregivers.

Chemical Cartography. I. A Carbonicity Map of the Galactic Halo

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

Lee, Young Sun; Kim, Young Kwang; Beers, Timothy C.

We present the first map of carbonicity, [C/Fe], for the halo system of the Milky Way, based on a sample of over 100,000 main-sequence turnoff stars with available spectroscopy from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. This map, which explores distances up to 15 kpc from the Sun, reveals clear evidence for the dual nature of the Galactic halo, based on the spatial distribution of stellar carbonicity. The metallicity distribution functions of stars in the inner- and outer-halo regions of the carbonicity map reproduce those previously argued to arise from contributions of the inner- and outer-halo populations, with peaks at [Fe/H]more » = −1.5 and −2.2, respectively. From consideration of the absolute carbon abundances for our sample, A (C), we also confirm that the carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars in the outer-halo region exhibit a higher frequency of CEMP-no stars (those with no overabundances of heavy neutron-capture elements) than of CEMP- s stars (those with strong overabundances of elements associated with the s -process), whereas the stars in the inner-halo region exhibit a higher frequency of CEMP- s stars. We argue that the contrast in the behavior of the CEMP-no and CEMP- s fractions in these regions arises from differences in the mass distributions of the mini-halos from which the stars of the inner- and outer-halo populations formed, which gives rise in turn to the observed dichotomy of the Galactic halo.« less

Removal of oil droplets from water using carbonized rice husk: enhancement by surface modification using polyethylenimine.

PubMed

Lin, Kun-Yi Andrew; Yang, Hongta; Petit, Camille; Chen, Shen-Yi

2015-06-01

Carbonized rice husk (CRH) is a promising material to separate oil from water owing to its abundance, low-cost, and environmentally benign characteristics. However, CRH's performance is somewhat limited by its similar surface charge to that of oil, leading to repulsive interactions. To improve the separation efficiency of CRH, CRH was modified via impregnation with a cationic biocompatible polymer, polyethlyenimine (PEI) to form PEI-CRH. The modified sample exhibits a remarkably higher (10-50 times) oil/water (O/W) separation efficiency than that of the unmodified one. Small PEI-CRH particles (about 64 μm) are found to adsorb oil droplets faster and larger quantities than bigger particles (about 113 and 288 μm). PEI-CRH exhibits higher separation efficiency at high temperatures owing to the destabilization of the emulsion. It is also found that the oil adsorption mechanism involves a chemical interaction between PEI-CRH and oil droplets. The addition of NaCl considerably improves the separation efficiency, while the addition of a cationic surfactant has the opposite effect. In acidic emulsions, PEI-CRH adsorbs more oil than in neutral or basic conditions owing to favorable attractive forces between oil droplets and the surface of PEI-CRH. PEI-CRH can be easily regenerated by washing with ethanol. These promising features of PEI-CRH indicate that PEI-CRH could be an efficient and low-cost adsorbent for the O/W separation applications.

Transgenic tobacco plants with improved cyanobacterial Rubisco expression but no extra assembly factors grow at near wild-type rates if provided with elevated CO2.

PubMed

Occhialini, Alessandro; Lin, Myat T; Andralojc, P John; Hanson, Maureen R; Parry, Martin A J

2016-01-01

Introducing a carbon-concentrating mechanism and a faster Rubisco enzyme from cyanobacteria into higher plant chloroplasts may improve photosynthetic performance by increasing the rate of CO2 fixation while decreasing losses caused by photorespiration. We previously demonstrated that tobacco plants grow photoautotrophically using Rubisco from Synechococcus elongatus, although the plants exhibited considerably slower growth than wild-type and required supplementary CO2 . Because of concerns that vascular plant assembly factors may not be adequate for assembly of a cyanobacterial Rubisco, prior transgenic plants included the cyanobacterial chaperone RbcX or the carboxysomal protein CcmM35. Here we show that neither RbcX nor CcmM35 is needed for assembly of active cyanobacterial Rubisco. Furthermore, by altering the gene regulatory sequences on the Rubisco transgenes, cyanobacterial Rubisco expression was enhanced and the transgenic plants grew at near wild-type growth rates, although still requiring elevated CO2 . We performed detailed kinetic characterization of the enzymes produced with and without the RbcX and CcmM35 cyanobacterial proteins. These transgenic plants exhibit photosynthetic characteristics that confirm the predicted benefits of introduction of non-native forms of Rubisco with higher carboxylation rate constants in vascular plants and the potential nitrogen-use efficiency that may be achieved provided that adequate CO2 is available near the enzyme. © 2015 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Immunological characterization of the gluten fractions and their hydrolysates from wheat, rye and barley.

PubMed

Rallabhandi, Prasad; Sharma, Girdhari M; Pereira, Marion; Williams, Kristina M

2015-02-18

Gluten proteins in wheat, rye and barley cause celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine, which affects approximately 1% of the world population. Gluten is comprised of prolamin and glutelin. Since avoidance of dietary gluten is the only option for celiac patients, a sensitive gluten detection and quantitation method is warranted. Most regulatory agencies have set a threshold of 20 ppm gluten in foods labeled gluten-free, based on the currently available ELISA methods. However, these methods may exhibit differences in gluten quantitation from different gluten-containing grains. In this study, prolamin and glutelin fractions were isolated from wheat, rye, barley, oats and corn. Intact and pepsin-trypsin (PT)-digested prolamin and glutelin fractions were used to assess their immunoreactivity and gluten recovery by three sandwich and two competitive ELISA kits. The Western blots revealed varied affinity of ELISA antibodies to gluten-containing grain proteins and no reactivity to oat and corn proteins. ELISA results showed considerable variation in gluten recoveries from both intact and PT-digested gluten fractions among different kits. Prolamin fractions showed higher gluten recovery compared to their respective glutelin fractions. Among prolamins, barley exhibited higher recovery compared to wheat and rye with most of the ELISA kits used. Hydrolysis resulted in reduced gluten recovery of most gluten fractions. These results suggest that the suitability of ELISA for accurate gluten quantitation is dependent upon various factors, such as grain source, antibody specificity, gluten proteins and the level of their hydrolysis in foods.

Fabrication of organic FETs based on printing techniques and the improvement of FET properties by the insertion of solution-processable buffer layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itoh, Eiji; Kanamori, Akira

2016-04-01

In this study, we developed multilayer deposition and patterning processes that can be used to fabricate all-printed, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) on the basis of vacuum-free, solution-processable soft-lithography techniques. We have used regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as a soluble p-type polymer semiconductor and (6,6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as a soluble n-type semiconductor, and cross-linked poly(vinyl phenol) (CL-PVP) as a low-temperature (<150 °C)-curable soluble polymer gate insulator. We have compared the electrical properties of OFETs with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), silver nanoparticles (NPs), and their composites (or multilayers) as printed source-drain (S-D) electrodes in order to fabricate vacuum-free, all-printed OFETs. The P3HT-OFETs with MWCNT S-D electrodes exhibited higher hole mobility and on/off ratios than the devices with Ag NP S-D electrodes owing to better contact at the MWCNT/P3HT interface. On the other hand, Ag/molybdenum oxide (MoO3) S-D electrodes considerably enhanced the hole injection and caused the reduction in the on/off ratio and the difficulty in turning off the devices. The PCBM-OFETs with MWCNT S-D electrodes also exhibited higher electron mobility that is almost comparable to that of P3HT-OFETs and lower threshold voltage, which was considered to be due to the enhanced electron injection at the electrode interface.

In situ delivery of thermosensitive gel-mediated 5-fluorouracil microemulsion for the treatment of colorectal cancer

PubMed Central

Wang, Lu-Lu; Huang, Shuai; Guo, Hui-Hui; Han, Yan-Xing; Zheng, Wen-Sheng; Jiang, Jian-Dong

2016-01-01

In situ administration of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) “thermosensitive” gel effectively reduced systemic side effects in treating colon rectal cancer; however, the penetration efficacy of the formulation was considerably low due to the poor lipid solubility of 5FU. The aim of this study was to develop thermosensitive gel-mediated 5FU water-in-oil microemulsion (TG-5FU-ME) for improving the infiltration of 5FU. An in vitro release test showed that TG-5FU-ME sustained the drug’s release up to 10 hours. TG-5FU-ME exhibited good stability, and the microemulsion entrapped did not show any change in morphology and 5FU content during the 4-month storage. Transportation test in the Caco-2 cell monolayer showed that TG-5FU-ME had a permeability 6.3 times higher than that of 5FU thermosensitive gel, and the intracellular uptake of 5FU increased by 5.4-fold compared to that of 5FU thermosensitive gel. In vivo tissue distribution analysis exhibited that the TG-5FU-ME group had drug levels in rectal tissue and mesenteric lymph nodes, which were significantly higher than those of 5FU thermosensitive gel group, with very low blood levels of 5FU in both groups. Furthermore, TG-5FU-ME was not associated with detectable morphological damage to the rectal tissue. Conclusively, TG-5FU-ME might be an efficient rectal delivery system to treat colorectal cancer. PMID:27660416

Evidence of noise-induced hearing loss in young people studying popular music.

PubMed

Barlow, Christopher

2011-06-01

The number of students studying popular music, music technology, and sound engineering courses at both school and university to has increased rapidly in the last few years. These students are generally involved in music-making/recording and listening to a high level, usually in environments with amplified music. Recent studies have shown that these students are potentially exposed to a high risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL( and are not covered by the same regulatory framework as employees. This study examined the pure tone air conduction hearing thresholds of 50 undergraduate students, including recent school leavers, on a range of popular music courses, to assess if there was evidence of hearing loss. Forty-four percent of students showed evidence of audiometric notch at 4-6 kHz, and 16% were classified under the UK Occupational Health and Safety guidelines as exhibiting mild hearing loss. Instance of audiometric notch was considerably higher than reported from studies of the general population but was around the same level or lower than that reported from studies of "traditional" music courses and conservatoires, suggesting no higher risk for popular music students than for "classical" music students. No relationship with age was present, suggesting that younger students were as likely to exhibit audiometric notch as mature students. This indicates that these students may be damaging their hearing through leisure activities while still at school, suggesting a need for robust education measures to focus on noise exposure of young people.

Physiochemical properties of alkylaminium sulfates: hygroscopicity, thermostability, and density.

PubMed

Qiu, Chong; Zhang, Renyi

2012-04-17

Although heterogeneous interaction of amines has been recently shown to play an important role in the formation and growth of atmospheric aerosols, little information is available on the physicochemical properties of aminium sulfates. In this study, the hygroscopicity, thermostability, and density of alkylaminium sulfates (AASs) have been measured by an integrated aerosol analytical system including a tandem differential mobility analyzer and an aerosol particle mass analyzer. AAS aerosols exhibit monotonic size growth at increasing RH without a well-defined deliquescence point. Mixing of ammonium sulfate (AS) with AASs lowers the deliquescence point corresponding to AS. Particles with AASs show comparable or higher thermostability than that of AS. The density of AASs is determined to be 1.2-1.5 g cm(-3), and an empirical model is developed to predict the density of AASs on the basis of the mole ratio of alkyl carbons to total sulfate. Our results reveal that the heterogeneous uptake of amines on sulfate particles may considerably alter the aerosol properties. In particular, the displacement reaction of alkylamines with ammonium sulfate aerosols leads to a transition from the crystalline to an amorphorous phase and an improved water uptake, considerably enhancing their direct and indirect climate forcing.

Chromium nanoparticle exhibits higher absorption efficiency than chromium picolinate and chromium chloride in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

PubMed

Zha, L-Y; Xu, Z-R; Wang, M-Q; Gu, L-Y

2008-04-01

This study was conducted to determine whether chromium nanoparticle (CrNano) exhibited higher absorption efficiency and possessed unique absorption mechanism in comparison to chromium picolinate (CrPic) and chromium chloride (CrCl(3)), as was postulated by previous reports. Twenty-one-day-old Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on semipermeable membranes in Snapwell tissue culture bichambers were incubated with CrNano, CrPic or CrCl(3) to examine their transport and uptake respectively. In the concentration range of 0.2-20 micromol/l, transport of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) across Caco-2 monolayers both in apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical direction was concentration-, and time-dependent, and temperature independent. The apparent permeability coefficient (P(app)) of CrNano was between 5.89 and 7.92 x 10(-6) cm/s and that of CrPic and CrCl(3) was between 3.52 and 5.31 x 10(-6) cm/s and between 0.97 and 1.37 x 10(-6) cm/s respectively. Uptake of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) by both apical and basolateral membranes was concentration- and time-dependent. Uptake of CrNano by apical membrane was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased when the incubation temperature was reduced from 37 degrees C to 4 degrees C. The transport efficiency of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) after incubation for 120 min at 37 degrees C was 15.83% +/- 0.76%, 9.08% +/- 0.25% and 2.11% +/- 0.53% respectively. The uptake efficiency of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) was 10.08% +/- 0.76%, 4.73% +/- 0.60% and 0.88% +/- 0.08% respectively. It was concluded that the epithelial transport of CrNano, CrPic and CrCl(3) across the Caco-2 cell monolayers was mainly via passive transport pathways. In addition, CrNano exhibited considerably higher absorption efficiency than both CrPic and CrCl(3) in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Evaluation of food protective property of five natural products using fresh-cut apple slice model.

PubMed

Hakkim, Faruk Lumanul; Mathiraj; Essa, Musthafa Mohamed; Arivazhagan, Girija; Guizani, Nejib; Hyuk, Song

2012-01-01

The present study evaluated the antioxidant (AA), antimicrobial and preservation effects of five plant derived natural products viz., Rosmarinic Acid (RA), p-Coumaric Acid (pCA), Trans-Cinnamic Acid (TCA), Hydroxyphenyllactic Acid (HPA) and Caffeic acid (CA) along with synthetic compounds (Ascorbic acid, gallic acid, citric acid and BHA) on fresh cut apple slices. Antimicrobial efficacy of these compounds against Bacillus licheniformis, Pseudomonas vulgaris, Shigella boydii, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli was found to be concentration dependent with the maximum inhibition observed at 500 microg mL(-1). A considerable AA potential of these compounds was observed in in vitro based assay system, with RA exhibiting significantly higher effect than the other compounds at 500 microg mL(-1). Furthermore the compounds at 500 microg mL(-1) significantly reduced the browning, maintained the acidic pH and restricted growth of L. monocytogenes even after 10 days of treatment. Ethanol accumulation in fresh cut apple slices increased significantly throughout the experimental period. Over all RA exhibited maximum effect in all the food preservation parameters studied suggesting that it has synchronized food protection effect and can be recommended as food additive.

Sexual difference in polychlorinated biphenyl accumulation rates of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Madenjian, Charles P.; Noguchi, George E.; Haas, Robert C.; Schrouder, Kathrin S.

1998-01-01

Adult male walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) exhibited significantly higher polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations than similarly aged female walleye from Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron). To explain this difference, we tested the following three hypotheses: (i) females showed a considerably greater reduction in PCB concentration immediately following spawning than males, (ii) females grew at a faster rate and therefore exhibited lower PCB concentrations than males, and (iii) males spent more time in the Saginaw River system than females, and therefore received a greater exposure to PCBs. The first hypothesis was tested by comparing PCB concentration in gonadal tissue with whole-body concentration, the second hypothesis was tested via bioenergetics modeling, and we used mark-recapture data from the Saginaw Bay walleye fishery to address the third hypothesis. The only plausible explanation for the observed difference in PCB accumulation rate was that males spent substantially more time in the highly contaminated Saginaw River system than females, and therefore were exposed to greater environmental concentrations of PCBs. Based on the results of our study, we strongly recommend a stratified random sampling design for monitoring PCB concentration in Saginaw Bay walleye, with fixed numbers of females and males sampled each year.

High Performance All-solid Supercapacitors Based on the Network of Ultralong Manganese dioxide/Polyaniline Coaxial Nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Junli; Yu, Lin; Liu, Wei; Zhang, Xiaodan; Mu, Wei; Du, Xu; Zhang, Zhe; Deng, Yulin

2015-12-01

In recent years, thin, lightweight and flexible solid supercapacitors are of considerable interest as energy storage devices. Here we demonstrated all-solid supercapacitors (SSCs) with high electrochemical properties, low self-discharge characteristics based on manganese dioxide/polyaniline (MNW/PANI) coaxial nanowire networks. The synergistic effect of MnO2/PANI plus the unique coaxial nanostructure of the ultralong nanowires with a highly interconnected network effectively enhance the conductivity and capacitive performance of the SSCs device. The MNW/PANI composite with 62.5% MnO2 exhibits an outstanding areal specific capacitance reaching 346 mF/cm2 at 5 mV s-1 which is significant higher than most previously reported solid supercapacitors (15.3 mF/cm2-109 mF/cm2) and is close to the that of the best graphene films solid state supercapacitors (372 mF/cm2). In contrast, only 190 mF/cm2 of areal specific capacitance was obtained for the pure MnO2 NW network. The supercapacitors also exhibited low leakage current as small as 20.1 μA, which demonstrated that the MNW/PANI SSCs have great potential for practical applications.

Environmental Impact of Ionic Liquids: Automated Evaluation of the Chemical Oxygen Demand of Photochemically Degraded Compounds.

PubMed

Costa, Susana P F; Pereira, Sarah A P; Pinto, Paula C A G; Araujo, André R T S; Passos, Marieta L C; Saraiva, M Lúcia M F S

2017-05-19

A novel automated fluorimetric technique was developed for the assessment of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of ionic liquids (ILs) and combined with a photodegradation step to promote IL degradation. The method was implemented on a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system and is based on the reduction of cerium(IV) in the presence of irradiated ILs. Compounds incorporating the chloride anion were found to exhibit higher COD values and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim] + [Cl] - ), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium chloride ([bmpyr] + [Cl] - ), and1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([hmim] + [Cl] - ) also exhibited considerable photodegradability, whereas the cholinium cation and methanesulfonate and tetrafluoroborate anions showed resistance to photolysis. The developed methodology proved to be a simple, affordable, and robust method, showing good repeatability under the tested conditions (rsd <3.5 %, n=10). Therefore, it is expected that the developed approach can be used as a screening method for the preliminary evaluation of compounds' potential impact in the aquatic field. Additionally, the photolysis step presents an attractive option to promote degradation of ILs prior to their release into wastewater. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Photo-protective mechanisms in reed canary grass to alleviate photo-inhibition of PSII on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

PubMed

Zhang, Chao; Zhang, Da-Wei; Sun, Yan-Ni; Arfan, Muhammad; Li, Da-Xu; Yan, Jia-Jun; You, Ming-Hong; Bai, Shi-Qie; Lin, Hong-Hui

2017-08-01

Due to its characteristic of high biomass yield potential, there is considerable interest in cultivating Phalaris arundinacea L. cv. 'chuancaoyin No.3' (reed canary grass) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau where there is an abundance of alpine steppe meadow and a potential large market for animal husbandry. In this study, we 1) investigate whether reed canary grass exhibits superior productive capacity to Elymus nutans 'Aba' (E. nutans), ordinary common pasture, during the long warm days of summer at high-altitude; and 2) compare the cold tolerance between reed canary grass and E. nutans, including photosynthesis, photo-inhibition, and photo-protection. The results suggest that reed canary grass exhibits higher photosynthetic capacity compared to E. nutans at latitudes of the cool temperate zone. Meanwhile, cold-induced photo-inhibition and photo-damage at high altitudes in reed canary grass were due to both stomatal and non-stomatal limitation, and the enhancement in photo-respiration, thermal dissipation, and Mehler reaction are important processes to minimize the negative effects of high elevation and a cold environment. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.

Efficacy evaluation of a Chinese bitter tea (Ilex latifolia Thunb.) via analyses of its main components.

PubMed

Hu, Ting; He, Xiao-Wei; Jiang, Jian-Guo; Xu, Xi-Lin

2014-05-01

In order to evaluate the health effects of Ilex latifolia Thunb., a Chinese bitter tea widely consumed as a health beverage, flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides and alkaloids were extracted from its leaves and their in vitro antioxidant activity, anticomplement system activity, antiproliferative effects against human cervical carcinoma Hela cells, and anti-inflammatory effects against mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells were analyzed. Results showed that the polysaccharides exhibited a considerable inhibition of the complement system, the hemolysis inhibition rate reached 98% at a concentration of 0.8 mg mL(-1), which was clearly higher than that of the positive control (heparin sodium). The total flavonoids displayed significant DPPH scavenging activity and an inhibition effect on the generation of NO in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, the total saponins showed a better antiproliferative effect against Hela cells, and the total alkaloids exhibited a high reducing power. It is obvious that I. latifolia has a variety of nutritional and health functions which are attributed to its different components. The analysis method presented in this research can suggest lessons for analysis of other plant foods.

High Performance All-solid Supercapacitors Based on the Network of Ultralong Manganese dioxide/Polyaniline Coaxial Nanowires.

PubMed

Zhou, Junli; Yu, Lin; Liu, Wei; Zhang, Xiaodan; Mu, Wei; Du, Xu; Zhang, Zhe; Deng, Yulin

2015-12-08

In recent years, thin, lightweight and flexible solid supercapacitors are of considerable interest as energy storage devices. Here we demonstrated all-solid supercapacitors (SSCs) with high electrochemical properties, low self-discharge characteristics based on manganese dioxide/polyaniline (MNW/PANI) coaxial nanowire networks. The synergistic effect of MnO2/PANI plus the unique coaxial nanostructure of the ultralong nanowires with a highly interconnected network effectively enhance the conductivity and capacitive performance of the SSCs device. The MNW/PANI composite with 62.5% MnO2 exhibits an outstanding areal specific capacitance reaching 346 mF/cm(2) at 5 mV s(-1) which is significant higher than most previously reported solid supercapacitors (15.3 mF/cm(2)-109 mF/cm(2)) and is close to the that of the best graphene films solid state supercapacitors (372 mF/cm(2)). In contrast, only 190 mF/cm(2) of areal specific capacitance was obtained for the pure MnO2 NW network. The supercapacitors also exhibited low leakage current as small as 20.1 μA, which demonstrated that the MNW/PANI SSCs have great potential for practical applications.

YCL047C/POF1 is a novel nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PubMed

Kato, Michiko; Lin, Su-Ju

2014-05-30

NAD(+) is an essential metabolic cofactor involved in various cellular biochemical processes. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is an endogenously produced key pyridine metabolite that plays important roles in the maintenance of NAD(+) pool. Using a NR-specific cell-based screen, we identified mutants that exhibit altered NR release phenotype. Yeast cells lacking the ORF YCL047C/POF1 release considerably more NR compared with wild type, suggesting that POF1 plays an important role in NR/NAD(+) metabolism. The amino acid sequence of Pof1 indicates that it is a putative nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT). Unlike other yeast NMNATs, Pof1 exhibits NMN-specific adenylyltransferase activity. Deletion of POF1 significantly lowers NAD(+) levels and decreases the efficiency of NR utilization, resistance to oxidative stress, and NR-induced life span extension. We also show that NR is constantly produced by multiple nucleotidases and that the intracellular NR pools are likely to be compartmentalized, which contributes to the regulation of NAD(+) homeostasis. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis and regulation of NAD(+) metabolism in higher eukaryotes. © 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

The differential response of photosynthesis to high temperature for a boreal and temperate Populus species relates to differences in Rubisco activation and Rubisco activase properties.

PubMed

Hozain, Moh'd I; Salvucci, Michael E; Fokar, Mohamed; Holaday, A Scott

2010-01-01

Significant inhibition of photosynthesis occurs at temperatures only a few degrees (

The quest for knowledge transfer efficacy: blended teaching, online and in-class, with consideration of learning typologies for non-traditional and traditional students.

PubMed

Van Doorn, Judy R; Van Doorn, John D

2014-01-01

The pedagogical paradigm shift in higher education to 24-h learning environments composed of teaching delivery methods of online courses, blended/hybrid formats, and face-to-face (f2f) classes is increasing access to global, lifelong learning. Online degrees have been offered at 62.4% of 2800 colleges and universities. Students can now design flexible, life-balanced course schedules. Higher knowledge transfer rates may exist with blended course formats with online quizzes and valuable class time set for Socratic, quality discussions and creative team presentations. Research indicates that younger, traditional students exhibit heightened performance goal orientations and prefer entertaining professors who are funny, whereas non-traditional students exhibit mastery profiles and prefer courses taught by flexible, yet organized, professors. A 5-year study found that amongst 51,000 students taking both f2f and online courses, higher online failure rates occurred. Competing life roles for non-traditional students and reading and writing needs for at-risk students suggest that performance may be better if programs are started in f2f courses. Models on effective knowledge transfer consider the planning process, delivery methods, and workplace application, but a gap exists for identifying the diversity of learner needs. Higher education enrollments are being compromised with lower online retention rates. Therefore, the main purpose of this review is to delineate disparate learning styles and present a typology for the learning needs of traditional and non-traditional students. Secondly, psychology as a science may need more rigorous curriculum markers like mapping APA guidelines to knowledge objectives, critical assignments, and student learning outcomes (SLOs) (e.g., online rubric assessments for scoring APA style critical thinking essays on selected New York Times books). Efficacious knowledge transfer to diverse, 21st century students should be the Academy's focus.

The quest for knowledge transfer efficacy: blended teaching, online and in-class, with consideration of learning typologies for non-traditional and traditional students

PubMed Central

Van Doorn, Judy R.; Van Doorn, John D.

2014-01-01

The pedagogical paradigm shift in higher education to 24-h learning environments composed of teaching delivery methods of online courses, blended/hybrid formats, and face-to-face (f2f) classes is increasing access to global, lifelong learning. Online degrees have been offered at 62.4% of 2800 colleges and universities. Students can now design flexible, life-balanced course schedules. Higher knowledge transfer rates may exist with blended course formats with online quizzes and valuable class time set for Socratic, quality discussions and creative team presentations. Research indicates that younger, traditional students exhibit heightened performance goal orientations and prefer entertaining professors who are funny, whereas non-traditional students exhibit mastery profiles and prefer courses taught by flexible, yet organized, professors. A 5-year study found that amongst 51,000 students taking both f2f and online courses, higher online failure rates occurred. Competing life roles for non-traditional students and reading and writing needs for at-risk students suggest that performance may be better if programs are started in f2f courses. Models on effective knowledge transfer consider the planning process, delivery methods, and workplace application, but a gap exists for identifying the diversity of learner needs. Higher education enrollments are being compromised with lower online retention rates. Therefore, the main purpose of this review is to delineate disparate learning styles and present a typology for the learning needs of traditional and non-traditional students. Secondly, psychology as a science may need more rigorous curriculum markers like mapping APA guidelines to knowledge objectives, critical assignments, and student learning outcomes (SLOs) (e.g., online rubric assessments for scoring APA style critical thinking essays on selected New York Times books). Efficacious knowledge transfer to diverse, 21st century students should be the Academy's focus. PMID:24860517

Blackfolds in (anti)-de Sitter backgrounds

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

Armas, Jay; Obers, Niels A.

2011-04-15

We construct different neutral blackfold solutions in Anti-de Sitter and de Sitter background spacetimes in the limit where the cosmological constant is taken to be much smaller than the horizon size. This includes a class of blackfolds with horizons that are products of odd-spheres times a transverse sphere, for which the thermodynamic stability is also studied. Moreover, we exhibit a specific case in which the same blackfold solution can describe different limiting black hole spacetimes therefore illustrating the geometric character of the blackfold approach. Furthermore, we show that the higher-dimensional Kerr-(Anti)-de Sitter black hole allows for ultraspinning regimes in themore » same limit under consideration and demonstrate that this is correctly described by a pancaked blackfold geometry. We also give evidence for the possibility of saturating the rigidity theorem in these backgrounds.« less

Youth suicide risk factors and attitudes in New York and Vienna: a cross-cultural comparison.

PubMed

Dervic, Kanita; Gould, Madelyn S; Lenz, Gerhard; Kleinman, Marjorie; Akkaya-Kalayci, Tuerkan; Velting, Drew; Sonneck, Gernot; Friedrich, Max H

2006-10-01

The prevalence of suicide risk factors and attitudes about suicide and help-seeking among New York and Viennese adolescents were compared in order to explore possible cross-cultural differences. Viennese adolescents exhibited higher rates of depressive symptomatology than their New York counterparts and had more first-hand experience with suicidal peers. More attribution of suicide to mental illness was reported in Vienna; yet Viennese youth were less likely than New York adolescents to recognize the seriousness of suicide threats. Help-seeking patterns of Viennese adolescents were influenced by their setting a high value on confidentiality. These cross-cultural differences may reflect the limited exposure of Austrian youth to school-based suicide prevention programs. The findings highlight the need of taking the sociocultural context into consideration in the planning of youth suicide prevention strategies.

Particle shape effects on the fracture of discontinuously-reinforced 6061-A1 matrix composites

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

Shi, N.; Song, S.G.; Gray, G.T., III

1996-05-01

Effects on fracture and ductility of a spherical and an angular particulate-reinforced 6061-Al composite containing 20(vol)% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} were studied using SEM fractography and modeled using finite element method (FEM). The spherical particulate composite exhibited a slightly lower yield strength and work hardening rate but a considerably higher ductility than the angular counterpart. SEM fractography showed that during tensile deformation the spherical composite failed through void nucleation and linking in the matrix near the reinforcement/matrix interface, whereas the angular composite failed through particle fracture and matrix ligament rupture. FEM results indicate that the distinction between the failure modes formore » these two composites can be attributed to differences in development of internal stresses and strains within the composites due to particle shape.« less

Borderline Personality and Criminality

PubMed Central

Sansone, Lori A.

2009-01-01

Borderline personality disorder is characteristically associated with a broad variety of psychiatric symptoms and aberrant behaviors. In this edition of The Interface, we discuss the infrequently examined association between borderline personality disorder and criminality. According to our review of the literature, in comparison with the rates of borderline personality disorder encountered in the general population, borderline personality disorder is over-represented in most studies of inmates. At the same time, there is considerable variation in the reported rates of this Axis II disorder in prison populations, which may be attributed to the methodologies of and populations in the various studies. Overall, female criminals appear to exhibit higher rates of borderline personality disorder, and it is oftentimes associated with a history of childhood sexual abuse, perpetration of impulsive and violent crimes, comorbid antisocial traits, and incarceration for domestic violence. PMID:20011575

Magnetic properties and large reversible magnetocaloric effect in Er3Pd2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maji, Bibekananda; Ray, Mayukh K.; Modak, M.; Mondal, S.; Suresh, K. G.; Banerjee, S.

2018-06-01

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of binary intermetallic compound Er3Pd2 were studied. It exhibits a paramagnetic (PM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at Néel temperature (TN) = 10 K. A large reversible MCE was observed which is related to a second order magnetic transition from PM to AFM state. The values of maximum magnetic entropy change (- Δ SMmax) and adiabatic temperature change (Δ Tadmax) reach 8.9 J/kg-K and 2.9 K respectively for the field change of 50 kOe with no obvious hysteresis loss. The effective magnetic moment was determined to be 10.16 μB/Er3+, which is notably higher than that of free ion value of Er3+ (9.59 μB), suggests that Pd ions also have considerable amount of magnetic moments in this compound.

Short-chain fatty acids and poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoates: (New) Biocontrol agents for a sustainable animal production.

PubMed

Defoirdt, Tom; Boon, Nico; Sorgeloos, Patrick; Verstraete, Willy; Bossier, Peter

2009-01-01

Because of the risk of antibiotic resistance development, there is a growing awareness that antibiotics should be used more carefully in animal production. However, a decreased use of antibiotics could result in a higher frequency of pathogenic bacteria, which in its turn could lead to a higher incidence of infections. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have long been known to exhibit bacteriostatic activity. These compounds also specifically downregulate virulence factor expression and positively influence the gastrointestinal health of the host. As a consequence, there is currently considerable interest in SCFAs as biocontrol agents in animal production. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polymers of beta-hydroxy short-chain fatty acids. Currently, PHAs are applied as replacements for synthetic polymers. These biopolymers can be depolymerised by many different microorganisms that produce extracellular PHA depolymerases. Interestingly, different studies provided some evidence that PHAs can also be degraded upon passage through the gastrointestinal tract of animals and consequently, adding these compounds to the feed might result in biocontrol effects similar to those described for SCFAs.

Highly Conductive, Stretchable, and Transparent Solid Polymer Electrolyte Membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Ruixuan; Echeverri, Mauricio; Kyu, Thein

2014-03-01

With the guidance of ternary phase diagrams, completely amorphous polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) were successfully prepared by melt processing for lithium-ion battery. The PEM under consideration consisted of poly (ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA), succinonitrile (SCN) and Lithium bis(trifluoro-methane)sulfonamide (LiTFSI). After UV-crosslinking, the PEM is transparent and light-weight. Addition of SCN plastic crystal affords not only dissociation of the lithium salt, but also plasticization to the crosslinked PEGDA network. Of particular importance is the achievement of room-temperature ionic conductivity of ~10-3 S/cm, which is comparable to that of commercial liquid electrolyte. Higher ionic conductivities were achieved at elevated temperatures or with use of a moderately higher molecular weight of PEGDA. In terms of electrochemical and chemical stability, the PEM exhibited oxidative stability up to 5 V against lithium reference electrode. Stable interface behavior between the PEM and lithium electrode is also seen with ageing time. In the tensile tests, samples containing low molecular weight PEGDA are stiffer, whereas the high molecular weight PEGDA is stretchable up to 80% elongation. Supported by NSF-DMR 1161070.

Formation and Ecotoxicity of N-Heterocyclic Compounds on Ammoxidation of Mono- and Polysaccharides

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Ammoxidation of technical lignins under mild conditions is a suitable approach to artificial humic substances. However, carbohydrates as common minor constituents of technical lignins have been demonstrated to be a potential source of N-heterocyclic ecotoxic compounds. Ethyl acetate extracts of ammoxidation mixtures of the monosaccharides glucose and xylose exhibited considerable growth inhibiting activity in the OECD 201 test, with 4-methyl-1H-imidazole, 4-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-imidazole, and 3-hydroxypyridine being the most active compounds. The amount of N-heterocyclic compounds formed at moderate ammoxidation conditions (70 °C, 0.2 MPa O2, 3 h) was significantly lower for the polysaccharides cellulose and xylan (16–30 μg/g of educt) compared to glucose (15.4 mg). Ammoxidation at higher temperature is not recommendable for carbohydrate-rich materials as much higher amounts of N-heterocyclic compounds were formed from both monosaccharides (100 °C: 122.4–160.5 mg/g of educt) and polysaccharides (140 °C: 5.52–16.03 mg/g of educt). PMID:23967874

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Infestation Deterrents Against Lice

PubMed Central

Yoon, Kyong Sup; Ketzis, Jennifer K.; Andrewes, Samuel W.; Wu, Christopher S.; Honraet, Kris; Staljanssens, Dorien; Rossel, Bart; Marshall Clark, J.

2015-01-01

The human head louse is a cosmopolitan ectoparasite and frequently infests many people, particularly school-age children. Due to widespread pyrethroid resistance and the lack of efficient resistance management, there has been a considerable interest in the protection of uninfested people and prevention of reinfestation by disrupting lice transfer. In this study, two nonclinical model systems (in vitro and in vivo) were used to determine the efficacy of the infestation deterrents, Elimax lotion and Elimax shampoo, against human head lice or poultry chewing lice, respectively. With in vitro assessments, female head lice exhibited significantly higher avoidance responses to hair tufts treated with either of the test formulations, which led to significantly higher ovipositional avoidance when compared with female lice on control hair tufts. Additionally, both formulations were determined to be competent infestation deterrents in a competitive avoidance test in the presence of a known attractant (head louse feces extract). In in vivo assessments using a previously validated poultry model, Elimax shampoo was determined to be an efficacious deterrent against poultry chewing lice within Menopon spp. and Menacanthus spp. PMID:26336209

Integration of color, orientation, and size functional domains in the ventral pathway

PubMed Central

Ghose, Geoffrey M.; Ts’o, Daniel Y.

2017-01-01

Abstract. Functional specialization within the extrastriate areas of the ventral pathway associated with visual form analysis is poorly understood. Studies comparing the functional selectivities of neurons within the early visual areas have found that there are more similar than different between the areas. We simultaneously imaged visually evoked activation over regions of V2 and V4 and parametrically varied three visual attributes for which selectivity exists in both areas: color, orientation, and size. We found that color selective regions were observed in both areas and were of similar size and spatial distribution. However, two major areal distinctions were observed: V4 contained a greater number and diversity of color-specific regions than V2 and exhibited a higher degree of overlap between domains for different functional attributes. In V2, size and color regions were largely segregated from orientation domains, whereas in V4 both color and size regions overlapped considerably with orientation regions. Our results suggest that higher-order composite selectivities in the extrastriate cortex may arise organically from the interactions afforded by an overlap of functional domains for lower order selectivities. PMID:28573155

High coercivity in large exchange-bias Co/CoO-MgO nano-granular films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Chuan-Nan; Wan, Xian-Gang; Eric, Pellegrin; Hu, Zhi-Wei; Wen-I, Liang; Michael, Bruns; Zou, Wen-Qin; Du, You-Wei

2015-03-01

We present a detailed study on the magnetic coercivity of Co/CoO-MgO core-shell systems, which exhibits a large exchange bias due to an increase of the uncompensated spin density at the interface between the CoO shell and the metallic Co core by replacing Co by Mg within the CoO shell. We find a large magnetic coercivity of 7120 Oe around the electrical percolation threshold of the Co/CoO core/shell particles, while samples with a smaller or larger Co metal volume fraction show a considerably smaller coercivity. Thus, this study may lead to a route to improving the magnetic properties of artificial magnetic material in view of potential applications. Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2012CB932304), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U1232210, 91122035, 11174124, and 11374137), the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (Grant No. 14KJB140003), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, China.

Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3 Over V-MCM-41 Catalyst.

PubMed

Kwon, Woo Hyun; Park, Sung Hoon; Kim, Ji Man; Park, Su Bin; Jung, Sang-Chul; Kim, Sang Chai; Jeon, Jong-Ki; Park, Young-Kwon

2016-02-01

V-MCM-41, a mesoporous catalyst doped with V2O5, was applied for the first time to the removal of atmospheric NO. The quantity of V2O5 added was 10 wt% and 30 wt%. The characteristics of the synthesized catalysts were examined using XRD, N2 soprtion, and NH3-TPD. With increasing quantity of V2O5 added, specific surface area decreased and pore size increased. When the quantity of V2O5 was 10 wt%, the MCM-41 structure was retained, whereas considerable collapse of mesoporous structure was observed when 30 wt% V2O5 was added. The examination of acid characteristics using NH3-TPD showed that 30 wt% V-MCM-41 had the higher NH3 adsorption ability, implying that it would exhibit high activity for NH3 SCR reaction. In the NO removal experiments, 30 wt% V-MCM-41 showed much higher NO removal efficiency than 10 wt% V-MCM-41, which was attributed to its high NH3 adsorption ability.

In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation of Novel Curcumin-Loaded Excipient for Buccal Delivery.

PubMed

Laffleur, Flavia; Schmelzle, Franziska; Ganner, Ariane; Vanicek, Stefan

2017-08-01

This study aimed to develop a mucoadhesive polymeric excipient comprising curcumin for buccal delivery. Curcumin encompasses broad range of benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and chemotherapeutic activity. Hyaluronic acid (HA) as polymeric excipient was modified by immobilization of thiol bearing ligands. L-Cysteine (SH) ethyl ester was covalently attached via amide bond formation between cysteine and the carboxylic moiety of hyaluronic acid. Succeeded synthesis was proved by H-NMR and IR spectra. The obtained thiolated polymer hyaluronic acid ethyl ester (HA-SH) was evaluated in terms of stability, safety, mucoadhesiveness, drug release, and permeation-enhancing properties. HA-SH showed 2.75-fold higher swelling capacity over time in comparison to unmodified polymer. Furthermore, mucoadhesion increased 3.4-fold in case of HA-SH and drug release was increased 1.6-fold versus HA control, respectively. Curcumin-loaded HA-SH exhibits a 4.4-fold higher permeation compared with respective HA. Taking these outcomes in consideration, novel curcumin-loaded excipient, namely thiolated hyaluronic acid ethyl ester appears as promising tool for pharyngeal diseases.

Examination of the temperature dependent electronic behavior of GeTe for switching applications

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

Champlain, James G.; Ruppalt, Laura B.; Guyette, Andrew C.

2016-06-28

The DC and RF electronic behaviors of GeTe-based phase change material switches as a function of temperature, from 25 K to 375 K, have been examined. In its polycrystalline (ON) state, GeTe behaved as a degenerate p-type semiconductor, exhibiting metal-like temperature dependence in the DC regime. This was consistent with the polycrystalline (ON) state RF performance of the switch, which exhibited low resistance S-parameter characteristics. In its amorphous (OFF) state, the GeTe presented significantly greater DC resistance that varied considerably with bias and temperature. At low biases (<1 V) and temperatures (<200 K), the amorphous GeTe low-field resistance dramatically increased, resulting in exceptionally highmore » amorphous-polycrystalline (OFF-ON) resistance ratios, exceeding 10{sup 9} at cryogenic temperatures. At higher biases and temperatures, the amorphous GeTe exhibited nonlinear current-voltage characteristics that were best fit by a space-charge limited conduction model that incorporates the effect of a defect band. The observed conduction behavior suggests the presence of two regions of localized traps within the bandgap of the amorphous GeTe, located at approximately 0.26–0.27 eV and 0.56–0.57 eV from the valence band. Unlike the polycrystalline state, the high resistance DC behavior of amorphous GeTe does not translate to the RF switch performance; instead, a parasitic capacitance associated with the RF switch geometry dominates OFF state RF transmission.« less

Variations in biochemical values for common laboratory tests: a comparison among multi-ethnic Israeli women cohort.

PubMed

Birk, Ruth; Heifetz, Eliyahu M

2018-04-28

Biochemical laboratory values are an essential tool in medical diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up; however, they are known to vary between populations. Establishment of ethnicity-adjusted reference values is recommended by health organizations. To investigate the ethnicity element in biochemical lab values studying women of different ethnic groups. Biochemical lab values (n = 27) of 503 adult Israeli women of three ethnicities (Jewish Ashkenazi, Jewish Sephardic, and Bedouin Arab) attending a single medical center were analyzed. Biochemical data were extracted from medical center records. Ethnic differences of laboratory biochemicals were studied using ANCOVA to analyze the center of the distribution as well as quartile regression analysis to analyze the upper and lower limits, both done with an adjustment for age. Significant ethnic differences were found in almost half (n = 12) of the biochemical laboratory tests. Ashkenazi Jews exhibited significantly higher mean values compared to Bedouins in most of the biochemical tests, including albumin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, cholesterol, cholesterol LDL and HDL, cholesterol LDL calc., folic acid, globulin, and iron saturation, while the Bedouins exhibited the highest mean values in the creatinine and triglycerides. For most of these tests, Sephardic Jews exhibited biochemical mean levels in between the two other groups. Compared to Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardic Jews had a significant shift to lower values in cholesterol LDL. Ethnic subpopulations have distinct distributions in biochemical laboratory test values, which should be taken into consideration in medical practice enabling precision medicine.

A case study on the method-induced difference in the chemical properties and biodegradability of soil water extractable organic carbon of a granitic forest soil.

PubMed

Wu, Yue; Jiang, Ying

2016-09-15

Water extractable organic carbon (WEOC) plays important roles in soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) research. In the present study, we have detected the chemical properties and biodegradability of WEOC obtained from one granitic forest soil with four commonly used or suggested extraction methods, to study the potential methodological influence in soil DOM research. Results showed great difference in both chemical properties and biodegradation of WEOC from various methods. For the chosen soil, compared to that from fresh soil, WEOC from dried soil contained large proportion of HIN, Base fractions and labile O-alkyl components which might be derived from microbial cell lysis, and showed low fluorescence characteristics, exhibiting great biodegradability. Similarly, WEOC extracted under low temperature and short time conditions showed low fluorescence characteristics and exhibited considerable biodegradability. Conversely, WEOC, which might be potentially subjected to decomposition and loss during extraction, contained higher percentages of HOA fractions and aromatic alkyl and aryl components, and showed high fluorescence characteristics, exhibiting low biodegradability. WEOC extracted in moderate time and temperature showed moderate biodegradability. These method-induced differences implied the direct comparison of the results from similar works is difficult, as we considered here a specific forest soil and other authors other soil types and uses. However, the complexity in comparison reminds that the methodological influence be paid more attention in future soil WEOC researches. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Short-term organic carbon migration from polymeric materials in contact with chlorinated drinking water.

PubMed

Mao, Guannan; Wang, Yingying; Hammes, Frederik

2018-02-01

Polymeric materials are widely used in drinking water distribution systems. These materials could release organic carbon that supports bacterial growth. To date, the available migration assays for polymeric materials have not included the potential influence of chlorination on organic carbon migration behavior. Hence, we established a migration and growth potential protocol specifically for analysis of carbon migration from materials in contact with chlorinated drinking water. Four different materials were tested, including ethylene propylene dienemethylene (EPDM), poly-ethylene (PEX b and PEX c) and poly-butylene (PB). Chlorine consumption rates decreased gradually over time for EPDM, PEXc and PB. In contrast, no free chlorine was detected for PEXb at any time during the 7 migration cycles. Total organic carbon (TOC) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) was evaluated in both chlorinated and non-chlorinated migrations. TOC concentrations for EPDM and PEXb in chlorinated migrations were significantly higher than non-chlorinated migrations. The AOC results showed pronounced differences among tested materials. AOC concentrations from chlorinated migration waters of EPDM and PB were higher compared to non-chlorinated migrations, whereas the opposite trend was observed for PEXb and PEXc. There was also a considerable difference between tested materials with regards to bacterial growth potential. The results revealed that the materials exposed to chlorine-influenced migration still exhibited a strong biofilm formation potential. The overall results suggested that the choice in material would make a considerable difference in chlorine consumption and carbon migration behavior in drinking water distribution systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rapid and long-term effects of water deficit on gas exchange and hydraulic conductance of silver birch trees grown under varying atmospheric humidity.

PubMed

Sellin, Arne; Niglas, Aigar; Õunapuu-Pikas, Eele; Kupper, Priit

2014-03-24

Effects of water deficit on plant water status, gas exchange and hydraulic conductance were investigated in Betula pendula under artificially manipulated air humidity in Eastern Estonia. The study was aimed to broaden an understanding of the ability of trees to acclimate with the increasing atmospheric humidity predicted for northern Europe. Rapidly-induced water deficit was imposed by dehydrating cut branches in open-air conditions; long-term water deficit was generated by seasonal drought. The rapid water deficit quantified by leaf (ΨL) and branch water potentials (ΨB) had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on gas exchange parameters, while inclusion of ΨB in models resulted in a considerably better fit than those including ΨL, which supports the idea that stomatal openness is regulated to prevent stem rather than leaf xylem dysfunction. Under moderate water deficit (ΨL≥-1.55 MPa), leaf conductance to water vapour (gL), transpiration rate and leaf hydraulic conductance (KL) were higher (P < 0.05) and leaf temperature lower in trees grown in elevated air humidity (H treatment) than in control trees (C treatment). Under severe water deficit (ΨL<-1.55 MPa), the treatments showed no difference. The humidification manipulation influenced most of the studied characteristics, while the effect was to a great extent realized through changes in soil water availability, i.e. due to higher soil water potential in H treatment. Two functional characteristics (gL, KL) exhibited higher (P < 0.05) sensitivity to water deficit in trees grown under increased air humidity. The experiment supported the hypothesis that physiological traits in trees acclimated to higher air humidity exhibit higher sensitivity to rapid water deficit with respect to two characteristics - leaf conductance to water vapour and leaf hydraulic conductance. Disproportionate changes in sensitivity of stomatal versus leaf hydraulic conductance to water deficit will impose greater risk of desiccation-induced hydraulic dysfunction on the plants, grown under high atmospheric humidity, in case of sudden weather fluctuations, and might represent a potential threat in hemiboreal forest ecosystems. There is no trade-off between plant hydraulic capacity and photosynthetic water-use efficiency on short time scale.

Considerations for the effects of military deployment on children and families.

PubMed

Lincoln, Alan J; Sweeten, Kathie

2011-01-01

Children of deployed military personnel represent a unique subculture in the United States. While many children exhibit high levels of resiliency, others will struggle with the impact of a parent who has gone to war. This article looks at some of the stressors of deployment as experienced by children and offers three case examples as well as clinical considerations for those who work with the children and families of the deployed.

Effect of Feedstock Size and its Distribution on the Properties of Detonation Sprayed Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suresh Babu, P.; Rao, D. S.; Rao, G. V. N.; Sundararajan, G.

2007-06-01

The detonation spraying is one of the most promising thermal spray variants for depositing wear and corrosion resistant coatings. The ceramic (Al2O3), metallic (Ni-20 wt%Cr) , and cermets (WC-12 wt%Co) powders that are commercially available were separated into coarser and finer size ranges with relatively narrow size distribution by employing centrifugal air classifier. The coatings were deposited using detonation spray technique. The effect of particle size and its distribution on the coating properties were examined. The surface roughness and porosity increased with increasing powder particle size for all the coatings consistently. The feedstock size was also found to influence the phase composition of Al2O3 and WC-Co coatings; however does not influence the phase composition of Ni-Cr coatings. The associated phase change and %porosity of the coatings imparted considerable variation in the coating hardness, fracture toughness, and wear properties. The fine and narrow size range WC-Co coating exhibited superior wear resistance. The coarse and narrow size distribution Al2O3 coating exhibited better performance under abrasion and sliding wear modes however under erosion wear mode the as-received Al2O3 coating exhibited better performance. In the case of metallic (Ni-Cr) coatings, the coatings deposited using coarser powder exhibited marginally lower-wear rate under abrasion and sliding wear modes. However, under erosion wear mode, the coating deposited using finer particle size exhibited considerably lower-wear rate.

Micro-mechanical properties of the tendon-to-bone attachment.

PubMed

Deymier, Alix C; An, Yiran; Boyle, John J; Schwartz, Andrea G; Birman, Victor; Genin, Guy M; Thomopoulos, Stavros; Barber, Asa H

2017-07-01

The tendon-to-bone attachment (enthesis) is a complex hierarchical tissue that connects stiff bone to compliant tendon. The attachment site at the micrometer scale exhibits gradients in mineral content and collagen orientation, which likely act to minimize stress concentrations. The physiological micromechanics of the attachment thus define resultant performance, but difficulties in sample preparation and mechanical testing at this scale have restricted understanding of structure-mechanical function. Here, microscale beams from entheses of wild type mice and mice with mineral defects were prepared using cryo-focused ion beam milling and pulled to failure using a modified atomic force microscopy system. Micromechanical behavior of tendon-to-bone structures, including elastic modulus, strength, resilience, and toughness, were obtained. Results demonstrated considerably higher mechanical performance at the micrometer length scale compared to the millimeter tissue length scale, describing enthesis material properties without the influence of higher order structural effects such as defects. Micromechanical investigation revealed a decrease in strength in entheses with mineral defects. To further examine structure-mechanical function relationships, local deformation behavior along the tendon-to-bone attachment was determined using local image correlation. A high compliance zone near the mineralized gradient of the attachment was clearly identified and highlighted the lack of correlation between mineral distribution and strain on the low-mineral end of the attachment. This compliant region is proposed to act as an energy absorbing component, limiting catastrophic failure within the tendon-to-bone attachment through higher local deformation. This understanding of tendon-to-bone micromechanics demonstrates the critical role of micrometer scale features in the mechanics of the tissue. The tendon-to-bone attachment (enthesis) is a complex hierarchical tissue with features at a numerous scales that dissipate stress concentrations between compliant tendon and stiff bone. At the micrometer scale, the enthesis exhibits gradients in collagen and mineral composition and organization. However, the physiological mechanics of the enthesis at this scale remained unknown due to difficulty in preparing and testing micrometer scale samples. This study is the first to measure the tensile mechanical properties of the enthesis at the micrometer scale. Results demonstrated considerably enhanced mechanical performance at the micrometer length scale compared to the millimeter tissue length scale and identified a high-compliance zone near the mineralized gradient of the attachment. This understanding of tendon-to-bone micromechanics demonstrates the critical role of micrometer scale features in the mechanics of the tissue. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Nickel-silver composition shows promise as catalyst for hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Magerl, J. A.; Murray, J. N.

1970-01-01

Carburized 3-1 nickel-silver preparation exhibits considerable catalytic activity, although not as high as platinum black. Cost and availability factors warrant further evaluation of nickel-silver materials.

In vivo assessment of liver fibrosis using diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy: a proof of concept.

PubMed

Fabila, Diego; de la Rosa, José Manuel; Stolik, Suren; Moreno, Edgard; Suárez-Álvarez, Karina; López-Navarrete, Giuliana; Guzmán, Carolina; Aguirre-García, Jesús; Acevedo-García, Christian; Kershenobich, David; Escobedo, Galileo

2012-12-01

A novel application of diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy in the assessment of liver fibrosis is here reported. To induce different stages of liver fibrosis, a sufficient number of male Wistar rats were differentially exposed to chronic administration with carbon tetrachloride. Then, diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectra were in vivo measured from the liver surface of each animal by a minimal invasive laparoscopic procedure. The liver fibrosis degree was conventionally determined by means of histological examination using the Mason's Trichrome stain, accompanied by hepatic expression of α-sma, and evaluation of the ALT/AST serum levels. The liver from rats exhibiting higher grades of fibrosis showed a significant increase in diffuse reflectance and fluorescence intensity when compared with control animals. At 365 nm, the diffuse reflectance spectrum exhibited an increase of 4 and 3-fold in mild and advanced fibrotic rats, respectively, when compared to the control group. Similarly, the fluorescence emission at 493 nm was 2-fold higher in fibrotic animals than in controls. By using fluorescence intensity, discrimination algorithms indicated 73% sensitivity and 94% specificity for recognition of hepatic fibrosis, while for diffuse reflectance, these values increased up to 85% and 100%, respectively. Taking into consideration there is a special need for developing new diagnostic approaches focused on detecting different stages of liver fibrosis with minimal invasiveness, these results suggest that diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy could be worthy of further exploration in patients with liver disease. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High Temperature Lightweight Self-Healing Ceramic Composites for Aircraft Engine Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raj, Sai V.; Singh, Mrityunjay; Bhatt, Ramakrishna T.

2014-01-01

The present research effort was undertaken to develop a new generation of SiC fiber- reinforced engineered matrix composites (EMCs) with sufficient high temperature plasticity to reduce crack propagation and self-healing capabilities to fill surface-connected cracks to prevent the oxygen ingress to the fibers. A matrix engineered with these capabilities is expected to increase the load bearing capabilities of SiCSiC CMCs at high temperatures. Several matrix compositions were designed to match the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the SiC fibers using a rule of mixture (ROM) approach. The CTE values of these matrices were determined and it was demonstrated that they were generally in good agreement with that of monolithic SiC between room temperature and 1525 K. The parameters to hot press the powders were optimized, and specimens were fabricated for determining bend strength, CTE, oxidation and microstructural characteristics of the engineered matrices. The oxidation tests revealed that some of the matrices exhibited catastrophic oxidation, and therefore, these were eliminated from further consideration. Two promising compositions were down selected based on these results for further development. Four-point bend tests were conducted on these two promising matrices between room temperature and 1698 K. Although theses matrices were brittle and failed at low stresses at room temperature, they exhibited high temperature ductility and higher stresses at the higher temperatures. The effects of different additives on the self-healing capabilities of these matrices were investigated. The results of preliminary studies conducted to slurry and melt infiltration trials with CrSi2 are described.

Impact of childhood adversities on the short-term course of illness in psychotic spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Schalinski, Inga; Fischer, Yolanda; Rockstroh, Brigitte

2015-08-30

Accumulating evidence indicates an impact of childhood adversities on the severity and course of mental disorders, whereas this impact on psychotic disorders remains to be specified. Effects of childhood adversities on comorbidity, on symptom severity of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and global functioning across four months (upon admission, 1 and 4 months after initial assessment), as well as the course of illness (measured by the remission rate, number of re-hospitalizations and dropout rate) were evaluated in 62 inpatients with psychotic spectrum disorders. Adverse experiences (of at least 1 type) were reported by 73% of patients. Patients with higher overall level of childhood adversities (n=33) exhibited more co-morbid disorders, especially alcohol/substance abuse and dependency, and higher dropout rates than patients with a lower levels of adverse experiences (n=29), together with higher levels of positive symptoms and symptoms of excitement and disorganization. Emotional and physical neglect were particularly related to symptom severity. Results suggest that psychological stress in childhood affects the symptom severity and, additionally, a more unfavorable course of disorder in patients diagnosed with psychoses. This impact calls for its consideration in diagnostic assessment and psychiatric care. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

In situ experimental assessment of lake whitefish development following a freshwater oil spill.

PubMed

Debruyn, Adrian M H; Wernick, Barbara G; Stefura, Corey; McDonald, Blair G; Rudolph, Barri-Lynn; Patterson, Luanne; Chapman, Peter M

2007-10-15

Wabamun Lake (Alberta, Canada) has been subject to ongoing contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from multiple sources for decades and in August 2005 was exposed to ca. 149 500 L of bunker C oil following a train derailment. We compared the pattern, frequency, and severity of deformity in larvae of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) incubated in situ in areas of Wabamun Lake exposed only to "background" PAH contamination and in areas additionally exposed to PAHs from the oil. All sites in the lake (including reference areas) showed incidences of deformity higher than are typically observed in laboratory studies. A small number of oil-exposed sites showed higher incidences of some teratogenic deformities and a tendency to exhibit deformities of higher severity than sites not exposed to oil. The frequency of moderate to severe deformities in 8 of 16 classes was correlated with PAH exposure. Nonmetric multivariate ordination of deformity data revealed a general pattern of increasing incidence and severity of several skeletal (lordosis, scoliosis) and craniofacial (ocular, jaw) deformities at sites with relatively high exposure to oil-derived PAHs. A simultaneous consideration of incidence, severity, and pattern of deformity enabled us to detect a consistent (overall approximately 5% above background) response to the oil despite high variability and high background deformity rates in this historically contaminated environment.

Radical-scavenging-linked antioxidant activities of extracts from black chokeberry and blueberry cultivated in Korea.

PubMed

Hwang, Seok Joon; Yoon, Won Byong; Lee, Ok-Hwan; Cha, Seung Ju; Kim, Jong Dai

2014-03-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the radical-scavenging-linked antioxidant properties of the extracts from black chokeberry and blueberry cultivated in Korea. The 70% ethanol extracts were prepared from black chokeberry and blueberry, and evaluated for total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total proanthocyanidin content, and antioxidative activities, using various in vitro assays, such as DPPH(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS(2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylenebenzothiozoline-6-sulphonic acid)) radical-scavenging activity, FRAP(ferric-reducing antioxidant power) and reducing power. The major phenolic compounds, including cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-arabinoside, neochlorogenic acid, procyanidin B1, were analysed by HPLC with a photodiode array detector. Results showed that total phenol, flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents of black chokeberry extract were higher than those of blueberry extract. In addition, black chokeberry extract exhibited higher free radical-scavenging activity and reducing power than did blueberry extract. Cyanidin-3-galactoside was identified as a major phenolic compound, with considerable content in black chokeberry, that correlated with its higher antioxidant and radical-scavenging effects. These results suggest that black chokeberry extracts could be considered as a good source of natural antioxidants and functional food ingredients. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biochemical characterization of Aspergillus oryzae recombinant α-l-rhamnosidase expressed in Pichia pastoris.

PubMed

Ishikawa, Mai; Shiono, Yoshihito; Koseki, Takuya

2017-12-01

An α-l-rhamnosidase-encoding gene from Aspergillus oryzae, which belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 78, was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. SDS-PAGE of the purified recombinant α-l-rhamnosidase protein revealed smeared bands with apparent molecular mass of 90-130 kDa. After N-deglycosylation, the recombinant enzyme showed a molecular mass of 70 kDa. The enzyme exhibited optimal activity at a pH of 5.0 and a temperature of 70 °C. Specific activity of the enzyme was higher toward hesperidin than toward naringin, which consist of α-1,6 and α-1,2 linkages, respectively. The activity was also higher toward hesperidin than toward rutin, which consist of 7-O- and 3-O-glycosyl linkages of flavonoids, respectively. Kinetic analysis of the enzyme showed that the Michaelis constant (K m ) was lowest toward rutin, moderate toward naringin, and higher toward p-nitrophenyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside and hesperidin. Its high catalytic efficiency (k cat /K m ) toward rutin was results of its low K m value while its high catalytic efficiency toward hesperidin was results of a considerably high k cat value. Copyright © 2017 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Extraction of polyphenols from processed black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) residues.

PubMed

Kapasakalidis, Petros G; Rastall, Robert A; Gordon, Michael H

2006-05-31

The total phenol and anthocyanin contents of black currant pomace and black currant press residue (BPR) extracts, extracted with formic acid in methanol or with methanol/water/acetic acid, were studied. Anthocyanins and other phenols were identified by means of reversed phase HPLC, and differences between the two plant materials were monitored. In all BPR extracts, phenol levels, determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, were 8-9 times higher than in the pomace extracts. Acid hydrolysis liberated a much higher concentration of phenols from the pomace than from the black currant press residue. HPLC analysis revealed that delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside were the major anthocyanins and constituted the main phenol class ( approximately 90%) in both types of black currant tissues tested. However, anthocyanins were present in considerably lower amounts in the pomace than in the BPR. In accordance with the total phenol content, the antioxidant activity determined by scavenging of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation, the ABTS(*)(+) assay, showed that BPR extracts prepared by solvent extraction exhibited significantly higher (7-10 times) radical scavenging activity than the pomace extracts, and BPR anthocyanins contributed significantly (74 and 77%) to the observed high radical scavenging capacity of the corresponding extracts.

East Europe Report. Economic and Industrial Affairs No. 2437.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-08-17

considerable attention at exhibitions in Hungary, including also the Budapest International Fair. The showroom that opened this year on Ors Vezer Square...quickly became popular. One reason for this is the display of Soviet cars. What role do you intend to assign the showroom in the future, and what...exhibitions will be held there? [Answer] The showroom for displaying Soviet commodities features 450 square meters of floorspace and 600 square meters of

Cultural considerations in the treatment of mental illness among sexually abused children and adolescents: the case of Bali, Indonesia.

PubMed

Lesmana, Cokorda Bagus J; Suryani, Luh Ketut; Tiliopoulos, Niko

2015-01-01

Childhood and adolescence sexual abuse can have long-lasting and devastating effects on personal and interpersonal growth and development. Sexually abused children tend to exhibit higher rates of poor school performance, aggressive behavior, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), or depressive symptomatology, as well as social and relational deficits (e.g., age-inappropriate sexual behaviors). The trauma following such abuse can further affect neurodevelopment and physiology, aggravating mental or physical problems in adulthood. Early symptom recognition and appropriate interventional applications are important factors in successfully treating or even preventing the development of mental disorders in such cohorts. A central element of effective treatment is the selection of treatment targets. Cultural considerations are rarely or peripherally considered in sexual abuse treatment strategies. Western-trained psychiatrists and clinical psychologists tend to overlook or underestimate such factors in cross-cultural settings, resulting in interventional efforts that may interfere with traditional approaches to healing, and potentially contributing to a transgenerational cycle of trauma. By using Bali (Indonesia) as a focal culture, in this article we discuss the effects of cultural elements and showcase their potential contribution and systematic implementation into a holistic and sensitive interventional model for the treatment of mental illness in childhood and adolescence sexual traumatization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Wisconsin's approach to variation in traffic data

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-08-01

Traffic data exhibits considerable variability, both spatially and temporally. Given limited resources and the large geographic coverage required for data collection efforts, short period (24-hours to 7-day) traffic data collection must often serve t...

Tenure Track Policy Increases Representation of Women in Senior Academic Positions, but Is Insufficient to Achieve Gender Balance

PubMed Central

Bakker, Martha M.; Jacobs, Maarten H.

2016-01-01

Underrepresentation of women in senior positions is a persistent problem in universities worldwide, and a wide range of strategies to combat this situation is currently being contemplated. One such strategy is the introduction of a tenure track system, in which decisions to promote scientific staff to higher ranks are guided by a set of explicit and transparent criteria, as opposed to earlier situations in which decisions were based on presumably more subjective impressions by superiors. We examined the effect of the introduction of a tenure track system at Wageningen University (The Netherlands) on male and female promotion rates. We found that chances on being promoted to higher levels were already fairly equal between men and women before the tenure track system was introduced, and improved–more for women than for men–after the introduction of the tenure track system. These results may partly be explained by affirmative actions, but also by the fact that legacy effects of historical discrimination have led to a more competitive female population of scientists. In spite of these outcomes, extrapolations of current promotion rates up to 2025 demonstrate that the equal or even higher female promotion rates do not lead to substantial improvement of the gender balance at higher levels (i.e., associate professor and higher). Since promotion rates are small compared to the total amount of staff, the current distribution of men and women will, especially at higher levels, exhibit a considerable degree of inertia—unless additional affirmative action is taken. PMID:27684072

Synthesis, photostability and bioactivity of 2,3-cyclopropanated abscisic acid.

PubMed

Wenjian, Liu; Xiaoqiang, Han; Yumei, Xiao; Jinlong, Fan; Yuanzhi, Zhang; Huizhe, Lu; Mingan, Wang; Zhaohai, Qin

2013-12-01

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a central role in the regulation of plant development and adaptation to environmental stress. The isomerization of ABA to the biologically inactive 2E-isomer by light considerably limits its applications in agricultural fields. To overcome this shortcoming, an ABA analogue, cis-2,3-cyclopropanated ABA, was synthesized, and its photostability and biological activities were investigated. This compound showed high photostability under UV light exposure, which was 4-fold higher than that of (±)-ABA. cis-2,3-cyclopropanated ABA exhibited high ABA-like activity, including the ability to effectively inhibit seed germination, seedling growth and stomatal movements of Arabidopsis. In some cases, its bioactivity approaches that of (±)-ABA. trans-2,3-cyclopropanated abscisic acid was also prepared, an isomer that was more photostable but which showed weak ABA-like activity. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Crosstalk and the evolvability of intracellular communication.

PubMed

Rowland, Michael A; Greenbaum, Joseph M; Deeds, Eric J

2017-07-10

Metazoan signalling networks are complex, with extensive crosstalk between pathways. It is unclear what pressures drove the evolution of this architecture. We explore the hypothesis that crosstalk allows different cell types, each expressing a specific subset of signalling proteins, to activate different outputs when faced with the same inputs, responding differently to the same environment. We find that the pressure to generate diversity leads to the evolution of networks with extensive crosstalk. Using available data, we find that human tissues exhibit higher levels of diversity between cell types than networks with random expression patterns or networks with no crosstalk. We also find that crosstalk and differential expression can influence drug activity: no protein has the same impact on two tissues when inhibited. In addition to providing a possible explanation for the evolution of crosstalk, our work indicates that consideration of cellular context will likely be crucial for targeting signalling networks.

Evaluation of trace elements in lung samples from coal miners using neutron activation analysis.

PubMed

Saiki, M; Saldiva, P H; Alice, S H

1999-01-01

In this study, instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied to the determination of Sc, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Hf, Th, and U in lung samples from miners working in coal mines located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. These results were compared to those from a control group constituted of healthy individuals. The results showed that the elements determined exhibit considerable intersubject variability within a single group of individuals and the mean values of concentrations in miners' lungs were higher than those of normal individuals. Lung samples presented U concentrations varying from 11 to 890 micrograms/kg. Therefore, for some samples, the contribution of the uranium fission products in the analysis of La, Ce, Nd, and Sm was considered by determining the interference correction factors. The accuracy of the results was evaluated by analyzing certified reference materials.

Observational Evidence for Small-Scale Mixture of Weak and Strong Fields in the Quiet Sun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Socas-Navarro, H.; Lites, B. W.

2004-11-01

Three different maps of the quiet Sun, observed with the Advanced Stokes Polarimeter (ASP) and the Diffraction-Limited Stokes Polarimeter (DLSP), show evidence of strong (~=1700 G) and weak (<500 G) fields coexisting within the resolution element at both network and internetwork locations. The angular resolution of the observations is of 1" (ASP) and 0.6" (DLSP). Even at the higher DLSP resolution, a significant fraction of the network magnetic patches harbor a mixture of strong and weak fields. Internetwork elements that exhibit kG fields when analyzed with a single-component atmosphere are also shown to harbor considerable amounts of weak fields. Only those patches for which a single-component analysis yields weak fields do not show this mixture of field strengths. Finally, there is a larger fractional area of weak fields in the convective upflows than in the downflows.

Processing of thermionic power on an electrically propelled spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macie, T. W.

1973-01-01

A study to define the power processing equipment required between a thermionic reactor and an array of mercury-ion thrusters for a nuclear electric propulsion system is reported. Observations and recommendations that resulted from this study were: (1) the preferred thermionic-fuel-element source voltages are 23 V or higher; (2) transistor characteristics exert a strong effect on power processor mass; (3) the power processor mass could be considerably reduced should the magnetic materials that exhibit low losses at high frequencies, that have a high Curie point, and that can operate at 15 to 20 kG become avaliable; (4) electrical component packaging on the radiator could reduce the area that is sensitive to meteoroid penetration, thereby reducing the meteoroid shielding mass requirement; (5) an experimental model of the power processor design should be built and tested to verify the efficiencies, masses, and all the automatic operational aspects of the design.

Shared Environment Estimates for Educational Attainment: A Puzzle and Possible Solutions.

PubMed

Freese, Jeremy; Jao, Yu-Han

2017-02-01

Classical behavioral genetics models for twin and other family designs decompose traits into heritability, shared environment, and nonshared environment components. Estimates of heritability of adult traits are pervasively observed to be far higher than those of shared environment, which has been used to make broad claims about the impotence of upbringing. However, the most commonly studied nondemographic variable in many areas of social science, educational attainment, exhibits robustly high estimates both for heritability and for shared environment. When previously noticed, the usual explanation has emphasized family resources, but evidence suggests this is unlikely to explain the anomalous high estimates for shared environment of educational attainment. We articulate eight potential complementary explanations and discuss evidence of their prospective contributions to resolving the puzzle. In so doing, we hope to further consideration of how behavioral genetics findings may advance studies of social stratification beyond the effort to articulate specific genetic influences. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gasification Reaction Characteristics of Ferro-Coke at Elevated Temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Peng; Zhang, Jian-liang; Gao, Bing

2017-01-01

In this paper, the effects of temperature and atmosphere on the gasification reaction of ferro-coke were investigated in consideration of the actual blast furnace conditions. Besides, the microstructure of the cokes was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is found that the weight loss of ferro-coke during the gasification reaction is significantly enhanced in the case of increasing either the reaction temperature or the CO2 concentration. Furthermore, compared with the normal type of metallurgical coke, ferro-coke exhibits a higher weight loss when they are gasified at the same temperature or under the same atmosphere. As to the microstructure, inside the reacted ferro-coke are a large amount of pores. Contrary to the normal coke, the proportions of the large-size pores and the through holes are greatly increased after gasification, giving rise to thinner pore walls and hence a degradation in coke strength after reaction (CSR).

Rich magneto-absorption spectra of AAB-stacked trilayer graphene.

PubMed

Do, Thi-Nga; Shih, Po-Hsin; Chang, Cheng-Peng; Lin, Chiun-Yan; Lin, Ming-Fa

2016-06-29

A generalized tight-binding model is developed to investigate the feature-rich magneto-optical properties of AAB-stacked trilayer graphene. Three intragroup and six intergroup inter-Landau-level (inter-LL) optical excitations largely enrich magneto-absorption peaks. In general, the former are much higher than the latter, depending on the phases and amplitudes of LL wavefunctions. The absorption spectra exhibit single- or twin-peak structures which are determined by quantum modes, LL energy spectra and Fermion distribution. The splitting LLs, with different localization centers (2/6 and 4/6 positions in a unit cell), can generate very distinct absorption spectra. There exist extra single peaks because of LL anti-crossings. AAB, AAA, ABA, and ABC stackings considerably differ from one another in terms of the inter-LL category, frequency, intensity, and structure of absorption peaks. The main characteristics of LL wavefunctions and energy spectra and the Fermi-Dirac function are responsible for the configuration-enriched magneto-optical spectra.

Improved mechanical performance of PBO fiber-reinforced bismaleimide composite using mixed O2/Ar plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dong; Chen, Ping; Yu, Qi; Ma, Keming; Ding, Zhenfeng

2014-06-01

The mixed O2/Ar plasma was employed to enhance mechanical properties of the PBO/bismaleimide composite. The interlaminar shear strength was improved to 61.6 MPa or by 38.1%, but the composite brittleness increased. The plasma gas compositions exhibited notable effects on the interfacial adhesion strength. XPS results suggested that the mixed plasma presented higher activation effects on the surface chemical compositions than pure gas plasmas and a larger number of oxygen atoms and hydrophilic groups were introduced on the fiber surface due to the synergy effect, but the synergy effect was considerably performed only within the O2 percentage range of 40-60%. The fibers surface was increasingly etched with growing the O2 contents in the plasma, deteriorating the fibers tensile strength. SEM micrographs demonstrated that the composite shear fracture changed from debonding to cohesive failure in the matrices, and the improving mechanisms were discussed.

Biobehavioral Markers of Adverse Effect in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

PubMed Central

Jacobson, Sandra W.; Jacobson, Joseph L.; Stanton, Mark E.; Meintjes, Ernesta M.; Molteno, Christopher D.

2011-01-01

Identification of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is difficult because information regarding prenatal exposure is often lacking, a large proportion of affected children do not exhibit facial anomalies, and no distinctive behavioral phenotype has been identified. Castellanos and Tannock have advocated going beyond descriptive symptom-based approaches to diagnosis to identify biomarkers derived from cognitive neuroscience. Classical eyeblink conditioning and magnitude comparison are particularly promising biobehavioral markers of FASD—eyeblink conditioning because a deficit in this elemental form of learning characterizes a very large proportion of alcohol-exposed children; magnitude comparison because it is a domain of higher order cognitive function that is among the most sensitive to fetal alcohol exposure. Because the neural circuitry mediating both these biobehavioral markers is well understood, they have considerable potential for advancing understanding of the pathophysiology of FASD, which can contribute to development of treatments targeted to the specific deficits that characterize this disorder. PMID:21541763

Graptemys pearlensis Ennen, Lovich, Kreiser, Selman, and Qualls 2010 – Pearl River Map Turtle

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ennen, Joshua R.; Lovich, Jeffrey E.; Jones, Robert L.; Rhodin, A. G. J.; Pritchard, P. C. H.; van Dijk, P. P.; Saumure, Raymond A.; Buhlmann, K.A.; Iverson, J.B.; Mittermeier, R.A.

2016-01-01

The Pearl River Map Turtle, Graptemys pearlensis (Family Emydidae), is a moderate-sized aquatic turtle endemic to the Pearl River drainage of Louisiana and Mississippi. This taxon has long been a cryptic species, as it was considered part of G. pulchra before 1992 and part of G. gibbonsi until 2010. Graptemys pearlensis exhibits sexual dimorphism, with adult females being considerably larger (carapace length to 295 mm) than adult males (CL to 121 mm). In the 1960s and 1970s, the species was commonly found in higher abundance than the sympatric G. oculifera, a federally listed species. However, due to habitat degradation and the precipitous decline of native mollusks, the species is now found in lower numbers than G. oculifera throughout much of its range. The current IUCN Red List status is Endangered; however, very little is known about the natural history and ecology of the species, which will make conservation efforts challenging.

Spatial and temporal variability of hyperspectral signatures of terrain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, K. F.; Perovich, D. K.; Koenig, G. G.

2008-04-01

Electromagnetic signatures of terrain exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity on a range of scales as well as considerable temporal variability. A statistical characterization of the spatial heterogeneity and spatial scaling algorithms of terrain electromagnetic signatures are required to extrapolate measurements to larger scales. Basic terrain elements including bare soil, grass, deciduous, and coniferous trees were studied in a quasi-laboratory setting using instrumented test sites in Hanover, NH and Yuma, AZ. Observations were made using a visible and near infrared spectroradiometer (350 - 2500 nm) and hyperspectral camera (400 - 1100 nm). Results are reported illustrating: i) several difference scenes; ii) a terrain scene time series sampled over an annual cycle; and iii) the detection of artifacts in scenes. A principal component analysis indicated that the first three principal components typically explained between 90 and 99% of the variance of the 30 to 40-channel hyperspectral images. Higher order principal components of hyperspectral images are useful for detecting artifacts in scenes.

Hydrogen production by Tuning the Photonic Band Gap with the Electronic Band Gap of TiO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waterhouse, G. I. N.; Wahab, A. K.; Al-Oufi, M.; Jovic, V.; Anjum, D. H.; Sun-Waterhouse, D.; Llorca, J.; Idriss, H.

2013-10-01

Tuning the photonic band gap (PBG) to the electronic band gap (EBG) of Au/TiO2 catalysts resulted in considerable enhancement of the photocatalytic water splitting to hydrogen under direct sunlight. Au/TiO2 (PBG-357 nm) photocatalyst exhibited superior photocatalytic performance under both UV and sunlight compared to the Au/TiO2 (PBG-585 nm) photocatalyst and both are higher than Au/TiO2 without the 3 dimensionally ordered macro-porous structure materials. The very high photocatalytic activity is attributed to suppression of a fraction of electron-hole recombination route due to the co-incidence of the PBG with the EBG of TiO2 These materials that maintain their activity with very small amount of sacrificial agents (down to 0.5 vol.% of ethanol) are poised to find direct applications because of their high activity, low cost of the process, simplicity and stability.

A sensitive ultraviolet light photodiode based on graphene-on-zinc oxide Schottky junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Teng-Fei; Wu, Guo-An; Wang, Jiu-Zhen; Yu, Yong-Qiang; Zhang, Deng-Yue; Wang, Dan-Dan; Jiang, Jing-Bo; Wang, Jia-Mu; Luo, Lin-Bao

2017-08-01

In this study, we present a simple ultraviolet (UV) light photodiode by transferring a layer of graphene film on single-crystal ZnO substrate. The as-fabricated heterojunction exhibited typical rectifying behavior, with a Schottky barrier height of 0.623 eV. Further optoelectronic characterization revealed that the graphene-ZnO Schottky junction photodiode displayed obvious sensitivity to 365-nm light illumination with good reproducibility. The responsivity and photoconductive gain were estimated to be 3×104 A/W and 105, respectively, which were much higher than other ZnO nanostructure-based devices. In addition, it was found that the on/off ratio of the present device can be considerably improved from 2.09 to 12.1, when the device was passivated by a layer of AlOx film. These results suggest that the present simply structured graphene-ZnO UV photodiode may find potential application in future optoelectronic devices.

A long-term ultrahigh temperature application of layered silicide coated Nb alloy in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jia; Fu, Qian-Gang; Li, Tao; Wang, Chen; Huo, Cai-Xia; Zhou, Hong; Yang, Guan-Jun; Sun, Le

2018-05-01

Nb-based alloy possessed limited application service life at ultrahigh temperature (>1400 °C) in air even taking the effective protective coating strategy into consideration for last decades. In this work a long duration of above 128 h at 1500 °C in air was successfully achieved on Nb-based alloy thanked to multi-layered silicide coating. Through optimizing interfaces, the MoSi2/NbSi2 silicide coating with Al2O3-adsorbed-particles layer exhibited three-times higher of oxidation resistance capacity than the one without it. In MoSi2-Al2O3-NbSi2 multilayer coating, the Al2O3-adsorbed-particles layer playing as an element-diffusion barrier role, as well as the formed porous Nb5Si3 layer as a stress transition zone, contributed to the significant improvement.

Educational Fund Raising: Principles and Practice. American Council on Education Series on Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Worth, Michael J., Ed.

This volume offers 36 papers on higher education fundraising. Major topics treated are the development function, foundations of fund raising, annual giving, major gifts, campaigns, corporate and foundation support, special constituencies, managing development programs, special considerations for institutions, and special considerations for the…

Aluminum-Scandium: A Material for Semiconductor Packaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geissler, Ute; Thomas, Sven; Schneider-Ramelow, Martin; Mukhopadhyay, Biswajit; Lang, Klaus-Dieter

2016-10-01

A well-known aluminum-scandium (Al-Sc) alloy, already used in lightweight sports equipment, is about to be established for use in electronic packaging. One application for Al-Sc alloy is manufacture of bonding wires. The special feature of the alloy is its ability to harden by precipitation. The new bonding wires with electrical conductivity similar to pure Al wires can be processed on common wire bonders for aluminum wedge/wedge (w/w) bonding. The wires exhibit very fine-grained microstructure. Small Al3Sc particles are the main reason for its high strength and prevent recrystallization and grain growth at higher temperatures (>150°C). After the wire-bonding process, the interface is well closed. Reliability investigations by active power cycling demonstrated considerably improved lifetime compared with pure Al heavy wires. Furthermore, the Al-Sc alloy was sputter-deposited onto silicon wafer to test it as chip metallization in copper (Cu) ball/wedge bonding technology. After deposition, the layers exhibited fine-grained columnar structure and small coherent Al3Sc particles with dimensions of a few nanometers. These particles inhibit softening processes such as Al splashing in fine wire bonding processes and increase the thickness of remnant Al under the copper balls to 85% of the initial thickness.

Impulsivity and Clinical Symptoms among Adolescents with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury with or without Attempted Suicide

PubMed Central

Dougherty, Donald M.; Mathias, Charles W.; Marsh-Richard, Dawn M.; Prevette, Kristen N.; Dawes, Michael A.; Hatzis, Erin S.; Palmes, Guy; Nouvion, Sylvain O.

2011-01-01

This study examined clinical characteristics and laboratory-measured impulsive behavior of adolescents engaging in either non-suicidal self-injury with (NSSI+SA; n = 25) or without (NSSI-Only; n = 31) suicide attempts. We hypothesized that adolescent with NSSI+SI would exhibit more severe clinical symptoms and higher levels of behavioral impulsivity compared to adolescents with NSSI-Only. Adolescents were recruited from an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit and the two groups were compared on demographic characteristics, psychopathology, self-reported clinical ratings, methods of non-suicidal self-injury, and two laboratory impulsivity measures. Primary evaluations were conducted during psychiatric hospitalization, and a subset of those tested during hospitalization was retested 4-6 weeks after discharge. During hospitalization, NSSI+SA patients reported worse depression, hopelessness, and impulsivity on standard clinical measures, and demonstrated elevated impulsivity on a reward-directed laboratory measure compared to NSSI-Only patients. In the preliminary follow-up analyses, depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and laboratory impulsivity were improved for both groups, but the NSSI+SA group still exhibited significantly more depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and impulsivity than the NSSI-Only group. Risk assessments for adolescents with NSSI+SA should include consideration not only of the severity of clinical symptoms but of the current level impulsivity as well. PMID:19631392

Impulsivity and clinical symptoms among adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury with or without attempted suicide.

PubMed

Dougherty, Donald M; Mathias, Charles W; Marsh-Richard, Dawn M; Prevette, Kristen N; Dawes, Michael A; Hatzis, Erin S; Palmes, Guy; Nouvion, Sylvain O

2009-08-30

This study examined clinical characteristics and laboratory-measured impulsive behavior of adolescents engaging in either non-suicidal self-injury with (NSSI+SA; n=25) or without (NSSI-Only; n=31) suicide attempts. We hypothesized that adolescent with NSSI+SI would exhibit more severe clinical symptoms and higher levels of behavioral impulsivity compared to adolescents with NSSI-Only. Adolescents were recruited from an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit and the two groups were compared on demographic characteristics, psychopathology, self-reported clinical ratings, methods of non-suicidal self-injury, and two laboratory impulsivity measures. Primary evaluations were conducted during psychiatric hospitalization, and a subset of those tested during hospitalization was retested 4-6 weeks after discharge. During hospitalization, NSSI+SA patients reported worse depression, hopelessness, and impulsivity on standard clinical measures, and demonstrated elevated impulsivity on a reward-directed laboratory measure compared to NSSI-Only patients. In the follow-up analyses, depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and laboratory impulsivity were improved for both groups, but the NSSI+SA group still exhibited significantly more depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and impulsivity than the NSSI-Only group. Risk assessments for adolescents with NSSI+SA should include consideration not only of the severity of clinical symptoms but of the current level impulsivity as well.

High Performance All-solid Supercapacitors Based on the Network of Ultralong Manganese dioxide/Polyaniline Coaxial Nanowires

PubMed Central

Zhou, Junli; Yu, Lin; Liu, Wei; Zhang, Xiaodan; Mu, Wei; Du, Xu; Zhang, Zhe; Deng, Yulin

2015-01-01

In recent years, thin, lightweight and flexible solid supercapacitors are of considerable interest as energy storage devices. Here we demonstrated all-solid supercapacitors (SSCs) with high electrochemical properties, low self-discharge characteristics based on manganese dioxide/polyaniline (MNW/PANI) coaxial nanowire networks. The synergistic effect of MnO2/PANI plus the unique coaxial nanostructure of the ultralong nanowires with a highly interconnected network effectively enhance the conductivity and capacitive performance of the SSCs device. The MNW/PANI composite with 62.5% MnO2 exhibits an outstanding areal specific capacitance reaching 346 mF/cm2 at 5 mV s−1 which is significant higher than most previously reported solid supercapacitors (15.3 mF/cm2–109 mF/cm2) and is close to the that of the best graphene films solid state supercapacitors (372 mF/cm2). In contrast, only 190 mF/cm2 of areal specific capacitance was obtained for the pure MnO2 NW network. The supercapacitors also exhibited low leakage current as small as 20.1 μA, which demonstrated that the MNW/PANI SSCs have great potential for practical applications. PMID:26644364

Corrosion resistant iron aluminides exhibiting improved mechanical properties and corrosion resistance

DOEpatents

Liu, C.T.; McKamey, C.G.; Tortorelli, P.F.; David, S.A.

1994-06-14

The specification discloses a corrosion-resistant intermetallic alloy comprising, in atomic percent, an FeAl iron aluminide containing from about 30 to about 40% aluminum alloyed with from about 0.01 to 0.4% zirconium and from 0.01 to about 0.8% boron. The alloy exhibits considerably improved room temperature ductility for enhanced usefulness in structural applications. The high temperature strength and fabricability is improved by alloying with molybdenum, carbon, chromium and vanadium. 9 figs.

Corrosion resistant iron aluminides exhibiting improved mechanical properties and corrosion resistance

DOEpatents

Liu, Chain T.; McKamey, Claudette G.; Tortorelli, Peter F.; David, Stan A.

1994-01-01

The specification discloses a corrosion-resistant intermetallic alloy comprising, in atomic percent, an FeAl iron aluminide containing from about 30 to about 40% aluminum alloyed with from about 0.01 to 0.4% zirconium and from 0.01 to about 0.8% boron. The alloy exhibits considerably improved room temperature ductility for enhanced usefulness in structural applications. The high temperature strength and fabricability is improved by alloying with molybdenum, carbon, chromium and vanadium.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) across pregnancy and postpartum: Associations with race, depressive symptoms, and low birth weight.

PubMed

Christian, Lisa M; Mitchell, Amanda M; Gillespie, Shannon L; Palettas, Marilly

2016-12-01

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated as a causal factor in major depression and is critical to placental development during pregnancy. Longitudinal data on BDNF across the perinatal period are lacking. These data are of interest given the potential implications for maternal mood and fetal growth, particularly among Black women who show ∼2-fold greater risk for delivering low birth weight infants. Serum BDNF, serum cortisol, and depressive symptoms (per CES-D) were assessed during each trimester and 4-11 weeks postpartum among 139 women (77 Black, 62 White). Low birth weight (<2500g) was determined via medical record. Serum BDNF declined considerably from 1st through 3rd trimesters (ps≤0.008) and subsequently increased at postpartum (p<0.001). Black women exhibited significantly higher serum BDNF during the 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, and postpartum (ps≤0.032) as well as lower serum cortisol during the 2nd and 3rd trimester (ps≤0.01). Higher serum cortisol was concurrently associated with lower serum BDNF in the 2nd trimester only (p<0.05). Controlling for race, serum BDNF at both the 2nd and 3rd trimester was negatively associated with 3rd trimester depressive symptoms (ps≤0.02). In addition, women delivering low versus healthy weight infants showed significantly lower serum BDNF in the 3rd trimester (p=0.004). Women delivering low versus healthy weight infants did not differ in depressive symptoms at any time point during pregnancy (ps≥0.34). Serum BDNF declines considerably across pregnancy in Black and White women, with overall higher levels in Blacks. Lower serum BDNF in late pregnancy corresponds with higher depressive symptoms and risk for low birth weight in Black and White women. However, the predictive value of serum BDNF in pregnancy is specific to within-race comparisons. Potential links between racial differences in serum BDNF and differential pregnancy-related cortisol adaptation require further investigation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of wind-induced internal pressure in low-rise buildings: A multi scale experimental and numerical approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tecle, Amanuel Sebhatu

Hurricane is one of the most destructive and costly natural hazard to the built environment and its impact on low-rise buildings, particularity, is beyond acceptable. The major objective of this research was to perform a parametric evaluation of internal pressure (IP) for wind-resistant design of low-rise buildings and wind-driven natural ventilation applications. For this purpose, a multi-scale experimental, i.e. full-scale at Wall of Wind (WoW) and small-scale at Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (BLWT), and a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach was adopted. This provided new capability to assess wind pressures realistically on internal volumes ranging from small spaces formed between roof tiles and its deck to attic to room partitions. Effects of sudden breaching, existing dominant openings on building envelopes as well as compartmentalization of building interior on the IP were systematically investigated. Results of this research indicated: (i) for sudden breaching of dominant openings, the transient overshooting response was lower than the subsequent steady state peak IP and internal volume correction for low-wind-speed testing facilities was necessary. For example a building without volume correction experienced a response four times faster and exhibited 30--40% lower mean and peak IP; (ii) for existing openings, vent openings uniformly distributed along the roof alleviated, whereas one sided openings aggravated the IP; (iii) larger dominant openings exhibited a higher IP on the building envelope, and an off-center opening on the wall exhibited (30--40%) higher IP than center located openings; (iv) compartmentalization amplified the intensity of IP and; (v) significant underneath pressure was measured for field tiles, warranting its consideration during net pressure evaluations. The study aimed at wind driven natural ventilation indicated: (i) the IP due to cross ventilation was 1.5 to 2.5 times higher for Ainlet/Aoutlet>1 compared to cases where Ainlet/Aoutlet<1, this in effect reduced the mixing of air inside the building and hence the ventilation effectiveness; (ii) the presence of multi-room partitioning increased the pressure differential and consequently the air exchange rate. Overall good agreement was found between the observed large-scale, small-scale and CFD based IP responses. Comparisons with ASCE 7-10 consistently demonstrated that the code underestimated peak positive and suction IP.

A novel colorimetric method based on copper nanoclusters with intrinsic peroxidase-like for detecting xanthine in serum samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zhengyu; Niu, Qianqian; Mou, Mingyao; Wu, Yi; Liu, Xiaoxuan; Liao, Shenghua

2017-07-01

A facile strategy for detecting xanthine in serum samples by copper nanocluster (CuNCs) with high intrinsic peroxidase-like activity was reported. Firstly, a simple, mild and time-saving method for preparing CuNCs was developed, in which dithiothreitol (DTT) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were used as reductant and stabilizer, respectively. The as-prepared CuNCs exhibited a fluorescence emission at 590 nm with a quantum yield (QY) of approximately 5.29%, the fluorescence intensity of the as-prepared CuNCs exhibited no considerable change when stored under ambient condition with the lifetime is 1.75 μs. Moreover, the as-prepared CuNCs exhibited high intrinsic peroxidase-like activity with lower K m ( K m = 8.90 × 10-6 mol L-1) for H2O2, which indicated that CuNCs have a higher affinity for H2O2. Compared with natural enzyme, the as-synthesized CuNCs are more catalytic stable over a wide range of pH (4.0 13.0) and temperature (4 80 °C). Finally, an indirect method for sensing xanthine was established because xanthine oxidase can catalyse the oxidation of xanthine to produce H2O2. Xanthine could be detected as low as 3.8 × 10-7 mol L-1 with a linear range from 5.0 × 10-7 to 1.0 × 10-4 mol L-1. These results proved that the proposed method is sensitive and accurate and could be successfully applied to the determination of xanthine in the serum sample with satisfaction.

Mutational analysis of Kex2 recognition sites and a disulfide bond in tannase from Aspergillus oryzae.

PubMed

Koseki, Takuya; Otsuka, Motohiro; Mizuno, Toshiyuki; Shiono, Yoshihito

2017-01-22

Aspergillus oryzae tannase (AoTanA), which contains two Kex2 recognition sites at positions Arg311 and Arg316, consists of two subunits that are generated by the cleavage of tannase gene product by the Kex2 protease. Based on the crystal structure of feruloyl esterase from Aspergillus oryzae (AoFaeB), which has been classified as a member of the fungal tannase family, the catalytic triad residues of AoTanA are predicted to be Ser195, Asp455, and His501, with the serine and histidine residues brought together by a disulfide bond of the neighboring cysteines, Cys194 and Cys502. In this study, we investigated the functional role of the Kex2 recognition sites and disulfide bond between the neighboring cysteines in AoTanA. We constructed a double variant (R311A/R316A), a seven amino-acid deletion variant of region Lys310-Arg316 (ΔKR), and two single variants (C194A and C502A). While the R311A/R316A variant exhibited the two bands similar to wild type by SDS-PAGE after treatment with endoglycosidase H, the ΔKR variant exhibited only one band. R311A/R316A variation had no effect on tannase activity and stability. Meanwhile, the ΔKR variant exhibited higher activity compared to the wild-type. The activities of the C194A and C502A variants decreased considerably (<0.24% of the wild-type) toward methyl gallate. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sex-dependent effects of developmental exposure to bisphenol A and ethinyl estradiol on metabolic parameters and voluntary physical activity

PubMed Central

Johnson, S. A.; Painter, M. S.; Javurek, A. B.; Ellersieck, M. R.; Wiedmeyer, C. E.; Thyfault, J. P.; Rosenfeld, C. S.

2016-01-01

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) have received considerable attention as potential obesogens. Past studies examining obesogenic potential of one widespread EDC, bisphenol A (BPA), have generally focused on metabolic and adipose tissue effects. However, physical inactivity has been proposed to be a leading cause of obesity. A paucity of studies has considered whether EDC, including BPA, affects this behavior. To test whether early exposure to BPA and ethinyl estradiol (EE, estrogen present in birth control pills) results in metabolic and such behavioral disruptions, California mice developmentally exposed to BPA and EE were tested as adults for energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry), body composition (echoMRI) and physical activity (measured by beam breaks and voluntary wheel running). Serum glucose and metabolic hormones were measured. No differences in body weight or food consumption were detected. BPA-exposed females exhibited greater variation in weight than females in control and EE groups. During the dark and light cycles, BPA females exhibited a higher average respiratory quotient than control females, indicative of metabolizing carbohydrates rather than fats. Various assessments of voluntary physical activity in the home cage confirmed that during the dark cycle, BPA and EE-exposed females were significantly less active in this setting than control females. Similar effects were not observed in BPA or EE-exposed males. No significant differences were detected in serum glucose, insulin, adiponectin and leptin concentrations. Results suggest that females developmentally exposed to BPA exhibit decreased motivation to engage in voluntary physical activity and altered metabolism of carbohydrates v. fats, which could have important health implications. PMID:26378919

Characterizing fish responses to a river restoration over 21 years based on species' traits.

PubMed

Höckendorff, Stefanie; Tonkin, Jonathan D; Haase, Peter; Bunzel-Drüke, Margret; Zimball, Olaf; Scharf, Matthias; Stoll, Stefan

2017-10-01

Understanding restoration effectiveness is often impaired by a lack of high-quality, long-term monitoring data and, to date, few researchers have used species' trait information to gain insight into the processes that drive the reaction of fish communities to restoration. We examined fish-community responses with a highly resolved data set from 21 consecutive years of electrofishing (4 years prerestoration and 17 years postrestoration) at multiple restored and unrestored reaches from a river restoration project on the Lippe River, Germany. Fish abundance peaked in the third year after the restoration; abundance was 6 times higher than before the restoration. After 5-7 years, species richness and abundance stabilized at 2 and 3.5 times higher levels relative to the prerestoration level, respectively. However, interannual variability of species richness and abundance remained considerable, illustrating the challenge of reliably assessing restoration outcomes based on data from individual samplings, especially in the first years following restoration. Life-history and reproduction-related traits best explained differences in species' responses to restoration. Opportunistic short-lived species with early female maturity and multiple spawning runs per year exhibited the strongest increase in abundance, which reflected their ability to rapidly colonize new habitats. These often small-bodied and fusiform fishes typically live in dynamic and ephemeral instream and floodplain areas that river-habitat restorations often aim to create, and in this case their increases in abundance indicated successful restoration. Our results suggest that a greater consideration of species' traits may enhance the causal understanding of community processes and the coupling of restoration to functional ecology. Trait-based assessments of restoration outcomes would furthermore allow for easier transfer of knowledge across biogeographic borders than studies based on taxonomy. © 2017 Society for Conservation Biology.

DETECTING WATER FLOW BEHIND PIPE IN INJECTION WELLS

EPA Science Inventory

Regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency require that an injection well exhibit both internal and external mechanical integrity. The external mechanical integrity consideration is that there is no significant fluid movement into an underground source of drinking water ...

Kawasaki Disease Increases the Incidence of Myopia.

PubMed

Kung, Yung-Jen; Wei, Chang-Ching; Chen, Liuh An; Chen, Jiin Yi; Chang, Ching-Yao; Lin, Chao-Jen; Lim, Yun-Ping; Tien, Peng-Tai; Chen, Hsuan-Ju; Huang, Yong-San; Lin, Hui-Ju; Wan, Lei

2017-01-01

The prevalence of myopia has rapidly increased in recent decades and has led to a considerable global public health concern. In this study, we elucidate the relationship between Kawasaki disease (KD) and the incidence of myopia. We used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to conduct a population-based cohort study. We identified patients diagnosed with KD and individuals without KD who were selected by frequency matched based on sex, age, and the index year. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals for the comparison of the 2 cohorts. The log-rank test was used to test the incidence of myopia in the 2 cohorts. A total of 532 patients were included in the KD cohort and 2128 in the non-KD cohort. The risk of myopia (hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.58; P < 0.01) was higher among patients with KD than among those in the non-KD cohort. The Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that irrespective of age, gender, and urbanization, Kawasaki disease was an independent risk factor for myopia. Patients with Kawasaki disease exhibited a substantially higher risk for developing myopia.

Effects of exercise on the urinary proteome.

PubMed

Kohler, Maxie; Schänzer, Wilhelm; Thevis, Mario

2015-01-01

Exercise-induced proteinuria has been observed and studied for more than a century. It was found that different sport disciplines alter the urinary proteome in different ways. Moderate-intensity exercise results in increased glomerular filtration, meaning that medium-sized proteins are excreted in higher amounts, while high-intensity exercise of short duration also increases the excretion of low molecular weight proteins as a result of tubular dysfunction. Exhaustive exercise may lead to the excretion of hemoglobin or myoglobin, which changes the urinary proteome considerably. Studies comparing protein maps of different sport types compared to a control group showed that quality and quantity of urinary proteins are interindividually different. In addition, urine samples collected before and after exercise exhibit substantially different protein patterns even from the same person. Therefore, further studies investigating the urinary proteome are desirable. As the variation of protein content and composition in urine are generally much higher than in other matrices, respective studies need to be well controlled and homogenous groups of volunteers should be chosen. In addition to the sport-related physiological and biochemical interest, exercise-induced protein changes also need to be considered for biomarker measurements from urine samples for kidney or other diseases.

Sustainable thermoplastic elastomers derived from cellulose, fatty acid and furfural via ATRP and click chemistry.

PubMed

Yu, Juan; Lu, Chuanwei; Wang, Chunpeng; Wang, Jifu; Fan, Yimin; Chu, Fuxiang

2017-11-15

Cellulose-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have attracted considerable attention because of their rigid backbone, good mechanical properties, renewable nature and abundance. In the present study, sustainable TPEs based on ethyl cellulose (EC), fatty acid and furfural were generated by the combination of ATRP and "click chemistry". To fabricate sustainable TPEs with higher toughness, a range of polymers, including mono random-copolymer poly(tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate-co-lauryl methacrylate) (P(THFMA-co-LMA), dual polymer side chains PTHFMA and PLMA, and mono-block copolymer PTHFMA-b-PLMA, were designed as side chains to fabricate EC brush copolymers with random, dual or block side chain architectures using the "grafting from" and "grafting onto" methods. The multi-armed structures, chemical compositions and phase separation of these EC brush copolymers were confirmed by FT-IR, 1 H NMR, GPC, DSC, TEM and SEM. Overall, three types of EC brush copolymers all exhibited the desired mechanical properties of TPEs. In addition, the EC brush copolymers with dual/block side chain architectures showed higher tensile strength than that of the random polymers with similar compositions. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Trait anxiety and attenuated negative affect differentiation: a vulnerability factor to consider?

PubMed

Matt, Lindsey M; Fresco, David M; Coifman, Karin G

2016-11-01

Describing emotional experiences using distinct terms, or affect differentiation, has been associated with emotion regulation and adaptive behavior under stress. There is little data, however, examining the association between differentiation and dispositional factors underlying psychopathology. The current study examines the association between differentiation and trait anxiety (TA) given prior evidence of cognitive biases in TA relevant to higher order processing of emotional experiences. We examined cross-sectionally, via lab-based repeated assessment, the association between differentiation of negative and positive experiences and TA. Two hundred twenty-two adults completed an emotion reactivity task including repeated assessments of affect. We hypothesized that individuals higher in trait anxiety (HTA) would have greater difficulty differentiating their experiences. HTA individuals exhibited lower levels of negative affect (NA) differentiation even when controlling for depression. Although negative emotion intensity was consistently associated with lower differentiation, this did not account for the influence of HTA on differentiation. These data suggest that HTA individuals have greater difficulty differentiating negative emotions, regardless of negative emotion intensity and depression. As HTA is common to many emotional disorders; this evidence suggests that poor differentiation may also be an important transdiagnostic consideration in models of risk and of affective disease.

The resource utilization group system: its effect on nursing home case mix and costs.

PubMed

Thorpe, K E; Gertler, P J; Goldman, P

1991-01-01

Using data from 1985 and 1986, we examine how New York state's prospective payment system affected nursing homes. The system, called Resource Utilization Group (RUG-II), aimed to limit nursing home cost growth and improve access to nursing homes by "heavy-care" patients. As in Medicare's prospective hospital reimbursement system, payments to nursing homes were based on a "price," rather than facility-specific rates. With respect to cost growth, we observed considerable diversity among homes. Specifically, those nursing homes most financially constrained by the RUG-II methodology exhibited the slowest rates of cost growth; we observed higher cost growth among the homes least constrained. This higher rate of cost growth raises a question about the desirability of using a pricing methodology to determine nursing home payment rates. In addition to moderating cost growth, we also observed a significant change in the mix of patients admitted to nursing homes. During the first year of the RUG-II program, nursing homes admitted more heavy-care patients and reduced days of care to lighter-care patients. Thus, through 1986, the RUG-II program appeared to satisfy at least one of its major policy objectives.

Effects of Age, Sex, and Body Position on Orofacial Muscle Tone in Healthy Adults.

PubMed

Dietsch, Angela M; Clark, Heather M; Steiner, Jessica N; Solomon, Nancy Pearl

2015-08-01

Quantification of tissue stiffness may facilitate identification of abnormalities in orofacial muscle tone and thus contribute to differential diagnosis of dysarthria. Tissue stiffness is affected by muscle tone as well as age-related changes in muscle and connective tissue. The Myoton-3 measured tissue stiffness in 40 healthy adults, including equal numbers of men and women in each of two age groups: 18-40 years and 60+ years. Data were collected from relaxed muscles at the masseter, cheek, and lateral tongue surfaces in two positions: reclined on the side and seated with head tilted. Tissue stiffness differed across age, sex, and measurement site with multiple interaction effects. Overall, older subjects exhibited higher stiffness coefficients and oscillation frequency measures than younger subjects whereas sex differences varied by tissue site. Effects of body position were inconsistent across tissue site and measurement. Although older subjects were expected to have lower muscle tone, age-related nonmuscular tissue changes may have contributed to yield a net effect of higher stiffness. These data raise several considerations for the development of accurate normative data and for future diagnostic applications of tissue stiffness assessment.

A Preliminary Analysis of Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue With Considerations for Nursing Unit Specialization and Demographic Factors.

PubMed

Mooney, Claire; Fetter, Katrina; Gross, Brian W; Rinehart, Cole; Lynch, Caitlin; Rogers, Frederick B

Compassion fatigue (CF), or vicarious traumatization, is a state of physical/emotional distress that results from caring for those experiencing pain. We sought to characterize levels of CF in intensive care unit (ICU) and oncology nursing populations with subanalyses comparing specific personal/professional demographic factors. The Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale, a validated tool for assessing CF, burnout (BO), and compassion satisfaction (CS), was distributed to the ICU and oncology divisions of a community hospital. Demographic data and ProQOL scale scores were collected and compared within specialty and gender subgroups. Two-sample t tests and regression analyses were used to compare groups. Statistical significance was defined as p < .05. A total of 86 nurses submitted completed surveys able to be analyzed. Levels of CS were significantly lower (p = .023) and levels of BO were significantly higher (p = .029) in ICU nurses than in oncology nurses. Male nurses exhibited significantly higher CS (p = .001) and significantly lower BO (p = .021) and CF (p = .014) than female nurses. Intensive care unit nurses and female nurses from both ICU and oncology specialties may be at increased risk for developing a poorer overall ProQOL and CF.

Educational Pairings, Motherhood, and Women's Relative Earnings in Europe.

PubMed

Van Bavel, Jan; Klesment, Martin

2017-12-01

As a consequence of the reversal of the gender gap in education, the female partner in a couple now typically has as much as or more education compared with the male partner in most Western countries. This study addresses the implications for the earnings of women relative to their male partners in 16 European countries. Using the 2007 and 2011 rounds of the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (N = 58,292), we investigate the extent to which international differences in women's relative earnings can be explained by educational pairings and their interaction with the motherhood penalty on women's earnings, by international differences in male unemployment, or by cultural gender norms. We find that the newly emerged pattern of hypogamy is associated with higher relative earnings for women in all countries and that the motherhood penalty on relative earnings is considerably lower in hypogamous couples, but neither of these findings can explain away international country differences. Similarly, male unemployment is associated with higher relative earnings for women but cannot explain away the country differences. Against expectations, we find that the hypogamy bonus on women's relative earnings, if anything, tends to be stronger rather than weaker in countries that exhibit more conservative gender norms.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Infestation Deterrents Against Lice.

PubMed

Yoon, Kyong Sup; Ketzis, Jennifer K; Andrewes, Samuel W; Wu, Christopher S; Honraet, Kris; Staljanssens, Dorien; Rossel, Bart; Marshall Clark, J

2015-09-01

The human head louse is a cosmopolitan ectoparasite and frequently infests many people, particularly school-age children. Due to widespread pyrethroid resistance and the lack of efficient resistance management, there has been a considerable interest in the protection of uninfested people and prevention of reinfestation by disrupting lice transfer. In this study, two nonclinical model systems (in vitro and in vivo) were used to determine the efficacy of the infestation deterrents, Elimax lotion and Elimax shampoo, against human head lice or poultry chewing lice, respectively. With in vitro assessments, female head lice exhibited significantly higher avoidance responses to hair tufts treated with either of the test formulations, which led to significantly higher ovipositional avoidance when compared with female lice on control hair tufts. Additionally, both formulations were determined to be competent infestation deterrents in a competitive avoidance test in the presence of a known attractant (head louse feces extract). In in vivo assessments using a previously validated poultry model, Elimax shampoo was determined to be an efficacious deterrent against poultry chewing lice within Menopon spp. and Menacanthus spp. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America.

Somatotype, Body Composition and Proportionality in Polish Top Greco-Roman Wrestlers

PubMed Central

Sterkowicz-Przybycień, Katarzyna L.; Sterkowicz, Stanisław; Żarów, Ryszard T.

2011-01-01

The objective of the paper was to determine body composition and somatotype of male Greco-Roman wrestlers grouped by different weight categories and level of competition. Twenty three contestants (aged 24.9±5.5 years, training experience 13.7±5.8 years) were examined during their competitive period. They were divided into heavier (n=12) and lighter weight categories (n=11).Twelve of them took part in Olympic Qualification Tournaments, whereas six others participated in the Olympic Games in Athens. An experienced evaluator performed 10 measurements necessary to designate Heath-Carter somatotypes and additional skinfolds to estimate the percentage of body fat and body composition. Heavier wrestlers (weight=92.4 kg) exhibited more endomorphy and mesomorphy than lighter wrestlers (weight=70.1 kg). Heavier wrestlers were characterized by higher BMI, fat mass, fat percentage and fat free mass index than wrestlers in lighter weight categories. Sports level was evaluated with discriminant analysis which revealed significant results (p<0.01) with canonical correlation coefficient of 0.754, and Wilks’ λ=0.431. Discriminant function=0.593774*TrainingExperience-0.300177*EN+0.627894*ME-0.242241*EC - 0.636081*Pelvis/Shoulder Ratio. Among the 23 observations used to fit the model, 19 (82.6%) were correctly classified. When compared with untrained subjects, wrestlers exhibited higher body mass (81.8 vs. 72.1 kg, t=3.15, p<0.01) and lower height-weight ratio (40.50 vs. 43.21, t=13.5, p<0.001). Wrestlers’ somatotypes differed from those of untrained subjects (2.0–6.6-1.2 vs. 3.7–4.3-3.1). They were also characterized by lower adiposity (12.1 vs. 15.7%, t=7.84, p<0.001). In conclusion, body build and composition in wrestlers depend on their weight category. In heavier categories, characteristic type is endomorph-mesomorph, whereas lighter weight categories are dominated by balanced mesomorph. A considerable difference in endomorphy and indices of body composition can also be observed. Higher sport experience with lower endomorphy (tendencies for lower fat content) and Pelvis/Shoulder Ratio are interrelated with higher competition level presented by wrestlers. PMID:23486846

Depolymerization degree of water-extractable arabinoxylans in rye bread: characteristics of inbred lines used for breeding of bread cultivars.

PubMed

Cyran, Malgorzata R; Ceglińska, Alicja; Kolasińska, Irena

2012-09-05

The water-extractable arabinoxylans (WE AXs) present in rye bread govern its viscous properties, which may be related to reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Breads made from rye cultivars generally exhibit higher AX-dependent extract viscosities (Cyran, M. R.; Saulnier, L. Food Chemistry2012, 131, 667-676) when compared with those produced from inbred lines used for their breeding. To give further details about this trend, the WE AXs were isolated from breads of lines and structurally characterized by HPSEC and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The extract viscosities of endosperm and whole-meal breads were usually comparable, in contrast to those made from rye cultivars with higher viscosity of endosperm bread. The WE AXs present in breads obtained from inbred lines were characterized by the higher degradation degrees than those in breads from cultivars, as indicated by their HPSEC-RI profiles. This was associated with considerably lower proportions of 2-Xylp in their backbones. Besides, a level of endoxylanase activity in flours from inbred lines was much higher than that in flours from cultivars. Breeding of hybrid rye cultivars for production of high-viscosity bread requires the proper components. They may be preliminarily selected from populations with high WE AX contents and relatively low levels of endoxylanase activity by using the overall viscosity test for starting flours. However, further measurement of AX-dependent extract viscosity in test breads made from such lines may verify their usefulness completely.

Decision Making for Chinese Students to Receive Their Higher Education in the U.S.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chao, Chiangnan

2016-01-01

This study examines Chinese students' decision making considerations for coming to the U.S. for their higher education. Due to the large number of Chinese students in the U.S, it is an interesting topic for educators and researchers to explore the decision making considerations Chinese students choose for studying abroad. International student…

A review of studies on atmospheric mercury in China.

PubMed

Fu, Xuewu; Feng, Xinbin; Sommar, Jonas; Wang, Shaofeng

2012-04-01

Due to the fast developing economy, mercury (Hg) emissions to the atmosphere from Chinese mainland have increased rapidly in recent years. Consequently, this issue has received a considerable attention internationally. This paper reviews the current understanding of and knowledge on atmospheric Hg emissions, distribution and transport in China. The magnitude of Hg emissions to the atmosphere from Chinese anthropogenic sources has been estimated to be in the range of 500-700 tons per year, whereby comprising a significant proportion of the globe total anthropogenic emissions. Emissions of Hg from natural surfaces including bare soil, water, and vegetation covered soil tend in a comparison to be higher in China than in Europe and North America, indicating the importance of this source category. Atmospheric Hg exhibits a significant concentration variability among urban, semi-remote, and remote areas. Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) concentrations in urban areas of China were often 1.5 - 5 folds higher compared to the corresponding settings in North America and Europe. In turn, particulate mercury (PHg) concentrations in urban areas of China were up to two orders of magnitude higher compared to North America and Europe. Atmospheric observations made at strictly remote sites in China also include the presence of occasional high concentrations of TGM, and the more short-lived fractions PHg and Reactive Gaseous Mercury (RGM). Accordingly, Hg deposition fluxes tended to be higher in China, with remote areas and urban areas being 1-2 times and 1-2 magnitude higher than those in North America and Europe, respectively. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of caffeine, caffeic acid and their various combinations on enzymes of cholinergic, monoaminergic and purinergic systems critical to neurodegeneration in rat brain-In vitro.

PubMed

Akomolafe, S F; Akinyemi, A J; Ogunsuyi, O B; Oyeleye, S I; Oboh, G; Adeoyo, O O; Allismith, Y R

2017-09-01

Caffeine and caffeic acid are two bioactive compounds that are present in plant foods and are major constituent of coffee, cocoa, tea, cola drinks and chocolate. Although not structurally related, caffeine and caffeic acid has been reported to elicit neuroprotective properties. However, their different proportional distribution in food sources and possible effect of such interactions are not often taken into consideration. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of caffeine, caffeic acid and their various combinations on activities of some enzymes [acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monoamine oxidase (MAO) ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPase), ecto-5 1 -nucleotidase (E-NTDase) and Na + /K + ATPase relevant to neurodegeneration in vitro in rat brain. The stock concentration of caffeine and caffiec acid and their various proportional combinations were prepared and their interactions with the activities of these enzymes were assessed (in vitro) in different brain structures. The Fe 2+ and Cu 2+ chelating abilities of the samples were also investigated. The results revealed that caffeine, caffeic acid and their various combinations exhibited inhibitory effect on activities of AChE, MAO, E-NTPase and E-NTDase, but stimulatory effect on Na + /K + ATPase activity. The combinations also exhibited Fe 2+ and Cu 2+ chelating abilities. Considering the various combinations, a higher caffeine to caffeic acid ratio produced significantly highest enzyme modulatory effects; these were significantly lower to the effect of caffeine alone but significantly higher than the effect of caffeic acid alone. These findings may provide new insight into the effect of proportional combination of these bioactive compounds as obtained in many foods especially with respect to their neuroprotective effects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wastewater remediation by TiO2-impregnated chitosan nano-grafts exhibited dual functionality: High adsorptivity and solar-assisted self-cleaning.

PubMed

Essawy, Amr A; Sayyah, S M; El-Nggar, A M

2017-08-01

This work provides a very infrequent and unique avenue of a novel bio-based nanografted polymeric composites achieving encouraging results in green management of dye contaminants in wastewater. A chitosan-grafted-polyN-Methylaniline (Ch-g-PNMANI) and chitosan-grafted-polyN-Methylaniline imprinted TiO 2 nanocomposites (Ch-g-PNMANI/TiO 2 ) were prepared and efficiently applied in wastewater remediation. The nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (BET) measurements. The prepared composites exhibit higher adsorptivity in removing remazol red RB-133 (RR RB-133) dye compared to other adsorbents reported in literature. The effects of TiO 2 loadings, initial dye concentration, contact time, and pH on dye adsorption were investigated. The maximum adsorption of dye was found at low pH values. Furthermore, Ch-g-PNMANI/TiO 2 of the optimum TiO 2 loading has higher adsorption capacity (116.3mg/g) than the pristine Ch-g-PNMANI (108.7mg/g). Moreover, the prepared adsorbents are photoactive under sunlight-irradiation. The study addresses a nanocomposite of considerable adsorption and in the same time has the fastest self-cleaning photoactivity (t 1/2 =31.5min.) under sunlight irradiation where a plausible photodegradation mechanism was proposed. Interestingly, the presented photoactive adsorbents are still effective in removing dye after five adsorption/sunlight-assisted self-cleaning photoregeneration cycles and therefore, they can be potentially applied to the rapid, "green" and low-cost remediation of RR RB-133 enriched industrial printing and dyeing wastewater. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Early changes in coagulation profiles and lactate levels in patients with septic shock undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

PubMed Central

Kim, Hyoung Soo; Cheon, Dae Young; Ha, Sang Ook; Han, Sang Jin; Kim, Hyun-Sook; Lee, Sun Hee; Kim, Sung Gyun

2018-01-01

Background To investigate the impact of coagulation profiles and lactate levels in patients with septic shock undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods A retrospective analysis of coagulation profiles, including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score, before and during 48 h of ECMO support [on day 0 (pre-ECMO), day 1, and day 2], was conducted in patients with septic shock undergoing ECMO. Results A total of 37 patients were included, and 15 (40.5%) patients survived. The initial DIC scores did not change in either the pre-ECMO overt-DIC (n=15) or non-overt-DIC (n=22) group after ECMO commencement. However, the DIC scores were significantly higher, at all three time-points, in non-survivors than in survivors. Additionally, the lactate levels improved considerably in the pre-ECMO non-overt-DIC group and in survivors during ECMO support, but not in the pre-ECMO overt DIC group or non-survivors. On a multivariate analysis, the pre-ECMO DIC score was significantly associated with hospital death [odds ratio (OR), 3.935; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.170–13.230]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves revealed that the combination of pre-ECMO DIC score plus lactate level was the best predictor of hospital death (area under the curve, 0.879; 0.771–0.987); patients with combined scores >9.35 (the optimal cut-off) exhibited a three-fold higher mortality rate than did those with lower scores (81.8% vs. 26.7%, P=0.001). Conclusions During the early period of ECMO support, the coagulation profiles and lactate levels exhibited different trajectories in survivors and non-survivors. Furthermore, the pre-ECMO DIC score plus lactate level was the best predictor of hospital death. PMID:29707291

The challenges of the first migration: movement and behaviour of juvenile vs. adult white storks with insights regarding juvenile mortality.

PubMed

Rotics, Shay; Kaatz, Michael; Resheff, Yehezkel S; Turjeman, Sondra Feldman; Zurell, Damaris; Sapir, Nir; Eggers, Ute; Flack, Andrea; Fiedler, Wolfgang; Jeltsch, Florian; Wikelski, Martin; Nathan, Ran

2016-07-01

Migration conveys an immense challenge, especially for juvenile birds coping with enduring and risky journeys shortly after fledging. Accordingly, juveniles exhibit considerably lower survival rates compared to adults, particularly during migration. Juvenile white storks (Ciconia ciconia), which are known to rely on adults during their first fall migration presumably for navigational purposes, also display much lower annual survival than adults. Using detailed GPS and body acceleration data, we examined the patterns and potential causes of age-related differences in fall migration properties of white storks by comparing first-year juveniles and adults. We compared juvenile and adult parameters of movement, behaviour and energy expenditure (estimated from overall dynamic body acceleration) and placed this in the context of the juveniles' lower survival rate. Juveniles used flapping flight vs. soaring flight 23% more than adults and were estimated to expend 14% more energy during flight. Juveniles did not compensate for their higher flight costs by increased refuelling or resting during migration. When juveniles and adults migrated together in the same flock, the juvenile flew mostly behind the adult and was left behind when they separated. Juveniles showed greater improvement in flight efficiency throughout migration compared to adults which appears crucial because juveniles exhibiting higher flight costs suffered increased mortality. Our findings demonstrate the conflict between the juveniles' inferior flight skills and their urge to keep up with mixed adult-juvenile flocks. We suggest that increased flight costs are an important proximate cause of juvenile mortality in white storks and likely in other soaring migrants and that natural selection is operating on juvenile variation in flight efficiency. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology © 2016 British Ecological Society.

Personality features in ultra-high risk for psychosis: a comparative study with schizophrenia and control subjects using the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R).

PubMed

Fresán, Ana; León-Ortiz, Pablo; Robles-García, Rebeca; Azcárraga, Mariana; Guizar, Diana; Reyes-Madrigal, Francisco; Tovilla-Zárate, Carlos Alfonso; de la Fuente-Sandoval, Camilo

2015-02-01

Several variables have been identified as risk factors for conversion to overt psychosis in ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) individuals. Although almost two-thirds of them do not experience a transition to psychosis, they still exhibit functional disabilities. Other subjective developmental features may be useful for a more precise identification of individuals at UHR. Avoidant behaviors are consistently reported in schizophrenia and in UHR individuals and may be the reflection of a pattern of personality. Thus, personality features in UHR individuals deserves further research. The objective of the present study was to compare temperament and character dimensions between UHR individuals, patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. One hundred participants (25 UHR individuals, 25 schizophrenia patients and 50 control subjects) where evaluated with the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). Univariate ANOVAs followed by Bonferroni tests were used. UHR individuals and schizophrenia patients exhibited higher levels of Harm Avoidance (HA) when compared to control subjects. For HA1 Anticipatory worry vs Uninhibited optimism and HA4 Fatigability & asthenia, UHR and schizophrenia groups showed similar scores and both groups were higher compared to control subjects. With respect to Cooperativeness (CO), UHR and schizophrenia reported lower scores than control subjects, in particular CO2 Empathy vs Social disinterest and CO3 Helpfulness vs unhelpfulness. This study replicates and extends the consideration of HA as a psychopathological related endophenotype and gives us further information of the possible role of personality features in the expression of some of the social dysfunctions observed both in prodromal subjects and schizophrenia patients. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Environment, Migratory Tendency, Phylogeny and Basal Metabolic Rate in Birds

PubMed Central

Jetz, Walter; Freckleton, Robert P.; McKechnie, Andrew E.

2008-01-01

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) represents the minimum maintenance energy requirement of an endotherm and has far-reaching consequences for interactions between animals and their environments. Avian BMR exhibits considerable variation that is independent of body mass. Some long-distance migrants have been found to exhibit particularly high BMR, traditionally interpreted as being related to the energetic demands of long-distance migration. Here we use a global dataset to evaluate differences in BMR between migrants and non-migrants, and to examine the effects of environmental variables. The BMR of migrant species is significantly higher than that of non-migrants. Intriguingly, while the elevated BMR of migrants on their breeding grounds may reflect the metabolic machinery required for long-distance movements, an alternative (and statistically stronger) explanation is their occupation of predominantly cold high-latitude breeding areas. Among several environmental predictors, average annual temperature has the strongest effect on BMR, with a 50% reduction associated with a 20°C gradient. The negative effects of temperature variables on BMR hold separately for migrants and non-migrants and are not due their different climatic associations. BMR in migrants shows a much lower degree of phylogenetic inertia. Our findings indicate that migratory tendency need not necessarily be invoked to explain the higher BMR of migrants. A weaker phylogenetic signal observed in migrants supports the notion of strong phenotypic flexibility in this group which facilitates migration-related BMR adjustments that occur above and beyond environmental conditions. In contrast to the findings of previous analyses of mammalian BMR, primary productivity, aridity or precipitation variability do not appear to be important environmental correlates of avian BMR. The strong effects of temperature-related variables and varying phylogenetic effects reiterate the importance of addressing both broad-scale and individual-scale variation for understanding the determinants of BMR. PMID:18810267

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

Schlueter, M.A.; Guttman, S.I.; Oris, J.T.

Two populations of fathead minnows (F{sub 1}, offspring of survivors of an acute fluoranthene exposure; N{sub 1}, naive hatchery fish born in outdoor ponds) were concurrently exposed to approximately 850 {micro}g/L of copper for 132 h. During the exposure, 49% of the F{sub 1} and 85% of the N{sup 1} minnows died. A curled operculum deformity, detected in 54% of the F{sub 1} population, was significantly related to mortality. A failure time regression model, combining both the F{sup 1} and N{sub 1} populations together, was fit to examine the relationship between population type (F{sub 1} or N{sub 1}), body conditionmore » (weight/length{sup 3}), presence of an operculum deformity, and different allozymes on time to death (TTD). The model indicated that type of population, body condition, the presence of an operculum deformity, and three loci (GPI-I{sup *}, IDHP-1{sup *}, and MDH-2{sup *}) were significantly related to TTD. The F{sub 1} minnows had a higher survival rate and longer average TTD compared to N{sub 1} minnows. In comparison to the N{sub 1} population, the F{sub 1} population possessed a higher frequency of genotypes associated with increased survivorship at the IDHP-1{sup *} and MDH-2{sup *} loci. Weight (and body condition) was negatively correlated with survivorship. Minnows with a severe operculum deformity, believed to be a result of parental exposure to fluoranthene, had a 100% mortality rate and exhibited a considerably reduced TTD compared to nondeformed minnows. Multilocus heterozygosity was not related to TTD for either population. This study indicates that genetic factors may exhibit stronger effects on survivorship than other factors (e.g., weight/body condition) commonly associated with fitness.« less

Fabrication of doxorubicin nanoparticles by controlled antisolvent precipitation for enhanced intracellular delivery.

PubMed

Tam, Yu Tong; To, Kenneth Kin Wah; Chow, Albert Hee Lum

2016-03-01

Over-expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters is one of the most important mechanisms responsible for multidrug resistance. Here, we aimed to develop a stable polymeric nanoparticle system by flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) for enhanced anticancer drug delivery into drug resistant cancer cells. As an antisolvent precipitation process, FNP works best for highly lipophilic solutes (logP>6). Thus we also aimed to evaluate the applicability of FNP to drugs with relatively low lipophilicity (logP=1-2). To this end, doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline anticancer agent and a P-gp substrate with a logP of 1.3, was selected as a model drug for the assessment. DOX was successfully incorporated into the amphiphilic diblock copolymer, polyethylene glycol-b-polylactic acid (PEG-b-PLA), by FNP using a four-stream multi-inlet vortex mixer. Optimization of key processing parameters and co-formulation with the co-stabilizer, polyvinylpyrrolidone, yielded highly stable, roughly spherical DOX-loaded PEG-b-PLA nanoparticles (DOX.NP) with mean particle size below 100nm, drug loading up to 14%, and drug encapsulation efficiency up to 49%. DOX.NP exhibited a pH-dependent drug release profile with higher cumulative release rate at acidic pHs. Surface analysis of DOX.NP by XPS revealed an absence of DOX on the particle surface, indicative of complete drug encapsulation. While there were no significant differences in cytotoxic effect on P-gp over-expressing LCC6/MDR cell line between DOX.NP and free DOX in buffered aqueous media, DOX.NP exhibited a considerably higher cellular uptake and intracellular retention after efflux. The apparent lack of cytotoxicity enhancement with DOX.NP may be attributable to its slow DOX release inside the cells. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An Alternative to the Ionic Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanderson, R. T.

1975-01-01

Describes the "coordinated polymeric model," which yields more accurate energy calculations than the "ionic model" for compounds which exhibit considerable covalency. The dichotomy between ionic and covalent bonding is thus largely broken down for solids which are nonmolecular in the crystalline state. (MLH)

Microstructure and thermomechanical properties relationship of segmented thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frick, Achim; Borm, Michael; Kaoud, Nouran; Kolodziej, Jan; Neudeck, Jens

2014-05-01

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) are important polymeric materials for seals. In competition with Acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers (NBR), TPU exhibits higher strength and a considerable better abrasion resistance. The advantage of NBR over TPU is a smaller compression set but however TPU excels in its much shorter processing cycle times. Generally a TPU is a block copolymer composed of hard and soft segments, which plays an important role in determining the material properties. TPU can be processed either to ready moulded parts or can be incorporated by multi component moulding, in both cases it shows decent mechanical properties. In the present work, the relationship between melt-process induced TPU morphology and resultant thermo mechanical properties were examined and determined by means of quasi-static tensile test, creep experiment, tension test and dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA). Scanning electron beam microscope (SEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were used to study the morphology of the samples. A significant mathematical description of the stress-strain behaviour of TPU was found using a 3 term approach. Moreover it became evident that processing conditions such as processing temperature have crucial influence on morphology as well as short and long-term performance. To be more precise, samples processed at higher temperatures showed a lack of large hard segment agglomerates, a smaller strength for strains up to 250% and higher creep compliance.

Effect of mechanical alloying synthesis process on the dielectric properties of (Bi{sub 0.5}Na{sub 0.5}){sub 0.94}Ba{sub 0.06}TiO{sub 3} piezoceramics

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

Ghazanfari, Mohammad Reza, E-mail: Ghazanfari.mr@gmail.com; Amini, Rasool; Shams, Seyyedeh Fatemeh

Highlights: • MA samples show higher dielectric permittivity and Curie temperature. • In MA samples, dielectric loss is almost 27% less than conventional ones. • In MA samples, sintering time and temperature are lower than conventional ones. • In MA samples, particle morphology is more homogeneous conventional ones. • In MA samples, crystallite size is smaller conventional ones. - Abstract: In present work, in order to study the effects of synthesis techniques on dielectric properties, the BNBT lead-free piezoceramics with (Bi{sub 0.5}Na{sub 0.5}){sub 0.94}Ba{sub 0.06}TiO{sub 3} stoichiometry (called as BNBT6) were synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) and conventional mixed oxidesmore » methods. The structural, microstructural, and dielectric properties were carried out by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and impedance analyzer LCR meter, respectively. Based on results, the density of MA samples is considerably higher than conventional samples owning to smaller particles size and more uniformity of particle shape of MA samples. Moreover, the dielectric properties of MA samples are comparatively improved in which the dielectric loss of these samples is almost 27% less than conventional ones. Furthermore, MA samples exhibit obviously higher dielectric permittivity and Curie temperature compared to the conventional samples.« less

Triptycene-Based Microporous Cyanate Resins for Adsorption/Separations of Benzene/Cyclohexane and Carbon Dioxide Gas.

PubMed

Deng, Gaoyang; Wang, Zhonggang

2017-11-29

Triptycene-based cyanate monomers 2,6,14-tricyanatotriptycene (TPC) and 2,6,14-tris(4-cyanatophenyl)triptycene (TPPC) that contain different numbers of benzene rings per molecule were synthesized, from which two microporous cyanate resins PCN-TPC and PCN-TPPC were prepared. Of interest is the observation that the two polymers have very similar porosity parameters, but PCN-TPPC uptakes considerably higher benzene (77.8 wt %) than PCN-TPC (17.6 wt %) at room temperature since the higher concentration of phenyl groups in PCN-TPPC enhances the π-π interaction with benzene molecules. Besides, the adsorption capacity of benzene in PCN-TPPC is dramatically 7 times as high as that of cyclohexane. Contrary to the adsorption of organic vapors, at 273 K and 1.0 bar, PCN-TPC with more heteroatoms in the network skeleton displays larger uptake of CO 2 and higher CO 2 /N 2 selectivity (16.4 wt %, 60) than those of PCN-TPPC (14.0 wt %, 39). The excellent and unique adsorption properties exhibit potential applications in the purification of small molecular organic hydrocarbons, e.g., separation of benzene from benzene/cyclohexane mixture as well as CO 2 capture from flue gas. Moreover, the results are helpful for deeply understanding the effect of porous and chemical structures on the adsorption properties of organic hydrocarbons and CO 2 gas.

From "Financial Considerations" to "Poverty": Towards a Reconceptualisation of the Role of Finances in Higher Education Student Drop Out

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breier, Mignonne

2010-01-01

While the role of financial considerations in higher education student dropout is being recognized increasingly, the dominant international literature fails to reflect the extent of socio-economic deprivation among students in countries where many people live below the poverty datum line. This article draws on a study of student retention and…

CMAQ MODELING FOR AIR TOXICS AT FINE SCALES: A PROTOTYPE STUDY

EPA Science Inventory

Toxic air pollutants (TAPs) or hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) exhibit considerable spatial and temporal variability across urban areas. Therefore, the ability of chemical transport models (CTMs), e.g. Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ), to reproduce the spatial and tempor...

Identification and evaluation of pavement-bridge interface ride quality improvement and corrective strategies.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-01-01

Bridge owners have long recognized that the approach pavement at bridges is prone to exhibiting both settlement and : cracking, which manifest as the bump at the end of the bridge. This deterioration requires considerable on-going : maintenance...

Rapid and long-term effects of water deficit on gas exchange and hydraulic conductance of silver birch trees grown under varying atmospheric humidity

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Effects of water deficit on plant water status, gas exchange and hydraulic conductance were investigated in Betula pendula under artificially manipulated air humidity in Eastern Estonia. The study was aimed to broaden an understanding of the ability of trees to acclimate with the increasing atmospheric humidity predicted for northern Europe. Rapidly-induced water deficit was imposed by dehydrating cut branches in open-air conditions; long-term water deficit was generated by seasonal drought. Results The rapid water deficit quantified by leaf (ΨL) and branch water potentials (ΨB) had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on gas exchange parameters, while inclusion of ΨB in models resulted in a considerably better fit than those including ΨL, which supports the idea that stomatal openness is regulated to prevent stem rather than leaf xylem dysfunction. Under moderate water deficit (ΨL≥-1.55 MPa), leaf conductance to water vapour (gL), transpiration rate and leaf hydraulic conductance (KL) were higher (P < 0.05) and leaf temperature lower in trees grown in elevated air humidity (H treatment) than in control trees (C treatment). Under severe water deficit (ΨL<-1.55 MPa), the treatments showed no difference. The humidification manipulation influenced most of the studied characteristics, while the effect was to a great extent realized through changes in soil water availability, i.e. due to higher soil water potential in H treatment. Two functional characteristics (gL, KL) exhibited higher (P < 0.05) sensitivity to water deficit in trees grown under increased air humidity. Conclusions The experiment supported the hypothesis that physiological traits in trees acclimated to higher air humidity exhibit higher sensitivity to rapid water deficit with respect to two characteristics - leaf conductance to water vapour and leaf hydraulic conductance. Disproportionate changes in sensitivity of stomatal versus leaf hydraulic conductance to water deficit will impose greater risk of desiccation-induced hydraulic dysfunction on the plants, grown under high atmospheric humidity, in case of sudden weather fluctuations, and might represent a potential threat in hemiboreal forest ecosystems. There is no trade-off between plant hydraulic capacity and photosynthetic water-use efficiency on short time scale. PMID:24655599

Antibacterial Properties of Visible-Light-Responsive Carbon-Containing Titanium Dioxide Photocatalytic Nanoparticles against Anthrax

PubMed Central

Sun, Der-Shan; Kau, Jyh-Hwa; Huang, Hsin-Hsien; Tseng, Yao-Hsuan; Wu, Wen-Shiang; Chang, Hsin-Hou

2016-01-01

The bactericidal activity of conventional titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst is effective only on irradiation by ultraviolet light, which restricts the applications of TiO2 for use in living environments. Recently, carbon-containing TiO2 nanoparticles [TiO2(C) NP] were found to be a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst (VLRP), which displayed significantly enhanced antibacterial properties under visible light illumination. However, whether TiO2(C) NPs exert antibacterial properties against Bacillus anthracis remains elusive. Here, we evaluated these VLRP NPs in the reduction of anthrax-induced pathogenesis. Bacteria-killing experiments indicated that a significantly higher proportion (40%–60%) of all tested Bacillus species, including B. subtilis, B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, and B. anthracis, were considerably eliminated by TiO2(C) NPs. Toxin inactivation analysis further suggested that the TiO2(C) NPs efficiently detoxify approximately 90% of tested anthrax lethal toxin, a major virulence factor of anthrax. Notably, macrophage clearance experiments further suggested that, even under suboptimal conditions without considerable bacterial killing, the TiO2(C) NP-mediated photocatalysis still exhibited antibacterial properties through the reduction of bacterial resistance against macrophage killing. Our results collectively suggested that TiO2(C) NP is a conceptually feasible anti-anthrax material, and the relevant technologies described herein may be useful in the development of new strategies against anthrax. PMID:28335365

Preparation of robust braid-reinforced poly(vinyl chloride) ultrafiltration hollow fiber membrane with antifouling surface and application to filtration of activated sludge solution.

PubMed

Zhou, Zhuang; Rajabzadeh, Saeid; Fang, Lifeng; Miyoshi, Taro; Kakihana, Yuriko; Matsuyama, Hideto

2017-08-01

Braid-reinforced hollow fiber membranes with high mechanical properties and considerable antifouling surface were prepared by blending poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with poly(vinyl chloride-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (poly(VC-co-PEGMA)) copolymer via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). The tensile strength of the braid-reinforced PVC hollow fiber membranes were significantly larger than those of previously reported various types of PVC hollow fiber membranes. The high interfacial bonding strength indicated the good compatibility between the coating materials and the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-braid. Owing to the surface segregation phenomena, the membrane surface PEGMA coverage increased upon increasing the poly(VC-co-PEGMA)/PVC blending ratio, resulting in higher hydrophilicities and bovine serum albumin (BSA) repulsion. To compare the fouling properties, membranes with similar PWPs were prepared by adjusting the dope solution composition to eliminate the effect of hydrodynamic conditions on the membrane fouling performance. The blend membranes surface exhibited considerable fouling resistance to the molecular adsorption from both BSA solution and activated sludge solution. In both cases, the flux recovered to almost 80% of the initial flux using only water backflush. Considering their great mechanical properties and antifouling resistance to activated sludge solution, these novel membranes show good potential for application in wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Severe Alterations in Lipid Composition of Frontal Cortex Lipid Rafts from Parkinson’s Disease and Incidental Parkinson’s Disease

PubMed Central

Fabelo, Noemí; Martín, Virginia; Santpere, Gabriel; Marín, Raquel; Torrent, Laia; Ferrer, Isidre; Díaz, Mario

2011-01-01

Lipid rafts are cholesterol- and sphingomyelin-enriched microdomains that provide a highly saturated and viscous physicochemical microenvironment to promote protein–lipid and protein–protein interactions. We purified lipid rafts from human frontal cortex from normal, early motor stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and incidental Parkinson’s disease (iPD) subjects and analyzed their lipid composition. We observed that lipid rafts from PD and iPD cortices exhibit dramatic reductions in their contents of n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (22:6-n3) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). Also, saturated fatty acids (16:0 and 18:0) were significantly higher than in control brains. Paralleling these findings, unsaturation and peroxidability indices were considerably reduced in PD and iPD lipid rafts. Lipid classes were also affected in PD and iPD lipid rafts. Thus, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol were increased in PD and iPD, whereas cerebrosides and sulfatides and plasmalogen levels were considerably diminished. Our data pinpoint a dramatic increase in lipid raft order due to the aberrant biochemical structure in PD and iPD and indicate that these abnormalities of lipid rafts in the frontal cortex occur at early stages of PD pathology. The findings correlate with abnormal lipid raft signaling and cognitive decline observed during the development of these neurodegenerative disorders. PMID:21717034

Prevalence of low back pain in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Low back pain (LBP) is common in children and adolescents, and it is becoming a public health concern. In recent years there has been a considerable increase in research studies that examine the prevalence of LBP in this population, but studies exhibit great variability in the prevalence rates reported. The purpose of this research was to examine, by means of a meta-analytic investigation, the prevalence rates of LBP in children and adolescents. Methods Studies were located from computerized databases (ISI Web of Knowledge, MedLine, PEDro, IME, LILACS, and CINAHL) and other sources. The search period extended to April 2011. To be included in the meta-analysis, studies had to report a prevalence rate (whether point, period or lifetime prevalence) of LBP in children and/or adolescents (≤ 18 years old). Two independent researchers coded the moderator variables of the studies, and extracted the prevalence rates. Separate meta-analyses were carried out for the different types of prevalence in order to avoid dependence problems. In each meta-analysis, a random-effects model was assumed to carry out the statistical analyses. Results A total of 59 articles fulfilled the selection criteria. The mean point prevalence obtained from 10 studies was 0.120 (95% CI: 0.09 and 0.159). The mean period prevalence at 12 months obtained from 13 studies was 0.336 (95% CI: 0.269 and 0.410), whereas the mean period prevalence at one week obtained from six studies was 0.177 (95% CI: 0.124 and 0.247). The mean lifetime prevalence obtained from 30 studies was 0.399 (95% CI: 0.342 and 0.459). Lifetime prevalence exhibited a positive, statistically significant relationship with the mean age of the participants in the samples and with the publication year of the studies. Conclusions The most recent studies showed higher prevalence rates than the oldest ones, and studies with a better methodology exhibited higher lifetime prevalence rates than studies that were methodologically poor. Future studies should report more information regarding the definition of LBP and there is a need to improve the methodological quality of studies. PMID:23351394

A greater foraging scale, not a higher foraging precision, may facilitate invasion by exotic plants in nutrient-heterogeneous conditions.

PubMed

Chen, Bao-Ming; Su, Jin-Quan; Liao, Hui-Xuan; Peng, Shao-Lin

2018-03-05

Soil nutrient heterogeneity has been proposed to influence competitive outcomes among different plant species. Thus, it is crucial to understand the effects of environmental heterogeneity on competition between exotic invasive and native species. However, the effects of soil nutrient heterogeneity on the competition between invasive and native plants have rarely been linked to root foraging behaviour. In this study, a competition experiment was performed with two invasive-native species pairs (BP-VC, Bidens pilosa vs. Vernonia cinerea; MM-PS, Mikania micrantha vs. Paederia scandens) grown under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions in a common greenhouse environment. Root activity was assessed by determining the amount of strontium (Sr) taken up by the shoot of each species. The invasive species exhibited a greater foraging scale, whereas the native species exhibited a higher foraging precision. A trade-off between foraging scale and precision was observed within each pair of invasive-native species. Compared with soil homogeneity, soil heterogeneity significantly increased the biomass of the two invasive species, B. pilosa and M. micrantha, under competitive conditions. Within each pair, the invasive species exhibited greater relative competitive ability with respect to shoot mass, and considerably more Sr taken up by the invasive species compared with the native species. The Sr acquisition results indicate that nutrient-poor conditions may facilitate the competitive ability of the native species V. cinerea, whereas M. micrantha may possess a stronger competitive ability regardless of soil nutrient conditions. Soil nutrient heterogeneity has the potential to promote the invasion of these two exotic species due to their larger foraging scale, stronger competitive ability and greater root activity relative to their counterpart native species. The present work highlights the importance of soil heterogeneity in plant invasion, particularly with regards to root foraging traits and competition between invasive and native plants. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Persistent organic pollutants in blood samples of Southern Giant Petrels (Macronectes giganteus) from the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.

PubMed

Colabuono, Fernanda I; Vander Pol, Stacy S; Huncik, Kevin M; Taniguchi, Satie; Petry, Maria V; Kucklick, John R; Montone, Rosalinda C

2016-09-01

Seabirds play an important role as top consumers in the food web and can be used as biomonitors of exposure to pollutants. Contamination studies involving non-destructive sampling methods are of considerable importance, allowing better evaluation of the levels of pollutants and their toxic effects. In the present study, organohalogen contaminants were analyzed in 113 blood samples from Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) adults and chicks collected in the austral summer of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 from colonies on Elephant and Livingston Islands, South Shetland, Antarctica. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), mirex, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroetane and derivatives (DDTs) and chlordanes were detected in all birds, whereas polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were not detected in any blood samples. No significant differences were found in organochlorine levels between sampling events. Adults exhibited significantly higher levels than chicks, except for PeCB. PCBs, HCB, mirex and DDTs were statistically similar in males and females from Elephant Island. Females on Livingston Island exhibited higher HCB values than males, but no sex differences were found regarding other organochlorines. The similarity in organochlorine levels between sexes in birds with very marked sexual segregation in feeding habits during the breeding season may indicate that significant amounts of contaminants are acquired during migration to lower latitudes, when the diets of males and females are similar. Birds sampled on Livingston Island exhibited significantly lower levels of PCBs, HCB, DDTs, mirex and chlordanes in comparison to those on Elephant Island, which could be the result of distinct foraging patterns between the two colonies. Organochlorine levels were similar between years in birds captured in two consecutive breeding seasons. Blood samples from Southern Giant Petrels adults and chicks proved to be useful for the comparison of intraspecific contamination levels and appear to be adequate for the long-term assessment of organohalogen contaminants in antarctic top predators. Organochlorine contaminants in blood samples of Southern Giant Petrels reflected intra-specific differences and suggested distinct foraging patterns between colonies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigating aerosol properties in Peninsular Malaysia via the synergy of satellite remote sensing and ground-based measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanniah, Kasturi Devi; Lim, Hui Qi; Kaskaoutis, Dimitris G.; Cracknell, Arthur P.

2014-03-01

Spatio-temporal variation and trends in atmospheric aerosols as well as their impact on solar radiation and clouds are crucial for regional and global climate change assessment. These topics are not so well-documented over Malaysia, the fact that it receives considerable amounts of pollutants from both local and trans-boundary sources. The present study aims to analyse the spatio-temporal evolution and decadal trend of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors, to identify different types and origin of aerosols and explore the link between aerosols and solar radiation. AOD and fine-mode fraction (FMF) products from MODIS, AOD and Ångström Exponent (AE) values from AERONET stations along with ground-based PM10 measurements and solar radiation recordings at selected sites in Peninsular Malaysia are used for this scope. The MODIS AODs exhibit a wide spatio-temporal variation over Peninsular Malaysia, while Aqua AOD is consistently lower than that from Terra. The AOD shows a neutral-to-declining trend during the 2000s (Terra satellite), while that from Aqua exhibits an increasing trend (~ 0.01 per year). AERONET AODs exhibit either insignificant diurnal variation or higher values during the afternoon, while their short-term availability does not allow for a trend analysis. Moreover, the PM10 concentrations exhibit a general increasing trend over the examined locations. The sources and destination of aerosols are identified via the HYSPLIT trajectory model, revealing that aerosols during the dry season (June to September) are mainly originated from the west and southwest (Sumatra, Indonesia), while in the wet season (November to March) they are mostly associated with the northeast monsoon winds from the southern China Sea. Different aerosol types are identified via the relationship of AOD with FMF, revealing that the urban and biomass-burning aerosols are the most abundant over the region contributing to a significant reduction (~- 0.21 MJ m- 2) of the solar radiation.

Roll diffusion bonding of titanium alloy panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, J.; De Witt, T. E.; Jones, A. G.; Koeller, F.; Muser, C.

1968-01-01

Roll diffusion bonding technique is used for fabricating T-stiffened panel assemblies from titanium alloy. The single unit fabrication exhibits excellent strength characteristics under tensile and compressive loads. This program is applied to structures in which weight/strength ratio and integral construction are important considerations.

Emotional Considerations in Spasmodic Dysphonia: Psychometric Quantification.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cannito, Michael P.

1991-01-01

This study examined emotional characteristics of 18 female spasmodic dysphonic subjects in comparison to matched normal controls across psychometric measures of depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints. Statistically significant differences were noted between groups for all measures and over half of the dysphonic subjects exhibited clinically…

Identification and evaluation of pavement-bridge interface ride quality improvement and corrective strategies : executive summary report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-01-01

Bridge owners have long recognized that the approach pavement at bridges is prone to exhibiting both : settlement and cracking, which manifest as the bump at the end of the bridge. This deterioration : requires considerable on-going maintenance...

Crystallization in Micellar Cores: confinement effects and dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lund, Reidar; Zinn, Thomas; Willner, Lutz; Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo Team; Forschungszentrum Jülich Collaboration

It is well known that liquids confined to small nanoscopic pores and droplets exhibit thermal behavior very different from bulk samples. Here we demonstrate that n-alkanes forming 2-3 nm small micellar cores are considerably affected by confinement in analogue with hard confined systems. We study micelles form by self-assembly of a series of well-defined n-Alkyl-PEO polymers in aqueous solutions. By using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), densiometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), we show that n-alkane exhibit a first-order phase transition i.e. melting. Correlating the structural and thermodynamic data, we find that a melting depression can be accurately described by the Gibbs-Thomson equation. ∖f1 The effect of core crystallinity on the molecular exchange kinetics is investigated using time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS). We show that there are considerable entropic and enthalpic contributions from the chain packing that affect the kinetic stability of micelles. ∖pard

Association of chitosan and aluminium as a new adjuvant strategy for improved vaccination.

PubMed

Lebre, F; Bento, D; Ribeiro, J; Colaço, M; Borchard, G; de Lima, M C Pedroso; Borges, O

2017-07-15

The use of particulate adjuvants offers an interesting possibility to enhance and modulate the immune responses elicited by vaccines. Aluminium salts have been extensively used as vaccine adjuvants, but they lack the capacity to induce a strong cellular and mucosal immune response. Taking this into consideration, in this study we designed a new antigen delivery system combining aluminium salts with chitosan. Chitosan-aluminium nanoparticles (CH-Al NPs) exhibited a mean diameter of 280nm and a positive surface charge. The newly developed CH-Al NPs are more stable at physiological environment than classical CH NPs, showing no cytotoxic effects and revealing potential as a delivery system for a wide range of model antigens. In vivo studies showed that mice immunized with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-containing CH NPs display high anti-HBsAg IgG titers in the serum, as well as the highest antigen-specific IgG on vaginal washes. Furthermore, in contrast to mice receiving antigen alone, mice immunized with the particulate adjuvant were able to elicit IgG2c antibody titers and exhibited higher antigen-specific IFN-γ levels in splenocytes. In conclusion, we established that CH-Al NPs, combining two immunostimulants to enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses, are a safe and promising system for antigen delivery. Our findings point towards their potential in future vaccination approaches. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chronic anger as a precursor to adult antisocial personality features: The moderating influence of cognitive control.

PubMed

Hawes, Samuel W; Perlman, Susan B; Byrd, Amy L; Raine, Adrian; Loeber, Rolf; Pardini, Dustin A

2016-01-01

Anger is among the earliest occurring symptoms of mental health, yet we know little about its developmental course. Further, no studies have examined whether youth with persistent anger are at an increased risk of exhibiting antisocial personality features in adulthood, or how cognitive control abilities may protect these individuals from developing such maladaptive outcomes. Trajectories of anger were delineated among 503 boys using annual assessments from childhood to middle adolescence (ages ∼7-14). Associations between these trajectories and features of antisocial personality in young adulthood (age ∼28) were examined, including whether cognitive control moderates this association. Five trajectories of anger were identified (i.e., childhood-onset, childhood-limited, adolescent-onset, moderate, and low). Boys in the childhood-onset group exhibited the highest adulthood antisocial personality features (e.g., psychopathy, aggression, criminal charges). However, boys in this group were buffered from these problems if they had higher levels of cognitive control during adolescence. Findings were consistent across measures from multiple informants, replicated across distinct time periods, and remained when controlling for general intelligence and prior antisocial behavior. This is the first study to document the considerable heterogeneity in the developmental course of anger from childhood to adolescence. As hypothesized, good cognitive control abilities protected youth with persistent anger problems from developing antisocial personality features in adulthood. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved.

The energetic, physiological, and behavioral response of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) to simulated longline capture.

PubMed

Bouyoucos, Ian A; Suski, Cory D; Mandelman, John W; Brooks, Edward J

2017-05-01

Commercial fisheries bycatch is a considerable threat to elasmobranch population recovery, and techniques to mitigate sub-lethal consequences can be improved with data on the energetic, physiological, and behavioral response of individuals to capture. This study sought to estimate the effects of simulated longline capture on the behavior, energy use, and physiological stress of juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris). Captive sharks equipped with acceleration biologgers were subjected to 1h of simulated longline capture. Swimming behaviors were identified from acceleration data using a machine-learning algorithm, energetic costs were estimated using accelerometer-calibrated relationships and respirometry, and physiological stress was quantified with point-of-care blood analyzers. During capture, sharks exhibited nine-fold increases in the frequency of burst swimming, 98% reductions in resting, and swam as often as unrestrained sharks. Aerobic metabolic rates during capture were 8% higher than for unrestrained sharks, and accounted for a 57.7% increase in activity costs when excess post-exercise oxygen consumption was included. Lastly, sharks exhibited significant increases in blood lactate and glucose, but no change in blood pH after 1h of capture. Therefore, these results provide preliminary insight into the behavioral and energetic responses of sharks to capture, and have implications for mitigating sub-lethal consequences of capture for sharks as commercial longline bycatch. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chronic Anger as a Precursor to Adult Antisocial Personality Features: The Moderating Influence of Cognitive Control

PubMed Central

Hawes, Samuel W.; Perlman, Susan B.; Byrd, Amy L.; Raine, Adrian; Loeber, Rolf; Pardini, Dustin A.

2015-01-01

Anger is among the earliest occurring symptoms of mental health, yet we know little about its developmental course. Further, no studies have examined whether youth with persistent anger are at an increased risk of exhibiting antisocial personality features in adulthood, or how cognitive control abilities may protect these individuals from developing such maladaptive outcomes. Method Trajectories of anger were delineated among 503 boys using annual assessments from childhood to middle adolescence (~ages 7–14). Associations between these trajectories and features of antisocial personality in young adulthood (~age 28) were examined, including whether cognitive control moderates this association. Results Five trajectories of anger were identified (i.e., Childhood-Onset, Childhood-Limited, Adolescent-Onset, Moderate, and Low). Boys in the Childhood-Onset group exhibited the highest adulthood antisocial personality features (e.g., psychopathy, aggression, criminal charges). However, boys in this group were buffered from these problems if they had higher levels of cognitive control during adolescence. Findings were consistent across measures from multiple informants, replicated across distinct time periods, and remained when controlling for general intelligence and prior antisocial behavior. Conclusions This is the first study to document the considerable heterogeneity in the developmental course of anger from childhood to adolescence. As hypothesized, good cognitive control abilities protected youth with persistent anger problems from developing antisocial personality features in adulthood. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed. PMID:26618654

Carbon partitioning in Arabidopsis thaliana is a dynamic process controlled by the plants metabolic status and its circadian clock.

PubMed

Kölling, Katharina; Thalmann, Matthias; Müller, Antonia; Jenny, Camilla; Zeeman, Samuel C

2015-10-01

Plant growth involves the coordinated distribution of carbon resources both towards structural components and towards storage compounds that assure a steady carbon supply over the complete diurnal cycle. We used (14) CO2 labelling to track assimilated carbon in both source and sink tissues. Source tissues exhibit large variations in carbon allocation throughout the light period. The most prominent change was detected in partitioning towards starch, being low in the morning and more than double later in the day. Export into sink tissues showed reciprocal changes. Fewer and smaller changes in carbon allocation occurred in sink tissues where, in most respects, carbon was partitioned similarly, whether the sink leaf assimilated it through photosynthesis or imported it from source leaves. Mutants deficient in the production or remobilization of leaf starch exhibited major alterations in carbon allocation. Low-starch mutants that suffer from carbon starvation at night allocated much more carbon into neutral sugars and had higher rates of export than the wild type, partly because of the reduced allocation into starch, but also because of reduced allocation into structural components. Moreover, mutants deficient in the plant's circadian system showed considerable changes in their carbon partitioning pattern suggesting control by the circadian clock. © 2015 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Plastination: ethical and medico-legal considerations.

PubMed

Bin, Paola; Conti, Adelaide; Buccelli, Claudio; Addeo, Giuseppe; Capasso, Emanuele; Piras, Mauro

2016-01-01

The international plastination phenomenon has proved to be immensely popular with audiences world-wide. Never before has the human body been exposed to public gaze in such an accessible manner. The exhibitions have perplexed many, included anatomists, some of whom find the display of human bodies unethical. The objective of this study is to review the attention on the use of plastination and exhibition of entire human bodies for non-educational or commercial purposes. The nature of these exhibitions and the uneasy balance between entertainment and education has caused heated debate. The possible legitimacy of the expression of one's will as far as exhibition purposes isn't considered sufficient for the indiscriminate use of a corpse despite the ethical necessity of respecting the wishes of individuals based on respect for the deceased. The informed consent of an individual represents only the most basic and minimal prerequisite for the use of the deceased's body for exhibition purposes, and is absolutely not enough on its own to justify its use in entertainment exhibitions or for the commercialization of the death.

Explanatory characteristics for nutrient concentrations and loads in the Sava River Catchment and cross-regionally

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Levi, L.; Cvetkovic, V.; Destouni, G.

2015-12-01

This study compiles estimates of waterborne nutrient concentrations and loads in the Sava River Catchment (SRC). Based on this compilation, we investigate hotspots of nutrient inputs and retention along the river, as well as concentration and load correlations with river discharge and various human drivers of excess nutrient inputs to the SRC. For cross-regional assessment and possible generalization, we also compare corresponding results between the SRC and the Baltic Sea Drainage Basin (BSDB). In the SRC, one small incremental subcatchment, which is located just downstream of Zagreb and has the highest population density among the SRC subcatchments, is identified as a major hotspot for net loading (input minus retention) of both total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) to the river and through it to downstream areas of the SRC. The other SRC subcatchments exhibit relatively similar characteristics with smaller net nutrient loading. The annual loads of both TN and TP along the Sava River exhibit dominant temporal variability with considerably higher correlation with annual river discharge (R2 = 0.51 and 0.28, respectively) than that of annual average nutrient concentrations (R2 = 0.0 versus discharge for both TN and TP). Nutrient concentrations exhibit instead dominant spatial variability with relatively high correlation with population density among the SRC subcatchments (R2=0.43-0.64). These SRC correlation characteristics compare well with corresponding ones for the BSDB, even though the two regions are quite different in their hydroclimatic, agricultural and wastewater treatment conditions. Such cross-regional consistency in dominant variability type and explanatory catchment characteristics may be a useful generalization basis, worthy of further investigation, for at least first-order estimation of nutrient concentration and load conditions in less data-rich regions.

Effect of extrusion processing on the microstructure, mechanical properties, biocorrosion properties and antibacterial properties of Ti-Cu sintered alloys.

PubMed

Zhang, Erlin; Li, Shengyi; Ren, Jing; Zhang, Lan; Han, Yong

2016-12-01

Ti-Cu sintered alloys, Ti-Cu(S) alloy, have exhibited good anticorrosion resistance and strong antibacterial properties, but low ductility in previous study. In this paper, Ti-Cu(S) alloys were subjected to extrusion processing in order to improve the comprehensive property. The phase constitute, microstructure, mechanical property, biocorrosion property and antibacterial activity of the extruded alloys, Ti-Cu(E), were investigated in comparison with Ti-Cu(S) by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) with energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), mechanical testing, electrochemical testing and plate-count method in order to reveal the effect of the extrusion process. XRD, OM and SEM results showed that the extrusion process did not change the phase constitute but refined the grain size and Ti2Cu particle significantly. Ti-Cu(E) alloys exhibited higher hardness and compressive yield strength than Ti-Cu(S) alloys due to the fine grain and Ti2Cu particles. With the consideration of the total compressive strain, it was suggested that the extrusion process could improve the ductility of Ti-Cu alloy(S) alloys. Electrochemical results have indicated that the extrusion process improved the corrosion resistance of Ti-Cu(S) alloys. Plate-count method displayed that both Ti-Cu(S) and Ti-Cu(E) exhibited strong antibacterial activity (>99%) against S. aureus. All these results demonstrated that hot forming processing, such as the extrusion in this study, refined the microstructure and densified the alloy, in turn improved the ductility and strength as well as anticorrosion properties without reduction in antibacterial properties. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sulfation of melatonin: enzymatic characterization, differences of organs, species and genders, and bioactivity variation.

PubMed

Tian, Xiangge; Huo, Xiaokui; Dong, Peipei; Wu, Baojian; Wang, Xiaobo; Wang, Chao; Liu, Kexin; Ma, Xiaochi

2015-04-15

Exogenous melatonin (Mel) is widely used in clinic for multiple therapeutic purposes. In metabolism pathways of Mel, 6-hydroxymelatonin-sulfate (S-O-Mel) and N-acetylserotonin sulfate (S-NAS) are the most abundant metabolites account for over 90% of total Mel metabolites in humans, indicating that sulfation plays an important role in reflecting the functions and clearance of Mel in vivo. In the present study, we characterized Mel sulfation using various human organ cytosols (liver, lung, kidney, small intestine and brain), liver cytosols from five different animal species, and cDNA-expressed human sulfotransferase (SULT) for the first time. Our results demonstrated that liver, lung, kidney and small intestine of humans had high catalytic efficiency for Mel sulfation, however, brain contained a very low reaction rate. Interestingly, organ cytosols prepared from females exhibited higher sulfation activity than those of males. SULT isoforms 1A1, 1A2, 1A3, 1B1 and 1E1 exhibited metabolic activities toward Mel. According to kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax), chemical inhibition, correlation analysis, molecular docking and sulfation assays with recombinant human SULTs isoforms, SULT1A1 was determined as the major enzyme responsible for Mel sulfation. Furthermore, considerable species differences in Mel sulfation were observed, and the total intrinsic clearance rate of Mel sulfation was as follows: monkey>rat>dog>human>pig>mouse. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects of Mel and its sulfated metabolites were evaluated by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells, and S-O-Mel as a bioactive form, exhibited potent bioactivity. Our investigation provided a global view of the enzyme-dependent sulfation of Mel that can guide biomedical research on Mel. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Attentive processes, blood lactate and CrossFit®.

PubMed

Perciavalle, Valentina; Marchetta, Nunzio Salvatore; Giustiniani, Salvatore; Borbone, Carlo; Perciavalle, Vincenzo; Petralia, Maria Cristina; Buscemi, Andrea; Coco, Marinella

2016-11-01

To analyze the influences of blood lactate produced during a specific session of CrossFit® on intensity and selectivity of attention. The first was evaluated by measuring the reaction time and the second by analyzing divided attention with a dual task. Fifteen male professionals of CrossFit® volunteered in the study. The training session was the Workout Of the Day (WOD) called 15.5, marked as: 27-21-15-9 repetitions (without recovery) in term of calories measured by using a rowing ergometer (e.g. 27 rowed calories) and in term of barbell full squats (raising a weight of 43 kg for men and of 29.5 kg for women). Blood lactate, blood glucose, reaction time, execution time of a dual task, number of errors and number of omissions were measured at rest, at the conclusion of the session and 15 minutes after its end. The levels of the blood lactate before the start of the session were considerably higher than those which normally occur at rest (<2 mmol /L), with a mean value of 4.5 mmol /l (± 1.99 SD). At the end of the workout session the blood lactate exhibited a significant increase, reaching a mean value of 13.8 mmol /l (± 1.18 SD) and then returning to values similar to the initial ones after 15 minutes. Blood glucose did not exhibit any statistically significant differences during the session. Reaction time, execution time, number of errors and number of omissions exhibited a significant worsening concomitantly with the increase in blood lactate. Athletes practicing CrossFit®, with high levels of blood lactate even at rest, should consequently have attentional performances somewhat limited.

Phylogeny of Fomitopsis pinicola: A species complex

Treesearch

John Haight; Gary A. Laursen; Jessie A. Glaeser; D. Lee Taylor

2016-01-01

Fungal species with a broad distribution may exhibit considerable genetic variation over their geographic ranges. Variation may develop among populations based on geographic isolation, lack of migration, and genetic drift, though this genetic variation may not always be evident when examining phenotypic characters. Fomitopsis pinicola is an...

9 CFR 147.46 - Committee consideration of proposed changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... changes. 147.46 Section 147.46 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE... proposed changes falling in their respective fields: (1) Egg-type breeding chickens. (2) Meat-type breeding chickens. (3) Breeding turkeys. (4) Breeding waterfowl, exhibition poultry, and game birds. (5) Breeding...

9 CFR 147.46 - Committee consideration of proposed changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... changes. 147.46 Section 147.46 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE... proposed changes falling in their respective fields: (1) Egg-type breeding chickens. (2) Meat-type breeding chickens. (3) Breeding turkeys. (4) Breeding waterfowl, exhibition poultry, and game birds. (5) Breeding...

9 CFR 147.46 - Committee consideration of proposed changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... changes. 147.46 Section 147.46 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE... proposed changes falling in their respective fields: (1) Egg-type breeding chickens. (2) Meat-type breeding chickens. (3) Breeding turkeys. (4) Breeding waterfowl, exhibition poultry, and game birds. (5) Breeding...

9 CFR 147.46 - Committee consideration of proposed changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... changes. 147.46 Section 147.46 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE... proposed changes falling in their respective fields: (1) Egg-type breeding chickens. (2) Meat-type breeding chickens. (3) Breeding turkeys. (4) Breeding waterfowl, exhibition poultry, and game birds. (5) Breeding...

9 CFR 147.46 - Committee consideration of proposed changes.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... changes. 147.46 Section 147.46 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE... proposed changes falling in their respective fields: (1) Egg-type breeding chickens. (2) Meat-type breeding chickens. (3) Breeding turkeys. (4) Breeding waterfowl, exhibition poultry, and game birds. (5) Breeding...

Comparative and Familial Analysis of Handedness in Great Apes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hopkins, William D.

2006-01-01

Historically, population-level handedness has been considered a hallmark of human evolution. Whether nonhuman primates exhibit population-level handedness remains a topic of considerable debate. This paper summarizes published data on handedness in great apes. Comparative analysis indicated that chimpanzees and bonobos show population-level right…

Two Autistic Savant Readers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Connor, N.; Hermelin, B.

1994-01-01

Two young autistic children exhibited normal reading comprehension but reading speeds considerably faster than controls. The effect of randomizing word order was minimal for the older of the two autistic boys. Results indicate that efficient grapheme-phoneme conversion is primarily responsible for the fast reading of the autistic children.…

77 FR 38204 - Cyflufenamid; Pesticide Tolerances

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-27

... minimal frequency and duration of contact; Children young enough to exhibit hand-to-mouth behavior would...) of FFDCA requires EPA to give special consideration to exposure of infants and children to the... that no harm will result to infants and children from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical...

Total and Free Fluoride Concentration in Various Brands of Toothpaste Marketed in India

PubMed Central

Siddanna, Sunitha

2015-01-01

Background For fluoridated toothpaste to be effective in controlling dental caries, an adequate concentration of soluble fluoride must be available in the oral cavity. Aim To determine the total and free fluoride concentration in various brands of toothpaste marketed in India. Materials and Methods Three samples of 12 different toothpastes were purchased from supermarkets in Mysore city, Karnataka, India. Toothpastes were analysed in duplicate using a fluoride ion-specific electrode. The concentration of total fluoride (TF) and total soluble fluoride (TSF) were determined. Results Measured TF was consistent with that declared by the manufacturer in five products. Four toothpastes showed lower TF and two higher TF than declared. Most toothpastes exhibited TSF concentrations similar to the TF content except four samples that displayed considerably lower TSF than TF. Conclusion The measurement of total and free fluoride concentrations of toothpastes available in India showed inhomogenities. Therefore there is a need for stringent regulatory control measures for the determination of fluoride content in toothpastes in developing country like India. PMID:26557607

Dynamics of Internal Tides Over a Shallow Ridge Investigated With a High-Resolution Downscaling Regional Ocean Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masunaga, Eiji; Uchiyama, Yusuke; Suzue, Yota; Yamazaki, Hidekatsu

2018-04-01

This study investigates the dynamics of tidally induced internal waves over a shallow ridge, the Izu-Ogasawara Ridge off the Japanese mainland, using a downscaled high-resolution regional ocean numerical model. Both the Kuroshio and tides contribute to the field of currents in the study area. The model results show strong internal tidal energy fluxes over the ridge, exceeding 3.5 kW m-1, which are higher than the fluxes along the Japanese mainland. The flux in the upstream side of the Kuroshio is enhanced by an interaction of internal waves and currents. The tidal forcing induces 92% of the total internal wave energy flux, exhibiting the considerable dominance of tides in internal waves. The tidal forcing enhances the kinetic energy, particularly in the northern area of the ridge where the Kuroshio Current is not a direct influence. The tidal forcing contributes to roughly 30% of the total kinetic energy in the study area.

Long-term effect of the antibiotic cefalexin on methane production during waste activated sludge anaerobic digestion.

PubMed

Lu, Xueqin; Zhen, Guangyin; Liu, Yuan; Hojo, Toshimasa; Estrada, Adriana Ledezma; Li, Yu-You

2014-10-01

Long-term experiments herein were conducted to investigate the effect of cefalexin (CLX) on methane production during waste activated sludge (WAS) anaerobic digestion. CLX exhibited a considerable inhibition in methane production during the initial 25 days while the negative effect attenuated subsequently and methane production recovered depending on CLX doses used (600 and 1000 mg/L). The highest methane yield reached 450 mL at 1000 mg-CLX/L after 157 days of digestion, 63.8% higher than CLX-free one. Stimulated excretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by CLX served as microbial protecting layers, creating a suitable environment for microbes' growth and fermentation. Further examination via ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectra also verified the elevated slime EPS, LB-EPS and TB-EPS indicated by UV-254 in the presence of CLX. Unlike the commonly accepted adverse effect, this study demonstrated the beneficial role of CLX in methane production, providing new insights into its true environmental impacts. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen production by Tuning the Photonic Band Gap with the Electronic Band Gap of TiO2

PubMed Central

Waterhouse, G. I. N.; Wahab, A. K.; Al-Oufi, M.; Jovic, V.; Anjum, D. H.; Sun-Waterhouse, D.; Llorca, J.; Idriss, H.

2013-01-01

Tuning the photonic band gap (PBG) to the electronic band gap (EBG) of Au/TiO2 catalysts resulted in considerable enhancement of the photocatalytic water splitting to hydrogen under direct sunlight. Au/TiO2 (PBG-357 nm) photocatalyst exhibited superior photocatalytic performance under both UV and sunlight compared to the Au/TiO2 (PBG-585 nm) photocatalyst and both are higher than Au/TiO2 without the 3 dimensionally ordered macro-porous structure materials. The very high photocatalytic activity is attributed to suppression of a fraction of electron-hole recombination route due to the co-incidence of the PBG with the EBG of TiO2 These materials that maintain their activity with very small amount of sacrificial agents (down to 0.5 vol.% of ethanol) are poised to find direct applications because of their high activity, low cost of the process, simplicity and stability. PMID:24108361

Broadband and fabrication-tolerant on-chip scalable mode-division multiplexing based on mode-evolution counter-tapered couplers.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Xuan, Yi; Qi, Minghao; Huang, Haiyang; Li, You; Li, Ming; Chen, Xin; Sheng, Zhen; Wu, Aimin; Li, Wei; Wang, Xi; Zou, Shichang; Gan, Fuwan

2015-05-01

A broadband and fabrication-tolerant on-chip scalable mode-division multiplexing (MDM) scheme based on mode-evolution counter-tapered couplers is designed and experimentally demonstrated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. Due to the broadband advantage offered by mode evolution, the two-mode MDM link exhibits a very large, -1  dB bandwidth of >180  nm, which is considerably larger than most of the previously reported MDM links whether they are based on mode-interference or evolution. In addition, the performance metrics remain stable for large-device width deviations from the designed valued by -60  nm to 40 nm, and for temperature variations from -25°C to 75°C. This MDM scheme can be readily extended to higher-order mode multiplexing and a three-mode MDM link is measured with less than -10  dB crosstalk from 1.46 to 1.64 μm wavelength range.

Effect of chromosome constitution variations on the expression of Turner phenotype.

PubMed

Bispo, A V S; Dos Santos, L O; Burégio-Frota, P; Galdino, M B; Duarte, A R; Leal, G F; Araújo, J; Gomes, B; Soares-Ventura, E M; Muniz, M T C; Santos, N

2013-03-13

Turner syndrome (TS) is a chronic disease related to haploinsufficiency of genes that are normally expressed in both X chromosomes in patients with female phenotype that is associated with a wide range of somatic malformations. We made detailed cytogenetic and clinical analysis of 65 patients with TS from the region of Recife, Brazil, to determine the effects of different chromosome constitutions on expression of the TS phenotype. Overall, patients with X-monosomy exhibited a tendency to have more severe phenotypes with higher morbidity, showing its importance in TS prognosis. Additionally, we found rare genetic and phenotypic abnormalities associated with this syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of 45,X,t(11;12)(q22;q22) described as a TS karyotype. Turner patients usually have normal intelligence; however, moderate to severe levels of mental retardation were found in 5 TS cases, which is considerate a very uncommon feature in this syndrome.

Oxidative Stress Response Tips the Balance in Aspergillus terreus Amphotericin B Resistance

PubMed Central

Blatzer, Michael; Posch, Wilfried; Steger, Marion; Binder, Ulrike; Lass-Flörl, Cornelia

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT In this study, we characterize the impact of antioxidative enzymes in amphotericin B (AmB)-resistant (ATR) and rare AmB-susceptible (ATS) clinical Aspergillus terreus isolates. We elucidate expression profiles of superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and catalase (CAT)-encoding genes, enzymatic activities of SODs, and superoxide anion production and signaling pathways involved in the oxidative stress response (OSR) in ATS and ATR strains under AmB treatment conditions. We show that ATR strains possess almost doubled basal SOD activity compared to that of ATS strains and that ATR strains exhibit an enhanced OSR, with significantly higher sod2 mRNA levels and significantly increased cat transcripts in ATR strains upon AmB treatment. In particular, inhibition of SOD and CAT proteins renders resistant isolates considerably susceptible to the drug in vitro. In conclusion, this study shows that SODs and CATs are crucial for AmB resistance in A. terreus and that targeting the OSR might offer new treatment perspectives for resistant species. PMID:28739793

Ultrastrong ductile and stable high-entropy alloys at small scales.

PubMed

Zou, Yu; Ma, Huan; Spolenak, Ralph

2015-07-10

Refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of emerging multi-component alloys, showing superior mechanical properties at elevated temperatures and being technologically interesting. However, they are generally brittle at room temperature, fail by cracking at low compressive strains and suffer from limited formability. Here we report a strategy for the fabrication of refractory HEA thin films and small-sized pillars that consist of strongly textured, columnar and nanometre-sized grains. Such HEA pillars exhibit extraordinarily high yield strengths of ∼ 10 GPa--among the highest reported strengths in micro-/nano-pillar compression and one order of magnitude higher than that of its bulk form--and their ductility is considerably improved (compressive plastic strains over 30%). Additionally, we demonstrate that such HEA films show substantially enhanced stability for high-temperature, long-duration conditions (at 1,100 °C for 3 days). Small-scale HEAs combining these properties represent a new class of materials in small-dimension devices potentially for high-stress and high-temperature applications.

Genome-wide association analyses identify 44 risk variants and refine the genetic architecture of major depression.

PubMed

Wray, Naomi R; Ripke, Stephan; Mattheisen, Manuel; Trzaskowski, Maciej; Byrne, Enda M; Abdellaoui, Abdel; Adams, Mark J; Agerbo, Esben; Air, Tracy M; Andlauer, Till M F; Bacanu, Silviu-Alin; Bækvad-Hansen, Marie; Beekman, Aartjan F T; Bigdeli, Tim B; Binder, Elisabeth B; Blackwood, Douglas R H; Bryois, Julien; Buttenschøn, Henriette N; Bybjerg-Grauholm, Jonas; Cai, Na; Castelao, Enrique; Christensen, Jane Hvarregaard; Clarke, Toni-Kim; Coleman, Jonathan I R; Colodro-Conde, Lucía; Couvy-Duchesne, Baptiste; Craddock, Nick; Crawford, Gregory E; Crowley, Cheynna A; Dashti, Hassan S; Davies, Gail; Deary, Ian J; Degenhardt, Franziska; Derks, Eske M; Direk, Nese; Dolan, Conor V; Dunn, Erin C; Eley, Thalia C; Eriksson, Nicholas; Escott-Price, Valentina; Kiadeh, Farnush Hassan Farhadi; Finucane, Hilary K; Forstner, Andreas J; Frank, Josef; Gaspar, Héléna A; Gill, Michael; Giusti-Rodríguez, Paola; Goes, Fernando S; Gordon, Scott D; Grove, Jakob; Hall, Lynsey S; Hannon, Eilis; Hansen, Christine Søholm; Hansen, Thomas F; Herms, Stefan; Hickie, Ian B; Hoffmann, Per; Homuth, Georg; Horn, Carsten; Hottenga, Jouke-Jan; Hougaard, David M; Hu, Ming; Hyde, Craig L; Ising, Marcus; Jansen, Rick; Jin, Fulai; Jorgenson, Eric; Knowles, James A; Kohane, Isaac S; Kraft, Julia; Kretzschmar, Warren W; Krogh, Jesper; Kutalik, Zoltán; Lane, Jacqueline M; Li, Yihan; Li, Yun; Lind, Penelope A; Liu, Xiaoxiao; Lu, Leina; MacIntyre, Donald J; MacKinnon, Dean F; Maier, Robert M; Maier, Wolfgang; Marchini, Jonathan; Mbarek, Hamdi; McGrath, Patrick; McGuffin, Peter; Medland, Sarah E; Mehta, Divya; Middeldorp, Christel M; Mihailov, Evelin; Milaneschi, Yuri; Milani, Lili; Mill, Jonathan; Mondimore, Francis M; Montgomery, Grant W; Mostafavi, Sara; Mullins, Niamh; Nauck, Matthias; Ng, Bernard; Nivard, Michel G; Nyholt, Dale R; O'Reilly, Paul F; Oskarsson, Hogni; Owen, Michael J; Painter, Jodie N; Pedersen, Carsten Bøcker; Pedersen, Marianne Giørtz; Peterson, Roseann E; Pettersson, Erik; Peyrot, Wouter J; Pistis, Giorgio; Posthuma, Danielle; Purcell, Shaun M; Quiroz, Jorge A; Qvist, Per; Rice, John P; Riley, Brien P; Rivera, Margarita; Saeed Mirza, Saira; Saxena, Richa; Schoevers, Robert; Schulte, Eva C; Shen, Ling; Shi, Jianxin; Shyn, Stanley I; Sigurdsson, Engilbert; Sinnamon, Grant B C; Smit, Johannes H; Smith, Daniel J; Stefansson, Hreinn; Steinberg, Stacy; Stockmeier, Craig A; Streit, Fabian; Strohmaier, Jana; Tansey, Katherine E; Teismann, Henning; Teumer, Alexander; Thompson, Wesley; Thomson, Pippa A; Thorgeirsson, Thorgeir E; Tian, Chao; Traylor, Matthew; Treutlein, Jens; Trubetskoy, Vassily; Uitterlinden, André G; Umbricht, Daniel; Van der Auwera, Sandra; van Hemert, Albert M; Viktorin, Alexander; Visscher, Peter M; Wang, Yunpeng; Webb, Bradley T; Weinsheimer, Shantel Marie; Wellmann, Jürgen; Willemsen, Gonneke; Witt, Stephanie H; Wu, Yang; Xi, Hualin S; Yang, Jian; Zhang, Futao; Arolt, Volker; Baune, Bernhard T; Berger, Klaus; Boomsma, Dorret I; Cichon, Sven; Dannlowski, Udo; de Geus, E C J; DePaulo, J Raymond; Domenici, Enrico; Domschke, Katharina; Esko, Tõnu; Grabe, Hans J; Hamilton, Steven P; Hayward, Caroline; Heath, Andrew C; Hinds, David A; Kendler, Kenneth S; Kloiber, Stefan; Lewis, Glyn; Li, Qingqin S; Lucae, Susanne; Madden, Pamela F A; Magnusson, Patrik K; Martin, Nicholas G; McIntosh, Andrew M; Metspalu, Andres; Mors, Ole; Mortensen, Preben Bo; Müller-Myhsok, Bertram; Nordentoft, Merete; Nöthen, Markus M; O'Donovan, Michael C; Paciga, Sara A; Pedersen, Nancy L; Penninx, Brenda W J H; Perlis, Roy H; Porteous, David J; Potash, James B; Preisig, Martin; Rietschel, Marcella; Schaefer, Catherine; Schulze, Thomas G; Smoller, Jordan W; Stefansson, Kari; Tiemeier, Henning; Uher, Rudolf; Völzke, Henry; Weissman, Myrna M; Werge, Thomas; Winslow, Ashley R; Lewis, Cathryn M; Levinson, Douglas F; Breen, Gerome; Børglum, Anders D; Sullivan, Patrick F

2018-05-01

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common illness accompanied by considerable morbidity, mortality, costs, and heightened risk of suicide. We conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis based in 135,458 cases and 344,901 controls and identified 44 independent and significant loci. The genetic findings were associated with clinical features of major depression and implicated brain regions exhibiting anatomical differences in cases. Targets of antidepressant medications and genes involved in gene splicing were enriched for smaller association signal. We found important relationships of genetic risk for major depression with educational attainment, body mass, and schizophrenia: lower educational attainment and higher body mass were putatively causal, whereas major depression and schizophrenia reflected a partly shared biological etiology. All humans carry lesser or greater numbers of genetic risk factors for major depression. These findings help refine the basis of major depression and imply that a continuous measure of risk underlies the clinical phenotype.

Evaluation of the Effects of Rivastigmine on Cigarette Smoking by Methamphetamine-Dependent Volunteers

PubMed Central

De La Garza, R.; Yoon, J.H.

2011-01-01

Compared to smokers alone, smokers with co-morbid substance use disorders are at greater risk of suffering from smoking-related death. Despite this, relatively few studies have examined smoking cessation treatments for those with stimulant dependence. In the current study, we sought to evaluate the effects of produced by short-term exposure to the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine (0, 3 or 6 mg) on cigarette smoking in non-treatment-seeking, methamphetamine-dependent volunteers. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study that took place over 9 days. The data indicate that rivastigmine treatment did not alter Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence scores, carbon monoxide readings, or cigarettes smoked per day, but a trend toward reduced urges to smoke (p<0.09) was detected during treatment with rivastigmine 3 mg. These data, while preliminary, indicate that cholinesterase inhibitors warrant further consideration as treatments for nicotine dependence, including use in stimulant-dependent individuals who exhibit significantly higher rates of smoking than the general population. PMID:21803113

Thermal degradation of a black chrome solar selective absorber coating: short term

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

Lampert, C.M.

1979-05-01

Both the energy absorption properties and chemical microstructure of CHROM-ONYX were investigated using electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Different temperatures for short annealing times were used to evaluate this coating's temperature resistance limitations along with possible degradation mechanisms for various stagnation situations. Samples were tested in both air and vacuum. As a result, each sample regardless of atmosphere was characteristically similar, with air acting to mildly accelerate optical degradation at higher temperatures. Below 300 to 400/sup 0/C black chrome exhibited a structural transformation precipitating Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/. Above 500/sup 0/C this phase grew considerably, while chromium was depleted. Atmore » 600/sup 0/C and above, a new dominant phase developed corresponding to NiCr/sub 2/O/sub 4/, a cubic spinel. However, for all practical purposes black chrome optically degraded between 500 to 600/sup 0/C during short exposure times.« less

Comparative performances of eggs and embryos of sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) in toxicity bioassays used for assessment of marine sediment quality.

PubMed

Khosrovyan, A; Rodríguez-Romero, A; Salamanca, M J; Del Valls, T A; Riba, I; Serrano, F

2013-05-15

The potential toxicity of sediments from various ports was assessed by means of two different liquid-phase toxicity bioassays (acute and chronic) with embryos and eggs of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Performances of embryos and eggs of P. lividus in these bioassays were compared for their interchangeable applicability in integrated sediment quality assessment. The obtained endpoints (percentages of normally developed plutei and fertilized eggs) were linked to physical and chemical properties of sediments and demonstrated dependence on sediment contamination. The endpoints in the two bioassays were strongly correlated and generally exhibited similar tendency throughout the samples. Therein, embryos demonstrated higher sensitivity to elutriate exposure, compared to eggs. It was concluded that these tests could be used interchangeably for testing toxicity of marine sediments. Preferential use of any of the bioassays can be determined by the discriminatory capacity of the test or vulnerability consideration of the test subject to the surrounding conditions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Radiation dosimetry properties of smartphone CMOS sensors.

PubMed

Van Hoey, Olivier; Salavrakos, Alexia; Marques, Antonio; Nagao, Alexandre; Willems, Ruben; Vanhavere, Filip; Cauwels, Vanessa; Nascimento, Luana F

2016-03-01

During the past years, several smartphone applications have been developed for radiation detection. These applications measure radiation using the smartphone camera complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor sensor. They are potentially useful for data collection and personal dose assessment in case of a radiological incident. However, it is important to assess these applications. Six applications were tested by means of irradiations with calibrated X-ray and gamma sources. It was shown that the measurement stabilises only after at least 10-25 min. All applications exhibited a flat dose rate response in the studied ambient dose equivalent range from 2 to 1000 μSv h(-1). Most applications significantly over- or underestimate the dose rate or are not calibrated in terms of dose rate. A considerable energy dependence was observed below 100 keV but not for the higher energy range more relevant for incident scenarios. Photon impact angle variation gave a measured signal variation of only about 10 %. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Assessing the spatiotemporal dynamic of global grassland carbon use efficiency in response to climate change from 2000 to 2013

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yue; Wang, Zhaoqi; Li, Jianlong; Gang, Chencheng; Zhang, Yanzhen; Odeh, Inakwu; Qi, Jiaguo

2017-05-01

The carbon use efficiency (CUE) of grassland, a ratio of net primary production (NPP) to gross primary productivity (GPP), is an important index representing the capacity of plants to transfer carbon from the atmosphere to terrestrial biomass. In this study, we used the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data to calculate the global grassland CUE, and explore the spatiotemporal dynamic of global grassland CUE from 2000 to 2013 to discuss the response to climate variations. The results showed that the average annual CUE of different grassland types follows an order of: open shrublands > non-woody grasslands > closed shrublands > woody savannas > savannas. The higher grassland CUE mainly occurred in the regions with cold and dry climate. By contrast, the regions with the lower grassland CUE were mostly in warm and wet environments. Moreover, the CUE exhibited a globally positive correlation with precipitation and a negative correlation with temperature. Therefore, the grassland CUE has considerable spatial variation associated with grassland type, geographical location and climate change.

Neurobehavioral effects of aspartame consumption.

PubMed

Lindseth, Glenda N; Coolahan, Sonya E; Petros, Thomas V; Lindseth, Paul D

2014-06-01

Despite its widespread use, the artificial sweetener aspartame remains one of the most controversial food additives, due to mixed evidence on its neurobehavioral effects. Healthy adults who consumed a study-prepared high-aspartame diet (25 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days and a low-aspartame diet (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days, with a 2-week washout between the diets, were examined for within-subject differences in cognition, depression, mood, and headache. Measures included weight of foods consumed containing aspartame, mood and depression scales, and cognitive tests for working memory and spatial orientation. When consuming high-aspartame diets, participants had more irritable mood, exhibited more depression, and performed worse on spatial orientation tests. Aspartame consumption did not influence working memory. Given that the higher intake level tested here was well below the maximum acceptable daily intake level of 40-50 mg/kg body weight/day, careful consideration is warranted when consuming food products that may affect neurobehavioral health. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Neurobehavioral Effects of Aspartame Consumption

PubMed Central

Lindseth, Glenda N.; Coolahan, Sonya E.; Petros, Thomas V.; Lindseth, Paul D.

2017-01-01

Despite its widespread use, the artificial sweetener aspartame remains one of the most controversial food additives, due to mixed evidence on its neurobehavioral effects. Healthy adults who consumed a study-prepared high-aspartame diet (25 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days and a low-aspartame diet (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days, with a 2-week washout between the diets, were examined for within-subject differences in cognition, depression, mood, and headache. Measures included weight of foods consumed containing aspartame, mood and depression scales, and cognitive tests for working memory and spatial orientation. When consuming high-aspartame diets, participants had more irritable mood, exhibited more depression, and performed worse on spatial orientation tests. Aspartame consumption did not influence working memory. Given that the higher intake level tested here was well below the maximum acceptable daily intake level of 40–50 mg/kg body weight/day, careful consideration is warranted when consuming food products that may affect neurobehavioral health. PMID:24700203

Synthesis, spectroscopic, and photophysical characterization and photosensitizing activity toward prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells of porphyrin-magainin and -buforin conjugates.

PubMed

Dosselli, Ryan; Ruiz-González, Rubén; Moret, Francesca; Agnolon, Valentina; Compagnin, Chiara; Mognato, Maddalena; Sella, Valentina; Agut, Montserrat; Nonell, Santi; Gobbo, Marina; Reddi, Elena

2014-02-27

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are attractive tools to combat infectious diseases and to stem further development of antibiotic resistance. In an attempt to increase the efficiency of bacteria inactivation, we conjugated a PDT photosensitizer, cationic or neutral porphyrin, to a CAMP, buforin or magainin. The neutral and hydrophobic porphyrin, which is not photoactive per se against Gram-negative bacteria, efficiently photoinactivated Escherichia coli after conjugation to either buforin or magainin. Conjugation to magainin resulted in the considerable strengthening of the cationic and hydrophilic porphyrin's interaction with the bacterial cells, as shown by the higher bacteria photoinactivation activity retained after washing the bacterial suspension. The porphyrin-peptide conjugates also exhibited strong interaction capability as well as photoactivity toward eukaryotic cells, namely, human fibroblasts. These findings suggest that these CAMPs have the potential to carry drugs and other types of cargo inside mammalian cells similar to cell-penetrating peptides.

Cyclic stability of superelasticity in the aged [ {bar{1}}23 ]-oriented Ni49Fe18Ga27Co6 single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panchenko, E. Yu.; Chumlyakov, Yu. I.; Timofeeva, E. E.; Vetoshkina, N. G.; Maier, H.

2013-02-01

The results of investigation of the effect of precipitates of different sizes, from 5 to 300 nm, on the character of stress-induced martensitic transformations, the value of stress hysteresis and cyclic stability of superelasticity in Ni49Fe18Ga27Со6 (at.%) ferromagnetic single crystals oriented along the [ {bar{1}}23 ] axis are presented. It is shown that a martensitic transformation in single crystals of Ni49Fe18Ga27Со6 containing dispersed particles of the γ- and γ'-phases measuring up to 30 nm (ageing at 673 K for 1 and 4 hours) is characterized by storing considerable elastic energy. It is revealed that these single crystals exhibit higher cyclic stability of superelasticity and a narrower stress hysteresis compared to those in the initial state and aged at 823 K for 0.5 hour, the latter containing much larger (150-300 nm) particles.

Three-dimensional phonon population anisotropy in silicon nanomembranes

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

McElhinny, Kyle M.; Gopalakrishnan, Gokul; Holt, Martin V.

Nanoscale single crystals possess modified phonon dispersions due to the truncation of the crystal. The introduction of surfaces alters the population of phonons relative to the bulk and introduces anisotropy arising from the breaking of translational symmetry. Such modifications exist throughout the Brillouin zone, even in structures with dimensions of several nanometers, posing a challenge to the characterization of vibrational properties and leading to uncertainty in predicting the thermal, optical, and electronic properties of nanomaterials. Synchrotron x-ray thermal diffuse scattering studies find that freestanding Si nanomembranes with thicknesses as large as 21 nm exhibit a higher scattering intensity per unitmore » thickness than bulk silicon. In addition, the anisotropy arising from the finite thickness of these membranes produces particularly intense scattering along reciprocal-space directions normal to the membrane surface compared to corresponding in-plane directions. These results reveal the dimensions at which calculations of materials properties and device characteristics based on bulk phonon dispersions require consideration of the nanoscale size of the crystal.« less

Precision medicine and drug development in Alzheimer's disease: The importance of sexual dimorphism and patient stratification.

PubMed

Hampel, Harald; Vergallo, Andrea; Giorgi, Filippo Sean; Kim, Seung Hyun; Depypere, Herman; Graziani, Manuela; Saidi, Amira; Nisticò, Robert; Lista, Simone

2018-06-12

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are among the leading causes of disability and mortality. Considerable sex differences exist in the occurrence of the various manifestations leading to cognitive decline. Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits substantial sexual dimorphisms and disproportionately affects women. Women have a higher life expectancy compared to men and, consequently, have more lifespan to develop AD. The emerging precision medicine and pharmacology concepts - taking into account the individual genetic and biological variability relevant for disease risk, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment - are expected to substantially enhance our knowledge and management of AD. Stratifying the affected individuals by sex and gender is an important basic step towards personalization of scientific research, drug development, and care. We hypothesize that sex and gender differences, extending from genetic to psychosocial domains, are highly relevant for the understanding of AD pathophysiology, and for the conceptualization of basic/translational research and for clinical therapy trial design. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Using Solid State Drives as a Mid-Tier Cache in Enterprise Database OLTP Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khessib, Badriddine M.; Vaid, Kushagra; Sankar, Sriram; Zhang, Chengliang

When originally introduced, flash based solid state drives (SSD) exhibited a very high random read throughput with low sub-millisecond latencies. However, in addition to their steep prices, SSDs suffered from slow write rates and reliability concerns related to cell wear. For these reasons, they were relegated to a niche status in the consumer and personal computer market. Since then, several architectural enhancements have been introduced that led to a substantial increase in random write operations as well as a reasonable improvement in reliability. From a purely performance point of view, these high I/O rates and improved reliability make the SSDs an ideal choice for enterprise On-Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) applications. However, from a price/performance point of view, the case for SSDs may not be clear. Enterprise class SSD Price/GB, continues to be at least 10x higher than conventional magnetic hard disk drives (HDD) despite considerable drop in Flash chip prices.

Biogenic twinned crystals exhibiting unique morphological symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirsch, Anna; Gur, Dvir; Palmer, Ben; Addadi, Lia; Leiserowitz, Leslie; Kronik, Leeor

Guanine crystals are widely used in nature as components of multilayer reflectors. Organisms control the size, morphology, and arrangement of these crystals, to obtain a variety of optical ''devices''. The reflection systems found in the lens of the scallop eye and in the copepod cuticle are unique in that the multilayered reflectors are tiled together to form a contiguous packed array. In the former, square crystals are tiled to form a reflecting mirror. In the latter, hexagonal crystals are closely packed to produce brilliant colors. Based on electron diffraction, morphology considerations, and density functional theory, these crystals were shown to possess similar monoclinic crystal symmetry, which we have previously identified as different from that of synthetic anhydrous guanine. However, the crystals are different in that multiple twinning about the {012} and the {011} crystallographic planes results in square and hexagonal morphology, respectively. This is a unique example where controlled twinning is used as a strategy to form a morphology with higher symmetry than that of the underlying crystal, allowing for tilling that facilitates optical functionality.

Structural characterization and evaluation of the antioxidant activities of polysaccharides extracted from Qingzhuan brick tea.

PubMed

Yang, Xinhe; Huang, Mingjun; Qin, Caiqin; Lv, Bangyu; Mao, Qingli; Liu, Zhonghua

2017-08-01

The crude tea polysaccharides (CTPS) from Qingzhuan brick tea(QZBT) were extracted and fractionated to afford two fractions, namely TPS-1 and TPS-2. Analyses were conducted concerning the structural characterization and antioxidant activities of these samples. Component analysis revealed that the carbohydrate, uronic acid, protein and polyphenol contents of these samples differed significantly. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed that these samples showed similar characteristic absorption peaks for polysaccharides. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analyses indicated that there were considerable differences in the presence of protein, surface features, conformational characteristics and thermodynamic behaviors. For antioxidant activities in vitro, CTPS, TPS-1 and TPS-2 exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activities, with TPS-2 showing significantly higher antioxidant activity than CTPS and TPS-1. These results provide a scientific and strong foundation for the use of tea polysaccharides(TPS) from QZBT and further research towards the relationships between the characteristics and antioxidant activities of TPS. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit soluble phenolics composition and anti-atherogenic properties in nine Israeli varieties.

PubMed

Borochov-Neori, Hamutal; Judeinstein, Sylvie; Greenberg, Amnon; Volkova, Nina; Rosenblat, Mira; Aviram, Michael

2013-05-08

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit soluble phenolics composition and anti-atherogenic properties were examined in nine diverse Israeli grown varieties. Ethanol and acetone extracts of 'Amari', 'Barhi', 'Deglet Noor', 'Deri', 'Hadrawi', 'Hallawi', 'Hayani', 'Medjool', and 'Zahidi' fruit were analyzed for phenolics composition by RP-HPLC and tested for anti-atherogenicity by measuring their effects on LDL susceptibility to copper ion- and free radical-induced oxidation, and on serum-mediated cholesterol efflux from macrophages. The most frequently detected phenolics were hydroxybenzoates, hydroxycinnamates, and flavonols. Significant differences in phenolics composition were established between varieties as well as extraction solvents. All extracts inhibited LDL oxidation, and most extracts also stimulated cholesterol removal from macrophages. Considerable varietal differences were measured in the levels of the bioactivities. Also, acetone extracts exhibited a significantly higher anti-atherogenic potency for most varieties. The presence of soluble ingredients with anti-atherogenic capacities in dates and the possible involvement of phenolics are discussed.

Thermodynamic study of dihydrogen phosphate dimerisation and complexation with novel urea- and thiourea-based receptors.

PubMed

Bregović, Nikola; Cindro, Nikola; Frkanec, Leo; Užarević, Krunoslav; Tomišić, Vladislav

2014-11-24

Complexation of dihydrogen phosphate by novel thiourea and urea receptors in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide was studied in detail by an integrated approach by using several methods (isothermal titration calorimetry, ESI-MS, and (1)H NMR and UV spectroscopy). Thermodynamic investigations into H2PO4(-) dimerisation, which is a process that has been frequently recognised, but rarely quantitatively described, were carried out as well. The corresponding equilibrium was taken into account in the anion-binding studies, which enabled reliable determination of the complexation thermodynamic quantities. In both solvents the thiourea derivatives exhibited considerably higher binding affinities with respect to those containing the urea moiety. In acetonitrile, 1:1 and 2:1 (anion/receptor) complexes formed, whereas in dimethyl sulfoxide only the significantly less stable complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry were detected. The solvent effects on the thermodynamic parameters of dihydrogen phosphate dimerisation and complexation reactions are discussed. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Density Functional Theory (dft) Simulations of Shocked Liquid Xenon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattsson, Thomas R.; Magyar, Rudolph J.

2009-12-01

Xenon is not only a technologically important element used in laser technologies and jet propulsion, but it is also one of the most accessible materials in which to study the metal-insulator transition with increasing pressure. Because of its closed shell electronic configuration, xenon is often assumed to be chemically inert, interacting almost entirely through the van der Waals interaction, and at liquid density, is typically modeled well using Leonard-Jones potentials. However, such modeling has a limited range of validity as xenon is known to form compounds under normal conditions and likely exhibits considerably more chemistry at higher densities when hybridization of occupied orbitals becomes significant. We present DFT-MD simulations of shocked liquid xenon with the goal of developing an improved equation of state. The calculated Hugoniot to 2 MPa compares well with available experimental shock data. Sandia is a mul-tiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Density Functional Theory (DFT) Simulations of Shocked Liquid Xenon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattsson, Thomas R.; Magyar, Rudolph J.

2009-06-01

Xenon is not only a technologically important element used in laser technologies and jet propulsion, but it is also one of the most accessible materials in which to study the metal-insulator transition with increasing pressure. Because of its closed shell electronic configuration, Xenon is often assumed to be chemically inert, interacting almost entirely through the van der Waals interaction, and at liquid density, is typically modeled well using Leonard-Jones potentials. However, such modeling has a limited range of validity as Xenon is known to form compounds at normal conditions and likely exhibits considerably more chemistry at higher densities when hybridization of occupied orbitals becomes significant. In this talk, we present DFT-MD simulations of shocked liquid Xenon with the goal of developing an improved equation of state. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Radar detection of surface oil accumulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Estes, J. E.; Oneill, P.; Wilson, M.

1980-01-01

The United States Coast Guard is developing AIREYE, an all weather, day/night airborne surveillance system, for installation aboard future medium range surveillance aircraft. As part of this program, a series of controlled tests were conducted off southern California to evaluate the oil slick detection capabilities of two Motorola developed, side looking radars. The systems, a real aperture AN/APS-94D and a synthetic aperture coherent on receive (COR) were flown over the Santa Barbara Channel on May 19, 1976. Targets imaged during the coincident overflights included natural oil seepage, simulated oil spills, oil production platforms, piers, mooring buoys, commercial boats and barges at other targets. Based on an analysis of imagery from the coincident radar runs, COR provides better detection of natural and man made oil slicks, whereas the AN/APS-94D consistently exhibited higher surface target detection results. This and other tests have shown that active microwave systems have considerable potential for aiding in the detection and analysis of surface oil accumulations.

An analysis of dental development in Pleistocene Homo using skeletal growth and chronological age.

PubMed

Šešelj, Maja

2017-07-01

This study takes a new approach to interpreting dental development in Pleistocene Homo in comparison with recent modern humans. As rates of dental development and skeletal growth are correlated given age in modern humans, using age and skeletal growth in tandem yields more accurate dental development estimates. Here, I apply these models to fossil Homo to obtain more individualized predictions and interpretations of their dental development relative to recent modern humans. Proportional odds logistic regression models based on three recent modern human samples (N = 181) were used to predict permanent mandibular tooth development scores in five Pleistocene subadults: Homo erectus/ergaster, Neanderthals, and anatomically modern humans (AMHs). Explanatory variables include a skeletal growth indicator (i.e., diaphyseal femoral length), and chronological age. AMHs Lagar Velho 1 and Qafzeh 10 share delayed incisor development, but exhibit considerable idiosyncratic variation within and across tooth types, relative to each other and to the reference samples. Neanderthals Dederiyeh 1 and Le Moustier 1 exhibit delayed incisor coupled with advanced molar development, but differences are reduced when femoral diaphysis length is considered. Dental development in KNM-WT 15,000 Homo erectus/ergaster, while advanced for his age, almost exactly matches the predictions once femoral length is included in the models. This study provides a new interpretation of dental development in KNM-WT 15000 as primarily reflecting his faster rates of skeletal growth. While the two AMH specimens exhibit considerable individual variation, the Neanderthals exhibit delayed incisor development early and advanced molar development later in ontogeny. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Structural divergence among genomes of closely related baculoviruses and its implications for baculovirus evolution

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Baculoviruses are members of a large, well-characterized family of dsDNA viruses that have been identified from insects of the orders Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. Baculovirus genomes from different virus species generally exhibit a considerable degree of structural diversity. However, so...

Teaching about Stuff

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skamp, Keith

2005-01-01

If teachers decide to introduce the idea that the behaviour of matter ("stuff") can be explained by thinking about it as being made up of particles that exhibit particular properties, then they need to be aware of the learning difficulties involved. Before using this approach, therefore, more immediate consideration needs to be directed…

Communication Intervention for Children with Cochlear Implants: Two Case Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ertmer, David J.; Leonard, Jeannette S.; Pachuilo, Michael L.

2002-01-01

This article describes the intervention programs attended and progress made by two children (ages 3 and 7) who exhibited considerable differences in benefit from their cochlear implants. Their intervention programs employed both analytical and synthetic auditory training and emphasized the development of speech production and language skills.…

Fertilization of Northern Hardwoods

Treesearch

R. Lea; D.G. Brockway

1986-01-01

Northern hardwoods grow over a considerable range of climatic and edaphic conditions and exhibit a wide range in productivity.Many northern hardwood forests are capable of high production relative to other forest types, but are often slow to reach maximum productivity because of low nutrient availability.Altering the patterns of biomass accumulation so that managers...

Thinking about Feelings: Emotion Focus in the Parenting of Children with Early Developmental Risk

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, J. K.; Crnic, K. A.

2009-01-01

Background: Children with developmental delays exhibit more difficulty with certain emotional processes than their typically developing peers, which seems to partially account for the increased risk for the development of social problems in this population. Despite considerable study with typically developing populations, research on parental…

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rotheram-Fuller, Erin; MacMullen, Laura

2011-01-01

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a continuum of cognitive and social problems that vary considerably in both impact and presentation for each child affected. Although successful interventions have been developed that target specific skill deficits often exhibited by children with autism, many of those interventions are exclusively…

An evaluation of alloys and coatings for use in automobile thermal reactors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blankenship, C. P.; Oldrieve, R. E.

1974-01-01

Several candidate alloys and coatings were evaluated for use in automobile thermal reactors. Full-size reactors of the candidate materials were analyzed in cyclic engine dynamometer tests with peak temperature of 1900 F (1040 C). Two developmental ferritic iron alloys GE1541 and NASA-18T - exhibited the best overall performance lasting at least 60% of the life of the test engine. Four of the alloys evaluated warrant consideration for reactor use. They include GE1541, Armco 18 SR, NASA-18T, and Inconel 601. None of the commercial coating substrate combinations evaluated warrant consideration for reactor use.-

Evaluation of alloys and coatings for use in automobile thermal reactors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blankenship, C. P.; Oldrieve, R. E.

1974-01-01

Several candidate alloys and coatings were evaluated for use in automobile thermal reactors. Full-size reactors of the candidate materials were evaluated in cyclic engine dynamometer tests with a peak temperature of 1040 C (1900 F). Two developmental ferritic-iron alloys, GE-1541 and NASA-18T, exhibited the best overall performance by lasting at least 60 percent of the life of test engine. Four of the alloys evaluated warrant consideration for reactor use. They are GE-1541, Armco 18 SR, NASA-18T, and Inconel 601. None of the commercial coating substrate combinations evaluated warrant consideration for reactor use.

Ultrasound-assisted HCl-NaCl leaching of lead-rich and antimony-rich oxidizing slag.

PubMed

Zhang, Rong Liang; Zhang, Xiao Fei; Tang, Shu Zhen; Huang, Ai Dong

2015-11-01

Lead-rich and antimony-rich oxidizing slag was subjected to regular HCl-NaCl leaching, with the experimental conditions optimized under which ultrasound was introduced. After only 15 min of ultrasound-assisted leaching, the leaching rate of Sb resembled that after 45 min of regular leaching. Ultrasonic treatment considerably elevated the leaching rates of Sb and Pb, and shortened the leaching time. With the decrease of particle size, the leaching rate of Sb and Pb increased gradually. Especially, as the particle size of the slag was greater than 0.217 mm, the ultrasonic leaching effects of Sb and Pb were significantly higher than that of regular leaching effects. The temperature exhibited great effect on ultrasonic leaching performance. As the temperature increased, the leaching rates of Sb and Pb increased step by step. In case the temperature was higher than 85°C, the increasing speed of the leaching rates for Sb and Pb tended to be slow. Increasing ultrasonic power could augment the leaching rate or accelerate the procedure till the same leaching rate. However, since ultrasound failed to energize the formation of new reaction pathways, the maximum leaching rates of Sb and Pb were determined by their phase compositions rather than by ultrasonic field. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Solution processed transition metal oxide anode buffer layers for efficiency and stability enhancement of polymer solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ameen, M. Yoosuf; Shamjid, P.; Abhijith, T.; Reddy, V. S.

2018-01-01

Polymer solar cells were fabricated with solution-processed transition metal oxides, MoO3 and V2O5 as anode buffer layers (ABLs). The optimized device with V2O5 ABL exhibited considerably higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to the devices based on MoO3 and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) ABLs. The space charge limited current measurements and impedance spectroscopy results of hole-only devices revealed that V2O5 provided a very low charge transfer resistance and high hole mobility, facilitating efficient hole transfer from the active layer to the ITO anode. More importantly, incorporation of V2O5 as ABL resulted in substantial improvement in device stability compared to MoO3 and PEDOT:PSS based devices. Unencapsulated PEDOT:PSS-based devices stored at a relative humidity of 45% have shown complete failure within 96 h. Whereas, MoO3 and V2O5 based devices stored in similar conditions retained 22% and 80% of their initial PCEs after 96 h. Significantly higher stability of the V2O5-based device is ascribed to the reduction in degradation of the anode/active layer interface, as evident from the electrical measurements.

Triarchic Model Personality Traits and Their Impact on Mock Juror Perceptions of a White-Collar Criminal Defendant.

PubMed

Rulseh, Allison; Edens, John F; Cox, Jennifer

2017-01-01

The triarchic model of psychopathy proposes that this personality disorder is composed of 3 relatively distinct constructs: meanness, disinhibition, and boldness. Although the first 2 components are widely accepted, boldness has generated considerable theoretical debate concerning its relevance-largely due to its association with various ostensibly adaptive characteristics and socially desirable behaviors (e.g., self-reported heroism). But is being bold actually perceived by others as an intrinsically adaptive, socially desirable personality trait? We investigated this question using a novel approach-a jury simulation study that manipulated the level of triarchic traits exhibited by a white-collar criminal. More specifically, 330 community members read a vignette in which the defendant's degree of boldness and disinhibition was manipulated and then provided sentence recommendations and other evaluative ratings. As hypothesized, manipulating boldness and disinhibition resulted in more negative views of the defendant, with the boldness manipulation more consistently predicting higher global psychopathy, "meanness," and "evil" ratings. Surprisingly, neither manipulation predicted sentence recommendations, although higher global psychopathy ratings did correlate with more punitive sentence recommendations. The presence of personality traits construed in some contexts as advantageous or socially desirable can be perceived as more dysfunctional and undesirable in other contexts-particularly when they cooccur with criminal behavior.

Assessment of air pollution stress on some commonly grown tree species in industrial zone of Durgapur, West Bengal, India.

PubMed

Nayek, S; Satpati, S; Gupta, S; Saha, R N; Datta, J K

2011-01-01

The present study deals with the biochemical responses of some selected tree species with respect to increased air pollution in Durgapur industrial city in India. Areas in vicinity to industries possess very high concentrations of suspended particulate matter (571 microg/m3), SOx (132 microg/m3) and NOx (97 microg/m3) which shows significant correlations (p < 0.05) with the biochemical constituents of stressed plants. Plants growing in industrial zone exhibit a considerable decline in total chlorophyll (34.97-59.81%), soluble sugars (23.85-33.16%) and protein content (21.59-47.13%) and increase in ascorbic acid (81.87-238.53%) and proline content (123.47-284.91%). Of the studied tree species, Shorea robusta (9.78 +/- 0.095), Alstonia scholaris (8.76 +/- 0.084), Peltophorum pterocarpum (8.99 +/- 0.13) and Albizia lebbeck (7.71 +/- 0.012) were found to be more tolerant with higher Air Pollution Toblerance Index (APTI) and Tectona grandis (6.13 +/- 0.276), Lagerstroemia speciosa (7.075 +/- 0.18) and Delonix regia (6.87 +/- 0.079) were sensitive with lower APTI values. Therefore, plant species with higher APTI value, being more resistant, can be used as pollutant absorbent to reduce the pollution level and are suitable for plantations in industrial areas.

Tumor environment changed by combretastatin derivative (Cderiv) pretreatment that leads to effective tumor targeting, MRI studies, and antitumor activity of polymeric micelle carrier systems.

PubMed

Shiraishi, Kouichi; Harada, Yoshiko; Kawano, Kumi; Maitani, Yoshie; Hori, Katsuyoshi; Yanagihara, Kazuyoshi; Takigahira, Misato; Yokoyama, Masayuki

2012-01-01

To evaluate effect of a vascular disrupting agent, a combretastatin derivative (Cderiv), on tumor targeting for polymeric micelle carrier systems, containing either a diagnostic MRI contrast agent or a therapeutic anticancer drug. Cderiv was pre-administered 72 h before polymeric micelle MRI contrast agent injection. Accumulation of the MRI contrast agent in colon 26 murine tumor was evaluated with or without pretreatment of Cderiv by ICP and MRI. Significantly higher accumulation of the MRI contrast agent was found in tumor tissues when Cderiv was administered at 72 h before MRI contrast agent injection. T(1)-weighted images of the tumor exhibited substantial signal enhancement in tumor area at 24 h after the contrast agent injection. In T(1)-weighted images, remarkable T(1)-signal enhancements were observed in part of tumor, not in whole tumor. These results indicate that Cderiv pretreatment considerably enhanced the permeability of the tumor blood vessels. Antitumor activity of adriamycin encapsulated polymeric micelles with the Cderiv pretreatment suppressed tumor growth in 44As3 human gastric scirrhous carcinoma-bearing nude mice. Pretreatment of Cderiv enhanced tumor permeability, resulting in higher accumulation of polymeric micelle carrier systems in solid tumors.

Anharmonic Resonances among Low-Lying Vibrational Levels of Methyl Iso-Cyanide (H_3CNC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pracna, P.; Urban, J.; Urban, V. S.; Varga, J.; Horneman, V.-M.

2010-06-01

Vibrational levels up to 1000 wn of H_3C-N≡C are currently studied in FTIR spectra together with rotational transitions within these levels. This investigation comprises the low-lying excited vibrational levels of the CNC doubly degenerate bending vibration v8=1^± 1 (267.3 wn), v8=20,± 2 (524.6 wn (A), 545.3 wn (E)), and v8=3^± 1,± 3 (792.5 wn (A1+A2), 833.9 wn (E)), respectively, and the next higher fundamental level of the C-N valence vibration v4=1 (945 wn). All these vibrational levels exhibit cubic and quartic anharmonic resonances localized to moderate values of the rotational quantum number K≤10. Therefore the system of rovibrational levels has to be treated as a global polyad in order to describe all the available data quantitatively. The ground state constants have been improved considerably by extending the assignments to higher J/K rotational states both in the purely rotational spectra recorded in the ground vibrational level and in the ground state combination differences generated from the wavenumbers assigned in the fundamental ν_4 band. Similarities and differences with respect to isoelectronic molecules CH_3CN and CH_3CCH are discussed.

Origin of the Reflectin Gene and Hierarchical Assembly of Its Protein.

PubMed

Guan, Zhe; Cai, Tiantian; Liu, Zhongmin; Dou, Yunfeng; Hu, Xuesong; Zhang, Peng; Sun, Xin; Li, Hongwei; Kuang, Yao; Zhai, Qiran; Ruan, Hao; Li, Xuanxuan; Li, Zeyang; Zhu, Qihui; Mai, Jingeng; Wang, Qining; Lai, Luhua; Ji, Jianguo; Liu, Haiguang; Xia, Bin; Jiang, Taijiao; Luo, Shu-Jin; Wang, Hong-Wei; Xie, Can

2017-09-25

Cephalopods, the group of animals including octopus, squid, and cuttlefish, have remarkable ability to instantly modulate body coloration and patterns so as to blend into surrounding environments [1, 2] or send warning signals to other animals [3]. Reflectin is expressed exclusively in cephalopods, filling the lamellae of intracellular Bragg reflectors that exhibit dynamic iridescence and structural color change [4]. Here, we trace the possible origin of the reflectin gene back to a transposon from the symbiotic bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri and report the hierarchical structural architecture of reflectin protein. Intrinsic self-assembly, and higher-order assembly tightly modulated by aromatic compounds, provide insights into the formation of multilayer reflectors in iridophores and spherical microparticles in leucophores and may form the basis of structural color change in cephalopods. Self-assembly and higher-order assembly in reflectin originated from a core repeating octapeptide (here named protopeptide), which may be from the same symbiotic bacteria. The origin of the reflectin gene and assembly features of reflectin protein are of considerable biological interest. The hierarchical structural architecture of reflectin and its domain and protopeptide not only provide insights for bioinspired photonic materials but also serve as unique "assembly tags" and feasible molecular platforms in biotechnology. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Picosecond laser ablation of poly-L-lactide: Effect of crystallinity on the material response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz, Rocío; Quintana, Iban; Etxarri, Jon; Lejardi, Ainhoa; Sarasua, Jose-Ramon

2011-11-01

The picosecond laser ablation of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) as a function of laser fluence and degree of crystallinity was examined. The ablation parameters and the surface modifications were analyzed under various irradiation conditions using laser wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet through the visible. When processing the amorphous PLLA, both energy threshold and topography varied considerably depending on laser wavelength. Laser irradiation showed a reduction in the energy ablation threshold as the degree of crystallinity increased, probably related to photomechanical effects involved in laser ablation with ultra-short pulses and the lower stress accommodation behavior of semicrystalline polymers. In particular, cooperative chain motions are impeded by the higher degree of crystallinity, showing fragile mechanical behavior and lower energy dissipation. The experimental results on ablation rate versus laser energy showed that UV laser ablation on semicrystalline PLLA was more efficient than the visible ablation, i.e., it exhibits higher etch rates over a wide range of pulse energy conditions. These results were interpreted in terms of photo-thermal and photo-chemical response of polymers as a function of material micro-structure and incident laser wavelength. High quality micro-grooves were produced in amorphous PLLA, reveling the potential of ultra-fast laser processing technique in the field of micro-structuring biocompatible and biodegradable polymers for biomedical applications.

Artemin protects cells and proteins against oxidative and salt stress.

PubMed

Takalloo, Zeinab; Sajedi, Reza H; Hosseinkhani, Saman; Moazzenzade, Taghi

2017-02-01

Artemin is an abundant thermostable protein in Artemia encysted embryos under environmental stresses. It is confirmed that high regulatory expression of artemin is relevant to stress resistance in this crustacean. Here, the protective role of artemin from Artemia urmiana has been investigated on survival of bacterial cells under salt and oxidative shocks. Also, for continuous monitoring of the effect of artemin in prevention of proteins aggregation/inactivation, co-expression of artemin and luciferase (as an intracellular reporter) in bacterial cells was performed. According to the results, residual activity of luciferase in artemin expressing E. coli cells exposing to different concentrations of H 2 O 2 and NaCl was significantly higher than non-expressing cells. The luciferase activity was rapidly lost in control cells under salt treatments while in co-transformed cells, the activity was considerably retained at higher salt concentrations. Also, analysis from cell viability assays showed that artemin-expressing cells exhibited more resistance to both stress conditions. In the present study, we document for the first time that artemin can protect proteins and bacterial cells against oxidative and salt stress conditions. These results can declare the resistance property of this crustacean against harsh environmental conditions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-rate tensile properties of Si-reduced TRIP sheet steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Ildong; Park, Yeongdo; Son, Dongmin; Kim, Sung-Joon; Moon, Manbeen

2010-02-01

There have been efforts to develop Si-reduced TRIP steels to improve the wettability of Zn coatings, since the conventional CMnSi-TRIP steels suffer from poor galvanizability. In addition, for the development of potential applications of Si-reduced TRIP steels in vehicle crash management, a better understanding of high strain rate properties is required. In the present study, the effects of alloying elements, such as Cu, Al, Si, and P, on the high-rate tensile properties of Si-reduced TRIP sheet steels were investigated. Tensile tests were performed with a servo-hydraulic tensile testing machine at strain rates ranging from 10-2 to 6 × 102 s-1, and the ultimate tensile strength, elongation, strain rate sensitivity, and absorbed energy were evaluated. The retained austenite volume fractions and carbon content of the specimens were measured using neutron diffraction. The UTS was increased with Cu, Al, Si, and P alloying throughout the strain rate range, and the alloying effect on UTS was considerable with Cu and P. The effects of alloying on the microstructure were not significant. All the steels tested in this study exhibited positive strain rate sensitivity, and the m value at strain rates higher than 10 s-1 was at least two times higher than that at lower strain rates.

Study of DT-diaphorase in pigment-producing cells.

PubMed

Smit, N P; Hoogduijn, M J; Riley, P A; Pavel, S

1999-11-01

DT-diaphorase is an FAD-containing enzyme capable of a two-electron reduction of ortho- and paraquinones. Nicotinamide coenzymes (NADH + H+ and NADPH + H+) serve as hydrogen sources in these reactions. The role of DT-diaphorase has been thoroughly investigated in situations when the enzyme is able to reduce exogenous and endogenous quinones, hence protecting the cells against these reactive intermediates. The enzyme has also been studied in connection with its ability to activate some quinoid cytostatics. It is surprising that DT-diaphorase has never been investigated in pigment-producing cells that are known to generate considerable amounts of ortho-quinones. Using a spectrophotometric method we could readily measure the activity of DT-diaphorase in epidermis and various cultured pigment cells. The melanocytes isolated from dark skin showed generally higher DT-diaphorase activity than those from fair skin samples. Also, darkly pigmented congenital naevus cells exhibited higher activity of this enzyme. The most striking was the high DT-diaphorase activity in melanoma cell cultures. In these cells DT-diaphorase activity could be induced by incubation of the cells with 4-hydroxyanisole. A similar effect was seen when a catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor (3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)-2,4-pentanedione (OR-462) was utilised. The induction was inhibited by cyclohexidine.

Analysis of flavonoids and the flavonoid structural genes in brown fiber of upland cotton.

PubMed

Feng, Hongjie; Tian, Xinhui; Liu, Yongchang; Li, Yanjun; Zhang, Xinyu; Jones, Brian Joseph; Sun, Yuqiang; Sun, Jie

2013-01-01

As a result of changing consumer preferences, cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) from varieties with naturally colored fibers is becoming increasingly sought after in the textile industry. The molecular mechanisms leading to colored fiber development are still largely unknown, although it is expected that the color is derived from flavanoids. Firstly, four key genes of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in cotton (GhC4H, GhCHS, GhF3'H, and GhF3'5'H) were cloned and studied their expression profiles during the development of brown- and white cotton fibers by QRT-PCR. And then, the concentrations of four components of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin in brown- and white fibers were analyzed at different developmental stages by HPLC. The predicted proteins of the four flavonoid structural genes corresponding to these genes exhibit strong sequence similarity to their counterparts in various plant species. Transcript levels for all four genes were considerably higher in developing brown fibers than in white fibers from a near isogenic line (NIL). The contents of four flavonoids (naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin) were significantly higher in brown than in white fibers and corresponding to the biosynthetic gene expression levels. Flavonoid structural gene expression and flavonoid metabolism are important in the development of pigmentation in brown cotton fibers.

Chemical characterization of fog and rain water collected at the eastern Andes cordillera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beiderwieden, E.; Wrzesinsky, T.; Klemm, O.

2005-09-01

During a three month period in 2003 and 2004, the chemistry of fog and rainwater were studied at the "El Tiro" site in a tropical mountain forest ecosystem in Ecuador, South America. The fogwater samples were collected using a passive fog collector, and for the rain water, a standard rain sampler was employed. For all samples, electric conductivity, pH, and the concentrations of NH4+, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, NO3-, PO43-, and SO42- were measured. For each fog sample, a 5 day back trajectory was calculated by the use of the HYSPLIT model. Two types of trajectories occurred. One type was characterized by advection of air masses from the East over the Amazonian basin, the other trajectory arrived one from the West after significant travel time over the Pacific Ocean. We found considerably higher ion concentrations in fogwater samples than in rain samples. Median pH values are 4.58 for fog water, and 5.26 for the rain samples, respectively. The median electric conductivity was 23 μS cm-1 for the fog and 6 μS cm-1 for the rain. The continent samples exhibit higher concentrations of most ions as compared to the pacific samples, but these differences could not be detected statistically.

Nanomechanical Characterization of Temperature-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Ion-Irradiated Zirconium with Consideration of Microstructure and Surface Damage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marsh, Jonathan; Zhang, Yang; Verma, Devendra; Biswas, Sudipta; Haque, Aman; Tomar, Vikas

2015-12-01

Zirconium alloys for nuclear applications with different microstructures were produced by manufacturing processes such as chipping, rolling and annealing. The two Zr samples, rolled and rolled-annealed were subjected to different levels of irradiation, 1 keV and 100 eV, to study the effect of irradiation dosages. The effect of microstructure and irradiation on the mechanical properties (reduced modulus, hardness, indentation yield strength) was analyzed with nanoindentation experiments, which were carried out in the temperature range of 25°C to 450°C to investigate temperature dependence. An indentation size effect analysis was performed and the mechanical properties were also corrected for the oxidation effects at high temperatures. The irradiation-induced hardness was observed, with rolled samples exhibiting higher increase compared to rolled and annealed samples. The relevant material parameters of the Anand viscoplastic model were determined for Zr samples containing different level of irradiation to account for viscoplasticity at high temperatures. The effect of the microstructure and irradiation on the stress-strain curve along with the influence of temperature on the mechanisms of irradiation creep such as formation of vacancies and interstitials is presented. The yield strength of irradiated samples was found to be higher than the unirradiated samples which also showed a decreasing trend with the temperature.

Cuticular Membrane of Fuyu Persimmon Fruit Is Strengthened by Triterpenoid Nano-Fillers

PubMed Central

Tsubaki, Shuntaro; Sugimura, Kazuki; Teramoto, Yoshikuni; Yonemori, Keizo; Azuma, Jun-ichi

2013-01-01

The mechanical defensive performance of fruit cuticular membranes (CMs) is largely dependent on the molecular arrangement of their constituents. Here, we elucidated nano-sized interactions between cutin and triterpenoids in the cuticular matrix of Fuyu persimmon fruits ( Diospyros kaki Thunb. cv. Fuyu), focusing on the mechanical properties using a combination of polymer analyses. The fruit CMs of Fuyu were primarily composed of wax (34.7%), which was predominantly triterpenoids followed by higher aliphatic compounds, and cutin (48.4%), primarily consisting of 9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid and 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic acid. Based on the tensile tests of the CM, the removal of wax lead to a considerable decrease in the maximum stress and elastic modulus accompanied by an increase in the maximum strain, indicating that wax is of significant importance for maintaining the mechanical strength of the CM. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and relaxation time measurements using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance indicated that the triterpenoids in the cuticular matrix construct a nanocomposite at a mixing scale below 20-24 nm; however, the higher aliphatic compounds did not exhibit clear interactions with cutin. The results indicated that the triterpenoids in the cuticular matrix endow toughness to the CM by functioning as a nanofiller. PMID:24086493

Control of dynamic foot-ground interactions in male and female soccer athletes: females exhibit reduced dexterity and higher limb stiffness during landing.

PubMed

Lyle, Mark A; Valero-Cuevas, Francisco J; Gregor, Robert J; Powers, Christopher M

2014-01-22

Controlling dynamic interactions between the lower limb and ground is important for skilled locomotion and may influence injury risk in athletes. It is well known that female athletes sustain anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears at higher rates than male athletes, and exhibit lower extremity biomechanics thought to increase injury risk during sport maneuvers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether lower extremity dexterity (LED)--the ability to dynamically control endpoint force magnitude and direction as quantified by compressing an unstable spring with the lower limb at submaximal forces--is a potential contributing factor to the "at-risk" movement behavior exhibited by female athletes. We tested this hypothesis by comparing LED-test performance and single-limb drop jump biomechanics between 14 female and 14 male high school soccer players. We found that female athletes exhibited reduced LED-test performance (p=0.001) and higher limb stiffness during landing (p=0.008) calculated on average within 51 ms of foot contact. Females also exhibited higher coactivation at the ankle (p=0.001) and knee (p=0.02) before landing. No sex differences in sagittal plane joint angles and center of mass velocity at foot contact were observed. Collectively, our results raise the possibility that the higher leg stiffness observed in females during landing is an anticipatory behavior due in part to reduced lower extremity dexterity. The reduced lower extremity dexterity and compensatory stiffening strategy may contribute to the heightened risk of ACL injury in this population. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Control of dynamic foot-ground interactions in male and female soccer athletes: Females exhibit reduced dexterity and higher limb stiffness during landing

PubMed Central

Lyle, Mark A.; Valero-Cuevas, Francisco J.; Gregor, Robert J.; Powers, Christopher M.

2014-01-01

Controlling dynamic interactions between the lower limb and ground is important for skilled locomotion and may influence injury risk in athletes. It is well known that female athletes sustain anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears at higher rates than male athletes, and exhibit lower extremity biomechanics thought to increase injury risk during sport maneuvers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether lower extremity dexterity (LED) – the ability to dynamically control endpoint force magnitude and direction as quantified by compressing an unstable spring with the lower limb at submaximal forces – is a potential contributing factor to the “at-risk” movement behavior exhibited by female athletes. We tested this hypothesis by comparing LED-test performance and single-limb drop jump biomechanics between 14 female and 14 male high school soccer players. We found that female athletes exhibited reduced LED-test performance (p=0.001) and higher limb stiffness during landing (p=0.008) calculated on average within 51 ms of foot contact. Females also exhibited higher coactivation at the ankle (p=0.001) and knee (p=0.02) before landing. No sex differences in sagittal plane joint angles and center of mass velocity at foot contact were observed. Collectively, our results raise the possibility that the higher leg stiffness observed in females during landing is an anticipatory behavior due in part to reduced lower extremity dexterity. The reduced lower extremity dexterity and compensatory stiffening strategy may contribute to the heightened risk of ACL injury in this population. PMID:24275440

Bauhinia variegata leaf extracts exhibit considerable antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities.

PubMed

Mishra, Amita; Sharma, Amit Kumar; Kumar, Shashank; Saxena, Ajit K; Pandey, Abhay K

2013-01-01

The present study reports the phytochemical profiling, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of Bauhinia variegata leaf extracts. The reducing sugar, anthraquinone, and saponins were observed in polar extracts, while terpenoids and alkaloids were present in nonpolar and ethanol extracts. Total flavonoid contents in various extracts were found in the range of 11-222.67 mg QE/g. In disc diffusion assays, petroleum ether and chloroform fractions exhibited considerable inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Several other extracts also showed antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of E. coli, Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of potential extracts were found between 3.5 and 28.40 mg/mL. The lowest MBC (3.5 mg/mL) was recorded for ethanol extract against Pseudomonas spp. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was compared with standard antioxidants. Dose dependent response was observed in reducing power of extracts. Polar extracts demonstrated appreciable metal ion chelating activity at lower concentrations (10-40 μg/mL). Many extracts showed significant antioxidant response in beta carotene bleaching assay. AQ fraction of B. variegata showed pronounced cytotoxic effect against DU-145, HOP-62, IGR-OV-1, MCF-7, and THP-1 human cancer cell lines with 90-99% cell growth inhibitory activity. Ethyl acetate fraction also produced considerable cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and THP-1 cell lines. The study demonstrates notable antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities in B. variegata leaf extracts.

Impact of nitrogen source and supply level on growth, yield and nutritional value of two contrasting ecotypes of Cichorium spinosum L. grown hydroponically.

PubMed

Chatzigianni, Martina; Alkhaled, Bara'a; Livieratos, Ioannis; Stamatakis, Aristidis; Ntatsi, Georgia; Savvas, Dimitrios

2018-03-01

In the present study, two contrasting stamnagathi (Cichorium spinosum L.) ecotypes originating either from a mountainous or from a seaside habitat were grown hydroponically and supplied with a nutrient solution differing in the total-N level (4 or 16 mmol L -1 ) and the N source (NH 4 + -N/total-N: 0.05, 0.25 or 0.50). The aim was to search for genotypic differences in nitrogen nutrition. At commercial maturity, the dry weight of mountainous plants was higher than that of seaside plants. The shoot mineral concentrations were higher in seaside plants than in mountainous plants in both harvests. The leaf nitrate concentration was influenced by the levels of both total-N and NH 4 + -N/total-N at both harvests, whereas plants with a seaside origin exhibited higher nitrate concentrations than those originating from a mountainous site in all total-N and NH 4 + -N/total-N treatments. The two stamnagathi ecotypes differed considerably in their responses to nitrogen nutrition and tissue nitrate content. The mountainous ecotype was superior in terms of growth, tissue nitrate concentration and antioxidant capacity, whereas the seaside ecotype accumulated more nutrient microcations in leaves. A low total-N concentration (up to 4 mmol L -1 ) combined with a high NH 4 + -N/total-N ratio (up to 0.05) could minimize tissue NO 3 - concentrations without compromising yield. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Variation in the molecular clock of primates.

PubMed

Moorjani, Priya; Amorim, Carlos Eduardo G; Arndt, Peter F; Przeworski, Molly

2016-09-20

Events in primate evolution are often dated by assuming a constant rate of substitution per unit time, but the validity of this assumption remains unclear. Among mammals, it is well known that there exists substantial variation in yearly substitution rates. Such variation is to be expected from differences in life history traits, suggesting it should also be found among primates. Motivated by these considerations, we analyze whole genomes from 10 primate species, including Old World Monkeys (OWMs), New World Monkeys (NWMs), and apes, focusing on putatively neutral autosomal sites and controlling for possible effects of biased gene conversion and methylation at CpG sites. We find that substitution rates are up to 64% higher in lineages leading from the hominoid-NWM ancestor to NWMs than to apes. Within apes, rates are ∼2% higher in chimpanzees and ∼7% higher in the gorilla than in humans. Substitution types subject to biased gene conversion show no more variation among species than those not subject to it. Not all mutation types behave similarly, however; in particular, transitions at CpG sites exhibit a more clocklike behavior than do other types, presumably because of their nonreplicative origin. Thus, not only the total rate, but also the mutational spectrum, varies among primates. This finding suggests that events in primate evolution are most reliably dated using CpG transitions. Taking this approach, we estimate the human and chimpanzee divergence time is 12.1 million years,​ and the human and gorilla divergence time is 15.1 million years​.

Effects of organizational citizenship behaviors on selection decisions in employment interviews.

PubMed

Podsakoff, Nathan P; Whiting, Steven W; Podsakoff, Philip M; Mishra, Paresh

2011-03-01

This article reports on an experiment examining the effects of job candidates' propensity to exhibit organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) on selection decisions made in the context of a job interview. We developed videos that manipulated candidate responses to interview questions tapping task performance and citizenship behavior content in 2 administrative positions. Results obtained from 480 undergraduates provided support for our hypotheses that job candidates who exhibited higher levels of helping, voice, and loyalty behaviors were generally rated as more competent, received higher overall evaluations, and received higher salary recommendations than job candidates who exhibited lower levels of these behaviors. These effects held even after taking into account candidate responses regarding task performance. We also found that candidate responses to OCB-related questions tended to have a greater effect on selection decisions for the higher level position (supervisor of administrative personnel) than for the lower level one (administrative assistant). Finally, content analyses of open-ended responses indicated that participants' selection decisions were particularly sensitive to candidates who exhibited low levels of voice and helping behaviors. Implications and future research are discussed. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved.

Magnetic Ordering in Sr 3YCo 4O 10+x

DOE PAGES

Kishida, Takayoshi; Kapetanakis, Myron D.; Yan, Jiaqiang; ...

2016-01-28

Transition-metal oxides often exhibit complex magnetic behavior due to the strong interplay between atomic-structure, electronic and magnetic degrees of freedom. Cobaltates, especially, exhibit complex behavior because of cobalt’s ability to adopt various valence and spin state configurations. The case of the oxygen-deficient perovskite Sr 3YCo 4O 10+x (SYCO) has gained considerable attention because of persisting uncertainties about its structure and the origin of the observed room temperature ferromagnetism. Here we report a combined investigation of SYCO using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations.

Seasonality of Precipitation over Himalayan Watersheds in CORDEX South Asia and their Driving CMIP5 Experiments

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

ul Hasson, Shabeh

Since the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) experiments exhibit limited skill in reproducing the statistical properties of prevailing precipitation regimes over the major Himalayan watersheds (Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and Mekong), this study evaluates the anticipated added skill of their dynamically refined simulations performed under the framework of Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiments for South Asia (CX-SA). For this, the fidelity of eight CX-SA experiments against their six driving CMIP5 experiments is assessed for the historical period (1971–2005) in terms of time-dependent statistical properties (onset/retreat timings and rapid fractional accumulation—RFA) of the dominant summer monsoonal precipitation regime (MPR). Further,more » a self-defining seasonality index (SI), which is a product of precipitation and the distance of its actual distribution relative to its uniform distribution (relative entropy—RE), has been computed for MPR, westerly precipitation regime (WPR) and annual precipitation. The time evolution of precipitation, RE and SI has also been analyzed. Results suggest that CX-SA experiments simulate even higher wet biases than their driving CMIP5 experiments over all study basins, mainly due to higher wet biases simulated over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Most of the CX-SA experiments suggest unrealistic timings of the monsoon onset that are far earlier than their driving CMIP5 experiments for all basins. Generally, CX-SA experiments feature higher underestimation of RFA slope, RE and SI, distancing their driving CMIP5 experiments farther from observations. Interestingly, regardless of the diverse skill of CMIP5 experiments, their fine scale CX-SA experiments exhibit quite a similar skill when downscaled by the same regional climate model (RCM), indicating RCM’s ability to considerably alter the driving datasets. Lastly, these findings emphasize on improving the fidelity of simulated precipitation regimes over the Himalayan watersheds by exploiting the potential of RCMs in term of microphysics, resolutions and convective closures, and preferably, on resolving the crucial fine scale processes further down to their representative (meso-to-local) scales.« less

Plasticization of poly(lactic acid) using different molecular weight of Poly(ethylene glycol)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Septevani, Athanasia Amanda; Bhakri, Samsul

2017-11-01

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) has been known as an excellent candidate for developing the future bioplastic due to its biodegradability and competitive price. However, inherent brittleness and low thermal stability of PLA have limited its applications. Considerable studies have been developed to improve the flexibility of PLA, in which blending PLA with various plasticizers has been identified as a cost-effective way to lower glass-transition temperature (Tg) and thus improve its elongation property. In this study, PLA was modified by incorporating poly(ethylene glycol) as a plasticizer with different molecular weights (M¯w 400, 1000, and 6000, called respectively as PEG 400, PEG 1000, and PEG 6000) via a solvent-casting blend method. FTIR was used for analyzing the chemical interaction while TGA and DSC measured the thermal behavior of PLA/PEG. The results indicated that the addition of lower M¯w (PEG 400 and PEG 1000) could reduce the Tg due to the enhancement of chain mobility of PLA with PEG and so driving into a more amorphous states resulted reduction of melting temperature (Tm) compared to the neat PLA. Further, at a higher M¯w of PEG 6000, the longer chain of ethylene glycol, in contrast, resulted a gradual increase in the Tg as well as Tm where the value went back to the point of neat PLA compared to the other lower molecular weight of PLA. This was due to the decrease in polymer miscibility with the increasing of M¯w. In terms of thermal stability, the addition of PEG exhibited two step degradation behavior while the neat PLA only possessed single step degradation. The presence of PEG could act as a protective barrier layer that could hinder the permeability of the volatile compound and product during decomposition reaction and thus could eventually delay and slower the degradation process. It was observed that the addition of PEG at higher M¯w (PEG1000 and PEG 6000) exhibited a higher second degradation temperature up to 380 °C.

Oxidative potential of ambient PM2.5 in the coastal cities of the Bohai Sea, northern China: Seasonal variation and source apportionment.

PubMed

Liu, WeiJian; Xu, YunSong; Liu, WenXin; Liu, QingYang; Yu, ShuangYu; Liu, Yang; Wang, Xin; Tao, Shu

2018-05-01

Emissions of air pollutants from primary and secondary sources in China are considerably higher than those in developed countries, and exposure to air pollution is main risk of public health. Identifying specific particulate matter (PM) compositions and sources are essential for policy makers to propose effective control measures for pollutant emissions. Ambient PM 2.5 samples covered a whole year were collected from three coastal cities of the Bohai Sea. Oxidative potential (OP) was selected as the indicator to characterize associated PM compositions and sources most responsible for adverse impacts on human health. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were employed to estimate correlations of PM 2.5 sources with OP. The volume- and mass-based dithiothreitol (DTT v and DTT m ) activities of PM 2.5 were significantly higher in local winter or autumn (p < 0.01). Spatial and seasonal variations in DTT v and DTT m were much larger than mass concentrations of PM 2.5 , indicated specific chemical components are responsible for PM 2.5 derived OP. Strong correlations (r > 0.700, p < 0.01) were found between DTT activity and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and some transition metals. Using PMF, source fractions of PM 2.5 were resolved as secondary source, traffic source, biomass burning, sea spray and urban dust, industry, coal combustion, and mineral dust. Further quantified by MLR, coal combustion, biomass burning, secondary sources, industry, and traffic source were dominant contributors to the water-soluble DTT v activity. Our results also suggested large differences in seasonal contributions of different sources to DTT v variability. A higher contribution of DTT v was derived from coal combustion during the local heating period. Secondary sources exhibited a greater fraction of DTT v in summer, when there was stronger solar radiation. Traffic sources exhibited a prevailing contribution in summer, and industry contributed larger proportions in spring and winter. Future abatement priority of air pollution should reduce the sources contributing to OP of PM 2.5 . Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seasonality of Precipitation over Himalayan Watersheds in CORDEX South Asia and their Driving CMIP5 Experiments

DOE PAGES

ul Hasson, Shabeh

2016-10-02

Since the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) experiments exhibit limited skill in reproducing the statistical properties of prevailing precipitation regimes over the major Himalayan watersheds (Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and Mekong), this study evaluates the anticipated added skill of their dynamically refined simulations performed under the framework of Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiments for South Asia (CX-SA). For this, the fidelity of eight CX-SA experiments against their six driving CMIP5 experiments is assessed for the historical period (1971–2005) in terms of time-dependent statistical properties (onset/retreat timings and rapid fractional accumulation—RFA) of the dominant summer monsoonal precipitation regime (MPR). Further,more » a self-defining seasonality index (SI), which is a product of precipitation and the distance of its actual distribution relative to its uniform distribution (relative entropy—RE), has been computed for MPR, westerly precipitation regime (WPR) and annual precipitation. The time evolution of precipitation, RE and SI has also been analyzed. Results suggest that CX-SA experiments simulate even higher wet biases than their driving CMIP5 experiments over all study basins, mainly due to higher wet biases simulated over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Most of the CX-SA experiments suggest unrealistic timings of the monsoon onset that are far earlier than their driving CMIP5 experiments for all basins. Generally, CX-SA experiments feature higher underestimation of RFA slope, RE and SI, distancing their driving CMIP5 experiments farther from observations. Interestingly, regardless of the diverse skill of CMIP5 experiments, their fine scale CX-SA experiments exhibit quite a similar skill when downscaled by the same regional climate model (RCM), indicating RCM’s ability to considerably alter the driving datasets. Lastly, these findings emphasize on improving the fidelity of simulated precipitation regimes over the Himalayan watersheds by exploiting the potential of RCMs in term of microphysics, resolutions and convective closures, and preferably, on resolving the crucial fine scale processes further down to their representative (meso-to-local) scales.« less

Comparative demography of two common scleractinian corals: Orbicella annularis and Porites astreoides

PubMed Central

Mercado-Molina, Alex; Reyes-Maldonado, Koralis; Vélez, Yaileen; Ruiz-Díaz, Claudia P.; Sabat, Alberto

2017-01-01

Background Studies directed at understanding the demography and population dynamics of corals are relatively scarce. This limits our understanding of both the dynamics of coral populations and our capacity to develop management and conservation initiatives directed at conserving such ecosystems. Methods From 2012 to 2014, we collected data on the growth, survival, and recruitment rates of two common Caribbean coral species, the stress-tolerant Orbicella annularis and the weedy Porites astreoides. A set of size-based population matrix model was developed for two localities in Northeastern Puerto Rico and used to estimate population growth rates (λ) and determine the life cycle transition(s) that contribute the most to spatiotemporal differences in λs. The model was parameterized by following the fate of 100 colonies of each species at the two sites for two years. Results Our data indicate that spatial variability in vital rates of both species was higher than temporal variability. During the first year, populations of O. annularis exhibited λs below equilibrium at Carlos Rosario (0.817) and Palomino (0.694), followed by a considerable decline at both sites during the second year (0.700 and 0.667). Populations of P. astreoides showed higher λs than O. annularis during the first census period at Carlos Rosario (0.898) and Palomino (0.894) with a decline at one of the sites (0.681 and 0.893) during the second census period. Colony fate in both species exhibited a significant interaction with respect to location but not to time (G2 = 20.96; df = 3 for O. annularis and G2 = 9.55; df = 3 for P. astreoides). Discussion The similar variability of λs as well as the similar survival rates for both species during the two-year census period (2012–2014) show similar variability on demographic patterns in space and time. Our results suggest that location rather than time is important for the resiliency in coral colonies. Also, P. astreoides will show higher resistance to disturbance in the future than O. annularis. PMID:29093994

Al2O3 Nanoparticle Addition to Commercial Magnesium Alloys: Multiple Beneficial Effects

PubMed Central

Paramsothy, Muralidharan; Chan, Jimmy; Kwok, Richard; Gupta, Manoj

2012-01-01

The multiple beneficial effects of Al2O3 nanoparticle addition to cast magnesium based systems (followed by extrusion) were investigated, constituting either: (a) enhanced strength; or (b) simultaneously enhanced strength and ductility of the corresponding magnesium alloys. AZ31 and ZK60A nanocomposites containing Al2O3 nanoparticle reinforcement were each fabricated using solidification processing followed by hot extrusion. Compared to monolithic AZ31 (tension levels), the corresponding nanocomposite exhibited higher yield strength (0.2% tensile yield strength (TYS)), ultimate strength (UTS), failure strain and work of fracture (WOF) (+19%, +21%, +113% and +162%, respectively). Compared to monolithic AZ31 (compression levels), the corresponding nanocomposite exhibited higher yield strength (0.2% compressive yield strength (CYS)) and ultimate strength (UCS), lower failure strain and higher WOF (+5%, +5%, −4% and +11%, respectively). Compared to monolithic ZK60A (tension levels), the corresponding nanocomposite exhibited lower 0.2% TYS and higher UTS, failure strain and WOF (−4%, +13%, +170% and +200%, respectively). Compared to monolithic ZK60A (compression levels), the corresponding nanocomposite exhibited lower 0.2% CYS and higher UCS, failure strain and WOF (−10%, +7%, +15% and +26%, respectively). The capability of Al2O3 nanoparticles to enhance the properties of cast magnesium alloys in a way never seen before with micron length scale reinforcements is clearly demonstrated. PMID:28348301

The effects of railway transportation on the enrichment of heavy metals in the artificial soil on railway cut slopes.

PubMed

Chen, Zhaoqiong; Wang, KeXiu; Ai, Ying Wei; Li, Wei; Gao, Hongying; Fang, Chen

2014-02-01

Heavy metal contamination in the artificial soils on the railway cut slopes may have great influence on the revegetation of the cut slopes. The purpose of this study was to assess the variation of heavy metal contamination levels with railway operation time and analyze their possible resources. A total of 100 soil samples from four cut slopes, which were affected by railway transportation for different years, were analyzed for metal pollution (Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe). The concentrations of Cd, Pb showed increasing trend with increasing operation time of railways, while such trend was not found in Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe. According to the soil quality standard of China, Cd was considered to have considerable contamination, while Pb has less, but Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe have none. Moreover, cadmium exhibited remarkably higher levels rather than those reported in other studies. Enrichment factors and ecological index showed that Cd and Pb showed a moderate enrichment and a considerable ecological risk in most of the soil samples. The results of descriptive statistic, principal component analysis, cluster analysis and correlation analysis were totally consistent with each other. Their results revealed that Cr, Cu, Zn and Fe had common origins, and they may come from natural resources. While Cd and Pb were significantly influenced by railway transportation, leaked cargos, fuel combustion, the use of lubricate oils and sleeper impregnation oils during railway transportation may be their main resources.

Photodegradation of rhodamine B over biomass-derived activated carbon supported CdS nanomaterials under visible irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Hai-Bo; Wang, Yu; Cai, Feng-Ying; Jiao, Wen-Bin; Zhang, Ning; Liu, Cheng; Cao, Hai-Lei; Lü, Jian

2017-12-01

A family of new CdS@SAC composite materials was successfully prepared through the deposition of as-synthesized CdS nanomaterials on various lotus-seedpod-derived activated carbon (SAC) materials. The SAC supports derived at different activation temperatures exhibited considerably large surface areas and various microstructures that were responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic performance of CdS@SAC composite materials towards the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible irradiation. The best-performing CdS@SAC-800 showed excellent photocatalytic activity with a rate constant of ca. 2.40×10–2 min–1, which was approximately 13 times higher than that of the CdS precursor. Moreover, the estimated band gap energy of CdS@SAC-800 (1.99 eV) was significantly lower than that of the CdS precursor (2.22 eV), which suggested considerable strength of interface contact between the CdS and carbon support, as well as efficient light harvesting capacity of the composite material. Further photocatalytic study indicated that the SAC supports enhanced synergistically the accessibility of organic substrates, the efficiency of solar energy harvesting, as well as the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes in this system. Improved photocatalytic activity of the composite materials was largely due to the increased generation of active species such as h+, OH•, O2•‑ etc. This work provides a facile and low-cost pathway to fabricate composite photocatalysts for viable degradation of organic pollutants.

Reliability Studies of Ceramic Capacitors.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-03-01

with barium/ titanium ratios of greater than one exhibit higher current levels and enhanced degradation compared to the excess titanium compositions. This...essentially insoluble in BaTiO -4- 3. Compositions with barium/ titanium ratios less than one exhibit higher current levels and enhanced degradation compared...this process is shown in figure 1. The cationic sources which have been successfully used are carbonates, hydroxides, isopropoxides , and nitrates. The

Regressing Team Performance on Collective Efficacy: Considerations of Temporal Proximity and Concordance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Myers, Nicholas D.; Paiement, Craig A.; Feltz, Deborah L.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine to what degree collective efficacy judgments based on summative team performance capabilities exhibited different levels of prediction for three additive intervals of team performance in women's ice hockey. Collective efficacy beliefs of 12 teams were assessed prior to Friday's game and Saturday's game…

To Be or Not to Be Symmetric: That is the Question for Potentially Active Vibronic Modes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tyler, Sarah F.; Judkins, Eileen C.; Morozov, Dmitry; Borca, Carlos H.; Slipchenko, Lyudmila V.; McMillin, David R.

2017-01-01

Electronic spectra often exhibit vibronic structure when vibrational and electronic transitions occur in concert. Theory reveals (1) that orbital symmetry considerations determine specific roles played by the nuclear degrees of freedom and (2) that the vibrational excitation is often highly regiospecific, that is, attributable to an identifiable…

Common Trajectories of Regional Competitiveness in the Knowledge Economy: A European Investigation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brioschi, Maria Sole; Cassia, Lucio

2006-01-01

This paper analyses a number of European regions which, in the last two decades, have exhibited a significant shift towards knowledge-intensive industrial sectors coupled with a considerable increase in competitiveness and growth. The analysis identifies the main factors of territorial development behind each regional renewal process and captures…

Ferroelectric Tungsten Bronze Bulk Crystals and Epitaxial Thin Films for Electro-Optic Device Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-07-01

improved, they show a considerable enhancement in electro - optic and photorefractive properties, specifically for Ce(3+)-doped SBN:60 crystals. The...concentration of impurity ions increased. Undoped SBN:60 single crystals have also been grown and they are almost striation-free and exhibit excellent electro - optic properties.

Spatial analysis of harmonic oscillation of gypsy moth outbreak intensity

Treesearch

Kyle J. Haynes; Andrew M. Liebhold; Derek M. Johnson

2009-01-01

Outbreaks of many forest-defoliating insects are synchronous over broad geographic areas and occur with a period of approximately 10 years. Within the range of the gypsy moth in North America, however, there is considerable geographic heterogeneity in strength of periodicity and the frequency of outbreaks. Furthermore, gypsy moth outbreaks exhibit two significant...

Renewing Aristotelian Theory: The Cold Fusion Controversy as a Test Case.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gross, Alan G.

1995-01-01

Exhibits the strength and flexibility of science as a rhetorical enterprise via a rhetorical analysis of cold fusion which reveals science under considerable stress. Assumes the continuing viability of classical rhetoric as an explanation for the persuasiveness of texts, while acknowledging the need to reexamine its central concepts. (SR)

Teaching Play Activities to Preschool Children with Disabilities: The Importance of Developmental Considerations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lifter, Karin; And Others

1993-01-01

Three preschool children exhibiting autistic behaviors were taught developmentally appropriate (DA) and age appropriate (AA) pretend play activities. Although DA activities were consistently acquired, activities in the AA category were, in most cases, not acquired and were less likely to be generalized to other activities or toys. (Author/JDD)

In the Eyes of the Beholder: Cultural Considerations in Interpreting Children's Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friesen, Amber; Hanson, Marci; Martin, Katrina

2015-01-01

Given the increasing diversity of families within the United States, early educators have many opportunities to work with children and families from diverse backgrounds. It is likely that these encounters will include children who, at first glance, exhibit behavior that educators may consider worrisome and "challenging." However, many…

Comfort and Content: Considerations for Informal Science Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holliday, Gary M.; Lederman, Norman G.; Lederman, Judith S.

2014-01-01

This study looked at a life science course that was offered at and taught by education staff of a large informal science institution (ISI) located in the Midwest. The curriculum, materials, and agendas for the course were developed by education staff and complemented a permanent life science exhibition. The researcher developed a content test…

L2 Perception of Spanish Palatal Variants across Different Tasks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shea, Christine; Renaud, Jeffrey

2014-01-01

While considerable dialectal variation exists, almost all varieties of Spanish exhibit some sort of alternation in terms of the palatal obstruent segments. Typically, the palatal affricate [??] tends to occur in word onset following a pause and in specific linear phonotactic environments. The palatal fricative [?] tends to occur in syllable onset…

Using DCOM to support interoperability in forest ecosystem management decision support systems

Treesearch

W.D. Potter; S. Liu; X. Deng; H.M. Rauscher

2000-01-01

Forest ecosystems exhibit complex dynamics over time and space. Management of forest ecosystems involves the need to forecast future states of complex systems that are often undergoing structural changes. This in turn requires integration of quantitative science and engineering components with sociopolitical, regulatory, and economic considerations. The amount of data...

Nuclear genetic variation across the range of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa): Phylogeographic, taxonomic and conservation implications

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Valerie D. Hipkins; Mary F. Mahalovich; Robert E. Means

2015-01-01

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is among the most broadly distributed conifer species of western North America, where it possesses considerable ecological, esthetic, and commercial value. It exhibits complicated patterns of morphological and genetic variation, suggesting that it may be in the process of differentiating into distinct regional...

Enhancing Academic Achievement for Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence from School-Based Intervention Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jitendra, Asha K.; DuPaul, George J.; Someki, Fumio; Tresco, Katy E.

2008-01-01

Although children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit significant academic difficulties in school settings, considerably less attention is devoted to remediating their academic problems when compared to behavioral and social difficulties. The purpose of this article is to review empirically supported academic interventions…

Correlation between ambient air and continuous bending stress for the electrical reliability of flexible pentacene-based thin-film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Ching-Lin; Lin, Wei-Chun; Peng, Han-Hsing; Lin, Yu-Zuo; Huang, Bohr-Ran

2015-01-01

This study investigated how continuous bending stress affects the electrical characteristics of pentacene-based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) gate insulator in a vacuum and in ambient air. In tension mode, the strain direction of the fabricated devices was perpendicular to the device channel length. The OTFT devices that were bent in a vacuum exhibited a decreased on current because of cracking in the pentacene channel layer, which can obstruct the transport of charge carriers and deteriorate the on current of the OTFTs. The OTFT devices that were bent in ambient air exhibited a slightly decreased on current and considerably increased off current and subthreshold swing (SS). It was assumed that air moisture passed through the pentacene cracks into the interface between the PVP and pentacene layer, thereby yielding an increase in polar moisture traps, and leading to an increase in the conductivity of the pentacene, thus yielding a slightly decreased on current and considerably increased off current and SS.

Evidence of exceptional oyster-reef resilience to fluctuations in sea level.

PubMed

Ridge, Justin T; Rodriguez, Antonio B; Fodrie, F Joel

2017-12-01

Ecosystems at the land-sea interface are vulnerable to rising sea level. Intertidal habitats must maintain their surface elevations with respect to sea level to persist via vertical growth or landward retreat, but projected rates of sea-level rise may exceed the accretion rates of many biogenic habitats. While considerable attention is focused on climate change over centennial timescales, relative sea level also fluctuates dramatically (10-30 cm) over month-to-year timescales due to interacting oceanic and atmospheric processes. To assess the response of oyster-reef ( Crassostrea virginica ) growth to interannual variations in mean sea level (MSL) and improve long-term forecasts of reef response to rising seas, we monitored the morphology of constructed and natural intertidal reefs over 5 years using terrestrial lidar. Timing of reef scans created distinct periods of high and low relative water level for decade-old reefs ( n  = 3) constructed in 1997 and 2000, young reefs ( n  = 11) constructed in 2011 and one natural reef (approximately 100 years old). Changes in surface elevation were related to MSL trends. Decade-old reefs achieved 2 cm/year growth, which occurred along higher elevations when MSL increased. Young reefs experienced peak growth (6.7 cm/year) at a lower elevation that coincided with a drop in MSL. The natural reef exhibited considerable loss during the low MSL of the first time step but grew substantially during higher MSL through the second time step, with growth peaking (4.3 cm/year) at MSL, reoccupying the elevations previously lost. Oyster reefs appear to be in dynamic equilibrium with short-term (month-to-year) fluctuations in sea level, evidencing notable resilience to future changes to sea level that surpasses other coastal biogenic habitat types. These growth patterns support the presence of a previously defined optimal growth zone that shifts correspondingly with changes in MSL, which can help guide oyster-reef conservation and restoration.

A novel synthesis of a new thorium (IV) metal organic framework nanostructure with well controllable procedure through ultrasound assisted reverse micelle method.

PubMed

Sargazi, Ghasem; Afzali, Daryoush; Mostafavi, Ali

2018-03-01

Reverse micelle (RM) and ultrasound assisted reverse micelle (UARM) were applied to the synthesis of novel thorium nanostructures as metal organic frameworks (MOFs). Characterization with different techniques showed that the Th-MOF sample synthesized by UARM method had higher thermal stability (354°C), smaller mean particle size (27nm), and larger surface area (2.02×10 3 m 2 /g). Besides, in this novel approach, the nucleation of crystals was found to carry out in a shorter time. The synthesis parameters of UARM method were designed by 2 k-1 factorial and the process control was systematically studied using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and response surface methodology (RSM). ANOVA showed that various factors, including surfactant content, ultrasound duration, temperature, ultrasound power, and interaction between these factors, considerably affected different properties of the Th-MOF samples. According to the 2 k-1 factorial design, the determination coefficient (R 2 ) of the model is 0.999, with no significant lack of fit. The F value of 5432, implied that the model was highly significant and adequate to represent the relationship between the responses and the independent variables, also the large R-adjusted value indicates a good relationship between the experimental data and the fitted model. RSM predicted that it would be possible to produce Th-MOF samples with the thermal stability of 407°C, mean particle size of 13nm, and surface area of 2.20×10 3 m 2 /g. The mechanism controlling the Th-MOF properties was considerably different from the conventional mechanisms. Moreover, the MOF sample synthesized using UARM exhibited higher capacity for nitrogen adsorption as a result of larger pore sizes. It is believed that the UARM method and systematic studies developed in the present work can be considered as a new strategy for their application in other nanoscale MOF samples. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

ON THE RADIO AND OPTICAL LUMINOSITY EVOLUTION OF QUASARS

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

Singal, J.; Petrosian, V.; Lawrence, A.

2011-12-20

We calculate simultaneously the radio and optical luminosity evolutions of quasars, and the distribution in radio loudness R defined as the ratio of radio and optical luminosities, using a flux-limited data set containing 636 quasars with radio and optical fluxes from White et al. We first note that when dealing with multi-variate data it is imperative to first determine the true correlations among the variables, not those introduced by the observational selection effects, before obtaining the individual distributions of the variables. We use the methods developed by Efron and Petrosian which are designed to obtain unbiased correlations, distributions, and evolutionmore » with redshift from a data set truncated due to observational biases. It is found that the population of quasars exhibits strong positive correlation between the radio and optical luminosities. With this correlation, whether intrinsic or observationally induced accounted for, we find that there is a strong luminosity evolution with redshift in both wavebands, with significantly higher radio than optical evolution. We conclude that the luminosity evolution obtained by arbitrarily separating the sources into radio-loud (R > 10) and radio-quiet (R < 10) populations introduces significant biases that skew the result considerably. We also construct the local radio and optical luminosity functions and the density evolution. Finally, we consider the distribution of the radio-loudness parameter R obtained from careful treatment of the selection effects and luminosity evolutions with that obtained from the raw data without such considerations. We find a significant difference between the two distributions and no clear sign of bi-modality in the true distribution for the range of R values considered. Our results indicate therefore, somewhat surprisingly, that there is no critical switch in the efficiency of the production of disk outflows/jets between very radio-quiet and very radio-loud quasars, but rather a smooth transition. Also, this efficiency seems higher for the high-redshift and more luminous sources in the sample considered.« less

Some enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in Mesocestoides corti and Heterakis spumosa.

PubMed

Dubinský, P; Ruscinová, B; Hetmanski, S L; Arme, C; Turceková, L; Rybos, M

1991-09-01

The activities of selected enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were measured in tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti and in adult females and males of Heterakis spumosa. When the species were compared, only lactate dehydrogenase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activities were considerably higher in M. corti. Activities of other enzymes were higher in H. spumosa, with malate dehydrogenase activity being considerably so. In H. spumosa, enzyme activity was higher, and succinate dehydrogenase markedly so in males, when compared with females. Tetrathyridia aged 170 and 210 days show relatively stable malate and lactate dehydrogenase activities, and mice of ICR and BALB/c strains are suitable for the maintenance of tetrathyridia.

Differences in the developmental origins of the periosteum may influence bone healing.

PubMed

Ichikawa, Y; Watahiki, J; Nampo, T; Nose, K; Yamamoto, G; Irie, T; Mishima, K; Maki, K

2015-08-01

The jaw bone, unlike most other bones, is derived from neural crest stem cells, so we hypothesized that it may have different characteristics to bones from other parts of the body, especially in the nature of its periosteum. The periosteum exhibits osteogenic potential and has received considerable attention as a grafting material for the repair of bone and joint defects. Gene expression profiles of jaw bone and periosteum were evaluated by DNA microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we perforated an area 2 mm in diameter on mouse frontal and parietal bones. Bone regeneration of these calvarial defects was evaluated using microcomputed tomography and histological analysis. The DNA microarray data revealed close homology between the gene expression profiles within the ilium and femur. The gene expression of Wnt-1, SOX10, nestin, and musashi-1 were significantly higher in the jaw bone than in other locations. Microcomputed tomography and histological analysis revealed that the jaw bone had superior bone regenerative abilities than other bones. Jaw bone periosteum exhibits a unique gene expression profile that is associated with neural crest cells and has a positive influence on bone regeneration when used as a graft material to repair bone defects. A full investigation of the biological and mechanical properties of jaw bone as an alternative graft material for jaw reconstructive surgery is recommended. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Relative lipophilicities and structural-pharmacological considerations of various angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

PubMed

Ranadive, S A; Chen, A X; Serajuddin, A T

1992-11-01

Lipophilicities of seven structurally diverse angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, viz., captopril, zofenoprilat, enalaprilat, ramiprilat, lisinopril, fosinoprilat, and ceronapril (SQ29852), were compared by determining their octanol-water distribution coefficients (D) under physiological pH conditions. The distribution co-efficients of zofenopril, enalapril, ramipril and fosinopril, which are the prodrug forms of zofenoprilat, enalaprilat, ramiprilat, and fosinoprilat, respectively, were also determined. Attempts were made to correlate lipophilicities with the reported data for oral absorption, protein binding, ACE inhibitory activity, propensity for biliary excretion, and penetration across the blood-brain barrier for these therapeutic entities. Better absorption of prodrugs compared to their respective active forms is in agreement with their greater lipophilicities. Captopril, lisinopril, and ceronapril are orally well absorbed despite their low lipophilicities, suggesting involvement of other factors such as a carrier-mediated transport process. Of all the compounds studied, the two most lipophilic ACE inhibitors, fosinoprilat and zofenoprilat, exhibit a rank-order correlation with respect to biliary excretion. This may explain the dual routes of elimination (renal and hepatic) observed with fosinoprilat in humans. The more lipophilic compounds also exhibit higher protein binding. Both the lipophilicity and a carrier-mediated process may be involved in penetration of some of these drugs into brain. For structurally similar compounds, in vitro ACE inhibitory activity increased with the increase in lipophilicity. However, no clear correlation between lipophilicity and ACE inhibitory activity emerged when different types of inhibitors are compared, possibly because their interactions with enzymes are primarily ionic in nature.

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Study of Hydrazone-Containing Pyridinium Salts as Cholinesterase Inhibitors.

PubMed

Parlar, Sulunay; Bayraktar, Gulsah; Tarikogullari, Ayse Hande; Alptüzün, Vildan; Erciyas, Ercin

2016-01-01

A series of pyridinium salts bearing alkylphenyl groups at 1 position and hydrazone structure at 4 position of the pyridinium ring were synthesized and evaluated for the inhibition of both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) enzymes. The cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitory activity studies were carried out by using the Ellman's colorimetric method. All compounds displayed considerable AChE and BuChE inhibitory activity and some of the compounds manifested remarkable anti-AChE activity compared to the reference compound, galantamine. Among the title compounds, the series including benzofuran aromatic ring exhibited the best inhibitory activity both on AChE and BuChE enzymes. Compound 3b, 4-[2-(1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl]-1-(3-phenylpropyl)pyridinium bromide, was the most active compound with IC50 value of 0.23 (0.24) µM against enantiomeric excess (ee)AChE (human (h)AChE) while compound 3a, 4-[2-(1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl]-1-phenethylpyridinium bromide, was the most active compound with IC50 value of 0.95 µM against BuChE. Moreover, 3a and b exhibited higher activity than the reference compound galantamine (eeAChE (hAChE) IC50 0.43 (0.52) µM; BuChE IC50 14.92 µM). Molecular docking studies were carried out on 3b having highest inhibitory activity against AChE.

Effects of Ti and Ta addition on microstructure stability and tensile properties of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel for nuclear fusion reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Han Kyu; Lee, Ji Won; Moon, Joonoh; Lee, Chang Hoon; Hong, Hyun Uk

2018-03-01

The effects of Ti and Ta addition on microstructure stability and tensile properties of a reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel have been investigated. Ti addition of 0.06 wt% to conventional RAFM reference base steel (Fe-9.3Cr-0.93W-0.22V-0.094Ta-0.1C) was intended to promote the precipitation of nano-sized (Ti,W) carbides with a high resistance to coarsening. In addition, the Ti addition was substituted for 0.094 wt% Ta. The Ti-added RAFM steel (Ti-RAFM) exhibited a higher yield strength (ΔYS = 32 MPa) at 600 °C than the reference base steel due to additional precipitation hardening by (Ti,W)-rich MX with an average size of 6.1 nm and the area fraction of 2.39%. However, after thermal exposure at 600 °C for 1000 h, this Ti-RAFM was more susceptible to degradation than the reference base steel; the block width increased by 77.6% in Ti-RAFM after thermal exposure while the reference base steel showed only 9.1% increase. In order to suppress diffusion rate during thermal exposure, the large-sized Ta element with low activation was added to Ti-RAFM. The Ta-added Ti-RAFM steel exhibited good properties with outstanding microstructure stability. Quantitative comparison in microstructures was discussed with a consideration of Ti and Ta addition.

Hamiltonian structures for systems of hyperbolic conservation laws

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olver, Peter J.; Nutku, Yavuz

1988-07-01

The bi-Hamiltonian structure for a large class of one-dimensional hyberbolic systems of conservation laws in two field variables, including the equations of gas dynamics, shallow water waves, one-dimensional elastic media, and the Born-Infeld equation from nonlinear electrodynamics, is exhibited. For polytropic gas dynamics, these results lead to a quadri-Hamiltonian structure. New higher-order entropy-flux pairs (conservation laws) and higher-order symmetries are exhibited.

Characterization of Catalase from Psychrotolerant Psychrobacter piscatorii T-3 Exhibiting High Catalase Activity

PubMed Central

Kimoto, Hideyuki; Yoshimune, Kazuaki; Matsuyma, Hidetoshi; Yumoto, Isao

2012-01-01

A psychrotolerant bacterium, strain T-3 (identified as Psychrobacter piscatorii), that exhibited an extraordinarily high catalase activity was isolated from the drain pool of a plant that uses H2O2 as a bleaching agent. Its cell extract exhibited a catalase activity (19,700 U·mg protein−1) that was higher than that of Micrococcus luteus used for industrial catalase production. Catalase was approximately 10% of the total proteins in the cell extract of the strain. The catalase (PktA) was purified homogeneously by only two purification steps, anion exchange and hydrophobic chromatographies. The purified catalase exhibited higher catalytic efficiency and higher sensitivity of activity at high temperatures than M. luteus catalase. The deduced amino acid sequence showed the highest homology with catalase of Psycrobacter cryohalolentis, a psychrotolelant bacterium obtained from Siberian permafrost. These findings suggest that the characteristics of the PktA molecule reflected the taxonomic relationship of the isolate as well as the environmental conditions (low temperatures and high concentrations of H2O2) under which the bacterium survives. Strain T-3 efficiently produces a catalase (PktA) at a higher rate than Exiguobacterium oxidotolerans, which produces a very strong activity of catalase (EktA) at a moderate rate, in order to adapt to high concentration of H2O2. PMID:22408420

Effect of morphology and solvent on two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide

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

Kavitha, M.K.; Haripadmam, P.C.; Gopinath, Pramod

Highlights: ► ZnO nanospheres and triangular structures synthesis by novel precipitation technique. ► The effect of precursor concentration on the size and shape of nano ZnO. ► Open aperture Z-scan measurements of the ZnO nanoparticle dispersions. ► Nanospheres exhibit higher two photon absorption coefficient than triangular nanostructures. ► Nanospheres dispersed in water exhibit higher two photon absorption coefficient than its dispersion in 2-propanol. - Abstract: In this paper, we report the effect of morphology and solvent on the two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide. Zinc oxide nanoparticles in two different morphologies like nanospheres and triangular nanostructures are synthesized by novelmore » precipitation technique and their two-photon absorption coefficient is measured using open aperture Z-scan technique. Experimental results show that the zinc oxide nanospheres exhibit higher two-photon absorption coefficient than the zinc oxide triangular nanostructures. The zinc oxide nanospheres dispersed in water exhibit higher two-photon absorption coefficient than that of its dispersion in 2-propanol. The zinc oxide nanospheres dispersed in water shows a decrease in two-photon absorption coefficient with an increase in on-axis irradiance. The result confirms the dependence of shape and solvent on the two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide.« less

Urban-Rural Disparity of Breast Cancer and Socioeconomic Risk Factors in China

PubMed Central

Fei, Xufeng; Wu, Jiaping; Kong, Zhe; Christakos, George

2015-01-01

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide. The primary aim of this work is the study of breast cancer disparity among Chinese women in urban vs. rural regions and its associations with socioeconomic factors. Data on breast cancer incidence were obtained from the Chinese cancer registry annual report (2005–2009). The ten socioeconomic factors considered in this study were obtained from the national population 2000 census and the Chinese city/county statistical yearbooks. Student’s T test was used to assess disparities of female breast cancer and socioeconomic factors in urban vs. rural regions. Pearson correlation and ordinary least squares (OLS) models were employed to analyze the relationships between socioeconomic factors and cancer incidence. It was found that the breast cancer incidence was significantly higher in urban than in rural regions. Moreover, in urban regions, breast cancer incidence remained relatively stable, whereas in rural regions it displayed an annual percentage change (APC) of 8.55. Among the various socioeconomic factors considered, breast cancer incidence exhibited higher positive correlations with population density, percentage of non-agriculture population, and second industry output. On the other hand, the incidence was negatively correlated with the percentage of population employed in primary industry. Overall, it was observed that higher socioeconomic status would lead to a higher breast cancer incidence in China. When studying breast cancer etiology, special attention should be paid to environmental pollutants, especially endocrine disruptors produced during industrial activities. Lastly, the present work’s findings strongly recommend giving high priority to the development of a systematic nationwide breast cancer screening program for women in China; with sufficient participation, mammography screening can considerably reduce mortality among women. PMID:25688556

Urban-rural disparity of breast cancer and socioeconomic risk factors in China.

PubMed

Fei, Xufeng; Wu, Jiaping; Kong, Zhe; Christakos, George

2015-01-01

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide. The primary aim of this work is the study of breast cancer disparity among Chinese women in urban vs. rural regions and its associations with socioeconomic factors. Data on breast cancer incidence were obtained from the Chinese cancer registry annual report (2005-2009). The ten socioeconomic factors considered in this study were obtained from the national population 2000 census and the Chinese city/county statistical yearbooks. Student's T test was used to assess disparities of female breast cancer and socioeconomic factors in urban vs. rural regions. Pearson correlation and ordinary least squares (OLS) models were employed to analyze the relationships between socioeconomic factors and cancer incidence. It was found that the breast cancer incidence was significantly higher in urban than in rural regions. Moreover, in urban regions, breast cancer incidence remained relatively stable, whereas in rural regions it displayed an annual percentage change (APC) of 8.55. Among the various socioeconomic factors considered, breast cancer incidence exhibited higher positive correlations with population density, percentage of non-agriculture population, and second industry output. On the other hand, the incidence was negatively correlated with the percentage of population employed in primary industry. Overall, it was observed that higher socioeconomic status would lead to a higher breast cancer incidence in China. When studying breast cancer etiology, special attention should be paid to environmental pollutants, especially endocrine disruptors produced during industrial activities. Lastly, the present work's findings strongly recommend giving high priority to the development of a systematic nationwide breast cancer screening program for women in China; with sufficient participation, mammography screening can considerably reduce mortality among women.

Impact of crystal orientation on the modulation bandwidth of InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monavarian, M.; Rashidi, A.; Aragon, A. A.; Oh, S. H.; Rishinaramangalam, A. K.; DenBaars, S. P.; Feezell, D.

2018-01-01

High-speed InGaN/GaN blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are needed for future gigabit-per-second visible-light communication systems. Large LED modulation bandwidths are typically achieved at high current densities, with reports close to 1 GHz bandwidth at current densities ranging from 5 to 10 kA/cm2. However, the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of InGaN/GaN LEDs is quite low at high current densities due to the well-known efficiency droop phenomenon. Here, we show experimentally that nonpolar and semipolar orientations of GaN enable higher modulation bandwidths at low current densities where the IQE is expected to be higher and power dissipation is lower. We experimentally compare the modulation bandwidth vs. current density for LEDs on nonpolar (10 1 ¯ 0 ), semipolar (20 2 ¯ 1 ¯) , and polar (" separators="|0001 ) orientations. In agreement with wavefunction overlap considerations, the experimental results indicate a higher modulation bandwidth for the nonpolar and semipolar LEDs, especially at relatively low current densities. At 500 A/cm2, the nonpolar LED has a 3 dB bandwidth of ˜1 GHz, while the semipolar and polar LEDs exhibit bandwidths of 260 MHz and 75 MHz, respectively. A lower carrier density for a given current density is extracted from the RF measurements for the nonpolar and semipolar LEDs, consistent with the higher wavefunction overlaps in these orientations. At large current densities, the bandwidth of the polar LED approaches that of the nonpolar and semipolar LEDs due to coulomb screening of the polarization field. The results support using nonpolar and semipolar orientations to achieve high-speed LEDs at low current densities.

Evidence of adaptive tolerance to nickel in isolates of Cenococcum geophilum from serpentine soils.

PubMed

Gonçalves, Susana C; Martins-Loução, M Amélia; Freitas, Helena

2009-04-01

Selection for metal-tolerant ecotypes of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi has been reported in instances of metal contamination of soils as a result of human activities. However, no study has yet provided evidence that natural metalliferous soils, such as serpentine soils, can drive the evolution of metal tolerance in ECM fungi. We examined in vitro Ni tolerance in isolates of Cenococcum geophilum from serpentine and non-serpentine soils to assess whether isolates from serpentine soils exhibited patterns consistent with adaptation to elevated levels of Ni, a typical feature of serpentine. A second objective was to investigate the relationship between Ni tolerance and specific growth rates (micro) among isolates to increase our understanding of possible tolerance/growth trade-offs. Isolates from both soil types were screened for Ni tolerance by measuring biomass production in liquid media with increasing Ni concentrations, so that the effective concentration of Ni inhibiting fungal growth by 50% (EC(50)) could be determined. Isolates of C. geophilum from serpentine soils exhibited significantly higher tolerance to Ni than non-serpentine isolates. The mean Ni EC(50) value for serpentine isolates (23.4 microg ml(-1)) was approximately seven times higher than the estimated value for non-serpentine isolates (3.38 microg ml(-1)). Although there was still a considerable variation in Ni sensitivity among the isolates, none of the serpentine isolates had EC(50) values for Ni within the range found for non-serpentine isolates. We found a negative correlation between EC(50) and micro values among isolates (r = -0.555). This trend, albeit only marginally significant (P = 0.06), indicates a potential trade-off between tolerance and growth, in agreement with selection against Ni tolerance in "normal" habitats. Overall, these results suggest that Ni tolerance arose among serpentine isolates of C. geophilum as an adaptive response to Ni exposure in serpentine soils.

A multilevel approach to examining cephalopod growth using Octopus pallidus as a model.

PubMed

Semmens, Jayson; Doubleday, Zoë; Hoyle, Kate; Pecl, Gretta

2011-08-15

Many aspects of octopus growth dynamics are poorly understood, particularly in relation to sub-adult or adult growth, muscle fibre dynamics and repro-somatic investment. The growth of 5 month old Octopus pallidus cultured in the laboratory was investigated under three temperature regimes over a 12 week period: seasonally increasing temperatures (14-18°C); seasonally decreasing temperatures (18-14°C); and a constant temperature mid-way between seasonal peaks (16°C). Differences in somatic growth at the whole-animal level, muscle tissue structure and rate of gonad development were investigated. Continuous exponential growth was observed, both at a group and at an individual level, and there was no detectable effect of temperature on whole-animal growth rate. Juvenile growth rate (from 1 to 156 days) was also monitored prior to the controlled experiment; exponential growth was observed, but at a significantly faster rate than in the older experimental animals, suggesting that O. pallidus exhibit a double-exponential two-phase growth pattern. There was considerable variability in size-at-age even between individuals growing under identical thermal regimes. Animals exposed to seasonally decreasing temperatures exhibited a higher rate of gonad development compared with animals exposed to increasing temperatures; however, this did not coincide with a detectable decline in somatic growth rate or mantle condition. The ongoing production of new mitochondria-poor and mitochondria-rich muscle fibres (hyperplasia) was observed, indicated by a decreased or stable mean muscle fibre diameter concurrent with an increase in whole-body size. Animals from both seasonal temperature regimes demonstrated higher rates of new mitochondria-rich fibre generation relative to those from the constant temperature regime, but this difference was not reflected in a difference in growth rate at the whole-body level. This is the first study to record ongoing hyperplasia in the muscle tissue of an octopus species, and provides further insight into the complex growth dynamics of octopus.

Training and overtraining markers in selected sport events.

PubMed

Hartmann, U; Mester, J

2000-01-01

Varieties of symptoms are supposed to detect overtraining (OT). Besides the problems of diagnosis and analysis in elite athletes, a daily monitoring of training status takes place with measurement of the parameters serum urea (SU) and serum creatine kinase (CK); therefore, their meaningfulness will be examined, with special respect inter- and intra-individually. Data were obtained from determinations during training from athletes in rowing and athletes of international level. For 6981 SU determinations (male, N = 717; female, N = 285), a slightly asymmetric normal distribution was found (male, 80%, 5-7 mmol x L(-1); female, 75%, 4-6 mmol x L(-1)). Values for women were approximately 1.5 mmol x L(-1) lower. Individual variability was enormous; there seems little point in setting fixed value as 8.3 mmol x L(-1) for men and 7.0 mmol x L(-1) for women as a critical limit for OT. CK has also been measured and evaluated in sports as an essential parameter for determination of muscular stress. Frequency distributions of CK in 2790 samples (male, N = 497; female, N = 350) presented an asymmetric normal distribution with distinct trend toward higher values being evident for the range between 100 and 250 U x L(-1). Conspicuously elevated values occurred in the ranges 250-350 U x L(-1) and 1000-2000 U x L(-1). Men's maximal values were 3000 U x L(-1) and 1150 U x L(-1) for women. Individual variability was enormous. Athletes with chronically low CK exhibited mainly low variability; those with chronically higher values exhibited considerable variability. Establishment of both parameters should be useful to determine individual baselines from a large number of samples. Determinations should be made at least every 3 d in standardized conditions. If a large increase is observed in combination with reduced exercise tolerance after a phase of exertion (2-4 d), then the possibility of a catabolic/metabolic activity or insufficient exercise tolerance becomes much more likely.

Irreversible Brownian Heat Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taye, Mesfin Asfaw

2017-10-01

We model a Brownian heat engine as a Brownian particle that hops in a periodic ratchet potential where the ratchet potential is coupled with a linearly decreasing background temperature. We show that the efficiency of such Brownian heat engine approaches the efficiency of endoreversible engine η =1-√{{Tc/Th}} [23]. On the other hand, the maximum power efficiency of the engine approaches η ^{MAX}=1-({Tc/Th})^{1\\over 4}. It is shown that the optimized efficiency always lies between the efficiency at quasistatic limit and the efficiency at maximum power while the efficiency at maximum power is always less than the optimized efficiency since the fast motion of the particle comes at the expense of the energy cost. If the heat exchange at the boundary of the heat baths is included, we show that such a Brownian heat engine has a higher performance when acting as a refrigerator than when operating as a device subjected to a piecewise constant temperature. The role of time on the performance of the motor is also explored via numerical simulations. Our numerical results depict that the time t and the external load dictate the direction of the particle velocity. Moreover, the performance of the heat engine improves with time. At large t (steady state), the velocity, the efficiency and the coefficient of performance of the refrigerator attain their maximum value. Furthermore, we study the effect of temperature by considering a viscous friction that decreases exponentially as the background temperature increases. Our result depicts that the Brownian particle exhibits a fast unidirectional motion when the viscous friction is temperature dependent than that of constant viscous friction. Moreover, the efficiency of this motor is considerably enhanced when the viscous friction is temperature dependent. On the hand, the motor exhibits a higher performance of the refrigerator when the viscous friction is taken to be constant.

Physicochemical, melissopalynological and antioxidant properties of artisanal honeys from Lebanon.

PubMed

Jaafar, Katherine; Haidar, Janay; Kuraydiyyah, Sawsan; Ghaddar, Tarek; Knio, Khouzama; Ismail, Baraem; Toufeili, Imad

2017-07-01

Sixteen honeydew and 15 floral honeys from Lebanon were analyzed for pollen spectra and physicochemical parameters. A total of 37 families and 67 taxa were recorded with the honeybees producing honeydew honey exhibiting a more diverse foraging behavior than those making floral honeys. The honeydew and floral honeys exhibited differences in moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, color, protein and Maillard reaction products. The honeydew honeys contained more total phenols, had higher antioxidant contents, and displayed higher antioxidant capacities than the floral samples in the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, inhibition of superoxide dismutase activity and protection of red blood cells against hemolysis assays. The honey samples exhibited higher antioxidant capacities, in the aforementioned assays, than their corresponding methanol-extractable phenol fractions although the differences did not reach statistical significance in the floral samples. The relative antioxidant capacity indices which integrate measures of antioxidant capacity from the different assays of the honey samples and their corresponding extracts exhibited similar patterns ( r  = 0.9774, 0.9937) thereby indicating that the antioxidative behavior of the entire honeys is mirrored by their methanol-extractable phenolic fractions.

Designing a serious game for historical heritage: a case study of Heerlen Roman bathhouse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Wen

2014-01-01

The advances of computer games have shown their potentials for developing edutainment content and services. Current cultural heritages often make use of games in order to complement existing presentations and to create a memorable exhibition. It offers opportunities to reorganize and conceptualize historical, cultural and technological information about the exhibits. To demonstrate the benefits of serious games in terms of facilitating the learning activities in a constructive and meaningful way, we designed a video game about the Heerlen bathhouse heritage. This paper explains the design considerations of this Roman bathhouse game, with a particular focus on the link between game play and learning.

Stability and Control Properties of an Aeroelastic Fixed Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Waszak, Martin R.; Jenkins, Luther N.; Ifju, Peter

2001-01-01

Micro aerial vehicles have been the subject of considerable interest and development over the last several years. The majority of current vehicle concepts rely on rigid fixed wings or rotors. An alternate design based on an aeroelastic membrane wing concept has also been developed that has exhibited desired characteristics in flight test demonstrations and competition. This paper presents results from a wind tunnel investigation that sought to quantify stability and control properties for a family of vehicles using the aeroelastic design. The results indicate that the membrane wing does exhibit potential benefits that could be exploited to enhance the design of future flight vehicles.

Transparent Electrodes Based on Silver Nanowire Networks: From Physical Considerations towards Device Integration

PubMed Central

Bellet, Daniel; Lagrange, Mélanie; Sannicolo, Thomas; Aghazadehchors, Sara; Nguyen, Viet Huong; Langley, Daniel P.; Muñoz-Rojas, David; Jiménez, Carmen; Bréchet, Yves; Nguyen, Ngoc Duy

2017-01-01

The past few years have seen a considerable amount of research devoted to nanostructured transparent conducting materials (TCM), which play a pivotal role in many modern devices such as solar cells, flexible light-emitting devices, touch screens, electromagnetic devices, and flexible transparent thin film heaters. Currently, the most commonly used TCM for such applications (ITO: Indium Tin oxide) suffers from two major drawbacks: brittleness and indium scarcity. Among emerging transparent electrodes, silver nanowire (AgNW) networks appear to be a promising substitute to ITO since such electrically percolating networks exhibit excellent properties with sheet resistance lower than 10 Ω/sq and optical transparency of 90%, fulfilling the requirements of most applications. In addition, AgNW networks also exhibit very good mechanical flexibility. The fabrication of these electrodes involves low-temperature processing steps and scalable methods, thus making them appropriate for future use as low-cost transparent electrodes in flexible electronic devices. This contribution aims to briefly present the main properties of AgNW based transparent electrodes as well as some considerations relating to their efficient integration in devices. The influence of network density, nanowire sizes, and post treatments on the properties of AgNW networks will also be evaluated. In addition to a general overview of AgNW networks, we focus on two important aspects: (i) network instabilities as well as an efficient Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) coating which clearly enhances AgNW network stability and (ii) modelling to better understand the physical properties of these networks. PMID:28772931

Bauhinia variegata Leaf Extracts Exhibit Considerable Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities

PubMed Central

Mishra, Amita; Sharma, Amit Kumar; Kumar, Shashank; Saxena, Ajit K.; Pandey, Abhay K.

2013-01-01

The present study reports the phytochemical profiling, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of Bauhinia variegata leaf extracts. The reducing sugar, anthraquinone, and saponins were observed in polar extracts, while terpenoids and alkaloids were present in nonpolar and ethanol extracts. Total flavonoid contents in various extracts were found in the range of 11–222.67 mg QE/g. In disc diffusion assays, petroleum ether and chloroform fractions exhibited considerable inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Several other extracts also showed antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of E. coli, Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of potential extracts were found between 3.5 and 28.40 mg/mL. The lowest MBC (3.5 mg/mL) was recorded for ethanol extract against Pseudomonas spp. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was compared with standard antioxidants. Dose dependent response was observed in reducing power of extracts. Polar extracts demonstrated appreciable metal ion chelating activity at lower concentrations (10–40 μg/mL). Many extracts showed significant antioxidant response in beta carotene bleaching assay. AQ fraction of B. variegata showed pronounced cytotoxic effect against DU-145, HOP-62, IGR-OV-1, MCF-7, and THP-1 human cancer cell lines with 90–99% cell growth inhibitory activity. Ethyl acetate fraction also produced considerable cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and THP-1 cell lines. The study demonstrates notable antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities in B. variegata leaf extracts. PMID:24093108

Quantifying Landscape Spatial Pattern: What Is the State of the Art?

Treesearch

Eric J. Gustafson

1998-01-01

Landscape ecology is based on the premise that there are strong links between ecological pattern and ecological function and process. Ecological systems are spatially heterogeneous, exhibiting consid-erable complexity and variability in time and space. This variability is typically represented by categorical maps or by a collection of samples taken at specific spatial...

Learning Robotics in a Science Museum Theatre Play: Investigation of Learning Outcomes, Contexts and Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peleg, Ran; Baram-Tsabari, Ayelet

2017-01-01

Theatre is often introduced into science museums to enhance visitor experience. While learning in museums exhibitions received considerable research attention, learning from museum theatre has not. The goal of this exploratory study was to investigate the potential educational role of a science museum theatre play. The study aimed to investigate…

Competitive agents in a market: Statistical physics of the minority game

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherrington, David

2007-10-01

A brief review is presented of the minority game, a simple frustrated many-body system stimulated by considerations of a market of competitive speculative agents. Its cooperative behaviour exhibits phase transitions and both ergodic and non-ergodic regimes. It provides novel challenges to statistical physics, reminiscent of those of mean-field spin glasses.

Global Expansion and English Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrade, Maureen Snow

2016-01-01

Demand for higher education is global. As institutions extend opportunities beyond their borders, English language proficiency must be considered. This chapter focuses on considerations related to global expansion, with an emphasis on the role of distance English language courses and the distinct considerations in their development.

Characterization of putative virulence factors of Serratia marcescens strain SEN for pathogenesis in Spodoptera litura.

PubMed

Aggarwal, Chetana; Paul, Sangeeta; Tripathi, Vishwas; Paul, Bishwajeet; Khan, Md Aslam

2017-02-01

Two Serratia marcescens strains, SEN and ICC-4, isolated from diseased insect cadavers were observed to differ considerably in their virulence towards Spodoptera litura. The present study was aimed to characterize the possible virulence factors present in the virulent Serratia marcescens strain SEN. Both the S. marcescens strains were evaluated for the presence of various lytic enzymes such as chitinase, lipase, protease and phospholipase. The virulent S. marcescens strain SEN was observed to possess considerably higher activity of chitinase and protease enzymes; activity of phospholipase enzyme was also higher. Although, all the three toxin genes shlA, phlA and swr could be detected in both the S. marcescens strains, there was a higher expression of these genes in the virulent strain SEN. S. marcescens strain ICC-4 showed greater reduction in overall growth yield in the post-exponential phase in the presence of midgut juice and hemolymph of S. litura larvae, as compared to S. marcescens strain SEN. Proliferation of the S. marcescens strain SEN was also considerably higher in foregut, midgut and hemolymph of S. litura larvae, as compared to strain ICC-4. Peritrophic membrane treated with broth culture of the S. marcescens strain SEN showed higher damage as compared to strain ICC-4. The peritrophic membrane of larvae fed on diet treated with the virulent strain showed considerable damage while the peritrophic membrane of larvae fed on diet treated with the non-virulent strain showed no damage. This is the first report documenting the fate of ingested S. marcescens in S. litura gut and the relative expression of toxin genes from two S. marcescens strains differing in their virulence towards S. litura. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Widening Access to Higher Education--The Limits of Positive Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saunders, Nick

2004-01-01

2003 was a tempestuous year for the formulation of higher education policy. After considerable delay, the White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" was published in January and this appeared to give a clear signal that government expected higher education institutions, particularly the pre-1992 universities, to do significantly more…

Estimation of design space for an extrusion-spheronization process using response surface methodology and artificial neural network modelling.

PubMed

Sovány, Tamás; Tislér, Zsófia; Kristó, Katalin; Kelemen, András; Regdon, Géza

2016-09-01

The application of the Quality by Design principles is one of the key issues of the recent pharmaceutical developments. In the past decade a lot of knowledge was collected about the practical realization of the concept, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions. The key requirement of the concept is the mathematical description of the effect of the critical factors and their interactions on the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the product. The process design space (PDS) is usually determined by the use of design of experiment (DoE) based response surface methodologies (RSM), but inaccuracies in the applied polynomial models often resulted in the over/underestimation of the real trends and changes making the calculations uncertain, especially in the edge regions of the PDS. The completion of RSM with artificial neural network (ANN) based models is therefore a commonly used method to reduce the uncertainties. Nevertheless, since the different researches are focusing on the use of a given DoE, there is lack of comparative studies on different experimental layouts. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the effect of the different DoE layouts (2 level full factorial, Central Composite, Box-Behnken, 3 level fractional and 3 level full factorial design) on the model predictability and to compare model sensitivities according to the organization of the experimental data set. It was revealed that the size of the design space could differ more than 40% calculated with different polynomial models, which was associated with a considerable shift in its position when higher level layouts were applied. The shift was more considerable when the calculation was based on RSM. The model predictability was also better with ANN based models. Nevertheless, both modelling methods exhibit considerable sensitivity to the organization of the experimental data set, and the use of design layouts is recommended, where the extreme values factors are more represented. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antisense RNA Strategies for Metabolic Engineering of Clostridium acetobutylicum

PubMed Central

Desai, Ruchir P.; Papoutsakis, Eleftherios T.

1999-01-01

We examined the effectiveness of antisense RNA (as RNA) strategies for metabolic engineering of Clostridium acetobutylicum. Strain ATCC 824(pRD4) was developed to produce a 102-nucleotide asRNA with 87% complementarity to the butyrate kinase (BK) gene. Strain ATCC 824(pRD4) exhibited 85 to 90% lower BK and acetate kinase specific activities than the control strain. Strain ATCC 824(pRD4) also exhibited 45 to 50% lower phosphotransbutyrylase (PTB) and phosphotransacetylase specific activities than the control strain. This strain exhibited earlier induction of solventogenesis, which resulted in 50 and 35% higher final concentrations of acetone and butanol, respectively, than the concentrations in the control. Strain ATCC 824(pRD1) was developed to putatively produce a 698-nucleotide asRNA with 96% complementarity to the PTB gene. Strain ATCC 824(pRD1) exhibited 70 and 80% lower PTB and BK activities, respectively, than the control exhibited. It also exhibited 300% higher levels of a lactate dehydrogenase activity than the control exhibited. The growth yields of ATCC 824(pRD1) were 28% less than the growth yields of the control. While the levels of acids were not affected in ATCC 824(pRD1) fermentations, the acetone and butanol concentrations were 96 and 75% lower, respectively, than the concentrations in the control fermentations. The lower level of solvent production by ATCC 824(pRD1) was compensated for by ∼100-fold higher levels of lactate production. The lack of any significant impact on butyrate formation fluxes by the lower PTB and BK levels suggests that butyrate formation fluxes are not controlled by the levels of the butyrate formation enzymes. PMID:10049845

Antisense RNA strategies for metabolic engineering of Clostridium acetobutylicum.

PubMed

Desai, R P; Papoutsakis, E T

1999-03-01

We examined the effectiveness of antisense RNA (as RNA) strategies for metabolic engineering of Clostridium acetobutylicum. Strain ATCC 824(pRD4) was developed to produce a 102-nucleotide asRNA with 87% complementarity to the butyrate kinase (BK) gene. Strain ATCC 824(pRD4) exhibited 85 to 90% lower BK and acetate kinase specific activities than the control strain. Strain ATCC 824(pRD4) also exhibited 45 to 50% lower phosphotransbutyrylase (PTB) and phosphotransacetylase specific activities than the control strain. This strain exhibited earlier induction of solventogenesis, which resulted in 50 and 35% higher final concentrations of acetone and butanol, respectively, than the concentrations in the control. Strain ATCC 824(pRD1) was developed to putatively produce a 698-nucleotide asRNA with 96% complementarity to the PTB gene. Strain ATCC 824(pRD1) exhibited 70 and 80% lower PTB and BK activities, respectively, than the control exhibited. It also exhibited 300% higher levels of a lactate dehydrogenase activity than the control exhibited. The growth yields of ATCC 824(pRD1) were 28% less than the growth yields of the control. While the levels of acids were not affected in ATCC 824(pRD1) fermentations, the acetone and butanol concentrations were 96 and 75% lower, respectively, than the concentrations in the control fermentations. The lower level of solvent production by ATCC 824(pRD1) was compensated for by approximately 100-fold higher levels of lactate production. The lack of any significant impact on butyrate formation fluxes by the lower PTB and BK levels suggests that butyrate formation fluxes are not controlled by the levels of the butyrate formation enzymes.

Radiopacity of flowable composite by a digital technique.

PubMed

Dukić, W; Delija, B; Lešić, S; Dubravica, I; Derossi, D

2013-01-01

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the radiopacity of 19 current dental flowable composite materials by a digital technique. Digital radiographs were obtained with a CCD sensor using an aluminum step wedge, a 1-mm-thick tooth slice, and a 1-mm-thick flowable composite specimen using five different combinations of exposure and voltage. The radiopacity in pixels was determined using Digora 2.6. software. The equivalent thickness of aluminum for each material was then calculated based on the calibration curve. All of the tested flowable composite materials had higher radiopacities than that of dentin, but in almost every combination of exposure and voltage, there were some composite materials that exhibited radiopacities equal to or slightly greater than enamel p>α; α=0.01). Of the flowable composite materials tested, 37% showed lower radiopacities than enamel, and 21% of the tested materials had higher radiopacities than the 3-mm aluminum equivalent. The highest radiopacity at all exposure values was produced by the Majesty Flow and Charisma Opal Flow materials, which had radiopacities almost twice that of enamel. Flowable composite materials should have radiopacities greater than that of enamel (ISO 4049), an important consideration for the introduction of new materials to the market. The digital radiopacity analysis techniques used in this study provide an easy, reliable, rapid, and precise method to characterize radiopacity of dental flowable composite materials.

Dietary fibers from mushroom sclerotia: 3. In vitro fermentability using human fecal microflora.

PubMed

Wong, Ka-Hing; Wong, King-Yee; Kwan, Hoi-Shan; Cheung, Peter C K

2005-11-30

The in vitro fermentability of three novel dietary fibers (DFs) prepared from mushroom sclerotia, namely, Pleurotus tuber-regium, Polyporous rhinocerus, and Wolfiporia cocos, was investigated and compared with that of the cellulose control. All DF samples (0.5 g each) were fermented in vitro with a human fecal homogenate (10 mL) in a batch system (total volume, 50 mL) under strictly anaerobic conditions (using oxygen reducing enzyme and under argon atmosphere) at 37 degrees C for 24 h. All three novel sclerotial DFs exhibited notably higher dry matter disappearance (P. tuber-regium, 8.56%; P. rhinocerus, 13.5%; and W. cocos, 53.4%) and organic matter disappearance (P. tuber-regium, 9.82%; P. rhinocerus, 14.6%; and W. cocos, 57.4%) when compared with those of the cellulose control. Nevertheless, only the W. cocos DF was remarkably degraded to produce considerable amounts of total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (5.23 mmol/g DF on organic matter basis, with a relatively higher molar ratio of propionate) that lowered the pH of its nonfermented residue to a slightly acidic level (5.89). Variations on the in vitro fermentability among the three sclerotial DFs might mainly be attributed to their different amounts of interwoven hyphae present (different amounts of enzyme inaccessible cell wall components) as well as the possible different structural arrangement (linkage and degree of branching) of their beta-glucans.

Essential oil-mediated glycerosomes increase transdermal paeoniflorin delivery: optimization, characterization, and evaluation in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Zhang, Kai; Zhang, Yongtai; Li, Zhe; Li, Nana; Feng, Nianping

2017-01-01

In this study, a novel glycerosome carrier containing essential oils was prepared for topical administration of paeoniflorin (PF) to enhance its transdermal drug delivery and improve drug absorption in the synovium. The formulation of glycerosomes was optimized by a uniform design, and the final vehicle was composed of 5% (w/v) phospholipid, 0.6% (w/v) cholesterol, and 10% (v/v) glycerol, with 2% (v/v) Speranskia tuberculata essential oil (STO) as the transdermal enhancer. The in vitro transdermal flux of PF loaded in the STO-glycerosomes was 1.4-fold, 1.6-fold, and 1.7-fold higher than those of glycerosomes, liposomes, and tinctures, respectively. In vivo studies showed that the use of STO-glycerosomes was associated with a 3.1-fold greater accumulation of PF in the synovium than that of common glycerosomes. This finding was confirmed by in vivo imaging studies, which found that the fluorescence intensity of Cy5.5-loaded STO-glycerosomes in mice knee joints was 1.8-fold higher than that of the common glycerosomes 5 h after administration. The glycerosomes mediated by STO exhibited considerable skin permeability as well as improved drug absorption in the synovium, indicating that STO-glycerosomes may be a potential PF transdermal delivery vehicle for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis caused by synovium lesions.

Analysis of Flavonoids and the Flavonoid Structural Genes in Brown Fiber of Upland Cotton

PubMed Central

Liu, Yongchang; Li, Yanjun; Zhang, Xinyu; Jones, Brian Joseph; Sun, Yuqiang; Sun, Jie

2013-01-01

Backgroud As a result of changing consumer preferences, cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) from varieties with naturally colored fibers is becoming increasingly sought after in the textile industry. The molecular mechanisms leading to colored fiber development are still largely unknown, although it is expected that the color is derived from flavanoids. Experimental Design Firstly, four key genes of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in cotton (GhC4H, GhCHS, GhF3′H, and GhF3′5′H) were cloned and studied their expression profiles during the development of brown- and white cotton fibers by QRT-PCR. And then, the concentrations of four components of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin in brown- and white fibers were analyzed at different developmental stages by HPLC. Result The predicted proteins of the four flavonoid structural genes corresponding to these genes exhibit strong sequence similarity to their counterparts in various plant species. Transcript levels for all four genes were considerably higher in developing brown fibers than in white fibers from a near isogenic line (NIL). The contents of four flavonoids (naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin) were significantly higher in brown than in white fibers and corresponding to the biosynthetic gene expression levels. Conclusions Flavonoid structural gene expression and flavonoid metabolism are important in the development of pigmentation in brown cotton fibers. PMID:23527031

Lower-Conductivity Ceramic Materials for Thermal-Barrier Coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Narottam P.; Zhu, Dongming

2006-01-01

Doped pyrochlore oxides of a type described below are under consideration as alternative materials for high-temperature thermal-barrier coatings (TBCs). In comparison with partially-yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), which is the state-of-the-art TBC material now in commercial use, these doped pyrochlore oxides exhibit lower thermal conductivities, which could be exploited to obtain the following advantages: For a given difference in temperature between an outer coating surface and the coating/substrate interface, the coating could be thinner. Reductions in coating thicknesses could translate to reductions in weight of hot-section components of turbine engines (e.g., combustor liners, blades, and vanes) to which TBCs are typically applied. For a given coating thickness, the difference in temperature between the outer coating surface and the coating/substrate interface could be greater. For turbine engines, this could translate to higher operating temperatures, with consequent increases in efficiency and reductions in polluting emissions. TBCs are needed because the temperatures in some turbine-engine hot sections exceed the maximum temperatures that the substrate materials (superalloys, Si-based ceramics, and others) can withstand. YSZ TBCs are applied to engine components as thin layers by plasma spraying or electron-beam physical vapor deposition. During operation at higher temperatures, YSZ layers undergo sintering, which increases their thermal conductivities and thereby renders them less effective as TBCs. Moreover, the sintered YSZ TBCs are less tolerant of stress and strain and, hence, are less durable.

The effect of microstructure on the performance of Li-ion porous electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Ding-Wen

By combining X-ray tomography data and computer-generated porous elec- trodes, the impact of microstructure on the energy and power density of lithium-ion batteries is analyzed. Specifically, for commercial LiMn2O4 electrodes, results indi- cate that a broad particle size distribution of active material delivers up to two times higher energy density than monodisperse-sized particles for low discharge rates, and a monodisperse particle size distribution delivers the highest energy and power density for high discharge rates. The limits of traditionally used microstructural properties such as tortuosity, reactive area density, particle surface roughness, morphological anisotropy were tested against degree of particle size polydispersity, thus enabling the identification of improved porous architectures. The effects of critical battery processing parameters, such as layer compaction and carbon black, were also rationalized in the context of electrode performance. While a monodisperse particle size distribution exhibits the lowest possible tortuosity and three times higher surface area per unit volume with respect to an electrode conformed of a polydisperse particle size distribution, a comparable performance can be achieved by polydisperse particle size distributions with degrees of polydispersity less than 0.2 of particle size standard deviation. The use of non-spherical particles raises the tortuosity by as much as three hundred percent, which considerably lowers the power performance. However, favorably aligned particles can maximize power performance, particularly for high discharge rate applications.

Characteristics of antioxidant activity and composition of pumpkin seed oils in 12 cultivars.

PubMed

Nawirska-Olszańska, Agnieszka; Kita, Agnieszka; Biesiada, Anita; Sokół-Łętowska, Anna; Kucharska, Alicja Z

2013-08-15

The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant properties, and provide characteristics, of the oil obtained from the seeds of 12 pumpkin varieties belonging to the species Cucurbita maxima Duch. and Cucurbita pepo L. Another objective was to establish which of the two extracting agents, ethanol or methanol, is more effective. The seeds of the pumpkin varieties examined differ in chemical composition and antioxidant activity. The seeds of the cultivars belonging to the species C. maxima are characterised by a higher content of fatty acids than are the cultivars of the species C. pepo. In the seed oil, unsaturated acids are dominant (oleic and linoleic), and their proportion depends on the pumpkin variety. The highest content of unsaturated acids has been measured in the oil extracted from the seeds of the cultivar, Jet F1 (C. pepo). Antioxidant activity analysis has produced the following findings. The seeds of the pumpkin varieties that belong to the species C. pepo exhibit better antioxidant properties, regardless of the extraction solvent used. 50% ethanol is more efficient than 80% methanol when used as an extracting agent. The antioxidant activity values obtained with 50% ethanol are higher than those achieved with 80% methanol. Owing to the considerable differences in composition among the fatty acids examined, it is possible to choose the desired pumpkin variety for the intended use. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Controlling microstructure of pentacene derivatives by solution processing: impact of structural anisotropy on optoelectronic properties.

PubMed

James, David T; Frost, Jarvist M; Wade, Jessica; Nelson, Jenny; Kim, Ji-Seon

2013-09-24

The consideration of anisotropic structural properties and their impact on optoelectronic properties in small-molecule thin films is vital to understand the performance of devices incorporating crystalline organic semiconductors. Here we report on the important relationship between structural and optoelectronic anisotropy in aligned, functionalized-pentacene thin films fabricated using the solution-based zone-casting technique. The microstructure of thin films composed of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) and 6,13-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TES-pentacene) is systematically controlled by varying the casting speed. By controlling the structural alignment, we were able to experimentally decouple, for the first time in these films, an intramolecular absorption transition dipole (at ∼440 nm) oriented close to the pentacene short axis and an intermolecular absorption transition dipole (at ∼695 nm) oriented predominantly along the conjugated pentacene-pentacene core stacking axis (crystallographic a-axis) in both films. Using the intermolecular absorption as a signature for intermolecular delocalization, much higher optical dichroism was obtained in TES-pentacene (16 ± 6) than TIPS-pentacene (3.2 ± 0.1), which was attributed to the 1D packing structure of TES-pentacene compared to the 2D packing structure of TIPS-pentacene. This result was also supported by field-effect mobility anisotropy measurements of the films, with TES-pentacene exhibiting a higher anisotropy (∼21-47, depending on the casting speed) than TIPS-pentacene (∼3-10).

Properties of Poly- and Oligopentacenes Synthesized from Modular Building Blocks

DOE PAGES

Kumarasamy, Elango; Sanders, Samuel N.; Pun, Andrew B.; ...

2016-02-09

Here, we describe a facile route to well-defined, solution-processable pentacene oligomers (2 to 7) and homopolymer using Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. This synthetic strategy leads to regioisomers, regiopure syn- and anti-trimers were also synthesized, revealing minimal changes in solution properties but significant changes in the solid state arising from differing levels of crystallinity. The materials were characterized by steady state absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry to study their electronic structure. The steady state absorption spectra exhibit a new high-energy transition in the oligomers, which intensifies as a function of oligomer length, thus increasing the range of absorption to include the entiremore » visible spectrum. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the new peak results directly from the oligomerization. Solid state UV–vis suggests that while the monomer is amorphous, bricklayer packing in the higher oligomers significantly alters the solid state absorption relative to solution. The effect of oligomerization on packing was corroborated by GIWAXS analysis, which revealed crystalline domains in the oligomers. These domains, which are most evident in anti-trimer, become more pronounced upon thermal annealing. Photodegradation studies revealed considerable stability enhancement of oligomers toward oxygen and cycloaddition reactions relative to monomer. The synthesis and characterization of the first higher oligomers and homopolymer of pentacene should pave the way to applications in singlet fission, organic field-effect transistors, and organic photovoltaics.« less

Antimicrobial resistant coliform bacteria in the Gomti river water and determination of their tolerance level.

PubMed

Akhter, Asma; Imran, Mohd; Akhter, Firoz

2014-01-01

The distribution of resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, tetracycline, and streptomycin among coliform in the Gomti river water samples was investigated. The coliform populations were isolated on Mac Conky and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar plates supplemented with antibiotics. The incidence of resistance among the coliform population varied considerably in different drug and water sampling sites. Coliform bacteria showed lower drug resistant viable count in sampling site-III (receiving treated wastewater) as compared to more polluted site-I and site-II. Viable count of coliform population obtained on both medium was recorded higher against erythromycin from sampling site-III. Lower viable count of coliforms was recorded against tetracycline in site-II and III. Similar resistance pattern was obtained in the frequency of E. coli and Enterobacter species from all the three sampling sites. Percentage of antibiotic resistant E. coli was observed higher than Enterobacter spp among the total coliforms against all antibiotics tested without Erythromycin and penicillin in site-I and II respectively. Isolates of E. coli and Enterobacter spp. showed their tolerance level (MIC) in the range of 2-100 against the antibiotics tested. Maximum number of isolates of both genus exhibited their MICs at lower concentration range 2-5µg/ml against ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and amoxycillin. EMB - Eosin methylene blue, IMViC tests - Indole, Methyl Red, Voges Proskauer and Citrate Utilization Tests, MIC - Minimum inhibitory concentration.

Antimicrobial resistant coliform bacteria in the Gomti river water and determination of their tolerance level

PubMed Central

Akhter, Asma; Imran, Mohd; Akhter, Firoz

2014-01-01

The distribution of resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, tetracycline, and streptomycin among coliform in the Gomti river water samples was investigated. The coliform populations were isolated on Mac Conky and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar plates supplemented with antibiotics. The incidence of resistance among the coliform population varied considerably in different drug and water sampling sites. Coliform bacteria showed lower drug resistant viable count in sampling site-III (receiving treated wastewater) as compared to more polluted site-I and site-II. Viable count of coliform population obtained on both medium was recorded higher against erythromycin from sampling site-III. Lower viable count of coliforms was recorded against tetracycline in site-II and III. Similar resistance pattern was obtained in the frequency of E. coli and Enterobacter species from all the three sampling sites. Percentage of antibiotic resistant E. coli was observed higher than Enterobacter spp among the total coliforms against all antibiotics tested without Erythromycin and penicillin in site-I and II respectively. Isolates of E. coli and Enterobacter spp. showed their tolerance level (MIC) in the range of 2-100 against the antibiotics tested. Maximum number of isolates of both genus exhibited their MICs at lower concentration range 2-5µg/ml against ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and amoxycillin. Abbreviations EMB - Eosin methylene blue, IMViC tests - Indole, Methyl Red, Voges Proskauer and Citrate Utilization Tests, MIC - Minimum inhibitory concentration. PMID:24966515

Effect of a preoperative self-catheterization video on anxiety: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Oliphant, Sallie S; Lowder, Jerry L; Ghetti, Chiara; Zyczynski, Halina M

2013-03-01

The purpose of this study was to determine if a clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) instructional video could improve anxiety in women undergoing prolapse and/or incontinence surgery. A total of 199 women were randomized to preoperative CISC video or routine counseling prior to prolapse/incontinence surgery. Patient anxiety, satisfaction, and concerns about CISC were evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) and study-specific visual analog scale (VAS) questions at four perioperative time points. STAI-S and VAS anxiety measures were similar at baseline between groups; no significant differences were seen by group at any time point. STAI-S scores varied considerably over time, with highest scores at voiding trial failure and lowest scores at postoperative visit. Women in the video group had improved STAI-S scores and reported less worry and more comfort with CISC immediately following video viewing. Women with anxiety/depression had higher STAI-S scores at voiding trial failure and discharge and reported less anxiety reduction following video viewing compared to non-anxious/non-depressed peers. Women undergoing prolapse/incontinence surgery have significant perioperative anxiety, which is exacerbated by voiding trial failure. Preoperative CISC video viewing decreases anxiety scores immediately following viewing, but this effect is not sustained at voiding trial failure. Women with baseline anxiety/depression exhibit less anxiety score improvement after video viewing and have overall higher anxiety scores perioperatively.

Essential oil-mediated glycerosomes increase transdermal paeoniflorin delivery: optimization, characterization, and evaluation in vitro and in vivo

PubMed Central

Zhang, Kai; Zhang, Yongtai; Li, Zhe; Li, Nana; Feng, Nianping

2017-01-01

In this study, a novel glycerosome carrier containing essential oils was prepared for topical administration of paeoniflorin (PF) to enhance its transdermal drug delivery and improve drug absorption in the synovium. The formulation of glycerosomes was optimized by a uniform design, and the final vehicle was composed of 5% (w/v) phospholipid, 0.6% (w/v) cholesterol, and 10% (v/v) glycerol, with 2% (v/v) Speranskia tuberculata essential oil (STO) as the transdermal enhancer. The in vitro transdermal flux of PF loaded in the STO-glycerosomes was 1.4-fold, 1.6-fold, and 1.7-fold higher than those of glycerosomes, liposomes, and tinctures, respectively. In vivo studies showed that the use of STO-glycerosomes was associated with a 3.1-fold greater accumulation of PF in the synovium than that of common glycerosomes. This finding was confirmed by in vivo imaging studies, which found that the fluorescence intensity of Cy5.5-loaded STO-glycerosomes in mice knee joints was 1.8-fold higher than that of the common glycerosomes 5 h after administration. The glycerosomes mediated by STO exhibited considerable skin permeability as well as improved drug absorption in the synovium, indicating that STO-glycerosomes may be a potential PF transdermal delivery vehicle for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis caused by synovium lesions. PMID:28503066

Approaches to Analyzing the Outcomes of International Scholarship Programs for Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mawer, Matt

2017-01-01

International scholarship programs for higher education attract a substantial body of funding each year from national governments, supranational bodies, large charitable foundations, higher education institutions, and many smaller organizations. With aims variously shaped by international development and public diplomacy considerations,…

Application of Snowfall and Wind Statistics to Snow Transport Modeling for Snowdrift Control in Minnesota.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shulski, Martha D.; Seeley, Mark W.

2004-11-01

Models were utilized to determine the snow accumulation season (SAS) and to quantify windblown snow for the purpose of snowdrift control for locations in Minnesota. The models require mean monthly temperature, snowfall, density of snow, and wind frequency distribution statistics. Temperature and precipitation data were obtained from local cooperative observing sites, and wind data came from Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)/Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) sites in the region. The temperature-based algorithm used to define the SAS reveals a geographic variability in the starting and ending dates of the season, which is determined by latitude and elevation. Mean seasonal snowfall shows a geographic distribution that is affected by topography and proximity to Lake Superior. Mean snowfall density also exhibits variability, with lower-density snow events displaced to higher-latitude positions. Seasonal wind frequencies show a strong bimodal distribution with peaks from the northwest and southeast vector direction, with an exception for locations in close proximity to the Lake Superior shoreline. In addition, for western and south-central Minnesota there is a considerably higher frequency of wind speeds above the mean snow transport threshold of 7 m s-1. As such, this area is more conducive to higher potential snow transport totals. Snow relocation coefficients in this area are in the range of 0.4 0.9, and, according to the empirical models used in this analysis, this range implies that actual snow transport is 40% 90% of the total potential in south-central and western areas of the state.

A pursuit of lineage-specific and niche-specific proteome features in the world of archaea

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Archaea evoke interest among researchers for two enigmatic characteristics –a combination of bacterial and eukaryotic components in their molecular architectures and an enormous diversity in their life-style and metabolic capabilities. Despite considerable research efforts, lineage- specific/niche-specific molecular features of the whole archaeal world are yet to be fully unveiled. The study offers the first large-scale in silico proteome analysis of all archaeal species of known genome sequences with a special emphasis on methanogenic and sulphur-metabolising archaea. Results Overall amino acid usage in archaea is dominated by GC-bias. But the environmental factors like oxygen requirement or thermal adaptation seem to play important roles in selection of residues with no GC-bias at the codon level. All methanogens, irrespective of their thermal/salt adaptation, show higher usage of Cys and have relatively acidic proteomes, while the proteomes of sulphur-metabolisers have higher aromaticity and more positive charges. Despite of exhibiting thermophilic life-style, korarchaeota possesses an acidic proteome. Among the distinct trends prevailing in COGs (Cluster of Orthologous Groups of proteins) distribution profiles, crenarchaeal organisms display higher intra-order variations in COGs repertoire, especially in the metabolic ones, as compared to euryarchaea. All methanogens are characterised by a presence of 22 exclusive COGs. Conclusions Divergences in amino acid usage, aromaticity/charge profiles and COG repertoire among methanogens and sulphur-metabolisers, aerobic and anaerobic archaea or korarchaeota and nanoarchaeota, as elucidated in the present study, point towards the presence of distinct molecular strategies for niche specialization in the archaeal world. PMID:22691113

A pursuit of lineage-specific and niche-specific proteome features in the world of archaea.

PubMed

Roy Chowdhury, Anindya; Dutta, Chitra

2012-06-12

Archaea evoke interest among researchers for two enigmatic characteristics -a combination of bacterial and eukaryotic components in their molecular architectures and an enormous diversity in their life-style and metabolic capabilities. Despite considerable research efforts, lineage- specific/niche-specific molecular features of the whole archaeal world are yet to be fully unveiled. The study offers the first large-scale in silico proteome analysis of all archaeal species of known genome sequences with a special emphasis on methanogenic and sulphur-metabolising archaea. Overall amino acid usage in archaea is dominated by GC-bias. But the environmental factors like oxygen requirement or thermal adaptation seem to play important roles in selection of residues with no GC-bias at the codon level. All methanogens, irrespective of their thermal/salt adaptation, show higher usage of Cys and have relatively acidic proteomes, while the proteomes of sulphur-metabolisers have higher aromaticity and more positive charges. Despite of exhibiting thermophilic life-style, korarchaeota possesses an acidic proteome. Among the distinct trends prevailing in COGs (Cluster of Orthologous Groups of proteins) distribution profiles, crenarchaeal organisms display higher intra-order variations in COGs repertoire, especially in the metabolic ones, as compared to euryarchaea. All methanogens are characterised by a presence of 22 exclusive COGs. Divergences in amino acid usage, aromaticity/charge profiles and COG repertoire among methanogens and sulphur-metabolisers, aerobic and anaerobic archaea or korarchaeota and nanoarchaeota, as elucidated in the present study, point towards the presence of distinct molecular strategies for niche specialization in the archaeal world.

Vertical power MOS transistor as a thermoelectric quasi-nanowire device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roizin, Gregory; Beeri, Ofer; Peretz, Mor Mordechai; Gelbstein, Yaniv

2016-12-01

Nano-materials exhibit superior performance over bulk materials in a variety of applications such as direct heat to electricity thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and many more. However, a gap still exists for the integration of these nano-materials into practical applications. This study explores the feasibility of utilizing the advantages of nano-materials' thermo-electric properties, using regular bulk technology. Present-day TEGs are often applied by dedicated thermoelectric materials such as semiconductor alloys (e.g., PbTe, BiTe) whereas the standard semiconductor materials such as the doped silicon have not been widely addressed, with limited exceptions of nanowires. This study attempts to close the gap between the nano-materials' properties and the well-established bulk devices, approached for the first time by exploiting the nano-metric dimensions of the conductive channel in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures. A significantly higher electrical current than expected from a bulk silicon device has been experimentally measured as a result of the application of a positive gate voltage and a temperature gradient between the "source" and the "drain" terminals of a commercial NMOS transistor. This finding implies on a "quasi-nanowire" behaviour of the transistor channel, which can be easily controlled by the transistor's gate voltage that is applied. This phenomenon enables a considerable improvement of silicon based TEGs, fabricated by traditional silicon technology. Four times higher ZT values (TEG quality factor) compared to conventional bulk silicon have been observed for an off-the-shelf silicon device. By optimizing the device, it is believed that even higher ZT values can be achieved.

Selective removal of arsenic and monovalent ions from brackish water reverse osmosis concentrate.

PubMed

Xu, Pei; Capito, Marissa; Cath, Tzahi Y

2013-09-15

Concentrate disposal and management is a considerable challenge for the implementation of desalination technologies, especially for inland applications where concentrate disposal options are limited. This study has focused on selective removal of arsenic and monovalent ions from brackish groundwater reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate for beneficial use and safe environmental disposal using in situ and pre-formed hydrous ferric oxides/hydroxides adsorption, and electrodialysis (ED) with monovalent permselective membranes. Coagulation with ferric salts is highly efficient at removing arsenic from RO concentrate to meet a drinking water standard of 10 μg/L. The chemical demand for ferric chloride however is much lower than ferric sulfate as coagulant. An alternative method using ferric sludge from surface water treatment plant is demonstrated as an efficient adsorbent to remove arsenic from RO concentrate, providing a promising low cost, "waste treat waste" approach. The monovalent permselective anion exchange membranes exhibit high selectivity in removing monovalent anions over di- and multi-valent anions. The transport of sulfate and phosphate through the anion exchange membranes was negligible over a broad range of electrical current density. However, the transport of divalent cations such as calcium and magnesium increases through monovalent permselective cation exchange membranes with increasing current density. Higher overall salt concentration reduction is achieved around limiting current density while higher normalized salt removal rate in terms of mass of salt per membrane area and applied energy is attained at lower current density because the energy unitization efficiency decreases at higher current density. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development and characterization of glutathione-conjugated albumin nanoparticles for improved brain delivery of hydrophilic fluorescent marker.

PubMed

Patel, Prerak J; Acharya, Niyati S; Acharya, Sanjeev R

2013-01-01

The glutathione-conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles were constructed in the present exploration as a novel biodegradable carrier for brain-specific drug delivery with evaluation of its in vitro and in vivo delivery properties. BSA nanocarriers were activated and conjugated to the distal amine functions of the glutathione via carbodiimide chemistry using EDAC as a mediator. These nanoparticles were characterized for particle shape, average size, SPAN value, drug entrapment and in vitro drug release. Further, presence of glutathione on the surface of BSA nanoparticles was confirmed by Ellman's assay, which has suggested that approximately 750 units of glutathione were conjugated per BSA nanoparticle. To evaluate the brain delivery properties of the glutathione-conjugated BSA nanoparticles fluorescein sodium was used as a model hydrophilic compound. Permeability and neuronal uptake properties of developed formulations were evaluated against the MDCK-MDR1 endothelial and neuro-glial cells, respectively. The permeability of glutathione-conjugated BSA nanoparticles across the monolayer of MDCK-MDR1 endothelial tight junction was shown significantly higher than that of unconjugated nanoparticles and fluorescein sodium solution. Similarly, glutathione-conjugated nanoparticles exhibited considerably higher uptake by neuro-glial cells which was inferred by high fluorescence intensity under microscope in comparison to unconjugated nanoparticles and fluorescein sodium solution. Following an intravenous administration, nearly three folds higher fluorescein sodium was carried to the rat brain by glutathione-conjugated nanoparticles as compared to unconjugated nanoparticles. The significant in vitro and in vivo results suggest that glutathione-conjugated BSA nanoparticles is a promising brain drug delivery system with low toxicity.

Insights into the genetic structure and diversity of 38 South Asian Indians from deep whole-genome sequencing.

PubMed

Wong, Lai-Ping; Lai, Jason Kuan-Han; Saw, Woei-Yuh; Ong, Rick Twee-Hee; Cheng, Anthony Youzhi; Pillai, Nisha Esakimuthu; Liu, Xuanyao; Xu, Wenting; Chen, Peng; Foo, Jia-Nee; Tan, Linda Wei-Lin; Koo, Seok-Hwee; Soong, Richie; Wenk, Markus Rene; Lim, Wei-Yen; Khor, Chiea-Chuen; Little, Peter; Chia, Kee-Seng; Teo, Yik-Ying

2014-05-01

South Asia possesses a significant amount of genetic diversity due to considerable intergroup differences in culture and language. There have been numerous reports on the genetic structure of Asian Indians, although these have mostly relied on genotyping microarrays or targeted sequencing of the mitochondria and Y chromosomes. Asian Indians in Singapore are primarily descendants of immigrants from Dravidian-language-speaking states in south India, and 38 individuals from the general population underwent deep whole-genome sequencing with a target coverage of 30X as part of the Singapore Sequencing Indian Project (SSIP). The genetic structure and diversity of these samples were compared against samples from the Singapore Sequencing Malay Project and populations in Phase 1 of the 1,000 Genomes Project (1 KGP). SSIP samples exhibited greater intra-population genetic diversity and possessed higher heterozygous-to-homozygous genotype ratio than other Asian populations. When compared against a panel of well-defined Asian Indians, the genetic makeup of the SSIP samples was closely related to South Indians. However, even though the SSIP samples clustered distinctly from the Europeans in the global population structure analysis with autosomal SNPs, eight samples were assigned to mitochondrial haplogroups that were predominantly present in Europeans and possessed higher European admixture than the remaining samples. An analysis of the relative relatedness between SSIP with two archaic hominins (Denisovan, Neanderthal) identified higher ancient admixture in East Asian populations than in SSIP. The data resource for these samples is publicly available and is expected to serve as a valuable complement to the South Asian samples in Phase 3 of 1 KGP.

Nanocarbon Allotropes-Graphene and Nanocrystalline Diamond-Promote Cell Proliferation.

PubMed

Verdanova, Martina; Rezek, Bohuslav; Broz, Antonin; Ukraintsev, Egor; Babchenko, Oleg; Artemenko, Anna; Izak, Tibor; Kromka, Alexander; Kalbac, Martin; Hubalek Kalbacova, Marie

2016-05-01

Two profoundly different carbon allotropes - nanocrystalline diamond and graphene - are of considerable interest from the viewpoint of a wide range of biomedical applications including implant coating, drug and gene delivery, cancer therapy, and biosensing. Osteoblast adhesion and proliferation on nanocrystalline diamond and graphene are compared under various conditions such as differences in wettability, topography, and the presence or absence of protein interlayers between cells and the substrate. The materials are characterized in detail by means of scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. In vitro experiments have revealed a significantly higher degree of cell proliferation on graphene than on nanocrystalline diamond and a tissue culture polystyrene control material. Proliferation is promoted, in particular, by hydrophobic graphene with a large number of nanoscale wrinkles independent of the presence of a protein interlayer, i.e., substrate fouling is not a problematic issue in this respect. Nanowrinkled hydrophobic graphene, thus, exhibits superior characteristics for those biomedical applications where high cell proliferation is required under differing conditions. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Common marmosets show social plasticity and group-level similarity in personality

PubMed Central

Koski, Sonja E.; Burkart, Judith M.

2015-01-01

The social environment influences animal personality on evolutionary and immediate time scales. However, studies of animal personality rarely assess the effects of the social environment, particularly in species that live in stable groups with individualized relationships. We assessed personality experimentally in 17 individuals of the common marmoset, living in four groups. We found their personality to be considerably modified by the social environment. Marmosets exhibited relatively high plasticity in their behaviour, and showed ‘group-personality’, i.e. group-level similarity in the personality traits. In exploratory behaviour this was maintained only in the social environment but not when individuals were tested alone, suggesting that exploration tendency is subjected to social facilitation. Boldness, in contrast, showed higher consistency across the social and solitary conditions, and the group-level similarity in trait scores was sustained also outside of the immediate social environment. The ‘group-personality’ was not due to genetic relatedness, supporting that it was produced by social effects. We hypothesize that ‘group-personality’ may be adaptive for highly cooperative animals through facilitating cooperation among individuals with similar behavioural tendency. PMID:25743581

The players may change but the game remains: network analyses of ruminal microbiomes suggest taxonomic differences mask functional similarity

PubMed Central

Taxis, Tasia M.; Wolff, Sara; Gregg, Sarah J.; Minton, Nicholas O.; Zhang, Chiqian; Dai, Jingjing; Schnabel, Robert D.; Taylor, Jeremy F.; Kerley, Monty S.; Pires, J. Chris; Lamberson, William R.; Conant, Gavin C.

2015-01-01

By mapping translated metagenomic reads to a microbial metabolic network, we show that ruminal ecosystems that are rather dissimilar in their taxonomy can be considerably more similar at the metabolic network level. Using a new network bi-partition approach for linking the microbial network to a bovine metabolic network, we observe that these ruminal metabolic networks exhibit properties consistent with distinct metabolic communities producing similar outputs from common inputs. For instance, the closer in network space that a microbial reaction is to a reaction found in the host, the lower will be the variability of its enzyme copy number across hosts. Similarly, these microbial enzymes that are nearby to host nodes are also higher in copy number than are more distant enzymes. Collectively, these results demonstrate a widely expected pattern that, to our knowledge, has not been explicitly demonstrated in microbial communities: namely that there can exist different community metabolic networks that have the same metabolic inputs and outputs but differ in their internal structure. PMID:26420832

Design, synthesis, and anti-melanogenic effects of (E)-2-benzoyl-3-(substituted phenyl)acrylonitriles

PubMed Central

Yun, Hwi Young; Kim, Do Hyun; Son, Sujin; Ullah, Sultan; Kim, Seong Jin; Kim, Yeon-Jeong; Yoo, Jin-Wook; Jung, Yunjin; Chun, Pusoon; Moon, Hyung Ryong

2015-01-01

Background Tyrosinase is the most prominent target for inhibitors of hyperpigmentation because it plays a critical role in melaninogenesis. Although many tyrosinase inhibitors have been identified, from both natural and synthetic sources, there remains a considerable demand for novel tyrosinase inhibitors that are safer and more effective. Methods (E)-2-Benzoyl-3-(substituted phenyl)acrylonitriles (BPA analogs) with a linear β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl scaffold were designed and synthesized as potential tyrosinase inhibitors. We evaluated their effects on cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis in murine B16F10 melanoma cells and their ability to inhibit mushroom tyrosinase activity. Results BPA analogs exhibited inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase. In particular, BPA13 significantly suppressed melanin biosynthesis and inhibited cellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. A docking study revealed that BPA13 had higher binding affinity for tyrosinase than kojic acid. Conclusion BPA13, which possesses a linear β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl scaffold, is a potential candidate skin-whitening agent and treatment for diseases associated with hyperpigmentation. PMID:26347064

Cost-Effectiveness of a New Nordic Diet as a Strategy for Health Promotion

PubMed Central

Jensen, Jørgen Dejgård; Saxe, Henrik; Denver, Sigrid

2015-01-01

Inappropriate diets constitute an important health risk and an increasing environmental burden. Healthy regional diets may contribute to meeting this dual challenge. A palatable, healthy and sustainable New Nordic diet (NND) based on organic products from the Nordic region has been developed. This study assesses whether a large-scale introduction of NND is a cost-effective health promotion strategy by combining an economic model for estimating the utility-maximizing composition of NND, a life cycle assessment model to assess environmental effects of the dietary change, and a health impact model to assess impacts on the disease burden. Consumer expenditure for food and beverages in the NND is about 16% higher than currently, with the largest relative difference in low-income households. Environmental loads from food consumption are 15%–25% lower, and more than 18,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALY) will be saved per year in Denmark. NND exhibits a cost-effectiveness ratio of about €73,000–94,000 per DALY saved. This cost-effectiveness improves considerably, if the NND’s emphasis on organic and Nordic-origin products is relaxed. PMID:26133129

Computationally Guided Photothermal Tumor Therapy Using Long-Circulating Gold Nanorod Antennas

PubMed Central

Maltzahn, Geoffrey von; Park, Ji-Ho; Agrawal, Amit; Bandaru, Nanda Kishor; Das, Sarit K.; Sailor, Michael J.; Bhatia, Sangeeta N.

2009-01-01

Plasmonic nanomaterials have the opportunity to considerably improve the specificity of cancer ablation by i.v. homing to tumors and acting as antennas for accepting externally applied energy. Here, we describe an integrated approach to improved plasmonic therapy composed of multimodal nanomaterial optimization and computational irradiation protocol development. We synthesized polyethylene glycol (PEG)-protected gold nanorods (NR) that exhibit superior spectral bandwidth, photothermal heat generation per gram of gold, and circulation half-life in vivo (t1/2, ~17 hours) compared with the prototypical tunable plasmonic particles, gold nanoshells, as well as ~2-fold higher X-ray absorption than a clinical iodine contrast agent. After intratumoral or i.v. administration, we fuse PEG-NR biodistribution data derived via noninvasive X-ray computed tomography or ex vivo spectrometry, respectively, with four-dimensional computational heat transport modeling to predict photothermal heating during irradiation. In computationally driven pilot therapeutic studies, we show that a single i.v. injection of PEG-NRs enabled destruction of all irradiated human xenograft tumors in mice. These studies highlight the potential of integrating computational therapy design with nanotherapeutic development for ultraselective tumor ablation. PMID:19366797

APSA Awardee Submission: Tumor/cancer stem cell marker doublecortin-like kinase 1 in liver diseases.

PubMed

Nguyen, Charles B; Houchen, Courtney W; Ali, Naushad

2017-02-01

Liver diseases are the fourth leading cause of mortality among adults in the United States. Patients with chronic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis have significantly higher risks of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). With a dismal five-year survival rate of 11%, HCC is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Regardless of the underlying cause, late presentation and a lack of effective therapy are the major impediments for successful treatment of HCC. Therefore, there is a considerable interest in developing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of chronic liver diseases at the early stages. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small cell subpopulation in a tumor, exhibit unlimited self-renewal and differentiation capacity. These cells are believed to play pivotal roles in the initiation, growth, metastasis, and drug-resistance of tumors. In this review, we will briefly discuss pivotal roles of the CSC marker doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) in hepatic tumorigenesis. Recent evidence suggests that anti-DCLK1 strategies hold promising clinical potential for the treatment of cancers of the liver, pancreas, and colon.

Sex differences in the time course of emotion.

PubMed

Gard, Marja Germans; Kring, Ann M

2007-05-01

Conventional wisdom holds that women are more "emotional" than men. However, research evidence suggests that sex differences in emotion are considerably more complex. The authors tested hypotheses about sex differences in the engagement of the approach and avoidance motivational systems thought to underpin emotional responses. The authors measured reported emotional experience and startle response magnitude both during the presentation and after the offset of emotional stimuli that engage these motivational systems to assess whether men and women differ in their patterns of immediate response to emotional stimuli and in their patterns of recovery from these responses. Our findings indicated that women were more experientially reactive to negative, but not positive, emotional pictures compared to men, and that women scored higher than men on measure of aversive motivational system sensitivity. Although both men and women exhibited potentiation of the startle response during the presentation of negative pictures relative to neutral pictures, only women continued to show this relative potentiation during the recovery period, indicating that women were continuing to engage the aversive motivational system after the offset of negative emotional pictures.

Dynamic Behavior of Spiral-Groove and Rayleigh-Step Self-Acting Face Seals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dirusso, Eliseo

1984-01-01

Tests were performed to determine the dynamic behavior and establish baseline dynamic data for five self-acting face seals employing Rayleigh-step lift-pads and inward pumping as well as outward-pumping spiral grooves for the lift-generating mechanism. The primary parameters measured in the tests were film thickness, seal seat axial motion, and seal frictional torque. The data show the dynamic response of the film thickness to the motion of the seal seat. The inward-pumping spiral-groove seals exhibited a high-amplitude film thickness vibratory mode with a frequency of four times the shaft speed. This mode was not observed in the other seals tested. The tests also revealed that high film thickness vibration amplitude produces considerably higher average film thickness than do low amplitude film thickness vibrations. The seals were tested at a constant face load of 73 N (16.4 lb) with ambient air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure as the fluid medium. The test speed range was from 7000 to 17000 rpm. Seal tangential speed range was 34.5 to 83.7 m/sec (113 to 274 ft/sec).

A comparative study on the anaerobic membrane bioreactor performance during the treatment of domestic wastewaters of various origins.

PubMed

Saddoud, A; Ellouze, M; Dhouib, A; Sayadi, S

2006-09-01

This study examined the practical performance of a cross-flow ultrafiltration membrane coupled to an anaerobic bioreactor, for treatment of raw domestic wastewater (RDW), at a pilot-scale plant. Wastewaters used in this study originated from two different domestic wastewater treatment plans (DWTPs) (Sfax and Ksour Essef). During the treatment in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) of the RDW originating from Sfax DWTP, the bioreactor did not reach its stationary phase because the anaerobic biomass was unable to adapt to the wastewater. This was explained by the considerable fluctuations in the domestic wastewater composition and a possible contamination of Sfax wastewater by industrial discharges. However, the treatment of RDW originating from Ksour Essef (DWTP) was successful. In both cases, the treatment led to a total removal of all tested pathogens. The quality of treated wastewater fits largely with WHO guidelines for unrestricted irrigation. The phytotoxicity and the microtoxicity tests, using Lepidium sativum and Vibrio fischeri respectively, demonstrated that wastewater from Sfax exhibited higher toxicity than that from Ksour Sssef.

Benzo[b]naphthothiophenes and alkyl dibenzothiophenes: molecular tracers for oil migration distances

USGS Publications Warehouse

Li, Meijun; Wang, T.-G.; Shi, Shengbao; Liu, Keyu; Ellis, Geoffrey S.

2014-01-01

The secondary migration of petroleum is one of the most critical geological processes responsible for the accumulation of hydrocarbons in a sedimentary basin. Pyrrolic nitrogen compounds such as carbazoles and benzocarbazoles are thought to be practical molecular indicators for estimating relative migration distances of oil. In light oils or condensates, however, considerable analytical errors are usually caused by low concentrations of NSO-compounds. Here we show that polycyclic sulfur aromatic hydrocarbons such as dibenzothiophene, C1∼C3 alkylated dibenzothiophenes and benzo[b]naphthothiophenes, which are present in relatively higher concentrations than the pyrrolic nitrogen compounds, exhibit changes in both absolute and relative concentrations that correlate with migration distances. The polycyclic sulfur aromatic hydrocarbons related parameters — benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene/{benzo[b]naphtho[2,1-d]thiophene + benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene} (abbreviated as [2,1]BNT/([2,1]BNT+[1,2]BNT) and the concentration of total dibenzothiophenes plus benzo[b]naphthothiophenes — are proposed by this paper to trace the oil migration distances.

The pineal gland from development to function.

PubMed

Sapède, Dora; Cau, Elise

2013-01-01

The pineal gland is a small neuroendocrine organ whose main and most conserved function is the nighttime secretion of melatonin. In lower vertebrates, the pineal gland is directly photosensitive. In contrast, in higher vertebrates, the direct photosensitivity of the pineal gland had been lost. Rather, the action of this gland as a relay between environmental light conditions and body functions involves reception of light information by the retina. In parallel to this sensory regression, the pineal gland (and its accessory organs) appears to have lost several functions in relation to light and temperature, which are important in lower vertebrate species. In humans, the functions of the pineal gland overlap with the functions of melatonin. They are extremely widespread and include general effects both on cell protection and on more precise functions, such as sleep and immunity. Recently, the role of melatonin has received a considerable amount of attention due to increased cancer risk in shift workers and the discovery that patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, autism, or depression exhibit abnormal melatonin rhythms. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Influences of Employment Status and Daily Stressors on Physiological Functioning in a Sample of Midlife and Older Adults.

PubMed

Wong, Jen D; Shobo, Yetunde

2016-06-01

This study examines the influences of employment status and the moderating role of daily stressors on cortisol levels and responsivity in 182 workers and 253 retirees between 55 and 75 years old from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS-II). As a part of the Daily Diary Study, participants completed telephone interviews about their daily experiences across eight evenings and provided saliva samples across 4 days. Multilevel models showed that workers who experienced greater number of non-work related daily stressors significantly exhibited higher cortisol level at 30 min post awakening (b = 0.252, SE = 0.109, p < .05) and greater cortisol awakening response (b = 3.769, SE = 1.898, p < .05) the following morning as compared with retirees who experienced similar amount of daily stressors. Findings demonstrate the important consideration of daily stressors in identifying the ways in which social roles influence physiological functioning in midlife and late adulthood. © The Author(s) 2016.

Cost-Effectiveness of a New Nordic Diet as a Strategy for Health Promotion.

PubMed

Jensen, Jørgen Dejgård; Saxe, Henrik; Denver, Sigrid

2015-06-30

Inappropriate diets constitute an important health risk and an increasing environmental burden. Healthy regional diets may contribute to meeting this dual challenge. A palatable, healthy and sustainable New Nordic diet (NND) based on organic products from the Nordic region has been developed. This study assesses whether a large-scale introduction of NND is a cost-effective health promotion strategy by combining an economic model for estimating the utility-maximizing composition of NND, a life cycle assessment model to assess environmental effects of the dietary change, and a health impact model to assess impacts on the disease burden. Consumer expenditure for food and beverages in the NND is about 16% higher than currently, with the largest relative difference in low-income households. Environmental loads from food consumption are 15%-25% lower, and more than 18,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALY) will be saved per year in Denmark. NND exhibits a cost-effectiveness ratio of about €73,000-94,000 per DALY saved. This cost-effectiveness improves considerably, if the NND's emphasis on organic and Nordic-origin products is relaxed.

Pharmacokinetics of Antiretrovirals in Mucosal Tissue

PubMed Central

Cottrell, M.L.; Srinivas, N.; Kashuba, A.D.M.

2015-01-01

Introduction In the absence of an HIV vaccine or cure, antiretroviral (ARV) based prevention strategies are being investigated to reduce HIV incidence. These prevention strategies depend on achieving effective drug concentrations at the site HIV exposure which is most commonly the mucosal tissues of the lower gastrointestinal tract and the female genital tract. Areas covered This article collates all known data regarding drug exposure in these vulnerable mucosal tissues, and reviews important mechanisms of ARV drug distribution. Research papers and abstracts describing antiretroviral pharmacokinetics in the female genital tract and lower gastrointestinal mucosal tissues available in MEDLINE® or presented at scientific conferences prior to December 2014 are reviewed in detail. Important influences on ARV mucosal tissue distribution, including protein binding, active drug transport, and endogenous hormones, are also reviewed. Expert opinion ARVs exhibit highly variable pharmacokinetics in mucosal tissues. In general, antiretroviral exposure is higher in the lower gastrointestinal tract compared to the female genital tract, but concentrations required for protective efficacy are largely unknown. The expected site of HIV exposure represents an important consideration when designing and optimizing antiretroviral based prevention strategies. PMID:25797064

Existence and construction of Galilean invariant z ≠2 theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grinstein, Benjamín; Pal, Sridip

2018-06-01

We prove a no-go theorem for the construction of a Galilean boost invariant and z ≠2 anisotropic scale invariant field theory with a finite dimensional basis of fields. Two point correlators in such theories, we show, grow unboundedly with spatial separation. Correlators of theories with an infinite dimensional basis of fields, for example, labeled by a continuous parameter, do not necessarily exhibit this bad behavior. Hence, such theories behave effectively as if in one extra dimension. Embedding the symmetry algebra into the conformal algebra of one higher dimension also reveals the existence of an internal continuous parameter. Consideration of isometries shows that the nonrelativistic holographic picture assumes a canonical form, where the bulk gravitational theory lives in a space-time with one extra dimension. This can be contrasted with the original proposal by Balasubramanian and McGreevy, and by Son, where the metric of a (d +2 )-dimensional space-time is proposed to be dual of a d -dimensional field theory. We provide explicit examples of theories living at fixed point with anisotropic scaling exponent z =2/ℓ ℓ+1 , ℓ∈Z .

[Species-specific features of tocopherol content in carnivorous mammals during autumn period].

PubMed

il'ina, T N; Baishnikova, I V

2015-01-01

A comparative study of the major liposoluble antioxidant, vitamin E (α-tocopherol), content was conducted in carnivorous mammals (polar fox, silver fox, raccoon dog, mink, sable) during late autumn under natural lowering of temperature. The highest vitamin E content in liver and kidney was found in polar fox and raccoon dog, obviously due to seasonal metabolic changes and ecological specialization determining the accumulation of considerable amounts of tocopherol both in polar and hibernating species. To investigate the features of vitamin E accumulation, the tocopherol loading experiment was implemented on three species (polar fox, silver fox, mink). It was shown that polar fox, as compared to silverfox and mink, exhibits a higher ability to reserve vitamin E. The established differences in tocopherol content and distribution in different species should be considered as a genetically fixed reaction to the effect of environment underlain by metabolic differences in animals with different ecological specialization. The ability of tocopherol to accumulate in tissues and organs allows considering its essential role in stabilization of the antioxidant system and ensuring thereby a seasonal cold resistance.

Interactions of silver nanoparticles with the marine macroalga, Ulva lactuca.

PubMed

Turner, Andrew; Brice, David; Brown, Murray T

2012-01-01

The marine macroalga, Ulva lactuca, has been exposed for 48 h to different concentrations of Ag added as either silver nanoparticles (AgNP) or aqueous metal (AgNO(3)) and the resulting toxicity, estimated from reductions in quenching of chlorophyll-a fluorescence, and accumulation of Ag measured. Aqueous Ag was toxic at available concentrations as low as about 2.5 μg l(-1) and exhibited considerable accumulation that could be defined by the Langmuir equation. AgNP were not phytotoxic to the macroalga at available Ag concentrations up to at least 15 μg l(-1) and metal measured in U. lactuca was attributed to a physical association of nanoparticles at the algal surface. At higher AgNP concentrations, a dose-response relationship was observed that was similar to that for aqueous Ag recorded at much lower concentrations. These findings suggest that AgNP are only indirectly toxic to marine algae through the dissolution of Ag(+) ions into bulk sea water, albeit at concentrations orders of magnitude greater than those predicted in the environment.

Higher Anti-Liver Fibrosis Effect of Cordyceps militaris-Fermented Product Cultured with Deep Ocean Water via Inhibiting Proinflammatory Factors and Fibrosis-Related Factors Expressions.

PubMed

Hung, Yu-Ping; Lee, Chun-Lin

2017-06-08

Deep ocean water (DOW) has been shown to enhance the functional components of fungi, resulting in increased health benefits. Therefore, using DOW for culturing fungi can enhance the cordycepin and adenosine of Cordyceps militaris (CM) and its protective effects on the liver. In this study, the antiliver fibrosis effects and mechanisms of ultrapure water-cultured CM (UCM), DOW-cultured CM (DCM), synthetic water-cultured CM, DOW, cordycepin, and adenosine were compared in the liver fibrosis mice induced by intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (TAA). The results indicated that DCM exhibited superior performance in reducing liver collagen accumulation, mitigating liver injuries, inhibiting proinflammatory factors and fibrosis-related factor (TGF-β1, Smad2/3, α-SMA, COL1A1) expression compared with UCM. DOW, cordycepin, and adenosine also performed antiliver fibrosis effect. Therefore, because DCM is rich in DOW and functional components, it can achieve anti-liver fibrosis effects through multiple pathways. These ameliorative effects are considerably superior to those of UCM.

Detection of Hepatic Fibrosis in Ex Vivo Liver Samples Using an Open-Photoacoustic-Cell Method: Feasibility Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stolik, S.; Fabila, D. A.; de la Rosa, J. M.; Escobedo, G.; Suárez-Álvarez, K.; Tomás, S. A.

2015-09-01

Design of non-invasive and accurate novel methods for liver fibrosis diagnosis has gained growing interest. Different stages of liver fibrosis were induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneally administering different doses of carbon tetrachloride. The liver fibrosis degree was conventionally determined by means of histological examination. An open-photoacoustic-cell (OPC) technique for the assessment of liver fibrosis was developed and is reported here. The OPC technique is based on the fact that the thermal diffusivity can be accurately measured by photoacoustics taking into consideration the photoacoustic signal amplitude versus the modulation frequency. This technique measures directly the heat generated in a sample, due to non-radiative de-excitation processes, following the absorption of light. The thermal diffusivity was measured with a home-made open-photoacoustic-cell system that was specially designed to perform the measurement from ex vivo liver samples. The human liver tissue showed a significant increase in the thermal diffusivity depending on the fibrosis stage. Specifically, liver samples from rats exhibiting hepatic fibrosis showed a significantly higher value of the thermal diffusivity than for control animals.

Food grade microemulsion systems: Sunflower oil/castor oil derivative-ethanol/water. Rheological and physicochemical analysis.

PubMed

Mori Cortés, Noelia; Lorenzo, Gabriel; Califano, Alicia N

2018-05-01

Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable systems that have attracted considerable attention in the food industry as delivery systems for many hydrophobic nutrients. These spontaneous systems are highly dependent on ingredients and composition. In this work phase diagrams were constructed using two surfactants (Kolliphor RH40 and ELP), water, sunflower oil, and ethanol as cosurfactant, evaluating their physicochemical properties. Stability of the systems was studied at 25 and 60 °C, monitoring turbidity at 550 nm for over a month to identify the microemulsion region. Conductivity was measured to classify between water-in-oil and oil-in-water microemulsions. The phase diagram constructed with Kolliphor RH40 exhibited a larger microemulsion area than that formulated with Kolliphor ELP. All formulations showed a monomodal droplet size distribution with low polydispersity index (<0.30) and a mean droplet size below 20 nm. Systems with higher water content presented a Newtonian behavior; increasing the dispersed phase content produced a weak gel-like structure with pseudoplastic behavior under flow conditions that was satisfactorily modeled to obtain structural parameters. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Functional enrichment of mannanase-treated spent brewer yeast.

PubMed

Cao, Ruge; Yang, Xingyue; Shang, Wenting; Zhou, Zhongkai; Strappe, Padraig; Blanchard, Chris

2017-09-14

In this study, the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-produced β-mannanase on the nutrient diffusion (release) and antioxidant activity of spent brewer yeast (SBY) was investigated. Three pretreatments were performed: (1) autolysis at 50°C for 24 h; (2) autolysis at 50°C for 24 h, with the addition of β-mannanase during the autolysis; (3) autolysis at 50°C for 24 h, and the β-mannanase was added for another 12 h treatment. The pretreatments with the addition of β-mannanase caused significant cell wall degradation, markedly increased the yield of SBY extracts. More importantly, this study found that polysaccharides were degraded to be oligosaccharides with a considerable reduction in molecular weights. Meanwhile, pretreatment with the enzyme also exhibited a higher antioxidant activity in SBY extract compared to autolysis itself. The current study indicated that pretreatment (3) had a better effect than pretreatment (2) in terms of improving in antioxidant activity in SBY extract. These improved characteristics of SBY extracts isolated through enzymatic treatment appear to show promising features for their prospective use as natural functional agents.

When leaving your ex, love yourself: observational ratings of self-compassion predict the course of emotional recovery following marital separation.

PubMed

Sbarra, David A; Smith, Hillary L; Mehl, Matthias R

2012-03-01

Divorce is a highly stressful event, and much remains to be learned about the factors that promote psychological resilience when marriages come to an end. In this study, divorcing adults (N = 109) completed a 4-min stream-of-consciousness recording about their marital separation at an initial laboratory visit. Four judges rated the degree to which participants exhibited self-compassion (defined by self-kindness, an awareness of one's place in shared humanity, and emotional equanimity) in their recordings. Judges evidenced considerable agreement in their ratings of participants' self-compassion, and these ratings demonstrated strong predictive utility: Higher levels of self-compassion at the initial visit were associated with less divorce-related emotional intrusion into daily life at the start of the study, and this effect persisted up to 9 months later. These effects held when we accounted for a number of competing predictors. Self-compassion is a modifiable variable, and if our findings can be replicated, they may have implications for improving the lives of divorcing adults.

Oblique effect in visual area 2 of macaque monkeys

PubMed Central

Shen, Guofu; Tao, Xiaofeng; Zhang, Bin; Smith, Earl L.; Chino, Yuzo M.

2014-01-01

The neural basis of an oblique effect, a reduced visual sensitivity for obliquely oriented stimuli, has been a matter of considerable debate. We have analyzed the orientation tuning of a relatively large number of neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) and visual area 2 (V2) of anesthetized and paralyzed macaque monkeys. Neurons in V2 but not V1 of macaque monkeys showed clear oblique effects. This orientation anisotropy in V2 was more robust for those neurons that preferred higher spatial frequencies. We also determined whether V1 and V2 neurons exhibit a similar orientation anisotropy soon after birth. The oblique effect was absent in V1 of 4- and 8-week-old infant monkeys, but their V2 neurons showed a significant oblique effect. This orientation anisotropy in infant V2 was milder than that in adults. The results suggest that the oblique effect emerges in V2 based on the pattern of the connections that are established before birth and enhanced by the prolonged experience-dependent modifications of the neural circuitry in V2. PMID:24511142

DFT-MD simulations of shocked Xenon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magyar, Rudolph J.; Mattsson, Thomas R.

2009-03-01

Xenon is not only a technologically important element used in laser technologies, jet propulsion and dental anesthesia, but it is also arguably the simplest material in which to study the metal-insulator transition at high pressure. Because of its closed shell electronic configuration, Xenon is often assumed to be chemically inert, interacting almost entirely through the van der Waals interaction, and at liquid density, is typically modeled well using Leonard-Jones potentials. However, such modeling has a limited range of validity as Xenon is known to form compounds at normal conditions and likely exhibits considerably more chemistry at higher densities when hybridization of occupied orbitals becomes significant. In this talk, we present DFT-MD simulations of shocked liquid Xenon with the goal of developing an improved equation of state. The relative importance of the van der Waals interaction compared to other Coulomb interactions is considered, and estimates of the relative accuracy of various density functionals are quantified. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

[Methylphenidate use in dogs with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A case report of a Weimaraner bitch].

PubMed

Piturru, P

2014-04-16

A 10-month-old Weimaraner bitch was presented at the practice exhibiting agitation, hyperactivity, inability to learn and attention deficit. The diagnostic findings were excessive, long-lasting acoustic and locomotory activity with unexpected inappropriate reactions. Hematological and biochemical blood analyses did not demonstrate abnormal findings. The first attempts at behavioral therapy and fluoxetine application were unsatisfactory. Therefore, a test was conducted with medication for central nervous system stimulation to confirm a diagnosis of hyperkinesis. Following the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the therapy was continued with behavioral modifications, with special consideration of rehabituation and resocialization as well as the use of methylphenidate. During the course of the therapy the bitch developed hyperactivity again when on heat. After changing the dosage of methylphenidate and additionally using dog appeasing pheromone, the behavior of the bitch became normal after 8 days. Two months later endoscopic ovarioectomy was performed. Twelve months after the initial use of methylphenidate the medication could be discontinued completely and the dog's behavior was normal. The methylphenidate dosage used during this therapy was much higher than recommended in the literature.

Measurements of the nucleon structure function in the range 0.002 < x < 0.17 and 00.2 < Q2 < 8 GeV2 in deuterium, carbon and calcium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

European Muon Collaboration; Arneodo, M.; Arvidson, A.; Aubert, J. J.; Badelek, B.; Beaufays, J.; Bee, C. P.; Benchouk, C.; Berghoff, G.; Bird, I. G.; Blum, D.; Böhm, E.; de Bouard, X.; Brasse, F. W.; Braun, H.; Broll, C.; Brown, S. C.; Brück, H.; Calén, H.; Chima, J. S.; Ciborowski, J.; Clifft, R.; Coignet, G.; Combley, F.; Coughlan, J.; d'Agostini, G.; Dahlgren, S.; Derado, I.; Dreyer, T.; Drees, J.; Düren, M.; Eckardt, V.; Edwards, A.; Edwards, M.; Ernst, T.; Eszes, G.; Favier, J.; Ferrero, M. I.; Figiel, J.; Flauger, W.; Foster, J.; Gabathuler, E.; Gajewski, J.; Gamet, R.; Geddes, N.; Grafström, P.; Gustafsson, L.; Haas, J.; Hagberg, E.; Hasert, F. J.; Hayman, P.; Heusse, P.; Jaffre, M.; Jacholkowska, A.; Janata, F.; Jancso, G.; Johnson, A. S.; Kabuss, E. M.; Kellner, G.; Krüger, A.; Krüger, J.; Kullander, S.; Landgraf, U.; Lanske, D.; Loken, J.; Long, K.; Maire, M.; Malecki, P.; Manz, A.; Maselli, S.; Mohr, W.; Montanet, F.; Montgomery, H. E.; Nagy, E.; Nassalski, J.; Norton, P. R.; Oakham, F. G.; Osborne, A. M.; Pascaud, C.; Pawlik, B.; Payre, P.; Peroni, C.; Peschel, H.; Pessard, H.; Pettingale, J.; Pietrzyk, B.; Poensgen, B.; Pötsch, M.; Renton, P.; Ribarics, P.; Rith, K.; Rondio, E.; Sandacz, A.; Scheer, M.; Schlagböhmer, A.; Schiemann, H.; Schmitz, N.; Schneegans, M.; Scholz, M.; Schouten, M.; Schröder, T.; Schultze, K.; Sloan, T.; Stier, H. E.; Studt, M.; Taylor, G. N.; Thenard, J. M.; Thompson, J. C.; de la Torre, A.; Toth, J.; Urban, L.; Urban, L.; Wallucks, W.; Whalley, M.; Wheeler, S.; Williams, W. S. C.; Wimpenny, S. J.; Windmolders, R.; Wolf, G.

1990-03-01

Small angle scattering of 280 GeV positive muons by deuterium, carbon and calcium has been measured at scattering angles down to 2 mrad. The nucleon structure function F2 extracted from deuterium does not show a significant x dependence in the measured range of Q2 and its Q2 dependence is linear in logQ2. For calcium, a depletion of F2 is observed at low x by 30% as compared with the values at x = 0.1 where F2(Ca) and F2 (D) are not significantly different. This depletion is attributed to shadowing. The carbon structure function exhibits a similar, but less pronounced, x dependence. Such behaviour is observed to be independent of Q2. The data are consistent with those obtained from other charged lepton experiments both at similar and higher values of x and Q2 and considerably extend the range of the measurements down to the low values of x to be measured in forthcoming experiments at HERA.

Considerations for Producing Media for Science Museum Exhibits: A Volcano Video Case Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sable, MFA, J.

2013-12-01

While science museums continue to expand their use of videos in exhibits, they are also seeking to add engaging content to their websites in the hope of reaching broader audiences. As a cost-effective way to do both, a project is undertaken to develop a video for a museum website that can easily be adapted for use in an exhibit. To establish goals and constraints for the video, this project explores the needs of museums and their audiences. Past literature is compared with current exhibitions in several U.S. museums. Once identified, the needs of science museums are incorporated into the content, form, and style of the two-part video "Living in Pele's Paradise." Through the story of the spectacular 1959-60 eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i, the video shows how research and monitoring contribute to helping communities prepare for volcanic hazards. A 20-minute version of the video is produced for the web, and a 4-minute version is developed for use in a hypothetical science museum exhibit. The two versions of the video provide a cross-platform experience with multiple levels of content depth.

Nanoporous Ni with High Surface Area for Potential Hydrogen Storage Application.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaocao; Zhao, Haibo; Fu, Zhibing; Qu, Jing; Zhong, Minglong; Yang, Xi; Yi, Yong; Wang, Chaoyang

2018-06-01

Nanoporous metals with considerable specific surface areas and hierarchical pore structures exhibit promising applications in the field of hydrogen storage, electrocatalysis, and fuel cells. In this manuscript, a facile method is demonstrated for fabricating nanoporous Ni with a high surface area by using SiO₂ aerogel as a template, i.e., electroless plating of Ni into an SiO₂ aerogel template followed by removal of the template at moderate conditions. The effects of the prepared conditions, including the electroless plating time, temperature of the structure, and the magnetism of nanoporous Ni are investigated in detail. The resultant optimum nanoporous Ni with a special 3D flower-like structure exhibited a high specific surface area of about 120.5 m²/g. The special nanoporous Ni exhibited a promising prospect in the field of hydrogen storage, with a hydrogen capacity of 0.45 wt % on 4.5 MPa at room temperature.

Stretchable liquid-crystal blue-phase gels.

PubMed

Castles, F; Morris, S M; Hung, J M C; Qasim, M M; Wright, A D; Nosheen, S; Choi, S S; Outram, B I; Elston, S J; Burgess, C; Hill, L; Wilkinson, T D; Coles, H J

2014-08-01

Liquid-crystalline polymers are materials of considerable scientific interest and technological value. An important subset of these materials exhibit rubber-like elasticity, combining the optical properties of liquid crystals with the mechanical properties of rubber. Moreover, they exhibit behaviour not seen in either type of material independently, and many of their properties depend crucially on the particular mesophase employed. Such stretchable liquid-crystalline polymers have previously been demonstrated in the nematic, chiral-nematic, and smectic mesophases. Here, we report the fabrication of a stretchable gel of blue phase I, which forms a self-assembled, three-dimensional photonic crystal that remains electro-optically switchable under a moderate applied voltage, and whose optical properties can be manipulated by an applied strain. We also find that, unlike its undistorted counterpart, a mechanically deformed blue phase exhibits a Pockels electro-optic effect, which sets out new theoretical challenges and possibilities for low-voltage electro-optic devices.

Globalization and Women in Southeast Asian Higher Education Management.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luke, Carmen

2002-01-01

This case study of Southeast Asian women in higher education management investigates culture-specific dimensions of "glass ceiling" impediments to career advancement in higher education. Respondents note that despite considerable training and expertise, Asian values and ideologies demand enactment of a construct of Asian femininity that…

Glucose Uptake and Triacylglycerol Synthesis Are Increased in Barth Syndrome Lymphoblasts.

PubMed

Mejia, Edgard M; Zinko, James C; Hauff, Kristin D; Xu, Fred Y; Ravandi, Amir; Hatch, Grant M

2017-02-01

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an X-linked genetic disease resulting in loss of cardiolipin (Ptd 2 Gro). Patients may be predisposed to hypoglycemia and exhibit increases in whole-body glucose disposal rates and a higher fat mass percentage. We examined the reasons for this in BTHS lymphoblasts. BTHS lymphoblasts exhibited a 60% increase (p < 0.004) in 2-[1,2- 3 H(N)]deoxy-D-glucose uptake, a 40% increase (p < 0.01) in glucose transporter-3 protein expression, an increase in phosphorylated-adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK) and a 58% increase (p < 0.001) in the phosphorylated-AMPK/AMPK ratio compared to controls. In addition, BTHS lymphoblasts exhibited a 90% (p < 0.001) increase in D-[U- 14 C]glucose incorporated into 1,2,3-triacyl-sn-glycerol (TAG) and a 29% increase (p < 0.025) in 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol acyltransferase-2 activity compared to controls. Thus, BTHS lymphoblasts exhibit increased glucose transport and increased glucose utilization for TAG synthesis. These results may, in part, explain why BTHS patients exhibit an increase in whole-body glucose disposal rates, may be predisposed to hypoglycemia and exhibit a higher fat mass percentage.

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Update. Volume 2, Issue 2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, 2007

2007-01-01

In this issue, Dr. Garrison Walters, executive director of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, observes that a better job must be done in making others across the country more aware that South Carolina has an outstanding system of higher education. Despite its considerable strengths in higher education, the state has to do…

Popper's Third World: Moral Habits, Moral Habitat and Their Maintenance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ozolins, Janis Talivaldis

2010-01-01

If we accept Popper's idea that the human habitat is described in terms of three worlds, and that there are overlaps between these three worlds, our moral actions and values will also be subject to the same kinds of consideration as a repertoire of behaviours exhibited in a physical environment. We will develop moral habits in a moral habitat and…

Meeting the Needs of Signers in the Field of Speech and Language Pathology: Some Considerations for Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cripps, Jody H.; Cooper, Sheryl B.; Supalla, Samuel J.; Evitts, Paul M.

2016-01-01

Deaf individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL) are rarely the focus of professionals in speech-language pathology. Although society is widely thought of in terms of those who speak, this norm is not all-inclusive. Many signing individuals exhibit disorders in signed language and need treatment much like their speaking peers. Although there…

The Interviewer Interviewed and Other Background to ASE's Summer Celebration Conference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Annette

2013-01-01

Experiment is at the heart of science and this was a consideration in the planning of an Association for Science Education (ASE) conference in the summer term that could be guided, but not controlled, by experience from the Annual Conference at New Year. Different formats for the exhibitions, lectures and practical presentations could all be tried…

Choosing an Appropriate Physical Exercise to Reduce Stereotypic Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Non-Randomized Crossover Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tse, C. Y. Andy; Pang, C. L.; Lee, Paul H.

2018-01-01

Considerable evidence has shown that physical exercise could be an effective treatment in reducing stereotypical autism spectrum disorder (ASD) behaviors in children. The present study seeks to examine the underlying mechanism by considering the theoretical operant nature of stereotypy. Children with ASD (n = 30) who exhibited hand-flapping and…

Immobilization of isolated FI catalyst on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-functionalized silica for the synthesis of weakly entangled polyethylene.

PubMed

Li, Wei; Yang, Huaqin; Zhang, Jingjing; Mu, Jingshan; Gong, Dirong; Wang, Xiaodong

2016-09-25

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) were adsorbed on methylaluminoxane-activated silica for the immobilization of fluorinated bis(phenoxyimine)Ti complexes (FI catalyst). These POSSs have been characterized as horizontal spacers isolating the active sites and hindering the chain overlap in polymerization. The heterogeneous catalyst exhibits considerable activity in the synthesis of weakly entangled polyethylene.

The Philosophical Aspects of IRT Equating: Modeling Drift to Evaluate Cohort Growth in Large-Scale Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taherbhai, Husein; Seo, Daeryong

2013-01-01

Calibration and equating is the quintessential necessity for most large-scale educational assessments. However, there are instances when no consideration is given to the equating process in terms of context and substantive realization, and the methods used in its execution. In the view of the authors, equating is not merely an exhibit of the…

The Art of Native Life: Exhibiting Culture and Identity at the National Museum of the American Indian

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffin, Rachel E. G.

2007-01-01

Within its short history as an institution and as a site of multilayered display and examination, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) has presented critical opportunities for the consideration of Native American art and material culture. Because NMAI is located at an important intersection between its audience of Native and…

Summer-fall home-range fidelity of female elk in northwestern Colorado: Implications for aspen management

Treesearch

April M. Brough; R. Justin DeRose; Mary M. Conner; James N. Long

2017-01-01

Understanding the degree of spatial fidelity exhibited by individuals within a species increases our ability to manage for desired future outcomes. Elk (Cervus elaphus) is a closely managed species in the Western US, but there is little research evaluating their summer home-range fidelity. Elk summer-fall homeranges overlap considerably with aspen (Populus tremuloides...

A convenient sol-gel route for the synthesis of salicylate-titania nanocomposites having visible absorption and blue luminescence

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

Mitra, Atanu; Bhaumik, Asim, E-mail: msab@iacs.res.i; Nandi, Mahasweta

2009-05-15

Syntheses of titania-based nanomaterials by simple sol-gel route using a mixture of CTAB and salicylate as well as salicylate ions as templates have been reported. The materials are characterized by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectroscopic (FT IR, UV-VIS) analyses. A disordered mesoscale orientation of nanoparticles (ca. 2-4 nm) composed of TiO{sub 2}-salicylate surface complex has been obtained when 1:1 mixing ratio of CTAB and salicylate at the CTAB concentration of 0.001 M was employed as a template. All these nanocomposites exhibit a considerable red shift at the onsetsmore » of their absorption band compared to pure (organic-free) nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} and show blue luminescence at room temperature. This assembly of nanoparticles is highly interesting in the context of visible light sensitization and nanodevice fabrication. - Graphical abstract: A new titania-salicylate nanostructure material has been synthesized, which exhibit a considerable red shift towards the visible region vis-a-vis nanocrystalline (organic-free) TiO{sub 2} and blue luminescence at room temperature.« less

Using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to explore geochemical taphonomy of vertebrate fossils in the upper cretaceous two medicine and Judith River formations of Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rogers, R.R.; Fricke, H.C.; Addona, V.; Canavan, R.R.; Dwyer, C.N.; Harwood, C.L.; Koenig, A.E.; Murray, R.; Thole, J.T.; Williams, J.

2010-01-01

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to determine rare earth element (REE) content of 76 fossil bones collected from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Two Medicine (TMF) and Judith River (JRF) Formations of Montana. REE content is distinctive at the formation scale, with TMF samples exhibiting generally higher overall REE content and greater variability in REE enrichment than JRF samples. Moreover, JRF bones exhibit relative enrichment in heavy REE, whereas TMF bones span heavy and light enrichment fields in roughly equal proportions. TMF bones are also characterized by more negative Ce anomalies and greater U enrichment than JRF bones, which is consistent with more oxidizing diagenetic conditions in the TMF. Bonebeds in both formations show general consistency in REE content, with no indication of spatial or temporal mixing within sites. Previous studies, however, suggest that the bonebeds in question are attritional assemblages that accumulated over considerable time spans. The absence of geochemical evidence for mixing is consistent with diagenesis transpiring in settings that remained chemically and hydrologically stable during recrystallization. Lithology-related patterns in REE content were also compared, and TMF bones recovered from fluvial sandstones show relative enrichment in heavy REE when compared with bones recovered from fine-grained floodplain deposits. In contrast, JRF bones, regardless of lithologic context (sandstone versus mudstone), exhibit similar patterns of REE uptake. This result is consistent with previous reconstructions that suggest that channel-hosted microfossil bonebeds of the JRF developed via the reworking of preexisting concentrations embedded in the interfluve. Geochemical data further indicate that reworked elements were potentially delivered to channels in a recrystallized condition, which is consistent with rapid adsorption of REE postmortem. Copyright ?? 2010, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology).

A technical feasibility study of surfactant-free drug suspensions using octenyl succinate-modified starches.

PubMed

Kuentz, Martin; Egloff, Peter; Röthlisberger, Dieter

2006-05-01

Many new drugs exhibit poor wetting behaviour and low aqueous solubility. This is particularly an issue for preclinical studies like toxicological trials, in which considerably higher doses and volumes are being administered compared to clinical studies. Preclinical vehicles typically contain high levels of surfactants that can exert biological effects. However, the biological inertness of vehicles is pivotal for the application in preclinical studies stressing the need in finding new excipients to solve formulation problems of today's drug discovery. The present study investigated the technical feasibility of surfactant-free suspensions using a new poorly soluble drug as model. It was shown that octenyl succinate-modified starches adequately wetted the drug and homogenous tasteless suspensions were obtained. The polymer xanthan gum was identified as macroscopically compatible gelling agent. Concentration effects of xanthan, drug and different modified starches were studied in a D-optimal design with respect to rheological properties. The suspensions were also tested in an analytical centrifuge using NIR transmission profiles to obtain a measure of sedimentation stability under accelerated conditions. The modified starches exhibited only little influence on the viscosity as well as on the yield point in contrast to the rheological effects of xanthan gum. This gelling agent was the main stabilising excipient as the modified starches hindered to a lesser extent sedimentation. The most stable suspensions displayed convenient flow properties. The viscosity at 100 s(-1) and 25 degrees C was in technically acceptable range of 120-140 mPa s in view of a application via gavage or a syringe in animal studies. The results demonstrated that surfactant-free drug suspensions with excellent technical performance can be obtained using octenyl succinate-modified starches. The vehicles were tasteless and based on the experience of modified starches in the food industry, the vehicles should exhibit good tolerability. The future use of such surfactant-free drug suspensions in toxicological, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies will have to determine their advantage in terms of biological inertness.

Surface plasmon resonance-induced photocatalysis by Au nanoparticles decorated mesoporous g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets under direct sunlight irradiation

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

Tonda, Surendar; Kumar, Santosh; Shanker, Vishnu, E-mail: vishnu@nitw.ac.in

Highlights: • The Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} was synthesized via a template-free and green in situ strategy. • Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets possesses high surface area and porous structure. • Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} showed dramatic photocurrent response and photocatalytic activity. • The high performance is due to SPR of Au and mesoporous structure. • Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets exhibited high photostability. - Abstract: In recent years, surface plasmon-induced photocatalytic materials with tunable mesoporous framework have attracted considerable attention in energy conversion and environmental remediation. Herein we report a novel Au nanoparticles decorated mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}) nanosheets viamore » a template-free and green in situ photo-reduction method. The synthesized Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets exhibit a strong absorption edge in visible and near-IR region owing to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Au nanoparticles. More attractively, Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure mesoporous and bulk g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} for the degradation of rhodamine B under sunlight irradiation. Furthermore, the photocurrent and photoluminescence studies demonstrated that the deposition of Au nanoparticles on the surface of mesoporous g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} could effectively inhibit the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers leading to the enhanced photocatalytic activity. More importantly, the synthesized Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets possess high reusability. Hence, Au/mp-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} could be promising photoactive material for energy and environmental applications.« less

The catalytic destruction of antibiotic tetracycline by sulfur-doped manganese oxide (S-MgO) nanoparticles.

PubMed

Moussavi, Gholamreza; Mashayekh-Salehi, Ali; Yaghmaeian, Kamyar; Mohseni-Bandpei, Anoshiravan

2018-03-15

The present study evaluates the efficacy of S-doped MgO (S-MgO) as compared with the plain MgO as a catalyst for destructive removal of tetracycline (TTC) in aqueous solutions. The S-MgO had around 6% S in its structure. Doping MgO with S caused increase in surface oxygen vacancy defects. Adding S-MgO (12 g/L) to a TTC aqueous solution (50 mg/L) caused removal of around 99% TTC at the neutral pH (ca. 5.1) and a short reaction time of 10 min. In comparison, plain MgO could remove only around 15% of TTC under similar experimental conditions. Diffusing O 2 into the TTC solution under the reaction with S-MgO resulted in a considerable improvement of TTC removal as compared to diffusing N 2 . Complete removal of TTC and 86.4% removal of its TOC could be obtained using 2 g/L S-MgO nanoparticles. The removal of TTC increased with the increase in solution temperature. The presence of nitrate, sulfate and chloride did not considerably affect the removal of TTC using S-MgO while TTC removal significantly decreased at the presence of bicarbonate and phosphate. The S-MgO was a stable and reusable catalyst exhibiting much higher catalytic activity than plain MgO for the TTC destruction. Accordingly, S-MgO is an emerging and efficient catalyst for catalytic decomposition and mineralization of such pharmaceutical compounds as TTC under atmospheric temperature and pressure. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Decoding facial expressions based on face-selective and motion-sensitive areas.

PubMed

Liang, Yin; Liu, Baolin; Xu, Junhai; Zhang, Gaoyan; Li, Xianglin; Wang, Peiyuan; Wang, Bin

2017-06-01

Humans can easily recognize others' facial expressions. Among the brain substrates that enable this ability, considerable attention has been paid to face-selective areas; in contrast, whether motion-sensitive areas, which clearly exhibit sensitivity to facial movements, are involved in facial expression recognition remained unclear. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study used multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to explore facial expression decoding in both face-selective and motion-sensitive areas. In a block design experiment, participants viewed facial expressions of six basic emotions (anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise) in images, videos, and eyes-obscured videos. Due to the use of multiple stimulus types, the impacts of facial motion and eye-related information on facial expression decoding were also examined. It was found that motion-sensitive areas showed significant responses to emotional expressions and that dynamic expressions could be successfully decoded in both face-selective and motion-sensitive areas. Compared with static stimuli, dynamic expressions elicited consistently higher neural responses and decoding performance in all regions. A significant decrease in both activation and decoding accuracy due to the absence of eye-related information was also observed. Overall, the findings showed that emotional expressions are represented in motion-sensitive areas in addition to conventional face-selective areas, suggesting that motion-sensitive regions may also effectively contribute to facial expression recognition. The results also suggested that facial motion and eye-related information played important roles by carrying considerable expression information that could facilitate facial expression recognition. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3113-3125, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of iodide on transformation of phenolic compounds by nonradical activation of peroxydisulfate in the presence of carbon nanotube: Kinetics, impacting factors, and formation of iodinated aromatic products.

PubMed

Guan, Chaoting; Jiang, Jin; Pang, Suyan; Luo, Congwei; Yang, Yi; Ma, Jun; Yu, Jing; Zhao, Xi

2018-06-04

Our recent study has demonstrated that iodide (I - ) can be easily and almost entirely oxidized to hypoiodous acid (HOI) but not to iodate by nonradical activation of peroxydisulfate (PDS) in the presence of a commercial carbon nanotube (CNT). In this work, the oxidation kinetics of phenolic compounds by the PDS/CNT system in the presence of I - were examined and potential formation of iodinated aromatic products was explored. Experimental results suggested that I - enhanced the transformation of six selected substituted phenols, primarily attributed to the generation of HOI that was considerably reactive toward these phenolic compounds. More significant enhancement was obtained at higher I - concentrations or lower pH values, while the change of PDS or CNT dosages exhibited a slight impact on the enhancing effect of I - . Product analyses with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry clearly revealed the production of iodinated aromatic products when p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA, a model phenol) was treated by the PDS/CNT/I - system in both synthetic and real waters. Their formation pathways probably involved the substitution of HOI on aromatic ring of p-HBA, as well as the generation of iodinated p-HBA phenoxyl radicals and subsequent coupling of these radicals. Given the considerable toxicity and harmful effects of these iodinated aromatic products, particular attention should be paid when the novel PDS/CNT oxidation technology is applied for treatment of phenolic contaminants in iodide-containing waters. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of alkyl chain length and substituent pattern of fullerene bis-adducts on film structures and photovoltaic properties of bulk heterojunction solar cells.

PubMed

Tao, Ran; Umeyama, Tomokazu; Kurotobi, Kei; Imahori, Hiroshi

2014-10-08

A series of alkoxycarbonyl-substituted dihydronaphthyl-based [60]fullerene bis-adduct derivatives (denoted as C2BA, C4BA, and C6BA with the alkyl chain of ethyl, n-butyl, and n-hexyl, respectively) have been synthesized to investigate the effects of alkyl chain length and substituent pattern of fullerene bis-adducts on the film structures and photovoltaic properties of bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells. The shorter alkyl chain length caused lower solubility of the fullerene bis-adducts (C6BA > C4BA > C2BA), thereby resulting in the increased separation difficulty of respective bis-adduct isomers. The device performance based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and the fullerene bis-adduct regioisomer mixtures was enhanced by shortening the alkyl chain length. When using the regioisomerically separated fullerene bis-adducts, the devices based on trans-2 and a mixture of trans-4 and e of C4BA exhibited the highest power conversion efficiencies of ca. 2.4%, which are considerably higher than those of the C6BA counterparts (ca. 1.4%) and the C4BA regioisomer mixture (1.10%). The film morphologies as well as electron mobilities of the P3HT:bis-adduct blend films were found to affect the photovoltaic properties considerably. These results reveal that the alkyl chain length and substituent pattern of fullerene bis-adducts significantly influence the photovoltaic properties as well as the film structures of bulk heterojunction solar cells.

Challenges in the Transition to Higher Education for Foster Care Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piel, Megan Hayes

2018-01-01

This chapter acknowledges the contextual considerations in preparation and success in higher education and establishes a foundation of knowledge for researchers, educators, and practitioners to support foster youth in community college settings.

A Distributed Leadership Change Process Model for Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Sandra; Harvey, Marina

2017-01-01

The higher education sector operates in an increasingly complex global environment that is placing it under considerable stress and resulting in widespread change to the operating context and leadership of higher education institutions. The outcome has been the increased likelihood of conflict between academics and senior leaders, presaging the…

Opportunistic Entrepreneurialism and Internationalisation of Higher Education: Lessons from the Antipodes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Welch, Anthony

2012-01-01

Both attitudes towards, and practices of, entrepreneurialism in higher education vary. Beginning from a consideration of arguments about the character of entrepreneurialism in higher education, and the claim that the so-called Anglo-American democracies have moved further and faster down the road of entrepreneurialism, the article selects…

Type III interferons are critical host factors that determine susceptibility to Influenza A viral infection in allergic nasal mucosa.

PubMed

Jeon, Y J; Lim, J H; An, S; Jo, A; Han, D H; Won, T-B; Kim, D-Y; Rhee, C-S; Kim, H J

2018-03-01

Allergic respiratory conditions have been associated with increased susceptibility to viral infection due to impaired interferon (IFN)-related immune responses, but the mechanisms for reinforcement of mucosal immunity against viral infection in allergic diseases are largely unknown. To determine whether IFN induction would be impaired in allergic nasal mucosa and to identify whether higher loads of influenza A virus (IAV) in allergic nasal mucosa could be controlled with IFN treatment. Influenza A virus mRNA, viral titres and IFN expression were compared in IAV-infected normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE, N = 10) and allergic rhinitis nasal epithelial (ARNE, N = 10) cells. We used in vivo model of allergic rhinitis (BALB/c mice, N = 10) and human nasal mucosa from healthy volunteers (N = 72) and allergic rhinitis patients (N = 29) to assess the induction of IFNs after IAV infection. Influenza A virus mRNA levels and viral titres were significantly higher in ARNE compared with NHNE cells. IFN-β and IFN-λs were induced in NHNE and ARNE cells up to 3 days after IAV infection. Interestingly, induction of IFN-λs mRNA levels and the amount of secreted proteins were considerably lower in ARNE cells. The mean IFN-λs mRNA level was also significantly lower in the nasal mucosa of AR patients, and we found that recombinant IFN-λ treatment attenuated viral mRNA levels and viral titres in IAV-infected ARNE cells. In vivoAR mouse exhibited higher viral load after IAV infection, but intranasal inoculation of IFN-λ completely decreased IAV protein expression and viral titre in nasal mucosa of IAV-infected AR mouse. Higher susceptibility of the allergic nasal mucosa to IAV may depend on impairment of type III IFN induction, and type III IFN is a key mechanistic link between higher viral loads and control of IAV infection in allergic nasal mucosa. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

“Rational” Management of Dichlorophenols Biodegradation by the Microalga Scenedesmus obliquus

PubMed Central

Papazi, Aikaterini; Kotzabasis, Kiriakos

2013-01-01

The microalga Scenedesmus obliquus exhibited the ability to biodegrade dichlorophenols (dcps) under specific autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions. According to their biodegradability, the dichlorophenols used can be separated into three distinct groups. Group I (2,4-dcp and 2,6 dcp – no meta-substitution) consisted of quite easily degraded dichlorophenols, since both chloride substituents are in less energetically demanding positions. Group II (2,3-dcp, 2,5-dcp and 3,4-dcp – one meta-chloride) was less susceptible to biodegradation, since one of the two substituents, the meta one, required higher energy for C-Cl-bond cleavage. Group III (3,5-dcp – two meta-chlorides) could not be biodegraded, since both chlorides possessed the most energy demanding positions. In general, when the dcp-toxicity exceeded a certain threshold, the microalga increased the energy offered for biodegradation and decreased the energy invested for biomass production. As a result, the biodegradation per cell volume of group II (higher toxicity) was higher, than group I (lower toxicity) and the biodegradation of dichlorophenols (higher toxicity) was higher than the corresponding monochlorophenols (lower toxicity). The participation of the photosynthetic apparatus and the respiratory mechanism of microalga to biodegrade the group I and the group II, highlighted different bioenergetic strategies for optimal management of the balance between dcp-toxicity, dcp-biodegradability and culture growth. Additionally, we took into consideration the possibility that the intermediates of each dcp-biodegradation pathway could influence differently the whole biodegradation procedures. For this reason, we tested all possible combinations of phenolic intermediates to check cometabolic interactions. The present contribution bring out the possibility of microalgae to operate as “smart” bioenergetic “machines”, that have the ability to continuously “calculate” the energy reserves and “use” the most energetically advantageous dcp-biodegradation strategy. We tried to manipulate the above fact, changing the energy reserves and as a result the chosen strategy, in order to take advantage of their abilities in detoxifying the environment. PMID:23613903

"Rational" management of dichlorophenols biodegradation by the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus.

PubMed

Papazi, Aikaterini; Kotzabasis, Kiriakos

2013-01-01

The microalga Scenedesmus obliquus exhibited the ability to biodegrade dichlorophenols (dcps) under specific autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions. According to their biodegradability, the dichlorophenols used can be separated into three distinct groups. Group I (2,4-dcp and 2,6 dcp - no meta-substitution) consisted of quite easily degraded dichlorophenols, since both chloride substituents are in less energetically demanding positions. Group II (2,3-dcp, 2,5-dcp and 3,4-dcp - one meta-chloride) was less susceptible to biodegradation, since one of the two substituents, the meta one, required higher energy for C-Cl-bond cleavage. Group III (3,5-dcp - two meta-chlorides) could not be biodegraded, since both chlorides possessed the most energy demanding positions. In general, when the dcp-toxicity exceeded a certain threshold, the microalga increased the energy offered for biodegradation and decreased the energy invested for biomass production. As a result, the biodegradation per cell volume of group II (higher toxicity) was higher, than group I (lower toxicity) and the biodegradation of dichlorophenols (higher toxicity) was higher than the corresponding monochlorophenols (lower toxicity). The participation of the photosynthetic apparatus and the respiratory mechanism of microalga to biodegrade the group I and the group II, highlighted different bioenergetic strategies for optimal management of the balance between dcp-toxicity, dcp-biodegradability and culture growth. Additionally, we took into consideration the possibility that the intermediates of each dcp-biodegradation pathway could influence differently the whole biodegradation procedures. For this reason, we tested all possible combinations of phenolic intermediates to check cometabolic interactions. The present contribution bring out the possibility of microalgae to operate as "smart" bioenergetic "machines", that have the ability to continuously "calculate" the energy reserves and "use" the most energetically advantageous dcp-biodegradation strategy. We tried to manipulate the above fact, changing the energy reserves and as a result the chosen strategy, in order to take advantage of their abilities in detoxifying the environment.

Psychosis during pregnancy: treatment considerations.

PubMed

Pinkofsky, H B

1997-09-01

The onset of psychosis during pregnancy presents several difficult management decisions and a careful risk-benefit analysis is required. Withholding antipsychotic treatment may produce more risks than benefits. Studies on neuroleptic teratogenicity are contradictory. Most of the commonly used neuroleptics exhibit a pregnancy risk of category C. Neuroleptic use during pregnancy may be associated with adverse effects in the pre- and postnatal period. These concerns include compromising uterine blood flow, post-partum neonatal sedation, and extrapyramidal signs expressed in the neonate. Each neuroleptic exhibits a unique pharmacokinetic profile. The antipsychotic properties and side effects considered most significant include sedation, half-life, hypotension, and apparent hydrophilicity. In this case study a decision to select molindone was based on these parameters.

On the variability of alligator sex ratios

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nichols, J.D.; Chabreck, R.H.

1980-01-01

Samples of alligators from wild and 'farm' populations exhibited disproportionate sex ratios. Males predominated among young alligators from wild populations, whereas females were much more abundant than males in the farm population, where resources were superabundant. These results and other considerations lead us to hypothesize that environmental factors influence sex determination in alligators. During favorable environmental conditions natural selection is expected to favor a preponderance of the sex whose individuals exhibit the greater environmentally associated variation in relative fitness. We hypothesize that environmentally associated variation in age at sexual maturity of females produces sufficient variation in relative fitness of females to result in selection for low sex ratios during periods of resource abundance.

Are the oldest 'fossils', fossils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schopf, J. W.

1976-01-01

A comparative statistical study has been carried out on populations of modern algae, Precambrian algal microfossils, the 'organized elements' of the Orgueil carbonaceous meteorite, and the oldest microfossil-like objects now known (spheroidal bodies from the Fig Tree and Onverwacht Groups of the Swaziland Supergroup, South Africa). The distribution patterns exhibited by the more than 3000 m.y.-old Swaziland microstructures bear considerable resemblance to those of the abiotic 'organized elements' but differ rather markedly from those exhibited by younger, assuredly biogenic, populations. Based on these comparisons, it is concluded that the Swaziland spheroids could be, at least in part, of nonbiologic origin; these oldest known fossil-like microstructures should not be regarded as constituting firm evidence of Archean life.

Characteristics of the Mott transition and electronic states of high-temperature cuprate superconductors from the perspective of the Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohno, Masanori

2018-04-01

A fundamental issue of the Mott transition is how electrons behaving as single particles carrying spin and charge in a metal change into those exhibiting separated spin and charge excitations (low-energy spin excitation and high-energy charge excitation) in a Mott insulator. This issue has attracted considerable attention particularly in relation to high-temperature cuprate superconductors, which exhibit electronic states near the Mott transition that are difficult to explain in conventional pictures. Here, from a new viewpoint of the Mott transition based on analyses of the Hubbard model, we review anomalous features observed in high-temperature cuprate superconductors near the Mott transition.

Ecosystem and immune systems: Hierarchial response provides resilience against invasions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Allen, Craig R.

2001-01-01

Janssen (2001) provides the stimulus for thoughtful comparison and consideration of the ranges of responses exhibited by immune systems and ecological systems in the face of perturbations such as biological invasions. It may indeed be informative to consider the similarities of the responses to invasions exhibited by immune systems and ecological systems. Clearly, both types of systems share a general organizational structure with all other complex hierarchical systems. Their organization provides these systems with resilience. However, when describing the response of ecological-economic systems to invasions, Janssen emphasizes the human-economic response. I would like to expand on his comparison by focusing on how resilience is maintained in complex systems under the threat of invasion.

Deformation of a bismuth ferrite nanocrystal imaged by coherent X-ray diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newton, Marcus C.; Pietraszewski, Adam; Kenny, Anthony; Wagner, Ulrich; Rau, Christoph

2017-06-01

Perovskite materials that contain transition metal-oxides often exhibit multifunctional properties with considerable utility in a device setting. BiFeO3 is a multiferroic perovskite material that exhibits room temperature anti-ferromagnetic and ferroelectric ordering. Optical excitation of BiFeO3 crystals results in an elastic structural deformation of the lattice with a fast response on the pico-second time scale. Here we report on dynamic optical excitation coupled with Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction measurements to investigate the structural properties of BiFeO3 nanoscale crystals. A continuous distortion of the diffraction speckle pattern was observed with increasing illumination. This was attributed to strain resulting from photo-induced lattice deformation.

Investigation of bandgap modulation, field emission and dielectric properties of cadmium doped CaCu3 Ti4O12

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maitra, S.; Mitra, R.; Bera, K. P.; Nath, T. K.

2017-05-01

We have prepared cadmium doped CCTO (Ca1-xCdxCu3Ti4O12 where x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05) by Molten Salt Synthesis technique. It has exhibited high level of crystallinity and a well defined micrometre sized grains with uniform cubic morphology, as confirmed by a combination of X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Thereby we have found the modulation of its semiconducting bandgap as a function of doping from recorded UV-Vis reflectance spectra using Kubelka Munk (KM) method where with increasing Cadmium doping content the bandgap is found to increase. We have also carried out investigation on the field emission properties of CCTO crystals and it has exhibited poor field emission characteristics. Finally, we have investigated the dielectric properties of CCTO as a function of temperature. It has exhibited a giant dielectric property with low loss over a considerable temperature regime (50-300°C) and is found to exhibit Maxwell Wagner type dielectric relaxation.

Cocrystals and alloys of nitazoxanide: enhanced pharmacokinetics.

PubMed

Suresh, Kuthuru; Mannava, M K Chaitanya; Nangia, Ashwini

2016-03-18

Two isomorphous cocrystals of nitazoxanide (NTZ) with p-aminosalicylic acid (PASA) and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) as well as their alloys were prepared by slurry and grinding techniques. The cocrystals exhibit faster dissolution rates and higher pharmacokinetic properties compared to the reference drug, and surprisingly the cocrystal alloy NTZ-PABA : NTZ-PASA (0.75 : 0.25) exhibited 4 fold higher bioavailability of NTZ in Sprague Dawley rats. This study opens the opportunity for cocrystal alloys as improved medicines.

Functional brain organization of working memory in adolescents varies in relation to family income and academic achievement.

PubMed

Finn, Amy S; Minas, Jennifer E; Leonard, Julia A; Mackey, Allyson P; Salvatore, John; Goetz, Calvin; West, Martin R; Gabrieli, Christopher F O; Gabrieli, John D E

2017-09-01

Working memory (WM) capacity reflects executive functions associated with performance on a wide range of cognitive tasks and education outcomes, including mathematics achievement, and is associated with dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal cortices. Here we asked if family income is associated with variation in the functional brain organization of WM capacity among adolescents, and whether that variation is associated with performance on a statewide test of academic achievement in mathematics. Participants were classified into higher-income and lower-income groups based on family income, and performed a WM task with a parametric manipulation of WM load (N-back task) during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Behaviorally, the higher-income group had greater WM capacity and higher mathematics achievement scores. Neurally, the higher-income group showed greater activation as a function of WM load in bilateral prefrontal, parietal, and other regions, although the lower-income group exhibited greater activation at the lowest load. Both groups exhibited positive correlations between parietal activations and mathematics achievement scores, but only the higher-income group exhibited a positive correlation between prefrontal activations and mathematics scores. Most of these findings were maintained when higher- and lower-income groups were matched on WM task performance or nonverbal IQ. Findings indicate that the functional neural architecture of WM varies with family income and is associated with education measures of mathematics achievement. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Biological and demographic causes of high HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in men who have sex with men

PubMed Central

Goodreau, Steven M; Golden, Matthew R

2007-01-01

Objectives HIV disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM and heterosexual networks are distinguished by biologically determined sexual role segregation among heterosexual individuals but not MSM, and anal/vaginal transmissibility differences. To identify how much these biological and demographic differences could explain persistent disparities in HIV/sexually transmitted disease prevalence in the United States, even were MSM and heterosexual individuals to report identical numbers of unprotected sexual partnerships per year. Methods A compartmental model parameterized using two population‐based surveys. Role composition was varied between MSM and heterosexual subjects (insertive‐only and receptive‐only versus versatile individuals) and infectivity values. Results The absence of sexual role segregation in MSM and the differential anal/vaginal transmission probabilities led to considerable disparities in equilibrium prevalence. The US heterosexual population would only experience an epidemic comparable to MSM if the mean partner number of heterosexual individuals was increased several fold over that observed in population‐based studies of either group. In order for MSM to eliminate the HIV epidemic, they would need to develop rates of unprotected sex lower than those currently exhibited by heterosexual individuals in the United States. In this model, for US heterosexual individuals to have a self‐sustaining epidemic, they would need to adopt levels of unprotected sex higher than those currently exhibited by US MSM. Conclusions The persistence of disparities in HIV between heterosexual individuals and MSM in the United States cannot be explained solely by differences in risky sexual behavior between these two populations. PMID:17855487

Major histocompatibility complex alleles associated with parasite susceptibility in wild giant pandas.

PubMed

Zhang, L; Wu, Q; Hu, Y; Wu, H; Wei, F

2015-01-01

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphism is thought to be driven by antagonistic coevolution between pathogens and hosts, mediated through either overdominance or frequency-dependent selection. However, investigations under natural conditions are still rare for endangered mammals which often exhibit depleted variation, and the mechanism of selection underlying the maintenance of characteristics remains a considerable debate. In this study, 87 wild giant pandas were used to investigate MHC variation associated with parasite load. With the knowledge of the MHC profile provided by the genomic data of the giant panda, seven DRB1, seven DQA1 and eight DQA2 alleles were identified at each single locus. Positive selection evidenced by a significantly higher number of non-synonymous substitutions per non-synonymous codon site relative to synonymous substitutions per synonymous codon site could only be detected at the DRB1 locus, which leads to the speculation that DRB1 may have a more important role in dealing with parasite infection for pandas. Coprological analyses revealed that 55.17% of individuals exhibited infection with 1-2 helminthes and 95.3% of infected pandas carried Baylisascaris shroederi. Using a generalized linear model, we found that Aime-DRB1*10 was significantly associated with parasite infection, but no resistant alleles could be detected. MHC heterozygosity of the pandas was found to be uncorrelated with the infection status or the infection intensity. These results suggested that the possible selection mechanisms in extant wild pandas may be frequency dependent rather than being determined by overdominance selection. Our findings could guide the candidate selection for the ongoing reintroduction or translocation of pandas.

Major histocompatibility complex alleles associated with parasite susceptibility in wild giant pandas

PubMed Central

Zhang, L; Wu, Q; Hu, Y; Wu, H; Wei, F

2015-01-01

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphism is thought to be driven by antagonistic coevolution between pathogens and hosts, mediated through either overdominance or frequency-dependent selection. However, investigations under natural conditions are still rare for endangered mammals which often exhibit depleted variation, and the mechanism of selection underlying the maintenance of characteristics remains a considerable debate. In this study, 87 wild giant pandas were used to investigate MHC variation associated with parasite load. With the knowledge of the MHC profile provided by the genomic data of the giant panda, seven DRB1, seven DQA1 and eight DQA2 alleles were identified at each single locus. Positive selection evidenced by a significantly higher number of non-synonymous substitutions per non-synonymous codon site relative to synonymous substitutions per synonymous codon site could only be detected at the DRB1 locus, which leads to the speculation that DRB1 may have a more important role in dealing with parasite infection for pandas. Coprological analyses revealed that 55.17% of individuals exhibited infection with 1–2 helminthes and 95.3% of infected pandas carried Baylisascaris shroederi. Using a generalized linear model, we found that Aime-DRB1*10 was significantly associated with parasite infection, but no resistant alleles could be detected. MHC heterozygosity of the pandas was found to be uncorrelated with the infection status or the infection intensity. These results suggested that the possible selection mechanisms in extant wild pandas may be frequency dependent rather than being determined by overdominance selection. Our findings could guide the candidate selection for the ongoing reintroduction or translocation of pandas. PMID:25248466

Scale-dependent habitat selection in migratory frugivorous passerines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sapir, Nir; Abramsky, Zvika; Shochat, Eyal; Izhaki, Ido

2004-11-01

Frugivorous migrants may select fruit-rich habitats en route to attain high food rewards, yet their stopover behavior may also be shaped by other considerations, such as predation risk. During 1996 2001 we investigated autumn stopover habitat use of three Sylvia warblers (sylviids; S. hortensis, S. atricapilla and S. curruca) and three Turdidae chats (turdids; Cercotrichas galactotes, Oenanthe hispanica and Phoenicurus phoenicurus) in planted groves of the fruiting tree Pistacia atlantica in Lahav Forest, Israel, which is located at the edge of a desert. We used fecal analysis, a constant-effort trapping scheme and field observations to estimate the extent of frugivory, and bird habitat and microhabitat selection with regard to natural fruit and foliage densities. We also measured bird microhabitat selection in a set of fruit-manipulated trees. We trapped a total of 2,357 birds during the course of the study. Although sylviids exhibited higher frugivory level than turdids, both species groups exhibited a similar significantly positive correlation between bird and fruit densities at the habitat scale. However, at the microhabitat scale, sylviids selected densely foliated trees, whilst turdids were randomly distributed among trees. Our findings suggest that both species groups selected fruit-rich stopover habitats to take advantage of the high food availability before the demanding migration journey. No other mechanism except predation avoidance can explain the sylviids’ microhabitat selection; the migrants used foliage cover to reduce bird detectability by raptors. We conclude that en route passerines may use staging habitats in a sophisticated manner, by adopting scale-related behavior with regard to the availability of food and refuge cover.

Screening of toxic potential of graphene family nanomaterials using in vitro and alternative in vivo toxicity testing systems.

PubMed

Chatterjee, Nivedita; Yang, Ji Su; Park, Kwangsik; Oh, Seung Min; Park, Jeonggue; Choi, Jinhee

2015-01-01

The widely promising applications of graphene nanomaterials raise considerable concerns regarding their environmental and human health risk assessment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the toxicity profiling of graphene family nananomaterials (GFNs) in alternative in vitro and in vivo toxicity testing models. The GFNs used in this study are graphene nanoplatelets ([GNPs]-pristine, carboxylate [COOH] and amide [NH2]) and graphene oxides (single layer [SLGO] and few layers [FLGO]). The human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas2B cells) as in vitro system and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as in vivo system were used to profile the toxicity response of GFNs. Cytotoxicity assays, colony formation assay for cellular toxicity and reproduction potentiality in C. elegans were used as end points to evaluate the GFNs' toxicity. In general, GNPs exhibited higher toxicity than GOs in Beas2B cells, and among the GNPs the order of toxicity was pristine>NH2>COOH. Although the order of toxicity of the GNPs was maintained in C. elegans reproductive toxicity, but GOs were found to be more toxic in the worms than GNPs. In both systems, SLGO exhibited profoundly greater dose dependency than FLGO. The possible reason of their differential toxicity lay in their distinctive physicochemical characteristics and agglomeration behavior in the exposure media. The present study revealed that the toxicity of GFNs is dependent on the graphene nanomaterial's physical forms, surface functionalizations, number of layers, dose, time of exposure and obviously, on the alternative model systems used for toxicity assessment.

Structural and magnetic characterization of Fe2CrSi Heusler alloy nanoparticles as spin injectors and spin based sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saravanan, G.; Asvini, V.; Kalaiezhily, R. K.; Parveen, I. Mubeena; Ravichandran, K.

2018-05-01

Half-metallic ferromagnetic [HMF] nanoparticles are of considerable interest in spintronics applications due to their potential use as a highly spin polarized current source. HMF exhibits a semiconductor in one spin band at the Fermi level Ef and at the other spin band they poses strong metallic nature which shows 100 % spin polarization at Ef. Fe based full Heusler alloys are primary interest due to high Curie temperature. Fe2CrSi Heusler alloys are synthesized using metallic powders of Fe, Cr and Si by mechanical alloying method. X-Ray diffractions studies were performed to analyze the structural details of Fe2CrSi nanoparticles with High resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM) studies for the morphological details of nanoparticles and magnetic properties were studied using Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD Data analysis conforms the Heusler alloy phase showing the existence of L21 structure. Magnetic properties are measured for synthesized samples exhibiting a soft magnetic property possessing low coercivity (HC = 60.5 Oe) and saturation magnetic moment of Fe2CrSi is 3.16 µB, which is significantly higher than the ideal value of 2 µB from the Slater-Pauling rule due to room temperature measurement. The change in magnetic properties are half-metallic nature of Fe2CrSi is due to the shift of the Fermi level with respect to the gap were can be used as spin sensors and spin injectors in magnetic random access memories and other spin dependent devices.

Periodic modulation of motor-unit activity in extrinsic hand muscles during multidigit grasping.

PubMed

Johnston, Jamie A; Winges, Sara A; Santello, Marco

2005-07-01

We recently examined the extent to which motor units of digit flexor muscles receive common input during multidigit grasping. This task elicited moderate to strong motor-unit synchrony (common input strength, CIS) across muscles (flexor digitorum profundus, FDP, and flexor pollicis longus, FPL) and across FDP muscle compartments, although the strength of this common input was not uniform across digit pairs. To further characterize the neural mechanisms underlying the control of multidigit grasping, we analyzed the relationship between firing of single motor units from these hand muscles in the frequency domain by computing coherence. We report three primary findings. First, in contrast to what has been reported in intrinsic hand muscles, motor units belonging to different muscles and muscle compartments of extrinsic digit flexors exhibited significant coherence in the 0- to 5- and 5- to 10-Hz frequency ranges and much weaker coherence in the higher 10-20 Hz range (maximum 0.0025 and 0.0008, respectively, pooled across all FDP compartment pairs). Second, the strength and incidence of coherence differed considerably across digit pairs. Third, contrary to what has been reported in the literature, across-muscle coherence can be stronger and more prevalent than within-muscle coherence, as FPL-FDP2 (thumb-index digit pair) exhibited the strongest and most prevalent coherence in our data (0.010 and 43% at 3 Hz, respectively). The heterogeneous organization of common input to these muscles and muscle compartments is discussed in relation to the functional role of individual digit pairs in the coordination of multiple digit forces in grasping.

Fabrication and characterization of crushed titanium-beryllium intermetallic compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jae-Hwan; Nakamichi, Masaru

2018-01-01

To develop a technique for the mass production of beryllide pebbles, a crushing method for the granulation of beryllides was used in this study. Two types of crushed Be12Ti pebbles were prepared using mortar-ground (MG) and planetary-ball-milled (PM) powders. A granulation yield of approximately 50 wt.% with sizes in the range of 0.85-1.18 mm was achieved. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the MG pebbles exhibited larger porosity because the larger size of the powder resulted in lower density with higher porosity. However, the considerably larger fraction of fine pores in the PM pebbles resulted in an increased Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area, as clearly demonstrated by high-magnification SEM images. To evaluate the reactivity with water vapor, the weight gain and H2 generation rate were also investigated. The results suggested that the PM pebbles exhibited notably lower reactivity, weight gain, and H2 generation rate, which may be due to the dramatically decreased BET specific surface. The fine pores were filled with stable oxides followed by a significant decrease of the surface area during oxidation. Optimization was performed to improve the circularity of the crushed pebbles. Grinding tests using planetary milling without balls for different times clearly demonstrated that the circularity improved (with an estimated value of 0.8) by cutting and polishing the sharp edges; however, long-duration milling for 99 h resulted in attachment of the polished powders to the pebble surface, leading to surface color variation of the crushed pebbles.

Plasmonic Ag coated Zn/Ti-LDH with excellent photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Yanping; Zhu, Runliang; Zhu, Gangqiang; Wang, Miaomiao; Chen, Yannan; Zhu, Jianxi; Xi, Yunfei; He, Hongping

2018-03-01

Nowadays, two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, such as layered double hydroxides (LDH), have received considerable attention for their potential to meeting clean energy demand and solving environmental problems. In this work, novel and efficient photocatalysts of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles coated Zn/Ti-LDH nanosheets have been synthesized through low-temperature reduction method. The structural characteristics of the as-prepared products were investigated by a series of characteristic methods The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed that Ag nanoparticles were distributed on the surface of Zn/Ti-LDH uniformly. The UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) showed that the absorbance of Ag/LDH in visible-light region enhanced markedly and presented a broad band at 500-600 nm, which was resulted from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activities of Ag/LDH were evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) and NO. The photocatalytic experiments showed that Ag/LDH had higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure LDH, and 2%Ag/LDH exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. In addition, the 2%Ag/LDH exhibited high photochemical stability after multiple reaction runs. The obtained results from photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic measurement and transient photocurrent (I-V) analysis both revealed the existence of Schottky barriers between LDH and Ag nanoparticles. The electron spin resonance (ESR) showed that rad OH were the dominant active species in the photo-degradation process. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the composite should be ascribed to both the SPR effect of Ag nanoparticles in visible light and the Schottky barriers between LDH and Ag nanoparticles.

Ni-P/Zn-Ni compositionally modulated multilayer coatings - Part 1: Electrodeposition and growth mechanism, composition, morphology, roughness and structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bahadormanesh, Behrouz; Ghorbani, Mohammad

2018-06-01

The Ni-P/Zn-Ni compositionally modulated multilayer coatings CMMCs were electrodeposited from a single bath by switching the cathodic current density. The composition, surface morphology, roughness, layers growth pattern as well as the phase structure of deposits were extensively studied via SEM, EDS, AFM and XRD analysis. Effects of bath ingredients on the electrodeposition behavior were analyzed through cathodic linear sweep voltammetry. Although the concentration of Zn2+ in bath was 13 times higher than Ni2+, the Zn-Ni deposition potential was much nearer to Ni deposition potential rather than that of Zn. Addition of NaH2PO2 to the Ni deposition bath considerably raised the current density and shifted the crystallization potential of Ni to more nobble values. Codeposition of P with Zn-Ni alloy lead to crack formation in the monolayer that was deposited in 60 mA/cm2. However, the cracks were not observed in the Zn-Ni layers of multilayers. Zn-Ni layers in CMMCs exhibited a three-dimensional pattern of growth while that of Ni-P layers was two-dimensional. Also, the Ni-P deposits tends to fill the discontinuities in Zn-Ni layers and performed leveling properties and lowered the surface roughness of Zn-Ni layers and CMMCs. Structural analysis demonstrated that Ni-P layers were amorphous and the Zn-Ni layers exhibited crystallite phase of Zn11Ni2. Thus, the Ni-P/Zn-Ni CMMCs comprised of alternate layers of amorphous Ni-P and nanocrystalline Zn Ni.

Synthesis of CuPF6 -(S)-BINAP loaded resin and its enantioselectivity toward phenylalanine enantiomers.

PubMed

Liu, Xiong; Zhou, Wenqi; Xu, Longqi

2017-09-01

A type of resin-anchored CuPF 6 -(S)-BINAP was synthesized and identified. The PS-CuPF 6 -(S)-BINAP resin was used to adsorb the phenylalanine enantiomers. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of PS-CuPF 6 -(S)-BINAP resin toward L-phenylalanine was higher than that of resin toward D-phenylalanine. PS-CuPF 6 -(S)-BINAP resin exhibited good enantioselectivity toward L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. The influence of phenylalanine concentration, pH, adsorption time, and temperature on the enantioselectivity of the resin were investigated. The results showed that the enantioselectivity of the resin increased with increasing the phenylalanine concentration, pH, and adsorption time, while it decreased with an increase in temperature. The causes for these influences are discussed. The highest enantioselectivity (α = 2.81) was obtained when the condition of phenylalanine concentration was 0.05 mmol/mL, pH was 8, adsorption time was 12 h, and temperature 5°C. The desorption test for removing D/L-phenylalanine on PS-CuPF 6 -(S)-BINAP resin was also investigated. The desorption ratios of D-phenylalanine and L-phenylalanine at pH of 1 were 95.7% and 94.3%, respectively. This result indicated that the PS-CuPF 6 -(S)-BINAP resin could be regenerated by shaking with an acidic solution. The reusability of the PS-CuPF 6 -(S)-BINAP resin was also assessed and the resin exhibited considerable reusability. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Characterization of metal-ferroelectric-insulator-semiconductor structures based on ferroelectric Langmuir-Blodgett polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer films for nondestructive random access memory applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reece, Timothy James

Ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFETs) have attracted much attention recently because of their ability to combine high speed, low power consumption, and fast nondestructive readout with the potential for high density nonvolatile memory. The polarization of the ferroelectric is used to switch the channel at the silicon surface between states of high and low conductance. Among the ferroelectric thin films used in FET devices; the ferroelectric copolymer of Polyvinylidene fluoride, PVDF (C2H2F 2), with trifluoroethylene, TrFE (C2HF3), has distinct advantages, including low dielectric constant, low processing temperature, low cost and compatibility with organic semiconductors. By employing the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, films as thin as 1.8 nm can be deposited, reducing the operating voltage. An MFIS structure consisting of aluminum, 170 nm P(VDF-TrFE), 100 nm silicon oxide and n-type silicon exhibited low leakage current (˜1x10 -8 A/cm2), a large memory window (4.2 V) and operated at 35 Volts. The operating voltage was lowered through use of high k insulators like cerium oxide. A sample consisting of 25 nm P(VDF-TrFE), 30 nm cerium oxide and p-type silicon exhibited a 1.9 V window with 7 Volt gate amplitude. The leakage current in this case was considerably higher (1x10 -6 A/cm2). The characterization, modeling, and fabrication of metal-ferroelectricinsulator semiconductor (MFIS) structures based on these films are discussed.

Novel MOF-Derived Co@N-C Bifunctional Catalysts for Highly Efficient Zn-Air Batteries and Water Splitting.

PubMed

Zhang, Mingdao; Dai, Quanbin; Zheng, Hegen; Chen, Mindong; Dai, Liming

2018-03-01

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-derived materials have recently attracted considerable interest as alternatives to noble-metal electrocatalysts. Herein, the rational design and synthesis of a new class of Co@N-C materials (C-MOF-C2-T) from a pair of enantiotopic chiral 3D MOFs by pyrolysis at temperature T is reported. The newly developed C-MOF-C2-900 with a unique 3D hierarchical rodlike structure, consisting of homogeneously distributed cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated by partially graphitized N-doped carbon rings along the rod length, exhibits higher electrocatalytic activities for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions (ORR and OER) than that of commercial Pt/C and RuO 2 , respectively. Primary Zn-air batteries based on C-MOF-900 for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) operated at a discharge potential of 1.30 V with a specific capacity of 741 mA h g Zn -1 under 10 mA cm -2 . Rechargeable Zn-air batteries based on C-MOF-C2-900 as an ORR and OER bifunctional catalyst exhibit initial charge and discharge potentials at 1.81 and 1.28 V (2 mA cm -2 ), along with an excellent cycling stability with no increase in polarization even after 120 h - outperform their counterparts based on noble-metal-based air electrodes. The resultant rechargeable Zn-air batteries are used to efficiently power electrochemical water-splitting systems, demonstrating promising potential as integrated green energy systems for practical applications. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Implementing eLearning Programmes for Higher Education: A Review of the Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Neill, Kayte; Singh, Gurmak; O'Donoghue, John

2004-01-01

This paper is a consideration of the issues associated with the infrastructural aspects, pedagogic considerations and the need to associate the usefulness of technology to enhance the learning experience. This technological path will potentially enhance the learning process, not replace the lecturer or tutor. For lecturers and students, the…

Volatiles Mediated Interactions Between Aspergillus oryzae Strains Modulate Morphological Transition and Exometabolomes.

PubMed

Singh, Digar; Lee, Choong H

2018-01-01

Notwithstanding its mitosporic nature, an improbable morpho-transformation state i. e., sclerotial development (SD), is vaguely known in Aspergillus oryzae . Nevertheless an intriguing phenomenon governing mold's development and stress response, the effects of exogenous factors engendering SD, especially the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mediated interactions (VMI) pervasive in microbial niches have largely remained unexplored. Herein, we examined the effects of intra-species VMI on SD in A. oryzae RIB 40, followed by comprehensive analyses of associated growth rates, pH alterations, biochemical phenotypes, and exometabolomes. We cultivated A. oryzae RIB 40 (S1 VMI : KACC 44967) opposite a non-SD partner strain, A. oryzae (S2: KCCM 60345), conditioning VMI in a specially designed "twin plate assembly." Notably, SD in S1 VMI was delayed relative to its non-conditioned control (S1) cultivated without partner strain (S2) in twin plate. Selectively evaluating A. oryzae RIB 40 (S1 VMI vs. S1) for altered phenotypes concomitant to SD, we observed a marked disparity for corresponding growth rates (S1 VMI < S1) 7days , media pH (S1 VMI > S1) 7days , and biochemical characteristics viz ., protease (S1 VMI > S1) 7days , amylase (S1 VMI > nS1) 3-7 days , and antioxidants (S1 VMI > S1) 7days levels. The partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) datasets for primary metabolites exhibited a clustered pattern (PLS1, 22.04%; PLS2, 11.36%), with 7 days incubated S1 VMI extracts showed higher abundance of amino acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols with lower organic acids and fatty acids levels, relative to S1. Intriguingly, the higher amino acid and sugar alcohol levels were positively correlated with antioxidant activity, likely impeding SD in S1 VMI . Further, the PLS-DA (PLS1, 18.11%; PLS2, 15.02%) based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) datasets exhibited a notable disparity for post-SD (9-11 days) sample extracts with higher oxylipins and 13-desoxypaxilline levels in S1 VMI relative to S1, intertwining Aspergillus morphogenesis and secondary metabolism. The analysis of VOCs for the 7 days incubated samples displayed considerably higher accumulation of C-8 compounds in the headspace of twin-plate experimental sets (S1 VMI :S2) compared to those in non-conditioned controls (S1 and S2-without respective partner strains), potentially triggering altered morpho-transformation and concurring biochemical as well as metabolic states in molds.

Effects of irrigation water salinity on evapotranspiration modified by leaching fractions in hot pepper plants.

PubMed

Qiu, Rangjian; Liu, Chunwei; Wang, Zhenchang; Yang, Zaiqiang; Jing, Yuanshu

2017-08-03

We investigated whether leaching fraction (LF) is able to modify the effects of irrigation water salinity (EC iw ) on evapotranspiration (ET). We conducted an experiment with a completely randomized block design using five levels of EC iw and two LFs. Results showed that the electrical conductivity of drainage water (EC dw ) in an LF of 0.29 was considerably higher during the 21-36 days after transplanting (DAT), and considerably lower after 50 DAT than in an LF of 0.17. The hourly, nighttime, daily, cumulative and seasonal ET all decreased considerably as a result of an increase in the EC iw . The daily ET started to be considerably higher in the LF of 0.29 than in the LF of 0.17 from 65 DAT. Compared with the LF of 0.17, the seasonal ET in the LF of 0.29 under various EC iw levels increased by 4.8%-8.7%. The Maas and Hoffman and van Genuchten and Hoffman models both corresponded well with the measured relative seasonal ET and the LF had no marked effects on these model parameters. Collectively, an increase in the level of EC iw always decreased the ET substantially. An increase in the LF increased the ET considerably, but there was a time lag.

High Pressure Compression-Molding of α-Cellulose and Effects of Operating Conditions.

PubMed

Pintiaux, Thibaud; Viet, David; Vandenbossche, Virginie; Rigal, Luc; Rouilly, Antoine

2013-05-30

Commercial α-cellulose was compression-molded to produce 1A dog-bone specimens under various operating conditions without any additive. The resulting agromaterials exhibited a smooth, plastic-like surface, and constituted a suitable target as replacement for plastic materials. Tensile and three-points bending tests were conducted according to ISO standards related to the evaluation of plastic materials. The specimens had strengths comparable to classical petroleum-based thermoplastics. They also exhibited high moduli, which is characteristic of brittle materials. A higher temperature and higher pressure rate produced specimens with higher mechanical properties while low moisture content produced weaker specimens. Generally, the strong specimen had higher specific gravity and lower moisture content. However, some parameters did not follow the general trend e.g., thinner specimen showed much higher Young's Modulus, although their specific gravity and moisture content remained similar to control, revealing a marked skin-effect which was confirmed by SEM observations.

High Pressure Compression-Molding of α-Cellulose and Effects of Operating Conditions

PubMed Central

Pintiaux, Thibaud; Viet, David; Vandenbossche, Virginie; Rigal, Luc; Rouilly, Antoine

2013-01-01

Commercial α-cellulose was compression-molded to produce 1A dog-bone specimens under various operating conditions without any additive. The resulting agromaterials exhibited a smooth, plastic-like surface, and constituted a suitable target as replacement for plastic materials. Tensile and three-points bending tests were conducted according to ISO standards related to the evaluation of plastic materials. The specimens had strengths comparable to classical petroleum-based thermoplastics. They also exhibited high moduli, which is characteristic of brittle materials. A higher temperature and higher pressure rate produced specimens with higher mechanical properties while low moisture content produced weaker specimens. Generally, the strong specimen had higher specific gravity and lower moisture content. However, some parameters did not follow the general trend e.g., thinner specimen showed much higher Young’s Modulus, although their specific gravity and moisture content remained similar to control, revealing a marked skin-effect which was confirmed by SEM observations. PMID:28809271

Covered versus Uncovered Self-Expandable Metal Stents for Managing Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction: A Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Li, Jinjin; Li, Tong; Sun, Ping; Yu, Qihong; Wang, Kun; Chang, Weilong; Song, Zifang; Zheng, Qichang

2016-01-01

To compare the efficacy of using covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMSs) and uncovered self-expandable metal stents (UCSEMSs) to treat objective jaundice caused by an unresectable malignant tumor. We performed a comprehensive electronic search from 1980 to May 2015. All randomized controlled trials comparing the use of CSEMSs and UCSEMSs to treat malignant distal biliary obstruction were included. The analysis included 1417 patients enrolled in 14 trials. We did not detect significant differences between the UCSEMS group and the CSEMS group in terms of cumulative stent patency (hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19-4.53; p = 0.93, I2 = 0%), patient survival (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.05-10.87; p = 0.85, I2 = 0%), overall stent dysfunction (relative ratio (RR) 0.85, M-H, random, 95% CI 0.57-1.25; p = 0.83, I2 = 63%), the overall complication rate (RR 1.26, M-H, fixed, 95% CI 0.94-1.68; p = 0.12, I2 = 0%) or the change in serum bilirubin (weighted mean difference (WMD) -0.13, IV fixed, 95% CI 0.56-0.3; p = 0.55, I2 = 0%). However, we did detect a significant difference in the main causes of stent dysfunction between the two groups. In particular, the CSEMS group exhibited a lower rate of tumor ingrowth (RR 0.25, M-H, random, 95% CI 0.12-0.52; p = 0.002, I2 = 40%) but a higher rate of tumor overgrowth (RR 1.76, M-H, fixed, 95% CI 1.03-3.02; p = 0.04, I2 = 0%). Patients with CSEMSs also exhibited a higher migration rate (RR 9.33, M-H, fixed, 95% CI 2.54-34.24; p = 0.008, I2 = 0%) and a higher rate of sludge formation (RR 2.47, M-H, fixed, 95% CI 1.36-4.50; p = 0.003, I2 = 0%). Our meta-analysis indicates that there is no significant difference in primary stent patency and stent dysfunction between CSEMSs and UCSEMSs during the period from primary stent insertion to primary stent dysfunction or patient death. However, when taking further management for occluded stents into consideration, CSEMSs is a better choice for patients with malignant biliary obstruction due to their removability.

Factors that influence parental decisions to participate in clinical research: consenters vs nonconsenters.

PubMed

Hoberman, Alejandro; Shaikh, Nader; Bhatnagar, Sonika; Haralam, Mary Ann; Kearney, Diana H; Colborn, D Kathleen; Kienholz, Michelle L; Wang, Li; Bunker, Clareann H; Keren, Ron; Carpenter, Myra A; Greenfield, Saul P; Pohl, Hans G; Mathews, Ranjiv; Moxey-Mims, Marva; Chesney, Russell W

2013-06-01

A child's health, positive perceptions of the research team and consent process, and altruistic motives play significant roles in the decision-making process for parents who consent for their child to enroll in clinical research. This study identified that nonconsenting parents were better educated, had private insurance, showed lower levels of altruism, and less understanding of study design. To determine the factors associated with parental consent for their child's participation in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Cross-sectional survey conducted from July 2008 to May 2011. The survey was an ancillary study to the Randomized Intervention for Children with VesicoUreteral Reflux Study. Seven children's hospitals participating in a randomized trial evaluating management of children with vesicoureteral reflux. Parents asked to provide consent for their child's participation in the randomized trial were invited to complete an anonymous online survey about factors influencing their decision. A total of 120 of the 271 (44%) invited completed the survey; 58 of 125 (46%) who had provided consent and 62 of 144 (43%) who had declined consent completed the survey. A 60-question survey examining child, parent, and study characteristics; parental perception of the study; understanding of the design; external influences; and decision-making process. RESULTS Having graduated from college and private health insurance were associated with a lower likelihood of providing consent. Parents who perceived the trial as having a low degree of risk, resulting in greater benefit to their child and other children, causing little interference with standard care, or exhibiting potential for enhanced care, or who perceived the researcher as professional were significantly more likely to consent to participate. Higher levels of understanding of the randomization process, blinding, and right to withdraw were significantly positively associated with consent to participate. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Parents who declined consent had a relatively higher socioeconomic status, had more anxiety about their decision, and found it harder to make their decision compared with consenting parents, who had higher levels of trust and altruism, perceived the potential for enhanced care, reflected better understanding of randomization, and exhibited low decisional uncertainty. Consideration of the factors included in the conceptual model should enhance the quality of the informed consent process and improve participation in pediatric clinical trials.

Fundamental Considerations for Determining Cost Information in Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Association of College and University Business Officers, Washington, DC.

Costing has been recognized by business, financial, and other administrators in higher education as a valuable management tool. A growing interest in the determination of costs and their use revealed a lack of uniformity in cost definitions and cost determination methods and approaches in a language that was readily applicable to higher education.…

The New Independent Higher Education Institutions in China: Dilemmas and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Luxi; Adamson, Bob

2011-01-01

One impact of globalisation has been the expansion of higher education to meet changing current socio-economic and political requirements. This expansion places considerable stress on the public purse and many states have turned to alternative solutions. In China, a new phenomenon has emerged: independent higher education institutions that…

Assessment of the Higher Education Needs of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties (SIS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2006

2006-01-01

This report contains the Higher Education Coordinating Board's (HECB) assessment of the higher education needs in Snohomish, Skagit, and Island (SIS) Counties, and its recommendations to the legislature regarding those needs. The report contains two sections. Section I provides: (1) Primary conclusions and related considerations derived from the…

Alternative Providers of Higher Education: Issues for Policymakers. HEPI Report 90

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fielden, John; Middlehurst, Robin

2017-01-01

In this HEPI paper, two authors with considerable expertise in evaluating higher education systems around the world assess higher education institutions that are not funded directly by taxpayers--known in the UK as alternative providers. Since the start of the century, alternative providers have been growing rapidly. This raises a number of…

Analysing a "Neoliberal Moment" in English Higher Education Today

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Canaan, Joyce E.

2010-01-01

English higher education, like other parts of the public sector and higher education in other countries, is currently undergoing considerable change as it is being restructured as if it were a market in which universities, departments and academics compete against one another. This restructuring is producing new processes of subjectivity that…

The Government-Higher Education Institution Relationship: Theoretical Considerations from the Perspective of Agency Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kivisto, Jussi

2005-01-01

This article introduces the agency theory to the field of higher education research. By applying agency theory to the inter-organisational relationship between government and higher education institutions, it is possible to illustrate general problems facing control and governance in a more theoretical and analytical way. The conceptual arsenal…

Teacher Learning in the Workplace: A Study of the Relationship between a Novice EFL Teacher's Classroom Practices and Cognition Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kang, Yan; Cheng, Xiaotang

2014-01-01

This article reports on an in-depth case study of a novice middle school EFL teacher's cognition development during the process of learning to teach in the workplace. Data was collected mainly through classroom observations and interviews. Results indicate that the teacher exhibited a considerable amount of change in her classroom practices, which…

Understory plant diversity in riparian alder-conifer stands after logging in southeast Alaska.

Treesearch

Robert L. Deal

1997-01-01

Stand structure, tree height growth, and understory plant diversity were assessed in five mixed alder-conifer stands after logging in southeast Alaska. Tree species composition ranged from 7- to 91-percent alder, and basal area ranged from 30 to 55 m2/ha. The alder exhibited rapid early height growth, but recent growth has slowed considerably. Some conifers have...

Computational evidence for stable inorganic fullerene-like structures of ceramic and semiconductor materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Ch; Patzer, A. B. C.; Sedlmayr, E.; Steinke, T.; Sülzle, D.

2001-12-01

Theoretical electronic structure techniques have become an indispensible and powerful means for predicting molecular properties and designing new materials. Based on a density functional approach and guided by geometric considerations we provide evidence for some specific inorganic fullerene-like cage molecules of ceramic and semiconductor materials which exhibit high energetic stability and point group symmetry as well as nearly perfect spherical shape.

A 576-year Weber River streamflow reconstruction from tree rings for water resource risk assessment in the Wasatch Front, Utah

Treesearch

Matthew F. Bekker; R. Justin DeRose; Brendan M. Buckley; Roger K. Kjelgren; Nathan S. Gill

2014-01-01

We present a 576-year tree-ring-based reconstruction of streamflow for northern Utah's Weber River that exhibits considerable interannual and decadal-scale variability. While the 20th Century instrumental period includes several extreme individual dry years, it was the century with the fewest such years of the entire reconstruction. Extended droughts were more...

Lunar base agriculture: Soils for plant growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ming, Douglas W. (Editor); Henninger, Donald L. (Editor)

1989-01-01

This work provides information on research and experimentation concerning various aspects of food production in space and particularly on the moon. Options for human settlement of the moon and Mars and strategies for a lunar base are discussed. The lunar environment, including the mineralogical and chemical properties of lunar regolith are investigated and chemical and physical considerations for a lunar-derived soil are considered. It is noted that biological considerations for such a soil include controlled-environment crop production, both hydroponic and lunar regolith-based; microorganisms and the growth of higher plants in lunar-derived soils; and the role of microbes to condition lunar regolith for plant cultivation. Current research in the controlled ecological life support system (CELSS) project is presented in detail and future research areas, such as the growth of higher research plants in CELSS are considered. Optimum plant and microbiological considerations for lunar derived soils are examined.

Reduced brain resting-state network specificity in infants compared with adults.

PubMed

Wylie, Korey P; Rojas, Donald C; Ross, Randal G; Hunter, Sharon K; Maharajh, Keeran; Cornier, Marc-Andre; Tregellas, Jason R

2014-01-01

Infant resting-state networks do not exhibit the same connectivity patterns as those of young children and adults. Current theories of brain development emphasize developmental progression in regional and network specialization. We compared infant and adult functional connectivity, predicting that infants would exhibit less regional specificity and greater internetwork communication compared with adults. Functional magnetic resonance imaging at rest was acquired in 12 healthy, term infants and 17 adults. Resting-state networks were extracted, using independent components analysis, and the resulting components were then compared between the adult and infant groups. Adults exhibited stronger connectivity in the posterior cingulate cortex node of the default mode network, but infants had higher connectivity in medial prefrontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex than adults. Adult connectivity was typically higher than infant connectivity within structures previously associated with the various networks, whereas infant connectivity was frequently higher outside of these structures. Internetwork communication was significantly higher in infants than in adults. We interpret these findings as consistent with evidence suggesting that resting-state network development is associated with increasing spatial specificity, possibly reflecting the corresponding functional specialization of regions and their interconnections through experience.

Local Bonding Influence on the Band Edge and Band Gap Formation in Quaternary Chalcopyrites.

PubMed

Miglio, Anna; Heinrich, Christophe P; Tremel, Wolfgang; Hautier, Geoffroy; Zeier, Wolfgang G

2017-09-01

Quaternary chalcopyrites have shown to exhibit tunable band gaps with changing anion composition. Inspired by these observations, the underlying structural and electronic considerations are investigated using a combination of experimentally obtained structural data, molecular orbital considerations, and density functional theory. Within the solid solution Cu 2 ZnGeS 4- x Se x , the anion bond alteration parameter changes, showing larger bond lengths for metal-selenium than for metal-sulfur bonds. The changing bonding interaction directly influences the valence and conduction band edges, which result from antibonding Cu-anion and Ge-anion interactions, respectively. The knowledge of the underlying bonding interactions at the band edges can help design properties of these quaternary chalcopyrites for photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications.

Advances in the biological effects of terahertz wave radiation.

PubMed

Zhao, Li; Hao, Yan-Hui; Peng, Rui-Yun

2014-01-01

The terahertz (THz) band lies between microwave and infrared rays in wavelength and consists of non-ionizing radiation. Both domestic and foreign research institutions, including the army, have attached considerable importance to the research and development of THz technology because this radiation exhibits both photon-like and electron-like properties, which grant it considerable application value and potential. With the rapid development of THz technology and related applications, studies of the biological effects of THz radiation have become a major focus in the field of life sciences. Research in this field has only just begun, both at home and abroad. In this paper, research progress with respect to THz radiation, including its biological effects, mechanisms and methods of protection, will be reviewed.

Bat noseleaf model: echolocation function, design considerations, and experimental verification.

PubMed

Kuc, Roman

2011-05-01

This paper describes a possible bat noseleaf echolocation function that improves target elevation resolution. Bats with a protruding noseleaf can rotate the lancet to act as an acoustic mirror that reflects the nostril emission, modeled as a virtual nostril that produces a delayed emission. The cancellation of the nostril and virtual nostril components at a target produces a sharp spectral notch whose frequency location relates to target elevation. This notch can be observed directly from the swept-frequency emission waveform, suggesting cochlear processing capabilities. Physical acoustic principles indicate the design considerations and trade-offs that a bat can accomplish through noseleaf shape and emission characteristics. An experimental model verifies the analysis and exhibits an elevation versus notch frequency sensitivity of approximately 1°/kHz.

Corrosion inhibitors for water-base slurry in multiblade sawing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, C. P.; Odonnell, T. P.

1982-01-01

The use of a water-base slurry instead of the standard PC oil vehicle was proposed for multiblade sawing (MBS) silicon wafering technology. Potential cost savings were considerable; however, significant failures of high-carbon steel blades were observed in limited tests using a water-based slurry during silicon wafering. Failures were attributed to stress corrosion. A specially designed fatigue test of 1095 steel blades in distilled water with various corrosion inhibitor solutions was used to determine the feasibility of using corrosion inhibitors in water-base MBS wafering. Fatigue tests indicate that several corrosion inhibitors have significant potential for use in a water-base MBS operation. Blade samples tested in these specific corrosion-inhibitor solutions exhibited considerably greater lifetime than those blades tested in PC oil.

Organizational Effectiveness in Higher Education: Faculty Informal Structure as Social Capital

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dose, Jennifer J.

2012-01-01

Higher education institutions encounter complex external environments, requiring increasing responsiveness and innovation. Research on social capital has demonstrated that highly connected employee relational networks are more creative, effective, and exhibit higher member satisfaction. The present study examines one college to demonstrate how…

Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, John B.

1983-01-01

Reviews the process of reauthorizing the Higher Education Act for postsecondary education, beginning with hearings and program reviews. Discusses issues such as political considerations, program simplification, awarding excellence, and availability of information. Pressure groups and budget factors also influence the outcome of the legislative…

Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon-glass ceramic cathodes for solid-state lithium-oxygen batteries.

PubMed

Kichambare, Padmakar; Rodrigues, Stanley; Kumar, Jitendra

2012-01-01

The composite of nitrogen-doped carbon (N-C) blend with lithium aluminum germanium phosphate (LAGP) was studied as cathode material in a solid-state lithium-oxygen cell. Composite electrodes exhibit high electrochemical activity toward oxygen reduction. Compared to the cell capacity of N-C blend cathode, N-C/LAGP composite cathode exhibits six times higher discharge cell capacity. A significant enhancement in cell capacity is attributed to higher electrocatalytic activity and fast lithium ion conduction ability of LAGP in the cathode. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Photobactericidal activity of methylene blue derivatives against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp.

PubMed

Wainwright, M; Phoenix, D A; Gaskell, M; Marshall, B

1999-12-01

The toxicities and phototoxicities of methylene blue and its two methylated derivatives were measured against one standard and three vancomycin-resistant pathogenic strains of Enterococcus spp. Each of the compounds was bactericidal and the derivatives exhibited photobactericidal activity on illumination at a 'light' dose of 6.3 J/cm(2) against one or more of the strains. Increased bactericidal and photobactericidal activity in the methylated derivatives is thought to be due to their higher hydrophobicities allowing greater interaction with the bacterial cell wall. In addition, the derivatives exhibited higher inherent photosensitizing efficacies.

Homing pigeons (Columba livia) modulate wingbeat characteristics as a function of route familiarity.

PubMed

Taylor, Lucy A; Portugal, Steven J; Biro, Dora

2017-08-15

Mechanisms of avian navigation have received considerable attention, but whether different navigational strategies are accompanied by different flight characteristics is unknown. Managing energy expenditure is critical for survival; therefore, understanding how flight characteristics, and hence energy allocation, potentially change with birds' familiarity with a navigational task could provide key insights into the costs of orientation. We addressed this question by examining changes in the wingbeat characteristics and airspeed of homing pigeons ( Columba livia ) as they learned a homing task. Twenty-one pigeons were released 20 times individually either 3.85 or 7.06 km from home. Birds were equipped with 5 Hz GPS trackers and 200 Hz tri-axial accelerometers. We found that, as the birds' route efficiency increased during the first six releases, their median peak-to-peak dorsal body (DB) acceleration and median DB amplitude also increased. This, in turn, led to higher airspeeds, suggesting that birds fly slower when traversing unfamiliar terrain. By contrast, after route efficiency stabilised, birds exhibited increasing wingbeat frequencies, which did not result in further increases in speed. Overall, higher wind support was also associated with lower wingbeat frequencies and increased DB amplitude. Our study suggests that the cost of early flights from an unfamiliar location may be higher than subsequent flights because of both inefficient routes (increased distance) and lower airspeeds (increased time). Furthermore, the results indicate, for the first time, that birds modulate their wingbeat characteristics as a function of navigational knowledge, and suggest that flight characteristics may be used as 'signatures' of birds' route familiarity. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Nucleotides and nucleosides in ovine and caprine milk during lactation.

PubMed

Plakantara, S; Michaelidou, A-M; Polychroniadou, A; Menexes, G; Alichanidis, E

2010-06-01

The aim of this study was to determine the nucleoside and nucleotide content in ovine and caprine milks at the colostral, transitional, and mature stages of lactation. Samples from 18 dairy sheep and 18 dairy goats were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 15 d postpartum. Separation and quantitation of the 5'-nucleotides (NT) and the nucleosides (NS) was performed by reverse phase HPLC. For each compound measured, considerable interindividual variation was recorded in both species of milk. The total NS content ranged from 57 to 132 micromol/L and from 54 to 119 micromol/L in ovine and caprine milk, respectively. The major NS identified in both species of milk was uridine, representing more than 60% of the total NS pool. The mean levels of inosine and guanosine were comparable between ewe and goat milk. Instead, the mean level of cytidine across the sampling period was much higher in ewe milk (11.9 micromol/L compared with 4.5 micromol/L in goat milk) and exhibited a peak value on the fourth day of lactation. The adenosine content was at least 3-fold higher in caprine milk compared with its ovine counterpart. The total NS and orotic acid contents did not differ significantly between the 2 species. However, in the case of total NT content, interspecies differences were significant, with NT levels ranging from 294 to 441 micromol/L in ovine milk and from 166 to 366 micromol/L in caprine milk. The NT content in colostrum (1-3 d) of both species was higher than in mature milk (15 d), and uridine monophosphate was the dominant NT in all samples. 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The role of sexual selection and conflict in mediating among-population variation in mating strategies and sexually dimorphic traits in Sepsis punctum.

PubMed

Dmitriew, Caitlin; Blanckenhorn, Wolf U

2012-01-01

The black scavenger fly Sepsis punctum exhibits striking among-population variation in the direction and magnitude of sexual size dimorphism, modification to the male forelimb and pre-copulatory behaviour. In some populations, male-biased sexual size dimorphism is observed; in other, less dimorphic, populations males court prior to mating. Such variation in reproductive traits is of interest to evolutionary biologists because it has the potential to limit gene flow among populations, contributing to speciation. Here, we investigate whether large male body size and modified forefemur are associated with higher male mating success within populations, whether these traits are associated with higher mating success among populations, and if these traits carry viability costs that could constrain their response to sexual selection. Flies from five distinct populations were reared at high or low food, generating high and low quality males. The expression of body size, forelimb morphology and courtship rate were each greater at high food, but high food males experienced higher mating success or reduced latency to first copulation in only one of the populations. Among populations, overall mating success increased with the degree of male-bias in overall body size and forelimb modification, suggesting that these traits have evolved as a means of increasing male mating rate. The increased mating success observed in large-male populations raises the question of why variation in magnitude of dimorphism persists among populations. One reason may be that costs of producing a large size constrain the evolution of ever-larger males. We found no evidence that juvenile mortality under food stress was greater for large-male populations, but development time was considerably longer and may represent an important constraint in an ephemeral and competitive growth environment.

Fixed-bed adsorption study of methylene blue onto pyrolytic tire char

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makrigianni, Vassiliki; Giannakas, Aris; Papadaki, Maria; Albanis, Triantafyllos; Konstantinou, Ioannis

2016-04-01

In this work, the adsorption efficiency of acid treated pyrolytic tire char to cationic methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption from aqueous solutions was investigated by fixed-bed adsorption column experiments. The effects of the initial dye concentration (10 - 40 mg L-1) and feed flow rate (50 - 150 mL min -1) with a fixed bed height (15 cm) were studied in order to determine the breakthrough characteristics of the adsorption system. The Adams-Bohart, Yoon-Nelson and Thomas model were applied to the adsorption of MB onto char at different operational conditions to predict the breakthrough curves and to determine the characteristic parameters of the column. The results showed that the maximum adsorbed quantities decreased with increasing flow rate and increased with increasing initial MB concentration. Breakthrough time and exhaustion time increased with decreasing inlet dye concentration and flow rate. In contrast with Adams-Bohart model, Yoon-Nelson model followed by Thomas model were found more suitable to describe the fixed-bed adsorption of methylene blue by char. The correlation coefficient values R2 for both models at different operating conditions are higher than 0.9 and the low average relative error values provided very good fittings of experimental data at different operating conditions. Higher adsorption capacity of 3.85 mg g -1 was obtained at 15 cm of adsorbent bed height, flow rate of 100 mL min -1and initial MB concentration of 40 mg L-1. Although that activated carbons exhibited higher adsorption capacities in the literature, acid-treated pyrolytic tire char was found to be considerably efficient adsorbent for the removal of MB dye column taking into account the advantages of the simpler production process compared to activated carbons, as well as, the availability of waste tire feedstock and concurrent waste tire management.

A linear-dendritic cationic vector for efficient DNA grasp and delivery.

PubMed

Yang, Bin; Sun, Yun-xia; Yi, Wen-jie; Yang, Juan; Liu, Chen-wei; Cheng, Han; Feng, Jun; Zhang, Xian-zheng; Zhuo, Ren-xi

2012-07-01

This paper presents an attempt to design an efficient and biocompatible cationic gene vector via structural optimization that favors the efficient utilization of amine groups for DNA condensation. To this end, a linear-dendritic block copolymer of methoxyl-poly(ethylene glycol)-dendritic polyglycerol-graft-tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (mPEG-DPG-g-TAEA) was prepared with specially designed multiple functions including strong DNA affinity, endosomal buffering and expected serum-tolerance. Based on the transfection in serum-free and serum-conditioned media, the influences of the polymer structures including the degree of polymerization of DPG and TAEA substitution degree were explored. As compared to polyethylenimine (M(w)=5 kDa) (PEI5k) with similar molecular weight and higher amine density, mPEG-DPG-g-TAEA displayed comparably high DNA affinity due to the special linear-dendritic architecture. Consequently, at very low N/P ratio, mPEG-DPG-g-TAEA vectors could mediate efficient in vitro luciferase expression at levels that are comparable with or even superior to the commercially available Lipofectamine™ 2000, while being apparently higher than PEI5k. The designed vectors exhibit considerably higher cell biocompatibility and better resistance against bovine serum albumin adsorption than PEI5k. The stability of the complexes on coincubation with heparin was found to be largely dependent on the polymer structure. As concluded from the comparative transfection study in the absence/presence of chloroquine, it is likely that the polycation itself could produce endosomal buffering. This linear-dendritic vector shows promising potential for the application of gene delivery. Copyright © 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of lateral size and thickness on the electronic structure and optical properties of quasi two-dimensional CdSe and CdS nanoplatelets

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

Bose, Sumanta; Fan, W. J., E-mail: ewjfan@ntu.edu.sg; Zhang, D. H.

2016-04-14

The effect of lateral size and vertical thickness of CdSe and CdS nanoplatelets (NPLs) on their electronic structure and optical properties are investigated using an effective-mass envelope function theory based on the 8-band k ⋅ p model with valence force field considerations. Volumetrically larger NPLs have lower photon emission energy due to limited quantum confinement, but a greater transition matrix element (TME) due to larger electron-hole wavefunction overlap. The optical gain characteristics depend on several factors such as TME, Fermi factor, carrier density, NPL dimensions, material composition, and dephasing rate. There is a red shift in the peak position, moremore » so with an increase in thickness than lateral size. For an increasing carrier density, the gain spectrum undergoes a slight blue shift due to band filling effect. For a fixed carrier density, the Fermi factor is higher for volumetrically larger NPLs and so is the difference between the quasi-Fermi level separation and the effective bandgap. The transparency injection carrier density (and thus input current density threshold) is dimension dependent and falls for volumetrically larger NPLs, as they can attain the requisite exciton count for transparency with a relatively lower density. Between CdSe and CdS, CdSe has lower emission energy due to smaller bandgap, but a higher TME due to lower effective mass. CdS, however, has a higher so hole contribution due to a lower spin-orbit splitting energy. Both CdSe and CdS NPLs are suitable candidates for short-wavelength LEDs and lasers in the visible spectrum, but CdSe is expected to exhibit better optical performance.« less

Gender Differences in Self-Conscious Emotions and Motivation to Quit Gambling.

PubMed

Kushnir, Vladyslav; Godinho, Alexandra; Hodgins, David C; Hendershot, Christian S; Cunningham, John A

2016-09-01

Considerable gender differences have been previously noted in the prevalence, etiology, and clinical features of problem gambling. While differences in affective states between men and women in particular, may explain differential experiences in the process of gambling, the role of affect in motivations for quitting gambling and recovery has not been thoroughly explored. The aim of this study was to examine gender differences within a sample of problem gamblers motivated to quit with or without formal treatment, and further, to explore the interactions between gender, shame and guilt-proneness, and autonomous versus controlled reasons for change. Motivation for change and self-conscious emotional traits were analyzed for 207 adult problem gamblers with an interest in quitting or reducing their gambling (96.6 % not receiving treatment). Overall, gender differences were not observed in clinical and demographic characteristics. However, women exhibited greater shame [F(1,204) = 12.11, p = 0.001] and guilt proneness [F(1,204) = 14.16, p < 0.001] compared to men, whereas men scored higher on trait detachment [F(1,204) = 7.08, p = 0.008]. Controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, general linear models revealed that autonomous motivation for change was associated with higher guilt-proneness, greater problem gambling severity, and the preparation stage of change; whereas controlled forms of motivation were significantly associated with higher shame-proneness and greater problem gambling severity. No gender effects were observed for either motivation for change. These findings suggest that the process of change can be different for shame-prone and guilt-prone problem gamblers, which may impact behavioral outcomes.

Analytical ultracentrifugation with fluorescence detection system reveals differences in complex formation between recombinant human TNF and different biological TNF antagonists in various environments

PubMed Central

Krayukhina, Elena; Noda, Masanori; Ishii, Kentaro; Maruno, Takahiro; Wakabayashi, Hirotsugu; Tada, Minoru; Suzuki, Takuo; Ishii-Watabe, Akiko; Kato, Masahiko; Uchiyama, Susumu

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT A number of studies have attempted to elucidate the binding mechanism between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and clinically relevant antagonists. None of these studies, however, have been conducted as close as possible to physiologic conditions, and so the relationship between the size distribution of TNF-antagonist complexes and the antagonists' biological activity or adverse effects remains elusive. Here, we characterized the binding stoichiometry and sizes of soluble TNF-antagonist complexes for adalimumab, infliximab, and etanercept that were formed in human serum and in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Fluorescence-detected sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation analyses revealed that adalimumab and infliximab formed a range of complexes with TNF, with the major complexes consisting of 3 molcules of the respective antagonist and one or 2 molcules of TNF. Considerably greater amounts of high-molecular-weight complexes were detected for infliximab in human serum. The emergence of peaks with higher sedimentation coefficients than the adalimumab monomer as a function of added human serum albumin (HSA) concentration in PBS suggested weak reversible interactions between HSA and immunoglobulins. Etanerept exclusively formed 1:1 complexes with TNF in PBS, and a small amount of complexes with higher stoichiometry was detected in human serum. Consistent with these biophysical characterizations, a reporter assay showed that adalimumab and infliximab, but not etanercept, exerted FcγRIIa- and FcγRIIIa-mediated cell signaling in the presence of TNF and that infliximab exhibited higher potency than adalimumab. This study shows that assessing distribution profiles in serum will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the in vivo behavior of therapeutic proteins. PMID:28387583

Hydrocarbons and heavy metals in fine particulates in oil field air: possible impacts on production of natural silk.

PubMed

Devi, Gitumani; Devi, Arundhuti; Bhattacharyya, Krishna Gopal

2016-02-01

Analyses of fine particulates (PM2.5) from the upper Assam oil fields of India indicated considerable presence of higher hydrocarbons (C22-C35) and heavy metals, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. This has raised serious concern for the sustainability of the exotic Muga (Antheraea assama) silk production, which has been a prime activity of a large number of people living in the area. The Muga worm feeds on the leaves of Machilus bombycina plant, and the impacts of air quality on its survival were further investigated by analyzing the leaves of the plant, the plantation soil, and the Muga cocoons. PM2.5 content in the air was much more during the winter due to near calm conditions and high humidity. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis of PM2.5 showed the presence of higher alkanes (C22-C35) that could be traced to crude oil. Cr, Ni, and Zn were found in higher concentrations in PM2.5, M. bombycina leaves, and the plantation soil indicating a common origin. The winter has been the best period for production of the silk cocoons, and the unhealthy air during this period is likely to affect the production, which is already reflected in the declining yield of Muga cocoons from the area. SEM and protein analyses of the Muga silk fiber produced in the oil field area have exhibited the deteriorating quality of the silk. This is the first report from India on hydrocarbons and associated metals in PM2.5 collected from an oil field and on their possible effects on production of silk by A. assama.

Influence of porosity and groundmass crystallinity on dome rock strength: a case study from Mt. Taranaki, New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zorn, Edgar U.; Rowe, Michael C.; Cronin, Shane J.; Ryan, Amy G.; Kennedy, Lori A.; Russell, James K.

2018-04-01

Lava domes pose a significant hazard to infrastructure, human lives and the environment when they collapse. Their stability is partly dictated by internal mechanical properties. Here, we present a detailed investigation into the lithology and composition of a < 250-year-old lava dome exposed at the summit of Mt. Taranaki in the western North Island of New Zealand. We also examined samples from 400 to 600-year-old block-and-ash flow deposits, formed by the collapse of earlier, short-lived domes extruded at the same vent. Rocks with variable porosity and groundmass crystallinity were compared using measured compressive and tensile strength, derived from deformation experiments performed at room temperature and low (3 MPa) confining pressures. Based on data obtained, porosity exerts the main control on rock strength and mode of failure. High porosity (> 23%) rocks show low rock strength (< 41 MPa) and dominantly ductile failure, whereas lower porosity rocks (5-23%) exhibit higher measured rock strengths (up to 278 MPa) and brittle failure. Groundmass crystallinity, porosity and rock strength are intercorrelated. High groundmass crystal content is inversely related to low porosity, implying crystallisation and degassing of a slowly undercooled magma that experienced rheological stiffening under high pressures deeper within the conduit. This is linked to a slow magma ascent rate and results in a lava dome with higher rock strength. Samples with low groundmass crystallinity are associated with higher porosity and lower rock strength, and represent magma that ascended more rapidly, with faster undercooling, and solidification in the upper conduit at low pressures. Our experimental results show that the inherent strength of rocks within a growing dome may vary considerably depending on ascent/emplacement rates, thus significantly affecting dome stability and collapse hazards.

Exospheric hydrogen above St-Santin /France/

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Derieux, A.; Lejeune, G.; Bauer, P.

1975-01-01

The temperature and hydrogen concentration of the exosphere was determined using incoherent scatter measurements performed above St. Santin from 1969 to 1972. The hydrogen concentration was deduced from measurements of the number density of positive hydrogen and oxygen ions. A statistical analysis is given of the hydrogen concentration as a function of the exospheric temperature and the diurnal variation of the hydrogen concentration is investigated for a few selected days of good quality observation. The data averaged with respect to the exospheric temperature without consideration of the local time exhibits a distribution consistent with a constant effective Jeans escape flux of about 9 x 10 to the 7 cu cm/s. The local time variation exhibits a maximum to minimum concentration ratio of at least 3.5.

Unraveling the nature of electric field- and stress- induced structural transformations in soft PZT by a new powder poling technique.

PubMed

Kalyani, Ajay Kumar; V, Lalitha K; James, Ajit R; Fitch, Andy; Ranjan, Rajeev

2015-02-25

A 'powder-poling' technique was developed to study electric field induced structural transformations in ferroelectrics exhibiting a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). The technique was employed on soft PZT exhibiting a large longitudinal piezoelectric response (d(33) ∼ 650 pC N(-1)). It was found that electric poling brings about a considerable degree of irreversible tetragonal to monoclinic transformation. The same transformation was achieved after subjecting the specimen to mechanical stress, which suggests an equivalence of stress and electric field with regard to the structural mechanism in MPB compositions. The electric field induced structural transformation was also found to be accompanied by a decrease in the spatial coherence of polarization.

The Impact of Digital Games on Student Persistence and Retention in an Online Higher Education Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Case, Randall E.

2013-01-01

Enrollment in online higher education programs has been climbing for the past decade but research suggests that online courses exhibit significantly higher attrition rates than their face-to-face counterparts. Consequently, while significantly more students are enrolling in higher education programs, far too few are graduating. Self-determination…

Wilderness in Higher Education: Considerations for Educating Professionals for the Next 50 Years

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taff, Derrick; Dvorak, Robert G.; Dawson, Chad P.; McCool, Stephen F.; Appel, Peter A.

2016-01-01

Over the past 50 years, an evolution has occurred in the instruction of wilderness professionals and practitioners within the higher education realm. The National Wilderness Conference, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, provided a timely opportunity to discuss the current and future role of higher education and wilderness…

Total Quality Management and the Higher Education Environment: Impact on Educational Leadership Theory and Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Munoz, Marco A.

This paper explores Total Quality Management (TQM) as an organizational theory applied to educational administration of higher education. The first part of the paper describes the principles of TQM, and the second part considers TQM in higher education. The third section is a general conclusion that takes into consideration the leadership…

Widening Equity and Retaining Efficiency: Considerations from the IBSA Southern Coalface

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akoojee, Salim; Nkomo, Mokubung

2011-01-01

Access to higher education is a key challenge of the 21st century state. The link between higher education and personal and socio-economic development has intensified the need for ensuring that greater numbers of citizens have expanded access to and have been provided with quality higher education. The article seeks to explore how initiatives for…

State Legislative Developments on Campus Sexual Violence: Issues in the Context of Safety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morse, Andrew; Sponsler, Brian A.; Fulton, Mary

2015-01-01

NASPA--Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and Education Commission of the States (ECS) have partnered to address legislative developments and offer considerations for leaders in higher education and policy on two top-level safety issues facing the higher education community: campus sexual violence and guns on campus. The first in a…

Profiling Approaches to Teaching in Higher Education: A Cluster-Analytic Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stes, Ann; Van Petegem, Peter

2014-01-01

Teaching approaches in higher education have already been the subject of a considerable body of research. An important contribution was Prosser and Trigwell's development of the Approaches to Teaching Inventory (ATI). The present study aims to map out the approaches to teaching profiles of teachers in higher education on the basis of their scores…

"Modern" Governance and Codes of Conduct in Dutch Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Boer, Harry; Goedegebuure, Leo

2007-01-01

As one of the first countries in Europe to do so, The Netherlands moved towards a new relationship between the state and the higher education institutions in the mid-1980s. Autonomy, quality and accountability were key considerations in this move. In 2006 the Dutch government proposed another radical innovation in its approach to higher education…

Characterizing the Motivational Orientation of Students in Higher Education: A Naturalistic Study in Three Hong Kong Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kember, David; Hong, Celina; Ho, Amber

2008-01-01

Background: Consideration of motivation in higher education has often been drawn upon theories and research that were based upon school or workplace studies. Aims: This paper reports an open naturalistic study to better characterize the motivational orientation of students in higher education. Method: Open semi-structured individual interviews…

Reconsidering the Social and Economic Purposes of Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McArthur, Jan

2011-01-01

In this article I seek to reconsider the social and economic purposes of higher education. It begins with the premise that there appears to be a general trend towards governments positioning higher education primarily in terms of the economic role that it can fulfil. Such a trend, however, has attracted considerable criticism. In this article I…