A High-Order Finite Spectral Volume Method for Conservation Laws on Unstructured Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Z. J.; Liu, Yen; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

A time accurate, high-order, conservative, yet efficient method named Finite Spectral Volume (FSV) is developed for conservation laws on unstructured grids. The concept of a 'spectral volume' is introduced to achieve high-order accuracy in an efficient manner similar to spectral element and multi-domain spectral methods. In addition, each spectral volume is further sub-divided into control volumes (CVs), and cell-averaged data from these control volumes is used to reconstruct a high-order approximation in the spectral volume. Riemann solvers are used to compute the fluxes at spectral volume boundaries. Then cell-averaged state variables in the control volumes are updated independently. Furthermore, TVD (Total Variation Diminishing) and TVB (Total Variation Bounded) limiters are introduced in the FSV method to remove/reduce spurious oscillations near discontinuities. A very desirable feature of the FSV method is that the reconstruction is carried out only once, and analytically, and is the same for all cells of the same type, and that the reconstruction stencil is always non-singular, in contrast to the memory and CPU-intensive reconstruction in a high-order finite volume (FV) method. Discussions are made concerning why the FSV method is significantly more efficient than high-order finite volume and the Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods. Fundamental properties of the FSV method are studied and high-order accuracy is demonstrated for several model problems with and without discontinuities.

Extended bounds limiter for high-order finite-volume schemes on unstructured meshes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsoutsanis, Panagiotis

2018-06-01

This paper explores the impact of the definition of the bounds of the limiter proposed by Michalak and Ollivier-Gooch in [56] (2009), for higher-order Monotone-Upstream Central Scheme for Conservation Laws (MUSCL) numerical schemes on unstructured meshes in the finite-volume (FV) framework. A new modification of the limiter is proposed where the bounds are redefined by utilising all the spatial information provided by all the elements in the reconstruction stencil. Numerical results obtained on smooth and discontinuous test problems of the Euler equations on unstructured meshes, highlight that the newly proposed extended bounds limiter exhibits superior performance in terms of accuracy and mesh sensitivity compared to the cell-based or vertex-based bounds implementations.

Magnetic Resonance Venous Volume Measurements in Peripheral Artery Disease (from ELIMIT).

PubMed

Kamran, Hassan; Nambi, Vijay; Negi, Smita; Yang, Eric Y; Chen, Changyi; Virani, Salim S; Kougias, Panos; Lumsden, Alan B; Morrisett, Joel D; Ballantyne, Christie M; Brunner, Gerd

2016-11-01

The relation between the arterial and venous systems in patients with impaired lower extremity blood flow remains poorly described. The objective of this secondary analysis of the Effectiveness of Intensive Lipid Modification Medication in Preventing the Progression on Peripheral Artery Disease Trial was to determine the association between femoral vein (FV) volumes and measurements of peripheral artery disease. FV wall, lumen, and total volumes were quantified with fast spin-echo proton density-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans in 79 patients with peripheral artery disease over 2 years. Reproducibility was excellent for FV total vessel (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.924, confidence interval 0.910 to 0.935) and lumen volumes (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.893, confidence interval 0.873 to 0.910). Baseline superficial femoral artery volumes were directly associated with FV wall (r = 0.46, p <0.0001), lumen (r = 0.42, p = 0.0001), and total volumes (r = 0.46, p <0.0001). The 2-year change in maximum walking time was inversely associated with the 24-month change in FV total volume (r = -0.45, p = 0.03). In conclusion, FV volumes can be measured reliably with fast spin-echo proton density-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and baseline superficial femoral artery plaque burden is positively associated with FV volumes, whereas the 2-year change in FV volumes and leg function show an inverse relation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Prototype Nonhydrostatic Regional-to-Global Nested-Grid Atmosphere Model for Medium-range Weather Forecasting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, L.; Lin, S. J.; Zhou, L.; Chen, J. H.; Benson, R.; Rees, S.

2016-12-01

Limited-area convection-permitting models have proven useful for short-range NWP, but are unable to interact with the larger scales needed for longer lead-time skill. A new global forecast model, fvGFS, has been designed combining a modern nonhydrostatic dynamical core, the GFDL Finite-Volume Cubed-Sphere dynamical core (FV3) with operational GFS physics and initial conditions, and has been shown to provide excellent global skill while improving representation of small-scale phenomena. The nested-grid capability of FV3 allows us to build a regional-to-global variable-resolution model to efficiently refine to 3-km grid spacing over the Continental US. The use of two-way grid nesting allows us to reach these resolutions very efficiently, with the operational requirement easily attainable on current supercomputing systems.Even without a boundary-layer or advanced microphysical scheme appropriate for convection-perrmitting resolutions, the effectiveness of fvGFS can be demonstrated for a variety of weather events. We demonstrate successful proof-of-concept simulations of a variety of phenomena. We show the capability to develop intense hurricanes with realistic fine-scale eyewalls and rainbands. The new model also produces skillful predictions of severe weather outbreaks and of organized mesoscale convective systems. Fine-scale orographic and boundary-layer phenomena are also simulated with excellent fidelity by fvGFS. Further expected improvements are discussed, including the introduction of more sophisticated microphysics and of scale-aware convection schemes.

Evaluation of Tropical Transport in a Global Chemistry and Transport Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Douglass, Anne R.; DaSilva, A. M.; Lin, S.-J.; Pawson, S.; Rood, R. B.; Bhartia, P. K. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Observations of constituents from satellite, aircraft and sondes can be utilized to develop diagnostics of various aspects of tropical transport. These include tropical mid-latitude isolation, the seasonal transport from the upper tropical troposphere to the mid-latitude lowermost stratosphere, the seasonal cycle of the tropical total ozone and its variability. These diagnostics will be applied to constituent fields from an off-line chemistry and transport model (CTM) driven by winds from two sources. These are the Finite Volume Community Climate Model (FV-CCM), a general circulation model that uses the NCAR CCM physics and the Lin and Rood dynamical core, and an assimilation system developed by the Data Assimilation Office at the Goddard Space Flight Center that uses the FV-CCM at its core. Signatures of the quasi-biennial oscillation present in the observations will be emphasized to understand differences between the two model transports and the transport inferred from the observations.

Discretization and Preconditioning Algorithms for the Euler and Navier-Stokes Equations on Unstructured Meshes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barth, Timothy J.; Kutler, Paul (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

Several stabilized demoralization procedures for conservation law equations on triangulated domains will be considered. Specifically, numerical schemes based on upwind finite volume, fluctuation splitting, Galerkin least-squares, and space discontinuous Galerkin demoralization will be considered in detail. A standard energy analysis for several of these methods will be given via entropy symmetrization. Next, we will present some relatively new theoretical results concerning congruence relationships for left or right symmetrized equations. These results suggest new variants of existing FV, DG, GLS, and FS methods which are computationally more efficient while retaining the pleasant theoretical properties achieved by entropy symmetrization. In addition, the task of Jacobean linearization of these schemes for use in Newton's method is greatly simplified owing to exploitation of exact symmetries which exist in the system. The FV, FS and DG schemes also permit discrete maximum principle analysis and enforcement which greatly adds to the robustness of the methods. Discrete maximum principle theory will be presented for general finite volume approximations on unstructured meshes. Next, we consider embedding these nonlinear space discretizations into exact and inexact Newton solvers which are preconditioned using a nonoverlapping (Schur complement) domain decomposition technique. Elements of nonoverlapping domain decomposition for elliptic problems will be reviewed followed by the present extension to hyperbolic and elliptic-hyperbolic problems. Other issues of practical relevance such the meshing of geometries, code implementation, turbulence modeling, global convergence, etc, will. be addressed as needed.

Coupled SPH-FV method with net vorticity and mass transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiron, L.; Marrone, S.; Di Mascio, A.; Le Touzé, D.

2018-07-01

Recently, an algorithm for coupling a Finite Volume (FV) method, that discretize the Navier-Stokes equations on block structured Eulerian grids, with the weakly-compressible Lagrangian Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) was presented in [16]. The algorithm takes advantage of the SPH method to discretize flow regions close to free-surfaces and of the FV method to resolve the bulk flow and the wall regions. The continuity between the two solutions is guaranteed by overlapping zones. Here we extend the algorithm by adding the possibility to have: 1) net mass transfer between the SPH and FV sub-domains; 2) free-surface across the overlapping region. In this context, particle generation at common boundaries is required to prevent depletion or clustering of particles. This operation is not trivial, because consistency between the Lagrangian and Eulerian description of the flow must be retained to ensure mass conservation. We propose here a new coupling paradigm that extends the algorithm developed in [16] and renders it suitable to test cases where vorticity and free surface significantly pass from one domain to the other. On the SPH side, a novel technique for the creation/deletion of particle was developed. On the FV side, the information recovered from the SPH solver are exploited to improve free surface prediction in a fashion that resemble the Particle Level-Set algorithms. The combination of the two new features was tested and validated in a number of test cases where both vorticity and front evolution are important. Convergence and robustness of the algorithm are shown.

Assessment and monitoring of flow limitation and other parameters from flow/volume loops.

PubMed

Dueck, R

2000-01-01

Flow/volume (F/V) spirometry is routinely used for assessing the type and severity of lung disease. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and timed vital capacity (FEV1) provide the best estimates of airflow obstruction in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema. Computerized spirometers are now available for early home recognition of asthma exacerbation in high risk patients with severe persistent disease, and for recognition of either infection or rejection in lung transplant patients. Patients with severe COPD may exhibit expiratory flow limitation (EFL) on tidal volume (VT) expiratory F/V (VTF/V) curves, either with or without applying negative expiratory pressure (NEP). EFL results in dynamic hyperinflation and persistently raised alveolar pressure or intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi). Hyperinflation and raised PEEPi greatly enhance dyspnea with exertion through the added work of the threshold load needed to overcome raised pleural pressure. Esophageal (pleural) pressure monitoring may be added to VTF/V loops for assessing the severity of PEEPi: 1) to optimize assisted ventilation by mask or via endotracheal tube with high inspiratory flow rates to lower I:E ratio, and 2) to assess the efficacy of either pressure support ventilation (PSV) or low level extrinsic PEEP in reducing the threshold load of PEEPi. Intraoperative tidal volume F/V loops can also be used to document the efficacy of emphysema lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) via disappearance of EFL. Finally, the mechanism of ventilatory constraint can be identified with the use of exercise tidal volume F/V loops referenced to maximum F/V loops and static lung volumes. Patients with severe COPD show inspiratory F/V loops approaching 95% of total lung capacity, and flow limitation over the entire expiratory F/V curve during light levels of exercise. Surprisingly, patients with a history of congestive heart failure may lower lung volume towards residual volume during exercise, thereby reducing airway diameter and inducing expiratory flow limitation.

A projection hybrid high order finite volume/finite element method for incompressible turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Busto, S.; Ferrín, J. L.; Toro, E. F.; Vázquez-Cendón, M. E.

2018-01-01

In this paper the projection hybrid FV/FE method presented in [1] is extended to account for species transport equations. Furthermore, turbulent regimes are also considered thanks to the k-ε model. Regarding the transport diffusion stage new schemes of high order of accuracy are developed. The CVC Kolgan-type scheme and ADER methodology are extended to 3D. The latter is modified in order to profit from the dual mesh employed by the projection algorithm and the derivatives involved in the diffusion term are discretized using a Galerkin approach. The accuracy and stability analysis of the new method are carried out for the advection-diffusion-reaction equation. Within the projection stage the pressure correction is computed by a piecewise linear finite element method. Numerical results are presented, aimed at verifying the formal order of accuracy of the scheme and to assess the performance of the method on several realistic test problems.

An implicit numerical model for multicomponent compressible two-phase flow in porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zidane, Ali; Firoozabadi, Abbas

2015-11-01

We introduce a new implicit approach to model multicomponent compressible two-phase flow in porous media with species transfer between the phases. In the implicit discretization of the species transport equation in our formulation we calculate for the first time the derivative of the molar concentration of component i in phase α (cα, i) with respect to the total molar concentration (ci) under the conditions of a constant volume V and temperature T. The species transport equation is discretized by the finite volume (FV) method. The fluxes are calculated based on powerful features of the mixed finite element (MFE) method which provides the pressure at grid-cell interfaces in addition to the pressure at the grid-cell center. The efficiency of the proposed model is demonstrated by comparing our results with three existing implicit compositional models. Our algorithm has low numerical dispersion despite the fact it is based on first-order space discretization. The proposed algorithm is very robust.

The NASA-Goddard Multi-Scale Modeling Framework - Land Information System: Global Land/atmosphere Interaction with Resolved Convection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mohr, Karen Irene; Tao, Wei-Kuo; Chern, Jiun-Dar; Kumar, Sujay V.; Peters-Lidard, Christa D.

2013-01-01

The present generation of general circulation models (GCM) use parameterized cumulus schemes and run at hydrostatic grid resolutions. To improve the representation of cloud-scale moist processes and landeatmosphere interactions, a global, Multi-scale Modeling Framework (MMF) coupled to the Land Information System (LIS) has been developed at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center. The MMFeLIS has three components, a finite-volume (fv) GCM (Goddard Earth Observing System Ver. 4, GEOS-4), a 2D cloud-resolving model (Goddard Cumulus Ensemble, GCE), and the LIS, representing the large-scale atmospheric circulation, cloud processes, and land surface processes, respectively. The non-hydrostatic GCE model replaces the single-column cumulus parameterization of fvGCM. The model grid is composed of an array of fvGCM gridcells each with a series of embedded GCE models. A horizontal coupling strategy, GCE4fvGCM4Coupler4LIS, offered significant computational efficiency, with the scalability and I/O capabilities of LIS permitting landeatmosphere interactions at cloud-scale. Global simulations of 2007e2008 and comparisons to observations and reanalysis products were conducted. Using two different versions of the same land surface model but the same initial conditions, divergence in regional, synoptic-scale surface pressure patterns emerged within two weeks. The sensitivity of largescale circulations to land surface model physics revealed significant functional value to using a scalable, multi-model land surface modeling system in global weather and climate prediction.

Evaluation of Stratospheric Transport in New 3D Models Using the Global Modeling Initiative Grading Criteria

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Strahan, Susan E.; Douglass, Anne R.; Einaudi, Franco (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) Team developed objective criteria for model evaluation in order to identify the best representation of the stratosphere. This work created a method to quantitatively and objectively discriminate between different models. In the original GMI study, 3 different meteorological data sets were used to run an offline chemistry and transport model (CTM). Observationally-based grading criteria were derived and applied to these simulations and various aspects of stratospheric transport were evaluated; grades were assigned. Here we report on the application of the GMI evaluation criteria to CTM simulations integrated with a new assimilated wind data set and a new general circulation model (GCM) wind data set. The Finite Volume Community Climate Model (FV-CCM) is a new GCM developed at Goddard which uses the NCAR CCM physics and the Lin and Rood advection scheme. The FV-Data Assimilation System (FV-DAS) is a new data assimilation system which uses the FV-CCM as its core model. One year CTM simulations of 2.5 degrees longitude by 2 degrees latitude resolution were run for each wind data set. We present the evaluation of temperature and annual transport cycles in the lower and middle stratosphere in the two new CTM simulations. We include an evaluation of high latitude transport which was not part of the original GMI criteria. Grades for the new simulations will be compared with those assigned during the original GMT evaluations and areas of improvement will be identified.

Fruits and vegetables displace, but do not decrease, total energy in school lunches.

PubMed

Bontrager Yoder, Andrea B; Schoeller, Dale A

2014-08-01

The high overweight and obesity prevalence among US children is a well-established public health concern. Diet is known to play a causal role in obesity. Increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption to recommended levels is proposed to help reduce obesity, because their bulk and low energy density are believed to reduce energy-dense food consumption (volume displacement hypothesis). This study tests this hypothesis at the lunch meal among upper-elementary students participating in a Farm to School (F2S) program. Digital photographs of students' school lunch trays were visually analyzed to identify the food items and amounts that were present and consumed before and after the meal. Using the USDA Nutrient Database, total and FV-only energy were calculated for each tray. Analysis of total- and non-FV energy intake was performed according to (1) levels of FV energy intake, (2) FV energy density, and (3) previous years of Farm to School programming. Higher intake of FV energy displaced non-FV energy, but total energy did not decrease across FV energy intake groups. High-FV-energy-density trays showed lower non-FV energy intake than low-FV-energy-density trays (470±179 vs. 534±219 kcal; p<0.0001). Trays from schools with more previous years of F2S programming decreased total and non-FV energy intake from school lunches (p for trend<0.0001, both). Increased FV consumption reduces non-FV energy intake, but does not reduce total energy intake. Therefore, this study does not support the volume displacement hypothesis and suggests calorie displacement instead.

Improving NASA's Multiscale Modeling Framework for Tropical Cyclone Climate Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shen, Bo-Wen; Nelson, Bron; Cheung, Samson; Tao, Wei-Kuo

2013-01-01

One of the current challenges in tropical cyclone (TC) research is how to improve our understanding of TC interannual variability and the impact of climate change on TCs. Recent advances in global modeling, visualization, and supercomputing technologies at NASA show potential for such studies. In this article, the authors discuss recent scalability improvement to the multiscale modeling framework (MMF) that makes it feasible to perform long-term TC-resolving simulations. The MMF consists of the finite-volume general circulation model (fvGCM), supplemented by a copy of the Goddard cumulus ensemble model (GCE) at each of the fvGCM grid points, giving 13,104 GCE copies. The original fvGCM implementation has a 1D data decomposition; the revised MMF implementation retains the 1D decomposition for most of the code, but uses a 2D decomposition for the massive copies of GCEs. Because the vast majority of computation time in the MMF is spent computing the GCEs, this approach can achieve excellent speedup without incurring the cost of modifying the entire code. Intelligent process mapping allows differing numbers of processes to be assigned to each domain for load balancing. The revised parallel implementation shows highly promising scalability, obtaining a nearly 80-fold speedup by increasing the number of cores from 30 to 3,335.

Fruits and Vegetables Displace, But Do Not Decrease, Total Energy in School Lunches

PubMed Central

Schoeller, Dale A.

2014-01-01

Abstract Background: The high overweight and obesity prevalence among US children is a well-established public health concern. Diet is known to play a causal role in obesity. Increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption to recommended levels is proposed to help reduce obesity, because their bulk and low energy density are believed to reduce energy-dense food consumption (volume displacement hypothesis). This study tests this hypothesis at the lunch meal among upper-elementary students participating in a Farm to School (F2S) program. Methods: Digital photographs of students' school lunch trays were visually analyzed to identify the food items and amounts that were present and consumed before and after the meal. Using the USDA Nutrient Database, total and FV-only energy were calculated for each tray. Analysis of total- and non-FV energy intake was performed according to (1) levels of FV energy intake, (2) FV energy density, and (3) previous years of Farm to School programming. Results: Higher intake of FV energy displaced non-FV energy, but total energy did not decrease across FV energy intake groups. High-FV-energy-density trays showed lower non-FV energy intake than low-FV-energy-density trays (470±179 vs. 534±219 kcal; p<0.0001). Trays from schools with more previous years of F2S programming decreased total and non-FV energy intake from school lunches (p for trend<0.0001, both). Conclusions: Increased FV consumption reduces non-FV energy intake, but does not reduce total energy intake. Therefore, this study does not support the volume displacement hypothesis and suggests calorie displacement instead. PMID:24988122

Clinical utility of balloon expulsion test for functional defecation disorders

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Purpose I investigated the diagnostic accuracy of balloon expulsion test (BET) with various techniques to find out the most appropriate method, and tried to confirm its clinical utility in diagnosing functional defecation disorders (FDD) in constipated patients. Methods Eighty-seven patients constituted the study population. FDD was defined when patients had at least two positive findings in defecography, manometry, and electromyography. BET was done 4 times in each patient with 2 different positions and 2 different volumes. The positions were seated position (SP) and left lateral decubitus position (LDP). The volumes were fixed volume (FV) of 60 mL and individualized volume with which patient felt a constant desire to defecate (CDV). The results of BETs with 4 different settings (LDP-FV, LDP-CDV, SP-FV, and SP-CDV) were statistically compared and analyzed. Results Of 87 patients, 23 patients (26.4%) had at least two positive findings in 3 tests and thus were diagnosed to have FDD. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, area under curve was highest in BET with SP-FV. With a cutoff value of 30 seconds, the specificity of BET with SP-FV was 86.0%, sensitivity was 73.9%, negative predictive value was 89.8%, positive predictive value was 65.4%, and accuracy rate was 82.8% for diagnosing FDD. Conclusion SP-FV is the most appropriate method for BET. In this setting, BET has a diagnostic accuracy sufficient to identify constipated patients who do not have FDD. Patients with negative results in BET with SP-FV may not need other onerous tests to exclude FDD. PMID:26878016

Clinical utility of balloon expulsion test for functional defecation disorders.

PubMed

Seong, Moo-Kyung

2016-02-01

I investigated the diagnostic accuracy of balloon expulsion test (BET) with various techniques to find out the most appropriate method, and tried to confirm its clinical utility in diagnosing functional defecation disorders (FDD) in constipated patients. Eighty-seven patients constituted the study population. FDD was defined when patients had at least two positive findings in defecography, manometry, and electromyography. BET was done 4 times in each patient with 2 different positions and 2 different volumes. The positions were seated position (SP) and left lateral decubitus position (LDP). The volumes were fixed volume (FV) of 60 mL and individualized volume with which patient felt a constant desire to defecate (CDV). The results of BETs with 4 different settings (LDP-FV, LDP-CDV, SP-FV, and SP-CDV) were statistically compared and analyzed. Of 87 patients, 23 patients (26.4%) had at least two positive findings in 3 tests and thus were diagnosed to have FDD. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, area under curve was highest in BET with SP-FV. With a cutoff value of 30 seconds, the specificity of BET with SP-FV was 86.0%, sensitivity was 73.9%, negative predictive value was 89.8%, positive predictive value was 65.4%, and accuracy rate was 82.8% for diagnosing FDD. SP-FV is the most appropriate method for BET. In this setting, BET has a diagnostic accuracy sufficient to identify constipated patients who do not have FDD. Patients with negative results in BET with SP-FV may not need other onerous tests to exclude FDD.

Hybrid finite-volume/transported PDF method for the simulation of turbulent reactive flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raman, Venkatramanan

A novel computational scheme is formulated for simulating turbulent reactive flows in complex geometries with detailed chemical kinetics. A Probability Density Function (PDF) based method that handles the scalar transport equation is coupled with an existing Finite Volume (FV) Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) flow solver. The PDF formulation leads to closed chemical source terms and facilitates the use of detailed chemical mechanisms without approximations. The particle-based PDF scheme is modified to handle complex geometries and grid structures. Grid-independent particle evolution schemes that scale linearly with the problem size are implemented in the Monte-Carlo PDF solver. A novel algorithm, in situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) is employed to ensure tractability of complex chemistry involving a multitude of species. Several non-reacting test cases are performed to ascertain the efficiency and accuracy of the method. Simulation results from a turbulent jet-diffusion flame case are compared against experimental data. The effect of micromixing model, turbulence model and reaction scheme on flame predictions are discussed extensively. Finally, the method is used to analyze the Dow Chlorination Reactor. Detailed kinetics involving 37 species and 158 reactions as well as a reduced form with 16 species and 21 reactions are used. The effect of inlet configuration on reactor behavior and product distribution is analyzed. Plant-scale reactors exhibit quenching phenomena that cannot be reproduced by conventional simulation methods. The FV-PDF method predicts quenching accurately and provides insight into the dynamics of the reactor near extinction. The accuracy of the fractional time-stepping technique in discussed in the context of apparent multiple-steady states observed in a non-premixed feed configuration of the chlorination reactor.

Hybrid simulation combining two space-time discretization of the discrete-velocity Boltzmann equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horstmann, Jan Tobias; Le Garrec, Thomas; Mincu, Daniel-Ciprian; Lévêque, Emmanuel

2017-11-01

Despite the efficiency and low dissipation of the stream-collide scheme of the discrete-velocity Boltzmann equation, which is nowadays implemented in many lattice Boltzmann solvers, a major drawback exists over alternative discretization schemes, i.e. finite-volume or finite-difference, that is the limitation to Cartesian uniform grids. In this paper, an algorithm is presented that combines the positive features of each scheme in a hybrid lattice Boltzmann method. In particular, the node-based streaming of the distribution functions is coupled with a second-order finite-volume discretization of the advection term of the Boltzmann equation under the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook approximation. The algorithm is established on a multi-domain configuration, with the individual schemes being solved on separate sub-domains and connected by an overlapping interface of at least 2 grid cells. A critical parameter in the coupling is the CFL number equal to unity, which is imposed by the stream-collide algorithm. Nevertheless, a semi-implicit treatment of the collision term in the finite-volume formulation allows us to obtain a stable solution for this condition. The algorithm is validated in the scope of three different test cases on a 2D periodic mesh. It is shown that the accuracy of the combined discretization schemes agrees with the order of each separate scheme involved. The overall numerical error of the hybrid algorithm in the macroscopic quantities is contained between the error of the two individual algorithms. Finally, we demonstrate how such a coupling can be used to adapt to anisotropic flows with some gradual mesh refinement in the FV domain.

Changes in the Flow-Volume Curve According to the Degree of Stenosis in Patients With Unilateral Main Bronchial Stenosis

PubMed Central

Yoo, Jung-Geun; Yi, Chin A; Lee, Kyung Soo; Jeon, Kyeongman; Um, Sang-Won; Koh, Won-Jung; Suh, Gee Young; Chung, Man Pyo; Kwon, O Jung

2015-01-01

Objectives The shape of the flow-volume (F-V) curve is known to change to showing a prominent plateau as stenosis progresses in patients with tracheal stenosis. However, no study has evaluated changes in the F-V curve according to the degree of bronchial stenosis in patients with unilateral main bronchial stenosis. Methods We performed an analysis of F-V curves in 29 patients with unilateral bronchial stenosis with the aid of a graphic digitizer between January 2005 and December 2011. Results The primary diseases causing unilateral main bronchial stenosis were endobronchial tuberculosis (86%), followed by benign bronchial tumor (10%), and carcinoid (3%). All unilateral main bronchial stenoses were classified into one of five grades (I, ≤25%; II, 26%-50%; III, 51%-75%; IV, 76%-90%; V, >90% to near-complete obstruction without ipsilateral lung collapse). A monophasic F-V curve was observed in patients with grade I stenosis and biphasic curves were observed for grade II-IV stenosis. Both monophasic (81%) and biphasic shapes (18%) were observed in grade V stenosis. After standardization of the biphasic shape of the F-V curve, the breakpoints of the biphasic curve moved in the direction of high volume (x-axis) and low flow (y-axis) according to the progression of stenosis. Conclusion In unilateral bronchial stenosis, a biphasic F-V curve appeared when bronchial stenosis was >25% and disappeared when obstruction was near complete. In addition, the breakpoint moved in the direction of high volume and low flow with the progression of stenosis. PMID:26045916

Climate Simulations with an Isentropic Finite Volume Dynamical Core

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

Chen, Chih-Chieh; Rasch, Philip J.

2012-04-15

This paper discusses the impact of changing the vertical coordinate from a hybrid pressure to a hybrid-isentropic coordinate within the finite volume dynamical core of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM). Results from a 20-year climate simulation using the new model coordinate configuration are compared to control simulations produced by the Eulerian spectral and FV dynamical cores of CAM which both use a pressure-based ({sigma}-p) coordinate. The same physical parameterization package is employed in all three dynamical cores. The isentropic modeling framework significantly alters the simulated climatology and has several desirable features. The revised model produces a better representation of heatmore » transport processes in the atmosphere leading to much improved atmospheric temperatures. We show that the isentropic model is very effective in reducing the long standing cold temperature bias in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, a deficiency shared among most climate models. The warmer upper troposphere and stratosphere seen in the isentropic model reduces the global coverage of high clouds which is in better agreement with observations. The isentropic model also shows improvements in the simulated wintertime mean sea-level pressure field in the northern hemisphere.« less

Relationship between the changes in blood flow and volume in the finger during a Braille character discrimination task.

PubMed

Murata, J; Murata, S; Soma, M; Nakae, H; Sato, Y; Kogo, H; Umeki, N

2017-11-01

We hypothesized that skin blood flow (SBF) of fingers are modulated during concentrated finger perception and that the changes in SBF reflect fluctuations in finger volume (FV). The aim of this study, therefore, was examine the relationship between the changes in SBF and FV during Braille reading. We measured SBF of the finger, cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), FV, and arterial blood pressure during Braille reading performed under blind conditions in thirty healthy subjects. The subjects were instructed to read a flat plate with raised letters (Braille reading) for 15 seconds using their forefinger, and to touch a blank plate as a control for the Braille discrimination procedure. Arterial blood pressure slightly increased during Braille reading but remained unchanged during the touching of the blank plate. SBF, CVC, and FV were reduced during Braille reading (decreased by -26%, -29%, and -0.3 mL/100 mL respectively). Furthermore, a significant relationship was observed between the changes in SBF and FV (r=.613) during Braille reading. These results suggested that SBF of fingers is modulated during concentrated finger perception, and that the variability of blood flow reflects the response in FV. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Towards a unified Global Weather-Climate Prediction System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, S. J.

2016-12-01

The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory has been developing a unified regional-global modeling system with variable resolution capabilities that can be used for severe weather predictions and kilometer scale regional climate simulations within a unified global modeling system. The foundation of this flexible modeling system is the nonhydrostatic Finite-Volume Dynamical Core on the Cubed-Sphere (FV3). A unique aspect of FV3 is that it is "vertically Lagrangian" (Lin 2004), essentially reducing the equation sets to two dimensions, and is the single most important reason why FV3 outperforms other non-hydrostatic cores. Owning to its accuracy, adaptability, and computational efficiency, the FV3 has been selected as the "engine" for NOAA's Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS). We have built into the modeling system a stretched grid, a two-way regional-global nested grid, and an optimal combination of the stretched and two-way nests capability, making kilometer-scale regional simulations within a global modeling system feasible. Our main scientific goal is to enable simulations of high impact weather phenomena (such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, category-5 hurricanes) within an IPCC-class climate modeling system previously regarded as impossible. In this presentation I will demonstrate that, with the FV3, it is computationally feasible to simulate not only super-cell thunderstorms, but also the subsequent genesis of tornado-like vortices using a global model that was originally designed for climate simulations. The development and tuning strategy between traditional weather and climate models are fundamentally different due to different metrics. We were able to adapt and use traditional "climate" metrics or standards, such as angular momentum conservation, energy conservation, and flux balance at top of the atmosphere, and gain insight into problems of traditional weather prediction model for medium-range weather prediction, and vice versa. Therefore, the unification in weather and climate models can happen not just at the algorithm or parameterization level, but also in the metric and tuning strategy used for both applications, and ultimately, with benefits to both weather and climate applications.

Progressive disease in glioblastoma: Benefits and limitations of semi-automated volumetry

PubMed Central

Alber, Georgina; Bette, Stefanie; Kaesmacher, Johannes; Boeckh-Behrens, Tobias; Gempt, Jens; Ringel, Florian; Specht, Hanno M.; Meyer, Bernhard; Zimmer, Claus

2017-01-01

Purpose Unambiguous evaluation of glioblastoma (GB) progression is crucial, both for clinical trials as well as day by day routine management of GB patients. 3D-volumetry in the follow-up of GB provides quantitative data on tumor extent and growth, and therefore has the potential to facilitate objective disease assessment. The present study investigated the utility of absolute changes in volume (delta) or regional, segmentation-based subtractions for detecting disease progression in longitudinal MRI follow-ups. Methods 165 high resolution 3-Tesla MRIs of 30 GB patients (23m, mean age 60.2y) were retrospectively included in this single center study. Contrast enhancement (CV) and tumor-related signal alterations in FLAIR images (FV) were semi-automatically segmented. Delta volume (dCV, dFV) and regional subtractions (sCV, sFV) were calculated. Disease progression was classified for every follow-up according to histopathologic results, decisions of the local multidisciplinary CNS tumor board and a consensus rating of the neuro-radiologic report. Results A generalized logistic mixed model for disease progression (yes / no) with dCV, dFV, sCV and sFV as input variables revealed that only dCV was significantly associated with prediction of disease progression (P = .005). Delta volume had a better accuracy than regional, segmentation-based subtractions (79% versus 72%) and a higher area under the curve by trend in ROC curves (.83 versus .75). Conclusion Absolute volume changes of the contrast enhancing tumor part were the most accurate volumetric determinant to detect progressive disease in assessment of GB and outweighed FLAIR changes as well as regional, segmentation-based image subtractions. This parameter might be useful in upcoming objective response criteria for glioblastoma. PMID:28245291

Vegetable and fruit juice enhances antioxidant capacity and regulates antioxidant gene expression in rat liver, brain and colon

PubMed Central

Yuan, Linhong; Liu, Jinmeng; Zhen, Jie; Xu, Yao; Chen, Shuying; Halm-Lutterodt, Nicholas Van; Xiao, Rong

2017-01-01

Abstract To explore the effect of fruit and vegetable (FV) juice on biomarkers of oxidative damage and antioxidant gene expression in rats, 36 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, low FV juice dosage or high FV juice dosage treatment groups. The rats were given freshly extracted FV juice or the same volume of saline water daily for five weeks. After intervention, serum and tissues specimens were collected for biomarker and gene expression measurement. FV juice intervention increased total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, vitamin C, β-carotene, total polyphenols, flavonoids levels andglutathione peroxidaseenzyme activity in rat serum or tissues (p < 0.05). FV juice intervention caused reduction of malondialdehyde levels in rat liver (p < 0.05) and significantly modulated transcript levels of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase l (NQO1)in rat liver and brain (p < 0.05). The results underline the potential of FV juice to improve the antioxidant capacity and to prevent the oxidative damage in liver, brain and colon. PMID:28323302

Anomalies of the Asian Monsoon Induced by Aerosol Forcings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lau, William K. M.; Kim, M. K.

2004-01-01

Impacts of aerosols on the Asian summer monsoon are studied using the NASA finite volume General Circulation Model (fvGCM), with radiative forcing derived from three-dimensional distributions of five aerosol species i.e., black carbon, organic carbon, soil dust, and sea salt from the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport Model (GOCART). Results show that absorbing aerosols, i.e., black carbon and dust, induce large-scale upper-level heating anomaly over the Tibetan Plateau in April and May, ushering in & early onset of the Indian summer monsoon. Absorbing aerosols also I i enhance lower-level heating and anomalous ascent over northern India, intensifying the Indian monsoon. Overall, the aerosol-induced large-scale surface' temperature cooling leads to a reduction of monsoon rainfall over the East Asia continent, and adjacent oceanic regions.

Analysis and Forecast of Two Storms Characterized by Extreme Deepening Rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reale, Oreste; Riishojgaard, Lars Peter

2003-01-01

Between 25 and 27 December 1999 two very intense cyclones, named Lothar and Martin, swept across northern and western France causing substantial life and property loss. In this work, the finite volume general circulation model and data assimilation system (fvDAS) developed at the Data Assimilation Office of the NASA Goddard Space and Flight Center is being used to investigate these storms. In the first part of this article the dynamics of the storms is analyzed, and some important mechanisms are unveiled. The second part describes a set of eleven data assimilation experiments to study the impact of different data types on the automated analyses. Cloud-track winds provided by EUMETSAT and surface winds from QuikSCAT are being used. These data are assimilated with a range of different parameter settings of the forecast error covariance model. The results show that generally the additional wind data set have positive impacts on the analyses: particularly, the analysis of Lothar can be slightly improved by using the Eumetsat winds, and the analysis of Martin can be strongly improved by using the full-resolution QuikSCAT winds with a more localized influence. The third part of this article is focused on the forecast of Lothar which is very well predicted in the 1-5 day range by the fvDAS system.

Effect of Taxane-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Fibroglandular Tissue Volume and Percent Breast Density in the Contralateral Normal Breast: Evaluated at 3T MR

PubMed Central

Chen, Jeon-Hor; Pan, Wei-Fan; Kao, Julian; Lu, Jocelyn; Chen, Li-Kuang; Kuo, Chih-Chen; Chang, Chih-Kai; Chen, Wen-Pin; McLaren, Christine E.; Bahri, Shadfar; Mehta, Rita S.; Su, Min-Ying

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the change of breast density in the normal breast of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Forty-four breast cancer patients were studied. MRI acquisition was performed before treatment (baseline), and 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. A computer algorithm-based program was used to segment breast tissue and calculate breast volume (BV), fibroglandular tissue volume (FV) and percent density (PD) (the ratio of FV over BV x100%). The reduction of FV and PD after treatment was compared to baseline using paired t-tests with a Bonferroni-Holm correction. The association of density reduction with age was analyzed. FV and PD after NAC showed significant decreases compared to the baseline. FV was 110.0ml (67.2, 189.8) (geometric mean (interquartile range)) at baseline, 104.3ml (66.6, 164.4) after 4 weeks (p< 0.0001), and 94.7ml (60.2, 144.4) after 12 weeks (comparison to baseline, p<0.0001; comparison to 4 weeks, p=0.016). PD was 11.2% (6.4, 22.4) at baseline, 10.6% (6.6, 20.3) after 4 weeks (p< 0.0001), and 9.7% (6.2, 17.9) after 12 weeks (comparison to baseline, p=0.0001; comparison to 4 weeks, p =0.018). Younger patients tended to show a higher density reduction, but overall correlation with age was only moderate (r=0.28 for FV, p=0.07 and r=0.52 for PD, p=0.0003). Our study showed that breast density measured from MR images acquired at 3T MR can be accurately quantified using a robust computer-aided algorithm based on nonparametric nonuniformity normalization (N3) and an adaptive fuzzy C-means algorithm. Similar to doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide regimens, the taxane-based NAC regimen also caused density atrophy in the normal breast and showed reduction in FV and PD. The effect of breast density reduction was age-related and duration-related. PMID:23940080

Three-dimensional forward modeling and inversion of marine CSEM data in anisotropic conductivity structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, B.; Li, Y.

2016-12-01

We present a three-dimensional (3D) forward and inverse modeling code for marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys in anisotropic media. The forward solution is based on a primary/secondary field approach, in which secondary fields are solved using a staggered finite-volume (FV) method and primary fields are solved for 1D isotropic background models analytically. It is shown that it is rather straightforward to extend the isotopic 3D FV algorithm to a triaxial anisotropic one, while additional coefficients are required to account for full tensor conductivity. To solve the linear system resulting from FV discretization of Maxwell' s equations, both iterative Krylov solvers (e.g. BiCGSTAB) and direct solvers (e.g. MUMPS) have been implemented, makes the code flexible for different computing platforms and different problems. For iterative soloutions, the linear system in terms of electromagnetic potentials (A-Phi) is used to precondition the original linear system, transforming the discretized Curl-Curl equations to discretized Laplace-like equations, thus much more favorable numerical properties can be obtained. Numerical experiments suggest that this A-Phi preconditioner can dramatically improve the convergence rate of an iterative solver and high accuracy can be achieved without divergence correction even for low frequencies. To efficiently calculate the sensitivities, i.e. the derivatives of CSEM data with respect to tensor conductivity, the adjoint method is employed. For inverse modeling, triaxial anisotropy is taken into account. Since the number of model parameters to be resolved of triaxial anisotropic medias is twice or thrice that of isotropic medias, the data-space version of the Gauss-Newton (GN) minimization method is preferred due to its lower computational cost compared with the traditional model-space GN method. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the code with synthetic examples.

The Impact of Different Complexity on Numerical Weather Predictions within the Coupled Global Online Modeling System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, L.; Grell, G. A.; McKeen, S. A.; Ahmadov, R.

2017-12-01

The global Flow-following finite-volume Icosahedra Model (FIM), which was developed in the Global Systems Division of NOAA/ESRL and the Finite-volume cubed-sphere dynamical core (FV3) developed by GFDL, have been coupled online with aerosol and gas-phase chemistry schemes (FIM-Chem and FV3-Chem). Within the aerosol and chemistry modules, the models handle wet and dry deposition, chemical reactions, aerosol direct and semi-direct effect, anthropogenic emissions, biogenic emissions, biomass burning, dust and sea-salt emissions. They are able to provide chemical weather predictions at various spatial resolutions and with different levels of complexity. FIM-Chem is also able to quantify the impact of aerosol on numerical weather predictions (NWP). Currently, three different chemical schemes have been coupled with the FIM model. The simplest aerosol modules are from the GOCART model with its simplified parameterization of sulfur/sulfate chemistry. The photochemical gas-phase mechanism RACM was included to determine the impact of additional complexity on the aerosol and gas simulations. We have also implemented a more sophisticated aerosol scheme that includes secondary organic aerosols (SOA) based on the VBS approach. The model performance has been evaluated by comparing with the ATom-1 observations. FIM-Chem is able to reproduce many observed aerosol and gas features very well. A five-day NWP on 120 km horizontal resolution using FIM-Chem has been done for the end of July, 2016 to quantify the impact of the three different chemical schemes on weather forecasts. Compared to a meteorological run that excludes the model chemical schemes, and is driven only by background AODs from the GFS model, the 5-day forecast results shows significant impact on weather predictions when including the prognostic aerosol schemes. This includes convective precipitation, surface temperature, and 700 hPa air temperature. We also use FIM-Chem to investigate the 2012 South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA) campaign period to determine whether more complex chemistry provides benefits for global numerical weather prediction.

Parallelized modelling and solution scheme for hierarchically scaled simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padovan, Joe

1995-01-01

This two-part paper presents the results of a benchmarked analytical-numerical investigation into the operational characteristics of a unified parallel processing strategy for implicit fluid mechanics formulations. This hierarchical poly tree (HPT) strategy is based on multilevel substructural decomposition. The Tree morphology is chosen to minimize memory, communications and computational effort. The methodology is general enough to apply to existing finite difference (FD), finite element (FEM), finite volume (FV) or spectral element (SE) based computer programs without an extensive rewrite of code. In addition to finding large reductions in memory, communications, and computational effort associated with a parallel computing environment, substantial reductions are generated in the sequential mode of application. Such improvements grow with increasing problem size. Along with a theoretical development of general 2-D and 3-D HPT, several techniques for expanding the problem size that the current generation of computers are capable of solving, are presented and discussed. Among these techniques are several interpolative reduction methods. It was found that by combining several of these techniques that a relatively small interpolative reduction resulted in substantial performance gains. Several other unique features/benefits are discussed in this paper. Along with Part 1's theoretical development, Part 2 presents a numerical approach to the HPT along with four prototype CFD applications. These demonstrate the potential of the HPT strategy.

Efficient and robust compositional two-phase reservoir simulation in fractured media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zidane, A.; Firoozabadi, A.

2015-12-01

Compositional and compressible two-phase flow in fractured media has wide applications including CO2 injection. Accurate simulations are currently based on the discrete fracture approach using the cross-flow equilibrium model. In this approach the fractures and a small part of the matrix blocks are combined to form a grid cell. The major drawback is low computational efficiency. In this work we use the discrete-fracture approach to model the fractures where the fracture entities are described explicitly in the computational domain. We use the concept of cross-flow equilibrium in the fractures (FCFE). This allows using large matrix elements in the neighborhood of the fractures. We solve the fracture transport equations implicitly to overcome the Courant-Freidricks-Levy (CFL) condition in the small fracture elements. Our implicit approach is based on calculation of the derivative of the molar concentration of component i in phase (cαi ) with respect to the total molar concentration (ci ) at constant volume V and temperature T. This contributes to significant speed up of the code. The hybrid mixed finite element method (MFE) is used to solve for the velocity in both the matrix and the fractures coupled with the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method to solve the species transport equations in the matrix, and a finite volume (FV) discretization in the fractures. In large scale problems the proposed approach is orders of magnitude faster than the existing models.

Comparing Split and Unsplit Numerical Methods for Simulating Low and High Mach Number Turbulent Flows in Xrage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saenz, Juan; Grinstein, Fernando; Dolence, Joshua; Rauenzahn, Rick; Masser, Thomas; Francois, Marianne; LANL Team

2017-11-01

We report progress in evaluating an unsplit hydrodynamic solver being implemented in the radiation adaptive grid Eulerian (xRAGE) code, and compare to a split scheme. xRage is a Eulerian hydrodynamics code used for implicit large eddy simulations (ILES) of multi-material, multi-physics flows where low and high Mach number (Ma) processes and instabilities interact and co-exist. The hydrodynamic solver in xRAGE uses a directionally split, second order Godunov, finite volume (FV) scheme. However, a standard, unsplit, Godunov-type FV scheme with 2nd and 3rd order reconstruction options, low Ma correction and a variety of Riemann solvers has recently become available. To evaluate the hydrodynamic solvers for turbulent low Ma flows, we use simulations of the Taylor Green Vortex (TGV), where there is a transition to turbulence via vortex stretching and production of small-scale eddies. We also simulate a high-low Ma shock-tube flow, where a shock passing over a perturbed surface generates a baroclinic Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI); after the shock has passed, the turbulence in the accelerated interface region resembles Rayleigh Taylor (RT) instability. We compare turbulence spectra and decay in simulated TGV flows, and we present progress in simulating the high-low Ma RMI-RT flow. LANL is operated by LANS LLC for the U.S. DOE NNSA under Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396.

An efficient numerical model for multicomponent compressible flow in fractured porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zidane, Ali; Firoozabadi, Abbas

2014-12-01

An efficient and accurate numerical model for multicomponent compressible single-phase flow in fractured media is presented. The discrete-fracture approach is used to model the fractures where the fracture entities are described explicitly in the computational domain. We use the concept of cross flow equilibrium in the fractures. This will allow large matrix elements in the neighborhood of the fractures and considerable speed up of the algorithm. We use an implicit finite volume (FV) scheme to solve the species mass balance equation in the fractures. This step avoids the use of Courant-Freidricks-Levy (CFL) condition and contributes to significant speed up of the code. The hybrid mixed finite element method (MFE) is used to solve for the velocity in both the matrix and the fractures coupled with the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method to solve the species transport equations in the matrix. Four numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed model. We show that the combination of the fracture cross-flow equilibrium and the implicit composition calculation in the fractures increase the computational speed 20-130 times in 2D. In 3D, one may expect even a higher computational efficiency.

GCM Simulation of the Large-scale North American Monsoon Including Water Vapor Tracer Diagnostics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bosilovich, Michael G.; Walker, Gregory; Schubert, Siegfried D.; Sud, Yogesh; Atlas, Robert M. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The geographic sources of water for the large-scale North American monsoon in a GCM are diagnosed using passive constituent tracers of regional water'sources (Water Vapor Tracers, WVT). The NASA Data Assimilation Office Finite Volume (FV) GCM was used to produce a 10-year simulation (1984 through 1993) including observed sea surface temperature. Regional and global WVT sources were defined to delineate the surface origin of water for precipitation in and around the North American i'vionsoon. The evolution of the mean annual cycle and the interannual variations of the monsoonal circulation will be discussed. Of special concern are the relative contributions of the local source (precipitation recycling) and remote sources of water vapor to the annual cycle and the interannual variation of warm season precipitation. The relationships between soil water, surface evaporation, precipitation and precipitation recycling will be evaluated.

GCM Simulation of the Large-Scale North American Monsoon Including Water Vapor Tracer Diagnostics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bosilovich, Michael G.; Walker, Gregory; Schubert, Siegfried D.; Sud, Yogesh; Atlas, Robert M. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The geographic sources of water for the large scale North American monsoon in a GCM (General Circulation Model) are diagnosed using passive constituent tracers of regional water sources (Water Vapor Tracers, WVT). The NASA Data Assimilation Office Finite Volume (FV) GCM was used to produce a 10-year simulation (1984 through 1993) including observed sea surface temperature. Regional and global WVT sources were defined to delineate the surface origin of water for precipitation in and around the North American Monsoon. The evolution of the mean annual cycle and the interannual variations of the monsoonal circulation will be discussed. Of special concern are the relative contributions of the local source (precipitation recycling) and remote sources of water vapor to the annual cycle and the interannual variation of monsoonal precipitation. The relationships between soil water, surface evaporation, precipitation and precipitation recycling will be evaluated.

Spin wave propagation in perpendicular magnetized 20 nm Yttrium Iron Garnet with different antenna design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jilei; Stueckler, Tobias; Zhang, Youguang; Zhao, Weisheng; Yu, Haiming; Chang, Houchen; Liu, Tao; Wu, Mingzhong; Liu, Chuanpu; Liao, Zhimin; Yu, Dapeng; Fert Beijing research institute Team; Colorado State University Team; Peking University Collaboration

Magnonics offers a new way to transport information using spin waves free of charge current and could lead to a new paradigm in the area of computing. Forward volume (FV) mode spin wave with perpendicular magnetized configuration is suitable for spin wave logic device because it is free of non-reciprocity effect. Here, we study FV mode spin wave propagation in YIG thin film with an ultra-low damping. We integrated differently designed antenna i.e., coplanar waveguide and micro stripline with different dimensions. The k vectors of the spin waves defined by the design of the antenna are calculated using Fourier transform. We show FV mode spin wave propagation results by measuring S12 parameter from vector network analyzer and we extract the group velocity of the FV mode spin wave as well as its dispersion relations.

Nonlinear Fluid Migration Patterns in Fractured Reservoirs due to Stress-Pressure Coupling induced Changes in Reservoir Permeabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annewandter, R.; Geiger, S.; Main, I. G.

2011-12-01

Sustainable storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) requires a thorough understanding of injection induced pressure build-up and its effects on the storage formation's integrity, since it determines the cap rock's sealing properties as well as the total storable amount of carbon dioxide. Fractures are abundant in the subsurface and difficult to detect due to their subseismic characteristic. If present in the cap during injection, they can be primary pathways for CO2 leakage. The North Sea is considered as Europe's most important carbon dioxide storage area. However, almost all of the potential storage formations have been exposed to post-glacial lithospheric flexure, possibly causing the generation of new fracture networks in the overburden whilst rebounding. Drawing upon, fast carbon dioxide uprise can be facilitated due to opening of fractures caused by changes in the stress field over time. The overall effective permeability, and hence possible leakage rates, of a fractured storage formation is highly sensitive to the fracture aperture which itself depends on the far field and in situ stress field. For this reason, our in-house general purpose reservoir simulator Complex System Modeling Platform (CSMP++) has been expanded, which is particularly designed to simulate multiphase flow on fractured porous media. It combines finite element (FE) and finite volume (FV) methods on mixed-dimensional hybrid-element meshes. The unstructured FE-FV based scheme allows us to model complex geological structures, such as fractures, at great detail. The simulator uses a compositional model for NaCl-H2O-CO2-systems for compressible fluids for computing thermophysical properties as a function of formation pressure and temperature. A fixed stress-split sequential procedure is being used to calculate coupled fluid flow and geomechanics. Numerical proof of concept studies will be presented showing the impact of fracture opening and closure on fluid migration patterns due to coupled stress-pressure induced changes in effective permeabilities.

A comparison of East Asian summer monsoon simulations from CAM3.1 with three dynamic cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Ting; Wang, Lanning; Dong, Wenjie; Dong, Min; Zhang, Jingyong

2011-12-01

This paper examines the sensitivity of CAM3.1 simulations of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) to the choice of dynamic cores using three long-term simulations, one with each of the following cores: the Eulerian spectral transform method (EUL), semi-Lagrangian scheme (SLD) and finite volume approach (FV). Our results indicate that the dynamic cores significantly influence the simulated fields not only through dynamics, such as wind, but also through physical processes, such as precipitation. Generally speaking, SLD is superior to EUL and FV in simulating the climatological features of EASM and its interannual variability. The SLD version of the CAM model partially reduces its known deficiency in simulating the climatological features of East Asian summer precipitation. The strength and position of simulated western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and its ridge line compare more favourably with observations in SLD and FV than in EUL. They contribute to the intensification of the south-easterly along the south of WPSH and the vertical motion through the troposphere around 30° N, where the subtropical rain belt exists. Additionally, SLD simulates the scope of the westerly jet core over East Asia more realistically than the other two dynamic cores do. Considerable systematic errors of the seasonal migration of monsoon rain belt and water vapour flux exist in all of the three versions of CAM3.1 model, although it captures the broad northward shift of convection, and the simulated results share similarities. The interannual variation of EASM is found to be more accurate in SLD simulation, which reasonably reproduces the leading combined patterns of precipitation and 850-hPa winds in East Asia, as well as the 2.5- and 10-year periods of Li-Zeng EASM index. These results emphasise the importance of dynamic cores for the EASM simulation as distinct from the simulation's sensitivity to the physical parameterisations.

A decision tree algorithm for investigation of model biases related to dynamical cores and physical parameterizations: CESM/CAM EVALUATION BY DECISION TREES

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

Soner Yorgun, M.; Rood, Richard B.

An object-based evaluation method using a pattern recognition algorithm (i.e., classification trees) is applied to the simulated orographic precipitation for idealized experimental setups using the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) with the finite volume (FV) and the Eulerian spectral transform dynamical cores with varying resolutions. Daily simulations were analyzed and three different types of precipitation features were identified by the classification tree algorithm. The statistical characteristics of these features (i.e., maximum value, mean value, and variance) were calculated to quantify the difference between the dynamical cores and changing resolutions. Even with the simple and smoothmore » topography in the idealized setups, complexity in the precipitation fields simulated by the models develops quickly. The classification tree algorithm using objective thresholding successfully detected different types of precipitation features even as the complexity of the precipitation field increased. The results show that the complexity and the bias introduced in small-scale phenomena due to the spectral transform method of CAM Eulerian spectral dynamical core is prominent, and is an important reason for its dissimilarity from the FV dynamical core. The resolvable scales, both in horizontal and vertical dimensions, have significant effect on the simulation of precipitation. The results of this study also suggest that an efficient and informative study about the biases produced by GCMs should involve daily (or even hourly) output (rather than monthly mean) analysis over local scales.« less

A decision tree algorithm for investigation of model biases related to dynamical cores and physical parameterizations: CESM/CAM EVALUATION BY DECISION TREES

DOE PAGES

Soner Yorgun, M.; Rood, Richard B.

2016-11-11

An object-based evaluation method using a pattern recognition algorithm (i.e., classification trees) is applied to the simulated orographic precipitation for idealized experimental setups using the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) with the finite volume (FV) and the Eulerian spectral transform dynamical cores with varying resolutions. Daily simulations were analyzed and three different types of precipitation features were identified by the classification tree algorithm. The statistical characteristics of these features (i.e., maximum value, mean value, and variance) were calculated to quantify the difference between the dynamical cores and changing resolutions. Even with the simple and smoothmore » topography in the idealized setups, complexity in the precipitation fields simulated by the models develops quickly. The classification tree algorithm using objective thresholding successfully detected different types of precipitation features even as the complexity of the precipitation field increased. The results show that the complexity and the bias introduced in small-scale phenomena due to the spectral transform method of CAM Eulerian spectral dynamical core is prominent, and is an important reason for its dissimilarity from the FV dynamical core. The resolvable scales, both in horizontal and vertical dimensions, have significant effect on the simulation of precipitation. The results of this study also suggest that an efficient and informative study about the biases produced by GCMs should involve daily (or even hourly) output (rather than monthly mean) analysis over local scales.« less

Discretization and Preconditioning Algorithms for the Euler and Navier-Stokes Equations on Unstructured Meshes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barth, Timothy; Chancellor, Marisa K. (Technical Monitor)

1997-01-01

Several stabilized discretization procedures for conservation law equations on triangulated domains will be considered. Specifically, numerical schemes based on upwind finite volume, fluctuation splitting, Galerkin least-squares, and space discontinuous Galerkin discretization will be considered in detail. A standard energy analysis for several of these methods will be given via entropy symmetrization. Next, we will present some relatively new theoretical results concerning congruence relationships for left or right symmetrized equations. These results suggest new variants of existing FV, DG, GLS and FS methods which are computationally more efficient while retaining the pleasant theoretical properties achieved by entropy symmetrization. In addition, the task of Jacobian linearization of these schemes for use in Newton's method is greatly simplified owing to exploitation of exact symmetries which exist in the system. These variants have been implemented in the "ELF" library for which example calculations will be shown. The FV, FS and DG schemes also permit discrete maximum principle analysis and enforcement which greatly adds to the robustness of the methods. Some prevalent limiting strategies will be reviewed. Next, we consider embedding these nonlinear space discretizations into exact and inexact Newton solvers which are preconditioned using a nonoverlapping (Schur complement) domain decomposition technique. Elements of nonoverlapping domain decomposition for elliptic problems will be reviewed followed by the present extension to hyperbolic and elliptic-hyperbolic problems. Other issues of practical relevance such the meshing of geometries, code implementation, turbulence modeling, global convergence, etc. will be addressed as needed.

Combined Ventilation and Perfusion Imaging Correlates With the Dosimetric Parameters of Radiation Pneumonitis in Radiation Therapy Planning for Lung Cancer

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

Kimura, Tomoki, E-mail: tkkimura@hiroshima-u.ac.jp; Doi, Yoshiko; Nakashima, Takeo

2015-11-15

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate clinical correlations between dosimetric parameters associated with radiation pneumonitis (RP) and functional lung imaging. Methods and Materials: Functional lung imaging was performed using four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) for ventilation imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for perfusion imaging, or both (V/Q-matched region). Using 4D-CT, ventilation imaging was derived from a low attenuation area according to CT numbers below different thresholds (vent-860 and -910). Perfusion imaging at the 10th, 30th, 50th, and 70th percentile perfusion levels (F10-F70) were defined as the top 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% hyperperfused normal lung, respectively.more » All imaging data were incorporated into a 3D planning system to evaluate correlations between RP dosimetric parameters (where fV20 is the percentage of functional lung volume irradiated with >20 Gy, or fMLD, the mean dose administered to functional lung) and the percentage of functional lung volume. Radiation pneumonitis was evaluated using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Statistical significance was defined as a P value of <.05. Results: Sixty patients who underwent curative radiation therapy were enrolled (48 patients for non-small cell lung cancer, and 12 patients for small cell lung cancer). Grades 1, 2, and ≥3 RP were observed in 16, 44, and 6 patients, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between the percentage of functional lung volume and fV20 (r=0.4475 in vent-860 and 0.3508 in F30) or fMLD (r=0.4701 in vent-860 and 0.3128 in F30) in patients with grade ≥2 RP. F30∩vent-860 results exhibited stronger correlations with fV20 and fMLD in patients with grade ≥2 (r=0.5509 in fV20 and 0.5320 in fMLD) and grade ≥3 RP (r=0.8770 in fV20 and 0.8518 in fMLD). Conclusions: RP dosimetric parameters correlated significantly with functional lung imaging.« less

Formal Verification of the AAMP-FV Microcode

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Steven P.; Greve, David A.; Wilding, Matthew M.; Srivas, Mandayam

1999-01-01

This report describes the experiences of Collins Avionics & Communications and SRI International in formally specifying and verifying the microcode in a Rockwell proprietary microprocessor, the AAMP-FV, using the PVS verification system. This project built extensively on earlier experiences using PVS to verify the microcode in the AAMP5, a complex, pipelined microprocessor designed for use in avionics displays and global positioning systems. While the AAMP5 experiment demonstrated the technical feasibility of formal verification of microcode, the steep learning curve encountered left unanswered the question of whether it could be performed at reasonable cost. The AAMP-FV project was conducted to determine whether the experience gained on the AAMP5 project could be used to make formal verification of microcode cost effective for safety-critical and high volume devices.

Nucleon form factors from quenched lattice QCD with domain wall fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaki, Shoichi; Yamazaki, Takeshi

2008-07-01

We present a quenched lattice calculation of the weak nucleon form factors: vector [FV(q2)], induced tensor [FT(q2)], axial vector [FA(q2)] and induced pseudoscalar [FP(q2)] form factors. Our simulations are performed on three different lattice sizes L3×T=243×32, 163×32, and 123×32 with a lattice cutoff of a-1≈1.3GeV and light quark masses down to about 1/4 the strange quark mass (mπ≈390MeV) using a combination of the DBW2 gauge action and domain wall fermions. The physical volume of our largest lattice is about (3.6fm)3, where the finite volume effects on form factors become negligible and the lower momentum transfers (q2≈0.1GeV2) are accessible. The q2 dependences of form factors in the low q2 region are examined. It is found that the vector, induced tensor, and axial-vector form factors are well described by the dipole form, while the induced pseudoscalar form factor is consistent with pion-pole dominance. We obtain the ratio of axial to vector coupling gA/gV=FA(0)/FV(0)=1.219(38) and the pseudoscalar coupling gP=mμFP(0.88mμ2)=8.15(54), where the errors are statistical errors only. These values agree with experimental values from neutron β decay and muon capture on the proton. However, the root mean-squared radii of the vector, induced tensor, and axial vector underestimate the known experimental values by about 20%. We also calculate the pseudoscalar nucleon matrix element in order to verify the axial Ward-Takahashi identity in terms of the nucleon matrix elements, which may be called as the generalized Goldberger-Treiman relation.

Heat Transfer and Geometrical Analysis of Thermoelectric Converters Driven by Concentrated Solar Radiation

PubMed Central

Suter, Clemens; Tomeš, Petr; Weidenkaff, Anke; Steinfeld, Aldo

2010-01-01

A heat transfer model that couples radiation/conduction/convection heat transfer with electrical potential distribution is developed for a thermoelectric converter (TEC) subjected to concentrated solar radiation. The 4-leg TEC module consists of two pairs of p-type La1.98Sr0.02CuO4 and n-type CaMn0.98Nb0.02O3 legs that are sandwiched between two ceramic Al2O3 hot/cold plates and connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. The governing equations for heat transfer and electrical potential are formulated, discretized and solved numerically by applying the finite volume (FV) method. The model is validated in terms of experimentally measured temperatures and voltages/power using a set of TEC demonstrator modules, subjected to a peak radiative flux intensity of 300 suns. The heat transfer model is then applied to examine the effect of the geometrical parameters (e.g. length/width of legs) on the solar-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency.

Coupled fvGCM-GCE Modeling System, 3D Cloud-Resolving Model and Cloud Library

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo

2005-01-01

Recent GEWEX Cloud System Study (GCSS) model comparison projects have indicated that cloud-resolving models (CRMs) agree with observations better than traditional singlecolumn models in simulating various types of clouds and cloud systems from Merent geographic locations. Current and future NASA satellite programs can provide cloud, precipitation, aerosol and other data at very fine spatial and temporal scales. It requires a coupled global circulation model (GCM) and cloudscale model (termed a super-parameterization or multiscale modeling framework, MMF) to use these satellite data to improve the understanding of the physical processes that are responsible for the variation in global and regional climate and hydrological systems. The use of a GCM will enable global coverage, and the use of a CRM will allow for better and more sophisticated physical parameteridon NASA satellite and field campaign cloud related datasets can provide initial conditions as well as validation for both the MMF and CRMs. A seed fund is available at NASA Goddard to build a MMF based on the 2D Goddard cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model and the Goddard finite volume general circulation model (fvGCM). A prototype MMF in being developed and production nms will be conducted at the beginning of 2005. In this talk, I will present: (1) A brief review on GCE model and its applications on precipitation processes, (2) The Goddard MMF and the major difference between two existing MMFs (CSU MMF and Goddard MMF), (3) A cloud library generated by Goddard MMF, and 3D GCE model, and (4) A brief discussion on the GCE model on developing a global cloud simulator.

WE-AB-202-02: Incorporating Regional Ventilation Function in Predicting Radiation Fibrosis After Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Lung Cancer

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

Lan, F; Jeudy, J; Tseng, H

Purpose: To investigate the incorporation of pre-therapy regional ventilation function in predicting radiation fibrosis (RF) in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with concurrent thoracic chemoradiotherapy. Methods: 37 stage III NSCLC patients were retrospectively studied. Patients received one cycle of cisplatin-gemcitabine, followed by two to three cycles of cisplatin-etoposide concurrently with involved-field thoracic radiotherapy between 46 and 66 Gy (2 Gy per fraction). Pre-therapy regional ventilation images of the lung were derived from 4DCT via a density-change-based image registration algorithm with mass correction. RF was evaluated at 6-months post-treatment using radiographic scoring based on airway dilation and volumemore » loss. Three types of ipsilateral lung metrics were studied: (1) conventional dose-volume metrics (V20, V30, V40, and mean-lung-dose (MLD)), (2) dose-function metrics (fV20, fV30, fV40, and functional mean-lung-dose (fMLD) generated by combining regional ventilation and dose), and (3) dose-subvolume metrics (sV20, sV30, sV40, and subvolume mean-lung-dose (sMLD) defined as the dose-volume metrics computed on the sub-volume of the lung with at least 60% of the quantified maximum ventilation status). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the predictability of these metrics for RF. Results: In predicting airway dilation, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for (V20, MLD), (fV20, fMLD), and (sV20, and sMLD) were (0.76, 0.70), (0.80, 0.74) and (0.82, 0.80), respectively. The logistic regression p-values were (0.09, 0.18), (0.02, 0.05) and (0.004, 0.006), respectively. With regard to volume loss, the corresponding AUC values for these metrics were (0.66, 0.57), (0.67, 0.61) and (0.71, 0.69), and p-values were (0.95, 0.90), (0.43, 0.64) and (0.08, 0.12), respectively. Conclusion: The inclusion of regional ventilation function improved predictability of radiation fibrosis. Dose-subvolume metrics provided a promising method for incorporating functional information into the conventional dose-volume parameters for outcome assessment.« less

Cardiac magnetic resonance based evaluation of aortic stiffness and epicardial fat volume in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Homsi, Rami; Sprinkart, Alois M; Gieseke, Juergen; Meier-Schroers, Michael; Yuecel, Seyrani; Fischer, Stefan; Nadal, Jennifer; Dabir, Darius; Luetkens, Julian A; Kuetting, Daniel L; Schild, Hans H; Thomas, Daniel K

2018-01-01

Background Aortic stiffness and epicardial fat relate to cardiovascular risk. Their relationship with each other and their role with hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and myocardial infarction (MI) can be evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Purpose To explore an association between aortic stiffness and epicardial as well as paracardial fat volume (EFV and ParaFV, respectively) in hypertensive patients and to relate the results to the presence of DM and MI. Material and Methods A total of 156 hypertensive and 20 non-hypertensive participants were examined at 1.5 Tesla. A 2D-velocity-encoded sequence was acquired to assess aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV in m/s) as a measure of aortic stiffness. A 3D-Dixon sequence was used to determine EFV and ParaFV. Results PWV correlated with EFV (R = 0.474; P < 0.001), but not with ParaFV. Fat volumes (in mL/m 2 ) and PWV were lower in non-hypertensive controls compared to hypertensive patients. EFV and PWV were significantly higher in diabetic hypertensive patients without MI (n = 19; PWV: 10.4 ± 2.9; EFV: 92.5 ± 19.3) compared to hypertension-only patients (n = 84 [no DM or MI]; EFV: 64.8 ± 25.1, PWV: 9.0 ± 2.6; P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between the presence of a MI and a higher EFV ( P < 0.05), but not with PWV ( P = 0.060) or ParaFV ( P = 0.375). Conclusion A relationship between aortic stiffness and EFV was found in hypertensive patients. Both were increased in the presence of DM; however, only EFV was increased in the presence of MI. This may relate to the PWV lowering effect of the antihypertensive medication used by hypertensive patients and underscores the benefit of EFV assessment in this regard.

Measurement of Factor V Activity in Human Plasma Using a Microplate Coagulation Assay

PubMed Central

Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A.

2012-01-01

In response to injury, blood coagulation is activated and results in generation of the clotting protease, thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin which forms an insoluble clot that stops hemorrhage. Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical cofactor for the protease FXa and accelerator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation as part of prothrombinase 1, 2. Manual FV assays have been described 3, 4, but they are time consuming and subjective. Automated FV assays have been reported 5-7, but the analyzer and reagents are expensive and generally provide only the clot time, not the rate and extent of fibrin formation. The microplate platform is preferred for measuring enzyme-catalyzed events because of convenience, time, cost, small volume, continuous monitoring, and high-throughput 8, 9. Microplate assays have been reported for clot lysis 10, platelet aggregation 11, and coagulation Factors 12, but not for FV activity in human plasma. The goal of the method was to develop a microplate assay that measures FV activity during fibrin formation in human plasma. This novel microplate method outlines a simple, inexpensive, and rapid assay of FV activity in human plasma. The assay utilizes a kinetic microplate reader to monitor the absorbance change at 405nm during fibrin formation in human plasma (Figure 1) 13. The assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation. It requires only μl quantities of plasma, is complete in 6 min, has high-throughput, is sensitive to 24-80pM FV, and measures the amount of unintentionally activated (1-stage activity) and thrombin-activated FV (2-stage activity) to obtain a complete assessment of its total functional activity (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired coagulopathy that most often develops from pre-existing infections 14. DIC is associated with a poor prognosis and increases mortality above the pre-existing pathology 15. The assay was used to show that in 9 patients with DIC, the FV 1-stage, 2-stage, and total activities were decreased, on average, by 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, compared with normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The FV microplate assay is easily adaptable to measure the activity of any coagulation factor. This assay will increase our understanding of FV biochemistry through a more accurate and complete measurement of its activity in research and clinical settings. This information will positively impact healthcare environments through earlier diagnosis and development of more effective treatments for coagulation disorders, such as DIC. PMID:22987015

Measurement of factor v activity in human plasma using a microplate coagulation assay.

PubMed

Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A

2012-09-09

In response to injury, blood coagulation is activated and results in generation of the clotting protease, thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin which forms an insoluble clot that stops hemorrhage. Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical cofactor for the protease FXa and accelerator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation as part of prothrombinase (1, 2). Manual FV assays have been described (3, 4), but they are time consuming and subjective. Automated FV assays have been reported (5-7), but the analyzer and reagents are expensive and generally provide only the clot time, not the rate and extent of fibrin formation. The microplate platform is preferred for measuring enzyme-catalyzed events because of convenience, time, cost, small volume, continuous monitoring, and high-throughput (8, 9). Microplate assays have been reported for clot lysis (10), platelet aggregation (11), and coagulation Factors (12), but not for FV activity in human plasma. The goal of the method was to develop a microplate assay that measures FV activity during fibrin formation in human plasma. This novel microplate method outlines a simple, inexpensive, and rapid assay of FV activity in human plasma. The assay utilizes a kinetic microplate reader to monitor the absorbance change at 405 nm during fibrin formation in human plasma (Figure 1) (13). The assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation. It requires only μl quantities of plasma, is complete in 6 min, has high-throughput, is sensitive to 24-80 pM FV, and measures the amount of unintentionally activated (1-stage activity) and thrombin-activated FV (2-stage activity) to obtain a complete assessment of its total functional activity (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired coagulopathy that most often develops from pre-existing infections (14). DIC is associated with a poor prognosis and increases mortality above the pre-existing pathology (15). The assay was used to show that in 9 patients with DIC, the FV 1-stage, 2-stage, and total activities were decreased, on average, by 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, compared with normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The FV microplate assay is easily adaptable to measure the activity of any coagulation factor. This assay will increase our understanding of FV biochemistry through a more accurate and complete measurement of its activity in research and clinical settings. This information will positively impact healthcare environments through earlier diagnosis and development of more effective treatments for coagulation disorders, such as DIC.

Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography: Principles and clinical applications.

PubMed

Vegas, Annette

2016-10-01

A basic understanding of evolving 3D technology enables the echocardiographer to master the new skills necessary to acquire, manipulate, and interpret 3D datasets. Single button activation of specific 3D imaging modes for both TEE and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) matrix array probes include (a) live, (b) zoom, (c) full volume (FV), and (d) color Doppler FV. Evaluation of regional LV wall motion by RT 3D TEE is based on a change in LV chamber subvolume over time from altered segmental myocardial contractility. Unlike standard 2D TEE, there is no direct measurement of myocardial thickening or displacement of individual segments.

Preparing CAM-SE for Multi-Tracer Applications: CAM-SE-Cslam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lauritzen, P. H.; Taylor, M.; Goldhaber, S.

2014-12-01

The NCAR-DOE spectral element (SE) dynamical core comes from the HOMME (High-Order Modeling Environment; Dennis et al., 2012) and it is available in CAM. The CAM-SE dynamical core is designed with intrinsic mimetic properties guaranteeing total energy conservation (to time-truncation errors) and mass-conservation, and has demonstrated excellent scalability on massively parallel compute platforms (Taylor, 2011). For applications involving many tracers such as chemistry and biochemistry modeling, CAM-SE has been found to be significantly more computationally costly than the current "workhorse" model CAM-FV (Finite-Volume; Lin 2004). Hence a multi-tracer efficient scheme, called the CSLAM (Conservative Semi-Lagrangian Multi-tracer; Lauritzen et al., 2011) scheme, has been implemented in the HOMME (Erath et al., 2012). The CSLAM scheme has recently been cast in flux-form in HOMME so that it can be coupled to the SE dynamical core through conventional flux-coupling methods where the SE dynamical core provides background air mass fluxes to CSLAM. Since the CSLAM scheme makes use of a finite-volume gnomonic cubed-sphere grid and hence does not operate on the SE quadrature grid, the capability of running tracer advection, the physical parameterization suite and dynamics on separate grids has been implemented in CAM-SE. The default CAM-SE-CSLAM setup is to run physics on the quasi-equal area CSLAM grid. The capability of running physics on a different grid than the SE dynamical core may provide a more consistent coupling since the physics grid option operates with quasi-equal-area cell average values rather than non-equi-distant grid-point (SE quadrature point) values. Preliminary results on the performance of CAM-SE-CSLAM will be presented.

Arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian Discontinuous Galerkin schemes with a posteriori subcell finite volume limiting on moving unstructured meshes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boscheri, Walter; Dumbser, Michael

2017-10-01

We present a new family of high order accurate fully discrete one-step Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element schemes on moving unstructured meshes for the solution of nonlinear hyperbolic PDE in multiple space dimensions, which may also include parabolic terms in order to model dissipative transport processes, like molecular viscosity or heat conduction. High order piecewise polynomials of degree N are adopted to represent the discrete solution at each time level and within each spatial control volume of the computational grid, while high order of accuracy in time is achieved by the ADER approach, making use of an element-local space-time Galerkin finite element predictor. A novel nodal solver algorithm based on the HLL flux is derived to compute the velocity for each nodal degree of freedom that describes the current mesh geometry. In our algorithm the spatial mesh configuration can be defined in two different ways: either by an isoparametric approach that generates curved control volumes, or by a piecewise linear decomposition of each spatial control volume into simplex sub-elements. Each technique generates a corresponding number of geometrical degrees of freedom needed to describe the current mesh configuration and which must be considered by the nodal solver for determining the grid velocity. The connection of the old mesh configuration at time tn with the new one at time t n + 1 provides the space-time control volumes on which the governing equations have to be integrated in order to obtain the time evolution of the discrete solution. Our numerical method belongs to the category of so-called direct Arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) schemes, where a space-time conservation formulation of the governing PDE system is considered and which already takes into account the new grid geometry (including a possible rezoning step) directly during the computation of the numerical fluxes. We emphasize that our method is a moving mesh method, as opposed to total Lagrangian formulations that are based on a fixed computational grid and which instead evolve the mapping of the reference configuration to the current one. Our new Lagrangian-type DG scheme adopts the novel a posteriori sub-cell finite volume limiter method recently developed in [62] for fixed unstructured grids. In this approach, the validity of the candidate solution produced in each cell by an unlimited ADER-DG scheme is verified against a set of physical and numerical detection criteria, such as the positivity of pressure and density, the absence of floating point errors (NaN) and the satisfaction of a relaxed discrete maximum principle (DMP) in the sense of polynomials. Those cells which do not satisfy all of the above criteria are flagged as troubled cells and are recomputed at the aid of a more robust second order TVD finite volume scheme. To preserve the subcell resolution capability of the original DG scheme, the FV limiter is run on a sub-grid that is 2 N + 1 times finer compared to the mesh of the original unlimited DG scheme. The new subcell averages are then gathered back into a high order DG polynomial by a usual conservative finite volume reconstruction operator. The numerical convergence rates of the new ALE ADER-DG schemes are studied up to fourth order in space and time and several test problems are simulated in order to check the accuracy and the robustness of the proposed numerical method in the context of the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations for compressible gas dynamics, considering both inviscid and viscous fluids. Finally, an application inspired by Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) type flows is considered by solving the Euler equations and the PDE of viscous and resistive magnetohydrodynamics (VRMHD).

Nasal versus oronasal raised volume forced expirations in infants – A real physiologic challenge

PubMed Central

Morris, Mohy G.

2012-01-01

Summary Raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression (RTC) generates forced expiration (FE) in infants typically from an airway opening pressure of 30 cm H2O (V30). We hypothesized that the higher nasal than pulmonary airway resistance limits forced expiratory flows (FEF%) during (nasal) FEn, which an opened mouth, (oronasal) FEo, would resolve. Measurements were performed during a brief post-hyperventilation apnea on twelve healthy infants aged 6.9–104 weeks. In two infants, forced expiratory (FEFV) flow volume (FV) curves were generated using a facemask that covered the nose and a closed mouth, then again with a larger mask with the mouth opened. In other infants (n=10), the mouth closed spontaneously during FE. Oronasal passive expiration from V30 generated either the inspiratory capacity (IC) or by activating RTC before end-expiration, the slow vital capacity (jSVC). Peak flow (PF), FEF25, FEF50, FEF25–75, FEV0.4 and FEV0.5 were lower via FEn than FEo (p<0.05), but the ratio of expired volume at PF and forced vital capacity (FVC) as percent was higher (p<0.05). FEF75, FEF85, FEF90, FVC as well as the applied jacket pressures were not different (p>0.05). FEFV curves generated via FEo exhibited higher PF than FV curves of IC (p< 0.05); PF of those produced via FEn were not different from FV curves of IC (p> 0.05) but lower than those of jSVC (p< 0.05). In conclusion, the higher nasal than pulmonary airways resistance unequivocally affects the FEFV curves by consistently reducing PF and decreases mid-expiratory flows. A monitored slightly opened mouth and a gentle anterior jaw thrust are physiologically integral for raised volume RTC in order to maximize the oral and minimize nasal airways contribution to FE so that flow limitation would be in the pulmonary not nasal airways. PMID:22328241

Impact of positional difference on the measurement of breast density using MRI.

PubMed

Chen, Jeon-Hor; Chan, Siwa; Tang, Yi-Ting; Hon, Jia Shen; Tseng, Po-Chuan; Cheriyan, Angela T; Shah, Nikita Rakesh; Yeh, Dah-Cherng; Lee, San-Kan; Chen, Wen-Pin; McLaren, Christine E; Su, Min-Ying

2015-05-01

This study investigated the impact of arms/hands and body position on the measurement of breast density using MRI. Noncontrast-enhanced T1-weighted images were acquired from 32 healthy women. Each subject received four MR scans using different experimental settings, including a high resolution hands-up, a low resolution hands-up, a high resolution hands-down, and finally, another high resolution hands-up after repositioning. The breast segmentation was performed using a fully automatic chest template-based method. The breast volume (BV), fibroglandular tissue volume (FV), and percent density (PD) measured from the four MR scan settings were analyzed. A high correlation of BV, FV, and PD between any pair of the four MR scans was noted (r > 0.98 for all). Using the generalized estimating equation method, a statistically significant difference in mean BV among four settings was noted (left breast, score test p = 0.0056; right breast, score test p = 0.0016), adjusted for age and body mass index. Despite differences in BV, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean PDs among the four settings (p > 0.10 for left and right breasts). Using Bland-Altman plots, the smallest mean difference/bias and standard deviations for BV, FV, and PD were noted when comparing hands-up high vs low resolution when the breast positions were exactly the same. The authors' study showed that BV, FV, and PD measurements from MRI of different positions were highly correlated. BV may vary with positions but the measured PD did not differ significantly between positions. The study suggested that the percent density analyzed from MRI studies acquired using different arms/hands and body positions from multiple centers can be combined for analysis.

Next Generation Community Based Unified Global Modeling System Development and Operational Implementation Strategies at NCEP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tallapragada, V.

2017-12-01

NOAA's Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS) has provided the unique opportunity to develop and implement a non-hydrostatic global model based on Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) Finite Volume Cubed Sphere (FV3) Dynamic Core at National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), making a leap-step advancement in seamless prediction capabilities across all spatial and temporal scales. Model development efforts are centralized with unified model development in the NOAA Environmental Modeling System (NEMS) infrastructure based on Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF). A more sophisticated coupling among various earth system components is being enabled within NEMS following National Unified Operational Prediction Capability (NUOPC) standards. The eventual goal of unifying global and regional models will enable operational global models operating at convective resolving scales. Apart from the advanced non-hydrostatic dynamic core and coupling to various earth system components, advanced physics and data assimilation techniques are essential for improved forecast skill. NGGPS is spearheading ambitious physics and data assimilation strategies, concentrating on creation of a Common Community Physics Package (CCPP) and Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration (JEDI). Both initiatives are expected to be community developed, with emphasis on research transitioning to operations (R2O). The unified modeling system is being built to support the needs of both operations and research. Different layers of community partners are also established with specific roles/responsibilities for researchers, core development partners, trusted super-users, and operations. Stakeholders are engaged at all stages to help drive the direction of development, resources allocations and prioritization. This talk presents the current and future plans of unified model development at NCEP for weather, sub-seasonal, and seasonal climate prediction applications with special emphasis on implementation of NCEP FV3 Global Forecast System (GFS) and Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) into operations by 2019.

Atmospheric Teleconnection over Eurasia Induced by Aerosol Radiative Forcing During Boreal Spring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Maeng-Ki; Lau, K. M.; Chin, Mian; Kim, Kyu-Myong; Sud, Y. C.; Walker, Greg K.

2005-01-01

The direct effects of aerosols on global and regional climate during boreal spring are investigated based on simulations using the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) finite-volume general circulation model (fvGCM) with Microphyics of clouds in Relaxed Arakawa Schubert Scheme (McRAS). The aerosol loading are prescribed from three-dimensional monthly distribution of tropospheric aerosols viz., sulfate, black carbon, organic carbon, soil dust, and sea salt from output of the Goddard Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport model (GOCART). The aerosol extinction coefficient, single scattering albedo, and asymmetric factor are computed as wavelength-dependent radiative forcing in the radiative transfer scheme of the fvGCM, and as a function of the aerosol loading and ambient relative humidity. We find that anomalous atmospheric heat sources induced by absorbing aerosols (dust and black carbon) excites a planetary scale teleconnection pattern in sea level pressure, temperature and geopotential height spanning North Africa through Eurasia to the North Pacific. Surface cooling due to direct effects of aerosols is found in the vicinity and downstream of the aerosol source regions, i.e., South Asia, East Asia, and northern and western Africa. Additionally, atmospheric heating is found in regions with large loading of dust (over Northern Africa, and Middle East), and black carbon (over South-East Asia). Paradoxically, the most pronounced feature in aerosol-induced surface temperature is an east-west dipole anomaly with strong cooling over the Caspian Sea, and warming over central and northeastern Asia, where aerosol concentration are low. Analyses of circulation anomalies show that the dipole anomaly is a part of an atmospheric teleconnection driven by atmospheric heating anomalies induced by absorbing aerosols in the source regions, but the influence was conveyed globally through barotropic energy dispersion and sustained by feedback processes associated with the regional circulations.

Coupled fvGCM-GCE Modeling System, TRMM Latent Heating and Cloud Library

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo

2004-01-01

Recent GEWEX Cloud System Study (GCSS) model comparison projects have indicated that cloud-resolving models (CRMs) agree with observations better than traditional single-column models in simulating various types of clouds and cloud systems from different geographic locations. Current and future NASA satellite programs can provide cloud, precipitation, aerosol and other data at very fine spatial and temporal scales. It requires a coupled global circulation model (GCM) and cloud-scale model (termed a super-parameterization or multi-scale modeling framework, MMF) to use these satellite data to imiprove the understanding of the physical processes that are responsible for the variation in global and regional climate and hydrological systems. The use of a GCM will enable global coverage, and the use of a CRM will allow for better and more sophisticated physical parameterization. NASA satellite and field campaign cloud related datasets can provide initial conditions as well as validation for both the MMF and CRMs. A seed fund is available at NASA Goddard to build a MMF based on the 2D GCE model and the Goddard finite volume general circulation model (fvGCM). A prototype MMF will be developed by the end of 2004 and production runs will be conducted at the beginning of 2005. The purpose of this proposal is to augment the current Goddard MMF and other cloud modeling activities. I this talk, I will present: (1) A summary of the second Cloud Modeling Workshop took place at NASA Goddard, (2) A summary of the third TRMM Latent Heating Workshop took place at Nara Japan, (3) A brief discussion on the Goddard research plan of using Weather Research Forecast (WRF) model, and (4) A brief discussion on the GCE model on developing a global cloud simulator.

Coupled fvGCM-GCE Modeling System: TRMM Latent Heating and Cloud Library

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo

2005-01-01

Recent GEWEX Cloud System Study (GCSS) model comparison projects have indicated that cloud-resolving models (CRMs) agree with observations better than traditional single-column models in simulating various types of clouds and cloud systems from different geographic locations. Current and future NASA satellite programs can provide cloud, precipitation, aerosol and other data at very fine spatial and temporal scales. It requires a coupled global circulation model (GCM) and cloud-scale model (termed a super-parameterization or multi-scale modeling framework, MMF) to use these satellite data to improve the understanding of the physical processes that are responsible for the variation in global and regional climate and hydrological systems. The use of a GCM will enable global coverage, and the use of a CRM will allow for better and more sophisticated physical parameterization. NASA satellite and field campaign cloud related datasets can provide initial conditions as well as validation for both the MMF and CRMs. A seed fund is available at NASA Goddard to build a MMF based on the 2D GCE model and the Goddard finite volume general circulation model (fvGCM). A prototype MMF will be developed by the end of 2004 and production runs will be conducted at the beginning of 2005. The purpose of this proposal is to augment the current Goddard MMF and other cloud modeling activities. In this talk, I will present: (1) A summary of the second Cloud Modeling Workshop took place at NASA Goddard, (2) A summary of the third TRMM Latent Heating Workshop took place at Nara Japan, (3) A brief discussion on the GCE model on developing a global cloud simulator.

Coupled fvGCM-GCE Modeling System, 3D Cloud-Resolving Model and Cloud Library

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo

2005-01-01

Recent GEWEX Cloud System Study (GCSS) model comparison projects have indicated that cloud- resolving models (CRMs) agree with observations better than traditional single-column models in simulating various types of clouds and cloud systems from different geographic locations. Current and future NASA satellite programs can provide cloud, precipitation, aerosol and other data at very fine spatial and temporal scales. It requires a coupled global circulation model (GCM) and cloud-scale model (termed a super-parameterization or multi-scale modeling framework, MMF) to use these satellite data to improve the understanding of the physical processes that are responsible for the variation in global and regional climate and hydrological systems. The use of a GCM will enable global coverage, and the use of a CRM will allow for better and more sophisticated physical parameterization. NASA satellite and field campaign cloud related datasets can provide initial conditions as well as validation for both the MMF and CRMs. A seed fund is available at NASA Goddard to build a MMF based on the 2D Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model and the Goddard finite volume general circulation model (fvGCM). A prototype MMF in being developed and production runs will be conducted at the beginning of 2005. In this talk, I will present: (1) A brief review on GCE model and its applications on precipitation processes, ( 2 ) The Goddard MMF and the major difference between two existing MMFs (CSU MMF and Goddard MMF), (3) A cloud library generated by Goddard MMF, and 3D GCE model, and (4) A brief discussion on the GCE model on developing a global cloud simulator.

Masses and decay constants of the Ds0 *(2317 ) and Ds 1(2460 ) from Nf=2 lattice QCD close to the physical point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bali, Gunnar S.; Collins, Sara; Cox, Antonio; Schäfer, Andreas; RQCD Collaboration

2017-10-01

We perform a high statistics study of the JP=0+ and 1+ charmed-strange mesons, Ds0 *(2317 ) and Ds 1(2460 ), respectively. The effects of the nearby D K and D*K thresholds are taken into account by employing the corresponding four-quark operators. Six ensembles with Nf=2 nonperturbatively O (a ) improved clover Wilson sea quarks at a =0.07 fm are employed, covering different spatial volumes and pion masses: linear lattice extents L /a =24 , 32, 40, 64, equivalent to 1.7 fm to 4.5 fm, are realized for mπ=290 MeV and L /a =48 , 64 or 3.4 fm and 4.5 fm for an almost physical pion mass of 150 MeV. Through a phase shift analysis and the effective range approximation we determine the scattering lengths, couplings to the thresholds and the infinite-volume masses. Differences relative to the experimental values are observed for these masses, however, this is likely to be due to discretization effects as spin-averaged quantities and splittings are reasonably compatible with experiment. We also compute the weak decay constants of the scalar and axialvector and find fV0+=114 (2 )(0 )(+5 )(10 ) MeV and fA1+=194 (3 )(4 )(+5 )(10 ) MeV , where the errors are due to statistics, renormalization, finite-volume and lattice spacing effects.

Lagrangian transported MDF methods for compressible high speed flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerlinger, Peter

2017-06-01

This paper deals with the application of thermochemical Lagrangian MDF (mass density function) methods for compressible sub- and supersonic RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) simulations. A new approach to treat molecular transport is presented. This technique on the one hand ensures numerical stability of the particle solver in laminar regions of the flow field (e.g. in the viscous sublayer) and on the other hand takes differential diffusion into account. It is shown in a detailed analysis, that the new method correctly predicts first and second-order moments on the basis of conventional modeling approaches. Moreover, a number of challenges for MDF particle methods in high speed flows is discussed, e.g. high cell aspect ratio grids close to solid walls, wall heat transfer, shock resolution, and problems from statistical noise which may cause artificial shock systems in supersonic flows. A Mach 2 supersonic mixing channel with multiple shock reflection and a model rocket combustor simulation demonstrate the eligibility of this technique to practical applications. Both test cases are simulated successfully for the first time with a hybrid finite-volume (FV)/Lagrangian particle solver (PS).

Lattice Boltzmann Model of 3D Multiphase Flow in Artery Bifurcation Aneurysm Problem

PubMed Central

Abas, Aizat; Mokhtar, N. Hafizah; Ishak, M. H. H.; Abdullah, M. Z.; Ho Tian, Ang

2016-01-01

This paper simulates and predicts the laminar flow inside the 3D aneurysm geometry, since the hemodynamic situation in the blood vessels is difficult to determine and visualize using standard imaging techniques, for example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Three different types of Lattice Boltzmann (LB) models are computed, namely, single relaxation time (SRT), multiple relaxation time (MRT), and regularized BGK models. The results obtained using these different versions of the LB-based code will then be validated with ANSYS FLUENT, a commercially available finite volume- (FV-) based CFD solver. The simulated flow profiles that include velocity, pressure, and wall shear stress (WSS) are then compared between the two solvers. The predicted outcomes show that all the LB models are comparable and in good agreement with the FVM solver for complex blood flow simulation. The findings also show minor differences in their WSS profiles. The performance of the parallel implementation for each solver is also included and discussed in this paper. In terms of parallelization, it was shown that LBM-based code performed better in terms of the computation time required. PMID:27239221

A Goddard Multi-Scale Modeling System with Unified Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo

2010-01-01

A multi-scale modeling system with unified physics has been developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The system consists of an MMF, the coupled NASA Goddard finite-volume GCM (fvGCM) and Goddard Cumulus Ensemble model (GCE, a CRM); the state-of-the-art Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) and the stand alone GCE. These models can share the same microphysical schemes, radiation (including explicitly calculated cloud optical properties), and surface models that have been developed, improved and tested for different environments. In this talk, I will present: (1) A brief review on GCE model and its applications on the impact of the aerosol on deep precipitation processes, (2) The Goddard MMF and the major difference between two existing MMFs (CSU MMF and Goddard MMF), and preliminary results (the comparison with traditional GCMs), and (3) A discussion on the Goddard WRF version (its developments and applications). We are also performing the inline tracer calculation to comprehend the ph ysical processes (i.e., boundary layer and each quadrant in the boundary layer) related to the development and structure of hurricanes and mesoscale convective systems.

Factor V Has Anticoagulant Activity in Plasma in the Presence of TFPIα: Difference between FV1 and FV2.

PubMed

van Doorn, Peter; Rosing, Jan; Duckers, Connie; Hackeng, Tilman M; Simioni, Paolo; Castoldi, Elisabetta

2018-06-04

 Activated factor V (FVa) is a potent procoagulant cofactor in the prothrombinase complex, whereas its precursor factor V (FV) stimulates the inhibition of factor Xa (FXa) by tissue factor pathway inhibitor-α (TFPIα), presumably by promoting TFPIα binding to phospholipids. Plasma FV comprises two glycosylation isoforms (FV1 and FV2) with low and high phospholipid-binding affinity, respectively. The FV1/FV2 ratio is increased in carriers of the FV R2 haplotype.  This article demonstrates the TFPIα-cofactor function of FV in plasma and compares FV1 and FV2.  Thrombin generation at low TF concentration was measured in FV-depleted plasma reconstituted with 0 to 100% FV, FV1 or FV2, and in 122 individuals genotyped for the R2 haplotype. The TFPIα-cofactor activities of FV1 and FV2 were also investigated in a model system of TFPIα-mediated FXa inhibition.  In the FV titration, thrombin generation first increased (up to 5% FV) and then progressively decreased at higher FV concentrations. This anticoagulant effect of FV, which was also observed with FV2 but not with FV1, was largely abolished by anti-TFPIα antibodies, suggesting that it reflects TFPIα-cofactor activity of FV. In the model system of TFPIα-mediated FXa inhibition, FV2 was a more potent TFPIα-cofactor than FV1, in line with their respective phospholipid affinities. Accordingly, FV R2 carriers had higher thrombin generation than non-carriers, even after correction for demographics and plasma levels of coagulation factors and inhibitors.  FV (and particularly its FV2 isoform) contributes to the TFPIα-dependent down-regulation of thrombin generation in plasma triggered with low TF. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment

DOE PAGES

Akerib, D. S.; Bai, X.; Bedikian, S.; ...

2012-11-29

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) collaboration has designed and constructed a dual-phase xenon detector, in order to conduct a search for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), a leading dark matter candidate. The goal of the LUX detector is to clearly detect (or exclude) WIMPS with a spin independent cross section per nucleon of 2×10 -46 cm 2, equivalent to ~1 event/100 kg/month in the inner 100-kg fiducial volume (FV) of the 370-kg detector. The overall background goals are set to have <1 background events characterized as possible WIMPs in the FV in 300 days of running. This work describes themore » design and construction of the LUX detector.« less

Densities and filling factors of the diffuse ionized gas in the Solar neighbourhood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berkhuijsen, E. M.; Müller, P.

2008-10-01

Aims: We analyse electron densities and filling factors of the diffuse ionized gas (DIG) in the Solar neighbourhood. Methods: We have combined dispersion measures and emission measures towards 38 pulsars at distances known to better than 50%, from which we derived the mean density in clouds, N_c, and their volume filling factor, F_v, averaged along the line of sight. The emission measures were corrected for absorption by dust and contributions from beyond the pulsar distance. Results: The scale height of the electron layer for our sample is 0.93± 0.13 kpc and the midplane electron density is 0.023± 0.004 cm-3, in agreement with earlier results. The average density along the line of sight is < n_e> = 0.018± 0.002 cm-3 and is nearly constant. Since < n_e> = F_vN_c, an inverse relationship between Fv and Nc is expected. We find F_v(N_c) = (0.011± 0.003) N_c-1.20± 0.13, which holds for the ranges N_c= 0.05-1 cm-3 and F_v= 0.4-0.01. Near the Galactic plane the dependence of Fv on Nc is significantly stronger than away from the plane. Fv does not systematically change along or perpendicular to the Galactic plane, but the spread about the mean value of 0.08± 0.02 is considerable. The total pathlength through the ionized regions increases linearly to about 80 pc towards |z| = 1 kpc. Conclusions: Our study of Fv and Nc of the DIG is the first one based on a sample of pulsars with known distances. We confirm the existence of a tight, nearly inverse correlation between Fv and Nc in the DIG. The exact form of this relation depends on the regions in the Galaxy probed by the pulsar sample. The inverse F_v-Nc relation is consistent with a hierarchical, fractal density distribution in the DIG caused by turbulence. The observed near constancy of < n_e> then is a signature of fractal structure in the ionized medium, which is most pronounced outside the thin disk.

A stochastic particle method for the investigation of turbulence/chemistry interactions in large-eddy simulations of turbulent reacting flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrero, Pietro

The main objective of this work is to investigate the effects of the coupling between the turbulent fluctuations and the highly non-linear chemical source terms in the context of large-eddy simulations of turbulent reacting flows. To this aim we implement the filtered mass density function (FMDF) methodology on an existing finite volume (FV) fluid dynamics solver. The FMDF provides additional statistical sub-grid scale (SGS) information about the thermochemical state of the flow - species mass fractions and enthalpy - which would not be available otherwise. The core of the methodology involves solving a transport equation for the FMDF by means of a stochastic, grid-free, Lagrangian particle procedure. Any moments of the distribution can be obtained by taking ensemble averages of the particles. The main advantage of this strategy is that the chemical source terms appear in closed form so that the effects of turbulent fluctuations on these terms are already accounted for and do not need to be modeled. We first validate and demonstrate the consistency of our implementation by comparing the results of the hybrid FV/FMDF procedure against model-free LES for temporally developing, non-reacting mixing layers. Consistency requires that, for non-reacting cases, the two solvers should yield identical solutions. We investigate the sensitivity of the FMDF solution on the most relevant numerical parameters, such as the number of particles per cell and the size of the ensemble domain. Next, we apply the FMDF modeling strategy to the simulation of chemically reacting, two- and three-dimensional temporally developing mixing layers and compare the results against both DNS and model-free LES. We clearly show that, when the turbulence/chemistry interaction is accounted for with the FMDF methodology, the results are in much better agreement to the DNS data. Finally, we perform two- and three-dimensional simulations of high Reynolds number, spatially developing, chemically reacting mixing layers, with the intent of reproducing a set of experimental results obtained at the California Institute of Technology. The mean temperature rise calculated by the hybrid FV/FMDF solver, which is associated with the amount of product formed, lies very close to the experimental profile. Conversely, when the effects of turbulence/chemistry coupling are ignored, the simulations clearly over predict the amount of product that is formed.

Functional image-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy planning for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

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

Tsegmed, Uranchimeg; Kimura, Tomoki, E-mail: tkkimura@hiroshima-u.ac.jp; Nakashima, Takeo

The aim of the current planning study is to evaluate the ability of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI)–guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) planning by using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) techniques in sparing the functional liver tissues during SBRT for hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled. Functional liver tissues were defined according to quantitative liver-spleen contrast ratios ≥ 1.5 on a hepatobiliary phase scan. Functional images were fused with the planning computed tomography (CT) images; the following 2 SBRT plans were designed using a “step-and-shoot” static IMRT technique for each patient: (1) an anatomicalmore » SBRT plan optimization based on the total liver; and (2) a functional SBRT plan based on the functional liver. The total prescribed dose was 48 gray (Gy) in 4 fractions. Dosimetric parameters, including dose to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV D{sub 95%}), percentages of total and functional liver volumes, which received doses from 5 to 30 Gy (V5 to V30 and fV5 to fV30), and mean doses to total and functional liver (MLD and fMLD, respectively) of the 2 plans were compared. Compared with anatomical plans, functional image-guided SBRT plans reduced MLD (mean: plan A, 5.5 Gy; and plan F, 5.1 Gy; p < 0.0001) and fMLD (mean: plan A, 5.4 Gy; and plan F, 4.9 Gy; p < 0.0001), as well as V5 to V30 and fV5 to fV30. No differences were noted in PTV coverage and nonhepatic organs at risk (OARs) doses. In conclusion, EOB-MRI–guided SBRT planning using the IMRT technique may preserve functional liver tissues in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).« less

Impact of field number and beam angle on functional image-guided lung cancer radiotherapy planning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tahir, Bilal A.; Bragg, Chris M.; Wild, Jim M.; Swinscoe, James A.; Lawless, Sarah E.; Hart, Kerry A.; Hatton, Matthew Q.; Ireland, Rob H.

2017-09-01

To investigate the effect of beam angles and field number on functionally-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) normal lung avoidance treatment plans that incorporate hyperpolarised helium-3 magnetic resonance imaging (3He MRI) ventilation data. Eight non-small cell lung cancer patients had pre-treatment 3He MRI that was registered to inspiration breath-hold radiotherapy planning computed tomography. IMRT plans that minimised the volume of total lung receiving  ⩾20 Gy (V20) were compared with plans that minimised 3He MRI defined functional lung receiving  ⩾20 Gy (fV20). Coplanar IMRT plans using 5-field manually optimised beam angles and 9-field equidistant plans were also evaluated. For each pair of plans, the Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to compare fV20 and the percentage of planning target volume (PTV) receiving 90% of the prescription dose (PTV90). Incorporation of 3He MRI led to median reductions in fV20 of 1.3% (range: 0.2-9.3% p  =  0.04) and 0.2% (range: 0 to 4.1%; p  =  0.012) for 5- and 9-field arrangements, respectively. There was no clinically significant difference in target coverage. Functionally-guided IMRT plans incorporating hyperpolarised 3He MRI information can reduce the dose received by ventilated lung without comprising PTV coverage. The effect was greater for optimised beam angles rather than uniformly spaced fields.

Variation in Methane Emission Rates from Well Pads in Four Oil and Gas Basins with Contrasting Production Volumes and Compositions.

PubMed

Robertson, Anna M; Edie, Rachel; Snare, Dustin; Soltis, Jeffrey; Field, Robert A; Burkhart, Matthew D; Bell, Clay S; Zimmerle, Daniel; Murphy, Shane M

2017-08-01

Atmospheric methane emissions from active natural gas production sites in normal operation were quantified using an inverse Gaussian method (EPA's OTM 33a) in four major U.S. basins/plays: Upper Green River (UGR, Wyoming), Denver-Julesburg (DJ, Colorado), Uintah (Utah), and Fayetteville (FV, Arkansas). In DJ, Uintah, and FV, 72-83% of total measured emissions were from 20% of the well pads, while in UGR the highest 20% of emitting well pads only contributed 54% of total emissions. The total mass of methane emitted as a percent of gross methane produced, termed throughput-normalized methane average (TNMA) and determined by bootstrapping measurements from each basin, varied widely between basins and was (95% CI): 0.09% (0.05-0.15%) in FV, 0.18% (0.12-0.29%) in UGR, 2.1% (1.1-3.9%) in DJ, and 2.8% (1.0-8.6%) in Uintah. Overall, wet-gas basins (UGR, DJ, Uintah) had higher TNMA emissions than the dry-gas FV at all ranges of production per well pad. Among wet basins, TNMA emissions had a strong negative correlation with average gas production per well pad, suggesting that consolidation of operations onto single pads may reduce normalized emissions (average number of wells per pad is 5.3 in UGR versus 1.3 in Uintah and 2.8 in DJ).

The correlation between birth weight and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), kisspeptin-1 (KISS-1), and three-dimensional fetal volume.

PubMed

Kimyon Comert, Gunsu; Esin, Sertac; Caglar, Gamze Sinem; Yirci, Bulent; Ozdemir, Sedat; Demirtas, Selda; Kandemir, Omer

2018-01-24

This study aimed to determine the relationship between birth weight, and maternal serum insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and kisspeptin-1 (KISS-1) levels, and first-trimester fetal volume (FV) based on three-dimensional ultrasonography. The study included 142 pregnant women at gestational week 11°-13 6 . All fetuses were imaged ultrasonographically by the same physician. Maternal blood samples were collected at the time of ultrasonographic evaluation and analyzed for IGFBP-1 and KISS-1 levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Maternal and neonatal weights were recorded at birth. Birth weight ≤10th and the >90th percentiles was defined as small and large for gestational age (SGA and LGA), respectively. Median crown-rump length (CRL), FV, and maternal serum IGFBP-1 and KISS-1 levels were 58.2 mm (35.3-79.2 mm), 16.3 cm 3 (3.8-34.4 cm 3 ), 68.1 ng mL -1 (3.8-377.9 mL -1 ), and 99.7 ng L -1 (42.1-965.3 ng L -1 ), respectively. First-trimester IGFBP-1 levels were significantly lower in the mothers with LGA neonates (p < .05). There was a significant positive correlation between CRL and FV, and between the IGFBP-1 and KISS-1 levels. IGFBP-1 levels and maternal weight at delivery were negatively correlated with neonatal birth weight. There was no correlation between CRL or FV and maternal IGFBP-1 or KISS1 levels (p > .05). The maternal IGFBP-1 level during the first trimester was a significant independent factor for SGA and LGA neonates (Odds ratio (OR): 0.011, 95%CI: 1.005-1.018, p < .001; and OR: 1.297, 95%CI: 1.074-1.566, p = .007, respectively). There was no significant relationship between SGA or LGA, and CRL, FV, or the KISS-1 level. As compared to the maternal KISS-1 level, the maternal IGFBP-1 level during the first trimester might be a better biomarker of fetal growth. Additional larger scale studies are needed to further delineate the utility of IGFBP-1 as a marker of abnormal birth weight.

Spatial Convergence of Three Dimensional Turbulent Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Park, Michael A.; Anderson, W. Kyle

2016-01-01

Finite-volume and finite-element schemes, both implemented within the FUN3D flow solver, are evaluated for several test cases described on the Turbulence-Modeling Resource (TMR) web site. The cases include subsonic flow over a hemisphere cylinder, subsonic flow over a swept bump configuration, and supersonic flow in a square duct. The finite- volume and finite-element schemes are both used to obtain solutions for the first two cases, whereas only the finite-volume scheme is used for the supersonic duct. For the hemisphere cylinder, finite-element solutions obtained on tetrahedral meshes are compared with finite- volume solutions on mixed-element meshes. For the swept bump, finite-volume solutions have been obtained for both hexahedral and tetrahedral meshes and are compared with finite-element solutions obtained on tetrahedral meshes. For the hemisphere cylinder and the swept bump, solutions are obtained on a series of meshes with varying grid density and comparisons are made between drag coefficients, pressure distributions, velocity profiles, and profiles of the turbulence working variable. The square duct shows small variation due to element type or the spatial accuracy of turbulence model convection. It is demonstrated that the finite-element scheme on tetrahedral meshes yields similar accuracy as the finite- volume scheme on mixed-element and hexahedral grids, and demonstrates less sensitivity to the mesh topology (biased tetrahedral grids) than the finite-volume scheme.

Endocytosis of exogenous factor V by ex-vivo differentiated megakaryocytes from patients with severe parahaemophilia.

PubMed

Radu, Claudia M; Spiezia, Luca; Bulato, Cristiana; Gavasso, Sabrina; Campello, Elena; Sartorello, Francesca; Castoldi, Elisabetta; Simioni, Paolo

2016-11-01

Although human megakaryocytes can synthesize factor V (FV), platelet FV derives largely from endocytosis of plasma FV. Recently, it has been shown that plasma transfusions can replenish the platelet FV pool in parahaemophilic patients. Here we corroborate this finding by showing FV endocytosis by ex vivo differentiated megakaryocytes derived from patients with inherited parahaemophilia. Mononuclear stem cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy subjects and of three patients with severe parahaemophilia were cultured in the presence of thrombopoietin and interleukin-3 and differentiated into CD41-positive polynucleated megakaryocytes. Exogenous purified FV was added to the culture medium to evaluate FV endocytosis. Immunofluorescence staining revealed abundant FV expression in megakaryocytes derived from healthy donors, but no FV expression in those derived from patients with severe parahaemophilia. However, after the addition of purified FV to the culture medium, megakaryocytes from parahaemophilia patients became positive upon FV immunostaining, suggesting endocytosis of exogenous FV. Endocytosed FV retained factor Xa-co-factor activity as assessed by a prothrombin time-based functional test in megakaryocyte lysates. Addition of exogenous FV to culture medium can restore the FV content of megakaryocytes derived from patients with severe FV defects. This rescue mechanism can have important clinical implications in the management of parahaemophilia patients. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A Goddard Multi-Scale Modeling System with Unified Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo

2010-01-01

A multi-scale modeling system with unified physics has been developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The system consists of an MMF, the coupled NASA Goddard finite-volume GCM (fvGCM) and Goddard Cumulus Ensemble model (GCE, a CRM); the state-of-the-art Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) and the stand alone GCE. These models can share the same microphysical schemes, radiation (including explicitly calculated cloud optical properties), and surface models that have been developed, improved and tested for different environments. In this talk, I will present: (1) A brief review on GCE model and its applications on the impact of the aerosol on deep precipitation processes, (2) The Goddard MMF and the major difference between two existing MMFs (CSU MMF and Goddard MMF), and preliminary results (the comparison with traditional GCMs), and (3) A discussion on the Goddard WRF version (its developments and applications). We are also performing the inline tracer calculation to comprehend the physical processes (i.e., boundary layer and each quadrant in the boundary layer) related to the development and structure of hurricanes and mesoscale convective systems. In addition, high - resolution (spatial. 2km, and temporal, I minute) visualization showing the model results will be presented.

Seamless Modeling for Research & Predictability of Severe Tropical Storms from Weather-to-Climate Timescales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramaswamy, V.; Chen, J. H.; Delworth, T. L.; Knutson, T. R.; Lin, S. J.; Murakami, H.; Vecchi, G. A.

2017-12-01

Damages from catastrophic tropical storms such as the 2017 destructive hurricanes compel an acceleration of scientific advancements to understand the genesis, underlying mechanisms, frequency, track, intensity, and landfall of these storms. The advances are crucial to provide improved early information for planners and responders. We discuss the development and utilization of a global modeling capability based on a novel atmospheric dynamical core ("Finite-Volume Cubed Sphere or FV3") which captures the realism of the recent tropical storms and is a part of the NOAA Next-Generation Global Prediction System. This capability is also part of an emerging seamless modeling system at NOAA/ Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory for simulating the frequency of storms on seasonal and longer timescales with high fidelity e.g., Atlantic hurricane frequency over the past decades. In addition, the same modeling system has also been employed to evaluate the nature of projected storms on the multi-decadal scales under the influence of anthropogenic factors such as greenhouse gases and aerosols. The seamless modeling system thus facilitates research into and the predictability of severe tropical storms across diverse timescales of practical interest to several societal sectors.

Numerical Investigations on Aerodynamic Forces of Deformable Foils in Hovering Motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yong; Yin, Zhen; Su, Xiaohui; Zhang, Jiantao; Cao, Yuanwei

2017-09-01

The aerodynamic effects of wing deformation for hover flight are numerically investigated by a two-dimensional finite-volume (FV) Arbitrary Langrangian Eulerian (ALE) Navier-Stokes solver. Two deformation models are employed to study these effects in this paper, which are a full deformation model and a partial deformation one. Attentions are paid to the generation and development of leading edge vortex (LEV) and trailing edge vortex (TEV) which may illustrate the differences of lift force generation mechanisms from those of rigid wings. Moreover, lift coefficient Cl, drag coefficient Cd, and figure of merit, as well as energy consumption in hovering motion for different deformation foil models, are also studied. The results show that the deformed amplitude, 0.1*chord, among the cases simulated is an optimized camber amplitude for full deformation. The results obtained from the partial deformation foil model show that both Cl and Cd decrease with the increase of camber amplitude. It is found that the effect of deformation in the partial deformation model does not enhance lift force due to unfavorable camber. But TEV is significantly changed by the local AOA due to the deformation of the foil. Introduction.

Effects of finite volume on the K L – K S mass difference

DOE PAGES

Christ, N.  H.; Feng, X.; Martinelli, G.; ...

2015-06-24

Phenomena that involve two or more on-shell particles are particularly sensitive to the effects of finite volume and require special treatment when computed using lattice QCD. In this paper we generalize the results of Lüscher and Lellouch and Lüscher, which determine the leading-order effects of finite volume on the two-particle spectrum and two-particle decay amplitudes to determine the finite-volume effects in the second-order mixing of the K⁰ and K⁰⁻ states. We extend the methods of Kim, Sachrajda, and Sharpe to provide a direct, uniform treatment of these three, related, finite-volume corrections. In particular, the leading, finite-volume corrections to the Kmore » L – K S mass difference ΔM K and the CP-violating parameter εK are determined, including the potentially large effects which can arise from the near degeneracy of the kaon mass and the energy of a finite-volume, two-pion state.« less

Implementing a free school-based fruit and vegetable programme: barriers and facilitators experienced by pupils, teachers and produce suppliers in the Boost study

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Multi-component interventions which combine educational and environmental strategies appear to be most effective in increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) intake in adolescents. However, multi-component interventions are complex to implement and often poorly implemented. Identification of barriers and facilitators for implementation is warranted to improve future interventions. This study aimed to explore implementation of two intervention components which addressed availability and accessibility of FV in the multi-component, school-based Boost study which targeted FV intake among Danish 13-year-olds and to identify barriers and facilitators for implementation among pupils, teachers and FV suppliers. Methods We conducted focus group interviews with 111 13-year-olds and 13 teachers, completed class observations at six schools, and conducted telephone interviews with all involved FV suppliers. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using qualitative analytical procedures. Results FV suppliers affected the implementation of the FV programme at schools and thereby pupils’ intake through their timing of delivery and through the quality, quantity and variety of the delivered FV. Teachers influenced the accessibility and appearance of FV by deciding if and when the pupils could eat FV and whether FV were cut up. Different aspects of time acted as barriers for teachers’ implementation of the FV programme: time spent on having a FV break during lessons, time needed to prepare FV and time spent on pupils’ misbehaviour and not being able to handle getting FV. Teacher timing of cutting up and serving FV could turn into a barrier for pupils FV intake due to enzymatic browning. The appearance of FV was important for pupils’ intake, especially for girls. FV that did not appeal to the pupils e.g. had turned brown after being cut up were thrown around as a part of a game by the pupils, especially boys. Girls appreciated the social dimension of eating FV together to a larger extent than boys. Conclusions Limited time and pupils’ misbehaviour were barriers for teachers’ implementation. Establishing FV delivery to schools as a new routine challenged FV suppliers’ implementation. Food aesthetics were important for most pupils’ FV intake while the social dimension of eating FV together seemed more important to girls than boys. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN11666034. PMID:24512278

Implementing a free school-based fruit and vegetable programme: barriers and facilitators experienced by pupils, teachers and produce suppliers in the Boost study.

PubMed

Aarestrup, Anne Kristine; Krølner, Rikke; Jørgensen, Thea Suldrup; Evans, Alexandra; Due, Pernille; Tjørnhøj-Thomsen, Tine

2014-02-11

Multi-component interventions which combine educational and environmental strategies appear to be most effective in increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) intake in adolescents. However, multi-component interventions are complex to implement and often poorly implemented. Identification of barriers and facilitators for implementation is warranted to improve future interventions.This study aimed to explore implementation of two intervention components which addressed availability and accessibility of FV in the multi-component, school-based Boost study which targeted FV intake among Danish 13-year-olds and to identify barriers and facilitators for implementation among pupils, teachers and FV suppliers. We conducted focus group interviews with 111 13-year-olds and 13 teachers, completed class observations at six schools, and conducted telephone interviews with all involved FV suppliers. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using qualitative analytical procedures. FV suppliers affected the implementation of the FV programme at schools and thereby pupils' intake through their timing of delivery and through the quality, quantity and variety of the delivered FV. Teachers influenced the accessibility and appearance of FV by deciding if and when the pupils could eat FV and whether FV were cut up. Different aspects of time acted as barriers for teachers' implementation of the FV programme: time spent on having a FV break during lessons, time needed to prepare FV and time spent on pupils' misbehaviour and not being able to handle getting FV. Teacher timing of cutting up and serving FV could turn into a barrier for pupils FV intake due to enzymatic browning. The appearance of FV was important for pupils' intake, especially for girls. FV that did not appeal to the pupils e.g. had turned brown after being cut up were thrown around as a part of a game by the pupils, especially boys. Girls appreciated the social dimension of eating FV together to a larger extent than boys. Limited time and pupils' misbehaviour were barriers for teachers' implementation. Establishing FV delivery to schools as a new routine challenged FV suppliers' implementation. Food aesthetics were important for most pupils' FV intake while the social dimension of eating FV together seemed more important to girls than boys. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN11666034.

40 CFR 63.365 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...)); the flowrate must be constant during time (t) t=time, min %EOV=volume fraction ethylene oxide SV... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Test methods and procedures. 63.365... ethylene oxide charged, g (lb) Fv=volumetric flow rate, liters per minute (L/min) corrected to 20 °C and...

40 CFR 63.365 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...)); the flowrate must be constant during time (t) t=time, min %EOV=volume fraction ethylene oxide SV... 40 Protection of Environment 10 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Test methods and procedures. 63.365... ethylene oxide charged, g (lb) Fv=volumetric flow rate, liters per minute (L/min) corrected to 20 °C and...

Evaluation of the scale dependent dynamic SGS model in the open source code caffa3d.MBRi in wall-bounded flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Draper, Martin; Usera, Gabriel

2015-04-01

The Scale Dependent Dynamic Model (SDDM) has been widely validated in large-eddy simulations using pseudo-spectral codes [1][2][3]. The scale dependency, particularly the potential law, has been proved also in a priori studies [4][5]. To the authors' knowledge there have been only few attempts to use the SDDM in finite difference (FD) and finite volume (FV) codes [6][7], finding some improvements with the dynamic procedures (scale independent or scale dependent approach), but not showing the behavior of the scale-dependence parameter when using the SDDM. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the SDDM in the open source code caffa3d.MBRi, an updated version of the code presented in [8]. caffa3d.MBRi is a FV code, second-order accurate, parallelized with MPI, in which the domain is divided in unstructured blocks of structured grids. To accomplish this, 2 cases are considered: flow between flat plates and flow over a rough surface with the presence of a model wind turbine, taking for this case the experimental data presented in [9]. In both cases the standard Smagorinsky Model (SM), the Scale Independent Dynamic Model (SIDM) and the SDDM are tested. As presented in [6][7] slight improvements are obtained with the SDDM. Nevertheless, the behavior of the scale-dependence parameter supports the generalization of the dynamic procedure proposed in the SDDM, particularly taking into account that no explicit filter is used (the implicit filter is unknown). [1] F. Porté-Agel, C. Meneveau, M.B. Parlange. "A scale-dependent dynamic model for large-eddy simulation: application to a neutral atmospheric boundary layer". Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2000, 415, 261-284. [2] E. Bou-Zeid, C. Meneveau, M. Parlante. "A scale-dependent Lagrangian dynamic model for large eddy simulation of complex turbulent flows". Physics of Fluids, 2005, 17, 025105 (18p). [3] R. Stoll, F. Porté-Agel. "Dynamic subgrid-scale models for momentum and scalar fluxes in large-eddy simulations of neutrally stratified atmospheric boundary layers over heterogeneous terrain". Water Resources Research, 2006, 42, WO1409 (18 p). [4] J. Keissl, M. Parlange, C. Meneveau. "Field experimental study of dynamic Smagorinsky models in the atmospheric surface layer". Journal of the Atmospheric Science, 2004, 61, 2296-2307. [5] E. Bou-Zeid, N. Vercauteren, M.B. Parlange, C. Meneveau. "Scale dependence of subgrid-scale model coefficients: An a priori study". Physics of Fluids, 2008, 20, 115106. [6] G. Kirkil, J. Mirocha, E. Bou-Zeid, F.K. Chow, B. Kosovic, "Implementation and evaluation of dynamic subfilter - scale stress models for large - eddy simulation using WRF". Monthly Weather Review, 2012, 140, 266-284. [7] S. Radhakrishnan, U. Piomelli. "Large-eddy simulation of oscillating boundary layers: model comparison and validation". Journal of Geophysical Research, 2008, 113, C02022. [8] G. Usera, A. Vernet, J.A. Ferré. "A parallel block-structured finite volume method for flows in complex geometry with sliding interfaces". Flow, Turbulence and Combustion, 2008, 81, 471-495. [9] Y-T. Wu, F. Porté-Agel. "Large-eddy simulation of wind-turbine wakes: evaluation of turbine parametrisations". BoundaryLayerMeteorology, 2011, 138, 345-366.

An encapsulated juice powder concentrate improves markers of pulmonary function and cardiovascular risk factors in heavy smokers.

PubMed

Bamonti, Fabrizia; Pellegatta, Marco; Novembrino, Cristina; Vigna, Luisella; De Giuseppe, Rachele; de Liso, Federica; Gregori, Dario; Noce, Cinzia Della; Patrini, Lorenzo; Schiraldi, Gianfranco; Bonara, Paola; Calvelli, Laura; Maiavacca, Rita; Cighetti, Giuliana

2013-01-01

Cigarette smoking is associated with reduced pulmonary function and increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study evaluated the effects of two different combinations of mixed fruit and vegetable juice powder concentrate (Juice Plus+, NSA, Collierville, TN) on heavy smokers. At baseline (T 0) and after 3 months' supplementation (T 1), pulmonary function parameters and cardiovascular risk factors-that is, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) with related B vitamins and cysteine (tCys) concentrations-were assessed in 75 apparently healthy smokers (aged 49.2 ± 10.6 years, >20 cigarettes/d, duration ≥10 years) randomized into 3 groups: placebo (P), fruit/vegetable (FV) and fruit/vegetable/berry (FVB). T 0: most smokers showed abnormalities in tHcy and tCys concentrations. T 1: respiratory function was unchanged in P and slightly, but not significantly, improved in FV, whereas FVB showed a significant improvement in forced expiratory flow at 25% (FEF25; p < 0.0001 vs P and FV) and significant improvement in CO diffusion lung/alveolar volume (DLCO/VA). FV and FVB (50%) showed significant reduction in tHcy and tCys compared to T 0 ( p < 0.0001) and P ( p < 0.0001). At T 1, both supplemented groups, but to a greater extent the FVB group, showed improvements in some pulmonary parameters, cardiovascular risk factors, and folate status. The beneficial effects of Juice Plus+ supplementation could potentially help smokers, even if smoking cessation is advisable.

GFDL's unified regional-global weather-climate modeling system with variable resolution capability for severe weather predictions and regional climate simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, S. J.

2015-12-01

The NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory has been developing a unified regional-global modeling system with variable resolution capabilities that can be used for severe weather predictions (e.g., tornado outbreak events and cat-5 hurricanes) and ultra-high-resolution (1-km) regional climate simulations within a consistent global modeling framework. The fundation of this flexible regional-global modeling system is the non-hydrostatic extension of the vertically Lagrangian dynamical core (Lin 2004, Monthly Weather Review) known in the community as FV3 (finite-volume on the cubed-sphere). Because of its flexability and computational efficiency, the FV3 is one of the final candidates of NOAA's Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS). We have built into the modeling system a stretched (single) grid capability, a two-way (regional-global) multiple nested grid capability, and the combination of the stretched and two-way nests, so as to make convection-resolving regional climate simulation within a consistent global modeling system feasible using today's High Performance Computing System. One of our main scientific goals is to enable simulations of high impact weather phenomena (such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, category-5 hurricanes) within an IPCC-class climate modeling system previously regarded as impossible. In this presentation I will demonstrate that it is computationally feasible to simulate not only super-cell thunderstorms, but also the subsequent genesis of tornadoes using a global model that was originally designed for century long climate simulations. As a unified weather-climate modeling system, we evaluated the performance of the model with horizontal resolution ranging from 1 km to as low as 200 km. In particular, for downscaling studies, we have developed various tests to ensure that the large-scale circulation within the global varaible resolution system is well simulated while at the same time the small-scale can be accurately captured within the targeted high resolution region.

Intercomparison of Multiscale Modeling Approaches in Simulating Subsurface Flow and Transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, X.; Mehmani, Y.; Barajas-Solano, D. A.; Song, H. S.; Balhoff, M.; Tartakovsky, A. M.; Scheibe, T. D.

2016-12-01

Hybrid multiscale simulations that couple models across scales are critical to advance predictions of the larger system behavior using understanding of fundamental processes. In the current study, three hybrid multiscale methods are intercompared: multiscale loose-coupling method, multiscale finite volume (MsFV) method and multiscale mortar method. The loose-coupling method enables a parallel workflow structure based on the Swift scripting environment that manages the complex process of executing coupled micro- and macro-scale models without being intrusive to the at-scale simulators. The MsFV method applies microscale and macroscale models over overlapping subdomains of the modeling domain and enforces continuity of concentration and transport fluxes between models via restriction and prolongation operators. The mortar method is a non-overlapping domain decomposition approach capable of coupling all permutations of pore- and continuum-scale models with each other. In doing so, Lagrange multipliers are used at interfaces shared between the subdomains so as to establish continuity of species/fluid mass flux. Subdomain computations can be performed either concurrently or non-concurrently depending on the algorithm used. All the above methods have been proven to be accurate and efficient in studying flow and transport in porous media. However, there has not been any field-scale applications and benchmarking among various hybrid multiscale approaches. To address this challenge, we apply all three hybrid multiscale methods to simulate water flow and transport in a conceptualized 2D modeling domain of the hyporheic zone, where strong interactions between groundwater and surface water exist across multiple scales. In all three multiscale methods, fine-scale simulations are applied to a thin layer of riverbed alluvial sediments while the macroscopic simulations are used for the larger subsurface aquifer domain. Different numerical coupling methods are then applied between scales and inter-compared. Comparisons are drawn in terms of velocity distributions, solute transport behavior, algorithm-induced numerical error and computing cost. The intercomparison work provides support for confidence in a variety of hybrid multiscale methods and motivates further development and applications.

High Performance Computing Technologies for Modeling the Dynamics and Dispersion of Ice Chunks in the Arctic Ocean

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-23

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: Hybrid finite element / finite volume based CaMEL shallow water flow solvers have been successfully extended to study wave...effects on ice floes in a simplified 10 sq-km ocean domain. Our solver combines the merits of both the finite element and finite volume methods and...ES) U.S. Army Research Office P.O. Box 12211 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211 sea ice dynamics, shallow water, finite element , finite volume

High Specific Selectivity and Membrane-Active Mechanism of Synthetic Cationic Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptides Based on the Peptide FV7

PubMed Central

Tan, Tingting; Wu, Di; Li, Weizhong; Zheng, Xin; Li, Weifen; Shan, Anshan

2017-01-01

Hybrid peptides integrating different functional domains of peptides have many advantages, such as remarkable antimicrobial activity, lower hemolysis and ideal cell selectivity, compared with natural antimicrobial peptides. FV7 (FRIRVRV-NH2), a consensus amphiphilic sequence was identified as being analogous to host defense peptides. In this study, we designed a series of hybrid peptides FV7-LL-37 (17–29) (FV-LL), FV7-magainin 2 (9–21) (FV-MA) and FV7-cecropin A (1–8) (FV-CE) by combining the FV7 sequence with the small functional sequences LL-37 (17–29) (LL), magainin 2 (9–21) (MA) and cecropin A (1–8) (CE) which all come from well-described natural peptides. The results demonstrated that the synthetic hybrid peptides, in particular FV-LL, had potent antibacterial activities over a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with lower hemolytic activity than other peptides. Furthermore, fluorescent spectroscopy indicated that the hybrid peptide FV-LL exhibited marked membrane destruction by inducing outer and inner bacterial membrane permeabilization, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that FV-LL damaged membrane integrity by disrupting the bacterial membrane. Inhibiting biofilm formation assays also showed that FV-LL had similar anti-biofilm activity compared with the functional peptide sequence FV7. Synthetic cationic hybrid peptides based on FV7 could provide new models for combining different functional domains and demonstrate effective avenues to screen for novel antimicrobial agents. PMID:28178190

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Novel Laccase Genes in the White-Rot Fungus Flammulina velutipes

PubMed Central

Kim, Hong-Il; Kwon, O-Chul; Kong, Won-Sik; Lee, Chang-Soo

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize new Flammulina velutipes laccases from its whole-genome sequence. Of the 15 putative laccase genes detected in the F. velutipes genome, four new laccase genes (fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4) were found to contain four complete copper-binding regions (ten histidine residues and one cysteine residue) and four cysteine residues involved in forming disulfide bridges, fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4, encoding proteins consisting of 516, 518, 515, and 533 amino acid residues, respectively. Potential N-glycosylation sites (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) were identified in the cDNA sequence of fvLac-1 (Asn-454), fvLac-2 (Asn-437 and Asn-455), fvLac-3 (Asn-111 and Asn-237), and fvLac4 (Asn-402 and Asn-457). In addition, the first 19~20 amino acid residues of these proteins were predicted to comprise signal peptides. Laccase activity assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses clearly reveal that CuSO4 affects the induction and the transcription level of these laccase genes. PMID:25606003

Stabilized Finite Elements in FUN3D

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, W. Kyle; Newman, James C.; Karman, Steve L.

2017-01-01

A Streamlined Upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) stabilized finite-element discretization has been implemented as a library into the FUN3D unstructured-grid flow solver. Motivation for the selection of this methodology is given, details of the implementation are provided, and the discretization for the interior scheme is verified for linear and quadratic elements by using the method of manufactured solutions. A methodology is also described for capturing shocks, and simulation results are compared to the finite-volume formulation that is currently the primary method employed for routine engineering applications. The finite-element methodology is demonstrated to be more accurate than the finite-volume technology, particularly on tetrahedral meshes where the solutions obtained using the finite-volume scheme can suffer from adverse effects caused by bias in the grid. Although no effort has been made to date to optimize computational efficiency, the finite-element scheme is competitive with the finite-volume scheme in terms of computer time to reach convergence.

Finite Volume Method for Pricing European Call Option with Regime-switching Volatility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lista Tauryawati, Mey; Imron, Chairul; Putri, Endah RM

2018-03-01

In this paper, we present a finite volume method for pricing European call option using Black-Scholes equation with regime-switching volatility. In the first step, we formulate the Black-Scholes equations with regime-switching volatility. we use a finite volume method based on fitted finite volume with spatial discretization and an implicit time stepping technique for the case. We show that the regime-switching scheme can revert to the non-switching Black Scholes equation, both in theoretical evidence and numerical simulations.

Quantitative Weather Impacts: An Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid Impact Magnitude Gradation Scheme and Friendly Versus Threat Delta Advantage

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-01

FV_RED 600 (9,9) –0.0010 3.0000 2.40 2.40 FV_MAX_RED_TH 0 (4,9) –0.0010 3.0000 3.00 3.00 FV_EXCEED_MAX_RED_TH NAa –0.0010 3.0000 NA NA a Since...0.46)] MIV MIV FV and (Array Row, Column) FV_<_ZERO_IMPACT_TH NAa NA NA FV_ZERO_IMPACT_TH 0.00 (0,0) 9.0909 0.0000 0.00 0.00 FV_GREEN 0.10

Associations between school meals offered through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program and fruit and vegetable intake among ethnically diverse, low-income children.

PubMed

Robinson-O'Brien, Ramona; Burgess-Champoux, Teri; Haines, Jess; Hannan, Peter J; Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne

2010-10-01

Despite evidence in support of the health benefits associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, national data indicate that FV consumption among school-aged children is below recommended levels, particularly among low-income children. School meals offered through the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program can provide an important contribution to child FV intake. This study examines the proportion of fruits and vegetables consumed from school meals programs among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children. Participants (n = 103) included fourth to sixth grade boys and girls from 4 urban elementary schools in St. Paul, Minnesota serving primarily low-income populations. Research staff interviewed children during school hours and recorded dietary intake via 24-hour recall. Analysis included descriptive statistics using cross tabulations and means. Average reported mean (SD) daily FV intake was 3.6 (2.5) servings, with 80% of children consuming fewer than 5 daily servings of FV. On average, children consumed over half of their daily FV intake within school. Children with low FV intake (<5 FV servings daily) consumed a higher proportion of their daily intake at school than children with higher FV intake (≥5 FV servings daily) (39% vs 59%; p = .002). Child FV intake is below recommended levels. School meals provide an important contribution to the daily FV intake among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children, particularly among those with the lowest FV intake. School meals programs promoting FV intake within the school environment may provide an opportunity to encourage increased FV consumption. © 2010, American School Health Association.

Fruit and Vegetable Attitudes, Norms, and Intake in Low-Income Youth.

PubMed

Di Noia, Jennifer; Cullen, Karen Weber

2015-12-01

Fruit and vegetable (FV) attitudes and norms have been shown to influence intake in youth; yet research with low-income youth and studies supplementing self-report with objective measures of intake are lacking. Cross-sectional survey data on self-rated FV intake, FV attitudes, and FV norms were collected in a sample of 116 youth attending a residential summer camp serving low-income families. FV intake also was estimated by direct observation. Differences between self-rated and observed FV intake, perceived and observed peer intake, and perceived and peer-reported attitudes toward eating FVs were assessed with paired samples t tests. The role of FV attitudes, descriptive norms (perceived peer FV intake), injunctive norms (perceived peer attitudes toward eating FVs), and actual norms (observed peer FV intake and peer-reported FV attitudes) in predicting FV intake also was examined with multiple regression analysis. Youth misperceived their own and their peers' FV intake (i.e., overestimated intake of fruit and underestimated intake of vegetables) and believed that peers held less favorable attitudes toward eating FVs than was the case. The models predicting self-rated intake were significant, accounting for 34% of the variance in fruit intake and 28% of the variance in vegetable intake. Attitudes and descriptive norms were positively associated with FV intake, and observed peer fruit intake was negatively associated with fruit intake. Findings suggest that in low-income youth, FV attitudes, descriptive norms, and normative peer behavior predict perceived but not actual intake. Youth may benefit from intervention to promote favorable FV attitudes and norms. A focus on descriptive norms holds promise for improving self-rated intake in this population. © 2015 Society for Public Health Education.

The effectiveness of asking behaviors among 9-11 year-old children in increasing home availability and children's intake of fruit and vegetables: results from the Squire's Quest II self-regulation game intervention.

PubMed

DeSmet, Ann; Liu, Yan; De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse; Baranowski, Tom; Thompson, Debbe

2017-04-21

Home environment has an important influence on children's fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, but children may in turn also impact their home FV environment, e.g. by asking for FV. The Squire's Quest II serious game intervention aimed to increase asking behaviors to improve home FV availability and children's FV intake. This study's aims were to assess: 1) did asking behaviors at baseline predict home FV availability at baseline (T0) (RQ1); 2) were asking behaviors and home FV availability influenced by the intervention (RQ2); 3) did increases in asking behaviors predict increased home FV availability (RQ3); and 4) did increases in asking behaviors and increases in home FV availability mediate increases in FV intake among children (RQ4)? This is a secondary analysis of a study using a randomized controlled trial, with 4 groups (each n = 100 child-parent dyads). All groups were analyzed together for this paper since groups did not vary on components relevant to our analysis. All children and parents (n = 400 dyads) received a self-regulation serious game intervention and parent material. The intervention ran for three months. Measurements were taken at baseline, immediately after intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Asking behavior and home FV availability were measured using questionnaires; child FV intake was measured using 24-h dietary recalls. ANCOVA methods (research question 1), linear mixed-effect models (research question 2), and Structural Equation Modeling (research questions 3 and 4) were used. Baseline child asking behaviors predicted baseline home FV availability. The intervention increased child asking behaviors and home FV availability. Increases in child asking behaviors, however, did not predict increased home FV availability. Increased child asking behaviors and home FV availability also did not mediate the increases in child FV intake. Children influence their home FV environment through their asking behaviors, which can be enhanced via a serious game intervention. The obtained increases in asking behavior were, however, insufficient to affect home FV availability or intake. Other factors, such as child preferences, sample characteristics, intervention duration and parental direct involvement may play a role and warrant examination in future research. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01004094 . Date registered 10/28/2009.

Selecting and expressing protective single-chain Fv fragment to stabilize L-asparaginase against inactivation by trypsin.

PubMed

Guo, L; Yan, X; Qian, S; Meng, G

2000-02-01

Four non-inhibitory specific single-chain Fv (sc Fv) fragments directed against L-asparaginase (ASNase) of Escherichia coli were selected from a synthetic phage-display scFv library. The scFv46 fragment could enhance the resistance of ASNase to trypsin proteolysis, with 70% of the initial ASNase activity present after the ASNase-scFv46 complex had been treated with trypsin for 30 min at 37 degrees C, whereas little residual activity was detected without the scFv46 fragment. The scFv46 gene was cloned to an expression vector pET-21a and expressed at high levels (about 45% of total cell protein) in E. coli BL21 (DE3) as inclusion bodies. The refolded and purified scFv46 fragment was proved to protect ASNase, and the protective effect was further confirmed by SDS/PAGE. It was found that under optimum conditions of molar ratio of scFv to ASNase, incubation time and temperature, the residual activity of the ASNase-scFv46 complex could reach about 78% after treatment with trypsin for 30 min at 37 degrees C. The results demonstrated that scFv fragments prepared by phage-antibody library technology could be used to protect target proteins.

Finite volume effects on the electric polarizability of neutral hadrons in lattice QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lujan, M.; Alexandru, A.; Freeman, W.; Lee, F. X.

2016-10-01

We study the finite volume effects on the electric polarizability for the neutron, neutral pion, and neutral kaon using eight dynamically generated two-flavor nHYP-clover ensembles at two different pion masses: 306(1) and 227(2) MeV. An infinite volume extrapolation is performed for each hadron at both pion masses. For the neutral kaon, finite volume effects are relatively mild. The dependence on the quark mass is also mild, and a reliable chiral extrapolation can be performed along with the infinite volume extrapolation. Our result is αK0 phys=0.356 (74 )(46 )×10-4 fm3 . In contrast, for neutron, the electric polarizability depends strongly on the volume. After removing the finite volume corrections, our neutron polarizability results are in good agreement with chiral perturbation theory. For the connected part of the neutral pion polarizability, the negative trend persists, and it is not due to finite volume effects but likely sea quark charging effects.

Family Violence and Associated Help-Seeking Behavior among Older African American Women

PubMed Central

Paranjape, Anuradha; Tucker, Alyce; Mckenzie-Mack, LaTasha; Thompson, Nancy; Kaslow, Nadine

2007-01-01

Objective Little is known about how older African American women define family violence (FV) and what FV survivors might expect from their healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to understand how these women define FV, where they seek help for FV, and what barriers they face in these efforts. Methods We conducted 6 focus groups with 30 African American women over the age of 50, including some FV survivors, at a large, inner-city public hospital. Results Participants defined FV broadly, citing examples of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional and financial) and neglect. Spiritual sources were cited over physicians as being available to help FV survivors. Barriers to receiving assistance included negative encounters with physicians, lack of trust in the system and dearth of age-appropriate resources. Conclusions For older African American women, FV takes many forms of which many may not be obvious during the clinical encounter. Like younger FV survivors, they expect physicians to serve as a resource for FV. Practice implications Physicians caring for older African American women need to remember to ask them about FV, and when making referrals for abuse and neglect, consider offering referrals to pastoral care if appropriate. PMID:17644300

A conjugate of an anti-midkine single-chain variable fragment to doxorubicin inhibits tumor growth

PubMed Central

Zhao, Shuli; Zhao, Guangfeng; Xie, Hao; Huang, Yahong; Hou, Yayi

2012-01-01

Doxorubicin (DOX) was conjugated to a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) against human midkine (MK), and the conjugate (scFv-DOX) was used to target the chemotherapeutic agent to a mouse solid tumor model in which the tumor cells expressed high levels of human MK. The His-tagged recombinant scFv was expressed in bacteria, purified by metal affinity chromatography, and then conjugated to DOX using oxidative dextran (Dex) as a linker. The molecular formula of this immunoconjugate was scFv(Dex)1.3(DOX)20. In vitro apoptosis assays showed that the scFv-DOX conjugate was more cytotoxic against MK-transfected human adenocarcinoma cells (BGC823-MK) than untransfected cells (55.3 ± 2.4 vs 22.4 ± 3.8%) for three independent experiments. Nude mice bearing BGC823-MK solid tumors received scFv-DOX or equivalent doses of scFv + DOX for 2 weeks and tumor growth was more effectively inhibited by the scFv-DOX conjugate than by scFv + DOX (51.83% inhibition vs 40.81%). Histological analysis of the tumor tissues revealed that the highest levels of DOX accumulated in tumors from mice treated with scFv-DOX and this resulted in more extensive tumor cell death than in animals treated with the equivalent dose of scFv + DOX. These results show that the scFv-DOX conjugate effectively inhibited tumor growth in vivo and suggest that antigen-specific scFv may be competent drug-carriers. PMID:22267001

Family meals can help children reach their 5 a day: a cross-sectional survey of children's dietary intake from London primary schools.

PubMed

Christian, Meaghan S; Evans, Charlotte E L; Hancock, Neil; Nykjaer, Camilla; Cade, Janet E

2013-04-01

This study aims to explore how the home food environment and parental attitudes and values affect children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake. The sample consists of 2383 children with a mean age of 8.3 years (95% CI 8.2 to 8.3) attending 52 primary schools in London. These children are taking part in two randomised controlled trials to evaluate a school gardening programme. Diet was assessed using a validated 24-h food tick list, the Child And Diet Evaluation Tool (CADET). The CADET tool found that children consumed on average 293 g F&V (95% CI 287 to 303) per day. Clustered (by school) multilevel regression models with total F&V as the primary outcome were conducted to explore how the home environment affects children's F&V intake. Children of families who reported 'always' eating a family meal together at a table had 125 g (95% CI 92 to 157; p=<0.001) more F&V than families who never ate a meal together. Daily consumption of F&V by parents was associated with higher F&V (88 g, 95% CI 37 to 138) intake in children compared with rarely/never consumption of F&V by parents. Cutting up fruit and vegetables for children was associated with higher consumption. Families who reported always cutting up F&V for their children had 44 g (95% CI 18 to 71) more F&V than families who never cut up F&V. This study identified that cutting up F&V and family consumption of F&V facilitates children's intake. Eating a family meal together regularly could increase children's F&V intake and help them achieve the recommended intake. ISRCTN11396528.

Finite-volume scheme for anisotropic diffusion

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

Es, Bram van, E-mail: bramiozo@gmail.com; FOM Institute DIFFER, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research, The Netherlands"1; Koren, Barry

In this paper, we apply a special finite-volume scheme, limited to smooth temperature distributions and Cartesian grids, to test the importance of connectivity of the finite volumes. The area of application is nuclear fusion plasma with field line aligned temperature gradients and extreme anisotropy. We apply the scheme to the anisotropic heat-conduction equation, and compare its results with those of existing finite-volume schemes for anisotropic diffusion. Also, we introduce a general model adaptation of the steady diffusion equation for extremely anisotropic diffusion problems with closed field lines.

Technology of compact MAb and its application for medicinal plant breeding named as missile type molecular breeding.

PubMed

Putalun, Waraporn

2011-03-01

Single chain fragment-variable (scFv) enhanced solasodine glycoside accumulation in Solanum khasianum hairy root cultures transformed by the ScFv solamargine (As)-scFv gene. The scFv protein was expressed at a high level in inclusion bodies of E. coli. After being renatured, the scFv protein was purified in a one-step manner by metal chelate affinity chromatography. The yield of refolded and purified scFv was 12.5 mg per 100 ml of cell culture. The characteristics of the As-scFv expressed in E. coli and transgenic hairy roots were similar to those of the parent monoclonal antibody (MAb). The expression of scFv protein provides a low cost and a high yield of functional scFv antibody against solamargine. The full linear range of the ELISA assay using scFv was extended from 1.5-10 µg/ml. The expressed anti-solamargine scFv protein could be useful for determination of total solasodine glycoside content in plant samples by ELISA. Solasodine glycoside levels in the transgenic hairy root were 2.3-fold higher than that in the wild-type hairy root based on the soluble protein level and binding activities. The As-scFv expressed in S. khasianum hairy roots enhanced solasodine glycosides accumulation and provide a novel medicinal plant breeding methodology that can produce a high yield of secondary metabolites.

What determines the fruit and vegetables intake of primary school children? - An analysis of personal and social determinants.

PubMed

Haß, Julia; Hartmann, Monika

2018-01-01

The high prevalence of childhood obesity is a major concern in developed and developing countries. An increase in fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is perceived as one of the numerous strategies to prevent and reduce the risk of adiposity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of personal and social determinants in explaining children's F&V intake. Written questionnaire data were collected from 702 parent-child pairs that included 3rd and 4th graders (aged 7 to 10) and their parents. Children's F&V intake was recorded over three food records. Hierarchical linear regression models were applied to assess the impact of personal and social determinants on children's F&V intake. Regression models focusing on personal and social determinants revealed that the most promising personal determinants pertained to the knowledge of different types of F&V and preferences for F&V. Moreover, an exclusive focus on social determinants indicated that parental modeling and peer influence had significant and positive relationships with children's F&V intake, whereas verbal directives to eat F&V exhibited a significant and negative relationship. In combination, the following four personal and social determinants were demonstrated to be significant: knowledge of different types of F&V, preferences for F&V and parental modeling, all of which had positive relationships, and verbal directives to eat F&V, which had a negative impact. The results identify important associative determinants of children's F&V intake. These are in part personal and in part social and are shown by our analysis to be of equal and perhaps mutual importance. Therefore, we suggest that interventions aimed at improving children's F&V intake should address children's preferences for F&V, impart knowledge concerning the variety of F&V and encourage parents to act as role models. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coupled Hydro-Mechanical Modeling of Fluid Geological Storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castelletto, N.; Garipov, T.; Tchelepi, H. A.

2013-12-01

The accurate modeling of the complex coupled physical processes occurring during the injection and the post-injection period is a key factor for assessing the safety and the feasibility of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in subsurface formations. In recent years, it has become widely accepted the importance of the coupling between fluid flow and geomechanical response in constraining the sustainable pressure buildup caused by fluid injection relative to the caprock sealing capacity, induced seismicity effects and ground surface stability [e.g., Rutqvist, 2012; Castelletto et al., 2013]. Here, we present a modeling approach based on a suitable combination of Finite Volumes (FVs) and Finite Elements (FEs) to solve the coupled system of partial differential equations governing the multiphase flow in a deformable porous medium. Specifically, a FV method is used for the flow problem while the FE method is adopted to address the poro-elasto-plasticity equations. The aim of the present work is to compare the performance and the robustness of unconditionally stable sequential-implicit schemes [Kim et al., 2011] and the fully-implicit method in solving the algebraic systems arising from the discretization of the governing equations, for both normally conditioned and severely ill-conditioned problems. The two approaches are tested against well-known analytical solutions and experimented with in a realistic application of CO2 injection in a synthetic aquifer. References: - Castelletto N., G. Gambolati, and P. Teatini (2013), Geological CO2 sequestration in multi-compartment reservoirs: Geomechanical challenges, J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 118, 2417-2428, doi:10.1002/jgrb.50180. - Kim J., H. A. Tchelepi, and R. Juanes (2011), Stability, accuracy and efficiency of sequential methods for coupled flow and geomechanics, SPE J., 16(2), 249-262. - Rutqvist J. (2012), The geomechanics of CO2 storage in deep sedimentary formations, Geotech. Geol. Eng., 30, 525-551.

Trying versus liking fruits and vegetables: correspondence between mothers and preschoolers.

PubMed

Worobey, Harriet; Ostapkovich, Kathleen; Yudin, Kristin; Worobey, John

2010-01-01

Extensive research indicates that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (F&V) protects against numerous illnesses in adulthood, but that most individuals, including children, consume far fewer F&V per day than is recommended. Since evidence suggests that eating habits in childhood track into adulthood, more research is necessary to learn about how parental F&V intake and opportunities influence child F&V consumption. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mothers' F&V preferences and those of their preschool-age children to determine if greater maternal "liking" of fruits and vegetables was associated with their reports of their children's "trying" more fruits and vegetables. Eighty-three mothers completed a questionnaire that assessed whether they and their preschoolers had tried or liked a variety of F&V. Mothers liked 86% of the fruits they tried, girls 76%, and boys 69%. Mothers liked 81% of the vegetables they tried; boys and girls liked 55%. Mothers' likes correlated with F&V that their children tried, but mothers' likes also limited the number of F&V that their children tried. Mothers reported preferences for F&V are associated with estimates of their preschoolers' preferences for F&V. Relative to girls, boys may need additional opportunities for F&V exposure. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

The importance of vertical resolution in the free troposphere for modeling intercontinental plumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Jiawei; Jacob, Daniel J.; Eastham, Sebastian D.

2018-05-01

Chemical plumes in the free troposphere can preserve their identity for more than a week as they are transported on intercontinental scales. Current global models cannot reproduce this transport. The plumes dilute far too rapidly due to numerical diffusion in sheared flow. We show how model accuracy can be limited by either horizontal resolution (Δx) or vertical resolution (Δz). Balancing horizontal and vertical numerical diffusion, and weighing computational cost, implies an optimal grid resolution ratio (Δx / Δz)opt ˜ 1000 for simulating the plumes. This is considerably higher than current global models (Δx / Δz ˜ 20) and explains the rapid plume dilution in the models as caused by insufficient vertical resolution. Plume simulations with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Finite-Volume Cubed-Sphere Dynamical Core (GFDL-FV3) over a range of horizontal and vertical grid resolutions confirm this limiting behavior. Our highest-resolution simulation (Δx ≈ 25 km, Δz ≈ 80 m) preserves the maximum mixing ratio in the plume to within 35 % after 8 days in strongly sheared flow, a drastic improvement over current models. Adding free tropospheric vertical levels in global models is computationally inexpensive and would also improve the simulation of water vapor.

A supersonic jet target for the cross section measurement of the 12C(α, γ)16O reaction with the recoil mass separator ERNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rapagnani, D.; Buompane, R.; Di Leva, A.; Gialanella, L.; Busso, M.; De Cesare, M.; De Stefano, G.; Duarte, J. G.; Gasques, L. R.; Morales Gallegos, L.; Palmerini, S.; Romoli, M.; Tufariello, F.

2017-09-01

12C(α, γ)16O cross section plays a key-role in the stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis of massive stars. Hence, it must be determined with the precision of about 10% at the relevant Gamow energy of 300 keV. The ERNA (European Recoil mass separator for Nuclear Astrophysics) collaboration measured, for the first time, the total cross section of 12C(α, γ)16O by means of the direct detection of the 16O ions produced in the reaction down to an energy of Ecm = 1.9 MeV. To extend the measurement at lower energy, it is necessary to limit the extension of the He gas target. This can be achieved using a supersonic jet, where the oblique shock waves and expansion fans formed at its boundaries confine the gas, which can be efficiently collected using a catcher. A test version of such a system has been designed, constructed and experimentally characterized as a bench mark for a full numerical simulation using FV (Finite Volume) methods. The results of the commissioning of the jet test version and the design of the new system that will be used in combination with ERNA are presented and discussed.

Reprint of: A supersonic jet target for the cross section measurement of the 12C(α, γ)16O reaction with the recoil mass separator ERNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rapagnani, D.; Buompane, R.; Di Leva, A.; Gialanella, L.; Busso, M.; De Cesare, M.; De Stefano, G.; Duarte, J. G.; Gasques, L. R.; Morales Gallegos, L.; Palmerini, S.; Romoli, M.; Tufariello, F.

2018-01-01

12C(α, γ)16O cross section plays a key-role in the stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis of massive stars. Hence, it must be determined with the precision of about 10% at the relevant Gamow energy of 300 keV. The ERNA (European Recoil mass separator for Nuclear Astrophysics) collaboration measured, for the first time, the total cross section of 12C(α, γ)16O by means of the direct detection of the 16O ions produced in the reaction down to an energy of Ecm = 1.9 MeV. To extend the measurement at lower energy, it is necessary to limit the extension of the He gas target. This can be achieved using a supersonic jet, where the oblique shock waves and expansion fans formed at its boundaries confine the gas, which can be efficiently collected using a catcher. A test version of such a system has been designed, constructed and experimentally characterized as a bench mark for a full numerical simulation using FV (Finite Volume) methods. The results of the commissioning of the jet test version and the design of the new system that will be used in combination with ERNA are presented and discussed.

Computations of steady-state and transient premixed turbulent flames using pdf methods

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

Hulek, T.; Lindstedt, R.P.

1996-03-01

Premixed propagating turbulent flames are modeled using a one-point, single time, joint velocity-composition probability density function (pdf) closure. The pdf evolution equation is solved using a Monte Carlo method. The unclosed terms in the pdf equation are modeled using a modified version of the binomial Langevin model for scalar mixing of Valino and Dopazo, and the Haworth and Pope (HP) and Lagrangian Speziale-Sarkar-Gatski (LSSG) models for the viscous dissipation of velocity and the fluctuating pressure gradient. The source terms for the presumed one-step chemical reaction are extracted from the rate of fuel consumption in laminar premixed hydrocarbon flames, computed usingmore » a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism. Steady-state and transient solutions are obtained for planar turbulent methane-air and propane-air flames. The transient solution method features a coupling with a Finite Volume (FV) code to obtain the mean pressure field. The results are compared with the burning velocity measurements of Abdel-Gayed et al. and with velocity measurements obtained in freely propagating propane-air flames by Videto and Santavicca. The effects of different upstream turbulence fields, chemical source terms (different fuels and strained/unstrained laminar flames) and the influence of the velocity statistics models (HP and LSSG) are assessed.« less

Single-step colony assay for screening antibody libraries.

PubMed

Kato, Mieko; Hanyu, Yoshiro

2017-08-10

We describe a method, single-step colony assay, for simple and rapid screening of single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) libraries. Colonies of Escherichia coli expressing the scFv library are formed on a hydrophilic filter that is positioned in contact with a membrane coated with an antigen. scFv expression is triggered upon treatment of colonies with an induction reagent, following which scFvs are secreted from the cells and diffused to the antigen-coated membrane. scFvs that exhibit binding affinity for the antigen are captured by the membrane-immobilized antigen. Lastly, detection of scFv binding of the antigen on the membrane allows identification of the clones on the filter that express antigen-specific scFvs. We tested this methodology by using an anti-rabbit IgG scFv, scFv(A10B), and a rat immune scFv library. Experiments conducted using scFv(A10B) revealed that this method improves scFv expression during the colony assay. By using our method to screen an immune library of 3×10 3 scFv clones, we established several clones exhibiting affinity for the antigen. Moreover, we tested 7 other antigens, including peptides, and successfully identified positive clones. We believe that this simple procedure and controlled scFv expression of the single-step colony assay could make the antibody screening both rapid and reliable and lead to successful isolation of positive clones from antibody libraries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Toward low-cost affinity reagents: lyophilized yeast-scFv probes specific for pathogen antigens.

PubMed

Gray, Sean A; Weigel, Kris M; Ali, Ibne K M; Lakey, Annie A; Capalungan, Jeremy; Domingo, Gonzalo J; Cangelosi, Gerard A

2012-01-01

The generation of affinity reagents, usually monoclonal antibodies, remains a critical bottleneck in biomedical research and diagnostic test development. Recombinant antibody-like proteins such as scFv have yet to replace traditional monoclonal antibodies in antigen detection applications, in large part because of poor performance of scFv in solution. To address this limitation, we have developed assays that use whole yeast cells expressing scFv on their surfaces (yeast-scFv) in place of soluble purified scFv or traditional monoclonal antibodies. In this study, a nonimmune library of human scFv displayed on the surfaces of yeast cells was screened for clones that bind to recombinant cyst proteins of Entamoeba histolytica, an enteric pathogen of humans. Selected yeast-scFv clones were stabilized by lyophilization and used in detection assay formats in which the yeast-scFv served as solid support-bound monoclonal antibodies. Specific binding of antigen to the yeast-scFv was detected by staining with rabbit polyclonal antibodies. In flow cytometry-based assays, lyophilized yeast-scFv reagents retained full binding activity and specificity for their cognate antigens after 4 weeks of storage at room temperature in the absence of desiccants or stabilizers. Because flow cytometry is not available to all potential assay users, an immunofluorescence assay was also developed that detects antigen with similar sensitivity and specificity. Antigen-specific whole-cell yeast-scFv reagents can be selected from nonimmune libraries in 2-3 weeks, produced in vast quantities, and packaged in lyophilized form for extended shelf life. Lyophilized yeast-scFv show promise as low cost, renewable alternatives to monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis and research.

No Time For Family Meals? Parenting Practices Associated With Adolescent Fruit And Vegetable Intake When Family Meals Are Not An Option

PubMed Central

Loth, Katie; Berge, Jerica M.; Larson, Nicole; Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne

2017-01-01

Background Despite research linking family meals to healthier diets, some families are unable to have regular meals together. These families need guidance about other ways to promote healthy eating among adolescents. Objective To examine the association between various parenting practices and adolescent fruit and vegetable (FV) intake at different levels of family meal frequency. Design Cross-sectional, population-based survey of influences on adolescent weight-related behaviors: EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity in Teens). Participants/Setting 2,491 adolescents recruited from middle/high schools in Minneapolis/St-Paul Measures Adolescent FV intake was ascertained with a food frequency questionnaire. Survey items assessed frequency of family meals and FV parenting practices (availability, accessibility, parent modeling, parent encouragement, and family communication). Statistical Analyses Linear regression models were used to examine associations with and interactions among family meals and parenting practices. Models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and energy intake (kcal/day). Results Family meals, FV availability, FV accessibility, FV modeling, and encouragement to eat healthy foods were independently associated with higher FV intake. Of the 949 (34%) adolescents who reported infrequent family meals (≤2 days/week), mean FV intake was 3.6 servings/day for those with high home FV availability versus 3.0 servings/day for those with low home FV availability. Similar differences in mean FV intake (0-3-0.6 servings/day) were found for high versus low FV accessibility, parental modeling, and parent encouragement for healthy eating. Frequent family meals in addition to more favorable parenting practices were associated with the highest FV intakes. Conclusion Food parenting practices and family meals are associated with greater adolescent FV intake. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine which combination of parenting practices will lead to improvements in adolescent diet. PMID:27989447

Fragaria vesca CONSTANS controls photoperiodic flowering and vegetative development.

PubMed

Kurokura, Takeshi; Samad, Samia; Koskela, Elli; Mouhu, Katriina; Hytönen, Timo

2017-10-13

According to the external coincidence model, photoperiodic flowering occurs when CONSTANS (CO) mRNA expression coincides with light in the afternoon of long days (LDs), leading to the activation of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). CO has evolved in Brassicaceae from other Group Ia CO-like (COL) proteins which do not control photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis. COLs in other species have evolved different functions as floral activators or even as repressors. To understand photoperiodic development in the perennial rosaceous model species woodland strawberry, we functionally characterized FvCO, the only Group Ia COL in its genome. We demonstrate that FvCO has a major role in the photoperiodic control of flowering and vegetative reproduction through runners. FvCO is needed to generate a bimodal rhythm of FvFT1 which encodes a floral activator in the LD accession Hawaii-4: a sharp FvCO expression peak at dawn is followed by the FvFT1 morning peak in LDs indicating possible direct regulation, but additional factors that may include FvGI and FvFKF1 are probably needed to schedule the second FvFT1 peak around dusk. These results demonstrate that although FvCO and FvFT1 play major roles in photoperiodic development, the CO-based external coincidence around dusk is not fully applicable to the woodland strawberry. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Examining neighborhood and interpersonal norms and social support on fruit and vegetable intake in low-income communities.

PubMed

Dulin, Akilah; Risica, Patricia M; Mello, Jennifer; Ahmed, Rashid; Carey, Kate B; Cardel, Michelle; Howe, Chanelle J; Nadimpalli, Sarah; Gans, Kim M

2018-04-05

We examined whether neighborhood-, friend-, and family- norms and social support for consumption and purchase of fruits and vegetables (F&V) were associated with F&V intake among low-income residents in subsidized housing communities. We examined baseline data from a study ancillary to the Live Well/Viva Bien intervention. Participants included 290 residents in four low-income subsidized housing sites who were ≥ 18 years of age, English and/or Spanish speaking, and without medical conditions that prevented consumption of F&V. Linear regression models examined associations of norms and social support with F&V intake after adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics. In the analysis, neighborhood social support for F&V was associated with a 0.31 cup increase in F&V intake (95% CI = 0.05, 0.57). The family norm for eating F&V and family social support for eating F&V were associated with a 0.32 cup (95% CI = 0.13, 0.52) and 0.42 cup (95% CI = 0.19, 0.64) increase in F&V intake, respectively. To our knowledge, no other studies have examined neighborhood, family, and peer norms and social support simultaneously and in relation to F&V intake. These findings may inform neighborhood interventions and community-level policies to reduce neighborhood disparities in F&V consumption.

Perceived Social Ecological Factors Associated with Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing, Preparation, and Consumption among Young Adults

PubMed Central

Graham, Dan J.; Pelletier, Jennifer; Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne; Lust, Katherine; Laska, Melissa N.

2013-01-01

Most young adults do not consume recommended levels of fruits and vegetables (FV), and interventions to increase FV-related behaviors among this understudied population are needed. Therefore, it is important to identify correlates of FV intake among young adults to guide intervention development. This cross-sectional study utilized data from an online survey to identify factors related to young adults’ FV purchasing, preparation, and consumption, and to explore between-factor relationships using mediation analysis. In 2010, 1201 college students in Minnesota completed questionnaires assessing FV behaviors, as well as perceptions of FV-related individual, social, and environmental factors. Factor analysis identified questionnaire items assessing similar constructs. Seven factors were identified (personal barriers, FV knowledge, family, friends, neighborhood, access barriers, and campus) and evaluated for relationships with FV purchasing, preparation, and consumption using linear regression. Results revealed that perceived personal barriers (e.g., lacking cooking skills) were inversely related to all FV outcomes. Perception that family and friends eat healthfully and neighborhood access to FV were positively related to all outcomes. Individual-, social-, and environmental-level perceptions were related to purchasing, preparation, and consumption, and the effects of these factors were similar when accounting for mediated effects. Factors at all three levels and the ways in which these various factors operate together may be important to consider in future efforts to improve FV behaviors among young adults. PMID:23958116

77 FR 35850 - Safety Zone; F/V Deep Sea, Penn Cove, WA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-15

... 1625-AA00 Safety Zone; F/V Deep Sea, Penn Cove, WA AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Temporary final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone around the Fishing Vessel (F/V) Deep Sea... with the sunken F/V Deep Sea. B. Basis and Purpose On the evening of May 13, 2012, the F/V Deep Sea...

Non-selective cation channels in plasma and vacuolar membranes and their contribution to K+ transport.

PubMed

Pottosin, Igor; Dobrovinskaya, Oxana

2014-05-15

Both in vacuolar and plasma membranes, in addition to truly K(+)-selective channels there is a variety of non-selective channels, which conduct K(+) and other ions with little preference. Many non-selective channels in the plasma membrane are active at depolarized potentials, thus, contributing to K(+) efflux rather than to K(+) uptake. They may play important roles in xylem loading or contribute to a K(+) leak, induced by salt or oxidative stress. Here, three currents, expressed in root cells, are considered: voltage-insensitive cation current, non-selective outwardly rectifying current, and low-selective conductance, activated by reactive oxygen species. The latter two do not only poorly discriminate between different cations (like K(+)vs Na(+)), but also conduct anions. Such solute channels may mediate massive electroneutral transport of salts and might be involved in osmotic adjustment or volume decrease, associated with cell death. In the tonoplast two major currents are mediated by SV (slow) and FV (fast) vacuolar channels, respectively, which are virtually impermeable for anions. SV channels conduct mono- and divalent cations indiscriminately and are activated by high cytosolic Ca(2+) and depolarized voltages. FV channels are inhibited by micromolar cytosolic Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and polyamines, and conduct a variety of monovalent cations, including K(+). Strikingly, both SV and FV channels sense the K(+) content of vacuoles, which modulates their voltage dependence, and in case of SV, also alleviates channel's inhibition by luminal Ca(2+). Therefore, SV and FV channels may operate as K(+)-sensing valves, controlling K(+) distribution between the vacuole and the cytosol. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Do descriptive norms related to parents and friends predict fruit and vegetable intake similarly among 11-year-old girls and boys?

PubMed

Lehto, Elviira; Ray, Carola; Haukkala, Ari; Yngve, Agneta; Thorsdottir, Inga; Roos, Eva

2016-01-14

We examined whether there are sex differences in children's fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and in descriptive norms (i.e. perceived FV intake) related to parents and friends. We also studied whether friends' impact is as important as that of parents on children's FV intake. Data from the PRO GREENS project in Finland were obtained from 424 children at the age 11 years at baseline. At baseline, 2009 children filled in a questionnaire about descriptive norms conceptualised as perceived FV intake of their parents and friends. They also filled in a validated FFQ that assessed their FV intake both at baseline and in the follow-up in 2010. The associations were examined with multi-level regression analyses with multi-group comparisons. Girls reported higher perceived FV intake of friends and higher own fruit intake at baseline, compared with boys, and higher vegetable intake both at baseline and in the follow-up. Perceived FV intake of parents and friends was positively associated with both girls' and boys' FV intake in both study years. The impact of perceived fruit intake of the mother was stronger among boys. The change in children's FV intake was affected only by perceived FV intake of father and friends. No large sex differences in descriptive norms were found, but the impact of friends on children's FV intake can generally be considered as important as that of parents. Future interventions could benefit from taking into account friends' impact as role models on children's FV intake.

Efficacy of solvent/detergent plasma after storage at 2-8 °C for 5 days in comparison to other plasma products to improve factor V levels in factor V deficient plasma.

PubMed

Cushing, Melissa M; Asmis, Lars; Calabia, Carmencita; Rand, Jacob H; Haas, Thorsten

2016-08-01

Factor V (FV) plays an important role in coagulation. As no purified concentrate is available to restore critical FV levels, the main blood product used to replace FV is plasma. The aim of the present in vitro study was to compare the efficacy of the different available plasma products on the reversal of moderate and severe FV deficiency as assessed by ROTEM® and FV levels. Five different plasma products (6 batches of each) were compared to determine their effectiveness in replacing FV in plasma moderately or severely deficient in FV. Effectiveness was measured using the ROTEM® EXTEM clotting time (CT) and a factor V assay. FFP, plasma frozen within 24 hours (FP24), Octaplas (solvent/detergent treated pooled plasma), as well as Octaplas and FP24 thawed and stored for 5 days (Octaplas TP and TP), were all used for in vitro replacement of FV. TP was significantly less effective at reversing a prolonged EXTEM CT and FV levels in FV deficient plasma than other tested products. There were no significant differences in EXTEM CT between Octaplas and Octaplas TP, while factor V activity was significantly lower in the Octaplas TP. There was no significant difference between Octaplas and FFP for EXTEM CT or FV activity. Octaplas and Octaplas TP appear to have an equivalent ability to improve the EXTEM CT and could be considered as a treatment alternative to FFP in patients with FV deficiency. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Engineered Recombinant Single-Chain Fragment Variable Antibody for Immunosensors

PubMed Central

Shen, Zhihong; Mernaugh, Raymond L.; Yan, Heping; Yu, Lei; Zhang, Ying; Zeng, Xiangqun

2008-01-01

A recombinant single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody (designated A10B) was engineered to contain two histidines within the linker peptide used to join the scFv heavy and light chains. A piezoimmunosensor using the scFv was successfully developed. A10B scFv bound to the gold piezoimmunosensor surface were correctly oriented, retained antigen-binding activity, and coupled at high surface concentration. These results, and results obtained from an earlier study using an scFv containing a linker cysteine, suggest that the location on the linker sequence in which the amino acids were incorporated was well tolerated by the scFv and did not interfere with scFv antigen-binding activity. The scFv-modified QCM sensor was thoroughly characterized and used to specifically detect antigen in crude serum sample and had a sensitivity of 2.3 ± 0.15 nM (n = 4) with a linear range over 2.3 × 10−9–3.3 × 10−8 M. The piezoimmunosensor was also used to study the kinetics and thermodynamics of antigen/scFv antibody binding. PMID:16255580

The Fragaria vesca Homolog of SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 Represses Flowering and Promotes Vegetative Growth[W

PubMed Central

Mouhu, Katriina; Kurokura, Takeshi; Koskela, Elli A.; Albert, Victor A.; Elomaa, Paula; Hytönen, Timo

2013-01-01

In the annual long-day plant Arabidopsis thaliana, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (SOC1) integrates endogenous and environmental signals to promote flowering. We analyzed the function and regulation of the SOC1 homolog (Fragaria vesca [Fv] SOC1) in the perennial short-day plant woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca). We found that Fv SOC1 overexpression represses flower initiation under inductive short days, whereas its silencing causes continuous flowering in both short days and noninductive long days, similar to mutants in the floral repressor Fv TERMINAL FLOWER1 (Fv TFL1). Molecular analysis of these transgenic lines revealed that Fv SOC1 activates Fv TFL1 in the shoot apex, leading to the repression of flowering in strawberry. In parallel, Fv SOC1 regulates the differentiation of axillary buds to runners or axillary leaf rosettes, probably through the activation of gibberellin biosynthetic genes. We also demonstrated that Fv SOC1 is regulated by photoperiod and Fv FLOWERING LOCUS T1, suggesting that it plays a central role in the photoperiodic control of both generative and vegetative growth in strawberry. In conclusion, we propose that Fv SOC1 is a signaling hub that regulates yearly cycles of vegetative and generative development through separate genetic pathways. PMID:24038650

Three-body unitarity in the finite volume

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

Mai, M.; Döring, M.

We present the physical interpretation of lattice QCD simulations, performed in a small volume, requires an extrapolation to the infinite volume. A method is proposed to perform such an extrapolation for three interacting particles at energies above threshold. For this, a recently formulated relativisticmore » $$3\\to 3$$ amplitude based on the isobar formulation is adapted to the finite volume. The guiding principle is two- and three-body unitarity that imposes the imaginary parts of the amplitude in the infinite volume. In turn, these imaginary parts dictate the leading power-law finite-volume effects. It is demonstrated that finite-volume poles arising from the singular interaction, from the external two-body sub-amplitudes, and from the disconnected topology cancel exactly leaving only the genuine three-body eigenvalues. Lastly, the corresponding quantization condition is derived for the case of three identical scalar-isoscalar particles and its numerical implementation is demonstrated.« less

Three-body unitarity in the finite volume

DOE PAGES

Mai, M.; Döring, M.

2017-12-18

We present the physical interpretation of lattice QCD simulations, performed in a small volume, requires an extrapolation to the infinite volume. A method is proposed to perform such an extrapolation for three interacting particles at energies above threshold. For this, a recently formulated relativisticmore » $$3\\to 3$$ amplitude based on the isobar formulation is adapted to the finite volume. The guiding principle is two- and three-body unitarity that imposes the imaginary parts of the amplitude in the infinite volume. In turn, these imaginary parts dictate the leading power-law finite-volume effects. It is demonstrated that finite-volume poles arising from the singular interaction, from the external two-body sub-amplitudes, and from the disconnected topology cancel exactly leaving only the genuine three-body eigenvalues. Lastly, the corresponding quantization condition is derived for the case of three identical scalar-isoscalar particles and its numerical implementation is demonstrated.« less

Establishing the 3-D finite element solid model of femurs in partial by volume rendering.

PubMed

Zhang, Yinwang; Zhong, Wuxue; Zhu, Haibo; Chen, Yun; Xu, Lingjun; Zhu, Jianmin

2013-01-01

It remains rare to report three-dimensional (3-D) finite element solid model of femurs in partial by volume rendering method, though several methods of femoral 3-D finite element modeling are already available. We aim to analyze the advantages of the modeling method by establishing the 3-D finite element solid model of femurs in partial by volume rendering. A 3-D finite element model of the normal human femurs, made up of three anatomic structures: cortical bone, cancellous bone and pulp cavity, was constructed followed by pretreatment of the CT original image. Moreover, the finite-element analysis was carried on different material properties, three types of materials given for cortical bone, six assigned for cancellous bone, and single for pulp cavity. The established 3-D finite element of femurs contains three anatomical structures: cortical bone, cancellous bone, and pulp cavity. The compressive stress primarily concentrated in the medial surfaces of femur, especially in the calcar femorale. Compared with whole modeling by volume rendering method, the 3-D finite element solid model created in partial is more real and fit for finite element analysis. Copyright © 2013 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Social, attitudinal and behavioural correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption among Cypriot adolescents.

PubMed

Loucaides, Constantinos A; Jago, Russell; Theophanous, Maria

2011-12-01

To examine the prevalence and correlates of fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in Cypriot adolescents. A cross-sectional study. The Republic of Cyprus. A total of 1966 adolescents with a mean age of 14·7 (SD 2·2) years from nine elementary (n 448), six middle (n 657), five high (n 475) and five technical/vocational schools (n 386) in Cyprus. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing FV consumption using a two-item screening measure and a number of social, attitudinal and behavioural correlates of FV consumption. Overall, 19·3% of adolescents reported consuming five or more portions of FV daily, with elementary and middle school students more likely to meet recommendations (23·8% and 24·4%, respectively) compared with high and technical/vocational school students (14·0% and 12·5%, respectively). Consuming five or more portions of FV was associated with preference for FV (OR = 2·2), family eating patterns (OR = 1·5), friends' FV consumption (OR = 1·2) and school support for FV consumption (OR = 0·8). Consuming at least one portion of fruit daily was significantly associated with preference for FV (OR = 2·0) and family eating patterns (OR = 1·7). Consuming at least one portion of vegetables daily was associated with preference for FV (OR = 4·2) and eating while watching television (OR = 0·8). Targeting individual and family-based components may enhance the effectiveness of intervention programmes to promote FV consumption.

Stable Artificial Dissipation Operators for Finite Volume Schemes on Unstructured Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Svard, Magnus; Gong, Jing; Nordstrom, Jan

2006-01-01

Our objective is to derive stable first-, second- and fourth-order artificial dissipation operators for node based finite volume schemes. Of particular interest are general unstructured grids where the strength of the finite volume method is fully utilized. A commonly used finite volume approximation of the Laplacian will be the basis in the construction of the artificial dissipation. Both a homogeneous dissipation acting in all directions with equal strength and a modification that allows different amount of dissipation in different directions are derived. Stability and accuracy of the new operators are proved and the theoretical results are supported by numerical computations.

Selection of stable scFv antibodies by phage display.

PubMed

Brockmann, Eeva-Christine

2012-01-01

ScFv fragments are popular recombinant antibody formats but often suffer from limited stability. Phage display is a powerful tool in antibody engineering and applicable also for stability selection. ScFv variants with improved stability can be selected from large randomly mutated phage displayed libraries with a specific antigen after the unstable variants have been inactivated by heat or GdmCl. Irreversible scFv denaturation, which is a prerequisite for efficient selection, is achieved by combining denaturation with reduction of the intradomain disulfide bonds. Repeated selection cycles of increasing stringency result in enrichment of stabilized scFv fragments. Procedures for constructing a randomly mutated scFv library by error-prone PCR and phage display selection for enrichment of stable scFv antibodies from the library are described here.

[Construction of a phage antibody library and screening of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor variant III single chain antibody].

PubMed

Han, Dong-gang; Duan, Xiao-yi; Guo, You-min; Zhou, Qi; Wang, Quan-ying; Yang, Guang-xiao

2010-01-01

To obtain specific anti-epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) single chain antibody (ScFv) by phage antibody library display system. The total RNA was extracted from the spleen B cells of BALB/c mice immunized with pep-3-OVA protein, and the first-strand cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription. Antibody VH and VL gene fragments were amplified and joined to a ScFv gene with the linker. The ScFv gene was ligated into the phagemid vector pCANTAB5E, which was transformed into competent E. coli TG1. The transformed cells were then infected with M13KO7 helper phage to yield the recombinant phage to construct the phage ScFv library. Pep-3-BSA protein was used to screen the phage antibody library and ELISA carried out to characterize the activity of the antibody. The VH and VL gene fragments of the antibody were about 350 bp and 320 bp in length as analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The ScFv gene was 780 bp, consistent with the expected length. The recombinant phagemid with ScFv gene insert was rescued, and an immune phage ScFv library with the content of 5.0x10(6) was constructed. The recombinant ScFv phage had a titer of 3.0x10(4) cfu/ml, and the fourth phage harvest yielded 56 times as much as that of the first one. SDS-PAGE demonstrated a molecular mass of the soluble ScFv of about 28 kD. ELISA results indicated good specificity of the ScFv to bind EGFRvIII. An immune phage ScFv library is successfully constructed, and the ScFv antibody fragment is capable of specific binding to EGFRvIII.

No Time for Family Meals? Parenting Practices Associated with Adolescent Fruit and Vegetable Intake When Family Meals Are Not an Option.

PubMed

Watts, Allison W; Loth, Katie; Berge, Jerica M; Larson, Nicole; Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne

2017-05-01

Despite research linking family meals to healthier diets, some families are unable to have regular meals together. These families need guidance about other ways to promote healthy eating among adolescents. Our aim was to examine the association between various parenting practices and adolescent fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake at different levels of family meal frequency. We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based survey of influences on adolescent weight-related behaviors using Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens) 2010. Participants were 2,491 adolescents recruited from middle/high schools in Minneapolis/St Paul, MN. Adolescent F/V intake was ascertained with a food frequency questionnaire. Survey items assessed frequency of family meals and F/V parenting practices (availability, accessibility, parent modeling, parent encouragement, and family communication). Linear regression models were used to examine associations with and interactions among family meals and parenting practices. Models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and energy intake (kilocalories per day). Family meals, F/V availability, F/V accessibility, F/V modeling, and encouragement to eat healthy foods were independently associated with higher F/V intake. Of the 949 (34%) adolescents who reported infrequent family meals (≤2 days/wk), mean F/V intake was 3.6 servings/day for those with high home F/V availability vs 3.0 servings/day for those with low home F/V availability. Similar differences in mean F/V intake (0.3 to 0.6 servings/day) were found for high vs low F/V accessibility, parental modeling, and parent encouragement for healthy eating. Frequent family meals in addition to more favorable parenting practices were associated with the highest F/V intakes. Food parenting practices and family meals are associated with greater adolescent F/V intake. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine which combination of parenting practices will lead to improvements in adolescent diets. Copyright © 2017 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Engineering of a novel zipFv using leucine zipper motif against rabies virus glycoprotein G with improved protection potency in vivo.

PubMed

Xi, Hualong; Zhang, Kaixin; Yin, Yanchun; Gu, Tiejun; Sun, Qing; Li, Zhuang; Cheng, Yue; Jiang, Chunlai; Kong, Wei; Wu, Yongge

2017-06-01

Rabies is an acute zoonotic infectious disease with a high fatality rate but is preventable with vaccination and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). The single-chain Fv fragment (scFv), a small engineered antigen-binding protein derived from antibody variable heavy (V H ) and light (V L ) chains connected by a peptide linker, can potentially be used to replace RIG. Here, we produced two peptides V H -JUN-HIS and V L -FOS-HA separately in Escherichia coli and assembled them to form zipFv successfully in vitro. The new zipFv utilizes FOS and JUN leucine zippers to form an antibody structure similar to the IgG counterpart with two free N-terminal ends of V H and V L . The zipFv protein showed notable improvement in binding ability and affinity over its corresponding scFv. The zipFv also demonstrated greater stability in serum and the same protective rate as RIG against challenge with a standard rabies virus (CVS-24) in mice. Our results indicated zipFv as a novel and efficient antibody form with enhanced neutralizing potency. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Symmetry of Fv architecture is conducive to grafting a second antibody binding site in the Fv region.

PubMed Central

Keck, P C; Huston, J S

1996-01-01

Molecular modeling studies on antibody Fv regions have been pursued to design a second antigen-binding site (chi-site) in a chimeric single-chain Fv (chi sFv) species of about 30 kDa. This analysis has uncovered an architectural basis common to many Fv regions that permits grafting a chi-site onto the Fv surface that diametrically opposes the normal combining site. By using molecular graphics analysis, chimeric complementarity-determining regions (chi CDRs) were defined that comprised most of the CDRs from an antibody binding site of interest. The chain directionality of chi CDRs was consistent with that of specific bottom loops of the sFv, which allowed for grafting of chi CDRs with an overall geometry approximating CDRs in the parent combining site. Analysis of 10 different Fv crystal structures indicates that the positions for inserting chi CDRs are very highly conserved, as are the corresponding chi CDR boundaries in the parent binding site. The results of this investigation suggest that it should be possible to generally apply this approach to the development of chimeric bispecific antibody binding site (chi BABS) proteins. Images FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3 PMID:8889174

Novel avian single-chain fragment variable (scFv) targets dietary gluten and related natural grain prolamins, toxic entities of celiac disease.

PubMed

Stadlmann, Valerie; Harant, Hanna; Korschineck, Irina; Hermann, Marcela; Forster, Florian; Missbichler, Albert

2015-12-01

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic, small intestinal inflammatory disease mediated by dietary gluten and related prolamins. The only current therapeutic option is maintenance of a strict life-long gluten-free diet, which implies substantial burden for CD patients. Different treatment regimes might be feasible, including masking of toxic celiac peptides with blocking antibodies or fragments thereof. The objective of this study was therefore to select and produce a recombinant avian single-chain fragment variable (scFv) directed against peptic-tryptic digested gliadin (PT-Gliadin) and related celiac toxic entities. Gluten-free raised chicken of same age were immunized with PT-Gliadin. Chicken splenic lymphocytes, selected with antigen-coated magnetic beads, served as RNA source for the generation of cDNA. Chicken VH and VL genes were amplified from the cDNA by PCR to generate full-length scFv constructs consisting of VH and VL fragments joined by a linker sequence. ScFv constructs were ligated in a prokaryotic expression vector, which provides a C-terminal hexahistidine tag. ScFvs from several bacterial clones were expressed in soluble form and crude cell lysates screened for binding to PT-Gliadin by ELISA. We identified an enriched scFv motif, which showed reactivity to PT-Gliadin. One selected scFv candidate was expressed and purified to homogeneity. Polyclonal anti-PT-Gliadin IgY, purified from egg yolk of immunized chicken, served as control. ScFv binds in a dose-dependent manner to PT-Gliadin, comparable to IgY. Furthermore, IgY competitively displaces scFv from PT-Gliadin and natural wheat flour digest, indicating a common epitope of scFv and IgY. ScFv was tested for reactivity to different gastric digested dietary grain flours. ScFv detects common and khorasan wheat comparably with binding affinities in the high nanomolar range, while rye is detected to a lesser extent. Notably, barley and cereals which are part of the gluten-free diet, like corn and rice, are not detected by scFv. Similarly, the pseudo-grain amaranth, used as gluten-free alternative, is not targeted by scFv. This data indicate that scFv specifically recognizes toxic cereal peptides relevant in CD. ScFv can be of benefit for future CD treatment regimes.

PET Imaging of 64Cu-DOTA-scFv-Anti-PSMA Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs): Enhanced Tumor Targeting over Anti-PSMA scFv or Untargeted LNPs

PubMed Central

Wong, Patty; Li, Lin; Chea, Junie; Delgado, Melissa K.; Crow, Desiree; Poku, Erasmus; Szpikowska, Barbara; Bowles, Nicole; Channappa, Divya; Colcher, David; Wong, Jeffrey Y.C.; Shively, John E.; Yazaki, Paul J.

2017-01-01

Introduction Single chain (scFv) antibodies are ideal targeting ligands due to their modular structure, high antigen specificity and affinity. These monovalent ligands display rapid tumor targeting but have limitations due to their fast urinary clearance. Methods An anti-prostate membrane antigen (PSMA) scFv with a site-specific cysteine was expressed and evaluated in a prostate cancer xenograft model by Cu-64 PET imaging. To enhance tumor accumulation, the scFv-cys was conjugated to the co-polymer DSPE-PEG-maleimide that spontaneously assembled into a homogeneous multivalent lipid nanoparticle (LNP). Results The targeted LNP exhibited a 2-fold increase in tumor uptake compared to the scFv alone using two different thiol ester chemistries. The anti-PSMA scFv-LNP exhibited a 1.6 fold increase in tumor targeting over the untargeted LNP. Conclusions The targeted anti-PSMA scFv-LNP showed enhanced tumor accumulation over the scFv alone or the untargeted DOTA-micelle providing evidence for the development of this system for drug delivery. Advances in Knowledge and implications for patient care Anti-tumor scFv antibody fragments have not achieved their therapeutic potential due to their fast blood clearance. Conjugation to a LNP enables multivalency to the tumor antigen as well as increased molecular size for chemotherapy drug delivery. PMID:28126683

Production of a germline-humanized cetuximab scFv and evaluation of its activity in recognizing EGFR- overexpressing cancer cells.

PubMed

Banisadr, Arsham; Safdari, Yaghoub; Kianmehr, Anvarsadat; Pourafshar, Mahdieh

2018-04-03

The aim of this study was to produce a humanized single chain antibody (scFv) as a potential improved product design to target EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) overexpressing cancer cells. To this end, CDR loops of cetuximab (an FDA-approved anti-EGFR antibody) were grafted on framework regions derived from type 3 (VH3 and VL3 kappa) human germline sequences to obtain recombinant VH and VL domainslinked together with a flexible linker [(Gly 4 Ser) 3 ] to form a scFv. Codon optimized synthetic gene encoding the scFv (with NH2-VH-linker-VL-COOH orientation) was expressed in E. coli Origami™ 2(DE3) cells and the resultant scFv purified by using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The scFv, called cet.Hum scFv, was evaluated in ELISA and immunoblot to determine whether it can recognize EGFR. The scFv was able to recognize EGFR over-expressing cancer cells (A-431) but failed to detect cancer cells with low levels of EGFR (MCF-7 cells). Although the affinity of the scFv forA-431 cells was 9 fold lower than that of cetuximab, it was strong enough to recognize these cells. Considering its ability to bind EGFR molecules, the scFv may exhibit a potential application for the detection of EGFR-overexpressing cancer cells.

Production of Recombinant Human scFv Against Tetanus Toxin Heavy Chain by Phage Display Technology.

PubMed

Khalili, Ehsan; Lakzaei, Mostafa; Rasaee, Mohhamad Javad; Aminian, Mahdi

2015-10-01

Tetanus, as a major cause of death in developing countries, is caused by tetanus neurotoxin. Recombinant antibodies against tetanus neurotoxin can be useful in tetanus management. Phage display of antibody fragments from immune human antibody libraries with single chain constructs combining the variable fragments (scFv) has been one of the most prominent technologies in antibody engineering. The aim of this study was the generation of a single chain fragment of variable region (scFv) library and selection of specific antibodies with high affinity against tetanus toxin. Immune human single chain fragment variable (HuscFv) antibody phagemid library was displayed on pIII of filamentous bacteriophage. Selection of scFv clones was performed against tetanus toxin antigens after three rounds of panning. The selected scFv clones were analyzed for inhibition of tetanus toxin binding to ganglioside GT1b. After the third round of panning, over 35 HuscFv phages specific for tetanus toxin were isolated from this library of which 15 clones were found to bind specifically to tetanus toxin. The selected HuscFv phages expressed as a soluble HuscFv peptide and some clones showed positive signals against tetanus toxin. We found that six HuscFv clones inhibit toxin binding to ganglioside GT1b. These selected antibodies can be used in the management of tetanus.

Volume-translated cubic EoS and PC-SAFT density models and a free volume-based viscosity model for hydrocarbons at extreme temperature and pressure conditions

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

Burgess, Ward A.; Tapriyal, Deepak; Morreale, Bryan D.

2013-12-01

This research focuses on providing the petroleum reservoir engineering community with robust models of hydrocarbon density and viscosity at the extreme temperature and pressure conditions (up to 533 K and 276 MPa, respectively) characteristic of ultra-deep reservoirs, such as those associated with the deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Our strategy is to base the volume-translated (VT) Peng–Robinson (PR) and Soave–Redlich–Kwong (SRK) cubic equations of state (EoSs) and perturbed-chain, statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) on an extensive data base of high temperature (278–533 K), high pressure (6.9–276 MPa) density rather than fitting the models to low pressure saturated liquidmore » density data. This high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) data base consists of literature data for hydrocarbons ranging from methane to C{sub 40}. The three new models developed in this work, HTHP VT-PR EoS, HTHP VT-SRK EoS, and hybrid PC-SAFT, yield mean absolute percent deviation values (MAPD) for HTHP hydrocarbon density of ~2.0%, ~1.5%, and <1.0%, respectively. An effort was also made to provide accurate hydrocarbon viscosity models based on literature data. Viscosity values are estimated with the frictional theory (f-theory) and free volume (FV) theory of viscosity. The best results were obtained when the PC-SAFT equation was used to obtain both the attractive and repulsive pressure inputs to f-theory, and the density input to FV theory. Both viscosity models provide accurate results at pressures to 100 MPa but experimental and model results can deviate by more than 25% at pressures above 200 MPa.« less

Inverse Association between Fruit and Vegetable Intake and BMI even after Controlling for Demographic, Socioeconomic and Lifestyle Factors

PubMed Central

Heo, Moonseong; Kim, Ryung S.; Wylie-Rosett, Judith; Allison, David B.; Heymsfield, Steve B.; Faith, Myles S.

2011-01-01

Objective To estimate fruit and vegetable (FV) intake levels of US adult population and evaluate the association between FV intake and BMI status after controlling for confounding demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. We also sought to identify moderating factors. Methods We used 2007 Behavior Risk Factors Surveillance System (N > 400,000) data. FV intake was dichotomized as ≥5 servings (FV5+) versus <5 servings/day. BMI status was categorized as normal, overweight, and obese. Identification of moderators was performed by testing interactions between BMI status and other variables using bivariate analyses followed by multiple logistic regression analysis incorporating complex survey sampling design features. Results Only 24.6% of US adults consumed ≥5 servings per day and less than 4% consumed 9 or more servings. Overweight (% FV5+ = 23.9%) and obese (21.9%) groups consumed significantly less FV than the normal-weight (27.4%) group (p < 0.0001). This inverse association remained significant even after controlling for potential confounding factors. Multivariate analysis identified five significant moderators (p < 0.0001) after controlling for all evaluated variables: race, sex, smoking status, health coverage, and physical activity. Notably, physically inactive obese males tended to consume the least FV (% FV5+ = 14.7%). Conclusion Current US population FV intake level is below recommended levels. The inverse association between FV intake and obesity was significant and was moderated by demographic, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors. These factors should be considered when developing policies and interventions to increase FV intake. PMID:22248995

Chiral crossover transition in a finite volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Chao; Jia, Wenbao; Sun, An; Zhang, Liping; Zong, Hongshi

2018-02-01

Finite volume effects on the chiral crossover transition of strong interactions at finite temperature are studied by solving the quark gap equation within a cubic volume of finite size L. With the anti-periodic boundary condition, our calculation shows the chiral quark condensate, which characterizes the strength of dynamical chiral symmetry breaking, decreases as L decreases below 2.5 fm. We further study the finite volume effects on the pseudo-transition temperature {T}{{c}} of the crossover, showing a significant decrease in {T}{{c}} as L decreases below 3 fm. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (11475085, 11535005, 11690030, 51405027), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (020414380074), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2016M591808) and Open Research Foundation of State Key Lab. of Digital Manufacturing Equipment & Technology in Huazhong University of Science & Technology (DMETKF2015015)

Volume dependence of baryon number cumulants and their ratios

DOE PAGES

Almási, Gábor A.; Pisarski, Robert D.; Skokov, Vladimir V.

2017-03-17

Here, we explore the influence of finite-volume effects on cumulants of baryon/quark number fluctuations in a nonperturbative chiral model. In order to account for soft modes, we use the functional renormalization group in a finite volume, using a smooth regulator function in momentum space. We compare the results for a smooth regulator with those for a sharp (or Litim) regulator, and show that in a finite volume, the latter produces spurious artifacts. In a finite volume there are only apparent critical points, about which we compute the ratio of the fourth- to the second-order cumulant of quark number fluctuations. Finally,more » when the volume is sufficiently small the system has two apparent critical points; as the system size decreases, the location of the apparent critical point can move to higher temperature and lower chemical potential.« less

Adjunctive daily supplementation with encapsulated fruit, vegetable and berry juice powder concentrates and clinical periodontal outcomes: a double-blind RCT

PubMed Central

Chapple, Iain L C; Milward, Michael R; Ling-Mountford, Nicola; Weston, Paul; Carter, Kevin; Askey, Keeley; Dallal, Gerard E; De Spirt, Silke; Sies, Helmut; Patel, Dina; Matthews, John B

2012-01-01

Aim A double-blind randomized controlled trial to determine whether dietary supplementation with fruit/vegetable/berry juice powder concentrates, simultaneously with non-surgical periodontal therapy, improved 2-month treatment outcomes. Methods Volunteers with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to one of three groups: fruit/vegetable (FV), fruit/vegetable/berry (FVB) or placebo. Supplements were taken daily during non-surgical debridement and maintenance and outcomes assessed at 2, 5 and 8 months after completion. Primary outcomes were mean probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment gain, % sites bleeding on probing (% BOP) at 2 months. Adherence and plasma β-carotene were determined. Results Sixty-one nutritionally replete (by serum biochemistry) volunteers enrolled and 60 (n = 20 per arm) completed the 2-month review. Clinical outcomes improved in all groups at 2 months, with additional improvement in PPD versus placebo for FV (p < 0.03). Gingival crevicular fluid volumes diminished more in supplement groups than placebo (FVB; p < 0.05) at 2 months, but not at later times. The % BOP (5 months) and cumulative plaque scores (8 months) were lowered more in the FV group (p < 0.05). Conclusions Adjunctive juice powder concentrates appear to improve initial pocket depth reductions in nutritionally replete patients, where plasma micronutrient bioavailability is attainable. Definitive multicentre studies in untreated and treated patients are required to ascertain the clinical significance of such changes. PMID:22093005

Evaluation of the effects of sildenafil citrate (viagra) on vertebral artery blood flow in patients with vertebro-basilar insufficiency.

PubMed

Bozgeyik, Zulkif; Berilgen, Sait; Ozdemir, Huseyin; Tekatas, Aslan; Ogur, Erkin

2008-01-01

To investigate the effects of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on the vertebral artery blood flow of patients with vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI) using color duplex sonography (CDS). The study included 21 patients with VBI (aged 31-76; mean 61.0 +/- 10.5 yrs). We administered a 50 mg oral dose of sildenafil citrate to all patients. Next, we measured the peak systolic velocity (Vmax), end diastolic velocity (Vmin), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), diameter, area, and flow volume (FV) of vertebral arteries using CDS before the administration of sildenafil citrate; 45 minutes after, and 75 minutes after administration. Statistical testing was performed using SPSS for windows version 11.0. The statistical test used to determine the outcome of the analysis was the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Compared to the baseline values, the vertebral artery diameter, area, and FV increased significantly following the administration of sildenafil citrate. The diameter, area and FV increased from 3.39 mm at 45 minutes to 3.64 mm at 75 minutes, 9.43 cm(2) to 10.80 cm(2) at 45 minutes and 10.81 cm(2) at 75 minutes, as well as from 0.07 L/min at baseline to 0.09 L/min at 45 minutes and unchanged at 75 minutes, respectively. Sildenafil citrate elicited a significant effect on vertebral artery diameter, area and FVs.

The Development of a Finite Volume Method for Modeling Sound in Coastal Ocean Environment

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

Long, Wen; Yang, Zhaoqing; Copping, Andrea E.

: As the rapid growth of marine renewable energy and off-shore wind energy, there have been concerns that the noises generated from construction and operation of the devices may interfere marine animals’ communication. In this research, a underwater sound model is developed to simulate sound prorogation generated by marine-hydrokinetic energy (MHK) devices or offshore wind (OSW) energy platforms. Finite volume and finite difference methods are developed to solve the 3D Helmholtz equation of sound propagation in the coastal environment. For finite volume method, the grid system consists of triangular grids in horizontal plane and sigma-layers in vertical dimension. A 3Dmore » sparse matrix solver with complex coefficients is formed for solving the resulting acoustic pressure field. The Complex Shifted Laplacian Preconditioner (CSLP) method is applied to efficiently solve the matrix system iteratively with MPI parallelization using a high performance cluster. The sound model is then coupled with the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) for simulating sound propagation generated by human activities in a range-dependent setting, such as offshore wind energy platform constructions and tidal stream turbines. As a proof of concept, initial validation of the finite difference solver is presented for two coastal wedge problems. Validation of finite volume method will be reported separately.« less

Fruit and vegetable attitudes, norms, and intake in low-income youth

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fruit and vegetable (FV) attitudes and norms have been shown to influence intake in youth; yet research with low-income youth and studies supplementing self-report with objective measures of intake are lacking. Cross-sectional survey data on self-rated FV intake, FV attitudes, and FV norms were coll...

Order of accuracy of QUICK and related convection-diffusion schemes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leonard, B. P.

1993-01-01

This report attempts to correct some misunderstandings that have appeared in the literature concerning the order of accuracy of the QUICK scheme for steady-state convective modeling. Other related convection-diffusion schemes are also considered. The original one-dimensional QUICK scheme written in terms of nodal-point values of the convected variable (with a 1/8-factor multiplying the 'curvature' term) is indeed a third-order representation of the finite volume formulation of the convection operator average across the control volume, written naturally in flux-difference form. An alternative single-point upwind difference scheme (SPUDS) using node values (with a 1/6-factor) is a third-order representation of the finite difference single-point formulation; this can be written in a pseudo-flux difference form. These are both third-order convection schemes; however, the QUICK finite volume convection operator is 33 percent more accurate than the single-point implementation of SPUDS. Another finite volume scheme, writing convective fluxes in terms of cell-average values, requires a 1/6-factor for third-order accuracy. For completeness, one can also write a single-point formulation of the convective derivative in terms of cell averages, and then express this in pseudo-flux difference form; for third-order accuracy, this requires a curvature factor of 5/24. Diffusion operators are also considered in both single-point and finite volume formulations. Finite volume formulations are found to be significantly more accurate. For example, classical second-order central differencing for the second derivative is exactly twice as accurate in a finite volume formulation as it is in single-point.

Dynamics of Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus (AmFV) Infections in Honey Bees and Relationships with Other Parasites.

PubMed

Hartmann, Ulrike; Forsgren, Eva; Charrière, Jean-Daniel; Neumann, Peter; Gauthier, Laurent

2015-05-22

Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) is a large double stranded DNA virus of honey bees, but its relationship with other parasites and prevalence are poorly known. We analyzed individual honey bees from three colonies at different times post emergence in order to monitor the dynamics of the AmFV gut colonization under natural conditions. Prevalence and loads of microsporidia and trypanosomes were also recorded, as well as five common honey bee RNA viruses. The results show that a high proportion of bees get infected with AmFV during the first week post-emergence (75%) and that AmFV DNA levels remained constant. A similar pattern was observed for microsporidia while trypanosomes seem to require more time to colonize the gut. No significant associations between these three infections were found, but significant positive correlations were observed between AmFV and RNA viruses. In parallel, the prevalence of AmFV in France and Sweden was assessed from pooled honey bee workers. The data indicate that AmFV is almost ubiquitous, and does not seem to follow seasonal patterns, although higher viral loads were significantly detected in spring. A high prevalence of AmFV was also found in winter bees, without obvious impact on overwintering of the colonies.

Dynamics of Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus (AmFV) Infections in Honey Bees and Relationships with Other Parasites

PubMed Central

Hartmann, Ulrike; Forsgren, Eva; Charrière, Jean-Daniel; Neumann, Peter; Gauthier, Laurent

2015-01-01

Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) is a large double stranded DNA virus of honey bees, but its relationship with other parasites and prevalence are poorly known. We analyzed individual honey bees from three colonies at different times post emergence in order to monitor the dynamics of the AmFV gut colonization under natural conditions. Prevalence and loads of microsporidia and trypanosomes were also recorded, as well as five common honey bee RNA viruses. The results show that a high proportion of bees get infected with AmFV during the first week post-emergence (75%) and that AmFV DNA levels remained constant. A similar pattern was observed for microsporidia while trypanosomes seem to require more time to colonize the gut. No significant associations between these three infections were found, but significant positive correlations were observed between AmFV and RNA viruses. In parallel, the prevalence of AmFV in France and Sweden was assessed from pooled honey bee workers. The data indicate that AmFV is almost ubiquitous, and does not seem to follow seasonal patterns, although higher viral loads were significantly detected in spring. A high prevalence of AmFV was also found in winter bees, without obvious impact on overwintering of the colonies. PMID:26008705

Provision of Fluoride Varnish to Medicaid-Enrolled Children by Physicians: The Massachusetts Experience

PubMed Central

Isong, Inyang A; Silk, Hugh; Rao, Sowmya R; Perrin, James M; Savageau, Judith A; Donelan, Karen

2011-01-01

Objectives To evaluate the impact of a 2008 Medicaid policy in Massachusetts (MA), regarding reimbursing physicians for providing fluoride varnish (FV) to eligible children in medical settings. Data Source Survey of a sample of primary care physicians in MA. Study Design Cross-sectional survey of a sample of physicians who provide care to MassHealth (MA Medicaid) enrolled-children. Dependent variables: history of completed preventive dental skills training, and FV provision. Independent variables: oral health knowledge, FV-attitudes, and physician and practice characteristics. Principal Findings Overall, 19 percent of respondents had completed the training required to be eligible to bill for FV provision. Only 5 percent of physicians were providing FV. Most respondents (63 percent) were not familiar with the new policy, and only 25 percent felt that FV should be provided during well-child visits. Most physicians (60 percent) did not feel that the reimbursement rate of U.S.$26/application was sufficient; 17 percent said that they would not provide FV, regardless of payment. Most common barriers to FV provision were a lack of time and logistical challenges. Conclusions Our findings suggest that simply reimbursing physicians for FV provision is insufficient to ensure provider participation. Success of this policy will likely require addressing several barriers identified. PMID:21762142

Efficacy and safety of a clinically relevant foamy vector design in human hematopoietic repopulating cells.

PubMed

Everson, Elizabeth M; Hocum, Jonah D; Trobridge, Grant D

2018-06-23

Previous studies have shown that foamy viral (FV) vectors are a promising alternative to gammaretroviral and lentiviral vectors and insulators can improve FV vector safety. However, in a previous analysis of insulator effects on FV vector safety, strong viral promoters were used to elicit genotoxic events. Here we developed and analyzed the efficacy and safety of a high-titer, clinically relevant FV vector driven by the housekeeping promoter elongation factor-1α and insulated with an enhancer blocking A1 insulator (FV-EGW-A1). Human CD34 + cord blood cells were exposed to an enhanced green fluorescent protein expressing vector, FV-EGW-A1, at a multiplicity of infection of 10 and then maintained in vitro or transplanted into immunodeficient mice. Flow cytometry was used to measure engraftment and marking in vivo. FV vector integration sites were analyzed to assess safety. FV-EGW-A1 resulted in high-marking, multi-lineage engraftment of human repopulating cells with no evidence of silencing. Engraftment was highly polyclonal with no clonal dominance and a promising safety profile based on integration site analysis. An FV vector with an elongation factor-1α promoter and an A1 insulator is a promising vector design for use in the clinic. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Bacterial Expression of a Single-Chain Variable Fragment (scFv) Antibody against Ganoderic Acid A: A Cost-Effective Approach for Quantitative Analysis Using the scFv-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

PubMed

Yusakul, Gorawit; Nuntawong, Poomraphie; Sakamoto, Seiichi; Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, Pahweenvaj; Kohno, Toshitaka; Kikkawa, Nao; Rojsitthisak, Pornchai; Shimizu, Kuniyoshi; Tanaka, Hiroyuki; Morimoto, Satoshi

2017-01-01

Due to the highly specific binding between an antibody and its target, superior analytical performances was obtained by immunoassays for phytochemical analysis over conventional chromatographic techniques. Here, we describe a simple method for producing a functional single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against ganoderic acid A (GAA), a pharmacologically active metabolite from Ganoderma lingzhi. The Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain produced a large amount of anti-GAA scFv. However, in vitro refolding steps, which partially recovered the reactivity of the scFv, were required. Interestingly, the functional scFv was expressed as a soluble and active form in the cytoplasm of an engineered E. coli SHuffle ® strain. Purified anti-GAA scFv, which yielded 2.56 mg from 1 L of culture medium, was obtained from simple and inexpensive procedures for expression and purification. The anti-GAA scFv-based indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) exhibited high sensitivity (linearity: 0.078-1.25 µg/mL) with precision (CV: ≤6.20%) and reliability (recovery: 100.1-101.8%) for GAA determination. In summary, the approach described here is an inexpensive, simple, and efficient expression system that extends the application of anti-GAA scFv-based immunoassays. In addition, when in vitro refolding steps can be skipped, the cost and complexity of scFv antibody production can be minimized.

Barriers and facilitators to improve fruit and vegetable intake among WIC eligible pregnant Latinas: An application of the Health Action Process Approach framework

PubMed Central

Hromi-Fiedler, Amber; Chapman, Donna; Segura-Pérez, Sofia; Damio, Grace; Clark, Pamela; Martinez, Josefa L.; Pérez-Escamilla, Rafael

2016-01-01

Objective Identify barriers and facilitators to improve prenatal fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake among WIC eligible Latinas using the Health Action Process Approach framework. Design Qualitative data were collected via audiotaped in-depth interviews as part of a larger study to design an intervention to increase prenatal F&V intake. Setting Hartford, Connecticut. Participants Forty-five WIC eligible Latinas completed the study. Included women were: a) ≥ 18 years old; b) in 2nd or 3rd trimester; c) having a singleton pregnancy; d) overweight or obese (i.e. pregravid BMI ≥ 25); e) not on a restricted diet; h) nonsmokers. Phenomenon of Interest Prenatal factors that promote and hinder F&V intake. Analysis Transcripts were independently read, coded, and consensus was reached about emerging themes. Results Ten factors influenced prenatal F&V intake: i) social support, ii) family structure, iii) F&V access, iv) F&V preferences, v) F&V knowledge, vi) F&V health outcome expectations, vii) self-efficacy, viii) intentions, ix) F&V action/coping planning strategies, and x) maternal health status. Conclusions and Implications Social support from family/friends emerged as the primary distal factor driving prenatal F&V intake. Interventions designed to empower pregnant Latinas to gain the access, confidence, knowledge, and strategies necessary to consume more F&Vs need to consider strengthening support to achieve the desired outcome. PMID:27373861

Isolation and characterization of a novel human scFv inhibiting EGFR vIII expressing cancers.

PubMed

Rahbarnia, Leila; Farajnia, Safar; Babaei, Hossein; Majidi, Jafar; Dariushnejad, Hassan; Hosseini, Mohammad Kazem

2016-12-01

EGFRvIII, a mutant form of epidermal growth factor receptor is highly expressed in glioblastoma, carcinoma of the breast, ovary, and lung but not in normal cells. This tumor specific antigen has emerged as a promising candidate for antibody based therapy of several cancers. The aim of the present study was isolation and characterization of a human single chain antibody against EGFRvIII as a promising target for cancer therapy. For this, a synthetic peptide corresponding to EGFRvIII protein was used for screening the naive human scFv phage library. Selection was performed using a novel screening strategy for enrichment of rare specific clones. After five rounds of screening, six positive scFv clones against EGFRvIII were selected using monoclonal phage ELISA, among them, a clone with an amber mutation in VH CDR2 coding sequence showed higher reactivity. The mutation was corrected through site directed mutagenesis and then scFv fragment was expressed after subcloning into the bacterial expression vector. Expression in BL21 pLysS resulted in a highly soluble scFv appeared in soluble fraction of E. coli lysate. Bioinformatic in silico analysis between scFv and EGFRvIII sequences confirmed specific binding of desired scFv to EGFRvIII in CDR regions. The specific reactivity of the purified scFv with native EGFRvIII was confirmed by cell based ELISA and western blot. In conclusion, human anti- EGFRvIII scFv isolated from a scFv phage library displayed high reactivity with EGFRvIII. The scFv isolated in this study can be the groundwork for developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic agents against EGFRvIII expressing cancers. Copyright © 2016 European Federation of Immunological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables among adolescents: a multi-national comparison of eleven countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

PubMed

Al Ani, M F; Al Subhi, L K; Bose, S

2016-03-28

Regional cross-country profile of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is lacking in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). This study examines the prevalence and differences of consuming F&V ≥5 times/d among adolescents in eleven EMR countries, and also describes differences in the proportions of taking F&V ≥5 times/d by sex, age and BMI. The study included 26 328 school adolescents (13-15 years) with complete data on consumption of F&V, age, sex, weight and height taken from the Global School-based Student Health Survey conducted in the EMR between 2005 and 2009. Overall, only 19·4 % of adolescents reported consuming F&V ≥5 times/d. The highest prevalence was reported in Djibouti (40·4 %) and the lowest was reported in Pakistan (10·0 %). Statistically significant differences in prevalence were observed across countries (P<0·05). With the exception of Oman, Libya and Djibouti, significantly more males than females ate F&V ≥5 times/d. Proportion of students consuming F&V ≥5 times/d also varied significantly in all counties based on BMI (P<0·0001), with students within normal BMI having the highest frequency. A negative trend was observed between age and the prevalence of taking F&V ≥5 times/d in most of the eleven EMR countries but Jordan, Djibouti and Morocco. The prevalence of adequate intake of F&V was low in the eleven EMR countries. There is a need for interventions to increase the prevalence of adolescents consuming F&V ≥5 times/d. Interventions should take into consideration psychosocial, environmental and socio-environmental factors influencing F&V intake within countries.

A simple and robust approach to immobilization of antibody fragments.

PubMed

Ikonomova, Svetlana P; He, Ziming; Karlsson, Amy J

2016-08-01

Antibody fragments, such as the single-chain variable fragment (scFv), have much potential in research and diagnostics because of their antigen-binding ability similar to a full-sized antibody and their ease of production in microorganisms. Some applications of antibody fragments require immobilization on a surface, and we have established a simple immobilization method that is based on the biotin-streptavidin interaction and does not require a separate purification step. We genetically fused two biotinylation tags-the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) or the AviTag minimal sequence-to six different scFvs (scFv13R4, scFvD10, scFv26-10, scFv3, scFv5, and scFv12) for site-specific biotinylation in vivo by endogenous biotin ligases produced by Escherichia coli. The biotinylated scFvs were immobilized onto streptavidin-coated plates directly from cell lysates, and immobilization was detected through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. All scFvs fusions were successfully immobilized, and scFvs biotinylated via the BCCP tag tended to immobilize better than those biotinylated via the AviTag, even when biotinylation efficiency was improved with the biotin ligase BirA. The ability of immobilized scFvs to bind antigens was confirmed using scFv13R4 and scFvD10 with their respective targets β-galactosidase and bacteriophage lambda head protein D (gpD). The immobilized scFv13R4 bound to β-galactosidase at the same level for both biotinylation tags when the surface was saturated with the scFv, and immobilized scFvs retained their functionality for at least 100days after immobilization. The simplicity and robustness of our method make it a promising approach for future applications that require antibody fragment immobilization. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A strategy for high-level expression of a single-chain variable fragment against TNFα by subcloning antibody variable regions from the phage display vector pCANTAB 5E into pBV220.

PubMed

Yang, Tao; Yang, Lijun; Chai, Weiran; Li, Renke; Xie, Jun; Niu, Bo

2011-03-01

A phage display single-chain variable fragment (scFv) library against TNFα was constructed using a recombinant phage antibody system (RPAS). The cloned scFv gene was introduced into the phage display vector pCANTAB 5E and expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) with a yield of up to 0.15 mg/l of total protein. With the attempt to improve the expression level of TNF-scFv, a strategy was established for subcloning the scFv gene from pCANTAB 5E into the plasmid pBV220. Under the control of a highly efficient tandem P(R)P(L) promoter system, scFv production was increased to 30% of total protein as inclusion bodies. After extraction from the cell pellet by sonication, the inclusion bodies were solubilized and denatured in the presence of 8M urea. Purification of denatured scFv was performed using nickel column chromatography followed by renaturation. The purity and activity of the refolded scFv were confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blotting and by an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The results reveal that the overall yield of bioactive TNF-scFv from E. coli flask cultures was more than 45 mg/l culture medium and 15 mg/g wet weight cells. The renatured scFv exhibited binding activity similarly to soluble scFv. In conclusion we developed a method to over-express TNF-scFv, which have biological function after purification and renaturation. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Human scFv antibody fragments specific for hepatocellular carcinoma selected from a phage display library.

PubMed

Yu, Bing; Ni, Ming; Li, Wen-Han; Lei, Ping; Xing, Wei; Xiao, Dai-Wen; Huang, Yu; Tang, Zhen-Jie; Zhu, Hui-Fen; Shen, Guan-Xin

2005-07-14

To identify the scFv antibody fragments specific for hepatocellular carcinoma by biopanning from a large human naive scFv phage display library. A large human naive scFv phage library was used to search for the specific targets by biopanning with the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 for the positive-selecting and the normal liver cell line L02 for the counter-selecting. After three rounds of biopanning, individual scFv phages binding selectively to HepG2 cells were picked out. PCR was carried out for identification of the clones containing scFv gene sequence. The specific scFv phages were selected by ELISA and flow cytometry. DNA sequences of positive clones were analyzed by using Applied Biosystem Automated DNA sequencers 3 730. The expression proteins of the specific scFv antibody fragments in E.coli HB2151 were purified by the affinity chromatography and detected by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and ELISA. The biological effect of the soluble antibody fragments on the HepG2 cells was investigated by observing the cell proliferation. Two different positive clones were obtained and the functional variable sequences were identified. Their DNA sequences of the scFv antibody fragments were submitted to GenBank (accession nos: AY686498 and AY686499). The soluble scFv antibody fragments were successfully expressed in E.coli HB2151. The relative molecular mass of the expression products was about 36 ku, according to its predicted M(r) value. The two soluble scFv antibody fragments also had specific binding activity and obvious growth inhibition properties to HepG2 cells. The phage library biopanning permits identification of specific antibody fragments for hepatocellular carcinoma and affords experiment evidence for its immunotherapy study.

Construction, expression and in vitro biological behaviors of Ig scFv fragment in patients with chronic B cell leukemia.

PubMed

Zhu, Lijuan; Liao, Wenjun; Zhu, Huifen; Lei, Ping; Wang, Zhihua; Shao, Jingfang; Zhang, Yue; Shen, Guanxin

2006-01-01

The expression vector of SmIg scFv fragment was constructed in patient with B cell chronic lymphocyte leukemia (B-CLL) and expressed in E. coli to obtain scFv fragment, and the effect of the protein on the proliferation of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was investigated in vitro. Two pairs of primers were designed, and variable region genes of light chain and heavy chain were amplified by PCR respectively from the pGEM-T vectors previously constructed in our laboratory which containing light chain gene or Fd fragment of heavy chain gene. The PCR product was digested, purified and inserted into pHEN2 vector to construct the soluble expression vector pHEN2-scFv. After the induction by IPTG, the scFv protein was identified by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and purified by Ni-NTA-Chromatography. MTT was used to determine the effect of purified protein on the proliferation of stimulated PBMC in vitro. Plasmid PCR and restriction enzyme digestion of pHEN2-scFv revealed the pHEN2-scFv vector was constructed successfully. Id-scFv protein was expressed in positive clone after induced by IPTG. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the relative molecular weight of fusion protein was about 30 kD (1 kD= 0.9921 ku), which was consistent with the theoretically predicted value. Proliferation of PBMC could be induced by purified Id-scFv. It was suggested that the expression vector of SmIg scFv fragment was constructed successfully, and scFv protein was expressed and secreted from E. coli, which could induce proliferation of PBMC. This may lay an experimental foundation for further research of Id-HSP complex vaccine for B-CLL.

Fruits and vegetables as a healthier snack throughout the day among families with older children: findings from a survey of parent-child dyads.

PubMed

Smith, Teresa M; Pinard, Courtney A; Byker Shanks, Carmen; Wethington, Holly; Blanck, Heidi M; Yaroch, Amy L

2015-04-01

Most U.S. youth fail to eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables (FV) however many consume too many calories as added sugars and solid fats, often as snacks. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with serving FV as snacks and with meals using parent-child dyads. A cross-sectional sample of U.S. children aged 9 to 18, and their caregiver/parent (n=1522) were part of a Consumer Panel of households for the 2008 YouthStyles mail survey. Chi-square test of independence and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess associations between serving patterns of FV as snacks with variations in serving patterns, and covariates including dietary habits. Most parents (72%) reported serving FV at meals and as snacks. Fruit was most frequently served as a snack during the day (52%) and vegetables were most frequently served as a snack during the day (22%) but rarely in the morning. Significant differences in child FV intake existed among FV as a snack serving patterns by parents. Compared to children whose parents served FV only at meals, children whose parents reported serving FV as snacks in addition to meals were significantly more likely to have consumed FV the day before (using a previous day screener), P<0.05. Contributing to the growing collection of literature describing parent-child dyad dietary behaviors, these findings suggest promoting FV access and intake throughout the day, not only at meals, by including serving as snacks, may increase FV intake among older children and adolescents. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced transport of plant-produced rabies single-chain antibody-RVG peptide fusion protein across an in cellulo blood-brain barrier device.

PubMed

Phoolcharoen, Waranyoo; Prehaud, Christophe; van Dolleweerd, Craig J; Both, Leonard; da Costa, Anaelle; Lafon, Monique; Ma, Julian K-C

2017-10-01

The biomedical applications of antibody engineering are developing rapidly and have been expanded to plant expression platforms. In this study, we have generated a novel antibody molecule in planta for targeted delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Rabies virus (RABV) is a neurotropic virus for which there is no effective treatment after entry into the central nervous system. This study investigated the use of a RABV glycoprotein peptide sequence to assist delivery of a rabies neutralizing single-chain antibody (ScFv) across an in cellulo model of human BBB. The 29 amino acid rabies virus peptide (RVG) recognizes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) at neuromuscular junctions and the BBB. ScFv and ScFv-RVG fusion proteins were produced in Nicotiana benthamiana by transient expression. Both molecules were successfully expressed and purified, but the ScFv expression level was significantly higher than that of ScFv-RVG fusion. Both ScFv and ScFv-RVG fusion molecules had potent neutralization activity against RABVin cellulo. The ScFv-RVG fusion demonstrated increased binding to nAchR and entry into neuronal cells, compared to ScFv alone. Additionally, a human brain endothelial cell line BBB model was used to demonstrate that plant-produced ScFv-RVG P fusion could translocate across the cells. This study indicates that the plant-produced ScFv-RVG P fusion protein was able to cross the in celluloBBB and neutralize RABV. © 2017 The Authors. Plant Biotechnology Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and The Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Exploring perceptions and beliefs about the cost of fruit and vegetables and whether they are barriers to higher consumption.

PubMed

Chapman, Kathryn; Goldsbury, David; Watson, Wendy; Havill, Michelle; Wellard, Lyndal; Hughes, Clare; Bauman, Adrian; Allman-Farinelli, Margaret

2017-06-01

Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is below recommendations, and cost may be a barrier to meeting recommendations. Limited evidence exists on individual perceptions about the cost, actual spending and consumption of F&V. This study investigated perceptions and beliefs about cost of F&V and whether this is a barrier to higher consumption. An online survey of Australian adults (n = 2474) measured F&V consumption; expenditure on F&V and food; and perceived barriers to consumption. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations between participants' responses about cost of F&V and demographic factors, and with actual consumption and expenditure on F&V. Cost was identified as a barrier for 29% of people not meeting recommended fruit servings and for 14% of people not meeting recommendations for vegetables. Cost was a more common barrier for those on lower incomes (fruit aOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.20-2.98 and vegetables aOR 2.94; 95% CI 1.97-4.39) and less common for older participants (fruit aOR 0.33; 95% CI 0.17-0.62 and vegetables aOR 0.31; 95% CI 0.18-0.52). There was no association between the perceived barriers and actual F&V spending. Twenty percent of participants said F&V were not affordable; 39% said cost made it difficult to buy F&V, and for 23% the cost of F&V meant they bought less than desired. A minority reported F&V were not affordable where they shopped and that cost was a barrier to higher consumption. However, it is apparent that young adults and those on low incomes eat less than they would like because of cost. Strategies that remove financial impediments to consumption are indicated for these population sub-groups. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of a microplate coagulation assay for Factor V in human plasma.

PubMed

Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A

2011-06-28

Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical regulator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation. There is a need of a simple, fast, and inexpensive microplate-based coagulation assay to measure the functional activity of FV in human plasma. The objective of this study was to develop a microplate-based assay that measures FV coagulation activity during clot formation in human plasma, which is currently not available. The FV assay requires a kinetic microplate reader to measure the change in absorbance at 405nm during fibrin formation in human plasma. The FV assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation in human plasma. The FV microplate assay is simple, fast, economical, sensitive to approx 24-80pM, and multiple samples may be analyzed simultaneously. All the required materials are commercially available. Standard curves of time or initial rate of fibrin clot formation vs FV activity in the 1-stage assay (Without activation by thrombin) may be used to measure FV activity in samples of human plasma. The assay was used to demonstrate that in nine patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the FV 1-stage, 2-stage (With activation by thrombin), and total (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity) activities were decreased, on average, by approximately 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, from prolonged clot times when compared to normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The results indicate that the FV in the DIC patient plasmas supported both a delayed and slower rate of fibrin clot formation compared with NHP; however, the extent of fibrin clot formation in the DIC patients remained largely unchanged from that observed with NHP. The FV microplate assay may be easily adapted to measure the activity of any coagulation factor using the appropriate factor-deficient plasma and clot initiating reagent. The microplate assay will find use in both research and clinical laboratories to provide measurement of the functional coagulation activity of FV in human plasma.

In vitro caries lesion rehardening and enamel fluoride uptake from fluoride varnishes as a function of application mode.

PubMed

Lippert, Frank; Hara, Anderson T; Martinez-Mier, Esperanza Angeles; Zero, Domenick T

2013-04-01

To study the laboratory predicted anticaries efficacy of five commercially available fluoride varnishes (FV) by determining their ability to reharden and to deliver fluoride to an early caries lesion when applied directly or in close vicinity to the lesion (halo effect). Early caries lesions were created in 80 polished bovine enamel specimens. Specimens were allocated to five FV groups (n = 16) based on Knoop surface microhardness (KHN) after lesion creation. All tested FV claimed to contain 5% sodium fluoride and were: CavityShield, Enamel Pro, MI Varnish, Prevident and Vanish. FV were applied (10 +/- 2 mg per lesion) to eight specimens per FV group (direct application); the remaining eight specimens received no FV but were later exposed to fluoride released from specimens which received a FV treatment (indirect application). Specimens were paired again and placed into containers (one per FV). Artificial saliva was added and containers placed into an incubator (27 hours at 37 degrees C). Subsequently, FV was carefully removed using chloroform. Specimens were exposed to fresh artificial saliva again (67 hours at 37 degrees C). KHN was measured and differences to baseline values calculated. Enamel fluoride uptake (EFU) was determined using the acid etch technique. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. The two-way ANOVA highlighted significant interactions between FV vs. application mode, for both deltaKHN and EFU (P < 0.001). All FV were able to reharden and deliver fluoride to caries lesions, but to different degrees. Furthermore, considerable differences were found for both variables between FV when applied either directly or in close vicinity to the lesion: MI Varnish and Enamel Pro exhibited greater fluoride efficacy when applied in vicinity rather than directly to the lesion, whereas CavityShield and Vanish did not differ. Prevident exhibited a higher EFU when applied directly, but little difference in rehardening.

The combination of Cassia obtusifolia L. and Foeniculum vulgare M. exhibits a laxative effect on loperamide-induced constipation of rats

PubMed Central

Jang, Seung Hee

2018-01-01

Chronic constipation is a functional gastrointestinal disease that is detrimental to the quality of patient life. Cassia obtusifolia L. (CO) and Foeniculum vulgare M. (FV) are commonly used as medicinal foods in many countries. We aimed to examine the laxative effect and their underlying mechanism of CO and FV mixture on loperamide (lop)-induced constipated rats. To determine the laxative effects of these compounds, Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: the control, lop-induced constipated (2mg/kg), and three doses (100, 300, and 500mg/kg) of CO and FV mixture-, and Bisacodyl (bis, 3.3mg/kg)-treated groups. The mixture of CO and FV and bis were orally administered once a day for 4 weeks. For induction of constipation, the lop were treated with a dose of 2 mg/kg twice a day on the 3rd week after treatments of CO and FV extracts and bis. The results were revealed that the CO and FV mixture has the laxative effects more than those in CO and FV-alone treatments on constipated rats by determining the stool parameters, including stool number and weight. Indeed, stool parameters, such as, stool number, weight, and water contents and colonic peristalsis from the intestinal transit length and ratio were dramatically improved by CO and FV mixture treatment. Histological study also revealed that CO and FV mixture enhanced the thicknesses of mucosa and muscular layers of the colon in constipated rats. For their underlying mechanism, the mRNAs and proteins expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAchR) M2 and M3 and their downstream signaling were preserved by CO and FV mixture treatment in constipated rats. Therefore, this study suggests that treatment with CO and FV mixture has beneficial effects against constipation. We further suggest that CO and FV mixture may be utilized as an alternative therapeutic strategy for constipation. PMID:29621360

Complementarity determining regions and frameworks contribute to the disulfide bond independent folding of intrinsically stable scFv

PubMed Central

Gąciarz, Anna

2017-01-01

CyDisCo is a system facilitating disulfide bond formation in recombinant proteins in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. Previously we screened for soluble expression of single chain antibody fragments (scFv) in the cytoplasm of E. coli in the presence and absence of CyDisCo, with >90% being solubly expressed. Two scFv, those derived from natalizumab and trastuzumab, were solubly produced in high amounts even in the absence of folding catalysts i.e. disulfide bond formation is not critical for their folding. Here we investigate the contribution of the framework and the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of scFv to the disulfide-independence of folding. We swapped CDRs between four scFv that have different properties, including two scFv that can efficiently fold independently from disulfide bonds and two more disulfide-dependent scFv. To confirm disulfide-independence we generated cysteine to alanine mutants of the disulfide-independent scFv. All of the scFv were tested for soluble expression in the cytoplasm of E. coli in the presence and absence of the oxidative folding catalysts Erv1p and PDI. Eight of the hybrid scFv were solubly produced in the presence of CyDisCo, while seven were solubly produced in the absence of CyDisCo, though the yields were often much lower when CyDisCo was absent. Soluble expression was also observed for scFv natalizumab and trastuzumab containing no cysteines. We compared yields, thermal stability and secondary structure of solubly produced scFv and undertook binding studies by western blotting, dot blotting or surface plasmon resonance of those produced in good yields. Our results indicate that both the CDRs and the framework contribute to the disulfide-dependence of soluble production of scFv, with the CDRs having the largest effect. In addition, there was no correlation between thermal stability and disulfide-dependence of folding and only a weak correlation between the yield of protein and the thermal stability of the protein. PMID:29253024

Complementarity determining regions and frameworks contribute to the disulfide bond independent folding of intrinsically stable scFv.

PubMed

Gąciarz, Anna; Ruddock, Lloyd W

2017-01-01

CyDisCo is a system facilitating disulfide bond formation in recombinant proteins in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. Previously we screened for soluble expression of single chain antibody fragments (scFv) in the cytoplasm of E. coli in the presence and absence of CyDisCo, with >90% being solubly expressed. Two scFv, those derived from natalizumab and trastuzumab, were solubly produced in high amounts even in the absence of folding catalysts i.e. disulfide bond formation is not critical for their folding. Here we investigate the contribution of the framework and the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of scFv to the disulfide-independence of folding. We swapped CDRs between four scFv that have different properties, including two scFv that can efficiently fold independently from disulfide bonds and two more disulfide-dependent scFv. To confirm disulfide-independence we generated cysteine to alanine mutants of the disulfide-independent scFv. All of the scFv were tested for soluble expression in the cytoplasm of E. coli in the presence and absence of the oxidative folding catalysts Erv1p and PDI. Eight of the hybrid scFv were solubly produced in the presence of CyDisCo, while seven were solubly produced in the absence of CyDisCo, though the yields were often much lower when CyDisCo was absent. Soluble expression was also observed for scFv natalizumab and trastuzumab containing no cysteines. We compared yields, thermal stability and secondary structure of solubly produced scFv and undertook binding studies by western blotting, dot blotting or surface plasmon resonance of those produced in good yields. Our results indicate that both the CDRs and the framework contribute to the disulfide-dependence of soluble production of scFv, with the CDRs having the largest effect. In addition, there was no correlation between thermal stability and disulfide-dependence of folding and only a weak correlation between the yield of protein and the thermal stability of the protein.

Healthier side dishes at restaurants: an analysis of children's perspectives, menu content, and energy impacts.

PubMed

Anzman-Frasca, Stephanie; Dawes, Franciel; Sliwa, Sarah; Dolan, Peter R; Nelson, Miriam E; Washburn, Kyle; Economos, Christina D

2014-07-04

Children consume restaurant-prepared foods at high rates, suggesting that interventions and policies targeting consumption of these foods have the potential to improve diet quality and attenuate excess energy intake. One approach to encouraging healthier dietary intake in restaurants is to offer fruits and vegetables (FV) as side dishes, as opposed to traditional, energy-dense accompaniments like French fries. The aims of the current study were to examine: children's views about healthier side dishes at restaurants; current side dish offerings on children's menus at leading restaurants; and potential energy reductions when substituting FV side dishes in place of French fries. To investigate children's attitudes, a survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of U.S. 8- to 18-year-olds (n = 1178). To examine current side dish offerings, children's menus from leading quick service (QSR; n = 10) and full service restaurant chains (FSR; n = 10) were analyzed. Energy reductions that could result from substituting commonly-offered FV side dishes for French fries were estimated using nutrition information corresponding to the children's menu items. Two-thirds of children reported that they would not feel negatively about receiving FV sides instead of French fries with kids' meals. Liking/taste was the most common reason that children gave to explain their attitudes about FV side dishes. Nearly all restaurants offered at least 1 FV side dish option, but at most restaurants (60% of QSR; 70% of FSR), FV sides were never served by default. Substituting FV side dishes for French fries yielded an average estimated energy reduction of at least 170 calories. Results highlight some healthy trends in the restaurant context, including the majority of children reporting non-negative attitudes about FV side dishes and the consistent availability of FV side dish options at leading QSR and FSR. Yet the minority of restaurants offer these FV sides by default. Promoting creative, appealing FV side dishes can result in healthier, less energy-dense meals for children. Substituting or displacing energy-dense default side dishes with such FV dishes show promise as part of continued, comprehensive efforts to increase the healthfulness of meals consumed by children in restaurant settings.

Preclinical evaluation of multistep targeting of diasialoganglioside GD2 using a IgG-scFv bispecific antibody with high affinity for GD2 and DOTA metal complex

PubMed Central

Cheal, Sarah M.; Xu, Hong; Guo, Hong-fen; Zanzonico, Pat B.; Larson, Steven M.; Cheung, Nai-Kong

2014-01-01

Bispecific antibodies (BsAb) have proven to be useful targeting vectors for pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT). We sought to overcome key PRIT limitations such as high renal radiation exposure and immunogenicity (e.g. of streptavidin-antibody fusions), to advance clinical translation of this PRIT strategy for diasialoganglioside GD2-positive (GD2(+)) tumors. For this purpose, a IgG-scFv BsAb was engineered using the sequences for the anti-GD2 humanized monoclonal antibody hu3F8 (1) and C825, a murine scFv antibody with high affinity for the chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) complexed with beta-particle emitting radiometals such as 177Lu and 90Y (2, 3). A three-step regimen including hu3F8-C825, a dextran-based clearing agent, and p-aminobenzyl-DOTA radiolabeled with 177Lu (as 177Lu-DOTA-Bn; t1/2 = 6.71 days (d)) was optimized in immunocompromised mice carrying subcutaneous (s.c.) human GD2(+) neuroblastoma (NB) xenografts. Absorbed doses for tumor and normal tissues were ∼85 cGy/MBq and ≤3.7 cGy/MBq, respectively, with therapeutic indicies (TI) of 142 for blood and 23 for kidney. A therapy study (n = 5 per group; tumor volume: 240 ± 160 mm3) with three successive PRIT cycles (total 177Lu: ∼33 MBq; tumor dose ∼3400 cGy), revealed complete tumor response in 5/5 animals, with no recurrence up to 28 d post-treatment. Tumor ablation was confirmed histologically in 4/5 mice, and normal organs showed minimal overall toxicities. All non-treated mice required sacrifice within 12 d (>1.0 cm3 tumor volume). We conclude that this novel anti-GD2 PRIT approach has sufficient TI to successfully ablate s.c. GD2(+)–NB in mice while sparing kidney and bone marrow. PMID:24944121

On carrots and curiosity: eating fruit and vegetables is associated with greater flourishing in daily life.

PubMed

Conner, Tamlin S; Brookie, Kate L; Richardson, Aimee C; Polak, Maria A

2015-05-01

Our aim was to determine whether eating fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with other markers of well-being beyond happiness and life satisfaction. Towards this aim, we tested whether FV consumption is associated with greater eudaemonic well-being - a state of flourishing characterized by feelings of engagement, meaning, and purpose in life. We also tested associations with two eudaemonic behaviours - curiosity and creativity. Daily diary study across 13 days (micro-longitudinal, correlational design). A sample of 405 young adults (67% women; mean age 19.9 [SD 1.6] years) completed an Internet daily diary for 13 consecutive days. Each day, participants reported on their consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweets, and chips, as well as their eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, creativity, positive affect (PA), and negative affect. Between-person associations were analysed on aggregated data. Within-person associations were analysed using multilevel models controlling for weekday and weekend patterns. Fruit and vegetables consumption predicted greater eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, and creativity at the between- and within-person levels. Young adults who ate more FV reported higher average eudaemonic well-being, more intense feelings of curiosity, and greater creativity compared with young adults who ate less FV. On days when young adults ate more FV, they reported greater eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, and creativity compared with days when they ate less FV. FV consumption also predicted higher PA, which mostly did not account for the associations between FV and the other well-being variables. Few unhealthy foods (sweets, chips) were related to well-being except that consumption of sweets was associated with greater curiosity and PA at the within-person level. Lagged data analyses showed no carry-over effects of FV consumption onto next-day well-being (or vice versa). Although these patterns are strictly correlational, this study provides the first evidence that FV consumption may be related to a broader range of well-being states that signal human flourishing in early adulthood. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? There is growing evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (FV) is related to greater happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect. These associations are not entirely explained by demographic or health variables including socio-economic status, exercise, smoking, and body mass index (BMI). Recent experimental and daily diary research suggests that FV consumption may be a causal factor in promoting states of positive well-being. Research has examined the links between FV consumption and hedonic well-being - whether people feel good (vs. bad) and satisfied-but has not addressed links between FV consumption and eudaemonic well-being- whether people feel engaged and experience their lives as meaningful and purposeful. What does this study add? It provides the first evidence that eating FV is related to greater eudaemonic well-being in a naturalistic setting. Eating FV was also related to greater self-reported curiosity and creativity. FV consumption may underlie a broad range of experiences that signal flourishing. Future randomised controlled trials of FV should include measures of eudaemonic well-being as outcome variables. © 2014 The British Psychological Society.

Finite Volume Algorithms for Heat Conduction

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-01

scalar quantity). Although (3) is relatively easy to discretize by using finite differences , its form in generalized coordinates is not. Later, we...familiar with the finite difference method for discretizing differential equations. In fact, the Newton divided difference is the numerical analog for a...expression (8) for the average derivative matches the Newton divided difference formula, so for uniform one-dimensional meshes, the finite volume and

Does Nutrition Education with Fruit and Vegetable Supplementation Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Improve Anthropometrics of Overweight or Obese People of Varying Socioeconomic Status?

PubMed

Honrath, Kerrie; Wagner, Meredith G; Rhee, Yeong

2018-01-01

Fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake is inadequate and obesity is more prevalent among adults of lower socioeconomic status (SES) in the United States. The effect of nutrition education and F/V supplementation on F/V intake and anthropometrics of overweight or obese adults of varying SES was determined. F/V intake was not different between the nutrition education and F/V supplementation groups. Individuals with a graduate degree had significant improvements in fruit intake. Few of the improvements in anthropometrics seen were significant. Future research should focus on specific barriers to F/V intake and include information on total energy intake and expenditure.

Solution of the Average-Passage Equations for the Incompressible Flow through Multiple-Blade-Row Turbomachinery

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-02-01

numerical treatment. An explicit numerical procedure based on Runqe-Kutta time stepping for cell-centered, hexahedral finite volumes is...An explicit numerical procedure based on Runge-Kutta time stepping for cell-centered, hexahedral finite volumes is outlined for the approximate...Discretization 16 3.1 Cell-Centered Finite -Volume Discretization in Space 16 3.2 Artificial Dissipation 17 3.3 Time Integration 21 3.4 Convergence

Vector two-point functions in finite volume using partially quenched chiral perturbation theory at two loops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bijnens, Johan; Relefors, Johan

2017-12-01

We calculate vector-vector correlation functions at two loops using partially quenched chiral perturbation theory including finite volume effects and twisted boundary conditions. We present expressions for the flavor neutral cases and the flavor charged case with equal masses. Using these expressions we give an estimate for the ratio of disconnected to connected contributions for the strange part of the electromagnetic current. We give numerical examples for the effects of partial quenching, finite volume and twisting and suggest the use of different twists to check the size of finite volume effects. The main use of this work is expected to be for lattice QCD calculations of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment.

Mediation of parental educational level on fruit and vegetable intake among schoolchildren in ten European countries.

PubMed

Lehto, Elviira; Ray, Carola; Te Velde, Saskia; Petrova, Stefka; Duleva, Vesselka; Krawinkel, Michael; Behrendt, Isabel; Papadaki, Angeliki; Kristjansdottir, Asa; Thorsdottir, Inga; Yngve, Agneta; Lien, Nanna; Lynch, Christel; Ehrenblad, Bettina; Vaz de Almeida, Maria Daniel; Ribic, Cirila Hlastan; Simčic, Irena; Roos, Eva

2015-01-01

To examine which factors act as mediators between parental educational level and children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in ten European countries. Cross-sectional data were collected in ten European countries participating in the PRO GREENS project (2009). Schoolchildren completed a validated FFQ about their daily F&V intake and filled in a questionnaire about availability of F&V at home, parental facilitation of F&V intake, knowledge of recommendations about F&V intake, self-efficacy to eat F&V and liking for F&V. Parental educational level was determined from a questionnaire given to parents. The associations were examined with multilevel mediation analyses. Schools in Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden. Eleven-year-old children (n 8159, response rate 72%) and their parents. In five of the ten countries, children with higher educated parents were more likely to report eating fruits daily. This association was mainly mediated by knowledge but self-efficacy, liking, availability and facilitation also acted as mediators in some countries. Parents' education was positively associated with their children's daily vegetable intake in seven countries, with knowledge and availability being the strongest mediators and self-efficacy and liking acting as mediators to some degree. Parental educational level correlated positively with children's daily F&V intake in most countries and the pattern of mediation varied among the participating countries. Future intervention studies that endeavour to decrease the educational-level differences in F&V intake should take into account country-specific features in the relevant determinants of F&V intake.

Identification, isolation, and expression analysis of heat shock transcription factors in the diploid woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca

PubMed Central

Hu, Yang; Han, Yong-Tao; Wei, Wei; Li, Ya-Juan; Zhang, Kai; Gao, Yu-Rong; Zhao, Feng-Li; Feng, Jia-Yue

2015-01-01

Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) are known to play dominant roles in plant responses to heat, as well as other abiotic or biotic stress stimuli. While the strawberry is an economically important fruit plant, little is known about the Hsf family in the strawberry. To explore the functions of strawberry Hsfs in abiotic and biotic stress responses, this study identified 17 Hsf genes (FvHsfs) in a wild diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca, 2n = 2x = 14) and isolated 14 of these genes. Phylogenetic analysis divided the strawberry FvHsfs genes into three main groups. The evolutionary and structural analyses revealed that the FvHsf family is conserved. The promoter sequences of the FvHsf genes contain upstream regulatory elements corresponding to different stress stimuli. In addition, 14 FvHsf-GFP fusion proteins showed differential subcellular localization in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts. Furthermore, we examined the expression of the 17 FvHsf genes in wild diploid woodland strawberries under various conditions, including abiotic stresses (heat, cold, drought, and salt), biotic stress (powdery mildew infection), and hormone treatments (abscisic acid, ethephon, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid). Fifteen of the seventeen FvHsf genes exhibited distinct changes on the transcriptional level during heat treatment. Of these 15 FvHsfs, 8 FvHsfs also exhibited distinct responses to other stimuli on the transcriptional level, indicating versatile roles in the response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Taken together, the present work may provide the basis for further studies to dissect FvHsf function in response to stress stimuli. PMID:26442049

The value of facial attractiveness for encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption: analyses from a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Appleton, Katherine M; McGrath, Alanna J; McKinley, Michelle C; Draffin, Claire R; Hamill, Lesley L; Young, Ian S; Woodside, Jayne V

2018-03-01

An effect of increased fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption on facial attractiveness has been proposed and recommended as a strategy to promote FV intakes, but no studies to date demonstrate a causal link between FV consumption and perceived attractiveness. This study investigated perceptions of attractiveness before and after the supervised consumption of 2, 5 or 8 FV portions/day for 4 weeks in 30 low FV consumers. Potential mechanisms for change via skin colour and perceived skin healthiness were also investigated. Faces were photographed at the start and end of the 4 week intervention in controlled conditions. Seventy-three independent individuals subsequently rated all 60 photographs in a randomized order, for facial attractiveness, facial skin yellowness, redness, healthiness, clarity, and symmetry. Using clustered multiple regression, FV consumption over the previous 4 weeks had no direct effect on attractiveness, but, for female faces, some evidence was found for an indirect impact, via linear and non-linear changes in skin yellowness. Effect sizes, however, were small. No association between FV consumption and skin healthiness was found, but skin healthiness was associated with facial attractiveness. Controlled and objectively measured increases in FV consumption for 4 weeks resulted indirectly in increased attractiveness in females via increases in skin yellowness, but effects are small and gradually taper as FV consumption increases. Based on the effect sizes from this study, we are hesitant to recommend the use of facial attractiveness to encourage increased FV consumption. Clinical trial Registration Number NCT01591057 ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ). Registered: 27th April, 2012.

Changes in fruit and vegetable consumption of third-grade students in body quest: food of the warrior, a 17-class childhood obesity prevention program.

PubMed

Struempler, Barbara J; Parmer, Sondra M; Mastropietro, Lisa M; Arsiwalla, Dilbur; Bubb, Robert R

2014-01-01

To increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of youth in Body Quest: Food of the Warrior (BQ), a childhood obesity prevention program. Quasi-experimental. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education eligible schools (n = 60). Third-grade students (n = 2,477). Treatment groups (n = 1,674) self-reported foods consumed through the School Lunch Program for 17 weekly assessments; they participated in BQ curriculum, iPad app education, and weekly FV tastings. Control groups (n = 803) completed only pre- and post-assessments. Weekly FV consumed through School Lunch Program. ANCOVA and growth modeling. From before to after the program, the treatment group demonstrated significant, moderate increases in fruit (P < .01) and vegetable (P < .001) consumptions, increasing from 7 to 8 weekly FV servings. After the program, the treatment group consumed significantly (P < .001) more FV than the control group. Fruit and vegetable consumption increased to class 10 and then stabilized. From before to after the program, all FV predictors were significantly higher and included gender (vegetables), race (FV), and free/reduced lunch (fruit). Nutrition programs can increase FV intake. Even moderate increases in FV intake can be an initial step for the prevention of chronic disease. Copyright © 2014 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Farmers’ Market at a Federally Qualified Health Center Improves Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Low-income Diabetics

PubMed Central

Freedman, Darcy A.; Choi, Seul Ki; Hurley, Thomas; Anadu, Edith; Hebert, James R.

2013-01-01

Objective A 22-week federally qualified health center (FQHC)-based farmers’ market (FM) and personal financial incentive intervention designed to improve access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) among low-income diabetics in rural South Carolina was evaluated. Methods A mixed methods, one-group, repeated-measures design was used. Data were collected in 2011 before (May/June), during (August), and after (November) the intervention with 41 diabetes patients from the FQHC. FV consumption was assessed using a validated National Cancer Institute FV screener modified to include FV sold at the FM. Sales receipts were recorded for all FM transactions. A mixed-model, repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess intervention effects on FV consumption. Predictors of changes in FV consumption were examined using logistic regression. Results A marginally significant (p=0.07) average increase of 1.6 servings of total FV consumption per day occurred. The odds of achieving significant improvements in FV consumption increased for diabetics using financial incentives for payment at the FM (OR: 38.8, 95% CI: 3.4–449.6) and for those frequenting the FM more often (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1–4.0). Conclusions Results reveal a dose-response relationship between the intervention and FV improvements and emphasize the importance of addressing economic barriers to food access. PMID:23384473

[Relationship between factor v Leiden mutation and Chinese Budd-Chiari syndrome and its clinical significance].

PubMed

Feng, B; Xu, K; Jiang, H

2000-05-01

To investigate the relationship between factor v Leiden (FvL) mutation and Chinese sporadic Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), familial BCS, and to explore the significance of FvL mutation in the etiology of BCS. Twenty-five patients with sporadic BCS, 6 patients with familial BCS (from A and B families), 39 both A and B family members, and 31 healthy persons were detected for FvL mutation with PCR. Meantime, two family members were explored for the related etiology of BCS. Factor V Leiden mutation was detected in 4 of 6 patients with familial BCS and in 2 family members. AIII(7,11,15) and BII(10), AII(2) and BIII(5) were found FvL mutation, and mutation was heterzygous. FvL mutation in the two degrees was compatible with Mendel hereditery law. The frequency of FvL mutation in 31 BCS and 31 healthy persons showed no statistical significance: but the frequency of FvL mutation between the familial BCS and healthy persons showed statistical significance. Ten persons in A family had varicose vein of the low extremeties, which was compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. FvL mutation is related to Chinese familial BCS, but is not related to Chinese sporadic BCS. FvL mutation may be a underlying pathogenicity of familial BCS. Varicose vein of the low extremeties may be one of the pathogenicity of familial BCS.

Adolescent Overweight and Obesity: Links to Socioeconomic Status and Fruit and Vegetable Intakes

PubMed Central

You, Jihyun; Choo, Jina

2016-01-01

Whether adolescent overweight/obesity is linked to socioeconomic status (SES) and fruit and vegetable (F/V) intakes has not been confirmed. We aimed to determine whether there is an association between SES and adolescent overweight/obesity and to test the mediating effect of F/V intakes. This cross-sectional study included the data of 63,111 adolescents extracted from the 2013 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Overweight/obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥ 85th percentile, while F/V intakes were categorized as high (recommended levels: ≥1 fruit serving and ≥3 vegetable servings per day) versus low. Among girls, low SES (beta = 0.50, p < 0.001) and F/V intakes (beta = −0.17, p = 0.038) were both significantly associated with overweight/obesity; the former association was significantly mediated by F/V intakes (Sobel test: z = 2.00, p = 0.046). Among boys, neither SES nor F/V intakes was significantly associated with overweight/obesity. Adolescent overweight/obesity was significantly linked to low SES and F/V intakes among girls only; low SES indirectly increased the risk of overweight/obesity via low F/V intakes. Therefore, promoting F/V intakes for socially disadvantaged girls should be prioritized as a population-based strategy for preventing adolescent overweight/obesity in South Korea. PMID:27005654

Large Animal Models for Foamy Virus Vector Gene Therapy

PubMed Central

Trobridge, Grant D.; Horn, Peter A.; Beard, Brian C.; Kiem, Hans-Peter

2012-01-01

Foamy virus (FV) vectors have shown great promise for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy. Their ability to efficiently deliver transgenes to multi-lineage long-term repopulating cells in large animal models suggests they will be effective for several human hematopoietic diseases. Here, we review FV vector studies in large animal models, including the use of FV vectors with the mutant O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, MGMTP140K to increase the number of genetically modified cells after transplantation. In these studies, FV vectors have mediated efficient gene transfer to polyclonal repopulating cells using short ex vivo transduction protocols designed to minimize the negative effects of ex vivo culture on stem cell engraftment. In this regard, FV vectors appear superior to gammaretroviral vectors, which require longer ex vivo culture to effect efficient transduction. FV vectors have also compared favorably with lentiviral vectors when directly compared in the dog model. FV vectors have corrected leukocyte adhesion deficiency and pyruvate kinase deficiency in the dog large animal model. FV vectors also appear safer than gammaretroviral vectors based on a reduced frequency of integrants near promoters and also near proto-oncogenes in canine repopulating cells. Together, these studies suggest that FV vectors should be highly effective for several human hematopoietic diseases, including those that will require relatively high percentages of gene-modified cells to achieve clinical benefit. PMID:23223198

Fruit and Vegetable Attitudes, Norms, and Intake in Low-Income Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Di Noia, Jennifer; Cullen, Karen Weber

2015-01-01

Fruit and vegetable (FV) attitudes and norms have been shown to influence intake in youth; yet research with low-income youth and studies supplementing self-report with objective measures of intake are lacking. Cross-sectional survey data on self-rated FV intake, FV attitudes, and FV norms were collected in a sample of 116 youth attending a…

Examination of the Relationship between In-Store Environmental Factors and Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing among Hispanics.

PubMed

Sanchez-Flack, Jennifer; Pickrel, Julie L; Belch, George; Lin, Shih-Fan; Anderson, Cheryl A M; Martinez, Maria Elena; Arredondo, Elva M; Ayala, Guadalupe X

2017-10-27

Retail food environments have received attention for their influence on dietary behaviors and for their nutrition intervention potential. To improve diet-related behaviors, such as fruit and vegetable (FV) purchasing, it is important to examine its relationship with in-store environmental characteristics. This study used baseline data from the " El Valor de Nuestra Salud " study to examine how in-store environmental characteristics, such as product availability, placement and promotion, were associated with FV purchasing among Hispanic customers in San Diego County. Mixed linear regression models indicated that greater availability of fresh FVs was associated with a $0.36 increase in FV purchasing ( p = 0.01). Placement variables, specifically each additional square foot of display space dedicated to FVs ( p = 0.01) and each additional fresh FV display ( p = 0.01), were associated with a $0.02 increase and $0.29 decrease, respectively, in FV purchasing. Introducing FV promotions in the final model was not related to FV purchasing. Exploratory analyses indicated that men reported spending $3.69 fewer dollars on FVs compared to women, controlling for covariates ( p = 0.02). These results can help inform interventions targeting in-store environmental characteristics to encourage FV purchasing among Hispanics.

Production of in vivo biotinylated scFv specific to almond (Prunus dulcis) proteins by recombinant Pichia pastoris.

PubMed

de la Cruz, Silvia; Alcocer, Marcos; Madrid, Raquel; García, Aina; Martín, Rosario; González, Isabel; García, Teresa

2016-06-10

The methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris has demonstrated its suitability for large-scale production of recombinant proteins. As an eukaryotic organism P. pastoris presents a series of advantages at expression and processing of heterologous proteins when compared with Escherichia coli. In this work, P. pastoris has been used to express a scFv from a human synthetic library previously shown to bind almond proteins. In order to facilitate purification and post processing manipulations, the scFv was engineered with a C-terminal tag and biotinylated in vivo. After purification, biotinylated scFv were bound to avidin conjugated with HRP producing a multimeric scFv. The multimeric scFv showed to maintain their ability to recognize almond protein when assayed in ELISA, reaching a LOD of 470mgkg(-1). This study describes an easy method to produce large quantities of in vivo biotinylated scFv in P. pastoris. By substituting the enzyme or fluorochromes linked to avidin, it will be possible to generate a diverse number of multimeric scFv as probes to suit different analytical platforms in the detection of almond in food products. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anti-CTGF single-chain variable fragment dimers inhibit human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation by down-regulating p-Akt and p-mTOR levels.

PubMed

Gao, Wei; Cai, Liting; Xu, Xudong; Fan, Juxiang; Xue, Xiulei; Yan, Xuejiao; Qu, Qinrong; Wang, Xihua; Zhang, Chen; Wu, Guoqiu

2014-01-01

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) contributes to airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell hyperplasia in asthma. Humanized single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFv) was well characterized as a CTGF antagonist in the differentiation of fibroblast into myofibroblast and pulmonary fibrosis in our previous studies. To further improve the bioactivity of scFv, we constructed a plasmid to express scFv-linker-matrilin-6×His fusion proteins that could self-assemble into the scFv dimers by disulfide bonds in matrilin under non-reducing conditions. An immunoreactivity assay demonstrated that the scFv dimer could highly bind to CTGF in a concentration-dependent manner. The MTT and EdU assay results revealed that CTGF (≥10 ng/mL) promoted the proliferation of ASM cells, and this effect was inhibited when the cells were treated with anti-CTGF scFv dimer. The western blot analysis results showed that increased phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR induced by CTGF could be suppressed by this scFv dimer. Based on these findings, anti-CTGF scFv dimer may be a potential agent for the prevention of airway remodeling in asthma.

Anti-CTGF Single-Chain Variable Fragment Dimers Inhibit Human Airway Smooth Muscle (ASM) Cell Proliferation by Down-Regulating p-Akt and p-mTOR Levels

PubMed Central

Xu, Xudong; Fan, Juxiang; Xue, Xiulei; Yan, Xuejiao; Qu, Qinrong; Wang, Xihua; Zhang, Chen; Wu, Guoqiu

2014-01-01

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) contributes to airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell hyperplasia in asthma. Humanized single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFv) was well characterized as a CTGF antagonist in the differentiation of fibroblast into myofibroblast and pulmonary fibrosis in our previous studies. To further improve the bioactivity of scFv, we constructed a plasmid to express scFv-linker-matrilin-6×His fusion proteins that could self-assemble into the scFv dimers by disulfide bonds in matrilin under non-reducing conditions. An immunoreactivity assay demonstrated that the scFv dimer could highly bind to CTGF in a concentration-dependent manner. The MTT and EdU assay results revealed that CTGF (≥10 ng/mL) promoted the proliferation of ASM cells, and this effect was inhibited when the cells were treated with anti-CTGF scFv dimer. The western blot analysis results showed that increased phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR induced by CTGF could be suppressed by this scFv dimer. Based on these findings, anti-CTGF scFv dimer may be a potential agent for the prevention of airway remodeling in asthma. PMID:25478966

Effects of desmopressin for the treatment of nocturnal polyuria in elderly women: impact on related sleep quality

PubMed Central

Mun, Jong-Hyeon; Kim, Sun-Ouck; Yu, Ho Song; Chung, Ho Suck; Kwon, Dongdeuk

2015-01-01

Introduction: We investigated the efficacy, safety, and impact of desmopressin on quality of sleep in treating nocturnal polyuria in elderly women. Methods: We recruited 60 women over 60 years old with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including nocturia, and with nocturnal polyuria. Nocturnal polyuria was defined as nighttime urine production exceeding 33% of the 24-hour total urine volume determined by a frequency volume (FV) chart. All patients failed to respond to treatment of their underlying disease and evening fluid restriction. Desmopressin 0.1 mg was administered orally at bedtime for 12 weeks. The participants completed a series of questionnaires on the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) sleep scale and FV chart before and after treatment. Results: The patient population had a mean age of 69.2 ± 9.4 years (range: 61–81). The mean duration of symptoms was 61.2 ± 45.1 months. Significant decreases were evident after desmopressin treatment in the number of nocturia episodes (3.63 ± 1.61 to 2.00 ± 1.13, p = 0.01), nocturnal urine volume (p = 0.01), nocturnal polyuria index (NPI) (p = 0.01), and nocturia index (NI) p = 0.01). Among the categories of the MOS sleep scale, sleep index (p = 0.003), sleep disturbance (p = 0.001), snoring (p = 0.028), and shortness of breath (p = 0.036) significantly changed, with a decreased number of nocturia episodes. Adverse events were mild. Conclusions: Desmopressin is an effective treatment for nocturnal polyuria in elderly women, where conservative treatment has failed. Sleep quality is also improved. PMID:26600882

FvVE1 Regulates Biosynthesis of Fumonisins and Fusarins in Fusarium verticillioides

PubMed Central

MYUNG, KYUNG; LI, SHAOJIE; BUTCHKO, ROBERT A.E.; BUSMAN, MARK; PROCTOR, ROBERT H; ABBAS, HAMED K.; CALVO, ANA M.

2009-01-01

The veA gene positively regulates sterigmatocystin production in Aspergillus nidulans and aflatoxin production in A. parasiticus and A. flavus. Whether veA homologs have a role in regulating secondary metabolism in other fungal genera is unknown. In this study, we examined the role of the veA homolog, FvVE1, on production of two mycotoxin families, fumonisins and fusarins, in the important corn pathogen F. verticillioides. We found that FvVE1 deletion completely suppressed fumonisin production on two natural substrates, corn and rice. Furthermore, our results revealed that FvVE1 is necessary for the expression of the pathway-specific regulatory gene FUM21 and structural genes in the fumonisin biosynthetic gene (FUM) cluster. FvVE1 deletion also blocked production of fusarins. The effects of FvVE1 deletion on the production of these toxins were found to be the same in two separate mating types. Our results strongly suggest that FvVE1 play an important role in regulating mycotoxin production in F. verticillioides. PMID:19382792

Relationships between parenting style, feeding style and feeding practices and fruit and vegetable consumption in early childhood.

PubMed

Blissett, Jackie

2011-12-01

Despite substantial evidence suggesting that a diet high in fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with reduced risk of cancer, only 21% of children in the UK consume the recommended 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day. This review examines the role of parenting style, feeding style and feeding practices in FV consumption in early childhood. Whilst inconsistencies in concepts and terminology cloud this literature, overall the evidence suggests that the context of an authoritative parenting and feeding style is associated with better FV consumption in the childhood years. This context is typified by emotional warmth but high expectations for children's dietary adequacy and behaviour, accompanied by specific feeding practices such as modeling consumption of FV, making FV available within the home, covertly restricting unhealthy alternative snack foods, and encouraging children to try FV. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are required to determine the efficacy of modification of parenting style and feeding practice on children's FV intake. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Highly efficient recovery of functional single-chain Fv fragments from inclusion bodies overexpressed in Escherichia coli by controlled introduction of oxidizing reagent--application to a human single-chain Fv fragment.

PubMed

Tsumoto, K; Shinoki, K; Kondo, H; Uchikawa, M; Juji, T; Kumagai, I

1998-10-01

An improved and efficient refolding system for a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) from inclusion bodies expressed in Escherichia coli was developed. Stepwise removal of denaturing reagent and controlled addition of oxidizing reagent were found to be the most effective conditions to achieve for almost complete recovery of functional monomeric scFv from inclusion bodies. Adding L-arginine to the refolding solution also increased the yield of refolded functional scFv. The single-chain Fv fragments of both a mouse anti-lysozyme monoclonal antibody, HyHEL10, and a human monoclonal antibody against the D antigen of the Rh blood group, D10, in solubilized inclusion bodies could be refolded under these conditions with yields of up to 95%. The refolding procedures developed in this study will contribute to providing a stable supply of large amounts of human single-chain Fv fragments.

The association between motivation and fruit and vegetable intake: The moderating role of social support

PubMed Central

McSpadden, Kate E.; Patrick, Heather; Oh, April Y.; Yaroch, Amy L.; Dwyer, Laura A.; Nebeling, Linda C.

2015-01-01

Despite knowing that fruit and vegetable (FV) intake promotes health and well-being, few U.S. adults meet current guidelines. Thus, understanding people’s motivation for FV intake is important for predicting dietary behavior. Applying self-determination theory, the goal of this study was to examine the role of social support as a potential moderator of the link between autonomous and controlled motivations and FV intake. Cross-sectional data from 2,959 adults in the United States were analyzed. Autonomous motivation and perceived social support were positively associated with FV intake, while controlled motivation was negatively associated with FV intake. Additionally, there was evidence that the negative association between controlled motivation and FV intake was attenuated by higher levels of perceived social support. Findings suggest the need for a more comprehensive approach to understanding the role of motivation in health behaviors like FV intake and the potential roles played by friends and family in these motivational processes. PMID:26321416

The association between motivation and fruit and vegetable intake: The moderating role of social support.

PubMed

McSpadden, Kate E; Patrick, Heather; Oh, April Y; Yaroch, Amy L; Dwyer, Laura A; Nebeling, Linda C

2016-01-01

Despite knowing that fruit and vegetable (FV) intake promotes health and well-being, few U.S. adults meet current guidelines. Thus, understanding people's motivation for FV intake is important for predicting dietary behavior. Applying self-determination theory, the goal of this study was to examine the role of social support as a potential moderator of the link between autonomous and controlled motivations and FV intake. Cross-sectional data from 2959 adults in the United States were analyzed. Autonomous motivation and perceived social support were positively associated with FV intake, while controlled motivation was negatively associated with FV intake. Additionally, there was evidence that the negative association between controlled motivation and FV intake was attenuated by higher levels of perceived social support. Findings suggest the need for a more comprehensive approach to understanding the role of motivation in health behaviors like FV intake and the potential roles played by friends and family in these motivational processes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Numerical solution of the Saint-Venant equations by an efficient hybrid finite-volume/finite-difference method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Wencong; Khan, Abdul A.

2018-04-01

A computationally efficient hybrid finite-volume/finite-difference method is proposed for the numerical solution of Saint-Venant equations in one-dimensional open channel flows. The method adopts a mass-conservative finite volume discretization for the continuity equation and a semi-implicit finite difference discretization for the dynamic-wave momentum equation. The spatial discretization of the convective flux term in the momentum equation employs an upwind scheme and the water-surface gradient term is discretized using three different schemes. The performance of the numerical method is investigated in terms of efficiency and accuracy using various examples, including steady flow over a bump, dam-break flow over wet and dry downstream channels, wetting and drying in a parabolic bowl, and dam-break floods in laboratory physical models. Numerical solutions from the hybrid method are compared with solutions from a finite volume method along with analytic solutions or experimental measurements. Comparisons demonstrates that the hybrid method is efficient, accurate, and robust in modeling various flow scenarios, including subcritical, supercritical, and transcritical flows. In this method, the QUICK scheme for the surface slope discretization is more accurate and less diffusive than the center difference and the weighted average schemes.

The Impact of Varying the Physics Grid Resolution Relative to the Dynamical Core Resolution in CAM-SE-CSLAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herrington, A. R.; Lauritzen, P. H.; Reed, K. A.

2017-12-01

The spectral element dynamical core of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) has recently been coupled to an approximately isotropic, finite-volume grid per implementation of the conservative semi-Lagrangian multi-tracer transport scheme (CAM-SE-CSLAM; Lauritzen et al. 2017). In this framework, the semi-Lagrangian transport of tracers are computed on the finite-volume grid, while the adiabatic dynamics are solved using the spectral element grid. The physical parameterizations are evaluated on the finite-volume grid, as opposed to the unevenly spaced Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre nodes of the spectral element grid. Computing the physics on the finite-volume grid reduces numerical artifacts such as grid imprinting, possibly because the forcing terms are no longer computed at element boundaries where the resolved dynamics are least smooth. The separation of the physics grid and the dynamics grid allows for a unique opportunity to understand the resolution sensitivity in CAM-SE-CSLAM. The observed large sensitivity of CAM to horizontal resolution is a poorly understood impediment to improved simulations of regional climate using global, variable resolution grids. Here, a series of idealized moist simulations are presented in which the finite-volume grid resolution is varied relative to the spectral element grid resolution in CAM-SE-CSLAM. The simulations are carried out at multiple spectral element grid resolutions, in part to provide a companion set of simulations, in which the spectral element grid resolution is varied relative to the finite-volume grid resolution, but more generally to understand if the sensitivity to the finite-volume grid resolution is consistent across a wider spectrum of resolved scales. Results are interpreted in the context of prior ideas regarding resolution sensitivity of global atmospheric models.

Two-Nucleon Systems in a Finite Volume

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

Briceno, Raul

2014-11-01

I present the formalism and methodology for determining the nucleon-nucleon scattering parameters from the finite volume spectra obtained from lattice quantum chromodynamics calculations. Using the recently derived energy quantization conditions and the experimentally determined scattering parameters, the bound state spectra for finite volume systems with overlap with the 3S1-3D3 channel are predicted for a range of volumes. It is shown that the extractions of the infinite-volume deuteron binding energy and the low-energy scattering parameters, including the S-D mixing angle, are possible from Lattice QCD calculations of two-nucleon systems with boosts of |P| <= 2pi sqrt{3}/L in volumes with spatial extentsmore » L satisfying fm <~ L <~ 14 fm.« less

Efficient refolding and immobilization of PMMA-tag-fused single-chain Fv antibodies for sensitive immunological detection on a PMMA plate.

PubMed

Kumada, Yoichi; Ishikawa, Yasuyuki; Fujiwara, Yusuke; Takeda, Rui; Miyamoto, Ryosuke; Niwa, Daisuke; Momose, Shun; Kang, Bongmun; Kishimoto, Michimasa

2014-09-01

In this study, we investigated the efficient refolding and site-specific immobilization of single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) genetically fused with a poly(methylmethacrylate)-binding peptide (PMMA-tag). According to the results of an aggregation test of a scFv-PM in the presence of 0.5 M urea, aggregation was hardly detectable at a weak-alkaline pH (8.5) with lower concentrations of NaCl. Consequently, more than 93% recovery of the anti-RNase scFv-PM model was attained, when it was refolded by dialysis against 50 mM TAPS (pH8.5). These results suggested that the apparent isoelectric point (pI) of a target scFv was decreased to a great extent by the genetic fusion of a PMMA-tag containing 5 acidic amino acids, and, thus, the solubility of the scFv-PM in its semi-denatured form was considerably improved. We also designed alternative peptide-tags composed of plural aspartic acid residues (D5, D10 and D15-tags) to decrease the apparent pI value of the fusion protein. As a consequence, scFv-D5, scFv-D10 and scFv-D15 were also efficiently refolded with yields of more than 95%. It is noteworthy that even scFv-PS-D15, which had both a positively charged polystyrene-binding peptide (PS-tag) and a negatively charged D15-tag, was serially connected at the C-terminal region of scFvs, and also refolded with a yield of 96.1%. These results clearly indicate that controlling the apparent pI value of scFvs by the fusion of oligo-peptides composed of acidic amino acids at the C-terminus resulted in a high degree of recovery via dialysis refolding. According to the results of a sandwich ELISA using scFv-PMs, scFv-D15 and scFv-PS-D15 as ligands, high antigen-binding signals were detected from both the PMMA and phi-PS plates immobilized with scFv-PMs. Furthermore, the high antigen-binding activity of scFv-PMs was maintained in an adsorption state when it was immobilized on the surface of not only PMMA, but also hydrophilic PS (phi-PS) and polycarbonate (PC). These results strongly suggested that a PMMA-tag introduced at the C-terminus of scFvs preferably recognizes ester and/or carboxyl groups exposed on the surface of plastics. The scFv-PM developed in the present study has advantages such as being a ligand antibody, compared with whole Ab and the conventional PS-tag-fused scFvs (scFv-PS), and, thus, it is considerably useful in a sandwich ELISA as well as in various immuno-detection and immuno-separation systems. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A two-system, single-analysis, fluid-structure interaction technique for modelling abdominal aortic aneurysms.

PubMed

Kelly, S C; O'Rourke, M J

2010-01-01

This work reports on the implementation and validation of a two-system, single-analysis, fluid-structure interaction (FSI) technique that uses the finite volume (FV) method for performing simulations on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) geometries. This FSI technique, which was implemented in OpenFOAM, included fluid and solid mesh motion and incorporated a non-linear material model to represent AAA tissue. Fully implicit coupling was implemented, ensuring that both the fluid and solid domains reached convergence within each time step. The fluid and solid parts of the FSI code were validated independently through comparison with experimental data, before performing a complete FSI simulation on an idealized AAA geometry. Results from the FSI simulation showed that a vortex formed at the proximal end of the aneurysm during systolic acceleration, and moved towards the distal end of the aneurysm during diastole. Wall shear stress (WSS) values were found to peak at both the proximal and distal ends of the aneurysm and remain low along the centre of the aneurysm. The maximum von Mises stress in the aneurysm wall was found to be 408kPa, and this occurred at the proximal end of the aneurysm, while the maximum displacement of 2.31 mm occurred in the centre of the aneurysm. These results were found to be consistent with results from other FSI studies in the literature.

A Multi-scale Modeling System: Developments, Applications and Critical Issues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo; Chern, Jiundar; Atlas, Robert; Randall, David; Lin, Xin; Khairoutdinov, Marat; Li, Jui-Lin; Waliser, Duane E.; Hou, Arthur; Peters-Lidard, Christa;

Fruit and vegetable purchasing patterns and preferences in South Delhi

PubMed Central

FINZER, LAUREN E.; AJAY, VAMADEVAN S.; ALI, MOHAMMED K.; SHIVASHANKAR, ROOPA; GOENKA, SHIFALIKA; PILLAI, DIVYA S.; KHANDELWAL, SHWETA; TANDON, NIKHIL; REDDY, K. SRINATH; NARAYAN, K.M. VENKAT; PRABHAKARAN, DORAIRAJ

2017-01-01

This study examines associations between consumer characteristics, beliefs, and preferences and fruit and vegetable (FV) purchasing and intake in South Delhi, India. Home interviews were conducted with 245 households, using a structured questionnaire to assess FV consumption and purchasing frequency, spending, place of purchase, mode of travel, knowledge and attitudes towards organics, and beliefs about barriers to FV consumption. In-depth interviews with 62 experts and key informants validated survey findings that street vendors and markets are currently the dominant source of FV in South Delhi and that affordability, not accessibility, is the main barrier to increasing FV intake. PMID:23282188

Healthier side dishes at restaurants: an analysis of children’s perspectives, menu content, and energy impacts

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Children consume restaurant-prepared foods at high rates, suggesting that interventions and policies targeting consumption of these foods have the potential to improve diet quality and attenuate excess energy intake. One approach to encouraging healthier dietary intake in restaurants is to offer fruits and vegetables (FV) as side dishes, as opposed to traditional, energy-dense accompaniments like French fries. The aims of the current study were to examine: children's views about healthier side dishes at restaurants; current side dish offerings on children's menus at leading restaurants; and potential energy reductions when substituting FV side dishes in place of French fries. Methods To investigate children’s attitudes, a survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of U.S. 8- to 18-year-olds (n = 1178). To examine current side dish offerings, children's menus from leading quick service (QSR; n = 10) and full service restaurant chains (FSR; n = 10) were analyzed. Energy reductions that could result from substituting commonly-offered FV side dishes for French fries were estimated using nutrition information corresponding to the children's menu items. Results Two-thirds of children reported that they would not feel negatively about receiving FV sides instead of French fries with kids' meals. Liking/taste was the most common reason that children gave to explain their attitudes about FV side dishes. Nearly all restaurants offered at least 1 FV side dish option, but at most restaurants (60% of QSR; 70% of FSR), FV sides were never served by default. Substituting FV side dishes for French fries yielded an average estimated energy reduction of at least 170 calories. Conclusions Results highlight some healthy trends in the restaurant context, including the majority of children reporting non-negative attitudes about FV side dishes and the consistent availability of FV side dish options at leading QSR and FSR. Yet the minority of restaurants offer these FV sides by default. Promoting creative, appealing FV side dishes can result in healthier, less energy-dense meals for children. Substituting or displacing energy-dense default side dishes with such FV dishes show promise as part of continued, comprehensive efforts to increase the healthfulness of meals consumed by children in restaurant settings. PMID:24996545

Associations between socioeconomic, parental and home environment factors and fruit and vegetable consumption of children in grades five and six in British Columbia, Canada.

PubMed

Attorp, Adrienne; Scott, Jenny E; Yew, Ann C; Rhodes, Ryan E; Barr, Susan I; Naylor, Patti-Jean

2014-02-11

Regular fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption has been associated with reduced chronic disease risk. Evidence from adults shows a social gradient in FV consumption. Evidence from pre-adolescent children varies and there is little Canadian data. This study assessed the FV intake of school children in British Columbia (BC), Canada to determine whether socio-economic status (SES), parental and the home environment factors were related to FV consumption. As part of the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program, 773 British Columbia fifth-and sixth-grade school children (Mean age 11.3 years; range 10.3-12.5) and their parents were surveyed to determine FV consumption and overall dietary intake. Students completed a web-based 24-hour dietary food recall, and a student measure of socio-economic status (The Family Affluence Scale). Parents completed a self-administered survey about their education, income, home environment and perceptions of their neighbourhood and children's eating habits. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association between SES, parental and home environment factors and FV consumption. Approximately 85.8% of children in this study failed to meet minimum Canadian guidelines for FV intake (6 servings). Parent income and education were not significantly associated with child FV consumption but were associated with each other, child-reported family affluence, neighbourhood environment, access to FV, and eating at the table or in front of the television. Significant positive associations were found between FV consumption and child-reported family affluence, meal-time habits, neighbourhood environment and parent perceptions of the healthiness of their child's diet; however, these correlations were weak (ranging from .089-.115). Multiple regression analysis showed that only child-reported family affluence significantly predicted FV consumption (std-β = 0.096 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.27). The majority of children in our study were not meeting guidelines for FV intake irrespective of SES, parent perceptions or home environment, making this a population wide concern. An almost trivial socio-economic gradient was observed for the child-reported SES measure only. These results are consistent with several other studies of children. Longitudinal research is needed to further explore individual and social factors associated with FV consumption in childhood and their development over time.

Finite volume for three-flavour Partially Quenched Chiral Perturbation Theory through NNLO in the meson sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bijnens, Johan; Rössler, Thomas

2015-11-01

We present a calculation of the finite volume corrections to meson masses and decay constants in three flavour Partially Quenched Chiral Perturbation Theory (PQChPT) through two-loop order in the chiral expansion for the flavour-charged (or off-diagonal) pseudoscalar mesons. The analytical results are obtained for three sea quark flavours with one, two or three different masses. We reproduce the known infinite volume results and the finite volume results in the unquenched case. The calculation has been performed using the supersymmetric formulation of PQChPT as well as with a quark flow technique.

Development of a microplate coagulation assay for Factor V in human plasma

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical regulator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation. There is a need of a simple, fast, and inexpensive microplate-based coagulation assay to measure the functional activity of FV in human plasma. The objective of this study was to develop a microplate-based assay that measures FV coagulation activity during clot formation in human plasma, which is currently not available. Methods The FV assay requires a kinetic microplate reader to measure the change in absorbance at 405nm during fibrin formation in human plasma. The FV assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation in human plasma. Results The FV microplate assay is simple, fast, economical, sensitive to approx 24-80pM, and multiple samples may be analyzed simultaneously. All the required materials are commercially available. Standard curves of time or initial rate of fibrin clot formation vs FV activity in the 1-stage assay (Without activation by thrombin) may be used to measure FV activity in samples of human plasma. The assay was used to demonstrate that in nine patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the FV 1-stage, 2-stage (With activation by thrombin), and total (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity) activities were decreased, on average, by approximately 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, from prolonged clot times when compared to normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The results indicate that the FV in the DIC patient plasmas supported both a delayed and slower rate of fibrin clot formation compared with NHP; however, the extent of fibrin clot formation in the DIC patients remained largely unchanged from that observed with NHP. Conclusions The FV microplate assay may be easily adapted to measure the activity of any coagulation factor using the appropriate factor-deficient plasma and clot initiating reagent. The microplate assay will find use in both research and clinical laboratories to provide measurement of the functional coagulation activity of FV in human plasma. PMID:21711555

Cell growth inhibition and apoptotic effects of a specific anti-RTFscFv antibody on prostate cancer, but not glioblastoma, cells

PubMed Central

Nejatollahi, Foroogh; Bayat, Payam; Moazen, Bahareh

2017-01-01

Background: Single chain antibody (scFv) has shown interesting results in cancer immunotargeting approaches, due to its advantages over monoclonal antibodies. Regeneration and tolerance factor (RTF) is one of the most important regulators of extracellular and intracellular pH in eukaryotic cells. In this study, the inhibitory effects of a specific anti-RTF scFv were investigated and compared between three types of prostate cancer and two types of glioblastoma cells.  Methods: A phage antibody display library of scFv was used to select specific scFvs against RTF using panning process. The reactivity of a selected scFv was assessed by phage ELISA. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of the antibody on prostate cancer (PC-3, Du-145 and LNCaP) and glioblastoma (U-87 MG and A-172) cell lines were investigated by MTT and Annexin V/PI assays.  Results: A specific scFv with frequency 35% was selected against RTF epitope. This significantly inhibited the proliferation of the prostate cells after 24 h. The percentages of cell viability (using 1000 scFv/cell) were 52, 61 and 73% for PC-3, Du-145 and LNCaP cells, respectively, compared to untreated cells. The antibody (1000 scFv/cell) induced apoptosis at 50, 40 and 25% in PC-3, Du-145 and LNCaP cells, respectively. No growth inhibition and apoptotic induction was detected for U-87 and A172 glioblastoma cells.  Conclusions: Anti-RTFscFv significantly reduced the proliferation of the prostate cancer cells. The inhibition of cell growth and apoptotic induction effects in PC-3 cells were greater than Du-145 and LNCaP cells. This might be due to higher expression of RTF antigen in PC-3 cells and/or better accessibility of RTF to scFv antibody. The resistance of glioblastoma cells to anti-RTF scFv offers the existence of mechanism(s) that abrogate the inhibitory effect(s) of the antibody to RTF. The results suggest that the selected anti-RTF scFv antibody could be an effective new alternative for prostate cancer immunotherapy. PMID:28491282

A Supermarket Double-Dollar Incentive Program Increases Purchases of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Among Low-Income Families With Children: The Healthy Double Study.

PubMed

Polacsek, Michele; Moran, Alyssa; Thorndike, Anne N; Boulos, Rebecca; Franckle, Rebecca L; Greene, Julie C; Blue, Dan J; Block, Jason P; Rimm, Eric B

2018-03-01

To carry out a pilot study to determine whether a supermarket double-dollar fruit and vegetable (F&V) incentive increases F&V purchases among low-income families. Randomized controlled design. Purchases were tracked using a loyalty card that provided participants with a 5% discount on all purchases during a 3-month baseline period followed by the 4-month intervention. A supermarket in a low-income rural Maine community. A total of 401 low-income and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supermarket customers. Same-day coupon at checkout for half-off eligible fresh, frozen, or canned F&V over 4 months. Weekly spending in dollars on eligible F&V. A linear model with random intercepts accounted for repeated transactions by individuals to estimate change in F&V spending per week from baseline to intervention. Secondary analyses examined changes among SNAP-eligible participants. Coupons were redeemed among 53% of eligible baskets. Total weekly F&V spending increased in the intervention arm compared with control ($1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], $0.29 to $3.88). The largest increase was for fresh F&V ($1.97; 95% CI, $0.49 to $3.44). Secondary analyses revealed greater increases in F&V spending among SNAP-eligible participants who redeemed coupons ($5.14; 95% CI, $1.93 to $8.34) than among non-SNAP eligible participants who redeemed coupons ($3.88; 95% CI, $1.67 to $6.08). A double-dollar pricing incentive increased F&V spending in a low-income community despite the moderate uptake of the coupon redemption. Customers who were eligible for SNAP saw the greatest F&V spending increases. Financial incentives for F&V are an effective strategy for food assistance programs to increase healthy purchases and improve dietary intake in low-income families. Copyright © 2017 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Do We Produce Enough Fruits and Vegetables to Meet Global Health Need?

PubMed Central

Siegel, Karen R.; Ali, Mohammed K.; Srinivasiah, Adithi; Nugent, Rachel A.; Narayan, K. M. Venkat

2014-01-01

Background Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is a leading risk factor for chronic disease globally, but much of the world’s population does not consume the recommended servings of FV daily. It remains unknown whether global supply of FV is sufficient to meet current and growing population needs. We sought to determine whether supply of FV is sufficient to meet current and growing population needs, globally and in individual countries. Methods and Findings We used global data on agricultural production and population size to compare supply of FV in 2009 with population need, globally and in individual countries. We found that the global supply of FV falls, on average, 22% short of population need according to nutrition recommendations (supply:need ratio: 0.78 [Range: 0.05–2.01]). This ratio varies widely by country income level, with a median supply:need ratio of 0.42 and 1.02 in low-income and high-income countries, respectively. A sensitivity analysis accounting for need-side food wastage showed similar insufficiency, to a slightly greater extent (global supply:need ratio: 0.66, varying from 0.37 [low-income countries] to 0.77 [high-income countries]). Using agricultural production and population projections, we also estimated supply and need for FV for 2025 and 2050. Assuming medium fertility and projected growth in agricultural production, the global supply:need ratio for FV increases slightly to 0.81 by 2025 and to 0.88 by 2050, with similar patterns seen across country income levels. In a sensitivity analysis assuming no change from current levels of FV production, the global supply:need ratio for FV decreases to 0.66 by 2025 and to 0.57 by 2050. Conclusion The global nutrition and agricultural communities need to find innovative ways to increase FV production and consumption to meet population health needs, particularly in low-income countries. PMID:25099121

Time to address continued poor vegetable intake in Australia for prevention of chronic disease.

PubMed

Chapman, Kathryn; Havill, Michelle; Watson, Wendy L; Wellard, Lyndal; Hughes, Clare; Bauman, Adrian; Allman-Farinelli, Margaret

2016-12-01

Australian and most international Dietary Guidelines recommend people consume more fruits and vegetables (F&V) to maintain a healthy weight and reduce chronic disease risk. Previous Australian and international surveys have shown sub-optimal consumption of F&V. This study aimed to assess adults' F&V consumption, knowledge of recommended servings, readiness to change, barriers/enabling factors, so that this knowledge might be used for campaigns that support improved consumption. An online survey of a representative sample of adults living in New South Wales, Australia (n = 2474) measuring self-reported F&V consumption; attitudes towards F&V consumption; stage of change for increasing F&V; barriers to consumption; and knowledge of cancer-health benefits. F&V consumption was below recommendations, with vegetable consumption notably low. Only 10% of participants ate at least five servings of vegetables/day (median intake was two daily servings), and 57% consumed two servings fruit/day. There was poor recognition that intake of vegetables was inadequate and this was a barrier to improving vegetable consumption; with preferences for other foods, habit and cost also important barriers. Key barriers to increasing fruit intake were habit, preferences for other foods, perishability, and cost. For vegetable consumption, 49% of participants were in the pre-contemplation stage of change, whereas for fruits 56% were in the action/maintenance stage. Sixty-four percent of respondents believed that eating F&V would protect against cancer, with 56% reporting they thought not eating enough F&V would cause cancer. Understanding what motivates and prevents people from consuming F&V is important for developing effective health promotion programs. Similar to previous surveys, there has been little shift in F&V consumption. Social marketing campaigns have been shown to improve health-related behaviours, and this study may assist in identifying audience segmentation for better targeted campaigns. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Potent inhibition of OKT3-induced T cell proliferation and suppression of CD147 cell surface expression in HeLa cells by scFv-M6-1B9.

PubMed

Intasai, Nutjeera; Tragoolpua, Khajornsak; Pingmuang, Prakitnavin; Khunkaewla, Panida; Moonsom, Seangdeun; Kasinrerk, Watchara; Lieber, André; Tayapiwatana, Chatchai

2008-01-01

CD147, a multifunctional type I transmembrane glycoprotein, has been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. It is involved in signal transduction pathways and also plays a crucial role in the invasive and metastatic activity of malignant tumor cells. Diminished expression of this molecule has been shown to be beneficial in suppression of tumor progression. In a previous study, we generated and characterized a recombinant antibody fragment, scFv, which reacted specifically to CD147. In the present study, we further investigated the biological properties, function and the effect of generated scFv on CD147 expression. The in vitro study showed that soluble scFv-M6-1B9 produced from E. coli HB2151 bound to CD147 surface molecule and inhibited OKT3-induced T cell proliferation. Furthermore, soluble lysate of scFv-M6-1B9 from 293A cells, transduced with a scFv-M6-1B9 expressing adenovirus vector, recognized both recombinant and native CD147. These results indicate that scFv-M6-1B9 binds with high efficiency and specificity. Importantly, scFv-M6-1B9 intrabody reduced the expression of CD147 on the cell surface of HeLa cells suggesting that scFv-M6-1B9 is biologically active. In conclusion, our present study demonstrated that scFv-M6-1B9 has a great potential to target both the intracellular and the extracellular CD147. The generated scFv-M6-1B9 may be an effective agent to clarify the cellular function of CD147 and may aid in efforts to develop a novel treatment in various human carcinomas.

Newly-developed, forward-viewing echoendoscope: a comparative pilot study to the standard echoendoscope in the imaging of abdominal organs and feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided interventions.

PubMed

Iwashita, Takuji; Nakai, Yousuke; Lee, John G; Park, Do Hyun; Muthusamy, V Raman; Chang, Kenneth J

2012-02-01

Multiple diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedures have been widely performed using a standard oblique-viewing (OV) curvilinear array (CLA) echoendoscope. Recently, a new, forward-viewing (FV) CLA was developed, with the advantages of improved endoscopic viewing and manipulation of devices. However, the FV-CLA echoendoscope has a narrower ultrasound scanning field, and lacks an elevator, which might represent obstacles for clinical use. The aim of this study was to compare the FV-CLA echoendoscope to the OV-CLA echoendoscope for EUS imaging of abdominal organs, and to assess the feasibility of EUS-guided interventions using the FV-CLA echoendoscope. EUS examinations were first performed and recorded using the OV-CLA echoendoscope, followed immediately by the FV-CLA echoendoscope. Video recordings were then assessed by two independent endosonographers in a blinded fashion. The EUS visualization and image quality of specific abdominal organs/structures were scored. Any indicated fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or intervention was performed using the FV-CLA echoendoscope, with the OV-CLA echoendoscope as salvage upon failure. A total of 21 patients were examined in the study. Both echoendoscopes had similar visualization and image quality for all organs/structures, except the common hepatic duct (CHD), which was seen significantly better with the FV-CLA echoendoscope. EUS interventions were conducted in eight patients, including FNA of pancreatic mass (3), pancreatic cyst (3), and cystgastrostomy (2). The FV-CLA echoendoscope was successful in seven patients. One failed FNA of the pancreatic head cyst was salvaged using the OV-CLA echoendoscope. There were no differences between the FV-CLA echoendoscope and the OV-CLA echoendoscope in visualization or image quality on upper EUS, except for the superior image quality of CHD using the FV-CLA echoendoscope. Therefore, the disadvantages of the FV-CLA echoendoscope appear minimal in light of the potential advantages. © 2011 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Arbitrary-Order Conservative and Consistent Remapping and a Theory of Linear Maps: Part II

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

Ullrich, Paul A.; Devendran, Dharshi; Johansen, Hans

2016-04-01

The focus on this series of articles is on the generation of accurate, conservative, consistent, and (optionally) monotone linear offline maps. This paper is the second in the series. It extends on the first part by describing four examples of 2D linear maps that can be constructed in accordance with the theory of the earlier work. The focus is again on spherical geometry, although these techniques can be readily extended to arbitrary manifolds. The four maps include conservative, consistent, and (optionally) monotone linear maps (i) between two finite-volume meshes, (ii) from finite-volume to finite-element meshes using a projection-type approach, (iii)more » from finite-volume to finite-element meshes using volumetric integration, and (iv) between two finite-element meshes. Arbitrary order of accuracy is supported for each of the described nonmonotone maps.« less

Consumer segmentation based on the level and structure of fruit and vegetable intake: an empirical evidence for US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006.

PubMed

Demydas, Tetyana

2011-06-01

To identify consumption patterns of fruit and vegetables within a representative sample of US adults with a focus on degree of produce processing and to explore sociodemographic, lifestyle and nutritional profiles associated with these patterns. Cross-sectional analysis. Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption data were collected using two non-consecutive 24 h recalls. For the purpose of the study, F&V intakes were aggregated into seven subgroups indicating degree of processing, which afterwards were used as inputs into cluster analysis. The 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The sample consisted of 2444 adults aged 20-59 years. Total average F&V intake of the adults was below the recommended level. Thereby, 20 % of the respondents consumed fruit only in the form of juice. Three F&V consumption patterns were identified: 'low-intake F&V consumers' (74 % of respondents), 'consumers of healthier F&V options' (13 %) and 'intensive fruit juice consumers' (13 %). These groups differed markedly in terms of their sociodemographic, lifestyle and health characteristics, such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, weight status, etc. Differences in nutrient profiles were also found, with the 'consumers of healthier F&V options' showing better nutritional quality compared with other clusters. Only a small share of US adults combines high F&V intakes with healthier F&V options that lead to a better nutritional profile. This raises discussion about a need to deliver more specific F&V promotion messages, including advice on healthier preparation methods, especially for the specific population groups.

Synergistic capture of Clostridium botulinum Type A neurotoxin by scFv antibodies to novel epitopes

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

Gray, Sean A.; Barr, John R.; Kalb, Suzanne R.

2011-10-01

A non-immune library of human single chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies displayed on Saccharomyces cerevisiae was screened for binding to the Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A binding domain [BoNT/A (Hc)] with the goal of identifying scFv to novel epitopes. To do this, an antibody-mediated labeling strategy was used in which antigen-binding yeast clones were selected after labeling with previously characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to the Hc. Twenty unique scFv clones were isolated that bound Hc. Of these, three also bound to full-length BoNT/A toxin complex with affinities ranging from 5 nM to 170 nM. Epitope binning showed that themore » three unique clones recognized at least two epitopes that were distinct from one another and from the detection MAbs. After production in E. coli, the scFv were coupled to magnetic particles and tested for their ability to capture BoNT/A holotoxin using an Endopep-MS assay. In this assay, toxin captured by scFv coated magnetic particles was detected by incubation of the complex with a peptide containing a BoNT/A-specific cleavage sequence. Mass spectrometry was used to detect the ratio of intact peptide to cleavage products as evidence for toxin capture. When tested individually, each of the scFv showed a weak positive Endopep-MS result. However, when the particles were coated with all three scFv simultaneously, they exhibited significantly higher Endopep-MS activity, consistent with synergistic binding. These results demonstrate novel approaches toward the isolation and characterization of scFv antibodies specific to unlabeled antigen. They also provide evidence that distinct scFv antibodies can work synergistically to increase the efficiency of antigen capture onto a solid support.« less

How much is '5-a-day'? A qualitative investigation into consumer understanding of fruit and vegetable intake guidelines.

PubMed

Rooney, C; McKinley, M C; Appleton, K M; Young, I S; McGrath, A J; Draffin, C R; Hamill, L L; Woodside, J V

2017-02-01

Despite the known health benefits of fruit and vegetables (FV), population intakes remain low. One potential contributing factor may be a lack of understanding surrounding recommended intakes. The present study aimed to explore the understanding of FV intake guidelines among a sample of low FV consumers. Six semi-structured focus groups were held with low FV consumers (n = 28, age range 19-55 years). Focus groups were recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using nvivo (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia) to manage the coded data. Participants also completed a short questionnaire assessing knowledge on FV intake guidelines. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse responses. The discussions highlighted that, although participants were aware of FV intake guidelines, they lacked clarity with regard to the meaning of the '5-a-day' message, including what foods are included in the guideline, as well as what constitutes a portion of FV. There was also a sense of confusion surrounding the concept of achieving variety with regard to FV intake. The sample highlighted a lack of previous education on FV portion sizes and put forward suggestions for improving knowledge, including increased information on food packaging and through health campaigns. Questionnaire findings were generally congruent with the qualitative findings, showing high awareness of the '5-a-day' message but a lack of knowledge surrounding FV portion sizes. Future public health campaigns should consider how best to address the gaps in knowledge identified in the present study, and incorporate evaluations that will allow the impact of future initiatives on knowledge, and ultimately behaviour, to be investigated. © 2016 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.

Factors within the family environment such as parents' dietary habits and fruit and vegetable availability have the greatest influence on fruit and vegetable consumption by Polish children.

PubMed

Wolnicka, Katarzyna; Taraszewska, Anna Małgorzata; Jaczewska-Schuetz, Joanna; Jarosz, Mirosław

2015-10-01

To identify determinants of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among school-aged children. A survey study was conducted in October 2010. The questionnaire contained questions concerning social and demographic data, lifestyle and dietary habits, particularly the frequency of F&V consumption, availability of F&V and knowledge about recommended amounts of F&V intake. Polish primary schools. Children (n 1255) aged 9 years from randomly selected primary schools and their parents. The children's consumption of fruit and of vegetables was influenced by the fruit consumption and vegetable consumption of their parents (r=0·333 and r=0·273, respectively; P=0·001), parents encouraging their children to eat F&V (r=0·259 and r=0·271, respectively; P=0·001), giving children F&V to take to school (r=0·338 and r=0·321, respectively; P=0·001) and the availability of F&V at home (r=0·200 and r=0·296, respectively; P=0·001). Parental education influenced only the frequency of fruit consumption (r=0·074; P=0·01). A correlation between parents' knowledge of the recommended intakes and the frequency of vegetable and fruit consumption by children was noticed (r=0·258 and r=0·192, respectively, P=0·001). Factors within the family environment such as parents' dietary habits and F&V availability had the greatest influence on the F&V consumption by children. Educational activities aimed at parents are crucial to increase the consumption of F&V among children.

Impact of the revised Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package policy on fruit and vegetable prices.

PubMed

Zenk, Shannon N; Powell, Lisa M; Odoms-Young, Angela M; Krauss, Ramona; Fitzgibbon, Marian L; Block, Daniel; Campbell, Richard T

2014-02-01

Obesity is generally inversely related to income among women in the United States. Less access to healthy foods is one way lower income can influence dietary behaviors and body weight. Federal food assistance programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), are an important source of healthy food for low-income populations. In 2009, as part of a nationwide policy revision, WIC added a fruit and vegetable (F/V) voucher to WIC food packages. This quasi-experimental study determined whether F/V prices at stores authorized to accept WIC (ie, WIC vendors) decreased after the policy revision in seven Illinois counties. It also examined cross-sectional F/V price variations by store type and neighborhood characteristics. Two pre-policy observations were conducted in 2008 and 2009; one post-policy observation was conducted in 2010. Small pre- to post-policy reductions in some F/V prices were found, particularly for canned fruit and frozen vegetables at small stores. Compared with chain supermarkets, mass merchandise stores had lower prices for fresh F/V and frozen F/V and small stores and non-chain supermarkets had higher canned and frozen F/V prices, but lower fresh F/V prices. Limited price differences were found across neighborhoods, although canned vegetables were more expensive in neighborhoods with higher concentrations of either Hispanics or blacks and fresh F/V prices were lower in neighborhoods with more Hispanics. Results suggest the WIC policy revision contributed to modest reductions in F/V prices. WIC participants' purchasing power can differ depending on the type and neighborhood of the WIC vendor used. Copyright © 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of Factor V Genetic Variants Associated With Indian APCR Contributing to Thrombotic Risk.

PubMed

Sharma, Amit; Bhakuni, Teena; Biswas, Arijit; Ranjan, Ravi; Kumar, Ravi; Kishore, Kamal; Mahapatra, Manoranjan; Jairajpuri, Mohamad Aman; Saxena, Renu

2017-09-01

Phenotypic resistance to activated protein C (APC) is a complex mechanism associated with increased thrombosis risk. Activated protein C resistance (APCR) is mainly influenced by FV Leiden mutation, and various other single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FV gene are known to be associated with APCR. The aim of present study was to investigate the incidence and assess possible mechanisms of APCR in Indian patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Three hundred and ten Doppler-proven patients with DVT were screened for APCR, and 50 APCR positive patients and 50 controls were typed for FV Leiden , Hong Kong, Cambridge, HR2 haplotype, Glu666Asp, Ala485Lys, and Liverpool using either polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism or allele specific PCR. FV Leiden was commonest cause of APCR (50%) in Indian patients with DVT being statistically significant ( P = .001) compared to controls. FV Liverpool, FV Glu666Asp and FV Ala485Lys were studied for the first time in Indian population. FV Liverpool, FV Glu666Asp, Hong Kong, and Cambridge were found to be absent. High frequency of Ala485Lys in patients shows that it might be a risk factor contributing to APCR in Indian patients with DVT. HR2 haplotype was not associated with APCR; however, presence of homozygous HR2 haplotype in patients only indicates the role it might play in Indian APCR population. In conclusion, contribution of FV Leiden causing APCR in Indian population is not as strong as previously reported in Western countries. The presence of other SNPs observed in the present study requires such studies on larger sample size to understand the molecular basis of defect.

FV-100 versus valacyclovir for the prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia and the treatment of acute herpes zoster-associated pain: A randomized-controlled trial.

PubMed

Tyring, Stephen K; Lee, Patricia; Hill, Gordon T; Silverfield, Joel C; Moore, Angela Yen; Matkovits, Theresa; Sullivan-Bolyai, John

2017-07-01

This prospective, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study compared the efficacy and safety of FV-100 with valacyclovir for reducing pain associated with acute herpes zoster (HZ). Patients, ≥50 years of age, diagnosed with HZ within 72 h of lesion appearance who had HZ-associated pain, were randomized 1:1:1 to a 7-day course of either FV-100 200 mg QD (n = 117), FV-100 400 mg QD (n = 116), or valacyclovir 1000 mg TID (n =117). Efficacy was evaluated on the basis of the burden of illness (BOI; Zoster Brief Pain Inventory scores); incidence and duration of clinically significant pain (CSP); pain scores; incidence and severity of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN); and times to full lesion crusting and to lesion healing. Safety was evaluated on the basis of adverse event (AE)/SAE profiles, changes in laboratory and vital signs values, and results of electrocardiograms. The burden of illness scores for pain through 30 days were 114.5, 110.3, and 118.0 for FV-100 200 mg, FV-100 400 mg, and valacyclovir 3000 mg, respectively. The incidences of PHN at 90 days for FV-100 200 mg, FV-100 400 mg, and valacyclovir 3000 mg were 17.8%, 12.4%, and 20.2%, respectively. Adverse event and SAE profiles of the two FV-100 and the valacyclovir groups were similar and no untoward signals or trends were evident. These results demonstrate a potential for FV-100 as an antiviral for the treatment of shingles that could both reduce the pain burden of the acute episode and reduce the incidence of PHN compared with available treatments. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Construction and screening of phage antibody libraries against epidermal growth factor receptor and soluble expression of single chain Fv].

PubMed

Sheng, Wei-Jin; Miao, Qing-Fang; Zhen, Yong-Su

2009-06-01

Recent studies have shown that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important target for cancer therapy. The present study prepared single chain Fv (scFv) directed against EGFR. Balb/c mice were immunized by human carcinoma A431 cells, and total RNA of the splenic cells was extracted. VH and VL gene fragments were amplified by RT-PCR and further joined into scFv gene with a linker, then scFv gene fragments were ligated into the phagemid vector pCANTAB 5E. The phagemid containing scFv were transformed into electro-competent E. coli TG1 cells. The recombinant phage antibody library was constructed through rescuing the transformed cells with help phage M13K07. The specified recombinant phages were enriched through 5 rounds of affinity panning and the anti-EGFR phage scFv clones were screened and identified with ELISA. A total of 48 clones from the library were selected randomly and 45 clones were identified positive. After infecting E. coli HB2151 cells with one positive clone, soluble recombinant antibodies about 27 kD were produced and located in the periplasm and the supernatant. The result of sequencing showed that the scFv gene was 768 bp, which encoded 256 amino acid residues. VH and VL including 3 CDRs and 4 FRs, respectively, were all homologous to mouse Ig. The soluble scFv showed the specific binding activity to purified EGFR and EGFR located in carcinoma cell membrane. The successful preparation of anti-EGFR scFv will provide an EGFR targeted molecule for the development of antibody-based drugs and biological therapy of cancer.

Impact of the Revised Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Food Package Policy on Fruit and Vegetable Prices

PubMed Central

Zenk, Shannon N.; Powell, Lisa M.; Odoms-Young, Angela M.; Krauss, Ramona; Fitzgibbon, Marian L.; Block, Daniel; Campbell, Richard T.

2014-01-01

Obesity is generally inversely related to income among women in the United States. Less access to healthy foods is one way lower income can influence dietary behaviors and body weight. Federal food assistance programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), are an important source of healthy food for low-income populations. In 2009, as part of a nationwide policy revision, WIC added a fruit and vegetable (F/V) voucher to WIC food packages. This quasi-experimental study determined whether F/V prices at stores authorized to accept WIC (ie, WIC vendors) decreased after the policy revision in seven Illinois counties. It also examined cross-sectional F/V price variations by store type and neighborhood characteristics. Two pre-policy observations were conducted in 2008 and 2009; one post-policy observation was conducted in 2010. Small pre- to post-policy reductions in some F/V prices were found, particularly for canned fruit and frozen vegetables at small stores. Compared with chain supermarkets, mass merchandise stores had lower prices for fresh F/V and frozen F/V and small stores and non-chain supermarkets had higher canned and frozen F/V prices, but lower fresh F/V prices. Limited price differences were found across neighborhoods, although canned vegetables were more expensive in neighborhoods with higher concentrations of either Hispanics or blacks and fresh F/V prices were lower in neighborhoods with more Hispanics. Results suggest the WIC policy revision contributed to modest reductions in F/V prices. WIC participants’ purchasing power can differ depending on the type and neighborhood of the WIC vendor used. PMID:24183996

Identification and Transcript Analysis of the TCP Transcription Factors in the Diploid Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca

PubMed Central

Wei, Wei; Hu, Yang; Cui, Meng-Yuan; Han, Yong-Tao; Gao, Kuan; Feng, Jia-Yue

2016-01-01

Plant-specific TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1, CYCLOIDEA, and PROLIFERATING CELL FACTORS (TCP) transcription factors play versatile functions in multiple processes of plant growth and development. However, no systematic study has been performed in strawberry. In this study, 19 FvTCP genes were identified in the diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) accession Heilongjiang-3. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the FvTCP genes were classified into two main classes, with the second class further divided into two subclasses, which was supported by the exon-intron organizations and the conserved motif structures. Promoter analysis revealed various cis-acting elements related to growth and development, hormone and/or stress responses. We analyzed FvTCP gene transcript accumulation patterns in different tissues and fruit developmental stages. Among them, 12 FvTCP genes exhibited distinct tissue-specific transcript accumulation patterns. Eleven FvTCP genes were down-regulated in different fruit developmental stages, while five FvTCP genes were up-regulated. Transcripts of FvTCP genes also varied with different subcultural propagation periods and were induced by hormone treatments and biotic and abiotic stresses. Subcellular localization analysis showed that six FvTCP-GFP fusion proteins showed distinct localizations in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts. Notably, transient over-expression of FvTCP9 in strawberry fruits dramatically affected the expression of a series of genes implicated in fruit development and ripening. Taken together, the present study may provide the basis for functional studies to reveal the role of this gene family in strawberry growth and development. PMID:28066489

Fruit and vegetable intake and smoking cessation.

PubMed

Poisson, T; Dallongeville, J; Evans, A; Ducimetierre, P; Amouyel, P; Yarnell, J; Bingham, A; Kee, F; Dauchet, L

2012-11-01

In cohort studies, fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is associated with lower cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Former smokers often have a higher F&V intake than current smokers. If a high intake of F&V precedes smoking cessation, the latter may explain the favorable association between F&V intake and CVD among smokers. The objective was to assess whether higher F&V intake precedes smoking cessation. The study population comprised 1056 male smokers from Lille (France) and Belfast (Northern Ireland) aged 50-59 years on inclusion in 1991. At baseline, participants completed self-administered questionnaires related to smoking habits, demographic, socioeconomic factors and diet. At the 10-year follow-up, smoking habits were assessed by mailed questionnaire. After 10 years, 590 out of 1056 smokers had quit smoking (70.7% of smoker in Lille and 37.8% in Belfast). After adjusting for center, consumption of F&V was associated with quitting (odds ratio (OR) for high versus low F&V intake: 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.22-2.45); P-trend=0.002). After further adjustment for sociodemographic factors, body mass index and medical diet, the association was still statistically significant (OR: 1.59; 95% CI (1.12-2.27); P-trend = 0.01). In a model fully adjusted for age, smoking intensity, alcohol consumption and physical activity, the association was no longer significant (P = 0.14). Higher F&V intake precedes smoking cessation. Hence, smoking cessation could affect the causal interpretation of the association between F&V and CVD in smokers.

Volume dependence of N-body bound states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

König, Sebastian; Lee, Dean

2018-04-01

We derive the finite-volume correction to the binding energy of an N-particle quantum bound state in a cubic periodic volume. Our results are applicable to bound states with arbitrary composition and total angular momentum, and in any number of spatial dimensions. The only assumptions are that the interactions have finite range. The finite-volume correction is a sum of contributions from all possible breakup channels. In the case where the separation is into two bound clusters, our result gives the leading volume dependence up to exponentially small corrections. If the separation is into three or more clusters, there is a power-law factor that is beyond the scope of this work, however our result again determines the leading exponential dependence. We also present two independent methods that use finite-volume data to determine asymptotic normalization coefficients. The coefficients are useful to determine low-energy capture reactions into weakly bound states relevant for nuclear astrophysics. Using the techniques introduced here, one can even extract the infinite-volume energy limit using data from a single-volume calculation. The derived relations are tested using several exactly solvable systems and numerical examples. We anticipate immediate applications to lattice calculations of hadronic, nuclear, and cold atomic systems.

Psychometrics of the "Self-Efficacy Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables Scale" in African American women.

PubMed

Gittner, Lisaann S; Gittner, Kevin B

2017-08-01

Assess the psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy Consumption of Fruit and Vegetable Scale (F/V scale) in African American women. Midwestern Health Maintenance Organization. 221 African American women age 40-65 with BMI≥30 MEASURES: F/V scale was compared to eating efficacy/availability subscale reported on the WEL and mean micronutrient intake (vitamins A, C, K, folate, potassium, and beta-carotene reported on 3-day food records. F/V scale construct validity and internal consistency were assessed and compared to: 1) the original scale validation in Chinese women, 2) WEL scale, and 3) to micronutrient intake from 3-day food records. Total scale scores differed between African American women (μ=1.87+/-0.87) and Chinese (μ=0.41). In a Chinese population, F/V scale factored into two subscales; the F/V factored into one subscale in African American women. Construct validity was supported with correlation between the F/V scale and the eating efficacy WEL subscale (r 2 =-0.336, p=0.000). There was not a significant correlation between dietary consumption of micronutrients representative of fruit and vegetable intake and the F/V scale. The F/V scale developed for Chinese populations can be reliably used with African American women. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Veggie Van Pilot Study: Impact of a Mobile Produce Market for Underserved Communities on Fruit and Vegetable Access and Intake

PubMed Central

Leone, Lucia A.; Haynes-Maslow, Lindsey; Ammerman, Alice S.

2016-01-01

We conducted a pilot evaluation of the Veggie Van, a mobile produce market that brings weekly boxes of reduced-cost locally grown fruits and vegetables (F&V) to lower-income communities and offers cooking and nutrition education to customers. We conducted surveys just prior to starting Veggie Van at each of 3 sites and again at 2–3 months. F&V intake was measured with a 2-question item and a 10-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in a subset of participants. At baseline, average servings/day of F&V was 4.9 (SD = 2.6, n = 60). At follow-up, individuals who reported shopping at Veggie Van frequently (n = 32) increased their F&V consumption by 0.41 servings/day compared with a decrease of −1.19 for those who rarely/never used Veggie Van (n = 27), a total difference of 1.6 servings/day (P = .01). There were no statistically significant differences in F&V consumption between groups based on the FFQ measure. Frequent shoppers reported additional health improvements and increases in their ability to buy enough F&V. We conclude that offering weekly boxes of affordable F&V paired with education in underserved communities may improve F&V consumption for frequent program users. PMID:28529669

Veggie Van Pilot Study: Impact of a Mobile Produce Market for Underserved Communities on Fruit and Vegetable Access and Intake.

PubMed

Leone, Lucia A; Haynes-Maslow, Lindsey; Ammerman, Alice S

2017-01-01

We conducted a pilot evaluation of the Veggie Van, a mobile produce market that brings weekly boxes of reduced-cost locally grown fruits and vegetables (F&V) to lower-income communities and offers cooking and nutrition education to customers. We conducted surveys just prior to starting Veggie Van at each of 3 sites and again at 2-3 months. F&V intake was measured with a 2-question item and a 10-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in a subset of participants. At baseline, average servings/day of F&V was 4.9 (SD = 2.6, n = 60). At follow-up, individuals who reported shopping at Veggie Van frequently (n = 32) increased their F&V consumption by 0.41 servings/day compared with a decrease of -1.19 for those who rarely/never used Veggie Van (n = 27), a total difference of 1.6 servings/day (P = .01). There were no statistically significant differences in F&V consumption between groups based on the FFQ measure. Frequent shoppers reported additional health improvements and increases in their ability to buy enough F&V. We conclude that offering weekly boxes of affordable F&V paired with education in underserved communities may improve F&V consumption for frequent program users.

Insulated Foamy Viral Vectors

PubMed Central

Browning, Diana L.; Collins, Casey P.; Hocum, Jonah D.; Leap, David J.; Rae, Dustin T.; Trobridge, Grant D.

2016-01-01

Retroviral vector-mediated gene therapy is promising, but genotoxicity has limited its use in the clinic. Genotoxicity is highly dependent on the retroviral vector used, and foamy viral (FV) vectors appear relatively safe. However, internal promoters may still potentially activate nearby genes. We developed insulated FV vectors, using four previously described insulators: a version of the well-studied chicken hypersensitivity site 4 insulator (650cHS4), two synthetic CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)-based insulators, and an insulator based on the CCAAT box-binding transcription factor/nuclear factor I (7xCTF/NF1). We directly compared these insulators for enhancer-blocking activity, effect on FV vector titer, and fidelity of transfer to both proviral long terminal repeats. The synthetic CTCF-based insulators had the strongest insulating activity, but reduced titers significantly. The 7xCTF/NF1 insulator did not reduce titers but had weak insulating activity. The 650cHS4-insulated FV vector was identified as the overall most promising vector. Uninsulated and 650cHS4-insulated FV vectors were both significantly less genotoxic than gammaretroviral vectors. Integration sites were evaluated in cord blood CD34+ cells and the 650cHS4-insulated FV vector had fewer hotspots compared with an uninsulated FV vector. These data suggest that insulated FV vectors are promising for hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy. PMID:26715244

Examination of the Relationship between In-Store Environmental Factors and Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing among Hispanics

PubMed Central

Sanchez-Flack, Jennifer; Pickrel, Julie L.; Belch, George; Lin, Shih-Fan; Anderson, Cheryl A. M.; Martinez, Maria Elena; Arredondo, Elva M.; Ayala, Guadalupe X.

2017-01-01

Retail food environments have received attention for their influence on dietary behaviors and for their nutrition intervention potential. To improve diet-related behaviors, such as fruit and vegetable (FV) purchasing, it is important to examine its relationship with in-store environmental characteristics. This study used baseline data from the “El Valor de Nuestra Salud” study to examine how in-store environmental characteristics, such as product availability, placement and promotion, were associated with FV purchasing among Hispanic customers in San Diego County. Mixed linear regression models indicated that greater availability of fresh FVs was associated with a $0.36 increase in FV purchasing (p = 0.01). Placement variables, specifically each additional square foot of display space dedicated to FVs (p = 0.01) and each additional fresh FV display (p = 0.01), were associated with a $0.02 increase and $0.29 decrease, respectively, in FV purchasing. Introducing FV promotions in the final model was not related to FV purchasing. Exploratory analyses indicated that men reported spending $3.69 fewer dollars on FVs compared to women, controlling for covariates (p = 0.02). These results can help inform interventions targeting in-store environmental characteristics to encourage FV purchasing among Hispanics. PMID:29077075

Documented family violence and risk of suicide attempt among U.S. Army soldiers.

PubMed

Ursano, Robert J; Stein, Murray B; Herberman Mash, Holly B; Naifeh, James A; Fullerton, Carol S; Zaslavsky, Alan M; Ng, Tsz Hin Hinz; Aliaga, Pablo A; Wynn, Gary H; Dinh, Hieu M; McCarroll, James E; Sampson, Nancy A; Kao, Tzu-Cheg; Schoenbaum, Michael; Heeringa, Steven G; Kessler, Ronald C

2018-04-01

Suicide attempt (SA) rates in the U.S. Army increased substantially during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This study examined associations of family violence (FV) history with SA risk among soldiers. Using administrative data from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS), we identified person-month records of active duty, Regular Army, enlisted soldiers with medically documented SAs from 2004 to 2009 (n = 9650) and a sample of control person-months (n = 153,528). Logistic regression analyses examined associations of FV with SA, adjusting for socio-demographics, service-related characteristics, and prior mental health diagnosis. Odds of SA were higher in soldiers with a FV history and increased as the number of FV events increased. Soldiers experiencing past-month FV were almost five times as likely to attempt suicide as those with no FV history. Odds of SA were elevated for both perpetrators and those who were exclusively victims. Male perpetrators had higher odds of SA than male victims, whereas female perpetrators and female victims did not differ in SA risk. A discrete-time hazard function indicated that SA risk was highest in the initial months following the first FV event. FV is an important consideration in understanding risk of SA among soldiers. Published by Elsevier B.V.

State farm-to-school laws influence the availability of fruits and vegetables in school lunches at US public elementary schools.

PubMed

Nicholson, Lisa; Turner, Lindsey; Schneider, Linda; Chriqui, Jamie; Chaloupka, Frank

2014-05-01

State laws and farm-to-school programs (FTSPs) have the potential to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) availability in school meals. This study examined whether FV were more available in public elementary school lunches in states with a law requiring/encouraging FTSPs or with a locally grown-related law, and whether the relationship between state laws and FV availability could be explained by schools opting for FTSPs. A pooled, cross-sectional analysis linked a nationally representative sample of public elementary schools with state laws. A series of multivariate logistic regressions, controlling for school-level demographics were performed according to mediation analysis procedures for dichotomous outcomes. Roughly 50% of schools reported FV availability in school lunches on most days of the week. Schools with the highest FV availability (70.6%) were in states with laws and schools with FTSPs. State laws requiring/encouraging FTSPs were significantly associated with increased FV availability in schools and a significant percentage (13%) of this relationship was mediated by schools having FTSPs. Because state farm-to-school laws are associated with significantly higher FV availability in schools-through FTSPs, as well as independently-enacting more state legislation may facilitate increased FTSP participation by schools and increased FV availability in school meals. © 2014, American School Health Association.

Collider signals of maximal flavor violation: Same-sign leptons from same-sign top quarks at the Fermilab Tevatron

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

Bar-Shalom, Shaouly; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697; Rajaraman, Arvind

2008-08-01

In models of maximal flavor violation (MxFV) suggested in [S. Bar-Shalom and A. Rajaraman, Phys. Rev. D 77, 095011 (2008).] there is at least one new scalar {phi}{sub FV} which couples to the quarks via {phi}{sub FV}q{sub i}q{sub j}{proportional_to}{xi}{sub ij} where {xi}{sub i3},{xi}{sub 3i}{approx}V{sub tb} for i=1, 2 and {xi}{sub 33}{approx}V{sub td} and V is the CKM matrix. In this article, we explore the potential phenomenological implications of MxFV for collider experiments. We study MxFV signals of same-sign leptons from same-sign top-quark pair production at the Tevatron and at the LHC. We show that the current Tevatron data set hasmore » strong sensitivity to this signature, for which there are no current limits. For example, if m{sub {phi}{sub FV}}{approx}200 GeV and the MxFV coupling {xi} has a natural value of {approx}1, we expect {approx}12 MxFV events to survive a selection requiring a pair of same-sign leptons, a tagged b-jet and missing transverse energy, over a background of approximately 4-5 events.« less

Are plasma homocysteine concentrations in Brazilian adolescents influenced by the intake of the main food sources of natural folate?

PubMed

Bigio, Roberta Schein; Verly, Eliseu; de Castro, Michelle Alessandra; Cesar, Chester Luis Galvão; Fisberg, Regina Mara; Marchioni, Dirce Maria Lobo

2013-01-01

Folate, a B vitamin, has been associated with a reduced concentration of plasma homocysteine (phcy), a marker of cardiovascular disease. The contribution of fruits and vegetables (FV) and other natural folate-rich foods to folate intake and folate status in Brazilian adolescents has hardly been determined. To investigate the intake of FV and beans and its association with the concentration of phcy in adolescents. This was a cross-sectional population-based study with a complex sample survey, with 198 adolescents who completed two 24-hour dietary recalls, a food frequency questionnaire, and a fasting blood draw. Usual dietary intake estimates were derived applying the Multiple Source Method. Three different generalized linear models with a gamma distribution were developed for each sex to evaluate the relationship between phcy and tertiles of FV intake as well as to evaluate the relationship between phcy and tertiles of FV and bean intake. No association was found between phcy concentration and FV intake or between phcy and FV and beans. Serum folate and female sex were inversely related to phcy. Phcy was not related to FV or FV and beans; this may be attributable to a low intake of these food groups. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Xenopus-FV3 host-pathogen interactions and immune evasion.

PubMed

Jacques, Robert; Edholm, Eva-Stina; Jazz, Sanchez; Odalys, Torres-Luquis; Francisco, De Jesús Andino

2017-11-01

We first review fundamental insights into anti-ranavirus immunity learned with the Xenopus laevis/ranavirus FV3 model that are generally applicable to ectothermic vertebrates. We then further investigate FV3 genes involved in immune evasion. Focusing on FV3 knockout (KO) mutants defective for a putative viral caspase activation and recruitment domain-containing (CARD)-like protein (Δ64R-FV3), a β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase homolog (Δ52L-FV3), and an immediate-early18kDa protein (FV3-Δ18K), we assessed the involvement of these viral genes in replication, dissemination and interaction with peritoneal macrophages in tadpole and adult frogs. Our results substantiate the role of 64R and 52L as critical immune evasion genes, promoting persistence and dissemination in the host by counteracting type III IFN in tadpoles and type I IFN in adult frogs. Comparably, the substantial accumulation of genome copy numbers and exacerbation of type I and III IFN gene expression responses but deficient release of infectious virus suggests that 18K is a viral regulatory gene. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tenth International Foamy Virus Conference 2014--achievements and perspectives.

PubMed

Materniak, Magdalena; Kubiś, Piotr; Rola-Łuszczak, Marzena; Khan, Arifa S; Buseyne, Florence; Lindemann, Dirk; Löchelt, Martin; Kuźmak, Jacek

2015-03-31

For the past two decades, scientists from around the world, working on different aspects of foamy virus (FV) research, have gathered in different research institutions almost every two years to present their recent results in formal talks, to discuss their ongoing studies informally, and to initiate fruitful collaborations. In this report we review the 2014 anniversary conference to share the meeting summary with the virology community and hope to arouse interest by other researchers to join this exciting field. The topics covered included epidemiology, virus molecular biology, and immunology of FV infection in non-human primates, cattle, and humans with zoonotic FV infections, as well as recent findings on endogenous FVs. Several topics focused on virus replication and interactions between viral and cellular proteins. Use of FV in biomedical research was highlighted with presentations on using FV vectors for gene therapy and FV proteins as scaffold for vaccine antigen presentation. On behalf of the FV community, this report also includes a short tribute to commemorate Prof. Axel Rethwilm, one of the leading experts in the field of retrovirology and foamy viruses, who passed away 29 July 2014.

Tenth International Foamy Virus Conference 2014–Achievements and Perspectives

PubMed Central

Materniak, Magdalena; Kubiś, Piotr; Rola–Łuszczak, Marzena; Khan, Arifa S.; Buseyne, Florence; Lindemann, Dirk; Löchelt, Martin; Kuźmak, Jacek

2015-01-01

For the past two decades, scientists from around the world, working on different aspects of foamy virus (FV) research, have gathered in different research institutions almost every two years to present their recent results in formal talks, to discuss their ongoing studies informally, and to initiate fruitful collaborations. In this report we review the 2014 anniversary conference to share the meeting summary with the virology community and hope to arouse interest by other researchers to join this exciting field. The topics covered included epidemiology, virus molecular biology, and immunology of FV infection in non-human primates, cattle, and humans with zoonotic FV infections, as well as recent findings on endogenous FVs. Several topics focused on virus replication and interactions between viral and cellular proteins. Use of FV in biomedical research was highlighted with presentations on using FV vectors for gene therapy and FV proteins as scaffold for vaccine antigen presentation. On behalf of the FV community, this report also includes a short tribute to commemorate Prof. Axel Rethwilm, one of the leading experts in the field of retrovirology and foamy viruses, who passed away 29 July 2014. PMID:25835535

Histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase FvDim5 regulates fungal development, pathogenicity and osmotic stress responses in Fusarium verticillioides.

PubMed

Gu, Qin; Ji, Tiantian; Sun, Xiao; Huang, Hai; Zhang, Hao; Lu, Xi; Wu, Liming; Huo, Rong; Wu, Huijun; Gao, Xuewen

2017-10-16

Histone methylation plays important biological roles in eukaryotic cells. Methylation of lysine 9 at histone H3 (H3K9me) is critical for regulating chromatin structure and gene transcription. Dim5 is a lysine histone methyltransferase (KHMTase) enzyme, which is responsible for the methylation of H3K9 in eukaryotes. In the current study, we identified a single ortholog of Neurospora crassa Dim5 in Fusarium verticillioides. In this study, we report that FvDim5 regulates the trimethylation of H3K9 (H3K9me3). The FvDIM5 deletion mutant (ΔFvDim5) showed significant defects in conidiation, perithecium production and fungal virulence. Unexpectedly, we found that deletion of FvDIM5 resulted in increased tolerance to osmotic stresses and upregulated FvHog1 phosphorylation. These results indicate the importance of FvDim5 for the regulation of fungal development, pathogenicity and osmotic stress responses in F. verticillioides. © FEMS 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

The different maturation of the corticospinal tract and corticoreticular pathway in normal brain development: diffusion tensor imaging study

PubMed Central

Yeo, Sang Seok; Jang, Sung Ho; Son, Su Min

2014-01-01

Background and Purpose: The corticospinal tract (CST) and corticoreticular pathway (CRP) are known to be important neural tracts for motor development. However, little is known about the difference in maturation of the CST and CRP. In this study, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), we investigated maturation of the CST and CRP in typically developed children and normal healthy adults. Methods: We recruited 75 normal healthy subjects for this study. DTI was performed using 1.5-T, and the CST and CRP were reconstructed using DTI-Studio software. Values of fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber volume (FV) of the CST and CRP were measured. Results: In the current study, the threshold points for CST and CRP maturation were different in normal brain development. Change in FA value of the CST showed a steep increase until 7 years of age and then a gradual increase until adulthood, however, the CRP showed a steep increase only until 2 years of age and then a very gradual increase or plateau until adulthood. In terms of FV, the CST showed a steep increase until 12 years and then a gradual increase until adulthood, in contrast, the CRP showed gradual increase of FV across whole age range (0–25 years). Conclusion: The difference in maturation process between CST and CRP appears to be related to different periods of fine and gross motor development. This radiologic information can provide a scientific basis for understanding development in motor function. PMID:25309378

Evaluation of the Effects of Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) on Vertebral Artery Blood Flow in Patients with Vertebro-Basilar Insufficiency

PubMed Central

Berilgen, Sait; Ozdemir, Huseyin; Tekatas, Aslan; Ogur, Erkin

2008-01-01

Objective To investigate the effects of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on the vertebral artery blood flow of patients with vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI) using color duplex sonography (CDS). Materials and Methods The study included 21 patients with VBI (aged 31-76; mean 61.0 ± 10.5 yrs). We administered a 50 mg oral dose of sildenafil citrate to all patients. Next, we measured the peak systolic velocity (Vmax), end diastolic velocity (Vmin), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), diameter, area, and flow volume (FV) of vertebral arteries using CDS before the administration of sildenafil citrate; 45 minutes after, and 75 minutes after administration. Statistical testing was performed using SPSS for windows version 11.0. The statistical test used to determine the outcome of the analysis was the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Results Compared to the baseline values, the vertebral artery diameter, area, and FV increased significantly following the administration of sildenafil citrate. The diameter, area and FV increased from 3.39 mm at 45 minutes to 3.64 mm at 75 minutes, 9.43 cm2 to 10.80 cm2 at 45 minutes and 10.81 cm2 at 75 minutes, as well as from 0.07 L/min at baseline to 0.09 L/min at 45 minutes and unchanged at 75 minutes, respectively. Conclusion Sildenafil citrate elicited a significant effect on vertebral artery diameter, area and FVs. PMID:19039262

Stochastic theory of large-scale enzyme-reaction networks: Finite copy number corrections to rate equation models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Philipp; Straube, Arthur V.; Grima, Ramon

2010-11-01

Chemical reactions inside cells occur in compartment volumes in the range of atto- to femtoliters. Physiological concentrations realized in such small volumes imply low copy numbers of interacting molecules with the consequence of considerable fluctuations in the concentrations. In contrast, rate equation models are based on the implicit assumption of infinitely large numbers of interacting molecules, or equivalently, that reactions occur in infinite volumes at constant macroscopic concentrations. In this article we compute the finite-volume corrections (or equivalently the finite copy number corrections) to the solutions of the rate equations for chemical reaction networks composed of arbitrarily large numbers of enzyme-catalyzed reactions which are confined inside a small subcellular compartment. This is achieved by applying a mesoscopic version of the quasisteady-state assumption to the exact Fokker-Planck equation associated with the Poisson representation of the chemical master equation. The procedure yields impressively simple and compact expressions for the finite-volume corrections. We prove that the predictions of the rate equations will always underestimate the actual steady-state substrate concentrations for an enzyme-reaction network confined in a small volume. In particular we show that the finite-volume corrections increase with decreasing subcellular volume, decreasing Michaelis-Menten constants, and increasing enzyme saturation. The magnitude of the corrections depends sensitively on the topology of the network. The predictions of the theory are shown to be in excellent agreement with stochastic simulations for two types of networks typically associated with protein methylation and metabolism.

An unstructured-mesh finite-volume MPDATA for compressible atmospheric dynamics

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

Kühnlein, Christian, E-mail: christian.kuehnlein@ecmwf.int; Smolarkiewicz, Piotr K., E-mail: piotr.smolarkiewicz@ecmwf.int

An advancement of the unstructured-mesh finite-volume MPDATA (Multidimensional Positive Definite Advection Transport Algorithm) is presented that formulates the error-compensative pseudo-velocity of the scheme to rely only on face-normal advective fluxes to the dual cells, in contrast to the full vector employed in previous implementations. This is essentially achieved by expressing the temporal truncation error underlying the pseudo-velocity in a form consistent with the flux-divergence of the governing conservation law. The development is especially important for integrating fluid dynamics equations on non-rectilinear meshes whenever face-normal advective mass fluxes are employed for transport compatible with mass continuity—the latter being essential for flux-formmore » schemes. In particular, the proposed formulation enables large-time-step semi-implicit finite-volume integration of the compressible Euler equations using MPDATA on arbitrary hybrid computational meshes. Furthermore, it facilitates multiple error-compensative iterations of the finite-volume MPDATA and improved overall accuracy. The advancement combines straightforwardly with earlier developments, such as the nonoscillatory option, the infinite-gauge variant, and moving curvilinear meshes. A comprehensive description of the scheme is provided for a hybrid horizontally-unstructured vertically-structured computational mesh for efficient global atmospheric flow modelling. The proposed finite-volume MPDATA is verified using selected 3D global atmospheric benchmark simulations, representative of hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic flow regimes. Besides the added capabilities, the scheme retains fully the efficacy of established finite-volume MPDATA formulations.« less

The effectiveness of asking behaviors among 9-11 year-old children in increasing home availability and children's intake of fruit and vegetables: Results from the Squire's Quest II self-regulation game intervention

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Home environment has an important influence on children's fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, but children may in turn also impact their home FV environment, e.g. by asking for FV. The Squire's Quest II serious game intervention aimed to increase asking behaviors to improve home FV availability an...

Culex Flavivirus During West Nile Virus Epidemic and Interepidemic Years in Chicago, United States.

PubMed

Newman, Christina M; Krebs, Bethany L; Anderson, Tavis K; Hamer, Gabriel L; Ruiz, Marilyn O; Brawn, Jeffrey D; Brown, William M; Kitron, Uriel D; Goldberg, Tony L

2017-08-01

Culex flavivirus (CxFV) is an insect-specific flavivirus infecting Culex mosquitoes, which are important vectors of West Nile virus (WNV). CxFV and WNV cocirculate in nature and coinfect Culex mosquitoes, including in a WNV "hotspot" in suburban Chicago. We previously identified a positive association between CxFV and WNV in mosquito pools collected from suburban Chicago in 2006. To further investigate this phenomenon, we compared the spatial and temporal distribution of CxFV during an interepidemic year (2011) and an epidemic year (2012) for WNV. Both viruses were more prevalent in mosquito pools in 2012 compared to 2011. During both years, the CxFV infection status of mosquito pools was associated with environmental factors such as habitat type and precipitation frequency rather than coinfection with WNV. These results support the idea that WNV and CxFV are ecologically associated, perhaps because both viruses respond to similar environmental drivers of mosquito populations.

[Relationship between fruit and vegetable gardening and health-related factors: male community gardeners aged 50-74 years living in a suburban area of Japan].

PubMed

Machida, Daisuke; Yoshida, Tohru

2017-01-01

Objectives　The aims of the study were as follows: 1) to investigate the relationship between community fruit and vegetable (FV) gardening and perceived changes in health-related factors by utilizing community gardens and 2) to determine the relationship of community FV gardening and other types of gardening on health-related factors among men aged 50-74 years living in a suburban area of Japan.Methods　In this cross-sectional study, we targeted men aged 50-74 years living in a city in Gunma Prefecture. A survey solicited demographic characteristics, FV gardening information, and health-related factors [BMI, self-rated health status, FV intake, physical activity (PA), and perceived neighborhood social cohesion (PNSC)]. The participants were divided into three groups: community gardeners, other types of gardeners, and non-gardeners. Items related to community gardening and perceived changes in health-related factors were presented only to community gardeners. The relationship between community gardening and perceived changes in health-related factors were analyzed by computing correlation coefficients. The relationships between FV gardening and specific health-related factors were analyzed by logistic regression modeling.Results　Significant positive correlations were observed between community FV gardening (the frequency of community gardening, the product of community gardening time and frequency of community gardening) and perceived changes in health-related factors (frequency of FV intake, amount of FV intake, and PA). The logistic regression models showed that 1) the number of participants with ≥23 METs h/week of PA was significantly greater among community gardeners than among non-gardeners; 2) the number of participants whose frequency of total vegetable intake, total vegetable intake (excluding juice), and total FV intake (excluding juice) was ≥5 times/day was significantly greater among other types of gardeners than non-gardeners; 3) participants with scores ≥ the median of PNSC were significantly greater among other types of gardeners than non-gardeners; and 4) participants who spent ≥4 hours/day sitting were significantly fewer among other types of gardeners than non-gardeners.Conclusion　Higher frequency of community gardening appears to induce greater perceived positive changes on FV intake and PA. It was indicated that FV gardening in community gardens contributes to increased PA, whereas other types of FV gardening contribute to increased FV intake frequency and decreased sitting time. In the future, higher-quality studies-for example, intervention studies using more rigorous measurements-will be necessary.

Chaperone-Assisted Soluble Expression of a Humanized Anti-EGFR ScFv Antibody in E. Coli

PubMed Central

Veisi, Kamal; Farajnia, Safar; Zarghami, Nosratollah; Khoram Khorshid, Hamid Reza; Samadi, Nasser; Ahdi Khosroshahi, Shiva; Zarei Jaliani, Hossein

2015-01-01

Purpose: Formation of inclusion bodies is a considerable obstacle threatening the advantages of E. coli expression system to serve as the most common and easiest system in recombinant protein production. To solve this problem, several strategies have been proposed among which application of molecular chaperones is of remarkable consideration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of molecular chaperones on soluble expression of aggregation-prone humanized single chain antibody. Methods: To increase the solubility of a humanized single chain antibody (hscFv), different chaperone plasmids including PG-tf2 (GroES- GroEL- tig), ptf16 (tig) and pGro7 (GroES- GroEL) were co-expressed in BL21 cells containing pET-22b- hscFv construct. The solubility of recombinant hscFv was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. After purification of soluble hscFv by Ni-NTA column, the biological activity and cytotoxicity of the recombinant protein were tested by ELISA and MTT assay, respectively. Results: SDS-PAGE analysis of the hscFv revealed that chaperone utility remarkably increased (up to 50%) the solubility of the protein. ELISA test and MTT assay analyses also confirmed the biological activity of the gained hscFv in reaction with A431 cells (OD value: 2.6) and inhibition of their proliferation, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that co-expression of chaperones with hscFv leads to remarkable increase in the solubility of the recombinant hscFv, which could be of great consideration for large scale production of recombinant single chain antibodies. PMID:26793607

Perceived social-ecological factors associated with fruit and vegetable purchasing, preparation, and consumption among young adults.

PubMed

Graham, Dan J; Pelletier, Jennifer E; Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne; Lust, Katherine; Laska, Melissa N

2013-10-01

Most young adults do not consume recommended levels of fruits and vegetables (F/V), and interventions to increase F/V-related behaviors among this understudied population are needed. Therefore, it is important to identify correlates of F/V intake among young adults to guide intervention development. This cross-sectional study used data from an online survey to identify factors related to young adults' F/V purchasing, preparation, and consumption, and to explore between-factor relationships using mediation analysis. In 2010, 1,201 college students in Minnesota completed questionnaires assessing F/V behaviors as well as perceptions of F/V-related individual, social, and environmental factors. Factor analysis identified questionnaire items assessing similar constructs. Seven factors were identified (personal barriers, F/V knowledge, family, friends, neighborhood, access barriers, and campus) and evaluated for relationships with F/V purchasing, preparation, and consumption using linear regression. Results revealed that perceived personal barriers (eg, lacking cooking skills) were inversely related to all F/V outcomes. Perception that family and friends eat healthfully and neighborhood access to F/V were positively related to all outcomes. Individual-, social-, and environment-level perceptions were related to purchasing, preparation, and consumption, and the effects of these factors were similar when accounting for mediated effects. Factors at all three levels and the ways in which these various factors operate together may be important to consider in future efforts to improve F/V behaviors among young adults. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Coupled Structural, Thermal, Phase-Change and Electromagnetic Analysis for Superconductors. Volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Felippa, C. A.; Farhat, C.; Park, K. C.; Militello, C.; Schuler, J. J.

1996-01-01

Described are the theoretical development and computer implementation of reliable and efficient methods for the analysis of coupled mechanical problems that involve the interaction of mechanical, thermal, phase-change and electromagnetic subproblems. The focus application has been the modeling of superconductivity and associated quantum-state phase-change phenomena. In support of this objective the work has addressed the following issues: (1) development of variational principles for finite elements, (2) finite element modeling of the electromagnetic problem, (3) coupling of thermal and mechanical effects, and (4) computer implementation and solution of the superconductivity transition problem. The main accomplishments have been: (1) the development of the theory of parametrized and gauged variational principles, (2) the application of those principled to the construction of electromagnetic, thermal and mechanical finite elements, and (3) the coupling of electromagnetic finite elements with thermal and superconducting effects, and (4) the first detailed finite element simulations of bulk superconductors, in particular the Meissner effect and the nature of the normal conducting boundary layer. The theoretical development is described in two volumes. This volume, Volume 1, describes mostly formulations for specific problems. Volume 2 describes generalization of those formulations.

Comments on the Diffusive Behavior of Two Upwind Schemes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, William A.; Kleb, William L.

1998-01-01

The diffusive characteristics of two upwind schemes, multi-dimensional fluctuation splitting and locally one-dimensional finite volume, are compared for scalar advection-diffusion problems. Algorithms for the two schemes are developed for node-based data representation on median-dual meshes associated with unstructured triangulations in two spatial dimensions. Four model equations are considered: linear advection, non-linear advection, diffusion, and advection-diffusion. Modular coding is employed to isolate the effects of the two approaches for upwind flux evaluation, allowing for head-to-head accuracy and efficiency comparisons. Both the stability of compressive limiters and the amount of artificial diffusion generated by the schemes is found to be grid-orientation dependent, with the fluctuation splitting scheme producing less artificial diffusion than the finite volume scheme. Convergence rates are compared for the combined advection-diffusion problem, with a speedup of 2.5 seen for fluctuation splitting versus finite volume when solved on the same mesh. However, accurate solutions to problems with small diffusion coefficients can be achieved on coarser meshes using fluctuation splitting rather than finite volume, so that when comparing convergence rates to reach a given accuracy, fluctuation splitting shows a speedup of 29 over finite volume.

Diffusion Characteristics of Upwind Schemes on Unstructured Triangulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, William A.; Kleb, William L.

1998-01-01

The diffusive characteristics of two upwind schemes, multi-dimensional fluctuation splitting and dimensionally-split finite volume, are compared for scalar advection-diffusion problems. Algorithms for the two schemes are developed for node-based data representation on median-dual meshes associated with unstructured triangulations in two spatial dimensions. Four model equations are considered: linear advection, non-linear advection, diffusion, and advection-diffusion. Modular coding is employed to isolate the effects of the two approaches for upwind flux evaluation, allowing for head-to-head accuracy and efficiency comparisons. Both the stability of compressive limiters and the amount of artificial diffusion generated by the schemes is found to be grid-orientation dependent, with the fluctuation splitting scheme producing less artificial diffusion than the dimensionally-split finite volume scheme. Convergence rates are compared for the combined advection-diffusion problem, with a speedup of 2-3 seen for fluctuation splitting versus finite volume when solved on the same mesh. However, accurate solutions to problems with small diffusion coefficients can be achieved on coarser meshes using fluctuation splitting rather than finite volume, so that when comparing convergence rates to reach a given accuracy, fluctuation splitting shows a 20-25 speedup over finite volume.

Recombinant anti-podoplanin (NZ-1) immunotoxin for the treatment of malignant brain tumors

PubMed Central

Chandramohan, Vidyalakshmi; Bao, Xuhui; Kaneko, Mika Kato; Kato, Yukinari; Keir, Stephen T.; Szafranski, Scott E.; Kuan, Chien-Tsun; Pastan, Ira H.; Bigner, Darell D.

2013-01-01

Current study demonstrates the glioma tumor antigen podoplanin to be present at very high levels (>90%) in both glioblastoma (D2159MG, D08-0308MG, and D08-0493MG) and medulloblastoma (D283MED, D425MED, and DAOY) xenografts and cell line. We constructed a novel recombinant single-chain antibody variable region fragment (scFv), NZ-1, specific for podoplanin from the NZ-1 hybridoma. NZ-1-scFv was then fused to Pseudomonas exotoxin A, carrying a C-terminal KDEL peptide (NZ-1-PE38KDEL). The immunotoxin was further stabilized by a disulfide (ds) bond between the heavy-chain and light-chain variable regions as the construct NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL. NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL exhibited significant reactivity to glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cells. The affinity of NZ-1-(scdsFv), NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL and NZ-1 antibody, for podoplanin peptide was 2.1×10−8 M, 8.0×10−8 M, and 3.9×10−10 M, respectively. In a protein stability assay, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL retained 33-98% of its activity while that of NZ-1-PE38KDEL declined to 13% of its initial levels after incubation at 37°C for 3 days. In vitro cytotoxicity of the NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL was measured in cells isolated from glioblastoma xenografts, D2159MG, D08-0308MG, D08-0493MG, and in the medulloblastoma D283MED, D425MED, and DOAY xenografts and cell line. The NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL immunotoxin was highly cytotoxic, with an IC50 in the range of 1.6–29 ng/mL. Significantly, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL demonstrated tumor-growth delay, averaging 24 days (P<0.001) and 21 days (P<0.001) in D2159MG and D283MED in vivo tumor models, respectively. Crucially, in the D425MED intracranial tumor model, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL caused a 41% increase in survival (P≤0.001). In preclinical studies, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL exhibited significant potential as a targeting agent for malignant brain tumors. PMID:23115013

Recombinant anti-podoplanin (NZ-1) immunotoxin for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

PubMed

Chandramohan, Vidyalakshmi; Bao, Xuhui; Kato Kaneko, Mika; Kato, Yukinari; Keir, Stephen T; Szafranski, Scott E; Kuan, Chien-Tsun; Pastan, Ira H; Bigner, Darell D

2013-05-15

Our study demonstrates the glioma tumor antigen podoplanin to be present at very high levels (>90%) in both glioblastoma (D2159MG, D08-0308MG and D08-0493MG) and medulloblastoma (D283MED, D425MED and DAOY) xenografts and cell line. We constructed a novel recombinant single-chain antibody variable region fragment (scFv), NZ-1, specific for podoplanin from the NZ-1 hybridoma. NZ-1-scFv was then fused to Pseudomonas exotoxin A, carrying a C-terminal KDEL peptide (NZ-1-PE38KDEL). The immunotoxin (IT) was further stabilized by a disulfide (ds) bond between the heavy-chain and light-chain variable regions as the construct NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL. NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL exhibited significant reactivity to glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cells. The affinity of NZ-1-(scdsFv), NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL and NZ-1 antibody for podoplanin peptide was 2.1 × 10(-8) M, 8.0 × 10(-8) M and 3.9 × 10(-10) M, respectively. In a protein stability assay, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL retained 33-98% of its activity, whereas that of NZ-1-PE38KDEL declined to 13% of its initial levels after incubation at 37°C for 3 days. In vitro cytotoxicity of the NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL was measured in cells isolated from glioblastoma xenografts, D2159MG, D08-0308MG and D08-0493MG, and in the medulloblastoma D283MED, D425MED and DOAY xenografts and cell line. The NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL IT was highly cytotoxic, with an 50% inhibitory concentration in the range of 1.6-29 ng/ml. Significantly, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL demonstrated tumor growth delay, averaging 24 days (p < 0.001) and 21 days (p < 0.001) in D2159MG and D283MED in vivo tumor models, respectively. Crucially, in the D425MED intracranial tumor model, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL caused a 41% increase in survival (p ≤ 0.001). In preclinical studies, NZ-1-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL exhibited significant potential as a targeting agent for malignant brain tumors. Copyright © 2012 UICC.

Cluster randomized controlled trial of a mobile market intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake among adults in lower-income communities in North Carolina.

PubMed

Leone, Lucia A; Tripicchio, Gina L; Haynes-Maslow, Lindsey; McGuirt, Jared; Grady Smith, Jacqueline S; Armstrong-Brown, Janelle; Gizlice, Ziya; Ammerman, Alice

2018-01-05

Poorer diets and subsequent higher rates of chronic disease among lower-income individuals may be partially attributed to reduced access to fresh fruits and vegetables (F&V) and other healthy foods. Mobile markets are an increasingly popular method for providing access to F&V in underserved communities, but evaluation efforts are limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of Veggie Van (VV), a mobile produce market, on F&V intake in lower-income communities using a group randomized controlled trial. VV is a mobile produce market that sells reduced-cost locally grown produce and offers nutrition and cooking education. We recruited 12 sites in lower-income communities in North Carolina (USA) to host VV, randomizing them to receive VV immediately (intervention) or after the 6-month study period (delayed intervention control). Participants at each site completed baseline and follow-up surveys including F&V intake, perceived access to fresh F&V and self-efficacy for purchasing, preparing and eating F&V. We used multiple linear regression to calculate adjusted differences in outcomes while controlling for baseline values, education and clustering within site. Among 142 participants who completed the follow-up, baseline F&V intake was 3.48 cups/day for control and 3.33 for intervention. At follow-up, adjusted change in F&V consumption was 0.95 cups/day greater for intervention participants (p = 0.005), but was attenuated to 0.51 cups per day (p = 0.11) after removing extreme values. VV customers increased their F&V consumption by 0.41 cups/day (n = 30) compared to a 0.25 cups/day decrease for 111 non-customers (p = 0.04). Intervention participants did not show significant improvements in perceived access to fresh F&V, but increased their self-efficacy for working more F&V into snacks (p = 0.02), making up a vegetable dish with what they had on hand (p = 0.03), and cooking vegetables in a way that is appealing to their family (p = 0.048). Mobile markets may help improve F&V intake in lower-income communities. Clinicaltrials.gov ID# NCT03026608 retrospectively registered January 2, 2017.

Systemic p53 gene therapy of cancer with immunolipoplexes targeted by anti-transferrin receptor scFv.

PubMed Central

Xu, L.; Tang, W. H.; Huang, C. C.; Alexander, W.; Xiang, L. M.; Pirollo, K. F.; Rait, A.; Chang, E. H.

2001-01-01

BACKGROUND: A long-standing goal in genetic therapy for cancer is a systemic gene delivery system that selectively targets tumor cells, including metastases. Here we describe a novel cationic immunolipoplex system that shows high in vivo gene transfer efficiency and anti- tumor efficacy when used for systemic p53 gene therapy of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cationic immunolipoplex incorporating a biosynthetically lipid-tagged, anti-transferrin receptor single-chain antibody (TfRscFv), was designed to target tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. A human breast cancer metastasis model was employed to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of systemically administered, TfRscFv-immunolipoplex-mediated, p53 gene therapy in combination with docetaxel. RESULTS: The TfRscFv-targeting cationic immunolipoplex had a size of 60-100 nm, showed enhanced tumor cell binding, and improved targeted gene delivery and transfection efficiencies, both in vitro and in vivo. The p53 tumor suppressor gene was not only systemically delivered by the immunolipoplex to human tumor xenografts in nude mice but also functionally expressed. In the nude mouse breast cancer metastasis model, the combination of the p53 gene delivered by the systemic administration of the TfRscFv-immunolipoplex and docetaxel resulted in significantly improved efficacy with prolonged survival. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report using scFv-targeting immunolipoplexes for systemic gene therapy. The TfRscFv has a number of advantages over the transferrin (Tf) molecule itself: (1) scFv has a much smaller size than Tf producing a smaller immunolipoplex giving better penetration into solid tumors; (2) unlike Tf, the scFv is a recombinant protein, not a blood product; (3) large scale production and strict quality control of the recombinant scFv, as well as scFv-immunolipoplex, are feasible. The sensitization of tumors to chemotherapy by this tumor-targeted and efficient p53 gene delivery method could lower the effective dose of the drug, correspondingly lessening the severe side effects, while decreasing the possibility of recurrence. Moreover, this approach is applicable to both primary and recurrent tumors, and more significantly, metastatic disease. The TfRscFv-targeting of cationic immunolipoplexes is a promising method of tumor targeted gene delivery that can be used for systemic gene therapy of cancer with the potential to critically impact the clinical management of cancer. PMID:11713371

A multi-level intervention in subsidized housing sites to increase fruit and vegetable access and intake: Rationale, design and methods of the 'Live Well, Viva Bien' cluster randomized trial.

PubMed

Gans, Kim M; Gorham, Gemma; Risica, Patricia M; Dulin-Keita, Akilah; Dionne, Laura; Gao, Tina; Peters, Sarah; Principato, Ludovica

2016-06-28

Adequate fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is important for disease prevention. Yet, most Americans, especially low-income and racial/ethnic minorities, do not eat adequate amounts. These disparities are partly attributable to food environments in low-income neighborhoods where residents often have limited access to affordable, healthful food and easy access to inexpensive, unhealthful foods. Increasing access to affordable healthful food in underserved neighborhoods through mobile markets is a promising, year-round strategy for improving dietary behaviors and reducing F&V intake disparities. However, to date, there have been no randomized controlled trials studying their effectiveness. The objective of the 'Live Well, Viva Bien' (LWVB) cluster randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a multicomponent mobile market intervention at increasing F&V intake among residents of subsidized housing complexes. One housing complex served as a pilot site for the intervention group and the remaining 14 demographically-matched sites were randomized into either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received bimonthly, discount, mobile, fresh F&V markets in conjunction with a nutrition education intervention (two F&V campaigns, newsletters, DVDs and cooking demonstrations) for 12 months. The control group received physical activity and stress reduction interventions. Outcome measures include F&V intake (measured by two validated F&V screeners at baseline, six-month and twelve-months) along with potential psychosocial mediating variables. Extensive quantitative and qualitative process evaluation was also conducted throughout the study. Modifying neighborhood food environments in ways that increase access to affordable, healthful food is a promising strategy for improving dietary behaviors among low-income, racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk for obesity and other food-related chronic diseases. Discount, mobile F&V markets address all the major barriers to eating more F&V (high cost, poor quality, limited access and limited time to shop and cook) and provide a year-round solution to limited access to healthful food in low-income neighborhoods. LWVB is the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of mobile markets at increasing F&V intake. If proven efficacious at increasing F&V consumption, LWVB could be disseminated widely to neighborhoods that have low access to fresh F&V. Clinicatrials.gov registration number: NCT02669472 First Received: January 19, 2016.

Lattice study of finite volume effect in HVP for muon g-2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Izubuchi, Taku; Kuramashi, Yoshinobu; Lehner, Christoph; Shintani, Eigo

2018-03-01

We study the finite volume effect of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to muon g-2, aμhvp, in lattice QCD by comparison with two different volumes, L4 = (5.4)4 and (8.1)4 fm4, at physical pion. We perform the lattice computation of highly precise vector-vector current correlator with optimized AMA technique on Nf = 2 + 1 PACS gauge configurations in Wilson-clover fermion and stout smeared gluon action at one lattice cut-off, a-1 = 2.33 GeV. We compare two integrals of aμhvp, momentum integral and time-slice summation, on the lattice and numerically show that the different size of finite volume effect appears between two methods. We also discuss the effect of backward-state propagation into the result of aμhvp with the different boundary condition. Our model-independent study suggest that the lattice computation at physical pion is important for correct estimate of finite volume and other lattice systematics in aμhvp.

The intervening removable affinity tag (iRAT) production system facilitates Fv antibody fragment‐mediated crystallography

PubMed Central

Nomura, Yayoi; Sato, Yumi; Suno, Ryoji; Horita, Shoichiro

2016-01-01

Abstract Fv antibody fragments have been used as co‐crystallization partners in structural biology, particularly in membrane protein crystallography. However, there are inherent technical issues associated with the large‐scale production of soluble, functional Fv fragments through conventional methods in various expression systems. To circumvent these problems, we developed a new method, in which a single synthetic polyprotein consisting of a variable light (VL) domain, an intervening removable affinity tag (iRAT), and a variable heavy (VH) domain is expressed by a Gram‐positive bacterial secretion system. This method ensures stoichiometric expression of VL and VH from the monocistronic construct followed by proper folding and assembly of the two variable domains. The iRAT segment can be removed by a site‐specific protease during the purification process to yield tag‐free Fv fragments suitable for crystallization trials. In vitro refolding step is not required to obtain correctly folded Fv fragments. As a proof of concept, we tested the iRAT‐based production of multiple Fv fragments, including a crystallization chaperone for a mammalian membrane protein as well as FDA‐approved therapeutic antibodies. The resulting Fv fragments were functionally active and crystallized in complex with the target proteins. The iRAT system is a reliable, rapid and broadly applicable means of producing milligram quantities of Fv fragments for structural and biochemical studies. PMID:27595817

A farmers' market at a federally qualified health center improves fruit and vegetable intake among low-income diabetics.

PubMed

Freedman, Darcy A; Choi, Seul Ki; Hurley, Thomas; Anadu, Edith; Hébert, James R

2013-05-01

A 22-week federally qualified health center (FQHC)-based farmers' market (FM) and personal financial incentive intervention designed to improve access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables (FVs) among low-income diabetics in rural South Carolina was evaluated. A mixed methods, one-group, repeated-measures design was used. Data were collected in 2011 before (May/June), during (August), and after (November) the intervention with 41 diabetes patients from the FQHC. FV consumption was assessed using a validated National Cancer Institute FV screener modified to include FV sold at the FM. Sales receipts were recorded for all FM transactions. A mixed-model, repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess intervention effects on FV consumption. Predictors of changes in FV consumption were examined using logistic regression. A marginally significant (p=0.07) average increase of 1.6 servings of total FV consumption per day occurred. The odds of achieving significant improvements in FV consumption increased for diabetics using financial incentives for payment at the FM (OR: 38.8, 95% CI: 3.4-449.6) and for those frequenting the FM more often (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-4.0). Results reveal a dose-response relationship between the intervention and FV improvements and emphasize the importance of addressing economic barriers to food access. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology of Feline Foamy Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infections in Domestic and Feral Cats: a Seroepidemiological Study

PubMed Central

Winkler, I. G.; Löchelt, M.; Flower, R. L. P.

1999-01-01

Although foamy viruses (Spumaviruses) have repeatedly been isolated from both healthy and diseased cats, cattle, and primates, the primary mode of transmission of those common viruses remains undefined. A database of the feline foamy virus (FeFV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody status, age, and sex of 389 domestic cats presented to veterinarians was assembled. A similar database for 66 feral (wild) cats was also assembled. That FeFV antibody status reflects infection was validated by PCR. Both FeFV and FIV infection rates were found to gradually increase with age, and over 70% of cats older than 9 years were seropositive for FeFV. In domestic cats, the prevalence of FeFV infection was similar in both sexes. In feral cats, FeFV infection was more prevalent in female cats than in male cats. Although both FeFV and FIV have been reported to be transmitted by biting, the patterns of infection observed are more consistent with an interpretation that transmission of these two retroviruses is not the same. The prevalence of FIV infection is highest in nondesexed male cats, the animals most likely to display aggressive behavior. The gradual increase in the proportion of FeFV-infected animals is consistent with transmission of foamy viruses by intimate social contact between animals and less commonly by aggressive behavior. PMID:10449463

The development and effectiveness of an ecological momentary intervention to increase daily fruit and vegetable consumption in low-consuming young adults.

PubMed

Brookie, Kate L; Mainvil, Louise A; Carr, Anitra C; Vissers, Margreet C M; Conner, Tamlin S

2017-01-01

To develop and test the effectiveness of a mobile-phone based ecological momentary intervention (EMI) to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in low-consuming young adults. A two-week randomised controlled trial of low-FV consuming young adults ages 18-25 years (n = 171) compared three conditions: ecological momentary intervention (EMI), fruit and vegetable intervention (FVI), and a diet-as-usual control (ANZCTRN12615000183583). Participants in the EMI condition were sent two targeted text messages a day for 13 days and were asked to increase daily FV consumption to at least five servings. These messages were designed, using the Health Action Process Approach, to address salient beliefs identified as effective in a preliminary focus group investigation. Participants in the FVI condition were provided two servings of FV a day (carrots, kiwifruit or oranges, and apples) to eat in addition to their current diet. Control participants ate their normal diet. Participants reported their daily servings of FV each evening during the study using a smartphone-delivered survey. Blood samples testing plasma vitamin C and total carotenoids were taken pre- and post-intervention as an objective biomarker of FV intake. Participants in the EMI and FVI conditions reported higher daily servings of FV - approximately +1 serving per day more compared to control (EMI = 3.7 servings/day; FVI = 3.7 servings/day; Control = 2.8 servings/day) and approximately +1.2 servings compared to baseline. Increases in objective biomarkers for the experimental conditions supported the validity of self-reported FV consumption. Our results provide initial proof of concept that EMI strategies (with minor financial assistance) are as effective as giving FV in increasing FV consumption in educated, low-consuming young adults. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simple, monolithic optical element for forward-viewing spectrally encoded endoscopy (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Do, Dukho; Kang, Dongkyun; Ikuta, Mitsuhiro; Tearney, Guillermo J.

2016-03-01

Spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) is a miniature endoscopic technology that can acquire images of internal organs through a hair-thin probe. While most previously described SEE probes have been side viewing, forward-view (FV)-SEE is advantageous in certain clinical applications as it provides more natural navigation of the probe and has the potential to provide a wider field of view. Prior implementations of FV-SEE used multiple optical elements that increase fabrication complexity and may diminish the robustness of the device. In this paper, we present a new design that uses a monolithic optical element to realize FV-SEE imaging. The optical element is specially designed spacer, fabricated from a 500-μm-glass rod that has a mirror surface on one side and a grating stamped on its distal end. The mirror surface is used to change the incident angle on the grating to diffract the shortest wavelength of the spectrum so that it is parallel to the optical axis. Rotating the SEE optics creates a circular FV-SEE image. Custom-designed software processes FV-SEE images into circular images, which are displayed in real-time. In order to demonstrate this new design, we have constructed the FV-SEE optical element using a 1379 lines/mm diffraction grating. When illuminated with a source with a spectral bandwidth of 420-820 nm, the FV-SEE optical element provides 678 resolvable points per line. The imaging performance of the FV-SEE device was tested by imaging a USAF resolution target. SEE images showed that this new approach generates high quality images in the forward field with a field of view of 58°. Results from this preliminary study demonstrate that we can realize FV-SEE imaging with simple, monolithic, miniature optical element. The characteristics of this FV-SEE configuration will facilitate the development of robust miniature endoscopes for a variety of medical imaging applications.

Effects of GSTM1/GSTT1 gene polymorphism and fruit & vegetable consumption on antioxidant biomarkers and cognitive function in the elderly: a community based cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Yuan, Linhong; Ma, Weiwei; Liu, Jinmeng; Meng, Liping; Liu, Jixia; Li, Shuang; Han, Jing; Liu, Quanri; Feng, Lingli; Wang, Chao; Xiao, Rong

2014-01-01

It was reported that Glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphism and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake were associated with body antioxidant capacity. The oxidative/anti-oxidative imbalance played an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. However, the association of GST genotype, dietary FV consumption with body antioxidant biomarkers and cognitive function in the elderly is not clear. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of GST genotype, and dietary FV intake, with antioxidant biomarkers and cognitive function in the elderly. Food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data of dietary FV intakes in 504 community dwelling elderly aged from 55 to 75 years old. GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were determined by using multiple-PCR method. Plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant biomarkers were measured. Cognitive function was measured by using Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Statistical analysis was applied for exploring the association of GST genotype and FV intake with antioxidant biomarkers level and cognitive function in the elderly. Individual GSTM1 or GSTT1 gene deletion affects body antioxidant biomarkers levels, including erythrocyte GST activity, plasma total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione levels. GSTM1and/or GSTT1 gene deletion have no effects on cognitive function in the surveyed participants. The effect of GST genotype on antioxidant biomarkers are FV intake dependent. There is interaction of FV intake and GST genotype on cognitive function in the elderly. GST genotype or daily FV consumption impact body antioxidant biomarkers, but not cognitive function in the elderly. There were combined effects of GST genotype and FV consumption on cognitive function in the elderly population. Large scale perspective population study is required to explore the association of GST genetic polymorphism, FV consumption and antioxidant biomarkers and cognitive function in the elderly.

Adolescent fruit and vegetable intake: influence of family support and moderation by home availability of relationships with afrocentric values and taste preferences.

PubMed

Di Noia, Jennifer; Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol

2013-06-01

Economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents have fruit and vegetable (F/V) intakes that are less than optimal. To facilitate intervention planning to address low F/V intake in this population, an understanding of determinants of youths' intake is needed. The influence of determinants consistently supported by evidence (ie, home F/V availability, F/V taste preferences, and parental modeling/intake) and variables hypothesized to influence intake in the targeted population (ie, family support for F/V consumption and Afrocentric values) were examined. Participants were African-American adolescents recruited in 2011 through summer camps serving low-income youths (N=93). Youths completed a cross-sectional survey. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to examine whether availability directly influenced (ie, explained variations in) intake and whether it moderated (ie, affected the direction and/or strength of) the relationships between the other hypothesized determinants and intake. The dependent variable was intake of five or more daily servings of F/V estimated with the Block 7-item food frequency questionnaire. Family support was directly related to intake (odds ratio=1.062; 95% CI 1.007 to 1.120; P=0.026). The relationships between F/V intake and taste preferences and Afrocentric values were moderated by (ie, differed based on) home F/V availability. When availability was high, taste preferences (odds ratio=1.081; 95% CI 1.007 to 1.161; P=0.032) and Afrocentric values (OR=2.504; 95% CI 1.303 to 4.811; P=0.006) had positive influences on intake. To enhance intervention effectiveness, more research is warranted on approaches for increasing home F/V availability and family support for F/V consumption in the targeted population. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Augmenting fruit and vegetable consumption by an online intervention: Psychological mechanisms.

PubMed

Keller, Jan; Motter, Susannah; Motter, Mirjam; Schwarzer, Ralf

2018-01-01

Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake was examined among men and women who participated in an online intervention. The psychological constructs involved were outcome expectancies, behavioral intention, planning, and self-efficacy. One purpose of the analyses was the evaluation of a self-efficacy treatment component. The other purpose of the analyses regarded the role of psychological mechanisms that might be responsible for individual differences in the process of behavior change. A two-arm online intervention with a standard and an enhanced intervention group focusing on FV planning was conducted to improve FV intake, followed up at two and four weeks. The intervention groups differed by the additional inclusion of a self-efficacy ingredient in the enhanced intervention. Linear mixed models examined the intervention effects, and a longitudinal structural equation model explored which psychological constructs were associated with changes in FV intake. Participants were N = 275 adults of whom n = 148 completed the four-week follow-up. Their age range was 18-81 years (M age  = 32.50, SD age  = 14.00). Analyses yielded an overall increase in self-reported FV intake. Moreover, a triple interaction between time, sex, and experimental groups on self-efficacy emerged, indicating that men, independent of treatment conditions, reported an increase in their confidence to improve FV intake, whereas women developed higher FV self-efficacy when being in the enhanced group instead of the standard group. Planning, self-efficacy, and intention mediated between outcome expectancies, and follow-up FV intake. Both intervention arms produced overall improvements in FV intake. The enhanced intervention resulted in a steeper increase in self-efficacy in women compared to men, and compared to the standard intervention. A psychological mechanism transpired that included a sequence leading from initial outcome expectancies via planning, self-efficacy, and intention towards FV intake. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Weight resilience and fruit and vegetable intake among African-American women in an obesogenic environment.

PubMed

Parisi, Sara M; Bodnar, Lisa M; Dubowitz, Tamara

2018-02-01

To investigate relationships between weight resilience (maintaining a normal weight in a food desert environment) and fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, attitudes and barriers. Cross-sectional, in-person surveys collected May-December 2011, including self-reported data on F&V-related psychosocial factors, attitudes and barriers. Two 24 h dietary recalls were completed; weight and height were measured. Multivariable regression models estimated prevalence ratios (95 % CI). Two low-income, predominantly African-American food deserts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Women aged 18-49 years (n 279) who were the primary food shopper in a household randomly selected for a parent study. Fifteen per cent were weight resilient, 30 % were overweight and 55 % were obese. Overall, 25 % reported eating ≥5 F&V servings/d. After adjustment for age, education, parity, employment, living alone, physical activity, per capita income and mean daily energy intake, women eating ≥5 F&V servings/d were 94 % more likely to be weight resilient compared with those eating <5 servings/d (1·94; 1·10, 3·43). Across BMI groups, self-efficacy regarding F&V consumption was high and few F&V barriers were reported. The most frequently reported barrier was concern about the cost of F&V (36 %). Of the attitudinal F&V-related factors, only concern about wasting food when serving F&V was associated with weight resilience in adjusted models (0·29; 0·09, 0·94). In a model predicting consuming ≥5 F&V servings/d, driving one's own car to the store was the only attitudinal F&V-related factor associated with consumption (1·50; 1·00, 2·24). In this population, weight resilience may be encouraged by improving access to affordable and convenient F&V options and providing education on ways to make them palatable to the entire household, rather than by shifting women's F&V perceptions, which are already positive.

Refolding of autodisplayed anti-NEF scFv through oxidation with glutathione for immunosensors.

PubMed

Bong, Ji-Hong; Song, Hyun-Woo; Kim, Tae-Hun; Kang, Min-Jung; Jose, Joachim; Pyun, Jae-Chul

2018-04-15

In this study, a single-domain antibody against negative regulatory factor (anti-NEF scFv) was autodisplayed on the outer membrane of Escherichia coli and used to detect NEF in an immunoassay based on fluorescence-activated cell sorting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and surface plasmon resonance biosensors. Next, the autodisplayed single-domain antibody was oxidized to form disulfide bonds by using glutathione, and the change in NEF-binding activity of anti-NEF scFv was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting-based immunoassay, chromogenic immunoassay, and surface plasmon resonance biosensor. For each type of immunoassays the anti-NEF scFv on the isolated outer membrane showed more NEF binding activity after the disulfide bond formation by glutathione. To determine the role of cysteines in anti-NEF scFv, three mutants were prepared, and the NEF binding activity of mutants was compared with that of wild-type anti-NEF scFv in a competitive immunoassay based on FACS. In these mutant studies, the refolding process of autodisplayed anti-NEF scFv by following oxidation via GSH/GSSG revealed that disulfide bonds formed and increased NEF binding activity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Perceived Influences on Farmers' Market Use among Urban, WIC-enrolled Women.

PubMed

Di Noia, Jennifer; Monica, Dorothy; Cullen, Karen Weber; Thompson, Debbe

2017-09-01

We identified perceived barriers and facilitators to purchasing fruits and vegetables (FV) at farmers' markets, FV shopping practices, and reactions to a planned online lesson to promote farmers' market use among urban, inner-city WIC-enrolled women. Thirteen focus groups were conducted with 3-5 participants each (N = 54). Common barriers were structural (transportation issues) and informational (not knowing the locations of markets). Improving access (by increasing the number of area markets, expanding market hours and locations, and increasing transportation options to markets) and raising awareness of the importance of eating healthfully were common facilitators. Information was sought on the locations of farmers who accept FV vouchers provided by WIC, FV sold at farmers' markets, reasons to eat locally grown FV, and FV food safety and preparation skills. Questions were raised about the accessibility of an online lesson; providing information via inperson seminars and handouts also was recommended. Although purchasing FV at supermarkets and corner stores and bodegas was common, concerns were expressed about the freshness, cost, quality, and variety of produce sold at these venues. Findings aid understanding of factors to consider in designing interventions to promote farmers' market use in this population.

Exact finite volume expectation values of \\overline{Ψ}Ψ in the massive Thirring model from light-cone lattice correlators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hegedűs, Árpád

2018-03-01

In this paper, using the light-cone lattice regularization, we compute the finite volume expectation values of the composite operator \\overline{Ψ}Ψ between pure fermion states in the Massive Thirring Model. In the light-cone regularized picture, this expectation value is related to 2-point functions of lattice spin operators being located at neighboring sites of the lattice. The operator \\overline{Ψ}Ψ is proportional to the trace of the stress-energy tensor. This is why the continuum finite volume expectation values can be computed also from the set of non-linear integral equations (NLIE) governing the finite volume spectrum of the theory. Our results for the expectation values coming from the computation of lattice correlators agree with those of the NLIE computations. Previous conjectures for the LeClair-Mussardo-type series representation of the expectation values are also checked.

Military Review, October 1991. Volume 71, Number 10

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-10-01

National Guard Ueutenant Colonel Juan M. Gallardo Chilean Army Spanish Edition 45 Senior Leader Vision: The Case of By Order of the Secretary of the...sobering. Our Army and our nation de- in the 1986 version of FvI 100-5 is largely con- mand our full attention. MR NOTES 1 Michael Howard, "Military...of our victory in serving full time in selected key positions. Tiev L-the gulf, we should ,lso realize that the war provide an internal structure

Improved Brain Expression of Anti-Amyloid β scFv by Complexation of mRNA Including a Secretion Sequence with PEG-based Block Catiomer.

PubMed

Perche, Federico; Uchida, Satoshi; Akiba, Hiroki; Lin, Chin-Yu; Ikegami, Masaru; Dirisala, Anjaneyulu; Nakashima, Toshihiro; Itaka, Keiji; Tsumoto, Kohei; Kataoka, Kazunori

2017-01-01

The ever-increasing number of people living with Alzheimer's disease urges to develop more effective therapies. Despite considerable success, anti-Alzheimer immunotherapy still faces the challenge of intracerebral and intracellular delivery. This work introduces in situ production of anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) antibody after intracerebral injection of PEG-PAsp(DET)/mRNA polyplexes as a novel immunotherapy approach and a safer alternative compared to high systemic antibodies doses or administration of adenovirus encoding anti- Aβ antibodies. We used mRNA encoding three different Aβ-specific scFV with a secretion signal for passive immunotherapy. scFv contained a 6xHis-tag for immuno-detection. The secretion signal from IL2 (IL2ss) was added to allow extracellular engagement of senile plaques. Aβ affinity of scFv was measured by surface plasmon resonance. To allow intracellular delivery, scFv were administered as polyplexes formed with our smart copolymer polyethylene glycol-poly[N'-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-aminoethyl] aspartamide] [PEG-PAsp (DET)]. We evaluated scFv expression in cellulo by Western blot and ELISA, their ability to disaggregate amyloid aggregates by thioflavine T assay. Moreover, in vivo expression and therapeutic activity were evaluated in a murine amyloidosis model, by anti-6xHis-tag ELISA and anti- Aβ ELISA, respectively. The selected anti-amyloid beta scFv showed affinity towards Aβ and disaggregated Aβ fibers in vitro. Whereas both DNA and mRNA transfection led to scFV expression in cancer cells, only mRNA led to detectable scFv expression in primary neurons. In addition, the use of IL2ss increased by 3.4-fold scFv secretion by primary neurons over mRNA polyplexes devoid of secretion signal. In vivo, a 3 to 11- fold of intracranial scFv levels was measured for mRNA compared to DNA polyplexes and higher in vivo scFv levels were obtained with mRNA containing IL2ss over non-secreted mRNA. Intracranial injection of anti-Aβ mRNA polyplexes with IL2ss resulted in 40 % Aβ decrease in an acute amyloidosis model; with no decrease detected with control scFv mRNA nor DNA polyplexes. However, no Aβ decrease was detected in a more challenging transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease. Our results introduce a concerted approach not only for Alzheimer's disease treatment but also for immunotherapy against neurological diseases. The effectivity of our platform required the intracranial delivery of anti-Aβ scFv as mRNA not DNA, as mRNA with an IL2ss secretion sequence to favor engagement of Aβ in the amyloidosis model, complexation with a smart copolymer for efficient transfection of primary neurons and to achieve detectable mRNA expression in the brain during 48h. Amyloid burden decrease in an acute amyloidosis model was only achieved when these three factors (mRNA coding scFv, smart copolymer, IL2ss) were integrated into a single formulation. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Screening of a ScFv Antibody With High Affinity for Application in Human IFN-γ Immunoassay

PubMed Central

Yang, Hang; Zhong, Yanfang; Wang, Juncheng; Zhang, Qinghong; Li, Xiulan; Ling, Sumei; Wang, Shihua; Wang, Rongzhi

2018-01-01

Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), a signal proinflammatory cytokine secreted by immune cell, and plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of many diseases. It has been regarded as an important marker for determination of disease-specific immune responses. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a feasible and accurate method to detect IFN-γ in clinic real blood samples. Until now, the immunoassay based on singe chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody for human IFN-γ is still not reported. In the present study, an scFv antibody named scFv-A8 with high specificity was obtained by phage display and biopanning, with the affinity 2.6 × 109 L/mol. Maltose binding protein (MBP) was used to improve the solubility of scFv by inserting an linker DNA between scFv and MBP tag, and the resulted fusion protein (MBP-LK-scFv) has high solubility and antigen biding activity. The expressed and purified MBP-LK-scFv antibody was used to develop the indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (ic-ELISA) for detection of human IFN-γ, and the result indicated that the linear range to detect IFN-γ was 6–60 pg/mL with IC50 of 25 pg/mL. The limit of detection was 2 pg/mL (1.3 fm), and the average recovery was 85.05%, further demonstrating that the detection method based on scFv has higher recovery and accuracy. Hence, the developed ic-ELISA can be used to detect IFN-γ in real samples, and it may be further provided a scientific basis for disease diagnosis. PMID:29563896

Biocompatible coupling of therapeutic fusion proteins to human erythrocytes

PubMed Central

Villa, Carlos H.; Pan, Daniel C.; Johnston, Ian H.; Greineder, Colin F.; Walsh, Landis R.; Hood, Elizabeth D.; Cines, Douglas B.; Poncz, Mortimer; Siegel, Don L.

2018-01-01

Carriage of drugs by red blood cells (RBCs) modulates pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity. However, optimal targets for attaching therapeutics to human RBCs and adverse effects have not been studied. We engineered nonhuman-primate single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) directed to human RBCs and fused scFvs with human thrombomodulin (hTM) as a representative biotherapeutic cargo (hTM-scFv). Binding fusions to RBCs on band 3/glycophorin A (GPA; Wright b [Wrb] epitope) and RhCE (Rh17/Hr0 epitope) similarly endowed RBCs with hTM activity, but differed in their effects on RBC physiology. scFv and hTM-scFv targeted to band 3/GPA increased membrane rigidity and sensitized RBCs to hemolysis induced by mechanical stress, while reducing sensitivity to hypo-osmotic hemolysis. Similar properties were seen for other ligands bound to GPA and band 3 on human and murine RBCs. In contrast, binding of scFv or hTM-scFv to RhCE did not alter deformability or sensitivity to mechanical and osmotic stress at similar copy numbers bound per RBCs. Contrasting responses were also seen for immunoglobulin G antibodies against band 3, GPA, and RhCE. RBC-bound hTM-scFv generated activated protein C (APC) in the presence of thrombin, but RhCE-targeted hTM-scFv demonstrated greater APC generation per bound copy. Both Wrb- and RhCE-targeted fusion proteins inhibited fibrin deposition induced by tumor necrosis factor-α in an endothelialized microfluidic model using human whole blood. RhCE-bound hTM-scFv more effectively reduced platelet and leukocyte adhesion, whereas anti-Wrb scFv appeared to promote platelet adhesion. These data provide a translational framework for the development of engineered affinity ligands to safely couple therapeutics to human RBCs. PMID:29365311

Fruit and Vegetable Exposure in Children is Linked to the Selection of a Wider Variety of Healthy Foods at School

PubMed Central

Korinek, Elizabeth V.; Bartholomew, John B.; Jowers, Esbelle M.; Latimer, Lara A.

2013-01-01

Schools often offer healthy fruits and vegetables (FV) and healthy entrées. However, children may resist these efforts due to a lack of familiarity with the offerings. While numerous exposures with a food increase its liking, it may be that an exposure to a variety of FV at home leads to greater willingness to select other foods – even those that are unrelated to those eaten at home. As an initial test of this possibility, this study was designed to examine how self-reports of exposure and consumption of various FV were associated with the selection of FV and lunch entrées at school. Participants (N=59) were a convenience sample of elementary children. A median-split was used to place students into high and low exposure groups for self-reports of both exposure and consumption at home. The primary dependent variables were: self-reports of selecting FV at school; the children’s absolute and relative ratings of eight “healthier” lunch entrées; and self-reports of selecting these entrées. These entrées were recently added to the school menu and, therefore, tended to be less familiar to children. Food ratings were collected through taste exposures conducted at school. Results indicate that children who reported more frequent exposure to FV at home consumed a wider variety of FV at school and were more likely to report selecting “healthier” entrées at school lunch. These data suggest that exposure to and the consumption of a variety of FV may make children more willing to select a wider range of FV and other, healthy entrées. PMID:23557428

The impact of financial incentives on participants' food purchasing patterns in a supermarket-based randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Olstad, Dana Lee; Crawford, David A; Abbott, Gavin; McNaughton, Sarah A; Le, Ha Nd; Ni Mhurchu, Cliona; Pollard, Christina; Ball, Kylie

2017-08-25

The impacts of supermarket-based nutrition promotion interventions might be overestimated if participants shift their proportionate food purchasing away from their usual stores. This study quantified whether participants who received price discounts on fruits and vegetables (FV) in the Supermarket Healthy Eating for Life (SHELf) randomized controlled trial (RCT) shifted their FV purchasing into study supermarkets during the intervention period. Participants were 642 females randomly assigned to a 1) skill-building (n = 160), 2) price reduction (n = 161), 3) combined skill-building and price reduction (n = 160), or 4) control (n = 161) group. Participants self-reported the proportion of FV purchased in study supermarkets at baseline, 3- and 6-months post-intervention. Fisher's exact and χ 2 tests assessed differences among groups in the proportion of FV purchased in study supermarkets at each time point. Multinomial logistic regression assessed differences among groups in the change in proportionate FV purchasing over time. Post-intervention, 49% of participants purchased ≥50% of their FV in study supermarkets. Compared to all other groups, the price reduction group was approximately twice as likely (RRR: 1.8-2.2) to have increased proportionate purchasing of FV in study supermarkets from baseline to post-intervention (p< 0.05). Participants who received price reductions on FV were approximately twice as likely to shift their FV purchasing from other stores into study supermarkets during the intervention period. Unless food purchasing data are available for all sources, differential changes in purchasing patterns can make it difficult to discern the true impacts of nutrition interventions. The SHELf trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials Registration ISRCTN39432901, Registered 30 June 2010, Retrospectively registered ( http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN39432901 ).

Let them eat fruit! The effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on psychological well-being in young adults: A randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Conner, Tamlin S; Brookie, Kate L; Carr, Anitra C; Mainvil, Louise A; Vissers, Margreet C M

2017-01-01

This study tested the psychological benefits of a 14-day preregistered clinical intervention to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in 171 low-FV-consuming young adults (67% female, aged 18-25). Participants were randomly assigned into a diet-as-usual control condition, an ecological momentary intervention (EMI) condition involving text message reminders to increase their FV consumption plus a voucher to purchase FV, or a fruit and vegetable intervention (FVI) condition in which participants were given two additional daily servings of fresh FV to consume on top of their normal diet. Self-report outcome measures were depressive symptoms and anxiety measured pre- and post-intervention, and daily negative and positive mood, vitality, flourishing, and flourishing behaviors (curiosity, creativity, motivation) assessed nightly using a smartphone survey. Vitamin C and carotenoids were measured from blood samples pre- and post-intervention, and psychological expectancies about the benefits of FV were measured post-intervention to test as mediators of psychological change. Only participants in the FVI condition showed improvements to their psychological well-being with increases in vitality, flourishing, and motivation across the 14-days relative to the other groups. No changes were found for depressive symptoms, anxiety, or mood. Intervention benefits were not mediated by vitamin C, carotenoids, or psychological expectancies. We conclude that providing young adults with high-quality FV, rather than reminding them to eat more FV (with a voucher to purchase FV), resulted in significant short-term improvements to their psychological well-being. These results provide initial proof-of-concept that giving young adults fresh fruit and vegetables to eat can have psychological benefits even over a brief period of time. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000183583.

Purification and refolding of anti-T-antigen single chain antibodies (scFvs) expressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies.

PubMed

Yuasa, Noriyuki; Koyama, Tsubasa; Fujita-Yamaguchi, Yoko

2014-02-01

T-antigen (Galβ1-3GalNAcα-1-Ser/Thr) is an oncofetal antigen that is commonly expressed as a carbohydrate determinant in many adenocarcinomas. Since it is associated with tumor progression and metastasis, production of recombinant antibodies specific for T-antigen could lead to the development of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Previously, we isolated and characterized 11 anti-T-antigen phage clones from a phage library displaying human single-chain antibodies (scFvs) and purified one scFv protein, 1G11. More recently, we purified and characterized 1E8 scFv protein using a Drosophila S2 expression system. In the current study, four anti-T-antigen scFv genes belonging to Groups 1-4 were purified from inclusion bodies expressed in Escherichia coli cells. Inclusion bodies isolated from E. coli cells were denatured in 3.5 M Gdn-HCl. Solubilized His-tagged scFv proteins were purified using Ni(2+)-Sepharose column chromatography in the presence of 3.5 M Gdn-HCl. Purified scFv proteins were refolded according to a previously published method of step-wise dialysis. Two anti-T-antigen scFv proteins, 1E6 and 1E8 that belong to Groups 1 and 2, respectively, were produced in sufficient amounts, thus allowing further characterization of their binding activity with T-antigen. Specificity and affinity constants determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), respectively, provided evidence that both 1E8 and 1E6 scFv proteins are T-antigen specific and suggested that 1E8 scFv protein has a higher affinity for T-antigen than 1E6 scFv protein.

Transmission of West Nile virus by Culex quinquefasciatus say infected with Culex Flavivirus Izabal.

PubMed

Kent, Rebekah J; Crabtree, Mary B; Miller, Barry R

2010-05-04

The natural history and potential impact of mosquito-specific flaviviruses on the transmission efficiency of West Nile virus (WNV) is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not prior infection with Culex flavivirus (CxFV) Izabal altered the vector competence of Cx. quinquefasciatus Say for transmission of a co-circulating strain of West Nile virus (WNV) from Guatemala. CxFV-negative Culex quinquefasciatus and those infected with CxFV Izabal by intrathoracic inoculation were administered WNV-infectious blood meals. Infection, dissemination, and transmission of WNV were measured by plaque titration on Vero cells of individual mosquito bodies, legs, or saliva, respectively, two weeks following WNV exposure. Additional groups of Cx. quinquefasciatus were intrathoracically inoculated with WNV alone or WNV+CxFV Izabal simultaneously, and saliva collected nine days post inoculation. Growth of WNV in Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells or Cx. quinquefasciatus was not inhibited by prior infection with CxFV Izabal. There was no significant difference in the vector competence of Cx. quinquefasciatus for WNV between mosquitoes uninfected or infected with CxFV Izabal across multiple WNV blood meal titers and two colonies of Cx. quinquefasciatus (p>0.05). However, significantly more Cx. quinquefasciatus from Honduras that were co-inoculated simultaneously with both viruses transmitted WNV than those inoculated with WNV alone (p = 0.0014). Co-inoculated mosquitoes that transmitted WNV also contained CxFV in their saliva, whereas mosquitoes inoculated with CxFV alone did not contain virus in their saliva. In the sequential infection experiments, prior infection with CxFV Izabal had no significant impact on WNV replication, infection, dissemination, or transmission by Cx. quinquefasciatus, however WNV transmission was enhanced in the Honduras colony when mosquitoes were inoculated simultaneously with both viruses.

A systematic review of methods to assess intake of fruits and vegetables among healthy European adults and children: a DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) study.

PubMed

Riordan, Fiona; Ryan, Kathleen; Perry, Ivan J; Schulze, Matthias B; Andersen, Lene Frost; Geelen, Anouk; Van't Veer, Pieter; Eussen, Simone; Dagnelie, Pieter; Wijckmans-Duysens, Nicole; Harrington, Janas M

2017-02-01

Evidence suggests that health benefits are associated with consuming recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables (F&V), yet standardised assessment methods to measure F&V intake are lacking. The current review aims to identify methods to assess F&V intake among children and adults in pan-European studies and inform the development of the DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) toolbox of methods suitable for use in future European studies. A literature search was conducted using three electronic databases and by hand-searching reference lists. English-language studies of any design which assessed F&V intake were included in the review. Studies involving two or more European countries were included in the review. Healthy, free-living children or adults. The review identified fifty-one pan-European studies which assessed F&V intake. The FFQ was the most commonly used (n 42), followed by 24 h recall (n 11) and diet records/diet history (n 7). Differences existed between the identified methods; for example, the number of F&V items on the FFQ and whether potatoes/legumes were classified as vegetables. In total, eight validated instruments were identified which assessed F&V intake among adults, adolescents or children. The current review indicates that an agreed classification of F&V is needed in order to standardise intake data more effectively between European countries. Validated methods used in pan-European populations encompassing a range of European regions were identified. These methods should be considered for use by future studies focused on evaluating intake of F&V.

Let them eat fruit! The effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on psychological well-being in young adults: A randomized controlled trial

PubMed Central

Carr, Anitra C.; Mainvil, Louise A.; Vissers, Margreet C. M.

2017-01-01

This study tested the psychological benefits of a 14-day preregistered clinical intervention to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in 171 low-FV-consuming young adults (67% female, aged 18–25). Participants were randomly assigned into a diet-as-usual control condition, an ecological momentary intervention (EMI) condition involving text message reminders to increase their FV consumption plus a voucher to purchase FV, or a fruit and vegetable intervention (FVI) condition in which participants were given two additional daily servings of fresh FV to consume on top of their normal diet. Self-report outcome measures were depressive symptoms and anxiety measured pre- and post-intervention, and daily negative and positive mood, vitality, flourishing, and flourishing behaviors (curiosity, creativity, motivation) assessed nightly using a smartphone survey. Vitamin C and carotenoids were measured from blood samples pre- and post-intervention, and psychological expectancies about the benefits of FV were measured post-intervention to test as mediators of psychological change. Only participants in the FVI condition showed improvements to their psychological well-being with increases in vitality, flourishing, and motivation across the 14-days relative to the other groups. No changes were found for depressive symptoms, anxiety, or mood. Intervention benefits were not mediated by vitamin C, carotenoids, or psychological expectancies. We conclude that providing young adults with high-quality FV, rather than reminding them to eat more FV (with a voucher to purchase FV), resulted in significant short-term improvements to their psychological well-being. These results provide initial proof-of-concept that giving young adults fresh fruit and vegetables to eat can have psychological benefits even over a brief period of time. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000183583 PMID:28158239

SEROPREVALENCE AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF FERLAVIRUS IN CAPTIVE VIPERS OF COSTA RICA.

PubMed

Solis, Cristina; Arguedas, Randall; Baldi, Mario; Piche, Martha; Jimenez, Carlos

2017-06-01

Ferlaviruses (FV, previously referred to as ophidian paramyxoviruses, OPMV), are enveloped viruses with a negative-strand RNA genome, affecting snakes in captivity worldwide. Infection is characterized by respiratory and nervous clinical signs and carries high mortality rates, but no specific treatment or vaccine is currently available. Costa Rica has 16 species of vipers, found in captivity in collections essential for antivenom production, reintroduction, and public education. FV circulation in these populations was previously unknown, and the risk of introducing the viruses into naïve collections or free-ranging populations exists if the virus's presence is confirmed. The objective of this study was to determine seroprevalence and FV shedding in 150 samples from captive vipers in nine collections across Costa Rica. A hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay was performed to determine the antibody titer against two Ferlavirus strains, Bush viper virus (BV) and Neotropical virus (NT), and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing to determine virus secretion in cloacal swabs. Ferlavirus strains were replicated in Vero cells, and chicken anti-FV polyclonal antibodies were produced and used as a positive control serum for the HI. Results demonstrate that seroprevalence of anti-FV antibodies in viper serum was 26.6% (n = 40) for the BV strain and 30% (n = 45) for the NT strain in the population tested. Furthermore, molecular characterization of FV group A was possible by sequencing the virus recovered from three cloacal swabs, demonstrating circulation of FV in one collection. This study demonstrates for the first time serological evidence of FV exposure and infection in vipers in captivity in Costa Rica, and suggests cross reactivity between antibodies against both strains. Appropriate biosafety measures could prevent the spread of FV between and within collections of reptiles in the country.

Generation of a mouse scFv library specific for porcine aminopeptidase N using the T7 phage display system.

PubMed

Sun, Dongbo; Shi, Hongyan; Chen, Jianfei; Shi, Da; Zhu, Qinghe; Zhang, Hong; Liu, Shengwang; Wang, Yunfeng; Qiu, Huaji; Feng, Li

2012-06-01

Porcine aminopeptidase N (pAPN) is a common cellular receptor for swine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). To investigate single-chain fragment variable (scFv) repertoire against pAPN, the genes encoding the immunoglobulin light chain variable region (VL) and heavy chain variable region (VH) were amplified by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a series of degenerate primers from the spleen of BABL/c mice immunized with native pAPN. The VL and VH amplicons were combined randomly by a 12 amino acid flexible linker by splicing by overlap extension PCR (SOE-PCR), which produced the scFv gene repertoire. After ligation of the scFv gene repertoire into the T7Select10-3b vector, a mouse scFv phage library specific for pAPN was produced through in vitro packaging. The primary scFv library against pAPN contained 2.0×10(7) recombinant phage clones, and the titer of the amplified library was 3.6×10(9)pfu/mL. BstNI restriction analysis and DNA sequencing revealed that 28 phage clones from the primary pAPN scFv library showed excellent diversity. The effectiveness of the scFv library against pAPN was verified further by phage ELISA using the recombinant protein of the pAPN C subunit as coating antigen. The construction and evaluation of a murine scFv library against the common receptor pAPN of porcine coronaviruses TGEV and PEDV using the T7 phage display system are described. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A 3-D Finite-Volume Non-hydrostatic Icosahedral Model (NIM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jin

2014-05-01

The Nonhydrostatic Icosahedral Model (NIM) formulates the latest numerical innovation of the three-dimensional finite-volume control volume on the quasi-uniform icosahedral grid suitable for ultra-high resolution simulations. NIM's modeling goal is to improve numerical accuracy for weather and climate simulations as well as to utilize the state-of-art computing architecture such as massive parallel CPUs and GPUs to deliver routine high-resolution forecasts in timely manner. NIM dynamic corel innovations include: * A local coordinate system remapped spherical surface to plane for numerical accuracy (Lee and MacDonald, 2009), * Grid points in a table-driven horizontal loop that allow any horizontal point sequence (A.E. MacDonald, et al., 2010), * Flux-Corrected Transport formulated on finite-volume operators to maintain conservative positive definite transport (J.-L, Lee, ET. Al., 2010), *Icosahedral grid optimization (Wang and Lee, 2011), * All differentials evaluated as three-dimensional finite-volume integrals around the control volume. The three-dimensional finite-volume solver in NIM is designed to improve pressure gradient calculation and orographic precipitation over complex terrain. NIM dynamical core has been successfully verified with various non-hydrostatic benchmark test cases such as internal gravity wave, and mountain waves in Dynamical Cores Model Inter-comparisons Projects (DCMIP). Physical parameterizations suitable for NWP are incorporated into NIM dynamical core and successfully tested with multimonth aqua-planet simulations. Recently, NIM has started real data simulations using GFS initial conditions. Results from the idealized tests as well as real-data simulations will be shown in the conference.

Application of the control volume mixed finite element method to a triangular discretization

USGS Publications Warehouse

Naff, R.L.

2012-01-01

A two-dimensional control volume mixed finite element method is applied to the elliptic equation. Discretization of the computational domain is based in triangular elements. Shape functions and test functions are formulated on the basis of an equilateral reference triangle with unit edges. A pressure support based on the linear interpolation of elemental edge pressures is used in this formulation. Comparisons are made between results from the standard mixed finite element method and this control volume mixed finite element method. Published 2011. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. ?? 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Coupled Structural, Thermal, Phase-change and Electromagnetic Analysis for Superconductors, Volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Felippa, C. A.; Farhat, C.; Park, K. C.; Militello, C.; Schuler, J. J.

1996-01-01

Described are the theoretical development and computer implementation of reliable and efficient methods for the analysis of coupled mechanical problems that involve the interaction of mechanical, thermal, phase-change and electromag subproblems. The focus application has been the modeling of superconductivity and associated quantum-state phase change phenomena. In support of this objective the work has addressed the following issues: (1) development of variational principles for finite elements, (2) finite element modeling of the electromagnetic problem, (3) coupling of thermel and mechanical effects, and (4) computer implementation and solution of the superconductivity transition problem. The main accomplishments have been: (1) the development of the theory of parametrized and gauged variational principles, (2) the application of those principled to the construction of electromagnetic, thermal and mechanical finite elements, and (3) the coupling of electromagnetic finite elements with thermal and superconducting effects, and (4) the first detailed finite element simulations of bulk superconductors, in particular the Meissner effect and the nature of the normal conducting boundary layer. The theoretical development is described in two volumes. Volume 1 describes mostly formulation specific problems. Volume 2 describes generalization of those formulations.

Transmission dynamics of an insect-specific flavivirus in a naturally infected Culex pipiens laboratory colony and effects of co-infection on vector competence for West Nile virus

PubMed Central

Bolling, Bethany G.; Olea-Popelka, Francisco J.; Eisen, Lars; Moore, Chester G.; Blair, Carol D.

2012-01-01

We established a laboratory colony of Culex pipiens mosquitoes from eggs collected in Colorado and discovered that mosquitoes in the colony are naturally infected with Culex flavivirus (CxFV), an insect-specific flavivirus. In this study we examined transmission dynamics of CxFV and effects of persistent CxFV infection on vector competence for West Nile virus (WNV). We found that vertical transmission is the primary mechanism for persistence of CxFV in Cx. pipiens, with venereal transmission potentially playing a minor role. Vector competence experiments indicated possible early suppression of WNV replication by persistent CxFV infection in Cx. pipiens. This is the first description of insect-specific flavivirus transmission dynamics in a naturally infected mosquito colony and the observation of delayed dissemination of superinfecting WNV suggests that the presence of CxFV may impact the intensity of enzootic transmission of WNV and the risk of human exposure to this important pathogen. PMID:22425062

Fab-dsFv: A bispecific antibody format with extended serum half-life through albumin binding.

PubMed

Davé, Emma; Adams, Ralph; Zaccheo, Oliver; Carrington, Bruce; Compson, Joanne E; Dugdale, Sarah; Airey, Michael; Malcolm, Sarah; Hailu, Hanna; Wild, Gavin; Turner, Alison; Heads, James; Sarkar, Kaushik; Ventom, Andrew; Marshall, Diane; Jairaj, Mark; Kopotsha, Tim; Christodoulou, Louis; Zamacona, Miren; Lawson, Alastair D; Heywood, Sam; Humphreys, David P

2016-10-01

An antibody format, termed Fab-dsFv, has been designed for clinical indications that require monovalent target binding in the absence of direct Fc receptor (FcR) binding while retaining substantial serum presence. The variable fragment (Fv) domain of a humanized albumin-binding antibody was fused to the C-termini of Fab constant domains, such that the VL and VH domains were individually connected to the Cκ and CH1 domains by peptide linkers, respectively. The anti-albumin Fv was selected for properties thought to be desirable to ensure a durable serum half-life mediated via FcRn. The Fv domain was further stabilized by an inter-domain disulfide bond. The bispecific format was shown to be thermodynamically and biophysically stable, and retained good affinity and efficacy to both antigens simultaneously. In in vivo studies, the serum half-life of Fab-dsFv, 2.6 d in mice and 7.9 d in cynomolgus monkeys, was equivalent to Fab'-PEG.

Fab-dsFv: A bispecific antibody format with extended serum half-life through albumin binding

PubMed Central

Davé, Emma; Adams, Ralph; Zaccheo, Oliver; Carrington, Bruce; Compson, Joanne E.; Dugdale, Sarah; Airey, Michael; Malcolm, Sarah; Hailu, Hanna; Wild, Gavin; Turner, Alison; Heads, James; Sarkar, Kaushik; Ventom, Andrew; Marshall, Diane; Jairaj, Mark; Kopotsha, Tim; Christodoulou, Louis; Zamacona, Miren; Lawson, Alastair D.; Heywood, Sam; Humphreys, David P.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT An antibody format, termed Fab-dsFv, has been designed for clinical indications that require monovalent target binding in the absence of direct Fc receptor (FcR) binding while retaining substantial serum presence. The variable fragment (Fv) domain of a humanized albumin-binding antibody was fused to the C-termini of Fab constant domains, such that the VL and VH domains were individually connected to the Cκ and CH1 domains by peptide linkers, respectively. The anti-albumin Fv was selected for properties thought to be desirable to ensure a durable serum half-life mediated via FcRn. The Fv domain was further stabilized by an inter-domain disulfide bond. The bispecific format was shown to be thermodynamically and biophysically stable, and retained good affinity and efficacy to both antigens simultaneously. In in vivo studies, the serum half-life of Fab-dsFv, 2.6 d in mice and 7.9 d in cynomolgus monkeys, was equivalent to Fab'-PEG. PMID:27532598

Slave finite elements for nonlinear analysis of engine structures, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gellin, S.

1991-01-01

A 336 degrees of freedom slave finite element processing capability to analyze engine structures under severe thermomechanical loading is presented. Description of the theoretical development and demonstration of that element is presented in this volume.

A functional role for CD28 costimulation in tumor recognition by single-chain receptor-modified T cells.

PubMed

Moeller, Maria; Haynes, Nicole M; Trapani, Joseph A; Teng, Michele W L; Jackson, Jacob T; Tanner, Jane E; Cerutti, Loretta; Jane, Stephen M; Kershaw, Michael H; Smyth, Mark J; Darcy, Phillip K

2004-05-01

T cells engineered to express single-chain antibody receptors that incorporate TCR-zeta and cluster designation (CD)28 signaling domains (scFv-alpha-erbB2-CD28-zeta) can be redirected in vivo to cancer cells that lack triggering costimulatory molecules. To assess the contribution of CD28 signaling to the function of the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor, we expressed a series of mutated scFv-CD28-zeta receptors directed against erbB2. Residues known to be critical for CD28 signaling were mutated from tyrosine to phenylalanine at position 170 or proline to alanine at positions 187 and 190. Primary mouse T cells expressing either of the mutant receptors demonstrated impaired cytokine (IFN-gamma and GM-CSF) production and decreased proliferation after antigen ligation in vitro and decreased antitumor efficacy in vivo compared with T cells expressing the wild-type scFv-CD28-zeta receptor, suggesting a key signaling role for the CD28 component of the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor. Importantly, cell surface expression, binding capacity and cytolytic activity mediated by the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor were not diminished by either mutation. Overall, this study has definitively demonstrated a functional role for the CD28 component of the scFv-CD28-zeta receptor and has shown that incorporation of costimulatory activity in chimeric scFv receptors is a powerful approach for improving adoptive cancer immunotherapy.

Combined effects of fruit and vegetables intake and physical activity on the risk of metabolic syndrome among Chinese adults.

PubMed

Li, Xin-Tong; Liao, Wei; Yu, Hong-Jie; Liu, Ming-Wei; Yuan, Shuai; Tang, Bo-Wen; Yang, Xu-Hao; Song, Yong; Huang, Yao; Cheng, Shi-le; Chen, Zhi-Yu; Towne, Samuel D; Mao, Zong-Fu; He, Qi-Qiang

2017-01-01

Unbalanced dietary intake and insufficient physical activity (PA) have been recognized as risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of fruit and vegetables (FV) intake and PA on MetS. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among residents of China in 2009, with fasting blood samples collected. Participants were divided into sufficient/insufficient FV intake and adequate/ inadequate PA groups according to self-reported questionnaires. MetS was defined using the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. The difference of individual MetS components was compared across different PA or FV groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess association between FV/PA and the risk of MetS. A total of 7424 adults were included in the current study. MetS was prevalent in 28.7% of participants, with 24.7% and 32.9% in male and female, respectively. Compared with those with inadequate PA and insufficient FV intake, participants with the combination of adequate PA and sufficient FV intake had the lowest risk of MetS (OR = 0.69,95%CI: 0.59-0.82), following by the group with adequate PA time but insufficient FV intake (OR = 0.74, 95%CI:0.65-0.83). Findings of the current study show that the combination of sufficient FV intake and adequate PA was significantly associated with reduced MetS risk among adult residents of China.

Psychosocial Influences on Fruit and Vegetable Intake Following a NYC Supermarket Discount.

PubMed

Bernales-Korins, Maria; Ang, Ian Yi Han; Khan, Shamima; Geliebter, Allan

2017-08-01

To assess the effect of a 50% discount on fruits and vegetables (F&V) on the purchase and intake of F&V and on psychosocial determinants of F&V intake: self-efficacy (SE), stages of change (SOC), and perceived barriers (PB). This randomized controlled trial was conducted in local supermarkets over 16 weeks, including a 4-week baseline, 8-week discount intervention, and 4-week follow-up. Shoppers with overweight or obesity (BMI > 25) were randomized to receive a discount or no discount via their reward scan card after the baseline. Twenty-four-hour recalls and psychosocial measures were obtained for each study period. Purchases (P < 0.0005) and intakes (P = 0.019) of F&V increased significantly during the intervention, while only F&V intake was sustained at follow-up. The discount intervention increased SE (P < 0.01) and SOC (P < 0.05) and did not decrease PB (P = 0.057) during the intervention. SOC mediated the discount intervention effect on F&V intake (P < 0.05) during the intervention, explaining 43% of variance. A supermarket discount intervention led to increases in purchases and intakes of F&V and increases in the psychosocial factors SE and SOC and did not decrease PB. The discount intervention prompted participants to move from the preparation to action stage of SOC, which acted as a mediator for increased F&V intake. © 2017 The Obesity Society.

Downregulation of Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer by scFv-M6-1B9 Intrabody Suppresses Cervical Cancer Invasion Through Inhibition of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator.

PubMed

Panich, Tipattaraporn; Tragoolpua, Khajornsak; Pata, Supansa; Tayapiwatana, Chatchai; Intasai, Nutjeera

2017-02-01

Overexpression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) accelerates tumor invasion and metastasis via activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression. The authors were interested in whether the scFv-M6-1B9 intrabody against EMMPRIN that retains EMMPRIN in endoplasmic reticulum could be a potential tool to suppress cervical cancer invasion through inhibition of uPA. The chimeric adenoviral vector Ad5/F35-scFv-M6-1B9 was transferred into human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells to produce the scFv-M6-1B9 intrabody against EMMPRIN. Cell surface expression of EMMPRIN, the membrane-bound uPA, the enzymatic activity of secreted uPA, and the invasion ability were analyzed. The scFv-M6-1B9 intrabody successfully diminished the cell surface expression of EMMPRIN and the membrane-bound uPA on HeLa cells. uPA activity from tissue culture media of EMMPRIN-downregulated HeLa cells was decreased. The invasion ability of HeLa cells harboring scFv-M6-1B9 intrabody was also suppressed. These results suggested that the scFv-M6-1B9 intrabody might represent a potential approach for invasive cervical cancer treatment. The application of scFv-M6-1B9 intrabody in animal experiments and preclinical studies would be investigated further.

An efficient method for variable region assembly in the construction of scFv phage display libraries using independent strand amplification

PubMed Central

Sotelo, Pablo H.; Collazo, Noberto; Zuñiga, Roberto; Gutiérrez-González, Matías; Catalán, Diego; Ribeiro, Carolina Hager; Aguillón, Juan Carlos; Molina, María Carmen

2012-01-01

Phage display library technology is a common method to produce human antibodies. In this technique, the immunoglobulin variable regions are displayed in a bacteriophage in a way that each filamentous virus displays the product of a single antibody gene on its surface. From the collection of different phages, it is possible to isolate the virus that recognizes specific targets. The most common form in which to display antibody variable regions in the phage is the single chain variable fragment format (scFv), which requires assembly of the heavy and light immunoglobulin variable regions in a single gene. In this work, we describe a simple and efficient method for the assembly of immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable regions in a scFv format. This procedure involves a two-step reaction: (1) DNA amplification to produce the single strand form of the heavy or light chain gene required for the fusion; and (2) mixture of both single strand products followed by an assembly reaction to construct a complete scFv gene. Using this method, we produced 6-fold more scFv encoding DNA than the commonly used splicing by overlap extension PCR (SOE-PCR) approach. The scFv gene produced by this method also proved to be efficient in generating a diverse scFv phage display library. From this scFv library, we obtained phages that bound several non-related antigens, including recombinant proteins and rotavirus particles. PMID:22692130

The impact of fruit and vegetable intake on weight management

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fruit and vegetables (FV) are important sources of phytochemicals, dietary fiber, and low energy density, and their consumption may be protective against obesity. Despite these potential benefits of FV consumption on human health, rates of FV intake remain low throughout the world. This chapter revi...

Relationship of fruit and vegetable intake with adiposity: a systematic review

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake has been proposed to protect against obesity. The purpose of this paper was to assess the FV consumption to adiposity relationship. Twenty-three publications were included. Inclusion criteria: longitudinal or experimental designs; FV intake tested in relation to adipo...

Influences on children's dietary behavior, and innovative attempts to change it

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake may protect against several chronic diseases, and the preferences and habits in relation to FV intake appear to form in early childhood. Child FV intake reflects many influences from multiple levels (e.g., internal to the child, family, school, neighborhood). We have ...

77 FR 67673 - Fernando Valle, M.D.; Decision and Order

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-13

... DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Drug Enforcement Administration [Docket No. 12-56] Fernando Valle, M.D... Certificate of Registration Numbers FV1935595, FV2000711, and FV2000735, issued to Fernando Valle, M.D., be, and they hereby are, revoked. I further order that any pending applications of Fernando Valle, M.D...

Molecular Exploration of Beta-Lactamases in Fusarium verticillioides

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The mycotoxigenic fungus Fusarium verticillioides (Fv) is one of the most prevalent maize fungal pathogens. Fv mycotoxins are a significant food safety issue and have given rise to exposure concerns worldwide. The FDB1 locus, a beta-lactamase-containing Fv gene cluster, was previously shown to be in...

Gallium-68-labeled anti-HER2 single-chain Fv fragment: development and in vivo monitoring of HER2 expression.

PubMed

Ueda, Masashi; Hisada, Hayato; Temma, Takashi; Shimizu, Yoichi; Kimura, Hiroyuki; Ono, Masahiro; Nakamoto, Yuji; Togashi, Kaori; Saji, Hideo

2015-02-01

We aimed to develop a gallium-68 (Ga-68)-labeled single-chain variable fragment (scFv) targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) to rapidly and noninvasively evaluate the status of HER2 expression. Anti-HER2 scFv was labeled with Ga-68 by using deferoxamine (Df) as a bifunctional chelate. Biodistribution of [(68)Ga]Df-anti-HER2 scFv was examined with tumor-bearing mice and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed. The changes in HER2 expression after anti-HER2 therapy were monitored by PET imaging. [(68)Ga]Df-anti-HER2 scFv was obtained with high radiochemical yield after only a 5-min reaction at room temperature. The probe showed high accumulation in HER2-positive xenografts and the intratumoral distribution of radioactivity coincided with HER2-positive regions. Furthermore, [(68)Ga]Df-anti-HER2 scFv helped visualize HER2-positive xenografts and monitor the changes in HER2 expression after anti-HER2 therapy. [(68)Ga]Df-anti-HER2 scFv could be a promising probe to evaluate HER2 status by in vivo PET imaging, unless trastuzumab is prescribed as part of the therapy.

The effect of notches and pits on corrosion fatigue strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tatner, Ian

An investigation has been undertaken to examine the fatigue behaviour of two martensitic steels in air and aggressive environments. The steels studied are, 18% Ni marageing steel and FV520B, the later being a stainless steel turbine blade material and the former being a marageing steel that suffers general corrosion in mild environments. Both steels were heat treated to give similar tensile strength.The design and manufacture of an autoclave allowed push-pull fatigue tests to be conducted in aggressive environments at elevated temperatures.Corrosion potential was monitored using a three electrode cell and was controlled during testing. Base-line fatigue tests were conducted with a range of constant corrosion potentials, using both notched and plain FV520B specimens. In addition fatigue tests with pulsed corrosion potential were performed to asses the effect of transient corrosion conditions on the corrosion fatigue strength. The pulsed tests were designed to simulate service transients in the oxygen content and general chemical hostility in the condensing steam environment during start-up and shut down of the steam turbine.Post test examination of fractured samples was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and optical microscope techniques. The fractography results were used to quantify microstructural and fracture features of the steels.A model based on the size and geometry of the initial corrosion pitting has been proposed to asses the fatigue life of FV520B in an aggressive environment.The effect of pitting on the corrosion fatigue strength of FV520B has been modelled using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) type approach. The model has shown a good correlation between predicted fatigue lives with experimental results.The results suggest that the fatigue life is governed by the mechanical stress concentrating effect of the pits rather than the electrochemical damage caused by the environment.Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the notch allowed calculation of the elastic stress intensity factor (K[t]) for the specimen geometry used. The experimental results together with numerical results of FEA were used to calculate of the notch strength reduction factor (K[f]) for the material. This has been used to derive the notch sensitivity factors (q) for both materials.The results of fatigue tests in air showed that although both materials have similar tensile strength their plain fatigue strengths are different. The sensitivity of the fatigue strength to notches was also found to be significantly different. The marageing steel showed a higher sensitivity to a notch than the FV520B.An empirical model has been proposed to quantify the notch sensitivity and the effects of various microstructural features on the fatigue strength. A model has been developed to predict the serviceable life of a peak hardened FV520B turbine blade subjected to aggressive low load conditions during start-up and non-aggressive high load conditions during continual running. The model is based on the conclusions suggested in the work of a threshold stress intensity factor being reached where a fatigue crack will grow from a corrosion pit at the root of a notch. The model is then used to highlight the life reduction caused to steam turbine blades due to increased numbers of start-up cycles.

Effect of Human Milk Appetite Hormones, Macronutrients, and Infant Characteristics on Gastric Emptying and Breastfeeding Patterns of Term Fully Breastfed Infants.

PubMed

Gridneva, Zoya; Kugananthan, Sambavi; Hepworth, Anna R; Tie, Wan J; Lai, Ching T; Ward, Leigh C; Hartmann, Peter E; Geddes, Donna T

2016-12-28

Human milk (HM) components influence infant feeding patterns and nutrient intake, yet it is unclear how they influence gastric emptying (GE), a key component of appetite regulation. This study analyzed GE of a single breastfeed, HM appetite hormones/macronutrients and demographics/anthropometrics/body composition of term fully breastfed infants ( n = 41, 2 and/or 5 mo). Stomach volumes (SV) were calculated from pre-/post-feed ultrasound scans, then repeatedly until the next feed. Feed volume (FV) was measured by the test-weigh method. HM samples were analyzed for adiponectin, leptin, fat, lactose, total carbohydrate, lysozyme, and total/whey/casein protein. Linear regression/mixed effect models were used to determine associations between GE/feed variables and HM components/infant anthropometrics/adiposity. Higher FVs were associated with faster (-0.07 [-0.10, -0.03], p < 0.001) GE rate, higher post-feed SVs (0.82 [0.53, 1.12], p < 0.001), and longer GE times (0.24 [0.03, 0.46], p = 0.033). Higher whey protein concentration was associated with higher post-feed SVs (4.99 [0.84, 9.13], p = 0.023). Longer GE time was associated with higher adiponectin concentration (2.29 [0.92, 3.66], p = 0.002) and dose (0.02 [0.01, 0.03], p = 0.005), and lower casein:whey ratio (-65.89 [-107.13, -2.66], p = 0.003). FV and HM composition influence GE and breastfeeding patterns in term breastfed infants.

Impaired atrioventricular transport in patients with transposition of the great arteries palliated by atrial switch and preserved systolic right ventricular function: A magnetic resonance imaging study.

PubMed

Ladouceur, Magalie; Kachenoura, Nadjia; Soulat, Gilles; Bollache, Emilie; Redheuil, Alban; Azizi, Michel; Delclaux, Christophe; Chatellier, Gilles; Boutouyrie, Pierre; Iserin, Laurence; Bonnet, Damien; Mousseaux, Elie

2017-07-01

We aimed (1) determine if systemic right ventricle filling parameters influence systemic right ventricle stroke volume in adult patients with D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) palliated by atrial switch, using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography, and (2) to study relationship of these diastolic parameters with exercise performance and BNP, in patients with preserved systolic systemic right ventricle function. Single-center, cross-sectional, prospective study. In patients with D-TGA palliated by atrial switch, diastolic dysfunction of the systemic right ventricle may precede systolic dysfunction. Forty-five patients with D-TGA and atrial switch and 45 age and sex-matched healthy subjects underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Filling flow-rates measured by phase-contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were analyzed using customized software to estimate diastolic parameters and compared with exercise performance. In D-TGA, early filling of systemic right ventricle was impaired with a lower peak filling rate normalized by filling volume (Ef/FV measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) and a higher early filling peak velocity normalized by early peak myocardial velocity (E US /Ea measured by echocardiography) compared with controls (P ≤ .04). Stroke volume of systemic right ventricle showed a direct and significant association with pulmonary venous pathway size (respectively r = 0.50, P < .01). Systemic right atrial area and systemic right ventricle mass/volume index measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, as well as Ef/FV were significantly correlated with exercise performances and BNP (P < .01). All correlations were independent of age, gender, body mass index and blood pressure. Systemic right ventricle pre-load and stroke volume depend mainly on intraatrial pathway function. Moreover, systemic right ventricle remodeling and right atrial dysfunction impair systemic right ventricle filling, leading to BNP increase and exercise limitation. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging should assess systemic right ventricle filling abnormalities in D-TGA patients. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

One-Shot In Vitro Evolution Generated an Antibody Fragment for Testing Urinary Cotinine with More Than 40-Fold Enhanced Affinity.

PubMed

Oyama, Hiroyuki; Morita, Izumi; Kiguchi, Yuki; Banzono, Erika; Ishii, Kasumi; Kubo, Satoshi; Watanabe, Yoshiro; Hirai, Anna; Kaede, Chiaki; Ohta, Mitsuhiro; Kobayashi, Norihiro

2017-01-03

Immunoassays for cotinine, a major nicotine metabolite, in the urine are useful for monitoring the degree of tobacco smoke exposure. However, hybridoma-based anti-cotinine antibodies lack sufficient binding affinity to perform practically sensitive measurements, and thus most cotinine assays still rely on polyclonal antibodies. Here, we describe the generation of a mutant single-chain Fv fragment (scFv) that was used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine urinary cotinine levels in passive smokers. A "wild-type" scFv (scFv-wt) with a K a value of 2.7 × 10 7 M -1 (at 4 °C) was prepared by linking the V H and V L domains in a mouse anti-cotinine antibody. "One-shot" random mutagenesis on the scFv-wt gene by error-prone PCR generated mutant scFv genes, which were expressed on phage particles. Repeated panning directed toward mutants with slower off-rates selected scFv clones that showed improved sensitivity in an ELISA system. One of these mutants (scFv#m1-54) with five amino acid substitutions showed more than a 40-fold enhanced K a (1.2 × 10 9 M -1 at 4 °C) and, thus, was used to monitor human urinary cotinine. A limited amount of soluble scFv was reacted with urine specimens (or cotinine standards) at 4 °C for 120 min in microwells on which cotinine residues had been immobilized. The midpoint of the dose-response curves under optimized conditions (0.27 ng/assay) was more than 100-fold lower than the ELISA results obtained using scFv-wt. The limit of detection (8.4 pg/assay) corresponded to 0.17 ng/mL urinary cotinine, which was satisfactorily low for testing the threshold levels for passive smoke exposure. The assay values for volunteers correlated with the values determined using a commercial assay kit. This study evidently showed the potential of a molecular breeding approach, in which simple in vitro evolution might generate superior antibody reagents as cloned proteins, overcoming the limited molecular diversity inherent to conventional immunization-based antibodies.

A finite-volume module for all-scale Earth-system modelling at ECMWF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kühnlein, Christian; Malardel, Sylvie; Smolarkiewicz, Piotr

2017-04-01

We highlight recent advancements in the development of the finite-volume module (FVM) (Smolarkiewicz et al., 2016) for the IFS at ECMWF. FVM represents an alternative dynamical core that complements the operational spectral dynamical core of the IFS with new capabilities. Most notably, these include a compact-stencil finite-volume discretisation, flexible meshes, conservative non-oscillatory transport and all-scale governing equations. As a default, FVM solves the compressible Euler equations in a geospherical framework (Szmelter and Smolarkiewicz, 2010). The formulation incorporates a generalised terrain-following vertical coordinate. A hybrid computational mesh, fully unstructured in the horizontal and structured in the vertical, enables efficient global atmospheric modelling. Moreover, a centred two-time-level semi-implicit integration scheme is employed with 3D implicit treatment of acoustic, buoyant, and rotational modes. The associated 3D elliptic Helmholtz problem is solved using a preconditioned Generalised Conjugate Residual approach. The solution procedure employs the non-oscillatory finite-volume MPDATA advection scheme that is bespoke for the compressible dynamics on the hybrid mesh (Kühnlein and Smolarkiewicz, 2017). The recent progress of FVM is illustrated with results of benchmark simulations of intermediate complexity, and comparison to the operational spectral dynamical core of the IFS. C. Kühnlein, P.K. Smolarkiewicz: An unstructured-mesh finite-volume MPDATA for compressible atmospheric dynamics, J. Comput. Phys. (2017), in press. P.K. Smolarkiewicz, W. Deconinck, M. Hamrud, C. Kühnlein, G. Mozdzynski, J. Szmelter, N.P. Wedi: A finite-volume module for simulating global all-scale atmospheric flows, J. Comput. Phys. 314 (2016) 287-304. J. Szmelter, P.K. Smolarkiewicz: An edge-based unstructured mesh discretisation in geospherical framework, J. Comput. Phys. 229 (2010) 4980-4995.

Using Virtual Pets to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Children: A Technology-Assisted Social Cognitive Theory Approach.

PubMed

Ahn, Sun Joo Grace; Johnsen, Kyle; Moore, James; Brown, Scott; Biersmith, Melanie; Ball, Catherine

2016-02-01

A virtual pet in the form of a mid-sized dog was developed based on the framework of social cognitive theory and tested as a vehicle for promoting fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption in children. Three groups of children (N = 68) between the ages of 7 and 13 years were studied: baseline (no treatment), computer only, and virtual dog. Children in the virtual dog condition interacted with the virtual dog for 3 days, setting F&V consumption goals and receiving evaluation and reinforcement based on whether they met their self-set goals. Children vicariously experienced future health outcomes of F&V consumption by seeing, hearing, and feeling their virtual dog's physical and mental health improve or deteriorate based on their F&V consumption in the physical world. Children in the computer only condition interacted with a computer system that presented equivalent features, but without the virtual dog. Children in the baseline condition did not receive any experimental treatment. Results indicated that children in the virtual dog condition chose to be served significantly more F&V than those in the computer only or baseline conditions did. However, children in the virtual dog condition were unable to consume significantly more F&V than those in the computer only condition, although children in those two conditions consumed more F&V than the baseline condition. Food preferences did not differ significantly across the three conditions before and after the experimental treatments. Theoretical and practical potentials of using a virtual pet to promote F&V consumption systematically in children are discussed.

Generation of a Highly Reactive Chicken-Derived Single-Chain Variable Fragment against Fusarium verticillioides by Phage Display

PubMed Central

Hu, Zu-Quan; Liu, Jin-Long; Li, He-Ping; Xing, Shu; Xue, Sheng; Zhang, Jing-Bo; Wang, Jian-Hua; Nölke, Greta; Liao, Yu-Cai

2012-01-01

Fusarium verticillioides is the primary causal agent of Fusarium ear and kernel rot in maize, producing fumonisin mycotoxins that are toxic to humans and domestic animals. Rapid detection and monitoring of fumonisin-producing fungi are pivotally important for the prevention of mycotoxins from entering into food/feed products. Chicken-derived single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against cell wall-bound proteins from F. verticillioides were isolated from an immunocompetent phage display library. Comparative phage enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISAs) and sequencing analyses identified four different scFv antibodies with high sensitivity. Soluble antibody ELISAs identified two highly sensitive scFv antibodies, FvCA3 and FvCA4, with the latter being slightly more sensitive. Three-dimensional modeling revealed that the FvCA4 may hold a better overall structure with CDRH3, CDRL1 and CDRL3 centered in the core region of antibody surface compared with that of other scFvs. Immunofluorescence labeling revealed that the binding of FvCA4 antibody was localized to the cell walls of conidiospores and hyphae of F. verticillioides, confirming the specificity of this antibody for a surface target. This scFv antibody was able to detect the fungal mycelium as low as 10−2 μg/mL and contaminating mycelium at a quantity of 10−2 mg/g maize. This is the first report that scFv antibodies derived from phage display have a wide application for rapid and accurate detection and monitoring of fumonisin-producing pathogens in agricultural samples. PMID:22837678

Dietary Foeniculum vulgare Mill extract attenuated UVB irradiation-induced skin photoaging by activating of Nrf2 and inhibiting MAPK pathways.

PubMed

Sun, Zhengwang; Park, Sang Yong; Hwang, Eunson; Park, Bom; Seo, Seul A; Cho, Jin-Gyeong; Zhang, Mengyang; Yi, Tae-Hoo

2016-11-15

Foeniculum vulgare Mill (FV) has long been prescribed in traditional medicine due to its antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties. However, little research has been done on the use of FV to alleviate changes in UVB-induced photoaging PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the photoprotective effects and mechanism of FV in vitro and in vivo. The anti-photoaging effect of FV was assessed in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) in vitro. The secretion of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), GSH, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), procollagen type I, IL-6 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured by kits. Additionally, the level of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), p-ERK and p38 were evaluated by western blotting. In vivo, H&E and Masson's trichrome staining were employed. The expression of MMP-1, procollagen type I, TGF-β1 and elastin were measured by western blot. FV significantly increased the production of collagen, elastin and TGF-β1 levels, while blocked matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production in UVB irradiation induced hairless mice, which were consistent with the result in NHDFs. Furthermore, FV dose-dependently decreased the production of ROS and LDH by promoting the nuclear amount of Nrf2 and enhancing the expression of cytoprotective antioxidants such as GSH. FV also significantly quenched UVB-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 in NHDFs. Our results indicate that FV is a potential botanical agent for the treatment of skin damage induced by UV irradiation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

High-Frequency Planetary Waves in the Polar Middle Atmosphere as seen in a data Assimilation System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coy, L.; Stajner, I.; DaSilva, A. M.; Joiner, J.; Rood, R. B.; Pawson, S.; Lin, S. J.

2003-01-01

This study examines the winter southern hemisphere vortex of 1998 using four times daily output from a data assimilation system to focus on the polar 2-day, wave number 2 component of the 4-day wave. The data assimilation system products are from a test version of the finite volume data assimilation system (fvDAS) being developed at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and include an ozone assimilation system. Results show that the polar 2-day wave dominates during July 1998 at 70 degrees. The period of the quasi 2-day wave is somewhat shorter than 2 days (about 1.7 days) during July 1998 with an average perturbation temperature amplitude for the month of over 2.5 K. The 2-day wave propagates more slowly than the zonal mean zonal wind, consistent with Rossby wave theory, and has EP flux divergence regions associated with regions of negative horizontal potential vorticity gradients, as expected from linear instability theory. Results for the assimilation-produced ozone mixing ratio show that the 2-day wave represents a major source of ozone variation in this region. The ozone wave in the assimilation system is in good agreement with the wave seen in the POAM (Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement) ozone observations for the same time period. Some differences with linear instability theory are noted as well as spectral peaks in the ozone field, not seen in the temperature field, that may be a consequence of advection.

Production and characterization of a single chain variable fragment (scFv) for the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Deoxynivalenol (DON)is a mycotoxin produced by certain fungi that infest cereal grains worldwide. A hybridoma cell line producing a monoclonal antibody (Mab) recognizing DON was used as the starting point in the development of a recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody. The scFv wa...

Children's Daily Fruit and Vegetable Intake: Associations with Maternal Intake and Child Weight Status

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Paige; Moore, Renee H.; Kral, Tanja V. E.

2011-01-01

Objective: To evaluate associations between children's and their mothers' fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and children's FV intake and weight status. Methods: Mothers (n = 39) residing in Philadelphia, PA completed a subsection of the Diet History Questionnaire assessing their FV intake. Mothers also completed this questionnaire to estimate FV…

75 FR 37288 - Kiwifruit Grown in California; Order Amending Marketing Order No. 920

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-29

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 920 [Doc. No. AO-FV-08-0174; AMS-FV-08-0085; FV08-920-3] Kiwifruit Grown in California; Order Amending Marketing Order No. 920 AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This rule amends Marketing...

76 FR 4201 - Kiwifruit Grown in California; Order Amending Marketing Order No. 920; Correction

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-25

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 920 [Doc. No. AO-FV-08-0174; AMS-FV-08-0085; FV08-920-3 C] Kiwifruit Grown in California; Order Amending Marketing Order No. 920; Correction AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Correcting amendment. SUMMARY: This document...

Validating the Hamilton Anatomy of Risk Management-Forensic Version and the Aggressive Incidents Scale.

PubMed

Cook, Alana N; Moulden, Heather M; Mamak, Mini; Lalani, Shams; Messina, Katrina; Chaimowitz, Gary

2018-06-01

The Hamilton Anatomy of Risk Management-Forensic Version (HARM-FV) is a structured professional judgement tool of violence risk developed for use in forensic inpatient psychiatric settings. The HARM-FV is used with the Aggressive Incidents Scale (AIS), which provides a standardized method of recording aggressive incidents. We report the findings of the concurrent validity of the HARM-FV and the AIS with widely used measures of violence risk and aggressive acts, the Historical, Clinical, Risk Management-20, Version 3 (HCR-20 V3 ) and a modified version of the Overt Aggression Scale. We also present findings on the predictive validity of the HARM-FV in the short term (1-month follow-up periods) for varying severities of aggressive acts. The results indicated strong support for the concurrent validity of the HARM-FV and AIS and promising support for the predictive accuracy of the tool for inpatient aggression. This article provides support for the continued clinical use of the HARM-FV within an inpatient forensic setting and highlights areas for further research.

Transmission dynamics of an insect-specific flavivirus in a naturally infected Culex pipiens laboratory colony and effects of co-infection on vector competence for West Nile virus.

PubMed

Bolling, Bethany G; Olea-Popelka, Francisco J; Eisen, Lars; Moore, Chester G; Blair, Carol D

2012-06-05

We established a laboratory colony of Culex pipiens mosquitoes from eggs collected in Colorado and discovered that mosquitoes in the colony are naturally infected with Culex flavivirus (CxFV), an insect-specific flavivirus. In this study we examined transmission dynamics of CxFV and effects of persistent CxFV infection on vector competence for West Nile virus (WNV). We found that vertical transmission is the primary mechanism for persistence of CxFV in Cx. pipiens, with venereal transmission potentially playing a minor role. Vector competence experiments indicated possible early suppression of WNV replication by persistent CxFV infection in Cx. pipiens. This is the first description of insect-specific flavivirus transmission dynamics in a naturally infected mosquito colony and the observation of delayed dissemination of superinfecting WNV suggests that the presence of CxFV may impact the intensity of enzootic transmission of WNV and the risk of human exposure to this important pathogen. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fast conversion of scFv to Fab antibodies using type IIs restriction enzymes.

PubMed

Sanmark, Hanna; Huovinen, Tuomas; Matikka, Tero; Pettersson, Tiina; Lahti, Maria; Lamminmäki, Urpo

2015-11-01

Single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody libraries are widely used for developing novel bioaffinity reagents, although Fab or IgG molecules are the preferred antibody formats in many final applications. Therefore, rapid conversion methods for combining multiple DNA fragments are needed to attach constant domains to the scFv derived variable domains. In this study we describe a fast and easy cloning method for the conversion of single framework scFv fragments to Fab fragments using type IIS restriction enzymes. All cloning steps excluding plating of the Fab transformants can be done in 96 well plates and the procedure can be completed in one working day. The concept was tested by converting 69 scFv clones into Fab format on 96 well plates, which resulted in 93% success rate. The method is particularly useful as a high-throughput tool for the conversion of the chosen scFv clones into Fab molecules in order to analyze them as early as possible, as the conversion can significantly affect the binding properties of the chosen clones. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An efficicient data structure for three-dimensional vertex based finite volume method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akkurt, Semih; Sahin, Mehmet

2017-11-01

A vertex based three-dimensional finite volume algorithm has been developed using an edge based data structure.The mesh data structure of the given algorithm is similar to ones that exist in the literature. However, the data structures are redesigned and simplied in order to fit requirements of the vertex based finite volume method. In order to increase the cache efficiency, the data access patterns for the vertex based finite volume method are investigated and these datas are packed/allocated in a way that they are close to each other in the memory. The present data structure is not limited with tetrahedrons, arbitrary polyhedrons are also supported in the mesh without putting any additional effort. Furthermore, the present data structure also supports adaptive refinement and coarsening. For the implicit and parallel implementation of the FVM algorithm, PETSc and MPI libraries are employed. The performance and accuracy of the present algorithm are tested for the classical benchmark problems by comparing the CPU time for the open source algorithms.

[A report of two Chinese familial Budd-Chiari syndrome].

PubMed

Feng, B; Xu, K; Jiang, H; Fu, W; Li, H; Guo, M; Liu, X; Wang, Z

2000-09-01

To investigate the etiology of two Chinese familial Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Four patients with familial BCS (from A and B families), and the other 41 family members were detected by angiography, ultrasound Dopler, etiology analysis and Factor V Leiden (FvL) mutation analysis. Four BCS patients were proved by angiography, 2 by ultra sound Dopler in family A. Ten members in family A were varicosis in low extremeties. FvL mutation was detected in 4 of 6 patients and 2 normal family members. A II(2), A III(7, 11, 15,) B II(10) and B III(5) had FvL mutation. The FvL mutations were compatible with Mendel hereditary law. FvL mutation may be one of main risk factors and varicosis in low extremeties may be another risk factors for familial BCS.

Types of fruits and vegetables used in commercial baby foods and their contribution to sugar content.

PubMed

Garcia, Ada Lizbeth; McLean, Kimberley; Wright, Charlotte M

2016-10-01

Fruits and vegetables (F&V) are often featured in names of commercial baby foods (CBFs). We aimed to survey all available CBFs in the UK market with F&V included in the food name in order to describe the amount and types of F&V used in CBF and their contribution to total sugar content. Food labels were used to identify F&V and total sugar content. Fruits were more common than vegetables in names of the 329 CBFs identified. The six most common F&V in the names were all relatively sweet: apple, banana, tomato, mango, carrot and sweet potato. The percentage of F&V in the foods ranged from a median of 94% for sweet-spoonable to 13% for dry-savoury products. Fruit content of sweet foods (n = 177) was higher than vegetable content of savoury foods (n = 152) with a median (IQR) of 64.0 g/100 g (33.0-100.0) vs. 46.0 g/100 g (33-56.7). Fruit juice was added to 18% of products. The proportion of F&V in CBF correlated significantly with sugar content for all the food types except dry-savoury food (sweet-spoonable r = 0.24, P = 0.006; savoury-spoonable r = 0.65, P < 0.001; sweet-dry r = 0.81, P < 0.001; savoury-dry r = 0.51, P = 0.06) and explained up to two-thirds of the variation in sugar content. The F&V content of CBFs mainly consists of fruits and relatively sweet vegetables which are unlikely to encourage preferences for bitter-tasting vegetables or other non-sweet foods. F&V contribute significantly to the total sugar content, particularly of savoury foods. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Platelets Contain Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2 Derived from Megakaryocytes and Inhibits Fibrinolysis*

PubMed Central

Vadivel, Kanagasabai; Ponnuraj, Sathya-Moorthy; Kumar, Yogesh; Zaiss, Anne K.; Bunce, Matthew W.; Camire, Rodney M.; Wu, Ling; Evseenko, Denis; Herschman, Harvey R.; Bajaj, Madhu S.; Bajaj, S. Paul

2014-01-01

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a homologue of TFPI-1 and contains three Kunitz-type domains and a basic C terminus region. The N-terminal domain of TFPI-2 is the only inhibitory domain, and it inhibits plasma kallikrein, factor XIa, and plasmin. However, plasma TFPI-2 levels are negligible (≤20 pm) in the context of influencing clotting or fibrinolysis. Here, we report that platelets contain significant amounts of TFPI-2 derived from megakaryocytes. We employed RT-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy to determine that platelets, MEG-01 megakaryoblastic cells, and bone marrow megakaryocytes contain TFPI-2. ELISA data reveal that TFPI-2 binds factor V (FV) and partially B-domain-deleted FV (FV-1033) with Kd ∼9 nm and binds FVa with Kd ∼100 nm. Steady state analysis of surface plasmon resonance data reveal that TFPI-2 and TFPI-1 bind FV-1033 with Kd ∼36–48 nm and bind FVa with Kd ∼252–456 nm. Further, TFPI-1 (but not TFPI-1161) competes with TFPI-2 in binding to FV. These data indicate that the C-terminal basic region of TFPI-2 is similar to that of TFPI-1 and plays a role in binding to the FV B-domain acidic region. Using pull-down assays and Western blots, we show that TFPI-2 is associated with platelet FV/FVa. TFPI-2 (∼7 nm) in plasma of women at the onset of labor is also, in part, associated with FV. Importantly, TFPI-2 in platelets and in plasma of pregnant women inhibits FXIa and tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced clot fibrinolysis. In conclusion, TFPI-2 in platelets from normal or pregnant subjects and in plasma from pregnant women binds FV/Va and regulates intrinsic coagulation and fibrinolysis. PMID:25262870

High red meat intake and all-cause cardiovascular and cancer mortality: is the risk modified by fruit and vegetable intake?

PubMed

Bellavia, Andrea; Stilling, Frej; Wolk, Alicja

2016-10-01

High red meat consumption is associated with a shorter survival and higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and all-cause mortality. Fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption is associated with a longer survival and lower mortality risk. Whether high FV consumption can counterbalance the negative impact of high red meat consumption is unknown. We evaluated 2 large prospective cohorts of Swedish men and women (the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men) to determine whether the association between red meat consumption and the risk of all-cause, CVD, and cancer-specific mortality differs across amounts of FV intake. The study population included 74,645 Swedish men and women. Red meat and FV consumption were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire. We estimated HRs of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality according to quintiles of total red meat consumption. We next investigated possible interactions between red meat and FV consumption and evaluated the dose-response associations at low, medium, and high FV intake. Compared with participants in the lowest quintile of total red meat consumption, those in the highest quintile had a 21% increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.29), a 29% increased risk of CVD mortality (HR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.46), and no increase in the risk of cancer mortality (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.43). Results were remarkably similar across amounts of FV consumption, and no interaction between red meat and FV consumption was detected. High intakes of red meat were associated with a higher risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. The increased risks were consistently observed in participants with low, medium, and high FV consumption. The Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01127698 and NCT01127711, respectively. © 2016 American Society for Nutrition.

Mid-childhood fruit and vegetable consumption: The roles of early liking, early consumption, and maternal consumption.

PubMed

Kong, Kai Ling; Gillman, Matthew W; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L; Wen, Xiaozhong

2016-10-01

Previous studies have shown that early liking, early consumption, and maternal consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) each predict children's F&V consumption, but no one has examined the independent contributions of these three correlated factors. We aim to examine the extent to which each of these 3 factors is associated with F&V consumption in mid-childhood after accounting for the other 2 in the analysis. We analyzed data from 901 mother-child dyads from Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort study. Mothers reported their child's early liking and consumption of F&V at age 2 years and later consumption at mid-childhood (median age 7.7 years). They also reported their own consumption of F&V at 6 months postpartum. We used multivariable linear regression models to examine the independent associations of these 3 factors with mid-childhood consumption, adjusting for socio-demographic, pregnancy, and child confounders. At 2 years, 53% of the mothers strongly agreed that their child liked fruit and 25% strongly agreed that their child liked vegetables. F&V consumption was 2.5 (1.3) and 1.8 (1.1) times/d at age 2 y and 1.5 (1.1) and 1.3 (0.8) times/d in mid-childhood. Maternal F&V consumption was 1.4 (1.1) and 1.5 (1.0) times/d, respectively. Children's early consumption played the most predominant role. For every 1 time/d increment in children's early consumption of F&V, mid-childhood consumption was higher by 0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19, 0.30) times/d for fruits and 0.21 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.26) times/d for vegetables, adjusted for confounders plus the other 2 exposures. In conclusion, children's early F&V consumption has the most significant influence on children's later consumption. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Gardening Experience Is Associated with Increased Fruit and Vegetable Intake among First-Year College Students: A Cross-Sectional Examination.

PubMed

Loso, Jennifer; Staub, Daniel; Colby, Sarah E; Olfert, Melissa D; Kattelmann, Kendra; Vilaro, Melissa; Colee, James; Zhou, Wenjun; Franzen-Castle, Lisa; Mathews, Anne E

2018-02-01

Gardening interventions have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake among school-aged children. It is unknown whether these effects persist into later adolescence or adulthood, and little is known about whether gardening in later adolescence is related to F/V intake. To identify the relationship between both childhood and recent (within the past 12 months) gardening experiences and current F/V intake among college students. A cross-sectional evaluation of 1,121 college freshmen with suboptimal F/V consumption from eight US universities. Participants completed the National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable Screener and questions about gardening experiences. Respondents were grouped as having gardened or not gardened during childhood and recently. A linear mixed model was used to evaluate the relationship between childhood and recent gardening and current F/V intake. Of the student participants, 11% reported gardening only during childhood, 19% reported gardening only recently, 20% reported gardening both as a child and recently, and 49% of students reported never having gardened. Students who gardened both during childhood and recently had a significantly higher mean current intake of F/V compared with students who never gardened (2.5±0.6 vs 1.9±0.5 cup equivalents [CE], respectively; P<0.001). In addition, F/V intake increased with frequency of recent gardening engagement when comparing students who did not garden with those who gardened monthly or weekly (2.1±0.5 CE, 2.4±0.6 CE, and 2.8±0.7 CE, respectively; P<0.001). This analysis suggests that the combination of childhood and recent gardening experience is associated with greater current F/V intake among first-year college students not currently meeting national F/V recommendations. In addition, a greater frequency of gardening experience may further enhance this effect. Copyright © 2018 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A quantile regression approach can reveal the effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on plasma homocysteine levels.

PubMed

Verly, Eliseu; Steluti, Josiane; Fisberg, Regina Mara; Marchioni, Dirce Maria Lobo

2014-01-01

A reduction in homocysteine concentration due to the use of supplemental folic acid is well recognized, although evidence of the same effect for natural folate sources, such as fruits and vegetables (FV), is lacking. The traditional statistical analysis approaches do not provide further information. As an alternative, quantile regression allows for the exploration of the effects of covariates through percentiles of the conditional distribution of the dependent variable. To investigate how the associations of FV intake with plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) differ through percentiles in the distribution using quantile regression. A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted among 499 residents of Sao Paulo City, Brazil. The participants provided food intake and fasting blood samples. Fruit and vegetable intake was predicted by adjusting for day-to-day variation using a proper measurement error model. We performed a quantile regression to verify the association between tHcy and the predicted FV intake. The predicted values of tHcy for each percentile model were calculated considering an increase of 200 g in the FV intake for each percentile. The results showed that tHcy was inversely associated with FV intake when assessed by linear regression whereas, the association was different when using quantile regression. The relationship with FV consumption was inverse and significant for almost all percentiles of tHcy. The coefficients increased as the percentile of tHcy increased. A simulated increase of 200 g in the FV intake could decrease the tHcy levels in the overall percentiles, but the higher percentiles of tHcy benefited more. This study confirms that the effect of FV intake on lowering the tHcy levels is dependent on the level of tHcy using an innovative statistical approach. From a public health point of view, encouraging people to increase FV intake would benefit people with high levels of tHcy.

Location of School Lunch Salad Bars and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Middle Schools: A Cross-Sectional Plate Waste Study.

PubMed

Adams, Marc A; Bruening, Meg; Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam; Hurley, Jane C

2016-03-01

The school lunch environment is a prime target for increasing a child's consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables (F/V). Salad bars are heavily encouraged in schools; however, more research is needed to examine the contexts in which salad bars promote consumption of F/V among students. To compare the amount of fresh F/V self-served, consumed, and wasted by students during lunch at schools with differing salad bar placement: inside or outside of the serving line. Cross-sectional plate waste study in which salad bar placement differed between schools. A random sample of middle school students (N=533) from six schools (three schools per district). Amount of fresh F/V taken, consumed, and wasted. Negative binomial multivariable regression examined placement of salad bars, adjusting for sex, grade, race/ethnicity, free/reduced status, day of the week, and nesting of students within schools. Almost all students (98.6%) in the schools with salad bars inside serving lines self-served F/V compared with only 22.6% of students in the schools with salad bars outside lines (adjusted prevalence ratio=5.38; 95% CI 4.04 to 7.17). Similarly, students at schools with salad bars inside the line had greater prevalence of consuming any F/V compared with students in schools with salad bars outside the line (adjusted prevalence ratio=4.83; 95% CI 3.40 to 6.81). On average, students with the salad bar outside the line wasted less F/V compared with those with salad bars inside the line (30% vs 48%, respectively). Few students visited salad bars located outside the lunch line. Salad bars inside the lunch line resulted in significantly greater fresh F/V taken, consumed, and wasted. When possible, schools should try to include salad bars inside the line to increase students' exposure to F/V. Copyright © 2016 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Cosmetic Content-Based Nutrition Education Program Improves Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Grade 11 Thai Students.

PubMed

Somsri, Pattraporn; Satheannoppakao, Warapone; Tipayamongkholgul, Mathuros; Vatanasomboon, Paranee; Kasemsup, Rachada

2016-03-01

To examine and compare the effectiveness of a cosmetic content-based nutrition education (CCBNEd) program and a health content-based nutrition education (HCBNEd) program on the promotion of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption. Quasi-experimental. Three secondary schools in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Three classes of students were randomly assigned to 3 study groups: experimental group 1 (n = 41) participated in the CCBNEd program, experimental group 2 (n = 35) experienced the HCBNEd program, and a comparison group (n = 37) did not participate in a program. All groups received F&V information. Data were collected between July and September, 2013. Knowledge about F&V, attitude toward F&V consumption, and the amount and variety of F&V consumed were measured at baseline, posttest, and follow-up. Nonparametric statistics were used to compare the programs' effectiveness. After the test, experimental group 1 had significantly increased knowledge scores, attitude scores, and the amount and variety of F&V consumed compared with those at baseline (P < .001). These positive changes were maintained until follow-up. In experimental group 2, knowledge and attitude scores increased (P < .001) at posttest and then decreased at follow-up whereas the comparison group positively changed only in knowledge. The CCBNEd program was most effective at increasing F&V consumption. Copyright © 2016 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Design of Embedded-Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptides with Enhanced Cell Selectivity and Anti-Biofilm Activity

PubMed Central

Xu, Wei; Zhu, Xin; Tan, Tingting; Li, Weizhong; Shan, Anshan

2014-01-01

Antimicrobial peptides have attracted considerable attention because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and their low prognostic to induce antibiotic resistance which is the most common source of failure in bacterial infection treatment along with biofilms. The method to design hybrid peptide integrating different functional domains of peptides has many advantages. In this study, we designed an embedded-hybrid peptide R-FV-I16 by replacing a functional defective sequence RR7 with the anti-biofilm sequence FV7 embedded in the middle position of peptide RI16. The results demonstrated that the synthetic hybrid the peptide R-FV-I16 had potent antimicrobial activity over a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as anti-biofilm activity. More importantly, R-FV-I16 showed lower hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity. Fluorescent assays demonstrated that R-FV-I16 depolarized the outer and the inner bacterial membranes, while scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy further indicated that this peptide killed bacterial cells by disrupting the cell membrane, thereby damaging membrane integrity. Results from SEM also provided evidence that R-FV-I16 inherited anti-biofilm activity from the functional peptide sequence FV7. Embedded-hybrid peptides could provide a new pattern for combining different functional domains and showing an effective avenue to screen for novel antimicrobial agents. PMID:24945359

Reaching Low-Income Mothers to Improve Family Fruit and Vegetable Intake: Food Hero Social Marketing Campaign—Research Steps, Development and Testing

PubMed Central

Tobey, Lauren N.; Koenig, Harold F.; Brown, Nicole A.; Manore, Melinda M.

2016-01-01

The objective of this study was to create/test a social marketing campaign to increase fruit/vegetable (FV) intake within Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible families. Focus groups (n = 2) and pre/post campaign phone surveys (n = 2082) were conducted in intervention counties (IC) and one control county. Participants were female (86%–100%) with 1–2 children at home. Mean FV intake/without juice was 3.1 servings/day; >50% preferred the Internet for delivery of healthy eating information. Participants reported time/financial burdens, low household FV variety and desirability of frozen/canned FV, and acceptance of positive messages. A Food Hero (FH) campaign was created/delivered daily August–October 2009 to mothers through multiple channels (e.g., grocery stores, online, educators). Results showed that the IC had better FH name recall (12%) and interpretation of intended messages (60%) vs. control (3%, 23%, respectively). Compared to controls, the IC were less likely to report healthy food preparation as time consuming or a FV rich diet expensive, and it was easier to get their family to eat fruit. Results did not vary based on county/household characteristics. The FH campaign increased FH awareness and positive FV beliefs. A longer campaign with FV assessments will increase understanding of the target audience, and allow for campaign refinement. PMID:27649233

Identification of Fusarium virguliforme FvTox1-Interacting Synthetic Peptides for Enhancing Foliar Sudden Death Syndrome Resistance in Soybean

PubMed Central

Wang, Bing; Swaminathan, Sivakumar; Bhattacharyya, Madan K.

2015-01-01

Soybean is one of the most important crops grown across the globe. In the United States, approximately 15% of the soybean yield is suppressed due to various pathogen and pests attack. Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is an emerging fungal disease caused by Fusarium virguliforme. Although growing SDS resistant soybean cultivars has been the main method of controlling this disease, SDS resistance is partial and controlled by a large number of quantitative trait loci (QTL). A proteinacious toxin, FvTox1, produced by the pathogen, causes foliar SDS. Earlier, we demonstrated that expression of an anti-FvTox1 single chain variable fragment antibody resulted in reduced foliar SDS development in transgenic soybean plants. Here, we investigated if synthetic FvTox1-interacting peptides, displayed on M13 phage particles, can be identified for enhancing foliar SDS resistance in soybean. We screened three phage-display peptide libraries and discovered four classes of M13 phage clones displaying FvTox1-interacting peptides. In vitro pull-down assays and in vivo interaction assays in yeast were conducted to confirm the interaction of FvTox1 with these four synthetic peptides and their fusion-combinations. One of these peptides was able to partially neutralize the toxic effect of FvTox1 in vitro. Possible application of the synthetic peptides in engineering SDS resistance soybean cultivars is discussed. PMID:26709700

Successful construction and stable expression of an anti-CD45RA scFv-EGFP fusion protein in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

PubMed

Wang, Zhujun; Chen, Yuanyuan; Li, Sisi; Cheng, Yuping; Zhao, Haizhao; Jia, Ming; Luo, Zebin; Tang, Yongmin

2014-02-01

CD45RA has been found highly expressed on leukemia cells and may be a potential target of the disease. In this study, an anti-CD45RA single-chain antibody fragment (scFv3A4) was genetically linked to the N terminus of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to generate a scFv3A4-EGFP fusion protein. The scFv3A4-EGFP with a molecular weight of 57kDa was stably expressed and secreted from the transfected CHO cells through the ER/Golgi-dependent pathway. The fusion protein was soluble in the culture supernatant and the yield was 1350μg/L. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the scFv3A4-EGFP had the same binding site and a very similar reactivity pattern with its parental murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3A4. Furthermore, comparing to conventional labeled 3A4-FITC antibody, the scFv3A4-EGFP was more resistant to illumination and more suitable for immunofluorescence histology (IFH) detection. Therefore, the scFv3A4-EGFP fusion protein can be a powerful tool to investigate the targeting of CD45RA on leukemia cells, biological activity of the target and possibly for the genetic manipulation of the antibody. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reaching Low-Income Mothers to Improve Family Fruit and Vegetable Intake: Food Hero Social Marketing Campaign-Research Steps, Development and Testing.

PubMed

Tobey, Lauren N; Koenig, Harold F; Brown, Nicole A; Manore, Melinda M

2016-09-13

The objective of this study was to create/test a social marketing campaign to increase fruit/vegetable (FV) intake within Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible families. Focus groups (n = 2) and pre/post campaign phone surveys (n = 2082) were conducted in intervention counties (IC) and one control county. Participants were female (86%-100%) with 1-2 children at home. Mean FV intake/without juice was 3.1 servings/day; >50% preferred the Internet for delivery of healthy eating information. Participants reported time/financial burdens, low household FV variety and desirability of frozen/canned FV, and acceptance of positive messages. A Food Hero (FH) campaign was created/delivered daily August-October 2009 to mothers through multiple channels (e.g., grocery stores, online, educators). Results showed that the IC had better FH name recall (12%) and interpretation of intended messages (60%) vs. control (3%, 23%, respectively). Compared to controls, the IC were less likely to report healthy food preparation as time consuming or a FV rich diet expensive, and it was easier to get their family to eat fruit. Results did not vary based on county/household characteristics. The FH campaign increased FH awareness and positive FV beliefs. A longer campaign with FV assessments will increase understanding of the target audience, and allow for campaign refinement.

Two-particle multichannel systems in a finite volume with arbitrary spin

DOE PAGES

Briceno, Raul A.

2014-04-08

The quantization condition for two-particle systems with arbitrary number of two-body open coupled channels, spin and masses in a finite cubic volume with either periodic or twisted boundary conditions is presented. The condition presented is in agreement with all previous studies of two-body systems in a finite volume. The result is relativistic, holds for all momenta below the three- and four-particle thresholds, and is exact up to exponential volume corrections that are governed by L/r, where L is the spatial extent of the volume and r is the range of the interactions between the particles. With hadronic systems the rangemore » of the interaction is set by the inverse of the pion mass, m π, and as a result the formalism presented is suitable for m πL>>1. Implications of the formalism for the studies of multichannel baryon-baryon systems are discussed.« less

Relativistic, model-independent, multichannel 2 → 2 transition amplitudes in a finite volume

DOE PAGES

Briceno, Raul A.; Hansen, Maxwell T.

2016-07-13

We derive formalism for determining 2 + J → 2 infinite-volume transition amplitudes from finite-volume matrix elements. Specifically, we present a relativistic, model-independent relation between finite-volume matrix elements of external currents and the physically observable infinite-volume matrix elements involving two-particle asymptotic states. The result presented holds for states composed of two scalar bosons. These can be identical or non-identical and, in the latter case, can be either degenerate or non-degenerate. We further accommodate any number of strongly-coupled two-scalar channels. This formalism will, for example, allow future lattice QCD calculations of themore » $$\\rho$$-meson form factor, in which the unstable nature of the $$\\rho$$ is rigorously accommodated. In conclusion, we also discuss how this work will impact future extractions of nuclear parity and hadronic long-range matrix elements from lattice QCD.« less

Modeling dam-break flows using finite volume method on unstructured grid

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Two-dimensional shallow water models based on unstructured finite volume method and approximate Riemann solvers for computing the intercell fluxes have drawn growing attention because of their robustness, high adaptivity to complicated geometry and ability to simulate flows with mixed regimes and di...

Improved Design of Tunnel Supports : Volume 3 : Finite Element Analysis of the Peachtree Center Station in Atlanta

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-06-01

Volume 3 contains the application of the three-dimensional (3-D) finite element program, Automatic Dynamic Incremental Nonlinear Analysis (ADINA), which was designed to replace the traditional 2-D plane strain analysis, to a specific location. The lo...

Multidimensional directional flux weighted upwind scheme for multiphase flow modeling in heterogeneous porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, G.

2012-12-01

Multiphase flow modeling is an important numerical tool for a better understanding of transport processes in the fields including, but not limited to, petroleum reservoir engineering, remedy of ground water contamination, and risk evaluation of greenhouse gases such as CO2 injected into deep saline reservoirs. However, accurate numerical modeling for multiphase flow remains many challenges that arise from the inherent tight coupling and strong non-linear nature of the governing equations and the highly heterogeneous media. The existence of counter current flow which is caused by the effect of adverse relative mobility contrast and gravitational and capillary forces will introduce additional numerical instability. Recently multipoint flux approximation (MPFA) has become a subject of extensive research and has been demonstrated with great success in reducing considerable grid orientation effects compared to the conventional single point upstream (SPU) weighting scheme, especially in higher dimensions. However, the present available MPFA schemes are mathematically targeted to certain types of grids in two dimensions, a more general form of MPFA scheme is needed for both 2-D and 3-D problems. In this work a new upstream weighting scheme based on multipoint directional incoming fluxes is proposed which incorporates full permeability tensor to account for the heterogeneity of the porous media. First, the multiphase governing equations are decoupled into an elliptic pressure equation and a hyperbolic or parabolic saturation depends on whether the gravitational and capillary pressures are presented or not. Next, a dual secondary grid (called finite volume grid) is formulated from a primary grid (called finite element grid) to create interaction regions for each grid cell over the entire simulation domain. Such a discretization must ensure the conservation of mass and maintain the continuity of the Darcy velocity across the boundaries between neighboring interaction regions. The pressure field is then implicitly calculated from the pressure equation, which in turn results in the derived velocity field for directional flux calculation at each grid node. Directional flux at the center of each interaction surface is also calculated by interpolation from the element nodal fluxes using shape functions. The MPFA scheme is performed by a specific linear combination of all incoming fluxes into the upstream cell represented by either nodal fluxes or interpolated surface boundary fluxes to produce an upwind directional fluxed weighted relative mobility at the center of the interaction region boundary. Such an upwind weighted relative mobility is then used for calculating the saturations of each fluid phase explicitly. The proposed upwind weighting scheme has been implemented into a mixed finite element-finite volume (FE-FV) method, which allows for handling complex reservoir geometry with second-order accuracies in approximating primary variables. The numerical solver has been tested with several bench mark test problems. The application of the proposed scheme to migration path analysis of CO2 injected into deep saline reservoirs in 3-D has demonstrated its ability and robustness in handling multiphase flow with adverse mobility contrast in highly heterogeneous porous media.

Administrative and School Nutrition Perspectives of Salad Bar Operations in Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andersen, Lori; Myers, Leann; O'Malley, Keelia; Rose, Donald; Johnson, Carolyn C.

2016-01-01

Purposes/Objectives: Fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption may aid in childhood obesity prevention. F/V consumption in youth is low. School-based salad bars (SBs) may improve F/V access in youth. The purpose of this study was to explore administrative and school nutrition personnel perspectives related to adoption and continued implementation of…

Cross-Country comparison of professionals' perceptions of the effectiveness of parenting practices to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool children

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Obesity prevention often includes promotion of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Parents may be an important influence on FV intake for preschool children. Which parenting practices (PP) are effective in getting children to eat FV throughout childhood is unclear. A national variations in professional...

Compositeness of hadron resonances in finite volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuchida, Yujiro; Hyodo, Tetsuo

2018-05-01

We develop a theoretical framework to quantify the structure of unstable hadron resonances. With the help of the corresponding system in a finite volume, we define the compositeness of resonance states which can be interpreted as a probability. This framework is used to study the structure of the scalar mesons f0(980 ) and a0(980 ) . In both mesons, the K ¯K component dominates about a half of the wave function. The method is also applied to the Λ (1405 ) resonance. We argue that a single energy level in finite volume represents the two eigenstates in infinite volume. The K ¯N component of Λ (1405 ) , including contributions from both eigenstates, is found to be 58%, and the rest is composed of the π Σ and other channels.

Multi-scale Methods in Quantum Field Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyzou, W. N.; Michlin, Tracie; Bulut, Fatih

2018-05-01

Daubechies wavelets are used to make an exact multi-scale decomposition of quantum fields. For reactions that involve a finite energy that take place in a finite volume, the number of relevant quantum mechanical degrees of freedom is finite. The wavelet decomposition has natural resolution and volume truncations that can be used to isolate the relevant degrees of freedom. The application of flow equation methods to construct effective theories that decouple coarse and fine scale degrees of freedom is examined.

SU(2) lattice gluon propagator: Continuum limit, finite-volume effects, and infrared mass scale m{sub IR}

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

Bornyakov, V. G.; Mitrjushkin, V. K.; Mueller-Preussker, M.

2010-03-01

We study the scaling behavior and finite (physical) volume effects as well as the Gribov copy dependence of the SU(2) Landau gauge gluon propagator on the lattice. Our physical lattice sizes range from (3.0 fm){sup 4} to (7.3 fm){sup 4}. Considering lattices with decreasing lattice spacing but fixed physical volume we confirm (nonperturbative) multiplicative renormalizability and the approach to the continuum limit for the renormalized gluon propagator D{sub ren}(p) at momenta |p| > or approx. 0.6 GeV. The finite-volume effects and Gribov copy influence turn out small in this region. On the contrary, in the deeper infrared we found themore » Gribov copy influence strong and finite-volume effects, which still require special attention. The gluon propagator does not seem to be consistent with a simple polelike behavior {approx}(p{sup 2}+m{sub g}{sup 2}){sup -1} for momenta |p| < or approx. 0.6 GeV. Instead, a Gaussian-type fit works very well in this region. From its width - for a physical volume (5.0 fm){sup 4} - we estimate a corresponding infrared (mass) scale to be m{sub IR{approx}}0.7 GeV.« less

Force-velocity properties' contribution to bilateral deficit during ballistic push-off.

PubMed

Samozino, Pierre; Rejc, Enrico; di Prampero, Pietro Enrico; Belli, Alain; Morin, Jean-Benoît

2014-01-01

The objective of this study is to quantify the contribution of the force-velocity (F-v) properties to bilateral force deficit (BLD) in ballistic lower limb push-off and to relate it to individual F-v mechanical properties of the lower limbs. The F-v relation was individually assessed from mechanical measurements for 14 subjects during maximal ballistic lower limb push-offs; its contribution to BLD was then investigated using a theoretical macroscopic approach, considering both the mechanical constraints of movement dynamics and the maximal external capabilities of the lower limb neuromuscular system. During ballistic lower limb push-off, the maximum force each lower limb can produce was lower during bilateral than unilateral actions, thus leading to a BLD of 36.7% ± 5.7%. The decrease in force due to the F-v mechanical properties amounted to 19.9% ± 3.6% of the force developed during BL push-offs, which represents a nonneural contribution to BLD of 43.5% ± 9.1%. This contribution to BLD that cannot be attributed to changes in neural features was negatively correlated to the maximum unloaded extension velocity of the lower limb (r = -0.977, P < 0.001). During ballistic lower limb push-off, BLD is due to both neural alterations and F-v mechanical properties, the latter being associated with the change in movement velocity between bilateral and unilateral actions. The level of the contribution of the F-v properties depends on the individual F-v mechanical profile of the entire lower limb neuromuscular system: the more the F-v profile is oriented toward velocity capabilities, the lower the loss of force from unilateral to bilateral push-offs due to changes in movement velocity.

Synthesis and circularization of N- and B-tropic retroviral DNA in Fv-1 permissive and restrictive mouse cells

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

Yang, W.K.; Kiggans, J.O.; Yang, D.M.

1980-05-01

Production of various forms of nonintegrated viral DNA was measured in cultured mouse cells carrying different Fv-1 alleles early after infection with N-tropic or B-tropic retroviruses. Quantitative analyses were performed by agarose gel electrophoresis, transfer to diazobenzyloxymethyl-paper, and molecular hybridization. In permissive infection of Fv-1/sup n/ cells (NIH Swiss and DBA mouse strains) with N-tropic virus and of Fv-1/sup b/ cells (BALB/c and C57BL/6 strains) with B-tropic virus, form III (double-stranded linear) DNA first appeared at 3 to 4 hr and reached a maximum at 8 to 10 hr; two form I (closed circle) DNAs appeared at 7 to 8more » hr and reached a maximum at or beyond 12 hr. In the two Fv-1/sup b/ cells infected with N-tropic virus and in DBA (Fv-1/sup n/) cells infected with B-tropic virus, formation of the two form I DNAs was quantitatively restricted but formation of form III DNA was unaltered. In Fv-1/sup n/ NIH Swiss mouse embryo cells infected with B-tropic virus, the level of form III DNA was markedly depressed and hence the two form I DNAs were not detectable. In C57BL/6 cells as well as in DBA/2 cells 12 hr after infection, the quantity of form III DNA varied directly with the amount of restricted virus, whereas the quantity of form I DNA varied according to the square of the amount of restricted virus. The significance of these results for understanding the molecular basis of retrovirus replication and its restriction by the Fv-1 gene is discussed.« less

Interrelationship between food security status, home availability of variety of fruits and vegetables and their dietary intake among low-income pregnant women.

PubMed

Nunnery, Danielle L; Labban, Jeffrey D; Dharod, Jigna M

2018-03-01

To (i) determine differences in the availability of variety of fruits and vegetables (F&V) at home by food security status; and (ii) examine the inter-associations between food security status, availability of variety of F&V at home and frequency of F&V intake, among low-income pregnant women. Design/Setting Participants were interviewed to collect food security status, home availability of variety of F&V and frequency of F&V intake. Bivariate analyses, multivariate regression and exploratory mediation analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0 and the PROCESS macro. Low-income pregnant women (n 198) were interviewed if they were ≥18 years of age, in the second trimester of pregnancy, and spoke English or Spanish. Low/very low food security was found among 43 % of participants. Compared with fully food-secure participants, very low food-secure participants reported a lower variety of fruits (P=0·028) and vegetables (P=0·058) available at home. Mediation analyses indicated that through home availability of variety of fresh F&V, food security status was associated with the daily intake of F&V (indirect effect (95 % CI): fresh fruits, -0·039 (-0·074, -0·013); fresh vegetables, -0·048 (-0·083, -0·023)). As food security worsened, the available variety of fresh F&V decreased, which was associated with lower intake. The study highlights the interlink between food security, home food environment and diet quality, and the importance of nutrition education intervention to promote a healthy home food environment and improved pregnancy outcomes among low-income women.

The WRKY transcription factors in the diploid woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca: Identification and expression analysis under biotic and abiotic stresses.

PubMed

Wei, Wei; Hu, Yang; Han, Yong-Tao; Zhang, Kai; Zhao, Feng-Li; Feng, Jia-Yue

2016-08-01

WRKY proteins comprise a large family of transcription factors that play important roles in response to biotic and abiotic stresses and in plant growth and development. To date, little is known about the WRKY gene family in strawberry. In this study, we identified 62 WRKY genes (FvWRKYs) in the wild diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca, 2n = 2x = 14) accession Heilongjiang-3. According to the phylogenetic analysis and structural features, these identified strawberry FvWRKY genes were classified into three main groups. In addition, eight FvWRKY-GFP fusion proteins showed distinct subcellular localizations in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts. Furthermore, we examined the expression of the 62 FvWRKY genes in 'Heilongjiang-3' under various conditions, including biotic stress (Podosphaera aphanis), abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold, and heat), and hormone treatments (abscisic acid, ethephon, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid). The expression levels of 33 FvWRKY genes were upregulated, while 12 FvWRKY genes were downregulated during powdery mildew infection. FvWRKY genes responded to drought and salt treatment to a greater extent than to temperature stress. Expression profiles derived from quantitative real-time PCR suggested that 11 FvWRKY genes responded dramatically to various stimuli at the transcriptional level, indicating versatile roles in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Interaction networks revealed that the crucial pathways controlled by WRKY proteins may be involved in the differential response to biotic stress. Taken together, the present work may provide the basis for future studies of the genetic modification of WRKY genes for pathogen resistance and stress tolerance in strawberry. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

High efficient expression of a functional humanized single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against CD22 in Pichia pastoris.

PubMed

Zarei, Najmeh; Vaziri, Behrouz; Shokrgozar, Mohammad Ali; Mahdian, Reza; Fazel, Ramin; Khalaj, Vahid

2014-12-01

Single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) have recently emerged as attractive candidates in targeted immunotherapy of various malignancies. The anti-CD22 scFv is able to target CD22, on B cell surface and is being considered as a promising molecule in targeted immunotherapy of B cell malignancies. The recombinant anti-CD22 scFv has been successfully expressed in Escherichia coli; however, the insufficient production yield has been a major bottleneck for its therapeutic application. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has become a highly popular expression host for the production of a wide variety of recombinant proteins such as antibody fragments. In this study, we used the Pichia expression system to express a humanized scFv antibody against CD22. The full-length humanized scFv gene was codon optimized, cloned into the pPICZαA and expressed in GS115 strain. The maximum production level of the scFv (25 mg/L) were achieved at methanol concentration, 1 %; pH 6.0; inoculum density, OD600 = 3 and the induction time of 72 h. The correlation between scFv gene dosage and expression level was also investigated by real-time PCR, and the results confirmed the presence of such correlation up to five gene copies. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies and Biacore analysis demonstrated binding to CD22 on the surface of human lymphoid cell line Raji and recombinant soluble CD22, respectively. Taken together, the presented data suggest that the Pichia pastoris can be considered as an efficient host for the large-scale production of anti-CD22 scFv as a promising carrier for targeted drug delivery in treatment of CD22(+) B cell malignancies.

Evaluation of the impact of school gardening interventions on children's knowledge of and attitudes towards fruit and vegetables. A cluster randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Hutchinson, Jayne; Christian, Meaghan Sarah; Evans, Charlotte Elizabeth Louise; Nykjaer, Camilla; Hancock, Neil; Cade, Janet Elizabeth

2015-08-01

Involvement of children in gardening has the potential to increase liking of fruit and vegetables (FV) and consequently, intake, but research results are mixed. School gardening led by external specialists such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) could have more impact than teacher-led gardening on children's knowledge of, and attitudes towards, FV. Data from a cluster randomised controlled trial were used to compare a RHS-led school gardening intervention with a teacher-led gardening intervention amongst 7-10 year olds in 21 London schools. A short questionnaire was developed and used to identify children's knowledge and attitudes towards FV consumption before the garden intervention and 18 months afterwards. Results from multilevel regression models, both unadjusted and adjusted for baseline responses and socio-demographic factors, were reported. Attitudes to FV intake were compared between groups. Change in FV knowledge was used to predict change in FV consumption assessed using 24-hour food diaries. In comparison with the RHS-led group (n = 373), teacher-led children (n = 404) were more likely to agree they ate lots of fruit (p < 0.009) and tried new fruits (p = 0.045), but RHS-led gardening was associated with a greater increase in the total number of vegetables recognised (p = 0.031). No other differences in improvements in attitudes, or associations between change in FV recognition and intake were found. In relation to improvements in children's recognition and attitudes towards eating FV, this trial produced limited evidence that gardening activity packages led by external specialists (RHS-led) provide additional benefits over those led by teachers trained by the RHS. Indeed, the latter were potentially more effective. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A multi-level intervention in worksites to increase fruit and vegetable access and intake: Rationale, design and methods of the 'Good to Go' cluster randomized trial.

PubMed

Risica, Patricia M; Gorham, Gemma; Dionne, Laura; Nardi, William; Ng, Doug; Middler, Reese; Mello, Jennifer; Akpolat, Rahmet; Gettens, Katelyn; Gans, Kim M

2018-02-01

Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is an important contributor to chronic disease prevention. However, most Americans do not eat adequate amounts. The worksite is an advantageous setting to reach large, diverse segments of the population with interventions to increase F&V intake, but research gaps exist. No studies have evaluated the implementation of mobile F&V markets at worksites nor compared the effectiveness of such markets with or without nutrition education. This paper describes the protocol for Good to Go (GTG), a cluster randomized trial to evaluate F&V intake change in employees from worksites randomized into three experimental arms: discount, fresh F&V markets (Access Only arm); markets plus educational components including campaigns, cooking demonstrations, videos, newsletters, and a web site (Access Plus arm); and an attention placebo comparison intervention on physical activity and stress reduction (Comparison). Secondary aims include: 1) Process evaluation to determine costs, reach, fidelity, and dose as well as the relationship of these variables with changes in F&V intake; 2) Applying a mediating variable framework to examine relationships of psychosocial factors/determinants with changes in F&V consumption; and 3) Cost effectiveness analysis of the different intervention arms. The GTG study will fill important research gaps in the field by implementing a rigorous cluster randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative environmental intervention providing access and availability to F&V at the worksite and whether this access intervention is further enhanced by accompanying educational interventions. GTG will provide an important contribution to public health research and practice. Trial registration number NCT02729675, ClinicalTrials.gov. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells to express a single-chain antibody against EGFRvIII on the cell surface.

PubMed

Balyasnikova, Irina V; Franco-Gou, Rosa; Mathis, J Michael; Lesniak, Maciej S

2010-06-01

Human adult mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are under active investigation as cellular carriers for gene therapy. hMSCs possess natural tropism toward tumours; however, the targeting of hMSCs to specific cell populations within tumours is unexplored. In the case of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), at least half of the tumours express EGFRvIII on the cell surface, an ideal target for antibody-mediated gene/drug delivery. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of genetically modifying hMSCs to express a single-chain antibody (scFv) to EGFRvIII on their surfaces. Nucleofection was used to transfect hMSCs with cDNA encoding scFv EGFRvIII fused with PDGFR or human B7-1 transmembrane domains. The expression of scFv EGFRvIII on the cell surface was assessed by FACS. A stable population of scFv EGFRvIII-expressing hMSCs was selected, based on antibiotic resistance, and enriched using FACS. We found that nucleofection allows the efficient expression of scFv EGFRvIII on the cell surface of hMSCs. hMSCs transfected with the construct encoding scFv EGFRvIII as a fusion with PDGFRtm showed scFv EGFRvIII expression in up to 86% of cells. Most importantly, human MSCs expressing scFv against EGFRvIII demonstrated enhanced binding to U87-EGFRvIII cells in vitro and significantly increased retention in human U87-EGFRvIII-expressing tumours in vivo. In summary, we provide the first conclusive evidence of genetic modification of hMSCs with a single-chain antibody against an antigen expressed on the surface of tumour cells, thereby opening up a new venue for enhanced delivery of gene therapy applications in the context of malignant brain cancer. Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Play with your food! Sensory play is associated with tasting of fruits and vegetables in preschool children.

PubMed

Coulthard, Helen; Sealy, Annemarie

2017-06-01

The objective of the current study was to ascertain whether taking part in a sensory play activity with real fruits and vegetables (FV) can encourage tasting in preschool children, compared to a non-food activity or visual exposure to the activity. Three to four year old pre-school children (N = 62) were recruited from three preschool nursery classes from a school in Northamptonshire, UK. A between participants experimental study was conducted with each class assigned to one of three conditions; sensory FV play, sensory non-food play and visual FV exposure. Parental report of several baseline variables were taken; child baseline liking of the foods used in the study, parental and child FV consumption (portions/day), child neophobia and child tactile sensitivity. Outcome measures were the number of fruits and vegetables tasted in a post experiment taste test which featured (n = 5) or did not feature (n = 3) in the task. Analyses of covariance controlling for food neophobia and baseline liking of foods, showed that after the activity children in the sensory FV play condition tried more FV than both children in the non-food sensory play task (p < 0.001) and children in the visual FV exposure task (p < 0.001). This was true not only for five foods used in the activity (p < 0.001), but also three foods that were not used in the activity (p < 0.05). Sensory play activities using fruits and vegetables may encourage FV tasting in preschool children more than non food play or visual exposure alone. Long term intervention studies need to be carried out to see if these effects can be sustained over time. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A multi-level intervention in worksites to increase fruit and vegetable access and intake: Rationale, design and methods of the ‘Good to Go’ cluster randomized trial

PubMed Central

Risica, Patricia M.; Gorham, Gemma; Dionne, Laura; Nardi, William; Ng, Doug; Middler, Reese; Mello, Jennifer; Akpolat, Rahmet; Gettens, Katelyn; Gans, Kim M.

2018-01-01

Background Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is an important contributor to chronic disease prevention. However, most Americans do not eat adequate amounts. The worksite is an advantageous setting to reach large, diverse segments of the population with interventions to increase F&V intake, but research gaps exist. No studies have evaluated the implementation of mobile F&V markets at worksites nor compared the effectiveness of such markets with or without nutrition education. Methods This paper describes the protocol for Good to Go (GTG), a cluster randomized trial to evaluate F&V intake change in employees from worksites randomized into three experimental arms: discount, fresh F&V markets (Access Only arm); markets plus educational components including campaigns, cooking demonstrations, videos, newsletters, and a web site (Access Plus arm); and an attention placebo comparison intervention on physical activity and stress reduction (Comparison). Secondary aims include: 1) Process evaluation to determine costs, reach, fidelity, and dose as well as the relationship of these variables with changes in F&V intake; 2) Applying a mediating variable framework to examine relationships of psychosocial factors/determinants with changes in F&V consumption; and 3) Cost effectiveness analysis of the different intervention arms. Discussion The GTG study will fill important research gaps in the field by implementing a rigorous cluster randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative environmental intervention providing access and availability to F&V at the worksite and whether this access intervention is further enhanced by accompanying educational interventions. GTG will provide an important contribution to public health research and practice. Trial registration number NCT02729675, ClinicalTrials.gov PMID:29242108

An efficient strategy for cell-based antibody library selection using an integrated vector system.

PubMed

Yoon, Hyerim; Song, Jin Myung; Ryu, Chun Jeih; Kim, Yeon-Gu; Lee, Eun Kyo; Kang, Sunghyun; Kim, Sang Jick

2012-09-18

Cell panning of phage-displayed antibody library is a powerful tool for the development of therapeutic and imaging agents since disease-related cell surface proteins in native complex conformation can be directly targeted. Here, we employed a strategy taking advantage of an integrated vector system which allows rapid conversion of scFv-displaying phage into scFv-Fc format for efficient cell-based scFv library selection on a tetraspanin protein, CD9. A mouse scFv library constructed by using a phagemid vector, pDR-D1 was subjected to cell panning against stable CD9 transfectant, and the scFv repertoire from the enriched phage pool was directly transferred to a mammalian cassette vector, pDR-OriP-Fc1. The resulting constructs enabled transient expression of enough amounts of scFv-Fcs in HEK293E cells, and flow cytometric screening of binders for CD9 transfectant could be performed simply by using the culture supernatants. All three clones selected from the screening showed correct CD9-specificity. They could immunoprecipitate CD9 molecules out of the transfectant cell lysate and correctly stain endogenous CD9 expression on cancer cell membrane. Furthermore, competition assay with a known anti-CD9 monoclonal antibody (mAb) suggested that the binding epitopes of some of them overlap with that of the mAb which resides within the large extracellular loop of CD9. This study demonstrates that scFv-Fc from mammalian transient expression can be chosen as a reliable format for rapid screening and validation in cell-based scFv library selection, and the strategy described here will be applicable to efficient discovery of antibodies to diverse cell-surface targets.

The influence of family violence and child marriage on unmet need for family planning in Jordan.

PubMed

Clark, Cari Jo; Spencer, Rachael A; Khalaf, Inaam A; Gilbert, Louisa; El-Bassel, Nabila; Silverman, Jay G; Raj, Anita

2017-04-01

Risk for unmet need for contraception is associated with men's perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and may be influenced by violence perpetrated by other family members (family violence, FV). Women who married as minors may be most vulnerable to the potential compounding effect of IPV and FV on unmet need. Using nationally representative data from the 2012 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey we examined unmet need by exposure to IPV and FV by women's age at marriage (<18, 18+ years). Logistic regression was used to test whether IPV and FV were independently associated with unmet need, by age at marriage. Interaction terms (IPV×FV) were tested in both models. Stratification by FV was employed to clarify the interpretation of significant interactions. IPV increased the odds of unmet need by 87% [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.87; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.13-3.10] and 76% (AOR 1.76; 95% CI 1.30-2.38) among women who married prior to and after the age of 18 years, respectively. Women married as minors who experienced IPV and FV had a four-fold higher likelihood of having an unmet need (AOR 6.75; 95% CI 1.95-23.29) compared to those experiencing only IPV (AOR 1.49; 95% CI 0.84-2.38). No interaction between IPV and FV was detected for women married at or above majority. Laws that prohibit child marriage should be strengthened and health sector screening for violence experience could help identify women at risk of unmet need and improve women's reproductive agency. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Fruit and vegetable availability and selection: federal food package revisions, 2009.

PubMed

Zenk, Shannon N; Odoms-Young, Angela; Powell, Lisa M; Campbell, Richard T; Block, Daniel; Chavez, Noel; Krauss, Ramona C; Strode, Steven; Armbruster, James

2012-10-01

With nearly 49,000 authorized retailers nationwide, a policy change that added fruits and vegetables (FV) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages in 2009 had the potential to expand neighborhood FV availability. This study examined changes in availability and selection of commonly consumed and culturally specific FV at authorized retailers (WIC vendors) before and after implementation of the revised WIC food packages. Quasi-experimental, one-group design with two pre-policy observations and one post-policy observation. Trained observers assessed a list of fresh, frozen, and canned FV at each vendor in seven northern Illinois counties. Eight indices of FV availability and selection were derived. Multiple regression estimated relationships. Data were collected in 2008-2010 and analyzed in 2011. Overall, availability and selection of commonly consumed fresh FV and availability of African-American culturally specific fresh FV improved after implementation of the new policy. Modest improvements in the overall availability of canned low-sodium vegetables and frozen FV were observed. Changes differed by vendor type (large vendor, small vendor, and pharmacy). Changes in availability or selection did not differ by neighborhood characteristics (population density, median household income, racial/ethnic composition). Expansion of WIC foods was associated with small positive externalities on the food environment. Larger subsidies to create more demand and more-substantial stocking requirements for retailers may yield significantly larger improvements and thus warrant further investigation. Approaches targeting rural, low-income, and racial/ethnic minority neighborhoods also may be needed. Copyright © 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Wheat cultivars selected for high Fv /Fm under heat stress maintain high photosynthesis, total chlorophyll, stomatal conductance, transpiration and dry matter.

PubMed

Sharma, Dew Kumari; Andersen, Sven Bode; Ottosen, Carl-Otto; Rosenqvist, Eva

2015-02-01

The chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv /Fm reflects the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and has been widely used for early stress detection in plants. Previously, we have used a three-tiered approach of phenotyping by Fv /Fm to identify naturally existing genetic variation for tolerance to severe heat stress (3 days at 40°C in controlled conditions) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Here we investigated the performance of the previously selected cultivars (high and low group based on Fv /Fm value) in terms of growth and photosynthetic traits under moderate heat stress (1 week at 36/30°C day/night temperature in greenhouse) closer to natural heat waves in North-Western Europe. Dry matter accumulation after 7 days of heat stress was positively correlated to Fv /Fm . The high Fv /Fm group maintained significantly higher total chlorophyll and net photosynthetic rate (PN ) than the low group, accompanied by higher stomatal conductance (gs ), transpiration rate (E) and evaporative cooling of the leaf (ΔT). The difference in PN between the groups was not caused by differences in PSII capacity or gs as the variation in Fv /Fm and intracellular CO2 (Ci ) was non-significant under the given heat stress. This study validated that our three-tiered approach of phenotyping by Fv /Fm performed under increasing severity of heat was successful in identifying wheat cultivars differing in photosynthesis under moderate and agronomically more relevant heat stress. The identified cultivars may serve as a valuable resource for further studies to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying the genetic variability in heat sensitivity of photosynthesis. © 2014 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.

Radioiodination and biodistribution of the monoclonal antibody TU-20 and its scFv fragment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubaštová, H.; Kleinova, V.; Seifert, D.; Fišer, M.; Kranda, K.

2006-01-01

The ability of the monoclonal antibody TU-20 and its scFv fragment to specifically bind to the C-end of the class III beta-tubulin makes these preparations useful as potential diagnostics for in vivo determination of neurodegenerative diseases that entail degradation of neuronal cytoskeleton. To examine this hypothesis, TU-20 and its scFv were labelled with 125I and their properties were extensively investigated. TU-20 and its scFv were labelled via chloramine-T with the yield 90 95% and 64 78%, respectively. Their quality control, performed by an ELISA and gel electrophoresis, determined adequate properties for further studies. The in vitro experiment, involving autoradiography and immunohistochemistry of mice’ brain slices, enabled confirmation of preserved immunospecificity of the radiolabelled substances. Finally, the in vivo biodistribution proved differences in elimination of either TU-20, scFv TU-20, or iodide from the mice.

Methods of preparing and using single chain anti-tumor antibodies

DOEpatents

Cheung, Nai-Kong; Guo, Hong-Fen

2010-02-23

This invention provides a method for identifying cells expressing a target single chain antibody (scFv) directed against a target antigen from a collection of cells that includes cells that do not express the target scFv, comprising the step of combining the collection of cells with an anti-idiotype directed to an antibody specific for the target antigen and detecting interaction, if any, of the anti-idiotype with the cells, wherein the occurrence of an interaction identifies the cell as one which expresses the target scFv. This invention also provides a method for making a single chain antibody (scFv) directed against an antigen, wherein the selection of clones is made based upon interaction of those clones with an appropriate anti-idiotype, and heretofore inaccessible scFv so made. This invention provides the above methods or any combination thereof. Finally, this invention provides various uses of these methods.

Method for preparation of single chain antibodies

DOEpatents

Cheung, Nai-Kong V [New York, NY; Guo, Hong-fen [New York, NY

2012-04-03

This invention provides a method for identifying cells expressing a target single chain antibody (scFv) directed against a target antigen from a collection of cells that includes cells that do not express the target scFv, comprising the step of combining the collection of cells with an anti-idiotype directed to an antibody specific for the target antigen and detecting interaction, if any, of the anti-idiotype with the cells, wherein the occurrence of an interaction identifies the cell as one which expresses the target scFv. This invention also provides a method for making a single chain antibody (scFv) directed against an antigen, wherein the selection of clones is made based upon interaction of those clones with an appropriate anti-idiotype, and heretofore inaccessible scFv so made. This invention provides the above methods or any combination thereof. Finally, this invention provides various uses of these methods.

Role of vegetables and fruits in Mediterranean diets to prevent hypertension.

PubMed

Nuñez-Cordoba, J M; Alonso, A; Beunza, J J; Palma, S; Gomez-Gracia, E; Martinez-Gonzalez, M A

2009-05-01

Several studies support the effectiveness of increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) to prevent hypertension. However, none of them have been conducted in a Mediterranean setting. The aim of this study was to assess the association between F&V consumption and the risk of hypertension. A prospective Mediterranean study (the SUN cohort), including 8594 participants aged 20-95 years (mean, 41.1) with median follow-up of 49 months. Analyses according to the joint classification by olive oil and F&V consumption showed a significant inverse relation between F&V consumption and the risk of hypertension only among participants with a low olive oil consumption (<15 g per day). Also, tests for trend were significant only in the low olive oil intake stratum. We found a statistically significant interaction (P=0.01) between olive oil intake and F&V consumption. These data suggest a sub-additive effect of both food items.

Snohomish Estuary Wetlands Study Volume III. Classification and Mapping

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-07-01

Marine plant communities form the basis for some of the most complex i food webs known to man. Because of their complexity any destruction of these plant... NCV ) Ř fv;1 4 CV r% . coI * ".444 Ř m- 0mf n4 ~ ’ oC- . -4c C4 C CJL t o% P o I-""C4enc n S qw qt "* *n *nL P o% 0zwk oU a "C-4 2 C" Iv3gMNIV~ I.z -I

The Kπ Interaction in Finite Volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Dan; Cui, Er-Liang; Chen, Hua-Xing; Geng, Li-Sheng; Zhu, Li-Hua

We calculate energy levels of the Kπ scattering in the K∗ channel in finite volume using chiral unitary theory. We use these energy levels to obtain the Kπ phase shifts and the K∗ meson properties. We also investigate their dependence on the pion mass and compare this with Lattice QCD calculations.

When Fruits and Vegetables Are Optional, Elementary School Children Choose Processed over Whole Offerings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amin, Sarah A.; Yon, Bethany A.; Taylor, Jennifer C.; Johnson, Rachel K.

2014-01-01

Purpose/Objectives: Increasing children's fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption is an important goal for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). In 2012 the NSLP began requiring students to select a FV. The objective of this study was to compare children's FV choices in two school cafeteria environments a year before these new USDA regulations…

Rural versus urban Texas WIC participants' fruit and vegetable consumption.

PubMed

Ettienne-Gittens, Reynolette; McKyer, E Lisako J; Odum, Mary; Diep, Cassandra S; Li, Yan; Girimaji, Asha; Murano, Peter S

2013-01-01

To explore fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among urban and rural Black Texas WIC participants. The study included 673 WIC mothers and their 351 children from the TEXFAN study. T-tests, Pearson chi-squared test, and regressions were performed. Among children, differences were found for fruit consumption but not vegetable. Urban children were offered and consumed a greater variety of F&V. Mothers' F&V intake was related to age, pregnancy status, and breastfeeding status. This study provides insight into a subsection of the WIC population. Further research should be done regarding increasing the amount and variety of F&V consumed by WIC women and children.

Cloning, bacterial expression and crystallization of Fv antibody fragments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

E´, Jean-Luc; Boulot, Ginette; Chitarra, V´ronique; Riottot, Marie-Madeleine; Souchon, H´le`ne; Houdusse, Anne; Bentley, Graham A.; Narayana Bhat, T.; Spinelli, Silvia; Poljak, Roberto J.

1992-08-01

The variable Fv fragments of antibodies, cloned in recombinant plasmids, can be expressed in bacteria as functional proteins having immunochemical properties which are very similar or identical with those of the corresponding parts of the parent eukaryotic antibodies. They offer new possibilities for the study of antibody-antigen interactions since the crystals of Fv fragments and of their complexes with antigen reported here diffract X-rays to a higher resolution that those obtained with the cognate Fab fragments. The Fv approach should facilitate the structural study of the combining site of antibodies and the further characterization of antigen-antibody interactions by site-directed mutagenesis experiments.

Construction and Validation of SRA-FV Need Assessment.

PubMed

Thornton, David; Knight, Raymond A

2015-08-01

This article describes the construction and testing of a newly designed instrument to assess psychological factors associated with increased rates of sexual recidivism. The new instrument (Structured Risk Assessment-Forensic Version or SRA-FV) was based on previous research using the SRA framework. This article describes the results of testing SRA-FV with a large sample (N = 566) of sexual offenders being evaluated for an early civil commitment program. SRA-FV was found to significantly predict sexual recidivism for both child molesters and rapists and to have incremental predictive value relative to two widely used static actuarial instruments (Static-99R; Risk Matrix 2000/S). © The Author(s) 2013.

Good Practices for Learning to Recognize Actions Using FV and VLAD.

PubMed

Wu, Jianxin; Zhang, Yu; Lin, Weiyao

2016-12-01

High dimensional representations such as Fisher vectors (FV) and vectors of locally aggregated descriptors (VLAD) have shown state-of-the-art accuracy for action recognition in videos. The high dimensionality, on the other hand, also causes computational difficulties when scaling up to large-scale video data. This paper makes three lines of contributions to learning to recognize actions using high dimensional representations. First, we reviewed several existing techniques that improve upon FV or VLAD in image classification, and performed extensive empirical evaluations to assess their applicability for action recognition. Our analyses of these empirical results show that normality and bimodality are essential to achieve high accuracy. Second, we proposed a new pooling strategy for VLAD and three simple, efficient, and effective transformations for both FV and VLAD. Both proposed methods have shown higher accuracy than the original FV/VLAD method in extensive evaluations. Third, we proposed and evaluated new feature selection and compression methods for the FV and VLAD representations. This strategy uses only 4% of the storage of the original representation, but achieves comparable or even higher accuracy. Based on these contributions, we recommend a set of good practices for action recognition in videos for practitioners in this field.

T-cell immunotherapy for human MK-1-expressing tumors using a fusion protein of the superantigen SEA and anti-MK-1 scFv antibody.

PubMed

Ueno, Aruto; Arakawa, Fumiko; Abe, Hironori; Matsumoto, Hisanobu; Kudo, Toshio; Asano, Ryutaro; Tsumoto, Kohei; Kumagai, Izumi; Kuroki, Motomu; Kuroki, Masahide

2002-01-01

The bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is an extremely potent activator of T lymphocytes when presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. To develop a tumor-specific superantigen for cancer therapy, we constructed a recombinant fusion protein of SEA and the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of the FU-MK-1 antibody, which recognizes a glycoprotein antigen (termed MK-1 antigen) present on most carcinomas. We employed recombinant DNA techniques to fuse recombinant mutant SEA to an scFv antibody derived from FU-MK-1 and the resulting fusion protein (SEA/FUscFv) was produced by a bacterial expression system, purified with a metal-affinity column, and characterized for its MK-1-binding specificity and its antitumor activity. The SEA/FUscFv fusion protein retained the reactivity with MK-1-expressing tumor cells, introduced a specific cytotoxicity of lymphokine-activated killer T-cells to the tumor cells, and consequently suppressed the tumor growth in a SCID mouse xenograft model. This genetically engineered SEA/FUscFv fusion protein may serve as a potentially useful immunotherapeutic reagent for human MK-1-expressing tumors.

Factor Xa Activation of Factor V is of Paramount Importance in Initiating the Coagulation System: Lessons from a Tick Salivary Protein

PubMed Central

Schuijt, Tim J.; Bakhtiari, Kamran; Daffre, Sirlei; DePonte, Kathleen; Wielders, Simone J.H.; Marquart, J. Arnoud; Hovius, Joppe W.; van der Poll, Tom; Fikrig, Erol; Bunce, Matthew W.; Camire, Rodney M.; Nicolaes, Gerry A.F.; Meijers, Joost C.M.; van 't Veer, Cornelis

2013-01-01

Background Generation of active procoagulant cofactor FVa and its subsequent association with the enzyme FXa to form the prothrombinase complex is a pivotal initial event in blood coagulation and has been the subject of investigative effort, speculation and controversy. The current paradigm assumes that FV activation is initiated by limited proteolysis by traces of (meizo) thrombin. Methods and Results Recombinant tick salivary protein TIX-5 was produced and anticoagulant properties were studied using plasma, whole blood and purified systems. Here we report that TIX-5 specifically inhibits FXa-mediated FV activation involving the B-domain of FV and show that FXa activation of FV is pivotal for plasma and blood clotting. In line, tick feeding is impaired on TIX-5 immune rabbits displaying the in vivo importance of TIX-5. Conclusions Our data elucidate a unique molecular mechanism by which ticks inhibit the host's coagulation system. Based on our data we propose a revised blood coagulation scheme wherein direct FXa-mediated FV activation occurs in the initiation phase during which thrombin-mediated FV activation is restrained by fibrinogen and inhibitors. PMID:23817575

Structural Variation of Type I-F CRISPR RNA Guided DNA Surveillance.

PubMed

Pausch, Patrick; Müller-Esparza, Hanna; Gleditzsch, Daniel; Altegoer, Florian; Randau, Lennart; Bange, Gert

2017-08-17

CRISPR-Cas systems are prokaryotic immune systems against invading nucleic acids. Type I CRISPR-Cas systems employ highly diverse, multi-subunit surveillance Cascade complexes that facilitate duplex formation between crRNA and complementary target DNA for R-loop formation, retention, and DNA degradation by the subsequently recruited nuclease Cas3. Typically, the large subunit recognizes bona fide targets through the PAM (protospacer adjacent motif), and the small subunit guides the non-target DNA strand. Here, we present the Apo- and target-DNA-bound structures of the I-Fv (type I-F variant) Cascade lacking the small and large subunits. Large and small subunits are functionally replaced by the 5' terminal crRNA cap Cas5fv and the backbone protein Cas7fv, respectively. Cas5fv facilitates PAM recognition from the DNA major groove site, in contrast to all other described type I systems. Comparison of the type I-Fv Cascade with an anti-CRISPR protein-bound I-F Cascade reveals that the type I-Fv structure differs substantially at known anti-CRISPR protein target sites and might therefore be resistant to viral Cascade interception. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Design and Evaluation of a Training Protocol for a Photographic Method of Visual Estimation of Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Students.

PubMed

Masis, Natalie; McCaffrey, Jennifer; Johnson, Susan L; Chapman-Novakofski, Karen

2017-04-01

To design a replicable training protocol for visual estimation of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake of kindergarten through second-grade students through digital photography of lunch trays that results in reliable data for FV served and consumed. Protocol development through literature and researcher input was followed by 3 laboratory-based trainings of 3 trainees. Lunchroom data collection sessions were done at 2 elementary schools for kindergarten through second-graders. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used. By training 3, ICC was substantial for amount of FV served and consumed (0.86 and 0.95, respectively; P < .05). The ICC was moderate for percentage of fruits consumed (0.67; P = .06). In-school estimates for ICCs were all significant for amounts served at school 1 and percentage of FV consumed at both schools. The protocol resulted in reliable estimation of combined FV served and consumed using digital photography. The ability to estimate FV intake accurately will benefit intervention development and evaluation. Copyright © 2017 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Expression of single-chain Fv gene specific for gamma-seminoprotein by RTS and its biological activity identification.

PubMed

Han, Yuedong; Haun, Yi; Deng, Jinlan; Gao, Feng; Pan, Bifeng; Cui, Daxiang

2006-01-01

Fabricating a single-chain variable fragment specific for human seminoprotein is very important in antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy and NMR imaging for prostate cancer. Here a single-chain Fv specific for gamma-seminoprotein was expressed by RTS. Its activity and the efficiency of entry into prostate cancer cells are investigated by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining, as well as entry of conjugated magnetic beads into cells. Results showed that ScFv peptides specific for gamma-seminoprotein were successfully prepared, which can bind with the prostate cells specifically and can bring magnetic beads into prostate cancer cells within 15 min, the amount of magnetic beads inside prostate cancer cells increased as the culture time prolonged. ScFv-conjugated magnetic beads did not enter into control cells. In conclusion, the ScFv peptide against human gamma-seminoprotein with biological activity was successfully fabricated, which can take magnetic beads to prostate cancer cells specifically and not to the control cells. This ScFv peptide against human gamma-seminoprotein should be useful in improving the detection and therapy of prostate cancer at early stages and NMR imaging.

Applying normalization process theory to understand implementation of a family violence screening and care model in maternal and child health nursing practice: a mixed method process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Hooker, Leesa; Small, Rhonda; Humphreys, Cathy; Hegarty, Kelsey; Taft, Angela

2015-03-28

In Victoria, Australia, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services deliver primary health care to families with children 0-6 years, focusing on health promotion, parenting support and early intervention. Family violence (FV) has been identified as a major public health concern, with increased prevalence in the child-bearing years. Victorian Government policy recommends routine FV screening of all women attending MCH services. Using Normalization Process Theory (NPT), we aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators of implementing an enhanced screening model into MCH nurse clinical practice. NPT informed the process evaluation of a pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial in eight MCH nurse teams in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Using mixed methods (surveys and interviews), we explored the views of MCH nurses, MCH nurse team leaders, FV liaison workers and FV managers on implementation of the model. Quantitative data were analysed by comparing proportionate group differences and change within trial arm over time between interim and impact nurse surveys. Qualitative data were inductively coded, thematically analysed and mapped to NPT constructs (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring) to enhance our understanding of the outcome evaluation. MCH nurse participation rates for interim and impact surveys were 79% (127/160) and 71% (114/160), respectively. Twenty-three key stakeholder interviews were completed. FV screening work was meaningful and valued by participants; however, the implementation coincided with a significant (government directed) change in clinical practice which impacted on full engagement with the model (coherence and cognitive participation). The use of MCH nurse-designed FV screening/management tools in focussed women's health consultations and links with FV services enhanced the participants' work (collective action). Monitoring of FV work (reflexive monitoring) was limited. The use of theory-based process evaluation helped identify both what inhibited and enhanced intervention effectiveness. Successful implementation of an enhanced FV screening model for MCH nurses occurred in the context of focussed women's health consultations, with the use of a maternal health and wellbeing checklist and greater collaboration with FV services. Improving links with these services and the ongoing appraisal of nurse work would overcome the barriers identified in this study.

The application of finite volume methods for modelling three-dimensional incompressible flow on an unstructured mesh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lonsdale, R. D.; Webster, R.

This paper demonstrates the application of a simple finite volume approach to a finite element mesh, combining the economy of the former with the geometrical flexibility of the latter. The procedure is used to model a three-dimensional flow on a mesh of linear eight-node brick (hexahedra). Simulations are performed for a wide range of flow problems, some in excess of 94,000 nodes. The resulting computer code ASTEC that incorporates these procedures is described.

Genome-wide identification and expression profile analysis of the NAC transcription factor family during abiotic and biotic stress in woodland strawberry

PubMed Central

Qi, Yanxiang; Liu, Xiaomei; Pu, Jinji

2018-01-01

The NAC transcription factors involved plant development and response to various stress stimuli. However, little information is available concerning the NAC family in the woodland strawberry. Herein, 37 NAC genes were identified from the woodland strawberry genome and were classified into 13 groups based on phylogenetic analysis. And further analyses of gene structure and conserved motifs showed closer relationship of them in every subgroup. Quantitative real-time PCR evaluation different tissues revealed distinct spatial expression profiles of the FvNAC genes. The comprehensive expression of FvNAC genes revealed under abiotic stress (cold, heat, drought, salt), signal molecule treatments (H2O2, ABA, melatonin, rapamycin), biotic stress (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Ralstonia solanacearum). Expression profiles derived from quantitative real-time PCR suggested that 5 FvNAC genes responded dramatically to the various abiotic and biotic stresses, indicating their contribution to abiotic and biotic stresses resistance in woodland strawberry. Interestingly, FvNAC genes showed greater extent responded to the cold treatment than other abiotic stress, and H2O2 exhibited a greater response than ABA, melatonin, and rapamycin. For biotic stresses, 3 FvNAC genes were up-regulated during infection with C. gloeosporioides, while 6 FvNAC genes were down-regulated during infection with R. solanacearum. In conclusion, this study identified candidate FvNAC genes to be used for the genetic improvement of abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in woodland strawberry. PMID:29897926

Healthy Foods, Healthy Families: combining incentives and exposure interventions at urban farmers' markets to improve nutrition among recipients of US federal food assistance.

PubMed

Bowling, April B; Moretti, Mikayla; Ringelheim, Kayla; Tran, Alvin; Davison, Kirsten

2016-01-01

Healthy Foods, Healthy Families (HFHF) is a fruit and vegetable (F&V) exposure/incentive program implemented at farmers' markets in low-income neighborhoods, targeting families receiving US federal food assistance. We examined program effects on participants' diet and associations between attendance, demographics and dietary change. Exposure activities included F&V tastings and cooking demonstrations. Incentives included 40% F&V bonus for electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card users and $20 for use purchasing F&V at every third market visit. Self-report surveys measuring nutritional behaviors/literacy were administered to participants upon enrollment (n = 425, 46.2% Hispanic, 94.8%female). Participants were sampled for follow-up at markets during mid-season (n = 186) and at season end (n = 146). Attendance was tracked over 16 weeks. Participants post-intervention reported significantly higher vegetable consumption(P = 0.005) and lower soda consumption (P = 0.005). Participants reporting largest F&V increases attended the market 6-8 times and received $40 in incentives. No change in food assistance spent on F&V (P = 0.94); 70% reported significant increases in family consumption of F&V,indicating subsidies increased overall F&V purchasing. Participants reported exposure activities and incentives similarly affected program attendance. Interventions combining exposure activities and modest financial incentives at farmers' markets in low-income neighborhoods show strong potential to improve diet quality of families receiving federal food assistance.

Development of a Novel Human Single Chain Antibody Against EGFRVIII Antigen by Phage Display Technology.

PubMed

Rahbarnia, Leila; Farajnia, Safar; Babaei, Hossein; Majidi, Jafar; Akbari, Bahman; Ahdi Khosroshahi, Shiva

2016-12-01

Purpose: EGFRvIII as the most common mutant variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor is resulting from deletion of exons 2-7 in the coding sequence and junction of exons 1 and 8 through a novel glycine residue. EGFRvIII is highly expressed in glioblastoma, carcinoma of the breast, ovary, and lung but not in normal cells. The aim of the present study was identification of a novel single chain antibody against EGFRvIII as a promising target for cancer therapy. Methods: In this study, a synthetic peptide corresponding to EGFRvIII protein was used for screening a naive human scFv phage library. A novel five-round selection strategy was used for enrichment of rare specific clones. Results: After five rounds of screening, six positive scFv clones against EGFRvIII were selected using monoclonal phage ELISA, among them, only three clones had expected size in PCR reaction. The specific interaction of two of the scFv clones with EGFRvIII was confirmed by indirect ELISA. One phage clone with higher affinity in scFv ELISA was purified for further analysis. The purity of the produced scFv antibody was confirmed using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses. Conclusion: In the present study, a human anti- EGFRvIII scFv with high affinity was first identified from a scFv phage library. This study can be the groundwork for developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic agents against EGFRvIII expressing cancers.

Salad Bars Increased Selection and Decreased Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables 1 Month After Installation in Title I Elementary Schools: A Plate Waste Study.

PubMed

Bean, Melanie K; Brady Spalding, Bethany; Theriault, Elizabeth; Dransfield, Kayla-Brooke; Sova, Alexandra; Dunne Stewart, Mary

2018-06-01

To evaluate the 1-month impact of salad bars on fruit and vegetable (FV) selection, intake, and waste. Pre-post quasi-experimental design. Title I elementary schools in a large, urban district in central Virginia. Students (grades 1-5; >95% African American) from 2 elementary schools participated in plate waste assessments (282 plates were rated at baseline, 443 at post-assessment); fourth- and fifth-grade students from 15 (of 18 eligible) schools (n = 1,193) responded to surveys. Digital imagery plate waste assessments were conducted before salad bars were installed (baseline) and 1 month afterward (post). Post-surveys examined student perceptions of salad bars. Fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste. General linear models (without considering clustering) examined changes in outcomes, controlling for school. Frequencies and qualitative analyses were applied to survey data. At post, students selected more types of FVs (1.81-2.58; P < .001), although FV consumption decreased by 0.65 cups (P < .001). Given the smaller portions selected, there was less FV waste (0.27 cups; P < .001) at post. Students liked the ability to choose FV from salad bars. Short-term exposure to salad bars increased the number of FV students chose but decreased FV consumption. Additional strategies are needed to increase FV consumption. Copyright © 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Functional Consequences of Complementarity-determining Region Deactivation in a Multifunctional Anti-nucleic Acid Antibody*

PubMed Central

Lee, Jiyeon; Kim, Hye-Jin; Roh, Jooho; Seo, Youngsil; Kim, Minjae; Jun, Hye-Ryeong; Pham, Chuong D.; Kwon, Myung-Hee

2013-01-01

Many murine monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies (Abs) derived from mice models for systemic lupus erythematosus have additional cell-penetration and/or nucleic acid-hydrolysis properties. Here, we examined the influence of deactivating each complementarity-determining region (CDR) within a multifunctional anti-nucleic acid antibody (Ab) that possesses these activities, the catalytic 3D8 single chain variable fragment (scFv). CDR-deactivated 3D8 scFv variants were generated by replacing all of the amino acids within each CDR with Gly/Ser residues. The structure of 3D8 scFv accommodated single complete CDR deactivations. Different functional activities of 3D8 scFv were affected differently depending on which CDR was deactivated. The only exception was CDR1, located within the light chain (LCDR1); deactivation of LCDR1 abolished all of the functional activities of 3D8 scFv. A hybrid Ab, HW6/3D8L1, in which the LCDR1 from an unrelated Ab (HW6) was replaced with the LCDR1 from 3D8, acquired all activities associated with the 3D8 scFv. These results suggest that the activity of a multifunctional 3D8 scFv Ab can be modulated by single complete CDR deactivation and that the LCDR1 plays a crucial role in maintaining Ab properties. This study presents a new approach for determining the role of individual CDRs in multifunctional Abs with important implications for the future of Ab engineering. PMID:24155236

5-a-day fruit and vegetable food product labels: reduced fruit and vegetable consumption following an exaggerated compared to a modest label.

PubMed

Appleton, K M; Pidgeon, H J

2018-05-15

Food product labels based on the WHO 5-a-day fruit and vegetable (FV) message are becoming increasingly common, but these labels may impact negatively on complementary or subsequent FV consumption. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a '3 of your 5-a-day' versus a '1 of your 5-a-day' smoothie product label on subsequent FV consumption. Using an acute experimental design, 194 participants (90 males, 104 females) were randomised to consume a smoothie labelled as either '3 of your 5-a-day' (N = 97) or '1 of your 5-a-day' (N = 97) in full, following a usual breakfast. Subsequent FV consumption was measured for the rest of the day using 24-h recall. Usual FV consumption was also assessed via 24-h recall for the day before the study. Regression analyses revealed a significantly lower subsequent FV consumption following smoothies displaying the '3 of your 5-a-day' label compared to the '1 of your 5-a-day' label (Beta = - 0.15, p = 0.04). Secondary analyses revealed these effects to be driven mainly by changes to consumption in usual high FV consumers, in females and in vegetable as opposed to fruit consumption. These findings demonstrate a role for label information in food intake, and the potential negative impacts of an exaggerated food product label on healthy food consumption and healthy dietary profiles.

An anti-CD30 single-chain Fv selected by phage display and fused to Pseudomonas exotoxin A (Ki-4(scFv)-ETÁ) is a potent immunotoxin against a Hodgkin-derived cell line

PubMed Central

Klimka, A; Barth, S; Matthey, B; Roovers, R C; Lemke, H; Hansen, H; Arends, J-W; Diehl, V; Hoogenboom, H R; Engert, A

1999-01-01

The human CD30 receptor is highly overexpressed on the surface of Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg cells and has been shown to be an excellent target for selective immunotherapy using monoclonal antibody-based agents such as immunotoxins. To construct a new recombinant immunotoxin for possible clinical use in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, we have chosen the murine anti-CD30 hybridoma Ki-4 to generate a high-affinity Ki-4 single-chain variable fragment (scFv). Hybridoma V-genes were polymerase chain reaction-amplified, assembled, cloned and expressed as a mini-library for display on filamentous phage. Functional Ki-4 scFv were obtained by selection of binding phage on the Hodgkin lymphoma-derived, CD30-expressing cell line L540Cy. The selected recombinant Ki-4 scFv was shown to specifically bind to an overlapping epitope on the CD30 antigen with binding kinetics similar to those of the original antibody. The Ki-4 scFv was subsequently fused to a deletion mutant of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (ETÁ). The resulting immunotoxin Ki-4(scFv)-ETÁ specifically binds to CD30+ L540Cy cells and inhibits the protein synthesis by 50% at a concentration (IC50) of 43 pM. This recombinant immunotoxin is a promising candidate for further clinical evaluation in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma or other CD30+ malignancies. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign PMID:10376974

Fluoride Varnish for Caries Prevention: Efficacy and Implementation.

PubMed

Bonetti, Debbie; Clarkson, Jan E

2016-01-01

Many reviews support fluoride varnish (FV) as a caries-inhibitory agent. Evidence from 6 Cochrane systematic reviews involving 200 trials and more than 80,000 participants further confirms the effectiveness of FV, applied professionally 2-4 times a year, for preventing dental caries in both primary and permanent teeth. The relative benefit of FV application seems to occur irrespective of baseline caries risk, baseline caries severity, background exposure to fluorides, use of fluoride toothpaste and application features such as prior prophylaxis, concentration of fluoride or frequency of application. While the efficacy of FV is acknowledged in clinical practice guidelines globally, the implementation of this recommendation may still be an issue. Factors that may facilitate FV application in the USA include Medicaid eligibility, relationships with dentists/community centers and strong cooperation and communication between physicians and support staff. Barriers include insufficient time to integrate oral health services into well-child visits, difficulty in applying FV (lack of skills/training) and resistance among colleagues and staff. Research in the UK/Scotland also suggests encouraging clinicians in their motivation to perform this treatment and addressing professional and parental concerns relating to possible negative consequences may be influential. Further research targeting cost-effectiveness and how FV in routine care may fit in with political agendas relating to, for example, inequalities in health care provision and access will also play a key part in stakeholder decisions to put resources into this issue. © 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Isolation and characterization of anti c-met single chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies.

PubMed

Qamsari, Elmira Safaie; Sharifzadeh, Zahra; Bagheri, Salman; Riazi-Rad, Farhad; Younesi, Vahid; Abolhassani, Mohsen; Ghaderi, Sepideh Safaei; Baradaran, Behzad; Somi, Mohammad Hossein; Yousefi, Mehdi

2017-12-01

The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) Met is the cell surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) involved in invasive growth programs during embryogenesis and tumorgenesis. There is compelling evidence suggesting important roles for c-Met in colorectal cancer proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and survival. Hence, a molecular inhibitor of an extracellular domain of c-Met receptor that blocks c-Met-cell surface interactions could be of great thera-peutic importance. In an attempt to develop molecular inhibitors of c-Met, single chain variable fragment (scFv) phage display libraries Tomlinson I + J against a specific synthetic oligopeptide from the extracellular domain of c-Met receptor were screened; selected scFv were then characterized using various immune techniques. Three c-Met specific scFv (ES1, ES2, and ES3) were selected following five rounds of panning procedures. The scFv showed specific binding to c-Met receptor, and significantly inhibited proliferation responses of a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116). Moreover, anti- apoptotic effects of selected scFv antibodies on the HCT-116 cell line were also evaluated using Annexin V/PI assays. The results demonstrated rates of apoptotic cell death of 46.0, 25.5, and 37.8% among these cells were induced by use of ES1, ES2, and ES3, respectively. The results demonstrated ability to successfully isolate/char-acterize specific c-Met scFv that could ultimately have a great therapeutic potential in immuno-therapies against (colorectal) cancers.

Construction and characterization of a highly reactive chicken-derived single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against Staphylococcus aureus developed with the T7 phage display system.

PubMed

Li, Jingquan; Xu, Yongping; Wang, Xitao; Li, Yuan; Wang, Lili; Li, Xiaoyu

2016-06-01

The purpose of this study was to construct a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody from chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) by means of genetic engineering and subsequent panning for a specific antibody against Staphylococcus aureus. We amplified the scFv using blood and spleen obtained from 100-day-old Roman chickens immunized with inactivated S. aureus and subsequently constructed a T7 phage display antibody library using phage display technology. Four non-repeated blood scFv and 6 spleen scFv were obtained following 3 rounds of panning of the T7 phage display antibody library, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sequencing. These 10 scFv were cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pCold I with expression induced at a low temperature. Four soluble proteins were obtained. Among them, soluble protein SFV6 derived from the spleen showed good reactivity against S. aureus using indirect ELISA and produced a particularly strong antibacterial effect in vitro. We were successful in isolating a highly specific scFv antibody against S. aureus from the spleen phage display library. This study provides a simple and rapid method for the quick preparation of a large number of antibodies against S. aureus and provides the foundation for the positioning of antibodies in the organism and the study of the antibacterial mechanism through which the antibody functions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Finite volume solution of the compressible boundary-layer equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loyd, B.; Murman, E. M.

1986-01-01

A box-type finite volume discretization is applied to the integral form of the compressible boundary layer equations. Boundary layer scaling is introduced through the grid construction: streamwise grid lines follow eta = y/h = const., where y is the normal coordinate and h(x) is a scale factor proportional to the boundary layer thickness. With this grid, similarity can be applied explicity to calculate initial conditions. The finite volume method preserves the physical transparency of the integral equations in the discrete approximation. The resulting scheme is accurate, efficient, and conceptually simple. Computations for similar and non-similar flows show excellent agreement with tabulated results, solutions computed with Keller's Box scheme, and experimental data.

A Mixed Finite Volume Element Method for Flow Calculations in Porous Media

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Jim E.

1996-01-01

A key ingredient in the simulation of flow in porous media is the accurate determination of the velocities that drive the flow. The large scale irregularities of the geology, such as faults, fractures, and layers suggest the use of irregular grids in the simulation. Work has been done in applying the finite volume element (FVE) methodology as developed by McCormick in conjunction with mixed methods which were developed by Raviart and Thomas. The resulting mixed finite volume element discretization scheme has the potential to generate more accurate solutions than standard approaches. The focus of this paper is on a multilevel algorithm for solving the discrete mixed FVE equations. The algorithm uses a standard cell centered finite difference scheme as the 'coarse' level and the more accurate mixed FVE scheme as the 'fine' level. The algorithm appears to have potential as a fast solver for large size simulations of flow in porous media.

An arbitrary grid CFD algorithm for configuration aerodynamics analysis. Volume 1: Theory and validations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, A. J.; Iannelli, G. S.; Manhardt, Paul D.; Orzechowski, J. A.

1993-01-01

This report documents the user input and output data requirements for the FEMNAS finite element Navier-Stokes code for real-gas simulations of external aerodynamics flowfields. This code was developed for the configuration aerodynamics branch of NASA ARC, under SBIR Phase 2 contract NAS2-124568 by Computational Mechanics Corporation (COMCO). This report is in two volumes. Volume 1 contains the theory for the derived finite element algorithm and describes the test cases used to validate the computer program described in the Volume 2 user guide.

An arbitrary grid CFD algorithm for configuration aerodynamics analysis. Volume 2: FEMNAS user guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manhardt, Paul D.; Orzechowski, J. A.; Baker, A. J.

1992-01-01

This report documents the user input and output data requirements for the FEMNAS finite element Navier-Stokes code for real-gas simulations of external aerodynamics flowfields. This code was developed for the configuration aerodynamics branch of NASA ARC, under SBIR Phase 2 contract NAS2-124568 by Computational Mechanics Corporation (COMCO). This report is in two volumes. Volume 1 contains the theory for the derived finite element algorithm and describes the test cases used to validate the computer program described in the Volume 2 user guide.

Development of a hip joint model for finite volume simulations.

PubMed

Cardiff, P; Karač, A; FitzPatrick, D; Ivanković, A

2014-01-01

This paper establishes a procedure for numerical analysis of a hip joint using the finite volume method. Patient-specific hip joint geometry is segmented directly from computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging datasets and the resulting bone surfaces are processed into a form suitable for volume meshing. A high resolution continuum tetrahedral mesh has been generated, where a sandwich model approach is adopted; the bones are represented as a stiffer cortical shells surrounding more flexible cancellous cores. Cartilage is included as a uniform thickness extruded layer and the effect of layer thickness is investigated. To realistically position the bones, gait analysis has been performed giving the 3D positions of the bones for the full gait cycle. Three phases of the gait cycle are examined using a finite volume based custom structural contact solver implemented in open-source software OpenFOAM.

Nonlinear Conservation Laws and Finite Volume Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leveque, Randall J.

Introduction Software Notation Classification of Differential Equations Derivation of Conservation Laws The Euler Equations of Gas Dynamics Dissipative Fluxes Source Terms Radiative Transfer and Isothermal Equations Multi-dimensional Conservation Laws The Shock Tube Problem Mathematical Theory of Hyperbolic Systems Scalar Equations Linear Hyperbolic Systems Nonlinear Systems The Riemann Problem for the Euler Equations Numerical Methods in One Dimension Finite Difference Theory Finite Volume Methods Importance of Conservation Form - Incorrect Shock Speeds Numerical Flux Functions Godunov's Method Approximate Riemann Solvers High-Resolution Methods Other Approaches Boundary Conditions Source Terms and Fractional Steps Unsplit Methods Fractional Step Methods General Formulation of Fractional Step Methods Stiff Source Terms Quasi-stationary Flow and Gravity Multi-dimensional Problems Dimensional Splitting Multi-dimensional Finite Volume Methods Grids and Adaptive Refinement Computational Difficulties Low-Density Flows Discrete Shocks and Viscous Profiles Start-Up Errors Wall Heating Slow-Moving Shocks Grid Orientation Effects Grid-Aligned Shocks Magnetohydrodynamics The MHD Equations One-Dimensional MHD Solving the Riemann Problem Nonstrict Hyperbolicity Stiffness The Divergence of B Riemann Problems in Multi-dimensional MHD Staggered Grids The 8-Wave Riemann Solver Relativistic Hydrodynamics Conservation Laws in Spacetime The Continuity Equation The 4-Momentum of a Particle The Stress-Energy Tensor Finite Volume Methods Multi-dimensional Relativistic Flow Gravitation and General Relativity References

An overlapped grid method for multigrid, finite volume/difference flow solvers: MaGGiE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baysal, Oktay; Lessard, Victor R.

1990-01-01

The objective is to develop a domain decomposition method via overlapping/embedding the component grids, which is to be used by upwind, multi-grid, finite volume solution algorithms. A computer code, given the name MaGGiE (Multi-Geometry Grid Embedder) is developed to meet this objective. MaGGiE takes independently generated component grids as input, and automatically constructs the composite mesh and interpolation data, which can be used by the finite volume solution methods with or without multigrid convergence acceleration. Six demonstrative examples showing various aspects of the overlap technique are presented and discussed. These cases are used for developing the procedure for overlapping grids of different topologies, and to evaluate the grid connection and interpolation data for finite volume calculations on a composite mesh. Time fluxes are transferred between mesh interfaces using a trilinear interpolation procedure. Conservation losses are minimal at the interfaces using this method. The multi-grid solution algorithm, using the coaser grid connections, improves the convergence time history as compared to the solution on composite mesh without multi-gridding.

Detection of E. coli O157:H7 with a reporter phage containing the luxCDABE cassette

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Bacteriophage and reporter phage are used for typing and/or detection of pathogens. The temperate tailed phage fV10 has been utilized for phage-typing E. coli O157:H7. By modifying fV10 to transduce kanamycin resistance and the a luxCDABE cassette, we developed a reporter bacteriophage (fV10-lux) p...

Crowd Sourced Formal Verification-Augmentation (CSFV-A)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

Formal Verification (CSFV) program built games that recast FV problems into puzzles to make these problems more accessible, increasing the manpower to...construct FV proofs. This effort supported the CSFV program by hosting the games on a public website, and analyzed the gameplay for efficiency to...provide FV proofs. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Crowd Source, Software, Formal Verification, Games 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

Generation and evaluation of antibody agents for molecular imaging of CD44v6-expressing cancers

PubMed Central

Haylock, Anna-Karin; Nilvebrant, Johan; Mortensen, Anja; Velikyan, Irina; Nestor, Marika; Falk, Ronny

2017-01-01

Aim The aim of this study was to generate and characterize scFv antibodies directed to human CD44v6, as well as to radiolabel and evaluate top candidates in vitro and in vivo for their potential use in CD44v6-targeted molecular imaging in cancer patients. Materials and methods Phage display selections were used to isolate CD44v6-specific scFvs. A chain shuffling strategy was employed for affinity maturation based on a set of CD44v6-specific first-generation clones. Two second-generation scFv clones were then chosen for labeling with 111In or 125I and assessed for CD44v6-specific binding on cultured tumor cells. In vivo uptake and distribution was evaluated in tumor-bearing mice using a dual tumor model. Finally, a proof-of-concept small animal PET-CT study was performed on one of the candidates labeled with 124I. Results Two affinity-matured clones, CD44v6-scFv-A11 and CD44v6-scFv-H12, displayed promising binding kinetics. Seven out of eight radiolabeled conjugates demonstrated CD44v6-specific binding. In vivo studies on selected candidates demonstrated very advantageous tumor-to-organ ratios, in particular for iodinated conjugates, where 125I-labeled scFvs exhibited favorable kinetics and tumor-to-blood ratios above five already at 24 hours p.i.. The small animal PET-CT study using 124I-labeled CD44v6-scFv-H12 was in line with the biodistribution data, clearly visualizing the high CD44v6-expressing tumor. Conclusion The single chain fragments, CD44v6-scFv-A11 and CD44v6-scFv-H12 specifically bind to CD44v6, and the radiolabeled counterparts provide high tumor-to-blood ratios and fast clearance from organs and blood. We conclude that radioiodinated CD44v6-scFv-A11 and CD44v6-scFv-H12 possess features highly suitable for stringent molecular imaging. PMID:29029420

Relevance of fruits, vegetables and flavonoids from fruits and vegetables during early life, mid-childhood and adolescence for levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and its binding proteins IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 in young adulthood.

PubMed

Krupp, Danika; Remer, Thomas; Penczynski, Katharina J; Bolzenius, Katja; Wudy, Stefan A; Buyken, Anette E

2016-02-14

The growth hormone (GH) insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis has been linked to insulin metabolism and cancer risk. Experimental evidence indicates that the GH-IGF axis itself can be influenced by dietary flavonoids. As fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is a major source of flavonoid consumption, FV's beneficial health effects may be explained via flavonoids' influence on the GH-IGF axis, but observational evidence is currently rare. We used data from Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study participants to analyse prospective associations between FV, fruit intake and flavonoid intake from FV (FlavFV) with IGF-1 and its binding proteins IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3. Subjects needed to provide a fasting blood sample in adulthood (18-39 years) and at least two 3-d weighed dietary records in early life (0·5-2 years, n 191), mid-childhood (3-7 years, n 265) or adolescence (girls: 9-15 years, boys: 10-16 years, n 261). Additional analyses were conducted among those providing at least three 24-h urine samples in adolescence (n 236) to address the predictor urinary hippuric acid (HA), a biomarker of polyphenol intake. Higher fruit intake in mid-childhood and adolescence was related to higher IGFBP-2 in adulthood (P=0·03 and P=0·045). Comparable trends (P=0·045-0·09) were discernable for FV intake (but not FlavFV) in all three time windows. Similarly, higher adolescent HA excretion tended to be related (P=0·06) to higher adult IGFBP-2 levels. Regarding IGFBP-3, a marginal (P=0·08) positive association was observed with FlavFV in mid-childhood only. None of the investigated dietary factors was related to IGF-1. In conclusion, higher fruit and FV intakes during growth may be relevant for adult IGFBP-2, but probably not for IGFBP-3 or IGF-1.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and Requests for Fruits and Vegetables Outside School Settings.

PubMed

Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam; Dachenhaus, Elizabeth; Gruner, Jessie; Mollner, Kristina; Hekler, Eric B; Todd, Michael

2018-01-08

Consumption of fruits and vegetables (F/V) among elementary school-aged children remains inadequate, especially among low-income children. The US Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides F/V as snacks to children during the school day, outside of school meals. School-based initiatives are successful in changing behaviors in school settings; however, their influence on behaviors outside of schools needs investigation. To examine whether FFVP participation is associated with F/V requests at stores, self-efficacy to ask for and choose F/V at home, and F/V consumption. Cross-sectional study. Fourth graders in six classrooms (n=296) from three urban, low-income school districts in Phoenix, AZ, were surveyed during 2015; one FFVP and one non-FFVP school from each district that were similar in school size, percent free/reduced-price meal eligibility, and race/ethnicity of enrolled students were selected. Children's self-reported F/V requests during shopping, their self-efficacy to ask for and choose F/V at home, and F/V consumption on the previous day (non-FFVP school day) were measured using questions adapted from validated surveys. Multivariable mixed-effect regression models, adjusting for clustering of students within classes and classes within schools were explored. In models adjusting for individual-level factors (ie, age and sex) only, several significant positive associations were observed between school FFVP participation and healthier F/V outcomes. After additionally adjusting for school-level factors (ie, total enrollment and % Hispanic/Latino students) significant associations were observed between school FFVP participation and more requests for vegetables during shopping (P<0.001), higher scores on self-efficacy to choose vegetables at home (P=0.004), stronger preferences for vegetables (P<0.001), and more frequent consumption of fruit (P=0.006). School FFVP participation was associated with more requests for vegetables during shopping and higher self-efficacy to make healthy choices at home, suggesting the influence of the FFVP may extend beyond the school day. Copyright © 2018 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Brighter Bites: A Food Co-Op in Schools to Increase Access, Continuity and Education of Fruits and Vegetables Among Low-Income Populations.

PubMed

Sharma, Shreela; Helfman, Lisa; Albus, Katherine; Pomeroy, Mike; Chuang, Ru-Jye; Markham, Christine

2015-08-01

Intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V) continues to be low in children in the United States. The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot feasibility evaluation of Brighter Bites, a school-based food co-op to provide access to fresh F&V and nutrition education to low-income children and their families. Brighter Bites is a 16-week school-based food co-op consisting of: (1) Weekly distribution of 50-60 servings of fresh F&V; (2) Weekly bilingual parent handouts and recipe demonstrations; and (3) implementing CATCH, a coordinated school health program in schools. Brighter Bites was pilot tested using a pre-post evaluation design in one charter school in Houston, TX, USA (n = 57 3rd grade parent-child dyads; 94.1 % Hispanic, 91 % low-income). Evaluation, at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention, included self-reported child and parent surveys on psychosocial factors, dietary habits and mealtime practices. Pearson's Chi square test, Fisher's exact-test or paired t test were used to determine changes pre- to post-intervention (at p < 0.05). Process data using parent surveys, teacher surveys, attendance logs, and produce cost data were used to determine feasibility and acceptability of program. Participants received on average 61 servings of F&V weekly for 16 weeks at the cost of $4.31/family/week. Results showed significant increases in child reported self-efficacy, outcome expectations and attitudes towards consuming F&V (p < 0.05). We found significant increases in child exposure to F&V and child preference of various F&V from baseline to post-intervention (p < 0.05). Parent surveys showed significant improvements in mealtime practices at home: decrease in children eating while watching TV, increase in eating dinner with the family, less fast food, less sugary drinks with meals, more children asking for F&V as snacks. Process data showed 98 % retention rate and high parent acceptability of program components. Brighter Bites is a promising strategy to increase F&V access and education in low-income populations using existing infrastructure of schools and food banks.

Conventional and pretargeted radioimmunotherapy using bismuth-213 to target and treat non-Hodgkin lymphomas expressing CD20: a preclinical model toward optimal consolidation therapy to eradicate minimal residual disease.

PubMed

Park, Steven I; Shenoi, Jaideep; Pagel, John M; Hamlin, Don K; Wilbur, D Scott; Orgun, Nural; Kenoyer, Aimee L; Frayo, Shani; Axtman, Amanda; Bäck, Tom; Lin, Yukang; Fisher, Darrell R; Gopal, Ajay K; Green, Damian J; Press, Oliver W

2010-11-18

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with α-emitting radionuclides is an attractive approach for the treatment of minimal residual disease because the short path lengths and high energies of α-particles produce optimal cytotoxicity at small target sites while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissues. Pretargeted RIT (PRIT) using antibody-streptavidin (Ab-SA) constructs and radiolabeled biotin allows rapid, specific localization of radioactivity at tumor sites, making it an optimal method to target α-emitters with short half-lives, such as bismuth-213 (²¹³Bi). Athymic mice bearing Ramos lymphoma xenografts received anti-CD20 1F5(scFv)(4)SA fusion protein (FP), followed by a dendrimeric clearing agent and [²¹³Bi]DOTA-biotin. After 90 minutes, tumor uptake for 1F5(scFv)₄SA was 16.5% ± 7.0% injected dose per gram compared with 2.3% ± .9% injected dose per gram for the control FP. Mice treated with anti-CD20 PRIT and 600 μ Ci [²¹³Bi]DOTA-biotin exhibited marked tumor growth delays compared with controls (mean tumor volume .01 ± .02 vs. 203.38 ± 83.03 mm³ after 19 days, respectively). The median survival for the 1F5(scFv)₄SA group was 90 days compared with 23 days for the control FP (P < .0001). Treatment was well tolerated, with no treatment-related mortalities. This study demonstrates the favorable biodistribution profile and excellent therapeutic efficacy attainable with ²¹³Bi-labeled anti-CD20 PRIT.

Application of finite inverse gas chromatography in hypromellose acetate succinate-water-acetone systems.

PubMed

Chiu, Sheng-Wei; Sturm, Derek R; Moser, Justin D; Danner, Ronald P

2016-09-30

A modification of a GC was developed to investigate both infinitely dilute and finite concentrations of solvents in polymers. Thermodynamic properties of hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS-L)-acetone-water systems are important for the optimization of spray-drying processes used in pharmaceutical manufacturing of solid dispersion formulations. These properties, at temperatures below the glass transition temperature, were investigated using capillary column inverse gas chromatography (CCIGC). Water was much less soluble in the HPMCAS-L than acetone. Experiments were also conducted at infinitely dilute concentrations of one of the solvents in HPMCAS-L that was already saturated with the other solvent. Overall the partitioning of the water was not significantly affected by the presence of either water or acetone in the polymer. The acetone partition coefficient decreased as either acetone or water was added to the HPMCAS-L. A representation of the HPMCAS-L structure in terms of UNIFAC groups has been developed. With these groups, the UNIFAC-vdw-FV model did a reasonable job of predicting the phase equilibria in the binary and ternary systems. The Flory-Huggins correlation with fitted interaction parameters represented the data well. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Anti-HIV scFv Efficiently Protects CD4 T Cells from HIV-1 Infection and Deletion in hu-PBL Mice

PubMed Central

Ye, Chaobaihui; Wang, Weiming; Cheng, Liang; Li, Guangming; Wen, Michael; Wang, Qi; Zhang, Qing; Li, Dan

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Despite success in viral inhibition and CD4 T cell recovery by highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), HIV-1 is still not curable due to the persistence of the HIV-1 reservoir during treatment. One patient with acute myeloid leukemia who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a homozygous CCR5 Δ32 donor has had no detectable viremia for 9 years after HAART cessation. This case has inspired a field of HIV-1 cure research focusing on engineering HIV-1 resistance in permissive cells. Here, we employed a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-scFv X5 approach to confer resistance of human primary CD4 T cells to HIV-1. We showed that primary CD4 T cells expressing GPI-scFv X5 were resistant to CCR5 (R5)-, CXCR4 (X4)-, and dual-tropic HIV-1 and had a survival advantage compared to control cells ex vivo. In a hu-PBL mouse study, GPI-scFv X5-transduced CD4 T cells were selected in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues upon HIV-1 infection. Finally, GPI-scFv X5-transduced CD4 T cells, after being cotransfused with HIV-infected cells, showed significantly reduced viral loads and viral RNA copy numbers relative to CD4 cells in hu-PBL mice compared to mice with GPI-scFv AB65-transduced CD4 T cells. We conclude that GPI-scFv X5-modified CD4 T cells could potentially be used as a genetic intervention against both R5- and X4-tropic HIV-1 infections. IMPORTANCE Blocking of HIV-1 entry is one of most promising approaches for therapy. Genetic disruption of the HIV-1 coreceptor CCR5 by nucleases in T cells is under 2 clinical trials and leads to reduced viremia in patients. However, the emergence of viruses using the CXCR4 coreceptor is a concern for therapies applying single-coreceptor disruption. Here, we report that HIV-1-permissive CD4 T cells engineered with GPI-scFv X5 are resistant to R5-, X4-, or dual-tropic virus infection ex vivo. In a preclinical study using hu-PBL mice, we show that CD4 T cells were protected and that GPI-scFv X5-transduced cells were selected in HIV-1-infected animals. Moreover, we show that GPI-scFv X5-transduced CD4 T cells exerted a negative effect on virus replication in vivo. We conclude that GPI-scFv X5-modified CD4 T cells could potentially be used as a genetic intervention against both R5- and X4-tropic HIV-1 infections. PMID:27881659

Effect of Human Milk Appetite Hormones, Macronutrients, and Infant Characteristics on Gastric Emptying and Breastfeeding Patterns of Term Fully Breastfed Infants

PubMed Central

Gridneva, Zoya; Kugananthan, Sambavi; Hepworth, Anna R.; Tie, Wan J.; Lai, Ching T.; Ward, Leigh C.; Hartmann, Peter E.; Geddes, Donna T.

2016-01-01

Human milk (HM) components influence infant feeding patterns and nutrient intake, yet it is unclear how they influence gastric emptying (GE), a key component of appetite regulation. This study analyzed GE of a single breastfeed, HM appetite hormones/macronutrients and demographics/anthropometrics/body composition of term fully breastfed infants (n = 41, 2 and/or 5 mo). Stomach volumes (SV) were calculated from pre-/post-feed ultrasound scans, then repeatedly until the next feed. Feed volume (FV) was measured by the test-weigh method. HM samples were analyzed for adiponectin, leptin, fat, lactose, total carbohydrate, lysozyme, and total/whey/casein protein. Linear regression/mixed effect models were used to determine associations between GE/feed variables and HM components/infant anthropometrics/adiposity. Higher FVs were associated with faster (−0.07 [−0.10, −0.03], p < 0.001) GE rate, higher post-feed SVs (0.82 [0.53, 1.12], p < 0.001), and longer GE times (0.24 [0.03, 0.46], p = 0.033). Higher whey protein concentration was associated with higher post-feed SVs (4.99 [0.84, 9.13], p = 0.023). Longer GE time was associated with higher adiponectin concentration (2.29 [0.92, 3.66], p = 0.002) and dose (0.02 [0.01, 0.03], p = 0.005), and lower casein:whey ratio (−65.89 [−107.13, −2.66], p = 0.003). FV and HM composition influence GE and breastfeeding patterns in term breastfed infants. PMID:28036041

Affinity improvement of a therapeutic antibody to methamphetamine and amphetamine through structure-based antibody engineering

PubMed Central

Thakkar, Shraddha; Nanaware-Kharade, Nisha; Celikel, Reha; Peterson, Eric C.; Varughese, Kottayil I.

2014-01-01

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is a worldwide threat, without any FDA approved medications. Anti-METH IgGs and single chain fragments (scFvs) have shown efficacy in preclinical studies. Here we report affinity enhancement of an anti-METH scFv for METH and its active metabolite amphetamine (AMP), through the introduction of point mutations, rationally designed to optimize the shape and hydrophobicity of the antibody binding pocket. The binding affinity was measured using saturation binding technique. The mutant scFv-S93T showed 3.1 fold enhancement in affinity for METH and 26 fold for AMP. The scFv-I37M and scFv-Y34M mutants showed enhancement of 94, and 8 fold for AMP, respectively. Structural analysis of scFv-S93T:METH revealed that the substitution of Ser residue by Thr caused the expulsion of a water molecule from the cavity, creating a more hydrophobic environment for the binding that dramatically increases the affinities for METH and AMP. PMID:24419156

A Comparison of Smokers' and Nonsmokers' Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Relevant Psychosocial Factors

PubMed Central

McClure, Jennifer B.; Divine, George; Alexander, Gwen; Tolsma, Dennis; Rolnick, Sharon J.; Stopponi, Melanie; Richards, Julie; Johnson, Christine C.

2009-01-01

The authors examined the relation between smoking status and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among a population-based sample and examined differences in psychosocial factors that may influence diet and inform intervention efforts. The authors recruited adults (N = 2,540) from 5 US health plans to participate in a Web-based dietary intervention trial. At baseline, smokers ate fewer FV servings per day (p < .001) and were less likely to meet the 5 A Day goal (p < .001). Smokers reported lower self-efficacy, overall motivation, and intrinsic motivation for meeting daily FV recommendations. Fewer smokers expected that eating 5 FV servings a day would reduce their risk for diabetes (p = .02) or obesity (p = .008). Smokers are an important target group for dietary intervention. Intervention efforts should attempt to increase smokers' motivation and confidence in their abilities to change their eating patterns and educate them about the health benefits of eating FV. PMID:19297300

Fv-clasp: An Artificially Designed Small Antibody Fragment with Improved Production Compatibility, Stability, and Crystallizability.

PubMed

Arimori, Takao; Kitago, Yu; Umitsu, Masataka; Fujii, Yuki; Asaki, Ryoko; Tamura-Kawakami, Keiko; Takagi, Junichi

2017-10-03

Antibody fragments are frequently used as a "crystallization chaperone" to aid structural analysis of complex macromolecules that are otherwise crystallization resistant, but conventional fragment formats have not been designed for this particular application. By fusing an anti-parallel coiled-coil structure derived from the SARAH domain of human Mst1 kinase to the variable region of an antibody, we succeeded in creating a novel chimeric antibody fragment of ∼37 kDa, termed "Fv-clasp," which exhibits excellent crystallization compatibility while maintaining the binding ability of the original IgG molecule. The "clasp" and the engineered disulfide bond at the bottom of the Fv suppressed the internal mobility of the fragment and shielded hydrophobic residues, likely contributing to the high heat stability and the crystallizability of the Fv-clasp. Finally, Fv-clasp antibodies showed superior "chaperoning" activity over conventional Fab fragments, and facilitated the structure determination of an ectodomain fragment of integrin α6β1. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bullying Victimization Among Chinese Middle School Students: The Role of Family Violence.

PubMed

Zhu, Yuhong; Chan, Ko Ling; Chen, Jinsong

2018-06-01

This study used the data from a representative sample to investigate the association between family violence (FV) and child bullying victimization (BV) in Xi'an city, China. Data on social demographic information and the prevalence of BV and FV were collected from a randomly selected sample with 3,175 middle school students aged 15 to 17 by self-administrated questionnaires. Results show that 55.9% and 30.3% of the participants have witnessed intimate partner violence (IPV), 37.7% and 30.8% have been victims of child abuse, and 54.9% and 44.6% have been bullied in a lifetime and in the preceding year, respectively. The lifetime and preceding-year co-occurrence rate of FV and BV are 45% and 30.4%, respectively. Multiple logistic regressions confirm FV as a unique risk factor in predicting both direct and relational BV after controlling for a number of confounding factors. This study suggests that FV experiences should be included in the screening and assessment of risk for child BV.

Who are eating and not eating fruits and vegetables in Malaysia?

PubMed

Yen, Steven T; Tan, Andrew K G

2012-12-01

To investigate the roles of sociodemographic factors in fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in Malaysia. Data are obtained from the Malaysia Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance-1. Logistic regressions are conducted using a multiracial (Malay, Chinese, Indian and other ethnic groups) sample of 2,447 observations to examine the factors affecting individual decisions to consume FV on a daily basis. Based on the binary outcomes of whether individuals consumed FV daily, results indicate that work hours, education, age ethnicity, income, gender, smoking status, and location of residence are significantly correlated with daily fruit consumption. Daily vegetable consumption is significantly correlated with income, gender, health condition, and location of residence. Our results imply the need for programs to educate and motivate consumers to make healthier dietary choices. Interventions to increase FV consumption by changing behaviors should be considered, as should those that increase public awareness of the dietary benefits of FV. These intervention programs should be targeted at and tailored toward individuals who are less educated, younger, less affluent, males, smokers, and metropolitan dwellers.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables in Malaysia: profiling the daily and nondaily consumers.

PubMed

Yen, Steven T; Tan, Andrew K G; Feisul, Mustapha I

2015-03-01

This study examines the sociodemographic factors associated with daily fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in Malaysia. Based on a cross-sectional sample of 2447 individuals from the Malaysia Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance-1, a multivariate sample selection system is developed and estimated, to accommodate high frequencies of daily FV consumption and the days of servings among nondaily consumers. Results indicate that the authors' attempt to account for endogenous sample selectivity and cross-equation correlations is justified. There exist positive correlations between FV consumption likelihoods and longer work hours, higher levels of education, high income, female gender, nonsmoking status, and being from East Malaysia. Among nondaily consumers, those with longer work hours, singles, and people with diabetes are less inclined to eat fruits on more days. Overall, higher-educated, affluent people, nonsmokers, and East Malaysians display more days of FV consumption. Based on these outcomes, several policy implications are recommended vis-à-vis FV consumption patterns in Malaysia. © 2012 APJPH.

Effects of parenting style and parent-related weight and diet on adolescent weight status.

PubMed

Alia, Kassandra A; Wilson, Dawn K; St George, Sara M; Schneider, Elizabeth; Kitzman-Ulrich, Heather

2013-04-01

This study examined the interaction between parental limit setting of sedentary behaviors and health factors (weight status, physical activity [PA], fruit and vegetable [FV] intake) on standardized body mass index (zBMI) in African American adolescents. Data were from 67 parent-adolescent dyads. Parental limit setting, PA and FV intake were assessed via self-report, and objective height and weight measurements were collected. Regressions examined the interaction between parental limit setting and BMI, PA, FV intake on adolescent zBMI. The model for parent BMI and FV intake accounted for 31% of the variance in adolescent zBMI. A significant interaction for parent BMI by limit setting showed that as parental BMI increased, higher (vs. lower) limit setting was associated with lower adolescent zBMI. Higher parent FV consumption was associated with lower adolescent zBMI. Future interventions should integrate parent limit setting and target parent fruit and vegetable intake for obesity prevention in underserved adolescents.

Microstructural characterization of PAN based carbon fiber reinforced nylon 6 polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munirathnamma, L. M.; Ningaraju, S.; Kumar, K. V. Aneesh; Ravikumar, H. B.

2018-04-01

Microstructural characterization of nylon 6/polyacrolonitrile based carbon fibers (PAN-CFs) of 10 to 40 wt% has been performed by positron lifetime technique (PLT). The positron lifetime parameters viz., o-Ps lifetime (τ3), o-Ps intensity (I3) and fractional free volume (Fv) of nylon 6/PAN-CF composites are correlated with the mechanical properties viz., Tensile strength and Young's modulus. The Fv show negative deviation with the reinforcement of 10 to 40 wt% of PAN-CF from the linear additivity relation. The negative deviation in nylon 6/PAN-CF composite suggests the induced molecular packing due to the chemical interaction between the polymeric chains of nylon 6 and PAN-CF. This is evident from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) studies. The FTIR results suggests that observed negative deviation in PALS results of nylon 6/PAN-CF reinforced polymer composites is due to the induced chemical interaction at N-H-O sites. The improved tensile strength (TS) and Young's modulus (YM) in nylon 6/PAN-CF reinforced polymer composites is due to AS4C (surface treated and epoxy coated) PAN-CF has shown highest adhesion level due to better stress transfer between nylon 6 and PAN-CF.

Harmful effects behind the daily supplementation of a fixed vegetarian blend in the rat model.

PubMed

Bonamassa, Barbara; Canistro, Donatella; Sapone, Andrea; Vivarelli, Fabio; Vornoli, Andrea; Longo, Vincenzo; Paolini, Moreno

2016-11-01

Fruit and vegetables (FV) have long been considered a panacea against major chronic diseases, including cancer. However, there is no convincing epidemiological, clinical or experimental evidence supporting FV chemopreventive ability. A daily mono-supplementation of lyophilized onion, tomato, peach, black grape or lettuce was compared with the daily combined administration of the same FV (5 a day-like diet). Ten days post-treatment, the phase-I/II xenobiotic metabolizing and antioxidant enzyme activities, protein and mRNA levels were investigated. As a marker of oxidative stress, the level of hydroperoxides was measured in rat serum samples. Here we show that a blend of FV orally administered to rats not only potentially manipulates metabolism but also disrupts systemic oxidative homeostasis. A daily combination of the five servings remarkably down-regulates the catalytic activity, protein and mRNA levels of a cohort of hepatic metabolizing enzymes, suggesting a possible depressed clearance upon exposure to ubiquitous carcinogens. Strikingly, we observed an impairment of antioxidant enzymes with a boost in systemic hydroperoxide levels. Our study identifies new potential factors of cancer risk connected with the persistent consumption of fixed servings of FV, suggesting that dietary guidance should rely on a "daily diversification" of FV. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Family Violence and Other Potentially Traumatic Interpersonal Events Among 9- to 17-Year-Old Children Attending an Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic.

PubMed

Hultmann, Ole; Broberg, Anders G

2016-11-01

Among children visiting child and adolescent mental health care (CAM), the prevalence of exposure to family violence (FV) is reported to exceed prevalence in community samples, as are potentially traumatic interpersonal events (IPE) outside the family. The aim of the study was to relate CAM patients' self-reported experiences of violence exposure to their current psychiatric symptoms and to compare patients exposed to violence with patients who reported no exposure. We asked 305 consecutive 9- to 17-year-old patients in CAM about their current and previous exposure to violence in and outside of the family. Prevalence of exposure to any kind of violence was 67%. Reported exposures were 19% to IPE, 21% to FV, and 27% to both. Children exposed to both FV and IPE were more negatively affected by the events than children exposed to FV or IPE only. Children in the FV + IPE group reported more mental health symptoms than those in the no violence (33%) group. In general, IPE was related to the outcome measures only in combination with FV. Degree of violence exposure seemed to have a dose-response relationship with the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. © The Author(s) 2015.

Analysis of the relationship between end-to-end distance and activity of single-chain antibody against colorectal carcinoma.

PubMed

Zhang, Jianhua; Liu, Shanhong; Shang, Zhigang; Shi, Li; Yun, Jun

2012-08-22

We investigated the relationship of End-to-end distance between VH and VL with different peptide linkers and the activity of single-chain antibodies by computer-aided simulation. First, we developed (G4S)n (where n = 1-9) as the linker to connect VH and VL, and estimated the 3D structure of single-chain Fv antibody (scFv) by homologous modeling. After molecular models were evaluated and optimized, the coordinate system of every protein was built and unified into one coordinate system, and End-to-end distances calculated using 3D space coordinates. After expression and purification of scFv-n with (G4S)n as n = 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9, the immunoreactivity of purified ND-1 scFv-n was determined by ELISA. A multi-factorial relationship model was employed to analyze the structural factors affecting scFv: rn=ABn-ABO2+CDn-CDO2+BCn-BCst2. The relationship between immunoreactivity and r-values revealed that fusion protein structure approached the desired state when the r-value = 3. The immunoreactivity declined as the r-value increased, but when the r-value exceeded a certain threshold, it stabilized. We used a linear relationship to analyze structural factors affecting scFv immunoreactivity.

LA Sprouts: A 12-week gardening, nutrition, and cooking randomized control trial improves determinants of dietary behaviors

PubMed Central

Davis, Jaimie N; Martinez, Lauren C.; Spruijt-Metz, Donna; Gatto, Nicole M.

2015-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effect of an exploratory 12-week nutrition, cooking and gardening RCT (“LA Sprouts”) on preference for fruit and vegetables (FV); willingness to try FV; identification of FV; self-efficacy to garden/eat/cook FV; motivation to garden/eat/cook FV; attitudes towards FV; nutrition and gardening knowledge; and home gardening habits. Design and Participants Four elementary schools with 304 predominately Hispanic/Latino 3rd–5th grade students were randomized to either the LA Sprouts (n=167 students) or Control group (n=137 students). LA Sprouts participants received 12 weeks of weekly 90-minute culturally tailored gardening, nutrition, and cooking classes after school. Questionnaire data examining dietary determinants were obtained at baseline and post-intervention. Results After the 12-week program, LA Sprouts participants compared with controls improved scores for identification of vegetables (+11% vs. +5%; P=.001), nutrition and gardening knowledge (+14.5% vs. −5.0%; P =.003), and were more likely to garden at home (+7.5% vs. −4.4%; P=.003). Conclusions The LA Sprouts program positively impacted a number of determinants of dietary behaviors, which suggest possible mechanisms by which gardening and nutrition education act to improve dietary intake and health outcomes. PMID:26453367

[Construction, expression and characterization of the fusion gene of super-antigen SEA and single chain Fv of the ND-1 monoclonal antibody against human colorectal cancer].

PubMed

Chen, Hang; Li, Li; Fang, Jin

2012-04-01

To construct and express the recombinant ND-1-scFv/SEA, a fusion protein of superantigen (staphylococcal enterotoxinA, SEA) and single-chain variable fragment of monoclonal antibody ND-1 against human clolorectal carcinoma, and to enhance the targeted killing effect of SEA. The expression of the fusion protein was induced in E.coli M15 by IPTG. Ni-NTA resin affinity chromatography was used to separate and purify the expressed product. The specific binding activity of the purified ND-1-scFv/SEA protein was examined by indirect immunofluorescence assay and the targeted-cytotoxicity was determined using MTT assay. The expressing vector of fusion gene ND-1scFv/SEA was constructed successfully. ND-1-scFv/SEA protein retained a high binding affinity to antigen-positive human colorectal cancer cell CCL-187 and had a stronger capability to activate PBMC and kill the target cells compared to SEA alone, with a killing rate of 91% at 4 μg/mL. ND-1-scFv/SEA fusion protein could specifically target colorectal cancer cell, enhance the activity of kill tumor cell and has potential applications in the targeted therapy of colorectal cancer.

"5 A Day" achievement badge for urban boy scouts: formative evaluation results.

PubMed

Cullen, K W; Baranowski, T; Baranowski, J; Warnecke, C; de Moor, C; Nwachokor, A; Hajek, R A; Jones, L A

1998-01-01

Certain cancers are more common among African Americans (AA). Fruit and vegetables (F&V) reduce cancer risk, but Americans, and African Americans in particular, do not meet the "5 A Day" goal. Scouting organizations, particularly urban Boy Scout groups that target inner-city youth, provide promising channels for nutritional behavioral change programs. Focus groups were conducted with urban Boy Scouts and their parents to identify factors influencing F&V consumption and evaluate potential intervention activities. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected from 85 area Boy Scouts. A national data set was used to obtain values for F&V consumption by African American and European American (boys age 0-16). Vegetable preferences were low and a negative peer influence for vegetables was reported. The group has limited food-preparation skills, but both parents and scouts reported that F&V were available in their homes. Use of goal setting and use of problem-solving techniques were limited. The local scouts' mean F&V intake was 3.2 servings per day. Ethnic differences in F&V consumption were identified in the national data. Based on these results and previous interventions in schools, an overall structure for the intervention was developed to include eight weekly troop sessions and two camping sessions, parent newsletters, seven weekly home badge assignments, and ten comic books.

Annual parallax and a dimming event of a Mira variable star, FV Bootis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamezaki, Tatsuya; Nakagawa, Akiharu; Omodaka, Toshihiro; Inoue, Kan-ichiro; Chibueze, James O.; Nagayama, Takumi; Ueno, Yuji; Matsunaga, Noriyuki

2016-10-01

We present the first measurement of the trigonometric parallax of water masers associated with a Mira star, FV Bootis (FV Boo) using VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA). Based on our multi-epoch VERA observations, we derived the parallax to be 0.97 ± 0.06 mas, which corresponds to a distance of 1.03^{+0.07}_{-0.06} kpc. The water masers around FV Boo were spatially distributed over an area of 41 au × 41 au, and their internal motions indicate the presence of an outflow. Using the Kagoshima University 1 m optical/infrared telescope, we determined the period to be 305.6 d and the mean apparent magnitude to be +2.91 mag in the K'-band. On the period-luminosity plane, the obtained period and K'-band magnitude puts FV Boo slightly below the sequence of Miras, possibly due to circumstellar reddening. Combining our photometric data with COBE and 2MASS datasets spanning over 20 years, we found in the near infrared that FV Boo was significantly fainter in 2005 compared with preceding and later phases. Its color, however, did not show a large variation through this change. We infer that the dimming could be caused by an eclipse due to a cloud in a binary system.

LA Sprouts: A 12-Week Gardening, Nutrition, and Cooking Randomized Control Trial Improves Determinants of Dietary Behaviors.

PubMed

Davis, Jaimie N; Martinez, Lauren C; Spruijt-Metz, Donna; Gatto, Nicole M

2016-01-01

To evaluate the effect of an exploratory 12-week nutrition, cooking, and gardening trial (LA Sprouts) on preference for fruit and vegetables (FV); willingness to try FV; identification of FV; self-efficacy to garden, eat, and cook FV; motivation to garden, eat, and cook FV; attitudes toward FV; nutrition and gardening knowledge; and home gardening habits. Randomized controlled trial. Four elementary schools. Three hundred four predominately Hispanic/Latino third- through fifth-grade students were randomized to either the LA Sprouts group (n = 167 students) or control group (n = 137 students). Twelve-week after-school nutrition, cooking, and gardening intervention. Determinants of dietary behavior as measured by questionnaire at baseline and postintervention. Analyses of covariance. After the 12-week program, compared with controls, LA Sprouts participants improved scores for identification of vegetables (+11% vs +5%; P = .001) and nutrition and gardening knowledge (+14.5% vs -5.0%; P = .003), and were more likely to garden at home (+7.5% vs -4.4%; P = .003). The LA Sprouts program positively affected a number of determinants of dietary behaviors that suggest possible mechanisms by which gardening and nutrition education act to improve dietary intake and health outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of vibration on spasticity in individuals with spinal cord injury: a scoping systematic review.

PubMed

Sadeghi, Mahsa; Sawatzky, Bonita

2014-11-01

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate how whole-body vibration (WBV) or focal vibration (FV) would change spasticity in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). A search was conducted of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO electronic databases. A hand search was conducted of the bibliographies of articles and journals relevant to the research question. The inclusion criteria were three or more individuals, 17 yrs or older, with SCI who experience spasticity, and WBV or FV application. The evidence level of all ten identified studies (195 SCI subjects) was low on the basis of Centre for Evidence Based Medicine level of evidence. WBV (n = 1) and FV (n = 9) were applied to assess the effects of vibration on different measures of spasticity in individuals with SCI. FV application resulted in a short-term spasticity reduction lasting for a maximum of 24 hrs. Neurophysiologic measures showed H-reflex inhibition in individuals with SCI after FV application. WBV resulted in a decrease in spasticity lasting for 6-8 days after the last vibration session. WBV and FV might decrease spasticity for a short period, but no evidence-based recommendation can be drawn from the literature to guide rehabilitation medicine clinicians to manage spasticity with vibration application.

Production of recombinant scFv against p24 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by phage display technology.

PubMed

Mohammadzadeh, Sara; Rajabibazl, Masoumeh; Fourozandeh, Mehdi; Rasaee, Mohammad Javad; Rahbarizadeh, Fatemeh; Mohammadi, Mohammad

2014-02-01

Phage display has a fundamental role in protein isolation and engineering. Isolated proteins produced with this method can be modified for specific binding and affinity. P24 is the most produced protein during human immune deficiency virus (HIV) replication; especially in the early steps of HIV-1 infection, its evaluation may have diagnostic values. To test the HIV-1 infection, p24 antigen assay appears to be a very promising alternative to RNA assays. In this study, we have generated a recombinant mouse single chain antibody fragment against p24 of the HIV-1 with the use of phage display technology. After isolation of antibody variable-region (V) gene of B cells extracted from the spleen of an immunized mouse, a library of single chain Fv fragments (scFv) was constructed. The library was used in a series of bio-panning processes against recombinant p24 protein expressed from Escherichia coli. The isolated scFv antibody specifically recognizes the HIV-1 capsid protein p24. The affinity constant of the isolated scFv antibody (MF85) was found to be 2×10(-9) M. Our studies showed that the MF85 scFV antibody has similar properties as that of monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridoma technology.

Ligand-induced rapid skeletal muscle atrophy in HSA-Fv2E-PERK transgenic mice.

PubMed

Miyake, Masato; Kuroda, Masashi; Kiyonari, Hiroshi; Takehana, Kenji; Hisanaga, Satoshi; Morimoto, Masatoshi; Zhang, Jun; Oyadomari, Miho; Sakaue, Hiroshi; Oyadomari, Seiichi

2017-01-01

Formation of 43S and 48S preinitiation complexes plays an important role in muscle protein synthesis. There is no muscle-wasting mouse model caused by a repressed 43S preinitiation complex assembly. The aim of the present study was to develop a convenient mouse model of skeletal muscle wasting with repressed 43S preinitiation complex assembly. A ligand-activatable PERK derivative Fv2E-PERK causes the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), which inhibits 43S preinitiation complex assembly. Thus, muscle atrophic phenotypes, intracellular signaling pathways, and intracellular free amino acid profiles were investigated in human skeletal muscle α-actin (HSA) promoter-driven Fv2E-PERK transgenic (Tg) mice. HSA-Fv2E-PERK Tg mice treated with the artificial dimerizer AP20187 phosphorylates eIF2α in skeletal muscles and leads to severe muscle atrophy within a few days of ligand injection. Muscle atrophy was accompanied by a counter regulatory activation of mTORC1 signaling. Moreover, intracellular free amino acid levels were distinctively altered in the skeletal muscles of HSA-Fv2E-PERK Tg mice. As a novel model of muscle wasting, HSA-Fv2E-PERK Tg mice provide a convenient tool for studying the pathogenesis of muscle loss and for assessing putative therapeutics.

Behavioral correlates of fruit and vegetable intake in Puerto Rico: results from the Health Information National Trends Survey.

PubMed

Colón-López, Vivian; Banerjee, Geetanjoli; Gertz, Alida María; Ortiz, Ana Patricia; Calo, William; Finney-Rutten, Lila J; Colón-Ramos, Uriyoán; Hesse, Bradford W; Tortolero, Guillermo

2013-12-01

A diet high in fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with a decreased risk for chronic diseases, such as cancer. Limited information exists regarding the factors associated with FV intake in persons living in Puerto Rico. The objective of this study was to examine sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-belief factors associated with dietary habits in Puerto Rico. Secondary data analysis of adults aged 18 years and older from the Puerto Rico Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-PR) conducted in 2009. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with meeting the established recommendations for FV consumption. Only 14.5% of the adults in Puerto Rico met the recommendations for daily FV intake, and the vast majority (90.9%) were unaware of current recommendations. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that being obese, having lower than a high school education, and not knowing the recommendations were significantly associated with not meeting these recommendations. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, being obese (OR = 3.77; 95% CI = 1.41-10.08) and not being aware of the current dietary recommendations (OR = 9.26; 95% CI = 3.77-22.73) continued to be significantly associated with not meeting the FV intake recommendations. The Puerto Rican population is far from meeting FV consumption recommendations, with prevalence estimates of consumption that are below the US median. Low FV intake might put the population in Puerto Rico at increased risk of developing cancer as well as a number of other chronic diseases that are secondary both to improper nutrition and to obesity.

Production of a soluble single-chain variable fragment antibody against okadaic acid and exploration of its specific binding.

PubMed

He, Kuo; Zhang, Xiuyuan; Wang, Lixia; Du, Xinjun; Wei, Dong

2016-06-15

Okadaic acid is a lipophilic marine algal toxin commonly responsible for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). Outbreaks of DSP have been increasing and are of worldwide public health concern; therefore, there is a growing demand for more rapid, reliable, and economical analytical methods for the detection of this toxin. In this study, anti-okadaic acid single-chain variable fragment (scFv) genes were prepared by cloning heavy and light chain genes from hybridoma cells, followed by fusion of the chains via a linker peptide. An scFv-pLIP6/GN recombinant plasmid was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli for expression, and the target scFv was identified with IC-CLEIA (chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay). The IC15 was 0.012 ± 0.02 μg/L, and the IC50 was 0.25 ± 0.03 μg/L. The three-dimensional structure of the scFv was simulated with computer modeling, and okadaic acid was docked to the scFv model to obtain a putative structure of the binding complex. Two predicted critical amino acids, Ser32 and Thr187, were then mutated to verify this theoretical model. Both mutants exhibited significant loss of binding activity. These results help us to understand this specific scFv-antigen binding mechanism and provide guidance for affinity maturation of the antibody in vitro. The high-affinity scFv developed here also has potential for okadaic acid toxin detection. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Identification of NADPH oxidase family members associated with cold stress in strawberry.

PubMed

Zhang, Yunting; Li, Yali; He, Yuwei; Hu, Wenjie; Zhang, Yong; Wang, Xiaorong; Tang, Haoru

2018-04-01

NADPH oxidase is encoded by a small gene family (Respiratory burst oxidase homologs, Rbohs ) and plays an important role in regulating various biological processes. However, little information about this gene family is currently available for strawberry. In this study, a total of seven Rboh genes were identified from strawberry through genomewide analysis. Gene structure analysis showed the number of exons ranged from 10 to 23, implying that this variation occurred in FvRboh genes by the insertion and distribution of introns; the order and approximate size of exons were relatively conserved. FvRbohC was predicted to localize to the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, while other members were computed to localize to the plasma membrane, indicating different functions. Amino acid sequence alignment, conserved domain, and motif analysis showed that all identified FvRbohs had typical features of plant Rbohs. Phylogenetic analysis of Rbohs from strawberry, grape, Arabidopsis, and rice suggested that the FvRbohs could be divided into five subgroups and showed a closer relationship with those from grape and Arabidopsis than those from rice. The expression patterns of FvRboh genes in root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit revealed robust tissue specificity. The expression levels of FvRbohA and FvRbohD were quickly induced by cold stress, followed by an increase in NADPH oxidase activity, leading to O2- accumulation and triggering the antioxidant reaction by the transient increases in SOD activity. This suggested these two genes may be involved in cold stress and defense responses in strawberry.

Autonomous Motivation and Fruit/Vegetable Intake in Parent–Adolescent Dyads

PubMed Central

Dwyer, Laura A.; Bolger, Niall; Laurenceau, Jean-Philippe; Patrick, Heather; Oh, April Y.; Nebeling, Linda C.; Hennessy, Erin

2017-01-01

Introduction Autonomous motivation (motivation to engage in a behavior because of personal choice, interest, or value) is often associated with health behaviors. The present study contributes to research on motivation and eating behaviors by examining: (1) how autonomous motivation is correlated within parent–adolescent dyads; and (2) whether parent- and adolescent-reported autonomous motivation predicts the parent–adolescent correlation in fruit and vegetable (FV) intake frequency. Methods Data were drawn from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study, a cross-sectional U.S. survey of parent–adolescent dyads led by the National Cancer Institute and fielded between April and October 2014. In 2016, data were analyzed from dyads who had responses on a six-item self-report measure of daily frequency of FV consumption and a two-item self-report measure of autonomous motivation for consuming FVs. Results Parents' and adolescents' reports of autonomous motivation and FV intake frequency were positively correlated. Both parents' and adolescents' autonomous motivation predicted higher levels of their own FV intake frequency and that of their dyad partner (p-values ≤0.001). These effects of autonomous motivation explained 22.6% of the parent–adolescent correlation in FV intake frequency. Actor effects (one's motivation predicting their own FV intake frequency) were stronger than partner effects (one's motivation predicting their partner's FV intake frequency). Conclusions Parent–adolescent similarity in autonomous motivation for healthy eating may contribute to similarity in eating behaviors. Future research should further examine how individual-level health behavior correlates influence health behaviors within dyads. PMID:28526363

'Kids in the Kitchen' impact evaluation: engaging primary school students in preparing fruit and vegetables for their own consumption.

PubMed

Ritchie, Barbara; O'Hara, Lily; Taylor, Jane

2015-08-01

Children's fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in Australia is below levels recommended for optimal growth, development and health. 'Kids in the Kitchen' is a classroom-based program that engages students in preparing FV. Impact evaluation was conducted with students from Grade 1 (around 6 years old) and Grade 5 (around 11 years old) who participated in the program. A questionnaire was used to collect pre- and post-program data on knowledge, attitudes and consumption of FV, FV preparation skills and environmental supports for FV consumption. A skill audit was also conducted for Grade 1 students. Study participants (n = 118) included 70 Grade 1 and 48 Grade 5 students. There was an increase in the median number of fruits correctly identified (from 14 to 16), tried (from 14 to 16) and liked (from 10.5 to 12; P = 0.0001 for all changes). The median number of vegetables correctly identified increased from 10 to 12 (P = 0.0001), but there was no change in the number of vegetables tried or liked. The proportion of participants who rated their skills in using a knife to prepare FV as 'not really that good' decreased by 15%, from 42% to 27% (P = 0.04). Grade 1 participants' skills in cutting, grating and peeling improved (P = 0.0001 for all changes). If children are involved in the preparation of FV, they are more likely to correctly identify them, try them, like them and eat them. SO WHAT? Primary schools have the potential to contribute to children's nutrition through hands-on food preparation activities.

Development of the behaviorally focused fruits & Veggies--More Matters public health initiative.

PubMed

Pivonka, Elizabeth; Seymour, Jennifer; McKenna, Jeff; Baxter, Suzanne Domel; Williams, Simon

2011-10-01

Due to changing recommendations for fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake, public health and private organizations recognized the need to revise communications and programs that promote F/V consumption. This article describes formative research conducted in 2005 to develop a new identity for the 5 A Day Program, updated to the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters program. The objective was to re-brand the 5 A Day Program's campaign message to be adaptable, sustainable, and compelling, while leveraging the program's existing message dissemination infrastructure. Formative research included interviews with representatives from government, nonprofit organizations, and industry, and consumer perspectives from interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. Public health and private organizations agreed that a compelling emotional benefit was needed to motivate consumers to eat more F/V and that messaging needed to be used consistently among national, state, and local programs. Interviews and focus groups targeted mothers who believed they and their families were getting enough F/V, knew they could eat more, but needed to be convinced why they should do so. The most effective messages appealed to mothers' emotional needs to be responsible, leveraged functional intrinsic values of F/V, did not try to quantify "enough," and focused on small steps. When the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters slogan and graphic were viewed together, the majority (62%) said it increased their interest in eating more F/V. The Fruits & Veggies-More Matters brand offers numerous opportunities for promoting F/V consumption through this public health initiative. Copyright © 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Autonomous Motivation and Fruit/Vegetable Intake in Parent-Adolescent Dyads.

PubMed

Dwyer, Laura A; Bolger, Niall; Laurenceau, Jean-Philippe; Patrick, Heather; Oh, April Y; Nebeling, Linda C; Hennessy, Erin

2017-06-01

Autonomous motivation (motivation to engage in a behavior because of personal choice, interest, or value) is often associated with health behaviors. The present study contributes to research on motivation and eating behaviors by examining (1) how autonomous motivation is correlated within parent-adolescent dyads and (2) whether parent- and adolescent-reported autonomous motivation predicts the parent-adolescent correlation in fruit and vegetable (FV) intake frequency. Data were drawn from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study, a cross-sectional U.S. survey of parent-adolescent dyads led by the National Cancer Institute and fielded between April and October 2014. In 2016, data were analyzed from dyads who had responses on a six-item self-report measure of daily frequency of FV consumption and a two-item self-report measure of autonomous motivation for consuming FVs. Parents' and adolescents' reports of autonomous motivation and FV intake frequency were positively correlated. Both parents' and adolescents' autonomous motivation predicted higher levels of their own FV intake frequency and that of their dyad partner (p-values ≤0.001). These effects of autonomous motivation explained 22.6% of the parent-adolescent correlation in FV intake frequency. Actor effects (one's motivation predicting their own FV intake frequency) were stronger than partner effects (one's motivation predicting their partner's FV intake frequency). Parent-adolescent similarity in autonomous motivation for healthy eating may contribute to similarity in eating behaviors. Future research should further examine how individual-level health behavior correlates influence health behaviors within dyads. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Poor creativity in frontotemporal dementia: a window into the neural bases of the creative mind.

PubMed

de Souza, Leonardo Cruz; Volle, Emmanuelle; Bertoux, Maxime; Czernecki, Virginie; Funkiewiez, Aurélie; Allali, Gilles; Leroy, Baptiste; Sarazin, Marie; Habert, Marie-Odile; Dubois, Bruno; Kas, Aurélie; Levy, Richard

2010-11-01

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) supports functions critical for creative thinking. Damage to the PFC is expected to impair creativity. Yet, previous works suggested the emergence of artistic talent in patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), which was interpreted as increased creativity. We designed a study in patients with frontal variant (fv) of FTLD in order to verify whether: (1) creativity is impaired after frontal degeneration, (2) poor creativity is associated with frontal dysfunctions, and (3) poor creativity is related to hypoperfusion in specific PFC regions. Three groups of subjects were enrolled in the study: fvFTLD patients (n=17), non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (n=12) and healthy controls (n=17). Participants performed a standardized test of creativity, the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) and tests assessing frontal functions. Brain perfusion was correlated to fvFTLD patients' performance in the TTCT. Patients with fvFTLD were strongly impaired in all dimensions of the TTCT, compared to PD patients and controls. Disinhibited and perseverative responses were observed only in fvFTLD patients, leading to "pseudo-creative" responses. Poor creativity was positively correlated with several frontal tests. Poor creativity was also correlated with prefrontal hypoperfusion, particularly in the frontal pole. Poor creativity is associated with fvFTLD. The results also suggest that the integrity of the PFC (in particular frontopolar) is strongly associated with creative thinking. The emergence of artistic talent in patients with fvFTLD is explained by the release of involuntary behaviors, rather than by the development of creative thinking. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anti-EpCAM scFv gadolinium chelate: a novel targeted MRI contrast agent for imaging of colorectal cancer.

PubMed

Khantasup, Kannika; Saiviroonporn, Pairash; Jarussophon, Suwatchai; Chantima, Warangkana; Dharakul, Tararaj

2018-05-08

The development of targeted contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilitates enhanced cancer imaging and more accurate diagnosis. In the present study, a novel contrast agent was developed by conjugating anti-EpCAM humanized scFv with gadolinium chelate to achieve target specificity. The material design strategy involved site-specific conjugation of the chelating agent to scFv. The scFv monomer was linked to maleimide-DTPA via unpaired cysteine at the scFv C-terminus, followed by chelation with gadolinium (Gd). Successful scFv-DTPA conjugation was achieved at 1:10 molar ratio of scFv to maleimide-DTPA at pH 6.5. The developed anti-EpCAM-Gd-DTPA MRI contrast agent was evaluated for cell targeting ability, in vitro serum stability, cell cytotoxicity, relaxivity, and MR contrast enhancement. A high level of targeting efficacy of anti-EpCAM-Gd-DTPA to an EpCAM-overexpressing HT29 colorectal cell was demonstrated by confocal microscopy. Good stability of the contrast agent was obtained and no cytotoxicity was observed in HT29 cells after 48 h incubation with 25-100 µM of Gd. Favorable imaging was obtained using anti-EpCAM-Gd-DTPA, including 1.8-fold enhanced relaxivity compared with Gd-DTPA, and MR contrast enhancement observed after binding to HT29. The potential benefit of this contrast agent for in vivo MR imaging of colorectal cancer, as well as other EpCAM positive cancers, is suggested and warrants further investigation.

Three-Dimensional High-Order Spectral Finite Volume Method for Unstructured Grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Yen; Vinokur, Marcel; Wang, Z. J.; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Many areas require a very high-order accurate numerical solution of conservation laws for complex shapes. This paper deals with the extension to three dimensions of the Spectral Finite Volume (SV) method for unstructured grids, which was developed to solve such problems. We first summarize the limitations of traditional methods such as finite-difference, and finite-volume for both structured and unstructured grids. We then describe the basic formulation of the spectral finite volume method. What distinguishes the SV method from conventional high-order finite-volume methods for unstructured triangular or tetrahedral grids is the data reconstruction. Instead of using a large stencil of neighboring cells to perform a high-order reconstruction, the stencil is constructed by partitioning each grid cell, called a spectral volume (SV), into 'structured' sub-cells, called control volumes (CVs). One can show that if all the SV cells are partitioned into polygonal or polyhedral CV sub-cells in a geometrically similar manner, the reconstructions for all the SVs become universal, irrespective of their shapes, sizes, orientations, or locations. It follows that the reconstruction is reduced to a weighted sum of unknowns involving just a few simple adds and multiplies, and those weights are universal and can be pre-determined once for all. The method is thus very efficient, accurate, and yet geometrically flexible. The most critical part of the SV method is the partitioning of the SV into CVs. In this paper we present the partitioning of a tetrahedral SV into polyhedral CVs with one free parameter for polynomial reconstructions up to degree of precision five. (Note that the order of accuracy of the method is one order higher than the reconstruction degree of precision.) The free parameter will be determined by minimizing the Lebesgue constant of the reconstruction matrix or similar criteria to obtain optimized partitions. The details of an efficient, parallelizable code to solve three-dimensional problems for any order of accuracy are then presented. Important aspects of the data structure are discussed. Comparisons with the Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method are made. Numerical examples for wave propagation problems are presented.

A high-throughput platform for population reformatting and mammalian expression of phage display libraries to enable functional screening as full-length IgG.

PubMed

Xiao, Xiaodong; Douthwaite, Julie A; Chen, Yan; Kemp, Ben; Kidd, Sara; Percival-Alwyn, Jennifer; Smith, Alison; Goode, Kate; Swerdlow, Bonnie; Lowe, David; Wu, Herren; Dall'Acqua, William F; Chowdhury, Partha S

Phage display antibody libraries are a rich resource for discovery of potential therapeutic antibodies. Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) libraries are the most common format due to the efficient display of scFv by phage particles and the ease by which soluble scFv antibodies can be expressed for high-throughput screening. Typically, a cascade of screening and triaging activities are performed, beginning with the assessment of large numbers of E. coli-expressed scFv, and progressing through additional assays with individual reformatting of the most promising scFv to full-length IgG. However, use of high-throughput screening of scFv for the discovery of full-length IgG is not ideal because of the differences between these molecules. Furthermore, the reformatting step represents a bottle neck in the process because each antibody has to be handled individually to preserve the unique VH and VL pairing. These problems could be resolved if populations of scFv could be reformatted to full-length IgG before screening without disrupting the variable region pairing. Here, we describe a novel strategy that allows the reformatting of diverse populations of scFv from phage selections to full-length IgG in a batch format. The reformatting process maintains the diversity and variable region pairing with high fidelity, and the resulted IgG pool enables high-throughput expression of IgG in mammalian cells and cell-based functional screening. The improved process led to the discovery of potent candidates that are comparable or better than those obtained by traditional methods. This strategy should also be readily applicable to Fab-based phage libraries. Our approach, Screening in Product Format (SiPF), represents a substantial improvement in the field of antibody discovery using phage display.

Determinants of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption amongst Portuguese adults.

PubMed

Oliveira, A; Maia, B; Lopes, C

2014-04-01

A low consumption of fruit and vegetables (F&V) represents a high burden on health. The present study evaluates sociodemographic, lifestyle and anthropometric determinants of an inadequate consumption of F&V (<5 servings per day). Participants were randomly selected within the adult Porto population (n = 2485). Those with normal cognitive function and information on key variables were analysed (n = 2362). Diet was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by logistic regression, after sex stratification and controlling for age, education, marital status, smoking, regular physical exercise and total energy intake. Older women and men had 37% and 67%, respectively, lower odds of inadequate F&V consumption (≥65 versus <40 years: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.42-0.94; OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.20-0.56). More educated subjects (>12 versus <5 years) and those engaged in regular physical exercise had approximately 50% lower probability of F&V inadequacy compared to nonpractitioners, and this was similar in both sexes. On the other hand, female and male current smokers had 1.86- and 2.05-fold higher probabilities of having inadequate F&V consumption. Individuals consuming excessive alcohol (women: ≥15 g day(-1) ; men: ≥30 g day(-1) ) presented a two- and four-fold higher probability of having inadequate F&V consumption compared to nondrinkers (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.38-2.77 in women; OR = 4.40, 95% CI = 2.70-7.18 in men). In both sexes, an inadequate consumption of F&V was more frequently found in younger, less educated and less physically active subjects with smoking and drinking habits. Strategies aiming to increase F&V consumption should consider these target groups that present a clustering of unhealthy lifestyles. © 2013 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.

Using three-phase theory-based formative research to explore healthy eating in Australian truck drivers.

PubMed

Vayro, Caitlin; Hamilton, Kyra

2016-03-01

In Australia, fruit and vegetable consumption is lower than recommended while discretionary foods (i.e., foods high in fat, sugar, and salt) are eaten in excess. Long-haul truck drivers are a group at risk of unhealthy eating but have received limited attention in the health literature. We aimed to examine long-haul truck drivers eating decisions in order to develop theory-based and empirically-driven health messages to improve their healthy food choices. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior, three-phased formative research was conducted using self-report surveys. Phase 1 (N = 30, Mage = 39.53, SDage = 10.72) identified modal salient beliefs about fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and limiting discretionary choices (DC). There were nine behavioral and seven normative beliefs elicited for both FV and DC; while nine and five control beliefs were elicited for FV and DC, respectively. Phase 2 (N = 148, Mage = 44.23, SDage = 12.08) adopted a prospective design with one week follow-up to examine the predictors of FV and DC intention and behavior. A variety of behavioral and control beliefs were predictive of FV and DC intention and behavior. Normative beliefs were predictive of FV intention and behavior and DC intention only. Phase 3 (N = 20, Mage = 46.9, SDage = 12.85) elicited the reasons why each belief is held/solutions to negative beliefs, that could be used as health messages. In total, 40 reasons/solutions were identified: 26 for FV and 14 for DC. In summary, we found that specific behavioral, normative and control beliefs influenced FV and DC eating decisions. These results have implications for truck driver's health and provide formative research to inform future interventions to improve the food choices of a unique group who are at risk of unhealthy eating behaviors. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Family Violence Exposure and Health Outcomes Among Older African American Women: Do Spirituality and Social Support Play Protective Roles?

PubMed Central

Kaslow, Nadine

2010-01-01

Abstract Background Family violence (FV), spirituality, and social support are salient psychosocial determinants of health. FV is associated with poor health among older African American women. The effect of spirituality and social support levels on the health of older African American women is unknown. Methods To assess the role of spirituality and social support as culturally relevant determinants of health status for older African American women independent of FV levels, we used a cross-sectional observational study. Two hundred twelve African American women, aged ≥50, were interviewed in two urban primary care practices. The measures used were (1) Family Violence Against Older Women (FVOW) scale, (2) Physical and Mental Composite Scores of the Short-Form 8® scale, (3) Medical Outcomes of Social Support survey (MOSS), and (4) Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS). Spearman correlation coefficients estimated to test associations among lifetime FV exposure, spirituality, social support, and health status outcomes and multivariate regression models were used to examine the independent effect of spirituality and social support on physical and mental health status, controlling for FV and significant demographic variables. Results Mean participant age was 63.9 years. Higher spirituality levels were significantly associated with better physical health status after adjusting for FV levels and demographic factors (F = 6.17, p = 0.0001). Similarly, higher levels of spirituality and social support both significantly correlated with better mental health status in the multivariate model (F = 13.45, p < 0.0001) that controlled for lifetime FV levels and demographic factors. Conclusions Spirituality and social support are two potentially modifiable determinants of health for older African American women. Culturally appropriate mechanisms to enhance social support and spirituality levels need to be explored as potential inteventions to improve the health of those African American women who have been exposed to FV. PMID:20831432

EXPERIMENTAL CHALLENGE STUDY OF FV3-LIKE RANAVIRUS INFECTION IN PREVIOUSLY FV3-LIKE RANAVIRUS INFECTED EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA) TO ASSESS INFECTION AND SURVIVAL.

PubMed

Hausmann, Jennifer C; Wack, Allison N; Allender, Matthew C; Cranfield, Mike R; Murphy, Kevin J; Barrett, Kevin; Romero, Jennell L; Wellehan, James F X; Blum, Stella A; Zink, M Christine; Bronson, Ellen

2015-12-01

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore experienced an outbreak of Frog virus-3 (FV3)-like ranavirus during the summer of 2011, during which 14 of 27 (52%) of its captive eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) survived. To assess survival, immunity, and viral shedding, an experimental challenge study was performed in which the surviving, previously infected turtles were reinfected with the outbreak strain of FV3-like ranavirus. Seven turtles were inoculated with virus intramuscularly and four control turtles received saline intramuscularly. The turtles were monitored for 8 wk with blood and oral swabs collected for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). During that time, one of seven (14%) inoculated turtles and none of the controls (0%) died; there was no significant difference in survival. Clinical signs of the inoculated turtles, except for the turtle that died, were mild compared to the original outbreak. Quantitative PCR for FV3-like ranavirus on blood and oral swabs was positive for all inoculated turtles and negative for all controls. The turtle that died had intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in multiple organs. Three inoculated and two control turtles were euthanized at the end of the study. No inclusion bodies were present in any of the organs. Quantitative PCR detected FV3-like ranavirus in the spleen of a control turtle, which suggested persistence of the virus. The surviving five turtles were qPCR-negative for FV3-like ranavirus from blood and oral swabs after brumation. Quantitative PCR for Terrapene herpesvirus 1 found no association between ranavirus infection and herpesvirus loads. In conclusion, previously infected eastern box turtles can be reinfected with the same strain of FV3-like ranavirus and show mild to no clinical signs but can shed the virus from the oral cavity.

Expression and purification of a novel therapeutic single-chain variable fragment antibody against BNP from inclusion bodies of Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Bu, Dawei; Zhou, Yuwei; Tang, Jian; Jing, Fang; Zhang, Wei

2013-12-01

Abnormal brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) secretion is regarded as the dominating mechanism of cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSW), which results from a renal loss of sodium and water during intracranial disease leading to hyponatremia. Scale preparation of therapeutic single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that can neutralize elevated circulating BNP may have potential value for clinical use. In this report, we used a recently isolated humanized anti-BNP scFv fragment (3C1) as model antibody (Ab) to evaluate the potential of scale production of this therapeutic protein. The truncated gene encoding for scFv fragment cloned in pET22b (+) was mainly overexpressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli (E. coli) Rosetta (DE3) pLysS cells. The insoluble fragment was solubilized and purified by Ni-NTA agarose resin under denaturation conditions, and recovered via an effective refolding buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 0.15 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M arginine, 2 mM GSH, 1 mM GSSG, and 5% glycerol. The refolded scFv fragment was concentrated by PEG20000, and dialyzed in PBS (containing 5% glycerol, pH 7.4). The final yield was approximately 10.2 mg active scFv fragment per liter of culture (3.4 g wet weight cells). The scFv fragment was more than 95% pure assessed by SDS-PAGE assay. Recombinant scFv fragment with His tag displayed its immunoreactivity with anti-His tag Ab by western blotting. ELISA showed the scFv fragment specifically bound to BNP, and it displayed similar activity as the traditional anti-BNP monoclonal Ab (mAb). Thus, the current strategy allows convenient small-scale production of this therapeutic protein. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Children and Youth through Gardening-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Savoie-Roskos, Mateja R; Wengreen, Heidi; Durward, Carrie

2017-02-01

Although there are numerous health benefits associated with eating fruit and vegetables (F/V), few children are consuming recommended amounts. Gardening interventions have been implemented in various settings in an effort to increase children's F/V consumption by expanding knowledge, exposure, and preferences for a variety of F/V. The purpose of this review was to identify the effectiveness of gardening interventions that have been implemented to increase F/V consumption among children. A systematic review was conducted using four electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. English language studies conducted in developed countries between January 2005 and October 2015 were included in this review. Included studies measured F/V consumption among children aged 2 to 15 years before and after implementation of a gardening intervention in a school, community, or afterschool setting. All study designs were included in this review. A total of 891 articles were identified through database searching and cross-referencing. After removing duplicates, 650 articles remained and were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty-seven full-text articles were analyzed and 14 articles were included in this review. Of the 14 articles reviewed, 10 articles found statistically significant increases in fruit or vegetable consumption among participants after implementation of a gardening intervention. However, many studies were limited by the use of convenience samples, small sample sizes, and self-reported measurements of F/V consumption. Although the evidence is mixed and fraught with limitations, most studies suggest a small but positive influence of gardening interventions on children's F/V intake. Future studies that include control groups, randomized designs, and assessments of F/V consumption over at least 1 year are needed to advance the literature on this topic. Copyright © 2017 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Demonstration Of Ultra HI-FI (UHF) Methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyson, Rodger W.

2004-01-01

Computational aero-acoustics (CAA) requires efficient, high-resolution simulation tools. Most current techniques utilize finite-difference approaches because high order accuracy is considered too difficult or expensive to achieve with finite volume or finite element methods. However, a novel finite volume approach (Ultra HI-FI or UHF) which utilizes Hermite fluxes is presented which can achieve both arbitrary accuracy and fidelity in space and time. The technique can be applied to unstructured grids with some loss of fidelity or with multi-block structured grids for maximum efficiency and resolution. In either paradigm, it is possible to resolve ultra-short waves (less than 2 PPW). This is demonstrated here by solving the 4th CAA workshop Category 1 Problem 1.

Wigner analysis of three dimensional pupil with finite lateral aperture

PubMed Central

Chen, Hsi-Hsun; Oh, Se Baek; Zhai, Xiaomin; Tsai, Jui-Chang; Cao, Liang-Cai; Barbastathis, George; Luo, Yuan

2015-01-01

A three dimensional (3D) pupil is an optical element, most commonly implemented on a volume hologram, that processes the incident optical field on a 3D fashion. Here we analyze the diffraction properties of a 3D pupil with finite lateral aperture in the 4-f imaging system configuration, using the Wigner Distribution Function (WDF) formulation. Since 3D imaging pupil is finite in both lateral and longitudinal directions, the WDF of the volume holographic 4-f imager theoretically predicts distinct Bragg diffraction patterns in phase space. These result in asymmetric profiles of diffracted coherent point spread function between degenerate diffraction and Bragg diffraction, elucidating the fundamental performance of volume holographic imaging. Experimental measurements are also presented, confirming the theoretical predictions. PMID:25836443

Sanity check for NN bound states in lattice QCD with Lüscher's finite volume formula - Disclosing Symptoms of Fake Plateaux -

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoki, Sinya; Doi, Takumi; Iritani, Takumi

2018-03-01

The sanity check is to rule out certain classes of obviously false results, not to catch every possible error. After reviewing such a sanity check for NN bound states with the Lüscher's finite volume formula [1-3], we give further evidences for the operator dependence of plateaux, a symptom of the fake plateau problem, against the claim [4]. We then present our critical comments on [5] by NPLQCD: (i) Operator dependences of plateaux in NPL2013 [6, 7] exist with the P value of 4-5%. (ii) The volume independence of plateaux in NPL2013 does not prove their correctness. (iii) Effective range expansions (EREs) in NPL2013 violate the physical pole condition. (iv) Their comment is partly based on new data and analysis different from the original ones. (v) Their new ERE does not satisfy the Lüscher's finite volume formula.

Cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in breast cancer cells induced by anti-FZD7 scFvs: involvement of bioinformatics-based design of novel epitopes.

PubMed

Zarei, Neda; Fazeli, Mehdi; Mohammadi, Mozafar; Nejatollahi, Foroogh

2018-06-01

FZD7 has a critical role as a surface receptor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer cells. Suppressing Wnt signaling through blocking FZD7 is shown to decrease cell viability, metastasis and invasion. Bioinformatic methods have been a powerful tool in epitope designing studies. Small size, high affinity and human origin of scFv antibodies have provided unique advantages for these recombinant antibodies. Two epitopes from extracellular domain of FZD7 were designed using bioinformatic methods. Specific anti-FZD7 scFvs were selected against these epitopes through panning process. The specificity of the scFvs was assessed by phage ELISA and the ability to bind to FZD7 expressing cell line (MDA-MB-231) was determined by flowcytometry. Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of the scFvs were evaluated by MTT and Annexin V/PI assays. The effects of selected scFvs on expression level of Surivin, c-Myc and Dvl genes were also evaluated by real-time PCR. Results demonstrated selection of two specific scFvs (scFv-I and scFv-II) with frequencies of 35 and 20%. Both antibodies bound to the corresponding peptides and cell surface receptors as shown by phage ELISA and flowcytometry, respectively. The scFvs inhibited cell growth of MDA-MB-231 cells significantly as compared to untreated cells. Growth inhibition of 58.6 and 53.1% were detected for scFv-I and scFv-II, respectively. No significant growth inhibition was detected for SKBR-3 negative control cells. The scFvs induced apoptotic effects in the MDA-MB-231 treated cells after 48 h, which were 81.6 and 74.9% for scFv-I and scFv-II, respectively. Downregulation of Surivin, c-Myc and Dvl genes were also shown after 48h treatment of cells with either of scFvs (59.3-93.8%). ScFv-I showed significant higher antiproliferative and apoptotic effects than scFv-II. Bioinformatic methods could effectively select potential epitopes of FZD7 protein and suggest that epitope designing by bioinformatic methods could contribute to the selection of key antigens for cancer immunotherapy. The selected scFvs, especially scFv-I, with high antiproliferative and apoptotic effects could be considered as effective agents for immunotherapy of cancers expressing FZD7 receptor including triple negative breast cancer.

Validity and reliability of a brief self-reported questionnaire assessing fruit and vegetable consumption among pregnant women.

PubMed

Vézina-Im, Lydi-Anne; Godin, Gaston; Couillard, Charles; Perron, Julie; Lemieux, Simone; Robitaille, Julie

2016-09-15

Short instruments measuring frequency of specific foods, such as fruit and vegetable (FV), are increasingly used in interventions. The objective of the study was to verify the validity and test-retest reliability of such an instrument among pregnant women. Pregnant women from the region of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, were recruited through e-mails sent to female students and employees of the local university from October 2014 to April 2015. To assess the validity of the fruit and vegetable questionnaire (FVQ) developed by Godin et al. (Can J Public Health 99: 494-498, 2008), pregnant women were asked in a first mailing to complete the FVQ assessing FV intake over the past 7 days and a 3-day estimated food record. A subsample (n = 33) also gave a fasting blood sample and completed a validated semi-quantitative FFQ administered by a trained registered dietitian during a visit at the research center. FV intakes for all instruments were calculated in terms of servings of FV based on Canada's Food Guide definition of a serving of fruit or vegetable. In order to assess its test-retest reliability, respondents were asked to complete the FVQ 14 days later in a second mailing. Forty-eight pregnant women from all three trimesters completed the questionnaires in the first mailing. FV intake assessed using the FVQ was correlated to FV consumption measured using the food record (r = 0.34, p = 0.0180) and the FFQ (r = 0.61, p = 0.0002). Results were similar when controlling for energy intake and the experience of nausea in the past month. Only β-cryptoxanthin was significantly correlated to FV intake assessed by the FFQ when adjusted for the presence of nausea (r = 0.35, p = 0.0471). Data on the test-retest reliability was available for 44 women and the intra-class coefficient for the FVQ was 0.72 at a mean 28-day interval. The FVQ has acceptable validity and test-retest reliability values, but seems to underestimate FV servings in pregnant women. It represents an interesting alternative for researchers or clinicians interested in estimating quickly FV intake among pregnant women, such as in large trials or during prenatal visits. The FVQ should however be coupled with other self-reported measures, such as a food record, for assessing precise individual FV intake.

Methods for High-Order Multi-Scale and Stochastic Problems Analysis, Algorithms, and Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-17

finite volume schemes, discontinuous Galerkin finite element method, and related methods, for solving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problems and...approximation for finite element methods. (3) The development of methods of simulation and analysis for the study of large scale stochastic systems of...laws, finite element method, Bernstein-Bezier finite elements , weakly interacting particle systems, accelerated Monte Carlo, stochastic networks 16

Laboratory Testing of a Fluidized Bed Dry Scrubbing Process for Removal of Sulfur Dioxide and Phosphorous Pentoxide from an Inert Carrier Gas.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-01

flue gas desulfurization . A number of lab-scale studies have been conducted in...data on dry scrubbing of P205 could not be located. However, there is a significant volume of data in the literature on flue gas desulfurization and, to...8217’ ’--- -’ -- ’ -; ’ -’-’ .’ .’’. -’-’ - .".’,-" . ;"> . .. -, " ’. < + i i ,.- F).V A 23 REFERENCE S 1. A. Skopp et al., Fluid Bed Studies of the Limestone Based Flue Gas

XTHs from Fragaria vesca: genomic structure and transcriptomic analysis in ripening fruit and other tissues.

PubMed

Opazo, María Cecilia; Lizana, Rodrigo; Stappung, Yazmina; Davis, Thomas M; Herrera, Raúl; Moya-León, María Alejandra

2017-11-07

Fragaria vesca or 'woodland strawberry' has emerged as an attractive model for the study of ripening of non-climacteric fruit. It has several advantages, such as its small genome and its diploidy. The recent availability of the complete sequence of its genome opens the possibility for further analysis and its use as a reference species. Fruit softening is a physiological event and involves many biochemical changes that take place at the final stages of fruit development; among them, the remodeling of cell walls by the action of a set of enzymes. Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase (XTH) is a cell wall-associated enzyme, which is encoded by a multigene family. Its action modifies the structure of xyloglucans, a diverse group of polysaccharides that crosslink with cellulose microfibrills, affecting therefore the functional structure of the cell wall. The aim of this work is to identify the XTH-encoding genes present in F. vesca and to determine its transcription level in ripening fruit. The search resulted in identification of 26 XTH-encoding genes named as FvXTHs. Genetic structure and phylogenetic analyses were performed allowing the classification of FvXTH genes into three phylogenetic groups: 17 in group I/II, 2 in group IIIA and 4 in group IIIB. Two sequences were included into the ancestral group. Through a comparative analysis, characteristic structural protein domains were found in FvXTH protein sequences. In complement, expression analyses of FvXTHs by qPCR were performed in fruit at different developmental and ripening stages, as well as, in other tissues. The results showed a diverse expression pattern of FvXTHs in several tissues, although most of them are highly expressed in roots. Their expression patterns are not related to their respective phylogenetic groups. In addition, most FvXTHs are expressed in ripe fruit, and interestingly, some of them (FvXTH 18 and 20, belonging to phylogenic group I/II, and FvXTH 25 and 26 to group IIIB) display an increasing expression pattern as the fruit ripens. A discrete group of FvXTHs (18, 20, 25 and 26) increases their expression during softening of F. vesca fruit, and could take part in cell wall remodeling required for softening in collaboration with other cell wall degrading enzymes.

Comparing effectiveness of mass media campaigns with price reductions targeting fruit and vegetable intake on US cardiovascular disease mortality and race disparities.

PubMed

Pearson-Stuttard, Jonathan; Bandosz, Piotr; Rehm, Colin D; Afshin, Ashkan; Peñalvo, Jose L; Whitsel, Laurie; Danaei, Goodarz; Micha, Renata; Gaziano, Tom; Lloyd-Williams, Ffion; Capewell, Simon; Mozaffarian, Dariush; O'Flaherty, Martin

2017-07-01

Background: A low intake of fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States. Both mass media campaigns (MMCs) and economic incentives may increase F&V consumption. Few data exist on their comparative effectiveness. Objective: We estimated CVD mortality reductions potentially achievable by price reductions and MMC interventions targeting F&V intake in the US population. Design: We developed a US IMPACT Food Policy Model to compare 3 policies targeting F&V intake across US adults from 2015 to 2030: national MMCs and national F&V price reductions of 10% and 30%. We accounted for differences in baseline diets, CVD rates, MMC coverage, MMC duration, and declining effects over time. Outcomes included cumulative CVD (coronary heart disease and stroke) deaths prevented or postponed and life-years gained (LYGs) over the study period, stratified by age, sex, and race. Results: A 1-y MMC in 2015 would increase the average national F&V consumption by 7% for 1 y and prevent ∼18,600 CVD deaths (95% CI: 17,600, 19,500), gaining ∼280,100 LYGs by 2030. With a 15-y MMC, increased F&V consumption would be sustained, yielding a 3-fold larger reduction (56,100; 95% CI: 52,400, 57,700) in CVD deaths. In comparison, a 10% decrease in F&V prices would increase F&V consumption by ∼14%. This would prevent ∼153,300 deaths (95% CI: 146,400, 159,200), gaining ∼2.51 million LYGs. For a 30% price decrease, resulting in a 42% increase in F&V consumption, corresponding values would be 451,900 CVD deaths prevented or postponed (95% CI: 433,100, 467,500) and 7.3 million LYGs gained. Effects were similar by sex, with a smaller proportional effect and larger absolute effects at older ages. A 1-y MMC would be 35% less effective in preventing CVD deaths in non-Hispanic blacks than in whites. In comparison, price-reduction policies would have equitable proportional effects. Conclusion: Both national MMCs and price-reduction policies could reduce US CVD mortality, with price reduction being more powerful and sustainable. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

[Targeted detecting HER2 expression with recombinant anti HER2 ScFv-GFP fusion antibody].

PubMed

Gao, Guohui; Chen, Chong; Yang, Yanmei; Yang, Han; Wang, Jindan; Zheng, Yi; Huang, Qidi; Hu, Xiaoqu

2012-08-01

To verify the reliability of targeted detecting HER2 positive cancer cells and clinical pathological tissue specimens with a recombinant anti HER2 single chain antibody in single chain Fv fragment (scFv) format, we have constructed the fusion variable regions of the ScFv specific for HER2/neu. labeled a green-fluorescent protein(GFP). The humanized recombinant Anti HER2 ScFv-GFP gene was inserted into pFast Bac HT A, and expressed in insect cells sf9. Then the recombinant fusion protein Anti HER2 ScFv-GFP was properly purified with Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography from the infected sf9 cells used to test the specificity of the fusion antibody for HER2 positive cancer cells. Firstly, the purified antibody incubated with HER2 positive breast cancer cells SKBR3, BT474 and HER2 negative breast cancer cells MCF7 for 12 h/24 h/48 h at 37 degrees C, in order to confirm targeted detecting HER2 positive breast cancer cells by Laser Confocal Microscopy. Furthermore, the same clinical pathological tissue samples were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the fusion antibody Anti HER2 ScFv-GFP in the meanwhile. The data obtained indicated that the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pFast Bac HT A/Anti HER2 ScFv-GFP was constructed successfully In addition, obvious green fluorescent was observed in insect cells sf9. When the purified fusion antibody was incubated with different cancer cells, much more green fluorescent was observed on the surface of the HER2 positive cancer cells SKBR3 and BT474. In contrast, no green fluorescent on the surface of the HER2 negative cancer cells MCF7 was detected. The concentration of the purified fusion antibody was 115.5 microg/mL, of which protein relative molecular weight was 60 kDa. The analysis showed the purity was about 97% and the titer was about 1:64. The detection results of IHC and fusion antibody testing indicated the conformity. In summary, the study showed that the new fusion antibody Anti HER2 ScFv-GFP can test HER2 positive cancer cells, indicating a potential candidate method for clinical HER2 positive specimens detection.

3D highly heterogeneous thermal model of pineal gland in-vitro study for electromagnetic exposure using finite volume method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cen, Wei; Hoppe, Ralph; Lu, Rongbo; Cai, Zhaoquan; Gu, Ning

2017-08-01

In this paper, the relationship between electromagnetic power absorption and temperature distributions inside highly heterogeneous biological samples was accurately determinated using finite volume method. An in-vitro study on pineal gland that is responsible for physiological activities was for the first time simulated to illustrate effectiveness of the proposed method.

Equivalence of Fluctuation Splitting and Finite Volume for One-Dimensional Gas Dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, William A.

1997-01-01

The equivalence of the discretized equations resulting from both fluctuation splitting and finite volume schemes is demonstrated in one dimension. Scalar equations are considered for advection, diffusion, and combined advection/diffusion. Analysis of systems is performed for the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations of gas dynamics. Non-uniform mesh-point distributions are included in the analyses.

A Coupled GCM-Cloud Resolving Modeling System, and a Regional Scale Model to Study Precipitation Processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tao, Wei-Kuo

2006-01-01

Recent GEWEX Cloud System Study (GCSS) model comparison projects have indicated that cloud-resolving models (CRMs) agree with observations better than traditional single-column models in simulating various types of clouds and cloud systems from different geographic locations. Current and future NASA satellite programs can provide cloud, precipitation, aerosol and other data at very fine spatial and temporal scales. It requires a coupled global circulation model (GCM) and cloud-scale model (termed a super-parameterization or multi-scale modeling framework, MMF) to use these satellite data to improve the understanding of the physical processes that are responsible for the variation in global and regional climate and hydrological systems. The use of a GCM will enable global coverage, and the use of a CRM will allow for better and more sophisticated physical parameterization. NASA satellite and field campaign cloud related datasets can provide initial conditions as well as validation for both the MMF and CFWs. The Goddard MMF is based on the 2D Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model and the Goddard finite volume general circulation model (fvGCM), and it has started production runs with two years results (1 998 and 1999). In this talk, I will present: (1) A brief review on GCE model and its applications on precipitation processes (microphysical and land processes), (2) The Goddard MMF and the major difference between two existing MMFs (CSU MMF and Goddard MMF), and preliminary results (the comparison with traditional GCMs), and (3) A discussion on the Goddard WRF version (its developments and applications).

Haemodynamic imaging of thoracic stent-grafts by computational fluid dynamics (CFD): presentation of a patient-specific method combining magnetic resonance imaging and numerical simulations.

PubMed

Midulla, Marco; Moreno, Ramiro; Baali, Adil; Chau, Ming; Negre-Salvayre, Anne; Nicoud, Franck; Pruvo, Jean-Pierre; Haulon, Stephan; Rousseau, Hervé

2012-10-01

In the last decade, there was been increasing interest in finding imaging techniques able to provide a functional vascular imaging of the thoracic aorta. The purpose of this paper is to present an imaging method combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to obtain a patient-specific haemodynamic analysis of patients treated by thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). MRI was used to obtain boundary conditions. MR angiography (MRA) was followed by cardiac-gated cine sequences which covered the whole thoracic aorta. Phase contrast imaging provided the inlet and outlet profiles. A CFD mesh generator was used to model the arterial morphology, and wall movements were imposed according to the cine imaging. CFD runs were processed using the finite volume (FV) method assuming blood as a homogeneous Newtonian fluid. Twenty patients (14 men; mean age 62.2 years) with different aortic lesions were evaluated. Four-dimensional mapping of velocity and wall shear stress were obtained, depicting different patterns of flow (laminar, turbulent, stenosis-like) and local alterations of parietal stress in-stent and along the native aorta. A computational method using a combined approach with MRI appears feasible and seems promising to provide detailed functional analysis of thoracic aorta after stent-graft implantation. • Functional vascular imaging of the thoracic aorta offers new diagnostic opportunities • CFD can model vascular haemodynamics for clinical aortic problems • Combining CFD with MRI offers patient specific method of aortic analysis • Haemodynamic analysis of stent-grafts could improve clinical management and follow-up.

Interfacial separation of a mature biofilm from a glass surface - A combined experimental and cohesive zone modelling approach.

PubMed

Safari, Ashkan; Tukovic, Zeljko; Cardiff, Philip; Walter, Maik; Casey, Eoin; Ivankovic, Alojz

2016-02-01

A good understanding of the mechanical stability of biofilms is essential for biofouling management, particularly when mechanical forces are used. Previous biofilm studies lack a damage-based theoretical model to describe the biofilm separation from a surface. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the interfacial separation of a mature biofilm from a rigid glass substrate using a combined experimental and numerical modelling approach. In the current work, the biofilm-glass interfacial separation process was investigated under tensile and shear stresses at the macroscale level, known as modes I and II failure mechanisms respectively. The numerical simulations were performed using a Finite Volume (FV)-based simulation package (OpenFOAM®) to predict the separation initiation using the cohesive zone model (CZM). Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based retraction curve was used to obtain the separation properties between the biofilm and glass colloid at microscale level, where the CZM parameters were estimated using the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) model. In this study CZM is introduced as a reliable method for the investigation of interfacial separation between a biofilm and rigid substrate, in which a high local stress at the interface edge acts as an ultimate stress at the crack tip.This study demonstrated that the total interfacial failure energy measured at the macroscale, was significantly higher than the pure interfacial separation energy obtained by AFM at the microscale, indicating a highly ductile deformation behaviour within the bulk biofilm matrix. The results of this study can significantly contribute to the understanding of biofilm detachments. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Statistical Optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodman, Joseph W.

2000-07-01

The Wiley Classics Library consists of selected books that have become recognized classics in their respective fields. With these new unabridged and inexpensive editions, Wiley hopes to extend the life of these important works by making them available to future generations of mathematicians and scientists. Currently available in the Series: T. W. Anderson The Statistical Analysis of Time Series T. S. Arthanari & Yadolah Dodge Mathematical Programming in Statistics Emil Artin Geometric Algebra Norman T. J. Bailey The Elements of Stochastic Processes with Applications to the Natural Sciences Robert G. Bartle The Elements of Integration and Lebesgue Measure George E. P. Box & Norman R. Draper Evolutionary Operation: A Statistical Method for Process Improvement George E. P. Box & George C. Tiao Bayesian Inference in Statistical Analysis R. W. Carter Finite Groups of Lie Type: Conjugacy Classes and Complex Characters R. W. Carter Simple Groups of Lie Type William G. Cochran & Gertrude M. Cox Experimental Designs, Second Edition Richard Courant Differential and Integral Calculus, Volume I RIchard Courant Differential and Integral Calculus, Volume II Richard Courant & D. Hilbert Methods of Mathematical Physics, Volume I Richard Courant & D. Hilbert Methods of Mathematical Physics, Volume II D. R. Cox Planning of Experiments Harold S. M. Coxeter Introduction to Geometry, Second Edition Charles W. Curtis & Irving Reiner Representation Theory of Finite Groups and Associative Algebras Charles W. Curtis & Irving Reiner Methods of Representation Theory with Applications to Finite Groups and Orders, Volume I Charles W. Curtis & Irving Reiner Methods of Representation Theory with Applications to Finite Groups and Orders, Volume II Cuthbert Daniel Fitting Equations to Data: Computer Analysis of Multifactor Data, Second Edition Bruno de Finetti Theory of Probability, Volume I Bruno de Finetti Theory of Probability, Volume 2 W. Edwards Deming Sample Design in Business Research

A time accurate finite volume high resolution scheme for three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, Meng-Sing; Hsu, Andrew T.

1989-01-01

A time accurate, three-dimensional, finite volume, high resolution scheme for solving the compressible full Navier-Stokes equations is presented. The present derivation is based on the upwind split formulas, specifically with the application of Roe's (1981) flux difference splitting. A high-order accurate (up to the third order) upwind interpolation formula for the inviscid terms is derived to account for nonuniform meshes. For the viscous terms, discretizations consistent with the finite volume concept are described. A variant of second-order time accurate method is proposed that utilizes identical procedures in both the predictor and corrector steps. Avoiding the definition of midpoint gives a consistent and easy procedure, in the framework of finite volume discretization, for treating viscous transport terms in the curvilinear coordinates. For the boundary cells, a new treatment is introduced that not only avoids the use of 'ghost cells' and the associated problems, but also satisfies the tangency conditions exactly and allows easy definition of viscous transport terms at the first interface next to the boundary cells. Numerical tests of steady and unsteady high speed flows show that the present scheme gives accurate solutions.

Population parameters for resistance to Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium verticillioides ear rot among large sets of early, mid-late and late maturing European maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines.

PubMed

Löffler, Martin; Kessel, Bettina; Ouzunova, Milena; Miedaner, Thomas

2010-03-01

Infection of maize ears with Fusarium graminearum (FG) and Fusarium verticillioides (FV) reduces yield and quality by mycotoxin contamination. Breeding and growing varieties resistant to both Fusarium spp. is the best alternative to minimize problems. The objectives of our study were to draw conclusions on breeding for ear rot resistance by estimating variance components, heritabilities and correlations between resistances to FV and FG severity and to investigate different inoculation methods. In 2007 and 2008, three maturity groups (early, mid-late, late) each comprising about 150 inbred lines were tested in Germany, France, Italy, and Hungary according to their maturity group. They were silk channel inoculated by FG (early) and FV (all groups). In the late maturity group, additionally kernel inoculation was applied in a separate trial. The percentage of mycelium coverage on the ear was rated at harvest (0-100%). Significant (P < 0.01) genotypic variances of ear rot severity were found in all groups. Inoculation was superior to natural infection because of higher disease severities and heritabilities. In early maturing flints and dents, FG caused significantly (P < 0.01) higher ear rot severity than FV (61.7 and 55.1% FG vs. 18.2 and 11.1% FV ear rot severity, respectively). FV inoculation in Southern Europe (mid-late, late) resulted in similar means between 10.3 and 14.0%. Selection is complicated by significant (P < 0.01) genotype x environment interactions. Correlation between FG and FV severity was moderate in flints and dents (r = 0.59 and 0.49, respectively) but lines resistant to both fungi exist. We conclude that chances for selecting improved European elite maize material within the existing germplasms is promising by multi-environmental inoculation trials.

Behavioral Correlates of Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Puerto Rico: Results from the Health Information National Trends Survey

PubMed Central

Colón-López, Vivian; Banerjee, Geetanjoli; Gertz, Alida María; Ortiz, Ana Patricia; Calo, William; Finney-Rutten, Lila J.; Colón-Ramos, Uriyoán; Hesse, Bradford W.; Tortolero, Guillermo

2016-01-01

Objective A diet high in fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with a decreased risk for chronic diseases, such as cancer. Limited information exists regarding the factors associated with FV intake in persons living in Puerto Rico. The objective of this study was to examine sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-belief factors associated with dietary habits in Puerto Rico. Methods Secondary data analysis of adults aged 18 years and older from the Puerto Rico Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-PR) conducted in 2009. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with meeting the established recommendations for FV consumption. Results Only 14.5% of the adults in Puerto Rico met the recommendations for daily FV intake, and the vast majority (90.9%) were unaware of current recommendations. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that being obese, having lower than a high school education, and not knowing the recommendations were significantly associated with not meeting these recommendations. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, being obese (OR = 3.77; 95% CI = 1.41-10.08) and not being aware of the current dietary recommendations (OR = 9.26; 95% CI = 3.77-22.73) continued to be significantly associated with not meeting the FV intake recommendations. Conclusion The Puerto Rican population is far from meeting FV consumption recommendations, with prevalence estimates of consumption that are below the US median. Low FV intake might put the population in Puerto Rico at increased risk of developing cancer as well as a number of other chronic diseases that are secondary both to improper nutrition and to obesity. PMID:24397217

Efficacy of a store-based environmental change intervention compared with a delayed treatment control condition on store customers’ intake of fruits and vegetables

PubMed Central

Ayala, Guadalupe X; Baquero, Barbara; Laraia, Barbara A; Ji, Ming; Linnan, Laura

2013-01-01

Objective The present store-based intervention was designed to promote sales of fruits and vegetables (F&V) to increase intake among store customers – specifically customers of tiendas, small-to-medium-sized Latino food stores. Design Four tiendas were randomized to a 2-month environmental change intervention or a delayed treatment control condition. Employees and managers were trained to promote F&V sales, including how to implement a food marketing campaign and installing store equipment to promote fresh fruits and vegetables. The primary outcome was self-reported daily intake of F&V among a convenience sample of customers (at least forty per store) collected at baseline prior to randomization and then 4 months later. In addition, changes in availability of F&V in the tiendas, using unobtrusive observational methods, provided evidence of intervention fidelity. Setting Tiendas in central North Carolina. Subjects Participants included 179 customers who were recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Results A group-by-time interaction approached significance on daily servings of F&V; intervention customers reported an increase in F&V intake over time and as a function of the intervention (P≤0·06). Unexpectedly, self-efficacy for consuming more fruits (P≤0·01) and more vegetables (P≤0·06) decreased. In our store-level analyses, a group-by-time interaction was observed for availability of fresh and canned vegetables; the intervention increased availability of vegetables but not fruit. Conclusions Environmental change strategies to promote healthy eating are needed given the rates of obesity and diabetes in the Latino population. A store-based intervention was moderately effective at increasing customers’ reported F&V intake. Such strategies can have a public health impact on underserved populations. PMID:23561842

Parenting practices are associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in pre-school children

PubMed Central

O’Connor, Teresia M; Hughes, Sheryl O; Watson, Kathy B; Baranowski, Tom; Nicklas, Theresa A; Fisher, Jennie O; Beltran, Alicia; Baranowski, Janice C; Qu, Haiyan; Shewchuk, Richard M

2009-01-01

Objective Parents may influence children’s fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption in many ways, but research has focused primarily on counterproductive parenting practices, such as restriction and pressure to eat. The present study aimed to assess the association of diverse parenting practices to promote F&V and its consumption among pre-school children. Design An exploratory analysis was performed on cross-sectional data from 755 Head Start pre-school children and their parents collected in 2004–5. Data included parent practices to facilitate child F&V consumption (grouped into five categories); parent-reported dietary intake of their child over 3 d; and a number of potential correlates. K-means cluster analysis assigned parents to groups with similar use of the food parenting practice categories. Stepwise linear regression analyses investigated the association of parent clusters with children’s consumption of F&V, after controlling for potential confounding factors. Results A three-cluster solution provided the best fit (R2 = 0 62), with substantial differences in the use of parenting practices. The clusters were labelled Indiscriminate Food Parenting, Non-directive Food Parenting and Low-involved Food Parenting. Non-directive parents extensively used enhanced availability and teachable moments’ practices, but less firm discipline practices than the other clusters, and were significantly associated with child F&V intake (standardized β = 0·09, P < 0·1; final model R2 = 0·17) after controlling for confounders, including parental feeding styles. Conclusions Parents use a variety of parenting practices, beyond pressuring to eat and restrictive practices, to promote F&V intake in their young child. Evaluating the use of combinations of practices may provide a better understanding of parental influences on children’s F&V intake. PMID:19490734

Modification and identification of a vector for making a large phage antibody library.

PubMed

Zhang, Guo-min; Chen, Yü-ping; Guan, Yuan-zhi; Wang, Yan; An, Yun-qing

2007-11-20

The large phage antibody library is used to obtain high-affinity human antibody, and the Loxp/cre site-specific recombination system is a potential method for constructing a large phage antibody library. In the present study, a phage antibody library vector pDF was reconstructed to construct diabody more quickly and conveniently without injury to homologous recombination and the expression function of the vector and thus to integrate construction of the large phage antibody library with the preparation of diabodies. scFv was obtained by overlap polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with the newly designed VL and VH extension primers. loxp511 was flanked by VL and VH and the endonuclease ACC III encoding sequences were introduced on both sides of loxp511. scFv was cloned into the vector pDF to obtain the vector pDscFv. The vector expression function was identified and the feasibility of diabody preparation was evaluated. A large phage antibody library was constructed in pDscFv. Several antigens were used to screen the antibody library and the quality of the antibody library was evaluated. The phage antibody library expression vector pDscFv was successfully constructed and confirmed to express functional scFv. The large phage antibody library constructed using this vector was of high diversity. Screening of the library on 6 antigens confirmed the generation of specific antibodies to these antigens. Two antibodies were subjected to enzymatic digestion and were prepared into diabody with functional expression. The reconstructed vector pDscFv retains its recombination capability and expression function and can be used to construct large phage antibody libraries. It can be used as a convenient and quick method for preparing diabodies after simple enzymatic digestion, which facilitates clinical trials and application of antibody therapy.

Engineering of a recombinant trivalent single-chain variable fragment antibody directed against rabies virus glycoprotein G with improved neutralizing potency.

PubMed

Turki, Imène; Hammami, Akil; Kharmachi, Habib; Mousli, Mohamed

2014-02-01

Human and equine rabies immunoglobulins are currently available for passive immunization against rabies. However, these are hampered by the limited supply and some drawbacks. Advances in antibody engineering have led to overcome issues of clinical applications and to improve the protective efficacy. In the present study, we report the generation of a trivalent single-chain Fv (scFv50AD1-Fd), that recognizes the rabies virus glycoprotein, genetically fused to the trimerization domain of the bacteriophage T4 fibritin, termed 'foldon' (Fd). scFv50AD1-Fd was expressed as soluble recombinant protein in bacterial periplasmic space and purified through affinity chromatography. The molecular integrity and stability were analyzed by polyacrylamide gradient-gel electrophoresis, size-exclusion chromatography and incubation in human sera. The antigen-binding properties of the trimeric scFv were analyzed by direct and competitive-ELISA. Its apparent affinity constant was estimated at 1.4 ± 0.25 × 10(9)M(-1) and was 75-fold higher than its monovalent scFv (1.9 ± 0.68 × 10(7)M(-1)). The scFv50AD1-Fd neutralized rabies virus in a standard in vitro and in vivo neutralization assay. We showed a high neutralization activity up to 75-fold compared with monovalent format and the WHO standard serum. The gain in avidity resulting from multivalency along with an improved biological activity makes the trivalent scFv50AD1-Fd construct an important reagent for rabies protection. The antibody engineering approach presented here may serve as a strategy for designing a new generation of anti-rabies for passive immunotherapy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Environmental influences on fruit and vegetable intake: Results from a path analytic model

PubMed Central

Liese, Angela D.; Bell, Bethany A.; Barnes, Timothy L.; Colabianchi, Natalie; Hibbert, James D.; Blake, Christine E.; Freedman, Darcy A.

2014-01-01

Objective Fruit and vegetable intake (F&V) is influenced by behavioral and environmental factors, but these have rarely been assessed simultaneously. We aimed to quantify the relative influence of supermarket availability, perceptions of the food environment, and shopping behavior on F&V intake. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Eight-counties in South Carolina, USA, with verified locations of all supermarkets. Subjects A telephone survey of 831 household food shoppers ascertained F&V intake with a 17-item screener, primary food store location, shopping frequency, perceptions of healthy food availability, and calculated GIS-based supermarket availability. Path analysis was conducted. We report standardized beta coefficients on paths significant at the 0.05 level. Results Frequency of grocery shopping at primary food store (β=0.11) was the only factor exerting an independent, statistically significant direct effect on F&V intake. Supermarket availability was significantly associated with distance to food store (β=-0.24) and shopping frequency (β=0.10). Increased supermarket availability was significantly and positively related to perceived healthy food availability in the neighborhood (β=0.18) and ease of shopping access (β=0.09). Collectively considering all model paths linked to perceived availability of healthy foods, this measure was the only other factor to have a significant total effect on F&V intake. Conclusions While the majority of literature to date has suggested an independent and important role of supermarket availability for F&V intake, our study found only indirect effects of supermarket availability and suggests that food shopping frequency and perceptions of healthy food availability are two integral components of a network of influences on F&V intake. PMID:24192274

Efficacy of a store-based environmental change intervention compared with a delayed treatment control condition on store customers' intake of fruits and vegetables.

PubMed

Ayala, Guadalupe X; Baquero, Barbara; Laraia, Barbara A; Ji, Ming; Linnan, Laura

2013-11-01

The present store-based intervention was designed to promote sales of fruits and vegetables (F&V) to increase intake among store customers--specifically customers of tiendas, small-to-medium-sized Latino food stores. Four tiendas were randomized to a 2-month environmental change intervention or a delayed treatment control condition. Employees and managers were trained to promote F&V sales, including how to implement a food marketing campaign and installing store equipment to promote fresh fruits and vegetables. The primary outcome was self-reported daily intake of F&V among a convenience sample of customers (at least forty per store) collected at baseline prior to randomization and then 4 months later. In addition, changes in availability of F&V in the tiendas, using unobtrusive observational methods, provided evidence of intervention fidelity. Tiendas in central North Carolina. Participants included 179 customers who were recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America. A group-by-time interaction approached significance on daily servings of F&V; intervention customers reported an increase in F&V intake over time and as a function of the intervention (P < or = 0.06). Unexpectedly, self-efficacy for consuming more fruits (P < or = 0.01) and more vegetables (P < or = 0.06) decreased. In our store-level analyses, a group-by-time interaction was observed for availability of fresh and canned vegetables; the intervention increased availability of vegetables but not fruit. Environmental change strategies to promote healthy eating are needed given the rates of obesity and diabetes in the Latino population. A store-based intervention was moderately effective at increasing customers’ reported F&V intake. Such strategies can have a public health impact on underserved populations.

A natively paired antibody library yields drug leads with higher sensitivity and specificity than a randomly paired antibody library.

PubMed

Adler, Adam S; Bedinger, Daniel; Adams, Matthew S; Asensio, Michael A; Edgar, Robert C; Leong, Renee; Leong, Jackson; Mizrahi, Rena A; Spindler, Matthew J; Bandi, Srinivasa Rao; Huang, Haichun; Tawde, Pallavi; Brams, Peter; Johnson, David S

2018-04-01

Deep sequencing and single-chain variable fragment (scFv) yeast display methods are becoming more popular for discovery of therapeutic antibody candidates in mouse B cell repertoires. In this study, we compare a deep sequencing and scFv display method that retains native heavy and light chain pairing with a related method that randomly pairs heavy and light chain. We performed the studies in a humanized mouse, using interleukin 21 receptor (IL-21R) as a test immunogen. We identified 44 high-affinity binder scFv with the native pairing method and 100 high-affinity binder scFv with the random pairing method. 30% of the natively paired scFv binders were also discovered with the randomly paired method, and 13% of the randomly paired binders were also discovered with the natively paired method. Additionally, 33% of the scFv binders discovered only in the randomly paired library were initially present in the natively paired pre-sort library. Thus, a significant proportion of "randomly paired" scFv were actually natively paired. We synthesized and produced 46 of the candidates as full-length antibodies and subjected them to a panel of binding assays to characterize their therapeutic potential. 87% of the antibodies were verified as binding IL-21R by at least one assay. We found that antibodies with native light chains were more likely to bind IL-21R than antibodies with non-native light chains, suggesting a higher false positive rate for antibodies from the randomly paired library. Additionally, the randomly paired method failed to identify nearly half of the true natively paired binders, suggesting a higher false negative rate. We conclude that natively paired libraries have critical advantages in sensitivity and specificity for antibody discovery programs.

Discounts on fruit and vegetables combined with a space management intervention increased sales in supermarkets.

PubMed

Toft, U; Winkler, L L; Mikkelsen, B E; Bloch, P; Glümer, C

2017-04-01

To examine the effects of two interventions on consumer purchases of fruits and vegetables (F&V) on the Danish island of Bornholm: a 20% discount on F&V combined with improved shelf-space allocation, and improved shelf-space allocation alone. A space management intervention to promote F&V sales was performed in two large discount supermarkets on Bornholm in Denmark for 3 months (September-November 2012). In addition, a 20% discount on F&V was introduced for 3 months in one of the supermarkets ('space + price'). The effect was evaluated using sales data from the two intervention supermarkets and three control supermarkets from the same supermarket chain but in Odsherred, Denmark (control area). Both the effect on sales of fresh F&V and potential unhealthy substitution effects were evaluated using multi-level regression analyses. During the price intervention period, the index number for sales of fresh vegetables increased by 22.2% (P=0.001) in the 'space + price' intervention supermarket compared with the control supermarkets. Furthermore, the index number for the sale of organic fresh fruit and vegetables increased by 12.1% (P=0.04) and the sale of the total amount of fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried and canned) increased by 15.3% (P=0.01) compared with the control supermarkets. In the 'space only' intervention supermarket no significant increase in the sale of fruit and vegetables was found. No unhealthy substitution effects were found. In conclusion, a 20% price reduction on F&V significantly increased sales of F&V. The effect was most pronounced on vegetables and no negative/unhealthy substitution effects were found.

Structural and functional characterization of an anti-West Nile virus monoclonal antibody and its single-chain variant produced in glycoengineered plants

PubMed Central

Lai, Huafang; He, Junyun; Hurtado, Jonathan; Stahnke, Jake; Fuchs, Anja; Mehlhop, Erin; Gorlatov, Sergey; Loos, Andreas; Diamond, Michael S.; Chen, Qiang

2014-01-01

Previously, our group engineered a plant-derived monoclonal antibody (MAb pE16) that efficiently treated West Nile virus (WNV) infection in mice. In this study, we developed a pE16 variant consisting of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) fused to the heavy chain constant domains (CH) of human IgG (pE16scFv-CH). pE16 and pE16scFv-CH were expressed and assembled efficiently in Nicotiana benthamiana ΔXF plants, a glycosylation mutant lacking plant specific N-glycan residues. Glycan analysis revealed that ΔXF plant-derived pE16scFv-CH (ΔXFpE16scFv-CH) and pE16 (ΔXFpE16) both displayed a mammalian glycosylation profile. ΔXFpE16 and ΔXFpE16scFv-CH demonstrated equivalent antigen binding affinity and kinetics, and slightly enhanced neutralization of WNV in vitro compared to the parent mammalian cell-produced E16 (mE16). A single dose of ΔXFpE16 or ΔXFpE16scFv-CH protected mice against WNV-induced mortality even 4 days after infection at equivalent rates as mE16. This study provides a detailed tandem comparison of the expression, structure and function of a therapeutic MAb and its single-chain variant produced in glycoengineered plants. Moreover, it demonstrates the development of anti-WNV MAb therapeutic variants that are equivalent in efficacy to pE16, simpler to produce, and likely safer to use as therapeutics due to their mammalian N-glycosylation. This platform may lead to a more robust and cost effective production of antibody-based therapeutics against WNV infection and other infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic diseases. PMID:24975464

A natively paired antibody library yields drug leads with higher sensitivity and specificity than a randomly paired antibody library

PubMed Central

Adler, Adam S.; Bedinger, Daniel; Adams, Matthew S.; Asensio, Michael A.; Edgar, Robert C.; Leong, Renee; Leong, Jackson; Mizrahi, Rena A.; Spindler, Matthew J.; Bandi, Srinivasa Rao; Huang, Haichun; Brams, Peter; Johnson, David S.

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT Deep sequencing and single-chain variable fragment (scFv) yeast display methods are becoming more popular for discovery of therapeutic antibody candidates in mouse B cell repertoires. In this study, we compare a deep sequencing and scFv display method that retains native heavy and light chain pairing with a related method that randomly pairs heavy and light chain. We performed the studies in a humanized mouse, using interleukin 21 receptor (IL-21R) as a test immunogen. We identified 44 high-affinity binder scFv with the native pairing method and 100 high-affinity binder scFv with the random pairing method. 30% of the natively paired scFv binders were also discovered with the randomly paired method, and 13% of the randomly paired binders were also discovered with the natively paired method. Additionally, 33% of the scFv binders discovered only in the randomly paired library were initially present in the natively paired pre-sort library. Thus, a significant proportion of “randomly paired” scFv were actually natively paired. We synthesized and produced 46 of the candidates as full-length antibodies and subjected them to a panel of binding assays to characterize their therapeutic potential. 87% of the antibodies were verified as binding IL-21R by at least one assay. We found that antibodies with native light chains were more likely to bind IL-21R than antibodies with non-native light chains, suggesting a higher false positive rate for antibodies from the randomly paired library. Additionally, the randomly paired method failed to identify nearly half of the true natively paired binders, suggesting a higher false negative rate. We conclude that natively paired libraries have critical advantages in sensitivity and specificity for antibody discovery programs. PMID:29376776

Iron-mediated changes in phytoplankton photosynthetic competence during SOIREE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyd, P. W.; Abraham, E. R.

Active fluorescence (fast repetition rate fluorometry, FRRF) was used to follow the photosynthetic response of the phytoplankton community during the 13-day Southern Ocean Iron RElease Experiment (SOIREE). This in situ iron enrichment was conducted in the polar waters of the Australasian-Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean in February 1999. Iron fertilisation of these high nitrate low chlorophyll (HNLC) waters resulted in an increase in the photosynthetic competence ( Fv/ Fm) of the resident cells from around 0.20 to greater than 0.60 (i.e. close to the theoretical maximum) by 10/11 days after the first enrichment. Although a significant iron-mediated response in Fv/ Fm was detected as early as 24 h after the initial fertilisation, the increase in Fv/ Fm to double ambient levels took 6 days. This response was five-fold slower than observed in iron enrichments (in situ and in vitro) in the HNLC waters of the subarctic and equatorial Pacific. Although little is known about the relationship between water temperature and Fv/ Fm, it is likely that low water temperatures — and possibly the deep mixed layer — were responsible for this slow response time. During SOIREE, the photosynthetic competence of the resident phytoplankton in iron-enriched waters increased at dissolved iron levels above 0.2 nM, suggesting that iron limitation was alleviated at this concentration. Increases in Fv/ Fm of cells within four algal size classes suggested that all taxa displayed a photosynthetic response to iron enrichment. Other physiological proxies of algal iron stress (such as flavodoxin levels in diatoms) exhibited different temporal trends to iron-enrichment than Fv/ Fm during the time-course of SOIREE. The relationship between Fv/ Fm, algal growth rate and such proxies in Southern Ocean waters is discussed.

Evaluating the Use of Antibody Variable Region (Fv) Charge as a Risk Assessment Tool for Predicting Typical Cynomolgus Monkey Pharmacokinetics*

PubMed Central

Bumbaca Yadav, Daniela; Sharma, Vikas K.; Boswell, Charles Andrew; Hotzel, Isidro; Tesar, Devin; Shang, Yonglei; Ying, Yong; Fischer, Saloumeh K.; Grogan, Jane L.; Chiang, Eugene Y.; Urban, Konnie; Ulufatu, Sheila; Khawli, Leslie A.; Prabhu, Saileta; Joseph, Sean; Kelley, Robert F.

2015-01-01

The pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior of monoclonal antibodies in cynomolgus monkeys (cynos) is generally translatable to that in humans. Unfortunately, about 39% of the antibodies evaluated for PKs in cynos have fast nonspecific (or non-target-mediated) clearance (in-house data). An empirical model relating variable region (Fv) charge and hydrophobicity to cyno nonspecific clearance was developed to gauge the risk an antibody would have for fast nonspecific clearance in the monkey. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictability of this empirical model on cyno nonspecific clearance with antibodies specifically engineered to have either high or low Fv charge. These amino acid changes were made in the Fv region of two test antibodies, humAb4D5-8 and anti-lymphotoxin α. The humAb4D5-8 has a typical nonspecific clearance in cynos, and by making it more positively charged, the antibody acquires fast nonspecific clearance, and making it less positively charged did not impact its clearance. Anti-lymphotoxin α has fast nonspecific clearance in cynos, and making it more positively charged caused it to clear even faster, whereas making it less positively charged caused it to clear slower and within the typical range. These trends in clearance were also observed in two other preclinical species, mice and rats. The effect of modifying Fv charge on subcutaneous bioavailability was also examined, and in general bioavailability was inversely related to the direction of the Fv charge change. Thus, modifying Fv charge appears to impact antibody PKs, and the changes tended to correlate with those predicted by the empirical model. PMID:26491012

Single chain variable fragment displaying M13 phage library functionalized magnetic microsphere-based protein equalizer for human serum protein analysis.

PubMed

Zhu, Guijie; Zhao, Peng; Deng, Nan; Tao, Dingyin; Sun, Liangliang; Liang, Zhen; Zhang, Lihua; Zhang, Yukui

2012-09-18

Single chain variable fragment (scFv) displaying the M13 phage library was covalently immobilized on magnetic microspheres and used as a protein equalizer for the treatment of human serum. First, scFv displaying M13 phage library functionalized magnetic microspheres (scFv@M13@MM) was incubated with a human serum sample. Second, captured proteins on scFv@M13@MM were eluted with 2 M NaCl, 50 mM glycine-hydrochloric acid (Gly-HCl), and 20% (v/v) acetonitrile with 0.5% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in sequence. Finally, the tightly bonded proteins were released by the treatment with thrombin. The eluates were first analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with silver staining. Results indicated that the difference of protein concentration was reduced obviously in NaCl and Gly-HCl fractions compared with untreated human serum sample. The eluates were also digested with trypsin, followed by online 2D-strong cation exchange (SCX)-RPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Results demonstrated that the number of proteins identified from an scFv@M13@MM treated human serum sample was improved 100% compared with that from the untreated sample. In addition, the spectral count of 10 high abundance proteins (serum albumin, serotransferrin, α-2-macroglobulin, α-1-antitrypsin, apolipoprotein B-100, Ig γ-2 chain C region, haptoglobin, hemopexin, α-1-acid glycoprotein 1, and α-2-HS-glycoprotein) decreased evidently after scFv@M13@MM treatment. All these results demonstrate that scFv@M13@MM could efficiently remove high-abundance proteins, reduce the protein concentration difference of human serum, and result in more protein identification.

Socioeconomic indicators and frequency of traditional food, junk food, and fruit and vegetable consumption amongst Inuit adults in the Canadian Arctic.

PubMed

Hopping, B N; Erber, E; Mead, E; Sheehy, T; Roache, C; Sharma, S

2010-10-01

Increasing consumption of non-nutrient-dense foods (NNDF), decreasing consumption of traditional foods (TF) and low consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) may contribute to increasing chronic disease rates amongst Inuit. The present study aimed to assess the daily frequency and socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing consumption of TF, FV and NNDF amongst Inuit adults in Nunavut, Canada. Using a cross-sectional study design and random household sampling in three communities in Nunavut, a food frequency questionnaire developed for the population was used to assess frequency of NNDF, TF and FV consumption amongst Inuit adults. Socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed by education level, ownership of items in working condition, and whether or not people in the household were employed or on income support. Mean frequencies of daily consumption were compared across gender and age groups, and associations with socioeconomic indicators were analysed using logistic regression. Two hundred and eleven participants (36 men, 175 women; mean (standard deviation) ages 42.1 (15.0) and 42.2 (13.2) years, respectively; response rate 69-93%) completed the study. Mean frequencies of consumption for NNDF, TF and FV were 6.3, 1.9 and 1.6 times per day, respectively. On average, participants ≤50 years consumed NNDF (P=0.003) and FV (P=0.01) more frequently and TF (P=0.01) less frequently than participants >50 years. Education was positively associated with FV consumption and negatively associated with TF consumption. Households on income support were more likely to consume TF and NNDF. These results support the hypothesis that the nutrition transition taking place amongst Inuit in Nunavut results in elevated consumption of NNDF compared with TF and FV. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.

Helper-Dependent Properties of Friend Spleen Focus-Forming Virus: Effect of the Fv-1 Gene on the Late Stages in Virus Synthesis

PubMed Central

Eckner, Robert J.

1973-01-01

Co-infection of neonatal BALB/c mice with Friend virus (FV) complex (containing defective spleen focus-forming virus [SFFV] and endogenous N-tropic leukemia-inducing helper virus [LLV-F]) and B-tropic Tennant leukemia virus (TenLV) resulted in the inhibition of LLV-F by the Fv-1b gene and recovery of a TenLV pseudotype of SFFV, abbreviated SFFV(TenLV). The host range of this pseudotype was B-tropic, since SFFV(TenLV) was 10 to 100 times more infectious for B-type (Fv-1bb) than for N-type (Fv-1nn) mice. The similar patterns of neutralization of N-tropic and B-tropic SFFV by type-specific murine antisera suggested that the difference in infectivity between these two SFFV preparations did not reside in envelope determinants. Rather, helper control of SFFV's host range was only apparent and dependent upon the ability of associated virus to provide a helper function for late stages in SFFV synthesis. Early stages in SFFV's infectious cycle were shown to be helper independent. The Fv-1 gene did not act at the level of the cell membrane to effectively restrict SFFV infection, since SFFV-induced transformed cells could be detected in the absence of spleen focus formation and SFFV synthesis. Further, the generation of these transformed cells by SFFV followed a one-hit, dose-response pattern, suggesting that SFFV-induced cell transformation is helper independent. Finally, restriction of helper function by Fv-1 may be an intracellular event, because both SFFV and its associated LLV-F helper share common envelope determinants and presumably adsorb onto and penetrate target cells with equal efficiency. PMID:4127030

Enhancement and Analysis of Human Antiaflatoxin B1 (AFB1) scFv Antibody-Ligand Interaction Using Chain Shuffling.

PubMed

Rangnoi, Kuntalee; Choowongkomon, Kiattawee; O'Kennedy, Richard; Rüker, Florian; Yamabhai, Montarop

2018-06-06

A human antiaflatoxin B1 (AFB1) scFv antibody (yAFB1-c3), selected from a naı̈ve human phage-displayed scFv library, was used as a template for improving and analysis of antibody-ligand interactions using the chain-shuffling technique. The variable-heavy and variable-light (VH/VL)-shuffled library was constructed from the VH of 25 preselected clones recombined with the VL of yAFB1-c3 and vice versa. Affinity selection from these libraries demonstrated that the VH domain played an important role in the binding of scFv to free AFB1. Therefore, in the next step, VH-shuffled scFv library was constructed from variable-heavy (VH) chain repertoires, amplified from the naı̈ve library, recombined with the variable-light (VL) chain of the clone yAFB1-c3. This library was then used to select a specific scFv antibody against soluble AFB1 by a standard biopanning method. Three clones that showed improved binding properties were isolated. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that the improved clones have amino acid mutations in framework 1 (FR1) and the complementarity determining region (CDR1) of the VH chain. One clone, designated sAFH-3e3, showed 7.5-fold improvement in sensitivity over the original scFv clone and was selected for molecular binding studies with AFB1. Homology modeling and molecular docking were used to compare the binding of this and the original clones. The results confirmed that VH is more important than VL for AFB1 binding.

Identification of inhibitory scFv antibodies targeting fibroblast activation protein utilizing phage display functional screens

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jiping; Valianou, Matthildi; Simmons, Heidi; Robinson, Matthew K.; Lee, Hyung-Ok; Mullins, Stefanie R.; Marasco, Wayne A.; Adams, Gregory P.; Weiner, Louis M.; Cheng, Jonathan D.

2013-01-01

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine protease selectively expressed on tumor stromal fibroblasts in epithelial carcinomas and is important in cancer growth, adhesion, and metastases. As FAP enzymatic activity is a potent therapeutic target, we aimed to identify inhibitory antibodies. Using a competitive inhibition strategy, we used phage display techniques to identify 53 single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) after three rounds of panning against FAP. These scFvs were expressed and characterized for binding to FAP by surface plasmon resonance and flow cytometry. Functional assessment of these antibodies yielded an inhibitory scFv antibody, named E3, which could attenuate 35% of FAP cleavage of the fluorescent substrate Ala-Pro-7-amido-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin compared with nonfunctional scFv control. Furthermore, a mutant E3 scFv was identified by yeast affinity maturation. It had higher affinity (4-fold) and enhanced inhibitory effect on FAP enzyme activity (3-fold) than E3. The application of both inhibitory anti-FAP scFvs significantly affected the formation of 3-dimensional FAP-positive cell matrix, as demonstrated by reducing the fibronectin fiber orientation from 41.18% (negative antibody control) to 34.06% (E3) and 36.15% (mutant E3), respectively. Thus, we have identified and affinity-maturated the first scFv antibody capable of inhibiting FAP function. This scFv antibody has the potential to disrupt the role of FAP in tumor invasion and metastasis.—Zhang, J., Valianou, M., Simmons, H., Robinson, M. K., Lee, H.-O., Mullins, S. R., Marasco, W. A., Adams, G. P., Weiner, L. M., Cheng, J. D. Identification of inhibitory ScFv antibodies targeting fibroblast activation protein utilizing phage display functional screens. PMID:23104982

Differential Impact of LPG-and PG-Deficient Leishmania major Mutants on the Immune Response of Human Dendritic Cells

PubMed Central

Jayakumar, Asha; Hickerson, Suzanne; Mostrom, Janet; Turco, Salvatore J.; Beverley, Stephen M.; McDowell, Mary Ann

2015-01-01

Background Leishmania major infection induces robust interleukin-12 (IL12) production in human dendritic cells (hDC), ultimately resulting in Th1-mediated immunity and clinical resolution. The surface of Leishmania parasites is covered in a dense glycocalyx consisting of primarily lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and other phosphoglycan-containing molecules (PGs), making these glycoconjugates the likely pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) responsible for IL12 induction. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we explored the role of parasite glycoconjugates on the hDC IL12 response by generating L. major Friedlin V1 mutants defective in LPG alone, (FV1 lpg1-), or generally deficient for all PGs, (FV1 lpg2-). Infection with metacyclic, infective stage, L. major or purified LPG induced high levels of IL12B subunit gene transcripts in hDCs, which was abrogated with FV1 lpg1- infections. In contrast, hDC infections with FV1 lpg2- displayed increased IL12B expression, suggesting other PG-related/LPG2 dependent molecules may act to dampen the immune response. Global transcriptional profiling comparing WT, FV1 lpg1-, FV1 lpg2- infections revealed that FV1 lpg1- mutants entered hDCs in a silent fashion as indicated by repression of gene expression. Transcription factor binding site analysis suggests that LPG recognition by hDCs induces IL-12 in a signaling cascade resulting in Nuclear Factor κ B (NFκB) and Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF) mediated transcription. Conclusions/Significance These data suggest that L. major LPG is a major PAMP recognized by hDC to induce IL12-mediated protective immunity and that there is a complex interplay between PG-baring Leishmania surface glycoconjugates that result in modulation of host cellular IL12. PMID:26630499

Short-term effects of povidone iodine and sodium fluoride therapy on plaque levels and microbiome diversity.

PubMed

Reilly, C; Goettl, M; Steinmetz, M; Nikrad, J; Jones, R S

2016-03-01

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of short-term changes in the oral microbial ecology of dental plaque and plaque levels after topical treatment of a combination of 10% povidone iodine (PI) and 5% sodium fluoride varnish (FV). A single group design intervention study on 12 pediatric patients, who underwent two baseline plaques samplings before the intervention, were enrolled in the study. A modified mixed dentition Silness-Löe plaque index score was used to assess plaque accumulation and microbial composition was assessed by amplicon sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA V4 region. Dental plaque accumulation (P = 0.0424) was reduced after 1 week using PI/FV application. This reduction was not observed between the two double-baseline visits. 16S rRNA analysis showed that the single PI/FV therapy did not have dramatic shifts in the plaque microbiome community depicted by hierarchical cluster and principle component analysis. More subtle changes were found when analyzing the Shannon diversity index after the application of PI/FV vs two baselines prior to combination therapy. The bacteria within the dental biofilms showed resilience in maintaining the overall community diversity but reduced biofilm accumulation following PI/FV therapy. Repeated uses of PI/FV may augment plaque control during dental rehabilitation in children. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Transfection of Fv-1 permissive and restrictive mouse cells with integrated DNA of murine leukemia viruses (host range restriction/Fv-1 gene/DNA transfection)

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

Hsu, I.C.; Yang, W.K.; Tennant, R.W.

1978-03-01

Whole-cell DNA preparations isolated from SC-1 cells chronically infected with N- or B-tropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) were tested for infectious activity in an Fv-1/sup n/ (NIH-3T3) and two Fv-1/sup b/ (C57BL/6 and SV-A31) cell cultures. Efficiency of transfection for all DNAs was better in the NIH-3T3 cells than in C57BL/6 or SV-A31 cells; and an (N-tropic MuLV)SC-1 cell DNA preparation was slightly more infectious than a (B-tropic MuLV)SC-1 cell DNA preparation in all three cell cultures, regardless of their Fv-1 geonotypes. Progeny viruses from the transfection showed N- or B-tropism corresponding to that of the parent viruses produced bymore » the infected SC-I cells that were used for the DNA preparation. DNA dose-response studies in NIH-3T3 cells revealed a one-hit mechanism for both the (B-tropic MuLV)SC-1 cell DNA and the (N-tropic MuLV)SC-1 cell DNA preparation. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to virion infection, transfection of N- and B-tropic MuLV with DNA preparations from chronically infected cells is not affected by the Fv-1 gene.« less

Anthelmintic effects of the essential oil of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Apiaceae) against Schistosoma mansoni.

PubMed

Wakabayashi, Kamila A L; de Melo, Nathalya I; Aguiar, Daniela P; de Oliveira, Pollyanna F; Groppo, Milton; da Silva Filho, Ademar A; Rodrigues, Vanderlei; Cunha, Wilson R; Tavares, Denise C; Magalhães, Lizandra G; Crotti, Antônio E M

2015-07-01

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Apiaceae), known as fennel, is a widespread aromatic herbaceous plant, and its essential oil is used as additive in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and perfume industries. The in vitro antischistosomal activity and cytotoxic effects against V79 cells of the essential oil of F. vulgare cultivated in southeastern Brazil (FV-EO) was investigated. The FV-EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. (E)-Anethole (69.8%) and limonene (22.5%) were identified as the major constituents. Its anthelmintic activity against Schistosoma mansoni was evaluated at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg/ml, and it was found to be active against adult S. mansoni worms, although it was less effective than the positive control praziquantel (PZQ) in terms of separation of the coupled pairs, mortality, and decreased motor activity. However, FV-EO elicited an interesting dose-dependent reduction in the number of S. mansoni eggs. On their own, (E)-anethole and the limonene enantiomers were much less effective than FV-EO and PZQ. An XTT-cytotoxicity-based assay evidenced no FV-EO cytotoxicity against V79 cells. In summary, FV-EO displayed moderate in vitro schistosomicidal activity against adult S. mansoni worms, exerted remarkable inhibitory effects on the egg development, and was of low toxicity. Copyright © 2015 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich.

Lunch Salad Bars in New Orleans’ Middle and High Schools: Student Intake of Fruit and Vegetables

PubMed Central

Johnson, Carolyn C.; Myers, Leann; Mundorf, Adrienne R.; O’Malley, Keelia; Spruance, Lori Andersen; Harris, Diane M.

2017-01-01

The school lunch salad bar (SB) is a recommended food environmental strategy to increase access to, and consumption of fruit and vegetables (F/V). In a study to examine use of school lunch SBs, middle and high school students provided data via the Automated Self-Administered 24-h dietary recall (24HDR) tool for kids (ASA24-Kids-2012), a web-based data collection platform. Kilocalories were computed, food groups were assigned and F/V sources were obtained. Students (n = 718) from 12 schools with SBs and nine schools without SBs were approximately 87% African American, over 64% female and most were 7th and 8th graders. SB school students had higher median energy consumption at lunch but a higher percent of non-SB students reported eating fruit at lunch compared to SB students. Most students reporting eating F/V at lunch obtained F/V from the cafeteria main line; only 19.6% reported eating F/V exclusively from the SB. In SB schools median intake of cups F/V was higher among students using the SB (0.92) compared to those not using the SB (0.53). Results of this study are mixed, but encouraging. Additional factors, e.g., nutrition education, marketing, and kinds of foods offered on the SB need to be examined for potential influence on SB use. PMID:28406472

A chimeric antigen receptor for TRAIL-receptor 1 induces apoptosis in various types of tumor cells.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Eiji; Kishi, Hiroyuki; Ozawa, Tatsuhiko; Hamana, Hiroshi; Nakagawa, Hidetoshi; Jin, Aishun; Lin, Zhezhu; Muraguchi, Atsushi

2014-10-31

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its associated receptors (TRAIL-R/TR) are attractive targets for cancer therapy because TRAIL induces apoptosis in tumor cells through TR while having little cytotoxicity on normal cells. Therefore, many agonistic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for TR have been produced, and these induce apoptosis in multiple tumor cell types. However, some TR-expressing tumor cells are resistant to TR-specific mAb-induced apoptosis. In this study, we constructed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) of a TRAIL-receptor 1 (TR1)-specific single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody (TR1-scFv-CAR) and expressed it on a Jurkat T cell line, the KHYG-1 NK cell line, and human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). We found that the TR1-scFv-CAR-expressing Jurkat cells killed target cells via TR1-mediated apoptosis, whereas TR1-scFv-CAR-expressing KHYG-1 cells and PBLs killed target cells not only via TR1-mediated apoptosis but also via CAR signal-induced cytolysis, resulting in cytotoxicity on a broader range if target cells than with TR1-scFv-CAR-expressing Jurkat cells. The results suggest that TR1-scFv-CAR could be a new candidate for cancer gene therapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development of a Novel Human scFv Against EGFR L2 Domain by Phage Display Technology.

PubMed

Rahbarnia, Leila; Farajnia, Safar; Babaei, Hossein; Majidi, Jafar; Veisi, Kamal; Khosroshahi, Shiva Ahdi; Tanomand, Asghar

2017-01-01

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor frequently overexpresses in tumors with epithelial origin. The L2 domain from extracellular part of EGFR is involved in ligand binding and the blockage of this domain prevents activation of related signaling pathways. This study was aimed to develop a novel human scFv against EGFR L2 domain as a promising target for cancer therapy. The L2 recombinant protein was purified and used for panning a human scFv phage library (Tomlinson I). In this study, a novel screening strategy was applied to select clones with high binding and enrichment of rare specific phage clones of the L2 protein. After five biopanning rounds several specific clones were isolated which among them one phage clone with high binding was purified for further analysis. The specific interaction of selected clone against target antigen was confirmed by ELISA and western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining showed that purified scFv binds to A431 cells surface, displaying EGFR surface receptor. In the present study, we isolated for the first time a novel human scFv against EGFR L2 domain. This study can be the groundwork for developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic agents against EGFR overexpressing cancers using this novel human anti-L2 ScFv. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Consumption Frequency of Foods Away from Home Linked with Higher Body Mass Index and Lower Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Seguin, Rebecca A.; Aggarwal, Anju; Vermeylen, Francoise; Drewnowski, Adam

2016-01-01

Introduction. Consumption of foods prepared away from home (FAFH) has grown steadily since the 1970s. We examined the relationship between FAFH and body mass index (BMI) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Methods. Frequency of FAFH, daily FV intake, height and weight, and sociodemographic data were collected using a telephone survey in 2008-2009. Participants included a representative sample of 2,001 adult men and women (mean age 54 ± 15 years) residing in King County, WA, with an analytical sample of 1,570. Frequency of FAFH was categorized as 0-1, 2–4, or 5+ times per week. BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. We examined the relationship between FAFH with FV consumption and BMI using multivariate models. Results. Higher frequency of FAFH was associated with higher BMI, after adjusting for age, income, education, race, smoking, marital status, and physical activity (women: p = 0.001; men: p = 0.003). There was a negative association between frequency of FAFH and FV consumption. FAFH frequency was significantly (p < 0.001) higher among males than females (43.1% versus 54.0% eating out 0-1 meal per week, resp.). Females reported eating significantly (p < 0.001) more FV than males. Conclusion. Among adults, higher frequency of FAFH was related to higher BMI and less FV consumption. PMID:26925111

Anti-Aβ single-chain variable fragment antibodies exert synergistic neuroprotective activities in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease

PubMed Central

Fernandez-Funez, Pedro; Zhang, Yan; Sanchez-Garcia, Jonatan; de Mena, Lorena; Khare, Swati; Golde, Todd E.; Levites, Yona; Rincon-Limas, Diego E.

2015-01-01

Both active and passive immunotherapy protocols decrease insoluble amyloid-ß42 (Aß42) peptide in animal models, suggesting potential therapeutic applications against the main pathological trigger in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, recent clinical trials have reported no significant benefits from humanized anti-Aß42 antibodies. Engineered single-chain variable fragment antibodies (scFv) are much smaller and can easily penetrate the brain, but identifying the most effective scFvs in murine AD models is slow and costly. We show here that scFvs against the N- and C-terminus of Aß42 (scFv9 and scFV42.2, respectively) that decrease insoluble Aß42 in CRND mice are neuroprotective in Drosophila models of Aß42 and amyloid precursor protein neurotoxicity. Both scFv9 and scFv42.2 suppress eye toxicity, reduce cell death in brain neurons, protect the structural integrity of dendritic terminals in brain neurons and delay locomotor dysfunction. Additionally, we show for the first time that co-expression of both anti-Aß scFvs display synergistic neuroprotective activities, suggesting that combined therapies targeting distinct Aß42 epitopes can be more effective than targeting a single epitope. Overall, we demonstrate the feasibility of using Drosophila as a first step for characterizing neuroprotective anti-Aß scFvs in vivo and identifying scFv combinations with synergistic neuroprotective activities. PMID:26253732

Multi-channeled single chain variable fragment (scFv) based microfluidic device for explosives detection.

PubMed

Charles, Paul T; Davis, Jasmine; Adams, André A; Anderson, George P; Liu, Jinny L; Deschamps, Jeffrey R; Kusterbeck, Anne W

2015-11-01

The development of explosives detection technologies has increased significantly over the years as environmental and national security agencies implement tighter pollution control measures and methods for improving homeland security. 2, 4, 6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT), known primarily as a component in munitions, has been targeted for both its toxicity and carcinogenic properties that if present at high concentrations can be a detriment to both humans, marine and plant ecosystems. Enabling end users with environmental detection and monitoring systems capable of providing real-time, qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of these toxic compounds would be extremely beneficial. Reported herein is the development of a multi-channeled microfluidic device immobilized with single chain fragment variable (scFv) recombinant proteins specific for the explosive, TNT. Fluorescence displacement immunoassays performed under constant flow demonstrated trace level sensitivity and specificity for TNT. The utility of three multi-channeled devices immobilized with either (1) scFv recombinant protein, (2) biotinylated-scFv (bt-scFv) and (3) monoclonal anti-TNT (whole IgG molecule) were investigated and compared. Fluorescence dose response curves, crossreactivity measurements and limits of detection (LOD) for TNT were determined. Fluorescence displacement immunoassays for TNT in natural seawater demonstrated detection limits at sub-parts-per-billion levels (0.5 ppb) utilizing the microfluidic device with immobilized bt-scFv. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Lunch Salad Bars in New Orleans' Middle and High Schools: Student Intake of Fruit and Vegetables.

PubMed

Johnson, Carolyn C; Myers, Leann; Mundorf, Adrienne R; O'Malley, Keelia; Spruance, Lori Andersen; Harris, Diane M

2017-04-13

The school lunch salad bar (SB) is a recommended food environmental strategy to increase access to, and consumption of fruit and vegetables (F/V). In a study to examine use of school lunch SBs, middle and high school students provided data via the Automated Self-Administered 24-h dietary recall (24HDR) tool for kids (ASA24-Kids-2012), a web-based data collection platform. Kilocalories were computed, food groups were assigned and F/V sources were obtained. Students (n = 718) from 12 schools with SBs and nine schools without SBs were approximately 87% African American, over 64% female and most were 7th and 8th graders. SB school students had higher median energy consumption at lunch but a higher percent of non-SB students reported eating fruit at lunch compared to SB students. Most students reporting eating F/V at lunch obtained F/V from the cafeteria main line; only 19.6% reported eating F/V exclusively from the SB. In SB schools median intake of cups F/V was higher among students using the SB (0.92) compared to those not using the SB (0.53). Results of this study are mixed, but encouraging. Additional factors, e.g., nutrition education, marketing, and kinds of foods offered on the SB need to be examined for potential influence on SB use.

Novel Immunocytokine IL12-SS1 (Fv) Inhibits Mesothelioma Tumor Growth in Nude Mice

PubMed Central

Kim, Heungnam; Gao, Wei; Ho, Mitchell

2013-01-01

Mesothelin is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein that is highly expressed on the cell surface of malignant mesothelioma. Monoclonal antibodies against mesothelin are being evaluated for the treatment of mesothelioma. Immunocytokines represent a novel class of armed antibodies. To provide an alternative approach to current mesothelin-targeted antibody therapies, we have developed a novel immunocytokine based on interleukin-12 (IL12) and the SS1 Fv specific for mesothelin. IL12 possesses potent anti-tumor activity in a wide variety of solid tumors. The newly-developed recombinant immunocytokine, IL12-SS1 (Fv), was produced in insect cells using a baculovirus-insect cell expression system. The SS1 single-chain Fv was fused to the C terminus of the p35 subunit of IL12 through a short linker (GSADGG). The single-chain IL12-SS1 (Fv) immunocytokine bound native mesothelin proteins on malignant mesothelioma (NCI-H226) and ovarian (OVCAR-3) cells as well as recombinant mesothelin on A431/H9 cells. The immunocytokine retained sufficient bioactivity of IL12 and significantly inhibited human malignant mesothelioma (NCI-H226) grown in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice and showed comparable anti-tumor activity to that of the SS1P immunotoxin. IL12-SS1 (Fv) is the first reported immunocytokine to mesothelin-positive tumors and may be an attractive addition to mesothelin-targeted cancer therapies. PMID:24260587

Development of sugar chain-binding single-chain variable fragment antibody to adult T-cell leukemia cells using glyco-nanotechnology and phage display method.

PubMed

Muchima, Kaname; Todaka, Taro; Shinchi, Hiroyuki; Sato, Ayaka; Tazoe, Arisa; Aramaki, Rikiya; Kakitsubata, Yuhei; Yokoyama, Risa; Arima, Naomichi; Baba, Masanori; Wakao, Masahiro; Ito, Yuji; Suda, Yasuo

2018-04-01

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is an intractable blood cancer caused by the infection of human T-cell leukemia virus type-1, and effective medical treatment is required. It is known that the structure and expression levels of cell surface sugar chains vary depending on cell states such as inflammation and cancer. Thus, it is expected that the antibody specific for ATL cell surface sugar chain would be an effective diagnostic tool and a strong candidate for the development of an anti-ATL drug. Here, we developed a stable sugar chain-binding single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFv) that can bind to ATL cells using a fibre-type Sugar Chip and phage display method. The fiber-type Sugar Chips were prepared using O-glycans released from ATL cell lines. The scFv-displaying phages derived from human B cells (diversity: 1.04 × 108) were then screened using the fiber-type Sugar Chips, and an O-glycan-binding scFv was obtained. The flow cytometry analysis revealed that the scFv predominantly bound to ATL cell lines. The sugar chain-binding properties of the scFv was evaluated by array-type Sugar Chip immobilized with a library of synthetic glycosaminoglycan disaccharide structures. Highly sulphated disaccharide structures were found to have high affinity to scFv.