Deformed shell model calculations of half lives for β+/EC decay and 2ν β+β+/β+EC/ECEC decay in medium-heavy N~Z nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, S.; Shukla, A.; Sahu, R.; Kota, V. K. B.

2008-08-01

The β+/EC half-lives of medium heavy N~Z nuclei with mass number A~64-80 are calculated within the deformed shell model (DSM) based on Hartree-Fock states by employing a modified Kuo interaction in (2p3/2,1f5/2,2p1/2,1g9/2) space. The DSM model has been quite successful in predicting many spectroscopic properties of N~Z medium heavy nuclei with A~64-80. The calculated β+/EC half-lives, for prolate and oblate shapes, compare well with the predictions of the calculations with Skyrme force by Sarriguren Going further, following recent searches, half-lives for 2ν β+β+/β+EC/ECEC decay for the nucleus Kr78 are calculated using DSM and the results compare well with QRPA predictions.

Purification of inulinases by changing the ionic strength of the medium and precipitation with alcohols.

PubMed

Golunski, Simone; Silva, Marceli F; Marques, Camila T; Rosseto, Vanusa; Kaizer, Rosilene R; Mossi, Altemir J; Rigo, Diane; Dallago, Rogério M; DI Luccio, Marco; Treichel, Helen

2017-01-01

The present study evaluated the purification of inulinase by changing the ionic strength of the medium by addition of NaCl and CaCl2 followed by precipitation with n-propyl alcohol or iso-propyl alcohol. The effects of the concentration of alcohols and the rate of addition of alcohols in the crude extract on the purification yield and purification factor were evaluated. Precipitation caused an activation of enzyme and allowed purification factors up to 2.4-fold for both alcohols. The purification factor was affected positively by the modification of the ionic strength of the medium to 0.5 mol.L-1 NaCl before precipitation with the alcohol (n-propyl or iso-propyl). A purification factor of 4.8-fold and an enzyme yield of 78.1 % could be achieved by the addition of 0.5 mol.L-1 of NaCl to the crude extract, followed by the precipitation with 50 % (v/v) of n-propyl alcohol, added at a flow rate of 19.9 mL/min.

In vitro propagation and withaferin A production in Withania ashwagandha, a rare medicinal plant of India.

PubMed

Mir, Bilal Ahmad; Mir, Shabir Ahmad; Koul, Sushma

2014-07-01

Withania ashwagandha, belonging to the family Solanaceae, is an important medicinal herb of India with restricted geographic distribution. It is a rich source of withaferin A (WA) and other bioactive withanolides. In the present study a rapid in vitro mass propagation protocol of W. ashwagandha was developed from nodal explants. Nodal explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The highest number of regenerated shoots per ex-plant (33 ± 2.7) and highest WA (13.4 ± 1.15 mg/g of DW) production was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 5.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 1.0 μM Kinetin (Kn). In vitro raised shoots were further rooted on half-strength MS medium containing 2.0 μM Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and analyzed for WA production. The rooted plantlets when transferred to poly bags in the greenhouse showed 90 % survival frequency. Levels of WA were higher in the in vitro and ex vitro derived shoot and root tissues as compared to field grown mother plants. In an attempt to further maximize WA production, shoot cultures were further grown in liquid MS medium supplemented with 5.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 1.0 μM Kinetin (Kn). Root cultures were grown on half strength MS liquid medium fortified with 2.0 μM of IBA. WA production in the liquid cultures was significantly higher compared to the static composition of the same media. This protocol, first of its kind in this plant, can be successfully employed for conservation, proliferation and large-scale production of WA. The regenerated plants can also be used in traditional medicine as an alternative to naturally collected plants.

Rapid Identification of Microorganisms from Positive Blood Culture by MALDI-TOF MS After Short-Term Incubation on Solid Medium.

PubMed

Curtoni, Antonio; Cipriani, Raffaella; Marra, Elisa Simona; Barbui, Anna Maria; Cavallo, Rossana; Costa, Cristina

2017-01-01

Matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is a useful tool for rapid identification of microorganisms. Unfortunately, its direct application to positive blood culture is still lacking standardized procedures. In this study, we evaluated an easy- and rapid-to-perform protocol for MALDI-TOF MS direct identification of microorganisms from positive blood culture after a short-term incubation on solid medium. This protocol was used to evaluate direct identification of microorganisms from 162 positive monomicrobial blood cultures; at different incubation times (3, 5, 24 h), MALDI-TOF MS assay was performed from the growing microorganism patina. Overall, MALDI-TOF MS concordance with conventional methods at species level was 60.5, 80.2, and 93.8% at 3, 5, and 24 h, respectively. Considering only bacteria, the identification performances at species level were 64.1, 85.0, and 94.1% at 3, 5, and 24 h, respectively. This protocol applied to a commercially available MS typing system may represent, a fast and powerful diagnostic tool for pathogen direct identification and for a promptly and pathogen-driven antimicrobial therapy in selected cases.

Micropropagation and Biomass Production of True-to-Type Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

PubMed

Modi, Arpan R; Sharma, Vikas; Patil, Ghanshyam; Singh, Amritpal S; Subhash, N; Kumar, Nitish

2016-01-01

Here we describe an efficient micropropagation protocol for Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. We present experiments carried out to optimize the suitable media for in vitro shoot multiplication and root induction and to study the effect of culture vessel on shoot multiplication. Among all different media tested for in vitro shoot multiplication, hormone-free liquid medium is most suitable. The highest number of nodes per shoot (5.4) and length of shoot (4.76 cm) at 4 weeks after subculturing are observed when single node explants are placed on modified MS medium supplemented with 1 % sucrose and 0.7 % agar. The highest response of multiplication rate (9.56) is observed on half strength of macroelement of MS with full strength of microelement of MS and 170 mg/l KH2PO4, and 185 mg/l MgSO4 in plastic growth container. Further, RAPD marker analysis of in vitro-raised plants maintained their clonal fidelity and true-to-type without showing any somaclonal variation.

Micropropagation of Crataeva adansonii D.C. Prodr: an ornamental avenue tree.

PubMed

Tyagi, Purnima; Sharma, P K; Kothari, S L

2010-01-01

In this chapter, we describe multiplication of the superior and elite tree of Crataeva adansonii using plant tissue culture techniques. An ornamental and avenue tree, it is not available in abundance because of poor seed germination and seedling establishment. It reproduces in nature by root suckers, but that restricts its distribution to very limited areas. Efficient procedures are outlined for plant regeneration through direct shoot bud formation, indirect organogenesis, and somatic embryogenesis through callus formation. Different explants were utilized for separate pathways of regeneration. Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing 3 mg/L BA and 0.05-0.1 mg/L NAA is most effective in direct induction of axillary buds from nodal explants and shoot tips. Adventitious shoots developed from leaves on MS medium containing 3 mg/L BA and 0.1 mg/L NAA. De novo shoots were obtained from the anthers on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L BA. Somatic embryos developed on half strength MS medium containing 0.1 mg/L 2, 4-D. Roots were induced at the cut ends of shoots on MS basal medium devoid of growth regulators. The plantlets were then transferred to pots.

In vitro propagation of Homalomena aromatica Schott., an endangered aromatic medicinal herb of Northeast India.

PubMed

Raomai, Shiveirou; Kumaria, Suman; Tandon, Pramod

2013-04-01

A successful report on the in vitro propagation of Homalomena aromatica via rhizome axillary bud multiplication is presented. Rhizome bud explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with various concentrations of cytokinins to induce multiple shoot formation for micropropagation. The highest number of shoots was achieved in MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine. The regenerated shoots rooted most efficiently on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) α-naphthalene acetic acid. The regenerated plantlets showed no morphological differences from the parent plant. This protocol takes approximately 6 months to reach the acclimatization stage from the initiation stage and facilitates commercial and rapid propagation of H. aromatica.

Developments in ICP-MS: electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography for the clean-up of ICP-MS blanks and reduction of matrix effects by flow injection ICP-MS

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

Gross, Cory Thomas

2008-01-01

The focus of this dissertation is the development of techniques with which to enhance the existing abilities of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ICP-MS is a powerful technique for trace metal analysis in samples of many types, but like any technique it has certain strengths and weaknesses. Attempts are made to improve upon those strengths and to overcome certain weaknesses.

Proximal half angle of the screw thread is a critical design variable affecting the pull-out strength of cancellous bone screws.

PubMed

Wang, Yingxu; Mori, Ryuji; Ozoe, Nobuaki; Nakai, Takahisa; Uchio, Yuji

2009-11-01

Screws with strong pull-out strength have been sought for the treatment of cancellous bone. We hypothesized that an obliquely angled screw thread has advantages over conventional vertical thread with a minimal proximal half angle. Metal and bone screws were made of stainless steel and porcine cortical bone. Their proximal half angle was set at 0 degrees , 30 degrees , or 60 degrees . The screws were inserted into porcine cancellous bone. At 0 degrees , the thread faced the recipient bone vertically. Pullout tests at a rate of 30 mm/min (n=40, each screw type) and microcomputed tomography (n=6) were conducted. The pull-out strength of the screws was maximal at 30 degrees ; 348.8 (SD, 44.1)N with metal and 326.6 (39.4)N with bone. It was intermediate at 0 degrees ; 301.9 (35.9)N with metal and 278.2 (30.6)N with bone. It was minimal at 60 degrees; 126.5 (39.0)N with metal and 174.8 (29.7)N with bone. Cancellous bone was damaged between the threads at 30 degrees , while intact cancellous bone was preserved between the threads at 0 degrees. A proximal half angle of around 30 degrees is appropriate because the pullout force is applied to the recipient bone evenly. Commercial cancellous screws can be improved by changing the thread shape to minimize the damage to recipient bone.

Using Bar Velocity to Predict the Maximum Dynamic Strength in the Half-Squat Exercise.

PubMed

Loturco, Irineu; Pereira, Lucas A; Cal Abad, Cesar C; Gil, Saulo; Kitamura, Katia; Kobal, Ronaldo; Nakamura, Fábio Y

2016-07-01

To determine whether athletes from different sport disciplines present similar mean propulsive velocity (MPV) in the half-squat (HS) during submaximal and maximal tests, enabling prediction of 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) from MPV at any given submaximal load. Sixty-four male athletes, comprising American football, rugby, and soccer players; sprinters and jumpers; and combat-sport strikers attended 2 testing sessions separated by 2-4 wk. On the first visit, a standardized 1-RM test was performed. On the second, athletes performed HSs on Smith-machine equipment, using relative percentages of 1-RM to determine the respective MPV of submaximal and maximal loads. Linear regression established the relationship between MPV and percentage of 1-RM. A very strong linear relationship (R2 ≈ .96) was observed between the MPV and the percentages of HS 1-RM, resulting in the following equation: %HS 1-RM = -105.05 × MPV + 131.75. The MPV at HS 1-RM was ~0.3 m/s. This equation can be used to predict HS 1-RM on a Smith machine with a high degree of accuracy.

On the Transportability of Ms Versus Yield Relationships

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patton, H. J.; Randall, G. E.

2014-12-01

A physical basis for transporting magnitude (M) versus yield (W) relationships between test sites is essential for improved yield estimation. A case in point is an Ms relationship transported from the Nevada Test Site, which gives W estimates of North Korean tests roughly a factor of two larger than mb-based estimates. In order to test the performance of this relation, we transport it to Semipalatinsk (STS) where W and source media information are available. The transported Ms - W relation was developed for water-saturated tuff/rhyolite, and Rayleigh-wave generation was corrected for the effects of source medium compaction due to spall slapdown. Coupling variations with burial depth and the effects of compaction, both functions of W in tuff/rhyolite, are mitigated for shots in hard rock. As such, it is satisfying that Ms for STS shots are seen to scale similarly as the transported relation, ~0.8log[W]. However, they are offset downward by 0.4 - 0.5 magnitude units. A negative offset is consistent with the effects of tectonic release, but research has shown the inadequacy of double-couple (DC) mechanisms to improve correlations of moment magnitude Mw - W relations. Source medium properties are not a factor because larger amplitude Green's functions in weak rock trade off with reduced source strength relative to explosions in hard rock. In this paper, the role of late-time damage due to non-linear, free-surface interactions, modeled with an Mzz source, is explored. Combining this source with DC mechanisms, we show the non-uniqueness of models to satisfy long-period surface-wave observations, and investigate overcoming this difficulty with full waveform modeling of Borovoye seismograms.

Evaluation of the shrinkage and creep of medium strength self compacting concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De La Cruz, C. J.; Ramos, G.; Hurtado, W. A.

2017-02-01

The difference between self compacting concrete (SCC) and conventional concrete (CC) is in fresh state, is the high fluidity at first and the need for vibration at second, but in hardened state, both concretes must comply with the resistance specified, in addition to securing the safety and functionality for which it was designed. This article describes the tests and results for shrinkage and creep at some medium strength Self Compacting Concrete with added sand (SCC-MSs) and two types of cement. The research was conducted at the Laboratorio de Tecnología de Estructuras (LTE) of the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya (UPC), in dosages of 200 liters; with the idea of evaluating the effectiveness of implementation of these new concretes at elements designed with conventional concrete (CCs).

Numerical simulations of mechanical and ignition-deflagration responses for PBXs under low-to-medium-level velocity impact loading.

PubMed

Yang, Kun; Wu, Yanqing; Huang, Fenglei; Li, Ming

2017-09-05

An effective computational model is required to accurately predict the dynamic responses in accidental initiations of explosives. The present work uses a series of two-dimensional mechanical-chemical simulations performed via a hydrodynamic-code, DREXH-2D, to efficiently describe the mechanical and ignition-deflagration responses of cased cylindrical polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) undergoing a low-to-medium-level impact (70-350m/s) in longitudinal direction. The ignition response was predicted based on an ignition criterion of effective plastic work. Slow burning and its growth to deflagration were described through a pressure-dependent reaction rate equation. The extreme value of effective plastic work was found to be useful to determine the ignition threshold velocity for PBXs. For low-level velocity impact, the incident stress wave reflection from lateral surfaces contributed to the formation of ignition regions. After the ignition, the deflagration was induced in the medium-level impact, and its violence was related to the shock strength. However, the low-strength stress wave only induced reaction at local regions, and sequent burning was no longer sensitive to the strength of incident wave. The predicted pressure and temperature results of PBXs were consistent with the medium-level impact tests performed by China Academy of Engineering Physics. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In vitro micropropagation in Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. an important threatened medicinal herb of Northern India.

PubMed

Bisht, Shivani; Bisht, N S; Bhandari, Snehlata

2012-01-01

An ideal micropropagation method of Polygonatum verticillatum has been developed using stem disc explants. Multiple shoots were initiated from stem disc explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with different concentrations (0.25-10.0 mgl(-1)) and combinations of cytokinins (BAP, Kn and TDZ) along with (0.5-1.0 mgl(-1)) auxins (NAA/IBA/IAA). 1.0 mgl(-1) BAP with 0.5 mgl(-1) NAA was found to be the most effective in producing maximum number of shoots. Regular subculturing of these in vitro multiple shoots induced profuse growth of lateral roots in the same medium. Individual shoots were excised and rooted in vitro on half strength MS medium with 1.0 mgl(-1) NAA. Regenerants were hardened in growth chamber with high humidity and showed a high rate of survival.

Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Combination with Leucine and Vitamin D Increase Muscle Strength and Function in Frail Elderly Adults in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Abe, Sakiko; Ezaki, Osamu; Suzuki, Motohisa

2016-05-01

Sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is common in elderly individuals but difficult to treat. A combination of nutrients was investigated to treat sarcopenia in very frail elderly adults. We enrolled 38 elderly nursing home residents (11 men and 27 women with a mean ± SD age of 86.6 ± 4.8 y) in a 3-mo randomized, controlled, single-blind, parallel group trial. The participants were randomly allocated to 3 groups. The first group received a daily l-leucine (1.2 g) and cholecalciferol (20 μg)-enriched supplement with 6 g medium-chain triglycerides (TGs) (MCTs) (LD + MCT); the second group received the same leucine and cholecalciferol-enriched supplement with 6 g long-chain TGs (LD + LCT); and the third group did not receive any supplements (control). The supplement and oils were taken at dinner, and changes in muscle mass, strength, and function were monitored. The increase in body weight in the LD + MCT (1.1 ± 1.0 kg) and LD + LCT (0.8 ± 1.1 kg) groups was greater than that in the control group (-0.5 ± 0.9 kg) (P < 0.05). After 3 mo, participants in the LD + MCT group had a 13.1% increase in right-hand grip strength (1.2 ± 1.0 kg, P < 0.01), a 12.5% increase in walking speed (0.078 ± 0.080 m/s, P < 0.05), a 68.2% increase in a 10-s leg open-and-close test performance (2.31 ± 1.68 n/10 s, P < 0.001), and a 28.2% increase in peak expiratory flow (53 ± 59 L/min, P < 0.01). No significant improvements in muscle mass, strength, or function were observed in the LD + LCT or control groups. The combined supplementation of MCTs (6 g), leucine-rich amino acids, and cholecalciferol at dinner may improve muscle strength and function in frail elderly individuals. This trial was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000017567. © 2016 American Society for Nutrition.

Indentation theory on a half-space of transversely isotropic multi-ferroic composite medium: sliding friction effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, F.; Wu, T.-H.; Li, X.-Y.

2018-03-01

This article aims to present a systematic indentation theory on a half-space of multi-ferroic composite medium with transverse isotropy. The effect of sliding friction between the indenter and substrate is taken into account. The cylindrical flat-ended indenter is assumed to be electrically/magnetically conducting or insulating, which leads to four sets of mixed boundary-value problems. The indentation forces in the normal and tangential directions are related to the Coulomb friction law. For each case, the integral equations governing the contact behavior are developed by means of the generalized method of potential theory, and the corresponding coupling field is obtained in terms of elementary functions. The effect of sliding on the contact behavior is investigated. Finite element method (FEM) in the context of magneto-electro-elasticity is developed to discuss the validity of the analytical solutions. The obtained analytical solutions may serve as benchmarks to various simplified analyses and numerical codes and as a guide for future experimental studies.

Establishment of an in vitro micropropagation protocol for Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. ex Poir.

PubMed Central

Khalafalla, Mutasim M.; Daffalla, Hussien M.; Abdellatef, Eltayb; Agabna, Elsadig; El-Shemy, Hany A.

2011-01-01

This report describes in vitro micropropagation of Boscia senegalensis, so-called famine foods, that helped the people in Darfur and Kordofan, Sudan survive during the 1984–1985 famine. Four types of explants prepared from green mature zygotic embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with 1–5 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA). The highest number of shoots per explant (14.3±0.9) was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L BA, while the highest shoot length [(3.5±0.4) cm] was obtained with 1 mg/L BA. The shoot cluster, when subcultured to its same medium, significantly increased the rate of shoot multiplication by the end of the third subculture. The maximum mean number of shoots per explant (86.5±3.6) was produced after three multiplication cycles on 3 mg/L BA-supplemented medium. In vitro induced shoots were excised and rooted on half strength MS medium fortified with 0.25 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to obtain complete plantlets. B. senegalensis-regenerated plantlets obtained in vitro for the first time, were hardened and 95% survived under greenhouse conditions. PMID:21462387

Establishment of an in vitro micropropagation protocol for Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. ex Poir.

PubMed

Khalafalla, Mutasim M; Daffalla, Hussien M; Abdellatef, Eltayb; Agabna, Elsadig; El-Shemy, Hany A

2011-04-01

This report describes in vitro micropropagation of Boscia senegalensis, so-called famine foods, that helped the people in Darfur and Kordofan, Sudan survive during the 1984-1985 famine. Four types of explants prepared from green mature zygotic embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with 1-5 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA). The highest number of shoots per explant (14.3±0.9) was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L BA, while the highest shoot length [(3.5±0.4) cm] was obtained with 1 mg/L BA. The shoot cluster, when subcultured to its same medium, significantly increased the rate of shoot multiplication by the end of the third subculture. The maximum mean number of shoots per explant (86.5±3.6) was produced after three multiplication cycles on 3 mg/L BA-supplemented medium. In vitro induced shoots were excised and rooted on half strength MS medium fortified with 0.25 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to obtain complete plantlets. B. senegalensis-regenerated plantlets obtained in vitro for the first time, were hardened and 95% survived under greenhouse conditions.

Better Rooting Procedure to Enhance Survival Rate of Field Grown Malaysian Eksotika Papaya Transformed with 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid Oxidase Gene

PubMed Central

Sekeli, Rogayah; Abdullah, Janna Ong; Namasivayam, Parameswari; Muda, Pauziah; Abu Bakar, Umi Kalsom

2013-01-01

A high survival rate for transformed papaya plants when transferred to the field is useful in the quest for improving the commercial quality traits. We report in this paper an improved rooting method for the production of transformed Malaysian Eksotika papaya with high survival rate when transferred to the field. Shoots were regenerated from embryogenic calli transformed with antisense and RNAi constructs of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) genes using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method. Regenerated transformed shoots, each measuring approximately 3-4 cm in height, were cultured in liquid half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium or sterile distilled water, and with either perlite or vermiculite supplementation. All the culturing processes were conducted either under sterile or nonsterile condition. The results showed that rooting under sterile condition was better. Shoots cultured in half-strength MS medium supplemented with vermiculite exhibited a 92.5% rooting efficiency while perlite showed 77.5%. The survival rate of the vermiculite-grown transformed papaya plantlets after transfer into soil, contained in polybags, was 94%, and the rate after transfer into the ground was 92%. Morpho-histological analyses revealed that the tap roots were more compact, which might have contributed to the high survival rates of the plantlets. PMID:25969786

Better rooting procedure to enhance survival rate of field grown malaysian eksotika papaya transformed with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid oxidase gene.

PubMed

Sekeli, Rogayah; Abdullah, Janna Ong; Namasivayam, Parameswari; Muda, Pauziah; Abu Bakar, Umi Kalsom

2013-01-01

A high survival rate for transformed papaya plants when transferred to the field is useful in the quest for improving the commercial quality traits. We report in this paper an improved rooting method for the production of transformed Malaysian Eksotika papaya with high survival rate when transferred to the field. Shoots were regenerated from embryogenic calli transformed with antisense and RNAi constructs of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) genes using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method. Regenerated transformed shoots, each measuring approximately 3-4 cm in height, were cultured in liquid half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium or sterile distilled water, and with either perlite or vermiculite supplementation. All the culturing processes were conducted either under sterile or nonsterile condition. The results showed that rooting under sterile condition was better. Shoots cultured in half-strength MS medium supplemented with vermiculite exhibited a 92.5% rooting efficiency while perlite showed 77.5%. The survival rate of the vermiculite-grown transformed papaya plantlets after transfer into soil, contained in polybags, was 94%, and the rate after transfer into the ground was 92%. Morpho-histological analyses revealed that the tap roots were more compact, which might have contributed to the high survival rates of the plantlets.

Dislocation mechanisms and 3D twin architectures generate exceptional strength-ductility-toughness combination in CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy.

PubMed

Zhang, Zijiao; Sheng, Hongwei; Wang, Zhangjie; Gludovatz, Bernd; Zhang, Ze; George, Easo P; Yu, Qian; Mao, Scott X; Ritchie, Robert O

2017-02-20

Combinations of high strength and ductility are hard to attain in metals. Exceptions include materials exhibiting twinning-induced plasticity. To understand how the strength-ductility trade-off can be defeated, we apply in situ, and aberration-corrected scanning, transmission electron microscopy to examine deformation mechanisms in the medium-entropy alloy CrCoNi that exhibits one of the highest combinations of strength, ductility and toughness on record. Ab initio modelling suggests that it has negative stacking-fault energy at 0K and high propensity for twinning. With deformation we find that a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical twin network forms from the activation of three twinning systems. This serves a dual function: conventional twin-boundary (TB) strengthening from blockage of dislocations impinging on TBs, coupled with the 3D twin network which offers pathways for dislocation glide along, and cross-slip between, intersecting TB-matrix interfaces. The stable twin architecture is not disrupted by interfacial dislocation glide, serving as a continuous source of strength, ductility and toughness.

High-precision half-life determination for the superallowed β+ emitter Ga62

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grinyer, G. F.; Finlay, P.; Svensson, C. E.; Ball, G. C.; Leslie, J. R.; Austin, R. A. E.; Bandyopadhyay, D.; Chaffey, A.; Chakrawarthy, R. S.; Garrett, P. E.; Hackman, G.; Hyland, B.; Kanungo, R.; Leach, K. G.; Mattoon, C. M.; Morton, A. C.; Pearson, C. J.; Phillips, A. A.; Ressler, J. J.; Sarazin, F.; Savajols, H.; Schumaker, M. A.; Wong, J.

2008-01-01

The half-life of the superallowed β+ emitter Ga62 has been measured at TRIUMF's Isotope Separator and Accelerator facility using a fast-tape-transport system and 4π continuous-flow gas proportional counter to detect the positrons from the decay of Ga62 to the daughter Zn62. The result, T1/2=116.100±0.025 ms, represents the most precise measurement to date (0.022%) for any superallowed β-decay half-life. When combined with six previous measurements of the Ga62 half-life, a new world average of T1/2=116.121±0.021 ms is obtained. This new half-life measurement results in a 20% improvement in the precision of the Ga62 superallowed ft value while reducing its mean by 0.9σ to ft=3074.3(12) s. The impact of this half-life measurement on precision tests of the CVC hypothesis and isospin symmetry breaking corrections for A⩾62 superallowed decays is discussed.

In vitro propagation of jojoba.

PubMed

Llorente, Berta E; Apóstolo, Nancy M

2013-01-01

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schn.) is a nontraditional crop in arid and semi-arid areas. Vegetative propagation can be achieved by layering, grafting, or rooting semi-hardwood cuttings, but the highest number of possible propagules is limited by the size of the plants and time of the year. Micropropagation is highly recommended strategy for obtaining jojoba elite clones. For culture initiation, single-node explants are cultivated on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with Gamborg's vitamins (B5), 11.1 μM BA (N(6)-benzyl-adenine), 0.5 μM IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), and 1.4 μM GA(3) (gibberellic acid). Internodal and apical cuttings proliferate on MS medium containing B5 vitamins and 4.4 μM BA. Rooting is achieved on MS medium (half strength mineral salt) amended with B5 vitamins and 14.7 μM IBA during 7 days and transferred to develop in auxin-free rooting medium. Plantlets are acclimatized using a graduated humidity regime on soil: peat: perlite (5:1:1) substrate. This micropagation protocol produces large numbers of uniform plants from selected genotypes of jojoba.

Correcting false positive medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency results from newborn screening; synthesis, purification, and standardization of branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines for use in their selective and accurate absolute quantitation by UHPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Minkler, Paul E; Stoll, Maria S K; Ingalls, Stephen T; Hoppel, Charles L

2017-04-01

While selectively quantifying acylcarnitines in thousands of patient samples using UHPLC-MS/MS, we have occasionally observed unidentified branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines. Such observations are not possible using tandem MS methods, which generate pseudo-quantitative acylcarnitine "profiles". Since these "profiles" select for mass alone, they cannot distinguish authentic signal from isobaric and isomeric interferences. For example, some of the samples containing branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines were, in fact, expanded newborn screening false positive "profiles" for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD). Using our fast, highly selective, and quantitatively accurate UHPLC-MS/MS acylcarnitine determination method, we corrected the false positive tandem MS results and reported the sample results as normal for octanoylcarnitine (the marker for MCADD). From instances such as these, we decided to further investigate the presence of branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines in patient samples. To accomplish this, we synthesized and chromatographically characterized several branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines (in addition to valproylcarnitine): 2-methylheptanoylcarnitine, 6-methylheptanoylcarnitine, 2,2-dimethylhexanoylcarnitine, 3,3-dimethylhexanoylcarnitine, 3,5-dimethylhexanoylcarnitine, 2-ethylhexanoylcarnitine, and 2,4,4-trimethylpentanoylcarnitine. We then compared their behavior with branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines observed in patient samples and demonstrated our ability to chromographically resolve, and thus distinguish, octanoylcarnitine from branched-chain C8 acylcarnitines, correcting false positive MCADD results from expanded newborn screening. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Expert system for computer-assisted annotation of MS/MS spectra.

PubMed

Neuhauser, Nadin; Michalski, Annette; Cox, Jürgen; Mann, Matthias

2012-11-01

An important step in mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is the identification of peptides by their fragment spectra. Regardless of the identification score achieved, almost all tandem-MS (MS/MS) spectra contain remaining peaks that are not assigned by the search engine. These peaks may be explainable by human experts but the scale of modern proteomics experiments makes this impractical. In computer science, Expert Systems are a mature technology to implement a list of rules generated by interviews with practitioners. We here develop such an Expert System, making use of literature knowledge as well as a large body of high mass accuracy and pure fragmentation spectra. Interestingly, we find that even with high mass accuracy data, rule sets can quickly become too complex, leading to over-annotation. Therefore we establish a rigorous false discovery rate, calculated by random insertion of peaks from a large collection of other MS/MS spectra, and use it to develop an optimized knowledge base. This rule set correctly annotates almost all peaks of medium or high abundance. For high resolution HCD data, median intensity coverage of fragment peaks in MS/MS spectra increases from 58% by search engine annotation alone to 86%. The resulting annotation performance surpasses a human expert, especially on complex spectra such as those of larger phosphorylated peptides. Our system is also applicable to high resolution collision-induced dissociation data. It is available both as a part of MaxQuant and via a webserver that only requires an MS/MS spectrum and the corresponding peptides sequence, and which outputs publication quality, annotated MS/MS spectra (www.biochem.mpg.de/mann/tools/). It provides expert knowledge to beginners in the field of MS-based proteomics and helps advanced users to focus on unusual and possibly novel types of fragment ions.

Expert System for Computer-assisted Annotation of MS/MS Spectra*

PubMed Central

Neuhauser, Nadin; Michalski, Annette; Cox, Jürgen; Mann, Matthias

2012-01-01

An important step in mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is the identification of peptides by their fragment spectra. Regardless of the identification score achieved, almost all tandem-MS (MS/MS) spectra contain remaining peaks that are not assigned by the search engine. These peaks may be explainable by human experts but the scale of modern proteomics experiments makes this impractical. In computer science, Expert Systems are a mature technology to implement a list of rules generated by interviews with practitioners. We here develop such an Expert System, making use of literature knowledge as well as a large body of high mass accuracy and pure fragmentation spectra. Interestingly, we find that even with high mass accuracy data, rule sets can quickly become too complex, leading to over-annotation. Therefore we establish a rigorous false discovery rate, calculated by random insertion of peaks from a large collection of other MS/MS spectra, and use it to develop an optimized knowledge base. This rule set correctly annotates almost all peaks of medium or high abundance. For high resolution HCD data, median intensity coverage of fragment peaks in MS/MS spectra increases from 58% by search engine annotation alone to 86%. The resulting annotation performance surpasses a human expert, especially on complex spectra such as those of larger phosphorylated peptides. Our system is also applicable to high resolution collision-induced dissociation data. It is available both as a part of MaxQuant and via a webserver that only requires an MS/MS spectrum and the corresponding peptides sequence, and which outputs publication quality, annotated MS/MS spectra (www.biochem.mpg.de/mann/tools/). It provides expert knowledge to beginners in the field of MS-based proteomics and helps advanced users to focus on unusual and possibly novel types of fragment ions. PMID:22888147

β-Decay Half-Lives of Co76,77, Ni79,80, and Cu81: Experimental Indication of a Doubly Magic Ni78

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Z. Y.; Nishimura, S.; Lorusso, G.; Browne, F.; Doornenbal, P.; Gey, G.; Jung, H.-S.; Li, Z.; Niikura, M.; Söderström, P.-A.; Sumikama, T.; Taprogge, J.; Vajta, Zs.; Watanabe, H.; Wu, J.; Yagi, A.; Yoshinaga, K.; Baba, H.; Franchoo, S.; Isobe, T.; John, P. R.; Kojouharov, I.; Kubono, S.; Kurz, N.; Matea, I.; Matsui, K.; Mengoni, D.; Morfouace, P.; Napoli, D. R.; Naqvi, F.; Nishibata, H.; Odahara, A.; Şahin, E.; Sakurai, H.; Schaffner, H.; Stefan, I. G.; Suzuki, D.; Taniuchi, R.; Werner, V.

2014-07-01

The half-lives of 20 neutron-rich nuclei with Z =27-30 have been measured at the RIBF, including five new half-lives of Co76(21.7-4.9+6.5 ms), Co77(13.0-4.3+7.2 ms), Ni79(43.0-7.5+8.6 ms), Ni80(23.9-17.2+26.0 ms), and Cu81(73.2±6.8 ms). In addition, the half-lives of Co73-75, Ni74-78, Cu78-80, and Zn80-82 were determined with higher precision than previous works. Based on these new results, a systematic study of the β-decay half-lives has been carried out, which suggests a sizable magicity for both the proton number Z =28 and the neutron number N=50 in Ni78.

Dislocation mechanisms and 3D twin architectures generate exceptional strength-ductility-toughness combination in CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Zijiao; Sheng, Hongwei; Wang, Zhangjie; ...

2017-02-20

Combinations of high strength and ductility are hard to attain in metals. Exceptions include materials exhibiting twinning-induced plasticity. To understand how the strength-ductility trade-off can be defeated, we apply in situ, and aberration-corrected scanning, transmission electron microscopy to examine deformation mechanisms in the medium-entropy alloy CrCoNi that exhibits one of the highest combinations of strength, ductility and toughness on record. Ab initio modelling suggests that it has negative stacking-fault energy at 0K and high propensity for twinning. With deformation we find that a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical twin network forms from the activation of three twinning systems. This serves a dualmore » function: conventional twin-boundary (TB) strengthening from blockage of dislocations impinging on TBs, coupled with the 3D twin network which offers pathways for dislocation glide along, and cross-slip between, intersecting TB-matrix interfaces. The stable twin architecture is not disrupted by interfacial dislocation glide, serving as a continuous source of strength, ductility and toughness.« less

Dislocation mechanisms and 3D twin architectures generate exceptional strength-ductility-toughness combination in CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zijiao; Sheng, Hongwei; Wang, Zhangjie; Gludovatz, Bernd; Zhang, Ze; George, Easo P.; Yu, Qian; Mao, Scott X.; Ritchie, Robert O.

2017-01-01

Combinations of high strength and ductility are hard to attain in metals. Exceptions include materials exhibiting twinning-induced plasticity. To understand how the strength-ductility trade-off can be defeated, we apply in situ, and aberration-corrected scanning, transmission electron microscopy to examine deformation mechanisms in the medium-entropy alloy CrCoNi that exhibits one of the highest combinations of strength, ductility and toughness on record. Ab initio modelling suggests that it has negative stacking-fault energy at 0K and high propensity for twinning. With deformation we find that a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical twin network forms from the activation of three twinning systems. This serves a dual function: conventional twin-boundary (TB) strengthening from blockage of dislocations impinging on TBs, coupled with the 3D twin network which offers pathways for dislocation glide along, and cross-slip between, intersecting TB-matrix interfaces. The stable twin architecture is not disrupted by interfacial dislocation glide, serving as a continuous source of strength, ductility and toughness. PMID:28218267

Somatic embryogenesis for efficient micropropagation of guava (Psidium guajava L.).

PubMed

Akhtar, Nasim

2013-01-01

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is well known for edible fruit, environment friendly pharmaceutical and commercial products for both national and international market. The conventional propagation and in vitro organogenesis do not meet the demand for the good quality planting materials. Somatic embryogenesis for efficient micropropagation of guava (P. guajava L.) has been developed to fill up the gap. Somatic embryogenesis and plantlets regeneration are achieved from 10-week post-anthesis zygotic embryo explants by 8-day inductive treatment with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) on MS agar medium containing 5% sucrose. Subsequent development and maturation of somatic embryos occur after 8 days on MS basal medium supplemented with 5% sucrose without plant growth regulator. The process of somatic embryogenesis shows the highest relative efficiency in 8-day treatment of zygotic embryo explants with 1.0 mg L(-1) 2,4-D. High efficiency germination of somatic embryos and plantlet regeneration takes place on half strength semisolid MS medium amended with 3% sucrose within 2 weeks of subculture. Somatic plantlets are grown for additional 2 weeks by subculturing in MS liquid growth medium containing 3% sucrose. Well-grown plantlets from liquid medium have survived very well following 2-4 week hardening process. The protocol of somatic embryogenesis is optimized for high efficiency micropropagation of guava species.

In vitro propagation, micromorphological studies and ex vitro rooting of cannon ball tree (Couroupita guianensis aubl.): a multipurpose threatened species.

PubMed

Shekhawat, Mahipal S; Manokari, M

2016-01-01

In vitro propagation methods using seeds and nodal segments of a 21-year old Couroupita guianensis - a medicinally important but threatened tree have been developed. Hundred percent of the seeds germinated on half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 2.0 mg l(-1) indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). Nodal segments were found most suitable for the establishment of cultures. About 90 % explants responded and 4.1 ± 0.23 shoots per node were induced after five weeks of inoculation on MS medium +4.0 mg l(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Further shoot multiplication was achieved by repeated transfer of mother explants and subculturing of in vitro produced shoots on fresh medium. Maximum number (8.2 ± 0.17) of shoots were regenerated on MS medium with 1.0 mg l(-1) each of BAP and Kinetin (Kin) + 0.5 mg l(-1) α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) with additives (50 mg l(-1) of ascorbic acid and 25 mg l(-1) each of adenine sulphate, L-arginine and citric acid). The multiplied shoots rooted (4.3 ± 0.26 roots/shoot) on half strength MS medium with 2.5 mg l(-1) IBA. All the shoots were rooted ex vitro when pulse treated with 400 mg l(-1) of IBA for five min with an average of 7.3 ± 0.23 roots per shoot. Nearly 86 % of these plantlets were acclimatized within 7-8 weeks and successfully transferred in the field. Biologically significant developmental changes were observed during acclimation particularly in leaf micromorphology in terms of changes in stomata, veins and vein-islets, and trichomes. This study helps in understanding the response by the plants towards outer environmental conditions during acclimatization. This is the first report on micropropagation of C. guianensis, which could be used for the large-scale multiplication, restoration and conservation of germplasm of this threatened and medicinally important tree.

Recent progress in half-Heusler thermoelectric materials

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

Huang, Lihong; Zhang, Qinyong; Yuan, Bo

2016-04-15

Highlights: • Summarize the recent progress and advances in HH thermoelectric materials. • Preparing nanocomposites could reduce thermal conductivity. • Introducing enhance phonon scattering could further reduce the thermal conductivity. • Forming ternary systems to reducing the cost effectively. • The new class of HHs presents another opportunity to further optimize the HH system. - Abstract: Half-Heusler (HH) thermoelectric (TE) materials have been attracting extensive research interest over the last two decades, owing to their thermal stability, mechanical strength, and moderate ZT. This material system are potential candidates for medium to high temperature applications, which is close to the temperaturemore » range of most industrial waste heat sources. In this mini-review article, we briefly summarize the recent progress and advances in HH thermoelectric materials. Some effectively available approaches, such as HH nanocomposites to reduce thermal conductivity, using larger atomic mass and size differences to enhance phonon scattering to further reduce the thermal conductivity, forming ternary systems following the cost effective approach. In addition, new thermoelectric HH members are also discussed in this article, which points out that many new HH compounds may be possible for TE applications.« less

GT-10 - EARTH SKY - SOUTHERN HALF OF FORMOSA

NASA Image and Video Library

1966-08-01

S66-45868 (18-21 July 1966) --- Southern half of the island of Taiwan (Formosa) as seen from the Gemini-10 spacecraft. Taken with a J.A. Maurer 70mm camera, using Eastman Kodak, Ektachrome, MS (S.O. 217) color film. Photo credit: NASA

Evaluating the influence of massage on leg strength, swelling, and pain following a half-marathon.

PubMed

Dawson, Lance G; Dawson, Kimberley A; Tiidus, Peter M

2004-11-01

Massage therapy is commonly used following endurance running races with the expectation that it will enhance post-run recovery of muscle function and reduce soreness. A limited number of studies have reported little or no influence of massage therapy on post-exercise muscle recovery. However, no studies have been conducted in a field setting to assess the potential for massage to influence muscle recovery following an actual endurance running race. To evaluate the potential for repeated massage therapy interventions to influence recovery of quadriceps and hamstring muscle soreness, recovery of quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength and reduction of upper leg muscle swelling over a two week recovery period following an actual road running race. Twelve adult recreational runners (8 male, 4 female) completed a half marathon (21.1 km) road race. On days 1,4, 8, and 11 post-race, subjects received 30 minutes of standardized massage therapy performed by a registered massage therapist on a randomly assigned massage treatment leg, while the other (control) leg received no massage treatment. Two days prior to the race (baseline) and preceding the treatments on post-race days 1, 4, 8, and 11 the following measures were conducted on each of the massage and control legs: strength of quadriceps and hamstring muscles, leg swelling, and soreness perception. At day 1, post-race quadriceps peak torque was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), and soreness and leg circumference significantly elevated (p < 0.05) relative to pre-race values with no difference between legs. This suggested that exercise-induced muscle disruption did occur. Comparing the rate of return to baseline measures between the massaged and control legs, revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05). All measures had returned to baseline at day 11. Massage did not affect the recovery of muscles in terms of physiological measures of strength, swelling, or soreness. However, questionnaires revealed that 7 of the 12

Software ion scan functions in analysis of glycomic and lipidomic MS/MS datasets.

PubMed

Haramija, Marko

2018-03-01

Hardware ion scan functions unique to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) mode of data acquisition, such as precursor ion scan (PIS) and neutral loss scan (NLS), are important for selective extraction of key structural data from complex MS/MS spectra. However, their software counterparts, software ion scan (SIS) functions, are still not regularly available. Software ion scan functions can be easily coded for additional functionalities, such as software multiple precursor ion scan, software no ion scan, and software variable ion scan functions. These are often necessary, since they allow more efficient analysis of complex MS/MS datasets, often encountered in glycomics and lipidomics. Software ion scan functions can be easily coded by using modern script languages and can be independent of instrument manufacturer. Here we demonstrate the utility of SIS functions on a medium-size glycomic MS/MS dataset. Knowledge of sample properties, as well as of diagnostic and conditional diagnostic ions crucial for data analysis, was needed. Based on the tables constructed with the output data from the SIS functions performed, a detailed analysis of a complex MS/MS glycomic dataset could be carried out in a quick, accurate, and efficient manner. Glycomic research is progressing slowly, and with respect to the MS experiments, one of the key obstacles for moving forward is the lack of appropriate bioinformatic tools necessary for fast analysis of glycomic MS/MS datasets. Adding novel SIS functionalities to the glycomic MS/MS toolbox has a potential to significantly speed up the glycomic data analysis process. Similar tools are useful for analysis of lipidomic MS/MS datasets as well, as will be discussed briefly. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: a review and recommendations.

PubMed

Russell, Mark; West, Daniel J; Harper, Liam D; Cook, Christian J; Kilduff, Liam P

2015-03-01

A number of intermittent team sports require that two consecutive periods of play (lasting for ~30-45 min) are separated by a 10-20 min half-time break. The half-time practices employed by team-sports players generally include returning to the changing rooms, temporarily relaxing from the cognitive and physical demands of the first half, rehydration and re-fuelling strategies, addressing injury or equipment concerns, and receiving tactical instruction and coach feedback. However, the typically passive nature of these actions has been associated with physiological changes that impair performance during the second half. Both physical and cognitive performances have been found to decline in the initial stages of subsequent exercise that follows half-time. An increased risk of injury has also been observed during this period. Therefore, half-time provides sports scientists and strength and conditioning coaches with an opportunity to optimise second-half performance. An overview of strategies thought to benefit team-sports athletes is presented; specifically, the efficacy of heat maintenance strategies (including passive and active methods), post-activation potentiation, hormonal priming, and modified hydro-nutritional practices are discussed. A theoretical model of applying these strategies in a manner that compliments current practice is also offered.

Glucosinolate biosynthesis in hairy root cultures of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica).

PubMed

Kim, Sun-Ju; Park, Woo Tae; Uddin, Md Romij; Kim, Yeon Bok; Nam, Sang-Yong; Jho, Kwang Hyun; Park, Sang Un

2013-02-01

Here we present previously unreported glucosinolate production by hairy root cultures of broccoli (B. oleracea var. italica). Growth media greatly influenced the growth and glucosinolate content of hairy root cultures of broccoli. Seven glucosinolates, glucoraphanin, gluconapin, glucoerucin, glucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, gluconasturtiin, and neoglucobrassicin, were identified by analysis of the broccoli hairy root cultures. Both half and full strength B5 and SH media enabled the highest accumulation of glucosinolates. In most cases, the levels of glucosinolates were higher in SH and BS media. Among the 7 glucosinolates, the accumulation of neoglucobrassicin was very high, irrespective of growth medium. The neoglucobrassicin content was 7.4-fold higher in SH medium than 1/2 MS, in which its level was the lowest. The 1/2 B5 medium supported the production of the highest amounts of glucobrassicin and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, the levels for which were 36.2- and 7.9- fold higher, respectively, than their lowest content in 1/2 MS medium. The 1/2 SH medium enabled the highest accumulation of glucoraphanin and gluconapin in the broccoli hairy root cultures, whose levels were 1.8- and 4.6-fold higher, respectively, than their lowest content in 1/2 MS medium. Our results suggest that hairy root cultures of broccoli could be a valuable alternative approach for the production of glucosinolate compounds.

An Improved Micropropagation Protocol by Ex Vitro Rooting of Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg. through Nodal Segment Culture.

PubMed

Shekhawat, Mahipal S; Manokari, M; Ravindran, C P

2015-01-01

A procedure for rapid clonal propagation of Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg. (Passifloraceae) has been developed in this study. Nodal explants were sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 and inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium. The addition of 2.0 mgL(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) to MS medium caused an extensive proliferation of multiple shoots (8.21 ± 1.13) primordial from the nodal meristems. Subculturing of these multiple shoots on the MS medium augmented with 1.0 mgL(-1) of each BAP and Kinetin (Kin) was successful for the multiplication of the shoots in vitro with maximum numbers of shoots (25.73 ± 0.06) within four weeks of incubation. Shoots were rooted best (7.13 ± 0.56 roots/shoots) on half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mgL(-1) indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). All in vitro regenerated shoots were rooted by ex vitro method, and this has achieved 6-7 roots per shoot by pulsing of cut ends of the shoots using 200 as well as 300 mgL(-1) IBA. The plantlets were hardened in the greenhouse for 4-5 weeks. The hardened plantlets were shifted to manure containing nursery polybags after five weeks and then transferred to a sand bed for another four weeks for acclimatization before field planting with 88% survival rate.

Identification of significant E0 strength in the 22+ → 21+ transitions of 58,60,62Ni

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evitts, L. J.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Kibédi, T.; Smallcombe, J.; Reed, M. W.; Brown, B. A.; Stuchbery, A. E.; Lane, G. J.; Eriksen, T. K.; Akber, A.; Alshahrani, B.; de Vries, M.; Gerathy, M. S. M.; Holt, J. D.; Lee, B. Q.; McCormick, B. P.; Mitchell, A. J.; Moukaddam, M.; Mukhopadhyay, S.; Palalani, N.; Palazzo, T.; Peters, E. E.; Ramirez, A. P. D.; Stroberg, S. R.; Tornyi, T.; Yates, S. W.

2018-04-01

The E0 transition strength in the 22+ →21 + transitions of 58,60,62Ni have been determined for the first time following a series of measurements at the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Kentucky (UK). The CAESAR Compton-suppressed HPGe array and the Super-e solenoid at ANU were used to measure the δ (E 2 / M 1) mixing ratio and internal conversion coefficient of each transition following inelastic proton scattering. Level half-lives, δ (E 2 / M 1) mixing ratios and γ-ray branching ratios were measured at UK following inelastic neutron scattering. The new spectroscopic information was used to determine the E0 strengths. These are the first 2+ →2+E0 transition strengths measured in nuclei with spherical ground states and the E0 component is found to be unexpectedly large; in fact, these are amongst the largest E0 transition strengths in medium and heavy nuclei reported to date.

In Vitro Seeds Germination and Seedling Growth of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. (Fabaceae)).

PubMed

Koné, Mongomaké; Koné, Tchoa; Silué, Nakpalo; Soumahoro, André Brahima; Kouakou, Tanoh Hilaire

2015-01-01

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an indigenous grain legume. It occupies a prominent place in the strategies to ensure food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Development of an efficient in vitro regeneration system, a prerequisite for genetic transformation application, requires the establishment of optimal conditions for seeds germination and plantlets development. Three types of seeds were inoculated on different basal media devoid of growth regulators. Various strengths of the medium of choice and the type and concentration of carbon source were also investigated. Responses to germination varied with the type of seed. Embryonic axis (EA) followed by seeds without coat (SWtC) germinated rapidly and expressed a high rate of germination. The growth performances of plantlets varied with the basal medium composition and the seeds type. The optimal growth performances of plants were displayed on half strength MS basal medium with SWtC and EA as source of seeds. Addition of 3% sucrose in the culture medium was more suitable for a maximum growth of plantlets derived from EA.

High performance p-type half-Heusler thermoelectric materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Junjie; Xia, Kaiyang; Zhao, Xinbing; Zhu, Tiejun

2018-03-01

Half-Heusler compounds, which possess robust mechanical strength, good high temperature thermal stability and multifaceted physical properties, have been verified as a class of promising thermoelectric materials. During the last two decades, great progress has been made in half-Heusler thermoelectrics. In this review, we summarize some representative work of p-type half-Heusler materials, the thermoelectric performance of which has been remarkably enhanced in recent years. We introduce the features of the crystal and electronic structures of half-Heusler compounds, and successful strategies for optimizing electrical and thermal transport in the p-type RFeSb (R  =  V, Nb, Ta) and MCoSb (M  =  Ti, Zr, Hf) based systems, including band engineering, the formation of solid solutions and hierarchical phonon scattering. The outlook for future research directions of half-Heusler thermoelectrics is also presented.

The utility of ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPSFC-MS/MS) for clinically relevant steroid analysis.

PubMed

Storbeck, Karl-Heinz; Gilligan, Lorna; Jenkinson, Carl; Baranowski, Elizabeth S; Quanson, Jonathan L; Arlt, Wiebke; Taylor, Angela E

2018-05-15

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays are considered the reference standard for serum steroid hormone analyses, while full urinary steroid profiles are only achievable by gas chromatography (GC-MS). Both LC-MS/MS and GC-MS have well documented strengths and limitations. Recently, commercial ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPSFC-MS/MS) systems have been developed. These systems combine the resolution of GC with the high-throughput capabilities of UHPLC. Uptake of this new technology into research and clinical labs has been slow, possibly due to the perceived increase in complexity. Here we therefore present fundamental principles of UHPSFC-MS/MS and the likely applications for this technology in the clinical research setting, while commenting on potential hurdles based on our experience to date. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Knee flexor strength and balance control impairment may explain declines during prolonged walking in women with mild multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Ramari, Cintia; Moraes, Andréa G; Tauil, Carlos B; von Glehn, Felipe; Motl, Robert; de David, Ana C

2018-02-01

Physiological factors such as muscle weakness and balance could explain declines in walking distance by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize levels and examine associations among decline in walking distance, balance and muscular strength in women with mild MS. Participants included 28 women with mild relapsing-remitting MS and 21 women without MS. We executed the 6-min walk test (6MWT) to verify declines in walking distance. Isokinetic knee flexion (KF) and extension (KE) muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer. Balance was quantified using a force platform, with eyes open and closed, on a rigid and foam surface. The MS patients presented declines in walking, lower KF muscle strength, and worse balance than controls. KF strength and balance correlated with walking in the MS group. The KF strength explained differences between groups in walking. The KF strength and balance presented as predictors of walking slowing down in the 6MWT, in mild MS. Women with mild MS have strength impairment of knee flexor muscles and balance control impairment that may explain walking related motor fatigability during prolonged walking. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relationship between lower extremity isometric muscle strength and standing balance in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Citaker, Seyit; Guclu-Gunduz, Arzu; Yazici, Gokhan; Bayraktar, Deniz; Nazliel, Bijen; Irkec, Ceyla

2013-01-01

Muscle strength and standing balance decrease in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the lower extremity isometric muscle strength and standing balance in patients with MS. Forty-seven patients with MS and 10 healthy volunteers were included. Neurological disability level was assessed using Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Isometric strength of seven lower extremity muscles (hip flexor-extensor-abductor-adductor, knee flexor-extensor, and ankle dorsal flexor) was assessed using hand-held dynamometer. Duration of static one-leg standing balance was measured using digital chronometer. Hip flexor-extensor-abductor-adductor, knee flexor-extensor, and ankle dorsal flexor isometric muscle strength, and duration of one-leg standing balance were decreased in patients with MS when compared with controls (p < 0.05). All assessed lower extremity isometric muscle strength and EDSS level was related duration of one-leg standing balance in patients with MS. All assessed lower extremity isometric muscle strength (except ankle dorsal flexor) was related with EDSS. Hip flexor-extensor-abductor-adductor, knee flexor-extensor, and ankle dorsal flexor isometric muscle strength decreases in ambulatory MS patients. Lower extremity muscle weakness and neurological disability level are related with imbalance in MS population. Hip and knee region muscles weakness increases the neurological disability level. For the better balance and decrease neurological disability level whole lower extremity muscle strengthening should be included in rehabilitation programs.

Rayleigh-type waves in nonlocal micropolar solid half-space.

PubMed

Khurana, Aarti; Tomar, S K

2017-01-01

Propagation of Rayleigh type surface waves in nonlocal micropolar elastic solid half-space has been investigated. Two modes of Rayleigh-type waves are found to propagate under certain approximations. Frequency equations of these Rayleigh type modes and their conditions of existence have been derived. These frequency equations are found to be dispersive in character due to the presence of micropolarity and nonlocality parameters in the medium. One of the frequency equations is a counterpart of the classical Rayleigh waves and the other is new and has appeared due to micropolarity of the medium. Phase speeds of these waves are computed numerically for Magnesium crystal and their variation against wavenumber are presented graphically. Comparisons have been made between the phase speeds of Rayleigh type waves through nonlocal micropolar, local micropolar and elastic solid half-spaces. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Production of ajmalicine and ajmaline in hairy root cultures of Rauvolfia micrantha Hook f., a rare and endemic medicinal plant.

PubMed

Sudha, C G; Obul Reddy, B; Ravishankar, G A; Seeni, S

2003-04-01

Hairy roots of Rauvolfia micrantha were induced from hypocotyl explants of 2-3 weeks old aseptic seedlings using Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834. Hairy roots grown in half-strength Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium with 0.2 mg indole 3-butyric acid l-1 and 0.1 mg alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid l-1 produced more ajmaline (0.01 mg g-1 dry wt) and ajmalicine (0.006 mg g-1 dry wt) than roots grown in auxin-free medium. Ajmaline (0.003 mg g-1 dry wt) and ajmalicine (0.0007 mg g-1 dry wt) were also produced in normal root cultures. This is the first report of production of ajmaline and ajmalicine in hairy root cultures of Rauvolfia micrantha.

Stability of amoxicillin-clavulanate in BACTEC medium determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and bioassay.

PubMed Central

Moore, T D; Horton, R; Utrup, L J; Miller, L A; Poupard, J A

1996-01-01

The stabilities of amoxicillin (16 micrograms/ml) and clavulanate (8 micrograms/ml), alone and in combination in BACTEC medium (Middlebrook 7H12B medium), were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and bioassay. By HPLC, the half-life of amoxicillin (trihydrate and sodium) in combination with clavulanate in nonradiolabelled 7H12B medium was 6.7 days, whereas the half-life of clavulanate in combination with amoxicillin was 2.0 days. By bioassay, the half-lives of amoxicillin trihydrate and clavulanate in radiolabelled 7H12B medium were comparable (7 and 2 days, respectively) to those determined by HPLC. When clavulanate was tested alone, the half-life was determined to be 1.88 days by HPLC and 1.87 days by bioassay. The relatively short half-life of clavulanate can be adjusted by a procedure of "topping up," or adding one-half the concentration of clavulanate every second day, in order to allow accurate amoxicillin-clavulanate MIC testing with the BACTEC mycobacterial susceptibility system. PMID:8727931

Effect of a submaximal half-squats warm-up program on vertical jumping ability.

PubMed

Gourgoulis, Vassilios; Aggeloussis, Nickos; Kasimatis, Panagiotis; Mavromatis, Giorgos; Garas, Athanasios

2003-05-01

The purpose of the current research was to study the effect of a warm-up program including submaximal half-squats on vertical jumping ability. Twenty physically active men participated in the study. Each subject performed 5 sets of half-squats with 2 repetitions at each of the following intensities: 20, 40, 60, 80, and 90% of the 1 repetition maximum (1RM) load. Prior to the first set and immediately after the end of the last set, the subjects performed 2 countermovement jumps on a Kistler force platform; the primary goal was to jump as high as possible. The results showed that mean vertical jumping ability improved by 2.39% after the warm-up period. Subjects were then divided into 2 groups according to their 1RM values for the half-squat. Subjects with greater maximal strength ability improved their vertical jumping ability (4.01%) more than did subjects with lower maximal strength (0.42%). A warm-up protocol including half-squats with submaximal loads and explosive execution can be used for short-term improvements of vertical jumping performance, and this effect is greater in athletes with a relatively high strength ability.

The effects of smoke derivatives on in vitro seed germination and development of the leopard orchid Ansellia africana.

PubMed

Papenfus, H B; Naidoo, D; Pošta, M; Finnie, J F; Van Staden, J

2016-03-01

Plant-derived smoke and smoke-isolated compounds stimulate germination in seeds from over 80 genera. It has also been reported that smoke affects overall plant vigour and has a stimulatory effect on pollen growth. The effect of smoke on orchid seeds, however, has not been assessed. In South Africa, orchid seeds from several genera may be exposed to smoke when they are released from their seedpods. It is therefore possible that smoke may affect their germination and growth. Therefore, the effects of smoke [applied as smoke-water (SW)] and two smoke-derived compounds, karrikinolide (KAR1 ) and trimethylbutenolide (TMB), were investigated on the germination and growth of orchid seeds in vitro. The effect of SW, KAR1 and TMB were investigated on the endangered epiphytic orchid, Ansellia africana, which is indigenous to tropical areas of Africa. Smoke-water, KAR1 and TMB were infused in half-strength MS medium. The number of germinated seeds and number of seeds and protocorm bodies to reach predetermined developmental stages were recorded on a weekly basis using a dissecting microscope for a 13-week period. Infusing SW 1:250 (v:v) into half-strength MS medium significantly increased the germination rate index (GRI) and the development rate index (DRI) of the A. africana seeds. All the SW treatments significantly increased the number of large protocorm bodies at the final stage of development. Infusing KAR1 into the growing medium had no significant effect on germination or development of the seeds. The TMB treatment, however, significantly reduced the GRI and DRI of A. africana seeds. © 2015 German Botanical Society and The Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands.

Hot granules medium pressure forming process of AA7075 conical parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Guojiang; Zhao, Changcai; Peng, Yaxin; Li, Ying

2015-05-01

High strength aluminum alloy plate has a low elongation at room temperature, which leads to the forming of its components need a high temperature. Liquid or gas is used as the pressure-transfer medium in the existing flexible mould forming process, the heat resistance of the medium and pressurizing device makes the application of aluminum alloy plate thermoforming restricted. To solve this problem, the existing medium is replaced by the heat-resisting solid granules and the general pressure equipments are applied. Based on the pressure-transfer performance test of the solid granules medium, the feasibility that the assumption of the extended Drucker-Prager linear model can be used in the finite element analysis is proved. The constitutive equation, the yield function and the theoretical forming limit diagram(FLD) of AA7075 sheet are established. Through the finite element numerical simulation of hot granules medium pressure forming(HGMF) process, not only the influence laws of the process parameters, such as forming temperature, the blank-holder gap and the diameter of the slab, on sheet metal forming performance are discussed, but also the broken area of the forming process is analyzed and predicted, which are coincided with the technological test. The conical part whose half cone angle is 15° and relative height H/d 0 is 0.57, is formed in one process at 250°C. The HGMF process solves the problems of loading and seal in the existing flexible mould forming process and provides a novel technology for thermoforming of light alloy plate, such as magnesium alloy, aluminium alloy and titanium alloy.

In vitro propagation of two Iranian commercial pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) cvs. 'Malas Saveh' and 'Yusef Khani'.

PubMed

Valizadehkaji, Babak; Ershadi, Ahmad; Tohidfar, Masoud

2013-10-01

An efficient in vitro propagation is described for Punica granatum L. using shoot tip and nodal explants. The influence of two basal medium, WPM and MS, and different plant growth regulators was investigated on micropropagation of the Iranian pomegranate cultivars, 'Malas Saveh' and 'Yousef Khani'. For proliferation stage, media supplemented with different concentrations (2.3, 4.7, 9.2 and 18.4 μM) of kinetin along with 0.54 μM NAA was used. WPM proved to be more efficient medium compared to MS. The best concentrations of kinetin were 4.7 μM for 'Malas Saveh' and 9.2 μM for 'Yousef Khani', resulting in the highest number of shoots per explants, shoot length and leaf number. For both cultivars, half-strength WPM medium supplemented with 5.4 μM NAA was most effective for rooting of shoots. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and transferred into soil. The micropropagated plants were morphologically uniform and exhibited similar growth characteristics and vegetative morphology to the mother plants.

A simple and efficient protocol for the mass propagation of Cymbidium mastersii: an ornamental orchid of Northeast India

PubMed Central

Mohanty, Padmaja; Paul, Sumi; Das, Meera C.; Kumaria, Suman; Tandon, Pramod

2012-01-01

Background and aims Cymbidium mastersii is an epiphytic orchid distributed mainly in Northeast India. Owing to its high commercial value in the floricultural industry, natural populations are under threat from over-exploitation. Mass propagation provides an alternative means of satisfying the demand. Unfortunately, conventional propagation is slow and difficult, suggesting in vitro methods for mass multiplication may be more appropriate. The objective of this study was to develop an efficient protocol. Methodology and principal results Four nutrient media were evaluated for seed germination and early protocorm development: Murashige and Skoog (MS), half-strength MS, Knudson ‘C’ (KC), and Vacin and Went (VW). In addition, the effects of plant growth regulators 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KN), α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were studied alone and in combination. The maximum percentage seed germination (93.58 ± 0.56) was obtained in MS basal medium after 8–9 weeks of culture. Secondary protocorms (protocorm-like bodies) were developed from primary protocorms on MS medium fortified with different concentrations and combinations of cytokinins (BAP and KN) and auxins (NAA and IBA). The highest numbers of secondary protocorms (20.55 ± 0.62)/primary protocorms were obtained in MS medium supplemented with 5.0 µM BAP and 2.5 µM NAA. The most effective auxin source promoting root production (7.46 ± 0.09 per shoot) was 10.0 µM IBA. The plants were acclimatized effectively (survival percentage 88 %) in a greenhouse using a rooting medium of crushed sterile brick and charcoal (1 : 1 v/v) and vermicompost (leaf litter + cow dung, 1 : 1 v/v). Conclusions An efficient protocol was established for in vitro propagation of C. mastersii using seed as the starting material. The percentage seed germination varied with the composition of the nutrient media and was highest in full-strength MS basal medium. The number of secondary

Screening for the risk of job loss in multiple sclerosis (MS): development of an MS-specific Work Instability Scale (MS-WIS).

PubMed

McFadden, Estelle; Horton, Mike C; Ford, Helen L; Gilworth, Gill; McFadden, Majella; Tennant, Alan

2012-06-01

Multiple sclerosis (MS) mainly presents amongst those of working age. Depending upon the type of MS, many people embark upon a long period of managing their day-to-day work-related needs in the face of intermittent and sometimes persistent disabling symptoms. The objective of this study was to explore the concept of work instability (WI) following the onset of MS and develop a Work Instability Scale (WIS) specific to this population. WI amongst those with MS in work was explored through qualitative interviews which were then used to generate items for a WIS. Rasch analysis was used to refine the scaling properties of the MS-WIS, which was then validated against expert vocational assessment by occupational health physiotherapists and ergonomists. The resulting measure is a 22-item, self-administered scale which can be scored in three bands indicating low, medium and high risk of WI (job retention) problems. The scale meets modern psychometric requirements for measurement, indicated by adequate fit to the Rasch model with absence of local dependency and differential item functioning (DIF) by age, gender and hours worked. The scale presents an opportunity in routine clinical practice to take positive action to reduce sickness absence and prevent job loss.

New isomer and decay half-life of {sup 115}Ru

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

Kurpeta, J.; Plochocki, A.; Rissanen, J.

2010-12-15

Exotic, neutron-rich nuclei of mass A=115 produced in proton-induced fission of {sup 238}U were extracted using the IGISOL mass separator. The beam of isobars was transferred to the JYFLTRAP Penning trap system for further separation to the isotopic level. Monoisotopic samples of {sup 115}Ru nuclei were used for {gamma}and {beta} coincidence spectroscopy. In {sup 115}Ru we have observed excited levels, including an isomer with a half-life of 76(6) ms and (7/2{sup -}) spin and parity. The first excited 61.7-keV level in {sup 115}Ru with spins and parity (3/2{sup +}) may correspond to an oblate 3/2{sup +}[431] Nilsson orbital. A half-lifemore » of 318(19) ms for the {beta}{sup -} decay of the (1/2{sup +}) ground state in {sup 115}Ru has been firmly established in two independent measurements, a value which is significantly shorter than that previously reported.« less

An Improved Micropropagation Protocol by Ex Vitro Rooting of Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg. through Nodal Segment Culture

PubMed Central

Shekhawat, Mahipal S.; Manokari, M.; Ravindran, C. P.

2015-01-01

A procedure for rapid clonal propagation of Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Deg. (Passifloraceae) has been developed in this study. Nodal explants were sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 and inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium. The addition of 2.0 mgL−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) to MS medium caused an extensive proliferation of multiple shoots (8.21 ± 1.13) primordial from the nodal meristems. Subculturing of these multiple shoots on the MS medium augmented with 1.0 mgL−1 of each BAP and Kinetin (Kin) was successful for the multiplication of the shoots in vitro with maximum numbers of shoots (25.73 ± 0.06) within four weeks of incubation. Shoots were rooted best (7.13 ± 0.56 roots/shoots) on half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mgL−1 indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). All in vitro regenerated shoots were rooted by ex vitro method, and this has achieved 6-7 roots per shoot by pulsing of cut ends of the shoots using 200 as well as 300 mgL−1 IBA. The plantlets were hardened in the greenhouse for 4-5 weeks. The hardened plantlets were shifted to manure containing nursery polybags after five weeks and then transferred to a sand bed for another four weeks for acclimatization before field planting with 88% survival rate. PMID:26273489

Association between muscle strength and metabolic syndrome in older Korean men and women: the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging.

PubMed

Yang, Eun Joo; Lim, Soo; Lim, Jae-Young; Kim, Ki Woong; Jang, Hak Chul; Paik, Nam-Jong

2012-03-01

The objective of the study was to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and muscle strength in community-dwelling older men and women in Korea. Korean men and women 65 years and older living in a single, typical South Korean city (n = 647) were enrolled in the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging study. The diagnosis of MS was evaluated according to the definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Isokinetic muscle strength of the knee extensors, as determined by peak torque per body weight (newton meter per kilogram) and hand-grip strength per body weight (newton per kilogram), was measured. Participants without MS had greater leg muscle strength and grip strength per weight. The effect of MS on muscle strength was more prominent in men than in women in our study population. Only men showed a significant interaction between MS and age for muscle strength (P = .014), and the effect was greater in men aged 65 to 74 years compared with those older than 75 years (119.2 ± 31.2 vs 134.5 ± 24.3 N m/kg). Participants with MS had weaker knee extensor strength after controlling the covariates (β = -90.80, P = .003), and the interaction term (age × MS × male sex) was significant (β = 1.00, P = .017). Metabolic syndrome is associated with muscle weakness, and this relationship is particularly pronounced in men. Age can modify the impact of MS on muscle strength. Men aged 65 to 74 years with MS need a thorough assessment of muscle strength to prevent disability. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Micropropagation and assessment of genetic fidelity of Henckelia incana: an endemic and medicinal Gesneriad of South India.

PubMed

Prameela, J; Ramakrishnaiah, H; Krishna, V; Deepalakshmi, A P; Naveen Kumar, N; Radhika, R N

2015-07-01

Henckelia incana is an endemic medicinal plant used for the treatment of fever and skin allergy. In the present study shoot regeneration was evaluated on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with auxins, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole-3- butyric acid (IBA), 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) and cytokinins, 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kn) at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 mgl(-1). MS medium with IBA (18.08), NAA (17.83) and IAA (17.58) at 0.5 mgl(-1) concentrations showed efficient regeneration. Regenerated shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium with and without 0.5 mgl(-1) IBA or NAA. The plantlets were successfully hardened in rooting trays (peat, vermiculite and sand) and transferred to field mileu. The genetic fidelity of in vitro raised plants was assessed by using three different single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) markers namely random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and direct amplification of mini-satellite DNA region (DAMD). The results consistently demonstrated true-to-true type propagation. This is the first report of in vitro propagation and establishment of true-to-true type genetic fidelity in H. incana.

Nitrate uptake and utilization is modulated by exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.

PubMed

Barbosa, Jose M; Singh, Narendra K; Cherry, Joe H; Locy, Robert D

2010-06-01

Exogenously applied GABA modulates root growth by inhibition of root elongation when seedlings were grown in vitro on full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts, but root elongation was stimulated when seedlings were grown on 1/8 strength MS salts. When the concentration of single ions in MS salts was individually varied, the control of growth between inhibition and stimulation was found to be related to the level of nitrate (NO(3)(-)) in the growth medium. At NO(3)(-) concentrations below 40 mM (full-strength MS salts level), root growth was stimulated by the addition of GABA to the growth medium; whereas at concentrations above 40 mM NO(3)(-), the addition of GABA to the growth medium inhibited root elongation. GABA promoted NO(3)(-) uptake at low NO(3)(-), while GABA inhibited NO(3)(-) uptake at high NO(3)(-). Activities of several enzymes involved in nitrogen and carbon metabolism including nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (NADH-GOGAT), NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-ICDH), and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) were regulated by GABA in the growth medium. Supplementing 1/8 strength MS medium with 50 mM GABA enhanced the activities of all of the above enzymes except ICDH activities in root tissues. However, at full-strength MS, GABA showed no inhibitory effect on the activities of these enzymes, except on GS in both root and shoot tissues, and PEPCase activity in shoot tissues. Exogenous GABA increased the amount of NR protein rather than its activation status in the tissues. This study shows that GABA affects the growth of Arabidopsis, possibly by acting as a signaling molecule, modulating the activity of enzymes involved in primary nitrogen metabolism and nitrate uptake.

The Half Empty Question for Socio-Cognitive Interventions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwartz, Daniel L.; Cheng, Katherine M.; Salehi, Shima; Wieman, Carl

2016-01-01

The studies in this special section of the "Journal of Educational Psychology" present a variety of social-psychological interventions across large numbers of classrooms and populations. They show notable benefits for many students at risk for low performance. This is the glass half-full interpretation, and we consider the strengths of…

In vitro callus induction and plantlet regeneration of Achyranthes aspera L., a high value medicinal plant

PubMed Central

Sen, Monokesh Kumer; Nasrin, Shamima; Rahman, Shahedur; Jamal, Abu Hena Mostofa

2014-01-01

Objective To study callus induction from different explants (internode, leaf, root) and in vitro plantlets propagation from medicinally important plant Achyranthes aspera L. Methods Sterilized explants were prepared by using 0.1% HgCl2 and 0.5% Bavistin and callus was obtained when cultured onto Murashige Skoog's (MS) medium by using different concentrations and combination of 2,4-D, NAA, BAP, IAA, IBA with 3% sucrose and 0.8% agar. Induced callus was immediately transferred to MS medium containing at different concentrations of phytohormones for shootlets and rootlets induction respectively. Results Sterilization treatment of 0.1% HgCl2 for 2-3 min and Bavistin 0.5% for 10-12 min showed the highest percentage of asepsis and survival rate. Maximum induction of callus was obtained from a combination of 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L NAA from leaf. Highest shootlets number (4.83±0.17) and length (3.8±0.16) cm were observed on full strength MS medium when fortified with BAP 4.0 mg/L and KIN 0.5 mg/L. Concerted efforts of BAP 2.0 mg/L and NAA 0.5 mg/L on full strength MS medium showed highest leaf number (6.77±0.94). In vitro raised shoots were allowed to root on different strengths of MS medium fortified with IAA and IBA at different concentrations. Experimentally, 3.0 mg/L IBA was enabled to induce maximum rootlets number (10.0±9.82) on full strength MS medium. Afterwards, regenerated shoots with well developed roots were successfully subjected to hardening process and were acclimatized. The survived plantlets showed 66.67% survival frequency without any morphological abnormality. Conclusions The results demonstrated that different explants were good source of callus induction, morphology analysis as well as indirect plantlets regeneration. PMID:24144129

Column strength of magnesium alloy AM-57S

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holt, M

1942-01-01

Tests were made to determine the column strength of extruded magnesium alloy AM-57S. Column specimens were tested with round ends and with flat ends. It was found that the compressive properties should be used in computations for column strengths rather than the tensile properties because the compressive yield strength was approximately one-half the tensile yield strength. A formula for the column strength of magnesium alloy AM-57S is given.

Sensitivity of GC-EI/MS, GC-EI/MS/MS, LC-ESI/MS/MS, LC-Ag(+) CIS/MS/MS, and GC-ESI/MS/MS for analysis of anabolic steroids in doping control.

PubMed

Cha, Eunju; Kim, Sohee; Kim, Ho Jun; Lee, Kang Mi; Kim, Ki Hun; Kwon, Oh-Seung; Lee, Jaeick

2015-01-01

This study compared the sensitivity of various separation and ionization methods, including gas chromatography with an electron ionization source (GC-EI), liquid chromatography with an electrospray ionization source (LC-ESI), and liquid chromatography with a silver ion coordination ion spray source (LC-Ag(+) CIS), coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) for steroid analysis. Chromatographic conditions, mass spectrometric transitions, and ion source parameters were optimized. The majority of steroids in GC-EI/MS/MS and LC-Ag(+) CIS/MS/MS analysis showed higher sensitivities than those obtained with other analytical methods. The limits of detection (LODs) of 65 steroids by GC-EI/MS/MS, 68 steroids by LC-Ag(+) CIS/MS/MS, 56 steroids by GC-EI/MS, 54 steroids by LC-ESI/MS/MS, and 27 steroids by GC-ESI/MS/MS were below cut-off value of 2.0 ng/mL. LODs of steroids that formed protonated ions in LC-ESI/MS/MS analysis were all lower than the cut-off value. Several steroids such as unconjugated C3-hydroxyl with C17-hydroxyl structure showed higher sensitivities in GC-EI/MS/MS analysis relative to those obtained using the LC-based methods. The steroids containing 4, 9, 11-triene structures showed relatively poor sensitivities in GC-EI/MS and GC-ESI/MS/MS analysis. The results of this study provide information that may be useful for selecting suitable analytical methods for confirmatory analysis of steroids. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Improved liquid chromatography-MS/MS of heparan sulfate oligosaccharides via chip-based pulsed makeup flow.

PubMed

Huang, Yu; Shi, Xiaofeng; Yu, Xiang; Leymarie, Nancy; Staples, Gregory O; Yin, Hongfeng; Killeen, Kevin; Zaia, Joseph

2011-11-01

Microfluidic chip-based hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) is a useful separation system for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in compositional profiling of heparan sulfate (HS) oligosaccharides; however, ions observed using HILIC LC-MS are low in charge. Tandem MS of HS oligosaccharide ions with low charge results in undesirable losses of SO(3) from precursor ions during collision induced dissociation. One solution is to add metal cations to stabilize sulfate groups. Another is to add a nonvolatile, polar compound such as sulfolane, a molecule known to supercharge proteins, to produce a similar effect for oligosaccharides. We demonstrate use of a novel pulsed makeup flow (MUF) HPLC-chip. The chip enables controlled application of additives during specified chromatographic time windows and thus minimizes the extent to which nonvolatile additives build up in the ion source. The pulsed MUF system was applied to LC-MS/MS of HS oligosaccharides. Metal cations and sulfolane were tested as additives. The most promising results were obtained for sulfolane, for which supercharging of the oligosaccharide ions increased their signal strengths relative to controls. Tandem MS of these supercharged precursor ions showed decreased abundances of product ions from sulfate losses yet more abundant product ions from backbone cleavages.

A Modified Constitutive Model for Tensile Flow Behaviors of BR1500HS Ultra-High-Strength Steel at Medium and Low Temperature Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jun; Quan, Guo-Zheng; Pan, Jia; Wang, Xuan; Wu, Dong-Sen; Xia, Yu-Feng

2018-01-01

Constitutive model of materials is one of the most requisite mathematical model in the finite element analysis, which describes the relationships of flow behaviors with strain, strain rate and temperature. In order to construct such constitutive relationships of ultra-high-strength BR1500HS steel at medium and low temperature regions, the true stress-strain data over a wide temperature range of 293-873 K and strain rate range of 0.01-10 s-1 were collected from a series of isothermal uniaxial tensile tests. The experimental results show that stress-strain relationships are highly non-linear and susceptible to three parameters involving temperature, strain and strain rate. By considering the impacts of strain rate and temperature on strain hardening, a modified constitutive model based on Johnson-Cook model was proposed to characterize flow behaviors in medium and low temperature ranges. The predictability of the improved model was also evaluated by the relative error (W(%)), correlation coefficient (R) and average absolute relative error (AARE). The R-value and AARE-value for modified constitutive model at medium and low temperature regions are 0.9915 & 1.56 % and 0.9570 & 5.39 %, respectively, which indicates that the modified constitutive model can precisely estimate the flow behaviors for BR1500HS steel in the medium and low temperature regions.

Rapid in vitro propagation, conservation and analysis of genetic stability of Viola pilosa.

PubMed

Soni, Madhvi; Kaur, Rajinder

2014-01-01

A protocol for in vitro propagation was developed for Viola pilosa, a plant of immense medicinal value. To start with in vitro propagation, the sterilized explants (buds) were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of growth regulators. One of the medium compositions MS basal + 0.5 mg/l BA + 0.5 mg/l TDZ + 0.5 mg/l GA3 gave best results for in vitro shoot bud establishment. Although the problem of shoot vitrification occurred on this medium but this was overcome by transferring the vitrified shoots on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BA and 0.25 mg/l Kn. The same medium was found to be the best medium for further in vitro shoot multiplication. 100 % root induction from in vitro grown shoots was obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l IBA. In vitro formed plantlets were hardened and transferred to soil with 83 % survival. Additionally, conservation of in vitro multiplying shoots was also attempted using two different approaches namely slowing down the growth at low temperature and cryopreservation following vitrification. At low temperature retrieval rate was better at 10 °C than at 4 °C after conservation of in vitro multiplying shoots. In cryopreservation-vitrification studies, the vitrified shoot buds gave maximum retrieval of 41.66 % when they were precooled at 4 °C, while only 16.66 % vitrified shoots were retrieved from those precooled at 10 °C. Genetic stability of the in vitro grown plants was analysed by RAPD and ISSR markers which indicated no somaclonal variation among in vitro grown plants demonstrating the feasibility of using the protocol without any adverse genetical effects.

Lossless acoustic half-bipolar cylindrical cloak with negative-index metamaterial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Yong Y.; Ahn, Doyeol

2018-05-01

A lossless acoustic half-bipolar cylindrical cloak that has an exposed bottom is considered. Here, we show that a cloak that includes a complementary region including a negative-index medium inside of the cloaking shell works in the illumination direction independently even in the presence of the exposed bottom of the structure. This is due to the fact that the phase velocity of the wave in the normal direction can be cancelled in the presence of a boundary containing a negative-index medium that reduces scattering significantly.

Chandra Observations of MS0440.5+0204 & MS0839.9+2938: Cooling Flow Clusters in Formation?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNamara, Brian

2000-09-01

We propose to observe two redshift z~0.2 clusters, MS0839.9+2938 and MS0440+0204, discovered as bright X-ray sources in the Einstein Medium Sensitivity Survey. The cluster cores are structured in the X-ray and optical bands, and they harbor large cooling flows. Their central cluster galaxies contain luminous nebular emission systems, active star formation, and strong radio sources. Using the Chandra data, we will determine whether the large discrepancies between the X-ray cooling rates and optical star formation rates can be reconciled, and we will test the hypothesis that cooling flows form as cool, dense groups accrete into massive clusters.

Neck Strength Imbalance Correlates With Increased Head Acceleration in Soccer Heading

PubMed Central

Dezman, Zachary D.W.; Ledet, Eric H.; Kerr, Hamish A.

2013-01-01

Background: Soccer heading is using the head to directly contact the ball, often to advance the ball down the field or score. It is a skill fundamental to the game, yet it has come under scrutiny. Repeated subclinical effects of heading may compound over time, resulting in neurologic deficits. Greater head accelerations are linked to brain injury. Developing an understanding of how the neck muscles help stabilize and reduce head acceleration during impact may help prevent brain injury. Hypothesis: Neck strength imbalance correlates to increasing head acceleration during impact while heading a soccer ball. Study Design: Observational laboratory investigation. Methods: Sixteen Division I and II collegiate soccer players headed a ball in a controlled indoor laboratory setting while player motions were recorded by a 14-camera Vicon MX motion capture system. Neck flexor and extensor strength of each player was measured using a spring-type clinical dynamometer. Results: Players were served soccer balls by hand at a mean velocity of 4.29 m/s (±0.74 m/s). Players returned the ball to the server using a heading maneuver at a mean velocity of 5.48 m/s (±1.18 m/s). Mean neck strength difference was positively correlated with angular head acceleration (rho = 0.497; P = 0.05), with a trend toward significance for linear head acceleration (rho = 0.485; P = 0.057). Conclusion: This study suggests that symmetrical strength in neck flexors and extensors reduces head acceleration experienced during low-velocity heading in experienced collegiate players. Clinical Relevance: Balanced neck strength may reduce head acceleration cumulative subclinical injury. Since neck strength is a measureable and amenable strength training intervention, this may represent a modifiable intrinsic risk factor for injury. PMID:24459547

Interplay of quasiparticle-vibration coupling and pairing correlations on β-decay half-lives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Y. F.; Niu, Z. M.; Colò, G.; Vigezzi, E.

2018-05-01

The nuclear β-decay half-lives of Ni and Sn isotopes, around the closed shell nuclei 78Ni and 132Sn, are investigated by computing the distribution of the Gamow-Teller strength using the Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation (QRPA) with quasiparticle-vibration coupling (QPVC), based on ground-state properties obtained by Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculations. We employ the effective interaction SkM* and a zero-range effective pairing force. The half-lives are strongly reduced by including the QPVC. We study in detail the effects of isovector (IV) and isoscalar (IS) pairing. Increasing the IV strength tends to increase the lifetime for nuclei in the proximity of, but lighter than, the closed-shell ones in QRPA calculations, while the effect is significantly reduced by taking into account the QPVC. On the contrary, the IS pairing mainly plays a role for nuclei after the shell closure. Increasing its strength decreases the half-lives, and the effect at QRPA and QRPA+QPVC level is comparable. The effect of IS pairing is particularly pronounced in the case of the Sn isotopes, where it turns out to be instrumental to obtain good agreement with experimental data.

Effective determination of a pharmaceutical, sulpiride, in river water by online SPE-LC-MS using a molecularly imprinted polymer as a preconcentration medium.

PubMed

Kubo, Takuya; Kuroda, Kenta; Tominaga, Yuichi; Naito, Toyohiro; Sueyoshi, Kenji; Hosoya, Ken; Otsuka, Koji

2014-02-01

We report an effective and a quantitative analysis method for one of pharmaceuticals, sulpiride, in river water by online solid phase extraction (SPE) connected with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using a molecularly imprinted polymer as a preconcentration medium. The polymer prepared with a pseudo template molecule showed the selective retention ability based on the interval recognition of functional groups in sulpiride. Also, the imprinted polymer provided an effective concentration of a trace level of sulpiride in offline SPE with dual washing processes using water and acetonitrile, although another imprinted polymer prepared by an authentic method using sulpiride and methacrylic acid as a template and a functional monomer, respectively, showed the selective adsorption only in organic solvents. Furthermore, we employed the imprinted polymer as the preconcentration column of online SPE-LC-MS and the results supposed that the proposed system allowed the quantitative analysis of sulpiride with high sensitivity and recovery (10ng/L at 96%). Additionally, the determination of sulpiride in real river water without an additional spiking was effectively achieved by the system. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Treatment optimization in MS: Canadian MS Working Group updated recommendations.

PubMed

Freedman, Mark S; Selchen, Daniel; Arnold, Douglas L; Prat, Alexandre; Banwell, Brenda; Yeung, Michael; Morgenthau, David; Lapierre, Yves

2013-05-01

The Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Working Group (CMSWG) developed practical recommendations in 2004 to assist clinicians in optimizing the use of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. The CMSWG convened to review how disease activity is assessed, propose a more current approach for assessing suboptimal response, and to suggest a scheme for switching or escalating treatment. Practical criteria for relapses, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression and MRI were developed to classify the clinical level of concern as Low, Medium and High. The group concluded that a change in treatment may be considered in any RRMS patient if there is a high level of concern in any one domain (relapses, progression or MRI), a medium level of concern in any two domains, or a low level of concern in all three domains. These recommendations for assessing treatment response should assist clinicians in making more rational choices in their management of relapsing MS patients.

Assessment of MALDI-TOF MS biotyping for Borrelia burgdorferi sl detection in Ixodes ricinus

PubMed Central

Boyer, Pierre H.; Boulanger, Nathalie; Nebbak, Amira; Collin, Elodie; Jaulhac, Benoit; Almeras, Lionel

2017-01-01

Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been demonstrated to be useful for tick identification at the species level. More recently, this tool has been successfully applied for the detection of bacterial pathogens directly in tick vectors. The present work has assessed the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus tick vector by MALDI-TOF MS. To this aim, experimental infection model of I. ricinus ticks by B. afzelii was carried out and specimens collected in the field were also included in the study. Borrelia infectious status of I. ricinus ticks was molecularly controlled using half-idiosome to classify specimens. Among the 39 ticks engorged on infected mice, 14 were confirmed to be infected by B. afzelii. For field collection, 14.8% (n = 12/81) I. ricinus ticks were validated molecularly as infected by B. burgdorferi sl. To determine the body part allowing the detection of MS protein profile changes between non-infected and B. afzelii infected specimens, ticks were dissected in three compartments (i.e. 4 legs, capitulum and half-idiosome) prior to MS analysis. Highly reproducible MS spectra were obtained for I. ricinus ticks according to the compartment tested and their infectious status. However, no MS profile change was found when paired body part comparison between non-infected and B. afzelii infected specimens was made. Statistical analyses did not succeed to discover, per body part, specific MS peaks distinguishing Borrelia-infected from non-infected ticks whatever their origins, laboratory reared or field collected. Despite the unsuccessful of MALDI-TOF MS to classify tick specimens according to their B. afzelii infectious status, this proteomic tool remains a promising method for rapid, economic and accurate identification of tick species. Moreover, the singularity of MS spectra between legs and half-idiosome of I. ricinus could be used to reinforce this proteomic identification

Reliability estimation of a N- M-cold-standby redundancy system in a multicomponent stress-strength model with generalized half-logistic distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yiming; Shi, Yimin; Bai, Xuchao; Zhan, Pei

2018-01-01

In this paper, we study the estimation for the reliability of a multicomponent system, named N- M-cold-standby redundancy system, based on progressive Type-II censoring sample. In the system, there are N subsystems consisting of M statistically independent distributed strength components, and only one of these subsystems works under the impact of stresses at a time and the others remain as standbys. Whenever the working subsystem fails, one from the standbys takes its place. The system fails when the entire subsystems fail. It is supposed that the underlying distributions of random strength and stress both belong to the generalized half-logistic distribution with different shape parameter. The reliability of the system is estimated by using both classical and Bayesian statistical inference. Uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator and maximum likelihood estimator for the reliability of the system are derived. Under squared error loss function, the exact expression of the Bayes estimator for the reliability of the system is developed by using the Gauss hypergeometric function. The asymptotic confidence interval and corresponding coverage probabilities are derived based on both the Fisher and the observed information matrices. The approximate highest probability density credible interval is constructed by using Monte Carlo method. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the performances of the proposed reliability estimators. A real data set is also analyzed for an illustration of the findings.

Isometric parameters in the monitoring of maximal strength, power, and hypertrophic resistance-training.

PubMed

Peltonen, Heikki; Walker, Simon; Lähitie, Anuliisa; Häkkinen, Keijo; Avela, Janne

2018-02-01

This study monitored strength-training adaptations via isometric parameters throughout 2 × 10 weeks of hypertrophic (HYP I-II) or 10 weeks maximum strength (MS) followed by 10 weeks power (P) training with untrained controls. Trainees performed bilateral isometric leg press tests analyzed for peak force (maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)) and rate of force development (RFD) every 3.5 weeks. These parameters were compared with dynamic performance, voluntary and electrically induced isometric contractions, muscle activity, and cross-sectional area (CSA) in the laboratory before and after 10 and 20 weeks. RFD increased similarly during the first 7 weeks (HYP I, 44% ± 53%; MS, 48% ± 55%, P < 0.05), but RFD continued to increase up to 65% ± 61% from baseline (P < 0.01) only during P. These increases were concomitant with enhanced dynamic performances of 1-repetition maximum (1RM) (HYP I, 8% ± 6%; MS, 11% ± 6%, P < 0.001), and explosive repetitions during P (11% ± 15%, P < 0.05). Time to reach peak RFD differed (P < 0.001) between HYP (mean 42 ± 20 ms) and MS-P (mean 31 ± 12 ms) groups because of training. The changes in MVC correlated with the changes in CSA during weeks 1-20 (HYP I-II, r = 0.664; MS-P, r = 0.595, P ≤ 0.05), as well as changes in 1RM (r = 0.724, P < 0.05) during weeks 11-20 (HYP II). Muscle activity increased during MS and P only. Both MVC and RFD improvements reflected combinations of central and peripheral adaptations. RFD parameters may be effective tools to evaluate adaptations, particularly during maximal strength/power training, while MVC cannot distinguish between strength or muscle mass changes. Monitoring RFD provided important information regarding plateaus in RFD improvement, which were observed in dynamic explosive performances after HYP II compared with P.

A comparison of manual and quantitative elbow strength testing.

PubMed

Shahgholi, Leili; Bengtson, Keith A; Bishop, Allen T; Shin, Alexander Y; Spinner, Robert J; Basford, Jeffrey R; Kaufman, Kenton R

2012-10-01

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical ratings of elbow strength obtained by skilled clinicians with objective strength measurement obtained through quantitative testing. A retrospective comparison of subject clinical records with quantitative strength testing results in a motion analysis laboratory was conducted. A total of 110 individuals between the ages of 8 and 65 yrs with traumatic brachial plexus injuries were identified. Patients underwent manual muscle strength testing as assessed on the 5-point British Medical Research Council Scale (5/5, normal; 0/5, absent) and quantitative elbow flexion and extension strength measurements. A total of 92 subjects had elbow flexion testing. Half of the subjects clinically assessed as having normal (5/5) elbow flexion strength on manual muscle testing exhibited less than 42% of their age-expected strength on quantitative testing. Eighty-four subjects had elbow extension strength testing. Similarly, half of those displaying normal elbow extension strength on manual muscle testing were found to have less than 62% of their age-expected values on quantitative testing. Significant differences between manual muscle testing and quantitative findings were not detected for the lesser (0-4) strength grades. Manual muscle testing, even when performed by experienced clinicians, may be more misleading than expected for subjects graded as having normal (5/5) strength. Manual muscle testing estimates for the lesser strength grades (1-4/5) seem reasonably accurate.

Investigation of the interaction of iron(III) complexes with dAMP by ESI-MS, MALDI-MS and potentiometric titration: insights into synthetic nuclease behavior.

PubMed

Fernandes, Christiane; Oliveira Moreira, Rafaela; Lube, Leonardo M; Horn, Adolfo; Szpoganicz, Bruno; Sherrod, Stacy; Russell, David H

2010-06-07

We report herein the characterization by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS), matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI-MS) and potentiometric titration of three iron(III) compounds: [Fe(III)(HPClNOL)Cl2]·NO3 (1), [Cl(HPClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(HPClNOL)Cl]·Cl2·H2O (2) and [(SO4)(HPClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(HPClNOL)(SO4)]·6H2O (3), where HPClNOL= 1-(bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-amino)-3-chloropropan-2-ol). Despite the fact that the compounds have distinct structures in solid state and non-buffered solution, all compounds present similar ESI and MALDI mass spectra in a buffered medium (pH 7.0). At this pH, the species [(PClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(PClNOL)](2+) (m/z 354) was observed for all the compounds under investigation. Potentiometric titration confirms a similar behavior for all compounds, indicating that the dihydroxo form [(OH)(HPClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(HPClNOL)(OH)](2+) is the major species at pH 7.0, for all the compounds. The products of the interaction between compounds (1), (2) and (3) and dAMP (2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate) in a buffered medium (pH 7.0) were identified by MALDI-MS/MS. The fragmentation data obtained by MS/MS allow one to identify the nature of the interaction between the iron(III) compounds and dAMP, revealing the direct interaction between the iron center and phosphate groups.

Structure reactivity and thermodynamic analysis on the oxidation of ampicillin drug by copper(III) complex in aqueous alkaline medium (stopped-flow technique)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shetti, Nagaraj P.; Hegde, Rajesh N.; Nandibewoor, Sharanappa T.

2009-07-01

Oxidation of penicillin derivative, ampicillin (AMP) by diperiodatocuprate(III) (DPC) in alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 0.01-mol dm -3 was studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction between DPC and ampicillin in alkaline medium exhibits 1:4 stoichiometry (ampicillin:DPC). Intervention of free radicals was observed in the reaction. Based on the observed orders and experimental evidences, a mechanism involving the protonated form of DPC as the reactive oxidant species has been proposed. The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a DPC-AMP complex, which decomposes slowly in a rate determining step to yield phenyl glycine (PG) and free radical species of 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA), followed by other fast steps to give the products. The two major products were characterized by IR, NMR, LC-MS and Spot test. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism were calculated. The activation parameters with respect to slow step of the mechanism were computed and discussed and thermodynamic quantities were also determined.

Emissivity of half-space random media. [in passive remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsang, L.; Kong, J. A.

1976-01-01

Scattering of electromagnetic waves by a half-space random medium with three-dimensional correlation functions is studied with the Born approximation. The emissivity is calculated from a simple integral and is illustrated for various cases. The results are valid over a wavelength range smaller or larger than the correlation lengths.

Biomechanics and Strength of Manual Wheelchair Users

PubMed Central

Ambrosio, Fabrisia; Boninger, Michael L; Souza, Aaron L; Fitzgerald, Shirley G; Koontz, Alicia M; Cooper, Rory A

2005-01-01

Background/Objective: Previous investigations have identified muscular imbalance in the shoulder as a source of pain and injury in manual wheelchair users. Our aim was to determine whether a correlation exists between strength and pushrim biomechanical variables including: tangential (motive) force (Ft), radial force (Fr), axial force (Fz), total (resultant) force (FR), fraction of effective force (FEF), and cadence. Methods: Peak isokinetic shoulder strength (flexion [FLX], extension [EXT], abduction [ABD], adduction [ADD], internal rotation [IR], and external rotation [ER]) was tested in 22 manual wheelchair users with a BioDex system for 5 repetitions at 60°/s. Subjects then propelled their own manual wheelchair at 2 speeds, 0.9 m/s (2 mph) and 1.8 m/s (4 mph), for 20 seconds, during which kinematic (OPTOTRAK) and kinetic (SMARTWHEEL) data were collected. Peak isokinetic forces in the cardinal planes were correlated with pushrim biomechanical variables. Results: All peak torque strength variables correlated significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with Ft, Fr, and FR, but were not significantly correlated with Fz, FEF, or cadence. Finally, there were no relationships found between muscle strength ratios (for example, FLX/EXT) and Ft, Fr, FR, Fz, or FEF. Conclusion: There was a correlation between strength and force imparted to the pushrim among wheelchair users; however, there was no correlation found in wheelchair propulsion or muscle imbalance. Clinicians should be aware of this, and approach strength training and training in wheelchair propulsion techniques separately. PMID:16869087

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Carica papaya L. tissue culture derived from root explants.

PubMed

Chen, M H; Wang, P J; Maeda, E

1987-10-01

The regeneration potential of shoot tip, stem, leaf, cotyledon and root explants of two papaya cultivars (Carica papaya cv. 'Solo' and cv. 'Sunrise') were studed. Callus induction of these two cultivars of papaya showed that the shoot tips and stems are most suitable for forming callus, while leaves, cotyledons and roots are comparatively difficult to induce callus. Callus induction also varied with the varities. Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from 3-month-old root cultures. A medium containing half strength of MS inorganic salts, 160 mg/l adenine sulfate, 1.0 mg/1 NAA, 0.5 mg/1 kinetin and 1.0 mg/1 GA3 was optimal for embryogenesis. The callus maintained high regenerative capacity after two years of culture on this medium. Plants derived from somatic embryos were obtained under green-house conditions.

Changes in gross grasp strength and fine motor skills in adolescents with pediatric multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Squillace, Mary; Ray, Sharon; Milazzo, Maria

2015-01-01

This study examined the gross grasp strength and fine motor dexterity of adolescents, who are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total sample size of 72 participants between the ages of 13 to 17 was studied. Thirty six with a diagnosis of pediatric relapse remitting MS and 36 matched control participants were selected from various local youth groups. Data on hand strength and dexterity was collected using a dynamometer, nine hole peg board and Purdue pegboard on both groups. Utilizing ANCOVA to describe the differences across the two groups by diagnosis, controlling for age and gender, it was found that the MS group demonstrated significantly decreased dexterity when compared to age and gender matched controls. There was no significant difference in gross grasp strength by diagnostic group. This preliminary study showed that children with a diagnosis of pediatric MS may have differences in fine motor dexterity, but not gross grasp strength from their peers who do not have the diagnosis. Further study is indicated to examine this phenomenon.

Profiling and characterization of sialylated N-glycans by 2D-HPLC (HIAX/PGC) with online orbitrap MS/MS and offline MSn.

PubMed

Hanneman, Andrew J S; Strand, James; Huang, Chi-Ting

2014-02-01

Glycosylation is a critical parameter used to evaluate protein quality and consistency. N-linked glycan profiling is fundamental to the support of biotherapeutic protein manufacturing from early stage process development through drug product commercialization. Sialylated glycans impact the serum half-life of receptor-Fc fusion proteins (RFPs), making their quality and consistency a concern during the production of fusion proteins. Here, we describe an analytical approach providing both quantitative profiling and in-depth mass spectrometry (MS)-based structural characterization of sialylated RFP N-glycans. Aiming to efficiently link routine comparability studies with detailed structural characterization, an integrated workflow was implemented employing fluorescence detection, online positive and negative ion tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and offline static nanospray ionization-sequential mass spectrometry (NSI-MS(n)). For routine use, high-performance liquid chromatography profiling employs established fluorescence detection of 2-aminobenzoic acid derivatives (2AA) and hydrophilic interaction anion-exchange chromatography (HIAX) charge class separation. Further characterization of HIAX peak fractions is achieved by online (-) ion orbitrap MS/MS, offering the advantages of high mass accuracy and data-dependent MS/MS. As required, additional characterization uses porous graphitized carbon in the second chromatographic dimension to provide orthogonal (+) ion MS/MS spectra and buffer-free liquid chromatography peak eluants that are optimum for offline (+)/(-) NSI-MS(n) investigations to characterize low-abundance species and specific moieties including O-acetylation and sulfation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

Maximal intended velocity training induces greater gains in bench press performance than deliberately slower half-velocity training.

PubMed

González-Badillo, Juan José; Rodríguez-Rosell, David; Sánchez-Medina, Luis; Gorostiaga, Esteban M; Pareja-Blanco, Fernando

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect on strength gains of two isoinertial resistance training (RT) programmes that only differed in actual concentric velocity: maximal (MaxV) vs. half-maximal (HalfV) velocity. Twenty participants were assigned to a MaxV (n = 9) or HalfV (n = 11) group and trained 3 times per week during 6 weeks using the bench press (BP). Repetition velocity was controlled using a linear velocity transducer. A complementary study (n = 10) aimed to analyse whether the acute metabolic (blood lactate and ammonia) and mechanical response (velocity loss) was different between the MaxV and HalfV protocols used. Both groups improved strength performance from pre- to post-training, but MaxV resulted in significantly greater gains than HalfV in all variables analysed: one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength (18.2 vs. 9.7%), velocity developed against all (20.8 vs. 10.0%), light (11.5 vs. 4.5%) and heavy (36.2 vs. 17.3%) loads common to pre- and post-tests. Light and heavy loads were identified with those moved faster or slower than 0.80 m · s(-1) (∼ 60% 1RM in BP). Lactate tended to be significantly higher for MaxV vs. HalfV, with no differences observed for ammonia which was within resting values. Both groups obtained the greatest improvements at the training velocities (≤ 0.80 m · s(-1)). Movement velocity can be considered a fundamental component of RT intensity, since, for a given %1RM, the velocity at which loads are lifted largely determines the resulting training effect. BP strength gains can be maximised when repetitions are performed at maximal intended velocity.

Callus Induction from Various Organs of Dragon Fruit, Apple and Tomato on some Mediums.

PubMed

Rumiyati; Sismindari; Semiarti, Endang; Milasari, Asri Fajar; Sari, Dheatika Karina; Fitriana, Nia; Galuh, Sekar

2017-01-01

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.), apple (Malus sylvestris Mill.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are high potential sources of antioxidant compounds such as phenolics. The compounds have the capability of protecting cells and tissues against free radicals. Secondary metabolite produced by callus cell culture from plant organs also acts as a source of antioxidants. This study aimed to determine the optimal ratio of sucrose and 2,4-D in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for callus induction from different plant organ explants. With all of characteristic, callus can be used further for the development of natural cell regeneration agent. This study was conducted using analytical technique. Suitable explants were obtained. They were developed in various concentrations of combination between MS medium and 2,4-D. Callus growth, including their weight and surface was then measured and analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Callus was able to grow from its explants in 5-7 days after induction process. They were clear in color and had friable texture. The highest value of fresh weight of dragon fruit callus was obtained through MS supplemented with 1 μL L-1 2,4-D and 30 g sucrose. However, apple and tomato callus induction and growth maintenance reached optimal medium on MS supplemented with 30 g sucrose and 2 μL L-1 2,4-D. Callus of apple, dragon fruit and tomato was maintained upon MS supplemented with 30-40 g sucrose and 1-2 μL L-1 2,4-D for optimum induction and growth. The optimization of growth medium will give advantages for further development of natural cell regeneration agent.

Establishment of an efficient plant regeneration culture protocol and achievement of successful genetic transformation in Jatropha curcas L.

PubMed

Liu, Ying; Liu, Guoxuan; Yang, Yali; Niu, Sufang; Yang, Fuguang; Yang, Shaoxia; Tang, Jianian; Chen, Jianping

2017-12-01

An efficient and reproducible protocol is described for shoot-bud regeneration and Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation of J. curcas. Treating the explants with high concentrations (5-120 mg/L) of TDZ for short durations (5-80 min) before inoculation culture increased significantly the regeneration frequency and improved the quality of the regenerated buds. The highest shoot-buds induction rate (87.35%) was achieved when petiole explants were treated with 20 mg/L TDZ solution for 20 min and inoculated on hormone-free MS medium for 30 days. Regenerated shoots of 0.5 cm or a little longer were isolated and grafted to seedling stocks of the same species, and then the grafted plantlets were planted on half-strength MS medium containing 0.1 mg/L IBA and 2 mg/L sodium nitroprusside (SNP). This grafting strategy was found to be very effective, to obtain that healthy grafted plantlets ready for acclimatization within 20 days. By the above mentioned protocol and with general Agrobacterium - mediated genetic transformation methods only 65 days were needed to obtain intact transgenic plants.

UFLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of multiple mycotoxins in medicinal and edible Areca catechu.

PubMed

Liu, Hongmei; Luo, Jiaoyang; Kong, Weijun; Liu, Qiutao; Hu, Yichen; Yang, Meihua

2016-05-01

A robust, sensitive and reliable ultra fast liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-ESI-MS/MS) was optimized and validated for simultaneous identification and quantification of eleven mycotoxins in medicinal and edible Areca catechu, based on one-step extraction without any further clean-up. Separation and quantification were performed in both positive and negative modes under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in a single run with zearalanone (ZAN) as internal standard. The chromatographic conditions and MS/MS parameters were carefully optimized. Matrix-matched calibration was recommended to reduce matrix effects and improve accuracy, showing good linearity within wide concentration ranges. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were lower than 50 μg kg(-1), while limits of detection (LOD) were in the range of 0.1-20 μg kg(-1). The accuracy of the developed method was validated for recoveries, ranging from 85% to 115% with relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤14.87% at low level, from 75% to 119% with RSD ≤ 14.43% at medium level and from 61% to 120% with RSD ≤ 13.18% at high level, respectively. Finally, the developed multi-mycotoxin method was applied for screening of these mycotoxins in 24 commercial samples. Only aflatoxin B2 and zearalenone were found in 2 samples. This is the first report on the application of UFLC-ESI(+/-)-MS/MS for multi-class mycotoxins in A. catechu. The developed method with many advantages of simple pretreatment, rapid determination and high sensitivity is a proposed candidate for large-scale detection and quantification of multiple mycotoxins in other complex matrixes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Half-lives of α -decaying nuclei in the medium-mass region within the transfer matrix method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Shuangxiang; Qian, Yibin; Ren, Zhongzhou

2018-05-01

The α -decay half-lives of even-even nuclei from Sm to Th are systematically studied based on the transfer matrix method. For the nuclear potential, a type of cosh-parametrized form is applied to calculate the penetration probability. Through a least-squares fit to experimental half-lives, we optimize the parameters in the potential and the α preformation factor P0. During this process, P0 is treated as a constant for each parent nucleus. Eventually, the calculated half-lives are found to agree well with the experimental data, which verifies the accuracy of the present approach. Furthermore, in recent studies, P0 is regulated by the shell and paring effects plus the nuclear deformation. To this end, P0 is here associated with the structural quantity, i.e., the microscopic correction of nuclear mass (Emic). In this way, the agreement between theory and experiment is greatly improved by more than 20%, validating the appropriate treatment of P0 in the scheme of Emic.

The mediating role of C-reactive protein and handgrip strength between obesity and walking limitation.

PubMed

Stenholm, Sari; Rantanen, Taina; Heliövaara, Markku; Koskinen, Seppo

2008-03-01

To study the association between different obesity indicators and walking limitation and to examine the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) and handgrip strength in that association. A cross-sectional, population-based study. The Health 2000 Survey with a representative sample of the Finnish population. Subjects aged 55 and older with complete data on body composition, CRP, handgrip strength, and walking limitation (N=2,208). Body composition, anthropometrics, CRP, medical conditions, handgrip strength, and maximal walking speed were measured in the health examination. Walking limitation was defined as maximal walking speed less than 1.2 m/s or difficulty walking half a kilometer. The two highest quartiles of body fat percentage and CRP and the two lowest quartiles of handgrip strength were all significantly associated with greater risk of walking limitation when chronic diseases and other covariates were taken into account. In addition, high CRP and low handgrip strength partially explained the association between high body fat percentage and walking limitation, but the risk of walking limitation remained significantly greater in persons in the two highest quartiles than in those in the lowest quartile of body fat percentage (odds ratio (OR)=1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.19-2.57 and OR=2.80, 95% CI 1.89-4.16). The prevalence of walking limitation was much higher in persons who simultaneously had high body fat percentage and low handgrip strength (61%) than in those with a combination of low body fat percentage and high handgrip strength (7%). Using body mass index and waist circumference as indicators of obesity yielded similar results as body fat percentage. Low-grade inflammation and muscle strength may partially mediate the association between obesity and walking limitation. Longitudinal studies and intervention trials are needed to verify this pathway.

MS Based Metabonomics

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

Want, Elizabeth J.; Metz, Thomas O.

Metabonomics is the latest and least mature of the systems biology triad, which also includes genomics and proteomics, and has its origins in the early orthomolecular medicine work pioneered by Linus Pauling and Arthur Robinson. It was defined by Nicholson and colleagues in 1999 as the quantitative measurement of perturbations in the metabolite complement of an integrated biological system in response to internal or external stimuli, and is often used today to describe many non-global types of metabolite analyses. Applications of metabonomics are extensive and include toxicology, nutrition, pharmaceutical research and development, physiological monitoring and disease diagnosis. For example, bloodmore » samples from millions of neonates are tested routinely by mass spectrometry (MS) as a diagnostic tool for inborn errors of metabolism. The metabonome encompasses a wide range of structurally diverse metabolites; therefore, no single analytical platform will be sufficient. Specialized sample preparation and detection techniques are required, and advances in NMR and MS technologies have led to enhanced metabonome coverage, which in turn demands improved data analysis approaches. The role of MS in metabonomics is still evolving as instrumentation and software becomes more sophisticated and as researchers realize the strengths and limitations of current technology. MS offers a wide dynamic range, high sensitivity, and reproducible, quantitative analysis. These attributes are essential for addressing the challenges of metabonomics, as the range of metabolite concentrations easily exceeds nine orders of magnitude in biofluids, and the diversity of molecular species ranges from simple amino and organic acids to lipids and complex carbohydrates. Additional challenges arise in generating a comprehensive metabolite profile, downstream data processing and analysis, and structural characterization of important metabolites. A typical workflow of MS-based metabonomics is shown

Methods for the analysis of organophosphorus flame retardants-Comparison of GC-EI-MS, GC-NCI-MS, LC-ESI-MS/MS, and LC-APCI-MS/MS.

PubMed

Tokumura, Masahiro; Miyake, Yuichi; Wang, Qi; Nakayama, Hayato; Amagai, Takashi; Ogo, Sayaka; Kume, Kazunari; Kobayashi, Takeshi; Takasu, Shinji; Ogawa, Kumiko

2018-04-16

Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) are extensively used as alternatives to banned polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). In this study, we analyzed 14 PFRs by means of four mass-spectrometry-based methods: gas chromatography combined with electron-impact mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) or negative-chemical-ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS) and liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization (LC-ESI-MS/MS) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-APCI-MS/MS). The limits of quantification (LOQs) for LC-ESI-MS/MS and LC-APCI-MS/MS (0.81-970 pg) were 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than the LOQs for GC-EI-MS and GC-NCI-MS (2.3-3900 pg). LC-APCI-MS/MS showed the lowest LOQs (mean = 41 pg; median = 3.4 pg) for all but two of the PFRs targeted in this study. For LC-APCI-MS/MS, the lowest LOQ was observed for tributyl phosphate (TBP) (0.81 pg), and the highest was observed for tris(butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) (36 pg). The results of this study indicate that LC-APCI-MS/MS is the optimum analytical method for the target PFRs, at least in terms of LOQ.

Analysis of Fatty Acid and Growth Profiles in Ten Shewanella spp. to Associate Phylogenetic Relationships

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-25

in a defined medium composed of half-strength Marine Broth adjusted to pH 6, 7, or 8 in a 50 mM phosphate buffer, both growth characteristics and...work had broad phylogenetic diversity (Fig. 1) and were isolated from mostly marine environments. S. putrefaciens was the only strain that was not...the defined medium that supported growth of most of the strains tested was marine broth diluted to half strength with 50 mM phosphate buffer (½-MB

HPLC-MS/MS methods for the quantitative analysis of 5-oxoproline (pyroglutamate) in rat plasma and hepatic cell line culture medium.

PubMed

Geenen, Suzanne; Guallar-Hoyas, Cristina; Michopoulos, Filippos; Kenna, J Gerry; Kolaja, Kyle L; Westerhoff, Hans V; Thomas, Paul; Wilson, Ian D

2011-11-01

5-Oxoproline (5-OP; pyroglutamate) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the endogenous tripeptide glutathione and has been seen to be elevated in the biofluids and tissues of rats following the administration of glutathione-depleting hepatotoxic xenobiotics such as acetaminophen (paracetamol), bromobenzene and ethionine. As 5-OP is a potential biomarker for hepatotoxicity HPLC-MS/MS methods have been developed for its quantification in in vitro cell culture media and rat plasma. For the cell culture media the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), defined as the lowest concentration on the calibration curve, was 10 ng/ml. Minimal carry over was observed for cell culture media between injections (less than 5% at all concentrations examined), precision and accuracy were generally better than 20% for within and between day analyses. For rat plasma a LLOQ of 50 ng/ml was obtained. Carry over for plasma was less than 5% for all concentrations, within and between batch accuracy and precision were generally better than 20%. The methods were linear for both sample types from the LLOQ up to 1 μg/ml. For samples obtained from rats subjected to chronic administration of the hepatotoxin methapyrilene, concentrations of 5-OP were not observed to increase significantly at any time point compared to controls. 5-OP was also determined in the culture media of human liver epithelial (THLE) cells transfected with cytochrome P450 2E1 (THLE-2E1). Following exposure of THLE-2E1 cells to acetaminophen, large increases in the concentrations of 5-OP were observed, which correlated with reduced cellular glutathione content and with cell toxicity. These results show that LC-MS/MS can be used to perform rapid, sensitive, and quantitative determination of 5-OP in vivo and in vitro and will enable additional investigations into the utility of 5-OP as a biomarker of liver drug-induced liver injury. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of HPLC/ESI-FTICR MS Versus MALDI-TOF/TOF MS for Glycopeptide Analysis of a Highly Glycosylated HIV Envelope Glycoprotein

PubMed Central

Irungu, Janet; Go, Eden P.; Zhang, Ying; Dalpathado, Dilusha S.; Liao, Hua-Xin; Haynes, Barton F.; Desaire, Heather

2013-01-01

Defining the structures and locations of the glycans attached on secreted proteins and virus envelope proteins is important in understanding how glycosylation affects their biological properties. Glycopeptide mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis is a very powerful, emerging approach to characterize glycoproteins, in which glycosylation sites and the corresponding glycan structures are elucidated in a single MS experiment. However, to date there is not a consensus regarding which mass spectrometric platform provides the best glycosylation coverage information. Herein, we employ two of the most widely used MS approaches, online high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) and offline HPLC followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), to determine which of the two approaches provides the best glycosylation coverage information of a complex glycoprotein, the group M consensus HIV-1 envelope, CON-S gp140ΔCFI, which has 31 potential glycosylation sites. Our results highlight differences in the informational content obtained between the two methods such as the overall number of glycosylation sites detected, the numbers of N-linked glycans present at each site, and the type of confirmatory information obtained about the glycopeptide using MS/MS experiments. The two approaches are quite complementary, both in their coverage of glycopeptides and in the information they provide in MS/MS experiments. The information in this study contributes to the field of mass spectrometry by demonstrating the strengths and limitations of two widely used MS platforms in glycoprotein analysis. PMID:18565761

Grip strength and quality of life in the second half of life: hope as a moderator.

PubMed

Gum, Amber M; Segal-Karpas, Dikla; Avidor, Sharon; Ayalon, Liat; Bodner, Ehud; Palgi, Yuval

2017-09-28

The purpose of the current study was to investigate grip strength, hope, and their interaction as predictors of quality of life four years later in a nationally representative sample of older adults. Data were derived from the first (2005-2006) and second wave (2009) of the Israeli component of the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE; N = 344). Hope was measured by three items from the Hope   Scale, and quality of life was measured by the CASP-12 (Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization, and Pleasure). Multiple regression analyses were conducted. Grip strength at T1 predicted QoL in T2, but hope was not a significant predictor. Furthermore, hope moderated the effect of handgrip on QoL, such that the effect was weaker for higher levels of hope. As hypothesized, hope acted as a moderator, such that poor grip strength was associated with worse QoL for less hopeful older adults, but grip strength was not associated with QoL for more hopeful older adults. Findings are consistent with a theoretical conceptualization of hope as a buffer between physical challenges and negative outcomes like QoL. Encouraging a hopeful perspective could enhance QoL for older adults with decreased muscle strength.

Effect of medium composition and light on root and rhinacanthin formation in Rhinacanthus nasutus cultures.

PubMed

Panichayupakaranant, P; Meerungrueang, W

2010-11-01

Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz (Acanthaceae) has long been used in Thai traditional medicine for treatment of tinea versicolor, ringworm, pruritic rash, and abscess. The active constituents are known as a group of naphthoquinone esters, rhinacanthins. This work focused on establishment of R. nasutus root cultures and determination of rhinacanthin production. Induction of R. nasutus root formation was accomplished on solid Gamborg's B5 (B5) medium, supplied with 0.1 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 20 g/L sucrose. The effects of explants (whole leaf explants and four-side excised leaf explants), light and medium composition on root and rhinacanthin formation were investigated. The root formation from the whole leaf explants was 10 times higher than that from the four-side excised leaf explants. In addition, light possessed an inhibitory effect on the root and rhinacanthin formation of R. nasutus. Medium manipulation found that Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplied with 3 mg/L IBA and 30 g/L sucrose was the most suitable for induction of the root formation. Unfortunately, the obtained root cultures produced only rhinacanthin-C in very low amount, 0.026 mg/g dry weight (DW), when they were transferred into the same MS liquid medium. With semisolid medium (4 g/L agar) of the same MS composition, however, the root cultures appeared to produce higher content of rhinacanthin-C, -D and -N (3.45, 0.07 and 0.07 mg/g DW, respectively). Our finding suggests that culturing in semisolid medium is capable of improving of rhinacanthin production in R. nasutus root cultures.

The startup performance and microbial distribution of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) treating medium-strength synthetic industrial wastewater.

PubMed

Jiang, Hao; Nie, Hong; Ding, Jiangtao; Stinner, Walter; Sun, Kaixuan; Zhou, Hongjun

2018-01-02

In this study, an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) with seven chambers was applied to treat medium-strength synthetic industrial wastewater (MSIW). The performance of startup and shock test on treating MSIW was investigated. During the acclimation process, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of MSIW gradually increased from 0 to 2,000 mg L -1 , and the COD removal finally reached 90%. At shock test, the feeding COD concentration increased by one-fifth and the reactor adapted very well with a COD removal of 82%. In a stable state, Comamonas, Smithella, Syntrophomonas and Pseudomonas were the main populations of bacteria, while the predominant methanogen was Methanobacterium. The results of chemical and microbiological analysis indicated the significant advantages of ABR, including buffering shocks, separating stages with matching microorganisms and promoting syntrophism. Meanwhile, the strategies for acclimation and operation were of great importance. Further work can test reactor performance in the treatment of actual industrial wastewater.

Strong correlation of maximal squat strength with sprint performance and vertical jump height in elite soccer players

PubMed Central

Wisloff, U; Castagna, C; Helgerud, J; Jones, R; Hoff, J

2004-01-01

Background: A high level of strength is inherent in elite soccer play, but the relation between maximal strength and sprint and jumping performance has not been studied thoroughly. Objective: To determine whether maximal strength correlates with sprint and vertical jump height in elite male soccer players. Methods: Seventeen international male soccer players (mean (SD) age 25.8 (2.9) years, height 177.3 (4.1) cm, weight 76.5 (7.6) kg, and maximal oxygen uptake 65.7 (4.3) ml/kg/min) were tested for maximal strength in half squats and sprinting ability (0–30 m and 10 m shuttle run sprint) and vertical jumping height. Result: There was a strong correlation between maximal strength in half squats and sprint performance and jumping height. Conclusions: Maximal strength in half squats determines sprint performance and jumping height in high level soccer players. High squat strength did not imply reduced maximal oxygen consumption. Elite soccer players should focus on maximal strength training, with emphasis on maximal mobilisation of concentric movements, which may improve their sprinting and jumping performance. PMID:15155427

Postactivation potentiation biases maximal isometric strength assessment.

PubMed

Lima, Leonardo Coelho Rabello; Oliveira, Felipe Bruno Dias; Oliveira, Thiago Pires; Assumpção, Claudio de Oliveira; Greco, Camila Coelho; Cardozo, Adalgiso Croscato; Denadai, Benedito Sérgio

2014-01-01

Postactivation potentiation (PAP) is known to enhance force production. Maximal isometric strength assessment protocols usually consist of two or more maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVCs). The objective of this study was to determine if PAP would influence isometric strength assessment. Healthy male volunteers (n = 23) performed two five-second MVCs separated by a 180-seconds interval. Changes in isometric peak torque (IPT), time to achieve it (tPTI), contractile impulse (CI), root mean square of the electromyographic signal during PTI (RMS), and rate of torque development (RTD), in different intervals, were measured. Significant increases in IPT (240.6 ± 55.7 N·m versus 248.9 ± 55.1 N·m), RTD (746 ± 152 N·m·s(-1) versus 727 ± 158 N·m·s(-1)), and RMS (59.1 ± 12.2% RMSMAX  versus 54.8 ± 9.4% RMSMAX) were found on the second MVC. tPTI decreased significantly on the second MVC (2373 ± 1200 ms versus 2784 ± 1226 ms). We conclude that a first MVC leads to PAP that elicits significant enhancements in strength-related variables of a second MVC performed 180 seconds later. If disconsidered, this phenomenon might bias maximal isometric strength assessment, overestimating some of these variables.

Cytokinin induced shoot regeneration and flowering of Scoparia dulcis L. (Scrophulariaceae)-an ethnomedicinal herb

PubMed Central

Premkumar, G; Sankaranarayanan, R; Jeeva, S; Rajarathinam, K

2011-01-01

Objective To develop an improved protocol for micropropagation of ethnomedicinally important Scoparia dulcis (S. dulcis) L. Methods Explants were inoculated on MS basal medium supplemented with kinetin and 6-benzylaminopurine for shoot bud induction. To enhance the shoot induction, various auxins like 3-indoleacetic acid or 3-indolebutyric acid or α-naphthylacetic acid were tested along with 2.32 M KI and 4.44 µM BAP. The regenerated shoots were rooted in half strength MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of IAA, IBA or NAA. After roots were developed, the plantlets were transplanted to pots filled with vermiculate and sand and kept in growth chamber with 70%–80% humidity under 16 h photoperiod. After acclimatization, the plantlets were transferred to the garden and survival percentage was calculated. Data were statistically analyzed and means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test (P<0.05). Results An in vitro method was developed to induce high frequency shoots regeneration from stem, mature leaf and young leaf explants of S. dulcis. Shoot induction on young leaf explants was most successful in MS medium supplemented with combination of two cytokinins (2.32 µM KI and 4.44 µM BAP) 2.85 µM IAA, 10% CM and 1 483.79 µM adenine sulfate. A single young leaf explant was capable of producing 59 shoots after 13 days of culture. Flower was induced in medium supplemented with combination of KI and BAP. Conclusions Cytokinins are the key factor to induce the direct shoot regeneration and flowering of S. dulcis. PMID:23569752

Cytokinin induced shoot regeneration and flowering of Scoparia dulcis L. (Scrophulariaceae)-an ethnomedicinal herb.

PubMed

Premkumar, G; Sankaranarayanan, R; Jeeva, S; Rajarathinam, K

2011-06-01

To develop an improved protocol for micropropagation of ethnomedicinally important Scoparia dulcis (S. dulcis) L. Explants were inoculated on MS basal medium supplemented with kinetin and 6-benzylaminopurine for shoot bud induction. To enhance the shoot induction, various auxins like 3-indoleacetic acid or 3-indolebutyric acid or α-naphthylacetic acid were tested along with 2.32 M KI and 4.44 µM BAP. The regenerated shoots were rooted in half strength MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of IAA, IBA or NAA. After roots were developed, the plantlets were transplanted to pots filled with vermiculate and sand and kept in growth chamber with 70%-80% humidity under 16 h photoperiod. After acclimatization, the plantlets were transferred to the garden and survival percentage was calculated. Data were statistically analyzed and means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test (P<0.05). An in vitro method was developed to induce high frequency shoots regeneration from stem, mature leaf and young leaf explants of S. dulcis. Shoot induction on young leaf explants was most successful in MS medium supplemented with combination of two cytokinins (2.32 µM KI and 4.44 µM BAP) 2.85 µM IAA, 10% CM and 1 483.79 µM adenine sulfate. A single young leaf explant was capable of producing 59 shoots after 13 days of culture. Flower was induced in medium supplemented with combination of KI and BAP. Cytokinins are the key factor to induce the direct shoot regeneration and flowering of S. dulcis.

The fracture strength of ceramic brackets: a comparative study.

PubMed

Flores, D A; Caruso, J M; Scott, G E; Jeiroudi, M T

1990-01-01

Recent demand for esthetic brackets has led to the development and use of ceramic brackets in orthodontics. The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture strength of different ceramic brackets under different surface conditions and ligation methods using a torsional wire bending force. Five different bracket types (two polycrystalline, two single-crystal, and one metal) were tested using elastic and wire ligation, with half being scratched and the other half remaining unscratched. Results showed a significant difference between bracket types and surface conditions. Non-scratched single-crystal brackets had higher fracture strengths and slightly higher fracture loads than polycrystalline brackets. However, single-crystal brackets were significantly adversely affected by surface damage (scratching), while polycrystalline brackets were not significantly affected by surface damage. The fracture behavior of ceramic brackets followed the Griffith model where fracture strength decreased following surface damage.

siMS Score: Simple Method for Quantifying Metabolic Syndrome.

PubMed

Soldatovic, Ivan; Vukovic, Rade; Culafic, Djordje; Gajic, Milan; Dimitrijevic-Sreckovic, Vesna

2016-01-01

To evaluate siMS score and siMS risk score, novel continuous metabolic syndrome scores as methods for quantification of metabolic status and risk. Developed siMS score was calculated using formula: siMS score = 2*Waist/Height + Gly/5.6 + Tg/1.7 + TAsystolic/130-HDL/1.02 or 1.28 (for male or female subjects, respectively). siMS risk score was calculated using formula: siMS risk score = siMS score * age/45 or 50 (for male or female subjects, respectively) * family history of cardio/cerebro-vascular events (event = 1.2, no event = 1). A sample of 528 obese and non-obese participants was used to validate siMS score and siMS risk score. Scores calculated as sum of z-scores (each component of metabolic syndrome regressed with age and gender) and sum of scores derived from principal component analysis (PCA) were used for evaluation of siMS score. Variants were made by replacing glucose with HOMA in calculations. Framingham score was used for evaluation of siMS risk score. Correlation between siMS score with sum of z-scores and weighted sum of factors of PCA was high (r = 0.866 and r = 0.822, respectively). Correlation between siMS risk score and log transformed Framingham score was medium to high for age groups 18+,30+ and 35+ (0.835, 0.707 and 0.667, respectively). siMS score and siMS risk score showed high correlation with more complex scores. Demonstrated accuracy together with superior simplicity and the ability to evaluate and follow-up individual patients makes siMS and siMS risk scores very convenient for use in clinical practice and research as well.

Development of an LC/MS/MS method in order to determine arctigenin in rat plasma: its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Zou, Quanfei; Gu, Yuan; Lu, Rong; Zhang, Tiejun; Zhao, Guang-Rong; Liu, Changxiao; Si, Duanyun

2013-09-01

In this study, a simple and sensitive LC/MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of arctigenin in rat plasma. The MS detection was performed using multiple reaction monitoring at the transitions of m/z 373.2 → 137.3 for arctigenin and m/z 187.1 → 131.0 for psoralen (internal standard) with a Turbo IonSpray electrospray in positive mode. The calibration curves fitted a good linear relationship over the concentration range of 0.2-500 ng/mL. It was found that arctigenin is not stable enough at both room temperature and -80 °C unless mixed with methanol before storage. The validated LC/MS/MS method was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic study of arctigenin in rats. After intravenous injection of 0.3 mg/kg arctigenin injection to rats, the maximum concentration, half-life and area under the concentration-time curve were 323 ± 65.2 ng/mL, 0.830 ± 0.166 and 81.0 ± 22.1 h ng/mL, respectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Beta-decay half-lives for short neutron rich nuclei involved into the r-process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panov, I.; Lutostansky, Yu; Thielemann, F.-K.

2018-01-01

The beta-strength function model based on Finite Fermi-Systems Theory is applied for calculations of the beta-decay half-lives for short neutron rich nuclei involved into the r- process. It is shown that the accuracy of beta-decay half-lives of short-lived neutron-rich nuclei is improving with increasing neutron excess and can be used for modeling of nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei in the r-process.

High strength, wire-reinforced electroformed structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kazaroff, J. M.; Duscha, R. A.; Mccandless, L. C.

1974-01-01

Using half-round reinforcing wires, electrodeposited matrix metal readily fills spaces between wires in intimate contact with wires and without voids. Procedure combines advantages of electroforming with high-strength of commonly available wire to produce non-welded shell structures for high pressure uses.

49 CFR 195.306 - Test medium.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... this section, water must be used as the test medium. (b) Except for offshore pipelines, liquid... which produces a hoop stress of 50 percent of specified minimum yield strength; (3) The test section is... pressure is equal to or greater than a pressure that produces a hoop stress of 50 percent of specified...

Relationship between quadriceps strength and rate of loading during gait in women.

PubMed

Mikesky, A E; Meyer, A; Thompson, K L

2000-03-01

One function of skeletal muscle is to serve as the body's shock absorbers and thus dampen rates of loading during activity. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the significance of muscle strength on rates of loading during gait. Thirty-seven women (mean age: 34.5 +/- 8.2 years) were solicited by advertisement and placed into one of two groups-strength-trained or sedentary-on the basis of training history. They walked (10 trials) over a 10-m walkway at a controlled speed of 1.22-1.35 m/s while the rate of loading was sampled with a 1,000-Hz force platform. Quadriceps and hamstring strength was measured at 90 degrees/s with an isokinetic dynamometer. Statistical analyses (p < 0.05) included descriptive statistics and unpaired t tests for comparison between groups. The women in the sedentary group weighed more and had significantly less concentric and eccentric strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings relative to body weight than did those in the strength-trained group. In addition, they demonstrated significantly higher rates of loading (2.21 +/- 0.15 compared with 1.75 +/- 0.08%wt/ms) than those in the strength-trained group.

Chemistry of nitrile anions in the interstellar medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carles, S.; Le Garrec, J.-L.; Guillemin, J.-C.; Biennier, L.

2015-12-01

Despite the extreme conditions of temperature (down to 10K) and density (down to 100 molecules/cm3), the giant molecular clouds and the circumstellar envelopes present a rich and complex chemistry. To date, more than 180 molecules have been detected in the InterStellar Medium (ISM) with a large abundance of nitriles (RC≡N). In addition, several anions have been recently observed in this medium: C4H¯, C6H¯, C8H¯, CN¯, C3N¯ and C5N¯. These last species should play a key role in the molecular growth towards complexity. To explore this hypothesis, their reactivity must be studied in the laboratory. The FALP-MS and the CRESU experimental apparatuses of the Rennes University are able to measure absolute rate coefficient of various chemical reactions, including the ion - molecule reactions, in gas phase at low temperature (from 300K for the FALP-MS down to 15K for the CRESU). Therefore, these experimental tools are particularly adapted to the kinetic studies of reactions potentially involved in the Interstellar Medium. One of the difficulties encountered in experiments with anions is their generation. We describe here the formation of the CN¯ and C3N¯ anions by dissociative electron attachment on the molecular precursors BrCN and BrC3N.

Modeling of orthotropic plate fracture under impact load using various strength criteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radchenko, Andrey; Krivosheina, Marina; Kobenko, Sergei; Radchenko, Pavel; Grebenyuk, Grigory

2017-01-01

The paper presents the comparative analysis of various tensor multinomial criteria of strength for modeling of orthotropic organic plastic plate fracture under impact load. Ashkenazi, Hoffman and Wu strength criteria were used. They allowed fracture modeling of orthotropic materials with various compressive and tensile strength properties. The modeling of organic plastic fracture was performed numerically within the impact velocity range of 700-1500 m/s.

Photodegradation of the fungicide thiram in aqueous solutions. Kinetic studies and identification of the photodegradation products by HPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Filipe, O M S; Santos, Sónia A O; Domingues, M Rosário M; Vidal, M M; Silvestre, A J D; Neto, C P; Santos, E B H

2013-05-01

In this study, the relevance of photodegradation processes on the persistence of the fungicide thiram in waters was investigated. The photodegradation of thiram in Milli-Q water and in aqueous solutions of humic and fulvic acids, as well as the photodegradation in spiked river water were studied. Both pure thiram and one of its commercial formulations were used to prepare the solutions which were irradiated in a solar light simulator. In general, thiram photodegradation follows pseudo-first order kinetics. The half-life time of thiram 2mgL(-1) in Milli-Q water was 28min. However, the degradation rate of thiram was significantly increased (p=0.02) by the inert components of the thiram commercial formulation as well as by commercial humic acids and by fulvic acids isolated from river water (p<0.004). Thus, the half-life time of thiram decreased to 24min in the presence of the inert formulation components, while, in the presence of both humic and fulvic acids (10mgL(-1)) it decreased to 22min. Furthermore, thiram photodegradation in natural river water showed that there is a significant enhancement of the degradation rate constant of thiram relatively to Milli-Q water, corresponding to a decrease of about 38% in its half-life time. This increase of the degradation rate in river water seems to be higher than that observed in the presence of FA, suggesting that beyond organic matter, other natural river components can increase the thiram photodegradation rate. These results allow us to conclude that photodegradation by solar radiation can be an important degradation pathway of thiram in natural waters. HPLC-MS/MS allowed to identify, for the first time, three products of the photodegradation of thiram in aqueous solution. Three compounds were identified and their structure was corroborated by the MS(n) spectra fragmentation profile. Pathways for the formation of the products from thiram photodegradation are proposed and discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All

Combined LC-MS/MS and Molecular Networking Approach Reveals New Cyanotoxins from the 2014 Cyanobacterial Bloom in Green Lake, Seattle.

PubMed

Teta, Roberta; Della Sala, Gerardo; Glukhov, Evgenia; Gerwick, Lena; Gerwick, William H; Mangoni, Alfonso; Costantino, Valeria

2015-12-15

Cyanotoxins obtained from a freshwater cyanobacterial collection at Green Lake, Seattle during a cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom in the summer of 2014 were studied using a new approach based on molecular networking analysis of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) data. This MS networking approach is particularly well-suited for the detection of new cyanotoxin variants and resulted in the discovery of three new cyclic peptides, namely microcystin-MhtyR (6), which comprised about half of the total microcystin content in the bloom, and ferintoic acids C (12) and D (13). Structure elucidation of 6 was aided by a new microscale methylation procedure. Metagenomic analysis of the bloom using the 16S-ITS rRNA region identified Microcystis aeruginosa as the predominant cyanobacterium in the sample. Fragments of the putative biosynthetic genes for the new cyanotoxins were also identified, and their sequences correlated to the structure of the isolated cyanotoxins.

Efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration of Solanum lycopersicum and assessment genetic uniformity using flow cytometry and SPAR methods.

PubMed

Alatar, Abdulrahman A; Faisal, Mohammad; Abdel-Salam, Eslam M; Canto, Tomas; Saquib, Quaiser; Javed, Saad B; El-Sheikh, Mohamed A; Al-Khedhairy, Abdulaziz A

2017-09-01

In the present study, we develop an efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration system for two cultivars viz. , Jamila and Tomaland of Solanum lycopersicum L., an economically important vegetable crop throughout the world. Sterilization of seeds with 2.5% (v/v) NaOCl was found to be most effective, about 97% of seeds germinated on cotton in magenta box moistened with sterile half strength (½)Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Regeneration efficiency of cotyledonary leaf (CL) and cotyledonary node (CN) explants derived from 08 days old aseptic seedling were assessed on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins and cytokinin. CL explants were found more responsive in comparison to CN in both the cultivars. Types of basal media were also assessed and found to have a significant effect on shoot regeneration. Highest regeneration frequency and maximum number of shoots were standardized from CL explants on MS medium supplied with 6-benzyl adenine (BA; 5.0 µM), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA; 2.5 µM) and Kinetin (Kin; 10.0 µM). In vitro regenerated microshoots were rooted on ½MS medium containing 0.5 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Regenerated plantlets with well-developed roots and shoot system were successfully acclimated to ex vitro condition. Genetic uniformity of tissue culture raised plantlets was first time evaluated using flow cytometry and single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) methods viz ., DAMD and ISSR. No significant changes in ploidy level and nuclear DNA content profile were observed between in vitro propagated plants and normal plants of both the cultivars. Similarly, the SPAR analysis also revealed monomorphic banding patterns in regenerated plantlets of S. lycopersicum verifying their genetic uniformity and clonal fidelity. This efficient regeneration system can be used as a fast and reproducible method for genetic transformation of this important vegetable crop.

Characterizing fluorotelomer and polyfluoroalkyl substances in new and aged fluorotelomer-based polymers for degradation studies with GC/MS and LC/MS/MS.

PubMed

Washington, John W; Naile, Jonathan E; Jenkins, Thomas M; Lynch, David G

2014-05-20

Fluorotelomer-based polymers (FTPs), the dominant product of the fluorotelomer industry, are antistaining and antiwetting agents that permeate the products and surfaces of modern society. However, the degree to which these materials expose humans and the environment to fluorotelomer and perfluorinated compounds, including recalcitrant and toxic compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), is ill-defined. The design intent of FTPs, to minimize interaction with other substances, including solvents, heretofore has stymied efforts to develop robust methods to characterize the content of monomers and associated compounds of new commercial FTPs, as well as commercial FTPs that have been aged in environmental media for degradation testing. Here we show that FTPs can be exhausted of these compounds and quantitated by (i) drying the FTP on a suitable substrate at elevated temperature to achieve low, constant monomer concentrations; (ii) serial extraction with MTBE for fluorotelomer-monomer analysis by GC/MS in PCI mode; followed by (iii) serial extraction with 90/10 ACN/H2O for polyfluorocompound analysis by LC/MS/MS in negative ESI mode. This approach yields exhaustive, internally consistent accounting of monomers and associated compounds for FTPs, either alone or in a soil matrix (representing an environmental medium), for both new and simulated-aged FTPs to allow degradation testing, and for fluorinated compounds at least as long as C12.

Discrimination of Aspergillus lentulus from Aspergillus fumigatus by Raman spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF MS.

PubMed

Verwer, P E B; van Leeuwen, W B; Girard, V; Monnin, V; van Belkum, A; Staab, J F; Verbrugh, H A; Bakker-Woudenberg, I A J M; van de Sande, W W J

2014-02-01

In 2005, a new sibling species of Aspergillus fumigatus was discovered: Aspergillus lentulus. Both species can cause invasive fungal disease in immune-compromised patients. The species are morphologically very similar. Current techniques for identification are PCR-based or morphology-based. These techniques are labour-intense and not sufficiently discriminatory. Since A. lentulus is less susceptible to several antifungal agents, it is important to correctly identify the causative infectious agent in order to optimize antifungal therapy. In this study we determined whether Raman spectroscopy and/or MALDI-TOF MS were able to differentiate between A. lentulus and A. fumigatus. For 16 isolates of A. lentulus and 16 isolates of A. fumigatus, Raman spectra and peptide profiles were obtained using the Spectracell and MALDI-TOF MS (VITEK MS RUO, bioMérieux) respectively. In order to obtain reliable Raman spectra for A. fumigatus and A. lentulus, the culture medium needed to be adjusted to obtain colourless conidia. Only Raman spectra obtained from colourless conidia were reproducible and correctly identified 25 out of 32 (78 %) of the Aspergillus strains. For VITEK MS RUO, no medium adjustments were necessary. Pigmented conidia resulted in reproducible peptide profiles as well in this case. VITEK MS RUO correctly identified 100 % of the Aspergillus isolates, within a timeframe of approximately 54 h including culture. Of the two techniques studied here, VITEK MS RUO was superior to Raman spectroscopy in the discrimination of A. lentulus from A. fumigatus. VITEK MS RUO seems to be a successful technique in the daily identification of Aspergillus spp. within a limited timeframe.

Influence of growth regulators and explant type on in vitro shoot propagation and rooting of red sandal wood (Pterocarpus santalinus L.).

PubMed

Arockiasamy, S; Ignacimuthu, S; Melchias, G

2000-12-01

In vitro shoot regeneration in Pterocarpus santalinus L. was achieved when detached cotyledons from in vitro germinated seedlings were cultured on MS medium containing NAA (0.1 mg/L), BA (1 mg/L) and kinetin (1 mg/L). The regenerated shoots rooted on 1/4 strength MS medium with IAA (1 mg/L) and the fully developed plantlets were successfully established in the soil.

Development and application of a UPLC-MS/MS method for the pharmacokinetic study of 10-hydroxy camptothecin and hydroxyethyl starch conjugate in rats.

PubMed

Li, Guofei; Cai, Cuifang; Ren, Tianyang; Tang, Xing

2014-01-01

With the purpose to carry out the pharmacokinetic studies of 10-hydroxy camptothecin (10-HCPT) and hydroxyethyl starch (10-HCPT-HES) conjugate, an ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated. The analytes, 10-HCPT and the internal standard, Diphenhydramine hydrochloride were extracted with ethyl acetate-isopropanol (95:5, v/v) and separated on an ACQUITY UPLC™ BEH C18 column using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) with a linear gradient program. With positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI), the analytes were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Linear calibration curves were obtained over the concentration ranges of 0.5-2500ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 9.8% and 10.8%, respectively. The accuracy was within 12.1%. The mean recoveries of 10-HCPT at three concentrations of 2.5, 100, 2000ng/mL were higher than 87.2%. Commercial 10-HCPT injection and 10-HCPT-HES conjugate were administered intravenously at an equal dose of 10-HCPT at 0.5mg/kg. The biological half-life of conjugate was increased significantly from 10min to 3.15h and the bioavailability was 40 times higher than 10-HCPT injection. Consequently, the proposed UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was proved to be sensitive, specific and reliable to analyze 10-HCPT in biological samples; 10-HCPT and HES conjugate is a promising strategy for delivery of 10-HCPT with prolonged half time and improved bioavailability. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interactions between DPPC as a component of lung surfactant and amorphous silica nanoparticles investigated by HILIC-ESI-MS.

PubMed

Silina, Yuliya E; Welck, Jennifer; Kraegeloh, Annette; Koch, Marcus; Fink-Straube, Claudia

2016-09-01

This paper reports a rapid HILIC-ESI-MS assay to quantify dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) as component of lung surfactant for nanosafety studies. The technique was used to investigate the concentration-dependent sorption of DPPC to two-sizes of amorphous SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) in a MeOH:H2O (50/50v/v) mixture and in cell culture medium. In MeOH:H2O (50/50v/v), the sorption of DPPC was positively correlated with the nanoparticles concentration. A substantial affinity of small amorphous SiO2-NPs (25nm) to DPPC standard solution compared to bigger SiO2-NPs (75nm) was not confirmed for biological specimens. After dispersion of SiO2-NPs in DPPC containing cell culture medium, the capacity of the SiO2-NPs to bind DPPC was reduced in comparison to a mixture of MeOH:H2O (50/50v/v) regardless from the nanoparticles size. Furthermore, HILIC-ESI-MS revealed that A549 cells internalized DPPC during growth in serum containing medium complemented with DPPC. This finding was in a good agreement with the potential of alveolar type II cells to recycle surfactant components. Binding of lipids present in the cell culture medium to amorphous SiO2-NPs was supported by means of HILIC-ESI-MS, TEM and ICP-MS independently. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rapid multiplication of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.: a timber yielding tree legume through axillary shoot proliferation and ex vitro rooting.

PubMed

Vibha, J B; Shekhawat, N S; Mehandru, Pooja; Dinesh, Rachana

2014-01-01

An efficient and improved method for in vitro propagation of mature tree of Dalbergia sissoo, an ecologically and commercially important timber yielding species, has been developed through axillary shoot proliferation. Bud breaking occurred from nodal shoot segments derived from rejuvenated shoots produced during early spring from a 20-25-year-old lopped tree, on MS medium containing 8.88 μM benzylaminopurine (BAP). Multiple shoots differentiated (20-21shoots/node) on re-culture of explants on half-strength agar gelled amended MS medium with a combination of 2.22 μM of BAP and 0.002 μM of thidiazuron (TDZ) with 1.0 mM each of Ca(NO3)2, K2SO4, KCl, and NH4(SO4)2. The maximum shoot multiplication (29-30 shoots/node) was achieved on subculturing in the above mentioned but liquid medium. Furthermore, the problem of shoot tip necrosis and defoliation observed on solid medium were overcome by the use of liquid medium. Ex vitro rooting was achieved on soilrite after basal treatment of microshoots with 984 μM of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for 2 min. About 90 % microshoots were rooted on soilrite within 2-3 weeks under the greenhouse conditions. From 20 nodal shoot segments, about 435 hardened plants were acclimatized and transplanted. This is the first report for rapid in vitro propagation of mature trees of D. sissoo on liquid medium followed by ex vitro rooting.

Staggered Orbital Currents in the Half-Filled Two-Leg Ladder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fjaerestad, J. O.; Marston, Brad; Sudbo, A.

2002-03-01

We present strong analytical and numerical evidence for the existence of a staggered flux (SF) phase in the half-filled two-leg ladder, with true long-range order in the counter-circulating currents. Using abelian bosonization with a careful treatment of the Klein factors, we show that a certain phase of the half-filled ladder, previously identified as having spin-Peierls order, instead exhibits staggered orbital currents with no dimerization.(J. O. Fjærestad and J. B. Marston, cond- mat/0107094.) This result, combined with a weak-coupling renormalization-group analysis, implies that the SF phase exists in a region of the phase diagram of the half-filled t-U-V-J ladder. Using the density-matrix renormalization-group (DMRG) approach generalized to complex-valued wavefunctions, we demonstrate that the SF phase exhibits robust currents at intermediate values of the interaction strengths.

Development and comparison of HPLC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS methods for determining eight coccidiostats in beef.

PubMed

Zhao, Xia; Wang, Bo; Xie, Kaizhou; Liu, Jianyu; Zhang, Yangyang; Wang, Yajuan; Guo, Yawen; Zhang, Genxi; Dai, Guojun; Wang, Jinyu

2018-06-15

A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method and an ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for determining eight coccidiostat (halofuginone, lasalocid, maduramicin, monensin, narasin, nigericin, robenidine and salinomycin) residues in beef were developed and compared. Samples were extracted with a mixture of acetic acid, acetonitrile and ethyl acetate and were then purified on a C 18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) column. The purified samples were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS, using 0.1% formic acid-water solution (A) and pure methanol (B) as the mobile phase. The samples were fractionated on a C 18 column using different gradient elution procedures, followed by qualitative analysis using a mass spectrometer operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with positive electrospray ionization; the external standard method was used for quantitation. At spiked levels that ranged from the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 100 μg/kg, the average recoveries were 71.96%-100.32% and 71.24%-89.24%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.65%-12.38% and 2.98%-14.86% for UPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-MS/MS, respectively. The limits of detection (LODs) and LOQs of the eight coccidiostats were 0.14-0.32 μg/kg and 0.43-1.21 μg/kg, respectively, for UPLC-MS/MS analysis and 0.16-0.58 μg/kg and 0.53-1.92 μg/kg, respectively, for HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Both methods had good accuracy and precision, but UPLC-MS/MS had higher sensitivity than HPLC-MS/MS. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Studies of the Coherent Half-Integer Resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cousineau, Sarah; Holmes, Jeff; Galambos, John; Macek, Robert; Fedotov, Alexei; Wei, Jie

2002-12-01

We present studies of space-charge-induced beam profile broadening at high intensities in the Proton Storage Ring (PSR) at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Previous work has associated the observed broadening in the vertical direction with the coherent half integer resonance [1]. Here, we study the effect of the space charge environment on this resonance; specifically, we investigate the strength of the resonance versus beam intensity, longitudinal bunching factor, transverse lattice tune, and two different beam injection scenarios. For each case, detailed particle-in-cell simulations are combined with experimental results to elucidate the behavior and sensitivity of the beam resonance response.

[Clonal micropropagation of a rare species Hedysarum theinum Krasnob (Fabaceae) and assessment of the genetic stability of regenerated plants using ISSR markers].

PubMed

Erst, A A; Svyagina, N S; Novikova, T I; Dorogina, O V

2015-02-01

In the present study, a protocol was developed for the in vitro propagation of a rare medicinal plant, Hedysarum theinum (tea sweetvetch), from axillary buds, and identification of the regenerants was performed with the use of ISSR markers. It was demonstrated that Gamborg and Eveleigh medium supplemented with 5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine was the best for H. theinum for initial multiplication. On the other hand, half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 7 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid proved to be the best for explant rooting. Molecular genetic analysis of the H. theinum mother plants and the obtained regenerants was performed with six ISSR markers. Depending on the primer, four to ten amplified fragments with sizes ranging from 250 to 3000 bp were identified. Our results confirmed the genetic stability of regenerants obtained in five passages and their identity to the mother plant.

Active medium gain study of electric-discharge oxygen-iodine laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolobyanin, Yuriy; Adamenkov, Yuriy; Vyskubenko, Boris; Goryachev, Leonid; Ilyin, Sergey; Kalashnik, Anatoliy; Rakhimova, Tatiana; Rogozhnikov, Georgiy

2007-05-01

The paper reports on experimental studies of the active medium gain in supersonic electric-discharge oxygen-iodine laser (DOIL) based on traveling mw discharge. The measurements have included: absolute concentration, yield, and energy efficiency of production of SO in pure oxygen and oxygen-helium mixes at an oxygen partial pressure 3 to 15 Torr. For the gas flow to get rid of atomic oxygen, both heterogeneous mercury oxide coatings of the tube walls and homogeneous additives to the work mix, such as nitrogen oxide, have been used. The active medium of DOIL was formed using a nozzle array of the type of ejector sized as 10*50 mm2. The singlet oxygen-helium mix was supplied through three rows of sonic cylindrical nozzles, while the iodine-carrier gas mix - through two rows of supersonic conical nozzles with a half-opening angle of 10°(arc). The gas-phase iodine was produced in a quartz cell filled with iodine crystals. Room-temperature iodine vapors were picked up with a carrier gas (nitrogen or helium) and thus delivered into the nozzle array. The active medium was investigated by the high-resolution laser diode spectroscopy approach that used the laser type Vortex 6025 purchased from New Focus, Inc. The laser medium gain factor was determined by the intra-cavity approach having a sensitivity about 1*10 -6 cm -1. The static temperature of the medium was determined from the measurements of gain half-width. The gain of the active medium of electric-discharge OIL has been investigated. The DOIL in use was operating on a mix composed as O II:He=1:1 at a total pressure of 6 Torr and flowrate - about 1 mmol/s. With helium as an iodine carrier gas at a flowrate ~3 mmol/s, we have recorded a positive gain in the DOIL medium.

Half-and-Half Palatoplasty.

PubMed

Han, Hyun Ho; Kang, In Sook; Rhie, Jong Won

2014-08-01

A 14-month-old child was diagnosed with a Veau Class II cleft palate. Von Langenbeck palatoplasty was performed for the right palate, and V-Y pushback palatoplasty was performed for the left palate. The child did not have a special problem during the surgery, and the authors were able to elongate the cleft by 10 mm. Contrary to preoperative concerns regarding the hybrid use of palatoplasties, the uvula and midline incisions remained balanced in the middle. The authors named this combination method "half-and-half palatoplasty" and plan to conduct a long-term follow up study as a potential solution that minimizes the complications of palatoplasty.

Half-and-Half Palatoplasty

PubMed Central

Han, Hyun Ho; Kang, In Sook

2014-01-01

A 14-month-old child was diagnosed with a Veau Class II cleft palate. Von Langenbeck palatoplasty was performed for the right palate, and V-Y pushback palatoplasty was performed for the left palate. The child did not have a special problem during the surgery, and the authors were able to elongate the cleft by 10 mm. Contrary to preoperative concerns regarding the hybrid use of palatoplasties, the uvula and midline incisions remained balanced in the middle. The authors named this combination method "half-and-half palatoplasty" and plan to conduct a long-term follow up study as a potential solution that minimizes the complications of palatoplasty. PMID:28913201

Resolving the Puzzle of MS1248-7+5706

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aldcroft, Thomas

1999-01-01

The X-ray source MS1248.7+5706 has been identified as a radio-quiet quasar at z=1.84, making it an ideal object for investigating the X-ray spectral evolution of radio-quiet quasars. However. spectral modeling of our ASCA observation of this X-ray source indicated that it might be confused by or misidentified with, a nearby K5V star. A high-resolution X-ray image has been obtained with the ROSAT HRI to enable us to interpret our ASCA spectra. An analysis of the new HRI observation shows that the X-ray source in the ASCA error circle most closely coincides with the position of the K5V star. It therefore appears that the identification of MS1248.7+5706 with a z=1.84 quasar is incorrect. Since MS1248.7+5706 is the second most luminous quasar in the Einstein Medium Sensitivity Survey, the bright end of the EMSS luminosity function will be impacted.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the diuretic component ergone in Polyporus umbellatus by HPLC with fluorescence detection and HPLC-APCI-MS/MS.

PubMed

Zhao, Ying-Yong; Zhao, Ye; Zhang, Yong-Min; Lin, Rui-Chao; Sun, Wen-Ji

2009-06-01

Polyporus umbellatus is a widely used anti-aldosteronic diuretic in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A new, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD) and high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS/MS) method for quantitative and qualitative determination of ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one(ergone), which is the main diuretic component, was provided for quality control of P. umbellatus crude drug. The ergone in the ethanolic extract of P. umbellatus was unambiguously characterized by HPLC-APCI, and further confirmed by comparing with a standard compound. The trace ergone was detected by the sensitive and selective HPLC-FLD. Linearity (r2 > 0.9998) and recoveries of low, medium and high concentration (100.5%, 100.2% and 100.4%) were consistent with the experimental criteria. The limit of detection (LOD) of ergone was around 0.2 microg/mL. Our results indicated that the content of ergone in P. umbellatus varied significantly from habitat to habitat with contents ranging from 2.13 +/- 0.02 to 59.17 +/- 0.05 microg/g. Comparison among HPLC-FLD and HPLC-UV or HPLC-APCI-MS/MS demonstrated that the HPLC-FLD and HPLC-APCI-MS/MS methods gave similar quantitative results for the selected herb samples, the HPLC-UV methods gave lower quantitative results than HPLC-FLD and HPLC-APCI-MS/MS methods. The established new HPLC-FLD method has the advantages of being rapid, simple, selective and sensitive, and could be used for the routine analysis of P. umbellatus crude drug.

Multisteroid LC–MS/MS assay for glucocorticoids and androgens and its application in Addison's disease

PubMed Central

Methlie, Paal; Hustad, Steinar; Kellman, Ralf; Almås, Bjørg; Erichsen, Martina M; Husebye, Eystein S; Løvås, Kristian

2013-01-01

Objective Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) offers superior analytical specificity compared with immunoassays, but it is not available in many regions and hospitals due to expensive instrumentation and tedious sample preparation. Thus, we developed an automated, high-throughput LC–MS/MS assay for simultaneous quantification of ten endogenous and synthetic steroids targeting diseases of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and gonads. Methods Deuterated internal standards were added to 85 μl serum and processed by liquid–liquid extraction. Cortisol, cortisone, prednisolone, prednisone, 11-deoxycortisol, dexamethasone, testosterone, androstenedione and progesterone were resolved by ultra-high-pressure chromatography on a reversed-phase column in 6.1 min and detected by triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. The method was used to assess steroid profiles in women with Addison's disease (AD, n=156) and blood donors (BDs, n=102). Results Precisions ranged from 4.5 to 10.1% relative standard deviations (RSD), accuracies from 95 to 108% and extraction recoveries from 60 to 84%. The method was practically free of matrix effects and robust to individual differences in serum composition. Most postmenopausal AD women had extremely low androstenedione concentrations, below 0.14 nmol/l, and median testosterone concentrations of 0.15 nmol/l (interquartile range 0.00–0.41), considerably lower than those of postmenopausal BDs (1.28 nmol/l (0.96–1.64) and 0.65 nmol/l (0.56–1.10) respectively). AD women in fertile years had androstenedione concentrations of 1.18 nmol/l (0.71–1.76) and testosterone concentrations of 0.44 nmol/l (0.22–0.63), approximately half of those found in BDs of corresponding age. Conclusion This LC–MS/MS assay provides highly sensitive and specific assessments of glucocorticoids and androgens with low sample volumes and is suitable for endocrine laboratories and research. Its utility has been

A 10-step safety management framework for construction small and medium-sized enterprises.

PubMed

Gunduz, Murat; Laitinen, Heikki

2017-09-01

It is of great importance to develop an occupational health and safety management system (OHS MS) to form a systemized approach to improve health and safety. It is a known fact that thousands of accidents and injuries occur in the construction industry. Most of these accidents occur in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This article provides a 10-step user-friendly OHS MS for the construction industry. A quantitative OHS MS indexing method is also introduced in the article. The practical application of the system to real SMEs and its promising results are also presented.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) in the life cycle of the family: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the perspective of persons with recently diagnosed MS.

PubMed

de Ceuninck van Capelle, Archie; Visser, Leo H; Vosman, Frans

2016-12-01

In this study the authors explored how people with recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) experience their disease within their family lives. Ten people in various stages of the cycle of family life (leaving home, finding a partner, raising children, parenting adolescents, launching children) who had been diagnosed with MS were interviewed in half-structured conversational interviews. Transcriptions were analyzed following a phenomenological approach. Five themes were found: (a) dwindling capacity for housekeeping and childcare (b) struggling to ask for or to accept help, (c) countering awkward attitudes toward my illness, (d) suspecting family members of concealing their, and (e) watching family members wrestle with your illness. The participants described that their illness affected their ability to care for their family and home as they used to. Only a couple of studies have addressed the first person perspective of patients on family and MS. The study expands on these studies by exploring not previously examined perspectives on leaving home, finding a partner, parenting adolescents, and launching children. The findings on family and MS, approached as elements of the first person perspective of MS patients, may guide future research. Given the pivotal role of worries on family in patient experience of MS, we argue that acknowledgment of family as a constitutive element of the patient perspective should be integrated in regular MS care. The authors suggest that the clinical handling of MS as a family issue needs to be done thoughtfully and with attention to the specifics of each unique family situation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Bioanalytical method for in vitro metabolism study of repaglinide using 96-blade thin-film solid-phase microextraction and LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Simões, Rodrigo Almeida; Bonato, Pierina Sueli; Mirnaghi, Fatemeh S; Bojko, Barbara; Pawliszyn, Janusz

2015-01-01

A high-throughput bioanalytical method using 96-blade thin film microextraction (TFME) and LC-MS/MS for the analysis of repaglinide (RPG) and two of its main metabolites was developed and used for an in vitro metabolism study. The target analytes were extracted from human microsomal medium by a 96-blade-TFME system employing the low-cost prototype 'SPME multi-sampler' using C18 coating. Method validation showed recoveries around 90% for all analytes and was linear over the concentration range of 2-1000 ng ml(-1) for RPG and of 2-500 ng ml(-1) for each RPG metabolite. The method was applied to an in vitro metabolism study of RPG employing human liver microsomes and proved to be very useful for this purpose.

Photolysis of sulfamethoxypyridazine in various aqueous media: aerobic biodegradation and identification of photoproducts by LC-UV-MS/MS.

PubMed

Khaleel, Nareman D H; Mahmoud, Waleed M M; Hadad, Ghada M; Abdel-Salam, Randa A; Kümmerer, Klaus

2013-01-15

Sulfonamides are one of the most frequently used antibiotics worldwide. Therefore, mitigation processes such as abiotic or biotic degradation are of interest. Photodegradation and biodegradation are the potentially significant removal mechanisms for pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments. The photolysis of sulfamethoxypyridazine (SMP) using a medium pressure Hg-lamp was evaluated in three different media: Millipore water pH 6.1 (MW), effluent from sewage treatment plant pH 7.6 (STP), and buffered demineralized water pH 7.4 (BDW). Identification of transformation products (TPs) was performed by LC-UV-MS/MS. The biodegradation of SMP using two tests from the OECD series was studied: Closed Bottle test (OECD 301 D), and Manometric Respirometry test (OECD 301 F). In biodegradation tests, it was found that SMP was not readily biodegradable so it may pose a risk to the environment. The results showed that SMP was removed completely within 128 min of irradiation in the three media, and the degradation rate was different for each investigated type of water. However, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was not removed in BDW and only little DOC removal was observed in MW and STP, thus indicating the formation of TPs. Analysis by LC-UV-MS/MS revealed new TPs formed. The hydroxylation of SMP represents the main photodegradation pathway. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Half-life measurement of the medical radioisotope 177Lu produced from the 176Yb(n,γ) reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, K. M.; Collins, S. M.; Fenwick, A. J.

2017-09-01

177Lu is a medium energy beta-emitter commonly used in Nuclear Medicine for radiotherapeutic applications. In this work, the half-life of 177Lu has been measured using a re-entrant ionisation chamber over a period of 82 days (approximately 12 half-lives). Unlike the majority of previous studies, the material used in this work was produced via the 176Yb(n,γ)177Yb reaction followed by the β-decay to 177Lu, producing insignificant quantities of 177mLu. This has resulted in the most precise half-life measurement of 177Lu to date. A half-life of 6.6430 (11) days has been determined. This value is in statistical agreement with the currently recommended half-life of 6.6463 (15) days (z-score = 1.8).

Determination of Urinary PAH Metabolites Using DLLME Hyphenated to Injector Port Silylation and GC-MS-MS.

PubMed

Gupta, Manoj Kumar; Jain, Rajeev; Singh, Pratibha; Ch, Ratnasekhar; Mudiam, Mohana Krishna Reddy

2015-06-01

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants and well-known carcinogens. Hydroxy derivatives of PAH are considered as biomarkers of PAH exposure, and there is a need to measure these metabolites at low concentrations. So, a precise and eco-friendly analytical method has been developed for rapid determination of PAH metabolites. For the first time, a new analytical method based on coupling of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with auto-injector port silylation (auto-IPS) followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) analysis is reported for the analysis of seven urinary PAH metabolites. Factors affecting DLLME and IPS, such as type and volume of extraction and disperser solvent, pH, ionic strength, injector port temperature, volume of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide and type of solvent were investigated. Under optimized conditions, the limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be in the range of 1-9 and 3-29 ng/mL, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries of metabolites in urine samples in the range of 87-95% were found. The developed method has been successfully applied for the determination of PAH metabolites in urine samples of exposed workers. DLLME-auto-IPS-GC-MS-MS method is time, labor, solvent and reagent saving, which can be routinely used for the analysis of urinary PAH metabolites. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Determination of eight pesticides in Lycium barbarum by LC-MS/MS and dietary risk assessment.

PubMed

Fu, Yan; Yang, Ting; Zhao, Jian; Zhang, Liang; Chen, Ruoxia; Wu, Yinliang

2017-03-01

A LC-MS/MS method for determination of eight pesticides (triadimefon, sulfoxaflor, flusilazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, amitraz, azoxystrobin, and thiophanate-methyl) in Lycium barbarum was established. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile, and then cleaned up by primary secondary amine. The extracts were diluted with 0.1% formic acid in water. The results showed that at the fortified levels of 0.01-10mg/kg, the average recoveries of these pesticides ranged from 82.1% to 96.2% with the relative standard deviations lower than 7%. The half-lives of eight pesticides were 1.3-5.0days in Lycium barbarum fruits. The pre-harvest interval of all pesticides mentioned above were investigated. Tebuconazole (14days), sulfoxaflor (14days) and flusilazole (28days) have longer pre-harvest interval than the others which have 7days. The dietary risks, assessed as hazard quotients, were far below 100%. The results showed that the eight pesticides applied to Lycium barbarum were comparably safe for the consumer. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Unassigned MS/MS Spectra: Who Am I?

PubMed

Pathan, Mohashin; Samuel, Monisha; Keerthikumar, Shivakumar; Mathivanan, Suresh

2017-01-01

Recent advances in high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS) has resulted in the accumulation of high quality data. Paralleled with these advances in instrumentation, bioinformatics software have been developed to analyze such quality datasets. In spite of these advances, data analysis in mass spectrometry still remains critical for protein identification. In addition, the complexity of the generated MS/MS spectra, unpredictable nature of peptide fragmentation, sequence annotation errors, and posttranslational modifications has impeded the protein identification process. In a typical MS data analysis, about 60 % of the MS/MS spectra remains unassigned. While some of these could attribute to the low quality of the MS/MS spectra, a proportion can be classified as high quality. Further analysis may reveal how much of the unassigned MS spectra attribute to search space, sequence annotation errors, mutations, and/or posttranslational modifications. In this chapter, the tools used to identify proteins and ways to assign unassigned tandem MS spectra are discussed.

Disability status, disease parameters, defense styles, and ego strength associated with psychiatric complications of multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Hyphantis, Thomas N; Christou, Konstantinos; Kontoudaki, Stavroula; Mantas, Christos; Papamichael, George; Goulia, Panagiota; Konitsiotis, Spyros; Mavreas, Venetsanos

2008-01-01

The aim of the present study was to identify disease parameters, defensive styles and ego strength measurements associated with various forms of psychiatric complications in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Seventy-nine patients with MS participated in the study and 158 healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as controls. A wide range of clinical information was collected and the following self-report instruments were used: General Health Questionnaire, Symptom Distress Check List, Defense Style Questionnaire, MMPI Ego Strength Scale and Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire. The odds of being assessed with a psychiatric diagnosis upon interview were 6.7 times greater among patients compared to controls and 9.3 times greater among patients with recent-onset MS compared to patients with long-term disease. Psychiatric complications of MS were closely associated with age of the disease onset and the degree of disability due to MS. Additionally, higher rates of introverted hostility, adoption of maladaptive ego defenses and weakened ego strength were also closely associated with several forms of psychological distress, especially depressive symptoms. MS patients experience elevated symptoms of psychological distress, especially depressive symptoms, which are most closely associated with disease parameters. However, the crucial role of various personality traits such as ego defenses and hostility features in the psychiatric symptom formation also appear to contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. Clinicians involved in the clinical management of patients with MS should identify and modify treatment if these specific personality markers that indicate the exhaustion of the patient's resources to cope with the physical and psychological stress of the illness are present.

A new selective medium for Streptococcus mutans and the distribution of S. mutans and S. sobrinus and their serotypes in dental plaque.

PubMed

Hirasawa, M; Takada, K

2003-01-01

A new selective medium (MS-MUT) was developed for the isolation of Streptococcus mutans from clinical specimens. The average growth recovery of S. mutans on MS-MUT medium was 72.4% of that on MS medium. Growth of Streptococcus sobrinus was significantly inhibited on the medium with an average recovery of 0.034%. In 103 subjects, S. MUTANS was detected at 58.3, 75.0 and 95.7% in the dental plaque of caries-free (CF), caries-inactive (CI) and caries-active (CA) subjects, respectively. S. sobrinus was detected in 8.3, 13.6 and 38.3% of CF, CI and CA subjects, respectively. S. sobrinus alone was detected in only 4.3% of CA subjects. The subjects in whom neither S. mutans nor S. sobrinus were detected were 41.6% in CF and 25.0% in CI. The most predominant serotype was C with a 67% detection rate. S. sobrinus, serotypes D or G were usually found together with S. mutans. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

21 CFR 131.180 - Half-and-half.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...). (ii) Natural and artificial food flavoring. (c) Methods of analysis. The milkfat content is determined... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Half-and-half. 131.180 Section 131.180 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN...

21 CFR 131.180 - Half-and-half.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

...). (ii) Natural and artificial food flavoring. (c) Methods of analysis. The milkfat content is determined... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Half-and-half. 131.180 Section 131.180 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN...

21 CFR 131.180 - Half-and-half.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...). (ii) Natural and artificial food flavoring. (c) Methods of analysis. The milkfat content is determined... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Half-and-half. 131.180 Section 131.180 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN...

21 CFR 131.180 - Half-and-half.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...). (ii) Natural and artificial food flavoring. (c) Methods of analysis. The milkfat content is determined... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Half-and-half. 131.180 Section 131.180 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN...

21 CFR 131.180 - Half-and-half.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...). (ii) Natural and artificial food flavoring. (c) Methods of analysis. The milkfat content is determined... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Half-and-half. 131.180 Section 131.180 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN...

Precise measurement of the half-life of the Fermi {beta} decay of {sup 26}Al{sup m}

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

Scott, Rebecca J.; Thompson, Maxwell N.; Rassool, Roger P.

2011-08-15

State-of-the-art signal digitization and analysis techniques have been used to measure the half-life of the Fermi {beta} decay of {sup 26}Al{sup m}. The half-life was determined to be 6347.8 {+-} 2.5 ms. This new datum contributes to the experimental testing of the conserved-vector-current hypothesis and the required unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix: two essential components of the standard model. Detailed discussion of the experimental techniques and data analysis and a thorough investigation of the statistical and systematic uncertainties are presented.

Tensile strength comparison of presoldered and postsoldered joints.

PubMed

Monday, J J; Asgar, K

1986-01-01

Twenty half-dumbbell shaped rods were cast in a silverless gold-palladium alloy that contained a minimum of 42% fresh alloy and the rest once-melted alloy. Each pair of half-dumbbells was assembled and either presoldered or postsoldered using a vacuum-oven and a torch-soldering technique. There was no significant difference in the ultimate tensile strength values between the presoldered and postsoldered joints within the same technique group, but the torch-soldered joints for the same solder were significantly stronger (p less than .01). It was believed that slow heating and cooling has deleterious effects on the ultimate tensile strength joints (UTS) possibly because of the microstructural changes and the highly oxidizable content of the postsolder used. Another 15 samples cast using once, twice, and three-times remelted parent alloy were presoldered and postsoldered with the torch only. In each of these groups, specimens joined by presolder showed significantly higher strength than those joined by postsolder (p less than .02). Remelting the parent alloy affected the strength differences between the presoldered and postsoldered joints. It was assumed that on remelting, the nature of the parent alloy is changed because some original elements are volatilized and newly formed oxides dissolved into it. Because it contains copper, the postsolder is more affected by this contamination than presolder. The UTS of the parent alloy, as well as that of the presolder and postsolder, were also determined. As expected, the parent alloy possessed the highest strength and the postsolder, the lowest.

Can we trust mass spectrometry for determination of arsenic peptides in plants: comparison of LC-ICP-MS and LC-ES-MS/ICP-MS with XANES/EXAFS in analysis of Thunbergia alata.

PubMed

Bluemlein, Katharina; Raab, Andrea; Meharg, Andrew A; Charnock, John M; Feldmann, Jörg

2008-04-01

The weakest step in the analytical procedure for speciation analysis is extraction from a biological material into an aqueous solution which undergoes HPLC separation and then simultaneous online detection by elemental and molecular mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/ES-MS). This paper describes a study to determine the speciation of arsenic and, in particular, the arsenite phytochelatin complexes in the root from an ornamental garden plant Thunbergia alata exposed to 1 mg As L(-1) as arsenate. The approach of formic acid extraction followed by HPLC-ES-MS/ICP-MS identified different As(III)-PC complexes in the extract of this plant and made their quantification via sulfur (m/z 32) and arsenic (m/z 75) possible. Although sulfur sensitivity could be significantly increased when xenon was used as collision gas in ICP-qMS, or when HR-ICP-MS was used in medium resolution, the As:S ratio gave misleading results in the identification of As(III)-PC complexes due to the relatively low resolution of the chromatography system in relation to the variety of As-peptides in plants. Hence only the parallel use of ES-MS/ICP-MS was able to prove the occurrence of such arsenite phytochelatin complexes. Between 55 and 64% of the arsenic was bound to the sulfur of peptides mainly as As(III)(PC(2))(2), As(III)(PC(3)) and As(III)(PC(4)). XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy) measurement, using the freshly exposed plant root directly, confirmed that most of the arsenic is trivalent and binds to S of peptides (53% As-S) while 38% occurred as arsenite and only 9% unchanged as arsenate. EXAFS data confirmed that As-S and As-O bonds occur in the plants. This study confirms, for the first time, that As-peptides can be extracted by formic acid and chromatographically separated on a reversed-phase column without significant decomposition or de-novo synthesis during the extraction step.

Treadmill Training or Progressive Strength Training to Improve Walking in People with Multiple Sclerosis? A Randomized Parallel Group Trial.

PubMed

Braendvik, Siri Merete; Koret, Teija; Helbostad, Jorunn L; Lorås, Håvard; Bråthen, Geir; Hovdal, Harald Olav; Aamot, Inger Lise

2016-12-01

The most effective treatment approach to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is not known. The aim of this trial was to assess the efficacy of treadmill training and progressive strength training on walking in people with MS. A single blinded randomized parallel group trial was carried out. Eligible participants were adults with MS with Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤6. A total of 29 participants were randomized and 28 received the allocated exercise intervention, treadmill (n = 13) or strength training (n = 15). Both groups exercised 30 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks. Primary outcome was The Functional Ambulation Profile evaluated by the GAITRite walkway. Secondary outcomes were walking work economy and balance control during walking, measured by a small lightweight accelerometer connected to the lower back. Testing was performed at baseline and the subsequent week after completion of training. Two participants were lost to follow-up, and 11 (treadmill) and 15 (strength training) were left for analysis. The treadmill group increased their Functional Ambulation Profile score significantly compared with the strength training group (p = .037). A significant improvement in walking work economy (p = .024) and a reduction of root mean square of vertical acceleration (p = .047) also favoured the treadmill group. The results indicate that task-specific training by treadmill walking is a favourable approach compared with strength training to improve walking in persons with mild and moderate MS. Implications for Physiotherapy practice, this study adds knowledge for the decision of optimal treatment approaches in people with MS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

High Pressure Strength Study on NaCl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mi, Z.; Shieh, S. R.; High Pressure Mineral Physics Group

2010-12-01

Yield strength is regarded as one important property related to rheological characteristics of minerals in the Earth’s interior. The strength study of NaCl, a popular pressure medium in static high pressure experiments, has been carried out under non-hydrostatic conditions in a diamond anvil cell up to 43 GPa at room temperature using radial energy dispersive X-ray diffraction technique. Phase transformation from B1 (rock salt structure) to B2 (CsCl structure) starts at 29.4 GPa, and is complete at 32.1 GPa. Bulk modulus obtained by third order Birch-Manurgham equation of state is 25.5 GPa with pressure derivative 4.6 for B1 phase, and 30.78 GPa with pressure derivative 4.32 GPa for B2 phase, which are in a good agreement with previous studies. The differential stress of NaCl B1 phase shows very gentle increase with pressure, which indicates that NaCl is a very good pressure-transmitting medium at pressure below 30 GPa. However, the differential stress increases more abruptly for B2 phase and this may imply that NaCl can no longer be regarded as a “soft” pressure medium at very high pressures. For B1 phase, (111) is the strongest plane and (200) is the weakest plane, while (200) becomes the strongest plane in B2 phase. Pure NaCl is weaker than mixture MgO and NaCl, which indicates that soft material become stronger when mixed with hard material. The yield strength of B2 obtained through energy dispersive X-ray diffraction technique increase linearly, while the value derived by pressure gradient method shows jagged trend.

Determination of a selection of synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites in urine by UHPSFC-MS/MS and by UHPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Berg, Thomas; Kaur, Lakhwinder; Risnes, Anna; Havig, Stine Marie; Karinen, Ritva

2016-07-01

Two different analytical techniques, ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPSFC-MS/MS) and reversed phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), were used for the determination of two synthetic cannabinoids and eleven metabolites in urine; AM-2201 N-4-OH-pentyl, AM-2233, JWH-018 N-5-OH-pentyl, JWH-018 N-pentanoic acid, JWH-073 N-4-OH-butyl, JWH-073 N-butanoic acid, JWH-122 N-5-OH-pentyl, MAM-2201, MAM-2201 N-4-OH-pentyl, RCS-4 N-5-OH-pentyl, UR-144 degradant N-pentanoic acid, UR-144 N-4-OH-pentyl, and UR-144 N-pentanoic acid. Sample preparation included a liquid-liquid extraction after deconjugation with ß-glucuronidase. The UHPSFC-MS/MS method used an Acquity UPC(2 TM) BEH column with a mobile phase consisting of CO2 and 0.3% ammonia in methanol, while the UHPLC-MS/MS method used an Acquity UPLC® BEH C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of 5 mM ammonium formate (pH 10.2) and methanol. MS/MS detection was performed with positive electrospray ionization and two multiple reaction monitoring transitions. Deuterated internal standards were used for six of the compounds. Limits of quantification (LOQs) were between 0.04 and 0.4 µg/L. Between-day relative standard deviations at concentrations ≥ LOQ were ≤20%, with biases within ±19%. Recoveries ranged from 40 to 90%. Corrected matrix effects were within 100 ± 10%, except for MAM-2201 with UHPSFC-MS/MS, and for UR-144 N-pentanoic acid and MAM-2201 N-4-OH-pentyl with UHPLC-MS/MS. Elution order obtained by UHPSFC-MS/MS was almost opposite to that obtained by UHPLC-MS/MS, making this instrument setup an interesting combination for screening and confirmation analyses in forensic cases. The UHPLC-MS/MS method has, since August 2014, been successfully used for confirmation of synthetic cannabinoids in urine samples revealing a positive immunoassay screening result. Copyright © 2015

Effect of laser irradiation conditions on the laser welding strength of cobalt-chromium and gold alloys.

PubMed

Kikuchi, Hisaji; Kurotani, Tomoko; Kaketani, Masahiro; Hiraguchi, Hisako; Hirose, Hideharu; Yoneyama, Takayuki

2011-09-01

Using tensile tests, this study investigated differences in the welding strength of casts of cobalt-chromium and gold alloys resulting from changes in the voltage and pulse duration in order to clarify the optimum conditions of laser irradiation for achieving favorable welding strength. Laser irradiation was performed at voltages of 150 V and 170 V with pulse durations of 4, 8, and 12 ms. For cobalt-chromium and gold alloys, it was found that a good welding strength could be achieved using a voltage of 170 V, a pulse duration of 8 ms, and a spot diameter of 0.5 mm. However, when the power density was set higher than this, defects tended to occur, suggesting the need for care when establishing welding conditions.

Magnetic Field Effects on In-Medium ϒ Dissociation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoelck, Johannes; Nendzig, Felix; Wolschin, Georg

2017-12-01

The electromagnetic fields during relativistic heavy ion collisions are calculated using a simple model which characterises the emerging quark-gluon medium by its conductivity only. An estimate of the average magnetic field strength experienced by the bb¯ mesons produced in the collision is made. In a sufficiently strong magnetic field, the individual spins of bb¯ mesons can align with the field leading to quantum mixing of the singlet and triplet spin configurations. The extent of this intermixture, however, is found to be negligible at field strengths occurring in heavy ion collisions at LHC energies.

Design of Fully Austenitic Medium Manganese Steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luan, G.; Volkova, O.; Mola, J.

2018-06-01

Due to their higher ferrite potential compared to high Mn twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steels, medium Mn steels usually exhibit austenitic-ferritic microstructures, which makes them suitable for third-generation advanced high-strength steel applications. Nevertheless, the strain hardening characteristics of medium Mn steels are inferior to those of fully austenitic high Mn steels. The present work introduces alloy design strategies to obtain fully austenitic medium Mn steels capable of the TWIP effect. To achieve a fully austenitic microstructure, the martensite start temperature is reduced by raising the C concentration to above 1 mass-%, which in turn facilitates the formation of cementite. The formation of cementite during cooling from austenitization temperature is counteracted by alloying with Al. Microstructural examination of slowly-cooled Fe‑Mn‑Al‑C and Fe‑Mn‑C steels indicated that Al changes the morphology of intergranular cementite from plate-shaped to equiaxed.

Proteome analysis of excretory-secretory proteins of Entamoeba histolytica HM1:IMSS via LC-ESI-MS/MS and LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF.

PubMed

Ujang, Jorim Anak; Kwan, Soon Hong; Ismail, Mohd Nazri; Lim, Boon Huat; Noordin, Rahmah; Othman, Nurulhasanah

2016-01-01

Excretory-secretory (ES) proteins of E. histolytica are thought to play important roles in the host invasion, metabolism, and defence. Elucidation of the types and functions of E. histolytica ES proteins can further our understanding of the disease pathogenesis. Thus, the aim of this study is to use proteomics approach to better understand the complex ES proteins of the protozoa. E. histolytica ES proteins were prepared by culturing the trophozoites in protein-free medium. The ES proteins were identified using two mass spectrometry tools, namely, LC-ESI-MS/MS and LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF. The identified proteins were then classified according to their biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components using the Panther classification system (PantherDB). A complementary list of 219 proteins was identified; this comprised 201 proteins detected by LC-ESI-MS/MS and 107 proteins by LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF. Of the 219 proteins, 89 were identified by both mass-spectrometry systems, while 112 and 18 proteins were detected exclusively by LC-ESI-MS/MS and LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF respectively. Biological protein functional analysis using PantherDB showed that 27% of the proteins were involved in metabolic processes. Using molecular functional and cellular component analyses, 35% of the proteins were found to be involved in catalytic activity, and 21% were associated with the cell parts. This study showed that complementary use of LC-ESI-MS/MS and LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF has improved the identification of ES proteins. The results have increased our understanding of the types of proteins excreted/secreted by the amoeba and provided further evidence of the involvement of ES proteins in intestinal colonisation and evasion of the host immune system, as well as in encystation and excystation of the parasite.

Analysis of phytochemical variations in dioecious Tinospora cordifolia stems using HPLC/QTOF MS/MS and UPLC/QqQLIT -MS/MS.

PubMed

Bajpai, Vikas; Singh, Awantika; Chandra, Preeti; Negi, M P S; Kumar, Nikhil; Kumar, Brijesh

2016-01-01

The stem of dioecious Tinospora cordifolia (Menispermaceae) is a commonly used traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India having several therapeutic properties. To develop and validate LC-MS methods for the identification and simultaneous quantitation of various secondary metabolites and to study metabolomic variations in the stem of male and female plants. Ethanolic extract of stems were analysed by HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS for rapid screening of bioactive phytochemicals. High resolution MS and MS/MS in positive ESI mode were used for structural investigation of secondary metabolites. An UPLC/ESI-QqQ(LIT) -MS/MS method in MRM mode was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of five bioactive alkaloids. Identification and characterisation of 36 metabolites including alkaloids, sesquiterpenes and phytoecdysteroids were performed using LC-MS and MS/MS techniques. The bioactive alkaloids such as jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, isocorydine, palmatine and tetrahydropalmatine were successfully quantified in male and female plants. The mean abundances of magnoflorine jatrorrhizine, and oblongine were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in male plants while mean abundances of tetrahydropalmatine, norcoclaurine, and reticuline were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in female plants. Phytochemicals in the stem of male and female Tinospora cordifolia showed significant qualitative and quantitative variations. LC-MS and MS/MS methods can be used to differentiate between male and female plants based on their chemical profiles and quantities of the marker bioactive alkaloids. This chemical composition difference was also evident during vegetative stage when there were no male and female flowers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Characteristic odor components of volatile oil from the cultivation medium of Lactobacillus acidophilus.

PubMed

Ono, Toshirou; Yonejima, Yasunori; Ikeda, Atsushi; Kashima, Yusei; Nakaya, Satoshi; Miyazawa, Mitsuo

2014-01-01

Volatile oils obtained from both the liquid medium after incubation (MAI) and liquid medium before incubation (MBI) in the cultivation process of Lactobacillus acidophilus were isolated by hydrodistillation (HD) and analyzed to investigate the utility of the liquid waste. The composition of the volatile oils was analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, 46 and 19 compounds were detected in the volatile oils from MAI (MAI oil) and MBI (MBI oil), respectively. The principle components of MAI oil were fatty acids, including pentanoic acid (12.75%), heptanoic acid (14.05%), and nonanoic acid (14.04%). The important aroma-active compounds in the oils were detected by GC-MS/Olfactometry (GC-O), and their intensity of aroma were measured by aroma extraction dilution analysis (AEDA). Pyrazines were determined as key aroma components; in particular, 2-ethyl-5-methylpyrazine was the most primary aroma-active compound in MAI oil. In addition, as the characteristic aroma-active compounds, 3-(methylthio)-propanal, trimethylpyrazine, and pentanoic acid were also detected in MAI oil. These results imply that the waste medium after incubation of L. acidophilus may be utilized as a source of volatile oils.

Strength properties of interlocking compressed earth brick units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saari, S.; Bakar, B. H. Abu; Surip, N. A.

2017-10-01

This study presents a laboratory investigation on the properties of interlocking compressed earth brick (ICEB) units. Compressive strength, which is one of the most important properties in masonry structures, is used to determine masonry performance. The compressive strength of the ICEB units was determined by applying a compressive strength test for 340 units from four types of ICEB. To analyze the strength of the ICEB units, each unit was capped by a steel plate at the top and bottom to create a flat surface, and then ICEB was loaded until failure. The average compressive strength of the corresponding ICEB units are as follows: wall brick, 19.15 N/mm2; beam brick, 16.99 N/mm2; column brick, 13.18 N/mm2; and half brick, 11.79 N/mm2. All the ICEB units had compressive strength of over 5 N/mm2, which is the minimum strength for a load-bearing brick. This study proves that ICEB units may be used as load-bearing bricks. The strength of ICEBs is equal to that of other common bricks and blocks that are currently available in the market.

HPLC and HPLC/MS/MS Studies on Stress, Accelerated and Intermediate Degradation Tests of Antivirally Active Tricyclic Analog of Acyclovir.

PubMed

Lesniewska, Monika A; Dereziński, Paweł; Klupczyńska, Agnieszka; Kokot, Zenon J; Ostrowski, Tomasz; Zeidler, Joanna; Muszalska, Izabela

2015-01-01

The degradation behavior of a tricyclic analog of acyclovir [6-(4-MeOPh)-TACV] was determined in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization guidelines for good clinical practice under different stress conditions (neutral hydrolysis, strong acid/base degradation, oxidative decomposition, photodegradation, and thermal degradation). Accelerated [40±2°C/75%±5% relative humidity (RH)] and intermediate (30±2°C/65%±5% RH) stability tests were also performed. For observation of the degradation of the tested compound the RP-HPLC was used, whereas for the analysis of its degradation products HPLC/MS/MS was used. Degradation of the tested substance allowed its classification as unstable in neutral environment, acidic/alkaline medium, and in the presence of oxidizing agent. The tested compound was also light sensitive and was classified as photolabile both in solution and in the solid phase. However, the observed photodegradation in the solid phase was at a much lower level than in the case of photodegradation in solution. The study showed that both air temperature and RH had no significant effect on the stability of the tested substance during storage for 1 month at 100°C (dry heat) as well as during accelerated and intermediate tests. Based on the HPLC/MS/MS analysis, it can be concluded that acyclovir was formed as a degradation product of 6-(4-MeOPh)-TACV.

Combined Intercritical Annealing and Q&P Processing of Medium Mn Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Cooman, Bruno C.; Lee, Seon Jong; Shin, Sunmi; Seo, Eun Jung; Speer, John G.

2017-01-01

The microstructure and mechanical properties of intercritically annealed medium Mn steel are dependent on the selection of the intercritical annealing (IA) temperature. While the yield strength (YS) decreases with increasing IA temperature, the ultimate tensile strength increases with increasing IA temperature. Strain aging phenomena, both static and dynamic, are also often observed. The present contribution shows that, by combining IA with the quench and partitioning processing of the intercritical austenite, it is possible to obtain non-aging mechanical properties which combine a high YS with an ultra-high tensile strength. These properties are particularly suitable for automotive parts related to passenger safety.

The highly luminous Type Ibn supernova ASASSN-14ms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallely, P. J.; Prieto, J. L.; Stanek, K. Z.; Kochanek, C. S.; Sukhbold, T.; Bersier, D.; Brown, J. S.; Chen, P.; Dong, S.; Falco, E.; Berlind, P.; Calkins, M.; Koff, R. A.; Kiyota, S.; Brimacombe, J.; Shappee, B. J.; Holoien, T. W.-S.; Thompson, T. A.; Stritzinger, M. D.

2018-04-01

We present photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations of the highly luminous Type Ibn supernova ASASSN-14ms, which was discovered on UT 2014-12-26.61 at mV ˜ 16.5. With a peak absolute V-band magnitude brighter than -20.5, a peak bolometric luminosity of 1.7 × 1044 erg s-1, and a total radiated energy of 2.1 × 1050 erg, ASASSN-14ms is one of the most luminous Type Ibn supernovae yet discovered. In simple models, the most likely power source for this event is a combination of the radioactive decay of 56Ni and 56Co at late times and the interaction of supernova ejecta with the progenitor's circumstellar medium at early times, although we cannot rule out the possibility of a magnetar-powered light curve. The presence of a dense circumstellar medium is indicated by the intermediate-width He I features in the spectra. The faint (mg ˜ 21.6) host galaxy SDSS J130408.52+521846.4 has an oxygen abundance below 12 + log (O/H) ≲ 8.3, a stellar mass of M* ˜ 2.6 × 108 M⊙, and a star formation rate of SFR ˜ 0.02 M⊙ yr-1.

Doxycycline shows dose-dependent changes in hernia repair strength after mesh repair.

PubMed

Tharappel, Job C; Harris, Jennifer W; Zwischenberger, Brittany A; Levy, Salomon M; Puleo, David A; Roth, J Scott

2016-05-01

Ventral hernia is a commonly occurring surgical problem. Our earlier studies have shown that a 30 mg/kg dose of doxycycline can significantly impact the strength of polypropylene (PP) mesh in a rat hernia repair model at 6 and 12 weeks. The objective of the present study was to investigate the dose dependence of doxycycline treatment on hernia repair strengths in rats. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats underwent hernia repair with either PP mesh (n = 28) or sutures only (primary; n = 28); both groups were further divided into four doxycycline groups of seven animals each: control (0 mg/kg), low (3 mg/kg), medium (10 mg/kg), and high (30 mg/kg). One day before hernia repair surgery, animals received doxycycline doses by gavage and continued receiving daily until euthanasia. After 8 weeks, rats were euthanized and tissue samples from hernia repaired area were collected and analyzed for tensile strength using a tensiometer (Instron, Canton, MA, USA), while MMPs 2, 3, and 9, and collagen type 1 and 3 were analyzed by western blotting. In mesh-repaired animals, medium and high doxycycline dose repaired mesh fascia interface (MFI) showed significant increase in tensile strength when compared to control. In the primary repaired animals, there was no significant difference in MFI tensile strength in any dose group. In medium-dose MFI, there was a significant reduction in MMPs 2, 3, and 9. In this animal group, MFI showed significant increase in collagen 1 and significant reduction in collagen type 3 when compared to control. It is possible to improve the strength of mesh-repaired tissue by administering a significantly lower dose of the drug, which has implications for translation of the findings.

Experimental study of UTM-LST generic half model transport aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ujang, M. I.; Mat, S.; Perumal, K.; Mohd. Nasir, M. N.

2016-10-01

This paper presents the experimental results from the investigation carried out at the UTM Low Speed wind tunnel facility (UTM-LST) on a half model generic transport aircraft at several configurations of primary control surfaces (flap, aileron and elevator). The objective is to measure the aerodynamic forces and moments due to the configuration changes. The study is carried out at two different speeds of 26.1 m/s and 43.1 m/s at corresponding Reynolds number of 1 × 106 and 2 × 106, respectively. Angle of attack of the model is varied between -2o to 20o. For the flaps, the deflection applied is 0o, 5o and 10o. Meanwhile, for aileron and elevator, the deflection applied is between -10o and 10o. The results show the differences in aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft at different control surfaces configurations. The results obtained indicate that a laminar separation bubble developed on the surface of the wing at lower angles of attack and show that the separation process is delayed when the Reynolds number is increased.

Effects of Strength Training Using Unstable Surfaces on Strength, Power and Balance Performance Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Behm, David G; Muehlbauer, Thomas; Kibele, Armin; Granacher, Urs

2015-12-01

The effectiveness of strength training on unstable surfaces (STU) versus stable surfaces (STS) or a control condition (CON; i.e., no training or regular training only) for strength, power and balance performance across the lifespan has not yet been investigated in a systematic review and meta-analysis. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to determine the general effects of STU versus STS or CON on muscle strength, power and balance in healthy individuals across the lifespan and to investigate whether performance changes following STU are age specific. A computerized systematic literature search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science from January 1984 up to February 2015. Initially, 209 articles were identified for review. Only controlled trials were included if they investigated STU in healthy individuals and tested at least one measure of maximal strength, strength endurance, muscle power, or static/dynamic balance. In total, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were coded for the following criteria: age, sex, training status, training modality, exercise and test modality. Effect size measures included within-subject standardized mean differences (SMDw) and weighted between-subject standardized mean differences (SMDb). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2 and χ2 statistics. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale. Our search failed to identify studies that examined the effects of STU versus STS or CON in children and middle-aged adults. However, four studies were identified that investigated the effects of STU versus CON or STS in adolescents, 15 studies were identified in young adults and three studies were identified in old adults. Compared with CON, STU produced medium effects on maximal strength in young adults and no effects to medium effects in old adults. In addition, large effects were detected on

An effective protocol for micropropagation of edible bamboo species (Bambusa tulda and Melocanna baccifera) through nodal culture.

PubMed

Waikhom, Sayanika Devi; Louis, Bengyella

2014-01-01

High demand for edible bamboo shoots of Bambusa tulda and Melocanna baccifera in many Asian ethnic groups has led to the need for developing intensive bamboo farming. To achieve this, in vitro regeneration of bamboo plantlets is needed due to the long and irregular bamboo flowering cycle and scarcity of bamboo seeds. An effective protocol for plantlets regeneration in B. tulda and M. baccifera from nodal explants following validation of the species using the sequence of trnL-F intergenic spacer region is described. Effective axillary bud breaking was achieved at 3 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in MS medium. Importantly, combining 2 mg/L of kinetin (Kn) with 3 mg/L of BAP produced a synergistic effect for shoot multiplication in B. tulda and M. baccifera. Under optimized conditions in half-strength MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 10 mg/L of coumarin, and 3% sucrose, profuse production of dark-brown rhizome in B. tulda and abundant rooting (81.67%, P < 0.05, F = 15.46) for M. baccifera within 30 days were achieved. The established protocol and the validation of the reported species at the molecular level will be of help to stakeholders in edible bamboo trade to conserve gene-pool and increase productivity.

Micropropagation of bioencapsulation and ultrastructural features of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) grown in vivo and in vitro.

PubMed

Mohajer, Sadegh; Mat Taha, Rosna; Mohajer, Minoo; Khorasani Esmaeili, Arash

2014-01-01

To explore the potential of in vitro rapid regeneration, three varieties (Golpaygan-181, Orumieh-1763, and Gorgan-1601) of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. syn. Onobrychis sativa L.) were evaluated. For the first time, an encapsulation protocol was established from somatic embryogenic callus in torpedo and cotyledonary stages to create artificial seeds. Callus derived from different concentrations of Kinetin (0-2.0 mg L(-1)) and Indole-3-acetic acid (0-2.0 mg L(-1)) was coated with sodium alginate and subsequently cultured either in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium or in soil substrate. Adventitious shoots from synthetic beads developed into rooting in full and half strength MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of auxin and cytokinin. Prolonged water conservation of black and red soils (1:1) had the highest rate of survival plantlets in the acclimatization process. Diverse resistance techniques in Onobrychis viciifolia were evaluated when the plants were subjected to water deficiency. Higher frequency of epicuticular waxes was observed in in vivo leaves compared to in vitro leaves. Jagged trichomes nonsecreting glands covered by spines were only observed in the lower leaf side. Ultimately, stomata indices were 0.127 (abaxial), 0.188 (adaxial) in in vivo and 0.121 (abaxial), 0.201 (adaxial) in in vitro leaves.

In Vitro Propagation, Phytochemical Analysis, and Evaluation of Free Radical Scavenging Property of Scrophularia kakudensis Franch Tissue Extracts.

PubMed

Manivannan, Abinaya; Soundararajan, Prabhakaran; Park, Yoo Gyeong; Jeong, Byoung Ryong

2015-01-01

The current study deals with in vitro propagation, antioxidant property estimation, and assessment of acacetin content in Scrophularia kakudensis Franch. Adventitious shoot induction was achieved from the nodal explant with the highest number of adventitious shoots per explant (17.4) on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium fortified with 2.0 mg·L(-1) 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.5 mg L(-1) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Maximum number of roots per plant (16.5) was noted in half strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg·L(-1) IAA. The regenerated plants displayed successful survival ratio (95%) in the greenhouse. The highest content of acacetin, a pharmaceutically important flavonoid, was observed in the shoot extracts (in vitro: 32.83 µg·g(-1) FW; in vivo: 30.05 µg·g(-1) FW) followed by root extracts. Total phenol and flavonoid contents along with free radical scavenging assays revealed the occurrence of larger amount of antioxidants in shoot extract in comparison with callus and root extracts of S. kakudensis. Thus, the outcome of the present study can be highly beneficial for the germplasm conservation and commercial cultivation of S. kakudensis for therapeutic purposes.

Urine Multi-drug Screening with GC-MS or LC-MS-MS Using SALLE-hybrid PPT/SPE.

PubMed

Lee, Junhui; Park, Jiwon; Go, Ahra; Moon, Heesung; Kim, Sujin; Jung, Sohee; Jeong, Wonjoon; Chung, Heesun

2018-05-14

To intoxicated patients in the emergency room, toxicological analysis can be considerably helpful for identifying the involved toxicants. In order to develop a urine multi-drug screening (UmDS) method, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) were used to determine targeted and unknown toxicants in urine. A GC-MS method in scan mode was validated for selectivity, limit of detection (LOD) and recovery. An LC-MS-MS multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method was validated for lower LOD, recovery and matrix effect. The results of the screening analysis were compared with patient medical records to check the reliability of the screen. Urine samples collected from an emergency room were extracted through a combination of salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) and hybrid protein precipitation/solid phase extraction (hybrid PPT/SPE) plates and examined by GC-MS and LC-MS-MS. GC-MS analysis was performed as unknown drug screen and LC-MS-MS analysis was conducted as targeted drug screen. After analysis by GC-MS, a library search was conducted using an in-house library established with the automated mass spectral deconvolution and identification system (AMDISTM). LC-MS-MS used Cliquid®2.0 software for data processing and acquisition in MRM mode. An UmDS method by GC-MS and LC-MS-MS was developed by using a SALLE-hybrid PPT/SPE and in-house library. The results of UmDS by GC-MS and LC-MS-MS showed that toxicants could be identified from 185 emergency room patient samples containing unknown toxicants. Zolpidem, acetaminophen and citalopram were the most frequently encountered drugs in emergency room patients. The UmDS analysis developed in this study can be used effectively to detect toxic substances in a short time. Hence, it could be utilized in clinical and forensic toxicology practices.

A cost effective cultivation medium for biocalcification of Bacillus pasteurii KCTC 3558 and its effect on cement cubes properties.

PubMed

Yoosathaporn, S; Tiangburanatham, P; Bovonsombut, S; Chaipanich, A; Pathom-Aree, W

2016-01-01

Application of carbonate precipitation induced by Bacillus pasteurii for improving some properties of cement has been reported. However, it is not yet successful in commercial scale due to the high cost of cultivation medium. This is the first report on the application of effluent from chicken manure bio-gas plant, a high protein content agricultural waste, as an alternative growth medium for carbonate precipitation by B. pasteurii KCTC3558. Urease activity of B. pasteurii KCTC3558 cultured in chicken manure effluent medium and other three standard media were examined using phenate method. The highest urease production was achieved in chicken manure effluent medium (16.756Umg(-1) protein). Cost per liter of chicken manure effluent medium is up to 88.2% lower than other standard media. The most effective cultivation media was selected for carbonate precipitation study in cement cubes. Water absorption, voids, apparent density and compressive strength of cement cubes were measured according to the ASTM standard. The correlation between the increasing density and compressive strength of bacterial added cement cube was evident. The density of bacterial cement cube is 5.1% higher than control while the compressive strength of cement mixed with bacterial cells in chicken manure effluent medium increases up to 30.2% compared with control. SEM and XRD analysis also found the crystalline phase of calcium carbonate within bacterial cement which confirmed that the increasing density and compressive strength were resulted from bacterial carbonate precipitation. This study indicated that the effluent from chicken manure bio-gas plant could be used as an alternative cost effective culture medium for cultivation and biocalcification of B. pasteurii KCTC3558 in cement. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

TDZ pulsing evaluation on the in vitro morphogenesis of peach palm.

PubMed

Graner, Erika Mendes; Oberschelp, Gustavo Pedro Javier; Brondani, Gilvano Ebling; Batagin-Piotto, Katherine Derlene; de Almeida, Cristina Vieira; de Almeida, Marcílio

2013-04-01

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth.) cropping is an excellent alternative to native species exploitation; nevertheless, the problems with seed germination and conventional propagation justify the use of in vitro culturing. Aiming to asses TDZ pulsing effect on B. gasipaes morphogenesis, explants obtained from unarmed microplants were maintained in two treatments, half of them in MS free medium (without growth regulator) and the other half in MS with TDZ (0.36 μM). Both groups were transferred to growth regulator-free MS medium following 14 days of culture. After 84 days of culture, TDZ pulsing increased the growth and development of the shoots, restricted the growth and development of the roots, with no influence on adventitious bud induction or somatic embryogenesis. Furthermore, development of prickles, thickening of roots and chlorotic leaves were noted under TDZ pulsing. Leaf sheath histological analysis showed an epidermal origin and no vascularization of these prickles.

MS-BWME: A Wireless Real-Time Monitoring System for Brine Well Mining Equipment

PubMed Central

Xiao, Xinqing; Zhu, Tianyu; Qi, Lin; Moga, Liliana Mihaela; Zhang, Xiaoshuan

2014-01-01

This paper describes a wireless real-time monitoring system (MS-BWME) to monitor the running state of pumps equipment in brine well mining and prevent potential failures that may produce unexpected interruptions with severe consequences. MS-BWME consists of two units: the ZigBee Wireless Sensors Network (WSN) unit and the real-time remote monitoring unit. MS-BWME was implemented and tested in sampled brine wells mining in Qinghai Province and four kinds of indicators were selected to evaluate the performance of the MS-BWME, i.e., sensor calibration, the system's real-time data reception, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and sensor node lifetime. The results show that MS-BWME can accurately judge the running state of the pump equipment by acquiring and transmitting the real-time voltage and electric current data of the equipment from the spot and provide real-time decision support aid to help workers overhaul the equipment in a timely manner and resolve failures that might produce unexpected production down-time. The MS-BWME can also be extended to a wide range of equipment monitoring applications. PMID:25340455

Strength and texture of sodium chloride to 56 GPa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mi, Z.; Shieh, S. R.; Kavner, A.; Kiefer, B.; Wenk, H.-R.; Duffy, T. S.

2018-04-01

The strength and texture of sodium chloride in the B1 (rocksalt) and B2 (cesium chloride) phases were investigated in a diamond anvil cell using synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a radial geometry to 56 GPa. The measured differential stresses within the Reuss limit are in the range of 0.2 GPa for the B1 phase at pressure of 24 GPa and 1.6 GPa for the B2 phase at pressure of 56 GPa. A strength weakening is observed near the B1-B2 phase transition at about 30 GPa. The low strength of NaCl in the B1 phase confirms that it is an effective pressure-transmitting medium for high-pressure experiments to ˜30 GPa. The B2 phase can be also used as a pressure-transmitting medium although it exhibits a steeper increase in strength with pressure than the B1 phase. Deformation induces weak lattice preferred orientation in NaCl, showing a (100) texture in the B1 phase and a (110) texture in the B2 phase. The observed textures were evaluated by viscoplastic self-consistent model and our results suggest {110}⟨ 1 1 ¯ 0 ⟩ as the slip system for the B1 phase and {112} ⟨1 1 ¯ 0 ⟩ for the B2 phase.

Northern half of Mauritania's Atlantic Coast from Skylab

NASA Image and Video Library

1973-12-28

SL4-138-3756 (28 Dec. 1973) --- The northern half of Mauritania's Atlantic Coast, as photographed from the Skylab space station in Earth orbit by one of the Skylab 4 crewmen. The camera used was a hand-held 70mm Hasselblad, with SO-368 medium-speed Ektachrome. Spanish Sahara is just out of the picture to the north. The linear chains of sand dunes leading to the sea were the objects of study in an effort to better understand deserts and their formations. Photographs such as this were compared with similar ones taken over the drought-stricken areas including Mali and Niger in an attempt to understand the desertification processes which may be occurring there. Photo credit: NASA

Validation and application of HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the quantification of RBBR decolorization, a model for highly toxic molecules, using several fungi strains.

PubMed

Perlatti, Bruno; da Silva, Maria Fátima das Graças Fernandes; Fernandes, João Batista; Forim, Moacir Rossi

2012-11-01

A novel analytical method using HPLC-MS/MS operating in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) for evaluation of fungi efficacy to decolorize Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) dye solution was developed, validated and applied. The method shows high sensibility allowing the detection of 4.6 pM of RBBR. Four fungal strains were tested in liquid medium, three strains of Aspergillus (Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium. All fungi were able to degrade the dye, with efficiencies ranging from 40% for P. chrysosporium up to 99% for A. flavus during a 30-day incubation period. During the experiment, increased accumulation of degradation products was observed in A. flavus cultures containing RBBR. Through the use of full scan HPLC-MS technique it was possible to propose the biogenesis of the microbial metabolic degradation pathway. Screening using microorganisms and RBBR may be hereafter used to investigate microbial biodegradation of high toxicity molecules such as dioxins. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modeling of inter-neuronal coupling medium and its impact on neuronal synchronization

PubMed Central

Iqbal, Muhammad; Hong, Keum-Shik

2017-01-01

In this paper, modeling of the coupling medium between two neurons, the effects of the model parameters on the synchronization of those neurons, and compensation of coupling strength deficiency in synchronization are studied. Our study exploits the inter-neuronal coupling medium and investigates its intrinsic properties in order to get insight into neuronal-information transmittance and, there from, brain-information processing. A novel electrical model of the coupling medium that represents a well-known RLC circuit attributable to the coupling medium’s intrinsic resistive, inductive, and capacitive properties is derived. Surprisingly, the integration of such properties reveals the existence of a natural three-term control strategy, referred to in the literature as the proportional integral derivative (PID) controller, which can be responsible for synchronization between two neurons. Consequently, brain-information processing can rely on a large number of PID controllers based on the coupling medium properties responsible for the coherent behavior of neurons in a neural network. Herein, the effects of the coupling model (or natural PID controller) parameters are studied and, further, a supervisory mechanism is proposed that follows a learning and adaptation policy based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm for compensation of the coupling strength deficiency. PMID:28486505

Direct Measurements of Half-Cycle Reaction Heats during Atomic Layer Deposition by Calorimetry

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

Lownsbury, James M.; Gladden, James A.; Campbell, Charles T.

We introduce a new high-temperature adsorption calorimeter that approaches the ideal limit of a heat detector whereby the signal at any time is proportional to the heat power being delivered to the sample and prove its sensitivity for measuring pulse-to-pulse heats of half-reactions during atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 400 K. The heat dynamics of amorphous Al2O3 growth via sequential self-limiting surface reaction of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and H2O is clearly resolved. Calibration enables quantitation of the exothermic TMA and H2O half-reactions with high precision, -343 kJ/mol TMA and -251 kJ/mol H2O, respectively. A time resolution better than 1 ms ismore » demonstrated, allowing for the deconvolution of at least two distinct surface reactions during TMA microdosing. It is further demonstrated that this method can provide the heat of reaction versus extent of reaction during each precursors half-reaction, thus providing even richer mechanistic information on the surface processes involved. The broad applicability of this novel calorimeter is demonstrated through excellent signal-to-noise ratios of less exothermic ALD half-reactions to produce TiO2 and MnO.« less

Direct Measurements of Half-Cycle Reaction Heats during Atomic Layer Deposition by Calorimetry

DOE PAGES

Lownsbury, James M.; Gladden, James A.; Campbell, Charles T.; ...

2017-10-05

We introduce a new high-temperature adsorption calorimeter that approaches the ideal limit of a heat detector whereby the signal at any time is proportional to the heat power being delivered to the sample and prove its sensitivity for measuring pulse-to-pulse heats of half-reactions during atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 400 K. The heat dynamics of amorphous Al2O3 growth via sequential self-limiting surface reaction of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and H2O is clearly resolved. Calibration enables quantitation of the exothermic TMA and H2O half-reactions with high precision, -343 kJ/mol TMA and -251 kJ/mol H2O, respectively. A time resolution better than 1 ms ismore » demonstrated, allowing for the deconvolution of at least two distinct surface reactions during TMA microdosing. It is further demonstrated that this method can provide the heat of reaction versus extent of reaction during each precursors half-reaction, thus providing even richer mechanistic information on the surface processes involved. The broad applicability of this novel calorimeter is demonstrated through excellent signal-to-noise ratios of less exothermic ALD half-reactions to produce TiO2 and MnO.« less

Chlorophyll degradation in aqueous mediums induced by light and UV-B irradiation: An UHPLC-ESI-MS study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrović, Sanja; Zvezdanović, Jelena; Marković, Dejan

2017-12-01

Irreversible chlorophyll degradation induced by continuous white light illumination and UV-B irradiation in the aqueous mediums (with 10%, 30% and 50% of methanol) was investigated using the ultrahigh liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detectors (UHPLC-DAD-ESIMS). The degradation was governed by energy input of photons: higher energy of UV-B irradiation induced faster chlorophyll degradation and accordingly faster products formation in comparison to the white light treatment. Main light- or/and UV-B-induced products of chlorophyll in the aqueous mediums were hydroxy-pheophytin a, pheophytin a and hydroxy-lactone-pheophytin a, accompanied with the corresponding epimers. Chlorophylls aggregation dominant in the aqueous medium with the highest methanol content (50%) play a protective role against the UV-B radiation and white light illumination.

LC-MS and MS/MS in the analysis of recombinant proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coulot, M.; Domon, B.; Grossenbacher, H.; Guenat, C.; Maerki, W.; Müller, D. R.; Richter, W. J.

1993-03-01

Applicability and performance of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) is demonstrated for protein analysis. ESIMS is applied in conjunction with on-line HPLC (LC-ESlMS) and direct tandem mass spectrometry (positive and negative ion mode ESlMS/MS) to the structural characterization of a recombinant protein (r-hirudin variant 1) and a congener phosphorylated at threonine 45 (RP-1).

Recovery of Muscle Strength After Intact Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair According to Preoperative Rotator Cuff Tear Size.

PubMed

Shin, Sang-Jin; Chung, Jaeyoon; Lee, Juyeob; Ko, Young-Won

2016-04-01

The recovery of muscle strength after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair based on the preoperative tear size has not yet been well described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recovery period of muscle strength by a serial assessment of isometric strength after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair based on the preoperative tear size. The hypothesis was that muscle strength in patients with small and medium tears would recover faster than that in those with large-to-massive tears. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. A total of 164 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included. Isometric strength in forward flexion (FF), internal rotation (IR), and external rotation (ER) was evaluated preoperatively and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans were assessed to evaluate the quality of the rotator cuff muscle, including fatty infiltration, occupation ratio, and tangent sign. Patient satisfaction as well as visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and Constant scores were assessed at every follow-up. Muscle strength demonstrated the slowest recovery in pain relief and the restoration of shoulder function. To reach the strength of the uninjured contralateral shoulder in all 3 planes of motion, recovery took 6 months in patients with small tears and 18 months in patients with medium tears. Patients with large-to-massive tears showed continuous improvement in strength up to 18 months; however, they did not reach the strength of the contralateral shoulder at final follow-up. At final follow-up, mean strength in FF, IR, and ER was 113.0%, 118.0%, and 112.6% of the contralateral shoulder in patients with small tears, respectively; 105.0%, 112.1%, and 102.6% in patients with medium tears, respectively; and 87.6%, 89.5%, and 85.2% in patients with large-to-massive tears, respectively. Muscle strength in any direction did not significantly correlate with

Orthogonal analytical methods for botanical standardization: Determination of green tea catechins by qNMR and LC-MS/MS

PubMed Central

Napolitano, José G.; Gödecke, Tanja; Lankin, David C.; Jaki, Birgit U.; McAlpine, James B.; Chen, Shao-Nong; Pauli, Guido F.

2013-01-01

The development of analytical methods for parallel characterization of multiple phytoconstituents is essential to advance the quality control of herbal products. While chemical standardization is commonly carried out by targeted analysis using gas or liquid chromatography-based methods, more universal approaches based on quantitative 1H NMR (qHNMR) measurements are being used increasingly in the multi-targeted assessment of these complex mixtures. The present study describes the development of a 1D qHNMR-based method for simultaneous identification and quantification of green tea constituents. This approach utilizes computer-assisted 1H iterative Full Spin Analysis (HiFSA) and enables rapid profiling of seven catechins in commercial green tea extracts. The qHNMR results were cross-validated against quantitative profiles obtained with an orthogonal LC-MS/MS method. The relative strengths and weaknesses of both approaches are discussed, with special emphasis on the role of identical reference standards in qualitative and quantitative analyses. PMID:23870106

Development of Airblast and Soil Strength Instrumentation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-02-01

and nushing on a small reservior of mercury. The bar jauge , contained within the probe along its axis, wou! have its sensitive end §orm -no 6 2 of the...Figure 44. Gauge Placement for Single trength (rc 3hocked-Mer ium Experiment:;. :2nd "’, w. grout medium. The acceleration of the soil strength , jauge

Soil-roots Strength Performance of Extensive Green Roof by Using Axonopus Compressus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusoff, N. A.; Ramli, M. N.; Chik, T. N. T.; Ahmad, H.; Abdullah, M. F.; Kasmin, H.; Embong, Z.

2016-07-01

Green roof technology has been proven to provide potential environmental benefits including improved building thermal performance, removal of air pollution and reduced storm water runoff. Installation of green roof also involved soil element usage as a plant growth medium which creates several interactions between both strands. This study was carried out to investigate the soil-roots strength performance of green roof at different construction period up to 4 months. Axonopus compressus (pearl grass) was planted in a ExE test plot with a designated suitable soil medium. Direct shear test was conducted for each plot to determine the soil shear strength according to different construction period. In addition, some basic geotechnical testing also been carried out. The results showed that the shear strength of soil sample increased over different construction period of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th month with average result 3.81 kPa, 5.55 kPa, 6.05 kPa and 6.48 kPa respectively. Shear strength of rooted soil samples was higher than the soil samples without roots (control sample). In conclusion, increment of soil-roots shear strength was due to root growth over the time. The soil-roots shear strength development of Axonopus compressus can be expressed in a linear equation as: y = 0.851x + 3.345, where y = shear stress and x = time.

Efficient in vitro propagation of Artemisia nilagirica var. nilagirica (Indian wormwood) and assessment of genetic fidelity of micropropagated plants.

PubMed

Shinde, Smita; Sebastian, Joseph Kadanthottu; Jain, Jyothi Ramesh; Hanamanthagouda, Manohar Shirugumbi; Murthy, Hosakatte Niranjana

2016-10-01

A reliable protocol has been established for in vitro propagation of Artemisia nilagirica var. nilagirica (Indian wormwood), a valuable medicinal plant from India. A highly proliferating organogenic callus was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5 µM IAA when nodal explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with various growth regulators. Further, highest regeneration frequency (83.3 %) of adventitious shoots was observed, when the callus was sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; 2.5 µM) along with 7.5 µM 2-isopentenyl adenine (2-iP). An optimal of 10.16 ± 2.24 shoots were regenerated on medium supplemented with 2.5 µM BAP + 7.5 µM 2-iP. Quarter strength MS medium supplemented with 10 µM IBA was effective for rooting of the shoots. Ex-vitro plants were normal and were established successfully. Cytological and molecular marker studies showed that regenerated plants showed genetic stability in micro-propagated plants.

General Unknown Screening by Ion Trap LC/MS/MS

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-01

Subtitle 5 . Report Date April 2010 General Unknown Screening by Ion Trap LC/MS/MS 6 . Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8... 5 Table 1: Analytical Data for Each of the...359 Compounds in the LC/MS/MS Library . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1 General Unknown ScreeninG by ion Trap lc/MS/MS INTrOduCTION The Federal Aviation

Some Enduring Issues of Cyberspace Technology: A Medium Theory Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gladney, George Albert

1996-01-01

Uses insights from medium theory to show how several issues arising from past communications revolutions apply to the potential impacts of cyberspace technology. Includes these issues: monopoly of knowledge and creation of information elites; threats to cultural stability and homogenization; and harnessing of epistemological strengths and…

High frequency plant regeneration from leaf derived callus of high Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol yielding Cannabis sativa L.

PubMed

Lata, Hemant; Chandra, Suman; Khan, Ikhlas A; Elsohly, Mahmoud A

2010-10-01

An efficient in vitro propagation protocol for rapidly producing Cannabis sativa plantlets from young leaf tissue was developed. Using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), high THC yielding elite female clone of a drug-type CANNABIS variety (MX) was screened and its vegetatively propagated clones were used for micropropagation. Calli were induced from leaf explant on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 µM) of indole- 3-acetic acid (IAA), indole- 3- butyric acid (IBA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D) in combination with 1.0 µM of thidiazuron (TDZ) for the production of callus. The optimum callus growth and maintenance was in 0.5 µM NAA plus 1.0 µM TDZ. The two-month-old calli were subcultured to MS media containing different concentrations of cytokinins (BAP, KN, TDZ). The rate of shoot induction and proliferation was highest in 0.5 µM TDZ. Of the various auxins (IAA, IBA, and NAA) tested, regenerated shoots rooted best on half strength MS medium (1/2 - MS) supplemented with 2.5 µM IBA. The rooted plantlets were successfully established in soil and grown to maturity with no gross variations in morphology and cannabinoids content at a survival rate of 95 % in the indoor growroom. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

The MR-TOF-MS isobar separator for the TITAN facility at TRIUMF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jesch, Christian; Dickel, Timo; Plaß, Wolfgang R.; Short, Devin; Ayet San Andres, Samuel; Dilling, Jens; Geissel, Hans; Greiner, Florian; Lang, Johannes; Leach, Kyle G.; Lippert, Wayne; Scheidenberger, Christoph; Yavor, Mikhail I.

2015-11-01

At TRIUMF's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear Science (TITAN) a multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS) will extend TITAN's capabilities and facilitate mass measurements and in-trap decay spectroscopy of exotic nuclei that so far have not been possible due to strong isobaric contamination. This MR-TOF-MS will also enable mass measurements of very short-lived nuclides (half-life > 1 ms) that are produced in very low quantities (a few detected ions overall). In order to allow the installation of an MR-TOF-MS in the restricted space on the platform, on which the TITAN facility is located, novel mass spectrometric methods have been developed. Transport, cooling and distribution of the ions inside the device is done using a buffer gas-filled RFQ-based ion beam switchyard. Mass selection is achieved using a dynamic retrapping technique after time-of-flight analysis in an electrostatic isochronous reflector system. Only due to the combination of these novel methods the realization of an MR-TOF-MS based isobar separator at TITAN has become possible. The device has been built, commissioned off-line and is currently under installation at TITAN.

In vitro propagation of Stevia rebaudina plants using multiple shoot culture.

PubMed

Nepovím, A; Vanek, T

1998-12-01

A multiple shoot culture was induced from nodal segments on MS medium containing half concentration of macroelements, 1% sucrose, and supplemented with NAA (0.01 mg/l). A bioreactor with hormone-free MS medium (300 ml) was inoculated with 1.5 g of the multiple shoot culture and cultivated for a month. The cultivating process of the multiple shoot culture in the bioreactor and the transfer into ex vitro conditions took about 8-9 weeks and produced approx. 600 new seedlings, that could be transferred from greenhouse to field conditions.

Tiger beetles pursue prey using a proportional control law with a delay of one half-stride.

PubMed

Haselsteiner, Andreas F; Gilbert, Cole; Wang, Z Jane

2014-06-06

Tiger beetles are fast diurnal predators capable of chasing prey under closed-loop visual guidance. We investigated this control system using statistical analyses of high-speed digital recordings of beetles chasing a moving prey dummy in a laboratory arena. Correlation analyses reveal that the beetle uses a proportional control law in which the angular position of the prey relative to the beetle's body axis drives the beetle's angular velocity with a delay of about 28 ms. The proportionality coefficient or system gain, 12 s(-1), is just below critical damping. Pursuit simulations using the derived control law predict angular orientation during pursuits with a residual error of about 7°. This is of the same order of magnitude as the oscillation imposed by the beetle's alternating tripod gait, which was not factored into the control law. The system delay of 28 ms equals a half-stride period, i.e. the time between the touch down of alternating tripods. Based on these results, we propose a physical interpretation of the observed control law: to turn towards its prey, the beetle on average exerts a sideways force proportional to the angular position of the prey measured a half-stride earlier.

Status of selected ion flow tube MS: accomplishments and challenges in breath analysis and other areas.

PubMed

Smith, David; Španěl, Patrik

2016-06-01

This article reflects our observations of recent accomplishments made using selected ion flow tube MS (SIFT-MS). Only brief descriptions are given of SIFT-MS as an analytical method and of the recent extensions to the underpinning analytical ion chemistry required to realize more robust analyses. The challenge of breath analysis is given special attention because, when achieved, it renders analysis of other air media relatively straightforward. Brief overviews are given of recent SIFT-MS breath analyses by leading research groups, noting the desirability of detection and quantification of single volatile biomarkers rather than reliance on statistical analyses, if breath analysis is to be accepted into clinical practice. A 'strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats' analysis of SIFT-MS is made, which should help to increase its utility for trace gas analysis.

Growth medium alterations improve in vitro cold storage of pear germplasm.

PubMed

Kovalchuk, I; Zhumagulova, Z; Turdiev, T; Reed, B M

2014-01-01

Development of new fruit cultivars is dependent on genetic resource collections such as those at the Pomological Garden of the Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture near Almaty, Kazakhstan. The pear germplasm collection of the Pomological Garden contains 615 cultivars and three species. In vitro cold storage of the collection would provide additional security to the field collection. This study was designed to improve medium-term in vitro storage of pear germplasm. Shoots of seven pear cultivars (Pyrus communis L.) were stored in plastic five-section bags at 4 degree C and a 10-h photoperiod (7 μmol/m2/s). Treatments included medium with four carbohydrate sources (3% sucrose, 2% or 3% mannitol, or 2% sucrose + 2% mannitol) with 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l IBA or without plant growth regulators (PGRs) and at three Murashige and Skoog (MS) nitrogen concentrations (100%, 50% or 25%). Pear shoots remained viable for 9 to 15 months without repropagation on the control MS medium with 3% sucrose without PGRs. There were significant impacts of cultivar and treatment on the duration of cold storage. Shoots of 'Mramornaya' remained viable (rating of ≥ 2) for 27 months with PGRs and 2% sucrose + 2% mannitol compared to 12 months for the PGR + 3% sucrose treatment. Talgarskaya Krasaviza stored for 18 months on 2% sucrose + 2% mannitol while all other treatments lasted only 6 to 9 months. Treatments with 0.5 or 1 mg/l abscisic acid (ABA) with 3% sucrose increased storage duration as did reducing the concentration of nitrogen in the medium to 25% without PGRs and with 3% sucrose.

The potential of combining ion trap/MS/MS and TOF/MS for identification of emerging contaminants

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ferrer, I.; Furlong, E.T.; Heine, C.E.; Thurman, E.M.

2002-01-01

The use of a method combining ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS) for identification of emerging contaminates was discussed. The two tools together complemented each other in sensitivity, fragmentation and accurate mass determination. Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS), in positive ion mode of operation, was used to separate and identify specific compounds. Diagnostic fragment ions were obtained for a polyethyleneglycol(PEG) homolog by ion trap MS/MS, and fragments were measured by TOF/MS. It was observed that the combined method gave an exact mass measurement that differed from the calculated mass.

The effect of water storage, elapsed time and contaminants on the bond strength and interfacial polymerization of a nanohybrid composite.

PubMed

Perriard, Jean; Lorente, Maria Cattani; Scherrer, Susanne; Belser, Urs C; Wiskott, H W Anselm

2009-12-01

To systematically characterize the effect of time lapse, water storage, and selected contaminants on the bond strength of a nanofilled dental composite. Half-dumbbell-shaped samples were fabricated out of light-polymerizing composite resin. To function as substrates they were aged for 30 days in water. Prior to bonding, the substrates' surfaces were subjected to the following treatments: 1) Removing a 0.2- to 0.4-mm layer using a fluted carbide bur; 2) grit blasting with 50 microm alumina particles; 3) etching with phosphoric acid gel; 4) grit blasting followed by etching; 5) blasting with tribochemical particles followed by silane application; 6) sanding with 400-grit paper, air aging of the adherent half-sample before bonding; 7) surface contamination with saliva; 8) surface contamination with blood. In each group (n = 30), freshly polymerized (except in group 6) adherent half-samples were bonded to the substrate half-samples by a layer of unfilled adhesive resin. Fifteen full dumbbell-shaped specimens were subjected to tensile testing after 1 h and 15 after 7 days water storage. In a positive control group, freshly cured half-samples were bonded shortly after fabrication. The tensile strength was analyzed using Weibull statistics and presented in terms of the material's characteristic strength and shape parameter. Fractographs of the two weakest and strongest samples of each group were produced. The surfaces were searched to locate hackle, wake hackle and the origin of the fracture. Surface roughness and time lapse increased the bond strength of the repaired specimens. All groups in which surface roughness was produced before bonding increased in repair strength. Post-bonding aging improved strength. Fractographs yielded interpretable data whenever larger surfaces of single phase bonding resin were present. 1) Roughening and etching an aged composite's surface prior to applying a coat of unfilled resin and the filled material increases repair bond strength by up

Prediction of reinforced concrete strength by ultrasonic velocities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabbağ, Nevbahar; Uyanık, Osman

2017-06-01

This study was aimed to determine the strength of the reinforced concrete and to reveal the reinforcement effect on the concrete strength by Ultrasonic P and S wave velocities. Studies were conducted with prepared 9 different concrete designs of showing low, medium and high strength features. 4 kinds of cubic samples which unreinforced and including 10, 14 or 20 mm diameter reinforcement were prepared for these designs. Studies were carried out on total 324 samples including 9 samples for each design of these 4 kinds. The prepared samples of these designs were subjected to water curing. On some days of the 90-day period, P and S wave measurements were repeated to reveal the changes in seismic velocities of samples depending on whether reinforced or unreinforced of samples and diameter of reinforcement. Besides, comparisons were done by performing uniaxial compressive strength test with crushing of 3 samples on 7th, 28th and 90th days. As a result of studies and evaluations, it was seen that values of seismic velocities and uniaxial compressive strength increased depending on reinforcement and diameter of reinforcement in low strength concretes. However, while the seismic velocities were not markedly affected from reinforcement or reinforcement diameter in high strength concrete, uniaxial compressive strength values were negatively affected.

Sintered composite medium and filter

DOEpatents

Bergman, Werner

1987-01-01

A particulate filter medium is formed of a sintered composite of 0.5 micron diameter quartz fibers and 2 micron diameter stainless steel fibers. A preferred composition is about 40 vol. % quartz and about 60 vol. % stainless steel fibers. The media is sintered at about 1100.degree. C. to bond the stainless steel fibers into a cage network which holds the quartz fibers. High filter efficiency and low flow resistance are provided by the smaller quartz fibers. High strength is provided by the stainless steel fibers. The resulting media has a high efficiency and low pressure drop similar to the standard HEPA media, with tensile strength at least four times greater, and a maximum operating temperature of about 550.degree. C. The invention also includes methods to form the composite media and a HEPA filter utilizing the composite media. The filter media can be used to filter particles in both liquids and gases.

Group II muscle afferents probably contribute to the medium latency soleus stretch reflex during walking in humans

PubMed Central

Grey, Michael J; Ladouceur, Michel; Andersen, Jacob B; Nielsen, Jens Bo; Sinkjær, Thomas

2001-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine which afferents contribute to the medium latency response of the soleus stretch reflex resulting from an unexpected perturbation during human walking. Fourteen healthy subjects walked on a treadmill at approximately 3.5 km h−1 with the left ankle attached to a portable stretching device. The soleus stretch reflex was elicited by applying small amplitude (∼8 deg) dorsiflexion perturbations 200 ms after heel contact. Short and medium latency responses were observed with latencies of 55 ± 5 and 78 ± 6 ms, respectively. The short latency response was velocity sensitive (P < 0.001), while the medium latency response was not (P = 0.725). Nerve cooling increased the delay of the medium latency component to a greater extent than that of the short latency component (P < 0.005). Ischaemia strongly decreased the short latency component (P = 0.004), whereas the medium latency component was unchanged (P = 0.437). Two hours after the ingestion of tizanidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist known to selectively depress the transmission in the group II afferent pathway, the medium latency reflex was strongly depressed (P = 0.007), whereas the short latency component was unchanged (P = 0.653). An ankle block with lidocaine hydrochloride was performed to suppress the cutaneous afferents of the foot and ankle. Neither the short (P = 0.453) nor medium (P = 0.310) latency reflexes were changed. Our results support the hypothesis that, during walking the medium latency component of the stretch reflex resulting from an unexpected perturbation is contributed to by group II muscle afferents. PMID:11483721

Identification of non-streptococcal organisms from human dental plaque grown on the Streptococcus-selective medium mitis-salivarius agar.

PubMed

Kim, Yeon-Hee; Lee, Si Young

2015-02-01

Mitis-salivarius (MS) agar has been used widely in microbial epidemiological studies because oral viridans streptococci can be selectively grown on this medium. Even though the previous findings reported the limited selecting power of MS agar for streptococcus strains, the identities of non-streptococcal strains from human oral samples which can grow on this medium are not clear yet. In this study, we identified non-streptococcal organisms grown on MS agar plates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Eighty bacterial colonies on MS plates were isolated from plaque samples, and bacterial identification was achieved with the rapid ID 32 Strep system and mini API reader. The bacterial colonies identified as non-streptococci by the API system were selected for further identification. The 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR and verified using DNA sequencing analysis for identification. Sequences were compared with those of reference organisms in the genome database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Among the 11 isolated non-streptococcal strains on MS plates, 3 strains were identified as Actinomyces naeslundii, 7 strains were identified as Actinomyces oris and 1 strain were identified as Actinomyces sp. using Blastn. In this study, we showed that some oral Actinomyces species can grow on Streptococcus-selective MS agar plates. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Discrimination of Four Marine Biofilm-Forming Bacteria by LC-MS Metabolomics and Influence of Culture Parameters.

PubMed

Favre, Laurie; Ortalo-Magné, Annick; Greff, Stéphane; Pérez, Thierry; Thomas, Olivier P; Martin, Jean-Charles; Culioli, Gérald

2017-05-05

Most marine bacteria can form biofilms, and they are the main components of biofilms observed on marine surfaces. Biofilms constitute a widespread life strategy, as growing in such structures offers many important biological benefits. The molecular compounds expressed in biofilms and, more generally, the metabolomes of marine bacteria remain poorly studied. In this context, a nontargeted LC-MS metabolomics approach of marine biofilm-forming bacterial strains was developed. Four marine bacteria, Persicivirga (Nonlabens) mediterranea TC4 and TC7, Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica TC8, and Shewanella sp. TC11, were used as model organisms. The main objective was to search for some strain-specific bacterial metabolites and to determine how culture parameters (culture medium, growth phase, and mode of culture) may affect the cellular metabolism of each strain and thus the global interstrain metabolic discrimination. LC-MS profiling and statistical partial least-squares discriminant analyses showed that the four strains could be differentiated at the species level whatever the medium, the growth phase, or the mode of culture (planktonic vs biofilm). A MS/MS molecular network was subsequently built and allowed the identification of putative bacterial biomarkers. TC8 was discriminated by a series of ornithine lipids, while the P. mediterranea strains produced hydroxylated ornithine and glycine lipids. Among the P. mediterranea strains, TC7 extracts were distinguished by the occurrence of diamine derivatives, such as putrescine amides.

Winter precipitation and snow accumulation drive the methane sink or source strength of Arctic tussock tundra.

PubMed

Blanc-Betes, Elena; Welker, Jeffrey M; Sturchio, Neil C; Chanton, Jeffrey P; Gonzalez-Meler, Miquel A

2016-08-01

Arctic winter precipitation is projected to increase with global warming, but some areas will experience decreases in snow accumulation. Although Arctic CH4 emissions may represent a significant climate forcing feedback, long-term impacts of changes in snow accumulation on CH4 fluxes remain uncertain. We measured ecosystem CH4 fluxes and soil CH4 and CO2 concentrations and (13) C composition to investigate the metabolic pathways and transport mechanisms driving moist acidic tundra CH4 flux over the growing season (Jun-Aug) after 18 years of experimental snow depth increases and decreases. Deeper snow increased soil wetness and warming, reducing soil %O2 levels and increasing thaw depth. Soil moisture, through changes in soil %O2 saturation, determined predominance of methanotrophy or methanogenesis, with soil temperature regulating the ecosystem CH4 sink or source strength. Reduced snow (RS) increased the fraction of oxidized CH4 (Fox) by 75-120% compared to Ambient, switching the system from a small source to a net CH4 sink (21 ± 2 and -31 ± 1 mg CH4  m(-2)  season(-1) at Ambient and RS). Deeper snow reduced Fox by 35-40% and 90-100% in medium- (MS) and high- (HS) snow additions relative to Ambient, contributing to increasing the CH4 source strength of moist acidic tundra (464 ± 15 and 3561 ± 97 mg CH4  m(-2)  season(-1) at MS and HS). Decreases in Fox with deeper snow were partly due to increases in plant-mediated CH4 transport associated with the expansion of tall graminoids. Deeper snow enhanced CH4 production within newly thawed soils, responding mainly to soil warming rather than to increases in acetate fermentation expected from thaw-induced increases in SOC availability. Our results suggest that increased winter precipitation will increase the CH4 source strength of Arctic tundra, but the resulting positive feedback on climate change will depend on the balance between areas with more or less snow accumulation than they are currently

Scattering of focused ultrasonic beams by cavities in a solid half-space.

PubMed

Rahni, Ehsan Kabiri; Hajzargarbashi, Talieh; Kundu, Tribikram

2012-08-01

The ultrasonic field generated by a point focused acoustic lens placed in a fluid medium adjacent to a solid half-space, containing one or more spherical cavities, is modeled. The semi-analytical distributed point source method (DPSM) is followed for the modeling. This technique properly takes into account the interaction effect between the cavities placed in the focused ultrasonic field, fluid-solid interface and the lens surface. The approximate analytical solution that is available in the literature for the single cavity geometry is very restrictive and cannot handle multiple cavity problems. Finite element solutions for such problems are also prohibitively time consuming at high frequencies. Solution of this problem is necessary to predict when two cavities placed in close proximity inside a solid can be distinguished by an acoustic lens placed outside the solid medium and when such distinction is not possible.

Calcite-forming bacteria for compressive strength improvement in mortar.

PubMed

Park, Sung-Jin; Park, Yu-Mi; Chun, Woo-Young; Kim, Wha-Jung; Ghim, Sa-Youl

2010-04-01

Microbiological calcium carbonate precipitation (MCP) has been investigated for its ability to improve the compressive strength of concrete mortar. However, very few studies have been conducted on the use of calcite-forming bacteria (CFB) to improve compressive strength. In this study, we discovered new bacterial genera that are capable of improving the compressive strength of concrete mortar. We isolated 4 CFB from 7 environmental concrete structures. Using sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA genes, the CFB could be partially identified as Sporosarcina soli KNUC401, Bacillus massiliensis KNUC402, Arthrobacter crystallopoietes KNUC403, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis KNUC404. Crystal aggregates were apparent in the bacterial colonies grown on an agar medium. Stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analyses illustrated both the crystal growth and the crystalline structure of the CaCO3 crystals. We used the isolates to improve the compressive strength of concrete mortar cubes and found that KNUC403 offered the best improvement in compressive strength.

All half-lives are wrong, but some half-lives are useful.

PubMed

Wright, J G; Boddy, A V

2001-01-01

The half-life of a drug, which expresses a change in concentration in units of time, is perhaps the most easily understood pharmacokinetic parameter and provides a succinct description of many concentration-time profiles. The calculation of a half-life implies a linear, first-order, time-invariant process. No drug perfectly obeys such assumptions, although in practise this is often a valid approximation and provides invaluable quantitative information. Nevertheless, the physiological processes underlying half-life should not be forgotten. The concept of clearance facilitates the interpretation of factors affecting drug elimination, such as enzyme inhibition or renal impairment. Relating clearance to the observed concentration-time profile is not as naturally intuitive as is the case with half-life. As such, these 2 approaches to parameterising a linear pharmacokinetic model should be viewed as complementary rather than alternatives. The interpretation of pharmacokinetic parameters when there are multiple disposition phases is more challenging. Indeed, in any pharmacokinetic model, the half-lives are only one component of the parameters required to specify the concentration-time profile. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic parameters are of little use without a dose history. Other factors influencing the relevance of each disposition phase to clinical end-points must also be considered. In summarising the pharmacokinetics of a drug, statistical aspects of the estimation of a half-life are often overlooked. Half-lives are rarely reported with confidence intervals or measures of variability in the population, and some approaches to this problem are suggested. Half-life is an important summary statistic in pharmacokinetics, but care must be taken to employ it appropriately in the context of dose history and clinically relevant pharmacodynamic end-points.

PER3 VNTR polymorphism in Multiple Sclerosis: A new insight to impact of sleep disturbances in MS.

PubMed

Golalipour, Masoud; Maleki, Zahra; Farazmandfar, Touraj; Shahbazi, Majid

2017-10-01

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease of central nervous system caused by an immune response against the myelin. About half of MS patients suffers from sleep disturbances. The circadian clock genes such as PER3 controls circadian rhythm and sleep. Due to the role of PER3 in sleep disturbances and regulation of immune response, it is possible that PER3 dysregulation increase risk of MS disease. Study groups included 160 MS patients and 160 healthy volunteers. PER3 VNTR polymorphism was evaluated by PCR method. The genotypic and allelic distribution analyzed by chi square test. There was a significant association between genotype PER3 4/4 , and 4-repeat allele with MS disease (p = 0.014 and p < 0.001 respectively). The association analysis of PER3 VNTR polymorphism with gender status among MS group, and MS onset showed that there was a significant correlation between PER3 4/4 genotype with female gender and early onset of MS disease (p = 0.033 and p = 0.028 respectively). Our data suggest that, PER3 4/4 genotype may accelerate the course of disease in MS susceptible individuals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of acrylamide by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS in processed Japanese foods.

PubMed

Ono, H; Chuda, Y; Ohnishi-Kameyama, M; Yada, H; Ishizaka, M; Kobayashi, H; Yoshida, M

2003-03-01

Acrylamide concentrations in processed foods (63 samples covering 31 product types) from Japan were analysed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS methods. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of acrylamide were 0.2 ng x ml(-1) (6 fmol) and 0.8 ng x ml(-1) (22 fmol), respectively, by LC-MS/MS, and those of 2,3-dibromopropionamide derived from acrylamide were 12 ng x ml(-1) (52 fmol) and 40 ng x ml(-1) (170 fmol), respectively, by GC-MS. Repeatability given as RSD was <5 and <15% for the LC-MS/MS and GC-MS methods, respectively. High correlation (r(2) - 0.946) was observed between values obtained by the two methods. Most potato crisps and whole potato-based fried snacks showed acrylamide concentrations >1000 microg x kg(-1). The concentrations in non-whole potato-based snacks, rice crackers processed by grilling or frying, and candied sweet potatoes were lower compared with those in the potato crisps and the whole potato-based fried snacks. One of the whole potato-based fried snacks, however, showed low acrylamide concentration (<50 microg x kg(-1)) suggesting the formation of acrylamide is strongly influenced by processing conditions. Acrylamide concentrations in instant precooked noodles and won-tons were <100 microg x kg(-1) with only one exception. Roasted barley grains for 'Mugi-cha' tea contained 200-600 microg x kg(-1) acrylamide.

ISS Expedition E53-54 Soyuz MS-06 Rollout to the Launch Pad

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-09-10

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Soyuz MS-06 spacecraft and its Soyuz booster were transported from the Integration Facility to the launch pad on a railcar Sept. 10 for final preparations before launch Sept. 13 to the International Space Station. The Soyuz MS-06 will carry Expedition 53-54 Soyuz Commander Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos and flight engineers Mark Vande Hei and Joe Acaba of NASA to the orbital complex for a five-and-a-half month mission. Also included are interviews at the launch pad with Joe Montalbano, Deputy ISS Program Manager and Sean Fuller, Director of Human Spaceflight Programs in Russia following the rocket's rollout.

In-Situ Characterization of Deformation and Fracture Behavior of Hot-Rolled Medium Manganese Lightweight Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Zheng-zhi; Cao, Rong-hua; Liang, Ju-hua; Li, Feng; Li, Cheng; Yang, Shu-feng

2018-02-01

The deformation and fracture behavior of hot-rolled medium manganese lightweight (0.32C-3.85Mn-4.18Al-1.53Si) steel was revealed by an in situ tensile test. Deformed δ-ferrite with plenty of cross-parallel deformation bands during in situ tensile tests provides δ-ferrite of good plasticity and ductility, although it is finally featured by the cleavage fracture. The soft and ductile δ-ferrite and high-volume fraction of austenite contribute to the superior mechanical properties of medium manganese lightweight steel heated at 800°C, with a tensile strength of 924 MPa, total elongation of 35.2% and product of the strength and elongation of 32.5 GPa %.

Monitoring sea lamprey pheromones and their degradation using rapid stream-side extraction coupled with UPLC-MS/MS

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wang, Huiyong; Johnson, Nicholas; Bernardy, Jeffrey; Hubert, Terry; Li, Weiming

2013-01-01

Pheromones guide adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) to suitable spawning streams and mates, and therefore, when quantified, can be used to assess population size and guide management. Here, we present an efficient sample preparation method where 100 mL of river water was spiked with deuterated pheromone as an internal standard and underwent rapid field-based SPE and elution in the field. The combination of field extraction with laboratory UPLC-MS/MS reduced the sample consumption from 1 to 0.1 L, decreased the sample process time from more than 1 h to 10 min, and increased the precision and accuracy. The sensitivity was improved more than one order of magnitude compared with the previous method. The influences of experimental conditions were assessed to optimize the separation and peak shapes. The analytical method has been validated by studies of stability, selectivity, precision, and linearity and by the determination of the limits of detection and quantification. The method was used to quantify pheromone concentration from five streams tributary to Lake Ontario and to estimate that the environmental half-life of 3kPZS is about 26 h.

LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and their analogues in foods and dietary supplements in Korea.

PubMed

Jeong, Ji Hye; Lee, Ji Hyun; Kim, Hyung Joo; Park, Hyoung Joon; Hwang, In Sun; Han, Kyoung Moon; Yoon, Chang-Yong; Cho, Sooyeul; Kim, Woo Seong

2016-01-01

A number of 188 food and dietary supplement samples were collected from 2009 to the first half of 2013 in Korean online and offline stores. A method to identify phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors and their analogues using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was validated. Limit of detection and limit of quantitation of liquid-type and solid-type negative samples ranged from 0.05 to 3.33 ng/mL or ng/g and from 0.15 to 10.00 ng/mL or ng/g, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 83% to 112%. Nineteen PDE-5 inhibitors and their analogues were detected, with tadalafil group compounds being the most frequently observed (53.0%), followed by the sildenafil group (42.5%). Tadalafil concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 138.69 mg/g. Compounds were most frequently detected in capsules (in 40 of 80 adulterated samples). To protect public health and food safety, appropriate monitoring of PDE-5 inhibitors and their analogues in foods and dietary supplements is recommended.

Applying Strengths Model principles to build a rural community-based mental health support service and achieve recovery outcomes.

PubMed

Dunstan, Debra; Anderson, Donnah

2018-02-01

The Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) service is a non-clinical, community-based Australian Government initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for recovery for people whose lives are severely affected by mental illness. Using a strengths-based recovery model, PHaMs caseworkers support and mentor people 'at risk of falling through the gaps' between state funded clinical treatment services and federally funded social services (such as supported housing, education and employment). While there is evidence that PHaMs realises its aim in metropolitan areas, little is known about how services are developed and function in low resource rural settings and what outcomes are achieved. These questions were addressed in a case study of a PHaMs service in a rural town in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Data were collected from two sources: local service documents prepared for staff orientation and operational purposes, and records and reports of service participants\\' performance and achievements. Participants\\' gains in wellbeing, recovery goals, and the target outcome areas of increased access to services, increased personal capacity and self-reliance, and increased community participation, were gathered from self-reports. The Role Functioning Scale was used as a measure of caseworker ratings of participants\\' adaptive functioning. The qualitative data were examined for semantic content and underlying themes. The quantitative analyses involved repeated measures and between-groups comparisons of uncontrolled pre-test–post-test and retrospective pre-test data. From commencement of the service in October 2009 to June 2014, an estimated 31% of the people living with severe mental illness in the local government area had accessed the PHaMs service (N=126; mean age 31.9 years; 42% male, 27% Aboriginal). The document analysis revealed that despite a lack of detail on how a PHaMs service should be developed or delivered, by focusing on the goal of

Comparison of matrix effects in HPLC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS analysis of nine basic pharmaceuticals in surface waters.

PubMed

Van De Steene, Jet C; Lambert, Willy E

2008-05-01

When developing an LC-MS/MS-method matrix effects are a major issue. The effect of co-eluting compounds arising from the matrix can result in signal enhancement or suppression. During method development much attention should be paid to diminishing matrix effects as much as possible. The present work evaluates matrix effects from aqueous environmental samples in the simultaneous analysis of a group of 9 specific pharmaceuticals with HPLC-ESI/MS/MS and UPLC-ESI/MS/MS: flubendazole, propiconazole, pipamperone, cinnarizine, ketoconazole, miconazole, rabeprazole, itraconazole and domperidone. When HPLC-MS/MS is used, matrix effects are substantial and can not be compensated for with analogue internal standards. For different surface water samples different matrix effects are found. For accurate quantification the standard addition approach is necessary. Due to the better resolution and more narrow peaks in UPLC, analytes will co-elute less with interferences during ionisation, so matrix effects could be lower, or even eliminated. If matrix effects are eliminated with this technique, the standard addition method for quantification can be omitted and the overall method will be simplified. Results show that matrix effects are almost eliminated if internal standards (structural analogues) are used. Instead of the time-consuming and labour-intensive standard addition method, with UPLC the internal standardization can be used for quantification and the overall method is substantially simplified.

Influence of strength training intensity on subsequent recovery in elderly.

PubMed

Orssatto, L B R; Moura, B M; Bezerra, E S; Andersen, L L; Oliveira, S N; Diefenthaeler, F

2018-06-01

Understanding the influence of strength training intensity on subsequent recovery in elderly is important to avoid reductions in physical function during the days following training. Twenty-two elderly were randomized in two groups: G70 (65.9 ± 4.8 years, n = 11) and G95 (66.9 ± 5.1, n = 11). Baseline tests included maximum voluntary isometric contraction (peak torque and rate of torque development - RTD), countermovement jump, and functional capacity (timed up and go, stairs ascent and descent). Then, both groups performed a single strength training session with intensities of 70% (G70) or 95% (G95) of five repetition maximum. The same tests were repeated immediately, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after the session. Peak torque was lower than baseline immediately after for both groups and at 24 h for G95. Compared with G70, G95 had lower peak torque at 24 h and 48 h. Countermovement jump, timed up and go, stairs ascent, and RTD at 0-50 ms only differed from baseline immediately after for both groups. RTD at 0-200 ms was lower than baseline immediately after and 24 h after the session for both groups. In conclusion, reduced physical function immediately after strength training can last for 1-2 days in elderly depending on the type of physical function and intensity of training. Higher intensity resulted in greater impairment. Exercise prescription in elderly should take this into account, e.g., by gradually increasing intensity during the first months of strength training. These results have relevance for elderly who have to be fit for work or other activities in the days following strength training. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interface crack in a nonhomogeneous elastic medium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delale, F.; Erdogan, F.

1988-01-01

The linear elasticity problem for an interface crack between two bonded half planes is reconsidered. It is assumed that one of the half planes is homogeneous and the second is nonhomogeneous in such a way that the elastic properties are continuous throughout the plane and have discontinuous derivatives along the interface. The problem is formulated in terms of a system of integral equations and the asymptotic behavior of the stress state near the crack tip is determined. The results lead to the conclusion that the singular behavior of stresses in the nonhomogeneous medium is identical to that in a homogeneous material provided the spacial distribution of material properties is continuous near and at the crack tip. The problem is solved for various values of the nonhomogeneity parameter and for four different sets of crack surface tractions, and the corresponding stress intensity factors are tabulated.

Spectroscopy of 50Sc and ab initio calculations of B (M 3 ) strengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garnsworthy, A. B.; Bowry, M.; Olaizola, B.; Holt, J. D.; Stroberg, S. R.; Cruz, S.; Georges, S.; Hackman, G.; MacLean, A. D.; Measures, J.; Patel, H. P.; Pearson, C. J.; Svensson, C. E.

2017-10-01

The GRIFFIN spectrometer at TRIUMF-ISAC has been used to study excited states and transitions in 50Sc following the β decay of 50Ca. Branching ratios were determined from the measured γ -ray intensities, and angular correlations of γ rays have been used to firmly assign the spins of excited states. The presence of an isomeric state that decays by an M 3 transition with a B (M 3 ) strength of 13.6(7) W.u. has been confirmed. We compare the first ab initio calculations of B (M 3 ) strengths in light- and medium-mass nuclei from the valence-space in-medium similarity renormalization group approach, using consistently derived effective Hamiltonians and effective M 3 operator. The experimental data are well reproduced for isoscalar M 3 transitions when using bare g factors, but the strength of isovector M 3 transitions are found to be underestimated by an order of magnitude.

Overlapping MALDI-Mass Spectrometry Imaging for In-Parallel MS and MS/MS Data Acquisition without Sacrificing Spatial Resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, Rebecca L.; Lee, Young Jin

2017-09-01

Metabolomics experiments require chemical identifications, often through MS/MS analysis. In mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), this necessitates running several serial tissue sections or using a multiplex data acquisition method. We have previously developed a multiplex MSI method to obtain MS and MS/MS data in a single experiment to acquire more chemical information in less data acquisition time. In this method, each raster step is composed of several spiral steps and each spiral step is used for a separate scan event (e.g., MS or MS/MS). One main limitation of this method is the loss of spatial resolution as the number of spiral steps increases, limiting its applicability for high-spatial resolution MSI. In this work, we demonstrate multiplex MS imaging is possible without sacrificing spatial resolution by the use of overlapping spiral steps, instead of spatially separated spiral steps as used in the previous work. Significant amounts of matrix and analytes are still left after multiple spectral acquisitions, especially with nanoparticle matrices, so that high quality MS and MS/MS data can be obtained on virtually the same tissue spot. This method was then applied to visualize metabolites and acquire their MS/MS spectra in maize leaf cross-sections at 10 μm spatial resolution. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

X-Ray Gas Temperatures in the Arc Clusters MS0440+204 and MS0302+1658

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gioia, Isabella M.; White, Nicholas

1997-01-01

The cluster of galaxies MS0440+02, originally discovered through its X-ray emission, was part of an optical observational program to search for arcs and arclets in a complete sample of X-ray luminous, medium-distant clusters of galaxies. Mauna Kea CCD images of MS0440+02 showed a remarkable optical morphology. The core of the cluster contains 6 bright galaxies and numerous fainter ones embedded in a low surface brightness halo. Besides, MS0440+02 is the most spectacular example that we have found of an arc system in a compact condensed cluster, with arcs symmetrically distributed to draw almost perfect circles around the cluster center. Giant arcs are magnified images of distant galaxies, gravitationally distorted by massive foreground clusters. It is of great importance to compare the results of the lensing studies with those derived from X-ray observations, as the two are independent methods of studying the mass distribution. Thus MS0440+02 was the ideal target to obtain temperature measurement with ASCA and good spatial resolution X-ray observations with ROSAT. The X-ray data have been used in conjunction with Hubble Space Telescope observations to put more stringent constrains on the mass estimates. Most of the different wavelength datasets have been reduced and analyzed. Mass determinations have been separately obtained from galaxy virial motions and X-ray profile fitting using the cluster gas temperature as measured by the ASCA satellite. Assuming that the hot gas is in hydrostatic equilibrium and in a spherical potential, we find from the X-ray data a mass distribution profile that is well described by a Beta model. From the multiple images formed by gravitational lensing (HST data) using the modelling of the gravitational lensed arcs, we have derived Beta model. To reconcile the mass estimates we have explored the possibility of having a supercluster surrounding the MOS0440 cluster, that is a model with two isothermal spheres, one embedded inside the other

40 CFR 122.33 - If I am an operator of a regulated small MS4, how do I apply for an NPDES permit and when do I...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... information that your NPDES permitting authority requests. A storm sewer map that satisfies the requirement of... area as a medium or large MS4 with an NPDES storm water permit and that other MS4 is willing to have you participate in its storm water program, you and the other MS4 may jointly seek a modification of...

40 CFR 122.33 - If I am an operator of a regulated small MS4, how do I apply for an NPDES permit and when do I...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... information that your NPDES permitting authority requests. A storm sewer map that satisfies the requirement of... area as a medium or large MS4 with an NPDES storm water permit and that other MS4 is willing to have you participate in its storm water program, you and the other MS4 may jointly seek a modification of...

40 CFR 122.33 - If I am an operator of a regulated small MS4, how do I apply for an NPDES permit and when do I...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... information that your NPDES permitting authority requests. A storm sewer map that satisfies the requirement of... area as a medium or large MS4 with an NPDES storm water permit and that other MS4 is willing to have you participate in its storm water program, you and the other MS4 may jointly seek a modification of...

40 CFR 122.33 - If I am an operator of a regulated small MS4, how do I apply for an NPDES permit and when do I...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... information that your NPDES permitting authority requests. A storm sewer map that satisfies the requirement of... area as a medium or large MS4 with an NPDES storm water permit and that other MS4 is willing to have you participate in its storm water program, you and the other MS4 may jointly seek a modification of...

40 CFR 122.33 - If I am an operator of a regulated small MS4, how do I apply for an NPDES permit and when do I...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... information that your NPDES permitting authority requests. A storm sewer map that satisfies the requirement of... area as a medium or large MS4 with an NPDES storm water permit and that other MS4 is willing to have you participate in its storm water program, you and the other MS4 may jointly seek a modification of...

The Effect of SnCl2/AmF Pretreatment on Short- and Long-Term Bond Strength to Eroded Dentin

PubMed Central

Zumstein, Katrin; Peutzfeldt, Anne; Lussi, Adrian

2018-01-01

This study investigated the effect of SnCl2/AmF pretreatment on short- and long-term bond strength of resin composite to eroded dentin mediated by two self-etch, MDP-containing adhesive systems. 184 dentin specimens were produced from extracted human molars. Half the specimens (n = 92) were artificially eroded, and half were left untreated. For both substrates, half the specimens were pretreated with SnCl2/AmF, and half were left untreated. The specimens were treated with Clearfil SE Bond or Scotchbond Universal prior to application of resin composite. Microtensile bond strength (μTBS) was measured after 24 h or 1 year. Failure mode was detected and EDX was performed. μTBS results were statistically analyzed (α = 0.05). μTBS was significantly influenced by the dentin substrate (eroded < noneroded dentin) and storage time (24 h > 1 year; p < 0.0001) but not by pretreatment with SnCl2/AmF or adhesive system. The predominant failure mode was adhesive failure at the dentin-adhesive interface. The content of Sn was generally below detection limit. Pretreatment with SnCl2/AmF did not influence short- and long-term bond strength to eroded dentin. Bond strength was reduced after storage for one year, was lower to eroded dentin than to noneroded dentin, and was similar for the two adhesive systems.

LC-MS/MS imaging with thermal film-based laser microdissection.

PubMed

Oya, Michiko; Suzuki, Hiromi; Anas, Andrea Roxanne J; Oishi, Koichi; Ono, Kenji; Yamaguchi, Shun; Eguchi, Megumi; Sawada, Makoto

2018-01-01

Mass spectrometry (MS) imaging is a useful tool for direct and simultaneous visualization of specific molecules. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is used to evaluate the abundance of molecules in tissues using sample homogenates. To date, however, LC-MS/MS has not been utilized as an imaging tool because spatial information is lost during sample preparation. Here we report a new approach for LC-MS/MS imaging using a thermal film-based laser microdissection (LMD) technique. To isolate tissue spots, our LMD system uses a 808-nm near infrared laser, the diameter of which can be freely changed from 2.7 to 500 μm; for imaging purposes in this study, the diameter was fixed at 40 μm, allowing acquisition of LC-MS/MS images at a 40-μm resolution. The isolated spots are arranged on a thermal film at 4.5-mm intervals, corresponding to the well spacing on a 384-well plate. Each tissue spot is handled on the film in such a manner as to maintain its spatial information, allowing it to be extracted separately in its individual well. Using analytical LC-MS/MS in combination with the spatial information of each sample, we can reconstruct LC-MS/MS images. With this imaging technique, we successfully obtained the distributions of pilocarpine, glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine, and choline in a cross-section of mouse hippocampus. The protocol we established in this study is applicable to revealing the neurochemistry of pilocarpine model of epilepsy. Our system has a wide range of uses in fields such as biology, pharmacology, pathology, and neuroscience. Graphical abstract Schematic Indication of LMD-LC-MS/MS imaging.

Tiger beetles pursue prey using a proportional control law with a delay of one half-stride

PubMed Central

Haselsteiner, Andreas F.; Gilbert, Cole; Wang, Z. Jane

2014-01-01

Tiger beetles are fast diurnal predators capable of chasing prey under closed-loop visual guidance. We investigated this control system using statistical analyses of high-speed digital recordings of beetles chasing a moving prey dummy in a laboratory arena. Correlation analyses reveal that the beetle uses a proportional control law in which the angular position of the prey relative to the beetle's body axis drives the beetle's angular velocity with a delay of about 28 ms. The proportionality coefficient or system gain, 12 s−1, is just below critical damping. Pursuit simulations using the derived control law predict angular orientation during pursuits with a residual error of about 7°. This is of the same order of magnitude as the oscillation imposed by the beetle's alternating tripod gait, which was not factored into the control law. The system delay of 28 ms equals a half-stride period, i.e. the time between the touch down of alternating tripods. Based on these results, we propose a physical interpretation of the observed control law: to turn towards its prey, the beetle on average exerts a sideways force proportional to the angular position of the prey measured a half-stride earlier. PMID:24718454

Development of a versatile high-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization device for small-scale processing of cell culture medium formulations.

PubMed

Floris, Patrick; Curtin, Sean; Kaisermayer, Christian; Lindeberg, Anna; Bones, Jonathan

2018-07-01

The compatibility of CHO cell culture medium formulations with all stages of the bioprocess must be evaluated through small-scale studies prior to scale-up for commercial manufacturing operations. Here, we describe the development of a bespoke small-scale device for assessing the compatibility of culture media with a widely implemented upstream viral clearance strategy, high-temperature short-time (HTST) treatment. The thermal stability of undefined medium formulations supplemented with soy hydrolysates was evaluated upon variations in critical HTST processing parameters, namely, holding times and temperatures. Prolonged holding times of 43 s at temperatures of 110 °C did not adversely impact medium quality while significant degradation was observed upon treatment at elevated temperatures (200 °C) for shorter time periods (11 s). The performance of the device was benchmarked against a commercially available mini-pilot HTST system upon treatment of identical formulations on both platforms. Processed medium samples were analyzed by untargeted LC-MS/MS for compositional profiling followed by chemometric evaluation, which confirmed the observed degradation effects caused by elevated holding temperatures but revealed comparable performance of our developed device with the commercial mini-pilot setup. The developed device can assist medium optimization activities by reducing volume requirements relative to commercially available mini-pilot instrumentation and by facilitating fast throughput evaluation of heat-induced effects on multiple medium lots.

Influence of Explant Position on Growth of Talinum paniculatum Gaertn. Adventitious Root in Solid Medium and Enhance Production Biomass in Balloon Type Bubble Bioreactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solim, M. H.; Kristanti, A. N.; Manuhara, Y. S. W.

2017-03-01

Talinum paniculatum Gaertn. is one of traditional medicinal plant in Indonesia as an aphrodisiac. This plant has various compounds which is accumulated in roots. In vitro culture of this plant can enhance production of adventitious roots. The aim of this research was to know the influence of explants position on growth of T. paniculatum Gaertn. adventitious root in MS solid medium and enhance the production of biomass in balloon type bubble bioreactor. Explants from leaf were cultured at abaxial and adaxial positions in solid MS medium supplemented with IBA 2 mgL-1. Adventitious roots were cultured in bioreactor with various treatments (without IBA, supplemented with IBA 2 mgL-1 and supplemented with IBA 2 mgL-1 + buffer NaHCO3). Result showed that the main growth of abaxial root was higher than adaxial, however, the total of adaxial root branch was higher than abaxial. The highest biomass production of adventitious root cultured was achieved by MS medium supplemented with IBA 2 mgL-1 + buffer NaHCO3. This treatment has produced fresh biomass two fold of initial inoculum.

Development and validation of sensitive LC/MS/MS method for quantitative bioanalysis of levonorgestrel in rat plasma and application to pharmacokinetics study.

PubMed

Ananthula, Suryatheja; Janagam, Dileep R; Jamalapuram, Seshulatha; Johnson, James R; Mandrell, Timothy D; Lowe, Tao L

2015-10-15

Rapid, sensitive, selective and accurate LC/MS/MS method was developed for quantitative determination of levonorgestrel (LNG) in rat plasma and further validated for specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, matrix effect, recovery efficiency and stability. Liquid-liquid extraction procedure using hexane:ethyl acetate mixture at 80:20 v:v ratio was employed to efficiently extract LNG from rat plasma. Reversed phase Luna column C18(2) (50×2.0mm i.d., 3μM) installed on a AB SCIEX Triple Quad™ 4500 LC/MS/MS system was used to perform chromatographic separation. LNG was identified within 2min with high specificity. Linear calibration curve was drawn within 0.5-50ng·mL(-1) concentration range. The developed method was validated for intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision whose values fell in the acceptable limits. Matrix effect was found to be minimal. Recovery efficiency at three quality control (QC) concentrations 0.5 (low), 5 (medium) and 50 (high) ng·mL(-1) was found to be >90%. Stability of LNG at various stages of experiment including storage, extraction and analysis was evaluated using QC samples, and the results showed that LNG was stable at all the conditions. This validated method was successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics of LNG in rats after SubQ injection, providing its applicability in relevant preclinical studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimization of submerged fermentation medium for citrinin-free monascin production by Monascus.

PubMed

Chen, Di; Xue, Yuan; Chen, Mianhua; Li, Zhenjing; Wang, Changlu

2016-11-16

Microbial fermentation of citrinin-free Monascus pigments is in favor in the development of food industry. This study investigated the influences of carbon source, nitrogen source, and mineral salts on the cell growth, monascin (MS), and citrinin (CT) production in Monascus M9. A culture medium composition was established for maximizing the production of citrinin-free MS in submerged culture, as follows: 50 g/L Japonica rice powder, 20 g/L NH 4 NO 3 , 3 g/L NaNO 3 , 1.5 g/L KH 2 PO 4 , 1 g/L MgSO 4  · 7H 2 O, 0.2 g/L MnSO 4 . Under these conditions, no CT was detectable by high performance liquid chromatography. The yield of MS reached 14.11 mg/g, improving approximately 30% compared with before optimization.

Effects of In-Season Explosive Strength Training on Maximal Leg Strength, Jumping, Sprinting, and Intermittent Aerobic Performance in Male Handball Athletes.

PubMed

Hermassi, Souhail; Chelly, Mohamed Souhaiel; Fieseler, Georg; Bartels, Thomas; Schulze, Stephan; Delank, Karl-Stefan; Shephard, Roy J; Schwesig, René

2017-09-01

Background  Team handball is an intense ball sport with specific requirements on technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical performance. The ability of handball players to develop explosive efforts (e. g. sprinting, jumping, changing direction) is crucial to success. Objective  The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of an in-season high-intensity strength training program on the physical performance of elite handball players. Materials and methods  Twenty-two handball players (a single national-level Tunisian team) were randomly assigned to a control group (CG; n = 10) or a training group (TG; n = 12). At the beginning of the pilot study, all subjects performed a battery of motor tests: one repetition maximum (1-RM) half-squat test, a repeated sprint test [6 × (2 × 15 m) shuttle sprints], squat jumps, counter movement jumps (CMJ), and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1. The TG additionally performed a maximal leg strength program twice a week for 10 weeks immediately before engaging in regular handball training. Each strength training session included half-squat exercises to strengthen the lower limbs (80 - 95 % of 1-RM, 1 - 3 repetitions, 3 - 6 sets, 3 - 4 min rest between sets). The control group underwent no additional strength training. The motor test battery was repeated at the end of the study interventions. Results  In the TG, 3 parameters (maximal strength of lower limb: η² = 0.74; CMJ: η² = 0.70, and RSA best time: η² = 0.25) showed significant improvements, with large effect sizes (e. g. CMJ: d = 3.77). A reduction in performance for these same 3 parameters was observed in the CG (d = -0.24). Conclusions  The results support our hypothesis that additional strength training twice a week enhances the maximal strength of the lower limbs and jumping or repeated sprinting performance. There was no evidence of shuttle sprints ahead of regular

Simulation of the Growth of Austenite from As-Quenched Martensite in Medium Mn Steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huyan, Fei; Yan, Jia-Yi; Höglund, Lars; Ågren, John; Borgenstam, Annika

2018-04-01

As part of an ongoing development of third-generation advanced high-strength steels with acceptable cost, austenite reversion treatment of medium Mn steels becomes attractive because it can give rise to a microstructure of fine mixture of ferrite and austenite, leading to both high strength and large elongation. The growth of austenite during intercritical annealing is crucial for the final properties, primarily because it determines the fraction, composition, and phase stability of austenite. In the present work, the growth of austenite from as-quenched lath martensite in medium Mn steels has been simulated using the DICTRA software package. Cementite is added into the simulations based on experimental observations. Two types of systems (cells) are used, representing, respectively, (1) austenite and cementite forming apart from each other, and (2) austenite forming on the cementite/martensite interface. An interfacial dissipation energy has also been added to take into account a finite interface mobility. The simulations using the first type of setup with an addition of interfacial dissipation energy are able to reproduce the observed austenite growth in medium Mn steels reasonably well.

The secretome of periodontal ligament stem cells from MS patients protects against EAE

PubMed Central

Rajan, Thangavelu Soundara; Giacoppo, Sabrina; Diomede, Francesca; Ballerini, Patrizia; Paolantonio, Michele; Marchisio, Marco; Piattelli, Adriano; Bramanti, Placido; Mazzon, Emanuela; Trubiani, Oriana

2016-01-01

Manipulation of stem cells or stem cells-derived secretome has emerged as a novel alternative therapeutic option for multiple sclerosis (MS). Here we show that human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs)-derived conditioned medium (hPDLSCs-CM) and purified exosomes/microvesicles (hPDLSCs-EMVs) obtained from Relapsing Remitting (RR)-MS patients and healthy donors block experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS, by inducing anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects in spinal cord and spleen, and reverse disease progression by restoring tissue integrity via remyelination in the spinal cord. We show that hPDLSCs-CM and hPDLSCs-EMVs reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and induce anti-inflammatory IL-10. In addition, apoptosis related STAT1, p53, Caspase 3, and Bax expressions were attenuated. Our findings unravel the immunosuppressive effects of hPDLSCs-CM and hPDLSCs-EMVs in EAE mice, and suggest simple alternative autologous source for patient-customized cell-free targeting treatment in MS patients. PMID:27924938

In Vitro Propagation of Cannabis sativa L. and Evaluation of Regenerated Plants for Genetic Fidelity and Cannabinoids Content for Quality Assurance.

PubMed

Lata, Hemant; Chandra, Suman; Khan, Ikhlas A; ElSohly, Mahmoud A

2016-01-01

Cannabis sativa L. (Marijuana; Cannabaceae), one of the oldest medicinal plants in the world, has been used throughout history for fiber, food, as well as for its psychoactive properties. The dioecious and allogamous nature of C. sativa is the major constraint to maintain the consistency in chemical profile and overall efficacy if grown from seed. Therefore, the present optimized in vitro propagation protocol of the selected elite germplasm via direct organogenesis and quality assurance protocols using genetic and chemical profiling provide an ideal pathway for ensuring the efficacy of micropropagated Cannabis sativa germplasm. A high frequency shoot organogenesis of C. sativa was obtained from nodal segments in 0.5 μM thidiazuron medium and 95 % in vitro rhizogenesis is obtained on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 500 mg/L activated charcoal and 2.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid. Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) are successfully used to monitor the genetic stability in micropropagated plants up to 30 passages in culture and hardened in soil for 8 months.

Dynamic calibration approach for determining catechins and gallic acid in green tea using LC-ESI/MS.

PubMed

Bedner, Mary; Duewer, David L

2011-08-15

Catechins and gallic acid are antioxidant constituents of Camellia sinensis, or green tea. Liquid chromatography with both ultraviolet (UV) absorbance and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI/MS) detection was used to determine catechins and gallic acid in three green tea matrix materials that are commonly used as dietary supplements. The results from both detection modes were evaluated with 14 quantitation models, all of which were based on the analyte response relative to an internal standard. Half of the models were static, where quantitation was achieved with calibration factors that were constant over an analysis set. The other half were dynamic, with calibration factors calculated from interpolated response factor data at each time a sample was injected to correct for potential variations in analyte response over time. For all analytes, the relatively nonselective UV responses were found to be very stable over time and independent of the calibrant concentration; comparable results with low variability were obtained regardless of the quantitation model used. Conversely, the highly selective MS responses were found to vary both with time and as a function of the calibrant concentration. A dynamic quantitation model based on polynomial data-fitting was used to reduce the variability in the quantitative results using the MS data.

A multi-matrix HILIC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of endogenous small molecule neurological biomarker N-acetyl aspartic acid (NAA).

PubMed

Sangaraju, Dewakar; Shahidi-Latham, Sheerin K; Burgess, Braydon L; Dean, Brian; Ding, Xiao

2017-06-05

A multi-matrix hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method (HILIC-MS/MS) was developed for the quantitation of N-Acetyl Aspartic acid (NAA) using stable isotope labeled internal standard, D3-NAA in various biological matrices such as human plasma, human CSF, mouse plasma, brain and spinal cord. A high throughput 96-well plate format supported liquid extraction (SLE) procedure was developed and used for sample preparation. Mass spectrometric analysis of NAA was performed using selected reaction monitoring transitions in positive electrospray ionization mode. As NAA is endogenously present, a surrogate matrix approach was used for quantitation of NAA and the method was qualified over linear calibration curve range of 0.01-10μg/mL. Intra and inter assay precision indicated by percent relative standard deviation (%RSD) was less than 7.1% for low, medium, medium high and high QCs. The accuracy of the method ranged from 92.6-107.0% of nominal concentration for within-run and between-run for the same QCs. Extraction recovery of NAA and D3-NAA was greater than 76%. Stability of NAA was established in the above biological matrices under bench top (RT, 5h), freeze thaw (-20±10°C, 3 cycles) and moues/human plasma sample collection (Wet ice, RT) conditions. HILIC-MS/MS method was then used to quantify and compare the NAA levels in human plasma and CSF of ALS patients versus control human subjects. NAA CSF levels in control human subjects (73.3±31.0ng/mL,N=10) were found to be slightly higher than ALS patients (46.1±22.6ng/mL, N=10) (P=0.04). No differences were observed in NAA plasma levels in human control subjects (49.7±13.8ng/mL,N=9) as compared to ALS patients (49.6±8.1ng/mL, N=10) (P=0.983). NAA endogenous concentrations in mouse plasma, brain and spinal cord were found to be 243.8±56.8ng/mL (N=6), 1029.8±115.2μg/g tissue weight (N=5) and 487.6±178.4μg/g tissue weight (N=5) respectively. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All

Validated UPLC/MS/MS assay for quantitative bioanalysis of elbasvir in rat plasma and application to pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Liu, Haiyan; Xu, Hongjiang; Song, Wei; Zhang, Yinsheng; Yu, Sen; Huang, Xin

2016-03-15

Rapid, sensitive, selective and accurate ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of elbasvir (ELB) in rat plasma with deuterated elbasvir (ELB-D6) as internal standard (IS).Sample preparation was done by protein precipitation using acetonitrile containing 50 ng/mL IS. Chromatographic separation was achieved by an UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (containing 5.0mM ammonium acetate with 0.01% acetic acid, pH 4.5) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min for 3 min. ELB was monitored using positive electrospray triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (Waters Xevo TQ-S) via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The monitored transitions were set at m/z 882.51→656.42 and m/z 888.49→662.43 for ELB and ELB-D6, respectively. The achieved lower limit of quantification was 1.0 ng/mL. The validated method had an excellent linearity in the range of 1.0-2000 ng/mL (r(2)>0.996). Recovery efficiency at three levels QC concentrations of 2.0 (low), 160 (medium) and 1600 (high) ng/mLwas in the range of 98.29-106.40% for ELB. Matrix effect was found to be minimal. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 7.01%. The intra- and inter-day accuracies were determined to be within ±6.23% for all accuracy measurements. The validated simple and rapid UPLC-MS/MS method was successfully used to the pharmacokinetics study of ELB in rats, providing its applicability in relevant preclinical studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Performance of VITEK® MS V3.0 for the Identification of Mycobacterium species from Patient Samples using Automated Liquid Media Systems.

PubMed

Miller, Eric; Cantrell, Christopher; Beard, Melodie; Derylak, Andrew; Babady, N Esther; McMillen, Tracy; Miranda, Edwin; Body, Barbara; Tang, Yi-Wei; Vasireddy, Ravikiran; Vasireddy, Sruthi; Smith, Terry; Iakhiaeva, Elena; Wallace, Richard J; Brown-Elliott, Barbara A; Moreno, Erik; Totty, Heather; Deol, Parampal

2018-06-06

The accuracy and robustness of the VITEK® MS V3.0 matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) system was evaluated by identifying mycobacteria from automated liquid media systems using patient samples. This is the first report demonstrating that proteins within the liquid media, its supplements, and decontamination reagents for non-sterile patient samples do not generate misidentification or false positive results when using the VITEK MS V3.0 system. Prior to testing with patient samples, a seeded study was conducted to challenge the accuracy of the VITEK MS to identify mycobacteria from liquid media through mimicking a clinical workflow. A total of 77 Mycobacterium strains representing 21 species, seeded in simulated sputum, were decontaminated and inoculated into BACT/ALERT®MP liquid culture medium, incubated until positivity, and identified using VITEK MS. A total of 383 liquid cultures were tested of which 379 (99%) identified correctly to the species/complex/group; four (1%) obtained a No Identification, and no misidentifications were observed. Following the simulated sputum study, a total of 73 smear-positive liquid medium cultures detected using BD BBL™ MGIT™ and VersaTREK® MYCO liquid media were identified by VITEK MS. Sixty-four (87.7%) correctly identified to the species/complex/group level; seven (9.6%) resulted as No Identification, and two (2.7%) misidentified at the species level. These results indicate the VITEK MS V3.0 is an accurate tool for routine diagnostics of Mycobacterium species isolated from liquid cultures. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Pediatric MS

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... Community at MSconnection.org Join a Local Support Group Peer Connections: One-on-One Edward M. Dowd ...

Determination of Scopolamine in Human Saliva Using Solid Phase Extraction and LC/MS/MS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Zuwei; Vaksman, Zalman; Boyd, Jason; Putcha, Lakshmi

2007-01-01

Purpose: Scopolamine is the preferred treatment for motion sickness during space flight because of its quick onset of action, short half-life and favorable side-effect profile. The dose administered depends on the mode of administration and usually ranges between 0.1 and 0.8 mg. Such small doses make it difficult to detect concentrations of scopolamine in biological fluids by using conventional HPLC methods. To measure scopolamine in saliva and thereby to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of scopolamine, we developed an LC/MS/MS method using off-line solid phase extraction. Method: Samples (0.5mL) were loaded onto Waters Oasis HLB co-polymer cartridges (10 mg, 1 mL) and eluted with 0.5 mL methanol without evaporation and reconstitution. HPLC separation of the eluted sample was performed using an Agilent Zorbax SB-CN column (50 x 2.1 mm) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min for 4 minutes. The mobile phase for separation was 90:10 (v/v) methanol: ammonium acetate (2 mM) in water, pH 5.0 +/- 0.1. Concentrations of scopolamine were determined using a Micromass Quattro Micro(TM) mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization (ESI). ESI mass spectra were acquired in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring for the determination of scopolamine m/z = 304.2 yields 138.1 and internal standard (IS) hyoscyamine m/z = 290.2 yields 124.1. Results: The method is rapid, reproducible, specific and has the following parameters: scopolamine and the IS are eluted at 1.7 and 3.2 min respectively. The linear range is 50-5000 pg/mL for scopolamine in saliva with correlation coefficients > 0.99 with a CV < 0.5 %. The intra-day and inter-day CVs are < 15 % for quality control samples with concentrations of 75, 300, 750 and 3000 pg/mL of scopolamine in human saliva. Conclusion: Solid phase extraction allows more rapid sample preparation and greater precision than liquid extraction. Furthermore, we increased the sensitivity and specificity by adjusting the LC mobile phase and using an MS/MS

Evaluation of RGM Medium for Isolation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria from Respiratory Samples from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis in the United States.

PubMed

Plongla, Rongpong; Preece, Clair L; Perry, John D; Gilligan, Peter H

2017-05-01

A novel selective agar (RGM medium) has been advocated for the isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria from the sputa of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The aim of this study was to compare RGM medium to Burkholderia cepacia selective agar (BCSA) and a standard acid-fast bacillus (AFB) culture method for the isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from patients with CF. The applicability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of NTM isolated on RGM medium was also assessed. Respiratory samples ( n = 869) were collected from 487 CF patients and inoculated directly onto RGM medium and BCSA. Cultures were incubated at 30°C and examined for up to 28 days. A subset of 212 samples (from 172 patients) was also cultured by using a mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) and on Lowenstein-Jensen medium following dual decontamination. By using a combination of all methods, 98 mycobacteria were isolated from 869 samples (11.3%). The sensitivity of RGM medium (96.9%) was significantly higher than that of BCSA (35.7%) for the isolation of mycobacteria ( P < 0.0001). The sensitivity of RGM medium was also superior to that of standard AFB culture for the isolation of mycobacteria (92.2% versus 47.1%; P < 0.0001). MALDI-TOF MS was effective for the identification of mycobacteria in RGM medium. RGM medium offers a simple and highly effective tool for the isolation of NTM from patients with CF. Extended incubation of RGM medium for 28 days facilitates the isolation of slow-growing species, including members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAVC). Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

An Effective Protocol for Micropropagation of Edible Bamboo Species (Bambusa tulda and Melocanna baccifera) through Nodal Culture

PubMed Central

Waikhom, Sayanika Devi; Louis, Bengyella

2014-01-01

High demand for edible bamboo shoots of Bambusa tulda and Melocanna baccifera in many Asian ethnic groups has led to the need for developing intensive bamboo farming. To achieve this, in vitro regeneration of bamboo plantlets is needed due to the long and irregular bamboo flowering cycle and scarcity of bamboo seeds. An effective protocol for plantlets regeneration in B. tulda and M. baccifera from nodal explants following validation of the species using the sequence of trnL-F intergenic spacer region is described. Effective axillary bud breaking was achieved at 3 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in MS medium. Importantly, combining 2 mg/L of kinetin (Kn) with 3 mg/L of BAP produced a synergistic effect for shoot multiplication in B. tulda and M. baccifera. Under optimized conditions in half-strength MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 10 mg/L of coumarin, and 3% sucrose, profuse production of dark-brown rhizome in B. tulda and abundant rooting (81.67%, P < 0.05, F = 15.46) for M. baccifera within 30 days were achieved. The established protocol and the validation of the reported species at the molecular level will be of help to stakeholders in edible bamboo trade to conserve gene-pool and increase productivity. PMID:24967429

Assessing the response of indigenous loquat cultivar Mardan to phytohormones for in vitro shoot proliferation and rooting*

PubMed Central

Abbasi, Nadeem Akhtar; Pervaiz, Tariq; Hafiz, Ishfaq Ahmed; Yaseen, Mehwish; Hussain, Azhar

2013-01-01

In vitro cultures of loquat cultivar Mardan were established using shoot apices after treating with NaOCl (5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 14% (v/v)) for 12 min and HgCl2 (0.01%, 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.20%, 0.25% (w/v)) for 2 min. A maximum survival rate of 70% was recorded after surface sterilization with 10% NaOCl. Caulogenic response was assessed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with assorted combinations of the cytokinins, benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin, and N6-(2-isopentyl)adenine (2iP). Treatment of BAP 1.5 mg/L combined with 2iP 9.0 mg/L and kinetin 1.5 mg/L was found to be optimum for shoot morphogenesis in terms of the number and subsequent growth of shoots, while the highest shoot length was yielded by the combination of BAP 0.5 mg/L, kinetin 0.5 mg/L, and 2iP 3 mg/L. Higher levels of cytokinins induced callogenesis, vitrification and stunted growth to some extent. For rhizogenesis, uniform sized micro-shoots were excised and transferred to half-strength MS medium containing auxins. The best rooting expression was observed with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) 1 mg/L combined with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) 2 mg/L and paclobutrazol (PBZ) 1 mg/L. PMID:24009197

A new measurement of the half-life of (166m)Ho.

PubMed

Nedjadi, Y; Bailat, C; Caffari, Y; Froidevaux, P; Wastiel, C; Kivel, N; Guenther-Leopold, I; Triscone, G; Jaquenod, F; Bochud, F

2012-09-01

The work presented here is a new and precise measurement of the half-life of (166m)Ho by determining the activity concentration, using an ionisation chamber calibrated for this nuclide, and measuring the number of (166m)Ho atoms using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Since the isotope (166)Er interferes with the mass spectrometric measurement, Er has to be eliminated from the (166m)Ho radioactive solution. The elimination was achieved using ion-exchange chromatography with the cation exchange resin Dowex AG 50W-X8 and 2-Hydroxybutanoic acid as the mobile phase. After a first transit through the chromatographic column, the purified (166m)Ho eluate was spiked with natural Er to get a resulting Er isotopic composition close to that of natural Er at better than 99.5%, and then it underwent two further separations to eliminate the Er. The activity concentration of this Er-free radioactive (166m)Ho solution was measured in our reference ionisation chamber calibrated for this nuclide by means of the 4πβ(PC)-γ and 4πβ(PS)-4πγ coincidence techniques and integral counting with a well-type NaI(Tl) detector and Monte Carlo efficiencies. An aliquot of this standardized solution was sent to the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) for mass concentration determination using an isotope dilution MC-ICP-MS approach. The mass concentration of (166m)Ho in this solution was determined with 0.25% relative standard uncertainty. This value was corroborated by two other independent measurements. The new half-life of (166m)Ho, 1132.6(39) years (k=1), is compatible with the value determined in 1965, but is 5.6% shorter and about 43 times more precise. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interstellar medium conditions in z 0.2 Lyman-break analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Contursi, A.; Baker, A. J.; Berta, S.; Magnelli, B.; Lutz, D.; Fischer, J.; Verma, A.; Nielbock, M.; Grácia Carpio, J.; Veilleux, S.; Sturm, E.; Davies, R.; Genzel, R.; Hailey-Dunsheath, S.; Herrera-Camus, R.; Janssen, A.; Poglitsch, A.; Sternberg, A.; Tacconi, L. J.

2017-10-01

We present an analysis of far-infrared (FIR) [CII] and [OI] fine structure line and continuum observations obtained with Herschel/PACS, and 12CO(1-0) observations obtained with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer, of Lyman-break analogs (LBAs) at z 0.2. The principal aim of this work is to determine the typical interstellar medium (ISM) properties of z 1-2 main sequence (MS) galaxies, with stellar masses between 109.5 and 1011M⊙, which are currently not easily detectable in all these lines even with ALMA and NOEMA. We perform PDR modeling and apply different infared diagnostics to derive the main physical parameters of the far-infrared (FIR)-emitting gas and dust and we compare the derived ISM properties to those of galaxies on and above the MS at different redshifts. We find that the ISM properties of LBAs are quite extreme (low gas temperature and high density and thermal pressure) with respect to those found in local normal spirals and more active local galaxies. LBAs have no [CII] deficit despite having the high specific star formation rates (sSFRs) typical of starbursts. Although LBAs lie above the local MS, we show that their ISM properties are more similar to those of high-redshift MS galaxies than of local galaxies above the main sequence. This data set represents an important reference for planning future ALMA [CII] observations of relatively low-mass MS galaxies at the epoch of the peak of the cosmic star formation.

Micropropagation of Araucaria excelsa R. Br. var. glauca Carrière from orthotropic stem explants.

PubMed

Sarmast, Mostafa Khoshhal; Salehi, Hassan; Khosh-Khui, Morteza

2012-07-01

The objectives of the present work were in vitro propagation of Araucaria excelsa R. Br. var. glauca Carrière (Norfolk Island pine) with focus on the evaluation of the mean number of shoots per explant (MNS/E) and mean length of shoots per explants (MLS/E) produced by different parts of the orthotropic stem of A. excelsa R. Br. var. glauca in response to plant growth regulators. Norfolk Island pine axillary meristems responded very well to the 2-iso-pentenyl adenine (2iP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) levels. Explants taken from stem upper segments in the media containing 2iP had a higher MNS/E (3.47) and MLS/E (6.27 mm) in comparison to those taken from stem lower segments, which were 0.71 and 0.51 mm, respectively. Using 0.045 μM TDZ in the MS medium not only resulted in 4.60 MNS/E with 7.08 mm MLS/E but proliferated shoots showed a good performance as well. Investigating the best position of stem explant on mother plant as well as the best concentrations of growth regulators were performed which were useful for efficient micropropagation of this plant. Thirty three percent of explants were rooted in the MS medium containing 3 % sucrose, supplemented with 7.5 μM of both NAA and IBA for 2 weeks before transferring to a half strength MS medium without any growth regulator. Plantlets obtained were acclimatized and transferred to the greenhouse with less than 20 % mortality. This procedure considered the first successful report for regeneration and acclimatization of A. excelsa R. Br. var. glauca plantlet through main stem explants.

Assessment of clonal fidelity of Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill "in vitro" plantlets by ISSR molecular markers.

PubMed

Sharma, Madan Mohan; Verma, Roop Narayan; Singh, Abhijeet; Batra, Amla

2014-01-01

Tylophora indica Burm F. Merrill. is widely used against various diseases owing to the presence an array of medicinally important secondary metabolites. Its stem is bitter, stomachic, stimulates bile secretion, enriches the blood and cures diseases like diabetes, fever, flatulence, hypertension, jaundice, leucorrhoea, urinary disease and upper respiratory tract infection. It is neglected for tissue culture work because of deciduous nature of climbing shrub, facing problems for micropropagation. Hence, in vitro regeneration of complete plantlets was done through indirect organogenesis in Tylophora indica. Calli were produced from in vivo leaves of T. indica on MS medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP: 2.0 mg l(-1)) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA: 0.5 mg l(-1)). The multiple shoots (12.00 ± 1.50) emerged and elongated on MS medium fortified with Thidiazuron (TDZ: 0.1 mg l(-1)). They were rooted on half strength MS medium having IBA (0.5 mg l(-1)) (7.75 ± 0.25) after 20 days of sub-culturing followed by hardening and acclimatization. During indirect regeneration of plants, chances of somaclonal variations may arise. These variations should be identified to produce true to type plants. Plantlets raised through tissue culture were used to validate the clonal fidelity through Inter simple sequence repeat markers (ISSR). Clonal fidelity is a major consideration in commercial micropropagation using in vitro tissue culture methods. During the study, total 71 clear and distinct bands were produced using 6 primers. The banding pattern of each primer was uniform and comparable to mother plant and showed about 93% homology using un-weighted pair group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA). ISSR analysis confirmed the genetic stability of in vitro raised plants.

Effects of Energy Density and Shielding Medium on Performance of Laser Beam Welding (LBW) Joints on SAF2205 Duplex Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W. W.; Cong, S.; Luo, S. B.; Fang, J. H.

2018-05-01

The corrosion resistance performance of SAF2205 duplex stainless steel depends on the amount of ferrite to austenite transformation, but the ferrite content after power beam welding is always excessively high. To obtain laser beam welding joints with better mechanical and corrosion resistance performance, the effects of the energy density and shielding medium on the austenite content, hardness distribution, and shear strength were investigated. The results showed that ferrite to austenite transformation was realized with increase in the energy density. When the energy density was increased from 120 J/mm to 200 J/mm, the austenite content of the welding joint changed from 2.6% to 38.5%. Addition of nitrogen gas to the shielding medium could promote formation of austenite. When the shielding medium contained 50% and 100% nitrogen gas, the austenite content of the welding joint was 42.7% and 47.2%, respectively. The hardness and shear strength were significantly improved by increase in the energy density. However, the shielding medium had less effect on the mechanical performance. Use of the optimal welding process parameters resulted in peak hardness of 375 HV and average shear strength of 670 MPa.

Swelling and erosion properties of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Hypromellose) matrices--influence of agitation rate and dissolution medium composition.

PubMed

Kavanagh, Nicole; Corrigan, Owen I

2004-07-26

The effect of dissolution medium variables, such as medium composition, ionic strength and agitation rate, on the swelling and erosion of Hypromellose (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, HPMC) matrices of different molecular weights was examined. Swelling and erosion of HPMC polymers was determined by measuring the wet and subsequent dry weights of matrices. It was possible to describe the rate of dissolution medium uptake in terms of a square root relationship and the erosion of the polymer in terms of the cube root law. The extent of swelling increased with increasing molecular weight, and decreased with increasing agitation rate. The erosion rate was seen to increase with decrease in polymer molecular weight, with a decrease in ionic strength and with increasing agitation rate. The sensitivity of polymer erosion to the degree of agitation may influence the ability of these polymers to give reproducible, agitation-independent release, compared to more rigid non-eroding matrix materials, in the complex hydrodynamic environment of the gastrointestinal tract.

Determination the active compounds of herbal preparation by UHPLC-MS/MS and its application on the preclinical pharmacokinetics of pure ephedrine, single herbal extract of Ephedra, and a multiple herbal preparation in rats.

PubMed

Wang, Ju-Wen; Chiang, Meng-Hsuan; Lu, Chia-Ming; Tsai, Tung-Hu

2016-07-15

The herbal preparation Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang (MXGST) is a popular traditional Chinese formulation that has been used for the treatment of coughs and fevers. The potential active components of MXGST are ephedrine, amygdalin, and glycyrrhizic acid. The aim of this study was to develop a validated analytical method to measure these analytes in the herbal preparation MXGST using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to monitor m/z 166.1→148.1 for ephedrine ([M+H](+)), 475.2→163.0 for amygdalin ([M+NH4](+)), and 840.6→453.3 ([M+NH4](+)) for glycyrrhizic acid. The analytes were separated by a reverse phase C18 column (100×2.1mm, 2.6μm). The mobile phase consisted of 5mM ammonium acetate (0.1% formic acid) and 100% methanol (0.1% formic acid) with a linear gradient elution. Five brands of commercial pharmaceutical herbal products and a laboratory extract of MXGST were analyzed. Moreover, the modified UHPLC-MS/MS method was applied to the comparative pharmacokinetics of ephedrine in rats from the following three sources: (1) pure ephedrine, (2) an herbal extract of Ephedra, and (3) an herbal preparation of MXGST. Plasma samples from rats were prepared by protein precipitation, evaporation and reconstitution. The pharmacokinetic data showed that pure ephedrine was absorbed significantly faster than ephedrine of the Ephedra extract or the MXGST herbal preparation. However, the elimination half-life of ephedrine administered as the pure compound was 93.9±8.07min, but for ephedrine from the Ephedra extract and the MXGST, the half-lives were 133±17 and 247±57.6min, respectively. The area under the concentration curves (AUC) did not show significant differences among the three groups. These data suggest that the rest of the herbal ingredients in the Ephedra extract and the MXGST may provide a compensation effect that reduces the peak concentration of ephedrine and prolongs the

Urinary amino acid analysis: a comparison of iTRAQ-LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and amino acid analyzer.

PubMed

Kaspar, Hannelore; Dettmer, Katja; Chan, Queenie; Daniels, Scott; Nimkar, Subodh; Daviglus, Martha L; Stamler, Jeremiah; Elliott, Paul; Oefner, Peter J

2009-07-01

Urinary amino acid analysis is typically done by cation-exchange chromatography followed by post-column derivatization with ninhydrin and UV detection. This method lacks throughput and specificity. Two recently introduced stable isotope ratio mass spectrometric methods promise to overcome those shortcomings. Using two blinded sets of urine replicates and a certified amino acid standard, we compared the precision and accuracy of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of propyl chloroformate and iTRAQ derivatized amino acids, respectively, to conventional amino acid analysis. The GC-MS method builds on the direct derivatization of amino acids in diluted urine with propyl chloroformate, GC separation and mass spectrometric quantification of derivatives using stable isotope labeled standards. The LC-MS/MS method requires prior urinary protein precipitation followed by labeling of urinary and standard amino acids with iTRAQ tags containing different cleavable reporter ions distinguishable by MS/MS fragmentation. Means and standard deviations of percent technical error (%TE) computed for 20 amino acids determined by amino acid analyzer, GC-MS, and iTRAQ-LC-MS/MS analyses of 33 duplicate and triplicate urine specimens were 7.27+/-5.22, 21.18+/-10.94, and 18.34+/-14.67, respectively. Corresponding values for 13 amino acids determined in a second batch of 144 urine specimens measured in duplicate or triplicate were 8.39+/-5.35, 6.23+/-3.84, and 35.37+/-29.42. Both GC-MS and iTRAQ-LC-MS/MS are suited for high-throughput amino acid analysis, with the former offering at present higher reproducibility and completely automated sample pretreatment, while the latter covers more amino acids and related amines.

Observation of Intravascular Changes of Superabsorbent Polymer Microsphere (SAP-MS) with Monochromatic X-Ray Imaging

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

Tanimoto, Daigo, E-mail: daigoro@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp; Ito, Katsuyoshi; Yamamoto, Akira

2010-10-15

This study was designed to evaluate the intravascular transformation behavior of superabsorbent polymer microsphere (SAP-MS) in vivo macroscopically by using monochromatic X-ray imaging and to quantitatively compare the expansion rate of SAP-MS among different kinds of mixtures. Fifteen rabbits were used for our study and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was performed for their auricular arteries using monochromatic X-ray imaging. We used three kinds of SAP-MS (particle diameter 100-150 {mu}m) mixture as embolic spherical particles: SAP-MS(H) absorbed with sodium meglumine ioxaglate (Hexabrix 320), SAP-MS(V) absorbed with isosmolar contrast medium (Visipaque 270), and SAP-MS(S) absorbed with 0.9% sodium saline. The initial volumemore » of SAP-MS particles just after TAE and its final volume 10 minutes after TAE in the vessel were measured to calculate the expansion rate (ER) (n = 30). Intravascular behavior of SAP-MS particles was clearly observed in real time at monochromatic X-ray imaging. Averaged initial volumes of SAP-MS (H) (1.24 x 10{sup 7} {mu}m{sup 3}) were significantly smaller (p < 0.001) than those of SAP-MS (V) (5.99 x 10{sup 7} {mu}m{sup 3}) and SAP-MS (S) (5.85 x 10{sup 7} {mu}m{sup 3}). Averaged final volumes of SAP-MS (H) were significantly larger than averaged initial volumes (4.41 x 10{sup 7} {mu}m{sup 3} vs. 1.24 x 10{sup 7} {mu}m{sup 3}; p < 0.0001, ER = 3.55). There were no significant difference between averaged final volumes and averaged initial volumes of SAP-MS (V) and SAP-MS (S). SAP-MS (H), which first travels distally, reaches to small arteries, and then expands to adapt to the vessel lumen, is an effective particle as an embolic agent, causing effective embolization.« less

Improvement of efficient in vitro regeneration potential of mature callus induced from Malaysian upland rice seed (Oryza sativa cv. Panderas).

PubMed

Mohd Din, Abd Rahman Jabir; Iliyas Ahmad, Fauziah; Wagiran, Alina; Abd Samad, Azman; Rahmat, Zaidah; Sarmidi, Mohamad Roji

2016-01-01

A new and rapid protocol for optimum callus production and complete plant regeneration has been assessed in Malaysian upland rice (Oryza sativa) cv. Panderas. The effect of plant growth regulator (PGR) on the regeneration frequency of Malaysian upland rice (cv. Panderas) was investigated. Mature seeds were used as a starting material for callus induction experiment using various concentrations of 2,4-D and NAA. Optimal callus induction frequency at 90% was obtained on MS media containing 2,4-D (3 mg L(-1)) and NAA (2 mg L(-1)) after 6 weeks while no significant difference was seen on tryptophan and glutamine parameters. Embryogenic callus was recorded as compact, globular and light yellowish in color. The embryogenic callus morphology was further confirmed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. For regeneration, induced calli were treated with various concentrations of Kin (0.5-1.5 mg L(-1)), BAP, NAA and 0.5 mg L(-1) of TDZ. The result showed that the maximum regeneration frequency (100%) was achieved on MS medium containing BAP (0.5 mg L(-1)), Kin (1.5 mg L(-1)), NAA (0.5 mg L(-1)) and TDZ (0.5 mg L(-1)) within four weeks. Developed shoots were successfully rooted on half strength MS free hormone medium and later transferred into a pot containing soil for acclimatization. This cutting-edge finding is unique over the other existing publishable data due to the good regeneration response by producing a large number of shoots.

Effect of Contralateral Strength Training on Muscle Weakness in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Proof-of-Concept Case Series.

PubMed

Manca, Andrea; Cabboi, Maria Paola; Ortu, Enzo; Ginatempo, Francesca; Dragone, Daniele; Zarbo, Ignazio Roberto; de Natale, Edoardo Rosario; Mureddu, Giovanni; Bua, Guido; Deriu, Franca

2016-06-01

The contralateral strength training (CST) effect is a transfer of muscle performance to the untrained limb following training of the contralateral side. The aim of this study was to explore, in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) presenting marked lower limb strength asymmetry, the effectiveness of CST on management of muscle weakness of the more-affected limb following training of the less-affected limb. A single-subject research design was used. Eight individuals with MS underwent 16 to 18 high-intensity training sessions of the less-affected ankle dorsiflexor muscles. The primary outcome measure of this single-system case series was maximal strength expressed as peak moment and maximal work. Secondary outcome measures were: Six-Minute-Walk Test, Timed "Up & Go" Test, 10-Meter Timed Walk Test, and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire. After the 6-week intervention, the contralateral more affected (untrained) limb showed a 22% to 24% increase in maximal strength. From pretest-posttest measurements, participants also performed significantly better on the clinical and functional secondary outcome measures. At the 12-week follow-up, the strength levels of the weaker untrained limb remained significantly superior to baseline levels in the majority (5 out of 8) of the outcome parameters. Considering the design used, the absence of a control group, and the sample size, these findings should be cautiously generalized and will need confirmation in a properly planned randomized controlled trial. The present proof-of-concept study shows, for the first time, the occurrence of the CST effect on muscle performance of ankle dorsiflexor muscles in people with MS. These preliminary findings reveal new potential implications for CST as a promising rehabilitation approach to those conditions where unilateral muscle weakness does not allow or makes difficult performing conventional strength training of the weaker limb. © 2016 American Physical Therapy

Effects of high-intensity resistance training on strength, mobility, balance, and fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Hayes, Heather A; Gappmaier, Eduard; LaStayo, Paul C

2011-03-01

Resistance exercise via negative, eccentrically induced work (RENEW) has been shown to be associated with improvements in strength, mobility, and balance in multiple clinical populations. However, RENEW has not been reported for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nineteen individuals with MS (8 men, 11 women; age mean = 49 ± 11 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] mean = 5.2 ± 0.9) were randomized into either standard exercise (STAND) or standard exercise and RENEW training (RENEW) for 3×/week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures were lower extremity strength (hip/knee flexion and extension, ankle plantar and dorsiflexion, and the sum of these individual values [sum strength]); Timed Up and Go (TUG), 10-m walk, self-selected pace (TMWSS) and maximal-pace (TMWMP), stair ascent (S-A) and descent (S-D) and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). No significant time effects or interactions were observed for strength, TUG, TMWSS, TMWMP, or 6MWT. However, the mean difference in sum strength in the RENEW group was 38.60 (representing a 15% increase) compared to the sum strength observed in the STAND group with a mean difference of 5.58 (a 2% increase). A significant interaction was observed for S-A, S-D, and BBS as the STAND group improved whereas the RENEW group did not improve in these measures. Contrary to results in other populations, the addition of eccentric training to standard exercises did not result in significantly greater lower extremity strength gains in this group of individuals with MS. Further this training was not as effective as standard exercise alone in improving balance or the ability to ascend and descend stairs. Following data collection, reassessment of required sample size indicates we were likely underpowered to detect strength differences between groups.

Personality and Behavior in Social Dilemmas: Testing the Situational Strength Hypothesis and the Role of Hypothetical Versus Real Incentives.

PubMed

Lozano, José H

2016-02-01

Previous research aimed at testing the situational strength hypothesis suffers from serious limitations regarding the conceptualization of strength. In order to overcome these limitations, the present study attempts to test the situational strength hypothesis based on the operationalization of strength as reinforcement contingencies. One dispositional factor of proven effect on cooperative behavior, social value orientation (SVO), was used as a predictor of behavior in four social dilemmas with varying degree of situational strength. The moderating role of incentive condition (hypothetical vs. real) on the relationship between SVO and behavior was also tested. One hundred undergraduates were presented with the four social dilemmas and the Social Value Orientation Scale. One-half of the sample played the social dilemmas using real incentives, whereas the other half used hypothetical incentives. Results supported the situational strength hypothesis in that no behavioral variability and no effect of SVO on behavior were found in the strongest situation. However, situational strength did not moderate the effect of SVO on behavior in situations where behavior showed variability. No moderating effect was found for incentive condition either. The implications of these results for personality theory and assessment are discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The combined effects of diet quality and physical activity on maintenance of muscle strength among diabetic older adults from the NuAge cohort.

PubMed

Rahi, Berna; Morais, José A; Dionne, Isabelle J; Gaudreau, Pierrette; Payette, Hélène; Shatenstein, Bryna

2014-01-01

Diabetic older adults are at a higher risk of muscle strength (MS) decline than their non-diabetic counterparts. Adequate protein and energy intakes and physical activity (PA) may preserve MS during aging. However, the role of diet quality (DQ) in MS maintenance is still unknown. This study aimed to determine the association between DQ - alone or combined with PA - and changes in MS over 3 years in diabetic participants aged 67 to 84 years at recruitment in a secondary analysis of the longitudinal observational NuAge study. Changes in handgrip, knee extensor and elbow flexor strengths were calculated as the difference between recruitment (T1) and after 3 years (T4) in 156 diabetic older adults. Baseline DQ was calculated from 3 non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls collected at T1 using the validated Canadian Healthy Eating Index (C-HEI). Change in PA was calculated from Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) as PASE T4-PASE T1. Four combinations of variables were created: C-HEI<70 with PASE change either < or > median and C-HEI ≥ 70 with PASE change either < or > median. The association between these four categories and MS maintenance was evaluated using General Linear Modeling (GLM). Analyses were stratified by sex and controlled for covariates. Baseline DQ alone was not associated with MS maintenance. Baseline DQ combined with PASE change showed associations with crude and baseline adjusted handgrip strength (p=0.031, p=0.018) and crude and baseline adjusted elbow flexor change (p=0.028, p=0.017) in males only; no significant results were found for knee extensor strength in either males or females. While findings for females were inconclusive, results demonstrate that better adherence to dietary guidelines combined with a more active lifestyle may prevent MS decline among diabetic older males. Additional research is needed on a larger sample since generalization of these results is limited by the small sample size. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All

Surface disinfection procedure and in vitro regeneration of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) axillary buds.

PubMed

Lazo-Javalera, M F; Troncoso-Rojas, R; Tiznado-Hernández, M E; Martínez-Tellez, M A; Vargas-Arispuro, I; Islas-Osuna, M A; Rivera-Domínguez, M

2016-01-01

Establishment of an efficient explants surface disinfection protocol is essential for in vitro cell and tissue culture as well as germplasm conservation, such as the case of Grapevine (Vitis spp.) culture. In this research, different procedures for disinfection and regeneration of field-grown grapevine cv. 'Flame seedless' axillary buds were evaluated. The buds were disinfected using either NaOCl or allyl, benzyl, phenyl and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanates. Two different media for shooting and four media for rooting were tested. Shoot and root development per buds were registered. The best disinfection procedure with 90 % of tissue survival involved shaking for 60 min in a solution containing 20 % Clorox with 50 drops/L Triton(®) X-100. These tissues showed the potential to regenerate a complete plant. Plant regeneration was conducted using full strength Murashigue and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 8 µM benzyl aminopurine for shoot induction and multiplication, whereas rooting was obtained on half strength MS supplemented with 2 mg L(-1) of indole-3-butyric acid and 200 mg L(-1) of activated charcoal. In this work, it was designed the protocols for obtaining sterile field-grown grapevine buds and in vitro plant development. This methodology showed potential to produce vigorous and healthy plants in 5 weeks for clonal grapevine propagation. Regenerated plants were successfully established in soil.

Reflection of thermoelastic wave on the interface of isotropic half-space and tetragonal syngony anisotropic medium of classes 4, 4/m with thermomechanical effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurlybek, A. Ispulov; Abdul, Qadir; M, A. Shah; Ainur, K. Seythanova; Tanat, G. Kissikov; Erkin, Arinov

2016-03-01

The thermoelastic wave propagation in a tetragonal syngony anisotropic medium of classes 4, 4/m having heterogeneity along z axis has been investigated by employing matrizant method. This medium has an axis of second-order symmetry parallel to z axis. In the case of the fourth-order matrix coefficients, the problems of wave refraction and reflection on the interface of homogeneous anisotropic thermoelastic mediums are solved analytically.

Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Deficiency: Outlines from Newborn Screening, In Silico Predictions, and Molecular Studies

PubMed Central

Catarzi, Serena; Caciotti, Anna; Thusberg, Janita; Tonin, Rodolfo; Malvagia, Sabrina; la Marca, Giancarlo; Pasquini, Elisabetta; Cavicchi, Catia; Ferri, Lorenzo; Donati, Maria A.; Baronio, Federico; Guerrini, Renzo; Mooney, Sean D.; Morrone, Amelia

2013-01-01

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) is a disorder of fatty acid oxidation characterized by hypoglycemic crisis under fasting or during stress conditions, leading to lethargy, seizures, brain damage, or even death. Biochemical acylcarnitines data obtained through newborn screening by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were confirmed by molecular analysis of the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACADM) gene. Out of 324.000 newborns screened, we identified 14 MCADD patients, in whom, by molecular analysis, we found a new nonsense c.823G>T (p.Gly275∗) and two new missense mutations: c.253G>C (p.Gly85Arg) and c.356T>A (p.Val119Asp). Bioinformatics predictions based on both phylogenetic conservation and functional/structural software were used to characterize the new identified variants. Our findings confirm the rising incidence of MCADD whose existence is increasingly recognized due to the efficacy of an expanded newborn screening panel by LC-MS/MS making possible early specific therapies that can prevent possible crises in at-risk infants. We noticed that the “common” p.Lys329Glu mutation only accounted for 32% of the defective alleles, while, in clinically diagnosed patients, this mutation accounted for 90% of defective alleles. Unclassified variants (UVs or VUSs) are especially critical when considering screening programs. The functional and pathogenic characterization of genetic variants presented here is required to predict their medical consequences in newborns. PMID:24294134

The down-regulation of the mitogenic fibrinogen receptor (MFR) in serum-containing medium does not occur in defined medium.

PubMed

Levesque, J P; Hatzfeld, A; Domart, I; Hatzfeld, J

1990-02-01

Normal human hemopoietic cells such as early bone marrow progenitors, or lymphoma-derived cell lines such as Raji or JM cells, possess a low-affinity receptor specific for fibrinogen. This receptor triggers a mitogenic effect. It differs from the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa which is involved in fibrinogen-induced platelet aggregation. We demonstrate here that this mitogenic fibrinogen receptor (MFR) can be internalized or reexpressed, depending on culture conditions. Internalization was temperature-dependent. At 37 degrees C in the presence of cycloheximide or actinomycin D, the half-life of cell surface MFRs was 2 h, independent of receptor occupancy. Binding of fibrinogen to the MFR resulted in a down-regulation which was fibrinogen dose-dependent. This occurred in serum-supplemented medium but not in defined medium supplemented with fatty acids. Reexpression of MFRs could be induced in 28 to 42 h by serum removal. The down-regulation of mitogenic receptors in plasma or serum could explain why normal cells do not proliferate in the peripheral blood.

Mechanical, Hormonal and Psychological Effects of a Non-Failure Short-Term Strength Training Program in Young Tennis Players

PubMed Central

Sarabia, Jose Manuel; Fernandez-Fernandez, Jaime; Juan-Recio, Casto; Hernández-Davó, Hector; Urbán, Tomás; Moya, Manuel

2015-01-01

This study examined the effects of a 6-week non-failure strength training program in youth tennis players. Twenty tennis players (age: 15.0 ± 1 years, body height: 170.9 ± 5.1 cm, body mass: 63.3 ± 9.1 kg) were divided into experimental and control groups. Pre and post-tests included half squats, bench press, squat jumps, countermovement-jumps and side-ball throws. Salivary cortisol samples were collected, and the Profile of Mood States questionnaire was used weekly during an anatomical adaptation period, a main training period and after a tapering week. The results showed that, after the main training period, the experimental group significantly improved (p<0.05) in mean and peak power output and in the total number of repetitions during the half-squat endurance test; mean force, power and velocity in the half-squat power output test; Profile of Mood States (in total mood disturbance between the last week of the mean training period and the tapering week); and in squat-jump and countermovement-jump height. Moreover, significant differences were found between the groups at the post-tests in the total number of repetitions, mean and peak power during the half-squat endurance test, mean velocity in the half-squat power output test, salivary cortisol concentration (baselines, first and third week of the mean training period) and in the Profile of Mood States (in fatigue subscale: first and third week of the mean training period). In conclusion, a non-failure strength training protocol improved lower-limb performance levels and produced a moderate psychophysiological impact in youth elite tennis players, suggesting that it is a suitable program to improve strength. Such training protocols do not increase the total training load of tennis players and may be recommended to improve strength. PMID:25964812

Urinary Amino Acid Analysis: A Comparison of iTRAQ®-LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and Amino Acid Analyzer

PubMed Central

Kaspar, Hannelore; Dettmer, Katja; Chan, Queenie; Daniels, Scott; Nimkar, Subodh; Daviglus, Martha L.; Stamler, Jeremiah; Elliott, Paul; Oefner, Peter J.

2009-01-01

Urinary amino acid analysis is typically done by cation-exchange chromatography followed by post-column derivatization with ninhydrin and UV detection. This method lacks throughput and specificity. Two recently introduced stable isotope ratio mass spectrometric methods promise to overcome those shortcomings. Using two blinded sets of urine replicates and a certified amino acid standard, we compared the precision and accuracy of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of propyl chloroformate and iTRAQ® derivatized amino acids, respectively, to conventional amino acid analysis. The GC-MS method builds on the direct derivatization of amino acids in diluted urine with propyl chloroformate, GC separation and mass spectrometric quantification of derivatives using stable isotope labeled standards. The LC-MS/MS method requires prior urinary protein precipitation followed by labeling of urinary and standard amino acids with iTRAQ® tags containing different cleavable reporter ions distinguishable by MS/MS fragmentation. Means and standard deviations of percent technical error (%TE) computed for 20 amino acids determined by amino acid analyzer, GC-MS, and iTRAQ®-LC-MS/MS analyses of 33 duplicate and triplicate urine specimens were 7.27±5.22, 21.18±10.94, and 18.34±14.67, respectively. Corresponding values for 13 amino acids determined in a second batch of 144 urine specimens measured in duplicate or triplicate were 8.39±5.35, 6.23±3.84, and 35.37±29.42. Both GC-MS and iTRAQ®-LC-MS/MS are suited for high-throughput amino acid analysis, with the former offering at present higher reproducibility and completely automated sample pretreatment, while the latter covers more amino acids and related amines. PMID:19481989

Determining the Origin of Half-bandgap-voltage Electroluminescence in Bifunctional Rubrene/C60 Devices

PubMed Central

Chen, Qiusong; Jia, Weiyao; Chen, Lixiang; Yuan, De; Zou, Yue; Xiong, Zuhong

2016-01-01

Lowering the driving voltage of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is an important approach to reduce their energy consumption. We have fabricated a series of bifunctional devices (OLEDs and photovoltaics) using rubrene and fullerene (C60) as the active layer, in which the electroluminescence threshold voltage(~1.1 V) was half the value of the bandgap of rubrene. Magneto-electroluminescence (MEL) response of planner heterojunction diodes exhibited a small increase in response to a low magnetic field strength (<20 mT); however, a very large decay was observed at a high magnetic field strength (>20 mT). When a hole-transport layer with a low mobility was included in these devices, the MEL response reversed in shape, and simultaneously, the EL threshold voltage became larger than the bandgap voltage. When bulk heterojunction device was examined, the amplitude of MEL curves presented an anomalous voltage-dependence. Following an analysis of the MEL responses of these devices, we proposed that the EL of half-bandgap-voltage device originated from bimolecular triplet-triplet annihilation in the rubrene film, rather than from singlet excitons that formed via an interface auger recombination. This work provides critical insight into the mechanisms of OLED emission and will help advance the applications of bifunctional devices. PMID:27142285

Relationships between maximal strength of lower limb, anthropometric characteristics and fundamental explosive performance in handball players.

PubMed

Hermassi, Souhail; Chelly, Mohamed Souhaiel; Wagner, Herbert; Fieseler, Georg; Schulze, Stephan; Delank, Karl-Stefan; Shephard, Roy J; Schwesig, René

2018-02-14

 The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between lower body muscular strength, anthropometric characteristics and several measures of explosive performance in elite team-handball players.  22 male elite team-handball players (age: 19.1 ± 1.7 years) were studied during the competitive season. Standard anthropometric and body composition measures included body mass index, lower limb and thigh muscle volume, and body fat percentage. Maximal leg strength was determined by a one-repetition maximum (1-RM) half back-squat. Vertical jump performance was assessed using a squat jump (SJ) and a counter movement jump (CMJ). Repeated shuttle-sprint ability (RSA) was tested by 6 (2 × 15 m) shuttle sprints with 20 s of active recovery intervals. The best time in a single shuttle sprint (30m; RSA best ), fastest total time (RSA TT ) and RSA test performance decrement (RSA dec ) were recorded. Agility was measured using a modified T-half test (MAT). Throwing velocities of jump shooting and 3-step throwing were recorded by digital video camera.  The explained variance of 1-RM half-back-squats ranged from 0.2 % (RSA% Fatigue Index) to 70.1 % (CMJ). Four out of 8 variables (RSA Best Time, CMJ, SJ, throwing velocity of jump shoot) demonstrated an r 2  > 0.5. Jump performances seemed closely related to 1-RM half-back-squats. Furthermore, 1-RM half-back-squats were positively correlated with leg and thigh muscle volumes (r = 0.652, r = 0.768).  The anthropometric characteristics and some physical performance tests are closely related to the maximal strength performance of handball players. Coaches should focus on maximal strength training programs for the lower limbs when seeking improvements in the throwing velocity and jump performance of handball players. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Reductive chemical release of N-glycans as 1-amino-alditols and subsequent 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl labeling for MS and LC/MS analysis.

PubMed

Wang, Chengjian; Qiang, Shan; Jin, Wanjun; Song, Xuezheng; Zhang, Ying; Huang, Linjuan; Wang, Zhongfu

2018-06-06

Glycoproteins play pivotal roles in a series of biological processes and their glycosylation patterns need to be structurally and functionally characterized. However, the lack of versatile methods to release N-glycans as functionalized forms has been undermining glycomics studies. Here a novel method is developed for dissociation of N-linked glycans from glycoproteins for analysis by MS and online LC/MS. This new method employs aqueous ammonia solution containing NaBH 3 CN as the reaction medium to release glycans from glycoproteins as 1-amino-alditol forms. The released glycans are conveniently labeled with 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) and analyzed by ESI-MS and online LC/MS. Using the method, the neutral and acidic N-glycans were successfully released without peeling degradation of the core α-1,3-fucosylated structure or detectable de-N-acetylation, revealing its general applicability to various types of N-glycans. The Fmoc-derivatized N-glycans derived from chicken ovalbumin, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench Pollen and FBS were successfully analyzed by online LC/MS to distinguish isomers. The 1-amino-alditols were also permethylated to form quaternary ammonium cations at the reducing end, which enhance the MS sensitivity and are compatible with sequential multi-stage mass spectrometry (MS n ) fragmentation for glycan sequencing. The Fmoc-labeled N-glycans were further permethylated to produce methylated carbamates for determination of branches and linkages by sequential MS n fragmentation. N-Glycosylation represents one of the most common post-translational modification forms and plays pivotal roles in the structural and functional regulation of proteins in various biological activities, relating closely to human health and diseases. As a type of informational molecule, the N-glycans of glycoproteins participate directly in the molecular interactions between glycan epitopes and their corresponding protein receptors. Detailed structural and functional

HPLC-ESI-MS(n) Analysis, Fed-Batch Cultivation Enhances Bioactive Compound Biosynthesis and Immune-Regulative Effect of Adventitious Roots in Pseudostellaria heterophylla.

PubMed

Wang, Juan; Li, Jing; Li, Hongfa; Wu, Xiaolei; Gao, Wenyuan

2015-09-01

A electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) analysis was performed in order to identify the active composition in Pseudostellaria heterophylla adventitious roots. Pseudostellarin A, C, D, and G were identified from P. heterophylla adventitious roots on the basis of LC-MS(n) analysis. The culture conditions of adventitious roots were optimized, and datasets were subjected to a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), in which the growth ratio and some compounds showed a positive correlation with an aeration volume of 0.3 vvm and inoculum density of 0.15 %. Fed-batch cultivation enhanced the contents of total saponin, polysaccharides, and specific oxygen uptaker rate (SOUR). The maximum dry root weight (4.728 g l(-1)) was achieved in the 3/4 Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium group. PLS-DA showed that polysaccharides contributed significantly to the clustering of different groups and showed a positive correlation in the MS medium group. The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction on the mice induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was applied to compare the immunocompetence effects of adventitious roots (AR) with field native roots (NR) of P. heterophylla. As a result, AR possessed a similar immunoregulation function as NR.

Repair bond strength of resin composite to bilayer dental ceramics

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various surface treatments (ST) on the shear bond strength of resin composite to three bilayer dental ceramics made by CAD/CAM and two veneering ceramics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three different bilayer dental ceramics and two different veneering ceramics were used (Group A: IPS e.max CAD+IPS e.max Ceram; Group B: IPS e.max ZirCAD+IPS e.max Ceram, Group C: Vita Suprinity+Vita VM11; Group D: IPS e.max Ceram; Group E: Vita VM11). All groups were divided into eight subgroups according to the ST. Then, all test specimens were repaired with a nano hybrid resin composite. Half of the test specimens were subjected to thermocycling procedure and the other half was stored in distilled water at 37℃. Shear bond strength tests for all test specimens were carried out with a universal testing machine. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences among the tested surface treatments within the all tested fracture types (P<.005). HF etching showed higher bond strength values in Groups A, C, D, and E than the other tested ST. However, bonding durability of all the surface-treated groups were similar after thermocycling (P>.00125). CONCLUSION This study revealed that HF etching for glass ceramics and sandblasting for zirconia ceramics were adequate for repair of all ceramic restorations. The effect of ceramic type exposed on the fracture area was not significant on the repair bond strength of resin composites to different ceramic types. PMID:29713430

Effect of Sequencing Strength and Endurance Training in Young Male Soccer Players.

PubMed

Makhlouf, Issam; Castagna, Carlo; Manzi, Vincenzo; Laurencelle, Louis; Behm, David G; Chaouachi, Anis

2016-03-01

This study examined the effects of strength and endurance training sequence (strength before or after endurance) on relevant fitness variables in youth soccer players. Fifty-seven young elite-level male field soccer players (13.7 ± 0.5 years; 164 ± 8.3 cm; 53.5 ± 8.6 kg; body fat; 15.6 ± 3.9%) were randomly assigned to a control (n = 14, CG) and 3 experimental training groups (twice a week for 12 weeks) strength before (SE, n = 15), after (ES, n = 14) or on alternate days (ASE, n = 14) with endurance training. A significant (p = 0.001) intervention main effect was detected. There were only trivial training sequence differences (ES vs. SE) for all variables (p > 0.05). The CG showed large squat 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and medium sprint, change of direction ability, and jump improvements. ASE demonstrated a trivial difference in endurance performance with ES and SE (p > 0.05). Large to medium greater improvements for SE and ES were reported compared with ASE for sprinting over 10 and 30 m (p < 0.02). The SE squat 1RM was higher than in ASE (moderate, p < 0.02). Postintervention differences between ES and SE with CG fitness variables were small to medium (p ≤ 0.05) except for a large SE advantage with the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (p < 0.001, large). This study showed no effect of intrasession training sequence on soccer fitness-relevant variables. However, combining strength and endurance within a single training session provided superior results vs. training on alternate days. Concurrent training may be considered as an effective and safe training method for the development of the prospective soccer player.

Selenium speciation analysis of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus selenoprotein by HPLC-ICP-MS and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Analytical methods for selenium (Se) speciation were developed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to either inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Separations of selenomethionine (Se-Met) and sel...

LC-MS/MS and GC-MS methods in propofol detection: Evaluation of the two analytical procedures.

PubMed

Vaiano, Fabio; Serpelloni, Giovanni; Focardi, Martina; Fioravanti, Alessia; Mari, Francesco; Bertol, Elisabetta

2015-11-01

Propofol is a short-acting hypnotic agent that is commonly used to induce and maintain anesthesia. Propofol abuse and its involvement in suicide deaths have increased in recent years, especially among healthcare personnel. An example is the suicide of a 61-year-old nurse found with a propofol drip in his left arm. We describe the postmortem concentration of propofol in various tissues (femoral and cardiac blood, bile, urine, brain, and liver) and in the drip. The toxicological analyses were performed through two analytical methods, differing in derivatization reaction and in instrumentation: silylation for gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), as routinely performed in our laboratory for this kind of analyses (lower limits of quantification-LLOQ-in urine and blood: 0.3 and 5ng/ml); for liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) an innovative azo-coupling derivatization (LLOQ: 0.0004 and 0.1ng/ml). This latter produces an azo-derivative (molecular composition: C18H22ON2; molecular weight: 282Da) highly ionizable in electro-spray ion source, both in negative and positive ionizations. These two methods were compared to evaluate the effectiveness of this new LC-MS/MS analysis. An acidic hydrolysis (HCl 6N, 100°C, and 1h) was performed for the biological samples (1ml or 1g) irrespective of the analytical method applied. The drip content was extracted adding phosphate buffer (pH 8) and a dichloromethane/ethylacetate 8:2 (v:v) mixture. Derivatization steps were: silylation with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA)+tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for GC-MS; regarding LC-MS/MS, azo-coupling reaction with the aryl-diazonium salt (0-5°C, and 30min). The analyses were achieved in selected-ion monitoring for GC-MS (m/z, 235,250,73 propofol"; m/z, 252,267,27 propofol-d17) and in multiple reaction monitoring ([M-H](-): m/z 283→241,77, azo-propofol; m/z 299→251,77, azo-propofol-d17) for LC-MS/MS. Autopsy showed no significant findings

Immediate vs delayed repair bond strength of a nanohybrid resin composite.

PubMed

El-Askary, Farid S; El-Banna, Ahmed H; van Noort, Richard

2012-06-01

To evaluate both the immediate and water-stored repair tensile bond strength (TBS) of a nanohybrid resin composite using different bonding protocols. One hundred sixty half hourglass-shaped slabs were prepared. Eighty half-slabs were wet ground immediately after light curing using high-speed abrasive burs, while the other half-slabs were stored in water for one month (delayed) and then wet ground for repair. Each set of the 80 repaired slabs was split into two groups to be tested for TBS after 24 h or 1 month of water storage. For all repaired slabs, either immediate or delayed, four bonding procedures were used involving wet and dry bonding with a 3-step etch-and-rinse adhesive with or without silane pretreatment. TBS tests were performed at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. To determine the cohesive strength of the resin composite itself, which served as the reference, additional whole slabs were prepared and tested in tension after a 24-h (n = 10) and a 1-month storage period (n = 10). Failure modes were evaluated using a stereomicroscope at 40X magnification. Three-way ANOVA was run to test the effect of water storage, testing time, bonding protocols, and their interactions on the repair TBS, which was given as a percentage of the reference values. For the immediate repair groups, the repair TBS ranged from 40% to 61.9% after 24-h storage and from 26% to 53.1% after 1-month water storage compared to the TBS of the whole slabs. For the delayed repair group, the repaired TBS ranged from 47.2% to 63.6% for the 24-h repairs and from 32.2% to 44.2% for the test groups stored in water for 1 month. Three-way ANOVA revealed that water storage had no significant effect on the repair TBS (p = 0.619). Both testing time and bonding protocols had a significant effect on the repair TBS (p = 0.001). The interactions between the independent variables (water storage, testing time, and bonding protocols) had no significant effect (p = 0.067). The repair bond strength was

Measurement of in-situ strength using projectile penetration: Tests of a new launching system

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

Hearst, J.R.; Newmark, R.L.; Charest, J.A.

1987-10-01

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has a continuing need to measure rock strength in situ, both for simple prediction of cavity size, and as input to computational models. In a previous report we compared two methods for measuring formation strength in situ: projectile penetration and a cone penetrometer. We determined that the projectile method was more promising for application to our large-diameter (2-4-m) hole environment. A major practical problem has been the development of a launcher and an apparatus for measuring depth of penetration that would be suitable for use in large-diameter holes. We are developing a gas-gun launcher systemmore » that will be capable of measuring both depth of penetration and deceleration of a reusable projectile. The current version of the launcher is trailer-mounted for testing at our Nevada Test Site (NTS) in tunnels and outcrops, but its design is such that it can be readily adapted for emplacement hole use. We test the current launcher on 60-cm cubes of gypsum cement, mixed to provie a range of densities (1.64 to 2.0 g/cc) and strengths (3 to 17 MPa). We compared depth of penetration of a 84-g projectile from a ''Betsy'' seismic gun - traveling on the order of 500 m/s - with the depth of penetration of a 13-kg projectile from the gas gun - traveling on the order of 30 m/s. For projectiles with the same nose size and shape, impacting targets of approximately constant strength, penetration depth was proportional to projectile kinetic energy. The ratio of kinetic energy to penetration depth was approximately proportional to target strength. Tests in tuffs with a wide range of strengths at NTS gave a similar linear relationship between the ratio of kinetic energy to penetration and target strength, and also a linear relationship between deceleration and strength. It appears that penetration can indeed be used as a semiquantitative measure of strength.« less

LC-MS-Based Lipidomics and Automated Identification of Lipids Using the LipidBlast In-Silico MS/MS Library.

PubMed

Cajka, Tomas; Fiehn, Oliver

2017-01-01

This protocol describes the analysis, specifically the identification, of blood plasma lipids. Plasma lipids are extracted using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), methanol, and water followed by separation and data acquisition of isolated lipids using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RPLC-QTOFMS) operated in MS/MS mode. For lipid identification, acquired MS/MS spectra are converted to the mascot generic format (MGF) followed by library search using the in-silico MS/MS library LipidBlast. Using this approach, lipid classes, carbon-chain lengths, and degree of unsaturation of fatty-acid components are annotated.

Effect of the Rate of Hot Compressive Deformation on the Kinetics of Dynamic and Static Recrystallization of Novel Medium-Carbon Medium-Alloy Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khlusova, E. I.; Zisman, A. A.; Knyazyuk, T. V.; Novoskol'tsev, N. N.

2018-03-01

Dynamic and static recrystallization occurring under hot deformation at a rate of 1 and 100 sec - 1 in high-strength medium-carbon wear-resistant steels developed at CRISM "Prometey" for die forming of parts of driven elements of tillage machines is studied. The critical strain of dynamic recrystallization and the threshold temperatures and times of finish of static recrystallization are determined for the studied deformation rates at various temperatures.

Bioavailability of wilforlide A in mice and its concentration determination using an HPLC-APCI-MS/MS method.

PubMed

Wang, Zhijun; Yeung, Steven; Chen, Shang; Moatazedi, Yasmin; Chow, Moses S S

2018-07-15

Wilforlide A (WA), an active compound in Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TW) which is a traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of autoimmune diseases, is a quality control marker for TW product. At present, the bioavailability/pharmacokinetics of WA is not known. Such information is not only essential to evaluate the relevance of WA as a quality control maker, but also important for future clinical efficacy studies. Therefore, a high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometric method (HPLC-APCI-MS/MS) was developed and applied to a bioavailability/pharmacokinetic study of WA. WA and celastrol (the internal standard, IS) were extracted by a liquid-liquid extraction method using methyl tert-butyl ether. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning in positive ionization mode was used to monitor the transition of m/z 455.1 to 191.3 for WA and 451.3 to 201.2 for IS. This method was validated and applied to a pharmacokinetic study of WA in mice following intravenous administration (IV, 1.2 mg/kg), intraperitoneal injection (IP, 6 mg/kg) and oral administration (PO, 30 mg/kg). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for WA was 10 ng/ml. The intra- and inter-day precision was found to be within 15.4% while the accuracy within 94.1-115.7% for all the quality control and LLOQ samples. The samples were stable under all the usual storage and experimental conditions. The terminal elimination half-lives were 14.7, 9.1 and 22.7 min following IV, IP and PO dosing, while the absolute bioavailability for IP and PO WA were 9.39% and 0.58% respectively. These results indicated that the HPLC-APCI-MS/MS assay was suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of WA. WA was found poorly absorbed when given orally and therefore it may not be a relevant marker for the oral TW products in the market. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Decrements in knee extensor and flexor strength are associated with performance fatigue during simulated basketball game-play in adolescent, male players.

PubMed

Scanlan, Aaron T; Fox, Jordan L; Borges, Nattai R; Delextrat, Anne; Spiteri, Tania; Dalbo, Vincent J; Stanton, Robert; Kean, Crystal O

2018-04-01

This study quantified lower-limb strength decrements and assessed the relationships between strength decrements and performance fatigue during simulated basketball. Ten adolescent, male basketball players completed a circuit-based, basketball simulation. Sprint and jump performance were assessed during each circuit, with knee flexion and extension peak concentric torques measured at baseline, half-time, and full-time. Decrement scores were calculated for all measures. Mean knee flexor strength decrement was significantly (P < 0.05) related to sprint fatigue in the first half (R = 0.65), with dominant knee flexor strength (R = 0.67) and dominant flexor:extensor strength ratio (R = 0.77) decrement significantly (P < 0.05) associated with sprint decrement across the entire game. Mean knee extensor strength (R = 0.71), dominant knee flexor strength (R = 0.80), non-dominant knee flexor strength (R = 0.75), mean knee flexor strength (R = 0.81), non-dominant flexor:extensor strength ratio (R = 0.71), and mean flexor:extensor strength ratio (R = 0.70) decrement measures significantly (P < 0.05) influenced jump fatigue during the entire game. Lower-limb strength decrements may exert an important influence on performance fatigue during basketball activity in adolescent, male players. Consequently, training plans should aim to mitigate lower-limb fatigue to optimise sprint and jump performance during game-play.

Determination of propineb and its metabolites propylenethiourea and propylenediamine in banana and soil using gas chromatography with flame photometric detection and LC-MS/MS analysis.

PubMed

Song, Shiming; Wei, Jie; Chen, Zhaojie; Lei, Yuhao; Zhang, Yan; Deng, Cheng; Tan, Huihua; Li, Xuesheng

2018-03-04

A sensitive and specific method for the determination of propineb and its metabolites, propylenethiourea (PTU) and propylenediamine (PDA), using gas chromatography with flame photometric detection (GC-FPD) and LC-MS/MS was developed and validated. Propineb and its metabolite residue dynamics in supervised field trials under Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) conditions in banana and soil were studied. Recovery of propineb (as CS 2 ), PDA and PTU ranged from 75.3 to 115.4% with RSD (n = 5) of 1.3-11.1%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of CS 2 , PDA and PTU ranged from 0.005 to 0.01 mg kg -1 , and the limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.0015 to 0.0033 mg kg -1 . Dissipation experiments showed that the half-life of propineb in banana and soil ranged from 4.4 to 13.3 days. PTU was found in banana with a half-life of 31.5-69.3 days, while levels of PDA were less than 0.01 mg kg -1 in banana and soil. It has been suggested that PTU is the major metabolite of propineb in banana. The method was demonstrated to be reliable and sensitive for the routine monitoring of propineb and its metabolites in banana and soil. It also serves as a reference for the detection and monitoring of dithiocarbamates (DTCs) residues and the evaluation of their metabolic pathway.

Women show similar central and peripheral fatigue to men after half-marathon.

PubMed

Boccia, Gennaro; Dardanello, Davide; Tarperi, Cantor; Festa, Luca; La Torre, Antonio; Pellegrini, Barbara; Schena, Federico; Rainoldi, Alberto

2018-06-01

Women are known to be less fatigable than men in single-joint exercises, but fatigue induced by running has not been well understood. Here we investigated sex differences in central and peripheral fatigue and in rate of force development (RFD) in the knee extensors after a half-marathon run. Ten male and eight female amateur runners (aged 25-50 years) were evaluated before and immediately after a half-marathon race. Knee extensors forces were obtained under voluntary and electrically evoked isometric contractions. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) force and peak RFD were recorded. Electrically doublet stimuli were delivered during the MVC and at rest to calculate the level of voluntary activation and the resting doublet twitch. After the race, decreases in MVC force (males: -11%, effect size [ES] 0.52; females: -11% ES 0.33), voluntary activation (males: -6%, ES 0.87; females: -4%, ES 0.72), and resting doublet twitch (males: -6%, ES 0.34; females: -8%, ES 0.30) were found to be similar between males and females. The decrease in peak RFD was found to be similar between males and females (males: -14%, ES 0.43; females: -15%, ES 0.14). Half-marathon run induced both central and peripheral fatigue, without any difference between men and women. The maximal and explosive strength loss was found similar between sexes. Together, these findings do not support the need of sex-specific training interventions to increase the tolerance to neuromuscular fatigue in half-marathoners.

Analytical Expressions for Deformation from an Arbitrarily Oriented Spheroid in a Half-Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cervelli, P. F.

2013-12-01

Deformation from magma chambers can be modeled by an elastic half-space with an embedded cavity subject to uniform pressure change along its interior surface. For a small number of cavity shapes, such as a sphere or a prolate spheroid, closed-form, analytical expressions for deformation have been derived, although these only approximate the uniform-pressure-change boundary condition, with the approximation becoming more accurate as the ratio of source depth to source dimension increases. Using the method of Elshelby [1957] and Yang [1988], which consists of a distribution of double forces and centers of dilatation along the vertical axis, I have derived expressions for displacement from a finite spheroid of arbitrary orientation and aspect ratio that are exact in an infinite elastic medium and approximate in a half-space. The approximation, like those for other cavity shapes, becomes increasingly accurate as the depth to source ratio grows larger, and is accurate to within a few percent in most real-world cases. I have also derived expressions for the deformation-gradient tensor, i.e., the derivatives of each component of displacement with respect to each coordinate direction. These can be transformed easily into the strain and stress tensors. The expressions give deformation both at the surface and at any point within the half-space, and include conditional statements that account for limiting cases that would otherwise prove singular. I have developed MATLAB code for these expressions (and their derivatives), which I use to demonstrate the accuracy of the approximation by showing how well the uniform-pressure-change boundary condition is satisfied in a variety of cases. I also show that a vertical, oblate spheroid with a zero-length vertical axis is equivalent to the penny-shaped crack of Fialko [2001] in an infinite medium and an excellent approximation in a half-space. Finally, because, in many cases, volume change is more tangible than pressure change, I have

Effectiveness of Traditional Strength vs. Power Training on Muscle Strength, Power and Speed with Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Behm, David G.; Young, James D.; Whitten, Joseph H. D.; Reid, Jonathan C.; Quigley, Patrick J.; Low, Jonathan; Li, Yimeng; Lima, Camila D.; Hodgson, Daniel D.; Chaouachi, Anis; Prieske, Olaf; Granacher, Urs

2017-01-01

Numerous national associations and multiple reviews have documented the safety and efficacy of strength training for children and adolescents. The literature highlights the significant training-induced increases in strength associated with youth strength training. However, the effectiveness of youth strength training programs to improve power measures is not as clear. This discrepancy may be related to training and testing specificity. Most prior youth strength training programs emphasized lower intensity resistance with relatively slow movements. Since power activities typically involve higher intensity, explosive-like contractions with higher angular velocities (e.g., plyometrics), there is a conflict between the training medium and testing measures. This meta-analysis compared strength (e.g., training with resistance or body mass) and power training programs (e.g., plyometric training) on proxies of muscle strength, power, and speed. A systematic literature search using a Boolean Search Strategy was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, SPORT Discus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar and revealed 652 hits. After perusal of title, abstract, and full text, 107 studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed small to moderate magnitude changes for training specificity with jump measures. In other words, power training was more effective than strength training for improving youth jump height. For sprint measures, strength training was more effective than power training with youth. Furthermore, strength training exhibited consistently large magnitude changes to lower body strength measures, which contrasted with the generally trivial, small and moderate magnitude training improvements of power training upon lower body strength, sprint and jump measures, respectively. Maturity related inadequacies in eccentric strength and balance might influence the lack of training specificity with the unilateral

Effectiveness of Traditional Strength vs. Power Training on Muscle Strength, Power and Speed with Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Behm, David G; Young, James D; Whitten, Joseph H D; Reid, Jonathan C; Quigley, Patrick J; Low, Jonathan; Li, Yimeng; Lima, Camila D; Hodgson, Daniel D; Chaouachi, Anis; Prieske, Olaf; Granacher, Urs

2017-01-01

Numerous national associations and multiple reviews have documented the safety and efficacy of strength training for children and adolescents. The literature highlights the significant training-induced increases in strength associated with youth strength training. However, the effectiveness of youth strength training programs to improve power measures is not as clear. This discrepancy may be related to training and testing specificity. Most prior youth strength training programs emphasized lower intensity resistance with relatively slow movements. Since power activities typically involve higher intensity, explosive-like contractions with higher angular velocities (e.g., plyometrics), there is a conflict between the training medium and testing measures. This meta-analysis compared strength (e.g., training with resistance or body mass) and power training programs (e.g., plyometric training) on proxies of muscle strength, power, and speed. A systematic literature search using a Boolean Search Strategy was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, SPORT Discus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar and revealed 652 hits. After perusal of title, abstract, and full text, 107 studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed small to moderate magnitude changes for training specificity with jump measures. In other words, power training was more effective than strength training for improving youth jump height. For sprint measures, strength training was more effective than power training with youth. Furthermore, strength training exhibited consistently large magnitude changes to lower body strength measures, which contrasted with the generally trivial, small and moderate magnitude training improvements of power training upon lower body strength, sprint and jump measures, respectively. Maturity related inadequacies in eccentric strength and balance might influence the lack of training specificity with the unilateral

Metabolic profiling of roots of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) from different geographical areas by ESI/MS/MS and determination of major metabolites by LC-ESI/MS and LC-ESI/MS/MS.

PubMed

Montoro, Paola; Maldini, Mariateresa; Russo, Mariateresa; Postorino, Santo; Piacente, Sonia; Pizza, Cosimo

2011-02-20

Liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) has been applied to the full characterization of saponins and phenolics in hydroalcoholic extracts of roots of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Relative quantitative analyses of the samples with respect to the phenolic constituents and to a group of saponins related to glycyrrhizic acid were performed using LC-ESI/MS. For the saponin constituents, full scan LC-MS/MS fragmentation of the protonated (positive ion mode) or deprotonated (negative ion mode) molecular species generated diagnostic fragment ions that provided information concerning the triterpene skeleton and the number and nature of the substituents. On the basis of the specific fragmentation of glycyrrhizic acid, an LC-MS/MS method was developed in order to quantify the analyte in the liquorice root samples. Chinese G. glabra roots contained the highest levels of glycyrrhizic acid, followed by those from Italy (Calabria). Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Formation of bubbly horizon in liquid-saturated porous medium by surface temperature oscillation.

PubMed

Goldobin, Denis S; Krauzin, Pavel V

2015-12-01

We study nonisothermal diffusion transport of a weakly soluble substance in a liquid-saturated porous medium in contact with a reservoir of this substance. The surface temperature of the porous medium half-space oscillates in time, which results in a decaying solubility wave propagating deep into the porous medium. In this system, zones of saturated solution and nondissolved phase coexist with ones of undersaturated solution. The effect is first considered for the case of annual oscillation of the surface temperature of water-saturated ground in contact with the atmosphere. We reveal the phenomenon of formation of a near-surface bubbly horizon due to temperature oscillation. An analytical theory of the phenomenon is developed. Further, the treatment is extended to the case of higher frequency oscillations and the case of weakly soluble solids and liquids.

Positive and negative ion mode ESI-MS and MS/MS for studying drug-DNA complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosu, Frédéric; Pirotte, Sophie; Pauw, Edwin De; Gabelica, Valérie

2006-07-01

We report systematic investigation of duplex DNA complexes with minor groove binders (Hoechsts 33258 and 33342, netropsin and DAPI) and intercalators (daunomycin, doxorubicin, actinomycin D, ethidium, cryptolepine, neocryptolepine, m-Amsacrine, proflavine, ellipticine and mitoxantrone) by ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS in the negative ion mode and in the positive ion mode. The apparent solution phase equilibrium binding constants can be determined by measuring relative intensities in the ESI-MS spectrum. While negative ion mode gives reliable results, positive ion mode gives a systematic underestimation of the binding constants and even a complete suppression of the complexes for intercalators lacking functional groups capable of interacting in the grooves. In the second part of the paper we systematically compare MS/MS fragmentation channels and breakdown curves in the positive and the negative modes, and discuss the possible uses and caveats of MS/MS in drug-DNA complexes. In the negative mode, the drugs can be separated in three groups: (1) those that leave the complex with no net charge; (2) those that leave the complex with a negative charge; and (3) those that remain attached on the strands upon dissociation of the duplex due to their positive charge. In the positive ion mode, all complexes fragment via the loss of protonated drug. Information on the stabilization of the complex by drug-DNA noncovalent interactions can be obtained straightforwardly only in the case of neutral drug loss. In all other cases, proton affinity (in the positive ion mode), gas-phase basicity (in the negative ion mode) and coulombic repulsion are the major factors influencing the fragmentation channel and the dissociation kinetics.

Investigation of different concentrations of MS media effects on gene expression and steviol glycosides accumulation in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

PubMed

Kahrizi, Danial; Ghaheri, Matin; Yari, Zahra; Yari, Khirollah; Bahraminejad, Sohbat

2018-02-10

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is one of two species that contains steviol glycosides. Among steviol glycosides that extracted from leaves, stevioside and rebaudioside A are the two major and the sweetest glycosides that are about 200-300 times sweeter than sucrose with zero calories. The best method for stevia propagation is tissue culture. So, for investigation of nutrients in medium, we studied the effect of different concentrations of MS media (MS, 0.5 MS, 0.25 MS, 0 MS) on morphological traits, UGT74G1 and UGT76G1 genes expression and accumulation of steviol glycosides in stevia leaves. The best growth rate (0.472 mm/d) has occurred in plants grown in MS media. Also, the highest gene expression of UGT74G1 gene (1.000 Total lab unit) was seen under MS treatment. However, the highest expression level of UGT76G1 gene (1.701 Total lab unit) was observed at plants grown in 0 MS. The highest amount of both Stevioside and Rebaudioside A (14.23 and 8.12, respectively) were accumulated in plants under MS treatment. Obviously, dilution of MS media associated with decreasing in both expression of the intended genes and accumulation of steviol glycosides.

MassSieve: Panning MS/MS peptide data for proteins

PubMed Central

Slotta, Douglas J.; McFarland, Melinda A.; Markey, Sanford P.

2010-01-01

We present MassSieve, a Java-based platform for visualization and parsimony analysis of single and comparative LC-MS/MS database search engine results. The success of mass spectrometric peptide sequence assignment algorithms has led to the need for a tool to merge and evaluate the increasing data set sizes that result from LC-MS/MS-based shotgun proteomic experiments. MassSieve supports reports from multiple search engines with differing search characteristics, which can increase peptide sequence coverage and/or identify conflicting or ambiguous spectral assignments. PMID:20564260

A Modified LC/MS/MS Method with Enhanced Sensitivity for the Determination of Scopolamine in Human Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Zuwei; Vaksman, Zalman; Putcha, Lakshmi

2008-01-01

Intranasal scopolamine is a choice drug for the treatment of motion sickness during space flight because of its quick onset of action, short half-life and favorable sideeffects profile. The dose administered usually ranges between 0.1 and 0.4 mg. Such small doses make it difficult to detect concentrations of scopolamine in biological fluids using existing sensitive LC/MS/MS method, especially when the biological sample volumes are limited. To measure scopolamine in human plasma to facilitate pharmacokinetic evaluation of the drug, we developed a sensitive LC/MS/MS method using 96 well micro elution plates for solid phase extraction (SPE) of scopolamine in human plasma. Human plasma (100-250 micro L) were loaded onto Waters Oasis HLB 96 well micro elution plate and eluted with 50 L of organic solvent without evaporation and reconstitution. HPLC separation of the eluted sample was performed using an Agilent Zorbax SB-CN column (50 x 2.1 mm) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min for 3 minutes. The mobile phase for separation was 80:20 (v/v) methanol: ammonium acetate (30 mM) in water. Concentrations of scopolamine were determined using a Micromass Quattro Micro(TM) mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization (ESI). ESI mass spectra were acquired in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring for the determination of scopolamine m/z = 304.2 right arrow 138.1 and internal standard hyoscyamine m/z = 290.2 right arrow 124.1. The method is rapid, reproducible, specific and has the following parameters: scopolamine and the IS are eluted at about 1.1 and 1.7 min respectively. The linear range is 25-10000 pg/mL for scopolamine in human plasma with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99 and CV less than 0.5%. The intra-day and inter-day CVs are less than 15% for quality control samples with concentrations of 75,300, and 750 pg/mL of scopolamine in human plasma. SPE using 96 well micro elution plates allows rapid sample preparation and enhanced sensitivity for the LC/MS/MS

Application of LC/MS/MS Techniques to Development of US ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation will describe the U.S. EPA’s drinking water and ambient water method development program in relation to the process employed and the typical challenges encountered in developing standardized LC/MS/MS methods for chemicals of emerging concern. The EPA’s Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List and Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulations, which are the driving forces behind drinking water method development, will be introduced. Three drinking water LC/MS/MS methods (Methods 537, 544 and a new method for nonylphenol) and two ambient water LC/MS/MS methods for cyanotoxins will be described that highlight some of the challenges encountered during development of these methods. This presentation will provide the audience with basic understanding of EPA's drinking water method development program and an introduction to two new ambient water EPA methods.

Effective medium model for a granular monolayer on an elastic substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maznev, Alexei

Effective medium models have been shown to work well in describing experimental observations of the interaction of surface Rayleigh waves with contact vibrations of a monolayer of microspheres . However, these models contain intrinsic conceptual problems: for example, the local displacement of the substrate at the contact point is equated to the effective medium average value of the surface displacement. I will present a rigorous derivation of the effective medium model for a random arrangement of mass-spring oscillators on an elastic half-space using elastodynamic surface Green's function formalism. We will see that the model equating the local surface displacement to the effective medium displacement is indeed valid if the spring constant of the oscillators is modified to include the stiffness of the contact calculated in the quasistatic approximation. In the case of contact vibrations of microspheres, this means using the spring constant calculated using the Hertzian contact model. Thus the results obtained in the prior work were correct despite the apparent inconsistencies in the model. The presented analysis will provide a solid foundation for effective medium models used to describe dynamics of microparticle arrays adhered to a solid substrate. This work was supported by the U. S. Army Research Office through the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies under Grant W911NF-13-D-0001.

Definitive screening design enables optimization of LC-ESI-MS/MS parameters in proteomics.

PubMed

Aburaya, Shunsuke; Aoki, Wataru; Minakuchi, Hiroyoshi; Ueda, Mitsuyoshi

2017-12-01

In proteomics, more than 100,000 peptides are generated from the digestion of human cell lysates. Proteome samples have a broad dynamic range in protein abundance; therefore, it is critical to optimize various parameters of LC-ESI-MS/MS to comprehensively identify these peptides. However, there are many parameters for LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. In this study, we applied definitive screening design to simultaneously optimize 14 parameters in the operation of monolithic capillary LC-ESI-MS/MS to increase the number of identified proteins and/or the average peak area of MS1. The simultaneous optimization enabled the determination of two-factor interactions between LC and MS. Finally, we found two parameter sets of monolithic capillary LC-ESI-MS/MS that increased the number of identified proteins by 8.1% or the average peak area of MS1 by 67%. The definitive screening design would be highly useful for high-throughput analysis of the best parameter set in LC-ESI-MS/MS systems.

Validation of HPLC-ESI-MS/MS Protocol to Analyze EtG in Hair for Assessment of Chronic Excessive Alcohol Use in Thailand in Conjunction with AUDIT.

PubMed

Thananchai, Thiwaphorn; Junkuy, Anongphan; Kittirattanapaiboon, Phunnapa; Sribanditmongkol, Pongruk

2016-06-01

Hair analysis for chronic excessive alcohol (ethanol) use has focused on ethyl glucuronide (EtG), a minor metabolite of ethanol. Preferred methods have involved high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in line with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. EtG analysis in hair has not yet been introduced to Thailand To validate an in-house HPLC-ESI-MS/MS hair analysis protocol for EtG and to apply it to a field sample of alcohol drinkers to assess different risk levels of alcohol consumption as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Validation procedures followed guidelines of the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, and the Scientific Working Group for Forensic Toxicology. One hundred twenty subjects reported consuming alcohol during a 3-month period prior to enrollment. After taking the Thai-language version of AUDIT, subjects were divided on the basis of test scores into low, medium, and high-risk groups for chronic excessive alcohol use. The protocol satisfied the international standards for selectivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and calibration curve. There was no significant matrix effect. Limits of detection and quantification (LOD/LOQ) were set at 15 pg of EtG per mg of hair. The protocol was not able to detect EtG in low-risk subjects (n = 38). Detection rates for medium-risk (n = 42) and high-risk subjects (n = 40) were 14.3% and 85%, respectively. The median of EtG concentration between these two groups were significantly different. Sensitivity and specificity were both more than 90% when EtG concentrations of high-risk subjects were compared with the 30 pg/mg cutoff recommended by the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) for diagnosing chronic excessive alcohol consumption, based on an average ethanol daily intake greater than 60 g. The in-house protocol for EtG analysis in hair was validated according to international standards. The protocol is a

Proteomic analysis of Oenococcus oeni freeze-dried culture to assess the importance of cell acclimation to conduct malolactic fermentation in wine.

PubMed

Cecconi, Daniela; Milli, Alberto; Rinalducci, Sara; Zolla, Lello; Zapparoli, Giacomo

2009-09-01

Cultures of Oenococcus oeni, the most important malolactic bacterium, are used to induce malolactic fermentation in wine. Survival assays in two different wines confirmed that cells acclimated for 24 h in half-strength wine-like medium (acclimation medium) enhanced the malolactic performances. To investigate the effect of the pre-incubation phase on cell physiology, a proteomic study was carried out. Total protein extracts of acclimated and non-acclimated cell cultures (control) were analyzed by 2-D-PAGE. A total of 20 out of approximately 400 spots varied significantly. All the spots were identified by MS analysis and most of them were proteins involved in metabolism, transcription/translation processes and stress response. The results revealed the different physiological status between non-acclimated and acclimated cells explaining, in part, their different behavior in wine. Regulation of stress proteins such as heat and cold shock proteins was involved. Moreover, the availability of sugars and amino acids (even if at low concentration) in acclimation medium determined a modulation of energy metabolism enhancing the resistance to stressful conditions (as those that cells find in wine when inoculated). Finally, this proteomic study increased knowledge concerning the physiological changes in freeze-dried culture occurring with pre-inoculation procedures.

Solution of the radiative transfer equation for Rayleigh scattering using the infinite medium Green's function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biçer, M.; Kaşkaş, A.

2018-03-01

The infinite medium Green's function is used to solve the half-space albedo, slab albedo and Milne problems for the unpolarized Rayleigh scattering case; these problems are the most classical problems of radiative transfer theory. The numerical results are obtained and are compared with previous ones.

Identification of clinical isolates of Aspergillus, including cryptic species, by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

PubMed

Vidal-Acuña, M Reyes; Ruiz-Pérez de Pipaón, Maite; Torres-Sánchez, María José; Aznar, Javier

2017-12-08

An expanded library of matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been constructed using the spectra generated from 42 clinical isolates and 11 reference strains, including 23 different species from 8 sections (16 cryptic plus 7 noncryptic species). Out of a total of 379 strains of Aspergillus isolated from clinical samples, 179 strains were selected to be identified by sequencing of beta-tubulin or calmodulin genes. Protein spectra of 53 strains, cultured in liquid medium, were used to construct an in-house reference database in the MALDI-TOF MS. One hundred ninety strains (179 clinical isolates previously identified by sequencing and the 11 reference strains), cultured on solid medium, were blindy analyzed by the MALDI-TOF MS technology to validate the generated in-house reference database. A 100% correlation was obtained with both identification methods, gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS, and no discordant identification was obtained. The HUVR database provided species level (score of ≥2.0) identification in 165 isolates (86.84%) and for the remaining 25 (13.16%) a genus level identification (score between 1.7 and 2.0) was obtained. The routine MALDI-TOF MS analysis with the new database, was then challenged with 200 Aspergillus clinical isolates grown on solid medium in a prospective evaluation. A species identification was obtained in 191 strains (95.5%), and only nine strains (4.5%) could not be identified at the species level. Among the 200 strains, A. tubingensis was the only cryptic species identified. We demonstrated the feasibility and usefulness of the new HUVR database in MALDI-TOF MS by the use of a standardized procedure for the identification of Aspergillus clinical isolates, including cryptic species, grown either on solid or liquid media. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. All rights reserved. For

Looking East at BottomHalf of Reactor Number One and TopHalf ...

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

Looking East at Bottom-Half of Reactor Number One and Top-Half of Reactor Number 2 Including Weigh Hopper on Third Floor of Oxide Building - Hematite Fuel Fabrication Facility, Oxide Building & Oxide Loading Dock, 3300 State Road P, Festus, Jefferson County, MO

Influence of previous acid etching on bond strength of universal adhesives to enamel and dentin.

PubMed

Torres, Carlos Rocha Gomes; Zanatta, Rayssa Ferreira; Silva, Tatiane Josefa; Huhtala, Maria Filomena Rocha Lima; Borges, Alessandra Bühler

2017-01-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acid pretreatment on the bond strength of composite resin bonded to enamel and dentin with 2 different universal self-etching adhesives. The null hypothesis was that the acid treatment performed prior to adhesive application would not significantly change the bond strength to enamel or dentin for either universal adhesive tested. A sample of 112 bovine incisors were selected and embedded in acrylic resin. Half were ground until a flat enamel surface was obtained, and the other half were polished until a 6 × 6-mm area of dentin was exposed, resulting into 2 groups (n = 56). The enamel and dentin groups were divided into 2 subgroups according to the adhesive system applied: Futurabond U or Scotchbond Universal. Each of these subgroups was divided into 2 additional subgroups (n = 14); 1 subgroup received phosphoric acid pretreatment, and 1 subgroup did not. The bond strength was assessed with a microtensile test. Data from enamel and dentin specimens were analyzed separately using 1-way analysis of variance. The acid pretreatment did not significantly change the bond strength of the adhesives tested, either to enamel (P = 0.4161) or to dentin (P = 0.4857). The acid etching pretreatment did not affect the bond strength to dentin and enamel when the tested universal multipurpose adhesive systems were used.

Analysis of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in environmental samples by GC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Elhottová, D; Tríska, J; Petersen, S O; Santrůcková, H

2000-05-01

Application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) can significantly improve trace analyses of compounds in complex matrices from natural environments compared to gas chromatography only. A GC-MS/MS technique for determination of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a bacterial storage compound, has been developed and used for analysis of two soils stored for up to 319 d, fresh samples of sewage sludge, as well as a pure culture of Bacillus megaterium. Specific derivatization of beta-hydroxybutyrate (3-OH C4:0) PHB monomer units by N-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoracetamide (MTBSTFA) improved chromatographic and mass spectrometric properties of the analyte. The diagnostic fragmentation scheme of the derivates tert-butyldimethylsilyl ester and ether of beta-hydroxybutyric acid (MTBSTFA-HB) essential for the PHB identification was shown. The ion trap MS was used, therefore the scan gave the best sensitivity and with MS/MS the noise decreased, so the S/N was better and also with second fragmentation the amount of ions increased compared to SIM. The detection limit for MTBSTFA-HB by GC-MS/MS was about 10(-13) g microL(-1) of injected volume, while by GC (FID) and GC-MS (scan) it was around 10(-10) g microL(-1) of injected volume. Sensitivity of GC-MS/MS measurements of PHB in arable soil and activated sludge samples was down to 10 pg of PHB g(-1) dry matter. Comparison of MTBSTFA-HB detection in natural soil sample by GC (FID), GC-MS (scan) and by GC-MS/MS demonstrated potentials and limitations of the individual measurement techniques.

MoNbTaV Medium-Entropy Alloy

DOE PAGES

Yao, Hongwei; Qiao, Jun -Wei; Gao, Michael; ...

2016-05-19

Guided by CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagrams) modeling, the refractory medium-entropy alloy MoNbTaV was synthesized by vacuum arc melting under a high-purity argon atmosphere. A body-centered cubic solid solution phase was experimentally confirmed in the as-cast ingot using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The measured lattice parameter of the alloy (3.208 Å) obeys the rule of mixtures (ROM), but the Vickers microhardness (4.95 GPa) and the yield strength (1.5 GPa) are about 4.5 and 4.6 times those estimated from the ROM, respectively. Using a simple model on solid solution strengthening predicts a yield strength of approximately 1.5 GPa. Inmore » conclusion, thermodynamic analysis shows that the total entropy of the alloy is more than three times the configurational entropy at room temperature, and the entropy of mixing exhibits a small negative departure from ideal mixing.« less

Study to determine and analyze the strength of high modulus glass in epoxy-matrix composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bacon, J. F.

1974-01-01

Glass composition research was conducted to produce a high modulus, high strength beryllium-free glass fiber. This program was built on the previous research for developing high modulus, high strength glass fibers which had a 5 weight percent beryllia content. The fibers resulting from the composition program were then used to produce fiber reinforced-epoxy resin composites which were compared with composites reinforced by commercial high modulus glass fibers, Thornel S graphite fiber, and hybrids where the external quarters were reinforced with Thornel S graphite fiber and the interior half with glass fiber as well as the reverse hybrid. The composites were given tensile strength, compressive strength, short-beam shear strength, creep and fatigue tests. Comments are included on the significance of the test data.

Novel magnetic nanoparticle-containing adhesive with greater dentin bond strength and antibacterial and remineralizing capabilities.

PubMed

Li, Yuncong; Hu, Xiaoyi; Xia, Yang; Ji, Yadong; Ruan, Jianping; Weir, Michael D; Lin, Xiaoying; Nie, Zhihong; Gu, Ning; Masri, Radi; Chang, Xiaofeng; Xu, Hockin H K

2018-06-20

A nanoparticle-doped adhesive that can be controlled with magnetic forces was recently developed to deliver drugs to the pulp and improve adhesive penetration into dentin. However, it did not have bactericidal and remineralization abilities. The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a magnetic nanoparticle-containing adhesive with dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM), amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (NACP) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNP); and (2) investigate the effects on dentin bond strength, calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) ion release and anti-biofilm properties. MNP, DMAHDM and NACP were mixed into Scotchbond SBMP at 2%, 5% and 20% by mass, respectively. Two types of magnetic nanoparticles were used: acrylate-functionalized iron nanoparticles (AINPs); and iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Each type was added into the resin at 1% by mass. Dentin bonding was performed with a magnetic force application for 3min, provided by a commercial cube-shaped magnet. Dentin shear bond strengths were measured. Streptococcus mutans biofilms were grown on resins, and metabolic activity, lactic acid and colony-forming units (CFU) were determined. Ca and P ion concentrations in, and pH of biofilm culture medium were measured. Magnetic nanoparticle-containing adhesive using magnetic force increased the dentin shear bond strength by 59% over SBMP Control (p<0.05). Adding DMAHDM and NACP did not adversely affect the dentin bond strength (p>0.05). The adhesive with MNP+DMAHDM+NACP reduced the S. mutans biofilm CFU by 4 logs. For the adhesive with NACP, the biofilm medium became a Ca and P ion reservoir. The biofilm culture medium of the magnetic nanoparticle-containing adhesive with NACP had a safe pH of 6.9, while the biofilm medium of commercial adhesive had a cariogenic pH of 4.5. Magnetic nanoparticle-containing adhesive with DMAHDM and NACP under a magnetic force yielded much greater dentin bond strength than commercial control. The novel adhesive

Resistance Training for Muscle Weakness in Multiple Sclerosis: Direct Versus Contralateral Approach in Individuals With Ankle Dorsiflexors' Disparity in Strength.

PubMed

Manca, Andrea; Cabboi, Maria Paola; Dragone, Daniele; Ginatempo, Francesca; Ortu, Enzo; De Natale, Edoardo Rosario; Mercante, Beniamina; Mureddu, Giovanni; Bua, Guido; Deriu, Franca

2017-07-01

To compare effects of contralateral strength training (CST) and direct strength training of the more affected ankle dorsiflexors on muscle performance and clinical functional outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibiting interlimb strength asymmetry. Randomized controlled trial. University hospital. Individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (N=30) and mild-to-moderate disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤6) presenting with ankle dorsiflexors' strength disparity. Participants were randomly assigned to a CST (n=15) or direct strength training (n=15) group performing 6 weeks of maximal intensity strength training of the less or more affected dorsiflexors, respectively. Maximal strength, endurance to fatigue, and mobility outcomes were assessed before, at the intervention end, and at 12-week follow-up. Strength and fatigue parameters were measured after 3 weeks of training (midintervention). In the more affected limb of both groups, pre- to postintervention significant increases in maximal strength (P≤.006) and fatigue endurance (P≤.04) were detected along with consistent retention of these improvements at follow-up (P≤.04). At midintervention, the direct strength training group showed significant improvements (P≤.002), with no further increase at postintervention, despite training continuation. Conversely, the CST group showed nonsignificant strength gains, increasing to significance at postintervention (P≤.003). In both groups, significant pre- to postintervention improvements in mobility outcomes (P≤.03), not retained at follow-up, were observed. After 6 weeks of training, CST proved as effective as direct strength training in enhancing performance of the more affected limb with a different time course, which may have practical implications in management of severely weakened limbs where direct strength training is not initially possible. Copyright © 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc

Thermal emission from a metamaterial wire medium slab.

PubMed

D'Aguanno, G; Mattiucci, N; Alù, A; Argyropoulos, C; Foreman, J V; Bloemer, M J

2012-04-23

We investigate thermal emission from a metamaterial wire medium embedded in a dielectric host and highlight two different regimes for efficient emission, respectively characterized by broadband emission near the effective plasma frequency of the metamaterial, and by narrow-band resonant emission at the band-edge in the Bragg scattering regime. We discuss how to control the spectral position and relative strength of these two emission mechanisms by varying the geometrical parameters of the proposed metamaterial and its temperature. © 2012 Optical Society of America

Pulmonary Function, Muscle Strength, and Incident Mobility Disability in Elders

PubMed Central

Buchman, Aron S.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Leurgans, Sue E.; Evans, Denis A.; Bennett, David A.

2009-01-01

Muscle strength, including leg strength and respiratory muscle strength, are relatively independently associated with mobility disability in elders. However, the factors linking muscle strength with mobility disability are unknown. To test the hypothesis that pulmonary function mediates the association of muscle strength with the development of mobility disability in elders, we used data from a longitudinal cohort study of 844 ambulatory elders without dementia participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project with a mean follow-up of 4.0 years (SD = 1.39). A composite measure of pulmonary function was based on spirometric measures of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, and peak expiratory flow. Respiratory muscle strength was based on maximal inspiratory pressure and expiratory pressure and leg strength based on hand-held dynamometry. Mobility disability was defined as a gait speed less than or equal to 0.55 m/s based on annual assessment of timed walk. Secondary analyses considered time to loss of the ability to ambulate. In separate proportional hazards models which controlled for age, sex, and education, composite measures of pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and leg strength were each associated with incident mobility disability (all P values < 0.001). Further, all three were related to the development of incident mobility disability when considered together in a single model (pulmonary function: hazard ratio [HR], 0.721; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.577, 0.902; respiratory muscle strength: HR, 0.732; 95% CI, 0.593, 0.905; leg strength: HR, 0.791; 95% CI, 0.640, 0.976). Secondary analyses examining incident loss of the ability to ambulate revealed similar findings. Overall, these findings suggest that lower levels of pulmonary function and muscle strength are relatively independently associated with the development of mobility disability in the elderly. PMID:19934353

Simultaneous UPLC-MS/MS assay for the detection of the traditional antipsychotics haloperidol, fluphenazine, perphenazine, and thiothixene in serum and plasma.

PubMed

Juenke, JoEtta M; Brown, Paul I; Urry, Francis M; Johnson-Davis, Kamisha L; McMillin, Gwendolyn A

2013-08-23

Most antipsychotic drugs that are commonly prescribed in the USA are monitored by liquid and gas chromatographic methods. Method performance has been improved using ultra high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A rapid and simple procedure for monitoring haloperidol, thiothixene, fluphenazine, and perphenazine is described here. Antipsychotic drug concentrations in serum and plasma were determined by LCMS/MS (Waters Acquity UPLC TQD). The instrument is operated with an ESI interface, in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), and positive ion mode. The resolution of both quadrupoles was maintained at unit mass with a peak width at half height of 0.7amu. Data analysis was performed using the Waters Quanlynx software. Serum or plasma samples were thawed at room temperature and a 100μL aliquot was placed in a tube. Then 300μL of precipitating reagent (acetonitrile-methanol [50:50, volume: volume]) containing the internal standard (0.12ng/μL Imipramine-D3) was added to each tube. The samples were vortexed and centrifuged. The supernatant was transferred to an autosampler vial and 8μL was injected into the UPLC-MS/MS. Utilizing a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 1.8μm, 2.1×50mm column at 25ºC, the analytes were separated using a timed, linear gradient of acetonitrile and water, each having 0.1% formic acid added. The column is eluted into the LC-MS/MS to detect imipramine D3 at transition 284.25>89.10, haloperidol at 376.18>165.06, thiothixene at 444.27>139.24, fluphenazine at 438.27>171.11, and perphenazine at 404.19>143.07. Secondary transitions for each analyte are also monitored for imipramine D3 at 284.25>193.10, haloperidol at 376.18>122.97, thiothixene at 444.27>97.93, fluphenazine at 438.27>143.08, and perphenazine at 404.19>171.11. The run-time is 1.8min per injection with baseline resolved chromatographic separation. The analytical measurement range was 0.2 to 12.0ng/mL for fluphenazine and perphenazine, and was 1 to 60

Explosive Strength of the Knee Extensors: The Influence of Criterion Trial Detection Methodology on Measurement Reproducibility.

PubMed

Dirnberger, Johannes; Wiesinger, Hans-Peter; Wiemer, Nicolas; Kösters, Alexander; Müller, Erich

2016-04-01

The present study was conducted to assess test-retest reproducibility of explosive strength measurements during single-joint isometric knee extension using the IsoMed 2000 dynamometer. Thirty-one physically active male subjects (mean age: 23.7 years) were measured on two occasions separated by 48-72 h. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1) and the coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated for (i) maximum torque (MVC), (ii) the peak rate of torque development (RTD peak ) as well as for (iii) the average rate of torque development (RTD) and the impulse taken at several predefined time intervals (0-30 to 0-300 ms); thereby explosive strength variables were derived in two conceptually different versions: on the one hand from the MVC-trial (version I), on the other hand from the trial showing the RTD peak (version II). High ICC-values (0.80-0.99) and acceptable CV-values (1.9-8.7%) could be found for MVC as well as for the RTD and the impulse taken at time intervals of ≥100 ms, regardless of whether version I or II was used. In contrast, measurements of the RTD peak as well as the RTD and the impulse taken during the very early contraction phase (i.e. RTD/impulse 0-30ms and RTD/impulse 0-50ms ) showed clearly weaker reproducibility results (ICC: 0.53-0.84; CV: 7.3-16.4%) and gave rise to considerable doubts as to clinical usefulness, especially when derived using version I. However, if there is a need to measure explosive strength for earlier time intervals in practice, it is, in view of stronger reproducibility results, recommended to concentrate on measures derived from version II, which is based on the RTD peak -trial.

Explosive Strength of the Knee Extensors: The Influence of Criterion Trial Detection Methodology on Measurement Reproducibility

PubMed Central

Wiesinger, Hans-Peter; Wiemer, Nicolas; Kösters, Alexander; Müller, Erich

2016-01-01

Abstract The present study was conducted to assess test-retest reproducibility of explosive strength measurements during single-joint isometric knee extension using the IsoMed 2000 dynamometer. Thirty-one physically active male subjects (mean age: 23.7 years) were measured on two occasions separated by 48–72 h. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1) and the coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated for (i) maximum torque (MVC), (ii) the peak rate of torque development (RTDpeak) as well as for (iii) the average rate of torque development (RTD) and the impulse taken at several predefined time intervals (0–30 to 0–300 ms); thereby explosive strength variables were derived in two conceptually different versions: on the one hand from the MVC-trial (version I), on the other hand from the trial showing the RTDpeak (version II). High ICC-values (0.80–0.99) and acceptable CV-values (1.9–8.7%) could be found for MVC as well as for the RTD and the impulse taken at time intervals of ≥100 ms, regardless of whether version I or II was used. In contrast, measurements of the RTDpeak as well as the RTD and the impulse taken during the very early contraction phase (i.e. RTD/impulse0–30ms and RTD/impulse0–50ms) showed clearly weaker reproducibility results (ICC: 0.53–0.84; CV: 7.3–16.4%) and gave rise to considerable doubts as to clinical usefulness, especially when derived using version I. However, if there is a need to measure explosive strength for earlier time intervals in practice, it is, in view of stronger reproducibility results, recommended to concentrate on measures derived from version II, which is based on the RTDpeak-trial. PMID:28149337

A validated UHPLC-MS/MS method to quantify low levels of anabolic-androgenic steroids naturally present in urine of untreated horses.

PubMed

Decloedt, Anneleen; Bailly-Chouriberry, Ludovic; Vanden Bussche, Julie; Garcia, Patrice; Popot, Marie-Agnes; Bonnaire, Yves; Vanhaecke, Lynn

2015-06-01

Doping control is a main priority for regulatory bodies of both the horse racing industry and the equestrian sports. Urine and blood samples are screened for the presence of hundreds of forbidden substances including anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs). Based on the suspected endogenous origin of some AASs, with β-boldenone as the most illicit candidate, this study aimed to improve the knowledge of the naturally present AAS in horse urine. To this extent, a novel ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated according to the Association of Official Racing Chemists (AORC) and European Commission (EC) guidelines, proving the power of this new method. Low limits of detection (0.2 ng/mL), good reproducibility (percentage of standard deviation (%RSD) < 10%), high recovery (94.6 to 117.1%), selectivity and specificity, and a linear response (confirmed with R(2) > 0.99 and lack-of-fit analysis) were obtained for all included AASs. With this method, urine samples of 105 guaranteed untreated horses (47 geldings, 53 mares, and 5 stallions serving as a control) were screened for β-boldenone and five related natural steroids: androstadienedione (ADD), androstenedione (AED), alpha-testosterone (αT), beta-testosterone (βT), and progesterone (P). Progesterone, β-testosterone, and α-testosterone were detected in more than half of the horses at low concentrations (<2 ng/mL). Occasionally, not only testosterone and progesterone but also low concentrations of AED, ADD, and boldenone (Bol) were found (0.5-5 ng/mL). Graphical Abstract A sensitive, new and fully validated UHPLC-MS/MS method has been developed that is able to quantify low levels of anabolic-androgenic steroids naturally present in urine of untreated horses (mares and geldings).

Integrated metabolomic profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C cirrhosis through GC/MS and UPLC/MS-MS.

PubMed

Fitian, Asem I; Nelson, David R; Liu, Chen; Xu, Yiling; Ararat, Miguel; Cabrera, Roniel

2014-10-01

The metabolic pathway disturbances associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unsatisfactorily characterized. Determination of the metabolic alterations associated with the presence of HCC can improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of this cancer and may provide opportunities for improved disease monitoring of patients at risk for HCC development. To characterize the global metabolic alterations associated with HCC arising from hepatitis C (HCV)-associated cirrhosis using an integrated non-targeted metabolomics methodology employing both gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS-MS). The global serum metabolomes of 30 HCC patients, 27 hepatitis C cirrhosis disease controls and 30 healthy volunteers were characterized using a metabolomics approach that combined two metabolomics platforms, GC/MS and UPLC/MS-MS. Random forest, multivariate statistics and receiver operator characteristic analysis were performed to identify the most significantly altered metabolites in HCC patients vs. HCV-cirrhosis controls and which therefore exhibited a close association with the presence of HCC. Elevated 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), 15-HETE, sphingosine, γ-glutamyl oxidative stress-associated metabolites, xanthine, amino acids serine, glycine and aspartate, and acylcarnitines were strongly associated with the presence of HCC. Elevations in bile acids and dicarboxylic acids were highly correlated with cirrhosis. Integrated metabolomic profiling through GC/MS and UPLC/MS-MS identified global metabolic disturbances in HCC and HCV-cirrhosis. Aberrant amino acid biosynthesis, cell turnover regulation, reactive oxygen species neutralization and eicosanoid pathways may be hallmarks of HCC. Aberrant dicarboxylic acid metabolism, enhanced bile acid metabolism and elevations in fibrinogen cleavage peptides may be signatures of cirrhosis. © 2014 John

[Specific odor component produced by Mycobacterium lepraemurium on Ogawa yolk medium].

PubMed

Mori, T; Aishima, T

1992-11-01

When Mycobacterium lepraemurium is grown on the 1% Ogawa yolk medium, it produces a specific odor. This odor was not observed in other easily cultivable acid-fast bacilli. Therefore, identification of the components responsible for the specific odor produced by M. lepraemurium was attempted. The odor components were extracted for overnight with sterilized and distilled water from the Ogawa yolk medium on which M. lepraemurium had been cultivated for two months. The odor components in the extract was adsorbed on refined charcoal. After washing with distilled water for three times, the charcoal was dried. Then the odor components were eluted from the charcoal with ethanol and the eluate was condensed under nitrogen gas flow at 40 degrees C. The condensate was analyzed by Gas-Chromatography-Mass-Spectrum (GC-MS). Phenylethanol and phenylacetic acid were identified as major odor components. A mixture of authentic phenylacetic acid, its methyl and ethyl esters, smelled similar to the odor of cultivated medium of M. lepraemurium. Thus, phenylacetic acid was identified as the key odor component produced by M. lepraemurium. When initial isolation culture of M. lepraemurium from murine leproma was cultivated on the Ogawa yolk medium by adding phenylacetic acid, growth inhibition was brought by the compound.

Cutaneous Side-effects of Immunomodulators in MS.

PubMed

Lebrun, C; Bertagna, M; Cohen, M

2011-09-01

Local skin reactions to subcutaneous injections of interferon beta (IFNB) or glatiramer acetate (GA) in multiple sclerosis (MS) are frequent, while severe cutaneous toxicity is rare. Both IFNB and GA are immunomodulatory drugs that have excellent safety profiles and are currently used for treatment of MS. They are administered by SC injection every other day for IFNB-1b, three times a week for IFNB-1a or daily for 20 mg for GA. The most common adverse effects, which occur in approximately 20-60% of patients, include pain, inflammation and induration at the injection sites. Another adverse effect is frank panniculitis followed by localized lipoatrophy at the injection sites, which has been described in half of the patients receiving GA injections but is also described with Subcutaneous IFNB-1b. No guidelines have yet been established for the treatment of skin reactions, which is a frequent point for discussion between neurologists and dermatologists. In addition, no treatment has been found for established lipoatrophy. The prevention and management of cutaneous side-effects include patient education, regular examination and manual palpation of all injection sites. Non-steroid antiinflammatory gels, local corticosteroids or endermology can help patients to resolve side-effects and to continue immunomodulatory treatment.

Observation of the 2+ isomer in 52Co

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orrigo, S. E. A.; Rubio, B.; Gelletly, W.; Blank, B.; Fujita, Y.; Giovinazzo, J.; Agramunt, J.; Algora, A.; Ascher, P.; Bilgier, B.; Cáceres, L.; Cakirli, R. B.; de France, G.; Ganioǧlu, E.; Gerbaux, M.; Grévy, S.; Kamalou, O.; Kozer, H. C.; Kucuk, L.; Kurtukian-Nieto, T.; Molina, F.; Popescu, L.; Rogers, A. M.; Susoy, G.; Stodel, C.; Suzuki, T.; Tamii, A.; Thomas, J. C.

2016-10-01

We report the first observation of the 2+ isomer in 52Co, produced in the β decay of the 0+, 52Ni ground state. We have observed three γ rays at 849, 1910, and 5185 keV characterizing the β de-excitation of the isomer. We have measured a half-life of 102(6) ms for the isomeric state. The Fermi and Gamow-Teller transition strengths for the β decay of Com52 to 52Fe have been determined. We also add new information on the β decay of the 6+, 52Co ground state, for which we have measured a half-life of 112(3) ms.

Urinary excretion half life of trichloroacetic acid as a biomarker of exposure to chlorinated drinking water disinfection by-products

PubMed Central

Bader, E; Hrudey, S; Froese, K

2004-01-01

Methods: A longitudinal pilot exposure/intervention study measured the elimination half life of TCAA in urine. Beverage consumption was limited to a public water supply and bottled water of known TCAA concentration, and ingestion volume was managed. The five participants limited fluid consumption to only the water provided. Consumption journals were kept by each participant and their daily first morning urine (FMU) samples were analysed for TCAA and creatinine. TCAA elimination half life curves were generated from a two week washout period using TCAA-free bottled water. Results: Individual elimination half lives ranged from 2.1 to 6.3 days, for single compartment exponential decay, the model which fit the data. Conclusion: Urinary TCAA is persistent enough to be viable as a biomarker of medium term (days) exposure to drinking water TCAA ingestion within a range of realistic concentrations. PMID:15258281

Modeling Shocks Detected by Voyager 1 in the Local Interstellar Medium

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

Kim, T. K.; Pogorelov, N. V.; Burlaga, L. F.

The magnetometer (MAG) on Voyager 1 ( V1 ) has been sampling the interstellar magnetic field (ISMF) since 2012 August. The V1 MAG observations have shown draped ISMF in the very local interstellar medium disturbed occasionally by significant enhancements in magnetic field strength. Using a three-dimensional, data-driven, multi-fluid model, we investigated these magnetic field enhancements beyond the heliopause that are supposedly associated with solar transients. To introduce time-dependent effects at the inner boundary at 1 au, we used daily averages of the solar wind parameters from the OMNI data set. The model ISMF strength, direction, and proton number density aremore » compared with V1 data beyond the heliopause. The model reproduced the large-scale fluctuations between 2012.652 and 2016.652, including major events around 2012.9 and 2014.6. The model also predicts shocks arriving at V1 around 2017.395 and 2019.502. Another model driven by OMNI data with interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) removed at the inner boundary suggests that ICMEs may play a significant role in the propagation of shocks into the interstellar medium.« less

Artificially modified collagen fibril orientation affects leather tear strength.

PubMed

Kelly, Susyn J; Wells, Hannah C; Sizeland, Katie H; Kirby, Nigel; Edmonds, Richard L; Ryan, Tim; Hawley, Adrian; Mudie, Stephen; Haverkamp, Richard G

2018-07-01

Ovine leather has around half the tear strength of bovine leather and is therefore not suitable for high-value applications such as shoes. Tear strength has been correlated with the natural collagen fibril alignment (orientation index, OI). It is hypothesized that it could be possible to artificially increase the OI of the collagen fibrils and that an artificial increase in OI could increase tear strength. Ovine skins, after pickling and bating, were strained biaxially during chrome tanning. The strain ranged from 2 to 15% of the initial sample length, either uniformly in both directions by 10% or with 3% in one direction and 15% in the other. Once tanned, the leather tear strengths were measured and the collagen fibril orientation was measured using synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering. The OI increased as a result of strain during tanning from 0.48 to 0.79 (P = 0.001) measured edge-on and the thickness-normalized tear strength increased from 27 to 43 N mm -1 (P < 0.001) after leather was strained 10% in two orthogonal directions. This is evidence to support a causal relationship between high OI (measured edge-on), highly influenced by thickness, and tear strength. It also provides a method to produce stronger leather. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Establish an automated flow injection ESI-MS method for the screening of fragment based libraries: Application to Hsp90.

PubMed

Riccardi Sirtori, Federico; Caronni, Dannica; Colombo, Maristella; Dalvit, Claudio; Paolucci, Mauro; Regazzoni, Luca; Visco, Carlo; Fogliatto, Gianpaolo

2015-08-30

ESI-MS is a well established technique for the study of biopolymers (nucleic acids, proteins) and their non covalent adducts, due to its capacity to detect ligand-target complexes in the gas phase and allows inference of ligand-target binding in solution. In this article we used this approach to investigate the interaction of ligands to the Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90). This enzyme is a molecular chaperone involved in the folding and maturation of several proteins which has been subjected in the last years to intensive drug discovery efforts due to its key role in cancer. In particular, reference compounds, with a broad range of dissociation constants from 40pM to 100μM, were tested to assess the reliability of ESI-MS for the study of protein-ligand complexes. A good agreement was found between the values measured with a fluorescence polarization displacement assay and those determined by mass spectrometry. After this validation step we describe the setup of a medium throughput screening method, based on ESI-MS, suitable to explore interactions of therapeutic relevance biopolymers with chemical libraries. Our approach is based on an automated flow injection ESI-MS method (AFI-MS) and has been applied to screen the Nerviano Medical Sciences proprietary fragment library of about 2000 fragments against Hsp90. In order to discard false positive hits and to discriminate those of them interacting with the N-terminal ATP binding site, competition experiments were performed using a reference inhibitor. Gratifyingly, this group of hits matches with the ligands previously identified by NMR FAXS techniques and confirmed by X-ray co-crystallization experiments. These results support the use of AFI-MS for the screening of medium size libraries, including libraries of small molecules with low affinity typically used in fragment based drug discovery. AFI-MS is a valid alternative to other techniques with the additional opportunities to identify compounds interacting with

The impact of different interstellar medium structures on the dynamical evolution of supernova remnants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yueyang; Bao, Biwen; Yang, Chuyuan; Zhang, Li

2018-05-01

The dynamical properties of supernova remnants (SNRs) evolving with different interstellar medium structures are investigated through performing extensive two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations in the cylindrical symmetry. Three cases of different interstellar medium structures are considered: the uniform medium, the turbulent medium and the cloudy medium. Large-scale density and magnetic fluctuations are calculated and mapped into the computational domain before simulations. The clouds are set by random distribution in advance. The above configuration allows us to study the time-dependent dynamical properties and morphological evolution of the SNR evolving with different ambient structures, along with the development of the instabilities at the contact discontinuity. Our simulation results indicate that remnant morphology deviates from symmetry if the interstellar medium contains clouds or turbulent density fluctuations. In the cloudy medium case, interactions between the shock wave and clouds lead to clouds' fragmentation. The magnetic field can be greatly enhanced by stretching field lines with a combination of instabilities while the width of amplification region is quite different among the three cases. Moreover, both the width of amplification region and the maximum magnetic-field strength are closely related to the clouds' density.

Simultaneous quantification of endogenous and exogenous plasma glucose by isotope dilution LC-MS/MS with indirect MRM of the derivative tag.

PubMed

Yu, Lingling; Wen, Chao; Li, Xing; Fang, Shiqi; Yang, Lichuan; Wang, Tony; Hu, Kaifeng

2018-03-01

Quantification of endogenous and exogenous plasma glucose can help more comprehensively evaluate the glucose metabolic status. A ratio-based approach using isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ID LC-MS/MS) with indirect multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of the derivative tag was developed to simultaneously quantify endo-/exogenous plasma glucose. Using diluted D-[ 13 C 6 ] glucose as tracer of exogenous glucose, 12 C 6 / 13 C 6 glucoses were first derivatized and then data were acquired in MRM mode. The metabolism of exogenous glucose can be tracked and the concentration ratio of endo/exo-genous glucose can be measured by calculating the endo-/exo-genous glucose concentrations from peak area ratio of specific daughter ions. Joint application of selective derivatization and MRM analysis not only improves the sensitivity but also minimizes the interference from the background of plasma, which warrants the accuracy and reproducibility. Good agreement between the theoretical and calculated concentration ratios was obtained with a linear correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9969 in the range of D-glucose from 0.5 to 20.0 mM, which covers the healthy and diabetic physiological scenarios. Satisfactory reproducibility was obtained by evaluation of the intra- and inter-day precisions with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 5.16%, and relative recoveries of 85.96 to 95.92% were obtained at low, medium, and high concentration, respectively. The method was successfully applied to simultaneous determination of the endo-/exogenous glucose concentration in plasma of non-diabetic and type II diabetic cynomolgus monkeys. Graphical Abstract The scheme of the proposed ratio-based approach using isotope dilution LC-MS/MS with indirect MRM of the derivative tag for simultaneous quantification of endogenous and exogenous plasma glucose.

The generalized liquid drop model alpha-decay formula: Predictability analysis and superheavy element alpha half-lives

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

Dasgupta-Schubert, N.; Reyes, M.A.

2007-11-15

The predictive accuracy of the generalized liquid drop model (GLDM) formula for alpha-decay half-lives has been investigated in a detailed manner and a variant of the formula with improved coefficients is proposed. The method employs the experimental alpha half-lives of the well-known alpha standards to obtain the coefficients of the analytical formula using the experimental Q{sub {alpha}} values (the DSR-E formula), as well as the finite range droplet model (FRDM) derived Q{sub {alpha}} values (the FRDM-FRDM formula). The predictive accuracy of these formulae was checked against the experimental alpha half-lives of an independent set of nuclei (TEST) that span approximatelymore » the same Z, A region as the standards and possess reliable alpha spectroscopic data, and were found to yield good results for the DSR-E formula but not for the FRDM-FRDM formula. The two formulae were used to obtain the alpha half-lives of superheavy elements (SHE) and heavy nuclides where the relative accuracy was found to be markedly improved for the FRDM-FRDM formula, which corroborates the appropriateness of the FRDM masses and the GLDM prescription for high Z, A nuclides. Further improvement resulted, especially for the FRDM-FRDM formula, after a simple linear optimization over the calculated and experimental half-lives of TEST was used to re-calculate the half-lives of the SHE and heavy nuclides. The advantage of this optimization was that it required no re-calculation of the coefficients of the basic DSR-E or FRDM-FRDM formulae. The half-lives for 324 medium-mass to superheavy alpha decaying nuclides, calculated using these formulae and the comparison with experimental half-lives, are presented.« less

In vitro clonal multiplication of an apple rootstock by culture of shoot apices and axillary buds.

PubMed

Kaushal, N; Modgil, M; Thakur, M; Sharma, D R

2005-06-01

In vitro clonal multiplication of apple rootstock MM 111 using axillary buds and shoot apices were carried out. Vegetative axillary buds of the size of 0.2-2.0 cm and shoot apices measuring 4 mm in length were initiated to shoot proliferation on MS medium supplemented with BA (0.5 - 1.0 mgl(-1)), GA3(0.5 mgl(-1)), with or without IBA(0.05 - 0.1 mgl(-1)). Small size explants showed less phenol exudation and less contamination. Following establishment phase, the small shoots emerged from explants were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with different combinations and concentrations of growth regulators. BA (1.0 mgl(-1)) and GA3 (0.5 mgl(-1)) combination showed highest multiplication rate (1:5), andcl also produced longer shoots. Two step rooting was done by transferring microcuttings to auxin free solid medium after root initiation in dark on 1/2 strength MS liquid medium containing IBA (0.5 mgl(-1) ). Rooted plantlets were transferred to peat containing paper cups and resulting plants of MM 111 acclimated successfully for transfer to field.

Eddy current testing probe with dual half-cylindrical coils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bae, Byung-Hoon; Choi, Jung-Mi; Kim, Soo-Yong

2000-02-01

We have developed a new eddy current probe composed of a dual half-cylindrical (2HC) coil as an exciting coil and a sensing coil that is placed in the small gap of the 2HC coil. The 2HC coil induces a linear eddy current on the narrow region within the target medium. The magnitude of eddy current has a maximum peak with the narrow width, underneath the center of the exciting 2HC coil. Because of the linear eddy current, the probe can be used to detect not only the existence of a crack but also its direction in conducting materials. Using specimen with a machined crack, and varying the exciting frequency from 0.5 to 100 kHz, we investigated the relationships between the direction of crack and the output voltage of the sensing coil.

Algorithms for database-dependent search of MS/MS data.

PubMed

Matthiesen, Rune

2013-01-01

The frequent used bottom-up strategy for identification of proteins and their associated modifications generate nowadays typically thousands of MS/MS spectra that normally are matched automatically against a protein sequence database. Search engines that take as input MS/MS spectra and a protein sequence database are referred as database-dependent search engines. Many programs both commercial and freely available exist for database-dependent search of MS/MS spectra and most of the programs have excellent user documentation. The aim here is therefore to outline the algorithm strategy behind different search engines rather than providing software user manuals. The process of database-dependent search can be divided into search strategy, peptide scoring, protein scoring, and finally protein inference. Most efforts in the literature have been put in to comparing results from different software rather than discussing the underlining algorithms. Such practical comparisons can be cluttered by suboptimal implementation and the observed differences are frequently caused by software parameters settings which have not been set proper to allow even comparison. In other words an algorithmic idea can still be worth considering even if the software implementation has been demonstrated to be suboptimal. The aim in this chapter is therefore to split the algorithms for database-dependent searching of MS/MS data into the above steps so that the different algorithmic ideas become more transparent and comparable. Most search engines provide good implementations of the first three data analysis steps mentioned above, whereas the final step of protein inference are much less developed for most search engines and is in many cases performed by an external software. The final part of this chapter illustrates how protein inference is built into the VEMS search engine and discusses a stand-alone program SIR for protein inference that can import a Mascot search result.

What do people with MS want and expect from health-care services?

PubMed

Somerset, M; Campbell, R; Sharp, D J; Peters, T J

2001-03-01

To determine the health-care preferences of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Cross-sectional survey using a postal questionnaire comprising standardized measures of health related quality of life (SF-36) and of depression (BDI) and original questions about issues linked to health-care, prioritized by people with MS during an earlier qualitative phase. A stratified sample of 318 people with MS in Scotland and England. Questionnaires were sent to 471 people with multiple sclerosis. The 318 respondents (68%) reported a wide variation in quality of life, but on average scored significantly lower than normative values in all dimensions of the SF-36. The most commonly used home treatment during the previous year was evening primrose oil, taken by almost half of the sample (47%). Use of cannabis was acknowledged by 8%. There was evidence that many preferences concerning health services were not satisfied. For instance lack of advice about at least one MS related issue was reported lacking for three-quarters of the sample and 17% lacked advice in at least five areas. Advice about exercise was the single most requested area. The most frequently consulted health professional was the GP (78%) followed by the hospital consultant (50%). The professional that respondents most commonly said they would like to have seen was a specialist MS nurse (30%). Forty-three percent of the sample said they had attended a special meeting for people with MS or disabilities. They were equally divided between those who did and who did not find their last attendance helpful. People with MS display a wide variation in their preference for services and unmet needs. Information about management (both conventional and unconventional), relevant tailored advice and access to appropriately skilled professionals should be feasible components of high quality care. This work has highlighted the value of involving people with MS in the identification of their preferences; further research is needed to

Interaction of indole-papaverine with DNA in solutions of various ionic strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Travkina, V. I.; Moroshkina, E. B.; Osinnikova, D. N.

2017-11-01

Interaction of synthetic alkaloid of isoquinoline series, which is an analogue of the biologically active compound papaverine, was studied by spectral, microcalorimetric, optical and hydrodynamic methods at different ionic strengths of medium. It was found that the investigated compound may interact with DNA in various ways depending on the ratio of ligand - DNA concentrations and ionic strength of solution (μ). When μ = 0.001, indole-papaverine intercalates into the double helix of DNA. The increase of μ resulted in a decrease of the affinity of the compound to DNA and a change its binding method.

Coherent electromagnetic waves in the presence of a half space of randomly distributed scatterers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karam, M. A.; Fung, A. K.

1988-01-01

The present investigation of coherent field propagation notes, upon solving the Foldy-Twersky integral equation for a half-space of small spherical scatterers illuminated by a plane wave at oblique incidence, that the coherent field for a horizontally-polarized incident wave exhibits reflectivity and transmissivity consistent with the Fresnel formula for an equivalent continuous effective medium. In the case of a vertically polarized incident wave, both the vertical and longitudinal waves obtained for the coherent field have reflectivities and transmissivities that do not agree with the Fresnel formula.

Rugged LC-MS/MS survey analysis for acrylamide in foods.

PubMed

Roach, John A G; Andrzejewski, Denis; Gay, Martha L; Nortrup, David; Musser, Steven M

2003-12-17

The described liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the detection of acrylamide in food entails aqueous room temperature extraction, SPE cleanup, and analysis by LC-MS/MS. The method is applicable to a wide variety of foods. [(13)C(3)]acrylamide is the internal standard. The limit of quantitation is 10 ppb (microg/kg). Data were obtained in duplicate from >450 products representing >35 different food types. The variability in analyte levels in certain food types suggests that it may be possible to reduce acrylamide levels in those foods.

An Essay on Interactive Investigations of the Zeeman Effect in the Interstellar Medium

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woolsey, Lauren

2015-01-01

The paper presents an interactive module created through the Wolfram Demonstrations Project that visualizes the Zeeman effect for the small magnetic field strengths present in the interstellar medium. The paper provides an overview of spectral lines and a few examples of strong and weak Zeeman splitting before discussing the module in depth.…

High-Precision Half-Life Measurement for the Superallowed {beta}{sup +} Emitter {sup 26}Al{sup m}

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

Finlay, P.; Svensson, C. E.; Green, K. L.

2011-01-21

A high-precision half-life measurement for the superallowed {beta}{sup +} emitter {sup 26}Al{sup m} was performed at the TRIUMF-ISAC radioactive ion beam facility yielding T{sub 1/2}=6346.54{+-}0.46{sub stat{+-}}0.60{sub syst} ms, consistent with, but 2.5 times more precise than, the previous world average. The {sup 26}Al{sup m} half-life and ft value, 3037.53(61) s, are now the most precisely determined for any superallowed {beta} decay. Combined with recent theoretical corrections for isospin-symmetry-breaking and radiative effects, the corrected Ft value for {sup 26}Al{sup m}, 3073.0(12) s, sets a new benchmark for the high-precision superallowed Fermi {beta}-decay studies used to test the conserved vector current hypothesismore » and determine the V{sub ud} element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix.« less

Eigenvalue approach to coupled thermoelasticity in a rotating isotropic medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayones, F. S.; Abd-Alla, A. M.

2018-03-01

In this paper the linear theory of the thermoelasticity has been employed to study the effect of the rotation in a thermoelastic half-space containing heat source on the boundary of the half-space. It is assumed that the medium under consideration is traction free, homogeneous, isotropic, as well as without energy dissipation. The normal mode analysis has been applied in the basic equations of coupled thermoelasticity and finally the resulting equations are written in the form of a vector- matrix differential equation which is then solved by eigenvalue approach. Numerical results for the displacement components, stresses, and temperature are given and illustrated graphically. Comparison was made with the results obtained in the presence and absence of the rotation. The results indicate that the effect of rotation, non-dimensional thermal wave and time are very pronounced.

Automated protein identification by the combination of MALDI MS and MS/MS spectra from different instruments.

PubMed

Levander, Fredrik; James, Peter

2005-01-01

The identification of proteins separated on two-dimensional gels is most commonly performed by trypsin digestion and subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) with time-of-flight (TOF). Recently, atmospheric pressure (AP) MALDI coupled to an ion trap (IT) has emerged as a convenient method to obtain tandem mass spectra (MS/MS) from samples on MALDI target plates. In the present work, we investigated the feasibility of using the two methodologies in line as a standard method for protein identification. In this setup, the high mass accuracy MALDI-TOF spectra are used to calibrate the peptide precursor masses in the lower mass accuracy AP-MALDI-IT MS/MS spectra. Several software tools were developed to automate the analysis process. Two sets of MALDI samples, consisting of 142 and 421 gel spots, respectively, were analyzed in a highly automated manner. In the first set, the protein identification rate increased from 61% for MALDI-TOF only to 85% for MALDI-TOF combined with AP-MALDI-IT. In the second data set the increase in protein identification rate was from 44% to 58%. AP-MALDI-IT MS/MS spectra were in general less effective than the MALDI-TOF spectra for protein identification, but the combination of the two methods clearly enhanced the confidence in protein identification.

Improvement of efficient in vitro regeneration potential of mature callus induced from Malaysian upland rice seed (Oryza sativa cv. Panderas)

PubMed Central

Mohd Din, Abd Rahman Jabir; Iliyas Ahmad, Fauziah; Wagiran, Alina; Abd Samad, Azman; Rahmat, Zaidah; Sarmidi, Mohamad Roji

2015-01-01

A new and rapid protocol for optimum callus production and complete plant regeneration has been assessed in Malaysian upland rice (Oryza sativa) cv. Panderas. The effect of plant growth regulator (PGR) on the regeneration frequency of Malaysian upland rice (cv. Panderas) was investigated. Mature seeds were used as a starting material for callus induction experiment using various concentrations of 2,4-D and NAA. Optimal callus induction frequency at 90% was obtained on MS media containing 2,4-D (3 mg L−1) and NAA (2 mg L−1) after 6 weeks while no significant difference was seen on tryptophan and glutamine parameters. Embryogenic callus was recorded as compact, globular and light yellowish in color. The embryogenic callus morphology was further confirmed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. For regeneration, induced calli were treated with various concentrations of Kin (0.5–1.5 mg L−1), BAP, NAA and 0.5 mg L−1 of TDZ. The result showed that the maximum regeneration frequency (100%) was achieved on MS medium containing BAP (0.5 mg L−1), Kin (1.5 mg L−1), NAA (0.5 mg L−1) and TDZ (0.5 mg L−1) within four weeks. Developed shoots were successfully rooted on half strength MS free hormone medium and later transferred into a pot containing soil for acclimatization. This cutting-edge finding is unique over the other existing publishable data due to the good regeneration response by producing a large number of shoots. PMID:26858569

Single hair analysis of small molecules using MALDI-triple quadrupole MS imaging and LC-MS/MS: investigations on opportunities and pitfalls.

PubMed

Poetzsch, Michael; Steuer, Andrea E; Roemmelt, Andreas T; Baumgartner, Markus R; Kraemer, Thomas

2014-12-02

Single hair analysis normally requires extensive sample preparation microscale protocols including time-consuming steps like segmentation and extraction. Matrix assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI-MSI) was shown to be an alternative tool in single hair analysis, but still, questions remain. Therefore, an investigation of MALDI-MSI in single hair analysis concerning the extraction process, usage of internal standard (IS), and influences on the ionization processes were systematically investigated to enable the reliable application to hair analysis. Furthermore, single dose detection, quantitative correlation to a single hair, and hair strand LC-MS/MS results were performed, and the performance was compared to LC-MS/MS single hair monitoring. The MALDI process was shown to be independent from natural hair color and not influenced by the presence of melanin. Ionization was shown to be reproducible along and in between different hair samples. MALDI image intensities in single hair and hair snippets showed good semiquantitative correlation to zolpidem hair concentrations obtained from validated routine LC-MS/MS methods. MALDI-MSI is superior to LC-MS/MS analysis when a fast, easy, and cheap sample preparation is necessary, whereas LC-MS/MS showed higher sensitivity with the ability of single dose detection for zolpidem. MALDI-MSI and LC-MS/MS segmental single hair analysis showed good correlation, and both are suitable for consumption monitoring of drugs of abuse with a high time resolution.

Dramatic secretion of recombinant protein expressed in tobacco cells with a designer glycopeptide tag is highly impacted by medium composition.

PubMed

Zhang, Ningning; Dolan, Maureen; Wu, Di; Phillips, Gregory C; Xu, Jianfeng

2016-12-01

Cell growth medium composition has profound impacts on the O -glycosylation of a "designer" arabinogalactan protein-based module; full glycosylation is essential in directing efficient extracellular secretion of the tagged recombinant protein. Expression of recombinant proteins in plant cells as fusion with a de novo designed hydroxyproline (Hyp)-O-glycosylated peptide (HypGP) tag, termed HypGP engineering technology, resulted in dramatically increased secreted protein yields. This is due to the function of the HypGP tag as a molecular carrier in promoting efficient transport of conjoined proteins into culture media. To optimize the cell culture to achieve the best secreted protein yields, the medium effects on the cell growth and protein secretion were investigated using as a model system the tobacco BY-2 cell expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) fused with a (SP) 32 tag (32 tandem repeats of "Ser-Pro" motif). The (SP) 32 tag was found to undergo two-stage Hyp-O-glycosylation in plant cells with the dramatic secretion of the conjoined EGFP correlating with the triggering of the second-stage glycosylation. The BY-2 cell culture in SH medium generated a high secreted protein yield (125 mg/L) with a low cell biomass accumulation (~7.5 gDW/L). In contrast, very low secreted protein yields (~1.5 mg/L) with a high cell biomass accumulation (13.5 gDW/L) were obtained in MS medium. The macronutrients, specifically, the nitrogen supply greatly impacted the glycosylation of the (SP) 32 tag and subsequent protein secretion. Modified MS medium with reduced nitrogen levels boosted the secreted EGFP yields to 168 mg/L. This study demonstrates the profound impacts of medium composition on the secreted yields of a HypGP-tagged protein, and provides a basis for medium design to achieve the highest productivity of the HypGP engineering technology.

[Effect of thermal cycling on the composite- composite repair bond strength].

PubMed

Liu, Chang; Lin, Fei; Yue, Lin

2015-08-01

To evaluate the effect of aging of the composite and the adhesive interface on composite-composite repair bond strength. Methacrylate-based composite resin (Clearfil AP-X, composite A) and silorane-based composite resin (Filtek P90, composite B) and their corresponding adhesive, Clearfil SE Bond (adhesive a) and Filtek P90 System Adhesive (adhesive b), were selected in this study. Twenty-four substrates were prepared from composite A or B separately and divided into three groups, each group had 8 substrates: group one, new composites were adhered to the substrates with the use of adhesive a or b, followed by cutting the blocks into sticks; group two, new composites were adhered to the substrates using adhesive a or b, followed by cutting into sticks and thermal cycling; group three, substrates were thermocycled, then polished and adhered new composites using adhesive a or b, followed by cutting into sticks. Each group had 8 combinations of substrate(A, B)-adhesive(a, b)-repair composite (A, B). Fifteen sticks without flaws in each combination of 3 groups were selected utilizing stereomicroscope. The data were analyzed by independent samples t test. In group two, the microtensile strength(MS) of combinations using adhesive a and composite A or B to repair [A-a-A: (45.0 ± 3.2) MPa, B-a-A: (41.7 ± 3.3) MPa, A-a-B: (28.6 ± 3.9) MPa, B-a-B: (47.7 ± 6.6) MPa], and using adhesive b and composite A to repair [A-b-A: (44.2 ± 4.7) MPa, B-b-A: (38.0 ± 3.2) MPa] decreased significantly compared with corresponding combinations in group 1[A-a-A: (70.7 ± 5.5) MPa, B-a-A: (60.3 ± 5.1) MPa, A-a-B: (44.2 ± 1.6) MPa, B-a-B: (54.1 ± 3.2) MPa, A-b-A: (65.6 ± 7.2) MPa, B-b-A: (59.1 ± 4.1) MPa] (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the MS of combinations using adhesive b and composite B to repair in group one and the MS of combinations in group two (P>0.05). The MS of all combinations in group three decreased significantly (P<0.05). Aging of the

SELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE TO Y-BUTROLACTONE OVER PD/AL2O3 CATALYST USING SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE MEDIUM

EPA Science Inventory

Hydrogenation of maleic anhydride to g-butyrolactone over Pd/Al2O3 catalyst under supercritical carbondioxide medium

Unnikrishnan R. Pillai and Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie
National Risk Management Research laboratory (NRMRL), Clean Processes Branch, MS 443, United States...

Selective and comprehensive analysis of organohalogen compounds by GC × GC-HRTofMS and MS/MS.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Shunji; Zushi, Yasuyuki; Takazawa, Yoshikatsu; Ieda, Teruyo; Fushimi, Akihiro; Tanabe, Kiyoshi; Shibata, Yasuyuki

2018-03-01

Thousands of organohalogen compounds, including hazardous chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), were selectively and simultaneously detected and identified with simple, or no, purification from environmental sample extracts by using several advanced methods. The methods used were software extraction from two-dimensional gas chromatography-high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-HRTofMS) data, measurement by negative chemical ionization with HRTofMS, and neutral loss scanning (NLS) with GC × GC-MS/MS. Global and selective detection of organochlorines and bromines in environmental samples such as sediments and fly ash was achieved by NLS using GC × GC-MS/MS (QQQ), with the expected losses of 35 Cl and 79 Br. We confirmed that negative chemical ionization was effective for sensitive and selective ionization of organohalogens, even using GC × GC-HRTofMS. The 2D total ion chromatograms obtained by using negative chemical ionization and selective extraction of organohalogens using original software from data measured by electron impact ionization were very similar; the software thus functioned well to extract organohalogens. Combining measurements made by using these different methods will help to detect organohalogens selectively and globally. However, to compare the data obtained by individual measurements, the retention times of the peaks on the 2D chromatograms need to match.

Prediction of shear critical behavior of high-strength reinforced concrete columns using finite element methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alrasyid, Harun; Safi, Fahrudin; Iranata, Data; Chen-Ou, Yu

2017-11-01

This research shows the prediction of shear behavior of High-Strength Reinforced Concrete Columns using Finite-Element Method. The experimental data of nine half scale high-strength reinforced concrete were selected. These columns using specified concrete compressive strength of 70 MPa, specified yield strength of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement of 685 and 785 MPa, respectively. The VecTor2 finite element software was used to simulate the shear critical behavior of these columns. The combination axial compression load and monotonic loading were applied at this prediction. It is demonstrated that VecTor2 finite element software provides accurate prediction of load-deflection up to peak at applied load, but provide similar behavior at post peak load. The shear strength prediction provide by VecTor 2 are slightly conservative compare to test result.

Plant regeneration from leaf protoplasts of Solanum torvum.

PubMed

Guri, A; Volokita, M; Sink, K C

1987-07-01

A protocol to obtain regenerated plants from protoplasts of Solanum torvum Sw a wild species of eggplant resistant to Verticillium wilt is reported. Leaf protoplasts were enzymatically isolated from six-week old seedlings grown in a controlled environment chamber. Protoplasts were plated on modified KM medium (0.4 M glucose)+(mg/l): 1.0 p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (CPA)+1.0 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)+0.5 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.02 abscisic acid (ABA). The protoplast density was 5×10(4) per ml with 5 ml placed in each of two quadrants in X-dishes (100×15 mm). The reservoir medium was modified KM+(mg/l): 0.1 NAA+0.5 BAP+0.1 M sucrose+0.1 M mannitol+0.6% washed agar+1% activated charcoal. Dishes were initially placed in the dark at 27°C. Protoplast division was initiated in 1-2 weeks and 4 weeks later p-calli were 1-3 mm. Plating efficiency was 11% when measured at 3 weeks. Six-week old p-calli were transferred individually onto Whatman No. 1 filter paper layered on modified KM (0.15 M sucrose)+mg/l: 2.0 indoleacetic acid (IAA)+2.0 zeatin+0.5% washed agar for 2 weeks. Subsequently, shoots occurred within 4 weeks at 70% efficiency on MS+30 g/l sucrose+2 mg/l zeatin. Shoots were rooted on half strength MS+10 g/l sucrose.

Divergent selection for fiber length and bundle strength and correlated responses in cotton

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cotton breeders must develop cultivars to meet the demand for longer, stronger, and more uniform fibers. In the current study, two cycles of divergent selection for fiber upper-half mean length (UHML) and bundle strength (Str) were conducted within five diverse parental combinations selected based o...

7 CFR 51.2295 - Half kernel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Half kernel. 51.2295 Section 51.2295 Agriculture... Standards for Shelled English Walnuts (Juglans Regia) Definitions § 51.2295 Half kernel. Half kernel means the separated half of a kernel with not more than one-eighth broken off. ...

Capillary reference half-cell

DOEpatents

Hall, Stephen H.

1996-01-01

The present invention is a reference half-cell electrode wherein intermingling of test fluid with reference fluid does not affect the performance of the reference half-cell over a long time. This intermingling reference half-cell may be used as a single or double junction submersible or surface reference electrode. The intermingling reference half-cell relies on a capillary tube having a first end open to reference fluid and a second end open to test fluid wherein the small diameter of the capillary tube limits free motion of fluid within the capillary to diffusion. The electrode is placed near the first end of the capillary in contact with the reference fluid. The method of operation of the present invention begins with filling the capillary tube with a reference solution. After closing the first end of the capillary, the capillary tube may be fully submerged or partially submerged with the second open end inserted into test fluid. Since the electrode is placed near the first end of the capillary, and since the test fluid may intermingle with the reference fluid through the second open end only by diffusion, this intermingling capillary reference half-cell provides a stable voltage potential for long time periods.

Capillary reference half-cell

DOEpatents

Hall, S.H.

1996-02-13

The present invention is a reference half-cell electrode wherein intermingling of test fluid with reference fluid does not affect the performance of the reference half-cell over a long time. This intermingling reference half-cell may be used as a single or double junction submersible or surface reference electrode. The intermingling reference half-cell relies on a capillary tube having a first end open to reference fluid and a second end open to test fluid wherein the small diameter of the capillary tube limits free motion of fluid within the capillary to diffusion. The electrode is placed near the first end of the capillary in contact with the reference fluid. The method of operation of the present invention begins with filling the capillary tube with a reference solution. After closing the first end of the capillary, the capillary tube may be fully submerged or partially submerged with the second open end inserted into test fluid. Since the electrode is placed near the first end of the capillary, and since the test fluid may intermingle with the reference fluid through the second open end only by diffusion, this intermingling capillary reference half-cell provides a stable voltage potential for long time periods. 11 figs.

High Throughput Analytical Techniques for the Determination and Confirmation of Residues of 653 Multiclass Pesticides and Chemical Pollutants in Tea by GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, and LC/MS/MS: Collaborative Study, First Action 2014.09.

PubMed

Pang, Guo-Fang; Fan, Chun-Lin; Cao, Yan-Zhong; Yan, Fang; Li, Yan; Kang, Jian; Chen, Hui; Chang, Qiao-Ying

2015-01-01

Thirty laboratories from fom North and South America, Europe, and Asia participated in this AOAC collaborative study (15 from China; five from Germany; two each from Italy and the United States; and one each from the Republic of Korea, Canada, Spain, Japan, Belgium, and India). Participants represented government regulatory, commercial testing, university, research institute, and private laboratories. The single-laboratory validated (SLV) tea method was evaluated in the collaborative study to determine the recovery and reproducibility of the method under multilaboratory conditions. Since there were no restrictions regarding the type of analytical instrumentation to use for the analyses, laboratories used a combination of equipment that included GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, and LC/MS/MS instruments from 22 different manufacturers, 21 brands of GC and LC columns, 13 different GC temperature programming profiles, 11 LC gradient elution programs, and six different vendor manufactured SPE cartridges. Even though all the analytical performance parameters for all the 653 compounds had been determined in the SLV study, guidance was obtained from an expert review panel of the AOAC Method-Centric Committee on Pesticide Residues to conduct the multilaboratory collaborative study based on 20 selected compounds that can be analyzed by GC/MS and 20 compounds that can be analyzed by LC/MS/MS. Altogether, 560 samples covering the 40 selected pesticides were analyzed in the study. These samples included green tea and oolong tea samples fortified typically at the European Union maximum residue limit for regulatory guidance and compliance, aged tea samples incurred with 20 pesticides, and green tea and oolong tea samples incurred with five pesticides. The analysis of the 560 samples generated a total of 82 459 test results by the 30 participating laboratories. One laboratory failed to meet the proficiency requirements in the precollaborative study. Therefore, its data submitted for the

UHPLC-MS/MS determination of ochratoxin A and fumonisins in coffee using QuEChERS extraction combined with mixed-mode SPE purification.

PubMed

Nielsen, Kristian Fog; Ngemela, Archard Ferdinand; Jensen, Lene Bai; de Medeiros, Lívia Soman; Rasmussen, Peter Have

2015-01-28

A method was developed for simultaneous determination of the mycotoxins: ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins B2 (FB2), B4 (FB4), and B6 (FB6) in green, roasted, and instant coffee. Extraction was performed by QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) under acidic conditions followed by mixed-mode reversed phase-anion exchange solid phase extraction. OTA and FB2 were detected at levels down to 0.5 and 2 μg/kg by UHPLC-MS/MS and quantitated via isotope dilution using U-(13)C-labeled FB2 and OTA as internal standards. Mixing 20% isopropanol in the acetonitrile of the acidic UHPLC gradient system increased the signal intensity by 50% and decreased the ion-suppression with 50-75% in roasted coffee samples. About half of the roasted coffee samples (n = 57, from 9 countries) contained detectable levels of OTA, however, with only 5 samples above the EU regulatory limit of 5 μg/kg and the highest with 21 μg/kg. None of the 25 instant coffee samples contained OTA above the EU regulatory level of 10 μg/kg. Nonetheless, the toxin could be detected in 56% of the analyzed instant coffee samples. Fumonisins were not detected in any of the roasted or instant coffee samples (n = 82). However, in the green coffee samples (n = 18) almost half of the samples were positive with a maximum value of 164 μg/kg (sum of FB2, FB4, and FB6). This discrepancy between green coffee and processed coffees indicated that the fumonisins decompose during the roasting process, which was confirmed in roasting experiments. Here fumonisins could not be detected after roasting of the green, 164 μg/kg coffee, sample. Under the same conditions, OTA was reduced from 2.4 to 0.5 μg/kg.

Analysis of Thiodiglycol: Validation of Semi-Volatile Analysis by HPLC-MS/MS by EPA Method MS777

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

Owens, J; Koester, C

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region 5 Chicago Regional Laboratory (CRL) developed a method for the analysis of thiodiglycol, the breakdown product of the sulfur mustard HD, in water by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), titled Method EPA MS777 (hereafter referred to as EPA CRL SOP MS777). This draft standard operating procedure (SOP) was distributed to multiple EPA laboratories and to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which was tasked to serve as a reference laboratory for EPA's Environmental Reference Laboratory Network (ERLN) and to develop and validate analytical procedures. The primary objective of this study was to verifymore » the analytical procedures described in MS777 for analysis of thiodiglycol in aqueous samples. The gathered data from this study will be used to: (1) demonstrate analytical method performance; (2) generate quality control acceptance criteria; and (3) revise the SOP to provide a validated method that would be available for use during a homeland security event. The data contained in this report will be compiled, by EPA CRL, with data generated by other EPA Regional laboratories so that performance metrics of Method EPA MS777 can be determined.« less

Visualization of LC-MS/MS proteomics data in MaxQuant.

PubMed

Tyanova, Stefka; Temu, Tikira; Carlson, Arthur; Sinitcyn, Pavel; Mann, Matthias; Cox, Juergen

2015-04-01

Modern software platforms enable the analysis of shotgun proteomics data in an automated fashion resulting in high quality identification and quantification results. Additional understanding of the underlying data can be gained with the help of advanced visualization tools that allow for easy navigation through large LC-MS/MS datasets potentially consisting of terabytes of raw data. The updated MaxQuant version has a map navigation component that steers the users through mass and retention time-dependent mass spectrometric signals. It can be used to monitor a peptide feature used in label-free quantification over many LC-MS runs and visualize it with advanced 3D graphic models. An expert annotation system aids the interpretation of the MS/MS spectra used for the identification of these peptide features. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Bioanalytical LC-MS/MS method validation for plasma determination of topiramate in healthy Indian volunteers.

PubMed

Goswami, Dipanjan; Kumar, Ajay; Khuroo, Arshad H; Monif, Tausif; Rab, Shamsur

2009-11-01

A LC-MS/MS method for plasma topiramate analysis is delineated involving least number of healthy volunteers. Topiramate and amlodipine internal standard (IS) were extracted by simple centrifuge-coupled solid-phase extraction and reverse-phase chromatographic separation was performed on an Ascentis C(18) column. Turbo-spray negative-ion mode multiple-reaction monitoring was selected for mass pair detection at m/z 338.3 --> 78.0 and m/z 407.3 --> 295.5 for analyte and IS respectively. The method showed a dynamic linearity range from 10.4 to 2045.0 ng/mL, lower limit of quantitation achieved at 10.4 ng/mL and finally a mass spectrometric total run time of within 2.5 min for human sample analysis. Bioequivalence was assessed successfully using this fully validated method on 16 fasted Indian male subjects with 25 mg topiramate tablet administration. An appropriate study design describes plasma samples collection up to 216 h post dose in two periods, separated by a 28 day washout period. The challenge of half-life matching for test and reference drug was achieved with 73.43 +/- 9.68 and 73.06 +/- 14.03 h, respectively, and intra-subject coefficient of variation achieved within 11% for AUCs and C(max) evaluated by non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. The results of LCMS topiramate complete method validation supported by pharmacokinetic study have not been published before, and are presented and discussed for the first time in this article. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Topological RPdBi half-Heusler semimetals: A new family of noncentrosymmetric magnetic superconductors.

PubMed

Nakajima, Yasuyuki; Hu, Rongwei; Kirshenbaum, Kevin; Hughes, Alex; Syers, Paul; Wang, Xiangfeng; Wang, Kefeng; Wang, Renxiong; Saha, Shanta R; Pratt, Daniel; Lynn, Jeffrey W; Paglione, Johnpierre

2015-06-01

We report superconductivity and magnetism in a new family of topological semimetals, the ternary half-Heusler compound RPdBi (R: rare earth). In this series, tuning of the rare earth f-electron component allows for simultaneous control of both lattice density via lanthanide contraction and the strength of magnetic interaction via de Gennes scaling, allowing for a unique tuning of the normal-state band inversion strength, superconducting pairing, and magnetically ordered ground states. Antiferromagnetism with ordering vector (½,½,½) occurs below a Néel temperature that scales with de Gennes factor dG, whereas a superconducting transition is simultaneously supressed with increasing dG. With superconductivity appearing in a system with noncentrosymmetric crystallographic symmetry, the possibility of spin-triplet Cooper pairing with nontrivial topology analogous to that predicted for the normal-state electronic structure provides a unique and rich opportunity to realize both predicted and new exotic excitations in topological materials.

LC-MS/MS profiling-based secondary metabolite screening of Myxococcus xanthus.

PubMed

Kim, Jiyoung; Choi, Jung Nam; Kim, Pil; Sok, Dai-Eun; Nam, Soo-Wan; Lee, Choong Hwan

2009-01-01

Myxobacteria, Gram-negative soil bacteria, are a well-known producer of bioactive secondary metabolites. Therefore, this study presents a methodological approach for the high-throughput screening of secondary metabolites from 4 wild-type Myxococcus xanthus strains. First, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was performed using extracellular crude extracts. As a result, 22 metabolite peaks were detected, and the metabolite profiling was then conducted using the m/z value, retention time, and MS/MS fragmentation pattern analyses. Among the peaks, one unknown compound peak was identified as analogous to the myxalamid A, B, and C series. An analysis of the tandem mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns and HR-MS identified myxalamid K as a new compound derived from M. xanthus. In conclusion, LC-MS/MS-based chemical screening of diverse secondary metabolites would appear to be an effective approach for discovering unknown microbial secondary metabolites.

Glycoproteins Enrichment and LC-MS/MS Glycoproteomics in Central Nervous System Applications.

PubMed

Zhu, Rui; Song, Ehwang; Hussein, Ahmed; Kobeissy, Firas H; Mechref, Yehia

2017-01-01

Proteins and glycoproteins play important biological roles in central nervous systems (CNS). Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of proteins and glycoproteins expression in CNS is critical to reveal the inherent biomolecular mechanism of CNS diseases. This chapter describes proteomic and glycoproteomic approaches based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS or LC-MS/MS) for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of proteins and glycoproteins expressed in CNS. Proteins and glycoproteins, extracted by a mass spectrometry friendly surfactant from CNS samples, were subjected to enzymatic (tryptic) digestion and three down-stream analyses: (1) a nano LC system coupled with a high-resolution MS instrument to achieve qualitative proteomic profile, (2) a nano LC system combined with a triple quadrupole MS to quantify identified proteins, and (3) glycoprotein enrichment prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. Enrichment techniques can be applied to improve coverage of low abundant glycopeptides/glycoproteins. An example described in this chapter is hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic (HILIC) enrichment to capture glycopeptides, allowing efficient removal of peptides. The combination of three LC-MS/MS-based approaches is capable of the investigation of large-scale proteins and glycoproteins from CNS with an in-depth coverage, thus offering a full view of proteins and glycoproteins changes in CNS.

MsViz: A Graphical Software Tool for In-Depth Manual Validation and Quantitation of Post-translational Modifications.

PubMed

Martín-Campos, Trinidad; Mylonas, Roman; Masselot, Alexandre; Waridel, Patrice; Petricevic, Tanja; Xenarios, Ioannis; Quadroni, Manfredo

2017-08-04

Mass spectrometry (MS) has become the tool of choice for the large scale identification and quantitation of proteins and their post-translational modifications (PTMs). This development has been enabled by powerful software packages for the automated analysis of MS data. While data on PTMs of thousands of proteins can nowadays be readily obtained, fully deciphering the complexity and combinatorics of modification patterns even on a single protein often remains challenging. Moreover, functional investigation of PTMs on a protein of interest requires validation of the localization and the accurate quantitation of its changes across several conditions, tasks that often still require human evaluation. Software tools for large scale analyses are highly efficient but are rarely conceived for interactive, in-depth exploration of data on individual proteins. We here describe MsViz, a web-based and interactive software tool that supports manual validation of PTMs and their relative quantitation in small- and medium-size experiments. The tool displays sequence coverage information, peptide-spectrum matches, tandem MS spectra and extracted ion chromatograms through a single, highly intuitive interface. We found that MsViz greatly facilitates manual data inspection to validate PTM location and quantitate modified species across multiple samples.

Ionic strength and DOC determinations from various freshwater sources to the San Francisco Bay

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hunter, Y.R.; Kuwabara, J.S.

1994-01-01

An exact estimation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) within the salinity gradient of zinc and copper metals is significant in understanding the limit to which DOC could influence metal speciation. A low-temperature persulfate/oxygen/ultraviolet wet oxidation procedure was utilized for analyzing DOC samples adapted for ionic strength from major freshwater sources of the northern and southern regions of San Francisco Bay. The ionic strength of samples was modified with a chemically defined seawater medium up to 0.7M. Based on the results, a minimum effect of ionic strength on oxidation proficiency for DOC sources to the Bay over an ionic strength gradient of 0.0 to 0.7 M was observed. There was no major impacts of ionic strength on two Suwanee River fulvic acids. In general, the noted effects associated with ionic strength were smaller than the variances seen in the aquatic environment between high- and low-temperature methods.

Structure Elucidation of Unknown Metabolites in Metabolomics by Combined NMR and MS/MS Prediction

DOE PAGES

Boiteau, Rene M.; Hoyt, David W.; Nicora, Carrie D.; ...

2018-01-17

Here, we introduce a cheminformatics approach that combines highly selective and orthogonal structure elucidation parameters; accurate mass, MS/MS (MS 2), and NMR in a single analysis platform to accurately identify unknown metabolites in untargeted studies. The approach starts with an unknown LC-MS feature, and then combines the experimental MS/MS and NMR information of the unknown to effectively filter the false positive candidate structures based on their predicted MS/MS and NMR spectra. We demonstrate the approach on a model mixture and then we identify an uncatalogued secondary metabolite in Arabidopsis thaliana. The NMR/MS 2 approach is well suited for discovery ofmore » new metabolites in plant extracts, microbes, soils, dissolved organic matter, food extracts, biofuels, and biomedical samples, facilitating the identification of metabolites that are not present in experimental NMR and MS metabolomics databases.« less

Structure Elucidation of Unknown Metabolites in Metabolomics by Combined NMR and MS/MS Prediction

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

Boiteau, Rene M.; Hoyt, David W.; Nicora, Carrie D.

Here, we introduce a cheminformatics approach that combines highly selective and orthogonal structure elucidation parameters; accurate mass, MS/MS (MS 2), and NMR in a single analysis platform to accurately identify unknown metabolites in untargeted studies. The approach starts with an unknown LC-MS feature, and then combines the experimental MS/MS and NMR information of the unknown to effectively filter the false positive candidate structures based on their predicted MS/MS and NMR spectra. We demonstrate the approach on a model mixture and then we identify an uncatalogued secondary metabolite in Arabidopsis thaliana. The NMR/MS 2 approach is well suited for discovery ofmore » new metabolites in plant extracts, microbes, soils, dissolved organic matter, food extracts, biofuels, and biomedical samples, facilitating the identification of metabolites that are not present in experimental NMR and MS metabolomics databases.« less

Structure Elucidation of Unknown Metabolites in Metabolomics by Combined NMR and MS/MS Prediction

PubMed Central

Hoyt, David W.; Nicora, Carrie D.; Kinmonth-Schultz, Hannah A.; Ward, Joy K.

2018-01-01

We introduce a cheminformatics approach that combines highly selective and orthogonal structure elucidation parameters; accurate mass, MS/MS (MS2), and NMR into a single analysis platform to accurately identify unknown metabolites in untargeted studies. The approach starts with an unknown LC-MS feature, and then combines the experimental MS/MS and NMR information of the unknown to effectively filter out the false positive candidate structures based on their predicted MS/MS and NMR spectra. We demonstrate the approach on a model mixture, and then we identify an uncatalogued secondary metabolite in Arabidopsis thaliana. The NMR/MS2 approach is well suited to the discovery of new metabolites in plant extracts, microbes, soils, dissolved organic matter, food extracts, biofuels, and biomedical samples, facilitating the identification of metabolites that are not present in experimental NMR and MS metabolomics databases. PMID:29342073

Electrokinetic transport of aerobic microorganisms under low-strength electric fields.

PubMed

Maillacheruvu, Krishnanand Y; Chinchoud, Preethi R

2011-01-01

To investigate the feasibility of utilizing low strength electric fields to transport commonly available mixed cultures such as those from an activated sludge process, bench scale batch reactor studies were conducted in sand and sandy loam soils. A readily biodegradable substrate, dextrose, was used to test the activity of the transported microorganisms. Electric field strengths of 7V, 10.5V, and 14V were used. Results from this investigation showed that an electric field strength of 0.46 Volts per cm was sufficient to transport activated sludge microorganisms across a sandy loam soil across a distance of about 8 cm in 72 h. More importantly, the electrokinetically transported microbial culture remained active and viable after the transport process and was biodegrade 44% of the dextrose in the soil medium. Electrokinetic treatment without microorganisms resulted in removal of 37% and the absence of any treatment yielded a removal of about 15%.

Oxidation kinetics of crystal violet by potassium permanganate in acidic medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Sameera Razi; Ashfaq, Maria; Mubashir; Masood, Summyia

2016-05-01

The oxidation kinetics of crystal violet (a triphenylmethane dye) by potassium permanganate was focused in an acidic medium by the spectrophotometric method at 584 nm. The oxidation reaction of crystal violet by potassium permanganate is carried out in an acidic medium at different temperatures ranging within 298-318 K. The kinetic study was carried out to investigate the effect of the concentration, ionic strength and temperature. The reaction followed first order kinetics with respect to potassium permanganate and crystal violet and the overall rate of the reaction was found to be second order. Thermodynamic activation parameters like the activation energy ( E a), enthalpy change (Δ H*), free energy change (Δ G*), and entropy change (Δ S*) have also been evaluated.

Development and Validation of a Liquid Medium (M7H9C) for Routine Culture of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis To Replace Modified Bactec 12B Medium

PubMed Central

Whittington, Ann-Michele; Waldron, Anna; Begg, Douglas J.; de Silva, Kumi; Purdie, Auriol C.; Plain, Karren M.

2013-01-01

Liquid culture of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis from clinical samples, such as feces, is the most sensitive antemortem test for the diagnosis of Johne's disease in ruminants. In Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and some other countries, the Bactec 460 system with modified Bactec 12B medium (Becton, Dickinson) has been the most commonly used liquid culture system, but it was discontinued in 2012. In this study, a new liquid culture medium, M7H9C, was developed. It consists of a Middlebrook 7H9 medium base with added Casitone, albumin, dextrose, catalase, egg yolk, mycobactin J, and a cocktail of antibiotics. We found that polyoxyethylene stearate (POES) was not essential for the cultivation of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in either the Bactec 12B or the M7H9C medium. The limit of detection determined using pure cultures of the C and S strains of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was 7 bacilli per 50 μl inoculum in the two media. The new medium was validated using 784 fecal and tissue samples from sheep and cattle, >25% of which contained viable M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Discrepant results for the clinical samples between the two media were mostly associated with samples that contained <10 viable bacilli per gram, but these results were relatively uncommon, and the performances of the two media were not significantly different. M7H9C medium was less than half the cost of the Bactec 12B medium and did not require regular examination during incubation, but a confirmatory IS900 PCR test had to be performed on every culture after the predetermined incubation period. PMID:24048541

pDeep: Predicting MS/MS Spectra of Peptides with Deep Learning.

PubMed

Zhou, Xie-Xuan; Zeng, Wen-Feng; Chi, Hao; Luo, Chunjie; Liu, Chao; Zhan, Jianfeng; He, Si-Min; Zhang, Zhifei

2017-12-05

In tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)-based proteomics, search engines rely on comparison between an experimental MS/MS spectrum and the theoretical spectra of the candidate peptides. Hence, accurate prediction of the theoretical spectra of peptides appears to be particularly important. Here, we present pDeep, a deep neural network-based model for the spectrum prediction of peptides. Using the bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM), pDeep can predict higher-energy collisional dissociation, electron-transfer dissociation, and electron-transfer and higher-energy collision dissociation MS/MS spectra of peptides with >0.9 median Pearson correlation coefficients. Further, we showed that intermediate layer of the neural network could reveal physicochemical properties of amino acids, for example the similarities of fragmentation behaviors between amino acids. We also showed the potential of pDeep to distinguish extremely similar peptides (peptides that contain isobaric amino acids, for example, GG = N, AG = Q, or even I = L), which were very difficult to distinguish using traditional search engines.

Campground marketing: the heavy-half strategy

Treesearch

Wilbur F. LaPage

1969-01-01

When we arrayed camping frequencies in order from the lowest to the highest number of days spent camping per year we found that half of the campers do much more than half of the camping. Campers in this heavy half consistently camp more, year after year, and are increasing their annual participation as well. Heavy-half campers have larger investments in camping...

Tensile Bond Strength between Soft Liners and Two Chemically Different Denture Base Materials: Effect of Thermocycling.

PubMed

Tugut, Faik; Coskun, Mehmet Emre; Dogan, Derya Ozdemir; Kirmali, Omer; Akin, Hakan

2016-06-01

The bond strength of soft denture liner to a recently introduced denture base resin after thermocycling has not been compared to traditional denture base materials. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of thermocycling on the tensile bond strength of soft denture liners to two chemically different denture base resins, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA). A total of 48 PMMA and UDMA tensile test specimens were fabricated by attaching two different soft denture liners (Molloplast-B, Permaflex) according to the manufacturers' instructions and assigned to two groups. Half of the specimens for each group were stored in water for 1 week, and the other half were thermocycled (5000 cycles) between baths of 5°C and 55°C. Specimens were mounted on a universal testing machine with a 5 mm/min crosshead speed. The data were analyzed with three-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons tests (α = 0.05). The highest bond strength was measured in the specimens from the UDMA/Molloplast groups, and the lowest was seen in the PMMA/Permaflex group. No significant difference in bond strength was detected in PMMA/Permaflex groups after thermocycling (p = 0.082), whereas other groups exhibited significant differences after thermocycling (p < 0.05). Thermocycling decreased the bond strength values in both the PMMA and UDMA groups. Regardless of types of soft liners, PMMA specimens presented lower bond strength values than UDMA specimens, both before and after thermocycling. © 2015 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

High-Throughput Analytical Techniques for the Determination of the Residues of 653 Multiclass Pesticides and Chemical Pollutants in Tea, Part VII: A GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, and LC-MS/MS Study of the Degradation Profiles of Pesticide Residues in Green Tea.

PubMed

Chang, Qiao-Ying; Pang, Guo-Fang; Fan, Chun-Lin; Chen, Hui; Yang, Fang; Li, Jie; Wen, Bi-Fang

2016-11-01

GC-MS, GC-tandem MS (MS/MS), and LC-MS/MS were used to mathematically define the degradation profiles of pesticide residues in two field trials. Nineteen pesticides were studied in the first field trial and 11 in the second. The results of the field trials demonstrated that the degradation profiles of pesticide residues in green tea can be described with power functions to successfully estimate the amount of time, following pesticide application, pesticide residues appearing in tea in concentrations at and/or above the maximum residue limit (MRL) decrease to concentrations below the MRL. Stability tests on green tea samples stored at room temperature were conducted to determine whether pesticide-incurred green tea samples prepared according to the method used in the field trials would be suitable for the preparation of reference standards for laboratory-proficiency testing trials. This paper reports the results of a GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, and LC-MS/MS study, as well as the suitability of the samples prepared under these conditions for use as pesticide reference standards in tea analysis.

A comparison of the original Rappaport medium (R medium) and the Rappaport-Vassiliadis medium (RV medium) in the isolation of salmonellae from meat products.

PubMed Central

Vassiliadis, P.; Kalapothaki, V.; Mavrommati, C.; Trichopoulos, D.

1984-01-01

The Rappaport-Vassiliadis enrichment medium (RV medium) in 10 ml quantities (RV/43 degrees C, 10 ml) inoculated with 0.1 ml of pre-enrichment medium (P medium) was found more efficient in the isolation of salmonellae from 409 pre-enriched samples (mainly meat products), than the original Rappaport medium incubated at 43 degrees C (R/43 degrees C) and the RV medium in 5 ml quantities (RV/43 degrees C, 5 ml) inoculated with 0.01 ml of P medium (P less than 0.001, in both instances). Therefore, the inoculum from pre-enriched foods should not be less than 0.1 ml in 10 ml of RV medium. The RV/43 degrees, 10 ml was also better (P less than 0.01) in detecting samples containing salmonellas than the original Rappaport medium incubated at 37 degrees C (R/37 degrees C, 10 ml) and the modification R25 of R medium incubated at 37 degrees C. The R25 modification was used in 10 ml quantities (R25/37 degrees C, 10 ml) inoculated with 0.1 ml of P medium and in 5 ml quantities (R25/37 degrees, 5 ml) inoculated with 0.01 ml of P medium. The last two R25 procedures were of the same efficiency in isolating salmonellas from meat products. PMID:6747286

A training programme to improve hip strength in persons with lower limb amputation.

PubMed

Nolan, Lee

2012-03-01

To investigate the effect of a 10-week training programme on persons with a lower limb amputation and to determine if this training is sufficient to enable running. Seven transtibial, 8 transfemoral and 1 bilateral amputee (all resulting from trauma, tumour or congenital) were randomly assigned to a training (n  =8) or control group (n = 8). Isokinetic hip flexor and extensor strength at 60 and 120º/s and oxygen consumption while walking at 1.0 m/s were tested pre- and post- a 10-week period. The training group followed a twice weekly hip strengthening programme, while the control group continued with their usual activities. Running ability was determined pre-testing, and attempted after post-testing for the training group only. The training group increased hip strength and decreased oxygen consumption. Six amputees who were previously unable to run were able to after training. The control group decreased intact limb hip extensor strength. The training programme is sufficient to improve hip strength and enable running in persons with a lower limb amputation. As hip strength was reduced in those not following the training programme, it is recommended that strength training be undertaken regularly in order to avoid losing limb strength following amputation.

Scattering of electromagnetic waves from a half-space of randomly distributed discrete scatterers and polarized backscattering ratio law

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, P. Y.

1991-01-01

The effective-medium approximation is applied to investigate scattering from a half-space of randomly and densely distributed discrete scatterers. Starting from vector wave equations, an approximation, called effective-medium Born approximation, a particular way, treating Green's functions, and special coordinates, of which the origin is set at the field point, are used to calculate the bistatic- and back-scatterings. An analytic solution of backscattering with closed form is obtained and it shows a depolarization effect. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental measurements in the cases of snow, multi- and first-year sea-ice. The root product ratio of polarization to depolarization in backscattering is equal to 8; this result constitutes a law about polarized scattering phenomena in the nature.

Mycotoxin production by pure fungal isolates analysed by means of an uhplc-ms/ms multi-mycotoxin method with possible pitfalls and solutions for patulin-producing isolates.

PubMed

Van Pamel, Els; Vlaemynck, Geertrui; Heyndrickx, Marc; Herman, Lieve; Verbeken, Annemieke; Daeseleire, Els

2011-02-01

This study is the first report of applying an ultra high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (UHPLC-MS/MS) multi-mycotoxin method to identify and quantify the mycotoxins produced by pure fungal isolates grown on Yeast Extract Sucrose (YES) agar. The method developed concerns a triple extraction procedure based on methanol, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The total extract was chromatographically separated on an UHPLC BEH C18 column and analyzed with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Performance characteristics (specificity, linearity, possible matrix effects, recovery, repeatability, reproducibility and limit of detection) were evaluated by spiking experiments with blank agar plugs and the analytes. Verrucarol was used as internal standard. Recovery percentages varied between 56 and 125%, whereas the limit of detection ranged from 1 to 1,500 ng g(-1) with the exception of NIV, PAT and ZEA. The method was successfully applied for examining the in vitro mycotoxin production by Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger. The mobile phases used for chromatographic separation were slightly modified when studying patulin-producing molds due to signal interference between this mycotoxin and an unknown metabolite. This modified method was successfully applied for Penicillium roqueforti, P. paneum and P. carneum grown on YES agar medium. Application of the multi-mycotoxin UHPLC-MS/MS method developed may be of great importance for studying the mycotoxin capacity of fungal isolates under varying growth conditions, in order to obtain a better insight into the conditions which induce or suppress mycotoxin production by pure fungal isolates or from a chemotaxonomic point of view.

High-velocity frictional strength across the Tohoku-Oki megathrust determined from surface drilling torque

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ujiie, K.; Inoue, T.; Ishiwata, J.

2015-12-01

Frictional strength at seismic slip rates is a key to evaluate fault weakening and rupture propagation during earthquakes. The Japan Trench First Drilling Project (JFAST) drilled through the shallow plate-boundary thrust, where huge displacements of ~50 m occurred during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. To determine the downhole frictional strength at drilled site (Site C0019), we analyzed surface drilling data. The equivalent slip rate estimated from the rotation rate and inner and outer radiuses of the drill bit ranges from 0.8 to 1.3 m/s. The measured torque includes the frictional torque between the drilling string and borehole wall, the viscous torque between the drilling string and seawater/drilling fluid, and the drilling torque between the drill bit and sediments. We subtracted the former two from the measured torque using the torque data during bottom-up rotating operations at several depths. Then, the shear stress was calculated from the drilling torque taking the configuration of the drill bit into consideration. The normal stress was estimated from the weight on bit data and the projected area of the drill bit. Assuming negligible cohesion, the frictional strength was obtained by dividing shear stress by normal stress. The results show a clear contrast in high-velocity frictional strength across the plate-boundary thrust: the friction coefficient of frontal prism sediments (hemipelagic mudstones) in hanging wall is 0.1-0.2, while that in subducting sediments (hemipelagic to pelagic mudstones and chert) in footwall increases to 0.2-0.4. The friction coefficient of smectite-rich pelagic clay in the plate-boundary thrust is ~0.1, which is consistent with that obtained from high-velocity (1.3 m/s) friction experiments and temperature measurements. We conclude that surface drilling torque provides useful data to obtain a continuous downhole frictional strength.

Sound source identification and sound radiation modeling in a moving medium using the time-domain equivalent source method.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao-Zheng; Bi, Chuan-Xing; Zhang, Yong-Bin; Xu, Liang

2015-05-01

Planar near-field acoustic holography has been successfully extended to reconstruct the sound field in a moving medium, however, the reconstructed field still contains the convection effect that might lead to the wrong identification of sound sources. In order to accurately identify sound sources in a moving medium, a time-domain equivalent source method is developed. In the method, the real source is replaced by a series of time-domain equivalent sources whose strengths are solved iteratively by utilizing the measured pressure and the known convective time-domain Green's function, and time averaging is used to reduce the instability in the iterative solving process. Since these solved equivalent source strengths are independent of the convection effect, they can be used not only to identify sound sources but also to model sound radiations in both moving and static media. Numerical simulations are performed to investigate the influence of noise on the solved equivalent source strengths and the effect of time averaging on reducing the instability, and to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method on the source identification and sound radiation modeling.

Application of CE-ICP-MS and CE-ESI-MS/MS for identification of Zn-binding ligands in Goji berries extracts.

PubMed

Ruzik, Lena; Kwiatkowski, Piotr

2018-06-01

The identification of groups of ligands binding metals is a crucial issue for the better understanding of their bioaccessibility. In the current study, we have intended an approach for identification of Zn-binding ligands based on using capillary electrophoresis combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) and tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS/MS). The approach, which featured the use of the coupling of capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry allows to separate and observe zinc ions present in complexes with respect to their size and charge and to identify nine compounds with zinc isotopic profile. CE-ICP-MS provides us with information about presence of zinc species and elemental information about zinc distribution. CE-ESI-MS/MS provide us with information about the most favorable Zn binding ligands: amino acids, flavonols, stilbenoids, fenolic acids and carotenoids. The presented work is the continuation of previous studies based on using LC-ESI-MS/MS, though, now we presented a new solutions with the possibility of changing detectors without changing the separation techniques, what is important without re-optimizing the method. The new presented method allows to identify the zinc-binding ligands in shorter time. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Energy and mass balance in the three-phase interstellar medium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Zhong; Cowie, Lennox L.

1988-01-01

Details of the energy and mass balances are considered in the context of a three-phase interstellar medium. The rates of mass exchange between the different phases are derived based on the pressure variations created by supernova remnant expansions. It is shown that the pressure-confined warm and cold gases have stable temperatures under a variety of interstellar conditions. The three-phase quasi-static configuration is found to be a natural outcome, and both warm and cold phases generally contribute about half of the total mass density to the diffuse interstellar gas. The model is also likely to be self-regulatory in the sense that variations of the input parameters do not strongly alter the general result, which is consistent with most current observations. The consequences of extreme conditions on this model are considered, and the possible implications for interstellar medium in other galaxies are briefly discussed.

Analysis of pesticide residues in strawberries and soils by GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and two-dimensional GC-time-of-flight MS comparing organic and integrated pest management farming.

PubMed

Fernandes, Virgínia C; Lehotay, Steven J; Geis-Asteggiante, Lucía; Kwon, Hyeyoung; Mol, Hans G J; van der Kamp, Henk; Mateus, Nuno; Domingues, Valentina F; Delerue-Matos, Cristina

2014-01-01

This study analysed 22 strawberry and soil samples after their collection over the course of 2 years to compare the residue profiles from organic farming with integrated pest management practices in Portugal. For sample preparation, we used the citrate-buffered version of the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. We applied three different methods for analysis: (1) 27 pesticides were targeted using LC-MS/MS; (2) 143 were targeted using low pressure GC-tandem mass spectrometry (LP-GC-MS/MS); and (3) more than 600 pesticides were screened in a targeted and untargeted approach using comprehensive, two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOF-MS). Comparison was made of the analyses using the different methods for the shared samples. The results were similar, thereby providing satisfactory confirmation of both similarly positive and negative findings. No pesticides were found in the organic-farmed samples. In samples from integrated pest management practices, nine pesticides were determined and confirmed to be present, ranging from 2 µg kg(-1) for fluazifop-p-butyl to 50 µg kg(-1) for fenpropathrin. Concentrations of residues in strawberries were less than European maximum residue limits.

Quantitative Determination of Perfluorochemicals and Fluorotelomer Alcohols in Plants from Biosolid-Amended Fields using LC/MS/MS and GC/MS

EPA Science Inventory

Analytical methods for determining perfluorochemicals (PFCs) and fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) in plants using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were developed, and applied to quantify a suite of analytes i...

Dynamic response of a poroelastic half-space to accelerating or decelerating trains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Zhigang; Boström, Anders

2013-05-01

The dynamic response of a fully saturated poroelastic half-space due to accelerating or decelerating trains is investigated by a semi-analytical method. The ground is modeled as a saturated poroelastic half-space and Biot's theory is applied to characterize the soil medium, taking the coupling effects between the soil skeleton and the pore fluid into account. A detailed track system is considered incorporating rails, sleepers and embankment, which are modeled as Euler-Bernoulli beams, an anisotropic Kirchhoff plate, and an elastic layer, respectively. The acceleration or deceleration of the train is simulated by properly choosing the time history of the train speed using Fourier transforms combined with Fresnel integrals in the transformed domain. The time domain results are obtained by the fast Fourier transform (FFT). It is found that the deceleration of moving trains can cause a significant increase to the ground vibrations as well as the excess pore water pressure responses at the train speed 200 km/h. Furthermore, the single-phase elastic soil model would underestimate the vertical displacement responses caused by both the accelerating and decelerating trains at the speed 200 km/h.

Role of executive functions in prospective memory in multiple sclerosis: Impact of the strength of cue-action association.

PubMed

Dagenais, Emmanuelle; Rouleau, Isabelle; Tremblay, Alexandra; Demers, Mélanie; Roger, Élaine; Jobin, Céline; Duquette, Pierre

2016-01-01

Patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) often report prospective memory (PM) deficits. Although PM is important for daily functioning, it is not formally assessed in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to examine the role of executive functions in MS patients' PM revealed by the effect of strength of cue-action association on PM performance. Thirty-nine MS patients were compared to 18 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and education on a PM task modulating the strength of association between the cue and the intended action. Deficits in MS patients affecting both prospective and retrospective components of PM were confirmed using 2 × 2 × 2 mixed analyses of variance (ANOVAs). Among patients, multiple regression analyses revealed that the impairment was modulated by the efficiency of executive functions, whereas retrospective memory seemed to have little impact on PM performance, contrary to expectation. More specifically, results of 2 × 2 × 2 mixed-model analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) showed that low-executive patients had more difficulty detecting and, especially, retrieving the appropriate action when the cue and the action were unrelated, whereas high-executive patients' performance seemed to be virtually unaffected by the cue-action association. Using an objective measure, these findings confirm the presence of PM deficits in MS. They also suggest that such deficits depend on executive functioning and can be reduced when automatic PM processes are engaged through semantic cue-action association. They underscore the importance of assessing PM in clinical settings through a cognitive evaluation and offer an interesting avenue for rehabilitation.

LC-MS/MS methods for the determination of edaravone and/or taurine in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Tang, Dao-quan; Bian, Ting-ting; Zheng, Xiao-xiao; Li, Ying; Wu, Xiao-wen; Li, Yin-jie; Du, Qian; Jiang, Shui-shi

2014-09-01

Three liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were respectively developed and validated for the simultaneous or independent determination of taurine and edaravone in rat plasma using 3-methyl-1-p-tolyl-5-pyrazolone and sulfanilic acid as the internal standards (IS). Chromatographic separations were achieved on an Agilent Zorbax SB-Aq (100 × 2.1 mm, 3.5 µm) column. Gradient 0.03% formic acid-methanol, isocratic 0.1% formic acid-methanol (90:10) and 0.02% formic acid-methanol (40:60) were respectively selected as the mobile phase for the simultaneous determination of two analytes, taurine or edaravone alone. The MS acquisition was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode with a positive and negative electrospray ionization source. The mass transitions monitored were m/z [M + H](+) 175.1 → 133.0 and [M + H](+) 189.2 → 147.0 for edaravone and its IS, m/z [M - H](-) 124.1 → 80.0 and [M - H](-) 172.0 → 80.0 for taurine and its IS, respectively. The validated methods were successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetic interaction of taurine and edaravone in rats after independent intravenous administration and co-administration with a single dose. Our collective results showed that there were no significant alterations on the main pharmacokinetic parameters (area under concentration-time curve, mean residence time, half-life and clearance) of taurine and edaravone, implying that the proposed combination therapy was pharmacologically feasible. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Side-alternating vibration training for balance and ankle muscle strength in untrained women.

PubMed

Spiliopoulou, Styliani I; Amiridis, Ioannis G; Tsigganos, Georgios; Hatzitaki, Vassilia

2013-01-01

Side-alternating vibration (SAV) may help reduce the risk of falling by improving body balance control. Such training has been promoted as a strength-training intervention because it can increase muscle activation through an augmented excitatory input from the muscle spindles. To determine the effect of SAV training on static balance during 3 postural tasks of increasing difficulty and lower limb strength. Randomized controlled clinical trial. Laboratory. A total of 21 healthy women were divided into training (n = 11; age = 43.35 ± 4.12 years, height = 169 ± 6.60 cm, mass = 68.33 ± 11.90 kg) and control (n = 10; age = 42.31 ± 3.73 years, height = 167 ± 4.32 cm, mass = 66.29 ± 10.74 kg) groups. The training group completed a 9-week program during which participants performed 3 sessions per week of ten 15-second isometric contractions with a 30-second active rest of 3 exercises (half-squat, wide-stance squat, 1-legged half-squat) on an SAV plate (acceleration = 0.91-16.3g). The control group did not participate in any form of exercise over the 9-week period. We evaluated isokinetic and isometric strength of the knee extensors and flexors and ankle plantar flexors, dorsiflexors, and evertors. Static balance was assessed using 3 tasks of increasing difficulty (quiet bipedal stance, tandem stance, 1-legged stance). The electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and peroneus longus was recorded during postural task performance, baseline and pretraining, immediately posttraining, and 15 days posttraining. After training in the training group, ankle muscle strength improved (P = .03), whereas knee muscle strength remained unaltered (P = .13). Improved ankle-evertor strength was observed at all angular velocities (P = .001). Postural sway decreased in both directions but was greater in the mediolateral (P < .001) than anteroposterior (P = .02) direction. The electromyographic activity of the peroneus

Survey of diagnostic and treatment practices for multiple sclerosis (MS) in Europe. Part 2: Progressive MS, paediatric MS, pregnancy and general management.

PubMed

Fernández, O; Delvecchio, M; Edan, G; Fredrikson, S; Giovannoni, G; Hartung, H-P; Havrdova, E; Kappos, L; Pozzilli, C; Soerensen, P S; Tackenberg, B; Vermersch, P; Comi, G

2018-05-01

The European Charcot Foundation supported the development of a set of surveys to understand current practice patterns for the diagnosis and management of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Europe. Part 2 of the report summarizes survey results related to secondary progressive MS (SPMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), pregnancy, paediatric MS and overall patient management. A steering committee of MS neurologists developed case- and practice-based questions for two sequential surveys distributed to MS neurologists throughout Europe. Respondents generally favoured changing rather than stopping disease-modifying treatment (DMT) in patients transitioning from relapsing-remitting MS to SPMS, particularly with active disease. Respondents would not initiate DMT in patients with typical PPMS symptoms, although the presence of ≥1 spinal cord or brain gadolinium-enhancing lesion might affect that decision. For patients considering pregnancy, respondents were equally divided on whether to stop treatment before or after conception. Respondents strongly favoured starting DMT in paediatric MS with active disease; recommended treatments included interferon, glatiramer acetate and, in John Cunningham virus negative patients, natalizumab. Additional results regarding practice-based questions and management are summarized. Results of part 2 of the survey of diagnostic and treatment practices for MS in Europe largely mirror results for part 1, with neurologists in general agreement about the treatment and management of SPMS, PPMS, pregnancy and paediatric MS as well as the general management of MS. However, there are also many areas of disagreement, indicating the need for evidence-based recommendations and/or guidelines. © 2018 EAN.

The Short Cosyntropin Test Revisited: New Normal Reference Range Using LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Ueland, Grethe Å; Methlie, Paal; Øksnes, Marianne; Thordarson, Hrafnkell B; Sagen, Jørn; Kellmann, Ralf; Mellgren, Gunnar; Ræder, Maria; Dahlqvist, Per; Dahl, Sandra R; Thorsby, Per M; Løvås, Kristian; Husebye, Eystein S

2018-04-01

The cosyntropin test is used to diagnose adrenal insufficiency (AI) and nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH). Current cutoffs for cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) are derived from nonstandardized immunoassays. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) offers direct measurement of steroids, prompting the need to re-establish normal ranges. The goal of this study was to define cutoff values for cortisol and 17-OHP in serum by LC-MS/MS 30 and 60 minutes after intravenous administration of 250 µg tetracosactide acetate to healthy volunteers and to compare the results with LC-MS/MS with routine immunoassays. Cosyntropin testing was performed in healthy subjects (n = 138) and in patients referred for evaluation of adrenocortical function (n = 94). Steroids were assayed by LC-MS/MS and compared with two immunoassays used in routine diagnostics (Immulite and Roche platforms). The cutoff level for cortisol was defined as the 2.5% percentile in healthy subjects not using oral estrogens (n = 121) and for 17-OHP as the 97.5% percentile. Cortisol cutoff levels for LC-MS/MS were 412 and 485 nmol/L at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. Applying the new cutoffs, 13 of 60 (22%) subjects who had AI according to conventional criteria now had a normal test result. For 17-OHP, the cutoff levels were 8.9 and 9.0 nmol/L at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. LC-MS/MS provides cutoff levels for cortisol and 17-OHP after cosyntropin stimulation that are lower than those based on immunoassays, possibly because cross-reactivity between steroid intermediates and cortisol is eliminated. This reduces the number of false-positive tests for AI and false-negative tests for NCCAH.

Sulphur fertilization influences the sulphur species composition in Allium sativum: sulphomics using HPLC-ICPMS/MS-ESI-MS/MS.

PubMed

Raab, Andrea; Ronzan, Marilena; Feldmann, Joerg

2017-10-18

Garlic (A. sativum) contains a large number of small sulphur (S)-containing metabolites, which are important for its taste and smell and vary with A. sativum variety and growth conditions. This study was designed to investigate the influence of different sulphur-fertilization regimes on low molecular weight S-species by attempting the first sulphur mass balance in A. sativum roots and bulbs using HPLC-ICPMS/MS-ESI-MS/MS. Species unspecific quantification of acid soluble S-containing metabolites was achieved using HPLC-ICP-MS/MS. For identification of the compounds, high resolution ESI-MS (Orbitrap LTQ and q-TOF) was used. The plants contained up to 54 separated sulphur-containing compounds, which constitute about 80% of the total sulphur present in A. sativum. The roots and bulbs of A. sativum contained the same compounds, but not necessarily the same amounts and proportions. The S-containing metabolites in the roots reacted more sensitively to manipulations of sulphur fertilization than those compounds in the bulbs. In addition to known compounds (e.g. γ-glutamyl-S-1-propenylcysteine) we were able to identify and partially quantify 31 compounds. Three as yet undescribed S-containing compounds were also identified and quantified for the first time. Putative structures were assigned to the oxidised forms of S-1-propenylmercaptoglutathione, S-2-propenylmercaptoglutathione, S-allyl/propenyl-containing PC-2 and 2-amino-3-[(2-carboxypropyl)sulfanyl]propanoic acid. The parallel use of ICP-MS/MS as a sulphur-specific detector and ESI-MS as a molecular detector simplifies the identification and quantification of sulphur containing metabolites without species specific standards. This non-target analysis approach enables a mass balance approach and identifies the occurrence of the so far unidentified organosulphur compounds. The experiments showed that the sulphur-fertilization regime does not influence sulphur-speciation, but the concentration of some S

MS/MS analysis and imaging of lipids across Drosophila brain using secondary ion mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Phan, Nhu T N; Munem, Marwa; Ewing, Andrew G; Fletcher, John S

2017-06-01

Lipids are abundant biomolecules performing central roles to maintain proper functioning of cells and biological bodies. Due to their highly complex composition, it is critical to obtain information of lipid structures in order to identify particular lipids which are relevant for a biological process or metabolic pathway under study. Among currently available molecular identification techniques, MS/MS in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging has been of high interest in the bioanalytical community as it allows visualization of intact molecules in biological samples as well as elucidation of their chemical structures. However, there have been few applications using SIMS and MS/MS owing to instrumental challenges for this capability. We performed MS and MS/MS imaging to study the lipid structures of Drosophila brain using the J105 and 40-keV Ar 4000 + gas cluster ion source, with the novelty being the use of MS/MS SIMS analysis of intact lipids in the fly brain. Glycerophospholipids were identified by MS/MS profiling. MS/MS was also used to characterize diglyceride fragment ions and to identify them as triacylglyceride fragments. Moreover, MS/MS imaging offers a unique possibility for detailed elucidation of biomolecular distribution with high accuracy based on the ion images of its fragments. This is particularly useful in the presence of interferences which disturb the interpretation of biomolecular localization. Graphical abstract MS/MS was performed during time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis of Drosophila melongaster (fruit fly) to elucidate the structure and origin of different chemical species in the brain including a range of different phospholipid classes (PC, PI, PE) and di- and triacylglycerides (DAG & TAG) species where reference MS/MS spectra provided a potential means of discriminating between the isobaric [M-OH] + ion of DAGs and the [M-RCO] + ion of TAGs.

An extrapolation method for compressive strength prediction of hydraulic cement products

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

Siqueira Tango, C.E. de

1998-07-01

The basis for the AMEBA Method is presented. A strength-time function is used to extrapolate the predicted cementitious material strength for a late (ALTA) age, based on two earlier age strengths--medium (MEDIA) and low (BAIXA) ages. The experimental basis for the method is data from the IPT-Brazil laboratory and the field, including a long-term study on concrete, research on limestone, slag, and fly-ash additions, and quality control data from a cement factory, a shotcrete tunnel lining, and a grout for structural repair. The method applicability was also verified for high-performance concrete with silica fume. The formula for predicting late agemore » (e.g., 28 days) strength, for a given set of involved ages (e.g., 28,7, and 2 days) is normally a function only of the two earlier ages` (e.g., 7 and 2 days) strengths. This equation has been shown to be independent on materials variations, including cement brand, and is easy to use also graphically. Using the AMEBA method, and only needing to know the type of cement used, it has been possible to predict strengths satisfactorily, even without the preliminary tests which are required in other methods.« less

Simultaneous quantification of lenalidomide, ibrutinib and its active metabolite PCI-45227 in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS: application to a pharmacokinetic study.

PubMed

Veeraraghavan, Sridhar; Viswanadha, Srikant; Thappali, Satheeshmanikandan; Govindarajulu, Babu; Vakkalanka, Swaroopkumar; Rangasamy, Manivannan

2015-03-25

Efficacy assessments using a combination of ibrutinib and lenalidomide necessitate the development of an analytical method for determination of both drugs in plasma with precision. A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of lenalidomide, ibrutinib, and its active metabolite PCI45227 in rat plasma. Extraction of lenalidomide, ibrutinib, PCI45227 and tolbutamide (internal standard; IS) from 50 μl rat plasma was carried out by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate:dichloromethane (90:10) ratio. Chromatographic separation of analytes was performed on YMC pack ODS AM (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column under gradient conditions with acetonitrile:0.1% formic acid buffer as the mobile phases at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. Precursor ion and product ion transition for analytes and IS were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, operated in the selective reaction monitoring with positive ionization mode. Method was validated over a concentration range of 0.72-183.20 ng/ml for ibrutinib, 0.76-194.33 ng/ml for PCI-45227 and 1.87-479.16 ng/ml for lenalidomide. Mean extraction recovery for ibrutinib, PCI-45227, lenalidomide and IS of 75.2%, 84.5%, 97.3% and 92.3% were consistent across low, medium, and high QC levels. Precision and accuracy at low, medium and high quality control levels were less than 15% across analytes. Bench top, wet, freeze-thaw and long term stability was evaluated for all the analytes. The analytical method was applied to support a pharmacokinetic study of simultaneous estimation of lenalidomide, ibrutinib, and its active metabolite PCI-45227 in Wistar rat. Assay reproducibility was demonstrated by re-analysis of 18 incurred samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous determination of antidementia drugs in human plasma: procedure transfer from HPLC-MS to UPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Noetzli, Muriel; Ansermot, Nicolas; Dobrinas, Maria; Eap, Chin B

2012-05-01

A previously developed high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) procedure for the simultaneous determination of antidementia drugs, including donepezil, galantamine, memantine, rivastigmine and its metabolite NAP 226-90, was transferred to an ultra performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). The drugs and their internal standards ([(2)H(7)]-donepezil, [(13)C,(2)H(3)]-galantamine, [(13)C(2),(2)H(6)]-memantine, [(2)H(6)]-rivastigmine) were extracted from 250 μL human plasma by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reverse phase column (BEH C18 2.1 mm × 50 mm; 1.7 μm) with a gradient elution of an ammonium acetate buffer at pH 9.3 and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min and an overall run time of 4.5 min. The analytes were detected on a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in positive electrospray ionization mode, and quantification was performed using multiple reaction monitoring. The method was validated according to the recommendations of international guidelines over a calibration range of 1-300 ng/mL for donepezil, galantamine and memantine, and 0.2-50 ng/mL for rivastimgine and NAP 226-90. The trueness (86-108%), repeatability (0.8-8.3%), intermediate precision (2.3-10.9%) and selectivity of the method were found to be satisfactory. Matrix effects variability was inferior to 15% for the analytes and inferior to 5% after correction by internal standards. A method comparison was performed with patients' samples showing similar results between the HPLC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS procedures. Thus, this validated UPLC-MS/MS method allows to reduce the required amount of plasma, to use a simplified sample preparation, and to obtain a higher sensitivity and specificity with a much shortened run-time. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synchronous Half-Wave Rectifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rippel, Wally E.

1989-01-01

Synchronous rectifying circuit behaves like diode having unusually low voltage drop during forward-voltage half cycles. Circuit particularly useful in power supplies with potentials of 5 Vdc or less, where normal forward-voltage drops in ordinary diodes unacceptably large. Fabricated as monolithic assembly or as hybrid. Synchronous half-wave rectifier includes active circuits to attain low forward voltage drop and high rectification efficiency.

Characterization, stoichiometry, and stability of salivary protein-tannin complexes by ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS.

PubMed

Canon, Francis; Paté, Franck; Meudec, Emmanuelle; Marlin, Thérèse; Cheynier, Véronique; Giuliani, Alexandre; Sarni-Manchado, Pascale

2009-12-01

Numerous protein-polyphenol interactions occur in biological and food domains particularly involving proline-rich proteins, which are representative of the intrinsically unstructured protein group (IUP). Noncovalent protein-ligand complexes are readily detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which also gives access to ligand binding stoichiometry. Surprisingly, the study of interactions between polyphenolic molecules and proteins is still an area where ESI-MS has poorly benefited, whereas it has been extensively applied to the detection of noncovalent complexes. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been applied to the detection and the characterization of the complexes formed between tannins and a human salivary proline-rich protein (PRP), namely IB5. The study of the complex stability was achieved by low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) measurements, which are commonly implemented using triple quadrupole, hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight, or ion trap instruments. Complexes composed of IB5 bound to a model polyphenol EgCG have been detected by ESI-MS and further analyzed by MS/MS. Mild ESI interface conditions allowed us to observe intact noncovalent PRP-tannin complexes with stoichiometries ranging from 1:1 to 1:5. Thus, ESI-MS shows its efficiency for (1) the study of PRP-tannin interactions, (2) the determination of stoichiometry, and (3) the study of complex stability. We were able to establish unambiguously both their stoichiometries and their overall subunit architecture via tandem mass spectrometry and solution disruption experiments. Our results prove that IB5.EgCG complexes are maintained intact in the gas phase.

Sensory and instrumental analysis of medium and long shelf-life Charentais cantaloupe melons (Cucumis melo L.) harvested at different maturities

PubMed Central

Lignou, Stella; Parker, Jane K.; Baxter, Charles; Mottram, Donald S.

2014-01-01

The flavour profiles of two genotypes of Charentais cantaloupe melons (medium shelf-life and long shelf-life), harvested at two distinct maturities (immature and mature fruit), were investigated. Dynamic headspace extraction (DHE), solid-phase extraction (SPE), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and gas chromatography–olfactometry/mass spectrometry (GC–O/MS) were used to determine volatile and semi-volatile compounds. Qualitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was used to assess the organoleptic impact of the different melons and the sensory data were correlated with the chemical analysis. There were significant, consistent and substantial differences between the mature and immature fruit for the medium shelf-life genotype, the less mature giving a green, cucumber character and lacking the sweet, fruity character of the mature fruit. However, maturity at harvest had a much smaller impact on the long shelf-life melons and fewer differences were detected. These long shelf-life melons tasted sweet, but lacked fruity flavours, instead exhibiting a musty, earthy character. PMID:24262549

Sensory and instrumental analysis of medium and long shelf-life Charentais cantaloupe melons (Cucumis melo L.) harvested at different maturities.

PubMed

Lignou, Stella; Parker, Jane K; Baxter, Charles; Mottram, Donald S

2014-04-01

The flavour profiles of two genotypes of Charentais cantaloupe melons (medium shelf-life and long shelf-life), harvested at two distinct maturities (immature and mature fruit), were investigated. Dynamic headspace extraction (DHE), solid-phase extraction (SPE), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry (GC-O/MS) were used to determine volatile and semi-volatile compounds. Qualitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was used to assess the organoleptic impact of the different melons and the sensory data were correlated with the chemical analysis. There were significant, consistent and substantial differences between the mature and immature fruit for the medium shelf-life genotype, the less mature giving a green, cucumber character and lacking the sweet, fruity character of the mature fruit. However, maturity at harvest had a much smaller impact on the long shelf-life melons and fewer differences were detected. These long shelf-life melons tasted sweet, but lacked fruity flavours, instead exhibiting a musty, earthy character. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Different Patterns in Muscular Strength and Hypertrophy Adaptations in Untrained Individuals Undergoing Nonperiodized and Periodized Strength Regimens.

PubMed

De Souza, Eduardo O; Tricoli, Valmor; Rauch, Jacob; Alvarez, Michael R; Laurentino, Gilberto; Aihara, André Y; Cardoso, Fabiano N; Roschel, Hamilton; Ugrinowitsch, Carlos

2018-05-01

De Souza, EO, Tricoli, V, Rauch, J, Alvarez, MR, Laurentino, G, Aihara, AY, Cardoso, FN, Roschel, H, and Ugrinowitsch, C. Different patterns in muscular strength and hypertrophy adaptations in untrained individuals undergoing non-periodized and periodized strength regimens. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1238-1244, 2018-This study investigated the effects of nonperiodized (NP), traditional periodization (TP), and daily undulating periodization (UP) regimens on muscle strength and hypertrophy in untrained individuals. Thirty-three recreationally active males were randomly divided into 4 groups: NP: n = 8; TP: n = 9; UP: n = 8, and control group (C): n = 8. Experimental groups underwent a 12-week strength training program consisting of 2 sessions per week. Muscle strength and quadriceps cross-sectional area (QCSA) were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks (i.e., mid-point) and after 12 weeks. All training groups increased squat 1RM from pre to 6 weeks mid (NP: 17.02%, TP: 7.7%, and UP: 12.9%, p ≤ 0.002) and pre to post 12 weeks (NP: 19.5%, TP: 17.9%, and UP: 20.4%, p ≤ 0.0001). Traditional periodization was the only group that increased squat 1RM from 6 weeks mid to 12-week period (9.4%, p ≤ 0.008). All training groups increased QCSA from pre to 6 weeks mid (NP: 5.1%, TP: 4.6%, and UP: 5.3%, p ≤ 0.0006) and from pre to post 12 weeks (NP: 8.1%, TP: 11.3%, and UP: 8.7%, p ≤ 0.0001). From 6 weeks mid to 12-week period, TP and UP were the only groups that increased QCSA (6.4 and 3.7%, p ≤ 0.02). There were no significant changes for all dependent variables in C group across the time (p ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, our results demonstrated similar training-induced adaptations after 12 weeks of NP and periodized regimens. However, our findings suggest that in the latter half of the study (i.e., after the initial 6 weeks), the periodized regimens elicited greater rates of muscular adaptations compared with NP regimens. Strength coaches and practitioners should be aware that

Immunoassay or LC-MS/MS for the measurement of salivary cortisol in children?

PubMed

Bae, Yoon Ju; Gaudl, Alexander; Jaeger, Sonia; Stadelmann, Stephanie; Hiemisch, Andreas; Kiess, Wieland; Willenberg, Anja; Schaab, Michael; von Klitzing, Kai; Thiery, Joachim; Ceglarek, Uta; Döhnert, Mirko; Kratzsch, Juergen

2016-05-01

Dysregulation of the adrenal cortex has been assessed with measurement of salivary cortisol. So far salivary cortisol is routinely measured with immunoassay (IA). However, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS) is known to offer better specificity. We compared the concentrations of salivary cortisol measured by MS and IA at basal and stress induced conditions and evaluated reasons for the difference in method-dependent cortisol results. Saliva samples (n=2703) were collected from 169 children (age range: 8-14 years; 81 healthy children; 55 with internalizing and 33 with externalizing disorders) under circadian conditions and during the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C). Biochemical analyses were performed with MS for cortisol and cortisone, IA (IBL, RE62011) for cortisol, and enzyme kinetic assay for α-amylase. MS and IA showed mostly comparable results for circadian activity and TSST-C response with similar statistical power. However, IA measured cortisol concentrations about 2.39-fold higher than MS. We found that this difference in measured values between MS and IA was mainly due to different standardization of IA compared to MS. In addition, at cortisol IA concentration below 5 nmol/L, cross-reactivity with cortisone was found to contribute to the lower concordance between MS and IA. Immunoassay and LC-MS/MS were largely comparable in the interpretation of salivary cortisol dynamics in stress research. But the IA method revealed a restricted accuracy in the measuring range below 5 nmol/L.

Diagnostic Accuracy of CT Enterography for Active Inflammatory Terminal Ileal Crohn Disease: Comparison of Full-Dose and Half-Dose Images Reconstructed with FBP and Half-Dose Images with SAFIRE.

PubMed

Gandhi, Namita S; Baker, Mark E; Goenka, Ajit H; Bullen, Jennifer A; Obuchowski, Nancy A; Remer, Erick M; Coppa, Christopher P; Einstein, David; Feldman, Myra K; Kanmaniraja, Devaraju; Purysko, Andrei S; Vahdat, Noushin; Primak, Andrew N; Karim, Wadih; Herts, Brian R

2016-08-01

Purpose To compare the diagnostic accuracy and image quality of computed tomographic (CT) enterographic images obtained at half dose and reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) with those of full-dose CT enterographic images reconstructed with FBP for active inflammatory terminal or neoterminal ileal Crohn disease. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was compliant with HIPAA and approved by the institutional review board. The requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. Ninety subjects (45 with active terminal ileal Crohn disease and 45 without Crohn disease) underwent CT enterography with a dual-source CT unit. The reference standard for confirmation of active Crohn disease was active terminal ileal Crohn disease based on ileocolonoscopy or established Crohn disease and imaging features of active terminal ileal Crohn disease. Data from both tubes were reconstructed with FBP (100% exposure); data from the primary tube (50% exposure) were reconstructed with FBP and SAFIRE strengths 3 and 4, yielding four datasets per CT enterographic examination. The mean volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) at full dose were 13.1 mGy (median, 7.36 mGy) and 15.9 mGy (median, 13.06 mGy), respectively, and those at half dose were 6.55 mGy (median, 3.68 mGy) and 7.95 mGy (median, 6.5 mGy). Images were subjectively evaluated by eight radiologists for quality and diagnostic confidence for Crohn disease. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were estimated, and the multireader, multicase analysis of variance method was used to compare reconstruction methods on the basis of a noninferiority margin of 0.05. Results The mean AUCs with half-dose scans (FBP, 0.908; SAFIRE 3, 0.935; SAFIRE 4, 0.924) were noninferior to the mean AUC with full-dose FBP scans (0.908; P < .003). The proportion of images with inferior quality was significantly higher with all

The Tensile Strength of Liquid Nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Jian

1992-01-01

The tensile strength of liquids has been a puzzling subject. On the one hand, the classical nucleation theory has met great success in predicting the nucleation rates of superheated liquids. On the other hand, most of reported experimental values of the tensile strength for different liquids are far below the prediction from the classical nucleation theory. In this study, homogeneous nucleation in liquid nitrogen and its tensile strength have been investigated. Different approaches for determining the pressure amplitude were studied carefully. It is shown that Raman-Nath theory, as modified by the introduction of an effective interaction length, can be used to determine the pressure amplitude in the focal plane of a focusing ultrasonic transducer. The results obtained from different diffraction orders are consistent and in good agreement with other approaches including Debye's theory and solving the KZK equation. The measurement of the tensile strength was carried out in a high pressure stainless steel dewar. A High intensity ultrasonic wave was focused into a small volume of liquid nitrogen in a short time period. A probe laser beam passes through the focal region of a concave spherical transducer with small aperture angle and the transmitted light is detected with a photodiode. The pressure amplitude at the focus is calculated based on the acoustic power radiated into the liquid. In the experiment, the electrical signal on the transducer is gated at its resonance frequency with gate widths of 20 mus to 0.2 ms and temperature range from 77 K to near 100 K. The calculated pressure amplitude is in agreement with the prediction of classical nucleation theory for the nucleation rates from 10^6 to 10^ {11} (bubbles/cm^3 sec). This work provides the experimental evidence that the validity of the classical nucleation theory can be extended to the region of the negative pressure up to -90 atm. This is only the second cryogenic liquid to reach the tensile strength

Analysis of Ethanolamines: Validation of Semi-Volatile Analysis by HPLC-MS/MS by EPA Method MS888

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

Owens, J; Vu, A; Koester, C

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region 5 Chicago Regional Laboratory (CRL) developed a method titled 'Analysis of Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine, n-Methyldiethanolamine, and n-Ethyldiethanolamine in Water by Single Reaction Monitoring Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS): EPA Method MS888'. This draft standard operating procedure (SOP) was distributed to multiple EPA laboratories and to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which was tasked to serve as a reference laboratory for EPA's Environmental Reference Laboratory Network (ERLN) and to develop and validate analytical procedures. The primary objective of this study was to validate and verify the analytical procedures described in 'EPA Method MS888' for analysis of themore » listed ethanolamines in aqueous samples. The gathered data from this validation study will be used to: (1) demonstrate analytical method performance; (2) generate quality control acceptance criteria; and (3) revise the SOP to provide a validated method that would be available for use during a homeland security event. The data contained in this report will be compiled, by EPA CRL, with data generated by other EPA Regional laboratories so that performance metrics of 'EPA Method MS888' can be determined.« less

Quality evaluation of LC-MS/MS-based E. coli H antigen typing (MS-H) through label-free quantitative data analysis in a clinical sample setup.

PubMed

Cheng, Keding; Sloan, Angela; McCorrister, Stuart; Peterson, Lorea; Chui, Huixia; Drebot, Mike; Nadon, Celine; Knox, J David; Wang, Gehua

2014-12-01

The need for rapid and accurate H typing is evident during Escherichia coli outbreak situations. This study explores the transition of MS-H, a method originally developed for rapid H antigen typing of E. coli using LC-MS/MS of flagella digest of reference strains and some clinical strains, to E. coli isolates in clinical scenario through quantitative analysis and method validation. Motile and nonmotile strains were examined in batches to simulate clinical sample scenario. Various LC-MS/MS batch run procedures and MS-H typing rules were compared and summarized through quantitative analysis of MS-H data output for a standard method development. Label-free quantitative data analysis of MS-H typing was proven very useful for examining the quality of MS-H result and the effects of some sample carryovers from motile E. coli isolates. Based on this, a refined procedure and protein identification rule specific for clinical MS-H typing was established and validated. With LC-MS/MS batch run procedure and database search parameter unique for E. coli MS-H typing, the standard procedure maintained high accuracy and specificity in clinical situations, and its potential to be used in a clinical setting was clearly established. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

MS in Your Relationships

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... of Distinction Lawry Circle Circle of Influence d Planned Giving d Other Ways to Give Donate by ...

Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS)

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... of Distinction Lawry Circle Circle of Influence d Planned Giving d Other Ways to Give Donate by ...

Progressive-Relapsing MS (PRMS)

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... of Distinction Lawry Circle Circle of Influence d Planned Giving d Other Ways to Give Donate by ...

Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS)

MedlinePlus

... Disease T Cells d What Causes MS? Disproved Theories Viruses Clusters d Who Gets MS? Pediatric MS ... of Distinction Lawry Circle Circle of Influence d Planned Giving d Other Ways to Give Donate by ...

[Correlation between gait speed and muscular strength with balance for reducing falls among elderly].

PubMed

García-Flores, Fabián Ituriel; Rivera-Cisneros, Antonio Eugenio; Sánchez-González, Jorge Manuel; Guardado-Mendoza, Rodolfo; Torres-Gutiérrez, Jorge Luis

2016-01-01

Evidence of the benefit on propioceptive neuromuscular facilitation for reducing falls in older people does not exist. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of propioceptive facilitation over falls and biomechanical variables, in comparison to standard treatment and control groups. Series cases comparative for the 24 participants were recruited and randomnly assigned to 3 groups. Group 1, propioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, group 2, standard treatment, and 3 control. Falls and biomechanic variables were measured before and after. Chi(2) was used for falls and multiple regression for biomechanical variables, Participants had similar falls in previous year. Women had higher falls in a relation 7:1 women-men. After intervention, there was no difference between 3 groups. A correlation exista between muscular strength and gait speed with one foot position time r(2) = 0.67, p = 0.02. Improving 1kilogram-force of muscular strength of pelvic limb and 0.1meter/second in gait speed, balance (unipodal position time) increases balance by 11.3%. After 3 months of intervention group 2 got 7.9kg-force and 0.26m/s of profit, while group 1 had 4.1kg-force and 0.15m/s and control group 2.4kg-force and 0.1m/s. Copyright © 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

Shoulder strength value differences between genders and age groups.

PubMed

Balcells-Diaz, Eudald; Daunis-I-Estadella, Pepus

2018-03-01

The strength of a normal shoulder differs according to gender and decreases with age. Therefore, the Constant score, which is a shoulder function measurement tool that allocates 25% of the final score to strength, differs from the absolute values but likely reflects a normal shoulder. To compare group results, a normalized Constant score is needed, and the first step to achieving normalization involves statistically establishing the gender differences and age-related decline. In this investigation, we sought to verify the gender difference and age-related decline in strength. We obtained a randomized representative sample of the general population in a small to medium-sized Spanish city. We then invited this population to participate in our study, and we measured their shoulder strength. We performed a statistical analysis with a power of 80% and a P value < .05. We observed a statistically significant difference between the genders and a statistically significant decline with age. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation to study a representative sample of the general population from which conclusions can be drawn regarding Constant score normalization. Copyright © 2017 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development and full validation of an UPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of the plant-derived alkaloid indirubin in rat plasma.

PubMed

Jähne, Evelyn A; Sampath, Chethan; Butterweck, Veronika; Hamburger, Matthias; Oufir, Mouhssin

2016-09-05

An UPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of indirubin in lithium heparinized rat plasma was developed and validated according to current international guidelines. Indirubin was extracted from rat plasma by using Waters Ostro™ pass-through sample preparation plates. The method was validated with a LLOQ of 5.00ng/mL and an ULOQ of 500ng/mL. The calibration curve was fitted by least-square quadratic regression, and a weighting factor of 1/X was applied. Recoveries of indirubin and I.S. were consistent and ≥75.5%. Stability studies demonstrated that indirubin was stable in lithium heparinized rat plasma for at least 3 freeze/thaw cycles, for 3h at RT, for 96h in the autosampler at 10°C, and for 84days when stored below -65°C. Preliminary pharmacokinetic (PK) data were obtained from Sprague Dawley rats after intravenous administration of indirubin (2mg/kg b.w.) and blood sampling up to 12h after injection. PK parameters were determined by non-compartmental analysis. Indirubin had a half-life (t1/2) of 35min, and a relatively high clearance (CL) of 2.71L/h/kg. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time-reversal optical tomography: detecting and locating extended targets in a turbid medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Binlin; Cai, W.; Xu, M.; Gayen, S. K.

2012-03-01

Time Reversal Optical Tomography (TROT) is developed to locate extended target(s) in a highly scattering turbid medium, and estimate their optical strength and size. The approach uses Diffusion Approximation of Radiative Transfer Equation for light propagation along with Time Reversal (TR) Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) scheme for signal and noise subspaces for assessment of target location. A MUSIC pseudo spectrum is calculated using the eigenvectors of the TR matrix T, whose poles provide target locations. Based on the pseudo spectrum contours, retrieval of target size is modeled as an optimization problem, using a "local contour" method. The eigenvalues of T are related to optical strengths of targets. The efficacy of TROT to obtain location, size, and optical strength of one absorptive target, one scattering target, and two absorptive targets, all for different noise levels was tested using simulated data. Target locations were always accurately determined. Error in optical strength estimates was small even at 20% noise level. Target size and shape were more sensitive to noise. Results from simulated data demonstrate high potential for application of TROT in practical biomedical imaging applications.

Stress intensity factors in bonded half planes containing inclined cracks and subjected to antiplane shear loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bassani, J. L.; Erdogan, F.

1979-01-01

The antiplane shear problem for two bonded dissimilar half planes containing a semi-infinite crack or two arbitrarily located collinear cracks is considered. For the semi-infinite crack the problem is solved for a concentrated wedge load and the stress intensity factor and the angular distribution of stresses are calculated. For finite cracks the problem is reduced to a pair of integral equations. Numerical results are obtained for cracks fully imbedded in a homogeneous medium, one crack tip touching the interface, and a crack crossing the interface for various crack angles.

Stress intensity factors in bonded half planes containing inclined cracks and subjected to antiplane shear loading

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bassani, J. L.; Erdogan, F.

1978-01-01

The antiplane shear problem for two bonded dissimilar half planes containing a semi-infinite crack or two arbitrarily located collinear cracks was considered. For the semi-infinite crack the problem was solved for a concentrated wedge load and the stress intensity factor and the angular distribution of stresses were calculated. For finite cracks the problem was reduced to a pair of integral equations. Numerical results were obtained for cracks fully imbedded in a homogeneous medium, one crack tip touching the interface, and a crack crossing the interface for various crack angles.

The osmotic pressure of the maintenance medium and reproduction of poliovirus.

PubMed

Tolskaya, E A; Agol, V I; Voroshilova, M K; Lipskaya, G Y

1966-08-01

When the osmotic pressure of the maintenance medium is decreased, poliovirus reproduction is inhibited. Poliovirus strains may vary in their sensitivity to the effect of hypotonic solutions. Mutants have been selected (designated as osm mutants) the reproduction of which is characterized by particularly high resistance to media with reduced osmotic pressure. Initial stages of the virus-cell interaction proceed at similar rates in physiologic and hypotonic solutions. Reactions sensitive to hypotonic solutions take place in the second half of the latent period and during the stage of virus maturation. The multiplication of viruses in moderately hypotonic solutions exhibits a marked dependence upon the temperature and the presence of cystine in the medium, even though these factors have relatively small influence upon the reproduction of the viruses in isotonic solutions. Despite complete cessation of the production of infectious virus in certain hypotonic media, there is a considerable synthesis of virus-induced RNA. At least some of the RNA produced under these conditions is infectious. With a further decrease of the osmotic pressure of the medium the synthesis of the viral RNA is inhibited. Some possible explanations of the observed facts are briefly discussed.

Half-life, branching-ratio, and Q-value measurement for the superallowed 0{sup +}{yields}0{sup +}{beta}{sup +} emitter {sup 42}Ti

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

Nieto, T. Kurtukian; Souin, J.; Audirac, L.

2009-09-15

The half-life, the branching ratio, and the decay Q value of the superallowed {beta} emitter {sup 42}Ti were measured in an experiment performed at the JYFLTRAP facility of the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyvaeskylae. {sup 42}Ti is the heaviest T{sub z}=-1 nucleus for which high-precision measurements of these quantities have been tried. The half-life (T{sub 1/2}=208.14{+-}0.45 ms) and the Q value [Q{sub EC}=7016.83(25) keV] are close to or reach the required precision of about 0.1%. The branching ratio for the superallowed decay branch [BR=47.7(12)%], a by-product of the half-life measurement, does not reach the necessary precision yet. Nonetheless,more » these results allow one to determine the experimental ft value and the corrected Ft value to be 3114(79) and 3122(79) s, respectively.« less

Quantitative Acylcarnitine Determination by UHPLC-MS/MS – Going Beyond Tandem MS Acylcarnitine “Profiles”

PubMed Central

Minkler, Paul E.; Stoll, Maria S.K.; Ingalls, Stephen T.; Kerner, Janos; Hoppel, Charles L.

2016-01-01

Tandem MS “profiling” of acylcarnitines and amino acids was conceived as a first-tier screening method, and its application to expanded newborn screening has been enormously successful. However, unlike amino acid screening (which uses amino acid analysis as its second-tier validation of screening results), acylcarnitine “profiling” also assumed the role of second-tier validation, due to the lack of a generally accepted second-tier acylcarnitine determination method. In this report, we present results from the application of our validated UHPLC-MS/MS second-tier method for the quantification of total carnitine, free carnitine, butyrobetaine, and acylcarnitines to patient samples with known diagnoses: malonic acidemia, short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD) or isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (IBD), 3-methyl-crotonyl carboxylase deficiency (3-MCC) or β-ketothiolase deficiency (BKT), and methylmalonic acidemia (MMA). We demonstrate the assay’s ability to separate constitutional isomers and diastereomeric acylcarnitines and generate values with a high level of accuracy and precision. These capabilities are unavailable when using tandem MS “profiles”. We also show examples of research interest, where separation of acylcarnitine species and accurate and precise acylcarnitine quantification is necessary. PMID:26458767

Surface Selective Oxide Reduction During the Intercritical Annealing of Medium Mn Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Kyoung Rae; Cho, Lawrence; Oh, Jong Han; Kim, Myoung Soo; Kang, Ki Cheol; De Cooman, Bruno C.

2017-08-01

Third generation advanced high-strength steels achieve an excellent strength-ductility balance using a cost-effective alloy composition. During the continuous annealing of medium Mn steel, the formation of an external selective oxide layer of MnO has a negative impact on the coating quality after galvanizing. A procedure to reduce the selective oxide was therefore developed. It involves annealing in the temperature range of 1073 K to 1323 K (800 °C to 1050 °C) in a HNx gas atmosphere. Annealing at higher temperatures and the use of larger H2 volume fractions are shown to make the gas atmosphere reducing with respect to MnO. The reduction of the surface MnO layer was observed by SEM, GDOES, and cross-sectional TEM analysis.

7 CFR 51.1441 - Half-kernel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Half-kernel. 51.1441 Section 51.1441 Agriculture... Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans Definitions § 51.1441 Half-kernel. Half-kernel means one of the separated halves of an entire pecan kernel with not more than one-eighth of its original volume missing...

Optomagnetic composite medium with conducting nanoelements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panina, L. V.; Grigorenko, A. N.; Makhnovskiy, D. P.

2002-10-01

A type of metal-dielectric composites has been proposed that is characterized by a resonancelike behavior of the effective permeability μeff in the infrared and visible spectral ranges. This material can be referred to as an optomagnetic medium. It consists of conducting inclusions in the shape of nonclosed contours or pairs of parallel sticks with length of 50-100 nm embedded in a dielectric matrix. The analytical formalism developed is based on solving the scattering problem for considered inclusions with impedance boundary condition, which yields the current and charge distributions within the inclusions. The magnetic properties originated by induced currents are enhanced by localized plasmon modes, which make an inclusion resonate at a much lower frequency than that of the half-wavelength requirement at microwaves. It implies that microstructure can be made on a scale much less than the wavelength and the effective permeability is a valid concept. The presence of the effective magnetic permeability and its resonant properties lead to unusual optical effects and open interesting applications. In particular, the condition for Brewster's angle becomes different resulting in reflectionless normal incidence from air (vacuum) if the effective permeability and permittivity are the same. The resonant behavior of the effective permeability of the proposed optomagnetic medium could be used for creation of optical polarizes, filters, phase shifters, and selective lenses.

Laplace-transform-based method to calculate back-reflected radiance from an isotropically scattering half-space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rinzema, K.; Hoenders, B. J.; Ferwerda, H. A.

1997-07-01

We present a method to determine the back-reflected radiance from an isotropically scattering half-space with matched boundary. This method has the advantage that it leads very quickly to the relevant equations, the numerical solution of which is also quite easy. Essentially, the method is derived from a mathematical criterion that effectively forbids the existence of solutions to the transport equation which grow exponentially as one moves away from the surface and deeper into the medium. Preliminary calculations for infinitely wide beams yield results which agree very well with what is found in the literature.

Clinical and MRI characterization of MS patients with a pure and severe cognitive onset.

PubMed

Assouad, Rana; Louapre, Celine; Tourbah, Ayman; Papeix, Caroline; Galanaud, Damien; Lubetzki, Catherine; Stankoff, Bruno

2014-11-01

Cognitive and behavioural symptoms are common in multiple sclerosis (MS), but they are rarely the inaugural and predominant manifestation of the disease. Our objective is to characterize the clinical and radiological features of cognitive-multiple sclerosis (cog-MS), defined as MS subjects who entered into the disease with cognitive symptoms, which subsequently remain the predominant manifestation. We describe the disease course, and clinical and radiological features of 18 subjects with a cognitive form of MS. Memory loss and behavioural changes were the primary symptoms at disease onset. They remained prominent and led to severe cognitive impairment during disease course. The main associated manifestations were depression, pathological laughing and/or crying, urinary incontinence and gait disturbance suggestive of high-level gait disorder. Motor, sensory or cerebellar abnormalities were uncommon. During disease course, superimposed neurological relapses occurred in 61% of cases. Brain MRI revealed multiple periventricular lesions that were extensive and confluent in half of cases, and a severe atrophy measured as an increase in the third ventricular width compared to age-matched healthy controls. Gadolinium-enhancing lesions were common (72%). The mean diagnosis delay from disease onset was 2 years. A principal component analysis on the neuropsychological results revealed that verbal memory assessment is complementary to global cognitive functioning evaluation in these patients with severe cognitive deficit. Verbal memory deficit was associated with high EDSS. cog-MS patients might represent a challenging diagnosis, which needs to be individualized for an early management. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In vitro propagation of female Ephedra foliata Boiss. & Kotschy ex Boiss.: an endemic and threatened Gymnosperm of the Thar Desert.

PubMed

Lodha, Deepika; Rathore, Nisha; Kataria, Vinod; Shekhawat, N S

2014-07-01

Ephedra foliata Boiss. & Kotschy ex Boiss., (family - Ephedraceae), is an ecologically and economically important threatened Gymnosperm of the Indian Thar Desert. A method for micropropagation of E. foliata using nodal explant of mature female plant has been developed. Maximum bud-break (90 %) of the explant was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l(-1) of benzyl adenine (BA) + additives. Explant produces 5.3 ± 0.40 shoots from single node with 3.25 ± 0.29 cm length. The multiplication of shoots in culture was affected by salt composition of media, types and concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGR's) and their interactions, time of transfer of the cultures. Maximum number of shoots (26.3 ± 0.82 per culture vessel) were regenerated on MS medium modified by reducing the concentration of nitrates to half supplemented with 200 mg l(-1) ammonium sulphate {(NH4) 2SO4} (MMS3) + BA (0.25 mg l(-1)), Kinetin (Kin; 0.25 mg l(-1)), Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; 0.1 mg l(-1)) and additives. The in vitro produced shoots rooted under ex vitro on soilrite moistened with one-fourth strength of MS macro salts in screw cap bottles by treating the shoot base (s) with 500 mg l(-1) of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for 5 min. The micropropagated plants were hardened in the green house. The described protocol can be applicable for (i) large scale plant production (ii) establishment of plants in natural habitat and (iii) germplasm conservation of this endemic Gymnosperm of arid regions.

A novel regulatory system in plants involving medium-chain fatty acids.

PubMed

Hunzicker, Gretel Mara

2009-12-01

Polyethylene glycol sorbitan monoacylates (Tween) are detergents of widespread use in plant sciences. However, little is known about the plant response to these compounds. Interestingly, the structure of Tweens' detergents (especially from Tween 20) resembles the lipid A structure from gram-negative bacteria polysaccharides (a backbone with short saturated fatty acids). Thus, different assays (microarray, GC-MS, RT-PCR, Northern blots, alkalinization and mutant analyses) were conducted in order to elucidate physiological changes in the plant response to Tween 20 detergent. Tween 20 causes a rapid and complex change in transcript abundance which bears all characteristics of a pathogenesis-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)/elicitor-induced defense response, and they do so at concentrations which cause no detectable deleterious effects on plant cellular integrity. In the present work, it is shown that the PAMP/elicitor-induced defense responses are caused by medium-chain fatty acids which are efficiently released from the Tween backbone by the plant, notably lauric acid (12:0) and methyl lauric acid. These compounds induce the production of ethylene, medium alkalinization and gene activation in a jasmonate-independent manner. Medium-chain fatty acids are thus novel elicitors/regulators of plant pathogen defense as they have being proved in animals.

Amplification and attenuation of shock wave strength caused by homogeneous isotropic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, K.; Watanabe, T.; Nagata, K.; Sasoh, A.; Sakai, Y.; Hayase, T.

2018-03-01

We study the pressure increase across a planar shock wave with shock Mach numbers Ms of 1.1, 1.3, and 1.5 propagating through homogeneous isotropic turbulence at a low turbulent Mach number (Mt ˜ 10-4) based on direct numerical simulations (DNSs). Fluctuation in the pressure increase, Δp', on a given shock ray is induced by turbulence around the ray. A local amplification of the shock wave strength, measured with the pressure increase, is caused by the velocity fluctuation opposed to the shock wave propagating direction with a time delay, while the velocity in the opposite direction attenuates the shock wave strength. The turbulence effects on the shock wave are explained based on shock wave deformation due to turbulent shearing motions. The spatial distribution of Δp' on the shock wave has a characteristic length of the order of the integral scale of turbulence. The influence of turbulent velocity fluctuation at a given location on Δp' becomes most significant after the shock wave propagates from the location for a distance close to the integral length scale for all shock Mach numbers, demonstrating that the shock wave properties possess strong memory even during the propagation in turbulence. A lower shock Mach number Ms results in a smaller rms value of Δp', stronger influences on Δp' by turbulence far away from the shock ray, and a larger length scale in the spatial profile of Δp' on the shock wave. Relative intensity of Δp' increases with [Mt/(Ms-1 ) ] α, where DNS and experimental results yield α ≈ 0.73.

Simultaneous analysis of 17 diuretics in dietary supplements by HPLC and LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Woo, H; Kim, J W; Han, K M; Lee, J H; Hwang, I S; Lee, J H; Kim, J; Kweon, S J; Cho, S; Chae, K R; Han, S Y; Kim, J

2013-01-01

In order to test health foods for illegally added diuretics for weight loss, we developed simple, rapid, selective, and sensitive methods using HPLC and LC-MS/MS for the simultaneous analysis of 17 diuretics in dietary supplements. HPLC conditions were set with a Capcell-pak C18, using a mobile phase consisting of gradient conditions, UV detection at 254 nm and validated for linearity (r(2)> 0.999), precision (CV ≤ 3%), recoveries (90.4-102.8%) and reproducibility. Identification and quantification of 17 diuretics were accomplished by ion-spray LC-MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The chromatographic separation was carried out under the reversed-phase mechanism on an HSS-T3 column. The LC-MS/MS method was validated for linearity (r(2)> 0.99) and precision (CV < 13%). Sixteen dietary supplements were tested with the developed methods. Diuretics were not detected in all samples. Extraction recovery was also investigated and the extraction recoveries in different formulations were from 88% to 110% and from 81% to 116% using HPLC and LC-MS/MS, respectively. There was no significant difference in recoveries in the type of dietary supplements. Based on this result, the developed methods to monitor illegal drug adulterations in dietary supplements using HPLC and LC-MS/MS are simple, fast and reliable. Therefore, it is applicable to routine drug-adulteration screening.

Half-lives of 221Fr, 217At, 213Bi, 213Po and 209Pb from the 225Ac decay series.

PubMed

Suliman, G; Pommé, S; Marouli, M; Van Ammel, R; Stroh, H; Jobbágy, V; Paepen, J; Dirican, A; Bruchertseifer, F; Apostolidis, C; Morgenstern, A

2013-07-01

The half-lives of (221)Fr, (217)At, (213)Bi, (213)Po, and (209)Pb were measured by means of an ion-implanted planar Si detector for alpha and beta particles emitted from weak (225)Ac sources or from recoil sources, which were placed in a quasi-2π counting geometry. Recoil sources were prepared by collecting atoms from an open (225)Ac source onto a glass substrate. The (221)Fr and (213)Bi half-lives were determined by following the alpha particle emission rate of recoil sources as a function of time. Similarly, the (209)Pb half-life was determined from the beta particle count rate. The shorter half-lives of (217)At and (213)Po were deduced from delayed coincidence measurements on weak (225)Ac sources using digital data acquisition in list mode. The resulting values: T1/2((221)Fr)=4.806 (6) min, T1/2((217)At)=32.8 (3)ms, T1/2((213)Bi)=45.62 (6)min, T1/2((213)Po)=3.708 (8) μs, and T1/2((209)Pb)=3.232 (5)h were in agreement only with the best literature data. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rapid glucosinolate detection and identification using accurate mass MS-MS

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Currently, there is a demand for accurate evaluation of brassica plat species for their glucosinolate content. An optimized method has been developed for detecting and identifying glucosinolates in plant extracts using MS-MS fragmentation with ion trap collision induced dissociation (CID) and higher...

In vitro propagation and reintroduction of the endangered Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe.

PubMed

Wu, Kunlin; Zeng, Songjun; Lin, Danni; Teixeira da Silva, Jaime A; Bu, Zhaoyang; Zhang, Jianxia; Duan, Jun

2014-01-01

Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe is an endangered tropical epiphytic orchid that is threatened with extinction due to over-collection and the loss of suitable habitats. In vitro propagation is a useful way to mass produce plants for re-establishment in the wild and for commercial propagation. Seeds collected 150 days after pollination (DAP) were the optimum stage for in vitro culture. Seed germination reached 93.1% on quarter-strength MS (i.e., MS containing a quarter of macro- and micronutrients) medium containing 0.5 mg l(-1) α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 20% coconut water (CW), 1.0 g l(-1) peptone, 10 g l(-1) sucrose and 1.0 g l(-1) activated charcoal (AC). Quarter-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l(-1) BA, 0.5 mg l(-1) NAA, 1.0 g l(-1) peptone, 10 g l(-1) sucrose and 20% CW was suitable for the sub-culture of protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) in which the PLB proliferation ratio was 2.88. Quarter-strength MS medium containing 1.0 mg l(-1) NAA, 1.0 g l(-1) peptone, 100 g l(-1) banana homogenate (BH), and 1.0 g l(-1) AC was suitable for plantlet formation and 95.67% of plantlets developed from PLBs within 60 days of culture. Hyponex N016 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) NAA, 1.0 g l(-1) peptone, 20 g l(-1) sucrose, 150 g l(-1) BH, and 1.0 g l(-1) AC was suitable for the in vitro growth of plantlets about 2-cm in height. Plantlets 3-cm in height or taller were transplanted to Chilean sphagnum moss, and 95% of plantlets survived after 60 days in a greenhouse. Three hundred transplanted of seedlings 360-days old were reintroduced into three natural habitats. Highest percentage survival (79.67%) was observed in Yuanjiang Nature Reserve two years after reintroduction, followed by Huolu Mountain forest park (71.33%). This protocol is an efficient means for the large-scale propagation and in vitro and in vivo germplasm conservation of R. imschootiana.

Production of the quinone-methide triterpene maytenin by in vitro adventitious roots of Peritassa campestris (Cambess.) A.C.Sm. (Celastraceae) and rapid detection and identification by APCI-IT-MS/MS.

PubMed

Paz, Tiago Antunes; dos Santos, Vânia A F F M; Inácio, Marielle Cascaes; Pina, Edieidia Souza; Pereira, Ana Maria Soares; Furlan, Maysa

2013-01-01

Establishment of adventitious root cultures of Peritassa campestris (Celastraceae) was achieved from seed cotyledons cultured in semisolid Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 2% sucrose, 0.01% PVP, and 4.0 mg L⁻¹ IBA. Culture period on accumulation of biomass and quinone-methide triterpene maytenin in adventitious root were investigated. The accumulation of maytenin in these roots was compared with its accumulation in the roots of seedlings grown in a greenhouse (one year old). A rapid detection and identification of maytenin by direct injection into an atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometer (APCI-IT-MS/MS) were performed without prior chromatographic separation. In vitro, the greatest accumulation of biomass occurred within 60 days of culture. The highest level of maytenin--972.11  μ g·g⁻¹ dry weight--was detected at seven days of cultivation; this value was 5.55-fold higher than that found in the roots of seedlings grown in a greenhouse.

Production of the Quinone-Methide Triterpene Maytenin by In Vitro Adventitious Roots of Peritassa campestris (Cambess.) A.C.Sm. (Celastraceae) and Rapid Detection and Identification by APCI-IT-MS/MS

PubMed Central

Paz, Tiago Antunes; dos Santos, Vânia A. F. F. M.; Inácio, Marielle Cascaes; Pina, Edieidia Souza; Pereira, Ana Maria Soares; Furlan, Maysa

2013-01-01

Establishment of adventitious root cultures of Peritassa campestris (Celastraceae) was achieved from seed cotyledons cultured in semisolid Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 2% sucrose, 0.01% PVP, and 4.0 mg L−1 IBA. Culture period on accumulation of biomass and quinone-methide triterpene maytenin in adventitious root were investigated. The accumulation of maytenin in these roots was compared with its accumulation in the roots of seedlings grown in a greenhouse (one year old). A rapid detection and identification of maytenin by direct injection into an atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometer (APCI-IT-MS/MS) were performed without prior chromatographic separation. In vitro, the greatest accumulation of biomass occurred within 60 days of culture. The highest level of maytenin—972.11 μg·g−1 dry weight—was detected at seven days of cultivation; this value was 5.55-fold higher than that found in the roots of seedlings grown in a greenhouse. PMID:24205504

Quantifying MMA by SLE LC-MS/MS: Unexpected challenges in assay development.

PubMed

Lo, Sheng-Ying; Gordon, Cindy; Sadilkova, Katerina; Jack, Rhona M; Dickerson, Jane A

2016-09-01

Analysis of serum/plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) is important for the diagnosis and management of methylmalonic acidemia in pediatric populations. This work focuses on developing and validating a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to monitor methylmalonic acidemia using a simple method preparation. MMA and stable isotope labeled d3-MMA was extracted using supported liquid extraction (SLE). Assay imprecision, bias, linearity, recovery and carryover were determined. The relationship between MMA and propionyl acylcarnitine (C3-acylcarnitine) was also evaluated using historical paired results from 51 unique individuals. Baseline separation between MMA and succinic acid was completed in 7min. The assay was linear from 0.1 to 500μM. The intra-day and inter-day imprecision CV ranged from 4.1 to 13.2% (0.3 to 526μM) and 5.0 to 15.7% (0.3 to 233μM), respectively. Recovery ranged from 93 to 125%. The correlation with a national reference laboratory LC-MS/MS assay showed a Deming regression of 1.026 and intercept of -1.335. Carryover was determined to be <0.04%. Patient-specific correlation was observed between MMA and C3-acylcarnitine. This report describes the first LC-MS/MS method using SLE for MMA extraction. In addition, we illustrate the challenges encountered during this method development that should be assessed and resolved by any laboratory implementing a SLE LC-MS/MS assay designed to quantify analytes across several orders of magnitude. Copyright © 2016 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

76 FR 37641 - Safety Zone; Independence Day Fireworks Celebration for the City of Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay, CA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-28

...-AA00 Safety Zone; Independence Day Fireworks Celebration for the City of Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay... temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Half Moon Bay, off of Pillar Point Harbor beach, Half Moon Bay, CA in support of the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration for the City of Half Moon Bay...

Observation of the TWIP + TRIP Plasticity-Enhancement Mechanism in Al-Added 6 Wt Pct Medium Mn Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Seawoong; Lee, Kyooyoung; De Cooman, Bruno C.

2015-06-01

The intercritically annealed Fe-0.15 pctC-6.0 pctMn-1.5 pctSi-3.0 pctAl and Fe-0.30 pctC-6.0 pctMn-1.5 pctSi-3.0 pctAl medium Mn steels were found to have improved mechanical properties due to the TWIP and TRIP plasticity-enhancing mechanisms being activated in succession during tensile deformation. The increase of the C content from 0.15 to 0.30 pct resulted in ultra-high strength properties and a strength-ductility balance of approximately 65,000 MPa-pct, i.e., equivalent to the strength-ductility balance of high Mn TWIP steel with a fully austenitic microstructure.

EXTRACTION AND DETECTION OF A NEW ARSINE SULFIDE CONTAINING ARSENOSUGAR IN MOLLUSCS BY IC-ICP-MS AND IC-ESI-MS/MS

EPA Science Inventory

Using IC-ICP-MS and IC-ESI-MS/MS, an unknown arsenical compound in mollusks has been identified as a new arsine sulfide containing analog of a known arsenosugar and is referred to as As(498). This species has been observed in four separate shellfish species following a mild metha...

DBS-LC-MS/MS assay for caffeine: validation and neonatal application.

PubMed

Bruschettini, Matteo; Barco, Sebastiano; Romantsik, Olga; Risso, Francesco; Gennai, Iulian; Chinea, Benito; Ramenghi, Luca A; Tripodi, Gino; Cangemi, Giuliana

2016-09-01

DBS might be an appropriate microsampling technique for therapeutic drug monitoring of caffeine in infants. Nevertheless, its application presents several issues that still limit its use. This paper describes a validated DBS-LC-MS/MS method for caffeine. The results of the method validation showed an hematocrit dependence. In the analysis of 96 paired plasma and DBS clinical samples, caffeine levels measured in DBS were statistically significantly lower than in plasma but the observed differences were independent from hematocrit. These results clearly showed the need for extensive validation with real-life samples for DBS-based methods. DBS-LC-MS/MS can be considered to be a good alternative to traditional methods for therapeutic drug monitoring or PK studies in preterm infants.

Nonlinear dynamo in the intracluster medium