Sample records for htm cap alpha

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

    Popp, R.A.; Lalley, P.A.; Whitney, J.B.

    A genetic polymorphism for a Bgl I endonuclease site near the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogene ..cap alpha..-4 of C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN mice was used to show that ..cap alpha..-4 was not affected by three independent mutations in which the adult globin genes ..cap alpha..-1 and ..cap alpha..-2 were deleted. These results indicated that ..cap alpha..-4 might not be located adjacent to the adult ..cap alpha..-globin genes on chromosome 11. Restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA of a primary clone of a Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrid that had lost mouse chromosomes 11 and 18 showed that this clone lacked the adult murinemore » globin genes ..cap alpha..-1 and ..cap alpha..-2 but it did contain the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4. These results indicated that the adult ..cap alpha..-globin genes and ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes are not located on the same chromosome. Similar analyses of several other Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids that had segregated other mouse chromosomes indicated that the ..cap alpha..-globin-like pseudogenes ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4 are located on mouse chromosomes 15 and 17, respectively. These data explain why ..cap alpha..-3 and ..cap alpha..-4 were not affected by the three independently induced deletion-type mutations that cause ..cap alpha..-thalassemia in the mouse.« less

  2. Alpha fetoprotein

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003573.htm Alpha fetoprotein To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein produced by the liver ...

  3. cap alpha. /sub i/-3 cDNA encodes the. cap alpha. subunit of G/sub k/, the stimulatory G protein of receptor-regulated K/sup +/ channels

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

    Codina, J.; Olate, J.; Abramowitz, J.

    1988-05-15

    cDNA cloning has identified the presence in the human genome of three genes encoding ..cap alpha.. subunits of pertussis toxin substrates, generically called G/sub i/. They are named ..cap alpha../sub i/-1, ..cap alpha../sub i/-2 and ..cap alpha../sub i/-3. However, none of these genes has been functionally identified with any of the ..cap alpha.. subunits of several possible G proteins, including pertussis toxin-sensitive G/sub p/'s, stimulatory to phospholipase C or A/sub 2/, G/sub i/, inhibitory to adenylyl cyclase, or G/sub k/, stimulatory to a type of K/sup +/ channels. The authors now report the nucleotide sequence and the complete predicted aminomore » acid sequence of human liver ..cap alpha../sub i/-3 and the partial amino acid sequence of proteolytic fragments of the ..cap alpha.. subunit of human erythrocyte G/sub k/. The amino acid sequence of the proteolytic fragment is uniquely encoded by the cDNA of ..cap alpha../sub i/-3, thus identifying it as ..cap alpha../sub k/. The probable identity of ..cap alpha../sub i/-1 with ..cap alpha../sub p/ and possible roles for ..cap alpha../sub i/-2, as well as additional roles for ..cap alpha../sub i/-1 and ..cap alpha../sub i/-3 (..cap alpha../sub k/) are discussed.« less

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

    Popp, R.A.; Enlow, M.K.

    The clinical hematologic change in 2 groups of progeny from mice carrying radiation-induced strain SEC ..cap alpha..-chain deficiencies was found to be similar to the hematologic alterations in persons with ..cap alpha..-thalassemia. The heterozygous deletion or inactivation of the ..cap alpha..-chain gene in mice caused an anemia similar to ..cap alpha..-thalassemina minor in persons. The ..cap alpha..-chain deficiency in mice created an erythrocytosis, reticulocytosis, and microcytic, hypochromic anemia comparable with the changes in human ..cap alpha..-thalassemia minor resulting from deletion of the ..cap alpha..-chain gene. These mouse mutants are the only known animal models of human thalassemia. A comparison ofmore » hematologic values obtained from progeny possessing an ..cap alpha..-chain gene deficiency and from progeny possessing a ..beta..-chain duplication suggested that the deficiency of ..cap alpha..-chain synthesis, rather than a simple imbalance between the amounts of ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-chains produced, was primarily responsible for the altered hematologic characteristics in these ..cap alpha..-thalassemic mice.« less

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

    Popp, R.A.; Bradshaw, B.S.; Hirsch, G.P.

    Embryonic hemoglobins in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic heterozygotes and normal fetuses were compared to study the effects of the deficient ..cap alpha.. chain on the synthesis of hemoglobins in the nucleated embryonic erythrocytes derived from the fetal yolk sac. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that less hemoglobin Ell (..cap alpha../sub 2/y/sub 2/) was formed in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic heterozygotes between 12/sup 1///sub 2/ and 14/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation. Quantitation of in vitro synthesis between 11/sup 1///sub 2/ and 13/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation also showed that Ell was synthesized less rapidly in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic fetuses. In contrast, the synthesis of Elllmore » (..cap alpha../sub 2/z/sub 2/) was higher in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic than in normal fetuses at 12/sup 1///sub 2/ and 13/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation. Measurements of the synthesis of individual chains in El (x/sub 2/y/sub 2/) and Ell showed that x chain synthesis was normal and that ..cap alpha.. chain synthesis was deficient in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic fetuses at 11/sup 1///sub 2/ and 12/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation. Thus, there is still no proof for close linkage of x- and ..cap alpha..-chain genes in chromosome 11. Differences in the electrophoretic patterns of embryonic hemoglobins of ..cap alpha..-thalassemic and normal fetuses can be explained by normal synthesis of x chains, deficient synthesis of ..cap alpha.. chains, and a higher affinity of z than y for the reduced amount of ..cap alpha.. chain present in the nucleated embryonic erythrocytes of ..cap alpha..-thalassemic mice.« less

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

    Popp, R.A.; Bradshaw, B.S.; Hirsch, G.P.

    Embryonic hemoglobins in heterozygous ..cap alpha..-thalassemic and normal fetuses were compared to study the effects of the deficient ..cap alpha.. chain on the synthesis of hemoglobins in the nucleated embryonic erythrocytes derived from the fetal yolk sac. Visual inspection of embryonic hemoglobins following acrylamide gel electrophoresis suggested that less hemoglobin EII (..cap alpha../sub 2/y/sub 2/) was formed in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic heterozygotes between 12/sup 1///sub 2/ and 14/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation. Quantitation of in vitro synthesis between 11/sup 1///sub 2/ and 13/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation confirmed that EII was synthesized less rapidly in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic fetuses. Inmore » contrast, the synthesis of EIII (..cap alpha../sub 2/z/sub 2/) was higher in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic than in normal fetuses at 12/sup 1///sub 2/ and 13/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation. Measurements of synthesis of individual chains in EI (x/sub 2/y/sub 2/) and EII showed that x-chain synthesis was normal and that ..cap alpha..-chain synthesis was deficient in ..cap alpha..-thalassemic fetuses at 11/sup 1///sub 2/ and 12/sup 1///sub 2/ days of gestation. There is still no proof for close linkage of x- and ..cap alpha..-chain genes in chromosome 11. Differences in the electrophoretic patterns of embryonic hemoglobins of ..cap alpha..-thalassemic and normal fetuses can be explained by normal synthesis of x chains, deficient synthesis of ..cap alpha.. chains, and a higher affinity of z than y for the reduced amount of ..cap alpha.. chain present in the nucleated embryonic erythrocytes of ..cap alpha..-thalassemic mice.« less

  7. Synthetic. cap alpha. subunit peptide 125-147 of human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor induces antibodies to native receptor

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

    McCormick, D.J.; Griesmann, G.E.; Huang, Z.

    1986-03-05

    A synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 125-147 of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (AChR) ..cap alpha.. subunit proved to be a major antigenic region of the AChR. Rats inoculated with 50 ..mu..g of peptide (T ..cap alpha.. 125-147) developed T cell immunity and antibodies to native AChR and signs of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. They report the synthesis and preliminary testing of a disulfide-looped peptide comprising residues 125-147 of the human AChR ..cap alpha.. subunit. Peptide H ..cap alpha.. 125-147 differs from T ..cap alpha.. 125-147 at residues 139 (Glu for Gln) and 143 (Ser for Thr). In immunoprecipitation assays, antibodiesmore » to Torpedo AChR bound /sup 125/I-labelled H..cap alpha.. 125-147 antibody bound H..cap alpha.. 125-147, but monoclonal antibodies to an immunodominant region of native AChR bound neither H..cap alpha.. 125-147 nor T ..cap alpha.. 125-147. Rats immunized with H ..cap alpha.. 125-147 produced anti-mammalian muscle AChR antibodies that induced modulation of AChRs from cultured human myotubes. Thus, region 125-147 of the human AChR ..cap alpha.. subunit is extracellular in muscle, and is both antigenic and immunogenic. It remains to be determined whether or not autoantibodies to this region may in part cause the weakness or myasthenia gravis in man.« less

  8. Activity and subcellular compartmentalization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha are altered by the centrosome-associated protein CAP350.

    PubMed

    Patel, Hansa; Truant, Ray; Rachubinski, Richard A; Capone, John P

    2005-01-01

    Peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear hormone receptors (PPAR) are ligand-activated transcription factors that play pivotal roles in governing metabolic homeostasis and cell growth. PPARs are primarily in the nucleus but, under certain circumstances, can be found in the cytoplasm. We show here that PPAR(alpha) interacts with the centrosome-associated protein CAP350. CAP350 also interacts with PPAR(delta), PPAR(gamma) and liver-X-receptor alpha, but not with the 9-cis retinoic acid receptor, RXR(alpha). Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that PPAR(alpha) is diffusely distributed in the nucleus and excluded from the cytoplasm. However, in the presence of coexpressed CAP350, PPAR(alpha) colocalizes with CAP350 to discrete nuclear foci and to the centrosome, perinuclear region and intermediate filaments. In contrast, the subcellular distribution of RXR(alpha) or of thyroid hormone receptor alpha was not altered by coexpression of CAP350. An amino-terminal fragment of CAP350 was localized exclusively to nuclear foci and was sufficient to recruit PPAR(alpha) to these sites. Mutation of the single putative nuclear hormone receptor interacting signature motif LXXLL present in this fragment had no effect on its subnuclear localization but abrogated recruitment of PPAR(alpha) to nuclear foci. Surprisingly, mutation of the LXXLL motif in this CAP350 subfragment did not prevent its binding to PPAR(alpha) in vitro, suggesting that this motif serves some function other than PPAR(alpha) binding in recruiting PPAR(alpha) to nuclear spots. CAP350 inhibited PPAR(alpha)-mediated transactivation in an LXXLL-dependent manner, suggesting that CAP350 represses PPAR(alpha) function. Our findings implicate CAP350 in a dynamic process that recruits PPAR(alpha) to discrete nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments and suggest that altered intracellular compartmentalization represents a regulatory process that modulates PPAR function.

  9. Functional properties of an isolated. cap alpha beta. heterodimeric human placenta insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor complex

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

    Feltz, S.M.; Swanson, M.L.; Wemmie, J.A.

    1988-05-03

    Treatment of human placenta membranes at pH 8.5 in the presence of 2.0 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) for 5 min, followed by the simultaneous removal of the DTT and pH adjustment of pH 7.6, resulted in the formation of a functional ..cap alpha beta.. heterodimeric insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor complex from the native ..cap alpha../sub 2/..beta../sub 2/ heterotetrameric disulfide-linked state. The membrane-bound ..cap alpha beta.. heterodimeric complex displayed similar curvilinear /sup 125/I-IGF-1 equilibrium binding compared to the ..cap alpha../sub 2/..beta../sub 2/ heterotetrameric complex. /sup 125/I-IGF-1 binding to both the isolated ..cap alpha../sub 2/..beta../sub 2/ heterotetrameric and ..cap alpha beta..more » heterodimeric complexes demonstrated a marked straightening of the Scatchard plots, compared to the placenta membrane-bound IGF-1 receptors, with a 2-fold increase in the high-affinity binding component. IGF-1 stimulation of IGF-1 receptor autophosphorylation indicated that the ligand-dependent activation of ..cap alpha beta.. heterodimeric protein kinase activity occurred concomitant with the reassociation into a covalent ..cap alpha../sub 2/..beta../sub 2/ heterotetrameric state. These data demonstrate that (i) a combination of alkaline pH and DTT treatment of human placenta membranes results in the formation of an ..cap alpha beta.. heterodimeric IGF-1 receptor complex, (ii) unlike the insulin receptor, high-affinity homogeneous IGF-1 binding occurs in both the ..cap alpha../sub 2/..beta../sub 2/ heterotetrameric and ..cap alpha beta.. heterodimeric complexes, and (iii) IGF-1-dependent autophosphorylation of the ..cap alpha beta.. heterodimeric IGF-1 receptor complex correlates wit an IGF-1 dependent covalent reassociation into an ..cap alpha../sub 2/..beta../sub 2/ heterotetrameric disulfide-linked state.« less

  10. Developing a Whole-of-Government Approach to Complex Problems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-04-01

    increase of globalism. Nye, Joseph S. Power in the Global Information Age. Routledge. New York. 2004. P. 191. 8 Layton , Peter. Redefining...Project. Available online at: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB198/index.htm accessed 14 October 2006. 61 Eric Schmitt and Joel Brinkley, New...www.cap-lmu.de/download/CAP-Policy-Analysis-2006-01.pdf (accessed 14 Oct 06). Layton , Peter. Redefining Warfare. Royal United Services Institute

  11. Kinetics of ozonation. 4. Reactions of ozone with. cap alpha. -tocopherol and oleate and linoleate esters in carbon tetrachloride and in aqueous micellar solvents

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

    Giamalva, D.H.; Church, D.F.; Pryor, W.A.

    1986-10-15

    Vitamin E (..cap alpha..-tocopherol; ..cap alpha..-T) is known to protect animals against the deleterious effects of ozone in polluted air; one such effect is the ozone-initiated autooxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that occur in membranes. In order to assess the possibility of a direct reaction of ozone with ..cap alpha..-T competing with the very fast ozone-PUFA reaction, we have measured the rates of reaction of ozone with ..cap alpha..-T, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. I CCl/sub 4/ as solvent, ..cap alpha..-T reacts with ozone with a rate constant of about 5500 M/sup -1/ s/sup -1/; methyl oleate and methylmore » linoleate react 2 orders of magnitude faster. In aqueous micellar solutions the rate constants for ..cap alpha..-T and the fatty acids are more similar. The k for the ozone/..cap alpha..-T reaction is about 1 x 10/sup 6/ M/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ at pH 7, but decreases as the solution becomes more acidic; the k's for oleic acid and linoleic acid are ca. 1 x 10/sup 6/ M/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ and exhibit no significant pH dependence. Since the ratio of fatty acids to ..cap alpha..-T in membranes is typically at least 100-1000 to 1, we conclude that the direct reaction of ozone with ..cap alpha..-T is unlikely. Thus, the protection that vitamin E provides to animals breathing ozone-containing air must result from vitamin E acting as a free radical scavenger. We have also detected the ..cap alpha..-tocopheroxyl radical as an intermediate from the reaction of ozone with ..cap alpha..-T both in CCl/sub 4/ and aqueous micelles using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The authors suggest that the observation of this intermediate is consistent with an initial electron transfer from ..cap alpha..-T to ozone.« less

  12. Identification of a GTP-binding protein. cap alpha. subunit that lacks an apparent ADP-ribosylation site for pertussis toxin

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

    Fong, H.K.W.; Yoshimoto, K.K.; Eversole-Cire, P.

    1988-05-01

    Recent molecular cloning of cDNA for the ..cap alpha.. subunit of bovine transducin (a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, or G protein) has revealed the presence of two retinal-specific transducins, called T/sub r/ and T/sub c/, which are expressed in rod or cone photoreceptor cells. In a further study of G-protein diversity and signal transduction in the retina, the authors have identified a G-protein ..cap alpha.. subunit, which they refer to as G/sub z/..cap alpha.., by isolating a human retinal cDNA clone that cross-hybridizes at reduced stringency with bovine T/sub r/ ..cap alpha..-subunit cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence of G/submore » z/..cap alpha.. is 41-67% identical with those of other known G-protein ..cap alpha.. subunits. However, the 355-residue G/sub z/..cap alpha.. lacks a consensus site for ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin, and its amino acid sequence varies within a number of regions that are strongly conserved among all of the other G-protein ..cap alpha.. subunits. They suggest that G/sub z/..cap alpha.., which appears to be highly expressed in neural tissues, represents a member of a subfamily of G proteins that mediate signal transduction in pertussis toxin-insensitive systems.« less

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

    Martinell, J.; Whitney, J.B.; Popp, R.A.

    Three types of mice with globin gene mutations, called 352HB, 27HB, and Hba/sup th-J/, appear to be true animal models of human thalassemia. Expression of the ..cap alpha..-globin genes in three stocks of mice, each one heterozygous for one of the ..cap alpha..-globin mutations, was examined at the polypeptide, RNA, and DNA levels. ..cap alpha..-globin polypeptide chains, relative to ..gamma..-globin chains in heterozygous thalassemic mice, are present at approximately 80% of normal. The ratios of ..cap alpha..-globin to ..gamma..-globin RNA sequences are also 75 to 80% normal, exactly reflecting the ..cap alpha..-globin to ..gamma..-globin chain ratios. In the case ofmore » mutant 352HB, at least one ..cap alpha..-globin gene is deleted. Thalassemic mouse erythroid cells appear to compensate partially for the loss of half of their ..cap alpha..-globin genes.« less

  14. Possible Mg ii emission in B stars observed from Copernicus

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

    Kondo, Y.; Modisette, J.L.; Dufour, R.J.

    1976-05-15

    Four B stars, ..cap alpha.. Vir, ..beta.. Cen, ..cap alpha.. Gru, and ..beta.. Lib, were observed with the Copernicus Princeton Telescope Spectrometer at a resolution of 0.1 A in order to investigate the presence of chromospheric emission. Emission was observed in ..beta.. Cen and ..cap alpha.. Gru, while the results for ..cap alpha.. Vir and ..beta.. Lib were inconclusive. (AIP)

  15. Human trabecular meshwork cells exhibit several characteristics of, but are distinct from, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

    PubMed

    Morgan, Joshua T; Wood, Joshua A; Walker, Naomi J; Raghunathan, Vijay Krishna; Borjesson, Dori L; Murphy, Christopher J; Russell, Paul

    2014-01-01

    To support the growing promise of regenerative medicine in glaucoma, we characterized the similarities and differences between human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). HTM cells and hMSCs were phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the expression of myoc, angptl7, sox2, pou5f1, and notch1 was determined in both cell types with and without dexamethasone (Dex). Immunosuppressive behavior of HTM cells and hMSCs was determined using T cells activated with phytohemagglutinin. T-cell proliferation was determined using BrdU incorporation and flow cytometry. Multipotency of HTM cells and hMSCs was determined using adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation media as well as aqueous humor (AH). Alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression was determined in HTM cells, hMSCs, and HTM tissue. Phenotypically, HTM and hMSCs expressed CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD146 but not CD31, CD34, and CD45 and similar sox2, pou5f1, and notch1 expression. Both cell types suppressed T-cell proliferation. However, HTM cells, but not hMSCs, upregulated myoc and angptl7 in response to Dex. Additionally, HTM cells did not differentiate into adipocytes or osteocytes. Culture of hMSCs in 20%, but not 100%, AH potently induced alkaline phosphatase activity. HTM cells in culture possessed uniformly strong expression of αSMA, which contrasted with the limited expression in hMSCs and spatially discrete expression in HTM tissue. HTM cells possess a number of important similarities with hMSCs but lack multipotency, one of the defining characteristics of stem cells. Further work is needed to explore the molecular mechanisms and functional implications underlying the phenotypic similarities.

  16. Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells Exhibit Several Characteristics of, but Are Distinct from, Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

    PubMed Central

    Morgan, Joshua T.; Wood, Joshua A.; Walker, Naomi J.; Raghunathan, Vijay Krishna; Borjesson, Dori L.; Murphy, Christopher J.

    2014-01-01

    Abstract Purpose: To support the growing promise of regenerative medicine in glaucoma, we characterized the similarities and differences between human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Methods: HTM cells and hMSCs were phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the expression of myoc, angptl7, sox2, pou5f1, and notch1 was determined in both cell types with and without dexamethasone (Dex). Immunosuppressive behavior of HTM cells and hMSCs was determined using T cells activated with phytohemagglutinin. T-cell proliferation was determined using BrdU incorporation and flow cytometry. Multipotency of HTM cells and hMSCs was determined using adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation media as well as aqueous humor (AH). Alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression was determined in HTM cells, hMSCs, and HTM tissue. Results: Phenotypically, HTM and hMSCs expressed CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD146 but not CD31, CD34, and CD45 and similar sox2, pou5f1, and notch1 expression. Both cell types suppressed T-cell proliferation. However, HTM cells, but not hMSCs, upregulated myoc and angptl7 in response to Dex. Additionally, HTM cells did not differentiate into adipocytes or osteocytes. Culture of hMSCs in 20%, but not 100%, AH potently induced alkaline phosphatase activity. HTM cells in culture possessed uniformly strong expression of αSMA, which contrasted with the limited expression in hMSCs and spatially discrete expression in HTM tissue. Conclusions: HTM cells possess a number of important similarities with hMSCs but lack multipotency, one of the defining characteristics of stem cells. Further work is needed to explore the molecular mechanisms and functional implications underlying the phenotypic similarities. PMID:24456002

  17. Synthesis of specifically deuterated S-benzylcysteines and of oxytocin and related diastereomers deuterated in the half-cystine positions

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

    Upson, D.A.; Hruby, V.J.

    1976-04-16

    S-Benzylcysteine derivatives specifically deuterated at the ..cap alpha.. carbon only, the ..beta.. carbon only, and at both the ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. carbons have been synthesized. These labeled compounds have been enzymatically resolved and the enantiomers and reacemates have been converted to the N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl derivatives. The deuterium labels were not exchanged under the conditions of the syntheses. Condensation of the sodium salt of diethyl ..cap alpha..-acetami-domalonate with benzyl chloromethyl sulfide followed by hydrolysis with DCl afforded S-benzyl-DL-(..cap alpha..-/sup 2/H/sub 1/) cysteine. Acetylation followed by treatment with hog renal acylase separated the stereoisomers. A Mannich reaction with (/sup 2/H/sub 2/) methylenemore » diacetate, diethyl ..cap alpha..-acetamido-..cap alpha..-dimethylamino(/sup 2/H/sub 2/)methylmalonate methiodide (15). Treatment of 15 with sodium benzylmercaptide gave diethyl ..cap alpha..-acetamido-..cap alpha..-benzylthio(/sup 2/H/sub 2/)methylmalonate, which was hydrolyzed with HCl to yield S-benzyl-DL-(..beta..,..beta..-/sup 2/H/sub 2/)cysteine or with DCl to afford S-benzyl-DL-(..cap alpha..,..beta..,..beta..,-/sup 2/H/sub 3/)cysteine. These compounds were resolved as before. The preparation of S-benzyl-DL-(..cap alpha..,..beta..,..beta..-/sup 2/H/sub 3/)cysteine required an efficient source of ethanol-d. This deuterated solvent was prepared in quantitative yield in 2 h from tetraethoxysilane, D/sub 2/O, and a catalytic amount of thionyl chloride. The protected deuterated amino acids were used in the preparation of several oxytocin analogues in which the specific deuteration appears in either the 1-hemicystine or the 6-hemicystine residues.« less

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

    Chan, R.K.; Otte, C.A.

    Eight independently isolated mutants which are supersensitive (Sst/sup -/) to the G1 arrest induced by the tridecapeptide pheromone ..cap alpha.. factor were identified by screening mutagenized Saccharomyces cerevisiae MATa cells on solid medium for increased growth inhibition by ..cap alpha.. factor. These mutants carries lesions in two complementation groups, sst1 and sst2. Mutations at the sst1 locus were mating type specific: MATa sst1 cells were supersensitive to ..cap alpha.. factor, but MAT..cap alpha.. sst1 cells were not supersensitive to a factor. In contrast, mutations at the sst2 locus conferred supersensitivity to the pheromones of the opposite mating type on bothmore » MATa and MAT..cap alpha.. cells. Even in the absence of added ..cap alpha.. pheromone, about 10% of the cells in exponentially growing cultures of MATa strains carrying any of three different alleles of sst2 (including the ochre mutation sst2-4) had the aberrant morphology (''shmoo'' shape) that normally develops only after MATa cells are exposed to ..cap alpha.. factor. This ''self-shmooing'' phenotype was genetically linked to the sst2 mutations, although the leakiest allele isolated (sst2-3) did not display this characteristic. Normal MATa/MAT..cap alpha.. diploids do not respond to pheromones; diploids homozygous for an sst2 mutation (MATa/MAT..cap alpha.. sst2-1/sst2-1) were still insensitive to ..cap alpha.. factor. The sst1 gene was mapped to within 6.9 centimorgans of his6 on chromosome IX. The sst2 gene was unlinked to sst1, was not centromere linked, and was shown to be neither linked nor centromere distal to MAT on the right arm of chromosome III.« less

  19. Specific high-affinity binding sites for a synthetic gliadin heptapeptide of human peripheral blood lymphocytes

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

    Payan, D.G.; Horvath, K.; Graf, L.

    1987-03-23

    The synthetic peptide containing residues 43-49 of ..cap alpha..-gliadin, the major protein component of gluten, has previously been shown to inhibit the production of lymphokine activities by mononuclear leukocytes. The authors demonstrate using radiolabeled ..cap alpha..-gliadin(43-49) that human peripheral blood lymphocytes express approximately 20,000-25,000 surface receptors for this peptide, with a dissociation constant (K/sub D/) of 20 nM. In addition, binding is inhibited by naloxone and an enkephalin analog, thus confirming the functional correlate which demonstrates inhibition by these agents of ..cap alpha..-gliadin(43-49) functional effects. Furthermore, B-lymphocytes bind specifically a greater amount of (/sup 125/I)..cap alpha..-gliadin(43-49) than T-lymphocytes. The lymphocytemore » ..cap alpha..-gliadin(43-49) receptor may play an important role in mediating the immunological response to ..cap alpha..-gliadin. 16 references, 4 figures.« less

  20. Enzymatic preparation of. cap alpha. - and. beta. -deuterated or tritiated amino acids with l-methionine. gamma. -lyase

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

    Esaki, N.; Sawada, S.; Tanaka, H.

    L-Methionine ..gamma..-lyase catalyzes the exchange of ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-hydrogens of L-methionine and S-methyl-L-cysteine with deuterium or tritium of solvents. The rate of ..cap alpha..-hydrogen exchange with deuterium was about 40 times faster than that of the elimination reactions. The deuterium and tritium were exchanged also with the ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-hydrogens of the straight-chain amino acids which do not undergo the elimination: L-alanine, L-..cap alpha..-aminobutyrate, L-norvaline, and L-norleucine. No exchange occurs for the D-isomers, acidic L-amino acids, basic L-amino acids, and branched-chain L-amino acids, although ..cap alpha..-hydrogen of glycine, L-trypotophan, and L-phenylalanine is exchanged slowly. These enzymatic hydrogen-exchange reactionsmore » facilitate specific labeling of the L-amino acids with deuterium and tritium.« less

  1. Purification and characterization of the glycoprotein hormone. cap alpha. -subunit-like material secreted by HeLa cells

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

    Cox, G.S.; Rimerman, R.A.

    1988-08-23

    The protein secreted by HeLa cells that cross-reacts with antiserum developed against the ..cap alpha..-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been purified approximately 30,000-fold from concentrated culture medium by organic solvent fractionation followed by ion exchange, gel filtration, and lectin affinity chromatography. The final preparation had a specific activity (by RIA) of 6.8 x 10/sup 5/ ng of ..cap alpha../mg of protein and appeared homogeneous by electrophoresis on reducing/denaturing polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE). Amino acid analysis indicated that HeLa-..cap alpha.. had a composition very similar to that of the urinary hCG ..cap alpha..-subunit. However, comparison of hCG-..cap alpha.. and HeLa-..capmore » alpha.. demonstrated that the tumor-associated subunit was not identical with its normal counterpart. The purified tumor protein had an apparent molecular weight greater than that of the urinary ..cap alpha..-subunit when analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and this difference was even greater when a partially purified preparation was examined by an immunoblot technique (Western). Isoelectric focusing of the HeLa and hCG subunits demonstrated that the tumor protein had a lower pI. Immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis of ..cap alpha..-subunit from HeLa cultures labeled with (/sup 3/H)fucose indicated that the tumor subunit was fucosylated, whereas analysis of hCG-..cap alpha.. hydrosylates by HPLC confirmed previous reports that the placental subunit does not contain fucose. The results indicate that, regardless of whether or not a single ..cap alpha..-subunit gene is being expressed in both normal and neoplastic tissues, posttranslational modifications lead to a highly altered subunit in the tumor. The differences observed may be useful in diagnosing neoplastic vs hyperplastic conditions and may lend insight into the mechanism of ectopic hormone production by tumors.« less

  2. Velocity space instabilities of alpha particles in tokamak reactors

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

    Sigmar, D.J.

    1979-01-01

    In this lecture on high frequency instability due to isotropic hollow alpha velocity distributions it was first shown that such distributions can actually arise under thermonuclear conditions in a tokamak reactor, particularly for the case of imperfect alpha particle confinement. The toroidal geometry (i.e., the poloidal variation of the alpha gyrofrequency) then leads to linear instability of the compressional Alfven wave ..omega.. = C/sub A/k/sub perpendicular/ with k/sub parallel/ congruent to O, k/sub perpendicular/ rho/sub ..cap alpha../ greater than or equal to 1, v/sub ..cap alpha../ > C/sub A/, at the low harmonics ..omega.. congruent to n ..omega../sub c..cap alpha../.more » Thus the free energy of the inverted alpha distribution is accessible and produces anomalously rapid diffusion of F/sub ..cap alpha../(v/sub perpendicular/). (MOW)« less

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

    Popp, R.A.; Marsh, C.L.; Skow, L.C.

    Hemoglobins of mouse embryos at 11.5 through 16.5 days of gestation were separated by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and quantitated by a scanning densitometer to study the effects of two radiation-induced mutations on the expression of embryonic hemoglobin genes in mice. Normal mice produce three kinds of embryonic hemoglobins. In heterozygous ..cap alpha..-thalassemic embryos, expression of EI (x/sub 2/y/sub 2/) and EII (..cap alpha../sub 2/y/sub 2/) is deficient because the x- and ..cap alpha..-globin genes of one of the allelic pairs of Hba on chromosome 11 was deleted or otherwise inactivated by X irradiation. Simultaneous inactivation of the x- andmore » ..cap alpha..-globin genes indicates that these genes must be closely linked. Reduced x- and ..cap alpha..-chain synthesis results in an excess of y chains that associate as homotetramers. This unique y/sub 4/ hemoglobin also appears in ..beta..-duplication embryos where excess y chains are produced by the presence of three rather than two functional alleles of y- and ..beta..-globin genes. In double heterozygotes, which have a single functional allele of x- and ..cap alpha..-globin genes and three functional alleles of y- and ..beta..-globin genes, synthesis of ..cap alpha.. and non-..cap alpha.. chains is severely imbalanced and half of the total hemoglobin is y/sub 4/. Mouse y/sub 4/ has a high affinity for oxygen, P/sub 50/ of less than 10 mm Hg, but it lacks cooperativity so is inefficient for oxygen transport. The death of double heterozygotes in late fetal or neonatal life may be in large part to oxygen deprivation to the tissues.« less

  4. Early Deglaciation of Drangajökull, Vestfirðir, Iceland: Smaller than Present by 9.2 ka

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harning, D.; Geirsdottir, A.; Miller, G. H.; Zalzal, K.

    2016-12-01

    The Holocene histories of Iceland's largest ice caps suggest rapid early Holocene deglaciation and disappearance by 9 ka, other than possible small remnants of Vatnajökull. The least documented is Drangajökull, Vestfirðir, NW Iceland, where our team has been working since 2010. A recent study claims Drangajökull behaved differently than the other Iceland ice caps, deglaciating much later, and persisting through the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM). We test this postulate through a suite of sediment cores from threshold lakes both proximal and distal to the ice cap's contemporary margin. Distal lakes document rapid early Holocene deglaciation across the southern highland plateau, with the northern margin of the ice cap reaching a size comparable to Drangajökull's contemporary limit by 10.3 ka. A proximal lake to the north records a transient readvance at 9.6 ka, likely in association with meltwater pulses from the disintegrating Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS). Two other southeastern proximal lakes, whose catchments extend well beneath the modern ice cap, demonstrate that Drangajökull was already smaller than present before 9.2 ka. Supporting evidence for local early Holocene warmth is derived from biological summer temperature proxies in a lake record, with age control (tephra/14C) demonstrating continuous sediment accumulation from 10.3 ka to present. Peak warmth (HTM) inferred from elevated algal productivity occurred between 8.9 and 7.2 ka. The record of terrestrial warmth closely aligns with regional SST and precipitation records that together with lake sediment characteristics provide firm evidence that Drangajökull responded similarly to Iceland's other large ice caps. Drangajökull was smaller than its contemporary margin before 9.2 ka, and likely disappeared entirely during the warmer and drier summers between 9 and 7 ka, reforming in the Late Holocene.

  5. Two subunits of the 55 K porcine zona pellucida glycoprotein family are immunologically distinct

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

    Subramanian, M.G.; Yurewicz, E.C.; Sacco, A.G.

    1986-03-01

    The 55K glycoprotein family (ZP3) of the porcine zona pellucida is comprised of two subunits of 46 K and 45 K which can be resolved by endo-..beta..-galactosidase digestion of ZP3 followed by reversed phase HPLC on Vydac C4 resin. Gel electrophoresis revealed that the 46 K component (EBDG..cap alpha..) is approx. 95% pure and the 45 K component (EBGD..beta..) is 100% pure. In the present study, these two subunits were evaluated immunologically by RIA. Under similar reaction protocols (chloramine-T iodination procedure) comparable specific activities were obtained for EBGD..cap alpha.. (33.06 +/- 7.5 ..mu..ci/..mu..gm), EBGD..beta.. (30.45 +/- 1.6) and ZP3 (26.3more » +/- 1.3). Antibody (Ab) titration studies revealed that EBGD..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. are potent immunogens and /sup 125/I-EBGD..cap alpha.. showed minimal cross reactivity to EBGD..beta..-Ab (8% bound at 1:500 dilution), whereas, /sup 125/I-EBGD..beta.. showed a greater degree of cross reactivity to EBGD..cap alpha..-Ab (23% bound at 1:500 dilution). Maximum binding for the two labeled antigens against homologous Abs (1:500) was > 60%. Dose response studies revealed that in the /sup 125/I-EBGD..cap alpha.. vs EBGD..cap alpha.. -Ab system, the 50% intercept was 3.25 +/- 0.32 ng for EBGD..cap alpha.. and 472.43 +/- 30.26 ng for EBGD..beta.. (p < 0.01), whereas, in the /sup 125/I-EBGD..beta.. vs EBGD..beta..-Ab system the 50% intercept was 3.51 +/- 0.58 for EBGD..beta.. and 166.77 +/- 49.20 for EBGD..cap alpha.. (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the slopes of the dose response curves. It is concluded that the two subunits of ZP3 possess distinct immunologic characteristics as evaluated by RIA.« less

  6. Evidence for concerted kinetic oxidation of progesterone by purified rat hepatic cytochrome P-450g

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

    Swinney, D.C.; Ryan, D.E.; Thomas, P.E.

    1988-07-26

    Purified cytochrome P-450g, a male-specific rat hepatic isozyme, was observed to metabolize progesterone to two primary metabolites (6..beta..-hydroxyprogesterone and 16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone), two secondary metabolites (6..beta..,16..cap alpha..-dihydroxyprogesterone and 6-ketoprogesterone), and one tertiary metabolite (6-keto-16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone). The K/sub m,app/ for the formation of these products from progesterone was determined to be approximately 0.5 ..mu..M, while the K/sub m,app/ for metabolism of 6..beta..- and 16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone was found to be 5-10 ..mu..M. The ratio of primary to secondary metabolites did not change significantly at progesterone concentrations from 6 to 150 ..mu..M, and a lag in formation of secondary metabolites was not observed inmore » 1-min incubations. Concerted oxidation of progesterone to secondary products without the intermediate products leaving the active site was suggested by these results and confirmed by isotopic dilution experiments in which little or no dilution of metabolically formed 6..beta..,16..cap alpha..-dihydroxyprogesterone and 6-keto-16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone was observed in incubations containing a mixture of radiolabeled progesterone and unlabeled 6..beta..-hydroxyprogesterone or 16..cap alpha..-hydroxyprogesterone. Incubation of 6..beta..-hydroxyprogesterone with a reconstituted system in an atmosphere of /sup 18/I/sub 2/ resulted in > 90% incorporation of /sup 18/O in the 16..cap alpha..-position of 6..beta..,16..cap alpha..-dihydroxyprogesterone but no incorporation of /sup 18/O into 6-ketoprogesterone, even though the reaction was dependent upon enzyme and O/sub 2/, and not inhibited by mannitol, catalase, or superoxide dismutase. Factors which characterize the metabolism of progesterone by cytochrome P-450g in terms of active-site constraints and the catalytic competence of the enzyme in microsomes were also explored.« less

  7. cap alpha. -D-Mannopyranosylmethyl-P-nitrophenyltriazene effects on the degradation and biosynthesis of N-linked oligosaccharide chains on. cap alpha. /sub 1/-acid glycoprotein by liver cells

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

    Docherty, P.A.; Aronson, N.N. Jr.

    1986-05-01

    The effects of ..cap alpha..-D-mannopyranosylmethyl-p-nitrophenyltriazene (..cap alpha..-ManMNT) on the degradation and processing of oligosaccharide chains on ..cap alpha../sub 1/-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were studied. Addition of the triazene to a perfused liver blocked the complete degradation of endocytosed N-acetyl (/sup 14/C)glucosamine-labeled asialo-AGP and caused the accumulation of Man/sub 2/GlcNAc/sub 1/ fragments in the lysosome-enriched fraction of the liver homogenate. This compound also reduced the reincorporation of lysosomally-derived (/sup 14/C)GlcNAc into newly secreted glycoproteins. Cultured hepatocytes treated with the inhibitor synthesized and secreted fully-glycosylated AGP. However, the N-linked oligosaccharide chains on AGP secreted by the ..cap alpha..-ManMNT-treated hepatocytes remained sensitive to digestionmore » with endoglycosidase H, were resistant to neuraminidase, and consisted of Man/sub 9-7/GlcNAc/sub 2/ structures as analyzed by high resolution Bio-Gel P-4 chromatography. As measured by their resistance to cleavage by endoglycosidase H, the normal processing of all six carbohydrate chains on AGP to the complex form did not completely resume until nearly 24 h after triazene treatment. Since ManMNT is likely to irreversibly inactivate ..cap alpha..-D-mannosidases, the return of AGP to secretory forms with complex chains after 24 h probably resulted from synthesis of new processing enzymes.« less

  8. The X-ray Crystal Structures of Human {alpha}-Phosphomannomutase 1 Reveal the Structural Basis of Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation Type 1a

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

    Silvaggi,N.; Zhang, C.; Lu, Z.

    2006-01-01

    Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome type 1a (CDG-1a) is a congenital disease characterized by severe defects in nervous system development. It is caused by mutations in alpha -phosphomannomutase (of which there are two isozymes, {alpha}-PMM1 and {alpha}-PPM2). Here we report the X-ray crystal structures of human {alpha}-PMM1 in the open conformation, with and without the bound substrate, {alpha}-D-mannose 1-phosphate. {alpha}-PMM1, like most Haloalkanoic Acid Dehalogenase Superfamily (HADSF) members, consists of two domains, the cap and core, which open to bind substrate and then close to provide a solvent exclusive environment for catalysis. The substrate phosphate group is observed at a positively chargedmore » site of the cap domain, rather than at the core domain phosphoryl-transfer site defined by the D19 nucleophile and Mg{sup 2+} cofactor. This suggests that substrate binds first to the cap and then is swept into the active site upon cap closure. The orientation of the acid/base residue D21 suggests that {alpha}-PMM uses a different method of protecting the aspartylphosphate from hydrolysis than the HADSF member {beta}-phosphoglucomutase. It is hypothesized that the electrostatic repulsion of positive charges at the interface of the cap and core domains stabilizes {alpha}-PMM1 in the open conformation, and that the negatively charged substrate binds to the cap, thereby facilitating its closure over the core domain. The two isozymes {alpha}-PMM1 and {alpha}-PMM2 are shown to have a conserved active-site structure and to display similar kinetic properties. Analysis of the known mutation sites in the context of the structures reveals the genotype-phenotype relationship underlying CDG-1a.« less

  9. Genomic organization and sequence of the Gus-s/sup a/ allele of the murine. beta. -glucuronidase gene

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

    Funkenstein, B.; Leary, S.L.; Stein, J.C.

    1988-03-01

    The Gus-s/sup ..cap alpha../ allele of the mouse ..beta..-glucuronidase gene exhibits a high degree of inducibility by androgens due to its linkage with the Gus-r/sup ..cap alpha../ regulatory locus. The authors isolated Gus-s/sup ..cap alpha../ on a 28-kilobase pair fragment of mouse chromosome 5 and found that it contains 12 exons and 11 intervening sequences spanning 14 kilobase pairs of this genomic segment. The mRNA cap site was identified by ribonuclease protection and primer extension analyses which revealed an unusually short 5' noncoding sequence of 12 nucleotides. Proximal regulatory sequences in the 5'-flanking DNA and the complete sequence of themore » Gus-s/sup ..cap alpha../ mRNA transcript were also determined. Comparison of the amino acid sequence determined from the Gus-s/sup ..cap alpha../ nucleotide sequence with that of human ..beta..-glucuronidase indicated that the two human mRNA species differ due to alternate splicing of an exon homologous to exon 6 of the mouse gene.« less

  10. Creatine kinase and alpha-actin mRNA levels decrease in diabetic rat hearts

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

    Popovich, B.; Barrieux, A.; Dillmann, W.H.

    1987-05-01

    Diabetic cardiomyopathy is associated with cardiac atrophy and isoenzyme redistribution. To determine if tissue specific changes occur in mRNAs coding for ..cap alpha..-actin and creatine kinase (CK), they performed RNA blot analysis. Total ventricular RNA from control (C) and 4 wk old diabetic (D) rats were hybridized with /sup 32/P cDNA probes for ..cap alpha..-actin and CK. A tissue independent cDNA probe, CHOA was also used. Signal intensity was quantified by photodensitometry. D CK mRNA was 47 +/- 16% lower in D vs C. Insulin increases CK mRNA by 20% at 1.5 hs, and completely reverses the deficit after 4more » wks. D ..cap alpha..-actin mRNA is 66 +/- 18% lower in D vs C. Insulin normalized ..cap alpha..-actin mRNA by 5 hs. CHOA mRNA is unchanged in D vs C, but D + insulin CHOA mRNA is 30 +/- 2% lower than C. In rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy, muscle specific CK and ..cap alpha..-actin mRNAs are decreased. Insulin treatment reverses these changes.« less

  11. Gamma-resonance investigation of the kinetics of the reduction of (. cap alpha. -benzil dioximato-1)(. cap alpha. -benzil dioximato-2)di(pyridine)iron(III)

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

    Turte, K.I.; Bulgak, I.I.; Stukan, R.A.

    1986-07-01

    (..cap alpha..-Benzil dioximato-1)(..cap alpha..-benzil dioximato-2)di(pyridine)iron(III) in the form of the diacetone solvate (II) is spontaneously converted at room temperature into (..cap alpha..-benzil dioximato-1)(..cap alpha..-benzil dioximato-2)di(pyridine)iron(II) (III). The quantitative composition of a sample containing complexes II and III has been determined as a function of the temperature and the time by gamma-resonance spectroscopy, which made it possible to investigate the kinetics of this reaction. The changes obtained in the percentage of complex II in the sample as a function of time at a given temperature was treated with the use of the Kolmogorov-Erofeev equation for a topochemical reaction of the typemore » A/sub s/ ..-->.. B/sub s/ + C/sub g/. The rate constants of the reaction at various temperatures and the activation energy *E have been determined. In the temperature range from 293 to 304/sup 0/K *E = 25.6 kcal/mole. The possibilities of gamma-resonance spectroscopy in the investigation of topochemical reactions associated with changes in the oxidation state of iron ions have been demonstrated.« less

  12. Reconstitution of high affinity. cap alpha. /sub 2/ adrenergic agonist binding by fusion with a pertussis toxin substrate

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

    Kim, M.H.; Neubig, R.R.

    1986-03-05

    High affinity ..cap alpha../sub 2/ adrenergic agonist binding is thought to occur via a coupling of the ..cap alpha../sub 2/ receptor with N/sub i/, the inhibitory guanyl nucleotide binding protein. Human platelet membranes pretreated at pH 11.5 exhibit a selective inactivation of agonist binding and N/sub i/. To further study the mechanism of agonist binding, alkali treated membranes (ATM) were mixed with membranes pretreated with 10 ..mu..M phenoxybenzamine to block ..cap alpha../sub 2/ receptors (POB-M). The combined membrane pellet was incubated in 50% polyethylene glycol (PEG) to promote membrane-membrane fusion and assayed for binding to the ..cap alpha../sub 2/ agonistmore » (/sup 3/H)UK 14,304 (UK) and the antagonist (/sup 3/H) yohimbine. PEG treatment resulted in a 2-4 fold enhancement of UK binding whereas yohimbine binding was unchanged. No enhancement of UK binding was observed in the absence of PEG treatment. The reconstitution was dependent on the addition of POB-M. They found that a 1:1 ratio of POB-M:ATM was optimal. Reconstituted binding was inhibited by GppNHp. Fusion of rat C6 glioma cell membranes, which do not contain ..cap alpha../sub 2/ receptors, also enhanced agonist binding to ATM. Fusion of C6 membranes from cells treated with pertussis toxin did not enhance (/sup 3/H) UK binding. These data show that a pertussis toxin sensitive membrane component, possibly N/sub i/, can reconstitute high affinity ..cap alpha../sub 2/ agonist binding.« less

  13. Ionization of isocitrate bound to pig hear NADP/sup +/-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase: /sup 13/C NMR study of substrate binding

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

    Ehrlich, R.S.; Colman, R.F.

    1987-06-16

    Isocitrate and ..cap alpha..-ketoglutarate have been synthesized with carbon-13 enrichment at specific positions. The /sup 13/C NMR spectra of these derivatives were measured as a function of pH. The magnitudes of the changes in chemical shifts with pH for free isocitrate and the magnesium-isocitrate complex suggest that the primary site of ionization at the ..beta..-carboxyl. In the presence of the enzyme NADP/sup +/-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase and the activating metal magnesium, the carbon-13 resonances of all three carboxyls remain constant from pH 5.5 to pH 7.5. Thus, the carboxyls remain in the ionized form in the enzyme-isocitrate complex. The ..cap alpha..-hydroxylmore » carbon resonance could not be located in the enzyme-isocitrate complex, suggesting immobilization of this group. Magnesium produces a 2 ppm downfield shift of the ..beta..-carboxyl but does not change the resonances of the ..cap alpha..- and ..gamma..-carboxyls. This result is consistent with metal activation of both the dehydrogenation and decarboxylation reactions. The /sup 13/C NMR spectrum of ..cap alpha..-ketoglutarate remains unchanged in the presence of isocitrate dehydrogenase, implying the absence of alterations in geometry in the enzyme-bound form. Formation of the quaternary complex with Mg/sup 2 +/ and NADPH leads to loss of the ..cap alpha..-ketoglutarate resonances and the appearance of new resonances characteristic of ..cap alpha..-hydroxyglutarate. In addition, a broad peak ascribed to the enol form of ..cap alpha..-ketoglutarate is observed. The substantial change in the shift of the ..beta..-carboxyl of isocitrate and the lack of significant shifts in the other carboxyls of isocitrate or ..cap alpha..-ketoglutarate suggest that interaction of the ..beta..-carboxyl with the enzyme contributes to the tighter binding of isocitrate and may be significant for the oxidative decarboxylation function of isocitrate dehydrogenase.« less

  14. Lyman-alpha observations of comet Kohoutek 1973 XII with Copernicus

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

    Drake, J.F.; Jenkins, E.B.; Bertaux, J.L.

    1976-10-01

    Comet Kohoutek 1973 XII was observed with the Princeton telescope-spectrometer on the Copernicus satellite on six occasions over a 1-month period starting on 1974 January 29. Positive detection of the cometary L..cap alpha.. emission profile was obtained on January 29 and February 2. Earlier observations of the geocoronal L..cap alpha.. emission profile allowed an instrumental intensity calibration and confirmation of the computed instrumental profile for an extended source at the L..cap alpha.. wavelength.After allowing for broadening by the instrument, we derived from the width of the L..cap alpha.. emission on January 29 a hydrogen-outflow velocity of 10.6 +- 1.8 kmmore » s/sup -1/. The intensity calibration combined with an appropriate cometary model led to cometary water-production rates with average values of 1.3 +- 0.4 x 10/sup 28/ molecules sr/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ for January 29 and 6.0 +- 2.5 x 10/sup 27/ molecules sr/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ for February 2. Only upper limits were obtained for L..cap alpha.. on and after February 14. Searches for OH and D led to negative results. (AIP)« less

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

    Chan, R.K.; Otte, C.A.

    Saccharomyces cerevisiae MATa cells carrying mutations in either sst1 or sst2 are supersensitive to the G1 arrest induced by ..cap alpha.. factor pheromone. When sst1 mutants were mixed with normal SST/sup +/ cells, the entire population recovered together from ..cap alpha.. factor arrest, suggesting that SST/sup +/ cells helped sst1 mutants to recover. Complementation tests and linkage analysis showed that sst1 and bar1, a mutation which eliminates the ability of MATa cells to act as a ''barrier'' to the diffusion of ..cap alpha.. factor, were lesions in the same genes. These findings suggest that sst1 mutants are defective in recoverymore » from ..cap alpha.. factor arrest because they are unable to degrade the pheromone. In contrast, recovery of sst2 mutants was not potentiated by the presence of SST/sup +/ cells in mixing experiments. When either normal MATa cells or mutant cells carrying defects in sst1 or sst2 were exposed to ..cap alpha.. factor for 1 h and then washed free of the pheromone, the sst2 cells subsequently remained arrested in the absence of ..cap alpha.. factor for a much longer time than SST/sup +/ or sst1 cells. These observations suggest that the defect in sst2 mutants is intrinsic to the cell and is involved in the mechanism of ..cap alpha.. factor action at some step after the initial interaction of the pheromone with the cell. The presence of an sst2 mutation appears to cause a growth debility, since repeated serial subculture of haploid sst2-1 strains led to the accumulation of faster-growing revertants that were pheromone resistant and were mating defective (''sterile'').« less

  16. Isolation of human hexosaminidase. cap alpha. cDNA and expression of. cap alpha. chains in E. coli

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

    Wiktorowicz, J.E.; Whitman, J.M.

    1986-05-01

    Pooled antisera against homogeneous, glutaraldehyde cross-linked hexosaminidase (hex) A was adsorbed with E. coli lysate insolubilized on Sepharose 4B. Aliquots of a human liver lambdagtll cDNA library (50,000-100,000 pfu) were plated on E. coli Y1090. Expression of cloned cDNA, after sufficient plaque growth at 42/sup 0/, was accomplished by induction with isopropylthiogalactoside soaked nitrocellulose filters. Identification of hex cDNA clones was performed by incubation of the filters with purified antisera. Protein A labelled with I-125 was used to develop the reactive plaques. Positive plaques, identified by autoradiography, were picked, replated at a lower density, and rescreened. This was repeated severalmore » more times until all plaques yielded positive signals. Identification of the clones as containing ..cap alpha.. or ..beta.. cDNA was accomplished by replating the purified phage and rescreening the plaques with anti-hex B antiserum preadsorbed with E. coli lysate. According to this protocol several hex ..cap alpha.. clones have been identified. While these clones generate ..beta..-galactosidase: hex ..cap alpha.. fusion proteins, these findings suggest that in the future it may be possible to obtain large quantities of unmodified hex ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. polypeptides from E. coli for the study of the structural and enzymatic properties of these polypeptides and for diagnostic purposes in the GM2 gangliosidoses.« less

  17. Pulse radiolysis and 77 K matrix. gamma. irradiation of dimethyl truxinates and trans-methyl cinnamate in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran

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

    Takamuku, S.; Kigawa, H.; Suematsu, H.

    1982-05-13

    One-electron reduction of dimethyl ..mu..-truxinate (..mu..-DMT), dimethyl ..beta..-truxinate (..beta..-DMT), and dimethyl ..cap alpha..-truxillate (..cap alpha..-DMT) has been investigated by pulse radiolysis and 77 K matrix ..gamma.. irradiation of the 2-methyltetrahydrofuran solutions. Cycloreversion of the radical anions formed by an electron attachment to these cyclobutanes was observed in all cases, even at 77 K. The orientation of the cycloreversion was dependent on the stereochemistry of the cyclobutanes, and the selectivity was reasonably explained by a so-called cis effect; the best possible release of steric hindrance decides the primary step of the reaction. In 77 K matrix ..gamma.. irradiation of ..cap alpha..-DMT,more » an intense IR absorption was found after the photobleaching of trapped electrons with light > 690 nm. In other DMTs, the IR absorption band was not observed while the cycloreversion of DMT by mobile electrons occurred. Thus, the IR band in the case of ..cap alpha..-DMT was assigned to an associated dimer anion due to the interaction between the radical anion and the neutral molecule pair of trans-methyl cinnamate orginally formed by the cycloreversion of ..cap alpha..-DMT. The dimer anion was presumed to be oriented in a head-to-tail structure in a solvent cage on the basis of the original configuration of ..cap alpha..-DMT.« less

  18. Pheromone induction of agglutination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae a cells

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

    Terrance, K.; Lipke, P.N.

    1987-10-01

    a-Agglutinin, the cell surface sexual agglutinin of yeast a cells, was assayed by its ability to bind its complementary agglutinin, ..cap alpha..-agglutinin. The specific binding of /sup 125/I-..cap alpha..-agglutinin to a cells treated with the sex pheromone ..cap alpha..-factor was 2 to 2.5 times that of binding to a cells not treated with ..cap alpha..-factor. Competition with unlabeled ..cap alpha..-agglutinin revealed that the increased binding was due to increased cell surface expression of a-agglutinin, with no apparent change in the binding constant. The increase in site number was similar to the increase in cellular agglutinability. Increased expression of a-agglutinin followedmore » the same kinetics as the increase in cellular agglutinability, with a 10-min lag followed by a 15- to 20-min response time. Induction kinetics were similar in cells in phases G1 and G2 of the cell cycle. Maximal expression levels were similar in cells treated with excess pheromone and in cells exposed to pheromone after destruction of constitutively expressed a-agglutinin.« less

  19. CapDEM TD - Modeling and Simulation (Role and Tools) State of the Art Report

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-01-01

    office/wcm1/ornclinfn/ciefilnlt rnsnx [55] http://www.idefine.com/Tutorial/TutOiial%20Sales%20Page.htm [56] Gartner , " Magic Quadrant for Business ...21 Figure 3-5: Gartner Magic Quadrant For BPA, 2004 (56...of January 2004 Niche Players Visionaries ------- Completeness of Vision ..., Figure 3-5: Gartner Magic Quadrant For BPA, 2004 [56] Gartner , Inc

  20. Forward Masking in Cochlear Implant Users: Electrophysiological and Psychophysical Data Using Pulse Train Maskers.

    PubMed

    Adel, Youssef; Hilkhuysen, Gaston; Noreña, Arnaud; Cazals, Yves; Roman, Stéphane; Macherey, Olivier

    2017-06-01

    Electrical stimulation of auditory nerve fibers using cochlear implants (CI) shows psychophysical forward masking (pFM) up to several hundreds of milliseconds. By contrast, recovery of electrically evoked compound action potentials (eCAPs) from forward masking (eFM) was shown to be more rapid, with time constants no greater than a few milliseconds. These discrepancies suggested two main contributors to pFM: a rapid-recovery process due to refractory properties of the auditory nerve and a slow-recovery process arising from more central structures. In the present study, we investigate whether the use of different maskers between eCAP and psychophysical measures, specifically single-pulse versus pulse train maskers, may have been a source of confound.In experiment 1, we measured eFM using the following: a single-pulse masker, a 300-ms low-rate pulse train masker (LTM, 250 pps), and a 300-ms high-rate pulse train masker (HTM, 5000 pps). The maskers were presented either at same physical current (Φ) or at same perceptual (Ψ) level corresponding to comfortable loudness. Responses to a single-pulse probe were measured for masker-probe intervals ranging from 1 to 512 ms. Recovery from masking was much slower for pulse trains than for the single-pulse masker. When presented at Φ level, HTM produced more and longer-lasting masking than LTM. However, results were inconsistent when LTM and HTM were compared at Ψ level. In experiment 2, masked detection thresholds of single-pulse probes were measured using the same pulse train masker conditions. In line with our eFM findings, masked thresholds for HTM were higher than those for LTM at Φ level. However, the opposite result was found when the pulse trains were presented at Ψ level.Our results confirm the presence of slow-recovery phenomena at the level of the auditory nerve in CI users, as previously shown in animal studies. Inconsistencies between eFM and pFM results, despite using the same masking conditions, further underline the importance of comparing electrophysiological and psychophysical measures with identical stimulation paradigms.

  1. Metabolism of 4-chlorobenzotrichloride in rats

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

    Quistad, G.B.; Mulholland, K.M.; Skiles, G.

    Special analytical methodology was developed for purification of 4-chloro(/sup 14/C)benzotrichloride, which is both volatile and hydrolytically unstable at milligram mass levels. When rats were given a single oral dose of 4-chloro(/sup 14/C)benzotrichloride at 1.5 mg/kg, within 4-6 days 87 and 9% of the applied /sup 14/C were excreted in urine and feces, respectively. The major urinary metabolite was identified as 4-chlorohippuric acid, representing 78% of the applied dose. While about two-thirds of the fecal /sup 14/C residues were unextractable with organic solvents, free 4-chlorobenzoic acid and ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..,4,4'-tetrachlorostilbene contributed 10 and 8% of the fecal /sup 14/C. The metabolicmore » production of ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..,4,4'-tetrachlorostilbene appears to occur by a novel metabolic pathway.« less

  2. cap alpha. -Methylglucoside satisfies only Na/sup +/-dependent transport system of intestinal epithelium

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

    Kimmich, G.A.; Randles, J.

    1981-01-01

    The unidirectional influx of ..cap alpha..-methylglucoside (..cap alpha..-MG) by isolated chicken intestinal epithelial cells is 98% inhibited by phlorizin. The remaining 2% of the total influx occurs in the absence of Na/sup +/, is not sensitive to phloretin, and is equal to the diffusional entry rate for 2-deoxyglucose. The glucoside is much more strongly accumulated (75-fold) than 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG) (10-fold). Inhibitors of the serosal sugar carrier (phloretin, cytochalasin B, theophylline, and flavanoids) do not enhance ..cap alpha..-MG accumulation. It is concluded that the glycoside is not a substrate for the intestinal serosal transport system. Steady-state gradients of the sugar canmore » be represented accurately by a concentrative, phlorizin-sensitive system that is opposed by a diffusional efflux process.« less

  3. Characterization of rat leydig cell gonadotropin receptor structure by affinity cross-linking

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

    Zhang, Q.Y.; Hwang, J.; Menon, K.M.J.

    1986-05-01

    The gonadotropin receptor from rat leydig cell has been characterized with respect to binding kinetics and physiological regulation. The present study was intended to examine the structure of the receptor. Leydig cell suspension was prepared by either collagenase digestion or by mechanical disruption of the testis. The cells were incubated with /sup 125/I-hCG and the unreacted hCG was removed by centrifugation. The /sup 125/I-hCG was then covalently linked to the cell surface receptor using cleavable (dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate)) and non-cleavable (disuccinimidyl suberate) cross-linking reagents. The extracted cross-linked membrane proteins were resolved on SDS-polyacrylamide gels under reducing and non-reducing conditions andmore » subjected to autoradiographic analysis. Under non-reducing conditions, two labeled species with M/sub r/ = 87,000 and 120,000 were detected. However, only one labeled band was detected under reducing conditions with M/sub r/ = 64,000. The binding of /sup 125/I-hCG to the receptor was inhibited by hCG and LH, but not by a number of peptides and proteins. The data suggest that hCG receptor in leydig cell is an oligomeric complex consisting of four subunits, ..cap alpha cap alpha beta gamma... The ..beta.. and ..gamma.. subunits are each linked to an ..cap alpha.. subunit through disulfide linkage and the hormone binds to each ..cap alpha.. subunit. The two dimers formed (..cap alpha beta cap alpha gamma..) are associated by noncovalent interactions.« less

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

    Yamashita, T.; Fujino, T.; Masaki, N.

    The structural parameters of ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-CdUO/sub 4/ crystals are determined by x-ray powder diffraction technique. ..cap alpha..-CdUO/sub 4/ is rhombohedral and cell parameters are a = 6.233(3) A and ..cap alpha.. = 36.12(5)/sup 0/. ..beta..-CdUO/sub 4/ crystallizes in a C-centered orthorhombic cell with a = 7.023(4), b = 6.849(3), c = 3.514(2) A. The space groups are R3m for ..cap alpha..-CdUO/sub 4/ and Cmmm for ..beta..-CdUO/sub 4/. ..cap alpha..-CdUO/sub 4/: 1U in (000), 1Cd in (1/2 1/2 1/2), 2O(1) in +-(uuu), 2O(2) in +-(vvv); u = 0.113, v= 0.350, Z = 1. ..beta..-CdUO/sub 4/: 2U in (000; 1/2more » 1/2 0), 2Cd in (1/2 0 1/2; 0 1/2 1/2), 40(1) in (0, +-y, 0; 1/2, 1/2 +-y, 0), 4O(2) in (+-x, 0, 1/2; 1/2 +-x, 1/2, 1/2); x = 0.159, y = 0.278, Z = 2. ..beta..-CdUO/sub 4/ contains collinear uranyl UO/sub 2//sup 2 +/ groups with a U-O(1) distance of 1.91 A, located either along or parallel to the c axis whereas the U-O(1) bond length in ..cap alpha..-CdUO/sub 4/ is 1.98 A which is longer than the usual uranyl bond length.« less

  5. Strategy to Boost the Efficiency of Mixed-Ion Perovskite Solar Cells: Changing Geometry of the Hole Transporting Material.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Jinbao; Xu, Bo; Johansson, Malin B; Vlachopoulos, Nick; Boschloo, Gerrit; Sun, Licheng; Johansson, Erik M J; Hagfeldt, Anders

    2016-07-26

    The hole transporting material (HTM) is an essential component in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for efficient extraction and collection of the photoinduced charges. Triphenylamine- and carbazole-based derivatives have extensively been explored as alternative and economical HTMs for PSCs. However, the improvement of their power conversion efficiency (PCE), as well as further investigation of the relationship between the chemical structure of the HTMs and the photovoltaic performance, is imperatively needed. In this respect, a simple carbazole-based HTM X25 was designed on the basis of a reference HTM, triphenylamine-based X2, by simply linking two neighboring phenyl groups in a triphenylamine unit through a carbon-carbon single bond. It was found that a lowered highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level was obtained for X25 compared to that of X2. Besides, the carbazole moiety in X25 improved the molecular planarity as well as conductivity property in comparison with the triphenylamine unit in X2. Utilizing the HTM X25 in a solar cell with mixed-ion perovskite [HC(NH2)2]0.85(CH3NH3)0.15Pb(I0.85Br0.15)3, a highest reported PCE of 17.4% at 1 sun (18.9% under 0.46 sun) for carbazole-based HTM in PSCs was achieved, in comparison of a PCE of 14.7% for triphenylamine-based HTM X2. From the steady-state photoluminescence and transient photocurrent/photovoltage measurements, we conclude that (1) the lowered HOMO level for X25 compared to X2 favored a higher open-circuit voltage (Voc) in PSCs; (2) a more uniform formation of X25 capping layer than X2 on the surface of perovskite resulted in more efficient hole transport and charge extraction in the devices. In addition, the long-term stability of PSCs with X25 is significantly enhanced compared to X2 due to its good uniformity of HTM layer and thus complete coverage on the perovskite. The results provide important information to further develop simple and efficient small molecular HTMs applied in solar cells.

  6. Variability of Lyman-alpha emission from Jupiter

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

    Cochran, W.D.; Barker, E.S.

    1979-12-01

    The Jovian L..cap alpha.. emission line was reobserved in 1978 March using the high-resolution spectrometer of the Copernicus satellite. An intensity of 8.3 +- 2.9 kilorayleighs was measured. This value represents a significant increase in intensity over previous (1976) Copernicus observations, but is lower than the recent (1979) values obtained by Voyager 1 and IUE. The increase in intensity has been accompanied by a significant increase in line width givin strong support to the theory that the emission results from resonant scattering of the solar L..cap alpha.. line by H atoms in the upper Jovian atmosphere. The strength of Jovianmore » L..cap alpha.. emission correlates well with the level of solar activity. The solar extreme ultraviolet radiation varies with the solar cycle. This radiation causes the dissociation of H/sub 2/ and CH/sub 4/ into H atoms in the Jovian atmosphere. Therefore, in times of high solar activity, the H column density will increase, causing the observed stronger Jovian L..cap alpha.. emission.« less

  7. A remarkable member of the polyoxometalates: the eight-nickel-capped alpha-keggin polyoxoazonickelate.

    PubMed

    Dong, Lanjun; Huang, Rudan; Wei, Yongge; Chu, Wei

    2009-08-17

    The eight-nickel-capped polyoxoazonickelate, [Ni(20)(OH)(24)(MMT)(12)(SO(4))](NO(3))(2).6H(2)O (1; MMT = 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole), has been synthesized, which has an alpha-Keggin structure with eight nickel caps. In this structure, the polyatom is the late transition metal Ni(II); the central heteroatom is S, and the organic terminal ligand becomes the primary part of the Keggin structure. This is a Keplerate-type cluster, which shows a central Ni(II)(12) cuboctahedron formed by the 12 Ni(II) centers of the classical alpha-Keggin core and a Ni(II)(8) hexahedron formed by the eight nickel caps.

  8. Glucocorticoids inhibit coordinated translation of. cap alpha. - and. beta. -globin mRNAs in Friend erythroleukemia cells

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

    Papaconstantinou, J.; Stewart, J.A.; Rabek, J.P.

    The dimethylsulfoxide (Me/sub 2/SO)-mediated induction of hemoglobin synthesis in Friend erythroleukemia cells is inhibited by the glucocorticoids hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, and fluocinolone acetonide; hydrocortisone, at concentrations of 10/sup -5/ to 10/sup -8/ M inhibits by 90-30% and fluocinolone acetonide at concentrations of 10/sup -8/ to 10/sup -11/ M shows a greater than 90% inhibition. At these concentrations the hormones have no effect on cell growth or viability. In this study it has been shown that there is a group of proteins, including the ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-globins, whose regulation is associated with the induction of Friend erythroleukemia cell differentiation, and thatmore » the expression of these, in addition to ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-globin, is affected by glucocorticoids. It is concluded that, although the translation of ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-globin mRNA is a major site of inhibition by glucocorticoids, there is a detectable amount of ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-globin mRNA translation which results in unequal amounts of globin synthesis and an overall more potent inhibition of hemoglobin formation.« less

  9. X-ray fluorescence cross sections for K and L x rays of the elements

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

    Krause, M.O.; Nestor, C.W. Jr.; Sparks, C.J. Jr.

    1978-06-01

    X-ray fluorescence cross sections are calculated for the major x rays of the K series 5 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 101, and the three L series 12 less than or equal to Z less than or equal to 101 in the energy range 1 to 200 keV. This calculation uses Scofield's theoretical partical photoionization cross sections, Krause's evaluation of fluorescence and Coster-Kronig yields, and Scofield's theoretical radiative rates. Values are presented in table and graph format, and an estimate of their accuracy is made. The following x rays are considered: K..cap alpha../sub 1/,more » K..cap alpha../sub 1/,/sub 2/, K..beta../sub 1/, K..beta../sub 1/,/sub 3/, L..cap alpha../sub 1/, L..cap alpha../sub 1/,/sub 2/, L..beta../sub 1/, L..beta../sub 2/,/sub 15/, L..beta../sub 3/, Ll, L..gamma../sub 1/, L..gamma../sub 4/, and L/sub 1/ ..-->.. L/sub 2/,/sub 3/. For use in x-ray fluorescence analysis, K..cap alpha.. and L..cap alpha.. fluorescence cross sections are presented at specific energies: TiK identical with 4.55 keV, CrK identical with 5.46 keV, CoK identical with 7.00 keV, CuK identical with 8.13 keV, MoK..cap alpha.. identical with 17.44 keV, AgK identical with 22.5 keV, DyK identical with 47.0 keV, and /sup 241/Am identical with 59.54 keV. Supplementary material includes fluorescence and Coster--Kronig yields, fractional radiative rates, fractional fluorescence yields, total L-shell fluorescence cross sections, fluorescence and Coster-Kronig yields in condensed matter, effective fluorescence yields, average L-shell fluorescence yield, L-subshell photoionization cross section ratios, and conversion factors from barns per atom to square centimeters per gram.« less

  10. Cross-linking of hCG to luteal receptors

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

    Ji, T.H.; Ji, I.

    1985-01-01

    Photoaffinity labeling of the lutropin/choriogonadotropin (LH/hCG) receptor system on porcine granulosa cells has demonstrated that both the ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. subunits of hCG directly photoaffinity label the hormone receptor. Three new bands appear on SDS-PAGE as a consequence of photoaffinity labeling by each subunit: the molecular weights of the three bands (106K, 88K, and 83K) produced by the subunit are larger by approximately 10K than those of the three bands (96K, 76K, and 73K) labeled by the ..cap alpha.. subunit. Although it could be a coincidence that the molecular weight of the ..beta.. subunit is approximately 10K larger thanmore » that of the ..cap alpha.. subunit, the similarity in these differences suggests the possibility that both the ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. subunits have labeled the same polypeptides.« less

  11. Differentiation to adipocytes in accompanied by an increase in the amounts of Gi- and Go-proteins in 3T3-L1 cells

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

    Watkins, D.C.; Northup, J.K.; Malbon, C.C.

    Treatment of cultures of 3T3-L1 cells with methylisobutyl-xanthine and dexamethasone has been shown to result in accumulation of lipid and conversion to the morphology of adipocytes in more than 90% of the cells. The status of the stimulatory (Gs), inhibitory (Gi) and Go-proteins during the course of 3T3-L1 differentiation was examined. The amount of alpha subunit of Gs (..cap alpha..Gs), assayed by radiolabeling in the presence of cholera toxin and (/sup 32/P)NAD/sup +/, increased upon differentiation as previously described by others. The amounts of ..cap alpha..Gi and ..cap alpha..Go assayed by radiolabeling in the presence of pertussis toxin and (/supmore » 32/P)NAD/sup +/ increased 3-fold upon differentiation. Immunoblots of cell membranes subjected to gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate were probed with two rabbit antisera raised against bovine brain ..cap alpha..Go and with one raised against the..beta..-subunit of the bovine rod-outer-segment G-protein, referred to as transducin. The immunoblotting data confirm the increase upon differentiation of ..cap alpha..Go and also demonstrate an increase in the amount of the ..beta..-subunit. Thus differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells is accompanied by dramatic changes in the complexion of G-proteins in the membranes.« less

  12. cap alpha. /sub 2/-Adrenergic receptor-mediated sensitization of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP production

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

    Jones, S.B.; Toews, M.L.; Turner, J.T.

    1987-03-01

    Preincubation of HT29 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells with ..cap alpha../sub 2/-adrenergic agonists resulted in a 10- to 20-fold increase in forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP production as compared to cells preincubated without agonist. Similar results were obtained using either a (/sup 3/H)adenine prelabeling assay or a cyclic AMP radioimmunoassay to measure cyclic AMP levels. This phenomenon, which is termed sensitization, is ..cap alpha../sub 2/-adrenergic receptor-mediated and rapid in onset and reversal. Yohimbine, an ..cap alpha../sub 2/-adrenergic receptor-selective antagonist, blocked norepinephrine-induced sensitization, whereas prazosin (..cap alpha../sub 1/-adrenergic) and sotalol (..beta..-adrenergic) did not. The time for half-maximal sensitization was 5 min and the half-timemore » for reversal was 10 min. Only a 2-fold sensitization of cyclic AMP production stimulated by vasoactive intestinal peptide was observed, indicating that sensitization is relatively selective for forskolin. Sensitization reflects an increased production of cyclic AMP and not a decreased degradation of cyclic AMP, since incubation with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and forskolin did not mimic sensitization. Increasing the levels of cyclic AMP during the preincubation had no effect on sensitization, indicating that sensitization is not caused by decreased cyclic AMP levels during the preincubation. This rapid and dramatic sensitization of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP production is a previously unreported effect that can be added to the growing list of ..cap alpha../sub 2/-adrenergic responses that are not mediated by a decrease in cyclic AMP.« less

  13. Role of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein in. cap alpha. /sub 1/-adrenergic receptor-mediated Ca/sup 2 +/ mobilization in DDT/sub 1/ MF-2 cells

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

    Cornett, L.E.; Norris, J.S.

    1987-11-01

    In this study the mechanisms involved in ..cap alpha../sub 1/-adrenergic receptor-mediated Ca/sup 2 +/ mobilization at the level of the plasma membrane were investigated. Stimulation of /sup 45/Ca/sup 2 +/ efflux from saponin-permeabilized DDT/sub 1/ MF-2 cells was observed with the addition of either the ..cap alpha../sub 1/-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine and guanosine-5'-triphosphate or the nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide guanylyl-imidodiphosphate. In the presence of (/sup 32/P) NAD, pertussis toxin was found to catalyze ADP-ribosylation of a M/sub r/ = 40,500 (n = 8) peptide in membranes prepared from DDT/sub 1/, MF-2 cells, possibly the ..cap alpha..-subunit of N/sub i/. However, stimulation ofmore » unidirectional /sup 45/Ca/sup 2 +/ efflux by phenylephrine was not affected by previous treatment of cells with 100 ng/ml pertussis toxin. These data suggest that the putative guanine nucleotide-binding protein which couples the ..cap alpha../sub 1/-adrenergic receptor to Ca/sup 2 +/ mobilization in DDT/sub 1/ MF-2 cells is not a pertussis toxin substrate and may possibly be an additional member of guanine nucleotide binding protein family.« less

  14. E2C mechanism of elimination reactions. IX. Secondary deuterium isotope effects on rates of bimolecular reactions in alicyclic systems

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

    Cook, D.

    1976-06-11

    Secondary ..cap alpha..-deuterium isotope effects on the rates of NBu/sub 4/OAc and NBu/sub 4/Cl promoted bimolecular reactions (E2 and SN2) of cyclohexyl tosylate and cyclohexyl bromide have been studied. The E2 reactions, previously categorized as E2C-like, show ..cap alpha..-deuterium isotope effects in the range 1.14--1.22, while the related SN2 reactions give values in the range 1.05--1.08. The discrepancy in the magnitude of the ..cap alpha..-deuterium isotope effect for the E2 and SN2 processes is consistent with the view that E2C-like reactions use ''looser'' transition states than those used in the concurrent SN2 reactions. While the reported ..cap alpha..-d isotope effectsmore » do not provide positive evidence to support the idea that the base interacts with C/sub ..cap alpha../ in the E2 transition states of the reactions studied, neither do they substantiate claims for dismissal of the concept. A comparison of the secondary ..gamma..-deuterium and ..beta..'-deuterium isotope effects arising in the reaction of cyclohexyl tosylate with NBu/sub 4/OAc in acetone indicates the two isotope effects to be of equivalent magnitude (k/sub ..beta..'-d/k/sub ..gamma..-d/ = 0.98). This observation can only be rationalized for this reaction in terms of a transition state structure in which there is extensive double bond development. It provides compelling evidence against the involvement of any transition state structure which accommodates extensive positive charge development at C/sub ..cap alpha../.« less

  15. Alpha particle effects in burning tokamak plasmas: overview and specific examples

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

    Sigmar, D.J.

    1986-07-01

    Using the total power balance of an ignited tokamak plasma as a guideline, a range of alpha driven effects is surveyed regarding their impact on achieving and maintaining fusion burn. Specific examples of MHD and kinetic modes and multi species transport dynamics are discussed, including the possible interaction of these categories of effects. This power balance approach rather than a straightforward enumeration of possible effects serves to reveal their non-linear dependence and the ensuing fragility of our understanding of the approach to and maintenance of ignition. Specific examples are given of the interaction between ..cap alpha..-power driven sawtoothing and idealmore » MHD stability, and direct ..cap alpha..-effects on MHD modes including kinetic corrections. Anomalous ion heat transport and central impurity peaking mechanisms and anomalous and collisional ..cap alpha..-transport including the ambipolar electric field are discussed.« less

  16. Highly excited states in /sup 6/Li by the reaction /sup 9/Be(p,. cap alpha. )/sup 6/Li. [Width of 8. 2-MeV level

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

    Delbar, T.; Gregoire, G.; Lega, J.

    1976-10-01

    The spectra from the reaction /sup 9/Be(p, ..cap alpha..)/sup 6/Li induced by 75 and 30 MeV protons were recorded at theta/sub ..cap alpha../ = 20 and 30/sup 0/ in the laboratory frame. The region from 6 to 18 MeV excitation energy of the residual nucleus was carefully studied for possible levels. Evidence for a T = 1 level at E/sub x/ = 8.2 +- 0.2 MeV with a width GAMMA = 2.2 +- 0.2 MeV is reported. No other levels were observed in the present spectra. (AIP)

  17. Comparisons of carcinogenicities of nickel compounds in rats

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

    Sunderman, F.W. Jr.; Maenza, R.M.

    This study demonstrates marked differences in the incidences of sarcomas in Fischer rats within 2 years after a single im injection of 4 insoluble nickel-containing powders amorphous nickel monosulfide (NiS), nickel subsulfide (..cap alpha..Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/), partially converted nickel-iron sulfide matte, and metallic nickel. The powders (<2 ..mu..m median particle diameters) were administered in penicillin suspension, and each powder was tested at 2 dosages. Whereas ..cap alpha..Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/ was highly carcinogenic, amorphous NiS did not induce any tumors. The carcinogenic potency of partially converted nickel-iron sulfide matte was less than ..cap alpha..Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/ but greater than Ni powder.more » No sarcomas occurred at the injection site in two groups of control rats that received im injections of penicillin or Fe powder. The observed differences in carcinogenic potencies of ..cap alpha..Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/ and amorphous NiS may provide an experimental approach to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of nickel carcinogenesis.« less

  18. Hydrophobic interactions in complexes of antimicrobial peptides with bacterial polysaccharides.

    PubMed

    Kuo, Hsin H; Chan, Celine; Burrows, Lori L; Deber, Charles M

    2007-06-01

    Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are responsible for chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, where they are characterized by overproduction of the exopolysaccharide alginate and are recalcitrant to treatment with conventional antibiotics. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs) are potential alternatives for the treatment of multi-drug-resistant P. aeruginosa. However, alginate in P. aeruginosa biofilms has been proposed to bind these peptides through hydrophobic interactions, consequently reducing their activity [Chan et al., J Biol Chem 2004; 279: 38749-38754]. Here we perform biophysical analyses of the interactions of alginate with a series of novel peptide antibiotics (alpha-CAPs) of prototypic sequence KK-AAAXAAAAAXAAWAAXAAA-KKKK (where X = Phe, Trp or Leu). The hydrophobic interaction interface in alginate was investigated by examining (i) the effects of polysaccharide composition with respect to D-mannuronate and L-guluronate content; (ii) glycan chain length; (iii) alpha-CAP Trp fluorescence; and (iv) 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate fluorescence. The results show that, while M and G residues produce equivalent effects, hydrophobic interactions between alginate and alpha-CAPs require a minimal glycan chain length. Peptide interactions with alginate are deduced to be mediated by hydrophobic microdomains comprised of pyranosyl C-H groups that are inducible upon formation of alpha-CAP-alginate complexes due to charge neutralization between the two species.

  19. Dissimilar effects of chronic treatment with aspirin, flubiprofen and indomethacin on renal prostaglandins

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

    Quilley, C.P.; McGiff, J.C.; Quilley, J.

    Inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) excretion is not sustained during long-term aspirin administration. The authors compared the effects of 9d treatment of SHR rats with aspirin (A), 200 mg/kg/d s.c., flubiprofen (F), 2.5 mg/kg/12h s.c., and indomethacin (I), 2.5 mg/kg/12 s.c. on excretion of radioimmunoassayable PGE/sub 2/ and PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../. Conversion of 1-(/sup 14/C) arachidonic acid (AA) by renal papillae was also examined. In vehicle-treated control rats (C) PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ excretion varied from 32.2 +/- 6.2 (mean +/- SEM) to 41.6 +.- 7.3 ng/6h, 3-fold higher than that of PGE/sub 2/. Within 6h of administration all 3 drugs reducedmore » excretion of PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ and PGE/sub 2/ to less than 20% and 35% of C rats. Although urinary concentrations of PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ and PGE/sub 2/ in A-treated rats remained depressed, a 2-fold increase in urine volume resulted in excretion rates similar to C rats. In contrast, urine volume in I- and F-treated rats was unaffected while PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ and PGE/sub 2/ excretion rates in I-treated rats were 50''% of C rats and were also lower than control in F-treated rats. Paradoxically, metabolism of AA to PGs by by renal papillae dissected on day 10, 2-4h after the last drug dose, was markedly inhibited by A (PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ by 62% and PGE/sub 2/ by 82%), but unaffected by I and F. As the effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors differ on in vivo and indices of PG production, their intended action should be verified by measuring PG levels in biological fluids.« less

  20. Early Holocene deglaciation of Drangajökull, Vestfirðir, Iceland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harning, David J.; Geirsdóttir, Áslaug; Miller, Gifford H.; Zalzal, Kate

    2016-12-01

    The status of Icelandic ice caps during the early Holocene provides important constraints on North Atlantic climate and the mechanisms behind natural climate variability. A recent study postulates that Drangajökull on Vestfirðir, Iceland, persisted through the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM, 7.9-5.5 ka) and may be a relic from the last glacial period. We test this hypothesis with a suite of sediment cores from threshold lakes both proximal and distal to the ice cap's modern margin. Distal lakes document rapid early Holocene deglaciation from the coast and across the highlands south of the glacier. Sediment from Skorarvatn, a lake to the north of Drangajökull, shows that the northern margin of the ice cap reached a size comparable to its contemporary limit by ∼10.3 ka. Two southeastern lakes with catchments extending well beneath modern Drangajökull confirm that by ∼9.2 ka, the ice cap was reduced to ∼20% of its current area. A continuous 10.3ka record of biological productivity from Skorarvatn's sediment indicates local peak warmth occurred between 9 and 6.9 ka. The combination of warm and dry summers on Vestfirðir suggests that Drangajökull very likely melted completely shortly after 9.2 ka, similar to most other Icelandic ice caps.

  1. Non-linear vacuum polarization in strong fields

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

    Gyulassy, M.

    1981-07-01

    The Wichmann-Kroll formalism for calculating the vacuum polarization density to first order in ..cap alpha.. but to all orders in Z..cap alpha.. is derived. The most essential quantity is shown to be the electrons Green's function in these calculations. The method of constructing that Green's function in the field of finite radius nuclei is then presented.

  2. Metabolism of. cap alpha. -C/sup 14/-histidine in the intact rat. II. Radioactive excretion products in urine

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

    Wolf, G.; Wu, P.H.L.; Heck, W.W.

    1956-09-01

    The normal metabolic pathways in the intact rat was investigated via the radioactive urinary excretion products following administration of a physiological dose of a radioactive compound such as ..cap alpha..-C/sup 14/-DL-histidine. The major metabolites, except one, excreted in the urine 5 hours after administration of ..cap alpha..-C/sup 14/-DL-histidine were isolated and identified. Glutamic acid and urocanic acids had simlar and low activities, whereas carboxyl-labeled imidazoacetic acid was found to be the principal metabolite with a high level of activity. It was concluded that the main end-product of the catabolism of DL-histidine is imidazoleacetic acid probably formed through imidazolepyruvic acid.

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

    Weinstein, L.; Droegemueller, W.; Cornette, J.

    A single intra-amniotic injection of (15S)-15 methyl prostaglandin F/sub 2/..cap alpha.. (THAM) was used to induce second trimester abortion in five patients. Serial levels of (15S)-15 methyl prostaglandin F/sub 2/..cap alpha.. were subsequently measured in amniotic fluid and plasma by radioimmunoassay. The slow removal of this drug from the amniotic fluid was documented. Plasma levels of (15S)-15 methyl prostaglandin F/sub 2/..cap alpha.. increased fourfold to sevenfold after clinical rupture of the membranes in three patients, supporting the fact that prostaglandins are well absorbed from the vagina. Because this analogue of prostaglandin can cause marked peripheral bronchoconstriction when administered systemically, itmore » is best to avoid its use in patients with a history of asthma.« less

  4. Self-modulating pressure gauge

    DOEpatents

    Edwards, D. Jr.; Lanni, C.P.

    1979-08-07

    An ion gauge is disclosed having a reduced x-ray limit and means for measuring that limit. The gauge comprises an ion gauge of the Bayard-Alpert type having a short collector and having means for varying the grid-collector voltage. The x-ray limit (i.e. the collector current resulting from x-rays striking the collector) may then be determined by the formula: I/sub x/ = ..cap alpha..I/sub l/ - I/sub h//..cap alpha.. - l where: I/sub x/ = x-ray limit, I/sub l/ and I/sub h/ = the collector current at the lower and higher grid voltage respectively; and, ..cap alpha.. = the ratio of the collector current due to positive ions at the higher voltage to that at the lower voltage.

  5. Internode length in Pisum. Gene na may block gibberellin synthesis between ent-7. cap alpha. -hydroxykaurenoic acid and biggerellin A/sub 12/-aldehyde. [Pisum sativum

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

    Ingram, T.J.; Reid, J.B.

    1987-04-01

    The elongation response of the gibberellin (GA) deficient genotypes na, ls, and lh of peas (Pisum sativum L.) to a range of GA-precursors was examined. Plants possessing gene na did not respond to precursors in the GA biosynthetic pathway prior to GA/sub 12/-aldehyde. In contrast, plants possessing lh and ls responded as well as wild-type plants (dwarfed with AMO-1618) to these compounds. The results suggest that GA biosynthesis is blocked prior to ent-kaurene in the lh and ls mutants and between ent-7..cap alpha..-hydroxykaurenoic acid and GA/sub 12/-aldehyde in the na mutant. Feeds of ent(/sup 3/H)kaurenoic acid and (/sup 2/H)GA/sub 12/-aldehydemore » to a range of genotypes supported the above conclusions. The na line WL1766 was shown by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to metabolize(/sup 2/H)GA/sub 12/-aldehyde to a number of (/sup 2/H)C/sub 19/-GAs including GA/sub 1/. However, there was no indication in na genotypes for the metabolism of ent-(/sup 3/H)kaurenoic acid to these GAs. In contrast, the expanding shoot tissue of all Na genotypes examined metabolized ent-(/sup 3/H)kaurenoic acid to radioactive compounds that co-chromatographed with GA/sub 1/, GA/sub 8/, GA/sub 20/, and GA/sub 29/. However, insufficient material was present for unequivocal identification of the metabolites. The radioactive profiles from HPLC of extracts of the node treated with ent-(/sup 3/H)kaurenoic acid were similar for both Na and na plants and contained ent-16..cap alpha..,17-dihydroxykaurenoic acid and ent-6..cap alpha..,7..cap alpha..,16..beta..,17-tetrahydroxykaurenoic acid (both characterized by GC-MS), suggesting that the metabolites arose from side branches of the main GA-biosynthetic pathway. Thus, both Na and na plants appear capable of ent-7..cap alpha..-hydroxylation.« less

  6. Copernicus observations of Betelgeuse and Antares

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

    Bernat, A.P.; Lambert, D.L.

    1975-01-01

    Copernicus observations of the M-supergiants, ..cap alpha.. Ori and ..cap alpha.. Sco, are presented. The Mg II H and K resonance lines are strongly in emission in both stars. The K line is highly asymmetric in both stars but the H line is symmetric. Upper limits for several other resonance lines are given for ..cap alpha.. Ori. The possibility is explored that the K line asymmetry is caused by overlying resonance lines of Mn I and Fe I formed in the cool circumstellar gas shells around these stars. Observations of the Mn I 4030--4033 A lines are used to showmore » that circumstellar shell absorption is too weak to explain the asymmetry. It is suggested that the absorption occurs in a cool turbulent region between the base of the circumstellar shell and the top of the chromosphere. (auth)« less

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

    Walker, T.E.; Han, C.H.; Kollman, V.H.

    /sup 13/C NMR of isotopically enriched metabolites has been used to study the metabolism of Microbacterium ammoniaphilum, a bacterium which excretes large quantities of L-glutamic acid into the medium. Biosynthesis from 90% (1-/sup 13/C) glucose results in relatively high specificity of the label, with (2,4-/sup 13/C/sub 2/) glutamate as the major product. The predominant biosynthetic pathway for synthesis of glutamate from glucose was determined to be the Embden Meyerhof glycolytic pathway followed by P-enolpyruvate carboxylase and the first third of the Krebs cycle. Different metabolic pathways are associated with different correlations in the enrichment of the carbons, reflected in themore » spectrum as different /sup 13/C-/sup 13/C scalar multiplet intensities. Hence, intensity and /sup 13/C-/sup 13/C multiplet analysis allows quantitation of the pathways involved. Although blockage of the Krebs cycle at the ..cap alpha..-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase step is the basis for the accumulation of glutamate, significant Krebs cycle activity was found in glucose grown cells, and extensive Krebs cycle activity in cells metabolizing (1-/sup 13/C) acetate. In addition to the observation of the expected metabolites, the disaccharide ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..-trehalose and ..cap alpha..,..beta..-glucosylamine were identified from the /sup 13/C NMR spectra.« less

  8. DEAD ZONE IN THE POLAR-CAP ACCELERATOR OF PULSARS

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

    Chen, Alexander Y.; Beloborodov, Andrei M.

    We study plasma flows above pulsar polar caps using time-dependent simulations of plasma particles in the self-consistent electric field. The flow behavior is controlled by the dimensionless parameter {alpha} = j/c{rho}{sub GJ}, where j is the electric current density and {rho}{sub GJ} is the Goldreich-Julian charge density. The region of the polar cap where 0 < {alpha} < 1 is a {sup d}ead zone{sup -}in this zone, particle acceleration is inefficient and pair creation is not expected even for young, rapidly rotating pulsars. Pulsars with polar caps near the rotation axis are predicted to have a hollow-cone structure of radiomore » emission, as the dead zone occupies the central part of the polar cap. Our results apply to charge-separated flows of electrons (j < 0) or ions (j > 0). In the latter case, we consider the possibility of a mixed flow consisting of different ion species, and observe the development of two-stream instability. The dead zone at the polar cap is essential for the development of an outer gap near the null surface {rho}{sub GJ} = 0.« less

  9. Breakup processes in heavy-ion induced reactions

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

    Udagawa, T.; Tamura, T.; Shimoda, T.

    1979-11-01

    Cross sections for breakup of /sup 20/Ne into /sup 16/O and ..cap alpha.. during scattering from /sup 40/Ca were calculated in terms of the distorted-wave Born approximation. The inclusive /sup 16/O cross section observed in the /sup 40/Ca(/sup 20/Ne,/sup 16/O) reaction was then found to be fitted very well by the sum of this breakup contribution and that of the ..cap alpha..-transfer reaction calculated in our previous work.

  10. Dielectronic satellite spectra of hydrogen-like titanium (Ti XXII)

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

    Bitter, M.; von Goeler, S.; Cohen, S.

    High resolution spectra of the Ly ..cap alpha../sub 1/ and Ly ..cap alpha../sub 2/ lines of hydrogenlike titanium, TiXXII, and the associated dielectronic satellites which are due to transitions 1snl-2pnl with n greater than or equal to 2, have been observed from tokamak discharges with auxiliary ion cyclotron heating (ICRH) with central electron temperatures of 2 keV and central electron densities of 8 x 10/sup 13/ cm/sup -3/ on the Princeton Large Torus (PLT). The data have been used for a detailed comparison with theoretical predictions based on the Z - expansion method and Hartree - Fock calculations. The resultsmore » obtained with the Z - expansion method are in excellent agreement with the observed spectral data except for minor discrepancies between the theoretical and experimental wavelengths of 0.0003 A for the n = 2 satellites and of 0.0001 A for the separation of the Ly ..cap alpha../sub 1/ and Ly ..cap alpha../sub 2/ lines. Very good agreement with the experimental data is also obtained for the results from the Hartree - Fock calculations though somewhat larger discrepancies (approx. = 0.0009 A) exist between experimental and theoretical wavelengths which are systematically too small. The observed spectra are used for diagnosis of the central ion and electron temperatures of the PLT discharges and for a measurement of the dielectronic recombination rate coefficient of TiXXII.« less

  11. Holocene evolution of Hans Tausen Iskappe (Greenland): merging constraints and models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zekollari, Harry; Lecavalier, Benoit S.; Huybrechts, Philippe

    2017-04-01

    In this study the Holocene evolution of Hans Tausen Iskappe (western Peary Land, Greenland) is investigated. Constraints on the ice cap evolution are combined with climatic records in a numerical ice flow - surface mass balance (SMB) model to better understand the palaeoenvironmental and climatic evolution of this region. Our simulations suggest that after disconnecting from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) the ice cap had roughly its present-day size and geometry around 8.5-9 ka ago. An ice core drilled to the bed indicates that the southern part of the ice cap subsequently disappeared during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) and this collapse can be reproduced, but the model suggests that the northern part of the ice cap most likely survived this warmer period. The late Holocene growth of the ice cap to its Little Ice Age (LIA) maximum neoglacial extent can be reproduced from the temperature reconstruction. The simulations suggest that over the last millennia the local precipitation may have been up to 70-80% higher than at present. By coupling the pre-industrial temperature forcing to a post-LIA warming trend, it is concluded that the warming between the end of the LIA and the period 1961-1990 was between 1 and 2°C. In all experiments the ice flow model complexity and horizontal resolution have only a minor effect on the long-term evolution of the ice cap, which is largely driven by SMB changes. On the other hand the glacial isostatic adjustments (GIA) need to be accounted for in a detailed manner, as this has a large impact on the modelled Holocene ice cap evolution.

  12. Isolation of tungsten and tantalum isotopes without supports from. cap alpha. -particle-irradiated hafnium targets

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

    Gasita, S.M.; Iota, B.Z.; Malachkov, A.G.

    1985-11-01

    An extraction procedure has been developed for successive isolation of tungsten (/sup 178/W and /sup 181/W) and tantalum (/sup 179/Ta and /sup 182/Ta) isotopes without supports from ..cap alpha..particle-irradiated hafnium targets. The target, irradiated on a cyclotron, is dissolved in hydrofluoric acid. Tantalum isotopes are extracted with tributyl phosphate (TBP) from 1-5 M HF and are then reextracted with a 1:1 ammonia solution, and hydrofluoric acid is removed by heating. Tungsten isotopes are extracted with a chloroform solution or N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) from 11-12 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ or ..cap alpha..-benzoin oxime from 4.5-5.5 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and are thenmore » reextracted with a l:l ammonia solution. The yield of tungsten isotopes is not less than 95%, and the content of radioactive impurities of other isotopes is not more than 0.1%.« less

  13. Selective inhibition by chloramphenicol of pregnenolone-16. cap alpha. -carbonitrile-inducible rat liver cytochrome P-450 isozymes

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

    Graves, P.E.; Kaminsky, L.S.; Halpert, J.

    Pregnenolone-16 ..cap alpha..-carbonitrile (PCN) has been shown to induce, in male rats, cytochrome P-450 isozymes responsible for the formation of R-10-hydroxywarfarin and R-dehydrowarfarin. Antibodies to the major PCN-inducible isozyme (PB/PCN-E) inhibit both activities in microsomal preparations. Recently the authors have shown that PCN treatment of female rats also induces the formation of both R-warfarin metabolites. However, in both sexes chloramphenicol (CAP) treatment selectively inhibits only the rate of formation of the R-dehydrowarfarin. A decrease in microsomal P-450 content occurs after in vivo administration of CAP to PCN-treated rats of both sexes. This is in contrast to the lack of effectmore » of CAP on P-450 levels in phenobarbital-treated rats. Covalent binding of /sup 14/C-CAP to microsomal protein in vitro was increased 3 to 4-fold following PCN treatment. Chromatographic evidences suggests the presence of at least two PCN-induced isozymes of similar molecular weights in both male and female rat liver microsomes. These data are consistent with the multiplicity of PCN-inducible P-450 in rat liver.« less

  14. Chromosomal aberrations and delays in cell progression induced by x-rays in Tradescantia clone 02 meristems

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

    Geard, C.R.

    1983-01-01

    In root meristems of Tradescantia clone 02 (developed by Sparrow and his colleagues for mutation studies), X-rays interfere with the progression of cells through the cell cycle and induce chromosomal aberrations in a dose-dependent manner consistent with linear-quadratic kinetics. Sequential mitotic cell accumulations after irradiation indicate that sensitivity to aberration induction is probably greatest in cells from late S to early G2, with chromatid interchanges the most frequent aberration type and all aberrations consistent with initiation from the interaction between two lesions. The ratio of the coefficients in the linear (..cap alpha..) and the quadratic (..beta..) terms (..cap alpha../..beta..) ismore » equal to the dose average of specific energy produced by individual particles in the site where interaction takes place. The ratio ..cap alpha../..beta.. for chromosomal aberrations is similar to that previously found for X-ray-induced mutation in Tradescantia stamen hairs, supporting the proposal that radiation-induced mutational events are due to chromosomal aberrations with interaction distances of about 1..mu..m. Abrahamson and co-workers have noted that both ..cap alpha../..beta.. ratios appear to be related to nuclear target size and are similar for chromosomal and mutational endpoints in the same organism. These findings support this concept; however, it is apparent that any situation which diminishes yield at high doses (e.g., mitotic delay) will probably affect the ..beta.. component. 23 references, 5 figures, 2 tables.« less

  15. Chromosomal aberrations and delays in cell progression induced by x-rays in Tradescantia clone 02 meristems

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

    Geard, C.R.

    1983-01-01

    In root meristems of Tradescantia clone 02 (developed by Sparrow and his colleagues for mutation studies), X-rays interfere with the progression of cells through the cell cycle and induce chromosomal aberrations in a dose-dependent manner consistent with linear-quadratic kinetics. Sequential mitotic cell accumulations after irradiation indicate that sensitivity to aberrration induction is probably greatest in cells from late S to early G2, with chromatid interchanges the most frequent aberration type and all aberrations consistent with intiation from the interaction between two lesions. The ratio of the coefficients in the linear (..cap alpha..) and the quadratic (..beta..) terms (..cap alpha../..beta..) ismore » equal to the dose average of specific energy produced by individual particles in the site where interaction takes place. The ratio ..cap alpha../..beta.. for chromosomal aberrations is similar to that previously found for X-ray-induced mutation in Tradescantia stamen hairs, supporting the proposal that radiation-induced mutational events are due to chromosomal aberrations with interaction distances of about 1 ..mu..m. Abrahmson and co-workers have noted that both ..cap alpha../..beta.. ratios appear to be related to nuclear target size and are similar for chromosomal and mutational endpoints in the same organism. These findings support this concept; however, it is apparent that any situation which diminishes yield at high doses (e.g., mitotic delay) will primarily affect the ..beta.. component, resulting in low assessments of interaction site diameters.« less

  16. Exact near-onset analysis of the spin-density-wave instability in ferromagnetic superconductors: The linearly polarized state

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

    Hu, C.

    1984-09-01

    Using an approach similar to Abvikosov's theory of the vortex state near H/sub c/2, we have performed an exact, near-onset analysis of a spin-density-wave instability leading to the ''linearly polarized state'' of Greenside et al. in ferromagnetic superconductors. The approach is based on a generalized Ginzburg-Landau theory for such materials, as formulated by Blount and Varma. Two models have been considered. In the (..cap alpha..,..beta..) model, where the bulk magnetic energy is taken to be (1/2)..cap alpha../sub m/M/sup 2/+(1/4)..beta../sub m/M/sup 4/, we find the transition to be second order, and obtain explicit formulas for various physical quantities to leading ordermore » in the deviation from onset. We have also rigorously analyzed the most favored spatial structure just below onset, among all possibilities allowed by the instability, and have concluded that a plane-wave-like structure is favored in a physical limit considered. In the (..cap alpha..,..gamma..) model, where the bulk magnetic energy is taken to be (1/2)..cap alpha../sub m/M/sup 2/+(1/6)..gamma../sub m/M/sup 6/ as is supported by recent experiments for ErRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/, we find the transition to be first order. This approach is then confined to an unphysical branch, which does not permit us to calculate various physical quantities on the physical branch.« less

  17. Drosophila Casein Kinase I Alpha Regulates Homolog Pairing and Genome Organization by Modulating Condensin II Subunit Cap-H2 Levels

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen, Huy Q.; Nye, Jonathan; Buster, Daniel W.; Klebba, Joseph E.; Rogers, Gregory C.; Bosco, Giovanni

    2015-01-01

    The spatial organization of chromosomes within interphase nuclei is important for gene expression and epigenetic inheritance. Although the extent of physical interaction between chromosomes and their degree of compaction varies during development and between different cell-types, it is unclear how regulation of chromosome interactions and compaction relate to spatial organization of genomes. Drosophila is an excellent model system for studying chromosomal interactions including homolog pairing. Recent work has shown that condensin II governs both interphase chromosome compaction and homolog pairing and condensin II activity is controlled by the turnover of its regulatory subunit Cap-H2. Specifically, Cap-H2 is a target of the SCFSlimb E3 ubiquitin-ligase which down-regulates Cap-H2 in order to maintain homologous chromosome pairing, chromosome length and proper nuclear organization. Here, we identify Casein Kinase I alpha (CK1α) as an additional negative-regulator of Cap-H2. CK1α-depletion stabilizes Cap-H2 protein and results in an accumulation of Cap-H2 on chromosomes. Similar to Slimb mutation, CK1α depletion in cultured cells, larval salivary gland, and nurse cells results in several condensin II-dependent phenotypes including dispersal of centromeres, interphase chromosome compaction, and chromosome unpairing. Moreover, CK1α loss-of-function mutations dominantly suppress condensin II mutant phenotypes in vivo. Thus, CK1α facilitates Cap-H2 destruction and modulates nuclear organization by attenuating chromatin localized Cap-H2 protein. PMID:25723539

  18. Antisymmetrization effects and the form factor of the real part of the. cap alpha. -nucleus potential

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

    Majka, Z.; Budzanowski, A.; Grotowski, K.

    1978-07-01

    Antisymmetrization effects in the ..cap alpha..-nucleus interaction are investigated on the basis of a microscopic model in an one nucleon exchange approximation. It influences the form factor, increasing the halfway radius and decreasing the diffuseness as compared with the direct term of the potential only. Antisymmetrization preserves the shape of the potential which can be parametrized by a Woods-Saxon squared form. The phenomenological potential with the energy independent form factor of the above shape fits experimental data in a wide energy region.

  19. Cross sections and differential spectra for reactions of 2-20 MeV neutrons of /sup 27/Al

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

    Blann, M.; Komoto, T.T.

    1988-01-01

    This report summarizes product yields, secondary n,p and ..cap alpha.. spectra, and ..gamma..-ray spectra calculated for incident neutrons of 2-20 MeV on /sup 27/Al targets. Results are all from the code ALICE, using the version ALISO which does weighting of results for targets which are a mix of isotopes. Where natural isotopic targets are involved, yields and n,p,..cap alpha.. spectra will be reported weighted over isotopic yields. Gamma-ray spectra, however, will be reported for the most abundant isotope.

  20. Separation of anionic oligosaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography

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

    Green, E.D.; Baenziger, J.U.

    1986-10-01

    The authors have developed methods for rapid fractionation of anionic oligosaccharides containing sulfate and/or sialic acid moieties by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ion-exchange HPLC on amine-bearing columns (Micropak AX-10 and AX-5) at pH 4.0 is utilized to separate anionic oligosaccharides bearing zero, one, two, three, or four charges, independent of the identity of the anionic moieties (sulfate and/or sialic acid). Ion-exchange HPLC at pH 1.7 allows separation of neutral, mono-, di-, and tetrasialylated, monosulfated, and disulfated oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides containing three sialic acid residues and those bearing one each of sulfate and sialic acid, however, coelute at pH 1.7. Since themore » latter two oligosaccharide species separate at pH 4.0, analysis at pH 4.0 followed by analysis at pH 1.7 can be utilized to completely fractionate complex mixtures of sulfated and sialylated oligosaccharides. Ion-suppression amine adsorption HPLC has previously been shown to separate anionic oligosaccharides on the basis of net carbohydrate content (size). In this study they demonstrate the utility of ion-suppression amine adsorption HPLC for resolving sialylated oligosaccharide isomers which differ only in the linkages of sialic acid residues (..cap alpha..2,3 vs ..cap alpha..2,6) and/or location of ..cap alpha..2,3- and ..cap alpha..2,6-linked sialic acid moieties on the peripheral branches of oligosaccharides. These two methods can be used in tandem to separate oligosaccharides, both analytically and preparatively, based on their number, types, and linkages of anionic moieties.« less

  1. Tubulin chaperone E binds microtubules and proteasomes and protects against misfolded protein stress.

    PubMed

    Voloshin, Olga; Gocheva, Yana; Gutnick, Marina; Movshovich, Natalia; Bakhrat, Anya; Baranes-Bachar, Keren; Bar-Zvi, Dudy; Parvari, Ruti; Gheber, Larisa; Raveh, Dina

    2010-06-01

    Mutation of tubulin chaperone E (TBCE) underlies hypoparathyroidism, retardation, and dysmorphism (HRD) syndrome with defective microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton. TBCE/yeast Pac2 comprises CAP-Gly, LRR (leucine-rich region), and UbL (ubiquitin-like) domains. TBCE folds alpha-tubulin and promotes alpha/beta dimerization. We show that Pac2 functions in MT dynamics: the CAP-Gly domain binds alpha-tubulin and MTs, and functions in suppression of benomyl sensitivity of pac2Delta mutants. Pac2 binds proteasomes: the LRR binds Rpn1, and the UbL binds Rpn10; the latter interaction mediates Pac2 turnover. The UbL also binds the Skp1-Cdc53-F-box (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex; these competing interactions for the UbL may impact on MT dynamics. pac2Delta mutants are sensitive to misfolded protein stress. This is suppressed by ectopic PAC2 with both the CAP-Gly and UbL domains being essential. We propose a novel role for Pac2 in the misfolded protein stress response based on its ability to interact with both the MT cytoskeleton and the proteasomes.

  2. Calculated half-lives and kinetic energies for spontaneous emission of heavy ions from nuclei

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

    Poenaru, D.N.; Greiner, W.; Depta, K.

    The most probable decays by spontaneous emission of heavy ions are listed for nuclides with Z = 47--106 and total half-lives>1 ..mu..sec. Partial half-lives, branching ratios relative to ..cap alpha.. decay, kinetic energies, and Q values are estimated by using the analytical superasymmetric fission model, a semiempirical formula for those ..cap alpha..-decay lifetimes which have not been measured, and the new Wapstra--Audi mass tables. Numerous ''stable'' nuclides with Z>40 are found to be metastable with respect to the new decay modes. The current experimental status is briefly reviewed.

  3. Algal succession and chronosequences on abandoned mine spoils

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

    Shubert, L.E.; Starks, T.L.

    1978-06-01

    Soils were collected from spoil material aged 0 to 45 years. The soils were analyzed for the presence of algal species, chlorophyll ..cap alpha.., major cations, anions and trace elements. There was a gradual increase in the number of algal species and chlorophyll ..cap alpha.. from 1 year old spoils to adjacent unmined natural sites. A total of 41 algal species were identified from all sites. Several species were only found at the unmined sites and they may represent a stable algal community. Results of a statistical analysis on the litho- and chronosequence of the soils will be discussed.

  4. Biosynthesis of ketomycin. (II) biomimetic model for beta-lactamase catalysis: host-guest interactions in cyclodextrin-penicillin inclusion complex

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

    Mak, H.W.

    The antibiotic ketomycin is formed from shikimic acid via chorismic acid and prephenic acid. Phenylalanine and 2',5'-dihydrophenylalanine derived from shikimic acid are not intermediates in the biosynthesis. Degradation of ketomycin derived from (1,6-/sup 14/C)shikimic acid showed that prephenic acid is converted into ketomycin with stereospecific discrimination between the two enantiotopic edges of the ring, the pro-S-R edge giving rise to the C-2', C-3' side of the cyclohexane ring of ketomycin. The resistance of pathogenic bacteria to the action of ..beta..-lactam antibiotics is mainly ascribed to their ability to produce ..beta..-lactamase to cleave the ..beta..-lactam ring. It is essential to understandmore » the molecular nature of ..beta..-lactamase-penicillin recognition for designing and formulating more effective ..beta..-lactam antibiotics. A biomimetic study of ..beta..-lactamase is therefore initiated. To meet the requirements of hydrophobic and serine protease characteristics of ..beta..-lactamase, ..cap alpha..-cyclodextrin is chosen as a biomimetic model for ..beta..-lactamase. The structural specificity and the chemical dynamics of ..cap alpha..-cyclodextrin-phenoxymethyl penicillin inclusion complex in solid state and in solution have been determined by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The spectral results strongly indicate that the phenyl portion of the phenoxymethyl penicillin forms a stable inclusion complex with the hydrophobic cavity of ..cap alpha..-cyclodextrin in solution as well as in the solid state. Kinetic studies followed by /sup 1/HNMR and HPLC analyses under alkaline condition have shown that the ..cap alpha..-cyclodextrin mimics the catalytic function of serine of ..beta..-lactamase in the stereospecific hydrolysis of the ..beta..-lactam ring of phenoxymethyl penicillin.« less

  5. Elastic Modulus Determination of Normal and Glaucomatous Human Trabecular Meshwork

    PubMed Central

    Last, Julie A.; Pan, Tingrui; Ding, Yuzhe; Reilly, Christopher M.; Keller, Kate; Acott, Ted S.; Fautsch, Michael P.; Murphy, Christopher J.; Russell, Paul

    2011-01-01

    Purpose. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a risk factor for glaucoma. The principal outflow pathway for aqueous humor in the human eye is through the trabecular meshwork (HTM) and Schlemm's canal (SC). The junction between the HTM and SC is thought to have a significant role in the regulation of IOP. A possible mechanism for the increased resistance to flow in glaucomatous eyes is an increase in stiffness (increased elastic modulus) of the HTM. In this study, the stiffness of the HTM in normal and glaucomatous tissue was compared, and a mathematical model was developed to predict the impact of changes in stiffness of the juxtacanalicular layer of HTM on flow dynamics through this region. Methods. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to measure the elastic modulus of normal and glaucomatous HTM. According to these results, a model was developed that simulated the juxtacanalicular layer of the HTM as a flexible membrane with embedded pores. Results. The mean elastic modulus increased substantially in the glaucomatous HTM (mean = 80.8 kPa) compared with that in the normal HTM (mean = 4.0 kPa). Regional variation was identified across the glaucomatous HTM, possibly corresponding to the disease state. Mathematical modeling suggested an increased flow resistance with increasing HTM modulus. Conclusions. The data indicate that the stiffness of glaucomatous HTM is significantly increased compared with that of normal HTM. Modeling exercises support substantial impairment in outflow facility with increased HTM stiffness. Alterations in the biophysical attributes of the HTM may participate directly in the onset and progression of glaucoma. PMID:21220561

  6. [Cytokine changes in community-acquired pneumonia in elderly and intervention of traditional Chinese medicine].

    PubMed

    Ye, Shanghe; Gong, Guolang; Zheng, Haiwen; Hu, Guohua; Xia, Tao

    2010-06-01

    To make a study of the cytokine changes in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the elderly and the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine that can clear away the lung-heat and dissipate blood stasis (Qingfeihuayu soup). The 82 cases with CAP in the elderly were divided at random into two treatment group and control group. Based on heteropathy, the treatment group was given Qingfeihuayu soup two times a day. The control group was given Rocephin 2 g once daily for 7 days. The clinical effect and the changes in TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 were observed before and after the treatment. A healthy group was also set up. Before treatment, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in both groups were higher than the healthy group (P < 0.01) and IL-10 lower than the healthy group (P < 0.01). After treatment, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in both groups decreased (P < 0.01) while IL-10 in treatment group increased. There existed a great difference compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The total effective rate in the treatment group is 92.50% while the control group is 85.71%. thus have a great difference (P < 0.05). During the process of the development of CAP in the elderly, there existed the phenomenon of the excessive release of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and the too much inhibition of IL-10. The unbalance of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10 can be a monitoring index reflecting the severity of the disease. The Chinese medicine Qingfeihuayu soup has obviously have regulating and clinical effect.

  7. Results from the Crystal Ball at DORIS II

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

    Gaiser, J.E.

    1983-10-01

    Results are presented from studies of the inclusive photon spectra in hadronic decays of the UPSILON' and UPSILON and the exclusive channel UPSILON' ..-->.. ..gamma gamma..UPSILON ..-->.. ..cap alpha cap alpha..l/sup +/l/sup -/, by the Crystal Ball detector at DORIS II. We measure two signals in the UPSILON' ..-->.. ..gamma.. + anything inclusive channel at E(..gamma..) == 108.3 +- 0.9 +- 3.0 MeV and at E(..gamma..) == 127.5 +- 1.2 +- 4.0 MeV. Branching ratios obtained for these signals are: BR(UPSILON' ..-->.. ..gamma..(108) + anything) == (6.3 +- 1.3 +- 1.4)% BR(UPSILON' ..-->.. ..gamma..(128) + anything) == (6.0 +- 1.3more » +- 1.4)%.« less

  8. MFTF-. cap alpha. + T progress report

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

    Nelson, W.D.

    1985-04-01

    Early in FY 1983, several upgrades of the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF-B) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) were proposed to the fusion community. The one most favorably received was designated MFTF-..cap alpha..+T. The engineering design of this device, guided by LLNL, has been a principal activity of the Fusion Engineering Design Center during FY 1983. This interim progress report represents a snapshot of the device design, which was begun in FY 1983 and will continue for several years. The report is organized as a complete design description. Because it is an interim report, some parts are incomplete; theymore » will be supplied as the design study proceeds. As described in this report, MFTF-..cap alpha..+T uses existing facilities, many MFTF-B components, and a number of innovations to improve on the physics parameters of MFTF-B. It burns deuterium-tritium and has a central-cell Q of 2, a wall loading GAMMA/sub n/ of 2 MW/m/sup 2/ (with a central-cell insert module), and an availability of 10%. The machine is fully shielded, allows hands-on maintenance of components outside the vacuum vessel 24 h after shutdown, and has provisions for repair of all operating components.« less

  9. Muscarinic cholinergic and alpha/sub 1/ adrenergic receptors in murine atria: phosphatidylinositol breakdown and receptor interaction

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

    Scherer, R.W.

    Upon stimulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors, there is a decrease in the force of contraction rate of firing in heart, while stimulation of ..cap alpha.. adrenergic receptors causes an increase in the force of contraction with no change in the heart rate. Yet both receptors stimulate the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol (PI). Therefore, the breakdown of PI was examined to determine how the process differed between the two receptor systems. Murine atria, prelabelled with (/sup 3/H)inositol, were stimulated with the muscarinic cholinergic agonists, carbamylcholine (CARB), and oxotremorine (OXO); and with the ..cap alpha.. adrenergic agonists, norepinephrine (NE) and phenylephrine (PE); eithermore » singly or in combination. Breakdown of PI was assessed by measurement of individual inositol phosphates by anion exchange chromatography. Binding of CARB to atrial muscarinic receptors was measured by competition with (/sup 3/H)quinuclidinyl benzilate.« less

  10. Structural and biological characterization of a capsular polysaccharide produced by Staphylococcus haemolyticus.

    PubMed

    Flahaut, Sigrid; Vinogradov, Evgeny; Kelley, Kathryn A; Brennan, Shannon; Hiramatsu, Keiichi; Lee, Jean C

    2008-03-01

    The DNA sequence of the genome of Staphylococcus haemolyticus JCSC1435 revealed a putative capsule operon composed of 13 genes in tandem. The first seven genes (capABCDEFG(Sh)) showed > or = 57% similarity with the Staphylococcus aureus cap5 or cap8 locus. However, the capHIJKLM(Sh) genes are unique to S. haemolyticus and include genes encoding a putative flippase, an aminotransferase, two glycosyltransferases, and a transcriptional regulator. Capsule-like material was readily apparent by immunoelectron microscopy on bacteria harvested in the postexponential phase of growth. Electron micrographs of a JCSC1435 mutant with a deleted cap region lacked the capsule-like material. Both strains produced small amounts of surface-associated material that reacted with antibodies to polyglutamic acid. S. haemolyticus cap genes were amplified from four of seven clinical isolates of S. haemolyticus from humans, and three of these strains produced a serologically cross-reactive capsular polysaccharide. In vitro assays demonstrated that the acapsular mutant strain showed greater biofilm formation but was more susceptible to complement-mediated opsonophagocytic killing than the parent strain. Structural characterization of capsule purified from S. haemolyticus strain JCSC1435 showed a trisaccharide repeating unit: -3-alpha-L-FucNAc-3-(2-NAc-4-N-Asp-2,4,6-trideoxy-beta-D-Glc)-4-alpha-D-GlcNAc-. This structure is unique among staphylococcal polysaccharides in that its composition includes a trideoxy sugar residue with aspartic acid as an N-acyl substituent.

  11. Absolute configuration of a chiral CHD group via neutron diffraction: confirmation of the absolute stereochemistry of the enzymatic formation of malic acid

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

    Bau, R.; Brewer, I.; Chiang, M.Y.

    Neutron diffraction has been used to monitor the absolute stereochemistry of an enzymatic reaction. (-)(2S)malic-3-d acid was prepared by the action of fumarase on fumaric acid in D/sub 2/O. After a large number of cations were screened, it was found that (+)(R)..cap alpha..-phenylethylamine forms the large crystals necessary for a neutron diffraction analysis. The subsequent structure determination showed that (+)(R)..cap alpha..-phenylethylammonium (-)(2S)malate-3-d has an absolute configuration of R at the CHD site. This result confirms the absolute stereochemistry of fumarate-to-malate transformation as catalyzed by the enzyme fumarase.

  12. Role of carotenoids in the phototropic response of corn seedings

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

    Vierstra, R.D.; Poff, K.L.

    1981-10-01

    The herbicide 4 chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..,-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3(2H)- pyridazinone (SAN 9789), which blocks the synthesis in higher plants of colored carotenoids but not of flavins, was used to examine the involvement of carotenoids in corn seeding phototropism. It was concluded that ''bulk'' carotenoids are not the photoreceptor pigment based on the results that increasing concentrations of SAN 9789 (up to 100 micromolar) did not alter the phototropic sensitivity to 380 nanometers light (using geotropism as a control) and did not increase the threshold intensities of fluence response curves for both 380 and 450 nanometers light even though carotenoid content was reducedmore » to 1 to 2% of normal. SAN 9789 treatment, however, did reduce seedling sensitivity toward 450 nanometers light indicating that carotenoids are involved in phototropism. Carotenoids, which are located mainly in the primary leaves, may act in phototropism as an internal screen, enhancing the light intensity gradient across the seedling and thus contributing to the ability of the seedling to perceive light direction. These results, indicate that the action spectra for phototropic responses can be significantly affected by the absorbance of screening pigments in vivo thus altering its shape from the in vitro absorption spectrum of the photoreceptor pigment.« less

  13. Secondary. cap alpha. -deuterium kinetic isotope effects in solvolyses of ferrocenylmethyl acetate and benzoate in ethanol

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

    Sutic, D.; Asperger, S.; Borcic, S.

    1982-12-17

    Secondary ..cap alpha..-deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIE) in solvolyses of ferrocenyldideuteriomethyl acetate and benzoate were determined in 96% (v/v) ethanol, at 25/sup 0/C, as k/sub H//k/sub D/ = 1.24 and 1.26, respectively. The KIEs were also determined in the presence of 0.1 mol dm/sup -3/ lithium perchlorate: the k/sub H//k/ sub D/ values were 1.23 and 1.22 for acetate and benzoate complexes, respectively. The maximum KIE for the C-O bond cleavage of a primary substrate is as large as, or larger than, that of secondary derivatives, which is estimated to be 1.23 per deuterium. The measured KIE of about 12%more » per D therefore represents a strongly reduced effect relative to its maximum. The solvolyses exhibit ''a special salt effect''. This effect indicates the presence of solvent-separated ion pairs and the return to tight pairs. As the maximum KIE is expected in solvolyses involving transformation of one type of ion pair into another, the strongly reduced ..cap alpha..-D KIE supports the structure involving direct participation of electrons that in the ground state are localized at the iron atom. The alkyl-oxygen cleavage is accompanied by 10-15% acyl-oxygen cleavage.« less

  14. Hydrogen transport and hydrogen embrittlement in stainless steels

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

    Perng, T.P.

    1985-01-01

    In order to understand the kinetics of gaseous hydrogen-induced slow crack growth (SCG) in metastable austenitic stainless steels, hydrogen permeation and/or cracking velocity were measured and compared for three types of stainless steels. These included austenitic, ferritic, and duplex (..gamma../..cap alpha..) alloys. Deformation in AISI 301 resulted in various amounts of ..cap alpha..' martensite, which enhanced the effective hydrogen diffusivity and permeability. No phase transformation was observed in deformed AISI 310. The effective hydrogen diffusivity in this alloy was slightly reduced after plastic deformation, presumably by dislocation trapping. In either the dynamic or static tensile test, AISI 301 exhibited themore » greatest hydrogen embrittlement and therefore the highest SCG velocity among all the alloys tested in this work. The SCG velocity was believed to be controlled by the rate of accumulation of hydrogen in the embrittlement region ahead of the crack tip and therefore could be explained with the hydrogen transport parameters measured from the permeation experiments. The relatively high SCG velocity in AISI 301 was probably due to the fast transport of hydrogen through the primarily stress-induced ..cap alpha..' phase around the crack. No SCG was observed in AISI 310. The presence of H/sub 2/O vapor was found to reduce both the hydrogen permeation and SCG velocity.« less

  15. Vacuum energy density near static distorted black holes

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

    Frolov, V.P.; Sanchez, N.

    1986-03-15

    We investigate the contribution of massless fields of spins 0, 1/2, and 1 to the vacuum polarization near the event horizon of static Ricci-flat space-times. We do not assume any particular spatial symmetry. Within the Page-Brown ''ansatz'' we calculate /sup ren/ and /sup ren/ near static distorted black holes, for both the Hartle-Hawking (Vertical Bar>/sub H/) and Boulware (Vertical Bar>/sub B/) vacua. Using Israel's description of static space-times, we express these quantities in an invariant geometric way. We obtain that /sub H//sup ren/ and /sub H//sup ren/ near the horizon depend only on the two-dimensional geometry of the horizon surface.more » We find /sub H//sup ren/ = (1/48..pi../sup 2/ )K/sub 0/, /sub H//sup ren/ = (7..cap alpha..+12..beta.. )K/sub 0/ /sup 2/-..cap alpha../sup(/sup 2/)..delta..K/sub 0/. $K sub 0: is the Gaussian curvature of the horizon, and ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. are numerical coefficients depending on the spin of a field. The term in /sup(/sup 2/)..delta..K/sub 0/ is characteristic of the distortion of the black hole. When the event horizon is not distorted, K/sub 0/ is a constant and this term disappears.« less

  16. Barley yellow dwarf virus: Luteoviridae or Tombusviridae?

    PubMed

    Miller, W Allen; Liu, Sijun; Beckett, Randy

    2002-07-01

    Summary Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), the most economically important virus of small grains, features highly specialised relationships with its aphid vectors, a plethora of novel translation mechanisms mediated by long-distance RNA interactions, and an ambiguous taxonomic status. The structural and movement proteins of BYDV that confer aphid transmission and phloem-limitation properties resemble those of the Luteoviridae, the family in which BYDV is classified. In contrast, many genes and cis-acting signals involved in replication and gene expression most closely resemble those of the Tombusviridae. BYDV is in genus Luteovirus, family Luteoviridae. BYDV includes at least two serotypes or viruses: BYDV-PAV and BYDV-MAV. The former BYDV-RPV is now Cereal yellow dwarf virus-RPV (CYDV-RPV). CYDV is in genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae. Genus Luteovirus shares many features with family Tombusviridae. Physical properties: approximately 25 nm icosahedral (T = 3) virions. One major (22 kDa) and one minor (50-55 kDa) coat protein. 5.6-5.8 kb positive sense RNA genome with no 5'-cap and no poly(A) tail. Most grasses. Most important in oats, barley and wheat. Also infects maize and rice. Yellowing and dwarfing in barley, stunting in wheat; reddening, yellowing and blasting in oats. Some isolates cause leaf notching and curling. Key attractions: Model for the study of circulative transmission of aphid-transmitted viruses. Plethora of unusual translation mechanisms. Evidence of recombination in recent evolutionary history creates taxonomic ambiguity. Economically important virus of wheat, barley and oats, worldwide. Useful websites/meetings: International symposium: 'Barley Yellow Dwarf Disease: Recent Advances and Future Strategies', CIMMYT, El Batan, Mexico, 1-5 September 2002, http://www.cimmyt.cgiar.org/Research/wheat/Conf_BYD_02/invitation.htm http://www.cimmyt.org/Research/wheat/BYDVNEWS/htm/BYDVNEWS.htm Aphid transmission animation: http://www.ppws.vt.edu/~sforza/tmv/bydv_aph.html.

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

    Calva-Tellez, E.; Yennie, D.R.

    The Coulomb corrections of relative order Z..cap alpha.. to inelastic electron and muon scattering are examined. Although individual terms are large, the net result is too small to be experimentally significant.

  18. Neutrophil-derived alpha defensins control inflammation by inhibiting macrophage mRNA translation

    PubMed Central

    Tomlinson, Gareth H.; Miles, Katherine; Smith, Richard W. P.; Rossi, Adriano G.; Hiemstra, Pieter S.; van ’t Wout, Emily F. A.; Dean, Jonathan L. E.; Gray, Nicola K.; Lu, Wuyuan; Gray, Mohini

    2016-01-01

    Neutrophils are the first and most numerous cells to arrive at the site of an inflammatory insult and are among the first to die. We previously reported that alpha defensins, released from apoptotic human neutrophils, augmented the antimicrobial capacity of macrophages while also inhibiting the biosynthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. In vivo, alpha defensin administration protected mice from inflammation, induced by thioglychollate-induced peritonitis or following infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We have now dissected the antiinflammatory mechanism of action of the most abundant neutrophil alpha defensin, Human Neutrophil Peptide 1 (HNP1). Herein we show that HNP1 enters macrophages and inhibits protein translation without inducing the unfolded-protein response or affecting mRNA stability. In a cell-free in vitro translation system, HNP1 powerfully inhibited both cap-dependent and cap-independent mRNA translation while maintaining mRNA polysomal association. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a peptide released from one cell type (neutrophils) directly regulating mRNA translation in another (macrophages). By preventing protein translation, HNP1 functions as a “molecular brake” on macrophage-driven inflammation, ensuring both pathogen clearance and the resolution of inflammation with minimal bystander tissue damage. PMID:27044108

  19. Assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder in Cambodian refugees using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale: psychometric properties and symptom severity.

    PubMed

    Hinton, Devon E; Chhean, Dara; Pich, Vuth; Pollack, M H; Orr, Scott P; Pitman, Roger K

    2006-06-01

    Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed by using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) in a consecutive sample of Cambodian refugees attending a psychiatric clinic in the United States. Psychometric properties of the translated CAPS and severity of PTSD-related symptoms were examined. The CAPS demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, including coefficient alpha (.92) and item-total correlations (.48-.85). Of the sample 56% (101/179) met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, criteria for current PTSD. Those patients who met criteria for current PTSD had significantly higher CAPS total scores (M = 65.3, SD = 18.1) than those who did not meet the criteria (M = 13.9, SD = 16.7).

  20. Effects of preventing O-glycosylation on the secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin in Chinese hamster ovary cells

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

    Matzuk, M.M.; Krieger, M.; Corless, C.L.

    1987-09-01

    Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a member of a family of heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones that have a common ..cap alpha.. subunit but differ in their hormone-specific ..beta..-subunits. The ..beta.. subunit of hCG (hCG..beta..) is unique among the ..beta.. subunits in that it contains four mucin-like O-linked oligosaccharides attached to a carboxyl-terminal extension. To study the effects of O-glycosylation on the secretion and assembly of hCG, expression vectors containing either hCG..beta.. gene alone or together with the hCG..cap alpha.. gene were transfected into a mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell line, 1d1D, which exhibits a reversible defect in O-glycosylation. The results revealmore » that hCG..beta.. can be secreted normally in the absence of its O-linked oligosaccharides. hCG..beta.. devoid of O-linked carbohydrate can also combine efficiently with hCG..cap alpha.. and be secreted as an intact dimer. The authors conclude that in Chinese hamster ovary cells, the hCG..beta.. O-linked chains play no role in the assembly and secretion of hCG. The normal and O-linked oligosaccharide-deficient forms of hCG secreted by these cells should prove useful in examining the role of O-linked chains on the biological function of hCG.« less

  1. Hormonal regulation of hepatic glycogenolysis in the carp, Cyprinus carpio

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

    Janssens, P.A.; Lowrey, P.

    1987-04-01

    Carp (Cyprinus carpio) liver maintained normal glycogen content and enzyme complement for several days in organ culture. Epinephrine-stimulated glycogenolysis, phosphorylase activation, and cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner with EC/sub 50/s of 100, 100, and 500 nM, respectively. These actions were blocked by the ..beta..-adrenergic antagonist, propranolol, but not by the ..cap alpha..-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine. Glycogenolysis and tissue cAMP were uninfluenced by 10/sup -6/ M arginine vasotocin, arginine vasopressin, lysine vasotocin, lysine vasopressin, mesotocin, or oxytocin, but were slightly increased by 10/sup -5/ M isotocin and slightly decreased by 10/sup -6/ M angiotensin II. (/sup 125/I)-iodocyanopindolol (ICP), amore » ..beta..-adrenergic ligand, bound to isolated carp liver membranes with a K/sub D/ of 83 pM. Maximum binding of 45 fmol/mg protein was at 600 pM. Propranolol, isoprenaline, epinephrine, phenylephrine, norepinephrine, and phenoxybenzamine displaced ICP with K/sub D/s of 100 nM, 2, 20, 20, 60, and 200 ..mu..M, respectively. The ..cap alpha..-adrenergic antagonists, yohimbine and prazosin, showed no specific binding. These data provide evidence that catecholamines act via ..beta..-adrenergic receptors in carp liver and that ..cap alpha..-adrenergic receptors are not present. Vasoactive peptides play no significant role in regulation of carp liver glycogenolysis.« less

  2. Hydrogen and deuterium in the local interstellar medium

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

    Murthy, J.N.

    1987-01-01

    This work reports on the results of a series of IUE observations of interstellar HI and DI Ly..cap alpha.. absorption against the chromospheric Ly..cap alpha.. emission of the nearby late-type stars ..cap alpha.. Cen B(1.3 pc), epsilon Eri (3.3 pc), Procyon (3.5 pc), Altair (5.1 pc), Capella (13.2 pc), and HR 1099 (33 pc). The density, velocity dispersion, and bulk velocity of the neutral hydrogen along the line of sight to each of these stars was derived. Lower limits were placed on the deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio towards the same stars. These IUE results are generally consistent with previous observations ofmore » the same stars with the Copernicus satellite showing that this modeling procedure is independent of stellar variations over a period of several years. The HI absorption profile towards Altair shows a broad saturated core and steep line wings, consistent with a multicomponent interstellar medium in that direction. The bulk velocities towards the other stars are consistent with a bulk flow from the approximate direction of the galactic center but do show local variations from a uniform flow, possibly indicating a complicated velocity structure even in the solar neighborhood. Interstellar deuterium is detected towards every star except Altair and the derived values for the D/H ratio are consistent with those previously found with Copernicus.« less

  3. Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on lutropin, follitropin, and thyrotropin: distributions of sulfated and sialylated oligosaccharides on bovine, ovine, and human pituitary glycoprotein hormones

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

    Green, E.D.; Baenziger, J.U.

    1988-01-05

    The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on the pituitary glycoprotein hormones lutropin (LH), follitropin (FSH), and thyrotropin (TSH) consist of a heterogeneous array of neutral, sulfated, sialylated, and sulfated/sialylated structures. In this study, the authors determined the relative quantities of the various asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on LH, FSH, and TSH from these three animal species. The proportions of sulfated versus sialylated oligosaccharides varied markedly among the different hormones. Both hormone- and animal species-specific differences in the types and distributions of sulfated, sialylated, and sulfated/sialylated structures were evident. In particular, LH and FSH, which are synthesized in the same pituitary cell and bear ..cap alpha..-subunitsmore » with the identical amino acid sequence, contained significantly different distributions of sulfated and sialylated oligosaccharides. For all three animal species, the ratio of sialylated to sulfated oligosaccharides differed by >10-fold for LH and FSH, with sulfated structures dominating on LH and sialylated structures on FSH. Sialylated oligosaccharides were also heterogeneous with respect to sialic acid linkage (..cap alpha..2,3 versus ..cap alpha..2,6). The differences in oligosaccharide structures among the various pituitary glycoprotein hormones as well as among the various glycosylation sites within a single hormone support the hypothesis that glycosylation may serve important functional roles in the expression and/or regulation of hormone bioactivity.« less

  4. Effects of dietary saw palmetto on the prostate of transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate model (TRAMP).

    PubMed

    Wadsworth, Teri L; Worstell, Teresa R; Greenberg, Norman M; Roselli, Charles E

    2007-05-01

    Several of the proposed mechanisms for the actions of the liposterolic extract of saw palmetto (SPE) are exerted on known risk factors for prostate cancer (CaP). This study investigated whether SPE could prevent the progression of CaP in a transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Two different doses of SPE designed to deliver 50 mg/kg/day SPE and 300 mg/kg/day SPE were administered in a custom diet to TRAMP mice for 12 or 24 weeks. Body and organ weights were used to evaluate toxicity, and radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma and tissue androgen levels to monitor effects of SPE on 5alpha reductase activity. Prostate tissues were evaluated histologically to determine the effect of treatment on tumor grade, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Treatment with 300 mg/kg/day SPE from 4 to 24 weeks of age significantly reduced the concentration of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate and resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis and significant decrease in pathological tumor grade and frank tumor incidence. Dietary supplementation with SPE may be effective in controlling CaP tumorigenesis. SPE suppression of prostatic DHT levels lends support to the hypothesis that inhibition of the enzyme 5alpha-reductase is a mechanism of action of this substance. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  5. The Next Linear Collider Program

    Science.gov Websites

    /graphics.htm Snowmass 2001 http://snowmass2001.org/ Electrical Systems Modulators http://www -project.slac.stanford.edu/lc/local/electrical/e_home.htm DC Magnet Power http://www-project.slac.stanford.edu/lc/local /electrical/e_home.htm Global Systems http://www-project.slac.stanford.edu/lc/local/electrical/e_home.htm

  6. Expanded turn conformations: characterization and sequence-structure correspondence in alpha-turns with implications in helix folding.

    PubMed

    Dasgupta, Bhaskar; Pal, Lipika; Basu, Gautam; Chakrabarti, Pinak

    2004-05-01

    Like the beta-turns, which are characterized by a limiting distance between residues two positions apart (i, i+3), a distance criterion (involving residues at positions i and i+4) is used here to identify alpha-turns from a database of known protein structures. At least 15 classes of alpha-turns have been enumerated based on the location in the phi,psi space of the three central residues (i+1 to i+3)-one of the major being the class AAA, where the residues occupy the conventional helical backbone torsion angles. However, moving towards the C-terminal end of the turn, there is a shift in the phi,psi angles towards more negative phi, such that the electrostatic repulsion between two consecutive carbonyl oxygen atoms is reduced. Except for the last position (i+4), there is not much similarity in residue composition at different positions of hydrogen and non-hydrogen bonded AAA turns. The presence or absence of Pro at i+1 position of alpha- and beta-turns has a bearing on whether the turn is hydrogen-bonded or without a hydrogen bond. In the tertiary structure, alpha-turns are more likely to be found in beta-hairpin loops. The residue composition at the beginning of the hydrogen bonded AAA alpha-turn has similarity with type I beta-turn and N-terminal positions of helices, but the last position matches with the C-terminal capping position of helices, suggesting that the existence of a "helix cap signal" at i+4 position prevents alpha-turns from growing into helices. Our results also provide new insights into alpha-helix nucleation and folding. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  7. A capacitive, biocompatible and adhesive electrode for long-term and cap-free monitoring of EEG signals.

    PubMed

    Lee, Seung Min; Kim, Jeong Hun; Byeon, Hang Jin; Choi, Yoon Young; Park, Kwang Suk; Lee, Sang-Hoon

    2013-06-01

    Long-term electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring broadens EEG applications to various areas, but it requires cap-free recording of EEG signals. Our objective here is to develop a capacitive, small-sized, adhesive and biocompatible electrode for the cap-free and long-term EEG monitoring. We have developed an electrode made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and adhesive PDMS for EEG monitoring. This electrode can be attached to a hairy scalp and be completely hidden by the hair. We tested its electrical and mechanical (adhesive) properties by measuring voltage gain to frequency and adhesive force using 30 repeat cycles of the attachment and detachment test. Electrode performance on EEG was evaluated by alpha rhythm detection and measuring steady state visually evoked potential and N100 auditory evoked potential. We observed the successful recording of alpha rhythm and evoked signals to diverse stimuli with high signal quality. The biocompatibility of the electrode was verified and a survey found that the electrode was comfortable and convenient to wear. These results indicate that the proposed EEG electrode is suitable and convenient for long term EEG monitoring.

  8. Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes: development of a patient-reported outcomes instrument to assess the pattern and severity of clinical disease activity.

    PubMed

    Hoffman, Hal M; Wolfe, Frederick; Belomestnov, Pavel; Mellis, Scott J

    2008-09-01

    Development of an instrument for characterization of symptom patterns and severity in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). Two generations of daily health assessment forms (DHAFs) were evaluated in this study. The first-generation DHAF queried 11 symptoms. Analyses of results obtained with that instrument identified five symptoms included in a revised second-generation DHAF that was tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. This DHAF was also assessed during the initial portion of a phase 3 clinical study of CAPS treatment. Forty-eight CAPS patients provided data for the first-generation DHAFs. Five symptoms (rash, fever, joint pain, eye redness/pain, and fatigue) were included in the revised second-generation DHAF. Symptom severity was highly variable during all study phases with as many as 89% of patients reporting at least one symptom flare, and percentages of days with flares reaching 58% during evaluation of the second-generation instrument. Mean composite key symptom scores (KSSs) computed during evaluation of the second-generation DHAF correlated well with Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity (r=0.91, p<0.0001) and patient reports of limitations of daily activities (r=0.68, p<0.0001). Test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha's were high (0.93 and 0.94, respectively) for the second-generation DHAF. Further evaluation of this DHAF during a baseline period and placebo treatment in a phase 3 clinical study of CAPS patients indicated strong correlations between baseline KSS and Physician's Global Assessment of Disease Activity. Cronbach's alpha's at baseline and test-retest reliability were also high. Potentially important study limitations include small sample size, the lack of a standard tool for CAPS symptom assessment against which to validate the DHAF, and no assessment of the instrument's responsivity to CAPS therapy. The DHAF is a new instrument that may be useful for capturing symptom patterns and severity in CAPS patients and monitoring responses to therapies for these conditions.

  9. Lack of P4H-TM in mice results in age-related retinal and renal alterations.

    PubMed

    Leinonen, Henri; Rossi, Maarit; Salo, Antti M; Tiainen, Päivi; Hyvärinen, Jaana; Pitkänen, Marja; Sormunen, Raija; Miinalainen, Ilkka; Zhang, Chi; Soininen, Raija; Kivirikko, Kari I; Koskelainen, Ari; Tanila, Heikki; Myllyharju, Johanna; Koivunen, Peppi

    2016-09-01

    Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), affecting the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), is the leading cause of blindness in middle-aged and older people in developed countries. Genetic and environmental risk factors have been identified, but no effective cure exists. Using a mouse model we show that a transmembrane prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H-TM), which participates in the oxygen-dependent regulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), is a potential novel candidate gene for AMD. We show that P4h-tm had its highest expression levels in the mouse RPE and brain, heart, lung, skeletal muscle and kidney. P4h-tm -/- mice were fertile and had a normal life span. Lack of P4h-tm stabilized HIF-1α in cortical neurons under normoxia, while in hypoxia it increased the expression of certain HIF target genes in tissues with high endogenous P4h-tm expression levels more than in wild-type mice. Renal erythropoietin levels increased in P4h-tm -/- mice with aging, but the resulting ∼2-fold increase in erythropoietin serum levels did not lead to erythrocytosis. Instead, accumulation of lipid-containing lamellar bodies in renal tubuli was detected in P4h-tm -/- mice with aging, resulting in inflammation and fibrosis, and later glomerular sclerosis and albuminuria. Lack of P4h-tm was associated with retinal thinning, rosette-like infoldings and drusen-like structure accumulation in RPE with aging, as is characteristic of AMD. Photoreceptor recycling was compromised, and electroretinograms revealed functional impairment of the cone pathway in adult P4h-tm -/- mice and cone and rod deficiency in middle-aged mice. P4H-TM is therefore imperative for normal vision, and potentially a novel candidate for age-induced diseases, such as AMD. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  10. Preparation of alpha-cyclodextrin-terminated polyrotaxane consisting of beta-cyclodextrins and pluronic as a building block of a biodegradable network.

    PubMed

    Ooya, Tooru; Ito, Akihiro; Yui, Nobuhiko

    2005-05-23

    A beta-CD-based biodegradable polyrotaxane was prepared by capping both terminals of polypseudorotaxane consisting of hydrazide-terminated PEG-block-PPG-block-PEG (Pluronic P-105) and beta-CD-succinates with mono-aldehyde alpha-CDs. By decreasing pH, the fluorescent intensity of TNS was increased with time, indicating cleavage of the terminal hydrazone bonds followed by beta-CD-succinate release. The terminal alpha-CD moieties of the polyrotaxane are useful for self-assembled formation with some guest molecules. [Diagram: see text

  11. Solubilization of cyclohexane in aqueous solutions of sodium. cap alpha. -alkyl alkanoates

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

    Sagitani, H.; Suzuki, T.; Nagai, M.

    1982-01-01

    The effect of branched alkyl chain length and the position of the COONa group on the solubilizing power of n-alkane sodium carboxylates was studied. The lipophilic property and the amount of solubilized cyclohexane increased with the branched chain length of branched soaps, and with the change of the position of the -COONa group from 3 to 7 in the alkyl chain of pentadecane -3, -5, and -7 sodium carboxylates. Alpha-branched soaps having proper branched alkyl chains were better solubilizers for cyclohexane than straight chain compounds. The amount of cyclohexane solublized by C/sub 10/ H/sub 21/ CH(C/sub 6/H/sub 13/) COONa wasmore » about three times greater than the amount solubilized by C/sub 17/ H/sub 35/ COONa. There was a marked increase in the solubilization of cyclohexane replacing ..cap alpha..-branched fatty acid soaps with optimum amount of cosurfactants such as C/sub 8/H/sub 17/ (OCH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/)/sub 2/OH. Namely, solubilization increased markedly at the optimum hydrophile-lipophile balance of mixed surfactant. 21 references.« less

  12. Inhibition of radioemesis by disruption of catecholamines in dogs

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

    Luthra, Y.K.; Mattsson, J.L.; Yochmowitz, M.G.

    1981-03-01

    Dogs were treated 30 min to 1 h before x irradiation with ..cap alpha..-methyl-p-tyrosine or 6-hydroxydopamine. A third group of dogs was given a known antiradioemetic drug, haloperidol to verify the sensitivity of the procedure. Irradiated but untreated controls were also used. Light methoxyflurane anesthesia was used for restraint during the exposure. Exposure dose was 800 rad kerma delivered at 50 rad/min to a 10 x 10-cm area covering the abdominal area from xiphoid to pubis. Haloperidol and 6-hydroxydopamine significantly reduced the number of emetic episodes and delayed the onset time to the first episode, ..cap alpha..-Methyl-p-tyrosine caused no significantmore » changes. The effectiveness of 6-hydroxydopamine indicates that catecholaminergic neurons are involved in radioemesis, whereas haloperidol and phenothiazine-derivative tranquilizers inhibit radiomesis by blocking catecholamine receptor neurons.« less

  13. ADP-ribosylation of membrane components by pertussis and cholera toxin

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

    Ribeiro-Neto, F.A.P.; Mattera, F.; Hildebrandt, J.D.

    1985-01-01

    Pertussis and cholera toxins are important tools to investigate functional and structural aspects of the stimulatory (N/sub s/) and inhibitory (N/sub i/) regulatory components of adenylyl cyclase. Cholera toxin acts on N/sub s/ by ADP-ribosylating its ..cap alpha../sub s/ subunit; pertussis toxin acts on N/sub i/ by ADP-ribosylating its ..cap alpha..; subunit. By using (/sup 32/P)NAD/sup +/ and determining the transfer of its (/sup 32/P)ADP-ribose moiety to membrane components, it is possible to obtain information on N/sub s/ and N/sub i/. A set of protocols is presented that can be used to study simultaneously and comparatively the susceptibility of N/submore » s/ and N/sub i/ to be ADP-ribosylated by cholera and pertussis toxin.« less

  14. /sup 45/Ca efflux for myometrial cells: comparison of the effects of prostaglandin F/sub 2/. cap alpha. (PGF/sub 2/), oxytocin (OT) and arachidonate (A)

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

    Katona, G.; Molnar, M.; Toth, M.

    1986-03-01

    The aim of this study was to measure PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../-induced Ca/sup 2 +/ release from uterine cells and to compare this to the actions of OT and A. Smooth muscle cells isolated from the uterus (shell gland) of laying hens were cultured for 7 days in M199 plus 10% fetal calf serum. The cells were treated with digitonin (20..mu..M) and preloaded with /sup 45/Ca for 40 min. Addition of PGF/sub 2..cap alpha../ caused a biphasic /sup 45/Ca-efflux. There was a small but significant /sup 45/Ca-release within 30 sec (rapid phase) followed by a larger one within 7 min (slowmore » phase). In comparison, both OT and A stimulated /sup 45/Ca efflux during a single, slow phase. The maximal effect of A was observed at < 7 min, whereas that of OT was slower, peaking after 7 min. Mepacrin, an inhibitor of A release, attenuated the action of OT without having any effect on A promoted /sup 45/Ca-efflux. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of PG synthase, failed to suppress the Ca-releasing effect of A suggesting the A itself or a lipoxygenase product may have been responsible for the observed effects. Moreover, these results provide suggestive evidence that A release is an important step in the action of various uterotonic agents converging on the mobilization of intracellular Ca.« less

  15. 49 CFR 24.103 - Criteria for appraisals.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Appraisal Foundation at the following URL: http://www.appraisalfoundation.org/htm/USPAP2004/toc.htm. 2 The..., regulations and practices. It is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/land-ack/toc.htm or in soft cover...

  16. Congenital Muscle Disease Study of Patient and Family Reported Medical Information

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-05-05

    Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (Including Unspecified/Undiagnosed); Dystroglycanopathy; Congenital Fiber Type Disproportion; Rigid Spine Muscular Dystrophy; Congenital Myopathy (Including Unspecified/Undiagnosed); Collagen VI CMD (Ullrich CMD, Intermediate, Bethlem Myopathy); Laminin Alpha 2 Related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy; LAMA2-CMD/Merosin Deficient/MDC1A; Walker-Warburg Syndrome; Muscle-Eye-Brain Disease; Fukuyama/Fukutin Related Muscular Dystrophy; Integrin Alpha 7 Deficiency; Integrin Alpha 9 Deficiency; LMNA-CMD/Lamin A/C/Laminopathy; SEPN1-Related Myopathy; Bethlem Myopathy; Actin Aggregation Myopathy; Cap Disease; Central Core Disease; Centronuclear Myopathy; Core Rod Myopathy; Hyaline Body Myopathy; Multiminicore Myopathy; Myotubular Myopathy; Nemaline Myopathy; Tubular Aggregate Myopathy; Zebra Body Myopathy; Reducing Body Myopathy; Spheroid Body Myopathy; LGMD1B (LMNA); LGMD1E (DES); LGMD2G (TCAP); LGMD2H (TRIM32); LGMD2I (FKRP); LGMD2J (TTN); LGMD2K (POMT1); LGMD2M (FKTN); LGMD2N (POMT2); LGMD2O (POMGnT1); LGMD2P (DAG1); LGMD2Q (PLEC1); LGMD2R (DES); LGMD2S (TRAPPC11); LGMD2T (GMPPB); LGMD2U (ISPD); LGMD2V (GAA); Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy; Titinopathy; Choline Kinase B Receptor; Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy; RYR1 Related Myopathy; SYNE1/Nesprin Related Muscular Dystrophy; Telethonin Related Muscular Dystrophy (TCAP/Titin-Cap); Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome; Escobar Syndrome; Myofibrillar Myopathy; Malignant Hyperthermia; Alpha-Dystroglycan Related Muscular Dystrophy (DAG1, DPM1, DPM2, DPM3, FKRP, FKTN); Alpha-Dystroglycan Related Muscular Dystrophy (GAA, ISPD, LARGE, POMT1, POMT2, POMGnT1); Alpha-Dystroglycan Related Muscular Dystrophy (Unspecified/Undiagnosed/Other)

  17. The relationship between red meat allergy and sensitization to gelatin and galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose

    PubMed Central

    Mullins, Raymond James; James, Hayley; Platts-Mills, Thomas A.E.; Commins, Scott

    2012-01-01

    Background We have observed patients clinically allergic to red meat and meat-derived gelatin. Objective We describe a prospective evaluation of the clinical significance of gelatin sensitization, the predictive value of a positive test and an examination of the relationship between allergic reactions to red meat and sensitization to gelatin and alpha-Gal. Methods Adult patients evaluated 1997-2011 for suspected allergy/anaphylaxis to medication, insect venom or food were skin tested with gelatin colloid. In vitro (ImmunoCap) testing was undertaken where possible. Results Positive gelatin tests were observed in 40/1335 individuals; 30/40 patients with red meat allergy (12 also clinically allergic to gelatin); 2/2 with gelatin colloid anaphylaxis; 4/172 with idiopathic anaphylaxis (all responded to intravenous gelatin challenge of 0.02 to 0.4g); 4/368 with drug allergy. Testing was negative in all patients with venom allergy (n=241), non-meat food allergy (n=222), and miscellaneous disorders (n=290). ImmunoCap was positive to alpha-Gal in 20/24 meat allergics and in 20/22 with positive gelatin skin tests. The results of gelatin skin testing and anti-alpha-Gal IgE were strongly correlated (r=0.46; P<0.01). Alpha-Gal was detected in bovine gelatin colloids at concentrations of ~ 0.44 to 0.52ug/gm gelatin by inhibition radioimmunoassay. Conclusion Most patients allergic to red meat were sensitized to gelatin and a subset was clinically allergic to both. The detection of alpha-Gal in gelatin and correlation between the results of alpha-Gal and gelatin testing raises the possibility that alpha-Gal IgE may be the target of reactivity to gelatin. The pathogenic relationship between tick bites and sensitization to red meat, alpha-Gal and gelatin (with or without clinical reactivity) remains uncertain. PMID:22480538

  18. A comprehensive device modelling of perovskite solar cell with inorganic copper iodide as hole transport material

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zulqarnain Haider, Syed; Anwar, Hafeez; Wang, Mingqing

    2018-03-01

    Hole transport material (HTM) plays an important role in the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Spiro-MeOTAD, the commonly used HTM, is costly and can be easily degraded by heat and moisture, thus offering hindrance to commercialize PSCs. There is dire need to find an alternate inorganic and stable HTM to exploit PSCs with their maximum capability. In this paper, a comprehensive device simulation is used to study various possible parameters that can influence the performance of perovskite solar cell with CuI as HTM. These include the effect of doping density, defect density and thickness of absorber layer, along with the influence of diffusion length of carriers as well as electron affinity of electron transport layer (ETM) and HTM on the performance of PSCs. In addition, hole mobility and doping density of HTM is also investigated. CuI is a p-type inorganic material with low cost and relatively high stability. It is found that concentration of dopant in absorber layer and HTM, the electron affinity of HTM and ETM affect the performance of solar cell minutely, while cell performance improves greatly with the reduction of defect density. Upon optimization of parameters, power conversion efficiency for this device is found to be 21.32%. The result shows that lead-based PSC with CuI as HTM is an efficient system. Enhancing the stability and reduction of defect density are critical factors for future research. These factors can be improved by better fabrication process and proper encapsulation of solar cell.

  19. The Severity of Retinal Degeneration in Rp1h Gene-Targeted Mice Is Dependent on Genetic Background

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Qin; Saveliev, Alexei; Pierce, Eric A.

    2009-01-01

    Purpose The severity of disease in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) can vary significantly, even among patients with the same primary mutations. It is hypothesized that modifier genes play important roles in determining the severity of RP, including the retinitis pigmentosa 1 (RP1) form of disease. To investigate the basis of variation in disease expression for RP1 disease, the authors generated congenic mice with a gene-targeted retinitis pigmentosa 1 homolog (Rp1h) allele (Rp1htm1Eap) on several different genetic backgrounds and analyzed their retinal phenotypes. Methods The Rp1htm1Eap allele was placed onto the C57BL/6J, DBA1/J, and A/J backgrounds. Retinal function of the resultant congenic mice was evaluated using electroretino-graphic analyses. Retinal structure and ultrastructure were evaluated using light and electron microscopy. Rp1h protein location was determined with immunofluorescence microscopy. Results Analysis of the retinal phenotype of incipient congenic (N6) B6.129S-Rp1h+/tm1Eap, DBA.129S(B6)-Rp1h+/tm1Eap, and A.129S(B6)-Rp1h+/tm1Eap mice at 1 year of age showed retinal degeneration only in the A.129S(B6)-Rp1h+/tm1Eap mice. Further analyses revealed that the photoreceptors of the fully congenic A.129S(B6)-Rp1h+/tm1Eap mice show evidence of degeneration at 6 months of age and are almost completely lost by 18 months of age. In contrast, the photoreceptor cells in the fully congenic B6.129S-Rp1h+/tm1Eap mice remain healthy up to 18 months. Conclusions The severity of the retinal degeneration caused by the Rp1htm1Eap allele is notably dependent on genetic background. The development and characterization of the B6.129S-Rp1h+/tm1Eap and A.129S(B6)-Rp1h+/tm1Eap congenic mouse lines will facilitate identification of sequence alterations in genes that modify the severity of RP1 disease. PMID:19060274

  20. The severity of retinal degeneration in Rp1h gene-targeted mice is dependent on genetic background.

    PubMed

    Liu, Qin; Saveliev, Alexei; Pierce, Eric A

    2009-04-01

    The severity of disease in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) can vary significantly, even among patients with the same primary mutations. It is hypothesized that modifier genes play important roles in determining the severity of RP, including the retinitis pigmentosa 1 (RP1) form of disease. To investigate the basis of variation in disease expression for RP1 disease, the authors generated congenic mice with a gene-targeted retinitis pigmentosa 1 homolog (Rp1h) allele (Rp1h(tm1Eap)) on several different genetic backgrounds and analyzed their retinal phenotypes. The Rp1h(tm1Eap) allele was placed onto the C57BL/6J, DBA1/J, and A/J backgrounds. Retinal function of the resultant congenic mice was evaluated using electroretinographic analyses. Retinal structure and ultrastructure were evaluated using light and electron microscopy. Rp1h protein location was determined with immunofluorescence microscopy. Analysis of the retinal phenotype of incipient congenic (N6) B6.129S-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap), DBA.129S(B6)-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap), and A.129S(B6)-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap) mice at 1 year of age showed retinal degeneration only in the A.129S(B6)-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap) mice. Further analyses revealed that the photoreceptors of the fully congenic A.129S(B6)-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap) mice show evidence of degeneration at 6 months of age and are almost completely lost by 18 months of age. In contrast, the photoreceptor cells in the fully congenic B6.129S-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap) mice remain healthy up to 18 months. The severity of the retinal degeneration caused by the Rp1h(tm1Eap) allele is notably dependent on genetic background. The development and characterization of the B6.129S-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap) and A.129S(B6)-Rp1h(+/tm1Eap) congenic mouse lines will facilitate identification of sequence alterations in genes that modify the severity of RP1 disease.

  1. Brome mosaic virus, good for an RNA virologist's basic needs.

    PubMed

    Kao, C C; Sivakumaran, K

    2000-03-01

    Abstract Taxonomic relationship: Type member of the Bromovirus genus, family Bromoviridae. A member of the alphavirus-like supergroup of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. Physical properties: Virions are nonenveloped icosahedrals made up of 180 coat protein subunits (Fig. 1). The particles are 26 nm in diameter and contain 22% nucleic acid and 78% protein. The BMV genome is composed of three positive-sense, capped RNAs: RNA1 (3.2 kb), RNA2 (2.9 kb), RNA3 (2.1 kb) (Fig. 2). Viral proteins: RNA1 encodes protein 1a, containing capping and putative RNA helicase activities. RNA2 encodes protein 2a, a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. RNA3 codes for two proteins: 3a, which is required for cell-to-cell movement, and the capsid protein. The capsid is translated from a subgenomic RNA, RNA4 (1.2 kb). Hosts: Monocots in the Poacea family, including Bromus inermis, Zea mays and Hordeum vulgare, in which BMV causes brown streaks. BMV can also infect the dicots Nicotiana benthamiana and several Chenopodium species. In N. benthamiana, the infection is asymptomatic while infection of Chenopodium can cause either necrotic or chlorotic lesions. Useful website:http://www4.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/10030001.htm.

  2. The Boeing Delta II rocket with Mars Polar Lander aboard lifts off at Pad 17B, CCAS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1999-01-01

    Amid clouds of exhaust, a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle with NASA's Mars Polar Lander clears Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station, after launch at 3:21:10 p.m. EST. The lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern-most boundary of the south polar cap, which consists of carbon dioxide ice. The lander will study the polar water cycle, frosts, water vapor, condensates and dust in the Martian atmosphere. It is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the layered terrain at the polar cap. In addition, Deep Space 2 microprobes, developed by NASA's New Millennium Program, are installed on the lander's cruise stage. After crashing into the planet's surface, they will conduct two days of soil and water experiments up to 1 meter (3 feet) below the Martian surface, testing new technologies for future planetary descent probes. The lander is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars Surveyor '98 missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on Dec. 11, 1998.

  3. The Boeing Delta II rocket with Mars Polar Lander aboard lifts off at Pad 17B, CCAS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1999-01-01

    Silhouetted against the gray sky, a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle with NASA's Mars Polar Lander lifts off from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station, at 3:21:10 p.m. EST. The lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern-most boundary of the south polar cap, which consists of carbon dioxide ice. The lander will study the polar water cycle, frosts, water vapor, condensates and dust in the Martian atmosphere. It is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the layered terrain at the polar cap. In addition, Deep Space 2 microprobes, developed by NASA's New Millennium Program, are installed on the lander's cruise stage. After crashing into the planet's surface, they will conduct two days of soil and water experiments up to 1 meter (3 feet) below the Martian surface, testing new technologies for future planetary descent probes. The lander is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars Surveyor '98 missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on Dec. 11, 1998.

  4. The Boeing Delta II rocket with Mars Polar Lander aboard lifts off at Pad 17B, CCAS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1999-01-01

    Amid clouds of exhaust and into a gray-clouded sky , a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander at 3:21:10 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station. The lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern- most boundary of the south polar cap, which consists of carbon dioxide ice. The lander will study the polar water cycle, frosts, water vapor, condensates and dust in the Martian atmosphere. It is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the layered terrain at the polar cap. In addition, Deep Space 2 microprobes, developed by NASA's New Millennium Program, are installed on the lander's cruise stage. After crashing into the planet's surface, they will conduct two days of soil and water experiments up to 1 meter (3 feet) below the Martian surface, testing new technologies for future planetary descent probes. The lander is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars Surveyor '98 missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on Dec. 11, 1998.

  5. The Boeing Delta II rocket with Mars Polar Lander aboard lifts off at Pad 17B, CCAS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1999-01-01

    A Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander into a cloud-covered sky at 3:21:10 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station. The lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern-most boundary of the south polar cap, which consists of carbon dioxide ice. The lander will study the polar water cycle, frosts, water vapor, condensates and dust in the Martian atmosphere. It is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the layered terrain at the polar cap. In addition, Deep Space 2 microprobes, developed by NASA's New Millennium Program, are installed on the lander's cruise stage. After crashing into the planet's surface, they will conduct two days of soil and water experiments up to 1 meter (3 feet) below the Martian surface, testing new technologies for future planetary descent probes. The lander is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars Surveyor '98missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on Dec. 11, 1998.

  6. Crystal structure of Bacillus anthracis transpeptidase enzyme CapD.

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

    Wu, R.; Richter, S.; Zhang, R.

    2009-09-04

    Bacillus anthracis elaborates a poly-{gamma}-d-glutamic acid capsule that protects bacilli from phagocytic killing during infection. The enzyme CapD generates amide bonds with peptidoglycan cross-bridges to anchor capsular material within the cell wall envelope of B. anthracis. The capsular biosynthetic pathway is essential for virulence during anthrax infections and can be targeted for anti-infective inhibition with small molecules. Here, we present the crystal structures of the {gamma}-glutamyltranspeptidase CapD with and without {alpha}-l-Glu-l-Glu dipeptide, a non-hydrolyzable analog of poly-{gamma}-d-glutamic acid, in the active site. Purified CapD displays transpeptidation activity in vitro, and its structure reveals an active site broadly accessible for poly-{gamma}-glutamatemore » binding and processing. Using structural and biochemical information, we derive a mechanistic model for CapD catalysis whereby Pro{sup 427}, Gly{sup 428}, and Gly{sup 429} activate the catalytic residue of the enzyme, Thr{sup 352}, and stabilize an oxyanion hole via main chain amide hydrogen bonds.« less

  7. Effects of growth retardants and fumigations with ozone and sulfur dioxide on growth and flowering of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd

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

    Cathey, H.M.; Heggestad, H.E.

    1973-01-01

    Eight cultivars of poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., were evaluated for sensitivity to ..cap alpha..-cyclopropyl-..cap alpha.. (4-methoxyphenyl)-5-pyrimidine methanol (ancymidol) and protection from ozone and sulfur dioxide injury afforded by applications of ancymidol and (2-chloroethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (chlormequat). Foliar sprays of ancymidol were at least 80 to 500 times and the soil drench 1000 times more active than chlormequat in retarding stem elongation. The diam of the bracts was reduced, but branching increased more on plants treated with ancymidol than on untreated plants. The cv. Annette Hegg (AH) was more sensitive to ozone fumigations than was Eckespoint C-1' (C-1). Sulfur dioxidemore » also caused more injury to AH than to C-1. Ancymidol and chlormequat reduced visible injury induced by ozone and sulfur dioxide.« less

  8. Copernicus observational searches for OH and H/sub 2/O in diffuse clouds

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

    Smith, W.H.; Snow, T.P. Jr.

    1979-03-01

    An intensive search for OH and H/sub 2/O in the directions of sigma Sco, ..cap alpha.. Cam, and omicron Per was undertaken with the Copernicus satellite. Multiple scans were carried out over the wavelength region for the expected absorption features due to the OH D--X and H/sub 2/O C--X transitions. The feature due to OH was possibly detected toward sigma Sco, and only an upper limit can be given toward ..cap alpha.. Cam. H/sub 2/O was not detected in any of the stars at the signal level accumulated. The OH abundance toward sigma Sco and the respective lower limits formore » the OH/H/sub 2/O ratios are discussed with regard to the extant models for the steady-state abundances of OH and H/sub 2/O, and shown not to be inconsistent with ion-molecule schemes.« less

  9. Enhancement of the blood compatibility of dialyzer membranes by the physical adsorption of human thrombomodulin (ART-123).

    PubMed

    Omichi, Masaaki; Matsusaki, Michiya; Kato, Shinya; Maruyama, Ikuro; Akashi, Mitsuru

    2010-11-01

    ART-123 is a recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (hTM) with excellent anticoagulant activity. We focused on improving the blood compatibility of the polysulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone dialyzer surface by the physical adsorption of ART-123 onto the surface. The blood compatibility of the dialyzer with the hTM adsorbed membrane was evaluated by measuring the differential pressure between the arterial and the venous pressures and by blood parameters during blood circulation. The hTM adsorbed dialyzer membrane inhibited blood clot formation without heparin administration due to the anticoagulant activity of hTM for over 4 h. The physically adsorbed hTM was stable during blood circulation, and it did not affect activated clotting time, which is significant drawback of heparin administration, and blood cell counts of RBC, WBC, or platelets. The physical adsorption of hTM onto the dialyzer membrane will be a simple and safe method to prevent blood coagulation during dialysis instead of heparin administration. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  10. Tumor initiating activities of various derivatives of benz(a)anthracene and 7, 12-dimethyl-benz(a)anthracene in mouse skin

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

    Slaga, T.J.; Gleason, G.L.; DiGiovanni, J.

    Current information indicates that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) exert their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic activities after they have been metabolically activated by target cells to reactive epoxides. The results obtained from IN VIVO and IN VITRO binding, mutagenicity, metabolism, and carcinogenicity studies have led to the conclusion that BP-7, 8-diol is a proximate carcinogenic metabolite of BP, and the BP-diol-epoxide is an ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of BP. Recent results concerning the strong carcinogenicity of BP-7..beta.., 8..cap alpha..-diol-9..cap alpha..,10..cap alpha..-epoxide in newborn mice and in mouse skin strongly indicate that it is the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of BP. Since diol-epoxides maymore » be responsible for the carcinogenicity of PAH other than BP, diols and diol-epoxides as well as other derivatives of PAH were tested for skin tumor-initiation in a two-stage system of tumorigenesis. In addition, since activation of methylated PAH may involve the side-chain methyl group, the skin tumor-initiating activity of various side-chain derivatives of methylated PA were determined. In this report, the skin tumor initiation of various derivatives of a nonmethylated PAH, BA as well as a methylated PAH, DMBA are compared. The data suggest that bay region diol-epoxides may be important in BA and DMBA carcinogenicity in mice which is supportive of the theory proposed by Jerina and co-workers which predicts that diol-epoxides in the bay region are the major determinants of PAH carcinogenicity.« less

  11. Assignments of /sup 1/H nuclear magnetic resonances of the cystyl, asparaginyl, and aromatic residues of arginine vasopressin in D/sub 2/O. A comparison with lysine vasopressin and oxytocin in terms of solution conformation

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

    Wyssbrod, H.R.; Fischman, A.J.; Live, D.H.

    1979-07-18

    The resonances of the C/sup ..cap alpha../ and C/sup ..beta../ protons of the cystyl, asparaginyl, and aromatic residues of (8-arginine)vasopressin (AVP) in D/sub 2/O at pD 3.8 and 20/sup 0/C were assigned in a rigorous manner by the use of isotopic isomers of AVP that contain specific replacements of protons by deuterons and by comparison of /sup 1/H NMR characteristics of AVP to those of (8-lysine)vasopressin (LVP) and oxytocin (OT). Although there is extensive overlap of resonances of C/sup ..beta../ protons even at 360 MHz, all of the chemical shifts of these protons and most of the couplings between themmore » and their vicinal C/sup ..cap alpha../ protons could be determined, at least to a first approximation. It was concluded that the cyclic moieties (residues 1-6) of AVP, LVP, and OT possess essentially the same overall backbone conformation, and that the side-chain conformation - or rotamer populations - about the C/sup ..cap alpha../-C/sup ..beta../ bonds of the cystyl residue (positions 1 and 6), the tyrosyl residue (position 2), and the asparaginyl residue (position 5) are similar. This study indicates that selective replacements of C/sup ..beta../ protons by deuterons are necessary to improve the accuracy of coupling constants extracted from 360-MHz spectra of a AVP for use in conformational analysis.« less

  12. 78 FR 45939 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-07-30

    ... Whiteland (12-03- Virginia Township team.com/lomrs.htm. 2075P). McMichael, Building, 209 Chairman, East... Tredyffrin (12-03- Michelle H. Municipal team.com/lomrs.htm. 2075P). Kichline, Building, 1100 Chairman... Scott K. York, Building and team.com/lomrs.htm. County (12-03- Chairman-at- Development 1164P). Large...

  13. 7 CFR 1755.900 - Abbreviations and Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/listing_procedures/index_listing_procedures.htm, as well as additional....usda.gov/rus/telecom/publications/bulletins.htm. (2) Agency means the Rural Utilities Service, an... available on the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/materials/lstomat.htm. (16) Loose tube buffer...

  14. 7 CFR 1755.900 - Abbreviations and Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/listing_procedures/index_listing_procedures.htm, as well as additional....usda.gov/rus/telecom/publications/bulletins.htm. (2) Agency means the Rural Utilities Service, an... available on the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/materials/lstomat.htm. (16) Loose tube buffer...

  15. 7 CFR 1755.900 - Abbreviations and Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/listing_procedures/index_listing_procedures.htm, as well as additional....usda.gov/rus/telecom/publications/bulletins.htm. (2) Agency means the Rural Utilities Service, an... available on the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/materials/lstomat.htm. (16) Loose tube buffer...

  16. Long-term treatment with calcium-alpha-ketoglutarate corrects secondary hyperparathyroidism.

    PubMed

    Zimmermann, E; Wassmer, S; Steudle, V

    1996-01-01

    Calcium-alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-ket) is known as a highly effective phosphate (P) binder in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In addition, alpha-ketoglutarate has been shown to improve metabolic alterations. We investigated the effect of long-term P-binding therapy with Ca-ket to determine whether P accumulation is the main reason of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in HD patients or not. Ca-ket was prescribed to 14 HD patients as a soluble preparation in a mean dosage of 4.5 g/day (0.975 g elemental Ca) for a period of 36 months. Serum P continuously dropped from prestudy 2.6 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- SEM) to 1.9 +/- 0.07 mmol/l (p < 0.001), whereas serum Ca increased from 2.2 +/- 0.1 to 2.47 +/- 0.08 mmol/l (p < 0.05). Thus, Ca/P ratio in serum converted significantly from 0.91 +/- 0.02 (prestudy) to 1.28 +/- 0.01 (p < 0.001). Intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) continuously normalized in all patients from 29 +/- 5 to 8 +/- 2 pmol/l (p < 0.001). The present data show that long-term treatment with Ca-ket normalizes secondary HPT by simultaneously P binding and correcting Ca/P ratio in serum without vitamin D treatment.

  17. Correlation of microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties of a novel hydrogen transport membrane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yongjun

    A key part of the FutureGen concept is to support the production of hydrogen to fuel a "hydrogen economy," with the use of clean burning hydrogen in power-producing fuel cells, as well as for use as a transportation fuel. One of the key technical barriers to FutureGen deployment is reliable and efficient hydrogen separation technology. Most Hydrogen Transport Membrane (HTM) research currently focuses on separation technology and hydrogen flux characterization. No significant work has been performed on thermo-mechanical properties of HTMs. The objective of the thesis is to understand the structure-property correlation of HTM and to characterize (1) thermo mechanical properties under different reducing environments and thermal cycles (thermal shock), and (2) evaluate the stability of the novel HTM material. A novel HTM cermet bulk sample was characterized for its physical and mechanical properties at both room temperature and at elevated temperature up to 1000°C. Micro-structural properties and residual stresses were evaluated in order to understand the changing mechanism of the microstructure and its effects on the mechanical properties of materials. A correlation of the microstructural and thermo mechanical properties of the HTM system was established for both HTM and the substrate material. Mechanical properties of both selected structural ceramics and the novel HTM cermet bulk sample are affected mainly by porosity and microstructural features, such as grain size and pore size-distribution. The Young's Modulus (E-value) is positively correlated to the flexural strength for materials with similar crystallographic structure. However, for different crystallographic materials, physical properties are independent of mechanical properties. Microstructural properties, particularly, grain size and crystallographic structure, and thermodynamic properties are the main factors affecting the mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures. The HTM cermet behaves more like an elastic material at room temperature and as a ductile material at temperature above 850°C. The oxidation and the plasticity of Pd phase mainly affected the mechanical properties of HTM cermet at high temperature, also as a result of thermal cycling. Residual stress induced in the HTM by thermo cycles also plays a very critical role in defining the thermo-mechanical properties.

  18. The HTM Spatial Pooler-A Neocortical Algorithm for Online Sparse Distributed Coding.

    PubMed

    Cui, Yuwei; Ahmad, Subutai; Hawkins, Jeff

    2017-01-01

    Hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) provides a theoretical framework that models several key computational principles of the neocortex. In this paper, we analyze an important component of HTM, the HTM spatial pooler (SP). The SP models how neurons learn feedforward connections and form efficient representations of the input. It converts arbitrary binary input patterns into sparse distributed representations (SDRs) using a combination of competitive Hebbian learning rules and homeostatic excitability control. We describe a number of key properties of the SP, including fast adaptation to changing input statistics, improved noise robustness through learning, efficient use of cells, and robustness to cell death. In order to quantify these properties we develop a set of metrics that can be directly computed from the SP outputs. We show how the properties are met using these metrics and targeted artificial simulations. We then demonstrate the value of the SP in a complete end-to-end real-world HTM system. We discuss the relationship with neuroscience and previous studies of sparse coding. The HTM spatial pooler represents a neurally inspired algorithm for learning sparse representations from noisy data streams in an online fashion.

  19. What impact do anxiety, depression, perceived control and technology capability have on whether patients with chronic heart failure take-up or continue to use home tele-monitoring services? Study design of ADaPT-HF.

    PubMed

    Crundall-Goode, Amanda; Goode, Kevin M; Clark, Andrew L

    2017-04-01

    Home tele-monitoring (HTM) is used to monitor the clinical signs and symptoms of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in order to reduce unplanned hospital admissions. However, not all patients who are referred will agree to use HTM, and some patients choose to withdraw early from its use. ADaPT-HF will investigate whether depression, anxiety, low perceived control, reduced technology capability, level of education, age or the severity or complexity of a patient's illness can predict refusal of, or early withdrawal from, HTM in patients with CHF. The study will recruit 288 patients who have been recently admitted to hospital with heart failure who have been referred for HTM. At the time of referral, patients will complete depression (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire), anxiety (seven-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire), perceived control (eight-item revised Controlled Attitudes Scale) and technology capability (ten-item Technology Readiness Index 2.0) screening questionnaires. In addition, data on demographics, diagnosis, clinical examination, socio-economic status, history of comorbidities, medication, biochemistry and haematology will be recorded. The primary outcome will be a composite of refusal of or early withdrawal from HTM. The principle analysis will be made using logistic regression. By establishing which factors influence a patient's decision to refuse or withdraw early from HTM, it may be possible to redesign HTM referral processes. It may be that patients with CHF who also have depression, anxiety, low control and poor technology skills should not be referred until they receive appropriate support or that they should be managed differently when they do receive HTM. The results of ADAPT-HF may provide a way of making more efficient and cost-effective use of HTM services.

  20. Alpha-catenin-dependent recruitment of the centrosomal protein CAP350 to adherens junctions allows epithelial cells to acquire a columnar shape.

    PubMed

    Gavilan, Maria P; Arjona, Marina; Zurbano, Angel; Formstecher, Etienne; Martinez-Morales, Juan R; Bornens, Michel; Rios, Rosa M

    2015-03-01

    Epithelial morphogenesis involves a dramatic reorganisation of the microtubule cytoskeleton. How this complex process is controlled at the molecular level is still largely unknown. Here, we report that the centrosomal microtubule (MT)-binding protein CAP350 localises at adherens junctions in epithelial cells. By two-hybrid screening, we identified a direct interaction of CAP350 with the adhesion protein α-catenin that was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Block of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin)-mediated cell-cell adhesion or α-catenin depletion prevented CAP350 localisation at cell-cell junctions. Knocking down junction-located CAP350 inhibited the establishment of an apico-basal array of microtubules and impaired the acquisition of columnar shape in Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCKII) cells grown as polarised epithelia. Furthermore, MDCKII cystogenesis was also defective in junctional CAP350-depleted cells. CAP350-depleted MDCKII cysts were smaller and contained either multiple lumens or no lumen. Membrane polarity was not affected, but cortical microtubule bundles did not properly form. Our results indicate that CAP350 may act as an adaptor between adherens junctions and microtubules, thus regulating epithelial differentiation and contributing to the definition of cell architecture. We also uncover a central role of α-catenin in global cytoskeleton remodelling, in which it acts not only on actin but also on MT reorganisation during epithelial morphogenesis.

  1. Alpha-catenin-Dependent Recruitment of the Centrosomal Protein CAP350 to Adherens Junctions Allows Epithelial Cells to Acquire a Columnar Shape

    PubMed Central

    Zurbano, Angel; Formstecher, Etienne; Martinez-Morales, Juan R.; Bornens, Michel; Rios, Rosa M.

    2015-01-01

    Epithelial morphogenesis involves a dramatic reorganisation of the microtubule cytoskeleton. How this complex process is controlled at the molecular level is still largely unknown. Here, we report that the centrosomal microtubule (MT)-binding protein CAP350 localises at adherens junctions in epithelial cells. By two-hybrid screening, we identified a direct interaction of CAP350 with the adhesion protein α-catenin that was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Block of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin)-mediated cell-cell adhesion or α-catenin depletion prevented CAP350 localisation at cell-cell junctions. Knocking down junction-located CAP350 inhibited the establishment of an apico-basal array of microtubules and impaired the acquisition of columnar shape in Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCKII) cells grown as polarised epithelia. Furthermore, MDCKII cystogenesis was also defective in junctional CAP350-depleted cells. CAP350-depleted MDCKII cysts were smaller and contained either multiple lumens or no lumen. Membrane polarity was not affected, but cortical microtubule bundles did not properly form. Our results indicate that CAP350 may act as an adaptor between adherens junctions and microtubules, thus regulating epithelial differentiation and contributing to the definition of cell architecture. We also uncover a central role of α-catenin in global cytoskeleton remodelling, in which it acts not only on actin but also on MT reorganisation during epithelial morphogenesis. PMID:25764135

  2. CTTITEM: SAS macro and SPSS syntax for classical item analysis.

    PubMed

    Lei, Pui-Wa; Wu, Qiong

    2007-08-01

    This article describes the functions of a SAS macro and an SPSS syntax that produce common statistics for conventional item analysis including Cronbach's alpha, item difficulty index (p-value or item mean), and item discrimination indices (D-index, point biserial and biserial correlations for dichotomous items and item-total correlation for polytomous items). These programs represent an improvement over the existing SAS and SPSS item analysis routines in terms of completeness and user-friendliness. To promote routine evaluations of item qualities in instrument development of any scale, the programs are available at no charge for interested users. The program codes along with a brief user's manual that contains instructions and examples are downloadable from suen.ed.psu.edu/-pwlei/plei.htm.

  3. Magnesium Induced Nucleophile Activation in the Guanylyltransferase mRNA Capping Enzyme

    PubMed Central

    Swift, Robert V.; Ong, Chau D.; Amaro, Rommie E.

    2012-01-01

    The messenger RNA guanylyltransferase, or mRNA capping enzyme, co-transcriptionally caps the 5′-end of nascent mRNA with GMP during the second in a set of three enzymatic reactions that result in the formation of an N7-methyl guanosine cap during mRNA maturation. The mRNA capping enzyme is characterized, in part, by a conserved lysine nucleophile that attacks the alpha-phosphorous atom of GTP, forming a lysine-GMP intermediate. Experiments have firmly established that magnesium is required for efficient intermediate formation, but have provided little insight into the requirement’s molecular origins. Using empirical and thermodynamic integration pKa estimates, along with conventional MD simulations, we show that magnesium binding likely activates the lysine nucleophile by increasing its acidity and by biasing the deprotonated nucleophile into conformations conducive to intermediate formation. These results provide additional functional understanding of an important enzyme in the mRNA transcript life cycle and allow functional analogies to be drawn that affect our understanding of the metal dependence of related superfamily members. PMID:23205906

  4. The Role of Healthcare Technology Management in Facilitating Medical Device Cybersecurity.

    PubMed

    Busdicker, Mike; Upendra, Priyanka

    2017-09-02

    This article discusses the role of healthcare technology management (HTM) in medical device cybersecurity and outlines concepts that are applicable to HTM professionals at a healthcare delivery organization or at an integrated delivery network, regardless of size. It provides direction for HTM professionals who are unfamiliar with the security aspects of managing healthcare technologies but are familiar with standards from The Joint Commission (TJC). It provides a useful set of recommendations, including relevant references for incorporating good security practices into HTM practice. Recommendations for policies, procedures, and processes referencing TJC standards are easily applicable to HTM departments with limited resources and to those with no resource concerns. The authors outline processes from their organization as well as best practices learned through information sharing at AAMI, National Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (NH-ISAC), and Medical Device Innovation, Safety, and Security Consortium (MDISS) conferences and workshops.

  5. Clinical audit project in undergraduate medical education curriculum: an assessment validation study

    PubMed Central

    Steketee, Carole; Mak, Donna

    2016-01-01

    Objectives To evaluate the merit of the Clinical Audit Project (CAP) in an assessment program for undergraduate medical education using a systematic assessment validation framework. Methods A cross-sectional assessment validation study at one medical school in Western Australia, with retrospective qualitative analysis of the design, development, implementation and outcomes of the CAP, and quantitative analysis of assessment data from four cohorts of medical students (2011- 2014). Results The CAP is fit for purpose with clear external and internal alignment to expected medical graduate outcomes.  Substantive validity in students’ and examiners’ response processes is ensured through relevant methodological and cognitive processes. Multiple validity features are built-in to the design, planning and implementation process of the CAP.  There is evidence of high internal consistency reliability of CAP scores (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.8) and inter-examiner consistency reliability (intra-class correlation>0.7). Aggregation of CAP scores is psychometrically sound, with high internal consistency indicating one common underlying construct.  Significant but moderate correlations between CAP scores and scores from other assessment modalities indicate validity of extrapolation and alignment between the CAP and the overall target outcomes of medical graduates.  Standard setting, score equating and fair decision rules justify consequential validity of CAP scores interpretation and use. Conclusions This study provides evidence demonstrating that the CAP is a meaningful and valid component in the assessment program. This systematic framework of validation can be adopted for all levels of assessment in medical education, from individual assessment modality, to the validation of an assessment program as a whole.  PMID:27716612

  6. Clinical audit project in undergraduate medical education curriculum: an assessment validation study.

    PubMed

    Tor, Elina; Steketee, Carole; Mak, Donna

    2016-09-24

    To evaluate the merit of the Clinical Audit Project (CAP) in an assessment program for undergraduate medical education using a systematic assessment validation framework. A cross-sectional assessment validation study at one medical school in Western Australia, with retrospective qualitative analysis of the design, development, implementation and outcomes of the CAP, and quantitative analysis of assessment data from four cohorts of medical students (2011- 2014). The CAP is fit for purpose with clear external and internal alignment to expected medical graduate outcomes.  Substantive validity in students' and examiners' response processes is ensured through relevant methodological and cognitive processes. Multiple validity features are built-in to the design, planning and implementation process of the CAP.  There is evidence of high internal consistency reliability of CAP scores (Cronbach's alpha > 0.8) and inter-examiner consistency reliability (intra-class correlation>0.7). Aggregation of CAP scores is psychometrically sound, with high internal consistency indicating one common underlying construct.  Significant but moderate correlations between CAP scores and scores from other assessment modalities indicate validity of extrapolation and alignment between the CAP and the overall target outcomes of medical graduates.  Standard setting, score equating and fair decision rules justify consequential validity of CAP scores interpretation and use. This study provides evidence demonstrating that the CAP is a meaningful and valid component in the assessment program. This systematic framework of validation can be adopted for all levels of assessment in medical education, from individual assessment modality, to the validation of an assessment program as a whole.

  7. Guanosine 5'-triphosphate binding protein (G/sub i/) and two additional pertussis toxin substrates associated with muscarinic receptors in rat heart myocytes: characterization and age dependency

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

    Moscona-Amir, E.; Henis, Y.I.; Sokolovsky, M.

    1988-07-12

    The coupling of muscarinic receptors with G-proteins was investigated in cultured myocytes prepared from the hearts of newborn rats. The coupling was investigated in both young (5 days after plating) and aged (14 days after plating) cultures, in view of the completely different effects of 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) on muscarinic agonist binding to homogenates from young vs aged cultures. Pretreatment of cultures from both ages by Bordetella pertussis toxin (IAP) was found to eliminate any Gpp(NH)p effect on carbamylcholine binding. IAP by itself induced a rightward shift in the carbamylcholine competition curve in homogenates from aged cultures, but no suchmore » effect was observed in homogenates from young cultures. IAP-catalyzed (/sup 32/P)ADP-ribosylation of membrane preparations from young and aged cultures revealed major differences between them. Young cultures exhibited a major IAP substrate at 40 kDa, which was also recognized by anti-..cap alpha../sub i/ antibodies, and two novel IAP substrates at 28 and 42 kDa, which were weakly ADP-ribosylated by the toxin and were not recognized with either anti-..cap alpha../sub i/ or anti-..cap alpha../sub 0/ antibodies. In aged cultures, only the 40-kDa band (ribosylated to a lower degree) was detected. The parallel age-dependent changes in the three IAP substrates (28, 40, and 42 kDa) and in the interactions of the G-protein(s) with the muscarinic receptors strongly suggest close association between the two phenomena. All of these age-dependent changes in the G-protein related parameters were prevented by phosphatidylcholine-liposome treatment of the aged cultures. The role of the membrane lipid composition in these phenomena is discussed.« less

  8. Host-pathogen interactions. XXIX. Oligogalacturonides released from sodium polypectate by endopolygalacturonic acid lyase are elicitors of phytoalexins in soybean. [Glycine max L

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

    Davis, K.R.; Darvill, A.G.; Albersheim, P.

    1986-02-01

    Recent studies have demonstrated that an apparently homogeneous preparation of an ..cap alpha..-1,4-D-endopolygalacturonic acid lyase (EC 4.2,2.2) isolated from the phytopathogenic bacterium Erwinia carotovora induced phytoalexin accumulation in cotyledons of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv Wayne) and that this pectin-degrading enzyme released heat-stable elicitors of phytoalexins from soybean cell walls, citrus pectin, and sodium polypectate. The present paper reports the purification, by anion-exchange chromatography on QAE-Sephadex columns followed by gel-permeation chromatography on a Bio-Gel P-6 column, of the two fractions with highest specific elicitor activity present in a crude elicitor-preparation obtained by lyase treatment of sodium polypectate. Structural analysismore » of the fraction with highest specific elicitor activity indicated that the major, if not only, component was a decasaccharide of ..cap alpha..-1,4-D-galactosyluronic acid that contained the expected product of lyase cleavage, 4-deoxy-..beta..-L-5-threo-hexopyranos-4-enyluronic acid (4,5-unsaturated galactosyluronic acid), at the nonreducing terminus. This modified decagalacturonide fraction exhibited half-maximum and maximum elicitor activity at 1 microgram/cotyledon (6 micromolar) and 5 micrograms/cotyledon (32 micromolar) galactosyluronic acid equivalents, respectively. Reducing 90 to 95% of the carboxyl groups of the galactosyluronic acid residues abolished the elicitor activity of the decagalacturonide fraction. The second most elicitor-active fraction contained mostly undeca-..cap alpha..-1,4-D-galactosyluronic acid that contained 4,5-unsaturated galactosyluronic acid at the nonreducing termini. This fraction exhibited half-maximum and maximum elicitor activity at approximately 3 micrograms/cotyledon (17 micromolar) and 6 micrograms/cotyledon (34 micromolar) galactosyluronic acid equivalents, respectively.« less

  9. Inhibition of metabolism and DNA binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by plant phenols in epidermis of SENCAR mice

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

    Das, M.; Bik, D.P.; Bickers, D.R.

    1986-03-05

    Naturally occurring plant phenols such as tannic acid (TA), quercetin (QT), myricetin (MY) and anthraflavic acid (AA) have been shown to inhibit the mutagenicity of several bay-region diolepoxides of PAHs. Since skin is a target for PAH carcinogenesis, they investigated the effect of these plant phenols on epidermal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity and the binding of PAHs to DNA in SENCAR mice. Each of the plant phenols tested was found to be an in vitro and in vivo inhibitor of epidermal AHH activity with I/sub 50/ values ranging from 4.4 x 10/sup -5/ - 12.4 x 10/sup -5/M inmore » control and 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) pretreated skin. On an equimolar basis TA was the most potent inhibitor with a Ki of 81 ..mu..M. Incubation of TA, QT, MY and AA with epidermal microsomes resulted in varying degrees of inhibition of enzyme mediated covalent binding of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) to calf thymus DNA. TA (25 ..mu..M) showed maximum inhibition (64%). A single topical application (12 ..mu..mol) of TA, QT, MY and AA resulted in significant decrease in the binding of BP, BP-7,8-diol and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene to epidermal DNA. The formation of (+)-7..beta..,8..cap alpha..-dihydroxy-9..cap alpha..,10..cap alpha..-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-BP-deoxyguanine adduct in epidermis was significantly reduced (62-86%) following topical application of the plant phenols. Their results suggest that some of these plant phenols have substantial though variable potential to modify the risk of PAHs induced skin carcinogenicity.« less

  10. Bonding in the first-row diatomic molecules within the local spin-density approximation

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

    Painter, G.S.; Averill, F.W.

    1982-08-15

    The Hohenberg-Kohn-Sham density-functional equations in the local spin-density approximation (LSDA) have been solved with essentially no loss of accuracy for dimers of the first row of the Periodic Table with the use of a fully-self-consistent spin-polarized Gaussian-orbital approach. Spectroscopic constants (binding energies, equilibrium separations, and ground-state vibrational frequencies) have been derived from the calculated potential-energy curves. Intercomparison of results obtained using the exchange-correlation functionals of Slater (scaled exchange or X..cap alpha..), Gunnarsson and Lundqvist (GL), and Vosko, Wilk, and Nusair (VWN) permits assessment of the relative merits of each and serves to identify general shortcomings in the LSDA. Basic trendsmore » are similar for each functional, but the treatment of the spin dependence of the exchange-correlation energy in the GL and VWN functionals yields a variation of the binding energy across the series which is more systematic than that in the X..cap alpha.. approximation. Agreement between the present results and those of Dunlap, Connolly, and Sabin in the X..cap alpha.., approximation confirms the accuracy of the variational charge-density-fit procedure used in the latter work. The refinements in correlation treatment within the VWN functional are reflected in improvements in binding energies which are only slight for most dimers in the series. This behavior is attributed to the error remaining in the exchange channel within the LSDA and demonstrates the necessity for self-interaction corrections for more accurate binding-energy determinations. Within the current LSDA, absolute accuracies of the VWN functional for the first-row dimers are within 2.3 eV for binding energies, 0.07 a.u. for bond lengths, and approx.200 cm/sup -1/ for vibrational frequencies.« less

  11. ESR study of electron reactions with esters and triglycerides

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

    Sevilla, M.D.; Morehouse, K.M.; Swarts, S.

    1981-04-02

    Reactions which occurred after electron attachment at 77K to a number of small carboxylic acid esters and triglycerides in an aqueous glass are reported. Most ester anions are found to decay on warming to form alkyl radicals by ..beta.. scission: RC(O/sup -/)OR' ..-->.. RCO/sub 2//sup -/ + R'.. The alkyl radical (R'.) produced by annealing is found to abstract hydrogen from the parent ester at an ..cap alpha..-carbon site, R'.+ R''CH/sub 2/CO/sub 2/R' ..-->.. R''CHCO/sub 2/R', or in the case of ethyl formate from the formate hydrogen, CH/sub 3/CH/sub 2/.+ HCO/sub 2/C/sub 2/H/sub 5/ ..-->.. C/sub 2/H/sub 6/ +.CO/sub 2/C/submore » 2/H/sub 5/. Results found for the methyl formate anion suggest hydrogen abstraction by the anion itself may compete with alkyl radical formation. The anion of the triglyceride triacetin is found to undergo an analogous mechanism to the ester anions producing the propane diol diester radical, .CH/sub 2/CH(Ac)CH/sub 2/(Ac), Ac = acetate. This species subsequently abstracts hydrogen from the parent compound to produce the ..cap alpha..-carbon radical, .CH/sub 2/CO/sub 2/R. Results found after annealing the tripropionin radical anion give evidence for abstraction from the ..cap alpha.. carbon in the propionate side groups producing CH/sub 3/CHCO/sub 2/R. Studies of a ..gamma..-irradiated ester (ethyl myristate) and two triglycerides (tripalmitin and tristearin) yield results which suggest that the mechanism of ester anion decay found in aqueous glasses applies to ..gamma..-irradiated neat long-chain esters and triglycerides. Results found in this work are compared to the results of product analysis.« less

  12. Structural elucidation of the Brucella melitensis M antigen by high-resolution NMR at 500 MHz

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

    Bundle, D.R.; Cherwonogrodzky, J.W.; Perry, M.B.

    The Brucella M antigen from the species type strain Brucella melitensis 16M has been identified as a component of the cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS). O polysaccharide liberated from this LPS by mild acid hydrolysis exhibited M activity in serological tests and was shown to be a homopolymer of 4-formamido-4,6-dideoxy-..cap alpha..-D-mannopyranosyl residues arranged in an oligosaccharide repeating unit as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the native lipopolysaccharide. Structural analysis of the O polysaccharide by NMR methods was difficult due to apparent microheterogeneity of the repeating unit, which was in fact caused by the presence of rotational isomers ofmore » the N-formyl moiety. This problem was resolved by chemical modification of the polysaccharide to its amino and N-acetyl derivatives, the 500-MHz /sup 1/H and 125-MHz /sup 13/C NMR spectra of which could be analyzed in terms of a unique structure through application of pH-dependent ..beta..-shifts and two-dimensional techniques that included COSY, relayed COSY, and NOESY experiments together with heteronuclear C/H shift correlation spectroscopy. On the basis of these experiments and supported by methylation and periodate oxidation data, the structure of the M polysaccharide was determined as a linear polymer of unbranched pentasaccharide repeating units consisting of four 1,2-linked and one 1,3-lined 4,6-dideoxy-4-formamido-..cap alpha..-D-mannopyranosyl residues. The marked structural similarity of the M antigen and the A antigen, which is known to be a 1,2-linked homopolysaccharide of 4,6-dideoxy-4-formamido-..cap alpha..-D-mannopyranosyl units, accounts for cross-serological reactions of the two and the long-standing confusion surrounding the nature of their antigenic determinants.« less

  13. Increased helix and protein stability through the introduction of a new tertiary hydrogen bond.

    PubMed

    Peterson, R W; Nicholson, E M; Thapar, R; Klevit, R E; Scholtz, J M

    1999-03-12

    In an effort to quantify the importance of hydrogen bonding and alpha-helix formation to protein stability, a capping box motif was introduced into the small phosphocarrier protein HPr. Previous studies had confirmed that Ser46, at the N-cap position of the short helix-B in HPr, serves as an N-cap in solution. Thus, only a single-site mutation was required to produce a canonical S-X-X-E capping box: Lys49 at the N3 position was substituted with a glutamic acid residue. Thermal and chemical denaturation studies on the resulting K49E HPr show that the designed variant is approximately 2 kcal mol-1 more stable than the wild-type protein. However, NMR studies indicate that the side-chain of Glu49 does not participate in the expected capping H-bond interaction, but instead forms a new tertiary H-bond that links helix-B to the four-stranded beta-sheet of HPr. Here, we demonstrate that a strategy in which new non-native H-bonds are introduced can generate proteins with increased stability. We discuss why the original capping box design failed, and compare the energetic consequences of the new tertiary side-chain to main-chain H-bond with a local (helix-capping) side-chain to main-chain H-bond on the protein's global stability. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

  14. Supramolecular Inclusion in Cyclodextrins: A Pictorial Spectroscopic Demonstration

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Haldar, Basudeb; Mallick, Arabinda; Chattopadhyay, Nitin

    2008-01-01

    A spectroscopic experiment is presented that reveals that the hydrophobically end-modified water-soluble polymeric fluorophore, pyrene end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (PYPY), interacts differently with [alpha], [beta], and [gamma]-cyclodextrins (CD) to form supramolecular inclusion complexes. The emission spectrum of PYPY in aqueous solution shows…

  15. Syphilis

    MedlinePlus

    ... cdc.gov/std/syphilis/ stdfact-msm-syphilis.htm Congenital Syphilis - Fact Sheet https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/ stdfact-congenital-syphilis.htm STDs during Pregnancy - Fact Sheet https://www. ...

  16. Disc valve for sampling erosive process streams

    DOEpatents

    Mrochek, J.E.; Dinsmore, S.R.; Chandler, E.W.

    1984-08-16

    This is a patent for a disc-type, four-port sampling valve for service with erosive high temperature process streams. Inserts and liners of ..cap alpha..-silicon carbide respectively, in the faceplates and in the sampling cavities, limit erosion while providing lubricity for a smooth and precise operation. 1 fig.

  17. heterogeneous mixture distributions for multi-source extreme rainfall

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ouarda, T.; Shin, J.; Lee, T. S.

    2013-12-01

    Mixture distributions have been used to model hydro-meteorological variables showing mixture distributional characteristics, e.g. bimodality. Homogeneous mixture (HOM) distributions (e.g. Normal-Normal and Gumbel-Gumbel) have been traditionally applied to hydro-meteorological variables. However, there is no reason to restrict the mixture distribution as the combination of one identical type. It might be beneficial to characterize the statistical behavior of hydro-meteorological variables from the application of heterogeneous mixture (HTM) distributions such as Normal-Gamma. In the present work, we focus on assessing the suitability of HTM distributions for the frequency analysis of hydro-meteorological variables. In the present work, in order to estimate the parameters of HTM distributions, the meta-heuristic algorithm (Genetic Algorithm) is employed to maximize the likelihood function. In the present study, a number of distributions are compared, including the Gamma-Extreme value type-one (EV1) HTM distribution, the EV1-EV1 HOM distribution, and EV1 distribution. The proposed distribution models are applied to the annual maximum precipitation data in South Korea. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the root mean squared errors (RMSE) and the log-likelihood are used as measures of goodness-of-fit of the tested distributions. Results indicate that the HTM distribution (Gamma-EV1) presents the best fitness. The HTM distribution shows significant improvement in the estimation of quantiles corresponding to the 20-year return period. It is shown that extreme rainfall in the coastal region of South Korea presents strong heterogeneous mixture distributional characteristics. Results indicate that HTM distributions are a good alternative for the frequency analysis of hydro-meteorological variables when disparate statistical characteristics are presented.

  18. On the Optimum Architecture of the Biologically Inspired Hierarchical Temporal Memory Model Applied to the Hand-Written Digit Recognition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Štolc, Svorad; Bajla, Ivan

    2010-01-01

    In the paper we describe basic functions of the Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) network based on a novel biologically inspired model of the large-scale structure of the mammalian neocortex. The focus of this paper is in a systematic exploration of possibilities how to optimize important controlling parameters of the HTM model applied to the classification of hand-written digits from the USPS database. The statistical properties of this database are analyzed using the permutation test which employs a randomization distribution of the training and testing data. Based on a notion of the homogeneous usage of input image pixels, a methodology of the HTM parameter optimization is proposed. In order to study effects of two substantial parameters of the architecture: the patch size and the overlap in more details, we have restricted ourselves to the single-level HTM networks. A novel method for construction of the training sequences by ordering series of the static images is developed. A novel method for estimation of the parameter maxDist based on the box counting method is proposed. The parameter sigma of the inference Gaussian is optimized on the basis of the maximization of the belief distribution entropy. Both optimization algorithms can be equally applied to the multi-level HTM networks as well. The influences of the parameters transitionMemory and requestedGroupCount on the HTM network performance have been explored. Altogether, we have investigated 2736 different HTM network configurations. The obtained classification accuracy results have been benchmarked with the published results of several conventional classifiers.

  19. Importance of the lid and cap domains for the catalytic activity of gastric lipases.

    PubMed

    Miled, N; Bussetta, C; De caro, A; Rivière, M; Berti, L; Canaan, S

    2003-09-01

    Human gastric lipase (HGL) is an enzyme secreted by the stomach, which is stable and active despite the highly acidic environment. It has been clearly established that this enzyme is responsible for 30% of the fat digestion processes occurring in human. This globular protein belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold family and its catalytic serine is deeply buried under a domain called the extrusion domain, which is composed of a 'cap' domain and a segment consisting of 58 residues, which can be defined as a lid. The exact roles played by the cap and the lid domains during the catalytic step have not yet been elucidated. We have recently solved the crystal structure of the open form of the dog gastric lipase in complex with a covalent inhibitor. The detergent molecule and the inhibitor were mimicking a triglyceride substrate that would interact with residues belonging to both the cap and the lid domains. In this study, we have investigated the role of the cap and the lid domains, using site-directed mutagenesis procedures. We have produced truncated mutants lacking the lid and the cap. After expressing these mutants and purifying them, their activity was found to have decreased drastically in comparison with the wild type HGL. The lid and the cap domains play an important role in the catalytic reaction mechanism. Based on these results and the structural data (open form of DGL), we have pointed out the cap and the lid residues involved in the binding with the lipidic substrate.

  20. HTM Spatial Pooler With Memristor Crossbar Circuits for Sparse Biometric Recognition.

    PubMed

    James, Alex Pappachen; Fedorova, Irina; Ibrayev, Timur; Kudithipudi, Dhireesha

    2017-06-01

    Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) is an online machine learning algorithm that emulates the neo-cortex. The development of a scalable on-chip HTM architecture is an open research area. The two core substructures of HTM are spatial pooler and temporal memory. In this work, we propose a new Spatial Pooler circuit design with parallel memristive crossbar arrays for the 2D columns. The proposed design was validated on two different benchmark datasets, face recognition, and speech recognition. The circuits are simulated and analyzed using a practical memristor device model and 0.18 μm IBM CMOS technology model. The databases AR, YALE, ORL, and UFI, are used to test the performance of the design in face recognition. TIMIT dataset is used for the speech recognition.

  1. Laser surface treatment for porous and textured Ca-P bio-ceramic coating on Ti-6Al-4V.

    PubMed

    Paital, Sameer R; Dahotre, Narendra B

    2007-12-01

    In the present paper the feasibility of depositing a porous calcium phosphate (CaP) bio-ceramic coating using a continuous wave Nd:YAG laser on a Ti-6Al-4V substrate has been demonstrated. The advantages offered by such porous bio-ceramic coating are its inertness combined with the mechanical stability of the highly convoluted interface that develops when bone grows into the pores of ceramic. The formation of different phases with varying laser fluences is studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD). A quantitative estimation of the crystallite size and relative amounts of Ti and other predominant phases such as TiO(2) and alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) were obtained. An increase in the crystallite size with increasing laser fluence is observed for all the above three phases. It is observed that TiO(2) is the predominant phase for all laser fluences and there is an increase in the alpha-TCP phase with increasing laser fluence. Surface porosity measurements indicated a decreasing trend with increasing laser fluence. Microhardness measurements in the cross section of samples showed a maximum hardness within the coating. The bioactivity of the coatings was further demonstrated by the formation of an apatite-like layer on the surface of the sample after being immersed in a simulated biofluid.

  2. Yang-Lee zeros, Julia sets, and their singularity spectra

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

    Hu, B.; Lin, B.

    1989-05-01

    We have studied the global scaling properties of the Julia sets of the Yang-Lee zeros of the s-state Potts model on the diamond hierarchical lattice. The singularity spectrum f(..cap alpha..) and the generalized dimension D/sub q/ are calculated for different s values. General observations are made on their variations.

  3. N-(/sup 11/C)-methyl-p-substituted phentermine analogs as potential brain blood flow agents for positron tomography

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

    Kizuka, H.; Elmaleh, D.R.; Boudreaux, G.J.

    The addition of a methyl group to the ..cap alpha..-position of amphetamine increases both the lipophilicity of the agent and its resistance to metabolism by monoamine oxidase. In addition, since tritium substituted phenteramine analog studies suggested that the p-halo phentermines had a greater concentration in the brain and prolonged retention time, the authors evaluated the biological behavior of positron labeled ..cap alpha..-methylamphetamine (phenteramine) in rats, dogs and monkeys. The N-(/sup 11/C) methyl analogs of p-chloro (I) and p-fluoro (II) phentermines were prepared by methylation of their primary amines using /sup 11/Ch/sub 3/I. Biodistribution studies in rats shows brain uptake ismore » in the range of 1% dose/gr at 5 and 15 min for both agents. The activity in blood and eyes is low. Sequential images of the dogs' brain over 1 hour revealed a clearance of <15%. Images of the monkey brain were also obtained using a MGH positron camera PCR-I.« less

  4. Racemization of alanine by the alanine racemases from Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus stearothermophilus: energetic reaction profiles

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

    Faraci, W.S.; Walsh, C.T.

    1988-05-03

    Alanine racemases are bacterial pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes providing D-alanine as an essential building block for biosynthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall. Two isozymic alanine racemases, encoded by the dadB gene and the alr gene, from the Gram-negative mesophilic Salmonella typhimurium and one from the Gram-positive thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus have been examined for the racemization mechanism. Substrate deuterium isotope effects and solvent deuterium isotope effects have been measured in both L ..-->.. D and D..-->.. L directions for all three enzymes to assess the degree to which abstraction of the ..cap alpha..-proton or protonation of substratemore » PLP carbanion is limiting in catalysis. Additionally, experiments measuring internal return of ..cap alpha..-/sup 3/H from substrate to product and solvent exchange/substrate conversion experiments in /sup 3/H/sub 2/O have been used with each enzyme to examine the partitioning of substrate PLP carbanion intermediates and to obtain the relative heights of kinetically significant energy barriers in alanine racemase catalysis.« less

  5. Mobilization of tissue cadmium in mice and calves and reversal of cadmium induced tissue damage in calves by zinc

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

    Reddy, C.S.; Mohammad, F.K.; Ganjam, V.K.

    1987-08-01

    Earlier studies demonstrated that simultaneous dietary Zn supplementation to calves fed Cd, significantly decreased the accumulation of Cd in liver, kidney and muscle. However, studies are lacking in evaluating the effectiveness of zinc in reducing Cd-burden in animals with pre-existing tissue Cd-load, a situation encountered in chronic Cd intoxication. This study examined the effects of oral Zn (AnO) on tissue Cd levels in mice. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and sodium sulfate (SS) were also used to evaluate the effects of providing organic and inorganic sources of sulfur on tissue Cd levels. Following demonstration of reduced Cd levels in tissues of mice receivingmore » antidotal Zn, subsequent investigation was aimed at studying the reversal of Cd-induced changes by Zn. The authors also examined whether Cd-induced reduction in epididymal 5 ..cap alpha..-reductase activity could explain previously reported low levels of circulating dihydrotestosterone (DHT) following Cd treatment. The ability of Zn to reverse the inhibition of 5 ..cap alpha..-reductase activity by Cd was also examined.« less

  6. Study on great northern beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): effect of drum drying process on bean flour properties and effect on gamma radiation on bean starch properties

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

    Rayas-Solis, P.

    Great Northern bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) drum dried flours at native pH of 6.54, pH 6 and 7 showed reduced activities of trypsin inhibitor, ..cap alpha..-amylase inhibitor, hemagglutinating titer, and nitrogen solubility. Electrophoretic analyses showed a slight modification of the native bean proteins, and the presence of at least four trypsin inhibitors. The study of the effect of 2.5-20 kGy irradiation doses on Great Northern beans showed essentially no modification of the electrophoretic mobility of the storage proteins or the trypsin inhibitors. Nitrogen solubility and hemagglutinating activity were essentially unchanged. With the 20 kGy dose, decrease in ..cap alpha..-amylase inhibitormore » activity, decrease reactive/available lysine content, and decrease cooking time of the irradiated beans after 11 months of storage were observed. Taste panel results indicated that the control and 20 kGy irradiated bean were significantly different at 5% level. At 20 kGy dose, the beans developed a partially water soluble brown color.« less

  7. Mutations in a gene encoding the. cap alpha. subunit of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae G protein indicate a role in mating pheromone signaling

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

    Jahng, K.Y.; Ferguson, J.; Reed, S.I.

    1988-06-01

    Mutations which allowed conjugation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking a mating pheromone receptor gene were selected. One of the genes defined by such mutations was isolated from a yeast genomic library by complementation of a temperature-sensitive mutation and is identically to the gene GPA1 (also known as SCG1), recently shown to be highly homologous to gene encoding the ..cap alpha.. subunits of mammalian G proteins. Physiological analysis of temperature-sensitive gpal mutations suggests that the encoded G protein is involved in signaling in response to mating pheromones. Mutational disruption of G-protein activity causes cell-cycle arrest in G/sub 1/, deposition of mating-specificmore » cell surface aggultinins, and induction of pheromone-specific mRNa, all of which are responses to pheromone in wild-type cells. In addition, mutants can conjugate without the benefit of mating pheromone or pheromone receptor. A model is presented where the activated G protein has a negative impact on a constitutive signal which normally keeps the pheromone response repressed.« less

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

    Downes, R.A.

    Galactic plane ultraviolet-excess (uv-excess) objects covering about 1000 square degrees of sky were surveyed. Photographic plates were obtained with both uv and blue filters, to select the uv-excess candidates, which were then observed spectroscopically to determine their classification. Most of the objects selected were nearby early-type stars with low interstellar reddening; however, a collection of hot white dwarfs, subdwarf O (sdO) stars, subdwarf B (sdB) stars, and cataclysmic variables was also found. Photoelectric photometry was obtained for these stars and a statistical analysis was performed to determine the space densities and scale heights for the four classes of objects. Severalmore » interesting objects (or class of objects) were discovered, and data for some of these stars are presented. Among the peculiar objects found are an emission-line white dwarf similar to the pulsating PG 1159 stars, a Population II Wolf-Rayet star, a previously catalogued object with a strong Fe II emission-line spectrum, and a new class of object, resembling the sdB stars, that shows variable strength H..cap alpha.. absorption, with the H..cap alpha.. line sometimes completely filled in.« less

  9. Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the nitrogenase iron protein of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

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

    Pretorius, I.M.; Rawlings, D.E.; O'Neill, E.G.

    1987-01-01

    The DNA sequence was determined for the cloned Thiobacillus ferrooxidans nifH and part of the nifD genes. The DNA chains were radiolabeled with (..cap alpha..-/sup 32/P)dCTP (3000 Ci/mmol) or (..cap alpha..-/sup 35/S)dCTP (400 Ci/mmol). A putative T. ferrooxidans nifH promoter was identified whose sequences showed perfect consensus with those of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nif promoter. Two putative consensus upstream activator sequences were also identified. The amino acid sequence was deduced from the DNA sequence. In a comparison of nifH DNA sequences from T. ferrooxidans and eight other nitrogen-fixing microbes, a Rhizobium sp. isolated from Parasponia andersonii showed the greatest homologymore » (74%) and Clostridium pasteurianum (nifH1) showed the least homology (54%). In the comparison of the amino acid sequences of the Fe proteins, the Rhizobium sp. and Rhizobium japonicum showed the greatest homology (both 86%) and C. pasteurianum (nifH1 gene product) demonstrated the least homology (56%) to the T. ferrooxidans Fe protein.« less

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

    Nomura, S.; Enna, S.J.

    Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have anticholinergic and ..cap alpha..-adrenergic blocking properties. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of amitriptyline, imipramine, and desipramine on inositol phosphate accumulation, a brain second messenger system associated with cholinergic and adrenergic receptors. Whereas the TCAs were 28 to 400-fold weaker than atropine as inhibitors of /sup 3/H-QNB binding to brain cholinergic receptors, they were 600 to 2000-fold less active than atropine as inhibitors of carbachol-stimulated IP accumulation in brain. In contrast, the relative potencies of the TCAs and prazosin to inhibit norepinephrine-stimulated IP accumulation and /sup 3/H-prazosin binding appeared to be similar inmore » the two assays. The results suggest pharmacological differences between the cholinergic receptors labeled in the ONB binding assay and those mediating the IP response, whereas the ..cap alpha../sub 1/-adrenergic receptors appear to be similar in the two systems. Since atropine is considered a nonselective muscarinic antagonist, it is possible that the TCAs may differentiate between cholinergic receptor subtypes, which may be an important component of their clinical response.« less

  11. Direct /sup 125/I-radioligand assays for serum progesterone compared with assays involving extraction of serum

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

    Ratcliffe, W.A.; Corrie, J.E.T.; Dalziel, A.H.

    1982-06-01

    Two direct radioimmunoassays for progesterone in 50 ..mu..L of unextracted serum or plasma with assays involving extraction of serum were compared. The direct assays include the use of either danazol at pH 7.4 or 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid at pH 4.0 to displace progesterone from serum binding-proteins. Progesterone is then assayed by using an antiserum to a progesterone 11..cap alpha..-hemisuccinyl conjugate and the radioligand /sup 125/I-labeled progesterone 11..cap alpha..-glucuronyl tyramine, with separation by double-antibody techniques. Direct assays with either displacing agent gave good analytical recovery of progesterone added to human serum, and progesterone values for patients' specimens correlated well (r > 0.96)more » with results of assays involving extraction of serum. Precision was similar with each displacing agent over the working range 2.5-100 nmol/L and superior to that of extraction assays. We conclude that these direct assays of progesterone are analytically valid and more robust, precise, and technically convenient than many conventional methods involving extraction of serum.« less

  12. Improvement of blood compatibility on polysulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone blend films as a model membrane of dialyzer by physical adsorption of recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (ART-123).

    PubMed

    Omichi, Masaaki; Matsusaki, Michiya; Maruyama, Ikuro; Akashi, Mitsuru

    2012-01-01

    ART-123 is a recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (hTM) with potent anticoagulant activity, and is available for developing antithrombogenic surfaces by immobilization. We focused on improving blood compatibility on the dialyzer surface by the physical adsorption of ART-123 as a safe yet simple method without using chemical reagents. The physical adsorption mechanism and anticoagulant activities of adsorbed hTM on the surface of a polysulfone (PSF) membrane containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a model dialyzer were investigated in detail. The PVP content of the PSF-PVP films was saturated at 20 wt% after immersion in Tris-HCl buffer, even with the addition of over 20 wt% PVP. The surface morphology of the PSF-PVP films was strongly influenced by the PVP content, because PVP covered the outermost surface of the PSF-PVP films. The adsorption speed of hTM slowed dramatically with increasing PVP content up to 10 wt%, but the maximum adsorption amount of hTM onto the PSF-PVP film surface was almost the same, regardless of the PVP content. The PSF-PVP film with the physically adsorbed hTM showed higher protein C activity as compared to the PSF film, it showed excellent blood compatibility due to the protein C activity and the inhibition properties of platelet adhesion. The physical adsorption of hTM can be useful as a safe yet simple method to improve the blood compatibility of a dialyzer surface.

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

    Hall, J.; Richard, P.; Gray, T.J.

    The systematics of single and double K-shell-vacancy production in titanium has been investigated in the limit of zero target thickness (approx.1 ..mu..g/cm/sup 2/) for incident C, N, O, F, Mg, Al, Si, S, and Cl ions over a maximum energy range of 0.5 to 6.5 MeV/amu. This corresponds to collision systems with 0.27< or =Z/sub 1//Z/sub 2/< or =0.77 and 0.24< or =v/sub 1//vK< or =0.85, where v/sub 1/ is the projectile nuclear velocity and vK is the mean velocity of an electron in the target K shell. The present work is divided into four major sections. (1) Single K-shell-vacancymore » production has been investigated by measuring K..cap alpha.. and K..beta.. p satellite x-ray-production cross sections for projectiles incident with no K-shell vacancies. For incident ions with Z/sub 1/> or =9, the contribution due to electron-transfer processes from the target K shell to outer shells of the projectile has also been noted. (2) Single K-shell--to--K-shell electron-transfer cross sections have been obtained indirectly by the measuring of the enhancement in the Ti K x-ray production cross section for bare incident projectiles over ions incident with no initial K-shell vacancies. (3) Double K-vacancy production has been investigated by measuring the K..cap alpha.. hypersatellite intensity in ratio to the total K..cap alpha.. intensity. (4) Double K-shell--to--K-shell electron-transfer cross sections have been obtained indirectly with the use of a procedure similar to that used for single K to K transfer. The measured cross sections have been compared to theoretical models for direct Coulomb ionization and inner-shell electron transfer and have been used to investigate the relative importance of these mechanisms for K-vacancy production in heavy-ion--atom collisions.« less

  14. Absolute configurations of organometallic compounds. III. Structure and absolute configuration of the square-pyramidal complex ((+)/sub 579/-(C/sub 5/H/sub 5/)Mo(CO)/sub 2/(NN*))PF/sub 6/(NN* = Schiff base derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde and (S)-(-)-. cap alpha. -phenylethylamine)

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

    Bernal, I.; LaPlaca, S.J.; Korp, J.

    The structure of (+)/sub 579/-(eta/sup 5/-C/sub 5/H/sub 5/Mo(CO)/sub 2/(NN*))PF/sub 6/ with NN* = the Schiff base derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde and (S)-(--)-..cap alpha..-phenylethylamine was determined using standard single-crystal x-ray diffraction methods. The absolute configuration was determined by refinement of the data using the anomalous scattering contributions of Mo and P to a final R(F) = 0.056 for 2634 independent reflections having I greater than 3 sigma (I). The substance crystallizes in the space group P2/sub 1/2/sub 1/2/sub 1/ with unit cell dimensions of a = 12.249 (4), b = 9.236 (3), and c = 20.692 (9) A and Z = 4more » molecules/unit cell. The square-pyramidal coordination of the Mo atom is defined by two carbonyl carbons and two Schiff base nitrogens occupying the four basal plane sites and the five carbons of the eta/sup 5/-C/sub 5/H/sub 5/ ligand in the axial position. The Mo--ligand distances and the bond lengths and angles within the ligands are normal and compare closely with those of recent structure determinations of comparable precision. The Mo atom is 0.95 A above the plane formed by the four basal plane ligands. The conformation of the (S)-..cap alpha..-phenylethyl group with respect to the ligand plane, defined by the pyridine ring, the imine system, and the Mo atom, is discussed. The configuration at the metal atom in the (+)/sub 579/ isomer is specified as (S). The PF/sub 6//sup -/ anion executes large amplitude torsional motion in the lattice, as is commonly the case for this anion when not hydrogen bonded.« less

  15. Biochemistry of snake venom neurotoxins and their application to the study of synapse. [Neurotoxins isolated from venom of the Formosan banded krait

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

    Hanley, M.R.

    1978-11-01

    The crude venom of the Formosan banded krait, Bungarus multicinctus, was separated into eleven lethal protein fractions. Nine fractions were purified to final homogeneous toxins, designated ..cap alpha..-bungarotoxin, ..beta..-bungarotoxin, and toxins 7, 8, 9A, 11, 12, 13, and 14. Three of the toxins, ..cap alpha..-bungarotoxin, 7, and 8, were identified as post-synaptic curarimimetic neurotoxins. The remaining toxins were identified as pre-synaptic neurotoxins. ..cap alpha..-Bungarotoxin, toxin 7, and toxin 8 are all highly stable basic polypeptides of approx. 8000 daltons molecular weight. The pre-synaptic toxins fell into two structural groups: toxin 9A and 14 which were single basic chains of approx.more » 14,000 daltons, and ..beta..-bungarotoxin, and toxins 11 thru 13 which were composed of two chains of approx. 8000 and approx. 13,000 daltons covalently linked by disulfides. All the pre-synaptic neurotoxins were shown to have intrinsic calcium-dependent phospholipase A activities. Under certain conditions, intact synaptic membranes were hydrolyzed more rapidly than protein-free extracted synaptic-lipid liposomes which, in turn, were hydrolyzed more rapidly than any other tested liposomes. It was speculated that cell-surface arrays of phosphatidyl serine/glycolipids created high affinity target sites for ..beta..-bungarotoxin. Single-chain toxins were found to be qualitatively different from the two-chain toxins in their ability to block the functioning of acetylcholine receptors, and were quantitatively different in their enzymatic and membrane disruptive activities. ..beta..-Bungarotoxin was shown to be an extremely potent neuronal lesioning agent. There was no apparent selectivity for cholinergic over non-cholinergic neurons, nor for nerve terminals over cell bodies. It was suggested that ..beta..-bungarotoxin can be considered a useful new histological tool, which may exhibit some regional selectivity.« less

  16. 76 FR 66311 - Draft Documents To Support Submission of an Electronic Common Technical Document; Availability

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-10-26

    .../DevelopmentApprovalProcess/FormsSubmissionRequirements/ElectronicSubmissions/ucm253101.htm , http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm , or http...

  17. Case study 7. Compiled aha moments in enzyme kinetics: authors' experiences.

    PubMed

    Tweedie, Donald J

    2014-01-01

    On 15 August 2012, USA Today reported that "aha moment" had been included in a list of new words being added to Merriam Webster's Collegiate (®) Dictionary in the year 2012 (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/08/oprah-has-a-moment-in-the-dictionary/1 ; accessed on 25 August 2012 and http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords12.htm ; accessed on 25 August 2012). This word originated in the late 1930s, was popularized by modern day television, and symbolizes "a precise point in time in which one has sudden understanding of or insight into something," as defined by Merriam Webster (http://nws.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/newword_display_alpha.php?letter=Ah ; accessed on 25 August 2012). The short dialogues that follow describe lessons learned and scientific epiphanies of the contributors to this book.

  18. Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Changes Gene Expression of Key Molecules of the Wound Healing Machinery and Improves Wound Healing In Vitro and In Vivo

    PubMed Central

    Arndt, Stephanie; Unger, Petra; Wacker, Eva; Shimizu, Tetsuji; Heinlin, Julia; Li, Yang-Fang; Thomas, Hubertus M.; Morfill, Gregor E.; Zimmermann, Julia L.

    2013-01-01

    Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has the potential to interact with tissue or cells leading to fast, painless and efficient disinfection and furthermore has positive effects on wound healing and tissue regeneration. For clinical implementation it is necessary to examine how CAP improves wound healing and which molecular changes occur after the CAP treatment. In the present study we used the second generation MicroPlaSter ß® in analogy to the current clinical standard (2 min treatment time) in order to determine molecular changes induced by CAP using in vitro cell culture studies with human fibroblasts and an in vivo mouse skin wound healing model. Our in vitro analysis revealed that the CAP treatment induces the expression of important key genes crucial for the wound healing response like IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2, and promotes the production of collagen type I and alpha-SMA. Scratch wound healing assays showed improved cell migration, whereas cell proliferation analyzed by XTT method, and the apoptotic machinery analyzed by protein array technology, was not altered by CAP in dermal fibroblasts. An in vivo wound healing model confirmed that the CAP treatment affects above mentioned genes involved in wound healing, tissue injury and repair. Additionally, we observed that the CAP treatment improves wound healing in mice, no relevant side effects were detected. We suggest that improved wound healing might be due to the activation of a specified panel of cytokines and growth factors by CAP. In summary, our in vitro human and in vivo animal data suggest that the 2 min treatment with the MicroPlaSter ß® is an effective technique for activating wound healing relevant molecules in dermal fibroblasts leading to improved wound healing, whereas the mechanisms which contribute to these observed effects have to be further investigated. PMID:24265766

  19. Time-resolved spectroscopy of dye-labeled photoactive yellow protein suggests a pathway of light-induced structural changes in the N-terminal cap.

    PubMed

    Hoersch, Daniel; Otto, Harald; Cusanovich, Michael A; Heyn, Maarten P

    2009-07-14

    The photoreceptor PYP responds to light activation with global conformational changes. These changes are mainly located in the N-terminal cap of the protein, which is approximately 20 A away from the chromophore binding pocket and separated from it by the central beta-sheet. The question of the propagation of the structural change across the central beta-sheet is of general interest for the superfamily of PAS domain proteins, for which PYP is the structural prototype. Here we measured the kinetics of the structural changes in the N-terminal cap by transient absorption spectroscopy on the ns to second timescale. For this purpose the cysteine mutants A5C and N13C were prepared and labeled with thiol reactive 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein (IAF). A5 is located close to the N-terminus, while N13 is part of helix alpha1 near the functionally important salt bridge E12-K110 between the N-terminal cap and the central anti-parallel beta-sheet. The absorption spectrum of the dye is sensitive to its environment, and serves as a sensor for conformational changes near the labeling site. In both labeled mutants light activation results in a transient red-shift of the fluorescein absorption spectrum. To correlate the conformational changes with the photocycle intermediates of the protein, we compared the kinetics of the transient absorption signal of the dye with that of the p-hydroxycinnamoyl chromophore. While the structural change near A5 is synchronized with the rise of the I(2) intermediate, which is formed in approximately 200 mus, the change near N13 is delayed and rises with the next intermediate I(2)', which forms in approximately 2 ms. This indicates that different parts of the N-terminal cap respond to light activation with different kinetics. For the signaling pathway of photoactive yellow protein we propose a model in which the structural signal propagates from the chromophore binding pocket across the central beta-sheet via the N-terminal region to helix alpha1, resulting in a large change in the protein conformation.

  20. Holocene thermal maximum in the western Arctic (0-180°W)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kaufman, D.S.; Ager, T.A.; Anderson, N.J.; Anderson, P.M.; Andrews, John T.; Bartlein, P.J.; Brubaker, L.B.; Coats, Larry L.; Cwynar, L.C.; Duvall, M.L.; Dyke, A.S.; Edwards, M.E.; Eisner, Wendy R.; Gajewski, K.; Geirsdottir, A.; Hu, F.-S.; Jennings, A.E.; Kaplan, M.R.; Kerwin, M.W.; Lozhkin, A.V.; MacDonald, G.M.; Miller, G.H.; Mock, Cary J.; Oswald, W.W.; Otto-Bliesner, B. L.; Porinchu, David F.; Ruhland, K.; Smol, J.P.; Steig, E.J.; Wolfe, B.B.

    2004-01-01

    The spatio-temporal pattern of peak Holocene warmth (Holocene thermal maximum, HTM) is traced over 140 sites across the Western Hemisphere of the Arctic (0-180??W; north of ???60??N). Paleoclimate inferences based on a wide variety of proxy indicators provide clear evidence for warmer-than-present conditions at 120 of these sites. At the 16 terrestrial sites where quantitative estimates have been obtained, local HTM temperatures (primarily summer estimates) were on average 1.6??0.8??C higher than present (approximate average of the 20th century), but the warming was time-transgressive across the western Arctic. As the precession-driven summer insolation anomaly peaked 12-10ka (thousands of calendar years ago), warming was concentrated in northwest North America, while cool conditions lingered in the northeast. Alaska and northwest Canada experienced the HTM between ca 11 and 9ka, about 4000yr prior to the HTM in northeast Canada. The delayed warming in Quebec and Labrador was linked to the residual Laurentide Ice Sheet, which chilled the region through its impact on surface energy balance and ocean circulation. The lingering ice also attests to the inherent asymmetry of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that predisposes the region to glaciation and modulates the pattern of climatic change. The spatial asymmetry of warming during the HTM resembles the pattern of warming observed in the Arctic over the last several decades. Although the two warmings are described at different temporal scales, and the HTM was additionally affected by the residual Laurentide ice, the similarities suggest there might be a preferred mode of variability in the atmospheric circulation that generates a recurrent pattern of warming under positive radiative forcing. Unlike the HTM, however, future warming will not be counterbalanced by the cooling effect of a residual North American ice sheet. ?? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Holocene thermal maximum in the western Arctic (0-180°W)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kaufman, D. S.; Ager, T. A.; Anderson, N. J.; Anderson, P. M.; Andrews, J. T.; Bartlein, P. J.; Brubaker, L. B.; Coats, L. L.; Cwynar, L. C.; Duvall, M. L.; Dyke, A. S.; Edwards, M. E.; Eisner, W. R.; Gajewski, K.; Geirsdóttir, A.; Hu, F. S.; Jennings, A. E.; Kaplan, M. R.; Kerwin, M. W.; Lozhkin, A. V.; MacDonald, G. M.; Miller, G. H.; Mock, C. J.; Oswald, W. W.; Otto-Bliesner, B. L.; Porinchu, D. F.; Rühland, K.; Smol, J. P.; Steig, E. J.; Wolfe, B. B.

    2004-03-01

    The spatio-temporal pattern of peak Holocene warmth (Holocene thermal maximum, HTM) is traced over 140 sites across the Western Hemisphere of the Arctic (0-180°W; north of ˜60°N). Paleoclimate inferences based on a wide variety of proxy indicators provide clear evidence for warmer-than-present conditions at 120 of these sites. At the 16 terrestrial sites where quantitative estimates have been obtained, local HTM temperatures (primarily summer estimates) were on average 1.6±0.8°C higher than present (approximate average of the 20th century), but the warming was time-transgressive across the western Arctic. As the precession-driven summer insolation anomaly peaked 12-10 ka (thousands of calendar years ago), warming was concentrated in northwest North America, while cool conditions lingered in the northeast. Alaska and northwest Canada experienced the HTM between ca 11 and 9 ka, about 4000 yr prior to the HTM in northeast Canada. The delayed warming in Quebec and Labrador was linked to the residual Laurentide Ice Sheet, which chilled the region through its impact on surface energy balance and ocean circulation. The lingering ice also attests to the inherent asymmetry of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that predisposes the region to glaciation and modulates the pattern of climatic change. The spatial asymmetry of warming during the HTM resembles the pattern of warming observed in the Arctic over the last several decades. Although the two warmings are described at different temporal scales, and the HTM was additionally affected by the residual Laurentide ice, the similarities suggest there might be a preferred mode of variability in the atmospheric circulation that generates a recurrent pattern of warming under positive radiative forcing. Unlike the HTM, however, future warming will not be counterbalanced by the cooling effect of a residual North American ice sheet.

  2. Multiorgan failure and antiphospholipid antibodies: the catastrophic antiphospholipid (Asherson's) syndrome.

    PubMed

    Asherson, Ronald A

    2005-01-01

    A review of 250 patients with the catastrophic antiphospholipid (Asherson's) syndrome (CAPS) taken from the web site organized by the Europhospholipid Group (http://www.med.ub.es/MIMMUN/FORUM/CAPS.HTM) is presented in this paper. A short historical overview of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is followed by a description of the "triggering" factors, associated autoimmune diseases, clinical presentation, presumed pathogenesis, prognosis, mode of death and suggested therapies. Triggering factors are present in approximately 50% of patients and consist predominantly of infections, trauma, including minor surgical procedures such as biopsies, obstetric-related multiorgan failure and malignancy-associated CAPS. The patients present mainly with multiorgan failure resulting from predominantly small vessel occlusions affecting mainly intra-abdominal organs such as bowel, liver, pancreas, and adrenals, although large vessel occlusions do occur and comprise mainly deep vein thromboses (DVT) of the veins of the lower limbs and arterial occlusions causing strokes and peripheral gangrene. They do not however dominate the clinical picture. The condition differs considerably from the simple/classic APS in several respects, viz. the rapid development of multiorgan failure following the above-mentioned identifiable precipitating factors, the involvement of unusual organs such as bowel, reproductive organs, and bone marrow, complicating features of disseminated intravascular coagulation in 20% of cases, the acute (adult) respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in one third of patients, and severe thrombocytopenia; these not being encountered in the simple/classic APS. Treatment consisting of regular and repeated plasma exchanges using fresh frozen plasma, and IV immunoglobulins in addition to parenteral steroids and anticoagulation are necessary to improve the survival in a condition where the mortality is still of the order of 50%. Treatment may have to be continued for several weeks. Parenteral antibiotics may be indicated where an underlying infection is suspected. Antifungal therapy may also be indicated with prolonged treatment and the use of the monoclonal anti-CD20 molecule, Rituximab, has proven useful in those patients where thrombocytopenia poses a major risk of hemorrhage.

  3. L-selectin-carbohydrate interactions: relevant modifications of the Lewis x trisaccharide.

    PubMed

    Sanders, W J; Katsumoto, T R; Bertozzi, C R; Rosen, S D; Kiessling, L L

    1996-11-26

    Protein-carbohydrate interactions are known to mediate cell-cell recognition and adhesion events. Specifically, three carbohydrate binding proteins termed selectins (E-, P-, and L-selectin) have been shown to be essential for leukocyte rolling along the vascular endothelium, the first step in the recruitment of leukocytes from the blood into inflammatory sites or into secondary lymphoid organs. Although this phenomenon is well-established, little is known about the molecular-level interactions on which it depends. All three selectins recognize sulfated and sialylated derivatives of the Lewis x [Le(x):Gal beta 1-->4(Fuc alpha 1-->3)GlcNAc] and Lewis a [Le(a): Gal beta 1-->3(Fuc alpha 1-->4)GlcNAc] trisaccharide cores with affinities in the millimolar range, and it is believed that variants of these structures are the carbohydrate determinants of selectin recognition. Recently it was shown that the mucin GlyCAM-1, a secreted physiological ligand for L-selectin, is capped with sulfated derivatives of sialyl Lewis x [sLe(x): Sia alpha 2-->3Gal beta 1-->4(Fuc alpha 1-->3)GlcNAc] and that sulfation is required for the high-affinity interaction between GlyCAM-1 and L-selectin. To elucidate the important sites of sulfation on Le(x) with respect to L-selectin recognition, we have synthesized six sulfated Le(x) analogs and determined their abilities to block binding of a recombinant L-selectin-Ig chimera to immobilized GlyCAM-1. Our results suggest that 6-sulfo sLe(x) binds to L-selectin with higher affinity than does sLe(x) or 6'-sulfo sLe(x) and that sulfation of sLe(x) capping groups on GlyCAM-1 at the 6-position is important for L-selectin recognition.

  4. Mo(CO)/sub 6/-promoted reductive cleavage of the carbon-sulfur bond

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

    Luh, T.Y.; Wong, C.S.

    1985-12-13

    In order to study the reductive cleavage of carbon-sulfur bonds by Mo(CO/sub 6/, various organosulfur compounds are reacted with Mo(CO)/sub 6/ in THF. Results of these experiments demonstrate that benzylic-, aryl-, or ..cap alpha..-acyl-activated carbon-sulfur bonds are reduced by treatment with Mo(CO)/sub 6/. 1 table.

  5. Terrorism and Cybercrime

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-05-01

    www.fbi.gov/congress/congress03/farnan051503.htm 63 Federal Bureau of Investigations. “Netting Cyber Criminals : Inside the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task...http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/cyberhome.htm Federal Bureau of Investigations. “Netting Cyber Criminals : Inside the Connecticut Computer Crimes

  6. Inhibition of ribosome recruitment induces stress granule formation independently of eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha phosphorylation.

    PubMed

    Mazroui, Rachid; Sukarieh, Rami; Bordeleau, Marie-Eve; Kaufman, Randal J; Northcote, Peter; Tanaka, Junichi; Gallouzi, Imed; Pelletier, Jerry

    2006-10-01

    Cytoplasmic aggregates known as stress granules (SGs) arise as a consequence of cellular stress and contain stalled translation preinitiation complexes. These foci are thought to serve as sites of mRNA storage or triage during the cell stress response. SG formation has been shown to require induction of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)2alpha phosphorylation. Herein, we investigate the potential role of other initiation factors in this process and demonstrate that interfering with eIF4A activity, an RNA helicase required for the ribosome recruitment phase of translation initiation, induces SG formation and that this event is not dependent on eIF2alpha phosphorylation. We also show that inhibition of eIF4A activity does not impair the ability of eIF2alpha to be phosphorylated under stress conditions. Furthermore, we observed SG assembly upon inhibition of cap-dependent translation after poliovirus infection. We propose that SG modeling can occur via both eIF2alpha phosphorylation-dependent and -independent pathways that target translation initiation.

  7. Alpha3, a transposable element that promotes host sexual reproduction.

    PubMed

    Barsoum, Emad; Martinez, Paula; Aström, Stefan U

    2010-01-01

    Theoretical models predict that selfish DNA elements require host sex to persist in a population. Therefore, a transposon that induces sex would strongly favor its own spread. We demonstrate that a protein homologous to transposases, called alpha3, was essential for mating type switch in Kluyveromyces lactis. Mutational analysis showed that amino acids conserved among transposases were essential for its function. During switching, sequences in the 5' and 3' flanking regions of the alpha3 gene were joined, forming a DNA circle, showing that alpha3 mobilized from the genome. The sequences encompassing the alpha3 gene circle junctions in the mating type alpha (MATalpha) locus were essential for switching from MATalpha to MATa, suggesting that alpha3 mobilization was a coupled event. Switching also required a DNA-binding protein, Mating type switch 1 (Mts1), whose binding sites in MATalpha were important. Expression of Mts1 was repressed in MATa/MATalpha diploids and by nutrients, limiting switching to haploids in low-nutrient conditions. A hairpin-capped DNA double-strand break (DSB) was observed in the MATa locus in mre11 mutant strains, indicating that mating type switch was induced by MAT-specific DSBs. This study provides empirical evidence for selfish DNA promoting host sexual reproduction by mediating mating type switch.

  8. Contradictory cooling in a warmer world? the climate of the Mediterranean region during the ';Holocene Thermal Maximum'

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Davis, B.

    2013-12-01

    Extensive evidence from high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere indicates that temperatures were warmer than present during the early-mid Holocene, a period known as the Holocene thermal maximum (HTM). The existence of the HTM over lower mid-latitudes and the sub-tropics however is less clear, with pollen-based reconstructions in particular actually indicating a contrary cooling at this time in these regions. This apparent cooling is controversial because it is not shown in climate model simulations, which indicate that the HTM occurred across all extra-tropical latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. This is also supported by alkenone based SST reconstructions, which also show a much more widespread HTM than indicated by the pollen data. Here this problem is investigated by reviewing the evidence both for, and against, the HTM in the Mediterranean region, which represents one of the most intensively studied regions of sub-tropical climate in the Northern Hemisphere. This evidence includes a large number of both marine and terrestrial records that can be directly compared due to their close proximity around the Mediterranean Sea. The results highlight the potential for bias in both marine and terrestrial climate proxies, but despite many criticisms of the pollen-based record, it is shown that the existence of more extensive temperate vegetation in the early-mid Holocene in the Mediterranean is difficult to explain by anything other than a cooler climate. For instance, vegetation models driven by climate model output show that the warmer climate suggested by the models produces a HTM vegetation even more arid than today. The results have important implications in the interpretation of proxy records, but perhaps most importantly, the potential for climate models to underestimate cooling processes in a warmer world needs further investigation.

  9. Comparison of Nerve Growth Factor Receptor Binding Models Using Heterodimeric Muteins

    PubMed Central

    Mehta, Hrishikesh M.; Woo, Sang B.; Neet, Kenneth E.

    2013-01-01

    Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a homodimer that binds to two distinct receptor types, TrkA and p75, to support survival and differentiation of neurons. The high-affinity binding on the cell surface is believed to involve a heteroreceptor complex, but its exact nature is unclear. We developed a heterodimer (heteromutein) of two NGF muteins that can bind p75 and TrkA on opposite sides of the heterodimer, but not two TrkA receptors. Previously described muteins are Δ9/13 that is TrkA negative and 7-84-103 that is signal selective through TrkA. The heteromutein (Htm1) was used to study the heteroreceptor complex formation and function, in the putative absence of NGF-induced TrkA dimerization. Cellular binding assays indicated that Htm1 does not bind TrkA as efficiently as wild-type (wt) NGF but has better affinity than either homodimeric mutein. Htm1, 7-84-103, and Δ9/13 were each able to compete for cold-temperature, cold-chase stable binding on PC12 cells, indicating that binding to p75 was required for a portion of this high-affinity binding. Survival, neurite outgrowth, and MAPK signaling in PC12 cells also showed a reduced response for Htm1, compared with wtNGF, but was better than the parent muteins in the order wtNGF > Htm1 > 7-84-103 >> Δ9/13. Htm1 and 7-84-103 demonstrated similar levels of survival on cells expressing only TrkA. In the longstanding debate on the NGF receptor binding mechanism, our data support the ligand passing of NGF from p75 to TrkA involving a transient heteroreceptor complex of p75-NGF-TrkA. PMID:22903500

  10. Comment on de-averaged back-angle heavy-ion elastic scattering excitation functions

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

    Hussein, M.S.; Canto, L.F.; Donangelo, R.

    1984-06-01

    It is suggested that the de-averaged 180/sup 0/ excitation function of /sup 16/O+ /sup 28/Si, recently considered by Frahn and Kaufmann, is strongly model dependent. Within a multistep ..cap alpha..-transfer description of the back-angle anomaly, we obtain a de-averaged 180/sup 0/ excitation function that exhibits a more regular gross structure.

  11. Doppler-broadening measurements of x-ray lines for determination of the ion temperature in tokamak plasmas

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

    Bitter, M.; von Goeler, S.; Horton, R.

    1979-01-29

    Ion-temperature results are deduced from Doppler-broadening measurements of the K..cap alpha.. (1s-2p) resonance line emitted from heliumlike iron impurity ions in the hot central core of PLT (Princeton Large Torus) tokamak discharges. The measurements were performed using a high-resolution Bragg-crystal spectrometer with a multiwire proportional counter.

  12. Structural phase transitions in GaAs to 108 GPa

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

    Weir, S.T.; Vohra, Y.K.; Vanderborgh, C.A.

    1989-01-15

    The III-V compound GaAs was studied using energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction with a synchro- tron source up to a pressure of 108 GPa. When the pressure was increased to 16.6 GPa, the GaAs sample transformed from the zinc-blende structure to an orthorhombic structure (GaAs(II)), space group Pmm2, consisting of a primitive orthorhombic lattice with a basis of (0,0,0) and (0,(1/2,..cap alpha..), where ..cap alpha.. = 0.35. Upon a further increase of pressure to 24 +- 1 GPa, GaAs(II) transformed to another orthorhombic structure (GaAs(III)), space group Imm2, consisting of a body-centered orthorhombic lattice with a basis of (0,0,0) and (0, (1/2,..delta..),more » where ..delta.. is 0.425 at 28.1 GPa. With increasing pressure, ..delta.. approached (1/2 and the GaAs(III) structure gradually assumed the symmetry of the simple hexagonal structure. The transition to the simple hexagonal structure (GaAs(IV)) was completed in the vicinity of 60--80 GPa. The structure remains simple hexagonal up to at least 108 GPa, the highest pressure reached in this study.« less

  13. Use of antibodies specific to defined regions of scorpion. cap alpha. -toxin to study its interaction with its receptor site on the sodium channel

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

    Ayeb, M.E.; Bahraoui, E.M.; Granier, C.

    1986-10-21

    Five antibody populations selected by immunoaffinity chromatography for the specificity toward various regions of toxin II of the scorpion Androctonus australis Hector were used to probe the interaction of this protein with its receptor site on the sodium channel. These studies indicate that two antigenic sites, one located around the disulfide bridge 12-63 and one encompassing residues 50-59, are involved in the molecular mechanisms of toxicity neutralization. Fab fragments specific to the region around disulfide bridge 12-63 inhibit binding of the /sup 125/I-labeled toxin to its receptor site. Also, these two antigenic regions are inaccessible to the antibodies when themore » toxin is bound to its receptor site. In contrast, the two other antigenic sites encompassing the only ..cap alpha..-helix region (residues 23-32) and a ..beta..-turn structure (residues 32-35) are accessible to the respective antibodies when the toxin is bound to its receptor. Together, these data support the recent proposal that a region made of residues that are conserved in the scorpion toxin family is involved in the binding of the toxin to the receptor.« less

  14. Survey of the (. cap alpha. ,/sup 2/He) reaction on 1p- and 2s1d-shell nuclei

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

    Jahn, R.; Stahel, D.P.; Wozniak, G.J.

    A /sup 2/He detection system has been developed and used to investigate the (..cap alpha..,/sup 2/He) reaction at bombarding energies of 55 and 65 MeV on targets of /sup 12/C, /sup 13/C, /sup 14/N, /sup 15/N, /sup 16/O, /sup 18/O, /sup 20/Ne, /sup 22/Ne, /sup 24/Mg, /sup 26/Mg, /sup 28/Si, /sup 29/Si, /sup 32/S, /sup 36/Ar, /sup 38/Ar, and /sup 40/Ca. Preferential population of two-neutron states with dominant (d/sub 5/2/)/sup 2//sub 4/, (d/sub 3/2/f/sub 7/2/)/sub 5/, and (f/sub 7/2/)/sup 2//sub 6/ character was observed. A linear A dependence of the binding energies of the J/sup ..pi../ = 5/sup -/ andmore » 6/sup +/ states was obtained. This systematic behavior is well described by the Bansal-French model, using the parameters a = - 0.30 MeV and b = 2.6 MeV. Simple shell-model calculations for the 2n configurations are in good agreement with the experimental data.« less

  15. Multiconfiguration resonating-group theory of the seven-nucleon system with realistic cluster wave functions

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

    Fujiwara, Y.; Tang, Y.C.

    1985-02-01

    The properties of the seven-nucleon system are examined with a multiconfiguration and multi- channel resonating-group calculation. The cluster internal functions employed explain the charge-form-factor data over a wide range of q/sup 2/ and satisfy the variational stability condition quite well. The model space used is spanned by /sup 3/H+..cap alpha.., n+ /sup 6/Li, n+ /sup 6/Li(, and d+ /sup 5/He cluster configurations. The result shows that the specific distortion of the /sup 3/H+..cap alpha.. system is quite significant. With our multiconfiguration calculation, the ground-state energy is improved by more than 1 MeV. The calculated level spectrum agrees well with themore » level spectrum empirically determined. The energy positions of both natural-parity and unnatural-parity levels are reasonably explained. In addition, we find that, because of centrifugal-barrier effects, the aligned configuration generally makes the most sig- nificant contribution. The characteristics of nucleon-exchange terms are also briefly examined. Here it is found that, at sufficiently high energies where sharp resonance levels do not exist, the essential properties of these terms can already be learned by performing relatively simple single-configuration calculations.« less

  16. Effects of capsaicin in the motor nerve.

    PubMed

    Pettorossi, V E; Bortolami, R; Della Torre, G; Brunetti, O

    1994-08-01

    The injection of capsaicin into the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle of the rat induced an immediate and sustained reduction in the A delta and C components of the compound action potential (CAP) of the LG motor nerve. Conversely, the drug did not immediately affect the CAP wave belonging to fast-conducting fibers or the motor responses to LG nerve stimulation. It seems that capsaicin only affects the group III and IV afferents of LG nerve. However, a week after the injection the capsaicin also altered the motor responses, as shown by the threshold enhancement and amplitude reduction of the muscle twitch and by the decrease of the A alpha-beta CAP components. This late motor impairment was attributed to a central depression following a reduction of capsaicin-sensitive neuron input into the CNS. However, this motor effect was transient since the LG nerve regained the preinjection excitability level in a week and the muscle twitch amplitude reached the control value in a month.

  17. Preparation and characterization of highly water-soluble magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles via surface double-layered self-assembly method of sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Honghong; Qin, Li; Feng, Ying; Hu, Lihua; Zhou, Chunhua

    2015-06-01

    A kind of double-layered self-assembly sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS) capped Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4-AOS-MN) with highly water-solubility was prepared by a wet co-precipitation method with a pH of 4.8. The resulting Fe3O4-AOS-MN could be dispersed into water to form stable magnetic fluid without other treatments. The result of X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the Fe3O4-AOS-MN maintained original crystalline structure and exhibited a diameter of about 7.5 nm. The iron oxide phase of nanoparticles determined by Raman spectroscopy is Fe3O4. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed that the Fe3O4-AOS-MN with spherical morphology were uniformly dispersed in water. FT-IR spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) verified the successful preparation of Fe3O4-AOS-MN capped with double-layered self-assembled AOS. The corresponding capacities of monolayer chemical absorption and the second-layer self-assembly absorption were respectively 4.07 and 14.71 wt% of Fe3O4-MN, which were much lower than those of other surfactants. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) test result showed Fe3O4-AOS-MN possessed superparamagnetic behavior with the saturation magnetization value of about 44.45 emu/g. The blocking temperature TB of Fe3O4-AOS-MN capped with double-layered AOS is 170 K.

  18. Direct assays of radiation-induced DNA base lesions in mammalian cells: Technical progress report, July 1, 1986--December 1, 1988

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

    Wheeler, K.T. Jr.

    1988-01-01

    Our cesium irradiator was installed in April 1987 and has the capability of irradiating DNA solutions, cells and animals at dose rates from >60 Gy/min to <10/sup /minus/2/ Gy/min. By early summer all of the dosimetry and set-ups were established to perform this research. In may 1987, Dr. Krystyna Lesiak left to return to the National Institutes of Health. However, she has remained a collaborator over the past 1/1/2/ years. She has synthesized a large lot of ..cap alpha..-deoxyadenosine, isolated a large batch of both the R and S isomer of cyclodeoxyadenosine and has capped the ..cap alpha..-deoxyadenonsine for usemore » in a DNA synthesizer that uses phosphoramidite chemistry. In November 1987, Dr. Andrzej Surowiec joined our unit as a Visiting Research Assistant Professor. Dr. Surowiec has a MS degree in electrical engineering and did his Ph.D. in Biophysics studying the conductivity of DNA in dilute solution. He has been performing the helix-coil transition experiments. In November 1987, Dr. Steven Swarts also joined our unit as a Postdoctoral Fellow. He received his Ph.D. from Oakland University under Dr. Michael Sevilla with whom we have a collaboration studying the induction of base damage in hydrated DNA. Dr. Swarts has a strong background in spectroscopy and, therefore, was a key individual for determination of the limitations of the HPLC assays and the establishment of a GC/MS capability equivalent to Dr. M. Dizdaroglu at the National Bureau of Standards. 9 refs., 1 tab.« less

  19. Hydrothermal synthesis of alpha- and beta-HgS nanostructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Galain, Isabel; María, Pérez Barthaburu; Ivana, Aguiar; Laura, Fornaro

    2017-01-01

    We synthesized HgS nanostructures by the hydrothermal method in order to use them as electron acceptors in hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells. We employed different mercury sources (HgO and Hg(CH3COO)2) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or hexadecanethiol (HDT) as stabilizing/capping agent for controlling size, crystallinity, morphology and stability of the obtained nanostructures. We also used thiourea as sulfur source, and a temperature of 180 °C during 6 h. Synthesized nanostructures were characterized by powder X-Ray Diffraction, Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform and Transmission Electron Microscopy. When PVP acts as stabilizing agent, the mercury source has influence on the size -but not in morphology- of the beta-HgS obtained nansostructures. HDT has control over nanostructures' size and depending on the relation Hg:HDT, we obtained a mixture of alpha and beta HgS which can be advantageous in the application in solar cells, due their absorption in different spectral regions. The smallest nanostructures obtained have a mean diameter of 20 nm when using HDT as capping agent. Also, we deposited the aforementioned nanostructures onto flat glass substrates by the spin coating technique as a first approach of an active layer of a solar cell. The depositions were characterized by atomic force microscopy. We obtained smaller particle deposition and higher particle density -but a lower area coverage (5%) - in samples with HDT as capping agent. This work presents promising results on nanostructures for future application on hybrid solar cells. Further efforts will be focused on the deposition of organic-inorganic layers.

  20. Treatment of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome with defibrotide, a proposed vascular endothelial cell modulator.

    PubMed

    Burcoglu-O'Ral, Arsinur; Erkan, Doruk; Asherson, Ronald

    2002-09-01

    To define at the molecular level the vascular endothelial cell (VEC) injury characteristics of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) and to report successful therapeutic use of a VEC modulator, defibrotide. We describe a 55-year-old man with primary APS with an intractable prothrombotic state (CAPS) resistant to combined therapy with heparin, warfarin, aspirin, and dipyridamole. Treatment with defibrotide was conducted in the context of an investigational phase II protocol where the dose was regulated and individualized by disease/patient-specific molecular and clinical markers. The patient entered complete remission with defibrotide treatment. During treatment, dose dependent pharmacological actions of defibrotide and key stress markers for VEC injury were identified. Evidence of defibrotide's polypharmacology included downregulation of cytokines, notably tumor necrosis factor-alpha, as the earliest effect, cellular differentiation of VEC, possibly with direct regulatory effect over cellular genes, and the reversal of platelet consumption and prothrombotic state. Von Willebrand antigen levels were used as the sole marker to guide therapy. This case demonstrates effective remission of CAPS with defibrotide treatment. In contrast to theories that CAPS is triggered by ischemic and thrombotic tissue damage, these data present VEC injury as the primary and representative lesion of CAPS. The pathogenesis may involve concurrent impairment of different VEC functions. Achieving remission may require a polypharmacologic approach, represented here by use of defibrotide.

  1. Characterization of the primary interaction between the mating pheromone, alpha-factor, and its receptor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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

    Raths, S.K.

    1987-01-01

    Alpha-factor is a peptide of thirteen amino acids which is required for mating between the haploid mating types, a and ..cap alpha.., in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An analogue of alpha-factor, DHP/sup 8/ DHP/sup 11/ Nle/sup 12/ tridecapeptide, was catalytically reduced in the presence of /sup 3/H gas for production of a radiolabeled pheromone suitable for use in binding studies. Incorporation of tritium resulted in /sup 3/H-alpha-factor with high specific activity, purity, biological activity and long shelf-life. Binding studies revealed that alpha-factor interacts with its receptor via a simple, reversible process which obeys the law of mass action. Association and dissociation kineticsmore » indicate values of 2.92 x 10/sup 6/ M/sup /minus/1/ min/sup -1/ for k/sub 1/ and between 4 and 7 x 10/sup /minus/2/ min/sup /minus/1/ for k/sub /minus/1/. Saturation binding studies reveal an equilibrium dissociation constant equal to 2.32 x 10/sup /minus/8/ M which approximate the kinetically-derived K/sub D/ of 2.12 x 10/sup /minus/8/ M. Scatchard and Hill analyses as well as dissociation behavior in the presence of excess unlabeled ligand indicate alpha-factor interacts with a homogeneous population of binding sites which do not interact and exhibit one affinity for the alpha-factor pheromone.« less

  2. A new genetic factor for root gravitropism in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

    PubMed

    Shi, Jiang-hua; Hao, Xi; Wu, Zhong-chang; Wu, Ping

    2009-10-01

    Root gravitropism is one of the important factors to determine root architecture. To understand the mechanism underlying root gravitropism, we isolated a rice (Xiushui63) mutant defective in root gravitropism, designated as gls1. Vertical sections of root caps revealed that gls1 mutant displayed normal distribution of amyloplast in the columella cells compared with the wild type. The gls1 mutant was less sensitive to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) than the wild type. Genetic analysis indicated that the phenotype of gls1 mutant was caused by a single recessive mutation, which is mapped in a 255-kb region between RM16253 and CAPS1 on the short arm of chromosome 4.

  3. 30 CFR 1210.56 - Where can I find more information on how to complete the royalty report?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... http://www.mrm.boemre.gov/ReportingServices/Handbooks/Handbks.htm or from ONRR at P.O. Box 5760, Denver... on our Internet Web site at http://www.mrm.boemre.gov/ReportingServices/Forms/AFSOil_Gas.htm, or you...

  4. 76 FR 16795 - The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System Strategic Plan 2011-2015; Request for...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-03-25

    ....fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/AntimicrobialResistance/NationalAntimicrobialResistanceMonitoringSystem/default.htm , http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/AntimicrobialResistance/NationalAntimicrobialResistanceMonitoringSystem/ucm062630.htm , http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/Safety...

  5. 77 FR 58560 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-09-21

    ... resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent.../dnr/water/6497.htm City of Tipton Tipton County Courthouse, 101 East Jefferson Street, Tipton, IN... Incorporated Areas Maps Available for Inspection Online at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/6648.htm City of...

  6. Effects of hydroxy trace minerals on oxidative metabolism, cytological endometritis, and performance of transition dairy cows.

    PubMed

    Yasui, T; Ryan, C M; Gilbert, R O; Perryman, K R; Overton, T R

    2014-01-01

    Multiparous Holstein cows (n=60) were used to determine effects of supplementing hydroxy forms of Zn, Cu, and Mn compared with 2 other common supplementation strategies on oxidative metabolism, cytological endometritis, and performance of transition cows. After a 1-wk pretreatment period, cows were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 dietary treatments from 21 d before expected calving through 84 d postcalving. Dietary treatments administered by daily top-dressing included (1) inorganic sulfate forms of Zn, Cu, and Mn (ITM); (2) a blend (75:25) of sulfates and organic complexes of Zn, Cu, and Mn (ITM/OTM); and (3) hydroxy trace minerals (HTM) of Zn, Cu, and Mn. The resulting dietary concentrations of supplemental Zn, Cu, and Mn were similar among treatments and averaged 40, 10, and 27 mg/kg, respectively, before calving and 59, 15, and 40 mg/kg, respectively, after calving. Total concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Mn averaged 80, 16, and 62 mg/kg during the prepartum period and 102, 23, and 75 mg/kg, respectively, during the postpartum period. Overall, effects of treatment on milk yield and milk composition were not significant. Cows fed HTM during the prepartum period had higher body weight (BW) than those fed ITM during the prepartum period and had higher BW during the postpartum period than those fed the other treatments; however, BW change, body condition score, and body condition score change were not affected by treatment. Plasma total antioxidant capacity was lower in cows fed HTM than ITM but was not different from cows fed ITM/OTM. Cows fed HTM tended to have lower concentrations of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances than those fed ITM during the whole study period, but plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were not different between HTM and ITM/OTM. Plasma haptoglobin was lower in cows fed HTM than ITM/OTM at 1 wk postpartum. Endometrial cytology 7d postcalving and cytological endometritis as assessed on 1d between 40 and 60 d postcalving was not affected by treatment. In conclusion, supplementation with HTM sources of Zn, Cu, and Mn modulated plasma variables related to oxidative metabolism compared with supplementation with ITM; however, HTM and ITM/OTM resulted in similar responses. Furthermore, the source of trace minerals did not affect performance or uterine health in this experiment. Copyright © 2014 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Impact of Trace Minerals on Wound Healing of Footpad Dermatitis in Broilers.

    PubMed

    Chen, Juxing; Tellez, Guillermo; Escobar, Jeffery; Vazquez-Anon, Mercedes

    2017-05-15

    Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is used in the poultry industry as an animal welfare criterion to determine stocking density. Trace minerals (TM) play a role in skin integrity and wound healing. This study evaluated the impact of TM on FPD and consisted of 3 treatments supplemented with 0 (NTM), low (LTM) and high (HTM) TM levels in the same basal diet. On d21, 71% birds in all treatments developed mild FPD and pens were top-dressed with dry litter to promote FPD healing. Compared to NTM, LTM reduced area under the curve (AUC) of FPD lesion scores during d21-42, HTM reduced the AUC of FPD lesion scores during d7-21 and d21-42. LTM improved growth performance on d14, HTM improved growth performance on d14 and d28. LTM and/or HTM increased gene expression of VEGF, TIMP3, TIMP4, MMP13, ITGA2, ITGA3 and CD40, which promoted collagen synthesis, deposition and organization; cell migration, matrix remodeling, and angiogenesis. LTM and/or HTM increased inflammation by upregulating TNFα and IL-1β during the early wound healing phase and reduced inflammation by downregulating IL-1β during the late wound healing phase. Our findings showed that TM not only improved growth performance but also reduced FPD development by promoting FPD wound healing.

  8. Horse Training and Management: Program of Excellence.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lane, Marvin

    This report on Lamar Community College's Horse Training and Management (HTM) program assesses the quality of the educational experience provided by the program, the quality of the faculty and students, institutional financial commitment to the program, contribution of the HTM program to state and local economic development, and external funding…

  9. 78 FR 14565 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-06

    ..., Building and team.com/lomrs.htm. County (12-03- Chairman at Development 1200P). Large, Loudoun Department... D. Public Works, team.com/lomrs.htm. 2078P). Sessoms, Jr., Municipal Center, Mayor, City of Building... flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes...

  10. 78 FR 48885 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-08-12

    ...- August 12, 2013...... 420713 Whitpain (12-03- Joseph J. Palmer, Building, 960 team.com/lomrs.htm. 1849P... team.com/lomrs.htm. City of Sachse, Department, 5560 3815 Sachse Road, Highway 78, Building B, Sachse... flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes...

  11. 78 FR 18233 - Medical Devices; Technical Amendment

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-03-26

    ... the right column: Section Remove Add 814.20 http://www.fda.gov/ http://www.fda.gov/ cdrh/devadvice.../ PremarketApproval PMA/default.htm. 822.7 http://www.fda.gov/ http://www.fda.gov/ cdrh/ombudsman/ AboutFDA/ dispute.html. CentersOffices/ OfficeofMedicalPr oductsandTobacco/ CDRH/ CDRHOmbudsman/ default.htm. 822.15...

  12. 77 FR 74859 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-18

    ... resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent...://www.in.gov/dnr/water/6401.htm City of Delphi Carroll County Area Plan Commission, Carroll County... Inspection Online at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/7339.htm Town of Cumberland Municipal Building, 11501 East...

  13. 78 FR 28888 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-16

    ... resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent.../dnr/water/6670.htm City of Oakland City City Hall, 210 East Washington Street, Oakland City, IN 47660... Areas Maps Available for Inspection Online at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/6472.htm City of Martinsville...

  14. 78 FR 8181 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-05

    ... panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent sciences established to review... Inspection Online at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/6476.htm City of Hartford City Blackford County Area... Online at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/5775.htm City of Carmel Department of Community Services, One...

  15. 77 FR 67016 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-11-08

    ... resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent... at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/6644.htm Town of Brookville Franklin County Government Center, Area...://www.in.gov/dnr/water/6415.htm Town of Liberty Union County Area Plan Commission, 6 West South Street...

  16. 78 FR 310 - Draft Revision of Guidance for Industry on Providing Regulatory Submissions in Electronic Format...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-01-03

    ...ApprovalProcess/FormsSubmissionRequirements/ElectronicSubmissions/ucm253101.htm , http://www.regulations.../Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/FormsSubmissionRequirements/ElectronicSubmissions/ucm253101.htm , http...), in a format that FDA can process, review, and archive. Currently, the Agency can process, review, and...

  17. Ultrathin efficient perovskite solar cells employing a periodic structure of a composite hole conductor for elevated plasmonic light harvesting and hole collection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Long, Mingzhu; Chen, Zefeng; Zhang, Tiankai; Xiao, Yubin; Zeng, Xiaoliang; Chen, Jian; Yan, Keyou; Xu, Jianbin

    2016-03-01

    We developed a molecule/polymer composite hole transporting material (HTM) with a periodic microstructure for morphology replication of a corrugated Au electrode, which in combination plays a dual role in the optical and electronic enhancement of high performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The electro-optics revealed that perovskite couldn't readily extinct the red light even though the thickness increased to 370 nm, but we found that the quasi periodic microstructure composite (PMC) HTM in combination with the conformal Au electrode could promote the absorption through the enhanced cavity effects, leading to comparable absorption even using much thinner perovskite (240 nm). We identified that the cavity was the combination of Fabry-Pérot interferometer and surface plasmonic resonance, with light harvesting enhancement through surface plasmon polariton or waveguide modes that propagate in the plane of the perovskite layer. On the other hand, the PMC HTM increased hole conductivity by one order of magnitude with respect to standard spiro-OMeTAD HTM due to molecular packing and self-assembly, embodying traceable hole mobility and density elevation up to 3 times, and thus the hysteresis was greatly avoided. Owing to dual optical and electronic enhancement, the PMC PSC afforded high efficiency PSC using as thin as 240 nm perovskite layer, delivering a Voc of 1.05 V, Jsc of 22.9 mA cm-2, FF of 0.736, and efficiency amounting to 17.7% PCE, the highest efficiency with ultrathin perovskite layer.We developed a molecule/polymer composite hole transporting material (HTM) with a periodic microstructure for morphology replication of a corrugated Au electrode, which in combination plays a dual role in the optical and electronic enhancement of high performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The electro-optics revealed that perovskite couldn't readily extinct the red light even though the thickness increased to 370 nm, but we found that the quasi periodic microstructure composite (PMC) HTM in combination with the conformal Au electrode could promote the absorption through the enhanced cavity effects, leading to comparable absorption even using much thinner perovskite (240 nm). We identified that the cavity was the combination of Fabry-Pérot interferometer and surface plasmonic resonance, with light harvesting enhancement through surface plasmon polariton or waveguide modes that propagate in the plane of the perovskite layer. On the other hand, the PMC HTM increased hole conductivity by one order of magnitude with respect to standard spiro-OMeTAD HTM due to molecular packing and self-assembly, embodying traceable hole mobility and density elevation up to 3 times, and thus the hysteresis was greatly avoided. Owing to dual optical and electronic enhancement, the PMC PSC afforded high efficiency PSC using as thin as 240 nm perovskite layer, delivering a Voc of 1.05 V, Jsc of 22.9 mA cm-2, FF of 0.736, and efficiency amounting to 17.7% PCE, the highest efficiency with ultrathin perovskite layer. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: XRD patterns corresponding to the perovskite; AFM images of 3D PMC HTM perovskite solar cells; performance statistics for 3D PMC HTM; ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) of HTMs on FTO. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr05042a

  18. Polariton effects in naphthalene crystals

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

    Robinette, Susan Louise

    1977-10-01

    The experimental verification of the two-step nature of energy dissipation of photon energy by a crystal is the subject of this dissertation. The ..cap alpha..(O,O) Davydov component of the lowest energy singlet transition in pure strain-free napthalene single crystals is shown to exhibit an increase in absorption with increasing temperature, due to an increase in polariton damping via polariton-phonon scattering processes. (GHT)

  19. EFFECT OF POLONIUM /cap alpha/ RADIATION ON GELATINE (in French)

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

    Ader, M.

    1962-08-01

    When a nuclear plate, which has been exposed to radiation, developed, and dried, is exposed to a Po source, no effect can be detected by either the eye or the microscope. However if the plate is placed in distilled water, the emulsion thickness of the irradiated region is reduced by approximately 20 mu . A ridge'' separates this region from the nonirradiated region. The ridge contains piles of silver grains, very deformed traces of the old radiation, and some gelatin fragments. It appears that the alpha particles penetrating the gelatine transforms this gelatin, reversible protein, into a substance soluble'' inmore » distilled water or entrained by the distilled water. (J.S.R.)« less

  20. 40 CFR 1037.810 - Incorporation by reference.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... must publish a notice of the change in the Federal Register and the material must be available to the... software is also available for download at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/gem.htm. (2) [Reserved] (d... working version of this software is also available for download at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/gem.htm. ...

  1. 76 FR 55390 - Guidance on Exculpatory Language in Informed Consent, Draft

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-09-07

    ...://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RunningClinicalTrials/default.htm , is intended to assist... , http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/newsroom/rfc/index.html , or http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RunningClinicalTrials/default.htm . III. Request for Comments OHRP and FDA are making their joint draft...

  2. 78 FR 32676 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-31

    ... flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes...://www.rampp-team.com/ September 23, 2013........ 050084 Springs (13-06- Ruth Carney, 111 Opera lomrs.htm... http://www.rampp-team.com/ July 25, 2013 340343 Hanover (12-02- Ronald F. Engineering lomrs.htm. 1077P...

  3. 77 FR 73490 - Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-12-10

    ... resolution process. SRPs are independent panels of experts in hydrology, hydraulics, and other pertinent...://www.in.gov/dnr/water/6573.htm City of Rising Sun City Hall, 200 North Walnut Street, Rising Sun, IN....in.gov/dnr/water/7357.htm Town of Gosport Town Hall, 13 South 3rd Street, Gosport, IN 47433. Town of...

  4. Addressing the Big-Earth-Data Variety Challenge with the Hierarchical Triangular Mesh

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rilee, Michael L.; Kuo, Kwo-Sen; Clune, Thomas; Oloso, Amidu; Brown, Paul G.; Yu, Honfeng

    2016-01-01

    We have implemented an updated Hierarchical Triangular Mesh (HTM) as the basis for a unified data model and an indexing scheme for geoscience data to address the variety challenge of Big Earth Data. We observe that, in the absence of variety, the volume challenge of Big Data is relatively easily addressable with parallel processing. The more important challenge in achieving optimal value with a Big Data solution for Earth Science (ES) data analysis, however, is being able to achieve good scalability with variety. With HTM unifying at least the three popular data models, i.e. Grid, Swath, and Point, used by current ES data products, data preparation time for integrative analysis of diverse datasets can be drastically reduced and better variety scaling can be achieved. In addition, since HTM is also an indexing scheme, when it is used to index all ES datasets, data placement alignment (or co-location) on the shared nothing architecture, which most Big Data systems are based on, is guaranteed and better performance is ensured. Moreover, our updated HTM encoding turns most geospatial set operations into integer interval operations, gaining further performance advantages.

  5. 2D black phosphorous nanosheets as a hole transporting material in perovskite solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Muduli, Subas Kumar; Varrla, Eswaraiah; Kulkarni, Sneha Avinash; Han, Guifang; Thirumal, Krishnamoorthy; Lev, Ovadia; Mhaisalkar, Subodh; Mathews, Nripan

    2017-12-01

    We demonstrate for the first-time liquid exfoliated few layers of 2D Black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets as a hole transporting material (HTM) for perovskite based solar cells. The photoelectron spectroscopy in air (PESA) measurements confirm the low laying valence band level of BP nanosheets (-5.2 eV) favourable for hole injection from CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3). Our results show that ∼25% improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of η = 16.4% for BP nanosheets + Spiro-OMeTAD as an HTM as compared to spiro-OMeTAD (η = 13.1%). When BP nanosheets are exclusively utilised as an HTM, a PCE of η = 7.88% is noted, an improvement over the 4% PCE values observed for HTM free devices. Photoluminescence (PL) quenching of MAPbI3 and impedance measurements further confirm the charge extraction ability of BP nanosheets. The structural and optical characterization of liquid exfoliated BP nanosheets is discussed in detail with the aid of transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy and photo-electron spectroscopy.

  6. Comparison of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s CAP88 PC versions 3.0 and 4.0

    DOE PAGES

    Jannik, Tim; Farfan, Eduardo B.; Dixon, Ken; ...

    2015-08-01

    The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) with the assistance of Georgia Regents University, completed a comparison of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) environmental dosimetry code CAP88 PC V3.0 with the recently developed V4.0. CAP88 is a set of computer programs and databases used for estimation of dose and risk from radionuclide emissions to air. At the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, CAP88 is used by SRNL for determining compliance with EPA's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (40 CFR 61, Subpart H) regulations. Using standardized input parameters, individual runs were conducted for each radionuclide within itsmore » corresponding database. Some radioactive decay constants, human usage parameters, and dose coefficients changed between the two versions, directly causing a proportional change in the total effective 137Cs, 3H, 129I, 239Pu, and 90Sr) is provided. In general, the total effective doses will decrease for alpha/beta emitters because of reduced inhalation and ingestion rates in V4.0. However, for gamma emitters, such as 60Co and 137Cs, the total effective doses will increase because of changes EPA made in the external ground shine calculations.« less

  7. Morphological changes and viability of primary cultured human ocular trabecular meshwork cells after exposure to air.

    PubMed

    Kopsachilis, Nikolaos; Tsaousis, Konstantinos T; Carifi, Gianluca; Welge-Luessen, Ulrich

    2014-06-01

    To investigate the possible toxic effect of air exposure for an in vitro model of primary human ocular trabecular meshwork cells (HTM). HTM were isolated from five donor eyes and cultivated at 37 °C. After reaching confluence the cells were seeded on two well chamber slides. The chamber slides were turned upside down in a Petri culture dish full of culture medium and filled with air using a 5 ml syringe, starting this way the exposure of the cells to the air. Subsequently they were placed in the incubation chamber at 37 °C. Six groups of HTM cultures were set up: group 1 consisted of samples in which HTM were exposed to air for 30 min, group 2 for 1 h, group 3 for 3 h, group 4 for 6 h, group 5 for 12 h and group 6 for 24 h. At 3 h after exposure, the morphology of the cells was still intact, at 6 h few cells appeared deformed and exhibited characteristics of more senescent cells. At 12 h after exposure to air the HTM cells started losing their typical morphology and appeared enlarged and compromised. Viability was superior to 94% in groups 1-3 while for groups 4, 5, 6 it was 82.7%, 39.5% and 12.7% respectively. The toxic effect of air exposure for the studied in vitro model of HTM is not significant for the time period of one to three hours. However it starts reducing viability and alternating morphology 6 h after exposure until the time period of 24 h, where the percentage of living cells is drastically decreased. Therefore, we suggest that the use of an air bubble especially in glaucomatous patients should be applied with caution. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. The uteroglobin fold.

    PubMed

    Callebaut, I; Poupon, A; Bally, R; Demaret, J P; Housset, D; Delettré, J; Hossenlopp, P; Mornon, J P

    2000-01-01

    Uteroglobin (UTG) forms a fascinating homodimeric structure that binds small- to medium-sized ligands through an internal hydrophobic cavity, located at the interface between the two monomers. Previous studies have shown that UTG fold is not limited to the UTG/CC10 family, whose sequence/structure relationships are highlighted here, but can be extended to the cap domain of Xanthobacter autotrophicus haloalkane dehalogenase. We show here that UTG fold is adopted by several other cap domains within the alpha/beta hydrolase family, making it a well-suited "geode" structure allowing it to sequester various hydrophobic molecules. Additionally, some data about a new crystal form of oxidized rabbit UTG are presented, completing previous structural studies, as well as results from molecular dynamics, suggesting an alternative way for the ligand to reach the internal cavity.

  9. Functionalized CdS quantum dots-based luminescence probe for detection of heavy and transition metal ions in aqueous solution.

    PubMed

    Chen, Jinlong; Zheng, Aifang; Gao, Yingchun; He, Chiyang; Wu, Genhua; Chen, Youcun; Kai, Xiaoming; Zhu, Changqing

    2008-03-01

    Strong luminescence CdS quantum dots (QDs) have been prepared and modified with l-cysteine by a facile seeds-assistant technique in water. They are water-soluble and highly stable in aqueous solution. CdS QDs evaluated as a luminescence probe for heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions in aqueous solution was systematically studied. Five HTM ions such as silver(I) ion, copper(II) ion, mercury(II) ion, cobalt(II) ion, and nickel(II) ion significantly influence the photophysics of the emission from the functionalized CdS QDs. Experiment results showed that the fluorescence emission from CdS QDs was enhanced significantly by silver ion without any spectral shift, while several other bivalent HTM ions, such as Hg(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+), exhibited effective optical quenching effect on QDs. Moreover, an obvious red-shift of emission band was observed in the quenching of CdS QDs for Hg(2+) and Cu(2+) ions. Under the optimal conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of Ag(+) ion ranging from 1.25 x 10(-7) to 5.0 x 10(-6)molL(-1) with a detection limit of 2.0 x 10(-8)molL(-1). The concentration dependence of the quenching effect on functionalized QDs for the other four HTM ions could be well described by typical Stern-Volmer equation, with the linear response of CdS QDs emission proportional to the concentration ranging from 1.50 x 10(-8) to 7.50 x 10(-7)molL(-1) for Hg(2+) ion, 3.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-5)molL(-1) for Ni(2+) ion, 4.59 x 10(-8) to 2.295 x 10(-6)molL(-1) for Cu(2+) ion, and 1.20 x 10(-7) to 6.0 x 10(-6)molL(-1) Co(2+) ion, respectively. Based on the distinct optical properties of CdS QDs system with the five HTM ions, and the relatively wide linear range and rapid response to HTM ions, CdS QDs can be developed as a potential identified luminescence probe for familiar HTM ions detection in aqueous solution.

  10. The effect of trace mineral source and concentration on ruminal digestion and mineral solubility.

    PubMed

    Genther, O N; Hansen, S L

    2015-01-01

    The objective of this experiment was to compare the effect of sources of sulfate trace mineral (STM) and hydroxy trace mineral (HTM) at different inclusions on digestibility of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber and solubility of Cu, Mn, and Zn in the rumen and abomasum of cattle. Five ruminally cannulated steers were used in a 5×5 Latin square design and individually fed a corn silage-based diet on an ad libitum basis. The 5 dietary treatments were as follows: control: no supplemental Cu, Mn, or Zn, analyzed to contain 7.4mg of Cu, 30.8mg of Mn, and 32.1mg of Zn per kilogram of diet DM (CON); low sulfate: 5mg of Cu/kg of DM supplemented from CuSO4, 15mg of Mn/kg of DM from MnSO4, and 30mg of Zn/kg of DM from ZnSO4; low HTM: 5mg of Cu/kg of DM supplemented from basic copper chloride (IntelliBond C; Micronutrients Inc., Indianapolis, IN), 15mg of Mn/kg of DM from manganese hydroxychloride (IntelliBond M; Micronutrients Inc.), and 30mg of Zn/kg of DM from zinc hydroxychloride (IntelliBond Z; Micronutrients Inc.); high sulfate: 25mg of Cu/kg of DM supplemented from CuSO4, 60mg of Mn/kg of DM from MnSO4, and 120mg of Zn/kg of DM from ZnSO4; and high HTM: 25mg of Cu/kg of DM supplemented from basic copper chloride, 60mg of Mn/kg of DM from manganese hydroxychloride, and 120mg of Zn/kg of DM from zinc hydroxychloride. Periods lasted for 12d, with 10d of diet adaptation. Dacron bags containing the CON total mixed ration were inserted on d 11 at 0h and were removed at 6, 12, 24, and 36h after insertion. Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber disappearances and rumen and simulated abomasal trace mineral solubilities were evaluated. Dietary treatment did not affect DM intake. Dry matter disappearance was lesser in supplemental TM treatments and greater in CON than the STM treatments, although the CON and HTM treatments did not differ. Neutral detergent fiber disappearance was not affected by treatment. Ruminally soluble Cu and Mn concentrations were least in CON and were lesser in HTM-containing treatments compared with STM treatments. However, in the abomasum, solubilities of Cu and Mn were similar across trace mineral sources. Ruminal and simulated abomasal soluble Zn was greater in the HTM treatments than in CON and STM, driven by the greater solubility of the high HTM treatment. Under the conditions of this study, supplementing trace minerals as STM decreased DM digestibility, whereas HTM did not affect DM digestibility. Additionally, Cu and Mn from HTM sources were relatively insoluble in the rumen but had similar solubility as STM at the pH found in the abomasum, suggesting that these minerals should be available for absorption in the intestine. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Time variations of magnetospheric intensities of outer zone protons, alpha particles and ions (Z greater than or equal to 2). Ph.D. Thesis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Randall, B. A.

    1973-01-01

    A comprehensive study of the temporal behavior of trapped protons, alpha particles and ions (Z 2) in outer zone of the earth's magnetosphere has been made. These observations were made by the Injun V satellite during the first 21 months of operation, August 1968 to May 1970. Rapid increases in the observed number of particles followed by slower exponential decay characterize the data. Comparisons are made with the temporal behavior of interplanetary particles of the same energy observed by Explorer 35. Increases in the trapped fluxes generally correspond to enhanced interplanetary activity. The energy spectra of protons and alpha particles at L = 3 have similar shapes when compared on an energy per charge basis while the respective polar cap spectra have similar shape on an energy per nucleon basis. Apparent inward trans-L motion of energetic protons is observed. These particles are diffused inward by a process involving fluctuating electric fields. The loss of trapped low altitude protons, alpha particles and ions (Z 2) is controlled by coulombic energy loss in the atmosphere.

  12. Age and seasonal differences in the synthesis and metabolism of testosterone by testicular tissue and pineal HIOMT activity of Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus)

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

    Ellis, L.C.; Balph, D.F.

    Male Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus) were sacrificed from a free-living population during the breeding season, which immediately followed emergence from hibernation; after the reproductive season; and just prior to aestivation/hibernation. HIOMT activity of the pineal gland was assayed and related to the ability of the gonads to synthesize and metabolize testosterone. Older squirrels had higher HIOMT activity than did the younger animals. The activity of this enzyme was lowest in squirrels during the breeding season. HIOMT activity increased after the breeding season to its highest level just before the squirrels enter aestivation/hibernation. At this time, testicular weight increased concomitantmore » with an apparent increase in HIOMT activity. Testicular size and weight were largest at the time of emergence of the animals from hibernation. Androgen synthesis was also greatest during the breeding season. As would be expected, both decreased rapidly thereafter. The testes formed little 17..cap alpha..,20..cap alpha..-dihydroxyprogesterone during or after the breeding season, contrary to what has been reported for rats and house sparrows. The older squirrels demonstrated a greater capacity for testosterone metabolism during the breeding season than did the younger animals.« less

  13. Fluorescence alteration of MPA capped CdSe quantum dots by spontaneous biomarker protein adsorption.

    PubMed

    Rowley, Amber; Parks, Tegan; Parks, Kaden; Medley, Kyle; Cordner, Alex; Yu, Ming

    2018-05-23

    Quantum dots (QDs) have significant potentials in biomedical applications of bioimaging and biosensing. Spontaneous adsorption of proteins on QDs surface is a common phenomenon, which occurred to serum proteins in biological samples, and has been observed to enhance QDs fluorescence. In this study, fluorescence alteration of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) capped CdSe quantum dots by four individual biomarker proteins was investigated. By monitoring the fluorescence emission of QDs, the biomarker protein adsorbed spontaneously on QDs surface was recognized and quantified. When alpha fetoprotein (AFP) or heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90α) were present, the QDs became brighter. The presence of cytochrome C (CytoC) or lysozyme (Lyz) made the QDs dimmer first, and then brighter. Within 5 min response time all four biomarker proteins were detected individually with the estimated detection limit in the range of 1-10 ng/mL and good linear dynamic ranges. The results suggested that the fluorescence of QDs was responsive to not only serum proteins but also biomarker proteins. The fluorescence response was able to correlate quantitatively with the amount of biomarker proteins in relatively low concentrations. These results provide more information to understand QDs and support their applications in biomedical fields. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  14. Role of calcium in the constriction of isolated cerebral arteries

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

    Wendling, W.W.

    1987-01-01

    Calcium entry blockers (CEB) have been used in the experimental treatment or prevention of many cerebrovascular disorders including stroke, post-ischemic hypoperfusion after cardiac arrest, cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, and migraine headache. However, the mechanism of action of these drugs on the cerebral circulation is poorly understood. This study examined the effects of calcium antagonists, Ca/sup 2 +/-deficient solutions, and vasocostrictors on cerebrovascular tone and /sup 45/Ca fluxes, to determine the role of calcium in cerebral arterial constriction. A Scatchard plot of /sup 45/Ca binding to BMCA showed that Ca/sup 2 +/ was bound at either low or high affinitymore » binding sties. The four vasoconstrictors (potassium, serotonin, PGF/sub 2 ..cap alpha../, or SQ-26,655) each increased low affinity /sup 45/Ca uptake into BMCA. The results demonstrate that: (1) Potassium and serotonin constrict BMCA mainly by promoting Ca/sup 2 +/ influx through CEB-sensitive channels; (2) PGF/sub 2 ..cap alpha../ and SQ-26,655 constrict BMCA in part by promoting Ca/sup 2 +/ influx through CEB-sensitive channels, and in part by releasing Ca/sup 2 +/ from depletable internal stores; (3) The major action of CEB on BMCA is to block vasoconstrictor-induced Ca/sup 2 +/ uptake through both potential-operated (K/sup +/-stimulated) and receptor-operated channels.« less

  15. Neutral amino acid transport across brain microvessel endothelial cell monolayers

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

    Audus, K.L.; Borchardt, R.T.

    1986-03-01

    Brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMEC) which form the blood-brain barrier (BBB) possess an amino acid carrier specific for large neutral amino acids (LNAA). The carrier is important for facilitating the delivery of nutrient LNAA's and centrally acting drugs that are LNAA's, to the brain. Bovine BMEC's were isolated and grown up to complete monolayers on regenerated cellulose-membranes in primary culture. To study the transendothelial transport of leucine, the monolayers were placed in a side-by-side diffusion cell, and transport across the monolayers followed with (/sup 3/H)-leucine. The transendothelial transport of leucine in this in vitro model was determined to be bidirectional,more » and time-, temperature-, and concentration-dependent. The transport of leucine was saturable and the apparent K/sub m/ and V/sub max/, 0.18 mM and 6.3 nmol/mg/min, respectively. Other LNAA's, including the centrally acting drugs, ..cap alpha..-methyldopa, L-DOPA, ..cap alpha..-methyl-tyrosine, and baclofen, inhibited leucine transport. The leucine carrier was also found to be stereospecific and not sensitive to inhibitors of active transport. These results are consistent with previous in vitro and in vivo studies. Primary cultures of BMEC's appear to be a potentially important tool for investigating at the cellular level, the transport mechanisms of the BBB.« less

  16. Imidazoline ring cleavage in 1,3,6,10-tetraazatetracyclo-(7. 3. 1. 0/sup 2,7/. 0/sup 6,13/)trideca-4,11-dienes, leading to the formation of diquinoxalino(1,2-. cap alpha. :2',3'-d)pyrrole derivatives

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

    Charushin, V.N.; Petrova, G.M.; Aleksandrov, G.G.

    1987-10-01

    Dibenzo(d,k)-1,3,6,10-tetraazatetracyclo(7.3.1.0/sup 2,7/.0/sup 6,13/) trideca-4,11-dienes undergo addition reactions at the C/sub (2)/ carbon atom with alcohols and thiols, accompanied by cleavage of the C-N bond of the imidazoline ring, to generate diquinoxalino(1,2-..cap alpha..:2',3'-d)pyrrole derivatives. /sup 1/H NMR spectra were recorded on Perkin-Elmer R 12B (60 MHz) and Bruker WH-90 spectrometer for CDCl/sub 3/ solutions at 40/sup 0/C and with TMS as internal standard. /sup 13/C NMR spectra were obtained on a Bruker WH-90 (22.62 MHz) spectrometer. /sup 13/C chemical shifts were measured relative to solvent signals (deltaCDCl/sub 3/ 77.0 ppm). /sup 13/C NMR spectra of compounds IIa and g were takenmore » using full spin-spin carbon-proton decoupling. In order to measure SSCC the spectrum was recorded both with proton coupling and also with selective decoupling of individual protons and their attached /sup 13/C carbon nuclei.« less

  17. Characterization of HeLa 5'-nucleotidase: a stable plasma membrane marker

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

    Brake, E.T.; Will, P.C.; Cook, J.S.

    1977-11-22

    The enzyme 5'-nucleotidase, assayed as 5'-AMPase, has been extensively characterized and established as a stable, quantitative plasma membrane marker in HeLa S3 cells. The 5'-AMPase has a K/sub m/ of 7.0 ..mu..m. There are activity optima at pH7 and 10; the latter is Mg/sup 2 +/-dependent. The membrane preparations have a small amount of acid phosphatase activity that is distinct from 5'-AMPase activity but no alkaline phosphatase. ADP, ATP and ..cap alpha.., ..beta..-methylene adenosine-5'-diphosphate are strongly inhibitory. Mg/sup 2 +/, Ca/sup 2 +/, or Co/sup 2 +/ do not affect the pH 7.0 activity; Mn/sup 2 +/ activates slightly, whereasmore » Zn/sup 2 +/, Cu/sup 2 +/, and Ni/sup 2 +/ are inhibitory. EDTA slowly inactivates, but removal of the EDTA without the addition of divalent cations restores activity. The inactivation is also substantially reversed by Co/sup 2 +/ or Mn/sup 2 +/. ConA strongly inhibits, and ..cap alpha..-methyl-D-mannoside or glucose relieves the inhibition, indicating that the 5'-AMPase is a glycoprotein. Histidine is also inhibitory. Ouabain, phloretin, cytochalasin B, cysteine, phenylalanine, N-ethylmaleimide, and iodoacetic acid are without effect.« less

  18. Anisotropy of the Fermi surface, Fermi velocity, many-body enhancement, and superconducting energy gap in Nb

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

    Crabtree, G.W.; Dye, D.H.; Karim, D.P.

    1987-02-01

    The detailed angular dependence of the Fermi radius k/sub F/, the Fermi velocity v/sub F/(k), the many-body enhancement factor lambda(k), and the superconducting energy gap ..delta..(k), for electrons on the Fermi surface of Nb are derived with use of the de Haas--van Alphen (dHvA) data of Karim, Ketterson, and Crabtree (J. Low Temp. Phys. 30, 389 (1978)), a Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker parametrization scheme, and an empirically adjusted band-structure calculation of Koelling. The parametrization is a nonrelativistic five-parameter fit allowing for cubic rather than spherical symmetry inside the muffin-tin spheres. The parametrized Fermi surface gives a detailed interpretation of the previously unexplained kappa,more » ..cap alpha..', and ..cap alpha..'' orbits in the dHvA data. Comparison of the parametrized Fermi velocities with those of the empirically adjusted band calculation allow the anisotropic many-body enhancement factor lambda(k) to be determined. Theoretical calculations of the electron-phonon interaction based on the tight-binding model agree with our derived values of lambda(k) much better than those based on the rigid-muffin-tin approximation. The anisotropy in the superconducting energy gap ..delta..(k) is estimated from our results for lambda(k), assuming weak anisotropy.« less

  19. 75 FR 41121 - Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Special Wastes...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-15

    .../fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-form.htm . If you would like to present oral testimony and are unable to preregister... SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for information on how to register. ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held at the....gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-hearing.htm . Those persons planning to...

  20. Training a US Army Chemical Corps Company in the Current Operating Environment

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-02-20

    Recon Vehicle. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/ iav - nbc.htm (accessed December 14, 2008). 5    in addition to his or her duties...systems/ground/ iav - nbc.htm (accessed December 14, 2008). Meyer, Josh. "Al Qaeda is said to focus again on WMD." Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2008: A

  1. 78 FR 36176 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-551); Comment Request; Extension

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-06-17

    ...: Reporting of Flow Volume and Capacity by Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines. OMB Control No.: 1902-0243. Type... Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. Type of Respondents: Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines. Estimate of...) ( http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm and http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm ). Comments...

  2. 78 FR 20331 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-04

    ... flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes............ 350070 (12-06-1488P). David Coss, Avenue, Santa Fe, team.com/lomrs.htm. Mayor, City of NM 87501. Santa Fe... Design http://www.rampp- May 28, 2013......... 405381 06-1019P). Dewey F. Office, 2317 team.com/lomrs.htm...

  3. Air Force’s Combat Aircraft: A Future Holding into the Past

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-04-07

    Global Security, “9M111 / SA-19 GRISON ,” Globalsecurity.org, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/ russia/sa-19.htm (accessed March 13, 2010...world/russia/9k338.htm (assessed March 13, 2010). Global Security. “9M111 / SA-19 GRISON .” Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity. org

  4. 50 CFR 622.14 - Area closures related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Web site: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm. (b) Gulf EEZ area closure related... the Gulf EEZ identified in the map shown on the NMFS Web site: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater... shown on the NMFS Web site: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm. ...

  5. Polyamidoamine dendrimers-capped carbon dots/Au nanocrystal nanocomposites and its application for electrochemical immunosensor.

    PubMed

    Gao, Qi; Han, Jingman; Ma, Zhanfang

    2013-11-15

    In this work, polyamidoamine dendrimers capped-carbon dots (PAMAM-CDs) were fabricated by one-step microwave assisted pyrolysis of citric acid (CA) and PAMAM, where the formation of CDs and the surface passivation were accomplished simultaneously. The obtained graphitic PAMAM-CDs, with abundant amine groups, were employed as reducing and capping agents for the formation of PAMAM-CDs/Au nanocrystal nanocomposites. The resulting nanocomposites exhibited excellent conductivity, stability and biocompatibility on the surface of electrode and were designed as an immobilized matrix for sensitive immunosensing of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The proposed immunosensor showed a wide linear detection range from 100 fg mL(-1) to 100 ng mL(-1). The detection limit for AFP was 0.025 pg mL(-1). Importantly, the immunosensor was evaluated for the analysis of clinical serum samples, obtaining a good correlation with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicated that the immunosensor provided a possible application for the detection of AFP in clinical diagnosis. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Validation of the French version of the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index: psychometric properties in French speaking school-aged children.

    PubMed

    Olliac, Bertrand; Birmes, Philippe; Bui, Eric; Allenou, Charlotte; Brunet, Alain; Claudet, Isabelle; Sales de Gauzy, Jérôme; Grandjean, Hélène; Raynaud, Jean-Philippe

    2014-01-01

    Although the reliable and valid Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI) is a widely used measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children, it has not been validated in French-speaking populations. The present study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the CPTS-RI in three samples of French-speaking school-children. Data was obtained from three samples. Sample 1 was composed of 106 children (mean (SD) age = 11.7(0.7), 50% females) victims of an industrial disaster. Sample 2 was composed of 50 children (mean (SD) age = 10.8(2.6), 44% females) who had received an orthopaedic surgical procedure after an accident. Sample 3 was composed of 106 children (mean (SD) age = 11.7(2.2), 44% females) admitted to an emergency department after a road traffic accident. We tested internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. We examined test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient. In order to assess the convergent validity of the French version of the CPTS-RI and the Clinician Administered PTS Scale-Child and Adolescent (CAPS-CA), spearman-correlation coefficient was computed. To verify the validity of the cut-off scores, a ROC curve was constructed which evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of each score compared to the diagnosis with the CAPS-CA. We also used principal components analysis with varimax rotation to study the structure of the French version of the CPTS-RI. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.87 for the French version of the CPTS-RI. Two-week test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (n = 30) was 0.67. The French version of the CPTS-RI was well correlated with the CAPS-CA (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). Taking the CAPS-CA as the diagnostic reference, with a diagnostic cut-off of >24 for the CPTS-RI, the sensitivity and specificities were 100% and 62.6%, respectively. The French version of the CPTS-RI demonstrated a three-factor structure. The CPTS-RI is reliable and valid in French-speaking children.

  7. Introduction of potential helix-capping residues into an engineered helical protein.

    PubMed

    Parker, M H; Hefford, M A

    1998-08-01

    MB-1 is an engineered protein that was designed to incorporate high percentages of four amino acid residues and to fold into a four-alpha-helix bundle motif. Mutations were made in the putative loop I and III regions of this protein with the aim of increasing the stability of the helix ends. Four variants, MB-3, MB-5, MB-11 and MB-13, have replacements intended to promote formation of an 'N-capping box'. The loop I and III sequences of MB-3 (both GDLST) and MB-11 (GGDST) were designed to cause alphaL C-terminal 'capping' motifs to form in helices I and III. MB-5 has a sequence, GPDST, that places proline in a favourable position for forming beta-turns, whereas MB-13 (GLDST) has the potential to form Schellman C-capping motifs. Size-exclusion chromatography suggested that MB-1, MB-3, MB-5, MB-11 and MB-13 all form dimers, or possibly trimers. Free energies for the unfolding of each of these variants were determined by urea denaturation, with the loss of secondary structure followed by CD spectroscopy. Assuming an equilibrium between folded dimer and unfolded monomer, MB-13 had the highest apparent stability (40.5 kJ/mol, with +/-2.5 kJ/mol 95% confidence limits), followed by MB-11 (39.3+/-5.9 kJ/mol), MB-3 (36.4+/-1.7 kJ/mol), MB-5 (34.7+/-2.1 kJ/mol) and MB-1 (29.3+/-1.3 kJ/mol); the same relative stabilities of the variants were found when a folded trimer to unfolded monomer model was used to calculate stabilities. All of the variants were relatively unstable for dimeric proteins, but were significantly more stable than MB-1. These findings suggest that it might be possible to increase the stability of a protein for which the three-dimensional structure is unknown by placing amino acid residues in positions that have the potential to form helix- and turn-stabilizing motifs.

  8. All-night EEG power spectral analysis of the cyclic alternating pattern components in young adult subjects.

    PubMed

    Ferri, Raffaele; Bruni, Oliviero; Miano, Silvia; Plazzi, Giuseppe; Terzano, Mario G

    2005-10-01

    To analyze in detail the frequency content of the different EEG components of the Cyclic Alternating Pattern (CAP), taking into account the ongoing EEG background and the nonCAP (NCAP) periods in the whole night polysomnographic recordings of normal young adults. Sixteen normal healthy subjects were included in this study. Each subject underwent one polysomnographic night recording; sleep stages were scored following standard criteria. Subsequently, each CAP A phase was detected in all recordings, during NREM sleep, and classified into 3 subtypes (A1, A2, and A3). The same channel used for the detection of CAP A phases (C3/A2 or C4/A1) was subdivided into 2-s mini-epochs. For each mini-epoch, the corresponding CAP condition was determined and power spectra calculated in the frequency range 0.5-25 Hz. Average spectra were obtained for each CAP condition, separately in sleep stage 2 and SWS, for each subject. Finally, the first 6h of sleep were subdivided into 4 periods of 90 min each and the same spectral analysis was performed for each period. During sleep stage 2, CAP A subtypes differed from NCAP periods for all frequency bins between 0.5 and 25 Hz; this difference was most evident for the lowest frequencies. The B phase following A1 subtypes had a power spectrum significantly higher than that of NCAP, for frequencies between 1 and 11 Hz. The B phase after A2 only differed from NCAP for a small but significant reduction in the sigma band power; this was evident also after A3 subtypes. During SWS, we found similar results. The comparison between the different CAP subtypes also disclosed significant differences related to the stage in which they occurred. Finally, a significant effect of the different sleep periods was found on the different CAP subtypes during sleep stage 2 and on NCAP in both sleep stage 2 and SWS. CAP subtypes are characterized by clearly different spectra and also the same subtype shows a different power spectrum, during sleep stage 2 or SWS. This finding underlines a probable different functional meaning of the same CAP subtype during different sleep stages. We also found 3 clear peaks of difference between CAP subtypes and NCAP in the delta, alpha, and beta frequency ranges which might indicate the presence of 3 frequency components characterizing CAP subtypes, in different proportion in each of them. The B component of CAP differs from NCAP because of a decrease in power in the sigma frequency range. This study shows that A components of CAP might correspond to periods in which the very-slow delta activity of sleep groups a range of different EEG activities, including the sigma and beta bands, while the B phase of CAP might correspond to a period in which this activity is quiescent or inhibited.

  9. Modification of CuI based Hole Transport Material for Solid State DSSC Application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hanif, Q. A.; Ramelan, A. H.; Saputri, L. N. M. Z.; Wahyuningsih, S.

    2018-03-01

    Modification of Hole Transport Material (HTM) with addition of tetramethylethylenediamine (TMED) and ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) have been conducted. Copper Iodide (CuI) were used as the main component of HTM. Several volume variations of TMED (0.1; 0.2; and 0.4 mL) was added into 0.05 M CuI solutions. While TMED: NH4SCN ratio were 1:1,1:2,2:1 also introduced to the dissolved CuI. Optical properties of these materials showed the band gap energy value ranging from 2.38 to 3.79 eV. The conductivity of HTM has been measured and showed the maximum value in CuI added with 0.4 mL TMED = 0.29 S m-1, and ratio of TMED: NH4SCN=2:1 added into CuI = 0.39 S m-1, these value were increased compared to the CuI conductivity itself (0.26 S m-1). The effect of this modification towards SS DSSC efficiency also has been monitored. The SS DSSC construction consists of TiO2 nanorods sensitized by N3, HTM, and platinum as a counter electrode. The performance of SS DSSC showed rising efficiency as follows TiO2|N3|CuI

  10. An Efficient Amphiphilic-Type Triphenylamine-Based Organic Hole Transport Material for High-Performance and Ambient-Stable Dopant-Free Perovskite and Organic Solar Cells.

    PubMed

    Reddy, Saripally Sudhaker; Park, Ho-Yeol; Kwon, Haeun; Shin, Jongmoon; Kim, Chang-Su; Song, Myungkwan; Jin, Sung-Ho

    2018-04-25

    A new set of simply structured triphenylamine-based small molecules are synthesized and evaluated as dopant-free hole transporting materials (HTMs) for high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and bulk heterojunction inverted organic solar cells (BHJ IOSCs). Surprisingly, the new amphiphilic-type HTM-1 (with internal hydrophilic groups and peripheral hydrophobic alkyl tails) showed better compatibility and performance than the actual target molecule, that is, HTM-2 in PSCs and BHJ IOSCs. Importantly, the HTM-1-based dopant-free PSCs and BHJ IOSCs exhibited high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 11.45 % and 8.34 %, respectively. These performances are superior and comparable to those of standard HTMs Spiro-OMeTAD (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene) and PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene sulfonate) in PSCs and BHJ IOSCs, respectively. The enhanced device performance of the HTM-1-based PSCs is ascribed to its strong affinity towards the perovskite, properly aligned energy levels with respect to the perovskite valence band, and excellent hole transporting behavior. In addition, the well-organized energy levels of the HTMs showed excellent compatibility in BHJ IOSCs. The new amphiphilic-type HTM-based photovoltaic devices also showed long-term air stability over 700 h. These promising results offer new and unexpected prospects for engineering the interface between the photoactive material and HTMs in PSCs and BHJ IOSCs. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. A District Approach to Countering Afghanistan’s Insurgency

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-12-01

    actualization. Abraham Maslow , A Theory of Human Motivation, 1943, http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/ Maslow /motivation.htm (accessed October 29, 2009...Lyon Press, 2002. Maslow , Abraham . A Theory of Human Motivation, 1943. http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/ Maslow /motivation.htm (accessed October 29...established village and district political hierarchies may effectively deny insurgents sanctuary, critical resources, and serve to isolate and separate the

  12. Maritime Trade Defense: Establishing the Joint Force Maritime Trade Component Commander

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-05-04

    GlobalSecurity.Org, "Sealift in World War II,” http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/sealift- ww2 .htm, (accessed 1 May 2012). 11 Ibid, 203. 12 David...military/systems/ship/sealift- ww2 .htm (accessed 1 May 2012). 19 Daniel Y. Coulter, "Globalization of Maritime Commerce: The Rise of Hub Ports," in

  13. Enhanced photocurrent density of HTM-free perovskite solar cells by carbon quantum dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zou, Haiyuan; Guo, Daipeng; He, Bowen; Yu, Jiaguo; Fan, Ke

    2018-02-01

    Full-printable and hole transport material (HTM)-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with carbon counter electrodes feature high stability and low cost. However, the perovskite film prepared by conventional one-step solution-coating method always shows a relatively poor coverage on the substrate, leading to the limit of the photocurrent density. In this study, we incorporated carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in the perovskite films, and investigated their effects on the performance of TiO2 nanosheet-based and HTM-free PSCs. It was found that the addition of CQDs to the perovskite film can enhance the photocurrent density of PSCs, and the optimal PSC with 0.1% CQDs evolved 60% higher photocurrent density than the pristine one. The improved photocurrent density was attributed to the heterogeneous nuclei derived from CQDs during perovskite crystallization, which would increase amount of perovskite nuclei and form a fine perovskite grain, leading to a better coverage on the substrate. Moreover, due to the excellent conductivity, CQDs in perovskite films could efficiently transport the photo-excited electrons, accelerating the separation and mobilization of charge carriers. This study presents the incorporation of CQDs in perovskite as an efficient approach to promote the performance of HTM-free PSCs.

  14. Array Formatting of the Heat-Transfer Method (HTM) for the Detection of Small Organic Molecules by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

    PubMed Central

    Wackers, Gideon; Vandenryt, Thijs; Cornelis, Peter; Kellens, Evelien; Thoelen, Ronald; De Ceuninck, Ward; Losada-Pérez, Patricia; van Grinsven, Bart; Peeters, Marloes; Wagner, Patrick

    2014-01-01

    In this work we present the first steps towards a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biomimetic sensor array for the detection of small organic molecules via the heat-transfer method (HTM). HTM relies on the change in thermal resistance upon binding of the target molecule to the MIP-type receptor. A flow-through sensor cell was developed, which is segmented into four quadrants with a volume of 2.5 μL each, allowing four measurements to be done simultaneously on a single substrate. Verification measurements were conducted, in which all quadrants received a uniform treatment and all four channels exhibited a similar response. Subsequently, measurements were performed in quadrants, which were functionalized with different MIP particles. Each of these quadrants was exposed to the same buffer solution, spiked with different molecules, according to the MIP under analysis. With the flow cell design we could discriminate between similar small organic molecules and observed no significant cross-selectivity. Therefore, the MIP array sensor platform with HTM as a readout technique, has the potential to become a low-cost analysis tool for bioanalytical applications. PMID:24955945

  15. MPLM Donatello is offloaded at the SLF

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2001-01-01

    At the Shuttle Landing Facility, cranes are poised to help offload the Italian Space Agency's Multi- Purpose Logistics Module Donatello from the Airbus '''Beluga''' air cargo plane that brought it from the factory of Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. The third of three for the International Space Station, the module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility for processing. Among the activities for the payload test team are integrated electrical tests with other Station elements in the SSPF, leak tests, electrical and software compatibility tests with the Space Shuttle (using the Cargo Integrated Test equipment) and an Interface Verification Test once the module is installed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay at the launch pad. The most significant mechanical task to be performed on Donatello in the SSPF is the installation and outfitting of the racks for carrying the various experiments and cargo.

  16. Mechanism of the lysosomal membrane enzyme acetyl coenzyme A: alpha-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase

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

    Bame, K.J.

    1986-01-01

    Acetyl-CoA:..cap alpha..-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase is a lysosomal membrane enzyme, deficient in the genetic disease Sanfilippo C syndrome. The enzyme catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from cytoplasmic acetyl-CoA to terminal ..cap alpha..-glucosamine residues of heparan sulfate within the organelle. The reaction mechanism was examined using high purified lysosomal membranes from rat liver and human fibroblasts. The N-acetyltransferase reaction is optimal above pH 5.5 and a 2-3 fold stimulation of activity is observed in the presence of 0.1% taurodeoxycholate. Double reciprocal analysis and product inhibition studies indicate that the enzyme works by a Di-Iso Ping Pong Bi Bi mechanism. The bindingmore » of acetyl-CoA to the enzyme is measured by exchange label from (/sup 3/H)CoA to acetyl-CoA, and is optimal at pH's above 7.0. The acetyl-enzyme intermediate is formed by incubating membranes with (/sup 3/H)acetyl-CoA. The acetyl group can be transferred to glucosamine, forming (/sup 3/H)N-acetylglucosamine; the transfer is optimal between pH 4 and 5. Lysosomal membranes from Sanfilippo C fibroblasts confirm that these half reactions carried out by the N-acetyltransferase. The enzyme is inactivated by N-bromosuccinimide and diethylpyrocarbonate, indicating that a histidine is involved in the reaction. These results suggest that the histidine residue is at the active site of the enzyme. The properties of the N-acetyltransferase in the membrane, the characterization of the enzyme kinetics, the chemistry of a histidine mediated acetylation and the pH difference across the lysosomal membrane all support a transmembrane acetylation mechanism.« less

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

    Hawkins, C.A.

    Tests of QED to order ..cap alpha../sup 4/ performed with the ASP detector at PEP are presented. Measurements have been made of exclusive e/sup +/e/sup -/e/sup +/e/sup -/, e/sup +/e/sup -/..gamma gamma.. and ..gamma gamma gamma gamma.. final states with all particles above 50 milliradians with respect to the e/sup +/e/sup -/ beam line. These measurements represent a significant increase in statistics over previous measurements. All measurements agree well with theoretical predictions. 5 refs., 1 tab.

  18. Binding Linkage in a Telomere DNA–Protein Complex at the Ends of Oxytricha nova Chromosomes

    PubMed Central

    Buczek, Pawel; Orr, Rochelle S.; Pyper, Sean R.; Shum, Mili; Ota, Emily Kimmel Irene; Gerum, Shawn E.; Horvath, Martin P.

    2005-01-01

    Alpha and beta protein subunits of the telomere end binding protein from Oxytricha nova (OnTEBP) combine with telomere single strand DNA to form a protective cap at the ends of chromosomes. We tested how protein–protein interactions seen in the co-crystal structure relate to DNA binding through use of fusion proteins engineered as different combinations of domains and subunits derived from OnTEBP. Joining alpha and beta resulted in a protein that bound single strand telomere DNA with high affinity (KD-DNA=1.4 nM). Another fusion protein, constructed without the C-terminal protein–protein interaction domain of alpha, bound DNA with 200-fold diminished affinity (KD-DNA=290 nM) even though the DNA-binding domains of alpha and beta were joined through a peptide linker. Adding back the alpha C-terminal domain as a separate protein restored high-affinity DNA binding. The binding behaviors of these fusion proteins and the native protein subunits are consistent with cooperative linkage between protein-association and DNA-binding equilibria. Linking DNA–protein stability to protein–protein contacts at a remote site may provide a trigger point for DNA–protein disassembly during telomere replication when the single strand telomere DNA must exchange between a very stable OnTEBP complex and telomerase. PMID:15967465

  19. Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells using non-synthetic mRNA.

    PubMed

    Rohani, L; Fabian, C; Holland, H; Naaldijk, Y; Dressel, R; Löffler-Wirth, H; Binder, H; Arnold, A; Stolzing, A

    2016-05-01

    Here we describe some of the crucial steps to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using mRNA transfection. Our approach uses a V. virus-derived capping enzyme instead of a cap-analog, ensuring 100% proper cap orientation for in vitro transcribed mRNA. V. virus' 2'-O-Methyltransferase enzyme creates a cap1 structure found in higher eukaryotes and has higher translation efficiency compared to other methods. Use of the polymeric transfection reagent polyethylenimine proved superior to other transfection methods. The mRNA created via this method did not trigger an intracellular immune response via human IFN-gamma (hIFN-γ) or alpha (hIFN-α) release, thus circumventing the use of suppressors. Resulting mRNA and protein were expressed at high levels for over 48h, thus obviating daily transfections. Using this method, we demonstrated swift activation of pluripotency associated genes in human fibroblasts. Low oxygen conditions further facilitated colony formation. Differentiation into different germ layers was confirmed via teratoma assay. Reprogramming with non-synthetic mRNA holds great promise for safe generation of iPSCs of human origin. Using the protocols described herein we hope to make this method more accessible to other groups as a fast, inexpensive, and non-viral reprogramming approach. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Comparison of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's CAP88 PC Versions 3.0 and 4.0.

    PubMed

    Jannik, Tim; Farfan, Eduardo B; Dixon, Ken; Newton, Joseph; Sailors, Christopher; Johnson, Levi; Moore, Kelsey; Stahman, Richard

    2015-08-01

    The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) with the assistance of Georgia Regents University, completed a comparison of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) environmental dosimetry code CAP88 PC V3.0 with the recently developed V4.0. CAP88 is a set of computer programs and databases used for estimation of dose and risk from radionuclide emissions to air. At the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, CAP88 is used by SRNL for determining compliance with U.S. EPA's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (40 CFR 61, Subpart H) regulations. Using standardized input parameters, individual runs were conducted for each radionuclide within its corresponding database. Some radioactive decay constants, human usage parameters, and dose coefficients changed between the two versions, directly causing a proportional change in the total effective dose. A detailed summary for select radionuclides of concern at the Savannah River Site (60Co, 137Cs, 3H, 129I, 239Pu, and 90Sr) is provided. In general, the total effective doses will decrease for alpha/beta emitters because of reduced inhalation and ingestion rates in V4.0. However, for gamma emitters, such as 60Co and 137Cs, the total effective doses will increase because of changes U.S. EPA made in the external ground shine calculations.

  1. Structural determination of importin alpha in complex with beak and feather disease virus capsid nuclear localization signal

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

    Patterson, Edward I.; EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation; Dombrovski, Andrew K.

    2013-09-06

    Highlights: •Circovirus capsid proteins contain large nuclear localization signals (NLS). •A method of nuclear import has not been elucidated. •Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) capsid NLS was crystallized with importin α. •The structure showed BFDV NLS binding to the major site of importin α. •Result shows implications for mechanism of nuclear transport for all circoviruses. -- Abstract: Circoviruses represent a rapidly increasing genus of viruses that infect a variety of vertebrates. Replication requires shuttling viral molecules into the host cell nucleus, a process facilitated by capsid-associated protein (Cap). Whilst a nuclear localization signal (NLS) has been shown to mediatemore » nuclear translocation, the mode of nuclear transport remains to be elucidated. To better understand this process, beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) Cap NLS was crystallized with nuclear import receptor importin-α (Impα). Diffraction yielded structural data to 2.9 Å resolution, and the binding site on both Impα and BFDV Cap NLS were well resolved. The binding mechanism for the major site is likely conserved across circoviruses as supported by the similarity of NLSs in circovirus Caps. This finding illuminates a crucial step for infection of host cells by this viral family, and provides a platform for rational drug design against the binding interface.« less

  2. Quantitative analysis of sleep EEG microstructure in the time-frequency domain.

    PubMed

    De Carli, Fabrizio; Nobili, Lino; Beelke, Manolo; Watanabe, Tsuyoshi; Smerieri, Arianna; Parrino, Liborio; Terzano, Mario Giovanni; Ferrillo, Franco

    2004-06-30

    A number of phasic events influence sleep quality and sleep macrostructure. The detection of arousals and the analysis of cyclic alternating patterns (CAP) support the evaluation of sleep fragmentation and instability. Sixteen polygraphic overnight recordings were visually inspected for conventional Rechtscaffen and Kales scoring, while arousals were detected following the criteria of the American Sleep Disorders Association (ASDA). Three electroencephalograph (EEG) segments were associated to each event, corresponding to background activity, pre-arousal period and arousal. The study was supplemented by the analysis of time-frequency distribution of EEG within each subtype of phase A in the CAP. The arousals were characterized by the increase of alpha and beta power with regard to background. Within NREM sleep most of the arousals were preceded by a transient increase of delta power. The time-frequency evolution of the phase A of the CAP sequence showed a strong prevalence of delta activity during the whole A1, but high amplitude delta waves were found also in the first 2/3 s of A2 and A3, followed by desynchronization. Our results underline the strict relationship between the ASDA arousals, and the subtype A2 and A3 within the CAP: in both the association between a short sequence of transient slow waves and the successive increase of frequency and decrease of amplitude characterizes the arousal response.

  3. The Role of Experiential Learning in Nurturing Management Competencies in Hospitality and Tourism Management Students: Perceptions from Students, Faculty, and Industry Professionals

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jack, Kristen

    2011-01-01

    Previous research has revealed that industry professionals and educators in the field of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) agree that classroom theory and experience in the field are essential components of undergraduate HTM education. Yet there is some disagreement on internship hour requirements, and limited data on actual outcomes. This…

  4. 77 FR 14972 - Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Federally Assisted Programs and Activities

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-14

    ...'s ADA Web site contains links to HTML and PDF versions at www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm . \\15... Transportation Barriers Compliance Board) in 1991 (1991 ADAAG). DOJ's ADA Web site contains links to HTML and PDF.../2010ADAstandards_index.htm . There are links to HTML, PDF screen, and PDF print versions of the 2010 Standards and...

  5. Adding Nonlinear Tools to the Strategist’s Toolbox

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2001-06-01

    between interests. Idealists base their arguments on the pioneers like Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) and Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). The Idealist school based...12Blupete, [website]: available from http://www.blupete.com/Literature/ Biographies / Philosophy/Popper.htm; Internet. 13Glesne and Peshkin, 24. 39...www.blupete.com/Literature/ Biographies / Philosophy/Popper.htm. Internet. Dean Robbins, Brent. Mythos and Logos. Available from http://www.geocities.com/ Athens

  6. Cellular Fibronectin Expression in Human Trabecular Meshwork and Induction by Transforming Growth Factor-β2

    PubMed Central

    Medina-Ortiz, Wanda E.; Belmares, Ricardo; Neubauer, Sandra; Wordinger, Robert J.; Clark, Abbot F.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose. Levels of TGF-β2 are higher in POAG aqueous humor, causing deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including fibronectin (FN), in the glaucomatous human trabecular meshwork (HTM) that may be responsible for elevated IOP. The purpose of this study was to identify the expression of cellular FN (cFN) isoforms (EDA and EDB) in HTM cells and tissues, and to determine whether TGF-β2 can induce cFN expression and fibril formation in cultured HTM cells. Methods. Expression of cFN mRNA isoforms and induction by recombinant TGF-β2 (5 ng/mL) were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The TGF-β2 induction of EDA isoform protein expression and FN fibril formation were analyzed using Western immunoblots and immunocytochemistry (ICC), respectively. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was used to examine total FN and EDA isoform expression in normal (NTM) and glaucomatous (GTM) trabecular meshwork (TM) tissues. Results. Both cFN mRNA isoforms were expressed in cultured HTM cells and were induced by TGF-β2 after 2, 4, and 7 days (P < 0.05). Similarly, EDA isoform protein and fibril formation were increased after 4 and 7 days of TGF-β2 treatment. Finally, GTM tissues had significantly greater EDA isoform protein levels (1.7-fold, P < 0.05) compared to NTM tissues. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that cFN isoforms are expressed and induced in HTM cells by TGF-β2. Also, increased EDA isoform protein levels were seen in GTM tissues. Our findings suggest that induction of cFN isoform expression in the TM ECM may be a novel pathologic mechanism involved in the TM changes associated with glaucoma. PMID:24030464

  7. Estimating Human Trabecular Meshwork Stiffness by Numerical Modeling and Advanced OCT Imaging.

    PubMed

    Wang, Ke; Johnstone, Murray A; Xin, Chen; Song, Shaozhen; Padilla, Steven; Vranka, Janice A; Acott, Ted S; Zhou, Kai; Schwaner, Stephen A; Wang, Ruikang K; Sulchek, Todd; Ethier, C Ross

    2017-09-01

    The purpose of this study was to estimate human trabecular meshwork (hTM) stiffness, thought to be elevated in glaucoma, using a novel indirect approach, and to compare results with direct en face atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Postmortem human eyes were perfused to measure outflow facility and identify high- and low-flow regions (HF, LF) by tracer. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were obtained as Schlemm's canal luminal pressure was directly manipulated. TM stiffness was deduced by an inverse finite element modeling (FEM) approach. A series of AFM forcemaps was acquired along a line traversing the anterior angle on a radially cut flat-mount corneoscleral wedge with TM facing upward. The elastic modulus of normal hTM estimated by inverse FEM was 70 ± 20 kPa (mean ± SD), whereas glaucomatous hTM was slightly stiffer (98 ± 19 kPa). This trend was consistent with TM stiffnesses measured by AFM: normal hTM stiffness = 1.37 ± 0.56 kPa, which was lower than glaucomatous hTM stiffness (2.75 ± 1.19 kPa). None of these differences were statistically significant. TM in HF wedges was softer than that in LF wedges for both normal and glaucomatous eyes based on the inverse FEM approach but not by AFM. Outflow facility was significantly correlated with TM stiffness estimated by FEM in six human eyes (P = 0.018). TM stiffness is higher, but only modestly so, in glaucomatous patients. Outflow facility in both normal and glaucomatous human eyes appears to associate with TM stiffness. This evidence motivates further studies to investigate factors underlying TM biomechanical property regulation.

  8. Testing of Streptococcus pneumoniae for resistance to penicillin.

    PubMed Central

    Marshall, K J; Musher, D M; Watson, D; Mason, E O

    1993-01-01

    The increasing prevalence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae requires antibiotic susceptibility tests that can be done with greater ease and reliability. We measured the MIC of penicillin for pneumococci by the tube macrodilution method with Mueller-Hinton broth (MHB), Haemophilus Test Medium (HTM), Todd-Hewitt broth with 0.5% yeast extract (THY), and MHB with 3% lysed horse blood (LHB). Eight (19%) and 6 (14%) of 42 pneumococcal isolates failed to generate turbid growth in MHB and HTM, respectively, whereas all pneumococcal isolates did so in THY and LHB. For those strains that replicated to turbidity, the mean MICs of penicillin were lower in MHB and HTM than in THY and LHB, with differences being significant (P < 0.05) for comparisons with LHB. Four isolates appeared to be penicillin susceptible in HTM but were actually moderately resistant in THY and LHB, and two isolates appeared to be moderately resistant but were resistant. A similar failure to detect resistance was seen with MHB. S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619, a moderately penicillin-resistant strain that has been proposed for quality control testing, gave variable results in MHB or THM and appeared to be susceptible to penicillin in some assays, whereas the MICs for S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 in THY or LHB fell within a twofold dilution range, with geometric means of 0.16 and 0.18 micrograms/ml, respectively. Pneumococcal isolates thus may appear falsely susceptible to penicillin when tested in MHB or HTM. LHB remains the standard medium; however, because THY is an easily prepared clear medium that can be used in automated systems and appears to yield results similar to those obtained with LHB, THY deserves consideration for routine use. PMID:8501225

  9. Hole-Transport Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells.

    PubMed

    Calió, Laura; Kazim, Samrana; Grätzel, Michael; Ahmad, Shahzada

    2016-11-14

    The pressure to move towards renewable energy has inspired researchers to look for ideas in photovoltaics that may lead to a major breakthrough. Recently the use of perovskites as a light harvester has lead to stunning progress. The power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells is now approaching parity (>22 %) with that of the established technology which took decades to reach this level of performance. The use of a hole transport material (HTM) remains indispensable in perovskite solar cells. Perovskites can conduct holes, but they are present at low levels, and for efficient charge extraction a HTM layer is a prerequisite. Herein we provide an overview of the diverse types of HTM available, from organic to inorganic, in the hope of encouraging further research and the optimization of these materials. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  10. Passive radon/thoron personal dosimeter using an electrostatic collector and a diffused-junction detector

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bigu, J.; Raz, R.

    1985-01-01

    A solid-state alpha dosimeter has been designed and tested suitable for personal and environmental radon/thoron monitoring. The dosimeter basically consists of an electrostatic collector and an alpha-particle counting system with spectroscopy capabilities. The sensitive volume (˜20 cm3) of the electrostatic collector consists of a cylindrically shaped metal wire screen and a diffused-junction silicon alpha-detector covered with a thin aluminized Mylar sheet. A dc voltage (˜500 V) is applied between the wire screen and the Mylar sheet, with the latter held at negative potential relative to the former. Data can be retrieved during or after sampling by means of a microcomputer (Epson HX20) via a RS-232 communication interface unit. The dosimeter has been calibrated in a large (26 m3) radon/thoron test facility. A linear relationship was found between the dosimeter's alpha-count and both radon gas concentration and radon daughter working level. The dosimeter is mounted on top of an ordinary miner's cap lamp battery and is ideally suited for personal monitoring in underground uranium mines and other working areas. The dosimeter presented here is a considerably improved version of an earlier prototype.

  11. Prevalence of type I sensitization to alpha-gal in forest service employees and hunters.

    PubMed

    Fischer, J; Lupberger, E; Hebsaker, J; Blumenstock, G; Aichinger, E; Yazdi, A S; Reick, D; Oehme, R; Biedermann, T

    2017-10-01

    The production of IgE molecules specific to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) is known to induce delayed anaphylaxis against mammalian meat. Tick bites constitute the primary sensitization source, as ticks transfer alpha-gal in their saliva to a host during a bite. The reported prevalence of alpha-gal-specific IgE (alpha-gal-sIgE) positivity varies between different populations from diverse geographic regions. To investigate the prevalence of alpha-gal-sIgE positivity in a population of forest service employees who are highly exposed to ticks in comparison with a residential population and a historic sample. A cross-sectional study evaluating 300 forest service employees and hunters from southwest Germany was performed. Alpha-gal-sIgE levels were assessed by ImmunoCAP assay. The prevalence of alpha-gal-sIgE-positive individuals was compared with a matched cohort composed of a residential population and blood samples from forest service employees collected 15 years ago. In the study population, the prevalence of alpha-gal-sIgE-positive (≥0.10 kU A /L) individuals was 35.0%, whereas the prevalence of individuals with alpha-gal-sIgE levels ≥0.35 kU A /L was 19.3%. Alpha-gal-sIgE positivity was associated with total IgE levels and recent tick bites. Mammalian meat-induced delayed anaphylaxis was found in 8.6% of the participants with alpha-gal-sIgE levels ≥0.35 kU A /L. For forest service employees and hunters, the odds ratio for alpha-gal-sIgE positivity was 2.48 compared to the residential population. The prevalence of alpha-gal-sIgE positivity in the current and historic cohort was comparable. Forest service employees and hunters compose a population with a high prevalence of alpha-gal-sIgE positivity and carry a considerable risk of red meat allergy. © 2017 EAACI and John Wiley and Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

  12. Revealing the X-Ray Emission Processes of Old Rotation-Powered Pulsars: XMM-Newton Observations of PSR B0950+08, PSR B0823+26 and PSR J2043+2740

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Becker, Werner; Weisskopf, Martin C.; Tenant, Allyn F.; Jessmer, Axel; Zhang, Shiang N.

    2004-01-01

    We have completed part of a program to study the X-ray emission properties of old rotation-powered pulsars with XMM-Newton in order to probe and identify the origin of their X radiation. The X-ray emission from these old pulsars is largely dominated by non-thermal processes. None of the observed spectra required adding a thermal component consisting of either a hot polar cap or surface cooling emission to model the data. The energy spectrum of PSR B0950+08 is best described by a single power law of photon-index alpha = 1.93(sup +0.14)(sub -0.12). Three-sigma temperature upper limits for possible contributions from a heated polar cap or the whole neutron star surface are T(sup infinity)(sub pc) < 0.87 x 10(exp 6) K and T(sup infinity)(sub s) < 0.48 x 10(exp 6) K, respectively. We also find that the X-ray emission from PSR B0950+08 is pulsed with two peaks per rotation period. The phase separation between the two X-ray peaks is approx. 144 deg (maximum to maximum) which is similar to the pulse peak separation observed in the radio band at 1.4 GHz. The fraction of X-ray pulsed photons is approx. 30%. A phase resolved spectral analysis confirms the nonthermal nature of the pulsed emission and finds power law slopes of alpha = 2.4(sup +0.52)(sub -0.42) and alpha = 1.93(sup +0.29)(sub -0.24) for the pulse peaks P1 and P2, respectively. The spectral emission properties observed for PSR B0823+26 are similar to those of PSR B0950+08. Its energy spectrum is very well described by a single power law with photon-index alpha = 2.5(sup +0.52)(sub -0.24. Three-sigma temperature upper limits for thermal contributions from a hot polar cap or from the entire neutron star surface are T(sup infinity)(sub pc) < 1.17 x 10(exp 6) K and T(sup infinity)(sub s) < 0.5 x 10(exp 6) K, respectively. There is evidence for pulsed X-ray emission at the - 97% confidence level with a pulsed fraction of 49 +/- 22%. For PSR 52043+2740 we report the first detection of X-ray emission. A power law spectrum, or a combination of a thermal and a power law spectrum all yield acceptable descriptions of its X-ray spectrum. No X-ray pulses are detected from PSR J2043+2740 but the sensitivity is low - the 2-sigma pulsed fraction upper limit is 57% assuming a sinusoidal pulse profile.

  13. Link between microstability and macrostability of plasmas

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

    Litwin, C.

    A mechanism linking high-frequency microinstabilities and the low-frequencymacrostability is proposed. The coupling is provided by the time-averagedforce, ponderomotive force, of unstable high-frequency waves. Two specificexamples of this phenomenon are discussed. It is shown that an..cap alpha..-particle loss-cone instability stabilizes the flute mode of anignited, axisymmetric mirror plasma. In tokamaks, the ion-whistler instability,driven by an anisotropic population of energetic particles, stabilizes theinternal kink mode for JET range of parameters.

  14. Coupling ligand recognition to protein folding in an engineered variant of rabbit ileal lipid binding protein.

    PubMed

    Kouvatsos, Nikolaos; Meldrum, Jill K; Searle, Mark S; Thomas, Neil R

    2006-11-28

    We have engineered a variant of the beta-clam shell protein ILBP which lacks the alpha-helical motif that caps the central binding cavity; the mutant protein is sufficiently destabilised that it is unfolded under physiological conditions, however, it unexpectedly binds its natural bile acid substrates with high affinity forming a native-like beta-sheet rich structure and demonstrating strong thermodynamic coupling between ligand binding and protein folding.

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

    Anderson, W.F.; Martinell, J.; Whitney, J.B. III

    The group of diseases called the thalassemias is the largest single-gene health problem in the world according the World Health Organization. The thalassemias are lethal hereditary anemias in which the infants cannot make their own blood. Three mouse mutants are shown to be models of the human disease ..cap alpha..-thalassemia. However, since an additional gene is affected, these mutants represent a particularly severe condition in which death occurs in the homozygous embryo even before globin genes are activated. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics are described. (ACR)

  16. In-vivo measurement of lithium in the brain and other organs

    DOEpatents

    Vartsky, D.; Wielopolski, L.; LoMonte, A.F.; Ellis, K.J.; Cohn, S.H.

    1983-08-26

    An in-vivo method of measurement of the amount of lithium present in tissue and organs of breathing animals is described. The basis for the technique is the lithium-1 neutron interaction - /sup 6/Li(n,..cap alpha..)T. The lithium is irradiated with thermal neutrons to produce tritium atoms. The tritium diffuses into the tissues and is exhaled. By measuring the amount of tritium exhaled, the lithium concentration in the irradiated zone is determined.

  17. Investigations in the ionosphere on Kosmos 378. VII. Simultaneous ground-based and satellite measurements of the parameters of the high latitude ionosphere

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

    Afonin, V.V.; Gdalevich, G.L.; Gubskii, V.F.

    1975-01-01

    The parameters of the high-latitude ionospheric plasma at night were measured simultaneously in the winter of 1970 by Kosmos 378 and by the ground-based observatory at Noril'sk. A comparison of ground-based and satellite measurements showed good agreement of n/sub e/ when the Chapman approximation for the ..cap alpha..-layer and Jacchia's 1971 model of the upper atmosphere are used.

  18. 2008 U.S. Coast Guard Innovation Expo

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-11-20

    for Capability (CG-7) Public Release Authorized DCO Outcomes • Mission Performance Plans, policies, strategic analysis and planning, assessments and...Untitled Document 2008 U.S.htm[5/26/ 2016 2:24:38 PM] 2008 U.S. Coast Guard Innovation Expo “Collaboration Fuels Innovation” Virginia Beach, Virginia...Untitled Document 2008 U.S.htm[5/26/ 2016 2:24:38 PM] Panelists: Mr. Tom Tomaiko, Maritime Security Program Manager, Borders and Maritime Security

  19. Effects of various media on the activity of NXL103 (formerly XRP 2868), a new oral streptogramin, against Haemophilus influenzae.

    PubMed

    Pankuch, Glenn A; Hoellman, Dianne; Bryskier, André; Lowther, John; Appelbaum, Peter C

    2006-11-01

    The activity of NXL103 against 108 strains of Haemophilus influenzae was tested using Haemophilus test media (HTM) obtained from various sources. With the exception of those obtained with stored HTM, MICs did not differ significantly, with MIC(50) and MIC(90) values of 0.5 and 0.5 to 1 microg/ml, respectively, in each medium.

  20. Peacekeeping/Stabilization and Conflict Transitions: Background and Congressional Action on the Civilian Response/Reserve Corps and Other Civilian Stabilization and Reconstruction Capabilities

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-02-05

    Peace Operations. February 24, 2000 http://www.fas.org/irp/ offdocs/pdd/pdd-71-4.htm, hereafter referred to as PDD-71 White Paper; and U.S. Text ... Summary of Presidential Decision Directive 71, http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd/pdd-71-1.htm. 8 See CRS Report RL32321, Policing in Peacekeeping and

  1. Dynamic electronic institutions in agent oriented cloud robotic systems.

    PubMed

    Nagrath, Vineet; Morel, Olivier; Malik, Aamir; Saad, Naufal; Meriaudeau, Fabrice

    2015-01-01

    The dot-com bubble bursted in the year 2000 followed by a swift movement towards resource virtualization and cloud computing business model. Cloud computing emerged not as new form of computing or network technology but a mere remoulding of existing technologies to suit a new business model. Cloud robotics is understood as adaptation of cloud computing ideas for robotic applications. Current efforts in cloud robotics stress upon developing robots that utilize computing and service infrastructure of the cloud, without debating on the underlying business model. HTM5 is an OMG's MDA based Meta-model for agent oriented development of cloud robotic systems. The trade-view of HTM5 promotes peer-to-peer trade amongst software agents. HTM5 agents represent various cloud entities and implement their business logic on cloud interactions. Trade in a peer-to-peer cloud robotic system is based on relationships and contracts amongst several agent subsets. Electronic Institutions are associations of heterogeneous intelligent agents which interact with each other following predefined norms. In Dynamic Electronic Institutions, the process of formation, reformation and dissolution of institutions is automated leading to run time adaptations in groups of agents. DEIs in agent oriented cloud robotic ecosystems bring order and group intellect. This article presents DEI implementations through HTM5 methodology.

  2. Green-Solvent-Processable, Dopant-Free Hole-Transporting Materials for Robust and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

    PubMed

    Lee, Junwoo; Malekshahi Byranvand, Mahdi; Kang, Gyeongho; Son, Sung Y; Song, Seulki; Kim, Guan-Woo; Park, Taiho

    2017-09-06

    In addition to having proper energy levels and high hole mobility (μ h ) without the use of dopants, hole-transporting materials (HTMs) used in n-i-p-type perovskite solar cells (PSCs) should be processed using green solvents to enable environmentally friendly device fabrication. Although many HTMs have been assessed, due to the limited solubility of HTMs in green solvents, no green-solvent-processable HTM has been reported to date. Here, we report on a green-solvent-processable HTM, an asymmetric D-A polymer (asy-PBTBDT) that exhibits superior solubility even in the green solvent, 2-methylanisole, which is a known food additive. The new HTM is well matched with perovskites in terms of energy levels and attains a high μ h (1.13 × 10 -3 cm 2 /(V s)) even without the use of dopants. Using the HTM, we produced robust PSCs with 18.3% efficiency (91% retention after 30 days without encapsulation under 50%-75% relative humidity) without dopants; with dopants (bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide and tert-butylpyridine, a 20.0% efficiency was achieved. Therefore, it is a first report for a green-solvent-processable hole-transporting polymer, exhibiting the highest efficiencies reported so far for n-i-p devices with and without the dopants.

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

    Akhtar, R.A.; Abdel-Latif, A.A.

    Muscarinic cholinergic and ..cap alpha../sub 1/-adrenergic agonists provoke hydrolysis of PIP/sub 2/ into diacylglycerol (DG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP/sub 3/) in a wide variety of tissue. Recently, IP/sub 3/ has been shown to mobilize Ca/sup 2 +/ from ER in several permeabilized tissue preparations. Although rabbit cornea is enriched in ACh and NE, the physiological function of these neurotransmitters is unclear. The present studies were initiated to determine the effects of cholinergic and adrenergic agonists on PIP/sub 2/ turnover in the cornea. Addition of ACh or NE (50 ..mu..M each) to the /sup 32/P-labeled corneas for 10 min decreased themore » radioactivity in PIP/sub 2/ by 33 and 36%, and increased the radioactivity in phosphatidic acid by 72 and 52%, respectively. When the corneas were labeled with myo-(/sup 3/H)inositol, ACh and NE increased the accumulation of IP/sub 3/ by 92 and 48%, respectively. The effects of ACh and NE on phospholipid labeling and IP/sub 3/ accumulation were specifically inhibited by atropine (10 ..mu..M) and prazosin (10 ..mu..M), respectively. The data suggest the presence of muscarinic cholinergic and ..cap alpha../sub 1/-adrenergic receptors in the rabbit cornea. Furthermore, activation of these receptors leads to cleavage of PIP/sub 2/ into DG and IP/sub 3/ which may function as second messengers in this tissue.« less

  4. Prevalence of. cap alpha. /sub 1/-antitrypsin heterozygotes (Pi MZ) in patients with obstructive pulmonary disease

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

    Shigeoka, J.W.; Hall, W.J.; Hyde, R.W.

    1976-01-01

    An increased incidence of intermediate deficiency of serum ..cap alpha../sub 1/-antitrypsin resulting from Pi phenotype MZ has been reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by some laboratories but not confirmed by others. Prevalence of Pi MZ was determined in patients with COPD among 502 subjects referred to a pulmonary function testing laboratory in a region with low concentrations of air pollutants. Control prevalences were obtained from 930 randomly selected subjects in the same community as well as from patients without COPD referred to the laboratory. Depending on criteria used to define COPD, 155 to 306 subjects hadmore » COPD. Pi MZ prevalence in subjects with COPD varied from 1.5 to 4 times the prevalence in the community control group and in the patients without COPD. This difference approached significance or was significant. Because Pi MZ was present in only 3.5 to 4.5% of patients with COPD, Pi MZ is not a major factor in the etiology of COPD in this community. The higher incidence of Pi MZ in patients with COPD reported by other investigators may be explained by small sample size, bias in selection of study or control population groups, or the development of COPD from interaction between Pi MZ and air pollutants or other factors not present in this community.« less

  5. ROAM mutations causing increased expression of yeast genes: their activation by signals directed toward conjugation functions and their formation by insertion of tyl repetitive elements

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

    Errede, B.; Cardillo, T.S.; Wever, G.

    1980-01-01

    Mechanisms available to eukaryotic organisms for the coordinate regulation of gene expression are being examined by genetic and biochemical characterization of an unusual mutation, CYC7-H2, which causes overproduction of iso-2-cytochrome c in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The CYC7-H2 mutation causes approximately a twenty fold overproduction of iso-2-cytochrome c in haploid strains but only a one to four fold overproduction in MATa/MAT..cap alpha.. diploid strains. This regulation of overproduction has been characterized as a response to signals controlling conjugation in yeast. The CYC7-H2 mutation is closely related to other regulatory mutations occurring at the cargA, cargB and DUR1,2 loci which aremore » the structural genes for arginase, ornithine transaminase and urea amidolyase, respectively. Similar to the CYC7-H2 mutation, the mutations designated cargA/sup +/O/sup h/, cargB/sup +/O/sup h/ and durO/sup h/ cause constitutive production of their respective gene products at much lower levels in MATa/MAT..cap alpha.. diploid strains than in the corresponding haploid strains. Observations characterizing the regulation of overproduction in the CYC7-H2 mutant are presented with the additional and parallel observations for the O/sup h/ mutants.« less

  6. Proteases induce secretion of collagenase and plasminogen activator by fibroblasts

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

    Werb, Z.; Aggeler, J.

    1978-04-01

    We have observed that treatment of rabbit synovial fibroblasts with proteolytic enzymes can induce secretion of collagenase (EC 3.4.24.7) and plasminogen activator (EC 3.4.21.-). Cells treated for 2 to 24 hr with plasmin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatic elastase, papain, bromelain, thermolysin, or ..cap alpha..-protease but not with thrombin or neuraminidase secreted detectable amounts of collagenase within 16 to 48 hr. Treatment of fibroblasts with trypsin also induced secretion of plasminogen activator. Proteases initiated secretion of collagenase (up to 20 units per 10/sup 6/ cells per 24 hr) only when treatment produced decreased cell adhesion. Collagenase production did not depend on continuedmore » presence of proteolytic activity or on subsequent cell adhesion, spreading, or proliferation. Routine subculturing with crude trypsin also induced collagenase secretion by cells. Secretion of collagenase was prevented and normal spreading was obtained if the trypsinized cells were placed into medium containing fetal calf serum. Soybean trypsin inhibitor, ..cap alpha../sub 1/-antitrypsin, bovine serum albumin, collagen, and fibronectin did not inhibit collagenase production. Although proteases that induced collagenase secretion also removed surface glycoprotein, the kinetics of induction of cell protease secretion were different from those for removal of fibronectin. Physiological inducers of secretion of collagenase and plasminogen activator by cells have not been identified. These results suggest that extracellular proteases in conjunction with plasma proteins may govern protease secretion by cells.« less

  7. Mirrors in the PDB: left-handed alpha-turns guide design with D-amino acids.

    PubMed

    Annavarapu, Srinivas; Nanda, Vikas

    2009-09-22

    Incorporating variable amino acid stereochemistry in molecular design has the potential to improve existing protein stability and create new topologies inaccessible to homochiral molecules. The Protein Data Bank has been a reliable, rich source of information on molecular interactions and their role in protein stability and structure. D-amino acids rarely occur naturally, making it difficult to infer general rules for how they would be tolerated in proteins through an analysis of existing protein structures. However, protein elements containing short left-handed turns and helices turn out to contain useful information. Molecular mechanisms used in proteins to stabilize left-handed elements by L-amino acids are structurally enantiomeric to potential synthetic strategies for stabilizing right-handed elements with D-amino acids. Propensities for amino acids to occur in contiguous alpha(L) helices correlate with published thermodynamic scales for incorporation of D-amino acids into alpha(R) helices. Two backbone rules for terminating a left-handed helix are found: an alpha(R) conformation is disfavored at the amino terminus, and a beta(R) conformation is disfavored at the carboxy terminus. Helix capping sidechain-backbone interactions are found which are unique to alpha(L) helices including an elevated propensity for L-Asn, and L-Thr at the amino terminus and L-Gln, L-Thr and L-Ser at the carboxy terminus. By examining left-handed alpha-turns containing L-amino acids, new interaction motifs for incorporating D-amino acids into right-handed alpha-helices are identified. These will provide a basis for de novo design of novel heterochiral protein folds.

  8. Holocene evolution of aquatic bioactivity and terrestrial erosion inferred from Skorarvatn, Vestfirðir, Iceland: Where is the Little Ice Age?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harning, D.; Geirsdottir, A.; Miller, G. H.

    2016-12-01

    Icelandic lake sediment is well suited to provide high-resolution, well-dated continuous archives of North Atlantic climate variability. We provide new insight into the Holocene climate evolution of Vestfirðir, NW Iceland, from a 10.3 ka multi-proxy lake sediment record from non-glacial lake Skorarvatn. Age control is derived from a combination of tephrochronology and 14C-dated macrofossils. Sediment samples were analyzed for both physical (MS, density) and biological (TC, TN, δ13C, δ15N, C/N, BSi) climate proxies, providing a sub-centennial record of aquatic bioactivity and terrestrial landscape stability, and hence, summer temperature. The lake basin was ice free by at least 10.3 ka yet the waning Icelandic Ice Sheet persisted in the catchment until 9.3 ka. The local Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM), inferred from maximum aquatic bioactivity, spans 8.9 to 7.2 ka but was interrupted by significant cooling at 8.2 ka. In accordance with other Icelandic climate records documenting progressively cooler summers following the HTM, our record reveals reduced aquatic productivity and elevated terrestrial erosion toward the present. Superimposed on this 1st order trend are abrupt episodes of cooling, inferred from low aquatic bioactivity and/or enhanced landscape instability, at 6.4, 4.2, 3, 2.5 and 1.5 ka. Surprisingly, there is no clear indication of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in our record despite evidence for the local ice cap, Drangajökull, attaining maximum areal coverage at this time. Persistently low temperatures inferred from reduced aquatic productivity plateau at 2 ka whereas increasing terrestrial erosion ceases at 1 ka. Lack of a catchment erosion signal during the LIA may be the result of depleted catchment soils and/or perennially frozen ground preventing the mobilization of soil and vegetation. With the exception of the LIA, Skorarvatn's qualitative summer temperature record corresponds closely to summer sea surface temperature and sea ice records on the North Iceland Shelf, supporting previous evidence that the North Atlantic imparts a significant impact of the state of Iceland's terrestrial climate.

  9. Characterization and Fate of Gun and Rocket Propellant Residues on Testing and Training Ranges

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-01-01

    ext/reg_e.html. 36. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2007) Integrated Risk Information System: Hydrogen cyanide, http://www.epa.gov/ iris ...Environmental Protection Agency (2007) Integrated Risk Information System: Benzene, http://www.epa.gov/ iris /subst/0276.htm 42. United States Environmental...Protection Agency (2007) Integrated Risk Information System: Toluene, http://www.epa.gov/ iris /subst/0118.htm. 43. National Library of Medicine’s TOXNET

  10. Effects of Various Media on the Activity of NXL103 (Formerly XRP 2868), a New Oral Streptogramin, against Haemophilus influenzae

    PubMed Central

    Pankuch, Glenn A.; Hoellman, Dianne; Bryskier, André; Lowther, John; Appelbaum, Peter C.

    2006-01-01

    The activity of NXL103 against 108 strains of Haemophilus influenzae was tested using Haemophilus test media (HTM) obtained from various sources. With the exception of those obtained with stored HTM, MICs did not differ significantly, with MIC50 and MIC90 values of 0.5 and 0.5 to 1 μg/ml, respectively, in each medium. PMID:17065630

  11. Rational design of dipolar chromophore as an efficient dopant-free hole-transporting material for perovskite solar cells

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Zhong’an; Zhu, Zonglong; Chueh, Chu -Chen; ...

    2016-08-23

    In this paper, an electron donor-acceptor (D-A) substituted dipolar chromophore ( BTPA-TCNE) is developed to serve as an efficient dopant-free hole-transporting material (HTM) for perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). BTPA-TCNE is synthesized via a simple reaction between a triphenylamine-based Michler’s base and tetracyanoethylene. This chromophore possesses a zwitterionic resonance structure in the ground state, as evidenced by X-ray crystallography and transient absorption spectroscopies. Moreover, BTPA-TCNE shows an antiparallel molecular packing (i.e., centrosymmetric dimers) in its crystalline state, which cancels out its overall molecular dipole moment to facilitate charge transport. Finally, BTPA-TCNE can be employed as an effective dopant-free HTM to realizemore » an efficient (PCE ≈ 17.0%) PVSC in the conventional n-i-p configuration, outperforming the control device with doped spiro-OMeTAD HTM.« less

  12. Ratiometric and turn-on monitoring for heavy and transition metal ions in aqueous solution with a fluorescent peptide sensor.

    PubMed

    Joshi, Bishnu Prasad; Park, Junwon; Lee, Wan In; Lee, Keun-Hyeung

    2009-05-15

    A novel fluorescent peptide sensor containing tryptophan (donor) and dansyl fluorophore (acceptor) was synthesized for monitoring heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions on the basis of metal ion binding motif (Cys-X-X-X-Cys). The peptide probe successfully exhibited a turn on and ratiometric response for several heavy metal ions such as Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+), and Ag(+) in aqueous solution. The enhancements of emission intensity were achieved in the presence of the HTM ions by fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) and chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effects. The detection limits of the sensor for Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+), and Ag(+) were lower than the EPA's drinking water maximum contaminant levels (MCL). We described the fluorescent enhancement, binding affinity, and detection limit of the peptide probe for HTM ions.

  13. Analyzing Patents Generated by SBIR Firms

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-04-30

    ac/ido/oeip/ taf /us_gov.htm   ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ãW= `êÉ~íáåÖ=póåÉêÖó=Ñçê=fåÑçêãÉÇ=`Ü~åÖÉ= = - 392 - A 2006 RAND report on the DoD SBIR...ac/ido/oeip/ taf /reports.htm#misc_info ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ãW= `êÉ~íáåÖ=póåÉêÖó=Ñçê=fåÑçêãÉÇ=`Ü~åÖÉ= = - 400 - patent protection and are...view of the many variations which may occur in corporate identifications. http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/ taf /topo_04.htm#Desc 16

  14. Comment on radiative magnetic energy shifts in hydrogen

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

    Calmet, J.; Grotch, H.; Owen, D.A.

    It is shown that the magnetic radiative energy shift derived from the relativistic-Lamb-shift expression of Erickson and Yennie reduces in the nonrelativistic limit to a formula given by Grotch and Hegstrom, which was derived starting from the nonrelativistic theory. This clears up a discrepancy between those two approaches. The corresponding correction to the g factor, which exists only for states with l not = 0, is estimated to be -0.24 ..cap alpha../sup 3/ for the 2P state of hydrogen.

  15. Zinc Absorption from Milk Is Affected by Dilution but Not by Thermal Processing, and Milk Enhances Absorption of Zinc from High-Phytate Rice in Young Dutch Women.

    PubMed

    Talsma, Elise F; Moretti, Diego; Ly, Sou Chheng; Dekkers, Renske; van den Heuvel, Ellen Ghm; Fitri, Aditia; Boelsma, Esther; Stomph, Tjeerd Jan; Zeder, Christophe; Melse-Boonstra, Alida

    2017-06-01

    Background: Milk has been suggested to increase zinc absorption. The effect of processing and the ability of milk to enhance zinc absorption from other foods has not been measured directly in humans. Objective: We aimed to assess zinc absorption from 1 ) milk undergoing various processing and preparatory steps and 2 ) from intrinsically labeled high-phytate rice consumed with milk or water. Methods: Two randomized crossover studies were conducted in healthy young women [age:18-25 y; body mass index (in kg/m 2 ): 20-25]: 1 ) a milk study ( n = 19) comparing the consumption of 800 mL full-fat ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk [heat-treated milk (HTM)], full-fat UHT milk diluted 1:1 with water [heat-treated milk and water (MW)], water, or unprocessed (raw) milk (UM), each extrinsically labeled with 67 Zn, and 2 ) a rice study ( n = 18) comparing the consumption of 90 g intrinsically 67 Zn-labeled rice with 600 mL of water [rice and water (RW)] or full-fat UHT milk [rice and milk (RM)]. The fractional absorption of zinc (FAZ) was measured with the double-isotope tracer ratio method. In vitro, we assessed zinc extraction from rice blended into water, UM, or HTM with or without phytate. Results: FAZ from HTM was 25.5% (95% CI: 21.6%, 29.4%) and was not different from UM (27.8%; 95% CI: 24.2%, 31.4%). FAZ from water was higher (72.3%; 95% CI: 68.7%, 75.9%), whereas FAZ from MW was lower (19.7%; 95% CI: 17.5%, 21.9%) than HTM and UM (both P < 0.01). FAZ from RM (20.7%; 95% CI: 18.8%, 22.7%) was significantly higher than from RW (12.8%; 95% CI: 10.8%, 14.6%; P < 0.01). In vitro, HTM and UM showed several orders of magnitude higher extraction of zinc from rice with HTM than from rice with water at various phytate concentrations. Conclusions: Milk enhanced human FAZ from high-phytate rice by 62% compared with water. Diluting milk with water decreases its absorption-enhancing proprieties, whereas UHT processing does not. This trial was registered at the Dutch trial registry as NTR4267 (http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=4267). © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

  16. What Are We Missing A Call for Red Teaming Within the Domestic Maritime Domain for Anti-Terrorism Programs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-12-01

    Sherman Kent Center, Central Intelligence Agency 3, no. 2 (October 2004), https://www.cia.gov/ library /kent-center-occasional-papers/vol3no2.htm...Naval Intelligence (Norfolk, VA: Naval Warfare Development Command, 2008), http://www.nwdc.navy.mil/content/ Library /Documents/NDPs/ ndp2/ndp20007.htm...Fathali M. Moghaddam, “ Multiculturalism and Intergroup Relations,” American Psychological Association, November 2011, 95. 114 Matherly, The Red Teaming

  17. Measuring Cultural Change - A Management Focused Approach To Improving The Safety Culture

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2002-05-01

    draws, and areas of potential harm for the patient Improved communication for the entire health care team. Cost saving with a heighten awareness of all...www.ama-assn.org/sci- pubs/amnews/pick_01/prsb0312.htm. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, (2002). Patient fact sheet: five steps to...safer health care. Retrieved 25 March 2002 from the World Wide Web at: http://www.ahrq.gov/ consumer /5steps.htm. American Hospital Association

  18. A pilot study: the effect of healing touch on anxiety, stress, pain, pain medication usage, and physiological measures in hospitalized sickle cell disease adults experiencing a vaso-occlusive pain episode.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Linda S; Stephenson, Nancy; Swanson, Mel; Jesse, D Elizabeth; Brown, Sylvia

    2013-12-01

    This pilot study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of Healing Touch on anxiety, stress, pain, pain medication usage, and selected physiological measures of hospitalized adults with sickle cell disease experiencing a vaso-occlusive pain episode. Healing Touch sessions were administered for 30 minutes on four consecutive days, and the self-reported data on anxiety, stress, pain, and the selected physiological data were collected while controlling for music and presence. A parallel-group randomized control trial comparing the effects of Healing Touch with Music (HTM) to Attention Control with Music (ACM). Due to the small sample size, there were no statistically significant changes in any between-group comparisons, except for present pain on Day 4 for the ACM group. For both groups, the within-group comparison showed a nonsignificant reduction in physiological parameters, a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and stress for the ACM group after Day 4, and a statistically significant reduction in stress in the HTM group after Days 2 and 4. The pre- to postintervention reductions in present pain were greater in the HTM group across all 4 days, but the only statistically significant within groups findings were in the HTM group (p < .01) on Day 1. Further research is needed.

  19. Health technopole: innovation applied to clinical engineering & health technology management education.

    PubMed

    Vilcahuaman, L; Rivas, R

    2010-01-01

    In the Peruvian Health System, Clinical Engineering does not exist as a topic of intervention. 59% of biomedical equipment is officially classified as operational, however next to apply the correct classification methodology and include security issues, only 10% of the equipment are suitable for use in patients. The serious consequences for patients, is opposite to the increased public investment in the health sector. Reversing this context leads to structural changes at all levels of the organization and they will be achievable only through an appropriate educational program. A strategy focused on joint of capacities called Health Technopole has managed to implement an innovative Model of Education in Healthcare Technology Management HTM and Clinical Engineering CE aimed at solving this problem. The proposal focused on strategies to strengthen the educational goals such as creating HTM & CE Units in hospitals, the implementation of the methodology: Problem Based Learning and Project Management in HTM & CE in classroom and on line courses. The process includes an effective interaction with global organizations through teleconferences, Internships, Workshops and Seminars. A key component was the sustained multidisciplinary approach. Health Technopole CENGETS is an expert adviser for the Ministry of Health and is called for trainings, design training programs for regional governments and also supports global organizations such as PAHO / WHO and ORAS / CONHU. The proposal of innovation applied to HTM & CE Education is effective and is a benchmark for similar countries.

  20. Enhancing Perovskite Solar Cell Performance by Interface Engineering Using CH3NH3PbBr0.9I2.1 Quantum Dots.

    PubMed

    Cha, Mingyang; Da, Peimei; Wang, Jun; Wang, Weiyi; Chen, Zhanghai; Xiu, Faxian; Zheng, Gengfeng; Wang, Zhong-Sheng

    2016-07-13

    To improve the interfacial charge transfer that is crucial to the performance of perovskite solar cells, the interface engineering in a device should be rationally designed. Here we have developed an interface engineering method to tune the photovoltaic performance of planar-heterojunction perovskite solar cells by incorporating MAPbBr3-xIx (MA = CH3NH3) quantum dots (QDs) between the MAPbI3 perovskite film and the hole-transporting material (HTM) layer. By adjustment of the Br:I ratio, the as-synthesized MAPbBr3-xIx QDs show tunable fluorescence and band edge positions. When the valence band (VB) edge of MAPbBr3-xIx QDs is located below that of the MAPbI3 perovskite, the hole transfer from the MAPbI3 perovskite film to the HTM layer is hindered, and hence, the power conversion efficiency decreases. In contrast, when the VB edge of MAPbBr3-xIx QDs is located between the VB edge of the MAPbI3 perovskite film and the highest occupied molecular orbital of the HTM layer, the hole transfer from the MAPbI3 perovskite film to the HTM layer is well-facilitated, resulting in significant improvements in the fill factor, short-circuit photocurrent, and power conversion efficiency.

  1. A discriminatory function for prediction of protein-DNA interactions based on alpha shape modeling.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Weiqiang; Yan, Hong

    2010-10-15

    Protein-DNA interaction has significant importance in many biological processes. However, the underlying principle of the molecular recognition process is still largely unknown. As more high-resolution 3D structures of protein-DNA complex are becoming available, the surface characteristics of the complex become an important research topic. In our work, we apply an alpha shape model to represent the surface structure of the protein-DNA complex and developed an interface-atom curvature-dependent conditional probability discriminatory function for the prediction of protein-DNA interaction. The interface-atom curvature-dependent formalism captures atomic interaction details better than the atomic distance-based method. The proposed method provides good performance in discriminating the native structures from the docking decoy sets, and outperforms the distance-dependent formalism in terms of the z-score. Computer experiment results show that the curvature-dependent formalism with the optimal parameters can achieve a native z-score of -8.17 in discriminating the native structure from the highest surface-complementarity scored decoy set and a native z-score of -7.38 in discriminating the native structure from the lowest RMSD decoy set. The interface-atom curvature-dependent formalism can also be used to predict apo version of DNA-binding proteins. These results suggest that the interface-atom curvature-dependent formalism has a good prediction capability for protein-DNA interactions. The code and data sets are available for download on http://www.hy8.com/bioinformatics.htm kenandzhou@hotmail.com.

  2. Prebiotic syntheses of vitamin coenzymes: II. Pantoic acid, pantothenic acid, and the composition of coenzyme A

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, S. L.; Schlesinger, G.

    1993-01-01

    Pantoic acid can by synthesized in good prebiotic yield from isobutyraldehyde or alpha-ketoisovaleric acid + H2CO + HCN. Isobutyraldehyde is the Strecker precursor to valine and alpha-ketoisovaleric acid is the valine transamination product. Mg2+ and Ca2+ as well as several transition metals are catalysts for the alpha-ketoisovaleric acid reaction. Pantothenic acid is produced from pantoyl lactone (easily formed from pantoic acid) and the relatively high concentrations of beta-alanine that would be formed on drying prebiotic amino acid mixtures. There is no selectivity for this reaction over glycine, alanine, or gamma-amino butyric acid. The components of coenzyme A are discussed in terms of ease of prebiotic formation and stability and are shown to be plausible choices, but many other compounds are possible. The gamma-OH of pantoic acid needs to be capped to prevent decomposition of pantothenic acid. These results suggest that coenzyme A function was important in the earliest metabolic pathways and that the coenzyme A precursor contained most of the components of the present coenzyme.

  3. Origin of ice-rafted debris: Pleistocene paleoceanography in the western Arctic Ocean

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bischof, Jens; Clark, David L.; Vincent, Jean-Serge

    1996-12-01

    The composition of Pleistocene ice-rafted debris (IRD) >250 µm was analyzed quantitatively by grain counting in five sediment cores from the western central Arctic Ocean and compared with the composition of till clasts from NW Canada in order to determine the dropstone origin and to reconstruct the Pleistocene ice driftways and surface currents. The IRD composition alternates repeatedly between carbonate- and quartz-dominated assemblages, along with metamorphic and igneous rocks, clastic rocks, and some chert. The highest quartz content is found on the Alpha Ridge, while carbonate percentages are highest on the Northwind Ridge (NWR) and the Chukchi Cap. The source for the carbonates is the area around Banks and Victoria Islands and parts of northern Canada. Quartz most likely originated from the central Queen Elizabeth Islands. IRD on the southeastern Alpha Ridge is dominated by mafic crystalline rocks from northern Ellesmere Island and northern Greenland. At least six major glacial intervals are identified within the last 1 million years, during which icebergs drifted toward the west in the Beaufort Sea, straight northward in the central Arctic Ocean, and northeastward on the SE Alpha Ridge.

  4. Holocene temperature shifts around Greenland: Paleolimnological approaches to quantifying past warmth and documenting its consequences

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Axford, Y.; Lasher, G. E.; McFarlin, J. M.; Francis, D. R.; Kelly, M. A.; Langdon, P. G.; Levy, L.; Osburn, M. R.; Osterberg, E. C.

    2015-12-01

    Insolation-driven warmth across the Arctic during the early to middle Holocene (the Holocene Thermal Maximum, or HTM) represents a geologically accessible analog for future warming and its impacts. Improved constraints on the magnitude and seasonality of HTM warmth around Greenland's margins can advance the use of paleoclimate data to test and improve climate and ice sheet models. Here we present an overview of our recent efforts to reconstruct climate through the Holocene around the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet using multiple proxies in lake sediments. We use insect (chironomid) assemblages to derive quantitative estimates of Holocene temperatures at sites with minimal soil and vegetation development near the eastern, northwestern and western margins of the ice sheet. Our chironomid-based temperature reconstructions consistently imply HTM July air temperatures 3 to 4.5 °C warmer than the pre-industrial late Holocene in these sectors of Greenland. The timing of reconstructed peak warmth differs between sites, with onset varying from ~10 ka to ~6.5 ka, but in good agreement with glacial geology and other evidence from each region. Our reconstructed temperature anomalies are larger than those typically inferred from annually-integrated indicators from the ice sheet itself, but comparable to the few other quantitative summer temperature estimates available from beyond the ice sheet on Greenland. Additional records are needed to confirm the magnitude of HTM warmth and to better define its seasonality and spatial pattern. To provide independent constraints on paleotemperatures and to elucidate additional aspects of Holocene paleoclimate, we are also employing oxygen isotopes of chironomid remains and other aquatic organic materials, and molecular organic proxies, in parallel (see Lasher et al. and McFarlin et al., this meeting). Combined with glacial geologic evidence, these multi-proxy records elucidate diverse aspects of HTM climate around Greenland - including temperature, hydroclimate, and the response of Greenland's glaciers to past climate change.

  5. Reducing hole transporter use and increasing perovskite solar cell stability with dual-role polystyrene microgel particles.

    PubMed

    Chen, Mu; Mokhtar, Muhamad Z; Whittaker, Eric; Lian, Qing; Hamilton, Bruce; O'Brien, Paul; Zhu, Mingning; Cui, Zhengxing; Haque, Saif A; Saunders, Brian R

    2017-07-20

    Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a disruptive technology that continues to attract considerable attention due to their remarkable and sustained power conversion efficiency increase. Improving PSC stability and reducing expensive hole transport material (HTM) usage are two aspects that are gaining increased attention. In a new approach, we investigate the ability of insulating polystyrene microgel particles (MGs) to increase PSC stability and replace the majority of the HTM phase. MGs are sub-micrometre crosslinked polymer particles that swell in a good solvent. The MGs were prepared using a scalable emulsion polymerisation method. Mixed HTM/MG dispersions were subsequently spin-coated onto PSCs and formed composite HTM-MG layers. The HTMs employed were poly(triaryl amine) (PTAA), poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and Spiro-MeOTAD (Spiro). The MGs formed mechanically robust composite HTMs with PTAA and P3HT. In contrast, Spiro-MG composites contained micro-cracks due the inability of the relatively small Spiro molecules to interdigitate. The efficiencies for the PSCs containing PTAA-MG and P3HT-MG decreased by only ∼20% compared to control PSCs despite PTAA and P3HT being the minority phases. They occupied only ∼35 vol% of the composite HTMs. An unexpected finding from the study was that the MGs dispersed well within the PTAA matrix. This morphology aided strong quenching of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3-x Cl x fluorescence. In addition, the open circuit voltages for the PSCs prepared using P3HT-MG increased by ∼170 mV compared to control PSCs. To demonstrate their versatility the MGs were also used to encapsulate P3HT-based PSCs. Solar cell stability data for the latter as well as those for PSCs containing composite HTM-MG were both far superior compared to data measured for a control PSC. Since MGs can reduce conjugated polymer use and increase stability they have good potential as dual-role PSC additives.

  6. The Strategic Importance of Defeating Underground Facilities

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-20

    German Submarine Pens: October 1942-April 1945,‖ December 7, 2010. http://www.usaaf.net/ ww2 /uboats/uboatspg6.htm (accessed 10 December 2011) 48...1945,‖ December 7, 2010. http://www.usaaf.net/ ww2 /uboats/uboatspg6.htm (accessed 10 December 2011). 51 Bradham, Hitler’s U-Boat Fortresses, 55. 52...The U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, ―Bombing German Submarine Pens: October 1942-April 1945,‖ December 7, 2010. http://www.usaaf.net/ ww2

  7. Ethnic Conflict in Indonesia: Causes and Recommended Measures

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-12-01

    prepared to celebrate Hari Raya Idul Fitri, a holy day for Moslems throughout the world. Before that, at the end of 1998 certain scattered occurrences of...op. cit., p. 34. 132 Haris Azhar and Syamsul Alam Agus. “Poso: An Area Put to Conflict.” <file://F:\\Poso An Area Put to Conflict.htm> (accessed...Paper-04/0. Jakarta, 2004. Azhar, Haris , and Alam Agus Syamsul. “Poso: An Area Put to Conflict.” <file://F:\\Poso AnAreaPuttoConflict.htm> (accessed

  8. Refractive Conditions of Amazon Environment and Its Effects on Ground and Airborne Radar and ESM Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2003-09-01

    superrefraction and trapping layers (the last one forming ducts) were investigated , as well as multiple layers. The multiple layers studied were made by 18...and Surveillance for the Amazon. Avionics Magazine of June 2002, from: http://www.aviationtoday.com/reports/avionics/previous/0602/0602sivam.htm...2003. Fisch, G., Marengo, J. A., & Nobre, C. A. Climate in Amazonia . From: http://www.mct.gov.br/clima/ingles/comunic_old/cinpe03.htm accessed in

  9. Regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor phosphorylation in rat myotubes by forskolin and cAMP

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

    Miles, K.; Anthony, D.T.; Rubin, L.L.

    1987-09-01

    The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (Ac-ChoR) from rat myotubes prelabeled in culture with (/sup 32/P)orthophosphate was isolated by acetylcholine affinity chromatography followed by immunoaffinity chromatography. Under basal conditions, the nicotinic AcChoR was shown to be phosphorylated in situ on the ..beta.. and delta subunits. Regulation of AcChoR phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase was explored by the addition of forskolin or cAMP analogues to prelabeled cell cultures. Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, stimulated the phosphorylation of the delta subunit 20-fold over basal phosphorylation and induced phosphorylation of the ..cap alpha.. subunit. The effect of forskolin was dose dependent with a half-maximalmore » response at 8 ..mu..M in the presence of 35 ..mu..M Ro 20-1724, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Stimulation of delta subunit phosphorylation was almost maximal within 5 min, whereas stimulation of ..cap alpha.. subunit phosphorylation was not maximal until 45 min after forskolin treatment. Stimulation of AcChoR phosphorylation by 8-benzylthioadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate was identical to that obtained by forskolin. Two-dimensional thermolytic phosphopeptide maps of the delta subunit revealed a single major phosphopeptide. These results correlate closely with the observed effects of forskolin on AcChoR desensitization in muscle and suggest that cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the delta subunit increases the rate of AcChoR desensitization in rat myotubes.« less

  10. Towards Extending Forward Kinematic Models on Hyper-Redundant Manipulator to Cooperative Bionic Arms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singh, Inderjeet; Lakhal, Othman; Merzouki, Rochdi

    2017-01-01

    Forward Kinematics is a stepping stone towards finding an inverse solution and subsequently a dynamic model of a robot. Hence a study and comparison of various Forward Kinematic Models (FKMs) is necessary for robot design. This paper deals with comparison of three FKMs on the same hyper-redundant Compact Bionic Handling Assistant (CBHA) manipulator under same conditions. The aim of this study is to project on modeling cooperative bionic manipulators. Two of these methods are quantitative methods, Arc Geometry HTM (Homogeneous Transformation Matrix) Method and Dual Quaternion Method, while the other one is Hybrid Method which uses both quantitative as well as qualitative approach. The methods are compared theoretically and experimental results are discussed to add further insight to the comparison. HTM is the widely used and accepted technique, is taken as reference and trajectory deviation in other techniques are compared with respect to HTM. Which method allows obtaining an accurate kinematic behavior of the CBHA, controlled in the real-time.

  11. Rational Design of Molecular Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells: Direct versus Inverted Device Configurations.

    PubMed

    Grisorio, Roberto; Iacobellis, Rosabianca; Listorti, Andrea; De Marco, Luisa; Cipolla, Maria Pia; Manca, Michele; Rizzo, Aurora; Abate, Antonio; Gigli, Giuseppe; Suranna, Gian Paolo

    2017-07-26

    Due to a still limited understanding of the reasons making 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) the state-of-the-art hole-transporting material (HTM) for emerging photovoltaic applications, the molecular tailoring of organic components for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) lacks in solid design criteria. Charge delocalization in radical cationic states can undoubtedly be considered as one of the essential prerequisites for an HTM, but this aspect has been investigated to a relatively minor extent. In marked contrast with the 3-D structure of Spiro-OMeTAD, truxene-based HTMs Trux1 and Trux2 have been employed for the first time in PSCs fabricated with a direct (n-i-p) or inverted (p-i-n) architecture, exhibiting a peculiar behavior with respect to the referential HTM. Notwithstanding the efficient hole extraction from the perovskite layer exhibited by Trux1 and Trux2 in direct configuration devices, their photovoltaic performances were detrimentally affected by their poor hole transport. Conversely, an outstanding improvement of the photovoltaic performances in dopant-free inverted configuration devices compared to Spiro-OMeTAD was recorded, ascribable to the use of thinner HTM layers. The rationalization of the photovoltaic performances exhibited by different configuration devices discussed in this paper can provide new and unexpected prospects for engineering the interface between the active layer of perovskite-based solar cells and the hole transporters.

  12. Occurrence of rhombic prisms in some structures

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

    Nyman, H.

    1976-02-01

    An ideal rhombic prism is defined as two regular trigonal prisms sharing a square face. In terms of such rhombic prisms, the structures of CrB and ..cap alpha..-PdCl/sub 2/, U/sub 3/Si/sub 2/ and Au/sub 3/Zn, and CoCa/sub 3/ and PdS are easily described. A network of rhombic prisms, with cubic symmetry, is also used to describe the structures of CoAs/sub 3/, Sc(OH)/sub 3/, WAl/sub 12/, and NaMn/sub 7/O/sub 12/.

  13. In vitro histamine H/sub 2/-antagonist activity of the novel compound HUK 978

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

    Coombes, J.D.; Norris, D.B.; Rising, T.J.

    1985-11-04

    Histamine stimulated adenylate cyclase from guinea-pig fundic mucosa and /sup 3/H-tiotidine binding in guinea-pig cerebral cortex were used to assess the in-vitro histamine H/sub 2/-activity of the novel H/sub 2/-antagonist HUK 978. The results showed that HUK 978 was a more potent H/sub 2/-antagonist than either cimetidine or ranitidine. HUK 978 was also shown to be devoid of activity at the histamine H-/sub 1/-receptor, the muscarinic receptor and the ..cap alpha.. and ..beta..-adrenergic receptors.

  14. [Cytochemical localization and properties of selected nucleolytic enzymes].

    PubMed

    Sierakowska, Halina

    2015-01-01

    In the article there are shortly outlined studies on cytochemical localization of selected nucleolytic enzymes carried out between 1957-1986 by David Shugar and his coworkers. The histochemical localization of several nucleolytic enzymes in animal and plant tissues was determined by synthesis of specific substrates, alpha-naphthyl esters of 5'- and 3'-nucleotides and their derivatives. In rat tissues phosphodiesterase I was localized in the plasma membrane whereas phosphodiesterase II in the lizosomes, reflecting their physiological roles. The localization of pancreatic type ribonuclease in animal tissues was determined, indicating its role in extracellular digestion. Plant nucleotide pyrophosphatase was localized in several tissues, purified to near homogeneity from potato tubers and its properties and substrate specificity were determined. Application of this enzyme for removal of m7GMP from the "cap" of eukaryotic mRNA allowed to elucidate the role of "cap" in mRNA binding to ribosomes in the process of translation. Furthermore, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase was isolated from potato tubers and its physicochemical properties, oligomeric structure and substrate specificity were elucidated.

  15. Optimized Design and Synthesis of Cell Permeable Biarsenical Cyanine Probe for Imaging Tagged Cytosolic Bacterial Proteins

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

    Fu, Na; Xiong, Yijia; Squier, Thomas C.

    2013-01-21

    To optimize cellular delivery and specific labeling of tagged cytosolic proteins by biarsenical fluorescent probes build around a cyanine dye scaffold, we have systematically varied the polarity of the hydrophobic tails (i.e., 4-5 methylene groups appended by a sulfonate or methoxy ester moiety) and arsenic capping reagent (ethanedithiol versus benzenedithiol). Targeted labeling of the cytosolic proteins SlyD and the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase engineered with a tetracysteine tagging sequences demonstrate the utility of the newly synthesized probes for live-cell visualization, albeit with varying efficiencies and background intensities. Optimal routine labeling and visualization is apparent using the ethanedithiol capping reagentmore » with the uncharged methoxy ester functionalized acyl chains. These measurements demonstrate the general utility of this class of photostable and highly fluorescent biarsenical reagents based on the cyanine scaffold for in vivo targeting of tagged cellular proteins for live cell measurements of protein dynamics.« less

  16. Proteomic Profile of Unstable Atheroma Plaque: Increased Neutrophil Defensin 1, Clusterin, and Apolipoprotein E Levels in Carotid Secretome.

    PubMed

    Aragonès, Gemma; Auguet, Teresa; Guiu-Jurado, Esther; Berlanga, Alba; Curriu, Marta; Martinez, Salomé; Alibalic, Ajla; Aguilar, Carmen; Hernández, Esteban; Camara, María-Luisa; Canela, Núria; Herrero, Pol; Ruyra, Xavier; Martín-Paredero, Vicente; Richart, Cristóbal

    2016-03-04

    Because of the clinical significance of carotid atherosclerosis, the search for novel biomarkers has become a priority. The aim of the present study was to compare the protein secretion profile of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP, n = 12) and nonatherosclerotic mammary artery (MA, n = 10) secretomes. We used a nontargeted proteomic approach that incorporated tandem immunoaffinity depletion, iTRAQ labeling, and nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. In total, 162 proteins were quantified, of which 25 showed statistically significant differences in secretome levels between carotid atherosclerotic plaque and nondiseased mammary artery. We found increased levels of neutrophil defensin 1, apolipoprotein E, clusterin, and zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein in CAP secretomes. Results were validated by ELISA assays. Also, differentially secreted proteins are involved in pathways such as focal adhesion and leukocyte transendothelial migration. In conclusion, this study provides a subset of identified proteins that are differently expressed in secretomes of clinical significance.

  17. Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells induces features of plaque vulnerability in atherosclerosis.

    PubMed

    Clarke, Murray C H; Figg, Nichola; Maguire, Janet J; Davenport, Anthony P; Goddard, Martin; Littlewood, Trevor D; Bennett, Martin R

    2006-09-01

    Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis occurs in many arterial diseases, including aneurysm formation, angioplasty restenosis and atherosclerosis. Although VSMC apoptosis promotes vessel remodeling, coagulation and inflammation, its precise contribution to these diseases is unknown, given that apoptosis frequently accompanies vessel injury or alterations to flow. To study the direct consequences of VSMC apoptosis, we generated transgenic mice expressing the human diphtheria toxin receptor (hDTR, encoded by HBEGF) from a minimal Tagln (also known as SM22alpha) promoter. Despite apoptosis inducing loss of 50-70% of VSMCs, normal arteries showed no inflammation, reactive proliferation, thrombosis, remodeling or aneurysm formation. In contrast, VSMC apoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques of SM22alpha-hDTR Apoe-/- mice induced marked thinning of fibrous cap, loss of collagen and matrix, accumulation of cell debris and intense intimal inflammation. We conclude that VSMC apoptosis is 'silent' in normal arteries, which have a large capacity to withstand cell loss. In contrast, VSMC apoptosis alone is sufficient to induce features of plaque vulnerability in atherosclerosis. SM22alpha-hDTR Apoe-/- mice may represent an important new model to test agents proposed to stabilize atherosclerotic plaques.

  18. A New Conjugation Method Used for the Development of an Immunoassay for the Detection of Amanitin, a Deadly Mushroom Toxin.

    PubMed

    Bever, Candace S; Barnych, Bogdan; Hnasko, Robert; Cheng, Luisa W; Stanker, Larry H

    2018-06-28

    One of the deadliest mushrooms is the death cap mushroom, Amanita phalloides . The most toxic constituent is α-amanitin, a bicyclic octapeptide, which damages the liver and kidneys. To develop a new tool for detecting this toxin, polyclonal antibodies were generated and characterized. Both α- and β-amanitin were coupled to carrier proteins through four different linking chemistries, one of which has never before been described. These conjugates were evaluated for their effectiveness in generating antibodies specific for the free toxin, as well as their utility in formatting heterogeneous assays with high sensitivity. Ultimately, these efforts yielded a newly described conjugation procedure utilizing periodate oxidation followed by reductive amination that successfully resulted in generating sensitive immunoassays (limit of detection (LOD), ~1.0 µg/L). The assays were characterized for their selectivity and were found to equally detect α-, β-, and γ-amanitin, and not cross-react with other toxins tested. Toxin detection in mushrooms was possible using a simple sample preparation method. This enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a simple and fast test, and readily detects amatoxins extracted from A. phalloides .

  19. Auto-Assembling Detoxified Staphylococcus aureus Alpha-Hemolysin Mimicking the Wild-Type Cytolytic Toxin.

    PubMed

    Fiaschi, Luigi; Di Palo, Benedetta; Scarselli, Maria; Pozzi, Clarissa; Tomaszewski, Kelly; Galletti, Bruno; Nardi-Dei, Vincenzo; Arcidiacono, Letizia; Mishra, Ravi P N; Mori, Elena; Pallaoro, Michele; Falugi, Fabiana; Torre, Antonina; Fontana, Maria Rita; Soriani, Marco; Bubeck Wardenburg, Juliane; Grandi, Guido; Rappuoli, Rino; Ferlenghi, Ilaria; Bagnoli, Fabio

    2016-06-01

    Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin (Hla) assembles into heptameric pores on the host cell membrane, causing lysis, apoptosis, and junction disruption. Herein, we present the design of a newly engineered S. aureus alpha-toxin, HlaPSGS, which lacks the predicted membrane-spanning stem domain. This protein is able to form heptamers in aqueous solution in the absence of lipophilic substrata, and its structure, obtained by transmission electron microscopy and single-particle reconstruction analysis, resembles the cap of the wild-type cytolytic Hla pore. HlaPSGS was found to be impaired in binding to host cells and to its receptor ADAM10 and to lack hemolytic and cytotoxic activity. Immunological studies using human sera as well as sera from mice convalescent from S. aureus infection suggested that the heptameric conformation of HlaPSGS mimics epitopes exposed by the cytolytic Hla pore during infection. Finally, immunization with this newly engineered Hla generated high protective immunity against staphylococcal infection in mice. Overall, this study provides unprecedented data on the natural immune response against Hla and suggests that the heptameric HlaPSGS is a highly valuable vaccine candidate against S. aureus. Copyright © 2016 Fiaschi et al.

  20. Auto-Assembling Detoxified Staphylococcus aureus Alpha-Hemolysin Mimicking the Wild-Type Cytolytic Toxin

    PubMed Central

    Fiaschi, Luigi; Di Palo, Benedetta; Scarselli, Maria; Pozzi, Clarissa; Tomaszewski, Kelly; Galletti, Bruno; Nardi-Dei, Vincenzo; Arcidiacono, Letizia; Mishra, Ravi P. N.; Mori, Elena; Pallaoro, Michele; Falugi, Fabiana; Torre, Antonina; Fontana, Maria Rita; Soriani, Marco; Bubeck Wardenburg, Juliane; Grandi, Guido; Rappuoli, Rino

    2016-01-01

    Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin (Hla) assembles into heptameric pores on the host cell membrane, causing lysis, apoptosis, and junction disruption. Herein, we present the design of a newly engineered S. aureus alpha-toxin, HlaPSGS, which lacks the predicted membrane-spanning stem domain. This protein is able to form heptamers in aqueous solution in the absence of lipophilic substrata, and its structure, obtained by transmission electron microscopy and single-particle reconstruction analysis, resembles the cap of the wild-type cytolytic Hla pore. HlaPSGS was found to be impaired in binding to host cells and to its receptor ADAM10 and to lack hemolytic and cytotoxic activity. Immunological studies using human sera as well as sera from mice convalescent from S. aureus infection suggested that the heptameric conformation of HlaPSGS mimics epitopes exposed by the cytolytic Hla pore during infection. Finally, immunization with this newly engineered Hla generated high protective immunity against staphylococcal infection in mice. Overall, this study provides unprecedented data on the natural immune response against Hla and suggests that the heptameric HlaPSGS is a highly valuable vaccine candidate against S. aureus. PMID:27030589

  1. MPLM Donatello is offloaded at the SLF

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2001-01-01

    At the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, the Italian Space Agency's Multi- Purpose Logistics Module Donatello begins rolling out of the Airbus '''Beluga''' air cargo plane that brought it from the factory of Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. The third of three for the International Space Station, the module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility for processing. Among the activities for the payload test team are integrated electrical tests with other Station elements in the SSPF, leak tests, electrical and software compatibility tests with the Space Shuttle (using the Cargo Integrated Test equipment) and an Interface Verification Test once the module is installed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay at the launch pad. The most significant mechanical task to be performed on Donatello in the SSPF is the installation and outfitting of the racks for carrying the various experiments and cargo.

  2. MPLM Donatello is offloaded at the SLF

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2001-01-01

    At the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, an Airbus '''Beluga''' air cargo plane opens to reveal its cargo, the Italian Space Agency's Multi- Purpose Logistics Module Donatello, from the factory of Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. The third of three for the International Space Station, the module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility for processing. Among the activities for the payload test team are integrated electrical tests with other Station elements in the SSPF, leak tests, electrical and software compatibility tests with the Space Shuttle (using the Cargo Integrated Test equipment) and an Interface Verification Test once the module is installed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay at the launch pad. The most significant mechanical task to be performed on Donatello in the SSPF is the installation and outfitting of the racks for carrying the various experiments and cargo.

  3. MPLM Donatello is offloaded at the SLF

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2001-01-01

    At the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, the Italian Space Agency's Multi- Purpose Logistics Module Donatello rolls out of the Airbus '''Beluga''' air cargo plane that brought it from the factory of Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. The third of three for the International Space Station, the module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility for processing. Among the activities for the payload test team are integrated electrical tests with other Station elements in the SSPF, leak tests, electrical and software compatibility tests with the Space Shuttle (using the Cargo Integrated Test equipment) and an Interface Verification Test once the module is installed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay at the launch pad. The most significant mechanical task to be performed on Donatello in the SSPF is the installation and outfitting of the racks for carrying the various experiments and cargo.

  4. Validating a two-high-threshold measurement model for confidence rating data in recognition.

    PubMed

    Bröder, Arndt; Kellen, David; Schütz, Julia; Rohrmeier, Constanze

    2013-01-01

    Signal Detection models as well as the Two-High-Threshold model (2HTM) have been used successfully as measurement models in recognition tasks to disentangle memory performance and response biases. A popular method in recognition memory is to elicit confidence judgements about the presumed old/new status of an item, allowing for the easy construction of ROCs. Since the 2HTM assumes fewer latent memory states than response options are available in confidence ratings, the 2HTM has to be extended by a mapping function which models individual rating scale usage. Unpublished data from 2 experiments in Bröder and Schütz (2009) validate the core memory parameters of the model, and 3 new experiments show that the response mapping parameters are selectively affected by manipulations intended to affect rating scale use, and this is independent of overall old/new bias. Comparisons with SDT show that both models behave similarly, a case that highlights the notion that both modelling approaches can be valuable (and complementary) elements in a researcher's toolbox.

  5. Effect of capping and particle size on Raman laser-induced degradation of {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles

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

    Varadwaj, K.S.K.; Panigrahi, M.K.; Ghose, J.

    2004-11-01

    Diol capped {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles are prepared from ferric nitrate by refluxing in 1,4-butanediol (9.5nm) and 1,5-pentanediol (15nm) and uncapped particles are prepared by refluxing in 1,2-propanediol followed by sintering the alkoxide formed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all the samples have the spinel phase. Raman spectroscopy shows that the samples prepared in 1,4-butanediol and 1,5-pentanediol and 1,2-propanediol (sintered at 573 and 673K) are {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and the 773K-sintered sample is Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}. Raman laser studies carried out at various laser powers show that all the samples undergo laser-induced degradation to {alpha}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} at higher lasermore » power. The capped samples are however, found more stable to degradation than the uncapped samples. The stability of {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} sample with large particle size (15.4nm) is more than the sample with small particle size (10.2nm). Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} having a particle size of 48nm is however less stable than the smaller {gamma}-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles.« less

  6. Phase field models for heterogeneous nucleation: Application to inoculation in alpha-solidifying Ti-Al-B alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Apel, M.; Eiken, J.; Hecht, U.

    2014-02-01

    This paper aims at briefly reviewing phase field models applied to the simulation of heterogeneous nucleation and subsequent growth, with special emphasis on grain refinement by inoculation. The spherical cap and free growth model (e.g. A.L. Greer, et al., Acta Mater. 48, 2823 (2000)) has proven its applicability for different metallic systems, e.g. Al or Mg based alloys, by computing the grain refinement effect achieved by inoculation of the melt with inert seeding particles. However, recent experiments with peritectic Ti-Al-B alloys revealed that the grain refinement by TiB2 is less effective than predicted by the model. Phase field simulations can be applied to validate the approximations of the spherical cap and free growth model, e.g. by computing explicitly the latent heat release associated with different nucleation and growth scenarios. Here, simulation results for point-shaped nucleation, as well as for partially and completely wetted plate-like seed particles will be discussed with respect to recalescence and impact on grain refinement. It will be shown that particularly for large seeding particles (up to 30 μm), the free growth morphology clearly deviates from the assumed spherical cap and the initial growth - until the free growth barrier is reached - significantly contributes to the latent heat release and determines the recalescence temperature.

  7. Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the non-obese diabetic mouse model.

    PubMed

    Koopman, F A; Vosters, J L; Roescher, N; Broekstra, N; Tak, P P; Vervoordeldonk, M J

    2015-10-01

    Activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) has been shown to reduce inflammation in animal models, while abrogation of the pathway increases inflammation. We investigated whether modulation of CAP influences inflammation in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model for Sjögren's syndrome and type 1 diabetes. The alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) was stimulated with AR-R17779 or nicotine in NOD mice. In a second study, unilateral cervical vagotomy was performed. α7nAChR expression, focus scores, and salivary flow were evaluated in salivary glands (SG) and insulitis score in the pancreas. Cytokines were measured in serum and SG. α7nAChR was expressed on myoepithelial cells in SG. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels were reduced in SG after AR-R17779 treatment and tumor necrosis factor production was increased in the SG of the vagotomy group compared to controls. Focus score and salivary flow were unaffected. NOD mice developed diabetes more rapidly after vagotomy, but at completion of the study there were no statistically significant differences in number of mice that developed diabetes or in insulitis scores. Intervention of the CAP in NOD mice leads to minimal changes in inflammatory cytokines, but did not affect overall inflammation and function of SG or development of diabetes. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  8. Ballistocardiogram Artifact Removal with a Reference Layer and Standard EEG Cap

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Qingfei; Huang, Xiaoshan; Glover, Gary H.

    2014-01-01

    Background In simultaneous EEG-fMRI, the EEG recordings are severely contaminated by ballistocardiogram (BCG) artifacts, which are caused by cardiac pulsations. To reconstruct and remove the BCG artifacts, one promising method is to measure the artifacts in the absence of EEG signal by placing a group of electrodes (BCG electrodes) on a conductive layer (reference layer) insulated from the scalp. However, current BCG reference layer (BRL) methods either use a customized EEG cap composed of electrode pairs, or need to construct the custom reference layer through additional model-building experiments for each EEG-fMRI experiment. These requirements have limited the versatility and efficiency of BRL. The aim of this study is to propose a more practical and efficient BRL method and compare its performance with the most popular BCG removal method, the optimal basis sets (OBS) algorithm. New Method By designing the reference layer as a permanent and reusable cap, the new BRL method is able to be used with a standard EEG cap, and no extra experiments and preparations are needed to use the BRL in an EEG-fMRI experiment. Results The BRL method effectively removed the BCG artifacts from both oscillatory and evoked potential scalp recordings and recovered the EEG signal. Comparison with Existing Method Compared to the OBS, this new BRL method improved the contrast-to-noise ratios of the alpha-wave, visual, and auditory evoked potential signals by 101%, 76%, and 75% respectively, employing 160 BCG electrodes. Using only 20 BCG electrodes, the BRL improved the EEG signal by 74%/26%/41% respectively. Conclusion The proposed method can substantially improve the EEG signal quality compared with traditional methods. PMID:24960423

  9. Exposure to concentrated ambient PM2.5 alters the composition of gut microbiota in a murine model.

    PubMed

    Wang, Wanjun; Zhou, Ji; Chen, Minjie; Huang, Xingke; Xie, Xiaoyun; Li, Weihua; Cao, Qi; Kan, Haidong; Xu, Yanyi; Ying, Zhekang

    2018-04-17

    Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) correlates with abnormal glucose homeostasis, but the underlying biological mechanism has not been fully understood. The gut microbiota is an emerging crucial player in the homeostatic regulation of glucose metabolism. Few studies have investigated its role in the PM 2.5 exposure-induced abnormalities in glucose homeostasis. C57Bl/6J mice were exposed to filtered air (FA) or concentrated ambient PM 2.5 (CAP) for 12 months using a versatile aerosol concentration enrichment system (VACES) that was modified for long-term whole-body exposures. Their glucose homeostasis and gut microbiota were examined and analysed by correlation and mediation analysis. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) showed that CAP exposure markedly impaired their glucose and insulin tolerance. Faecal microbiota analysis demonstrated that the impairment in glucose homeostasis was coincided with decreased faecal bacterial ACE and Chao-1 estimators (the indexes of community richness), while there was no significant change in all faecal fungal alpha diversity estimators. The Pearson's correlation analyses showed that the bacterial richness estimators were correlated with glucose and insulin tolerance, and the mediation analyses displayed a significant mediation of CAP exposure-induced glucose intolerance by the alteration in the bacterial Chao-1 estimator. LEfSe analyses revealed 24 bacterial and 21 fungal taxa differential between CAP- and FA-exposed animals. Of these, 14 and 20 bacterial taxa were correlated with IPGTT AUC and ITT AUC, respectively, and 5 fungal taxa were correlated with abnormalities in glucose metabolism. Chronic exposure to PM 2.5 causes gut dysbiosis and may subsequently contribute to the development of abnormalities in glucose metabolism.

  10. Cleavage of the actin-capping protein alpha -adducin at Asp-Asp-Ser-Asp633-Ala by caspase-3 is preceded by its phosphorylation on serine 726 in cisplatin-induced apoptosis of renal epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    van de Water, B; Tijdens, I B; Verbrugge, A; Huigsloot, M; Dihal, A A; Stevens, J L; Jaken, S; Mulder, G J

    2000-08-18

    Decreased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin is associated with loss of focal adhesions and stress fibers and precedes the onset of apoptosis (van de Water, B., Nagelkerke, J. F., and Stevens, J. L. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 13328-13337). The cortical actin cytoskeletal network is also lost during apoptosis, yet little is known about the temporal relationship between altered phosphorylation of proteins that are critical in the regulation of this network and their potential cleavage by caspases during apoptosis. Adducins are central in the cortical actin network organization. Cisplatin caused apoptosis of renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, which was associated with the cleavage of alpha-adducin into a 74-kDa fragment; this was blocked by a general caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD-fmk). Hemagglutinin-tagged human alpha-adducin was cleaved into a similar 74-kDa fragment by caspase-3 in vitro but not by caspase-6 or -7. Asp-Arg-Val-Asp(29)-Glu, Asp-Ile-Val-Asp(208)-Arg, and Asp-Asp-Ser-Asp(633)-Ala were identified as the principal caspase-3 cleavage sites; Asp-Asp-Ser-Asp(633)-Ala was key in the formation of the 74-kDa fragment. Cisplatin also caused an increased phosphorylation of alpha-adducin and gamma-adducin in the MARCKS domain that preceded alpha-adducin cleavage and was associated with loss of adducins from adherens junctions; this was not affected by z-VAD-fmk. In conclusion, the data support a model in which increased phosphorylation of alpha-adducin due to cisplatin leads to dissociation from the cytoskeleton, a situation rendered irreversible by caspase-3-mediated cleavage of alpha-adducin at Asp-Asp-Ser-Asp(633)-Ala.

  11. Function of the two Xenopus smad4s in early frog development.

    PubMed

    Chang, Chenbei; Brivanlou, Ali H; Harland, Richard M

    2006-10-13

    Signals from the transforming growth factor beta family members are transmitted in the cell through specific receptor-activated Smads and a common partner Smad4. Two Smad4 genes (alpha and beta/10, or smad4 and smad4.2) have been isolated from Xenopus, and conflicting data are reported for Smad4beta/10 actions in mesodermal and neural induction. To further understand the functions of the Smad4s in early frog development, we analyzed their activities in detail. We report that Smad10 is a mutant form of Smad4beta that harbors a missense mutation of a conserved arginine to histidine in the MH1 domain. The mutation results in enhanced association of Smad10 with the nuclear transcription corepressor Ski and leads to its neural inducing activity through inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. In contrast to Smad10, both Smad4alpha and Smad4beta enhanced BMP signals in ectodermal explants. Using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) to knockdown endogenous Smad4 protein levels, we discovered that Smad4beta was required for both activin- and BMP-mediated mesodermal induction in animal caps, whereas Smad4alpha affected only the BMP signals. Neither Smad4 was involved directly in neural induction. Expression of Smad4beta-MO in early frog embryos resulted in reduction of mesodermal markers and defects in axial structures, which were rescued by either Smad4alpha or Smad4beta. Smad4alpha-MO induced only minor deficiency at late stages. As Smad4beta, but not Smad4alpha, is expressed at high levels maternally and during early gastrulation, our data suggest that although Smad4alpha and Smad4beta may have similar activities, they are differentially utilized during frog embryogenesis, with only Smad4beta being essential for mesoderm induction.

  12. Evaluating CO2 and CH4 dynamics of Alaskan ecosystems during the Holocene Thermal Maximum

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    He, Yujie; Jones, Miriam C.; Zhuang, Qianlai; Bochicchio, Christopher; Felzer, B. S.; Mason, Erik; Yu, Zicheng

    2014-01-01

    The Arctic has experienced much greater warming than the global average in recent decades due to polar amplification. Warming has induced ecological changes that have impacted climate carbon-cycle feedbacks, making it important to understand the climate and vegetation controls on carbon (C) dynamics. Here we used the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM, 11–9 ka BP, 1 ka BP = 1000 cal yr before present) in Alaska as a case study to examine how ecosystem Cdynamics responded to the past warming climate using an integrated approach of combining paleoecological reconstructions and ecosystem modeling. Our paleoecological synthesis showed expansion of deciduous broadleaf forest (dominated by Populus) into tundra and the establishment of boreal evergreen needleleaf and mixed forest during the second half of the HTM under a warmer- and wetter-than-before climate, coincident with the occurrence of the highest net primary productivity, cumulative net ecosystem productivity, soil C accumulation and CH4 emissions. These series of ecological and biogeochemical shifts mirrored the solar insolation and subsequent temperature and precipitation patterns during HTM, indicating the importance of climate controls on C dynamics. Our simulated regional estimate of CH4 emission rates from Alaska during the HTM ranged from 3.5 to 6.4 Tg CH4 yr−1 and highest annual NPP of 470 Tg C yr−1, significantly higher than previously reported modern estimates. Our results show that the differences in static vegetation distribution maps used in simulations of different time slices have greater influence on modeled C dynamics than climatic fields within each time slice, highlighting the importance of incorporating vegetation community dynamics and their responses to climatic conditions in long-term biogeochemical modeling.

  13. Solution-Processed hybrid Sb2 S3 planar heterojunction solar cell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Wenxiao; Borazan, Ismail; Carroll, David

    Thin-film solar cells based on inorganic absorbers permit a high efficiency and stability. Among or those absorber candidates, recently Sb2S3 has attracted extensive attention because of its suitable band gap (1.5eV ~1.7 eV) , strong optical absorption, low-cost and earth-abundant constituents. Currently high-efficiency Sb2S3 solar cells have absorber layer deposited on nanostructured TiO2 electrodes in combination with organic hole transport material (HTM) on top. However it's challenging to fill the nanostructured TiO2 layer with Sb2S3 and subsequently by HTM, this leads to uncovered surface permits charge recombination. And the existing of Sb2S3/TiO2/HTM triple interface will enhance the recombination due to the surface trap state. Therefore, a planar junction cell would not only have simpler structure with less steps to fabricate but also ideally also have a higher open circuit voltage because of less interface carrier recombination. By far there is limited research focusing on planar Sb2S3 solar cell, so the feasibility is still unclear. Here, we developed a low-toxic solution method to fabricate Sb2S3 thin film solar cell, then we studied the morphology of the Sb2S3 layer and its impact to the device performance. The best device with a structure of FTO/TiO2/Sb2S3/P3HT/Ag has PCE over 5% which is similar or higher than yet the best nanostructure devices with the same HTM. Furthermore, based on solution engineering and surface modification, we improved the Sb2S3 film quality and achieved a record PCE. .

  14. Interface Play between Perovskite and Hole Selective Layer on the Performance and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells.

    PubMed

    Salado, Manuel; Idigoras, Jesus; Calio, Laura; Kazim, Samrana; Nazeeruddin, Mohammad Khaja; Anta, Juan A; Ahmad, Shahzada

    2016-12-21

    Perovskite solar cells with variety of hole selective contacts such as 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD), poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl), poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,5,6-trimentlyphenyl)amine], 5,10,15-trihexyl-3,8,13-tris(4-methoxyphenyl)-10,15-dihydro-5H-diindolo[3,2-a:3',2'-c]carbazole (HMPDI), and 2',7'-bis(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)spiro[cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene-4,9'-fluorene] were employed to elucidate its role at the interface of perovskite and metallic cathode. Microscopy images revealed Spiro-OMeTAD and HMPDI produce smoother and intimate contact between perovskite/hole transporting materials (HTM) interfaces among others evaluated here. This morphological feature appears to be connected with three fundamental facts: (1) hole injection to the HTM is much more efficient as evidenced by photoluminescence measurements, (2) recombination losses are less important as evidenced by intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy measurements, and (3) fabricated solar cells are much more robust against degradation by moisture. Devices with higher open-circuit photovoltages are characterized by higher values of the recombination resistance extracted from the impedance data. The variation in device hysteresis behavior can be ascribed mainly due to the molecular interaction and the core of HTM employed. In all cases, this fact is related with a larger value of the low-frequency capacitance, which indicates that the HTM can induce specific slow processes of ion accumulation at the interface. Notably, these processes tend to slowly relax in time, as hysteresis is substantially reduced for aged devices.

  15. Free Body Dynamics of a Spinning Cylinder With Planar Restraint (a.k.a. Barrel of Fun)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Moraru, Laurentiu; Dimofte, Florin; Hendricks, Robert C.

    2006-01-01

    The dynamic motion of a cylinder on a floor or hard surface is both entertaining and instructive. With maintenance torques, motion can be sustained and controlled as illustrated in a video clip that can be viewed in the PDF file of this document. The analysis of such a cylinder with and without end caps is burned on rotation about its center of mass and restrained by a plane normal to the axis passing through its center of mass at an angle alpha. For small values of alpha, the governing equations are simplified, and for symmetric bodies, stability requires rotation greater than [2 square root of(JWL*)]/J(sub X), where J is the transverse mass moment of inertia, W is the weight of the cylinder, L* is the cylinder length from the base to the center of mass, and JX is the mass moment of inertia about the longitudinal axis OX of the barrel. Comparisons to data are made and some applications are discussed.

  16. Identification of high-mannose and multiantennary complex-type N-linked glycans containing alpha-galactose epitopes from Nurse shark IgM heavy chain.

    PubMed

    Harvey, David J; Crispin, Max; Moffatt, Beryl E; Smith, Sylvia L; Sim, Robert B; Rudd, Pauline M; Dwek, Raymond A

    2009-11-01

    MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, negative ion nano-electrospray MS/MS and exoglycosidase digestion were used to identify 36 N-linked glycans from 19S IgM heavy chain derived from the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum). The major glycan was the high-mannose compound, Man(6)GlcNAc(2) accompanied by small amounts of Man(5)GlcNAc(2), Man(7)GlcNAc(2) and Man(8)GlcNAc(2). Bi- and tri-antennary (isomer with a branched 3-antenna) complex-type glycans were also abundant, most contained a bisecting GlcNAc residue (beta1-->4-linked to the central mannose) and with varying numbers of alpha-galactose residues capping the antennae. Small amounts of monosialylated glycans were also found. This appears to be the first comprehensive study of glycosylation in this species of animal. The glycosylation pattern has implications for the mechanism of activation of the complement system by nurse shark IgM.

  17. The ionosphere of Uranus - A myriad of possibilities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chandler, M. O.; Waite, J. H.

    1986-01-01

    A one-dimensional model has been used to study the effects of exospheric temperature, methane and water influx, ionospheric outflow, and electron precipitation on the composition and structure of the ionosphere of Uranus. Peak ion concentrations range from 1000 to 1 million per cu cm with a wide variation in peak altitude, which depends strongly on the exospheric temperature. In all the cases considered, H(+) is the major ion in the topside ionosphere. At altitudes near or below the peak, H3(+) and CH5(+) can dominate, depending on the magnitude of CH4 and H2O influx. Atomic hydrogen column depths above the methane absorbing layer exceed 10 to the 17th per sq cm and can produce large (400 R) emissions of resonantly scattered Lyman-alpha. In the sunlit polar cap, electron precipitation with energy fluxes of 0.6 to 1.0 erg/sq cm s results in direct production of Lyman-alpha emissions that exceed 1 kR.

  18. Enzymatic transformation of nonfood biomass to starch

    PubMed Central

    You, Chun; Chen, Hongge; Myung, Suwan; Sathitsuksanoh, Noppadon; Ma, Hui; Zhang, Xiao-Zhou; Li, Jianyong; Zhang, Y.-H. Percival

    2013-01-01

    The global demand for food could double in another 40 y owing to growth in the population and food consumption per capita. To meet the world’s future food and sustainability needs for biofuels and renewable materials, the production of starch-rich cereals and cellulose-rich bioenergy plants must grow substantially while minimizing agriculture’s environmental footprint and conserving biodiversity. Here we demonstrate one-pot enzymatic conversion of pretreated biomass to starch through a nonnatural synthetic enzymatic pathway composed of endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolyase, cellobiose phosphorylase, and alpha-glucan phosphorylase originating from bacterial, fungal, and plant sources. A special polypeptide cap in potato alpha-glucan phosphorylase was essential to push a partially hydrolyzed intermediate of cellulose forward to the synthesis of amylose. Up to 30% of the anhydroglucose units in cellulose were converted to starch; the remaining cellulose was hydrolyzed to glucose suitable for ethanol production by yeast in the same bioreactor. Next-generation biorefineries based on simultaneous enzymatic biotransformation and microbial fermentation could address the food, biofuels, and environment trilemma. PMID:23589840

  19. The Boeing Delta II rocket with Mars Polar Lander aboard lifts off at Pad 17B, CCAS

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1999-01-01

    Looking like a Roman candle, the exhaust from the Boeing Delta II rocket with the Mars Polar Lander aboard lights up the clouds as it hurtles skyward. The rocket was launched at 3:21:10 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station. The lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern-most boundary of the south polar cap, which consists of carbon dioxide ice. The lander will study the polar water cycle, frosts, water vapor, condensates and dust in the Martian atmosphere. It is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the layered terrain. In addition, Deep Space 2 microprobes, developed by NASA's New Millennium Program, are installed on the lander's cruise stage. After crashing into the planet's surface, they will conduct two days of soil and water experiments up to 1 meter (3 feet) below the Martian surface, testing new technologies for future planetary descent probes. The lander is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars Surveyor '98 missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on Dec. 11, 1998.

  20. Formation and self-organization kinetics of alpha-CD/PEO-based pseudo-polyrotaxanes in water. A specific behavior at 30 degrees C.

    PubMed

    Travelet, Christophe; Schlatter, Guy; Hébraud, Pascal; Brochon, Cyril; Lapp, Alain; Hadziioannou, Georges

    2009-08-04

    alpha-Cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs) have the ability to form inclusion complexes with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer chains. These pseudo-polyrotaxanes (PPRs) can be obtained by quenching an alpha-CD/PEO mixture in water from 70 degrees C down to a lower temperature (typically in the range from 5 to 30 degrees C) thanks to favorable interactions between alpha-CD cavities and PEO chains. Moreover, starting from a liquid alpha-CD/PEO mixture at a total mass fraction of 15% w/w at 70 degrees C, the formation of PPRs with time at a lower temperature induces a white physical gel with time, and phase separation is observed. We established that PPR molecules are exclusively found in the precipitated phase although unthreaded alpha-CD molecules and unthreaded PEO chains are in the liquid phase. At 30 degrees C, the physical gel formation is much slower than at 5 degrees C. At 30 degrees C, we established that, in a first step, alpha-CDs thread onto PEO chains, forming PPR molecules which are not in good solvent conditions in water. At a higher length scale, rapid aggregation of the PPR molecules occurs, and threaded alpha-CD-based nanocylinders form (cylinder length L = 5.7 nm and cylinder radius R = 4.7 nm). At a higher length scale, alpha-CD-based nanocylinders associate in a Gaussian way, engendering the formation of precipitated domains which are responsible for the high turbidity of the studied system. At the end of this first step (i.e., after 20 min), the system still remains liquid and the PPRs are totally formed. Then, in a second step (i.e., after 150 min), the system undergoes its reorganization characterized by a compacity increase of the precipitated domains and forms a physical gel. We found that PPRs are totally formed after 20 min at 30 degrees C and that the system stays in a nongel state up to 150 min. This opens new perspectives regarding the PPR chemical modification: between these two characteristic times, we can easily envisage an efficient chemical modification of the PPR molecules in water, as for instance an end-capping reaction leading to the synthesis of polyrotaxanes.

  1. Can oil lubricated dental handpieces be sterilized?: part 1. The problem.

    PubMed

    Kudhail, Ravinder

    2013-09-01

    HTM 01-05 guidelines state that decontamination of handpieces remains a challenge, in particular the lumen, due to oil impeding access for steam sterilization. This paper discusses important aspects of cleaning and sterilization of the handpiece lumen and critically appraises the literature found on this topic. The paper is not intended to cover precleaning methods in detail. The complex structure of handpiece lumens makes them difficult to sterilize. Current knowledge of this subject is necessary for general dental practitioners to decide on investment in new equipment correctly, which has been validated by the manufacturer, in order to comply with HTM 01-05 guidelines.

  2. Potassium-chemical synthesis of 3D graphene from CO 2 and its excellent performance in HTM-free perovskite solar cells

    DOE PAGES

    Wei, Wei; Hu, Baoyun; Jin, Fangming; ...

    2017-03-29

    The conversion of greenhouse gas CO 2 into novel materials is the most promising approach to solve greenhouse gas issues. In this paper, we report for the first time the reaction of potassium with CO 2 to synthesize three-dimensional honeycomb-like structured graphene (3DHG). Furthermore, 3DHG exhibited excellent performance as a counter electrode for hole transport material (HTM)-free perovskite solar cells, leading to a power conversion efficiency of 10.06%. Finally, this work constitutes a new aspect of potassium chemistry for material synthesis from a greenhouse gas and the generation of electrical energy from sunlight.

  3. Solution-Processed Cu(In, Ga)(S, Se)2 Nanocrystal as Inorganic Hole-Transporting Material for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

    PubMed

    Xu, Lu; Deng, Lin-Long; Cao, Jing; Wang, Xin; Chen, Wei-Yi; Jiang, Zhiyuan

    2017-12-01

    Perovskite solar cells are emerging as one of the most promising candidates for solar energy harvesting. To date, most of the high-performance perovskite solar cells have exclusively employed organic hole-transporting materials (HTMs) such as 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) or polytriarylamine (PTAA) which are often expensive and have low hole mobility. Almost all these HTMs reported needed lithium salt, e.g., lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Li-TFSI) doping, to improve hole mobility and performance. However, the use of Li-TFSI should be avoided because the hygroscopic nature of Li-TFSI could cause decomposition of perovskite and reduce device stability. Herein, we employed solution-processed CuIn 0.1 Ga 0.9 (S 0.9 Se 0.1 ) 2 (CIGSSe) nanocrystals as a novel inorganic HTM in perovskite solar cells. A power conversion efficiency of 9.15% was obtained for CIGSSe-based devices with improved stability, compared to devices using spiro-OMeTAD as HTM. This work offers a promising candidate of Cu-based inorganic HTM for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells.

  4. MPLM Donatello is offloaded at the SLF

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2001-01-01

    At the Shuttle Landing Facility, workers in cherry pickers (left and right) help direct the offloading of the Italian Space Agency's Multi- Purpose Logistics Module Donatello from the Airbus '''Beluga''' air cargo plane that brought it from the factory of Alenia Aerospazio in Turin, Italy. The third of three for the International Space Station, the module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility for processing. Among the activities for the payload test team are integrated electrical tests with other Station elements in the SSPF, leak tests, electrical and software compatibility tests with the Space Shuttle (using the Cargo Integrated Test equipment) and an Interface Verification Test once the module is installed in the Space Shuttle's payload bay at the launch pad. The most significant mechanical task to be performed on Donatello in the SSPF is the installation and outfitting of the racks for carrying the various experiments and cargo.

  5. MoS2: a two-dimensional hole-transporting material for high-efficiency, low-cost perovskite solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kohnehpoushi, Saman; Nazari, Pariya; Abdollahi Nejand, Bahram; Eskandari, Mehdi

    2018-05-01

    In this work MoS2 thin film was studied as a potential two-dimensional (2D) hole-transporting material for fabrication of low-cost, durable and efficient perovskite solar cells. The thickness of MoS2 was studied as a potential factor in reaching high power conversion efficiency in perovskite solar cells. The thickness of the perovskite layer and the different metal back contacts gave distinct photovoltaic properties to the designed cells. The results show that a single sheet of MoS2 could considerably improve the power conversion efficacy of the device from 10.41% for a hole transport material (HTM)-free device to 20.43% for a device prepared with a 0.67 nm thick MoS2 layer as a HTM. On the back, Ag and Al collected the carriers more efficiently than Au due to the value of their metal contact work function with the TiO2 conduction band. The present work proposes a new architecture for the fabrication of low-cost, durable and efficient perovskite solar cells made from a low-cost and robust inorganic HTM and electron transport material.

  6. The U.S. Lab placed in vacuum chamber for leak test

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    In the Operations and Checkout Building, the U.S. Lab, a component of the International Space Station, is lowered into a three-story vacuum chamber. The 32,000-pound scientific research lab, named Destiny, is the first Space Station element to spend seven days in the renovated vacuum chamber for a leak test. Destiny is scheduled to be launched on Shuttle mission STS-98, the 5A assembly mission, targeted for Jan. 18, 2001. During the mission, the crew will install the Lab in the Space Station during a series of three space walks. The STS-98 mission will provide the Station with science research facilities and expand its power, life support and control capabilities. The U.S. Lab module continues a long tradition of microgravity materials research, first conducted by Skylab and later Shuttle and Spacelab missions. Destiny is expected to be a major feature in future research, providing facilities for biotechnology, fluid physics, combustion, and life sciences research.

  7. MoS2: a two-dimensional hole-transporting material for high-efficiency, low-cost perovskite solar cells.

    PubMed

    Kohnehpoushi, Saman; Nazari, Pariya; Nejand, Bahram Abdollahi; Eskandari, Mehdi

    2018-05-18

    In this work MoS 2 thin film was studied as a potential two-dimensional (2D) hole-transporting material for fabrication of low-cost, durable and efficient perovskite solar cells. The thickness of MoS 2 was studied as a potential factor in reaching high power conversion efficiency in perovskite solar cells. The thickness of the perovskite layer and the different metal back contacts gave distinct photovoltaic properties to the designed cells. The results show that a single sheet of MoS 2 could considerably improve the power conversion efficacy of the device from 10.41% for a hole transport material (HTM)-free device to 20.43% for a device prepared with a 0.67 nm thick MoS 2 layer as a HTM. On the back, Ag and Al collected the carriers more efficiently than Au due to the value of their metal contact work function with the TiO 2 conduction band. The present work proposes a new architecture for the fabrication of low-cost, durable and efficient perovskite solar cells made from a low-cost and robust inorganic HTM and electron transport material.

  8. Ineffective Healthcare Technology Management in Benin’s Public Health Sector: The Perceptions of Key Actors and Their Ability to Address the Main Problems

    PubMed Central

    Houngbo, P. Thierry; De Cock Buning, Tjard; Bunders, Joske; Coleman, Harry L. S.; Medenou, Daton; Dakpanon, Laurent; Zweekhorst, Marjolein

    2017-01-01

    Background: Low-income countries face many contextual challenges to manage healthcare technologies effectively, as the majority are imported and resources are constrained to a greater extent. Previous healthcare technology management (HTM) policies in Benin have failed to produce better quality of care for the population and costeffectiveness for the government. This study aims to identify and assess the main problems facing HTM in Benin’s public health sector, as well as the ability of key actors within the sector to address these problems. Methods: We conducted 2 surveys in 117 selected health facilities. The first survey was based on 377 questionnaires and 259 interviews, and the second involved observation and group interviews at health facilities. The Temple-Bird Healthcare Technology Package System (TBHTPS), tailored to the context of Benin’s health system, was used as a conceptual framework. Results: The findings of the first survey show that 85% of key actors in Benin’s HTM sector characterized the system as failing in components of the TBHTPS framework. Biomedical, clinical, healthcare technology engineers and technicians perceived problems most severely, followed by users of equipment, managers and hospital directors, international organization officers, local and foreign suppliers, and finally policy-makers, planners and administrators at the Ministry of Health (MoH). The 5 most important challenges to be addressed are policy, strategic management and planning, and technology needs assessment and selection – categorized as major enabling inputs (MEI) in HTM by the TBHTPS framework – and installation and commissioning, training and skill development and procurement, which are import and use activities (IUA). The ability of each key actor to address these problems (the degree of political or administrative power they possess) was inversely proportional to their perception of the severity of the problems. Observational data gathered during site visits described a different set of challenges including maintenance and repair, distribution, installation and commissioning, use and training and personnel skill development. Conclusion: The lack of experiential and technical knowledge in policy development processes could underpin many of the continuing problems in Benin’s HTM system. Before solutions can be devised to these problems, it is necessary to investigate their root causes, and which problems are most amenable to policy development. PMID:28949474

  9. Measuring alcohol-related consequences and motives among students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

    PubMed

    Messina, Bryan G; Tseng, Andy; Correia, Christopher J

    2015-07-01

    College student drinkers have the propensity to engage in heavy alcohol consumption. These consumption patterns can be problematic given the well-established relationship between heavy drinking and negative consequences of alcohol consumption. Though the research on college student drinking is abundant, much of the work conducted has been with Caucasian samples and less so with African American samples or at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The current paper assessed the internal reliability and concurrent validity of two popular measures of alcohol related negative consequences (CAPS-r and YAACQ) and a measure of drinking motives (DMQ-R) within a HBCU sample. Total scores for the CAPS-r and YAACQ and all five subscales of the DMQ-R were internally reliable as determined by Cronbach's alpha. Correlations and regressions established concurrent validity for both measures of negative consequences as well as the subscales for the DMQ-R. Findings support the use of these measures in the assessment of negative consequences and motivations for alcohol consumption within a HBCU population. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Proecdysial changes in serum ecdysone titers, gastrolith formation, and limb regeneration following molt induction by limb autotomy and/or eyestalk removal in the land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis

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

    McCarthy, J.F.; Skinner, D.M.

    1977-01-01

    The changes in serum ecdysone titers, gastrolith deposition, and limb regeneration were monitored at each stage of the molt cycle in the land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis. Animals were induced to molt by multiple-limb autotomy or eyestalk removal. The presence of ..cap alpha..-ecdysone and b-ecdysone (20-hydroxyecdysone) in the animals' serum was demonstrated chromatographically. ..beta..-ecdysone was the major circulating ecdysone, while ..cap alpha..-ecdysone was present only at very low concentrations. Four other components reacting with the ecdysone antiserum were separated chromatographically; one of these, a nonpolar compound, became a major component of the serum ecdysones at the time of maximum hormone titers.more » Ecdysone titers in the serum remained at the level characteristic of intermolt (approximately 10 ng/ml) during basal regeneration and rose linearly during the premolt period, reaching a maximum when regeneration of limbs had ceased and exoskeleton was deposited. Ecdysone decreased during stages D/sub 3/ and D/sub 4/, approaching intermolt levels at the time of ecdysis, where they remained through postmolt stages A and B. The patterns of premolt changes in ecdysone titers, gastroliths, and regeneration were very similar in ''normal'' animals (stimulated to molt by the loss of eight pereiopods) and in animals without eyestalks; however, in crabs without eyestalks, the changes were completed in about half the time as in crabs with eyestalks. Basal regeneration is associated with low ecdysone levels even in crabs without eyestalks. The normal sequence of proecdysial events is not initiated until the completion of basal regeneration. It is suggested that there exists a yet-unidentified mechanism outside the eyestalk capable of preventing increases in ecdysone titers while limbs engage in basal regeneration.« less

  11. Interaction of tachykinins with their receptors studied with cyclic analogues of substance P and neurokinin B

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

    Ploux, O.; Lavielle, S.; Chassaing, G.

    1987-11-01

    The activities of two groups of cyclic agonists of substance P (SP) have been studied. The disulfide bridge constraints have been designed on the basis of conformational studies on SP and physalaemin indicating an ..cap alpha..-helical structure for the core of these two tachykinins (group I) and a folding of the C-terminal carboxamide towards the side chains of the glutamines 5 and 6 (group II). Only peptides simulating the ..cap alpha..-helix present substantial potencies. (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP is as active as SP in inhibiting /sup 125/I-labeled Bolton and Hunter SP-specific binding on rat brain synaptosomes and on dog carotid bioassay, twomore » assays specific for the neurokinin 1 receptor. Moreover, (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP is a potent as neurokinin B in inhibiting /sup 125/I-labeled Bolton and Hunter eledoisin-specific binding on rat cortical synaptosomes as well as in stimulating rat portal vein, two tests specific for the neurokinin 3 receptor. Interestingly, in contrast to neurokinin B, (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP is a weak agonist of the neurokinin 2 receptor subtype, as evidenced by its binding potency in inhibiting /sup 3/H-labeled neurokinin A-specific binding on rat duodenum and in inducing the contractions of the rabbit pulmonary artery, a neurokinin 2-type bioassay. To increase the specificity of the cyclic analogue (Cys/sup 3,6/)SP positions 8 and 9 were modified. Collectively, these results suggest that the neurokinin 1 and neurokinin 3 tachykinin receptors may recognize a similar three-dimensional structure of the core of the tachykinins. Different orientations of the common C-terminal tripeptide may be related to the selectivity for the different receptor subtypes.« less

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

    Inbar, S.; Linschitz, H.; Cohen, S.G.

    Nanosecond flash photolysis, steady irradiation, and deuterium substitution studies have been carried out on solutions of benzophenone with added reductants. Quantum yields (phi/sub ketyl/) for reduction in benzene of benzophenone triplet to ketyl radical, based on phi = 2 for benzhydrol (I), were approx. 1 for cyclohexane (II), tert-butylamine (III), 2-aminobutane (IV), cyclohexylamine (V), di-n-propylamine (VI), and triethylamine (VII), approx. 0.7 for 1,4-diazabicyclo(2.2.2)octane (VIII), and approx. 0 for tert-butyl alcohol (IX). Thus, quenching, without radical formation by H abstraction from N and/or ..cap alpha..-C, does not occur with common aliphatic amines but does with Dabco (VIII). The latter quenching ismore » markedly increased by small additions of acetonitrile; the flash spectrum from this compound indicates formation of a triplet amine CT complex or radical ion pair. Triplet-reductant interaction rate constants, k/sur ir/, are high for the amines (approx. 10/sup 8/-10/sup 9/ M/sup -1/ s/sup -1/) but also show significant deuterium kinetic isotope effects: 1.9 with III-N-d/sub 2/; 1.4 with IV-N-d/sub 2/; 1.2-1.3 with IV-..cap alpha..-C-d. It is proposed that k/sub ir/ measures H atom abstraction, favored in the transition state by an initial charge-transfer interaction. Overall steady irradiation quantum yields of reduction by amines, phi/sub Red/, are much lower than phi/sub ketyl/. This is attributed to disproportionationreactions of ketyl and alkylaminyl radicals for primary and secondary amines, and, possibly, aminoalkyl radicals for tertiary amines. In the case of tert-butylamine, the rate constant for disproportionation is obtained from the decay kinetics of ketyl radical and leads to phi/sub Red/ in agreement with that directly measured.« less

  13. The Effect of an Offset Polar Cap Dipolar Magnetic Field on the Modeling of the Vela Pulsar's Gamma-Ray Light Curves

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Barnard, M.; Venter, C.; Harding, A. K.

    2016-01-01

    We performed geometric pulsar light curve modeling using static, retarded vacuum, and offset polar cap (PC) dipole B-fields (the latter is characterized by a parameter epsilon), in conjunction with standard two-pole caustic (TPC) and outer gap (OG) emission geometries. The offset-PC dipole B-field mimics deviations from the static dipole (which corresponds to epsilon equals 0). In addition to constant-emissivity geometric models, we also considered a slot gap (SG) E-field associated with the offset-PC dipole B-field and found that its inclusion leads to qualitatively different light curves. Solving the particle transport equation shows that the particle energy only becomes large enough to yield significant curvature radiation at large altitudes above the stellar surface, given this relatively low E-field. Therefore, particles do not always attain the radiation-reaction limit. Our overall optimal light curve fit is for the retarded vacuum dipole field and OG model, at an inclination angle alpha equals 78 plus or minus 1 degree and observer angle zeta equals 69 plus 2 degrees or minus 1 degree. For this B-field, the TPC model is statistically disfavored compared to the OG model. For the static dipole field, neither model is significantly preferred. We found that smaller values of epsilon are favored for the offset-PC dipole field when assuming constant emissivity, and larger epsilon values favored for variable emissivity, but not significantly so. When multiplying the SG E-field by a factor of 100, we found improved light curve fits, with alpha and zeta being closer to best fits from independent studies, as well as curvature radiation reaction at lower altitudes.

  14. Structural features of the exocellular polysaccharides of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

    PubMed Central

    Lemassu, A; Daffé, M

    1994-01-01

    The cell envelope which surrounds pathogenic mycobacteria is postulated to be a defence barrier against phagocytic cells and its outermost constituents have a tendency to accumulate in the culture medium. The present work demonstrates that the exocellular material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains large amounts of polysaccharides with only traces, if any at all, of lipids. Three types of polysaccharides were purified by anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography; all were found to be neutral compounds devoid of acyl substituents. They consisted of D-glucan, D-arabino-D-mannan and D-mannan, which were eluted from gel-filtration columns in positions corresponding to molecular masses of 123, 13 and 4 kDa respectively. Their predominant structural features were determined by the characterization of the per-O-methyl derivatives of enzymic, acetolysis and Smith-degradation products and by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the purified polysaccharides, using mono- and two-dimensional homonuclear chemical-shift correlated spectroscopy and two-dimensional heteronuclear (1H/13C) spectroscopy. The glucan which represented up to 90% of the polysaccharides was composed of repeating units of five or six-->4-alpha-D-Glcp-1--> residues and a -->4-alpha-D-Glcp substituted at position 6 with an alpha-D-Glcp, indicating a glycogen-like highly branched structure not related to the so-called polysaccharide-II previously identified in tuberculin. The arabinomannan consisted of a mannan segment composed of a -->6-alpha-D-Man-1--> core substituted at some positions 2 with an alpha-D-Manp. The arabinan termini of the arabinomannan were found to be extensively capped with mannosyl residues. The possibility that these polysaccharides contribute to the persistence of the tubercle bacillus in the macrophage by molecular mimicry is discussed. PMID:8297342

  15. Structural features of the exocellular polysaccharides of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

    PubMed

    Lemassu, A; Daffé, M

    1994-01-15

    The cell envelope which surrounds pathogenic mycobacteria is postulated to be a defence barrier against phagocytic cells and its outermost constituents have a tendency to accumulate in the culture medium. The present work demonstrates that the exocellular material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains large amounts of polysaccharides with only traces, if any at all, of lipids. Three types of polysaccharides were purified by anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography; all were found to be neutral compounds devoid of acyl substituents. They consisted of D-glucan, D-arabino-D-mannan and D-mannan, which were eluted from gel-filtration columns in positions corresponding to molecular masses of 123, 13 and 4 kDa respectively. Their predominant structural features were determined by the characterization of the per-O-methyl derivatives of enzymic, acetolysis and Smith-degradation products and by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the purified polysaccharides, using mono- and two-dimensional homonuclear chemical-shift correlated spectroscopy and two-dimensional heteronuclear (1H/13C) spectroscopy. The glucan which represented up to 90% of the polysaccharides was composed of repeating units of five or six-->4-alpha-D-Glcp-1--> residues and a -->4-alpha-D-Glcp substituted at position 6 with an alpha-D-Glcp, indicating a glycogen-like highly branched structure not related to the so-called polysaccharide-II previously identified in tuberculin. The arabinomannan consisted of a mannan segment composed of a -->6-alpha-D-Man-1--> core substituted at some positions 2 with an alpha-D-Manp. The arabinan termini of the arabinomannan were found to be extensively capped with mannosyl residues. The possibility that these polysaccharides contribute to the persistence of the tubercle bacillus in the macrophage by molecular mimicry is discussed.

  16. Individual neurophysiological profile in external effects investigation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schastlivtseva, Daria; Tatiana Kotrovskaya, D..

    Cortex biopotentials are the significant elements in human psychophysiological individuality. Considered that cortical biopotentials are diverse and individually stable, therefore there is the existence of certain dependence between the basic properties of higher nervous activity and cerebral bioelectric activity. The main purpose of the study was to reveal the individual neurophysiological profile and CNS initial functional state manifestation in human electroencephalogram (EEG) under effect of inert gases (argon, xenon, helium), hypoxia, pressure changes (0.02 and 0.2 MPa). We obtained 5-minute eyes closed background EEG on 19 scalp positions using Ag/AgCl electrodes mounted in an electrode cap. All EEG signals were re-referenced to average earlobes; Fast Furies Transformation analysis was used to calculate the relative power spectrum of delta-, theta-, alpha- and beta frequency band in artifact-free EEG. The study involved 26 healthy men who provided written informed consent, aged 20 to 35 years. Data obtained depend as individual EEG type and initial central nervous functional state as intensity, duration and mix of factors. Pronounced alpha rhythm in the raw EEG correlated with their adaptive capacity under studied factor exposure. Representation change and zonal distribution perversion of EEG alpha rhythm were accompanied by emotional instability, increased anxiety and difficulty adapting subjects. High power factor or combination factor with psychological and emotional or physical exertion minimizes individual EEG pattern.

  17. Interaction of insulin with colloidal ZnS quantum dots functionalized by various surface capping agents.

    PubMed

    Hosseinzadeh, Ghader; Maghari, Ali; Farniya, Seyed Morteza Famil; Keihan, Amir Homayoun; Moosavi-Movahedi, Ali A

    2017-08-01

    Interaction of quantum dots (QDs) and proteins strongly influenced by the surface characteristics of the QDs at the protein-QD interface. For a precise control of these surface-related interactions, it is necessary to improve our understanding in this field. In this regard, in the present work, the interaction between the insulin and differently functionalized ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were studied. The ZnS QDs were functionalized with various functional groups of hydroxyl (OH), carboxyl (COOH), amine (NH 2 ), and amino acid (COOH and NH 2 ). The effect of surface hydrophobicity was also studied by changing the alkyl-chain lengths of mercaptocarboxylic acid capping agents. The interaction between insulin and the ZnS QDs were investigated by fluorescence quenching, synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and thermal aggregation techniques. The results reveal that among the studied QDs, mercaptosuccinic acid functionalized QDs has the strongest interaction (∆G ° =-51.50kJ/mol at 310K) with insulin, mercaptoethanol functionalized QDs destabilize insulin by increasing the beta-sheet contents, and only cysteine functionalized QDs improves the insulin stability by increasing the alpha-helix contents of the protein, and. Our results also indicate that by increasing the alkyl-chain length of capping agents, due to an increase in hydrophobicity of the QDs surface, the beta-sheet contents of insulin increase which results in the enhancement of insulin instability. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Venus 2004: east and west elongations and solar transit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McKim, R. J.; Blaxall, K.; Heath, A.

    2007-04-01

    The year 2004 was exceptional in producing the first solar transit of Venus since the late Victorian era. The bright aureole and atmospheric ring were re-observed, and the entire phenomenon was witnessed for the first time ever in hydrogen alpha light. Although routine observations throughout 2004 were unexceptional, patterns of visibility of bright and dark markings, cusp extensions and cusp-caps were recorded. No correlation was found between the latitude of the sub-Earth point and the visibility of either cusp-cap, with the S. cap predominating for most of the year. It was possible to accurately follow individual ultraviolet dark markings over many consecutive rotations, extending from the E. to W. elongations, and thereby to make a current measurement of the synodic atmospheric rotation period for the near-equatorial features: 3.996 ± 0.001 days. The true Ashen Light was reported visually on only a few occasions, but these correspond closely to times when infrared emission from the surface of the dark side was recorded in 1-micron waveband images. Some of the stable dark side albedo features were also visible upon the 1-micron images, and have been tentatively identified with known surface features. Infrared imaging at the same waveband showed little detail on the sunlit disk, but a few bright spots were sufficiently well observed to suggest a synodic rotation period close to 5.0 days, not atypical for the lower cloud decks.

  19. Orientation dependence of grain-boundary energy in metals in the view of a pseudoheterophase dislocation core model

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

    Missol, W.

    A new dislocation model for symmetric tilt grain boundaries was developed as a basis for deriving the quantitative dependence of grain-boundary energy upon misorientation angle in the form of an expression similar to that given by Read and Shockley (Phys. Rev. 78: 275(1950)). The range of applicability of this equation was extended to over 20 degrees. A comparison of theory and experiment was made for Bi, Ag, Cu, and Fe--Si 3 percent in the teen-degree range of misorientation angles and for Au, ..cap alpha..-Fe, Mo, and W in the high-angle range.

  20. Apatite formation on bioactive calcium-silicate cements for dentistry affects surface topography and human marrow stromal cells proliferation.

    PubMed

    Gandolfi, Maria Giovanna; Ciapetti, Gabriela; Taddei, Paola; Perut, Francesca; Tinti, Anna; Cardoso, Marcio Vivan; Van Meerbeek, Bart; Prati, Carlo

    2010-10-01

    The effect of ageing in phosphate-containing solution of bioactive calcium-silicate cements on the chemistry, morphology and topography of the surface, as well as on in vitro human marrow stromal cells viability and proliferation was investigated. A calcium-silicate cement (wTC) mainly based on dicalcium-silicate and tricalcium-silicate was prepared. Alpha-TCP was added to wTC to obtain wTC-TCP. Bismuth oxide was inserted in wTC to prepare a radiopaque cement (wTC-Bi). A commercial calcium-silicate cement (ProRoot MTA) was tested as control. Cement disks were aged in DPBS for 5 h ('fresh samples'), 14 and 28 days, and analyzed by ESEM/EDX, SEM/EDX, ATR-FTIR, micro-Raman techniques and scanning white-light interferometry. Proliferation, LDH release, ALP activity and collagen production of human marrow stromal cells (MSC) seeded for 1-28 days on the cements were evaluated. Fresh samples exposed a surface mainly composed of calcium-silicate hydrates CSH (from the hydration of belite and alite), calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and ettringite. Apatite nano-spherulites rapidly precipitated on cement surfaces within 5 h. On wTC-TCP the Ca-P deposits appeared thicker than on the other cements. Aged cements showed an irregular porous calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) coating, formed by aggregated apatite spherulites with interspersed calcite crystals. All the experimental cements exerted no acute toxicity in the cell assay system and allowed cell growth. Using biochemical results, the scores were: fresh cements>aged cements for cell proliferation and ALP activity (except for wTC-Bi), whereas fresh cements

  1. Abdominal exploration - slideshow

    MedlinePlus

    ... ency/presentations/100049.htm Abdominal exploration - series—Normal ... intestine (jejunum and ileum), the large intestine (colon), the liver, the spleen, the gallbladder, the pancreas, the uterus, ...

  2. EDEM2 initiates mammalian glycoprotein ERAD by catalyzing the first mannose trimming step

    PubMed Central

    Ninagawa, Satoshi; Okada, Tetsuya; Sumitomo, Yoshiki; Kamiya, Yukiko; Kato, Koichi; Horimoto, Satoshi; Ishikawa, Tokiro; Takeda, Shunichi; Sakuma, Tetsushi; Yamamoto, Takashi

    2014-01-01

    Glycoproteins misfolded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are subjected to ER-associated glycoprotein degradation (gpERAD) in which Htm1-mediated mannose trimming from the oligosaccharide Man8GlcNAc2 to Man7GlcNAc2 is the rate-limiting step in yeast. In contrast, the roles of the three Htm1 homologues (EDEM1/2/3) in mammalian gpERAD have remained elusive, with a key controversy being whether EDEMs function as mannosidases or as lectins. We therefore conducted transcription activator-like effector nuclease–mediated gene knockout analysis in human cell line and found that all endogenous EDEMs possess mannosidase activity. Mannose trimming from Man8GlcNAc2 to Man7GlcNAc2 is performed mainly by EDEM3 and to a lesser extent by EDEM1. Most surprisingly, the upstream mannose trimming from Man9GlcNAc2 to Man8GlcNAc2 is conducted mainly by EDEM2, which was previously considered to lack enzymatic activity. Based on the presence of two rate-limiting steps in mammalian gpERAD, we propose that mammalian cells double check gpERAD substrates before destruction by evolving EDEM2, a novel-type Htm1 homologue that catalyzes the first mannose trimming step from Man9GlcNAc2. PMID:25092655

  3. Fluidized-bed technology enabling the integration of high temperature solar receiver CSP systems with steam and advanced power cycles

    DOE PAGES

    Sakadjian, B.; Hu, S.; Maryamchik, M.; ...

    2015-06-05

    Solar Particle Receivers (SPR) are under development to drive concentrating solar plants (CSP) towards higher operating temperatures to support higher efficiency power conversion cycles. The novel high temperature SPR-based CSP system uses solid particles as the heat transfer medium (HTM) in place of the more conventional fluids such as molten salt or steam used in current state-of-the-art CSP plants. The solar particle receiver (SPR) is designed to heat the HTM to temperatures of 800 °C or higher which is well above the operating temperatures of nitrate-based molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) systems. The solid particles also help overcome somemore » of the other challenges associated with molten salt-based systems such as freezing, instability and degradation. The higher operating temperatures and use of low cost HTM and higher efficiency power cycles are geared towards reducing costs associated with CSP systems. This paper describes the SPR-based CSP system with a focus on the fluidized-bed (FB) heat exchanger and its integration with various power cycles. Furthermore, the SPR technology provides a potential pathway to achieving the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) target of $0.06/kWh that has been set by the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot initiative.« less

  4. Fluidized-bed technology enabling the integration of high temperature solar receiver CSP systems with steam and advanced power cycles

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

    Sakadjian, B.; Hu, S.; Maryamchik, M.

    Solar Particle Receivers (SPR) are under development to drive concentrating solar plants (CSP) towards higher operating temperatures to support higher efficiency power conversion cycles. The novel high temperature SPR-based CSP system uses solid particles as the heat transfer medium (HTM) in place of the more conventional fluids such as molten salt or steam used in current state-of-the-art CSP plants. The solar particle receiver (SPR) is designed to heat the HTM to temperatures of 800 °C or higher which is well above the operating temperatures of nitrate-based molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) systems. The solid particles also help overcome somemore » of the other challenges associated with molten salt-based systems such as freezing, instability and degradation. The higher operating temperatures and use of low cost HTM and higher efficiency power cycles are geared towards reducing costs associated with CSP systems. This paper describes the SPR-based CSP system with a focus on the fluidized-bed (FB) heat exchanger and its integration with various power cycles. Furthermore, the SPR technology provides a potential pathway to achieving the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) target of $0.06/kWh that has been set by the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot initiative.« less

  5. The U.S. Lab is placed in vacuum chamber for leak test

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    With the lid of the three-story vacuum chamber in place, a worker on top checks release of the cables. Inside the chamber is the U.S. Lab, a component of the International Space Station. The 32,000-pound scientific research lab, named Destiny, is the first Space Station element to spend seven days in the renovated vacuum chamber for a leak test. Destiny is scheduled to be launched on Shuttle mission STS-98, the 5A assembly mission, targeted for Jan. 18, 2001. During the mission, the crew will install the Lab in the Space Station during a series of three space walks. The STS-98 mission will provide the Station with science research facilities and expand its power, life support and control capabilities. The U.S. Lab module continues a long tradition of microgravity materials research, first conducted by Skylab and later Shuttle and Spacelab missions. Destiny is expected to be a major feature in future research, providing facilities for biotechnology, fluid physics, combustion, and life sciences research.

  6. The U.S. Lab is placed in vacuum chamber for leak test

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    A worker in the Operations and Checkout Building checks the placement of the lid on the vacuum chamber containing the U.S. Lab, a component of the International Space Station. The 32,000-pound scientific research lab, named Destiny, is the first Space Station element to spend seven days in the renovated vacuum chamber for a leak test. Destiny is scheduled to be launched on Shuttle mission STS-98, the 5A assembly mission, targeted for Jan. 18, 2001. During the mission, the crew will install the Lab in the Space Station during a series of three space walks. The STS-98 mission will provide the Station with science research facilities and expand its power, life support and control capabilities. The U.S. Lab module continues a long tradition of microgravity materials research, first conducted by Skylab and later Shuttle and Spacelab missions. Destiny is expected to be a major feature in future research, providing facilities for biotechnology, fluid physics, combustion, and life sciences research.

  7. The U.S. Lab is placed in vacuum chamber for leak test

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    Workers in the Operations and Checkout Building check the placement of the lid on the vacuum chamber containing the U.S. Lab, a component of the International Space Station. The 32,000-pound scientific research lab, named Destiny, is the first Space Station element to spend seven days in the renovated vacuum chamber for a leak test. Destiny is scheduled to be launched on Shuttle mission STS-98, the 5A assembly mission, targeted for Jan. 18, 2001. During the mission, the crew will install the Lab in the Space Station during a series of three space walks. The STS-98 mission will provide the Station with science research facilities and expand its power, life support and control capabilities. The U.S. Lab module continues a long tradition of microgravity materials research, first conducted by Skylab and later Shuttle and Spacelab missions. Destiny is expected to be a major feature in future research, providing facilities for biotechnology, fluid physics, combustion, and life sciences research.

  8. Medical device integration using mobile telecommunications infrastructure.

    PubMed

    Moorman, Bridget A; Cockle, Richard A

    2013-01-01

    Financial pressures, an aging population, and a rising number of patients with chronic diseases, have encouraged the use of remote monitoring technologies. This usually entails at least one physiological parameter measurement for a clinician. Mobile telecommunication technologies lend themselves to this functionality, and in some cases, avoid some of the issues encountered with device integration. Moreover, the inherent characteristics of the mobile telecommunications infrastructure allow a coupling of business and clinical functions that were not possible before. Table I compares and contrasts some key aspect of device integration in and out of a healthcare facility. An HTM professional may be part of the team that acquires and/or manages a system using a mobile telecommunications technology. It is important for HTM professionals to ensure the data is in a standard format so that the interfaces across this system don't become brittle and break easily if one part changes. Moreover, the security and safety considerations of the system and the data should be a primary consideration in and y purchase, with attention given to the proper environmental and encryption mechanisms. Clinical engineers and other HTM professionals are unique in that they understand the patient/clinician/device interface and the need to ensure its safety and effectiveness regardless of geographical environment.

  9. The intrinsic stiffness of human trabecular meshwork cells increases with senescence

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Yow-Ren; Murphy, Christopher J.; Russell, Paul

    2015-01-01

    Dysfunction of the human trabecular meshwork (HTM) plays a central role in the age-associated disease glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. The etiology remains poorly understood but cellular senescence, increased stiffness of the tissue, and the expression of Wnt antagonists such as secreted frizzled related protein-1 (SFRP1) have been implicated. However, it is not known if senescence is causally linked to either stiffness or SFRP1 expression. In this study, we utilized in vitro HTM senescence to determine the effect on cellular stiffening and SFRP1 expression. Stiffness of cultured cells was measured using atomic force microscopy and the morphology of the cytoskeleton was determined using immunofluorescent analysis. SFRP1 expression was measured using qPCR and immunofluorescent analysis. Senescent cell stiffness increased 1.88±0.14 or 2.57±0.14 fold in the presence or absence of serum, respectively. This was accompanied by increased vimentin expression, stress fiber formation, and SFRP1 expression. In aggregate, these data demonstrate that senescence may be a causal factor in HTM stiffening and elevated SFRP1 expression, and contribute towards disease progression. These findings provide insight into the etiology of glaucoma and, more broadly, suggest a causal link between senescence and altered tissue biomechanics in aging-associated diseases. PMID:25915531

  10. Cloning of the cDNA for a hematopoietic cell-specific protein related to CD20 and the {beta} subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor: Evidence for a family of proteins with four membrane-spanning regions

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

    Adra, C.N.; Morrison, P.; Lim, B.

    1994-10-11

    The authors report the cloning of the cDNA for a human gene whose mRNA is expressed specifically in hematopoietic cells. A long open reading frame in the 1.7-kb mRNA encodes a 214-aa protein of 25 kDa with four hydrophobic regions consistent with a protein that traverses the membrane four times. To reflect the structure and expression of this gene in diverse hematopoietic lineages of lymphoid and myeloid origin, the authors named the gene HTm{sub 4}. The protein is about 20% homologous to two other {open_quotes}four-transmembrane{close_quotes} proteins; the B-cell-specific antigen CD20 and the {beta} subunit of the high-affinity receptor for IgE,more » Fc{sub {epsilon}}RI{beta}. The highest homologies among the three proteins are found in the transmembrane domains, but conserved residues are also recognized in the inter-transmembrane domains and in the N and C termini. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, they localized HTm{sub 4} to human chromosome 11q12-13.1, where the CD20 and Fc{sub {epsilon}}RI{beta} genes are also located. Both the murine homologue for CD20, Ly-44, and the murine Fc{sub {epsilon}}RI{beta} gene map to the same region in murine chromosome 19. The authors propose that the HTm{sub 4}, CD20, and Fc{sub {epsilon}}RI{beta} genes evolved from the same ancestral gene to form a family of four-transmembrane proteins. It is possible that other related members exist. Similar to CD20 and Fc{sub {epsilon}}RI{beta}, it is likely that Htm{sub 4} has a role in signal transduction and, like Fc{sub {epsilon}}RI{beta}, might be a subunit associated with receptor complexes.« less

  11. Integrated Ceramic Membrane System for Hydrogen Production

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

    Schwartz, Joseph; Lim, Hankwon; Drnevich, Raymond

    2010-08-05

    Phase I was a technoeconomic feasibility study that defined the process scheme for the integrated ceramic membrane system for hydrogen production and determined the plan for Phase II. The hydrogen production system is comprised of an oxygen transport membrane (OTM) and a hydrogen transport membrane (HTM). Two process options were evaluated: 1) Integrated OTM-HTM reactor – in this configuration, the HTM was a ceramic proton conductor operating at temperatures up to 900°C, and 2) Sequential OTM and HTM reactors – in this configuration, the HTM was assumed to be a Pd alloy operating at less than 600°C. The analysis suggestedmore » that there are no technical issues related to either system that cannot be managed. The process with the sequential reactors was found to be more efficient, less expensive, and more likely to be commercialized in a shorter time than the single reactor. Therefore, Phase II focused on the sequential reactor system, specifically, the second stage, or the HTM portion. Work on the OTM portion was conducted in a separate program. Phase IIA began in February 2003. Candidate substrate materials and alloys were identified and porous ceramic tubes were produced and coated with Pd. Much effort was made to develop porous substrates with reasonable pore sizes suitable for Pd alloy coating. The second generation of tubes showed some improvement in pore size control, but this was not enough to get a viable membrane. Further improvements were made to the porous ceramic tube manufacturing process. When a support tube was successfully coated, the membrane was tested to determine the hydrogen flux. The results from all these tests were used to update the technoeconomic analysis from Phase I to confirm that the sequential membrane reactor system can potentially be a low-cost hydrogen supply option when using an existing membrane on a larger scale. Phase IIB began in October 2004 and focused on demonstrating an integrated HTM/water gas shift (WGS) reactor to increase CO conversion and produce more hydrogen than a standard water gas shift reactor would. Substantial improvements in substrate and membrane performance were achieved in another DOE project (DE-FC26-07NT43054). These improved membranes were used for testing in a water gas shift environment in this program. The amount of net H2 generated (defined as the difference of hydrogen produced and fed) was greater than would be produced at equilibrium using conventional water gas shift reactors up to 75 psig because of the shift in equilibrium caused by continuous hydrogen removal. However, methanation happened at higher pressures, 100 and 125 psig, and resulted in less net H2 generated than would be expected by equilibrium conversion alone. An effort to avoid methanation by testing in more oxidizing conditions (by increasing CO2/CO ratio in a feed gas) was successful and net H2 generated was higher (40-60%) than a conventional reactor at equilibrium at all pressures tested (up to 125 psig). A model was developed to predict reactor performance in both cases with and without methanation. The required membrane area depends on conditions, but the required membrane area is about 10 ft2 to produce about 2000 scfh of hydrogen. The maximum amount of hydrogen that can be produced in a membrane reactor decreased significantly due to methanation from about 2600 scfh to about 2400 scfh. Therefore, it is critical to eliminate methanation to fully benefit from the use of a membrane in the reaction. Other modeling work showed that operating a membrane reactor at higher temperature provides an opportunity to make the reactor smaller and potentially provides a significant capital cost savings compared to a shift reactor/PSA combination.« less

  12. Gonorrhea

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007267.htm Gonorrhea To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Causes ...

  13. Pheochromocytoma

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000340.htm Pheochromocytoma To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor of adrenal gland tissue. ...

  14. Periodontitis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001059.htm Periodontitis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Periodontitis is inflammation and infection of the ligaments and ...

  15. Appendicitis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000256.htm Appendicitis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is ...

  16. Rhabdomyolysis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000473.htm Rhabdomyolysis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads ...

  17. Neurosciences

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007456.htm Neurosciences To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Neurosciences (or clinical neurosciences) refers to the branch of ...

  18. Sporotrichosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001338.htm Sporotrichosis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Sporotrichosis is a long-term ( chronic ) skin infection that ...

  19. Folliculitis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000823.htm Folliculitis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Folliculitis is inflammation of one or more hair follicles. ...

  20. A trial of prazosin for combat trauma PTSD with nightmares in active-duty soldiers returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

    PubMed

    Raskind, Murray A; Peterson, Kris; Williams, Tammy; Hoff, David J; Hart, Kimberly; Holmes, Hollie; Homas, Dallas; Hill, Jeffrey; Daniels, Colin; Calohan, Jess; Millard, Steven P; Rohde, Kirsten; O'Connell, James; Pritzl, Denise; Feiszli, Kevin; Petrie, Eric C; Gross, Christopher; Mayer, Cynthia L; Freed, Michael C; Engel, Charles; Peskind, Elaine R

    2013-09-01

    The authors conducted a 15-week randomized controlled trial of the alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin for combat trauma nightmares, sleep quality, global function, and overall symptoms in active-duty soldiers with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) returned from combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Sixty-seven soldiers were randomly assigned to treatment with prazosin or placebo for 15 weeks. Drug was titrated based on nightmare response over 6 weeks to a possible maximum dose of 5 mg midmorning and 20 mg at bedtime for men and 2 mg midmorning and 10 mg at bedtime for women. Mean achieved bedtime doses were 15.6 mg of prazosin (SD=6.0) and 18.8 mg of placebo (SD=3.3) for men and 7.0 mg of prazosin (SD=3.5) and 10.0 mg of placebo (SD=0.0) for women. Mean achieved midmorning doses were 4.0 mg of prazosin (SD=1.4) and 4.8 mg of placebo (SD=0.8) for men and 1.7 mg of prazosin (SD=0.5) and 2.0 mg of placebo (SD=0.0) mg for women. Primary outcome measures were the nightmare item of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the change item of the Clinical Global Impressions Scale anchored to functioning. Secondary outcome measures were the 17-item CAPS, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Quality of Life Index. Maintenance psychotropic medications and supportive psychotherapy were held constant. Prazosin was effective for trauma nightmares, sleep quality, global function, CAPS score, and the CAPS hyperarousal symptom cluster. Prazosin was well tolerated, and blood pressure changes did not differ between groups. Prazosin is effective for combat-related PTSD with trauma nightmares in active-duty soldiers, and benefits are clinically meaningful. Substantial residual symptoms suggest that studies combining prazosin with effective psychotherapies might demonstrate further benefit.

  1. Craniopharyngioma

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000345.htm Craniopharyngioma To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A craniopharyngioma is a noncancerous (benign) tumor that develops at ...

  2. Myocarditis - pediatric

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007307.htm Myocarditis - pediatric To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Pediatric myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle in ...

  3. Elastic and inelastic scattering of alpha particles from /sup 40,44/Ca over a broad range of energies and angles

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

    Delbar, T.; Gregoire, G.; Paic, G.

    1978-09-01

    Angular distributions for ..cap alpha.. particle elastic scattering by /sup 40,44/Ca and excitation of the 3.73 MeV 3/sup -/ collective state of /sup 40/Ca were measured for incident energies ranging from 40 to 62 MeV. An extensive optical model analysis of these elastic scattering cross sections and other available data, using squared Woods-Saxon form factors, results in potentials with fixed geometry for both real and imaginary parts and depths with smooth energy behavior over a broad incident energy range. These results are discussed in the frame of the semi-classical approximation developed by Brink and Takigawa. The sensitiveness of the calculatedmore » elastic scattering cross sections to the real part of the potentials as a function of the projectile-target distance has been investigated by means of a notch test. Distorted-wave Born-approximtion calculations for the excitation of the 3.73 MeV 3/sup -/ state of /sup 40/Ca are presented.« less

  4. Hydrogen absorption by thin Pd/Nb films deposited on glass

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

    Reisfeld, G.; Jisrawi, N.M.; Ruckman, M.W.

    Hydrogen absorption by 200{endash}2000-A-thick Pd-capped Nb films, between 5 and 110{degree}C, was studied by simultaneous four-probe resistivity and volumetric measurements. The resistivity as a function of hydrogen concentration was measured while charging the films with hydrogen, and was used to compute the change in hydrogen concentration in the film, during the reaction with oxygen. For the thinnest films (200 A thick), the hydrogen charging and discharging curves indicate that a first-order gas-liquid-like phase transition with a {ital T}{sub {ital c}} of 70{endash}75{degree}C takes place. The H-Nb phase diagram for the 200-A film looks like the H/bulk Nb {alpha}-{alpha}{prime} phase diagrammore » which has a higher {ital T}{sub {ital c}} (173{degree}C). We attribute the substantial modifications of the film{close_quote}s phase diagram to the clamping of the Nb film at its interfaces with glass and Pd and to the nanostructure of the films. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less

  5. Canine candidate genes for dilated cardiomyopathy: annotation of and polymorphic markers for 14 genes.

    PubMed

    Wiersma, Anje C; Leegwater, Peter Aj; van Oost, Bernard A; Ollier, William E; Dukes-McEwan, Joanna

    2007-10-19

    Dilated cardiomyopathy is a myocardial disease occurring in humans and domestic animals and is characterized by dilatation of the left ventricle, reduced systolic function and increased sphericity of the left ventricle. Dilated cardiomyopathy has been observed in several, mostly large and giant, dog breeds, such as the Dobermann and the Great Dane. A number of genes have been identified, which are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in the human, mouse and hamster. These genes mainly encode structural proteins of the cardiac myocyte. We present the annotation of, and marker development for, 14 of these genes of the dog genome, i.e. alpha-cardiac actin, caveolin 1, cysteine-rich protein 3, desmin, lamin A/C, LIM-domain binding factor 3, myosin heavy polypeptide 7, phospholamban, sarcoglycan delta, titin cap, alpha-tropomyosin, troponin I, troponin T and vinculin. A total of 33 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms were identified for these canine genes and 11 polymorphic microsatellite repeats were developed. The presented polymorphisms provide a tool to investigate the role of the corresponding genes in canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy by linkage analysis or association studies.

  6. Leiomodin and tropomodulin in smooth muscle

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Conley, C. A.

    2001-01-01

    Evidence is accumulating to suggest that actin filament remodeling is critical for smooth muscle contraction, which implicates actin filament ends as important sites for regulation of contraction. Tropomodulin (Tmod) and smooth muscle leiomodin (SM-Lmod) have been found in many tissues containing smooth muscle by protein immunoblot and immunofluorescence microscopy. Both proteins cofractionate with tropomyosin in the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton of rabbit stomach smooth muscle and are solubilized by high salt. SM-Lmod binds muscle tropomyosin, a biochemical activity characteristic of Tmod proteins. SM-Lmod staining is present along the length of actin filaments in rat intestinal smooth muscle, while Tmod stains in a punctate pattern distinct from that of actin filaments or the dense body marker alpha-actinin. After smooth muscle is hypercontracted by treatment with 10 mM Ca(2+), both SM-Lmod and Tmod are found near alpha-actinin at the periphery of actin-rich contraction bands. These data suggest that SM-Lmod is a novel component of the smooth muscle actin cytoskeleton and, furthermore, that the pointed ends of actin filaments in smooth muscle may be capped by Tmod in localized clusters.

  7. Heat-transfer test results for a .0275-scale space shuttle external tank with a 10 deg/40 deg double cone-ogive nose in the NASA/AMES 3.5-foot hypersonic wind tunnel (FH14), volume 2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Carroll, H. R.

    1977-01-01

    A .0275 scale forebody model of the new baseline configuration of the space shuttle external tank vent cap configuration was tested to determine the flow field due to the double cone configuration. The tests were conducted in a 3.5 foot hypersonic wind tunnel at alpha = -5 deg, -4.59 deg, 0 deg, 5 deg, and 10 deg; beta = 0 deg, -3 deg, -5.51 deg, -6 deg, -9 deg, and +6 deg; nominal freestream Reynolds numbers per foot of 1.5 x 1 million, 3.0 x 1 million, and 5.0 x 1 million; and a nominal Mach number of 5. Separation and reattached flow from thermocouple data, shadowgraphs, and oil flows indicate that separation begins about 80% from the tip of the 10 deg cone, then reattaches on the vent cap and produces fully turbulent flow over most of the model forebody. The hardware disturbs the flow over a much larger area than present TPS application has assumed. A correction to the flow disturbance was experimentally suggested from the results of an additional test run.

  8. Evaluating the Quality of Competency Assessment in Pharmacy: A Framework for Workplace Learning.

    PubMed

    Shah, Shailly; McLaughlin, Jacqueline E; Eckel, Stephen F; Mangun, Jesica; Hawes, Emily

    2016-01-19

    Demonstration of achieved competencies is critical in the pharmacy workplace. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of the competency assessment program for pharmacy residents at an academic medical center. The competency assessment program (CAP) survey is a validated, 48-item instrument that evaluates the quality of an assessment program based on 12 criteria, each measured by four questions on a scale of 0 to 100. The CAP was completed by residents ( n = 23) and preceptors ( n = 28) from the pharmacy residency program between 2010 and 2013. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, and non-parametric tests. Educational Consequences was the only quality criteria falling below the standard for "good quality." Participants that completed residency training elsewhere rated the Comparability (0.04) and Meaningfulness (0.01) of the assessment program higher than those that completed residency at the academic medical center. There were no significant differences between resident and preceptor scores. Overall, the quality of the assessment program was rated highly by residents and preceptors. The process described here provides a useful framework for understanding the quality of workplace learning assessments in pharmacy practice.

  9. [Role of rostral ventrolateral medulla in the pressor response to intraventricular (4th) injection of substance P].

    PubMed

    Zhang, X H; Ni, H

    1998-04-01

    Experiments were done in rabbits anaesthetized with urethane and immobilized under artificial respiration. It was found that substance P (SP, 0.8 ng/kg dissolved in 100 microliters artificial cerebro-spinal fluid, CSF) injected into the 4th ventricle induced either a rise or a drop of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) with predominated pressor response. In addition, a rise in carotid arterial pressure (CAP) and reduction in heart rate (HR) were also observed, whereas no significant alteration in PAP, CAP and HR was observed. Microinjection of SP receptor antagonist [D-Pro2, D-Phe7, D-Trp9]--SP (5-10 ng dissolved in 0.5 microliter CSF) or phentolamine (2-3 micrograms dissolved in 0.5 microliter CSF) into the bilateral rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) prior to intraventricular injection of SP could block the SP-induced pressor responses in pulmonary and carotid arteries, while microinjection of SP receptor antagonist or phentolamine into bilateral caudal ventrolateral medulla (cVLM) at the same dosage had no effect. The results show that SP-induced pulmonary and carotid pressor responses may be mediated through SP-receptor and alpha-adrenergic receptors in the rostral ventro-lateral medulla (rVLM).

  10. Alterations in the function of circulating mononuclear cells derived from patients with Crohn’s disease treated with mastic

    PubMed Central

    Kaliora, Andriana C; Stathopoulou, Maria G; Triantafillidis, John K; Dedoussis, George VZ; Andrikopoulos, Nikolaos K

    2007-01-01

    AIM: To assess the effects of mastic administration on cytokine production of circulating mononuclear cells of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: The study was conducted in patients with established mildly to moderately active CD, attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, and in healthy controls. Recruited to a 4 wk treatment with mastic caps (6 caps/d,0.37 g/cap) were 10 patients and 8 controls, all of who successfully completed the protocol. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) before and after treatment. RESULTS: Treating CD patients with mastic resulted in the reduction of TNF-α secretion (2.1 ± 0.9 ng/mL vs 0.5 ± 0.4 ng/mL, P = 0.028). MIF release was significantly increased (1.2 ± 0.4 ng/mL vs 2.5 ± 0.7 ng/mL, P = 0.026) meaning that random migration and chemotaxis of monocytes/macrophages was inhibited. No significant changes were observed in IL-6, MCP-1 and GSH concentrations. CONCLUSION: This study shows that mastic acts as an immunomodulator on PBMC, acting as a TNF-α inhibitor and a MIF stimulator. Although further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in a large number of patients is required to clarify the role of this natural product, this finding provides strong evidence that mastic might be an important regulator of immunity in CD. PMID:18023095

  11. Reactive arthritis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000440.htm Reactive arthritis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Reactive arthritis is a group of conditions that may ...

  12. Digestive diseases

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007447.htm Digestive diseases To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Digestive diseases are disorders of the digestive tract, which ...

  13. Mathematics disorder

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001534.htm Mathematics disorder To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Mathematics disorder is a condition in which a child's ...

  14. Ethanol poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002644.htm Ethanol poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Ethanol poisoning is caused by drinking too much alcohol. ...

  15. Dextromethorphan overdose

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002628.htm Dextromethorphan overdose To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Dextromethorphan is a medicine that helps stop coughing. It ...

  16. Dental cavities

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001055.htm Dental cavities To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Dental cavities are holes (or structural damage) in the ...

  17. Intraductal papilloma

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001238.htm Intraductal papilloma To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Intraductal papilloma is a small, noncancerous (benign) tumor that grows ...

  18. Dermatitis herpetiformis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001480.htm Dermatitis herpetiformis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a very itchy rash consisting ...

  19. Chin augmentation

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002986.htm Chin augmentation To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Chin augmentation is surgery to reshape or enhance the size ...

  20. Antimitochondrial antibody

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003529.htm Antimitochondrial antibody To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) are substances ( antibodies ) that form against mitochondria. ...

  1. Dimenhydrinate overdose

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002634.htm Dimenhydrinate overdose To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Dimenhydrinate is a type of medicine called an antihistamine. ...

  2. Mistletoe poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002883.htm Mistletoe poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with white berries. Mistletoe ...

  3. Endoscopic ultrasound

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007646.htm Endoscopic ultrasound To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Endoscopic ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is ...

  4. Iontophoresis

    MedlinePlus

    ... Iontophoresis URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007293.htm Iontophoresis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Iontophoresis involves passing a weak electrical current through ...

  5. Cardiac rehabilitation

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000791.htm Cardiac rehabilitation To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is a program that helps you live ...

  6. Hepatitis B

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000279.htm Hepatitis B To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Hepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the ...

  7. Congenital toxoplasmosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001360.htm Congenital toxoplasmosis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Congenital toxoplasmosis is a group of symptoms that occur when ...

  8. Esophageal culture

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003764.htm Esophageal culture To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Esophageal culture is a laboratory test that checks for infection- ...

  9. Endocervical culture

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003754.htm Endocervical culture To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Endocervical culture is a laboratory test that helps identify infection ...

  10. Total protein

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003483.htm Total protein To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. The total protein test measures the total amount of two classes ...

  11. Elephant ear

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002867.htm Elephant ear poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Elephant ear plants are indoor or outdoor plants with ...

  12. Parkinson disease

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000755.htm Parkinson disease To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Parkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells ...

  13. Retinitis pigmentosa

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001029.htm Retinitis pigmentosa To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Retinitis pigmentosa is an eye disease in which there is ...

  14. Lymphogranuloma venereum

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000634.htm Lymphogranuloma venereum To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. Causes ...

  15. Annular pancreas

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001142.htm Annular pancreas To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. An annular pancreas is a ring of pancreatic tissue that encircles ...

  16. Frequent Bowel Movements

    MedlinePlus

    ... bowel disease (IBD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD.htm. Accessed Nov. 15, 2017. Hyperthyroidism (Overactive thyroid). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive ...

  17. Triglyceride level

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003493.htm Triglyceride level To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. The triglyceride level is a blood test to measure the amount ...

  18. Multiple sclerosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000737.htm Multiple sclerosis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the ...

  19. Biliary obstruction - slideshow

    MedlinePlus

    ... ency/presentations/100199.htm Biliary obstruction - series—Normal anatomy To use the sharing ... Overview Bile is a digestive fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder which normally is ...

  20. Quantitative nephelometry

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003545.htm Quantitative nephelometry test To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Quantitative nephelometry is a lab test to quickly and ...

  1. Rheumatoid arthritis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000431.htm Rheumatoid arthritis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease. It leads ...

  2. Amino acids

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002222.htm Amino acids To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins . ...

  3. Pectus carinatum

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003321.htm Pectus carinatum To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Pectus carinatum is present when the chest protrudes over the ...

  4. Recoil /sup 18/F chemistry. XI. High pressure investigation of 1,1-difluoroethane

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

    Manning, R.G.; Root, J.W.

    1980-06-15

    Nuclear recoil /sup 18/F reactions in CH/sub 3/CHF/sub 2/ have been investigated throughout the effective pressure range 0.3--190 atm. The principal reaction channel is F-to-HF abstraction for which the combined yield from quasithermal and energetic processes in the presence of 5 mole% H/sub 2/S additive is 83.4% +- 0.2%. A reaction mechanism is proposed that involves the organic product forming channels F-for-F, F-for-..cap alpha..H, F-for-..beta..H, F-for-CH/sub 3/ and F-for-CHF/sub 2/. The results are compared with those reported for the /sup 18/F+CH/sub 3/CF/sub 3/ system.

  5. Angular distributions of the protons in the reaction. pi. /sup +/+Xe. -->. p+xxx at 2. 34 GeV/c as a background for the shock-wave effect

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

    Slowinski, B.; Strugalski, Z.

    1977-02-20

    Results are presented of an analysis of the angular distributions of protons with E/sub p/> or =30 MeV emitted with different numbers of secondary charged particles in ..pi../sup +/+Xe interactions at 2.34 GeV/c. The obtained distributions are compared with the analogous characteristics of the protons emitted in collisions of protons or ..cap alpha.. particles with heavy emulsion nuclei and with lead at 70 and 17 GeV/c. It is concluded that the investigated distributions reveal no irregularities capable of attesting to a noticable role of the shock-wave mechanism in the target nuclei.

  6. Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) in normal human trabecular meshwork.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yutao; Munro, Drew; Layfield, David; Dellinger, Andrew; Walter, Jeffrey; Peterson, Katherine; Rickman, Catherine Bowes; Allingham, R Rand; Hauser, Michael A

    2011-04-08

    To identify the genes expressed in normal human trabecular meshwork tissue, a tissue critical to the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Total RNA was extracted from human trabecular meshwork (HTM) harvested from 3 different donors. Extracted RNA was used to synthesize individual SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) libraries using the I-SAGE Long kit from Invitrogen. Libraries were analyzed using SAGE 2000 software to extract the 17 base pair sequence tags. The extracted sequence tags were mapped to the genome using SAGE Genie map. A total of 298,834 SAGE tags were identified from all HTM libraries (96,842, 88,126, and 113,866 tags, respectively). Collectively, there were 107,325 unique tags. There were 10,329 unique tags with a minimum of 2 counts from a single library. These tags were mapped to known unique Unigene clusters. Approximately 29% of the tags (orphan tags) did not map to a known Unigene cluster. Thirteen percent of the tags mapped to at least 2 Unigene clusters. Sequence tags from many glaucoma-related genes, including myocilin, optineurin, and WD repeat domain 36, were identified. This is the first time SAGE analysis has been used to characterize the gene expression profile in normal HTM. SAGE analysis provides an unbiased sampling of gene expression of the target tissue. These data will provide new and valuable information to improve understanding of the biology of human aqueous outflow.

  7. Pleural effusion

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000086.htm Pleural effusion To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid between the layers ...

  8. Coal worker's pneumoconiosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000130.htm Coal worker's pneumoconiosis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) is a lung disease that ...

  9. Protein-losing enteropathy

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007338.htm Protein-losing enteropathy To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Protein-losing enteropathy is an abnormal loss of protein ...

  10. Creatine phosphokinase test

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003503.htm Creatine phosphokinase test To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is an enzyme in the body. ...

  11. Hair straightener poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002706.htm Hair straightener poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Hair straightener poisoning occurs when someone swallows products that ...

  12. Hair spray poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002705.htm Hair spray poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Hair spray poisoning occurs when someone breathes in (inhales) ...

  13. Fenoprofen calcium overdose

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002649.htm Fenoprofen calcium overdose To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Fenoprofen calcium is a type of medicine called a nonsteroidal ...

  14. Therapeutic drug levels

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003430.htm Therapeutic drug levels To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Therapeutic drug levels are lab tests to look for the presence ...

  15. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002375.htm Hyperbaric oxygen therapy To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses a special pressure chamber to increase ...

  16. Mercuric chloride poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002474.htm Mercuric chloride poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Mercuric chloride is a very poisonous form of mercury. It ...

  17. Cortisol - urine

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003703.htm Cortisol urine test To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. The cortisol urine test measures the level of cortisol in the ...

  18. Urine drainage bags

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000142.htm Urine drainage bags To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Urine drainage bags collect urine. Your bag will attach ...

  19. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000552.htm Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder that causes blood ...

  20. Leucine aminopeptidase - urine

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003617.htm Leucine aminopeptidase - urine To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Leucine aminopeptidase is a type of protein called an ...

  1. Lung diffusion testing

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003854.htm Lung diffusion testing To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Lung diffusion testing measures how well the lungs exchange gases. ...

  2. Scorpion fish sting

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002849.htm Scorpion fish sting To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Scorpion fish are members of the family Scorpaenidae, which includes ...

  3. Pseudomembranous colitis

    MedlinePlus

    ... colitis URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000259.htm Pseudomembranous colitis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Pseudomembranous colitis refers to swelling or inflammation of ...

  4. Perioral dermatitis

    MedlinePlus

    ... dermatitis URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001455.htm Perioral dermatitis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Perioral dermatitis is a skin disorder resembling acne ...

  5. Naproxen sodium overdose

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002507.htm Naproxen sodium overdose To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Naproxen sodium is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used ...

  6. Diclofenac sodium overdose

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002630.htm Diclofenac sodium overdose To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Diclofenac sodium is a prescription medicine used to relieve pain ...

  7. Urine - abnormal color

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003139.htm Urine - abnormal color To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. The usual color of urine is straw-yellow. Abnormally colored urine ...

  8. Dubin-Johnson syndrome

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000242.htm Dubin-Johnson syndrome To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) is a disorder passed down through ...

  9. Pokeweed poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... poisoning URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002874.htm Pokeweed poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Pokeweed is a flowering plant. Pokeweed poisoning occurs ...

  10. Paradichlorobenzene poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... poisoning URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002902.htm Paradichlorobenzene poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Paradichlorobenzene is a white, solid chemical with a ...

  11. Genital herpes

    MedlinePlus

    ... herpes URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000857.htm Genital herpes To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection. It ...

  12. Yew poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... poisoning URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002877.htm Yew poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. The yew plant is a shrub with evergreen- ...

  13. Philodendron poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... poisoning URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002872.htm Philodendron poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Philodendron is a flowering houseplant. Philodendron poisoning occurs ...

  14. Shampoo - swallowing

    MedlinePlus

    ... swallowing URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002737.htm Shampoo - swallowing To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Shampoo is a liquid used to clean the ...

  15. Personal protective equipment

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000447.htm Personal protective equipment To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Personal protective equipment is special equipment you wear to create a ...

  16. Culture-negative endocarditis

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000657.htm Culture-negative endocarditis To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Culture-negative endocarditis is an infection and inflammation of ...

  17. Borderline personality disorder

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000935.htm Borderline personality disorder To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental condition in which ...

  18. 7 CFR 1779.9 - Environmental requirements.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... AGRICULTURE (CONTINUED) WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAMS GUARANTEED LOANS § 1779.9 Environmental requirements... or online at http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/ees/index.htm), the environmental review requirements...

  19. Gasoline poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002806.htm Gasoline poisoning To use the sharing features on this ... This article discusses the harmful effects from swallowing gasoline or breathing in its fumes. This article is ...

  20. Dental sealants

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000779.htm Dental sealants To use the sharing features on this ... case a sealant needs to be replaced. How Dental Sealants are Applied Your dentist applies sealants on ...

  1. 20 CFR 703.2 - Forms.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... Insurance Carrier's Agreement and Undertaking. (5) LS-276 Application for Security Deposit Determination. (6... OWCP district offices and on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/esa/owcp/dlhwc/lsforms.htm. ...

  2. 20 CFR 703.2 - Forms.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... Insurance Carrier's Agreement and Undertaking. (5) LS-276 Application for Security Deposit Determination. (6... OWCP district offices and on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/esa/owcp/dlhwc/lsforms.htm. ...

  3. 20 CFR 703.2 - Forms.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... Insurance Carrier's Agreement and Undertaking. (5) LS-276 Application for Security Deposit Determination. (6... OWCP district offices and on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/esa/owcp/dlhwc/lsforms.htm. ...

  4. Nasal septal hematoma

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001292.htm Nasal septal hematoma To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A nasal septal hematoma is a collection of blood within the septum ...

  5. Mechanical ventilator - infants

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007240.htm Mechanical ventilator - infants To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A mechanical ventilator is a machine that assists with breathing. ...

  6. Lymph system

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002247.htm Lymph system To use the sharing features on this page, ... urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows ...

  7. CT scan

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003330.htm CT scan To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x- ...

  8. Liposuction - slideshow

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100185.htm Liposuction - series—Indications To use the sharing features on ... can gain fat in the belly and waist. Liposuction may help people who want to have less ...

  9. Congenital heart disease

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001114.htm Congenital heart disease To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a problem with the heart's structure ...

  10. Hypertensive heart disease

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000163.htm Hypertensive heart disease To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Hypertensive heart disease refers to heart problems that occur because of ...

  11. CSF smear

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003768.htm CSF smear To use the sharing features on this ... around the spinal cord and brain. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protects the brain and spinal cord from injury. ...

  12. Sports physical

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000673.htm Sports physical To use the sharing features on this ... or routine checkups. Why do you Need a Sports Physical? The sports physical is done to: Find ...

  13. Tarantula spider

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002855.htm Tarantula spider bite To use the sharing features on this ... This article describes the effects of a tarantula spider bite. The class of insects to which the ...

  14. Black widow spider

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002858.htm Black widow spider To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. The black widow spider (Latrodectus) has a shiny black body with a ...

  15. Increased head circumference

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003305.htm Increased head circumference To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Increased head circumference is when the measured distance around the widest ...

  16. Swimming pool granuloma

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001357.htm Swimming pool granuloma To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A swimming pool granuloma is a long-term (chronic) skin ...

  17. Amylase - urine

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003607.htm Amylase - urine To use the sharing features on this page, ... test that measures the amount of amylase in urine. Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. ...

  18. Urine output - decreased

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003147.htm Urine output - decreased To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Decreased urine output means that you produce less urine than ...

  19. Urine concentration test

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003608.htm Urine concentration test To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A urine concentration test measures the ability of the kidneys ...

  20. Gallbladder removal - slideshow

    MedlinePlus

    ... ency/presentations/100021.htm Gallbladder removal - Series—Normal anatomy To use the ... gallbladder is located in the abdomen, on the right side, underneath the liver. The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver, ...

  1. Dirt - swallowing

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002840.htm Dirt - swallowing To use the sharing features on this ... article is about poisoning from swallowing or eating dirt. This article is for information only. DO NOT ...

  2. Genetic counseling

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000510.htm Genetic counseling To use the sharing features on this ... cystic fibrosis or Down syndrome. Who May Want Genetic Counseling? It is up to you whether or ...

  3. RBC nuclear scan

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003835.htm RBC nuclear scan To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. An RBC nuclear scan uses small amounts of radioactive material to ...

  4. Skin color - patchy

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003224.htm Skin color - patchy To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Patchy skin color is areas where the skin color is irregular. ...

  5. Talking to someone with hearing loss

    MedlinePlus

    ... of Health & Human Services. Quick guide to health literacy and older adults: Hearing impairment. Health.gov website. www.health.gov/communication/literacy/olderadults/hearing.htm . Accessed July 5, 2017. Review ...

  6. Jerusalem cherry poisoning

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002871.htm Jerusalem cherry poisoning To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. The Jerusalem cherry is a plant that belongs to the ...

  7. Aspirin overdose

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002542.htm Aspirin overdose To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. An overdose of aspirin means you have too much aspirin in your ...

  8. Xmsx-1 modifies mesodermal tissue pattern along dorsoventral axis in Xenopus laevis embryo.

    PubMed

    Maeda, R; Kobayashi, A; Sekine, R; Lin, J J; Kung, H; Maéno, M

    1997-07-01

    This study analyzes the expression and the function of Xenopus msx-1 (Xmsx-1) in embryos, in relation to the ventralizing activity of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4). Expression of Xmsx-1 was increased in UV-treated ventralized embryos and decreased in LiCl-treated dorsalized embryos at the neurula stage (stage 14). Whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis showed that Xmsx-1 is expressed in marginal zone and animal pole areas, laterally and ventrally, but not dorsally, at mid-gastrula (stage 11) and late-gastrula (stage 13) stages. Injection of BMP-4 RNA, but not activin RNA, induced Xmsx-1 expression in the dorsal marginal zone at the early gastrula stage (stage 10+), and introduction of a dominant negative form of BMP-4 receptor RNA suppressed Xmsx-1 expression in animal cap and ventral marginal zone explants at stage 14. Thus, Xmsx-1 is a target gene specifically regulated by BMP-4 signaling. Embryos injected with Xmsx-1 RNA in dorsal blastomeres at the 4-cell stage exhibited a ventralized phenotype, with microcephaly and swollen abdomen. Histological observation and immunostaining revealed that these embryos had a large block of muscle tissue in the dorsal mesodermal area instead of notochord. On the basis of molecular marker analysis, however, the injection of Xmsx-1 RNA did not induce the expression of alpha-globin, nor reduce cardiac alpha-actin in dorsal marginal zone explants. Furthermore, a significant amount of alpha-actin was induced and alpha-globin was turned off in the ventral marginal zone explants injected with Xmsx-1. These results indicated that Xmsx-1 is a target gene of BMP-4 signaling, but possesses a distinct activity on dorsal-ventral patterning of mesodermal tissues.

  9. Brain injury - discharge

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000163.htm Brain injury - discharge To use the sharing features on ... know was in the hospital for a serious brain injury. At home, it will take time for ...

  10. CPR - infant - slideshow

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100216.htm CPR - infant - series—Check for responsiveness To use the ... yourself to call 911 until you have performed CPR for about 2 minutes. 3. Carefully place the ...

  11. Hemorrhoid surgery - slideshow

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100026.htm Hemorrhoid surgery - series—Normal anatomy To use the sharing ... empties stool from the body through the anus. Hemorrhoids are "cushions" of tissue filled with blood vessels ...

  12. Stroke - slideshow

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100218.htm Stroke - series—Part 1 To use the sharing features ... M. Editorial team. Related MedlinePlus Health Topics Ischemic Stroke A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by ...

  13. Exercise and immunity

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007165.htm Exercise and immunity To use the sharing features on this page, ... know exactly if or how exercise increases your immunity to certain illnesses. There are several theories. However, ...

  14. Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH)

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000557.htm Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) is a rare blood disorder in ...

  15. Hand fracture - aftercare

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000552.htm Hand fracture - aftercare To use the sharing features on ... need to be repaired with surgery. Types of Hand Fractures Your fracture may be in one of ...

  16. Claw hand

    MedlinePlus

    ... page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003169.htm Claw hand To use the sharing features on this page, ... Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions. About MedlinePlus Site Map ...

  17. Concussion - child - discharge

    MedlinePlus

    ... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000125.htm Concussion in children - discharge To use the sharing features ... child's provider about: Playing contact sports, such as football, hockey, and soccer Riding a bicycle, motorcycle, or ...

  18. Post-traumatic stress disorder

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000925.htm Post-traumatic stress disorder To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder . ...

  19. Overcoming job stress

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000884.htm Overcoming job stress To use the sharing features on this page, ... stay healthy and feel better. Causes of Job Stress Although the cause of job stress is different ...

  20. Total parenteral nutrition - infants

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007239.htm Total parenteral nutrition - infants To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a method of feeding that bypasses ...

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