Recursive Inversion By Finite-Impulse-Response Filters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bach, Ralph E., Jr.; Baram, Yoram

1991-01-01

Recursive approximation gives least-squares best fit to exact response. Algorithm yields finite-impulse-response approximation of unknown single-input/single-output, causal, time-invariant, linear, real system, response of which is sequence of impulses. Applicable to such system-inversion problems as suppression of echoes and identification of target from its scatter response to incident impulse.

Dynamic subcellular partitioning of the nucleolar transcription factor TIF-IA under ribotoxic stress.

PubMed

Szymański, Jedrzej; Mayer, Christine; Hoffmann-Rohrer, Urs; Kalla, Claudia; Grummt, Ingrid; Weiss, Matthias

2009-07-01

TIF-IA is a basal transcription factor of RNA polymerase I (Pol I) that is a major target of the JNK2 signaling pathway in response to ribotoxic stress. Using advanced fluorescence microscopy and kinetic modeling we elucidated the subcellular localization of TIF-IA and its exchange dynamics between the nucleolus, nucleoplasm and cytoplasm upon ribotoxic stress. In steady state, the majority of (GFP-tagged) TIF-IA was in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, a minor portion (7%) localizing to the nucleoli. We observed a rapid shuttling of GFP-TIF-IA between the different cellular compartments with a mean residence time of approximately 130 s in the nucleus and only approximately 30 s in the nucleoli. The import rate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was approximately 3-fold larger than the export rate, suggesting an importin/exportin-mediated transport rather than a passive diffusion. Upon ribotoxic stress, GFP-TIF-IA was released from the nucleoli with a half-time of approximately 24 min. Oxidative stress and inhibition of protein synthesis led to a relocation of GFP-TIF-IA with slower kinetics while osmotic stress had no effect. The observed relocation was much slower than the nucleo-cytoplasmic and nucleus-nucleolus exchange rates of GFP-TIF-IA, indicating a time-limiting step upstream of the JNK2 pathway. In support of this, time-course experiments on the activity of JNK2 revealed the activation of the JNK kinase as the rate-limiting step.

Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) moderate suicidal behaviors in college students with depressed mood.

PubMed

Patros, Connor H G; Hudec, Kristen L; Alderson, R Matt; Kasper, Lisa J; Davidson, Collin; Wingate, LaRicka R

2013-09-01

College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related hyperactive/impulsive (HI) and/or inattentive (IA) symptoms may be at greater risk for suicidal behavior due to core and secondary symptoms that increase their potential to engage in behaviors that put them at risk for suicidal behavior. Consequently, the current study examined the moderating effect of combined HI/IA symptoms, in addition to independent HI and IA symptoms on the relationship between depressed mood and suicidal thoughts and behavior. A sample of 1,056 undergraduate students (61.5% female, 96.4% aged 18-24 years) provided self-report ratings of mood, suicidal behavior (thoughts, self-harm, attempts, and need for medical attention), and current HI/IA symptoms. Significant moderation effects were detected, such that greater HI/IA symptoms were associated with a stronger relationship between depressed mood and suicidal ideation and attempts, but not self-harm. Current HI and IA symptoms significantly moderated the relationship between depressed mood and suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, but did not moderate the relationship between depressed mood and self-harm and need for medical attention. The current findings suggest that the presence of combined HI/IA symptoms conveys increased suicide risk for depressed college students. Additionally, results suggest a complex relationship between independent HI and IA symptoms and severe suicidal outcomes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Biophysical characterization and functional consequences of a slowly inactivating potassium current in neostriatal neurons.

PubMed

Gabel, L A; Nisenbaum, E S

1998-04-01

Neostriatal spiny projection neurons can display a pronounced delay in their transition to action potential discharge that is mediated by a slowly developing ramp depolarization. The possible contribution of a slowly inactivating A-type K+ current (IAs) to this delayed excitation was investigated by studying the biophysical and functional properties of IAs using whole cell voltage- and current-clamp recording from acutely isolated neostriatal neurons. Isolation of IAs from other voltage-gated, calcium-independent K+ currents was achieved through selective blockade of IAs with low concentrations (10 microM) of the benzazepine derivative, 6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-3-allyl- 1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetra-hydro-1H-3-benzazepine (APB; SKF82958) and subsequent current subtraction. Examination of the voltage dependence of activation showed that IAs began to flow at approximately -60 mV in response to depolarization. The voltage dependence of inactivation revealed that approximately 50% of IAs channels were available at the normal resting potential (-80 mV) of these cells, but that only 20% of the channels were available at membrane potentials corresponding to spike threshold (about -40 mV). At these depolarized membrane potentials, the rate of activation was moderately rapid (tau approximately 60 ms), whereas the rate of inactivation was slow (tau approximately 1.5 s). The time course of removal of inactivation of IAs at -80 mV also was relatively slow (tau approximately 1.0 s). The subthreshold availability of IAs combined with its rapid activation and slow inactivation rates suggested that this current should be capable of dampening the onset of prolonged depolarizing responses, but over time its efficacy should diminish, slowly permitting the membrane to depolarize toward spike threshold. Voltage recording experiments confirmed this hypothesis by demonstrating that application of APB at a concentration (10 microM) that selectively blocks IAs substantially decreased the latency to discharge and increased the frequency of firing of neostriatal neurons. The properties of IAs suggest that it should play a critical role in placing the voltage limits on the recurring episodes of subthreshold depolarization which are characteristic of spiny neurons recorded in vivo. However, the voltage dependence and recovery kinetics of inactivation of IAs predict that its effectiveness will vary exponentially with the level and duration of hyperpolarization which precedes depolarizing episodes. Thus long periods of hyperpolarization should increase the availability of IAs and dampen succeeding depolarizations; whereas brief epochs of hyperpolarization should not sufficiently remove inactivation of IAs, thereby reducing its ability to limit subsequent depolarizing responses.

Binary-encounter electrons observed at 0 degree in collisions of 1--2-MeV/amu H sup + , C sup 6+ , N sup 7+ , O sup 8+ , and F sup 9+ ions with H sub 2 and He targets

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

Lee, D.H.; Richard, P.; Zouros, T.J.M.

The energy distribution of binary-encounter electrons (BEE) produced in collisions of 1--2 MeV/amu H{sup +} and bare C, N, O, and F ions with H{sub 2} and He gas targets is reported at 0{degree} with respect to the beam direction. These electrons result from ionization of the target due to hard collisions with the projectile and can thus be considered to be produced in a process analogous to elastic scattering of a free electron from a highly charged ion. An impulse-approximation (IA) model has been developed to describe this process in which quasifree'' target electrons undergo 180{degree} Rutherford scattering inmore » the projectile frame. The measured BEE double-differential production cross sections for bare ions were well described by this model and were found to scale with {ital Z}{sub {ital p}}{sup 2} and {ital E}{sub {ital p}}{sup {minus}({similar to}2.6--2.7)} where {ital Z}{sub {ital p}} and {ital E}{sub {ital p}} are the charge and energy of the projectile, respectively. An energy shift of the BEE below 4{ital t}, where {ital t} is the cusp electron energy, is observed and is also predicted by the IA treatment. A plane-wave Born approximation (PWBA) calculation for BEE production is also found to be in overall agreement with our data. However, the energy shift of the BEE peak could not be fully accounted for within this PWBA calculation.« less

Parent Ratings of ADHD Symptoms: Generalized Partial Credit Model Analysis of Differential Item Functioning across Gender

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gomez, Rapson

2012-01-01

Objective: Generalized partial credit model, which is based on item response theory (IRT), was used to test differential item functioning (DIF) for the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (4th ed.), inattention (IA), and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) symptoms across boys and girls. Method: To accomplish this, parents completed…

ADHD and personality: a meta-analytic review.

PubMed

Gomez, Rapson; Corr, Philip J

2014-07-01

We report a meta-analysis of up to 40 data sets that examined the personality dimensions in the Five-Factor Model (FFM) and the integrated Five-Factor Model (IFFM) in relation to ADHD symptom domains of inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI). The IFFM incorporated the dimensions of other personality models (in particular, those of Eysenck, Tellegen, and Cloninger, as well as the FFM). Major findings were: (1) IA and HI were both associated with low conscientious inhibition/conscientiousness, and low agreeable inhibition/agreeableness, and with high negative emotionality/neuroticism; (2) conscientious inhibition and conscientiousness were more strongly related to IA than HI; (3) agreeable inhibition and agreeableness were more strongly related to HI than IA; and (4) the association of conscientious inhibition and conscientiousness with HI was moderated by age group and source from where participants were recruited (associations were stronger in children than adults, and clinical samples than community samples). These findings are discussed in relation to single and multiple pathway theories, underlying factors and processes for the personality-ADHD link, and clinical implications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of internet addiction and its risk and protective factors in a representative sample of senior high school students in Taiwan.

PubMed

Lin, Min-Pei; Wu, Jo Yung-Wei; You, Jianing; Hu, Wei-Hsuan; Yen, Cheng-Fang

2018-01-01

The aim of this study investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) in a large representative sample of secondary school students and identified the risk and protective factors. Using a crosssectional design, 2170 participants were recruited from senior high schools throughout Taiwan using both stratified and cluster sampling. The prevalence of IA was 17.4% (95% confidence interval, 15.8%-19.0%). High impulsivity, low refusal self-efficacy of Internet use, high positive outcome expectancy of Internet use, high disapproving attitude of Internet use by others, depressive symptoms, low subjective well-being, high frequency of others' invitation to Internet use, and high virtual social support was all independently predictive in the logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of IA among secondary school students in Taiwan was high. Results from this study can be used to help educational agencies and mental health organizations create policies and design programs that will help in the prevention of IA in adolescents. Copyright © 2017 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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

Bogen, K.T.; Conrado, C.L.; Robison, W.L.

A detailed analysis of uncertainty and interindividual variability in estimated doses was conducted for a rehabilitation scenario for Bikini Island at Bikini Atoll, in which the top 40 cm of soil would be removed in the housing and village area, and the rest of the island is treated with potassium fertilizer, prior to an assumed resettlement date of 1999. Predicted doses were considered for the following fallout-related exposure pathways: ingested Cesium-137 and Strontium-90, external gamma exposure, and inhalation and ingestion of Americium-241 + Plutonium-239+240. Two dietary scenarios were considered: (1) imported foods are available (IA), and (2) imported foods aremore » unavailable (only local foods are consumed) (IUA). Corresponding calculations of uncertainty in estimated population-average dose showed that after {approximately}5 y of residence on Bikini, the upper and lower 95% confidence limits with respect to uncertainty in this dose are estimated to be approximately 2-fold higher and lower than its population-average value, respectively (under both IA and IUA assumptions). Corresponding calculations of interindividual variability in the expected value of dose with respect to uncertainty showed that after {approximately}5 y of residence on Bikini, the upper and lower 95% confidence limits with respect to interindividual variability in this dose are estimated to be approximately 2-fold higher and lower than its expected value, respectively (under both IA and IUA assumptions). For reference, the expected values of population-average dose at age 70 were estimated to be 1.6 and 5.2 cSv under the IA and IUA dietary assumptions, respectively. Assuming that 200 Bikini resettlers would be exposed to local foods (under both IA and IUA assumptions), the maximum 1-y dose received by any Bikini resident is most likely to be approximately 2 and 8 mSv under the IA and IUA assumptions, respectively.« less

[Antihypoxic properties of opiates and substance P].

PubMed

Vlasova, I G; Torshin, V I

2001-01-01

Using survival slices of the rat cerebellum, we studied the influence of opiates (alpha- and beta-endorphines, met-enkephalines) as well as substance P (SP) on the impulse activity (IA) of neurons. Low doses of the studied substances (10(-8)-10(-10) M) for the most part increased the IA of the neurons, while high doses (10(6)-10(-5) M) produced biphasic reaction (inhibition-excitation). It is supposed that opiates and SP act as transmitters in the cerebellum. Under increasing hypoxia, opiates and SP manifested antixypoxic properties both in low O22 concentration and under reoxygenation. Opiates and SP proved to be natural antihypoxants involved not only in nociception mechanisms but also in brain adaptation to oxygen deficiency.

Cognitive and Academic Abilities Associated with Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparison between Subtypes in a Greek Non-Clinical Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papaioannou, Sophia; Mouzaki, Angeliki; Sideridis, Georgios D.; Antoniou, Foteini; Padeliadu, Suzanna; Simos, Panagiotis G.

2016-01-01

The study assessed cognitive and academic performance of children demonstrating teacher-rated ADHD-related symptoms (Inattention [IA] and/or Hyperactivity/Impulsivity [H/I]) in a representative sample of, largely untreated, Greek elementary school students (N?=?923). A battery of tests assessing short-term memory (STM), sustained attention,…

Item Response Theory Analyses of Parent and Teacher Ratings of the ADHD Symptoms for Recoded Dichotomous Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gomez, Rapson; Vance, Alasdair; Gomez, Andre

2011-01-01

Objective: The two-parameter logistic model (2PLM) was used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) symptoms. Method: To accomplish this, parents and teachers completed the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale (DBRS) for a group of 934 primary school-aged children. Results: The results for the…

Factor-Analytic and Individualized Approaches to Constructing Brief Measures of ADHD Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Volpe, Robert J.; Gadow, Kenneth D.; Blom-Hoffman, Jessica; Feinberg, Adam B.

2009-01-01

Two studies were performed to examine a factor-analytic and an individualized approach to creating short progress-monitoring measures from the longer "ADHD-Symptom Checklist-4" (ADHD-SC4). In Study 1, teacher ratings on items of the ADHD:Inattentive (IA) and ADHD:Hyperactive-Impulsive (HI) scales of the ADHD-SC4 were factor analyzed in a normative…

Temperament and characteristics related to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.

PubMed

Park, Hwanjin; Suh, Byung Seong; Lee, Hye-Kyung; Lee, Kounseok

2016-10-01

Adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibits symptoms, such as attention deficit and impulsivity, that make it difficult for patients to manage social activities. In this study, we investigated the association of adult ADHD symptoms with temperament and character dimensions, taking into account possible sex interactions. A total of 2917 (1462 males and 1455 females) college students completed the 140 5-point Likert items on the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised Short version (TCI-RS) and the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Rated Scale (ASRS). According to the ASRS score, subjects were classified into the control group, the inattentive ADHD symptom (IA) group, or the hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptom (HI) group. Additionally, the scores of the four temperament dimensions and the three character dimensions were compared. In the IA and HI groups, the NS and HA levels of the temperament dimension were high and the PS level was low compared with the control group. In the character dimension, the levels of SD and CO were significantly lower in the ADHD groups than in the control group (P<0.001). Meanwhile, the ST level in the HI group was significantly higher than in the control group. In the regression analysis after age and gender correction, NS and SD in the IA group and NS, CO, and ST in the HI group were associated with adult ADHD symptoms. The current findings suggest that high novelty seeking may be related to adult ADHD symptoms in the temperament dimension. Furthermore, some character dimensions were associated with adult ADHD symptoms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bethe–Salpeter Wave functions to Generalised Parton Distributions

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

Mezrag, C.; Moutarde, H.; Rodríguez-Quintero, J.

2016-06-06

We review recent works on the modelling of Generalised Parton Distributions within the Dyson-Schwinger formalism. We highlight how covariant computations, using the impulse approximation, allows one to fulfil most of the theoretical constraints of the GPDs. A specific attention is brought to chiral properties and especially the so-called soft pion theorem, and its link with the Axial-Vector Ward-Takahashi identity. The limitation of the impulse approximation are also explained. Beyond impulse approximation computations are reviewed in the forward case. Finally, we stress the advantages of the overlap of lightcone wave functions, and possible ways to construct covariant GPD models within thismore » framework, in a two-body approximation« less

The VESUVIO electron volt neutron spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayers, J.; Reiter, G.

2012-04-01

This paper describes the VESUVIO electron volt neutron spectrometer at the ISIS pulsed neutron source and its data analysis routines. VESUVIO is used primarily for the measurement of proton momentum distributions in condensed matter systems, but can also be used to measure the kinetic energies of heavier masses and bulk in-situ sample compositions. A series of VESUVIO runs on the same zirconium hydride sample over the past two years show that (1) kinetic energies of protons can be measured to an absolute accuracy of ˜1%. (2) Measurements of the proton momentum distribution n(p) are highly reproducible from run to run. This shows that small changes in kinetic energy and the detailed shape of n(p) with parameters such as temperature, pressure and sample composition can be reliably extracted from VESUVIO data. (3) The impulse approximation (IA) is well satisfied on VESUVIO. (4) The small deviations from the IA due to the finite momentum transfer of measurement are well understood. (5) There is an anomaly in the magnitude of the inelastic neutron cross-section of the protons in zirconium hydride, with an observed reduction of 10% ± 0.3% from that given in standard tables. This anomaly is independent of energy transfer to within experimental error. Future instrument developments are discussed. These would allow the measurement of n(p) in other light atoms, D, 3He, 4He, Li, C and O and measurement of eV electronic and magnetic excitations.

Treatment outcomes using CBT-IA with Internet-addicted patients.

PubMed

Young, Kimberly S

2013-12-01

Internet Gaming Disorder, a subtype of Internet Addiction, is now classified in Section 3 of the DSM-5. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been suggested in treating Internet addiction as this modality has been shown to be an effective treatment for similar impulse control disorders. Given the daily and necessary use of the Internet and technology in general compared to other compulsive syndromes, a specialized form of CBT has been developed called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Internet Addiction (CBT-IA). CBT-IA is a comprehensive three phase approach that includes behavior modification to control compulsive Internet use, cognitive restructuring to identify, challenge, and modify cognitive distortions that lead to addictive use, and harm reduction techniques to address and treat co-morbid issues associated with the disorder. As the first model of its kind, this study examines 128 clients to measure treatment outcomes using CBT-IA. Clients were evaluated using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) to classify subjects and were administered twelve weekly sessions of CBT-IA. Treatment outcomes were measured at the end of the twelve weeks, one-month, three months and at six month post-treatment. RESULTS showed that over 95% of clients were able to manage symptoms at the end of the twelve weeks and 78% sustained recovery six months following treatment. RESULTS found that CBT-IA was effective at ameliorating symptoms associated with Internet addiction after twelve weekly sessions and consistently over one-month, three months, and six months after therapy. Further research implications such as investigating long-term outcome effects of the model with larger client populations and treatment differences among the subtypes of Internet addiction or with other cultural populations using CBT-IA are discussed.

Parent ratings of ADHD symptoms: differential symptom functioning across Malaysian Malay and Chinese children.

PubMed

Gomez, Rapson; Vance, Alasdair

2008-08-01

This study examined differential symptom functioning (DSF) in ADHD symptoms across Malay and Chinese children in Malaysia. Malay (N=571) and Chinese (N=254) parents completed the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale, which lists the DSM-IV ADHD symptoms. DSF was examined using the multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) structural equation modeling procedure. Although DSF was found for a single inattention (IA) symptom and three hyperactivity-impulsivity (HI) symptoms, all these differences had low effect sizes. Controlling for these DSF, Chinese children had higher IA and HI latent factor scores. However the effect sizes were small. Together, these findings suggest adequate support for invariance of the ADHD symptoms across these ethno-cultural groups. The implications of the findings for cross-cultural invariance of the ADHD symptoms are discussed.

Microstructural Quantification of Rapidly Solidified Undercooled D2 Tool Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valloton, J.; Herlach, D. M.; Henein, H.; Sediako, D.

2017-10-01

Rapid solidification of D2 tool steel is investigated experimentally using electromagnetic levitation (EML) under terrestrial and reduced gravity conditions and impulse atomization (IA), a drop tube type of apparatus. IA produces powders 300 to 1400 μm in size. This allows the investigation of a large range of cooling rates ( 100 to 10,000 K/s) with a single experiment. On the other hand, EML allows direct measurements of the thermal history, including primary and eutectic nucleation undercoolings, for samples 6 to 7 mm in diameter. The final microstructures at room temperature consist of retained supersaturated austenite surrounded by eutectic of austenite and M7C3 carbides. Rapid solidification effectively suppresses the formation of ferrite in IA, while a small amount of ferrite is detected in EML samples. High primary phase undercoolings and high cooling rates tend to refine the microstructure, which results in a better dispersion of the eutectic carbides. Evaluation of the cell spacing in EML and IA samples shows that the scale of the final microstructure is mainly governed by coarsening. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis of IA samples reveals that IA powders are polycrystalline, regardless of the solidification conditions. EBSD on EML samples reveals strong differences between the microstructure of droplets solidified on the ground and in microgravity conditions. While the former ones are polycrystalline with many different grains, the EML sample solidified in microgravity shows a strong texture with few much larger grains having twinning relationships. This indicates that fluid flow has a strong influence on grain refinement in this system.

Cognitive-Affective Correlates of Suicide Ideation and Attempt: Mindfulness is Negatively Associated with Suicide Attempt History but Not State Suicidality.

PubMed

Chesin, Megan; Cascardi, Michele

2018-06-11

To test whether three cognitive-affective correlates, mindfulness, emotion reactivity, and depressive symptom severity, have different associations with current suicidal ideation (SI), a history of suicide attempt (SA) and SA+SI among emerging adults. To test whether impulsive-aggression (IA) moderates associations between cognitive-affective correlates of suicidal behavior and suicidality. Survey data on current SI, SA history, mindfulness, emotion reactivity, depressive symptom severity, and IA were collected from 780 emerging adults. Results from multinomial logistic regression analysis showed greater depressive symptom severity among emerging adults with current SI, regardless of SA history. Those with a history of SA reported greater depressive symptom severity and less mindfulness than controls. IA did not moderate relationships of SI and/or SA and mindfulness, emotion reactivity, or depressive symptom severity. Mindfulness is a marker of SA, and depressive symptom severity is associated with current SI and SA history in emerging adults. IA does not moderate these associations. To the extent that a history of SA is indicative of elevated trait-like suicide risk and SI indicates state suicidality, our findings suggest that mindfulness protects against longer-term vulnerability to SA while depressive symptom severity increases with increasing suicide state-trait risk.

Three-Dimensional parton structure of light nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scopetta, Sergio; Del Dotto, Alessio; Kaptari, Leonid; Pace, Emanuele; Rinaldi, Matteo; Salmè, Giovanni

2018-03-01

Two promising directions beyond inclusive deep inelastic scattering experiments, aimed at unveiling the three dimensional structure of the bound nucleon, are reviewed, considering in particular the 3He nuclear target. The 3D structure in coordinate space can be accessed through deep exclusive processes, whose non-perturbative part is encoded in generalized parton distributions. In this way, the distribution of partons in the transverse plane can be obtained. As an example of a deep exclusive process, coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering off 3He nuclei, important to access the neutron generalized parton distributions (GPDs), will be discussed. In Impulse Approximation (IA), the sum of the two leading twist, quark helicity conserving GPDs of 3He, H and E, at low momentum transfer, turns out to be dominated by the neutron contribution. Besides, a technique, able to take into account the nuclear effects included in the Impulse Approximation analysis, has been developed. The spin dependent GPD \\tilde H of 3He is also found to be largely dominated, at low momentum transfer, by the neutron contribution. The knowledge of the GPDs H,E and \\tilde H of 3He is relevant for the planning of coherent DVCS off 3He measurements. Semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering processes access the momentum space 3D structure parameterized through transverse momentum dependent parton distributions. A distorted spin-dependent spectral function has been recently introduced for 3He, in a non-relativistic framework, to take care of the final state interaction between the observed pion and the remnant in semi-inclusive deep inelastic electron scattering off transversely polarized 3He. The calculation of the Sivers and Collins single spin asymmetries for 3He, and a straightforward procedure to effectively take into account nuclear dynamics and final state interactions, will be reviewed. The Light-front dynamics generalization of the analysis is also addressed.

Iterative design of one- and two-dimensional FIR digital filters. [Finite duration Impulse Response

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suk, M.; Choi, K.; Algazi, V. R.

1976-01-01

The paper describes a new iterative technique for designing FIR (finite duration impulse response) digital filters using a frequency weighted least squares approximation. The technique is as easy to implement (via FFT) and as effective in two dimensions as in one dimension, and there are virtually no limitations on the class of filter frequency spectra approximated. An adaptive adjustment of the frequency weight to achieve other types of design approximation such as Chebyshev type design is discussed.

Interatrial block and interatrial septal thickness in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation: Long-term follow-up study.

PubMed

Gul, Enes E; Pal, Raveen; Caldwell, Jane; Boles, Usama; Hopman, Wilma; Glover, Benedict; Michael, Kevin A; Redfearn, Damian; Simpson, Chris; Abdollah, Hoshiar; Baranchuk, Adrian

2017-07-01

Interatrial block (IAB) is a strong predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). IAB is a conduction delay through the Bachman region, which is located in the upper region of the interatrial space. During IAB, the impulse travels from the right atrium to the interatrial septum (IAS) and coronary sinus to finally reach the left atrium in a caudocranial direction. No relation between the presence of IAB and IAS thickness has been established yet. To determine whether a correlation exists between the degree of IAB and the thickness of the IAS and to determine whether IAS thickness predicts AF recurrence. Sixty-two patients with diagnosis of paroxysmal AF undergoing catheter ablation were enrolled. IAB was defined as P-wave duration ≥120 ms. IAS thickness was measured by cardiac computed tomography. Among 62 patients with paroxysmal AF, 45 patients (72%) were diagnosed with IAB. Advanced IAB was diagnosed in 24 patients (39%). Forty-seven patients were male. During a mean follow-up period of 49.8 ± 22 months (range 12-60 months), 32 patients (51%) developed AF recurrence. IAS thickness was similar in patients with and without IAB (4.5 ± 2.0 mm vs. 4.0 ± 1.4 mm; p = .45) and did not predict AF. Left atrial size was significantly enlarged in patients with IAB (40.9 ± 5.7 mm vs. 37.2 ± 4.0 mm; p = .03). Advanced IAB predicted AF recurrence after the ablation (OR: 3.34, CI: 1.12-9.93; p = .03). IAS thickness was not significantly correlated to IAB and did not predict AF recurrence. IAB as previously demonstrated was an independent predictor of AF recurrence. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Successful Aortic Banding for Type IA Endoleak Due to Neck Dilatation after Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Case Report.

PubMed

Tashima, Yasushi; Tamai, Koichi; Shirasugi, Takehiro; Sato, Kenichiro; Yamamoto, Takahiro; Imamura, Yusuke; Yamaguchi, Atsushi; Adachi, Hideo; Kobinata, Toshiyuki

2017-09-25

A 69-year-old man with a type IA endoleak that developed approximately 21 months after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) of a 46 mm diameter aneurysm was referred to our department. He had impaired renal function, Parkinson's disease, and previous cerebral infarction. Computed tomography angiography showed a type IA endoleak with neck dilatation and that the aneurysm had grown to 60 mm in diameter. We decided to perform aortic banding. The type IA endoleak disappeared after banding and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 10. Aortic banding may be effective for type IA endoleak after EVAR and less invasive for high-risk patients in particular.

Web addiction in the brain: Cortical oscillations, autonomic activity, and behavioral measures.

PubMed

Balconi, Michela; Campanella, Salvatore; Finocchiaro, Roberta

2017-09-01

Background and aims Internet addiction (IA) was recently defined as a disorder tagging both the impulse control and the reward systems. Specifically, inhibitory deficits and reward bias were considered highly relevant in IA. This research aims to examine the electrophysiological correlates and autonomic activity [skin conductance response (SCR) and heart rate] in two groups of young subjects (N = 25), with high or low IA profile [tested by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT)], with specific reference to gambling behavior. Methods Oscillatory brain activity (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) and autonomic and behavioral measures [response times (RTs) and error rates (ERs)] were acquired during the performance of a Go/NoGo task in response to high-rewarding (online gambling videos and video games) or neutral stimuli. Results A better performance (reduced ERs and reduced RTs) was revealed for high IAT in the case of NoGo trials representing rewarding cues (inhibitory control condition), probably due to a "gain effect" induced by the rewarding condition. In addition, we also observed for NoGo trials related to gambling and video games stimuli that (a) increased low-frequency band (delta and theta) and SCR and (b) a specific lateralization effect (more left-side activity) delta and theta in high IAT. Discussion Both inhibitory control deficits and reward bias effect were considered to explain IA.

Web addiction in the brain: Cortical oscillations, autonomic activity, and behavioral measures

PubMed Central

Balconi, Michela; Campanella, Salvatore; Finocchiaro, Roberta

2017-01-01

Background and aims Internet addiction (IA) was recently defined as a disorder tagging both the impulse control and the reward systems. Specifically, inhibitory deficits and reward bias were considered highly relevant in IA. This research aims to examine the electrophysiological correlates and autonomic activity [skin conductance response (SCR) and heart rate] in two groups of young subjects (N = 25), with high or low IA profile [tested by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT)], with specific reference to gambling behavior. Methods Oscillatory brain activity (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) and autonomic and behavioral measures [response times (RTs) and error rates (ERs)] were acquired during the performance of a Go/NoGo task in response to high-rewarding (online gambling videos and video games) or neutral stimuli. Results A better performance (reduced ERs and reduced RTs) was revealed for high IAT in the case of NoGo trials representing rewarding cues (inhibitory control condition), probably due to a “gain effect” induced by the rewarding condition. In addition, we also observed for NoGo trials related to gambling and video games stimuli that (a) increased low-frequency band (delta and theta) and SCR and (b) a specific lateralization effect (more left-side activity) delta and theta in high IAT. Discussion Both inhibitory control deficits and reward bias effect were considered to explain IA. PMID:28718301

Endogenous bradykinin activates ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents through kinin B2 receptors in cats

PubMed Central

Tjen-A-Looi, Stephanie C; Pan, Hui-Lin; Longhurst, John C

1998-01-01

Activity of ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents during myocardial ischaemia induces both angina and cardiovascular reflexes. Increased production of bradykinin (BK) and cyclo-oxygenase products (i.e. prostaglandins (PGs)) occurs during myocardial ischaemia. However, the role of these agents in activation of ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents has not been established. The present study tested the hypothesis that BK produced during ischaemia activates cardiac afferents through kinin B2 receptors. Single-unit activity of cardiac afferents innervating the left ventricle was recorded from the left thoracic sympathetic chain (T1–T4) of anaesthetized cats. Ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents were identified according to their response to 5 min of myocardial ischaemia. The mechanism of BK in activation of ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents was determined by injection of BK (1 μg kg−1 i.a.), des-Arg9-BK (1 μg kg−1 i.a., a specific kinin B1 receptor agonist), kinin B2 receptor antagonists: HOE140 (30 μg kg−1 i.v.) and NPC-17731 (40 μg kg−1 i.v.), cyclo-oxygenase inhibition with indomethacin (5 mg kg−1 i.v.) and NPC-17731 (40 μg kg−1 i.v.) after pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg kg−1 i.v.). We observed that BK increased the discharge rate of all eleven ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents from 0.39 ± 0.12 to 1.47 ± 0.37 impulses s−1 (P < 0.05). Conversely, des-Arg9-BK did not significantly increase the activity of eleven ischaemically sensitive fibres (0.58 ± 0.02 vs. 0.50 ± 0.18 impulses s−1). HOE140 significantly attenuated the response of twelve afferents to ischaemia (0.61 ± 0.22 to 1.85 ± 0.5 vs. 0.53 ± 0.16 to 1.09 ± 0.4 impulses s−1). NPC-17731, another kinin B2 receptor antagonist, had similar inhibitory effects on six other ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents (0.35 ± 0.14 to 1.19 ± 0.29 vs. 0.22 ± 0.08 to 0.23 ± 0.07 impulses s−1). Indomethacin significantly reduced the responses of seven afferents to ischaemia (0.35 ± 0.13 to 1.89 ± 0.48 vs. 0.40 ± 0.10 to 0.76 ± 0.24 impulses s−1). Indomethacin also significantly reduced the responses of six ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents to BK (2.65 ± 1.23 to 1.2 ± 0.51 impulses s−1). In six cats pretreated with indomethacin, NPC-17731 attenuated the impulse activity of six ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents (0.39 ± 0.12 to 1.0 ± 0.3 vs. 0.26 ± 0.14 to 0.48 ± 0.20 impulses s−1). This study demonstrates that BK produced during ischaemia contributes to stimulation of ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents through activation of kinin B2 receptors. Furthermore, BK stimulates ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents through a mechanism that is, at least in part, independent of cyclo-oxygenase activation. PMID:9706010

Electron-electron interaction in ion-atom collisions studied by projectile state-resolved Auger-electron spectroscopy

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

Dohyung Lee.

This dissertation addresses the problem of dynamic electron-electron interactions in fast ion-atom collisions using projectile Auger electron spectroscopy. The study was carried out by measuring high-resolution projectile KKL Auger electron spectra as a function of projectile energy for the various collision systems of 0.25-2 MeV/u O{sup q+} and F{sup q+} incident on H{sub 2} and He targets. The electrons were detected in the beam direction, where the kinematic broadening is minimized. A zero-degree tandem electron spectrometer system, was developed and showed the versatility of zero-degree measurements of collisionally-produced atomic states. The zero-degree binary encounter electrons (BEe), quasifree target electrons ionizedmore » by the projectiles in head-on collisions, were observed as a strong background in the KLL Auger electron spectrum. They were studied by treating the target ionization as 180{degree} Rutherford elastic scattering in the projectile frame, and resulted in a validity test of the impulse approximation (IA) and a way to determine the spectrometer efficiency. An anomalous q-dependence, in which the zero-degree BEe yields increase with decreasing projectile charge state (q), was observed. State-resolved KLL Auger cross sections were determined by using the BEe normalization and thus the cross section of the electron-electron interactions such as resonant transfer-excitation (RTE), electron-electron excitation (eeE), and electron-electron ionization (eeI) were determined. Projectile 2l capture with 1s {yields} 2p excitation by the captured target electron was observed as an RTE process with Li-like and He-like projectiles and the measured RTEA (RTE followed by Auger decay) cross sections showed good agreement with an RTE-IA treatment and RTE alignment theory.« less

Minimum impulse transfers to rotate the line of apsides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Phong, Connie; Sweetser, Theodore H.

2005-01-01

Transfer between two coplanar orbits can be accomplished via a single impulse if the two orbits intersect. Optimization of a single-impulse transfer, however, is not possible since the transfer orbit is completely constrained by the initial and final orbits. On the other hand, two-impulse transfers are possible between any two terminal orbits. While optimal scenarios are not known for the general two-impulse case, there are various approximate solutions to many special cases. We consider the problem of an inplane rotation of the line of apsides, leaving the size and shape of the orbit unaffected.

Electrostatic Plasma Accelerator (EPA)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brophy, John R.; Aston, Graeme

1995-01-01

The application of electric propulsion to communications satellites, however, has been limited to the use of hydrazine thrusters with electric heaters for thrust and specific impulse augmentation. These electrothermal thrusters operate at specific impulse levels of approximately 300 s with heater powers of about 500 W. Low power arcjets (1-3 kW) are currently being investigated as a way to increase specific impulse levels to approximately 500 s. Ion propulsion systems can easily produce specific impulses of 3000 s or greater, but have yet to be applied to communications satellites. The reasons most often given for not using ion propulsion systems are their high level of overall complexity, low thrust with long burn times, and the difficulty of integrating the propulsion system into existing commercial spacecraft busses. The Electrostatic Plasma Accelerator (EPA) is a thruster concept which promises specific impulse levels between low power arcjets and those of the ion engine while retaining the relative simplicity of the arcjet. The EPA thruster produces thrust through the electrostatic acceleration of a moderately dense plasma. No accelerating electrodes are used and the specific impulse is a direct function of the applied discharge voltage and the propellant atomic mass.

Critical validity assessment of theoretical models: charge-exchange at intermediate and high energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belkić, Dževad

1999-06-01

Exact comprehensive computations are carried out by means of four leading second-order approximations yielding differential cross sections dQ/ dΩ for the basic charge exchange process H ++H(1s)→H(1s)+H + at intermediate and high energies. The obtained extensive set of results is thoroughly tested against all the existing experimental data with the purpose of critically assessing the validity of the boundary corrected second-Born (CB2), continuum-distorted wave (CDW), impulse approximation (IA) and the reformulated impulse approximation (RIA). The conclusion which emerges from this comparative study clearly indicates that the RIA agrees most favorably with the measurements available over a large energy range 25 keV-5 MeV. Such a finding reaffirms the few-particle quantum scattering theory which imposes several strict conditions on adequate second-order methods. These requirements satisfied by the RIA are: (i) normalisations of all the scattering wave functions, (ii) correct boundary conditions in both entrance and exit channels, (iii) introduction of a mathematically justified two-center continuum state for the sum of an attractive and a repulsive Coulomb potential with the same interaction strength, (iv) inclusion of the multiple scattering effects neglected in the IA, (v) a proper description of the Thomas double scattering in good agreement with the experiments and without any unobserved peak splittings. Nevertheless, the performed comparative analysis of the above four approximations indicates that none of the methods is free from some basic shortcomings. Despite its success, the RIA remains essentially a high-energy model like the other three methods under study. More importantly, their perturbative character leaves virtually no room for further systematic improvements, since the neglected higher-order terms are prohibitively tedious for practical purposes and have never been computed exactly. To bridge this gap, we presently introduce the variational Padé approximant (VPA) as a novel non-perturbative theory which is valid at all energies. This is a variationally unified T-matrix, T(VPA)i,f= T'i,f+ Si,f, comprised of a selected perturbative model T'i,f and a related stationary non-linear remainder Si,f conceived as an L2-basis set expansion of the total Green's function. The key input Si,f is a double series ∑ n1, n2Cn1n2 with bound-free atomic form factors as rational coefficients Cn1n2. Convergence of this sum is significantly accelerated by the two-dimensional Padé approximant (2D-PA) implemented through the bi-variate Wynn's epsilon ( ɛ) algorithm. The table ɛ( λ) for Si,f( λ) is evaluated at a sufficiently dense grid λ∈ Λ≡[ λmin, λmax] of any chosen variate λ, e.g. scattering angle, incident energy, coupling strength, etc. The roots λk of the inverse function E(λ)=1/ɛ(λ) directly lead to the poles of Si,f( λ) in the complex λ-plane. The availability of all λk's permits an easy obtaining of each of the magnitudes d ɛk=1/ E'(λ k) of the poles of Si,f( λ) by the Cauchy residue calculus and a mere knowledge of the first derivative E'(λ k) of E(λ k) at λk∈ Λ. This is a new signal processing method called the parametric epsilon spectral (P ɛS) estimator which opens an affordable way to powerful numerical investigations of analytical properties of transition and scattering matrices for a general process including resonance phenomena as one of the the most interesting parts of scattering.

Impulse position control algorithms for nonlinear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sesekin, A. N.; Nepp, A. N.

2015-11-01

The article is devoted to the formalization and description of impulse-sliding regime in nonlinear dynamical systems that arise in the application of impulse position controls of a special kind. The concept of trajectory impulse-sliding regime formalized as some limiting network element Euler polygons generated by a discrete approximation of the impulse position control This paper differs from the previously published papers in that it uses a definition of solutions of systems with impulse controls, it based on the closure of the set of smooth solutions in the space of functions of bounded variation. The need for the study of such regimes is the fact that they often arise when parry disturbances acting on technical or economic control system.

Charge-conjugation symmetric complete impulse approximation for the pion electromagnetic form factor in the covariant spectator theory

DOE PAGES

Biernat, Elmar P.; Gross, Franz; Peña, M. T.; ...

2015-10-26

The pion form factor is calculated in the framework of the charge-conjugation invariant covariant spectator theory. This formalism is established in Minkowski space, and the calculation is set up in momentum space. In a previous calculation we included only the leading pole coming from the spectator quark (referred to as the relativistic impulse approximation). In this study we also include the contributions from the poles of the quark which interacts with the photon and average over all poles in both the upper and lower half-planes in order to preserve charge conjugation invariance (referred to as the C-symmetric complete impulse approximation).more » We find that for small pion mass these contributions are significant at all values of the four-momentum transfer Q 2 but, surprisingly, do not alter the shape obtained from the spectator poles alone.« less

Dopamine Genes (DRD2/ANKK1-TaqA1 and DRD4-7R) and Executive Function: Their Interaction with Obesity

PubMed Central

Ariza, Mar; Garolera, Maite; Jurado, Maria Angeles; Garcia-Garcia, Isabel; Hernan, Imma; Sánchez-Garre, Consuelo; Vernet-Vernet, Maria; Sender-Palacios, Maria Jose; Marques-Iturria, Idoia; Pueyo, Roser; Segura, Barbara; Narberhaus, Ana

2012-01-01

Obesity is a multifactorial disease caused by the interaction between genotype and environment, and it is considered to be a type of addictive alteration. The A1 allele of the DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA gene has been associated with addictive disorders, with obesity and with the performance in executive functions. The 7 repeat allele of the DRD4 gene has likewise been associated with the performance in executive functions, as well as with addictive behaviors and impulsivity. Participants were included in the obesity group (N = 42) if their body mass index (BMI) was equal to or above 30, and in the lean group (N = 42) if their BMI was below 25. The DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA and DRD4 VNTR polymorphisms were obtained. All subjects underwent neuropsychological assessment. Eating behavior traits were evaluated. The ‘DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA A1-allele status’ had a significant effect on almost all the executive variables, but no significant ‘DRD4 7R-allele status’ effects were observed for any of the executive variables analyzed. There was a significant ‘group’ x ‘DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA A1-allele status’ interaction effect on LN and ‘group’ x ‘DRD4 7R-allele status’ interaction effect on TMT B-A score. Being obese and a carrier of the A1 allele of DRD2/ANKK1-TaqIA or the 7R allele of DRD4 VNTR polymorphisms could confer a weakness as regards the performance of executive functions. PMID:22848508

Trajectories for High Specific Impulse High Specific Power Deep Space Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Polsgrove, T.; Adams, R. B.; Brady, Hugh J. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Preliminary results are presented for two methods to approximate the mission performance of high specific impulse high specific power vehicles. The first method is based on an analytical approximation derived by Williams and Shepherd and can be used to approximate mission performance to outer planets and interstellar space. The second method is based on a parametric analysis of trajectories created using the well known trajectory optimization code, VARITOP. This parametric analysis allows the reader to approximate payload ratios and optimal power requirements for both one-way and round-trip missions. While this second method only addresses missions to and from Jupiter, future work will encompass all of the outer planet destinations and some interstellar precursor missions.

Greater Rupture Risk for Familial as Compared to Sporadic Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

PubMed Central

Broderick, Joseph P.; Brown, Robert D.; Sauerbeck, Laura; Hornung, Richard; Huston, John; Woo, Daniel; Anderson, Craig; Rouleau, Guy; Kleindorfer, Dawn; Flaherty, Matthew L.; Meissner, Irene; Foroud, Tatiana; Moomaw, E. Charles J.; Connolly, E. Sander

2009-01-01

Background The risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture in asymptomatic members of families who have multiple affected individuals is not known. Methods First-degree unaffected relatives of those with a familial history of IA who had a history of smoking or hypertension but no known IA were offered cerebral magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and followed yearly as part of an NINDS-funded study of familial IA (FIA Study). Results 2874 subjects from 542 FIA families were enrolled. After study enrollment, MRAs were performed in 548 FIA family members with no known history of IA. Of these 548 subjects, 113 subjects (20.6%) had 148 IAs by MRA of whom 5 subjects had IA >= 7 mm. Two subjects with an unruptured IA by MRA/CTA (3 mm and 4mm ACOM) subsequently had rupture of their IA. This represents an annual rate of 1.2 ruptures per 100 subjects (1.2% per year, 95% CI of 0.14% to 4.3% per year). None of the 435 subjects with a negative MRA have had a ruptured IA. Survival curves between the MRA positive and negative cohorts were significantly different (p = 0.004). This rupture rate of unruptured IA in the FIA cohort of 1.2% per year is approximately 17 times higher than the rupture rate for subjects with an unruptured IA in the International Study of Unruptured Aneurysm Study with a matched distribution of IA size and location - 0.069% per year. Conclusions Small unruptured IAs in patients from FIA families may have a higher risk of rupture than sporadic unruptured IAs of similar size, which should be considered in the management of these patients. PMID:19228834

Greater rupture risk for familial as compared to sporadic unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

PubMed

Broderick, Joseph P; Brown, Robert D; Sauerbeck, Laura; Hornung, Richard; Huston, John; Woo, Daniel; Anderson, Craig; Rouleau, Guy; Kleindorfer, Dawn; Flaherty, Matthew L; Meissner, Irene; Foroud, Tatiana; Moomaw, E Charles J; Connolly, E Sander

2009-06-01

The risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture in asymptomatic members of families who have multiple affected individuals is not known. First-degree unaffected relatives of those with a familial history of IA who had a history of smoking or hypertension but no known IA were offered cerebral MR angiography (MRA) and followed yearly as part of a National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke-funded study of familial IA (Familial Intracranial Aneurysm [FIA] Study). A total of 2874 subjects from 542 FIA Study families were enrolled. After study enrollment, MRAs were performed in 548 FIA Study family members with no known history of IA. Of these 548 subjects, 113 subjects (20.6%) had 148 IAs by MRA of whom 5 subjects had IA >or=7 mm. Two subjects with an unruptured IA by MRA/CT angiography (3-mm and 4-mm anterior communicating artery) subsequently had rupture of their IA. This represents an annual rate of 1.2 ruptures per 100 subjects (1.2% per year; 95% CI, 0.14% to 4.3% per year). None of the 435 subjects with a negative MRA have had a ruptured IA. Survival curves between the MRA-positive and -negative cohorts were significantly different (P=0.004). This rupture rate of unruptured IA in the FIA Study cohort of 1.2% per year is approximately 17 times higher than the rupture rate for subjects with an unruptured IA in the International Study of Unruptured Aneurysm Study with a matched distribution of IA size and location 0.069% per year. Small unruptured IAs in patients from FIA Study families may have a higher risk of rupture than sporadic unruptured IAs of similar size, which should be considered in the management of these patients.

Impulse position control algorithms for nonlinear systems

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

Sesekin, A. N., E-mail: sesekin@list.ru; Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics, Ural Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, 16 S. Kovalevskaya, Ekaterinburg, 620990; Nepp, A. N., E-mail: anepp@urfu.ru

2015-11-30

The article is devoted to the formalization and description of impulse-sliding regime in nonlinear dynamical systems that arise in the application of impulse position controls of a special kind. The concept of trajectory impulse-sliding regime formalized as some limiting network element Euler polygons generated by a discrete approximation of the impulse position control This paper differs from the previously published papers in that it uses a definition of solutions of systems with impulse controls, it based on the closure of the set of smooth solutions in the space of functions of bounded variation. The need for the study of suchmore » regimes is the fact that they often arise when parry disturbances acting on technical or economic control system.« less

Some preliminary calculations of whole atom Compton scattering of unpolarized photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergstrom, P. M.; Surić, T.; Pisk, K.; Pratt, R. H.

1992-07-01

This paper represents a preliminary attempt to develop a practical prescription for calculating whole atom cross sections for the Compton scattering of unpolarized photons from the bound electrons of an atom for the entire spectrum of scattered photon energies. We initially study the scattering of 2.94 keV photons from carbon. We make use of our new second order S-matrix computer code in this case to verify that, when our recently developed criterion for the validity of the relativistic impulse approximation (which concerns the average momentum contributing to the photon spectrum ( pav)) is satisfied, the spectrum is adequately described by the impulse approximation. This criterion is generally satisfied in the peak intensity region for scattering by the outer shells, which dominate at these scattered photon energies. For soft scattered photons, however, the spectrum, dominated by K shell contributions, is given by terms corresponding to the contribution of the " p· A" term in the nonrelativistic interaction Hamiltonian, not included in the impulse approximation. Here, the spectrum is adequately reproduced by the K shell contribution. We then consider scattering of 17.4 keV photons from aluminum and 279.1 keV photons from lead. In these cases we use the S-matrix for the K shell and the impulse approximation for the outer shells, and find good agreement with experiment.

Impulse approximation in nuclear pion production reactions: Absence of a one-body operator

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

Bolton, Daniel R.; Miller, Gerald A.

2011-06-15

The impulse approximation of pion production reactions is studied by developing a relativistic formalism, consistent with that used to define the nucleon-nucleon potential. For plane wave initial states we find that the usual one-body (1B) expression O{sub 1B} is replaced by O{sub 2B}=-iK(m{sub {pi}}/2)O{sub 1B}/m{sub {pi}}, where K(m{sub {pi}}/2) is the sum of all irreducible contributions to nucleon-nucleon scattering with energy transfer of m{sub {pi}}/2. We show that O{sub 2B}{approx_equal}O{sub 1B} for plane wave initial states. For distorted waves, we find that the usual operator is replaced with a sum of two-body operators that are well approximated by the operatormore » O{sub 2B}. Our new formalism solves the (previously ignored) problem of energy transfer forbidding a one-body impulse operator. Using a purely one pion exchange deuteron, the net result is that the impulse amplitude for np{yields}d{pi}{sup 0} at threshold is enhanced by a factor of approximately two. This amplitude is added to the larger ''rescattering'' amplitude and, although experimental data remain in disagreement, the theoretical prediction of the threshold cross section is brought closer to (and in agreement with) the data.« less

Electromagnetic propulsion for spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myers, Roger M.

1993-01-01

Three electromagnetic propulsion technologies, solid propellant pulsed plasma thrusters (PPT), magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters, and pulsed inductive thrusters (PIT), were developed for application to auxiliary and primary spacecraft propulsion. Both the PPT and MPD thrusters were flown in space, though only PPT's were used on operational satellites. The performance of operational PPT's is quite poor, providing only approximately 8 percent efficiency at approximately 1000 s specific impulse. However, laboratory PPT's yielding 34 percent efficiency at 2000 s specific impulse were extensively tested, and peak performance levels of 53 percent efficiency at 5170 s specific impulse were demonstrated. MPD thrusters were flown as experiments on the Japanese MS-T4 spacecraft and the Space Shuttle and were qualified for a flight in 1994. The flight MPD thrusters were pulsed, with a peak performance of 22 percent efficiency at 2500 s specific impulse using ammonia propellant. Laboratory MPD thrusters were demonstrated with up to 70 percent efficiency and 700 s specific impulse using lithium propellant. While the PIT thruster has never been flown, recent performance measurements using ammonia and hydrazine propellants are extremely encouraging, reaching 50 percent efficiency for specific impulses between 4000 to 8000 s. The fundamental operating principles, performance measurements, and system level design for the three types of electromagnetic thrusters are reviewed, and available data on flight tests are discussed for the PPT and MPD thrusters.

A Mechanism for Bulk Energization in the Impulsive Phase of Solar Flares: MHD Turbulent Cascade

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LaRosa, T. N.; Moore, R. L.

1993-01-01

We propose that the large production rate (approximately 10(exp 36)/s) of energetic electrons (greater than or approximately equal to 25 keV) required to account for the impulsive-phase hard X-ray burst in large flares is achieved through MHD turbulent cascade of the bulk kinetic energy of the outflows from many separate reconnection events. Focusing on large two- ribbon eruptive flares as representative of most large flares, we envision the reconnection events to be the driven reconnection of oppositely directed elementary flux tubes pressing into the flare-length current-sheet interface that forms in the wake of the eruption of the sheared core of the preflare bipolar field configuration. We point out that, because the outflows from these driven reconnection events have speeds of order the Alfven speed and because the magnetic field reduces the shear viscosity of the plasma, it is reasonable that the outflows are unstable and turbulent, so that the kinetic energy of an outflow is rapidly dissipated through turbulent cascade. If the largest eddies in the turbulence have diameters of order the expected widths of the outflows (10(exp 7)-10(exp 8)cm), then the cascade dissipation of each of these eddies could produce approximately 10(exp 26) erg burst of energized electrons (approximately 3 x (10(exp 33) 25 keV electrons) in approximately 0.3 s, which agrees well with hard X-ray and radio sub-bursts commonly observed during the impulsive phase. Of order 10(exp 2) simultaneous reconnection events with turbulent outflow would produce the observed rate of impulsive-phase plasma energization in the most powerful flares (approximately 10(exp 36) 25 keV electrons/ s); this number of reconnection sites can easily fit within the estimated 3 x 10(exp 9) cm span of the overall current-sheet dissipation region formed in these large flares. We therefore conclude that MHD turbulent cascade is a promising mechanism for the plasma energization observed in the impulsive phase of solar flares.

Stereological Cell Morphometry In Right Atrium Myocardium Of Primates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandarim-De-Lacerda, Carlos A...; Hureau, Jacques

1986-07-01

The mechanism by which the cardiac impulse is propagated in normal hearts from its origin in the sinus node to the atrio-ventricular node has not been agreed on fully. We studied the "internodal posterior tract" through the crista terminalis by light microscopy and stereological morphometry. The hearts of 12 Papio cynocephalus were perfused , after sacrifice,with phosphate-buffered formol saline. The regions of the crista terminalis (CT), interatrial septum (IAS), atrioventricular bundle (AVB) and interventricular septum (IVS) were cut off and embedded in paraplast and sectioned (10 4m). The multipurpose test system M 42 was superimposed over the photomicrographs (1,890 points test, ESR = 2%) to the stereological computing. The quantitative results show that the cells from CT were more closely relationed with IAS cells than others cells (IVS and AVB cells). This results are not a morphological evidence to establish the specificity of the "internodal posterior tract". The cellular arrangement and anatomical variation in CT myocardium is very important.

Intracranial aneurysms in patients with coarctation of the aorta: a prospective magnetic resonance angiographic study of 100 patients.

PubMed

Connolly, Heidi M; Huston, John; Brown, Robert D; Warnes, Carole A; Ammash, Naser M; Tajik, A Jamil

2003-12-01

To determine the frequency of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) detected in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) with use of magnetic resonance angiography. From January 1, 1980, to September 30, 2002, 277 adult patients with CoA were seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, and were invited to participate in a study to detect IAs. Of these 277 patients (mean +/- SD age, 41.6 +/- 16.5; 70 men), 100 underwent cranial magnetic resonance angiography. Ten patients had an IA (95% confidence interval, 5%-18%), with a mean diameter of 3.5 mm (range, 2.0-8.0 mm). The frequency of IA was significantly higher than that predicted in the general population (10% vs 2%; P < .001). One patient had surgical intervention. No clinical or geographical differences were found between patients with CoA and IA and patients with CoA and no IA. The frequency of IA among patients with CoA is approximately 5-fold that of the general population. Although no risk factors were identified in this cohort, additional prospective evaluation is warranted. These data suggest that noninvasive cerebral imaging to screen for IA should be considered in patients with CoA.

Factors associated with Internet addiction: Cross-sectional study of Turkish adolescents.

PubMed

Seyrek, Sezen; Cop, Esra; Sinir, Hayati; Ugurlu, Mehmet; Şenel, Saliha

2017-02-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA), and the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and IA in adolescents. This was a cross-sectional school-based study with a representative sample of 468 students aged 12-17 years at the first trimester of the 2013-2014 academic year. The students were assessed using Young's Internet Addiction Scale, Children's Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Conners' Parent Rating Scale, Conners' Teacher Rating Scale, Hollingshead-Redlich Scale, and the information form including characteristics of Internet use and socioeconomic status (SES). The relationship between these factors and Internet use was examined. Approximately 1.6% of students were identified as having IA, whereas 16.2% had possible IA. There were significant correlations between IA and depression, anxiety, attention disorder and hyperactivity symptoms in adolescents. Smoking was also related to IA. There was no significant relationship between IA and age, sex, body mass index, school type, and SES. Depression, anxiety, ADHD and smoking addiction are associated with PIU in adolescent students. Preventive public health policies targeting the psychological wellbeing of young people are needed. © 2016 Japan Pediatric Society.

Controllability of impulse controlled systems of heat equations coupled by constant matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Shulin; Wang, Gengsheng

2017-11-01

This paper studies the approximate and null controllability for impulse controlled systems of heat equations coupled by a pair (A , B) of constant matrices. We present a necessary and sufficient condition for the approximate controllability, which is exactly Kalman's controllability rank condition of (A , B). We prove that when such a system is approximately controllable, the approximate controllability over an interval [ 0 , T ] can be realized by adding controls at arbitrary q (A , B) different control instants 0 <τ1 <τ2 < ⋯ <τ q (A , B) < T, provided that τ q (A , B) -τ1

Nuclear Symmetry Energy and the Breaking of the Isospin Symmetry: How Do They Reconcile with Each Other?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roca-Maza, X.; Colò, G.; Sagawa, H.

2018-05-01

We analyze and propose a solution to the apparent inconsistency between our current knowledge of the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter, the energy of the isobaric analog state (IAS) in a heavy nucleus such as 208Pb, and the isospin symmetry breaking forces in the nuclear medium. This is achieved by performing state-of-the-art Hartree-Fock plus random phase approximation calculations of the IAS that include all isospin symmetry breaking contributions. To this aim, we propose a new effective interaction that is successful in reproducing the IAS excitation energy without compromising other properties of finite nuclei.

Nuclear Symmetry Energy and the Breaking of the Isospin Symmetry: How Do They Reconcile with Each Other?

PubMed

Roca-Maza, X; Colò, G; Sagawa, H

2018-05-18

We analyze and propose a solution to the apparent inconsistency between our current knowledge of the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter, the energy of the isobaric analog state (IAS) in a heavy nucleus such as ^{208}Pb, and the isospin symmetry breaking forces in the nuclear medium. This is achieved by performing state-of-the-art Hartree-Fock plus random phase approximation calculations of the IAS that include all isospin symmetry breaking contributions. To this aim, we propose a new effective interaction that is successful in reproducing the IAS excitation energy without compromising other properties of finite nuclei.

Space-Variant Processing Using Phase Codes and Fourier-Plane Sampling Techniques,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-01

hologram of Fig. 4-19 is played back. 93 III. I iil|r I Hal l II El l.,flI] I.A l filul Ili tI I1 a111 11 11 IBM ), i I I I ’ion’I I " ol F 110 1i a a0an U...t1vqljI"’i r r r r I PItl; itP r r rl rpp’n Id’Pma 4 t 1- -p Figure 4-28. Computer simulated output when all the impulse responses of Fig. 4-26 are played

Transactions of the All-Union Conference (2nd) on Charged Particle Accelerators, Moscow, 11-18 November 1970. Volume I,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-18

of investigatiom. as it follows from Fig. 4b, the range of the firing angle of valves/gates in this case does not exceed 15 el. dog . The oscillograms...z80069213 PAGE ia Fig. 1. Porn of the pole pxece of thenmodel of magnetic system. 0 0 Zu 30 40 so 0 P Fig. 2. Design concept of magnetic system with...ang1a of control; c) the currsnt of valve converter. Key: (1). dog . Page 183. DOC 80069214 PAGE In ta unit of starting impulses/momenta/palses (BSI) ace

Design feasibility via ascent optimality for next-generation spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miele, A.; Mancuso, S.

This paper deals with the optimization of the ascent trajectories for single-stage-sub-orbit (SSSO), single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO), and two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) rocket-powered spacecraft. The maximum payload weight problem is studied for different values of the engine specific impulse and spacecraft structural factor. The main conclusions are that: feasibility of SSSO spacecraft is guaranteed for all the parameter combinations considered; feasibility of SSTO spacecraft depends strongly on the parameter combination chosen; not only feasibility of TSTO spacecraft is guaranteed for all the parameter combinations considered, but the TSTO payload is several times the SSTO payload. Improvements in engine specific impulse and spacecraft structural factor are desirable and crucial for SSTO feasibility; indeed, aerodynamic improvements do not yield significant improvements in payload. For SSSO, SSTO, and TSTO spacecraft, simple engineering approximations are developed connecting the maximum payload weight to the engine specific impulse and spacecraft structural factor. With reference to the specific impulse/structural factor domain, these engineering approximations lead to the construction of zero-payload lines separating the feasibility region (positive payload) from the unfeasibility region (negative payload).

Inter-alpha inhibitor protein administration improves survival from neonatal sepsis in mice.

PubMed

Singh, Kultar; Zhang, Ling Xiu; Bendelja, Kreso; Heath, Ryan; Murphy, Shaun; Sharma, Surendra; Padbury, James F; Lim, Yow-Pin

2010-09-01

Inter-alpha inhibitor proteins (IaIp) are serine proteases inhibitors that modulate endogenous protease activity and have been shown to improve survival in adult models of sepsis. We evaluated the effect of IaIp on survival and systemic responses to sepsis in neonatal mice. Sepsis was induced in 2-d-old mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Escherichia coli, and group B Streptococci. Sepsis was associated with 75% mortality. IaIp, given by i.p. administration at doses between 15 and 45 mg/kg from 1 to 6 h after the onset of sepsis, improved survival to approximately 90% (p = 0.0159) in both LPS-induced sepsis and with live bacterial infections. The greatest effect was on reversal of hemorrhagic pneumonitis. The effects were dose and time dependent. Systemic cytokine profile and tissue histology were examined. Survival was compared in IL-10 knock out animals. Systemic cytokine levels including TNF-[alpha] and IL-10 were increased after induction of sepsis and modulated significantly after IaIp administration. Because the effect of IaIp was still demonstrable in IL-10 deficient mice, we conclude the beneficial effects of IaIp is because of suppression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-[alpha] rather than augmentation of IL-10. IaIp may offer significant benefits as a therapeutic

Transient cerebral hypoperfusion assisted intraarterial cationic liposome delivery to brain tissue

PubMed Central

Joshi, Shailendra; Singh-Moon, Rajinder P.; Wang, Mei; Chaudhuri, Durba B.; Holcomb, Mark; Straubinger, Ninfa L.; Bruce, Jeffrey N.; Bigio, Irving J.; Straubinger, Robert M.

2014-01-01

Object Transient cerebral hypoperfusion (TCH) has empirically been used to assist intraarterial (IA) drug delivery to brain tumors. Transient (< 3 min) reduction of cerebral blood flow (CBF) occurs during many neuro- and cardiovascular interventions and has recently been used to better target IA drugs to brain tumors. In the present experiments, we assessed whether the effectiveness of IA delivery of cationic liposomes could be improved by TCH. Methods Cationic liposomes composed of 1:1 DOTAP:PC (dioleoyl-trimethylammonium-propane:phosphatidylcholine) were administered to three groups of Sprague Dawley rats. In the first group, we tested the effect of blood flow reduction on IA delivery of cationic liposomes. In the second group, we compared TCH-assisted IA liposomal delivery vs. intravenous (IV) administration of the same dose. In the third group, we assessed retention of cationic liposomes in brain four hours after TCH assisted delivery. The liposomes contained a near infrared dye, DilC18(7), whose concentration could be measured in vivo by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Results IA injections of cationic liposomes during TCH increased their delivery approximately four-fold compared to injections during normal blood flow. Optical pharmacokinetic measurements revealed that relative to IV injections, IA injection of cationic liposomes during TCH produced tissue concentrations that were 100-fold greater. The cationic liposomes were retained in the brain tissue four hours after a single IA injection. There was no gross impairment of neurological functions in surviving animals. Conclusions Transient reduction in CBF significantly increased IA delivery of cationic liposomes in the brain. High concentrations of liposomes could be delivered to brain tissue after IA injections with concurrent TCH while none could be detected after IV injection. IA-TCH injections were well tolerated and cationic liposomes were retained for at least 4 hours after IA administration. These results should encourage development of cationic liposomal formulations of chemotherapeutic drugs and their IA delivery during TCH. PMID:24664370

The chimeric transcript RUNX1-GLRX5: a biomarker for good postoperative prognosis in Stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer.

PubMed

Ishikawa, Rie; Amano, Yosuke; Kawakami, Masanori; Sunohara, Mitsuhiro; Watanabe, Kousuke; Kage, Hidenori; Ohishi, Nobuya; Yatomi, Yutaka; Nakajima, Jun; Fukayama, Masashi; Nagase, Takahide; Takai, Daiya

2016-02-01

Stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer cases have been recognized as having a low risk of relapse; however, occasionally, relapse may occur. To predict clinical outcome in Stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer patients, we searched for chimeric transcripts that can be used as biomarkers and identified a novel chimeric transcript, RUNX1-GLRX5, comprising RUNX1, a transcription factor, and GLRX5. This chimera was detected in approximately half of the investigated Stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer patients (44/104 cases, 42.3%). Although there was no significant difference in the overall survival rate between RUNX1-GLRX5-positive and -negative cases (P = 0.088), a significantly lower relapse rate was observed in the RUNX1-GLRX5-positive cases (P = 0.039), indicating that this chimera can be used as a biomarker for good prognosis in Stage IA patients. Detection of the RUNX1-GLRX5 chimeric transcript may therefore be useful for the determination of a postoperative treatment plan for Stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer patients. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press.

An Analytic Approximation to Very High Specific Impulse and Specific Power Interplanetary Space Mission Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Craig Hamilton

1995-01-01

A simple, analytic approximation is derived to calculate trip time and performance for propulsion systems of very high specific impulse (50,000 to 200,000 seconds) and very high specific power (10 to 1000 kW/kg) for human interplanetary space missions. The approach assumed field-free space, constant thrust/constant specific power, and near straight line (radial) trajectories between the planets. Closed form, one dimensional equations of motion for two-burn rendezvous and four-burn round trip missions are derived as a function of specific impulse, specific power, and propellant mass ratio. The equations are coupled to an optimizing parameter that maximizes performance and minimizes trip time. Data generated for hypothetical one-way and round trip human missions to Jupiter were found to be within 1% and 6% accuracy of integrated solutions respectively, verifying that for these systems, credible analysis does not require computationally intensive numerical techniques.

Supernovae as probes of cosmic parameters: estimating the bias from under-dense lines of sight

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

Busti, V.C.; Clarkson, C.; Holanda, R.F.L., E-mail: vinicius.busti@uct.ac.za, E-mail: holanda@uepb.edu.br, E-mail: chris.clarkson@uct.ac.za

2013-11-01

Correctly interpreting observations of sources such as type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) require knowledge of the power spectrum of matter on AU scales — which is very hard to model accurately. Because under-dense regions account for much of the volume of the universe, light from a typical source probes a mean density significantly below the cosmic mean. The relative sparsity of sources implies that there could be a significant bias when inferring distances of SNe Ia, and consequently a bias in cosmological parameter estimation. While the weak lensing approximation should in principle give the correct prediction for this, linear perturbationmore » theory predicts an effectively infinite variance in the convergence for ultra-narrow beams. We attempt to quantify the effect typically under-dense lines of sight might have in parameter estimation by considering three alternative methods for estimating distances, in addition to the usual weak lensing approximation. We find in each case this not only increases the errors in the inferred density parameters, but also introduces a bias in the posterior value.« less

Sub-luminous type Ia supernovae from the mergers of equal-mass white dwarfs with mass approximately 0.9M[symbol: see text].

PubMed

Pakmor, Rüdiger; Kromer, Markus; Röpke, Friedrich K; Sim, Stuart A; Ruiter, Ashley J; Hillebrandt, Wolfgang

2010-01-07

Type Ia supernovae are thought to result from thermonuclear explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarf stars. Existing models generally explain the observed properties, with the exception of the sub-luminous 1991bg-like supernovae. It has long been suspected that the merger of two white dwarfs could give rise to a type Ia event, but hitherto simulations have failed to produce an explosion. Here we report a simulation of the merger of two equal-mass white dwarfs that leads to a sub-luminous explosion, although at the expense of requiring a single common-envelope phase, and component masses of approximately 0.9M[symbol: see text]. The light curve is too broad, but the synthesized spectra, red colour and low expansion velocities are all close to what is observed for sub-luminous 1991bg-like events. Although the mass ratios can be slightly less than one and still produce a sub-luminous event, the masses have to be in the range 0.83M[symbol: see text] to 0.9M[symbol: see text].

Development of LaRC (TM): IA thermoplastic polyimide coated aerospace wiring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keating, Jack

1995-01-01

NASA Langley has invented LaRC(exp TM) IA and IAX which are thermoplastic polyimides with good melting, thermal and chemical resistance properties. It was the objective of this contract to prepare and extrude LaRC (exp TM) polyimide onto aircraft wire and evaluate the polymers performance in this critical application. Based on rheology and chemical resistance studies at Imitec, LaRC (exp TM) IAX melts readily in an extruder, facilitating the manufacture of thin wall coatings. The polyimide does not corode the extruder, develop gel particles nor advance in viscosity. The insulated wire was tested according to MiL-W-22759E test specifications. The resulting wire coated with LaRC (exp TM) IAX displayed exceptional properties: surface resistance, non blocking, non burning, hot fluid resistance, impulse dielectric, insulation resistance, low temperature flexibility, thermal aging, wire weight, dimensions, negligible high temperature shrinkage and stripability. The light weight and other properties merit its application in satellites, missiles and aircraft applications. The extruded IAX results in a polyimide aircraft insulation without seams, outstanding moisture resistance, continuous lengths and abrasion resistance.

Thyroglobulin (Tg) Testing Revisited: Tg Assays, TgAb Assays, and Correlation of Results With Clinical Outcomes.

PubMed

Netzel, Brian C; Grebe, Stefan K G; Carranza Leon, B Gisella; Castro, M Regina; Clark, Penelope M; Hoofnagle, Andrew N; Spencer, Carole A; Turcu, Adina F; Algeciras-Schimnich, Alicia

2015-08-01

Measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) by mass spectrometry (Tg-MS) is emerging as a tool for accurate Tg quantification in patients with anti-Tg autoantibodies (TgAbs). The objective of the study was to perform analytical and clinical evaluations of two Tg-MS assays in comparison with immunometric Tg assays (Tg-IAs) and Tg RIAs (Tg-RIAs) in a cohort of thyroid cancer patients. A total of 589 samples from 495 patients, 243 TgAb-/252 TgAb+, were tested by Beckman, Roche, Siemens-Immulite, and Thermo-Brahms Tg and TgAb assays, two Tg-RIAs, and two Tg-MS assays. The frequency of TgAb+ was 58%, 41%, 27%, and 39% for Roche, Beckman, Siemens-Immulite, and Thermo-Brahms, respectively. In TgAb- samples, clinical sensitivities and specificities of 100% and 74%-100%, respectively, were observed across all assays. In TgAb+ samples, all Tg-IAs demonstrated assay-dependent Tg underestimation, ranging from 41% to 86%. In TgAb+ samples, the use of a common cutoff (0.5 ng/mL) for the Tg-MS, three Tg-IAs, and the USC-RIA improved the sensitivity for the Tg-MSs and Tg-RIAs when compared with the Tg-IAs. In up to 20% of TgAb+ cases, Tg-IAs failed to detect Tg that was detectable by Tg-MS. In Tg-RIAs false-high biases were observed in TgAb+ samples containing low Tg concentrations. Tg-IAs remain the method of choice for Tg quantitation in TgAb- patients. In TgAb+ patients with undetectable Tg by immunometric assay, the Tg-MS will detect Tg in up to 20% additional cases. The Tg-RIA will detect Tg in approximately 35% cases, but a significant proportion of these will be clinical false-positive results. The undetectable Tg-MS seen in approximately 40% of TgAb+ cases in patients with disease need further evaluation.

Impulse Control and Anxiety Related to School Adjustment and Academic Achievement among High School Males. Final Report: Office of Education Project S-484.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barratt, Ernest S.

The author attempts to determine the value of psychometric measures of impulsiveness and anxiety for predicting potential disciplinary problems among high school males. A secondary purpose is to relate these personality factors to academic achievement. Approximately 320 sophomores were administered a psychometric battery which included: (1) an…

Recursive inversion of externally defined linear systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bach, Ralph E., Jr.; Baram, Yoram

1988-01-01

The approximate inversion of an internally unknown linear system, given by its impulse response sequence, by an inverse system having a finite impulse response, is considered. The recursive least squares procedure is shown to have an exact initialization, based on the triangular Toeplitz structure of the matrix involved. The proposed approach also suggests solutions to the problems of system identification and compensation.

Two Temperature Modeling and Experimental Measurements of Laser Sustained Hydrogen Plasmas

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-05-01

4 1.3 Theoretical Background .................................................................. 7 1.4...typically produce low specific impulses with an upper limit of approximately 450 seconds. The theoretical chamber temperature in such a system can be as...systems are theoretically capable of producing moderate thrusts (> 1 kN) with specific impulses in excess of 1000 seconds for 10 MW input power. This

Voyager Uranus encounter 0.2lbf T/VA short pulse test report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1986-01-01

The attitude control thrusters on the Voyager spacecraft were tested for operation at electrical pulse widths of less than the current 10-millisecond minimum to reduce impulse bit and, therefore, reduce image smear of pictures taken during the Uranus encounter. Thrusters with the identical configuration of the units on the spacecraft were fired in an altitude chamber to characterize impulse bit and impulse bit variations as a function of electrical pulse widths and to determine if the short pulses decreased thruster life. Pulse widths of 4.0 milliseconds provide approximately 45 percent of the impulse provided by a 10-ms pulse, and thruster-to-thruster and pulse-to-pulse variation is approximately plus or minus 10 percent. Pulse widths shorter than 4 ms showed wide variation, and no pulse was obtained at 3 ms. Three thrusters were each subjected to 75,000 short pulses of 4 ms or less without performance degradation. A fourth thruster exhibited partial flow blockage after 13,000 short pulses, but this was attributed to prevous test history and not short pulse exposure. The Voyager attitude control thrusters should be considered flight qualified for short pulse operation at pulse widths of 4.0 ms or more.

Type-Ia Supernova Rates to Redshift 2.4 from Clash: The Cluster Lensing and Supernova Survey with Hubble

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graur, O.; Rodney, S. A.; Maoz, D.; Riess, A. G.; Jha, S. W.; Postman, M.; Dahlen, T.; Holoien, T. W.-S.; McCully, C.; Patel, B.;

Accuracy of the adiabatic-impulse approximation for closed and open quantum systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomka, Michael; Campos Venuti, Lorenzo; Zanardi, Paolo

2018-03-01

We study the adiabatic-impulse approximation (AIA) as a tool to approximate the time evolution of quantum states when driven through a region of small gap. Such small-gap regions are a common situation in adiabatic quantum computing and having reliable approximations is important in this context. The AIA originates from the Kibble-Zurek theory applied to continuous quantum phase transitions. The Kibble-Zurek mechanism was developed to predict the power-law scaling of the defect density across a continuous quantum phase transition. Instead, here we quantify the accuracy of the AIA via the trace norm distance with respect to the exact evolved state. As expected, we find that for short times or fast protocols, the AIA outperforms the simple adiabatic approximation. However, for large times or slow protocols, the situation is actually reversed and the AIA provides a worse approximation. Nevertheless, we found a variation of the AIA that can perform better than the adiabatic one. This counterintuitive modification consists in crossing the region of small gap twice. Our findings are illustrated by several examples of driven closed and open quantum systems.

Photopions from nuclei in the distorted-wave impulse approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girija, V.; Devanathan, V.

1982-11-01

The formalism for photoproduction of pions from nuclei has been developed in the distorted-wave impulse approximation, taking into account the effect of the change in pion momentum in nuclear medium. Detailed calculations have been done for the reaction 16O(γ, π+)16N for photon energies from 170 to 380 MeV, with a view to investigate the effect due to the gradient operator ∇-->π for momentum of the pion and test the sensitivity of the photopion cross sections to the details of the pion-nucleus optical potential. The results clearly establish that the gradient operator increases the cross sections throughout the energy region considered, the increase being small at lower energies. Also with ∇-->π, the cross sections are rendered less sensitive to the optical potential. The calculated differential cross sections agree very well with the recent experimental data of Shoda et al. for γ-ray energy of 200 MeV. However, the cross sections obtained at medium energies are higher when compared to the available experimental data. NUCLEAR REACTIONS π+ photoproduction from 16O; distorted wave impulse approximation; pion-nucleus optical potentials; gradient operator for the pion momentum.

Guidelines and Data to Support Plans for Reallocating Food during Crisis Relocation. Regional Appendix. FEMA Region VII,

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-09-01

using approximation techniques developed in earlier SYSTAN work (Food Systn.em Suport of the Rclocntion Strategy, September, 1975). Using this technique...INC VOONE IA 1 0 0 0 1 0 5,000 SUFER VALU STORES INC DES MOINES IA I 0 0 1 0 0 3,000 COUNTY TOTAL: 3 1 0 1 1 0 3,750 M;,HASKA FARE!AY STORES INC SOCNE...5,000 SUFER VALU SCPES INC DES tFOINES IA 1 0 0 1 0 0 3,000 U’lITED A G SIORES OMAHA NE 3 3 0 0 0 0 2,250 COUNTY TOTAL: 6 3 0 1 2 0 15,250 SI[’UX

Selectivity of ROCK inhibitors in the spontaneously tonic smooth muscle.

PubMed

Rattan, Satish; Patel, Chirag A

2008-03-01

The selectivity of different Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors in the spontaneously tonic smooth muscle has not been investigated. We examined this issue using Y-27632 [(R)-(+)-trans-N-(4-pyridyl)-4-(1-aminoethyl)-cyclohexanecarbox anecarboxamide, 2HCl], H-1152 [(S)-(+)-(2-methyl-5-isoquinolinyl) sulfonylhomopiperazine, 2HCl], HA-1077 [(5 isoquinolinesulfonyl) homopiperazine, 2HCl], and ROCK inhibitor II [N-(4-pyridyl)-N'-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)urea]. We compared these inhibitors in the spontaneously tonic smooth muscle of the internal anal sphincter (IAS). ROCK, protein kinase C (PKC), and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) activities were determined in the IAS, before and after different ROCK inhibitors. Y-27632 and H-1152 were approximately 30-fold more potent in the IAS (IC(50): 4.4 x 10(-7) and 7.9 x 10(-8) M, respectively) vs. the phasic rectal smooth muscle (RSM) (IC(50): 1.3 x 10(-5) and 2.5 x 10(-6) M, respectively). HA-1077 and ROCK inhibitor II were equipotent in the IAS vs. RSM. In the IAS, H-1152 was the most potent whereas ROCK inhibitor II is the least. Y-27632 and H-1152 caused concentration-dependent decrease in the IAS tone that correlates directly with the decreases in ROCK activity, without significant effect in the PKC and MLCK activities. This specifically selective correlation between ROCK activity and decrease in the IAS tone was absent in the case of HA-1077 and ROCK inhibitor II, which also inhibited PKC and MLCK. We conclude that the IAS tone is critically dependent on ROCK activity, and H-1152 and Y-27632 are the most selective and potent ROCK inhibitors in the IAS.

Estimating Inorganic Arsenic Exposure from U.S. Rice and Total Water Intakes.

PubMed

Mantha, Madhavi; Yeary, Edward; Trent, John; Creed, Patricia A; Kubachka, Kevin; Hanley, Traci; Shockey, Nohora; Heitkemper, Douglas; Caruso, Joseph; Xue, Jianping; Rice, Glenn; Wymer, Larry; Creed, John T

2017-05-30

Among nonoccupationally exposed U.S. residents, drinking water and diet are considered primary exposure pathways for inorganic arsenic (iAs). In drinking water, iAs is the primary form of arsenic (As), while dietary As speciation techniques are used to differentiate iAs from less toxic arsenicals in food matrices. Our goal was to estimate the distribution of iAs exposure rates from drinking water intakes and rice consumption in the U.S. population and ethnic- and age-based subpopulations. The distribution of iAs in drinking water was estimated by population, weighting the iAs concentrations for each drinking water utility in the Second Six-Year Review data set. To estimate the distribution of iAs concentrations in rice ingested by U.S. consumers, 54 grain-specific, production-weighted composites of rice obtained from U.S. mills were extracted and speciated using both a quantitative dilute nitric acid extraction and speciation (DNAS) and an in vitro gastrointestinal assay to provide an upper bound and bioaccessible estimates, respectively. Daily drinking water intake and rice consumption rate distributions were developed using data from the What We Eat in America (WWEIA) study. Using these data sets, the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation (SHEDS) model estimated mean iAs exposures from drinking water and rice were 4.2 μg/day and 1.4 μg/day, respectively, for the entire U.S. population. The Tribal, Asian, and Pacific population exhibited the highest mean daily exposure of iAs from cooked rice (2.8 μg/day); the mean exposure rate for children between ages 1 and 2 years in this population is 0.104 μg/kg body weight (BW)/day. An average consumer drinking 1.5 L of water daily that contains between 2 and 3 ng iAs/mL is exposed to approximately the same amount of iAs as a mean Tribal, Asian, and Pacific consumer is exposed to from rice. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP418. Among nonoccupationally exposed U.S. residents, drinking water and diet are considered primary exposure pathways for inorganic arsenic (iAs). In drinking water, iAs is the primary form of arsenic (As), while dietary As speciation techniques are used to differentiate iAs from less toxic arsenicals in food matrices. Our goal was to estimate the distribution of iAs exposure rates from drinking water intakes and rice consumption in the U.S. population and ethnic- and age-based subpopulations. The distribution of iAs in drinking water was estimated by population, weighting the iAs concentrations for each drinking water utility in the Second Six-Year Review data set. To estimate the distribution of iAs concentrations in rice ingested by U.S. consumers, 54 grain-specific, production-weighted composites of rice obtained from U.S. mills were extracted and speciated using both a quantitative dilute nitric acid extraction and speciation (DNAS) and an in vitro gastrointestinal assay to provide an upper bound and bioaccessible estimates, respectively. Daily drinking water intake and rice consumption rate distributions were developed using data from the What We Eat in America (WWEIA) study. Using these data sets, the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation (SHEDS) model estimated mean iAs exposures from drinking water and rice were [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, for the entire U.S. population. The Tribal, Asian, and Pacific population exhibited the highest mean daily exposure of iAs from cooked rice ([Formula: see text]); the mean exposure rate for children between ages 1 and 2 years in this population is [Formula: see text] body weight (BW)/day. An average consumer drinking 1.5 L of water daily that contains between 2 and [Formula: see text] is exposed to approximately the same amount of iAs as a mean Tribal, Asian, and Pacific consumer is exposed to from rice. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP418.

Recursive inversion of externally defined linear systems by FIR filters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bach, Ralph E., Jr.; Baram, Yoram

1989-01-01

The approximate inversion of an internally unknown linear system, given by its impulse response sequence, by an inverse system having a finite impulse response, is considered. The recursive least-squares procedure is shown to have an exact initialization, based on the triangular Toeplitz structure of the matrix involved. The proposed approach also suggests solutions to the problem of system identification and compensation.

[Actual review of diagnostics and endovascular therapy of intracranial arterial stenoses].

PubMed

Gizewski, E R; Weber, R; Forsting, M

2011-02-01

Approximately 6 - 50% of all ischemic strokes are caused by intracranial arterial stenosis (IAS). Despite medical prevention, patients with symptomatic IAS have a high annual risk for recurrent ischemic stroke of about 12%, and up to 19% in the case of high-grade IAS (≥ 70%). Digital subtraction angiography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and grading of IAS. However, noninvasive imaging techniques including CT angiography, MR angiography, or transcranial Doppler and duplex ultrasound examinations are used in the clinical routine to provide additional information about the brain structure and hemodynamic. However, for technical reasons, the grading of stenoses is sometimes difficult and inaccurate. To date, aspirin is recommended as the treatment of choice in the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with IAS. IAS patients who suffer a recurrent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack while taking aspirin can be treated with endovascular stenting or angioplasty in specialized centers. The periprocedural complication rate of these endovascular techniques is about 2 - 7% at experienced neuro-interventional centers. The rate of re-stenosis is reported between 10 and 40% depending on patient age and stenosis location. Further randomized studies comparing medical secondary prevention and endovascular therapy are currently being performed. With regard to the improvement of endovascular methods and lower complication rates, the indication for endovascular therapy in IAS could be broadened especially for stenosis in the posterior circulation. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Laboratory studies of scales for measuring helicopter noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ollerhead, J. B.

1982-01-01

The adequacy of the effective perceived noise level (EPNL) procedure for rating helicopter noise annoyance was investigated. Recordings of 89 helicopters and 30 fixed wing aircraft (CTOL) flyover sounds were rated with respect to annoyance by groups of approximately 40 subjects. The average annoyance scores were transformed to annoyance levels defined as the equally annoying sound levels of a fixed reference sound. The sound levels of the test sounds were measured on various scales, with and without corrections for duration, tones, and impulsiveness. On average, the helicopter sounds were judged equally annoying to CTOL sounds when their duration corrected levels are approximately 2 dB higher. Multiple regression analysis indicated that, provided the helicopter/CTOL difference of about 2 dB is taken into account, the particular linear combination of level, duration, and tone corrections inherent in EPNL is close to optimum. The results reveal no general requirement for special EPNL correction terms to penalize helicopter sounds which are particularly impulsive; impulsiveness causes spectral and temporal changes which themselves adequately amplify conventionally measured sound levels.

Theta-Pinch Thruster for Piloted Deep Space Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LaPointe, Mike R.; Reddy, Dhanireddy (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

A new high-power propulsion concept that combines a rapidly pulsed theta-pinch discharge with upstream particle reflection by a magnetic mirror was evaluated under a Phase 1 grant awarded through the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts. Analytic and numerical models were developed to predict the performance of a theta-pinch thruster operated over a wide range of initial gas pressures and discharge periods. The models indicate that a 1 m radius, 10 m long thruster operated with hydrogen propellant could provide impulse-bits ranging from 1 N-s to 330 N-s with specific impulse values of 7,500 s to 2,500 s, respectively. A pulsed magnetic field strength of 2 T is required to compress and heat the preionized hydrogen over a 10(exp -3) second discharge period, with about 60% of the heated plasma exiting the chamber each period to produce thrust. The unoptimized thruster efficiency is low, peaking at approximately 16% for an initial hydrogen chamber pressure of 100 Torr. The specific impulse and impulse-bit at this operating condition are 3,500 s and 90 N-s, respectively, and the required discharge energy is approximately 9x10(exp 6) J. For a pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz, the engine would produce an average thrust of 900 N at 3,500 s specific impulse. Combined with the electrodeless nature of the device, these performance parameters indicate that theta-pinch thrusters could provide unique, long-life propulsion systems for piloted deep space mission applications.

Rational Approximations with Hankel-Norm Criterion

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

REPORT TYPE ANDu DATES COVERED It) L. TITLE AND SLWUIlL Fi901 ia FUNDING NUMOIRS, RATIONAL APPROXIMATIONS WITH HANKEL-NORM CRITERION PE61102F i...problem is proved to be reducible to obtain a two-variable all- pass ration 1 function, interpolating a set of parametric values at specified points inside...PAGES WHICH DO NOT REPRODUCE LEGIBLY. V" C - w RATIONAL APPROXIMATIONS WITH HANKEL-NORM CRITERION* Y. Genin* Philips Research Lab. 2, avenue van

An Empirical Fitting Method for Type Ia Supernova Light Curves: A Case Study of SN 2011fe

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

Zheng, WeiKang; Filippenko, Alexei V., E-mail: zwk@astro.berkeley.edu

We present a new empirical fitting method for the optical light curves of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). We find that a variant broken-power-law function provides a good fit, with the simple assumption that the optical emission is approximately the blackbody emission of the expanding fireball. This function is mathematically analytic and is derived directly from the photospheric velocity evolution. When deriving the function, we assume that both the blackbody temperature and photospheric velocity are constant, but the final function is able to accommodate these changes during the fitting procedure. Applying it to the case study of SN 2011fe givesmore » a surprisingly good fit that can describe the light curves from the first-light time to a few weeks after peak brightness, as well as over a large range of fluxes (∼5 mag, and even ∼7 mag in the g band). Since SNe Ia share similar light-curve shapes, this fitting method has the potential to fit most other SNe Ia and characterize their properties in large statistical samples such as those already gathered and in the near future as new facilities become available.« less

Incidence of DCS and oxygen toxicity in chamber attendants: a 28-year experience.

PubMed

Witucki, Pete; Duchnick, Jay; Neuman, Tom; Grover, Ian

2013-01-01

Decompression sickness (DCS) and central nervous system oxygen toxicity are inherent risks for "inside" attendants (IAs) of hyperbaric chambers. At the Hyperbaric Medicine Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), protocols have been developed for decompressing IAs. Protocol 1: For a total bottom time (TBT) of less than 80 minutes at 2.4 atmospheres absolute (atm abs) or shallower, the U.S. Navy (1955) no-decompression tables were utilized. Protocol 2: For a TBT between 80 and 119 minutes IAs breathed oxygen for 15 minutes prior to initiation of ascent. Protocol 3: For a TBT between 120-139 minutes IAs breathed oxygen for 30 minutes prior to ascent. These protocols have been utilized for approximately 28 years and have produced zero cases of DCS and central nervous system oxygen toxicity. These results, based upon more than 24,000 exposures, have an upper limit of risk of DCS and oxygen toxicity of 0.02806 (95% CI) using UCSD IA decompression Protocol 1, 0.00021 for Protocol 2, and 0.00549 for Protocol 3. We conclude that the utilization of this methodology may be useful at other sea-level multiplace chambers.

Effects of dopamine agonist dose and gender on the prognosis of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Joutsa, Juho; Martikainen, Kirsti; Vahlberg, Tero; Kaasinen, Valtteri

2012-12-01

Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that Parkinson's disease patients have an increased risk of impulse control disorders, and that the disorders frequently co-exist with depressive symptoms. There have been no previous large-scale prospective studies investigating predictive and prognostic factors of these disorders. A population of 290 Parkinson's disease patients was studied at baseline and approximately 15 months later. The same screening methodology was used at both time-points (demographic and medication data together with the Questionnaire for Impulsive-compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's disease and the Beck Depression Inventory). The data was analyzed separating patients with and without impulse control disorders at baseline to obtain clinically useful prognostic factors. In patients who had impulse control disorders at baseline (n = 119), high dopamine agonist dose was associated with the presence of disorders at follow-up. Dopamine agonist levodopa equivalent daily dose over 160 mg was significantly associated with impulse control disorders with a positive predictive value of 92.5% (95% confidence interval 79.6%-98.4%). In addition, females had a better prognosis of impulse control disorders compared to males. The development of novel impulse control disorders (no disorder at baseline, disorder at follow-up) was associated with a concurrent increase in depression scores. The results suggest that dopamine agonist dose and gender are associated with the prognosis of impulse control disorders. Symptoms of depression emerge together with novel impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A useful approximation for the flat surface impulse response

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Gary S.

1989-01-01

The flat surface impulse response (FSIR) is a very useful quantity in computing the mean return power for near-nadir-oriented short-pulse radar altimeters. However, for very small antenna beamwidths and relatively large pointing angles, previous analytical descriptions become very difficult to compute accurately. An asymptotic approximation is developed to overcome these computational problems. Since accuracy is of key importance, a condition is developed under which this solution is within 2 percent of the exact answer. The asymptotic solution is shown to be in functional agreement with a conventional clutter power result and gives a 1.25-dB correction to this formula to account properly for the antenna-pattern variation over the illuminated area.

Charge-state dependence of binary-encounter-electron cross sections and peak energies

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

Hidmi, H.I.; Richard, P.; Sanders, J.M.

The charge-state dependence of the binary-encounter-electron (BEE) double-differential cross section (DDCS) at 0[degree] with respect to the beam direction resulting from collisions of 1 MeV/amu H[sup +], C[sup [ital q]+], N[sup [ital q]+], O[sup [ital q]+], F[sup [ital q]+], Si[sup [ital q]+], and Cl[sup [ital q]+], and 0.5 MeV/amu Cu[sup [ital q]+] with H[sub 2] is reported. The data show an enhancement in the BEE DDCS as the charge state of the projectile is decreased, in agreement with the data reported by Richard [ital et] [ital al]. [J. Phys. B 23, L213 (1990)]. The DDCS enhancement ratios observed for themore » three-electron isoelectronic sequence C[sup 3+]:C[sup 6+], N[sup 4+]:N[sup 7+], O[sup 5+]:O[sup 8+], and F[sup 6+]:F[sup 9+] are about 1.35, whereas a DDCS enhancement of 3.5 was observed for Cu[sup 4+]. The BEE enhancement with increasing electrons on the projectile has been shown by several authors to be due to the non-Coulomb static potential of the projectile and additionally to the [ital e]-[ital e] exchange interaction. An impulse-approximation (IA) model fits the shape of the BEE DDCS and predicts a [ital Z][sub [ital p

Auditory and behavioral responses of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) to single underwater impulses from an arc-gap transducer.

PubMed

Finneran, James J; Dear, Randall; Carder, Donald A; Ridgway, Sam H

2003-09-01

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure underwater hearing thresholds in two California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) before and after exposure to underwater impulses from an arc-gap transducer. Preexposure and postexposure hearing thresholds were compared to determine if the subjects experienced temporary shifts in their masked hearing thresholds (MTTS). Hearing thresholds were measured at 1 and 10 kHz. Exposures consisted of single underwater impulses produced by an arc-gap transducer referred to as a "pulsed power device" (PPD). The electrical charge of the PPD was varied from 1.32 to 2.77 kJ; the distance between the subject and the PPD was varied over the range 3.4 to 25 m. No MTTS was observed in either subject at the highest received levels: peak pressures of approximately 6.8 and 14 kPa, rms pressures of approximately 178 and 183 dB re: 1 microPa, and total energy fluxes of 161 and 163 dB re: 1 microPa2s for the two subjects. Behavioral reactions to the tests were observed in both subjects. These reactions primarily consisted of temporary avoidance of the site where exposure to the PPD impulse had previously occurred.

Neuronal codes for the inhibitory control of impulsive actions in the rat infralimbic cortex.

PubMed

Tsutsui-Kimura, Iku; Ohmura, Yu; Izumi, Takeshi; Matsushima, Toshiya; Amita, Hidetoshi; Yamaguchi, Taku; Yoshida, Takayuki; Yoshioka, Mitsuhiro

2016-01-01

Poor impulse control is a debilitating condition observed in various psychiatric disorders and could be a risk factor for drug addiction, criminal involvement, and suicide. The rat infralimbic cortex (IL), located in the ventral portion of the medial prefrontal cortex, has been implicated in impulse control. To elucidate the neurophysiological basis of impulse control, we recorded single unit activity in the IL of a rat performing a 3-choiceserial reaction time task (3-CSRTT) and 2-choice task (2-CT), which are animal models for impulsivity. The inactivation of IL neuronal activity with an injection of muscimol (0.1 μg /side) disrupted impulse control in the 3-CSRTT. More than 60% (38/56) of isolated IL units were linked to impulse control, while approximately 30% of all units were linked to attentional function in the 3-CSRTT. To avoid confounding motor-related units with the impulse control-related units, we further conducted the 2-CT in which the animals' motor activities were restricted during recording window. More than 30% (14/44) of recorded IL units were linked to impulse control in the 2-CT. Several types of impulse control-related units were identified. Only 16% of all units were compatible with the results of the muscimol experiment, which showed a transient decline in the firing rate immediately before the release of behavioral inhibition. This is the first study to elucidate the neurophysiological basis of impulse control in the IL and to propose that IL neurons control impulsive actions in a more complex manner than previously considered. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Type Ia Supernova Color-Magnitude Relation and Host Galaxy Dust: A Simple Hierarchical Bayesian Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandel, Kaisey S.; Scolnic, Daniel M.; Shariff, Hikmatali; Foley, Ryan J.; Kirshner, Robert P.

2017-06-01

Conventional Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) cosmology analyses currently use a simplistic linear regression of magnitude versus color and light curve shape, which does not model intrinsic SN Ia variations and host galaxy dust as physically distinct effects, resulting in low color-magnitude slopes. We construct a probabilistic generative model for the dusty distribution of extinguished absolute magnitudes and apparent colors as the convolution of an intrinsic SN Ia color-magnitude distribution and a host galaxy dust reddening-extinction distribution. If the intrinsic color-magnitude (M B versus B - V) slope {β }{int} differs from the host galaxy dust law R B , this convolution results in a specific curve of mean extinguished absolute magnitude versus apparent color. The derivative of this curve smoothly transitions from {β }{int} in the blue tail to R B in the red tail of the apparent color distribution. The conventional linear fit approximates this effective curve near the average apparent color, resulting in an apparent slope {β }{app} between {β }{int} and R B . We incorporate these effects into a hierarchical Bayesian statistical model for SN Ia light curve measurements, and analyze a data set of SALT2 optical light curve fits of 248 nearby SNe Ia at z< 0.10. The conventional linear fit gives {β }{app}≈ 3. Our model finds {β }{int}=2.3+/- 0.3 and a distinct dust law of {R}B=3.8+/- 0.3, consistent with the average for Milky Way dust, while correcting a systematic distance bias of ˜0.10 mag in the tails of the apparent color distribution. Finally, we extend our model to examine the SN Ia luminosity-host mass dependence in terms of intrinsic and dust components.

Radio Observations of Type Ia SN2006X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soderberg, Alicia

2006-02-01

Alicia Soderberg (Caltech) reports: I observed the Type Ia supernova 2006X in NGC 4321 (IAUC 8667, CBET 393) with the Very Large Array on 2006 February 9.34 UT (approximately 2 days after optical discovery). The 2.5 hour observation at 8.46 GHz reveals no radio source coincident with the optical SN position. I place a limit on the radio flux density of 45 microJy (3 sigma). At a distance of 16 Mpc this limit corresponds to a luminosity of 1.4 x 10^25 erg/s/Hz.

Ion radial diffusion in an electrostatic impulse model for stormtime ring current formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Margaret W.; Schulz, Michael; Lyons, Larry R.; Gorney, David J.

1992-01-01

Guiding-center simulations of stormtime transport of ring-current and radiation-belt ions having first adiabatic invariants mu is approximately greater than 15 MeV/G (E is approximately greater than 165 keV at L is approximately 3) are surprisingly well described (typically within a factor of approximately less than 4) by the quasilinear theory of radial diffusion. This holds even for the case of an individual model storm characterized by substorm-associated impulses in the convection electric field, provided that the actual spectrum of the electric field is incorporated in the quasilinear theory. Correction of the quasilinear diffusion coefficient D(sub LL)(sup ql) for drift-resonance broadening (so as to define D(sub LL)(sup ql)) reduced the typical discrepancy with the diffusion coefficients D(sub LL)(sup sim) deduced from guiding-center simulations of representative-particle trajectories to a factor of approximately 3. The typical discrepancy was reduced to a factor of approximately 1.4 by averaging D(sub LL)(sup sim), D(sub LL)(sup ql), and D(sub LL)(sup rb) over an ensemble of model storms characterized by different (but statistically equivalent) sets of substorm-onset times.

Electric propulsion options for 10 kW class earth space missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, M. J.; Curran, Francis M.

1989-01-01

Five and 10 kW ion and arcjet propulsion system options for a near-term space demonstration experiment have been evaluated. Analyses were conducted to determine first-order propulsion system performance and system component mass estimates. Overall mission performance of the electric propulsion systems was quantified in terms of the maximum thrusting time, total impulse, and velocity increment capability available when integrated onto a generic spacecraft under fixed mission model assumptions. Maximum available thrusting times for the ion-propelled spacecraft options, launched on a DELTA II 6920 vehicle, range from approximately 8,600 hours for a 4-engine 10 kW system to more than 29,600 hours for a single-engine 5 kW system. Maximum total impulse values and maximum delta-v's range from 1.2x10(7) to 2.1x10(7) N-s, and 3550 to 6200 m/s, respectively. Maximum available thrusting times for the arcjet propelled spacecraft launched on the DELTA II 6920 vehicle range from approximately 528 hours for the 6-engine 10 kW hydrazine system to 2328 hours for the single-engine 5 kW system. Maximum total impulse values and maximum delta-v's range from 2.2x10(6) to 3.6x10(6) N-s, and approximately 662 to 1072 m/s, respectively.

Approximating a free-field blast environment in the test section of an explosively driven conical shock tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, J. B.

2018-02-01

This paper presents experimental data on incident overpressures and the corresponding impulses obtained in the test section of an explosively driven 10° (full angle) conical shock tube. Due to the shock tube's steel walls approximating the boundary conditions seen by a spherical sector cut out of a detonating sphere of energetic material, a 5.3-g pentolite shock tube driver charge produces peak overpressures corresponding to a free-field detonation from an 816-g sphere of pentolite. The four test section geometries investigated in this paper (open air, cylindrical, 10° inscribed square frustum, and 10° circumscribed square frustum) provide a variety of different time histories for the incident overpressures and impulses, with a circumscribed square frustum yielding the best approximation of the estimated blast environment that would have been produced by a free-field detonation.

Stormtime ring current and radiation belt ion transport: Simulations and interpretations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lyons, Larry R.; Gorney, David J.; Chen, Margaret W.; Schulz, Michael

1995-01-01

We use a dynamical guiding-center model to investigate the stormtime transport of ring current and radiation-belt ions. We trace the motion of representative ions' guiding centers in response to model substorm-associated impulses in the convection electric field for a range of ion energies. Our simple magnetospheric model allows us to compare our numerical results quantitatively with analytical descriptions of particle transport, (e.g., with the quasilinear theory of radial diffusion). We find that 10-145-keV ions gain access to L approximately 3, where they can form the stormtime ring current, mainly from outside the (trapping) region in which particles execute closed drift paths. Conversely, the transport of higher-energy ions (approximately greater than 145 keV at L approximately 3) turns out to resemble radial diffusion. The quasilinear diffusion coefficient calculated for our model storm does not vary smoothly with particle energy, since our impulses occur at specific (although randomly determined) times. Despite the spectral irregularity, quasilinear theory provides a surprisingly accurate description of the transport process for approximately greater than 145-keV ions, even for the case of an individual storm. For 4 different realizations of our model storm, the geometric mean discrepancies between diffusion coefficients D(sup sim, sub LL) obtained from the simulations and the quasilinear diffusion coefficient D(sup ql, sub LL) amount to factors of 2.3, 2.3, 1.5, and 3.0, respectively. We have found that these discrepancies between D(sup sim, sub LL) and D(sup ql, sub LL) can be reduced slightly by invoking drift-resonance broadening to smooth out the sharp minima and maxima in D(sup ql, sub LL). The mean of the remaining discrepancies between D(sup sim, sub LL) and D(sup ql, sub LL) for the 4 different storms then amount to factors of 1.9, 2.1, 1.5, and 2.7, respectively. We find even better agreement when we reduce the impulse amplitudes systematically in a given model storm (e.g., reduction of all the impulse amplitudes by half reduces the discrepancy factor by at least its square root) and also when we average our results over an ensemble of 20 model storms (agreement is within a factor of 1.2 without impulse-amplitude reduction). We use our simulation results also to map phase-space densities f in accordance with Liouville's theorem. We find that the stormtime transport of approximately greater than 145-keV ions produces little change in f-bar the drift-averaged phase-space density on any drift shell of interest. However, the stormtime transport produces a major enhancement from the pre-storm phase-space density at energies approximately 30-145 keV, which are representative of the stormtime ring current.

Associations between Childhood Abuse and Interpersonal Aggression and Suicide Attempt among U.S. Adults in a National Study

PubMed Central

Harford, Thomas C.; Yi, Hsiao-ye; Grant, Bridget F.

2014-01-01

The aim of this study is to examine associations among childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and violence toward self (suicide attempts [SA]) and others (interpersonal aggression [IA]). Data were obtained from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Waves 1 and 2 (n = 34,653). Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between type of childhood abuse and violence categories, adjusting for demographic variables, other childhood adversity, and DSM-IV psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of reported childhood abuse was 4.60% for physical abuse, 7.83% for emotional abuse, and 10.20% for sexual abuse. Approximately 18% of adults reported some form of violent behavior, distributed as follows: IA, 13.37%; SA, 2.64%; and SA with IA, 1.85%. After adjusting for demographic variables, other childhood adversity, and psychiatric disorders, each type of childhood abuse was significantly related to increased risk for each violence category as compared with the no violence category. Furthermore, the odds ratio of childhood physical abuse was significantly higher for SA with IA when compared with IA, and the odds ratio of childhood sexual abuse was significantly higher for SA and SA with IA when compared with IA. Childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse is directly related to the risk for violent behaviors to self and others. Both internalizing and externalizing psychiatric disorders impact the association between childhood abuse and violence. The inclusion of suicidal behaviors and interpersonal aggression and internalizing/externalizing psychiatric disorders within an integrated conceptual framework will facilitate more effective interventions for long-lasting effects of child abuse. PMID:24656711

Increased self-reported impulsivity in methamphetamine users maintaining drug abstinence.

PubMed

Jones, Hannah W; Dean, Andy C; Price, Kimberly A; London, Edythe D

2016-09-01

Impulsivity has been proposed as an important factor in the initiation and maintenance of addiction. Indirect evidence suggests that some methamphetamine users report less impulsivity when they are using methamphetamine compared to when abstaining from drug use, but this hypothesis has not been directly tested. In this study, self-reports of impulsivity were obtained from 32 methamphetamine-dependent (DSM-IV) research participants and 41 healthy control subjects, using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11. The methamphetamine users were assessed during an active period of methamphetamine use, as determined through urinalysis, and again after approximately 1 week of confirmed abstinence. Control subjects likewise completed two assessments. A subset of participants also completed serial assessments of the Beck Depression Inventory (Methamphetamine Group, N = 17, Control Group, N = 38) and the Methamphetamine Withdrawal Questionnaire (Methamphetamine Group, N = 12). There was a significant interaction of group with time on impulsivity (p = 0.044), reflecting a significant increase from the first to the second assessment in the methamphetamine users (p = 0.013), but no change among healthy control subjects. In contrast, depressive and withdrawal symptoms significantly decreased between the first and second assessments in the methamphetamine users (ps ≤0.01). Change in impulsivity in methamphetamine users was not significantly correlated with change in withdrawal or depression (ps >0.05). These findings suggest that methamphetamine users report more impulsivity when abstaining from drug use, an effect that is not significantly related to methamphetamine withdrawal. Attenuation of impulsivity may reinforce continued methamphetamine use in these individuals.

Screening for impulse control symptoms in patients with de novo Parkinson disease

PubMed Central

Papay, Kimberly; Siderowf, Andrew

2013-01-01

Objective: To determine the frequency and correlates of impulse control and related behavior symptoms in patients with de novo, untreated Parkinson disease (PD) and healthy controls (HCs). Methods: The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative is an international, multisite, case-control clinical study conducted at 21 academic movement disorders centers. Participants were recently diagnosed, untreated PD patients (n = 168) and HCs (n = 143). The outcome measures were presence of current impulse control and related behavior symptoms based on recommended cutoff points for the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease (QUIP)-Short Form. Results: There were 311 participants with complete QUIP data. Frequencies of impulse control and related behavior symptoms for patients with PD vs HCs were as follows: gambling (1.2% vs 0.7%), buying (3.0% vs 2.1%), sexual behavior (4.2% vs 3.5%), eating (7.1% vs 10.5%), punding (4.8% vs 2.1%), hobbyism (5.4% vs 11.9%), walkabout (0.6% vs 0.7%), and any impulse control or related behavior (18.5% vs 20.3%). In multivariable models, a diagnosis of PD was not associated with symptoms of any impulse control or related behavior (p ≥ 0.10 in all cases). Conclusions: PD itself does not seem to confer an increased risk for development of impulse control or related behavior symptoms, which further reinforces the reported association between PD medications and impulse control disorders in PD. Given that approximately 20% of patients with newly diagnosed PD report some impulse control or related behavior symptoms, long-term follow-up is needed to determine whether such patients are at increased risk for impulse control disorder development once PD medications are initiated. PMID:23296128

Screening for impulse control symptoms in patients with de novo Parkinson disease: a case-control study.

PubMed

Weintraub, Daniel; Papay, Kimberly; Siderowf, Andrew

2013-01-08

To determine the frequency and correlates of impulse control and related behavior symptoms in patients with de novo, untreated Parkinson disease (PD) and healthy controls (HCs). The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative is an international, multisite, case-control clinical study conducted at 21 academic movement disorders centers. Participants were recently diagnosed, untreated PD patients (n = 168) and HCs (n = 143). The outcome measures were presence of current impulse control and related behavior symptoms based on recommended cutoff points for the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease (QUIP)-Short Form. There were 311 participants with complete QUIP data. Frequencies of impulse control and related behavior symptoms for patients with PD vs HCs were as follows: gambling (1.2% vs. 0.7%), buying (3.0% vs. 2.1%), sexual behavior (4.2% vs. 3.5%), eating (7.1% vs. 10.5%), punding (4.8% vs. 2.1%), hobbyism (5.4% vs. 11.9%), walkabout (0.6% vs. 0.7%), and any impulse control or related behavior (18.5% vs. 20.3%). In multivariable models, a diagnosis of PD was not associated with symptoms of any impulse control or related behavior (p ≥ 0.10 in all cases). PD itself does not seem to confer an increased risk for development of impulse control or related behavior symptoms, which further reinforces the reported association between PD medications and impulse control disorders in PD. Given that approximately 20% of patients with newly diagnosed PD report some impulse control or related behavior symptoms, long-term follow-up is needed to determine whether such patients are at increased risk for impulse control disorder development once PD medications are initiated.

Relativistic impulse approximation analysis of unstable calcium isotopes: {sup 60-74}Ca

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

Kaki, K.

2009-06-15

Recent relativistic mean-field calculations have provided nuclear distributions of Ca isotopes whose mass numbers are 60 through 74. We calculate observables of proton elastic scattering from these unstable isotopes and discuss relations between observables and nuclear distributions of such unstable nuclei. The calculations are based on relativistic impulse approximation (RIA) at incident proton energies from 100 through 500 MeV where predictions of RIA have been shown to provide good agreement with experimental data. To validate the use of optimal factorization and first-order calculations at these energies, contributions from the Fermi motion of the target nuclei and multiple scattering are estimatedmore » and compared with results calculated without these effects.« less

Prompt particle acceleration around moving X-point magnetic field during impulsive phase of solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sakai, Jun-Ichi

1992-01-01

We present a model for high-energy solar flares to explain prompt proton and electron acceleration, which occurs around moving X-point magnetic field during the implosion phase of the current sheet. We derive the electromagnetic fields during the strong implosion phase of the current sheets, which is driven by the converging flow derived from the magnetohydrodynamic equations. It is shown that both protons and electrons can be promptly (within 1 second) accelerated to approximately 70 MeV and approximately 200 MeV, respectively. This acceleration mechanism can be applicable for the impulsive phase of the gradual gamma ray and proton flares (gradual GR/P flare), which have been called two-ribbon flares.

Emotion Regulation Mediates the Association Between ADHD and Depressive Symptoms in a Community Sample of Youth

PubMed Central

Seymour, Karen E.; Chronis-Tuscano, Andrea; Iwamoto, Derek K.; Kurdziel, Gretchen; MacPherson, Laura

2014-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationship between attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, emotion regulation (ER) ability, and depressive symptoms within a diverse community sample of 277 youth, ages 9–12 (56 % male). Participants were drawn from a larger study examining adolescent risk behaviors, and completed annual assessments over 3 years. Youth ADHD symptoms were assessed at Time 1 (T1) using the parent-reported Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale, ER was assessed with the parent-reported Emotion Regulation Checklist at Time 2 (T2), and youth depressive symptoms were assessed using the self-reported Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales at Time 3 (T3). Analyses examined T2 ER as a mediator between T1 ADHD symptoms (including the unique contributions of inattentive [IA] versus hyperactive/impulsive [HI] symptoms) and T3 depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated the path model specified provided an excellent fit to the data. Tests of indirect effects suggested that T2 ER appears to be a significant mechanism that underlies the relationship between T1 ADHD and T3 depression, even when accounting for T1 oppositional defiant and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, while both T1 IA and HI symptoms had significant indirect effects on T3 depression through the mechanism T2 ER, HI proved a more robust predictor of T2 ER than IA. Results of this prospective study support cross-sectional findings pointing to ER as a potential mechanism linking ADHD and depressive symptoms in youth. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed. PMID:24221724

Ultrawideband radar clutter measurements and analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuley, Michael T.; Sheen, David M.; Collins, H. D.; Sager, Earl V.; Schultheis, A. C.

1993-05-01

This paper reports the results of ultrawideband radar clutter measurements made by Battelle- Pacific Northwest Laboratories and the System Planning Corporation near Sequim, WA. The measurement area is a mountainous coniferous forest with occasional roads and clear-cut areas. Local grazing angles range from near zero to approximately 40 degree(s). Very limited data are also presented from measurements made in a desert-type terrain near Richland, WA. Two ultrawideband radar systems were employed in the data collection. An impulse system providing an approximate one nanosecond monocycle pulse (bandwidth of 300 MHz - 1000 MHz) acquired data over a 0.7 km2 area (121,000 resolution cells). A step chirp radar with the same total bandwidth as the impulse system collected data over a 6.2 km2 area (780,000 resolution cells), including the area sampled by the impulse system. Wideband TEM horn antennas (log-periodic antennas for the step chirp system) deployed on a 19 m horizontally scanned aperture were used for transmission and reception, providing a 1.5 degree(s) azimuth resolution at 300 MHz for both systems.

Structure determination of an Fab fragment that neutralizes human rhinovirus 14 and analysis of the Fab-virus complex.

PubMed

Liu, H; Smith, T J; Lee, W M; Mosser, A G; Rueckert, R R; Olson, N H; Cheng, R H; Baker, T S

1994-07-08

The crystal structure of Fab17-IA, an antigen-binding fragment from a murine immunoglobulin that neutralizes human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14), has been solved to 2.7 A resolution. Fab17-IA crystallized into three different space groups depending upon the method used to purify the intact antibody. The structure was determined by use of molecular and isomorphous replacement methods. The current model has a crystallographic R-factor of approximately 19% for 10,192 independent reflections between 8 and 2.7 A. Correlation coefficient calculations showed that the Fab17-IA structure can be fit into the Fab17-IA/HRV14 image reconstruction density to within 5 A positional accuracy and to within a few degrees of rotation. The resulting interface of the docked antibody was examined and showed extensive charge and shape complementarity with the virus surface that was supported by site-directed mutagenesis experiments. The success of this approach validates the utility of combining X-ray crystallography with cryo-electron microscopy of complex macromolecular assemblies.

Estimating Inorganic Arsenic Exposure from U.S. Rice and Total Water Intakes

PubMed Central

Mantha, Madhavi; Yeary, Edward; Trent, John; Creed, Patricia A.; Kubachka, Kevin; Hanley, Traci; Shockey, Nohora; Heitkemper, Douglas; Caruso, Joseph; Xue, Jianping; Rice, Glenn; Wymer, Larry

2017-01-01

Background: Among nonoccupationally exposed U.S. residents, drinking water and diet are considered primary exposure pathways for inorganic arsenic (iAs). In drinking water, iAs is the primary form of arsenic (As), while dietary As speciation techniques are used to differentiate iAs from less toxic arsenicals in food matrices. Objectives: Our goal was to estimate the distribution of iAs exposure rates from drinking water intakes and rice consumption in the U.S. population and ethnic- and age-based subpopulations. Methods: The distribution of iAs in drinking water was estimated by population, weighting the iAs concentrations for each drinking water utility in the Second Six-Year Review data set. To estimate the distribution of iAs concentrations in rice ingested by U.S. consumers, 54 grain-specific, production-weighted composites of rice obtained from U.S. mills were extracted and speciated using both a quantitative dilute nitric acid extraction and speciation (DNAS) and an in vitro gastrointestinal assay to provide an upper bound and bioaccessible estimates, respectively. Daily drinking water intake and rice consumption rate distributions were developed using data from the What We Eat in America (WWEIA) study. Results: Using these data sets, the Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation (SHEDS) model estimated mean iAs exposures from drinking water and rice were 4.2μg/day and 1.4μg/day, respectively, for the entire U.S. population. The Tribal, Asian, and Pacific population exhibited the highest mean daily exposure of iAs from cooked rice (2.8μg/day); the mean exposure rate for children between ages 1 and 2 years in this population is 0.104μg/kg body weight (BW)/day. Conclusions: An average consumer drinking 1.5 L of water daily that contains between 2 and 3 ng iAs/mL is exposed to approximately the same amount of iAs as a mean Tribal, Asian, and Pacific consumer is exposed to from rice. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP418 PMID:28572075

The distribution of the intervals between neural impulses in the maintained discharges of retinal ganglion cells.

PubMed

Levine, M W

1991-01-01

Simulated neural impulse trains were generated by a digital realization of the integrate-and-fire model. The variability in these impulse trains had as its origin a random noise of specified distribution. Three different distributions were used: the normal (Gaussian) distribution (no skew, normokurtic), a first-order gamma distribution (positive skew, leptokurtic), and a uniform distribution (no skew, platykurtic). Despite these differences in the distribution of the variability, the distributions of the intervals between impulses were nearly indistinguishable. These inter-impulse distributions were better fit with a hyperbolic gamma distribution than a hyperbolic normal distribution, although one might expect a better approximation for normally distributed inverse intervals. Consideration of why the inter-impulse distribution is independent of the distribution of the causative noise suggests two putative interval distributions that do not depend on the assumed noise distribution: the log normal distribution, which is predicated on the assumption that long intervals occur with the joint probability of small input values, and the random walk equation, which is the diffusion equation applied to a random walk model of the impulse generating process. Either of these equations provides a more satisfactory fit to the simulated impulse trains than the hyperbolic normal or hyperbolic gamma distributions. These equations also provide better fits to impulse trains derived from the maintained discharges of ganglion cells in the retinae of cats or goldfish. It is noted that both equations are free from the constraint that the coefficient of variation (CV) have a maximum of unity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synchrotron cooling and annihilation of an E(+)-E(-) plasma: The radiation mechanism for the March 5, 1979 transient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramaty, R.; Lingenfelter, R. E.; Bussard, R. W.

1980-01-01

Positron-electron pair radiation is examined as a mechanism that could be responsible for the impulsive phase emission of the March 5, 1979 transient. Synchrotron cooling and subsequent annihilation of the pairs can account for the energy spectrum, the very high brightness, and the approximately 0.4 MeV feature observed from this transient, whose source is likely to be a neutron star in the supernova remnant N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. In this model, the observed radiation is produced in the skin layer of a hot, radiation dominated pair atmosphere, probably confined to the vicinity of the neutron star by a strong magnetic field. The width of this layer is only about 0.1 mm. In this layer, approximately 10 to the 12th power generations of pairs are formed (by photon-photon collisions), cooled and annihilated during the approximately 0.15 sec duration of the impulsive phase. The very large burst energy implied by the distance of the Large Magellanic Cloud, and its very rapid release, are unsolved problems. Nonetheless, the possibility of neutron star vibrations, which could transport the energy coherently to the surface, heat the atmosphere mechanically to a hot, pair-producing temperature, and have a characteristic damping time roughly equal to the duration of the impulsive phase are addressed.

Electric Propulsion Options for 10 kW Class Earth-Space Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, M. J.; Curran, Francis M.

1989-01-01

Five and 10 kW ion and arcjet propulsion system options for a near-term space demonstration experiment were evaluated. Analyses were conducted to determine first-order propulsion system performance and system component mass estimates. Overall mission performance of the electric propulsion systems was quantified in terms of the maximum thrusting time, total impulse, and velocity increment capability available when integrated onto a generic spacecraft under fixed mission model assumptions. Maximum available thrusting times for the ion-propelled spacecraft options, launched on a DELTA 2 6920 vehicle, range from approximately 8,600 hours for a 4-engine 10 kW system to more than 29,600 hours for a single-engine 5 kW system. Maximum total impulse values and maximum delta-v's range from 1.2x10 (exp 7) to 2.1x10 (exp 7) N-s, and 3550 to 6200 m/s, respectively. Maximum available thrusting times for the arcjet propelled spacecraft launched on the DELTA 2 6920 vehicle range from approximately 528 hours for the 6-engine 10 kW hydrazine system to 2328 hours for the single-engine 5 kW system. Maximum total impulse values and maximum delta-v's range from 2.2x10 (exp 6) to 3.6x10 (exp 6) N-s, and approximately 662 to 1072 m/s, respectively.

The Type Ia Supernova Color-Magnitude Relation and Host Galaxy Dust: A Simple Hierarchical Bayesian Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandel, Kaisey; Scolnic, Daniel; Shariff, Hikmatali; Foley, Ryan; Kirshner, Robert

2017-01-01

Inferring peak optical absolute magnitudes of Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) from distance-independent measures such as their light curve shapes and colors underpins the evidence for cosmic acceleration. SN Ia with broader, slower declining optical light curves are more luminous (“broader-brighter”) and those with redder colors are dimmer. But the “redder-dimmer” color-luminosity relation widely used in cosmological SN Ia analyses confounds its two separate physical origins. An intrinsic correlation arises from the physics of exploding white dwarfs, while interstellar dust in the host galaxy also makes SN Ia appear dimmer and redder. Conventional SN Ia cosmology analyses currently use a simplistic linear regression of magnitude versus color and light curve shape, which does not model intrinsic SN Ia variations and host galaxy dust as physically distinct effects, resulting in low color-magnitude slopes. We construct a probabilistic generative model for the dusty distribution of extinguished absolute magnitudes and apparent colors as the convolution of an intrinsic SN Ia color-magnitude distribution and a host galaxy dust reddening-extinction distribution. If the intrinsic color-magnitude (MB vs. B-V) slope βint differs from the host galaxy dust law RB, this convolution results in a specific curve of mean extinguished absolute magnitude vs. apparent color. The derivative of this curve smoothly transitions from βint in the blue tail to RB in the red tail of the apparent color distribution. The conventional linear fit approximates this effective curve near the average apparent color, resulting in an apparent slope βapp between βint and RB. We incorporate these effects into a hierarchical Bayesian statistical model for SN Ia light curve measurements, and analyze a dataset of SALT2 optical light curve fits of 277 nearby SN Ia at z < 0.10. The conventional linear fit obtains βapp ≈ 3. Our model finds a βint = 2.2 ± 0.3 and a distinct dust law of RB = 3.7 ± 0.3, consistent with the average for Milky Way dust, while correcting a systematic distance bias of ~0.10 mag in the tails of the apparent color distribution. This research is supported by NSF grants AST-156854, AST-1211196, and NASA grant NNX15AJ55G.

Does Drinking to Cope Explain Links Between Emotion-Driven Impulse Control Difficulties and Hazardous Drinking? A Longitudinal Test

PubMed Central

Watkins, Laura E.; Franz, Molly R.; DiLillo, David; Gratz, Kim L.; Messman-Moore, Terri L.

2016-01-01

Difficulty controlling impulsive behaviors when experiencing negative emotions is a prominent risk factor for hazardous alcohol use, and prior research suggests that drinking to cope may mediate this association. The present study examines this possibility prospectively in a sample of 490 young adult women between the ages of 18 and 25. Participants completed measures of emotion-driven impulse control difficulties, drinking to cope, and hazardous alcohol use at six time points over the course of approximately 20 months (i.e., one assessment every four months). Multilevel structural equation modeling revealed that drinking to cope fully mediated the relationship between emotion-driven impulse control difficulties and hazardous alcohol use when examining these relationships between individuals and partially mediated this relation when examining these relationships within individuals. These findings suggest that drinking to cope is a key mechanism in the relationship between emotion-driven impulse control difficulties and hazardous drinking. Results highlight the importance of targeting both emotion dysregulation and drinking to cope when treating young women for alcohol use problems. PMID:26502334

Impulsive Personality and Alcohol Use: Bidirectional Relations Over One Year

PubMed Central

Kaiser, Alison; Bonsu, Jacqueline A.; Charnigo, Richard J.; Milich, Richard; Lynam, Donald R.

2016-01-01

Objective: Impulsive personality traits have been found to be robust predictors of substance use and problems in both cross-sectional and longitudinal research. Studies examining the relations of substance use and impulsive personality over time indicate a bidirectional relation, where substance use is also predictive of increases in later impulsive personality. The present study sought to build on these findings by examining the bidirectional relations among the different impulsive personality traits assessed by the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, with an interest in urgency (the tendency to act rashly when experiencing strong affect). Method: Participants were 525 first-year college students (48.0% male, 81.1% White), who completed self-report measures assessing personality traits and a structured interview assessing past and current substance use. Data collection took place at two different time points: the first occurred during the participants’ first year of college, and the second occurred approximately 1 year later. Bidirectional relations were examined using structural equation modeling. Results: Time 1 (T1) positive urgency predicted higher levels of alcohol use at Time 2 (T2), whereas T1 lack of perseverance predicted lower levels of alcohol use at T2. T1 alcohol use predicted higher levels of positive urgency, negative urgency, sensation seeking, and lack of premeditation at T2. Conclusions: Findings provide greater resolution in characterizing the bidirectional relation between impulsive personality traits and substance use. PMID:27172580

Delayed detonation models for normal and subluminous type Ia sueprnovae: Absolute brightness, light curves, and molecule formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoflich, P.; Khokhlov, A. M.; Wheeler, J. C.

1995-01-01

We compute optical and infrared light curves of the pulsating class of delayed detonation models for Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia's) using an elaborate treatment of the Local Thermodynamic Equilbrium (LTE) radiation transport, equation of state and ionization balance, expansion opacity including the cooling by CO, Co(+), and SiO, and a Monte Carlo gamma-ray deposition scheme. The models have an amount of Ni-56 in the range from approximately or equal to 0.1 solar mass up to 0.7 solar mass depending on the density at which the transition from a deflagration to a detonation occurs. Models with a large nickel production give light curves comparable to those of typical Type Ia supernovae. Subluminous supernovae can be explained by models with a low nickel production. Multiband light curves are presented in comparison with the normally bright event SN 1992bc and the subluminous events Sn 1991bg and SN 1992bo to establish the principle that the delayed detonation paradigm in Chandrasekhar mass models may give a common explosion mechanism accounting for both normal and subluminous SN Ia's. Secondary IR-maxima are formed in the models of normal SN Ia's as a photospheric effect if the photospheric radius continues to increase well after maximum light. Secondary maxima appear later and stronger in models with moderate expansion velocities and with radioactive material closer to the surface. Model light curves for subluminous SN Ia's tend to show only one 'late' IR-maximum. In some delayed detonation models shell-like envelopes form, which consist of unburned carbon and oxygen. The formation of molecules in these envelopes is addressed. If the model retains a C/O-envelope and is subluminous, strong vibration bands of CO may appear, typically several weeks past maximum light. CO should be very weak or absent in normal Sn Ia's.

The Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Supernova Survey. II. The Type la Supernova rate in high-redshift galaxy clusters

DOE PAGES

Barbary, K.; Aldering, G.; Amanullah, R.; ...

2011-12-28

Here we report a measurement of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) rate in galaxy clusters at 0.9 < z < 1.46 from the Hubble Space Telescope Cluster Supernova Survey. This is the first cluster SN Ia rate measurement with detected z > 0.9 SNe. Finding 8 ± 1 cluster SNe Ia, we determine an SN Ia rate of 0.50 +0.23 -0.19 (stat) +0.10 -0.09 (sys) h 2 70 SNuB (SNuB ≡ 10 -12 SNe L -1 ⊙,B yr -1). In units of stellar mass, this translates to 0.36 + 0.16 -0.13 (stat) +0.07 -0.06 (sys) h 2 70 SNuMmore » (SNuM ≡ 10 -12 SNe M –1 ⊙ yr –1). This represents a factor of ≈ 5 ± 2 increase over measurements of the cluster rate at z < 0.2. We parameterize the late-time SN Ia delay time distribution (DTD) with a power law: Ψ(t)∝t s . Under the approximation of a single-burst cluster formation redshift of zf = 3, our rate measurement in combination with lower-redshift cluster SN Ia rates constrains s = –1.41 +0.47 –0.40, consistent with measurements of the DTD in the field. This measurement is generally consistent with expectations for the "double degenerate" scenario and inconsistent with some models for the "single degenerate" scenario predicting a steeper DTD at large delay times. We check for environmental dependence and the influence of younger stellar populations by calculating the rate specifically in cluster red-sequence galaxies and in morphologically early-type galaxies, finding results similar to the full cluster rate. Finally, the upper limit of one hostless cluster SN Ia detected in the survey implies that the fraction of stars in the intra-cluster medium is less than 0.47 (95% confidence), consistent with measurements at lower redshifts.« less

Cis-acting factors modulate stability of intermediate alleles for Huntington disease

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

Goldberg, Y.P.; Zeisler, J.; Thielmann, J.

1994-09-01

The genetic basis of Huntington disease (HD), a late-onset autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, has recently been defined as a CAG trinucleotide expansion in a novel gene on 4p16.3. The CAG length in clinically normal people ranges from 9 to 37, with the vast majority of alleles (99%) containing less than 30 repeats. In contrast, HD patients have CAG lengths greater than 36 with the largest repeat reported to date being 121. Molecular analysis of sporadic cases of HD revealed that new mutations are not rare (3%), and arise from intermediate alleles (IAs). IAs are CAG alleles greater than that usuallymore » seen in the general population (>30), but less than that seen in patients with HD and occur with a frequency of approximately 1.5% of the general population (12/797). An important question is whether these IAs are also susceptible to expansion. In new mutation families, these IAs are unstable in passage through the male germline and in sporadic cases expand to the full mutation associated with the HD phenotype. On the 41 meioses analyzed in new mutation families, 61% were unstable. In contrast to IAs in the new mutation families, the IAs in the general population were predominately stable from one generation to the next. Comparison of the frequency of intergenerational stability between the general population and the new mutation families showed that IAs in the general population are considerably more stable than those in the new mutation families. In contrast to SCA 1 where sequence interruption is thought to play a role in CAG trinucleotide stability, sequence analysis of IAs both from the general population and the new mutation families failed to reveal any interruption of the CAG tracts. These findings suggest that while CAG size is an important factor, other cis-acting factors present in new mutation families but not in the general population are likely to be critical in conferring instability upon the CAG trinucleotide repeat.« less

Enhancement of the intrinsic defecation reflex by mosapride, a 5-HT4 agonist, in chronically lumbosacral denervated guinea pigs.

PubMed

Kojima, Yu; Fujii, Hisao; Katsui, Renta; Nakajima, Yoshiyuki; Takaki, Miyako

2006-10-01

The defecation reflex is composed of rectal distension-evoked rectal (R-R) reflex contractions and synchronous internal anal sphincter (R-IAS) reflex relaxations in guinea pigs. These R-R and R-IAS reflexes are controlled via extrinsic sacral excitatory nerve pathway (pelvic nerves), lumbar inhibitory nerve pathways (colonic nerves) and by intrinsic cholinergic excitatory and nitrergic inhibitory nerve pathways. The effect of mosapride (a prokinetic benzamide) on the intrinsic reflexes, mediated via enteric 5-HT(4) receptors, was evaluated by measuring the mechanical activity of the rectum and IAS in anesthetized guinea pigs using an intrinsic R-R and R-IAS reflex model resulting from chronic (two to nine days) lumbosacral denervation (PITH). In this model, the myenteric plexus remains undamaged and the distribution of myenteric and intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal is unchanged. Although R-R and R-IAS reflex patterns markedly changed, the reflex indices (reflex pressure or force curve-time integral) of both the R-R contractions and the synchronous R-IAS relaxations were unchanged. The frequency of the spontaneous R and IAS motility was also unchanged. Mosapride (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently increased both intrinsic R-R (maximum: 1.82) and R-IAS reflex indices (maximum: 2.76) from that of the control (1.0) 6-9 days following chronic PITH. The dose-response curve was similar to that in the intact guinea pig, and had shifted to the left from that in the guinea pig after acute PITH. A specific 5-HT(4) receptor antagonist, GR 113808 (1.0 mg/kg), decreased both reflex indices by approximately 50% and antagonized the effect of mosapride 1.0 mg/kg. This was quite different from the result in the intact guinea pig where GR 113808 (1.0 mg/kg) did not affect either of the reflex indices. The present results indicate that mosapride enhanced the intrinsic R-R and R-IAS reflexes and functionally compensated for the deprivation of extrinsic innervation. The actions of mosapride were mediated through endogenously active, intrinsic 5-HT(4) receptors which may be post-synaptically located in the myenteric plexus of the anorectum.

Epidemiological and genetic analysis of a 2014 outbreak of hepatitis A in Japan.

PubMed

Ishii, Koji; Kiyohara, Tomoko; Yoshizaki, Sayaka; Kawabata, Kunio; Kanayama, Atsuhiro; Yahata, Yuichiro; Takahashi, Takuri; Kinoshita, Hitomi; Saitou, Takehito; Sunagawa, Tomimasa; Oishi, Kazunori; Uema, Masashi; Noda, Mamoru; Wakita, Takaji

2015-11-09

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is one of the most common causes of feces-transmitted acute hepatitis worldwide. In Japan, most of HAV infections have been sporadic cases and a relatively low number of cases (approximately 100-150) of acute hepatitis A were reported in 2012 and 2013. However, in 2014, 342 cases were reported as of week 22. In order to characterize the viral agents causing this outbreak, we collected stool or sera (and both for three case) from patients with hepatitis A from many regions throughout Japan and performed genotyping of the VP1/P2A regions of HAV. We then used a multiple-alignment algorithm to compare the nucleotide sequences with those of reference strains. Phylogenetic tree analyses revealed that the 159 HAV isolates were divided into three subgenotypes: IA (137 cases), IB (4 cases), and IIIA (18 cases). The most unique feature of this outbreak was that for most subgenotype IA cases (103 out of 137 IA cases) the sequences analyzed shared 100% homology. Interestingly, the peak week for these IA infections was almost the same nationwide, suggesting that the epidemic of hepatitis A caused by this subgenotype IA strain may have expanded from a single source possibly because of one food-borne or waterborne source that was distributed nationwide at once. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential oscillatory electroencephalogram between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder subtypes and typically developing adolescents.

PubMed

Mazaheri, Ali; Fassbender, Catherine; Coffey-Corina, Sharon; Hartanto, Tadeus A; Schweitzer, Julie B; Mangun, George R

2014-09-01

A neurobiological-based classification of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes has thus far remained elusive. The aim of this study was to use oscillatory changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) related to informative cue processing, motor preparation, and top-down control to investigate neurophysiological differences between typically developing (TD) adolescents, and those diagnosed with predominantly inattentive (IA) or combined (CB) (associated with symptoms of inattention as well as impulsivity/hyperactivity) subtypes of ADHD. The EEG was recorded from 57 rigorously screened adolescents (12 to 17 years of age; 23 TD, 17 IA, and 17 CB), while they performed a cued flanker task. We examined the oscillatory changes in theta (3-5 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), and beta (22-25 Hz) EEG bands after cues that informed participants with which hand they would subsequently be required to respond. Relative to TD adolescents, the IA group showed significantly less postcue alpha suppression, suggesting diminished processing of the cue in the visual cortex, whereas the CB group showed significantly less beta suppression at the electrode contralateral to the cued response hand, suggesting poor motor planning. Finally, both ADHD subtypes showed weak functional connectivity between frontal theta and posterior alpha, suggesting common top-down control impairment. We found both distinct and common task-related neurophysiological impairments in ADHD subtypes. Our results suggest that task-induced changes in EEG oscillations provide an objective measure, which in conjunction with other sources of information might help distinguish between ADHD subtypes and therefore aid in diagnoses and evaluation of treatment. Copyright © 2014 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Energetic electrons in impulsive solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Batchelor, D. A.

1984-01-01

A new analysis was made of a thermal flare model proposed by Brown, Melrose, and Spicer (1979) and Smith and Lilliequist (1979). They assumed the source of impulsive hard X-rays to be a plasma at a temperature of order 10 to the 8th power K, initially located at the apex of a coronal arch, and confined by ion-acoustic turbulence in a collisionless conduction front. Such a source would expand at approximately the ion-sound speed, C sub S = square root of (k T sub e/m sub i), until it filled the arch. Brown, Melrose, and Spicer and Smith and Brown (1980) argued that the source assumed in this model would not explain the simultaneous impulsive microwave emission. In contrast, the new results presented herein suggest that this model leads to the development of a quasi-Maxwellian distribution of electrons that explains both the hard X-ray and microwave emissions. This implies that the source sizes can be determined from observations of the optically-thick portions of microwave spectra and the temperatures obtained from associated hard X-ray observations. In this model, the burst emission would rise to a maximum in a time, t sub r, approximately equal to L/c sub s, where L is the half-length of the arch. New observations of these impulsive flare emissions were analyzed herein to test this prediction of the model. Observations made with the Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft and the Bern Radio Observatory are in good agreement with the model.

New constraints on macroscopic compact objects as dark matter candidates from gravitational lensing of type Ia supernovae.

PubMed

Metcalf, R Benton; Silk, Joseph

2007-02-16

We use the distribution, and particularly the skewness, of high redshift type Ia supernovae brightnesses relative to the low redshift sample to constrain the density of macroscopic compact objects (MCOs) in the Universe. The supernova data favor dark matter made of microscopic particles (such as the lightest supersymmetric partner) over MCOs with masses between 10(-2)Mo and 10(10)Mo at 89% confidence. Future data will greatly improve this limit. Combined with other constraints, MCOs larger than one-tenth the mass of Earth (approximately 10(-7)Mo) can be eliminated as the sole constituent of dark matter.

Inorganic arsenic contents in rice-based infant foods from Spain, UK, China and USA.

PubMed

Carbonell-Barrachina, Angel A; Wu, Xiangchun; Ramírez-Gandolfo, Amanda; Norton, Gareth J; Burló, Francisco; Deacon, Claire; Meharg, Andrew A

2012-04-01

Spanish gluten-free rice, cereals with gluten, and pureed baby foods were analysed for total (t-As) and inorganic As (i-As) using ICP-MS and HPLC-ICP-MS, respectively. Besides, pure infant rice from China, USA, UK and Spain were also analysed. The i-As contents were significantly higher in gluten-free rice than in cereals mixtures with gluten, placing infants with celiac disease at high risk. All rice-based products displayed a high i-As content, with values being above 60% of the t-As content and the remainder being dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Approximately 77% of the pure infant rice samples showed contents below 150 μg kg(-1) (Chinese limit). When daily intake of i-As by infants (4-12 months) was estimated and expressed on a bodyweight basis (μg d(-1) kg(-1)), it was higher in all infants aged 8-12 months than drinking water maximum exposures predicted for adults (assuming 1 L consumption per day for a 10 μg L(-1) standard). Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A common explosion mechanism for type Ia supernovae.

PubMed

Mazzali, Paolo A; Röpke, Friedrich K; Benetti, Stefano; Hillebrandt, Wolfgang

2007-02-09

Type Ia supernovae, the thermonuclear explosions of white dwarf stars composed of carbon and oxygen, were instrumental as distance indicators in establishing the acceleration of the universe's expansion. However, the physics of the explosion are debated. Here we report a systematic spectral analysis of a large sample of well-observed type Ia supernovae. Mapping the velocity distribution of the main products of nuclear burning, we constrain theoretical scenarios. We find that all supernovae have low-velocity cores of stable iron-group elements. Outside this core, nickel-56 dominates the supernova ejecta. The outer extent of the iron-group material depends on the amount of nickel-56 and coincides with the inner extent of silicon, the principal product of incomplete burning. The outer extent of the bulk of silicon is similar in all supernovae, having an expansion velocity of approximately 11,000 kilometers per second and corresponding to a mass of slightly over one solar mass. This indicates that all the supernovae considered here burned similar masses and suggests that their progenitors had the same mass. Synthetic light-curve parameters and three-dimensional explosion simulations support this interpretation. A single explosion scenario, possibly a delayed detonation, may thus explain most type Ia supernovae.

Exchange Energy Density Functionals that reproduce the Linear Response Function of the Free Electron Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García-Aldea, David; Alvarellos, J. E.

2009-03-01

We present several nonlocal exchange energy density functionals that reproduce the linear response function of the free electron gas. These nonlocal functionals are constructed following a similar procedure used previously for nonlocal kinetic energy density functionals by Chac'on-Alvarellos-Tarazona, Garc'ia-Gonz'alez et al., Wang-Govind-Carter and Garc'ia-Aldea-Alvarellos. The exchange response function is not known but we have used the approximate response function developed by Utsumi and Ichimaru, even we must remark that the same ansatz can be used to reproduce any other response function with the same scaling properties. We have developed two families of new nonlocal functionals: one is constructed with a mathematical structure based on the LDA approximation -- the Dirac functional for the exchange - and for the second one the structure of the second order gradient expansion approximation is took as a model. The functionals are constructed is such a way that they can be used in localized systems (using real space calculations) and in extended systems (using the momentum space, and achieving a quasilinear scaling with the system size if a constant reference electron density is defined).

Physical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea: Some Recent Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, D.; Johns, W. E.

2001-12-01

Recent oceanographic observations in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico (the Intra-Americas Sea) have contributed to our understanding of IAS circulation, the dynamics forcing the circulation, and the role of the IAS in hemispheric ocean processes. Specifically, recent results from several programs will be presented and discussed: The Windward Islands Passages Program, designed to measure upper ocean transport and water mass properties of the exchange between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, is entering its tenth year of observations. Mean transport estimates based on 10 to 20 sections now exist for the major passages between Trinidad and the Virgin Islands. Approximately 19 of the estimated 32 Sv in the Florida Straits enter through these passages, of which approximately 12 enter south of Dominica, 6 in the Grenada Passage. The Caribbean Inflow Variability Experiment is designed to continuously monitor the transport through the Grenada Passage. Plans are in place to monitor a submarine telephone cable between Grenada and Trinidad to estimate transport; at present several shipboard velocity sections and year-long pressure gauge records are available as part of the program. Dominant low-frequency signals in the cross-passage pressure difference are 30 - 60 days. The NOPP Year of the Ocean Drifting Buoy Program placed over 150 WOCE-style surface drifting buoys in the IAS during 1998 - 2000. Analysis of drifter tracks shows the best picture to date of IAS surface currents, including well-resolved gyres in the SW Caribbean (Panama-Colombia) region. Monitoring of Florida Straits transport via submarine cable is once again active, complemented by quarterly CD and transport cruises. Analyses of historical transport data (Baringer & Larson, 2001) have shown correlations between low frequency transport variability and climate indices (e. g., NAO). Additionally, full-depth velocity profiles across the straits are available weekly from the 38 kHz ADCP mounted on the Explorer of the Seas cruise ship. Availability of these and other observational resources, its semi-enclosed and well-bounded geography, and its significance to downstream North American oceanic and atmospheric conditions make the IAS an excellent region for model development and validation.

A method for calculating transient thrust and flow-rate levels for Mariner type attitude control nitrogen gas jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferrera, J. D.

1972-01-01

The purpose of this report is to define and program the transient pneumatic flow equations necessary to determine, for a given set of conditions (geometry, pressures, temperatures, valve on time, etc.), the total nitrogen impulse and mass flow per pulse for the single pulsing of a Mariner type reaction control assembly valve. The rates of opening and closing of the valves are modeled, and electrical pulse durations from 20 to 100 ms are investigated. In developing the transient flow analysis, maximum use was made of the steady-state analysis. The impulse results are also compared to an equivalent square-wave impulse for both the Mariner Mars 1971 (MM'71) and Mariner Mars 1964 (MM'64) systems. It is demonstrated that, whereas in the MM'64 system, the actual impulse was as much as 56 percent higher than an assumed impulse (which is the product of the steady-state thrust and value on time i.e., the square wave), in the MM'71 system, these two values were in error in the same direction by only approximately 4 percent because of the larger nozzle areas and shorter valve stroke used.

Genetic support for the dual nature of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: substantial genetic overlap between the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive components.

PubMed

McLoughlin, Gráinne; Ronald, Angelica; Kuntsi, Jonna; Asherson, Philip; Plomin, Robert

2007-12-01

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, complex and highly heritable disorder, characterised by inattentive, impulsive and overactive behaviour. Evidence for the heritability of ADHD measures in twin population samples has come from the analysis of total scores that combine inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms subscales. This study investigated, in a community sample, the aetiology of ADHD-like traits and the aetiological overlap between the two dimensions that define the ADHD disorder. Parents of 6,222 approximately 8-year-old twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) population sample completed the two subscales of the Conners' 18-item DSMIV checklist, a screening instrument for ADHD symptoms. Both subscales were highly heritable (hyperactive-impulsive: 88%; inattentive: 79%). Bivariate genetic modelling indicated substantial genetic overlap between the two components; however, there were significant independent genetic effects. These findings suggest that many genes associated with the hyperactivity-impulsivity dimension will also be associated with the inattentive dimension but that there is significant genetic heterogeneity as well. These results provide genetic support for combining the two behavioural dimensions that define ADHD, but also suggest that some symptom-specific genes will also be identified.

An Empirical Fitting Method to Type Ia Supernova Light Curves. III. A Three-parameter Relationship: Peak Magnitude, Rise Time, and Photospheric Velocity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, WeiKang; Kelly, Patrick L.; Filippenko, Alexei V.

2018-05-01

We examine the relationship between three parameters of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia): peak magnitude, rise time, and photospheric velocity at the time of peak brightness. The peak magnitude is corrected for extinction using an estimate determined from MLCS2k2 fitting. The rise time is measured from the well-observed B-band light curve with the first detection at least 1 mag fainter than the peak magnitude, and the photospheric velocity is measured from the strong absorption feature of Si II λ6355 at the time of peak brightness. We model the relationship among these three parameters using an expanding fireball with two assumptions: (a) the optical emission is approximately that of a blackbody, and (b) the photospheric temperatures of all SNe Ia are the same at the time of peak brightness. We compare the precision of the distance residuals inferred using this physically motivated model against those from the empirical Phillips relation and the MLCS2k2 method for 47 low-redshift SNe Ia (0.005 < z < 0.04) and find comparable scatter. However, SNe Ia in our sample with higher velocities are inferred to be intrinsically fainter. Eliminating the high-velocity SNe and applying a more stringent extinction cut to obtain a “low-v golden sample” of 22 SNe, we obtain significantly reduced scatter of 0.108 ± 0.018 mag in the new relation, better than those of the Phillips relation and the MLCS2k2 method. For 250 km s‑1 of residual peculiar motions, we find 68% and 95% upper limits on the intrinsic scatter of 0.07 and 0.10 mag, respectively.

Long-term efficacy following readministration of an adeno-associated virus vector in dogs with glycogen storage disease type Ia.

PubMed

Demaster, Amanda; Luo, Xiaoyan; Curtis, Sarah; Williams, Kyha D; Landau, Dustin J; Drake, Elizabeth J; Kozink, Daniel M; Bird, Andrew; Crane, Bayley; Sun, Francis; Pinto, Carlos R; Brown, Talmage T; Kemper, Alex R; Koeberl, Dwight D

2012-04-01

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia) is the inherited deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), primarily found in liver and kidney, which causes life-threatening hypoglycemia. Dogs with GSD-Ia were treated with double-stranded adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors encoding human G6Pase. Administration of an AAV9 pseudotyped (AAV2/9) vector to seven consecutive GSD-Ia neonates prevented hypoglycemia during fasting for up to 8 hr; however, efficacy eventually waned between 2 and 30 months of age, and readministration of a new pseudotype was eventually required to maintain control of hypoglycemia. Three of these dogs succumbed to acute hypoglycemia between 7 and 9 weeks of age; however, this demise could have been prevented by earlier readministration an AAV vector, as demonstrated by successful prevention of mortality of three dogs treated earlier in life. Over the course of this study, six out of nine dogs survived after readministration of an AAV vector. Of these, each dog required readministration on average every 9 months. However, two were not retreated until >34 months of age, while one with preexisting antibodies was re-treated three times in 10 months. Glycogen content was normalized in the liver following vector administration, and G6Pase activity was increased in the liver of vector-treated dogs in comparison with GSD-Ia dogs that received only with dietary treatment. G6Pase activity reached approximately 40% of normal in two female dogs following AAV2/9 vector administration. Elevated aspartate transaminase in absence of inflammation indicated that hepatocellular turnover in the liver might drive the loss of vector genomes. Survival was prolonged for up to 60 months in dogs treated by readministration, and all dogs treated by readministration continue to thrive despite the demonstrated risk for recurrent hypoglycemia and mortality from waning efficacy of the AAV2/9 vector. These preclinical data support the further translation of AAV vector-mediated gene therapy in GSD-Ia.

Efficacy and safety of repeated courses of hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review.

PubMed

Altman, Roy; Hackel, Josh; Niazi, Faizan; Shaw, Peter; Nicholls, Mathew

2018-01-31

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a commonly prescribed intra-articular (IA) therapy for knee osteoarthritis (OA). While a single series of IA-HA has been well studied, the efficacy and safety of repeated courses of IA-HA injection therapy in knee OA patients have not been evaluated as frequently. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed databases. The primary outcome measure was knee pain reduction after each treatment course and/or last reported follow-up visit. Secondary outcomes were treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). A total of 17 articles (7 RCTs and 10 cohort studies) met the pre-defined inclusion criteria. Of the RCTs, six were double-blind with two trials including open label extension studies, and one was single-blind. Studies ranged from investigating a single reinjection cycle to four repeat injection cycles. Eleven studies evaluated one reinjection, five studies evaluated ≥2 repeated courses of IA-HA, and one study allowed either one or two repeated courses. All studies reported pain reduction from baseline in the IA-HA treatment group throughout the initial treatment cycle, and either sustained or further reduced pain throughout the repeated courses of treatment. The study with the longest follow-up repeated IA-HA injection every 6 months for 25 months. Pain decreased after the first course and continued to decrease until the end of the study, with an approximate 55% reduction in pain compared to baseline. Common AEs were joint swelling and arthralgia; there were no reported SAEs. All repeated courses were well tolerated, and the number of documented AEs and SAEs was similar to the primary injection regimens. Repeated courses of IA-HA injections are an effective and safe treatment for knee OA. Repeat courses were demonstrated to maintain or further improve pain reduction while introducing no increased safety risk. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Electrical remodelling maintains firing properties in cortical pyramidal neurons lacking KCND2-encoded A-type K+ currents.

PubMed

Nerbonne, Jeanne M; Gerber, Benjamin R; Norris, Aaron; Burkhalter, Andreas

2008-03-15

Considerable experimental evidence has accumulated demonstrating a role for voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channel pore-forming (alpha) subunits of the Kv4 subfamily in the generation of fast transient outward K(+), I(A), channels. Immunohistochemical data suggest that I(A) channels in hippocampal and cortical pyramidal neurons reflect the expression of homomeric Kv4.2 channels. The experiments here were designed to define directly the role of Kv4.2 in the generation of I(A) in cortical pyramidal neurons and to determine the functional consequences of the targeted deletion of Kv4.2 on the resting and active membrane properties of these cells. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings, obtained from visual cortical pyramidal neurons isolated from mice in which the KCND2 (Kv4.2) locus was disrupted (Kv4.2-/- mice), revealed that I(A) is indeed eliminated. In addition, the densities of other Kv current components, specifically I(K) and I(ss), are increased significantly (P < 0.001) in most ( approximately 80%) Kv4.2-/- cells. The deletion of KCND2 (Kv4.2) and the elimination of I(A) is also accompanied by the loss of the Kv4 channel accessory protein KChIP3, suggesting that in the absence of Kv4.2, the KChIP3 protein is targeted for degradation. The expression levels of several Kv alpha subunits (Kv4.3, Kv1.4, Kv2.1, Kv2.2), however, are not measurably altered in Kv4.2-/- cortices. Although I(A) is eliminated in Kv4.2-/- pyramidal neurons, the mean +/- s.e.m. current threshold for action potential generation and the waveforms of action potentials are indistinguishable from those recorded from wild-type cells. Repetitive firing is also maintained in Kv4.2-/- cortical pyramidal neurons, suggesting that the increased densities of I(K) and I(ss) compensate for the in vivo loss of I(A).

Structural features of water-soluble novel polysaccharide components from the leaves of Tridax procumbens Linn.

PubMed

Raju, T S; Davidson, E A

1994-05-20

Two water-soluble polysaccharide fractions, WSTP-IA and WSTP-IB were purified from the leaves of Tridax procumbens Linn. with graded ethanol precipitation followed by mild delignification and size-exclusion chromatography. WSTP-IA contained L-Araf and D-Galp in approximately 1:3 molar proportions, and WSTP-IB contained only D-Galp as the major sugar component. The results of methylation linkage analysis, and 1H and 13C NMR studies on the native and modified polysaccharides, indicated that WSTP-IA is an L-arabino-D-galactan with a beta-(1-->6)-D-galactan main chain in which at least one in every two D-Galp residues carries single residues of either L-Araf (alpha-/beta-) or beta-D-Galp end-group as substituents at O-3. WSTP-IB is a linear beta-(1-->6)-D-galactan. This is the first report of polysaccharides containing a beta-(1-->6)-D-galactan main chain isolated from plant sources.

THE FAST DECLINING TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA 2003gs, AND EVIDENCE FOR A SIGNIFICANT DISPERSION IN NEAR-INFRARED ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDES OF FAST DECLINERS AT MAXIMUM LIGHT

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

Krisciunas, Kevin; Marion, G. H.; Suntzeff, Nicholas B.

2009-12-15

We obtained optical photometry of SN 2003gs on 49 nights, from 2 to 494 days after T(B {sub max}). We also obtained near-IR photometry on 21 nights. SN 2003gs was the first fast declining Type Ia SN that has been well observed since SN 1999by. While it was subluminous in optical bands compared to more slowly declining Type Ia SNe, it was not subluminous at maximum light in the near-IR bands. There appears to be a bimodal distribution in the near-IR absolute magnitudes of Type Ia SNe at maximum light. Those that peak in the near-IR after T(B {sub max})more » are subluminous in the all bands. Those that peak in the near-IR prior to T(B {sub max}), such as SN 2003gs, have effectively the same near-IR absolute magnitudes at maximum light regardless of the decline rate {delta}m {sub 15}(B). Near-IR spectral evidence suggests that opacities in the outer layers of SN 2003gs are reduced much earlier than for normal Type Ia SNe. That may allow {gamma} rays that power the luminosity to escape more rapidly and accelerate the decline rate. This conclusion is consistent with the photometric behavior of SN 2003gs in the IR, which indicates a faster than normal decline from approximately normal peak brightness.« less

Assessing interactions of binary mixtures of Penicillium mycotoxins (PMs) by using a bovine macrophage cell line (BoMacs)

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

Oh, Se-Young, E-mail: ohs@uoguelph.ca

Penicillium mycotoxins (PMs) are toxic contaminants commonly found as mixtures in animal feed. Therefore, it is important to investigate potential joint toxicity of PM mixtures. In the present study, we assessed the joint effect of binary combinations of the following PMs: citrinin (CIT), ochratoxin A (OTA), patulin (PAT), mycophenolic acid (MPA) and penicillic acid (PA) using independent action (IA) and concentration addition (CA) concepts. Previously published toxicity data (i.e. IC25; PM concentration that inhibited bovine macrophage (BoMacs) proliferation by 25%) were initially analyzed, and both concepts agreed that OTA + PA demonstrated synergism (p < 0.05), while PAT + PAmore » showed antagonism (p < 0.05). When a follow-up dilution study was carried out using binary combinations of PMs at three different dilution levels (i.e. IC25, 0.5 ∗ IC25, 0.25 ∗ IC25), only the mixture of CIT + OTA at 0.5 ∗ IC25 was determined to have synergism by both IA and CA concepts with Model Deviation Ratios (MDRs; the ratio of predicted versus observed effect concentrations) of 1.4 and 1.7, respectively. The joint effect of OTA + MPA, OTA + PA and CIT + PAT complied with the IA concept, while CIT + PA, PAT + MPA and PAT + PA were better predicted with the CA over the IA concept. The present study suggests to test both IA and CA concepts using multiple doses when assessing risk of mycotoxin mixtures if the mode of action is unknown. In addition, the study showed that the tested PMs could be predicted by IA or CA within an approximate two-fold certainty, raising the possibility for a joint risk assessment of mycotoxins in food and feed. - Highlights: • We investigated the potential joint toxicity of Penicillium mycotoxin (PM) mixtures. • Independent action (IA) and concentration addition (CA) concepts were used. • 7 out of 10 mixtures followed joint toxicity described by IA or CA concepts. • Both concepts agreed that CIT + OTA mixture had synergistic interaction.« less

On optimal infinite impulse response edge detection filters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarkar, Sudeep; Boyer, Kim L.

1991-01-01

The authors outline the design of an optimal, computationally efficient, infinite impulse response edge detection filter. The optimal filter is computed based on Canny's high signal to noise ratio, good localization criteria, and a criterion on the spurious response of the filter to noise. An expression for the width of the filter, which is appropriate for infinite-length filters, is incorporated directly in the expression for spurious responses. The three criteria are maximized using the variational method and nonlinear constrained optimization. The optimal filter parameters are tabulated for various values of the filter performance criteria. A complete methodology for implementing the optimal filter using approximating recursive digital filtering is presented. The approximating recursive digital filter is separable into two linear filters operating in two orthogonal directions. The implementation is very simple and computationally efficient, has a constant time of execution for different sizes of the operator, and is readily amenable to real-time hardware implementation.

THE DIFFERENCE IMAGING PIPELINE FOR THE TRANSIENT SEARCH IN THE DARK ENERGY SURVEY

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

Kessler, R.; Marriner, J.; Childress, M.

2015-11-06

We describe the operation and performance of the difference imaging pipeline (DiffImg) used to detect transients in deep images from the Dark Energy Survey Supernova program (DES-SN) in its first observing season from 2013 August through 2014 February. DES-SN is a search for transients in which ten 3 deg(2) fields are repeatedly observed in the g, r, i, z passbands with a cadence of about 1 week. The observing strategy has been optimized to measure high-quality light curves and redshifts for thousands of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) with the goal of measuring dark energy parameters. The essential DiffImg functionsmore » are to align each search image to a deep reference image, do a pixel-by-pixel subtraction, and then examine the subtracted image for significant positive detections of point-source objects. The vast majority of detections are subtraction artifacts, but after selection requirements and image filtering with an automated scanning program, there are similar to 130 detections per deg(2) per observation in each band, of which only similar to 25% are artifacts. Of the similar to 7500 transients discovered by DES-SN in its first observing season, each requiring a detection on at least two separate nights, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations predict that 27% are expected to be SNe Ia or core-collapse SNe. Another similar to 30% of the transients are artifacts in which a small number of observations satisfy the selection criteria for a single-epoch detection. Spectroscopic analysis shows that most of the remaining transients are AGNs and variable stars. Fake SNe Ia are overlaid onto the images to rigorously evaluate detection efficiencies and to understand the DiffImg performance. The DiffImg efficiency measured with fake SNe agrees well with expectations from a MC simulation that uses analytical calculations of the fluxes and their uncertainties. In our 8 "shallow" fields with single-epoch 50% completeness depth similar to 23.5, the SN Ia efficiency falls to 1/2 at redshift z approximate to 0.7; in our 2 "deep" fields with mag-depth similar to 24.5, the efficiency falls to 1/2 at z approximate to 1.1. A remaining performance issue is that the measured fluxes have additional scatter (beyond Poisson fluctuations) that increases with the host galaxy surface brightness at the transient location. This bright-galaxy issue has minimal impact on the SNe Ia program, but it may lower the efficiency for finding fainter transients on bright galaxies.« less

ASCA Observations of LMC SNRS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hughes, John P.

1999-01-01

We present our first results from a study of the supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using data from ASCA. The three remnants we have analyzed to date, 0509-67.5, 0519-69.0, and N103B, are among the smallest, and presumably also the youngest, in the Cloud. The X-ray spectra of these SNRs show strong K(alpha) emission lines of silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium with no evidence for corresponding lines of oxygen, neon, or magnesium. The dominant feature in the spectra is a broad blend of emission lines around 1 keV which we attribute to L-shell emission lines of iron. Model calculations (Nomoto, Thielemann, & Yokoi 1984) show that the major products of nucleosynthesis in Type Ia supernovae (SNs) are the elements from silicon to iron, as observed here. The calculated nucleosynthetic yields from Type Ib and II SNs are shown to be qualitatively inconsistent with the data. We conclude that the SNs which produced these remnants were of Type Ia. This finding also confirms earlier suggestions that the class of Balmer-dominated remnants arise from Type Ia SN explosions. Based an these early results from the LMC SNR sample, we find that roughly one-half of the SNRs produced in the LMC within the last approximately 1500 yr came from Type Ia SNs.

Early identification of autism in fragile X syndrome: a review

PubMed Central

McCary, L. M.; Roberts, J. E.

2014-01-01

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading genetic cause of autism, accounting for approximately 5% of autism cases with as many as 50% of individuals with FXS meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for autistic disorder. Both FXS and idiopathic autism (IA) are attributed to genetic causes; however, FXS is an identified single gene disorder whereas autism is a complex disorder with multiple potential causes, some of which have been identified. Studies in IA have focused on the prospective longitudinal examination of infant siblings of children with autism as a target group due to their high risk of developing the disorder. We propose that this same model be applied to the study of infants with FXS. There is a lack of research focusing on the early development of autism within FXS and debate in the literature regarding how to best conceptualise this co-morbidity or whether it should be considered a co-morbid condition at all. Studying the emergence and stability of autism in infants with FXS has multiple benefits such as clarifying the underlying mechanisms of the development of autism in FXS and solidifying similarities and differences between co-morbid FXS with autism and IA. Infant research in both IA and FXS are discussed as well as conclusions and implications for practice and future research. PMID:22974167

Fast Spatial Resolution Analysis of Quadratic Penalized Least-Squares Image Reconstruction With Separate Real and Imaginary Roughness Penalty: Application to fMRI.

PubMed

Olafsson, Valur T; Noll, Douglas C; Fessler, Jeffrey A

2018-02-01

Penalized least-squares iterative image reconstruction algorithms used for spatial resolution-limited imaging, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), commonly use a quadratic roughness penalty to regularize the reconstructed images. When used for complex-valued images, the conventional roughness penalty regularizes the real and imaginary parts equally. However, these imaging methods sometimes benefit from separate penalties for each part. The spatial smoothness from the roughness penalty on the reconstructed image is dictated by the regularization parameter(s). One method to set the parameter to a desired smoothness level is to evaluate the full width at half maximum of the reconstruction method's local impulse response. Previous work has shown that when using the conventional quadratic roughness penalty, one can approximate the local impulse response using an FFT-based calculation. However, that acceleration method cannot be applied directly for separate real and imaginary regularization. This paper proposes a fast and stable calculation for this case that also uses FFT-based calculations to approximate the local impulse responses of the real and imaginary parts. This approach is demonstrated with a quadratic image reconstruction of fMRI data that uses separate roughness penalties for the real and imaginary parts.

Temporary shift in masked hearing thresholds in odontocetes after exposure to single underwater impulses from a seismic watergun.

PubMed

Finneran, James J; Schlundt, Carolyn E; Dear, Randall; Carder, Donald A; Ridgway, Sam H

2002-06-01

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure masked underwater hearing thresholds in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and a white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) before and after exposure to single underwater impulsive sounds produced from a seismic watergun. Pre- and postexposure thresholds were compared to determine if a temporary shift in masked hearing thresholds (MTTS), defined as a 6-dB or larger increase in postexposure thresholds, occurred. Hearing thresholds were measured at 0.4, 4, and 30 kHz. MTTSs of 7 and 6 dB were observed in the white whale at 0.4 and 30 kHz, respectively, approximately 2 min following exposure to single impulses with peak pressures of 160 kPa, peak-to-peak pressures of 226 dB re 1 microPa, and total energy fluxes of 186 dB re 1 microPa2 x s. Thresholds returned to within 2 dB of the preexposure value approximately 4 min after exposure. No MTTS was observed in the dolphin at the highest exposure conditions: 207 kPa peak pressure, 228 dB re 1 microPa peak-to-peak pressure, and 188 dB re 1 microPa2 x s total energy flux.

Negative mood and interference control in nonsuicidal self-injury.

PubMed

Allen, Kenneth J D; Hooley, Jill M

2017-02-01

People who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) often report high levels of impulsivity. However, results from behavioral tasks measuring impulsivity have been mixed: those with a history of NSSI generally perform comparably to healthy controls. Recent research suggests, however, that people who self-injure have specific deficits in response inhibition to negative emotional stimuli. Here, we extend this work by testing whether negative mood impairs interference control in NSSI. 33 participants reporting a history of NSSI (approximately half in the past year) and 31 age- and gender-matched healthy controls completed the multi-source interference task before and after a written negative mood induction designed to increase feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and shame. After the induction, the NSSI group reported increased negative mood but did not show worse interference control. In other words, increased negative mood did not correspond to increased behavioral impulsivity in participants reporting NSSI. Consistent with past research, the NSSI and healthy control groups showed equivalent task performance. This study adds to evidence that NSSI is not characterized by behavioral impulsivity, even in the context of negative mood. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Subthalamic Nucleus, Limbic Function, and Impulse Control.

PubMed

Rossi, P Justin; Gunduz, Aysegul; Okun, Michael S

2015-12-01

It has been well documented that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) to address some of the disabling motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) can evoke unintended effects, especially on non-motor behavior. This observation has catalyzed more than a decade of research concentrated on establishing trends and identifying potential mechanisms for these non-motor effects. While many issues remain unresolved, the collective result of many research studies and clinical observations has been a general recognition of the role of the STN in mediating limbic function. In particular, the STN has been implicated in impulse control and the related construct of valence processing. A better understanding of STN involvement in these phenomena could have important implications for treating impulse control disorders (ICDs). ICDs affect up to 40% of PD patients on dopamine agonist therapy and approximately 15% of PD patients overall. ICDs have been reported to be associated with STN DBS. In this paper we will focus on impulse control and review pre-clinical, clinical, behavioral, imaging, and electrophysiological studies pertaining to the limbic function of the STN.

Qualitative analysis of MTEM response using instantaneous attributes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fayemi, Olalekan; Di, Qingyun

2017-11-01

This paper introduces new technique for qualitative analysis of multi-transient electromagnetic (MTEM) earth impulse response over complex geological structures. Instantaneous phase and frequency attributes were used in place of the conventional common offset section for improved qualitative interpretation of MTEM data by obtaining more detailed information from the earth impulse response. The instantaneous attributes were used to describe the lateral variation in subsurface resistivity and the visible geological structure with respect to given offsets. Instantaneous phase attribute was obtained by converting the impulse response into a complex form using the Hilbert transform. Conversely, the polynomial phase difference (PPD) estimator was favored over the center finite difference (CFD) approximation method in calculating the instantaneous frequency attribute because it is computationally efficient and has the ability to give a smooth variation of the instantaneous frequency over a common offset section. The observed results from the instantaneous attributes were in good agreement with both the subsurface model used and the apparent resistivity section obtained from the MTEM earth impulse response. Hence, this study confirms the capability of both instantaneous phase and frequency attributes as highly effective tools for MTEM qualitative analysis.

Development and Characterization of High-Efficiency, High-Specific Impulse Xenon Hall Thrusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hofer, Richard R.; Jacobson, David (Technical Monitor)

2004-01-01

This dissertation presents research aimed at extending the efficient operation of 1600 s specific impulse Hall thruster technology to the 2000 to 3000 s range. Motivated by previous industry efforts and mission studies, the aim of this research was to develop and characterize xenon Hall thrusters capable of both high-specific impulse and high-efficiency operation. During the development phase, the laboratory-model NASA 173M Hall thrusters were designed and their performance and plasma characteristics were evaluated. Experiments with the NASA-173M version 1 (v1) validated the plasma lens magnetic field design. Experiments with the NASA 173M version 2 (v2) showed there was a minimum current density and optimum magnetic field topography at which efficiency monotonically increased with voltage. Comparison of the thrusters showed that efficiency can be optimized for specific impulse by varying the plasma lens. During the characterization phase, additional plasma properties of the NASA 173Mv2 were measured and a performance model was derived. Results from the model and experimental data showed how efficient operation at high-specific impulse was enabled through regulation of the electron current with the magnetic field. The electron Hall parameter was approximately constant with voltage, which confirmed efficient operation can be realized only over a limited range of Hall parameters.

The High Power Electric Propulsion (HiPEP) Ion Thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, John E.; Haag, Tom; Patterson, Michael; Williams, George J., Jr.; Sovey, James S.; Carpenter, Christian; Kamhawi, Hani; Malone, Shane; Elliot, Fred

2004-01-01

Practical implementation of the proposed Jupiter Icy Moon Orbiter (JIMO) mission, which would require a total delta V of approximately 38 km/s, will require the development of a high power, high specific impulse propulsion system. Initial analyses show that high power gridded ion thrusters could satisfy JIMO mission requirements. A NASA GRC-led team is developing a large area, high specific impulse, nominally 25 kW ion thruster to satisfy both the performance and the lifetime requirements for this proposed mission. The design philosophy and development status as well as a thruster performance assessment are presented.

Personality and attempted suicide. Analysis of anger, aggression and impulsivity.

PubMed

Giegling, Ina; Olgiati, Paolo; Hartmann, Annette M; Calati, Raffaella; Möller, Hans-Jürgen; Rujescu, Dan; Serretti, Alessandro

2009-12-01

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, mortality from suicide being approximately 2%. Attempted suicide appears to be a major risk factor for suicide completion. Anger, aggression and impulsivity are personality traits associated with suicide attempt. In this study we analysed a part of a previously reported sample in order to test anger, impulsivity and temperament/character scales as predictors of aggression and self-aggression in suicide attempters and to compare anger- and aggression-related traits between impulsive and premeditated suicide attempts as well as between violent and non-violent suicide methods. One-hundred-eleven consecutively admitted inpatients with a lifetime history of attempted suicide were assessed for anger (State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, STAXI), aggression (Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression, FAF) and temperament/character (Temperament and Character Inventory, TCI). Higher aggression scores, as measured by FAF, were predicted by being male, meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder and having higher angry temperament scores as assessed by STAXI; low cooperativeness was also associated with aggression but not after controlling for STAXI scales. TCI dimensions associated with self-aggression were high harm avoidance, high impulsivity and low self-directedness; state anger, inwardly directed anger and inhibition of aggression were also predictors of self-aggression. In conclusion, impulsivity and harm avoidance have emerged as temperament dimensions independently associated with self-aggressive tendencies in personality. Such interactions could explain the correlation between temperament and suicidality but further research is needed. Anger and self-directedness appear to have some effects on suicide attempt.

Beam-target double-spin asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering off the deuteron with CLAS

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

Mayer, M.; Kuhn, S. E.; Adhikari, K. P.

Background: The deuteron plays a pivotal role in nuclear and hadronic physics, as both the simplest bound multi-nucleon system and as an ``effective neutron target''. Quasi-elastic electron scattering on the deuteron is a benchmark reaction to test our understanding of deuteron structure and the properties and interactions of the two nucleons bound in the deuteron. Purpose: The experimental data presented here test state-of-the-art models of the deuteron and the two-nucleon interaction in the final state after two-body breakup of the deuteron. Focusing on polarization degrees of freedom, we gain information on the limits of the Impulse Approximation (IA) picture andmore » put the interpretation of spin structure measurements with deuterium on a firmer footing. Information on this reaction can also be used to improve the determination of the deuteron polarization through quasi-elastic electron scattering. Method: We measured the beam-target double spin asymmetry (A||) for quasi-elastic electron scattering off the deuteron at several beam energies (1.6-1.7 GeV, 2.5 GeV, 4.2 GeV and 5.6-5.8 GeV), using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The deuterons were polarized along (or opposite to) the beam direction. The double spin asymmetries were measured as a function of photon virtuality Q2 (0.13-3.17 (GeV/c)2), missing momentum (pm = 0.0 - 0.5 GeV/c), and the angle between the (inferred) ``spectator'' neutron and the momentum transfer direction (θnq). Results: The results are compared with a recent model that includes Final State Interactions (FSI) using a complete parameterization of nucleon-nucleon scattering, as well as a simplified model using the Plane Wave Impulse Approximation (PWIA). We find overall good agreement with both the PWIA and FSI expectations at low to medium missing momenta (pm ≤ 0.25 GeV/c), including the change of the asymmetry due to the contribution of the deuteron D-state at higher momenta. At the highest missing momenta, our data clearly agree better with the calculations including FSI. Conclusions: Final state interactions seem to play a lesser role for polarization observables in deuteron two-body electro-disintegration than for absolute cross sections. Our data, while limited in statistical power, indicate that PWIA models work reasonably well to understand the asymmetries at lower missing momenta. In turn, this information can be used to extract the product of beam and target polarization (PbPt) from quasi-elastic electron-deuteron scattering, which is useful for measurements of spin observables in electron-neutron inelastic scattering. However, at the highest missing (neutron) momenta, FSI effects become important and must be accounted for.« less

Intracranial arterial stenosis.

PubMed

Carvalho, Marta; Oliveira, Ana; Azevedo, Elsa; Bastos-Leite, António J

2014-04-01

Intracranial arterial stenosis (IAS) is usually attributable to atherosclerosis and corresponds to the most common cause of stroke worldwide. It is very prevalent among African, Asian, and Hispanic populations. Advancing age, systolic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome are some of its major risk factors. IAS may be associated with transient or definite neurological symptoms or can be clinically asymptomatic. Transcranial Doppler and magnetic resonance angiography are the most frequently used ancillary examinations for screening and follow-up. Computed tomography angiography can either serve as a screening tool for the detection of IAS or increasingly as a confirmatory test approaching the diagnostic accuracy of catheter digital subtraction angiography, which is still considered the gold (confirmation) standard. The risk of stroke in patients with asymptomatic atherosclerotic IAS is low (up to 6% over a mean follow-up period of approximately 2 years), but the annual risk of stroke recurrence in the presence of a symptomatic stenosis may exceed 20% when the degree of luminal narrowing is 70% or more, recently after an ischemic event, and in women. It is a matter of controversy whether there is a specific type of treatment other than medical management (including aggressive control of vascular risk factors and antiplatelet therapy) that may alter the high risk of stroke recurrence among patients with symptomatic IAS. Endovascular treatment has been thought to be helpful in patients who fail to respond to medical treatment alone, but recent data contradict such expectation. Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pseudomonas fluorescens lipopolysaccharide inhibits both delayed rectifier and transient A-type K+ channels of cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons.

PubMed

Mezghani-Abdelmoula, Sana; Chevalier, Sylvie; Lesouhaitier, Olivier; Orange, Nicole; Feuilloley, Marc G J; Cazin, Lionel

2003-09-05

Pseudomonas fluorescens is a Gram-negative bacillus closely related to the pathogen P. aeruginosa known to provoke infectious disorders in the central nervous system (CNS). The endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) expressed by the bacteria is the first infectious factor that can interact with the plasma membrane of host cells. In the present study, LPS extracted from P. fluorescens MF37 was examined for its actions on delayed rectifier and A-type K(+) channels, two of the main types of voltage-activated K(+) channels involved in the action potential firing. Current recordings were performed in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons at days 7 or 8, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. A 3-h incubation with LPS (200 ng/ml) markedly depressed both the delayed rectifier (I(KV)) and transient A-type (I(A)) K(+) currents evoked by depolarizations above 0 and -40 mV, respectively. The percent decrease of I(KV) and I(A) ( approximately 30%) did not vary with membrane potential, suggesting that inhibition of both types of K(+) channels by LPS was voltage-insensitive. The endotoxin did neither modify the steady-state voltage-dependent activation properties of I(KV) and I(A) nor the steady-state inactivation of I(A). The present results suggest that, by inhibiting I(KV) and I(A), LPS applied extracellulary increases the action potential firing in cerebellar granule neurons. It is concluded that P. fluorescens MF37 may provoke in the CNS disorders associated with sever alterations of membrane ionic channel functions.

Liverpool Telescope classification of ATLAS16bdg as a Type Ia supernova near maximum light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mundell, C. G.; Smith, R. J.; Childress, M. J.

2016-06-01

On 2016 June 15 at approximately 21:03 UT, we performed multicolour optical imaging, spectroscopy and polarimetry with the 2-m robotic Liverpool Telescope IO:O camera of galaxy NGC4708 in which a bright optical transient was reported by Tonry et al. ATel #9151 (ATLAS16bdg).

IA Channels Encoded by Kv1.4 and Kv4.2 Regulate Circadian Period of PER2 Expression in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus.

PubMed

Granados-Fuentes, Daniel; Hermanstyne, Tracey O; Carrasquillo, Yarimar; Nerbonne, Jeanne M; Herzog, Erik D

2015-10-01

Neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master circadian pacemaker in mammals, display daily rhythms in electrical activity with more depolarized resting potentials and higher firing rates during the day than at night. Although these daily variations in the electrical properties of SCN neurons are required for circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior, the mechanisms linking changes in neuronal excitability to the molecular clock are not known. Recently, we reported that mice deficient for either Kcna4 (Kv1.4(-/-)) or Kcnd2 (Kv4.2(-/-); but not Kcnd3, Kv4.3(-/-)), voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channel pore-forming subunits that encode subthreshold, rapidly activating, and inactivating K(+) currents (IA), have shortened (0.5 h) circadian periods in SCN firing and in locomotor activity compared with wild-type (WT) mice. In the experiments here, we used a mouse (Per2(Luc)) line engineered with a bioluminescent reporter construct, PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE (PER2::LUC), replacing the endogenous Per2 locus, to test the hypothesis that the loss of Kv1.4- or Kv4.2-encoded IA channels also modifies circadian rhythms in the expression of the clock protein PERIOD2 (PER2). We found that SCN explants from Kv1.4(-/-)Per2(Luc) and Kv4.2(-/-) Per2(Luc), but not Kv4.3(-/-)Per2(Luc), mice have significantly shorter (by approximately 0.5 h) circadian periods in PER2 rhythms, compared with explants from Per2(Luc) mice, revealing that the membrane properties of SCN neurons feedback to regulate clock (PER2) expression. The combined loss of both Kv1.4- and Kv4.2-encoded IA channels in Kv1.4(-/-)/Kv4.2(-/-)Per2(Luc) SCN explants did not result in any further alterations in PER2 rhythms. Interestingly, however, mice lacking both Kv1.4 and Kv4.2 show a striking (approximately 1.8 h) advance in their daily activity onset in a light cycle compared with WT mice, suggesting additional roles for Kv1.4- and Kv4.2-encoded IA channels in controlling the light-dependent responses of neurons within and/or outside of the SCN to regulate circadian phase of daily activity. © 2015 The Author(s).

Daily morphine administration increases impulsivity in rats responding under a 5‐choice serial reaction time task

PubMed Central

Maguire, DR; Henson, C

2016-01-01

Background and Purpose Repeated administration of a μ opioid receptor agonist can enhance some forms of impulsivity, such as delay discounting. However, it is unclear whether repeated administration alters motor impulsivity. Experimental Approach We examined the effects of acute administration of morphine and amphetamine prior to and during daily morphine administration in rats responding under a five‐choice serial reaction time task. Rats (n = 5) were trained to detect a brief flash of light presented randomly in one of five response holes; responding in the target hole delivered food, whereas responding in the wrong hole or responding prior to illumination of the target stimulus (premature response) initiated a timeout. Premature responding served as an index of motor impulsivity. Key Results Administered acutely, morphine (0.1–10 mg·kg−1, i.p.) increased omissions and modestly, although not significantly, premature responding without affecting response accuracy; amphetamine (0.1–1.78 mg·kg−1, i.p.) increased premature responding without changing omissions or response accuracy. After 3 weeks of 10 mg·kg−1·day−1 morphine, tolerance developed to its effects on omissions whereas premature responding increased approximately fourfold, compared with baseline. Effects of amphetamine were not significantly affected by daily morphine administration. Conclusions and Implications These data suggest that repeated administration of morphine increased effects of morphine on motor impulsivity, although tolerance developed to other effects, such as omissions. To the extent that impulsivity is a risk factor for drug abuse, repeated administration of μ opioid receptor agonists, for recreational or therapeutic purposes, might increase impulsivity and thus the risk for drug abuse. PMID:26776751

A New Approach for Obtaining Cosmological Constraints from Type Ia Supernovae using Approximate Bayesian Computation

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

Jennings, Elise; Wolf, Rachel; Sako, Masao

2016-11-09

Cosmological parameter estimation techniques that robustly account for systematic measurement uncertainties will be crucial for the next generation of cosmological surveys. We present a new analysis method, superABC, for obtaining cosmological constraints from Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) light curves using Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) without any likelihood assumptions. The ABC method works by using a forward model simulation of the data where systematic uncertainties can be simulated and marginalized over. A key feature of the method presented here is the use of two distinct metrics, the `Tripp' and `Light Curve' metrics, which allow us to compare the simulated data to the observed data set. The Tripp metric takes as input the parameters of models fit to each light curve with the SALT-II method, whereas the Light Curve metric uses the measured fluxes directly without model fitting. We apply the superABC sampler to a simulated data set ofmore » $$\\sim$$1000 SNe corresponding to the first season of the Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program. Varying $$\\Omega_m, w_0, \\alpha$$ and $$\\beta$$ and a magnitude offset parameter, with no systematics we obtain $$\\Delta(w_0) = w_0^{\\rm true} - w_0^{\\rm best \\, fit} = -0.036\\pm0.109$$ (a $$\\sim11$$% 1$$\\sigma$$ uncertainty) using the Tripp metric and $$\\Delta(w_0) = -0.055\\pm0.068$$ (a $$\\sim7$$% 1$$\\sigma$$ uncertainty) using the Light Curve metric. Including 1% calibration uncertainties in four passbands, adding 4 more parameters, we obtain $$\\Delta(w_0) = -0.062\\pm0.132$$ (a $$\\sim14$$% 1$$\\sigma$$ uncertainty) using the Tripp metric. Overall we find a $17$% increase in the uncertainty on $$w_0$$ with systematics compared to without. We contrast this with a MCMC approach where systematic effects are approximately included. We find that the MCMC method slightly underestimates the impact of calibration uncertainties for this simulated data set.« less

Measurement of AC Losses in a Racetrack Superconducting Coil Made from YBCO Coated Conductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiler, Eugen; Abrahamsen, Asger B.; Kováč, Ján; Wichmann, Mike; Træholt, Chresten

We present the results of transport measurements of AC losses in a racetrack shaped superconducting coil made from coated conductor tape. The outer dimensions of the coil are approximately 24 cm × 12 cm and it has 57 turns. The coil is impregnated with epoxy resin and fiberglass tape is used to insulate the individual turns and to improve the mechanical properties of the epoxy when exposed to thermal cycling. The coil is manufactured as a part of the field winding of a small synchronous generator; therefore stainless steel frames are installed on the inner and outer side of the winding to reinforce it. The AC loss is measured versus the transport current Ia with the coil immersed in liquid nitrogen. Measurements at frequencies 21 Hz, 36 Hz and 72 Hz are compared. The AC losses follow Ia2 dependence at low current amplitudes and Ia3 at high amplitudes. After cutting the inner steel frame the low amplitude losses are decreased, their frequency dependence is reduced but their dependence on the current remains unchanged.

Pulmonary Metabolism of Resveratrol: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence

PubMed Central

Sharan, Satish

2013-01-01

The role of pulmonary metabolism in trans-resveratrol (RES) pharmacokinetics was studied in a mouse model. Plasma concentrations of RES and its major metabolites trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate (R3S) and trans-resveratrol-3-glucuronide (R3G) were compared after administration of RES by intravenous (IV) and intra-arterial (IA) routes. Total area under the curve (AUC) of RES decreased by approximately 50% when RES was administered by the IV route compared with the IA route. The AUC of R3G was also significantly higher in mice administered RES by the IV route compared with the IA route. In vitro studies performed with mouse and human lung fractions confirmed pulmonary metabolism of RES. Interestingly, mouse-lung fractions gave rise to both R3S and R3G, whereas human lung fractions yielded R3S. This indicates marked interspecies variation in RES conjugation, especially in the context of extrapolating rodent data to humans. Taken together, the results presented here underline, for the first time, the impact of pulmonary metabolism on resveratrol pharmacokinetics and interspecies differences in RES pulmonary metabolism. PMID:23474649

Long-Term Efficacy Following Readministration of an Adeno-Associated Virus Vector in Dogs with Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia

PubMed Central

Demaster, Amanda; Luo, Xiaoyan; Curtis, Sarah; Williams, Kyha D.; Landau, Dustin J.; Drake, Elizabeth J.; Kozink, Daniel M.; Bird, Andrew; Crane, Bayley; Sun, Francis; Pinto, Carlos R.; Brown, Talmage T.; Kemper, Alex R.

2012-01-01

Abstract Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia) is the inherited deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), primarily found in liver and kidney, which causes life-threatening hypoglycemia. Dogs with GSD-Ia were treated with double-stranded adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors encoding human G6Pase. Administration of an AAV9 pseudotyped (AAV2/9) vector to seven consecutive GSD-Ia neonates prevented hypoglycemia during fasting for up to 8 hr; however, efficacy eventually waned between 2 and 30 months of age, and readministration of a new pseudotype was eventually required to maintain control of hypoglycemia. Three of these dogs succumbed to acute hypoglycemia between 7 and 9 weeks of age; however, this demise could have been prevented by earlier readministration an AAV vector, as demonstrated by successful prevention of mortality of three dogs treated earlier in life. Over the course of this study, six out of nine dogs survived after readministration of an AAV vector. Of these, each dog required readministration on average every 9 months. However, two were not retreated until >34 months of age, while one with preexisting antibodies was re-treated three times in 10 months. Glycogen content was normalized in the liver following vector administration, and G6Pase activity was increased in the liver of vector-treated dogs in comparison with GSD-Ia dogs that received only with dietary treatment. G6Pase activity reached approximately 40% of normal in two female dogs following AAV2/9 vector administration. Elevated aspartate transaminase in absence of inflammation indicated that hepatocellular turnover in the liver might drive the loss of vector genomes. Survival was prolonged for up to 60 months in dogs treated by readministration, and all dogs treated by readministration continue to thrive despite the demonstrated risk for recurrent hypoglycemia and mortality from waning efficacy of the AAV2/9 vector. These preclinical data support the further translation of AAV vector–mediated gene therapy in GSD-Ia. PMID:22185325

ASCA observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant sample: Typing supernovae from their remnants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hughes, John P.; Hayashi, Ichizo; Helfand, David; Hwang, Una; Itoh, Masayuki; Kirshner, Robert; Koyama, Katsuji; Markert, Thomas; Tsunemi, Hiroshi; Woo, Jonathan

1995-01-01

We present our first results from a study of the supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using data from ASCA. The three remnants we have analyzed to date, 0509-67.5, 0519-69.0, and N103B, are among the smallest, and presumably also the youngest, in the Cloud. The X-ray spectra of these SNRs show strong K alpha emission lines of silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium with no evidence for corresponding lines of oxygen, neon, or magnesium. The dominant feature in the spectra is a broad blend of emission lines around 1 keV which we attribute to L-shell emission lines of iron. Model calculations (Nomoto, Thielemann, & Yokoi 1984) show that the major products of nucleosynthesis in Type Ia supernovae (SNs) are the elements from silicon to iron, as observed here. The calculated nucleosynthetic yields from Type Ib and II SNs are shown to be qualitatively inconsistent with the data. We conclude that the SNs which produced these remnants were of Type Ia. This finding also confirms earlier suggestions that the class of Balmer-dominated remnants arise from Type Ia SN explosions. Based on these early results from the LMC SNR sample, we find that roughly one-half of the SNRs produced in the LMC within the last approximately 1500 yr came from Type Ia SNs.

TWO SNe Ia AT REDSHIFT ∼2: IMPROVED CLASSIFICATION AND REDSHIFT DETERMINATION WITH MEDIUM-BAND INFRARED IMAGING

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

Rodney, Steven A.; Riess, Adam G.; Jones, David O.

2015-11-15

We present two supernovae (SNe) discovered with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey, an HST multi-cycle treasury program. We classify both objects as SNe Ia and find redshifts of z = 1.80 ± 0.02 and 2.26{sup +0.02}{sub −0.10}, the latter of which is the highest redshift SN Ia yet seen. Using light curve fitting we determine luminosity distances and find that both objects are consistent with a standard ΛCDM cosmological model. These SNe were observed using the HST Wide Field Camera 3 infrared detector, with imaging in both wide- and medium-band filters.more » We demonstrate that the classification and redshift estimates are significantly improved by the inclusion of single-epoch medium-band observations. This medium-band imaging approximates a very low resolution spectrum (λ/Δλ ≲ 100) which can isolate broad spectral absorption features that differentiate SNe Ia from their most common core collapse cousins. This medium-band method is also insensitive to dust extinction and (unlike grism spectroscopy) it is not affected by contamination from the SN host galaxy or other nearby sources. As such, it can provide a more efficient—though less precise—alternative to IR spectroscopy for high-z SNe.« less

Constraints on the Progenitor System of the Type Ia Supernova 2014J from Pre-Explosion Hubble Space Telescope Imaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelly, Patrick L.; Fox, Ori D.; Filippenko, Alexei V.; Cenko, S. Bradley; Prato, Lisa; Schaefer, Gail; Shen, Ken J.; Zheng, WeiKang; Graham, Melissa L.; Tucker, Brad E.

2014-01-01

We constrain the properties of the progenitor system of the highly reddened Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2014J in Messier 82 (M82; d (is) approx. 3.5 Mpc). We determine the supernova (SN) location using Keck-II K-band adaptive optics images, and we find no evidence for flux from a progenitor system in pre-explosion near-ultraviolet through near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images. Our upper limits exclude systems having a bright red giant companion, including symbiotic novae with luminosities comparable to that of RS Ophiuchi. While the flux constraints are also inconsistent with predictions for comparatively cool He-donor systems (T (is) approximately 35,000 K), we cannot preclude a system similar to V445 Puppis. The progenitor constraints are robust across a wide range of RV and AV values, but significantly greater values than those inferred from the SN light curve and spectrum would yield proportionally brighter luminosity limits. The comparatively faint flux expected from a binary progenitor system consisting of white dwarf stars would not have been detected in the pre-explosion HST imaging. Infrared HST exposures yield more stringent constraints on the luminosities of very cool (T (is) less than 3000 K) companion stars than was possible in the case of SN Ia 2011fe.

Protein a Immunoadsorption May Hamper the Decision to Transplant Due to Interference With CDC Crossmatch Results.

PubMed

Koefoed-Nielsen, Pernille; Bistrup, Claus; Christiansen, Mette

2017-06-01

Transplanting immunized patients requires immunological monitoring in the pretransplant phase to follow reduction of donor specific HLA antibodies (DSA) after Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA) immunoadsorption (IA) or therapeutic plasma exchange followed by IVIG and Rituximab administration. Pretreatment aims to significantly reduce DSA strength. The Tissue Typing Lab at Aarhus University Hospital performs immunological monitoring of approximately 150 kidney transplantation patients per year from two transplant centers. From 2012 to 2013, we experienced seven patients desensitized using SPA IA, initially presenting negative cytotoxic complement dependent (CDC) T-cell crossmatches but positive B and T cell flowcytometric crossmatch, who despite significant DSA reduction developed weakly positive CDC T-cell crossmatch shortly prior to transplantation. We hypothesised that leached SPA during IA could be the cause, as the complication was not observed in patients who received plasma exchanges. We found that the positive CDC was not donor specific and SPA column material incubated with control serum reproduced a positive CDC T-cell crossmatch. Finally, we detected leached SPA in one of the patient samples using a highly sensitive time-resolved fluorescent assay. In conclusion, the results emphasize the importance of carefully considering CDC crossmatch results subsequent to IA, before a planned transplantation is either postponed or cancelled. J. Clin. Apheresis 32:163-169, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A simple and general method for solving detailed chemical evolution with delayed production of iron and other chemical elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vincenzo, F.; Matteucci, F.; Spitoni, E.

2017-04-01

We present a theoretical method for solving the chemical evolution of galaxies by assuming an instantaneous recycling approximation for chemical elements restored by massive stars and the delay time distribution formalism for delayed chemical enrichment by Type Ia Supernovae. The galaxy gas mass assembly history, together with the assumed stellar yields and initial mass function, represents the starting point of this method. We derive a simple and general equation, which closely relates the Laplace transforms of the galaxy gas accretion history and star formation history, which can be used to simplify the problem of retrieving these quantities in the galaxy evolution models assuming a linear Schmidt-Kennicutt law. We find that - once the galaxy star formation history has been reconstructed from our assumptions - the differential equation for the evolution of the chemical element X can be suitably solved with classical methods. We apply our model to reproduce the [O/Fe] and [Si/Fe] versus [Fe/H] chemical abundance patterns as observed at the solar neighbourhood by assuming a decaying exponential infall rate of gas and different delay time distributions for Type Ia Supernovae; we also explore the effect of assuming a non-linear Schmidt-Kennicutt law, with the index of the power law being k = 1.4. Although approximate, we conclude that our model with the single-degenerate scenario for Type Ia Supernovae provides the best agreement with the observed set of data. Our method can be used by other complementary galaxy stellar population synthesis models to predict also the chemical evolution of galaxies.

The Type Ia supernova 1989B in NGC 3627 (M66)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, Lisa A.; Phillips, M. M.; Suntzeff, Nicholas B.; Heathcote, S. R.; Hamuy, Mario; Navarrete, M.; Fernandez, M.; Weller, W. G.; Schommer, R. A.; Kirshner, Robert P.

1994-01-01

We report extensive optical photometry and spectroscopy of the Type Ia supernova 1989B. Maximum light in B occurred approximately seven days after discovery on JD 2447565.3 +/- 1.0 (1989 February 7.8 +/- 1.0) at a magnitude of 12.34 +/- 0.05. The UBV light curves of this supernova were very similar to those of other well observed Type Ia events such as SN 1981B and SN 1980N. From a comparison of the UBVRIJHK photometry, we derive an extinction for SN 1989B of E(B-V) = 0.37 +/- 0.03 mags relative to the unobscured Type Ia SN 1980N. The properties of the dust responsible for the reddening of SN 1989B appear to have been similar to those of normal dust in the Milky Way. In particular, we find no evidence for an unusually low value of the ratio of the total to selective absorption. We derive a distance modulus of delta mu(sub 0) = -1.62 +/- 0.03 mag relative to the Type Ia SN 1980N. We present optical spectra which provide essentially continuous coverage of the spectral evolution of SN 1989B over the first month following B maximum. These data show the transition from the maximum-light spectrum, in which lines of elements such as Ca, Si, S, Mg, and O are most prominent, to the Fe-dominated spectrum observed a few weeks after maximum. This transition occurred quite smoothly over a two-week period following B maximum. Comparison of the spectra of SN 1989B with data for two other well observed Type Ia supernovae -- 1981B and 1986G -- reveals subtle differences in the relative strengths of the S II and Si II absorption lines at maximum light. However, these differences disappeared within a week or so after maximum with the onset of the Fe-dominated phase.

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ia10 and Vip3Aa protein interactions and their toxicity in Spodoptera spp. (Lepidoptera).

PubMed

Bergamasco, V B; Mendes, D R P; Fernandes, O A; Desidério, J A; Lemos, M V F

2013-02-01

The polyphagous pests belonging to the genus Spodoptera are considered to be among the most important causes of damage and are widely distributed throughout the Americas'. Due to the extensive use of genetically modified plants containing Bacillus thuringiensis genes that code for insecticidal proteins, resistant insects may arise. To prevent the development of resistance, pyramided plants, which express multiple insecticidal proteins that act through distinct mode of actions, can be used. This study analyzed the mechanisms of action for the proteins Cry1Ia10 and Vip3Aa on neonatal Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera albula, Spodoptera eridania and Spodoptera cosmioides larvae. The interactions of these toxins with receptors on the intestinal epithelial membrane were also analyzed by binding biotinylated toxins to brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) from the intestines of these insects. A putative receptor of approximately 65 kDa was found by ligand blotting in all of these species. In vitro competition assays using biotinylated proteins have indicated that Vip3Aa and Cry1Ia10 do not compete for the same receptor for S. frugiperda, S. albula and S. cosmioides and that Vip3Aa was more efficient than Cry1Ia10 when tested individually, by bioassays. A synergistic effect of the toxins in S. frugiperda, S. albula and S. cosmioides was observed when they were combined. However, in S. eridania, Cry1Ia10 and Vip3Aa might compete for the same receptor and through bioassays Cry1Ia10 was more efficient than Vip3Aa and showed an antagonistic effect when the proteins were combined. These results suggest that using these genes to develop pyramided plants may not prove effective in preventing the development of resistance in S. eridiana. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dosimetric analysis of imaging changes following pulmonary stereotactic body radiation therapy.

PubMed

Prendergast, Brendan M; Bonner, James A; Popple, Richard A; Spencer, Sharon A; Fiveash, John B; Keene, Kimberly S; Cerfolio, Robert J; Minnich, Douglas J; Dobelbower, Michael C

2011-02-01

The aim of this study was to determine whether late patterns of pulmonary fibrosis are related to specific radiation doses administered during thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The records of all patients treated with SBRT for either pulmonary metastases or inoperable primary lung tumours at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from November 2005 to July 2008 were reviewed. Patients selected for analysis had diagnostic chest computed tomography (CT) scans acquired at least 180 days after completion of therapy. CT scans acquired at follow-up were co-registered with the original treatment planning CT scans for 12 eligible patients (17 lesions), and late-occurring pulmonary imaging abnormalities (IAs) were contoured. Dosimetric parameters analysed include D(80) , D(90) , V(18) and V(prescription dose) of the IA and V(14) and V(18) of the lung. Late pulmonary IAs were identified in 11 treated areas from nine patients. Late IAs could not be identified in six treated areas from three patients secondary to emphysema, tumour progression and severe atelectasis, respectively. The mean doses to 80% (D(80) ) and 90% (D(90) ) of the IAs were 18.4 and 14.5 Gy, respectively (ranges: 5.6-27.8 and 3.3-22.4 Gy). On average, 79.4% (range: 45.6-97.5%) of the IA received at least 18 Gy, while an average of 19.3% (range: 0.2-42.2%) received the prescription dose. On average, only 4.2% (range: 1.1-7.8%) of the lungs received 18 Gy. Imaging abnormalities consistent with pulmonary fibrosis are common after SBRT and are well approximated by the 18 Gy isodose distribution. The clinical ramification of these findings should be evaluated in future studies. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology © 2011 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.

Theoretical Performance of Hydrogen-Oxygen Rocket Thrust Chambers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sievers, Gilbert K.; Tomazic, William A.; Kinney, George R.

1961-01-01

Data are presented for liquid-hydrogen-liquid-oxygen thrust chambers at chamber pressures from 15 to 1200 pounds per square inch absolute, area ratios to approximately 300, and percent fuel from about 8 to 34 for both equilibrium and frozen composition during expansion. Specific impulse in vacuum, specific impulse, combustion-chamber temperature, nozzle-exit temperature, characteristic velocity, and the ratio of chamber-to-nozzle-exit pressure are included. The data are presented in convenient graphical forms to allow quick calculation of theoretical nozzle performance with over- or underexpansion, flow separation, and introduction of the propellants at various initial conditions or heat loss from the combustion chamber.

Determination of threshold and maximum operating electric stresses for selected high voltage insulations. Task 2: Investigation of oil-filled paper insulated cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sosnowski, M.; Eager, G. S., Jr.

1983-06-01

Threshold voltage of oil-impregnated paper insulated cables are investigaed. Experimental work was done on model cables specially manufactured for this project. The cables were impregnated with mineral and with synthetic oils. Standard impulse breakdown voltage tests and impulse voltage breakdown tests with dc prestressing were performed at room temperature and at 1000C. The most important result is the finding of very high level of threshold voltage stress for oil-impregnated paper insulated cables. This threshold voltage is approximately 1.5 times higher than the threshold voltage or crosslinked polyethylene insulated cables.

Oxygen and Other Atmospheric Gases

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-02-27

with a pulse width of approximately 8 ns and a repetition gen , (3so)’ l and , n. , have been identified and some mo- rate of I I Hz. The photoelectron...K. Kimura, J. Electron. Spectrosc.R-deerientphooioizaioncro,,.,,cion ThS, ,e in Relat. Pl’enom. 41, 325 (1986). the diaati aproxiat~n. tV-ia~oa Fanc

Task Order 2 Enhanced Preliminary Assessment, Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-12-01

sourCs Prov in flo LS. AnY Toxi : nd 0 mtara 200 P, Sw~ia B Properlty IProposed A2 To Be [Excessed Blb HISTORIC AREAS RECOMMENDED SAMPLING METHODS...approximately 30 gal) located outside, in the back yard. All flammable materials such as gasoline and paints are reportedly stored here [1-2]. In

Fortran 4 program for two-impulse rendezvous analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barling, W. H., Jr.; Brothers, W. J.; Darling, W. H., Jr.

1967-01-01

Program determines if rendezvous in near space is possible, and performs an analysis to determine the approximate required values of the magnitude and direction of two thrust applications of the upper stage of a rocket firing. The analysis is performed by using ordinary Keplerian mechanics.

Impulse propagation in the nocturnal boundary layer: analysis of the geometric component.

PubMed

Blom, Philip; Waxler, Roger

2012-05-01

On clear dry nights over flat land, a temperature inversion and stable nocturnal wind jet lead to an acoustic duct in the lowest few hundred meters of the atmosphere. An impulsive signal propagating in such a duct is received at long ranges from the source as an extended wave train consisting of a series of weakly dispersed distinct arrivals followed by a strongly dispersed low-frequency tail. The leading distinct arrivals have been previously shown to be well modeled by geometric acoustics. In this paper, the geometric acoustics approximation for the leading arrivals is investigated. Using the solutions of the eikonal and transport equations, travel times, amplitudes, and caustic structures of the distinct arrivals have been determined. The time delay between and relative amplitudes of the direct-refracted and single ground reflection arrivals have been investigated as parameters for an inversion scheme. A two parameter quadratic approximation to the effective sound speed profile has been fit and found to be in strong agreement with meteorological measurements from the time of propagation.

Mission and system optimization of nuclear electric propulsion vehicles for lunar and Mars missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilland, James H.

1991-01-01

The detailed mission and system optimization of low thrust electric propulsion missions is a complex, iterative process involving interaction between orbital mechanics and system performance. Through the use of appropriate approximations, initial system optimization and analysis can be performed for a range of missions. The intent of these calculations is to provide system and mission designers with simple methods to assess system design without requiring access or detailed knowledge of numerical calculus of variations optimizations codes and methods. Approximations for the mission/system optimization of Earth orbital transfer and Mars mission have been derived. Analyses include the variation of thruster efficiency with specific impulse. Optimum specific impulse, payload fraction, and power/payload ratios are calculated. The accuracy of these methods is tested and found to be reasonable for initial scoping studies. Results of optimization for Space Exploration Initiative lunar cargo and Mars missions are presented for a range of power system and thruster options.

Derivative information recovery by a selective integration technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, M. A.

1974-01-01

A nonlinear stationary homogeneous digital filter DIRSIT (derivative information recovery by a selective integration technique) is investigated. The spectrum of a quasi-linear discrete describing function (DDF) to DIRSIT is obtained by a digital measuring scheme. A finite impulse response (FIR) approximation to the quasi-linearization is then obtained. Finally, DIRSIT is compared with its quasi-linear approximation and with a standard digital differentiating technique. Results indicate the effects of DIRSIT on a wide variety of practical signals.

Computation of Nonlinear Hydrodynamic Loads on Floating Wind Turbines Using Fluid-Impulse Theory: Preprint

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

Kok Yan Chan, G.; Sclavounos, P. D.; Jonkman, J.

2015-04-02

A hydrodynamics computer module was developed for the evaluation of the linear and nonlinear loads on floating wind turbines using a new fluid-impulse formulation for coupling with the FAST program. The recently developed formulation allows the computation of linear and nonlinear loads on floating bodies in the time domain and avoids the computationally intensive evaluation of temporal and nonlinear free-surface problems and efficient methods are derived for its computation. The body instantaneous wetted surface is approximated by a panel mesh and the discretization of the free surface is circumvented by using the Green function. The evaluation of the nonlinear loadsmore » is based on explicit expressions derived by the fluid-impulse theory, which can be computed efficiently. Computations are presented of the linear and nonlinear loads on the MIT/NREL tension-leg platform. Comparisons were carried out with frequency-domain linear and second-order methods. Emphasis was placed on modeling accuracy of the magnitude of nonlinear low- and high-frequency wave loads in a sea state. Although fluid-impulse theory is applied to floating wind turbines in this paper, the theory is applicable to other offshore platforms as well.« less

Auditory and behavioral responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) to impulsive sounds resembling distant signatures of underwater explosions.

PubMed

Finneran, J J; Schlundt, C E; Carder, D A; Clark, J A; Young, J A; Gaspin, J B; Ridgway, S H

2000-07-01

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure masked underwater hearing thresholds in two bottlenose dolphins and one beluga whale before and after exposure to impulsive underwater sounds with waveforms resembling distant signatures of underwater explosions. An array of piezoelectric transducers was used to generate impulsive sounds with waveforms approximating those predicted from 5 or 500 kg HBX-1 charges at ranges from 1.5 to 55.6 km. At the conclusion of the study, no temporary shifts in masked-hearing thresholds (MTTSs), defined as a 6-dB or larger increase in threshold over pre-exposure levels, had been observed at the highest impulse level generated (500 kg at 1.7 km, peak pressure 70 kPa); however, disruptions of the animals' trained behaviors began to occur at exposures corresponding to 5 kg at 9.3 km and 5 kg at 1.5 km for the dolphins and 500 kg at 1.9 km for the beluga whale. These data are the first direct information regarding the effects of distant underwater explosion signatures on the hearing abilities of odontocetes.

Testing the Impulsiveness of Solar Flare Heating through Analysis of Dynamic Atmospheric Response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newton, E. K.; Emslie, A. G.; Mariska, J. T.

1996-03-01

One crucial test of a solar flare energy transport model is its ability to reproduce the characteristics of the atmospheric motions inferred from soft X-ray line spectra. Using a recently developed diagnostic, the velocity differential emission measure (VDEM), we can obtain from observations a physical measure of the amount of soft X-ray mitting plasma flowing at each velocity, v, and hence the total momentum of the upflowing plasma, without approximation or parametric fitting. We have correlated solar hard X-ray emission profiles by the Yohkoh Hard X-ray telescope with the mass and momentum histories inferred from soft X-ray line profiles observed by the Yohkoh Bragg crystal spectrometers. For suitably impulsive hard X-ray emission, an analysis of the hydrodynamic equations predicts a proportionality between the hard X-ray intensity and the second time derivative of the soft X-ray mitting plasma's momentum. This relationship is borne out by an analysis of 18 disk-center impulsive flares of varying durations, thereby lending support to the hypothesis that a prompt energy deposition mechanism, such as an energetic electron flux, is indeed responsible for the soft X-ray response observed in the rise phase of sufficiently impulsive solar flares.

The transcriptional landscape of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA during infection of soybean as defined by RNA-seq

PubMed Central

Copley, Tanya R.; Duggavathi, Raj

2017-01-01

Rhizoctonia solani Kühn infects most plant families and can cause significant agricultural yield losses worldwide; however, plant resistance to this disease is rare and short-lived, and therefore poorly understood, resulting in the use of chemical pesticides for its control. Understanding the functional responses of this pathogen during host infection can help elucidate the molecular mechanisms that are necessary for successful host invasion. Using the pathosystem model soybean-R. solani anastomosis group AG1-IA, we examined the global transcriptional responses of R. solani during early and late infection stages of soybean by applying an RNA-seq approach. Approximately, 148 million clean paired-end reads, representing 93% of R. solani AG1-IA genes, were obtained from the sequenced libraries. Analysis of R. solani AG1-IA transcripts during soybean invasion revealed that most genes were similarly expressed during early and late infection stages, and only 11% and 15% of the expressed genes were differentially expressed during early and late infection stages, respectively. Analyses of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed shifts in molecular pathways involved in antibiotics biosynthesis, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as pathways involved in antioxidant production. Furthermore, several KEGG pathways were unique to each time point, particularly the up-regulation of genes related to toxin degradation (e.g., nicotinate and nicotinamid metabolism) at onset of necrosis, and those linked to synthesis of anti-microbial compounds and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) biosynthesis 24 h.p.o. of necrosis. These results suggest that particular genes or pathways are required for either invasion or disease development. Overall, this study provides the first insights into R. solani AG1-IA transcriptome responses to soybean invasion providing beneficial information for future targeted control methods of this successful pathogen. PMID:28877263

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder comorbid oppositional defiant disorder and its predominately inattentive type: evidence for an association with COMT but not MAOA in a Chinese sample.

PubMed

Qian, Qiu-Jin; Liu, Jin; Wang, Yu-Feng; Yang, Li; Guan, Li-Li; Faraone, Stephen V

2009-02-19

There are three childhood disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD). The most common comorbid disorder in ADHD is ODD. DSM-IV describes three ADHD subtypes: predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-IA), predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (ADHD-HI), and combined type (ADHD-C). Prior work suggests that specific candidate genes are associated with specific subtypes of ADHD in China. Our previous association studies between ADHD and functional polymorphisms of COMT and MAOA, consistently showed the low transcriptional activity alleles were preferentially transmitted to ADHD-IA boys. Thus, the goal of the present study is to test the hypothesis that COMT Val158Met and MAOA-uVNTR jointly contribute to the ODD phenotype among Chinese ADHD boys. 171 Chinese boys between 6 and 17.5 years old (mean = 10.3, SD = 2.6) with complete COMT val158met and MAOA-uVNTR genotyping information were studied. We used logistic regression with genotypes as independent variables and the binary phenotype as the dependent variable. We used p < 0.05 as the level of nominal statistical significance. Bonferroni correction procedures were used to adjust for multiple comparisons. Our results highlight the potential etiologic role of COMT in the ADHD with comorbid ODD and its predominately inattentive type in male Chinese subjects. ADHD with comorbid ODD was associated with homozygosity of the high-activity Val allele, while the predominantly inattentive ADHD subtype was associated with the low-activity Met allele. We found no evidence of association between the MAOA-uVNTR variant and ADHD with comorbid ODD or the ADHD-IA subtype. Our study of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder comorbid oppositional defiant disorder and its predominately inattentive type highlights the potential etiologic role of COMT for ADHD children in China. But we failed to observe an interaction between COMT and MAOA, which suggests that epistasis between COMT and MAOA genes does not influence the phenotype of ADHD-IA with comorbid ODD in a clinical sample of Chinese male subjects. To confirm our findings further studies with a larger number of subjects and healthy controls are needed.

The propagation of ion-acoustic waves carrying orbital angular momentum in the electron-positron-ion plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehdian, H.; Nobahar, D.; Hajisharifi, K.

2018-02-01

Ion-acoustic (IA) waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) are investigated in an unmagnetized, uniform, and collisionless electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasma system. Employing the hydrodynamic theory, the paraxial equation in term of ion perturbed number density is derived and discussed about its Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam solutions. Obtaining an approximate solution for the electrostatic potential, the IA wave characteristics including helical electric field structure, energy density, and OAM density are theoretically studied. Based on the numerical analysis, the effects of positron concentration, radial and angular mode number as well as beam waist on the obtained potential profile are investigated. It is shown that the depth (height) and width of the LG potential profile wells (barriers) are considerably modify by the variation of positron concentration.

SELENE Translunar Trajectory Reconfiguration Plan Provided for the Case of Main Engine Anomaly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kawakatsu, Yasuhiro

2007-01-01

In this paper, the reconfiguration of translunar trajectory in case of main engine anomaly is investigated. The objectives of the trajectory design are to reduce the excessive velocity at the Lunar encounter as well as to reduce the total required Delta-v to complete the sequence. 3-impulse Hohmann transfer based trajectory is adopted and possible trajectories are categorized under 2-body approximation. The solutions obtained are applied to more sophisticated models (3-body approximation and 4-body) and yields feasible trajectory.

Acute Radiation Sickness Amelioration Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-05-01

Emetic Drugs 16. PRICE CODE Antagonists 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 19, SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT OF...102 UNCLASSIFIED mcuIw IA IIIcaIIin or Isis PAW CLASSFIED BY: N/A since Unclassified. DECLASSIFY ON: N/A since Unclassified. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF...Approximately 2000 documents relevant to the development of the candidate anti-emetic drugs ondansetron (Zofran, Glaxo Pharmaceuticals) and granisetron

1. Photocopy of drawing (from newspaper clipping entitled 'Iowa State ...

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

1. Photocopy of drawing (from newspaper clipping entitled 'Iowa State Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb,' located at Council Bluffs Free Library in scrapbook catalogued 'Iowa -- Deaf, School for the') Artist unknown approximately 1868-1887 MAIN FACADE - Iowa Institute for Education of the Deaf & Dumb, South Avenue & State Route 92 Vicinity, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, IA

An efficient approach to ARMA modeling of biological systems with multiple inputs and delays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perrott, M. H.; Cohen, R. J.

1996-01-01

This paper presents a new approach to AutoRegressive Moving Average (ARMA or ARX) modeling which automatically seeks the best model order to represent investigated linear, time invariant systems using their input/output data. The algorithm seeks the ARMA parameterization which accounts for variability in the output of the system due to input activity and contains the fewest number of parameters required to do so. The unique characteristics of the proposed system identification algorithm are its simplicity and efficiency in handling systems with delays and multiple inputs. We present results of applying the algorithm to simulated data and experimental biological data In addition, a technique for assessing the error associated with the impulse responses calculated from estimated ARMA parameterizations is presented. The mapping from ARMA coefficients to impulse response estimates is nonlinear, which complicates any effort to construct confidence bounds for the obtained impulse responses. Here a method for obtaining a linearization of this mapping is derived, which leads to a simple procedure to approximate the confidence bounds.

Hot under the collar: The impact of heat on game play.

PubMed

Young, Michael E; McCoy, Anthony W; Hutson, John P; Schlabach, Meredith; Eckels, Steven

2017-03-01

High temperatures have been documented to affect behavior in a variety of ways depending on the nature of the task. We extended this prior research by examining the effects of dynamically changing temperature on various aspects of performance in a video game task. In the span of approximately an hour, temperature was gradually increased, stayed constant for a period of time, and gradually decreased to baseline. The gaming task was a variation on one used to assess impulsivity in participants thus allowing the possibility of assessing the effects of temperature on impulsive choice. Rather than heat increasing impulsivity and thus decreasing wait times, participants showed increases in wait times as temperature increased which either suggests that participants were becoming more self-controlled under heat or that the documented negative impact of heat on motor functioning was dominating their performance. Importantly, the participant's sensitivity to the changing task requirements was not affected by changes in temperature. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimation of Arsenic Intake from Drinking Water and Food (Raw and Cooked) in a Rural Village of Northern Chile. Urine as a Biomarker of Recent Exposure

PubMed Central

Diaz, Oscar Pablo; Arcos, Rafael; Tapia, Yasna; Pastene, Rubén; Velez, Dínoraz; Devesa, Vicenta; Montoro, Rosa; Aguilera, Valeska; Becerra, Miriam

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to estimate both the contribution of drinking water and food (raw and cooked) to the total (t-As) and inorganic (i-As) arsenic intake and the exposure of inhabitants of Socaire, a rural village in Chile´s Antofagasta Region, by using urine as biomarker. The i-As intake from food and water was estimated using samples collected between November 2008 and September 2009. A 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire was given to 20 participants. Drinking water, food (raw and cooked) and urine samples were collected directly from the homes where the interviewees lived. The percentage of i-As/t-As in the drinking water that contributed to the total intake was variable (26.8–92.9). Cereals and vegetables are the food groups that contain higher concentrations of i-As. All of the participants interviewed exceeded the reference intake FAO/OMS (149.8 µg∙i-As·day−1) by approximately nine times. The concentration of t-As in urine in each individual ranged from 78 to 459 ng·mL−1. Estimated As intake from drinking water and food was not associated with total urinary As concentration. The results show that both drinking water and food substantially contribute to i-As intake and an increased exposure risk to adult residents in contaminated areas. PMID:26006131

Supernova Ejecta in the Youngest Galactic Supernova Remnant G1.9+0.3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borkowski, Kazimierz J.; Reynolds, Stephen P.; Hwang, Una; Green, David A.; Petre, Robert; Krishnamurthy, Kalyani; Willett, Rebecca

2013-01-01

G1.9+0.3 is the youngest known Galactic supernova remnant (SNR), with an estimated supernova (SN) explosion date of approximately 1900, and most likely located near the Galactic Center. Only the outermost ejecta layers with free-expansion velocities (is) approximately greater than 18,000 km s-1 have been shocked so far in this dynamically young, likely Type Ia SNR. A long (980 ks) Chandra observation in 2011 allowed spatially-resolved spectroscopy of heavy-element ejecta. We denoised Chandra data with the spatio-spectral method of Krishnamurthy et al., and used a wavelet based technique to spatially localize thermal emission produced by intermediate-mass elements (IMEs: Si and S) and iron. The spatial distribution of both IMEs and Fe is extremely asymmetric, with the strongest ejecta emission in the northern rim. Fe K alpha emission is particularly prominent there, and fits with thermal models indicate strongly oversolar Fe abundances. In a localized, outlying region in the northern rim, IMEs are less abundant than Fe, indicating that undiluted Fe-group elements (including 56Ni) with velocities greater than 18,000 km s-1 were ejected by this SN. But in the inner west rim, we find Si- and S-rich ejecta without any traces of Fe, so high-velocity products of O-burning were also ejected. G1.9+0.3 appears similar to energetic Type Ia SNe such as SN 2010jn where iron-group elements at such high free-expansion velocities have been recently detected. The pronounced asymmetry in the ejecta distribution and abundance inhomogeneities are best explained by a strongly asymmetric SN explosion, similar to those produced in some recent 3D delayed-detonation Type Ia models.

An investigation of lower-extremity functional asymmetry for non-preferred able-bodied walking speeds

PubMed Central

RICE, JOHN; SEELEY, MATTHEW K.

2010-01-01

Functional asymmetry is an idea that is often used to explain documented bilateral asymmetries during able-bodied gait. Within this context, this idea suggests that the non-dominant and dominant legs, considered as whole entities, contribute asymmetrically to support and propulsion during walking. The degree of functional asymmetry may depend upon walking speed. The purpose of this study was to better understand the potential relationship between functional asymmetry and walking speed. Bilateral ground reaction forces (GRF) were measured for 20 healthy subjects who walked at nine different speeds: preferred, +10%, +20%, +30%, +40, −10%, −20%, −30%, and −40%. Contribution to support was determined to be the support impulse: the time integral of the vertical GRF during stance. Contribution to propulsion was determined to be the propulsion impulse: the time integral of the anterior-posterior GRF, while this force was directed forward. Repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05) revealed leg × speed interactions for normalized support (p = 0.001) and propulsion (p = 0.001) impulse, indicating that speed does affect the degree of functional asymmetry during gait. Post hoc comparisons (α = 0.05) showed that support impulse was approximately 2% greater for the dominant leg, relative to the non-dominant leg, for the −10%, −20%, and −40% speeds. Propulsion impulse was 12% greater for the dominant leg than for the non-dominant leg at the +20% speed. Speed does appear to affect the magnitude of bilateral asymmetry during walking, however, only the bilateral difference for propulsion impulse at one fast speed (+20%) was supportive of the functional asymmetry idea. PMID:27182346

The integration of improved Monte Carlo compton scattering algorithms into the Integrated TIGER Series.

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

Quirk, Thomas, J., IV

2004-08-01

The Integrated TIGER Series (ITS) is a software package that solves coupled electron-photon transport problems. ITS performs analog photon tracking for energies between 1 keV and 1 GeV. Unlike its deterministic counterpart, the Monte Carlo calculations of ITS do not require a memory-intensive meshing of phase space; however, its solutions carry statistical variations. Reducing these variations is heavily dependent on runtime. Monte Carlo simulations must therefore be both physically accurate and computationally efficient. Compton scattering is the dominant photon interaction above 100 keV and below 5-10 MeV, with higher cutoffs occurring in lighter atoms. In its current model of Comptonmore » scattering, ITS corrects the differential Klein-Nishina cross sections (which assumes a stationary, free electron) with the incoherent scattering function, a function dependent on both the momentum transfer and the atomic number of the scattering medium. While this technique accounts for binding effects on the scattering angle, it excludes the Doppler broadening the Compton line undergoes because of the momentum distribution in each bound state. To correct for these effects, Ribbefor's relativistic impulse approximation (IA) will be employed to create scattering cross section differential in both energy and angle for each element. Using the parameterizations suggested by Brusa et al., scattered photon energies and angle can be accurately sampled at a high efficiency with minimal physical data. Two-body kinematics then dictates the electron's scattered direction and energy. Finally, the atomic ionization is relaxed via Auger emission or fluorescence. Future work will extend these improvements in incoherent scattering to compounds and to adjoint calculations.« less

Electron-deuteron deep-inelastic scattering with spectator nucleon tagging and final-state interactions at intermediate x

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

Strikman, Mark; Weiss, Christian

We consider electron-deuteron deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) with detection of a proton in the nuclear fragmentation region ("spectator tagging") as a method for extracting the free neutron structure functions and studying their nuclear modifications. Such measurements could be performed at a future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) with suitable forward detectors. The measured proton recoil momentum (≲ 100 MeV in the deuteron rest frame) specifies the deuteron configuration during the high-energy process and permits a controlled theoretical treatment of nuclear effects. Nuclear and nucleonic structure are separated using methods of light-front quantum mechanics. The impulse approximation (IA) to the tagged DIS cross sectionmore » contains the free neutron pole, which can be reached by on-shell extrapolation in the recoil momentum. Final-state interactions (FSI) distort the recoil momentum distribution away from the pole. In the intermediate-x region 0.1 < x < 0.5 FSI arise predominantly from interactions of the spectator proton with slow hadrons produced in the DIS process on the neutron (rest frame momenta ≲1 GeV, target fragmentation region). We construct a schematic model describing this effect, using final-state hadron distributions measured in nucleon DIS experiments and low-energy hadron scattering amplitudes. We investigate the magnitude of FSI, their dependence on the recoil momentum (angular dependence, forward/backward regions), their analytic properties, and their effect on the on-shell extrapolation. We comment on the prospects for neutron structure extraction in tagged DIS with EIC. Finally, we discuss possible extensions of the FSI model to other kinematic regions (large/small x). In tagged DIS at x << 0.1 FSI resulting from diffractive scattering on the nucleons become important and require separate treatment.« less

Electron-deuteron deep-inelastic scattering with spectator nucleon tagging and final-state interactions at intermediate x

DOE PAGES

Strikman, Mark; Weiss, Christian

2018-03-27

We consider electron-deuteron deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) with detection of a proton in the nuclear fragmentation region ("spectator tagging") as a method for extracting the free neutron structure functions and studying their nuclear modifications. Such measurements could be performed at a future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) with suitable forward detectors. The measured proton recoil momentum (≲ 100 MeV in the deuteron rest frame) specifies the deuteron configuration during the high-energy process and permits a controlled theoretical treatment of nuclear effects. Nuclear and nucleonic structure are separated using methods of light-front quantum mechanics. The impulse approximation (IA) to the tagged DIS cross sectionmore » contains the free neutron pole, which can be reached by on-shell extrapolation in the recoil momentum. Final-state interactions (FSI) distort the recoil momentum distribution away from the pole. In the intermediate-x region 0.1 < x < 0.5 FSI arise predominantly from interactions of the spectator proton with slow hadrons produced in the DIS process on the neutron (rest frame momenta ≲1 GeV, target fragmentation region). We construct a schematic model describing this effect, using final-state hadron distributions measured in nucleon DIS experiments and low-energy hadron scattering amplitudes. We investigate the magnitude of FSI, their dependence on the recoil momentum (angular dependence, forward/backward regions), their analytic properties, and their effect on the on-shell extrapolation. We comment on the prospects for neutron structure extraction in tagged DIS with EIC. Finally, we discuss possible extensions of the FSI model to other kinematic regions (large/small x). In tagged DIS at x << 0.1 FSI resulting from diffractive scattering on the nucleons become important and require separate treatment.« less

Supernova spectra below strong circumstellar interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leloudas, G.; Hsiao, E. Y.; Johansson, J.; Maeda, K.; Moriya, T. J.; Nordin, J.; Petrushevska, T.; Silverman, J. M.; Sollerman, J.; Stritzinger, M. D.; Taddia, F.; Xu, D.

2015-02-01

We construct spectra of supernovae (SNe) interacting strongly with a circumstellar medium (CSM) by adding SN templates, a black-body continuum, and an emission-line spectrum. In a Monte Carlo simulation we vary a large number of parameters, such as the SN type, brightness and phase, the strength of the CSM interaction, the extinction, and the signal to noise ratio (S/N) of the observed spectrum. We generate more than 800 spectra, distribute them to ten different human classifiers, and study how the different simulation parameters affect the appearance of the spectra and their classification. The SNe IIn showing some structure over the continuum were characterized as "SNe IInS" to allow for a better quantification. We demonstrate that the flux ratio of the underlying SN to the continuum fV is the single most important parameter determining whether a spectrum can be classified correctly. Other parameters, such as extinction, S/N, and the width and strength of the emission lines, do not play a significant role. Thermonuclear SNe get progressively classified as Ia-CSM, IInS, and IIn as fV decreases. The transition between Ia-CSM and IInS occurs at fV ~ 0.2-0.3. It is therefore possible to determine that SNe Ia-CSM are found at the (un-extincted) magnitude range -19.5 >M> -21.6, in very good agreement with observations, and that the faintest SN IIn that can hide a SN Ia has M = -20.1. The literature sample of SNe Ia-CSM shows an association with 91T-like SNe Ia. Our experiment does not support that this association can be attributed to a luminosity bias (91T-like being brighter than normal events). We therefore conclude that this association has real physical origins and we propose that 91T-like explosions result from single degenerate progenitors that are responsible for the CSM. Despite the spectroscopic similarities between SNe Ibc and SNe Ia, the number of misclassifications between these types was very small in our simulation and mostly at low S/N. Combined with the SN luminosity function needed to reproduce the observed SN Ia-CSM luminosities, it is unlikely that SNe Ibc constitute an important contaminant within this sample. We show how Type II spectra transition to IIn and how the Hα profiles vary with fV. SNe IIn fainter than M = -17.2 are unable to mask SNe IIP brighter than M = -15. A more advanced simulation, including radiative transfer, shows that our simplified model is a good first order approximation. The spectra obtained are in good agreement with real data.

Self-stimulation in the rat: quantitative characteristics of the reward pathway.

PubMed

Gallistel, C R

1978-12-01

Quantitative characteristics of the neural pathway that carries the reinforcing signal in electrical self-stimulation of the brain were established by finding which combinations of stimulation parameters give the same performance in a runway. The reward for each run was a train of evenly spaced monophasic cathodal pulses from a monopolar electrode. With train duration and pulse frequency held constant, the required current was a hyperbolic function of pulse duration, with chronaxie c approximately 1.5 msec. With pulse duration held constant, the required strength of the train (the charge delivered per second) was a hyperbolic function of train duration, with chronaxie C approximately 500 msec. To a first approximation, the values of c and C were independent of the choice either of train duration and pulse frequency or of pulse duration, respectively. Hence, the current intensity required by any choice of train duration, pulse frequency, and pulse duration dependent on only two basic parameters, c and C, and one quantity, Qi, the required impulse charge. These may reflect, respectively, current integration by directly excited neurons; temporal integration of neural activity by synaptic processes in a neural network; and the peak of the impulse response of the network, assuming that the network has linear dynamics and that the reward depends on the peak of the output of the network.

Image Processing, Coding, and Compression with Multiple-Point Impulse Response Functions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stossel, Bryan Joseph

1995-01-01

Aspects of image processing, coding, and compression with multiple-point impulse response functions are investigated. Topics considered include characterization of the corresponding random-walk transfer function, image recovery for images degraded by the multiple-point impulse response, and the application of the blur function to image coding and compression. It is found that although the zeros of the real and imaginary parts of the random-walk transfer function occur in continuous, closed contours, the zeros of the transfer function occur at isolated spatial frequencies. Theoretical calculations of the average number of zeros per area are in excellent agreement with experimental results obtained from computer counts of the zeros. The average number of zeros per area is proportional to the standard deviations of the real part of the transfer function as well as the first partial derivatives. Statistical parameters of the transfer function are calculated including the mean, variance, and correlation functions for the real and imaginary parts of the transfer function and their corresponding first partial derivatives. These calculations verify the assumptions required in the derivation of the expression for the average number of zeros. Interesting results are found for the correlations of the real and imaginary parts of the transfer function and their first partial derivatives. The isolated nature of the zeros in the transfer function and its characteristics at high spatial frequencies result in largely reduced reconstruction artifacts and excellent reconstructions are obtained for distributions of impulses consisting of 25 to 150 impulses. The multiple-point impulse response obscures original scenes beyond recognition. This property is important for secure transmission of data on many communication systems. The multiple-point impulse response enables the decoding and restoration of the original scene with very little distortion. Images prefiltered by the random-walk transfer function yield greater compression ratios than are obtained for the original scene. The multiple-point impulse response decreases the bit rate approximately 40-70% and affords near distortion-free reconstructions. Due to the lossy nature of transform-based compression algorithms, noise reduction measures must be incorporated to yield acceptable reconstructions after decompression.

Vergence-mediated modulation of the human horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex is eliminated by a partial peripheral gentamicin lesion.

PubMed

Migliaccio, Americo A; Minor, Lloyd B; Carey, John P

2004-11-01

The angular vestibulo-ocular reflex normally has an increased response during vergence on a near target. Surgical unilateral vestibular deafferentation reduces the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in response to far target viewing and eliminates this vergence effect. Intratympanic gentamicin treatment reduces VOR gain during far viewing, but the reduction is less severe than that after unilateral vestibular deafferentation. We sought to determine how gentamicin would affect vergence-mediated modulation of the VOR. The VOR in response to passive head impulses in the horizontal plane while viewing a far (124 cm) or near (15 cm) target was evaluated in 11 subjects following intratympanic gentamicin treatment. Three of these subjects had also been tested immediately prior to receiving gentamicin. The impulses were low amplitude (approximately 20 degrees ), high velocity (approximately 150 degrees /s), high acceleration (approximately 3,000 degrees /s2) horizontal head rotations administered manually by the investigator. Binocular eye and head velocity were recorded using the scleral search coil technique. The VOR gain was defined as eye velocity divided by inverted head velocity. Prior to intratympanic gentamicin, the VOR gain during rotations to either side was symmetric and showed the same vergence-mediated increase. Following gentamicin, head impulses towards the untreated side yielded VOR gains of 0.91+/-0.12 while viewing a far target and 1.27+/-0.22 while viewing a near target, an increase of 33%. Head impulses towards the treated side produced a hypometric VOR with no increase between far and near viewing. The average latency of the VOR was 7.6+/-2.5 ms towards the untreated side for either near or far viewing and 20.7+/-13.1 ms towards the treated side for either near or far viewing. Our findings show that a peripheral lesion caused by gentamicin does not ablate the VOR but does eliminate a component of the vestibular signal that is necessary for vergence-mediated modulation of the VOR. Gentamicin has preferential toxicity for the hair cells in the central zone of the crista, where irregular afferents predominate. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that irregular afferents provide the necessary signal for vergence-mediated modulation of the VOR.

Event-related wave activity in the EEG provides new marker of ADHD.

PubMed

Alexander, David M; Hermens, Daniel F; Keage, Hannah A D; Clark, C Richard; Williams, Leanne M; Kohn, Michael R; Clarke, Simon D; Lamb, Chris; Gordon, Evian

2008-01-01

This study examines the utility of new measures of event-related spatio-temporal waves in the EEG as a marker of ADHD, previously shown to be closely related to the P3 ERP in an adult sample. Wave activity in the EEG was assessed during both an auditory Oddball and a visual continuous performance task (CPT) for an ADHD group ranging in age from 6 to 18 years and comprising mostly Combined and Inattentive subtypes, and for an age and gender matched control group. The ADHD subjects had less wave activity at low frequencies ( approximately 1 Hz) during both tasks. For auditory Oddball targets, this effect was shown to be related to smaller P3 ERP amplitudes. During CPT, the approximately 1 Hz wave activity in the ADHD subjects was inversely related to clinical and behavioral measures of hyperactivity and impulsivity. CPT wave activity at approximately 1 Hz was seen to "normalise" following treatment with stimulant medication. The results identify a deficit in low frequency wave activity as a new marker for ADHD associated with levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity. The marker is evident across a range of tasks and may be specific to ADHD. While lower approximately 1 Hz activity partly accounts for reduced P3 ERPs in ADHD, the effect also arises for tasks that do not elicit a P3. Deficits in behavioral inhibition are hypothesized to arise from underlying dysregulation of cortical inhibition.

Greater impulsivity is associated with decreased brain activation in obese women during a delay discounting task.

PubMed

Stoeckel, Luke E; Murdaugh, Donna L; Cox, James E; Cook, Edwin W; Weller, Rosalyn E

2013-06-01

Impulsivity and poor inhibitory control are associated with higher rates of delay discounting (DD), or a greater preference for smaller, more immediate rewards at the expense of larger, but delayed rewards. Of the many functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of DD, few have investigated the correlation between individual differences in DD rate and brain activation related to DD trial difficulty, with difficult DD trials expected to activate putative executive function brain areas involved in impulse control. In the current study, we correlated patterns of brain activation as measured by fMRI during difficult vs. easy trials of a DD task with DD rate (k) in obese women. Difficulty was defined by how much a reward choice deviated from an individual's 'indifference point', or the point where the subjective preference for an immediate and a delayed reward was approximately equivalent. We found that greater delay discounting was correlated with less modulation of activation in putative executive function brain areas, such as the middle and superior frontal gyri and inferior parietal lobule, in response to difficult compared to easy DD trials. These results support the suggestion that increased impulsivity is associated with deficient functioning of executive function areas of the brain.

Personal noise exposure assessment from small firearms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kardous, Chucri A.; Murphy, William J.; Willson, Robert D.

2003-04-01

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted noise exposure evaluations of law-enforcement personnel during firearms training at indoor and outdoor firing ranges. A representative cross section of weapons used by officers was measured. Shooters participated in live-fire exercise at an indoor firing range using three different weapons: a Beretta .400 caliber pistol, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, and an M4 .223-caliber assault rifle. Indoor and outdoor measurements were obtained for the Smith and Wesson .357 pistol and Colt .450 and 9-mm pistols, the Glock .400 pistol, and the Heckler and Koch and Colt AR15 .223 rifles. Impulses were measured using a Bruel and Kjaer 4136 1/4-in. microphone and TASCAM digital audio tape recorder. Relevant impulse noise metrics were calculated. Peak levels ranged from 155 to 168 dB SPL. A-weighted equivalent levels ranged from 124 to 128 dBA. The contributions of the secondary weapon firings were approximately 1 to 9 dBA. Other parameters such as A/B durations, number and mixture of impulses, spectral content, energy, kurtosis, temporal spacing, and hearing protectors' effectiveness were examined. Comparisons of applicable damage risk criteria are presented. Further studies are needed to establish an occupational impulse noise damage risk criterion.

Development and characterization of high-efficiency, high-specific impulse xenon Hall thrusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofer, Richard Robert

This dissertation presents research aimed at extending the efficient operation of 1600 s specific impulse Hall thruster technology to the 2000--3000 s range. While recent studies of commercially developed Hall thrusters demonstrated greater than 4000 s specific impulse, maximum efficiency occurred at less than 3000 s. It was hypothesized that the efficiency maximum resulted as a consequence of modern magnetic field designs, optimized for 1600 s, which were unsuitable at high-specific impulse. Motivated by the industry efforts and mission studies, the aim of this research was to develop and characterize xenon Hall thrusters capable of both high-specific impulse and high-efficiency operation. The research divided into development and characterization phases. During the development phase, the laboratory-model NASA-173M Hall thrusters were designed with plasma lens magnetic field topographies and their performance and plasma characteristics were evaluated. Experiments with the NASA-173M version 1 (v1) validated the plasma lens design by showing how changing the magnetic field topography at high-specific impulse improved efficiency. Experiments with the NASA-173M version 2 (v2) showed there was a minimum current density and optimum magnetic field topography at which efficiency monotonically increased with voltage. Between 300--1000 V, total specific impulse and total efficiency of the NASA-173Mv2 operating at 10 mg/s ranged from 1600--3400 s and 51--61%, respectively. Comparison of the thrusters showed that efficiency can be optimized for specific impulse by varying the plasma lens design. During the characterization phase, additional plasma properties of the NASA-173Mv2 were measured and a performance model was derived accounting for a multiply-charged, partially-ionized plasma. Results from the model based on experimental data showed how efficient operation at high-specific impulse was enabled through regulation of the electron current with the magnetic field. The decrease of efficiency due to multiply-charged ions was minor. Efficiency was largely determined by the current utilization, which suggested maximum Hall thruster efficiency has yet to be reached. The electron Hall parameter was approximately constant with voltage, decreasing from an average of 210 at 300 V to an average of 160 between 400--900 V, which confirmed efficient operation can be realized only over a limited range of Hall parameters.

Beam-target double-spin asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering off the deuteron with CLAS

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

Mayer, M.; Kuhn, S. E.; Adhikari, K. P.

The deuteron plays a pivotal role in nuclear and hadronic physics, as both the simplest bound multinucleon system and as an effective neutron target. Quasielastic electron scattering on the deuteron is a benchmark reaction to test our understanding of deuteron structure and the properties and interactions of the two nucleons bound in the deuteron. The experimental data presented here can be used to test state-of-the-art models of the deuteron and the two-nucleon interaction in the final state after two-body breakup of the deuteron. Focusing on polarization degrees of freedom, we gain information on spin-momentum correlations in the deuteron ground statemore » (due to the D-state admixture) and on the limits of the impulse approximation (IA) picture as it applies to measurements of spin-dependent observables like spin structure functions for bound nucleons. Information on this reaction can also be used to reduce systematic uncertainties on the determination of neutron form factors or deuteron polarization through quasielastic polarized electron scattering. Furthermore, we measured the beam-target double-spin asymmetry (A ||) for quasielastic electron scattering off the deuteron at several beam energies (1.6–1.7, 2.5, 4.2, and 5.6–5.8GeV), using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The deuterons were polarized along (or opposite to) the beam direction. The double-spin asymmetries were measured as a function of photon virtuality Q 2 (0.13–3.17(GeV/c) 2), missing momentum (p m=0.0–0.5GeV/c), and the angle between the (inferred) spectator neutron and the momentum transfer direction (θ nq). We compare our results with a recent model that includes final-state interactions (FSI) using a complete parametrization of nucleon-nucleon scattering, as well as a simplified model using the plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA). We find overall good agreement with both the PWIA and FSI expectations at low to medium missing momenta (p m≤0.25GeV/c), including the change of the asymmetry due to the contribution of the deuteron D state at higher momenta. At the highest missing momenta, our data clearly agree better with the calculations including FSI. Final-state interactions seem to play a lesser role for polarization observables in deuteron two-body electrodisintegration than for absolute cross sections. Our data, while limited in statistical power, indicate that PWIA models work reasonably well to understand the asymmetries at lower missing momenta. In turn, this information can be used to extract the product of beam and target polarization (P bP t) from quasielastic electron-deuteron scattering, which is useful for measurements of spin observables in electron-neutron inelastic scattering. But, at the highest missing (neutron) momenta, FSI effects become important and must be accounted for.« less

Beam-target double-spin asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering off the deuteron with CLAS

DOE PAGES

Mayer, M.; Kuhn, S. E.; Adhikari, K. P.; ...

2017-02-24

The deuteron plays a pivotal role in nuclear and hadronic physics, as both the simplest bound multinucleon system and as an effective neutron target. Quasielastic electron scattering on the deuteron is a benchmark reaction to test our understanding of deuteron structure and the properties and interactions of the two nucleons bound in the deuteron. The experimental data presented here can be used to test state-of-the-art models of the deuteron and the two-nucleon interaction in the final state after two-body breakup of the deuteron. Focusing on polarization degrees of freedom, we gain information on spin-momentum correlations in the deuteron ground statemore » (due to the D-state admixture) and on the limits of the impulse approximation (IA) picture as it applies to measurements of spin-dependent observables like spin structure functions for bound nucleons. Information on this reaction can also be used to reduce systematic uncertainties on the determination of neutron form factors or deuteron polarization through quasielastic polarized electron scattering. Furthermore, we measured the beam-target double-spin asymmetry (A ||) for quasielastic electron scattering off the deuteron at several beam energies (1.6–1.7, 2.5, 4.2, and 5.6–5.8GeV), using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The deuterons were polarized along (or opposite to) the beam direction. The double-spin asymmetries were measured as a function of photon virtuality Q 2 (0.13–3.17(GeV/c) 2), missing momentum (p m=0.0–0.5GeV/c), and the angle between the (inferred) spectator neutron and the momentum transfer direction (θ nq). We compare our results with a recent model that includes final-state interactions (FSI) using a complete parametrization of nucleon-nucleon scattering, as well as a simplified model using the plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA). We find overall good agreement with both the PWIA and FSI expectations at low to medium missing momenta (p m≤0.25GeV/c), including the change of the asymmetry due to the contribution of the deuteron D state at higher momenta. At the highest missing momenta, our data clearly agree better with the calculations including FSI. Final-state interactions seem to play a lesser role for polarization observables in deuteron two-body electrodisintegration than for absolute cross sections. Our data, while limited in statistical power, indicate that PWIA models work reasonably well to understand the asymmetries at lower missing momenta. In turn, this information can be used to extract the product of beam and target polarization (P bP t) from quasielastic electron-deuteron scattering, which is useful for measurements of spin observables in electron-neutron inelastic scattering. But, at the highest missing (neutron) momenta, FSI effects become important and must be accounted for.« less

Beam-target double-spin asymmetry in quasielastic electron scattering off the deuteron with CLAS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayer, M.; Kuhn, S. E.; Adhikari, K. P.; Akbar, Z.; Anefalos Pereira, S.; Asryan, G.; Avakian, H.; Badui, R. A.; Ball, J.; Baltzell, N. A.; Battaglieri, M.; Bedlinskiy, I.; Biselli, A. S.; Boiarinov, S.; Bosted, P.; Briscoe, W. J.; Brooks, W. K.; Bültmann, S.; Burkert, V. D.; Carman, D. S.; Celentano, A.; Charles, G.; Chetry, T.; Ciullo, G.; Clark, L.; Colaneri, L.; Cole, P. L.; Compton, N.; Contalbrigo, M.; Crede, V.; D'Angelo, A.; Dashyan, N.; De Vita, R.; De Sanctis, E.; Deur, A.; Djalali, C.; Dupre, R.; El Alaoui, A.; El Fassi, L.; Elouadrhiri, L.; Eugenio, P.; Fanchini, E.; Fedotov, G.; Fersch, R.; Filippi, A.; Fleming, J. A.; Forest, T. A.; Ghandilyan, Y.; Gilfoyle, G. P.; Giovanetti, K. L.; Girod, F. X.; Gleason, C.; Gothe, R. W.; Griffioen, K. A.; Guidal, M.; Guler, N.; Guo, L.; Hakobyan, H.; Hanretty, C.; Hattawy, M.; Hicks, K.; Holtrop, M.; Hughes, S. M.; Hyde, C. E.; Ilieva, Y.; Ireland, D. G.; Ishkhanov, B. S.; Isupov, E. L.; Jiang, H.; Keith, C.; Keller, D.; Khachatryan, G.; Khachatryan, M.; Khandaker, M.; Kim, A.; Kim, W.; Klein, A.; Kubarovsky, V.; Lanza, L.; Lenisa, P.; Livingston, K.; MacGregor, I. J. D.; McKinnon, B.; Meekins, D.; Mirazita, M.; Mokeev, V.; Movsisyan, A.; Net, L. A.; Niccolai, S.; Niculescu, G.; Osipenko, M.; Ostrovidov, A. I.; Paremuzyan, R.; Park, K.; Pasyuk, E.; Phelps, W.; Pogorelko, O.; Price, J. W.; Prok, Y.; Puckett, A. J. R.; Ripani, M.; Rizzo, A.; Rosner, G.; Rossi, P.; Sabatié, F.; Schumacher, R. A.; Sharabian, Y. G.; Skorodumina, Iu.; Smith, G. D.; Sokhan, D.; Sparveris, N.; Stankovic, I.; Stepanyan, S.; Strauch, S.; Sytnik, V.; Taiuti, M.; Tian, Ye; Torayev, B.; Ungaro, M.; Voskanyan, H.; Voutier, E.; Walford, N. K.; Weinstein, L. B.; Wood, M. H.; Zachariou, N.; Zhang, J.; Zonta, I.; CLAS Collaboration

2017-02-01

Background: The deuteron plays a pivotal role in nuclear and hadronic physics, as both the simplest bound multinucleon system and as an effective neutron target. Quasielastic electron scattering on the deuteron is a benchmark reaction to test our understanding of deuteron structure and the properties and interactions of the two nucleons bound in the deuteron. Purpose: The experimental data presented here can be used to test state-of-the-art models of the deuteron and the two-nucleon interaction in the final state after two-body breakup of the deuteron. Focusing on polarization degrees of freedom, we gain information on spin-momentum correlations in the deuteron ground state (due to the D -state admixture) and on the limits of the impulse approximation (IA) picture as it applies to measurements of spin-dependent observables like spin structure functions for bound nucleons. Information on this reaction can also be used to reduce systematic uncertainties on the determination of neutron form factors or deuteron polarization through quasielastic polarized electron scattering. Method: We measured the beam-target double-spin asymmetry (A||) for quasielastic electron scattering off the deuteron at several beam energies (1.6 -1.7 , 2.5, 4.2, and 5.6 -5.8 GeV ), using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The deuterons were polarized along (or opposite to) the beam direction. The double-spin asymmetries were measured as a function of photon virtuality Q2(0.13 -3.17 (GeV/c ) 2) , missing momentum (pm=0.0 -0.5 GeV /c ), and the angle between the (inferred) spectator neutron and the momentum transfer direction (θn q). Results: The results are compared with a recent model that includes final-state interactions (FSI) using a complete parametrization of nucleon-nucleon scattering, as well as a simplified model using the plane wave impulse approximation (PWIA). We find overall good agreement with both the PWIA and FSI expectations at low to medium missing momenta (pm≤0.25 GeV /c ), including the change of the asymmetry due to the contribution of the deuteron D state at higher momenta. At the highest missing momenta, our data clearly agree better with the calculations including FSI. Conclusions: Final-state interactions seem to play a lesser role for polarization observables in deuteron two-body electrodisintegration than for absolute cross sections. Our data, while limited in statistical power, indicate that PWIA models work reasonably well to understand the asymmetries at lower missing momenta. In turn, this information can be used to extract the product of beam and target polarization (PbPt ) from quasielastic electron-deuteron scattering, which is useful for measurements of spin observables in electron-neutron inelastic scattering. However, at the highest missing (neutron) momenta, FSI effects become important and must be accounted for.

A dynamical proximity analysis of interacting galaxy pairs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chatterjee, Tapan K.

1990-01-01

Using the impulsive approximation to study the velocity changes of stars during disk-sphere collisions and a method due to Bottlinger to study the post collision orbits of stars, the formation of various types of interacting galaxies is studied as a function of the distance of closest approach between the two galaxies.

Analysis and design of ion thruster for large space systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Poeschel, R. L.; Kami, S.

1980-01-01

Design analyses showed that an ion thruster of approximately 50 cm in diameter will be required to produce a thrust of 0.5 N using xenon or argon as propellants, and operating the thruster at a specific impulse of 3530 sec or 6076 sec respectively. A multipole magnetic confinement discharge chamber was specified.

Gap formation by inclined massive planets in locally isothermal three-dimensional discs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chametla, Raúl O.; Sánchez-Salcedo, F. J.; Masset, F. S.; Hidalgo-Gámez, A. M.

2017-07-01

We study gap formation in gaseous protoplanetary discs by a Jupiter mass planet. The planet's orbit is circular and inclined relative to the mid-plane of the disc. We use the impulse approximation to estimate the gravitational tidal torque between the planet and the disc, and infer the gap profile. For low-mass discs, we provide a criterion for gap opening when the orbital inclination is ≤30°. Using the fargo3d code, we simulate the disc response to an inclined massive planet. The dependence of the depth and width of the gap obtained in the simulations on the inclination of the planet is broadly consistent with the scaling laws derived in the impulse approximation. Although we mainly focus on planets kept on fixed orbits, the formalism permits to infer the temporal evolution of the gap profile in the cases where the inclination of the planet changes with time. This study may be useful to understand the migration of massive planets on inclined orbit, because the strength of the interaction with the disc depends on whether a gap is opened or not.

Window-Based Channel Impulse Response Prediction for Time-Varying Ultra-Wideband Channels.

PubMed

Al-Samman, A M; Azmi, M H; Rahman, T A; Khan, I; Hindia, M N; Fattouh, A

2016-01-01

This work proposes channel impulse response (CIR) prediction for time-varying ultra-wideband (UWB) channels by exploiting the fast movement of channel taps within delay bins. Considering the sparsity of UWB channels, we introduce a window-based CIR (WB-CIR) to approximate the high temporal resolutions of UWB channels. A recursive least square (RLS) algorithm is adopted to predict the time evolution of the WB-CIR. For predicting the future WB-CIR tap of window wk, three RLS filter coefficients are computed from the observed WB-CIRs of the left wk-1, the current wk and the right wk+1 windows. The filter coefficient with the lowest RLS error is used to predict the future WB-CIR tap. To evaluate our proposed prediction method, UWB CIRs are collected through measurement campaigns in outdoor environments considering line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios. Under similar computational complexity, our proposed method provides an improvement in prediction errors of approximately 80% for LOS and 63% for NLOS scenarios compared with a conventional method.

Window-Based Channel Impulse Response Prediction for Time-Varying Ultra-Wideband Channels

PubMed Central

Al-Samman, A. M.; Azmi, M. H.; Rahman, T. A.; Khan, I.; Hindia, M. N.; Fattouh, A.

2016-01-01

This work proposes channel impulse response (CIR) prediction for time-varying ultra-wideband (UWB) channels by exploiting the fast movement of channel taps within delay bins. Considering the sparsity of UWB channels, we introduce a window-based CIR (WB-CIR) to approximate the high temporal resolutions of UWB channels. A recursive least square (RLS) algorithm is adopted to predict the time evolution of the WB-CIR. For predicting the future WB-CIR tap of window wk, three RLS filter coefficients are computed from the observed WB-CIRs of the left wk−1, the current wk and the right wk+1 windows. The filter coefficient with the lowest RLS error is used to predict the future WB-CIR tap. To evaluate our proposed prediction method, UWB CIRs are collected through measurement campaigns in outdoor environments considering line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios. Under similar computational complexity, our proposed method provides an improvement in prediction errors of approximately 80% for LOS and 63% for NLOS scenarios compared with a conventional method. PMID:27992445

Line-source excited impulsive EM field response of thin plasmonic metal films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Štumpf, Martin; Vandenbosch, Guy A. E.

2013-08-01

In this paper, reflection against and transmission through thin plasmonic metal films, basic building blocks of many plasmonic devices, are analytically investigated directly in the time domain for an impulsive electric and magnetic line-source excitation. The electromagnetic properties of thin metallic films are modeled via the Drude model. The problem is formulated with the help of approximate thin-sheet boundary conditions and the analysis is carried out using the Cagniard-DeHoop technique. Closed-form space-time expressions are found and discussed. The obtained time-domain analytical expressions reveal the existence of the phenomenon of transient oscillatory surface effects along a plasmonic metal thin sheet. Illustrative numerical examples of transmitted/reflected pulsed fields are provided.

Impulsive acceleration and scatter-free transport of about 1 MeV per nucleon ions in (He-3)-rich solar particle events

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, G. M.; Ng, C. K.; Klecker, B.; Green, G.

1989-01-01

Impulsive solar energetic particle (SEP) events are studied to: (1) describe a distinct class of SEP ion events observed in interplanetary space, and (2) test models of focused transport through detailed comparisons of numerical model prediction with the data. An attempt will also be made to describe the transport and scattering properties of the interplanetary medium during the times these events are observed and to derive source injection profiles in these events. ISEE 3 and Helios 1 magnetic field and plasma data are used to locate the approximate coronal connection points of the spacecraft to organize the particle anisotropy data and to constrain some free parameters in the modeling of flare events.

Determination of Arsenic Species in Ophiocordyceps sinensis from Major Habitats in China by HPLC-ICP-MS and the Edible Hazard Assessment.

PubMed

Guo, Lian-Xian; Zhang, Gui-Wei; Wang, Jia-Ting; Zhong, Yue-Ping; Huang, Zhi-Gang

2018-04-26

This study sought to determine the concentration and distribution of arsenic (As) species in Ophiocordyceps sinensis ( O. sinensis ), and to assess its edible hazard for long term consumption. The total arsenic concentrations, measured through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ranged from 4.00 mg/kg to 5.25 mg/kg. As determined by HPLC-ICP-MS, the most concerning arsenic species—AsB, MMA V , DMA V , As V , and As Ш —were either not detected (MMA V and DMA V ) or were detected as minor As species (AsB: 1.4⁻2.9%; As V : 1.3⁻3.2%, and As Ш : 4.1⁻6.0%). The major components were a cluster of unknown organic As (uAs) compounds with As Ш , which accounted for 91.7⁻94.0% of the As content. Based on the H₂O₂ test and the chromatography behavior, it can be inferred that, the uAs might not be toxic organic As. Estimated daily intake ( EDI) , hazard quotient ( HQ ), and cancer risk ( CR ) caused by the total As content; the sum of inorganic As (iAs) and uAs, namely i+uAs; and iAs exposure from long term O. sinensis consumption were calculated and evaluated through equations from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the uncertainties were analyzed by Monte-Carlo Simulation (MCS). EDI total As and EDI i+uAs are approximately ten times more than EDI iAs ; HQ total As and HQ i+u As > 1 while HQ i As < 1; and CR total As and CR i+uAs > 1 × 10 −4 while CR iAs < 1 × 10 −4 . Thus, if the uAs is non-toxic, there is no particular risk to local consumers and the carcinogenic risk is acceptable for consumption of O. sinensis because the concentration of toxic iAs is very low.

Measurements of free and total PSA, tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), and CYFRA 21-1 in prostate cancer patients under intermittent androgen suppression therapy.

PubMed

Theyer, G; Dürer, A; Theyer, U; Haberl, I; Ulsperger, E; Baumgartner, G; Hamilton, G

1999-10-01

The present study evaluated monthly measurements of free and total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and the tumor proliferation markers tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS) and cytokeratin fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) in patients with advanced prostate cancer receiving intermittent androgen suppression therapy (IAS). Thirty-four men received alternating cycles of 8 month androgen suppression and treatment cessation (mean duration, 10.3 months) until PSA increased to >20 microg/l. Measurements of testosterone, percentage of free PSA, TPS, and CYFRA 21-1 were performed using ELISA and RIA assays. Periods of androgen suppression resulted in reversible reductions of testosterone (from 6 +/- 0.8 to <0.58 ng/ml), PSA (from 31.2 +/- 4.5 to <1.7 microg/l), and prostatic volume (mean reduction, 22.2 +/- 4.6%), indicating apoptotic regression of the tumors. Upon treatment cessation, testosterone increased to 6.1 +/- 0.56 ng/ml within 2 months, followed by an increase of PSA to 5.8 +/- 0.8 microg/l. The mean percentage of free PSA (15.1 +/- 2.6%) exhibited no significant change during the whole IAS cycle. TPS showed a decrease of 50% after 3 months, and CYFRA 21-1 a 25% decrease after 7 months of androgen suppression treatment. During treatment cessation, TPS exceeded the normal cutoff value of 90 U/l late in tumor regrowth (9-11 months), whereas CYFRA 21-1 remained below the normal cutoff value of 3.3 ng/ml. PSA is the best and most sensitive marker of prostate cancer regression and regrowth during IAS cycles of the markers tested in this study. Free PSA constitutes approximately 15% of total PSA (range, 5-32%), and its percentage showed no significant change during IAS cycles. The TPS and CYFRA 21-1 proliferation marker changes in IAS seem to be related mainly to effects on normal androgen-dependent tissues. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Comparative pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of escin Ia and isoescin Ia after administration of escin and of pure escin Ia and isoescin Ia in rat.

PubMed

Wu, Xiu-Jun; Zhang, Meng-Liang; Cui, Xiang-Yong; Gao, Feng; He, Qun; Li, Xiao-Jiao; Zhang, Ji-Wen; Fawcett, J Paul; Gu, Jing-Kai

2012-01-06

Escin Ia and isoescin Ia have been traditionally used clinically as the chief active ingredients of escin, a major triterpene saponin isolated from horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) seeds for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, inflammation and edema. To establish a sensitive LC-MS/MS method and investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of escin Ia and isoescin Ia in rats and the pharmacokinetics difference of sodium escinate with pure escin Ia and isoescin Ia. The absolute bioavailability of escin Ia and isoescin Ia and the bidirectional interconversion of them in vivo were also scarcely reported. Wister rats were administrated an intravenous (i.v.) dose (1.7 mg/kg) of sodium escinate (corresponding to 0.5mg/kg of escin Ia and 0.5mg/kg of isoescin Ia, respectively) and an i.v. dose (0.5mg/kg) or oral dose (4mg/kg) of pure escin Ia or isoescin Ia, respectively. At different time points, the concentrations of escin Ia and isoescin Ia in rat plasma were determined by LC-MS/MS method. Main pharmacokinetic parameters including t(1/2), MRT, CL, V(d), AUC and F were estimated by non-compartmental analysis using the TopFit 2.0 software package (Thomae GmbH, Germany) and statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test with P<0.05 as the level of significance. After administration of sodium escinate, the t(1/2) and MRT values for both escin Ia and isoescin Ia were larger than corresponding values for the compounds given alone. Absorption of escin Ia and isoescin Ia was very low with F values both <0.25%. Escin Ia and isoescin Ia were found to form the other isomer in vivo with the conversion of escin Ia to isoescin Ia being much extensive than from isoescin Ia to escin Ia. Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of escin Ia and isoescin Ia given alone and together in rat suggest that administration of herbal preparations of escin for clinical use may provide longer duration of action than administration of single isomers. The interconversion of escin Ia and isoescin Ia when given alone indicates that administration of one isomer leads to exposure to the other. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Testing the anisotropy of cosmic acceleration from Pantheon supernovae sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Z. Q.; Wang, F. Y.

2018-05-01

In this paper, we study the anisotropy of cosmic acceleration the using Pantheon sample, which includes 1049 spectroscopically confirmed type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) covering the redshift range 0.01 < z < 2.3. In hemisphere comparison method, we find the dipole direction is (l = 110 ± 11°, b = 15 ± 19°) with the maximum anisotropy level of δ =0.105 {}^{+0.002}_{-0.005}. From the dipole fitting method, we find that the magnitude of anisotropy is A = (2.6 ± 2.6) × 10-4, and the direction of the dipole (l = 108.2°+43.0°-76.9°, b = 7.1°+41.2°-77.5°) in the galactic coordinate system. The result is weakly dependent on redshift from the redshift tomography analysis. The anisotropy is small and the isotropic cosmological model is an excellent approximation.

iPTF16geu: A multiply imaged, gravitationally lensed type Ia supernova

DOE PAGES

Goobar, A.; Amanullah, R.; Kulkarni, S. R.; ...

2017-04-21

We report the discovery of a multiply imaged, gravitationally lensed type Ia supernova, iPTF16geu (SN 2016geu), at redshift z = 0.409. This phenomenon was identified because the light from the stellar explosion was magnified more than 50 times by the curvature of space around matter in an intervening galaxy.We used high-spatial-resolution observations to resolve four images of the lensed supernova, approximately 0.3 arc seconds from the center of the foreground galaxy. The observations probe a physical scale of ~1 kiloparsec, smaller than is typical in other studies of extragalactic gravitational lensing. The large magnification and symmetric image configuration imply closemore » alignment between the lines of sight to the supernova and to the lens. In conclusion, the relative magnifications of the four images provide evidence for substructures in the lensing galaxy.« less

Preliminary results of the Geoid Slope Validation Survey 2014 in Iowa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y. M.; Becker, C.; Breidenbach, S.; Geoghegan, C.; Martin, D.; Winester, D.; Hanson, T.; Mader, G. L.; Eckl, M. C.

2014-12-01

The National Geodetic Survey conducted a second Geoid Slope Validation Survey in the summer of 2014 (GSVS14). The survey took place in Iowa along U.S Route 30. The survey line is approximately 200 miles long (325 km), extending from Denison, IA to Cedar Rapids, IA. There are over 200 official survey bench marks. A leveling survey was performed, conforming to 1st order, class II specifications. A GPS survey was performed using 24 to 48 hour occupations. Absolute gravity, relative gravity, and gravity gradient measurements were also collected during the survey. In addition, deflections of the vertical were acquired at 200 eccentric survey benchmarks using the Compact Digital Astrometric Camera (CODIAC) camera. This paper presents the preliminary results of the survey, including the accuracy analysis of the leveling data, GPS ellipsoidal heights, and the deflections of the vertical which serves as an independent data set in addition to the GPS/leveling implied geoid heights.

iPTF16geu: A multiply imaged, gravitationally lensed type Ia supernova.

PubMed

Goobar, A; Amanullah, R; Kulkarni, S R; Nugent, P E; Johansson, J; Steidel, C; Law, D; Mörtsell, E; Quimby, R; Blagorodnova, N; Brandeker, A; Cao, Y; Cooray, A; Ferretti, R; Fremling, C; Hangard, L; Kasliwal, M; Kupfer, T; Lunnan, R; Masci, F; Miller, A A; Nayyeri, H; Neill, J D; Ofek, E O; Papadogiannakis, S; Petrushevska, T; Ravi, V; Sollerman, J; Sullivan, M; Taddia, F; Walters, R; Wilson, D; Yan, L; Yaron, O

2017-04-21

We report the discovery of a multiply imaged, gravitationally lensed type Ia supernova, iPTF16geu (SN 2016geu), at redshift z = 0.409. This phenomenon was identified because the light from the stellar explosion was magnified more than 50 times by the curvature of space around matter in an intervening galaxy. We used high-spatial-resolution observations to resolve four images of the lensed supernova, approximately 0.3 arc seconds from the center of the foreground galaxy. The observations probe a physical scale of ~1 kiloparsec, smaller than is typical in other studies of extragalactic gravitational lensing. The large magnification and symmetric image configuration imply close alignment between the lines of sight to the supernova and to the lens. The relative magnifications of the four images provide evidence for substructures in the lensing galaxy. Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

ChIA-PET2: a versatile and flexible pipeline for ChIA-PET data analysis

PubMed Central

Li, Guipeng; Chen, Yang; Snyder, Michael P.; Zhang, Michael Q.

2017-01-01

ChIA-PET2 is a versatile and flexible pipeline for analyzing different types of ChIA-PET data from raw sequencing reads to chromatin loops. ChIA-PET2 integrates all steps required for ChIA-PET data analysis, including linker trimming, read alignment, duplicate removal, peak calling and chromatin loop calling. It supports different kinds of ChIA-PET data generated from different ChIA-PET protocols and also provides quality controls for different steps of ChIA-PET analysis. In addition, ChIA-PET2 can use phased genotype data to call allele-specific chromatin interactions. We applied ChIA-PET2 to different ChIA-PET datasets, demonstrating its significantly improved performance as well as its ability to easily process ChIA-PET raw data. ChIA-PET2 is available at https://github.com/GuipengLi/ChIA-PET2. PMID:27625391

Pelvic kinematic method for determining vertical jump height.

PubMed

Chiu, Loren Z F; Salem, George J

2010-11-01

Sacral marker and pelvis reconstruction methods have been proposed to approximate total body center of mass during relatively low intensity gait and hopping tasks, but not during a maximum effort vertical jumping task. In this study, center of mass displacement was calculated using the pelvic kinematic method and compared with center of mass displacement using the ground-reaction force-impulse method, in experienced athletes (n = 13) performing restricted countermovement vertical jumps. Maximal vertical jumps were performed in a biomechanics laboratory, with data collected using an 8-camera motion analysis system and two force platforms. The pelvis center of mass was reconstructed from retro-reflective markers placed on the pelvis. Jump height was determined from the peak height of the pelvis center of mass minus the standing height. Strong linear relationships were observed between the pelvic kinematic and impulse methods (R² = .86; p < .01). The pelvic kinematic method underestimated jump height versus the impulse method, however, the difference was small (CV = 4.34%). This investigation demonstrates concurrent validity for the pelvic kinematic method to determine vertical jump height.

Impulse responses of visible phototubes used in National Ignition Facility neutron time of flight diagnostics.

PubMed

Datte, P S; Eckart, M; Moore, A S; Thompson, W; Vergel de Dios, G

2016-11-01

Neutron-induced visible scintillation in neutron time of flight (NToF) diagnostics at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is measured with 40 mm single stage micro-channel plate photomultipliers and a 40 mm vacuum photodiode, outside the neutron line of sight. In NIF experiments with 14 MeV neutron yields above Y > 10 × 10 15 these tubes are configured to deliver of order 1 nC of charge in the nominally 5 ns NToF into a 50 Ω load. We have examined a number of 40 mm tubes manufactured by Photek Ltd. of St. Leonards on Sea, UK, to determine possible changes in the instrument impulse response as a function of signal charge delivered in 1 ns. Precision NToF measurements at approximately 20 m require that we characterize changes in the impulse response moments to <40 ps for the first central moment and ∼2% rms for the square root of the second central moment with ∼500 ps value. Detailed results are presented for three different diode configurations.

The Liquid Annular Reactor System (LARS) propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, James; Ludewig, Hans; Horn, Frederick; Lenard, Roger

1990-01-01

A concept for very high specific impulse (greater than 2000 seconds) direct nuclear propulsion is described. The concept, termed the liquid annular reactor system (LARS), uses liquid nuclear fuel elements to heat hydrogen propellant to very high temperatures (approximately 6000 K). Operating pressure is moderate (approximately 10 atm), with the result that the outlet hydrogen is virtually 100 percent dissociated to monatomic H. The molten fuel is contained in a solid container of its own material, which is rotated to stabilize the liquid layer by centripetal force. LARS reactor designs are described, together with neutronic and thermal-hydraulic analyses. Power levels are on the order of 200 megawatts. Typically, LARS designs use seven rotating fuel elements, are beryllium moderated, and have critical radii of approximately 100 cm (core L/D approximately equal to 1.5).

Development of a head-phantom and measurement setup for lightning effects.

PubMed

Machts, Rene; Hunold, Alexander; Leu, Carsten; Haueisen, Jens; Rock, Michael

2016-08-01

Direct lightning strikes to human heads lead to various effects ranging from Lichtenberg figures, over loss of consciousness to death. The evolution of the induced current distribution in the head is of great interest to understand the effect mechanisms. This work describes a technique to model a simplified head-phantom to investigate effects during direct lightning strike. The head-phantom geometry, conductive and dielectric parameters were chosen similar to that of a human head. Three layers (brain, skull, and scalp) were created for the phantom using agarose hydrogel doped with sodium chloride and carbon. The head-phantom was tested on two different impulse generators, which reproduce approximate lightning impulses. The effective current and the current distribution in each layer were analyzed. The biggest part of the current flowed through the brain layer, approx. 70 % in cases without external flashover. Approx. 23 % of the current flowed through skull layer and 6 % through the scalp layer. However, the current decreased within the head-phantom to almost zero after a complete flashover on the phantom occurred. The flashover formed faster with a higher impulse current level. Exposition time of current through the head decreases with a higher current level of the lightning impulse. This mechanism might explain the fact that people can survive a lightning strike. The experiments help to understand lightning effects on humans.

Effects of single pulse energy on the properties of ceramic coating prepared by micro-arc oxidation on Ti alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jun-Hua; Wang, Jin; Lu, Yan; Du, Mao-Hua; Han, Fu-Zhu

2015-01-01

The effects of single pulse energy on the properties of ceramic coating fabricated on a Ti-6Al-4V alloy via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in aqueous solutions containing aluminate, phosphate, and some additives are investigated. The thickness, micro-hardness, surface and cross-sectional morphology, surface roughness, and compositions of the ceramic coating are studied using eddy current thickness meter, micro-hardness tester, JB-4C Precision Surface roughness meter, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Single pulse energy remarkably influences the ceramic coating properties. The accumulative time of impulse width is an important parameter in the scientific and rational measurement of the film forming law of ceramic coating. The ceramic coating thickness approximately linearly increases with the cumulative time of impulse width. Larger impulse width resulted in higher single pulse energy, film forming rates and thicker ceramic coating thickness. The sizes of oxide particles, micro-pores and micro-cracks slightly increase with impulse width and single pulse energy. The main surface conversion products generated during MAO process in aqueous solutions containing aluminate are rutile TiO2, anatase TiO2, and a large amount of Al2TiO5. The effects of single pulse energy on the micro-hardness and phase composition of ceramic coating are not as evident as those of frequency and duty cycle.

Force-Velocity, Impulse-Momentum Relationships: Implications for Efficacy of Purposefully Slow Resistance Training

PubMed Central

Schilling, Brian K.; Falvo, Michael J.; Chiu, Loren Z.F.

2008-01-01

The purpose of this brief review is to explain the mechanical relationship between impulse and momentum when resistance exercise is performed in a purposefully slow manner (PS). PS is recognized by ~10s concentric and ~4-10s eccentric actions. While several papers have reviewed the effects of PS, none has yet explained such resistance training in the context of the impulse-momentum relationship. A case study of normal versus PS back squats was also performed. An 85kg man performed both normal speed (3 sec eccentric action and maximal acceleration concentric action) and PS back squats over a several loads. Normal speed back squats produced both greater peak and mean propulsive forces than PS action when measured across all loads. However, TUT was greatly increased in the PS condition, with values fourfold greater than maximal acceleration repetitions. The data and explanation herein point to superior forces produced by the neuromuscular system via traditional speed training indicating a superior modality for inducing neuromuscular adaptation. Key pointsAs velocity approaches zero, propulsive force approaches zero, therefore slow moving objects only require force approximately equal to the weight of the resistance.As mass is constant during resistance training, a greater impulse will result in a greater velocity.The inferior propulsive forces accompanying purposefully slow training suggest other methods of resistance training have a greater potential for adaptation. PMID:24149464

Improved quality of cryopreserved cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) spermatozoa after centrifugation through Accudenz.

PubMed

Crosier, Adrienne E; Henghali, Josephine N; Howard, Jogayle; Pukazhenthi, Budhan S; Terrell, Kimberly A; Marker, Laurie L; Wildt, David E

2009-01-01

Sperm cryopreservation, in combination with assisted reproductive techniques, is a valuable tool for the genetic management of endangered felids. However, the acrosome of the cheetah spermatozoon is especially sensitive to cryopreservation, with approximately 40% of spermatozoa experiencing acrosomal damage immediately after thawing and then another approximately 15% loss during the next 4 hours in vitro. Additionally, thawing causes a reduction in sperm motility by approximately 20% with another decrease of approximately 12% during subsequent incubation in vitro. We hypothesized that slow removal of glycerol from cryopreserved cheetah spermatozoa using an Accudenz gradient would improve acrosomal integrity, sperm motility longevity, and structural morphology. Accudenz was compared with traditional cheetah sperm processing methods for glycerol removal that involves washing, multistep resuspension, and swim-up processing. Electroejaculates (n = 21 total from 8 males) were washed in Ham F10 medium, and sperm pellets were resuspended in TEST-yolk buffer with 0% glycerol. Samples were cryopreserved in straws in 4% final glycerol, thawed, and assessed for percent intact acrosomes (% IA), percent motility (% M), and forward progressive status (FPS; scale, 0-5). Sperm motility index (SMI) was calculated as (% M + [FPS x 20]) / 2. In study 1, glycerol removal by centrifugation through an Accudenz gradient (4%, 10%) was compared with traditional sperm washing (control) and multistep resuspension protocols. At each time after centrifugation (hourly for 4 hours), % IA was improved (P < .05) for Accudenz (range, 36%-39%) compared with control (30%-33%) and multistep (29%-33%) treatments. In study 2, a modified Accudenz protocol was compared with traditional washing and was found to improve (P < .05) SMI (range, 52-64) compared with controls (range, 41-52) at each time postthaw after centrifugation. In study 3, swim-up processed sperm were compared with those treated by centrifugation through Accudenz and traditional sperm washing for improving sperm morphology. The percentage of structurally-normal sperm recovered postthawing increased (P < .05) for both the Accudenz (38%) and swim-up (33%) treatments compared with controls (21%). Percent IA and SMI also were improved (P < .05) for Accudenz (range, 39%-47% and 46-59, respectively) compared with controls (range, 26%-33% and 40-53, respectively). Results indicate that using Accudenz for glycerol removal from cryopreserved cheetah sperm mitigates the significant loss in sperm quality that occurs after freeze-thawing. This alleviation of cellular damage resulting from cryopreservation contributes to a more than 10% improvement in overall sperm motility and, more importantly, allows retention of 40% or more of sperm with intact acrosomes.

Cloud Model-Based Artificial Immune Network for Complex Optimization Problem

PubMed Central

Wang, Mingan; Li, Jianming; Guo, Dongliang

2017-01-01

This paper proposes an artificial immune network based on cloud model (AINet-CM) for complex function optimization problems. Three key immune operators—cloning, mutation, and suppression—are redesigned with the help of the cloud model. To be specific, an increasing half cloud-based cloning operator is used to adjust the dynamic clone multipliers of antibodies, an asymmetrical cloud-based mutation operator is used to control the adaptive evolution of antibodies, and a normal similarity cloud-based suppressor is used to keep the diversity of the antibody population. To quicken the searching convergence, a dynamic searching step length strategy is adopted. For comparative study, a series of numerical simulations are arranged between AINet-CM and the other three artificial immune systems, that is, opt-aiNet, IA-AIS, and AAIS-2S. Furthermore, two industrial applications—finite impulse response (FIR) filter design and proportional-integral-differential (PID) controller tuning—are investigated and the results demonstrate the potential searching capability and practical value of the proposed AINet-CM algorithm. PMID:28630620

Cloud Model-Based Artificial Immune Network for Complex Optimization Problem.

PubMed

Wang, Mingan; Feng, Shuo; Li, Jianming; Li, Zhonghua; Xue, Yu; Guo, Dongliang

2017-01-01

This paper proposes an artificial immune network based on cloud model (AINet-CM) for complex function optimization problems. Three key immune operators-cloning, mutation, and suppression-are redesigned with the help of the cloud model. To be specific, an increasing half cloud-based cloning operator is used to adjust the dynamic clone multipliers of antibodies, an asymmetrical cloud-based mutation operator is used to control the adaptive evolution of antibodies, and a normal similarity cloud-based suppressor is used to keep the diversity of the antibody population. To quicken the searching convergence, a dynamic searching step length strategy is adopted. For comparative study, a series of numerical simulations are arranged between AINet-CM and the other three artificial immune systems, that is, opt-aiNet, IA-AIS, and AAIS-2S. Furthermore, two industrial applications-finite impulse response (FIR) filter design and proportional-integral-differential (PID) controller tuning-are investigated and the results demonstrate the potential searching capability and practical value of the proposed AINet-CM algorithm.

Modeling, Real-Time Estimation, and Identification of UWB Indoor Wireless Channels

DOE PAGES

Olama, Mohammed M.; Djouadi, Seddik M.; Li, Yanyan; ...

2013-01-01

Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are used to model ultrawideband (UWB) indoor wireless channels. We show that the impulse responses for time-varying indoor wireless channels can be approximated in a mean-square sense as close as desired by impulse responses that can be realized by SDEs. The state variables represent the inphase and quadrature components of the UWB channel. The expected maximization and extended Kalman filter are employed to recursively identify and estimate the channel parameters and states, respectively, from online received signal strength measured data. Both resolvable and nonresolvable multipath received signals are considered and represented as small-scaled Nakagami fading. Themore » proposed models together with the estimation algorithm are tested using UWB indoor measurement data demonstrating the method’s viability and the results are presented.« less

A mini-cavity probe reactor.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hyland, R. E.

1971-01-01

The mini-cavity reactor is a rocket engine concept which combines the high specific impulse from a central gaseous fueled cavity (0.6 m diam) and NERVA type fuel elements in a driver region that is external to a moderator-reflector zone to produce a compact light weight reactor. The overall dimension including a pressure vessel that is located outside of the spherical reactor is approximately 1.21 m in diameter. Specific impulses up to 2000 sec are obtainable for 220 to 890 N of thrust with pressures less than 1000 atm. Powerplant weights including a radiator for disposing of the power in the driver region are between 4600 and 32,000 kg - less than payloads of the shuttle. This reactor could also be used as a test reactor for gas-core, MHD, breeding and materials research.

Lipid management among individuals with inflammatory arthritis in the national REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort.

PubMed

Navarro-Millán, Iris; Gamboa, Christopher M; Curtis, Jeffrey R; Safford, Monika M

2018-01-01

Objective Hyperlipidemia guidelines do not currently identify inflammatory arthritis (IA) as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. We compared hyperlipidemia treatment of individuals with and without IA (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis) in a large national cohort. Methods Participants from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study were classified as having IA (without diabetes or hypertension); diabetes (but no IA); hypertension (but no diabetes or IA); or no IA, diabetes, or hypertension. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the odds of medical treatment among those with hyperlipidemia. Results Thirty-nine participants had IA, 5423 had diabetes, 7534 had hypertension, and 5288 had no diabetes, hypertension, or IA. The fully adjusted odds of treatment were similar between participants with IA and those without IA, hypertension, or diabetes. Participants with diabetes and no IA and participants with hypertension and no IA were twice as likely to be treated for hyperlipidemia as those without IA, diabetes, or hypertension. Conclusion Despite their higher CVD risk, patients with IA were as likely to be treated for hyperlipidemia as those without diabetes, hypertension, or IA. Lipid guidelines should identify IA as a CVD risk factor to improve CVD risk optimization in IA.

75 FR 16067 - Designation for the Champaign, IL; Emmett, MI; Davenport, IA; Enid, OK; Keokuk, IA; Marshall, MI...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-31

... the Champaign, IL; Emmett, MI; Davenport, IA; Enid, OK; Keokuk, IA; Marshall, MI; and Omaha, NE Areas... Iowa Davenport, IA (563-322-7149). 4/1/2010 3/31/2013 Additional Locations: Dubuque, IA; Muscatine, IA...: Catoosa, OK. Keokuk Keokuk, IA (319-524-6482). 4/1/2010 3/31/2013 Additional Location: Havana, IL...

Guidelines and Data to Support Plans for Reallocating Food during Crisis Relocation. Regional Appendix. FEMA Region V,

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-09-01

estimate of transportation stress for the remainder of each distributor’s service area by using approximation techniques developed in earlier SYSTAN work ...LUCKY STORES INC MILAN IL 7 0 0 2 3 2" 43,COO PLAINFIELD SUPER VALU PLAINFIELD IL 2 0 0 0 0 2 25,000 SUFER VALU STORES INC DES HOINES IA 1 0 I 0 0 0

Is Local Viscosupplementation Injection Clinically Superior to Other Therapies in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Systematic Review of Overlapping Meta-analyses.

PubMed

Campbell, Kirk A; Erickson, Brandon J; Saltzman, Bryan M; Mascarenhas, Randy; Bach, Bernard R; Cole, Brian J; Verma, Nikhil N

2015-10-01

To conduct a systematic review of overlapping meta-analyses comparing treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) with intra-articular viscosupplementation (intra-articular hyaluronic acid [IA-HA]) versus oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intra-articular corticosteroids (IA-corticosteroids), intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (IA-PRP), or intra-articular placebo (IA-placebo) to determine which meta-analyses provide the best current evidence and identify potential causes of discordance. Literature searches were performed for meta-analyses examining use of IA-HA versus NSAIDs, IA-corticosteroids, IA-PRP, or IA-placebo. Clinical data were extracted, and meta-analysis quality was assessed. The Jadad algorithm was applied to determine which meta-analyses provided the highest level of evidence. Fourteen meta-analyses met the eligibility criteria and ranged in quality from Level I to IV evidence. In studies reporting patient numbers, there were a total of 20,049 patients: 13,698 receiving IA-HA, 355 receiving NSAIDs, 294 receiving IA-corticosteroids, and 5,702 receiving IA-placebo. Ten studies examined the effects of IA-HA versus IA-placebo; of these, 5 found that IA-HA improved pain and 4 found that IA-HA improved function. No clinically relevant differences in the efficacy of IA-HA versus NSAIDs regarding pain and function were found. Regarding IA-HA versus IA-PRP, IA-HA improved knee function at 2 and 6 months after injection but the effects were less robust than those of IA-PRP. Regarding IA-HA versus IA-corticosteroids, the positive effects of IA-HA were greater at 5 to 13 weeks and persisted for up to 26 weeks. After application of the Jadad algorithm, 2 concordant high-quality meta-analyses were selected and both showed that IA-HA provided clinically relevant improvements in pain and function compared with IA-placebo. This systematic review of overlapping meta-analyses comparing IA-HA with other nonoperative treatment modalities for knee OA shows that the current highest level of evidence suggests that IA-HA is a viable option for knee OA. Its use results in improvements in knee pain and function that can persist for up to 26 weeks. IA-HA has a good safety profile, and its use should be considered in patients with early knee OA. Level IV, systematic review of Level I to IV studies. Copyright © 2015 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hormonal profile impact on female sexual function in young women

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stoian, Dana; Craciunescu, Mihalea; Craina, Marius; Pater, Liana; Pater, Flavius

2014-12-01

Female sexual function is dependent, in physiological milieu upon hormonal impulses: estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, progesterone, prolactin and TSH. Out study tries to appreciate the impact of testosterone, estradiol and prolactin, the major hormones involved in the sexual response, on the normal sexual function. This parameter is approximated by the value of the total FSFI score, a validated international structured interview.

A simple performance calculation method for LH2/LOX engines with different power cycles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmucker, R. H.

1973-01-01

A simple method for the calculation of the specific impulse of an engine with a gas generator cycle is presented. The solution is obtained by a power balance between turbine and pump. Approximate equations for the performance of the combustion products of LH2/LOX are derived. Performance results are compared with solutions of different engine types.

Power Spectral Density and Hilbert Transform

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

Fourier transform, Hilbert transform, digital filter , SDR 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT UU 18. NUMBER...terms. A very good approximation to the ideal Hilbert transform is a low-pass finite impulse response (FIR) filter . In Fig. 7, we show a real signal...220), converted to an analytic signal using a 255-tap Hilbert transform low-pass filter . For an ideal Hilbert

Airbreathing engine selection criteria for SSTO propulsion system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohkami, Yoshiaki; Maita, Masataka

1995-02-01

This paper presents airbreathing engine selection criteria to be applied to the propulsion system of a Single Stage To Orbit (SSTO). To establish the criteria, a relation among three major parameters, i.e., delta-V capability, weight penalty, and effective specific impulse of the engine subsystem, is derived as compared to these parameters of the LH2/LOX rocket engine. The effective specific impulse is a function of the engine I(sub sp) and vehicle thrust-to-drag ratio which is approximated by a function of the vehicle velocity. The weight penalty includes the engine dry weight, cooling subsystem weight. The delta-V capability is defined by the velocity region starting from the minimum operating velocity up to the maximum velocity. The vehicle feasibility is investigated in terms of the structural and propellant weights, which requires an iteration process adjusting the system parameters. The system parameters are computed by iteration based on the Newton-Raphson method. It has been concluded that performance in the higher velocity region is extremely important so that the airbreathing engines are required to operate beyond the velocity equivalent to the rocket engine exhaust velocity (approximately 4500 m/s).

Detecting the spatial chirp signals by fractional Fourier lens with transformation materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, J.; Hu, J.

2018-02-01

Fractional Fourier transform (FrFT) is the general form of the Fourier transform and is an important tool in signal processing. As one typical application of FrFT, detecting the chirp rate (CR, or known as the rate of frequency change) of a chirp signal is important in many optical measurements. The optical FrFT that based on graded index lens fails to detect the high CR chirp because the short wave propagation distance of the impulse in the lens will weaken the paraxial approximation condition. With the help of transformation optics, the improved FrFT lens is proposed to adjust the high CR as well as the impulse location of the given input chirp signal. The designed transformation materials can implement the effect of space compression, making the input chirp signal is equivalent to have lower CR, therefore the system can satisfy the paraxial approximation better. As a result, this lens can improve the detection precision for the high CR. The numerical simulations verified the design. The proposed device may have both theoretical and practical values, and the design demonstrates the ability and flexibility of TO in spatial signal processing.

Advanced Hydrocarbon Fuel Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bai, S. Don; Rodgers, Stephen L. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

As a part of a high energy density materials (HEDM) development, the hot fire tests for Quadricyclane, 1,7 Octadiyne, AFRL-1, Biclopropylidene, and CINCH (Dimethyl amino ethyl azide) have been conducted at NASA/MSFC. The first 4 materials for this task are provided from Air Force Research Laboratory at Edward Air Force Base and US Army provided CINCH. The performance of these fuels is compared with RP-1. The preliminary results of these tests are presented. The preliminary results of Quadricyclane tests indicate that the specific impulse and c-star efficiency for quadricyclane at the mixture ratio 1.94 are approximately 5 sec and 105 ft/sec better than the RP-1 at mixture ratio 1.9. The 1,7 Octadiyne test indicate that the specific impulse and c-star efficiency at the mixture ratio 2.1 are approximately -1 sec and 89 ft/sec differ than the RP-1 at mixture ratio 2.04. The Quadricyclane soot buildup at the combustor is a little more than RP-1, but detail study of soot formation is not considered at this time. There was no visual soot buildup for the 1,7 Octadiyne and AFRL-1.

Multilaboratory Validation of First Action Method 2016.04 for Determination of Four Arsenic Species in Fruit Juice by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry.

PubMed

Kubachka, Kevin; Heitkemper, Douglas T; Conklin, Sean

2017-07-01

Before being designated AOAC First Action Official MethodSM 2016.04, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's method, EAM 4.10 High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Determination of Four Arsenic Species in Fruit Juice, underwent both a single-laboratory validation and a multilaboratory validation (MLV) study. Three federal and five state regulatory laboratories participated in the MLV study, which is the primary focus of this manuscript. The method was validated for inorganic arsenic (iAs) measured as the sum of the two iAs species arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)], dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) by analyses of 13 juice samples, including three apple juice, three apple juice concentrate, four grape juice, and three pear juice samples. In addition, two water Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) were analyzed. The method LODs and LOQs obtained among the eight laboratories were approximately 0.3 and 2 ng/g, respectively, for each of the analytes and were adequate for the intended purpose of the method. Each laboratory analyzed method blanks, fortified method blanks, reference materials, triplicate portions of each juice sample, and duplicate fortified juice samples (one for each matrix type) at three fortification levels. In general, repeatability and reproducibility of the method was ≤15% RSD for each species present at a concentration >LOQ. The average recovery of fortified analytes for all laboratories ranged from 98 to 104% iAs, DMA, and MMA for all four juice sample matrixes. The average iAs results for SRMs 1640a and 1643e agreed within the range of 96-98% of certified values for total arsenic.

Measuring Cosmological Parameters with Photometrically Classified Pan-STARRS Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, David; Scolnic, Daniel; Riess, Adam; Rest, Armin; Kirshner, Robert; Berger, Edo; Kessler, Rick; Pan, Yen-Chen; Foley, Ryan; Chornock, Ryan; Ortega, Carolyn; Challis, Peter; Burgett, William; Chambers, Kenneth; Draper, Peter; Flewelling, Heather; Huber, Mark; Kaiser, Nick; Kudritzki, Rolf; Metcalfe, Nigel; Tonry, John; Wainscoat, Richard J.; Waters, Chris; Gall, E. E. E.; Kotak, Rubina; McCrum, Matt; Smartt, Stephen; Smith, Ken

2018-01-01

We use nearly 1,200 supernovae (SNe) from Pan-STARRS and ~200 low-z (z < 0.1) SNe Ia to measure cosmological parameters. Though most of these SNe lack spectroscopic classifications, in a previous paper we demonstrated that photometrically classified SNe can still be used to infer unbiased cosmological parameters by using a Bayesian methodology that marginalizes over core-collapse (CC) SN contamination. Our sample contains nearly twice as many SNe as the largest previous compilation of SNe Ia. Combining SNe with Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) constraints from the Planck satellite, we measure the dark energy equation of state parameter w to be -0.986±0.058 (stat+sys). If we allow w to evolve with redshift as w(a) = w0 + wa(1-a), we find w0 = -0.923±0.148 and wa = -0.404±0.797. These results are consistent with measurements of cosmological parameters from the JLA and from a new analysis of 1049 spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia (Scolnic et al. 2017). We try four different photometric classification priors for Pan-STARRS SNe and two alternate ways of modeling the CC SN contamination, finding that none of these variants gives a w that differs by more than 1% from the baseline measurement. The systematic uncertainty on w due to marginalizing over the CC SN contamination, σwCC = 0.019, is approximately equal to the photometric calibration uncertainty and is lower than the systematic uncertainty in the SN\\,Ia dispersion model (σwdisp = 0.024). Our data provide one of the best current constraints on w, demonstrating that samples with ~5% CC SN contamination can give competitive cosmological constraints when the contaminating distribution is marginalized over in a Bayesian framework.

Ia Afferent input alters the recruitment thresholds and firing rates of single human motor units.

PubMed

Grande, G; Cafarelli, E

2003-06-01

Vibration of the patellar tendon recruits motor units in the knee extensors via excitation of muscle spindles and subsequent Ia afferent input to the alpha-motoneuron pool. Our first purpose was to determine if the recruitment threshold and firing rate of the same motor unit differed when recruited involuntarily via reflex or voluntarily via descending spinal pathways. Although Ia input is excitatory to the alpha-motoneuron pool, it has also been shown paradoxically to inhibit itself. Our second purpose was to determine if vibration of the patellar tendon during a voluntary knee extension causes a change in the firing rate of already recruited motor units. In the first protocol, 10 subjects voluntarily reproduced the same isometric force profile of the knee extensors that was elicited by vibration of the patellar tendon. Single motor unit recordings from the vastus lateralis (VL) were obtained with tungsten microelectrodes and unitary behaviour was examined during both reflex and voluntary knee extensions. Recordings from 135 single motor units showed that both recruitment thresholds and firing rates were lower during reflex contractions. In the second protocol, 7 subjects maintained a voluntary knee extension at 30 N for approximately 40-45 s. Three bursts of patellar tendon vibration were superimposed at regular intervals throughout the contraction and changes in the firing rate of already recruited motor units were examined. A total of 35 motor units were recorded and each burst of superimposed vibration caused a momentary reduction in the firing rates and recruitment of additional units. Our data provide evidence that Ia input modulates the recruitment thresholds and firing rates of motor units providing more flexibility within the neuromuscular system to grade force at low levels of force production.

Reduction in voltage-gated K+ channel activity in primary sensory neurons in painful diabetic neuropathy: role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

PubMed

Cao, Xue-Hong; Byun, Hee-Sun; Chen, Shao-Rui; Cai, You-Qing; Pan, Hui-Lin

2010-09-01

Abnormal hyperexcitability of primary sensory neurons plays an important role in neuropathic pain. Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels regulate neuronal excitability by affecting the resting membrane potential and influencing the repolarization and frequency of the action potential. In this study, we determined changes in Kv channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in a rat model of diabetic neuropathic pain. The densities of total Kv, A-type (IA) and sustained delayed (IK) currents were markedly reduced in medium- and large-, but not in small-, diameter DRG neurons in diabetic rats. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of IA subunits, including Kv1.4, Kv3.4, Kv4.2, and Kv4.3, in the DRG were reduced approximately 50% in diabetic rats compared with those in control rats. However, there were no significant differences in the mRNA levels of IK subunits (Kv1.1, Kv1.2, Kv2.1, and Kv2.2) in the DRG between the two groups. Incubation with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) caused a large reduction in Kv currents, especially IA currents, in medium and large DRG neurons from control rats. Furthermore, the reductions in Kv currents and mRNA levels of IA subunits in diabetic rats were normalized by pre-treatment with anti-BDNF antibody or K252a, a TrkB tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In addition, the number of medium and large DRG neurons with BDNF immunoreactivity was greater in diabetic than control rats. Collectively, our findings suggest that diabetes primarily reduces Kv channel activity in medium and large DRG neurons. Increased BDNF activity in these neurons likely contributes to the reduction in Kv channel function through TrkB receptor stimulation in painful diabetic neuropathy.

Comparative cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of 13 drinking water disinfection by-products using a microplate-based cytotoxicity assay and a developed SOS/umu assay.

PubMed

Zhang, Shao-Hui; Miao, Dong-Yue; Tan, Li; Liu, Ai-Lin; Lu, Wen-Qing

2016-01-01

The implications of disinfection by-products (DBPs) present in drinking water are of public health concern because of their potential mutagenic, carcinogenic and other toxic effects on humans. In this study, we selected 13 main DBPs found in drinking water to quantitatively analyse their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity using a microplate-based cytotoxicity assay and a developed SOS/umu assay in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002. With the developed SOS/umu test, eight DBPs: 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-fura3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2-[5H]-furanone (MX), dibromoacetonitrile (DBN), iodoacetic acid (IA), bromochloroacetonitrile (BCN), bromoacetic acid (BA), trichloroacetonitrile (TCN), dibromoacetic acid (DBA) and dichloroacetic acid (DCA) were significantly genotoxic to S. typhimurium. Three DBPs: chloroacetic acid (CA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and dichloroacetonitrile (DCN) were weakly genotoxic, whereas the remaining DBPs: chloroacetonitrile (CN) and chloral hydrate (CH) were negative. The rank order in decreasing genotoxicity was as follows: MX > DBN > IA > BCN > BA > TCN > DBA > DCA > CA, TCA, DCN > CN, CH. MX was approximately 370 000 times more genotoxic than DCA. In the microplate-based cytotoxicity assay, cytotoxic potencies of the 13 DBPs were compared and ranked in decreasing order as follows: MX > IA > DBN > BCN > BA > TCN > DCN > CA > DCA > DBA > CN > TCA > CH. MX was approximately 19 200 times more cytotoxic than CH. A statistically significant correlation was found between cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the 13 DBPs in S. typhimurium. Results suggest that microplate-based cytotoxicity assay and the developed SOS/umu assay are feasible tools for analysing the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of DBPs, particularly for comparing their toxic intensities quantitatively. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the UK Environmental Mutagen Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Strong potential wave functions with elastic channel distortion

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

Macek, J.; Taulbjerg, K.

1989-06-01

The strong-potential Born approximation is analyzed in a channel-distorted-wave approach. Channel-distorted SPB wave functions are reduced to a conventional form in which the standard off-energy-shell factor /ital g/ has been replaced by a modified factor ..gamma.., which represents a suitable average of /ital g/ over the momentum distribution of the distorted-channel function. The modified factor is evaluated in a physically realistic model for the distortion potential, and it is found that ..gamma.. is well represented by a slowly varying phase factor. The channel-distorted SPB approximation is accordingly identical to the impulse approximation if the phase variation of ..gamma.. can bemore » ignored. This is generally the case in applications to radiative electron capture and to a good approximation for ordinary capture at not too small velocities.« less

Muscle afferent potential (`A-wave') in the surface electromyogram of a phasic stretch reflex in normal humans

PubMed Central

Clarke, Alex. M.; Michie, Patricia T.; Glue, Leonard C. T.

1972-01-01

The experiments reported in this paper tested the hypothesis that the afferent potential elicited by a tendon tap in an isometrically recorded phasic stretch reflex can be detected in the surface EMG of normal humans when appropriate techniques are used. These techniques involved (1) training the subjects to relax mentally and physically so that the EMG was silent before and immediately after the diphasic MAP which reflects a highly synchronous discharge of afferent impulses from low threshold muscle stretch receptors after a tendon tap, and (2) using a data retrieval computer to summate stimulus-locked potentials in the EMG over a series of 16 samples using taps of uniform peak force and duration on the Achilles tendon to elicit the tendon jerk in the calf muscles. A discrete, diphasic potential (`A-wave') was recorded from EMG electrodes placed on the surface of the skin over the medial gastrocnemius muscle. The `A-wave' afferent potential had the opposite polarity to the corresponding efferent MAP. Under control conditions of relaxation the `A-wave' had a latency after the onset of the tap of 2 msec, the peak to peak amplitude was of the order of 5 μV and the duration was in the range of 6 to 10 msec. Further experiments were conducted to show that the `A-wave' (1) was not an artefact of the instrumentation used, (2) had a threshold at low intensities of stimulation, and (3) could be reliably augmented by using a Jendrassik manoeuvre compared with the potential observed during control (relaxation) conditions. The results support the conclusion that the `A-wave' emanates from the pool of muscle spindles which discharges impulses along group Ia nerve fibres in response to the phasic stretch stimulus because the primary ending of the spindles is known to initiate the stretch reflex and the spindles can be sensitized by fusimotor impulses so that their threshold is lowered as a result of a Jendrassik manoeuvre. The finding has important implications for the investigation of the fusimotor system in intact man. Images PMID:4260958

Co-regulation of intragenic microRNA miR-153 and its host gene Ia-2 β: identification of miR-153 target genes with functions related to IA-2β in pancreas and brain.

PubMed

Mandemakers, W; Abuhatzira, L; Xu, H; Caromile, L A; Hébert, S S; Snellinx, A; Morais, V A; Matta, S; Cai, T; Notkins, A L; De Strooper, B

2013-07-01

We analysed the genomic organisation of miR-153, a microRNA embedded in genes that encode two of the major type 1 diabetes autoantigens, islet-associated protein (IA)-2 and IA-2β. We also identified miR-153 target genes that correlated with IA-2β localisation and function. A bioinformatics approach was used to identify miR-153's genomic organisation. To analyse the co-regulation of miR-153 and IA-2β, quantitative PCR analysis of miR-153 and Ia-2β (also known as Ptprn2) was performed after a glucose stimulation assay in MIN6B cells and isolated murine pancreatic islets, and also in wild-type Ia-2 (also known as Ptprn), Ia-2β single knockout and Ia-2/Ia-2β double knockout mouse brain and pancreatic islets. Bioinformatics identification of miR-153 target genes and validation via luciferase reporter assays, western blotting and quantitative PCR were also carried out. Two copies of miR-153, miR-153-1 and miR-153-2, are localised in intron 19 of Ia-2 and Ia-2β, respectively. In rodents, only miR-153-2 is conserved. We demonstrated that expression of miR-153-2 and Ia-2β in rodents is partially co-regulated as demonstrated by a strong reduction of miR-153 expression levels in Ia-2β knockout and Ia-2/Ia-2β double knockout mice. miR-153 levels were unaffected in Ia-2 knockout mice. In addition, glucose stimulation, which increases Ia-2 and Ia-2β expression, also significantly increased expression of miR-153. Several predicted targets of miR-153 were reduced after glucose stimulation in vitro, correlating with the increase in miR-153 levels. This study suggests the involvement of miR-153, IA-2β and miR-153 target genes in a regulatory network, which is potentially relevant to insulin and neurotransmitter release.

A Fast Method to Calculate the Spatial Impulse Response for 1-D Linear Ultrasonic Phased Array Transducers

PubMed Central

Zou, Cheng; Sun, Zhenguo; Cai, Dong; Muhammad, Salman; Zhang, Wenzeng; Chen, Qiang

2016-01-01

A method is developed to accurately determine the spatial impulse response at the specifically discretized observation points in the radiated field of 1-D linear ultrasonic phased array transducers with great efficiency. In contrast, the previously adopted solutions only optimize the calculation procedure for a single rectangular transducer and required approximation considerations or nonlinear calculation. In this research, an algorithm that follows an alternative approach to expedite the calculation of the spatial impulse response of a rectangular linear array is presented. The key assumption for this algorithm is that the transducer apertures are identical and linearly distributed on an infinite rigid plane baffled with the same pitch. Two points in the observation field, which have the same position relative to two transducer apertures, share the same spatial impulse response that contributed from corresponding transducer, respectively. The observation field is discretized specifically to meet the relationship of equality. The analytical expressions of the proposed algorithm, based on the specific selection of the observation points, are derived to remove redundant calculations. In order to measure the proposed methodology, the simulation results obtained from the proposed method and the classical summation method are compared. The outcomes demonstrate that the proposed strategy can speed up the calculation procedure since it accelerates the speed-up ratio which relies upon the number of discrete points and the number of the array transducers. This development will be valuable in the development of advanced and faster linear ultrasonic phased array systems. PMID:27834799

The neurobiology of impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease: from neurotransmitters to neural networks.

PubMed

Vriend, Chris

2018-01-30

Impulse control disorders (ICD) are common neuropsychiatric disorders that can arise in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients after commencing dopamine replacement therapy. Approximately 15% of all patients develop these disorders and many more exhibit subclinical symptoms of impulsivity. ICD is thought to develop due to an interaction between the use of dopaminergic medication and an as yet unknown neurobiological vulnerability that either pre-existed before PD onset (possibly genetic) or is associated with neural alterations due to the PD pathology. This review discusses genes, neurotransmitters and neural networks that have been implicated in the pathophysiology of ICD in PD. Although dopamine and the related reward system have been the main focus of research, recently, studies have started to look beyond those systems to find new clues to the neurobiological underpinnings of ICD and come up with possible new targets for treatment. Studies on the whole-brain connectome to investigate the global alterations due to ICD development are currently lacking. In addition, there is a dire need for longitudinal studies that are able to disentangle the contributions of individual (genetic) traits and secondary effects of the PD pathology and chronic dopamine replacement therapy to the development of ICD in PD.

MHD Energy Bypass Scramjet Performance with Real Gas Effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Park, Chul; Mehta, Unmeel B.; Bogdanoff, David W.

2000-01-01

The theoretical performance of a scramjet propulsion system incorporating an magneto-hydro-dynamic (MHD) energy bypass scheme is calculated. The one-dimensional analysis developed earlier, in which the theoretical performance is calculated neglecting skin friction and using a sudden-freezing approximation for the nozzle flow, is modified to incorporate the method of Van Driest for turbulent skin friction and a finite-rate chemistry calculation in the nozzle. Unlike in the earlier design, in which four ramp compressions occurred in the pitch plane, in the present design the first two ramp compressions occur in the pitch plane and the next two compressions occur in the yaw plane. The results for the simplified design of a spaceliner show that (1) the present design produces higher specific impulses than the earlier design, (2) skin friction substantially reduces thrust and specific impulse, and (3) the specific impulse of the MHD-bypass system is still better than the non-MHD system and typical rocket over a narrow region of flight speeds and design parameters. Results suggest that the energy management with MHD principles offers the possibility of improving the performance of the scramjet. The technical issues needing further studies are identified.

Stable integration and expression of a cry1Ia gene conferring resistance to fall armyworm and boll weevil in cotton plants.

PubMed

Silva, Carliane Rc; Monnerat, Rose; Lima, Liziane M; Martins, Érica S; Melo Filho, Péricles A; Pinheiro, Morganna Pn; Santos, Roseane C

2016-08-01

Boll weevil is a serious pest of cotton crop. Effective control involves applications of chemical insecticides, increasing the cost of production and environmental pollution. The current genetically modified Bt crops have allowed great benefits to farmers but show activity limited to lepidopteran pests. This work reports on procedures adopted for integration and expression of a cry transgene conferring resistance to boll weevil and fall armyworm by using molecular tools. Four Brazilian cotton cultivars were microinjected with a minimal linear cassette generating 1248 putative lines. Complete gene integration was found in only one line (T0-34) containing one copy of cry1Ia detected by Southern blot. Protein was expressed in high concentration at 45 days after emergence (dae), decreasing by approximately 50% at 90 dae. Toxicity of the cry protein was demonstrated in feeding bioassays revealing 56.7% mortality to boll weevil fed buds and 88.1% mortality to fall armyworm fed leaves. A binding of cry1Ia antibody was found in the midgut of boll weevils fed on T0-34 buds in an immunodetection assay. The gene introduced into plants confers resistance to boll weevil and fall armyworm. Transmission of the transgene occurred normally to T1 progeny. All plants showed phenotypically normal growth, with fertile flowers and abundant seeds. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Levetiracetam Results in Increased and Decreased Alcohol Drinking with Different Access Procedures in C57BL/6J Mice

PubMed Central

Fish, Eric W.; Agoglia, Abigail E.; Krouse, Michael C.; Muller, R. Grant; Robinson, J. Elliott; Malanga, C.J.

2013-01-01

The antiepileptic, levetiracetam (LEV), has been investigated for the treatment of alcohol abuse. However, little is known about how LEV alters the behavioral effects of alcohol in laboratory animals. The acute effects of LEV on alcohol drinking by male C57BL/6J mice were investigated using two different drinking procedures, limited access (drinking-in-the-dark, or DID) and intermittent access (IA) drinking. In the first experiment (DID), mice had access to a single bottle containing alcohol or sucrose for four hours every-other day. In the second experiment (IA), mice had intermittent access to two bottles, one containing alcohol or sucrose and one containing water, for 24 h on Mon/Wed/Fri. In both experiments, mice were administered LEV (0.3 – 100 mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle 30 min before access to the drinking solutions. In the DID mice, LEV increased alcohol intake from 4.3 to 5.4 g/kg, while in the IA mice LEV decreased alcohol intake from 4.8 to 3.0 g/kg in the first 4 h of access and decreased 24 h alcohol intake from 20 g/kg to approximately 15 g/kg. These effects appear specific to alcohol, as LEV did not affect sucrose intake in either experiment. LEV appears to differentially affect drinking in animal models of moderate and heavier alcohol consumption. PMID:24322822

An upper limit on the contribution of accreting white dwarfs to the type Ia supernova rate.

PubMed

Gilfanov, Marat; Bogdán, Akos

2010-02-18

There is wide agreement that type Ia supernovae (used as standard candles for cosmology) are associated with the thermonuclear explosions of white dwarf stars. The nuclear runaway that leads to the explosion could start in a white dwarf gradually accumulating matter from a companion star until it reaches the Chandrasekhar limit, or could be triggered by the merger of two white dwarfs in a compact binary system. The X-ray signatures of these two possible paths are very different. Whereas no strong electromagnetic emission is expected in the merger scenario until shortly before the supernova, the white dwarf accreting material from the normal star becomes a source of copious X-rays for about 10(7) years before the explosion. This offers a means of determining which path dominates. Here we report that the observed X-ray flux from six nearby elliptical galaxies and galaxy bulges is a factor of approximately 30-50 less than predicted in the accretion scenario, based upon an estimate of the supernova rate from their K-band luminosities. We conclude that no more than about five per cent of type Ia supernovae in early-type galaxies can be produced by white dwarfs in accreting binary systems, unless their progenitors are much younger than the bulk of the stellar population in these galaxies, or explosions of sub-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs make a significant contribution to the supernova rate.

Immunohistochemical analysis of IA-2 family of protein tyrosine phosphatases in rat gastrointestinal endocrine cells.

PubMed

Gomi, Hiroshi; Kubota-Murata, Chisato; Yasui, Tadashi; Tsukise, Azuma; Torii, Seiji

2013-02-01

Islet-associated protein-2 (IA-2) and IA-2β (also known as phogrin) are unique neuroendocrine-specific protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). The IA-2 family of PTPs was originally identified from insulinoma cells and discovered to be major autoantigens in type 1 diabetes. Despite its expression in the neural and canonical endocrine tissues, data on expression of the IA-2 family of PTPs in gastrointestinal endocrine cells (GECs) are limited. Therefore, we immunohistochemically investigated the expression of the IA-2 family of PTPs in the rat gastrointestinal tract. In the stomach, IA-2 and IA-2β were expressed in GECs that secrete serotonin, somatostatin, and cholecystokinin/gastrin-1. In addition to these hormones, secretin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (also known as the glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide), glucagon-like peptide-1, and glucagon, but not ghrelin were coexpressed with IA-2 or IA-2β in duodenal GECs. Pancreatic islet cells that secrete gut hormones expressed the IA-2 family of PTPs. The expression patterns of IA-2 and IA-2β were comparable. These results reveal that the IA-2 family of PTPs is expressed in a cell type-specific manner in rat GECs. The extensive expression of the IA-2 family of PTPs in pancreo-gastrointestinal endocrine cells and in the enteric plexus suggests their systemic contribution to nutritional control through a neuroendocrine signaling network.

A control system design approach for flexible spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silverberg, L. M.

1985-01-01

A control system design approach for flexible spacecraft is presented. The control system design is carried out in two steps. The first step consists of determining the ideal control system in terms of a desirable dynamic performance. The second step consists of designing a control system using a limited number of actuators that possess a dynamic performance that is close to the ideal dynamic performance. The effects of using a limited number of actuators is that the actual closed-loop eigenvalues differ from the ideal closed-loop eigenvalues. A method is presented to approximate the actual closed-loop eigenvalues so that the calculation of the actual closed-loop eigenvalues can be avoided. Depending on the application, it also may be desirable to apply the control forces as impulses. The effect of digitizing the control to produce the appropriate impulses is also examined.

A minimax technique for time-domain design of preset digital equalizers using linear programming

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaughn, G. L.; Houts, R. C.

1975-01-01

A linear programming technique is presented for the design of a preset finite-impulse response (FIR) digital filter to equalize the intersymbol interference (ISI) present in a baseband channel with known impulse response. A minimax technique is used which minimizes the maximum absolute error between the actual received waveform and a specified raised-cosine waveform. Transversal and frequency-sampling FIR digital filters are compared as to the accuracy of the approximation, the resultant ISI and the transmitted energy required. The transversal designs typically have slightly better waveform accuracy for a given distortion; however, the frequency-sampling equalizer uses fewer multipliers and requires less transmitted energy. A restricted transversal design is shown to use the least number of multipliers at the cost of a significant increase in energy and loss of waveform accuracy at the receiver.

A finite element study of the EIDI system. [Electro-Impulse De-Icing System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khatkhate, A. A.; Scavuzzo, R. J.; Chu, M. L.

1988-01-01

This paper presents a method for modeling the structural dynamics of an Electro-Impulse De-Icing System, using finite element analyses procedures. A guideline for building a representative finite element model is discussed. Modeling was done initially using four noded cubic elements, four noded isoparametric plate elements and eight noded isoparametric shell elements. Due to the size of the problem and due to the underestimation of shear stress results when compared to previous analytical work an approximate model was created to predict possible areas of shedding of ice. There appears to be good agreement with the test data provided by The Boeing Commercial Airplane Company. Thus these initial results of this method were found to be encouraging. Additional analytical work and comparison with experiment is needed in order to completely evaluate this approach.

Modeling hemodynamics in intracranial aneurysms: Comparing accuracy of CFD solvers based on finite element and finite volume schemes.

PubMed

Botti, Lorenzo; Paliwal, Nikhil; Conti, Pierangelo; Antiga, Luca; Meng, Hui

2018-06-01

Image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has shown potential to aid in the clinical management of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) but its adoption in the clinical practice has been missing, partially due to lack of accuracy assessment and sensitivity analysis. To numerically solve the flow-governing equations CFD solvers generally rely on two spatial discretization schemes: Finite Volume (FV) and Finite Element (FE). Since increasingly accurate numerical solutions are obtained by different means, accuracies and computational costs of FV and FE formulations cannot be compared directly. To this end, in this study we benchmark two representative CFD solvers in simulating flow in a patient-specific IA model: (1) ANSYS Fluent, a commercial FV-based solver and (2) VMTKLab multidGetto, a discontinuous Galerkin (dG) FE-based solver. The FV solver's accuracy is improved by increasing the spatial mesh resolution (134k, 1.1m, 8.6m and 68.5m tetrahedral element meshes). The dGFE solver accuracy is increased by increasing the degree of polynomials (first, second, third and fourth degree) on the base 134k tetrahedral element mesh. Solutions from best FV and dGFE approximations are used as baseline for error quantification. On average, velocity errors for second-best approximations are approximately 1cm/s for a [0,125]cm/s velocity magnitude field. Results show that high-order dGFE provide better accuracy per degree of freedom but worse accuracy per Jacobian non-zero entry as compared to FV. Cross-comparison of velocity errors demonstrates asymptotic convergence of both solvers to the same numerical solution. Nevertheless, the discrepancy between under-resolved velocity fields suggests that mesh independence is reached following different paths. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Polycystic kidney disease among 4,436 intracranial aneurysm patients from a defined population.

PubMed

Nurmonen, Heidi J; Huttunen, Terhi; Huttunen, Jukka; Kurki, Mitja I; Helin, Katariina; Koivisto, Timo; von Und Zu Fraunberg, Mikael; Jääskeläinen, Juha E; Lindgren, Antti E

2017-10-31

To define the association of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) with the characteristics of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and unruptured intracranial aneurysm (IA) disease. We fused data from the Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm database (n = 4,436 IA patients) and Finnish nationwide registries into a population-based series of 53 IA patients with ADPKD to compare the aneurysm- and patient-specific characteristics of IA disease in ADPKD and in the general IA population, and to identify risks for de novo IA formation. In total, there were 33 patients with ADPKD with aSAH and 20 patients with ADPKD with unruptured IAs. The median size of ruptured IAs in ADPKD was significantly smaller than in the general population (6.00 vs 8.00 mm) and the proportion of small ruptured IAs was significantly higher (31% vs 18%). Median age at aSAH was 42.8 years, 10 years younger than in the general IA population. Multiple IAs were present in 45% of patients with ADPKD compared to 28% in the general IA population. Cumulative risk of de novo IA formation was 1.3% per patient-year (vs 0.2% in the general IA population). Hazard for de novo aneurysm formation was significantly elevated in patients with ADPKD (Cox regression hazard ratio 7.7, 95% confidence interval 2.8-20; p < 0.0005). Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs at younger age and from smaller IAs in patients with ADPKD and risk for de novo IAs is higher than in the general Eastern Finnish population. ADPKD should be considered as an indicator for long-term angiographic follow-up in patients with diagnosed IAs. © 2017 American Academy of Neurology.

An objective alternative to IUPAC's approach to assign oxidation states.

PubMed

Postils, Verònica; Delgado-Alonso, Carlos; Luis, Josep M; Salvador, Pedro

2018-05-22

The IUPAC has recently clarified the term Oxidation State (OS), and provided algorithms for its determination based on the ionic approximation (IA) of the bonds supported by atomic electronegativities (EN). Unfortunately, there are a number of exceptions and ambiguities in IUPAC's algorithms when it comes to practical applications. Our comprehensive study reveals the critical role of the chemical environment on establishing the OS, which cannot always be properly predicted using fix atomic EN values. By identifying what we define here as subsystems of enhanced stability within the molecular system, OS can be safely assigned in many cases without invoking exceptions. New insights about the effect of local aromaticity upon OS are revealed. Moreover, we prove that there are intrinsic limitations of the IA that cannot be overcome. In this context, the effective oxidation state (EOS) analysis arises as a robust and general scheme to derive OS without any external guidance. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Host galaxies of type ia supernovae from the nearby supernova factory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Childress, Michael Joseph

Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) are excellent distance indicators, yet the full details of the underlying physical mechanism giving rise to these dramatic stellar deaths remain unclear. As large samples of cosmological SNe Ia continue to be collected, the scatter in brightnesses of these events is equally affected by systematic errors as statistical. Thus we need to understand the physics of SNe Ia better, and in particular we must know more about the progenitors of these SNe so that we can derive better estimates for their true intrinsic brightnesses. The host galaxies of SNe Ia provide important indirect clues as to the nature of SN Ia progenitors. In this Thesis we utilize the host galaxies of SNe Ia discovered by the Nearby Supernova Factory (SNfactory) to pursue several key investigations into the nature of SN Ia progenitors and their effects on SN Ia brightnesses. We first examine the host galaxy of SN 2007if, an important member of the subclass of SNe Ia whose extreme brightnesses indicate a progenitor that exceeded the canonical Chandrasekhar-mass value presumed for normal SNe Ia, and show that the host galaxy of this SN is composed of very young stars and has extremely low metallicity, providing important constraints on progenitor scenarios for this SN. We then utilize the full sample of SNfactory host galaxy masses (measured from photometry) and metallicities (derived from optical spectroscopy) to examine several global properties of SN Ia progenitors: (i) we show that SN Ia hosts show tight agreement with the normal galaxy mass-metallicity relation; (ii) comparing the observed distribution of SN Ia host galaxy masses to a theoretical model that couples galaxy physics to the SN Ia delay time distribution (DTD), we show the power of the SN Ia host mass distribution in constraining the SN Ia DTD; and (iii) we show that the lack of ultra-low metallicities in the SNfactory SN Ia host sample gives provisional support for the theorized low-metallicity inhibition of SNe Ia. Finally we revisit recent studies which found that the corrected brightnesses of SNe Ia (after application of the standard light curve width and color corrections) correlate with the masses of their host galaxies. We confirm this trend with host mass using SNfactory data, and for the first time confirm that an analogous trend exists with host metallicity. We then apply a spectroscopic standardization technique developed by SNfactory and show that this method significantly reduces the observed bias. In this Thesis we show that SN Ia host galaxies continue to provide key insight into SN Ia progenitors, and also illuminate possible biases in SN Ia brightness standardization techniques.

Manganese in Dwarf Galaxies as a Probe of Type Ia Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Los Reyes, Mithi; Kirby, Evan N.

2018-06-01

Despite the importance of thermonuclear or Type Ia supernovae (SNe) as standard candles in astrophysics, the physical mechanisms behind Type Ia SNe are still poorly constrained. Theoretically, the nucleosynthetic yields from Type Ia SNe can distinguish among different models of Type Ia explosions. For example, neutron-rich elements such as manganese (Mn) are sensitive probes of the physics of Type Ia SNe because their abundances are correlated to the density of the progenitor white dwarf. Since dwarf galaxies' chemical evolution is dominated by Type Ia SNe at late times, Type Ia nucleosynthetic yields can be indirectly inferred from stellar abundances in dwarf galaxies. However, previous measurements of Mn in dwarf galaxies are too incomplete to draw definitive conclusions on the Type Ia explosion mechanism. In this work, we therefore use medium-resolution stellar spectroscopy from Keck/DEIMOS to measure Mn abundances in red giants in several Milky Way satellite galaxies. We report average Type Ia Mn yields computed from these abundances, and we discuss the implications for Type Ia supernova physics.

A rapid lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of tyrosine phosphatase-like protein IA-2 autoantibodies in human serum.

PubMed

Kikkas, Ingrid; Mallone, Roberto; Larger, Etienne; Volland, Hervé; Morel, Nathalie

2014-01-01

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from the destruction of pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells and is strongly associated with the presence of islet autoantibodies. Autoantibodies to tyrosine phosphatase-like protein IA-2 (IA-2As) are considered to be highly predictive markers of T1D. We developed a novel lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) based on a bridging format for the rapid detection of IA-2As in human serum samples. In this assay, one site of the IA-2As is bound to HA-tagged-IA-2, which is subsequently captured on the anti-HA-Tag antibody-coated test line on the strip. The other site of the IA-2As is bound to biotinylated IA-2, allowing the complex to be visualized using colloidal gold nanoparticle-conjugated streptavidin. For this study, 35 serum samples from T1D patients and 44 control sera from non-diabetic individuals were analyzed with our novel assay and the results were correlated with two IA-2A ELISAs. Among the 35 serum samples from T1D patients, the IA-2A LFIA, the in-house IA-2A ELISA and the commercial IA-2A ELISA identified as positive 21, 29 and 30 IA-2A-positive sera, respectively. The major advantages of the IA-2A LFIA are its rapidity and simplicity.

A study on the influence of internet addiction and online interpersonal influences on health-related quality of life in young Vietnamese.

PubMed

Tran, Bach Xuan; Huong, Le Thi; Hinh, Nguyen Duc; Nguyen, Long Hoang; Le, Bao Nguyen; Nong, Vuong Minh; Thuc, Vu Thi Minh; Tho, Tran Dinh; Latkin, Carl; Zhang, Melvyn Wb; Ho, Roger Cm

2017-01-31

Internet addiction (IA) is a common problem found in young Asians. This study aimed to study the influence of IA and online activities on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in young Vietnamese. This study also compared the frequencies of anxiety, depression and other addiction of young Vietnamese with and without IA. This study recruited 566 young Vietnamese (56.7% female, 43.3% male) ranging from 15 to 25 years of age via the respondent-driven sampling technique. Chi-squared, t-test and analysis of variance were used to compare young Vietnamese with and without IA. Regression analyses were used to examine the association between internet usage characteristics and HRQOL. Results from this cross-sectional study showed that 21.2% of participants suffered from IA. Online relationship demonstrated significantly higher influences on behaviors and lifestyles in participants with IA than those without IA. Participants with IA were more likely to have problems with self-care, difficulty in performing daily routine, suffer from pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression. Contrary to previous studies, we found that there were no differences in gender, sociodemographic, the number of participants with cigarette smoking, water-pipe smoking and alcohol dependence between the IA and non-IA groups. IA was significantly associated with poor HRQOL in young Vietnamese. IA is a common problem among young Vietnamese and the prevalence of IA is the highest as compared to other Asian countries. Our findings suggest that gender may not play a key role in IA. This can be an emerging trend when both genders have equal access to the internet. By studying the impact of IA on HRQOL, healthcare professionals can design effective intervention to alleviate the negative consequences of IA in Vietnam.

Growth Suppression and Therapy Sensitization of Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-07-01

toxlo wrub n th reold le e s ta bean ed dt o ia n ceth dotell fcel groth fa-Ctor andr Nunitublsoisnhedaa.Tse)gliia pposis.tse resuths areonsiten with...o p5 aenoiru i cobi fomadhyefie tmr etin frth asuaredohlilnain ih oorbci n ratn mtsttc ras ane, h cell~~~~ surac protei PECM(u.nulse aa.Ti u-ciia...Z.47 otide composition closely approximating the average of antisense JNK1 and .-48 JNK2 but contains three CpG dinucleotide sequences thereby

Arginine ADP-ribosylation mechanism based on structural snapshots of iota-toxin and actin complex

PubMed Central

Tsurumura, Toshiharu; Tsumori, Yayoi; Qiu, Hao; Oda, Masataka; Sakurai, Jun; Nagahama, Masahiro; Tsuge, Hideaki

2013-01-01

Clostridium perfringens iota-toxin (Ia) mono-ADP ribosylates Arg177 of actin, leading to cytoskeletal disorganization and cell death. To fully understand the reaction mechanism of arginine-specific mono-ADP ribosyl transferase, the structure of the toxin-substrate protein complex must be characterized. Recently, we solved the crystal structure of Ia in complex with actin and the nonhydrolyzable NAD+ analog βTAD (thiazole-4-carboxamide adenine dinucleotide); however, the structures of the NAD+-bound form (NAD+-Ia-actin) and the ADP ribosylated form [Ia-ADP ribosylated (ADPR)-actin] remain unclear. Accidentally, we found that ethylene glycol as cryo-protectant inhibits ADP ribosylation and crystallized the NAD+-Ia-actin complex. Here we report high-resolution structures of NAD+-Ia-actin and Ia-ADPR-actin obtained by soaking apo-Ia-actin crystal with NAD+ under different conditions. The structures of NAD+-Ia-actin and Ia-ADPR-actin represent the pre- and postreaction states, respectively. By assigning the βTAD-Ia-actin structure to the transition state, the strain-alleviation model of ADP ribosylation, which we proposed previously, is experimentally confirmed and improved. Moreover, this reaction mechanism appears to be applicable not only to Ia but also to other ADP ribosyltransferases. PMID:23382240

Novel prokaryotic expression of thioredoxin-fused insulinoma associated protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2), its characterization and immunodiagnostic application.

PubMed

Guerra, Luciano Lucas; Faccinetti, Natalia Inés; Trabucchi, Aldana; Rovitto, Bruno David; Sabljic, Adriana Victoria; Poskus, Edgardo; Iacono, Ruben Francisco; Valdez, Silvina Noemí

2016-11-24

The insulinoma associated protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2) is one of the immunodominant autoantigens involved in the autoimmune attack to the beta-cell in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. In this work we have developed a complete and original process for the production and recovery of the properly folded intracellular domain of IA-2 fused to thioredoxin (TrxIA-2 ic ) in Escherichia coli GI698 and GI724 strains. We have also carried out the biochemical and immunochemical characterization of TrxIA-2 ic and design variants of non-radiometric immunoassays for the efficient detection of IA-2 autoantibodies (IA-2A). The main findings can be summarized in the following statements: i) TrxIA-2 ic expression after 3 h of induction on GI724 strain yielded ≈ 10 mg of highly pure TrxIA-2 ic /L of culture medium by a single step purification by affinity chromatography, ii) the molecular weight of TrxIA-2 ic (55,358 Da) could be estimated by SDS-PAGE, size exclusion chromatography and mass spectrometry, iii) TrxIA-2 ic was properly identified by western blot and mass spectrometric analysis of proteolytic digestions (63.25 % total coverage), iv) excellent immunochemical behavior of properly folded full TrxIA-2 ic was legitimized by inhibition or displacement of [ 35 S]IA-2 binding from IA-2A present in Argentinian Type 1 Diabetic patients, v) great stability over time was found under proper storage conditions and vi) low cost and environmentally harmless ELISA methods for IA-2A assessment were developed, with colorimetric or chemiluminescent detection. E. coli GI724 strain emerged as a handy source of recombinant IA-2 ic , achieving high levels of expression as a thioredoxin fusion protein, adequately validated and applicable to the development of innovative and cost-effective immunoassays for IA-2A detection in most laboratories.

Exclusive Meson Electroweak production off Bound Nucleons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Toru

2018-05-01

The effects of final state interaction in electroweak pion production reactions have been studied. The one loop corrections to the impulse approximation due to the nucleon and the pion rescattering is evaluated using the ANL-Osaka dynamical coupled channel model for the meson production reactions. It is found the final state interaction will affects the ν N cross section extracted in the previous analysis of the ν d data.

Ground Motion Prediction for M7+ scenarios on the San Andreas Fault using the Virtual Earthquake Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denolle, M.; Dunham, E. M.; Prieto, G.; Beroza, G. C.

2013-05-01

There is no clearer example of the increase in hazard due to prolonged and amplified shaking in sedimentary, than the case of Mexico City in the 1985 Michoacan earthquake. It is critically important to identify what other cities might be susceptible to similar basin amplification effects. Physics-based simulations in 3D crustal structure can be used to model and anticipate those effects, but they rely on our knowledge of the complexity of the medium. We propose a parallel approach to validate ground motion simulations using the ambient seismic field. We compute the Earth's impulse response combining the ambient seismic field and coda-wave enforcing causality and symmetry constraints. We correct the surface impulse responses to account for the source depth, mechanism and duration using a 1D approximation of the local surface-wave excitation. We call the new responses virtual earthquakes. We validate the ground motion predicted from the virtual earthquakes against moderate earthquakes in southern California. We then combine temporary seismic stations on the southern San Andreas Fault and extend the point source approximation of the Virtual Earthquake Approach to model finite kinematic ruptures. We confirm the coupling between source directivity and amplification in downtown Los Angeles seen in simulations.

Simple systematization of vibrational excitation cross-section calculations for resonant electron-molecule scattering in the boomerang and impulse models.

PubMed

Sarma, Manabendra; Adhikari, S; Mishra, Manoj K

2007-01-28

Vibrational excitation (nu(f)<--nu(i)) cross-sections sigma(nu(f)<--nu(i) )(E) in resonant e-N(2) and e-H(2) scattering are calculated from transition matrix elements T(nu(f),nu(i) )(E) obtained using Fourier transform of the cross correlation function , where psi(nu(i))(R,t) approximately =e(-iH(A(2))-(R)t/h phi(nu(i))(R) with time evolution under the influence of the resonance anionic Hamiltonian H(A(2) (-))(A(2) (-)=N(2)(-)/H(2) (-)) implemented using Lanczos and fast Fourier transforms. The target (A(2)) vibrational eigenfunctions phi(nu(i))(R) and phi(nu(f))(R) are calculated using Fourier grid Hamiltonian method applied to potential energy (PE) curves of the neutral target. Application of this simple systematization to calculate vibrational structure in e-N(2) and e-H(2) scattering cross-sections provides mechanistic insights into features underlying presence/absence of structure in e-N(2) and e-H(2) scattering cross-sections. The results obtained with approximate PE curves are in reasonable agreement with experimental/calculated cross-section profiles, and cross correlation functions provide a simple demarcation between the boomerang and impulse models.

The Evolution of the Type Ia Supernova Luminosity Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Ken J.; Toonen, Silvia; Graur, Or

2017-12-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) exhibit a wide diversity of peak luminosities and light curve shapes: the faintest SNe Ia are 10 times less luminous and evolve more rapidly than the brightest SNe Ia. Their differing characteristics also extend to their stellar age distributions, with fainter SNe Ia preferentially occurring in old stellar populations and vice versa. In this Letter, we quantify this SN Ia luminosity–stellar age connection using data from the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS). Our binary population synthesis calculations agree qualitatively with the observed trend in the > 1 {Gyr} old populations probed by LOSS if the majority of SNe Ia arise from prompt detonations of sub-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs (WDs) in double WD systems. Under appropriate assumptions, we show that double WD systems with less massive primaries, which yield fainter SNe Ia, interact and explode at older ages than those with more massive primaries. We find that prompt detonations in double WD systems are capable of reproducing the observed evolution of the SN Ia luminosity function, a constraint that any SN Ia progenitor scenario must confront.

Differential effects of chromosome 9p21 variation on subphenotypes of intracranial aneurysm: site distribution.

PubMed

Nakaoka, Hirofumi; Takahashi, Tomoko; Akiyama, Koichi; Cui, Tailin; Tajima, Atsushi; Krischek, Boris; Kasuya, Hidetoshi; Hata, Akira; Inoue, Ituro

2010-08-01

Recently, a genome-wide association study identified associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosome 9p21 and risk of harboring intracranial aneurysm (IA). Aneurysm characteristics or subphenotypes of IAs, such as history of subarachnoid hemorrhage, presence of multiple IAs and location of IAs, are clinically important. We investigated whether the association between 9p21 variation and risk of IA varied among these subphenotypes. We conducted a case-control study of 981 cases and 699 controls in Japanese. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms tagging the 9p21 risk locus were genotyped. The OR and 95% CI were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Among the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs1333040 showed the strongest evidence of association with IA (P=1.5x10(-6); per allele OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.24-1.66). None of the patient characteristics (gender, age, smoking, and hypertension) was a significant confounder or effect modifier of the association. Subgroup analyses of IA subphenotypes showed that among the most common sites of IAs, the association was strongest for IAs of the posterior communicating artery (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.26-2.26) and not significant for IAs in the anterior communicating artery (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.96-1.57). When dichotomizing IA sites, the association was stronger for IAs of the posterior circulation-posterior communicating artery group (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.32-2.26) vs the anterior circulation group (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.53). Heterogeneity in these ORs was significant (P=0.032). The associations did not vary when stratifying by history of subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.18-1.71 for ruptured IA; OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.00-1.62 for unruptured IA) or by multiplicity of IA (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.21-2.03 for multiple IAs; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.15-1.61 for single IA). Our results suggest that genetic influence on formation may vary between IA subphenotypes.

Shared and Distinct Rupture Discriminants of Small and Large Intracranial Aneurysms.

PubMed

Varble, Nicole; Tutino, Vincent M; Yu, Jihnhee; Sonig, Ashish; Siddiqui, Adnan H; Davies, Jason M; Meng, Hui

2018-04-01

Many ruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are small. Clinical presentations suggest that small and large IAs could have different phenotypes. It is unknown if small and large IAs have different characteristics that discriminate rupture. We analyzed morphological, hemodynamic, and clinical parameters of 413 retrospectively collected IAs (training cohort; 102 ruptured IAs). Hierarchal cluster analysis was performed to determine a size cutoff to dichotomize the IA population into small and large IAs. We applied multivariate logistic regression to build rupture discrimination models for small IAs, large IAs, and an aggregation of all IAs. We validated the ability of these 3 models to predict rupture status in a second, independently collected cohort of 129 IAs (testing cohort; 14 ruptured IAs). Hierarchal cluster analysis in the training cohort confirmed that small and large IAs are best separated at 5 mm based on morphological and hemodynamic features (area under the curve=0.81). For small IAs (<5 mm), the resulting rupture discrimination model included undulation index, oscillatory shear index, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage, and absence of multiple IAs (area under the curve=0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.88), whereas for large IAs (≥5 mm), the model included undulation index, low wall shear stress, previous subarachnoid hemorrhage, and IA location (area under the curve=0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.93). The model for the aggregated training cohort retained all the parameters in the size-dichotomized models. Results in the testing cohort showed that the size-dichotomized rupture discrimination model had higher sensitivity (64% versus 29%) and accuracy (77% versus 74%), marginally higher area under the curve (0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.88 versus 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.82), and similar specificity (78% versus 80%) compared with the aggregate-based model. Small (<5 mm) and large (≥5 mm) IAs have different hemodynamic and clinical, but not morphological, rupture discriminants. Size-dichotomized rupture discrimination models performed better than the aggregate model. © 2018 American Heart Association, Inc.

Improvement of sidestream dark field imaging with an image acquisition stabilizer.

PubMed

Balestra, Gianmarco M; Bezemer, Rick; Boerma, E Christiaan; Yong, Ze-Yie; Sjauw, Krishan D; Engstrom, Annemarie E; Koopmans, Matty; Ince, Can

2010-07-13

In the present study we developed, evaluated in volunteers, and clinically validated an image acquisition stabilizer (IAS) for Sidestream Dark Field (SDF) imaging. The IAS is a stainless steel sterilizable ring which fits around the SDF probe tip. The IAS creates adhesion to the imaged tissue by application of negative pressure. The effects of the IAS on the sublingual microcirculatory flow velocities, the force required to induce pressure artifacts (PA), the time to acquire a stable image, and the duration of stable imaging were assessed in healthy volunteers. To demonstrate the clinical applicability of the SDF setup in combination with the IAS, simultaneous bilateral sublingual imaging of the microcirculation were performed during a lung recruitment maneuver (LRM) in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. One SDF device was operated handheld; the second was fitted with the IAS and held in position by a mechanic arm. Lateral drift, number of losses of image stability and duration of stable imaging of the two methods were compared. Five healthy volunteers were studied. The IAS did not affect microcirculatory flow velocities. A significantly greater force had to applied onto the tissue to induced PA with compared to without IAS (0.25 +/- 0.15 N without vs. 0.62 +/- 0.05 N with the IAS, p < 0.001). The IAS ensured an increased duration of a stable image sequence (8 +/- 2 s without vs. 42 +/- 8 s with the IAS, p < 0.001). The time required to obtain a stable image sequence was similar with and without the IAS. In eight mechanically ventilated patients undergoing a LRM the use of the IAS resulted in a significantly reduced image drifting and enabled the acquisition of significantly longer stable image sequences (24 +/- 5 s without vs. 67 +/- 14 s with the IAS, p = 0.006). The present study has validated the use of an IAS for improvement of SDF imaging by demonstrating that the IAS did not affect microcirculatory perfusion in the microscopic field of view. The IAS improved both axial and lateral SDF image stability and thereby increased the critical force required to induce pressure artifacts. The IAS ensured a significantly increased duration of maintaining a stable image sequence.

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the Familial Intracranial Aneurysm and International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms cohorts: differences in multiplicity and location.

PubMed

Mackey, Jason; Brown, Robert D; Moomaw, Charles J; Sauerbeck, Laura; Hornung, Richard; Gandhi, Dheeraj; Woo, Daniel; Kleindorfer, Dawn; Flaherty, Matthew L; Meissner, Irene; Anderson, Craig; Connolly, E Sander; Rouleau, Guy; Kallmes, David F; Torner, James; Huston, John; Broderick, Joseph P

2012-07-01

Familial predisposition is a recognized nonmodifiable risk factor for the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). However, data regarding the characteristics of familial IAs are limited. The authors sought to describe familial IAs more fully, and to compare their characteristics with a large cohort of nonfamilial IAs. The Familial Intracranial Aneurysm (FIA) study is a multicenter international study with the goal of identifying genetic and other risk factors for formation and rupture of IAs in a highly enriched population. The authors compared the FIA study cohort with the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA) cohort with regard to patient demographic data, IA location, and IA multiplicity. To improve comparability, all patients in the ISUIA who had a family history of IAs or subarachnoid hemorrhage were excluded, as well as all patients in both cohorts who had a ruptured IA prior to study entry. Of 983 patients enrolled in the FIA study with definite or probable IAs, 511 met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. Of the 4059 patients in the ISUIA study, 983 had a previous IA rupture and 657 of the remainder had a positive family history, leaving 2419 individuals in the analysis. Multiplicity was more common in the FIA patients (35.6% vs 27.9%, p<0.001). The FIA patients had a higher proportion of IAs located in the middle cerebral artery (28.6% vs 24.9%), whereas ISUIA patients had a higher proportion of posterior communicating artery IAs (13.7% vs 8.2%, p=0.016). Heritable structural vulnerability may account for differences in IA multiplicity and location. Important investigations into the underlying genetic mechanisms of IA formation are ongoing.

Recurrence risk of ictal asystole in epilepsy.

PubMed

Hampel, Kevin G; Thijs, Roland D; Elger, Christian E; Surges, Rainer

2017-08-22

To determine the recurrence risk of ictal asystole (IA) and its determining factors in people with epilepsy. We performed a systematic review of published cases with IA in 3 databases and additionally searched our local database for patients with multiple seizures simultaneously recorded with ECG and EEG and at least one IA. IA recurrence risk was estimated by including all seizures without knowledge of the chronological order. Various clinical features were assessed by an individual patient data meta-analysis. A random mixed effect logistic regression model was applied to estimate the average recurrence risk of IA. Plausibility of the calculated IA recurrence risk was checked by analyzing the local dataset with available information in chronological order. Eighty patients with 182 IA in 537 seizures were included. Recurrence risk of IA amounted to 40% (95% confidence interval [CI] 32%-50%). None of the clinical factors (age, sex, type and duration of epilepsy, hemispheric lateralization, duration of IA per patient) appeared to have a significant effect on the short-term recurrence risk of IA. When considering the local dataset only, IA recurrence risk was estimated to 30% (95% CI 14%-53%). Information whether IA coincided with symptoms (i.e., syncope) or not was given in 60 patients: 100 out of 142 IAs were symptomatic. Our data suggest that in case of clinically suspected IA, the recording of 1 or 2 seizures is not sufficient to rule out IA. Furthermore, the high short-term recurrence risk favors aggressive treatment, including pacemaker implantation if seizure freedom cannot be achieved. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.

Predictive factors of excessive online poker playing.

PubMed

Hopley, Anthony A B; Nicki, Richard M

2010-08-01

Despite the widespread rise of online poker playing, there is a paucity of research examining potential predictors for excessive poker playing. The aim of this study was to build on recent research examining motives for Texas Hold'em play in students by determining whether predictors of other kinds of excessive gambling apply to Texas Hold'em. Impulsivity, negative mood states, dissociation, and boredom proneness have been linked to general problem gambling and may play a role in online poker. Participants of this study were self-selected online poker players (N = 179) who completed an online survey. Results revealed that participants played an average of 20 hours of online poker a week and approximately 9% of the sample was classified as a problem gambler according to the Canadian Problem Gambling Index. Problem gambling, in this sample, was uniquely predicted by time played, dissociation, boredom proneness, impulsivity, and negative affective states, namely depression, anxiety, and stress.

Balancing selection and recombination as evolutionary forces caused population genetic variations in golden pheasant MHC class I genes.

PubMed

Zeng, Qian-Qian; He, Ke; Sun, Dan-Dan; Ma, Mei-Ying; Ge, Yun-Fa; Fang, Sheng-Guo; Wan, Qiu-Hong

2016-02-18

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are vital partners in the acquired immune processes of vertebrates. MHC diversity may be directly associated with population resistance to infectious pathogens. Here, we screened for polymorphisms in exons 2 and 3 of the IA1 and IA2 genes in 12 golden pheasant populations across the Chinese mainland to characterize their genetic variation levels, to understand the effects of historical positive selection and recombination in shaping class I diversity, and to investigate the genetic structure of wild golden pheasant populations. Among 339 individual pheasants, we identified 14 IA1 alleles in exon 2 (IA1-E2), 11 IA1-E3 alleles, 27 IA2-E2 alleles, and 28 IA2-E3 alleles. The non-synonymous substitution rate was significantly greater than the synonymous substitution rate at sequences in the IA2 gene encoding putative peptide-binding sites but not in the IA1 gene; we also found more positively selected sites in IA2 than in IA1. Frequent recombination events resulted in at least 9 recombinant IA2 alleles, in accordance with the intermingling pattern of the phylogenetic tree. Although some IA alleles are widely shared among studied populations, large variation occurs in the number of IA alleles across these populations. Allele frequency analysis across 2 IA loci showed low levels of genetic differentiation among populations on small geographic scales; however, significant genetic differentiation was observed between pheasants from the northern and southern regions of the Yangtze River. Both STRUCTURE analysis and F-statistic (F ST ) value comparison classified those populations into 2 major groups: the northern region of the Yangtze River (NYR) and the southern region of the Yangtze River (SYR). More extensive polymorphisms in IA2 than IA1 indicate that IA2 has undergone much stronger positive-selection pressure during evolution. Moreover, the recombination events detected between the genes and the intermingled phylogenetic pattern indicate that interlocus recombination accounts for much of the allelic variation in IA2. Analysis of the population differentiation implied that homogenous balancing selection plays an important part in maintaining an even distribution of MHC variations. The natural barrier of the Yangtze River and heterogeneous balancing selection might help shape the NYR-SYR genetic structure in golden pheasants.

Search for Type Ia supernova NUV-optical subclasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cinabro, David; Scolnic, Daniel; Kessler, Richard; Li, Ashley; Miller, Jake

2017-04-01

In response to a recently reported observation of evidence for two classes of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) distinguished by their brightness in the rest-frame near-ultraviolet (NUV), we search for the phenomenon in publicly available light-curve data. We use the SNANA supernova analysis package to simulate SN Ia light curves in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Supernova Search and the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS) with a model of two distinct ultraviolet classes of SNe Ia and a conventional model with a single broad distribution of SN-Ia ultraviolet brightnesses. We compare simulated distributions of rest-frame colours with these two models to those observed in 158 SNe Ia in the SDSS and SNLS data. The SNLS sample of 99 SNe Ia is in clearly better agreement with a model with one class of SN Ia light curves and shows no evidence for distinct NUV sub-classes. The SDSS sample of 59 SNe Ia with poorer colour resolution does not distinguish between the two models.

Inter-individual variation in reciprocal Ia inhibition is dependent on the descending volleys delivered from corticospinal neurons to Ia interneurons.

PubMed

Kubota, Shinji; Uehara, Kazumasa; Morishita, Takuya; Hirano, Masato; Funase, Kozo

2014-02-01

We investigated the extent to which the corticospinal inputs delivered to Ia inhibitory interneurons influence the strength of disynaptic reciprocal Ia inhibition. Seventeen healthy subjects participated in this study. The degree of reciprocal Ia inhibition was determined via short-latency (condition-test interval: 1-3ms) suppression of Sol H-reflex by conditioning stimulation of common peroneal nerve. The effect of corticospinal descending inputs on Ia inhibitory interneurons was assessed by evaluating the conditioning effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the Sol H-reflex. Then, we determined the relationship between the degree of reciprocal Ia inhibition and the conditioning effect of TMS on the Sol H-reflex. We found that the degree of reciprocal Ia inhibition and the extent of change in the amplitude of the TMS-conditioned H-reflex, which was measured from short latency facilitation to inhibition, displayed a strong correlation (r=0.76, p<0.01) in the resting conditions. The extent of reciprocal Ia inhibition is affected by the corticospinal descending inputs delivered to Ia inhibitory interneurons, which might explain the inter-individual variations in reciprocal Ia inhibition. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

IA-2 autoantibody affinity in children at risk for type 1 diabetes.

PubMed

Krause, Stephanie; Chmiel, Ruth; Bonifacio, Ezio; Scholz, Marlon; Powell, Michael; Furmaniak, Jadwiga; Rees Smith, Bernard; Ziegler, Anette-G; Achenbach, Peter

2012-12-01

Autoantibodies to insulinoma-associated protein 2 (IA-2A) are associated with increased risk for type 1 diabetes. Here we examined IA-2A affinity and epitope specificity to assess heterogeneity in response intensity in relation to pathogenesis and diabetes risk in 50 children who were prospectively followed from birth. At first IA-2A appearance, affinity ranged from 10(7) to 10(11)L/mol and was high (>1.0×10(9)L/mol) in 41 (82%) children. IA-2A affinity was not associated with epitope specificity or HLA class II haplotype. On follow-up, affinity increased or remained high, and IA-2A were commonly against epitopes within the protein tyrosine phosphatase-like IA-2 domain and the homologue protein IA-2β. IA-2A were preceded or accompanied by other islet autoantibodies in 49 (98%) children, of which 34 progressed to diabetes. IA-2A affinity did not stratify diabetes risk. In conclusion, the IA-2A response in children is intense with rapid maturation against immunogenic epitopes and a strong association with diabetes development. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dark Matter Ignition of Type Ia Supernovae.

PubMed

Bramante, Joseph

2015-10-02

Recent studies of low redshift type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) indicate that half explode from less than Chandrasekhar mass white dwarfs, implying ignition must proceed from something besides the canonical criticality of Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia progenitors. We show that 1-100 PeV mass asymmetric dark matter, with imminently detectable nucleon scattering interactions, can accumulate to the point of self-gravitation in a white dwarf and collapse, shedding gravitational potential energy by scattering off nuclei, thereby heating the white dwarf and igniting the flame front that precedes SN Ia. We combine data on SN Ia masses with data on the ages of SN Ia-adjacent stars. This combination reveals a 2.8σ inverse correlation between SN Ia masses and ignition ages, which could result from increased capture of dark matter in 1.4 vs 1.1 solar mass white dwarfs. Future studies of SN Ia in galactic centers will provide additional tests of dark-matter-induced type Ia ignition. Remarkably, both bosonic and fermionic SN Ia-igniting dark matter also resolve the missing pulsar problem by forming black holes in ≳10  Myr old pulsars at the center of the Milky Way.

Analysis of gas turbine engines using water and oxygen injection to achieve high Mach numbers and high thrust

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henneberry, Hugh M.; Snyder, Christopher A.

1993-01-01

An analysis of gas turbine engines using water and oxygen injection to enhance performance by increasing Mach number capability and by increasing thrust is described. The liquids are injected, either separately or together, into the subsonic diffuser ahead of the engine compressor. A turbojet engine and a mixed-flow turbofan engine (MFTF) are examined, and in pursuit of maximum thrust, both engines are fitted with afterburners. The results indicate that water injection alone can extend the performance envelope of both engine types by one and one-half Mach numbers at which point water-air ratios reach 17 or 18 percent and liquid specific impulse is reduced to some 390 to 470 seconds, a level about equal to the impulse of a high energy rocket engine. The envelope can be further extended, but only with increasing sacrifices in liquid specific impulse. Oxygen-airflow ratios as high as 15 percent were investigated for increasing thrust. Using 15 percent oxygen in combination with water injection at high supersonic Mach numbers resulted in thrust augmentation as high as 76 percent without any significant decrease in liquid specific impulse. The stoichiometric afterburner exit temperature increased with increasing oxygen flow, reaching 4822 deg R in the turbojet engine at a Mach number of 3.5. At the transonic Mach number of 0.95 where no water injection is needed, an oxygen-air ratio of 15 percent increased thrust by some 55 percent in both engines, along with a decrease in liquid specific impulse of 62 percent. Afterburner temperature was approximately 4700 deg R at this high thrust condition. Water and/or oxygen injection are simple and straightforward strategies to improve engine performance and they will add little to engine weight. However, if large Mach number and thrust increases are required, liquid flows become significant, so that operation at these conditions will necessarily be of short duration.

Characteristics of intracranial aneurysms in the else kröner-fresenius registry of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

PubMed

Neumann, Hartmut P H; Malinoc, Angelica; Bacher, Janina; Nabulsi, Zinaida; Ivanovas, Vera; Bruechle, Nadine Ortiz; Mader, Irina; Hoffmann, Michael M; Riegler, Peter; Kraemer-Guth, Annette; Burchardi, Christian; Schaeffner, Elke; Martin, Rodolfo S; Azurmendi, Pablo J; Zerres, Klaus; Jilg, Cordula; Eng, Charis; Gläsker, Sven

2012-01-01

Patients who harbor intracranial aneurysms (IAs) run a risk for aneurysm rupture and subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage which frequently results in permanent deficits or death. Prophylactic treatment of unruptured aneurysms is possible and recommended depending on the size and location of the aneurysm as well as patient age and condition. IAs are major manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Current guidelines do not suggest surveillance of IAs in ADPKD except in the setting of family history if IA was known in any relative with ADPKD. Management of IAs in ADPKD is problematic because limited data exist from large studies. We established the Else Kröner-Fresenius Registry for ADPKD in Germany. Clinical data were assessed for age at diagnosis of IAs, stage of renal insufficiency, and number, location and size of IAs as well as family history of cerebral events. Patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic IAs were included. All patients with ADPKD-related IAs were offered mutation scanning of the susceptibility genes for ADPKD, the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. Of 463 eligible ADPKD patients from the population base of Germany, 32 (7%) were found to have IAs, diagnosed at the age of 2-71 years, 19 females and 13 males. Twenty (63%) of these 32 patients were symptomatic, whereas IAs were detected in an asymptomatic stage in 12 patients. IAs were multifocal in 12 and unifocal in 20 patients. In 26 patients (81%), IAs were diagnosed before end-stage renal failure. Twenty-five out of 27 unrelated index cases (93%) had no IAs or cerebral events documented in their relatives with ADPKD. In 16 unrelated index patients and 3 relatives, we detected germline mutations. The mutations were randomly distributed across the PKD1 gene in 14 and the PKD2 gene in 2 index cases. Questionnaires answered for 320/441 ADPKD patients without IAs revealed that only 45/320 (14%) had MR angiography. In ADPKD, rupture of IAs occurs frequently before the start of dialysis, is only infrequently associated with a family history of IAs or subarachnoid hemorrhage, and is associated with mutations either of the PKD1 or the PKD2 gene of any type. Screening for IAs is widely insufficiently performed, should not be restricted to families with a history of cerebral events and should be started before end-stage renal failure.

Assessing the quality of the ecological component of English Environmental Statements.

PubMed

Drayson, Katherine; Wood, Graham; Thompson, Stewart

2015-09-01

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a key tool to help ensure sustainable built development in more than 200 countries worldwide. Ecology is frequently a component of EIA and early reviews of Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) chapters identified scope for improvement at almost every stage of the EcIA process, regardless of country. However, there have been no reviews of UK EcIA chapters since 2000, despite important changes in biodiversity and planning legislation, policy and guidance. In addition, no UK EcIA chapter reviews have attempted to assign a grade or score to EcIA chapters (as has been done for reviews of US, Finnish and Indian EcIA chapters). Furthermore, no EcIA chapter reviews have attempted to use a scoring system to identify which variables determine EcIA chapter information content, beyond straightforward comparisons of EcIA chapters before and after the introduction of guidelines. A variant of the Biodiversity Assessment Index (BAI) was used to assign scores between zero and one to EcIA chapters based on a series of 47 questions drawn from EU legislation and professional guidance. 112 EcIA chapters for proposed developments that were subsequently granted planning permission in England were assessed. The mean BAI score was less than 0.5, indicating the presence of considerable information gaps in the majority of EcIA chapters. Of 13 predictor variables identified as having the potential to affect EcIA chapter quality, 10 were identified as significantly related to the BAI scores. A backward stepwise Generalized Linear Model identified the use of professional guidance, the ecological consultancy type and the length of the EcIA chapter as having the greatest combined explanatory power. As a result, several recommendations are made to help improve future EcIA chapter content, including formal EcIA chapter review, publicising the professional guidance to consultants, the provision of training and the introduction of an accreditation scheme for consultants involved in EcIA This approach could be replicated in other countries that conduct EIA. Context-dependent EcIA chapter review criteria (as in this paper) would help to identify targeted recommendations for improvement. Alternatively, a global set of review criteria could highlight areas of best practice that could then be exported to other countries. Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Rapid Convergent Low Complexity Interference Alignment Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks.

PubMed

Jiang, Lihui; Wu, Zhilu; Ren, Guanghui; Wang, Gangyi; Zhao, Nan

2015-07-29

Interference alignment (IA) is a novel technique that can effectively eliminate the interference and approach the sum capacity of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is high, by casting the desired signal and interference into different signal subspaces. The traditional alternating minimization interference leakage (AMIL) algorithm for IA shows good performance in high SNR regimes, however, the complexity of the AMIL algorithm increases dramatically as the number of users and antennas increases, posing limits to its applications in the practical systems. In this paper, a novel IA algorithm, called directional quartic optimal (DQO) algorithm, is proposed to minimize the interference leakage with rapid convergence and low complexity. The properties of the AMIL algorithm are investigated, and it is discovered that the difference between the two consecutive iteration results of the AMIL algorithm will approximately point to the convergence solution when the precoding and decoding matrices obtained from the intermediate iterations are sufficiently close to their convergence values. Based on this important property, the proposed DQO algorithm employs the line search procedure so that it can converge to the destination directly. In addition, the optimal step size can be determined analytically by optimizing a quartic function. Numerical results show that the proposed DQO algorithm can suppress the interference leakage more rapidly than the traditional AMIL algorithm, and can achieve the same level of sum rate as that of AMIL algorithm with far less iterations and execution time.

The many sides of RCW 86: a Type Ia supernova remnant evolving in its progenitor's wind bubble

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broersen, Sjors; Chiotellis, Alexandros; Vink, Jacco; Bamba, Aya

2014-07-01

We present the results of a detailed investigation of the Galactic supernova remnant RCW 86 using the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope. RCW 86 is the probable remnant of SN 185 A.D., a supernova that likely exploded inside a wind-blown cavity. We use the XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer to derive precise temperatures and ionization ages of the plasma, which are an indication of the interaction history of the remnant with the presumed cavity. We find that the spectra are well fitted by two non-equilibrium ionization models, which enables us to constrain the properties of the ejecta and interstellar matter plasma. Furthermore, we performed a principal component analysis on EPIC MOS and pn data to find regions with particular spectral properties. We present evidence that the shocked ejecta, emitting Fe K and Si line emission, are confined to a shell of approximately 2 pc width with an oblate spheroidal morphology. Using detailed hydrodynamical simulations, we show that general dynamical and emission properties at different portions of the remnant can be well reproduced by a Type Ia supernova that exploded in a non-spherically symmetric wind-blown cavity. We also show that this cavity can be created using general wind properties for a single degenerate system. Our data and simulations provide further evidence that RCW 86 is indeed the remnant of SN 185, and is the likely result of a Type Ia explosion of single degenerate origin.

Inorganic Arsenic and Basal Cell Carcinoma in Areas of Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia: A Case–Control Study

PubMed Central

Leonardi, Giovanni; Vahter, Marie; Clemens, Felicity; Goessler, Walter; Gurzau, Eugen; Hemminki, Kari; Hough, Rupert; Koppova, Kvetoslava; Kumar, Rajiv; Rudnai, Peter; Surdu, Simona

2012-01-01

Background: Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a potent carcinogen, but there is a lack of information about cancer risk for concentrations < 100 μg/L in drinking water. Objectives: We aimed to quantify skin cancer relative risks in relation to iAs exposure < 100 μg/L and the modifying effects of iAs metabolism. Methods: The Arsenic Health Risk Assessment and Molecular Epidemiology (ASHRAM) study, a case–control study, was conducted in areas of Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia with reported presence of iAs in groundwater. Consecutively diagnosed cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin were histologically confirmed; controls were general surgery, orthopedic, and trauma patients who were frequency matched to cases by age, sex, and area of residence. Exposure indices were constructed based on information on iAs intake over the lifetime of participants. iAs metabolism status was classified based on urinary concentrations of methylarsonic acid (MA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Associations were estimated by multivariable logistic regression. Results: A total of 529 cases with BCC and 540 controls were recruited for the study. BCC was positively associated with three indices of iAs exposure: peak daily iAs dose rate, cumulative iAs dose, and lifetime average water iAs concentration. The adjusted odds ratio per 10-μg/L increase in average lifetime water iAs concentration was 1.18 (95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.28). The estimated effect of iAs on cancer was stronger in participants with urinary markers indicating incomplete metabolism of iAs: higher percentage of MA in urine or a lower percentage of DMA. Conclusion: We found a positive association between BCC and exposure to iAs through drinking water with concentrations < 100 μg/L. PMID:22436128

Increased collagen maturity with sildenafil citrate: experimental high risk colonic anastomosis model.

PubMed

Cakir, Tebessum; Ozer, Ilter; Bostanci, Erdal Birol; Keklik, Tulay Timucin; Ercin, Ugur; Bilgihan, Ayse; Akoglu, Musa

2015-01-01

Inadequate healing and high anastomosis leak rates at rectal anastomosis may be due to lack of supportive serosal layer and technical difficulty of low anterior resections. Positive effects of sildenafil on wound healing were observed. The aim of this study was to simulate rectal anastomosis as a technical insufficient anastomosis and investigate the effects of sildenafil on anastomosis healing. Colonic anastomoses were carried out in 64 rats and randomized into four groups, CA-S, complete anastomoses without sildenafil (10 mg/kg for 5 days); CA+S, complete anastomoses with sildenafil; IA-S, incomplete anastomoses without sildenafil; IA+S, incomplete anastomoses with sildenafil. Half of the rats in every group were sacrificed on post-operative day (POD) 3, half of them sacrificed on POD 7. Tissues from the anastomoses were used for functional, histochemical, biochemical investigations. Sildenafil treatment resulted in increased bursting pressures in IA+S on POD 7 (p=0.010). Collagen maturity was higher in IA+S on POD 3 and POD 7, CA+S on POD 7 (p=0.010; p=0.010; p<0.007). Collagen content was higher in IA+S on POD 7 (p<0.001). Glutathione, hydroxyproline levels were similar. Malondialdehyde levels were lower in IA+S on POD 3 (p<0.001). Epithelization score was higher in IA+S on POD 7 (p=0.007). Inflammation score was higher in CA-S group on POD 3 and POD 7 (p<0.001; p<0.001). Neutrophil score was lower in CA+S on POD 3 (p=0.005). An increase in collagen content, maturity, and epithelization, a decrease in neutrophil infiltration, oxidative stress and better mechanical strength were observed with the administration of sildenafil. Copyright © 2014 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A parameter quantifying radiation damping of bay oscillations excited by incident tsunamis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Endoh, Takahiro; Inazu, Daisuke; Waseda, Takuji; Hibiya, Toshiyuki

2018-04-01

The transient response of a bay with a narrow mouth to incident tsunamis is interpreted as the convolution of the input signal with the impulse response obtained by an inverse Fourier transform of the response curve of the oscillatory system with one degree of freedom. The rate of radiation damping associated with energy escaping seaward through the bay mouth is expressed in terms of the quality factor Q, which determines the decaying envelope of the impulse response. The value of Q of the resonant peak is approximated by the ratio of the resonant frequency ω0 to the bandwidth between frequencies at which the power spectral density of sea level within the bay drops to half of the peak value. Since the shape of the frequency power spectrum during the tsunami event is almost similar to that in the normal state in the neighborhood of ω0, Q can be estimated from sea level datasets in the normal state. Although the amplitude and phase of the impulse response need to be adjusted using the first crest or trough of the observed leading wave, this approach proves to work well in examining the transient responses of Miyako Bay and Kushimoto Bay on the Japanese Pacific coast to incident tsunamis.

40 CFR Appendix B to Part 300 - National Priorities List

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... County P IA Des Moines TCE Des Moines IA Electro-Coatings, Inc Cedar Rapids IA Fairfield Coal... Groundwater Contamination Des Moines IA Shaw Avenue Dump Charles City IA Vogel Paint & Wax Co Orange City ID... Lawrenceville IL Interstate Pollution Control, Inc Rockford IL Jennison-Wright Corporation Granite City IL Johns...

A Pilot Study: The importance of inter-individual differences in inorganic arsenic metabolism for birth weight outcome

PubMed Central

Gelmann, Elyssa R; Gurzau, Eugen; Gurzau, Anca; Goessler, Walter; Kunrath, Julie

2013-01-01

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure is detrimental to birth outcome. We lack information regarding the potential for iAs metabolism to affect fetal growth. Our pilot study evaluated postpartum Romanian women with known birth weight outcome for differences in iAs metabolism. Subjects were chronically exposed to low-to-moderate drinking water iAs. We analyzed well water, arsenic metabolites in urine, and toenail arsenic. Urine iAs and metabolites, toenail iAs, and secondary methylation efficiency increased as an effect of exposure (p<0.001). Urine iAs and metabolites showed a significant interaction effect between exposure and birth weight. Moderately exposed women with low compared to normal birth weight outcome had greater metabolite excretion (p<0.03); 67% with low compared to 10% with normal birth weight outcome presented urine iAs >9μg/L (p=0.019). Metabolic partitioning of iAs toward excretion may impair fetal growth. Prospective studies on iAs excretion before and during pregnancy may provide a biomarker for poor fetal growth risk. PMID:24211595

Impact of anti-insulin antibodies on islet transplantation outcome: data from the GRAGIL Network.

PubMed

Lablanche, Sandrine; Borot, Sophie; Thaunat, Olivier; Bayle, Francois; Badet, Lionel; Morelon, Emmanuel; Thivolet, Charles; Wojtusciszyn, Anne; Frimat, Luc; Kessler, Laurence; Penfornis, Alfred; Brault, Coralie; Colin, Cyrille; Bosco, Domenico; Berney, Thierry; Benhamou, Pierre Y

2014-08-27

In patients with type 1 diabetes, insulin antibodies (IA), altering the pharmacokinetics of circulating insulin, might be associated with high glucose concentration, prolonged hypoglycemia, and higher insulin requirement. The impact of IA on islet transplantation has never been explored. Our aim was to evaluate islet transplantation results at 1 year according to the presence of IA. Our work is a retrospective, case-control study, comparing IA-negative and IA-positive patients among the cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes transplanted within the Swiss-French GRAGIL network between 2003 and 2010. Data about IA were available for 17 patients. Before islet transplantation, 10 patients (59%) were screened positive for IA. At 12 months after transplantation, IA-positive patients reached insulin independence less frequently than IA-negative patients (cumulative incidence of insulin independence, 22.2% vs. 71.4%; P=0.02); β score was ≥7 in 43% of IA-negative patients versus 0% in IA-positive patients (P=0.022). When comparing IA-positive patients with IA-negative patients, insulin dose was 0.15 U/kg (0.10-0.18 U/kg) versus 0.01 U/kg (0-0.09 U/kg) (P=0.2); HbA1c was 6.1% (5.8%-6.3%) versus 6.1% (5.9%-6.8%) (P=0.16); basal C-peptide level was 460 ρmol/L (350-510 ρmol/L) versus 265 ρmol/L (177-405 ρmol/L) (P=0.28); occurrence of hypoglycemia was 12.5% versus 16.5% (P=0.9); and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance was 1.25 (1-2.4) versus 0.7 (0.52-0.92) (P=0.01). After islet transplantation, IA-positive patients achieved insulin independence less frequently, exhibiting lower β score and higher homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance compared with IA-negative patients. However, in both groups, islet transplantation restored good glycemic control and drastically reduced hypoglycemia and insulin requirements.

Plasma Thruster Development: Magnetoplasmadynamic Propulsion, Status and Basic Problems.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-01

34 9 Sublimation Rates vs. Temperature for Typical Electrode Materials 65 10 Time to Reach Melting vs. Surface Heat Load (One-Dimensional, Large Area...Approx.) for Different Electrode Materials and Initial Temperatures 75 V LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE I Models of Thruster Types (with approximation (1...much higher specific impulse values than the minimum must be achieved in order to obtain acceptable effi- Sciencies , e.g. for 30% efficiency with argon

Low mass SN Ia and the late light curve

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

Colgate, S.A.; Fryer, C.L.; Hand, K.P.

1995-12-31

The late bolometric light curves of type Ia supernovae, when measured accurately over several years, show an exponential decay with a 56d half-life over a drop in luminosity of 8 magnitudes (10 half-lives). The late-time light curve is thought to be governed by the decay of Co{sup 56}, whose 77d half-life must then be modified to account for the observed decay time. Two mechanisms, both relying upon the positron fraction of the Co{sup 56} decay, have been proposed to explain this modification. One explanation requires a large amount of emission at infra-red wavelengths where it would not be detected. Themore » other explanation has proposed a progressive transparency or leakage of the high energy positrons (Colgate, Petschek and Kriese, 1980). For the positrons to leak out of the expanding nebula at the required rate necessary to produce the modified 56d exponential, the mass of the ejecta from a one foe (10{sup 51} erg in kinetic energy) explosion must be small, M{sub ejec} = 0.4M{sub {circle_dot}} with M{sub ejec} {proportional_to} KE{sup 0.5}. Thus, in this leakage explanation, any reasonable estimate of the total energy of the explosion requires that the ejected mass be very much less than the Chandrasekhar mass of 1.4M{sub {circle_dot}}. This is very difficult to explain with the ``canonical`` Chandrasekhar-mass thermonuclear explosion that disintegrates the original white dwarf star. This result leads us to pursue alternate mechanisms of type Ia supernovae. These mechanisms include sub-Chandrasekhar thermonuclear explosions and the accretion induced collapse of Chandrasekhar mass white dwarfs. We will summarize the advantages and disadvantages of both mechanisms with considerable detail spent on our new accretion induced collapse simulations. These mechanisms lead to lower Ni{sup 56} production and hence result in type Ia supernovae with luminosities decreased down to {approximately} 50% that predicted by the ``standard`` model.« less

The role of birthplace and educational attainment on induced abortion inequalities.

PubMed

González-Rábago, Yolanda; Rodriguez-Alvarez, Elena; Borrell, Luisa N; Martín, Unai

2017-01-13

Induced abortion (IA) has shown social inequality related to birthplace and education with higher rates of IAs in immigrant and in less educated women relative to their native and highly educated counterparts. This study examined the independent and joint effects of birthplace and education on IA, repeated and IA performed during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy among women residing in the Basque Country, Spain. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based study of IA among women aged 25-49 years residing in the Basque Country, Spain, between 2011 and 2013. Log-binomial regression was used to quantify the independent and joint effects of birthplace and education attainment on all outcomes. Immigrant women exhibited higher probability of having an IAs (PR: 5.31), a repeated (PR: 7.23) or a 2nd trimester IAs (PR: 4.07) than women born in Spain. We observed higher probabilities for all outcomes among women with a primary or less education relative to those with a graduate education (All IAs PR: 2.51; repeated PR: 6.00; 2nd trimester PR: 3.08). However, no significant heterogeneity was observed for the effect of education on the association of birthplace with IAs, repeated or 2nd trimester IAs. Birthplace and education are key factors to explain not only an IA decision but also having a repeated or a 2nd trimester IA. However, the effects of birthplace and education may be independent from each other on these outcomes. A better understanding of these factors on IAs is needed when designing programs for sexual and reproductive health aimed to reduce inequalities among women.

Noise elimination algorithm for modal analysis

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

Bao, X. X., E-mail: baoxingxian@upc.edu.cn; Li, C. L.; Xiong, C. B.

2015-07-27

Modal analysis is an ongoing interdisciplinary physical issue. Modal parameters estimation is applied to determine the dynamic characteristics of structures under vibration excitation. Modal analysis is more challenging for the measured vibration response signals are contaminated with noise. This study develops a mathematical algorithm of structured low rank approximation combined with the complex exponential method to estimate the modal parameters. Physical experiments using a steel cantilever beam with ten accelerometers mounted, excited by an impulse load, demonstrate that this method can significantly eliminate noise from measured signals and accurately identify the modal frequencies and damping ratios. This study provides amore » fundamental mechanism of noise elimination using structured low rank approximation in physical fields.« less

An Analysis of Department of Defense Instruction 8500.2 'Information Assurance (IA) Implementation.'

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

Campbell, Philip LaRoche

2012-01-01

The Department of Defense (DoD) provides its standard for information assurance in its Instruction 8500.2, dated February 6, 2003. This Instruction lists 157 'IA Controls' for nine 'baseline IA levels.' Aside from distinguishing IA Controls that call for elevated levels of 'robustness' and grouping the IA Controls into eight 'subject areas' 8500.2 does not examine the nature of this set of controls, determining, for example, which controls do not vary in robustness, how this set of controls compares with other such sets, or even which controls are required for all nine baseline IA levels. This report analyzes (1) the IAmore » Controls, (2) the subject areas, and (3) the Baseline IA levels. For example, this report notes that there are only 109 core IA Controls (which this report refers to as 'ICGs'), that 43 of these core IA Controls apply without variation to all nine baseline IA levels and that an additional 31 apply with variations. This report maps the IA Controls of 8500.2 to the controls in NIST 800-53 and ITGI's CoBIT. The result of this analysis and mapping, as shown in this report, serves as a companion to 8500.2. (An electronic spreadsheet accompanies this report.)« less

Induced abortion in a Southern European region: examining inequalities between native and immigrant women.

PubMed

Rodriguez-Alvarez, Elena; Borrell, Luisa N; González-Rábago, Yolanda; Martín, Unai; Lanborena, Nerea

2016-09-01

To examine induced abortion (IA) inequalities between native and immigrant women in a Southern European region and whether these inequalities depend on a 2010 Law facilitating IA. We conducted two analyses: (1) prevalence of total IAs, repeat and second trimester IA, in native and immigrant women aged 12-49 years for years 2009-2013 according to country of origin; and (2) log-binomial regression was used to quantify the association of place of origin with repeat and second trimester IAs among women with IAs. Immigrants were more likely to have an IA than Spanish women, with the highest probability in Sub-Saharan Africa (PR 8.32 95 % CI 3.66-18.92). Immigrant women with an IA from countries other than Maghreb and Asia have higher probabilities of a repeat IA than women from Spain. Women from Europe non-EU/Romania were 50 % (95 % CI 0.30-0.79) less likely to have a second trimester IA, while women from Central America/Caribbean were 45 % (95 % CI 1.11-1.89) more likely than Spanish women. The 2010 Law did not affect these associations. There is a need for parenthood planning programs and more information and access to contraception methods especially in immigrant women to help decrease IAs.

Immunosuppressive Agents for the Treatment of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Peng, Xia; Luo, Xin; Hou, Jing-Ying; Wu, Shu-Yun; Li, Liang-Zong; Zheng, Ming-Hua; Wang, Ling-Yun

2017-01-01

Currently, there are no effective therapeutic agents for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of immunosuppressive agents (IAs) for the treatment of PSC. The literatures were searched using the following keywords singly or in combination: PSC, treatments, IAs. The primary outcome was defined as the need for liver transplantation or mortality. Two hundred sixty six patients from 7 eligible studies were analyzed. IAs had no remarkable effects on the rate of mortality or liver transplantation (relative risk, RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.58-1.62, p = 0.92). Subgroup analyses showed no significant effect of IAs co-administration therapy (IAs co-administered with ursodeoxycholic acid, IA co-administered with IA; RR 1.41, 95% CI 0.40-4.95, p = 0.60). IAs caused adverse events (AEs) such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and pruritus (RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07-3.07, p = 0.03). IAs therapy did not significantly improve markers of liver function except for aspartate transaminase (weighted mean difference -9.76, 95% CI -12.92 to -6.6, p < 0.001). IAs administrated as either monotherapy or combination therapy do not reduce the risk of mortality or liver transplantation. IAs monotherapy is associated with AEs. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The ‘grey’ assessment practice of IA screening: Prevalence, influence and applied rationale

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

Bidstrup, Morten, E-mail: Bidstrup@plan.aau.dk

Research focusing on the practices surrounding screening in Impact Assessment (IA) is limited. Yet, it has been found that development proposals sometimes are adjusted through an informal dialog with IA practitioners prior to or during screening. Such practice is often referred to as ‘grey IA’ in Denmark. This article explores the prevalence, influence and applied rationale of grey IA. Through a questionnaire, data was collected from 121 IA practitioners working within the fields of environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. It was found that grey IA is a common practice, which influences the outcomes of formal screening procedures throughmore » consideration of impacts on neighbours and spatial zones of protection. Grey IA is to some extent motivated by the opportunity to save the resources required for full-scale IA, but an additional ‘green’ rationale also exists. Grey IA may influence the effectiveness of IA systems, but further research is needed before any conclusions can be made. - Highlights: • Screening procedures may function as an informal, ‘grey’ assessment. • Grey assessment is common and influences formal screening outcomes. • Grey assessment is motivated by an opportunity to cut IA costs. • Yet, an environmental, ‘green’ rationale for grey assessment also exists.« less

The relationship between recent stressful life events, personality traits, perceived family functioning and internet addiction among college students.

PubMed

Yan, Wansen; Li, Yonghui; Sui, Nan

2014-02-01

Internet addiction (IA) is an emerging social and mental health issue among youths. Analysis of risk factors, as well as their interactions, is crucial for understanding the development of IA. This study investigated the relationship between recent stressful life events, personality traits, perceived family functioning and IA in 892 college students. Subjects were classified into categories (non-addicted, mild IA or severe IA) using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale. Stressful life events, personality traits and family functioning were assessed using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, respectively. The results indicated that compared with non-addicted subjects, subjects with severe IA (9.98%) had lower family functioning, lower extraversion, higher neuroticism and psychoticism, and more stressful life events, and subjects with mild IA (11.21%) had higher neuroticism and more health and adaptation problems. Neuroticism and health and adaptation problems were potential predictors of IA. An interaction effect between psychoticism and total life stress on IA was also found. These findings highlight the role of personality traits and life stress and their interactions in college students' IA. Further research should explore the mechanisms underlying the interaction effect of psychoticism with life stress on IA. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Parenting approaches, family functionality, and internet addiction among Hong Kong adolescents.

PubMed

Wu, Cynthia Sau Ting; Wong, Ho Ting; Yu, Kin Fai; Fok, Ka Wing; Yeung, Sheung Man; Lam, Cheuk Ho; Liu, Ka Man

2016-08-18

Internet addiction (IA) among adolescents has become a global health problem, and public awareness of it is increasing. Many IA risk factors relate to parents and the family environment. This study examined the relationship between IA and parenting approaches and family functionality. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2021 secondary students to identify the prevalence of IA and to explore the association between adolescent IA and familial variables, including parents' marital status, family income, family conflict, family functionality, and parenting approaches. The results revealed that 25.3 % of the adolescent respondents exhibited IA, and logistic regression positively predicted the IA of adolescents from divorced families, low-income families, families in which family conflict existed, and severely dysfunctional families. Interestingly, adolescents with restricted Internet use were almost 1.9 times more likely to have IA than those whose use was not restricted. Internet addiction is common among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong, and family-based prevention strategies should be aligned with the risk factors of IA.

THE BIRTH RATE OF SNe Ia FROM HYBRID CONe WHITE DWARFS

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

Meng, Xiangcun; Podsiadlowski, Philipp, E-mail: xiangcunmeng@ynao.ac.cn

Considering the uncertainties of the C-burning rate (CBR) and the treatment of convective boundaries, Chen et al. found that there is a regime where it is possible to form hybrid CONe white dwarfs (WDs), i.e., ONe WDs with carbon-rich cores. As these hybrid WDs can be as massive as 1.30 M {sub ☉}, not much mass needs to be accreted for these objects to reach the Chandrasekhar limit and to explode as Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). We have investigated their contribution to the overall SN Ia birth rate and found that such SNe Ia tend to be relatively youngmore » with typical time delays between 0.1 and 1 Gyr, where some may be as young as 30 Myr. SNe Ia from hybrid CONe WDs may contribute several percent to all SNe Ia, depending on the common-envelope ejection efficiency and the CBR. We suggest that these SNe Ia may produce part of the 2002cx-like SN Ia class.« less

The health belief model and number of peers with internet addiction as inter-related factors of Internet addiction among secondary school students in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Wang, Yanhong; Wu, Anise M S; Lau, Joseph T F

2016-03-16

Students are vulnerable to Internet addiction (IA). Influences of cognitions based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and perceived number of peers with IA (PNPIA) affecting students' IA, and mediating effects involved, have not been investigated. This cross-sectional study surveyed 9518 Hong Kong Chinese secondary school students in the school setting. In this self-reported study, the majority (82.6%) reported that they had peers with IA. Based on the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (cut-off =63/64), the prevalence of IA was 16.0% (males: 17.6%; females: 14.0%). Among the non-IA cases, 7.6% (males: 8.7%; females: 6.3%) perceived a chance of developing IA in the next 12 months. Concurring with the HBM, adjusted logistic analysis showed that the Perceived Social Benefits of Internet Use Scale (males: Adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.19; females: ORa = 1.23), Perceived Barriers for Reducing Internet Use Scale (males: ORa = 1.26; females: ORa = 1.36), and Perceived Self-efficacy for Reducing Internet Use Scale (males: ORa = 0.66; females: ORa = 0.56) were significantly associated with IA. Similarly, PNPIA was significantly associated with IA ('quite a number': males: ORa = 2.85; females: ORa = 4.35; 'a large number': males: ORa = 3.90; females: ORa = 9.09). Controlling for these three constructs, PNPIA remained significant but the strength of association diminished ('quite a number': males: multivariate odds ratio (ORm) = 2.07; females: ORm = 2.44; 'a large number': males: ORm = 2.39; females: ORm = 3.56). Hence, the association between PNPIA and IA was partially mediated (explained) by the three HBM constructs. Interventions preventing IA should change these constructs. In sum, prevalence of IA was relatively high and was associated with some HBM constructs and PNPIA, and PNPIA also partially mediated associations between HBM constructs and IA. Huge challenges are expected, as social relationships and an imbalance of cost-benefit for reducing Internet use are involved. Perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of IA were relatively low and the direction of their associations with IA did not concur with the HBM. Group cognitive-behavioral interventions involving peers with IA or peers recovered from IA are potentially useful to modify the HBM constructs and should be tested for efficacy.

Role of cytochrome P450 IA2 in acetanilide 4-hydroxylation as determined with cDNA expression and monoclonal antibodies.

PubMed

Liu, G; Gelboin, H V; Myers, M J

1991-02-01

The role of P450 IA2 in the hydroxylation of acetanilide was examined using an inhibitory monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1-7-1 and vaccinia cDNA expression producing murine P450 IA1 (mIA1), murine P450 IA2 (mIA2), or human P450 IA2 (hIA2). Acetanilide hydroxylase (AcOH) activity was measured using an HPLC method with more than 500-fold greater sensitivity than previously described procedures. This method, which does not require the use of radioactive acetanilide, was achieved by optimizing both the gradient system and the amount of enzyme needed to achieve detection by uv light. MAb 1-7-1 inhibits up to 80% of the AcOH activity in both rat liver microsomes and cDNA expressed mouse and human P450 IA2. MAb 1-7-1, which recognizes both P450 IA1 and P450 IA2, completely inhibits the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity of cDNA expressed in IA1. The inhibition of only 80% of the AHH activity present in MC liver microsomes by MAb 1-7-1 suggests that additional P450 forms are contributing to the overall AHH activity present in methylcholanthrene (MC)-liver microsomes as MAb 1-7-1 almost completely inhibits the AHH activity of expressed mIA1. Maximal inhibition of IA2 by 1-7-1 results in an 80% decrease in acetanilide hydroxylase activity in both liver microsomes and expressed mouse and human IA2. The capacity of MAb 1-7-1 to produce identical levels of inhibition of acetanilide hydroxylase activity in rat MC microsomes (80%) and in expressed mouse (81%) and human P450 IA2 (80%) strongly suggests that P450 IA2 is the major and perhaps the only enzyme responsible for the metabolism of acetanilide. These results demonstrate the complementary utility of monoclonal antibodies and cDNA expression for defining the contribution of specific P450 enzymes to the metabolism of a given substrate. This complementary approach allows for a more precise determination of the inhibitory capacity of MAb with respect to the metabolic capacity of the target P450.

Formally exact integral equation theory of the exchange-only potential in density functional theory: Refined closure approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

March, N. H.; Nagy, Á.

A fonnally exact integral equation theory for the exchange-only potential Vx(r) in density functional theory was recently set up by Howard and March [I.A. Howard, N.H. March, J. Chem. Phys. 119 (2003) 5789]. It involved a `closure' function P(r) satisfying the exact sum rule ∫ P(r) dr = 0. The simplest choice P(r) = 0 recovers then the approximation proposed by Della Sala and Görling [F. Della Sala, A. Görling, J. Chem. Phys. 115 (2001) 5718] and by Gritsenko and Baerends [O.V. Gritsenko, E.J. Baerends, Phys. Rev. A 64 (2001) 042506]. Here, refined choices of P(r) are proposed, the most direct being based on the KLI (Krieger-Li-Iafrate) approximation. A further choice given some attention is where P(r) involves frontier orbital properties. In particular, the introduction of the LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular) orbital, along with the energy separation between HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO levels, should prove a significant step beyond current approximations to the optimized potential method, all of which involve only single-particle occupied orbitals.

Genetic investigations on intracranial aneurysm: update and perspectives.

PubMed

Bourcier, Romain; Redon, Richard; Desal, Hubert

2015-04-01

Detection of an intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a common finding in MRI practice. Nowadays, the incidence of unruptured IA seems to be increasing with the continuous evolution of imaging techniques. Important modifiable risk factors for SAH are well defined, but familial history of IA is the best risk marker for the presence of IA. Numerous heritable conditions are associated with IA formation but these syndromes account for less than 1% of all IAs in the population. No diagnostic test based on genetic knowledge is currently available to identify theses mutations and patients who are at higher risk for developing IAs. In the longer term, a more comprehensive understanding of independent and interdependent molecular pathways germane to IA formation and rupture may guide the physician in developing targeted therapies and optimizing prognostic risk assessment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The Core Cysteines, (C909) of Islet Antigen-2 and (C945) of Islet Antigen-2β, Are Crucial to Autoantibody Binding in Type 1 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Elvers, Karen T.; Geoghegan, Ivey; Shoemark, Debbie K.; Lampasona, Vito; Bingley, Polly J.; Williams, Alistair J.K.

2013-01-01

Cysteines are thought integral to conformational epitopes of islet antigen-2 (IA-2) autoantibodies (IA-2A), possibly through disulfide bond formation. We therefore investigated which cysteines are critical to IA-2A binding in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. All 10 cysteines in the intracellular domain of IA-2 were modified to serine by site-directed mutagenesis, and the effects of these changes on autoantibody binding in comparison with wild-type control were investigated by radiobinding assay. Mutation of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) core cysteine (C909) in IA-2 caused large reductions in autoantibody binding. In contrast, little or no reduction in binding was seen following substitution of the other cysteines. Modification of the core cysteine (C945) in IA-2β also greatly reduced autoantibody binding. Lysine substitution of glutamate-836 in IA-2 or glutamate-872 in IA-2β resulted in modest reductions in binding and identified a second epitope region. Binding to IA-2 PTP and IA-2β PTP was almost abolished by mutation of both the core cysteine and these glutamates. The core cysteine is key to the major PTP conformational epitope, but disulfide bonding contributes little to IA-2A epitope integrity. In most patients, at disease onset, >90% of antibodies binding to the PTP domain of IA-2 recognize just two epitope regions. PMID:22966073

Circulating neutrophil transcriptome may reveal intracranial aneurysm signature

PubMed Central

Tutino, Vincent M.; Poppenberg, Kerry E.; Jiang, Kaiyu; Jarvis, James N.; Sun, Yijun; Sonig, Ashish; Siddiqui, Adnan H.; Snyder, Kenneth V.; Levy, Elad I.; Kolega, John

2018-01-01

Background Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are typically asymptomatic and undetected except for incidental discovery on imaging. Blood-based diagnostic biomarkers could lead to improvements in IA management. This exploratory study examined circulating neutrophils to determine whether they carry RNA expression signatures of IAs. Methods Blood samples were collected from patients receiving cerebral angiography. Eleven samples were collected from patients with IAs and 11 from patients without IAs as controls. Samples from the two groups were paired based on demographics and comorbidities. RNA was extracted from isolated neutrophils and subjected to next-generation RNA sequencing to obtain differential expressions for identification of an IA-associated signature. Bioinformatics analyses, including gene set enrichment analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, were used to investigate the biological function of all differentially expressed transcripts. Results Transcriptome profiling identified 258 differentially expressed transcripts in patients with and without IAs. Expression differences were consistent with peripheral neutrophil activation. An IA-associated RNA expression signature was identified in 82 transcripts (p<0.05, fold-change ≥2). This signature was able to separate patients with and without IAs on hierarchical clustering. Furthermore, in an independent, unpaired, replication cohort of patients with IAs (n = 5) and controls (n = 5), the 82 transcripts separated 9 of 10 patients into their respective groups. Conclusion Preliminary findings show that RNA expression from circulating neutrophils carries an IA-associated signature. These findings highlight a potential to use predictive biomarkers from peripheral blood samples to identify patients with IAs. PMID:29342213

Characteristics of Intracranial Aneurysms in the Else Kröner-Fresenius Registry of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

PubMed Central

Neumann, Hartmut P.H.; Malinoc, Angelica; Bacher, Janina; Nabulsi, Zinaida; Ivanovas, Vera; Bruechle, Nadine Ortiz; Mader, Irina; Hoffmann, Michael M.; Riegler, Peter; Kraemer-Guth, Annette; Burchardi, Christian; Schaeffner, Elke; Martin, Rodolfo S.; Azurmendi, Pablo J.; Zerres, Klaus; Jilg, Cordula; Eng, Charis; Gläsker, Sven

2012-01-01

Background Patients who harbor intracranial aneurysms (IAs) run a risk for aneurysm rupture and subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage which frequently results in permanent deficits or death. Prophylactic treatment of unruptured aneurysms is possible and recommended depending on the size and location of the aneurysm as well as patient age and condition. IAs are major manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Current guidelines do not suggest surveillance of IAs in ADPKD except in the setting of family history if IA was known in any relative with ADPKD. Management of IAs in ADPKD is problematic because limited data exist from large studies. Methods We established the Else Kröner-Fresenius Registry for ADPKD in Germany. Clinical data were assessed for age at diagnosis of IAs, stage of renal insufficiency, and number, location and size of IAs as well as family history of cerebral events. Patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic IAs were included. All patients with ADPKD-related IAs were offered mutation scanning of the susceptibility genes for ADPKD, the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. Results Of 463 eligible ADPKD patients from the population base of Germany, 32 (7%) were found to have IAs, diagnosed at the age of 2–71 years, 19 females and 13 males. Twenty (63%) of these 32 patients were symptomatic, whereas IAs were detected in an asymptomatic stage in 12 patients. IAs were multifocal in 12 and unifocal in 20 patients. In 26 patients (81%), IAs were diagnosed before end-stage renal failure. Twenty-five out of 27 unrelated index cases (93%) had no IAs or cerebral events documented in their relatives with ADPKD. In 16 unrelated index patients and 3 relatives, we detected germline mutations. The mutations were randomly distributed across the PKD1 gene in 14 and the PKD2 gene in 2 index cases. Questionnaires answered for 320/441 ADPKD patients without IAs revealed that only 45/320 (14%) had MR angiography. Conclusion In ADPKD, rupture of IAs occurs frequently before the start of dialysis, is only infrequently associated with a family history of IAs or subarachnoid hemorrhage, and is associated with mutations either of the PKD1 or the PKD2 gene of any type. Screening for IAs is widely insufficiently performed, should not be restricted to families with a history of cerebral events and should be started before end-stage renal failure. PMID:23139683

75 FR 35629 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-23

... West Union, IA, George L Scott Muni, GPS RWY 17, Orig, CANCELLED West Union, IA, George L Scott Muni, GPS RWY 35, Orig, CANCELLED West Union, IA, George L Scott Muni, RNAV (GPS) RWY 17, Orig West Union, IA, George L Scott Muni, RNAV (GPS) RWY 35, Orig West Union, IA, George L Scott Muni, Takeoff...

The Influence of Cyst Emptying, Lymph Node Resection and Chemotherapy on Survival in Stage IA and IC1 Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

PubMed

Rosendahl, Mikkel; Mosgaard, Berit Jul; Høgdall, Claus

2016-10-01

To determine if survival in stage I ovarian cancer is influenced by cyst emptying, lymph node resection and chemotherapy. A survival analysis of 607 patients with ovarian cancer in stage IA, IA with cyst emptying (IAempty) and IC1 was performed. There was no difference in five-year survival between IA (87%) and IC1 (87%) (p=0.899), between IA and IAempty (86%) (p=0.500) nor between IA+IAempty (87%) and IC1 without IAempty (84%) (p=0.527). Five-year survival rate (5YSR) was significantly higher after lymph node resection in stage IA (94% vs. 85%; p=0.01) and IA+IC1 (93% vs. 85%; p=0.004). In multivariate analysis, lymph node resection improved prognosis significantly for all sub-stages, whereas stage and chemotherapy did not affect survival. In stage IA ovarian cancer, controlled cyst emptying without spill does not worsen prognosis. Lymph node resection is associated with improved survival in stage IA and IC1. Chemotherapy should only be offered where randomized controlled studies have shown a benefit. Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

The dense core vesicle protein IA-2, but not IA-2β, is required for active avoidance learning.

PubMed

Carmona, G N; Nishimura, T; Schindler, C W; Panlilio, L V; Notkins, A L

2014-06-06

The islet-antigens IA-2 and IA-2β are major autoantigens in type-1 diabetes and transmembrane proteins in dense core vesicles (DCV). Recently we showed that deletion of both IA-2 and IA-2β alters the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters and impairs behavior and learning. The present study was designed to evaluate the contribution to learning of each of these genes by using single knockout (SKO) and double knockout (DKO) mice in an active avoidance test. After 5 days of training, wild-type (WT) mice showed 60-70% active avoidance responses, whereas the DKO mice showed only 10-15% active avoidance responses. The degree of active avoidance responses in the IA-2 SKO mice was similar to that of the DKO mice, but in contrast, the IA-2β SKO mice behaved like WT mice showing 60-70% active avoidance responses. Molecular studies revealed a marked decrease in the phosphorylation of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMKII) in the striatum and hippocampus of the IA-2 SKO and DKO mice, but not in the IA-2β SKO mice. To evaluate the role of CREB and CAMKII in the SKO and DKO mice, GBR-12909, which selectively blocks the dopamine uptake transporter and increases CREB and CAMKII phosphorylation, was administered. GBR-12909 restored the phosphorylation of CREB and CAMKII and increased active avoidance learning in the DKO and IA-2 SKO to near the normal levels found in the WT and IA-2β SKO mice. We conclude that in the absence of the DCV protein IA-2, active avoidance learning is impaired. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Immunoadsorption (IAS) as a rescue therapy in SLE: considerations on safety and efficacy.

PubMed

Stummvoll, Georg H; Aringer, Martin; Jansen, Martin; Smolen, Josef S; Derfler, Kurt; Graninger, Winfried B

2004-11-30

In SLE, extracorporeal procedures aiming at reduction of immunoglobulin (Ig) and immune complexes (IC) are used as a rescue therapy. Plasma exchange (PE) has not been proven overall effective in SLE, and long-term treatment in particular has been associated with severe bacterial and viral infections. Immunoadsorption (IAS), in contrast, selectively removes Ig and IC and may thus be safer. We therefore investigated the rate of infections in SLE patients who were undergoing long-term IAS. 16 SLE patients were treated with > or = 10 courses of IAS, and nine patients with highly active disease received pulse cyclophosphamide (IVCP) therapy in parallel. We retrospectively analysed the records of all these patients for the occurrence of infections. Patients receiving IAS therapy plus IVCP were compared with 25 patients with similarly active disease treated with standard IVCP therapy within the same observation period. Patients receiving IAS without additional IVCP were compared with patients with similarly moderate disease activity receiving neither IAS nor IVCP. No potentially life-threatening viral infection occurred in IAS-treated patients and episodes of herpes zoster were equally distributed. No severe infection was observed during IAS without concomittant cyclophosphamide. As expected, more patients with highly active disease receiving IVCP experienced infections than those with less active disease (16 of 34 [47%] vs. 2 of 22 [9%], p < 0.04). On comparing the two groups with highly active disease, infections were similar (IAS+IVCP: 3 of 9 patients [33%], IVCP only: 5 of 25 [20%]), but one patient receiving IAS+IVCP died of septicaemia. Disease activity significantly decreased in both groups treated with IAS. IAS has an acceptable safety profile with regard to severe infections and appears safe with regard to severe viral disease. Highly active disease and IVCP therapy increase the risk of severe infections in SLE.

Clinical, laboratory, and transesophageal echocardiographic correlates of interatrial septal thickness: a population-based transesophageal echocardiographic study.

PubMed

Agmon, Yoram; Meissner, Irene; Tajik, A Jamil; Seward, James B; Petterson, Tanya M; Christianson, Teresa J H; O'Fallon, W Michael; Wiebers, David O; Khandheria, Bijoy K

2005-02-01

The determinants of interatrial septal (IAS) thickening ("lipomatous hypertrophy"), a common echocardiographic finding in the elderly, are poorly defined. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical, laboratory, and transesophageal echocardiographic correlates of IAS thickening in the general population. The thickness of the IAS was measured by transesophageal echocardiography in 384 patients (median age: 66 years; range: 51-101 years; 53% men) participating in a population-based study (Stroke Prevention: Assessment of Risk in a Community). The associations between atherosclerosis risk factors, clinical cardiovascular disease, aortic atherosclerotic plaques, and IAS thickness were examined. Age and body surface area (BSA) were significantly associated with IAS thickness (median: 6 mm; range: 2-17 mm). IAS thickness increased by 12.6% per 10 years of age (95% confidence interval: 9.0-16.4%) adjusting for sex and BSA, and increased by 7.0% per 0.1 m 2 BSA (confidence interval: 5.0-9.2%) adjusting for age and sex. Overall, age, sex, and BSA accounted for 22.5% of the variability in IAS thickness. Current smoking (20.4% increase in IAS thickness in current smokers) and hypertension treatment (8.5% increase in treated patients) were associated with increased IAS thickness, adjusting for age, sex, and BSA ( P < .05), but these two risk factor variables jointly explained only an additional 2.3% of the variability in IAS thickness beyond the variability explained by age, sex, and BSA. Clinical coronary artery and cerebrovascular disease, atrial arrhythmias, and aortic atherosclerotic plaques were not associated with IAS thickness, adjusting for age, sex, and BSA ( P > .3). IAS thickening is an age-associated process. Atherosclerosis risk factors are weakly associated with IAS thickening, whereas atherosclerotic vascular disease is not.

Poor sleep quality and suicide attempt among adults with internet addiction: A nationwide community sample of Korea

PubMed Central

Kim, Kiwon; Lee, Haewoo; Hong, Jin Pyo; Cho, Maeng Je; Fava, Maurizio; Mischoulon, David; Kim, Dong Jun

2017-01-01

Purpose Internet addiction (IA) is defined as a psychological dependence on the internet, regardless of the type of activities once logged on, and previous studies have focused on adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between suicide attempts and sleep among community-dwelling adults with IA. Methods The Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI) and a suicide questionnaire were used in this cross-sectional multistage, cluster sampling population-based study. A total of 3212 adults aged 18–64 years were interviewed face-to-face, and they had been randomly selected through a one-person-per-household method. Results Of the 3212 adults, 204 were assessed as having IA (6.35%). Adults with IA were younger, and more frequently male, unmarried, and unemployed, and had poorer sleep quality than adults without IA (32.8% vs. 19.8%), whereas there was no significant difference in the absolute duration of sleep between the two groups. Adults with IA showed more frequent difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, non-restorative sleep, daytime functional impairment, and duration of sleep more than 10 hours on weekdays than adults without IA. IA with poor sleep quality was significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempts (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.38–8.05) after adjusting for demographic covariates. Adults with IA who had more sleep problems showed more severe IA, especially those who experienced a previous suicidal attempt. Among mental disorders, IA with poor sleep quality was significantly associated with anxiety disorder and overall psychiatric disorders. Conclusions Among adults with IA, poor sleep quality was found to be associated with more severe IA and lifetime suicide attempt. PMID:28384238

Familial intracranial aneurysms: is anatomic vulnerability heritable?

PubMed

Mackey, Jason; Brown, Robert D; Moomaw, Charles J; Hornung, Richard; Sauerbeck, Laura; Woo, Daniel; Foroud, Tatiana; Gandhi, Dheeraj; Kleindorfer, Dawn; Flaherty, Matthew L; Meissner, Irene; Anderson, Craig; Rouleau, Guy; Connolly, E Sander; Deka, Ranjan; Koller, Daniel L; Abruzzo, Todd; Huston, John; Broderick, Joseph P

2013-01-01

Previous studies have suggested that family members with intracranial aneurysms (IAs) often harbor IAs in similar anatomic locations. IA location is important because of its association with rupture. We tested the hypothesis that anatomic susceptibility to IA location exists using a family-based IA study. We identified all affected probands and first-degree relatives (FDRs) with a definite or probable phenotype in each family. We stratified each IA of the probands by major arterial territory and calculated each family's proband-FDR territory concordance and overall contribution to the concordance analysis. We then matched each family unit to an unrelated family unit selected randomly with replacement and performed 1001 simulations. The median concordance proportions, odds ratios (ORs), and P values from the 1001 logistic regression analyses were used to represent the final results of the analysis. There were 323 family units available for analysis, including 323 probands and 448 FDRs, with a total of 1176 IAs. IA territorial concordance was higher in the internal carotid artery (55.4% versus 45.6%; OR, 1.54 [1.04-2.27]; P=0.032), middle cerebral artery (45.8% versus 30.5%; OR, 1.99 [1.22-3.22]; P=0.006), and vertebrobasilar system (26.6% versus 11.3%; OR, 2.90 [1.05-8.24], P=0.04) distributions in the true family compared with the comparison family. Concordance was also higher when any location was considered (53.0% versus 40.7%; OR, 1.82 [1.34-2.46]; P<0.001). In a highly enriched sample with familial predisposition to IA development, we found that IA territorial concordance was higher when probands were compared with their own affected FDRs than with comparison FDRs, which suggests that anatomic vulnerability to IA formation exists. Future studies of IA genetics should consider stratifying cases by IA location.

The NRF2-KEAP1 Pathway Is an Early Responsive Gene Network in Arsenic Exposed Lymphoblastoid Cells

PubMed Central

Córdova, Emilio J.; Martínez-Hernández, Angélica; Uribe-Figueroa, Laura; Centeno, Federico; Morales-Marín, Mirna; Koneru, Harsha; Coleman, Matthew A.; Orozco, Lorena

2014-01-01

Inorganic arsenic (iAs), a major environmental contaminant, has risen as an important health problem worldwide. More detailed identification of the molecular mechanisms associated with iAs exposure would help to establish better strategies for prevention and treatment. Although chronic iAs exposures have been previously studied there is little to no information regarding the early events of exposure to iAs. To better characterize the early mechanisms of iAs exposure we conducted gene expression studies using sublethal doses of iAs at two different time-points. The major transcripts differentially regulated at 2 hrs of iAs exposure included antioxidants, detoxificants and chaperones. Moreover, after 12 hrs of exposure many of the down-regulated genes were associated with DNA replication and S phase cell cycle progression. Interestingly, the most affected biological pathway by both 2 or 12 hrs of iAs exposure were the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, represented by the highly up-regulated HMOX1 transcript, which is transcriptionally regulated by the transcription factor Nrf2. Additional Nrf2 targets included SQSTM1 and ABCB6, which were not previously associated with acute iAs exposure. Signalling pathways such as interferon, B cell receptor and AhR route were also responsive to acute iAs exposure. Since HMOX1 expression increased early (20 min) and was responsive to low iAs concentrations (0.1 µM), this gene could be a suitable early biomarker for iAs exposure. In addition, the novel Nrf2 targets SQSTM1 and ABCB6 could play an important and previously unrecognized role in cellular protection against iAs. PMID:24516582

Poor sleep quality and suicide attempt among adults with internet addiction: A nationwide community sample of Korea.

PubMed

Kim, Kiwon; Lee, Haewoo; Hong, Jin Pyo; Cho, Maeng Je; Fava, Maurizio; Mischoulon, David; Kim, Dong Jun; Jeon, Hong Jin

2017-01-01

Internet addiction (IA) is defined as a psychological dependence on the internet, regardless of the type of activities once logged on, and previous studies have focused on adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between suicide attempts and sleep among community-dwelling adults with IA. The Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI) and a suicide questionnaire were used in this cross-sectional multistage, cluster sampling population-based study. A total of 3212 adults aged 18-64 years were interviewed face-to-face, and they had been randomly selected through a one-person-per-household method. Of the 3212 adults, 204 were assessed as having IA (6.35%). Adults with IA were younger, and more frequently male, unmarried, and unemployed, and had poorer sleep quality than adults without IA (32.8% vs. 19.8%), whereas there was no significant difference in the absolute duration of sleep between the two groups. Adults with IA showed more frequent difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, non-restorative sleep, daytime functional impairment, and duration of sleep more than 10 hours on weekdays than adults without IA. IA with poor sleep quality was significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempts (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.38-8.05) after adjusting for demographic covariates. Adults with IA who had more sleep problems showed more severe IA, especially those who experienced a previous suicidal attempt. Among mental disorders, IA with poor sleep quality was significantly associated with anxiety disorder and overall psychiatric disorders. Among adults with IA, poor sleep quality was found to be associated with more severe IA and lifetime suicide attempt.

Clinical Variables Correlated with Numbers of Intra-arterial Nimodipine Infusion in Patients with Medically Refractory Cerebral Vasospasm

PubMed Central

Kim, Sang-Young; Kim, Ki-Hong; Cho, Jae-Hoon

2015-01-01

Objective The objective of this study was to find out the clinical variables correlated with repeated intra-arterial (IA) nimodipine infusions in patients with medically refractory cerebral vasospasm (CV) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Materials and Methods During the 36 months between January 2011 and December 2013, 275 patients were treated at our institute for SAH due to a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Of the 275 patients, 26 patients (9.5%) met the inclusion criteria. For each patient, a retrospective review of their medical records was conducted. Results Eleven patients underwent a single IA nimodipine infusion and 15 patients underwent more than two IA nimodipine infusions. Multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients had poor improvement (2 of 15 patients, 13.3%) in Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores after the first IA nimodipine infusion compared to patients of single IA nimodipine infusion (6 of 11 patients, 54.6%) (p = 0.038). The mean middle cerebral artery (MCA) Lindegaard ratio of multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients was 4.3 ± 1.1 after the first IA nimodipine infusion (p = 0.039). In multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients, CV occurred more often bilaterally (p = 0.035) and distally (p = 0.001). More vessel segments were affected in multiple IA nimodipine infusion patients (3.1 ± 1.0) (p < 0.001). Conclusion The following factors correlated with multiple IA nimodipine infusions: 1) no improvement in GCS after the IA nimodipine infusion; 2) no decrease of MCA velocity on transcranial doppler over 50 cm/s or Lindegaard ratio over 4.3 after the IA nimodipine infusion; 3) distal, bilateral, or diffuse involvement of CV. PMID:26523251

UH-1H Flat Rate Manual. Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-07-01

o o Ox IA «A IAVO o O O O O rococo co co rococo co co CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO IAIAIA IA IA IT» »A IA UMA i ■ XX o 4» « § « * * ■ 2...OOO O O O O O rococo co co co co co rococo co co co co co 1 WIAIA IA U\\ ITilA IA s If r% ■H fjg X a ! °* i Q i F o M as 1 V. 3 I -372

Early Emission from Type Ia Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rabinak, Itay; Livne, Eli; Waxman, Eli

2012-09-01

A unique feature of deflagration-to-detonation (DDT) white dwarf explosion models of supernovae of type Ia is the presence of a strong shock wave propagating through the outer envelope. We consider the early emission expected in such models, which is produced by the expanding shock-heated outer part of the ejecta and precedes the emission driven by radioactive decay. We expand on earlier analyses by considering the modification of the pre-detonation density profile by the weak shocks generated during the deflagration phase, the time evolution of the opacity, and the deviation of the post-shock equation of state from that obtained for radiation pressure domination. A simple analytic model is presented and shown to provide an acceptable approximation to the results of one-dimensional numerical DDT simulations. Our analysis predicts a ~103 s long UV/optical flash with a luminosity of ~1 to ~3 × 1039 erg s-1. Lower luminosity corresponds to faster (turbulent) deflagration velocity. The luminosity of the UV flash is predicted to be strongly suppressed at t > t drop ~ 1 hr due to the deviation from pure radiation domination.

The Rise of SN 2014J in the Nearby Galaxy M 82

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

A.Goobar; Johansson, J.; Amanullah, R.; Cao, Y.; Perley, D.A.; Kasliwal, M. M.; Ferreti, R.; Nugent, P. E.; Harris, C.; Cenko, S. B.

2014-01-01

We report on the discovery of SN 2014J in the nearby galaxy M 82. Given its proximity, it offers the best opportunity to date to study a thermonuclear supernova over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Optical, near-IR and mid-IR observations on the rising lightcurve, orchestrated by the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF), show that SN 2014J is a spectroscopically normal Type Ia supernova, albeit exhibiting high-velocity features in its spectrum and heavily reddened by dust in the host galaxy. Our earliest detections start just hours after the fitted time of explosion. We use high-resolution optical spectroscopy to analyze the dense intervening material and do not detect any evolution in the resolved absorption features during the lightcurve rise. Similarly to other highly reddened Type Ia supernovae, a low value of total-to-selective extinction, R (sub V) less than or approximately equal to 2, provides the best match to our observations. We also study pre-explosion optical and near-IR images from HST with special emphasis on the sources nearest to the SN location.

The giant Gamow-Teller resonance states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Toshio

1982-04-01

The mean energy of the giant Gamow-Teller resonance state (GTS) is studied, which is defined by the non-energy-weighted and the linearly energy-weighted sum of the strengths for ΣAi = 1 τi- σi- Using Bohr and Mottelson's hamiltonian with the ξl· σ force, the difference between the mean energies of GTS and the isobaric analog state (IAS) is expressed as E GTS -E IAS,≈ 2<π¦Σ Ai=1ξ il i· σ i¦π>/ (3T 0-4(k τ-k στ) T 0. The observed energy systematics is well explained by kτ- kστ≈ 4/ A MeV . The relationship between the mean energies and the excitation energies of the collective states in the random phase approximation for charge-exchange excitations is discussed in a simple model. From the excitation energy systematics of GTS, the values of kστ and the Migdal parameter g' are estimated to be about k στ = {(16-24)}/{A}MeV and g' = 0.49-0.72 , respectively.

Phylogeny of the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in European Aquaculture

PubMed Central

Cieslak, Michael; Mikkelsen, Susie S.; Skall, Helle F.; Baud, Marine; Diserens, Nicolas; Engelsma, Marc Y.; Haenen, Olga L. M.; Mousakhani, Shirin; Panzarin, Valentina; Wahli, Thomas; Olesen, Niels J.; Schütze, Heike

2016-01-01

One of the most valuable aquaculture fish in Europe is the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, but the profitability of trout production is threatened by a highly lethal infectious disease, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), caused by the VHS virus (VHSV). For the past few decades, the subgenogroup Ia of VHSV has been the main cause of VHS outbreaks in European freshwater-farmed rainbow trout. Little is currently known, however, about the phylogenetic radiation of this Ia lineage into subordinate Ia clades and their subsequent geographical spread routes. We investigated this topic using the largest Ia-isolate dataset ever compiled, comprising 651 complete G gene sequences: 209 GenBank Ia isolates and 442 Ia isolates from this study. The sequences come from 11 European countries and cover the period 1971–2015. Based on this dataset, we documented the extensive spread of the Ia population and the strong mixing of Ia isolates, assumed to be the result of the Europe-wide trout trade. For example, the Ia lineage underwent a radiation into nine Ia clades, most of which are difficult to allocate to a specific geographic distribution. Furthermore, we found indications for two rapid, large-scale population growth events, and identified three polytomies among the Ia clades, both of which possibly indicate a rapid radiation. However, only about 4% of Ia haplotypes (out of 398) occur in more than one European country. This apparently conflicting finding regarding the Europe-wide spread and mixing of Ia isolates can be explained by the high mutation rate of VHSV. Accordingly, the mean period of occurrence of a single Ia haplotype was less than a full year, and we found a substitution rate of up to 7.813 × 10−4 nucleotides per site per year. Finally, we documented significant differences between Germany and Denmark regarding their VHS epidemiology, apparently due to those countries’ individual handling of VHS. PMID:27760205

Exposure to arsenic in drinking water is associated with increased prevalence of diabetes: a cross-sectional study in the Zimapán and Lagunera regions in Mexico.

PubMed

Del Razo, Luz M; García-Vargas, Gonzalo G; Valenzuela, Olga L; Castellanos, Erika Hernández; Sánchez-Peña, Luz C; Currier, Jenna M; Drobná, Zuzana; Loomis, Dana; Stýblo, Miroslav

2011-08-24

Human exposures to inorganic arsenic (iAs) have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes mellitus. Recent laboratory studies showed that methylated trivalent metabolites of iAs may play key roles in the diabetogenic effects of iAs. Our study examined associations between chronic exposure to iAs in drinking water, metabolism of iAs, and prevalence of diabetes in arsenicosis-endemic areas of Mexico. We used fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to characterize diabetic individuals. Arsenic levels in drinking water and urine were determined to estimate exposure to iAs. Urinary concentrations of iAs and its trivalent and pentavalent methylated metabolites were measured to assess iAs metabolism. Associations between diabetes and iAs exposure or urinary metabolites of iAs were estimated by logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, hypertension and obesity. The prevalence of diabetes was positively associated with iAs in drinking water (OR 1.13 per 10 ppb, p < 0.01) and with the concentration of dimethylarsinite (DMAsIII) in urine (OR 1.24 per inter-quartile range, p = 0.05). Notably, FPI and HOMA-IR were negatively associated with iAs exposure (β -2.08 and -1.64, respectively, p < 0.01), suggesting that the mechanisms of iAs-induced diabetes differ from those underlying type-2 diabetes, which is typically characterized by insulin resistance. Our study confirms a previously reported, but frequently questioned, association between exposure to iAs and diabetes, and is the first to link the risk of diabetes to the production of one of the most toxic metabolites of iAs, DMAsIII.

Exposure to arsenic in drinking water is associated with increased prevalence of diabetes: a cross-sectional study in the Zimapán and Lagunera regions in Mexico

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Human exposures to inorganic arsenic (iAs) have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes mellitus. Recent laboratory studies showed that methylated trivalent metabolites of iAs may play key roles in the diabetogenic effects of iAs. Our study examined associations between chronic exposure to iAs in drinking water, metabolism of iAs, and prevalence of diabetes in arsenicosis-endemic areas of Mexico. Methods We used fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to characterize diabetic individuals. Arsenic levels in drinking water and urine were determined to estimate exposure to iAs. Urinary concentrations of iAs and its trivalent and pentavalent methylated metabolites were measured to assess iAs metabolism. Associations between diabetes and iAs exposure or urinary metabolites of iAs were estimated by logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, hypertension and obesity. Results The prevalence of diabetes was positively associated with iAs in drinking water (OR 1.13 per 10 ppb, p < 0.01) and with the concentration of dimethylarsinite (DMAsIII) in urine (OR 1.24 per inter-quartile range, p = 0.05). Notably, FPI and HOMA-IR were negatively associated with iAs exposure (β -2.08 and -1.64, respectively, p < 0.01), suggesting that the mechanisms of iAs-induced diabetes differ from those underlying type-2 diabetes, which is typically characterized by insulin resistance. Conclusions Our study confirms a previously reported, but frequently questioned, association between exposure to iAs and diabetes, and is the first to link the risk of diabetes to the production of one of the most toxic metabolites of iAs, DMAsIII. PMID:21864395

Impaired inhibition and working memory in response to internet-related words among adolescents with internet addiction: A comparison with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Nie, Jia; Zhang, Wei; Chen, Jia; Li, Wendi

2016-02-28

Impairments in response inhibition and working memory functions have been found to be closely associated with internet addiction (IA) symptoms and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. In this study, we examined response inhibition and working memory processes with two different materials (internet-related and internet-unrelated stimuli) among adolescents with IA, ADHD and co-morbid IA/ADHD. Twenty-four individuals with IA, 28 individuals with ADHD, 17 individuals with IA/ADHD, and 26 matched normal controls (NC) individuals were recruited. All participants were measured with a Stop-Signal Task and 2-Back Task under the same experimental conditions. In comparison to the NC group, subjects with IA, ADHD and IA/ADHD demonstrated impaired inhibition and working memory. In addition, in comparison to internet-unrelated conditions, IA and co-morbid subjects performed worse on the internet-related condition in the Stop trials during the stop-signal task, and they showed better working memory on the internet-related condition in the 2-Back Task. The findings of our study suggest individuals with IA and IA/ADHD may be impaired in inhibition and working memory functions that might be linked to poor inhibition specifically related to internet-related stimuli, which will advance our understanding of IA and contribute to prevention and intervention strategies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lymphocytes influence intracranial aneurysm formation and rupture: role of extracellular matrix remodeling and phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

PubMed

Sawyer, David M; Pace, Lauren A; Pascale, Crissey L; Kutchin, Alexander C; O'Neill, Brannan E; Starke, Robert M; Dumont, Aaron S

2016-07-14

Intracranial aneurysms (IA) are increasingly recognized as a disease driven by chronic inflammation. Recent research has identified key mediators and processes underlying IA pathogenesis, but mechanistic understanding remains incomplete. Lymphocytic infiltrates have been demonstrated in patient IA tissue specimens and have also been shown to play an important role in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and related diseases such as atherosclerosis. However, no study has systematically examined the contribution of lymphocytes in a model of IA. Lymphocyte-deficient (Rag1) and wild-type (WT; C57BL/6 strain) mice were subjected to a robust IA induction protocol. Rates of IA formation and rupture were measured, and cerebral artery tissue was collected and utilized for histology and gene expression analysis. At 2 weeks, the Rag1 group had significantly fewer IA formations and ruptures than the WT group. Histological analysis of unruptured IA tissue showed robust B and T lymphocyte infiltration in the WT group, while there were no differences in macrophage infiltration, IA diameter, and wall thickness. Significant differences in interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2) and 9 (MMP9), and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) were observed between the groups. Lymphocytes are key contributors to IA pathogenesis and provide a novel target for the prevention of IA progression and rupture in patients.

Computed Tomography Angiography Evaluation of Risk Factors for Unstable Intracranial Aneurysms.

PubMed

Wang, Guang-Xian; Gong, Ming-Fu; Wen, Li; Liu, Lan-Lan; Yin, Jin-Bo; Duan, Chun-Mei; Zhang, Dong

2018-03-19

To evaluate risk factors for instability in intracranial aneurysms (IAs) using computed tomography angiography (CTA). A total of 614 consecutive patients diagnosed with 661 IAs between August 2011 and February 2016 were reviewed. Patients and IAs were divided into stable and unstable groups. Along with clinical characteristics, IA characteristics were evaluated by CTA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with unstable IAs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed on the final model, and optimal thresholds were obtained. Patient age (odds ratio [OR], 0.946), cerebral atherosclerosis (CA; OR, 0.525), and IAs located at the middle cerebral artery (OR, 0.473) or internal carotid artery (OR, 0.512) were negatively correlated with instability, whereas IAs with irregular shape (OR, 2.157), deep depth (OR, 1.557), or large flow angle (FA; OR, 1.015) were more likely to be unstable. ROC analysis revealed threshold values of age, depth, and FA of 59.5 years, 4.25 mm, and 87.8°, respectively. The stability of IAs is significantly affected by several factors, including patient age and the presence of CA. IA shape and location also have an impact on the stability of IAs. Growth into an irregular shape, with a deep depth, and a large FA are risk factors for a change in IAs from stable to unstable. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Model-independent Photometric Redshift Estimator for Type Ia Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yun

2007-01-01

The use of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) as cosmological standard candles is fundamental in modern observational cosmology. In this Letter, we derive a simple empirical photometric redshift estimator for SNe Ia using a training set of SNe Ia with multiband (griz) light curves and spectroscopic redshifts obtained by the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS). This estimator is analytical and model-independent it does not use spectral templates. We use all the available SNe Ia from SNLS with near-maximum photometry in griz (a total of 40 SNe Ia) to train and test our photometric redshift estimator. The difference between the estimated redshifts zphot and the spectroscopic redshifts zspec, (zphot-zspec)/(1+zspec), has rms dispersions of 0.031 for 20 SNe Ia used in the training set, and 0.050 for 20 SNe Ia not used in the training set. The dispersion is of the same order of magnitude as the flux uncertainties at peak brightness for the SNe Ia. There are no outliers. This photometric redshift estimator should significantly enhance the ability of observers to accurately target high-redshift SNe Ia for spectroscopy in ongoing surveys. It will also dramatically boost the cosmological impact of very large future supernova surveys, such as those planned for the Advanced Liquid-mirror Probe for Astrophysics, Cosmology, and Asteroids (ALPACA) and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).

The Role of Residual Stress in the Performance of Gears and Bearings

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-01

stress distribution near the surface of an Infinite half space - a good approximation If the residual stress has arisen from a homogeneous surface...carburlr.ed caae ia shwon in Figure 11. The surface hard». ;ss is in fact for moderate tempering periods at up to 200°C in thia steel. In addition...Concentration 1 10-10 Nc-ln«l Applied Alternating Str«aa/Wa -200 0 200 400 Applied Mean Streaa /M»a rijur» 6 Goodaan DU*raa (KM

75 FR 64392 - Norfolk Southern Railway Company-Abandonment Exemption-in Polk County, IA; Iowa Interstate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-19

..., IA; Iowa Interstate Railroad--Discontinuance of Service Exemption--in Polk County, IA Norfolk... Interstate Railroad, Ltd., 5900 6th Street, SW., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. If the verified notice contains...

40 CFR 52.1021 - Classification of regions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Portland Intrastate I II III III III Androscoggin Valley Interstate IA IA III III III Down East Intrastate IA IA III III III Aroostook Intrastate III III III III III Northwest Maine Intrastate III III III III...

40 CFR 52.1021 - Classification of regions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Portland Intrastate I II III III III Androscoggin Valley Interstate IA IA III III III Down East Intrastate IA IA III III III Aroostook Intrastate III III III III III Northwest Maine Intrastate III III III III...

Growth-dependent regulation of rRNA synthesis is mediated by a transcription initiation factor (TIF-IA).

PubMed

Buttgereit, D; Pflugfelder, G; Grummt, I

1985-11-25

Mouse RNA polymerase I requires at least two chromatographically distinct transcription factors (designated TIF-IA and TIF-IB) to initiate transcription accurately and efficiently in vitro. In this paper we describe the partial purification of TIF-IA by a four-step fractionation procedure. The amount or activity of TIF-IA fluctuates in response to the physiological state of the cells. Extracts from quiescent cells are incapable of specific transcription and do not contain detectable levels of TIF-IA. Transcriptionally inactive extracts can be restored by the addition of TIF-IA preparations that have been highly purified from exponentially growing cells. During the fractionating procedure TIF-IA co-purifies with RNA polymerase I, suggesting that it is functionally associated with the transcribing enzyme. We suggest that only those enzyme molecules that are associated with TIF-IA are capable to interact with TIF-IB and to initiate transcription.

ESCORT: A Pratt & Whitney nuclear thermal propulsion and power system for manned mars missions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feller, Gerald J.; Joyner, Russell

1999-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to describe the conceptual design of an upgrade to the Pratt & Whitney ESCORT nuclear thermal rocket engine. The ESCORT is a bimodal engine capable of supporting a wide range of vehicle propulsive and electrical power requirements. The ESCORT engine is powered by a fast-spectrum beryllium-reflected CERMET-fueled nuclear reactor. In propulsive mode, the reactor is used to heat hot hydrogen to approximately 2700 K which is expanded through a converging/diverging nozzle to generate thrust. Heat pickup in the nozzle and the radial beryllium reflectors is used to drive the turbomachinery in the ESCORT expander cycle. In electrical mode, the reactor is used to heat a mixture of helium and xenon to drive a closed-loop Brayton cycle in order to generate electrical energy. This closed loop system has the additional function of a decay heat removal system after the propulsive mode operation is discontinued. The original ESCORT design was capable of delivering 4448.2 N (1000 lbf) of thrust at a vacuum impulse level of approximately 900 s. Design Reference Mission requirements (DRM) from NASA Johnson Space Center and NASA Lewis Research Center studies in 1997 and 1998 have detailed upgraded requirements for potential manned Mars missions. The current NASA DRM requires a nuclear thermal propulsion system capable of delivering total mission requirements of 200170 N (45000 lbf) thrust and 50 kWe of spacecraft electrical power. This is met assuming three engines capable of each delivering 66723 N (15000 lbf) of vacuum thrust and 25 kWe of electrical power. The individual engine requirements were developed assuming three out of three engine reliability for propulsion and two out of three engine reliability for spacecraft electrical power. The approximate target vacuum impulse is 925 s. The Pratt & Whitney ESCORT concept was upgraded to meet these requirements. The hexagonal prismatic fuel elements were modified to address the uprated power requirements while maintaining the peak fuel temperature below the 2880 K limit for W-UO2 CERMET fuels. A system integrated performance methodology was developed to assess the sensitivity to weight, thrust and impulse to the DRM requirements. Propellant tanks, shielding, and Brayton cycle power conversion unit requirements were included in this evaluation.

Pharmacokinetics of escin Ia in rats after intravenous administration.

PubMed

Wu, Xiu-Jun; Cui, Xiang-Yong; Tian, Lian-tian; Gao, Feng; Guan, Xin; Gu, Jing-Kai

2014-10-28

Escin, a natural mixture of triterpene saponins, is commonly utilized for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, inflammation and edema. Escin Ia is the chief active ingredient in escin and plays key role in mediating its pharmacological effects. Adequate pharmacokinetic data are essential for proper application of escin agent in clinical practice. However, pharmacokinetic properties of escin Ia are still poorly understood and this conflicts with the growing use of escin agent over the years. The goal of this study is to investigate the pharmacokinetic behavior of escin Ia in rats after low, medium and high-dose intravenous administration. Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n=6 per group) and escin Ia was administered via the caudal vein at doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively. Subsequently, the concentrations of escin Ia and its metabolite isoescin Ia, a positional isomer of escin Ia, in rats׳ plasma were measured by an established liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method at various time points following the administration of the drug. Main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis using the TopFit 2.0 software package (Thomae GmbH, Germany). After intravenous administration, the Cmax and AUC of escin Ia increased in a dose-proportional manner at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg, while increased in a more than dose-proportional manner at the doses of 1.0 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg. The t₁/₂ was significantly longer with increased intravenous doses, while other parameters such as CL and Vd also exhibit disagreement among three doses. Taken together, our data showed dose-dependent pharmacokinetic profile of escin Ia in rats after intravenous administration at the doses of 0.5-2.0 mg/kg. After intravenous administration, escin Ia was rapidly and extensively converted to isoescin Ia. The results suggested dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of escin Ia at the doses of 0.5-2.0 mg/kg after intravenous administration. Escin Ia is isomerized to isoescin Ia rapidly and extensively regardless of the doses. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Internal Astigmatism in Myopes and Non-myopes: Compensation or Constant?

PubMed Central

Manny, Ruth E.; Deng, Li; Gwiazda, Jane; Hyman, Leslie; Weissberg, Erik; Scheiman, Mitchell; Fern, Karen D.

2016-01-01

Purpose To examine internal astigmatism (IA) in myopes and non-myopes using a new method to assess compensation of corneal astigmatism (CA) by IA, to look for predictors of high IA in young adult myopes and determine if as CA changes IA changes to reduce refractive astigmatism (RA) in an active compensatory process in myopes. Methods Right eye keratometry and cycloplegic autorefraction were measured annually over 14 years in 367 myopes and once in 204 non-myopes age- (mean 21.91 years ± 1.47), gender-, and ethnicity-matched to myopes at year 12. CA and RA at the corneal plane were expressed as J0, J45. IA = RA - CA. Inverse power transformation provided cylinder power and axis of IA for the compensation factor (IA/CA). Analyses included: 1) paired and unpaired t-tests (refractive data), 2) chi-square tests (distributions of compensation factor), 3) logistic regression analysis (predictors of high IA), and 4) linear mixed models (time effect on RA, CA and IA). Results The magnitude of IAJ0 varied by refractive error (myopes −0.25 ±0.24 vs non-myopes −0.32 ± 0.21, p<0.001). Compensation of CA by IA was poorer in myopes than non-myopes (χ2 p<0.001). When matched by CA, compensation remained poorer in myopes than non-myopes (χ2 all p≤ 0.04). Within each refractive group compensation was better when CA was low than high (χ2 p<0.001). When CA was low in myopes, high IA (≥1.00D) was less likely (p=0.01). Longitudinal follow-up of myopes found no evidence for an active compensatory role for IA as CA increased over time. There were differences in IAJ0 by ethnicity over time (p<0.0001). Conclusions In myopic and non-myopic eyes with low amounts of CA, IA may reduce CA’s contribution to RA, but IA is not a constant. However, there is no evidence for an active compensatory role for IA reducing CA in myopes. PMID:27564515

Comparing cognition, mealtime performance, and nutritional status in people with dementia with or without ideational apraxia.

PubMed

Wu, Hua-Shan; Lin, Li-Chan

2015-03-01

To describe the prevalence rate of ideational apraxia (IA) affecting self-feeding in people with dementia, confirm the stage of dementia at which IA most commonly occurs, and compare mealtime performance and nutritional status between people with dementia (PWD) with and without IA. A cross-sectional design with between-subject comparison was used. Among the 395 potential participants recruited from dementia special care units at nine long-term care facilities in central and northern Taiwan, 98 met the operational definition of IA and were included in the PWD with IA group. From the remaining pool, 98 participants, matched for age and sex with the PWD with IA group, were randomly allocated to the PWD without IA group. Eating Behavior Scale (EBS) scores, food intake, total eating time, meal assistance, body mass index, Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and Mini-Mental State Examination scores were collected. The prevalence rate of IA affecting self-feeding in our study population of PWD was 24.8%. PWD with IA had significantly lower EBS scores, had more food intake (p < .001), spent more time being fed by caregivers, needed more verbal and feeding assistance, and had lower MNA scores than PWD without IA. Decline in the self-feeding ability of PWD affected by IA most commonly occurred in the severe stage of dementia. When dementia progresses to the late stage, staff should pay special attention to residents' mealtime performance and nutritional status. For PWD with IA, reassigning staff at mealtimes based on eating ability and providing memory training are recommended. © The Author(s) 2014.

[Invasive aspergillosis in hematooncological patients: advantages and disadvantages of various diagnostic methods, treatment options and financial costs of therapy].

PubMed

Rácil, Z; Mayer, J; Kocmanová, I; Wagnerová, B; Winterová, J; Folber, F; Lengerová, M; Moulis, M; Zácková, D; Smardová, L; Janíková, A; Navrátil, M; Dvoráková, D; Vorlícek, J

2008-02-01

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a leading invasive fungal infection in hematooncological patients. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence, diagnostic procedures and treatment of IA in hematooncological department in large hospital in the Czech Republic. A retrospective analysis of medical and laboratory records from patients hospitalised in our department with proven/probable IA between January 2000 and December 2006 was performed. 52 cases of IA in 51 patients were identified (17.3% proven IA/82.7% probable IA). Number of IA cases notably increased during study period (1 case of IA in 2000 vs 21 cases of IA in 2006) and majority of them was of nosocomial origin (61.5%). Pulmonary aspergillosis was diagnosed in 46 cases (88.5%). Patients treated for acute leukemia or undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation represent the group at the highest risk of IA (in total 52% of cases). Fever and signs of pulmonary involvement were the most common clinical signs of infection (presented in 92.3% and 69.2 cases respectively). Conventional diagnostic methods including autopsy were able to diagnose only 15 cases of IA (28.8%). In all other cases (71.2%) the diagnosis was done by detection of galactomannan (GM) in serum. Introduction of GM monitoring enabled erlier initiation of antifungal treatment by 4 days. Initial therapy of IA led to the treatment response (partial and complete) in 18 (34.6%) of infections--the highest percentage of response has been seen in voriconazole monotherapy group (42%) and when combination of voriconazole and caspofungin has been used (83%). Salvage therapy was initiated due to the failure of initial treatment in 21 (40.3%) of cases. Patients were treated mostly with combination ofvoriconazole and caspofungin and/or monotherapy with voriconazole has been used with treatment response 55% and 50% respectively. Introduction of new antifungal drugs together with increased number of patients with IA led to the marked increase of total costs spent on treatment of IA per year--from 11,5 thousands CZK in 2000 to 6,2 millions CZK in 2006. IA is the most frequent cause of infection-related mortality in patients with haematological malignancies. Routine use of non-culture base methods in diagnosis of IA together with treatment using new, effective antifungals can improve prognosis of patients with this life threatening infection.

Hg(II) adsorption using amidoximated porous acrylonitrile/itaconic copolymers prepared by suspended emulsion polymerization.

PubMed

Ji, Chunnuan; Qu, Rongjun; Chen, Hou; Liu, Xiguang; Sun, Changmei; Ma, Caixia

2016-01-01

Initially, porous acrylonitrile/itaconic acid copolymers (AN/IA) were prepared by suspended emulsion polymerization. Successively, the cyano groups in AN/IA copolymers were converted to amidoxime (AO) groups by the reaction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The structures of the AN/IA and amidoximated AN/IA (AO AN/IA) were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and porous structural analysis. The adsorption properties of AO AN/IA for Hg(II) were investigated. The results show that AO AN/IA has mesopores and macropores, and surface area of 11.71 m(2) g(-1). It was found that AO AN/IA has higher affinity for Hg(II), with the maximum adsorption capacity of 84.25 mg g(-1). The AO AN/IA also can effectively remove Hg(II) from different binary metal ion mixture systems. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics were studied in detail. The adsorption equilibrium can quickly be achieved in 4 h determined by an adsorption kinetics study. The adsorption process is found to belong to the second-order model, and can be described by the Freundlich model.

Response of the solar atmosphere to a simple flare burst: UV emission from the flare transition layer.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shmeleva, O. P.

The flare transition layer exists as a relatively steady formation even during impulsive heating. It is maintained by a heat flow from the high-temperature plasma, where the major part of the electron beam energy is absorbed. The lifetime of this plasma is much greater than the impulsive heating time. Intensities of resonance UV lines are calculated using both the model of impulsive nonthermal heating by energetic electrons and the model of continuous thermal heating. The calculated line intensity is almost constant during a long time. The line Doppler shifts predicted by the former model match observations. This suggests that the model represents sufficiently well the actual dynamics of the flare plasma. The flare transition layer is a thin formation, its thickness being Δξ = 1021m-2. It is therefore described adequately within the p = const approximation though the picture of hydrodynamic response of the solar atmosphere to the impulsive heating by energy flows is rather complicated and nonsteady, of course. The intensities of the C IV λλ154.8, 155.1 nm and O VI λλ103.2, 103.8 nm lines are calculated within the scope of the model of continuous thermal heating, in which the conductive heating of the flare transition layer is balanced by radiative cooling. The line intensities are proportional to the pressure in the layer, which permits the pressure to be found from the observed line intensities. The analysis reveals that both heating models adequately represent the actual structure and dynamics of plasma in a flare. In the flare transition layer, the classical heat conduction always does work.

Précis of Breakdown of Will.

PubMed

Ainslie, George

2005-10-01

Behavioral science has long been puzzled by the experience of temptation, the resulting impulsiveness, and the variably successful control of this impulsiveness. In conventional theories, a governing faculty like the ego evaluates future choices consistently over time, discounting their value for delay exponentially, that is, by a constant rate; impulses arise when this ego is confronted by a conditioned appetite. Breakdown of Will (Ainslie 2001) presents evidence that contradicts this model. Both people and nonhuman animals spontaneously discount the value of expected events in a curve where value is divided approximately by expected delay, a hyperbolic form that is more bowed than the rational, exponential curve. With hyperbolic discounting, options that pay off quickly will be temporarily preferred to richer but slower-paying alternatives, a phenomenon that, over periods from minutes to days, can account for impulsive behaviors, and over periods of fractional seconds can account for involuntary behaviors. Contradictory reward-getting processes can in effect bargain with each other, and stable preferences can be established by the perception of recurrent choices as test cases (precedents) in recurrent intertemporal prisoner's dilemmas. The resulting motivational pattern resembles traditional descriptions of the will, as well as of compulsive phenomena that can now be seen as side-effects of will: over-concern with precedent, intractable but circumscribed failures of self-control, a motivated ("dynamic") unconscious, and an inability to exploit emotional rewards. Hyperbolic curves also suggest a means of reducing classical conditioning to motivated choice, the last necessary step for modeling many involuntary processes like emotion and appetite as reward-seeking behaviors; such modeling, in turn, provides a rationale for empathic reward and the "construction" of reality.

Unusual Emissions at Various Energies and Coronal Mass Ejection Prior to the November 4, 2003 Large Solar Flare

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaufmann, Pierre; Holman, G. D.; Su, Y.; Gimenez de Castro, C.; Correia, E.; de Souza, R. V.; Marun, A.; Pereyra, P.

2010-05-01

The November 4, 2003 GOES X28 flare was the largest ever recorded in its class. It produced the first evidence of the two spectrally separated radio/far-infrared emission components, one at microwaves and another in the THz range of frequencies (Kaufmann et al. 2004). We analyzed the 20 minutes before the impulsive onset of this event and found unusual activity at X-rays (RHESSI), at sub-THz frequencies (SST), at H-alpha (BBSO) and at microwaves (Itapetinga 7 GHz polarimeter, RSTN and OVSA). SOHO LASCO images have shown a large CME launched well before the large burst onset. The unusual activity began at about 19 27 UT with a slow rise at 6-10 keV and the start of a precursor at 7 GHz. Pulsations at sub-THz became pronounced, exhibiting correlations with RHESSI 25-50 keV pulsations and similar pulsations at 7 GHz. Impulsive bursts were detected with peaks at 19 34 UT at 100-300 keV and 7 GHz. LASCO movie show a large CME which linear extrapolation to the solar surface correspond to the first H-alpha BBSO brightening, suggesting an approximate launch time at about 1934 UT, close to the hard X-ray and microwave impulsive bursts and nearly 8 minutes before the onset of the large flare. These events had different locations within the AR that included the major flare location at the solar west limb, as indicated by SST pulses positions and images obtained by RHESSI and BBSO. The pulsations phenomena and superimposed impulsive events might represent the complex energy buildup mechanisms leading to the CME launch, quite distinct in time and space from the major flare that exploded afterwards.

PPT Thrust Stand

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haag, Thomas W.

1995-01-01

A torsional-type thrust stand has been designed and built to test Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT's) in both single shot and repetitive operating modes. Using this stand, momentum per pulse was determined strictly as a function of thrust stand deflection, spring constant, and natural frequency. No empirical corrections were required. The accuracy of the method was verified using a swinging impact pendulum. Momentum transfer data between the thrust stand and the pendulum were consistent to within 1%. Following initial calibrations, the stand was used to test a Lincoln Experimental Satellite (LES-8/9) thruster. The LES-8/9 system had a mass of approximately 7.5 kg, with a nominal thrust to weight ratio of 1.3 x 10(exp -5). A total of 34 single shot thruster pulses were individually measured. The average impulse bit per pulse was 266 microN-s, which was slightly less than the value of 300 microN-s published in previous reports on this device. Repetitive pulse measurements were performed similar to ordinary steady-state thrust measurements. The thruster was operated for 30 minutes at a repetition rate of 132 pulses per minute and yielded an average thrust of 573 microN. Using average thrust, the average impulse bit per pulse was estimated to be 260 microN-s, which was in agreement with the single shot data. Zero drift during the repetitive pulse test was found to be approximately 1% of the measured thrust.

Are neutrons precursors of solar flares?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martirosyan, H.

2001-08-01

The analysis of data of a worldwide network of neutron monitors (NM) shows, that at local noon and during approximately 4 hours after, the NM sometimes register statistically significant excess. Enhancement of count rate is approxi-mately ≈ 1.5÷2%. Depending on the geographical coordinates the time slice is determined, during which the global increase of a registered ux (characteristic time of the order of tens of hours) is observed. These data are correlated with data from space-borne sensors, proving significant increase ( ≈ 5 ÷ 10 times) of the low energy protons and electrons in near-earth space. In both cases the ux enhancement during tenths of hours is proceeding by an impulse phase of the next solar are. The analysis of data allows to put forward a hypothesis that the enhancement of the protons and electrons ux is stipulated by decay of solar neutrons with energies 10 ÷ 30 MeV . These neutrons during tenths of hours before an impulse phase of a are are born in active areas of the Sun, as a product of thermonuclear reactions (D + d → He3 + n, T + d → He4 + n). The part of neutrons are decaying in the interplanetary space, and part of high en-ergy neutrons (En > 20 V ) penetrate through terrestrial atmosphere (with probability ≈ 10-7 and are registered by neutron monitors.

The effects of a uniform axial magnetic field on the global stability of the rotating-disk boundary-layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davies, Christopher; Thomas, Christian

2006-11-01

Following on from the earlier discovery by Lingwood (1995) that the rotating-disk boundary-layer is absolutely unstable, Jasmine & Gajjar (2005) have shown that the application of a uniform axial magnetic field can raise the critical Reynolds number for the onset of absolute instability. As with Lingwood's analysis, a parallel-flow' type of approximation is needed in order to derive this locally-based stability result. The approximation amounts to a freezing out' of the underlying radial variation of the mean flow. Numerical simulations have been conducted to investigate the behaviour of linearized disturbances in the genuine rotating disk boundary layer, where the radial dependence of the mean flow is fully accounted for. This extends the work of Davies & Carpenter (2003), who studied the more usual rotating-disk problem, in the absence of any magnetic field. The simulation results suggest that globally unstable behaviour can be promoted when a uniform axial magnetic field is applied. Impulsively excited disturbances were found to display an increasingly rapid growth at the radial position of the impulse, albeit without any selection of a dominant frequency, as would be more usual for an unstable global mode. This is very similar to the behaviour to that was observed in a recent investigation by Davies & Thomas (2005) of the effects of mass transfer, where suction was also found to promote global instability.

Projection-free approximate balanced truncation of large unstable systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flinois, Thibault L. B.; Morgans, Aimee S.; Schmid, Peter J.

2015-08-01

In this article, we show that the projection-free, snapshot-based, balanced truncation method can be applied directly to unstable systems. We prove that even for unstable systems, the unmodified balanced proper orthogonal decomposition algorithm theoretically yields a converged transformation that balances the Gramians (including the unstable subspace). We then apply the method to a spatially developing unstable system and show that it results in reduced-order models of similar quality to the ones obtained with existing methods. Due to the unbounded growth of unstable modes, a practical restriction on the final impulse response simulation time appears, which can be adjusted depending on the desired order of the reduced-order model. Recommendations are given to further reduce the cost of the method if the system is large and to improve the performance of the method if it does not yield acceptable results in its unmodified form. Finally, the method is applied to the linearized flow around a cylinder at Re = 100 to show that it actually is able to accurately reproduce impulse responses for more realistic unstable large-scale systems in practice. The well-established approximate balanced truncation numerical framework therefore can be safely applied to unstable systems without any modifications. Additionally, balanced reduced-order models can readily be obtained even for large systems, where the computational cost of existing methods is prohibitive.

L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel is involved in the snake venom group IA secretory phospholipase A2-induced neuronal apoptosis.

PubMed

Yagami, Tatsurou; Yamamoto, Yasuhiro; Kohma, Hiromi; Nakamura, Tsutomu; Takasu, Nobuo; Okamura, Noboru

2013-03-01

Snake venom group IA secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IA) is known as a neurotoxin. Snake venom sPLA2s are neurotoxic in vivo and in vitro, causing synergistic neurotoxicity to cortical cultures when applied with toxic concentrations of glutamate. However, it has not yet been cleared sufficiently how sPLA2-IA exerts neurotoxicity. Here, we found sPLA2-IA induced neuronal cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. This death was a delayed response requiring a latent time for 6h. sPLA2-IA-induced neuronal cell death was accompanied with apoptotic blebbing, condensed chromatin, and fragmented DNA, exhibiting apoptotic features. NMDA receptor blockers suppressed the neurotoxicity of sPLA2-IA, but an AMPA receptor blocker did not. Interestingly, L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel (L-VDCC) blocker significantly protected neurons from the sPLA2-IA-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, neither N-VDCC blockers nor P/Q-VDCC blocker did. In conclusion, we demonstrated that sPLA2-IA induced neuronal cell death via apoptosis. Furthermore, the present study suggests that not only NMDA receptor but also L-VDCC contributed to the neurotoxicity of snake venom sPLA2-IA. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Induced Abortions and the Risk of Preeclampsia Among Nulliparous Women

PubMed Central

Parker, Samantha E.; Gissler, Mika; Ananth, Cande V.; Werler, Martha M.

2015-01-01

Induced abortion (IA) has been associated with a lower risk of preeclampsia among nulliparous women, but it remains unclear whether this association differs by method (either surgical or medical) or timing of IA. We performed a nested case-control study of 12,650 preeclampsia cases and 50,600 matched control deliveries identified in the Medical Birth Register of Finland from 1996 to 2010. Data on number, method, and timing of IAs were obtained through a linkage with the Registry of Induced Abortions. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Overall, prior IA was associated with a lower risk of preeclampsia, with odds ratios of 0.9 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9, 1.0) for 1 prior IA and 0.7 (95% CI: 0.5, 1.0) for 3 or more IAs. Differences in the associations between IA and preeclampsia by timing and method of IA were small, with odds ratios of 0.8 (95% CI: 0.6, 1.1) for late (≥12 gestation weeks) surgical abortion and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.7, 1.2) for late medical abortion. There was no association between IA in combination with a history of spontaneous abortion and risk of preeclampsia. In conclusion, prior IA only was associated with a slight reduction in the risk of preeclampsia. PMID:26377957

Mass-accreting white dwarfs and type Ia supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bo

2018-05-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) play a prominent role in understanding the evolution of the Universe. They are thought to be thermonuclear explosions of mass-accreting carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO WDs) in binaries, although the mass donors of the accreting WDs are still not well determined. In this article, I review recent studies on mass-accreting WDs, including H- and He-accreting WDs. I also review currently most studied progenitor models of SNe Ia, i.e., the single-degenerate model (including the WD+MS channel, the WD+RG channel and the WD+He star channel), the double-degenerate model (including the violent merger scenario) and the sub-Chandrasekhar mass model. Recent progress on these progenitor models is discussed, including the initial parameter space for producing SNe Ia, the binary evolutionary paths to SNe Ia, the progenitor candidates for SNe Ia, the possible surviving companion stars of SNe Ia, some observational constraints, etc. Some other potential progenitor models of SNe Ia are also summarized, including the hybrid CONe WD model, the core-degenerate model, the double WD collision model, the spin-up/spin-down model and the model of WDs near black holes. To date, it seems that two or more progenitor models are needed to explain the observed diversity among SNe Ia.

Universal Approximation by Using the Correntropy Objective Function.

PubMed

Nayyeri, Mojtaba; Sadoghi Yazdi, Hadi; Maskooki, Alaleh; Rouhani, Modjtaba

2017-10-16

Several objective functions have been proposed in the literature to adjust the input parameters of a node in constructive networks. Furthermore, many researchers have focused on the universal approximation capability of the network based on the existing objective functions. In this brief, we use a correntropy measure based on the sigmoid kernel in the objective function to adjust the input parameters of a newly added node in a cascade network. The proposed network is shown to be capable of approximating any continuous nonlinear mapping with probability one in a compact input sample space. Thus, the convergence is guaranteed. The performance of our method was compared with that of eight different objective functions, as well as with an existing one hidden layer feedforward network on several real regression data sets with and without impulsive noise. The experimental results indicate the benefits of using a correntropy measure in reducing the root mean square error and increasing the robustness to noise.

The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Transverse Impulse Rocket System (TIRS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

SanMartin, Alejandro Miguel; Bailey, Erik

2005-01-01

In a very short period of time the MER project successfully developed and tested a system, TIRS/DIMES, to improve the probability of success in the presence of large Martian winds. The successful development of TIRS/DIMES played a big role in the landing site selection process by enabling the landing of Spirit on Gusev crater, a site of very high scientific interest but with known high wind conditions. The performance of TIRS by Spirit at Gusev Crater was excellent. The velocity prediction error was small and Big TIRS was fired reducing the impact horizontal velocity from approximately 23 meters per second to approximately 11 meters per second, well within the airbag capabilities. The performance of TIRS by Opportunity at Meridiani was good. The velocity prediction error was rather large (approximately 6 meters per second, a less than 2 sigma value, but TIRS did not fire which was the correct action.

Analysis of pulmonary pure ground-glass nodule in enhanced dual energy CT imaging for predicting invasive adenocarcinoma: comparing with conventional thin-section CT imaging

PubMed Central

Zhang, Ying; Tang, Jian; Xu, Jianrong

2017-01-01

Background To investigate the value of dual energy computed tomography (DECT) parameters (including iodine concentration and monochromatic CT numbers) for predicting pure ground-glass nodules (pGGNs) of invasive adenocarcinoma (IA). Methods A total of 55 resected pGGNs evaluated with both unenhanced thin-section CT (TSCT) and enhanced DECT scans were included. Correlations between histopathology [adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), minimally IA (MIA), and IA] and CT scan characteristics were examined. CT scan and clinicodemographic data were investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis to identify features that helped distinguish IA from AIS or MIA. Results Both normalized iodine concentration (NIC) of IA and slope of spectral curve [slope(k)] were not significantly different between IA and AIS or MIA. Size, performance of pleural retraction and enhanced monochromatic CT attenuation values of 120–140 keV were significantly higher for IA. In multivariate regression analysis, size and enhanced monochromatic CT number of 140 keV were independent predictors for IA. Using the two parameters together, the diagnostic capacity of IA could be improved from 0.697 or 0.635 to 0.713. Conclusions DECT could help demonstrate blood supply and indicate invasion extent of pGGNs, and monochromatic CT number of higher energy (especially 140 keV) would be better for diagnosing IA than lower energies. Together with size of pGGNs, the diagnostic capacity of IA could be better. PMID:29312701

Mercury species in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues after exposure to methyl mercury: Correlation with autoimmune parameters during and after treatment in susceptible mice

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

Havarinasab, Said; Bjoern, Erik; Nielsen, Jesper B.

2007-05-15

Methylmercury (MeHg) is present in the environment as a result of the global cycling of mercury, although anthropogenic sources may dramatically increase the availability in confined geographical areas. Accumulation of MeHg in the aquatic food chain is the dominating way of exposure in mammals, which accumulate MeHg in all organs, including Brain. Demethylation has been described in the organs, especially in phagocytic cells, but mainly in the flora of the intestinal tract. While most of the inorganic mercury (Hg{sup 2+}) formed in the intestine is excreted, a fraction is reabsorbed which together with the local demethylation increases the organ Hg{supmore » 2+} concentration. MeHg is a well-known immunosuppressive agent, while Hg{sup 2+} is associated with immunostimulation and autoimmunity especially in genetically susceptible rodents, creating a syndrome, i.e. mercury-induced autoimmunity (HgIA). This study aimed at exploring the effect of MeHg with regard to HgIA, and especially the immunological events after stopping treatment, correlated with the presence of MeHg and Hg{sup 2+} in the organs. Treatment of A.SW mice for 30 days with 4.2 mg MeHg/L drinking water (corresponding to approximately 420 {mu}g Hg/kg body weight/day) caused all the HgIA features observed after primary treatment with inorganic Hg, except systemic immune complex deposits. The total Hg concentration was 5-fold higher in the kidneys as compared with lymph nodes, but the fraction of Hg{sup 2+} was similar (17-20%). After stopping treatment, the renal and lymph node MeHg concentration declined according to first order kinetics during the initial 4-6 weeks, but then slower. A similar decline in the organ Hg{sup 2+} concentration occurred during the initial 2 weeks after stopping treatment but then ceased, causing the Hg{sup 2+} concentration to exceed that of MeHg in the lymph nodes and kidneys after 3 and 8 weeks, respectively. The selective increase in lymph node Hg{sup 2+} fraction is likely to be due to demethylation of MeHg in the macrophage-rich lymphoid tissue. The major autoantibody in HgIA, anti-fibrillarin antibodies, tended to increase during the initial 6 weeks after stopping treatment, while all other HgIA features including antichromatin antibodies declined to control levels after 2-4 weeks. This indicates differences in either dose requirement or induction mechanisms for the different HgIA parameters. The selective accumulation of Hg{sup 2+} in lymph nodes following MeHg treatment should be taken into account when the effect of MeHg on the immune system is evaluated.« less

Mapping Calcium Rich Ejecta in Two Type Ia Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fesen, Robert

2016-10-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are thermonuclear explosions of white dwarfs (WDs) in close binary systems with either a non-degenerate or WD companion. SN Ia explosion computations are quite challenging, involving a complex interplay of turbulent hydrodynamics, nuclear burning, conduction, radiative transfer in iron-group rich material and possibly magnetic fields leading to significant uncertainties. Several key questions about expansion asymmetries and the overall characteristics of SNe Ia could be resolved if one could obtain direct observations of the internal kinematics and elemental distributions of young SN Ia remnants.We propose to use WFC3/UVIS to obtain images of the normal Type Ia supernova remnant 0519-69.0 and the overluminous Type Ia supernova remnant 0509-67.5 in the LMC. The Ca II on-band F390M filter and off-band F336W and FQ422M filters will be used to determine the spatial extent and density distributions of the Ca-rich ejecta via resonance line absorption. Differences in the observed on and off band Ca II fluxes for LMC stars located behind these young 400 - 600 yr old remnants will yield calcium column density estimates for multiple lines-of-sight within these remnants. These results will be compared to the calcium distribution seen in SN 1885, a subluminous SN Ia in M31, already imaged by HST.The resulting calcium density distribution maps for both a normal and overluminous SN Ia events will provide powerful insights regarding the structure and kinematics of calcium-rich ejecta in three different type Ia subclass events, and unique empirical data with which to test current SN Ia explosion models.

Predicting interatrial septum rotation: is the position of the heart or the direction of the coronary sinus reliable?: Implications for interventional electrophysiologists from CT studies.

PubMed

Sun, Huan; Wang, Yanjing; Zhang, Zhenming; Liu, Lin; Yang, Ping

2015-04-01

Determining the location of the interatrial septum (IAS) is crucial for cardiac electrophysiology procedures. Empirical methods of predicting IAS orientation depend on anatomical landmarks, including determining it from the direction of the coronary sinus (CS) and the position of the heart (e.g., vertical or transverse). However, the reliability of these methods for predicting IAS rotation warrants further study. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical utility of the relationship between IAS orientation, CS direction, and heart position. Data from 115 patients undergoing coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography with no evidence of cardiac structural disease were collected and analyzed. Angulations describing IAS orientation, CS direction, and heart position were measured. The relationships between IAS orientation and each of the other two parameters were subsequently analyzed. The mean angulations for IAS orientation, CS direction, and heart position were 36.8 ± 7.3° (range 19.1-53.6), 37.7 ± 6.6° (range 21.3-50.1), and 37.1 ± 8.3° (range 19.2-61.0), respectively. We found a significant correlation between IAS orientation and CS direction (r = 0.928; P < 0.01), and the linear regression equation was drawn: IAS orientation = 2.01 + 1.03 × CS direction (r(2) = 0.86). No correlation was observed between IAS orientation and heart position (P = 0.86). In patients without structural heart disease, CS direction may be a reliable predictor of IAS orientation, and may serve as a helpful reference for clinicians during invasive electrophysiological procedures. Further study is warranted to clarify the relationship between IAS orientation and heart position. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Investigating the impact of a health game on implicit attitudes towards food and food choice behaviour of young adults.

PubMed

Alblas, Eva; Folkvord, Frans; Anschütz, Doeschka J; van 't Riet, Jonathan; Granic, Isabela; Ketelaar, Paul; Buijzen, Moniek

2018-05-25

Improving diets by stimulating fruit and vegetable consumption might be beneficial, in particular when they substitute energy-dense products. The aim of present study was to investigate whether a health game can be used to positively affect healthy implicit attitudes (IAs) towards food and subsequent food choice behaviour of young adults. A 2 (Time: baseline vs. post-test) x 2 (Condition: health game vs. control game) x 2 (Baseline IAs: healthy IAs vs. less healthy IAs) mixed-subjects design was used with 125 participants (age: M = 20.17, SD = 1.88). IAs towards food were assessed at baseline and post-test using an Implicit Association Test (IAT). Additionally, food choice behaviour was assessed after game play. At baseline, the majority of participants had healthy IAs (i.e., favouring fruit over chocolate snacks). At post-test, significantly less healthy IAs were observed in the control condition, while this reduction was not significant in the health game condition. Regarding food choice behaviour, participants with healthy baseline IAs were more likely to select fruit in the health game condition than participants with healthy baseline IAs in the control game condition. However, participants with less healthy baseline IAs were less likely to select fruit in the health game condition than in the control condition. We found tentative support that health games can be used to influence IAs towards food and positively affect food choice behaviour. However, this influence was only observed for those with healthy baseline IAs. The current version of the health game would primarily benefit those already healthy and could negatively affect those that need the intervention most, so modifications are recommendable. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The information architecture of behavior change websites.

PubMed

Danaher, Brian G; McKay, H Garth; Seeley, John R

2005-05-18

The extraordinary growth in Internet use offers researchers important new opportunities to identify and test new ways to deliver effective behavior change programs. The information architecture (IA)-the structure of website information--is an important but often overlooked factor to consider when adapting behavioral strategies developed in office-based settings for Web delivery. Using examples and relevant perspectives from multiple disciplines, we describe a continuum of website IA designs ranging from a matrix design to the tunnel design. The free-form matrix IA design allows users free rein to use multiple hyperlinks to explore available content according to their idiosyncratic interests. The more directive tunnel IA design (commonly used in e-learning courses) guides users step-by-step through a series of Web pages that are arranged in a particular order to improve the chances of achieving a goal that is measurable and consistent. Other IA designs are also discussed, including hierarchical IA and hybrid IA designs. In the hierarchical IA design, program content is arranged in a top-down manner, which helps the user find content of interest. The more complex hybrid IA design incorporates some combination of components that use matrix, tunnel, and/or hierarchical IA designs. Each of these IA designs is discussed in terms of usability, participant engagement, and program tailoring, as well as how they might best be matched with different behavior change goals (using Web-based smoking cessation interventions as examples). Our presentation underscores the role of considering and clearly reporting the use of IA designs when creating effective Web-based interventions. We also encourage the adoption of a multidisciplinary perspective as we move towards a more mature view of Internet intervention research.

Impulsivity in borderline personality disorder: a matter of disturbed impulse control or a facet of emotional dysregulation?

PubMed

Sebastian, Alexandra; Jacob, Gitta; Lieb, Klaus; Tüscher, Oliver

2013-02-01

Impulsivity is regarded as a clinical, diagnostic and pathophysiological hallmark of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Self-report measures of impulsivity consistently support the notion of higher impulsive traits in BPD patients as compared to healthy control subjects. Laboratory tests of impulsivity, i.e. neuropsychological tests of impulse control render weak and inconsistent results both across different cognitive components of impulse control and within the same cognitive component of impulse control. One important factor worsening impulsive behaviors and impulse control deficits in BPD is comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, emotional dysregulation interacts with impulse control especially for BPD salient emotions. In sum, although basic mechanisms of impulse control seem not to be disturbed in BPD, clinically well observed impulsive behaviors may be explained by comorbid ADHD or may be the consequence of dysregulation of BPD salient emotions.

Identification of Unique Antigenic Determinants in the Amino Terminus of IA-2 (ICA512) in Childhood and Adult Autoimmune Diabetes: New Biomarker Development.

PubMed

Acevedo-Calado, Maria; James, Eddie A; Morran, Michael P; Pietropaolo, Susan L; Ouyang, Qin; Arribas-Layton, David; Songini, Marco; Liguori, Marco; Casu, Anna; Auchus, Richard J; Huang, Shuai; Yu, Liping; Michels, Aaron; Gianani, Roberto; Pietropaolo, Massimo

2017-04-01

The characterization of diverse subtypes of diabetes is a dynamic field of clinical research and an active area of discussion. The objective of this study was to identify new antigenic determinants in the neuroendocrine autoantigen IA-2 (ICA512) and assess whether circulating autoantibodies directed to new IA-2 epitopes identify autoimmune diabetes in young and adult populations with diabetes. Clinically diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes ( n = 258; diabetes duration: 0.01-31 years) were evaluated using a new biomarker detecting autoantibodies directed to the extracellular domain of the neuroendocrine autoantigen IA-2 (IA-2ec). The proportion of IA-2ec autoantibodies was also evaluated in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes ( n = 150; diabetes duration: 0.04-0.49 years). In addition, IA-2 (intracellular domain), GAD65, and zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies were assayed. IA-2ec autoantibodies were detected in patients with type 1 diabetes and, surprisingly, in 5% of patients with type 2 diabetes without serologic responses to other IA-2 antigenic epitopes or other islet autoantigens. We also assessed the ability of IA-2ec-derived peptides to elicit CD4 + T-cell responses by stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with type 1 diabetes ( n = 18) and HLA-matched healthy subjects ( n = 13) with peptides and staining with the peptide/DQ8-specific tetramers, observing disease-associated responses to previously unreported epitopes within IA-2ec. We developed a new antibody biomarker identifying novel antigenic determinants within the N terminus of IA-2. IA-2ec autoantibodies can be detected in patients with type 1 diabetes and in a subgroup of adult autoimmune patients with type 2 diabetes phenotype negative for conventional islet autoantibody testing. These observations suggest that islet autoimmunity may be more common in clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes than previously observed. © 2017 by the American Diabetes Association.

A follow-up study of neonatal interatrial shunt with echocardiography until twelve to fifteen months of age.

PubMed

Ho, Chi-Lin; Jan, Sheng-Ling; Lin, Ming-Chih; Fu, Yun-Ching

2008-12-01

To assess the incidence and natural history of full-term neonates with interatrial shunt (IAS). A follow-up study of 1389 neonates who received screening echocardiography between 2003 and 2006. Babies with IAS at 2 to 4 days of life underwent follow-up echocardiography at 2 to 4 months, 6 to 9 months and 12 to 15 months of age until closure of IAS. The ratio of IAS was 68.3% initially. No significant demographic differences were identified between infants with and without initial IAS. Among 949 neonates with initial IAS, 84.5% infants had a left-to-right interatrial shunt, 13.5% had bidirectional shunt and 2% had predominantly right-to-left shunt. The persistence rate of IAS at 12 to 15 months of age was 3.8% (44/1166). The initial size of IAS ranged from 1.2 to 7.7mm (4.3+/-1.1 mm) detected by color Doppler flow mapping and cases were divided into three groups: small (< or =5 mm), medium (5 to 8 mm) and large group (> or =8 mm). There were 74.6% infants in the small group and 25.4% in the medium group initially. The neonates in the initial small group would always see their IAS close or else they would remain in the small group. Those in the final medium and large size groups always came from the initial medium group. The late closure rate of IAS was 93.9% of infants with initial IAS. The closure curves of initial small and medium sized groups were significantly different, and their late closure rates were 95.1% and 90.4%, respectively. IAS was very common during early neonatal stage, but most cases would close after 1 year. The late closure rate of initial IAS was different if using a cutpoint of 5 mm.

Internet use patterns and Internet addiction in children and adolescents with obesity.

PubMed

Bozkurt, H; Özer, S; Şahin, S; Sönmezgöz, E

2018-05-01

There are no data regarding the Internet addiction (IA) rates and patterns in youth with obesity. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and patterns of IA in children and adolescents with obesity. The relationship between IA and body mass index (BMI) was also investigated. Study includes 437 children and adolescents with age ranging from 8 to 17 years: 268 with obesity and 169 with healthy controls. The Internet addiction scale (IAS) form was administered to all participants. The obesity group also completed a personal information form including Internet usage habits and goals. Linear regression analysis was utilized to assess the contributions of Internet use habits and goals to BMI in the obesity group and IAS scores to BMI in both groups. A total of 24.6% of the obese children and adolescents were diagnosed with IA according to IAS, while 11.2% of healthy peers had IA (p < 0.05). The mean IAS scores for the obesity group and the control group were 53.71 ± 25.04 and 43.42 ± 17.36, respectively (p < 0.05). The IAS scores (t = 3.105) and spending time more than 21 h week -1 on the Internet (t = 3.262) were significantly associated with increased BMI in the obesity group (p < 0.05). Other Internet habits and goals were not associated with BMI (p > 0.05). The IAS scores (t = 8.719) were also found to be associated with increased BMI in the control group (p < 0.05). The present study suggests that obese children and adolescents were found to have higher IA rates than their healthy peers, and the results indicate an association between IA and BMI. © 2017 World Obesity Federation.

Modified LaRC(TM)-IA Polyimides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

St. Clair, Terry L.; Chang, Alice C.; Hou, Tan H.; Working, Dennis C.

1994-01-01

Modified versions of thermoplastic polyimide LaRC(TM)-IA incorporate various amounts of additional, rigid moieties into backbones of LaRC(TM)-IA molecules. Modified versions more resistant to solvents and exhibit higher glass-transition temperatures, yet retain melt-flow processability of unmodified LaRC(TM)-IA.

75 FR 23581 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Emmetsburg, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-04

...-1153; Airspace Docket No. 09-ACE-13] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Emmetsburg, IA AGENCY: Federal... Emmetsburg, IA, adding additional controlled airspace to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Emmetsburg Municipal Airport, Emmetsburg, IA. The FAA is taking...

77 FR 4459 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Greenfield, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-30

...-0846; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-18] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Greenfield, IA AGENCY: Federal... Greenfield, IA. Decommissioning of the Greenfield non-directional beacon (NDB) at Greenfield Municipal... rulemaking to amend Class E airspace for Greenfield, IA, reconfiguring controlled airspace at Greenfield...

Rates and delay times of Type Ia supernovae in the helium-enriched main-sequence donor scenario

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zheng-Wei; Stancliffe, Richard J.

2018-04-01

The nature of the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) remains a mystery. Comparing theoretical rates and delay-time distributions of SNe Ia with those inferred observationally can constrain their progenitor models. In this work, taking thermohaline mixing into account in the helium-enriched main-sequence (HEMS) donor scenario, we address rates and delay times of SNe Ia in this channel by combining the results of self-consistent binary evolution calculations with population synthesis models. We find that the Galactic SN Ia rate from the HEMS donor scenario is around 0.6-1.2 × 10-3 yr-1, which is about 30 per cent of the observed rate. Delay times of SNe Ia in this scenario cover a wide range of 0.1-1.0 Gyr. We also present the pre-explosion properties of companion stars in the HEMS donor scenario, which will be helpful for placing constraints on SN Ia progenitors through analysing their pre-explosion images.

Genetic and Modeling Approaches Reveal Distinct Components of Impulsive Behavior

PubMed Central

Nautiyal, Katherine M; Wall, Melanie M; Wang, Shuai; Magalong, Valerie M; Ahmari, Susanne E; Balsam, Peter D; Blanco, Carlos; Hen, René

2017-01-01

Impulsivity is an endophenotype found in many psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders, pathological gambling, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Two behavioral features often considered in impulsive behavior are behavioral inhibition (impulsive action) and delayed gratification (impulsive choice). However, the extent to which these behavioral constructs represent distinct facets of behavior with discrete biological bases is unclear. To test the hypothesis that impulsive action and impulsive choice represent statistically independent behavioral constructs in mice, we collected behavioral measures of impulsivity in a single cohort of mice using well-validated operant behavioral paradigms. Mice with manipulation of serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT1BR) expression were included as a model of disordered impulsivity. A factor analysis was used to characterize correlations between the measures of impulsivity and to identify covariates. Using two approaches, we dissociated impulsive action from impulsive choice. First, the absence of 5-HT1BRs caused increased impulsive action, but not impulsive choice. Second, based on an exploratory factor analysis, a two-factor model described the data well, with measures of impulsive action and choice separating into two independent factors. A multiple-indicator multiple-causes analysis showed that 5-HT1BR expression and sex were significant covariates of impulsivity. Males displayed increased impulsivity in both dimensions, whereas 5-HT1BR expression was a predictor of increased impulsive action only. These data support the conclusion that impulsive action and impulsive choice are distinct behavioral phenotypes with dissociable biological influences that can be modeled in mice. Our work may help inform better classification, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders, which present with disordered impulsivity. PMID:27976680

The Influence of Parental Control and Parent-Child Relational Qualities on Adolescent Internet Addiction: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study in Hong Kong

PubMed Central

Shek, Daniel T. L.; Zhu, Xiaoqin; Ma, Cecilia M. S.

2018-01-01

This study investigated how parental behavioral control, parental psychological control, and parent-child relational qualities predicted the initial level and rate of change in adolescent internet addiction (IA) across the junior high school years. The study also investigated the concurrent and longitudinal effects of different parenting factors on adolescent IA. Starting from the 2009/2010 academic year, 3,328 Grade 7 students (Mage = 12.59 ± 0.74 years) from 28 randomly selected secondary schools in Hong Kong responded on a yearly basis to a questionnaire measuring multiple constructs including socio-demographic characteristics, perceived parenting characteristics, and IA. Individual growth curve (IGC) analyses showed that adolescent IA slightly decreased during junior high school years. While behavioral control of both parents was negatively related to the initial level of adolescent IA, only paternal behavioral control showed a significant positive relationship with the rate of linear change in IA, suggesting that higher paternal behavioral control predicted a slower decrease in IA. In addition, fathers' and mothers' psychological control was positively associated with the initial level of adolescent IA, but increase in maternal psychological control predicted a faster drop in IA. Finally, parent-child relational qualities negatively and positively predicted the initial level and the rate of change in IA, respectively. When all parenting factors were considered simultaneously, multiple regression analyses revealed that paternal behavioral control and psychological control as well as maternal psychological control and mother-child relational quality were significant concurrent predictors of adolescent IA at Wave 2 and Wave 3. Regarding the longitudinal predicting effects, paternal psychological control and mother-child relational quality at Wave 1 were the two most robust predictors of later adolescent IA at Wave 2 and Wave 3. The above findings underscore the importance of the parent-child subsystem qualities in influencing adolescent IA in the junior high school years. In particular, these findings shed light on the different impacts of fathering and mothering which are neglected in the scientific literature. While the findings based on the levels of IA are consistent with the existing theoretical models, findings on the rate of change are novel. PMID:29765349

The Influence of Parental Control and Parent-Child Relational Qualities on Adolescent Internet Addiction: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Shek, Daniel T L; Zhu, Xiaoqin; Ma, Cecilia M S

2018-01-01

This study investigated how parental behavioral control, parental psychological control, and parent-child relational qualities predicted the initial level and rate of change in adolescent internet addiction (IA) across the junior high school years. The study also investigated the concurrent and longitudinal effects of different parenting factors on adolescent IA. Starting from the 2009/2010 academic year, 3,328 Grade 7 students ( M age = 12.59 ± 0.74 years) from 28 randomly selected secondary schools in Hong Kong responded on a yearly basis to a questionnaire measuring multiple constructs including socio-demographic characteristics, perceived parenting characteristics, and IA. Individual growth curve (IGC) analyses showed that adolescent IA slightly decreased during junior high school years. While behavioral control of both parents was negatively related to the initial level of adolescent IA, only paternal behavioral control showed a significant positive relationship with the rate of linear change in IA, suggesting that higher paternal behavioral control predicted a slower decrease in IA. In addition, fathers' and mothers' psychological control was positively associated with the initial level of adolescent IA, but increase in maternal psychological control predicted a faster drop in IA. Finally, parent-child relational qualities negatively and positively predicted the initial level and the rate of change in IA, respectively. When all parenting factors were considered simultaneously, multiple regression analyses revealed that paternal behavioral control and psychological control as well as maternal psychological control and mother-child relational quality were significant concurrent predictors of adolescent IA at Wave 2 and Wave 3. Regarding the longitudinal predicting effects, paternal psychological control and mother-child relational quality at Wave 1 were the two most robust predictors of later adolescent IA at Wave 2 and Wave 3. The above findings underscore the importance of the parent-child subsystem qualities in influencing adolescent IA in the junior high school years. In particular, these findings shed light on the different impacts of fathering and mothering which are neglected in the scientific literature. While the findings based on the levels of IA are consistent with the existing theoretical models, findings on the rate of change are novel.

Distance measurements from supernovae and dark energy constraints

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

Wang Yun

2009-12-15

Constraints on dark energy from current observational data are sensitive to how distances are measured from Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) data. We find that flux averaging of SNe Ia can be used to test the presence of unknown systematic uncertainties, and yield more robust distance measurements from SNe Ia. We have applied this approach to the nearby+SDSS+ESSENCE+SNLS+HST set of 288 SNe Ia, and the 'Constitution' set of 397 SNe Ia. Combining the SN Ia data with cosmic microwave background anisotropy data from Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe 5 yr observations, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey baryon acoustic oscillation measurements, themore » data of 69 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) , and the Hubble constant measurement from the Hubble Space Telescope project SHOES, we measure the dark energy density function X(z){identical_to}{rho}{sub X}(z)/{rho}{sub X}(0) as a free function of redshift (assumed to be a constant at z>1 or z>1.5). Without the flux averaging of SNe Ia, the combined data using the Constitution set of SNe Ia seem to indicate a deviation from a cosmological constant at {approx}95% confidence level at 0 < or apporx. z < or approx. 0.8; they are consistent with a cosmological constant at {approx}68% confidence level when SNe Ia are flux averaged. The combined data using the nearby+SDSS+ESSENCE+SNLS+HST data set of SNe Ia are consistent with a cosmological constant at 68% confidence level with or without flux averaging of SNe Ia, and give dark energy constraints that are significantly more stringent than that using the Constitution set of SNe Ia. Assuming a flat Universe, dark energy is detected at >98% confidence level for z{<=}0.75 using the combined data with 288 SNe Ia from nearby+SDSS+ESSENCE+SNLS+HST, independent of the assumptions about X(z{>=}1). We quantify dark energy constraints without assuming a flat Universe using the dark energy figure of merit for both X(z) and a dark energy equation-of-state linear in the cosmic scale factor.« less

Morpho-functional assessment of interatrial septum: a transesophageal echocardiographic study.

PubMed

Galzerano, D; Tuccillo, B; Lama, D; Paolisso, G; Mirra, G; Giasi, M

1995-08-01

Despite the increasing number of reports on lipomatous hypertrophy of interatrial septum, a standardization of measurement of the dimensions of the interatrial septum (IAS) in the different phases of cardiac cycle has not been reported. Moreover, no data on modification of thickness with age and in specific cardiac diseases are available. Our purpose was to study whether the changes of thickness and thinning of IAS may be related to age, left atrial dimension, cardiac cycle and different cardiac diseases. 248 patients (mean age 52.7 +/- 19.9 years) underwent transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography. IAS was measured at the constant regions anterior and posterior to the fossa ovalis. IAS thickness (tk), thinning (th) and % thinning (% th) were measured. IAS thickness ranged from 4 to 13 mm at the time of ventricular end-systolic phase (mean 6.7 +/- 1.9 mm) and from 6 to 16 mm at the time of atrial systole (mean 9.9 +/- 1.8 mm); significant statistical difference between these values was found (P < 0.01). IAS thinning ranged from 1 to 7 mm (mean 3.42 +/- 1.8) while % IAS thinning from 18 to 76% (mean 36.53 +/- 16.36%). Statistical analysis showed a significant positive correlation between age and ventricular end-systolic thickness and atrial systolic thickness and thinning. An insignificant correlation was found between age and % IAS thinning and between left atrial dimension and IAS tk and th. Our results demonstrate that IAS thickness increases by age; no correlation exists between IAS thinning and age. There is no difference between IAS thickness and thinning in patients with or without cardiac disease. We believe that the thickness of IAS can be considered hypertrophic only if it exceeds the value of 15 mm during both ventricular end-systolic and atrial systolic phases of the cardiac cycle. IAS thickness and thinning might be an additional parameter to evaluate systolic atrial function particularly with regard to maintenance of synus rhythm after conversion from atrial fibrillation as well as to better understand its role in determining the filling of ventricles in different clinical conditions.

An investigation of the effects of measurement noise in the use of instantaneous angular speed for machine diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Fengshou; Yesilyurt, Isa; Li, Yuhua; Harris, Georgina; Ball, Andrew

2006-08-01

In order to discriminate small changes for early fault diagnosis of rotating machines, condition monitoring demands that the measurement of instantaneous angular speed (IAS) of the machines be as accurate as possible. This paper develops the theoretical basis and practical implementation of IAS data acquisition and IAS estimation when noise influence is included. IAS data is modelled as a frequency modulated signal of which the signal-to-noise ratio can be improved by using a high-resolution encoder. From this signal model and analysis, optimal configurations for IAS data collection are addressed for high accuracy IAS measurement. Simultaneously, a method based on analytic signal concept and fast Fourier transform is also developed for efficient and accurate estimation of IAS. Finally, a fault diagnosis is carried out on an electric induction motor driving system using IAS measurement. The diagnosis results show that using a high-resolution encoder and a long data stream can achieve noise reduction by more than 10 dB in the frequency range of interest, validating the model and algorithm developed. Moreover, the results demonstrate that IAS measurement outperforms conventional vibration in diagnosis of incipient faults of motor rotor bar defects and shaft misalignment.

Drosophila TIF-IA is required for ribosome synthesis and cell growth and is regulated by the TOR pathway.

PubMed

Grewal, Savraj S; Evans, Justin R; Edgar, Bruce A

2007-12-17

Synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a key step in ribosome biogenesis and is essential for cell growth. Few studies, however, have investigated rRNA synthesis regulation in vivo in multicellular organisms. Here, we present a genetic analysis of transcription initiation factor IA (TIF-IA), a conserved RNA polymerase I transcription factor. Drosophila melanogaster Tif-IA(-/-) mutants have reduced levels of rRNA synthesis and sustain a developmental arrest caused by a block in cellular growth. We find that the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates TIF-IA recruitment to rDNA. Furthermore, we show that the TOR pathway regulates rRNA synthesis in vivo and that TIF-IA overexpression can maintain rRNA transcription when TOR activity is reduced in developing larvae. We propose that TIF-IA acts in vivo as a downstream growth-regulatory target of the TOR pathway. Overexpression of TIF-IA also elevates levels of both 5S RNA and messenger RNAs encoding ribosomal proteins. Stimulation of rRNA synthesis by TIF-IA may therefore provide a feed-forward mechanism to coregulate the levels of other ribosome components.

Drosophila TIF-IA is required for ribosome synthesis and cell growth and is regulated by the TOR pathway

PubMed Central

Grewal, Savraj S.; Evans, Justin R.; Edgar, Bruce A.

2007-01-01

Synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a key step in ribosome biogenesis and is essential for cell growth. Few studies, however, have investigated rRNA synthesis regulation in vivo in multicellular organisms. Here, we present a genetic analysis of transcription initiation factor IA (TIF-IA), a conserved RNA polymerase I transcription factor. Drosophila melanogaster Tif-IA −/− mutants have reduced levels of rRNA synthesis and sustain a developmental arrest caused by a block in cellular growth. We find that the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates TIF-IA recruitment to rDNA. Furthermore, we show that the TOR pathway regulates rRNA synthesis in vivo and that TIF-IA overexpression can maintain rRNA transcription when TOR activity is reduced in developing larvae. We propose that TIF-IA acts in vivo as a downstream growth–regulatory target of the TOR pathway. Overexpression of TIF-IA also elevates levels of both 5S RNA and messenger RNAs encoding ribosomal proteins. Stimulation of rRNA synthesis by TIF-IA may therefore provide a feed-forward mechanism to coregulate the levels of other ribosome components. PMID:18086911

Analysis of SRM model nozzle calibration test data in support of IA12B, IA12C and IA36 space shuttle launch vehicle aerodynamics tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, L. R., Jr.; Tevepaugh, J. A.; Penny, M. M.

1973-01-01

Variations of nozzle performance characteristics of the model nozzles used in the Space Shuttle IA12B, IA12C, IA36 power-on launch vehicle test series are shown by comparison between experimental and analytical data. The experimental data are nozzle wall pressure distributions and schlieren photographs of the exhaust plume shapes. The exhaust plume shapes were simulated experimentally with cold flow while the analytical data were generated using a method-of-characteristics solution. Exhaust plume boundaries, boundary shockwave locations and nozzle wall pressure measurements calculated analytically agree favorably with the experimental data from the IA12C and IA36 test series. For the IA12B test series condensation was suspected in the exhaust plumes at the higher pressure ratios required to simulate the prototype plume shapes. Nozzle calibration tests for the series were conducted at pressure ratios where condensation either did not occur or if present did not produce a noticeable effect on the plume shapes. However, at the pressure ratios required in the power-on launch vehicle tests condensation probably occurs and could significantly affect the exhaust plume shapes.

Affected twins in the familial intracranial aneurysm study.

PubMed

Mackey, Jason; Brown, Robert D; Sauerbeck, Laura; Hornung, Richard; Moomaw, Charles J; Koller, Daniel L; Foroud, Tatiana; Deka, Ranjan; Woo, Daniel; Kleindorfer, Dawn; Flaherty, Matthew L; Meissner, Irene; Anderson, Craig; Rouleau, Guy; Connolly, E Sander; Huston, John; Broderick, Joseph P

2015-01-01

Very few cases of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in twins have been reported. Previous work has suggested that vulnerability to IA formation is heritable. Twin studies provide an opportunity to evaluate the impact of genetics on IA characteristics, including IA location. We therefore sought to examine IA location concordance, multiplicity, and rupture status within affected twin-pairs. The Familial Intracranial Aneurysm study was a multicenter study whose goal was to identify genetic and other risk factors for formation and rupture of IAs. The study required at least three affected family members or an affected sibling pair for inclusion. Subjects with fusiform aneurysms, an IA associated with an AVM, or a family history of conditions known to predispose to IA formation, such as polycystic kidney disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, fibromuscular dysplasia, or moyamoya syndrome were excluded. Twin-pairs were identified by birth date and were classified as monozygotic (MZ) or dizygotic (DZ) through DNA marker genotypes. In addition to zygosity, we evaluated twin-pairs by smoking status, major arterial territory of IAs, and rupture status. Location concordance was defined as the presence of an IA in the same arterial distribution (ICA, MCA, ACA, and vertebrobasilar), irrespective of laterality, in both members of a twin-pair. The Fisher exact test was used for comparisons between MZ and DZ twin-pairs. A total of 16 affected twin-pairs were identified. Location concordance was observed in 8 of 11 MZ twin-pairs but in only 1 of 5 DZ twin-pairs (p = 0.08). Three MZ subjects had unknown IA locations and comprised the three instances of MZ discordance. Six of the 11 MZ twin-pairs and none of the 5 DZ twin-pairs had IAs in the ICA distribution (p = 0.03). Multiple IAs were observed in 11 of 22 MZ and 5 of 10 DZ twin-pairs. Thirteen (13) of the 32 subjects had an IA rupture, including 10 of 22 MZ twins. We found that arterial location concordance was greater in MZ than DZ twins, which suggests a genetic influence upon aneurysm location. The 16 twin-pairs in the present study are nearly the total of affected twin-pairs that have been reported in the literature to date. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of genetics in the formation and rupture of IAs. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

77 FR 71362 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Decorah, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-30

...-1433; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-26] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Decorah, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Decorah, IA. Decommissioning of the Decorah non-directional... instrument approach procedures at Decorah Municipal Airport, Decorah, IA. Airspace reconfiguration is...

75 FR 23580 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Mapleton, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-04

...-1155; Airspace Docket No. 09-ACE-14] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Mapleton, IA AGENCY: Federal... Mapleton, IA, adding additional controlled airspace to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at James G. Whiting Memorial Field Airport, Mapleton, IA. The FAA is...

78 FR 47237 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Chariton, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-05

...-0255; Airspace Docket No. 13-ACE-4] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Chariton, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Chariton, IA. Decommissioning of the Chariton non... for standard instrument approach procedures at Chariton Municipal Airport, Chariton, IA. Airspace...

He-accreting carbon-oxygen white dwarfs and Type Ia supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bo; Podsiadlowski, Philipp; Han, Zhanwen

2017-12-01

He accretion on to carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO WDs) plays a fundamental role when studying the formation of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Employing the MESA stellar evolution code, we calculated the long-term evolution of He-accreting CO WDs. Previous studies usually supposed that a WD can grow in mass to the Chandrasekhar limit in the stable He burning region and finally produce an SN Ia. However, in this study, we find that off-centre carbon ignition occurs in the stable He burning region if the accretion rate is above a critical value (∼2.05 × 10-6 M⊙ yr-1), resulting in accretion-induced collapse rather than an SN Ia. If the accretion rate is below the critical value, explosive carbon ignition will eventually happen in the centre producing an SN Ia. Taking into account the possibility of off-centre carbon ignition, we have re-determined the initial parameter space that produces SNe Ia in the He star donor channel, one of the promising channels to produce SNe Ia in young populations. Since this parameter space is smaller than was found in the previous study of Wang et al. (2009), the SN Ia rates are also correspondingly smaller. We also determined the chemical abundance profile of the He-accreting WDs at the moment of explosive carbon ignition, which can be used as initial input for SN Ia explosion models.

Interference Alignment With Partial CSI Feedback in MIMO Cellular Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Xiongbin; Lau, Vincent K. N.

2014-04-01

Interference alignment (IA) is a linear precoding strategy that can achieve optimal capacity scaling at high SNR in interference networks. However, most existing IA designs require full channel state information (CSI) at the transmitters, which would lead to significant CSI signaling overhead. There are two techniques, namely CSI quantization and CSI feedback filtering, to reduce the CSI feedback overhead. In this paper, we consider IA processing with CSI feedback filtering in MIMO cellular networks. We introduce a novel metric, namely the feedback dimension, to quantify the first order CSI feedback cost associated with the CSI feedback filtering. The CSI feedback filtering poses several important challenges in IA processing. First, there is a hidden partial CSI knowledge constraint in IA precoder design which cannot be handled using conventional IA design methodology. Furthermore, existing results on the feasibility conditions of IA cannot be applied due to the partial CSI knowledge. Finally, it is very challenging to find out how much CSI feedback is actually needed to support IA processing. We shall address the above challenges and propose a new IA feasibility condition under partial CSIT knowledge in MIMO cellular networks. Based on this, we consider the CSI feedback profile design subject to the degrees of freedom requirements, and we derive closed-form trade-off results between the CSI feedback cost and IA performance in MIMO cellular networks.

The severity of Internet addiction risk and its relationship with the severity of borderline personality features, childhood traumas, dissociative experiences, depression and anxiety symptoms among Turkish university students.

PubMed

Dalbudak, Ercan; Evren, Cuneyt; Aldemir, Secil; Evren, Bilge

2014-11-30

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of Internet addiction (IA) risk with the severity of borderline personality features, childhood traumas, dissociative experiences, depression and anxiety symptoms among Turkish university students. A total of 271 Turkish university students participated in this study. The students were assessed through the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), the Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The rates of students were 19.9% (n=54) in the high IA risk group, 38.7% (n=105) in the mild IA risk group and 41.3% (n=112) in the group without IA risk. Correlation analyses revealed that the severity of IA risk was related with BPI, DES, emotional abuse, CTQ-28, depression and anxiety scores. Univariate covariance analysis (ANCOVA) indicated that the severity of borderline personality features, emotional abuse, depression and anxiety symptoms were the predictors of IAS score, while gender had no effect on IAS score. Among childhood trauma types, emotional abuse seems to be the main predictor of IA risk severity. Borderline personality features predicted the severity of IA risk together with emotional abuse, depression and anxiety symptoms among Turkish university students. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Serum inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor and matrix hyaluronan promote angiogenesis in fibrotic lung injury.

PubMed

Garantziotis, Stavros; Zudaire, Enrique; Trempus, Carol S; Hollingsworth, John W; Jiang, Dianhua; Lancaster, Lisa H; Richardson, Elizabeth; Zhuo, Lisheng; Cuttitta, Frank; Brown, Kevin K; Noble, Paul W; Kimata, Koji; Schwartz, David A

2008-11-01

The etiology and pathogenesis of angiogenesis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is poorly understood. Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (IaI) is a serum protein that can bind to hyaluronan (HA) and may contribute to the angiogenic response to tissue injury. To determine whether IaI promotes HA-mediated angiogenesis in tissue injury. An examination was undertaken of angiogenesis in IaI-sufficient and -deficient mice in the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis and in angiogenesis assays in vivo and in vitro. IaI and HA in patients with IPF were examined. IaI significantly enhances the angiogenic response to short-fragment HA in vivo and in vitro. lal deficiency Ieads to decreased angiogenesis in the matrigel model, and decreases lung angiogenesis after bleomycin exposure in mice. IaI is found in fibroblastic foci in IPF, where it colocalizes with HA. The colocalization is particularly strong in vascular areas around fibroblastic foci. Serum levels of IaI and HA are significantly elevated in patients with IPF compared with control subjects. High serum IaI and HA levels are associated with decreased lung diffusing capacity, but not FVC. Our findings indicate that serum IaI interacts with HA, and promotes angiogenesis in lung injury. IaI appears to contribute to the vascular response to lung injury and may lead to aberrant angiogenesis. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00016627).

Renal endoplasmic reticulum stress is coupled to impaired autophagy in a mouse model of GSD Ia.

PubMed

Farah, Benjamin L; Landau, Dustin J; Wu, Yajun; Sinha, Rohit A; Loh, Alwin; Bay, Boon-Huat; Koeberl, Dwight D; Yen, Paul M

2017-11-01

GSD Ia (von Gierke Disease, Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia) is a devastating genetic disorder with long-term sequelae, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and renal failure. Down-regulated autophagy is involved in the development of hepatic metabolic dysfunction in GSD Ia; however, the role of autophagy in the renal pathology is unknown. Here we show that autophagy is impaired and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is increased in the kidneys of a mouse model of GSD Ia. Induction of autophagy by rapamycin also reduces this ER stress. Taken together, these results show an additional role for autophagy down-regulation in the pathogenesis of GSD Ia, and provide further justification for the use of autophagy modulators in GSD Ia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enhanced interoceptive awareness during anticipation of public speaking is associated with fear of negative evaluation.

PubMed

Durlik, Caroline; Brown, Gary; Tsakiris, Manos

2014-04-01

Interoceptive awareness (IA)--the ability to detect internal body signals--has been linked to various aspects of emotional processing. However, it has been examined mostly as a trait variable, with few studies also investigating state dependent fluctuations in IA. Based on the known positive correlation between IA and emotional reactivity, negative affectivity, and trait anxiety, the current study examined whether IA, as indexed by heartbeat detection accuracy, would change during an anxiety-provoking situation. Participants in the experimental condition, in which they anticipated giving a speech in front of a small audience, displayed significant IA increases from baseline to anticipation. Enhancement in IA was positively correlated with fear of negative evaluation. Implications of the results are discussed in relation to the role of trait and state IA in emotional experience.

[Aortic elastic properties and its clinical significance in intracranial aneurysms].

PubMed

Pu, Zhao-xia; You, Xiang-dong; Weng, Wen-chao; Wang, Jian-an; Shi, Jian

2011-09-01

To investigate the aortic elastic properties and its clinical significance in intracranial aneurysms (IAs). One hundred and seven IAs patients (57 with hypertension) and 108 healthy subjects were recruited. The internal aortic diameters in systole and diastole were measured by the M-mode echocardiography, the aortic elasticity indexes were calculated and compared. The aortic distensibility (DIS) was lower and the aortic stiffness index (SI) was higher in IAs patients than those in controls (both P <0.001). DIS was lower and SI was higher in IAs patients with hypertension (IAs-HP) than those in IAs with no hypertension (P <0.001). Similar results were obtained when the aortic elasticity index were adjusted for body surface area and body mass index. Abnormal aortic elasticity is a common finding in IAs patients and hypertension is closely related to the severity of aortic elasticity.

Single-trial extraction of cognitive evoked potentials by combination of third-order correlation and wavelet denoising.

PubMed

Zhang, Z; Tian, X

2005-01-01

The application of a recently proposed denoising implementation for obtaining cognitive evoked potentials (CEPs) at the single-trial level is shown. The aim of this investigation is to develop the technique of extracting CEPs by combining both the third-order correlation and the wavelet denoising methods. First, the noisy CEPs was passed through a finite impulse response filter whose impulse response is matched with the shape of the noise-free signal. It was shown that it is possible to estimate the filter impulse response on basis of a select third-order correlation slice (TOCS) of the input noisy CEPs. Second, the output from the third-order correlation filter is decomposed with bi-orthogonal splines at 5 levels. The CEPs is reconstructed by wavelet final approximation a5. We study its performance in simulated data as well as in cognitive evoked potentials of normal rat and Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rat. For the simulated data, the method gives a significantly better reconstruction of the single-trial cognitive evoked potentials responses in comparison with the simulated data. Moreover, with this approach we obtain a significantly better estimation of the amplitudes and latencies of the simulated CEPs. For the real data, the method clearly improves the visualization of single-trial CEPs. This allows the calculation of better averages as well as the study of systematic or unsystematic variations between trials.

Saccadic entropy of head impulses in acute unilateral vestibular loss.

PubMed

Hsieh, Li-Chun; Lin, Hung-Ching; Lee, Guo-She

2017-10-01

To evaluate the complexity of vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) in patients with acute unilateral vestibular loss (AUVL) via entropy analysis of head impulses. Horizontal head impulse test (HIT) with high-velocity alternating directions was used to evaluate 12 participants with AUVL and 16 healthy volunteers. Wireless electro-oculography and electronic gyrometry were used to acquire eye positional signals and head velocity signals. The eye velocity signals were then obtained through differentiation, band-pass filtering. The approximate entropy of eye velocity to head velocity (R ApEn ) was used to evaluate chaos property. VOR gain, gain asymmetry ratio, and R ApEn asymmetry ratio were also used to compare the groups. For the lesion-side HIT of the patient group, the mean VOR gain was significantly lower and the mean R ApEn was significantly greater compared with both nonlesion-side HIT and healthy controls (p < 0.01, one-way analysis of variance). Both the R ApEn asymmetry ratio and gain asymmetry ratio of the AUVL group were significantly greater compared with those of the control group (p < 0.05, independent sample t test). Entropy and gain analysis of HIT using wireless electro-oculography system could be used to detect the VOR dysfunctions of AUVL and may become effective methods for evaluating vestibular disorders. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Factors associated with internet addiction among school-going adolescents in Vadodara.

PubMed

Prabhakaran, M C Anusha; Patel, V Rajvee; Ganjiwale, D Jaishree; Nimbalkar, M Somashekhar

2016-01-01

The internet is an important modern means of obtaining information and communicating with others which has converted the world into a global village. At the same time, increasing internet use among adolescents is also likely to pose a major public health concern that is internet addiction (IA). The aim was to assess the prevalence of IA among school-going adolescents and factors associated with IA. A cross-sectional study was designed to survey adolescents studying in 8th to 11th standard of five schools of Vadodara. Information regarding sociodemography and various patterns of internet use were obtained using survey forms. IA test (IAT) was used to screen for IA. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and logistic regression were done to analyze the data. Seven hundred and twenty-four participants that completed IAT were analyzed. Internet use prevalence was 98.9%. Prevalence of IA was 8.7%. Male gender, owning a personal device, hours of internet use/day, use of smartphones, permanent login status, use of internet for chatting, making online friends, shopping, watching movies, online gaming, searching information online and instant messaging were found to be associated significantly with IA in univariate analysis. Internet use for online friendships was found to be a significant predictor of IA (odds ratio [OR] =2.4), and internet use for searching information was found to be protective (OR = 0.20) against IA on logistic regression. IA is prevalent in the adolescent population and requires awareness and intervention. Characteristics of internet usage found to be associated with IA needs to be considered while developing strategies for interventions.

Role of nitric oxide in the internal anal sphincter of Hirschsprung's disease.

PubMed

Tomita, Ryouichi; Fujisaki, Shigeru; Tanjoh, Katsuhisa; Fukuzawa, Masahiro

2002-12-01

It is not clear what contribution the internal anal sphincter (IAS) makes to the impaired motility observed in patients with Hirschsprung's disease (HD). Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to be a neurotransmitter in the nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerves in the human gut. To clarify the physiologic significance of NO in the IAS of HD (aganglionosis), we investigated the enteric nerve responses on lesional (aganglionic) and normal IAS muscle strips above the dentate line. Lesional and normal IAS muscle strips above the dentate line were derived from patients with HD (10 cases) and patients who underwent rectal amputation for low rectal cancer (12 cases). A mechanographic technique was used to evaluate in vitro muscle responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) before and after treatment with various autonomic nerve blockers, N(G)-L-nitroarginine, and L-arginine. The following results were obtained: (1) Cholinergic nerves are mainly involved in the regulation of enteric nerve responses to EFS in the normal IAS. (2) The aganglionic IAS of patients with HD was more strongly innervated by cholinergic nerves than the normal IAS (p < 0.05). (3) NANC inhibitory nerves were found to act on the normal IAS but had no effect on the enteric nerves in patients with aganglionosis. (4) NO was found to act on normal IAS, but no effect was observed in the aganglionic IAS. These findings suggest that innervation of the cholinergic nerves and a loss of NO mediation of NANC inhibitory nerves play an important role in the impaired motility observed in the IAS with HD.

Factors associated with internet addiction among school-going adolescents in Vadodara

PubMed Central

Prabhakaran, M. C. Anusha; Patel, V. Rajvee; Ganjiwale, D. Jaishree; Nimbalkar, M. Somashekhar

2016-01-01

Introduction: The internet is an important modern means of obtaining information and communicating with others which has converted the world into a global village. At the same time, increasing internet use among adolescents is also likely to pose a major public health concern that is internet addiction (IA). The aim was to assess the prevalence of IA among school-going adolescents and factors associated with IA. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to survey adolescents studying in 8th to 11th standard of five schools of Vadodara. Information regarding sociodemography and various patterns of internet use were obtained using survey forms. IA test (IAT) was used to screen for IA. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and logistic regression were done to analyze the data. Results: Seven hundred and twenty-four participants that completed IAT were analyzed. Internet use prevalence was 98.9%. Prevalence of IA was 8.7%. Male gender, owning a personal device, hours of internet use/day, use of smartphones, permanent login status, use of internet for chatting, making online friends, shopping, watching movies, online gaming, searching information online and instant messaging were found to be associated significantly with IA in univariate analysis. Internet use for online friendships was found to be a significant predictor of IA (odds ratio [OR] =2.4), and internet use for searching information was found to be protective (OR = 0.20) against IA on logistic regression. Conclusions: IA is prevalent in the adolescent population and requires awareness and intervention. Characteristics of internet usage found to be associated with IA needs to be considered while developing strategies for interventions. PMID:28348987

Analysis of Radiation Effects in Digital Subtraction Angiography of Intracranial Artery Stenosis.

PubMed

Guo, Chaoqun; Shi, Xiaolei; Ding, Xianhui; Zhou, Zhiming

2018-04-21

Intracranial artery stenosis (IAS) is the most common cause for acute cerebral accidents. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard to detect IAS and usually brings excess radiation exposure to examinees and examiners. The artery pathology might influence the interventional procedure, causing prolonged radiation effects. However, no studies on the association between IAS pathology and operational parameters are available. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 93 patients with first-ever stroke/transient ischemic attack, who received DSA examination within 3 months from onset in this single center. Comparison of baseline characteristics was determined by 2-tailed Student's t-test or the chi-square test between subjects with and without IAS. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between IAS pathology and the items with a P value <0.05 in Student's t-test or chi-square test. There were 93 candidates (42 with IAS and 51 without IAS) in this study. The 2 groups shared no significance of the baseline characteristics (P > 0.05). We found a significantly higher total time, higher kerma area product, greater total dose, and greater DSA dose in the IAS group than in those without IAS (P < 0.05). A binary logistic regression analysis indicated the significant association between total time and IAS pathology (P < 0.05) but no significance in kerma area product, radiation dose, and DSA dose (P > 0.05). IAS pathology would indicate a prolonged total time of DSA procedure in clinical practice. However, the radiation effects would not change with pathologic changes. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Understanding Coronal Heating through Time-Series Analysis and Nanoflare Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romich, Kristine; Viall, Nicholeen

2018-01-01

Periodic intensity fluctuations in coronal loops, a signature of temperature evolution, have been observed using the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) aboard NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft. We examine the proposal that nanoflares, or impulsive bursts of energy release in the solar atmosphere, are responsible for the intensity fluctuations as well as the megakelvin-scale temperatures observed in the corona. Drawing on the work of Cargill (2014) and Bradshaw & Viall (2016), we develop a computer model of the energy released by a sequence of nanoflare events in a single magnetic flux tube. We then use EBTEL (Enthalpy-Based Thermal Evolution of Loops), a hydrodynamic model of plasma response to energy input, to simulate intensity as a function of time across the coronal AIA channels. We test the EBTEL output for periodicities using a spectral code based on Mann and Lees’ (1996) multitaper method and present preliminary results here. Our ultimate goal is to establish whether quasi-continuous or impulsive energy bursts better approximate the original SDO data.

Novel Approach on the Optimisation of Mid-Course Corrections Along Interplanetary Trajectories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iorfida, Elisabetta; Palmer, Phil; Roberts, Mark

The primer vector theory, firstly proposed by Lawden, defines a set of necessary conditions to characterise whether an impulsive thrust trajectory is optimal with respect to propellant usage, within a two-body problem context. If the conditions are not satisfied, one or more potential intermediate impulses are performed along the transfer arc, in order to lower the overall cost. The method is based on the propagation of the state transition matrix and on the solution of a boundary value problem, which leads to a mathematical and computational complexity.In this paper, a different approach is introduced. It is based on a polar coordinates transformation of the primer vector which allows the decoupling between its in-plane and out-of-plane components. The out-of-plane component is solved analytically while for the in-plane ones a Hamiltonian approximation is made.The novel procedure reduces the mathematical complexity and the computational cost of Lawden's problem and gives also a different perspective about the optimisation of a transfer trajectory.

The linear interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic noises ensures a high accuracy of cell fate selection in budding yeast

PubMed Central

Li, Yongkai; Yi, Ming; Zou, Xiufen

2014-01-01

To gain insights into the mechanisms of cell fate decision in a noisy environment, the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic noises on cell fate are explored at the single cell level. Specifically, we theoretically define the impulse of Cln1/2 as an indication of cell fates. The strong dependence between the impulse of Cln1/2 and cell fates is exhibited. Based on the simulation results, we illustrate that increasing intrinsic fluctuations causes the parallel shift of the separation ratio of Whi5P but that increasing extrinsic fluctuations leads to the mixture of different cell fates. Our quantitative study also suggests that the strengths of intrinsic and extrinsic noises around an approximate linear model can ensure a high accuracy of cell fate selection. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the selection of cell fates is an entropy-decreasing process. In addition, we reveal that cell fates are significantly correlated with the range of entropy decreases. PMID:25042292

Long life monopropellant hydrazine thruster evaluation for Space Station Freedom application - Test results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Popp, Christopher G.; Cook, Joseph C.; Ragland, Brenda L.; Pate, Leah R.

1992-01-01

In support of propulsion system thruster development activity for Space Station Freedom (SSF), NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) conducted a hydrazine thruster technology demonstration program. The goal of this program was to identify impulse life capability of state-of-the-art long life hydrazine thrusters nominally rated for 50 pounds thrust at 300 psia supply pressure. The SSF propulsion system requirement for impulse life of this thruster class is 1.5 million pounds-seconds, corresponding to a throughput of approximately 6400 pounds of propellant. Long life thrusters were procured from The Marquardt Company, Hamilton Standard, and Rocket Research Company, Testing at JSC was completed on the thruster designs to quantify life while simulating expected thruster firing duty cycles and durations for SSF. This paper presents a review of the SSF propulsion system hydrazine thruster requirements, summaries of the three long life thruster designs procured by JSC and acceptance test results for each thruster, the JSC thruster life evaluation test program, and the results of the JSC test program.

Establishment and application of the estimation model for pollutant concentrfation in agriculture drain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qiangkun; Hu, Yawei; Jia, Qian; Song, Changji

2018-02-01

It is the key point of quantitative research on agricultural non-point source pollution load, the estimation of pollutant concentration in agricultural drain. In the guidance of uncertainty theory, the synthesis of fertilization and irrigation is used as an impulse input to the farmland, meanwhile, the pollutant concentration in agricultural drain is looked as the response process corresponding to the impulse input. The migration and transformation of pollutant in soil is expressed by Inverse Gaussian Probability Density Function. The law of pollutants migration and transformation in soil at crop different growth periods is reflected by adjusting parameters of Inverse Gaussian Distribution. Based on above, the estimation model for pollutant concentration in agricultural drain at field scale was constructed. Taking the of Qing Tong Xia Irrigation District in Ningxia as an example, the concentration of nitrate nitrogen and total phosphorus in agricultural drain was simulated by this model. The results show that the simulated results accorded with measured data approximately and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients were 0.972 and 0.964, respectively.

78 FR 18800 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Decorah, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-28

...-1433; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-26] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Decorah, IA AGENCY: Federal... Decorah, IA. Decommissioning of the Decorah non-directional beacon (NDB) at Decorah Municipal Airport has... Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the Decorah, IA, area...

77 FR 68682 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Guthrie, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-16

...-1436; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-29] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Guthrie, IA AGENCY: Federal... Guthrie, IA. Decommissioning of the Guthrie Center non-directional radio beacon (NDB) at Guthrie County... proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the Guthrie, IA, area, creating additional...

75 FR 13668 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Cedar Rapids, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-23

...-0916; Airspace Docket No. 09-ACE-12] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Cedar Rapids, IA AGENCY: Federal... Cedar Rapids, IA, to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at The Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids, IA. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety...

76 FR 53356 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Greenfield, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

...-0846; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-18] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Greenfield, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Greenfield, IA. Decommissioning of the Greenfield non-directional beacon (NDB) at Greenfield Municipal Airport, Greenfield, IA, has made this action necessary for...

76 FR 75447 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Centerville, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-02

...-0830; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-16] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Centerville, IA AGENCY: Federal... Centerville, IA. Decommissioning of the Centerville non-directional beacon (NDB) and cancellation of the NDB... Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Class E airspace for the Centerville, IA, area...

77 FR 66069 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Perry, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-01

...-1435; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-28] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Perry, IA AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Perry, IA... proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the Perry, IA, area, creating additional...

76 FR 53358 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Centerville, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

...-0830; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-16] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Centerville, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Centerville, IA. Decommissioning of the Centerville non... Centerville Municipal Airport, Centerville, IA. Decommissioning of the Centerville NDB and cancellation of the...

76 FR 53360 - Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Stuart, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

...-0831; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-17] Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Stuart, IA AGENCY... action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Stuart, IA. Controlled airspace is necessary to... surface for new standard instrument approach procedures at the City of Stuart Helistop, Stuart, IA...

77 FR 42427 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Grinnell, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-19

...-1430; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-23] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Grinnell, IA AGENCY: Federal... Class E airspace at Grinnell Regional Airport, Grinnell, IA, by removing reference to the Grinnell NDB... Regional Airport, Grinnell, IA, and amends the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the...

78 FR 48840 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hampton, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-12

...-0585; Airspace Docket No. 13-ACE-7] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hampton, IA AGENCY: Federal... proposes to amend Class E airspace at Hampton, IA. Decommissioning of the Hampton non-directional beacon... for standard instrument approach procedures at Hampton Municipal Airport, Hampton, IA. A segment would...

75 FR 37292 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Cherokee, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-29

...-0085; Airspace Docket No. 10-ACE-1] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Cherokee, IA AGENCY: Federal... Cherokee, IA. Decommissioning of the Pilot Rock non-directional beacon (NDB) at Cherokee County Regional Airport, Cherokee, IA has made this action necessary to enhance the safety and management of Instrument...

77 FR 45987 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Guthrie, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-02

...-1436; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-29] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Guthrie, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Guthrie, IA. Decommissioning of the Guthrie Center non-directional radio beacon (NDB) at Guthrie County Regional Airport, Guthrie, IA, has made this action necessary...

76 FR 73501 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carroll, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-29

...-0845; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-19] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carroll, IA AGENCY: Federal... Carroll, IA. Decommissioning of the Carroll non-directional beacon (NDB) at Arthur N. Neu Airport, Carroll, IA, has made this action necessary to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule...

78 FR 76053 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Chariton, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-16

...-0255; Airspace Docket No. 13-ACE-4] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Chariton, IA AGENCY: Federal... Chariton, IA. Decommissioning of the Chariton non-directional beacon (NDB) at Chariton Municipal Airport... Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the Chariton, IA, area...

77 FR 66067 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Boone, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-01

...-1432; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-25] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Boone, IA AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Boone, IA... proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the Boone, IA, area, creating additional...

40 CFR Appendix B to Part 300 - National Priorities List

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... HI Del Monte Corp. (Oahu Plantation) Honolulu County P IA Des Moines TCE Des Moines IA Electro... Peoples Natural Gas Co Dubuque IA Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination Des Moines IA Shaw Avenue Dump... Control, Inc Rockford IL Jennison-Wright Corporation Granite City IL Johns-Manville Corp Waukegan C IL...

40 CFR Appendix B to Part 300 - National Priorities List

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Ordot Landfill Guam S HI Del Monte Corp. (Oahu Plantation) Honolulu County P IA Des Moines TCE Des... Kellogg IA Peoples Natural Gas Co Dubuque IA Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination Des Moines IA Shaw... Danville IL Indian Refinery—Texaco Lawrenceville Lawrenceville IL Interstate Pollution Control, Inc...

The effect of background galaxy contamination on the absolute magnitude and light curve speed class of type Ia supernovae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boisseau, John R.; Wheeler, J. Craig

1991-01-01

Observational data are presented in support of the hypothesis that background galaxy contamination is present in the photometric data of Ia supernovae and that this effect can account for the observed dispersion in the light curve speeds of most of Ia supernovae. The implication is that the observed dispersion in beta is artificial and that most of Ia supernovae have nearly homogeneous light curves. The result supports the notion that Ia supernovae are good standard candles.

Low voltage 30cm ion thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The construction of an ion thruster module (including thruster, power conditioning, and control system) capable of operating for 10,000 hours over a five to one range at an effective specific impulse of approximately 2800 seconds is discussed. The several interrelated tasks involved in the construction of the engine are described. Performance tests of the engine and the effects of various modifications are reported. It was demonstrated that thruster performance and stability were not materially affected by reasonable changes from the nominal operating point.

Impulse Loading Resulting fromShallow Buried Explosives in Water-Saturated Sand

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

speed photographs of the associated soil cratering and ejecting phenomena. The work of Bergeron et al. [6] was subsequently extended by Braid [7] to...place, a series of water hoses is placed in pit bottom to allow the introduction of water into the pit from the bottom. Next, approximately 14.2 m3...blast. Final report for contract no. DAAK70-92-C-0058, US Army Belvoir RDEC, Ft. Belvoir, VA, 1993. 6 Bergeron, D. Hlady, S., and Braid , M. P

The Flight of Flexible Aircraft in Turbulence. State-of-the-Art in the Description and Modelling of Atmospheric Turbulence. Addendum

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

diboucher sur des direc~ives qui seront d’une grande utilit6 bora de~ t’aaboration du Manuel AGARD de Ia turbulence, dont la partition eat privue fin...1988 debut 1989. Nous tenons ii f~liciter les auteurs de P’int&&~ et de Ia valeur des exposes qui ont 6t pr~sentis lors de Ia r~union, et de Ia part du...effectu~es sous l’gide de Ia FAA et du Panel AGARD de Ia M&canique du vol. in ____4 CONUMNS Pare A(FNDF~VI~L A1~JD ~F~WAIS A~A&NLS$URE~toD AND ~iGHT

Estimation of the incubation period of invasive aspergillosis by survival models in acute myeloid leukemia patients.

PubMed

Bénet, Thomas; Voirin, Nicolas; Nicolle, Marie-Christine; Picot, Stephane; Michallet, Mauricette; Vanhems, Philippe

2013-02-01

The duration of the incubation of invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains unknown. The objective of this investigation was to estimate the time interval between aplasia onset and that of IA symptoms in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. A single-centre prospective survey (2004-2009) included all patients with AML and probable/proven IA. Parametric survival models were fitted to the distribution of the time intervals between aplasia onset and IA. Overall, 53 patients had IA after aplasia, with the median observed time interval between the two being 15 days. Based on log-normal distribution, the median estimated IA incubation period was 14.6 days (95% CI; 12.8-16.5 days).

Big five personality and adolescent Internet addiction: The mediating role of coping style.

PubMed

Zhou, Yueyue; Li, Dongping; Li, Xian; Wang, Yanhui; Zhao, Liyan

2017-01-01

This study examined the unique associations between big five personality traits and adolescent Internet addiction (IA), as well as the mediating role of coping style underlying these relations. Our theoretical model was tested with 998 adolescents. Participants provided self-report data on demographic variables, big five personality traits, coping style, and IA. After controlling for demographic variables, it was found that agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated with IA, whereas extraversion, neuroticism, and openness to experience were positively associated with IA. Mediation analyses further indicated that conscientiousness had an indirect impact on adolescent IA through decreased emotion-focused coping, whereas extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience had indirect impacts on adolescent IA through increased emotion-focused coping. In contrast, problem-focused coping had no mediating role. These findings suggest that emotion-focused coping may, in part, account for the association between big five personality and adolescent IA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

mTOR-dependent activation of the transcription factor TIF-IA links rRNA synthesis to nutrient availability.

PubMed

Mayer, Christine; Zhao, Jian; Yuan, Xuejun; Grummt, Ingrid

2004-02-15

In cycling cells, transcription of ribosomal RNA genes by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is tightly coordinated with cell growth. Here, we show that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates Pol I transcription by modulating the activity of TIF-IA, a regulatory factor that senses nutrient and growth-factor availability. Inhibition of mTOR signaling by rapamycin inactivates TIF-IA and impairs transcription-initiation complex formation. Moreover, rapamycin treatment leads to translocation of TIF-IA into the cytoplasm. Rapamycin-mediated inactivation of TIF-IA is caused by hypophosphorylation of Se 44 (S44) and hyperphosphorylation of Se 199 (S199). Phosphorylation at these sites affects TIF-IA activity in opposite ways, for example, phosphorylation of S44 activates and S199 inactivates TIF-IA. The results identify a new target formTOR-signaling pathways and elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying mTOR-dependent regulation of RNA synthesis.

75 FR 6595 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Mapleton, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-10

...-1155; Airspace Docket No. 09-ACE-14] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Mapleton, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Mapleton, IA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to..., Mapleton, IA. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules...

75 FR 6592 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Emmetsburg, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-10

...-1153; Airspace Docket No. 09-ACE-13] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Emmetsburg, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Emmetsburg, IA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary..., Emmetsburg, IA. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules...

76 FR 53353 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carroll, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

...-0845; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-19] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Carroll, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Carroll, IA. Decommissioning of the Carroll non-directional beacon (NDB) at Arthur N. Neu Airport, Carroll, IA, has made this action necessary for the safety and...

77 FR 49399 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Forest City, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-16

...-0654; Airspace Docket No. 12-ACE-3] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Forest City, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Forest City, IA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary... accommodate new standard instrument approach procedures at Forest City Municipal Airport, Forest City, IA. The...

78 FR 18798 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; West Union, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-28

...-1434; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-27] Amendment of Class E Airspace; West Union, IA AGENCY: Federal... West Union, IA. Decommissioning of the West Union non-directional beacon (NDB) at George L. Scott... Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the West Union, IA...

75 FR 47059 - Notice To Rescind Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement: Warren County, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-04

... Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement: Warren County, IA AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA... Realty Manager, FHWA Iowa Division Office, 105 Sixth Street, Ames, IA 50010, Phone 515-233-7302; or James... Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, Phone 515-239-1798. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access An...

76 FR 5472 - Establishment of Class E Airspace; New Hampton, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-01

...-1035; Airspace Docket No. 10-ACE-12] Establishment of Class E Airspace; New Hampton, IA AGENCY: Federal... at New Hampton, IA, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Mercy Medical Center Heliport, New Hampton, IA. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the...

77 FR 71361 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; West Union, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-30

...-1434; Airspace Docket No. 11-ACE-27] Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; West Union, IA AGENCY... action proposes to amend Class E airspace at West Union, IA. Decommissioning of the West Union non... instrument approach procedures at George L. Scott Municipal Airport, West Union, IA. Airspace reconfiguration...

77 FR 68683 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Forest City, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-16

...-0654; Airspace Docket No. 12-ACE-3] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Forest City, IA AGENCY: Federal... Forest City, IA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV... Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Class E airspace for the Forest City, IA...

40 CFR Appendix B to Part 300 - National Priorities List

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Des Moines TCE Des Moines IA Electro-Coatings, Inc Cedar Rapids IA Fairfield Coal Gasification Plant... Contamination Des Moines IA Shaw Avenue Dump Charles City IA Vogel Paint & Wax Co Orange City C ID Bunker Hill... Control, Inc Rockford IL Jennison-Wright Corporation Granite City IL Johns-Manville Corp Waukegan C IL...

Operational calibration and validation of landsat data continuity mission (LDCM) sensors using the image assessment system (IAS)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Micijevic, Esad; Morfitt, Ron

2010-01-01

Systematic characterization and calibration of the Landsat sensors and the assessment of image data quality are performed using the Image Assessment System (IAS). The IAS was first introduced as an element of the Landsat 7 (L7) Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) ground segment and recently extended to Landsat 4 (L4) and 5 (L5) Thematic Mappers (TM) and Multispectral Sensors (MSS) on-board the Landsat 1-5 satellites. In preparation for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), the IAS was developed for the Earth Observer 1 (EO-1) Advanced Land Imager (ALI) with a capability to assess pushbroom sensors. This paper describes the LDCM version of the IAS and how it relates to unique calibration and validation attributes of its on-board imaging sensors. The LDCM IAS system will have to handle a significantly larger number of detectors and the associated database than the previous IAS versions. An additional challenge is that the LDCM IAS must handle data from two sensors, as the LDCM products will combine the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) spectral bands.

Roles of Asp179 and Glu270 in ADP-Ribosylation of Actin by Clostridium perfringens Iota Toxin

PubMed Central

Belyy, Alexander; Tabakova, Irina; Lang, Alexander E.; Jank, Thomas; Belyi, Yury; Aktories, Klaus

2015-01-01

Clostridium perfringens iota toxin is a binary toxin composed of the enzymatically active component Ia and receptor binding component Ib. Ia is an ADP-ribosyltransferase, which modifies Arg177 of actin. The previously determined crystal structure of the actin-Ia complex suggested involvement of Asp179 of actin in the ADP-ribosylation reaction. To gain more insights into the structural requirements of actin to serve as a substrate for toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation, we engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, in which wild type actin was replaced by actin variants with substitutions in residues located on the Ia-actin interface. Expression of the actin mutant Arg177Lys resulted in complete resistance towards Ia. Actin mutation of Asp179 did not change Ia-induced ADP-ribosylation and growth inhibition of S. cerevisiae. By contrast, substitution of Glu270 of actin inhibited the toxic action of Ia and the ADP-ribosylation of actin. In vitro transcribed/translated human β-actin confirmed the crucial role of Glu270 in ADP-ribosylation of actin by Ia. PMID:26713879

Relationships between major epitopes of the IA-2 autoantigen in Type 1 diabetes: Implications for determinant spreading.

PubMed

McLaughlin, Kerry A; Richardson, Carolyn C; Williams, Stefan; Bonifacio, Ezio; Morgan, Diana; Feltbower, Richard G; Powell, Michael; Rees Smith, Bernard; Furmaniak, Jadwiga; Christie, Michael R

2015-10-01

Diversification of autoimmunity to islet autoantigens is critical for progression to Type 1 diabetes. B-cells participate in diversification by modifying antigen processing, thereby influencing which peptides are presented to T-cells. In Type 1 diabetes, JM antibodies are associated with T-cell responses to PTP domain peptides. We investigated whether this is the consequence of close structural alignment of JM and PTP domain determinants on IA-2. Fab fragments of IA-2 antibodies with epitopes mapped to the JM domain blocked IA-2 binding of antibodies that recognise epitopes in the IA-2 PTP domain. Peptides from both the JM and PTP domains were protected from degradation during proteolysis of JM antibody:IA-2 complexes and included those representing major T-cell determinants in Type 1 diabetes. The results demonstrate close structural relationships between JM and PTP domain epitopes on IA-2. Stabilisation of PTP domain peptides during proteolysis in JM-specific B-cells may explain determinant spreading in IA-2 autoimmunity. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

CSI Feedback Reduction for MIMO Interference Alignment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Xiongbin; Ruan, Liangzhong; Lau, Vincent K. N.

2013-09-01

Interference alignment (IA) is a linear precoding strategy that can achieve optimal capacity scaling at high SNR in interference networks. Most of the existing IA designs require full channel state information (CSI) at the transmitters, which induces a huge CSI signaling cost. Hence it is desirable to improve the feedback efficiency for IA and in this paper, we propose a novel IA scheme with a significantly reduced CSI feedback. To quantify the CSI feedback cost, we introduce a novel metric, namely the feedback dimension. This metric serves as a first-order measurement of CSI feedback overhead. Due to the partial CSI feedback constraint, conventional IA schemes can not be applied and hence, we develop a novel IA precoder / decorrelator design and establish new IA feasibility conditions. Via dynamic feedback profile design, the proposed IA scheme can also achieve a flexible tradeoff between the degree of freedom (DoF) requirements for data streams, the antenna resources and the CSI feedback cost. We show by analysis and simulations that the proposed scheme achieves substantial reductions of CSI feedback overhead under the same DoF requirement in MIMO interference networks.

Multiple interactions between RNA polymerase I, TIF-IA and TAF(I) subunits regulate preinitiation complex assembly at the ribosomal gene promoter.

PubMed

Yuan, Xuejun; Zhao, Jian; Zentgraf, Hanswalter; Hoffmann-Rohrer, Urs; Grummt, Ingrid

2002-11-01

In mammals, growth-dependent regulation of rRNA synthesis is brought about by the transcription initiation factor TIF-IA. TIF-IA is associated with a fraction of the TBP-containing factor TIF-IB/SL1 and the initiation-competent form of RNA polymerase I (Pol I). We investigated the mechanisms that down-regulate cellular pre-rRNA synthesis and demonstrate that nutrient starvation, density arrest and protein synthesis inhibitors inactivate TIF-IA and impair the association of TIF-IA with Pol I. Moreover, we used a panel of TIF-IA deletion mutants to map the domains that mediate the interaction of TIF-IA with Pol I and TIF-IB/SL1. We found that amino acids 512-609 interact with two subunits of Pol I, RPA43 and PAF67, whereas a short, conserved motif (LARAK, amino acids 411-415) is required for the association of TIF-IA with TAF(I)95 and TAF(I)68. The results uncover an interphase for essential protein-protein interactions that facilitate Pol I preinitiation complex formation.

THE TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA RATE IN RADIO AND INFRARED GALAXIES FROM THE CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII TELESCOPE SUPERNOVA LEGACY SURVEY

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

Graham, M. L.; Pritchet, C. J.; Balam, D.

2010-02-15

We have combined the large SN Ia database of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Supernova Legacy Survey and catalogs of galaxies with photometric redshifts, Very Large Array 1.4 GHz radio sources, and Spitzer infrared sources. We present eight SNe Ia in early-type host galaxies which have counterparts in the radio and infrared source catalogs. We find the SN Ia rate in subsets of radio and infrared early-type galaxies is {approx}1-5 times the rate in all early-type galaxies, and that any enhancement is always {approx}<2{sigma}. Rates in these subsets are consistent with predictions of the two-component 'A+B' SN Ia rate model. Since infraredmore » properties of radio SN Ia hosts indicate dust-obscured star formation, we incorporate infrared star formation rates into the 'A+B' model. We also show the properties of SNe Ia in radio and infrared galaxies suggest the hosts contain dust and support a continuum of delay time distributions (DTDs) for SNe Ia, although other DTDs cannot be ruled out based on our data.« less

Internet addiction and its correlates among high school students: a preliminary study from Ahmedabad, India.

PubMed

Yadav, Priyanka; Banwari, Girish; Parmar, Chirag; Maniar, Rajesh

2013-12-01

Internet addiction (IA) is an upcoming and less researched entity in psychiatry, especially in low and middle income countries. This is the first such effort to study IA amongst Indian school students of class 11th and 12th and to find its correlation with socio-educational characteristics, internet use patterns and psychological variables, namely depression, anxiety and stress. Six hundred and twenty one students of six English medium schools of Ahmedabad participated, of which 552 (88.9%) who completed forms were analyzed. Young's Internet Addiction Test and 21 item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale were used to measure IA and psychological variables respectively. Logistic regression analysis was applied to find the predictors of IA. Sixty-five (11.8%) students had IA; it was predicted by time spent online, usage of social networking sites and chat rooms, and also by presence of anxiety and stress. Age, gender and self-rated academic performance did not predict IA. There was a strong positive correlation between IA and depression, anxiety and stress. IA may be a relevant clinical construct, and needs extensive research even in developing nations. All high school students suffering from depression, anxiety and stress must be screened for IA, and vice versa. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dietary micronutrient intake and its relationship with arsenic metabolism in Mexican women

PubMed Central

López-Carrillo, Lizbeth; Gamboa-Loira, Brenda; Becerra, Wendy; Hernández-Alcaraz, César; Hernández-Ramírez, Raúl Ulises; Gandolfi, A. Jay; Franco-Marina, Francisco; Cebrián, Mariano E.

2017-01-01

Introduction Concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolites in urine present intra-and interindividual variations, which are determined not only by the magnitude of exposure to iAs, but also by differences in genetic, environmental and dietary factors. Objective To evaluate whether differences in dietary intake of selected micronutrients are associated with the metabolism of iAs. Methods The intake of 21 micronutrients was estimated for 1027 women living in northern Mexico using a food frequency questionnaire. Concentration of urinary metabolites of iAs was determined by high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) and the proportion of iAs metabolites was calculated (%iAs, monomethylarsonic acid [%MMA] and dimethylarsinic acid [%DMA]), as well as ratios corresponding to the first (MMA/iAs), second (DMA/MMA) and total methylation (DMA/iAs). Results After adjustment for covariates, it was found that methionine, choline, folate, vitamin B12, Zn, Se and vitamin C favor elimination of iAs mainly by decreasing the %MMA and/or increasing %DMA in urine. Conclusions Our results confirm that diet contributes to the efficiency of iAs elimination. Further studies are needed to assess the feasibility of dietary interventions that modulate the metabolism of iAs and the consequent risk of diseases related to its exposure. PMID:27565879

Global patterns in threats to vertebrates by biological invasions

PubMed Central

Bellard, C.; Genovesi, P.; Jeschke, J. M.

2016-01-01

Biological invasions as drivers of biodiversity loss have recently been challenged. Fundamentally, we must know where species that are threatened by invasive alien species (IAS) live, and the degree to which they are threatened. We report the first study linking 1372 vertebrates threatened by more than 200 IAS from the completely revised Global Invasive Species Database. New maps of the vulnerability of threatened vertebrates to IAS permit assessments of whether IAS have a major influence on biodiversity, and if so, which taxonomic groups are threatened and where they are threatened. We found that centres of IAS-threatened vertebrates are concentrated in the Americas, India, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. The areas in which IAS-threatened species are located do not fully match the current hotspots of invasions, or the current hotspots of threatened species. The relative importance of biological invasions as drivers of biodiversity loss clearly varies across regions and taxa, and changes over time, with mammals from India, Indonesia, Australia and Europe are increasingly being threatened by IAS. The chytrid fungus primarily threatens amphibians, whereas invasive mammals primarily threaten other vertebrates. The differences in IAS threats between regions and taxa can help efficiently target IAS, which is essential for achieving the Strategic Plan 2020 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. PMID:26817767

Effects of Reynolds and Womersley Numbers on the Hemodynamics of Intracranial Aneurysms.

PubMed

Asgharzadeh, Hafez; Borazjani, Iman

2016-01-01

The effects of Reynolds and Womersley numbers on the hemodynamics of two simplified intracranial aneurysms (IAs), that is, sidewall and bifurcation IAs, and a patient-specific IA are investigated using computational fluid dynamics. For this purpose, we carried out three numerical experiments for each IA with various Reynolds (Re = 145.45 to 378.79) and Womersley (Wo = 7.4 to 9.96) numbers. Although the dominant flow feature, which is the vortex ring formation, is similar for all test cases here, the propagation of the vortex ring is controlled by both Re and Wo in both simplified IAs (bifurcation and sidewall) and the patient-specific IA. The location of the vortex ring in all tested IAs is shown to be proportional to Re/Wo 2 which is in agreement with empirical formulations for the location of a vortex ring in a tank. In sidewall IAs, the oscillatory shear index is shown to increase with Wo and 1/Re because the vortex reached the distal wall later in the cycle (higher resident time). However, this trend was not observed in the bifurcation IA because the stresses were dominated by particle trapping structures, which were absent at low Re = 151.51 in contrast to higher Re = 378.79.

[Genetic dissection of intracranial aneurysm].

PubMed

Onda, Hideaki; Yoneyama, Taku; Akagawa, Hiroyuki; Kasuya, Hidetoshi

2008-11-01

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to rupture of an intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a devastating condition with high mortality and morbidity. Genetic as well as environment factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of SAH and IAs. We review the present knowledge on the genetic factors responsible for SAH or IAs. Linkage analysis and association study are used for genetic dissection. Genome-wide linkage analyses have specified several genetic loci for IAs and 6 loci (1p34-36, 7q11, 11q24-25, 14q22-31, 19q13, and Xp22) have been replicated in different populations. Numerous functional and/or positional candidate genes for IAs have been investigated by case-control association studies. The results of genetic association studies are modest because of small sample sizes. To date, no specific genes have been identified as responsible for IA development or rupture. Recent, large-scale genome-wide association (GWA) studies have revealed consistent and replicable genetic markers of several complex diseases such as coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Although, thus far, no GWA studies have been performed for IAs, such a study may accomplish the breakthrough of genetic dissection of IAs. The identification of susceptible genes might lead to the understanding of the mechanism of IA formation or rupture and to novel therapeutic strategies.

Effects of Reynolds and Womersley Numbers on the Hemodynamics of Intracranial Aneurysms

PubMed Central

Asgharzadeh, Hafez

2016-01-01

The effects of Reynolds and Womersley numbers on the hemodynamics of two simplified intracranial aneurysms (IAs), that is, sidewall and bifurcation IAs, and a patient-specific IA are investigated using computational fluid dynamics. For this purpose, we carried out three numerical experiments for each IA with various Reynolds (Re = 145.45 to 378.79) and Womersley (Wo = 7.4 to 9.96) numbers. Although the dominant flow feature, which is the vortex ring formation, is similar for all test cases here, the propagation of the vortex ring is controlled by both Re and Wo in both simplified IAs (bifurcation and sidewall) and the patient-specific IA. The location of the vortex ring in all tested IAs is shown to be proportional to Re/Wo2 which is in agreement with empirical formulations for the location of a vortex ring in a tank. In sidewall IAs, the oscillatory shear index is shown to increase with Wo and 1/Re because the vortex reached the distal wall later in the cycle (higher resident time). However, this trend was not observed in the bifurcation IA because the stresses were dominated by particle trapping structures, which were absent at low Re = 151.51 in contrast to higher Re = 378.79. PMID:27847544

Pipeline embolization device for intracranial aneurysm: a systematic review.

PubMed

Leung, G K K; Tsang, A C O; Lui, W M

2012-12-01

The pipeline embolization device (PED) is a new endovascular stent designed for the treatment of challenging intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Its use has been extended to nonruptured and ruptured IAs of a variety of configurations and etiologies in both the anterior and posterior circulations. We conducted a systematic review of ten eligible reports on its clinical efficacy and safety. There were 414 patients with 448 IAs. The majority of the IAs were large (40.2 %), saccular or blister-like (78.3 %), and were located mostly in the anterior circulation (83.5 %). The regimens of antiplatelet therapy varied greatly between and within studies. The mean number of the PED used was 2.0 per IA. Deployment was successful in around 95 % of procedures. Aneurysm obliteration was achieved in 82.9 % of IAs at 6-month. The overall incidences of periprocedural intracranial vascular complication rate and mortality rate were 6.3 and 1.5 %, respectively. The PED is a safe and effective treatment for nonruptured IAs. Its use in the context of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) should be cautioned. Its main limitations include the need for prolonged antiplatelet therapy, as well as the potential risks of IA rupture and non-IA-related intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH). Future studies should aim at identifying factors that predispose to incomplete obliteration, delayed rupture, and thromboembolic complications.

Successful Implantation of Bioengineered, Intrinsically Innervated, Human Internal Anal Sphincter

PubMed Central

Raghavan, Shreya; Gilmont, Robert R.; Miyasaka, Eiichi A.; Somara, Sita; Srinivasan, Shanthi; Teitelbaum, Daniel H; Bitar, Khalil N.

2011-01-01

Background & Aims To restore fecal continence, the weakened pressure of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) must be increased. We bioengineered intrinsically innervated human IAS, to emulate sphincteric physiology, in vitro. Methods We co-cultured human IAS circular smooth muscle with immortomouse fetal enteric neurons. We investigated the ability of bioengineered innervated human IAS, implanted in RAG1−/− mice, to undergo neovascularization and preserve the physiology of the constituent myogenic and neuronal components. Results The implanted IAS was neovascularized in vivo; numerous blood vessels were observed with no signs of inflammation or infection. Real-time force acquisition from implanted and pre-implant IAS showed distinct characteristics of IAS physiology. Features included the development of spontaneous myogenic basal tone; relaxation of 100% of basal tone in response to inhibitory neurotransmitter vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and direct electrical field stimulation of the intrinsic innervation; inhibition of nitrergic and VIPergic EFS-induced relaxation (by antagonizing nitric oxide synthesis or receptor interaction); contraction in response to cholinergic stimulation with acetylcholine; and intact electromechanical coupling (evidenced by direct response to potassium chloride). Implanted, intrinsically innervated bioengineered human IAS tissue preserved the integrity and physiology of myogenic and neuronal components. Conclusion Intrinsically innervated human IAS bioengineered tissue can be successfully implanted in mice. This approach might be used to treat patients with fecal incontinence. PMID:21463628

Dietary micronutrient intake and its relationship with arsenic metabolism in Mexican women.

PubMed

López-Carrillo, Lizbeth; Gamboa-Loira, Brenda; Becerra, Wendy; Hernández-Alcaraz, César; Hernández-Ramírez, Raúl Ulises; Gandolfi, A Jay; Franco-Marina, Francisco; Cebrián, Mariano E

2016-11-01

Concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolites in urine present intra- and interindividual variations, which are determined not only by the magnitude of exposure to iAs, but also by differences in genetic, environmental and dietary factors. To evaluate whether differences in dietary intake of selected micronutrients are associated with the metabolism of iAs. The intake of 21 micronutrients was estimated for 1027 women living in northern Mexico using a food frequency questionnaire. Concentration of urinary metabolites of iAs was determined by high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) and the proportion of iAs metabolites was calculated (%iAs, monomethylarsonic acid [%MMA] and dimethylarsinic acid [%DMA]), as well as ratios corresponding to the first (MMA/iAs), second (DMA/MMA) and total methylation (DMA/iAs). After adjustment for covariates, it was found that methionine, choline, folate, vitamin B12, Zn, Se and vitamin C favor elimination of iAs mainly by decreasing the %MMA and/or increasing %DMA in urine. Our results confirm that diet contributes to the efficiency of iAs elimination. Further studies are needed to assess the feasibility of dietary interventions that modulate the metabolism of iAs and the consequent risk of diseases related to its exposure. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Identification of EhTIF-IA: The putative E. histolytica orthologue of the human ribosomal RNA transcription initiation factor-IA.

PubMed

Srivastava, Ankita; Bhattacharya, Alok; Bhattacharya, Sudha; Jhingan, Gagan Deep

2016-03-01

Initiation of rDNA transcription requires the assembly of a specific multi-protein complex at the rDNA promoter containing the RNA Pol I with auxiliary factors. One of these factors is known as Rrn3P in yeast and Transcription Initiation Factor IA (TIF-IA) in mammals. Rrn3p/TIF-IA serves as a bridge between RNA Pol I and the pre-initiation complex at the promoter. It is phosphorylated at multiple sites and is involved in regulation of rDNA transcription in a growth-dependent manner. In the early branching parasitic protist Entamoeba histolytica, the rRNA genes are present exclusively on circular extra chromosomal plasmids. The protein factors involved in regulation of rDNA transcription in E. histolytica are not known. We have identified the E. histolytica equivalent of TIF-1A (EhTIF-IA) by homology search within the database and was further cloned and expressed. Immuno-localization studies showed that EhTIF-IA co-localized partially with fibrillarin in the peripherally localized nucleolus. EhTIF-IA was shown to interact with the RNA Pol I-specific subunit RPA12 both in vivo and in vitro. Mass spectroscopy data identified RNA Pol I-specific subunits and other nucleolar proteins to be the interacting partners of EhTIF-IA. Our study demonstrates for the first time a conserved putative RNA Pol I transcription factor TIF-IA in E. histolytica.

Inhibition of the norepinephrine transporter by χ-conotoxin dendrimers.

PubMed

Wan, Jingjing; Brust, Andreas; Bhola, Rebecca F; Jha, Prerna; Mobli, Mehdi; Lewis, Richard J; Christie, Macdonald J; Alewood, Paul F

2016-05-01

Peptide dendrimers are a novel class of macromolecules of emerging interest with the potential of delayed renal clearance due to their molecular size and enhanced activity due to the multivalency effect. In this work, an active analogue of the disulfide-rich χ-conotoxin χ-MrIA (χ-MrIA), a norepinephrine reuptake (norepinephrine transporter) inhibitor, was grafted onto a polylysine dendron. Dendron decoration was achieved by employing copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition with azido-PEG chain-modified χ-MrIA analogues, leading to homogenous 4-mer and 8-mer χ-MrIA dendrimers with molecular weights ranging from 8 to 22 kDa. These dendrimers were investigated for their impact on peptide secondary structure, in vitro functional activity, and potential anti-allodynia in vivo. NMR studies showed that the χ-MrIA tertiary structure was maintained in the χ-MrIA dendrimers. In a functional norepinephrine transporter reuptake assay, χ-MrIA dendrimers showed slightly increased potency relative to the azido-PEGylated χ-MrIA analogues with similar potency to the parent peptide. In contrast to χ-MrIA, no anti-allodynic action was observed when the χ-MrIA dendrimers were administered intrathecally in a rat model of neuropathic pain, suggesting that the larger dendrimer structures are unable to diffuse through the spinal column tissue and reach the norepinephrine transporter. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Immunoassay or LC-MS/MS for the measurement of salivary cortisol in children?

PubMed

Bae, Yoon Ju; Gaudl, Alexander; Jaeger, Sonia; Stadelmann, Stephanie; Hiemisch, Andreas; Kiess, Wieland; Willenberg, Anja; Schaab, Michael; von Klitzing, Kai; Thiery, Joachim; Ceglarek, Uta; Döhnert, Mirko; Kratzsch, Juergen

2016-05-01

Dysregulation of the adrenal cortex has been assessed with measurement of salivary cortisol. So far salivary cortisol is routinely measured with immunoassay (IA). However, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS) is known to offer better specificity. We compared the concentrations of salivary cortisol measured by MS and IA at basal and stress induced conditions and evaluated reasons for the difference in method-dependent cortisol results. Saliva samples (n=2703) were collected from 169 children (age range: 8-14 years; 81 healthy children; 55 with internalizing and 33 with externalizing disorders) under circadian conditions and during the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C). Biochemical analyses were performed with MS for cortisol and cortisone, IA (IBL, RE62011) for cortisol, and enzyme kinetic assay for α-amylase. MS and IA showed mostly comparable results for circadian activity and TSST-C response with similar statistical power. However, IA measured cortisol concentrations about 2.39-fold higher than MS. We found that this difference in measured values between MS and IA was mainly due to different standardization of IA compared to MS. In addition, at cortisol IA concentration below 5 nmol/L, cross-reactivity with cortisone was found to contribute to the lower concordance between MS and IA. Immunoassay and LC-MS/MS were largely comparable in the interpretation of salivary cortisol dynamics in stress research. But the IA method revealed a restricted accuracy in the measuring range below 5 nmol/L.

Association between Internet addiction and depression in Thai medical students at Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital.

PubMed

Boonvisudhi, Thummaporn; Kuladee, Sanchai

2017-01-01

To study the extent of Internet addiction (IA) and its association with depression in Thai medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital. Participants were first- to fifth-year medical students who agreed to participate in this study. Demographic characteristics and stress-related factors were derived from self-rated questionnaires. Depression was assessed using the Thai version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A total score of five or greater derived from the Thai version of Young Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction was classified as "possible IA". Then chi-square test and logistic regression were used to evaluate the associations between possible IA, depression and associated factors. From 705 participants, 24.4% had possible IA and 28.8% had depression. There was statistically significant association between possible IA and depression (odds ratio (OR) 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34-2.77, P-value <0.001). Logistic regression analysis illustrated that the odds of depression in possible IA group was 1.58 times of the group of normal Internet use (95% CI: 1.04-2.38, P-value = 0.031). Academic problems were found to be a significant predictor of both possible IA and depression. IA was likely to be a common psychiatric problem among Thai medical students. The research has also shown that possible IA was associated with depression and academic problems. We suggest that surveillance of IA should be considered in medical schools.

Evaluation of intra-aortic CT angiography performances for the visualisation of spinal vascular malformations' angioarchitecture.

PubMed

Clarençon, Frédéric; Di Maria, Federico; Sourour, Nader-Antoine; Gabrieli, Joseph; Nouet, Aurélien; Shotar, Eimad; Cormier, Evelyne; Fahed, Robert; Cornu, Philippe; Chiras, Jacques

2016-10-01

To evaluate the performances of the CT-angiography by direct intra-aortic contrast media injection (IA-CTA) for spinal vascular malformations (SVMs)' imaging. Thirteen patients (8 males, 5 females, mean age: 56 y) with suspected SVM underwent IA-CTAs by direct intra-aortic iodinated contrast media injection (5 cc/s; 100 cc) via an arterial femoral or humeral access. Two independent observers evaluated the angioarchitecture of the SVMs and the visualisation of both the Adamkiewicz artery and the anterior spinal artery. Then a consensus was obtained between the 2 reviewers; the results of the IA-CTA were finally compared with those of the full spinal DSA evaluated in consensus. The IA-CTA was feasible in all cases and depicted the SVM in all except one case (92 %). Interrater agreement was good for the location of the SVMs' level. Intermodality (IA-CTA/DSA) agreement was excellent for the level and side of the shunt point, as well as for the SVM subtype evaluation. In 77 % of the cases, the Adamkiewicz artery was satisfactorily seen at the same time on IA-CTA. IA-CTA is a new technique that seems helpful to reach a better understanding of SMVs and may help to tailor more precisely their treatment. • IA-CTA is an accurate technique for the SVMs' angioarchitecture analysis • IA-CTA can locate, at the same time, the Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) • IA-CTA may be helpful in elderly patients with troublesome vasculature.

Pathophysiology and management of intracranial arterial stenosis around the circle of Willis associated with hyperthyroidism: case reports and literature review.

PubMed

Matano, Fumihiro; Murai, Yasuo; Adachi, Koji; Kitamura, Takayuki; Teramoto, Akira

2014-04-01

Cases of moyamoya disease or intracranial arterial stenosis around the circle of Willis (M/IAS) associated with hyperthyroidism have been reported. However, most of these previous reports were of the ischemic form of M/IAS and primary hyperthyroidism. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have documented therapy for M/IAS associated with hyperthyroidism. We discuss four previously unreported cases, including those involving the intracerebral hemorrhage form and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion from a pituitary adenoma (secondary hyperthyroidism). We analyzed data from 52 previously reported cases, including the 4 cases presented here, and discuss M/IAS associated with hyperthyroidism, treatment options, pathophysiology, the ischemic and hemorrhagic forms, secondary hyperthyroidism, and the relevant literature. Hyperthyroidism results in thyrotoxicosis and the stimulation of the superior cervical ganglion by TSH antibodies and f-T3/f-T4. Consequently, hypercoagulability and stenosis of the cerebral artery can occur. There are many reports of ischemic M/IAS associated with hyperthyroidism. A conservative approach to treatment is important in such cases; for example, antithyroid therapy should be the first choice to treat ischemic M/IAS. There have been only a limited number of reports on hemorrhagic M/IAS. We presume that hemorrhagic M/IAS tears the weakened vasculature in a manner similar to that of normal M/IAS (with no complicating hyperthyroidism). The authors also reported M/IAS associated with secondary hyperthyroidism due to pituitary thyroid secreting hormone secreting adenoma.

Serum Inter–α-Trypsin Inhibitor and Matrix Hyaluronan Promote Angiogenesis in Fibrotic Lung Injury

PubMed Central

Garantziotis, Stavros; Zudaire, Enrique; Trempus, Carol S.; Hollingsworth, John W.; Jiang, Dianhua; Lancaster, Lisa H.; Richardson, Elizabeth; Zhuo, Lisheng; Cuttitta, Frank; Brown, Kevin K.; Noble, Paul W.; Kimata, Koji; Schwartz, David A.

2008-01-01

Rationale: The etiology and pathogenesis of angiogenesis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is poorly understood. Inter-α-trypsin inhibitor (IaI) is a serum protein that can bind to hyaluronan (HA) and may contribute to the angiogenic response to tissue injury. Objectives: To determine whether IaI promotes HA-mediated angiogenesis in tissue injury. Methods: An examination was undertaken of angiogenesis in IaI-sufficient and -deficient mice in the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis and in angiogenesis assays in vivo and in vitro. IaI and HA in patients with IPF were examined. Measurements and Main Results: IaI significantly enhances the angiogenic response to short-fragment HA in vivo and in vitro. lal deficiency Ieads to decreased angiogenesis in the matrigel model, and decreases lung angiogenesis after bleomycin exposure in mice. IaI is found in fibroblastic foci in IPF, where it colocalizes with HA. The colocalization is particularly strong in vascular areas around fibroblastic foci. Serum levels of IaI and HA are significantly elevated in patients with IPF compared with control subjects. High serum IaI and HA levels are associated with decreased lung diffusing capacity, but not FVC. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that serum IaI interacts with HA, and promotes angiogenesis in lung injury. IaI appears to contribute to the vascular response to lung injury and may lead to aberrant angiogenesis. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00016627). PMID:18703791

Type Ia Supernova Distances at Redshift >1.5 from the Hubble Space Telescope Multi-cycle Treasury Programs: The Early Expansion Rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riess, Adam G.; Rodney, Steven A.; Scolnic, Daniel M.; Shafer, Daniel L.; Strolger, Louis-Gregory; Ferguson, Henry C.; Postman, Marc; Graur, Or; Maoz, Dan; Jha, Saurabh W.; Mobasher, Bahram; Casertano, Stefano; Hayden, Brian; Molino, Alberto; Hjorth, Jens; Garnavich, Peter M.; Jones, David O.; Kirshner, Robert P.; Koekemoer, Anton M.; Grogin, Norman A.; Brammer, Gabriel; Hemmati, Shoubaneh; Dickinson, Mark; Challis, Peter M.; Wolff, Schuyler; Clubb, Kelsey I.; Filippenko, Alexei V.; Nayyeri, Hooshang; U, Vivian; Koo, David C.; Faber, Sandra M.; Kocevski, Dale; Bradley, Larry; Coe, Dan

2018-02-01

We present an analysis of 15 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) at redshift z> 1 (9 at 1.5< z< 2.3) recently discovered in the CANDELS and CLASH Multi-Cycle Treasury programs using WFC3 on the Hubble Space Telescope. We combine these SNe Ia with a new compilation of ∼1050 SNe Ia, jointly calibrated and corrected for simulated survey biases to produce accurate distance measurements. We present unbiased constraints on the expansion rate at six redshifts in the range 0.07< z< 1.5 based only on this combined SN Ia sample. The added leverage of our new sample at z> 1.5 leads to a factor of ∼3 improvement in the determination of the expansion rate at z = 1.5, reducing its uncertainty to ∼20%, a measurement of H(z=1.5)/{H}0 = {2.69}-0.52+0.86. We then demonstrate that these six derived expansion rate measurements alone provide a nearly identical characterization of dark energy as the full SN sample, making them an efficient compression of the SN Ia data. The new sample of SNe Ia at z> 1.5 usefully distinguishes between alternative cosmological models and unmodeled evolution of the SN Ia distance indicators, placing empirical limits on the latter. Finally, employing a realistic simulation of a potential Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope SN survey observing strategy, we forecast optimistic future constraints on the expansion rate from SNe Ia.

Campground marketing - the impulse camper

Treesearch

Wilbur F. LaPage; Dale P. Ragain

1972-01-01

Impulse or unplanned campground visits may account for one-fourth to one-half of all camping activity. The concepts of impulse travel and impulse camping appear to be potentially useful extensions of the broader concept of impulse purchasing, which has become an important influence in retail marketing. Impulse campers may also be impulse buyers; they were found to...

Unified synchronization criteria in an array of coupled neural networks with hybrid impulses.

PubMed

Wang, Nan; Li, Xuechen; Lu, Jianquan; Alsaadi, Fuad E

2018-05-01

This paper investigates the problem of globally exponential synchronization of coupled neural networks with hybrid impulses. Two new concepts on average impulsive interval and average impulsive gain are proposed to deal with the difficulties coming from hybrid impulses. By employing the Lyapunov method combined with some mathematical analysis, some efficient unified criteria are obtained to guarantee the globally exponential synchronization of impulsive networks. Our method and criteria are proved to be effective for impulsively coupled neural networks simultaneously with synchronizing impulses and desynchronizing impulses, and we do not need to discuss these two kinds of impulses separately. Moreover, by using our average impulsive interval method, we can obtain an interesting and valuable result for the case of average impulsive interval T a =∞. For some sparse impulsive sequences with T a =∞, the impulses can happen for infinite number of times, but they do not have essential influence on the synchronization property of networks. Finally, numerical examples including scale-free networks are exploited to illustrate our theoretical results. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Type Ia supernovae, standardizable candles, and gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wright, Bill S.; Li, Baojiu

2018-04-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are generally accepted to act as standardizable candles, and their use in cosmology led to the first confirmation of the as yet unexplained accelerated cosmic expansion. Many of the theoretical models to explain the cosmic acceleration assume modifications to Einsteinian general relativity which accelerate the expansion, but the question of whether such modifications also affect the ability of SNe Ia to be standardizable candles has rarely been addressed. This paper is an attempt to answer this question. For this we adopt a semianalytical model to calculate SNe Ia light curves in non-standard gravity. We use this model to show that the average rescaled intrinsic peak luminosity—a quantity that is assumed to be constant with redshift in standard analyses of Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) cosmology data—depends on the strength of gravity in the supernova's local environment because the latter determines the Chandrasekhar mass—the mass of the SN Ia's white dwarf progenitor right before the explosion. This means that SNe Ia are no longer standardizable candles in scenarios where the strength of gravity evolves over time, and therefore the cosmology implied by the existing SN Ia data will be different when analysed in the context of such models. As an example, we show that the observational SN Ia cosmology data can be fitted with both a model where (ΩM,ΩΛ)=(0.62 ,0.38 ) and Newton's constant G varies as G (z )=G0(1 +z )-1/4 and the standard model where (ΩM,ΩΛ)=(0.3 ,0.7 ) and G is constant, when the Universe is assumed to be flat.

Association Between Variants in Arsenic (+3 Oxidation State) Methyltranserase (AS3MT) and Urinary Metabolites of Inorganic Arsenic: Role of Exposure Level

PubMed Central

Xu, Xiaofan; Drobná, Zuzana; Voruganti, V. Saroja; Barron, Keri; González-Horta, Carmen; Sánchez-Ramírez, Blanca; Ballinas-Casarrubias, Lourdes; Cerón, Roberto Hernández; Morales, Damián Viniegra; Terrazas, Francisco A. Baeza; Ishida, María C.; Gutiérrez-Torres, Daniela S.; Saunders, R. Jesse; Crandell, Jamie; Fry, Rebecca C.; Loomis, Dana; García-Vargas, Gonzalo G.; Del Razo, Luz M.; Stýblo, Miroslav; Mendez, Michelle A.

2016-01-01

Abstract Variants in AS3MT, the gene encoding arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltranserase, have been shown to influence patterns of inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolism. Several studies have suggested that capacity to metabolize iAs may vary depending on levels of iAs exposure. However, it is not known whether the influence of variants in AS3MT on iAs metabolism also vary by level of exposure. We investigated, in a population of Mexican adults exposed to drinking water As, whether associations between 7 candidate variants in AS3MT and urinary iAs metabolites were consistent with prior studies, and whether these associations varied depending on the level of exposure. Overall, associations between urinary iAs metabolites and AS3MT variants were consistent with the literature. Referent genotypes, defined as the genotype previously associated with a higher percentage of urinary dimethylated As (DMAs%), were associated with significant increases in the DMAs% and ratio of DMAs to monomethylated As (MAs), and significant reductions in MAs% and iAs%. For 3 variants, associations between genotypes and iAs metabolism were significantly stronger among subjects exposed to water As >50 versus ≤50 ppb (water As X genotype interaction P < .05). In contrast, for 1 variant (rs17881215), associations were significantly stronger at exposures ≤50 ppb. Results suggest that iAs exposure may influence the extent to which several AS3MT variants affect iAs metabolism. The variants most strongly associated with iAs metabolism—and perhaps with susceptibility to iAs-associated disease—may vary in settings with exposure level. PMID:27370415

Identification of Undiagnosed Inflammatory Arthritis in a Community Health-Fair Screen

PubMed Central

Deane, Kevin D.; Striebich, Christopher C.; Goldstein, Barbara L.; Derber, Lezlie A.; Parish, Mark C.; Feser, Marie L.; Hamburger, Elaine M.; Brake, Stacey; Belz, Cindy; Goddard, James; Norris, Jill M.; Karlson, Elizabeth W.; Holers, V. Michael

2010-01-01

Purpose The primary goals of this study were: 1) to identify individuals with undiagnosed inflammatory arthritis (IA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a community health-fair screen, and 2) to establish in a health-fair setting the diagnostic accuracy of combinations of the Connective Tissue Disease Screening Questionnaire (CSQ) and autoantibody testing for IA. Methods Screening for IA/RA was performed at health-fair sites using a combination of CSQ, joint examination, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated (anti-CCP) antibody testing. IA was defined as ≥1 swollen joint/s suggestive of synovitis on joint examination by a trained clinician. Results Six-hundred one subjects were screened; 51.0% participating because of joint symptoms (pain, stiffness, or swelling). Eighty-four subjects (14.0%) had ≥1 swollen joint/s designated as IA on joint examination. Of the 601 subjects screened, 9 (1.5%) had IA and met ≥4 of 7 American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA but had no prior diagnosis of RA, and 15 (2.5%) had IA and RF and/or anti-CCP positivity, suggesting early RA. The diagnostic accuracy of combinations of CSQ and autoantibody testing for the identification of IA yielded maximal sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 95.3%, 99.2%, 71.4%, and 97.7%, respectively. Conclusions Health-fair screening may be an effective approach for the identification of individuals with undiagnosed IA/RA. A combination of CSQ and autoantibody testing alone has clinically useful diagnostic accuracy for the detection of IA. Decisions regarding which methodology to use for future health-fair IA/RA screening will depend on goals of screening and funding. PMID:19950306

The Relationship between Smoking and Replicated Sequence Variants on Chromosomes 8 and 9 with Familial Intracranial Aneurysm

PubMed Central

Deka, Ranjan; Koller, Daniel L.; Lai, Dongbing; Indugula, Subba Rao; Sun, Guangyun; Woo, Daniel; Sauerbeck, Laura; Moomaw, Charles J.; Hornung, Richard; Connolly, E. Sander; Anderson, Craig; Rouleau, Guy; Meissner, Irene; Bailey-Wilson, Joan E.; Huston, John; Brown, Robert D.; Kleindorfer, Dawn O.; Flaherty, Matthew L.; Langefeld, Carl; Foroud, Tatiana; Broderick, Joseph P.

2010-01-01

Purpose To replicate the previous association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA) and to examine the relationship of smoking with these variants and the risk of IA. Methods White probands with an IA from families with multiple affected members were identified by 26 clinical centers located throughout North America, New Zealand, and Australia. White controls free of stroke and IA were selected by random digit dialing from the Greater Cincinnati population. SNPs previously associated with IA on chromosome 2, 8, and 9 were genotyped using a TaqMan assay or were included in the Affymetrix 6.0 array that was part of a genome-wide association study of 406 IA cases and 392 controls. Logistic regression modeling tested whether the association of replicated SNPs with IA was modulated by smoking. Results The strongest evidence of association with IA was found with the 8q SNP rs10958409 (genotypic P = 9.2 × 10-5; allelic P = 1.3 × 10-5; OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.40−2.47). We also replicated association with both SNPs on chromosome 9p, rs1333040 and rs10757278, but were not able to replicate the previously reported association of the two SNPs on chromosome 2q. Statistical testing showed a multiplicative relationship between the risk alleles and smoking with regard to the risk of IA. Conclusion Our data provide complementary evidence that the variants on chromosome 8q and 9p are associated with IA and that the risk of IA in patients with these variants are greatly increased with cigarette smoking. PMID:20190001

[Internet Addiction, Suicidality and Non-Suicidal Self-Harming Behavior - A Systematic Review].

PubMed

Steinbüchel, Toni Andreas; Herpertz, Stephan; Külpmann, Ina; Kehyayan, Aram; Dieris-Hirche, Jan; Te Wildt, Bert Theodor

2017-11-23

Background Internet addiction (IA) is associated with a high rate of co-morbid mental disorders, especially depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD and personality disorders and a considerable level of psychological strain. In terms of risk assessment, the present work investigates the current research literature on suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI). Methods We performed a systematic literature search in 14 databases on title and abstract level for the most common keywords for IA, NSSI and suicidality. After deduction of multiple items, 2334 articles remained. They were filtered per inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified studies that examined the relationship between IA, NSSI and suicidality, which were assessed by validated psychometric instruments. This allowed a total of 15 studies to be included. Results The relationship between IA and suicidality was examined in 10 studies, four studies examined the relationship of IA, suicidality, and NSSI, and one study exclusively focused on IA and NSSHB. All studies showed higher prevalence for NSSI and respectively suicidality of the subjects with an IA compared to subjects without IA, with point prevalence varying considerably between 1.6-18.7%. Discussion The results of the included publications suggest that Internet dependency is associated with an increased rate of non-suicidal self-harming behavior and increased suicidality, with suicidal ideation being more closely related to IA than suicidal actions. In order to develop a better understanding of causal relationships between IA, NSSI and suicidality, further longitudinal studies are required. Conclusion  Against the background of the presented studies NSSHB and suicidality need to be explicitly addressed within the assessment and treatment of IA patients. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

A Second Ladder: Testing for Bias in the Type Ia Distance Scale with SBF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milne, Peter

2016-10-01

We propose obtaining Surface Brightness Fluctuation (SBF) distances to the hosts galaxies of 20 nearby type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), resulting in a sample of 29 SNe Ia in 27 galaxies when combined with HST-SBF distances from the literature. This sample can then be compared with the existing 18 SN Ia distances from Cepheids. Through these comparisons, we will determine if there are any discrepancies between the SBF distance scale, which is extended into the Hubble flow using early-type galaxies, and the SNIa distance scale, for which local calibrators are scarce and host galaxy types and SN environments are heterogenous. Since recent measurements of UV-optical colors suggest that SN Ia properties do depend on galaxy type and environment, it is essential that SNe Ia in all galaxy types are included when extending SN Ia distances to the distant Hubble flow. Since the conclusion that universal expansion is accelerating was originally based on SNe Ia distances, and because recent measurements of UV-optical colors suggest that SN Ia properties do depend on galaxy type and environment, it is essential to measure the same types of SNe in the same types of galaxies. To meet this goal, we propose to measure high-precision SBF distances to all early-type galaxies that have hosted SNIa within 80 Mpc. We will therefore be able to distinguish between systematic offsets in the derived Hubble constant between galaxies and/or SNe of different types and correct for them. SBF is the only distance measurement technique with statistical uncertainties comparable to SN Ia that can be applied to the early-type of galaxies in which the majority of the high-redshift SNIa occur.

A meta-analysis of the association between induced abortion and breast cancer risk among Chinese females.

PubMed

Huang, Yubei; Zhang, Xiaoliang; Li, Weiqin; Song, Fengju; Dai, Hongji; Wang, Jing; Gao, Ying; Liu, Xueou; Chen, Chuan; Yan, Ye; Wang, Yaogang; Chen, Kexin

2014-02-01

To evaluate the association between induced abortion (IA) and breast cancer risk among Chinese females. We searched three English databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Wiley) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, WanFang, and VIP) for studies up to December 2012, supplemented by manual searches. Two reviewers independently conducted the literature searching, study selection, and data extraction and quality assessment of included studies. Random effects models were used to estimate the summary odds ratios (ORs) and the 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 36 articles (two cohort studies and 34 case-control studies) covering 14 provinces in China were included in this review. Compared to people without any history of IA, an increased risk of breast cancer was observed among females who had at least one IA (OR = 1.44, 95 % CI 1.29-1.59, I (2) = 82.6 %, p < 0.001, n = 34). No significant publication bias was found among the included studies (Egger test, p = 0.176). The risk increased to 1.76 (95 % CI 1.39-2.22) and 1.89 (95 % CI 1.40-2.55) for people who had at least two IAs and at least three IAs, respectively. Subgroup analyses showed similar results to the primary results. Meta-regression analysis of the included studies found that the association between IA and breast cancer risk attenuated with increasing percent of IA in the control group (β = -0.022, p < 0.001). IA is significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer among Chinese females, and the risk of breast cancer increases as the number of IA increases. If IA were to be confirmed as a risk factor for breast cancer, high rates of IA in China may contribute to increasing breast cancer rates.

Gene expression profiling reveals distinct molecular signatures associated with the rupture of intracranial aneurysm.

PubMed

Nakaoka, Hirofumi; Tajima, Atsushi; Yoneyama, Taku; Hosomichi, Kazuyoshi; Kasuya, Hidetoshi; Mizutani, Tohru; Inoue, Ituro

2014-08-01

The rupture of intracranial aneurysm (IA) causes subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with high morbidity and mortality. We compared gene expression profiles in aneurysmal domes between unruptured IAs and ruptured IAs (RIAs) to elucidate biological mechanisms predisposing to the rupture of IA. We determined gene expression levels of 8 RIAs, 5 unruptured IAs, and 10 superficial temporal arteries with the Agilent microarrays. To explore biological heterogeneity of IAs, we classified the samples into subgroups showing similar gene expression patterns, using clustering methods. The clustering analysis identified 4 groups: superficial temporal arteries and unruptured IAs were aggregated into their own clusters, whereas RIAs segregated into 2 distinct subgroups (early and late RIAs). Comparing gene expression levels between early RIAs and unruptured IAs, we identified 430 upregulated and 617 downregulated genes in early RIAs. The upregulated genes were associated with inflammatory and immune responses and phagocytosis including S100/calgranulin genes (S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12). The downregulated genes suggest mechanical weakness of aneurysm walls. The expressions of Krüppel-like family of transcription factors (KLF2, KLF12, and KLF15), which were anti-inflammatory regulators, and CDKN2A, which was located on chromosome 9p21 that was the most consistently replicated locus in genome-wide association studies of IA, were also downregulated. We demonstrate that gene expression patterns of RIAs were different according to the age of patients. The results suggest that macrophage-mediated inflammation is a key biological pathway for IA rupture. The identified genes can be good candidates for molecular markers of rupture-prone IAs and therapeutic targets. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

Recognition and categorization considerations for information assurance requirements development and speficication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stytz, Martin R.; May, Michael; Banks, Sheila B.

2009-04-01

Department of Defense (DoD) Information Technology (IT) systems operate in an environment different from the commercial world, the differences arise from the differences in the types of attacks, the interdependencies between DoD software systems, and the reliance upon commercial software to provide basic capabilities. The challenge that we face is determining how to specify the information assurance requirements for a system without requiring changes to the commercial software and in light of the interdependencies between systems. As a result of the interdependencies and interconnections between systems introduced by the global information grid (GIG), an assessment of the IA requirements for a system must consider three facets of a system's IA capabilities: 1) the IA vulnerabilities of the system, 2) the ability of a system to repel IA attacks, and 3) the ability of a system to insure that any IA attack that penetrates the system is contained within the system and does not spread. Each facet should be assessed independently and the requirements should be derived independently from the assessments. In addition to the desired IA technology capabilities of the system, a complete assessment of the system's overall IA security technology readiness level cannot be accomplished without an assessment of the capabilities required of the system for its capability to recover from and remediate IA vulnerabilities and compromises. To allow us to accomplish these three formidable tasks, we propose a general system architecture designed to separate the system's IA capabilities from its other capability requirements; thereby allowing the IA capabilities to be developed and assessed separately from the other system capabilities. The architecture also enables independent requirements specification, implementation, assessment, measurement, and improvement of a system's IA capabilities without requiring modification of the underlying application software.

A coil placement technique to treat intracranial aneurysm with incorporated artery.

PubMed

Luo, Chao-Bao; Chang, Feng-Chi; Lin, Chung-Jung; Guo, Wan-Yuo

2018-03-01

Endovascular coil embolization is an accepted treatment option for intracranial aneurysms. However, the coiling of aneurysms with an incorporated artery (IA) poses a high risk of IA occlusion. Here we report our experience of endovascular coil placement using a technique that avoids IA occlusion in aneurysms with IAs. Over a 6-year period, 185 patients harboring 206 intracranial aneurysms underwent endosaccular coiling. Forty-two of these patients with 45 aneurysms were treated by coil placement to avoid IAs occlusion. We assessed the anatomy of the aneurysms and IAs, technical feasibility of the procedure, and degree of aneurysm occlusion. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were assessed as well. Aneurysms were located in the supra-clinoid intracranial internal carotid artery (n = 24), anterior cerebral artery (n = 6), middle cerebral artery (n = 7), and vertebrobasilar artery (n = 8). The IA was at the aneurysm neck in 34 patients, body in 10, and dome in 1. Immediate post-coiling angiogram showed preservation of blood flow through the IA in all aneurysms. Coil compaction with aneurysmal regrowth was found in 7 of 36 patients having follow-up conventional angiography. One patient had an IA territory infarction after embolization. All 42 patients were followed up (mean: 21 months) and showed no re-bleeding. This technique is effective and safe in managing intracranial aneurysms with IAs. Although aneurysmal recurrence may occur in some aneurysms because of insufficient coiling, this technique is simpler to perform and requires less skill than other techniques. It can be an alternative option for treating some selected intracranial aneurysms with IAs. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.

Berkeley Supernova Ia Program - I. Observations, data reduction and spectroscopic sample of 582 low-redshift Type Ia supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silverman, Jeffrey M.; Foley, Ryan J.; Filippenko, Alexei V.; Ganeshalingam, Mohan; Barth, Aaron J.; Chornock, Ryan; Griffith, Christopher V.; Kong, Jason J.; Lee, Nicholas; Leonard, Douglas C.; Matheson, Thomas; Miller, Emily G.; Steele, Thea N.; Barris, Brian J.; Bloom, Joshua S.; Cobb, Bethany E.; Coil, Alison L.; Desroches, Louis-Benoit; Gates, Elinor L.; Ho, Luis C.; Jha, Saurabh W.; Kandrashoff, Michael T.; Li, Weidong; Mandel, Kaisey S.; Modjaz, Maryam; Moore, Matthew R.; Mostardi, Robin E.; Papenkova, Marina S.; Park, Sung; Perley, Daniel A.; Poznanski, Dovi; Reuter, Cassie A.; Scala, James; Serduke, Franklin J. D.; Shields, Joseph C.; Swift, Brandon J.; Tonry, John L.; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Wang, Xiaofeng; Wong, Diane S.

2012-09-01

In this first paper in a series, we present 1298 low-redshift (z ≲ 0.2) optical spectra of 582 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) observed from 1989 to 2008 as part of the Berkeley Supernova Ia Program (BSNIP). 584 spectra of 199 SNe Ia have well-calibrated light curves with measured distance moduli, and many of the spectra have been corrected for host-galaxy contamination. Most of the data were obtained using the Kast double spectrograph mounted on the Shane 3 m telescope at Lick Observatory and have a typical wavelength range of 3300-10 400 Å, roughly twice as wide as spectra from most previously published data sets. We present our observing and reduction procedures, and we describe the resulting SN Database, which will be an online, public, searchable data base containing all of our fully reduced spectra and companion photometry. In addition, we discuss our spectral classification scheme (using the SuperNova IDentification code, SNID; Blondin & Tonry), utilizing our newly constructed set of SNID spectral templates. These templates allow us to accurately classify our entire data set, and by doing so we are able to reclassify a handful of objects as bona fide SNe Ia and a few other objects as members of some of the peculiar SN Ia subtypes. In fact, our data set includes spectra of nearly 90 spectroscopically peculiar SNe Ia. We also present spectroscopic host-galaxy redshifts of some SNe Ia where these values were previously unknown. The sheer size of the BSNIP data set and the consistency of our observation and reduction methods make this sample unique among all other published SN Ia data sets and complementary in many ways to the large, low-redshift SN Ia spectra presented by Matheson et al. and Blondin et al. In other BSNIP papers in this series, we use these data to examine the relationships between spectroscopic characteristics and various observables such as photometric and host-galaxy properties.

Grouping normal type Ia supernovae by UV to optical color differences

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

Milne, Peter A.; Brown, Peter J.; Roming, Peter W. A.

2013-12-10

Observations of many Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) for multiple epochs per object with the Swift Ultraviolet Optical Telescope instrument have revealed that there exists order to the differences in the UV-optical colors of optically normal supernovae (SNe). We examine UV-optical color curves for 23 SNe Ia, dividing the SNe into four groups, and find that roughly one-third of 'NUV-blue' SNe Ia have bluer UV-optical colors than the larger 'NUV-red' group. Two minor groups are recognized, 'MUV-blue' and 'irregular' SNe Ia. While we conclude that the latter group is a subset of the NUV-red group, containing the SNe with themore » broadest optical peaks, we conclude that the 'MUV-blue' group is a distinct group. Separating into the groups and accounting for the time evolution of the UV-optical colors lowers the scatter in two NUV-optical colors (e.g., u – v and uvw1 – v) to the level of the scatter in b – v. This finding is promising for extending the cosmological utilization of SNe Ia into the NUV. We generate spectrophotometry of 33 SNe Ia and determine the correct grouping for each. We argue that there is a fundamental spectral difference in the 2900-3500 Å wavelength range, a region suggested to be dominated by absorption from iron-peak elements. The NUV-blue SNe Ia feature less absorption than the NUV-red SNe Ia. We show that all NUV-blue SNe Ia in this sample also show evidence of unburned carbon in optical spectra, whereas only one NUV-red SN Ia features that absorption line. Every NUV-blue event also exhibits a low gradient of the Si II λ6355 absorption feature. Many NUV-red events also exhibit a low gradient, perhaps suggestive that NUV-blue events are a subset of the larger low-velocity gradient group.« less

Maternal intravenous treatment with either azithromycin or solithromycin clears Ureaplasma parvum from the amniotic fluid in an ovine model of intrauterine infection.

PubMed

Miura, Yuichiro; Payne, Matthew S; Keelan, Jeffrey A; Noe, Andres; Carter, Sean; Watts, Rory; Spiller, Owen B; Jobe, Alan H; Kallapur, Suhas G; Saito, Masatoshi; Stock, Sarah J; Newnham, John P; Kemp, Matthew W

2014-09-01

Intrauterine infection with Ureaplasma spp. is strongly associated with preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcomes. We assessed whether combined intraamniotic (IA) and maternal intravenous (IV) treatment with one of two candidate antibiotics, azithromycin (AZ) or solithromycin (SOLI), would eradicate intrauterine Ureaplasma parvum infection in a sheep model of pregnancy. Sheep with singleton pregnancies received an IA injection of U. parvum serovar 3 at 85 days of gestational age (GA). At 120 days of GA, animals (n=5 to 8/group) received one of the following treatments: (i) maternal IV SOLI with a single IA injection of vehicle (IV SOLI only); (ii) maternal IV SOLI with a single IA injection of SOLI (IV+IA SOLI); (iii) maternal IV AZ and a single IA injection of vehicle (IV AZ only); (iv) maternal IV AZ and a single IA injection of AZ (IV+IA AZ); or (v) maternal IV and single IA injection of vehicle (control). Lambs were surgically delivered at 125 days of GA. Treatment efficacies were assessed by U. parvum culture, quantitative PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and histopathology. Amniotic fluid (AF) from all control animals contained culturable U. parvum. AF, lung, and chorioamnion from all AZ- or SOLI-treated animals (IV only or IV plus IA) were negative for culturable U. parvum. Relative to the results for the control, the levels of expression of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 2 (MCP-2) in fetal skin were significantly decreased in the IV SOLI-only group, the MCP-1 protein concentration in the amniotic fluid was significantly increased in the IV+IA SOLI group, and there was no significant difference in the histological inflammation scoring of lung or chorioamnion among the five groups. In the present study, treatment with either AZ or SOLI (IV only or IV+IA) effectively eradicated macrolide-sensitive U. parvum from the AF. There was no discernible difference in antibiotic therapy efficacy between IV-only and IV+IA treatment regimens relative to the results for the control. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Impulsive stabilization and impulsive synchronization of discrete-time delayed neural networks.

PubMed

Chen, Wu-Hua; Lu, Xiaomei; Zheng, Wei Xing

2015-04-01

This paper investigates the problems of impulsive stabilization and impulsive synchronization of discrete-time delayed neural networks (DDNNs). Two types of DDNNs with stabilizing impulses are studied. By introducing the time-varying Lyapunov functional to capture the dynamical characteristics of discrete-time impulsive delayed neural networks (DIDNNs) and by using a convex combination technique, new exponential stability criteria are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The stability criteria for DIDNNs are independent of the size of time delay but rely on the lengths of impulsive intervals. With the newly obtained stability results, sufficient conditions on the existence of linear-state feedback impulsive controllers are derived. Moreover, a novel impulsive synchronization scheme for two identical DDNNs is proposed. The novel impulsive synchronization scheme allows synchronizing two identical DDNNs with unknown delays. Simulation results are given to validate the effectiveness of the proposed criteria of impulsive stabilization and impulsive synchronization of DDNNs. Finally, an application of the obtained impulsive synchronization result for two identical chaotic DDNNs to a secure communication scheme is presented.

Parental monitoring may protect impulsive children from overeating.

PubMed

Bennett, C; Blissett, J

2017-10-01

Research has highlighted links between impulsivity and weight in children and adults. Nevertheless, little is known about the nature of this link in very young children or about the underlying mechanism by which impulsivity leads to greater adiposity. The present study aimed to explore relationships between impulsivity, weight and eating behaviour in a sample of 95 2 to 4-year-olds. Parent-child dyads visited the laboratory and consumed a meal after which parents completed measures of child impulsivity, eating behaviour and parental feeding, whilst children completed impulsivity tasks measuring the impulsivity facet delay of gratification (Snack Delay task), motor impulsivity (Line Walking task) and inhibitory control (Tower task). Pearson's correlations showed that girls with greater motor impulsivity were heavier. Additionally, monitoring moderated the relationship between impulsivity and food approach behaviour, indicating that monitoring may protect more impulsive children from displaying problematic eating behaviours. The motor impulsivity facet appears particularly relevant to child weight; parents can modulate the impact of impulsivity on child eating behaviour through their feeding style. © 2016 World Obesity Federation.

Dynamics of propagation of premature impulses in structurally remodeled infarcted myocardium: a computational analysis

PubMed Central

Cabo, Candido

2014-01-01

Initiation of cardiac arrhythmias typically follows one or more premature impulses either occurring spontaneously or applied externally. In this study, we characterize the dynamics of propagation of single (S2) and double premature impulses (S3), and the mechanisms of block of premature impulses at structural heterogeneities caused by remodeling of gap junctional conductance (Gj) in infarcted myocardium. Using a sub-cellular computer model of infarcted tissue, we found that |INa,max|, prematurity (coupling interval with the previous impulse), and conduction velocity (CV) of premature impulses change dynamically as they propagate away from the site of initiation. There are fundamental differences between the dynamics of propagation of S2 and S3 premature impulses: for S2 impulses |INa,max| recovers fast, prematurity decreases and CV increases as propagation proceeds; for S3 impulses low values of |INa,max| persist, prematurity could increase, and CV could decrease as impulses propagate away from the site of initiation. As a consequence it is more likely that S3 impulses block at sites of structural heterogeneities causing source/sink mismatch than S2 impulses block. Whether premature impulses block at Gj heterogeneities or not is also determined by the values of Gj (and the space constant λ) in the regions proximal and distal to the heterogeneity: when λ in the direction of propagation increases >40%, premature impulses could block. The maximum slope of CV restitution curves for S2 impulses is larger than for S3 impulses. In conclusion: (1) The dynamics of propagation of premature impulses make more likely that S3 impulses block at sites of structural heterogeneities than S2 impulses block; (2) Structural heterogeneities causing an increase in λ (or CV) of >40% could result in block of premature impulses; (3) A decrease in the maximum slope of CV restitution curves of propagating premature impulses is indicative of an increased potential for block at structural heterogeneities. PMID:25566085

Dynamics of propagation of premature impulses in structurally remodeled infarcted myocardium: a computational analysis.

PubMed

Cabo, Candido

2014-01-01

Initiation of cardiac arrhythmias typically follows one or more premature impulses either occurring spontaneously or applied externally. In this study, we characterize the dynamics of propagation of single (S2) and double premature impulses (S3), and the mechanisms of block of premature impulses at structural heterogeneities caused by remodeling of gap junctional conductance (Gj) in infarcted myocardium. Using a sub-cellular computer model of infarcted tissue, we found that |INa,max|, prematurity (coupling interval with the previous impulse), and conduction velocity (CV) of premature impulses change dynamically as they propagate away from the site of initiation. There are fundamental differences between the dynamics of propagation of S2 and S3 premature impulses: for S2 impulses |INa,max| recovers fast, prematurity decreases and CV increases as propagation proceeds; for S3 impulses low values of |INa,max| persist, prematurity could increase, and CV could decrease as impulses propagate away from the site of initiation. As a consequence it is more likely that S3 impulses block at sites of structural heterogeneities causing source/sink mismatch than S2 impulses block. Whether premature impulses block at Gj heterogeneities or not is also determined by the values of Gj (and the space constant λ) in the regions proximal and distal to the heterogeneity: when λ in the direction of propagation increases >40%, premature impulses could block. The maximum slope of CV restitution curves for S2 impulses is larger than for S3 impulses. (1) The dynamics of propagation of premature impulses make more likely that S3 impulses block at sites of structural heterogeneities than S2 impulses block; (2) Structural heterogeneities causing an increase in λ (or CV) of >40% could result in block of premature impulses; (3) A decrease in the maximum slope of CV restitution curves of propagating premature impulses is indicative of an increased potential for block at structural heterogeneities.

Trait impulsive choice predicts resistance to extinction and propensity to relapse to cocaine seeking: a bidirectional investigation.

PubMed

Broos, Nienke; Diergaarde, Leontien; Schoffelmeer, Anton Nm; Pattij, Tommy; De Vries, Taco J

2012-05-01

Despite the strong association between impulsivity and addiction in humans, it is still a matter of debate whether impulsive choice predisposes to, or results from, drug dependence. Furthermore, it is unknown whether treating impulsivity can protect against relapse propensity. Therefore, this study explored the bidirectional relationship between impulsive choice and cocaine taking and seeking in rat behavioral models. In experiment 1, to determine whether impulsive choice predisposes to cocaine taking or seeking, rats were selected based on trait impulsivity in a delayed reward task and subsequently compared on various stages of cocaine self-administration (SA). To examine the consequence of cocaine intake on impulsive choice, impulsivity was monitored once a week throughout various stages of cocaine SA. To determine whether treating impulsive choice can protect against relapse propensity, in experiment 2, impulsive choice was manipulated by pharmacological interventions and cocaine-associated contextual cues. Trait impulsive choice as determined in experiment 1 predicted high extinction resistance and enhanced propensity to context-induced relapse in the cocaine SA model, whereas cocaine intake did not alter impulsive choice. Furthermore, acute changes in impulsive choice were not related to rates of context-induced relapse. Taken together, the current data indicate that trait impulsive choice predicts persistent cocaine seeking during extinction and enhanced propensity to relapse, whereas acute manipulations of impulsive choice had no favorable outcomes on relapse measures. These observations suggest that trait impulsivity can be used as a predictive factor for addiction liability, but treating this impulsivity does not necessarily protect against relapse.

77 FR 13073 - Designation for the Jamestown, ND; Lincoln, NE; Memphis, TN; and Sioux City, IA Areas

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-05

... the Jamestown, ND; Lincoln, NE; Memphis, TN; and Sioux City, IA Areas AGENCY: Grain Inspection..., IA areas, Lincoln, Midsouth, and Sioux City, respectively were the sole applicants for designation to.../2015 Midsouth Memphis, TN (901) 942-3216 4/1/2012 3/31/2015 Sioux City Sioux City, IA......... (712...

75 FR 26709 - Clarke County Water Supply Project, Clarke County, IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-12

... Project, Clarke County, IA AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service. ACTION: Notice of intent to... Conservationist for Planning, 210 Walnut Street, Room 693, Des Moines, IA 50309-2180, telephone: 515-284- 4769... available at the Iowa NRCS Web site at http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov . A map of the Clarke County Water Supply...

49 CFR 238.315 - Class IA brake test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Class IA brake test. 238.315 Section 238.315... Requirements for Tier I Passenger Equipment § 238.315 Class IA brake test. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, either a Class I or a Class IA brake test shall be performed: (1) Prior to the...

Simpler less expensive method for analysis of inorganic as (iAs) in rice

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

New limits on iAs in rice products require that samples be analyzed for iAs to assure compliance. Initially reported methods used measurement of all species of As present in rice and other foods, which requires very expensive staff and equipment, and a high cost per sample for rice iAs analysis. In...

Nearby Type Ia Supernova Follow-up at the Thacher Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swift, Jonathan; O'Neill, Katie; Kilpatrick, Charles; Foley, Ryan

2018-06-01

Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) provide an effective way to study the expansion of the universe through analyses of their photometry and spectroscopy. The interpretation of high-redshift SN Ia is dependent on accurate characterization of nearby, low-redshift targets. To help build up samples of nearby SN Ia, the Thacher Observatory has begun a photometric follow-up program in 4 photometric bands. Here we present the observations and analysis of multi-band photometry for several recent supernovae as well as FLOYDS spectra from the Las Cumbres Observatory.

Type Ia Supernova Cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leibundgut, B.; Sullivan, M.

2018-03-01

The primary agent for Type Ia supernova cosmology is the uniformity of their appearance. We present the current status, achievements and uncertainties. The Hubble constant and the expansion history of the universe are key measurements provided by Type Ia supernovae. They were also instrumental in showing time dilation, which is a direct observational signature of expansion. Connections to explosion physics are made in the context of potential improvements of the quality of Type Ia supernovae as distance indicators. The coming years will see large efforts to use Type Ia supernovae to characterise dark energy.

INVASIVESNET towards an International Association for Open Knowledge on Invasive Alien Species

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lucy, Frances; Roy, Helen; Simpson, Annie; Carlton, James T.; Hanson, John Mark; Magellan, Kit; Campbell, Marnie L.; Costello, Mark J.; Pagad, Shyama; Hewitt, Chad L; McDonald, Justin; Cassey, Phillip; Thomaz, Sidinei M; Katsanevakis, Stelios; Zenetos, Argyro; Tricarico, Elena; Boggero, Angela; Groom, Quentin J.; Adriaens, Tim; Vanderhoeven, Sonia; Torchin, Mark E.; Hufbauer, Ruth A.; Fuller, Pam; Carman, Mary R; Conn, David Bruce; Vitule, Jean R. S.; Canning-Clode, João; Galil, Bella S; Ojaveer, Henn; Bailey, Sarah A; Therriault, Thomas W; Claudi, Renata; Gazda, Anna; Dick, Jaimie T A; Caffrey, Joe; Witt, Arne; Kenis, Marc; Lehtiniemi, Maiju; Helmisaari, Harry; Panov, Vadim E

2016-01-01

To date, the sustainability of many strategic national and international initiatives on IAS have unfortunately been hampered by time-limited grants or funding cycles. Recognising that IAS initiatives need to be globally coordinated and ongoing, we aim to develop a sustainable knowledge sharing association to connect the outputs of IAS research and to inform the consequential management and societal challenges arising from IAS introductions. INVASIVESNET will provide a dynamic and enduring network of networks to ensure the continuity of connections among the IAS community of practice, science and management.

False Memory in Adults With ADHD: A Comparison Between Subtypes and Normal Controls.

PubMed

Soliman, Abdrabo Moghazy; Elfar, Rania Mohamed

2017-10-01

To examine the performance on the Deese-Roediger-McDermott task of adults divided into ADHD subtypes and compares their performance to that of healthy controls to examine whether adults with ADHD are more susceptible to the production of false memories under experimental conditions. A total of 128 adults with ADHD (50% females), classified into three Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV-TR) subtypes, were compared with 48 controls. The results indicated that the ADHD participants recalled and recognized fewer studied words than the controls, the ADHD groups produced more false memories than the control group, no differences in either the false positives or the false negatives. The ADHD-combined (ADHD-CT) group recognized significantly more critical words than the control, ADHD-predominantly inattentive (ADHD-IA), and ADHD-predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-HI) groups. The ADHD groups recalled and recognized more false positives, were more confident in their false responses, and displayed more knowledge corruption than the controls. The ADHD-CT group recalled and recognized more false positives than the other ADHD groups. The adults with ADHD have more false memories than the controls and that false memory formation varied with the ADHD subtypes.

Are old people so gentle? Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity in the elderly.

PubMed

Morales-Vives, Fabia; Vigil-Colet, Andreu

2012-03-01

Although old people may seem less impulsive than adults, numerous experimental studies report that they have inhibitory deficits. Bearing in mind that there is a relationship between inhibition processes and impulsivity, age-related inhibition deficits suggest that older people could be more impulsive than adults. The aim of the current study was to compare the functional and dysfunctional impulsivity scores obtained in a sample of elderly people (65 years old and above) with those obtained in previous studies on samples of adolescents and adults. Dickman's Impulsivity Inventory was administered to 190 individuals aged between 65 and 94 years without dementia or cognitive impairment. Results indicated that the elderly sample showed higher dysfunctional impulsivity levels than the adult samples, which is consistent with the inhibition deficits mentioned above. There were no significant differences in functional impulsivity. Furthermore, old women had higher scores than old men on dysfunctional impulsivity. This study provides evidence of age-related changes in dysfunctional impulsivity. Functional impulsivity did not show the same pattern as dysfunctional impulsivity, being quite stable across the age span. it seems, then, that impulsivity cannot be considered to decrease with age and dysfunctional impulsivity may even increase.

Questionnaire and behavioral task measures of impulsivity are differentially associated with body mass index: A comprehensive meta-analysis.

PubMed

Emery, Rebecca L; Levine, Michele D

2017-08-01

Although impulsivity has been implicated in the development and maintenance of obesity, evidence linking impulsivity to obesity has been mixed. These mixed findings may be related to differences in the type of impulsivity measures used and the varied domains of impulsivity assessed by each measure. The present meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of measurement selection on the relationship between impulsivity and body mass index (BMI). A total of 142 articles met inclusion criteria and were comprised of 315,818 participants. Effect sizes consisted of Fisher's z-transformed correlation coefficients, which were weighted by the inverse variance to establish the grand mean estimate of the relationship between impulsivity and BMI. Overall weighted mean effect sizes also were computed for each type and domain of impulsivity measure. Moderator analyses were conducted using a mixed-effects approach to determine if the relationship between impulsivity and BMI varied between the types of impulsivity measures used. On average, participants were 32.25 (SD = 12.41) years of age, with a BMI of 26.63 (SD = 5.73) kg/m2. The overall relationship between impulsivity and BMI was small but significant (r = .07). Behavioral task measures of impulsivity produced significantly larger effect sizes (r = .10) than did questionnaire measures of impulsivity (r = .05). Domains of impulsivity that assessed disinhibited behaviors (r = .10), attentional deficits (r = .11), impulsive decision-making (r = .10), and cognitive inflexibility (r = .17) produced significant effect sizes. These meta-analytic findings demonstrate that impulsivity is positively associated with BMI and further document that this association varies by the type of impulsivity measure used and the domain of impulsivity assessed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Nongenomic Glucocorticoid Suppression of a Postsynaptic Potassium Current via Emergent Autocrine Endocannabinoid Signaling in Hypothalamic Neuroendocrine Cells following Chronic Dehydration

PubMed Central

Wu, Ning

2017-01-01

Glucocorticoids rapidly stimulate endocannabinoid synthesis and modulation of synaptic transmission in hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells via a nongenomic signaling mechanism. The endocannabinoid actions are synapse-constrained by astrocyte restriction of extracellular spatial domains. Exogenous cannabinoids have been shown to modulate postsynaptic potassium currents, including the A-type potassium current (IA), in different cell types. The activity of magnocellular neuroendocrine cells is shaped by a prominent IA. We tested for a rapid glucocorticoid modulation of the postsynaptic IK and IA in magnocellular neuroendocrine cells of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) using whole-cell recordings in rat brain slices. Application of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) had no rapid effect on the IK or IA amplitude, voltage dependence, or kinetics in magnocellular neurons in slices from untreated rats. In magnocellular neurons from salt-loaded rats, however, Dex application caused a rapid suppression of the IA and a depolarizing shift in IA voltage dependence. Exogenously applied endocannabinoids mimicked the rapid Dex modulation of the IA, and CB1 receptor antagonists and agonists blocked and occluded the Dex-induced changes in the IA, respectively, suggesting an endocannabinoid dependence of the rapid glucocorticoid effect. Preincubation of control slices in a gliotoxin resulted in the partial recapitulation of the glucocorticoid-induced rapid suppression of the IA. These findings demonstrate a glucocorticoid suppression of the postsynaptic IA in PVN magnocellular neurons via an autocrine endocannabinoid-dependent mechanism following chronic dehydration, and suggest a possible role for astrocytes in the control of the autocrine endocannabinoid actions. PMID:28966975

Does governance play a role in the distribution of invasive alien species?

PubMed

Evans, Thomas; Zu Ermgassen, Philine; Amano, Tatsuya; Peh, Kelvin S-H

2018-02-01

Invasive alien species (IAS) constitute a major threat to global biological diversity. In order to control their spread, a detailed understanding of the factors influencing their distribution is essential. Although international trade is regarded as a major force structuring spatial patterns of IAS, the role of other social factors remains unclear. Despite studies highlighting the importance of strong governance in slowing drivers of biodiversity loss such as logging, deforestation, and agricultural intensification, no study has yet analyzed its contribution to the issue of IAS. Using estimates of governance quality and comprehensive spatiotemporal IAS data, we performed multiple linear regressions to investigate the effect of governance quality upon the distribution of species listed under "100 of the worst" IAS in 38 Eurasian countries as defined by DASIE. Our model suggested that for countries with higher GDP, stronger governance was associated with a greater number of the worst IAS; in contrast, for the lowest GDP countries under analysis, stronger governance was associated with fewer of these IAS. We elucidate how the quality of governance within a country has implications for trade, tourism, transport, legislation, and economic development, all of which influence the spread of IAS. While our findings support the common assumption that strengthening governance benefits conservation interventions in countries of smaller economy, we find that this effect is not universal. Stronger governance alone cannot adequately address the problem of IAS, and targeted action is required in relatively high-GDP countries in order to stem the influx of IAS associated with high volumes of trade.

Antidepressant Use After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

PubMed

Huttunen, Jukka; Lindgren, Antti; Kurki, Mitja I; Huttunen, Terhi; Frösen, Juhana; von Und Zu Fraunberg, Mikael; Koivisto, Timo; Kälviäinen, Reetta; Räikkönen, Katri; Viinamäki, Heimo; Jääskeläinen, Juha E; Immonen, Arto

2016-09-01

To elucidate the predictors of antidepressant use after subarachnoid hemorrhage from saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA-SAH) in a population-based cohort with matched controls. The Kuopio sIA database includes all unruptured and ruptured sIA cases admitted to the Kuopio University Hospital from its defined catchment population in Eastern Finland, with 3 matched controls for each patient. The use of all prescribed medicines has been fused from the Finnish national registry of prescribed medicines. In the present study, 2 or more purchases of antidepressant medication indicated antidepressant use. The risk factors of the antidepressant use were analyzed in 940 patients alive 12 months after sIA-SAH, and the classification tree analysis was used to create a predicting model for antidepressant use after sIA-SAH. The 940 12-month survivors of sIA-SAH had significantly more antidepressant use (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-3.1) than their 2676 matched controls (29% versus 14%). Classification tree analysis, based on independent risk factors, was used for the best prediction model of antidepressant use after sIA-SAH. Modified Rankin Scale until 12 months was the most potent predictor, followed by condition (Hunt and Hess Scale) and age on admission for sIA-SAH. The sIA-SAH survivors use significantly more often antidepressants, indicative of depression, than their matched population controls. Even with a seemingly good recovery (modified Rankin Scale score, 0) at 12 months after sIA-SAH, there is a significant risk of depression requiring antidepressant medication. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

Immunoassay screening in urine for synthetic cannabinoids - an evaluation of the diagnostic efficiency.

PubMed

Franz, Florian; Angerer, Verena; Jechle, Hanna; Pegoro, Melanie; Ertl, Harald; Weinfurtner, Georg; Janele, David; Schlögl, Christian; Friedl, Matthias; Gerl, Stefan; Mielke, Reinhard; Zehnle, Ralf; Wagner, Matthias; Moosmann, Bjoern; Auwärter, Volker

2017-08-28

The abuse of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) as presumed legal alternative to cannabis poses a great risk to public health. For economic reasons many laboratories use immunoassays (IAs) to screen for these substances in urine. However, the structural diversity and high potency of these designer drugs places high demands on IAs regarding cross-reactivity of the antibodies used and detection limits. Two retrospective studies were carried out in order to evaluate the capability of two homogenous enzyme IAs for the detection of currently prevalent SCs in authentic urine samples. Urine samples were analyzed utilizing a 'JWH-018' kit and a 'UR-144' kit. The IA results were confirmed by an up-to-date liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) screening method covering metabolites of 45 SCs. The first study (n=549) showed an 8% prevalence of SCs use (LC-MS/MS analysis) among inpatients of forensic-psychiatric clinics, whereas all samples were tested negative by the IAs. In a second study (n=200) the combined application of both IAs led to a sensitivity of 2% and a diagnostic accuracy of 51% when applying the recommended IA cut-offs. Overall, 10 different currently prevalent SCs were detected in this population. The results can be explained by an insufficient cross-reactivity of the antibodies towards current SCs in combination with relatively high detection limits of the IAs. In light of the presented study data it is strongly recommended not to rely on the evaluated IA tests for SCs in clinical or forensic settings. For IA kits of other providers similar results can be expected.

Long-term outcome of anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease treated with immunoadsorption.

PubMed

Biesenbach, Peter; Kain, Renate; Derfler, Kurt; Perkmann, Thomas; Soleiman, Afschin; Benharkou, Alexandra; Druml, Wilfred; Rees, Andrew; Säemann, Marcus D

2014-01-01

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody disease may lead to acute crescentic glomerulonephritis with poor renal prognosis. Current therapy favours plasma exchange (PE) for removal of pathogenic antibodies. Immunoadsorption (IAS) is superior to PE regarding efficiency of antibody-removal and safety. Apart from anecdotal data, there is no systemic analysis of the long-term effects of IAS on anti-GBM-disease and antibody kinetics. To examine the long-term effect of high-frequency IAS combined with standard immunosuppression on patient and renal survival in patients with anti-GBM-disease and to quantify antibody removal and kinetics through IAS. Retrospective review of patients treated with IAS for anti-GBM-antibody disease confirmed by biopsy and/or anti-GBM-antibodies. University Hospital of Vienna, Austria. 10 patients with anti-GBM-disease treated with IAS. Patient and renal survival, renal histology, anti-GBM-antibodies. Anti-GBM-antibodies were reduced by the first 9 IAS treatments (mean number of 23) to negative levels in all patients. Renal survival was 40% at diagnosis, 70% after the end of IAS, 63% after one year and 50% at the end of observation (mean 84 months, range 9 to 186). Dialysis dependency was successfully reversed in three of six patients. Patient survival was 90% at the end of observation. IAS efficiently eliminates anti-GBM-antibodies suggesting non-inferiority to PE with regard to renal and patient survival. Hence IAS should be considered as a valuable treatment option for anti-GBM-disease, especially in patients presenting with a high percentage of crescents and dialysis dependency due to an unusual high proportion of responders.

Subarachnoid Aneurysmal Hemorrhage Associated with Coarctation of the Aorta: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Nakae, Ryuta; Fujiki, Yu; Yokobori, Shoji; Naoe, Yasutaka; Yokota, Hiroyuki

2017-01-01

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) that undergo rupture causing subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), are common in young patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), but rarer in middle-aged and elderly patients. The pathogenesis of IAs associated with CoA remains unclear. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with SAH. On evaluation, six IAs were distributed among the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) (ruptured), distal segments of both anterior cerebral arteries (ACA), the left internal carotid artery (ICA), the bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA)/MCA early branch, and the inferior trunk of the left MCA. CoA was also diagnosed. The ruptured ACoA IA, and two other unruptured IAs, were successfully clipped during emergency surgery. Postoperative intensive care was instituted to avoid cerebral vasospasm and renal or spinal cord ischemia. During the same hospitalization, the remaining three IAs were clipped at a second surgery. She was discharged with slight cognitive impairment eighty days after admission. Subsequently, she underwent elective treatment for the CoA. According to the literature, IAs associated with CoA have a higher tendency to involve the ACoA than IAs without CoA. Moreover, adult CoA patients tend to have multiple IAs, considered to be due to hypertension associated with CoA, as well as genetic predisposition. In CoA patients, ruptured IAs should be treated as early as possible before correction of the CoA. Close postoperative observation with management of cerebral vasospasm, renal or spinal cord ischemia, and respiratory compromise in the perioperative period is vital.