VizieR Online Data Catalog: R-band light curves of DES J0408-5359 (Courbin+ 2018)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Courbin, F.; Bonvin, V.; Buckley-Geer, E.; Fassnacht, C. D.; Frieman, J.; Lin, H.; Marshall, P. J.; Suyu, S. H.; Treu, T.; Anguita, T.; Motta, V.; Meylan, G.; Paic, E.; Tewes, M.; Agnello, A.; Chao, D. C.-Y.; Chijani, M.; Gilman, D.; Rojas, K.; Williams, P.; Hempel, A.; Kim, S.; Lachaume, R.; Rabus, M.; Abbott, T. M. C.; Allam, S.; Annis, J.; Banerji, M.; Bechtol, K.; Benoit-Levy, A.; Brooks, D.; Burke, D. L.; Rosell, A. Carnero; Kind, M. Carrasco; Carretero, J.; D'Andrea, C. B.; Costa, L. N. Da; Davis, C.; Depoy, D. L.; Desai, S.; Flaugher, B.; Fosalba, P.; Garcia-Bellido, J.; Gaztanaga, E.; Goldstein, D. A.; Gruen, D.; Gruendl, R. A.; Gschwend, J.; Gutierrez, G.; Honscheid, K.; James, D. J.; Kuehn, K.; Kuhlmann, S.; Kuropatkin, N.; Lahav, O.; Lima, M.; Maia, M. A. G.; March, M.; Marshall, J. L.; McMahon, R. G.; Menanteau, F.; Miquel, R.; Nord, B.; Plazas, A. A.; Sanchez, E.; Scarpine, V.; Schindler, R.; Schubnell, M.; Sevilla-Noarbe, I.; Smith, M.; Soares-Santos, M.; Sobreira, F.; Suchyta, E.; Tarle, G.; Tucker, D. L.; Walker, A. R.; Wester, W.

2017-11-01

We have been monitoring the quadruply lensed quasar DES J0408-5354 since July 2016 with different telescopes in the R band (~600-720nm). The resulting R-band light curves of the quadruply lensed quasar DES J0408-5354, is displayed in Fig. 3 of the paper. The light curves are obtained using deconvolution photometry of images from 42 different telescopes (the MPIA 2.2m and the ESO Euler 1.2m). (1 data file).

FORCinel Version 3.0: An Integrated Environment for Processing, Analysis and Simulation of First-Order Reversal Curve Diagrams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lascu, I.; Harrison, R. J.

2016-12-01

First-order reversal curve (FORC) diagrams are a powerful method to characterise the hysteresis properties of magnetic grain ensembles. Methods of processing, analysis and simulation of FORC diagrams have developed rapidly over the past few years, dramatically expanding their utility within rock magnetic research. Here we announce the latest release of FORCinel (Version 3.0), which integrates many of these developments into a unified, user-friendly package running within Igor Pro (www.wavemetrics.com). FORCinel v. 3.0 can be downloaded from https://wserv4.esc.cam.ac.uk/nanopaleomag/. The release will be accompanied by a series of video tutorials outlining each of the new features, including: i) improved work flow, with unified smoothing approach; ii) increased processing speed using multiple processors; iii) control of output resolution, enabling large datasets (> 500 FORCs) to be smoothed in a matter of seconds; iv) load, process, analyse and average multiple FORC diagrams; v) load and process non-gridded data and data acquired on non-PMC systems; vi) improved method for exploring optimal smoothing parameters; vii) interactive and un-doable data-pretreatments; viii) automated detection and removal of measurement outliers; ix) improved interactive method for the generation and optimisation of colour scales; x) full integration with FORCem1 - supervised quantitative unmixing of FORC diagrams using principle component analysis (PCA); xi) full integration with FORCulator2 - micromagnetic simulation of FORC diagrams; xiii) simulate TRM acquisition using the kinetic Monte Carlo simulation algorithm of Shcherbakov3. 1. Lascu, I., Harrison, R.J., Li, Y., Muraszko, J.R., Channell, J.E.T., Piotrowski, A.M., Hodell, D.A., 2015. Magnetic unmixing of first-order reversal curve diagrams using principal component analysis. Geochemistry, Geophys. Geosystems 16, 2900-2915. 2. Harrison, R.J., Lascu, I., 2014. FORCulator: A micromagnetic tool for simulating first-order reversal

Influence of "J"-Curve Spring Stiffness on Running Speeds of Segmented Legs during High-Speed Locomotion.

PubMed

Wang, Runxiao; Zhao, Wentao; Li, Shujun; Zhang, Shunqi

2016-01-01

Both the linear leg spring model and the two-segment leg model with constant spring stiffness have been broadly used as template models to investigate bouncing gaits for legged robots with compliant legs. In addition to these two models, the other stiffness leg spring models developed using inspiration from biological characteristic have the potential to improve high-speed running capacity of spring-legged robots. In this paper, we investigate the effects of "J"-curve spring stiffness inspired by biological materials on running speeds of segmented legs during high-speed locomotion. Mathematical formulation of the relationship between the virtual leg force and the virtual leg compression is established. When the SLIP model and the two-segment leg model with constant spring stiffness and with "J"-curve spring stiffness have the same dimensionless reference stiffness, the two-segment leg model with "J"-curve spring stiffness reveals that (1) both the largest tolerated range of running speeds and the tolerated maximum running speed are found and (2) at fast running speed from 25 to 40/92 m s -1 both the tolerated range of landing angle and the stability region are the largest. It is suggested that the two-segment leg model with "J"-curve spring stiffness is more advantageous for high-speed running compared with the SLIP model and with constant spring stiffness.

Elliptic polylogarithms and iterated integrals on elliptic curves. II. An application to the sunrise integral

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broedel, Johannes; Duhr, Claude; Dulat, Falko; Tancredi, Lorenzo

2018-06-01

We introduce a class of iterated integrals that generalize multiple polylogarithms to elliptic curves. These elliptic multiple polylogarithms are closely related to similar functions defined in pure mathematics and string theory. We then focus on the equal-mass and non-equal-mass sunrise integrals, and we develop a formalism that enables us to compute these Feynman integrals in terms of our iterated integrals on elliptic curves. The key idea is to use integration-by-parts identities to identify a set of integral kernels, whose precise form is determined by the branch points of the integral in question. These kernels allow us to express all iterated integrals on an elliptic curve in terms of them. The flexibility of our approach leads us to expect that it will be applicable to a large variety of integrals in high-energy physics.

Two Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Bacteroides fragilis Carry a Novel Metronidazole Resistance nim Gene (nimJ)

PubMed Central

Veeranagouda, Yaligara; Hsi, Justin; Meggersee, Rosemary; Abratt, Valerie; Wexler, Hannah M.

2013-01-01

Two multidrug-resistant Bacteroides fragilis clinical isolates contain and express a novel nim gene, nimJ, that is not recognized by the “universal” nim primers and can confer increased resistance to metronidazole when introduced into a susceptible strain on a multicopy plasmid. HMW615, an appendiceal isolate, contains at least two copies of nimJ on its genome, while HMW616, an isolate from a patient with sepsis, contains one genomic copy of nimJ. B. fragilis NimJ is phylogenetically closer to Prevotella baroniae NimI and Clostridium botulinum NimA than to the other known Bacteroides Nim proteins. The predicted protein structure of NimJ, based on fold recognition analysis, is consistent with the crystal structures derived for known Nim proteins, and specific amino acid residues important for substrate binding in the active site are conserved. This study demonstrates that the “universal” nim primers will not detect all nim genes with the ability to confer metronidazole resistance, but nimJ alone cannot account for the very high metronidazole MICs of these resistant clinical isolates. PMID:23716049

Circulating ApoJ is closely associated with insulin resistance in human subjects.

PubMed

Seo, Ji A; Kang, Min-Cheol; Ciaraldi, Theodore P; Kim, Sang Soo; Park, Kyong Soo; Choe, Charles; Hwang, Won Min; Lim, Dong Mee; Farr, Olivia; Mantzoros, Christos; Henry, Robert R; Kim, Young-Bum

2018-01-01

Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. ApolipoproteinJ (ApoJ) has been implicated in altered pathophysiologic states including cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease. However, the function of ApoJ in regulation of glucose homeostasis remains unclear. This study sought to determine whether serum ApoJ levels are associated with insulin resistance in human subjects and if they change after interventions that improve insulin sensitivity. Serum ApoJ levels and insulin resistance status were assessed in nondiabetic (ND) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) subjects. The impacts of rosiglitazone or metformin therapy on serum ApoJ levels and glucose disposal rate (GDR) during a hyperinsulinemic/euglycemic clamp were evaluated in a separate cohort of T2D subjects. Total ApoJ protein or that associated with the HDL and LDL fractions was measured by immunoblotting or ELISA. Fasting serum ApoJ levels were greatly elevated in T2D subjects (ND vs T2D; 100±8.3 vs. 150.6±8.5AU, P<0.0001). Circulating ApoJ levels strongly correlated with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and BMI. ApoJ levels were significantly and independently associated with HOMA-IR, even after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI. Rosiglitazone treatment in T2D subjects resulted in a reduction in serum ApoJ levels (before vs. after treatment; 100±13.9 vs. 77±15.2AU, P=0.015), whereas metformin had no effect on ApoJ levels. The change in ApoJ levels during treatment was inversely associated with the change in GDR. Interestingly, ApoJ content in the LDL fraction was inversely associated with HOMA-IR. Serum ApoJ levels are closely correlated with the magnitude of insulin resistance regardless of obesity, and decrease along with improvement of insulin resistance in response only to rosiglitazone in type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Compression-based integral curve data reuse framework for flow visualization

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

Hong, Fan; Bi, Chongke; Guo, Hanqi

Currently, by default, integral curves are repeatedly re-computed in different flow visualization applications, such as FTLE field computation, source-destination queries, etc., leading to unnecessary resource cost. We present a compression-based data reuse framework for integral curves, to greatly reduce their retrieval cost, especially in a resource-limited environment. In our design, a hierarchical and hybrid compression scheme is proposed to balance three objectives, including high compression ratio, controllable error, and low decompression cost. Specifically, we use and combine digitized curve sparse representation, floating-point data compression, and octree space partitioning to adaptively achieve the objectives. Results have shown that our data reusemore » framework could acquire tens of times acceleration in the resource-limited environment compared to on-the-fly particle tracing, and keep controllable information loss. Moreover, our method could provide fast integral curve retrieval for more complex data, such as unstructured mesh data.« less

J-SHIS - an integrated system for knowing seismic hazard information in Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azuma, H.; Fujiwara, H.; Kawai, S.; Hao, K. X.; Morikawa, N.

2015-12-01

An integrated system of Japan seismic hazard information station (J-SHIS) was established in 2005 for issuing and exchanging information of the National Seismic Hazard Maps for Japan that are based on seismic hazard assessment (SHA). A simplified app, also named J-SHIS, for smartphones is popularly used in Japan based on the integrated system of http://www.j-shis.bosai.go.jp/map/?lang=en. "Smartphone tells hazard" is realized on a cellphone, a tablet and/or a PC. At a given spot, the comprehensive information of SHA map can be easily obtained as below: 1) A SHA probability at given intensity (JMA=5-, 5+, 6-, 6+) within 30 years. 2) A site amplification factor varies within 0.5 ~ 3.0 and expectation is 1 based on surface geology map information. 3) A depth of seismic basement down to ~3,000m based on deeper borehole and geological structure. 4) Scenario earthquake maps: By choosing an active fault, one got the average case for different parameters of the modeling. Then choose a case, you got the shaking map of intensity with color scale. "Seismic Hazard Karte tells more hazard" is another app based on website of http://www.j-shis.bosai.go.jp/labs/karte/. (1) For every mesh of 250m x 250m, professional service SHA information is provided over national-world. (2) With five ranks for eight items, comprehensive SHA information could be delivered. (3) Site amplification factor with an average index is given. (4) Deeper geologic structure modeling is provided with borehole profiling. (5) A SHA probability is assessed within 30 and/or 50 years for the given site. (6) Seismic Hazard curves are given for earthquake sources from inland active fault, subduction zone, undetermined and their summarization. (7) The JMA seismic intensities are assessed in long-term averaged periods of 500-years to ~100,000 years. The app of J-SHIS can be downloaded freely from http://www.j-shis.bosai.go.jp/app-jshis.

INTEGRAL Long-Term Monitoring of the Supergiant Fast X-Ray Transient XTE J1739-302

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blay, P.; Martinez-Nunez, S.; Negueruela, I.; Pottschmidt, K.; Smith, D. M.; Torrejon, J. M.; Reig, P.; Kretschmar, P.; Kreykenbohm, I.

2008-01-01

Context. In the past few years, a new class of High Mass X-Ray Binaries (HMXRB) has been claimed to exist, the Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients (SFXT). These are X-ray binary systems with a compact companion orbiting a supergiant star which show very short and bright outbursts in a series of activity periods overimposed on longer quiescent periods. Only very recently the first attempts to model the behaviour of these sources have been published, some of them within the framework of accretion from clumpy stellar winds. Aims. Our goal is to analyze the properties of XTE J1739-302/IGR J17391-3021 within the context of the clumpy structure of the supergiant wind. Methods. We have used INTEGRAL and RXTE/PCA observations in order to obtain broad band (1 - 200 keV) spectra and light curves of XTE J1739-302 and investigate its X-ray spectrum and temporal variability. Results. We have found that XTE J1739-302 follows a much more complex behaviour than expected. Far from presenting a regular variability pattern, XTE J1739-302 shows periods of high, intermediate, and low flaring activity.

The Nature of the X-Ray Binary IGR J19294+1816 from INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Swift Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodriquez, J.; Tomsick, J. A.; Bodaghee, A.; ZuritaHeras, J.-A.; Chaty, S.; Paizis, A.; Corbel, S.

2009-01-01

We report the results of a high-energy multi-instrumental campaign with INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Swift of the recently discovered INTEGRAL source IGR J19294+ 1816. The Swift/XRT data allow us to refine the position of the source to R.A. (J2000) = 19h 29m 55.9s, Decl. (J2000) = +18 deg 18 feet 38 inches . 4 (+/- 3 inches .5), which in turn permits us to identify a candidate infrared counterpart. The Swift and RXTE spectra are well fitted with absorbed power laws with hard (Gamma approx 1) photon indices. During the longest Swift observation, we obtained evidence of absorption in true excess to the Galactic value, which may indicate some intrinsic absorption in this source. We detected a strong (P = 40%) pulsations at 12.43781 (+/- 0.00003) s that we interpret as the spin period of a pulsar. All these results, coupled with the possible 117 day orbital period, point to IGR J19294+ 1816 being an high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) with a Be companion star. However, while the long-term INTEGRAL/IBIS/ISGRI 18-40 keV light curve shows that the source spends most of its time in an undetectable state, we detect occurrences of short (2000-3000 s) and intense flares that are more typical of supergiant fast X-ray transients. We therefore cannot make firm conclusions on the type of system, and we discuss the possible implication of IGR J19294+1816 being an Supergiant Fast X-ray Transient (SFXT).

TBA-like integral equations from quantized mirror curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okuyama, Kazumi; Zakany, Szabolcs

2016-03-01

Quantizing the mirror curve of certain toric Calabi-Yau (CY) three-folds leads to a family of trace class operators. The resolvent function of these operators is known to encode topological data of the CY. In this paper, we show that in certain cases, this resolvent function satisfies a system of non-linear integral equations whose structure is very similar to the Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz (TBA) systems. This can be used to compute spectral traces, both exactly and as a semiclassical expansion. As a main example, we consider the system related to the quantized mirror curve of local P2. According to a recent proposal, the traces of this operator are determined by the refined BPS indices of the underlying CY. We use our non-linear integral equations to test that proposal.

Precise gene editing of chicken Na+/H+ exchange type 1 (chNHE1) confers resistance to avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J).

PubMed

Lee, Hong Jo; Lee, Kyung Youn; Jung, Kyung Min; Park, Kyung Je; Lee, Ko On; Suh, Jeong-Yong; Yao, Yongxiu; Nair, Venugopal; Han, Jae Yong

2017-12-01

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), first isolated in the late 1980s, has caused economic losses to the poultry industry in many countries. As all chicken lines studied to date are susceptible to ALV infection, there is enormous interest in developing resistant chicken lines. The ALV-J receptor, chicken Na + /H + exchange 1 (chNHE1) and the critical amino acid sequences involved in viral attachment and entry have already been characterized. However, there are no reported attempts to induce resistance to the virus by targeted genome modification of the receptor sequences. In an attempt to induce resistance to ALV-J infection, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (CRISPR/Cas9)-based genome editing approaches to modify critical residues of the chNHE1 receptor in chicken cells. The susceptibility of the modified cell lines to ALV-J infection was examined using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing marker viruses. We showed that modifying the chNHE1 receptor by artificially generating a premature stop codon induced absolute resistance to viral infection, with mutations of the tryptophan residue at position 38 (Trp38) being very critical. Single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ssODN)-mediated targeted recombination of the Trp38 region revealed that deletions involving the Trp38 residue were most effective in conferring resistance to ALV-J. Moreover, protein structure analysis of the chNHE1 receptor sequence suggested that its intrinsically disordered region undergoes local conformational changes through genetic alteration. Collectively, these results demonstrate that targeted mutations on chNHE1 alter the susceptibility to ALV-J and the technique is expected to contribute to develop disease-resistant chicken lines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

State Transition and Flaring Activity of IGR J17464-3213/H1743-322 with INTEGRAL SPI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joinet, A.; Jourdain, E.; Malzac, J.; Roques, J. P.; Schönfelder, V.; Ubertini, P.; Capitanio, F.

2005-08-01

IGR J17464-3213, already known as the HEAO 1 transient source H1743-322, has been detected during a state transition by INTEGRAL SPI. We describe the spectral evolution and flaring activity of IGR J17464-3213/H1743-322 from 2003 March 21 to 2003 April 22. During the first part, the source followed a continuous spectral softening, with the peak of the spectral energy distribution shifting from 100 keV down to ~a few keV. However, the thermal disk and the hard X-ray components had a similar intensity, indicating that the source was in an intermediate state throughout our observations and evolving toward the soft state. In the second part of our observations, the RXTE ASM and INTEGRAL SPI light curves showed a strong flaring activity. Two flare events lasting about 1 day each have been detected with SPI and are probably due to instabilities in the accretion disk associated with the state transition. During these flares, the low (1.5-12 keV) and high (20-200 keV) energy fluxes monitored with the RXTE ASM and INTEGRAL SPI are correlated, and the spectral shape (above 20 keV) remains unchanged while the luminosity increases by a factor greater than 2.

Radio emission of SN1993J: the complete picture. II. Simultaneous fit of expansion and radio light curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martí-Vidal, I.; Marcaide, J. M.; Alberdi, A.; Guirado, J. C.; Pérez-Torres, M. A.; Ros, E.

2011-02-01

We report on a simultaneous modelling of the expansion and radio light curves of the supernova SN1993J. We developed a simulation code capable of generating synthetic expansion and radio light curves of supernovae by taking into consideration the evolution of the expanding shock, magnetic fields, and relativistic electrons, as well as the finite sensitivity of the interferometric arrays used in the observations. Our software successfully fits all the available radio data of SN 1993J with a standard emission model for supernovae, which is extended with some physical considerations, such as an evolution in the opacity of the ejecta material, a radial decline in the magnetic fields within the radiating region, and a changing radial density profile for the circumstellar medium starting from day 3100 after the explosion.

Swift, INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Spitzer Reveal IGR J16283-4838

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beckmann, V.; Gehrels, N.; Markwardt, C.; Barthelmy S.; Soldi, S.; Paizis, A.; Mowlavi, N.; Kennca, J. A.; Burrows, D. N.; Chester, M.

2005-01-01

We present the first combined study of the recently discovered source IGR J16283-4838 with Swift, INTEGRAL, and RXTE. The source, discovered by INTEGRAL on April 7, 2005, shows a highly absorbed (variable N(sub H) = 0.4-1.7 x 10(exp 23) /sq cm) and flat (Gamma approx. 1) spectrum in the Swift/XRT and RXTE/PCA data. No optical counterpart is detectable (V > 20 mag), but a possible infrared counterpart within the Swift/XRT error radius is detected in the 2MASS and Spitzer/GLIMPSE survey. The observations suggest that IGR J16283-4838 is a high mass X-ray binary containing a neutron star embedded in Compton thick material. This makes IGR J16283-4838 a member of the class of highly absorbed HMXBs, discovered by INTEGRAL.

Circular RNA alterations are involved in resistance to avian leukosis virus subgroup-J-induced tumor formation in chickens.

PubMed

Zhang, Xinheng; Yan, Yiming; Lei, Xiaoya; Li, Aijun; Zhang, Huanmin; Dai, Zhenkai; Li, Xinjian; Chen, Weiguo; Lin, Wencheng; Chen, Feng; Ma, Jingyun; Xie, Qingmei

2017-05-23

Avian leukosis virus subgroup (ALV-J) is an oncogenic neoplasm-inducing retrovirus that causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry. Recent studies have demonstrated circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in pathogenic processes; however, no research has indicated circRNAs are involved in resistance to disease. In this study, over 1800 circRNAs were detected by circRNA sequencing of liver tissues from ALV-J-resistant (n = 3) and ALV-J-susceptible chickens (n = 3). 32 differentially expressed circRNAs were selected for analyzing including 12 upregulated in ALV-J-resistant chickens and 20 upregulated in ALV-J-susceptible chickens, besides, the top five microRNAs (miRNAs) for 12 upregulated circRNAs in ALV-J-resistant chickens were analyzed. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses were performed for miRNA target genes, the predicted genes were mainly involved in immune pathways. This study provides the first evidence that circRNA alterations are involved in resistance to ALV-J-induced tumor formation. We propose circRNAs may help to mediate tumor induction and development in chickens.

Wheat Gene TaATG8j Contributes to Stripe Rust Resistance.

PubMed

Mamun, Md Abdullah-Al; Tang, Chunlei; Sun, Yingchao; Islam, Md Nazrul; Liu, Peng; Wang, Xiaojie; Kang, Zhensheng

2018-06-05

Autophagy-related 8 (ATG8) protein has been reported to be involved in plant's innate immune response, but it is not clear whether such genes play a similar role in cereal crops against obligate biotrophic fungal pathogens. Here, we reported an ATG8 gene from wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), designated TaATG8j . This gene has three copies located in chromosomes 2AS, 2BS, and 2DS. The transcriptions of all three copies were upregulated in plants of the wheat cultivar Suwon 11, inoculated with an avirulent race (CYR23) of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici ( Pst ), the causal fungal pathogen of stripe rust. The transient expression of TaATG8j in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that TaATG8j proteins were distributed throughout the cytoplasm, but mainly in the nucleus and plasma membrane. The overexpression of TaATG8j in N. benthamiana slightly delayed the cell death caused by the mouse apoptotic protein BAX (BCL2-associated X protein). However, the expression of TaATG8j in yeast ( Schizosaccharomyces pombe ) induced cell death. The virus-induced gene silencing of all TaATG8j copies rendered Suwon 11 susceptible to the avirulent Pst race CYR23, accompanied by an increased fungal biomass and a decreased necrotic area per infection site. These results indicate that TaATG8j contributes to wheat resistance against stripe rust fungus by regulating cell death, providing information for the understanding of the mechanisms of wheat resistance to the stripe rust pathogen.

INTEGRAL observations of MAXI J1820+070

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bozzo, E.; Savchenko, V.; Ferrigno, C.; Ducci, L.; Kuulkers, E.; Ubertini, P.; Laurent, P.

2018-03-01

INTEGRAL observed the newly discovered blackhole candidate MAXI J1820+070 (ATel #11400, #11403, #11418, #11421, #11423, #11424, #11425, #11426, #11427, #11432, #11437, #11439, #11440, #11445, #11451, #11458) during a dedicated ToO campaign from 16 March 2018 at 11:07 to 18 March at 12:52 (UTC; satellite revolution 1931).

Silver ion-mediated killing of a food pathogen: Melting curve analysis data of silver resistance genes and growth curve data.

PubMed

Gokulan, Kuppan; Williams, Katherine; Khare, Sangeeta

2017-04-01

Limited antibacterial activity of silver ions leached from silver-impregnated food contact materials could be due to: 1) the presence of silver resistance genes in tested bacteria ; or 2) lack of susceptibility to silver ion-mediated killing in the bacterial strain (K. Williams, L. Valencia, K. Gokulan, R. Trbojevich, S. Khare, 2016 [1]). This study contains data to address the specificity of silver resistance genes in Salmonella Typhimurium during the real time PCR using melting curve analysis and an assessment of the minimum inhibitory concentration of silver ions for Salmonella .

Suppression of ciprofloxacin-induced resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a dynamic kill curve system.

PubMed

Wu, Benjamin M; Sabarinath, Sreedharan N; Rand, Kenneth; Johnson, Judith; Derendorf, Hartmut

2011-06-01

Current dosing approaches for treating microbial infections ignore resistant subpopulations. A clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured in a dynamic in vitro kill curve system designed to simulate the half-lives of drugs in order to evaluate the drug-microbial response relationship. The first dose of ciprofloxacin (CIP) uses a concentration equivalent to the unbound fraction of a 200mg clinical dose. A second dose of 200mg or 600 mg CIP, or ceftriaxone (CFX) or gentamicin (GEN) was administered at 12h. Dynamics of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were assessed using Etest strips before and throughout the CIP treatment period. In addition, the microbroth dilution method was used to evaluate drug susceptibility across a wide range of antibiotics using samples from before and after CIP exposure. A significant loss of CIP effects was observed at the second dose. Cross-resistance to many antibiotics (cefoxitin, cefuroxime, cefotetan, ampicillin and ertapenem) was observed. GEN, but not CFX or high-dose CIP, was sufficient to suppress the developed resistant subpopulation following the initial CIP exposure. The CIP MIC increased substantially from 0.13 μg/mL pre dose to 4 μg/mL at 12h after a CIP dose. In addition, aztreonam induced a similar resistance pattern as CIP, indicating that induction of resistance was not limited to fluoroquinolones. In conclusion, the in vitro dynamic kill curve system revealed that aminoglycosides, more than other classes of antibiotics, were effective against the CIP-induced resistant subpopulations. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Assessment of cortical bone fracture resistance curves by fusing artificial neural networks and linear regression.

PubMed

Vukicevic, Arso M; Jovicic, Gordana R; Jovicic, Milos N; Milicevic, Vladimir L; Filipovic, Nenad D

2018-02-01

Bone injures (BI) represents one of the major health problems, together with cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Assessment of the risks associated with BI is nontrivial since fragility of human cortical bone is varying with age. Due to restrictions for performing experiments on humans, only a limited number of fracture resistance curves (R-curves) for particular ages have been reported in the literature. This study proposes a novel decision support system for the assessment of bone fracture resistance by fusing various artificial intelligence algorithms. The aim was to estimate the R-curve slope, toughness threshold and stress intensity factor using the two input parameters commonly available during a routine clinical examination: patients age and crack length. Using the data from the literature, the evolutionary assembled Artificial Neural Network was developed and used for the derivation of Linear regression (LR) models of R-curves for arbitrary age. Finally, by using the patient (age)-specific LR models and diagnosed crack size one could estimate the risk of bone fracture under given physiological conditions. Compared to the literature, we demonstrated improved performances for estimating nonlinear changes of R-curve slope (R 2 = 0.82 vs. R 2 = 0.76) and Toughness threshold with ageing (R 2 = 0.73 vs. R 2 = 0.66).

Transit light curves with finite integration time: Fisher information analysis

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

Price, Ellen M.; Rogers, Leslie A.

2014-10-10

Kepler has revolutionized the study of transiting planets with its unprecedented photometric precision on more than 150,000 target stars. Most of the transiting planet candidates detected by Kepler have been observed as long-cadence targets with 30 minute integration times, and the upcoming Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite will record full frame images with a similar integration time. Integrations of 30 minutes affect the transit shape, particularly for small planets and in cases of low signal to noise. Using the Fisher information matrix technique, we derive analytic approximations for the variances and covariances on the transit parameters obtained from fitting light curvemore » photometry collected with a finite integration time. We find that binning the light curve can significantly increase the uncertainties and covariances on the inferred parameters when comparing scenarios with constant total signal to noise (constant total integration time in the absence of read noise). Uncertainties on the transit ingress/egress time increase by a factor of 34 for Earth-size planets and 3.4 for Jupiter-size planets around Sun-like stars for integration times of 30 minutes compared to instantaneously sampled light curves. Similarly, uncertainties on the mid-transit time for Earth and Jupiter-size planets increase by factors of 3.9 and 1.4. Uncertainties on the transit depth are largely unaffected by finite integration times. While correlations among the transit depth, ingress duration, and transit duration all increase in magnitude with longer integration times, the mid-transit time remains uncorrelated with the other parameters. We provide code in Python and Mathematica for predicting the variances and covariances at www.its.caltech.edu/∼eprice.« less

The resistance of BALB/cJ mice to Yersinia pestis maps to the major histocompatibility complex of chromosome 17.

PubMed

Turner, Joshua K; McAllister, Milton M; Xu, John L; Tapping, Richard I

2008-09-01

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, has been well studied at the molecular and genetic levels, but little is known about the role that host genes play in combating this highly lethal pathogen. We challenged several inbred strains of mice with Y. pestis and found that BALB/cJ mice are highly resistant compared to susceptible strains such as C57BL/6J. This resistance was observed only in BALB/cJ mice and not in other BALB/c substrains. Compared to C57BL/6J mice, the BALB/cJ strain exhibited reduced bacterial burden in the spleen and liver early after infection as well as lower levels of serum interleukin-6. These differences were evident 24 h postinfection and became more pronounced with time. Although a significant influx of neutrophils in the spleen and liver was exhibited in both strains, occlusive fibrinous thrombi resulting in necrosis of the surrounding tissue was observed only in C57BL/6J mice. In an effort to identify the gene(s) responsible for resistance, we measured total splenic bacteria in 95 F(2) mice 48 h postinfection and performed quantitative trait locus mapping using 58 microsatellite markers spaced throughout the genome. This analysis revealed a single nonrecessive plague resistance locus, designated prl1 (plague resistance locus 1), which coincides with the major histocompatibility complex of chromosome 17. A second screen of 95 backcrossed mice verified that this locus confers resistance to Y. pestis early in infection. Finally, eighth generation backcrossed mice harboring prl1 were found to maintain resistance in the susceptible C57BL/6J background. These results identify a novel genetic locus in BALB/cJ mice that confers resistance to Y. pestis.

Assessing the fracture strength of geological and related materials via an atomistically based J-integral

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, R. E.; Criscenti, L. J.; Rimsza, J.

2016-12-01

Predicting fracture initiation and propagation in low-permeability geomaterials is a critical yet un- solved problem crucial to assessing shale caprocks at carbon dioxide sequestration sites, and controlling fracturing for gas and oil extraction. Experiments indicate that chemical reactions at fluid-geomaterial interfaces play a major role in subcritical crack growth by weakening the material and altering crack nu- cleation and growth rates. Engineering the subsurface fracture environment, however, has been hindered by a lack of understanding of the mechanisms relating chemical environment to mechanical outcome, and a lack of capability directly linking atomistic insight to macroscale observables. We have developed a fundamental atomic-level understanding of the chemical-mechanical mecha- nisms that control subcritical cracks through coarse-graining data from reactive molecular simulations. Previous studies of fracture at the atomic level have typically been limited to producing stress-strain curves, quantifying either the system-level stress or energy at which fracture propagation occurs. As such, these curves are neither characteristic of nor insightful regarding fracture features local to the crack tip. In contrast, configurational forces, such as the J-integral, are specific to the crack in that they measure the energy available to move the crack and truly quantify fracture resistance. By development and use of field estimators consistent with the continuum conservation properties we are able to connect the data produced by atomistic simulation to the continuum-level theory of fracture mechanics and thus inform engineering decisions. In order to trust this connection we have performed theoretical consistency tests and validation with experimental data. Although we have targeted geomaterials, this capability can have direct impact on other unsolved technological problems such as predicting the corrosion and embrittlement of metals and ceramics. Sandia National

Measurement of J-integral in CAD/CAM dental ceramics and composite resin by digital image correlation.

PubMed

Jiang, Yanxia; Akkus, Anna; Roperto, Renato; Akkus, Ozan; Li, Bo; Lang, Lisa; Teich, Sorin

2016-09-01

Ceramic and composite resin blocks for CAD/CAM machining of dental restorations are becoming more common. The sample sizes affordable by these blocks are smaller than ideal for stress intensity factor (SIF) based tests. The J-integral measurement calls for full field strain measurement, making it challenging to conduct. Accordingly, the J-integral values of dental restoration materials used in CAD/CAM restorations have not been reported to date. Digital image correlation (DIC) provides full field strain maps, making it possible to calculate the J-integral value. The aim of this study was to measure the J-integral value for CAD/CAM restorative materials. Four types of materials (sintered IPS E-MAX CAD, non-sintered IPS E-MAX CAD, Vita Mark II and Paradigm MZ100) were used to prepare beam samples for three-point bending tests. J-integrals were calculated for different integral path size and locations with respect to the crack tip. J-integral at path 1 for each material was 1.26±0.31×10(-4)MPam for MZ 100, 0.59±0.28×10(-4)MPam for sintered E-MAX, 0.19±0.07×10(-4)MPam for VM II, and 0.21±0.05×10(-4)MPam for non-sintered E-MAX. There were no significant differences between different integral path size, except for the non-sintered E-MAX group. J-integral paths of non-sintered E-MAX located within 42% of the height of the sample provided consistent values whereas outside this range resulted in lower J-integral values. Moreover, no significant difference was found among different integral path locations. The critical SIF was calculated from J-integral (KJ) along with geometry derived SIF values (KI). KI values were comparable with KJ and geometry based SIF values obtained from literature. Therefore, DIC derived J-integral is a reliable way to assess the fracture toughness of small sized specimens for dental CAD/CAM restorative materials; however, with caution applied to the selection of J-integral path. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Path integration: effect of curved path complexity and sensory system on blindfolded walking.

PubMed

Koutakis, Panagiotis; Mukherjee, Mukul; Vallabhajosula, Srikant; Blanke, Daniel J; Stergiou, Nicholas

2013-02-01

Path integration refers to the ability to integrate continuous information of the direction and distance traveled by the system relative to the origin. Previous studies have investigated path integration through blindfolded walking along simple paths such as straight line and triangles. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the role of path complexity in path integration. Moreover, little is known about how information from different sensory input systems (like vision and proprioception) contributes to accurate path integration. The purpose of the current study was to investigate how sensory information and curved path complexity affect path integration. Forty blindfolded participants had to accurately reproduce a curved path and return to the origin. They were divided into four groups that differed in the curved path, circle (simple) or figure-eight (complex), and received either visual (previously seen) or proprioceptive (previously guided) information about the path before they reproduced it. The dependent variables used were average trajectory error, walking speed, and distance traveled. The results indicated that (a) both groups that walked on a circular path and both groups that received visual information produced greater accuracy in reproducing the path. Moreover, the performance of the group that received proprioceptive information and later walked on a figure-eight path was less accurate than their corresponding circular group. The groups that had the visual information also walked faster compared to the group that had proprioceptive information. Results of the current study highlight the roles of different sensory inputs while performing blindfolded walking for path integration. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

jORCA: easily integrating bioinformatics Web Services.

PubMed

Martín-Requena, Victoria; Ríos, Javier; García, Maximiliano; Ramírez, Sergio; Trelles, Oswaldo

2010-02-15

Web services technology is becoming the option of choice to deploy bioinformatics tools that are universally available. One of the major strengths of this approach is that it supports machine-to-machine interoperability over a network. However, a weakness of this approach is that various Web Services differ in their definition and invocation protocols, as well as their communication and data formats-and this presents a barrier to service interoperability. jORCA is a desktop client aimed at facilitating seamless integration of Web Services. It does so by making a uniform representation of the different web resources, supporting scalable service discovery, and automatic composition of workflows. Usability is at the top of the jORCA agenda; thus it is a highly customizable and extensible application that accommodates a broad range of user skills featuring double-click invocation of services in conjunction with advanced execution-control, on the fly data standardization, extensibility of viewer plug-ins, drag-and-drop editing capabilities, plus a file-based browsing style and organization of favourite tools. The integration of bioinformatics Web Services is made easier to support a wider range of users. .

The Resistance of BALB/cJ Mice to Yersinia pestis Maps to the Major Histocompatibility Complex of Chromosome 17▿

PubMed Central

Turner, Joshua K.; McAllister, Milton M.; Xu, John L.; Tapping, Richard I.

2008-01-01

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, has been well studied at the molecular and genetic levels, but little is known about the role that host genes play in combating this highly lethal pathogen. We challenged several inbred strains of mice with Y. pestis and found that BALB/cJ mice are highly resistant compared to susceptible strains such as C57BL/6J. This resistance was observed only in BALB/cJ mice and not in other BALB/c substrains. Compared to C57BL/6J mice, the BALB/cJ strain exhibited reduced bacterial burden in the spleen and liver early after infection as well as lower levels of serum interleukin-6. These differences were evident 24 h postinfection and became more pronounced with time. Although a significant influx of neutrophils in the spleen and liver was exhibited in both strains, occlusive fibrinous thrombi resulting in necrosis of the surrounding tissue was observed only in C57BL/6J mice. In an effort to identify the gene(s) responsible for resistance, we measured total splenic bacteria in 95 F2 mice 48 h postinfection and performed quantitative trait locus mapping using 58 microsatellite markers spaced throughout the genome. This analysis revealed a single nonrecessive plague resistance locus, designated prl1 (plague resistance locus 1), which coincides with the major histocompatibility complex of chromosome 17. A second screen of 95 backcrossed mice verified that this locus confers resistance to Y. pestis early in infection. Finally, eighth generation backcrossed mice harboring prl1 were found to maintain resistance in the susceptible C57BL/6J background. These results identify a novel genetic locus in BALB/cJ mice that confers resistance to Y. pestis. PMID:18573896

Improved electrotransformation and decreased antibiotic resistance of the cystic fibrosis pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia strain J2315.

PubMed

Dubarry, Nelly; Du, Wenli; Lane, David; Pasta, Franck

2010-02-01

The bacterium Burkholderia cenocepacia is pathogenic for sufferers from cystic fibrosis (CF) and certain immunocompromised conditions. The B. cenocepacia strain most frequently isolated from CF patients, and which serves as the reference for CF epidemiology, is J2315. The J2315 genome is split into three chromosomes and one plasmid. The strain was sequenced several years ago, and its annotation has been released recently. This information should allow genetic experimentation with J2315, but two major impediments appear: the poor potential of J2315 to act as a recipient in transformation and conjugation and the high level of resistance it mounts to nearly all antibiotics. Here, we describe modifications to the standard electroporation procedure that allow routine transformation of J2315 by DNA. In addition, we show that deletion of an efflux pump gene and addition of spermine to the medium enhance the sensitivity of J2315 to certain commonly used antibiotics and so allow a wider range of antibiotic resistance genes to be used for selection.

LB02.06: CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE 'J CURVE' IN TREATED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.

PubMed

Lip, S; McCallum, L; Touyz, R H; Dominiczak, A F; Padmanabhan, S

2015-06-01

Recent studies have shown that low diastolic blood pressure is associated with increased cardiovascular outcomes especially in those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (DBP 'J' Curve). Whether this has practical implications in real life hypertension practice is unknown. We analysed the achieved blood pressure of 6,072 patients between years 2 and 5 following initial presentation to the Glasgow Blood Pressure Clinic. Patients were classified into nine groups based on the area under the curve(AUC) of at least 3 blood pressure(BP) readings during this period. Multivariable adjusted 30 years survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards model. The age of first visit was 53±13 years, BMI 27.6 ± 5.2, baseline BP 169 ± 29/100 ± 18 mmHg, 52% were females, 60% drank more than 6 units of alcohol/week, 44% were ever smokers, 26% had prevalent CVD and 26% had eGFR<60. Of 6,072 individuals, 418(7%) achieved AUC-BP =<140/80; 365(12%) had isolated systolic hypertension(ISH) (>140/<80mmHg) of whom 98 had severe ISH (SBP>160/ DBP<80). There were only 199(0.7%) subjects with AUC-DBP<70 mmHg. 30 year survival data was available for 5,451 individuals with 1,662 all-cause deaths and 65,430 person-years of follow-up. Figure 1 presents the adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular mortality showing significant excess risk associated with DBP<80 only in subjects with SBP>160.(Figure is included in full-text article.) : In treated hypertensive patients, the DBP 'J 'curve is not apparent with achieved BP 2 - 5 years from presentation. This may be explained partly by the low likelihood of achieving DBP<70 2-5 years after commencing treatment.

Development of cubic Bezier curve and curve-plane intersection method for parametric submarine hull form design to optimize hull resistance using CFD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chrismianto, Deddy; Zakki, Ahmad Fauzan; Arswendo, Berlian; Kim, Dong Joon

2015-12-01

Optimization analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) have been applied simultaneously, in which a parametric model plays an important role in finding the optimal solution. However, it is difficult to create a parametric model for a complex shape with irregular curves, such as a submarine hull form. In this study, the cubic Bezier curve and curve-plane intersection method are used to generate a solid model of a parametric submarine hull form taking three input parameters into account: nose radius, tail radius, and length-height hull ratio ( L/ H). Application program interface (API) scripting is also used to write code in the ANSYS design modeler. The results show that the submarine shape can be generated with some variation of the input parameters. An example is given that shows how the proposed method can be applied successfully to a hull resistance optimization case. The parametric design of the middle submarine type was chosen to be modified. First, the original submarine model was analyzed, in advance, using CFD. Then, using the response surface graph, some candidate optimal designs with a minimum hull resistance coefficient were obtained. Further, the optimization method in goal-driven optimization (GDO) was implemented to find the submarine hull form with the minimum hull resistance coefficient ( C t ). The minimum C t was obtained. The calculated difference in C t values between the initial submarine and the optimum submarine is around 0.26%, with the C t of the initial submarine and the optimum submarine being 0.001 508 26 and 0.001 504 29, respectively. The results show that the optimum submarine hull form shows a higher nose radius ( r n ) and higher L/ H than those of the initial submarine shape, while the radius of the tail ( r t ) is smaller than that of the initial shape.

A Possible Magnetar Nature for IGR J16358-4726

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patel, S.; Zurita, J.; DelSanto, M.; Finger, M.; Koueliotou, C.; Eichler, D.; Gogus, E.; Ubertini, P.; Walter, R.; Woods, P.

2006-01-01

We present detailed spectral and timing analysis of the hard x-ray transient IGR J16358-4726 using multi-satellite archival observations. A study of the source flux time history over 6 years, suggests that this transient outbursts can be occurring in intervals of at most 1 year. Joint spectral fits using simultaneous Chandra/ACIS and INTEGRAL/ISGRI data reveal a spectrum well described by an absorbed cut-off power law model plus an Fe line. We detected the pulsations initially reported using Chandra/ACIS also in the INTEGRAL/ISGRI light curve and in subsequent XMM-Newton observations. Using the INTEGRAL data we identified a pulse spin up of 94 s (P = 1.6 x 10(exp -4), which strongly points to a neutron star nature for IGR J16358-4726. Assuming that the spin up is due to disc accretion, we estimate that the source magnetic field ranges between 10(sup 13) approximately 10(sup 15) depending on its distance, possibly supporting a magnetar nature for IGR J16358-4726.

A Possible Magnetar Nature for IGR J16358-4726

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patel, S. K.; Zurita, J.; DelSanto, M.; Finger, M.; Kouveliotou, C.; Eichler, D.; Gogus, E.; Ubertini, P.; Walter, R.; Woods, P.;

jAMVLE, a New Integrated Molecular Visualization Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bottomley, Steven; Chandler, David; Morgan, Eleanor; Helmerhorst, Erik

2006-01-01

A new computer-based molecular visualization tool has been developed for teaching, and learning, molecular structure. This java-based jmol Amalgamated Molecular Visualization Learning Environment (jAMVLE) is platform-independent, integrated, and interactive. It has an overall graphical user interface that is intuitive and easy to use. The…

Extinction, seeing and sky transparency monitoring at the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre for J-PAS and J-PLUS calibration and scheduling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vázquez Ramió, H.; Díaz-Martín, M. C.; Varela, J.; Ederoclite, A.; Maícas, N. Lamadrid, J. L.; Abril, J.; Iglesias-Marzoa, R.; Rodríguez, S.; Tilve, V.; Cenarro, A. J.; Antón Bravo, J. L.; Bello Ferrer, R.; Cristóbal-Hornillos, D.; Guillén Civera, L.; Hernández-Fuertes, J.; Jiménez Mejías, D.; Lasso-Cabrera, N. M.; López Alegre, G.; López Sainz, A.; Luis-Simoes, R. M.; Marín-Franch, A.; Moles, M.; Rueda-Teruel, F.; Rueda-Teruel, S.; Suárez López, O.; Yanes-Díaz, A.

2015-05-01

The Javalambre-Physics of the Accelerating Universe Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS; see Benítez et al. 2014) and the Javalambre-Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) will be conducted at the brand-new Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ) in Teruel, Spain. J-PLUS is planned to start by the first half of 2015 while J-PAS first light is expected to happen along 2015. Besides the two main telescopes (with 2.5 m and 80 cm apertures), several smaller-sized facilities are present at the OAJ devoted to site characterization and supporting measurements to be used to calibrate the J-PAS and J-PLUS photometry and to feed up the OAJ's Sequencer with the integrated seeing and the sky transparency. These instruments are: i) an extinction monitor, an 11 " telescope estimating the atmospheric extinction to finally obtain the OAJ extinction curve, which is the initial step to J-PAS overall photometric calibration procedure; ii) an 8 " telescope implementing the Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) technique to obtain the integrated seeing; and iii) an All-Sky Transmission MONitor (ASTMON), a roughly all-sky instrument providing the sky transparency as well as sky brightness and the atmospheric extinction too.

Observations and Light Curve Solutions of the Eclipsing Binaries KR Lyn, CSS J110212+244412, NSVS 4917488 and NSVS 7336024

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kjurkchieva, D.; Popov, V. A.; Eneva, J.; Petrov, N.

2018-05-01

We present photometric observations in Sloan filters g', i' of the short-period eclipsing stars KR Lyn, CSS J110212+244412, NSVS 4917488 and NSVS 7336024. The light curve solutions revealed that all targets are overcontact binaries whose components are G and K stars. Their temperature differences do not exceed 300 K but they differ considerably in size and mass. NSVS 4917488 and NSVS 7336024 reveal total eclipses and their parameters can be considered as well-determined. We found that KR Lyn, NSVS 4917488 and NSVS 7336024 are of W-subtype while CSS J110212+244412 is A-subtype W UMa-type star.

Improved Electrotransformation and Decreased Antibiotic Resistance of the Cystic Fibrosis Pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia Strain J2315▿

PubMed Central

Dubarry, Nelly; Du, Wenli; Lane, David; Pasta, Franck

2010-01-01

The bacterium Burkholderia cenocepacia is pathogenic for sufferers from cystic fibrosis (CF) and certain immunocompromised conditions. The B. cenocepacia strain most frequently isolated from CF patients, and which serves as the reference for CF epidemiology, is J2315. The J2315 genome is split into three chromosomes and one plasmid. The strain was sequenced several years ago, and its annotation has been released recently. This information should allow genetic experimentation with J2315, but two major impediments appear: the poor potential of J2315 to act as a recipient in transformation and conjugation and the high level of resistance it mounts to nearly all antibiotics. Here, we describe modifications to the standard electroporation procedure that allow routine transformation of J2315 by DNA. In addition, we show that deletion of an efflux pump gene and addition of spermine to the medium enhance the sensitivity of J2315 to certain commonly used antibiotics and so allow a wider range of antibiotic resistance genes to be used for selection. PMID:20023084

NUMERICAL INTEGRAL OF RESISTANCE COEFFICIENTS IN DIFFUSION

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

Zhang, Q. S., E-mail: zqs@ynao.ac.cn

2017-01-10

The resistance coefficients in the screened Coulomb potential of stellar plasma are evaluated to high accuracy. I have analyzed the possible singularities in the integral of scattering angle. There are possible singularities in the case of an attractive potential. This may result in a problem for the numerical integral. In order to avoid the problem, I have used a proper scheme, e.g., splitting into many subintervals where the width of each subinterval is determined by the variation of the integrand, to calculate the scattering angle. The collision integrals are calculated by using Romberg’s method, therefore the accuracy is high (i.e.,more » ∼10{sup −12}). The results of collision integrals and their derivatives for −7 ≤ ψ ≤ 5 are listed. By using Hermite polynomial interpolation from those data, the collision integrals can be obtained with an accuracy of 10{sup −10}. For very weakly coupled plasma ( ψ ≥ 4.5), analytical fittings for collision integrals are available with an accuracy of 10{sup −11}. I have compared the final results of resistance coefficients with other works and found that, for a repulsive potential, the results are basically the same as others’; for an attractive potential, the results in cases of intermediate and strong coupling show significant differences. The resulting resistance coefficients are tested in the solar model. Comparing with the widely used models of Cox et al. and Thoul et al., the resistance coefficients in the screened Coulomb potential lead to a slightly weaker effect in the solar model, which is contrary to the expectation of attempts to solve the solar abundance problem.« less

DBA2J db/db mice are susceptible to early albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis that correlate with systemic insulin resistance.

PubMed

Østergaard, Mette V; Pinto, Vanda; Stevenson, Kirsty; Worm, Jesper; Fink, Lisbeth N; Coward, Richard J M

2017-02-01

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of kidney failure in the world. To understand important mechanisms underlying this condition, and to develop new therapies, good animal models are required. In mouse models of type 1 diabetes, the DBA/2J strain has been shown to be more susceptible to develop kidney disease than other common strains. We hypothesized this would also be the case in type 2 diabetes. We studied db/db and wild-type (wt) DBA/2J mice and compared these with the db/db BLKS/J mouse, which is currently the most widely used type 2 DN model. Mice were analyzed from age 6 to 12 wk for systemic insulin resistance, albuminuria, and glomerular histopathological and ultrastructural changes. Body weight and nonfasted blood glucose were increased by 8 wk in both genders, while systemic insulin resistance commenced by 6 wk in female and 8 wk in male db/db DBA/2J mice. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was closely linked to systemic insulin resistance in both sexes and was increased ~50-fold by 12 wk of age in the db/db DBA/2J cohort. Glomerulosclerosis, foot process effacement, and glomerular basement membrane thickening were observed at 12 wk of age in db/db DBA/2J mice. Compared with db/db BLKS/J mice, db/db DBA/2J mice had significantly increased levels of urinary ACR, but similar glomerular histopathological and ultrastructural changes. The db/db DBA/2J mouse is a robust model of early-stage albuminuric DN, and its levels of albuminuria correlate closely with systemic insulin resistance. This mouse model will be helpful in defining early mechanisms of DN and ultimately the development of novel therapies. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

RESISTANCE AND CROSS-RESISTANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI S MUTANTS TO THE RADIOMIMETIC AGENT PROFLAVINE

PubMed Central

Woody-Karrer, Pearl; Greenberg, Joseph

1964-01-01

Woody-Karrer, Pearl (Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation, Palo Alto, Calif.), and Joseph Greenberg. Resistance and cross-resistance of Escherichia coli S mutants to the radiomimetic agent proflavine. J. Bacteriol. 87:536–542. 1964.—All 50 of the first-step mutants of Escherichia coli S selected for resistance to proflavine were resistant to ultraviolet light and each of five different radiomimetic chemicals. The mutants were classified into eight types on the basis of their relative resistance to six different radiomimetic drugs and on the basis of the shape of their ultraviolet survival curves. Three of these types are identical to types previously isolated with other radiomimetic drugs; five of the types are new. A high proportion of the clones surviving proflavine treatment were phenotypically but not genetically resistant, and no strains were isolated which were resistant to proflavine but were not resistant to radiation. PMID:14129667

Integrated healthcare networks' performance: a growth curve modeling approach.

PubMed

Wan, Thomas T H; Wang, Bill B L

2003-05-01

This study examines the effects of integration on the performance ratings of the top 100 integrated healthcare networks (IHNs) in the United States. A strategic-contingency theory is used to identify the relationship of IHNs' performance to their structural and operational characteristics and integration strategies. To create a database for the panel study, the top 100 IHNs selected by the SMG Marketing Group in 1998 were followed up in 1999 and 2000. The data were merged with the Dorenfest data on information system integration. A growth curve model was developed and validated by the Mplus statistical program. Factors influencing the top 100 IHNs' performance in 1998 and their subsequent rankings in the consecutive years were analyzed. IHNs' initial performance scores were positively influenced by network size, number of affiliated physicians and profit margin, and were negatively associated with average length of stay and technical efficiency. The continuing high performance, judged by maintaining higher performance scores, tended to be enhanced by the use of more managerial or executive decision-support systems. Future studies should include time-varying operational indicators to serve as predictors of network performance.

The J-curve between Diastolic Blood Pressure and Risk of All-cause and Cardiovascular Death.

PubMed

Kimm, Heejin; Mok, Yejin; Lee, Sun Ju; Lee, Sunmi; Back, Joung Hwan; Jee, Sun Ha

2018-01-01

The J-curve phenomenon between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mortality has been reported repeatedly in treated patients. However, the baseline risk of low DBP has not been fully explored. This study was to examine the relationship between DBP and risk of mortality from all-cause, atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASCVD), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) using a prospective cohort of general population. We analyzed 1,234,435 participants of the Korean Cancer Prevention Study cohort (789,255 men, 30-95 years of age) who had a medical evaluation from 1992 to 1995 using Cox proportional hazards models. A total of 22.5 million person-years were followed up (mean age 46.6 years, deaths 193,903 cases). The hazard ratios of mortality from all-cause and ASCVD, among those with DBP <60 mmHg compared to 70-79 mmHg were 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.30) and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.20-1.57), respectively, after adjustment for multivariable including systolic blood pressure. Increased risks of all-cause death in the lowest DBP category group were maintained in men or women, 30-59 or ≥60 years of age, smoker or non-smoker and diabetes mellitus (DM) or non-DM subgroups. The risk in DBP 60-69 mmHg groups increased in several subgroups. However, the risk for ASCVD death in 30-59 years and DM group, and risk for IHD death in most subgroups except for elderly (≥60 years) decreased. A J-curve relationship between low DBP and all-cause death was found consistently. The baseline risk in the general population may be considered for risk assessment, particularly in case of interventions that lower DBP below 60 mmHg. Copyright © 2018. The Korean Society of Cardiology

Fermi LAT Detection of Pulsed Gamma-Rays From the Vela-Like Pulsars PSR J1048-5832 and PSR J2229+6114

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

Abdo, A.A.; /Naval Research Lab, Wash., D.C. /Federal City Coll.; Ackermann, M.

We report the detection of {gamma}-ray pulsations ({ge}0.1 GeV) from PSR J2229+6114 and PSR J1048-5832, the latter having been detected as a low-significance pulsar by EGRET. Data in the {gamma}-ray band were acquired by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, while the radio rotational ephemerides used to fold the {gamma}-ray light curves were obtained using the Green Bank Telescope, the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank, and the Parkes Telescope. The two young radio pulsars, located within the error circles of the previously unidentified EGRET sources 3EG J1048-5840 and 3EG J2227+6122, present spin-down characteristics similar tomore » the Vela pulsar. PSR J1048-5832 shows two sharp peaks at phases 0.15 {+-} 0.01 and 0.57 {+-} 0.01 relative to the radio pulse confirming the EGRET light curve, while PSR J2229+6114 presents a very broad peak at phase 0.49 {+-} 0.01. The {gamma}-ray spectra above 0.1 GeV of both pulsars are fit with power laws having exponential cutoffs near 3 GeV, leading to integral photon fluxes of (2.19 {+-} 0.22 {+-} 0.32) x 10{sup -7} cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} for PSR J1048-5832 and (3.77 {+-} 0.22 {+-} 0.44) x 10{sup -7} cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} for PSR J2229+6114. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. PSR J1048-5832 is one of the two LAT sources which were entangled together as 3EG J1048-5840. These detections add to the growing number of young {gamma}-ray pulsars that make up the dominant population of GeV {gamma}-ray sources in the Galactic plane.« less

Elliptic polylogarithms and iterated integrals on elliptic curves. Part I: general formalism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broedel, Johannes; Duhr, Claude; Dulat, Falko; Tancredi, Lorenzo

2018-05-01

We introduce a class of iterated integrals, defined through a set of linearly independent integration kernels on elliptic curves. As a direct generalisation of multiple polylogarithms, we construct our set of integration kernels ensuring that they have at most simple poles, implying that the iterated integrals have at most logarithmic singularities. We study the properties of our iterated integrals and their relationship to the multiple elliptic polylogarithms from the mathematics literature. On the one hand, we find that our iterated integrals span essentially the same space of functions as the multiple elliptic polylogarithms. On the other, our formulation allows for a more direct use to solve a large variety of problems in high-energy physics. We demonstrate the use of our functions in the evaluation of the Laurent expansion of some hypergeometric functions for values of the indices close to half integers.

Integrative neural networks model for prediction of sediment rating curve parameters for ungauged basins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atieh, M.; Mehltretter, S. L.; Gharabaghi, B.; Rudra, R.

2015-12-01

One of the most uncertain modeling tasks in hydrology is the prediction of ungauged stream sediment load and concentration statistics. This study presents integrated artificial neural networks (ANN) models for prediction of sediment rating curve parameters (rating curve coefficient α and rating curve exponent β) for ungauged basins. The ANN models integrate a comprehensive list of input parameters to improve the accuracy achieved; the input parameters used include: soil, land use, topographic, climatic, and hydrometric data sets. The ANN models were trained on the randomly selected 2/3 of the dataset of 94 gauged streams in Ontario, Canada and validated on the remaining 1/3. The developed models have high correlation coefficients of 0.92 and 0.86 for α and β, respectively. The ANN model for the rating coefficient α is directly proportional to rainfall erosivity factor, soil erodibility factor, and apportionment entropy disorder index, whereas it is inversely proportional to vegetation cover and mean annual snowfall. The ANN model for the rating exponent β is directly proportional to mean annual precipitation, the apportionment entropy disorder index, main channel slope, standard deviation of daily discharge, and inversely proportional to the fraction of basin area covered by wetlands and swamps. Sediment rating curves are essential tools for the calculation of sediment load, concentration-duration curve (CDC), and concentration-duration-frequency (CDF) analysis for more accurate assessment of water quality for ungauged basins.

J-integral fracture toughness and tearing modulus measurement of radiation cross-linked UHMWPE.

PubMed

Gomoll, A; Wanich, T; Bellare, A

2002-11-01

Radiation and chemical cross-linking of medical grade ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has recently been utilized in an effort to improve wear performance of total joint replacement components. However, reductions in mechanical properties with cross-linking are cause for concern regarding the use of cross-linked UHMWPE for high-stress applications such as in total knee replacement prostheses. In this study, the fracture behavior of radiation cross-linked UHMWPE was compared to that of uncross-linked UHMWPE. The Rice and Sorensen model that utilizes mechanical parameters obtained from uniaxial tensile and compact tension tests was used to calculate the steady state J-integral fracture toughness, Jss, for radiation cross-linked UHMWPE. Jss decreased monotonically with increase in radiation dose. UHMWPE exhibited tough, ductile tearing behavior with stable crack growth when it was cross-linked using a gamma radiation dose of 0-50 kGy. However, in cross-linked UHMWPE irradiated to a dose of 100 and 200 kGy, unstable fracture occurred spontaneously upon attaining the initial crack driving force, J1c. This indicates that a high degree of cross-linking is less desirable for high-stress applications in orthopaedic implants. However, a substantial increase in J1c, even at a low degree of cross-linking, suggests that a low degree of cross-linking may be beneficial for resistance to delamination and catastrophic failure, both of which require an initiation step for the fracture to propagate in the material. This mechanical test should, however, be considered along with fatigue tests and joint simulator testing before determination of an appropriate amount of cross-linking for total joint replacement prostheses that experience high stresses.

Experimental allergic orchitis in mice. V. Resistance to actively induced disease in BALB/cJ substrain mice is mediated by CD4+ T cells

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

Teuscher, C.; Hickey, W.F.; Korngold, R.

1990-01-01

Previous studies have shown that differential susceptibility to actively induced experimental allergic orchitis (EAO) exists among various BALB/c substrains. Of 13 substrains studied, BALB/cJ mice consistently exhibit greater resistance to disease induction. Such resistance is associated with a single recessive genotypic difference in an immunoregulatory locus which is unlinked to any of the known alleles distinguishing the BALB/cJ substrain. In this study, gene complementation protocols were used to study the genetics of susceptibility and resistance to EAO. The results indicate that resistance in BALB/cJ mice is not due to a mutation in the H-2Dd linked gene which governs the phenotypicmore » expression of autoimmune orchitis. The mechanistic basis for disease resistance was examined using reciprocal bone marrow radiation chimeras generated between the disease-susceptible BALB/cByJ (ByJ) substrain and BALB/cJ (Jax) mice. All constructs, including Jax----Jax and Jax----ByJ, developed severe EAO following inoculation with mouse testicular homogenate (MTH) and adjuvants whereas control chimeras immunized with adjuvants alone did not. These results suggest that an active immunoregulatory mechanism rather than a passive one, such as the lack of T cells and/or B cells with receptors for the aspermatogenic autoantigens relevant in the induction of EAO, is responsible for disease resistance in BALB/cJ mice. The role of immunoregulatory cells was examined by pretreating BALB/cJ mice with either cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg) or low-dose whole body or total lymphoid irradiation (350 rads) 2 days prior to inoculation. BALB/cJ mice immunized with MTH plus adjuvants generate immunoregulatory spleen cells (SpCs) that, when transferred to naive BALB/cByJ recipients, significantly reduce the severity of autoimmune orchitis observed during actively induced EAO.« less

FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE DETECTION OF PULSED gamma-RAYS FROM THE VELA-LIKE PULSARS PSR J1048-5832 AND PSR J2229+6114

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

Abdo, A. A.; Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.

2009-12-01

We report the detection of gamma-ray pulsations (>=0.1 GeV) from PSR J2229+6114 and PSR J1048-5832, the latter having been detected as a low-significance pulsar by EGRET. Data in the gamma-ray band were acquired by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, while the radio rotational ephemerides used to fold the gamma-ray light curves were obtained using the Green Bank Telescope, the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank, and the Parkes Telescope. The two young radio pulsars, located within the error circles of the previously unidentified EGRET sources 3EG J1048-5840 and 3EG J2227+6122, present spin-down characteristics similar tomore » the Vela pulsar. PSR J1048-5832 shows two sharp peaks at phases 0.15 +- 0.01 and 0.57 +- 0.01 relative to the radio pulse confirming the EGRET light curve, while PSR J2229+6114 presents a very broad peak at phase 0.49 +- 0.01. The gamma-ray spectra above 0.1 GeV of both pulsars are fit with power laws having exponential cutoffs near 3 GeV, leading to integral photon fluxes of (2.19 +- 0.22 +- 0.32) x 10{sup -7} cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} for PSR J1048-5832 and (3.77 +- 0.22 +- 0.44) x 10{sup -7} cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} for PSR J2229+6114. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. PSR J1048-5832 is one of the two LAT sources which were entangled together as 3EG J1048-5840. These detections add to the growing number of young gamma-ray pulsars that make up the dominant population of GeV gamma-ray sources in the Galactic plane.« less

The application of an atomistic J-integral to a ductile crack.

PubMed

Zimmerman, Jonathan A; Jones, Reese E

2013-04-17

In this work we apply a Lagrangian kernel-based estimator of continuum fields to atomic data to estimate the J-integral for the emission dislocations from a crack tip. Face-centered cubic (fcc) gold and body-centered cubic (bcc) iron modeled with embedded atom method (EAM) potentials are used as example systems. The results of a single crack with a K-loading compare well to an analytical solution from anisotropic linear elastic fracture mechanics. We also discovered that in the post-emission of dislocations from the crack tip there is a loop size-dependent contribution to the J-integral. For a system with a finite width crack loaded in simple tension, the finite size effects for the systems that were feasible to compute prevented precise agreement with theory. However, our results indicate that there is a trend towards convergence.

Prognostic value of body mass index in transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A "J"-shaped curve.

PubMed

González-Ferreiro, Rocío; Muñoz-García, Antonio J; López-Otero, Diego; Avanzas, Pablo; Pascual, Isaac; Alonso-Briales, Juan H; Trillo-Nouche, Ramiro; Pun, Federico; Jiménez-Navarro, Manuel F; Hernández-García, José M; Morís, César; González Juanatey, José R

2017-04-01

We aimed to determine whether body mass index (BMI) is a prognostic indicator for long-term, all-cause mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Obesity in patients with established cardiovascular disease has previously been identified as an indicator of good prognosis, a phenomenon known as the "obesity paradox". The prognostic significance of BMI in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AoS) undergoing TAVI is a matter of current debate, as published studies are scarce and their results conflicting. This is an observational, retrospective study involving 770 patients who underwent TAVI for AoS. The cohort was divided into three groups based on their BMI: normal weight (≥18.5 to <25kg/m 2 ), overweight (≥25 to <30kg/m 2 ) and obese (≥30kg/m 2 ). The predictive effect of BMI on all-cause mortality 3years following TAVI intervention was analysed using a Cox regression. 155 patients died during follow-up. The overweight group (n=302, 38.97%), experienced a lower mortality rate compared to the normal weight and obese groups (15.9% vs 25.7% and 21.0%, respectively [log-rank p-value=0.036]). After adjustment by logistic EuroSCORE, being overweight was found to be an independent protective factor against mortality (HR: 0.63 [95% CI: 0.42 to 0.94], p=0.024). This was not the case for obesity (HR: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.63 to 1.35], p=0.664). We therefore describe for the first time, a "J-shaped" regression curve describing the relationship between BMI and mortality. BMI is a predictive factor of all-cause mortality in AoS patients undergoing TAVI. This relationship takes the form of a "J-shaped" curve in which overweight patients are associated with the lowest mortality rate at follow-up. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

J-substitution algorithm in magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT): phantom experiments for static resistivity images.

PubMed

Khang, Hyun Soo; Lee, Byung Il; Oh, Suk Hoon; Woo, Eung Je; Lee, Soo Yeol; Cho, Min Hyoung; Kwon, Ohin; Yoon, Jeong Rock; Seo, Jin Keun

2002-06-01

Recently, a new static resistivity image reconstruction algorithm is proposed utilizing internal current density data obtained by magnetic resonance current density imaging technique. This new imaging method is called magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT). The derivation and performance of J-substitution algorithm in MREIT have been reported as a new accurate and high-resolution static impedance imaging technique via computer simulation methods. In this paper, we present experimental procedures, denoising techniques, and image reconstructions using a 0.3-tesla (T) experimental MREIT system and saline phantoms. MREIT using J-substitution algorithm effectively utilizes the internal current density information resolving the problem inherent in a conventional EIT, that is, the low sensitivity of boundary measurements to any changes of internal tissue resistivity values. Resistivity images of saline phantoms show an accuracy of 6.8%-47.2% and spatial resolution of 64 x 64. Both of them can be significantly improved by using an MRI system with a better signal-to-noise ratio.

The product form for path integrals on curved manifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grosche, C.

1988-03-01

A general and simple framework for treating path integrals on curved manifolds is presented. The crucial point will be a product ansatz for the metric tensor and the quantum hamiltonian, i.e. we shall write g αβ = h αγh βγ and H = (1/2m)h αγp αp βh βγ + V + ΔV , respectively, a prescription which we shall call “product form” definition. The p α are hermitian momenta and Δ V is a well-defined quantum correction. We shall show that this ansatz, which looks quite special, is in fact - under reasonable assumptions in quantum mechanics - a very general one. We shall derive the lagrangian path integral in the “product form” definition and shall also prove that the Schro¨dinger equation can be derived from the corresponding short-time kernel. We shall discuss briefly an application of this prescription to the problem of free quantum motion on the Poincare´upper half-plane.

INTEGRAL detection of continued hard X-ray emission from MAXI J0911-655

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Victor, J.-G.; Kuulkers, E.; Sidoli, L.; Sanchez-Fernandez, C.; Watanabe, K.; Pavan, L.; Bozzo, E.

2017-05-01

During the observations performed in the direction of the Carina Region and IGR J11014-6103 between 2017 May 8 at 04:50 and May 24 at 17:39, INTEGRAL detected activity from the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar (AMXP) MAXI J0911-655 (Sanna et al., 2017, A & A, 598, 34; Atel #8872, #8884, #8914, #8971, #8986, #9738, #9740).

biochem4j: Integrated and extensible biochemical knowledge through graph databases.

PubMed

Swainston, Neil; Batista-Navarro, Riza; Carbonell, Pablo; Dobson, Paul D; Dunstan, Mark; Jervis, Adrian J; Vinaixa, Maria; Williams, Alan R; Ananiadou, Sophia; Faulon, Jean-Loup; Mendes, Pedro; Kell, Douglas B; Scrutton, Nigel S; Breitling, Rainer

2017-01-01

Biologists and biochemists have at their disposal a number of excellent, publicly available data resources such as UniProt, KEGG, and NCBI Taxonomy, which catalogue biological entities. Despite the usefulness of these resources, they remain fundamentally unconnected. While links may appear between entries across these databases, users are typically only able to follow such links by manual browsing or through specialised workflows. Although many of the resources provide web-service interfaces for computational access, performing federated queries across databases remains a non-trivial but essential activity in interdisciplinary systems and synthetic biology programmes. What is needed are integrated repositories to catalogue both biological entities and-crucially-the relationships between them. Such a resource should be extensible, such that newly discovered relationships-for example, those between novel, synthetic enzymes and non-natural products-can be added over time. With the introduction of graph databases, the barrier to the rapid generation, extension and querying of such a resource has been lowered considerably. With a particular focus on metabolic engineering as an illustrative application domain, biochem4j, freely available at http://biochem4j.org, is introduced to provide an integrated, queryable database that warehouses chemical, reaction, enzyme and taxonomic data from a range of reliable resources. The biochem4j framework establishes a starting point for the flexible integration and exploitation of an ever-wider range of biological data sources, from public databases to laboratory-specific experimental datasets, for the benefit of systems biologists, biosystems engineers and the wider community of molecular biologists and biological chemists.

biochem4j: Integrated and extensible biochemical knowledge through graph databases

PubMed Central

Batista-Navarro, Riza; Dunstan, Mark; Jervis, Adrian J.; Vinaixa, Maria; Ananiadou, Sophia; Faulon, Jean-Loup; Kell, Douglas B.

2017-01-01

Biologists and biochemists have at their disposal a number of excellent, publicly available data resources such as UniProt, KEGG, and NCBI Taxonomy, which catalogue biological entities. Despite the usefulness of these resources, they remain fundamentally unconnected. While links may appear between entries across these databases, users are typically only able to follow such links by manual browsing or through specialised workflows. Although many of the resources provide web-service interfaces for computational access, performing federated queries across databases remains a non-trivial but essential activity in interdisciplinary systems and synthetic biology programmes. What is needed are integrated repositories to catalogue both biological entities and–crucially–the relationships between them. Such a resource should be extensible, such that newly discovered relationships–for example, those between novel, synthetic enzymes and non-natural products–can be added over time. With the introduction of graph databases, the barrier to the rapid generation, extension and querying of such a resource has been lowered considerably. With a particular focus on metabolic engineering as an illustrative application domain, biochem4j, freely available at http://biochem4j.org, is introduced to provide an integrated, queryable database that warehouses chemical, reaction, enzyme and taxonomic data from a range of reliable resources. The biochem4j framework establishes a starting point for the flexible integration and exploitation of an ever-wider range of biological data sources, from public databases to laboratory-specific experimental datasets, for the benefit of systems biologists, biosystems engineers and the wider community of molecular biologists and biological chemists. PMID:28708831

MPL-A program for computations with iterated integrals on moduli spaces of curves of genus zero

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogner, Christian

2016-06-01

We introduce the Maple program MPL for computations with multiple polylogarithms. The program is based on homotopy invariant iterated integrals on moduli spaces M0,n of curves of genus 0 with n ordered marked points. It includes the symbol map and procedures for the analytic computation of period integrals on M0,n. It supports the automated computation of a certain class of Feynman integrals.

Comparisons of Buckling Capacity Curves of Pressurized Spheres with EDR Provisions and Experimental Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Błażejewski, Paweł; Marcinowski, Jakub

2017-06-01

Existing provisions leading to the assessment of the buckling resistance of pressurised spherical shells were published in the European Design Recommendations (EDR) [j_ceer-2017-0020_ref_001">1]. This book comprises rules which refer to the stability of steel shells of different shapes. In the first step of the general procedure they require calculation of two reference quantities: the elastic critical buckling reference pRcr and the plastic reference resistance pRpl. These quantities should be determined in the linear buckling analysis (LBA) and in the materially nonlinear analysis (MNA) respectively. Only in the case of spherical shells the existing procedure has exceptional character. It is based on the geometrically nonlinear analysis (GNA) and on the geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis (GMNA), respectively. From this reason, in this particular case there was a need to change the existing approach. The new procedure was presented in the work of Błażejewski & Marcinowski in 2016 (comp. [j_ceer-2017-0020_ref_002">2]). All steps of the procedure leading to the assessment of buckling resistance of pressurized steel, spherical shells were presented in this work. The elaborated procedure is consistent with provisions of Eurocode EN1993-1-6 (comp. [j_ceer-2017-0020_ref_003">3]) and with recommendations inserted in Europeans Design Recommendations [j_ceer-2017-0020_ref_001">1]. The proposed capacity curves were compared with existing proposal published in [j_ceer-2017-0020_ref_001">1] for three different fabrication quality classes predicted in [j_ceer-2017-0020_ref_003">3]. In this work also comparisons of author's proposals with experimental results obtained by other authors were presented.

New Binary Systems With Asymmetric Light Curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virnina, Natalia A.

2010-12-01

We present the results of investigation of the light curves of 27 newly discovered binary systems. Among the examined curves, there were 10 curves with statistically significant asymmetry of maximums, according the 3σ criterion for the difference between the maximal brightness. Half of these 10 curves have a higher first maximum, another half the second one. Two of these 10 curves, USNO-B1.0 1629-0064825 = VSX J052807.9+725606 and USNO-B1.0 1586-0116785, show the largest difference between magnitudes in maxima. The star VSX J052807.9+725606 also shows the secondary minimum, which is shifted from the phase φ = 0.5. The shape of the curve argues that the physical processes of this star could be close to that of well known short periodic binary system V361 Lyr, which has a spot on the surface of one star of the system. Another star, USNO-B1.0 1586-0116785, probably has a cold spot, or several spots, in the photosphere of one of the components.

Photometric study of two eclipsing binary stars: Light curve analysis and system parameters for GU CMa and SWASP J011732.10+525204.9

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shokry, A.; Saad, S. M.; Hamdy, M. A.; Beheary, M. M.; Abolazm, M. S.; Gadallah, K. A.; El-Depsey, M. H.; Al-Gazzar, M. S.

2018-02-01

A new photometric study of two eclipsing binary systems (GU CMa and SWASP J011732.10+525204.9) is presented. The accepted solutions of analyzing the light curves revealed that GU CMa is a semi-detached system consisting of two early spectral type components, (B2 and B2.5) while SWASP J011732.10+525204.9 is a contact binary with two late type components (K2 and M1). The primary component of each system is the massive one. The geometric configuration indicates that SWASP J011732.10+525204.9 passes through a very critical phase in which each component exactly fills its limited lobe with zero fill out ratio. New times of minimum and the absolute physical parameters for each system are determined. The evolution status for each system has been investigated.

The integrated Michaelis-Menten rate equation: déjà vu or vu jàdé?

PubMed

Goličnik, Marko

2013-08-01

A recent article of Johnson and Goody (Biochemistry, 2011;50:8264-8269) described the almost-100-years-old paper of Michaelis and Menten. Johnson and Goody translated this classic article and presented the historical perspective to one of incipient enzyme-reaction data analysis, including a pioneering global fit of the integrated rate equation in its implicit form to the experimental time-course data. They reanalyzed these data, although only numerical techniques were used to solve the model equations. However, there is also the still little known algebraic rate-integration equation in a closed form that enables direct fitting of the data. Therefore, in this commentary, I briefly present the integral solution of the Michaelis-Menten rate equation, which has been largely overlooked for three decades. This solution is expressed in terms of the Lambert W function, and I demonstrate here its use for global nonlinear regression curve fitting, as carried out with the original time-course dataset of Michaelis and Menten.

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT): simulation study of J-substitution algorithm.

PubMed

Kwon, Ohin; Woo, Eung Je; Yoon, Jeong-Rock; Seo, Jin Keun

2002-02-01

We developed a new image reconstruction algorithm for magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT). MREIT is a new EIT imaging technique integrated into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. Based on the assumption that internal current density distribution is obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, the new image reconstruction algorithm called J-substitution algorithm produces cross-sectional static images of resistivity (or conductivity) distributions. Computer simulations show that the spatial resolution of resistivity image is comparable to that of MRI. MREIT provides accurate high-resolution cross-sectional resistivity images making resistivity values of various human tissues available for many biomedical applications.

Bio-jETI: a service integration, design, and provisioning platform for orchestrated bioinformatics processes.

PubMed

Margaria, Tiziana; Kubczak, Christian; Steffen, Bernhard

2008-04-25

With Bio-jETI, we introduce a service platform for interdisciplinary work on biological application domains and illustrate its use in a concrete application concerning statistical data processing in R and xcms for an LC/MS analysis of FAAH gene knockout. Bio-jETI uses the jABC environment for service-oriented modeling and design as a graphical process modeling tool and the jETI service integration technology for remote tool execution. As a service definition and provisioning platform, Bio-jETI has the potential to become a core technology in interdisciplinary service orchestration and technology transfer. Domain experts, like biologists not trained in computer science, directly define complex service orchestrations as process models and use efficient and complex bioinformatics tools in a simple and intuitive way.

Risk-Aversion: Understanding Teachers' Resistance to Technology Integration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard, Sarah K.

2013-01-01

Teachers who do not integrate technology are often labelled as "resistant" to change. Yet, considerable uncertainties remain about appropriate uses and actual value of technology in teaching and learning, which can make integration and change seem risky. The purpose of this article is to explore the nature of teachers' analytical and…

INTEGRAL observation of SWIFT J1756.9-2508 in outburst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzola, S.; Bozzo, E.; Kuulkers, E.; Ferrigno, C.; Savchenko, V.; Ducci, L.

2018-04-01

Following the discovery of a new outburst from the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SWIFT J1756.9-2508 (ATel #11497, #11502, #11505), a dedicated target of opportunity observation with INTEGRAL was carried out from 2018 April 1 at 08:30 to 23:15 (UTC; total exposure time 85 ks). The source was detected in the 20-40 keV IBIS/ISGRI mosaic at a significance level of 20 sigma.

FERMI Large Area Telescope Detection of Pulsed γ-Rays from the Vela-Like Pulsars PSR J1048–5832 and PSR J2229+6114

DOE PAGES

Abdo, A. A.; Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; ...

2009-11-11

Within this paper, we report the detection of γ-ray pulsations (≥0.1 GeV) from PSR J2229+6114 and PSR J1048–5832, the latter having been detected as a low-significance pulsar by EGRET. Data in the γ-ray band were acquired by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, while the radio rotational ephemerides used to fold the γ-ray light curves were obtained using the Green Bank Telescope, the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank, and the Parkes Telescope. The two young radio pulsars, located within the error circles of the previously unidentified EGRET sources 3EG J1048–5840 and 3EG J2227+6122, present spin-downmore » characteristics similar to the Vela pulsar. PSR J1048–5832 shows two sharp peaks at phases 0.15 ± 0.01 and 0.57 ± 0.01 relative to the radio pulse confirming the EGRET light curve, while PSR J2229+6114 presents a very broad peak at phase 0.49 ± 0.01. The γ-ray spectra above 0.1 GeV of both pulsars are fit with power laws having exponential cutoffs near 3 GeV, leading to integral photon fluxes of (2.19 ± 0.22 ± 0.32) × 10 –7 cm –2 s –1 for PSR J1048–5832 and (3.77 ± 0.22 ± 0.44) × 10 –7 cm –2 s –1 for PSR J2229+6114. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. PSR J1048–5832 is one of the two LAT sources which were entangled together as 3EG J1048–5840. In conclusion, these detections add to the growing number of young γ-ray pulsars that make up the dominant population of GeV γ-ray sources in the Galactic plane.« less

IGR J12319-0749: Evidence for Another Extreme Blazar Found with INTEGRAL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bassani, L.; Landi, R.; Marshall, F. E.; Malizia, A.; Bazzano, A.; Bird, A. J.; Gehrels, N.; Ubertini, P.; Masetti, N.

2012-01-01

We report on the identification of a new soft gamma-ray source, IGR J12319 C0749, detected with the IBIS imager on board the INTEGRAL satellite. The source, which has an observed 20 C100 keV flux of 8.3 10.12 erg cm.2 s.1, is spatially coincident with an AGN at redshift z = 3.12. The broad-band continuum, obtained by combining XRT and IBIS data, is flat ( =1.3) with evidence for a spectral break around 25 keV (100 keV in the source rest frame). X-ray observations indicate flux variability which is further supported by a comparison with a previous ROSAT measurement. IGR J12319 C0749 is also a radio emitting object likely characterized by a flat spectrum and high radio loudness; optically it is a broad-line emitting object with a massive black hole (2.8 109 solar masses) at its center. The source Spectral Energy Distribution is similar to another high redshift blazar, 225155+2217 at z = 3.668: both objects are bright, with a large accretion disk luminosity and a Compton peak located in the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray band. IGR J12319 C0749 is likely the second most distant blazar detected so far by INTEGRAL.

Bio-jETI: a service integration, design, and provisioning platform for orchestrated bioinformatics processes

PubMed Central

Margaria, Tiziana; Kubczak, Christian; Steffen, Bernhard

2008-01-01

Background With Bio-jETI, we introduce a service platform for interdisciplinary work on biological application domains and illustrate its use in a concrete application concerning statistical data processing in R and xcms for an LC/MS analysis of FAAH gene knockout. Methods Bio-jETI uses the jABC environment for service-oriented modeling and design as a graphical process modeling tool and the jETI service integration technology for remote tool execution. Conclusions As a service definition and provisioning platform, Bio-jETI has the potential to become a core technology in interdisciplinary service orchestration and technology transfer. Domain experts, like biologists not trained in computer science, directly define complex service orchestrations as process models and use efficient and complex bioinformatics tools in a simple and intuitive way. PMID:18460173

Force of resistance to pipeline pulling in plane and volumetrically curved wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toropov, V. S.; Toropov, S. Yu; Toropov, E. S.

2018-05-01

A method has been developed for calculating the component of the pulling force of a pipeline, arising from the well curvature in one or several planes, with the assumption that the pipeline is ballasted by filling with water or otherwise until zero buoyancy in the drilling mud is reached. This paper shows that when calculating this force, one can neglect the effect of sections with zero curvature. In the other case, if buoyancy of the pipeline is other than zero, the resistance force in the curvilinear sections should be calculated taking into account the difference between the normal components of the buoyancy force and weight. In the paper, it is proved that without taking into account resistance forces from the viscosity of the drilling mud, if buoyancy of the pipeline is zero, the total resistance force is independent of the length of the pipe and is determined by the angle equal to the sum of the entry angle and the exit angle of the pipeline to the day surface. For the case of the well curvature in several planes, it is proposed to perform the calculation of such volumetrically curved well by the central angle of the well profile. Analytical dependences are obtained that allow calculating the pulling force for well profiles with a variable curvature radius, i.e. at different angles of deviation between the drill pipes along the well profile.

An oxygen-insensitive degradable resist for fabricating metallic patterns on highly curved surfaces by UV-nanoimprint lithography.

PubMed

Hu, Xin; Huang, Shisong; Gu, Ronghua; Yuan, Changsheng; Ge, Haixiong; Chen, Yanfeng

2014-10-01

In this paper, an oxygen-insensitive degradable resist for UV-nanoimprint is designed, com-prising a polycyclic degradable acrylate monomer, 2,10-diacryloyloxymethyl-1,4,9,12-tetraoxa-spiro [4.2.4.2] tetradecane (DAMTT), and a multifunctional thiol monomer pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP). The resist can be quickly UV-cured in the air atmosphere and achieve a high monomer conversion of over 98%, which greatly reduce the adhesion force between the resist and the soft mold. High conversion, in company with an adequate Young's modulus (about 1 GPa) and an extremely low shrinkage (1.34%), promises high nanoimprint resolution of sub-50 nm. The cross-linked resist is able to break into linear molecules in a hot acid solvent. As a result, metallic patterns are fabricated on highly curved surfaces via the lift off process without the assistance of a thermoplastic polymer layer. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Real-time Series Resistance Monitoring in PV Systems; NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

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

Deceglie, M. G.; Silverman, T. J.; Marion, B.

We apply the physical principles of a familiar method, suns-Voc, to a new application: the real-time detection of series resistance changes in modules and systems operating outside. The real-time series resistance (RTSR) method that we describe avoids the need for collecting IV curves or constructing full series-resistance-free IV curves. RTSR is most readily deployable at the module level on apply the physical principles of a familiar method, suns-Voc, to a new application: the real-time detection of series resistance changes in modules and systems operating outside. The real-time series resistance (RTSR) method that we describe avoids the need for collecting IVmore » curves or constructing full series-resistance-free IV curves. RTSR is most readily deployable at the module level on micro-inverters or module-integrated electronics, but it can also be extended to full strings. Automated detection of series resistance increases can provide early warnings of some of the most common reliability issues, which also pose fire risks, including broken ribbons, broken solder bonds, and contact problems in the junction or combiner box. We describe the method in detail and describe a sample application to data collected from modules operating in the field.« less

Nonlinear Elastic J-Integral Measurements in Mode I Using a Tapered Double Cantilever Beam Geometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macon, David J.

2006-01-01

An expression for the J-integral of a nonlinear elastic material is derived for an advancing crack in a tapered double cantilever beam fracture specimen. The elastic and plastic fracture energies related to the test geometry and how these energies correlates to the crack position are discussed. The dimensionless shape factors eta(sub el and eta(sub p) are shown to be equivalent and the deformation J-integral is analyzed in terms of the eta(sub el) function. The fracture results from a structural epoxy are interpreted using the discussed approach. The magnitude of the plastic dissipation is found to strongly depend upon the initial crack shape.

IGR J12319-0749: Evidence for Another Extreme Blazar Found with INTEGRAL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bassani, L.; Landi, R.; Marshall, F. E.; Malizia, A.; Bazzano, A.; Bird, A. J.; Gehrels, N.; Ubertini, P.; Masetti, N.

2012-01-01

We report on the identification of a new soft gamma-ray source, IGR J12319-0749, detected with the IBIS imager on board the INTEGRAL satellite. The source, which has an observed 20-100 keV flux of approx 8.3 × 10(exp -12) erg/sq. cm/ s, is spatially coincident with an active galactic nucleus (AGN) at redshift z = 3.12. The broad-band continuum, obtained by combining XRT and IBIS data, is flat (Gamma = 1.3) with evidence for a spectral break around 25 keV (100 keV in the source restframe). X-ray observations indicate flux variability, which is also supported by a comparison with a previous ROSAT measurement. IGR J12319-0749 is also a radio-emitting object likely characterised by a flat spectrum and high radio loudness; optically it is a broad-line emitting object with a massive black hole (2.8 × 10(exp 9) solar masses) at its centre. The source spectral energy distribution is similar to another high-redshift blazar, 225155+2217 at z = 3.668: both objects are bright, with a high accretion disk luminosity and a Compton peak located in the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray band. IGR J12319-0749 is likely the second-most distant blazar detected so far by INTEGRAL.

Gamma-ray emission from SN2014J near maximum optical light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isern, J.; Jean, P.; Bravo, E.; Knödlseder, J.; Lebrun, F.; Churazov, E.; Sunyaev, R.; Domingo, A.; Badenes, C.; Hartmann, D. H.; Hoeflich, P.; Renaud, M.; Soldi, S.; Elias-Rosa, N.; Hernanz, M.; Domínguez, I.; García-Senz, D.; Lichti, G. G.; Vedrenne, G.; Von Ballmoos, P.

2016-04-01

Context. The optical light curve of Type Ia supernovae (SNIa) is powered by thermalized gamma-rays produced by the decay of 56Ni and 56Co, the main radioactive isotopes synthesized by the thermonuclear explosion of a C/O white dwarf. Aims: Gamma-rays escaping the ejecta can be used as a diagnostic tool for studying the characteristics of the explosion. In particular, it is expected that the analysis of the early gamma emission, near the maximum of the optical light curve, could provide information about the distribution of the radioactive elements in the debris. Methods: The gamma data obtained from SN2014J in M 82 by the instruments on board INTEGRAL were analysed paying special attention to the effect that the detailed spectral response has on the measurements of the intensity of the lines. Results: The 158 keV emission of 56Ni has been detected in SN2014J at ~5σ at low energy with both ISGRI and SPI around the maximum of the optical light curve. After correcting the spectral response of the detector, the fluxes in the lines suggest that, in addition to the bulk of radioactive elements buried in the central layers of the debris, there is a plume of 56Ni, with a significance of ~3σ, moving at high velocity and receding from the observer. The mass of the plume is in the range of ~0.03-0.08 M⊙. Conclusions: No SNIa explosion model has ever predicted the mass and geometrical distribution of 56Ni suggested here. According to its optical properties, SN2014J looks like a normal SNIa, so it is extremely important to discern whether it is also representative in the gamma-ray band. Based on observations with INTEGRAL, an ESA project with instruments and the science data centre funded by ESA member states (especially the PI countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain), the Czech Republic, and Poland and with the participation of Russia and USA.

Selections from 2017: Image Processing with AstroImageJ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2017-12-01

Editors note:In these last two weeks of 2017, well be looking at a few selections that we havent yet discussed on AAS Nova from among the most-downloaded paperspublished in AAS journals this year. The usual posting schedule will resume in January.AstroImageJ: Image Processing and Photometric Extraction for Ultra-Precise Astronomical Light CurvesPublished January2017The AIJ image display. A wide range of astronomy specific image display options and image analysis tools are available from the menus, quick access icons, and interactive histogram. [Collins et al. 2017]Main takeaway:AstroImageJ is a new integrated software package presented in a publication led byKaren Collins(Vanderbilt University,Fisk University, andUniversity of Louisville). Itenables new users even at the level of undergraduate student, high school student, or amateur astronomer to quickly start processing, modeling, and plotting astronomical image data.Why its interesting:Science doesnt just happen the momenta telescope captures a picture of a distantobject. Instead, astronomical images must firstbe carefully processed to clean up thedata, and this data must then be systematically analyzed to learn about the objects within it. AstroImageJ as a GUI-driven, easily installed, public-domain tool is a uniquelyaccessible tool for thisprocessing and analysis, allowing even non-specialist users to explore and visualizeastronomical data.Some features ofAstroImageJ:(as reported by Astrobites)Image calibration:generate master flat, dark, and bias framesImage arithmetic:combineimages viasubtraction, addition, division, multiplication, etc.Stack editing:easily perform operations on a series of imagesImage stabilization and image alignment featuresPrecise coordinate converters:calculate Heliocentric and Barycentric Julian DatesWCS coordinates:determine precisely where atelescope was pointed for an image by PlateSolving using Astronomy.netMacro and plugin support:write your own macrosMulti-aperture photometry

Early Strains of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Kentucky Sequence Type 198 from Southeast Asia Harbor Salmonella Genomic Island 1-J Variants with a Novel Insertion Sequence

PubMed Central

Le Hello, Simon; Weill, François-Xavier; Guibert, Véronique; Praud, Karine; Cloeckaert, Axel

2012-01-01

Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1) is a 43-kb integrative mobilizable element that harbors a great diversity of multidrug resistance gene clusters described in numerous Salmonella enterica serovars and also in Proteus mirabilis. The majority of SGI1 variants contain an In104-derivative complex class 1 integron inserted between resolvase gene res and open reading frame (ORF) S044 in SGI1. Recently, the international spread of ciprofloxacin-resistant S. enterica serovar Kentucky sequence type 198 (ST198) containing SGI1-K variants has been reported. A retrospective study was undertaken to characterize ST198 S. Kentucky strains isolated before the spread of the epidemic ST198-SGI1-K population in Africa and the Middle East. Here, we characterized 12 ST198 S. Kentucky strains isolated between 1969 and 1999, mainly from humans returning from Southeast Asia (n = 10 strains) or Israel (n = 1 strain) or from meat in Egypt (n = 1 strain). All these ST198 S. Kentucky strains did not belong to the XbaI pulsotype X1 associated with the African epidemic clone but to pulsotype X2. SGI1-J subgroup variants containing different complex integrons with a partial transposition module and inserted within ORF S023 of SGI1 were detected in six strains. The SGI1-J4 variant containing a partially deleted class 1 integron and thus showing a narrow resistance phenotype to sulfonamides was identified in two epidemiologically unrelated strains from Indonesia. The four remaining strains harbored a novel SGI1-J variant, named SGI1-J6, which contained aadA2, floR2, tetR(G)-tetA(G), and sul1 resistance genes within its complex integron. Moreover, in all these S. Kentucky isolates, a novel insertion sequence related to the IS630 family and named ISSen5 was found inserted upstream of the SGI1 complex integron in ORF S023. Thus, two subpopulations of S. Kentucky ST198 independently and exclusively acquired the SGI1 during the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike the ST198-X1 African epidemic subpopulation, the

Early strains of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky sequence type 198 from Southeast Asia harbor Salmonella genomic island 1-J variants with a novel insertion sequence.

PubMed

Le Hello, Simon; Weill, François-Xavier; Guibert, Véronique; Praud, Karine; Cloeckaert, Axel; Doublet, Benoît

2012-10-01

Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1) is a 43-kb integrative mobilizable element that harbors a great diversity of multidrug resistance gene clusters described in numerous Salmonella enterica serovars and also in Proteus mirabilis. The majority of SGI1 variants contain an In104-derivative complex class 1 integron inserted between resolvase gene res and open reading frame (ORF) S044 in SGI1. Recently, the international spread of ciprofloxacin-resistant S. enterica serovar Kentucky sequence type 198 (ST198) containing SGI1-K variants has been reported. A retrospective study was undertaken to characterize ST198 S. Kentucky strains isolated before the spread of the epidemic ST198-SGI1-K population in Africa and the Middle East. Here, we characterized 12 ST198 S. Kentucky strains isolated between 1969 and 1999, mainly from humans returning from Southeast Asia (n = 10 strains) or Israel (n = 1 strain) or from meat in Egypt (n = 1 strain). All these ST198 S. Kentucky strains did not belong to the XbaI pulsotype X1 associated with the African epidemic clone but to pulsotype X2. SGI1-J subgroup variants containing different complex integrons with a partial transposition module and inserted within ORF S023 of SGI1 were detected in six strains. The SGI1-J4 variant containing a partially deleted class 1 integron and thus showing a narrow resistance phenotype to sulfonamides was identified in two epidemiologically unrelated strains from Indonesia. The four remaining strains harbored a novel SGI1-J variant, named SGI1-J6, which contained aadA2, floR2, tetR(G)-tetA(G), and sul1 resistance genes within its complex integron. Moreover, in all these S. Kentucky isolates, a novel insertion sequence related to the IS630 family and named ISSen5 was found inserted upstream of the SGI1 complex integron in ORF S023. Thus, two subpopulations of S. Kentucky ST198 independently and exclusively acquired the SGI1 during the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike the ST198-X1 African epidemic subpopulation, the

Imidacloprid Promotes High Fat Diet-Induced Adiposity and Insulin Resistance in Male C57BL/6J Mice.

PubMed

Sun, Quancai; Xiao, Xiao; Kim, Yoo; Kim, Daeyoung; Yoon, Kyoon Sup; Clark, John M; Park, Yeonhwa

2016-12-14

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used in agriculture worldwide, has been reported to promote adipogenesis and cause insulin resistance in vitro. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of imidacloprid and its interaction with dietary fat in the development of adiposity and insulin resistance using male C57BL/6J mice. Imidacloprid (0.06, 0.6, or 6 mg/kg bw/day) was mixed in a low-fat (4% w/w) or high-fat (20% w/w) diet and given to mice ad libitum for 12 weeks. Imidacloprid significantly promoted high fat diet-induced body weight gain and adiposity. In addition, imidacloprid treatment with the high fat diet resulted in impaired glucose metabolism. Consistently, there were significant effects of imidacloprid on genes regulating lipid and glucose metabolisms, including the AMP-activated protein kinase-α (AMPKα) pathway in white adipose tissue and liver. These results suggest that imidacloprid may potentiate high fat diet-induced adiposity and insulin resistance in male C57BL/6J mice.

Imidacloprid Promotes High Fat Diet-Induced Adiposity and Insulin Resistance in Male C57BL/6J Mice

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used in agriculture worldwide, has been reported to promote adipogenesis and cause insulin resistance in vitro. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of imidacloprid and its interaction with dietary fat in the development of adiposity and insulin resistance using male C57BL/6J mice. Imidacloprid (0.06, 0.6, or 6 mg/kg bw/day) was mixed in a low-fat (4% w/w) or high-fat (20% w/w) diet and given to mice ad libitum for 12 weeks. Imidacloprid significantly promoted high fat diet-induced body weight gain and adiposity. In addition, imidacloprid treatment with the high fat diet resulted in impaired glucose metabolism. Consistently, there were significant effects of imidacloprid on genes regulating lipid and glucose metabolisms, including the AMP-activated protein kinase-α (AMPKα) pathway in white adipose tissue and liver. These results suggest that imidacloprid may potentiate high fat diet-induced adiposity and insulin resistance in male C57BL/6J mice. PMID:27960282

Spitzer Light Curves of the Young, Planetary-mass TW Hya Members 2MASS J11193254–1137466AB and WISEA J114724.10–204021.3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Adam C.; Hardegree-Ullman, Kevin K.; Cushing, Michael C.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Shkolnik, Evgenya L.

2018-06-01

We present Spitzer Space Telescope time-series photometry at 3.6 and 4.5 μm of 2MASS J11193254‑1137466AB and WISEA J114724.10‑204021.3, two planetary-mass, late-type (∼L7) brown dwarf members of the ∼10 Myr old TW Hya Association. These observations were taken in order to investigate whether or not a tentative trend of increasing variability amplitude with decreasing surface gravity seen for L3–L5.5 dwarfs extends to later-L spectral types and to explore the angular momentum evolution of low-mass objects. We examine each light curve for variability and find a rotation period of 19.39+0.33 ‑0.28 hr and semi-amplitudes of 0.798+0.081 ‑0.083% at 3.6 μm and 1.108+0.093 ‑0.094% at 4.5 μm for WISEA J114724.10‑204021.3. For 2MASS J11193254‑1137466AB, we find a single period of 3.02+0.04 ‑0.03 hr with semi-amplitudes of 0.230+0.036 ‑0.035% at 3.6 μm and 0.453 ± 0.037% at 4.5 μm, which we find is possibly due to the rotation of one component of the binary. Combining our results with 12 other late-type L dwarfs observed with Spitzer from the literature, we find no significant differences between the 3.6 μm amplitudes of low surface gravity and field gravity late-type L brown dwarfs at Spitzer wavelengths, and find tentative evidence (75% confidence) of higher amplitude variability at 4.5 μm for young, late-type Ls. We also find a median rotation period of young brown dwarfs (10–300 Myr) of ∼10 hr, more than twice the value of the median rotation period of field-age brown dwarfs (∼4 hr), a clear signature of brown dwarf rotational evolution.

Androgen receptor (AR) degradation enhancer ASC-J9® in an FDA-approved formulated solution suppresses castration resistant prostate cancer cell growth.

PubMed

Cheng, Max A; Chou, Fu-Ju; Wang, Keliang; Yang, Rachel; Ding, Jie; Zhang, Qiaoxia; Li, Gonghui; Yeh, Shuyuan; Xu, Defeng; Chang, Chawnshang

2018-03-28

ASC-J9 ® is a recently-developed androgen receptor (AR)-degradation enhancer that effectively suppresses castration resistant prostate cancer (PCa) cell proliferation and invasion. The optimal half maximum inhibitory concentrations (IC 50 ) of ASC-J9 ® at various PCa cell confluences (20%, 50%, and 100%) were assessed via both short-term MTT growth assays and long-term clonogenic proliferation assays. Our results indicate that the IC 50 values for ASC-J9 ® increased with increasing cell confluency. The IC 50 values were significantly decreased in PCa AR-positive cells compared to PCa AR-negative cells or in normal prostate cells. This suggests that ASC-J9 ® may function mainly via targeting the AR-positive PCa cells with limited unwanted side-effects to suppress the surrounding normal prostate cells. Mechanism dissection indicated that ASC-J9 ® might function via altering the apoptosis signals to suppress the PCa AR-negative PC-3 cells. Preclinical studies using multiple in vitro PCa cell lines and an in vivo mouse model with xenografted castration-resistant PCa CWR22Rv1 cells demonstrated that ASC-J9 ® has similar AR degradation effects when dissolved in FDA-approved solvents, including DMSO, PEG-400:Tween-80 (95:5), DMA:Labrasol:Tween-80 (10:45:45), and DMA:Labrasol:Tween-20 (10:45:45). Together, results from preclinical studies suggest a potential new therapy with AR-degradation enhancer ASC-J9 ® may potentially be ready to be used in human clinical trials in order to better suppress PCa at later castration resistant stages. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Swift reports a recent brightening of XTE J1543-568

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krimm, H. A.; Barthelmy, S. D.; Baumgartner, W.; Cummings, J.; Fenimore, E.; Gehrels, N.; Markwardt, C. B.; Palmer, D.; Sakamoto, T.; Skinner, G.; Stamatikos, M.; Tueller, J.; Ukwatta, T.

2012-03-01

The Swift/BAT hard X-ray transient monitor has recorded a recent flux increase from the transient X-ray pulsar and likely Be binary system XTE J1543-568. In the 15-50 keV band, the source was first detected in an 8-day integration covering 2012 March 9-16 (MJD 55995-56002) with a rate of 0.0016 ± 0.0003 ct/s/cm2. The peak day in the light curve was 2012 March 22 when the rate was 0.0043 ± 0.001 ct/s/cm2 (~20 mCrab).

A doubly curved reflector X-band antenna with integrated IFF array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alia, F.; Barbati, S.

Primary radar antennas and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) antennas must rotate with the same speed and synchronism, so that the target echo and IFF transponder mark will appear to the operator at the same time and at the same angular direction. A doubly-curved reflector antenna with a six-element microstrip array integrated in the reflector surface is presented to meet this requirement. The main antenna operates at X-band for low angle search radar, while the secondary antenna operates at L-band for IFF functions. The new configuration minimizes masking of the X-band radiated energy as a result of the IFF L-band elements. In fact, the only effect of the microstrip array on the X-band radiation pattern is the presence of several sidelobes in the + or - 90 deg angular region. The proposed new solution is compared to three other L-band/X-band integrated antenna configurations, and is found to be more advantageous with respect to masking, mechanical aspects, and production costs.

Kottamia 74-inch telescope discovery of the new eclipsing binary 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475.: First CCD photometry and light curve analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darwish, M. S.; Shokry, A.; Saad, S. M.; El-Sadek, M. A.; Essam, A.; Ismail, M.

2017-05-01

A CCD photometric study is presented for the eclipsing binary system 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475. Observations of the system were obtained in the V, R and I colours with the 2Kx2K CCD attached to 1.88 m Kottamia Optical Telescope. New times of light minimum and new ephemeris were obtained. The V, R and I light curves were analyzed using the PHOEBE 0.31 program to determine geometrical and physical parameters of the system. The results show that 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475, is A-Type WUMa and is an overcontact binary with high fill-out factor = 69%. The current evolutionary status of the system indicates that the primary component lies very close to the main sequence while the secondary is evolved. The asymmetric maxima were studied and a modeling of the hot spot parameters is given.

Value at 2 of the L-function of an elliptic curve

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunault, Francois

2006-02-01

We study the special value at 2 of L-functions of modular forms of weight 2 on congruence subgroups of the modular group. We prove an explicit version of Beilinson's theorem for the modular curve X_1(N). When N is prime, we deduce that the target space of Beilinson's regulator map is generated by the images of Milnor symbols associated to modular units of X_1(N). We also suggest a reformulation of Zagier's conjecture on L(E,2) for the jacobian J_1(N) of X_1(N), where E is an elliptic curve of conductor N. In this direction we define an analogue of the elliptic dilogarithm for any jacobian J : it is a function R_J from the complex points of J to a finite-dimensional vector space. In the case J=J_1(N), we establish a link between the aforementioned L-values and the function R_J evaluated at Q-rational points of the cuspidal subgroup of J.

Potential Energy Curves and Collisions Integrals of Air Components. 2; Interactions Involving Ionized Atoms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stallcop, James R.; Partridge, Harry; Levin, Eugene; Langhoff, Stephen R. (Technical Monitor)

1995-01-01

Collision integrals are fundamental quantities required to determine the transport properties of the environment surrounding aerospace vehicles in the upper atmosphere. These collision integrals can be determined as a function of temperature from the potential energy curves describing the atomic and molecular collisions. Ab initio calculations provide a practical method of computing the required interaction potentials. In this work we will discuss recent advances in scattering calculations with an emphasis on the accuracy that is obtainable. Results for interactions of the atoms and ionized atoms of nitrogen and oxygen will be reviewed and their application to the determination of transport properties, such as diffusion and viscosity coefficients, will be examined.

Spherical images and inextensible curved folding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seffen, Keith A.

2018-02-01

In their study, Duncan and Duncan [Proc. R. Soc. London A 383, 191 (1982), 10.1098/rspa.1982.0126] calculate the shape of an inextensible surface folded in two about a general curve. They find the analytical relationships between pairs of generators linked across the fold curve, the shape of the original path, and the fold angle variation along it. They present two special cases of generator layouts for which the fold angle is uniform or the folded curve remains planar, for simplifying practical folding in sheet-metal processes. We verify their special cases by a graphical treatment according to a method of Gauss. We replace the fold curve by a piecewise linear path, which connects vertices of intersecting pairs of hinge lines. Inspired by the d-cone analysis by Farmer and Calladine [Int. J. Mech. Sci. 47, 509 (2005), 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2005.02.013], we construct the spherical images for developable folding of successive vertices: the operating conditions of the special cases in Duncan and Duncan are then revealed straightforwardly by the geometric relationships between the images. Our approach may be used to synthesize folding patterns for novel deployable and shape-changing surfaces without need of complex calculation.

LOCAL ORTHOGONAL CUTTING METHOD FOR COMPUTING MEDIAL CURVES AND ITS BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

PubMed Central

Einstein, Daniel R.; Dyedov, Vladimir

2010-01-01

Medial curves have a wide range of applications in geometric modeling and analysis (such as shape matching) and biomedical engineering (such as morphometry and computer assisted surgery). The computation of medial curves poses significant challenges, both in terms of theoretical analysis and practical efficiency and reliability. In this paper, we propose a definition and analysis of medial curves and also describe an efficient and robust method called local orthogonal cutting (LOC) for computing medial curves. Our approach is based on three key concepts: a local orthogonal decomposition of objects into substructures, a differential geometry concept called the interior center of curvature (ICC), and integrated stability and consistency tests. These concepts lend themselves to robust numerical techniques and result in an algorithm that is efficient and noise resistant. We illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of our approach with some highly complex, large-scale, noisy biomedical geometries derived from medical images, including lung airways and blood vessels. We also present comparisons of our method with some existing methods. PMID:20628546

Local Orthogonal Cutting Method for Computing Medial Curves and Its Biomedical Applications

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

Jiao, Xiangmin; Einstein, Daniel R.; Dyedov, Volodymyr

2010-03-24

Medial curves have a wide range of applications in geometric modeling and analysis (such as shape matching) and biomedical engineering (such as morphometry and computer assisted surgery). The computation of medial curves poses significant challenges, both in terms of theoretical analysis and practical efficiency and reliability. In this paper, we propose a definition and analysis of medial curves and also describe an efficient and robust method for computing medial curves. Our approach is based on three key concepts: a local orthogonal decomposition of objects into substructures, a differential geometry concept called the interior center of curvature (ICC), and integrated stabilitymore » and consistency tests. These concepts lend themselves to robust numerical techniques including eigenvalue analysis, weighted least squares approximations, and numerical minimization, resulting in an algorithm that is efficient and noise resistant. We illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of our approach with some highly complex, large-scale, noisy biomedical geometries derived from medical images, including lung airways and blood vessels. We also present comparisons of our method with some existing methods.« less

On the nature of the SWIFT/INTEGRAL source SWIFT J1508.6-4953 (also PMN J1508-4953)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landi, R.; Bassani, L.; Masetti, N.; Bazzano, A.; Parisi, P.; Drave, S.; Goossens, M.

2012-06-01

This source is listed in the recent INTEGRAL/IBIS 9-year Galactic Hard X-ray Survey (Krivonos et al. 2012, arXiv:1205.3941) and also appears in the BAT 58-month catalogue (http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/swift/results/bs58mon/). It has been associated with the radio source PMN J1508-4953, also reported as a GeV emitter in the 2nd Fermi catalogue (Nolan et al. 2012, ApJS, 199, 31). We use archival Swift/XRT data to investigate its nature.

ASC-J9(®) suppresses castration resistant prostate cancer progression via degrading the enzalutamide-induced androgen receptor mutant AR-F876L.

PubMed

Wang, Ronghao; Lin, Wanying; Lin, Changyi; Li, Lei; Sun, Yin; Chang, Chawnshang

2016-08-28

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with the newly developed powerful anti-androgen enzalutamide (Enz, also known as MDV3100) has promising therapeutic effects to suppress castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and extending patients' lives an extra 4.8 months. However, most Enz therapy eventually fails with the development of Enz resistance. The detailed mechanisms how CRPC develops Enz resistance remain unclear and may involve multiple mechanisms. Among them, the induction of the androgen receptor (AR) mutant AR-F876L in some CRPC patients may represent one driving force that confers Enz resistance. Here, we demonstrate that the AR degradation enhancer, ASC-J9(®), not only degrades wild-type AR, but also has the ability to target AR-F876L. The consequence of suppressing AR-F876L may then abrogate AR-F876L mediated CRPC cell proliferation and metastasis. Thus, developing ASC-J9(®) as a new therapeutic approach may represent a novel therapy to better suppress CRPC that has already developed Enz resistance. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Light curve and SED modeling of the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6–5856: Constraints on the orbital geometry and relativistic flow

DOE PAGES

An, Hongjun; Romani, Roger W.

2017-04-04

We present broadband spectral energy distributions and light curves of the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6–5856 measured in the X-ray and the gamma-ray bands. We find that the orbital modulation in the low-energy gamma-ray band is similar to that in the X-ray band, suggesting a common spectral component. However, above a GeV the orbital light curve changes significantly. We suggest that the GeV band contains significant flux from a pulsar magnetosphere, while the X-ray to TeV light curves are dominated by synchrotron and Compton emission from an intrabinary shock (IBS). We find that a simple one-zone model is inadequate to explainmore » the IBS emission, but that beamed Synchrotron-self Compton radiation from adiabatically accelerated plasma in the shocked pulsar wind can reproduce the complex multiband light curves, including the variable X-ray spike coincident with the gamma-ray maximum. Furthermore, the model requires an inclination of ~50° and an orbital eccentricity of ~0.35, consistent with the limited constraints from existing optical observations. This picture motivates searches for pulsations from the energetic young pulsar powering the wind shock.« less

Light curve and SED modeling of the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6–5856: Constraints on the orbital geometry and relativistic flow

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

An, Hongjun; Romani, Roger W.

We present broadband spectral energy distributions and light curves of the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6–5856 measured in the X-ray and the gamma-ray bands. We find that the orbital modulation in the low-energy gamma-ray band is similar to that in the X-ray band, suggesting a common spectral component. However, above a GeV the orbital light curve changes significantly. We suggest that the GeV band contains significant flux from a pulsar magnetosphere, while the X-ray to TeV light curves are dominated by synchrotron and Compton emission from an intrabinary shock (IBS). We find that a simple one-zone model is inadequate to explainmore » the IBS emission, but that beamed Synchrotron-self Compton radiation from adiabatically accelerated plasma in the shocked pulsar wind can reproduce the complex multiband light curves, including the variable X-ray spike coincident with the gamma-ray maximum. Furthermore, the model requires an inclination of ~50° and an orbital eccentricity of ~0.35, consistent with the limited constraints from existing optical observations. This picture motivates searches for pulsations from the energetic young pulsar powering the wind shock.« less

Cyclic fatigue resistance of new reciprocating glide path files in 45- and 60-degree curved canals.

PubMed

Topçuoğlu, H S; Topçuoğlu, G; Kafdağ, Ö; Arslan, H

2018-02-26

To compare the cyclic fatigue resistance of R-PILOT and WaveOne Gold Glider files in curved artificial canals. A total of 60 new R-PILOT and WaveOne Gold Glider files were tested in artificial canals with 45° and 60° angles of curvature. Fifteen new files of each brand were tested in both canals. Cyclic fatigue resistance was determined by recording the time to file fracture in the artificial canals. The length of each fractured fragment was also recorded. An independent sample t-test was used to analyse the data. In the canal with a 45° angle of curvature, no significant differences were observed between the R-PILOT and WaveOne Gold Glider files (P > 0.05). In the canal with a 60° angle of curvature, WaveOne Gold Glider files had greater cyclic fatigue resistance than R-PILOT files (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the files in terms of the lengths of fractured fragments in canals with 45° and 60° angles of curvature (P > 0.05). WaveOne Gold Glider files exhibited greater cyclic fatigue resistance than R-PILOT files in artificial canals with a 60° angle of curvature. © 2018 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Highly resistive epitaxial Mg-doped GdN thin films

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

Lee, C.-M.; Warring, H.; Trodahl, H. J.

2015-01-12

We report the growth by molecular beam epitaxy of highly resistive GdN, using intentional doping with magnesium. Mg-doped GdN layers with resistivities of 10{sup 3} Ω cm and carrier concentrations of 10{sup 16 }cm{sup −3} are obtained for films with Mg concentrations up to 5 × 10{sup 19} atoms/cm{sup 3}. X-ray diffraction rocking curves indicate that Mg-doped GdN films have crystalline quality very similar to undoped GdN films, showing that the Mg doping did not affect the structural properties of the films. A decrease of the Curie temperature with decreasing the electron density is observed, supporting a recently suggested magnetic polaron scenario [F.more » Natali, B. J. Ruck, H. J. Trodahl, D. L. Binh, S. Vézian, B. Damilano, Y. Cordier, F. Semond, and C. Meyer, Phys. Rev. B 87, 035202 (2013)].« less

Research on the Integration of Bionic Geometry Modeling and Simulation of Robot Foot Based on Characteristic Curve

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, G.; Zhu, H.; Xu, J.; Gao, K.; Zhu, D.

2017-09-01

The bionic research of shape is an important aspect of the research on bionic robot, and its implementation cannot be separated from the shape modeling and numerical simulation of the bionic object, which is tedious and time-consuming. In order to improve the efficiency of shape bionic design, the feet of animals living in soft soil and swamp environment are taken as bionic objects, and characteristic skeleton curve, section curve, joint rotation variable, position and other parameters are used to describe the shape and position information of bionic object’s sole, toes and flipper. The geometry modeling of the bionic object is established by using the parameterization of characteristic curves and variables. Based on this, the integration framework of parametric modeling and finite element modeling, dynamic analysis and post-processing of sinking process in soil is proposed in this paper. The examples of bionic ostrich foot and bionic duck foot are also given. The parametric modeling and integration technique can achieve rapid improved design based on bionic object, and it can also greatly improve the efficiency and quality of robot foot bionic design, and has important practical significance to improve the level of bionic design of robot foot’s shape and structure.

The NURBS curves in modelling the shape of the boundary in the parametric integral equations systems for solving the Laplace equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zieniuk, Eugeniusz; Kapturczak, Marta; Sawicki, Dominik

2016-06-01

In solving of boundary value problems the shapes of the boundary can be modelled by the curves widely used in computer graphics. In parametric integral equations system (PIES) such curves are directly included into the mathematical formalism. Its simplify the way of definition and modification of the shape of the boundary. Until now in PIES the B-spline, Bézier and Hermite curves were used. Recent developments in the computer graphics paid our attention, therefore we implemented in PIES possibility of defining the shape of boundary using the NURBS curves. The curves will allow us to modeling different shapes more precisely. In this paper we will compare PIES solutions (with applied NURBS) with the solutions existing in the literature.

Postprandial metabolism in resistance-trained versus sedentary males.

PubMed

Thyfault, John P; Richmond, Scott R; Carper, Michael J; Potteiger, Jeffrey A; Hulver, Matthew W

2004-04-01

This investigation examined if postprandial metabolism differed between resistance-trained [(RT), N = 12] and sedentary [(SED), N = 12] males. A secondary objective was to determine whether different resistance-training programs [bodybuilding (BB), N = 8 and power/weight-lifting (PL), N = 8] resulted in disparate effects on postprandial energy metabolism. Moderate fat [(MF), 37% carbohydrate, 18% protein, and 45% fat] and high carbohydrate [(HC), 79% carbohydrate, 20% protein, and 1% fat] meals were randomly administered, and postprandial metabolism was measured for 240 min. Carbohydrate oxidation, fat oxidation, diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), and glucose and insulin areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Fat oxidization/lean body mass (LBM) was significantly greater in SED after the HC (RT, 0.27 +/- 0.02 g vs SED, 0.33 +/- 0.02 g, P = 0.017) and MF (RT, 0.34 +/- 0.02 g vs SED, 0.39 +/- 0.02 g, P = 0.036) meals. Carbohydrate oxidation/LBM was significantly greater in RT after the HC meal (RT, 0.87 +/- 0.03 g vs SED, 0.74 +/- 0.04 g, P = 0.017) only. DIT and DIT/LBM were significantly greater in RT compared with SED after the HC meal (DIT: RT, 351 +/- 21 kJ vs SED, 231 +/- 23 kJ, P = 0.001; DIT/LBM: RT, 5.25 +/- 0.028 kJ vs SED, 3.92 +/- 0.37 kJ, P = 0.009). The AUC for both glucose and insulin were significantly greater in SED compared with RT in response to the HC meal but not the MF meal. There were no differences in the BB and PL groups for any measured variables in response to either the HC or MF meals. These data indicate that postprandial metabolism is different between resistance-trained and sedentary males but that no such differences exist with different resistance training styles.

Late-time Flattening of Type Ia Supernova Light Curves: Constraints from SN 2014J in M82

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yi; Wang, Lifan; Baade, Dietrich; Brown, Peter. J.; Cikota, Aleksandar; Cracraft, Misty; Höflich, Peter A.; Maund, Justyn R.; Patat, Ferdinando; Sparks, William B.; Spyromilio, Jason; Stevance, Heloise F.; Wang, Xiaofeng; Wheeler, J. Craig

2018-01-01

The very nearby Type Ia supernova 2014J in M82 offers a rare opportunity to study the physics of thermonuclear supernovae at extremely late phases (≳800 days). Using the Hubble Space Telescope, we obtained 6 epochs of high-precision photometry for SN 2014J from 277 days to 1181 days past the B-band maximum light. The reprocessing of electrons and X-rays emitted by the radioactive decay chain {}57{Co}\\to {}57{Fe} is needed to explain the significant flattening of both the F606W-band and the pseudo-bolometric light curves. The flattening confirms previous predictions that the late-time evolution of type Ia supernova luminosities requires additional energy input from the decay of 57Co. By assuming the F606W-band luminosity scales with the bolometric luminosity at ∼500 days after the B-band maximum light, a mass ratio {}57{Ni}{/}56{Ni}∼ {0.065}-0.004+0.005 is required. This mass ratio is roughly ∼3 times the solar ratio and favors a progenitor white dwarf with a mass near the Chandrasekhar limit. A similar fit using the constructed pseudo-bolometric luminosity gives a mass ratio {}57{Ni}{/}56{Ni}∼ {0.066}-0.008+0.009. Astrometric tests based on the multi-epoch HST ACS/WFC images reveal no significant circumstellar light echoes in between 0.3 and 100 pc from the supernova.

Reduction of movement resistance force of pipeline in horizontal curved well at stage of designing underground passage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toropov, V. S.; Toropov, S. Yu

2018-05-01

A method has been developed to reduce the resistance to movement of a pipeline in a horizontal curved well in the construction of underground passages using trenchless technologies. The method can be applied at the design stage. The idea of the proposed method consists in approximating the trajectory of the designed trenchless passage to the equilibrium profile. It has been proved that in order to reduce the resistance to movement of the pipeline arising from contact with the borehole wall, the profile of its initial and final sections must correspond, depending on the initial conditions, to the parabola or hyperbolic cosine equation. Analytical dependences are obtained which allow supplementing the methods of calculation of traction effort in trenchless construction for the case when the profile of the well is given by an arbitrary function.

Fitting integrated enzyme rate equations to progress curves with the use of a weighting matrix.

PubMed Central

Franco, R; Aran, J M; Canela, E I

1991-01-01

A method is presented for fitting the pairs of values product formed-time taken from progress curves to the integrated rate equation. The procedure is applied to the estimation of the kinetic parameters of the adenosine deaminase system. Simulation studies demonstrate the capabilities of this strategy. A copy of the FORTRAN77 program used can be obtained from the authors by request. PMID:2006914

Curved Radio Spectra of Weak Cluster Shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Hyesung; Ryu, Dongsu

2015-08-01

In order to understand certain observed features of arc-like giant radio relics such as the rareness, uniform surface brightness, and curved integrated spectra, we explore a diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) model for radio relics in which a spherical shock impinges on a magnetized cloud containing fossil relativistic electrons. Toward this end, we perform DSA simulations of spherical shocks with the parameters relevant for the Sausage radio relic in cluster CIZA J2242.8+5301, and calculate the ensuing radio synchrotron emission from re-accelerated electrons. Three types of fossil electron populations are considered: a delta-function like population with the shock injection momentum, a power-law distribution, and a power law with an exponential cutoff. The surface brightness profile of the radio-emitting postshock region and the volume-integrated radio spectrum are calculated and compared with observations. We find that the observed width of the Sausage relic can be explained reasonably well by shocks with speed {u}{{s}}˜ 3× {10}3 {km} {{{s}}}-1 and sonic Mach number {M}{{s}}˜ 3. These shocks produce curved radio spectra that steepen gradually over (0.1-10){ν }{br} with a break frequency {ν }{br}˜ 1 GHz if the duration of electron acceleration is ˜60-80 Myr. However, the abrupt increase in the spectral index above ˜1.5 GHz observed in the Sausage relic seems to indicate that additional physical processes, other than radiative losses, operate for electrons with {γ }{{e}}≳ {10}4.

Sensitivity curves for searches for gravitational-wave backgrounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thrane, Eric; Romano, Joseph D.

2013-12-01

We propose a graphical representation of detector sensitivity curves for stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds that takes into account the increase in sensitivity that comes from integrating over frequency in addition to integrating over time. This method is valid for backgrounds that have a power-law spectrum in the analysis band. We call these graphs “power-law integrated curves.” For simplicity, we consider cross-correlation searches for unpolarized and isotropic stochastic backgrounds using two or more detectors. We apply our method to construct power-law integrated sensitivity curves for second-generation ground-based detectors such as Advanced LIGO, space-based detectors such as LISA and the Big Bang Observer, and timing residuals from a pulsar timing array. The code used to produce these plots is available at https://dcc.ligo.org/LIGO-P1300115/public for researchers interested in constructing similar sensitivity curves.

INTEGRAL observations of GRO J1008-57 in outburst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leyder, J.-C.; Ferrigno, C.; Tuerler, M.; Walter, R.

2009-03-01

The Be X-ray binary GRO J1008-57 is known to display regular outburts, with a period of 248 days (ATel #940; Coe et al. 2007, MNRAS 378, 1427). In the past, it has been detected by INTEGRAL at a level of 30 mCrab in October 2005 (ATel #647; in the 18-45 keV energy range), but also in June 2004 (Coe et al. 2007). Swift/BAT detected a brighter than usual flare in November 2007 (ATel #1298), with a level of 100 mCrab up to 400 mCrab (in the 15-50 keV energy range; see the Swift/BAT lightcurve).

Quality Quandaries: Predicting a Population of Curves

DOE PAGES

Fugate, Michael Lynn; Hamada, Michael Scott; Weaver, Brian Phillip

2017-12-19

We present a random effects spline regression model based on splines that provides an integrated approach for analyzing functional data, i.e., curves, when the shape of the curves is not parametrically specified. An analysis using this model is presented that makes inferences about a population of curves as well as features of the curves.

Quality Quandaries: Predicting a Population of Curves

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

Fugate, Michael Lynn; Hamada, Michael Scott; Weaver, Brian Phillip

We present a random effects spline regression model based on splines that provides an integrated approach for analyzing functional data, i.e., curves, when the shape of the curves is not parametrically specified. An analysis using this model is presented that makes inferences about a population of curves as well as features of the curves.

Integrated analysis on static/dynamic aeroelasticity of curved panels based on a modified local piston theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhichun; Zhou, Jian; Gu, Yingsong

2014-10-01

A flow field modified local piston theory, which is applied to the integrated analysis on static/dynamic aeroelastic behaviors of curved panels, is proposed in this paper. The local flow field parameters used in the modification are obtained by CFD technique which has the advantage to simulate the steady flow field accurately. This flow field modified local piston theory for aerodynamic loading is applied to the analysis of static aeroelastic deformation and flutter stabilities of curved panels in hypersonic flow. In addition, comparisons are made between results obtained by using the present method and curvature modified method. It shows that when the curvature of the curved panel is relatively small, the static aeroelastic deformations and flutter stability boundaries obtained by these two methods have little difference, while for curved panels with larger curvatures, the static aeroelastic deformation obtained by the present method is larger and the flutter stability boundary is smaller compared with those obtained by the curvature modified method, and the discrepancy increases with the increasing of curvature of panels. Therefore, the existing curvature modified method is non-conservative compared to the proposed flow field modified method based on the consideration of hypersonic flight vehicle safety, and the proposed flow field modified local piston theory for curved panels enlarges the application range of piston theory.

Light Curve and SED Modeling of the Gamma-Ray Binary 1FGL J1018.6–5856: Constraints on the Orbital Geometry and Relativistic Flow

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

An, Hongjun; Romani, Roger W., E-mail: hjan@chungbuk.ac.kr

We present broadband spectral energy distributions and light curves of the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6−5856 measured in the X-ray and the gamma-ray bands. We find that the orbital modulation in the low-energy gamma-ray band is similar to that in the X-ray band, suggesting a common spectral component. However, above a GeV the orbital light curve changes significantly. We suggest that the GeV band contains significant flux from a pulsar magnetosphere, while the X-ray to TeV light curves are dominated by synchrotron and Compton emission from an intrabinary shock (IBS). We find that a simple one-zone model is inadequate to explainmore » the IBS emission, but that beamed Synchrotron-self Compton radiation from adiabatically accelerated plasma in the shocked pulsar wind can reproduce the complex multiband light curves, including the variable X-ray spike coincident with the gamma-ray maximum. The model requires an inclination of ∼50° and an orbital eccentricity of ∼0.35, consistent with the limited constraints from existing optical observations. This picture motivates searches for pulsations from the energetic young pulsar powering the wind shock.« less

Measurements and tests of HTS bulk material in resistive fault current limiters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noe, M.; Juengst, K.-P.; Werfel, F. N.; Elschner, S.; Bock, J.; Wolf, A.; Breuer, F.

2002-08-01

The application of superconducting fault current limiters (SCFCL) depends highly on their technical and economical benefits. Therefore it is obvious that the main requirements on the SCFCL are a reliable, fail-safe and rapid current limitation, low losses, and an inexpensive production. As a potential candidate material we have investigated HTS bulk material in resistive fault current limiters. Our report focuses on the E- j-curves, the AC-losses and the quench behaviour of melt cast processed-BSCCO 2212 and melt textured polycrystalline-YBCO 123. Within a temperature range from 64 to 80 K E- j-curves and AC losses of HTS elements were measured. The measurement results show that HTS bulk material meets the SCFCL specifications. In order to avoid hot spots during limitation and to improve mechanical stability a metallic bypass is needed. First test results of the quench behaviour of HTS bulk material with metallic bypass demonstrate safe limitation up to the specified electrical field of 100 V/m.

Comparison of mixed-mode stress-intensity factors obtained through displacement correlation, J-integral formulation, and modified crack-closure integral

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bittencourt, Tulio N.; Barry, Ahmabou; Ingraffea, Anthony R.

This paper presents a comparison among stress-intensity factors for mixed-mode two-dimensional problems obtained through three different approaches: displacement correlation, J-integral, and modified crack-closure integral. All mentioned procedures involve only one analysis step and are incorporated in the post-processor page of a finite element computer code for fracture mechanics analysis (FRANC). Results are presented for a closed-form solution problem under mixed-mode conditions. The accuracy of these described methods then is discussed and analyzed in the framework of their numerical results. The influence of the differences among the three methods on the predicted crack trajectory of general problems is also discussed.

A comparison of single-cycle versus multiple-cycle proof testing strategies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hudak, S. J., Jr.; Mcclung, R. C.; Bartlett, M. L.; Fitzgerald, J. H.; Russell, D. A.

1990-01-01

An evaluation of single-cycle and multiple-cycle proof testing (MCPT) strategies for SSME components is described. Data for initial sizes and shapes of actual SSME hardware defects are analyzed statistically. Closed-form estimates of the J-integral for surface flaws are derived with a modified reference stress method. The results of load- and displacement-controlled stable crack growth tests on thin IN-718 plates with deep surface flaws are summarized. A J-resistance curve for the surface-cracked configuration is developed and compared with data from thick compact tension specimens. The potential for further crack growth during large unload/reload cycles is discussed, highlighting conflicting data in the literature. A simple model for ductile crack growth during MCPT based on the J-resistance curve is used to study the potential effects of key variables. The projected changes in the crack size distribution during MCPT depend on the interactions between several key parameters, including the number of proof cycles, the nature of the resistance curve, the initial crack size distribution, the component boundary conditions (load vs. displacement control), and the magnitude of the applied load or displacement. The relative advantages of single-cycle and multiple-cycle proof testing appear to be specific, therefore, to individual component geometry, material, and loading.

Integrative molecular network analysis identifies emergent enzalutamide resistance mechanisms in prostate cancer

PubMed Central

King, Carly J.; Woodward, Josha; Schwartzman, Jacob; Coleman, Daniel J.; Lisac, Robert; Wang, Nicholas J.; Van Hook, Kathryn; Gao, Lina; Urrutia, Joshua; Dane, Mark A.; Heiser, Laura M.; Alumkal, Joshi J.

2017-01-01

Recent work demonstrates that castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) tumors harbor countless genomic aberrations that control many hallmarks of cancer. While some specific mutations in CRPC may be actionable, many others are not. We hypothesized that genomic aberrations in cancer may operate in concert to promote drug resistance and tumor progression, and that organization of these genomic aberrations into therapeutically targetable pathways may improve our ability to treat CRPC. To identify the molecular underpinnings of enzalutamide-resistant CRPC, we performed transcriptional and copy number profiling studies using paired enzalutamide-sensitive and resistant LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines. Gene networks associated with enzalutamide resistance were revealed by performing an integrative genomic analysis with the PAthway Representation and Analysis by Direct Reference on Graphical Models (PARADIGM) tool. Amongst the pathways enriched in the enzalutamide-resistant cells were those associated with MEK, EGFR, RAS, and NFKB. Functional validation studies of 64 genes identified 10 candidate genes whose suppression led to greater effects on cell viability in enzalutamide-resistant cells as compared to sensitive parental cells. Examination of a patient cohort demonstrated that several of our functionally-validated gene hits are deregulated in metastatic CRPC tumor samples, suggesting that they may be clinically relevant therapeutic targets for patients with enzalutamide-resistant CRPC. Altogether, our approach demonstrates the potential of integrative genomic analyses to clarify determinants of drug resistance and rational co-targeting strategies to overcome resistance. PMID:29340039

Extremely correlated Fermi liquid theory of the t-J model in 2 dimensions: low energy properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shastry, B. Sriram; Mai, Peizhi

2018-01-01

Low energy properties of the metallic state of the two-dimensional t-J model are presented for second neighbor hopping with hole-doping (t\\prime ≤slant 0) and electron-doping (t\\prime > 0), with various superexchange energy J. We use a closed set of equations for the Greens functions obtained from the extremely correlated Fermi liquid theory. These equations reproduce the known low energies features of the large U Hubbard model in infinite dimensions. The density and temperature dependent quasiparticle weight, decay rate and the peak spectral heights over the Brillouin zone are calculated. We also calculate the resistivity, Hall conductivity, Hall number and cotangent Hall angle. The spectral features display high thermal sensitivity at modest T for density n≳ 0.8, implying a suppression of the effective Fermi-liquid temperature by two orders of magnitude relative to the bare bandwidth. The cotangent Hall angle exhibits a T 2 behavior at low T, followed by an interesting kink at higher T. The Hall number exhibits strong renormalization due to correlations. Flipping the sign of t\\prime changes the curvature of the resistivity versus T curves between convex and concave. Our results provide a natural route for understanding the observed difference in the temperature dependent resistivity of strongly correlated electron-doped and hole-doped matter.

Integrability of conformal fishnet theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gromov, Nikolay; Kazakov, Vladimir; Korchemsky, Gregory; Negro, Stefano; Sizov, Grigory

2018-01-01

We study integrability of fishnet-type Feynman graphs arising in planar four-dimensional bi-scalar chiral theory recently proposed in arXiv:1512.06704 as a special double scaling limit of gamma-deformed N = 4 SYM theory. We show that the transfer matrix "building" the fishnet graphs emerges from the R-matrix of non-compact conformal SU(2 , 2) Heisenberg spin chain with spins belonging to principal series representations of the four-dimensional conformal group. We demonstrate explicitly a relationship between this integrable spin chain and the Quantum Spectral Curve (QSC) of N = 4 SYM. Using QSC and spin chain methods, we construct Baxter equation for Q-functions of the conformal spin chain needed for computation of the anomalous dimensions of operators of the type tr( ϕ 1 J ) where ϕ 1 is one of the two scalars of the theory. For J = 3 we derive from QSC a quantization condition that fixes the relevant solution of Baxter equation. The scaling dimensions of the operators only receive contributions from wheel-like graphs. We develop integrability techniques to compute the divergent part of these graphs and use it to present the weak coupling expansion of dimensions to very high orders. Then we apply our exact equations to calculate the anomalous dimensions with J = 3 to practically unlimited precision at any coupling. These equations also describe an infinite tower of local conformal operators all carrying the same charge J = 3. The method should be applicable for any J and, in principle, to any local operators of bi-scalar theory. We show that at strong coupling the scaling dimensions can be derived from semiclassical quantization of finite gap solutions describing an integrable system of noncompact SU(2 , 2) spins. This bears similarities with the classical strings arising in the strongly coupled limit of N = 4 SYM.

Best-bet integrated strategies for containing drug-resistant trypanosomes in cattle

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background African animal trypanosomosis is a major constraint to the rearing of productive livestock in the sub-humid Sudan-Sahel zone of West Africa where cotton is grown. Trypanosomosis is mainly controlled using trypanocidal drugs, but the effective use of drugs is threatened by the development of widespread resistance. This study tested integrated best-bet strategies for containment and/ or reversal of trypanocide resistance in villages in south-east Mali where resistance has been reported. Methods Four sentinel villages each from an intervention area (along the road from Mali to Burkina Faso) and a control area (along the road from Mali to Côte d’Ivoire) were selected for the study. Tsetse control was based on deltamethrin-treated stationary attractive devices and targeted cattle spraying between March 2008 and November 2009. Trypanosome-positive cattle were selectively treated with 3.5 mg/kg diminazene aceturate. Strategic helminth control using 10 mg/kg albendazole was also undertaken. During the intervention, tsetse densities along drainage lines, trypanosome infections and faecal egg counts in risk cattle (3 to 12 months of age) were monitored. Results Catch reductions of 66.5 % in Glossina palpalis gambiensis and 90 % in G. tachinoides were observed in the intervention area. Trypanosome prevalence was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the intervention area (2.3 %; 1.3-3.6 %) compared to the control area (17.3 %; 14.8-20.1 %). Albendazole treatment resulted in a faecal egg count reduction of 55.6 % and reduced trypanosome infection risk (2.9 times lower than in the placebo group) although not significantly (p > 0.05). Further studies are required before confirming the existence of albendazole resistant strongyles in the study area. Conclusion Integration of best-bet strategies in areas of multiple drug-resistance is expected to reduce trypanosome infection risk thus contributing to containment of trypanocidal drug resistance

The Triangle: a Multiprocessor Architecture for Fast Curve and Surface Generation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-08-01

design , curves and surfaces, graphics hardware. 20...curves, B-splines, computer-aided geometric design ; curves and sur- faces, graphics hardware. (k 12). -/ .... This work was supported in part by the...34 Electronic Design , October 30, 1986. 21. M. A. Penna and R. R. Patterson, Projective Geometry and its Applications to Computer Graphics , Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1985. 70,e, 41100vr -~ ~ - -- --

A new method for the automatic interpretation of Schlumberger and Wenner sounding curves

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zohdy, A.A.R.

1989-01-01

A fast iterative method for the automatic interpretation of Schlumberger and Wenner sounding curves is based on obtaining interpreted depths and resistivities from shifted electrode spacings and adjusted apparent resistivities, respectively. The method is fully automatic. It does not require an initial guess of the number of layers, their thicknesses, or their resistivities; and it does not require extrapolation of incomplete sounding curves. The number of layers in the interpreted model equals the number of digitized points on the sounding curve. The resulting multilayer model is always well-behaved with no thin layers of unusually high or unusually low resistivities. For noisy data, interpretation is done in two sets of iterations (two passes). Anomalous layers, created because of noise in the first pass, are eliminated in the second pass. Such layers are eliminated by considering the best-fitting curve from the first pass to be a smoothed version of the observed curve and automatically reinterpreting it (second pass). The application of the method is illustrated by several examples. -Author

A graphene integrated highly transparent resistive switching memory device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dugu, Sita; Pavunny, Shojan P.; Limbu, Tej B.; Weiner, Brad R.; Morell, Gerardo; Katiyar, Ram S.

2018-05-01

We demonstrate the hybrid fabrication process of a graphene integrated highly transparent resistive random-access memory (TRRAM) device. The indium tin oxide (ITO)/Al2O3/graphene nonvolatile memory device possesses a high transmittance of >82% in the visible region (370-700 nm) and exhibits stable and non-symmetrical bipolar switching characteristics with considerably low set and reset voltages (<±1 V). The vertical two-terminal device shows an excellent resistive switching behavior with a high on-off ratio of ˜5 × 103. We also fabricated a ITO/Al2O3/Pt device and studied its switching characteristics for comparison and a better understanding of the ITO/Al2O3/graphene device characteristics. The conduction mechanisms in high and low resistance states were analyzed, and the observed polarity dependent resistive switching is explained based on electro-migration of oxygen ions.

Understanding and Taking Control of Surgical Learning Curves.

PubMed

Gofton, Wade T; Papp, Steven R; Gofton, Tyson; Beaulé, Paul E

2016-01-01

As surgical techniques continue to evolve, surgeons will have to integrate new skills into their practice. A learning curve is associated with the integration of any new procedure; therefore, it is important for surgeons who are incorporating a new technique into their practice to understand what the reported learning curve might mean for them and their patients. A learning curve should not be perceived as negative because it can indicate progress; however, surgeons need to understand how to optimize the learning curve to ensure progress with minimal patient risk. It is essential for surgeons who are implementing new procedures or skills to define potential learning curves, examine how a reported learning curve may relate to an individual surgeon's in-practice learning and performance, and suggest methods in which an individual surgeon can modify his or her specific learning curve in order to optimize surgical outcomes and patient safety. A defined personal learning contract may be a practical method for surgeons to proactively manage their individual learning curve and provide evidence of their efforts to safely improve surgical practice.

An Integrative Approach to Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

PubMed

Woon, Luke Sy-Cherng; Kanapathy, Anita; Zakaria, Hazli; Alfonso, César A

2017-01-01

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that often runs a chronic unremitting course. Treatment outcomes can be unsatisfactory despite the availability of various somatic and psychological therapies. Psychodynamic psychotherapy in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) could help patients with treatment-resistant OCD achieve better outcomes. An integrative approach can help patients gain insight, strengthen the therapeutic alliance, improve treatment adherence, and provide symptomatic relief when other treatments seem insufficient or have failed. We describe the treatment process of a person with treatment-resistant OCD who received pharmacotherapy, concurrent CBT/ERP, and a brief course of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Case formulations from cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic perspectives are presented. The authors discuss the advantages of doing a psychodynamic assessment and formulation in treatment refractory cases and the wisdom of integrating psychotherapy interventions for OCD, as well as the unique clinical features of cases that warrant a multimodal treatment approach.

Interstellar extinction curve variations towards the inner Milky Way: a challenge to observational cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nataf, David M.; Gonzalez, Oscar A.; Casagrande, Luca; Zasowski, Gail; Wegg, Christopher; Wolf, Christian; Kunder, Andrea; Alonso-Garcia, Javier; Minniti, Dante; Rejkuba, Marina; Saito, Roberto K.; Valenti, Elena; Zoccali, Manuela; Poleski, Radosław; Pietrzyński, Grzegorz; Skowron, Jan; Soszyński, Igor; Szymański, Michał K.; Udalski, Andrzej; Ulaczyk, Krzysztof; Wyrzykowski, Łukasz

2016-03-01

We investigate interstellar extinction curve variations towards ˜4 deg2 of the inner Milky Way in VIJKs photometry from the OGLE-III (third phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) and VVV (VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea) surveys, with supporting evidence from diffuse interstellar bands and F435W, F625W photometry. We obtain independent measurements towards ˜2000 sightlines of AI, E(V - I), E(I - J) and E(J - Ks), with median precision and accuracy of 2 per cent. We find that the variations in the extinction ratios AI/E(V - I), E(I - J)/E(V - I) and E(J - Ks)/E(V - I) are large (exceeding 20 per cent), significant and positively correlated, as expected. However, both the mean values and the trends in these extinction ratios are drastically shifted from the predictions of Cardelli and Fitzpatrick, regardless of how RV is varied. Furthermore, we demonstrate that variations in the shape of the extinction curve have at least two degrees of freedom, and not one (e.g. RV), which we confirm with a principal component analysis. We derive a median value of = 13.44, which is ˜60 per cent higher than the `standard' value. We show that the Wesenheit magnitude WI = I - 1.61(I - J) is relatively impervious to extinction curve variations. Given that these extinction curves are linchpins of observational cosmology, and that it is generally assumed that RV variations correctly capture variations in the extinction curve, we argue that systematic errors in the distance ladder from studies of Type Ia supernovae and Cepheids may have been underestimated. Moreover, the reddening maps from the Planck experiment are shown to systematically overestimate dust extinction by ˜100 per cent and lack sensitivity to extinction curve variations.

Pulmonary inflammation and tumor induction in lung tumor susceptible A/J and resistant C57BL/6J mice exposed to welding fume.

PubMed

Zeidler-Erdely, Patti C; Kashon, Michael L; Battelli, Lori A; Young, Shih-Houng; Erdely, Aaron; Roberts, Jenny R; Reynolds, Steven H; Antonini, James M

2008-09-08

Welding fume has been categorized as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans. Our objectives were to characterize the lung response to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metal-containing welding fumes and to determine if these fumes caused increased lung tumorigenicity in A/J mice, a lung tumor susceptible strain. We exposed male A/J and C57BL/6J, a lung tumor resistant strain, by pharyngeal aspiration four times (once every 3 days) to 85 mug of gas metal arc-mild steel (GMA-MS), GMA-stainless steel (SS), or manual metal arc-SS (MMA-SS) fume, or to 25.5 mug soluble hexavalent chromium (S-Cr). Shams were exposed to saline vehicle. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was done at 2, 7, and 28 days post-exposure. For the lung tumor study, gross tumor counts and histopathological changes were assessed in A/J mice at 48 and 78 weeks post-exposure. BAL revealed notable strain-dependent differences with regards to the degree and resolution of the inflammatory response after exposure to the fumes. At 48 weeks, carcinogenic metal-containing GMA-SS fume caused the greatest increase in tumor multiplicity and incidence, but this was not different from sham. By 78 weeks, tumor incidence in the GMA-SS group versus sham approached significance (p = 0.057). A significant increase in perivascular/peribronchial lymphoid infiltrates for the GMA-SS group versus sham and an increased persistence of this fume in lung cells compared to the other welding fumes was found. The increased persistence of GMA-SS fume in combination with its metal composition may trigger a chronic, but mild, inflammatory state in the lung possibly enhancing tumorigenesis in this susceptible mouse strain.

MASTER OT J004207.99+405501.1/M31LRN 2015 luminous red nova in M31: discovery, light curve, hydrodynamics and evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipunov, V. M.; Blinnikov, S.; Gorbovskoy, E.; Tutukov, A.; Baklanov, P.; Krushinski, V.; Tiurina, N.; Balanutsa, P.; Kuznetsov, A.; Kornilov, V.; Gorbunov, I.; Shumkov, V.; Vladimirov, V.; Gress, O.; Budnev, N. M.; Ivanov, K.; Tlatov, A.; Gabovich, A.; Yurkov, V.; Sergienko, Yu.; Zalozhnykh, I.

2017-09-01

We report the discovery and multicolour (VRIW) photometry of the rare explosive star MASTER OT J004207.99+405501.1 - a luminous red nova - in the Andromeda galaxy M31N2015-01a. We use our original light curve acquired with identical MASTER Global Robotic Net telescopes in one photometric system: VRI during the first 30 d and W (unfiltered) during 70 d. Also, we added published multicolour photometry data to estimate the mass and energy of the ejected shell and we discuss the likely formation scenarios of outbursts of this type. We propose an interpretation of the explosion that is consistent with an evolutionary scenario where the merging of stellar components or the disruption of the common envelope of a close binary can explain some luminous red novae. Radiative hydrodynamic simulations of a luminous red nova were carried out in extended parameter space to fit its light curves. We find that the multicolour passband light curves of the luminous red nova are consistent with an initial common envelope radius of 10 R⊙, a merger mass of 3 M⊙ and an explosion energy of 3 × 1048 erg. As a result, the phenomenon of novae consists of two classes: classical nuclear novae and more rare events (red novae) connected with the loss of compact common envelopes.

Canadian integrated program for antimicrobial resistance surveillance: Retail food highlights, 2003-2012.

PubMed

Avery, B P; Parmley, E J; Reid-Smith, R J; Daignault, D; Finley, R L; Irwin, R J

2014-11-07

The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) is a collaborative, integrated program designed to track antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among enteric bacteria isolated from various livestock commodities along the food-producing continuum ("farm to fork") and in humans. To provide a summary of the prevalence and trends in AMR among select bacteria isolated from raw, fresh chicken, pork, and beef in 2012 at the retail food level and to link these data with other findings from CIPARS. Meat samples were collected from randomly selected geographic areas across Canada weighted by population for subsequent isolation of bacteria and interpretation of the associated AMR profiles. Salmonella, Campylobacter and generic Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) were tested in chicken, and E. coli was tested in beef and pork. Data were analyzed for 2012 and temporal and regional trends were examined between 2003 and 2012 by province/region. Overall, resistance levels to Salmonella in retail chicken varied widely by region and year. For example, ceftiofur resistance to Salmonella in retail chicken was significantly lower in 2012 than in 2004 in Ontario and in Québec; however, among all regions sampled, resistance was significantly higher in 2012 compared to 2006. Across all regions sampled, resistance to Campylobacter in retail chicken was relatively low in 2012 (<16%) with the exception of tetracycline resistance. In 2012, ciprofloxacin resistance to Campylobacter in chicken declined in British Columbia but significantly increased in Ontario, compared to 2011. In 2012, β-lactam resistance to E. coli in retail beef remained low (≤1%) and was also relatively low comparable to previous years in pork. In Canada, as is the case worldwide, there is evidence of resistance to medically important antimicrobials among bacteria from retail meats. Resistance among organisms isolated from poultry, beef, and pork at the retail food level is characterized by wide

Occurrence of antibiotic resistance and characterization of resistant genes and integrons in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from integrated fish farms south China

USGS Publications Warehouse

Su, Hao-Chang; Ying, Guang-Guo; Tao, Ran; Zhang, Rui-Quan; Fogarty, Lisa R.; Kolpin, Dana W.

2011-01-01

Antibiotics are still widely applied in animal husbandry to prevent diseases and used as feed additives to promote animal growth. This could result in antibiotic resistance to bacteria and antibiotic residues in animals. In this paper, Enterobacteriaceae isolated from four integrated fish farms in Zhongshan, South China were tested for antibiotic resistance, tetracycline resistance genes, sulfonamide resistance genes, and class 1 integrons. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were carried out to test antibiotic susceptibility and resistance genes, respectively. Relatively high antibiotic resistance frequencies were found, especially for ampicillin (80%), tetracycline (52%), and trimethoprim (50%). Out of 203 Enterobacteriaceae isolates, 98.5% were resistant to one or more antibiotics tested. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) was found highest in animal manures with a MAR index of 0.56. Tetracycline resistance genes (tet(A), tet(C)) and sulfonamide resistance genes (sul2) were detected in more than 50% of the isolates. The intI1 gene was found in 170 isolates (83.7%). Both classic and non-classic class 1 integrons were found. Four genes, aadA5, aadA22, dfr2, and dfrA17, were detected. To our knowledge, this is the first report for molecular characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from integrated fish farms in China and the first time that gene cassette array dfrA17-aadA5 has been detected in such fish farms. Results of this study indicated that fish farms may be a reservoir of highly diverse and abundant antibiotic resistant genes and gene cassettes. Integrons may play a key role in multiple antibiotic resistances posing potential health risks to the general public and aquaculture.

"The Bell Curve": Review of Reviews.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parker, Franklin; Parker, Betty J.

This paper reviews the book "The Bell Curve" by Harvard psychologist Richard J. Herrnstein and political scientist Charles Alan Murray. The paper asserts as the book's main points and implications: (1) one's socioeconomic place in life is now determined by IQ rather than family wealth and influence; (2) ruling white elites, who have…

On the Puzzling High-Energy Pulsations of the Energetic Radio-Quiet -Ray Pulsar J1813-1246

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marelli, M.; Harding, Alice K.; Pizzocaro, D.; De Luca, A.; Wood, K. S.; Caraveo, P.; Salvetti, D.; Parkinson, P. M.; Acero, F.

2014-01-01

We have analyzed the new deep XMM-Newton and Chandra observations of the energetic, radio-quiet pulsar J1813-1246. The X-ray spectrum is nonthermal, very hard, and absorbed. Based on spectral considerations, we propose that J1813 is located at a distance further than 2.5 kpc. J1813 is highly pulsed in the X-ray domain, with a light curve characterized by two sharp, asymmetrical peaks, separated by 0.5 in phase. We detected no significant X-ray spectral changes during the pulsar phase.We extended the available Fermi ephemeris to five years.We found two glitches. The gamma-ray light curve is characterized by two peaks, separated by 0.5 in phase, with a bridge in between and no off-pulse emission. The spectrum shows clear evolution in phase, being softer at the peaks and hardening toward the bridge. Surprisingly, both X-ray peaks lag behind the gamma-ray ones by a quarter of phase. We found a hint of detection in the 30-500 keV band with INTEGRAL, which is consistent with the extrapolation of both the soft X-ray and gamma-ray emission of J1813. The unique X-ray and gamma-ray phasing suggests a singular emission geometry. We discuss some possibilities within the current pulsar emission models. Finally, we develop an alternative geometrical model where the X-ray emission comes from polar cap pair cascades.

Atrazine Resistance in Chenopodium album

PubMed Central

Bettini, Priscilla; McNally, Sheila; Sevignac, Mireille; Darmency, Henri; Gasquez, Jacques; Dron, Michel

1987-01-01

In Chenopodium album two different levels of atrazine resistance have been found according to following criteria: lethal dose and leaf fluorescence curve. The intermediate (I) phenotype is represented by a low level of resistance and a typical I fluorescence curve. It arose at high frequency, within one generation, after self-pollination of particular plants displaying a susceptible (S) phenotype. The resistance phenotype (Ri) has a high level of resistance and presents a typical resistant fluorescence curve. It appeared after self-pollination of chemically treated I plants. The I, Ri, and also R (resistant plants found in atrazine treated fields) phenotypes contain a serine to glycine mutation at amino acid position 264 in the chloroplast psbA gene product. The steady state level of the psbA gene transcript is not modified between S, I, Ri, and R phenotypes. Images Fig. 4 PMID:16665624

Can low-resolution airborne laser scanning data be used to model stream rating curves?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lyon, Steve; Nathanson, Marcus; Lam, Norris; Dahlke, Helen; Rutzinger, Martin; Kean, Jason W.; Laudon, Hjalmar

2015-01-01

This pilot study explores the potential of using low-resolution (0.2 points/m2) airborne laser scanning (ALS)-derived elevation data to model stream rating curves. Rating curves, which allow the functional translation of stream water depth into discharge, making them integral to water resource monitoring efforts, were modeled using a physics-based approach that captures basic geometric measurements to establish flow resistance due to implicit channel roughness. We tested synthetically thinned high-resolution (more than 2 points/m2) ALS data as a proxy for low-resolution data at a point density equivalent to that obtained within most national-scale ALS strategies. Our results show that the errors incurred due to the effect of low-resolution versus high-resolution ALS data were less than those due to flow measurement and empirical rating curve fitting uncertainties. As such, although there likely are scale and technical limitations to consider, it is theoretically possible to generate rating curves in a river network from ALS data of the resolution anticipated within national-scale ALS schemes (at least for rivers with relatively simple geometries). This is promising, since generating rating curves from ALS scans would greatly enhance our ability to monitor streamflow by simplifying the overall effort required.

GADD45β, an anti-tumor gene, inhibits avian leukosis virus subgroup J replication in chickens.

PubMed

Zhang, Xinheng; Yan, Zhuanqiang; Li, Xinjian; Lin, Wencheng; Dai, Zhenkai; Yan, Yiming; Lu, Piaopiao; Chen, Weiguo; Zhang, Huanmin; Chen, Feng; Ma, Jingyun; Xie, Qingmei

2016-10-18

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) is a retroviruses that induces neoplasia, hepatomegaly, immunosuppression and poor performance in chickens. The tumorigenic and pathogenic mechanisms of ALV-J remain a hot topic. To explore anti-tumor genes that promote resistance to ALV-J infection in chickens, we bred ALV-J resistant and susceptible chickens (F3 generation). RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) of liver tissue from the ALV-J resistant and susceptible chickens identified 216 differentially expressed genes; 88 of those genes were up-regulated in the ALV-J resistant chickens (compared to the susceptible ones). We screened for significantly up-regulated genes (P < 0.01) of interest in the ALV-J resistant chickens, based on their involvement in biological signaling pathways. Functional analyses showed that overexpression of GADD45β inhibited ALV-J replication. GADD45β could enhance defense against ALV-J infection and may be used as a molecular marker to identify ALV-J infections.

GADD45β, an anti-tumor gene, inhibits avian leukosis virus subgroup J replication in chickens

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xinheng; Yan, Zhuanqiang; Li, Xinjian; Lin, Wencheng; Dai, Zhenkai; Yan, Yiming; Lu, Piaopiao; Chen, Weiguo; Zhang, Huanmin; Chen, Feng; Ma, Jingyun; Xie, Qingmei

2016-01-01

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) is a retroviruses that induces neoplasia, hepatomegaly, immunosuppression and poor performance in chickens. The tumorigenic and pathogenic mechanisms of ALV-J remain a hot topic. To explore anti-tumor genes that promote resistance to ALV-J infection in chickens, we bred ALV-J resistant and susceptible chickens (F3 generation). RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) of liver tissue from the ALV-J resistant and susceptible chickens identified 216 differentially expressed genes; 88 of those genes were up-regulated in the ALV-J resistant chickens (compared to the susceptible ones). We screened for significantly up-regulated genes (P < 0.01) of interest in the ALV-J resistant chickens, based on their involvement in biological signaling pathways. Functional analyses showed that overexpression of GADD45β inhibited ALV-J replication. GADD45β could enhance defense against ALV-J infection and may be used as a molecular marker to identify ALV-J infections. PMID:27655697

Pulmonary inflammation and tumor induction in lung tumor susceptible A/J and resistant C57BL/6J mice exposed to welding fume

PubMed Central

Zeidler-Erdely, Patti C; Kashon, Michael L; Battelli, Lori A; Young, Shih-Houng; Erdely, Aaron; Roberts, Jenny R; Reynolds, Steven H; Antonini, James M

2008-01-01

Background Welding fume has been categorized as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans. Our objectives were to characterize the lung response to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metal-containing welding fumes and to determine if these fumes caused increased lung tumorigenicity in A/J mice, a lung tumor susceptible strain. We exposed male A/J and C57BL/6J, a lung tumor resistant strain, by pharyngeal aspiration four times (once every 3 days) to 85 μg of gas metal arc-mild steel (GMA-MS), GMA-stainless steel (SS), or manual metal arc-SS (MMA-SS) fume, or to 25.5 μg soluble hexavalent chromium (S-Cr). Shams were exposed to saline vehicle. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was done at 2, 7, and 28 days post-exposure. For the lung tumor study, gross tumor counts and histopathological changes were assessed in A/J mice at 48 and 78 weeks post-exposure. Results BAL revealed notable strain-dependent differences with regards to the degree and resolution of the inflammatory response after exposure to the fumes. At 48 weeks, carcinogenic metal-containing GMA-SS fume caused the greatest increase in tumor multiplicity and incidence, but this was not different from sham. By 78 weeks, tumor incidence in the GMA-SS group versus sham approached significance (p = 0.057). A significant increase in perivascular/peribronchial lymphoid infiltrates for the GMA-SS group versus sham and an increased persistence of this fume in lung cells compared to the other welding fumes was found. Conclusion The increased persistence of GMA-SS fume in combination with its metal composition may trigger a chronic, but mild, inflammatory state in the lung possibly enhancing tumorigenesis in this susceptible mouse strain. PMID:18778475

Chemokines expression during Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni infection in resistant BALB/c and susceptible C3H/HeJ mice.

PubMed

da Silva, Josefa B; Ramos, Tatiane M V; de Franco, Marcelo; Paiva, Delhi; Ho, Paulo Lee; Martins, Elizabeth A L; Pereira, Martha M

2009-08-01

The role of innate immune responses in protection against leptospirosis remains unclear. We examined the expression of the chemokines CCL2/JE (MCP-1), CCL3/MIP-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) and CXCL1/KC (IL-8) regarding resistance and susceptibility to leptospirosis in experimental mice models BALB/c and C3H/HeJ, respectively. A virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni was used in this study. Twenty-five animals of each mouse strain of C3H/HeJ and BALB/c, were infected intraperitoneally with 10(6) cells. Five un-infected animals of each strain were kept as control. Mortality of C3H/HeJ mouse was observed while BALB/c mice were asymptomatic. The presence of leptospire DNA in tissues of infected animals was demonstrated by PCR. Chemokines were measured in serum, spleen, liver, kidney and lung of both strains of animals using immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA). Elevations in the levels of chemokines MCP-1 and IL-8 occurred in all organs and sera of C3H/HeJ and BALB/c infected mice. The levels of MIP-1 alpha were lower when compared to MCP-1 and IL-8 in all analyzed organs, with a slight increase in liver and kidney. Our results indicate that the expression of inflammatory mediators can vary greatly, depending on the tissue and mouse strains. It is possible that the resistance to Leptospira can be partially correlated to the increase of MIP-1 alpha observed in BALB/c mice, while an increasing and a sustained expression of MCP-1 and IL-8 in the lungs of C3H/HeJ mice can be correlated to the severity and progression of leptospirosis.

The Prevalence of Area-under-a-Curve and Anti-Derivative Conceptions over Riemann Sum-Based Conceptions in Students' Explanations of Definite Integrals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Steven R.

2015-01-01

This study aims to broadly examine how commonly various conceptualizations of the definite integral are drawn on by students as they attempt to explain the meaning of integral expressions. Previous studies have shown that certain conceptualizations, such as the area under a curve or the values of an anti-derivative, may be less productive in…

Microsacle PolySilicon Hemispherical Shell Resonating Gyroscopes with Integrated Three-dimensional Curved Electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Xuye; Chen, Binggen; Wang, Xinlong; Yu, Lei; Wang, Fan; Guo, Shuwen

2018-03-01

A novel approach for fabrication of polysilicon hemispherical resonator gyroscopes with integrated 3-D curved electrodes is developed and experimentally demonstrated. The 3-D polysilicon electrodes are integrated as a part of the hemispherical shell resonator’s fabrication process, and no extra assembly process are needed, ensuring the symmetry of the shell resonator. The fabrication process and materials used are compatible with the traditional semiconductor process, indicating the gyroscope has a high potential for mass production and commercial development. Without any trimming or tuning of the n=2 wineglass frequencies, a 28 kHz shell resonator demonstrates a 0.009% frequency mismatch between two degenerate wineglass modes, and a 13.6 kHz resonator shows a frequency split of 0.03%. The ring-down time of a fabricated resonator is 0.51 s, corresponding to a Q of 22000, at 0.01 Pa vacuum and room temperature. The prototype of the gyroscope is experimentally analyzed, and the scale factor of the gyro is 1.15 mV/°/s, the bias instability is 80 °/h.

Direct Detection of Rifampin and Isoniazid Resistance in Sputum Samples from Tuberculosis Patients by High-Resolution Melt Curve Analysis

PubMed Central

Anthwal, Divya; Gupta, Rakesh Kumar; Bhalla, Manpreet; Bhatnagar, Shinjini

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a major threat to TB control worldwide. Globally, only 40% of the 340,000 notified TB patients estimated to have multidrug-resistant-TB (MDR-TB) were detected in 2015. This study was carried out to evaluate the utility of high-resolution melt curve analysis (HRM) for the rapid and direct detection of MDR-TB in Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples. A reference plasmid library was first generated of the most frequently observed mutations in the resistance-determining regions of rpoB, katG, and an inhA promoter and used as positive controls in HRM. The assay was first validated in 25 MDR M. tuberculosis clinical isolates. The assay was evaluated on DNA isolated from 99 M. tuberculosis culture-positive sputum samples that included 84 smear-negative sputum samples, using DNA sequencing as gold standard. Mutants were discriminated from the wild type by comparing melting-curve patterns with those of control plasmids using HRM software. Rifampin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) monoresistance were detected in 11 and 21 specimens, respectively, by HRM. Six samples were classified as MDR-TB by sequencing, one of which was missed by HRM. The HRM-RIF, INH-katG, and INH-inhA assays had 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52, 100%), 85% (95% CI, 62, 97%), and 100% (95% CI, 74, 100%) sensitivity, respectively, in smear-negative samples, while all assays had 100% sensitivity in smear-positive samples. All assays had 100% specificity. Concordance of 97% to 100% (κ value, 0.9 to 1) was noted between sequencing and HRM. Heteroresistance was observed in 5 of 99 samples by sequencing. In conclusion, the HRM assay was a cost-effective (Indian rupee [INR]400/US$6), rapid, and closed-tube method for the direct detection of MDR-TB in sputum, especially for direct smear-negative cases. PMID:28330890

Fracture toughness and the master curve for modified 9Cr-1Mo steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Ji-Hyun; Yoon, Eui-Pak

2006-12-01

Modified 9Cr-1Mo steel is a primary candidate material for the reactor pressure vessel of a Very High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (VHTR) in the Korean Nuclear Hydrogen Development and Demonstration (NHDD) program. In this study, the T0 reference temperature, J-R fracture resistance and Charpy impact properties were evaluated for commercial Grade 91 steel as part of the preliminary testing for a selection of the RPV material for the VHTR. The fracture toughness of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel was compared with that of SA508-Gr.3. The objective of this study was to obtain the pre-irradiation fracture toughness properties of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel as reference data for an investigation of radiation effects. Charpy impact properties of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel were similar to those of SA508-Gr.3. T0 reference temperatures were measured as -67.7 and -72.4°C from the tests with standard PCVN (pre-cracked Charpy V-notch) and half-sized PCVN specimens respectively, which were similar to the results for SA508-Gr.3. The KJc values of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel with the test temperatures are successfully expressed by the Master Curve. The J-R fracture resistance of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel at room temperature was nearly identical to that of SA508-Gr.3; in contrast, it was slightly higher at an elevated temperature.

The Bell Curve Wars. Race, Intelligence, and the Future of America.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fraser, Steven, Ed.

"The Bell Curve" by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray has generated enormous debate as a result of its claim that there is a connection between race and intelligence. The essays of this collection respond to "The Bell Curve" in various ways. Taken together, the following offer an antidote to a work of dubious premises…

Bolometric Light Curves of Peculiar Type II-P Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lusk, Jeremy A.; Baron, E.

2017-04-01

We examine the bolometric light curves of five Type II-P supernovae (SNe 1998A, 2000cb, 2006V, 2006au, and 2009E), which are thought to originate from blue supergiant progenitors like that of SN 1987A, using a new python package named SuperBoL. With this code, we calculate SNe light curves using three different common techniques common from the literature: the quasi-bolometric method, which integrates the observed photometry, the direct integration method, which additionally corrects for unobserved flux in the UV and IR, and the bolometric correction method, which uses correlations between observed colors and V-band bolometric corrections. We present here the light curves calculated by SuperBoL, along with previously published light curves, as well as peak luminosities and 56Ni yields. We find that the direct integration and bolometric correction light curves largely agree with previously published light curves, but with what we believe to be more robust error calculations, with 0.2≲ δ {L}{bol}/{L}{bol}≲ 0.5. Peak luminosities and 56Ni masses are similarly comparable to previous work. SN 2000cb remains an unusual member of this sub-group, owing to the faster rise and flatter plateau than the other supernovae in the sample. Initial comparisons with the NLTE atmosphere code PHOENIX show that the direct integration technique reproduces the luminosity of a model supernova spectrum to ˜5% when given synthetic photometry of the spectrum as input. Our code is publicly available. The ability to produce bolometric light curves from observed sets of broadband light curves should be helpful in the interpretation of other types of supernovae, particularly those that are not well characterized, such as extremely luminous supernovae and faint fast objects.

Developmental trajectories of adolescent popularity: a growth curve modelling analysis.

PubMed

Cillessen, Antonius H N; Borch, Casey

2006-12-01

Growth curve modelling was used to examine developmental trajectories of sociometric and perceived popularity across eight years in adolescence, and the effects of gender, overt aggression, and relational aggression on these trajectories. Participants were 303 initially popular students (167 girls, 136 boys) for whom sociometric data were available in Grades 5-12. The popularity and aggression constructs were stable but non-overlapping developmental dimensions. Growth curve models were run with SAS MIXED in the framework of the multilevel model for change [Singer, J. D., & Willett, J. B. (2003). Applied longitudinal data analysis. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press]. Sociometric popularity showed a linear change trajectory; perceived popularity showed nonlinear change. Overt aggression predicted low sociometric popularity but an increase in perceived popularity in the second half of the study. Relational aggression predicted a decrease in sociometric popularity, especially for girls, and continued high-perceived popularity for both genders. The effect of relational aggression on perceived popularity was the strongest around the transition from middle to high school. The importance of growth curve models for understanding adolescent social development was discussed, as well as specific issues and challenges of growth curve analyses with sociometric data.

Shock-induced superheating and melting curves of geophysically important minerals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Sheng-Nian; Ahrens, Thomas J.

2004-06-01

Shock-state temperature and sound-speed measurements on crystalline materials, demonstrate superheating-melting behavior distinct from equilibrium melting. Shocked solid can be superheated to the maximum temperature, Tc'. At slightly higher pressure, Pc, shock melting occurs, and induces a lower shock temperature, Tc. The Hugoniot state, ( Pc, Tc), is inferred to lie along the equilibrium melting curve. The amount of superheating achieved on Hugoniot is, ΘH+= Tc'/ Tc-1. Shock-induced superheating for a number of silicates, alkali halides and metals agrees closely with the predictions of a systematic framework describing superheating at various heating rates [Appl. Phys. Lett. 82 (12) (2003) 1836]. High-pressure melting curves are constructed by integration from ( Pc, Tc) based on the Lindemann law. We calculate the volume and entropy changes upon melting at ( Pc, Tc) assuming the R ln 2 rule ( R is the gas constant) for the disordering entropy of melting [J. Chem. Phys. 19 (1951) 93; Sov. Phys. Usp. 117 (1975) 625; Poirier, J.P., 1991. Introduction to the Physics of the Earth's Interior. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 102 pp.]. ( Pc, Tc) and the Lindemann melting curves are in excellent accord with diamond-anvil cell (DAC) results for NaCl, KBr and stishovite. But significant discrepancies exist for transition metals. If we extrapolate the DAC melting data [Phys. Rev. B 63 (2001) 132104] for transition metals (Fe, V, Mo, W and Ta) to 200-400 GPa where shock melting occurs, shock temperature measurement and calculation would indicate ΘH+˜0.7-2.0. These large values of superheating are not consistent with the superheating systematics. The discrepancies could be reconciled by possible solid-solid phase transitions at high pressures. In particular, this work suggests that Fe undergoes a possible solid-solid phase transition at ˜200 GPa and melts at ˜270 GPa upon shock wave loading, and the melting temperature is ˜6300 K at 330 GPa.

Understanding the quantum nature of low-energy C(3P j ) + He inelastic collisions.

PubMed

Bergeat, Astrid; Chefdeville, Simon; Costes, Michel; Morales, Sébastien B; Naulin, Christian; Even, Uzi; Kłos, Jacek; Lique, François

2018-05-01

Inelastic collisions that occur between open-shell atoms and other atoms or molecules, and that promote a spin-orbit transition, involve multiple interaction potentials. They are non-adiabatic by nature and cannot be described within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation; in particular, their theoretical modelling becomes very challenging when the collision energies have values comparable to the spin-orbit splitting. Here we study inelastic collisions between carbon in its ground state C( 3 P j=0 ) and helium atoms-at collision energies in the vicinity of spin-orbit excitation thresholds (~0.2 and 0.5 kJ mol -1 )-that result in spin-orbit excitation to C( 3 P j=1 ) and C( 3 P j=2 ). State-to-state integral cross-sections are obtained from crossed-beam experiments with a beam source that provides an almost pure beam of C( 3 P j=0 ) . We observe very good agreement between experimental and theoretical results (acquired using newly calculated potential energy curves), which validates our characterization of the quantum dynamical resonances that are observed. Rate coefficients at very low temperatures suitable for chemical modelling of the interstellar medium are also calculated.

Impact resistance performance of diamond film on a curved molybdenum substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yang; Gou, Li

2017-08-01

Diamond films with different thicknesses were deposited on flat and curved molybdenum substrate by the microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition (MPCVD) method. Scanning electronic microscopy, atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterise the morphology, the surface roughness and the composition of the films, respectively. A NanoTest system was used for hardness, elastic modulus and nanoimpact tests. The curved surface and ductility of the molybdenum substrate allow large deformation for the thinner films. The substrate has less effect on impact for the thicker film, the deformation of which is mainly determined by the film composition. Under a load of 50 mN and 75 cycles, less deformation occurred for the 22 μm thick film on the curved molybdenum substrate.

ON THE PUZZLING HIGH-ENERGY PULSATIONS OF THE ENERGETIC RADIO-QUIET γ-RAY PULSAR J1813–1246

DOE PAGES

Marelli, M.; Harding, A.; Pizzocaro, D.; ...

2014-10-28

In this study, we have analyzed the new deep XMM-Newton and Chandra observations of the energetic, radio-quiet pulsar J1813–1246. The X-ray spectrum is nonthermal, very hard, and absorbed. Based on spectral considerations, we propose that J1813 is located at a distance further than 2.5 kpc. J1813 is highly pulsed in the X-ray domain, with a light curve characterized by two sharp, asymmetrical peaks, separated by 0.5 in phase. We detected no significant X-ray spectral changes during the pulsar phase. We extended the available Fermi ephemeris to five years. We found two glitches. The γ-ray light curve is characterized by twomore » peaks, separated by 0.5 in phase, with a bridge in between and no off-pulse emission. The spectrum shows clear evolution in phase, being softer at the peaks and hardening toward the bridge. Surprisingly, both X-ray peaks lag behind the γ-ray ones by a quarter of phase. We found a hint of detection in the 30-500 keV band with INTEGRAL, which is consistent with the extrapolation of both the soft X-ray and γ-ray emission of J1813. The unique X-ray and γ-ray phasing suggests a singular emission geometry. We discuss some possibilities within the current pulsar emission models. Finally, we develop an alternative geometrical model where the X-ray emission comes from polar cap pair cascades.« less

Demonstration of an N7 integrated fab process for metal oxide EUV photoresist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Simone, Danilo; Mao, Ming; Kocsis, Michael; De Schepper, Peter; Lazzarino, Frederic; Vandenberghe, Geert; Stowers, Jason; Meyers, Stephen; Clark, Benjamin L.; Grenville, Andrew; Luong, Vinh; Yamashita, Fumiko; Parnell, Doni

2016-03-01

Inpria has developed a directly patternable metal oxide hard-mask as a robust, high-resolution photoresist for EUV lithography. In this paper we demonstrate the full integration of a baseline Inpria resist into an imec N7 BEOL block mask process module. We examine in detail both the lithography and etch patterning results. By leveraging the high differential etch resistance of metal oxide photoresists, we explore opportunities for process simplification and cost reduction. We review the imaging results from the imec N7 block mask patterns and its process windows as well as routes to maximize the process latitude, underlayer integration, etch transfer, cross sections, etch equipment integration from cross metal contamination standpoint and selective resist strip process. Finally, initial results from a higher sensitivity Inpria resist are also reported. A dose to size of 19 mJ/cm2 was achieved to print pillars as small as 21nm.

What should be the optimal levels of blood pressure: Does the J-curve phenomenon really exist?

PubMed

Banach, Maciej; Michalska, Marta; Kjeldsen, Sverre E; Małyszko, Jolanta; Mikhailidis, Dimitri P; Rysz, Jacek

2011-08-01

The blood pressure (BP) J-curve debate has lasted for over 30 years and we still cannot definitively answer all the questions. However, recent studies suggest that BP should be reduced carefully in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease. BP should not fall below 110 - 115/70 - 75 mmHg, because this may be associated with more cardiovascular events. A retrospective analysis of the INVEST Trial and the results of the BP arm of the ACCORD Trial shows that care is needed in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Although the ACCORD BP Trial suggests important benefits connected with the significant reduction of stroke in patients being treated intensively, it also shows the lack of advantage of such therapy on each main and other additional endpoints. The ACCORD Trial also confirmed the increased risk of adverse events that might appear when intensive treatment was used in this group of patients. Most available studies were observational and randomized trials (BBB, HOT, ACCORD BP), do not have or have lost their statistical power and were inconclusive. Further studies are therefore needed to provide definitive conclusions on the subject. In the meantime, it seems that in high-risk patients with hypertension, it is necessary to carefully select those who might suffer adverse events and those who may benefit from intensive BP lowering.

Dynamic J sub I-R Curve Testing of HY-130 Steel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-10-01

Society for Testing and Materials 0C Degrees Celsius COD Crack-opening displacement CT Compact tension CVN Charpy V-notch dia Diameter in-lb/in 2 Inch...inches per second. A key curve for HY-130 plate was developed under dynamic loading conditions using subsized compact specimens and was applied to...face grooves were machined along the crack line to a total section reduction of 20% with a standard Charpy V-notch (CVN) cutter (450 included angle

Detection of Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Drug Resistance Mutations Based on Multicolor Melting Curve Analysis.

PubMed

Mou, Yi; Athar, Muhammad Ammar; Wu, Yuzhen; Xu, Ye; Wu, Jianhua; Xu, Zhenxing; Hayder, Zulfiqar; Khan, Saeed; Idrees, Muhammad; Nasir, Muhammad Israr; Liao, Yiqun; Li, Qingge

2016-11-01

Detection of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) drug resistance mutations is critical for therapeutic decisions for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. We describe a real-time PCR-based assay using multicolor melting curve analysis (MMCA) that could accurately detect 24 HBV nucleotide mutations at 10 amino acid positions in the reverse transcriptase region of the HBV polymerase gene. The two-reaction assay had a limit of detection of 5 copies per reaction and could detect a minor mutant population (5% of the total population) with the reverse transcriptase M204V amino acid mutation in the presence of the major wild-type population when the overall concentration was 10 4 copies/μl. The assay could be finished within 3 h, and the cost of materials for each sample was less than $10. Clinical validation studies using three groups of samples from both nucleos(t)ide analog-treated and -untreated patients showed that the results for 99.3% (840/846) of the samples and 99.9% (8,454/8,460) of the amino acids were concordant with those of Sanger sequencing of the PCR amplicon from the HBV reverse transcriptase region (PCR Sanger sequencing). HBV DNA in six samples with mixed infections consisting of minor mutant subpopulations was undetected by the PCR Sanger sequencing method but was detected by MMCA, and the results were confirmed by coamplification at a lower denaturation temperature-PCR Sanger sequencing. Among the treated patients, 48.6% (103/212) harbored viruses that displayed lamivudine monoresistance, adefovir monoresistance, entecavir resistance, or lamivudine and adefovir resistance. Among the untreated patients, the Chinese group had more mutation-containing samples than did the Pakistani group (3.3% versus 0.56%). Because of its accuracy, rapidness, wide-range coverage, and cost-effectiveness, the real-time PCR assay could be a robust tool for the detection if anti-HBV drug resistance mutations in resource-limited countries. Copyright © 2016, American Society for

Elastic-Plastic J-Integral Solutions or Surface Cracks in Tension Using an Interpolation Methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, P. A.; Wells, D. N.

2013-01-01

No closed form solutions exist for the elastic-plastic J-integral for surface cracks due to the nonlinear, three-dimensional nature of the problem. Traditionally, each surface crack must be analyzed with a unique and time-consuming nonlinear finite element analysis. To overcome this shortcoming, the authors have developed and analyzed an array of 600 3D nonlinear finite element models for surface cracks in flat plates under tension loading. The solution space covers a wide range of crack shapes and depths (shape: 0.2 less than or equal to a/c less than or equal to 1, depth: 0.2 less than or equal to a/B less than or equal to 0.8) and material flow properties (elastic modulus-to-yield ratio: 100 less than or equal to E/ys less than or equal to 1,000, and hardening: 3 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 20). The authors have developed a methodology for interpolating between the goemetric and material property variables that allows the user to reliably evaluate the full elastic-plastic J-integral and force versus crack mouth opening displacement solution; thus, a solution can be obtained very rapidly by users without elastic-plastic fracture mechanics modeling experience. Complete solutions for the 600 models and 25 additional benchmark models are provided in tabular format.

DICOM image quantification secondary capture (DICOM IQSC) integrated with numeric results, regions, and curves: implementation and applications in nuclear medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Xinhua; Xu, Xiaoyin; Voss, Stephan

2017-03-01

In this paper, we describe an enhanced DICOM Secondary Capture (SC) that integrates Image Quantification (IQ) results, Regions of Interest (ROIs), and Time Activity Curves (TACs) with screen shots by embedding extra medical imaging information into a standard DICOM header. A software toolkit of DICOM IQSC has been developed to implement the SC-centered information integration of quantitative analysis for routine practice of nuclear medicine. Primary experiments show that the DICOM IQSC method is simple and easy to implement seamlessly integrating post-processing workstations with PACS for archiving and retrieving IQ information. Additional DICOM IQSC applications in routine nuclear medicine and clinic research are also discussed.

IGR J17329-2731: The birth of a symbiotic X-ray binary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bozzo, E.; Bahramian, A.; Ferrigno, C.; Sanna, A.; Strader, J.; Lewis, F.; Russell, D. M.; di Salvo, T.; Burderi, L.; Riggio, A.; Papitto, A.; Gandhi, P.; Romano, P.

2018-05-01

We report on the results of the multiwavelength campaign carried out after the discovery of the INTEGRAL transient IGR J17329-2731. The optical data collected with the SOAR telescope allowed us to identify the donor star in this system as a late M giant at a distance of 2.7-1.2+3.4 kpc. The data collected quasi-simultaneously with XMM-Newton and NuSTAR showed the presence of a modulation with a period of 6680 ± 3 s in the X-ray light curves of the source. This unveils that the compact object hosted in this system is a slowly rotating neutron star. The broadband X-ray spectrum showed the presence of a strong absorption (≫1023 cm-2) and prominent emission lines at 6.4 keV, and 7.1 keV. These features are usually found in wind-fed systems, in which the emission lines result from the fluorescence of the X-rays from the accreting compact object on the surrounding stellar wind. The presence of a strong absorption line around 21 keV in the spectrum suggests a cyclotron origin, thus allowing us to estimate the neutron star magnetic field as 2.4 × 1012 G. All evidencethus suggests IGR J17329-2731 is a symbiotic X-ray binary. As no X-ray emission was ever observed from the location of IGR J17329-2731 by INTEGRAL (or other X-ray facilities) during the past 15 yr in orbit and considering that symbiotic X-ray binaries are known to be variable but persistent X-ray sources, we concluded that INTEGRAL caught the first detectable X-ray emission from IGR J17329-2731 when the source shined as a symbiotic X-ray binary. The Swift XRT monitoring performed up to 3 months after the discovery of the source, showed that it maintained a relatively stable X-ray flux and spectral properties.

Analysis and application of the response characteristics of DLL and LWD resistivity in horizontal well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Song; Li, Jun; Guo, Hong-Bo; Wang, Chang-Xue

2017-09-01

There exist different response characteristics in the resistivity measurements of dual laterolog (DLL) and logging while drilling (LWD) electromagnetic wave propagation logging in highly deviated and horizontal wells due to the difference in their measuring principles. In this study, we first use the integral equation method simulated the response characteristics of LWD resistivity and use the three dimensional finite element method (3D-FEM) simulated the response characteristics of DLL resistivity in horizontal wells, and then analyzed the response differences between the DLL and LWD resistivity. The comparative analysis indicated that the response differences may be caused by different factors such as differences in the angle of instrument inclination, anisotropy, formation interface, and mud intrusion. In the interface, the curves of the LWD resistivity become sharp with increases in the deviation while those of the DLL resistivity gradually become smooth. Both curves are affected by the anisotropy although the effect on DLL resistivity is lower than the LWD resistivity. These differences aid in providing a reasonable explanation in the horizontal well. However, this can also simultaneously lead to false results. At the end of the study, we explain the effects of the differences in the interpretation of the horizontal well based on the results and actual data analysis.

Master Curve and Conventional Fracture Toughness of Modified 9Cr-1Mo Steel

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

Ji-Hyun, Yoon; Sung-Ho, Kim; Bong-Sang, Lee

2006-07-01

Modified 9Cr-1Mo steel is a primary candidate material for reactor pressure vessel of Very High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (VHTR) in Korean Nuclear Hydrogen Development and Demonstration (NHDD) program. In this study, T0 reference temperature, J-R fracture resistance and Charpy impact properties were evaluated for commercial Grade 91 steel as preliminary tests for the selection of the RPV material for VHTR. The fracture toughness of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel was compared with those of SA508-Gr.3. The objective of this study was to obtain pre-irradiation fracture toughness properties of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel as reference data for the radiation effects investigation. The resultsmore » are as follows. Charpy impact properties of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel were similar to those of SA508-Gr.3. T0 reference temperatures were measured as -67.7 deg C and -72.4 deg C from the tests with standard PCVN (pre-cracked Charpy V-notch) and half sized PCVN specimens respectively, which were similar to results for SA508-Gr.3. The K{sub Jc} values of modified 9Cr-1Mo with test temperatures are successfully expressed with the Master Curve. The J-R fracture resistance of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel at room temperature was almost the same as that of SA508-Gr.3. On the other hand it was a little bit higher at an elevated temperature. (authors)« less

Canadian integrated program for antimicrobial resistance surveillance: Retail food highlights, 2003–2012

PubMed Central

Avery, BP; Parmley, EJ; Reid-Smith, RJ; Daignault, D; Finley, RL; Irwin, RJ

2014-01-01

Background The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) is a collaborative, integrated program designed to track antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among enteric bacteria isolated from various livestock commodities along the food-producing continuum (“farm to fork”) and in humans. Objective To provide a summary of the prevalence and trends in AMR among select bacteria isolated from raw, fresh chicken, pork, and beef in 2012 at the retail food level and to link these data with other findings from CIPARS. Methods Meat samples were collected from randomly selected geographic areas across Canada weighted by population for subsequent isolation of bacteria and interpretation of the associated AMR profiles. Salmonella, Campylobacter and generic Escherichia coli (E. coli) were tested in chicken, and E. coli was tested in beef and pork. Data were analyzed for 2012 and temporal and regional trends were examined between 2003 and 2012 by province/region. Results Overall, resistance levels to Salmonella in retail chicken varied widely by region and year. For example, ceftiofur resistance to Salmonella in retail chicken was significantly lower in 2012 than in 2004 in Ontario and in Québec; however, among all regions sampled, resistance was significantly higher in 2012 compared to 2006. Across all regions sampled, resistance to Campylobacter in retail chicken was relatively low in 2012 (<16%) with the exception of tetracycline resistance. In 2012, ciprofloxacin resistance to Campylobacter in chicken declined in British Columbia but significantly increased in Ontario, compared to 2011. In 2012, β-lactam resistance to E. coli in retail beef remained low (≤1%) and was also relatively low comparable to previous years in pork. Conclusion In Canada, as is the case worldwide, there is evidence of resistance to medically important antimicrobials among bacteria from retail meats. Resistance among organisms isolated from poultry, beef, and pork at

Fluoroquinolone resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae: area under the concentration-time curve/MIC ratio and resistance development with gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin.

PubMed

LaPlante, Kerry L; Rybak, Michael J; Tsuji, Brian; Lodise, Thomas P; Kaatz, Glenn W

2007-04-01

The potential for resistance development in Streptococcus pneumoniae secondary to exposure to gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin at various levels was examined at high inoculum (10(8.5) to 10(9) log10 CFU/ml) over 96 h in an in vitro pharmacodynamic (PD) model using two fluoroquinolone-susceptible isolates. The pharmacokinetics of each drug was simulated to provide a range of free areas under the concentration-time curves (fAUC) that correlated with various fluoroquinolone doses. Potential first (parC and parE)- and second-step (gyrA and gyrB) mutations in isolates with raised MICs were identified by sequence analysis. PD models simulating fAUC/MICs of 51 andresistance breakpoint against wild-type S. pneumoniae, whereas those of levofloxacin (500 and 750 mg) were associated with first- and second-step mutations. The exposure breakpoints for levofloxacin were significantly different (P<0.001) from those of the newer fluoroquinolones gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, and moxifloxacin. Additionally, moxifloxacin breakpoints were significantly lower (P<0.002) than those of gatifloxacin. The order of resistance development determined from fAUC/MIC breakpoints was levofloxacin>gatifloxacin>moxifloxacin=gemifloxacin, which may be related to structural differences within the class.

Estimating the R-curve from residual strength data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orange, T. W.

1985-01-01

A method is presented for estimating the crack-extension resistance curve (R-curve) from residual-strength (maximum load against original crack length) data for precracked fracture specimens. The method allows additional information to be inferred from simple test results, and that information can be used to estimate the failure loads of more complicated structures of the same material and thickness. The fundamentals of the R-curve concept are reviewed first. Then the analytical basis for the estimation method is presented. The estimation method has been verified in two ways. Data from the literature (involving several materials and different types of specimens) are used to show that the estimated R-curve is in good agreement with the measured R-curve. A recent predictive blind round-robin program offers a more crucial test. When the actual failure loads are disclosed, the predictions are found to be in good agreement.

Ecology, Behavior and Bionomics: First Genotyping of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Progeny from Crosses between Bt-Resistant and Bt-Susceptible Populations, and 65-Locus Discrimination of Isofami

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers from Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) were analyzed in crosses of this species between Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) (Bt) resistant and susceptible populations to determine a possible association between markers and Bt resistance....

Ultrasensitive Detection of Drug-Resistant Pandemic 2009 (H1N1) Influenza A Virus by Rare-Variant-Sensitive High-Resolution Melting-Curve Analysis▿‡

PubMed Central

Chen, Neng; Pinsky, Benjamin A.; Lee, Betty P.; Lin, Min; Schrijver, Iris

2011-01-01

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), an oral neuraminidase inhibitor, has been widely used to treat pandemic 2009 (H1N1) influenza A. Although a majority of 2009 (H1N1) influenza A virus remains oseltamivir susceptible, the threat of resistance due to the His275Tyr mutation is highlighted by the limitations of alternative therapies and the potential for rapid, global fixation of this mutation in the circulating influenza A virus population. In order to better understand the emergence of resistance, we developed a rare-variant-sensitive high-resolution melting-curve analysis method (RVS-HRM) that is able to detect the His275Tyr oseltamivir resistance mutation to 0.5% in a background of susceptible virus. We applied RVS-HRM to clinical specimens from patients who developed oseltamivir resistance and demonstrated the ultrasensitive detection of influenza A virus N1 neuraminidase quasispecies. Interestingly, we were unable to detect the oseltamivir resistance mutation in pretreatment samples, suggesting that resistant virus does not reach even this very low detection threshold until exposed to selective drug pressure. Thus, patients naive to oseltamivir are most likely to be susceptible when this drug is used as a first-line treatment modality. PMID:21543559

Unique Resistance of I/LnJ Mice to a Retrovirus Is Due to Sustained Interferon γ–dependent Production of Virus-neutralizing Antibodies

PubMed Central

Purdy, Alexandra; Case, Laure; Duvall, Melody; Overstrom-Coleman, Max; Monnier, Nilah; Chervonsky, Alexander; Golovkina, Tatyana

2003-01-01

Selection of immune escape variants impairs the ability of the immune system to sustain an efficient antiviral response and to control retroviral infections. Like other retroviruses, mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is not efficiently eliminated by the immune system of susceptible mice. In contrast, MMTV-infected I/LnJ mice are capable of producing IgG2a virus-neutralizing antibodies, sustain this response throughout their life, and secrete antibody-coated virions into the milk, thereby preventing infection of their progeny. Antibodies were produced in response to several MMTV variants and were cross-reactive to them. Resistance to MMTV infection was recessive and was dependent on interferon (IFN)-γ production, because I/LnJ mice with targeted deletion of the INF-γ gene failed to produce any virus-neutralizing antibodies. These findings reveal a novel mechanism of resistance to retroviral infection that is based on a robust and sustained IFN-γ–dependent humoral immune response. PMID:12538662

Method for Evaluating the Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum Metallization of Integrated Circuits under Multifactorial Influence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolomiets, V. I.

2018-03-01

The influence of complex influence of climatic factors (temperature, humidity) and electric mode (supply voltage) on the corrosion resistance of metallization of integrated circuits has been considered. The regression dependence of the average time of trouble-free operation t on the mentioned factors has been established in the form of a modified Arrhenius equation that is adequate in a wide range of factor values and is suitable for selecting accelerated test modes. A technique for evaluating the corrosion resistance of aluminum metallization of depressurized CMOS integrated circuits has been proposed.

Analytic reflected light curves for exoplanets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haggard, Hal M.; Cowan, Nicolas B.

2018-07-01

The disc-integrated reflected brightness of an exoplanet changes as a function of time due to orbital and rotational motions coupled with an inhomogeneous albedo map. We have previously derived analytic reflected light curves for spherical harmonic albedo maps in the special case of a synchronously rotating planet on an edge-on orbit (Cowan, Fuentes & Haggard). In this paper, we present analytic reflected light curves for the general case of a planet on an inclined orbit, with arbitrary spin period and non-zero obliquity. We do so for two different albedo basis maps: bright points (δ-maps), and spherical harmonics (Y_ l^m-maps). In particular, we use Wigner D-matrices to express an harmonic light curve for an arbitrary viewing geometry as a non-linear combination of harmonic light curves for the simpler edge-on, synchronously rotating geometry. These solutions will enable future exploration of the degeneracies and information content of reflected light curves, as well as fast calculation of light curves for mapping exoplanets based on time-resolved photometry. To these ends, we make available Exoplanet Analytic Reflected Lightcurves, a simple open-source code that allows rapid computation of reflected light curves.

Multi-band Emission Light Curves of Jupiter: Insights on Brown Dwarfs and Directly Imaged Exoplanets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xi; Ge, Huazhi; Orton, Glenn S.; Fletcher, Leigh N.; Sinclair, James; Fernandes, Joshua; Momary, Thomas W.; Kasaba, Yasumasa; Sato, Takao M.; Fujiyoshi, Takuya

2016-10-01

Many brown dwarfs exhibit significant infrared flux variability (e.g., Artigau et al. 2009, ApJ, 701, 1534; Radigan et al. 2012, ApJ, 750, 105), ranging from several to twenty percent of the brightness. Current hypotheses include temperature variations, cloud holes and patchiness, and cloud height and thickness variations (e.g., Apai et al. 2013, ApJ, 768, 121; Robinson and Marley 2014, ApJ, 785, 158; Zhang and Showman 2014, ApJ, 788, L6). Some brown dwarfs show phase shifts in the light curves among different wavelengths (e.g., Buenzli et al. 2012, ApJ, 760, L31; Yang et al. 2016, arXiv:1605.02708), indicating vertical variations of the cloud distribution. The current observational technique can barely detect the brightness changes on the surfaces of nearby brown dwarfs (Crossfield et al. 2014, Nature, 505, 654) let alone resolve detailed weather patterns that cause the flux variability. The infrared emission maps of Jupiter might shed light on this problem. Using COMICS at Subaru Telescope, VISIR at Very Large Telescope (VLT) and NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF), we obtained infrared images of Jupiter over several nights at multiple wavelengths that are sensitive to several pressure levels from the stratosphere to the deep troposphere below the ammonia clouds. The rotational maps and emission light curves are constructed. The individual pixel brightness varies up to a hundred percent level and the variation of the full-disk brightness is around several percent. Both the shape and amplitude of the light curves are significantly distinct at different wavelengths. Variation of light curves at different epochs and phase shift among different wavelengths are observed. We will present principle component analysis to identify dominant emission features such as stable vortices, cloud holes and eddies in the belts and zones and strong emissions in the aurora region. A radiative transfer model is used to simulate those features to get a more quantitative

CURV 3: Characteristics and mission applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perkins, W. W.; Brady, L. K.

1984-03-01

The Cable-Controlled Underwater Recovery Vehicle (CURV) program was begun by NOSC for the specific purpose of developing economical systems to recover test ordnance at NOSC's Long Beach and San Clemente Island test ranges. CURV 3 is the latest in this series of tethered, unmanned, remotely controlled vehicles and its present capabilities far exceed the original CURV 1. Originally conceived for use as a search and recovery vehicle, CURV has evolved into a versatile and easily adaptable multipurpose work vehicle capable of performing search and recovery tasks as well as pursuing test, evaluation, exploration, and work projects. Basically, CURV is a composite of integrated subsystems including such items as propulsion, search and navigation, optics, hydraulics, and tools. Because it is unmanned and does not require life support or other complex support systems, CURV is able to perform most undersea tasks more economically and efficiently than maned systems. Also, since it is powered and controlled from the surface, CURV has a continuous, unlimited operating capability. Under emergency conditions, the vehicle can operate to 10,000-foot depths. CURV can be easily transported to any spot in the world. Upon arrival of the vehicle, control van, cable, and support gear can be mounted on a suitable ship of opportunity.

An integral conservative gridding--algorithm using Hermitian curve interpolation.

PubMed

Volken, Werner; Frei, Daniel; Manser, Peter; Mini, Roberto; Born, Ernst J; Fix, Michael K

2008-11-07

The problem of re-sampling spatially distributed data organized into regular or irregular grids to finer or coarser resolution is a common task in data processing. This procedure is known as 'gridding' or 're-binning'. Depending on the quantity the data represents, the gridding-algorithm has to meet different requirements. For example, histogrammed physical quantities such as mass or energy have to be re-binned in order to conserve the overall integral. Moreover, if the quantity is positive definite, negative sampling values should be avoided. The gridding process requires a re-distribution of the original data set to a user-requested grid according to a distribution function. The distribution function can be determined on the basis of the given data by interpolation methods. In general, accurate interpolation with respect to multiple boundary conditions of heavily fluctuating data requires polynomial interpolation functions of second or even higher order. However, this may result in unrealistic deviations (overshoots or undershoots) of the interpolation function from the data. Accordingly, the re-sampled data may overestimate or underestimate the given data by a significant amount. The gridding-algorithm presented in this work was developed in order to overcome these problems. Instead of a straightforward interpolation of the given data using high-order polynomials, a parametrized Hermitian interpolation curve was used to approximate the integrated data set. A single parameter is determined by which the user can control the behavior of the interpolation function, i.e. the amount of overshoot and undershoot. Furthermore, it is shown how the algorithm can be extended to multidimensional grids. The algorithm was compared to commonly used gridding-algorithms using linear and cubic interpolation functions. It is shown that such interpolation functions may overestimate or underestimate the source data by about 10-20%, while the new algorithm can be tuned to

Sintering Behavior of Nanocrystalline Silicon Carbide Using a Plasma Pressure Compaction System: Master Sintering Curve Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bothara, Manish G.; Atre, Sundar V.; Park, Seong-Jin; German, Randall M.; Sudarshan, T. S.; Radhakrishnan, R.

2010-12-01

Nanostructured ceramics offer significant improvements in properties over corresponding materials with larger grain sizes on the order of tens to hundreds of micrometers. Silicon carbide (SiC) samples with grain sizes on the order of 100 nm can result in improved strength, chemical resistance, thermal stability, and tailored electrical resistivity. In this study, nanocrystalline SiC was processed in a plasma pressure compaction (P2C) system at a temperature of 1973 K (1700 °C) that was much lower than the temperatures reported for other sintering techniques. Microstructure of the resulting samples was studied and the hardness and the fracture toughness were measured. The grain sizes were on the order of 700 nm, the hardness between 22 and 24 GPa, and the toughness between 5 and 6.5 MPa·m1/2. The master sintering curve (MSC) analysis was used to model the densification behavior of SiC powder sintered by the P2C method. The apparent activation energies for three different pressures of 10, 30, and 50 MPa were obtained to be 1666, 1034, and 1162 kJ/mol, respectively. Although densification occurs via diffusion, the activation energies were higher than those associated with self-diffusion in SiC (between 570 and 920 kJ/mol). A validation study of the MSC was also conducted and the variation in observed density from the density predicted by the MSC was found to range from 1 to 10 pct.

The Reddening Curve below 1200 Angstroms.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wofford, Aida; Leitherer, C.

2012-05-01

Thirty percent of the bolometric luminosity of star-forming galaxies is emitted in the wavelength range between 912 and 1200 Å. This wavelength range carries information about the stellar mass distribution and the star formation rate of the newly formed populations of massive (M > 8 M_sun) stars in these galaxies, and about the leakage of Lyman-continuum photons from these galaxies. This is also the wavelength range where the reddening curve peaks, and where our understanding of the reddening curve is the most fragmentary. We present preliminary results from a spectroscopic study aimed to characterize the reddening curve below 1200 Å. Our project is based on the analysis of archival HUT (830-1850 Å), FUSE (905-1187 Å), IUE (1150-3200 Å), and HST (1200-3200 Å) data of a sample of 70 low-redshift (z<0.1) star-forming galaxies, using synthetic spectra of stellar populations plus the ISM. The stellar population and nebula models were generated with STARBURST99 and CLOUDY, respectively. This work is supported by NASA J1401.

Low-loss, compact, and fabrication-tolerant Si-wire 90° waveguide bend using clothoid and normal curves for large scale photonic integrated circuits.

PubMed

Fujisawa, Takeshi; Makino, Shuntaro; Sato, Takanori; Saitoh, Kunimasa

2017-04-17

Ultimately low-loss 90° waveguide bend composed of clothoid and normal curves is proposed for dense optical interconnect photonic integrated circuits. By using clothoid curves at the input and output of 90° waveguide bend, straight and bent waveguides are smoothly connected without increasing the footprint. We found that there is an optimum ratio of clothoid curves in the bend and the bending loss can be significantly reduced compared with normal bend. 90% reduction of the bending loss for the bending radius of 4 μm is experimentally demonstrated with excellent agreement between theory and experiment. The performance is compared with the waveguide bend with offset, and the proposed bend is superior to the waveguide bend with offset in terms of fabrication tolerance.

Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) for Test Stand and J-2X Engine: Core Implementation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Figueroa, Jorge F.; Schmalzel, John L.; Aguilar, Robert; Shwabacher, Mark; Morris, Jon

2008-01-01

ISHM capability enables a system to detect anomalies, determine causes and effects, predict future anomalies, and provides an integrated awareness of the health of the system to users (operators, customers, management, etc.). NASA Stennis Space Center, NASA Ames Research Center, and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne have implemented a core ISHM capability that encompasses the A1 Test Stand and the J-2X Engine. The implementation incorporates all aspects of ISHM; from anomaly detection (e.g. leaks) to root-cause-analysis based on failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), to a user interface for an integrated visualization of the health of the system (Test Stand and Engine). The implementation provides a low functional capability level (FCL) in that it is populated with few algorithms and approaches for anomaly detection, and root-cause trees from a limited FMEA effort. However, it is a demonstration of a credible ISHM capability, and it is inherently designed for continuous and systematic augmentation of the capability. The ISHM capability is grounded on an integrating software environment used to create an ISHM model of the system. The ISHM model follows an object-oriented approach: includes all elements of the system (from schematics) and provides for compartmentalized storage of information associated with each element. For instance, a sensor object contains a transducer electronic data sheet (TEDS) with information that might be used by algorithms and approaches for anomaly detection, diagnostics, etc. Similarly, a component, such as a tank, contains a Component Electronic Data Sheet (CEDS). Each element also includes a Health Electronic Data Sheet (HEDS) that contains health-related information such as anomalies and health state. Some practical aspects of the implementation include: (1) near real-time data flow from the test stand data acquisition system through the ISHM model, for near real-time detection of anomalies and diagnostics, (2) insertion of the J-2X

Cochlear microphonic broad tuning curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayat, Mohammad; Teal, Paul D.; Searchfield, Grant D.; Razali, Najwani

2015-12-01

It is known that the cochlear microphonic voltage exhibits much broader tuning than does the basilar membrane motion. The most commonly used explanation for this is that when an electrode is inserted at a particular point inside the scala media, the microphonic potentials of neighbouring hair cells have different phases, leading to cancelation at the electrodes location. In situ recording of functioning outer hair cells (OHCs) for investigating this hypothesis is exceptionally difficult. Therefore, to investigate the discrepancy between the tuning curves of the basilar membrane and those of the cochlear microphonic, and the effect of phase cancellation of adjacent hair cells on the broadness of the cochlear microphonic tuning curves, we use an electromechanical model of the cochlea to devise an experiment. We explore the effect of adjacent hair cells (i.e., longitudinal phase cancellation) on the broadness of the cochlear microphonic tuning curves in different locations. The results of the experiment indicate that active longitudinal coupling (i.e., coupling with active adjacent outer hair cells) only slightly changes the broadness of the CM tuning curves. The results also demonstrate that there is a π phase difference between the potentials produced by the hair bundle and the soma near the place associated with the characteristic frequency based on place-frequency maps (i.e., the best place). We suggest that the transversal phase cancellation (caused by the phase difference between the hair bundle and the soma) plays a far more important role than longitudinal phase cancellation in the broadness of the cochlear microphonic tuning curves. Moreover, by increasing the modelled longitudinal resistance resulting the cochlear microphonic curves exhibiting sharper tuning. The results of the simulations suggest that the passive network of the organ of Corti determines the phase difference between the hair bundle and soma, and hence determines the sharpness of the

The Impact of Student Teaching Experience on Pre-Service Teachers' Readiness for Technology Integration: A Mixed Methods Study with Growth Curve Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Yan; Strobel, Johannes; Newby, Timothy J.

2017-01-01

Adopting a two-phase explanatory sequential mixed methods research design, the current study examined the impact of student teaching experiences on pre-service teachers' readiness for technology integration. In phase-1 of quantitative investigation, 2-level growth curve models were fitted using online repeated measures survey data collected from…

Precipitation behavior in a nitride-strengthened martensitic heat resistant steel during hot deformation.

PubMed

Zhang, Wenfeng; Su, Qingyong; Xu, Mi; Yan, Wei

2015-09-01

The stress relaxation curves for three different hot deformation processes in the temperature range of 750-1000 °C were studied to develop an understanding of the precipitation behavior in a nitride-strengthened martensitic heat resistant steel (Zhang et al., Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2015) [1]. This data article provides supporting data and detailed information on how to accurately analysis the stress relaxation data. The statistical analysis of the stress peak curves, including the number of peaks, the intensity of the peaks and the integral value of the pumps, was carried out. Meanwhile, the XRD energy spectrum data was also calculated in terms of lattice distortion.

Precipitation behavior in a nitride-strengthened martensitic heat resistant steel during hot deformation

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wenfeng; Su, Qingyong; Xu, Mi; Yan, Wei

2015-01-01

The stress relaxation curves for three different hot deformation processes in the temperature range of 750–1000 °C were studied to develop an understanding of the precipitation behavior in a nitride-strengthened martensitic heat resistant steel (Zhang et al., Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2015) [1]. This data article provides supporting data and detailed information on how to accurately analysis the stress relaxation data. The statistical analysis of the stress peak curves, including the number of peaks, the intensity of the peaks and the integral value of the pumps, was carried out. Meanwhile, the XRD energy spectrum data was also calculated in terms of lattice distortion. PMID:26306310

A Simple Method for Computing Resistance Distance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bapat, Ravindra B.; Gutmana, Ivan; Xiao, Wenjun

2003-10-01

The resistance distance ri j between two vertices vi and vj of a (connected, molecular) graph G is equal to the effective resistance between the respective two points of an electrical network, constructed so as to correspond to G, such that the resistance of any edge is unity. We show how rij can be computed from the Laplacian matrix L of the graph G: Let L(i) and L(i, j) be obtained from L by deleting its i-th row and column, and by deleting its i-th and j-th rows and columns, respectively. Then rij = detL(i, j)/detL(i).

Overexpression of a defensin enhances resistance to a fruit-specific anthracnose fungus in pepper.

PubMed

Seo, Hyo-Hyoun; Park, Sangkyu; Park, Soomin; Oh, Byung-Jun; Back, Kyoungwhan; Han, Oksoo; Kim, Jeong-Il; Kim, Young Soon

2014-01-01

Functional characterization of a defensin, J1-1, was conducted to evaluate its biotechnological potentiality in transgenic pepper plants against the causal agent of anthracnose disease, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. To determine antifungal activity, J1-1 recombinant protein was generated and tested for the activity against C. gloeosporioides, resulting in 50% inhibition of fungal growth at a protein concentration of 0.1 mg·mL-1. To develop transgenic pepper plants resistant to anthracnose disease, J1-1 cDNA under the control of 35S promoter was introduced into pepper via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method. Southern and Northern blot analyses confirmed that a single copy of the transgene in selected transgenic plants was normally expressed and also stably transmitted to subsequent generations. The insertion of T-DNA was further analyzed in three independent homozygous lines using inverse PCR, and confirmed the integration of transgene in non-coding region of genomic DNA. Immunoblot results showed that the level of J1-1 proteins, which was not normally accumulated in unripe fruits, accumulated high in transgenic plants but appeared to differ among transgenic lines. Moreover, the expression of jasmonic acid-biosynthetic genes and pathogenesis-related genes were up-regulated in the transgenic lines, which is co-related with the resistance of J1-1 transgenic plants to anthracnose disease. Consequently, the constitutive expression of J1-1 in transgenic pepper plants provided strong resistance to the anthracnose fungus that was associated with highly reduced lesion formation and fungal colonization. These results implied the significance of the antifungal protein, J1-1, as a useful agronomic trait to control fungal disease.

Overexpression of a Defensin Enhances Resistance to a Fruit-Specific Anthracnose Fungus in Pepper

PubMed Central

Seo, Hyo-Hyoun; Park, Sangkyu; Park, Soomin; Oh, Byung-Jun; Back, Kyoungwhan; Han, Oksoo; Kim, Jeong-Il; Kim, Young Soon

2014-01-01

Functional characterization of a defensin, J1-1, was conducted to evaluate its biotechnological potentiality in transgenic pepper plants against the causal agent of anthracnose disease, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. To determine antifungal activity, J1-1 recombinant protein was generated and tested for the activity against C. gloeosporioides, resulting in 50% inhibition of fungal growth at a protein concentration of 0.1 mg·mL−1. To develop transgenic pepper plants resistant to anthracnose disease, J1-1 cDNA under the control of 35S promoter was introduced into pepper via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method. Southern and Northern blot analyses confirmed that a single copy of the transgene in selected transgenic plants was normally expressed and also stably transmitted to subsequent generations. The insertion of T-DNA was further analyzed in three independent homozygous lines using inverse PCR, and confirmed the integration of transgene in non-coding region of genomic DNA. Immunoblot results showed that the level of J1-1 proteins, which was not normally accumulated in unripe fruits, accumulated high in transgenic plants but appeared to differ among transgenic lines. Moreover, the expression of jasmonic acid-biosynthetic genes and pathogenesis-related genes were up-regulated in the transgenic lines, which is co-related with the resistance of J1-1 transgenic plants to anthracnose disease. Consequently, the constitutive expression of J1-1 in transgenic pepper plants provided strong resistance to the anthracnose fungus that was associated with highly reduced lesion formation and fungal colonization. These results implied the significance of the antifungal protein, J1-1, as a useful agronomic trait to control fungal disease. PMID:24848280

Kottamia 74-inch telescope discovery of the new eclipsing binary KAO-EGYPT J225702.44+523222.1.: First CCD photometry and light curve analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shokry, A.; Darwish, M. S.; Saad, S. M.; Eldepsy, M.; Zead, I.

2017-08-01

We present the first multicolor CCD photometry for the newly discovered binary system KAO-EGYPT J225702.44+523222.1. New times of light minimum and new ephemeris were obtained. The VR I light curves were analyzed using WD code, the difference in maximum light at phase 0.25 is modeled with a cool spot on the secondary component. The solution show that the system is A-subtype, overcontact binary with fill-out factor = 42% and low mass ratio, q = 0.275. The two components of spectral types K0 and K1 and the primary component is the massive one. The position of both components on the M-L and M-R relations revealed that the primary component is a main sequence star while the secondary is an evolved component.

National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System: Two Decades of Advancing Public Health Through Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance

PubMed Central

Tate, Heather; Plumblee, Jodie R.; Dessai, Uday; Whichard, Jean M.; Thacker, Eileen L.; Hale, Kis Robertson; Wilson, Wanda; Friedman, Cindy R.; Griffin, Patricia M.; McDermott, Patrick F.

2017-01-01

Abstract Drug-resistant bacterial infections pose a serious and growing public health threat globally. In this review, we describe the role of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) in providing data that help address the resistance problem and show how such a program can have broad positive impacts on public health. NARMS was formed two decades ago to help assess the consequences to human health arising from the use of antimicrobial drugs in food animal production in the United States. A collaboration among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture, and state and local health departments, NARMS uses an integrated “One Health” approach to monitor antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria from humans, retail meat, and food animals. NARMS has adapted to changing needs and threats by expanding surveillance catchment areas, examining new isolate sources, adding bacteria, adjusting sampling schemes, and modifying antimicrobial agents tested. NARMS data are not only essential for ensuring that antimicrobial drugs approved for food animals are used in ways that are safe for human health but they also help address broader food safety priorities. NARMS surveillance, applied research studies, and outbreak isolate testing provide data on the emergence of drug-resistant enteric bacteria; genetic mechanisms underlying resistance; movement of bacterial populations among humans, food, and food animals; and sources and outcomes of resistant and susceptible infections. These data can be used to guide and evaluate the impact of science-based policies, regulatory actions, antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, and other public health efforts aimed at preserving drug effectiveness, improving patient outcomes, and preventing infections. Many improvements have been made to NARMS over time and the program will continue to adapt to address emerging resistance threats

National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System: Two Decades of Advancing Public Health Through Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance.

PubMed

Karp, Beth E; Tate, Heather; Plumblee, Jodie R; Dessai, Uday; Whichard, Jean M; Thacker, Eileen L; Hale, Kis Robertson; Wilson, Wanda; Friedman, Cindy R; Griffin, Patricia M; McDermott, Patrick F

2017-10-01

Drug-resistant bacterial infections pose a serious and growing public health threat globally. In this review, we describe the role of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) in providing data that help address the resistance problem and show how such a program can have broad positive impacts on public health. NARMS was formed two decades ago to help assess the consequences to human health arising from the use of antimicrobial drugs in food animal production in the United States. A collaboration among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture, and state and local health departments, NARMS uses an integrated "One Health" approach to monitor antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria from humans, retail meat, and food animals. NARMS has adapted to changing needs and threats by expanding surveillance catchment areas, examining new isolate sources, adding bacteria, adjusting sampling schemes, and modifying antimicrobial agents tested. NARMS data are not only essential for ensuring that antimicrobial drugs approved for food animals are used in ways that are safe for human health but they also help address broader food safety priorities. NARMS surveillance, applied research studies, and outbreak isolate testing provide data on the emergence of drug-resistant enteric bacteria; genetic mechanisms underlying resistance; movement of bacterial populations among humans, food, and food animals; and sources and outcomes of resistant and susceptible infections. These data can be used to guide and evaluate the impact of science-based policies, regulatory actions, antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, and other public health efforts aimed at preserving drug effectiveness, improving patient outcomes, and preventing infections. Many improvements have been made to NARMS over time and the program will continue to adapt to address emerging resistance threats, changes in

A bioinspired study on the compressive resistance of helicoidal fibre structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Ting; Ribbans, Brian

2017-10-01

Helicoidal fibre structures are widely observed in natural materials. In this paper, an integrated experimental and analytical approach was used to investigate the compressive resistance of helicoidal fibre structures. First, helicoidal fibre-reinforced composites were created using three-dimensionally printed helicoids and polymeric matrices, including plain, ring-reinforced and helix-reinforced helicoids. Then, load-displacement curves under monotonic compression tests were collected to measure the compressive strengths of helicoidal fibre composites. Fractographic characterization was performed using an X-ray microtomographer and scanning electron microscope, through which crack propagations in helicoidal structures were illustrated. Finally, mathematical modelling was performed to reveal the essential fibre architectures in the compressive resistance of helicoidal fibre structures. This work reveals that fibre-matrix ratios, helix pitch angles and interlayer rotary angles are critical to the compressive resistance of helicoidal structures.

J-R fracture characteristics of ferritic steels for RPVs and RCS piping of nuclear power plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Ji-Hyun; Lee, Bong-Sang; Hong, Jun-Hwa

2001-10-01

J-R fracture resistance tests have been performed on 3 heats of SA508-Gr.3 nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel as well as 2 heats of SA516-Gr.70 and a heat of SA508-Gr.1a steels for nuclear reactor coolant system (RCS) piping. For the latter two steels, dynamic in addition to static J-R fracture resistances were investigated. From the test results of the SA508-Gr.3 steels, the J-R fracture resistance was superior in the following order: Si-killing steel, modified VCD steel and VCD steel. Microstructural analyses were carried out to correlate J-R fracture resistances with microstructural characteristics. According to the test results for SA508-Gr.1a and SA516-Gr.70 steels, all of the tested steels showed steep drops in fracture resistance at certain temperature and loading rate combinations. One heat of SA516-Gr.70 steel was very sensitive to dynamic strain aging and its fracture resistance was significantly low. It was concluded that microstructural and chemical factors affect the J-R fracture and DSA characteristics of SA516-Gr.70 steels.

The Fermi-LAT detection of magnetar-like pulsar PSR J1846-0258 at high-energy gamma-rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuiper, L.; Hermsen, W.; Dekker, A.

2018-03-01

We report the detection of the pulsed signal of the radio-quiet magnetar-like pulsar PSR J1846-0258 in the high-energy γ-ray data of the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi LAT). We produced phase-coherent timing models exploiting RXTE PCA and Swift XRT monitoring data for the post- (magnetar-like) outburst period from 2007 August 28 to 2016 September 4, with independent verification using INTEGRAL ISGRI and Fermi GBM data. Phase-folding barycentric arrival times of selected Fermi LAT events from PSR J1846-0258 resulted in a 4.2σ detection (30-100 MeV) of a broad pulse consistent in shape and aligned in phase with the profiles that we measured with Swift XRT (2.5-10 keV), INTEGRAL ISGRI (20-150 keV), and Fermi GBM (20-300 keV). The pulsed flux (30-100 MeV) is (3.91 ± 0.97) × 10-9 photons cm-2 s-1 MeV-1. Declining significances of the INTEGRAL ISGRI 20-150 keV pulse profiles suggest fading of the pulsed hard X-ray emission during the post-outburst epochs. We revisited with greatly improved statistics the timing and spectral characteristics of PSR B1509-58 as measured with the Fermi LAT. The broad-band pulsed emission spectra (from 2 keV up to GeV energies) of PSR J1846-0258 and PSR B1509-58 can be accurately described with similarly curved shapes, with maximum luminosities at 3.5 ± 1.1 MeV (PSR J1846-0258) and 2.23 ± 0.11 MeV (PSR B1509-58). We discuss possible explanations for observational differences between Fermi LAT detected pulsars that reach maximum luminosities at GeV energies, like the second magnetar-like pulsar PSR J1119-6127, and pulsars with maximum luminosities at MeV energies, which might be due to geometric differences rather than exotic physics in high-B fields.

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

Luo, P.F.; Wang, J.S.; Chao, Y.J.

The stereo vision is used to study the fracture behavior in the compact tension (CT) specimen made from 304L stainless steel. During crack tip blunting, initiation, and growth in the CT specimen, both in-plane and out-of-plane displacement fields near the crack tip are measured by the stereo vision. Based on the plane stress assumption and the deformation theory of plasticity, the J integral is evaluated along several rectangular paths surrounding the crack tip by using the measured in-plane displacement field. Prior to crack growth, the J integral is path independent. For crack extension up to {Delta}a {approx} 3 mm, themore » near field J integral values are 6% to 10% lower than far field J integral values. For the crack extension of {Delta}a {approx} 4 mm, the J integral lost path independence. The far field J integral values are in good agreement with results obtained from Merkle-Corten`s formula. Both J-{Delta}a and CTOA-{Delta}a are obtained by computing the J integral value and crack tip opening angle (CTOA) at each {Delta}a. Results indicate that CTOA reached a nearly constant value at a crack extension of {Delta}a = 3 mm with a leveled resistance curve thereafter. Also, the J integral value is determined by the maximum transverse diameter of the shadow spots, which are generated by using the out-of-plane displacement field. Results indicate that for crack extension up to 0.25 mm, the J integral values evaluated by using the out-of- plane displacement are close to those obtained by using in-plane displacements and Merkle-Corten`s formula.« less

Disk-integrated reflection light curves of planets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia Munoz, A.

2014-03-01

The light scattered by a planet atmosphere contains valuable information on the planet's composition and aerosol content. Typically, the interpretation of that information requires elaborate radiative transport models accounting for the absorption and scattering processes undergone by the star photons on their passage through the atmosphere. I have been working on a particular family of algorithms based on Backward Monte Carlo (BMC) integration for solving the multiple-scattering problem in atmospheric media. BMC algorithms simulate statistically the photon trajectories in the reverse order that they actually occur, i.e. they trace the photons from the detector through the atmospheric medium and onwards to the illumination source following probability laws dictated by the medium's optical properties. BMC algorithms are versatile, as they can handle diverse viewing and illumination geometries, and can readily accommodate various physical phenomena. As will be shown, BMC algorithms are very well suited for the prediction of magnitudes integrated over a planet's disk (whether uniform or not). Disk-integrated magnitudes are relevant in the current context of exploration of extrasolar planets because spatial resolution of these objects will not be technologically feasible in the near future. I have been working on various predictions for the disk-integrated properties of planets that demonstrate the capacities of the BMC algorithm. These cases include the variability of the Earth's integrated signal caused by diurnal and seasonal changes in the surface reflectance and cloudiness, or by sporadic injection of large amounts of volcanic particles into the atmosphere. Since the implemented BMC algorithm includes a polarization mode, these examples also serve to illustrate the potential of polarimetry in the characterization of both Solar System and extrasolar planets. The work is complemented with the analysis of disk-integrated photometric observations of Earth and Venus

Integrated wide-angle scanner based on translating a curved mirror of acylindrical shape.

PubMed

Sabry, Yasser M; Khalil, Diaa; Saadany, Bassam; Bourouina, Tarik

2013-06-17

A wide angle microscanning architecture is presented in which the angular deflection is achieved by displacing the principle axis of a curved silicon micromirror of acylindrical shape, with respect to the incident beam optical axis. The micromirror curvature is designed to overcome the possible deformation of the scanned beam spot size during scanning. In the presented architecture, the optical axis of the beam lays in-plane with respect to the substrate opening the door for a completely integrated and self-aligned miniaturized scanner. A micro-optical bench scanning device, based on translating a 200 μm focal length micromirror by an electrostatic comb-drive actuator, is implemented on a silicon chip. The microelectromechanical system has a resonance frequency of 329 Hz and a quality factor of 22. A single-mode optical fiber is used as the optical source and inserted into a micromachined groove fabricated and lithographically aligned with the microbench. Optical deflection angles up to 110 degrees are demonstrated.

Mid-UV studies of the transitional millisecond pulsars XSS J12270-4859 and PSR J1023+0038 during their radio pulsar states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivera Sandoval, L. E.; Hernández Santisteban, J. V.; Degenaar, N.; Wijnands, R.; Knigge, C.; Miller, J. M.; Reynolds, M.; Altamirano, D.; van den Berg, M.; Hill, A.

2018-05-01

We report mid-UV (MUV) observations taken with Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/WFC3, Swift/UVOT, and GALEX/NUV of the transitional millisecond pulsars XSS J12270-4859 and PSR J1023+0038 during their radio pulsar states. Both systems were detected in our images and showed MUV variability. At similar orbital phases, the MUV luminosities of both pulsars are comparable. This suggests that the emission processes involved in both objects are similar. We estimated limits on the mass ratio, companion's temperature, inclination, and distance to XSS J12270-4859 by using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm to fit published folded optical light curves. Using the resulting parameters, we modelled MUV light curves in our HST filters. The resulting models failed to fit our MUV observations. Fixing the mass ratio of XSS J12270-4859 to the value reported in other studies, we obtained a distance of ˜3.2 kpc. This is larger than the one derived from dispersion measure (˜1.4 kpc). Assuming a uniform prior for the mass ratio, the distance is similar to that from radio measurements. However, it requires an undermassive companion (˜0.01M⊙). We conclude that a direct heating model alone cannot fully explain the observations in optical and MUV. Therefore, an additional radiation source is needed. The source could be an intrabinary shock which contributes to the MUV flux and likely to the optical one as well. During the radio pulsar state, the MUV orbital variations of PSR J1023+0038 detected with GALEX, suggest the presence of an asymmetric intrabinary shock.

Cross-Linkable, Solvent-Resistant Fullerene Contacts for Robust and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Increased JSC and VOC.

PubMed

Watson, Brian L; Rolston, Nicholas; Bush, Kevin A; Leijtens, Tomas; McGehee, Michael D; Dauskardt, Reinhold H

2016-10-05

The active layers of perovskite solar cells are also structural layers and are central to ensuring that the structural integrity of the device is maintained over its operational lifetime. Our work evaluating the fracture energies of conventional and inverted solution-processed MAPbI 3 perovskite solar cells has revealed that the MAPbI 3 perovskite exhibits a fracture resistance of only ∼0.5 J/m 2 , while solar cells containing fullerene electron transport layers fracture at even lower values, below ∼0.25 J/m 2 . To address this weakness, a novel styrene-functionalized fullerene derivative, MPMIC 60 , has been developed as a replacement for the fragile PC 61 BM and C 60 transport layers. MPMIC 60 can be transformed into a solvent-resistant material through curing at 250 °C. As-deposited films of MPMIC 60 exhibit a marked 10-fold enhancement in fracture resistance over PC 61 BM and a 14-fold enhancement over C 60 . Conventional-geometry perovskite solar cells utilizing cured films of MPMIC 60 showed a significant, 205% improvement in fracture resistance while exhibiting only a 7% drop in PCE (13.8% vs 14.8% PCE) in comparison to the C 60 control, enabling larger V OC and J SC values. Inverted cells fabricated with MPMIC 60 exhibited a 438% improvement in fracture resistance with only a 6% reduction in PCE (12.3% vs 13.1%) in comparison to those utilizing PC 61 BM, again producing a higher J SC .

Identification of New World Quails Susceptible to Infection with Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroup J

PubMed Central

Plachý, Jiří; Reinišová, Markéta; Kučerová, Dana; Šenigl, Filip; Stepanets, Volodymyr; Hron, Tomáš; Trejbalová, Kateřina; Elleder, Daniel

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT The J subgroup of avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) infects domestic chickens, jungle fowl, and turkeys. This virus enters the host cell through a receptor encoded by the tvj locus and identified as Na+/H+ exchanger 1. The resistance to avian leukosis virus subgroup J in a great majority of galliform species has been explained by deletions or substitutions of the critical tryptophan 38 in the first extracellular loop of Na+/H+ exchanger 1. Because there are concerns of transspecies virus transmission, we studied natural polymorphisms and susceptibility/resistance in wild galliforms and found the presence of tryptophan 38 in four species of New World quails. The embryo fibroblasts of New World quails are susceptible to infection with avian leukosis virus subgroup J, and the cloned Na+/H+ exchanger 1 confers susceptibility on the otherwise resistant host. New World quails are also susceptible to new avian leukosis virus subgroup J variants but resistant to subgroups A and B and weakly susceptible to subgroups C and D of avian sarcoma/leukosis virus due to obvious defects of the respective receptors. Our results suggest that the avian leukosis virus subgroup J could be transmitted to New World quails and establish a natural reservoir of circulating virus with a potential for further evolution. IMPORTANCE Since its spread in broiler chickens in China and Southeast Asia in 2000, ALV-J remains a major enzootic challenge for the poultry industry. Although the virus diversifies rapidly in the poultry, its spillover and circulation in wild bird species has been prevented by the resistance of most species to ALV-J. It is, nevertheless, important to understand the evolution of the virus and its potential host range in wild birds. Because resistance to avian retroviruses is due particularly to receptor incompatibility, we studied Na+/H+ exchanger 1, the receptor for ALV-J. In New World quails, we found a receptor compatible with virus entry, and we confirmed the

Identification of New World Quails Susceptible to Infection with Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroup J.

PubMed

Plachý, Jiří; Reinišová, Markéta; Kučerová, Dana; Šenigl, Filip; Stepanets, Volodymyr; Hron, Tomáš; Trejbalová, Kateřina; Elleder, Daniel; Hejnar, Jiří

2017-02-01

The J subgroup of avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) infects domestic chickens, jungle fowl, and turkeys. This virus enters the host cell through a receptor encoded by the tvj locus and identified as Na + /H + exchanger 1. The resistance to avian leukosis virus subgroup J in a great majority of galliform species has been explained by deletions or substitutions of the critical tryptophan 38 in the first extracellular loop of Na + /H + exchanger 1. Because there are concerns of transspecies virus transmission, we studied natural polymorphisms and susceptibility/resistance in wild galliforms and found the presence of tryptophan 38 in four species of New World quails. The embryo fibroblasts of New World quails are susceptible to infection with avian leukosis virus subgroup J, and the cloned Na + /H + exchanger 1 confers susceptibility on the otherwise resistant host. New World quails are also susceptible to new avian leukosis virus subgroup J variants but resistant to subgroups A and B and weakly susceptible to subgroups C and D of avian sarcoma/leukosis virus due to obvious defects of the respective receptors. Our results suggest that the avian leukosis virus subgroup J could be transmitted to New World quails and establish a natural reservoir of circulating virus with a potential for further evolution. Since its spread in broiler chickens in China and Southeast Asia in 2000, ALV-J remains a major enzootic challenge for the poultry industry. Although the virus diversifies rapidly in the poultry, its spillover and circulation in wild bird species has been prevented by the resistance of most species to ALV-J. It is, nevertheless, important to understand the evolution of the virus and its potential host range in wild birds. Because resistance to avian retroviruses is due particularly to receptor incompatibility, we studied Na + /H + exchanger 1, the receptor for ALV-J. In New World quails, we found a receptor compatible with virus entry, and we confirmed the susceptibilities

Testing the 'microbubble effect' using the Cavitron technique to measure xylem water extraction curves.

PubMed

Pivovaroff, Alexandria L; Burlett, Régis; Lavigne, Bruno; Cochard, Hervé; Santiago, Louis S; Delzon, Sylvain

2016-01-01

Plant resistance to xylem cavitation is a major drought adaptation trait and is essential to characterizing vulnerability to climate change. Cavitation resistance can be determined with vulnerability curves. In the past decade, new techniques have increased the ease and speed at which vulnerability curves are produced. However, these new techniques are also subject to new artefacts, especially as related to long-vesselled species. We tested the reliability of the 'flow rotor' centrifuge technique, the so-called Cavitron, and investigated one potential mechanism behind the open vessel artefact in centrifuge-based vulnerability curves: the microbubble effect. The microbubble effect hypothesizes that microbubbles introduced to open vessels, either through sample flushing or injection of solution, travel by buoyancy or mass flow towards the axis of rotation where they artefactually nucleate cavitation. To test the microbubble effect, we constructed vulnerability curves using three different rotor sizes for five species with varying maximum vessel length, as well as water extraction curves that are constructed without injection of solution into the rotor. We found that the Cavitron technique is robust to measure resistance to cavitation in tracheid-bearing and short-vesselled species, but not for long-vesselled ones. Moreover, our results support the microbubble effect hypothesis as the major cause for the open vessel artefact in long-vesselled species. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company.

The South Carolina bridge-scour envelope curves

USGS Publications Warehouse

Benedict, Stephen T.; Feaster, Toby D.; Caldwell, Andral W.

2016-09-30

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, conducted a series of three field investigations to evaluate historical, riverine bridge scour in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of South Carolina. These investigations included data collected at 231 riverine bridges, which lead to the development of bridge-scour envelope curves for clear-water and live-bed components of scour. The application and limitations of the South Carolina bridge-scour envelope curves were documented in four reports, each report addressing selected components of bridge scour. The current investigation (2016) synthesizes the findings of these previous reports into a guidance manual providing an integrated procedure for applying the envelope curves. Additionally, the investigation provides limited verification for selected bridge-scour envelope curves by comparing them to field data collected outside of South Carolina from previously published sources. Although the bridge-scour envelope curves have limitations, they are useful supplementary tools for assessing the potential for scour at riverine bridges in South Carolina.

Correlation between SiO v = 3 J = 1 → 0 maser excitation and the light curve of a long-period variable star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyadomari, Miyako; Imai, Hiroshi; Nagayama, Takumi; Oyama, Tomoaki; Matsumoto, Naoko; Nakashima, Jun-ichi; Cho, Se-Hyung

2018-06-01

In order to understand the excitation mechanisms of silicon monoxide (SiO) masers around long-period variables (LPVs), we have investigated distributions of the SiO v = 2 and v = 3 J = 1 → 0 masers around 12 LPVs by very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) and the Nobeyama 45 m telescopes. VLBI fringes of the v = 3 maser emission were detected for five LPVs. The composite maps of the v = 2 and v = 3 masers were made for T Cep, W Hya, WX Psc, and R Leo using the spectral line phase-referencing technique. The v = 2 maser spots were distributed in a ring-like form around the central stars, while it is difficult to recognize any specific morphology in the v = 3 maser distributions due to the small number of v = 3 spots detected. However in T Cep, we find that the distribution of the v = 3 maser spots correlates well with the v = 2 masers within a few milliarcseconds (0.2-0.3 au) in position and 1 km s-1 in line-of-sight velocity at the light curve phase of ϕ = 0.28 (ϕ = 0.0 and 1.0 correspond to the visible light maxima). This correlation implies that the mechanism of line-overlapping between the mid-infrared lines of H2O and SiO molecules works in T Cep at ϕ = 0.28. We discuss the possibility that the line-overlapping may work at the limited duration from the maximum to the minimum of the stellar light curve.

Correlation between SiO v = 3 J = 1 → 0 maser excitation and the light curve of a long-period variable star

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyadomari, Miyako; Imai, Hiroshi; Nagayama, Takumi; Oyama, Tomoaki; Matsumoto, Naoko; Nakashima, Jun-ichi; Cho, Se-Hyung

2018-03-01

In order to understand the excitation mechanisms of silicon monoxide (SiO) masers around long-period variables (LPVs), we have investigated distributions of the SiO v = 2 and v = 3 J = 1 → 0 masers around 12 LPVs by very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) and the Nobeyama 45 m telescopes. VLBI fringes of the v = 3 maser emission were detected for five LPVs. The composite maps of the v = 2 and v = 3 masers were made for T Cep, W Hya, WX Psc, and R Leo using the spectral line phase-referencing technique. The v = 2 maser spots were distributed in a ring-like form around the central stars, while it is difficult to recognize any specific morphology in the v = 3 maser distributions due to the small number of v = 3 spots detected. However in T Cep, we find that the distribution of the v = 3 maser spots correlates well with the v = 2 masers within a few milliarcseconds (0.2-0.3 au) in position and 1 km s-1 in line-of-sight velocity at the light curve phase of ϕ = 0.28 (ϕ = 0.0 and 1.0 correspond to the visible light maxima). This correlation implies that the mechanism of line-overlapping between the mid-infrared lines of H2O and SiO molecules works in T Cep at ϕ = 0.28. We discuss the possibility that the line-overlapping may work at the limited duration from the maximum to the minimum of the stellar light curve.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: SNe II light curves & spectra from the CfA (Hicken+, 2017)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hicken, M.; Friedman, A. S.; Blondin, S.; Challis, P.; Berlind, P.; Calkins, M.; Esquerdo, G.; Matheson, T.; Modjaz, M.; Rest, A.; Kirshner, R. P.

2018-01-01

Since all of the optical photometry reported here was produced as part of the CfA3 and CfA4 processing campaigns, see Hicken+ (2009, J/ApJ/700/331) and Hicken+ (2012, J/ApJS/200/12) for greater details on the instruments, observations, photometry pipeline, calibration, and host-galaxy subtraction used to create the CfA SN II light curves. (8 data files).

Ideal and resistive plasma resistive wall modes and control: linear and nonlinear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finn, J. M.; Chacon, L.

2004-11-01

Our recent work* on control of linear and nonlinear resistive wall modes (RWM) showed that if there is an ideal plasma mode and a resistive plasma mode, and if the beta limit for the latter is lower (as is typical), then nonlinear resistive wall modes behave basically as nonlinear tearing-like modes locked to the wall. We investigate here the effect of plasma rotation sufficient to stabilize the resistive-plasma RWM but not the ideal plasma RWM. We also review results** showing the effect of normal and poloidal magnetic field sensing, and describe a simple model which is amenable to analytic solution, and which makes previously obtained simulation results transparent. *J. Finn and L. Chacon, 'Control of linear and nonlinear resistive wall modes', Phys. Plas 11, 1866 (2004). **J. Finn, 'Control of resistive wall modes in a cylindrical tokamak with radial and poloidal magnetic field sensors', to appear in Phys. Plasmas, 2004.

Multi-q pattern classification of polarization curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fabbri, Ricardo; Bastos, Ivan N.; Neto, Francisco D. Moura; Lopes, Francisco J. P.; Gonçalves, Wesley N.; Bruno, Odemir M.

2014-02-01

Several experimental measurements are expressed in the form of one-dimensional profiles, for which there is a scarcity of methodologies able to classify the pertinence of a given result to a specific group. The polarization curves that evaluate the corrosion kinetics of electrodes in corrosive media are applications where the behavior is chiefly analyzed from profiles. Polarization curves are indeed a classic method to determine the global kinetics of metallic electrodes, but the strong nonlinearity from different metals and alloys can overlap and the discrimination becomes a challenging problem. Moreover, even finding a typical curve from replicated tests requires subjective judgment. In this paper, we used the so-called multi-q approach based on the Tsallis statistics in a classification engine to separate the multiple polarization curve profiles of two stainless steels. We collected 48 experimental polarization curves in an aqueous chloride medium of two stainless steel types, with different resistance against localized corrosion. Multi-q pattern analysis was then carried out on a wide potential range, from cathodic up to anodic regions. An excellent classification rate was obtained, at a success rate of 90%, 80%, and 83% for low (cathodic), high (anodic), and both potential ranges, respectively, using only 2% of the original profile data. These results show the potential of the proposed approach towards efficient, robust, systematic and automatic classification of highly nonlinear profile curves.

Laboratory measurements of electrical resistivity versus water content on small soil cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robain, H.; Camerlynck, C.; Bellier, G.; Tabbagh, A.

2003-04-01

concentration in water may be neglected during the sewage of macro voids as it corresponds to a small quantity of water for the studied samples. Soil solid components are generally electrical insulators, the conduction of electrical current only lies on two phenomenon occurring in water : (i) volume conduction controlled by the electrolyte concentration in water and the geometrical characteristics of macro voids network ; (ii) surface conduction controlled by the double diffuse layer that depends on the solid-liquid interactions, the specific surface of clay minerals and the geometry of particles contacts. For the water contained in macro voids the preeminent phenomenon seems to be volume conduction while for the water contained in micro voids, it seems to be surface conduction. This hypothesis satisfyingly explains the shape of the electrical resistivity versus water content curves obtained for three different oxisols with clayey, clayey-sandy and sandy-clayey texture. [1] Archie G.E. 1942. The electrical resistivity log as an aid in determining some reservoirs characteristics. Trans. AIME, 146, 54-67. [2] Braudeau E. et al. 1999. New device and method for soil shrinkage curve measurement and characterization. S.S.S.A.J., 63(3), 525-535.

Sibling Curves 3: Imaginary Siblings and Tracing Complex Roots

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harding, Ansie; Engelbrecht, Johann

2009-01-01

Visualizing complex roots of a quadratic equation has been a quest since the inception of the Argand plane in the 1800s. Many algebraic and numerical methods exist for calculating complex roots of an equation, but few visual methods exist. Following on from papers by Harding and Engelbrecht (A. Harding and J. Engelbrecht, "Sibling curves and…

Viscoelastic flow past mono- and bidisperse random arrays of cylinders: flow resistance, topology and normal stress distribution.

PubMed

De, S; Kuipers, J A M; Peters, E A J F; Padding, J T

2017-12-13

We investigate creeping viscoelastic fluid flow through two-dimensional porous media consisting of random arrangements of monodisperse and bidisperse cylinders, using our finite volume-immersed boundary method introduced in S. De, et al., J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech., 2016, 232, 67-76. The viscoelastic fluid is modeled with a FENE-P model. The simulations show an increased flow resistance with increase in flow rate, even though the bulk response of the fluid to shear flow is shear thinning. We show that if the square root of the permeability is chosen as the characteristic length scale in the determination of the dimensionless Deborah number (De), then all flow resistance curves collapse to a single master curve, irrespective of the pore geometry. Our study reveals how viscoelastic stresses and flow topologies (rotation, shear and extension) are distributed through the porous media, and how they evolve with increasing De. We correlate the local viscoelastic first normal stress differences with the local flow topology and show that the largest normal stress differences are located in shear flow dominated regions and not in extensional flow dominated regions at higher viscoelasticity. The study shows that normal stress differences in shear flow regions may play a crucial role in the increase of flow resistance for viscoelastic flow through such porous media.

ICESag37, a Novel Integrative and Conjugative Element Carrying Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Potential Virulence Factors in Streptococcus agalactiae.

PubMed

Zhou, Kaixin; Xie, Lianyan; Han, Lizhong; Guo, Xiaokui; Wang, Yong; Sun, Jingyong

2017-01-01

ICE Sag37 , a novel integrative and conjugative element carrying multidrug resistance and potential virulence factors, was characterized in a clinical isolate of Streptococcus agalactiae . Two clinical strains of S. agalactiae , Sag37 and Sag158, were isolated from blood samples of new-borns with bacteremia. Sag37 was highly resistant to erythromycin and tetracycline, and susceptible to levofloxacin and penicillin, while Sag158 was resistant to tetracycline and levofloxacin, and susceptible to erythromycin. Transfer experiments were performed and selection was carried out with suitable antibiotic concentrations. Through mating experiments, the erythromycin resistance gene was found to be transferable from Sag37 to Sag158. Sma I-PFGE revealed a new Sma I fragment, confirming the transfer of the fragment containing the erythromycin resistance gene. Whole genome sequencing and sequence analysis revealed a mobile element, ICE Sag37 , which was characterized using several molecular methods and in silico analyses. ICE Sag37 was excised to generate a covalent circular intermediate, which was transferable to S. agalactiae . Inverse PCR was performed to detect the circular form. A serine family integrase mediated its chromosomal integration into rumA , which is a known hotspot for the integration of streptococcal ICEs. The integration site was confirmed using PCR. ICE Sag37 carried genes for resistance to multiple antibiotics, including erythromycin [ erm(B) ], tetracycline [ tet(O) ], and aminoglycosides [ aadE, aphA , and ant(6) ]. Potential virulence factors, including a two-component signal transduction system ( nisK/nisR ), were also observed in ICE Sag37 . S1-PFGE analysis ruled out the existence of plasmids. ICE Sag37 is the first ICE Sa2603 family-like element identified in S. agalactiae carrying both resistance and potential virulence determinants. It might act as a vehicle for the dissemination of multidrug resistance and pathogenicity among S. agalactiae .

PSR J2030+364I: Radio Discovery and Gamma-ray Study of a Middle-aged Pulsar in the Now Identified Fermi-LAT Source 1FGL J2030.0+3641

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Camilo, F.; Kerr, M.; Ray, P. S.; Ransom, S. M.; Johnston, S.; Romani, R. W.; Parent, D.; Decesar, M. E.; Harding, A. K.; Donato, D.;

DISCOVERY OF X-RAY PULSATIONS FROM THE INTEGRAL SOURCE IGR J11014–6103

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

Halpern, J. P.; Gotthelf, E. V.; Camilo, F.

2014-11-10

We report the discovery of PSR J1101–6101, a 62.8 ms pulsar in IGR J11014–6103, a hard X-ray source with a jet and a cometary tail that strongly suggests it is moving away from the center of the supernova remnant (SNR) MSH 11–61A at v > 1000 km s{sup –1}. Two XMM-Newton observations were obtained with the EPIC pn in small window mode, resulting in the measurement of its spin-down luminosity E-dot =1.36×10{sup 36} erg s{sup –1}, characteristic age τ {sub c} = 116 kyr, and surface magnetic field strength B{sub s} = 7.4 × 10{sup 11} G. In comparison to τ {submore » c}, the 10-30 kyr age estimated for MSH 11–61A suggests that the pulsar was born in the SNR with initial period in the range 54 ≤ P {sub 0} ≤ 60 ms. PSR J1101–6101 is the least energetic of the 15 rotation-powered pulsars detected by INTEGRAL, and has a high efficiency of hard X-ray radiation and jet power. We examine the shape of the cometary nebula in a Chandra image, which is roughly consistent with a bow shock at the velocity inferred from the SNR age and the pulsar's E-dot . However, its structure differs in detail from the classic bow shock, and we explore possible reasons for this.« less

Variational formulation for dissipative continua and an incremental J-integral

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahaman, Md. Masiur; Dhas, Bensingh; Roy, D.; Reddy, J. N.

2018-01-01

Our aim is to rationally formulate a proper variational principle for dissipative (viscoplastic) solids in the presence of inertia forces. As a first step, a consistent linearization of the governing nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) is carried out. An additional set of complementary (adjoint) equations is then formed to recover an underlying variational structure for the augmented system of linearized balance laws. This makes it possible to introduce an incremental Lagrangian such that the linearized PDEs, including the complementary equations, become the Euler-Lagrange equations. Continuous groups of symmetries of the linearized PDEs are computed and an analysis is undertaken to identify the variational groups of symmetries of the linearized dissipative system. Application of Noether's theorem leads to the conservation laws (conserved currents) of motion corresponding to the variational symmetries. As a specific outcome, we exploit translational symmetries of the functional in the material space and recover, via Noether's theorem, an incremental J-integral for viscoplastic solids in the presence of inertia forces. Numerical demonstrations are provided through a two-dimensional plane strain numerical simulation of a compact tension specimen of annealed mild steel under dynamic loading.

Comparative evaluation of cyclic fatigue resistance of D-RaCe and ProTaper retreatment instruments in curved artificial canals.

PubMed

Topçuoğlu, H S; Topçuoğlu, G; Aktı, A

2016-06-01

To compare the cyclic fatigue resistance of D-RaCe and ProTaper rotary nickel-titanium (NiTi) retreatment files when used in curved artificial canals. A total of 120 new D-RaCe DR2 and ProTaper D3 retreatment files were tested in stainless steel artificial canals having 45° and 60° angles of curvature. Thirty instruments of each of the file systems were tested in both angles of curvature (n = 30). The retreatment instruments were rotated until fracture to calculate the number of cycles to failure. The length of each fractured fragment was recorded. Data were analysed by independent sample t-test. Fractured surfaces of the instruments were analysed by scanning electron microscopy. In the canal with 45° angle of curvature, no significant difference was observed between the retreatment systems (P > 0.05); on the other hand, in the canal with 60° angle of curvature, D-RaCe DR2 instruments had greater cyclic fatigue resistance than ProTaper D3 (P < 0.05). No difference was observed between the retreatment instruments regarding the lengths of fractured fragments (P > 0.05). The fracture surfaces of the instruments had morphologic characteristics of ductile fracture. D-RaCe DR2 instrument exhibited greater cyclic fatigue resistance than ProTaper D3 only in root canals with 60° angle of curvature. © 2015 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Discovery of 105 Hz coherent pulsations in the ultracompact binary IGR J16597-3704

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanna, A.; Bahramian, A.; Bozzo, E.; Heinke, C.; Altamirano, D.; Wijnands, R.; Degenaar, N.; Maccarone, T.; Riggio, A.; Di Salvo, T.; Iaria, R.; Burgay, M.; Possenti, A.; Ferrigno, C.; Papitto, A.; Sivakoff, G. R.; D'Amico, N.; Burderi, L.

2018-02-01

We report the discovery of X-ray pulsations at 105.2 Hz (9.5 ms) from the transient X-ray binary IGR J16597-3704 using NuSTAR and Swift. The source was discovered by INTEGRAL in the globular cluster NGC 6256 at a distance of 9.1 kpc. The X-ray pulsations show a clear Doppler modulation that implies an orbital period of 46 min and a projected semi-major axis of 5 lt-ms, which makes IGR J16597-3704 an ultracompact X-ray binary system. We estimated a minimum companion mass of 6.5 × 10-10 M⊙, assuming a neutron star mass of 1.4 M⊙, and an inclination angle of <75° (suggested by the absence of eclipses or dips in its light curve). The broad-band energy spectrum of the source is well described by a disk blackbody component (kT 1.4 keV) plus a comptonised power-law with photon index 2.3 and an electron temperature of 30 keV. Radio pulsations from the source were unsuccessfully searched for with the Parkes Observatory.

Resistance of Collard Green Genotypes to Bemisia tabaci Biotype B: Characterization of Antixenosis.

PubMed

Domingos, G M; Baldin, E L L; Canassa, V F; Silva, I F; Lourenção, A L

2018-08-01

Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important pest of vegetable crops, including collard greens Brassica oleracea var. acephala (Brassicaceae). The use of resistant genotypes is an interesting option to reduce insect populations and can be used as an important tool for integrated pest management (IPM). This study evaluated 32 genotypes of collard greens against the attack of silver leaf whitefly, with the aim to characterize antixenosis. Initially, a multiple-choice trial was conducted using all genotypes, in which the adult attractiveness was assessed on two leaves per genotype at 24 and 48 h after infestation. After 48 h, one leaf of each genotype was randomly selected for the determination of the number of eggs per square centimeter. From the results of the multiple-choice trial, 13 genotypes were selected for a no-choice oviposition test, following the same method of the previous test. Colorimetric analyses were also performed to establish possible correlations between leaf color and insect colonization. Genotypes HS-20, OE, and VA were less attractive, demonstrating antixenosis. Genotypes LG, VE, J, MG, MOP, HS-20, VA, and MT had less oviposition in the multiple-choice test, which indicated expression of antixenosis. In the no-choice test, genotypes VE, P1C, CCB, RI-919, H, and J had less oviposition, which also characterized antixenosis. Therefore, genotypes VE and J showed the highest resistance stability because both had less oviposition in both test modalities. Thus, the resistance to B. tabaci biotype B indicates the genotypes HS-20, OE, VA, VE, and J are promising for use in breeding programs to develop resistance to whitefly.

Anomalous low temperature resistivity in CeCr0.8V0.2Ge3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Durgesh; Patidar, Manju Mishra; Mishra, A. K.; Krishnan, M.; Ganesan, V.

2018-04-01

Resistivity (8T) and heat capacity (0T) of CeCr0.8V0.2Ge3 at low temperatures and high magnetic fields are reported. Resistivity curve shows a Kondo like behavior at an anomalously high temperature of 250K. A broad peak at 20K is observed in resistivity. A sharp change in resistivity around 7.3K is due to magnetic ordering mediated by coherence effects. Similar low temperature peak is also observed in heat capacity around 7.2K. A small magnetic field of the order of 1T shifts the peak towards lower temperatures confirming the antiferromagnetic ordering. A broad feature, which appears in resistivity at 20K, is absent in heat capacity. This feature shift towards higher temperatures with magnetic field, and may be due to the partial ferromagnetic ordering or due to geometrical frustration which opposes the magnetic ordering. The system shows a moderate heavy fermion behavior with Sommerfeld coefficient (γ) of 111mJ/mol-K2. Debye temperature of the compound is 250K. Shifting of TN in magnetic fields towards 0K indicates a possibility of quantum criticality in this system.

EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF VOLT-AMPERE CURVES

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

Gingrich, J.E.; Warner, C.; Weeks, C.C.

1962-07-01

Cylindrical and parallel-plane cesium vapor thermionic converters were used for obtaining volt-ampere curves for systematic variations of emitter, collector, and cesium reservoir temperatures, with electrode spacings ranging from a few to many mean free paths, and with space charge conditions varying from electron-rich to ion-rich. The resulting curves exhibit much variety. The saturation currents agree well with the data of Houston and Aamodt for the space charge neutralized, few-mean-free-path cases. Apparent'' saturation currents for space charge limited cases were observed and were always less than the currents predicted by Houston and Aamodt. Several discontinuities in slope were observed in themore » reverse current portion of the curves and these have tentatively been identified with volume ionization of atoms in both the ground and excited states. Similar processes may be important for obtaining the ignited mode. The methods used to measure static and dynamic volt-ampere curves are described. The use of a controlled-current load has yielded a negative resistance'' region in the curves which show the ignited mode. The curves obtained with poor current control do not show this phenomenon. Extinction is considered from the standpoint of Kaufmann' s criterion for stability. (auth)« less

Estimation of integral curves from high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) data.

PubMed

Carmichael, Owen; Sakhanenko, Lyudmila

2015-05-15

We develop statistical methodology for a popular brain imaging technique HARDI based on the high order tensor model by Özarslan and Mareci [10]. We investigate how uncertainty in the imaging procedure propagates through all levels of the model: signals, tensor fields, vector fields, and fibers. We construct asymptotically normal estimators of the integral curves or fibers which allow us to trace the fibers together with confidence ellipsoids. The procedure is computationally intense as it blends linear algebra concepts from high order tensors with asymptotical statistical analysis. The theoretical results are illustrated on simulated and real datasets. This work generalizes the statistical methodology proposed for low angular resolution diffusion tensor imaging by Carmichael and Sakhanenko [3], to several fibers per voxel. It is also a pioneering statistical work on tractography from HARDI data. It avoids all the typical limitations of the deterministic tractography methods and it delivers the same information as probabilistic tractography methods. Our method is computationally cheap and it provides well-founded mathematical and statistical framework where diverse functionals on fibers, directions and tensors can be studied in a systematic and rigorous way.

Estimation of integral curves from high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) data

PubMed Central

Carmichael, Owen; Sakhanenko, Lyudmila

2015-01-01

We develop statistical methodology for a popular brain imaging technique HARDI based on the high order tensor model by Özarslan and Mareci [10]. We investigate how uncertainty in the imaging procedure propagates through all levels of the model: signals, tensor fields, vector fields, and fibers. We construct asymptotically normal estimators of the integral curves or fibers which allow us to trace the fibers together with confidence ellipsoids. The procedure is computationally intense as it blends linear algebra concepts from high order tensors with asymptotical statistical analysis. The theoretical results are illustrated on simulated and real datasets. This work generalizes the statistical methodology proposed for low angular resolution diffusion tensor imaging by Carmichael and Sakhanenko [3], to several fibers per voxel. It is also a pioneering statistical work on tractography from HARDI data. It avoids all the typical limitations of the deterministic tractography methods and it delivers the same information as probabilistic tractography methods. Our method is computationally cheap and it provides well-founded mathematical and statistical framework where diverse functionals on fibers, directions and tensors can be studied in a systematic and rigorous way. PMID:25937674

CHANDRA OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE INTEGRAL SOURCES: NEW X-RAY POSITIONS FOR IGR J16393-4643 AND IGR J17091-3624

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

Bodaghee, A.; Tomsick, J. A.; Rahoui, F.

2012-06-01

The Chandra High Resolution Camera observed the fields of five hard X-ray sources in order to help us obtain X-ray coordinates with subarcsecond precision. These observations provide the most accurate X-ray positions known for IGR J16393-4643 and IGR J17091-3624. The obscured X-ray pulsar IGR J16393-4643 lies at R.A. (J2000) = 16{sup h}39{sup m}05.{sup s}47, and decl. = -46 Degree-Sign 42'13.''0 (error radius of 0.''6 at 90% confidence). This position is incompatible with the previously proposed counterpart 2MASS J16390535-4642137, and it points instead to a new counterpart candidate that is possibly blended with the Two Micron All Sky Survey star. Themore » black hole candidate IGR J17091-3624 was observed during its 2011 outburst providing coordinates of R.A. = 17{sup h}09{sup m}07.{sup s}59, and decl. = -36 Degree-Sign 24'25.''4. This position is compatible with those of the proposed optical/IR and radio counterparts, solidifying the source's status as a microquasar. Three targets, IGR J14043-6148, IGR J16358-4726, and IGR J17597-2201, were not detected. We obtained 3{sigma} upper limits of, respectively, 1.7, 1.8, and 1.5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -12} erg cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} on their 2-10 keV fluxes.« less

Ring polymer dynamics in curved spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolf, S.; Curotto, E.

2012-07-01

We formulate an extension of the ring polymer dynamics approach to curved spaces using stereographic projection coordinates. We test the theory by simulating the particle in a ring, {T}^1, mapped by a stereographic projection using three potentials. Two of these are quadratic, and one is a nonconfining sinusoidal model. We propose a new class of algorithms for the integration of the ring polymer Hamilton equations in curved spaces. These are designed to improve the energy conservation of symplectic integrators based on the split operator approach. For manifolds, the position-position autocorrelation function can be formulated in numerous ways. We find that the position-position autocorrelation function computed from configurations in the Euclidean space {R}^2 that contains {T}^1 as a submanifold has the best statistical properties. The agreement with exact results obtained with vector space methods is excellent for all three potentials, for all values of time in the interval simulated, and for a relatively broad range of temperatures.

Multiple Optical Traps with a Single-Beam Optical Tweezer Utilizing Surface Micromachined Planar Curved Grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Ju-Nan; Chen, Kuan-Yu

2010-11-01

In this paper, we present a single-beam optical tweezer integrated with a planar curved diffraction grating for microbead manipulation. Various curvatures of the surface micromachined planar curved grating are systematically investigated. The planar curved grating was fabricated using multiuser micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) processes (MUMPs). The angular separation and the number of diffracted orders were determined. Experimental results indicate that the diffraction patterns and curvature of the planar curved grating are closely related. As the curvature of the planar curved grating increases, the vertical diffraction angle increases, resulting in the strip patterns of the planar curved grating. A single-beam optical tweezer integrated with a planar curved diffraction grating was developed. We demonstrate a technique for creating multiple optical traps from a single laser beam using the developed planar curved grating. The strip patterns of the planar curved grating that resulted from diffraction were used to trap one row of polystyrene beads.

Left ventricular fluid kinetic energy time curves in heart failure from cardiovascular magnetic resonance 4D flow data.

PubMed

Kanski, Mikael; Arvidsson, Per M; Töger, Johannes; Borgquist, Rasmus; Heiberg, Einar; Carlsson, Marcus; Arheden, Håkan

2015-12-20

Measurement of intracardiac kinetic energy (KE) provides new insights into cardiac hemodynamics and may improve assessment and understanding of heart failure. We therefore aimed to investigate left ventricular (LV) KE time curves in patients with heart failure and in controls. Patients with heart failure (n = 29, NYHA class I-IV) and controls (n = 12) underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) including 4D flow. The vortex-ring boundary was computed using Lagrangian coherent structures. The LV endocardium and vortex-ring were manually delineated and KE was calculated as ½mv(2) of the blood within the whole LV and the vortex ring, respectively. The systolic average KE was higher in patients compared to controls (2.2 ± 1.4 mJ vs 1.6 ± 0.6 mJ, p = 0.048), but lower when indexing to EDV (6.3 ± 2.2 μJ/ml vs 8.0 ± 2.1 μJ/ml, p = 0.025). No difference was seen in diastolic average KE (3.2 ± 2.3 mJ vs 2.0 ± 0.8 mJ, p = 0.13) even when indexing to EDV (9.0 ± 4.4 μJ/ml vs 10.2 ± 3.3 μJ/ml, p = 0.41). In patients, a smaller fraction of diastolic average KE was observed inside the vortex ring compared to controls (72 ± 6% vs 54 ± 9%, p < 0.0001). Three distinctive KE time curves were seen in patients which were markedly different from findings in controls, and with a moderate agreement between KE time curve patterns and degree of diastolic dysfunction (Cohen's kappa = 0.49), but unrelated to NYHA classification (p = 0.12), or 6-minute walk test (p = 0.72). Patients with heart failure exhibit higher systolic average KE compared to controls, suggesting altered intracardiac blood flow. The different KE time curves seen in patients may represent a conceptually new approach for heart failure classification.

Integrated database for identifying candidate genes for Aspergillus flavus resistance in maize

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Aspergillus flavus Link:Fr, an opportunistic fungus that produces aflatoxin, is pathogenic to maize and other oilseed crops. Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen, and its presence markedly reduces the value of grain. Understanding and enhancing host resistance to A. flavus infection and/or subsequent aflatoxin accumulation is generally considered an efficient means of reducing grain losses to aflatoxin. Different proteomic, genomic and genetic studies of maize (Zea mays L.) have generated large data sets with the goal of identifying genes responsible for conferring resistance to A. flavus, or aflatoxin. Results In order to maximize the usage of different data sets in new studies, including association mapping, we have constructed a relational database with web interface integrating the results of gene expression, proteomic (both gel-based and shotgun), Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) genetic mapping studies, and sequence data from the literature to facilitate selection of candidate genes for continued investigation. The Corn Fungal Resistance Associated Sequences Database (CFRAS-DB) (http://agbase.msstate.edu/) was created with the main goal of identifying genes important to aflatoxin resistance. CFRAS-DB is implemented using MySQL as the relational database management system running on a Linux server, using an Apache web server, and Perl CGI scripts as the web interface. The database and the associated web-based interface allow researchers to examine many lines of evidence (e.g. microarray, proteomics, QTL studies, SNP data) to assess the potential role of a gene or group of genes in the response of different maize lines to A. flavus infection and subsequent production of aflatoxin by the fungus. Conclusions CFRAS-DB provides the first opportunity to integrate data pertaining to the problem of A. flavus and aflatoxin resistance in maize in one resource and to support queries across different datasets. The web-based interface gives researchers different query

Integrated database for identifying candidate genes for Aspergillus flavus resistance in maize.

PubMed

Kelley, Rowena Y; Gresham, Cathy; Harper, Jonathan; Bridges, Susan M; Warburton, Marilyn L; Hawkins, Leigh K; Pechanova, Olga; Peethambaran, Bela; Pechan, Tibor; Luthe, Dawn S; Mylroie, J E; Ankala, Arunkanth; Ozkan, Seval; Henry, W B; Williams, W P

2010-10-07

Aspergillus flavus Link:Fr, an opportunistic fungus that produces aflatoxin, is pathogenic to maize and other oilseed crops. Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen, and its presence markedly reduces the value of grain. Understanding and enhancing host resistance to A. flavus infection and/or subsequent aflatoxin accumulation is generally considered an efficient means of reducing grain losses to aflatoxin. Different proteomic, genomic and genetic studies of maize (Zea mays L.) have generated large data sets with the goal of identifying genes responsible for conferring resistance to A. flavus, or aflatoxin. In order to maximize the usage of different data sets in new studies, including association mapping, we have constructed a relational database with web interface integrating the results of gene expression, proteomic (both gel-based and shotgun), Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) genetic mapping studies, and sequence data from the literature to facilitate selection of candidate genes for continued investigation. The Corn Fungal Resistance Associated Sequences Database (CFRAS-DB) (http://agbase.msstate.edu/) was created with the main goal of identifying genes important to aflatoxin resistance. CFRAS-DB is implemented using MySQL as the relational database management system running on a Linux server, using an Apache web server, and Perl CGI scripts as the web interface. The database and the associated web-based interface allow researchers to examine many lines of evidence (e.g. microarray, proteomics, QTL studies, SNP data) to assess the potential role of a gene or group of genes in the response of different maize lines to A. flavus infection and subsequent production of aflatoxin by the fungus. CFRAS-DB provides the first opportunity to integrate data pertaining to the problem of A. flavus and aflatoxin resistance in maize in one resource and to support queries across different datasets. The web-based interface gives researchers different query options for mining the database

Neglected transport equations: extended Rankine-Hugoniot conditions and J -integrals for fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davey, K.; Darvizeh, R.

2016-09-01

Transport equations in integral form are well established for analysis in continuum fluid dynamics but less so for solid mechanics. Four classical continuum mechanics transport equations exist, which describe the transport of mass, momentum, energy and entropy and thus describe the behaviour of density, velocity, temperature and disorder, respectively. However, one transport equation absent from the list is particularly pertinent to solid mechanics and that is a transport equation for movement, from which displacement is described. This paper introduces the fifth transport equation along with a transport equation for mechanical energy and explores some of the corollaries resulting from the existence of these equations. The general applicability of transport equations to discontinuous physics is discussed with particular focus on fracture mechanics. It is well established that bulk properties can be determined from transport equations by application of a control volume methodology. A control volume can be selected to be moving, stationary, mass tracking, part of, or enclosing the whole system domain. The flexibility of transport equations arises from their ability to tolerate discontinuities. It is insightful thus to explore the benefits derived from the displacement and mechanical energy transport equations, which are shown to be beneficial for capturing the physics of fracture arising from a displacement discontinuity. Extended forms of the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions for fracture are established along with extended forms of J -integrals.

Psr J2030+3641: Radio Discovery And Gamma-Ray Study Of A Middle-Aged Pulsar In The Now Identified Fermi -Lat Source 1FGL J2030.0+3641

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

Camilo, F.; Kerr, M.; Ray, P. S.

2012-01-23

In a radio search with the Green Bank Telescope of three unidentified low Galactic latitude Fermi-LAT sources, we have discovered the middle-aged pulsar J2030+3641, associated with 1FGL J2030.0+3641 (2FGL J2030.0+3640). Following the detection of gamma-ray pulsations using a radio ephemeris, we have obtained a phase-coherent timing solution based on gamma-ray and radio pulse arrival times that spans the entire Fermi mission. With a rotation period of 0.2 s, spin-down luminosity of 3X10 34 erg s -1, and characteristic age of 0.5 Myr, PSR J2030+3641 is a middle-aged neutron star with spin parameters similar to those of the exceedingly gamma-ray-bright andmore » radio-undetected Geminga. Its gamma-ray flux is 1% that of Geminga, primarily because of its much larger distance, as suggested by the large integrated column density of free electrons, DM = 246 pc cm-3. We fit the gamma-ray light curve, along with limited radio polarimetric constraints, to four geometrical models of magnetospheric emission, and while none of the fits have high significance some are encouraging and suggest that further refinements of these models may be worthwhile. We argue that not many more non-millisecond radio pulsars may be detected along the Galactic plane that are responsible for LAT sources, but that modified methods to search for gamma-ray pulsations should be productive — PSR J2030+3641 would have been found blindly in gamma rays if only & 0:8 GeV photons had been considered, owing to its relatively flat spectrum and location in a region of high soft background.« less

Melting curve of materials: theory versus experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alfè, D.; Vocadlo, L.; Price, G. D.; Gillan, M. J.

2004-04-01

A number of melting curves of various materials have recently been measured experimentally and calculated theoretically, but the agreement between different groups is not always good. We discuss here some of the problems which may arise in both experiments and theory. We also report the melting curves of Fe and Al calculated recently using quantum mechanics techniques, based on density functional theory with generalized gradient approximations. For Al our results are in very good agreement with both low pressure diamond-anvil-cell experiments (Boehler and Ross 1997 Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 153 223, Hänström and Lazor 2000 J. Alloys Compounds 305 209) and high pressure shock wave experiments (Shaner et al 1984 High Pressure in Science and Technology ed Homan et al (Amsterdam: North-Holland) p 137). For Fe our results agree with the shock wave experiments of Brown and McQueen (1986 J. Geophys. Res. 91 7485) and Nguyen and Holmes (2000 AIP Shock Compression of Condensed Matter 505 81) and the recent diamond-anvil-cell experiments of Shen et al (1998 Geophys. Res. Lett. 25 373). Our results are at variance with the recent calculations of Laio et al (2000 Science 287 1027) and, to a lesser extent, with the calculations of Belonoshko et al (2000 Phys. Rev. Lett. 84 3638). The reasons for these disagreements are discussed.

Measuring the cooling curve of magnetar Swift J1822.3-1606

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaspi, Victoria

2012-10-01

Magnetars have been observed to increase their flux output by several orders of magnitude in outbursts. Following outbursts, they cool on timescales of months to years. We propose to observe the magnetar Swift J1822.3-1606 using XMM as the source approaches its quiescent state following the recent outburst in 2011. We will measure the flux and spectral properties of the source at two different epochs during AO12 in order to constrain the form of its flux decay. We will test a newly developed crustal cooling model and constrain the properties of the magnetar, such as the crust thickness and heat capacity, as well as the physics of the outburst, such as the location of energy deposition.

Integrated J- and H-band spectra of globular clusters in the LMC: implications for stellar population models and galaxy age dating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyubenova, M.; Kuntschner, H.; Rejkuba, M.; Silva, D. R.; Kissler-Patig, M.; Tacconi-Garman, L. E.

2012-07-01

Context. The rest-frame near-IR spectra of intermediate age (1-2 Gyr) stellar populations are dominated by carbon based absorption features offering a wealth of information. Yet, spectral libraries that include the near-IR wavelength range do not sample a sufficiently broad range of ages and metallicities to allow for accurate calibration of stellar population models and thus the interpretation of the observations. Aims: In this paper we investigate the integrated J- and H-band spectra of six intermediate age and old globular clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Methods: The observations for six clusters were obtained with the SINFONI integral field spectrograph at the ESO VLT Yepun telescope, covering the J (1.09-1.41 μm) and H-band (1.43-1.86 μm) spectral range. The spectral resolution is 6.7 Å in J and 6.6 Å in H-band (FWHM). The observations were made in natural seeing, covering the central 24″ × 24″ of each cluster and in addition sampling the brightest eight red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star candidates within the clusters' tidal radii. Targeted clusters cover the ages of ~1.3 Gyr (NGC 1806, NGC 2162), 2 Gyr (NGC 2173) and ~13 Gyr (NGC 1754, NGC 2005, NGC 2019). Results.H-band C2 and K-band 12CO (2-0) feature strengths for the LMC globular clusters are compared to the models of Maraston (2005). C2 is reasonably well reproduced by the models at all ages, while 12CO (2-0) shows good agreement for older (age ≥ 2 Gyr) populations, but the younger (1.3 Gyr) globular clusters do not follow the models. We argue that this is due to the fact that the empirical calibration of the models relies on only a few Milky Way carbon star spectra, which show different 12CO (2-0) index strengths than the LMC stars. The C2 absorption feature strength correlates strongly with age. It is present essentially only in populations that have 1-2 Gyr old stars, while its value is consistent with zero for older populations. The distinct spectral

Shunt resistance and saturation current determination in CdTe and CIGS solar cells. Part 2: application to experimental IV measurements and comparison with other methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rangel-Kuoppa, Victor-Tapio; Albor-Aguilera, María-de-Lourdes; Hérnandez-Vásquez, César; Flores-Márquez, José-Manuel; Jiménez-Olarte, Daniel; Sastré-Hernández, Jorge; González-Trujillo, Miguel-Ángel; Contreras-Puente, Gerardo-Silverio

2018-04-01

In this Part 2 of this series of articles, the procedure proposed in Part 1, namely a new parameter extraction technique of the shunt resistance (R sh ) and saturation current (I sat ) of a current-voltage (I-V) measurement of a solar cell, within the one-diode model, is applied to CdS-CdTe and CIGS-CdS solar cells. First, the Cheung method is used to obtain the series resistance (R s ) and the ideality factor n. Afterwards, procedures A and B proposed in Part 1 are used to obtain R sh and I sat . The procedure is compared with two other commonly used procedures. Better accuracy on the simulated I-V curves used with the parameters extracted by our method is obtained. Also, the integral percentage errors from the simulated I-V curves using the method proposed in this study are one order of magnitude smaller compared with the integral percentage errors using the other two methods.

Acoustic propagation operators for pressure waves on an arbitrarily curved surface in a homogeneous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yimin; Verschuur, Eric; van Borselen, Roald

2018-03-01

The Rayleigh integral solution of the acoustic Helmholtz equation in a homogeneous medium can only be applied when the integral surface is a planar surface, while in reality almost all surfaces where pressure waves are measured exhibit some curvature. In this paper we derive a theoretically rigorous way of building propagation operators for pressure waves on an arbitrarily curved surface. Our theory is still based upon the Rayleigh integral, but it resorts to matrix inversion to overcome the limitations faced by the Rayleigh integral. Three examples are used to demonstrate the correctness of our theory - propagation of pressure waves acquired on an arbitrarily curved surface to a planar surface, on an arbitrarily curved surface to another arbitrarily curved surface, and on a spherical cap to a planar surface, and results agree well with the analytical solutions. The generalization of our method for particle velocities and the calculation cost of our method are also discussed.

Integrated Resistance and Aerobic Training Maintains Cardiovascular and Skeletal Muscle Fitness During 14 Days of Bed Rest

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ploutz-Snyder, Lori; Goetchius, Elizabeth; Crowell, Brent; Hackney, Kyle; Wickwire, Jason; Ploutz-Snyder, Robert; Snyder, Scott

2012-01-01

Background: Known incompatibilities exist between resistance and aerobic training. Of particular importance are findings that concurrent resistance and aerobic training reduces the effectiveness of the resistance training and limits skeletal muscle adaptations (example: Dudley & Djamil, 1985). Numerous unloading studies have documented the effectiveness of resistance training alone for the maintenance of skeletal muscle size and strength. However the practical applications of those studies are limited because long ]duration crew members perform both aerobic and resistance exercise throughout missions/spaceflight. To date, such integrated training on the International Space Station (ISS) has not been fully effective in the maintenance of skeletal muscle function. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of high intensity concurrent resistance and aerobic training for the maintenance of cardiovascular fitness and skeletal muscle strength, power and endurance over 14 days of strict bed rest. Methods: 9 subjects (8 male and 1 female; 34.5 +/- 8.2 years) underwent 14 days of bed rest with concurrent training. Resistance and aerobic training were integrated as shown in table 1. Days that included 2 exercise sessions had a 4-8 hour rest between exercise bouts. The resistance training consisted of 3 sets of 12 repetitions of squat, heel raise, leg press and hamstring curl exercise. Aerobic exercise consisted of periodized interval training that included 30 sec, 2 min and 4 min intervals alternating by day with continuous aerobic exercise.

Development of an improved method for determining advisory speeds on horizontal curves.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-07-01

Horizontal curves are an integral part of the highway alignment. However, a disproportionately high number of severe : crashes occur on them. One method transportation agencies use to reduce the number crashes at horizontal curves is the : installati...

Development of formulae for estimating amylose content, amylopectin chain length distribution, and resistant starch content based on the iodine absorption curve of rice starch.

PubMed

Nakamura, Sumiko; Satoh, Hikaru; Ohtsubo, Ken'ichi

2015-01-01

Not only amylose but also amylopectin greatly affects the gelatinization properties of rice starch and the quality of cooked rice grains. We here characterized the starches of 32 rice cultivars and evaluated the relationship between their iodine absorption curve, apparent amylose content (AAC), pasting property, resistant starch (RS) content, and chain length distribution of amylopectin. We found that the iodine absorption curve differed among the various sample rice cultivars. Using the wavelength at which absorbance becomes maximum on iodine staining of starch (λmax), we propose a novel index, "new λmax" (AAC/(λmax of sample rice starches-λmax of glutinous rice starch)). We developed the novel estimation formulae for AAC, RS contents, and amylopectin fractions with the use of λmax and "new λmax." These formulae would lead to the improved method for estimating starch properties using an easy and rapid iodine colorimetric method.

Model-Independent Evidence for J/ψp Contributions to Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} Decays.

PubMed

Aaij, R; Abellán Beteta, C; Adeva, B; Adinolfi, M; Ajaltouni, Z; Akar, S; Albrecht, J; Alessio, F; Alexander, M; Ali, S; Alkhazov, G; Alvarez Cartelle, P; Alves, A A; Amato, S; Amerio, S; Amhis, Y; An, L; Anderlini, L; Andreassi, G; Andreotti, M; Andrews, J E; Appleby, R B; Aquines Gutierrez, O; Archilli, F; d'Argent, P; Artamonov, A; Artuso, M; Aslanides, E; Auriemma, G; Baalouch, M; Bachmann, S; Back, J J; Badalov, A; Baesso, C; Baker, S; Baldini, W; Barlow, R J; Barschel, C; Barsuk, S; Barter, W; Batozskaya, V; Battista, V; Bay, A; Beaucourt, L; Beddow, J; Bedeschi, F; Bediaga, I; Bel, L J; Bellee, V; Belloli, N; Belyaev, I; Ben-Haim, E; Bencivenni, G; Benson, S; Benton, J; Berezhnoy, A; Bernet, R; Bertolin, A; Betti, F; Bettler, M-O; van Beuzekom, M; Bifani, S; Billoir, P; Bird, T; Birnkraut, A; Bizzeti, A; Blake, T; Blanc, F; Blouw, J; Blusk, S; Bocci, V; Bondar, A; Bondar, N; Bonivento, W; Borgheresi, A; Borghi, S; Borisyak, M; Borsato, M; Boubdir, M; Bowcock, T J V; Bowen, E; Bozzi, C; Braun, S; Britsch, M; Britton, T; Brodzicka, J; Buchanan, E; Burr, C; Bursche, A; Buytaert, J; Cadeddu, S; Calabrese, R; Calvi, M; Calvo Gomez, M; Campana, P; Campora Perez, D; Capriotti, L; Carbone, A; Carboni, G; Cardinale, R; Cardini, A; Carniti, P; Carson, L; Carvalho Akiba, K; Casse, G; Cassina, L; Castillo Garcia, L; Cattaneo, M; Cauet, Ch; Cavallero, G; Cenci, R; Charles, M; Charpentier, Ph; Chatzikonstantinidis, G; Chefdeville, M; Chen, S; Cheung, S-F; Chobanova, V; Chrzaszcz, M; Cid Vidal, X; Ciezarek, G; Clarke, P E L; Clemencic, M; Cliff, H V; Closier, J; Coco, V; Cogan, J; Cogneras, E; Cogoni, V; Cojocariu, L; Collazuol, G; Collins, P; Comerma-Montells, A; Contu, A; Cook, A; Coquereau, S; Corti, G; Corvo, M; Couturier, B; Cowan, G A; Craik, D C; Crocombe, A; Cruz Torres, M; Cunliffe, S; Currie, R; D'Ambrosio, C; Dall'Occo, E; Dalseno, J; David, P N Y; Davis, A; De Aguiar Francisco, O; De Bruyn, K; De Capua, S; De Cian, M; De Miranda, J M; De Paula, L; De Simone, P; Dean, C-T; Decamp, D; Deckenhoff, M; Del Buono, L; Déléage, N; Demmer, M; Dendek, A; Derkach, D; Deschamps, O; Dettori, F; Dey, B; Di Canto, A; Dijkstra, H; Dordei, F; Dorigo, M; Dosil Suárez, A; Dovbnya, A; Dreimanis, K; Dufour, L; Dujany, G; Dungs, K; Durante, P; Dzhelyadin, R; Dziurda, A; Dzyuba, A; Easo, S; Egede, U; Egorychev, V; Eidelman, S; Eisenhardt, S; Eitschberger, U; Ekelhof, R; Eklund, L; El Rifai, I; Elsasser, Ch; Ely, S; Esen, S; Evans, H M; Evans, T; Falabella, A; Färber, C; Farley, N; Farry, S; Fay, R; Fazzini, D; Ferguson, D; Fernandez Albor, V; Ferrari, F; Ferreira Rodrigues, F; Ferro-Luzzi, M; Filippov, S; Fiore, M; Fiorini, M; Firlej, M; Fitzpatrick, C; Fiutowski, T; Fleuret, F; Fohl, K; Fontana, M; Fontanelli, F; Forshaw, D C; Forty, R; Frank, M; Frei, C; Frosini, M; Fu, J; Furfaro, E; Gallas Torreira, A; Galli, D; Gallorini, S; Gambetta, S; Gandelman, M; Gandini, P; Gao, Y; García Pardiñas, J; Garra Tico, J; Garrido, L; Garsed, P J; Gascon, D; Gaspar, C; Gavardi, L; Gazzoni, G; Gerick, D; Gersabeck, E; Gersabeck, M; Gershon, T; Ghez, Ph; Gianì, S; Gibson, V; Girard, O G; Giubega, L; Gligorov, V V; Göbel, C; Golubkov, D; Golutvin, A; Gomes, A; Gotti, C; Grabalosa Gándara, M; Graciani Diaz, R; Granado Cardoso, L A; Graugés, E; Graverini, E; Graziani, G; Grecu, A; Griffith, P; Grillo, L; Grünberg, O; Gushchin, E; Guz, Yu; Gys, T; Hadavizadeh, T; Hadjivasiliou, C; Haefeli, G; Haen, C; Haines, S C; Hall, S; Hamilton, B; Han, X; Hansmann-Menzemer, S; Harnew, N; Harnew, S T; Harrison, J; He, J; Head, T; Heister, A; Hennessy, K; Henrard, P; Henry, L; Hernando Morata, J A; van Herwijnen, E; Heß, M; Hicheur, A; Hill, D; Hoballah, M; Hombach, C; Hongming, L; Hulsbergen, W; Humair, T; Hushchyn, M; Hussain, N; Hutchcroft, D; Idzik, M; Ilten, P; Jacobsson, R; Jaeger, A; Jalocha, J; Jans, E; Jawahery, A; John, M; Johnson, D; Jones, C R; Joram, C; Jost, B; Jurik, N; Kandybei, S; Kanso, W; Karacson, M; Karbach, T M; Karodia, S; Kecke, M; Kelsey, M; Kenyon, I R; Kenzie, M; Ketel, T; Khairullin, E; Khanji, B; Khurewathanakul, C; Kirn, T; Klaver, S; Klimaszewski, K; Kolpin, M; Komarov, I; Koopman, R F; Koppenburg, P; Kozeiha, M; Kravchuk, L; Kreplin, K; Kreps, M; Krokovny, P; Kruse, F; Krzemien, W; Kucewicz, W; Kucharczyk, M; Kudryavtsev, V; Kuonen, A K; Kurek, K; Kvaratskheliya, T; Lacarrere, D; Lafferty, G; Lai, A; Lambert, D; Lanfranchi, G; Langenbruch, C; Langhans, B; Latham, T; Lazzeroni, C; Le Gac, R; van Leerdam, J; Lees, J-P; Lefèvre, R; Leflat, A; Lefrançois, J; Lemaitre, F; Lemos Cid, E; Leroy, O; Lesiak, T; Leverington, B; Li, Y; Likhomanenko, T; Lindner, R; Linn, C; Lionetto, F; Liu, B; Liu, X; Loh, D; Longstaff, I; Lopes, J H; Lucchesi, D; Lucio Martinez, M; Luo, H; Lupato, A; Luppi, E; Lupton, O; Lusardi, N; Lusiani, A; Lyu, X; Machefert, F; Maciuc, F; Maev, O; Maguire, K; Malde, S; Malinin, A; Manca, G; Mancinelli, G; Manning, P; Mapelli, A; Maratas, J; Marchand, J F; Marconi, U; Marin Benito, C; Marino, P; Marks, J; Martellotti, G; Martin, M; Martinelli, M; Martinez Santos, D; Martinez Vidal, F; Martins Tostes, D; Massacrier, L M; Massafferri, A; Matev, R; Mathad, A; Mathe, Z; Matteuzzi, C; Mauri, A; Maurin, B; Mazurov, A; McCann, M; McCarthy, J; McNab, A; McNulty, R; Meadows, B; Meier, F; Meissner, M; Melnychuk, D; Merk, M; Merli, A; Michielin, E; Milanes, D A; Minard, M-N; Mitzel, D S; Molina Rodriguez, J; Monroy, I A; Monteil, S; Morandin, M; Morawski, P; Mordà, A; Morello, M J; Moron, J; Morris, A B; Mountain, R; Muheim, F; Mulder, M M; Müller, D; Müller, J; Müller, K; Müller, V; Mussini, M; Muster, B; Naik, P; Nakada, T; Nandakumar, R; Nandi, A; Nasteva, I; Needham, M; Neri, N; Neubert, S; Neufeld, N; Neuner, M; Nguyen, A D; Nguyen-Mau, C; Niess, V; Nieswand, S; Niet, R; Nikitin, N; Nikodem, T; Novoselov, A; O'Hanlon, D P; Oblakowska-Mucha, A; Obraztsov, V; Ogilvy, S; Okhrimenko, O; Oldeman, R; Onderwater, C J G; Osorio Rodrigues, B; Otalora Goicochea, J M; Otto, A; Owen, P; Oyanguren, A; Palano, A; Palombo, F; Palutan, M; Panman, J; Papanestis, A; Pappagallo, M; Pappalardo, L L; Pappenheimer, C; Parker, W; Parkes, C; Passaleva, G; Patel, G D; Patel, M; Patrignani, C; Pearce, A; Pellegrino, A; Penso, G; Pepe Altarelli, M; Perazzini, S; Perret, P; Pescatore, L; Petridis, K; Petrolini, A; Petruzzo, M; Picatoste Olloqui, E; Pietrzyk, B; Pikies, M; Pinci, D; Pistone, A; Piucci, A; Playfer, S; Plo Casasus, M; Poikela, T; Polci, F; Poluektov, A; Polyakov, I; Polycarpo, E; Popov, A; Popov, D; Popovici, B; Potterat, C; Price, E; Price, J D; Prisciandaro, J; Pritchard, A; Prouve, C; Pugatch, V; Puig Navarro, A; Punzi, G; Qian, W; Quagliani, R; Rachwal, B; Rademacker, J H; Rama, M; Ramos Pernas, M; Rangel, M S; Raniuk, I; Raven, G; Redi, F; Reichert, S; Dos Reis, A C; Renaudin, V; Ricciardi, S; Richards, S; Rihl, M; Rinnert, K; Rives Molina, V; Robbe, P; Rodrigues, A B; Rodrigues, E; Rodriguez Lopez, J A; Rodriguez Perez, P; Rogozhnikov, A; Roiser, S; Romanovsky, V; Romero Vidal, A; Ronayne, J W; Rotondo, M; Ruf, T; Ruiz Valls, P; Saborido Silva, J J; Sagidova, N; Saitta, B; Salustino Guimaraes, V; Sanchez Mayordomo, C; Sanmartin Sedes, B; Santacesaria, R; Santamarina Rios, C; Santimaria, M; Santovetti, E; Sarti, A; Satriano, C; Satta, A; Saunders, D M; Savrina, D; Schael, S; Schiller, M; Schindler, H; Schlupp, M; Schmelling, M; Schmelzer, T; Schmidt, B; Schneider, O; Schopper, A; Schubiger, M; Schune, M-H; Schwemmer, R; Sciascia, B; Sciubba, A; Semennikov, A; Sergi, A; Serra, N; Serrano, J; Sestini, L; Seyfert, P; Shapkin, M; Shapoval, I; Shcheglov, Y; Shears, T; Shekhtman, L; Shevchenko, V; Shires, A; Siddi, B G; Silva Coutinho, R; Silva de Oliveira, L; Simi, G; Sirendi, M; Skidmore, N; Skwarnicki, T; Smith, E; Smith, I T; Smith, J; Smith, M; Snoek, H; Sokoloff, M D; Soler, F J P; Soomro, F; Souza, D; Souza De Paula, B; Spaan, B; Spradlin, P; Sridharan, S; Stagni, F; Stahl, M; Stahl, S; Stefkova, S; Steinkamp, O; Stenyakin, O; Stevenson, S; Stoica, S; Stone, S; Storaci, B; Stracka, S; Straticiuc, M; Straumann, U; Sun, L; Sutcliffe, W; Swientek, K; Swientek, S; Syropoulos, V; Szczekowski, M; Szumlak, T; T'Jampens, S; Tayduganov, A; Tekampe, T; Tellarini, G; Teubert, F; Thomas, C; Thomas, E; van Tilburg, J; Tisserand, V; Tobin, M; Tolk, S; Tomassetti, L; Tonelli, D; Topp-Joergensen, S; Tournefier, E; Tourneur, S; Trabelsi, K; Traill, M; Tran, M T; Tresch, M; Trisovic, A; Tsaregorodtsev, A; Tsopelas, P; Tuning, N; Ukleja, A; Ustyuzhanin, A; Uwer, U; Vacca, C; Vagnoni, V; Valat, S; Valenti, G; Vallier, A; Vazquez Gomez, R; Vazquez Regueiro, P; Vázquez Sierra, C; Vecchi, S; van Veghel, M; Velthuis, J J; Veltri, M; Veneziano, G; Vesterinen, M; Viaud, B; Vieira, D; Vieites Diaz, M; Vilasis-Cardona, X; Volkov, V; Vollhardt, A; Voong, D; Vorobyev, A; Vorobyev, V; Voß, C; de Vries, J A; Waldi, R; Wallace, C; Wallace, R; Walsh, J; Wang, J; Ward, D R; Watson, N K; Websdale, D; Weiden, A; Whitehead, M; Wicht, J; Wilkinson, G; Wilkinson, M; Williams, M; Williams, M P; Williams, M; Williams, T; Wilson, F F; Wimberley, J; Wishahi, J; Wislicki, W; Witek, M; Wormser, G; Wotton, S A; Wraight, K; Wright, S; Wyllie, K; Xie, Y; Xu, Z; Yang, Z; Yin, H; Yu, J; Yuan, X; Yushchenko, O; Zangoli, M; Zavertyaev, M; Zhang, L; Zhang, Y; Zhelezov, A; Zheng, Y; Zhokhov, A; Zhong, L; Zhukov, V; Zucchelli, S

2016-08-19

The data sample of Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} decays acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1}, is inspected for the presence of J/ψp or J/ψK^{-} contributions with minimal assumptions about K^{-}p contributions. It is demonstrated at more than nine standard deviations that Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} decays cannot be described with K^{-}p contributions alone, and that J/ψp contributions play a dominant role in this incompatibility. These model-independent results support the previously obtained model-dependent evidence for P_{c}^{+}→J/ψp charmonium-pentaquark states in the same data sample.

Gamma-Ray Light Curves from Pulsar Magnetospheres with Finite Conductivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harding, A. K.; Kalapotharakos, C.; Kazanas, D.; Contopoulos, I.

2012-01-01

The Fermi Large Area Telescope has provided an unprecedented database for pulsar emission studies that includes gamma-ray light curves for over 100 pulsars. Modeling these light curves can reveal and constrain the geometry of the particle accelerator, as well as the pulsar magnetic field structure. We have constructed 3D magnetosphere models with finite conductivity, that bridge the extreme vacuum and force-free solutions used in previous light curves modeling. We are investigating the shapes of pulsar gamma-ray light curves using these dissipative solutions with two different approaches: (l) assuming geometric emission patterns of the slot gap and outer gap, and (2) using the parallel electric field provided by the resistive models to compute the trajectories and . emission of the radiating particles. The light curves using geometric emission patterns show a systematic increase in gamma-ray peak phase with increasing conductivity, introducing a new diagnostic of these solutions. The light curves using the model electric fields are very sensitive to the conductivity but do not resemble the observed Fermi light curves, suggesting that some screening of the parallel electric field, by pair cascades not included in the models, is necessary

The intermediate-age pre-cataclysmic variables SDSS J172406+562003 and RE J2013+4002

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimansky, V. V.; Borisov, N. V.; Nurtdinova, D. N.; Mitrofanova, A. A.; Vlasyuk, V. V.; Spiridonova, O. I.

2012-06-01

We have analyzed the physical status of the pre-cataclysmic variables SDSSJ172406+562003 and RE J2013+4002, which have evolved after their common-envelope stage a time t = 106-107 years. Spectroscopy and photometry of these systems were performed with the 6-m and 1-m telescopes of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. We demonstrate that emission lines in the spectra were formed solely by the reflection of radiation emitted by the white dwarfs on the surfaces of their cool companions, under conditions close to local thermodynamic equilibrium. These effects are also responsible for most of the objects' photometric variability amplitude. However, comparing the light curves of SDSS 172406 from different epochs, we find aperiodic brightness variations, probably due to spottedness of the surface of the secondary. Jointly analyzing the spectra, radial-velocity curves, and light curves of the pre-cataclysmic variables and modeling the reflection effects, we have derived their fundamental parameters. We demonstrate that the secondaries in these systems are consistent with evolutionary models for main-sequence stars and do not have the luminosity excesses characteristic of cool stars in young pre-cataclysmic variables.

Comparison of Two New Mouse Models of Polygenic Type 2 Diabetes at the Jackson Laboratory, NONcNZO10Lt/J and TALLYHO/JngJ

PubMed Central

Leiter, Edward H.; Strobel, Marjorie; Schultz, David; Schile, Andrew; Reifsnyder, Peter C.

2013-01-01

This review compares two novel polygenic mouse models of type 2 diabetes (T2D), TALLYHO/JngJ and NONcNZO10/LtJ, and contrasts both with the well-known C57BLKS/J-Leprdb (db/db) monogenic diabesity model. We posit that the new polygenic models are more representative of the “garden variety” obesity underlying human T2D in terms of their polygenetic rather than monogenic etiology. Moreover, the clinical phenotypes in these new models are less extreme, for example, more moderated development of obesity coupled with less extreme endocrine disturbances. The more progressive development of obesity produces a maturity-onset development of hyperglycemia in contrast to the juvenile-onset diabetes observed in the morbidly obese db/db model. Unlike the leptin receptor-deficient db/db models with central leptin resistance, the new models develop a progressive peripheral leptin resistance and are able to maintain reproductive function. Although the T2D pathophysiology in both TALLYHO/JngJ and NONcNZO10/LtJ is remarkably similar, their genetic etiologies are clearly different, underscoring the genetic heterogeneity underlying T2D in humans. PMID:23671854

Comparison of Two New Mouse Models of Polygenic Type 2 Diabetes at the Jackson Laboratory, NONcNZO10Lt/J and TALLYHO/JngJ.

PubMed

Leiter, Edward H; Strobel, Marjorie; O'Neill, Adam; Schultz, David; Schile, Andrew; Reifsnyder, Peter C

2013-01-01

This review compares two novel polygenic mouse models of type 2 diabetes (T2D), TALLYHO/JngJ and NONcNZO10/LtJ, and contrasts both with the well-known C57BLKS/J-Lepr(db) (db/db) monogenic diabesity model. We posit that the new polygenic models are more representative of the "garden variety" obesity underlying human T2D in terms of their polygenetic rather than monogenic etiology. Moreover, the clinical phenotypes in these new models are less extreme, for example, more moderated development of obesity coupled with less extreme endocrine disturbances. The more progressive development of obesity produces a maturity-onset development of hyperglycemia in contrast to the juvenile-onset diabetes observed in the morbidly obese db/db model. Unlike the leptin receptor-deficient db/db models with central leptin resistance, the new models develop a progressive peripheral leptin resistance and are able to maintain reproductive function. Although the T2D pathophysiology in both TALLYHO/JngJ and NONcNZO10/LtJ is remarkably similar, their genetic etiologies are clearly different, underscoring the genetic heterogeneity underlying T2D in humans.

Resistance within hemodialysis shunts predicts patency.

PubMed

Bui, Trung D; Gordon, Ian L; Parashar, Amish; Vo, David; Wilson, Samuel E

2006-01-01

The authors examined the relationship between patency after thrombectomy of clotted dialysis grafts and intraoperative measurements of flow (Q), pressure gradient (PGR), and longitudinal resistance (RL). Eighteen thrombosed arteriovenous (AV) grafts underwent 21 thrombectomies. Pressures at arterial (P1) and venous (P2) ends of the AV grafts were determined with 22-gauge catheters and standard transducers; flow was measured with transit-time probes; arithmetic averaging of waveforms was used to compute mean Q, PGR, and RL. Kaplan-Meier patency curves were analyzed by using log rank methods. Mean patency for all grafts was 164 +/-152 days. For each variable, the 21 measurements were split and the patency curve for the grafts with the 11 lowest value grafts was compared to the curve representing the 10 highest value grafts. The difference between high RL versus low RL patency curves was significant with high-resistance grafts having a median patency of 55 days and low-resistance grafts having a median patency greater than 151 days (p = 0.0089). In contrast, the high Q group median patency was 151 days versus 174 days for the low Q group (p = 0.86). Median patency for the low PGR group was 115 days compared to 62 days for the high PGR group (p = 0.162). Longitudinal resistance within AV grafts, but not flow or pressure gradient, showed a significant correlation with patency after thrombectomy. Increased resistance to flow within AV grafts appears to be an important factor affecting the propensity of dialysis grafts to thrombose.

Frequencies of gravity-capillary waves on highly curved interfaces with edge constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shankar, P. N.

2007-06-01

A recently developed technique to calculate the natural frequencies of gravity-capillary waves in a confined liquid mass with a possibly highly curved free surface is extended to the case where the contact line is pinned. The general technique is worked out in detail for the cases of rectangular and cylindrical containers of circular section, the cases for which experimental data are available. The results of the present method are in excellent agreement with all earlier experimental and theoretical data for the flat static interface case [Benjamin and Scott, 1979. Gravity-capillary waves with edge constraints. J. Fluid Mech. 92, 241-267; Graham-Eagle, 1983. A new method for calculating eigenvalues with applications to gravity-capillary waves with edge constraints. Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 94, 553-564; Henderson and Miles, 1994. Surface-wave damping in a circular cylinder with a fixed contact line. J. Fluid Mech. 275, 285-299]. However, the present method is applicable even when the contact angle is not π/2 and the static interface is curved. As a consequence we are able to work out the effects of a curved meniscus on the results of Cocciaro et al. [1993. Experimental investigation of capillary effects on surface gravity waves: non-wetting boundary conditions. J. Fluid Mech. 246, 43-66] where the measured contact angle was 62∘. We find that the meniscus does indeed account, as suggested by Cocciaro et al., for the earlier discrepancy between theory and experiment of about 20 mHz and there is now excellent agreement between the two.

Simple calculation of ab initio melting curves: Application to aluminum.

PubMed

Robert, Grégory; Legrand, Philippe; Arnault, Philippe; Desbiens, Nicolas; Clérouin, Jean

2015-03-01

We present a simple, fast, and promising method to compute the melting curves of materials with ab initio molecular dynamics. It is based on the two-phase thermodynamic model of Lin et al [J. Chem. Phys. 119, 11792 (2003)] and its improved version given by Desjarlais [Phys. Rev. E 88, 062145 (2013)]. In this model, the velocity autocorrelation function is utilized to calculate the contribution of the nuclei motion to the entropy of the solid and liquid phases. It is then possible to find the thermodynamic conditions of equal Gibbs free energy between these phases, defining the melting curve. The first benchmark on the face-centered cubic melting curve of aluminum from 0 to 300 GPa demonstrates how to obtain an accuracy of 5%-10%, comparable to the most sophisticated methods, for a much lower computational cost.

Effects of fatigue induced damage on the longitudinal fracture resistance of cortical bone.

PubMed

Fletcher, Lloyd; Codrington, John; Parkinson, Ian

2014-07-01

As a composite material, cortical bone accumulates fatigue microdamage through the repetitive loading of everyday activity (e.g. walking). The accumulation of fatigue microdamage is thought to contribute to the occurrence of fragility fractures in older people. Therefore it is beneficial to understand the relationship between microcrack accumulation and the fracture resistance of cortical bone. Twenty longitudinally orientated compact tension fracture specimens were machined from a single bovine femur, ten specimens were assigned to both the control and fatigue damaged groups. The damaged group underwent a fatigue loading protocol to induce microdamage which was assessed via fluorescent microscopy. Following fatigue loading, non-linear fracture resistance tests were undertaken on both the control and damaged groups using the J-integral method. The interaction of the crack path with the fatigue induced damage and inherent toughening mechanisms were then observed using fluorescent microscopy. The results of this study show that fatigue induced damage reduces the initiation toughness of cortical bone and the growth toughness within the damage zone by three distinct mechanisms of fatigue-fracture interaction. Further analysis of the J-integral fracture resistance showed both the elastic and plastic component were reduced in the damaged group. For the elastic component this was attributed to a decreased number of ligament bridges in the crack wake while for the plastic component this was attributed to the presence of pre-existing fatigue microcracks preventing energy absorption by the formation of new microcracks.

J-curve relation between daytime nap duration and type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome: A dose-response meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Yamada, Tomohide; Shojima, Nobuhiro; Yamauchi, Toshimasa; Kadowaki, Takashi

2016-01-01

Adequate sleep is important for good health, but it is not always easy to achieve because of social factors. Daytime napping is widely prevalent around the world. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between napping (or excessive daytime sleepiness: EDS) and the risk of type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, and to quantify the potential dose-response relation using cubic spline models. Electronic databases were searched for articles published up to 2016, with 288,883 Asian and Western subjects. Pooled analysis revealed that a long nap (≥60 min/day) and EDS were each significantly associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes versus no nap or no EDS (odds ratio 1.46 (95% CI 1.23–1.74, p < 0.01) for a long nap and 2.00 (1.58–2.53) for EDS). In contrast, a short nap (<60 min/day) was not associated with diabetes (p = 0.75). Dose-response meta-analysis showed a J-curve relation between nap time and the risk of diabetes or metabolic syndrome, with no effect of napping up to about 40 minutes/day, followed by a sharp increase in risk at longer nap times. In summary, longer napping is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefit of a short nap. PMID:27909305

Long-term Behavior of Hydrocarbon Production Curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lovell, A.; Karra, S.; O'Malley, D.; Viswanathan, H. S.; Srinivasan, G.

2017-12-01

Recovering hydrocarbons (such as natural gas) from naturally-occurring formations with low permeability has had a huge impact on the energy sector, however, recovery rates are low due to poor understanding of recovery and transport mechanisms [1]. The physical mechanisms that control the production of hydrocarbon are only partially understood. Calculations have shown that the short-term behavior in the peak of the production curve is understood to come from the free hydrocarbons in the fracture networks, but the long-term behavior of these curves is often underpredicted [2]. This behavior is thought to be due to small scale processes - such as matrix diffusion, desorption, and connectivity in the damage region around the large fracture network. In this work, we explore some of these small-scale processes using discrete fracture networks (DFN) and the toolkit dfnWorks [3], the matrix diffusion, size of the damage region, and distribution of free gas between the fracture networks and rock matrix. Individual and combined parameter spaces are explored, and comparisons of the resulting production curves are made to experimental site data from the Haynesville formation [4]. We find that matrix diffusion significantly controls the shape of the tail of the production curve, while the distribution of free gas impacts the relative magnitude of the peak to the tail. The height of the damage region has no effect on the shape of the tail. Understanding the constrains of the parameter space based on site data is the first step in rigorously quantifying the uncertainties coming from these types of systems, which can in turn optimize and improve hydrocarbon recovery. [1] C. McGlade, et. al., (2013) Methods of estimating shale gas resources - comparison, evaluation, and implications, Energy, 59, 116-125 [2] S. Karra, et. al., (2015) Effect of advective flow in fractures and matrix diffusion on natural gas production, Water Resources Research, 51(10), 8646-8657 [3] J.D. Hyman, et

Recalcitrant vulnerability curves: methods of analysis and the concept of fibre bridges for enhanced cavitation resistance.

PubMed

Cai, Jing; Li, Shan; Zhang, Haixin; Zhang, Shuoxin; Tyree, Melvin T

2014-01-01

Vulnerability curves (VCs) generally can be fitted to the Weibull equation; however, a growing number of VCs appear to be recalcitrant, that is, deviate from a Weibull but seem to fit dual Weibull curves. We hypothesize that dual Weibull curves in Hippophae rhamnoides L. are due to different vessel diameter classes, inter-vessel hydraulic connections or vessels versus fibre tracheids. We used dye staining techniques, hydraulic measurements and quantitative anatomy measurements to test these hypotheses. The fibres contribute 1.3% of the total stem conductivity, which eliminates the hypothesis that fibre tracheids account for the second Weibull curve. Nevertheless, the staining pattern of vessels and fibre tracheids suggested that fibres might function as a hydraulic bridge between adjacent vessels. We also argue that fibre bridges are safer than vessel-to-vessel pits and put forward the concept as a new paradigm. Hence, we tentatively propose that the first Weibull curve may be accounted by vessels connected to each other directly by pit fields, while the second Weibull curve is associated with vessels that are connected almost exclusively by fibre bridges. Further research is needed to test the concept of fibre bridge safety in species that have recalcitrant or normal Weibull curves. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[Study on corrosion resistance of three non-noble porcelain alloys].

PubMed

Wu, Zhikai; Xu, Sheng; Li, Wei; Teng, Jin; Li, Ning

2011-10-01

To study the electrochemical corrosion behavior of Co-Cr, Ni-Cr and Ni-Cr-Be based porcelain alloys in NaCl solution. Five samples of each alloy were made respectively, electric polarization curve of each alloy was obtained using potentiodynamic polarization technique. Self-corrosion potential (E(corr)), self-corrosion current density (I(corr), passive region and transpassivation potential were tested. Microstructure and constituent was examined using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Co-Cr alloy possessed the most desirable corrosion resistance because of its integrated, homogeneous and compact passive film. The poor compactness of Ni-Cr alloy's passive film decreased its corrosion resistance. Ni-Cr-Be alloy exhibited the worst corrosion resistance due to the Cr and Mo depleted Ni-Be eutectic phases in the alloy. Taking biological security into consideration, it is necessary to avoid the application of porcelain alloys with Be element. Co-Cr alloy with better biocompatibility possesses much broader prospect in the field of dental restoration.

Insecticide resistance in disease vectors from Mayotte: an opportunity for integrated vector management

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Mayotte, a small island in the Indian Ocean, has been affected for many years by vector-borne diseases. Malaria, Bancroftian filariasis, dengue, chikungunya and Rift Valley fever have circulated or still circulate on the island. They are all transmitted by Culicidae mosquitoes. To limit the impact of these diseases on human health, vector control has been implemented for more than 60 years on Mayotte. In this study, we assessed the resistance levels of four major vector species (Anopheles gambiae, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) to two types of insecticides: i) the locally currently-used insecticides (organophosphates, pyrethroids) and ii) alternative molecules that are promising for vector control and come from different insecticide families (bacterial toxins or insect growth regulators). When some resistance was found to one of these insecticides, we characterized the mechanisms involved. Methods Larval and adult bioassays were used to evaluate the level of resistance. When resistance was found, we tested for the presence of metabolic resistance through detoxifying enzyme activity assays, or for target-site mutations through molecular identification of known resistance alleles. Results Resistance to currently-used insecticides varied greatly between the four vector species. While no resistance to any insecticides was found in the two Aedes species, bioassays confirmed multiple resistance in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus (temephos: ~ 20 fold and deltamethrin: only 10% mortality after 24 hours). In An. gambiae, resistance was scarce: only a moderate resistance to temephos was found (~5 fold). This resistance appears to be due only to carboxyl-esterase overexpression and not to target modification. Finally, and comfortingly, none of the four species showed resistance to any of the new insecticides. Conclusions The low resistance observed in Mayotte’s main disease vectors is particularly interesting, because it leaves a

Insecticide resistance in disease vectors from Mayotte: an opportunity for integrated vector management.

PubMed

Pocquet, Nicolas; Darriet, Frédéric; Zumbo, Betty; Milesi, Pascal; Thiria, Julien; Bernard, Vincent; Toty, Céline; Labbé, Pierrick; Chandre, Fabrice

2014-07-01

Mayotte, a small island in the Indian Ocean, has been affected for many years by vector-borne diseases. Malaria, Bancroftian filariasis, dengue, chikungunya and Rift Valley fever have circulated or still circulate on the island. They are all transmitted by Culicidae mosquitoes. To limit the impact of these diseases on human health, vector control has been implemented for more than 60 years on Mayotte. In this study, we assessed the resistance levels of four major vector species (Anopheles gambiae, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) to two types of insecticides: i) the locally currently-used insecticides (organophosphates, pyrethroids) and ii) alternative molecules that are promising for vector control and come from different insecticide families (bacterial toxins or insect growth regulators). When some resistance was found to one of these insecticides, we characterized the mechanisms involved. Larval and adult bioassays were used to evaluate the level of resistance. When resistance was found, we tested for the presence of metabolic resistance through detoxifying enzyme activity assays, or for target-site mutations through molecular identification of known resistance alleles. Resistance to currently-used insecticides varied greatly between the four vector species. While no resistance to any insecticides was found in the two Aedes species, bioassays confirmed multiple resistance in Cx. p. quinquefasciatus (temephos: ~ 20 fold and deltamethrin: only 10% mortality after 24 hours). In An. gambiae, resistance was scarce: only a moderate resistance to temephos was found (~5 fold). This resistance appears to be due only to carboxyl-esterase overexpression and not to target modification. Finally, and comfortingly, none of the four species showed resistance to any of the new insecticides. The low resistance observed in Mayotte's main disease vectors is particularly interesting, because it leaves a range of tools useable by vector control

Measuring Cooling Curves Following Magnetar Outbursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaspi, Victoria

2012-09-01

Magnetars have been observed to increase their flux output by several orders of magnitude in outbursts. Following outbursts they cool on timescales of months to years. We propose to observe two magnetars, Swift J1822.3-1606 and 1E 1547.0-5408, using Chandra as they approach their quiescent state following their recent outbursts in 2011 and 2009, respectively. We will apply a newly developed crustal cooling model to these cooling curves to constrain the properties of the magnetars, such as the crust thickness and heat capacity, and of their outbursts, such as the location of energy deposition.

Type II integral membrane protein, TM of J paramyxovirus promotes cell-to-cell fusion.

PubMed

Li, Zhuo; Hung, Cher; Paterson, Reay G; Michel, Frank; Fuentes, Sandra; Place, Ryan; Lin, Yuan; Hogan, Robert J; Lamb, Robert A; He, Biao

2015-10-06

Paramyxoviruses include many important animal and human pathogens. Most paramyxoviruses have two integral membrane proteins: fusion protein (F) and attachment proteins hemagglutinin, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase, or glycoprotein (G), which are critical for viral entry into cells. J paramyxovirus (JPV) encodes four integral membrane proteins: F, G, SH, and transmembrane (TM). The function of TM is not known. In this work, we have generated a viable JPV lacking TM (JPV∆TM). JPV∆TM formed opaque plaques compared with JPV. Quantitative syncytia assays showed that JPV∆TM was defective in promoting cell-to-cell fusion (i.e., syncytia formation) compared with JPV. Furthermore, cells separately expressing F, G, TM, or F plus G did not form syncytia whereas cells expressing F plus TM formed some syncytia. However, syncytia formation was much greater with coexpression of F, G, and TM. Biochemical analysis indicates that F, G, and TM interact with each other. A small hydrophobic region in the TM ectodomain from amino acid residues 118 to 132, the hydrophobic loop (HL), was important for syncytial promotion, suggesting that the TM HL region plays a critical role in cell-to-cell fusion.

Infrared rotational light curves on Jupiter induced by wave activities and cloud patterns andimplications on brown dwarfs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Huazhi; Zhang, Xi; Fletcher, Leigh; Orton, Glenn S.; Sinclair, James Andrew; Fernandes,, Joshua; Momary, Thomas W.; Warren, Ari; Kasaba, Yasumasa; Sato, Takao M.; Fujiyoshi, Takuya

2017-10-01

Many brown dwarfs exhibit infrared rotational light curves with amplitude varying from a fewpercent to twenty percent (Artigau et al. 2009, ApJ, 701, 1534; Radigan et al. 2012, ApJ, 750,105). Recently, it was claimed that weather patterns, especially planetary-scale waves in thebelts and cloud spots, are responsible for the light curves and their evolutions on brown dwarfs(Apai et al. 2017, Science, 357, 683). Here we present a clear relationship between the direct IRemission maps and light curves of Jupiter at multiple wavelengths, which might be similar withthat on cold brown dwarfs. Based on infrared disk maps from Subaru/COMICS and VLT/VISIR,we constructed full maps of Jupiter and rotational light curves at different wavelengths in thethermal infrared. We discovered a strong relationship between the light curves and weatherpatterns on Jupiter. The light curves also exhibit strong multi-bands phase shifts and temporalvariations, similar to that detected on brown dwarfs. Together with the spectra fromTEXES/IRTF, our observations further provide detailed information of the spatial variations oftemperature, ammonia clouds and aerosols in the troposphere of Jupiter (Fletcher et al. 2016,Icarus, 2016 128) and their influences on the shapes of the light curves. We conclude that waveactivities in Jupiter’s belts (Fletcher et al. 2017, GRL, 44, 7140), cloud holes, and long-livedvortices such as the Great Red Spot and ovals control the shapes of IR light curves and multi-wavelength phase shifts on Jupiter. Our finding supports the hypothesis that observed lightcurves on brown dwarfs are induced by planetary-scale waves and cloud spots.

Integrated Thermal Protection Systems and Heat Resistant Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pichon, Thierry; Lacoste, Marc; Glass, David E.

2006-01-01

In the early stages of NASA's Exploration Initiative, Snecma Propulsion Solide was funded under the Exploration Systems Research & Technology program to develop integrated thermal protection systems and heat resistant structures for reentry vehicles. Due to changes within NASA's Exploration Initiative, this task was cancelled early. This presentation provides an overview of the work that was accomplished prior to cancellation. The Snecma team chose an Apollo-type capsule as the reference vehicle for the work. They began with the design of a ceramic aft heatshield (CAS) utilizing C/SiC panels as the capsule heatshield, a C/SiC deployable decelerator and several ablators. They additionally developed a health monitoring system, high temperature structures testing, and the insulation characterization. Though the task was pre-maturely cancelled, a significant quantity of work was accomplished.

AEOLUS: A MARKOV CHAIN MONTE CARLO CODE FOR MAPPING ULTRACOOL ATMOSPHERES. AN APPLICATION ON JUPITER AND BROWN DWARF HST LIGHT CURVES

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

Karalidi, Theodora; Apai, Dániel; Schneider, Glenn

Deducing the cloud cover and its temporal evolution from the observed planetary spectra and phase curves can give us major insight into the atmospheric dynamics. In this paper, we present Aeolus, a Markov chain Monte Carlo code that maps the structure of brown dwarf and other ultracool atmospheres. We validated Aeolus on a set of unique Jupiter Hubble Space Telescope (HST) light curves. Aeolus accurately retrieves the properties of the major features of the Jovian atmosphere, such as the Great Red Spot and a major 5 μm hot spot. Aeolus is the first mapping code validated on actual observations of amore » giant planet over a full rotational period. For this study, we applied Aeolus to J- and H-band HST light curves of 2MASS J21392676+0220226 and 2MASS J0136565+093347. Aeolus retrieves three spots at the top of the atmosphere (per observational wavelength) of these two brown dwarfs, with a surface coverage of 21% ± 3% and 20.3% ± 1.5%, respectively. The Jupiter HST light curves will be publicly available via ADS/VIZIR.« less

Anatomical curve identification

PubMed Central

Bowman, Adrian W.; Katina, Stanislav; Smith, Joanna; Brown, Denise

2015-01-01

Methods for capturing images in three dimensions are now widely available, with stereo-photogrammetry and laser scanning being two common approaches. In anatomical studies, a number of landmarks are usually identified manually from each of these images and these form the basis of subsequent statistical analysis. However, landmarks express only a very small proportion of the information available from the images. Anatomically defined curves have the advantage of providing a much richer expression of shape. This is explored in the context of identifying the boundary of breasts from an image of the female torso and the boundary of the lips from a facial image. The curves of interest are characterised by ridges or valleys. Key issues in estimation are the ability to navigate across the anatomical surface in three-dimensions, the ability to recognise the relevant boundary and the need to assess the evidence for the presence of the surface feature of interest. The first issue is addressed by the use of principal curves, as an extension of principal components, the second by suitable assessment of curvature and the third by change-point detection. P-spline smoothing is used as an integral part of the methods but adaptations are made to the specific anatomical features of interest. After estimation of the boundary curves, the intermediate surfaces of the anatomical feature of interest can be characterised by surface interpolation. This allows shape variation to be explored using standard methods such as principal components. These tools are applied to a collection of images of women where one breast has been reconstructed after mastectomy and where interest lies in shape differences between the reconstructed and unreconstructed breasts. They are also applied to a collection of lip images where possible differences in shape between males and females are of interest. PMID:26041943

Influence of pavement condition on horizontal curve safety.

PubMed

Buddhavarapu, Prasad; Banerjee, Ambarish; Prozzi, Jorge A

2013-03-01

Crash statistics suggest that horizontal curves are the most vulnerable sites for crash occurrence. These crashes are often severe and many involve at least some level of injury due to the nature of the collisions. Ensuring the desired pavement surface condition is one potentially effective strategy to reduce the occurrence of severe accidents on horizontal curves. This study sought to develop crash injury severity models by integrating crash and pavement surface condition databases. It focuses on developing a causal relationship between pavement condition indices and severity level of crashes occurring on two-lane horizontal curves in Texas. In addition, it examines the suitability of the existing Skid Index for safety maintenance of two-lane curves. Significant correlation is evident between pavement condition and crash injury severity on two-lane undivided horizontal curves in Texas. Probability of a crash becoming fatal is appreciably sensitive to certain pavement indices. Data suggested that road facilities providing a smoother and more comfortable ride are vulnerable to severe crashes on horizontal curves. In addition, the study found that longitudinal skid measurement barely correlates with injury severity of crashes occurring on curved portions. The study recommends exploring the option of incorporating lateral friction measurement into Pavement Management System (PMS) databases specifically at curved road segments. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Erratum: ``The Internal Energy for Molecular Hydrogen in Gravitationally Unstable Protoplanetary Disks'' (ApJ, 656, L89 [2007])

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boley, Aaron C.; Hartquist, Thomas W.; Durisen, Richard H.; Michael, Scott

2007-05-01

In the above-mentioned Letter, we stated that Boss uses a discontinuous internal energy for H2, where H2 contributes 3kT/4mp to the specific internal energy e for T<=100 K and 5kT/4mp for T>100 K, based on his own citations to A. P. Boss (ApJ, 277, 768 [1984]). It was brought to our attention by A. P. Boss (2007, private communication) that he now uses a quadratic interpolation for e between 100 and 200 K (see Fig. 1, left panel). This change is not mentioned in the literature but is alluded to in A. P. Boss (ApJ, 346, 336 [1989]). According to Boss, the interpolation has been used in all his simulations since Boss (1989). In Figure 1 (right panel), we also illustrate the consequences for Γ1 of Boss's latest e approximation by calculating the specific heat at constant volume cv=de/dT and by relating that to Γ1 (see J. P. Cox & R. T. Giuli, Principles of Stellar Structure [New York: Gordon & Breach, 1968]). This curve is compared with curves for pure para-hydrogen (short-dashed curve), a 3:1 ortho/para-hydrogen mixture (long-dashed curve), where the species are treated as independent, and an equilibrium mixture (solid curve). Because fragmentation becomes more likely as Γ1 is lowered (W. K. M. Rice, G. Lodato, & P. J. Armitage, MNRAS, 364, L56 [2005]), Boss's approximation between 100 and 200 K is likely to make his disks susceptible to fragmentation for that temperature range. We would like to thank A. P. Boss for his discussions and clarification of his code.

High-Tc superconductivity: The t-J-V model and its applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, K.; Pal, P.; Nath, S.; Ghosh, N. K.

2017-05-01

We present numerical results of the t-J-V model in an 8-site tilted square cluster using exact diagonalization (ED) method with periodic boundary conditions. Effective hopping amplitude initially increases with inter-site Coulomb repulsion (V), but decreases at larger V's. The hole-hole correlation decreases with inter-site distances at smaller V. With the increase of Coulomb repulsion, the system becomes ordered. The specific heat curves confirm the non-Fermi liquid behavior of the system under t-J-V model.

A New Approach for Determining Phase Response Curves Reveals that Purkinje Cells Can Act as Perfect Integrators

PubMed Central

Roth, Arnd; Häusser, Michael

2010-01-01

Cerebellar Purkinje cells display complex intrinsic dynamics. They fire spontaneously, exhibit bistability, and via mutual network interactions are involved in the generation of high frequency oscillations and travelling waves of activity. To probe the dynamical properties of Purkinje cells we measured their phase response curves (PRCs). PRCs quantify the change in spike phase caused by a stimulus as a function of its temporal position within the interspike interval, and are widely used to predict neuronal responses to more complex stimulus patterns. Significant variability in the interspike interval during spontaneous firing can lead to PRCs with a low signal-to-noise ratio, requiring averaging over thousands of trials. We show using electrophysiological experiments and simulations that the PRC calculated in the traditional way by sampling the interspike interval with brief current pulses is biased. We introduce a corrected approach for calculating PRCs which eliminates this bias. Using our new approach, we show that Purkinje cell PRCs change qualitatively depending on the firing frequency of the cell. At high firing rates, Purkinje cells exhibit single-peaked, or monophasic PRCs. Surprisingly, at low firing rates, Purkinje cell PRCs are largely independent of phase, resembling PRCs of ideal non-leaky integrate-and-fire neurons. These results indicate that Purkinje cells can act as perfect integrators at low firing rates, and that the integration mode of Purkinje cells depends on their firing rate. PMID:20442875

Hole pairing and thermodynamic properties of the two dimensional frustrated t-J model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, K.; Pal, P.; Nath, S.; Ghosh, N. K.

2018-04-01

The frustrated t-J model is investigated by using the exact-diagonalization (ED) method on an 8-site cluster. The effect on next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) exchange interaction J' (frustration) on the hole pairing and the thermodynamic properties of the system is considered. Two holes initially remain unbound at smaller value of J'/t, but tend to bind at larger value. The maximum possibility of pair formation has been observed to be at NNN sites. Entropy calculation shows that the system goes to more disordered state with J'. The specific heat curves show a single peak structure. A decrease in effective exchange energy is observed due to the frustration.

X-Ray Enhancement and Long-term Evolution of Swift J1822.3-1606

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benli, Onur; Çalışkan, Ş.; Ertan, Ü.; Alpar, M. A.; Trümper, J. E.; Kylafis, N. D.

2013-12-01

We investigate the X-ray enhancement and the long-term evolution of the recently discovered second "low-B magnetar" Swift J1822.3-1606 in the frame of the fallback disk model. During a soft gamma burst episode, the inner disk matter is pushed back to larger radii, forming a density gradient at the inner disk. Subsequent relaxation of the inner disk could account for the observed X-ray enhancement light curve of Swift J1822.3-1606. We obtain model fits to the X-ray data with basic disk parameters similar to those employed to explain the X-ray outburst light curves of other anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma repeaters. The long period (8.4 s) of the neutron star can be reached by the effect of the disk torques in the long-term accretion phase ((1-3) × 105 yr). The currently ongoing X-ray enhancement could be due to a transient accretion epoch, or the source could still be in the accretion phase in quiescence. Considering these different possibilities, we determine the model curves that could represent the long-term rotational and the X-ray luminosity evolution of Swift J1822.3-1606, which constrain the strength of the magnetic dipole field to the range of (1-2) × 1012 G on the surface of the neutron star.

5-HT(2C) receptor RNA editing in the amygdala of C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and BALB/cJ mice.

PubMed

Hackler, Elizabeth A; Airey, David C; Shannon, Caitlin C; Sodhi, Monsheel S; Sanders-Bush, Elaine

2006-05-01

Post-transcriptional RNA editing of the G-protein coupled 5-hydroxytryptamine-2C (5-HT(2C)) receptor predicts an array of 24 receptor isoforms, some of which are characterized by reduced constitutive activity and potency to initiate intracellular signaling. The amygdala is integral to anxiety, fear, and related psychiatric diseases. Activation of 5-HT(2C) receptors within the amygdala is anxiogenic. Here, we describe the RNA editing profiles from amygdala of two inbred mouse strains (BALB/cJ and DBA/2J) known to be more anxious than a third (C57BL/6J). We confirmed the strain anxiety differences using light<-->dark exploration, and we discovered that BALB/cJ and DBA/2J are each characterized by a higher functioning RNA editing profile than C57BL/6J. BALB/cJ and DBA/2J exhibit a roughly two-fold reduction in C site editing, and a corresponding two-fold reduction in the edited isoform VSV. C57BL/6J is characterized by a relative decrease in the unedited highly functional isoform INI. We estimated the heritability of editing at the C site to be approximately 40%. By sequencing genomic DNA, we found complete conservation between C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, DBA/2J and 37 other inbred strains for the RNA edited region of Htr2c, suggesting Htr2c DNA sequence does not influence variation in Htr2c RNA editing between inbred strains of mice. We did, however, discover that serotonin turnover is reduced in BALB/cJ and DBA/2J, consistent with emerging evidence that synaptic serotonin levels regulate RNA editing. These results encourage further study of the causes and consequences of 5-HT(2C) receptor RNA editing in the amygdala of mice.

Heavy metal incorporated helium ion active hybrid non-chemically amplified resists: Nano-patterning with low line edge roughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, Pulikanti Guruprasad; Thakur, Neha; Lee, Chien-Lin; Chien, Sheng-Wei; Pradeep, Chullikkattil P.; Ghosh, Subrata; Tsai, Kuen-Yu; Gonsalves, Kenneth E.

2017-08-01

Helium (He) ion lithography is being considered as one of the most promising and emerging technology for the manufacturing of next generation integrated circuits (ICs) at nanolevel. However, He-ion active resists are rarely reported. In this context, we are introducing a new non-chemically amplified hybrid resist (n-CAR), MAPDSA-MAPDST, for high resolution He-ion beam lithography (HBL) applications. In the resist architecture, 2.15 % antimony is incorporated as heavy metal in the form of antimonate. This newly developed resists has successfully used for patterning 20 nm negative tone features at a dose of 60 μC/cm2. The resist offered very low line edge roughness (1.27±0.31 nm) for 20 nm line features. To our knowledge, this is the first He-ion active hybrid resist for nanopatterning. The contrast (γ) and sensitivity (E0) of this resist were calculated from the contrast curve as 0.73 and 7.2 μC/cm2, respectively.

Characterization of efficiency-limiting resistance losses in monolithically integrated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar modules

PubMed Central

Yoon, Ju-Heon; Park, Jong-Keuk; Kim, Won Mok; Lee, JinWoo; Pak, Hisun; Jeong, Jeung-hyun

2015-01-01

The cell-to-module efficiency gap in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) monolithically integrated solar modules is enhanced by contact resistance between the Al-doped ZnO (AZO) and Mo back contact layers, the P2 contact, which connects adjacent cells. The present work evaluated the P2 contact resistance, in addition to the TCO resistance, using an embedded transmission line structure in a commercial-grade module without using special sample fabrication methods. The AZO layers between cells were not scribed; instead, the CIGS/CdS/i-ZnO/AZO device was patterned in a long stripe to permit measurement of the Mo electrode pair resistance over current paths through two P2 contacts (Mo/AZO) and along the AZO layer. The intercept and slope of the resistance as a function of the electrode interval yielded the P2 contact resistance and the TCO resistance, respectively. Calibration of the parasitic resistances is discussed as a method of improving the measurement accuracy. The contribution of the P2 contact resistance to the series resistance was comparable to that of the TCO resistance, and its origin was attributed to remnant MoSe2 phases in the P2 region, as verified by transmission electron microscopy. PMID:25573530

SuperWASP J015100.23-100524.2: A SPOTTED SHALLOW-CONTACT BINARY BELOW THE PERIOD LIMIT

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

Qian, S. B.; Zhang, B.; He, J. J.

2015-10-15

SuperWASP J015100.23-100524.2 (hereafter J015100) is an eclipsing binary with an orbital period of 0.d2145 that is below the short-period limit of contact binary stars. Complete light curves of J015100 in B, V, R, and I bands are presented and are analyzed with the Wilson–Devinney method. It has been discovered that J015100 is a shallow-contact binary (f = 14.6(±2.7)%) with a mass ratio of 3.128. It is a W-type contact binary where the less massive component is about 130 K hotter than the more massive one. The asymmetries of light curves are explained as one dark spot on the more massivemore » component. The detection of J015100 as a contact binary below the period limit suggests that contact binaries below this limit are not rapidly destroyed. This shallow-contact system may be formed from a detached short-period binary similar to DV Psc (Sp. = K4/K5; P = 0.d30855) via orbital shrinkage due to angular momentum loss through magnetic stellar wind.« less

Estimation of Curve Tracing Time in Supercapacitor based PV Characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basu Pal, Sudipta; Das Bhattacharya, Konika; Mukherjee, Dipankar; Paul, Debkalyan

2017-08-01

Smooth and noise-free characterisation of photovoltaic (PV) generators have been revisited with renewed interest in view of large size PV arrays making inroads into the urban sector of major developing countries. Such practice has recently been observed to be confronted by the use of a suitable data acquisition system and also the lack of a supporting theoretical analysis to justify the accuracy of curve tracing. However, the use of a selected bank of supercapacitors can mitigate the said problems to a large extent. Assuming a piecewise linear analysis of the V-I characteristics of a PV generator, an accurate analysis of curve plotting time has been possible. The analysis has been extended to consider the effect of equivalent series resistance of the supercapacitor leading to increased accuracy (90-95%) of curve plotting times.

GADD45ß, an anti-tumor gene, inhibits avian leukosis virus subgroup J replication in chickens

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) is a retrovirus that induces neoplasia, hepatomegaly, immunosuppression and poor performance in chickens. The tumorigenic and pathogenic mechanisms of ALV-J remain a hot topic. To explore anti-tumor genes that confer genetic resistance to ALV-J infection in ch...

Pea chloroplast DnaJ-J8 and Toc12 are encoded by the same gene and localized in the stroma.

PubMed

Chiu, Chi-Chou; Chen, Lih-Jen; Li, Hsou-min

2010-11-01

Toc12 is a novel J domain-containing protein identified in pea (Pisum sativum) chloroplasts. It was shown to be an integral outer membrane protein localizing in the intermembrane space of the chloroplast envelope. Furthermore, Toc12 was shown to associate with an intermembrane space Hsp70, suggesting that Toc12 is important for protein translocation across the chloroplast envelope. Toc12 shares a high degree of sequence similarity with Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) DnaJ-J8, which has been suggested to be a soluble protein of the chloroplast stroma. Here, we isolated genes encoding DnaJ-J8 from pea and found that Toc12 is a truncated clone of one of the pea DnaJ-J8s. Protein import analyses indicate that Toc12 and DnaJ-J8s possess a cleavable transit peptide and are localized in the stroma. Arabidopsis mutants with T-DNA insertions in the DnaJ-J8 gene show no defect in chloroplast protein import. Implications of these results in the energetics and mechanisms of chloroplast protein import are discussed.

Lorenz curves in a new science-funding model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Ding-wei

2017-12-01

We propose an agent-based model to theoretically and systematically explore the implications of a new approach to fund science, which has been suggested recently by J. Bollen et al.[?] We introduce various parameters and examine their effects. The concentration of funding is shown by the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient. In this model, all scientists are treated equally and follow the well-intended regulations. All scientists give a fixed ratio of their funding to others. The fixed ratio becomes an upper bound for the Gini coefficient. We observe two distinct regimes in the parameter space: valley and plateau. In the valley regime, the fluidity of funding is significant. The Lorenz curve is smooth. The Gini coefficient is well below the upper bound. The funding distribution is the desired result. In the plateau regime, the cumulative advantage is significant. The Lorenz curve has a sharp turn. The Gini coefficient saturates to the upper bound. The undue concentration of funding happens swiftly. The funding distribution is the undesired results, where a minority of scientists take the majority of funding. Phase transitions between these two regimes are discussed.

Equations to assess the impact resistance of fiber composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, C. C.; Hanson, M. P.; Serafini, T. T.

1972-01-01

Numerical analysis of impact resistance of composite materials containing fibers is discussed. Mathematical model of longitudinal impact resistance is presented. Potential impact resistance of various fiber composites as obtained by numerical analysis is presented as plotted curve.

SoilJ - An ImageJ plugin for semi-automatized image-processing of 3-D X-ray images of soil columns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koestel, John

2016-04-01

3-D X-ray imaging is a formidable tool for quantifying soil structural properties which are known to be extremely diverse. This diversity necessitates the collection of large sample sizes for adequately representing the spatial variability of soil structure at a specific sampling site. One important bottleneck of using X-ray imaging is however the large amount of time required by a trained specialist to process the image data which makes it difficult to process larger amounts of samples. The software SoilJ aims at removing this bottleneck by automatizing most of the required image processing steps needed to analyze image data of cylindrical soil columns. SoilJ is a plugin of the free Java-based image-processing software ImageJ. The plugin is designed to automatically process all images located with a designated folder. In a first step, SoilJ recognizes the outlines of the soil column upon which the column is rotated to an upright position and placed in the center of the canvas. Excess canvas is removed from the images. Then, SoilJ samples the grey values of the column material as well as the surrounding air in Z-direction. Assuming that the column material (mostly PVC of aluminium) exhibits a spatially constant density, these grey values serve as a proxy for the image illumination at a specific Z-coordinate. Together with the grey values of the air they are used to correct image illumination fluctuations which often occur along the axis of rotation during image acquisition. SoilJ includes also an algorithm for beam-hardening artefact removal and extended image segmentation options. Finally, SoilJ integrates the morphology analyses plugins of BoneJ (Doube et al., 2006, BoneJ Free and extensible bone image analysis in ImageJ. Bone 47: 1076-1079) and provides an ASCII file summarizing these measures for each investigated soil column, respectively. In the future it is planned to integrate SoilJ into FIJI, the maintained and updated edition of ImageJ with selected

Ultra-low switching energy and scaling in electric-field-controlled nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions with high resistance-area product

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

Grezes, C.; Alzate, J. G.; Cai, X.

2016-01-04

We report electric-field-induced switching with write energies down to 6 fJ/bit for switching times of 0.5 ns, in nanoscale perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with high resistance-area product and diameters down to 50 nm. The ultra-low switching energy is made possible by a thick MgO barrier that ensures negligible spin-transfer torque contributions, along with a reduction of the Ohmic dissipation. We find that the switching voltage and time are insensitive to the junction diameter for high-resistance MTJs, a result accounted for by a macrospin model of purely voltage-induced switching. The measured performance enables integration with same-size CMOS transistors in compact memorymore » and logic integrated circuits.« less

Inclusive J / $$\\psi$$ Production at D0

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

Murphy, Christopher R.

1995-04-01

We present results on inclusivemore » $$J/\\psi$$ and b-quark production in $$p\\bar{p}$$ collisions at $$\\sqrt{s}$$ = 1.8 TeV. The results are based on data collected at the D0 experiment during the 1992-1993 FermiLab collider run. There is excellent agreement between the differential $$J/\\psi$$ cross section measured at D0 and that measured at the CDF detector. A measurement of the fraction of $$J/\\psi$$ events due to b-quark decays is presented and we extract from this a measurement of the integrated b-quark cross section. The radiative decays of $$_{Xc}$$ charmonium states into the $$J/\\psi$$ is discussed and we present results on the fraction of $$J/\\psi$$ mesons that are due to $$_{Xc}$$ decays. We also observe that a fraction of promptly produced $$J/\\psi$$ mesons is larger than the measured fraction of $$J/\\psi$$ due to $$_{Xc}$$ decays and is not accounted for by existing charmonium. production models.« less

Dynamic Response and Optimal Design of Curved Metallic Sandwich Panels under Blast Loading

PubMed Central

Yang, Shu; Han, Shou-Hong; Lu, Zhen-Hua

2014-01-01

It is important to understand the effect of curvature on the blast response of curved structures so as to seek the optimal configurations of such structures with improved blast resistance. In this study, the dynamic response and protective performance of a type of curved metallic sandwich panel subjected to air blast loading were examined using LS-DYNA. The numerical methods were validated using experimental data in the literature. The curved panel consisted of an aluminum alloy outer face and a rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) steel inner face in addition to a closed-cell aluminum foam core. The results showed that the configuration of a “soft” outer face and a “hard” inner face worked well for the curved sandwich panel against air blast loading in terms of maximum deflection (MaxD) and energy absorption. The panel curvature was found to have a monotonic effect on the specific energy absorption (SEA) and a nonmonotonic effect on the MaxD of the panel. Based on artificial neural network (ANN) metamodels, multiobjective optimization designs of the panel were carried out. The optimization results revealed the trade-off relationships between the blast-resistant and the lightweight objectives and showed the great use of Pareto front in such design circumstances. PMID:25126606

Dynamic response and optimal design of curved metallic sandwich panels under blast loading.

PubMed

Qi, Chang; Yang, Shu; Yang, Li-Jun; Han, Shou-Hong; Lu, Zhen-Hua

2014-01-01

It is important to understand the effect of curvature on the blast response of curved structures so as to seek the optimal configurations of such structures with improved blast resistance. In this study, the dynamic response and protective performance of a type of curved metallic sandwich panel subjected to air blast loading were examined using LS-DYNA. The numerical methods were validated using experimental data in the literature. The curved panel consisted of an aluminum alloy outer face and a rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) steel inner face in addition to a closed-cell aluminum foam core. The results showed that the configuration of a "soft" outer face and a "hard" inner face worked well for the curved sandwich panel against air blast loading in terms of maximum deflection (MaxD) and energy absorption. The panel curvature was found to have a monotonic effect on the specific energy absorption (SEA) and a nonmonotonic effect on the MaxD of the panel. Based on artificial neural network (ANN) metamodels, multiobjective optimization designs of the panel were carried out. The optimization results revealed the trade-off relationships between the blast-resistant and the lightweight objectives and showed the great use of Pareto front in such design circumstances.

Deltamethrin Resistance Mechanisms in Aedes aegypti Populations from Three French Overseas Territories Worldwide

PubMed Central

Dusfour, Isabelle; Zorrilla, Pilar; Guidez, Amandine; Issaly, Jean; Girod, Romain; Guillaumot, Laurent; Robello, Carlos; Strode, Clare

2015-01-01

Background Aedes aegypti is a cosmopolite mosquito, vector of arboviruses. The worldwide studies of its insecticide resistance have demonstrated a strong loss of susceptibility to pyrethroids, the major class of insecticide used for vector control. French overseas territories such as French Guiana (South America), Guadeloupe islands (Lesser Antilles) as well as New Caledonia (Pacific Ocean), have encountered such resistance. Methodology/Principal Findings We initiated a research program on the pyrethroid resistance in French Guiana, Guadeloupe and New Caledonia. Aedes aegypti populations were tested for their deltamethrin resistance level then screened by an improved microarray developed to specifically study metabolic resistance mechanisms. Cytochrome P450 genes were implicated in conferring resistance. CYP6BB2, CYP6M11, CYP6N12, CYP9J9, CYP9J10 and CCE3 genes were upregulated in the resistant populations and were common to other populations at a regional scale. The implication of these genes in resistance phenomenon is therefore strongly suggested. Other genes from detoxification pathways were also differentially regulated. Screening for target site mutations on the voltage-gated sodium channel gene demonstrated the presence of I1016 and C1534. Conclusion /significance This study highlighted the presence of a common set of differentially up-regulated detoxifying genes, mainly cytochrome P450 genes in all three populations. GUA and GUY populations shared a higher number of those genes compared to CAL. Two kdr mutations well known to be associated to pyrethroid resistance were also detected in those two populations but not in CAL. Different selective pressures and genetic backgrounds can explain such differences. These results are also compared with those obtained from other parts of the world and are discussed in the context of integrative research on vector competence. PMID:26588076

MEMBRANE AND PROTOPLASM RESISTANCE IN THE SQUID GIANT AXON

PubMed Central

Cole, Kenneth S.; Hodgkin, Alan L.

1939-01-01

The direct current longitudinal resistance of the squid giant axon was measured as a function of the electrode separation. Large sea water electrodes were used and the inter-electrode length was immersed in oil. The slope of the resistance vs. separation curve is large for a small electrode separation, but becomes smaller and finally constant as the separation is increased. An analysis of the resistance vs. length curves gives the following results. The nerve membrane has a resistance of about 1000 ohm cm.2 The protoplasm has a specific resistance of about 1.4 times that of sea water. The resistance of the connective tissue sheath outside the fiber corresponds to a layer of sea water about 20µ in thickness. The characteristic length for the axon is about 2.3 mm. in oil and 6.0 mm. in sea water. PMID:19873126

The Multi-Resistant Reaction of Drought-Tolerant Coffee 'Conilon Clone 14' to Meloidogyne spp. and Late Hypersensitive-Like Response in Coffea canephora.

PubMed

Lima, Edriana A; Furlanetto, Cleber; Nicole, Michel; Gomes, Ana C M M; Almeida, Maria R A; Jorge-Júnior, Aldemiro; Correa, Valdir R; Salgado, Sônia Maria; Ferrão, Maria A G; Carneiro, Regina M D G

2015-06-01

Root-knot nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne spp., have major economic impact on coffee production in Central and South America. Genetic control of RKN constitutes an essential part for integrated pest management strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of Coffea canephora genotypes (clones) to Meloidogyne spp. Sensitive and drought-tolerant coffee genotypes were used to infer their resistance using nematode reproduction factor and histopathology. Eight clonal genotypes were highly resistant to M. paranaensis. 'Clone 14' (drought-tolerant) and 'ESN2010-04' were the only genotypes highly resistant and moderately resistant, respectively, to both M. incognita races 3 and 1. Several clones were highly resistant to both avirulent and virulent M. exigua. Clone 14 and ESN2010-04 showed multiple resistance to major RKNs tested. Roots of 'clone 14' (resistant) and 'clone 22' (susceptible) were histologically studied against infection by M. incognita race 3 and M. paranaensis. Reduction of juvenile (J2) penetration in clone 14 was first seen at 2 to 6 days after inoculation (DAI). Apparent early hypersensitive reaction (HR) was seen in root cortex between 4 and 6 DAI, which led to cell death and prevention of some nematode development. At 12 to 20 DAI, giant cells formed in the vascular cylinder, besides normal development into J3/J4. From 32 to 45 DAI, giant cells were completely degenerated. Late, intense HR and cell death were frequently observed around young females and giant cells reported for the first time in coffee pathosystem. These results provide rational bases for future studies, including prospection, characterization, and expression profiling of genomic loci involved in both drought tolerance and resistance to multiple RKN species.

The insertion torque-depth curve integral as a measure of implant primary stability: An in vitro study on polyurethane foam blocks.

PubMed

Di Stefano, Danilo Alessio; Arosio, Paolo; Gastaldi, Giorgio; Gherlone, Enrico

2017-07-08

Recent research has shown that dynamic parameters correlate with insertion energy-that is, the total work needed to place an implant into its site-might convey more reliable information concerning immediate implant primary stability at insertion than the commonly used insertion torque (IT), the reverse torque (RT), or the implant stability quotient (ISQ). Yet knowledge on these dynamic parameters is still limited. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate whether an energy-related parameter, the torque-depth curve integral (I), could be a reliable measure of primary stability. This was done by assessing if (I) measurement was operator-independent, by investigating its correlation with other known primary stability parameters (IT, RT, or ISQ) by quantifying the (I) average error and correlating (I), IT, RT, and ISQ variations with bone density. Five operators placed 200 implants in polyurethane foam blocks of different densities using a micromotor that calculated the (I) during implant placement. Primary implant stability was assessed by measuring the ISQ, IT, and RT. ANOVA tests were used to evaluate whether measurements were operator independent (P>.05 in all cases). A correlation analysis was performed between (I) and IT, ISQ, and RT. The (I) average error was calculated and compared with that of the other parameters by ANOVA. (I)-density, IT-density, ISQ-density, and RT-density plots were drawn, and their slopes were compared by ANCOVA. The (I) measurements were operator independent and correlated with IT, ISQ, and RT. The average error of these parameters was not significantly different (P>.05 in all cases). The (I)-density, IT-density, ISQ-density, and RT-density curves were linear in the 0.16 to 0.49 g/cm³ range, with the (I)-density curves having a significantly greater slope than those regarding the other parameters (P≤.001 in all cases). The torque-depth curve integral (I) provides a reliable assessment of primary stability and shows a greater

Comment on papers ``Effect of Ag substitution on the transport property and magnetoresistance of LaMnO3'' [J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 248 (2002) 26] and ``Possible magnetic phase separation in Ru-doped La0.67Ca0.33O3'' [J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 257 (2003) 195

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rozenberg, E.

2004-03-01

In recent papers Ye et al. (J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 248 (2002) 26) and Lakshmi et al. (J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 257 (2003) 195) reported the characteristic features of electrical resistivity ( ρ) versus temperature ( T) dependences of polycrystalline-doped manganites La 1- xAg xMnO 3 and La 0.67Ca 0.33Mn 1- xRu xO 3. Infact, two peaks on ρ( T) curve coexist: broad one at some Tmax below the Curie points ( TC) of these compounds and a sharp peak near TC. Authors interpreted such coexistence as an evidence of electronic/magnetic phase separation in the above-noted systems below its TC. It is shown in this comment that such an interpretation is obviously invalid for La 1- xAg xMnO 3 system and is very questionable for La 0.67Ca 0.33Mn 1- xRu xO 3. The simplest and natural reason for the appearance of considered features on ρ( T) dependences of polycrystalline manganites is the well-known grain-boundary effects.

Enhancements of Bayesian Blocks; Application to Large Light Curve Databases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scargle, Jeff

2015-01-01

Bayesian Blocks are optimal piecewise linear representations (step function fits) of light-curves. The simple algorithm implementing this idea, using dynamic programming, has been extended to include more data modes and fitness metrics, multivariate analysis, and data on the circle (Studies in Astronomical Time Series Analysis. VI. Bayesian Block Representations, Scargle, Norris, Jackson and Chiang 2013, ApJ, 764, 167), as well as new results on background subtraction and refinement of the procedure for precise timing of transient events in sparse data. Example demonstrations will include exploratory analysis of the Kepler light curve archive in a search for "star-tickling" signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. (The Cepheid Galactic Internet, Learned, Kudritzki, Pakvasa1, and Zee, 2008, arXiv: 0809.0339; Walkowicz et al., in progress).

Gamma-ray line diagnostics of supernova explosions - SN2014J and Cas A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegert, Thomas

2018-01-01

Gamma-rays from nuclear de-excitation of newly procuced isotopes during supernovae (SNe) provide a unique window to the explosion mechanisms. SNe interiors are accessible only by γ-rays as they are energetic enough to penetrate the SN cloud. Both thermonuclear explosions (type Ia) and core-collapse SNe (CCSN, type II) are key producers of heavy elements in the Universe. In SNe Ia, a white dwarf (WD) is disrupted by ignition from inside or by triggering the explosive event from outside, producing major amounts of 56Ni. Type II SNe are powered by the gravitational collapse of a massive star, having burnt all its nuclear fuel. In this work, we present a diagnostic study of γ-ray lines from SN2014J and Cassiopeia A (Cas A). INTEGRAL observed SN2014J for several months and for the first time, it was possible to measure the characteristic lines from the 56Ni-decay chain in a SN Ia event. Surprisingly, 56Ni was seen only 20 days after the explosion which indicates that some 56Ni must be located outside the WD and not deeply embedded. We provide a 56Co γ-ray line light curve and estimate a visible 56Ni mass of 0.5 M⨀ from a comparison to 1D model light curves. Cas A observations have been revisited and we detect both, the characteristic hard X-ray line from the decay of 44Ti at 78 keV, and the subsequent γ-ray line from the decay of 44Sc at 1157 keV in one coherent data set. Expansion velocities in the range of 2000 - 5000 km s-1 and an initially synthesised 44Ti mass of 1.37 × 10-4 M⨀ are found.

Disruption of Mitochondria-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane (MAM) Integrity Contributes to Muscle Insulin Resistance in Mice and Humans.

PubMed

Tubbs, Emily; Chanon, Stéphanie; Robert, Maud; Bendridi, Nadia; Bidaux, Gabriel; Chauvin, Marie-Agnès; Ji-Cao, Jingwei; Durand, Christine; Gauvrit-Ramette, Daphné; Vidal, Hubert; Lefai, Etienne; Rieusset, Jennifer

2018-04-01

Modifications of the interactions between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, defined as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), were recently shown to be involved in the control of hepatic insulin action and glucose homeostasis, but with conflicting results. Whereas skeletal muscle is the primary site of insulin-mediated glucose uptake and the main target for alterations in insulin-resistant states, the relevance of MAM integrity in muscle insulin resistance is unknown. Deciphering the importance of MAMs on muscle insulin signaling could help to clarify this controversy. Here, we show in skeletal muscle of different mice models of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) a marked disruption of ER-mitochondria interactions as an early event preceding mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance. Furthermore, in human myotubes, palmitate-induced insulin resistance is associated with a reduction of structural and functional ER-mitochondria interactions. Importantly, experimental increase of ER-mitochondria contacts in human myotubes prevents palmitate-induced alterations of insulin signaling and action, whereas disruption of MAM integrity alters the action of the hormone. Lastly, we found an association between altered insulin signaling and ER-mitochondria interactions in human myotubes from obese subjects with or without T2D compared with healthy lean subjects. Collectively, our data reveal a new role of MAM integrity in insulin action of skeletal muscle and highlight MAM disruption as an essential subcellular alteration associated with muscle insulin resistance in mice and humans. Therefore, reduced ER-mitochondria coupling could be a common alteration of several insulin-sensitive tissues playing a key role in altered glucose homeostasis in the context of obesity and T2D. © 2018 by the American Diabetes Association.

Evaluation of hydrogen production and internal resistance in forward osmosis membrane integrated microbial electrolysis cells.

PubMed

Lee, Mi-Young; Kim, Kyoung-Yeol; Yang, Euntae; Kim, In S

2015-01-01

In order to enhance hydrogen production by facilitated proton transport through a forward osmosis (FO) membrane, the FO membrane was integrated into microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). An improved hydrogen production rate was obtained in the FO-MEC (12.5±1.84×10(-3)m(3)H2/m(3)/d) compared to that of the cation exchange membrane (CEM) - MEC (4.42±0.04×10(-3)m(3)H2/m(3)/d) during batch tests (72h). After an internal resistance analysis, it was confirmed that the enhanced hydrogen production in FO-MEC was attributed to the smaller charge transfer resistance than in the CEM-MEC (90.3Ω and 133.4Ω respectively). The calculation of partial internal resistance concluded that the transport resistance can be substantially reduced by replacing a CEM with a FO membrane; decrease of the resistance from 0.069Ωm(2) to 5.99×10(-4)Ωm(2). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New Generation of Resistant Sugar Beet Varieties for Advanced Integrated Management of Cercospora Leaf Spot in Central Europe.

PubMed

Vogel, Johannes; Kenter, Christine; Holst, Carsten; Märländer, Bernward

2018-01-01

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) epidemics in sugar beet have been increasing in recent years causing higher use of fungicides. Concomitantly, the availability of effective fungicides is at risk because of resistance development in the fungus, the lack of new active ingredients as well as restrictive approval practices. A key option for an integrated management of CLS is cultivation of resistant varieties. Because of the yield penalty in resistant varieties, acceptance in commercial practice so far has been low. The aim of our study was to characterize recent sugar beet varieties registered in Germany in terms of resistance and tolerance to CLS and their value for integrated pest management. The genetic basis of CLS resistance in varieties is protected by intellectual property rights even after variety registration and not open to the public due to economic competition. To gain reliable data for cultivation, varieties have to be tested for their resistance traits under field conditions at varying levels of infection with Cercospora beticola . In collaboration with variety related stakeholders, 15 sugar beet varieties were tested in 49 field trials in Germany from 2014 to 2016 for their yield response to CLS. The trials were set up in a split-plot design with and without infection (i.e., with and without fungicide). The classification of varietal reaction to CLS is based on symptomatic leaf area (susceptibility) and the resulting relative yield loss (tolerance). Since the relation between both parameters varied among varieties, it was used as an additional parameter to describe tolerance. On this basis, three groups of varieties were identified. They can be characterized as a susceptible, a resistant and a presumably tolerant cluster. A comparison of the data with an older dataset originating from 2009 to 2011 revealed that yield performance of recent varieties with resistance to C. beticola caught up with susceptible varieties due to breeding progress. They showed no

New Generation of Resistant Sugar Beet Varieties for Advanced Integrated Management of Cercospora Leaf Spot in Central Europe

PubMed Central

Vogel, Johannes; Kenter, Christine; Holst, Carsten; Märländer, Bernward

2018-01-01

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) epidemics in sugar beet have been increasing in recent years causing higher use of fungicides. Concomitantly, the availability of effective fungicides is at risk because of resistance development in the fungus, the lack of new active ingredients as well as restrictive approval practices. A key option for an integrated management of CLS is cultivation of resistant varieties. Because of the yield penalty in resistant varieties, acceptance in commercial practice so far has been low. The aim of our study was to characterize recent sugar beet varieties registered in Germany in terms of resistance and tolerance to CLS and their value for integrated pest management. The genetic basis of CLS resistance in varieties is protected by intellectual property rights even after variety registration and not open to the public due to economic competition. To gain reliable data for cultivation, varieties have to be tested for their resistance traits under field conditions at varying levels of infection with Cercospora beticola. In collaboration with variety related stakeholders, 15 sugar beet varieties were tested in 49 field trials in Germany from 2014 to 2016 for their yield response to CLS. The trials were set up in a split-plot design with and without infection (i.e., with and without fungicide). The classification of varietal reaction to CLS is based on symptomatic leaf area (susceptibility) and the resulting relative yield loss (tolerance). Since the relation between both parameters varied among varieties, it was used as an additional parameter to describe tolerance. On this basis, three groups of varieties were identified. They can be characterized as a susceptible, a resistant and a presumably tolerant cluster. A comparison of the data with an older dataset originating from 2009 to 2011 revealed that yield performance of recent varieties with resistance to C. beticola caught up with susceptible varieties due to breeding progress. They showed no

Research of X-ray curved crystals analyzer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Shali; Xong, Xian-cai; Qian, Jia-yu; Zhong, Xian-xin; Yan, Guo-hong; Liu, Zhong-li; Ding, Yong-kun

2005-08-01

X-ray spectrograph has long been used as a means of diagnosing conditions of laser-produced plasmas, as information concerning both the temperature and density can be extracted from the emitted radiation. For the measurement of X-ray lines in the energy range of 0.6-6 keV, A curved crystal X-ray spectrometer of reflection type elliptical geometry is required. In order to obtain both high resolution and collection efficiency the elliptical geometry is more advantageous than the flat configurations. Elliptical curved crystals spectrograph with a relatively wide spectral range are of particular use for deducing electron temperatures by measurement of the ratios of lines associated with different charge states. Curved crystals analyzer was designed and manufactured for use on an experiment to investigate the properties of laser produced plasmas. The spectrograph has 1350mm focal length and for these measurements, utilized PET, LIF, KAP and MICA crystal bent onto an elliptical substrate. This crystal analyzer covers the Bragg angel range from 30 to 67.5. The analyzer based on elliptically geometrical principle, which has self-focusing characteristics. The experiment was carried out on Shanghai Shengguang-II Facility and aimed to investigate the characteristics of a high density plasma. Experimental results using Curved crystal analyzer are described which show spectrum of Ti, Au laser-plasma. The focusing crystal analyzer clearly gave an increase in sensitivity over a flat crystal. Spectra showing the main resonance line were recorded with X-ray CCD and with laser energies 150J laser wavelength 350nm. The calculated wavelength resolution is about 500-1000.

j5 DNA assembly design automation.

PubMed

Hillson, Nathan J

2014-01-01

Modern standardized methodologies, described in detail in the previous chapters of this book, have enabled the software-automated design of optimized DNA construction protocols. This chapter describes how to design (combinatorial) scar-less DNA assembly protocols using the web-based software j5. j5 assists biomedical and biotechnological researchers construct DNA by automating the design of optimized protocols for flanking homology sequence as well as type IIS endonuclease-mediated DNA assembly methodologies. Unlike any other software tool available today, j5 designs scar-less combinatorial DNA assembly protocols, performs a cost-benefit analysis to identify which portions of an assembly process would be less expensive to outsource to a DNA synthesis service provider, and designs hierarchical DNA assembly strategies to mitigate anticipated poor assembly junction sequence performance. Software integrated with j5 add significant value to the j5 design process through graphical user-interface enhancement and downstream liquid-handling robotic laboratory automation.

Screening and identification of resistance related proteins from apple leaves inoculated with Marssonina coronaria (EII. & J. J. Davis)

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Apple, an invaluable fruit crop worldwide, is often prone to infection by pathogenic fungi. Identification of potentially resistance-conferring apple proteins is one of the most important aims for studying apple resistance mechanisms and promoting the development of disease-resistant apple strains. In order to find proteins which promote resistance to Marssonina coronaria, a deadly pathogen which has been related to premature apple maturation, proteomes from apple leaves inoculated with M. coronaria were characterized at 3 and 6 days post-inoculation by two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Results Overall, 59 differentially accumulated protein spots between inoculation and non-inoculation were successfully identified and aligned as 35 different proteins or protein families which involved in photosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, transport, energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, binding, antioxidant, defense and stress. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was also used to examine the change of some defense and stress related genes abundance under inoculated conditions. Conclusions In a conclusion, different proteins in response to Marssonina coronaria were identified by proteomic analysis. Among of these proteins, there are some PR proteins, for example class III endo-chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase and thaumatine-like protein, and some antioxidant related proteins including aldo/keto reductase AKR, ascorbate peroxidase and phi class glutathione S-transferase protein that were associated with disease resistance. The transcription levels of class III endo-chitinase (L13) and beta-1, 3-glucanase (L17) have a good relation with the abundance of the encoded protein’s accumulation, however, the mRNA abundance of thaumatine-like protein (L22) and ascorbate peroxidase (L28) are not correlated with their protein abundance of encoded protein. To elucidate the resistant mechanism, the data in the present study will promote us to investigate further the

Light Curve Simulation Using Spacecraft CAD Models and Empirical Material Spectral BRDFS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willison, A.; Bedard, D.

This paper presents a Matlab-based light curve simulation software package that uses computer-aided design (CAD) models of spacecraft and the spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (sBRDF) of their homogenous surface materials. It represents the overall optical reflectance of objects as a sBRDF, a spectrometric quantity, obtainable during an optical ground truth experiment. The broadband bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), the basis of a broadband light curve, is produced by integrating the sBRDF over the optical wavelength range. Colour-filtered BRDFs, the basis of colour-filtered light curves, are produced by first multiplying the sBRDF by colour filters, and integrating the products. The software package's validity is established through comparison of simulated reflectance spectra and broadband light curves with those measured of the CanX-1 Engineering Model (EM) nanosatellite, collected during an optical ground truth experiment. It is currently being extended to simulate light curves of spacecraft in Earth orbit, using spacecraft Two-Line-Element (TLE) sets, yaw/pitch/roll angles, and observer coordinates. Measured light curves of the NEOSSat spacecraft will be used to validate simulated quantities. The sBRDF was chosen to represent material reflectance as it is spectrometric and a function of illumination and observation geometry. Homogeneous material sBRDFs were obtained using a goniospectrometer for a range of illumination and observation geometries, collected in a controlled environment. The materials analyzed include aluminum alloy, two types of triple-junction photovoltaic (TJPV) cell, white paint, and multi-layer insulation (MLI). Interpolation and extrapolation methods were used to determine the sBRDF for all possible illumination and observation geometries not measured in the laboratory, resulting in empirical look-up tables. These look-up tables are referenced when calculating the overall sBRDF of objects, where

C5a alters blood-brain barrier integrity in experimental lupus

PubMed Central

Jacob, Alexander; Hack, Bradley; Chiang, Eddie; Garcia, Joe G. N.; Quigg, Richard J.; Alexander, Jessy J.

2010-01-01

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial anatomic location in the brain. Its dysfunction complicates many neurodegenerative diseases, from acute conditions, such as sepsis, to chronic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Several studies suggest an altered BBB in lupus, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the current study, we observed a definite loss of BBB integrity in MRL/MpJ-Tnfrsf6lpr (MRL/lpr) lupus mice by IgG infiltration into brain parenchyma. In line with this result, we examined the role of complement activation, a key event in this setting, in maintenance of BBB integrity. Complement activation generates C5a, a molecule with multiple functions. Because the expression of the C5a receptor (C5aR) is significantly increased in brain endothelial cells treated with lupus serum, the study focused on the role of C5a signaling through its G-protein-coupled receptor C5aR in brain endothelial cells, in a lupus setting. Reactive oxygen species production increased significantly in endothelial cells, in both primary cells and the bEnd3 cell line treated with lupus serum from MRL/lpr mice, compared with those treated with control serum from MRL+/+ mice. In addition, increased permeability monitored by changes in transendothelial electrical resistance, cytoskeletal remodeling caused by actin fiber rearrangement, and increased iNOS mRNA expression were observed in bEnd3 cells. These disruptive effects were alleviated by pretreating cells with a C5a receptor antagonist (C5aRant) or a C5a antibody. Furthermore, the structural integrity of the vasculature in MRL/lpr brain was maintained by C5aR inhibition. These results demonstrate the regulation of BBB integrity by the complement system in a neuroinflammatory setting. For the first time, a novel role of C5a in the maintenance of BBB integrity is identified and the potential of C5a/C5aR blockade highlighted as a promising therapeutic strategy in SLE and other neurodegenerative diseases

A Data-driven Study of RR Lyrae Near-IR Light Curves: Principal Component Analysis, Robust Fits, and Metallicity Estimates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajdu, Gergely; Dékány, István; Catelan, Márcio; Grebel, Eva K.; Jurcsik, Johanna

2018-04-01

RR Lyrae variables are widely used tracers of Galactic halo structure and kinematics, but they can also serve to constrain the distribution of the old stellar population in the Galactic bulge. With the aim of improving their near-infrared photometric characterization, we investigate their near-infrared light curves, as well as the empirical relationships between their light curve and metallicities using machine learning methods. We introduce a new, robust method for the estimation of the light-curve shapes, hence the average magnitudes of RR Lyrae variables in the K S band, by utilizing the first few principal components (PCs) as basis vectors, obtained from the PC analysis of a training set of light curves. Furthermore, we use the amplitudes of these PCs to predict the light-curve shape of each star in the J-band, allowing us to precisely determine their average magnitudes (hence colors), even in cases where only one J measurement is available. Finally, we demonstrate that the K S-band light-curve parameters of RR Lyrae variables, together with the period, allow the estimation of the metallicity of individual stars with an accuracy of ∼0.2–0.25 dex, providing valuable chemical information about old stellar populations bearing RR Lyrae variables. The methods presented here can be straightforwardly adopted for other classes of variable stars, bands, or for the estimation of other physical quantities.

Polarization curve measurements combined with potential probe sensing for determining current density distribution in vanadium redox-flow batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Maik; Bredemeyer, Niels; Tenhumberg, Nils; Turek, Thomas

2016-03-01

Potential probes are applied to vanadium redox-flow batteries for determination of effective felt resistance and current density distribution. During the measurement of polarization curves in 100 cm2 cells with different carbon felt compression rates, alternating potential steps at cell voltages between 0.6 V and 2.0 V are applied. Polarization curves are recorded at different flow rates and states of charge of the battery. Increasing compression rates lead to lower effective felt resistances and a more uniform resistance distribution. Low flow rates at high or low state of charge result in non-linear current density distribution with high gradients, while high flow rates give rise to a nearly linear behavior.

The effect of resistance exercise on the thermic effect of food.

PubMed

Denzer, Charlene M; Young, John C

2003-09-01

The thermic effect of food (TEF) is the increment in energy expenditure above resting metabolic rate associated with the cost of absorption and processing of food for storage. Previous studies have shown that TEF is enhanced by aerobic endurance exercise of sufficient duration and intensity. The purpose of this study was to determine if a similar effect occurs with a single bout of resistance exercise (weightlifting). VO2 was measured in 9 healthy volunteers (3 males and 6 females) for 2 hours after ingestion of a 2760 kJ (660 kcal) carbohydrate meal with and without prior completion of a resistance training regimen (2 sets of 10 repetitions of 10 different exercises). The meal caused an immediate and persistent thermic effect in both the control and the exercise trial. Mean oxygen consumption over baseline increased 20% in the control trial and 34% in the exercise trial. TEF calculated from VO2 and RER (total area under the response curve above baseline) was 73% greater in the exercise trial compared with the control trial (159 +/- 18 vs. 92 +/- 14 KJ/2 hrs, p < .02). These results indicate that TEF in response to a carbohydrate meal is enhanced following a single bout of resistance exercise.

Enhancing Integrated Pest Management in GM Cotton Systems Using Host Plant Resistance

PubMed Central

Trapero, Carlos; Wilson, Iain W.; Stiller, Warwick N.; Wilson, Lewis J.

2016-01-01

Cotton has lost many ancestral defensive traits against key invertebrate pests. This is suggested by the levels of resistance to some pests found in wild cotton genotypes as well as in cultivated landraces and is a result of domestication and a long history of targeted breeding for yield and fiber quality, along with the capacity to control pests with pesticides. Genetic modification (GM) allowed integration of toxins from a bacteria into cotton to control key Lepidopteran pests. Since the mid-1990s, use of GM cotton cultivars has greatly reduced the amount of pesticides used in many cotton systems. However, pests not controlled by the GM traits have usually emerged as problems, especially the sucking bug complex. Control of this complex with pesticides often causes a reduction in beneficial invertebrate populations, allowing other secondary pests to increase rapidly and require control. Control of both sucking bug complex and secondary pests is problematic due to the cost of pesticides and/or high risk of selecting for pesticide resistance. Deployment of host plant resistance (HPR) provides an opportunity to manage these issues in GM cotton systems. Cotton cultivars resistant to the sucking bug complex and/or secondary pests would require fewer pesticide applications, reducing costs and risks to beneficial invertebrate populations and pesticide resistance. Incorporation of HPR traits into elite cotton cultivars with high yield and fiber quality offers the potential to further reduce pesticide use and increase the durability of pest management in GM cotton systems. We review the challenges that the identification and use of HPR against invertebrate pests brings to cotton breeding. We explore sources of resistance to the sucking bug complex and secondary pests, the mechanisms that control them and the approaches to incorporate these defense traits to commercial cultivars. PMID:27148323

Effects of halides on plasmid-mediated silver resistance in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Gupta, A; Maynes, M; Silver, S

1998-12-01

Silver resistance of sensitive Escherichia coli J53 and resistance plasmid-containing J53(pMG101) was affected by halides in the growth medium. The effects of halides on Ag+ resistance were measured with AgNO3 and silver sulfadiazine, both on agar and in liquid. Low concentrations of chloride made the differences in MICs between sensitive and resistant strains larger. High concentrations of halides increased the sensitivities of both strains to Ag+.

Integrative genomic analysis implicates limited peripheral adipose storage capacity in the pathogenesis of human insulin resistance.

PubMed

Lotta, Luca A; Gulati, Pawan; Day, Felix R; Payne, Felicity; Ongen, Halit; van de Bunt, Martijn; Gaulton, Kyle J; Eicher, John D; Sharp, Stephen J; Luan, Jian'an; De Lucia Rolfe, Emanuella; Stewart, Isobel D; Wheeler, Eleanor; Willems, Sara M; Adams, Claire; Yaghootkar, Hanieh; Forouhi, Nita G; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Johnson, Andrew D; Semple, Robert K; Frayling, Timothy; Perry, John R B; Dermitzakis, Emmanouil; McCarthy, Mark I; Barroso, Inês; Wareham, Nicholas J; Savage, David B; Langenberg, Claudia; O'Rahilly, Stephen; Scott, Robert A

2017-01-01

Insulin resistance is a key mediator of obesity-related cardiometabolic disease, yet the mechanisms underlying this link remain obscure. Using an integrative genomic approach, we identify 53 genomic regions associated with insulin resistance phenotypes (higher fasting insulin levels adjusted for BMI, lower HDL cholesterol levels and higher triglyceride levels) and provide evidence that their link with higher cardiometabolic risk is underpinned by an association with lower adipose mass in peripheral compartments. Using these 53 loci, we show a polygenic contribution to familial partial lipodystrophy type 1, a severe form of insulin resistance, and highlight shared molecular mechanisms in common/mild and rare/severe insulin resistance. Population-level genetic analyses combined with experiments in cellular models implicate CCDC92, DNAH10 and L3MBTL3 as previously unrecognized molecules influencing adipocyte differentiation. Our findings support the notion that limited storage capacity of peripheral adipose tissue is an important etiological component in insulin-resistant cardiometabolic disease and highlight genes and mechanisms underpinning this link.

Observations and light curve solutions of a selection of shallow-contact W UMa binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kjurkchieva, Diana P.; Popov, Velimir A.; Vasileva, Doroteya L.; Petrov, Nikola I.

2018-07-01

Photometric observations in Sloan g‧ and i‧ bands of the W UMa binaries V0951 Per, CSS J062803.2+571604, CSS J222157.2+275308, CSS J075135.6+382028, V0338 Dra, NSVS 2256852, NSVS 4666412, V1355 Tau, NSVS 4808227, NSVS 4726498, CSS J075350.1+264830 and HL Lyn are presented. The light curve solutions revealed that these binaries have overcontact configurations with small fillout factors (within 0.1-0.2). Seven of them undergo total eclipses and their photometric mass ratios should be accepted with confidence. The temperature differences of the components of CSS J062803.2+571604 and NSVS 2256852 exceed 1100 K which is unusual for overcontact binaries. We suspect that NSVS 2256852 is a probable candidate for merger due to its small mass ratio of q = 0.16 and to the registered decreasing of the orbital period.

Integrity of Literature on Expressed Emotion and Relapse in Patients with Schizophrenia Verified by a p-Curve Analysis.

PubMed

Weintraub, Marc J; Hall, Daniel L; Carbonella, Julia Y; Weisman de Mamani, Amy; Hooley, Jill M

2017-06-01

There is growing concern that much published research may have questionable validity due to phenomena such as publication bias and p-hacking. Within the psychiatric literature, the construct of expressed emotion (EE) is widely assumed to be a reliable predictor of relapse across a range of mental illnesses. EE is an index of the family climate, measuring how critical, hostile, and overinvolved a family member is toward a mentally ill patient. No study to date has examined the evidential value of this body of research as a whole. That is to say, although many studies have shown a link between EE and symptom relapse, the integrity of the literature from which this claim is derived has not been tested. In an effort to confirm the integrity of the literature of EE predicting psychiatric relapse in patients with schizophrenia, we conducted a p-curve analysis on all known studies examining EE (using the Camberwell Family Interview) to predict psychiatric relapse over a 9- to 12-month follow-up period. Results suggest that the body of literature on EE is unbiased and has integrity, as there was a significant right skew of p-values, a nonsignificant left skew of p-values, and a nonsignificant test of flatness. We conclude that EE is a robust and valuable predictor of symptom relapse in schizophrenia. © 2016 Family Process Institute.

Integrity of Literature on Expressed Emotion and Relapse in Patients with Schizophrenia Verified by a p-Curve Analysis

PubMed Central

WEINTRAUB, MARC J.; HALL, DANIEL L.; CARBONELLA, JULIA Y.; DE MAMANI, AMY WEISMAN; HOOLEY, JILL M.

2018-01-01

There is growing concern that much published research may have questionable validity due to phenomena such as publication bias and p-hacking. Within the psychiatric literature, the construct of expressed emotion (EE) is widely assumed to be a reliable predictor of relapse across a range of mental illnesses. EE is an index of the family climate, measuring how critical, hostile, and overinvolved a family member is toward a mentally ill patient. No study to date has examined the evidential value of this body of research as a whole. That is to say, although many studies have shown a link between EE and symptom relapse, the integrity of the literature from which this claim is derived has not been tested. In an effort to confirm the integrity of the literature of EE predicting psychiatric relapse in patients with schizophrenia, we conducted a p-curve analysis on all known studies examining EE (using the Camberwell Family Interview) to predict psychiatric relapse over a 9- to 12-month follow-up period. Results suggest that the body of literature on EE is unbiased and has integrity, as there was a significant right skew of p-values, a nonsignificant left skew of p-values, and a nonsignificant test of flatness. We conclude that EE is a robust and valuable predictor of symptom relapse in schizophrenia. PMID:26875506

Interpretation of magnetotelluric resistivity and phase soundings over horizontal layers

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

Patella, D.

1976-02-01

The present paper deals with a new inverse method for quantitatively interpreting magnetotelluric apparent resistivity and phase-lag sounding curves over horizontally stratified earth sections. The recurrent character of the general formula relating the wave impedance of an (n-l)-layered medium to that of an n-layered medium suggests the use of the method of reduction to a lower boundary plane, as originally termed by Koefoed in the case of dc resistivity soundings. The layering parameters are so directly derived by a simple iterative procedure. The method is applicable for any number of layers but only when both apparent resistivity and phase-lag soundingmore » curves are jointly available. Moreover no sophisticated algorithm is required: a simple desk electronic calculator together with a sheet of two-layer apparent resistivity and phase-lag master curves are sufficient to reproduce earth sections which, in the range of equivalence, are all consistent with field data.« less

Construction of Joule Thomson inversion curves for mixtures using equation of state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patankar, A. S.; Atrey, M. D.

2017-02-01

The Joule-Thomson effect is at the heart of Joule-Thomson cryocoolers and gas liquefaction cycles. The effective harnessing of this phenomenon necessitates the knowledge of Joule-Thomson coefficient and the inversion curve. When the working fluid is a mixture, (in mix refrigerant Joule-Thomson cryocooler, MRJT) the phase diagrams, equations of state and inversion curves of multi-component systems become important. The lowest temperature attainable by such a cryocooler depends on the inversion characteristics of the mixture used. In this work the construction of differential Joule-Thomson inversion curves of mixtures using Redlich-Kwong, Soave-Redlich-Kwong and Peng-Robinson equations of state is investigated assuming single phase. It is demonstrated that inversion curves constructed for pure fluids can be improved by choosing an appropriate value of acentric factor. Inversion curves are used to predict maximum inversion temperatures of multicomponent systems. An application where this information is critical is a two-stage J-T cryocooler using a mixture as the working fluid, especially for the second stage. The pre-cooling temperature that the first stage is required to generate depends on the maximum inversion temperature of the second stage working fluid.

Visible Wavelength Exoplanet Phase Curves from Global Albedo Maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webber, Matthew; Cahoy, Kerri Lynn

2015-01-01

To investigate the effect of three-dimensional global albedo maps we use an albedo model that: calculates albedo spectra for each points across grid in longitude and latitude on the planetary disk, uses the appropriate angles for the source-observer geometry for each location, and then weights and sums these spectra using the Tschebychev-Gauss integration method. This structure permits detailed 3D modeling of an illuminated planetary disk and computes disk-integrated phase curves. Different pressure-temperature profiles are used for each location based on geometry and dynamics. We directly couple high-density pressure maps from global dynamic radiative-transfer models to compute global cloud maps. Cloud formation is determined from the correlation of the species condensation curves with the temperature-pressure profiles. We use the detailed cloud patterns, of spatial-varying composition and temperature, to determine the observable albedo spectra and phase curves for exoplanets Kepler-7b and HD189733b. These albedo spectra are used to compute planet-star flux ratios using PHOENIX stellar models, exoplanet orbital parameters, and telescope transmission functions. Insight from the Earthshine spectrum and solid surface albedo functions (e.g. water, ice, snow, rocks) are used with our planetary grid to determine the phase curve and flux ratios of non-uniform Earth and Super Earth-like exoplanets with various rotation rates and stellar types. Predictions can be tailored to the visible and Near-InfraRed (NIR) spectral windows for the Kepler space telescope, Hubble space telescope, and future observatories (e.g. WFIRST, JWST, Exo-C, Exo-S). Additionally, we constrain the effect of exoplanet urban-light on the shape of the night-side phase curve for Earths and Super-Earths.

RESISTANCE AND CROSS-RESISTANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI S MUTANTS TO THE RADIOMIMETIC AGENT PROFLAVINE

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

Woody-Karrer, P.; Greenberg, J.

1964-03-01

All 50 of the first-step mutants of Escherichia coli S selected for resistance to proflavine were resistant to uv light and each of five different radiomimetic chemicals. The mutants were classified into eight types on the basis of their relative resistance to six different radiomimetic drugs and on the basis of the shape of their uv survival curves. Three of these types are identical to types previously isolated with other radiomimetic drugs; five of the types are new. A high proportion of the clones surviving proflavine treatment were phenotypically but not genetically resistant, and no strains were isolated which weremore » resistant to proflavine but were not resistant to radiation. (auth)« less

Diameter Effect Curve and Detonation Front Curvature Measurements for ANFO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catanach, R. A.; Hill, L. G.

2001-06-01

Diameter effect and front curvature measurements are reported for rate stick experiments on commercially available prilled ANFO (ammonium nitrate-fuel oil) at ambient temperature. The shots were fired in paper tubes so as to provide minimal confinement. Diameters ranged from 77 mm. (≈ failure diameter) to 200 mm., with the tube length being ten diameters in all cases. Each detonation wave shape was fit with an analytic form, from which the local normal velocity Dn and total curvature κ were generated as a function of radius R, then plotted parametrically to generate a D_n(κ) function. The resulting behavior deviates substantially from that of previous explosives,(Hill,L.G., Bdzil,J.B., and Aslam,T.D., 11^th) Detonation Symposium, 1998^,(Hill,L.G., Bdzil,J.B., Davis,W.C., and Engelke,R., Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, 1999) in which curves for different stick sizes overlay well for small κ but diverge for large κ, and for which κ increases monotonically with R to achieve a maximum value at the charge edge. For ANFO, we find that κ achieves a maximum at an intermediate R and that D_n(κ) curves for different stick sizes are widely separated with no overlap whatsoever.

The boundary integral theory for slow and rapid curved solid/liquid interfaces propagating into binary systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galenko, Peter K.; Alexandrov, Dmitri V.; Titova, Ekaterina A.

2018-01-01

The boundary integral method for propagating solid/liquid interfaces is detailed with allowance for the thermo-solutal Stefan-type models. Two types of mass transfer mechanisms corresponding to the local equilibrium (parabolic-type equation) and local non-equilibrium (hyperbolic-type equation) solidification conditions are considered. A unified integro-differential equation for the curved interface is derived. This equation contains the steady-state conditions of solidification as a special case. The boundary integral analysis demonstrates how to derive the quasi-stationary Ivantsov and Horvay-Cahn solutions that, respectively, define the paraboloidal and elliptical crystal shapes. In the limit of highest Péclet numbers, these quasi-stationary solutions describe the shape of the area around the dendritic tip in the form of a smooth sphere in the isotropic case and a deformed sphere along the directions of anisotropy strength in the anisotropic case. A thermo-solutal selection criterion of the quasi-stationary growth mode of dendrites which includes arbitrary Péclet numbers is obtained. To demonstrate the selection of patterns, computational modelling of the quasi-stationary growth of crystals in a binary mixture is carried out. The modelling makes it possible to obtain selected structures in the form of dendritic, fractal or planar crystals. This article is part of the theme issue `From atomistic interfaces to dendritic patterns'.

Improving the efficiency of copper indium gallium (Di-)selenide (CIGS) solar cells through integration of a moth-eye textured resist with a refractive index similar to aluminum doped zinc oxide

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

Burghoorn, M.; Kniknie, B.; Deelen, J. van

2014-12-15

Textured transparent conductors are widely used in thin-film silicon solar cells. They lower the reflectivity at interfaces between different layers in the cell and/or cause an increase in the path length of photons in the Si absorber layer, which both result in an increase in the number of absorbed photons and, consequently, an increase in short-circuit current density (J{sub sc}) and cell efficiency. Through optical simulations, we recently obtained strong indications that texturing of the transparent conductor in copper indium gallium (di-)selenide (CIGS) solar cells is also optically advantageous. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that the J{sub sc} and efficiency ofmore » CIGS solar cells with an absorber layer thickness (d{sub CIGS}) of 0.85 μm, 1.00 μm and 2.00 μm increase through application of a moth-eye textured resist with a refractive index that is sufficiently similar to AZO (n{sub resist} = 1.792 vs. n{sub AZO} = 1.913 at 633 nm) to avoid large optical losses at the resist-AZO interface. On average, J{sub sc} increases by 7.2%, which matches the average reduction in reflection of 7.0%. The average relative increase in efficiency is slightly lower (6.0%). No trend towards a larger relative increase in J{sub sc} with decreasing d{sub CIGS} was observed. Ergo, the increase in J{sub sc} can be fully explained by the reduction in reflection, and we did not observe any increase in J{sub sc} based on an increased photon path length.« less

The effect of texture on the crack growth resistance of alumina

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salem, Jonathan A.; Shannon, John L., Jr.; Bradt, Richard C.

1987-01-01

The crack growth resistance of a textured, extruded alumina body was compared with that of an isotropic, isopressed body of similar grain size, density, and chemistry. R-curve levels reflected the preferred orientation; however, R-curve slopes (dK sub IR/d Delta a) were the same in all instances, implying a similar crack growth resistive mechanism. Three orthogonal orientations of crack growth in the two structures exhibited similar forms of K sub IR versus Delta-a curves, for which a schematic diagram for polycrystalline ceramics is proposed.

The Extracellular Electrical Resistivity in Cell Adhesion

PubMed Central

Gleixner, Raimund; Fromherz, Peter

2006-01-01

The interaction of cells in a tissue depends on the nature of the extracellular matrix. The electrical properties of the narrow extracellular space are unknown. Here we consider cell adhesion mediated by extracellular matrix protein on a solid substrate as a model system. We culture human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells on silica coated with fibronectin and determine the electrical resistivity in the cell-solid junction \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document} \\begin{equation*}{\\rho}_{{\\mathrm{J}}}=r_{{\\mathrm{J}}}d_{{\\mathrm{J}}}\\end{equation*}\\end{document} by combining measurements of the sheet resistance \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document} \\begin{equation*}r_{{\\mathrm{J}}}\\end{equation*}\\end{document} and of the distance \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document} \\begin{equation*}d_{{\\mathrm{J}}}\\end{equation*}\\end{document} between membrane and substrate. The sheet resistance is obtained from phase fluorometry of the voltage-sensitive dye ANNINE-5 by alternating-current stimulation from the substrate. The distance is measured by fluorescence interference contrast microscopy. We change the resistivity of the bath in a range from \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document} \\begin{equation*}66\\hspace{.167em}{\\Omega}\\hspace{.167em

Effects of Halides on Plasmid-Mediated Silver Resistance in Escherichia coli

PubMed Central

Gupta, Amit; Maynes, Maria; Silver, Simon

1998-01-01

Silver resistance of sensitive Escherichia coli J53 and resistance plasmid-containing J53(pMG101) was affected by halides in the growth medium. The effects of halides on Ag+ resistance were measured with AgNO3 and silver sulfadiazine, both on agar and in liquid. Low concentrations of chloride made the differences in MICs between sensitive and resistant strains larger. High concentrations of halides increased the sensitivities of both strains to Ag+. PMID:9835606

ASAS-SN Confirmation of the Bright Microlensing Event TCP J05074264+2447555

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayasinghe, T.; Dong, Subo; Stanek, K. Z.; Kochanek, C. S.; Thompson, T. A.; Prieto, J. L.; Shappee, B. J.; Holoien, T. W.-S.

2017-11-01

The transient TCP J05074264+2447555 was first discovered by T. Kojima on UT 2017-10-25.688. The ASAS-SN Sky Patrol light curve (Shappee et al. 2014; Kochanek et al. 2017) and follow-up spectroscopy (ATel #10919) suggested this to be a probable microlensing event.

Compression of contour data through exploiting curve-to-curve dependence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yalabik, N.; Cooper, D. B.

1975-01-01

An approach to exploiting curve-to-curve dependencies in order to achieve high data compression is presented. One of the approaches to date of along curve compression through use of cubic spline approximation is taken and extended by investigating the additional compressibility achievable through curve-to-curve structure exploitation. One of the models under investigation is reported on.

Integration of seismic interpretation and petrophysical studies on Hawaz Formation in J-field NC-186 concession, Northwest Murzuq basin, Libya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, A. K.; Selim, E. I.; Kashlaf, A.

2016-12-01

This study has been carried out by the integration of seismic interpretations and the well-logging analysis of ten wells distributed in J-field of concession NC-186, Murzuq basin, Libya. Twenty (3D) seismic lines and ten wells have been analyzed. The results of this study indicated that, the main reservoir in this concession is Hawaz Formation. Hawaz has been split into 8 units with a subdivision of Hawaz H4 into three subunits with the objective of better characterization of the three general fine upward intervals. The lower interval of H4 zone presents the better reservoir properties. The depth of reflector H4 ranges from 4100 ft in the northwestern part of the study area and increases to 4600 ft in the southeastern part of the study area. In this study, the outline of the Hawaz paleohighs which is NC-186 Field ;J; is generally trending in the NW-SE direction. The well logging analysis particularly quick look interpretation indicates that Hawaz Formation in the studied wells is mainly oil-bearing with some water-bearing sand levels at the horizons from H4 to and H6 which are potentially the main reservoirs. The water bearing zones are beyond these horizons starting from the sub-horizon H6c and the oil water contact is probably at depth 4495 ft. The crossplot of porosity-saturation for H5 and H6b indicates firmly that these horizons are indeed at irreducible state and will produce mainly oil as indicated in J4-NC186 well, while the crossplot of H8 shows wide scattering of points which is the main characteristic for water producing horizon. The depth of Hawaz Formation H4 is more than 4160 ft in J4, J12 and J16 wells in the northwestern parts of this field and increases to 4400 in the central part of the concession at well J1.

Effects of cereal fiber on leptin resistance and sensitivity in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat/cholesterol diet.

PubMed

Zhang, Ru; Jiao, Jun; Zhang, Wei; Zhang, Zheng; Zhang, Weiguo; Qin, Li-Qiang; Han, Shu-Fen

2016-01-01

Cereal fiber is reported to be associated with obesity and metabolic diseases. However, whether cereal fiber improves leptin resistance and sensitivity remains unclear. For 24 weeks, 48 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly given a normal chow diet (Chow), high-fat/cholesterol diet (HFD), HFD with 0.8% oat fiber (H-oat) or HFD with 0.8% wheat bran fiber (H-wheat). At the end of feeding period, both the serum insulin and leptin levels were determined by ELISA kits. Western blotting was used to assess the protein expressions of the leptin receptor (LepR) and the leptin-signaling pathway in the adipose tissues. Our results suggested that mice fed oat or wheat bran fiber exhibited lower body weight, serum lipids, as well as insulin and leptin levels. The two cereal fibers potently increased the protein expressions of LepR in the adipose tissue. In addition, protein expressions of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and transcription 3 (STAT3) (induced by LepR), which enhances leptin signaling, were significantly higher and the expression of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3), which inhibits leptin signaling, was significantly lower in the two cereal fiber groups than in the HFD group. Taken together, our findings suggest that cereal fiber can improve leptin resistance and sensitivity by the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in C57BL/6J mice fed a HFD; furthermore, oat fiber is more effective in the improvement of leptin sensitivity than wheat bran fiber, in this murine model.

Transient, heat-induced thermal resistance in the small intestine of mouse

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

Hume, S.P.; Marigold, J.C.L.

Heat-induced thermal resistance has been investigated in mouse jejunum by assaying crypt survival 24 h after treatment. Hyperthermia was achieved by immersing an exteriorized loop of intestine in a bath of Krebs-Ringer solution. Two approaches have been used. In the first, thermal survival curves were obtained following single hyperthermal treatments at temperatures in the range 42 to 44/sup 0/C. Transient thermal resistance, inducted by a plateau in the crypt survival curve, developed during heating at temperatures around 42.5/sup 0/C after 60 to 80 min. In the second series of experiments, a priming heat treatment (40.0, 41.0, 41.5, or 42.0/sup 0/Cmore » for 60 min) was followed at varying intervals by a test treatment at 43.0/sup 0/C. A transient resistance to the second treatment was induced, the extent and time of development being dependent upon the priming treatment. Crypt survival curves for thermally resistant intestine showed an increase in thermal D/sub 0/ and a decrease in n compared with curves from previously unheated intestine.« less

ROC-ing along: Evaluation and interpretation of receiver operating characteristic curves.

PubMed

Carter, Jane V; Pan, Jianmin; Rai, Shesh N; Galandiuk, Susan

2016-06-01

It is vital for clinicians to understand and interpret correctly medical statistics as used in clinical studies. In this review, we address current issues and focus on delivering a simple, yet comprehensive, explanation of common research methodology involving receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. ROC curves are used most commonly in medicine as a means of evaluating diagnostic tests. Sample data from a plasma test for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer were used to generate a prediction model. These are actual, unpublished data that have been used to describe the calculation of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values, and accuracy. The ROC curves were generated to determine the accuracy of this plasma test. These curves are generated by plotting the sensitivity (true-positive rate) on the y axis and 1 - specificity (false-positive rate) on the x axis. Curves that approach closest to the coordinate (x = 0, y = 1) are more highly predictive, whereas ROC curves that lie close to the line of equality indicate that the result is no better than that obtained by chance. The optimum sensitivity and specificity can be determined from the graph as the point where the minimum distance line crosses the ROC curve. This point corresponds to the Youden index (J), a function of sensitivity and specificity used commonly to rate diagnostic tests. The area under the curve is used to quantify the overall ability of a test to discriminate between 2 outcomes. By following these simple guidelines, interpretation of ROC curves will be less difficult and they can then be interpreted more reliably when writing, reviewing, or analyzing scientific papers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Absolute Distances to Nearby Type Ia Supernovae via Light Curve Fitting Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vinkó, J.; Ordasi, A.; Szalai, T.; Sárneczky, K.; Bányai, E.; Bíró, I. B.; Borkovits, T.; Hegedüs, T.; Hodosán, G.; Kelemen, J.; Klagyivik, P.; Kriskovics, L.; Kun, E.; Marion, G. H.; Marschalkó, G.; Molnár, L.; Nagy, A. P.; Pál, A.; Silverman, J. M.; Szakáts, R.; Szegedi-Elek, E.; Székely, P.; Szing, A.; Vida, K.; Wheeler, J. C.

2018-06-01

We present a comparative study of absolute distances to a sample of very nearby, bright Type Ia supernovae (SNe) derived from high cadence, high signal-to-noise, multi-band photometric data. Our sample consists of four SNe: 2012cg, 2012ht, 2013dy and 2014J. We present new homogeneous, high-cadence photometric data in Johnson–Cousins BVRI and Sloan g‧r‧i‧z‧ bands taken from two sites (Piszkesteto and Baja, Hungary), and the light curves are analyzed with publicly available light curve fitters (MLCS2k2, SNooPy2 and SALT2.4). When comparing the best-fit parameters provided by the different codes, it is found that the distance moduli of moderately reddened SNe Ia agree within ≲0.2 mag, and the agreement is even better (≲0.1 mag) for the highest signal-to-noise BVRI data. For the highly reddened SN 2014J the dispersion of the inferred distance moduli is slightly higher. These SN-based distances are in good agreement with the Cepheid distances to their host galaxies. We conclude that the current state-of-the-art light curve fitters for Type Ia SNe can provide consistent absolute distance moduli having less than ∼0.1–0.2 mag uncertainty for nearby SNe. Still, there is room for future improvements to reach the desired ∼0.05 mag accuracy in the absolute distance modulus.

"TNOs are Cool": A survey of the trans-Neptunian region. XII. Thermal light curves of Haumea, 2003 VS2 and 2003 AZ84 with Herschel/PACS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos-Sanz, P.; Lellouch, E.; Groussin, O.; Lacerda, P.; Müller, T. G.; Ortiz, J. L.; Kiss, C.; Vilenius, E.; Stansberry, J.; Duffard, R.; Fornasier, S.; Jorda, L.; Thirouin, A.

2017-08-01

Context. Time series observations of the dwarf planet Haumea and the Plutinos 2003 VS2 and 2003 AZ84 with Herschel/PACS are presented in this work. Thermal emission of these trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) were acquired as part of the "TNOs are Cool" Herschel Space Observatory key programme. Aims: We search for the thermal light curves at 100 and 160 μm of Haumea and 2003 AZ84, and at 70 and 160 μm for 2003 VS2 by means of photometric analysis of the PACS data. The goal of this work is to use these thermal light curves to obtain physical and thermophysical properties of these icy Solar System bodies. Methods: When a thermal light curve is detected, it is possible to derive or constrain the object thermal inertia, phase integral and/or surface roughness with thermophysical modeling. Results: Haumea's thermal light curve is clearly detected at 100 and 160 μm. The effect of the reported dark spot is apparent at 100 μm. Different thermophysical models were applied to these light curves, varying the thermophysical properties of the surface within and outside the spot. Although no model gives a perfect fit to the thermal observations, results imply an extremely low thermal inertia (<0.5 J m-2 s-1/2 K-1, hereafter MKS) and a high phase integral (>0.73) for Haumea's surface. We note that the dark spot region appears to be only weakly different from the rest of the object, with modest changes in thermal inertia and/or phase integral. The thermal light curve of 2003 VS2 is not firmly detected at 70 μm and at 160 μm but a thermal inertia of (2 ± 0.5) MKS can be derived from these data. The thermal light curve of 2003 AZ84 is not firmly detected at 100 μm. We apply a thermophysical model to the mean thermal fluxes and to all the Herschel/PACS and Spitzer/MIPS thermal data of 2003 AZ84, obtaining a close to pole-on orientation as the most likely for this TNO. Conclusions: For the three TNOs, the thermal inertias derived from light curve analyses or from the

Linking fluorescence induction curve and biomass in herbicide screening.

PubMed

Christensen, Martin G; Teicher, Harald B; Streibig, Jens C

2003-12-01

A suite of dose-response bioassays with white mustard (Sinapis alba L) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L) in the greenhouse and with three herbicides was used to analyse how the fluorescence induction curves (Kautsky curves) were affected by the herbicides. Bentazone, a photosystem II (PSII) inhibitor, completely blocked the normal fluorescence decay after the P-step. In contrast, fluorescence decay was still obvious for flurochloridone, a PDS inhibitor, and glyphosate, an EPSP inhibitor, which indicated that PSII inhibition was incomplete. From the numerous parameters that can be derived from OJIP-steps of the Kautsky curve the relative changes at the J-step [Fvj = (Fm - Fj)/Fm] was selected to be a common response parameter for the herbicides and yielded consistent dose-response relationships. Four hours after treatment, the response Fvj on the doses of bentazone and flurochloridone could be measured. For glyphosate, the changes of the Kautsky curve could similarly be detected 4 h after treatment in sugar beet, but only after 24 hs in S alba. The best prediction of biomass in relation to Fvj was found for bentazone. The experiments were conducted between May and August 2002 and showed that the ambient temperature and solar radiation in the greenhouse could affect dose-response relationships. If the Kautsky curve parameters should be used to predict the outcome of herbicide screening experiments in the greenhouse, where ambient radiation and temperature can only partly be controlled, it is imperative that the chosen fluorescence parameters can be used to predict accurately the resulting biomass used in classical bioassays.

Replication of Beta- and Gammaretroviruses Is Restricted in I/LnJ Mice via the Same Genetic Mechanism▿

PubMed Central

Case, Laure K.; Petell, Lydia; Yurkovetskiy, Leonid; Purdy, Alexandra; Savage, Katherine J.; Golovkina, Tatyana V.

2008-01-01

Mice of the I/LnJ inbred strain are unique in their ability to mount a robust and sustained humoral immune response capable of neutralizing infection with a betaretrovirus, mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). Virus-neutralizing antibodies (Abs) coat MMTV virions secreted by infected cells, preventing virus spread and hence the formation of mammary tumors. To investigate whether I/LnJ mice resist infection with other retroviruses besides MMTV, the animals were infected with murine leukemia virus (MuLV), a gammaretrovirus. MuLV-infected I/LnJ mice produced virus-neutralizing Abs that block virus transmission and virally induced disease. Generation of virus-neutralizing Abs required gamma interferon but was independent of interleukin-12. This unique mechanism of retrovirus resistance is governed by a single recessive gene, virus infectivity controller 1 (vic1), mapped to chromosome 17. In addition to controlling the antivirus humoral immune response, vic1 is also required for an antiviral cytotoxic response. Both types of responses were maintained in mice of the susceptible genetic background but congenic for the I/LnJ vic1 locus. Although the vic1-mediated resistance to MuLV resembles the mechanism of retroviral recovery controlled by the resistance to Friend virus 3 (rfv3) gene, the rfv3 gene has been mapped to chromosome 15 and confers resistance to MuLV but not to MMTV. Thus, we have identified a unique virus resistance mechanism that controls immunity against two distinct retroviruses. PMID:18057254

Evidence for the decay B0→J/ψω and measurement of the relative branching fractions of Bs0 meson decays to J/ψη and J/ψη'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aaij, R.; Abellan Beteta, C.; Adametz, A.; Adeva, B.; Adinolfi, M.; Adrover, C.; Affolder, A.; Ajaltouni, Z.; Albrecht, J.; Alessio, F.; Alexander, M.; Ali, S.; Alkhazov, G.; Alvarez Cartelle, P.; Alves, A. A.; Amato, S.; Amhis, Y.; Anderlini, L.; Anderson, J.; Appleby, R. B.; Aquines Gutierrez, O.; Archilli, F.; Artamonov, A.; Artuso, M.; Aslanides, E.; Auriemma, G.; Bachmann, S.; Back, J. J.; Baesso, C.; Balagura, V.; Baldini, W.; Barlow, R. J.; Barschel, C.; Barsuk, S.; Barter, W.; Bates, A.; Bauer, Th.; Bay, A.; Beddow, J.; Bediaga, I.; Belogurov, S.; Belous, K.; Belyaev, I.; Ben-Haim, E.; Benayoun, M.; Bencivenni, G.; Benson, S.; Benton, J.; Berezhnoy, A.; Bernet, R.; Bettler, M.-O.; van Beuzekom, M.; Bien, A.; Bifani, S.; Bird, T.; Bizzeti, A.; Bjørnstad, P. M.; Blake, T.; Blanc, F.; Blanks, C.; Blouw, J.; Blusk, S.; Bobrov, A.; Bocci, V.; Bondar, A.; Bondar, N.; Bonivento, W.; Borghi, S.; Borgia, A.; Bowcock, T. J. V.; Bozzi, C.; Brambach, T.; van den Brand, J.; Bressieux, J.; Brett, D.; Britsch, M.; Britton, T.; Brook, N. H.; Brown, H.; Büchler-Germann, A.; Burducea, I.; Bursche, A.; Buytaert, J.; Cadeddu, S.; Callot, O.; Calvi, M.; Calvo Gomez, M.; Camboni, A.; Campana, P.; Carbone, A.; Carboni, G.; Cardinale, R.; Cardini, A.; Carson, L.; Carvalho Akiba, K.; Casse, G.; Cattaneo, M.; Cauet, Ch.; Charles, M.; Charpentier, Ph.; Chen, P.; Chiapolini, N.; Chrzaszcz, M.; Ciba, K.; Cid Vidal, X.; Ciezarek, G.; Clarke, P. E. L.; Clemencic, M.; Cliff, H. V.; Closier, J.; Coca, C.; Coco, V.; Cogan, J.; Cogneras, E.; Collins, P.; Comerma-Montells, A.; Contu, A.; Cook, A.; Coombes, M.; Corti, G.; Couturier, B.; Cowan, G. A.; Craik, D.; Cunliffe, S.; Currie, R.; D'Ambrosio, C.; David, P.; David, P. N. Y.; De Bonis, I.; De Bruyn, K.; De Capua, S.; De Cian, M.; De Miranda, J. M.; De Paula, L.; De Simone, P.; Decamp, D.; Deckenhoff, M.; Degaudenzi, H.; Del Buono, L.; Deplano, C.; Derkach, D.; Deschamps, O.; Dettori, F.; Dickens, J.; Dijkstra, H.; Diniz Batista, P.; Domingo Bonal, F.; Donleavy, S.; Dordei, F.; Dosil Suárez, A.; Dossett, D.; Dovbnya, A.; Dupertuis, F.; Dzhelyadin, R.; Dziurda, A.; Dzyuba, A.; Easo, S.; Egede, U.; Egorychev, V.; Eidelman, S.; van Eijk, D.; Eisele, F.; Eisenhardt, S.; Ekelhof, R.; Eklund, L.; El Rifai, I.; Elsasser, Ch.; Elsby, D.; Esperante Pereira, D.; Falabella, A.; Färber, C.; Fardell, G.; Farinelli, C.; Farry, S.; Fave, V.; Fernandez Albor, V.; Ferreira Rodrigues, F.; Ferro-Luzzi, M.; Filippov, S.; Fitzpatrick, C.; Fontana, M.; Fontanelli, F.; Forty, R.; Francisco, O.; Frank, M.; Frei, C.; Frosini, M.; Furcas, S.; Gallas Torreira, A.; Galli, D.; Gandelman, M.; Gandini, P.; Gao, Y.; Garnier, J.-C.; Garofoli, J.; Garra Tico, J.; Garrido, L.; Gaspar, C.; Gauld, R.; Gersabeck, E.; Gersabeck, M.; Gershon, T.; Ghez, Ph.; Gibson, V.; Gligorov, V. V.; Göbel, C.; Golubkov, D.; Golutvin, A.; Gomes, A.; Gordon, H.; Grabalosa Gándara, M.; Graciani Diaz, R.; Granado Cardoso, L. A.; Graugés, E.; Graziani, G.; Grecu, A.; Greening, E.; Gregson, S.; Grünberg, O.; Gui, B.; Gushchin, E.; Guz, Yu.; Gys, T.; Hadjivasiliou, C.; Haefeli, G.; Haen, C.; Haines, S. C.; Hall, S.; Hampson, T.; Hansmann-Menzemer, S.; Harnew, N.; Harnew, S. T.; Harrison, J.; Harrison, P. F.; Hartmann, T.; He, J.; Heijne, V.; Hennessy, K.; Henrard, P.; Hernando Morata, J. A.; van Herwijnen, E.; Hicks, E.; Hill, D.; Hoballah, M.; Hopchev, P.; Hulsbergen, W.; Hunt, P.; Huse, T.; Hussain, N.; Huston, R. S.; Hutchcroft, D.; Hynds, D.; Iakovenko, V.; Ilten, P.; Imong, J.; Jacobsson, R.; Jaeger, A.; Jahjah Hussein, M.; Jans, E.; Jansen, F.; Jaton, P.; Jean-Marie, B.; Jing, F.; John, M.; Johnson, D.; Jones, C. R.; Jost, B.; Kaballo, M.; Kandybei, S.; Karacson, M.; Karbach, M.; Keaveney, J.; Kenyon, I. R.; Kerzel, U.; Ketel, T.; Keune, A.; Khanji, B.; Kim, Y. M.; Kochebina, O.; Komarov, I.; Komarov, V.; Koopman, R. F.; Koppenburg, P.; Korolev, M.; Kozlinskiy, A.; Kravchuk, L.; Kreplin, K.; Kreps, M.; Krocker, G.; Krokovny, P.; Kruse, F.; Kucharczyk, M.; Kudryavtsev, V.; Kvaratskheliya, T.; La Thi, V. N.; Lacarrere, D.; Lafferty, G.; Lai, A.; Lambert, D.; Lambert, R. W.; Lanciotti, E.; Lanfranchi, G.; Langenbruch, C.; Latham, T.; Lazzeroni, C.; Le Gac, R.; van Leerdam, J.; Lees, J.-P.; Lefèvre, R.; Leflat, A.; Lefrançois, J.; Leroy, O.; Lesiak, T.; Li, L.; Li, Y.; Li Gioi, L.; Liles, M.; Lindner, R.; Linn, C.; Liu, B.; Liu, G.; von Loeben, J.; Lopes, J. H.; Lopez Asamar, E.; Lopez-March, N.; Lu, H.; Luisier, J.; Mac Raighne, A.; Machefert, F.; Machikhiliyan, I. V.; Maciuc, F.; Maev, O.; Magnin, J.; Maino, M.; Malde, S.; Manca, G.; Mancinelli, G.; Mangiafave, N.; Marconi, U.; Märki, R.; Marks, J.; Martellotti, G.; Martens, A.; Martin, L.; Martín Sánchez, A.; Martinelli, M.; Martinez Santos, D.; Massafferri, A.; Mathe, Z.; Matteuzzi, C.; Matveev, M.; Maurice, E.; Mazurov, A.; McCarthy, J.; McGregor, G.; McNulty, R.; Meissner, M.; Merk, M.; Merkel, J.; Milanes, D. A.; Minard, M.-N.; Molina Rodriguez, J.; Monteil, S.; Moran, D.; Morawski, P.; Mountain, R.; Mous, I.; Muheim, F.; Müller, K.; Muresan, R.; Muryn, B.; Muster, B.; Mylroie-Smith, J.; Naik, P.; Nakada, T.; Nandakumar, R.; Nasteva, I.; Needham, M.; Neufeld, N.; Nguyen, A. D.; Nguyen-Mau, C.; Nicol, M.; Niess, V.; Nikitin, N.; Nikodem, T.; Nomerotski, A.; Novoselov, A.; Oblakowska-Mucha, A.; Obraztsov, V.; Oggero, S.; Ogilvy, S.; Okhrimenko, O.; Oldeman, R.; Orlandea, M.; Otalora Goicochea, J. M.; Owen, P.; Pal, B. K.; Palano, A.; Palutan, M.; Panman, J.; Papanestis, A.; Pappagallo, M.; Parkes, C.; Parkinson, C. J.; Passaleva, G.; Patel, G. D.; Patel, M.; Patrick, G. N.; Patrignani, C.; Pavel-Nicorescu, C.; Pazos Alvarez, A.; Pellegrino, A.; Penso, G.; Pepe Altarelli, M.; Perazzini, S.; Perego, D. L.; Perez Trigo, E.; Pérez-Calero Yzquierdo, A.; Perret, P.; Perrin-Terrin, M.; Pessina, G.; Petridis, K.; Petrolini, A.; Phan, A.; Picatoste Olloqui, E.; Pie Valls, B.; Pietrzyk, B.; Pilař, T.; Pinci, D.; Playfer, S.; Plo Casasus, M.; Polci, F.; Polok, G.; Poluektov, A.; Polycarpo, E.; Popov, D.; Popovici, B.; Potterat, C.; Powell, A.; Prisciandaro, J.; Pugatch, V.; Puig Navarro, A.; Qian, W.; Rademacker, J. H.; Rakotomiaramanana, B.; Rangel, M. S.; Raniuk, I.; Rauschmayr, N.; Raven, G.; Redford, S.; Reid, M. M.; dos Reis, A. C.; Ricciardi, S.; Richards, A.; Rinnert, K.; Rives Molina, V.; Roa Romero, D. A.; Robbe, P.; Rodrigues, E.; Rodriguez Perez, P.; Rogers, G. J.; Roiser, S.; Romanovsky, V.; Romero Vidal, A.; Rouvinet, J.; Ruf, T.; Ruiz, H.; Sabatino, G.; Saborido Silva, J. J.; Sagidova, N.; Sail, P.; Saitta, B.; Salzmann, C.; Sanmartin Sedes, B.; Sannino, M.; Santacesaria, R.; Santamarina Rios, C.; Santinelli, R.; Santovetti, E.; Sapunov, M.; Sarti, A.; Satriano, C.; Satta, A.; Savrie, M.; Savrina, D.; Schaack, P.; Schiller, M.; Schindler, H.; Schleich, S.; Schlupp, M.; Schmelling, M.; Schmidt, B.; Schneider, O.; Schopper, A.; Schune, M.-H.; Schwemmer, R.; Sciascia, B.; Sciubba, A.; Seco, M.; Semennikov, A.; Senderowska, K.; Sepp, I.; Serra, N.; Serrano, J.; Seyfert, P.; Shapkin, M.; Shapoval, I.; Shatalov, P.; Shcheglov, Y.; Shears, T.; Shekhtman, L.; Shevchenko, O.; Shevchenko, V.; Shires, A.; Silva Coutinho, R.; Skwarnicki, T.; Smith, N. A.; Smith, E.; Smith, M.; Sobczak, K.; Soler, F. J. P.; Solomin, A.; Soomro, F.; Souza, D.; Souza De Paula, B.; Spaan, B.; Sparkes, A.; Spradlin, P.; Stagni, F.; Stahl, S.; Steinkamp, O.; Stoica, S.; Stone, S.; Storaci, B.; Straticiuc, M.; Straumann, U.; Subbiah, V. K.; Swientek, S.; Szczekowski, M.; Szczypka, P.; Szumlak, T.; T'Jampens, S.; Teklishyn, M.; Teodorescu, E.; Teubert, F.; Thomas, C.; Thomas, E.; van Tilburg, J.; Tisserand, V.; Tobin, M.; Tolk, S.; Topp-Joergensen, S.; Torr, N.; Tournefier, E.; Tourneur, S.; Tran, M. T.; Tsaregorodtsev, A.; Tuning, N.; Ubeda Garcia, M.; Ukleja, A.; Urner, D.; Uwer, U.; Vagnoni, V.; Valenti, G.; Vazquez Gomez, R.; Vazquez Regueiro, P.; Vecchi, S.; Velthuis, J. J.; Veltri, M.; Veneziano, G.; Vesterinen, M.; Viaud, B.; Videau, I.; Vieira, D.; Vilasis-Cardona, X.; Visniakov, J.; Vollhardt, A.; Volyanskyy, D.; Voong, D.; Vorobyev, A.; Vorobyev, V.; Voss, H.; Voß, C.; Waldi, R.; Wallace, R.; Wandernoth, S.; Wang, J.; Ward, D. R.; Watson, N. K.; Webber, A. D.; Websdale, D.; Whitehead, M.; Wicht, J.; Wiedner, D.; Wiggers, L.; Wilkinson, G.; Williams, M. P.; Williams, M.; Wilson, F. F.; Wishahi, J.; Witek, M.; Witzeling, W.; Wotton, S. A.; Wright, S.; Wu, S.; Wyllie, K.; Xie, Y.; Xing, F.; Xing, Z.; Yang, Z.; Young, R.; Yuan, X.; Yushchenko, O.; Zangoli, M.; Zavertyaev, M.; Zhang, F.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, W. C.; Zhang, Y.; Zhelezov, A.; Zhong, L.; Zvyagin, A.; LHCb Collaboration

2013-02-01

First evidence of the B0→J/ψω decay is found and the Bs0→J/ψη and Bs0→J/ψη' decays are studied using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb-1 collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √{s}=7 TeV. The branching fractions of these decays are measured relative to that of the B0→J/ψρ0 decay: {B(B0→J/ψω)}/{B(B0→J/ψρ0)}=0.89±0.19(stat)-0.13+0.07(syst), {B(B}/{s0→J/ψη)B(B0→J/ψρ0)}=14.0±1.2(stat)-1.5+1.1(syst)-1.0+1.1(fd/fs), {B(B}/{s0→J/ψη')B(B0→J/ψρ0)}=12.7±1.1(stat)-1.3+0.5(syst)-0.9+1.0(fd/fs), where the last uncertainty is due to the knowledge of fd/fs, the ratio of b-quark hadronization factors that accounts for the different production rate of B0 and Bs0 mesons. The ratio of the branching fractions of Bs0→J/ψη' and Bs0→J/ψη decays is measured to be {B(B}/{s0→J/ψη')B(Bs0→J/ψη)}=0.90±0.09(stat)-0.02+0.06(syst).

RhoJ Regulates Melanoma Chemoresistance by Suppressing Pathways that Sense DNA Damage

PubMed Central

Ho, Hsiang; Aruri, Jayavani; Kapadia, Rubina; Mehr, Hootan; White, Michael A.; Ganesan, Anand K.

2012-01-01

Melanomas resist conventional chemotherapeutics in part through intrinsic disrespect of apoptotic checkpoint activation. In this study, using an unbiased genome-wide RNAi screen we identified RhoJ and its effector Pak1, as key modulators of melanoma cell sensitivity to DNA damage. We find that RhoJ activates Pak1 in response to drug-induced DNA damage, which then uncouples ATR from its downstream effectors, ultimately resulting in a blunted DNA damage response (DDR). In addition, ATR suppression leads to the decreased phosphorylation of ATF2, and consequent increased expression of the melanocyte survival gene Sox10 resulting in a higher DDR threshold required to engage melanoma cell death. In the setting of normal melanocyte behavior, this regulatory relationship may facilitate appropriate epidermal melanization in response to UV-induced DNA damage. However, pathological pathway activation during oncogenic transformation produces a tumor that is intrinsically resistant to chemotherapy and has the propensity to accumulate additional mutations. These findings identify DNA damage agents and pharmacological inhibitors of RhoJ/PAK1 as novel synergistic agents that can be used to treat melanomas that are resistant to conventional chemotherapies. PMID:22971344

Superposition of Cohesive Elements to Account for R-Curve Toughening in the Fracture of Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davila, Carlos G.; Rose, Cheryl A.; Song, Kyongchan

2008-01-01

The relationships between a resistance curve (R-curve), the corresponding fracture process zone length, the shape of the traction/displacement softening law, and the propagation of fracture are examined in the context of the through-the-thickness fracture of composite laminates. A procedure that accounts for R-curve toughening mechanisms by superposing bilinear cohesive elements is proposed. Simple equations are developed for determining the separation of the critical energy release rates and the strengths that define the independent contributions of each bilinear softening law in the superposition. It is shown that the R-curve measured with a Compact Tension specimen test can be reproduced by superposing two bilinear softening laws. It is also shown that an accurate representation of the R-curve is essential for predicting the initiation and propagation of fracture in composite laminates.

SCEW: a Microsoft Excel add-in for easy creation of survival curves.

PubMed

Khan, Haseeb Ahmad

2006-07-01

Survival curves are frequently used for reporting survival or mortality outcomes of experimental pharmacological/toxicological studies and of clinical trials. Microsoft Excel is a simple and widely used tool for creation of numerous types of graphic presentations however it is difficult to create step-wise survival curves in Excel. Considering the familiarity of clinicians and biomedical scientists with Excel, an algorithm survival curves in Excel worksheet (SCEW) has been developed for easy creation of survival curves directly in Excel worksheets. The algorithm has been integrated in the form of Excel add-in for easy installation and usage. The program is based on modification of frequency data for binary break-up using the spreadsheet formula functions whereas a macro subroutine automates the creation of survival curves. The advantages of this program are simple data input, minimal procedural steps and the creation of survival curves in the familiar confines of Excel.

An integrated specification for the nexus of water pollution and economic growth in China: Panel cointegration, long-run causality and environmental Kuznets curve.

PubMed

Zhang, Chen; Wang, Yuan; Song, Xiaowei; Kubota, Jumpei; He, Yanmin; Tojo, Junji; Zhu, Xiaodong

2017-12-31

This paper concentrates on a Chinese context and makes efforts to develop an integrated process to explicitly elucidate the relationship between economic growth and water pollution discharge-chemical oxygen demand (COD) discharge and ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N), using two unbalanced panel data sets covering the period separately from 1990 to 2014, and 2001 to 2014. In our present study, the panel unit root tests, cointegration tests, and Granger causality tests allowing for cross-sectional dependence, nonstationary, and heterogeneity are conducted to examine the causal effects of economic growth on COD/NH 3 -N discharge. Further, we simultaneously apply semi-parametric fixed effects estimation and parametric fixed effects estimation to investigate environmental Kuznets curve relationship for COD/NH 3 -N discharge. Our empirical results show a long-term bidirectional causality between economic growth and COD/NH 3 -N discharge in China. Within the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology framework, we find evidence in support of an inverted U-shaped curved link between economic growth and COD/NH 3 -N discharge. To the best of our knowledge, there have not been any efforts made in investigating the nexus of economic growth and water pollution in such an integrated manner. Therefore, this study takes a fresh look on this topic. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical evaluation of the corrosion resistance of cup-yoke-type dental magnetic attachments.

PubMed

Takada, Yukyo; Takahashi, Masatoshi; Kikuchi, Akira; Tenkumo, Taichi

2014-01-01

The corrosion resistance of different magnetic assemblies—Magfit DX800 (Aichi Steel), Gigauss D800 (GC), Hyper Slim 4013, and Hicorex Slim 4013 (Hitachi Metals)—were electrochemically evaluated using anodic polarization curves obtained in 0.9% NaCl solution at 37°C. Stainless steels (444, XM27, 447J1, and 316L) composing the magnetic assemblies were also examined as controls. This revealed that all of the magnetic assemblies break down at 0.6-1.1 V; however, their breakdown potentials were all still significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of 316L. The distribution of elements in the laser welding zone between the yoke and shield ring was analyzed using EPMA; except with Magfit DX800, where the Cr content of the shield ring weld was greater than that of 316L. These magnetic assemblies are expected to have good corrosion resistance in the oral cavity, as their breakdown potentials are sufficiently higher than the 316L commonly used as a surgical implant material.

High speed curved position sensitive detector

DOEpatents

Hendricks, Robert W.; Wilson, Jack W.

1989-01-01

A high speed curved position sensitive porportional counter detector for use in x-ray diffraction, the detection of 5-20 keV photons and the like. The detector employs a planar anode assembly of a plurality of parallel metallic wires. This anode assembly is supported between two cathode planes, with at least one of these cathode planes having a serpentine resistive path in the form of a meander having legs generally perpendicular to the anode wires. This meander is produced by special microelectronic fabrication techniques whereby the meander "wire" fans outwardly at the cathode ends to produce the curved aspect of the detector, and the legs of the meander are small in cross-section and very closely spaced whereby a spatial resolution of about 50 .mu.m can be achieved. All of the other performance characteristics are about as good or better than conventional position sensitive proportional counter type detectors. Count rates of up to 40,000 counts per second with 0.5 .mu.s shaping time constants are achieved.

Intertwined Hamiltonians in two-dimensional curved spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aghababaei Samani, Keivan; Zarei, Mina

2005-04-01

The problem of intertwined Hamiltonians in two-dimensional curved spaces is investigated. Explicit results are obtained for Euclidean plane, Minkowski plane, Poincaré half plane (AdS2), de Sitter plane (dS2), sphere, and torus. It is shown that the intertwining operator is related to the Killing vector fields and the isometry group of corresponding space. It is shown that the intertwined potentials are closely connected to the integral curves of the Killing vector fields. Two problems are considered as applications of the formalism presented in the paper. The first one is the problem of Hamiltonians with equispaced energy levels and the second one is the problem of Hamiltonians whose spectrum is like the spectrum of a free particle.

"The Bell Curve": Does IQ and Race Determine Class and Place in America?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parker, Franklin

"The Bell Curve" by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles A. Murray has ignited a fierce academic debate. They assert that IQ as measured by tests has replaced family wealth and status in determining jobs, income, class, and place in American life; that whites average 15 IQ points higher than blacks; and that high-IQ ruling elites, with…

The Performance of Multilevel Growth Curve Models under an Autoregressive Moving Average Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Daniel L.; Pituch, Keenan A.

2009-01-01

The authors examined the robustness of multilevel linear growth curve modeling to misspecification of an autoregressive moving average process. As previous research has shown (J. Ferron, R. Dailey, & Q. Yi, 2002; O. Kwok, S. G. West, & S. B. Green, 2007; S. Sivo, X. Fan, & L. Witta, 2005), estimates of the fixed effects were unbiased, and Type I…

Integrating rapid diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship improves outcomes in patients with antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia.

PubMed

Perez, Katherine K; Olsen, Randall J; Musick, William L; Cernoch, Patricia L; Davis, James R; Peterson, Leif E; Musser, James M

2014-09-01

An intervention for Gram-negative bloodstream infections that integrated mass spectrometry technology for rapid diagnosis with antimicrobial stewardship oversight significantly improved patient outcomes and reduced hospital costs. As antibiotic resistance rates continue to grow at an alarming speed, the current study was undertaken to assess the impact of this intervention in a challenging patient population with bloodstream infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. A total of 153 patients with antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia hospitalized prior to the study intervention were compared to 112 patients treated post-implementation. Outcomes assessed included time to optimal antibiotic therapy, time to active treatment when inactive, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, all-cause 30-day mortality, and total hospital expenditures. Integrating rapid diagnostics with antimicrobial stewardship improved time to optimal antibiotic therapy (80.9 h in the pre-intervention period versus 23.2 h in the intervention period, P < 0.001) and effective antibiotic therapy (89.7 h versus 32 h, P < 0.001). Patients in the pre-intervention period had increased duration of hospitalization compared to those in the intervention period (23.3 days versus 15.3 days, P = 0.0001) and longer intensive care unit length of stay (16 days versus 10.7 days, P = 0.008). Mortality among patients during the intervention period was lower (21% versus 8.9%, P = 0.01) and our study intervention remained a significant predictor of survival (OR, 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.79) after multivariate logistic regression. Mean hospital costs for each inpatient survivor were reduced $26,298 in the intervention cohort resulting in an estimated annual cost savings of $2.4 million (P = 0.002). Integration of rapid identification and susceptibility techniques with antimicrobial stewardship resulted in significant improvements in clinical and financial outcomes

Evidence for the decay B0→J/ψω and measurement of the relative branching fractions of Bs0 meson decays to J/ψη and J/ψη‧

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

LHCb Collaboration; Aaij, R.; Abellan Beteta, C.; Adametz, A.; Adeva, B.; Adinolfi, M.; Adrover, C.; Affolder, A.; Ajaltouni, Z.; Albrecht, J.; Alessio, F.; Alexander, M.; Ali, S.; Alkhazov, G.; Alvarez Cartelle, P.; Alves, A. A.; Amato, S.; Amhis, Y.; Anderlini, L.; Anderson, J.; Appleby, R. B.; Aquines Gutierrez, O.; Archilli, F.; Artamonov, A.; Artuso, M.; Aslanides, E.; Auriemma, G.; Bachmann, S.; Back, J. J.; Baesso, C.; Balagura, V.; Baldini, W.; Barlow, R. J.; Barschel, C.; Barsuk, S.; Barter, W.; Bates, A.; Bauer, Th.; Bay, A.; Beddow, J.; Bediaga, I.; Belogurov, S.; Belous, K.; Belyaev, I.; Ben-Haim, E.; Benayoun, M.; Bencivenni, G.; Benson, S.; Benton, J.; Berezhnoy, A.; Bernet, R.; Bettler, M.-O.; van Beuzekom, M.; Bien, A.; Bifani, S.; Bird, T.; Bizzeti, A.; Bjørnstad, P. M.; Blake, T.; Blanc, F.; Blanks, C.; Blouw, J.; Blusk, S.; Bobrov, A.; Bocci, V.; Bondar, A.; Bondar, N.; Bonivento, W.; Borghi, S.; Borgia, A.; Bowcock, T. J. V.; Bozzi, C.; Brambach, T.; van den Brand, J.; Bressieux, J.; Brett, D.; Britsch, M.; Britton, T.; Brook, N. H.; Brown, H.; Büchler-Germann, A.; Burducea, I.; Bursche, A.; Buytaert, J.; Cadeddu, S.; Callot, O.; Calvi, M.; Calvo Gomez, M.; Camboni, A.; Campana, P.; Carbone, A.; Carboni, G.; Cardinale, R.; Cardini, A.; Carson, L.; Carvalho Akiba, K.; Casse, G.; Cattaneo, M.; Cauet, Ch.; Charles, M.; Charpentier, Ph.; Chen, P.; Chiapolini, N.; Chrzaszcz, M.; Ciba, K.; Cid Vidal, X.; Ciezarek, G.; Clarke, P. E. L.; Clemencic, M.; Cliff, H. V.; Closier, J.; Coca, C.; Coco, V.; Cogan, J.; Cogneras, E.; Collins, P.; Comerma-Montells, A.; Contu, A.; Cook, A.; Coombes, M.; Corti, G.; Couturier, B.; Cowan, G. A.; Craik, D.; Cunliffe, S.; Currie, R.; D'Ambrosio, C.; David, P.; David, P. N. Y.; De Bonis, I.; De Bruyn, K.; De Capua, S.; De Cian, M.; De Miranda, J. M.; De Paula, L.; De Simone, P.; Decamp, D.; Deckenhoff, M.; Degaudenzi, H.; Del Buono, L.; Deplano, C.; Derkach, D.; Deschamps, O.; Dettori, F.; Dickens, J.; Dijkstra, H.; Diniz Batista, P.; Domingo Bonal, F.; Donleavy, S.; Dordei, F.; Dosil Suárez, A.; Dossett, D.; Dovbnya, A.; Dupertuis, F.; Dzhelyadin, R.; Dziurda, A.; Dzyuba, A.; Easo, S.; Egede, U.; Egorychev, V.; Eidelman, S.; van Eijk, D.; Eisele, F.; Eisenhardt, S.; Ekelhof, R.; Eklund, L.; El Rifai, I.; Elsasser, Ch.; Elsby, D.; Esperante Pereira, D.; Falabella, A.; Färber, C.; Fardell, G.; Farinelli, C.; Farry, S.; Fave, V.; Fernandez Albor, V.; Ferreira Rodrigues, F.; Ferro-Luzzi, M.; Filippov, S.; Fitzpatrick, C.; Fontana, M.; Fontanelli, F.; Forty, R.; Francisco, O.; Frank, M.; Frei, C.; Frosini, M.; Furcas, S.; Gallas Torreira, A.; Galli, D.; Gandelman, M.; Gandini, P.; Gao, Y.; Garnier, J.-C.; Garofoli, J.; Garra Tico, J.; Garrido, L.; Gaspar, C.; Gauld, R.; Gersabeck, E.; Gersabeck, M.; Gershon, T.; Ghez, Ph.; Gibson, V.; Gligorov, V. V.; Göbel, C.; Golubkov, D.; Golutvin, A.; Gomes, A.; Gordon, H.; Grabalosa Gándara, M.; Graciani Diaz, R.; Granado Cardoso, L. A.; Graugés, E.; Graziani, G.; Grecu, A.; Greening, E.; Gregson, S.; Grünberg, O.; Gui, B.; Gushchin, E.; Guz, Yu.; Gys, T.; Hadjivasiliou, C.; Haefeli, G.; Haen, C.; Haines, S. C.; Hall, S.; Hampson, T.; Hansmann-Menzemer, S.; Harnew, N.; Harnew, S. T.; Harrison, J.; Harrison, P. F.; Hartmann, T.; He, J.; Heijne, V.; Hennessy, K.; Henrard, P.; Hernando Morata, J. A.; van Herwijnen, E.; Hicks, E.; Hill, D.; Hoballah, M.; Hopchev, P.; Hulsbergen, W.; Hunt, P.; Huse, T.; Hussain, N.; Huston, R. S.; Hutchcroft, D.; Hynds, D.; Iakovenko, V.; Ilten, P.; Imong, J.; Jacobsson, R.; Jaeger, A.; Jahjah Hussein, M.; Jans, E.; Jansen, F.; Jaton, P.; Jean-Marie, B.; Jing, F.; John, M.; Johnson, D.; Jones, C. R.; Jost, B.; Kaballo, M.; Kandybei, S.; Karacson, M.; Karbach, M.; Keaveney, J.; Kenyon, I. R.; Kerzel, U.; Ketel, T.; Keune, A.; Khanji, B.; Kim, Y. M.; Kochebina, O.; Komarov, I.; Komarov, V.; Koopman, R. F.; Koppenburg, P.; Korolev, M.; Kozlinskiy, A.; Kravchuk, L.; Kreplin, K.; Kreps, M.; Krocker, G.; Krokovny, P.; Kruse, F.; Kucharczyk, M.; Kudryavtsev, V.; Kvaratskheliya, T.; La Thi, V. N.; Lacarrere, D.; Lafferty, G.; Lai, A.; Lambert, D.; Lambert, R. W.; Lanciotti, E.; Lanfranchi, G.; Langenbruch, C.; Latham, T.; Lazzeroni, C.; Le Gac, R.; van Leerdam, J.; Lees, J.-P.; Lefèvre, R.; Leflat, A.; Lefrançois, J.; Leroy, O.; Lesiak, T.; Li, L.; Li, Y.; Li Gioi, L.; Liles, M.; Lindner, R.; Linn, C.; Liu, B.; Liu, G.; von Loeben, J.; Lopes, J. H.; Lopez Asamar, E.; Lopez-March, N.; Lu, H.; Luisier, J.; Mac Raighne, A.; Machefert, F.; Machikhiliyan, I. V.; Maciuc, F.; Maev, O.; Magnin, J.; Maino, M.; Malde, S.; Manca, G.; Mancinelli, G.; Mangiafave, N.; Marconi, U.; Märki, R.; Marks, J.; Martellotti, G.; Martens, A.; Martin, L.; Martín Sánchez, A.; Martinelli, M.; Martinez Santos, D.; Massafferri, A.; Mathe, Z.; Matteuzzi, C.; Matveev, M.; Maurice, E.; Mazurov, A.; McCarthy, J.; McGregor, G.; McNulty, R.; Meissner, M.; Merk, M.; Merkel, J.; Milanes, D. A.; Minard, M.-N.; Molina Rodriguez, J.; Monteil, S.; Moran, D.; Morawski, P.; Mountain, R.; Mous, I.; Muheim, F.; Müller, K.; Muresan, R.; Muryn, B.; Muster, B.; Mylroie-Smith, J.; Naik, P.; Nakada, T.; Nandakumar, R.; Nasteva, I.; Needham, M.; Neufeld, N.; Nguyen, A. D.; Nguyen-Mau, C.; Nicol, M.; Niess, V.; Nikitin, N.; Nikodem, T.; Nomerotski, A.; Novoselov, A.; Oblakowska-Mucha, A.; Obraztsov, V.; Oggero, S.; Ogilvy, S.; Okhrimenko, O.; Oldeman, R.; Orlandea, M.; Otalora Goicochea, J. M.; Owen, P.; Pal, B. K.; Palano, A.; Palutan, M.; Panman, J.; Papanestis, A.; Pappagallo, M.; Parkes, C.; Parkinson, C. J.; Passaleva, G.; Patel, G. D.; Patel, M.; Patrick, G. N.; Patrignani, C.; Pavel-Nicorescu, C.; Pazos Alvarez, A.; Pellegrino, A.; Penso, G.; Pepe Altarelli, M.; Perazzini, S.; Perego, D. L.; Perez Trigo, E.; Pérez-Calero Yzquierdo, A.; Perret, P.; Perrin-Terrin, M.; Pessina, G.; Petridis, K.; Petrolini, A.; Phan, A.; Picatoste Olloqui, E.; Pie Valls, B.; Pietrzyk, B.; Pilař, T.; Pinci, D.; Playfer, S.; Plo Casasus, M.; Polci, F.; Polok, G.; Poluektov, A.; Polycarpo, E.; Popov, D.; Popovici, B.; Potterat, C.; Powell, A.; Prisciandaro, J.; Pugatch, V.; Puig Navarro, A.; Qian, W.; Rademacker, J. H.; Rakotomiaramanana, B.; Rangel, M. S.; Raniuk, I.; Rauschmayr, N.; Raven, G.; Redford, S.; Reid, M. M.; dos Reis, A. C.; Ricciardi, S.; Richards, A.; Rinnert, K.; Rives Molina, V.; Roa Romero, D. A.; Robbe, P.; Rodrigues, E.; Rodriguez Perez, P.; Rogers, G. J.; Roiser, S.; Romanovsky, V.; Romero Vidal, A.; Rouvinet, J.; Ruf, T.; Ruiz, H.; Sabatino, G.; Saborido Silva, J. J.; Sagidova, N.; Sail, P.; Saitta, B.; Salzmann, C.; Sanmartin Sedes, B.; Sannino, M.; Santacesaria, R.; Santamarina Rios, C.; Santinelli, R.; Santovetti, E.; Sapunov, M.; Sarti, A.; Satriano, C.; Satta, A.; Savrie, M.; Savrina, D.; Schaack, P.; Schiller, M.; Schindler, H.; Schleich, S.; Schlupp, M.; Schmelling, M.; Schmidt, B.; Schneider, O.; Schopper, A.; Schune, M.-H.; Schwemmer, R.; Sciascia, B.; Sciubba, A.; Seco, M.; Semennikov, A.; Senderowska, K.; Sepp, I.; Serra, N.; Serrano, J.; Seyfert, P.; Shapkin, M.; Shapoval, I.; Shatalov, P.; Shcheglov, Y.; Shears, T.; Shekhtman, L.; Shevchenko, O.; Shevchenko, V.; Shires, A.; Silva Coutinho, R.; Skwarnicki, T.; Smith, N. A.; Smith, E.; Smith, M.; Sobczak, K.; Soler, F. J. P.; Solomin, A.; Soomro, F.; Souza, D.; Souza De Paula, B.; Spaan, B.; Sparkes, A.; Spradlin, P.; Stagni, F.; Stahl, S.; Steinkamp, O.; Stoica, S.; Stone, S.; Storaci, B.; Straticiuc, M.; Straumann, U.; Subbiah, V. K.; Swientek, S.; Szczekowski, M.; Szczypka, P.; Szumlak, T.; T'Jampens, S.; Teklishyn, M.; Teodorescu, E.; Teubert, F.; Thomas, C.; Thomas, E.; van Tilburg, J.; Tisserand, V.; Tobin, M.; Tolk, S.; Topp-Joergensen, S.; Torr, N.; Tournefier, E.; Tourneur, S.; Tran, M. T.; Tsaregorodtsev, A.; Tuning, N.; Ubeda Garcia, M.; Ukleja, A.; Urner, D.; Uwer, U.; Vagnoni, V.; Valenti, G.; Vazquez Gomez, R.; Vazquez Regueiro, P.; Vecchi, S.; Velthuis, J. J.; Veltri, M.; Veneziano, G.; Vesterinen, M.; Viaud, B.; Videau, I.; Vieira, D.; Vilasis-Cardona, X.; Visniakov, J.; Vollhardt, A.; Volyanskyy, D.; Voong, D.; Vorobyev, A.; Vorobyev, V.; Voss, H.; Voß, C.; Waldi, R.; Wallace, R.; Wandernoth, S.; Wang, J.; Ward, D. R.; Watson, N. K.; Webber, A. D.; Websdale, D.; Whitehead, M.; Wicht, J.; Wiedner, D.; Wiggers, L.; Wilkinson, G.; Williams, M. P.; Williams, M.; Wilson, F. F.; Wishahi, J.; Witek, M.; Witzeling, W.; Wotton, S. A.; Wright, S.; Wu, S.; Wyllie, K.; Xie, Y.; Xing, F.; Xing, Z.; Yang, Z.; Young, R.; Yuan, X.; Yushchenko, O.; Zangoli, M.; Zavertyaev, M.; Zhang, F.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, W. C.; Zhang, Y.; Zhelezov, A.; Zhong, L.; Zvyagin, A.

2013-02-01

First evidence of the B0→J/ψω decay is found and the Bs0→J/ψη and Bs0→J/ψη‧ decays are studied using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb-1 collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of s=7 TeV. The branching fractions of these decays are measured relative to that of the B0→J/ψρ0 decay:B(B0→J/ψω)B(B0→J/ψρ0)=0.89±0.19(stat)-0.13+0.07(syst), B(Bs0→J/ψη)B(B0→J/ψρ0)=14.0±1.2(stat)-1.5+1.1(syst)-1.0+1.1(fdfs), B(Bs0→J/ψη‧)B(B0→J/ψρ0)=12.7±1.1(stat)-1.3+0.5(syst)-0.9+1.0(fdfs), where the last uncertainty is due to the knowledge of fd/fs, the ratio of b-quark hadronization factors that accounts for the different production rate of B0 and Bs0 mesons. The ratio of the branching fractions of Bs0→J/ψη‧ and Bs0→J/ψη decays is measured to beB(Bs0→J/ψη‧)B(Bs0→J/ψη)=0.90±0.09(stat)-0.02+0.06(syst).

Excessive lateral patellar translation on axial computed tomography indicates positive patellar J sign.

PubMed

Xue, Zhe; Song, Guan-Yang; Liu, Xin; Zhang, Hui; Wu, Guan; Qian, Yi; Feng, Hua

2018-03-20

The purpose of the study was to quantify the patellar J sign using traditional computed tomography (CT) scans. Fifty-three patients (fifty-three knees) who suffered from recurrent patellar instability were included and analyzed. The patellar J sign was evaluated pre-operatively during active knee flexion and extension. It was defined as positive when there was obvious lateral patellar translation, and negative when there was not. The CT scans were performed in all patients with full knee extension; and the parameters including bisect offset index (BOI), patellar-trochlear-groove (PTG) distance, and patellar lateral tilt angle (PLTA) were measured on the axial slices. All the three parameters were compared between the J sign-positive group (study group) and the J sign-negative group (control group). In addition, the optimal thresholds of the three CT scan parameters for predicting the positive patellar J sign were determined with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the diagnostic values were assessed by the area under the curve (AUC). Among the fifty-three patients (fifty-three knees), thirty-seven (70%) showed obvious lateral patellar translation, which were defined as positive J sign (study group), and the remaining sixteen (30%) who showed no lateral translation were defined as negative J sign (control group). The mean values of the three CT parameters in the study group were all significantly larger compared to the control group, including BOI (121 ± 28% vs 88 ± 12%, P = 0.038), PTG distance (5.2 ± 6.6 mm vs - 4.4 ± 5.2 mm, P < 0.05), and PLTA (34.9 ± 10.5° vs 25.7 ± 3.4°, P = 0.001). Furthermore, the evaluation of ROC analysis showed that the AUC of BOI was the largest (AUC = 0.906) among the three parameters, and the optimal threshold of BOI to predict the positive patellar J sign was 97.5% (Sensitivity = 83.3%, Specificity = 87.5%). In this study, the prevalence of positive patellar J

A precision analogue integrator system for heavy current measurement in MFDC resistance spot welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Yu-Jun; Zhang, Zhong-Dian; Xia, Zhen-Xin; Zhu, Shi-Liang; Zhang, Rui

2016-02-01

In order to control and monitor the quality of middle frequency direct current (MFDC) resistance spot welding (RSW), precision measurement of the welding current up to 100 kA is required, for which Rogowski coils are the only viable current transducers at present. Thus, a highly accurate analogue integrator is the key to restoring the converted signals collected from the Rogowski coils. Previous studies emphasised that the integration drift is a major factor that influences the performance of analogue integrators, but capacitive leakage error also has a significant impact on the result, especially in long-time pulse integration. In this article, new methods of measuring and compensating capacitive leakage error are proposed to fabricate a precision analogue integrator system for MFDC RSW. A voltage holding test is carried out to measure the integration error caused by capacitive leakage, and an original integrator with a feedback adder is designed to compensate capacitive leakage error in real time. The experimental results and statistical analysis show that the new analogue integrator system could constrain both drift and capacitive leakage error, of which the effect is robust to different voltage levels of output signals. The total integration error is limited within  ±0.09 mV s-1 0.005% s-1 or full scale at a 95% confidence level, which makes it possible to achieve the precision measurement of the welding current of MFDC RSW with Rogowski coils of 0.1% accuracy class.

Detection and characterization of multi-filament evolution during resistive switching

DOE PAGES

Mickel, Patrick R.; Lohn, Andrew J.; Marinella, Matthew J.

2014-08-05

We present resistive switching data in TaO x memristors displaying signatures of multi-filament switching modes, and develop a geometrically defined equivalent circuit to separate the individual resistances and powers dissipated in each filament. Using these resolved values, we compare the individual switching curves of each filament and demonstrate that the switching data of each filament collapse onto a single switching curve determined by the analytical steady-state resistive switching solution for filamentary switching. Analyzing our results in terms of this solution, we determine the switching temperature, heat flow, conductivity, and time evolving areas of each filament during resistive switching. Finally, wemore » discuss operational modes which may limit the formation of additional conducting filaments, potentially leading to increased device endurance.« less

J domain independent functions of J proteins.

PubMed

Ajit Tamadaddi, Chetana; Sahi, Chandan

2016-07-01

Heat shock proteins of 40 kDa (Hsp40s), also called J proteins, are obligate partners of Hsp70s. Via their highly conserved and functionally critical J domain, J proteins interact and modulate the activity of their Hsp70 partners. Mutations in the critical residues in the J domain often result in the null phenotype for the J protein in question. However, as more J proteins have been characterized, it is becoming increasingly clear that a significant number of J proteins do not "completely" rely on their J domains to carry out their cellular functions, as previously thought. In some cases, regions outside the highly conserved J domain have become more important making the J domain dispensable for some, if not for all functions of a J protein. This has profound effects on the evolution of such J proteins. Here we present selected examples of J proteins that perform J domain independent functions and discuss this in the context of evolution of J proteins with dispensable J domains and J-like proteins in eukaryotes.

Curved bones: An adaptation to habitual loading.

PubMed

Milne, Nick

2016-10-21

Why are long bones curved? It has long been considered a paradox that many long bones supporting mammalian bodies are curved, since this curvature results in the bone undergoing greater bending, with higher strains and so greater fracture risk under load. This study develops a theoretical model wherein the curvature is a response to bending strains imposed by the requirements of locomotion. In particular the radioulna of obligate quadrupeds is a lever operated by the triceps muscle, and the bending strains induced by the triceps muscle counter the bending resulting from longitudinal loads acting on the curved bone. Indeed the theoretical model reverses this logic and suggests that the curvature is itself a response to the predictable bending strains induced by the triceps muscle. This, in turn, results in anatomical arrangements of bone, muscle and tendon that create a simple physiological mechanism whereby the bone can resist the bending due to the action of triceps in supporting and moving the body. The model is illustrated by contrasting the behaviour of a finite element model of a llama radioulna to that of a straightened version of the same bone. The results show that longitudinal and flexor muscle forces produce bending strains that effectively counter strains due to the pull of the triceps muscle in the curved but not in the straightened model. It is concluded that the curvature of these and other curved bones adds resilience to the skeleton by acting as pre-stressed beams or strainable pre-buckled struts. It is also proposed that the cranial bending strains that result from triceps, acting on the lever that is the radioulna, can explain the development of the curvature of such bones. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface charge method for molecular surfaces with curved areal elements I. Spherical triangles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Yi-Kuo

2018-03-01

Parametrizing a curved surface with flat triangles in electrostatics problems creates a diverging electric field. One way to avoid this is to have curved areal elements. However, charge density integration over curved patches appears difficult. This paper, dealing with spherical triangles, is the first in a series aiming to solve this problem. Here, we lay the ground work for employing curved patches for applying the surface charge method to electrostatics. We show analytically how one may control the accuracy by expanding in powers of the the arc length (multiplied by the curvature). To accommodate not extremely small curved areal elements, we have provided enough details to include higher order corrections that are needed for better accuracy when slightly larger surface elements are used.

Policy Alternatives for Post-Industrial America Suggested in the "Bell Curve": The Untold Story.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bauer, Norman J.

The primary problem that Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray address in their book, "The Bell Curve," is that an unrecognized societal migration has been emerging in American society since 1950. People with high IQs are rewarded socially and economically, while the rest of the population has remained stagnant. This paper describes…

An assessment of the BEST procedure to estimate the soil water retention curve

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castellini, Mirko; Di Prima, Simone; Iovino, Massimo

2017-04-01

conclusion, our results showed that the BEST-slope algorithm appeared to yield more accurate estimates of water retention data with reference to three of the four sampled soils. Conversely, determining water retention curves by the -intercept and -steady algorithms may be questionable, since these algorithms overestimated hg yielding independent values of this parameter from the proportionality coefficient γ. (*) The work was supported by the project "STRATEGA, Sperimentazione e TRAsferimento di TEcniche innovative di aGricoltura conservativA", financed by Regione Puglia - Servizio Agricoltura. References Castellini, M., Iovino, M., Pirastru, M., Niedda, M., Bagarello, V., 2016. Use of BEST Procedure to Assess Soil Physical Quality in the Baratz Lake Catchment (Sardinia, Italy). Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 80:742-755. doi:10.2136/sssaj2015.11.0389 Di Prima, S., Lassabatere, L., Bagarello, V., Iovino, M., Angulo-Jaramillo, R., 2016. Testing a new automated single ring infiltrometer for Beerkan infiltration experiments. Geoderma 262, 20-34. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.08.006 Lassabatère, L., Angulo-Jaramillo, R., Soria Ugalde, J.M., Cuenca, R., Braud, I., Haverkamp, R., 2006. Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer Parameters through Infiltration Experiments-BEST. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:521-532. doi:10.2136/sssaj2005.0026 Smettem, K.R.J., Parlange, J.Y., Ross, P.J., Haverkamp, R., 1994. Three-dimensional analysis of infiltration from the disc infiltrometer: 1. A capillary-based theory. Water Resour. Res. 30, 2925-2929. doi:10.1029/94WR01787 Wind, G.P. 1968. Capillary conductivity data estimated by a simple method. In: Water in the Unsaturated Zone, Proceedings of Wageningen Syposium, June 1966 Vol.1 (eds P.E. Rijtema & H Wassink), pp. 181-191, IASAH, Gentbrugge, Belgium.

Calculating Potential Energy Curves with Quantum Monte Carlo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, Andrew D.; Dawes, Richard

2014-06-01

Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) is a computational technique that can be applied to the electronic Schrödinger equation for molecules. QMC methods such as Variational Monte Carlo (VMC) and Diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) have demonstrated the capability of capturing large fractions of the correlation energy, thus suggesting their possible use for high-accuracy quantum chemistry calculations. QMC methods scale particularly well with respect to parallelization making them an attractive consideration in anticipation of next-generation computing architectures which will involve massive parallelization with millions of cores. Due to the statistical nature of the approach, in contrast to standard quantum chemistry methods, uncertainties (error-bars) are associated with each calculated energy. This study focuses on the cost, feasibility and practical application of calculating potential energy curves for small molecules with QMC methods. Trial wave functions were constructed with the multi-configurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) method from GAMESS-US.[1] The CASINO Monte Carlo quantum chemistry package [2] was used for all of the DMC calculations. An overview of our progress in this direction will be given. References: M. W. Schmidt et al. J. Comput. Chem. 14, 1347 (1993). R. J. Needs et al. J. Phys.: Condensed Matter 22, 023201 (2010).

Study of the B + c → J/ΨD + s and B + c → J/ΨD* s + decays with the ATLAS detector

DOE PAGES

Aad, G.; Abbott, B.; Abdallah, J.; ...

2016-01-05

The decays B + c → J/ΨD + s and B + c → J/ΨD* s + are studied with the ATLAS detector at the LHC using a dataset corresponding to integrated luminosities of 4.9 and 20.6 fb –1 of pp collisions collected at centre-of-mass energies √s = 7 TeV and 8 TeV, respectively. Furthermore, signal candidates are identified through J/ψ → μ +μ - and D (*)+ s → Φπ +(γ/π 0) decays.

Detection of X-ray flares from AX J1714.1-3912, the unidentified source near RX J1713.7-3946

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miceli, Marco; Bamba, Aya

2018-04-01

Context. Molecular clouds are predicted to emit nonthermal X-rays when they are close to particle-accelerating supernova remnants (SNRs), and the hard X-ray source AX J1714.1-3912, near the SNR RX J1713.7-3946, has long been considered a candidate for diffuse nonthermal emission associated with cosmic rays diffusing from the remnant to a closeby molecular cloud. Aim. We aim at ascertaining the nature of this source by analyzing two dedicated X-ray observations performed with Suzaku and Chandra. Methods: We extracted images from the data in various energy bands, spectra, and light curves and studied the long-term evolution of the X-ray emission on the basis of the 4.5 yr time separation between the two observations. Results: We found that there is no diffuse emission associated with AX J1714.1-3912, which is instead the point-like source CXOU J171343.9-391205. We discovered rapid time variability (timescale 103 s), together with a high intrinsic absorption and a hard nonthermal spectrum (power law with photon index Γ 1.4). We also found that the X-ray flux of the source drops down by 1-2 orders of magnitude on a timescale of a few years. Conclusions: Our results suggest a possible association between AX J1714.1-3912 and a previously unknown supergiant fast X-ray transient, although further follow-up observations are necessary to prove this association definitively.

Relationships of the Area under the Curve/MIC Ratio to Different Integral Endpoints of the Antimicrobial Effect: Gemifloxacin Pharmacodynamics in an In Vitro Dynamic Model

PubMed Central

Firsov, Alexander A.; Lubenko, Irene Y.; Portnoy, Yury A.; Zinner, Stephen H.; Vostrov, Sergey N.

2001-01-01

Most integral endpoints of the antimicrobial effect are determined over an arbitrarily chosen time period, such as the dosing interval (τ), regardless of the actual effect duration. Unlike the τ-related endpoints, the intensity of the antimicrobial effect (IE) does consider its duration—from time zero to the time when bacterial counts on the regrowth curve achieve the same maximal numbers as in the absence of the antimicrobial. To examine the possible impact of this fundamental difference on the relationships of the antimicrobial effect to the ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) to the MIC, a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus was exposed to simulated gemifloxacin pharmacokinetics over a 40-fold range of AUC/MIC ratios, from 11 to 466 h. In each run, IE and four τ-related endpoints, including the area under the time-kill curve (AUBC), the area above the curve (AAC), the area between the control growth and time-kill curves (ABBC), and the ABBC related to the area under the control growth curve (AUGC), were calculated for τ = 24 h. Unlike the IE, which displayed pseudolinear relationships with the AUC/MIC ratio; each τ-related endpoint showed a distinct saturation at potentially therapeutic AUC/MIC ratios (116 to 466 h) when the antimicrobial effect persisted longer than τ. This saturation results from the underestimation of the true effect and may be eliminated if ABBC, AAC, and AUBC (but not AUGC) are modified and determined in the same manner as the IE to consider the actual effect duration. These data suggest a marginal value of the τ-related endpoints as indices of the total antimicrobial effect. Since all of them respond to AUC/MIC ratio changes less than the IE, the latter is preferable in comparative pharmacodynamic studies. PMID:11181382

Preliminary results with microchannel array plates employing curved microchannels to inhibit ion feedback. [for photon counters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.; Bybee, R. L.

1977-01-01

Up to now, microchannel array plates (MCPs) have been constructed with microchannels having a straight geometry and hence have been prone to ion-feedback instabilities at high operating potentials and high ambient pressures. This paper describes the performances of MCPs with curved (J and C configuration) microchannels to inhibit ion feedback. Plates with curved microchannels have demonstrated performances comparable to those of conventional channel electron multipliers with saturated output pulse-height distributions and modal gain values in excess of 10 to the 6th electrons/pulse.

Controllable Organic Resistive Switching Achieved by One-Step Integration of Cone-Shaped Contact.

PubMed

Ling, Haifeng; Yi, Mingdong; Nagai, Masaru; Xie, Linghai; Wang, Laiyuan; Hu, Bo; Huang, Wei

2017-09-01

Conductive filaments (CFs)-based resistive random access memory possesses the ability of scaling down to sub-nanoscale with high-density integration architecture, making it the most promising nanoelectronic technology for reclaiming Moore's law. Compared with the extensive study in inorganic switching medium, the scientific challenge now is to understand the growth kinetics of nanoscale CFs in organic polymers, aiming to achieve controllable switching characteristics toward flexible and reliable nonvolatile organic memory. Here, this paper systematically investigates the resistive switching (RS) behaviors based on a widely adopted vertical architecture of Al/organic/indium-tin-oxide (ITO), with poly(9-vinylcarbazole) as the case study. A nanoscale Al filament with a dynamic-gap zone (DGZ) is directly observed using in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) , which demonstrates that the RS behaviors are related to the random formation of spliced filaments consisting of Al and oxygen vacancy dual conductive channels growing through carbazole groups. The randomicity of the filament formation can be depressed by introducing a cone-shaped contact via a one-step integration method. The conical electrode can effectively shorten the DGZ and enhance the localized electric field, thus reducing the switching voltage and improving the RS uniformity. This study provides a deeper insight of the multiple filamentary mechanisms for organic RS effect. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Magnetism in curved geometries

DOE PAGES

Streubel, Robert; Fischer, Peter; Kronast, Florian; ...

2016-08-17

Extending planar two-dimensional structures into the three-dimensional space has become a general trend in multiple disciplines, including electronics, photonics, plasmonics and magnetics. This approach provides means to modify conventional or to launch novel functionalities by tailoring the geometry of an object, e.g. its local curvature. In a generic electronic system, curvature results in the appearance of scalar and vector geometric potentials inducing anisotropic and chiral effects. In the specific case of magnetism, even in the simplest case of a curved anisotropic Heisenberg magnet, the curvilinear geometry manifests two exchange-driven interactions, namely effective anisotropy and antisymmetric exchange, i.e. Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya-like interaction. Asmore » a consequence, a family of novel curvature-driven effects emerges, which includes magnetochiral effects and topologically induced magnetization patterning, resulting in theoretically predicted unlimited domain wall velocities, chirality symmetry breaking and Cherenkov-like effects for magnons. The broad range of altered physical properties makes these curved architectures appealing in view of fundamental research on e.g. skyrmionic systems, magnonic crystals or exotic spin configurations. In addition to these rich physics, the application potential of three-dimensionally shaped objects is currently being explored as magnetic field sensorics for magnetofluidic applications, spin-wave filters, advanced magneto-encephalography devices for diagnosis of epilepsy or for energy-efficient racetrack memory devices. Finally, these recent developments ranging from theoretical predictions over fabrication of three-dimensionally curved magnetic thin films, hollow cylinders or wires, to their characterization using integral means as well as the development of advanced tomography approaches are in the focus of this review.« less

Magnetism in curved geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Streubel, Robert; Fischer, Peter; Kronast, Florian; Kravchuk, Volodymyr P.; Sheka, Denis D.; Gaididei, Yuri; Schmidt, Oliver G.; Makarov, Denys

2016-09-01

Extending planar two-dimensional structures into the three-dimensional space has become a general trend in multiple disciplines, including electronics, photonics, plasmonics and magnetics. This approach provides means to modify conventional or to launch novel functionalities by tailoring the geometry of an object, e.g. its local curvature. In a generic electronic system, curvature results in the appearance of scalar and vector geometric potentials inducing anisotropic and chiral effects. In the specific case of magnetism, even in the simplest case of a curved anisotropic Heisenberg magnet, the curvilinear geometry manifests two exchange-driven interactions, namely effective anisotropy and antisymmetric exchange, i.e. Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya-like interaction. As a consequence, a family of novel curvature-driven effects emerges, which includes magnetochiral effects and topologically induced magnetization patterning, resulting in theoretically predicted unlimited domain wall velocities, chirality symmetry breaking and Cherenkov-like effects for magnons. The broad range of altered physical properties makes these curved architectures appealing in view of fundamental research on e.g. skyrmionic systems, magnonic crystals or exotic spin configurations. In addition to these rich physics, the application potential of three-dimensionally shaped objects is currently being explored as magnetic field sensorics for magnetofluidic applications, spin-wave filters, advanced magneto-encephalography devices for diagnosis of epilepsy or for energy-efficient racetrack memory devices. These recent developments ranging from theoretical predictions over fabrication of three-dimensionally curved magnetic thin films, hollow cylinders or wires, to their characterization using integral means as well as the development of advanced tomography approaches are in the focus of this review.

Magnetism in curved geometries

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

Streubel, Robert; Fischer, Peter; Kronast, Florian

Extending planar two-dimensional structures into the three-dimensional space has become a general trend in multiple disciplines, including electronics, photonics, plasmonics and magnetics. This approach provides means to modify conventional or to launch novel functionalities by tailoring the geometry of an object, e.g. its local curvature. In a generic electronic system, curvature results in the appearance of scalar and vector geometric potentials inducing anisotropic and chiral effects. In the specific case of magnetism, even in the simplest case of a curved anisotropic Heisenberg magnet, the curvilinear geometry manifests two exchange-driven interactions, namely effective anisotropy and antisymmetric exchange, i.e. Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya-like interaction. Asmore » a consequence, a family of novel curvature-driven effects emerges, which includes magnetochiral effects and topologically induced magnetization patterning, resulting in theoretically predicted unlimited domain wall velocities, chirality symmetry breaking and Cherenkov-like effects for magnons. The broad range of altered physical properties makes these curved architectures appealing in view of fundamental research on e.g. skyrmionic systems, magnonic crystals or exotic spin configurations. In addition to these rich physics, the application potential of three-dimensionally shaped objects is currently being explored as magnetic field sensorics for magnetofluidic applications, spin-wave filters, advanced magneto-encephalography devices for diagnosis of epilepsy or for energy-efficient racetrack memory devices. Finally, these recent developments ranging from theoretical predictions over fabrication of three-dimensionally curved magnetic thin films, hollow cylinders or wires, to their characterization using integral means as well as the development of advanced tomography approaches are in the focus of this review.« less

Quantum spectral curve for ( q, t)-matrix model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zenkevich, Yegor

2018-02-01

We derive quantum spectral curve equation for ( q, t)-matrix model, which turns out to be a certain difference equation. We show that in Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit this equation reproduces the Baxter TQ equation for the quantum XXZ spin chain. This chain is spectral dual to the Seiberg-Witten integrable system associated with the AGT dual gauge theory.

Transfer of care and offload delay: continued resistance or integrative thinking?

PubMed

Schwartz, Brian

2015-11-01

The disciplines of paramedicine and emergency medicine have evolved synchronously over the past four decades, linked by emergency physicians with expertise in prehospital care. Ambulance offload delay (OD) is an inevitable consequence of emergency department overcrowding (EDOC) and compromises the care of the patient on the ambulance stretcher in the emergency department (ED), as well as paramedic emergency medical service response in the community. Efforts to define transfer of care from paramedics to ED staff with a view to reducing offload time have met with resistance from both sides with different agendas. These include the need to return paramedics to serve the community versus the lack of ED capacity to manage the patient. Innovative solutions to other system issues, such as rapid access to trauma teams, reducing door-to-needle time, and improving throughput in the ED to reduce EDOC, have been achieved by involving all stakeholders in an integrative thinking process. Only by addressing this issue in a similar integrative process will solutions to OD be realized.

Beyond the morphology of the glucose curve following an oral glucose tolerance test in obese youth.

PubMed

Nolfe, Giuseppe; Spreghini, Maria Rita; Sforza, Rita Wietrzycowska; Morino, Giuseppe; Manco, Melania

2012-01-01

To describe the morphology of glucose curve during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and any association with glucose tolerance, insulin action and secretion in obese youth. Cross-sectional. OGTT data of 553 patients were analysed. Subjects were divided in groups based on the morphology (i.e. monophasic, biphasic, triphasic and upward monotonous) of glucose curve. Insulin action was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, the insulin sensitivity, the muscle insulin sensitivity and the hepatic insulin resistance indexes (HIRI), and the oral glucose insulin sensitivity (OGIS). Insulin secretion was estimated by the insulinogenic index (IGI). Disposition index, including the insulin secretion-sensitivity index-2, and areas under glucose (AUC(G)) and insulin (AUC(I)) curves were computed. In patients with normal glucose tolerance (n=522), prevalent morphology of the glucose curve was monophasic (n=285, 54%). Monophasic morphology was associated with the highest concentration of 1 h plasma glucose (P<0.0001) and AUC(G) (P<0.0001); biphasic morphology with better insulin sensitivity as estimated by OGIS (P<0.03) and lower AUC(I) (P<0.0001); triphasic morphology with the highest values of HIRI (P<0.02) and IGI (P<0.007). By combining morphologies of glucose and insulin curves or time of the glucose peak, a deeper characterisation of different phenotypes of glucose metabolism emerged. Morphologies of the glucose curve seem reflecting different metabolic phenotypes of insulin action and secretion, particularly when combined with morphologies of insulin curve or time of glucose peak. Such findings may deserve validation in cohort study, in which glucose metabolism would be estimated by using gold standard techniques.

Voluntary resistance wheel exercise from mid-life prevents sarcopenia and increases markers of mitochondrial function and autophagy in muscles of old male and female C57BL/6J mice.

PubMed

White, Zoe; Terrill, Jessica; White, Robert B; McMahon, Christopher; Sheard, Phillip; Grounds, Miranda D; Shavlakadze, Tea

2016-12-13

There is much interest in the capacity of resistance exercise to prevent the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia. This study investigates the molecular basis underlying the benefits of resistance exercise in aging C57BL/6J mice of both sexes. This study is the first to demonstrate that long-term (34 weeks) voluntary resistance wheel exercise (RWE) initiated at middle age, from 15 months, prevents sarcopenia in selected hindlimb muscles and causes hypertrophy in soleus, by 23 months of age in both male and female C57BL/6J mice. Compared with 23-month-old sedentary (SED) controls, RWE (0-6 g of resistance) increased intramuscular mitochondrial density and oxidative capacity (measured by citrate synthase and NADH-TR) and increased LC3II/I ratios (a marker of autophagy) in exercised mice of both sexes. RWE also reduced mRNA expression of Gadd45α (males only) and Runx1 (females only) but had no effect on other markers of denervation including Chrng, Chrnd, Musk, and Myog. RWE increased heart mass in all mice, with a more pronounced increase in females. Significant sex differences were also noted among SED mice, with Murf1 mRNA levels increasing in male, but decreasing in old female mice between 15 and 23 months. Overall, long-term RWE initiated from 15 month of age significantly improved some markers of the mitochondrial and autophagosomal pathways and prevented age-related muscle wasting.

Foliar resistance to fall armyworm in corn germplasm lines that confer resistance to root- and ear-feeding insects

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A holistic approach to developing new corn germplasm that confers multiple insect resistance in various plant tissues at different growth stages was examined. Eight corn germplasm lines were examined for their foliage resistance to fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noc...

RXTE Detection of the Spin Period of Swift J1822.3-1606

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gogus, Ersin; Kouveliotou, Chryssa; Strohmayer, Tod

2011-07-01

RXTE/PCA observed the new source, Swift J1822.3-1606 (Cummings et al. GCN Circ. 12159) on 2011 July 16, for 6.7 ks. We performed a timing analysis on the barycentered data and detected a coherent pulsation at 0.1185149(2) Hz corresponding to 8.4377585 s. Pulsations are clearly visible in the PCA light curve. The peak-to-peak pulsed amplitude in the 2-10 keV band is 0.41. This pulsed fraction is highly unlikely from an SGR source, and very reminiscent of the outburst onset of Swift J1626.6-5156 (Palmer et al.

A PHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF FOUR RECENTLY DISCOVERED CONTACT BINARIES: 1SWASP J064501.21+342154.9, 1SWASP J155822.10-025604.8, 1SWASP J212808.86+151622.0, AND UCAC4 436-062932

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

Djurašević, G.; Latković, O.; Cséki, A.

We present new, high-quality multicolor observations of four recently discovered contact binaries, 1SWASP J064501.21+342154.9, 1SWASP J155822.10-025604.8, 1SWASP J212808.86+151622.0, and UCAC4 436-062932, and analyze their light curves to determine orbital and physical parameters using the modeling program of G. Djurašević. In the absence of spectroscopic observations, the effective temperatures of the brighter components are estimated from the color indices, and the mass ratios are determined with the q -search method. The analysis shows that all four systems are W UMa type binaries in shallow contact configurations, consisting of late-type main-sequence primaries and evolved secondaries with active surface regions (dark or bright spots) resultingmore » from magnetic activity or ongoing transfer of thermal energy between the components. We compare the derived orbital and stellar parameters for these four variables with a large sample of previously analyzed W UMa stars and find that our results fit it well.« less

The Stromal Contribution to the Development of Resistance to New-Generation Drugs by Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

could facilitate resistance to new generation drugs against PCa, such as Enzalutamide or Abiraterone (abi), which target the AR or cytochrome p450 ... cancer . World J. Urol. 23, 1 (2005). 9. A. H. Payne, D. B. Hales, Overview of steroidogenic enzymes in the pathway from cholesterol to active steroid...Development of Resistance to New-Generation Drugs by Castration- Resistant Prostate Cancer PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Amy Lubik

J-2X Fuel Turbopump Point of Departure: The Performance of the J-2s Fuel Turbopump Inducer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sargent, S. R.; Becht, D. G.; Mulder, A. D.

2008-01-01

To aid the J-2X program design effort with detailed performance and environment information, the J-2S fuel turbopump (FTP) inducer has undergone a thorough test series in both water and hydrogen. The test series utilizes both inducer only and a complete pump configuration to assess the inducer interaction to the overall turbopump system. The test goals include verification of suction performance against heritage J-2S data, head production, effects of thermodynamic suppression head (TSH), and evaluation of the inducer dynamic pressure caused by cavitation instabilities. Test facilities at both Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) and NASA s Stennis Space Center (SSC) are employed for the testing. The inducer only water test effort conducted at PWR established performance curves for suction performance, head production, and efficiency over a wide operating range. Because the heritage J-2S suction performance data set is in hydrogen, it is desired to obtain current suction performance data in hydrogen as well, thus avoiding the reliance on a theoretical TSH correlation for direct comparison. This data then provides an empirically based TSH correlation allowing for the comparison of water test suction data to system suction requirements. The FTP testing performed at SSC provides these suction performance relationships as well as inlet duct dynamic pressures during liquid hydrogen operation. The test effort successfully confirms the heritage J-2S suction performance and establishes the amount of TSH between water and hydrogen operation at the design flow coefficient. Correlating data is also obtained for cavitating instability frequency content, illustrating the validity of using the wide flow range water test data to predict hydrogen performance.

A curved piezo-structure model: implications on active structural acoustic control.

PubMed

Henry, J K; Clark, R L

1999-09-01

Current research in Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC) relies heavily upon accurately capturing the application physics associated with the structure being controlled. The application of ASAC to aircraft interior noise requires a greater understanding of the dynamics of the curved panels which compose the skin of an aircraft fuselage. This paper presents a model of a simply supported curved panel with attached piezoelectric transducers. The model is validated by comparison to previous work. Further, experimental results for a simply supported curved panel test structure are presented in support of the model. The curvature is shown to affect substantially the dynamics of the panel, the integration of transducers, and the bandwidth required for structural acoustic control.

An analytical solution for Dean flow in curved ducts with rectangular cross section

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norouzi, M.; Biglari, N.

2013-05-01

In this paper, a full analytical solution for incompressible flow inside the curved ducts with rectangular cross-section is presented for the first time. The perturbation method is applied to solve the governing equations and curvature ratio is considered as the perturbation parameter. The previous perturbation solutions are usually restricted to the flow in curved circular or annular pipes related to the overly complex form of solutions or singularity situation for flow in curved ducts with non-circular shapes of cross section. This issue specifies the importance of analytical studies in the field of Dean flow inside the non-circular ducts. In this study, the main flow velocity, stream function of lateral velocities (secondary flows), and flow resistance ratio in rectangular curved ducts are obtained analytically. The effect of duct curvature and aspect ratio on flow field is investigated as well. Moreover, it is important to mention that the current analytical solution is able to simulate the Taylor-Görtler and Dean vortices (vortices in stable and unstable situations) in curved channels.

New configuration factors for curved surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabeza-Lainez, Jose M.; Pulido-Arcas, Jesus A.

2013-03-01

Curved surfaces have not been thoroughly considered in radiative transfer analysis mainly due to the difficulties arisen in the integration process and perhaps because of the lack of spatial vision of the researchers. It is a fact, especially for architectural lighting, that when concave geometries appear inside a curved space, they are mostly avoided. In this way, a vast repertoire of significant forms is neglected and energy waste is evident. Starting from the properties of volumes enclosed by the minimum number of surfaces, the authors formulate, with little calculus, new simple laws, which enable them to discover a set of configuration factors for caps and various segments of the sphere. The procedure is subsequently extended to previously unimagined surfaces as the paraboloid, the ellipsoid or the cone. Appropriate combination of the said forms with right truncated cones produces several complex volumes, often used in architectural and engineering creations and whose radiative performance could not be accurately predicted for decades. To complete the research, a new method for determining interreflections in curved volumes is also presented. Radiative transfer simulation benefits from these findings, as the simplicity of the results has led the authors to create innovative software more efficient for design and evaluation and applicable to emerging fields like LED lighting.

Operators and higher genus mirror curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Codesido, Santiago; Gu, Jie; Mariño, Marcos

2017-02-01

We perform further tests of the correspondence between spectral theory and topological strings, focusing on mirror curves of genus greater than one with nontrivial mass parameters. In particular, we analyze the geometry relevant to the SU(3) relativistic Toda lattice, and the resolved C{^3}/Z_6 orbifold. Furthermore, we give evidence that the correspondence holds for arbitrary values of the mass parameters, where the quantization problem leads to resonant states. We also explore the relation between this correspondence and cluster integrable systems.

Resistance distance and Kirchhoff index in circulant graphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Heping; Yang, Yujun

The resistance distance rij between vertices i and j of a connected (molecular) graph G is computed as the effective resistance between nodes i and j in the corresponding network constructed from G by replacing each edge of G with a unit resistor. The Kirchhoff index Kf(G) is the sum of resistance distances between all pairs of vertices. In this work, closed-form formulae for Kirchhoff index and resistance distances of circulant graphs are derived in terms of Laplacian spectrum and eigenvectors. Special formulae are also given for four classes of circulant graphs (complete graphs, complete graphs minus a perfect matching, cycles, Möbius ladders Mp). In particular, the asymptotic behavior of Kf(Mp) as p ? ? is obtained, that is, Kf(Mp) grows as ⅙p3 as p ? ?.

Fracture resistance of a TiB2 particle/SiC matrix composite at elevated temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, Michael G.; Salem, Jonathan A.; Seshadri, Srinivasa G.

1988-01-01

The fracture resistance of a comercial TiB2 particle/SiC matrix composite was evaluated at temperatures ranging from 20 to 1400 C. A laser interferometric strain gauge (LISG) was used to continuously monitor the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) of the chevron-notched and straight-notched, three-point bend specimens used. Crack growth resistance curves (R-curves) were determined from the load versus displacement curves and displacement calibrations. Fracture toughness, work-of-fracture, and R-curve levels were found to decrease with increasing temperature. Microstructure, fracture surface, and oxidation coat were examined to explain the fracture behavior.

Fracture resistance of a TiB2 particle/SiC matrix composite at elevated temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, Michael G.; Salem, Jonathan A.; Seshadri, Srinivasa G.

1989-01-01

The fracture resistance of a commercial TiB2 particle/SiC matrix composite was evaluated at temperatures ranging from 20 to 1400 C. A laser interferometric strain gauge (LiSG) was used to continuously monitor the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) of the chevron-notched and straight-notched, three-point bend specimens used. Crack growth resistance curves (R-curves) were determined from the load versus displacement curves and displacement calibrations. Fracture toughness, work-of-fracture, and R-curve levels were found to decrease with increasing temperature. Microstructure, fracture surface, and oxidation coat were examined to explain the fracture behavior.

Full Phase Multi-Band Study of Eclipsing Binaries 1SWASP J061850.43+220511.9 and 2MASSJ07095549+3643564

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terheide, Rachel; Zhang, Liyun; Han, Xianming; Lu, Hongpeng

2018-01-01

We present full-phase VRI-band light curves for eclipsing binary 1SWASP J061850.43+220511.9, and full-phase BVRI-band light curves for eclipsing binary 2MASS J07095549+3643564. The observations were conducted using the 0.94-m Holcomb Observatory telescope located on Butler University Campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the 0.6-m SARA telescope located at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. We obtained key system parameters for both eclipsing binaries. For 1SWASP J061850.43+220511.9, the period is 0.21482 ±0.00053 days compared to 0.21439 days from an older study (Lohr et. al), the system mass ratio is found as 2.50 and the system is classified as EW type. Similarly, for 2MASS J07095549+3643564, we obtained a linear ephemeris and a physical model for the first time. We found its period to be 0.22297 ±0.00032 days, as compared to 0.446092 days and 0.11152 days from previous research (Drake et. al 2014, Hartman et. al 2011). 2MASS J07095549+3643564 is classified as a W Uma type eclipsing binary.

Near room temperature magnetocaloric properties and the universal curve of MnCoGe1-xCux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Si, Xiaodong; Liu, Yongsheng; Lu, Xiaofei; Shen, Yulong; Wang, Wenli; Yu, Wenying; Zhou, Tao; Gao, Tian

2017-05-01

Intermetallic compounds based on MnCoGe have drawn attention due to the coupled magnetic and structural transformations and the large magnetocaloric entropy. Here, we provide a systematic comparison of experimental data under different magnetic fields with magnetic and the magnetocaloric properties. The ferromagnetic transition temperature (TC) increases from 353.4(6) K for x = 0.01 to 363.4(4) K for x = 0.04 with increasing nominal copper content. The maximum magnetic entropy change |ΔSM| in a magnetic field change of 5 T is found to be 18.3(2) J/(kg K) with a large relative cooling power (RCP) value of 292.5(4) J/kg for x = 0.01, revealing that the present system can provide an acceptable magnetocaloric effect at a cheaper price for magnetic refrigeration materials. Making attempt to contrast a master curve for the present system, we find the experimental values of magnetic field dependence of the magnetic entropy change are consistent with a phenomenological universal curve.

The Establishment of the Colombian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (COIPARS): A Pilot Project on Poultry Farms, Slaughterhouses and Retail Market.

PubMed

Donado-Godoy, P; Castellanos, R; León, M; Arevalo, A; Clavijo, V; Bernal, J; León, D; Tafur, M A; Byrne, B A; Smith, W A; Perez-Gutierrez, E

2015-04-01

The development of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria (AMR) is currently one of the world's most pressing public health problems. The use of antimicrobial agents in humans and animals has resulted in AMR which has narrowed the potential use of antibiotics for the treatment of infections in humans. To monitor AMR and to develop control measures, some countries, such as the USA, Canada and Denmark, have established national integrated surveillance systems (FDA, , CIPARS, 2007, DANMAP,2002). The components of these programs monitor changes in susceptibility/resistance to antimicrobial agents of selected zoonotic pathogens and commensal organisms recovered from animals, retail meats and humans. The rapid development of Colombia's animal production industry has raised food safety issues including the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The Colombian Integrated Surveillance Program for Antimicrobial Resistance (COIPARS) was established as a pilot project to monitor AMR on poultry farms, slaughter houses and retail markets. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Discriminatory value of alanine aminotransferase for diabetes prediction: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study.

PubMed

Lorenzo, C; Hanley, A J; Rewers, M J; Haffner, S M

2016-03-01

To examine the incremental usefulness of adding alanine aminotransferase to established risk factors for predicting future diabetes. The study population of the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study included 724 people aged 40-69 years. We excluded people who had excessive alcohol intake or were treated with lipid-lowering agents. Incident diabetes was assessed after a mean follow-up period of 5.2 years. Alanine aminotransferase had a non-linear relationship with incident diabetes (Wald chi-squared test, P < 0.001; P for linearity = 0.005) independent of demographic variables, family history of diabetes, BMI and fasting glucose; therefore, we used Youden's J statistic to dichotomize alanine aminotransferase [threshold ≥ 0.43 μkat/L ( ≥ 26 IU/l)]. Dichotomized alanine aminotransferase increased the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (0.805 vs. 0.823; P = 0.007) of a model that included demographic variables, family history of diabetes, BMI and fasting glucose as independent variables. The net reclassification improvement was 9.6% (95% CI 1.8-17.4; P = 0.016), and the integrated discrimination improvement was 0.031 (95% CI 0.011-0.050; P = 0.002). Dichotomized alanine aminotransferase reclassified a net of 9.6% of individuals more appropriately. Alanine aminotransferase may be useful for classifying individuals who are at risk of future diabetes after accounting for the effect of other risk factors, including family history, adiposity and plasma glucose. © 2015 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2015 Diabetes UK.

An updated Holocene sea-level curve for the Delaware coast

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nikitina, D.L.; Pizzuto, J.E.; Schwimmer, R.A.; Ramsey, K.W.

2000-01-01

We present an updated Holocene sea-level curve for the Delaware coast based on new calibrations of 16 previously published radiocarbon dates (Kraft, 1976; Belknap and Kraft, 1977) and 22 new radiocarbon dates of basal peat deposits. A review of published and unpublished 137Cs and 210Pb analyses, and tide gauge data provide the basis for evaluating shorter-term (102 yr) sea-level trends. Paleosea-level elevations for the new basal peat samples were determined from the present vertical zonation of marsh plants relative to mean high water along the Delaware coast and the composition of plant fossils and foraminifera. Current trends in tidal range along the Delaware coast were used to reduce elevations from different locations to a common vertical datum of mean high water at Breakwater Harbor, Delaware. The updated curve is similar to Belknap and Kraft's [J. Sediment. Petrol., 47 (1977) 610-629] original sea-level curve from 12,000 to about 2000 yr BP. The updated curve documents a rate of sea-level rise of 0.9 mm/yr from 1250 yr BP to present (based on 11 dates), in good agreement with other recent sea-level curves from the northern and central U.S. Atlantic coast, while the previous curve documents rates of about 1.3 mm/yr (based on 4 dates). The precision of both estimates, however, is very low, so the significance of these differences is uncertain. A review of 210Pb and 137Cs analyses from salt marshes of Delaware indicates average marsh accretion rates of 3 mm/yr for the last 100 yr, in good agreement with shorter-term estimates of sea-level rise from tide gauge records. ?? 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.

Device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance

DOEpatents

Graham, Sean C.

2006-03-07

A device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance for vehicles having a generally rectangular flat front face comprising a plurality of load bearing struts of a predetermined size attached to the flat front face adjacent the sides and top thereof, a pair of pliable opposing flat sheets having an outside edge portion attached to the flat front face adjacent the sides thereof and an upper edge with a predetermined curve; the opposing flat sheets being bent and attached to the struts to form effective curved airfoil shapes, and a top pliable flat sheet disposed adjacent the top of the flat front face and having predetermined curved side edges, which, when the top sheet is bent and attached to the struts to form an effective curved airfoil shape, mate with the curved upper edges of the opposing sheets to complete the aerodynamic device.

Spectral irradiance curve calculations for any type of solar eclipse

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deepak, A.; Merrill, J. E.

1974-01-01

A simple procedure is described for calculating the eclipse function (EF), alpha, and hence the spectral irradiance curve (SIC), (1-alpha), for any type of solar eclipse: namely, the occultation (partial/total) eclipse and the transit (partial/annular) eclipse. The SIC (or the EF) gives the variation of the amount (or the loss) of solar radiation of a given wavelength reaching a distant observer for various positions of the moon across the sun. The scheme is based on the theory of light curves of eclipsing binaries, the results of which are tabulated in Merrill's Tables, and is valid for all wavelengths for which the solar limb-darkening obeys the cosine law: J = sub c (1 - X + X cost gamma). As an example of computing the SIC for an occultation eclipse which may be total, the calculations for the March 7, 1970, eclipse are described in detail.

First photometric study of ultrashort-period contact binary 1SWASP J140533.33+114639.1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Bin; Qian, Sheng-Bang; Michel, Ri; Soonthornthum, Boonrucksar; Zhu, Li-Ying

2018-03-01

In this paper, CCD photometric light curves for the short-period eclipsing binary 1SWASP J140533.33+114639.1 (hereafter J1405) in the BV R bands are presented and analyzed using the 2013 version of the Wilson-Devinney (W-D) code. It is discovered that J1405 is a W-subtype shallow contact binary with a contact degree of f = 7.9 ± 0.5% and a mass ratio of q = 1.55 ± 0.02. In order to explain the asymmetric light curves of the system, a cool starspot on the more massive component is employed. This shallow contact eclipsing binary may have been formed from a short-period detached system through orbital shrinkage due to angular momentum loss. Based on the (O – C) method, the variation of orbital period is studied using all the available times of minimum light. The (O – C) diagram reveals that the period is increasing continuously at a rate of dP/dt = +2.09 × 10‑7, d yr‑1, which can be explained by mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one.

Properties of the redback millisecond pulsar binary 3FGL J0212.1+5320

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahbaz, T.; Linares, M.; Breton, R. P.

2017-12-01

Linares et al. obtained quasi-simultaneous g΄-, r΄- and i΄-band light curves and an absorption-line radial velocity curve of the secondary star in the redback system 3FGL J0212.1+5320. The light curves showed two maxima and minima primarily due to the secondary star's ellipsoidal modulation, but with unequal maxima and minima. We fit these light curves and radial velocities with our X-ray binary model including either a dark solar-type star spot or a hotspot due to off-centre heating from an intrabinary shock to account for the unequal maxima. Both models give a radial velocity semi-amplitude and rotational broadening that agree with the observations. The observed secondary star's effective temperature is best matched with the value obtained using the hotspot model, which gives a neutron star and secondary star mass of M1 = 1.85 ^{+0.32}_{-0.26} M⊙ and M2 = 0.50 ^{+0.22}_{-0.19} M⊙, respectively.

TSCA Section 5(a)(3)(C) Determination for Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN) J-16-0011, J-16-0012, J-16-0013, J-16-0014, J-16-0015, and J-16-0016

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This document describes EPA's Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN) review determination under amended TSCA for J-16-0011, J-16-0012, J-16-0013, J-16-0014, J-16-0015, and J-16-0016, a biofuel producing organism.

Quinolone Resistance Reversion by Targeting the SOS Response

PubMed Central

Recacha, E.; Machuca, J.; Díaz de Alba, P.; Ramos-Güelfo, M.; Docobo-Pérez, F.; Pascual, A.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Suppression of the SOS response has been postulated as a therapeutic strategy for potentiating antimicrobial agents. We aimed to evaluate the impact of its suppression on reversing resistance using a model of isogenic strains of Escherichia coli representing multiple levels of quinolone resistance. E. coli mutants exhibiting a spectrum of SOS activity were constructed from isogenic strains carrying quinolone resistance mechanisms with susceptible and resistant phenotypes. Changes in susceptibility were evaluated by static (MICs) and dynamic (killing curves or flow cytometry) methodologies. A peritoneal sepsis murine model was used to evaluate in vivo impact. Suppression of the SOS response was capable of resensitizing mutant strains with genes encoding three or four different resistance mechanisms (up to 15-fold reductions in MICs). Killing curve assays showed a clear disadvantage for survival (Δlog10 CFU per milliliter [CFU/ml] of 8 log units after 24 h), and the in vivo efficacy of ciprofloxacin was significantly enhanced (Δlog10 CFU/g of 1.76 log units) in resistant strains with a suppressed SOS response. This effect was evident even after short periods (60 min) of exposure. Suppression of the SOS response reverses antimicrobial resistance across a range of E. coli phenotypes from reduced susceptibility to highly resistant, playing a significant role in increasing the in vivo efficacy. PMID:29018116

Drug resistance to targeted therapies: déjà vu all over again.

PubMed

Groenendijk, Floris H; Bernards, René

2014-09-12

A major limitation of targeted anticancer therapies is intrinsic or acquired resistance. This review emphasizes similarities in the mechanisms of resistance to endocrine therapies in breast cancer and those seen with the new generation of targeted cancer therapeutics. Resistance to single-agent cancer therapeutics is frequently the result of reactivation of the signaling pathway, indicating that a major limitation of targeted agents lies in their inability to fully block the cancer-relevant signaling pathway. The development of mechanism-based combinations of targeted therapies together with non-invasive molecular disease monitoring is a logical way forward to delay and ultimately overcome drug resistance development. Copyright © 2014 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Computational methods for yeast prion curing curves.

PubMed

Ridout, Martin S

2008-10-01

If the chemical guanidine hydrochloride is added to a dividing culture of yeast cells in which some of the protein Sup35p is in its prion form, the proportion of cells that carry replicating units of the prion, termed propagons, decreases gradually over time. Stochastic models to describe this process of 'curing' have been developed in earlier work. The present paper investigates the use of numerical methods of Laplace transform inversion to calculate curing curves and contrasts this with an alternative, more direct, approach that involves numerical integration. Transform inversion is found to provide a much more efficient computational approach that allows different models to be investigated with minimal programming effort. The method is used to investigate the robustness of the curing curve to changes in the assumed distribution of cell generation times. Matlab code is available for carrying out the calculations.

Discovery of gamma-ray pulsations from the transitional redback PSR J1227-4853

DOE PAGES

Johnson, Tyrel J.; Ray, Paul S.; Roy, Jayanta; ...

2015-06-10

Here, the 1.69 ms spin period of PSR J1227–4853 was recently discovered in radio observations of the low-mass X-ray binary XSS J12270–4859 following the announcement of a possible transition to a rotation-powered millisecond pulsar state, inferred from decreases in optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray flux from the source. We report the detection of significant (5σ) gamma-ray pulsations after the transition, at the known spin period, using ~1 year of data from the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The gamma-ray light curve of PSR J1227–4853 can be fit by one broad peak, which occurs at nearlymore » the same phase as the main peak in the 1.4 GHz radio profile. The partial alignment of light-curve peaks in different wavebands suggests that at least some of the radio emission may originate at high altitude in the pulsar magnetosphere, in extended regions co-located with the gamma-ray emission site. We folded the LAT data at the orbital period, both pre- and post-transition, but find no evidence for significant modulation of the gamma-ray flux. Analysis of the gamma-ray flux over the mission suggests an approximate transition time of 2012 November 30. Continued study of the pulsed emission and monitoring of PSR J1227–4853, and other known redback systems, for subsequent flux changes will increase our knowledge of the pulsar emission mechanism and transitioning systems.« less

The instantaneous apparent resistivity tensor: a visualization scheme for LOTEM electric field measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldwell, T. Grant; Bibby, Hugh M.

1998-12-01

Long-offset transient electromagnetic (LOTEM) data have traditionally been represented as early- and late-time apparent resistivities. Time-varying electric field data recorded in a LOTEM survey made with multiple sources can be represented by an `instantaneous apparent resistivity tensor'. Three independent, coordinate-invariant, time-varying apparent resistivities can be derived from this tensor. For dipolar sources, the invariants are also independent of source orientation. In a uniform-resistivity half-space, the invariant given by the square root of the tensor determinant remains almost constant with time, deviating from the half-space resistivity by a maximum of 6 per cent. For a layered half-space, a distance-time pseudo-section of the determinant apparent resistivity produces an image of the layering beneath the measurement profile. As time increases, the instantaneous apparent resistivity tensor approaches the direct current apparent resistivity tensor. An approximate time-to-depth conversion can be achieved by integrating the diffusion depth formula with time, using the determinant apparent resistivity at each instant to represent the resistivity of the conductive medium. Localized near-surface inhomogeneities produce shifts in the time-domain apparent resistivity sounding curves that preserve the gradient, analogous to static shifts seen in magnetotelluric soundings. Instantaneous apparent resistivity tensors calculated for 3-D resistivity models suggest that profiles of LOTEM measurements across a simple 3-D structure can be used to create an image that reproduces the main features of the subsurface resistivity. Where measurements are distributed over an area, maps of the tensor invariants can be made into a sequence of images, which provides a way of `time slicing' down through the target structure.

van der Pauw's Theorem on Sheet Resistance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bolt, Michael

2017-01-01

The sheet resistance of a conducting material of uniform thickness is analogous to the resistivity of a solid material and provides a measure of electrical resistance. In 1958, L. J. van der Pauw found an effective method for computing sheet resistance that requires taking two electrical measurements from four points on the edge of a simply…

A Provably Secure RFID Authentication Protocol Based on Elliptic Curve for Healthcare Environments.

PubMed

Farash, Mohammad Sabzinejad; Nawaz, Omer; Mahmood, Khalid; Chaudhry, Shehzad Ashraf; Khan, Muhammad Khurram

2016-07-01

To enhance the quality of healthcare in the management of chronic disease, telecare medical information systems have increasingly been used. Very recently, Zhang and Qi (J. Med. Syst. 38(5):47, 32), and Zhao (J. Med. Syst. 38(5):46, 33) separately proposed two authentication schemes for telecare medical information systems using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. They claimed that their protocols achieve all security requirements including forward secrecy. However, this paper demonstrates that both Zhang and Qi's scheme, and Zhao's scheme could not provide forward secrecy. To augment the security, we propose an efficient RFID authentication scheme using elliptic curves for healthcare environments. The proposed RFID scheme is secure under common random oracle model.

Identification of resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to artesunate-mefloquine combination in an area along the Thai-Myanmar border: integration of clinico-parasitological response, systemic drug exposure, and in vitro parasite sensitivity

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background A markedly high failure rate of three-day artesunate-mefloquine was observed in the area along the Thai-Myanmar border. Methods Identification of Plasmodium falciparum isolates with intrinsic resistance to each component of the artesunate-mefloquine combination was analysed with integrated information on clinico-parasitological response, together with systemic drug exposure (area under blood/plasma concentration-time curves (AUC)) of dihydroartemisinin and mefloquine, and in vitro sensitivity of P. falciparum in a total of 17 out of 29 P. falciparum isolates from patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Analysis of the contribution of in vitro parasite sensitivity and systemic drug exposure and relationship with pfmdr1 copy number in the group with sensitive response was performed in 21 of 69 cases. Results Identification of resistance and/or reduced intrinsic parasitocidal activity of artesunate and/or mefloquine without pharmacokinetic or other host-related factors were confirmed in six cases: one with reduced sensitivity to artesunate alone, two with resistance to mefloquine alone, and three with reduced sensitivity to artesunate combined with resistance to mefloquine. Resistance and/or reduced intrinsic parasitocidal activity of mefloquine/artesunate, together with contribution of pharmacokinetic factor of mefloquine and/or artesunate were identified in seven cases: two with resistance to mefloquine alone, and five with resistance to mefloquine combined with reduced sensitivity to artesunate. Pharmacokinetic factor alone contributed to recrudescence in three cases, all of which had inadequate whole blood mefloquine levels (AUC0-7days). Other host-related factors contributed to recrudescence in one case. Amplification of pfmdr1 (increasing of pfmdr1 copy number) is a related molecular marker of artesunate-mefloquine resistance and seems to be a suitable molecular marker to predict occurrence of recrudescence. Conclusions Despite the

Waist circumference and insulin resistance: a cross-sectional study of Japanese men

PubMed Central

Tabata, Shinji; Yoshimitsu, Shinichiro; Hamachi, Tadamichi; Abe, Hiroshi; Ohnaka, Keizo; Kono, Suminori

2009-01-01

Background Visceral obesity is positively related to insulin resistance. The nature of the relationship between waist circumference and insulin resistance has not been known in Japanese populations. This study examined the relationship between waist circumference and insulin resistance and evaluated the optimal cutoff point for waist circumference in relation to insulin resistance in middle-aged Japanese men. Methods Study subjects included 4800 Japanese men aged 39 to 60 years. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The relationship of waist circumference with HOMA-IR was assessed by use of adjusted means of HOMA-IR and odds ratios of elevated HOMA-IR defined as the highest quintile (≥2.00). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis using Youden index and the area under curve (AUC) was employed to determine optimal cutoffs of waist circumference in relation to HOMA-IR. Results Adjusted geometric means of HOMA-IR and prevalence odds of elevated HOMA-IR were progressively higher with increasing levels of waist circumference. In the ROC curve analysis, the highest value of Youden index was obtained for a cutoff point of 85 cm in waist circumference across different values of HOMA-IR. Multiple logistic regression analysis also indicated that the AUC was consistently the largest for a waist circumference of 85 cm. Conclusion Waist circumference is linearly related to insulin resistance, and 85 cm in waist circumference is an optimal cutoff in predicting insulin resistance in middle-aged Japanese men. PMID:19138424

Modelling gamma-ray light curves of phase-aligned millisecond pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Shan; Zhang, Li; Li, Xiang; Jiang, Zejun

2018-04-01

Three gamma-ray millisecond pulsars (MSPs), PSR J1939+2134, PSR J1959+2048, and PSR J0034-0534, have been confirmed to have a common feature of phase-aligned in radio and gamma-ray bands. With a geometric (two-pole caustic) model and a physical outer gap model (revised 3D outer gap model) in a three dimensional (3D) retarded magnetic dipole with a perturbation magnetic field, the observed features of these MSPs are studied. In order to obtained the best-fitting model parameters, the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique is used and reasonable GeV band light curves for three MSPs are given. Our calculations indicate that MSPs emit high energy photons with smaller inclination angles (α ≈ 10°-50°), larger view angles (ζ ≈ 65°-100°), and smaller perturbation factor (ɛ ≈ -0.15-0.1). Note that the factor ɛ, describing the strength of the perturbed magnetic field, is all less than zero in these two models, so the magnetic field caused by current-induced play a leading role in the pulsed location of MSPs.

Intermediate-coupling theory of the spin polaron in the {ital t}-{ital J} model

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

Barentzen, H.

1996-03-01

The spin polaron in the {ital t-J} model, i.e., a hole dressed by a cloud of virtual magnons of the antiferromagnetic spin background, is treated within the framework of intermediate-coupling theory. The original {ital t}-{ital J} model is first reformulated in terms of spinless fermions and bosons by means of the generalized Dyson-Maleev representation (DMR). The latter may be regarded as the natural extension of the ordinary DMR of pure (undoped) spin systems to the case where holes are present, and is similar to the one originally proposed by Schmitt-Rink, Varma, and Ruckenstein. The reformulated {ital t}-{ital J} model, whichmore » is reminiscent of the Fr{umlt o}hlich Hamiltonian, is then subjected to a series of unitary transformations, analogous to those employed by Lee, Low, and Pines in their treatment of the Fr{umlt o}hlich polaron. Our approach yields an approximate quasiparticle energy {ital E}({ital k}{bold )} as well as the corresponding eigenvector. To explore the range of validity of our theory, the analytic expressions are then further analyzed for intermediate ({ital J}/{ital t}=0.4) and strong ({ital J}/{ital t}=0.08) coupling, where special attention is paid to the quasiparticle bandwidth {ital W}. The intermediate-coupling result for {ital E}({ital k}{bold )} is in excellent agreement with the dispersion curve recently obtained by Dagotto and co-workers by means of a Green function Monte Carlo method. Even in the strong-coupling range the bandshape remains qualitatively correct. The bandwidth {ital W} is rather accurate for weak coupling ({ital J}/{ital t}{approx_gt}3), and still reasonable in the intermediate range 0.4{approx_lt}{ital J}/{ital t}{le}3, where it deviates from the correct values by some 10-20%. Our theory fails, however, to describe the proper behavior of {ital W} in the strong-coupling regime. This shows that the limitations of our approach manifest themselves in the bandwidths rather than in the shapes of the dispersion

When a Plant Resistance Inducer Leaves the Lab for the Field: Integrating ASM into Routine Apple Protection Practices.

PubMed

Marolleau, Brice; Gaucher, Matthieu; Heintz, Christelle; Degrave, Alexandre; Warneys, Romain; Orain, Gilles; Lemarquand, Arnaud; Brisset, Marie-Noëlle

2017-01-01

Plant resistance inducers, also called elicitors, could be useful to reduce the use of pesticides. However, their performance in controlling diseases in the field remains unsatisfactory due to lack of specific knowledge of how they can integrate crop protection practices. In this work, we focused on apple crop and acibenzolar- S -methyl (ASM), a well-known SAR (systemic acquired resistance) inducer of numerous plant species. We provide a protocol for orchard-effective control of apple scab due to the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis , by applying ASM in combination with a light integrated pest management program. Besides we pave the way for future optimization levers by demonstrating in controlled conditions (i) the high influence of apple genotypes, (ii) the ability of ASM to prime defenses in newly formed leaves, (iii) the positive effect of repeated elicitor applications, (iv) the additive effect of a thinning fruit agent.

When a Plant Resistance Inducer Leaves the Lab for the Field: Integrating ASM into Routine Apple Protection Practices

PubMed Central

Marolleau, Brice; Gaucher, Matthieu; Heintz, Christelle; Degrave, Alexandre; Warneys, Romain; Orain, Gilles; Lemarquand, Arnaud; Brisset, Marie-Noëlle

2017-01-01

Plant resistance inducers, also called elicitors, could be useful to reduce the use of pesticides. However, their performance in controlling diseases in the field remains unsatisfactory due to lack of specific knowledge of how they can integrate crop protection practices. In this work, we focused on apple crop and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a well-known SAR (systemic acquired resistance) inducer of numerous plant species. We provide a protocol for orchard-effective control of apple scab due to the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis, by applying ASM in combination with a light integrated pest management program. Besides we pave the way for future optimization levers by demonstrating in controlled conditions (i) the high influence of apple genotypes, (ii) the ability of ASM to prime defenses in newly formed leaves, (iii) the positive effect of repeated elicitor applications, (iv) the additive effect of a thinning fruit agent. PMID:29255473

A review of path-independent integrals in elastic-plastic fracture mechanics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Kwang S.; Orange, Thomas W.

1988-01-01

The objective of this paper is to review the path-independent (P-I) integrals in elastic plastic fracture mechanics which have been proposed in recent years to overcome the limitations imposed on the J-integral. The P-I integrals considered are the J-integral by Rice (1968), the thermoelastic P-I integrals by Wilson and Yu (1979) and Gurtin (1979), the J-integral by Blackburn (1972), the J(theta)-integral by Ainsworth et al. (1978), the J-integral by Kishimoto et al. (1980), and the Delta-T(p) and Delta T(p)-asterisk integrals by Alturi et al. (1982). The theoretical foundation of the P-I integrals is examined with an emphasis on whether or not the path independence is maintained in the presence of nonproportional loading and unloading in the plastic regime, thermal gradient, and material inhomogeneities. The simularities, difference, salient features, and limitations of the P-I integrals are discussed. Comments are also made with regard to the physical meaning, the possibility of experimental measurement, and computational aspects.

A Study of the Optical Components of the Hard X-Ray Sources IGR J17544-2619 and IGR J21343+4738 by Using RTT-150 Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolaeva, E. A.; Bikmaev, I. F.; Shimansky, V. V.; Sakhibullin, N. A.

2017-06-01

We investigate parameters of two high-mass X-ray binary systems IGR J17544-2619 and IGR J21343+4738 discovered by INTEGRAL space observatory by using optical data of Russian Turkish Telescope (RTT-150). Long-term optical observations of X-ray binary systems IGR J17544-2619 and IGR J21343+4738 were carried out in 2007-2015. Based on the RTT-150 data we estimated orbital periods of these systems. We have modeled the profiles of line HeI 6678 Å in spectra of studied optical stars and obtain the parameters of the star's atmosphere.

Exact Descriptions of General Relativity Derived from Newtonian Mechanics within Curved Geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savickas, David

2015-04-01

General relativity and Newtonian mechanics are shown to be exactly related when Newton's second law is written in a curved geometry by using the physical components of a vector as is defined in tensor calculus. By replacing length within the momentum's velocity by the vector metric in a curved geometry the second law can then be shown to be exactly identical to the geodesic equation of motion occurring in general relativity. When time's vector direction is constant, as similarly occurs in Newtonian mechanics, this equation can be reduced to a curved three-dimensional equation of motion that yields the the Schwarzschild equations of motion for an isolated particle. They can be used to describe gravitational behavior for any array of masses for which the Newtonian gravitational potential is known, and is shown to describe a mass particle's behavior in the gravitational field of a thin mass-rod. This use of Newton's laws allows relativistic behavior to be described in a physically comprehensible manner. D. Savickas, Int. J. Mod. Phys. D 23 1430018, (2014).

Experience and learning curve of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for upper ureteral calculi.

PubMed

Fan, Tianyong; Xian, Peng; Yang, Lu; Liu, Yong; Wei, Qiang; Li, Hong

2009-11-01

To summarize our experience and evaluate the learning curve of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy of the upper ureter. Between May 2004 and May 2007, 40 patients underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy of the upper ureter. We divided the first and last 20 patients into group I and group II. There was no statistical difference in stone size between groups. Operative time and complications were measured as a basis for the assessment of the learning curve. In group I, the complication rate was 15% (3/20), including two patients whose procedure was converted to open surgery because of intraoperative bleeding, and one patient who experienced urine leakage because of a displaced Double-J ureteral stent. In group II, no postoperative complications occurred, while the mean operative time was significantly shorter compared with the earlier operations (65 vs 120 min). Retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy is safe and effective for large or impacted stones of the upper ureter. It is associated with a short learning curve in the setting of an active laparoscopic practice for selected patients.

Characterizing filamentary switching in resistive memories (Presentation Recording)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Busby, Yan; Pireaux, Jean-Jacques

2015-09-01

Characterizing filamentary switching in resistive memories For many organic, inorganic and hybrid memory devices the resistive switching mechanism is well known to rely on filament formation [1]. This implies that localized conductive paths are established between the two terminal electrodes during the forming step. This filaments sustain the current flow when the memory is in the low conductive state and they can be ruptured and possibly re-formed for more than hundreds of I-V cycles. The nature and morphology of filaments has been long time debated especially for organic memories. The filament size, density and formation mechanism have been very challenging to be characterized, and need appropriate experimental techniques. However, filaments in organic memories have been recently identified and characterized by cross-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM), conductive-AFM, AFM-tomography and through depth profile analysis combining Time-of-flight secondary ions mass spectrometry (SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In particular, 3D spectroscopic images obtained with ToF-SIMS give access for the first time to filament formation process and rupture mechanism. From these results, a clear picture of the filament(s) dynamics during memory operation can be drawn. In this contribution, recent results showing filaments in memories based on different structures and architectures will be discussed. The memories are based on insulating polymers (polystyrene [2] and poly methyl methacrylate [3]), conductive polymers/nanocomposites (polyera N1400 with metal NPs [4]), and small semiconducting molecules (Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium - Alq3 [5]). The results show that resistive switching clearly involves the inhomogeneous metal diffusion in the organic layer taking place during the top electrode deposition and during memory operation. This may be of great relevance in many other organic electronics applications. REFERENCES [1] S. Nau, S. Sax, E.J

ROTATIONAL- SHOCK(S) Impulse-Jerk(I-J) [VS. T=I α] Plasticity/Fracture Burst Acoustic-Emission(BAE) NON: ``1''/[f= ω]-``Noise'' Power-Law Power-Spectrum is T=I α DERIVATIVE I-J Time-Series Integral-Transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewis, Thomas; Siegel, Edward

2011-06-01

ROTATIONAL-[``spin-up''/``spin-down'']-SHOCK(S)-plasticity/fracture BAE[E.S.:MSE 8,310(71); PSS:(a)5,601 /607(71); Xl..-Latt. Defects 5,277(74);Scripta Met.:6,785(72);8,587/617(74);3rd Tokyo A.-E. Symp.(76);Acta Met. 25,383(77);JMMM 7,312(78)] NON: ``1''/ ω noise'' Zipf-(Pareto); power-law universality power-spectrum; is manifestly-demonstrated in two distinct ways to be nothing but ROTATIONAL(in 2 OR 3-dimensions)ANGULAR-momentum Newton's 3rd Law of Motion T=I α=dJ/dt REdiscovery!!! A/Siegel PHYSICS derivation FAILS!!! ''PURE''-MATHS: dT(t)/dt=(dJ(t)/dt)2=[I(t)d α(t)/dt+ α(t)(t)dI(t)/dt TRIPLE-integral VS. T=I α DOUBLE-integral time-series(T-S) Dichotomy: θ(t)=[ϖ0 t + α(t) t 2 / 2 + EXTRA-TERM(S)] VS. θ(t)=[ϖ0 t + α(t) t 2 / 2 ] integral-transform formally defines power-spectrum Dichotomy: P(ω) =? θ(t)e-iωtdt=?[ϖ0 t + αt2 / 2 ]e-iωtdt=φ0?te-iωtdt+?{[ α ≠ α (t)]/2}t2eiωtdt= φ0 (ω) /d ω+{[a ≠a(t)]/2}d2 δ (ω) /dω2 =φ0 /ω0+{[ α ≠ α (t)]/2}/ω 1 . 000 ...: if α=0, then P(ω) 1/ω0, VS. if α ≠ α (t) ≠0, then P(ω) 1/ ω 1/ω 1 . 000 ...

PMAnalyzer: a new web interface for bacterial growth curve analysis.

PubMed

Cuevas, Daniel A; Edwards, Robert A

2017-06-15

Bacterial growth curves are essential representations for characterizing bacteria metabolism within a variety of media compositions. Using high-throughput, spectrophotometers capable of processing tens of 96-well plates, quantitative phenotypic information can be easily integrated into the current data structures that describe a bacterial organism. The PMAnalyzer pipeline performs a growth curve analysis to parameterize the unique features occurring within microtiter wells containing specific growth media sources. We have expanded the pipeline capabilities and provide a user-friendly, online implementation of this automated pipeline. PMAnalyzer version 2.0 provides fast automatic growth curve parameter analysis, growth identification and high resolution figures of sample-replicate growth curves and several statistical analyses. PMAnalyzer v2.0 can be found at https://edwards.sdsu.edu/pmanalyzer/ . Source code for the pipeline can be found on GitHub at https://github.com/dacuevas/PMAnalyzer . Source code for the online implementation can be found on GitHub at https://github.com/dacuevas/PMAnalyzerWeb . dcuevas08@gmail.com. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Application of the Nonballistic Model to the Black Hole Candidate XTE J1752-223 and the Quasar NRAO 150

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

Zheng, T. Y.; Gong, B. P., E-mail: bpgong@mail.hust.edu.cn

2017-02-01

Optical and radio observations of the black hole candidate XTE J1752-223 have exhibited a slightly curved motion of the jet components, which is associated with its radio light curve. In addition, observations of the quasar NRAO 150 have revealed a core–jet structure wobbling with a high angular speed. In this paper, the phenomena displayed in these two different sources are interpreted as the precession of a bent jet. In such a scenario, hot spots reproduced at different separations from the core precess on the same precession cone, in which different components correspond to different propagation times to the observer. Bymore » fitting the kinematics of the components of XTE J1752-223 and its light curve with a curved pattern of precession period 314 days, we find that the propagation time can make an earlier event appear later, and the jet axis can oscillate during its precession. Simulating the quasar NRAO 150 with the same scenario reveals that the knots at larger separation from the core precess at a slower speed than those closer in. A possible mechanism relating to the cooling time of a component is proposed. These three new results are of importance in understanding the physics underlying the curved jet as well as the activity of the central engine of different black hole systems.« less

Corrosion resistance of steel materials in LiCl-KCl melts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Le; Li, Bing; Shen, Miao; Li, Shi-yan; Yu, Jian-guo

2012-10-01

The corrosion behaviors of 304SS, 316LSS, and Q235A in LiCl-KCl melts were investigated at 450°C by Tafel curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). 316LSS shows the best corrosion resistance behaviors among the three materials, including the most positive corrosion potential and the smallest corrosion current from the Tafel curves and the largest electron transfer resistance from the Nyquist plots. The results are in good agreement with the weight losses in the static corrosion experiments for 45 h. This may be attributed to the better corrosion resistance of Mo and Ni existing as alloy elements in 316LSS, which exhibit the lower corrosion current densities and more positive corrosion potentials than 316LSS in the same melts.

Non-equilibrium character of resistive switching and negative differential resistance in Ga-doped Cr2O3 system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhowmik, R. N.; Siva, K. Venkata

2018-07-01

The samples of Ga-doped Cr2O3 system in rhombohedral crystal structure with space group R 3 bar C were prepared by chemical co-precipitation route and annealing at 800 °C. The current-voltage (I-V) curves exhibited many unique non-linear properties, e.g., hysteresis loop, resistive switching, and negative differential resistance (NDR). In this work, we report non-equilibrium properties of resistive switching and NDR phenomena. The non-equilibrium I-V characteristics were confirmed by repetiting measurement and time relaxation of current. The charge conduction process was understood by analysing the I-V curves using electrode-limited and bulk-limited charge conduction mechanisms, which were proposed for metal electrode/metal oxide/metal electrode structure. The I-V curves in the NDR regime and at higher bias voltage regime in our samples did not obey Fowler-Nordheim equation, which was proposed for charge tunneling mechanism in many thin film junctions. The non-equilibrium I-V phenomena were explained by considering the competitions between the injection of charge carriers from metal electrode to metal oxide, the charge flow through bulk material mediated by trapping/de-trapping and recombination of charge carriers at the defect sites of ions, the space charge effects at the junctions of electrodes and metal oxides, and finally, the out flow of electrons from metal oxide to metal electrode.

Integration of electrical resistivity imaging and ground penetrating radar to investigate solution features in the Biscayne Aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeboah-Forson, Albert; Comas, Xavier; Whitman, Dean

2014-07-01

The limestone composing the Biscayne Aquifer in southeast Florida is characterized by cavities and solution features that are difficult to detect and quantify accurately because of their heterogeneous spatial distribution. Such heterogeneities have been shown by previous studies to exert a strong influence in the direction of groundwater flow. In this study we use an integrated array of geophysical methods to detect the lateral extent and distribution of solution features as indicative of anisotropy in the Biscayne Aquifer. Geophysical methods included azimuthal resistivity measurements, electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) and were constrained with direct borehole information from nearby wells. The geophysical measurements suggest the presence of a zone of low electrical resistivity (from ERI) and low electromagnetic wave velocity (from GPR) below the water table at depths of 4-9 m that corresponds to the depth of solution conduits seen in digital borehole images. Azimuthal electrical measurements at the site reported coefficients of electrical anisotropy as high as 1.36 suggesting the presence of an area of high porosity (most likely comprising different types of porosity) oriented in the E-W direction. This study shows how integrated geophysical methods can help detect the presence of areas of enhanced porosity which may influence the direction of groundwater flow in a complex anisotropic and heterogeneous karst system like the Biscayne Aquifer.

Molecular cytogenetic identification of three rust-resistant wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum partial amphiploids.

PubMed

Pei, Yanru; Cui, Yu; Zhang, Yanping; Wang, Honggang; Bao, Yinguang; Li, Xingfeng

2018-01-01

Thinopyrum ponticum (2n = 10× = 70, J S J S J S J S JJJJJJ) is an important wild perennial Triticeae species that has a unique gene pool with many desirable traits for common wheat. The partial amphiploids derived from wheat- Th. ponticum set up a bridge for transferring valuable genes from Th. ponticum into common wheat. In this study, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), multicolor GISH (mcGISH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to analyze the genomic constitution of SN0389, SN0398 and SN0406, three octoploid accessions with good resistance to rust. The results demonstrated that the three octoploids possessed 42 wheat chromosomes, while SN0389 contained 12 Th. ponticum chromosomes and SN0398 and SN0406 contained 14 Th. ponticum chromosomes. The genomic constitution of SN0389 was 42 W + 12J S , and for SN0398 and SN0406 it was 42 W + 12J S  + 2 J. Chromosomal variation was found in chromosomes 1A, 3A, 6A, 2B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 1D and 5D of SN0389, SN0398 and SN0406 based on the FISH and McGISH pattern. A resistance evaluation showed that SN0389, SN0398 and SN0406 possessed good resistance to stripe and leaf rust at the seedling stage and adult-plant stage. The results indicated that these wheat- Th. ponticum partial amphiploids are new resistant germplasms for wheat improvement.

The effect of vacuum annealing on corrosion resistance of titanium

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

Chikanov, V.N.; Peshkov, V.V.; Kireev, L.S.

1994-09-01

The effect of annealing on the corrosion resistance of OT4-1 sheet titanium in 25% HCl under various air pressures and self-evacuating conditions has been investigated. From the kinetic corrosion curves it follows that the least corrosion resistance of titanium is observed after vacuum annealing. Even low residual air pressure in a chamber improves corrosion resistance. The corrosion resistance of titanium decreases with vacuum-annealing time.

SWIFT-BAT HARD X-RAY SKY MONITORING UNVEILS THE ORBITAL PERIOD OF THE HMXB IGR J18219–1347

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

La Parola, V.; Cusumano, G.; Segreto, A.

2013-09-20

IGR J18219–1347 is a hard X-ray source discovered by INTEGRAL in 2010. We have analyzed the X-ray emission of this source exploiting the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) survey data up to 2012 March and the X-Ray Telescope (XRT) data that include also an observing campaign performed in early 2012. The source is detected at a significance level of ∼13 standard deviations in the 88 month BAT survey data, and shows a strong variability along the survey monitoring, going from high intensity to quiescent states. A timing analysis on the BAT data revealed an intensity modulation with a period of Pmore » {sub 0} = 72.44 ± 0.3 days. The significance of this modulation is about seven standard deviations in Gaussian statistics. We interpret it as the orbital period of the binary system. The light curve folded at P {sub 0} shows a sharp peak covering ∼30% of the period, superimposed to a flat level roughly consistent with zero. In the soft X-rays the source is detected only in 5 out of 12 XRT observations, with the highest recorded count rate corresponding to a phase close to the BAT folded light-curve peak. The long orbital period and the evidence that the source emits only during a small fraction of the orbit suggests that the IGR J18219–1347 binary system hosts a Be star. The broadband XRT+BAT spectrum is well modeled with a flat absorbed power law with a high-energy exponential cutoff at ∼11 keV.« less

Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in the bacterial flora of integrated fish farming environments of Pakistan and Tanzania.

PubMed

Shah, Syed Q A; Colquhoun, Duncan J; Nikuli, Hamisi L; Sørum, Henning

2012-08-21

The use of a wide variety of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine, including aquaculture, has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens. In the present study, bacteria from water, sediments, and fish were collected from fish farms in Pakistan and Tanzania with no recorded history of antibiotic use. The isolates were screened for the presence of resistance genes against various antimicrobials used in aquaculture and animal husbandry. Resistant isolates selected by disk diffusion and genotyped by Southern hybridization were further screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplicon sequencing. The prominent resistance genes identified encoded tetracycline [tetA(A) and tetA(G)], trimethoprim [dfrA1, dfrA5, dfrA7, dfrA12, and dfrA15], amoxicillin [bla(TEM)], streptomycin [strA-strB], chloramphenicol [cat-1], and erythromycin resistance [mefA]. The int1 gene was found in more than 30% of the bacterial isolates in association with gene cassettes. MAR indices ranged from 0.2 to 1. The bla(NDM-1) gene was not identified in ertapenem resistant isolates. It is hypothesized that integrated fish farming practices utilizing domestic farm and poultry waste along with antibiotic residues from animal husbandry may have contributed to a pool of resistance genes in the aquaculture systems studied.

Optical spectroscopic followup of XMMSL1 J164303.7+653253 in the error box of IGR J16426+6536

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parisi, P.; Masetti, N.; Malizia, A.; Morelli, L.; Mason, E.; Dean, A. J.; Ubertini, P.

2008-10-01

We report on a spectroscopic observation of the optical object USNO-A2.0 1500-06133361 (with J2000 coordinates RA = 16 43 04.07, Dec = +65 32 50.9 and magnitude R ~ 18.9) inside the error circle of the XMM-Newton slew source XMMLS1 J164303.7+653253 (see Ibarra et al., ATel #1397), possibly associated with the unidentified INTEGRAL source IGR J16426+6536 (Bird et al. 2007, ApJS, 170, 175). The observations were performed on 2008 February 04, starting at 06:10 UT, with DOLORES, a focal reducer instrument installed on the 3.58m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) in the Astronomical Observatory of Roque de Los Muchachos (Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain), for a total exposure time of 1800 s.

A new methodology for free wake analysis using curved vortex elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bliss, Donald B.; Teske, Milton E.; Quackenbush, Todd R.

1987-01-01

A method using curved vortex elements was developed for helicopter rotor free wake calculations. The Basic Curve Vortex Element (BCVE) is derived from the approximate Biot-Savart integration for a parabolic arc filament. When used in conjunction with a scheme to fit the elements along a vortex filament contour, this method has a significant advantage in overall accuracy and efficiency when compared to the traditional straight-line element approach. A theoretical and numerical analysis shows that free wake flows involving close interactions between filaments should utilize curved vortex elements in order to guarantee a consistent level of accuracy. The curved element method was implemented into a forward flight free wake analysis, featuring an adaptive far wake model that utilizes free wake information to extend the vortex filaments beyond the free wake regions. The curved vortex element free wake, coupled with this far wake model, exhibited rapid convergence, even in regions where the free wake and far wake turns are interlaced. Sample calculations are presented for tip vortex motion at various advance ratios for single and multiple blade rotors. Cross-flow plots reveal that the overall downstream wake flow resembles a trailing vortex pair. A preliminary assessment shows that the rotor downwash field is insensitive to element size, even for relatively large curved elements.

Molecular Mechanism for Prostate Cancer Resistance to the Anti-Tumor Activity

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-11-01

Furukawa, T., Kanai, N., Sunamura, M., and Horii, A. (2005) J Hum Genet 50(4), 159-167 31. Armes, J. E., Hammet , F., de Silva, M., Ciciulla, J., Ramus...Relative mRNA levels were calculated 13 from the point where each curve crossed the threshold line (Ct) using the equation : Rel. Value = 2 -[Ct...JE, Hammet F, de Silva M, et al. Candidate tumor-suppressor genes on chromosome arm 8p in early-onset and high-grade breast cancers. Oncogene 2004 Jul

Permethrin induction of multiple cytochrome P450 genes in insecticide resistant mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus.

PubMed

Gong, Youhui; Li, Ting; Zhang, Lee; Gao, Xiwu; Liu, Nannan

2013-01-01

The expression of some insect P450 genes can be induced by both exogenous and endogenous compounds and there is evidence to suggest that multiple constitutively overexpressed P450 genes are co-responsible for the development of resistance to permethrin in resistant mosquitoes. This study characterized the permethrin induction profiles of P450 genes known to be constitutively overexpressed in resistant mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus. The gene expression in 7 of the 19 P450 genes CYP325K3v1, CYP4D42v2, CYP9J45, (CYP) CPIJ000926, CYP325G4, CYP4C38, CYP4H40 in the HAmCqG8 strain, increased more than 2-fold after exposure to permethrin at an LC50 concentration (10 ppm) compared to their acetone treated counterpart; no significant differences in the expression of these P450 genes in susceptible S-Lab mosquitoes were observed after permethrin treatment. Eleven of the fourteen P450 genes overexpressed in the MAmCqG6 strain, CYP9M10, CYP6Z12, CYP9J33, CYP9J43, CYP9J34, CYP306A1, CYP6Z15, CYP9J45, CYPPAL1, CYP4C52v1, CYP9J39, were also induced more than doubled after exposure to an LC50 (0.7 ppm) dose of permethrin. No significant induction in P450 gene expression was observed in the susceptible S-Lab mosquitoes after permethrin treatment except for CYP6Z15 and CYP9J39, suggesting that permethrin induction of these two P450 genes are common to both susceptible and resistant mosquitoes while the induction of the others are specific to insecticide resistant mosquitoes. These results demonstrate that multiple P450 genes are co-up-regulated in insecticide resistant mosquitoes through both constitutive overexpression and induction mechanisms, providing additional support for their involvement in the detoxification of insecticides and the development of insecticide resistance.

Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy and ROC Curves with Covariate Adjusted Semiparametric Mixtures.

PubMed

Doebler, Philipp; Holling, Heinz

2015-12-01

Many screening tests dichotomize a measurement to classify subjects. Typically a cut-off value is chosen in a way that allows identification of an acceptable number of cases relative to a reference procedure, but does not produce too many false positives at the same time. Thus for the same sample many pairs of sensitivities and false positive rates result as the cut-off is varied. The curve of these points is called the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. One goal of diagnostic meta-analysis is to integrate ROC curves and arrive at a summary ROC (SROC) curve. Holling, Böhning, and Böhning (Psychometrika 77:106-126, 2012a) demonstrated that finite semiparametric mixtures can describe the heterogeneity in a sample of Lehmann ROC curves well; this approach leads to clusters of SROC curves of a particular shape. We extend this work with the help of the [Formula: see text] transformation, a flexible family of transformations for proportions. A collection of SROC curves is constructed that approximately contains the Lehmann family but in addition allows the modeling of shapes beyond the Lehmann ROC curves. We introduce two rationales for determining the shape from the data. Using the fact that each curve corresponds to a natural univariate measure of diagnostic accuracy, we show how covariate adjusted mixtures lead to a meta-regression on SROC curves. Three worked examples illustrate the method.

Testing compression strength of wood logs by drilling resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalny, Gerda; Rados, Kristijan; Rauch, Hans Peter

2017-04-01

Soil bioengineering is a construction technique using biological components for hydraulic and civil engineering solutions, based on the application of living plants and other auxiliary materials including among others log wood. Considering the reliability of the construction it is important to know about the durability and the degradation process of the wooden logs to estimate and retain the integral performance of a soil bioengineering system. An important performance indicator is the compression strength, but this parameter is not easy to examine by non-destructive methods. The Rinntech Resistograph is an instrument to measure the drilling resistance by a 3 mm wide needle in a wooden log. It is a quasi-non-destructive method as the remaining hole has no weakening effects to the wood. This is an easy procedure but result in values, hard to interpret. To assign drilling resistance values to specific compression strengths, wooden specimens were tested in an experiment and analysed with the Resistograph. Afterwards compression tests were done at the same specimens. This should allow an easier interpretation of drilling resistance curves in future. For detailed analyses specimens were investigated by means of branch inclusions, cracks and distances between annual rings. Wood specimens are tested perpendicular to the grain. First results show a correlation between drilling resistance and compression strength by using the mean drilling resistance, average width of the annual rings and the mean range of the minima and maxima values as factors for the drilling resistance. The extended limit of proportionality, the offset yield strength and the maximum strength were taken as parameters for compression strength. Further investigations at a second point in time strengthen these results.

Potential applicability of chymotrypsin-susceptible microcin J25 derivatives to food preservation.

PubMed

Pomares, María Fernanda; Salomón, Raúl A; Pavlova, Olga; Severinov, Konstantin; Farías, Ricardo; Vincent, Paula A

2009-09-01

Microcin J25 (MccJ25) is a 21-residue ribosomally synthesized lariat peptide antibiotic. MccJ25 is active against such food-borne disease-causing pathogens as Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli, including E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 strains. MccJ25 is highly resistant to digestion by proteolytic enzymes present in the stomach and intestinal contents. MccJ25 would therefore remain active in the gastrointestinal tract, affecting normal intestinal microbiota, and this limits the potential use of MccJ25 as a food preservative. In the present paper, we describe a chymotrypsin-susceptible MccJ25 derivative with a mutation of Gly(12) to Tyr that retained almost full antibiotic activity and efficiently inhibited the growth of pathogenic Salmonella enterica serovar Newport and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in skim milk and egg yolk. However, unlike the wild-type MccJ25, the MccJ25(G12Y) variant was inactivated by digestive enzymes both in vitro and in vivo. To our knowledge, our results represent the first example of a rational modification of a microcin aimed at increasing its potential use in food preservation.