Development of the Canadian Marginalization Index: a new tool for the study of inequality.

PubMed

Matheson, Flora I; Dunn, James R; Smith, Katherine L W; Moineddin, Rahim; Glazier, Richard H

2012-04-30

Area-based measures of socio-economic status are increasingly used in population health research. Based on previous research and theory, the Canadian Marginalization Index (CAN-Marg) was created to reflect four dimensions of marginalization: residential instability, material deprivation, dependency and ethnic concentration. The objective of this paper was threefold: to describe CAN-Marg; to illustrate its stability across geographic area and time; and to describe its association with health and behavioural problems. CAN-Marg was created at the dissemination area (DA) and census tract level for census years 2001 and 2006, using factor analysis. Descriptions of 18 health and behavioural problems were selected using individual-level data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 3.1 and 2007/08. CAN-Marg quintiles created at the DA level (2006) were assigned to individual CCHS records. Multilevel logistic regression modeling was conducted to examine associations between marginalization and CCHS health and behavioural problems. The index demonstrated marked stability across time and geographic area. Each of the four dimensions showed strong and significant associations with the selected health and behavioural problems, and these associations differed depending on which of the dimensions of marginalization was examined. CAN-Marg is a census-based, empirically derived and theoretically informed tool designed to reflect a broader conceptualization of Canadian marginalization.

Using Posture Estimation to Enhance Personal Inertial Tracking

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

used to create and simulate a human avatar that mimics movement in a virtual environment. As of 2004, only the right arm had been modeled. The MARG...dissertation, Dept. of Philosophy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 2013. [8] F. Yildiz, “Implementation of a human avatar for the MARG

Post waterflood CO{sub 2} miscible flood in light oil fluvial: Dominated deltaic reservoirs. Third quarterly report, April 1, 1995--June 30, 1995

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

NONE

1995-07-15

Production from the Marg Area 1 at Port Neches is averaging 337 BOPD for this quarter. The production drop is due to fluctuation in both GOR and BS&W on various producing wells, low water injectivity in the reservoir and shut-in one producing well to perform a workover to replace a failed gravel pack setting. Coil tubing work was performed on 2 injection wells in order to resume injection of water and CO{sub 2} in the reservoir. The Marg Area 2 did not respond favorably to CO{sub 2} injection in the Kuhn No. 6 well. For this reason Texaco will notmore » pursue any further development of this section of the reservoir due mainly to low target reserves. Instead Texaco will reallocate the money to a new Marg segment (Marg Area 3) in order to test a new process that will utilize the CO{sub 2} to accelerate the primary production rates and reduce cycle time. Also the process should reduce water disposal cost, cash lifting cost, operating cost and increase the NPV of the reserves.« less

Stereospecific Synthesis of 23-Hydroxyundecylprodiginines and Analogues and Conversion to Antimalarial Premarineosins via a Rieske Oxygenase Catalyzed Bicyclization

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Facile and highly efficient synthetic routes for the synthesis of (S)- and (R)-23-hydroxyundecylprodiginines ((23S)-2, and (23R)-2), 23-ketoundecylprodiginine (3), and deuterium-labeled 23-hydroxyundecylprodiginine ([23-d]-2) have been developed. We demonstrated a novel Rieske oxygenase MarG catalyzed stereoselective bicyclization of (23S)-2 to premarineosin A (4), a key step in the tailoring process of the biosynthesis of marineosins, using a marG heterologous expression system. The synthesis of various A–C-ring functionalized prodiginines 32–41 was achieved to investigate the substrate promiscuity of MarG. The two analogues 32 and 33 exhibit antimalarial and cytotoxic activities stronger than those of the marineosin intermediate 2, against Plasmodium falciparum strains (CQS-D6, CQR-Dd2, and 7G8) and hepatocellular HepG2 cancer cell line, respectively. Feeding of 34–36 to Streptomyces venezuelae expressing marG led to production of novel premarineosins, paving a way for the production of marineosin analogues via a combinatorial synthetic/biosynthetic approach. This study presents the first example of oxidative bicyclization mediated by a Rieske oxygenase. PMID:25380131

Multi-Sensor Calibration of Low-Cost Magnetic, Angular Rate and Gravity Systems

PubMed Central

Lüken, Markus; Misgeld, Berno J.E.; Rüschen, Daniel; Leonhardt, Steffen

2015-01-01

We present a new calibration procedure for low-cost nine degrees-of-freedom (9DOF) magnetic, angular rate and gravity (MARG) sensor systems, which relies on a calibration cube, a reference table and a body sensor network (BSN). The 9DOF MARG sensor is part of our recently-developed “Integrated Posture and Activity Network by Medit Aachen” (IPANEMA) BSN. The advantage of this new approach is the use of the calibration cube, which allows for easy integration of two sensor nodes of the IPANEMA BSN. One 9DOF MARG sensor node is thereby used for calibration; the second 9DOF MARG sensor node is used for reference measurements. A novel algorithm uses these measurements to further improve the performance of the calibration procedure by processing arbitrarily-executed motions. In addition, the calibration routine can be used in an alignment procedure to minimize errors in the orientation between the 9DOF MARG sensor system and a motion capture inertial reference system. A two-stage experimental study is conducted to underline the performance of our calibration procedure. In both stages of the proposed calibration procedure, the BSN data, as well as reference tracking data are recorded. In the first stage, the mean values of all sensor outputs are determined as the absolute measurement offset to minimize integration errors in the derived movement model of the corresponding body segment. The second stage deals with the dynamic characteristics of the measurement system where the dynamic deviation of the sensor output compared to a reference system is corrected. In practical validation experiments, this procedure showed promising results with a maximum RMS error of 3.89°. PMID:26473873

Multi-sensor calibration of low-cost magnetic, angular rate and gravity systems.

PubMed

Lüken, Markus; Misgeld, Berno J E; Rüschen, Daniel; Leonhardt, Steffen

2015-10-13

We present a new calibration procedure for low-cost nine degrees-of-freedom (9DOF) magnetic, angular rate and gravity (MARG) sensor systems, which relies on a calibration cube, a reference table and a body sensor network (BSN). The 9DOF MARG sensor is part of our recently-developed "Integrated Posture and Activity Network by Medit Aachen" (IPANEMA) BSN. The advantage of this new approach is the use of the calibration cube, which allows for easy integration of two sensor nodes of the IPANEMA BSN. One 9DOF MARG sensor node is thereby used for calibration; the second 9DOF MARG sensor node is used for reference measurements. A novel algorithm uses these measurements to further improve the performance of the calibration procedure by processing arbitrarily-executed motions. In addition, the calibration routine can be used in an alignment procedure to minimize errors in the orientation between the 9DOF MARG sensor system and a motion capture inertial reference system. A two-stage experimental study is conducted to underline the performance of our calibration procedure. In both stages of the proposed calibration procedure, the BSN data, as well as reference tracking data are recorded. In the first stage, the mean values of all sensor outputs are determined as the absolute measurement offset to minimize integration errors in the derived movement model of the corresponding body segment. The second stage deals with the dynamic characteristics of the measurement system where the dynamic deviation of the sensor output compared to a reference system is Sensors 2015, 15 25920 corrected. In practical validation experiments, this procedure showed promising results with a maximum RMS error of 3.89°.

How Do I Deal with Depression and Adjustment to My Spinal Cord Injury?

MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools

... helplessness and confusion is to arm yourself with information on what a spinal cord injury is, and ... Karp Resources If you are looking for more information on how to manage depression or have a ...

Impact location of objects hitting the water surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadri, Usama

2017-04-01

Analysis of data, recorded on March 8th 2014 at the Comprehensive Test ban Treaty Organisation's hydroacoustic station off Cape Leeuwin Western Australia, reveal pressure signatures of objects impacting at the sea surface which could be associated with falling meteorites as well as the missing Malaysian MH370 airplane. The location of the sources are identified analytically by an inverse solution based on acoustic-gravity wave theory (e.g. see references below) which have been developed and validated experimentally. Apart from the direct contribution to the search efforts after the missing airplane, the method we describe here is very efficient for identifying the location of sources that result in a sudden change in the water pressure in general. References 1. T.Yamamoto,1982.Gravity waves and acoustic waves generated by submarine earthquakes, Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng., 1, 75-82. 2. M. Stiassnie, 2010. Tsunamis and acoustic-gravity waves from underwater earthquakes, J. Eng. Math., 67, 23-32, doi:10.1007/s10665-009-9323-x. 3. U. Kadri and M. Staissnie, 2012. Acoustic-gravity waves interacting with the shelf break. J. Geophys. Res., 117, C03035, doi: 10.1029/2011JC007674. 4. E. Eyov, A. Klar, U. Kadri and M. Stiassnie, 2013. Progressive waves in a compressible ocean with elastic bottom, Wave Motion 50, 929-939. doi: 10.1016/j.wavemoti.2013.03.003 5. G. Hendin and M. Stiassnie, 2013. Tsunami and acoustic-gravity waves in water of constant depth, Phys. Fluids 25, 086103, doi: 10.1063/1.481799. 6. U. Kadri, 2016. Acoustic-gravity waves from an oscillating ice-block in arctic zones. Advances in Acoustics and Vibration, 8076108, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8076108 7. T.C.A. Oliveira, U. Kadri, 2016. Acoustic-gravity waves from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. doi: 10.1002/2016JC011742

Peregrine Rocket Motor Test at the Ames Outdoor Aerodynamic Rese

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-02-15

Ashley Karp, NASA JPL (Left) and Hunjoo Kim, NASA JPL (Right) attaching heat sensors the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine prior to its test at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (OARF, N-249) at NASA's Ames Research Center.

Peregrine Rocket Motor Test at the Ames Outdoor Aerodynamic Rese

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-02-15

Hunjoo Kim, NASA JPL (Left) and Ashley Karp, NASA JPL (Right) attaching heat sensors the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine prior to its test at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (OARF, N-249) at NASA’s Ames Research Center.

Collegiate Aviation Review, 2000.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carney, Thomas Q., Ed.

2000-01-01

This issue contains seven papers. "University Aviation Education: An Integrated Model" (Merrill R. Karp) addresses potential educational enhancements through the implementation of an integrated aviation learning model, the Aviation Education Reinforcement Option. "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): A Tombstone Agency?…

U.S. Army Research Institute Program in Basic Research FY 2005 and FY 2006

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-11-01

designed to tap different levels of processing-from visual attention (measured via eye-tracking) and interpretation through memory and decision-making (e.g...Test ( EFT ; Witkin, 1950; Witkin, Dyk, Faterson, Goodenough, & Karp, 1962) modified for group administration. It measures competence in perceptual field

Peregrine Rocket Motor Test at the Ames Outdoor Aerodynamic Rese

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-02-15

From Left to Right: Ashley Karp (NASA JPL), Hunjoo Kim (NASA JPL), Brian Schratz (NASA JPL) and Kyle Botteon (NASA JPL) Testing the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (building N249, OARF) at NASA’s Ames Research Center.

Use of eschar swabbing for the molecular diagnosis and genotyping of Orientia tsutsugamushi causing scrub typhus in Quang Nam province, Vietnam.

PubMed

Le Viet, Nhiem; Laroche, Maureen; Thi Pham, Hoa L; Viet, Nho L; Mediannikov, Oleg; Raoult, Didier; Parola, Philippe

2017-02-01

Scrub typhus is a rickettsiosis which is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and occurs throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Molecular diagnosis of rickettsioses using eschar swabs has recently emerged, and may be very useful for the diagnosis of these diseases in tropical settings. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect O. tsutsugamushi DNA in whole blood and eschar swab specimens of 67 patients who were clinically suspected of scrub typhus in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. Among the 20 patients for whom both eschar and whole blood were obtained, 17 (85%) of the eschar specimens and 5 (25%) of the whole blood specimens tested positive for O. tsutsugamushi. Genetic analysis of the 56-kDa TSA gene sequences demonstrated that the 14 sequences obtained in this study, including 12 eschar swabs and 2 whole blood specimens, were related to 4 groups: Karp, Kawasaki, Gilliam (JG-v and TG-v) and TA716. The majority (9/14; 64.4%) of contemporary O. tsutsugamushi genotypes in Quang Nam province were related to the Karp group. These results suggest that polyclonal antigen pools used for serological testing in the future should contain at least Karp, Kawasaki, Gilliam and TA716 antigens for Vietnamese patients, as well as patients who have traveled to Vietnam. qPCR after eschar swabbing should be considered for molecular diagnosis of scrub typhus in endemic patients as well as in travelers, since it is easy to perform and appears very useful for the rapid detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi in the early phase of infection.

Use of eschar swabbing for the molecular diagnosis and genotyping of Orientia tsutsugamushi causing scrub typhus in Quang Nam province, Vietnam

PubMed Central

Le Viet, Nhiem; Laroche, Maureen; Thi Pham, Hoa L.; Viet, Nho L.; Mediannikov, Oleg; Raoult, Didier; Parola, Philippe

2017-01-01

Background Scrub typhus is a rickettsiosis which is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and occurs throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Molecular diagnosis of rickettsioses using eschar swabs has recently emerged, and may be very useful for the diagnosis of these diseases in tropical settings. Methodology/Principal findings Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect O. tsutsugamushi DNA in whole blood and eschar swab specimens of 67 patients who were clinically suspected of scrub typhus in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. Among the 20 patients for whom both eschar and whole blood were obtained, 17 (85%) of the eschar specimens and 5 (25%) of the whole blood specimens tested positive for O. tsutsugamushi. Genetic analysis of the 56-kDa TSA gene sequences demonstrated that the 14 sequences obtained in this study, including 12 eschar swabs and 2 whole blood specimens, were related to 4 groups: Karp, Kawasaki, Gilliam (JG-v and TG-v) and TA716. The majority (9/14; 64.4%) of contemporary O. tsutsugamushi genotypes in Quang Nam province were related to the Karp group. Conclusions These results suggest that polyclonal antigen pools used for serological testing in the future should contain at least Karp, Kawasaki, Gilliam and TA716 antigens for Vietnamese patients, as well as patients who have traveled to Vietnam. qPCR after eschar swabbing should be considered for molecular diagnosis of scrub typhus in endemic patients as well as in travelers, since it is easy to perform and appears very useful for the rapid detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi in the early phase of infection. PMID:28241043

78 FR 39258 - Marine Mammals; File No. 17355

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-01

...), 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 [Responsible Party: William Karp; Principal Investigator: Peter Corkeron] to conduct research on marine mammals and sea turtles. ADDRESSES: The permit and... to conduct research on marine mammals and sea turtles had been submitted by the above-named applicant...

Peregrine Rocket Motor Test at the Ames Outdoor Aerodynamic Rese

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-02-15

From Left to Right: 1. Hunjoo Kim (NASA JPL) 2. Kyle Botteon (NASA JPL) 3. Ashley Karp (NASA JPL) 4. Brian Schratz (NASA JPL) Testing the Peregrine Hybrid Rocket Engine at the Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility (building N249, OARF) at Ames Research Center.

78 FR 22239 - Endangered Species; File No. 16556

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-15

... Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC; Responsible Party: Dr. William Karp), 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543... research. ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by... request for a scientific research permit to take loggerhead, leatherback, Kemp's ridley, and green sea...

Rickettsial Illnesses as Important Causes of Febrile Illness in Chittagong, Bangladesh

PubMed Central

Kingston, Hugh W.; Hossain, Mosharraf; Leopold, Stije; Anantatat, Tippawan; Tanganuchitcharnchai, Ampai; Sinha, Ipsita; Plewes, Katherine; Maude, Richard J.; Chowdhury, M.A. Hassan; Paul, Sujat; Uddin, Rabiul Alam Mohammed Erfan; Siddiqui, Mohammed Abu Naser; Zahed, Abu Shahed; Abu Sayeed, Abdullah; Rahman, Mohammed Habibur; Barua, Anupam; Uddin, Mohammed Jasim; Sattar, Mohammed Abdus; Dondorp, Arjen M.; Blacksell, Stuart D.; Day, Nicholas P.J.; Ghose, Aniruddha; Hossain, Amir

2018-01-01

We conducted a yearlong prospective study of febrile patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh, to assess the proportion of patients with rickettsial illnesses and identify the causative pathogens, strain genotypes, and associated seasonality patterns. We diagnosed scrub typhus in 16.8% (70/416) and murine typhus in 5.8% (24/416) of patients; 2 patients had infections attributable to undifferentiated Rickettsia spp. and 2 had DNA sequence–confirmed R. felis infection. Orientia tsutsugamushi genotypes included Karp, Gilliam, Kato, and TA763-like strains, with a prominence of Karp-like strains. Scrub typhus admissions peaked in a biphasic pattern before and after the rainy season, whereas murine typhus more frequently occurred before the rainy season. Death occurred in 4% (18/416) of cases; case-fatality rates were 4% each for scrub typhus (3/70) and murine typhus (1/28). Overall, 23.1% (96/416) of patients had evidence of treatable rickettsial illnesses, providing important evidence toward optimizing empirical treatment strategies. PMID:29553921

Analysis of the cross-reactivity of various 56 kDa recombinant protein antigens with serum samples collected after Orientia tsutsugamushi infection by ELISA.

PubMed

Chao, Chien-Chung; Huber, Erin S; Porter, Terrisita B; Zhang, Zhiwen; Ching, Wei-Mei

2011-06-01

Orientia tsutsugamushi, the etiologic agent of scrub typhus, has a highly expressed and immunodominant 56-kD outer membrane protein. This protein is one of the leading candidates for diagnosis and vaccine development for scrub typhus. Previous studies using recombinant 56-kD protein (r56s) derived from Karp strain (Kpr56) in a mouse model have shown good homologous protection but only moderate to poor heterologous protection. We evaluated the cross-reactivity of recombinant 56-kD proteins from Karp, Kato, Gilliam, TA763, and three chimeric 56-kD proteins. Not all r56s are equally reactive with strain-specific serum samples. These data provide a first glance of how reactive these r56s are toward the antiserum of different strains and which r56 exhibits the broadest reactivity. A formulation of this combination has the potential to provide broad protection against the heterologous challenge and to be used in a highly sensitive diagnostic assay.

Enhanced adsorptive removal of p-nitrophenol from water by aluminum metal-organic framework/reduced graphene oxide composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Zhibin; Yuan, Xingzhong; Zhong, Hua; Wang, Hou; Zeng, Guangming; Chen, Xiaohong; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Lei; Shao, Jianguang

2016-05-01

In this study, the composite of aluminum metal-organic framework MIL-68(Al) and reduced graphene oxide (MA/RG) was synthesized via a one-step solvothermal method, and their performances for p-nitrophenol (PNP) adsorption from aqueous solution were systematically investigated. The introduction of reduced graphene oxide (RG) into MIL-68(Al) (MA) significantly changes the morphologies of the MA and increases the surface area. The MA/RG-15% prepared at RG-to-MA mass ratio of 15% shows a PNP uptake rate 64% and 123% higher than MIL-68(Al) and reduced graphene oxide (RG), respectively. The hydrogen bond and π - π dispersion were considered to be the major driving force for the spontaneous and endothermic adsorption process for PNP removal. The adsorption kinetics, which was controlled by film-diffusion and intra-particle diffusion, was greatly influenced by solution pH, ionic strength, temperature and initial PNP concentration. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms can be well delineated using pseudo-second-order and Langmuir equations, respectively. The presence of phenol or isomeric nitrophenols in the solution had minimal influence on PNP adsorption by reusable MA/RG composite.

Enhanced adsorptive removal of p-nitrophenol from water by aluminum metal–organic framework/reduced graphene oxide composite

PubMed Central

Wu, Zhibin; Yuan, Xingzhong; Zhong, Hua; Wang, Hou; Zeng, Guangming; Chen, Xiaohong; Wang, Hui; zhang, Lei; Shao, Jianguang

2016-01-01

In this study, the composite of aluminum metal–organic framework MIL-68(Al) and reduced graphene oxide (MA/RG) was synthesized via a one–step solvothermal method, and their performances for p–nitrophenol (PNP) adsorption from aqueous solution were systematically investigated. The introduction of reduced graphene oxide (RG) into MIL-68(Al) (MA) significantly changes the morphologies of the MA and increases the surface area. The MA/RG-15% prepared at RG-to-MA mass ratio of 15% shows a PNP uptake rate 64% and 123% higher than MIL-68(Al) and reduced graphene oxide (RG), respectively. The hydrogen bond and π – π dispersion were considered to be the major driving force for the spontaneous and endothermic adsorption process for PNP removal. The adsorption kinetics, which was controlled by film–diffusion and intra–particle diffusion, was greatly influenced by solution pH, ionic strength, temperature and initial PNP concentration. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms can be well delineated using pseudo–second–order and Langmuir equations, respectively. The presence of phenol or isomeric nitrophenols in the solution had minimal influence on PNP adsorption by reusable MA/RG composite. PMID:27181188

History of Higher Education Annual, 1985.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karp, Alan; And Others

1985-01-01

This volume of the History of Higher Education Annual contains five articles. Alan Karp's essay, "John Calvin and the Geneva Academy: Roots of the Board of Trustees," discusses the reoganization and government of the Geneva Academy and Calvin's unsuccessful struggle to establish a church independent of lay control. Institutional…

Exploring the Role of First-Year Experiences in Enhancing Equity & Outcomes. Insights on Equity and Outcomes. Issue 14

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rockey, Marci; Congleton, Randi

2016-01-01

Weak connections between students and their academic and social environment can hinder commitment and lead to departure (Deil-Amen, 2011; Karp, Hughes, & O'Gara, 2010). Given their influence on college retention and completion, higher levels of academic and social integration should be a priority. Rather than focus on why students leave, it is…

A Holistic Conception of Nonacademic Support: How Four Mechanisms Combine to Encourage Positive Student Outcomes in the Community College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mechur Karp, Melinda

2016-01-01

Despite their best efforts, community colleges continue to see low rates of student persistence and degree attainment. Although such outcomes can be attributed in large part to students' lack of academic readiness, nonacademic issues also play a part. Building on Karp's 2011 framework of nonacademic support, this chapter explores the evidence that…

Inclusive Classrooms: A Basic Qualitative Study of K-8 Urban Charter School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Regina N.

2017-01-01

The rapid growth of charter schools has been accompanied with numerous questions related to special education such as whether or not charter schools and their unique missions can actually meet the needs of students with disabilities (Karp, 2012). This basic qualitative study explores the practices and procedures used by primary school teachers to…

Expression and Refolding of Truncated Recombinant Major Outer Membrane Protein Antigen (r56) of Orientia tsutsugamushi and Its Use in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays

PubMed Central

Ching, W.-M.; Wang, H.; Eamsila, C.; Kelly, D. J.; Dasch, G. A.

1998-01-01

The variable 56-kDa major outer membrane protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi is the immunodominant antigen in human scrub typhus infections. The gene encoding this protein from Karp strain was cloned into the expression vector pET11a. The recombinant protein (r56) was expressed as a truncated nonfusion protein (amino acids 80 to 456 of the open reading frame) which formed an inclusion body when expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. Refolded r56 was purified and compared to purified whole-cell lysate of the Karp strain of O. tsutsugamushi by immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for reactivity with rabbit sera prepared against eight antigenic prototypes of O. tsutsugamushi as well as several other species of Rickettsiales and nonrickettsial antigens. Refolded r56 exhibited broad reactivity with the rabbit antisera against the Orientia prototypes, and the ELISA reactions with the r56 and Karp whole-cell lysate antigens correlated well (r = 0.81, n = 22, sensitivity compared to that of standard ELISA of 91%). Refolded r56 did not react with most antisera against other rickettsial species or control antigens (specificity = 92%, n = 13) using a positive cutoff value determined with eight uninfected rabbit sera. Refolded r56 was evaluated further by ELISA, using 128 sera obtained from patients with suspected scrub typhus from Korat, Thailand, and 74 serum specimens from healthy Thai soldiers. By using the indirect immunoperoxidase assay as the reference assay, the recombinant antigen exhibited a sensitivity and specificity of 93% or greater for detection of both IgG and IgM in the ELISA at 1:400 serum dilution. These results strongly suggest that purified r56 is a suitable candidate for replacing the density gradient-purified, rickettsia-derived, whole-cell antigen currently used in the commercial dipstick assay available in the United States. PMID:9665960

Expression and refolding of truncated recombinant major outer membrane protein antigen (r56) of Orientia tsutsugamushi and its use in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

PubMed

Ching, W M; Wang, H; Eamsila, C; Kelly, D J; Dasch, G A

1998-07-01

The variable 56-kDa major outer membrane protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi is the immunodominant antigen in human scrub typhus infections. The gene encoding this protein from Karp strain was cloned into the expression vector pET11a. The recombinant protein (r56) was expressed as a truncated nonfusion protein (amino acids 80 to 456 of the open reading frame) which formed an inclusion body when expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. Refolded r56 was purified and compared to purified whole-cell lysate of the Karp strain of O. tsutsugamushi by immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for reactivity with rabbit sera prepared against eight antigenic prototypes of O. tsutsugamushi as well as several other species of Rickettsiales and nonrickettsial antigens. Refolded r56 exhibited broad reactivity with the rabbit antisera against the Orientia prototypes, and the ELISA reactions with the r56 and Karp whole-cell lysate antigens correlated well (r = 0.81, n = 22, sensitivity compared to that of standard ELISA of 91%). Refolded r56 did not react with most antisera against other rickettsial species or control antigens (specificity = 92%, n = 13) using a positive cutoff value determined with eight uninfected rabbit sera. Refolded r56 was evaluated further by ELISA, using 128 sera obtained from patients with suspected scrub typhus from Korat, Thailand, and 74 serum specimens from healthy Thai soldiers. By using the indirect immunoperoxidase assay as the reference assay, the recombinant antigen exhibited a sensitivity and specificity of 93% or greater for detection of both IgG and IgM in the ELISA at 1:400 serum dilution. These results strongly suggest that purified r56 is a suitable candidate for replacing the density gradient-purified, rickettsia-derived, whole-cell antigen currently used in the commercial dipstick assay available in the United States.

NREL Develops Novel Method to Produce Renewable Acrylonitrile | News | NREL

Science.gov Websites

to Produce Renewable Acrylonitrile December 7, 2017 Research paves the way for cost-competitive , and Eric Karp, part of the NREL team working on a cost-competitive, sustainable process for creating traditional process in terms of cost and yield. Now, new NREL research is showing promise toward achieving

Mathematics and Social Justice: A Symbiotic Pedagogy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bond, Gareth; Chernoff, Egan J.

2015-01-01

Mathematics can be defined as "the science of pattern and order" (Van de Walle, Folk, Karp, & Bay-Williams, 2009, p. 10). But because there is often a perceived spectrum of approachability to mathematics (based on common misconceptions that envision the subject as a sort of elitist wizardry) it is important to bear in mind different…

On the Computational Complexity of Stochastic Scheduling Problems,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-01

Survey": 1979, Ann. Discrete Math . 5, pp. 287-326. i I (.4) Karp, R.M., "Reducibility Among Combinatorial Problems": 1972, R.E. Miller and J.W...Weighted Completion Time Subject to Precedence Constraints": 1978, Ann. Discrete Math . 2, pp. 75-90. (8) Lawler, E.L. and J.W. Moore, "A Functional

Effects of Expertise and Cognitive Style on Information Use in Tactical Decision Making

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

environmental situation. Demographic Characteristics Age Gender Rank/Command Level 5 Personality Characteristics Decision making style Cognitive style Learning...individuals with diverse decision making patterns to use a standard approach will adversely affect their decision making abilities. Further, the findings...Minneapolis MN: University of Minnesota, Cognitive, Science Research Group. Karp, S.A. (1963). Field dependence and overcoming embeddedness . J. Consult

Words on Women

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Civil Rights Digest, 1974

1974-01-01

Incisive quotes from Lucy Stone, Florynce Kennedy, John Kenneth Galbraith, Elizabeth Janeway, Eldridge Cleaver, Marge Piercy and others on the need and right of women to be liberated from sex discrimination. (SF)

Molecular characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi serotypes causing scrub typhus outbreak in southern region of Andhra Pradesh, India.

PubMed

Usha, K; Kumar, E; Kalawat, Usha; Kumar, B Siddhartha; Chaudhury, A; Gopal, D V R Sai

2016-10-01

Scrub typhus is a vector-borne zoonotic infection caused by Orientiatsutsugamushi. Local epidemiology of the circulating serotypes of scrub typhus is not available from most parts of India. We conducted this study for the diagnosis of scrub typhus using IgM ELISA and to detect O. tsutsugamushi serotypes circulating in southern Andhra Pradesh, India. Samples were collected from patients clinically suspected to have scrub typhus and were subjected to IgM ELISA to measure IgM antibodies against O. tsutsugamushi. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed targeting strain-specific regions in ELISA-positive samples. Of a total of 663 samples, 258 (38.91%) were found to be positive by IgM ELISA. Serotypes could be detected in 230 (34.69%) samples only. Only two serotypes, Karp and Kawasaki, were found in the serum samples, with the former being predominant. The dual infection of Karp and Kawasaki serotypes was found in seven patients. Other serotypes such as Gilliam, Kuroki and Kato were not detected in the samples. The nested PCR products proved useful in presumptively identifying the endemic O. tsutsugamushi serotypes. The present study could be significant in understanding scrub typhus epidemiology in this region.

Discovery Systems for Manufacturing

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-01

Rev. Letters, 68, Number 10, pp 1500-1503, 1992. Karp, Peter D., Hypothesis Formation and Qualitative Reasoning in Molecular Biology, Ph.D. Thesis ...1-4 2.5.1.2 Evaluating Attributes ........................ 2-17 1.21.4 The Simulated Laboratory ..............1-4 2.5.2 Nearest...4-11vs. Conventional Ae Cs R ............... 2-6 4.33 Initialize Simulator ......... ........... 4-112.4.12.1 Similarities

Critical transition in the constrained traveling salesman problem.

PubMed

Andrecut, M; Ali, M K

2001-04-01

We investigate the finite size scaling of the mean optimal tour length as a function of density of obstacles in a constrained variant of the traveling salesman problem (TSP). The computational experience pointed out a critical transition (at rho(c) approximately 85%) in the dependence between the excess of the mean optimal tour length over the Held-Karp lower bound and the density of obstacles.

Kepler AutoRegressive Planet Search: Motivation & Methodology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caceres, Gabriel; Feigelson, Eric; Jogesh Babu, G.; Bahamonde, Natalia; Bertin, Karine; Christen, Alejandra; Curé, Michel; Meza, Cristian

2015-08-01

The Kepler AutoRegressive Planet Search (KARPS) project uses statistical methodology associated with autoregressive (AR) processes to model Kepler lightcurves in order to improve exoplanet transit detection in systems with high stellar variability. We also introduce a planet-search algorithm to detect transits in time-series residuals after application of the AR models. One of the main obstacles in detecting faint planetary transits is the intrinsic stellar variability of the host star. The variability displayed by many stars may have autoregressive properties, wherein later flux values are correlated with previous ones in some manner. Auto-Regressive Moving-Average (ARMA) models, Generalized Auto-Regressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH), and related models are flexible, phenomenological methods used with great success to model stochastic temporal behaviors in many fields of study, particularly econometrics. Powerful statistical methods are implemented in the public statistical software environment R and its many packages. Modeling involves maximum likelihood fitting, model selection, and residual analysis. These techniques provide a useful framework to model stellar variability and are used in KARPS with the objective of reducing stellar noise to enhance opportunities to find as-yet-undiscovered planets. Our analysis procedure consisting of three steps: pre-processing of the data to remove discontinuities, gaps and outliers; ARMA-type model selection and fitting; and transit signal search of the residuals using a new Transit Comb Filter (TCF) that replaces traditional box-finding algorithms. We apply the procedures to simulated Kepler-like time series with known stellar and planetary signals to evaluate the effectiveness of the KARPS procedures. The ARMA-type modeling is effective at reducing stellar noise, but also reduces and transforms the transit signal into ingress/egress spikes. A periodogram based on the TCF is constructed to concentrate the signal

Comparison of Comparative Genomic Hybridization Technologies across Microarray Platforms

EPA Science Inventory

In the 2007 Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF) Microarray Research Group (MARG) project, we analyzed HL-60 DNA with five platforms: Agilent, Affymetrix 500K, Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0, Illumina, and RPCI 19K BAC arrays. Copy number variation (CNV) was analyzed ...

Designing the Future: The Recruitment Connection. Summary of Proceedings (Orlando, Florida, February 12-14, 1988).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Dental Hygienists' Association, Chicago, IL.

A summary of the proceedings from a hygienists' conference is presented. Papers are as follows: "Career Recruitment: A Vested Interest" (Marge Reveal); "Partners in Career Recruitment" (Sharon Kershaw); "Educational Structure: Its Role in Career Recruitment" (Sarah Turner); "Communicating Our Professional Goals" (Connie Tussing); "Career…

Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the Sta58 Major Antigen Gene of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi: Sequence homology and Antigenic Comparison of Sta58 to the 60-Kilodalton Family of Stress Proteins

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-01

Sta58 antigen and the Sta56 strain- GroES, C. burnetii HtpA, Mycobacterium tuberculosis 12- specific major antigen of R. tsutsugamushi (strain Karp...kb HindlIl fragment carrying the gene for the Sta58 tuberculosis, and Mycobacterium smegmatis (65-kDa anti- protein was subjected to DNA sequence...the Hsp6O and HsplO proteins. R. tsu., R. isutsugamushi; M. lep., Mvtcobacteriutn leprae : C. bur., C. burneiii; Synech.. Synechococcus strain 6301; T

A Position Tracking System Using MARG Sensors

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

42 3. Correcting the Angles by Removing Drifts .....................................44 4. Various...assumed to be zero. It was further assumed that the drift was linear. xiv Thus, the linear drift was removed from the computed velocity to achieve more...gate cycle was able to be analyzed. One of these concepts is the theory of an American prosthesis by A. A. Mark, in which he divided the gate in

Implications of going against the dogma of feed them to breed them

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Effects of providing differing levels of harvested feed during postweaning development and subsequent winters on reproduction, BW, BCS, and calf BW were evaluated in heifers produced over a 7-yr period from dams fed levels of harvested feed during winter that were expected to be marginal (MARG) or a...

IMPLICATIONS OF GOING AGAINST THE DOGMA OF FEED THEM TO BREED THEM

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Effects of providing differing levels of harvested feed during postweaning development and subsequent winters on reproduction, BW, BCS, and calf BW were evaluated in heifers produced over a 7-yr period from dams fed levels of harvested feed from Dec to March that were expected to be marginal (MARG) ...

Development of a Test Battery to Assess Mental Flexibility Based on Sternberg’s Theory of Successful Intelligence

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

on such tests as the Embedded Figures Test ( EFT ) (Witkin et al., 1971) or the Rod and Frame Test (RFT) (Witkin, Dyk, Faterson, Goodenough, & Karp...one starts to tap sources of individual differences measured little or not at all by such tests. Thus, when assessing intelligence, it is important to...in requiring verbal skills or the ability to analyze one’s own ideas-Sternberg & Lubart, 1995) but also tap skills beyond those measured even by

Proceedings of the 14th Annual Review Conference on Atmospheric Transmission Models (14th) Held at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts on 11-12 June 1991,

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-02-26

MIE 0 MEM a HUM 0.00 101 M4OBS 0.00 DEGUS FE 1.001 I.~ r1 40 N 99 IM 14 BANU2. S1 E CELL Calculated at 260K 04;.g of 056.N 072.44 00.M 904.00 920. of...o.374 Karp (1978) At a,, Fourier transform K~ ohp (1973) all 2.1 weighted samn of Lorentz and Gaul function 10- 4 relative to peak Value Pierluasi

A Better Beginning: Supporting and Mentoring New Teachers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scherer, Marge, Ed.

This book lays out the fundamentals for helping new teachers succeed in the schools of the next century. Each part features a collection of chapters from educational leaders. An introductory part presents, "A New Teacher's World: Not Your Grandmother's Classroom" (Marge Scherer). Part 1, "What Do New Teachers Need?" includes:…

Analysis of polypeptide composition and antigenic components of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting.

PubMed Central

Tamura, A; Ohashi, N; Urakami, H; Takahashi, K; Oyanagi, M

1985-01-01

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of lysates of purified Rickettsia tsutsugamushi revealed as many as 30 polypeptide bands, including major bands corresponding to molecular sizes of 70, 60, 54 to 56, and 46 to 47 kilodaltons. Compared with the polypeptide composition of the rickettsiae of Gilliam, Karp, and Kato strains and a newly isolated Shimokoshi strain, the major polypeptide in the Kato strain (54-56K) and in the Karp strain (46-47K) migrated a little faster and slower, respectively, than the corresponding polypeptides in the other strains. The largest major polypeptide (54-56K) was digestible by the treatment of intact rickettsiae with trypsin and variable in content in separate preparations, suggesting that the polypeptide exists on the rickettsial surface and is easily degraded during the handling of these microorganisms. Several surface polypeptides of rickettsiae, including the 54-56K and 46-47K polypeptides, were detected by radioiodination of intact rickettsiae followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the lysate; however, the 70K and 60K polypeptides were not labeled. Immunoblotting experiments with hyperimmune sera prepared in guinea pigs against each strain demonstrated that the 70K, 54-56K, and 46-47K polypeptides showed antigenic activities. The 54-56K polypeptide appeared to be strain specific, whereas the 70K and 46-47K polypeptides cross-reacted with the heterologous antisera. Images PMID:3922893

High order local absorbing boundary conditions for acoustic waves in terms of farfield expansions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villamizar, Vianey; Acosta, Sebastian; Dastrup, Blake

2017-03-01

We devise a new high order local absorbing boundary condition (ABC) for radiating problems and scattering of time-harmonic acoustic waves from obstacles of arbitrary shape. By introducing an artificial boundary S enclosing the scatterer, the original unbounded domain Ω is decomposed into a bounded computational domain Ω- and an exterior unbounded domain Ω+. Then, we define interface conditions at the artificial boundary S, from truncated versions of the well-known Wilcox and Karp farfield expansion representations of the exact solution in the exterior region Ω+. As a result, we obtain a new local absorbing boundary condition (ABC) for a bounded problem on Ω-, which effectively accounts for the outgoing behavior of the scattered field. Contrary to the low order absorbing conditions previously defined, the error at the artificial boundary induced by this novel ABC can be easily reduced to reach any accuracy within the limits of the computational resources. We accomplish this by simply adding as many terms as needed to the truncated farfield expansions of Wilcox or Karp. The convergence of these expansions guarantees that the order of approximation of the new ABC can be increased arbitrarily without having to enlarge the radius of the artificial boundary. We include numerical results in two and three dimensions which demonstrate the improved accuracy and simplicity of this new formulation when compared to other absorbing boundary conditions.

Helwan University Project Developing Primary School Pupils' Abilities and Skills at Some Egyptian Underprivileged Areas (Slums). (Field Study)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Tayeb, Mahmoud N.; El Nashar, Mohamed; Zeid, Mai M.; El-Sayed, Magda; Ramadan, Mohamed A.; Hamdi, Safia M.; El-Affy, Nabila; Ebeid, Amina K.; El-Marasi, Sonia S.; Abou-Elmahty, Maher

2010-01-01

Through directing concerted efforts and educational services of seven Faculties of Helwan University towards socially underprivileged pupils in slum areas (EL-Marg area in big Cairo) this research project had two main aims: firstly, modifying a set of arbitrary behaviors of those pupils, in a trial to develop some behavior skills associated with…

Perspectives/The Species That Asks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scherer, Marge

2015-01-01

Marge Scherer describes this issue of "Educational Leadership" as being all about questioning for learning--how to ask questions of students, how to encourage students to ask their own questions, and how to ask better questions and find better answers. Among feature topics explored in this issue are why children, who start questioning…

Marjorie C. Chiafery: Righting the Ship by Broadening the Base

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldman, Jay P.

2005-01-01

In her 27 years as an administrator in Merrimack, New Hampshire, Marge Chiafery can legitimately claim to have seen the best of times and the worst. The high moments were the earlier years when Merrimack's job-sharing initiative, teacher evaluation system and middle school project promoting parent-child communication were emulated statewide. The…

Fermilab Office of Education and Public Outreach - About Us

Science.gov Websites

Search Office of Education and Public Outreach About Us Education Office Staff Marge Bardeen Susan Dahl . Fermilab's Education Office supports programming for educators, families, young people and the general public change and a resource to schools and districts nationwide. The Fermilab Education Office provides

Entropy Production during Fatigue as a Criterion for Failure. The Critical Entropy Threshold: A Mathematical Model for Fatigue.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-08-15

Measurement of Material Damping," Experimental Mechanics, 297-302 (Aug 1977). 4. Feltner, C. E., and J. D. Morrow, " Microplastic Strain Hysteresis Energy as...Code OOKB, CP5, Room 606 Washington, DC 20360 Mr. Richard R. Graham, II Code 5243, Bldg. NC4 Naval Sea Systems Command "* Washington, DC 20362 Mr. Al...Harbage, Jr. Code 2723 DTNSRDC Annapolis, MD 21402 L’r. Martih Kandl Code 5231 Naval Sea Systems Command *i Washington, DC 20362 S. Karpe David W

Interprocess Communication Protocols for Computer Networks

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-12-01

this value without maintaining any state information about itp partner CCP. The receiving CCP returns a SYN giving its own ISN, or can reject...34Packet Arrival and Buffer Statistics in a Packet Switching Node," IBM Research Report RZ 594 {.s;Zni02),. September 1973. [Cochi73] B. J. Cochi...rwid 0. P. Karp, "Protocol for a Computer Netuork," IBM Sustem Journa! 12. 1, 1973, pp. 94-105. [ricKen2ie741 A. fl. McKenzie

Social Determinants of Health Are Associated with Markers of Renal Injury in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

PubMed

Cummings, Laura A M; Clarke, Antoine; Sochett, Etienne; Daneman, Denis; Cherney, David Z; Reich, Heather N; Scholey, James W; Dunger, David B; Mahmud, Farid H

2018-05-08

To examine the relationship between the social determinants of health and markers of early renal injury in adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Renal outcomes included estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-creatinine excretion ratio (ACR). Differences in urinary and serum inflammatory markers also were assessed in relation to social determinants of health. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg) as a measure of the social determinants of health, patient characteristics, ACR, eGFR, and renal filtration status (hyperfiltration vs normofiltration). Participants with T1D (n = 199) with a mean age of 14.4 ± 1.7 years and diabetes duration of 7.2 ± 3.1 years were studied. Mean eGFR was 122.0 ± 19.4 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Increasing marginalization was positively associated with eGFR (P < .0001) but not with ACR (P = .605). Greater marginalization was associated with greater median levels of urinary interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12 (p40), macrophage-derived chemokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-3, and tumor necrosis factor-β and serum IL-2. ON-Marg was significantly associated with eGFR after we controlled for age, sex, body mass index z score, ethnicity, serum glucose, and hemoglobin A1c in linear regression. A similar association between hyperfiltration and ON-Marg score was observed in multivariable logistic regression. Increasing marginalization is significantly associated with both eGFR and hyperfiltration in adolescents with T1D and is associated with significant changes in urinary inflammatory biomarkers. These findings highlight a potentially important interaction between social and biological determinants of health in adolescents with T1D. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Introductory Overview

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-14

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis ( FMEA ) Introductory Overview TARDEC Systems Engineering Risk Management Team POC: Kadry Rizk or Gregor Ratajczak...2. REPORT TYPE Briefing Charts 3. DATES COVERED 01-05-2012 to 23-05-2012 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Failure Mode and Effects Analysis ( FMEA ) 5a...18 WELCOME Welcome to “An introductory overview of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis ( FMEA )”, A brief concerning the use and benefits of FMEA

An Assessment of Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys of Naval Personnel

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-02-01

Hollowell, Ida Harloff, and Marge Covher. Special thanks are due to Jim Herbert who spent many hours keep- ing track of cases, tabulating, and...volunteering for psychological experiments has revealed that the type of experiment (Martin & Marcuse , 1958), the alterna- tives to participating...M., & Marcuse , F. L. Characteristics of volunteers and nonvol- unteers in psychological experimentation. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1958

Tsunami mitigation - redistribution of energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadri, Usama

2017-04-01

.1007/1-4020-3607-8 3 3. E. Check, 2005. Natural disasters: Roots of recovery. Nature 438, 910-911, doi:10.1038/438910a. 4. A. M. Fridman, L. S. Alperovich, L. Shemer, L. Pustil'nik, D. Shtivelman, A. G. Marchuk, D. Liberzon, 2010. Tsunami wave suppression using submarine barriers. Phys. Usp. 53 809-816, doi:10.3367/UFNe.0180.201008d.0843. 5. U. Kadri, M. Stiassnie, 2013. Generation of an acoustic-gravity wave by two gravity waves, and their mutual interaction. J. Fluid Mech. 735, R6, doi:10.1017/jfm.2013.539. 6. U. Kadri, 2015. Wave motion in a heavy compressible fluid: revisited. European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids, 49(A), 50-57, doi:10.1016/j.euromechflu.2014.07.008 7. U. Kadri, T.R. Akylas, 2016. On resonant triad interactions of acoustic-gravity waves. J. Fluid Mech., 788, R1(12 pages), doi:10.1017/jfm.2015.721. 8. U. Kadri, 2016. Triad resonance between a surface-gravity wave and two high frequency hydro-acoustic waves. Eur. J. Mech. B/Fluid, 55(1), 157-161, doi:10.1016/j.euromechflu.2015.09.008.

Development of a 39.5 GHz Karp traveling wave tube for use in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacquez, A.; Wilson, D.

1988-01-01

A millimeter-wave TWT was developed using a dispersive, high-impedance forward wave interaction structure based on a ladder, with non-space-harmonic interaction, for a tube with high gain per inch and high efficiency. The 'Tunneladder' interaction structure combines ladder properties modified to accommodate Pierce gun beam optics on a radially magnetized PM focusing structure. The development involved the fabrication of chemically milled, shaped ladders diffusion brazed to each ridge of a double ridged waveguide. Cold-test data are presented, representing the omega-Beta and impedance characteristics of the modified ladder circuit These results were used in small and large-signal computer programs to predict TWT gain and efficiency. A laboratory model tube was designed and fabricated, including all major subassemblies.

Marge Good, RN, MPH, OCN | Division of Cancer Prevention

Cancer.gov

The Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) conducts and supports research to determine a person's risk of cancer and to find ways to reduce the risk. This knowledge is critical to making progress against cancer because risk varies over the lifespan as genetic and epigenetic changes can transform healthy tissue into invasive cancer.

Systemic couple therapy for dysthymia.

PubMed

Montesano, Adrián; Feixas, Guillem; Muñoz, Dámaris; Compañ, Victoria

2014-03-01

We examined the effect of Systemic Couple Therapy on a patient diagnosed with dysthymic disorder and her partner. Marge and Peter, a middle-aged married couple, showed significant and meaningful changes in their pattern of interaction over the course of the therapy and, by the end of it, Marge no longer met the diagnostic criteria for dysthymic disorder. Her scores on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II) were in the clinical range before treatment and in the nonclinical one at the end of therapy. Although scores on Dyadic Adjustment Scale showed different patterns, both members reported significant improvement. The analysis of change in the alliance-related behaviors throughout the process concurred with change in couple's pattern of interaction. Treatment effects were maintained at 12-month follow-up. Highlights in the therapy process showed the importance of relational mechanisms of change, such as broadening the therapeutic focus into the couple's pattern of interaction, reducing expressed emotion and resentment, as well as increasing positive exchanges. The results of this evidence-based case study should prompt further investigation of couple therapy for dysthymia disorder. Randomized clinical trial design is needed to reach an evidence-based treatment status. (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of arginine-NIPAAm hybrid hydrogel as wound dressing: In vitro and in vivo study.

PubMed

Wu, De-Qun; Zhu, Jie; Han, Hua; Zhang, Jun-Zhi; Wu, Fei-Fei; Qin, Xiao-Hong; Yu, Jian-Yong

2018-01-01

A multi-functional hybrid hydrogel P(M-Arg/NIPAAm) with temperature response, anti-protein adsorption and antibacterial properties was prepared and applied as wound dressing. The hydrogel was carried out by free radical copolymerization of methacrylate arginine (M-Arg) and N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) monomers using N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinker, and ammonium persulfate/N,N,N', N'-tetramethylethylenediamine as the redox initiator. To endow the antimicrobial property, chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX) was preloaded into the hydrogel and polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG) was grafted on the hydrogel surface, respectively. The antimicrobial property of two series of hydrogels was evaluated and compared. The successful synthesis of M-Arg, PHMG and hydrogels was proved by 13 C NMR, 1 H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The hydrogel morphology characterized by scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the homogeneous porous and interconnected structures of the hydrogels. The swelling, protein adsorption property, in vitro release of CHX, antimicrobial assessment, cell viability as well as in vivo wound healing in a mouse model were studied. The results showed the nontoxicity and antimicrobial P(M-Arg/NIPAAm) hydrogel accelerated the full-thickness wound healing process and had the potential application in wound dressing. Despite the zwitterionic characteristic and biocompatible property of arginine based hydrogels, the brittle behavior and non-transparency still remain as a significant problem for wound dressing. Furthermore promoting the antibacterial property of the zwitterionic hydrogel is also necessary to prevent the bacterial colonization and subsequent wound infection. Therefore, we created a hybrid hydrogel combined methacrylate arginine (M-Arg) and N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm). NIPAAm improves transparency and mechanical property as well as acts as a temperature-response drug release system. Additionally, chlorhexidine (CHX) was preloaded

Reduction of postprandial glycemia by the novel viscous polysaccharide PGX, in a dose-dependent manner, independent of food form.

PubMed

Jenkins, Alexandra L; Kacinik, Veronica; Lyon, Michael R; Wolever, Thomas Ms

2010-04-01

Health benefits of viscous fiber intake are well established; nevertheless few effective and palatable preparations are available. The objective of the study therefore was to determine palatability and effectiveness of escalating doses of PGX, a novel viscous polysaccharide (NVP), in reducing postprandial glycemia when added to a liquid and a solid meal. Two open-label, randomized, controlled trials were undertaken. Glycemic Index Laboratories, Inc, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Two groups of 10 healthy subjects each (group 1: 5 M, 5 F; 35.6 +/- 13.2 y; 24.6 +/- 2.1 kg/m(2); and group 2: 3 M, 7 F; 33.5 +/- 11.1 y; 26.3 +/- 5.2 kg/m(2)) were studied. Zero, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g of NVP were added to a glucose drink (group 1) or to white bread and margarine (WB + Marg) (group 2). Subjects repeated glucose control (group 1) or WB control (group 2) 3 times to allow calculation of the glycemic index (GI). Measures of Outcomes: Palatability of foods and capillary blood glucose concentrations were measured fasting and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after the start of the meal. Addition of NVP to the meal reduced blood glucose incremental areas under the curve irrespective of dose, reaching significance at the 7.5 g dose when added to glucose (p < 0.01), and at the 5 and 7.5 g doses when added to WB + Marg (p < 0.001). The GI values of glucose with 0, 2.5, 5, or 7.5 g of NVP were (mean +/- standard error of the mean [SEM]) 100.0 +/- 0.0, 83.7 +/- 9.0, 77.7 +/- 8.2, and 72.5 +/- 5.9, respectively; the GI of the WB alone, or of WB + Marg, with 0, 2.5, 5, or 7.5 g of NVP was 71.0 +/- 0.0, 66.8 +/- 3.0, 47.5 +/- 5.9, 37.3 +/- 5.9, and 33.9 +/- 3.6, respectively. Addition of NVP to different food matrices is highly effective in lowering the glycemic index of a food in a dose-responsive manner.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-04-25

The arnual conference for the Educator Resource Center Network (ERCN) Coordinators was held at Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference included participants from NASA's Educator Resource Centers located throughout the country. The Microgravity Science Division at Glenn sponsored a Microgravity Day for all the conference participants. Dr. Wil Roberson and Marge Lehky prepare a demonstration with the mini-drop tower. This image is from a digital still camera; higher resolution is not available.

EDITORIAL: Bioengineering nanotechnology: towards the clinic Bioengineering nanotechnology: towards the clinic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Weian; Karp, Jeffrey M.; Ferrari, Mauro; Serda, Rita

2011-12-01

special issue highlights some of the most recent advances in the exciting field of bioengineering nanotechnology. The themes covered in this issue include nanoparticle systems for tracking transplanted stem cells using a variety of imaging modalities, synthesis of smart nanomaterials for drug delivery and targeting specific intracellular organalles, elucidating how physical cues provided by nano- or micro-fabricated scaffolds impact cell phenotype, novel nanocomposite materials for biosensing, biomimetic assembly of nanostructures for studying molecular interactions, and high content analysis for assessing nanotoxicity. We believe next-generation nanomaterials that are currently under development will transform our understanding of biological mechanisms, and revolutionize clinical practice through ushering in new diagnostics and therapeutic paradigms. As nanotechnology becomes increasingly accessible to research laboratories, significant advances leading to paradigm shifts in basic biology and medicine will require connecting the right technology to the right problem and ensuring that the most pertinent criteria are correctly identified and addressed. References [1] Peer D et al Nat. Nanotechnol. 2 751-60 [2] Wang A Z, Langer R S and Farokhzad O C 2011 Annu. Rev. Med. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-040210-162544 [3] Farokhzad O C and Langer R 2006 Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 58 1456-9 [4] Zhao W and Karp J M 2009 Nat. Mater. 8 453-4 [5] Ferreira L, Karp J M, Nobre L and Langer R 2008 Cell Stem Cell 3 136-46 [6] Zhao W and Karp J M 2009 ChemBioChem 10 2308-10 [7] Zhao W et al 2011 Nat. Nanotechnol. 6 524-31 [8] Stephan M T, Moon J J, Um S H, Bershteyn A and Irvine D J 2010 Nat. Med. 16 1035-41 [9] Sarkar D, Ankrum J A, Teo G S, Carman C V and Karp J M 2011 Biomaterials 32 3053-61

Dynamic Accuracy of Inertial Magnetic Sensor Modules

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

and the cost of the YEI 3-space data-logging sensor was justified. C. PREVIOUS WORK In [7], Jeremy Cookson built a low-cost pendulum with an optical...encoder to test the dynamic accuracy of MARG sensor modules. The pendulum was designed in order to execute dynamic, repeatable tests in a single...3DM-GX1 and 3DM-GX3-25 sensors. In [8], Leslie Landry developed similar repeatable tests and utilized the pendulum to test the dynamic accuracy of

Attenuation Effects of Thermal Radiation on Internal Blast Overpressure.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-12-01

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS ZaGt ("OR. 08e. Enered) REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE READ MTRU,-TIORS REPORT MU01 Ia.VT ACCEMIOl Mo. MY r CATALOG UMrERt...014-6o 0 SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OFr..Is , . o. l I UNCLASSIFIED Secum". CLUIUCYIOW O s margWn o fee e. pressure was computed. Reports of the results...were calculated and thermodynamic equilibrium was demonstrated through statistical considerations. \\AccessiMf nor NTIS .I DDC TA UG ann o unc e

Design and Implementation of the MARG Human Body Motion Tracking System

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-10-01

7803-8463-6/041$20.00 ©:!004 IEEE 625 OPTOTRAK from Northern Digital Inc. is a typical example of a marker-based system [I 0]. Another is the...technique called tunneling is :used to overcome this problem. Tunneling is a software solution that runs on the end point routers/computers and allows...multicast packets to traverse the network by putting them into unicast packets. MUTUP overcomes the tunneling problem using shared memory in the

Propagation of acoustic-gravity waves in arctic zones with elastic ice-sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadri, Usama; Abdolali, Ali; Kirby, James T.

2017-04-01

We present an analytical solution of the boundary value problem of propagating acoustic-gravity waves generated in the ocean by earthquakes or ice-quakes in arctic zones. At the surface, we assume elastic ice-sheets of a variable thickness, and show that the propagating acoustic-gravity modes have different mode shape than originally derived by Ref. [1] for a rigid ice-sheet settings. Computationally, we couple the ice-sheet problem with the free surface model by Ref. [2] representing shrinking ice blocks in realistic sea state, where the randomly oriented ice-sheets cause inter modal transition at the edges and multidirectional reflections. We then derive a depth-integrated equation valid for spatially slowly varying thickness of ice-sheet and water depth. Surprisingly, and unlike the free-surface setting, here it is found that the higher acoustic-gravity modes exhibit a larger contribution. These modes travel at the speed of sound in water carrying information on their source, e.g. ice-sheet motion or submarine earthquake, providing various implications for ocean monitoring and detection of quakes. In addition, we found that the propagating acoustic-gravity modes can result in orbital displacements of fluid parcels sufficiently high that may contribute to deep ocean currents and circulation, as postulated by Refs. [1, 3]. References [1] U. Kadri, 2016. Generation of Hydroacoustic Waves by an Oscillating Ice Block in Arctic Zones. Advances in Acoustics and Vibration, 2016, Article ID 8076108, 7 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8076108 [2] A. Abdolali, J. T. Kirby and G. Bellotti, 2015, Depth-integrated equation for hydro-acoustic waves with bottom damping, J. Fluid Mech., 766, R1 doi:10.1017/jfm.2015.37 [3] U. Kadri, 2014. Deep ocean water transportation by acoustic?gravity waves. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 119, doi:10.1002/ 2014JC010234

Early Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus with a Rapid Flow Assay Using Recombinant Major Outer Membrane Protein Antigen (r56) of Orientia tsutsugamushi

PubMed Central

Ching, W.-M.; Rowland, D.; Zhang, Z.; Bourgeois, A. L.; Kelly, D.; Dasch, G. A.; Devine, P. L.

2001-01-01

The variable 56-kDa major outer membrane protein of Orientia tsutsugamushi is the immunodominant antigen in human scrub typhus infections. We developed a rapid immunochromatographic flow assay (RFA) for the detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies to O. tsutsugamushi. The RFA employs a truncated recombinant 56-kDa protein from the Karp strain as the antigen. The performance of the RFA was evaluated with a panel of 321 sera (serial bleedings of 85 individuals suspected of scrub typhus) which were collected in the Pescadore Islands, Taiwan, from 1976 to 1977. Among these 85 individuals, IgM tests were negative for 7 cases by both RFA and indirect fluorescence assay (IFA) using Karp whole-cell antigen. In 29 cases specific responses were detected by the RFA earlier than by IFA, 44 cases had the same detection time, and 5 cases were detected earlier by IFA than by RFA. For IgG responses, 4 individuals were negative with both methods, 37 cases exhibited earlier detection by RFA than IFA, 42 cases were detected at the same time, and 2 cases were detected earlier by IFA than by RFA. The sensitivities of RFA detection of antibody in sera from confirmed cases were 74 and 86% for IgM and IgG, respectively. When IgM and IgG results were combined, the sensitivity was 89%. A panel of 78 individual sera collected from patients with no evidence of scrub typhus was used to evaluate the specificity of the RFA. The specificities of the RFA were 99% for IgM and 97% for IgG. The sensitivities of IFA were 53 and 73% for IgM and IgG, respectively, and were 78% when the results of IgM and IgG were combined. The RFA test was significantly better than the IFA test for the early detection of antibody to scrub typhus in primary infections, while both tests were equally sensitive with reinfected individuals. PMID:11238230

Resection margin and recurrence-free survival after liver resection of colorectal metastases.

PubMed

Muratore, Andrea; Ribero, Dario; Zimmitti, Giuseppe; Mellano, Alfredo; Langella, Serena; Capussotti, Lorenzo

2010-05-01

Optimal margin width is uncertain because of conflicting results from recent studies using overall survival as the end-point. After recurrence, re-resection and aggressive chemotherapy heavily affect survival time; the potential confounding effect of such factors has not been investigated. Use of recurrence-free survival (RFS) may overcome this limitation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of width of resection margin on RFS and site of recurrence after hepatic resection for colorectal metastases (CRM). From a prospectively maintained institutional database (1/1999-12/2007) we identified 314 patients undergone hepatectomy for CRM (1/1999-12/2007) with detailed pathologic analysis of the surgical margin and complete follow-up imaging studies documenting disease status and site of recurrence, which was categorized as: resection margin (M(arg)), other intra-hepatic ((other)IH), lung (L) or other extra-hepatic ((other)EH). Recurrence-free estimation was the survival end-point. Median follow-up was 56.5 months. Two hundred and fifteen patients (68.8%) recurred at 288 sites after a mean of 15.5 months. A positive resection margin was associated with an increased risk of M(arg) recurrence (P < 0.001). The presence of >or=2 metastases was the only factor increasing the risk of positive margins (P < 0.05). The width of the negative resection margin (>or=1 cm versus >1 cm) was not a prognostic factor of worse RFS (30.2% versus 37.3%, P = 0.6). Node status of the primary tumour, and size and number of CRM were independent predictors of RFS. Tumour biology and not the width of the negative resection margin affect RFS.

Light curves for bump Cepheids computed with a dynamically zoned pulsation code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, T. F.; Castor, J. I.; Davis, C. G.

1980-01-01

The dynamically zoned pulsation code developed by Castor, Davis, and Davison was used to recalculate the Goddard model and to calculate three other Cepheid models with the same period (9.8 days). This family of models shows how the bumps and other features of the light and velocity curves change as the mass is varied at constant period. The use of a code that is capable of producing reliable light curves demonstrates that the light and velocity curves for 9.8 day Cepheid models with standard homogeneous compositions do not show bumps like those that are observed unless the mass is significantly lower than the 'evolutionary mass.' The light and velocity curves for the Goddard model presented here are similar to those computed independently by Fischel, Sparks, and Karp. They should be useful as standards for future investigators.

Genotypic characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi from patients in two geographical locations in Sri Lanka.

PubMed

Premaratna, Ranjan; Blanton, Lucas S; Samaraweera, Dilhar N; de Silva, G Nalika N; Chandrasena, Nilmini T G A; Walker, David H; de Silva, H J

2017-01-13

To date more than 20 antigenically distinct strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi (OT) reported within the tsutsugamushi triangle that cause an undifferentiated acute febrile illness in humans. Genotypic characterization of OT in different geographic regions or within the same country, is important in order to establish effective diagnostics, clinical management and to develop effective vaccines. Genetic and antigenic characterization of OT causing human disease in OT-endemic regions is not known for Sri Lanka. Adult patients and children who were admitted with an acute febrile illness and presumed to having acute scrub typhus based on presence of an eschar and other supporting clinical features were recruited. Eschar biopsies and buffy coat samples collected from patients who were confirmed having OT by IFA were further studied by real time PCR (Orientia 47 kD) and nested PCR (Orientia 56 kD) amplification. DNA sequences were obtained for 56 kD gene amplicons and phylogenetic comparisons were analyzed using currently available data in GenBank [Neucleotide substitution per 100 residues, 1000 Bootstrap Trials]. Twenty eschar biopsies (Location1,19, Location 2,1) and eight buffy coat samples (Location1,6, Location2,2) examined by real time PCR revealed Orientia amplicons in 16 samples. DNA sequences were obtained for the 56 kD gene amplicons in 12 eschars and 4 buffy coat samples. The genotypes of the Location1 samples revealed that, 7 exhibiting close homology with JP1 [distantly related to UT177 Thai (Karp related)], five had close homology with Kato strain, two had close homology with JGv and JG AF [Distantly related to Kawasaki M63383] and one had close homology with Gilliam strain. The Location 2 strain was closely related to Kuroki-Boryong L04956, the genotype which is distributed in far eastern Asia. Similar to other patients in the cohort this patient also had never travelled out of Sri Lanka. We observed all three main OT genotypes in Sri Lanka, and the majority

Kepler AutoRegressive Planet Search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caceres, Gabriel Antonio; Feigelson, Eric

2016-01-01

The Kepler AutoRegressive Planet Search (KARPS) project uses statistical methodology associated with autoregressive (AR) processes to model Kepler lightcurves in order to improve exoplanet transit detection in systems with high stellar variability. We also introduce a planet-search algorithm to detect transits in time-series residuals after application of the AR models. One of the main obstacles in detecting faint planetary transits is the intrinsic stellar variability of the host star. The variability displayed by many stars may have autoregressive properties, wherein later flux values are correlated with previous ones in some manner. Our analysis procedure consisting of three steps: pre-processing of the data to remove discontinuities, gaps and outliers; AR-type model selection and fitting; and transit signal search of the residuals using a new Transit Comb Filter (TCF) that replaces traditional box-finding algorithms. The analysis procedures of the project are applied to a portion of the publicly available Kepler light curve data for the full 4-year mission duration. Tests of the methods have been made on a subset of Kepler Objects of Interest (KOI) systems, classified both as planetary `candidates' and `false positives' by the Kepler Team, as well as a random sample of unclassified systems. We find that the ARMA-type modeling successfully reduces the stellar variability, by a factor of 10 or more in active stars and by smaller factors in more quiescent stars. A typical quiescent Kepler star has an interquartile range (IQR) of ~10 e-/sec, which may improve slightly after modeling, while those with IQR ranging from 20 to 50 e-/sec, have improvements from 20% up to 70%. High activity stars (IQR exceeding 100) markedly improve. A periodogram based on the TCF is constructed to concentrate the signal of these periodic spikes. When a periodic transit is found, the model is displayed on a standard period-folded averaged light curve. Our findings to date on real

Models and algorithm of optimization launch and deployment of virtual network functions in the virtual data center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolodurina, I. P.; Parfenov, D. I.

2017-10-01

The goal of our investigation is optimization of network work in virtual data center. The advantage of modern infrastructure virtualization lies in the possibility to use software-defined networks. However, the existing optimization of algorithmic solutions does not take into account specific features working with multiple classes of virtual network functions. The current paper describes models characterizing the basic structures of object of virtual data center. They including: a level distribution model of software-defined infrastructure virtual data center, a generalized model of a virtual network function, a neural network model of the identification of virtual network functions. We also developed an efficient algorithm for the optimization technology of containerization of virtual network functions in virtual data center. We propose an efficient algorithm for placing virtual network functions. In our investigation we also generalize the well renowned heuristic and deterministic algorithms of Karmakar-Karp.

Geometry Helps to Compare Persistence Diagrams

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

Kerber, Michael; Morozov, Dmitriy; Nigmetov, Arnur

2015-11-16

Exploiting geometric structure to improve the asymptotic complexity of discrete assignment problems is a well-studied subject. In contrast, the practical advantages of using geometry for such problems have not been explored. We implement geometric variants of the Hopcroft--Karp algorithm for bottleneck matching (based on previous work by Efrat el al.), and of the auction algorithm by Bertsekas for Wasserstein distance computation. Both implementations use k-d trees to replace a linear scan with a geometric proximity query. Our interest in this problem stems from the desire to compute distances between persistence diagrams, a problem that comes up frequently in topological datamore » analysis. We show that our geometric matching algorithms lead to a substantial performance gain, both in running time and in memory consumption, over their purely combinatorial counterparts. Moreover, our implementation significantly outperforms the only other implementation available for comparing persistence diagrams.« less

A RICKETTSIAL INFECTION IN CANADIAN VOLES

PubMed Central

Baker, James A.

1946-01-01

From apparently normal voles captured on Grosse Isle, Province of Quebec, Canada, an infective agent has been grown in embryonated eggs, and by inoculation an inapparent infection was established in voles, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rats. No growth of the agent was obtained in the absence of living cells, and the manner of its development in the yolk sac of embryonated eggs, as well as morphological, epidemiological, and pathogenic features, indicates a rickettsial nature. The inability to transmit infection by either cage or intrauterine contact points to a vector, and mites are shown to have a probable part in the epidemiology. Mice infected with the vole agent resist lethal doses of the Karp strain of scrub typhus, and certain epidemiological, morphological, and immunological features support the relationship indicated by the mouse tests. It is therefore concluded that voles on this island have an inapparent infection due to a rickettsia that may be related to the rickettsia of scrub typhus. PMID:19871552

The genotypes of Orientia tsutsugamushi, identified in scrub typhus patients in northern Vietnam.

PubMed

Nguyen, Hang L K; Pham, Hang T T; Nguyen, Tinh V; Hoang, Phuong Vm; Le, Mai T Q; Takemura, Taichiro; Hasebe, Futoshi; Hayasaka, Daisuke; Yamada, Akio; Hotta, Kozue

2017-03-01

There are an estimated one million patients with scrub typhus in the Asia-Pacific region. There are few reports describing the incidence of scrub typhus in Vietnam. Blood samples collected from 63 patients clinically diagnosed as having scrub typhus from July 2015 to September 2016 were subjected to genotyping of Orientia tsutsugamushi. Of these patients, 42 (67%) tested positive for O. tsutsugamushi, and the most common genotype was identified to be Karp (55%). Other genotypes, TA763, Gilliam type in Japan variant, and Kato were also found in 17%, 17% and 12% of patients, respectively. To better understand the epidemiological landscape of scrub typhus in Vietnam, a countrywide study is needed. LC110330-LC110333, LC110336-LC110351 and LC214804-LC214825. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of Orientia tsutsugamushi from patients with scrub typhus in 3 regions of India.

PubMed

Varghese, George M; Janardhanan, Jeshina; Mahajan, Sanjay K; Tariang, David; Trowbridge, Paul; Prakash, John A J; David, Thambu; Sathendra, Sowmya; Abraham, O C

2015-01-01

Scrub typhus, an acute febrile illness that is widespread in the Asia-Pacific region, is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, which displays high levels of antigenic variation. We conducted an investigation to identify the circulating genotypes of O. tsutsugamushi in 3 scrub typhus-endemic geographic regions of India: South India, Northern India, and Northeast India. Eschar samples collected during September 2010-August 2012 from patients with scrub typhus were subjected to 56-kDa type-specific PCR and sequencing to identify their genotypes. Kato-like strains predominated (61.5%), especially in the South and Northeast, followed by Karp-like strains (27.7%) and Gilliam and Ikeda strains (2.3% each). Neimeng-65 genotype strains were also observed in the Northeast. Clarifying the genotypic diversity of O. tsutsugamushi in India enhances knowledge of the regional diversity among circulating strains and provides potential resources for future region-specific diagnostic studies and vaccine development.

Immunocytochemical methods to study the distribution of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Leptotrombidium (Acari: Trombiculidae) chiggers.

PubMed

Myint, K S; Linthicum, K J; Tanskul, P; Lerdthusnee, K; Vaughn, D W; Manomuth, C; Mongkolsirichaikul, D; Hansukjariya, P; Hastriter, M W

1998-07-01

Immunocytochemical methods were developed and tested for their ability to detect the distribution of Orientia tsutsugamushi in paraffin sections of adult chiggers (Leptotrombidium imphalum Vercammen-Grandjean & Langston). Rickettsial antigen was detected by application of a simple direct or amplified immunocytochemistry procedure and an indirect immunofluorescent procedure. In the direct procedure alkaline phosphatase conjugation to the mouse polyclonal antibody to the Karp strain was followed by the HistoMark Red test system to detect rickettsial antigen. The amplification procedure used a similar method but used an unlabeled primary antibody followed by secondary biotinylated antimouse IgG, streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase, and the HistoMark Red test system. The immunofluorescent procedure included a biotinylated secondary antibody followed by addition of a streptavidin-FITC conjugate. Specific tissue tropisms in infected chiggers were observed in the salivary glands, nervous tissue, and ovaries of adult female mites in all procedures; however, nonspecific fluorescence of the chigger limited definitive identification of tissue tropisms with the indirect immunofluorescent procedure.

Computer implemented land cover classification using LANDSAT MSS digital data: A cooperative research project between the National Park Service and NASA. 3: Vegetation and other land cover analysis of Shenandoah National Park

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cibula, W. G.

1981-01-01

Four LANDSAT frames, each corresponding to one of the four seasons were spectrally classified and processed using NASA-developed computer programs. One data set was selected or two or more data sets were marged to improve surface cover classifications. Selected areas representing each spectral class were chosen and transferred to USGS 1:62,500 topographic maps for field use. Ground truth data were gathered to verify the accuracy of the classifications. Acreages were computed for each of the land cover types. The application of elevational data to seasonal LANDSAT frames resulted in the separation of high elevation meadows (both with and without recently emergent perennial vegetation) as well as areas in oak forests which have an evergreen understory as opposed to other areas which do not.

Acoustic Gravity Waves Generated by an Oscillating Ice Sheet in Arctic Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdolali, A.; Kadri, U.; Kirby, J. T., Jr.

2016-12-01

We investigate the formation of acoustic-gravity waves due to oscillations of large ice blocks, possibly triggered by atmospheric and ocean currents, ice block shrinkage or storms and ice-quakes.For the idealized case of a homogeneous weakly compressible water bounded at the surface by ice sheet and a rigid bed, the description of the infinite family of acoustic modes is characterized by the water depth h and angular frequency of oscillating ice sheet ω ; The acoustic wave field is governed by the leading mode given by: Nmax=\\floor {(ω h)/(π c)} where c is the sound speed in water and the special brackets represent the floor function (Fig1). Unlike the free-surface setting, the higher acoustic modes might exhibit a larger contribution and therefore all progressive acoustic modes have to be considered.This study focuses on the characteristics of acoustic-gravity waves generated by an oscillating elastic ice sheet in a weakly compressible fluid coupled with a free surface model [Abdolali et al. 2015] representing shrinking ice blocks in realistic sea state, where the randomly oriented ice sheets cause inter modal transition and multidirectional reflections. A theoretical solution and a 3D numerical model have been developed for the study purposes. The model is first validated against the theoretical solution [Kadri, 2016]. To overcome the computational difficulties of 3D models, we derive a depth-integrated equation valid for spatially varying ice sheet thickness and water depth. We show that the generated acoustic-gravity waves contribute significantly to deep ocean currents compared to other mechanisms. In addition, these waves travel at the sound speed in water carrying information on ice sheet motion, providing various implications for ocean monitoring and detection of ice-quakes. Fig1:Snapshots of dynamic pressure given by an oscillating ice sheet; h=4500m, c=1500m/s, semi-length b=10km, ζ =1m, omega=π rad/s. Abdolali, A., Kirby, J. T. and Bellotti, G

Multimodal Bio-Inspired Tactile Sensing Module for Surface Characterization †

PubMed Central

Alves de Oliveira, Thiago Eustaquio; Cretu, Ana-Maria; Petriu, Emil M.

2017-01-01

Robots are expected to recognize the properties of objects in order to handle them safely and efficiently in a variety of applications, such as health and elder care, manufacturing, or high-risk environments. This paper explores the issue of surface characterization by monitoring the signals acquired by a novel bio-inspired tactile probe in contact with ridged surfaces. The tactile module comprises a nine Degree of Freedom Microelectromechanical Magnetic, Angular Rate, and Gravity system (9-DOF MEMS MARG) and a deep MEMS pressure sensor embedded in a compliant structure that mimics the function and the organization of mechanoreceptors in human skin as well as the hardness of the human skin. When the modules tip slides over a surface, the MARG unit vibrates and the deep pressure sensor captures the overall normal force exerted. The module is evaluated in two experiments. The first experiment compares the frequency content of the data collected in two setups: one when the module is mounted over a linear motion carriage that slides four grating patterns at constant velocities; the second when the module is carried by a robotic finger in contact with the same grating patterns while performing a sliding motion, similar to the exploratory motion employed by humans to detect object roughness. As expected, in the linear setup, the magnitude spectrum of the sensors’ output shows that the module can detect the applied stimuli with frequencies ranging from 3.66 Hz to 11.54 Hz with an overall maximum error of ±0.1 Hz. The second experiment shows how localized features extracted from the data collected by the robotic finger setup over seven synthetic shapes can be used to classify them. The classification method consists on applying multiscale principal components analysis prior to the classification with a multilayer neural network. Achieved accuracies from 85.1% to 98.9% for the various sensor types demonstrate the usefulness of traditional MEMS as tactile sensors embedded

Robust numerical solution of the reservoir routing equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiorentini, Marcello; Orlandini, Stefano

2013-09-01

The robustness of numerical methods for the solution of the reservoir routing equation is evaluated. The methods considered in this study are: (1) the Laurenson-Pilgrim method, (2) the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, and (3) the fixed order Cash-Karp method. Method (1) is unable to handle nonmonotonic outflow rating curves. Method (2) is found to fail under critical conditions occurring, especially at the end of inflow recession limbs, when large time steps (greater than 12 min in this application) are used. Method (3) is computationally intensive and it does not solve the limitations of method (2). The limitations of method (2) can be efficiently overcome by reducing the time step in the critical phases of the simulation so as to ensure that water level remains inside the domains of the storage function and the outflow rating curve. The incorporation of a simple backstepping procedure implementing this control into the method (2) yields a robust and accurate reservoir routing method that can be safely used in distributed time-continuous catchment models.

The research of a new data glove based on MARG sensor and magnetic localization technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Yi; Gao, Tongyue; Wu, Ye; Zhu, Shihao

2018-04-01

The human hand gesture can record and reproduce the posture and action information of the hand, which is of great significance to people's production and life. This paper has improved the existing data gloves based on micro inertial technology, and integrates the magnetic field localization method into finger gesture measurements. The strap down inertial navigation technology and the magnetic localization technology are combined in this paper to make the advantages complement each other, and a low cost and high degree of freedom of data gloves are put forward to realize the way of data gloves in the past.

Anesthetic effects from low concentrations of proparacaine and benoxinate.

PubMed

Jauregui, M J; Sanders, T J; Polse, K A

1980-01-01

Using double masking procedures, the response to McKay-Marg and Goldmann tonometry of 361 randomly selected patients was determined following the installation of a single dose of either 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5% proparacaine or 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4% benoxinate. Examiners graded the adequacy, patient tolerance and conjunctival hyperemia induced by the drop, while the subjects reported on the sting of the drop, awareness of the tonometer and discomfort after the procedure. The results indicate that 0.25% proparacaine is an effective anesthetic dose on all patients and that 0.2% benoxinate and 0.125% proparacaine would be effective on patients over age 40. The implication of these results is that significantly lower doses of anesthetic can be used which will result in less stinging, reduced hyperemia and shorter duration of action.

Modeling and simulation of magnetic resonance imaging based on intermolecular multiple quantum coherences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Congbo; Dong, Jiyang; Cai, Shuhui; Cheng, En; Chen, Zhong

2006-11-01

Intermolecular multiple quantum coherences (iMQCs) have many potential applications since they can provide interaction information between different molecules within the range of dipolar correlation distance, and can provide new contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because of the non-localized property of dipolar field, and the non-linear property of the Bloch equations incorporating the dipolar field term, the evolution behavior of iMQC is difficult to deduce strictly in many cases. In such cases, simulation studies are very important. Simulation results can not only give a guide to optimize experimental conditions, but also help analyze unexpected experimental results. Based on our product operator matrix and the K-space method for dipolar field calculation, the MRI simulation software was constructed, running on Windows operation system. The non-linear Bloch equations are calculated by a fifth-order Cash-Karp Runge-Kutta formulism. Computational time can be efficiently reduced by separating the effects of chemical shifts and strong gradient field. Using this software, simulation of different kinds of complex MRI sequences can be done conveniently and quickly on general personal computers. Some examples were given. The results were discussed.

Using pseudoalignment and base quality to accurately quantify microbial community composition

PubMed Central

Novembre, John

2018-01-01

Pooled DNA from multiple unknown organisms arises in a variety of contexts, for example microbial samples from ecological or human health research. Determining the composition of pooled samples can be difficult, especially at the scale of modern sequencing data and reference databases. Here we propose a novel method for taxonomic profiling in pooled DNA that combines the speed and low-memory requirements of k-mer based pseudoalignment with a likelihood framework that uses base quality information to better resolve multiply mapped reads. We apply the method to the problem of classifying 16S rRNA reads using a reference database of known organisms, a common challenge in microbiome research. Using simulations, we show the method is accurate across a variety of read lengths, with different length reference sequences, at different sample depths, and when samples contain reads originating from organisms absent from the reference. We also assess performance in real 16S data, where we reanalyze previous genetic association data to show our method discovers a larger number of quantitative trait associations than other widely used methods. We implement our method in the software Karp, for k-mer based analysis of read pools, to provide a novel combination of speed and accuracy that is uniquely suited for enhancing discoveries in microbial studies. PMID:29659582

Furniture dimensions and postural overload for schoolchildren's head, upper back and upper limbs.

PubMed

Batistão, Mariana Vieira; Sentanin, Anna Cláudia; Moriguchi, Cristiane Shinohara; Hansson, Gert-Åke; Coury, Helenice Jane Cote Gil; de Oliveira Sato, Tatiana

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the fixed furniture dimensions match with students' anthropometry and to describe head, upper back and upper limbs postures and movements. Evaluation was performed in 48 students from a Brazilian state school. Furniture dimensions were measured with metric tape, movements and postures by inclinometers (Logger Tecknologi, Åkarp, Sweden). Seat height was high for 21% and low for 36% of the students; seat length was short for 45% and long for 9% and table height was high for 53% and low for 28%. Regression analysis showed that seat/popliteal height quotient is explained by 90th percentile of upper back inclination (β=0.410) and 90th percentile of right upper arm elevation (β=-0.293). For seat/thigh length quotient the significant variables were 90th percentile of upper back velocity (β=-0.282) and 90th percentile of right upper arm elevation (β=0.410). This study showed a relationship between furniture mismatch and postural overload. When the seat height is low students increase upper back left inclination and right upper arm elevation; when the seat is short students decrease the upper back flexion velocity and increase right upper arm elevation.

Optimizing the inner loop of the gravitational force interaction on modern processors

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

Warren, Michael S

2010-12-08

We have achieved superior performance on multiple generations of the fastest supercomputers in the world with our hashed oct-tree N-body code (HOT), spanning almost two decades and garnering multiple Gordon Bell Prizes for significant achievement in parallel processing. Execution time for our N-body code is largely influenced by the force calculation in the inner loop. Improvements to the inner loop using SSE3 instructions has enabled the calculation of over 200 million gravitational interactions per second per processor on a 2.6 GHz Opteron, for a computational rate of over 7 Gflops in single precision (700/0 of peak). We obtain optimal performancemore » some processors (including the Cell) by decomposing the reciprocal square root function required for a gravitational interaction into a table lookup, Chebychev polynomial interpolation, and Newton-Raphson iteration, using the algorithm of Karp. By unrolling the loop by a factor of six, and using SPU intrinsics to compute on vectors, we obtain performance of over 16 Gflops on a single Cell SPE. Aggregated over the 8 SPEs on a Cell processor, the overall performance is roughly 130 Gflops. In comparison, the ordinary C version of our inner loop only obtains 1.6 Gflops per SPE with the spuxlc compiler.« less

Development of a rapid and visual nucleotide detection method for a Chinese epidemic strain of Orientia tsutsugamushi based on recombinase polymerase amplification assay and lateral flow test.

PubMed

Qi, Yong; Yin, Qiong; Shao, Yinxiu; Cao, Min; Li, Suqin; Chen, Hongxia; Shen, Wanpeng; Rao, Jixian; Li, Jiameng; Li, Xiaoling; Sun, Yu; Lin, Yu; Deng, Yi; Zeng, Wenwen; Zheng, Shulong; Liu, Suyun; Li, Yuexi

2018-05-01

Orientia tsutsugamushi is an obligate intracellular pathogen that causes scrub typhus. Diagnosing scrub typhus remains a challenge, and a sensitive, specific, simple, and rapid diagnostic test is still needed. A recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay combined with a lateral flow (LF) test targeting the 56-kDa gene of a Karp-like strain of O. tsutsugamushi was developed and optimized. The detection limits, sensitivity, specificity, and simulative clinical performance were evaluated. Primers and probe were screened to establish the RPA assay, and the reaction conditions were optimized. The detection limit was 10 copies/reaction in detecting plasmid DNA and 12 copies/reaction in detecting genomic DNA. The RPA-LF method could differentiate O. tsutsugamushi from other phylogenetically related bacteria. The sensitivity was 100% and specificity was over 90%, when evaluated using infected animal samples or simulative clinical samples. Furthermore, the method was completed in 20min at 37°C followed by a 3-5min incubation at room temperature for the development of an immunochromatographic strip, and the results could be determined visually. This method is promising for wide-ranging use in basic medical units considering that it requires minimal instruments and infrastructure and is highly time-efficient, sensitive, and specific for diagnosing scrub typhus. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Post waterflood CO{sub 2} miscible flood in light oil, fluvial-dominated deltaic reservoir. Annual report, fiscal year 1996

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

NONE

1996-08-15

The Port Neches CO{sub 2} flood has been operating for nearly 4 years. The project performance during the past year has been adversely affected by several factors including: water blockage, low residual oil saturation and wellbore mechanical problems. The company attempted to test a new procedure in a new fault block using CO{sub 2} to accelerate primary production in order to improve the primary reserves net present value. The test was abandoned when the discovery well Polk B-39 for the Marg Area 3 was a dry hole. Also, during this period the company terminated all new CO{sub 2} purchases frommore » Cardox for economical reasons, while continuing to recycle produced CO{sub 2}. A data base for FDD reservoirs for the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast Region was developed by LSU and SAIC. This data base includes reservoir parameters and performance data for reservoirs with significant production and OOIP volumes that are amenable to CO{sub 2} injection. A paper discussing the Port Neches CO{sub 2} project was presented at the 1996 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery.« less

The feasibility and advantages of billroth-I reconstruction in distal gastric cancers following resection.

PubMed

Ganesh, M S; Reddy, K G; Venkata Subbareddy, D S

2012-01-01

Gastric carcinomas are common malignancies in southern India and distal stomach remains the commonest site in low socio economic groups. Surgery still remains an important modality of treatment to achieve local control and also relieve obstructive symptoms. In this study we investigated the feasibility of performing a gastrectomy and billroth-1 type of anastomosis in a rural cancer center setting, with parameters like adequacy of margins, ease of anastomosis and its functional results were analysed. Eight patients presenting to a rurally based cancer center underwent a distal gastrectomy and billroth-1 type of anastomosis for continuity restoration. All the patients had adequate proximal and distal marg. The surgical time varied between-hrs. The anastomosis was constructed without any tension on bowel ends in all patients. The average time to start oral feeds varied between- None of the patients showed symptoms of bile reflux nor dumping. The average hospital stay varied between. Billroth-1 anastomosis is a physiologically more natural way of restoring continuity following a gastrectomy and it is a procedure which would be technically more simpler and decrease per and post operative complications and allow speedier post operative recovery following surgery on distal gastric cancers.

Estimation of Human Arm Joints Using Two Wireless Sensors in Robotic Rehabilitation Tasks.

PubMed

Bertomeu-Motos, Arturo; Lledó, Luis D; Díez, Jorge A; Catalan, Jose M; Ezquerro, Santiago; Badesa, Francisco J; Garcia-Aracil, Nicolas

2015-12-04

This paper presents a novel kinematic reconstruction of the human arm chain with five degrees of freedom and the estimation of the shoulder location during rehabilitation therapy assisted by end-effector robotic devices. This algorithm is based on the pseudoinverse of the Jacobian through the acceleration of the upper arm, measured using an accelerometer, and the orientation of the shoulder, estimated with a magnetic angular rate and gravity (MARG) device. The results show a high accuracy in terms of arm joints and shoulder movement with respect to the real arm measured through an optoelectronic system. Furthermore, the range of motion (ROM) of 50 healthy subjects is studied from two different trials, one trying to avoid shoulder movements and the second one forcing them. Moreover, the shoulder movement in the second trial is also estimated accurately. Besides the fact that the posture of the patient can be corrected during the exercise, the therapist could use the presented algorithm as an objective assessment tool. In conclusion, the joints' estimation enables a better adjustment of the therapy, taking into account the needs of the patient, and consequently, the arm motion improves faster.

An Adaptive 6-DOF Tracking Method by Hybrid Sensing for Ultrasonic Endoscopes

PubMed Central

Du, Chengyang; Chen, Xiaodong; Wang, Yi; Li, Junwei; Yu, Daoyin

2014-01-01

In this paper, a novel hybrid sensing method for tracking an ultrasonic endoscope within the gastrointestinal (GI) track is presented, and the prototype of the tracking system is also developed. We implement 6-DOF localization by sensing integration and information fusion. On the hardware level, a tri-axis gyroscope and accelerometer, and a magnetic angular rate and gravity (MARG) sensor array are attached at the end of endoscopes, and three symmetric cylindrical coils are placed around patients' abdomens. On the algorithm level, an adaptive fast quaternion convergence (AFQC) algorithm is introduced to determine the orientation by fusing inertial/magnetic measurements, in which the effects of magnetic disturbance and acceleration are estimated to gain an adaptive convergence output. A simplified electro-magnetic tracking (SEMT) algorithm for dimensional position is also implemented, which can easily integrate the AFQC's results and magnetic measurements. Subsequently, the average position error is under 0.3 cm by reasonable setting, and the average orientation error is 1° without noise. If magnetic disturbance or acceleration exists, the average orientation error can be controlled to less than 3.5°. PMID:24915179

An Accurate and Fault-Tolerant Target Positioning System for Buildings Using Laser Rangefinders and Low-Cost MEMS-Based MARG Sensors

PubMed Central

Zhao, Lin; Guan, Dongxue; Landry, René Jr.; Cheng, Jianhua; Sydorenko, Kostyantyn

2015-01-01

Target positioning systems based on MEMS gyros and laser rangefinders (LRs) have extensive prospects due to their advantages of low cost, small size and easy realization. The target positioning accuracy is mainly determined by the LR’s attitude derived by the gyros. However, the attitude error is large due to the inherent noises from isolated MEMS gyros. In this paper, both accelerometer/magnetometer and LR attitude aiding systems are introduced to aid MEMS gyros. A no-reset Federated Kalman Filter (FKF) is employed, which consists of two local Kalman Filters (KF) and a Master Filter (MF). The local KFs are designed by using the Direction Cosine Matrix (DCM)-based dynamic equations and the measurements from the two aiding systems. The KFs can estimate the attitude simultaneously to limit the attitude errors resulting from the gyros. Then, the MF fuses the redundant attitude estimates to yield globally optimal estimates. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the FKF-based system can improve the target positioning accuracy effectively and allow for good fault-tolerant capability. PMID:26512672

Scrub typhus in South India: clinical and laboratory manifestations, genetic variability, and outcome.

PubMed

Varghese, George M; Janardhanan, Jeshina; Trowbridge, Paul; Peter, John V; Prakash, John A J; Sathyendra, Sowmya; Thomas, Kurien; David, Thambu S; Kavitha, M L; Abraham, Ooriapadickal C; Mathai, Dilip

2013-11-01

This study sought to document the clinical and laboratory manifestations, genetic variability, and outcomes of scrub typhus, an often severe infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, in South India. Patients admitted to a large teaching hospital with IgM ELISA-confirmed scrub typhus were evaluated. Clinical examination with a thorough search for an eschar, laboratory testing, chest X-ray, and outcome were documented and analyzed. Additionally, a 410-bp region of the 56-kDa type-specific antigen gene of O. tsutsugamushi was sequenced and compared with isolates from other regions of Asia. Most of the 154 patients evaluated presented with fever and non-specific symptoms. An eschar was found in 86 (55%) patients. Mild hepatic involvement was seen in most, with other organ involvement including respiratory, cardiovascular, and renal. Multi-organ dysfunction was noted in 59 (38.3%), and the fatality rate was 7.8%. Hypotension requiring vasoactive agents was found to be an independent predictor of mortality (p<0.001). The phylogeny of 26 samples showed 17 (65%) clustering with the Kato-like group and eight (31%) with the Karp-like group. The presentation of scrub typhus can be variable, often non-specific, but with potentially severe multi-organ dysfunction. Prompt recognition is key to specific treatment and good outcomes. Further study of the circulating strains is essential for the development of a successful vaccine and sensitive point-of-care testing. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Isolation of a novel Orientia species (O. chuto sp. nov.) from a patient infected in Dubai.

PubMed

Izzard, Leonard; Fuller, Andrew; Blacksell, Stuart D; Paris, Daniel H; Richards, Allen L; Aukkanit, Nuntipa; Nguyen, Chelsea; Jiang, Ju; Fenwick, Stan; Day, Nicholas P J; Graves, Stephen; Stenos, John

2010-12-01

In July 2006, an Australian tourist returning from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), developed acute scrub typhus. Her signs and symptoms included fever, myalgia, headache, rash, and eschar. Orientia tsutsugamushi serology demonstrated a 4-fold rise in antibody titers in paired serum collections (1:512 to 1:8,192), with the sera reacting strongest against the Gilliam strain antigen. An Orientia species was isolated by the in vitro culture of the patient's acute blood taken prior to antibiotic treatment. The gene sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (rrs), partial 56-kDa gene, and the full open reading frame 47-kDa gene was performed, and comparisons of this new Orientia sp. isolate to previously characterized strains demonstrated significant sequence diversity. The closest homology to the rrs sequence of the new Orientia sp. isolate was with three strains of O. tsutsugamushi (Ikeda, Kato, and Karp), with a nucleotide sequence similarity of 98.5%. The closest homology to the 47-kDa gene sequence was with O. tsutsugamushi strain Gilliam, with a nucleotide similarity of 82.3%, while the closest homology to the 56-kDa gene sequence was with O. tsutsugamushi strain TA686, with a nucleotide similarity of 53.1%. The molecular divergence and geographically unique origin lead us to believe that this organism should be considered a novel species. Therefore, we have proposed the name "Orientia chuto," and the prototype strain of this species is strain Dubai, named after the location in which the patient was infected.

Isolation of a Novel Orientia Species (O. chuto sp. nov.) from a Patient Infected in Dubai ▿

PubMed Central

Izzard, Leonard; Fuller, Andrew; Blacksell, Stuart D.; Paris, Daniel H.; Richards, Allen L.; Aukkanit, Nuntipa; Nguyen, Chelsea; Jiang, Ju; Fenwick, Stan; Day, Nicholas P. J.; Graves, Stephen; Stenos, John

2010-01-01

In July 2006, an Australian tourist returning from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), developed acute scrub typhus. Her signs and symptoms included fever, myalgia, headache, rash, and eschar. Orientia tsutsugamushi serology demonstrated a 4-fold rise in antibody titers in paired serum collections (1:512 to 1:8,192), with the sera reacting strongest against the Gilliam strain antigen. An Orientia species was isolated by the in vitro culture of the patient's acute blood taken prior to antibiotic treatment. The gene sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (rrs), partial 56-kDa gene, and the full open reading frame 47-kDa gene was performed, and comparisons of this new Orientia sp. isolate to previously characterized strains demonstrated significant sequence diversity. The closest homology to the rrs sequence of the new Orientia sp. isolate was with three strains of O. tsutsugamushi (Ikeda, Kato, and Karp), with a nucleotide sequence similarity of 98.5%. The closest homology to the 47-kDa gene sequence was with O. tsutsugamushi strain Gilliam, with a nucleotide similarity of 82.3%, while the closest homology to the 56-kDa gene sequence was with O. tsutsugamushi strain TA686, with a nucleotide similarity of 53.1%. The molecular divergence and geographically unique origin lead us to believe that this organism should be considered a novel species. Therefore, we have proposed the name “Orientia chuto,” and the prototype strain of this species is strain Dubai, named after the location in which the patient was infected. PMID:20926708

Loss of PDZ-adaptor protein NHERF2 affects membrane localization and cGMP- and [Ca2+]- but not cAMP-dependent regulation of Na+/H+ exchanger 3 in murine intestine

PubMed Central

Chen, Mingmin; Sultan, Ayesha; Cinar, Ayhan; Yeruva, Sunil; Riederer, Brigitte; Singh, Anurag Kumar; Li, Junhua; Bonhagen, Janina; Chen, Gang; Yun, Chris; Donowitz, Mark; Hogema, Boris; deJonge, Hugo; Seidler, Ursula

2010-01-01

Trafficking and regulation of the epithelial brush border membrane (BBM) Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) in the intestine involves interaction with four different members of the NHERF family in a signal-dependent and possibly segment-specific fashion. The aim of this research was to study the role of NHERF2 (E3KARP) in intestinal NHE3 BBM localization and second messenger-mediated and receptor-mediated inhibition of NHE3. Immunolocalization of NHE3 in WT mice revealed predominant microvillar localization in jejunum and colon, a mixed distribution in the proximal ileum but localization near the terminal web in the distal ileum. The terminal web localization of NHE3 in the distal ileum correlated with reduced acid-activated NHE3 activity (fluorometrically assessed). NHERF2 ablation resulted in a shift of NHE3 to the microvilli and higher basal fluid absorption rates in the ileum, but no change in overall NHE3 protein or mRNA expression. Forskolin-induced NHE3 inhibition was preserved in the absence of NHERF2, whereas Ca2+ ionophore- or carbachol-mediated inhibition was abolished. Likewise, Escherichia coli heat stable enterotoxin peptide (STp) lost its inhibitory effect on intestinal NHE3. It is concluded that in native murine intestine, the NHE3 adaptor protein NHERF2 plays important roles in tethering NHE3 to a position near the terminal web and in second messenger inhibition of NHE3 in a signal- and segment-specific fashion, and is therefore an important regulator of intestinal fluid transport. PMID:20962002

C library for topological study of the electronic charge density.

PubMed

Vega, David; Aray, Yosslen; Rodríguez, Jesús

2012-12-05

The topological study of the electronic charge density is useful to obtain information about the kinds of bonds (ionic or covalent) and the atom charges on a molecule or crystal. For this study, it is necessary to calculate, at every space point, the electronic density and its electronic density derivatives values up to second order. In this work, a grid-based method for these calculations is described. The library, implemented for three dimensions, is based on a multidimensional Lagrange interpolation in a regular grid; by differentiating the resulting polynomial, the gradient vector, the Hessian matrix and the Laplacian formulas were obtained for every space point. More complex functions such as the Newton-Raphson method (to find the critical points, where the gradient is null) and the Cash-Karp Runge-Kutta method (used to make the gradient paths) were programmed. As in some crystals, the unit cell has angles different from 90°, the described library includes linear transformations to correct the gradient and Hessian when the grid is distorted (inclined). Functions were also developed to handle grid containing files (grd from DMol® program, CUBE from Gaussian® program and CHGCAR from VASP® program). Each one of these files contains the data for a molecular or crystal electronic property (such as charge density, spin density, electrostatic potential, and others) in a three-dimensional (3D) grid. The library can be adapted to make the topological study in any regular 3D grid by modifying the code of these functions. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Long-read whole genome sequencing and comparative analysis of six strains of the human pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi.

PubMed

Batty, Elizabeth M; Chaemchuen, Suwittra; Blacksell, Stuart; Richards, Allen L; Paris, Daniel; Bowden, Rory; Chan, Caroline; Lachumanan, Ramkumar; Day, Nicholas; Donnelly, Peter; Chen, Swaine; Salje, Jeanne

2018-06-01

Orientia tsutsugamushi is a clinically important but neglected obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen of the Rickettsiaceae family that causes the potentially life-threatening human disease scrub typhus. In contrast to the genome reduction seen in many obligate intracellular bacteria, early genetic studies of Orientia have revealed one of the most repetitive bacterial genomes sequenced to date. The dramatic expansion of mobile elements has hampered efforts to generate complete genome sequences using short read sequencing methodologies, and consequently there have been few studies of the comparative genomics of this neglected species. We report new high-quality genomes of O. tsutsugamushi, generated using PacBio single molecule long read sequencing, for six strains: Karp, Kato, Gilliam, TA686, UT76 and UT176. In comparative genomics analyses of these strains together with existing reference genomes from Ikeda and Boryong strains, we identify a relatively small core genome of 657 genes, grouped into core gene islands and separated by repeat regions, and use the core genes to infer the first whole-genome phylogeny of Orientia. Complete assemblies of multiple Orientia genomes verify initial suggestions that these are remarkable organisms. They have larger genomes compared with most other Rickettsiaceae, with widespread amplification of repeat elements and massive chromosomal rearrangements between strains. At the gene level, Orientia has a relatively small set of universally conserved genes, similar to other obligate intracellular bacteria, and the relative expansion in genome size can be accounted for by gene duplication and repeat amplification. Our study demonstrates the utility of long read sequencing to investigate complex bacterial genomes and characterise genomic variation.

Analysis and Visualization of 3D Motion Data for UPDRS Rating of Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

PubMed

Piro, Neltje E; Piro, Lennart K; Kassubek, Jan; Blechschmidt-Trapp, Ronald A

2016-06-21

Remote monitoring of Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients with inertia sensors is a relevant method for a better assessment of symptoms. We present a new approach for symptom quantification based on motion data: the automatic Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) classification in combination with an animated 3D avatar giving the neurologist the impression of having the patient live in front of him. In this study we compared the UPDRS ratings of the pronation-supination task derived from: (a) an examination based on video recordings as a clinical reference; (b) an automatically classified UPDRS; and (c) a UPDRS rating from the assessment of the animated 3D avatar. Data were recorded using Magnetic, Angular Rate, Gravity (MARG) sensors with 15 subjects performing a pronation-supination movement of the hand. After preprocessing, the data were classified with a J48 classifier and animated as a 3D avatar. Video recording of the movements, as well as the 3D avatar, were examined by movement disorder specialists and rated by UPDRS. The mean agreement between the ratings based on video and (b) the automatically classified UPDRS is 0.48 and with (c) the 3D avatar it is 0.47. The 3D avatar is similarly suitable for assessing the UPDRS as video recordings for the examined task and will be further developed by the research team.

Late differentiation of proximal and distal margins in the Gulf of Aden

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bache, F.; Leroy, S.; D'Acremont, E.; Autin, J.; Watremez, L.; Rouzo, S.

2009-04-01

, F. Klingelhoefer, C. Labails, L. Matias, H. Nouzé, and M. Rabineau, 2008, Brazilian and African Passive Margins of the Central Segment of the South Atlantic Ocean: Kinematic constraints: Tectonophysics, v. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2008.12.016. Autin, J., 2008, Déchirure continentale et segmentation du Golfe d'Aden oriental en contexte de rifting oblique: Ph. D. thesis, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, 310 p. Bache, F., 2008, Evolution Oligo-Miocène des marges du micro océan Liguro Provençal.: Ph. D. thesis, Université de Bretagne Occidentale/CNRS/IFREMER. http://www.ifremer.fr/docelec/notice/2008/notice4768-EN.htm, Brest, 328 p. Boillot, G., J. Girardeau, and J. Kornprobst, 1988, The rifting of the Galicia margin: crustal thinning and emplacement of mantle rocks on the seafloor (ODP Leg 103). In Boillot, G., Winterer, E.L., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, v. 103, College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 741-756. d'Acremont, E., S. Leroy, M. O. Beslier, N. bellahsen, M. Fournier, C. Robin, M. Maia, and P. Gente, 2005, Structure and evolution of the eastern Gulf of Aden conjugate margins from seismic reflection data: Geophys. J. Int., v. 160, p. 869-890. d'Acremont, E., S. Leroy, M. Maia, P. Patriat, M. O. Beslier, N. Bellahsen, M. Fournier, and P. Gente, 2006, Structure and evolution of the eastern Gulf of Aden: insights from magnetic and gravity data (Encens-Sheba MD117 cruise): Geophys. J. Int., v. 165, p. 786-803. Dupré, S., G. Bertotti, and S. Cloetingh, 2007, Tectonic history along the South Gabon Basin: Anomalous early post-rift subsidence: Mar. Pet. Geol., v. 24, p. 151-172. Labails, C., 2007, La marge sud-marocaine et les premières phases d'ouverture de l'océan Atlantique Central: Ph. D. thesis, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest. Leroy, S., P. Gente, M. Fournier, E. d'Acremont, P. Patriat, M. O. Beslier, N. Bellahsen, M. Maia, A. Blais, J. Perrot, A. Al-Kathiri, S. Merkouriev, J. M. Fleury, P. Y. Ruellan, C. Lepvrier, and P

Pattern matching through Chaos Game Representation: bridging numerical and discrete data structures for biological sequence analysis

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Chaos Game Representation (CGR) is an iterated function that bijectively maps discrete sequences into a continuous domain. As a result, discrete sequences can be object of statistical and topological analyses otherwise reserved to numerical systems. Characteristically, CGR coordinates of substrings sharing an L-long suffix will be located within 2-L distance of each other. In the two decades since its original proposal, CGR has been generalized beyond its original focus on genomic sequences and has been successfully applied to a wide range of problems in bioinformatics. This report explores the possibility that it can be further extended to approach algorithms that rely on discrete, graph-based representations. Results The exploratory analysis described here consisted of selecting foundational string problems and refactoring them using CGR-based algorithms. We found that CGR can take the role of suffix trees and emulate sophisticated string algorithms, efficiently solving exact and approximate string matching problems such as finding all palindromes and tandem repeats, and matching with mismatches. The common feature of these problems is that they use longest common extension (LCE) queries as subtasks of their procedures, which we show to have a constant time solution with CGR. Additionally, we show that CGR can be used as a rolling hash function within the Rabin-Karp algorithm. Conclusions The analysis of biological sequences relies on algorithmic foundations facing mounting challenges, both logistic (performance) and analytical (lack of unifying mathematical framework). CGR is found to provide the latter and to promise the former: graph-based data structures for sequence analysis operations are entailed by numerical-based data structures produced by CGR maps, providing a unifying analytical framework for a diversity of pattern matching problems. PMID:22551152

Accelerating moderately stiff chemical kinetics in reactive-flow simulations using GPUs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niemeyer, Kyle E.; Sung, Chih-Jen

2014-01-01

The chemical kinetics ODEs arising from operator-split reactive-flow simulations were solved on GPUs using explicit integration algorithms. Nonstiff chemical kinetics of a hydrogen oxidation mechanism (9 species and 38 irreversible reactions) were computed using the explicit fifth-order Runge-Kutta-Cash-Karp method, and the GPU-accelerated version performed faster than single- and six-core CPU versions by factors of 126 and 25, respectively, for 524,288 ODEs. Moderately stiff kinetics, represented with mechanisms for hydrogen/carbon-monoxide (13 species and 54 irreversible reactions) and methane (53 species and 634 irreversible reactions) oxidation, were computed using the stabilized explicit second-order Runge-Kutta-Chebyshev (RKC) algorithm. The GPU-based RKC implementation demonstrated an increase in performance of nearly 59 and 10 times, for problem sizes consisting of 262,144 ODEs and larger, than the single- and six-core CPU-based RKC algorithms using the hydrogen/carbon-monoxide mechanism. With the methane mechanism, RKC-GPU performed more than 65 and 11 times faster, for problem sizes consisting of 131,072 ODEs and larger, than the single- and six-core RKC-CPU versions, and up to 57 times faster than the six-core CPU-based implicit VODE algorithm on 65,536 ODEs. In the presence of more severe stiffness, such as ethylene oxidation (111 species and 1566 irreversible reactions), RKC-GPU performed more than 17 times faster than RKC-CPU on six cores for 32,768 ODEs and larger, and at best 4.5 times faster than VODE on six CPU cores for 65,536 ODEs. With a larger time step size, RKC-GPU performed at best 2.5 times slower than six-core VODE for 8192 ODEs and larger. Therefore, the need for developing new strategies for integrating stiff chemistry on GPUs was discussed.

Optimal Cutoff and Accuracy of an IgM Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Acute Scrub Typhus in Northern Thailand: an Alternative Reference Method to the IgM Immunofluorescence Assay

PubMed Central

Blacksell, Stuart D.; Tanganuchitcharnchai, Ampai; Jintaworn, Suthatip; Kantipong, Pacharee; Richards, Allen L.; Day, Nicholas P. J.

2016-01-01

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been proposed as an alternative serologic diagnostic test to the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for scrub typhus. Here, we systematically determine the optimal sample dilution and cutoff optical density (OD) and estimate the accuracy of IgM ELISA using Bayesian latent class models (LCMs). Data from 135 patients with undifferentiated fever were reevaluated using Bayesian LCMs. Every patient was evaluated for the presence of an eschar and tested with a blood culture for Orientia tsutsugamushi, three different PCR assays, and an IgM IFA. The IgM ELISA was performed for every sample at sample dilutions from 1:100 to 1:102,400 using crude whole-cell antigens of the Karp, Kato, and Gilliam strains of O. tsutsugamushi developed by the Naval Medical Research Center. We used Bayesian LCMs to generate unbiased receiver operating characteristic curves and found that the sample dilution of 1:400 was optimal for the IgM ELISA. With the optimal cutoff OD of 1.474 at a sample dilution of 1:400, the IgM ELISA had a sensitivity of 85.7% (95% credible interval [CrI], 77.4% to 86.7%) and a specificity of 98.1% (95% CrI, 97.2% to 100%) using paired samples. For the ELISA, the OD could be determined objectively and quickly, in contrast to the reading of IFA slides, which was both subjective and labor-intensive. The IgM ELISA for scrub typhus has high diagnostic accuracy and is less subjective than the IgM IFA. We suggest that the IgM ELISA may be used as an alternative reference test to the IgM IFA for the serological diagnosis of scrub typhus. PMID:27008880

Differential Association of the Na+/H+ Exchanger Regulatory Factor (NHERF) Family of Adaptor Proteins with the Raft-and the Non-Raft Brush Border Membrane Fractions of NHE3

PubMed Central

Sultan, Ayesha; Luo, Min; Yu, Qin; Riederer, Brigitte; Xia, Weiliang; Chen, Mingmin; Lissner, Simone; Gessner, Johannes E.; Donowitz, Mark; Yun, C. Chris; deJonge, Hugo; Lamprecht, Georg; Seidler, Ursula

2014-01-01

Background/Aims Trafficking, brush border membrane (BBM) retention, and signal-specific regulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 is regulated by the Na+/H+ Exchanger Regulatory Factor (NHERF) family of PDZ-adaptor proteins, which enable the formation of multiprotein complexes. It is unclear, however, what determines signal specificity of these NHERFs. Thus, we studied the association of NHE3, NHERF1 (EBP50), NHERF2 (E3KARP), and NHERF3 (PDZK1) with lipid rafts in murine small intestinal BBM. Methods Detergent resistant membranes (“lipid rafts”) were isolated by floatation of Triton X-incubated small intestinal BBM from a variety of knockout mouse strains in an Optiprep step gradient. Acid-activated NHE3 activity was measured fluorometrically in BCECF-loaded microdissected villi, or by assessment of CO2/HCO3− mediated increase in fluid absorption in perfused jejunal loops of anethetized mice. Results NHE3 was found to partially associate with lipid rafts in the native BBM, and NHE3 raft association had an impact on NHE3 transport activity and regulation in vivo. NHERF1, 2 and 3 were differentially distributed to rafts and non-rafts, with NHERF2 being most raft-associated and NHERF3 entirely non-raft associated. NHERF2 expression enhanced the localization of NHE3 to membrane rafts. The use of acid sphingomyelinase-deficient mice, which have altered membrane lipid as well as lipid raft composition, allowed us to test the validity of the lipid raft concept in vivo. Conclusions The differential association of the NHERFs with the raft-associated and the non-raft fraction of NHE3 in the brush border membrane is one component of the differential and signal-specific NHE3 regulation by the different NHERFs. PMID:24297041

Differential association of the Na+/H+ Exchanger Regulatory Factor (NHERF) family of adaptor proteins with the raft- and the non-raft brush border membrane fractions of NHE3.

PubMed

Sultan, Ayesha; Luo, Min; Yu, Qin; Riederer, Brigitte; Xia, Weiliang; Chen, Mingmin; Lissner, Simone; Gessner, Johannes E; Donowitz, Mark; Yun, C Chris; deJonge, Hugo; Lamprecht, Georg; Seidler, Ursula

2013-01-01

Trafficking, brush border membrane (BBM) retention, and signal-specific regulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 is regulated by the Na+/H+ Exchanger Regulatory Factor (NHERF) family of PDZ-adaptor proteins, which enable the formation of multiprotein complexes. It is unclear, however, what determines signal specificity of these NHERFs. Thus, we studied the association of NHE3, NHERF1 (EBP50), NHERF2 (E3KARP), and NHERF3 (PDZK1) with lipid rafts in murine small intestinal BBM. Detergent resistant membranes ("lipid rafts") were isolated by floatation of Triton X-incubated small intestinal BBM from a variety of knockout mouse strains in an Optiprep step gradient. Acid-activated NHE3 activity was measured fluorometrically in BCECF-loaded microdissected villi, or by assessment of CO2/HCO3(-) mediated increase in fluid absorption in perfused jejunal loops of anethetized mice. NHE3 was found to partially associate with lipid rafts in the native BBM, and NHE3 raft association had an impact on NHE3 transport activity and regulation in vivo. NHERF1, 2 and 3 were differentially distributed to rafts and non-rafts, with NHERF2 being most raft-associated and NHERF3 entirely non-raft associated. NHERF2 expression enhanced the localization of NHE3 to membrane rafts. The use of acid sphingomyelinase-deficient mice, which have altered membrane lipid as well as lipid raft composition, allowed us to test the validity of the lipid raft concept in vivo. The differential association of the NHERFs with the raft-associated and the non-raft fraction of NHE3 in the brush border membrane is one component of the differential and signal-specific NHE3 regulation by the different NHERFs. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

New Genotypes of Orientia tsutsugamushi Isolated from Humans in Eastern Taiwan

PubMed Central

Lin, Chin-Hui; Chen, Tren-Yi; Chen, Li-Kuang

2012-01-01

Scrub typhus, an acute febrile illness, is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. In our study, O. tsutsugamushi was rapidly detected and typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 56-kDa type-specific antigen (TSA) gene. To investigate the genotypes of clinical variants of O. tsutsugamushi, we collected 3223 blood samples from eastern Taiwanese patients with suspected scrub typhus from 2002 to 2008. In total, 505 samples were found to be positive for scrub typhus infection by PCR, and bacteria were isolated from 282 of them. Four prototype genotype strains (Karp, Kato, Kawasaki and Gilliam) and eleven different Taiwanese genotype isolates (Taiwan-A, -B, -C, -D, -E, -G, -H, -J, -N, -O and -P) were identified by RPLF analysis. Taiwan-H, the major genotype in eastern Taiwan, exhibited prevalence and isolation rates of 47.3% (239/505) and 42.6% (120/282), respectively. We also assessed the genetic relatedness of the 56-kDa TSA gene among eight Taiwan-H isolates, thirteen other Taiwanese isolates and 104 DNA sequences deposited in the GenBank database using MEGA version 5.0 and PHYLIP version 3.66. We found that the Taiwan-H isolates formed into a new cluster, which was designated the Taiwan Gilliam-variant (TG-v) cluster to distinguish it from the Japanese Gilliam-variant (JG-v) cluster. According to Simplot analysis, TG-v is a new recombinant strain among Gilliam, Ikeda and Kato. Moreover, the Gilliam-Kawasaki cluster had the highest percentage of RFLP cases and was the most frequently isolated type in eastern Taiwan (50.1%, 253/505; 44.0%, 124/282). These findings shed light on the genetic evolution of O. tsutsugamushi into different strains and may be useful in vaccine development and epidemic disease control in the future. PMID:23071693

Structure de socle, sismostratigraphie et héritage structural au cours du rifting au niveau de la marge d'Ifni/Tan-Tan (Maroc sud-occidental)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AbouAli, Naïma; Hafid, Mohamad; Chellaï, El Hassane; Nahim, Mohamed; Zizi, Mahmoud

2005-10-01

Seismic reflection profiles from the Ifni/Tan-Tan Atlantic margin of southern Morocco, interpreted in the light of well data and field geology from the Western Anti-Atlas, allowed us to establish the seismostratigraphic framework of the syn-rift series and to reveal ( i) a compressional structural style in the pre-Triassic basement similar to that established in the adjacent outcropping onshore basement but with an opposed western vergence, ( ii) the importance of inherited anterior structures in the formation of Triassic-Liassic rift structures and ( iii) an east-west propagation of these rift structures. To cite this article: N. AbouAli et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).

Childhood obesity and the metabolic syndrome in developing countries.

PubMed

Gupta, Nidhi; Shah, Priyali; Nayyar, Sugandha; Misra, Anoop

2013-03-01

Rapidly changing dietary practices accompanied by an increasingly sedentary lifestyle predispose to nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, including childhood obesity. Over the last 5 y, reports from several developing countries indicate prevalence rates of obesity (inclusive of overweight) >15 % in children and adolescents aged 5-19 y; Mexico 41.8 %, Brazil 22.1 %, India 22.0 % and Argentina 19.3 %. Moreover, secular trends also indicate an alarming increase in obesity in developing countries; in Brazil from 4.1 % to 13.9 % between 1974 and 1997; in China from 6.4 % to 7.7 % between 1991 and 1997; and in India from 4.9 % to 6.6 % between 2003-04 to 2005-06. Other contributory factors to childhood obesity include: high socio-economic status, residence in metropolitan cities and female gender. Childhood obesity tracks into adulthood, thus increasing the risk for conditions like the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypertension, dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease later in life. Interestingly, prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 35.2 % among overweight Chinese adolescents. Presence of central obesity (high waist-to-hip circumference ratio) along with hypertriglyceridemia and family history of T2DM increase the odds of T2DM by 112.1 in young Asian Indians (< 40 y). Therapeutic lifestyle changes and maintenance of regular physical activity are most important strategies for preventing childhood obesity. Effective health awareness educational programs for children should be immediately initiated in developing countries, following the successful model program in India (project 'MARG').

Warm-up Optimizes Postural Control but Requires Some Minutes of Recovery.

PubMed

Paillard, Thierry; Kadri, Mohamed Abdelhafid; Nouar, Merbouha Boulahbel; Noé, Frederic

2018-05-02

Paillard, T, Kadri, MA, Nouar, MB, and Noé, F. Warm-up optimizes postural control but requires some minutes of recovery. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The aim was to compare monopedal postural control between the dominant leg (D-Leg) and the nondominant leg (ND-Leg) in pre- and post-warm-up conditions. Thirty healthy male sports science students were evaluated before and after a warm-up exercise (12 minutes of pedaling with an incremental effort on a cycle ergometer with a controlled workload). Monopodal postural control was assessed for the D- and ND-Legs before and immediately, 2, 5, 10, and 15 minutes after the warm-up exercise, using a force platform and calculating the displacement velocity of the center of foot pressure on the mediolateral (COPML velocity) and anteroposterior (COPAP velocity) axes. No significant difference was observed between the D-Leg and ND-Leg for both COPML and COPAP velocity in all the periods. In comparison with pre-warm-up, COPML decreased after 15-minute and 10-minute recovery periods for the D-Leg and the ND-Leg, respectively (p < 0.05), whereas COPAP decreased after 10-minute and 15-minute recovery periods (p < 0.001; p < 0.01, respectively) for the D-Leg, and after a 10-minute recovery period for the ND-Leg (p < 0.001). The warm-up optimized monopedal postural control but did not make it possible to distinguish a difference between the D-Leg and the ND-Leg. Some minutes of recovery are required between the end of the whole-body warm-up exercise and the beginning of the postural test to optimize postural control. The optimal duration of recovery turns out to be about 10-15 minutes.

Epithéliomas basocellulaires de la face: prise en charge chirurgicale, à propos de 45 cas et revue de la literature

PubMed Central

Ennouhi, Mohamed Amine; Moussaoui, Abdenacer

2014-01-01

L’épithélioma basocellulaire est de loin la tumeur épithéliale maligne la plus répandue. L'atteinte faciale représente plus de 65% des cas et constitue un facteur de risque de récidive. L'objectif de notre travail est de rappeler les principes et modalités du traitement chirurgical. Sur une période de douze mois, nous avons pris en charge quarante-cinq patients atteints de carcinomes basocellulaires de la face. Le traitement chirurgical comprend deux volets: -carcinologique: emportant la tumeur et une marge de tissu sain; -et une chirurgie réparatrice faisant appel à la suture cutanée directe; greffes ou lambeaux loco -régionaux. L'examen histologique systématique des pièces opératoires permet la confirmation du diagnostic, le typage histologique et l'appréciation de la qualité de l'exérèse chirurgicale. Les résultats esthétiques sont jugés satisfaisants. Quant aux résultats carcinologiques, nous déplorons quatre récidives. Le traitement chirurgical des épithéliomas basocellulaires est le seul garant de la guérison. Au niveau de la face, il faut trouver le meilleur compromis entre impératifs carcinologiques et esthétiques. L'amélioration des résultats passe par: la prévention, le dépistage précoce des lésions, la collaboration étroite des anatomo-pathologistes et la création de comités de concertation pluri -disciplinaire pour la prise en charge des cas difficiles. PMID:25709738

A century old renin-angiotensin system still grows with endless possibilities: AT1 receptor signaling cascades in cardiovascular physiopathology.

PubMed

Balakumar, Pitchai; Jagadeesh, Gowraganahalli

2014-10-01

Ang II, the primary effector pleiotropic hormone of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) cascade, mediates physiological control of blood pressure and electrolyte balance through its action on vascular tone, aldosterone secretion, renal sodium absorption, water intake, sympathetic activity and vasopressin release. It affects the function of most of the organs far beyond blood pressure control including heart, blood vessels, kidney and brain, thus, causing both beneficial and deleterious effects. However, the protective axis of the RAS composed of ACE2, Ang (1-7), alamandine, and Mas and MargD receptors might oppose some harmful effects of Ang II and might promote beneficial cardiovascular effects. Newly identified RAS family peptides, Ang A and angioprotectin, further extend the complexities in understanding the cardiovascular physiopathology of RAS. Most of the diverse actions of Ang II are mediated by AT1 receptors, which couple to classical Gq/11 protein and activate multiple downstream signals, including PKC, ERK1/2, Raf, tyrosine kinases, receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR, PDGF, insulin receptor), nuclear factor κB and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Receptor activation via G12/13 stimulates Rho-kinase, which causes vascular contraction and hypertrophy. The AT1 receptor activation also stimulates G protein-independent signaling pathways such as β-arrestin-mediated MAPK activation and Src-JAK/STAT. AT1 receptor-mediated activation of NADPH oxidase releases ROS, resulting in the activation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors and stimulation of small G proteins such as Ras, Rac and RhoA. The components of the RAS and the major Ang II-induced signaling cascades of AT1 receptors are reviewed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Studies on the quantitative autoradiography. III. Quantitative comparison of a novel tissue-mold measurement technique "paste-mold method," to the semiquantitative whole body autoradiography (WBA), using the same animals.

PubMed

Motoji, N; Hamai, Y; Niikura, Y; Shigematsu, A

1995-01-01

A novel preparation technique, so called "Paste Mold," was devised for organ and tissue distribution studies. This is the most powerful by joining with autoradioluminography (ARLG), which was established and validated recently in the working group of Forum '93 of Japanese Society for study of xenobiotics. A small piece (10-50 mg) of each organ or tissue was available for measuring its radioactive concentration and it was sampled from the remains of frozen carcass used for macroautoradiography (MARG). The solubilization of the frozen pieces was performed with mixing a suitable volume of gelatine and strong alkaline solution prior to mild heating kept at 40 degrees C for a few hours. After that, the tissue paste was molded in template pattern to form the small plates. The molded plates were contacted with Imaging plate (IP) for recording their radioactive concentration. The recorded IP was processed by BAS2000. The molded plate was formed in thickness of 200 microns, so called infinit thickness against soft beta rays, and therefore the resulting relative intensities, represented by (PSL-BG)/S values, indicated practically responsible ratio of the radioactive concentration in organs and tissues, without any calibulation for beta-self absorption coefficiency. On the other hand, the left half body of the frozen carcass was used for making whole body autoradiography (WBA) before the Paste-Mold preparation. Comparison was performed for difference in (PSL-BG)/S values of organs and tissues between frozen and dried sections. A good concordance in relative intensities, (PSL-BG)/S by the Paste-Mold preparation was given with those by the frozen sections rather than dried sections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of the Ultrastructure of Several Rickettsiae, Ornithosis Virus, and Mycoplasma in Tissue Culture

PubMed Central

Anderson, Douglas R.; Hopps, Hope E.; Barile, Michael F.; Bernheim, Barbara C.

1965-01-01

Anderson, Douglas R. (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.), Hope E. Hopps, Michael F. Barile, and Barbara C. Bernheim. Comparison of the ultrastructure of several rickettsiae, ornithosis virus, and Mycoplasma in tissue culture. J. Bacteriol. 90:1387–1404. 1965.—In an effort to make a valid comparison of the ultrastructure of several intracellular parasites, selected agents were propagated under identical conditions in a single type of tissue culture cell; such infected preparations were processed for examination by electron microscopy by use of a standardized procedure for fixation and embedding. The organisms studied were: the Breinl and E strains of epidemic typhus, Rickettsia prowazeki; the Bitterroot strain of R. rickettsii; the Karp strain of R. tsutsugamushi (R. orientalis); R. sennetsu; the P-4 strain of ornithosis virus; and the HEp-2 strain of Mycoplasma hominis type I. Each of the rickettsial species examined had a cell wall and a plasma membrane, and contained ribosomes and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in a ground substance. However, certain differences were noted. Both strains of R. prowazeki contained numerous intracytoplasmic electron-lucent spherical structures (4 to 10 mμ), not previously described. R. sennetsu, unlike the other rickettsiae, was not free in the host cytoplasm but was always enclosed in a vacuole. R. rickettsii was observed intranuclearly and in digestive organelles of the host cell as well as in the cytoplasm. Cells infected with ornithosis virus contained several forms representing the stages in its life cycle. The “initial bodies,” made up of ribosomes and DNA strands, were morphologically similar to the rickettsiae. In cultures infected with M. hominis, most of the cells became large and multinucleate. Although the Mycoplasma organisms were readily cultivated from these cultures, only a few could be found in the electron microscope preparations. These organisms were extracellular and lacked a cell wall, being bound

"European" race-specific metacentrics in East Siberian common shrews (Sorex araneus): a description of two new chromosomal races, Irkutsk and Zima.

PubMed

Pavlova, Svetlana V; Borisov, Sergei A; Timoshenko, Alexander F; Sheftel, Boris I

2017-01-01

Karyotype studies of common shrews in the vicinity of Lake Baikal (Irkutsk Region, Eastern Siberia) resulted in the description of two new chromosomal races of Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 (Lypotyphla, Mammalia), additional to 5 races formerly found in Siberia. In the karyotypes of 12 specimens from 3 locations, the polymorphism of metacentric and acrocentric chromosomes of the Robertsonian type was recorded and two distinct groups of karyotypes interpreted as the chromosomal races were revealed. They are geographically distant and described under the racial names Irkutsk (Ir) and Zima (Zi). Karyotypes of both races were characterized by species-specific (the same for all 74 races known so far) metacentric autosomes af, bc, tu and jl , and the typical sex chromosome system - XX/XY 1 Y 2 . The race-specific arm chromosome combinations include three metacentrics and four acrocentrics in the Irkutsk race ( gk, hi, nq, m, o, p, r ) and four metacentrics and two acrocentrics in the Zima race ( gm, hi, ko, nq, p, r ). Within the races, individuals with polymorphic chromosomes were detected ( g/m, k/o, n/q, p/r ). The presence of the specific metacentric gk allowed us to include the Irkutsk race into the Siberian Karyotypic Group (SKG), distributed in surrounding regions. The Zima race karyotype contained two metacentrics, gm and ko , which have been never found in the Siberian part of the species range, but appear as the common feature of chromosomal races belonging to the West European Karyotypic Group (WEKG). Moreover, the metacentrics of that karyotype are almost identical to the Åkarp race (except the heterozygous pair p/r ) locally found in the southern Sweden. One of two Siberian races described here for the first time, the Zima race, occurs in an area considerably distant from Europe and shares the common metacentrics ( gm, hi, ko ) with races included in WEKG. This fact may support a hypothesis of independent formation of identical arm chromosome combinations

Sustainable groundwater resources, Heretaunga Plains, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, L. J.; Dravid, P. N.; Hudson, N. A.; Taylor, C. B.

la rivière Ngaruroro sur la marge intérieure de la plaine, à 20km de la côte. Sur la côte, les aquifères des graviers existent à 250m de profondeur. En 1994-95, 66hm3 d'eau souterraine d'excellente qualité ont été extraits pour l'eau potable de villes et de villages, pour l'agriculture, pour l'industrie et pour l'horticulture. L'utilisation de l'eau souterraine, en particulier pour l'irrigation, s'est accrue au cours des 5 dernières années. La prise de conscience du développement durable de la ressource en eau souterraine a conduit à un programme de recherche (1991-96). Cet article présente les résultats de ce programme et recommande les contrôles spécifiques et les travaux de recherche pour affiner le bilan d'eau souterraine, et pour définir et maintenir un rendement durable du système aquifère. Trois facteurs de gestion critique ont été identifiés. Ce sont (1) l'assurance de maintenir une recharge de la nappe conséquente et sans entrave à partir de la rivière Ngaruroro, (2) le suivi spécifique des niveaux de la nappe et de la qualité aux marges du système aquifère, où la transmissivité est inférieure à 5000 m2/j et où les niveaux de la nappe en été indiquent que les prélèvements sont supérieurs à la recharge; et (3) le ré-examen des programmes de qualité de l'eau souterraine pour s'assurer que les zones où la vulnérabilité aux contaminations est identifiée comme étant la plus élevée sont couvertes par une surveillance régulière.

Capteur de CO{2} à fibres optiques par absorption moléculaire à 4,3 μm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bendamardji, S.; Alayli, Y.; Huard, S.

1996-04-01

This paper describes a remote optical fibre sensor for the carbon dioxide detection by molecular absorption in the near infrared (4.3 μm) corresponding to fundamental mode ν3. To overcome the problem of the strong attenuation signal of optical fibre in the near infrared, we have used the opto-suppling technique which changes the working wavelength from 4.3 μm to 860 nm and permits the use of standard optical fibre 50/125. The simulation of absorption has been obtained by original modelisation of the absorption spectrum and the establishment of the calibration curves takes to the sensor to detect a partial pressures greater than 100 μbar with a minimal error margin of 100 μbar, which is acceptable considering the future use of the device. The sensor has been designed to monitor the CO{2} rate in enriched greenhouses. Cet article décrit un capteur à fibres optiques de gaz carbonique par absorption moléculaire dans l'infrarouge moyen (4,3 μm) correspondant au mode fondamental ν3. La liaison entre le site de mesure et le site de contrôle est assurée par un fibre optique standard 50/125 après une transposition de longueur d'onde de 4,3 μm à 860 nm par opto-alimentation. La simulation de l'absorption a été obtenue par modélisation originale du spectre d'absorption et l'établissement des courbes d'étalonnage prévoit une marge d'erreur minimale de 100 μbar, ce qui est suffisant pour l'application du dispositif à la régulation de taux CO{2} dans les serres agricoles enrichies par de gaz.

A population-based study of homicide deaths in Ontario, Canada using linked death records.

PubMed

Lachaud, James; Donnelly, Peter D; Henry, David; Kornas, Kathy; Calzavara, Andrew; Bornbaum, Catherine; Rosella, Laura

2017-07-24

Homicide - a lethal expression of violence - has garnered little attention from public health researchers and health policy makers, despite the fact that homicides are a cause of preventable and premature death. Identifying populations at risk and the upstream determinants of homicide are important for addressing inequalities that hinder population health. This population-based study investigates the public health significance of homicides in Ontario, Canada, over the period of 1999-2012. We quantified the relative burden of homicides by comparing the socioeconomic gradient in homicides with the leading causes of death, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and neoplasm, and estimated the potential years of life lost (PYLL) due to homicide. We linked vital statistics from the Office of the Registrar General Deaths register (ORG-D) with Census and administrative data for all Ontario residents. We extracted all homicide, neoplasm, and cardiovascular deaths from 1999 to 2012, using International Classification of Diseases codes. For socioeconomic status (SES), we used two dimensions of the Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg): material deprivation and residential instability. Trends were summarized across deprivation indices using age-specific rates, rate ratios, and PYLL. Young males, 15-29 years old, were the main victims of homicide with a rate of 3.85 [IC 95%: 3.56; 4.13] per 100,000 population and experienced an upward trend over the study period. The socioeconomic neighbourhood gradient was substantial and higher than the gradient for both cardiovascular and neoplasms. Finally, the PYLL due to homicide were 63,512 and 24,066 years for males and females, respectively. Homicides are an important cause of death among young males, and populations living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Our findings raise concerns about the burden of homicides in the Canadian population and the importance of addressing social determinants to address these premature deaths.

Determining miRNA Expression Levels in Degraded RNA Samples Using Real-Time RT-qPCR and Microarray Technologies

PubMed Central

Tighe, S.; Holbrook, J.; Nadella, V.; Carmical, R.; Sol-Church, K.; Yueng, A.T.; Chittur, S.

2011-01-01

The Nucleic Acid Research Group (NARG) has previously conducted studies evaluating the impact of RNA integrity and priming strategies on cDNA synthesis and real-time RT-qPCR. The results of last year's field study as it relates to degraded RNA will be presented. In continuation of the RNA integrity theme, this year's study was designed to evaluate the impact of RNA integrity on the analysis of miRNA expression using real-time RT-qPCR. Target section was based on data obtained by the Microarray Research Group (MARG) and other published data from next gen sequencing. These 9 miRNAs represent three groups of miRNA that are expressed at low, medium or high levels in the First Choice human brain reference RNA sample. Two popular RT priming strategies tested in this study include the Megaplex miRNA TaqMan assay (ABI) and the RT2 miRNA qPCR assay (Qiagen/SA Biosciences). The basis for the ABI assay design is a target-specific stem-loop structure and reverse-transcription primer, while the Qiagen design combines poly(A) tailing and a universal reverse transcription in one cDNA synthesis reaction. For this study, the human brain reference RNA was subject to controlled degradation using RNase A to RIN (RNA Integrity Number) values of 7 (good), 4 (moderately degraded), and 2 (severely degraded).These templates were then used to assess both RT methods. In addition to this real-time RT-qPCR data, the same RNA templates were further analyzed using universal poly(A) tailing and hybridization to Affymetrix miRNA GeneChips. This talk will provide insights into RT priming strategies for miRNA and contrast the qPCR results obtained using different technologies.

Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in developing countries: focus on South Asians.

PubMed

Misra, Anoop; Bhardwaj, Swati

2014-01-01

With improvement in the economic situation, an increasing prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome is seen in developing countries in South Asia. Particularly vulnerable population groups include women and children, and intra-country and inter-country migrants. The main causes are increasing urbanization, nutrition transition, reduced physical activity, and genetic predisposition. Some evidence suggests that widely prevalent perinatal undernutrition and childhood 'catch-up' obesity may play a role in adult-onset metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Data show that atherogenic dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, thrombotic tendency, subclinical inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction are higher in South Asians than white Caucasians. Many of these manifestations are more severe even at an early age in South Asians than white Caucasians. Metabolic and cardiovascular risks in South Asians are also heightened by their higher body fat, truncal subcutaneous fat, intra-abdominal fat, and ectopic fat deposition (liver fat, muscle fat, etc.). Further, cardiovascular risk cluster manifests at a lower level of adiposity and abdominal obesity. The cutoffs of body mass index and waist circumference for defining obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively, have been lowered for Asians, and same has been endorsed for South Asians in the UK. The economic cost of obesity and related diseases in developing countries, having meager health budget, is enormous. Increasing awareness of these noncommunicable diseases and how to prevent them should be focus of population-wide prevention strategies in South Asian developing countries. Community intervention programs focusing on increased physical activity and healthier food options for schoolchildren are urgently required. Data from such a major intervention program conducted by us on adolescent urban schoolchildren in north India (project MARG) have shown encouraging results and could serve as a model for initiating such

Detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Rickettsiales: rickettsiaceae) in unengorged chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae) from Oita Prefecture, Japan, by nested polymerase chain reaction.

PubMed

Pham, X D; Otsuka, Y; Suzuki, H; Takaoka, H

2001-03-01

The current study surveyed the 56-kDa type-specific antigen (TSA) gene DNAs of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Hayashi) in approximately 4.000 unengorged chiggers obtained from the soil or ground surface in an endemic and a nonendemic area of the Tsutsugamushi disease in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serotypes of O. tsutsugamushi were identified by restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. In the endemic area, 242 pools from five species [234 pools of Leptotrombidium scutellare (Nagayo, Miyagawa, Mitamura, Tamiya and Tenjin), two L. pallidum (Nagayo, Miyagawa, Mitamura and Tamiya), four L. kitasatoi (Fukuzumi & Obata), one L. fuji (Kuwata, Berge and Philip), and one Neotrombicula japonica (Tanaka, Kaiwa, Teramura and Kagaya)] were tested, and eight (seven pools of L. scutellare and one N. japonica) were positive for O. tsutsugamushi. Among the seven positive pools of L. scutellare, the distribution of serotypes was as follows: Kuroki (4), Gilliam (1), Karp (1), and Kawasaki (1). The first two serotypes (Kuroki and Gilliam) were identified for the first time in this species. In the nonendemic area, 128 pools from eight species were tested, and 13 were positive for O. tsutsugamushi. The positive rate was as follows: L. pallidum (4/41). L. kitasatoi (1/18), Gahrliepia saduski Womersley (2/10), L. fuji (4/50), L. himizu (Sasa, Kumada, Hayashi, Enomoto, Fukuzumi and Obata) (1/2), and Miyatrombicula kochiensis (Sasa, Kawashima and Egashira) (1/3). The latter three species were shown for the first time to harbor O. tsutsugamushi. All ofthe positive pools were Kuroki, except for two pools (one L. pallidum and one L. fuji), which were Gilliam (this serotype was also detected for the first time in L. pallidum). Further analysis revealed no differences in the nucleotide sequences (125 bp of variable domain 1 of TSA gene) of the same serotypes (i.e., Kuroki and Gilliam) among the positive samples. These data indicate

Conception de lois de pilotage robustes et sequencement de gains par l'approche de systemes lineaires a parametres variants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hentabli, Kamel

Cette recherche s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet de recherche Active Control Technology entre l'Ecole de Technologie Superieure et le constructeur Bombardier Aeronautique . Le but est de concevoir des strategies de commandes multivariables et robustes pour des modeles dynamiques d'avions. Ces strategies de commandes devraient assurer a l'avion une haute performance et satisfaire des qualites de vol desirees en l'occurrence, une bonne manoeuvrabilite, de bonnes marges de stabilite et un amortissement des mouvements phugoides et rapides de l'avion. Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes principalement interesses aux methodes de synthese LTI et plus exactement a l'approche Hinfinity et la mu-synthese. Par la suite, nous avons accorde un interet particulier aux techniques de commande LPV. Pour mener a bien ce travail, nous avons envisage une approche frequentielle, typiquement Hinfinity. Cette approche est particulierement interessante, dans la mesure ou le modele de synthese est construit directement a partir des differentes specifications du cahier des charges. En effet, ces specifications sont traduites sous forme de gabarits frequentiels, correspondant a des ponderations en entree et en sortie que l'on retrouve dans la synthese Hinfinity classique. Par ailleurs, nous avons utilise une representation de type lineaire fractionnelle (LFT), jugee mieux adaptee pour la prise en compte des differents types d'incertitudes, qui peuvent intervenir sur le systeme. De plus, cette representation s'avere tres appropriee pour l'analyse de la robustesse via les outils de la mu-analyse. D'autre part, afin d'optimiser le compromis entre les specifications de robustesse et de performance, nous avons opte pour une structure de commande a 2 degres de liberte avec modele de reference. Enfin, ces techniques sont illustrees sur des applications realistes, demontrant ainsi la pertinence et l'applicabilite de chacune d'elle. Mots cles. Commande de vol, qualites de vol et manoeuvrabilite

La tectonique active de la région nord-algérienne

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yelles-Chaouche, AbdelKrim; Boudiaf, Azzedine; Djellit, Hamou; Bracene, Rabah

2006-01-01

En Algérie, la tectonique active est localisée dans la région nord du pays, essentiellement dans le Tell. Dans cette région, frontière entre les plaques Africaine et Eurasiatique, la déformation tectonique est l'expression de la convergence actuelle des ces deux plaques et se traduit par la fermeture progressive des bassins néogènes et par la poursuite de l'édification de la chaîne. Le long de la marge, la déformation s'exprime dans la partie de la plaine abyssale proche du continent, par le plissement de la couverture plio-quaternaire. Au niveau de la pente et sur le plateau continental, la sismicité est générée par des accidents qui se prolongent parfois à terre. Cette tectonique littorale active est à l'origine de la surrection de la côte, comme cela fut le cas lors du dernier séisme de Boumerdes du 21 mai 2003, où le soulèvement cosismique a été estimé en moyenne à 0,50 m. À terre, la sismicité s'exprime surtout le long des bordures des bassins néogènes qui longent la côte. Ces bassins se déforment en donnant des structures plicatives (synclinaux, anticlinaux) et parfois cassantes (pli-failles, failles inverses, chevauchements) orientées NE-SW à NNE-SSW. Ces dernières sont le plus souvent à l'origine des violents tremblements de terre que connaît l'Algérie. Plus au sud, la sismicité s'exprime, tout le long du Tell, le long des faisceaux de plis de direction NE-SW. Actuellement, dans les régions des Hauts Plateaux et la région de l'Atlas saharien, l'activité sismique est faible. Pour citer cet article : A. Yelles-Chaouche et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).

The Maurice field: New gas reserves from buried structure along the Oligocene trend of southwestern Louisiana

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

Prescott, M.P.

1990-09-01

Significant new gas reserves have recently been discovered in the Marginulina texana sands along the Oligocene trend at the Maurice field. Detailed subsurface maps and seismic data are presented to exhibit the extent and nature of this local buried structure and to demonstrate future opportunities along the Oligocene trend. Since discovery in 1988, the MARG. TEX. RC has extended the Maurice field one-half mile south and has encountered over 170 ft of Marginulina texana pay Estimated reserves are in the order of 160 BCFG with limits of the reservoir still unknown. This reserve addition would increase the estimated ultimate ofmore » the Maurice field by over 70% from 220 BCFG to 380 BCFG. Cross sections across the field depict the new reservoir trap as a buried upthrown fault closure with an anticipated gas column of 700 ft. Interpretation of the origin of this local structure is that of a buried rotated fault block on an overall larger depositional structure. Detailed subsurface maps at the Marginulina texana and the overlying Miogypsinoides level are presented. These maps indicate that one common fault block is productive from two different levels. The deeper Marginulina texana sands are trapped on north dip upthrown to a southern boundary fault, Fault B. The overlying Miogypsinoides sands are trapped on south dip downthrown to a northern boundary fault, Fault A. The northern boundary fault, Fault A, was the Marginulina texana expansion fault and rotated that downthrown section to north dip. Because of the difference in dip between the two levels, the apex of the deeper Marginulina texana fault closure is juxtaposed by one mile south relative to the overlying Miogypsinoides fault closure. Analysis indicates that important structural growth occur-red during Marginulina texana deposition with a local unconformity covering the apex of the upthrown fault closure. State-of-the-art reconnaissance seismic data clearly exhibit this buried rotated fault block.« less

Hydrothermal Exploration at the Chile Triple Junction - ABE's last adventure?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

German, C. R.; Shank, T. M.; Lilley, M. D.; Lupton, J. E.; Blackman, D. K.; Brown, K. M.; Baumberger, T.; Früh-Green, G.; Greene, R.; Saito, M. A.; Sylva, S.; Nakamura, K.; Stanway, J.; Yoerger, D. R.; Levin, L. A.; Thurber, A. R.; Sellanes, J.; Mella, M.; Muñoz, J.; Diaz-Naveas, J. L.; Inspire Science Team

2010-12-01

In February and March 2010 we conducted preliminary exploration for hydrothermal plume signals along the East Chile Rise where it intersects the continental margin at the Chile Triple Junction (CTJ). This work was conducted as one component of our larger NOAA-OE funded INSPIRE project (Investigation of South Pacific Reducing Environments) aboard RV Melville cruise MV 1003 (PI: Andrew Thurber, Scripps) with all shiptime funded through an award of the State of California to Andrew Thurber and his co-PI's. Additional support came from the Census of Marine Life (ChEss and CoMarge projects). At sea, we conducted a series of CTD-rosette and ABE autonomous underwater vehicle operations to prospect for and determine the nature of any seafloor venting at, or adjacent to, the point where the the East Chile Rise subducts beneath the continental margin. Evidence from in situ sensing (optical backscatter, Eh) and water column analyses of dissolved CH4, δ3He and TDFe/TDMn concentrations document the presence of two discrete sites of venting, one right at the triple junction and the other a further 10km along axis, north of the Triple Junction, but still within the southernmost segment of the East Chile Rise. From an intercomparison of the abundance of different chemical signals we can intercompare likely characteristics of these differet source sites and also differentiate between them and the high methane concentrations released from cold seep sites further north along the Chile Margin, both with the CTJ region and also at the Concepcion Methane Seep Area (CMSA). This multi-disciplinary and international collaboration - involving scientists from Chile, the USA, Europe and Japan - can serve as an excellent and exciting launchpoint for wide-ranging future investigations of the Chile Triple Junction area - the only place on Earth where an oceanic spreading center is being actively subducted beneath a continent and also the only place on Earth where all known forms of deep

Adherence of amino acids functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles on bacterial models E. Coli and B. subtilis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trujillo, W.; Zarria, J.; Pino, J.; Menacho, L.; Coca, M.; Bustamante, A.

2018-03-01

Magnetic iron oxides nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) was obtained by following chemical co-precipitation route in basic medium. The synthesis was performed by mixing ferrous chloride (FeCl2•4H2O), ferric chloride (FeCl3•6H2O) and the specific amino acid in a molar ratio of 1: 2: 0.5, respectively. High pH sample was washed several times with distilled water to reach a pH similar to distilled water (Ph=7) after the synthesis process, part of the NPs obtained was dried. Of the measurements of XRD and MS was obtained that the samples are magnetic nanoparticles of maghemite of about 9 nm in diameter. Of the FTIR and zeta potential measures was obtained that the amino acids Lys and Arg were correctly functionalized at magnetic nanoparticles, referred to herein as M@Lys and M@Arg. In order to demonstrate the capture and adhesion of the nanoparticles to the bacteria, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. The obtained visualization of both bacteria shows that they are coated by the magnetic particles. In addition, M@Lys (B. sutilis) were cultured to verify the inhibition of growth measured by colony forming units (CFU), the concentrations of M@Lys were 1.75x102 g/mL and 0.875x102 g/mL. After the confrontation obtained efficiencies of 75.63% and 98.75% respectively for the third dilution. While for the fourth dilution were 90% and 98.57% respectively were obtained for each concentration of nanoparticles. Hinting that a high efficiency of bacterial capture at very low concentrations of NPs, which gives us a tool to capture nanobiotechnology bacteria in liquid cultures with application to capture them in wastewater. Based on our results we concluded that NPS functionalized with the amino acids Lys and Arg adhere to the bacteria efficiently in low concentrations.

Triad Resonance in the Gravity-Acoustic Family

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadri, U.

2015-12-01

Resonance interactions of waves play a prominent role in energy share among the different wave types involved. Such interactions may significantly contribute, among others, to the evolution of the ocean energy spectrum by exchanging energy between surface-gravity waves; surface and internal gravity waves; or even surface and compression-type waves, that can transfer energy from the upper ocean through the whole water column reaching down to the seafloor. A resonant triad occurs among a triplet of waves, usually involving interaction of nonlinear terms of second order perturbed equations. Until recently, it has been believed that in a homogeneous fluid a resonant triad is possible only when tension forces are included, or at the limit of a shallow water, and that when the compressibility of water is considered, no resonant triads can occur within the family of gravity-acoustic waves. However, more recently it has been proved that, under some circumstances, resonant triads comprising two opposing surface-gravity waves of similar periods (though not identical) and a much longer acoustic-gravity wave, of almost double the frequency, exist [Kadri and Stiassnie 2013, J. Fluid Mech.735 R6]. Here, I report on a new resonant triad involving a gravity wave and two acoustic waves of almost double the length. Interestingly, the two acoustic waves propagate in the same direction with similar wavelengths, that are almost double of that of the gravity wave. The evolution of the wave triad amplitudes is periodic and it is derived analytically, in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions and elliptic integrals. The physical importance of this type of triad interactions is the modulation of pertinent acoustic signals, leading to inaccurate signal perceptions. Enclosed figure: presents an example spatio-temporal evolution of the wave triad amplitudes. The gravity wave (top) remains almost unaltered, while the envelope slowly displaces to the left. However, the prescribed acoustic

The metabolic syndrome in South Asians: epidemiology, determinants, and prevention.

PubMed

Misra, Anoop; Khurana, Lokesh

2009-12-01

physicians could intervene early with lifestyle management. Data from a major intervention program conducted by us on urban adolescent schoolchildren in north India for prevention of obesity (the MARG project) has shown encouraging results, making it a model for any future intervention program in South Asians. Cardiometabolic risk is high in South Asians, starting at an early age. Increasing awareness of cluster of risk factors and how to prevent them should be emphasized in population-wide prevention strategies in South Asian countries, primarily focusing on children.

Improvement in nutrition-related knowledge and behaviour of urban Asian Indian school children: findings from the 'Medical education for children/Adolescents for Realistic prevention of obesity and diabetes and for healthy aGeing' ( MARG) intervention study.

PubMed

Shah, Priyali; Misra, Anoop; Gupta, Nidhi; Hazra, Daya Kishore; Gupta, Rajeev; Seth, Payal; Agarwal, Anand; Gupta, Arun Kumar; Jain, Arvind; Kulshreshta, Atul; Hazra, Nandita; Khanna, Padmamalika; Gangwar, Prasann Kumar; Bansal, Sunil; Tallikoti, Pooja; Mohan, Indu; Bhargava, Rooma; Sharma, Rekha; Gulati, Seema; Bharadwaj, Swati; Pandey, Ravindra Mohan; Goel, Kashish

2010-08-01

Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity calls for comprehensive and cost-effective educative measures in developing countries such as India. School-based educative programmes greatly influence children's behaviour towards healthy living. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a school-based health and nutritional education programme on knowledge and behaviour of urban Asian Indian school children. Benchmark assessment of parents and teachers was also done. We educated 40 196 children (aged 8-18 years), 25 000 parents and 1500 teachers about health, nutrition, physical activity, non-communicable diseases and healthy cooking practices in three cities of North India. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess randomly selected 3128 children, 2241 parents and 841 teachers before intervention and 2329 children after intervention. Low baseline knowledge and behaviour scores were reported in 75-94 % government and 48-78 % private school children, across all age groups. A small proportion of government school children gave correct answers about protein (14-17 %), carbohydrates (25-27 %) and saturated fats (18-32 %). Private school children, parents and teachers performed significantly better than government school subjects (P < 0.05). Following the intervention, scores improved in all children irrespective of the type of school (P < 0.001). A significantly higher improvement was observed in younger children (aged 8-11 years) as compared with those aged 12-18 years, in females compared with males and in government schools compared with private schools (P < 0.05 for all). Major gaps exist in health and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviour of urban Asian Indian children, parents and teachers. This successful and comprehensive educative intervention could be incorporated in future school-based health and nutritional education programmes.

Strong interferon-gamma mediated cellular immunity to scrub typhus demonstrated using a novel whole cell antigen ELISpot assay in rhesus macaques and humans.

PubMed

Sumonwiriya, Manutsanun; Paris, Daniel H; Sunyakumthorn, Piyanate; Anantatat, Tippawan; Jenjaroen, Kemajittra; Chumseng, Suchintana; Im-Erbsin, Rawiwan; Tanganuchitcharnchai, Ampai; Jintaworn, Suthatip; Blacksell, Stuart D; Chowdhury, Fazle R; Kronsteiner, Barbara; Teparrukkul, Prapit; Burke, Robin L; Lombardini, Eric D; Richards, Allen L; Mason, Carl J; Jones, James W; Day, Nicholas P J; Dunachie, Susanna J

2017-09-01

Scrub typhus is a febrile infection caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, which causes significant morbidity and mortality across the Asia-Pacific region. The control of this vector-borne disease is challenging due to humans being dead-end hosts, vertical maintenance of the pathogen in the vector itself, and a potentially large rodent reservoir of unclear significance, coupled with a lack of accurate diagnostic tests. Development of an effective vaccine is highly desirable. This however requires better characterization of the natural immune response of this neglected but important disease. Here we implement a novel IFN-γ ELISpot assay as a tool for studying O. tsutsugamushi induced cellular immune responses in an experimental scrub typhus rhesus macaque model and human populations. Whole cell antigen for O. tsutsugamushi (OT-WCA) was prepared by heat inactivation of Karp-strain bacteria. Rhesus macaques were infected intradermally with O. tsutsugamushi. Freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from infected (n = 10) and uninfected animals (n = 5) were stimulated with OT-WCA, and IFN-γ secreting cells quantitated by ELISpot assay at five time points over 28 days. PBMC were then assayed from people in a scrub typhus-endemic region of Thailand (n = 105) and responses compared to those from a partially exposed population in a non-endemic region (n = 14), and to a naïve population in UK (n = 12). Mean results at Day 0 prior to O. tsutsugamushi infection were 12 (95% CI 0-25) and 15 (2-27) spot-forming cells (SFC)/106 PBMC for infected and control macaques respectively. Strong O. tsutsugamushi-specific IFN-γ responses were seen post infection, with ELISpot responses 20-fold higher than baseline at Day 7 (mean 235, 95% CI 200-270 SFC/106 PBMC), 105-fold higher at Day 14 (mean 1261, 95% CI 1,097-1,425 SFC/106 PBMC), 125-fold higher at Day 21 (mean 1,498, 95% CI 1,496-1,500 SFC/106 PBMC) and 118-fold higher at Day 28

Algorithms in Discrepancy Theory and Lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramadas, Harishchandra

n). Finding the minimum, however, is NP-hard. In polynomial time, the differencing algorithm by Karmarkar and Karp from 1982 can produce a solution with difference at most n-theta(log n), but no further improvement has been made since then. We show a relationship between NBP and Minkowski's Theorem. First we show that an approximate oracle for Minkowski's Theorem gives an approximate NBP oracle. Perhaps more surprisingly, we show that an approximate NBP oracle gives an approximate Minkowski oracle. In particular, we prove that any polynomial time algorithm that guarantees a solution of difference at most 2√n/2 n would give a polynomial approximation for Minkowski as well as a polynomial factor approximation algorithm for the Shortest Vector Problem.

CAGS and ACS evidence based reviews in surgery. Is a diverting loop ileostomy and colonic lavage an alternative to colectomy for the treatment of severe Clostridium difficile-associated disease?

PubMed

Brown, Carl J; Boutros, Marylise; Morris, Andrew; Divino, Celia M

2014-06-01

education credits for the current article only by reading the monthly articles, participating in the listserv discussion, reading the methodological and clinical reviews and completing the monthly online evaluation and multiple choice questions. We hope readers will find EBRS useful in improving their critical appraisal skills and in keeping abreast of new developments in general surgery. Four reviews are published in condensed versions in the Canadian Journal of Surgery, 4 are published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and 4 are published in Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. For further information about EBRS, please refer to the CAGS or ACS websites. Questions and comments can be directed to the program administrator, Marg McKenzie, at mmckenzie@mtsinai.on.ca.

Digit-sucking: a review of the literature, clinical observations and treatment recommendations.

PubMed

Van Norman, R A

1997-01-01

speech development. In the words of our president, Marge Snow at the 25th Anniversary of the founding of The International Association of Orofacial Myology, "we are morally and ethically challenged with making this treatment available to everyone". Roberta Pierce (1988) in her paper, "Treatment For The Young Child" wrote, "The overall goal is to create as normal an environment as possible so as to facilitate normal growth and development." The early elimination of digit-sucking habits is one of the most important therapeutic services offered by the Certified Orofacial Myologist because it provides the most benefit toward prevention and the well-being of the whole person. Treatment after the pathology is fully developed is invasive, not cost-effective and does not provide as good a clinical result. Little mouths deserve a big chance to grow healthy and straight.

Bin Packing, Number Balancing, and Rescaling Linear Programs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoberg, Rebecca

is the problem of minimizing | 〈a,x〉 | over x ∈ {-1,0,1}n \\ { 0}, given a ∈ [0,1]n. While an application of the pigeonhole principle shows that there always exists x with | 〈a,x〉| ≤ O(√ n/2n), the best known algorithm only guarantees |〈a,x〉| ≤ 2-ntheta(log n). We show that an oracle for Minkowski's Theorem with approximation factor rho would give an algorithm for NBP that guarantees | 〈a,x〉 | ≤ 2-ntheta(1/rho). In particular, this would beat the bound of Karmarkar and Karp provided rho ≤ O(logn/loglogn). In the other direction, we prove that any polynomial time algorithm for NBP that guarantees a solution of difference at most 2√n/2 n would give a polynomial approximation for Minkowski as well as a polynomial factor approximation algorithm for the Shortest Vector Problem.

Characterisation of the hydrogeology of the Augustus River catchment, Western Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkes, Shane M.; Clement, T. Prabhakar; Otto, Claus J.

partie sud du bassin de la rivière Augustus, exemple de bassin en roches altérées. Les données concernant le site ont mis en évidence la présence simultanée d'aquifères poreux dans le profil d'altération et d'aquifères de roches fracturées dans le socle. Des campagnes de géophysique aéroportée et d'autres données de forages ont identifié de très nombreux dykes de dolérite traversant le site. Des veines de quartz fracturées ont été trouvées aux marges de ces dykes de dolérite. Des mesures détaillées de niveau des nappes et des estimations des effets barométriques indiquent que ces dykes de dolérite et les veines de quartz fracturées affectent les directions d'écoulement souterrain, favorisant une forte connexion hydraulique entre tous ces aquifères, et influençant également les mécanismes de recharge. La signification hydrogéologique des dykes de dolérite et des veines de quartz fracturées a été analysée en combinant des mesures à haute fréquence du niveau des nappes (toutes les 30 min), de la pluie (toutes les 5 min) et des variations de la pression barométrique (toutes les 30 min). Un modèle conceptuel a été établi pour décrire les différents phénomènes hydrogéologiques de la région étudiée. Ce modèle indique que les veines de quartz aux marges des dykes de dolérite sont une importante composante de l'hydrogéologie des bassins en roches altérées. Entender la hidrogeología de cuencas con rocas meteorizadas es esencial para gestionar diversos problemas relacionados con el incremento de salinidad en muchas ciudades de Australia Occidental. Este artículo presenta los resultados obtenidos en la caracterización de varios emplazamientos con el fin de mejorar el conocimiento general de la hidrogeología en la zona sur de la cuenca del Río Augustus, que sirve como ejemplo de cuenca en rocas meteorizadas. Los datos de campo resaltan la presencia tanto de medios acuíferos porosos dentro del perfil meteorizado como de

Obituary: William Merz Sinton, 1925-2004

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spencer, John Robert

2004-12-01

, Bill moved to Lowell Observatory, and spent the next nine years there. He considered these to be the most productive years of his career. In his time at Lowell, he continued his studies of the Moon's thermal emission, and built an infrared Michelson interferometer spectrometer that he put to use in identifying the 3.1-micron water of hydration band on Mars. He also met and married his wife Marge in 1960, and their three sons, Bob, David, and Alan were born during the Flagstaff years. In 1965, Bill was invited by John Jefferies to join the faculty of the University of Hawaii, and to help in the development of the fledgling Mauna Kea Observatory. His work on the design the 88-inch telescope on Mauna Kea, the cornerstone of the observatory, included designing its telescope control system, making it one of the first computer-controlled optical telescopes. His scientific work at the Institute for Astronomy included continued studies of Mars, with his PhD student Terry Martin, as well as the infrared spectrum of Uranus and Neptune. He sometimes translated his pseudocolored maps of the thermal emission from the planets, pixel by pixel, into the unique medium of stained glass. In 1979, following the discovery of Io's volcanoes by Voyager, he obtained some of the first ground-based observations of the infrared thermal emission from the volcanoes. He devoted the last decade of his career to the ground-based study of Io's volcanoes, working to characterize their time variability and developing techniques to identify their locations on Io. He was one of the founding members of the International Jupiter Watch in 1987, and was the first leader of its Satellite Discipline. When he retired from the University of Hawaii in 1990, he and Marge returned to Flagstaff, and he renewed his association with Lowell Observatory as an adjunct astronomer. He built a miniature steam-powered railroad around his house, to the delight of the neighborhood children who would get to ride on it on special

"A psychometric investigation of gender differences and common processes across borderline and antisocial personality disorders": Correction to Chun et al. (2017).

PubMed

2017-07-01

Reports an error in "A psychometric investigation of gender differences and common processes across borderline and antisocial personality disorders" by Seokjoon Chun, Alexa Harris, Margely Carrion, Elizabeth Rojas, Stephen Stark, Carl Lejuez, William V. Lechner and Marina A. Bornovalova ( Journal of Abnormal Psychology , 2017[Jan], Vol 126[1], 76-88). In the article, there were two errors in the article's supplemental material. The supplemental material stated, "In each case, if the relaxed model fit significantly better than the baseline model (i.e., Δ X ²> 3.84, Δ df =2), then the item under investigation was flagged as noninvariant; otherwise the item was marked as invariant." The value for Δ X ² should have been 5.99. The supplemental material also stated, "If there was no decrement in fit as a function of constraining a given item, the item in question was flagged as noninvariant." It should have stated that these items were flagged as invariant. The online version of this article has been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2016-53090-001.) The comorbidity between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is well-established, and the 2 disorders share many similarities. However, there are also differences across disorders: most notably, BPD is diagnosed more frequently in women and ASPD in men. We investigated if (a) comorbidity between BPD and ASPD is attributable to 2 discrete disorders or the expression of common underlying processes, and (b) if the model of comorbidity is true across sex. Using a clinical sample of 1,400 drug users in residential substance abuse treatment, we tested 3 competing models to explore whether the comorbidity of ASPD and BPD should be represented by a single common factor, 2 correlated factors, or a bifactor structure involving a general and disorder-specific factors. Next, we tested whether our resulting model was meaningful by examining its

Le dermatofibrosarcome de Darier et Ferrand, une tumeur cutanée particulière: à propos de 32 cas et revue de la littérature

PubMed Central

Elamrani, Driss; Droussi, Hatim; Boukind, Samira; Elatiqi, Keltoum; Dlimi, Meriem; Benchamkha, Yassine; Ettalbi, Saloua

2014-01-01

Le dermatofibrosarcome (DFS) est une tumeur fibreuse de la peau, de croissance lente, à très haut risque de récidive locale, mais à potentiel métastatique faible. A partir d'une étude rétrospective étalée sur une période de 5 ans (décembre 2008 - décembre 2013), nous avons analysé les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques, le délai de diagnostic, le type de thérapeutique et le devenir de 32 patients présentant des tumeurs de Darier et Ferrand histologiquement prouvées. Parmi les 32 patients, 10 se sont présentés initialement au service pour une récidive tumorale. Une discrète prédominance masculine a été notée. Les DFS touchent préférentiellement l'adulte jeune. Le délai diagnostique observé est en moyenne de 4 ans. Le tronc est la localisation préférentielle (60%), suivi par les extrémités proximales (30%). Les 32 patients ont été traités par exérèse chirurgicale avec une marge de 5cm en surface, emportant en profondeur une barrière anatomique saine. La couverture de la perte de substance (PDS) a été réalisée après confirmation anatomopathologique du caractère carcinologique de l'exérèse, et a fait appel à différents moyens allant de la greffe cutanée aux lambeaux musculo –cutanés libres. L’évolution a été marquée par la survenue d'une récidive tumorale chez 8 patients (3 cas parmi les tumeurs vues en première intention et 5 cas parmi les tumeurs vues en récidive) et les résultats ont été jugés satisfaisants sur le plan esthétique et fonctionnel. Le DFS de Darier et Ferrand est une tumeur dont le pronostic et le risque évolutif sont principalement liés au délai diagnostic et la qualité de la première exérèse. Le diagnostic tardif, rend difficile la chirurgie d'exérèse et de reconstruction Les possibilités de guérison en cas de chirurgie primaire bien conduite sont significativement supérieures à celles d'une chirurgie de rattrapage. L'amélioration du pronostic passe par

Gravity sliding in basinal setting, a surficial record of tectonic and geodynamic evolution; examples from the southern W. Alps and their foreland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumont, T.; Franzi, V.; Matthews, S. J.

2012-04-01

-Miocene dynamics and which are overprinted or crosscut by the modern orogen (Dumont et al., 2011). Theses examples show that, in different structural and geodynamic settings, detailed analysis of basin floor morphology, (re)sediments transport directions, syndepositional deformations and provenance of exotic blocks can provide useful information about the regional kinematics, which can be integrated with other datasets, i.e. tectonic, metamorphic, thermochronologic, etc. Dumont T., Schwartz S., Guillot S., Simon-Labric T., Tricart P. & Jourdan S. (2011), Structural and sedimentary records of the Oligocene revolution in the Western Alpine arc. Jour. Geodyn., in press. Ferry S. & Flandrin J. (1979), Mégabrèches de resédimentation, lacunes mécaniques et pseudo-« hard-grounds » sur la marge vocontienne au Barrémien et à l'Aptien inférieur (SE France). Géologie Alpine, 55, p. 75-92. Michard A., Dumont T., Andreani L. & Loget N. (2010), Structural and sedimentary records of the Oligocene revolution in the Western Alpine arc. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 181, p. 565-581.

Structural style and tectonic evolution of the easternmost Gulf of Aden conjugate margins (Socotra - Southern Oman)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nonn, Chloe; Leroy, Sylvie; Castilla, Raymi; de Clarens, Philippe; Lescanne, Marc

2016-04-01

Observations from distal rifted margins in present day magma-poor rifted margins led to the discovery of hyperextended crust and exhumed sub-continental mantle. This finding allowed to better figure out how thinning process are accommodate by tectonic structures, forming various crustal domains, as the deformation localized towards the future area of breakup. However, some of the current challenges are about clarifying how factors as oblique kinematic, pre-existing structures and volcanism can control the 3D geometry and crustal architecture of the passive margins? A key to better understand the rifting evolution in its entirety is to study conjugate margins. The gulf of Aden is a young oceanic basin (with a global trend about N75°E) oblique to the divergence (about 30°N), separating Arabia from Somalia of less than 800 km. Thanks to its immerged margins and its thin post-rift sediment cover, the gulf of Aden basin is a natural laboratory to investigate conjugate margins and strain localisation throughout the rift history. In this contribution, we focus our interest on offshore Socotra Island (Yemen) and its conjugate in Southeastern Oman. This area extends from Socotra-Hadbeen (SHFZ) and the eastern Gulf of Aden fault zones (EGAFZ). In the easternmost part of the gulf of Aden, we provide new insights into crustal deformation and emplacement of the new oceanic crust thanks to bathymetric, magnetic, gravimetric data and single-, multi-channel, high speed seismic reflection data collected during Encens-Sheba (2000), Encens (2006) and the more recent Marges-Aden (2012) cruises respectively. The results obtained after compilation of these data, previous geological (field works) and geophysical (receiver functions, Pn-tomography, magnetic anomalies, heat flow) studies on the focused area, allowed us to provide new structural mapping and stratigraphic correlation between onshore and offshore parts of Socotra and Oman margins. We precisely defined and map crustal

Thermicité et déformation de la marge continentale dans le Sud de la Tasmanie (Australie) : résultats préliminaires d'une analyse par traces de fission et d'une étude microstructuraleFission track reconnaissance of the thermal and tectonic settings of the South Tasman rise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sélo, Madeleine; Benkhelil, Jean; Mascle, Jean; Storzer, Dieter; Exon, Neville

2002-01-01

We present and discuss a few fission track data, and microstructural observations, from rock samples dredged along the western and southwestern continental margin of Tasmania. The results allow assessing the thermal and tectonic regimes that were active prior to and during the margin creation. The different ages, as provided by fission tracks, and deformational styles, as evidenced from microstructures, are then tentatively correlated with the two main rifting episodes, in Late Jurassic-Cretaceous times and Eocene-Oligocene respectively, deduced from kinematical reconstructions, that have led to the present- day southern margin of Tasmania. To cite this article: M. Sélo et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 59-66

Seismic atlas of the "Messinian Salinity Crisis" markers in the Mediterranean and Black seas - Volume 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lofi, Johanna

2014-05-01

2 will also aim to share the geological interpretation of seismic reflection data imaging Messinian markers, to make this information accessible to the non geophysician community and to be a reference work that can be used by teachers and future researchers working on the Messinian event. This publication project is still open to anybody from industry and academia willing to contribute. At the present time, 16 new sites have been identified. Publication of the Seismic atlas of the "Messinian Salinity Crisis" markers in the Mediterranean and Black seas - Volume 2 is planned for Fall 2014. For more details, contact presenting author J. Lofi (atlas coordinator). This contribution has been funded by the Actions Marges French research program. [1] : Lofi J., Deverchère J., Gaullier V., Gillet H., Gorini C., Guennoc P., Loncke L., Maillard A., Sage F. and Thinon I., 2011. Seismic atlas of the "Messinian Salinity Crisis" markers in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW) / Mémoires de la Société Géologique de France, n.s., 179, 72 pp., 1 CD. Atlas contributors (first authors): A. Camerlenghi, A. Del Ben, D. Do Couto, F. Estrada, F. Gallais, M. Garcia, V. Gaullier, A. Maillard, A. Micallef, M. Rossi, F. Sage, U. Schattner, A. Tassy, R. Urgeles

Correlation between the Palaeozoic structures from West Iberian and Grand Banks margins using inversion of magnetic anomalies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, Elsa A.; Miranda, J. M.; Luis, J. F.; Galdeano, A.

2000-05-01

The Ibero-Armorican Arc (IAA) is a huge geological structure of Pre-Cambrian origin, tightened during hercynian times and deeply affected by the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay. Its remnants now lie in Iberia, north-western France and the Canadian Grand Banks margins. The qualitative correlation between these three blocks has been attempted by several authors (e.g. Lefort, J.P., 1980. Un 'Fit' structural de l'Atlantique Nord: arguments geologiques pour correler les marqueurs geophysiques reconnus sur les deux marges. Mar. Geol. 37, 355-369; Lefort, J.P., 1983. A new geophysical criterion to correlate the Acadian and Hercynian orogenies of Western Europe and Eastern America. Mem. Geol. Soc. Am. 158, 3-18; Galdeano, A., Miranda, J.M., Matte, P., Mouge, P., Rossignol, C., 1990. Aeromagnetic data: A tool for studying the Variscan arc of Western Europe and its correlation with transatlantic structures. Tectonophysics 177, 293-305) using magnetic anomalies, mainly because they seem to preserve the hercynian zonation, in spite of the strong thermal and mechanical processes that took place during rifting and ocean spreading. In this paper, we present a new contribution to the study of the IAA structure based on the processing of a compilation of magnetic data from Iberia and Grand Banks margins. To interpret the magnetic signature, a Fourier-domain-based inversion technique was applied, considering a layer with a constant thickness of 10 km, and taking into account only the induced field. The digital terrain model was derived from ETOPO5 (ETOPO5, 1986. Relief map of the earth's surface. EOS 67, 121) and TerrainBase (TerrainBase, 1995. In: Row III, L.W., Hastings, D.A., Dunbar, P.K. (Eds.), Worldwide Digital Terrain Data, Documentation Manual, CD-ROM Release 1.0. GEODAS-NGDC Key to Geophysical Records. Documentation N. 30, April) databases. The pseudo-susceptibility distribution obtained was repositioned for the 156.5 Ma epoch, using the Srivastava and

Reworked planktonic Foraminifera from the Late Rupelian of the southern Upper Rhine Graben and their palaeogeographic and biostratigraphic implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pirkenseer, C.; Spezzaferri, S.; Berger, J.-P.

2009-04-01

margin of the Upper Rhine Graben. Reworked Mesozoic and Paleogene calcareous nannoplankton from the Upper Rhine Graben and the Mainz Basin confirms the data derived from planktonic Foraminifera. The existence of reworked planktonic Foraminifera influences the biostratigraphic interpretation of the assemblage ranges attributed to "Série grise" samples. Facultatively reworked planktonic Foraminifera as Subbotina utilisindex and Pseudohastigerina micra ranging from the Lutetian to the Late Rupelian should not be included in the biostratigraphic analyses, as the occurrences of these facultatively reworked species are always linked to those of exclusively Cretaceous and Eocene age. Therefore the age of the "Série grise" deposits at Allschwil-2 is most likely to be placed within the "Chiloguembelina cubensis - Globigerinella obesa / Globorotaloides variabilis"-assemblage range of Mid P20 to Final P21a, lasting considerably longer than the very short Mid P20 range based on the presence of Pseudohastigerina micra as "last occurrence"-marker (PIRKENSEER 2007). This study was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation projects 109457 and 118025. References: BERGER, J.-P., REICHENBACHER, B., BECKER, D., et al. (2005): Eocene-Pliocene time scale and stratigraphy of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) and the Swiss Molasse Basin (SMB). - International Journal of Earth Sciences, 94, 4: 711-731. FISCHER, H. (1965): Geologie des Gebietes zwischen Blauen und Pfirter Jura. - Beiträge zur geologischen Karte der Schweiz, NF 122: 106p. PIRKENSEER, C. (2007): Foraminifera, Ostracoda and other microfossils of the Southern Upper Rhine Graben - Palaeoecology, biostratigraphy, palaeogeography and geodynamic implications. - PhD thesis: 340p, Fribourg. ROUSSÉ, S. (2006): Architecture et dynamique des séries marines et continentales de ĺOligocène Moyen et Supérieur du Sud du Fossé Rhénan: Evolution des milieux de dépôt en contexte de rift en marge de ĺavant-pays alpin. - PhD: 471p

Ignition Characterization Test Results for the LO2/Ethanol Propellant Combination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robinson, Philip J.; Popp, Christopher G.; veith, Eric M.

2007-01-01

. As LOX flow continued, the hardware would chill-in, with the injected oxygen flow transitioning from cold GOX through two'phase flow to subcooled LOX. The Workh orse igniter was well instrumented: Pressure and temperature instrumentation permitted oxygen state points to be determined in the igniter oxidizer manifold, and gas-side igniter chamber thermocouples provide d chamber thermal profile characteristics. The cold flow chamber pres sure (Pc) for each test was determined and coupled with the igniter chamber diameter (De) to calculate the characteristic quench parameter (Pc x Dc), which was plotted as a function of core mixture ratio, MRc . Ignition limits were determined over a broad range of valve inlet conditions, and ignition was demonstrated with oxygen inlet conditions that ranged from subcooled 210 deg R LOX to 486 deg R GOX. Once ign ited at cold GOX conditions, combustion was continuous as the hardwar e chilled in and the core mixture ratio transitioned from values near 1.0 to over 12.5. Pulsing is required in typical RCS engines; therefore, the workhorse igniter was pulse tested to verify the ability to pr ovide the required ignition for a pulsing RCE. The minimum electrical pulse width (EPW) of the dual thrust RCE was 0.080 seconds. Igniter pulse tests were performed at three conditions: (1) an EPW of 0.080 se conds at 25% duty cycle for 400 pulses; (2) an EPW of 0.160 seconds a nd a 5% duty cycle for 124 pulses; (3) an EPW of 0.160 seconds and a 50% duty cycle for 380 pulses. Successful ignition of LOX/Ethanol was demonstrated over a broad range of valve inlet conditions, with the empirically determined LOX/Ethanol ignition limits extending the previous database established for GOX/Ethanol ignition limits. Although th e observed chill-in characteristics of the hardware varied significan tly with flowrate, ignition was readily achieved. Combustion was marg inal at extremely fuel-rich conditions, and it fluctuated as the oxygen passed rough the twophase

Geochemical and Textural Constraints on Wehrlite Formation by Melt-rock Reaction in the Shallow Subcontinental Lithospheric Mantle (Oran, Tell Atlas, N-Algeria)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hidas, Károly; Garrido, Carlos J.; Marchesi, Claudio; Bodinier, Jean-Louis; Louni-Hacini, Amina; Azzouni-Sekkal, Abla; Konc, Zoltán; Dautria, Jean-Marie; Varas-Reus, Maria Isabel

2017-04-01

. Multi-stage evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the westernmost Mediterranean: Geochemical constraints from peridotite xenoliths in the eastern Betic Cordillera (SE Spain). Lithos, in press 7. Zerka, M., 2004. Le manteau sous la marge Maghrébine: relations infiltrations-réactions-cristallisations et cisaillements lithosphériques dans les enclaves ultramafiques du volcanisme alcalin Plio-Quaternaire d'Oranie, exemple des complexes d'Ain Temouchent et de la Basse Tafna (Algérie Nord-Occidentale). PhD thesis, Université d'Oran, Algeria, pp. 345. Funding: This research has been funded by a FP7-IRSES Marie Curie Action under Grant Agreement PIRSESGA-2013-612572

Marine hydrogeology: recent accomplishments and future opportunities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, A. T.

2005-03-01

Marine hydrogeology is a broad-ranging scientific discipline involving the exploration of fluid-rock interactions below the seafloor. Studies have been conducted at seafloor spreading centers, mid-plate locations, and in plate- and continental-margin environments. Although many seafloor locations are remote, there are aspects of marine systems that make them uniquely suited for hydrologic analysis. Newly developed tools and techniques, and the establishment of several multidisciplinary programs for oceanographic exploration, have helped to push marine hydrogeology forward over the last several decades. Most marine hydrogeologic work has focused on measurement or estimation of hydrogeologic properties within the shallow subsurface, but additional work has emphasized measurements of local and global fluxes, fluid source and sink terms, and quantitative links between hydrogeologic, chemical, tectonic, biological, and geophysical processes. In addition to summarizing selected results from a small number of case studies, this paper includes a description of several new experiments and programs that will provide outstanding opportunities to address fundamental hydrogeologic questions within the seafloor during the next 20-30 years. L'hydrogéologie marine est une large discipline scientifique impliquant l' exploration des interactions entre les fluides et les roches sous les fonds marins. Des études ont été menées dans les différents environnements sous-marins (zone abyssale, plaque océanique, marges continentales). Bien que de nombreux fonds marins soient connus, il existe des aspects des systèmes marins qui les rendent inadaptés à l'analyse hydrologique. De nouveaux outils et techniques, et la mise en oeuvre de nombreux programmes multidisciplinaires d'exploration océanographique, ont aidé à pousser en avant l'hydrogéologie marine ces dix dernières années. La plus part des études hydrogéologiques se sont concentrées jusqu'à présent sur la mesure ou

Feasibility Analysis of Groundwater Abstraction for Gas Shale Fracturing in the Lublin Basin (Eastern Poland) / Ocena Możliwości Poboru Wód Podziemnych Do Szczelinowania Łupków Gazonośnych W Basenie Lubelskim (Wschodnia Polska)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duda, Robert; Macuda, Jan

2015-03-01

ęści znajdujących się w zasięgu obszaru badań (Fig. 1). Zanalizowano rozkłady zmienności i skumulowanej gęstości prawdopodobieństwa w celu uzyskania odpowiednich zakresów zmienności wartości q studni ujmujących wodę z badanych trzech formacji litostratygraficznych (Fig. 2, 3). Wyróżniono na wykresach zakres równy sumie jednego odchylenia standardowego (SD) powyżej i poniżej wartości mediany (X-), czyli X- ± 1SD. W tym przedziale zawiera się po 34.1% danych o wartościach odpowiednio: większych i mniejszych od mediany; łącznie przedział zawiera 68.2% danych. Na będących źródłem danych arkuszach MHP obejmujących obszar badań, ilość danych dotyczących studni ujmujących wodę z utworów czwartorzędu i trzeciorzędu zazwyczaj jest mniejsza niż 30. Wykonano więc zestawienie q także dla danych skumulowanych w odniesieniu do poszczególnych poziomów litostratygraficznych (Fig. 3b). Uzyskane wyniki w odniesieniu do skał kredy górnej wskazują, że analizowany obszar dzieli się na bardziej wodonośną część położoną na zachód od rzeki Wieprz, tj. w granicach arkuszy "Łuków", "Lublin", "Rzeszów" oraz słabiej wodonośną część położoną na wschód od tej rzeki, czyli w obszarach arkuszy "Włodawa", "Chełm" i "Tomaszów Lubelski". W zakresie X- ± 1SD w strefach występowania margli ilastych i kredy piszącej (część wschodnia obszaru) q zawierają się w przedziale 0.6 ≤ q ≤ 40 m3h-1 na 1 m depresji. W rejonach występowania opok, gez, margli i wapieni (część zachodnia) q jest w przedziale 1.1 ≤ q ≤ 110 m3h-1 na 1 m. Wartości q studni zafiltrowanych w utworach trzeciorzędu i czwartorzędu, za względu na małą ilość danych analizowano łącznie dla całego obszaru badań i stwierdzono, że zawierają się w przedziale X- ± 1SD odpowiednio 0.8 ≤ q ≤ 20 m3h-1 na 1m oraz 1.0 ≤ q ≤ 10 m3h-1 na 1m. Oprócz zmienności litologicznej, rozkład zmienności q w skali regionalnej w danym poziomie

Messinian seismic Markers in the Western Tyrrhenian Sea: preliminary results from the "METYSS" Cruise (June 2009)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lofi, Johanna; Gaullier, Virginie; Sage, Françoise; Chanier, Franck; Deverchere, Jacques; Gorini, Christian; Maillard, Agnès.; Pascucci, Vincenzo; Sellier, Nicolas; Thinon, Isabelle

2010-05-01

, distribution) of the MSC markers that are similar to those observed in the deep Provençal basin and can thus be interpreted in respect to the new nomenclature proposed by Lofi et al. (2010). Several erosion surfaces (MES, TES, BES) and depositional units (UU: Upper Unit; MU: Mobile Unit)are identified. Those two latter commonly form the two upper units of the Messinian trilogy observed in the deep western basin. Observations show that the spatial organization of the Messinian markers strongly varies according to their location on the different margin and basin segments. South-eastward, in the vicinity of the Cornaglia Seamount, salt tectonics appears surprisingly huge. Preliminary interpretation suggests a syn-rift character for some of the Messinian deposits. Among other points, we expect from these data to better argue: 1) the paleogeography, paleo-depths, connections and evolution of the basin and sub-basins during the MSC; 2) The base-level dynamics and the modalities of salt precipitation during this event; 3) The interactions between crustal tectonics, salt tectonics and sedimentation in order to precise the relative vertical movements (tilting, subsidence, magmatism…) and geodynamical history of the different segments of the area since 6 Ma. Acknowledgments: This work is founded by "Actions Marges" and "Action Coordonnée Pré-Campagne" - INSU. References: Gaullier V., Lofi J., Sage F., Chanier F., Déverchère J., Dutreuil V., Gorini C., Loncke L., Maillard A., Pascucci V., Thinon I., Sellier N., Suc J.P., Clauzon G. and the METYSS Scientific Party, 2009. The Messinian event on the eastern Sardinian margin (Tyrrhenian sea) from seismic study: new insights from the "METYSS" cruise. IAS2009, extended abstract, in press. Hsu K.J., Cita M.B. and Ryan, W.B.F., 1973. The origin of the Mediterranean evaporites. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1203- 1231. Jolivet L., Augier R., Robin C., Suc J.-P. and Rouchy

Avant-Propos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ollivier, J.; Farhi, E.; Ferrand, M.; Benoit, M.

2005-11-01

solution (D. Lairez), en réflectométrie de neutrons pour l'étude de systèmes des membranes ou de protéines en interaction avec des membranes (G. Fragneto), ainsi qu'en diffraction de fibres appliquée à l'étude de l'ADN (T. Forsyth). - les simulations de dynamique moléculaire constituent une méthode théorique unique pour étudier, au niveau atomique, les mouvements internes des macromolécules biologiques, que ce soit à l'équilibre (G. Kneller, S. Crouzy) ou hors équilibre (B. Gilquin). Les trajectoires de dynamique moléculaire s'étendent aujourd'hui à la centaine de nanosecondes, et peuvent être de ce fait utilisées par certains programmes pour calculer les observables expérimentales fournies par la diffusion de neutrons (G. Kneller, T. Hinsen). - l'ouverture des neutrons à des techniques instrumentales permettant d'approcher, d'une part, des états hors-équilibre par le biais d'études cinétiques couplées à des mélanges rapides pour des études de croissance de phases (I. Grillo) ou de repliement de protéines, d'autre part, des conditions expérimentales extrèmes (hautes-pressions, M. Plazanet), nous ont semblé constituer des émergences prometteuses. À ce titre, une revue sur le repliement des protéines (V. Forge) a précisé l'importance de nombreuses techniques (fluorescence intrinsèque, dichroïsme, infra-rouge, RMN) dans le domaine, tout en permettant d'entrevoir l'intérêt des études par neutrons. - en marge des sessions purement “neutrons”, il nous semblait important de pouvoir présenter des techniques et méthodes souvent reconnues comme très complémentaires des neutrons, en privilégiant un volet “études structurales” et un volet “études dynamiques”. Côté méthodes dynamiques, la RMN (M. Blackledge) a été positionnée comme une technique permettant d'étudier la flexibilité moléculaire sur des echelles de temps plus lentes (ms). Côté méthodes structurales, la bio-cristallographie des RX appliquée à l

Thymic commitment of regulatory T cells is a pathway of TCR-dependent selection that isolates repertoires undergoing positive or negative selection.

PubMed

Coutinho, A; Caramalho, I; Seixas, E; Demengeot, J

2005-01-01

. 2001). In turn, such natural regulation of Treg by immune responses to non-self may well explain the alarming epidemiology of allergic and AID in wealthy societies (Wills-Karp et al. 2001; Bach 2002; Yazdanbakhsh et al. 2002), where a variety of childhood infections have become rare or absent. Thus, it is plausible that Treg were evolutionarily set by a given density of infectious agents in the environment. With hindsight, it is not too surprising that natural Treg performance falls once hygiene, vaccination, and antibiotics suddenly (i.e., 100 years) plunged infectious density to below some critical physiological threshold. As the immune system is not adapted to modern clean conditions of postnatal development, clinical immunologists must now deal with frequent Treg deficiencies (allergies and AID) for which they have no curative or rational treatments. It is essential, therefore, that basic immunologists concentrate on strategies to selectively stimulate the production, survival, and activity of this set of lymphocytes that is instrumental in preventing immune pathology. We have argued that the culprit of this inability of basic research to solve major clinical problems has been the self-righteousness of recessive tolerance champions, from Ehrlich to some of our contemporaries. It is ironical, however, that none of us--including the heretic opponents of horror autotoxicus--had understood that self-tolerance, or its robustness at least, is in part determined by the frequency and intensity of the responses to non-self. In the evolution of ideas on immunological tolerance, the time might be ripe for some kinds of synthesis. First, conventional theory reduced self-tolerance to negative selection and microbial defense to positive selection, while the MM96 solution was the precise opposite: positive selection of autoreactivities for self-tolerance (Treg) and negative selection (of Treg) for ridding responses. In contrast, it would now appear that positive and negative

Obituary: Frank K. Edmondson (1912-2008)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pilachowski, Catherine A.; Olson, Margaret K. Edmondson; Edmondson, Frank K., Jr.

2009-12-01

Observatory in Brooklyn, IN, (a gift from Dr. Goethe Link, a noted Indianapolis physician and avid amateur astronomer), established a graduate program in astronomy, and enlarged the Department of Astronomy from two faculty members to eight. In one of his favorite stories, Edmondson bet Professor Cogshall a chocolate ice cream cone that President Herman B Wells would fund a new position for the Department, knowing full well that Wells had already agreed. Frank retired from IU in 1983. When many asteroids were lost during World War II, Frank and his colleague James Cuffey established the Indiana University Asteroid Program. Frank is credited with determining the orbits of 119 asteroids from 7000 photographic plates taken with a 10" astrographic telescope at the Goethe Link Observatory. Frank selected names for each of these asteroids, honoring IU Presidents, prominent scholars, and important Hoosier and astronomical landmarks. Asteroid 4300 Marg Edmondson he named for his wife Margaret. During his years as a faculty member at Indiana University, Frank advised Dr. Alfred Kinsey on statistical techniques for his pioneering studies of human sexuality, and also shared with Kinsey an abiding interest in classical music. The music and the programs at the IU School of Music brought great joy to Frank over his career at IU. His memory for programs he had heard in the past was phenomenal. Frank is best known in Bloomington for his remarkable skill as an educator. He loved teaching. He taught elementary astronomy to literally thousands of students, often taking advantage of his knowledge of music to introduce astronomical topics with appropriate musical selections. His popular, award-winning, televised astronomy course was broadcast to students throughout the state and is widely remembered even today. Following in the tradition of IU's legendary President Herman B Wells, whom he greatly admired, Frank devoted his career to service. In 1957 Indiana University became one of the seven