Surgical strategies for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery with an intramural aortic course: A report of 10 cases.

PubMed

Zhang, Hui; Cheng, Pei; Jin, Ge; Han, Ding; Luo, Yi; Li, Jia

2017-03-01

Few data are available regarding the surgical strategies for an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the right pulmonary artery (RPA) with an intramural aortic course. We reviewed our experience in a case series of 10 children. From 2007 to 2014, 10 patients (7 boys and 3 girls, aged 3 months to 11 years, median 21 months) underwent surgical repair. Before the operation, echocardiography showed the mean left ventricular ejection fraction 45% ± 10% and mean fractional shortening fraction 21% ± 7%. Moderate to severe mitral regurgitation was found in 4 patients and left ventricular aneurysm in 5 patients. The intramural aortic course of LCA was not diagnosed preoperatively in any of the patients. During the operation, the LCA orifice was seen and 2 types were identified: at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery and RPA in 3 patients, and more distal along the RPA from the bifurcation in 7 patients. In the first type, direct coronary button transfer was performed. In the second type, button transfer with unroofing of the intramural course was performed. Annuloplasty of the mitral valve was performed in 4 patients and the aneurysm was repaired with plication technique in 2 patients. Postoperatively, 2 patients died of cardiac failure. Others showed significantly improved left ventricular function at follow-up as compared with preoperative measures (mean ejection fraction 67% ± 6%, mean fractional shortening 32% ± 3%, P = .01 for both). Careful attention should be paid to the extremely rare association of an aortic intramural course before and during an operation when dealing with anomalous LCA from the RPA. Surgical strategies for aortic reimplantation include coronary button transfer and unroofing of the intramural segment. The outcomes are encouraging. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Investigation of the performance of trackpoint and touchpads with varied right and left buttons function locations.

PubMed

Wu, Chih-Fu; Lai, Chih-Chun; Liu, Yen-Kou

2013-03-01

This study investigates the relationships of the following 5 factors with commonly-used task patterns: 4 (2 existing and 2 newly-designed) built-in cursor input devices of notebook PCs, usage experiences, genders, sensitivity of cursor movements, and 5 tasks of input applications (including click, drag-drop, click-select, select-drag-drop, and type-select-click). This experiment reveals that there are significant differences among these factors in the operating times and/or error rates of particular tasks. Although somewhat influenced by the task patterns, the results show that the touchpad with the cursor-tracking pad located on the bottom-center and the right and left buttons on the bottom-left beneath the keyboard, which avoids ulnar and radial deviation and hindrance of text-entry-pointer-manipulation switching, leads to higher performance and preference, while the trackpoint leads to lower performance and preference. In addition, the touchpads with sensitivity values of 10 and 12 for cursor movement are preferred over those with the value of 8. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

An EOG-Based Human-Machine Interface for Wheelchair Control.

PubMed

Huang, Qiyun; He, Shenghong; Wang, Qihong; Gu, Zhenghui; Peng, Nengneng; Li, Kai; Zhang, Yuandong; Shao, Ming; Li, Yuanqing

2017-07-27

Non-manual human-machine interfaces (HMIs) have been studied for wheelchair control with the aim of helping severely paralyzed individuals regain some mobility. The challenge is to rapidly, accurately and sufficiently produce control commands, such as left and right turns, forward and backward motions, acceleration, deceleration, and stopping. In this paper, a novel electrooculogram (EOG)-based HMI is proposed for wheelchair control. Thirteen flashing buttons are presented in the graphical user interface (GUI), and each of the buttons corresponds to a command. These buttons flash on a one-by-one manner in a pre-defined sequence. The user can select a button by blinking in sync with its flashes. The algorithm detects the eye blinks from a channel of vertical EOG data and determines the user's target button based on the synchronization between the detected blinks and the button's flashes. For healthy subjects/patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), the proposed HMI achieved an average accuracy of 96.7%/91.7% and a response time of 3.53 s/3.67 s with 0 false positive rates (FPRs). Using only one channel of vertical EOG signals associated with eye blinks, the proposed HMI can accurately provide sufficient commands with a satisfactory response time. The proposed HMI provides a novel non-manual approach for severely paralyzed individuals to control a wheelchair. Compared with a newly established EOG-based HMI, the proposed HMI can generate more commands with higher accuracy, lower FPR and fewer electrodes.

Microbiological contamination in digital radiography: evaluation at the radiology clinic of an educational institution.

PubMed

Malta, Cristiana P; Damasceno, Naiana Nl; Ribeiro, Rosangela A; Silva, Carolina Sf; Devito, Karina L

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contamination rate of intra and extraoral digital X ray equipment in a dental radiology clinic at a public educational institution. Samples were collected on three different days, at two times in the day: in the morning, before attending patients, and at the end of the day, after appointment hours and before cleaning and disinfection procedures. Samples were collected from the periapical X-ray machine (tube head, positioning device, control panel and activator button), the panoramic X- ray machine (temporal support, bite block, control panel and activator button), the intraoral digital system (sensor), and the digital system computers (keyboard and mouse). The samples were seeded in different culture media, incubated, and colony forming units (CFU/mL) counted. Biochemical tests were performed for suspected colonies of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Gramnegative bacilli (GNB). Fungi were visually differentiated into filamentous fungi and yeasts. The results indicated the growth of fungi and Staphylococcus fromall sampling locations. GNB growth was observed from all sites sampled from the intraoral X-ray equipment. On the panoramic unit, GNB growth was observed in samples from activator button, keyboard and mouse. In general, a higher number of CFU/mL was present before use. It can be concluded that more stringent protocols are needed to control infection and prevent X-ray exams from acting as vehicle for cross contamination. Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica.

Cortical sources of visual evoked potentials during consciousness of executive processes.

PubMed

Babiloni, Claudio; Vecchio, Fabrizio; Iacoboni, Marco; Buffo, Paola; Eusebi, Fabrizio; Rossini, Paolo Maria

2009-03-01

What is the timing of cortical activation related to consciousness of visuo-spatial executive functions? Electroencephalographic data (128 channels) were recorded in 13 adults. Cue stimulus briefly appeared on right or left (equal probability) monitor side for a period, inducing about 50% of recognitions. It was then masked and followed (2 s) by a central visual go stimulus. Left (right) mouse button had to be clicked after right (left) cue stimulus. This "inverted" response indexed executive processes. Afterward, subjects said "seen" if they had detected the cue stimulus or "not seen" when it was missed. Sources of event-related potentials (ERPs) were estimated by LORETA software. The inverted responses were about 95% in seen trials and about 60% in not seen trials. Cue stimulus evoked frontal-parietooccipital potentials, having the same peak latencies in the seen and not seen data. Maximal difference in amplitude of the seen and not seen ERPs was detected at about +300-ms post-stimulus (P3). P3 sources were higher in amplitude in the seen than not seen trials in dorsolateral prefrontal, premotor and parietooccipital areas. This was true in dorsolateral prefrontal and premotor cortex even when percentage of the inverted responses and reaction time were paired in the seen and not seen trials. These results suggest that, in normal subjects, the primary consciousness enhances the efficacy of visuo-spatial executive processes and is sub-served by a late (100- to 400-ms post-stimulus) enhancement of the neural synchronization in frontal areas.

Regional Changes in Word-Production Laterality after a Naming Treatment Designed to Produce a Rightward Shift in Frontal Activity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crosson, Bruce; Moore, Anna Bacon; McGregor, Keith M.; Chang, Yu-Ling; Benjamin, Michelle; Gopinath, Kaundinya; Sherod, Megan E.; Wierenga, Christina E.; Peck, Kyung K.; Briggs, Richard W.; Rothi, Leslie J. Gonzalez; White, Keith D.

2009-01-01

Five nonfluent aphasia patients participated in a picture-naming treatment that used an intention manipulation (opening a box and pressing a button on a device in the box with the left hand) to initiate naming trials and was designed to re-lateralize word production mechanisms from the left to the right frontal lobe. To test the underlying…

Selective interference of grasp and space representations with number magnitude and serial order processing.

PubMed

van Dijck, Jean-Philippe; Fias, Wim; Andres, Michael

2015-10-01

It has been proposed that the metrics of space, time and other magnitudes relevant for action are coupled through a generalized magnitude system that also contribute to number representation. Several studies capitalized on stimulus-response compatibility effects to show that numbers map onto left-right representations and grasp representations as a function of their magnitude. However, the tasks typically used do not allow disentangling magnitude from serial order processing. Here, we devised a working memory (WM) task where participants had to remember random sequences of numbers and perform a precision/whole-hand grip (Experiment 1) or a uni-manual left/right button press (Experiment 2) in response to numbers presented during the retention interval. This task does allow differentiating the interference of number magnitude and serial order with each set of responses. Experiment 1 showed that precision grips were initiated faster than whole-hand grips in response to small numbers, irrespective of their serial position in WM. In contrast, Experiment 2 revealed an advantage of right over left button presses as serial position increased, without any influence of number magnitude. These findings demonstrate that grasping and left-right movements overlap with distinct dimensions of number processing. These findings are discussed in the light of different theories explaining the interactions between numbers, space and action.

Students Designing Their Learning?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Long, Gareth

2011-01-01

Education today is not just about "learning knowledge"--knowledge is instantly accessible, anywhere simply at the click of a mouse button. Learning now has to be much more about developing a range of skills for life and work, thinking creatively, learning where to access knowledge, verify it and apply it to the particular tasks. Admittedly there…

Investigating Visual Alerting in Maritime Command and Control

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

were: “ qwe ” for neutral or “asd” for hostile. The final step in the categorization task was to confirm their decision by clicking the mouse on a box...the Report display was active. As in Experiment 1, participants typed “ qwe ” or “asd” into the textbox to report their classification. An example of...button, and enter your answer in the text box on the right screen. To enter your answer type " qwe "=neutral or "asd"=hostile. Use the mouse to

Design and validation of an improved graphical user interface with the 'Tool ball'.

PubMed

Lee, Kuo-Wei; Lee, Ying-Chu

2012-01-01

The purpose of this research is introduce the design of an improved graphical user interface (GUI) and verifies the operational efficiency of the proposed interface. Until now, clicking the toolbar with the mouse is the usual way to operate software functions. In our research, we designed an improved graphical user interface - a tool ball that is operated by a mouse wheel to perform software functions. Several experiments are conducted to measure the time needed to operate certain software functions with the traditional combination of "mouse click + tool button" and the proposed integration of "mouse wheel + tool ball". The results indicate that the tool ball design can accelerate the speed of operating software functions, decrease the number of icons on the screen, and enlarge the applications of the mouse wheel. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

Distinct dynamical patterns that distinguish willed and forced actions.

PubMed

Garcia Dominguez, Luis; Kostelecki, Wojciech; Wennberg, Richard; Perez Velazquez, Jose L

2011-03-01

The neural pathways for generating willed actions have been increasingly investigated since the famous pioneering work by Benjamin Libet on the nature of free will. To better understand what differentiates the brain states underlying willed and forced behaviours, we performed a study of chosen and forced actions over a binary choice scenario. Magnetoencephalography recordings were obtained from six subjects during a simple task in which the subject presses a button with the left or right finger in response to a cue that either (1) specifies the finger with which the button should be pressed or (2) instructs the subject to press a button with a finger of their own choosing. Three independent analyses were performed to investigate the dynamical patterns of neural activity supporting willed and forced behaviours during the preparatory period preceding a button press. Each analysis offered similar findings in the temporal and spatial domains and in particular, a high accuracy in the classification of single trials was obtained around 200 ms after cue presentation with an overall average of 82%. During this period, the majority of the discriminatory power comes from differential neural processes observed bilaterally in the parietal lobes, as well as some differences in occipital and temporal lobes, suggesting a contribution of these regions to willed and forced behaviours.

Double-button Fixation System for Management of Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

PubMed Central

Torkaman, Ali; Bagherifard, Abolfazl; Mokhatri, Tahmineh; Haghighi, Mohammad Hossein Shabanpour; Monshizadeh, Siamak; Taraz, Hamid; Hasanvand, Amin

2016-01-01

Background: Surgical treatments for acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation present with some complications. The present study was designed to evaluate the double-button fixation system in the management of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Methods: This cross sectional study, done between February 2011 to June 2014, consisted of 28 patients who underwent surgical management by the double-button fixation system for acute AC joint dislocation. Age, sex, injury mechanism, dominant hand, side with injury, length of follow up, time before surgery, shoulder and hand (DASH), constant and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and all complications of the cases during the follow up were recorded. Results: The mean age of patients was 33.23±6.7 years. Twenty four patients (85.71%) were male and four (14.28%) were female. The significant differences were observed between pre-operation VAS, constant shoulder scores and post-operation measurements. There were not any significant differences between right and left coracoclavicular, but two cases of heterotrophic ossifications were recorded. The mean follow-up time was 16.17±4.38 months. Conclusion: According to the results, the double-button fixation system for management of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation has suitable results and minimal damage to the soft tissues surrounding the coracoclavicular ligaments. PMID:26894217

Wireless infrared computer control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, George C.; He, Xiaofei

2004-04-01

Wireless mouse is not restricted by cable"s length and has advantage over its wired counterpart. However, all the mice available in the market have detection range less than 2 meters and angular coverage less than 180 degrees. Furthermore, commercial infrared mice are based on track ball and rollers to detect movements. This restricts them to be used in those occasions where users want to have dynamic movement, such as presentations and meetings etc. This paper presents our newly developed infrared wireless mouse, which has a detection range of 6 meters and angular coverage of 180 degrees. This new mouse uses buttons instead of traditional track ball and is developed to be a hand-held device like remote controller. It enables users to control cursor with a distance closed to computer and the mouse to be free from computer operation.

--No Title--

Science.gov Websites

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Three Contemporary Artists Explore Family Photographs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kanatani, Kim; Vatsky, Sharon

2010-01-01

In 1888, when George Eastman introduced the "Kodak" camera, with the slogan, "you push the button, we do the rest," he ushered in a new era in documenting family history. Photography left the professional studio and entered the home, where the camera became the primary instrument of self-knowledge and self-representation. The camera allowed the…

Toward virtual anatomy: a stereoscopic 3-D interactive multimedia computer program for cranial osteology.

PubMed

Trelease, R B

1996-01-01

Advances in computer visualization and user interface technologies have enabled development of "virtual reality" programs that allow users to perceive and to interact with objects in artificial three-dimensional environments. Such technologies were used to create an image database and program for studying the human skull, a specimen that has become increasingly expensive and scarce. Stereoscopic image pairs of a museum-quality skull were digitized from multiple views. For each view, the stereo pairs were interlaced into a single, field-sequential stereoscopic picture using an image processing program. The resulting interlaced image files are organized in an interactive multimedia program. At run-time, gray-scale 3-D images are displayed on a large-screen computer monitor and observed through liquid-crystal shutter goggles. Users can then control the program and change views with a mouse and cursor to point-and-click on screen-level control words ("buttons"). For each view of the skull, an ID control button can be used to overlay pointers and captions for important structures. Pointing and clicking on "hidden buttons" overlying certain structures triggers digitized audio spoken word descriptions or mini lectures.

Control of a nursing bed based on a hybrid brain-computer interface.

PubMed

Nengneng Peng; Rui Zhang; Haihua Zeng; Fei Wang; Kai Li; Yuanqing Li; Xiaobin Zhuang

2016-08-01

In this paper, we propose an intelligent nursing bed system which is controlled by a hybrid brain-computer interface (BCI) involving steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) and P300. Specifically, the hybrid BCI includes an asynchronous brain switch based on SSVEP and P300, and a P300-based BCI. The brain switch is used to turn on/off the control system of the electric nursing bed through idle/control state detection, whereas the P300-based BCI is for operating the nursing bed. At the beginning, the user may focus on one group of flashing buttons in the graphic user interface (GUI) of the brain switch, which can simultaneously evoke SSVEP and P300, to switch on the control system. Here, the combination of SSVEP and P300 is used for improving the performance of the brain switch. Next, the user can control the nursing bed using the P300-based BCI. The GUI of the P300-based BCI includes 10 flashing buttons, which correspond to 10 functional operations, namely, left-side up, left-side down, back up, back down, bedpan open, bedpan close, legs up, legs down, right-side up, and right-side down. For instance, he/she can focus on the flashing button "back up" in the GUI of the P300-based BCI to activate the corresponding control such that the nursing bed is adjusted up. Eight healthy subjects participated in our experiment, and obtained an average accuracy of 93.75% and an average false positive rate (FPR) of 0.15 event/min. The effectiveness of our system was thus demonstrated.

Seismometer readings studied in Mission Control Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1971-01-01

The seismometer reading from the impact made by the Apollo 15 Saturn S-IVB stage when it struck the lunar surface is studied by scientists in the Mission Control Center. Dr. Gary Latham (dark suit, wearing lapel button) of Columbia University is responsible for the design and experiment data analysis of the Passive Seismic Experiment of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP). The man on the left, writing, is Nafi Toksos of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Looking on at upper left is Dave Lammlein, also with Columbia.

Seismometer readings studied in Mission Control Center

NASA Image and Video Library

1971-07-29

The seismometer reading from the impact made by the Apollo 15 Saturn S-IVB stage when it struck the lunar surface is studied by scientists in the Mission Control Center. Dr. Gary Latham (dark suit, wearing lapel button) of Columbia University is responsible for the design and experiment data analysis of the Passive Seismic Experiment of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP). The man on the left, writing, is Nafi Toksos of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Looking on at upper left is Dave Lamneline, also with Columbia.

13. WEIGHING ROOM Fish were lifted up from tower by ...

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

13. WEIGHING ROOM Fish were lifted up from tower by conveyor, controlled by buttons above the two sets of vertical electrical conduits. They entered the weighing room through the shielded window on the left (shielding missing from the window on the right), were weighed and then transported to the holding tanks. - Hovden Cannery, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, Monterey County, CA

How actions shape perception: learning action-outcome relations and predicting sensory outcomes promote audio-visual temporal binding

PubMed Central

Desantis, Andrea; Haggard, Patrick

2016-01-01

To maintain a temporally-unified representation of audio and visual features of objects in our environment, the brain recalibrates audio-visual simultaneity. This process allows adjustment for both differences in time of transmission and time for processing of audio and visual signals. In four experiments, we show that the cognitive processes for controlling instrumental actions also have strong influence on audio-visual recalibration. Participants learned that right and left hand button-presses each produced a specific audio-visual stimulus. Following one action the audio preceded the visual stimulus, while for the other action audio lagged vision. In a subsequent test phase, left and right button-press generated either the same audio-visual stimulus as learned initially, or the pair associated with the other action. We observed recalibration of simultaneity only for previously-learned audio-visual outcomes. Thus, learning an action-outcome relation promotes temporal grouping of the audio and visual events within the outcome pair, contributing to the creation of a temporally unified multisensory object. This suggests that learning action-outcome relations and the prediction of perceptual outcomes can provide an integrative temporal structure for our experiences of external events. PMID:27982063

How actions shape perception: learning action-outcome relations and predicting sensory outcomes promote audio-visual temporal binding.

PubMed

Desantis, Andrea; Haggard, Patrick

2016-12-16

To maintain a temporally-unified representation of audio and visual features of objects in our environment, the brain recalibrates audio-visual simultaneity. This process allows adjustment for both differences in time of transmission and time for processing of audio and visual signals. In four experiments, we show that the cognitive processes for controlling instrumental actions also have strong influence on audio-visual recalibration. Participants learned that right and left hand button-presses each produced a specific audio-visual stimulus. Following one action the audio preceded the visual stimulus, while for the other action audio lagged vision. In a subsequent test phase, left and right button-press generated either the same audio-visual stimulus as learned initially, or the pair associated with the other action. We observed recalibration of simultaneity only for previously-learned audio-visual outcomes. Thus, learning an action-outcome relation promotes temporal grouping of the audio and visual events within the outcome pair, contributing to the creation of a temporally unified multisensory object. This suggests that learning action-outcome relations and the prediction of perceptual outcomes can provide an integrative temporal structure for our experiences of external events.

CaveCAD: a tool for architectural design in immersive virtual environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulze, Jürgen P.; Hughes, Cathleen E.; Zhang, Lelin; Edelstein, Eve; Macagno, Eduardo

2014-02-01

Existing 3D modeling tools were designed to run on desktop computers with monitor, keyboard and mouse. To make 3D modeling possible with mouse and keyboard, many 3D interactions, such as point placement or translations of geometry, had to be mapped to the 2D parameter space of the mouse, possibly supported by mouse buttons or keyboard keys. We hypothesize that had the designers of these existing systems had been able to assume immersive virtual reality systems as their target platforms, they would have been able to design 3D interactions much more intuitively. In collaboration with professional architects, we created a simple, but complete 3D modeling tool for virtual environments from the ground up and use direct 3D interaction wherever possible and adequate. In this publication, we present our approaches for interactions for typical 3D modeling functions, such as geometry creation, modification of existing geometry, and assignment of surface materials. We also discuss preliminary user experiences with this system.

Advanced Cancer Detection Center

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-10-01

therapy in children: A Phase II randomized double blinded cross-over study (HLMCC 0708) • Risperidone for the Treatment of Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome...each question, the participant selects the answer by using the left and right arrow keys and then pressing the Choose button. The next question is...transformed to a quantitative scale measure for transmission. Numeric responses can be entered directly or can be selected from a list of

Sequence Learning with Stochastic Feedback in a Cross-Cultural Sample of Boys in the Autistic Spectrum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hentschel, Maren; Lange-Kuttner, Christiane; Averbeck, Bruno B.

2016-01-01

The study investigated sequence learning from stochastic feedback in boys with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and typically developed (TD) boys. We asked boys with ASD from Nigeria and the UK as well as age- and gender-matched controls (also males only) to deduce a sequence of four left and right button presses, LLRR, RRLL, LRLR, RLRL, LRRL and…

Tracking Second Thoughts: Continuous and Discrete Revision Processes during Visual Lexical Decision

PubMed Central

Barca, Laura; Pezzulo, Giovanni

2015-01-01

We studied the dynamics of lexical decisions by asking participants to categorize lexical and nonlexical stimuli and recording their mouse movements toward response buttons during the choice. In a previous report we revealed greater trajectory curvature and attraction to competitors for Low Frequency words and Pseudowords. This analysis did not clarify whether the trajectory curvature in the two conditions was due to a continuous dynamic competition between the response alternatives or if a discrete revision process (a "change of mind") took place during the choice from an initially selected response to the opposite one. To disentangle these two possibilities, here we analyse the velocity and acceleration profiles of mouse movements during the choice. Pseudowords' peak movement velocity occurred with 100ms delay with respect to words and Letters Strings. Acceleration profile for High and Low Frequency words and Letters Strings exhibited a butterfly plot with one acceleration peak at 400ms and one deceleration peak at 650ms. Differently, Pseudowords' acceleration profile had double positive peaks (at 400 and 600ms) followed by movement deceleration, in correspondence with changes in the decision from lexical to nonlexical response buttons. These results speak to different online processes during the categorization of Low Frequency words and Pseudowords, with a continuous competition process for the former and a discrete revision process for the latter. PMID:25699992

A typewriting system operated by head movements, based on home-computer equipment.

PubMed

Heuvelmans, A M; Mélotte, H E; Neve, J J

1990-06-01

For persons who cannot move their hands and legs we have designed a relatively inexpensive typewriting system which can be operated by movements of the head. The typewriter is made up of commercially available home computer equipment - i e, a computer including monitor and printer and a headset replacing the mouse. A user-friendly software program has been designed to replace the mouse button and to make this equipment act as a typewriter with simple text-editing features. Some ergonomics aspects of the typewriter set-up and the results of an evaluation of the typewriter by two patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are given. Several factors relevant to the design, construction, evaluation and application of the typewriter are discussed.

Sleep deprivation influences some but not all processes of supervisory attention

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jennings, J. R.; Monk, T. H.; van der Molen, M. W.

2003-01-01

Does one night of sleep deprivation alter processes of supervisory attention in general or only a specific subset of such processes? Twenty college-aged volunteers, half female, performed a choice reaction time task. A cue indicated that compatible (e.g., right button, right-pointing arrow) or incompatible (e.g., left button, right-pointing arrow) responses were to be given to a stimulus that followed 50 or 500 ms later. The paradigm assessed response inhibition, task-shifting skill, and task strategy-processes inherent in supervisory attention. Performance, along with heart rate, was assessed for 12 hr following normal sleep or a night of complete sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation altered neither preparation for task shifting nor response inhibition. The ability to use preparatory bias to speed performance did decrease with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation appears to selectively affect this supervisory attention process, which is perceived as an active effort to cope with a challenging task.

Sleep deprivation influences some but not all processes of supervisory attention.

PubMed

Jennings, J R; Monk, T H; van der Molen, M W

2003-09-01

Does one night of sleep deprivation alter processes of supervisory attention in general or only a specific subset of such processes? Twenty college-aged volunteers, half female, performed a choice reaction time task. A cue indicated that compatible (e.g., right button, right-pointing arrow) or incompatible (e.g., left button, right-pointing arrow) responses were to be given to a stimulus that followed 50 or 500 ms later. The paradigm assessed response inhibition, task-shifting skill, and task strategy-processes inherent in supervisory attention. Performance, along with heart rate, was assessed for 12 hr following normal sleep or a night of complete sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation altered neither preparation for task shifting nor response inhibition. The ability to use preparatory bias to speed performance did decrease with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation appears to selectively affect this supervisory attention process, which is perceived as an active effort to cope with a challenging task.

Now That I Have It, What Can I Do with It?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holmes, Jon L.

1999-11-01

All JCE subscribers now have access to all areas of JCE Online. As a reader of the print Journal you may be wondering what benefits JCE Online offers you and how you can reap those benefits. Point your WWW browser at jchemed.chem.wisc.edu, login, and follow along. Keep in mind that the three benefits outlined below are those that directly benefit you as a Journal reader. JCE Online contains many other resources that will benefit you as a chemistry teacher. Find an Article, Any Article The JCE Online feature that I perceive to be most beneficial to Journal readers is the ease and speed of finding articles. Finding a particular Journal article or several related articles is quickly and conveniently accomplished by using JCE Index online. Clicking the JCE Index item in the left-hand navigation bar leads to the JCE Index search page. A vanity search for articles that I authored or co-authored (type "holmes j" into the search text field and press Enter) produces a list of the ten most recent articles. A click on one of the articles and another click on the Full Text (.pdf) button (in the page menu bar near the top of the page below the global menu bar) and I am looking at one of my articles just as it appeared in the Journal. Four clicks, nine keystrokes, and 25 seconds (your time may vary)... not bad! Searching the Journal has never been easier than using the online JCE Index. If you remember which issue of the Journal contains the article you are looking for, then that article is never more than six mouse clicks away from the JCE Online Home Page. Of course, this only applies if we have the article online; full text articles begin with the September 1996 issue. The first click is on the Past Issues item in the left-hand navigation bar. If the article is not in the current volume of the Journal (your memory is much better than mine if you remember farther back) then the next click (click two) is on the pop-up list of Journal volumes from which you select the year the article appeared. After the correct volume is selected, use your next click to select the issue by clicking (click three) on one of the issue cover thumbnails. This brings you to the issue Table of Contents where you will probably have to scroll down to find the article (click four). Click the title of the article (click five) to go to the abstract of the article. Click six on the Full Text (.pdf) button in the page menu bar finishes the job. On my computer the six clicks from the JCE Online home page to the full text of an article by Jones et al., "Preparing Preservice Chemistry Teachers for Constructivist Classrooms through Use of Authentic Activities", in the July 1997 issue took 35 seconds including the time required to start up Acrobat Reader; a lot quicker than a trip to the chemistry library and easier even than a trip to the bookshelf across the room! A pop-up list is used to select a volume of the Journal from the Past Issues page. As I mentioned above, only issues since September 1996 have full-text articles available online. Abstracts of articles online go back to July 1995. JCE Index does contain citations to all articles published in the Journal back to Volume 1, Number 1more than 25,700 citations to date. When an online search produces an article that is not available online, you will have to retrieve it the old-fashioned way with a trip to the library or bookshelf. But at least you will know exactly where to look. Supplement Your Print Version You may have noticed a W near the title of some articles, especially laboratory experiments, in the Journal Table of Contents and within the Journal. This W denotes articles that contain online supplementary materials. Such materials are provided by the authors of those articles and may include handouts, assignments, worksheets, procedures, digital video, color illustrations, softwarematerials that you will find beneficial in implementing the idea or laboratory experiment. At JCE Online such articles contain a Supplement button in the page menu bar. For articles with supplementary materials, the Supplement button takes JCE subscribers to the supplement download page. Clicking the Supplement button produces the supplement download page. We attempt to provide supplementary materials as PDF files that are readily downloaded, viewed, and printed using Acrobat Reader. We also take the files in the format provided by the author, which you may find easier to edit for your purposes, and combine them into a single compressed file. This file is available in two forms, one for Windows users and one for Macintosh users. Click the Supplements item in the left-hand navigation bar to find out more about downloading and viewing supplemental materials and for a link to a list of all such materials available at JCE Online. Send Us Your Comments and Suggestions At the bottom of every page at JCE Online is a link to our email address. Do not hesitate to use it to tell us what you think about the Journal and JCE Online. We read all such messages and try to reply to every one. I hope you agree that JCE Online has something to offer you and look forward to hearing from you.

Human factors in equipment development for the Space Shuttle - A study of the general purpose work station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Junge, M. K.; Giacomi, M. J.

1981-01-01

The results of a human factors test to assay the suitability of a prototype general purpose work station (GPWS) for biosciences experiments on the fourth Spacelab mission are reported. The evaluation was performed to verify that users of the GPWS would optimally interact with the GPWS configuration and instrumentation. Six male subjects sat on stools positioned to allow assimilation of the zero-g body posture. Trials were run concerning the operator viewing angles facing the console, the console color, procedures for injecting rates with dye, a rat blood cell count, mouse dissection, squirrel monkey transfer, and plant fixation. The trials were run for several days in order to gage improvement or poor performance conditions. Better access to the work surface was found necessary, together with more distinct and better located LEDs, better access window latches, clearer sequences on control buttons, color-coded sequential buttons, and provisions made for an intercom system when operators of the GPWS work in tandem.

BaRT Manual Version 3.0

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-02-14

collectio of ifnformation is eitirmate" to average Ihoar der fesporse. inciudng the time for reviwing instructions, searchi’ng estung data sources...visible field of the buffer. <Cntl>-n -- next visible field of the buffer. <Cntl>- k -- kill from point to end of buffer. <Cntl>-y -- yank from kill ring...and a button. Position the mouse on the field in front of the Name. A box will highlight this field. Click on this field. Press <cntr> k to remove the

Mechanism of failure of the Cabrol procedure: A computational fluid dynamic analysis.

PubMed

Poullis, M; Pullan, M

2015-12-01

Sudden failure of the Cabrol graft is common and frequently fatal. We utilised the technique of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis to evaluate the mechanism of failure and potentially improve on the design of the Cabrol procedure. CFD analysis of the classic Cabrol procedure and a number of its variants was performed. Results from this analysis was utilised to generate further improved geometric options for the Cabrol procedure. These were also subjected to CFD analysis. All current Cabrol and variations of the Cabrol procedure are predicated by CFD analysis to be prone to graft thrombosis, secondary to stasis around the right coronary artery button. The right coronary artery flow characteristics were found to be the dominant reason for Cabrol graft failure. A simple modification of the Cabrol geometry is predicated to virtually eliminate any areas of blood stasis, and graft failure. Modification of the Cabrol graft geometry, due to CFD analysis may help reduce the incidence of graft thrombosis. A C shaped Cabrol graft with the right coronary button anastomosed to its side along its course from the aorta to the left coronary button is predicted to have the least thrombotic tendency. Clinical correlation is needed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Establishment of left-right asymmetry in vertebrate development: the node in mouse embryos.

PubMed

Komatsu, Yoshihiro; Mishina, Yuji

2013-12-01

Establishment of vertebrate left-right asymmetry is a critical process for normal embryonic development. After the discovery of genes expressed asymmetrically along the left-right axis in chick embryos in the mid 1990s, the molecular mechanisms responsible for left-right patterning in vertebrate embryos have been studied extensively. In this review article, we discuss the mechanisms by which the initial symmetry along the left-right axis is broken in the mouse embryo. We focus on the role of primary cilia and molecular mechanisms of ciliogenesis at the node when symmetry is broken and left-right asymmetry is established. The node is considered a signaling center for early mouse embryonic development, and the results we review here have led to a better understanding of how the node functions and establishes left-right asymmetry.

Functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortex measured by near-infrared spectroscopy during ultrarapid object recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Medvedev, Andrei V.; Kainerstorfer, Jana M.; Borisov, Sergey V.; Vanmeter, John

2011-01-01

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a developing technology for low-cost noninvasive functional brain imaging. With multichannel optical instruments, it becomes possible to measure not only local changes in hemoglobin concentrations but also temporal correlations of those changes in different brain regions which gives an optical analog of functional connectivity traditionally measured by fMRI. We recorded hemodynamic activity during the Go-NoGo task from 11 right-handed subjects with probes placed bilaterally over prefrontal areas. Subjects were detecting animals as targets in natural scenes pressing a mouse button. Data were low-pass filtered <1 Hz and cardiac/respiration/superficial layers artifacts were removed using Independent Component Analysis. Fisher's transformed correlations of poststimulus responses (30 s) were averaged over groups of channels unilaterally in each hemisphere (intrahemispheric connectivity) and the corresponding channels between hemispheres (interhemispheric connectivity). The hemodynamic response showed task-related activation (an increase/decrease in oxygenated/deoxygenated hemoglobin, respectively) greater in the right versus left hemisphere. Intra- and interhemispheric functional connectivity was also significantly stronger during the task compared to baseline. Functional connectivity between the inferior and the middle frontal regions was significantly stronger in the right hemisphere. Our results demonstrate that optical methods can be used to detect transient changes in functional connectivity during rapid cognitive processes.

Improved Tensile Adhesion Specimens for High Strength Epoxy Systems in Aerospace Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haddock, M. Reed; McLennan, Michael L.

2000-01-01

An improved tensile adhesion button has been designed and tested that results in higher measured tensile adhesion strength while providing increased capability for testing high strength epoxy adhesive systems. The best attributes of two well-established tensile button designs were combined and refined into an optimized tensile button. The most significant design change to the tensile button was to improve alignment of the bonded tensile button specimens during tensile testing by changing the interface between the tensile button and the tensile test machine. The established or old button design uses a test fixture that pulls from a grooved annulus or anvil head while the new button design pulls from a threaded hole in the centerline of the button. Finite element (FE) analysis showed that asymmetric loading of the established anvil head tensile button significantly increases the stress concentration in the adhesive, causing failure at lower tensile test loads. The new tensile button was designed to eliminate asymmetric loading and eliminate misalignment sensitivity. Enhanced alignment resulted in improved tensile adhesion strength measurement up to 13.8 MPa (2000psi) over the established button design. Another design change increased the capability of the button by increasing the threaded hole diameter allowing it to test high strength epoxy systems up to 85 MPa(less than 12,000 psi). The improved tensile button can be used in button- to-button or button-to-panel configurations.

Data Storage Forensics--What Is Really Left after I Hit the Delete Button, and How Can I Actually Make Sure It's Gone?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Serapiglia, Anthony

2014-01-01

The following Teaching Case is designed to expose students to three scenarios related to data stored on hard drives, techniques that could be used to retrieve deleted or corrupted data, and a method for a more thorough deletion of data from a hard drive. These issues are often overlooked in current IT curriculum and in our age of digital clutter…

Limb-kinetic apraxia affects activities of daily living in Parkinson’s disease: a multi-center study

PubMed Central

Foki, T.; Vanbellingen, T.; Lungu, C.; Pirker, W.; Bohlhalter, S.; Nyffeler, T.; Kraemmer, J.; Haubenberger, D.; Fischmeister, F. Ph. S.; Auff, E.; Hallett, M.; Beisteiner, R.

2017-01-01

Background and purpose Impaired dexterity (fine hand movements) is often present in Parkinson’s disease (PD), even at early to moderate disease stages. It has a detrimental impact on activities of daily living (ADL) such as buttoning, contributing to reduced quality of life. Limb-kinetic apraxia, a loss of the ability to make precise, independent but coordinated finger and hand movements, may contribute to impaired dexterity even more than bradykinesia per se. However, the impact of limb-kinetic apraxia on ADL remains controversial. Our aim was to identify the strongest predictor of buttoning and unbuttoning in PD. It was hypothesized that coin rotation (a surrogate of limb-kinetic apraxia) represents the most important determinant. Methods Sixty-four right-handed, early to moderate PD patients were recruited from three movement disorder centers (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–3). Buttoning, unbuttoning and coin rotation (right and left hand) represented the target tasks. Motor impairment was assessed according to the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Results Multiple linear regression analysis showed that coin rotation with the right hand was the only significant predictor of buttoning (P < 0.001) and unbuttoning (P = 0.002). Notably, measures of bradykinesia or overall motor impairment did not represent significant predictors. Conclusions Constituting the novel key finding, limb-kinetic apraxia seems to be particularly relevant for ADL requiring dexterity skills in PD, even at early to moderate disease stages. Our results prompt research into the pathophysiological background and therapeutic options to treat limb-kinetic apraxia. The simple coin rotation test provides valuable information about ADL-related dexterity skills. PMID:27132653

Healed corneal ulcer with keloid formation.

PubMed

Alkatan, Hind M; Al-Arfaj, Khalid M; Hantera, Mohammed; Al-Kharashi, Soliman

2012-04-01

We are reporting a 34-year-old Arabic white female patient who presented with a white mass covering her left cornea following multiple ocular surgeries and healed corneal ulcer. The lesion obscured further view of the iris, pupil and lens. The patient underwent penetrating keratoplasty and the histopathologic study of the left corneal button showed epithelial hyperplasia, absent Bowman's layer and subepithelial fibrovascular proliferation. The histopathologic appearance was suggestive of a corneal keloid which was supported by further ultrastructural study. The corneal graft remained clear 6 months after surgery and the patient was satisfied with the visual outcome. Penetrating keratoplasty may be an effective surgical option for corneal keloids in young adult patients.

Combined effects of expectations and visual uncertainty upon detection and identification of a target in the fog.

PubMed

Quétard, Boris; Quinton, Jean-Charles; Colomb, Michèle; Pezzulo, Giovanni; Barca, Laura; Izaute, Marie; Appadoo, Owen Kevin; Mermillod, Martial

2015-09-01

Detecting a pedestrian while driving in the fog is one situation where the prior expectation about the target presence is integrated with the noisy visual input. We focus on how these sources of information influence the oculomotor behavior and are integrated within an underlying decision-making process. The participants had to judge whether high-/low-density fog scenes displayed on a computer screen contained a pedestrian or a deer by executing a mouse movement toward the response button (mouse-tracking). A variable road sign was added on the scene to manipulate expectations about target identity. We then analyzed the timing and amplitude of the deviation of mouse trajectories toward the incorrect response and, using an eye tracker, the detection time (before fixating the target) and the identification time (fixations on the target). Results revealed that expectation of the correct target results in earlier decisions with less deviation toward the alternative response, this effect being partially explained by the facilitation of target identification.

View west within the periphery of the load dispatch model ...

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

View west within the periphery of the load dispatch model board, operator's console is at lower center and button board is at lower right of the photograph; section of model board shown covers substation from Perryman (left) to Frankford (right); instruments at right center of photograph formerly monitored energy usage and were replaced by computerized monitoring system. - Thirtieth Street Station, Load Dispatch Center, Thirtieth & Market Streets, Railroad Station, Amtrak (formerly Pennsylvania Railroad Station), Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

The Cognitive Side of M1

PubMed Central

Tomasino, Barbara; Gremese, Michele

2016-01-01

The primary motor cortex (M1) is traditionally implicated in voluntary movement control. In order to test the hypothesis that there is a functional topography of M1 activation in studies where it has been implicated in higher cognitive tasks we performed activation-likelihood-estimation (ALE) meta-analyses of functional neuroimaging experiments reporting M1 activation in relation to six cognitive functional categories for which there was a sufficient number of studies to include, namely motor imagery, working memory, mental rotation, social/emotion/empathy, language, and auditory processing. The six categories activated different sub-sectors of M1, either bilaterally or lateralized to one hemisphere. Notably, the activations found in the M1 of the left or right hemisphere detected in our study were unlikely due to button presses. In fact, all contrasts were selected in order to eliminate M1 activation due to activity related to the finger button press. In addition, we identified the M1 sub-region of Area 4a commonly activated by 4/6 categories, namely motor imagery and working memory, emotion/empathy, and language. Overall, our findings lend support to the idea that there is a functional topography of M1 activation in studies where it has been found activated in higher cognitive tasks and that the left Area 4a can be involved in a number of cognitive processes, likely as a product of implicit mental simulation processing. PMID:27378891

An investigation of the time course of category congruence and priming distance effects in number classification tasks.

PubMed

Perry, Jason R; Lupker, Stephen J

2012-09-01

The issue investigated in the present research is the nature of the information that is responsible for producing masked priming effects (e.g., semantic information or stimulus-response [S-R] associations) when responding to number stimuli. This issue was addressed by assessing both the magnitude of the category congruence (priming) effect and the nature of the priming distance effect across trials using single-digit primes and targets. Participants made either magnitude (i.e., whether the number presented was larger or smaller than 5) or identification (i.e., press the left button if the number was either a 1, 2, 3, or 4 or the right button if the number was either a 6, 7, 8, or 9) judgments. The results indicated that, regardless of task instruction, there was a clear priming distance effect and a significantly increasing category congruence effect. These results indicated that both semantic activation and S-R associations play important roles in producing masked priming effects.

Orthogonal Views of Coronary Vessels: A Method for Imaging the Delivery of Blood Cardioplegia Using Transesophageal Echocardiography.

PubMed

Maracaja Neto, Luiz F; Modak, Raj; Schonberger, Robert B

2017-04-01

Coronary blood flow can be disrupted during cardiac interventions such as mitral valve surgeries, left atrial appendage ligation, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and aortic procedures involving reimplantation of coronary buttons. Although difficult to accomplish, coronary imaging using transesophageal echocardiography can be performed by the use of orthogonal imaging with the ability for real-time tilt for angle adjustment. The technique described herein allows imaging of the right coronary artery, left main coronary artery bifurcation, left anterior descending, and circumflex coronary arteries. The imaging is facilitated by acquisition during the delivery of blood cardioplegia. Coronary sinus and great cardiac vein imaging also can be obtained during the delivery of retrograde cardioplegia. Although further studies are needed, this imaging technique may prove useful in procedures where coronary flow disruption is suspected or as an additional parameter to confirm delivery of cardioplegia.

The impairment of learning and memory and synaptic loss in mouse after chronic nitrite exposure.

PubMed

Chen, Yongfang; Cui, Zhanjun; Wang, Lai; Liu, Hongliang; Fan, Wenjuan; Deng, Jinbo; Deng, Jiexin

2016-12-01

The objective of this study is to understand the impairment of learning and memory in mouse after chronic nitrite exposure. The animal model of nitrite exposure in mouse was created with the daily intubation of nitrite in adult healthy male mice for 3 months. Furthermore, the mouse's learning and memory abilities were tested with Morris water maze, and the expression of Synaptophysin and γ-Synuclein was visualized with immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Our results showed that nitrite exposure significantly prolonged the escape latency period (ELP) and decreased the values of the frequency across platform (FAP) as well as the accumulative time in target quadrant (ATITQ) compared to control, in dose-dependent manner. In addition, after nitrite exposure, synaptophysin (SYN) positive buttons in the visual cortex was reduced, in contrast the increase of γ-synuclein positive cells. The results above were supported by Western blot as well. We conclude that nitrite exposure could lead to a decline in mice's learning and memory. The overexpression of γ-synuclein contributed to the synaptic loss, which is most likely the cause of learning and memory impairment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1720-1730, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Mobile Manipulation and Mobility as Manipulation: Design and Algorithms of RoboSimian

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-01

feature was left out for the competition hands. The hand has three under-actuated fingers, each with a braided Dyneema R© tendon wrapped around pulleys at...models of objects (e.g. valves, ladders, hoses , etc.) into the world manually so that RoboSimian could interact with objects for manipulation. The remote...with a single button press (e.g. “rotate-valve”, “insert- hose ”, “push-open-door”), depending on the task. Note that since the plan module was run on

Random motor generation in a finger tapping task: influence of spatial contingency and of cortical and subcortical hemispheric brain lesions

PubMed Central

Annoni, J.; Pegna, A.

1997-01-01

OBJECTIVE—To test the hypothesis that, during random motor generation, the spatial contingencies inherent to the task would induce additional preferences in normal subjects, shifting their performances farther from randomness. By contrast, perceptual or executive dysfunction could alter these task related biases in patients with brain damage.
METHODS—Two groups of patients, with right and left focal brain lesions, as well as 25 right handed subjects matched for age and handedness were asked to execute a random choice motor task—namely, to generate a random series of 180 button presses from a set of 10 keys placed vertically in front of them.
RESULTS—In the control group, as in the left brain lesion group, motor generation was subject to deviations from theoretical expected randomness, similar to those when numbers are generated mentally, as immediate repetitions (successive presses on the same key) are avoided. However, the distribution of button presses was also contingent on the topographic disposition of the keys: the central keys were chosen more often than those placed at extreme positions. Small distances were favoured, particularly with the left hand. These patterns were influenced by implicit strategies and task related contingencies.
 By contrast, right brain lesion patients with frontal involvement tended to show a more square distribution of key presses—that is, the number of key presses tended to be more equally distributed. The strategies were also altered by brain lesions: the number of immediate repetitions was more frequent when the lesion involved the right frontal areas yielding a random generation nearer to expected theoretical randomness. The frequency of adjacent key presses was increased by right anterior and left posterior cortical as well as by right subcortical lesions, but decreased by left subcortical lesions.
CONCLUSIONS—Depending on the side of the lesion and the degree of cortical-subcortical involvement, the deficits take on a different aspect and direct repetions and adjacent key presses have different patterns of alterations. Motor random generation is therefore a complex task which seems to necessitate the participation of numerous cerebral structures, among which those situated in the right frontal, left posterior, and subcortical regions have a predominant role.

 PMID:9408109

Diagnosing Tic Disorders

MedlinePlus

... span class="tp-sr-only">Submit Button Submit Button A Single-Channel EOG-Based Speller.

PubMed

He, Shenghong; Li, Yuanqing

2017-11-01

Electrooculography (EOG) signals, which can be used to infer the intentions of a user based on eye movements, are widely used in human-computer interface (HCI) systems. Most existing EOG-based HCI systems incorporate a limited number of commands because they generally associate different commands with a few different types of eye movements, such as looking up, down, left, or right. This paper presents a novel single-channel EOG-based HCI that allows users to spell asynchronously by only blinking. Forty buttons corresponding to 40 characters displayed to the user via a graphical user interface are intensified in a random order. To select a button, the user must blink his/her eyes in synchrony as the target button is flashed. Two data processing procedures, specifically support vector machine (SVM) classification and waveform detection, are combined to detect eye blinks. During detection, we simultaneously feed the feature vectors extracted from the ongoing EOG signal into the SVM classification and waveform detection modules. Decisions are made based on the results of the SVM classification and waveform detection. Three online experiments were conducted with eight healthy subjects. We achieved an average accuracy of 94.4% and a response time of 4.14 s for selecting a character in synchronous mode, as well as an average accuracy of 93.43% and a false positive rate of 0.03/min in the idle state in asynchronous mode. The experimental results, therefore, demonstrated the effectiveness of this single-channel EOG-based speller.

Orange Button Solar Data Exchange | Energy Analysis | NREL

Science.gov Websites

Orange Button Solar Data Exchange Orange Button Solar Data Exchange The new Orange Button Solar Data Exchange tool serves as an online resource for the solar industry to share, sell, or retrieve solar data and connect with colleagues. Screenshot image of Orange Button data website home page. The

Tourette Syndrome (TS): Risk Factors and Causes

MedlinePlus

... span class="tp-sr-only">Submit Button Submit Button Illuminated push-button switch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iwagiri, T.

1983-01-01

An illuminated push-button switch is described. It is characterized by the fact that is consists of a switch group, an operator button opening and closing the switch group, and a light-emitting element which illuminates the face of the operator button.

[Followup of chicken pox keratitis. Anatomic-clinical case report].

PubMed

D'hermies, F; Ellies, P; Meyer, A; Halhal, M; Morel, X; Behar-Cohen, F; Renard, G; Dighiero, P

2002-09-01

Chicken pox is a very common infectious disease in children. Its corneal involvement is less serious than with measles, which may lead to blindness in numerous developing countries. However, with occasional cases occur. A case of a 59-year-old male patient whose left cornea was involved during a chicken pox infection at the age of 7 is reported. More recently, the vision of the right eye was normal at 20/20 and reduced to visual perception in the affected left eye. Corneal sensitivity was maintained in the left eye, which, however exhibited a central epithelial defect. A central round opacity of the left corneal stroma was believed to be the scar resulting from a previous disciform keratitis. The left central cornea was thinned and there was neither an anterior chamber flare nor new corneal vessels. This corneal condition required a corneal allograft, performed quickly because of the potential risk of perforation. Histopathological study of the corneal button showed a central corneal thinning with an increase in epithelial thickness. The corneal stroma was disorganized, with irregular collagen bundles. No inflammatory cells could be observed, however. All the histopathological changes observed were those of a corneal scar.

Transtibial prosthesis suspension failure during skydiving freefall: a case report.

PubMed

Gordon, Assaf T; Land, Rebekah M

2009-01-01

This report describes the unusual case of an everyday-use prosthesis suspension system failure during the freefall phase of a skydiving jump. The case individual was a 53-year-old male with a left transtibial amputation secondary to trauma. He used his everyday prosthesis, a transtibial endoskeleton with push-button, plunger-releasing, pin-locking silicon liner suction suspension and a neoprene knee suspension sleeve, for a standard recreational tandem skydive. Within seconds of exiting the plane, the suspension systems failed, resulting in the complete prosthesis floating away. Several factors may have led to suspension system failure, including an inadequate seal and material design of the knee suspension sleeve and liner, lack of auxiliary suspension mechanisms, and lack of a safety cover overlying the push-button release mechanism. This is the first report, to our knowledge, to discuss prosthetic issues specifically related to skydiving. While amputees are to be encouraged to participate in this extreme sport, special modifications to everyday components may be necessary to reduce the possibility of prosthesis failure during freefall, parachute deployment, and landing.

Training Presentation for NASA Civil Helicopter Safety Website

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iseler, Laura

2002-01-01

NASA civil helicopter safety News & Updates include the following: Mar. 2002. The Air Medical Operations Survey has been completed! Check it out! Also accessible via the Mission pages under Air Medical Mission. Air Medical and Law Enforcement Mission pages have been added. They are accessible via the Mission pages. The Public Use, Personal, Offshore, Law Enforcement, External Load, Business and Gyro accident pages (accessable via the Mission page) have been updated. Feb. 2002. A Words of Wisdom section has been added. You can access it by clicking the Library button. A link to a Corporate Accident Response Plan has been added to the Accident page. The AMs, Aerial Application and Instruction accident pages (accessable via the Mission page) have been updated. Jan. 2002. A new searchable safety article database has been added. You can access it by clicking the Library button. The 2001 accident summaries have been updated and the statistics have been compiled - check it out by clicking the accident tab to the left. Dec. 2001. Please read the FAA Administrator's memo regarding the latest FBI warning. 3ee the FAA column - Fall 2001 Read it now!

76 FR 54741 - Proposed Additions and Deletions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-02

...-6823--Button, Silver Oxide, 1.55V. NSN: 6135-01-538-0997--Button, Lithium, 3V. NSN: 6135-01-452-8160--Button, Lithium, 3V. NSN: 6135-01-301-8776--Lithium, AA, 3.6V . NSN: 6135-01-246-0307--Button, Silver...

Automated gait analysis in the open-field test for laboratory mice.

PubMed

Leroy, Toon; Silva, Mitchell; D'Hooge, Rudi; Aerts, Jean-Marie; Berckmans, Daniel

2009-02-01

In this article, an automated and accurate mouse observation method, based on a conventional test for motor function evaluation, is outlined. The proposed measurement technique was integrated in a regular open-field test, where the trajectory and locomotion of a free-moving mouse were measured simultaneously. The system setup consisted of a transparent cage and a camera placed below it with its lens pointing upward, allowing for images to be captured from underneath the cage while the mouse was walking on the transparent cage floor. Thus, additional information was obtained about the position of the limbs of the mice for gait reconstruction. In a first step, the camera was calibrated as soon as it was fixed in place. A linear calibration factor, relating distances in image coordinates to real-world dimensions, was determined. In a second step, the mouse was located and its body contour segmented from the image by subtracting a previously taken "background" image of the empty cage from the camera image. In a third step, the movement of the mouse was analyzed and its speed estimated from its location in the past few images. If the speed was above a 1-sec threshold, the mouse was recognized to be running, and the image was further processed for footprint recognition. In a fourth step, color filtering was applied within the recovered mouse region to measure the position of the mouse's paws, which were visible in the image as small pink spots. Paws that were detected at the same location in a number of subsequent images were kept as footprints-that is, paws in contact with the cage floor. The footprints were classified by their position relative to the mouse's outline as corresponding to the front left or right paw or the hind left or right paw. Finally, eight parameters were calculated from the footprint pattern to describe the locomotion of the mouse: right/left overlap, front/hind base, right/left front limb stride, and right/left hind limb stride. As an application, the system was tested using normal mice and mice displaying pentobarbital-induced ataxia. The footprint parameters measured using the proposed system showed differences of 10% to 20% between normal and ataxic mice.

Comparing speech and nonspeech context effects across timescales in coarticulatory contexts.

PubMed

Viswanathan, Navin; Kelty-Stephen, Damian G

2018-02-01

Context effects are ubiquitous in speech perception and reflect the ability of human listeners to successfully perceive highly variable speech signals. In the study of how listeners compensate for coarticulatory variability, past studies have used similar effects speech and tone analogues of speech as strong support for speech-neutral, general auditory mechanisms for compensation for coarticulation. In this manuscript, we revisit compensation for coarticulation by replacing standard button-press responses with mouse-tracking responses and examining both standard geometric measures of uncertainty as well as newer information-theoretic measures that separate fast from slow mouse movements. We found that when our analyses were restricted to end-state responses, tones and speech contexts appeared to produce similar effects. However, a more detailed time-course analysis revealed systematic differences between speech and tone contexts such that listeners' responses to speech contexts, but not to tone contexts, changed across the experimental session. Analyses of the time course of effects within trials using mouse tracking indicated that speech contexts elicited fewer x-position flips but more area under the curve (AUC) and maximum deviation (MD), and they did so in the slower portions of mouse-tracking movements. Our results indicate critical differences between the time course of speech and nonspeech context effects and that general auditory explanations, motivated by their apparent similarity, be reexamined.

Blue Button use by patients to access and share health record information using the Department of Veterans Affairs' online patient portal.

PubMed

Turvey, Carolyn; Klein, Dawn; Fix, Gemmae; Hogan, Timothy P; Woods, Susan; Simon, Steven R; Charlton, Mary; Vaughan-Sarrazin, Mary; Zulman, Donna M; Dindo, Lilian; Wakefield, Bonnie; Graham, Gail; Nazi, Kim

2014-01-01

The Blue Button feature of online patient portals promotes patient engagement by allowing patients to easily download their personal health information. This study examines the adoption and use of the Blue Button feature in the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) personal health record portal, My HealtheVet. An online survey presented to a 4% random sample of My HealtheVet users between March and May 2012. Questions were designed to determine characteristics associated with Blue Button use, perceived value of use, and how Veterans with non-VA providers use the Blue Button to share information with their non-VA providers. Of the survey participants (N=18 398), 33% were current Blue Button users. The most highly endorsed benefit was that it helped patients understand their health history better because all the information was in one place (73%). Twenty-one percent of Blue Button users with a non-VA provider shared their VA health information, and 87% reported that the non-VA provider found the information somewhat or very helpful. Veterans' self-rated computer ability was the strongest factor contributing to both Blue Button use and to sharing information with non-VA providers. When comparing Blue Button users and non-users, barriers to adoption were low awareness of the feature and difficulty using the Blue Button. This study contributes to the understanding of early Blue Button adoption and use of this feature for patient-initiated sharing of health information. Educational efforts are needed to raise awareness of the Blue Button and to address usability issues that hinder adoption. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Fleet Environmental | USFF

Science.gov Websites

Leadership Expand Leadership About NEPA Projects Expand NEPA Projects At Sea Expand At Sea Ashore Expand Ashore Stewards of the Sea Expand Stewards of the Sea Media Resources Expand Media Resources Contact NEPA Projects Button Environmental At Sea Button Environmental Ashore Button Energy Button Stewards of

Intrusions of a drowsy mind: neural markers of phenomenological unpredictability.

PubMed

Noreika, Valdas; Canales-Johnson, Andrés; Koh, Justin; Taylor, Mae; Massey, Irving; Bekinschtein, Tristan A

2015-01-01

The transition from a relaxed to a drowsy state of mind is often accompanied by hypnagogic experiences: most commonly, perceptual imagery, but also linguistic intrusions, i.e., the sudden emergence of unpredictable anomalies in the stream of inner speech. This study has sought to describe the contents of such intrusions, to verify their association with the progression of sleep onset, and to investigate the electroencephalographic processes associated with linguistic intrusions as opposed to more common hypnagogic perceptual imagery. A single participant attended 10 experimental sessions in the EEG laboratory, where he was allowed to drift into a drowsy state of mind, while maintaining metacognition of his own experiences. Once a linguistic intrusion or a noticeable perceptual image occurred, the participant pressed a button and reported it verbally. An increase in the EEG-defined depth of drowsiness as assessed by the Hori system of sleep onset was observed in the last 20 s before a button press. Likewise, EEG Dimension of Activation values decreased before the button press, indicating that the occurrence of cognitively incongruous experiences coincides with the rapid change of EEG predictability patterns. EEG hemispheric asymmetry analysis showed that linguistic intrusions had a higher alpha and gamma power in the left hemisphere electrodes, whereas perceptual imagery reports were associated with a higher beta power over the right hemisphere. These findings indicate that the modality as well as the incongruence of drowsiness-related hypnagogic experiences is strongly associated with distinct EEG signatures in this participant. Sleep onset may provide a unique possibility to study the neural mechanisms accompanying the fragmentation of the stream of consciousness in healthy individuals.

--No Title--

Science.gov Websites

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Button battery intake as foreign body in Chinese children: review of case reports and the literature.

PubMed

Liao, Wenjing; Wen, Guangyi; Zhang, Xiaowen

2015-06-01

Button batteries have been recognized as one of the dangerous foreign bodies to children for more than 30 years, but few related studies have been published to give more concern in China. We reported 6 cases of button battery intake as foreign body in children. The Chinese literature on button battery as foreign body in children was reviewed. The interval between the accidental ingestion and battery removal ranged from 6 hours to 3 days. Two patients had no sequela, 3 patients had tracheoesophageal fistulas, and 1 patient had nasal septal perforation. Twenty-eight articles about button battery as foreign body in children were obtained by Chinese-language literature searches including 25 case reports, 2 health education articles, and 1 imaging article. In total, 172 cases of button battery intake as foreign body in children were identified, 23 and 10 of the 159 cases involving nasal button battery lodgment developed nasal septal perforation and nasal adhesion, respectively. Tracheoesophageal fistula was identified in 4 of the 12 ingestion cases. One case of button battery intake was in external auditory canal. A small number of children with button battery as foreign body were reported in China, which is 1 of the biggest countries with large population of children.

Severity of button batteries ingestions: data from French Poison Control Centres between 1999 and 2015.

PubMed

Labadie, Magali; O'Mahony, Elisabeth; Capaldo, Lise; Courtois, Arnaud; Lamireau, Thierry; Nisse, Patrick; Blanc-Brisset, Ingrid; Puskarczyk, Emmanuel

2017-12-13

Although the ingestion of button batteries is an infrequent situation, it leads to a significant risk of causing serious damage. This study was carried out to describe all the cases of button battery ingestion recorded by the French Poison Control Centers over 16 years. All the cases of button battery ingestion were recorded from 1 January 1999 to the end of June 2015, analysed (age, sex, number of ingested button batteries, clinical signs and treatments) and graded for severity according to the poisoning severity score. The incidence of button batteries ingestions was constant over the 16-year period, with an average of 266±98.5 cases per year and a total of 4030 cases. Nevertheless, 21 cases were severe and two deaths occurred. Interestingly, for the two patients who died, the battery was stuck in the oesophagus and they presented anorexia and/or dysphagia, abdominal pain and fever and in one case, a melena 3 weeks after ingestion. Importantly, these symptoms were observed even if the battery was expelled in one fatal case. Ingestions of button batteries still occur and may cause serious damage, especially in children, and if the button battery is stuck in the oesophagus as it might cause severe symptoms. Patients who have ingested a button battery must be directed to the emergency department for medical evaluation, even if the button battery has been expelled from the body and even more if gastrointestinal symptoms are present.

EMAGE mouse embryo spatial gene expression database: 2010 update

PubMed Central

Richardson, Lorna; Venkataraman, Shanmugasundaram; Stevenson, Peter; Yang, Yiya; Burton, Nicholas; Rao, Jianguo; Fisher, Malcolm; Baldock, Richard A.; Davidson, Duncan R.; Christiansen, Jeffrey H.

2010-01-01

EMAGE (http://www.emouseatlas.org/emage) is a freely available online database of in situ gene expression patterns in the developing mouse embryo. Gene expression domains from raw images are extracted and integrated spatially into a set of standard 3D virtual mouse embryos at different stages of development, which allows data interrogation by spatial methods. An anatomy ontology is also used to describe sites of expression, which allows data to be queried using text-based methods. Here, we describe recent enhancements to EMAGE including: the release of a completely re-designed website, which offers integration of many different search functions in HTML web pages, improved user feedback and the ability to find similar expression patterns at the click of a button; back-end refactoring from an object oriented to relational architecture, allowing associated SQL access; and the provision of further access by standard formatted URLs and a Java API. We have also increased data coverage by sourcing from a greater selection of journals and developed automated methods for spatial data annotation that are being applied to spatially incorporate the genome-wide (∼19 000 gene) ‘EURExpress’ dataset into EMAGE. PMID:19767607

A newly designed hydroxyapatite ceramic burr-hole button

PubMed Central

Kashimura, Hiroshi; Ogasawara, Kuniaki; Kubo, Yoshitaka; Yoshida, Kenji; Sugawara, Atsushi; Ogawa, Akira

2010-01-01

Conventional burr-hole buttons sometimes do not fit the burr hole well due to the curvature of the surrounding bone. An irregular surface at the border between the button and the surrounding skull may appear unaesthetic. The major problem is the difference between the curvature radius of the skull and the burr-hole button in contact with the skull. To solve this problem, the authors designed a button made of hydroxyapatite ceramic to snugly fit the burr hole. The specifications of this device and its clinical application are described here. PMID:20448795

A newly designed hydroxyapatite ceramic burr-hole button.

PubMed

Kashimura, Hiroshi; Ogasawara, Kuniaki; Kubo, Yoshitaka; Yoshida, Kenji; Sugawara, Atsushi; Ogawa, Akira

2010-03-24

Conventional burr-hole buttons sometimes do not fit the burr hole well due to the curvature of the surrounding bone. An irregular surface at the border between the button and the surrounding skull may appear unaesthetic. The major problem is the difference between the curvature radius of the skull and the burr-hole button in contact with the skull. To solve this problem, the authors designed a button made of hydroxyapatite ceramic to snugly fit the burr hole. The specifications of this device and its clinical application are described here.

View of button board which accommodates the 1200 button switches ...

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

View of button board which accommodates the 1200 button switches which manually control the indicating pilot lights on the model board. Not all switches are active, some switches were installed for a planned, but never constructed, system expansion. - Thirtieth Street Station, Load Dispatch Center, Thirtieth & Market Streets, Railroad Station, Amtrak (formerly Pennsylvania Railroad Station), Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

A fast button surface defects detection method based on convolutional neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lizhe; Cao, Danhua; Wu, Songlin; Wu, Yubin; Wei, Taoran

2018-01-01

Considering the complexity of the button surface texture and the variety of buttons and defects, we propose a fast visual method for button surface defect detection, based on convolutional neural network (CNN). CNN has the ability to extract the essential features by training, avoiding designing complex feature operators adapted to different kinds of buttons, textures and defects. Firstly, we obtain the normalized button region and then use HOG-SVM method to identify the front and back side of the button. Finally, a convolutional neural network is developed to recognize the defects. Aiming at detecting the subtle defects, we propose a network structure with multiple feature channels input. To deal with the defects of different scales, we take a strategy of multi-scale image block detection. The experimental results show that our method is valid for a variety of buttons and able to recognize all kinds of defects that have occurred, including dent, crack, stain, hole, wrong paint and uneven. The detection rate exceeds 96%, which is much better than traditional methods based on SVM and methods based on template match. Our method can reach the speed of 5 fps on DSP based smart camera with 600 MHz frequency.

Emotive concept nouns and motor responses: attraction or repulsion?

PubMed

Freina, Laura; Baroni, Giulia; Borghi, Anna M; Nicoletti, Roberto

2009-06-01

We carried out three experiments aimed at testing whether hand posture affects the compatibility effect that Chen and Bargh (1999) found between a word's emotional connotation and arm movement direction. In the present study, participants responded by pressing two buttons: one placed near their body, the other far away. In Experiment 1, in which they pressed the response button with their hand open, RTs were shorter when participants pressed the far button for positive words and the near button for negative words, as if they simulated reaching for something good and avoiding something bad. However, in Experiments 2 and 3, in which participants pressed the response button with a tennis ball in their hand, RTs were shorter when participants pressed the near button for positive words and the far button for negative words, as if they simulated drawing a good thing closer and pushing a bad thing away. Results are discussed within the framework of theories on concept grounding in emotion and action systems.

Suture Button Fixation Versus Syndesmotic Screws in Supination-External Rotation Type 4 Injuries: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

PubMed

Neary, Kaitlin C; Mormino, Matthew A; Wang, Hongmei

2017-01-01

In stress-positive, unstable supination-external rotation type 4 (SER IV) ankle fractures, implant selection for syndesmotic fixation is a debated topic. Among the available syndesmotic fixation methods, the metallic screw and the suture button have been routinely compared in the literature. In addition to strength of fixation and ability to anatomically restore the syndesmosis, costs associated with implant use have recently been called into question. This study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of the suture button and determine whether suture button fixation is more cost-effective than two 3.5-mm syndesmotic screws not removed on a routine postoperative basis. Economic and decision analysis; Level of evidence, 2. Studies with the highest evidence levels in the available literature were used to estimate the hardware removal and failure rates for syndesmotic screws and suture button fixation. Costs were determined by examining the average costs for patients who underwent surgery for unstable SER IV ankle fractures at a single level-1 trauma institution. A decision analysis model that allowed comparison of the 2 fixation methods was developed. Using a 20% screw hardware removal rate and a 4% suture button hardware removal rate, the total cost for 2 syndesmotic screws was US$20,836 and the total effectiveness was 5.846. This yielded a total cost of $3564 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) over an 8-year time period. The total cost for suture button fixation was $19,354 and the total effectiveness was 5.904, resulting in a total cost of $3294 per QALY over the same time period. A sensitivity analysis was then conducted to assess suture button fixation costs as well as screw and suture button hardware removal rates. Other possible treatment scenarios were also examined, including 1 screw and 2 suture buttons for operative fixation of the syndesmosis. To become more cost-effective, the screw hardware removal rate would have to be reduced to less than 10%. Furthermore, fixation with a single suture button continued to be the dominant treatment strategy compared with 2 suture buttons, 1 screw, and 2 screws for syndesmotic fixation. This cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that for unstable SER IV ankle fractures, suture button fixation is more cost-effective than syndesmotic screws not removed on a routine basis. Suture button fixation was a dominant treatment strategy, because patients spent on average $1482 less and had a higher quality of life by 0.058 QALYs compared with patients who received fixation with 2 syndesmotic screws. Assuming that functional outcomes and failure rates were equivalent, screw fixation only became more cost-effective when the screw hardware removal rate was reduced to less than 10% or when the suture button cost exceeded $2000. In addition, fixation with a single suture button device proved more cost-effective than fixation with either 1 or 2 syndesmotic screws.

The Emerging Role of 3-Dimensional Printing in Rhinology.

PubMed

Stokken, Janalee K; Pallanch, John F

2017-06-01

Nasal septal perforations, particularly those that are large and irregular in shape, often present as challenging surgical dilemmas. New technology has allowed us to develop techniques using computed tomography imaging and 3-dimensional (3D) printers to design custom polymeric silicone septal buttons. These buttons offer patients an option that avoids a surgical intervention when standard buttons do not fit well or are not tolerated. Preliminary data suggest that buttons designed by 3D printer technology provide more comfort than standard commercially available or hand-carved buttons with equivalent reduction of symptoms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oscillatory cortical network involved in auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia.

PubMed

van Lutterveld, Remko; Hillebrand, Arjan; Diederen, Kelly M J; Daalman, Kirstin; Kahn, René S; Stam, Cornelis J; Sommer, Iris E C

2012-01-01

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), a prominent symptom of schizophrenia, are often highly distressing for patients. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of hallucinations could increase therapeutic options. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides direct measures of neuronal activity and has an excellent temporal resolution, offering a unique opportunity to study AVH pathophysiology. Twelve patients (10 paranoid schizophrenia, 2 psychosis not otherwise specified) indicated the presence of AVH by button-press while lying in a MEG scanner. As a control condition, patients performed a self-paced button-press task. AVH-state and non-AVH state were contrasted in a region-of-interest (ROI) approach. In addition, the two seconds before AVH onset were contrasted with the two seconds after AVH onset to elucidate a possible triggering mechanism. AVH correlated with a decrease in beta-band power in the left temporal cortex. A decrease in alpha-band power was observed in the right inferior frontal gyrus. AVH onset was related to a decrease in theta-band power in the right hippocampus. These results suggest that AVH are triggered by a short aberration in the theta band in a memory-related structure, followed by activity in language areas accompanying the experience of AVH itself.

Use of the Blue Button Online Tool for Sharing Health Information: Qualitative Interviews With Patients and Providers.

PubMed

Klein, Dawn M; Fix, Gemmae M; Hogan, Timothy P; Simon, Steven R; Nazi, Kim M; Turvey, Carolyn L

2015-08-18

Information sharing between providers is critical for care coordination, especially in health systems such as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where many patients also receive care from other health care organizations. Patients can facilitate this sharing by using the Blue Button, an online tool that promotes patients' ability to view, print, and download their health records. The aim of this study was to characterize (1) patients' use of Blue Button, an online information-sharing tool in VA's patient portal, My HealtheVet, (2) information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and (3) how providers and patients use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 VA patients, 10 VA providers, and 9 non-VA providers. Interviews focused on patients' use of Blue Button, information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and how patients and providers use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Qualitative themes were identified through iterative rounds of coding starting with an a priori schema based on technology adoption theory. Information sharing between VA and non-VA providers relied primarily on the patient. Patients most commonly used Blue Button to access and share VA laboratory results. Providers recognized the need for improved information sharing, valued the Blue Button printout, and expressed interest in a way to share information electronically across settings. Consumer-oriented technologies such as Blue Button can facilitate patients sharing health information with providers in other health care systems; however, more education is needed to inform patients of this use to facilitate care coordination. Additional research is needed to explore how personal health record documents, such as Blue Button reports, can be easily shared and incorporated into the clinical workflow of providers.

Intrusions of a drowsy mind: neural markers of phenomenological unpredictability

PubMed Central

Noreika, Valdas; Canales-Johnson, Andrés; Koh, Justin; Taylor, Mae; Massey, Irving; Bekinschtein, Tristan A.

2015-01-01

The transition from a relaxed to a drowsy state of mind is often accompanied by hypnagogic experiences: most commonly, perceptual imagery, but also linguistic intrusions, i.e., the sudden emergence of unpredictable anomalies in the stream of inner speech. This study has sought to describe the contents of such intrusions, to verify their association with the progression of sleep onset, and to investigate the electroencephalographic processes associated with linguistic intrusions as opposed to more common hypnagogic perceptual imagery. A single participant attended 10 experimental sessions in the EEG laboratory, where he was allowed to drift into a drowsy state of mind, while maintaining metacognition of his own experiences. Once a linguistic intrusion or a noticeable perceptual image occurred, the participant pressed a button and reported it verbally. An increase in the EEG-defined depth of drowsiness as assessed by the Hori system of sleep onset was observed in the last 20 s before a button press. Likewise, EEG Dimension of Activation values decreased before the button press, indicating that the occurrence of cognitively incongruous experiences coincides with the rapid change of EEG predictability patterns. EEG hemispheric asymmetry analysis showed that linguistic intrusions had a higher alpha and gamma power in the left hemisphere electrodes, whereas perceptual imagery reports were associated with a higher beta power over the right hemisphere. These findings indicate that the modality as well as the incongruence of drowsiness-related hypnagogic experiences is strongly associated with distinct EEG signatures in this participant. Sleep onset may provide a unique possibility to study the neural mechanisms accompanying the fragmentation of the stream of consciousness in healthy individuals. PMID:25814962

Virtual button interface

DOEpatents

Jones, Jake S.

1999-01-01

An apparatus and method of issuing commands to a computer by a user interfacing with a virtual reality environment. To issue a command, the user directs gaze at a virtual button within the virtual reality environment, causing a perceptible change in the virtual button, which then sends a command corresponding to the virtual button to the computer, optionally after a confirming action is performed by the user, such as depressing a thumb switch.

Effect of blood contamination on shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons.

PubMed

Sfondrini, Maria Francesca; Gatti, Sara; Scribante, Andrea

2011-07-01

Our aim was to assess the effect of blood contamination on the shear bonding strength and sites of failure of orthodontic brackets and bondable buttons. We randomly divided 160 bovine permanent mandibular incisors into 8 groups of 20 specimens each. Both orthodontic brackets (Step brackets, Leone, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy) and bondable buttons (Flat orthodontic buttons, Leone, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy) were tested on four different enamel surfaces: dry; contamination with blood before priming; after priming; and before and after priming. Brackets and buttons were bonded to the teeth and subsequently tested using a Instron universal testing machine. Shear bonding strength and the rate of adhesive failures were recorded. Data were analysed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA), Scheffè tests, and the chi-square test. Uncontaminated enamel surfaces showed the highest bonding strengths for both brackets and buttons. When they were contaminated with blood, orthodontic brackets had significantly lower shear strengths than bondable buttons (P=0.0001). There were significant differences in sites of failure among the groups for the various enamel surfaces (P=0.001). Contamination of enamel by blood during bonding lowers the strength of the bond, more so with orthodontic brackets than with bondable buttons. Copyright © 2010 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Widgets and Buttons

MedlinePlus

... Home → Widgets and Buttons URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/widgets.html Widgets and Buttons To ... link the word MedlinePlus to the MedlinePlus homepage ( https://medlineplus.gov/ ). Search MedlinePlus : To put the MedlinePlus ...

Shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons: effect of water and saliva contamination.

PubMed

Sfondrini, Maria Francesca; Fraticelli, Danilo; Gandini, Paola; Scribante, Andrea

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of water and saliva contamination on the shear bond strength and failure site of orthodontic brackets and lingual buttons. 120 bovine permanent mandibular incisors were randomly divided into 6 groups of 20 specimens each. Both orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons were tested under three different enamel surface conditions: (a) dry, (b) water contamination, and (c) saliva contamination. Brackets and buttons were bonded to the teeth and subsequently tested using a Instron universal testing machine. Shear bond strength values and adhesive failure rate were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey tests (strength values) and Chi squared test (ARI Scores). Noncontaminated enamel surfaces showed the highest bond strengths for both brackets and buttons. Under water and saliva contamination orthodontic brackets groups showed significantly lower shear strengths than disinclusion buttons groups. Significant differences in debond locations were found among the groups under the various enamel surface conditions. Water and saliva contamination of enamel during the bonding procedure lowers bond strength values, more with orthodontic brackets than with disinclusion buttons.

Virtual button interface

DOEpatents

Jones, J.S.

1999-01-12

An apparatus and method of issuing commands to a computer by a user interfacing with a virtual reality environment are disclosed. To issue a command, the user directs gaze at a virtual button within the virtual reality environment, causing a perceptible change in the virtual button, which then sends a command corresponding to the virtual button to the computer, optionally after a confirming action is performed by the user, such as depressing a thumb switch. 4 figs.

EEG alpha activity and hallucinatory experience during sensory deprivation.

PubMed

Hayashi, M; Morikawa, T; Hori, T

1992-10-01

The relationship between hallucinatory experiences under sensory deprivation and EEG alpha activities was studied. Each of seven male students lived alone in an air conditioned, soundproof dark room for 72 hours. When hallucinatory experiences occurred, the students pressed a button at once. If they could not press the button during the experience, they were required to press it two times when the hallucinatory experience was finished. Spectral analysis was performed on the consecutive EEG samples from just before button-presses to 10 min. before them, and the average alpha band amplitudes were obtained for the four epochs (0-.5, .5-2, 2-5, 5-10 min.). For the single button-presses, the amplitude of alpha band increased 2 min. before the button-presses. Right-hemisphere EEG activation was observed in the occipital area for the double button-presses. The results suggest an association between the hallucinatory experiences under sensory deprivation and the amount of EEG alpha activity.

The anesthetic management of button battery ingestion in children.

PubMed

Ing, Richard J; Hoagland, Monica; Mayes, Lena; Twite, Mark

2018-03-01

Injuries related to button battery ingestion are common in children. This review provides an outline of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and anesthetic implications in children who have ingested a button battery. A literature search was conducted in the United States National Library of Medicine PubMed database using the terms "button battery ingestion" and "children' and "removal" and "surgery" and "anesthesia". Ninety-six articles published in English were found from 1983-2017, and 62 of these articles were incorporated into this review. Additionally, the Internet was searched with the terms "button battery ingestion and children" to identify further entities, organizations, and resources affiliated with button battery ingestion in children. These additional sources were studied and included in this review. Button batteries are ubiquitous in homes and electronic devices. Since 2006, larger-diameter and higher-voltage batteries have become available. These are more likely to become impacted in the esophagus after ingestion and lead to an increase in severe morbidity and mortality due to caustic tissue injury. Children at the highest risk for complications are those under six years of age who have ingested batteries > 20 mm in diameter and sustain prolonged esophageal impaction at the level of the aortic arch with the negative pole oriented anteriorly. Anesthesiologists need to know about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, complications, and anesthetic management of children who have ingested button batteries.

Use of the Blue Button Online Tool for Sharing Health Information: Qualitative Interviews With Patients and Providers

PubMed Central

Fix, Gemmae M; Hogan, Timothy P; Simon, Steven R; Nazi, Kim M; Turvey, Carolyn L

2015-01-01

Background Information sharing between providers is critical for care coordination, especially in health systems such as the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where many patients also receive care from other health care organizations. Patients can facilitate this sharing by using the Blue Button, an online tool that promotes patients’ ability to view, print, and download their health records. Objective The aim of this study was to characterize (1) patients’ use of Blue Button, an online information-sharing tool in VA’s patient portal, My HealtheVet, (2) information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and (3) how providers and patients use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Methods Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 VA patients, 10 VA providers, and 9 non-VA providers. Interviews focused on patients’ use of Blue Button, information-sharing practices between VA and non-VA providers, and how patients and providers use a printed Blue Button report during a clinical visit. Qualitative themes were identified through iterative rounds of coding starting with an a priori schema based on technology adoption theory. Results Information sharing between VA and non-VA providers relied primarily on the patient. Patients most commonly used Blue Button to access and share VA laboratory results. Providers recognized the need for improved information sharing, valued the Blue Button printout, and expressed interest in a way to share information electronically across settings. Conclusions Consumer-oriented technologies such as Blue Button can facilitate patients sharing health information with providers in other health care systems; however, more education is needed to inform patients of this use to facilitate care coordination. Additional research is needed to explore how personal health record documents, such as Blue Button reports, can be easily shared and incorporated into the clinical workflow of providers. PMID:26286139

Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets and Disinclusion Buttons: Effect of Water and Saliva Contamination

PubMed Central

Sfondrini, Maria Francesca; Fraticelli, Danilo; Gandini, Paola

2013-01-01

Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of water and saliva contamination on the shear bond strength and failure site of orthodontic brackets and lingual buttons. Materials and Methods. 120 bovine permanent mandibular incisors were randomly divided into 6 groups of 20 specimens each. Both orthodontic brackets and disinclusion buttons were tested under three different enamel surface conditions: (a) dry, (b) water contamination, and (c) saliva contamination. Brackets and buttons were bonded to the teeth and subsequently tested using a Instron universal testing machine. Shear bond strength values and adhesive failure rate were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey tests (strength values) and Chi squared test (ARI Scores). Results. Noncontaminated enamel surfaces showed the highest bond strengths for both brackets and buttons. Under water and saliva contamination orthodontic brackets groups showed significantly lower shear strengths than disinclusion buttons groups. Significant differences in debond locations were found among the groups under the various enamel surface conditions. Conclusions. Water and saliva contamination of enamel during the bonding procedure lowers bond strength values, more with orthodontic brackets than with disinclusion buttons. PMID:23762825

Evaluation of Heat Dissipation in the BPM Buttons

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

Pinayev,I.; Blednyhk, A.

2009-05-04

Growth of circulating current in the storage rings drastically increases heating of the beam position monitor (BPM) buttons due to the induced trapped modes is drastically increasing. Excessive heating can lead to the errors in the measuring of beam position or even catastrophic failures of the pick-up assembly. In this paper we present calculations of heat generated in the button for different geometries and materials. The obtained results are used for the optimization of the NSLS-II BPM buttons design.

Comparative Study of button BPM Trapped Mode Heating

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

Cameron,P.; Singh, O.

2009-05-04

The combination of short bunches and high currents found in modern light sources and colliders can result in the deposition of tens of watts of power in BPM buttons. The resulting thermal distortion is potentially problematic for maintaining high precision beam position stability, and in the extreme case can result in mechanical damage. We present a simple algorithm that uses the input parameters of beam current, bunch length, button diameter, beampipe aperture, and fill pattern to calculate a relative figure-of-merit for button heating. Data for many of the world's light sources and colliders is compiled in a table. Using themore » algorithm, the table is sorted in order of the relative magnitude of button heating.« less

KSC-2013-2994

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-06-29

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, CNN correspondent John Zarrella counts down for the ceremonial opening of the new "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility. Ready to press buttons to mark the opening the new exhibit, from the left, are Charlie Bolden, NASA administrator, Bob Cabana, Kennedy director, Rick Abramson, Delaware North Parks and Resorts president, and Bill Moore, Delaware North Parks and Resorts chief operating officer. The new $100 million facility includes interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlight the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit formally opened to the public on June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

The cultivation of the mushroom Agaricus bisporus (Champignon) and some environmental and health aspects.

PubMed

Zicari, Giuseppe; Rivetti, Daniela; Soardo, Vincenzo; Cerrato, Elena

2012-01-01

The cultivation of the mushroom Agaricus bisporus, also known as button mushroom, requires the use of substrates for its cultivation, such as chicken and/or horse manure and the application of manufacturing steps, such as storage and composting that produce odours. The odours may cause disturbance to people living near the plant and may be a problem for workers. This article examines some measures that can be taken to reduce the odorous emissions during the production of Agaricus bisporus. The possibility of recovery of some organic matter left from the cultivation is examined. Finally, some occupational hazards for workers are highlighted.

Effect of drivers' age and push button locations on visual time off road, steering wheel deviation and safety perception.

PubMed

Dukic, T; Hanson, L; Falkmer, T

2006-01-15

The study examined the effects of manual control locations on two groups of randomly selected young and old drivers in relation to visual time off road, steering wheel deviation and safety perception. Measures of visual time off road, steering wheel deviations and safety perception were performed with young and old drivers during real traffic. The results showed an effect of both driver's age and button location on the dependent variables. Older drivers spent longer visual time off road when pushing the buttons and had larger steering wheel deviations. Moreover, the greater the eccentricity between the normal line of sight and the button locations, the longer the visual time off road and the larger the steering wheel deviations. No interaction effect between button location and age was found with regard to visual time off road. Button location had an effect on perceived safety: the further away from the normal line of sight the lower the rating.

PANEL LIBRARY AND EDITOR

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raible, E.

1994-01-01

The Panel Library and Editor is a graphical user interface (GUI) builder for the Silicon Graphics IRIS workstation family. The toolkit creates "widgets" which can be manipulated by the user. Its appearance is similar to that of the X-Windows System. The Panel Library is written in C and is used by programmers writing user-friendly mouse-driven applications for the IRIS. GUIs built using the Panel Library consist of "actuators" and "panels." Actuators are buttons, dials, sliders, or other mouse-driven symbols. Panels are groups of actuators that occupy separate windows on the IRIS workstation. The application user can alter variables in the graphics program, or fire off functions with a click on a button. The evolution of data values can be tracked with meters and strip charts, and dialog boxes with text processing can be built. Panels can be stored as icons when not in use. The Panel Editor is a program used to interactively create and test panel library interfaces in a simple and efficient way. The Panel Editor itself uses a panel library interface, so all actions are mouse driven. Extensive context-sensitive on-line help is provided. Programmers can graphically create and test the user interface without writing a single line of code. Once an interface is judged satisfactory, the Panel Editor will dump it out as a file of C code that can be used in an application. The Panel Library (v9.8) and Editor (v1.1) are written in C-Language (63%) and Scheme, a dialect of LISP, (37%) for Silicon Graphics 4D series workstations running IRIX 3.2 or higher. Approximately 10Mb of disk space is required once compiled. 1.5Mb of main memory is required to execute the panel editor. This program is available on a .25 inch streaming magnetic tape cartridge in UNIX tar format for an IRIS, and includes a copy of XScheme, the public-domain Scheme interpreter used by the Panel Editor. The Panel Library Programmer's Manual is included on the distribution media. The Panel Library and Editor were released to COSMIC in 1991. Silicon Graphics, IRIS, and IRIX are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc. X-Window System is a trademark of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

CRANS - CONFIGURABLE REAL-TIME ANALYSIS SYSTEM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccluney, K.

1994-01-01

In a real-time environment, the results of changes or failures in a complex, interconnected system need evaluation quickly. Tabulations showing the effects of changes and/or failures of a given item in the system are generally only useful for a single input, and only with regard to that item. Subsequent changes become harder to evaluate as combinations of failures produce a cascade effect. When confronted by multiple indicated failures in the system, it becomes necessary to determine a single cause. In this case, failure tables are not very helpful. CRANS, the Configurable Real-time ANalysis System, can interpret a logic tree, constructed by the user, describing a complex system and determine the effects of changes and failures in it. Items in the tree are related to each other by Boolean operators. The user is then able to change the state of these items (ON/OFF FAILED/UNFAILED). The program then evaluates the logic tree based on these changes and determines any resultant changes to other items in the tree. CRANS can also search for a common cause for multiple item failures, and allow the user to explore the logic tree from within the program. A "help" mode and a reference check provide the user with a means of exploring an item's underlying logic from within the program. A commonality check determines single point failures for an item or group of items. Output is in the form of a user-defined matrix or matrices of colored boxes, each box representing an item or set of items from the logic tree. Input is via mouse selection of the matrix boxes, using the mouse buttons to toggle the state of the item. CRANS is written in C-language and requires the MIT X Window System, Version 11 Revision 4 or Revision 5. It requires 78K of RAM for execution and a three button mouse. It has been successfully implemented on Sun4 workstations running SunOS, HP9000 workstations running HP-UX, and DECstations running ULTRIX. No executable is provided on the distribution medium; however, a sample makefile is included. Sample input files are also included. The standard distribution medium is a .25 inch streaming magnetic tape cartridge (Sun QIC-24) in UNIX tar format. Alternate distribution media and formats are available upon request. This program was developed in 1992.

Embodiment of abstract categories in space… grounding or mere compatibility effects? The case of politics.

PubMed

Farias, Ana Rita; Garrido, Margarida V; Semin, Gün R

2016-05-01

In two experiments, the role played by stimulus response compatibility in driving the spatial grounding of abstract concepts is examined. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to classify politics-related words appearing to the left or the right side of a computer monitor as socialist or conservative. Responses were given by pressing vertically aligned keys and thus orthogonal to the spatial information that may have been implied by the words. Responses given by left or right index finger were counterbalanced. In Experiment 2, a lexical decision task, participants categorized political words or non-words presented to the left or the right auditory channels, by pressing the top/bottom button of a response box. The response category labels (word or non-word) were also orthogonal to the spatial information that may have been implied by the stimulus words. In both experiments, responses were faster when socialism-related words were presented on the left and conservatism-related words were presented on the right, irrespective of the reference of the response keys or labels. Overall, our findings suggest that the spatial grounding of abstract concepts (or at least politics-related ones) is independent of experimentally driven stimulus-response compatibility effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affects cortical and subcortical activity underlying motor inhibition and action monitoring.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Bahram; Kollewe, Katja; Cole, David M; Fellbrich, Anja; Heldmann, Marcus; Samii, Amir; Dengler, Reinhard; Petri, Susanne; Münte, Thomas F; Krämer, Ulrike M

2015-08-01

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by muscular atrophy, spasticity, and bulbar signs caused by loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Evidence suggests that ALS additionally affects other brain areas including premotor cortex and supplementary motor area. Here, we studied movement execution and inhibition in ALS patients using a stop-signal paradigm and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Seventeen ALS patients and 17 age-matched healthy controls performed a stop-signal task that required responding with a button press to a right- or left-pointing black arrow (go-stimuli). In stop-trials, a red arrow (stop-stimulus) was presented shortly after the black arrow indicating to withhold the prepared movement. Patients had by trend higher reaction times in go-trials but did not differ significantly in their inhibition performance. Patients showed stronger inhibition-related activity in inferior, superior, and middle frontal gyri as well as in putamen and pallidum. Error-related activity, conversely, was found to be stronger in healthy controls, particularly in the insula bilaterally. Patients also showed increased activity in the motor cortex during button presses. The results provide evidence for altered prefrontal and subcortical networks underlying motor execution, motor inhibition, and error monitoring in ALS. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The IAT shows no evidence for Kandinsky's color-shape associations.

PubMed

Makin, Alexis D J; Wuerger, Sophie M

2013-01-01

In the early twentieth century, the Bauhaus revolutionized art and design by using simple colors and forms. Wassily Kandinsky was especially interested in the relationship of these two visual attributes and postulated a fundamental correspondence between color and form: yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. Subsequent empirical studies used preference judgments to test Kandinsky's original color-form combinations, usually yielding inconsistent results. We have set out to test the validity of these postulated associations by using the Implicit Association Test. Participants pressed one of two buttons on each trial. On some trials they classified shapes (e.g., circle or triangle). On interleaved trials they classified colors (e.g., blue or yellow). Response times should theoretically be faster when the button mapping follows Kandinsky's associations: For example, when the left key is used to report blue or circle and the right is used for yellow and triangle, than when the response mapping is the opposite of this (blue or triangle, yellow or circle). Our findings suggest that there is no implicit association between the original color-form combinations. Of the three combinations we tested, there was only a marginal effect in one case. It can be concluded that the IAT does not support Kandinsky's postulated color-form associations, and that these are probably not a universal property of the visual system.

Lower complication rate and faster return to sports in patients with acute syndesmotic rupture treated with a new knotless suture button device.

PubMed

Colcuc, Christian; Blank, Marc; Stein, Thomas; Raimann, Florian; Weber-Spickschen, Sanjay; Fischer, Sebastian; Hoffmann, Reinhard

2017-12-09

Suture button devices for tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries provide semirigid dynamic stabilization, but complications including knot irritation have been reported. No randomized trials of the new knotless suture button devices have been performed. We hypothesized that knotless suture button devices eliminate knot irritation and facilitate quicker return to sports. This study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes, complication rates, and time to return to sports between a new knotless suture button device and syndesmotic screw fixation. This study included 54 patients treated for ankle syndesmotic injury from 2012 to 2014 with a knotless suture button device or syndesmotic screw fixation. Clinical outcomes were measured using the American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Society score, Foot and Ankle Disability Index, Olerud and Molander score, and visual analog scale for pain and function. Secondary outcome measures were the complication rate and time required to return to sports. Patients underwent clinical and radiological evaluations preoperatively and three times during the 1-year postoperative follow-up. 54 of 62 eligible patients were analyzed, median age 37 (18-60) and underwent the 1-year follow-up. The screw fixation and knotless suture button groups comprised 26 and 28 patients, respectively. The complication rate was significantly lower (p = 0.03) and time to return to sports was significantly shorter in the knotless suture button than screw fixation group (average, 14 versus 19 weeks, respectively; p = 0.006). No significant differences were identified in clinical outcomes or visual analog scale scores for pain and function between the groups. Age, injury mechanism, and body mass index did not significantly affect the time required to return to sports activities. The type of fixation was the only independent variable that reached statistical significance (p = 0.006). Syndesmotic screw fixation and the new knotless suture button device both resulted in good clinical results. Lower complication rate and the earlier time to return to sports make the new knotless suture button device recommendable especially for highly active patients. Randomized controlled trial, Level I.

Morphogenesis of the node and notochord: the cellular basis for the establishment and maintenance of left-right asymmetry in the mouse.

PubMed

Lee, Jeffrey D; Anderson, Kathryn V

2008-12-01

Establishment of left-right asymmetry in the mouse embryo depends on leftward laminar fluid flow in the node, which initiates a signaling cascade that is confined to the left side of the embryo. Leftward fluid flow depends on two cellular processes: motility of the cilia that generate the flow and morphogenesis of the node, the structure where the cilia reside. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding and unresolved questions about the regulation of ciliary motility and node structure. Analysis of mouse mutants has shown that the motile cilia must have a specific structure and length, and that they must point posteriorly to generate the necessary leftward fluid flow. However, the precise structure of the motile cilia is not clear and the mechanisms that position cilia on node cells have not been defined. The mouse node is a teardrop-shaped pit at the distal tip of the early embryo, but the morphogenetic events that create the mature node from cells derived from the primitive streak are only beginning to be characterized. Recent live imaging experiments support earlier scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies and show that node assembly is a multi-step process in which clusters of node precursors appear on the embryo surface as overlying endoderm cells are removed. We present additional SEM and confocal microscopy studies that help define the transition stages during node morphogenesis. After the initiation of left-sided signaling, the notochordal plate, which is contiguous with the node, generates a barrier at the embryonic midline that restricts the cascade of gene expression to the left side of the embryo. The field is now poised to dissect the genetic and cellular mechanisms that create and organize the specialized cells of the node and midline that are essential for left-right asymmetry. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

46 CFR 160.037-3 - Materials, workmanship, construction, and performance requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... on its top with a friction striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be... manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly...

Distal Attachment of Flexor Tendon Allograft: A Biomechanical Study of Different Reconstruction Techniques in Human Cadaver Hands

PubMed Central

Wei, Zhuang; Thoreson, Andrew R.; Amadio, Peter C.; An, Kai-Nan; Zhao, Chunfeng

2014-01-01

We compared the mechanical force of tendon-to-bone repair techniques for flexor tendon reconstruction. Thirty-six flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons were divided into three groups based upon the repair technique: (1) suture/button repair using FDP tendon (Pullout button group), (2) suture bony anchor using FDP tendon (Suture anchor group), and (3) suture/button repair using FDP tendon with its bony attachment preserved (Bony attachment group). The repair failure force and stiffness were measured. The mean load to failure and stiffness in the bony attachment group were significantly higher than that in the pullout button and suture anchor groups. No significant difference was found in failure force and stiffness between the pullout button and suture anchor groups. An intrasynovial flexor tendon graft with its bony attachment has significantly improved tensile properties at the distal repair site when compared with a typical tendon-to-bone attachment with a button or suture anchor. The improvement in the tensile properties at the repair site may facilitate postoperative rehabilitation and reduce the risk of graft rupture. PMID:23754507

Results from a Test Fixture for button BPM Trapped Mode Measurements

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

Cameron,P.; Bacha, B.; Blednykh, A.

2009-05-04

A variety of measures have been suggested to mitigate the problem of button BPM trapped mode heating. A test fixture, using a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf and custom machined components, was assembled to validate the simulations. We present details of the fixture design, measurement results, and a comparison of the results with the simulations. A brief history of the trapped mode button heating problem and a set of design rules for BPM button optimization are presented elsewhere in these proceedings. Here we present measurements on a test fixture that was assembled to confirm, if possible, a subset of those rules: (1)more » Minimize the trapped mode impedance and the resulting power deposited in this mode by the beam. (2) Maximize the power re-radiated back into the beampipe. (3) Maximize electrical conductivity of the outer circumference of the button and minimize conductivity of the inner circumference of the shell, to shift power deposition from the button to the shell. The problem is then how to extract useful and relevant information from S-parameter measurements of the test fixture.« less

Left Right Patterning, Evolution and Cardiac Development

PubMed Central

Dykes, Iain M.

2018-01-01

Many aspects of heart development are determined by the left right axis and as a result several congenital diseases have their origins in aberrant left-right patterning. Establishment of this axis occurs early in embryogenesis before formation of the linear heart tube yet impacts upon much later morphogenetic events. In this review I discuss the differing mechanisms by which left-right polarity is achieved in the mouse and chick embryos and comment on the evolution of this system. I then discus three major classes of cardiovascular defect associated with aberrant left-right patterning seen in mouse mutants and human disease. I describe phenotypes associated with the determination of atrial identity and venous connections, looping morphogenesis of the heart tube and finally the asymmetric remodelling of the embryonic branchial arch arterial system to form the leftward looped arch of aorta and associated great arteries. Where appropriate, I consider left right patterning defects from an evolutionary perspective, demonstrating how developmental processes have been modified in species over time and illustrating how comparative embryology can aide in our understanding of congenital heart disease. PMID:29755990

Nasal foreign bodies in children: should they have a plain radiograph in the accident and emergency?

PubMed

Glynn, Fergal; Amin, Mohamed; Kinsella, John

2008-04-01

To determine the proportion of children with nasal foreign bodies who had button batteries as the foreign body. To describe the clinical care and outcome of those children with a button battery foreign body. A retrospective review of all children presenting to the accident and emergency room with a nasal foreign body or unilateral nasal discharge during a 6-month period was assessed. Forty-four children were included. The most common object found was a plastic bead (27%), followed by foam, paper, or tissue fragments (23%); food matter represented 15%. A button battery was found in 3 patients (7%); other foreign bodies included stones, buttons, crayons, erasers, and a pellet. Thiry-six (82%) had their foreign body removed without anesthetic and 8 (18%) required a general anesthetic. All 3 children with a button battery went undiagnosed until examination in the operating theater. Because there was no previous indication of the presence of a button battery in the 3 children, the removal of the foreign body under general anesthesia was scheduled for the following day. The removal of the button batteries would have been expedited had a plain radiograph been obtained, possibly resulting in less morbidity for our patients. We recommend a plain radiograph in all children presenting with a nonvisible foreign body or unilateral nasal discharge.

Effects of carvedilol on structural and functional outcomes and plasma biomarkers in the mouse transverse aortic constriction heart failure model.

PubMed

Hampton, Caryn; Rosa, Raymond; Szeto, Daphne; Forrest, Gail; Campbell, Barry; Kennan, Richard; Wang, Shubing; Huang, Chin-Hu; Gichuru, Loise; Ping, Xiaoli; Shen, Xiaolan; Small, Kersten; Madwed, Jeffrey; Lynch, Joseph J

2017-01-01

Despite the widespread use of the mouse transverse aortic constriction heart failure model, there are no reports on the characterization of the standard-of-care agent carvedilol in this model. Left ventricular pressure overload was produced in mice by transverse aortic constriction between the innominate and left common carotid arteries. Carvedilol was administered at multiple dose levels (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg/day per os ; yielding end-study mean plasma concentrations of 0.002, 0.015 and 0.044 µM, respectively) in a therapeutic design protocol with treatment initiated after the manifestation of left ventricular remodeling at 3 weeks post transverse aortic constriction and continued for 10 weeks. Carvedilol treatment in transverse aortic constriction mice significantly decreased heart rate and left ventricular dP/dt (max) at all dose levels consistent with β-adrenoceptor blockade. The middle dose of carvedilol significantly decreased left ventricular weight, whereas the higher dose decreased total heart, left and right ventricular weight and wet lung weight compared to untreated transverse aortic constriction mice. The higher dose of carvedilol significantly increased cardiac performance as measured by ejection fraction and fractional shortening and decreased left ventricular end systolic volume consistent with the beneficial effect on cardiac function. End-study plasma sST-2 and Gal-3 levels did not differ among sham, transverse aortic constriction control and transverse aortic constriction carvedilol groups. Plasma b rain natriuretic peptide concentrations were elevated significantly in transverse aortic constriction control animals (~150%) compared to shams in association with changes in ejection fraction and heart weight and tended to decrease (~30%, p = 0.10-0.12) with the mid- and high-dose carvedilol treatment. A comparison of carvedilol hemodynamic and structural effects in the mouse transverse aortic constriction model versus clinical use indicates a strong agreement in effect profiles preclinical versus clinical, providing important translational validation for this widely used animal model. The present plasma brain natriuretic peptide biomarker findings support the measurement of plasma natriuretic peptides in the mouse transverse aortic constriction model to extend the translational utility of the model.

Effects of carvedilol on structural and functional outcomes and plasma biomarkers in the mouse transverse aortic constriction heart failure model

PubMed Central

Hampton, Caryn; Rosa, Raymond; Szeto, Daphne; Forrest, Gail; Campbell, Barry; Kennan, Richard; Wang, Shubing; Huang, Chin-Hu; Gichuru, Loise; Ping, Xiaoli; Shen, Xiaolan; Small, Kersten; Madwed, Jeffrey; Lynch, Joseph J

2017-01-01

Introduction: Despite the widespread use of the mouse transverse aortic constriction heart failure model, there are no reports on the characterization of the standard-of-care agent carvedilol in this model. Methods: Left ventricular pressure overload was produced in mice by transverse aortic constriction between the innominate and left common carotid arteries. Carvedilol was administered at multiple dose levels (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg/day per os; yielding end-study mean plasma concentrations of 0.002, 0.015 and 0.044 µM, respectively) in a therapeutic design protocol with treatment initiated after the manifestation of left ventricular remodeling at 3 weeks post transverse aortic constriction and continued for 10 weeks. Results: Carvedilol treatment in transverse aortic constriction mice significantly decreased heart rate and left ventricular dP/dt (max) at all dose levels consistent with β-adrenoceptor blockade. The middle dose of carvedilol significantly decreased left ventricular weight, whereas the higher dose decreased total heart, left and right ventricular weight and wet lung weight compared to untreated transverse aortic constriction mice. The higher dose of carvedilol significantly increased cardiac performance as measured by ejection fraction and fractional shortening and decreased left ventricular end systolic volume consistent with the beneficial effect on cardiac function. End-study plasma sST-2 and Gal-3 levels did not differ among sham, transverse aortic constriction control and transverse aortic constriction carvedilol groups. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentrations were elevated significantly in transverse aortic constriction control animals (~150%) compared to shams in association with changes in ejection fraction and heart weight and tended to decrease (~30%, p = 0.10–0.12) with the mid- and high-dose carvedilol treatment. Conclusion: A comparison of carvedilol hemodynamic and structural effects in the mouse transverse aortic constriction model versus clinical use indicates a strong agreement in effect profiles preclinical versus clinical, providing important translational validation for this widely used animal model. The present plasma brain natriuretic peptide biomarker findings support the measurement of plasma natriuretic peptides in the mouse transverse aortic constriction model to extend the translational utility of the model. PMID:28491305

Alignment effects in beer mugs: Automatic action activation or response competition?

PubMed

Roest, Sander A; Pecher, Diane; Naeije, Lilian; Zeelenberg, René

2016-08-01

Responses to objects with a graspable handle are faster when the response hand and handle orientation are aligned (e.g., a key press with the right hand is required and the object handle is oriented to the right) than when they are not aligned. This effect could be explained by automatic activation of specific motor programs when an object is viewed. Alternatively, the effect could be explained by competition at the response level. Participants performed a reach-and-grasp or reach-and-button-press action with their left or right hand in response to the color of a beer mug. The alignment effect did not vary as a function of the type of action. In addition, the alignment effect disappeared in a go/no-go version of the task. The same results were obtained when participants made upright/inverted decisions, so that object shape was task-relevant. Our results indicate that alignment effects are not due to automatic motor activation of the left or right limb.

Thinking about touch facilitates tactile but not auditory processing.

PubMed

Anema, Helen A; de Haan, Alyanne M; Gebuis, Titia; Dijkerman, H Chris

2012-05-01

Mental imagery is considered to be important for normal conscious experience. It is most frequently investigated in the visual, auditory and motor domain (imagination of movement), while the studies on tactile imagery (imagination of touch) are scarce. The current study investigated the effect of tactile and auditory imagery on the left/right discriminations of tactile and auditory stimuli. In line with our hypothesis, we observed that after tactile imagery, tactile stimuli were responded to faster as compared to auditory stimuli and vice versa. On average, tactile stimuli were responded to faster as compared to auditory stimuli, and stimuli in the imagery condition were on average responded to slower as compared to baseline performance (left/right discrimination without imagery assignment). The former is probably due to the spatial and somatotopic proximity of the fingers receiving the taps and the thumbs performing the response (button press), the latter to a dual task cost. Together, these results provide the first evidence of a behavioural effect of a tactile imagery assignment on the perception of real tactile stimuli.

Comparative stereology of the mouse and finch left ventricle.

PubMed

Bossen, E H; Sommer, J R; Waugh, R A

1978-01-01

The volume fractions and surface per unit cell volume of some subcellular components of the left ventricles of the finch and mouse were quantitated by stereologic techniques. These species were chosen for study because they have similar heart rates but differ morphologically in some respects: fiber diameter is larger in the mouse; the mouse has transverse tubules while the finch does not; and the finch has a form of junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (JSR), extended JSR (EJSR), located in the cell interior with no direct plasmalemmal contact, while the mouse interior JSR (IJSR) abuts on transverse tubules. Our data show that the volume fraction (Vv) and surface area per unit cell volume (Sv) of total SR, and free SR (FSR) are similar. The volume fractions of mitochondria, myofibrils, and total junctional SR were also similar. The Sv of the cell surface of the finch was similar to the Sv of the cell surface of the mouse (Sv-plasmalemma plus Sv of the transverse tubules). The principal difference was in the distribution of JSR; the mouse peripheral JSR (PJSR) represents only 9% of the total JSR, while the finch PJSR accounts for 24% of the bird's JSR. The similar volume fractions of total junctional SR (PJSR + EJSR in the finch; PJSR + IJSR in the mouse) suggest that the EJSR is not an embryologic remnant, and raises the possibility that some function of JSR is independent of plasmalemmal contact.

The Blue Button Project: Engaging Patients in Healthcare by a Click of a Button.

PubMed

Mohsen, Mona Omar; Aziz, Hassan A

2015-01-01

The Blue Button project has become a way for many Americans to download their health records by just a click in any way that suits them, such as in print, on a thumb drive, or on their mobile devices and smartphones. Several organizations have developed and applied Blue Buttons on their websites to allow beneficiaries to securely access and view personal medical information and claims. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the significance of the Blue Button project in the field of health information management. Findings suggest that the project could empower and engage consumers and patients in a healthcare system by allowing access to medical records, thereby promoting better management and overall improvement of their healthcare. To date, the project has gained wide support from insurers, technology companies, and health providers despite the challenges of standardization and interoperability.

BPM Button Optimization to Minimize Distortion Due to Trapped Mode Heating

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

Cameron,P.; Blednyk, A.; Kosciuk, B.

2009-05-04

The outer circumference of a BPM button and the inner circumference of the button housing comprise a transmission line. This transmission line typically presents an impedance of a few tens of ohms to the beam, and couples very weakly to the 50 ohm coaxial transmission line that comprises the signal path out of the button. The modes which are consequently excited and trapped often have quality factors of several hundred, permitting resonant excitation by the beam. The thermal distortion resulting from trapped mode heating is potentially problematic for achieving the high precision beam position measurements needed to provide the sub-micronmore » beam position stability required by light source users. We present a button design that has been optimized via material selection and component geometry to minimize both the trapped mode heating and the resulting thermal distortion.« less

The Blue Button Project: Engaging Patients in Healthcare by a Click of a Button

PubMed Central

Mohsen, Mona Omar; Aziz, Hassan A.

2015-01-01

The Blue Button project has become a way for many Americans to download their health records by just a click in any way that suits them, such as in print, on a thumb drive, or on their mobile devices and smartphones. Several organizations have developed and applied Blue Buttons on their websites to allow beneficiaries to securely access and view personal medical information and claims. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the significance of the Blue Button project in the field of health information management. Findings suggest that the project could empower and engage consumers and patients in a healthcare system by allowing access to medical records, thereby promoting better management and overall improvement of their healthcare. To date, the project has gained wide support from insurers, technology companies, and health providers despite the challenges of standardization and interoperability. PMID:26755898

Esophageal button battery ingestions: decreasing time to operative intervention by level I trauma activation.

PubMed

Russell, Robert T; Griffin, Russell L; Weinstein, Elizabeth; Billmire, Deborah F

2014-09-01

The incidence of button battery ingestions is increasing and injury due to esophageal impaction begins within minutes of exposure. We changed our management algorithm for suspected button battery ingestions with intent to reduce time to evaluation and operative removal. A retrospective study was performed to identify and evaluate time to treatment and outcome for all esophageal button battery ingestions presenting to a major children's hospital emergency room from February 1, 2010 through February 1, 2012. During the first year, standard emergency room triage (ST) was used. During the second year, the triage protocol was changed and Trauma I triage (TT) was used. 24 children had suspected button battery ingestions with 11 having esophageal impaction. One esophageal impaction was due to 2 stacked coins. Time from arrival in emergency room to battery removal was 183minutes in ST group (n=4) and 33minutes in TT group (n=7) (p=0.04). One patient in ST developed a tracheoesophageal fistula. There were no complications in the TT group. The use of Trauma 1 activations for suspected button battery ingestions has led to more expedient evaluation and shortened time to removal of impacted esophageal batteries. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Cognitive Function of Children with Developmental Disabilities by means of Button-Press Task

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakazono, Shogo; Kobori, Satoshi

The button-press task means that the subject observes a moving target and presses a button to stop it when the target enters a specified area on a computer display. Subjects perform normal task, suppressed task and delayed task. In the suppressed task, the moving target disappears at some point during the trial. In the delayed task, there is some lag time between the time of pressing button and of stopping target. In these tasks, subjects estimate the movement of the target, and press the button considering his/her own reaction time. In our previous study, we showed that cognitive and motor function was able to be evaluated by these tasks. In this study, we examined error data of children with developmental disabilities to evaluate the cognitive function, and investigated the learning processes. Moreover, we discussed the developmental stages by comparing the children with disabilities to normal control children, and we clarified the behavior characteristics of children with developmental disabilities. Asa result, it was shown that our evaluation method and system for the button-press task were effective to evaluate cognitive ability of children with developmental disabilities.

Effect of visual distraction and auditory feedback on patient effort during robot-assisted movement training after stroke

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Practicing arm and gait movements with robotic assistance after neurologic injury can help patients improve their movement ability, but patients sometimes reduce their effort during training in response to the assistance. Reduced effort has been hypothesized to diminish clinical outcomes of robotic training. To better understand patient slacking, we studied the role of visual distraction and auditory feedback in modulating patient effort during a common robot-assisted tracking task. Methods Fourteen participants with chronic left hemiparesis from stroke, five control participants with chronic right hemiparesis and fourteen non-impaired healthy control participants, tracked a visual target with their arms while receiving adaptive assistance from a robotic arm exoskeleton. We compared four practice conditions: the baseline tracking task alone; tracking while also performing a visual distracter task; tracking with the visual distracter and sound feedback; and tracking with sound feedback. For the distracter task, symbols were randomly displayed in the corners of the computer screen, and the participants were instructed to click a mouse button when a target symbol appeared. The sound feedback consisted of a repeating beep, with the frequency of repetition made to increase with increasing tracking error. Results Participants with stroke halved their effort and doubled their tracking error when performing the visual distracter task with their left hemiparetic arm. With sound feedback, however, these participants increased their effort and decreased their tracking error close to their baseline levels, while also performing the distracter task successfully. These effects were significantly smaller for the participants who used their non-paretic arm and for the participants without stroke. Conclusions Visual distraction decreased participants effort during a standard robot-assisted movement training task. This effect was greater for the hemiparetic arm, suggesting that the increased demands associated with controlling an affected arm make the motor system more prone to slack when distracted. Providing an alternate sensory channel for feedback, i.e., auditory feedback of tracking error, enabled the participants to simultaneously perform the tracking task and distracter task effectively. Thus, incorporating real-time auditory feedback of performance errors might improve clinical outcomes of robotic therapy systems. PMID:21513561

Omission P3 after voluntary action indexes the formation of action-driven prediction.

PubMed

Kimura, Motohiro; Takeda, Yuji

2018-02-01

When humans frequently experience a certain sensory effect after a certain action, a bidirectional association between neural representations of the action and the sensory effect is rapidly acquired, which enables action-driven prediction of the sensory effect. The present study aimed to test whether or not omission P3, an event-related brain potential (ERP) elicited by the sudden omission of a sensory effect, is sensitive to the formation of action-driven prediction. For this purpose, we examined how omission P3 is affected by the number of possible visual effects. In four separate blocks (1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks), participants successively pressed a right button at an interval of about 1s. In all blocks, each button press triggered a bar on a display (a bar with square edges, 85%; a bar with round edges, 5%), but occasionally did not (sudden omission of a visual effect, 10%). Participants were required to press a left button when a bar with round edges appeared. In the 1-stimulus block, the orientation of the bar was fixed throughout the block; in the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks, the orientation was randomly varied among two, four, and eight possibilities, respectively. Omission P3 in the 1-stimulus block was greater than those in the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks; there were no significant differences among the 2-, 4-, and 8-stimulus blocks. This binary pattern nicely fits the limitation in the acquisition of action-effect association; although an association between an action and one visual effect is easily acquired, associations between an action and two or more visual effects cannot be acquired concurrently. Taken together, the present results suggest that omission P3 is highly sensitive to the formation of action-driven prediction. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Motor Cortex-Evoked Activity in Reciprocal Muscles Is Modulated by Reward Probability

PubMed Central

Suzuki, Makoto; Kirimoto, Hikari; Sugawara, Kazuhiro; Oyama, Mineo; Yamada, Sumio; Yamamoto, Jun-ichi; Matsunaga, Atsuhiko; Fukuda, Michinari; Onishi, Hideaki

2014-01-01

Horizontal intracortical projections for agonist and antagonist muscles exist in the primary motor cortex (M1), and reward may induce a reinforcement of transmission efficiency of intracortical circuits. We investigated reward-induced change in M1 excitability for agonist and antagonist muscles. Participants were 8 healthy volunteers. Probabilistic reward tasks comprised 3 conditions of 30 trials each: 30 trials contained 10% reward, 30 trials contained 50% reward, and 30 trials contained 90% reward. Each trial began with a cue (red fixation cross), followed by blue circle for 1 s. The subjects were instructed to perform wrist flexion and press a button with the dorsal aspect of middle finger phalanx as quickly as possible in response to disappearance of the blue circle without looking at their hand or the button. Two seconds after the button press, reward/non-reward stimulus was randomly presented for 2-s duration. The reward stimulus was a picture of Japanese 10-yen coin, and each subject received monetary reward at the end of experiment. Subjects were not informed of the reward probabilities. We delivered transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left M1 at the midpoint between center of gravities of agonist flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and antagonist extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscles at 2 s after the red fixation cross and 1 s after the reward/non-reward stimuli. Relative motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes at 2 s after the red fixation cross were significantly higher for 10% reward probability than for 90% reward probability, whereas relative MEP amplitudes at 1 s after reward/non-reward stimuli were significantly higher for 90% reward probability than for 10% and 50% reward probabilities. These results implied that reward could affect the horizontal intracortical projections in M1 for agonist and antagonist muscles, and M1 excitability including the reward-related circuit before and after reward stimulus could be differently altered by reward probability. PMID:24603644

Acromioclavicular joint dislocation: a Dog Bone button fixation alone versus Dog Bone button fixation augmented with acromioclavicular repair-a finite element analysis study.

PubMed

Sumanont, Sermsak; Nopamassiri, Supachoke; Boonrod, Artit; Apiwatanakul, Punyawat; Boonrod, Arunnit; Phornphutkul, Chanakarn

2018-03-20

Suspension suture button fixation was frequently used to treat acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation. However, there were many studies reporting about complications and residual horizontal instability after fixation. Our study compared the stability of ACJ after fixation between coracoclavicular (CC) fixation alone and CC fixation combined with ACJ repair by using finite element analysis (FEA). A finite element model was created by using CT images from the normal shoulder. The model 1 was CC fixation with suture button alone, and the model 2 was CC fixation with suture button combined with ACJ repair. Three different forces (50, 100, 200 N) applied to the model in three planes; inferior, anterior and posterior direction load to the acromion. The von Mises stress of the implants and deformation at ACJs was recorded. The ACJ repair in the model 2 could reduce the peak stress on the implant after applying the loading forces to the acromion which the ACJ repair could reduce the peak stress of the FiberWire at suture button about 90% when compared to model 1. And, the ACJ repair could reduce the deformation of the ACJ after applying the loading forces to the acromion in both vertical and horizontal planes. This FEA supports that the high-grade injuries of the ACJ should be treated with CC fixation combined with ACJ repair because this technique provides excellent stability in both vertical and horizontal planes and reduces stress to the suture button.

Moving mobile: using an open-sourced framework to enable a web-based health application on touch devices.

PubMed

Lindsay, Joseph; McLean, J Allen; Bains, Amrita; Ying, Tom; Kuo, M H

2013-01-01

Computer devices using touch-enabled technology are becoming more prevalent today. The application of a touch screen high definition surgical monitor could allow not only high definition video from an endoscopic camera to be displayed, but also the display and interaction with relevant patient and health related data. However, this technology has not been quickly embraced by all health care organizations. Although traditional keyboard or mouse-based software programs may function flawlessly on a touch-based device, many are not practical due to the usage of small buttons, fonts and very complex menu systems. This paper describes an approach taken to overcome these problems. A real case study was used to demonstrate the novelty and efficiency of the proposed method.

Graphical User Interface for the NASA FLOPS Aircraft Performance and Sizing Code

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lavelle, Thomas M.; Curlett, Brian P.

1994-01-01

XFLOPS is an X-Windows/Motif graphical user interface for the aircraft performance and sizing code FLOPS. This new interface simplifies entering data and analyzing results, thereby reducing analysis time and errors. Data entry is simpler because input windows are used for each of the FLOPS namelists. These windows contain fields to input the variable's values along with help information describing the variable's function. Analyzing results is simpler because output data are displayed rapidly. This is accomplished in two ways. First, because the output file has been indexed, users can view particular sections with the click of a mouse button. Second, because menu picks have been created, users can plot engine and aircraft performance data. In addition, XFLOPS has a built-in help system and complete on-line documentation for FLOPS.

Low-Cost Avoidance Behaviors are Resistant to Fear Extinction in Humans

PubMed Central

Vervliet, Bram; Indekeu, Ellen

2015-01-01

Elevated levels of fear and avoidance are core symptoms across the anxiety disorders. It has long been known that fear serves to motivate avoidance. Consequently, fear extinction has been the primary focus in pre-clinical anxiety research for decades, under the implicit assumption that removing the motivator of avoidance (fear) would automatically mitigate the avoidance behaviors as well. Although this assumption has intuitive appeal, it has received little scientific scrutiny. The scarce evidence from animal studies is mixed, while the assumption remains untested in humans. The current study applied an avoidance conditioning protocol in humans to investigate the effects of fear extinction on the persistence of low-cost avoidance. Online danger-safety ratings and skin conductance responses documented the dynamics of conditioned fear across avoidance and extinction phases. Anxiety- and avoidance-related questionnaires explored individual differences in rates of avoidance. Participants first learned to click a button during a predictive danger signal, in order to cancel an upcoming aversive electrical shock (avoidance conditioning). Next, fear extinction was induced by presenting the signal in the absence of shocks while button-clicks were prevented (by removing the button in Experiment 1, or by instructing not to click the button in Experiment 2). Most importantly, post-extinction availability of the button caused a significant return of avoidant button-clicks. In addition, trait-anxiety levels correlated positively with rates of avoidance during a predictive safety signal, and with the rate of pre- to post-extinction decrease during this signal. Fear measures gradually decreased during avoidance conditioning, as participants learned that button-clicks effectively canceled the shock. Preventing button-clicks elicited a sharp increase in fear, which subsequently extinguished. Fear remained low during avoidance testing, but danger-safety ratings increased again when button-clicks were subsequently prevented. Together, these results show that low-cost avoidance behaviors can persist following fear extinction and induce increased threat appraisal. On the other hand, fear extinction did reduce augmented rates of unnecessary avoidance during safety in trait-anxious individuals, and instruction-based response prevention was more effective than removal of response cues. More research is needed to characterize the conditions under which fear extinction might mitigate avoidance. PMID:26733837

Modeling the impact of pedestrian behavior diversity on traffic dynamics at a crosswalk with push button

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Dong-Fan; Zhao, Xiao-Mei; Li, Xin-Gang; Zhu, Tai-Lang

2016-01-01

Crosswalk with push button is prevalent in lots of cities for the purpose of promoting the efficiency of the crosswalk, and thus the delays of both vehicles and pedestrians can be reduced. This strategy has been confirmed to be effective in several developed countries. However, it is a pity that application of push button is aborted in some cities in China. In this work, diverse behaviors of vehicles and pedestrians are analyzed and discussed. Then, a microscopic model is developed by incorporating the interaction between vehicles and pedestrians. Numerical simulations are performed to reveal the characteristics of traffic flow and the efficiency of the signal control strategy. Also, the impacts of risker proportion and button reaction time, as well as the impacts of various behaviors as mass behavior, the patience of pedestrian and push button habit are investigated. It is expected that the results will be helpful to the strategy design of a signalized crosswalk in such developing countries as China.

Management of nasal septal perforation using silicone nasal septal button

PubMed Central

Mullace, M; Gorini, E; Sbrocca, M; Artesi, L; Mevio, N

2006-01-01

Summary Nasal septal perforation may present with various symptoms: epistaxis, crusting, secondary infection, whistling and nasal obstruction. Perforation may be treated by conservative pharmacological treatment or closed by surgical approach. A useful alternative is mechanical obturation, achieved inserting a prosthesis. The present report refers to a study on 15 patients (10 male, 5 female, mean age 38.5 years) treated by insertion of a one-piece or two-piece silicone septal button (Xomed). In the follow-up period, insertion of the nasal button reduced epistaxis, eliminated whistling during inspiration, and reduced nasal obstruction and crusting around the margin of the perforation. Contraindications are presence of acute infection with osteitis, chronic septal disease (Wegener), neoplasia and extremely large perforations. The latest buttons appear to be superior to the conventional type on account of plasticity and adaptability which offer greater conformity to the septum. This study also reveals that the new septal button is well tolerated by patients. PMID:18236638

Delayed system response times affect immediate physiology and the dynamics of subsequent button press behavior.

PubMed

Kohrs, Christin; Hrabal, David; Angenstein, Nicole; Brechmann, André

2014-11-01

System response time research is an important issue in human-computer interactions. Experience with technical devices and general rules of human-human interactions determine the user's expectation, and any delay in system response time may lead to immediate physiological, emotional, and behavioral consequences. We investigated such effects on a trial-by-trial basis during a human-computer interaction by measuring changes in skin conductance (SC), heart rate (HR), and the dynamics of button press responses. We found an increase in SC and a deceleration of HR for all three delayed system response times (0.5, 1, 2 s). Moreover, the data on button press dynamics was highly informative since subjects repeated a button press with more force in response to delayed system response times. Furthermore, the button press dynamics could distinguish between correct and incorrect decisions and may thus even be used to infer the uncertainty of a user's decision. Copyright © 2014 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

Using event related potentials to identify a user's behavioural intention aroused by product form design.

PubMed

Ding, Yi; Guo, Fu; Zhang, Xuefeng; Qu, Qingxing; Liu, Weilin

2016-07-01

The capacity of product form to arouse user's behavioural intention plays a decisive role in further user experience, even in purchase decision, while traditional methods rarely give a fully understanding of user experience evoked by product form, especially the feeling of anticipated use of product. Behavioural intention aroused by product form designs has not yet been investigated electrophysiologically. Hence event related potentials (ERPs) were applied to explore the process of behavioural intention when users browsed different smart phone form designs with brand and price not taken into account for mainly studying the brain activity evoked by variety of product forms. Smart phone pictures with different anticipated user experience were displayed with equiprobability randomly. Participants were asked to click the left mouse button when certain picture gave them a feeling of behavioural intention to interact with. The brain signal of each participant was recorded by Curry 7.0. The results show that pictures with an ability to arouse participants' behavioural intention for further experience can evoke enhanced N300 and LPPs (late positive potentials) in central-parietal, parietal and occipital regions. The scalp topography shows that central-parietal, parietal and occipital regions are more activated. The results indicate that the discrepancy of ERPs can reflect the neural activities of behavioural intention formed or not. Moreover, amplitude of ERPs occurred in corresponding brain areas can be used to measure user experience. The exploring of neural correlated with behavioural intention provide an accurate measurement method of user's perception and help marketers to know which product can arouse users' behavioural intention, maybe taken as an evaluating indicator of product design. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.

How to Use This Website | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Science.gov Websites

, regional or national plant hardiness zone maps in three different resolutions using the following steps. To default printing menu option or button. Viewing the Map - Open Full Map Button c. Save Full Map Button can copy the e-mail address and paste it into a different e-mail client (e.g., Google Gmail, Yahoo

Modification of Shirt Buttons for Retrospective Radiation Dosimetry after a Radiological Event

PubMed Central

Marino, Stephen A.; Johnson, Gary W.; Schiff, Peter B.; Brenner, David J.

2010-01-01

Preliminary results are presented for a personal radiation dosimeter in the form of a clothing button to provide gamma-ray dose estimation for clinically significant external radiation exposures to the general public due to a radiological incident, such as a Radiological Dispersal Device. Rods of thermoluminescent material (LiF:Mg,Ti and LiF:Mg,Cu,P) were encapsulated in plastic “buttons”, attached to shirts, and subjected to three cycles of home or commercial laundering or dry cleaning, including ironing or pressing. The buttons were subsequently exposed to doses of 137Cs gamma rays ranging from 0.75 to 8.2 Gy. The rods were removed from the buttons and their light output compared to their responses when bare or to the responses of a set of calibration rods of the same type and from the same manufacturer. In all three of the comparisons for LiF:Mg,Ti rods the relative responses of the rods in buttons changed by 2-6% relative to the same rods before cleaning. In both comparisons for LiF:Mg,Cu,P rods, the response of laundered rods was 1-3% lower than for the same rods before cleaning. Both these materials are potential candidates for button dosimeters. PMID:21451325

Esophageal button battery ingestion in children.

PubMed

Şencan, Arzu; Genişol, İncinur; Hoşgör, Münevver

2017-07-01

Button battery lodged in the esophagus carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to present cases of patients with esophageal button battery ingestion treated at our clinic and to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Records of patients admitted to our hospital for foreign body ingestion between January 2010 and May 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases with button battery lodged in the esophagus were included in the study. Patient data regarding age, sex, length of time after ingestion until admission, presenting clinical symptoms, type and localization of the battery, management, and prognosis were analyzed. Among 1891 foreign body ingestions, 71 were localized in the esophagus, and 8 of those (11.2%) were cases of button battery ingestion. Mean age was 1.7 years. Admission was within 6 hours of ingestion in 5 cases, after 24 hours had elapsed in 2, and 1 month after ingestion in 1 case. All patients but 1 knew the history of ingestion. Prompt endoscopic removal was performed for all patients. Three patients developed esophageal stricture, which responded to dilatation. Early recognition and timely endoscopic removal is mandatory in esophageal button battery ingestion. It should be suspected in the differential diagnosis of patients with persistent respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Left-right asymmetry in the level of active Nodal protein produced in the node is translated into left-right asymmetry in the lateral plate of mouse embryos.

PubMed

Kawasumi, Aiko; Nakamura, Tetsuya; Iwai, Naomi; Yashiro, Kenta; Saijoh, Yukio; Belo, Jose Antonio; Shiratori, Hidetaka; Hamada, Hiroshi

2011-05-15

Left-right (L-R) asymmetry in the mouse embryo is generated in the node and is dependent on cilia-driven fluid flow, but how the initial asymmetry is transmitted from the node to the lateral plate has remained unknown. We have now identified a transcriptional enhancer (ANE) in the human LEFTY1 gene that exhibits marked L>R asymmetric activity in perinodal cells of the mouse embryo. Dissection of ANE revealed that it is activated in the perinodal cells on the left side by Nodal signaling, suggesting that Nodal activity in the node is asymmetric at a time when Nodal expression is symmetric. Phosphorylated Smad2/3 (pSmad2) indeed manifested an L-R asymmetric distribution at the node, being detected in perinodal cells preferentially on the left side. This asymmetry in pSmad2 distribution was found to be generated not by unidirectional transport of Nodal but rather as a result of LR distribution of active Nodal in the node is translated into the asymmetry in LPM. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thermocron iButton and iBBat temperature dataloggers emit ultrasound.

PubMed

Willis, Craig K R; Jameson, Joel W; Faure, Paul A; Boyles, Justin G; Brack, Virgil; Cervone, Tom H

2009-10-01

Thermocron iButton dataloggers are widely used to measure thermal microclimates experienced by wild animals. The iBBat is a smaller version of the datalogger, also commercially available, that is used to measure animal skin or core body temperatures when attached externally or surgically implanted. Field observations of bats roosting under a bridge suggested that bats avoided locations with iButtons. A heterodyne bat detector revealed that the dataloggers emitted ultrasound which was detectable from a distance of up to 30 cm. We therefore recorded and quantified the acoustic properties [carrier frequency (Hz) and root mean square sound pressure level (dB SPL)] of iButton and iBBat dataloggers. All units emitted a 32.9 kHz pure tone that was readily picked up with a time expansion bat detector at a distance of 1 cm, and most were detected at a distance of 15 cm. The maximum amplitude of iButton dataloggers was 46.5 dB SPL at 1.0 cm-a level within the range of auditory sensitivity for most small mammals. Wrapping iButtons in plastic insulation severely attenuated the amplitude of ultrasound. Although there was a statistically significant reduction in rates of warming and cooling with insulation, this effect was small and we suggest that insulation may be a viable solution to eliminate unwanted ultrasonic noise in instances when small delays in thermal response dynamics are not a concern. We recommend behavioural studies to assess if the electronic signals emitted by iButtons are disturbing to small mammals.

Learning processes underlying avoidance of negative outcomes.

PubMed

Andreatta, Marta; Michelmann, Sebastian; Pauli, Paul; Hewig, Johannes

2017-04-01

Successful avoidance of a threatening event may negatively reinforce the behavior due to activation of brain structures involved in reward processing. Here, we further investigated the learning-related properties of avoidance using feedback-related negativity (FRN). The FRN is modulated by violations of an intended outcome (prediction error, PE), that is, the bigger the difference between intended and actual outcome, the larger the FRN amplitude is. Twenty-eight participants underwent an operant conditioning paradigm, in which a behavior (button press) allowed them to avoid a painful electric shock. During two learning blocks, participants could avoid an electric shock in 80% of the trials by pressing one button (avoidance button), or by not pressing another button (punishment button). After learning, participants underwent two test blocks, which were identical to the learning ones except that no shocks were delivered. Participants pressed the avoidance button more often than the punishment button. Importantly, response frequency increased throughout the learning blocks but it did not decrease during the test blocks, indicating impaired extinction and/or habit formation. In line with a PE account, FRN amplitude to negative feedback after correct responses (i.e., unexpected punishment) was significantly larger than to positive feedback (i.e., expected omission of punishment), and it increased throughout the blocks. Highly anxious individuals showed equal FRN amplitudes to negative and positive feedback, suggesting impaired discrimination. These results confirm the role of negative reinforcement in motivating behavior and learning, and reveal important differences between high and low anxious individuals in the processing of prediction errors. © 2017 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

Soft and wet actuator developed with responsible high-strength gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harada, S.; Hidema, R.; Furukawa, H.

2012-04-01

Novel high-strength gels, named double network gels (DN gels), show a smart response to altering external electric field. It was reported that a plate shape of the DN gel bends toward a positive electrode direction when a static (DC) electric field is applied. Based on this previous result, it has been tried to develop a novel soft and wet actuator, which will be used as an automatically bulging button for cellar phones, or similar small devices. First, a bending experiment of a hung plate-shape DN gel was done, and its electric field response was confirmed. Second, the response of a lying plate-shape DN gels was confirmed in order to check the bulging phenomena. The edge of three plate-shape gels that was arranged radially on a plane surface was lifted 2mm by applying DC 8V. This system is a first step to make a gels button. However the critical problem is that electrolysis occurs simultaneously under electric field. Then, the water sweep out from gels, and gels is shrinking; They cause the separation between aluminum foil working as electrode and gels. That is why, a flexible electrode should be made by gels completely attached to the gels. As a third step, a push button is tried to make by a shape memory gels (SMG). The Young's modulus of the SMG is dramatically changed by temperature. This change in the modulus is applied to control the input-acceptable state and input-not-acceptable states of the button. A novel push button is proposed as a trial, and its user-friendliness is checked by changing the size of the button. The button is deformed by pushing and is back to original shape due to the property of shape memory. We believe the mechanism of this button will be applied to develop new devices especially for visually impaired persons.

Serious complications after button battery ingestion in children.

PubMed

Krom, Hilde; Visser, Margot; Hulst, Jessie M; Wolters, Victorien M; Van den Neucker, Anita M; de Meij, Tim; van der Doef, Hubert P J; Norbruis, Obbe F; Benninga, Marc A; Smit, Margot J M; Kindermann, Angelika

2018-07-01

Serious and fatal complications after button battery ingestion are increasing worldwide. The aim of this study is to describe serious complications after battery ingestion in children in the Netherlands.All pediatric gastroenterologists in the Netherlands performing upper endoscopies were asked to report all serious complications after battery ingestion in children (0-18 years) between 2008 and 2016 retrospectively.Sixteen serious complications were reported: death after massive bleeding through esophageal-aortal fistula (n = 1), esophageal-tracheal fistula (n = 5), stenosis after (suspected) perforation and mediastinitis (n = 5), (suspected) perforation and mediastinitis (n = 3), vocal cord paralysis (n = 1), and required reintubation for dyspnea and stridor (n = 1). The median time interval between ingestion and presentation was 5 (IQR 2-258) h. All children were ≤ 5 (median 1.4; IQR 0.9-2.1) years. Vomiting (31.3%), swallowing/feeding problems (31.3%), and fever (31.3%) were the most common presenting symptoms; however, 18.8% of the patients were asymptomatic (n = 1 missing). All batteries were button batteries (75% ≥ 20 mm; 18.8% < 20 mm; n = 1 missing). The batteries were removed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (50%) and rigid endoscopy (37.5%) or surgically (12.5%). Sixteen serious complications occurred after small and large button batteries ingestion between 2008 and 2016 in both symptomatic and asymptomatic children in the Netherlands. Therefore, immediate intervention after (suspected) button battery ingestion is required. What is Known: • Button battery ingestion may result in serious and fatal complications. • Serious and fatal complications after button battery ingestion are increasing worldwide. What is New: • Sixteen serious complications after button battery ingestion occurred during 2008-2016 in children in the Netherlands. • Serious complications were also caused by small batteries (< 20 mm) in the Netherlands and also occurred in asymptomatic Dutch children.

The IAT shows no evidence for Kandinsky's color-shape associations

PubMed Central

Makin, Alexis D. J.; Wuerger, Sophie M.

2013-01-01

In the early twentieth century, the Bauhaus revolutionized art and design by using simple colors and forms. Wassily Kandinsky was especially interested in the relationship of these two visual attributes and postulated a fundamental correspondence between color and form: yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. Subsequent empirical studies used preference judgments to test Kandinsky's original color-form combinations, usually yielding inconsistent results. We have set out to test the validity of these postulated associations by using the Implicit Association Test. Participants pressed one of two buttons on each trial. On some trials they classified shapes (e.g., circle or triangle). On interleaved trials they classified colors (e.g., blue or yellow). Response times should theoretically be faster when the button mapping follows Kandinsky's associations: For example, when the left key is used to report blue or circle and the right is used for yellow and triangle, than when the response mapping is the opposite of this (blue or triangle, yellow or circle). Our findings suggest that there is no implicit association between the original color-form combinations. Of the three combinations we tested, there was only a marginal effect in one case. It can be concluded that the IAT does not support Kandinsky's postulated color-form associations, and that these are probably not a universal property of the visual system. PMID:24062709

Serelaxin treatment reverses vascular dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy in a mouse model of Type 1 diabetes

PubMed Central

Ng, Hooi Hooi; Leo, Chen Huei; Prakoso, Darnel; Qin, Chengxue; Ritchie, Rebecca H.; Parry, Laura J.

2017-01-01

Serelaxin prevents endothelial dysfunction in the mouse aorta ex vivo and inhibits apoptosis in cardiomyocytes under acute hyperglycaemia. Less is known about the effects of serelaxin in an in vivo mouse model of diabetes. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated mice that serelaxin is able to reverse diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction and cardiac remodelling. Mice were divided into citrate buffer + placebo, STZ + placebo and STZ + serelaxin (0.5 mg/kg/d, 2 weeks) groups. After 12 weeks of diabetes, sensitivity to the endothelium-dependent agonist acetylcholine (ACh) was reduced in the mesenteric artery. This was accompanied by an enhanced vasoconstrictor prostanoid contribution and a decrease in endothelium-derived hyperpolarisation (EDH)-mediated relaxation. Serelaxin restored endothelial function by increasing nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation but not EDH. It also normalised the contribution of vasoconstrictor prostanoids to endothelial dysfunction and suppressed diabetes-induced hyper-responsiveness of the mesenteric artery to angiotensin II. Similarly, diabetes reduced ACh-evoked NO-mediated relaxation in the aorta which was reversed by serelaxin. In the left ventricle, diabetes promoted apoptosis, hypertrophy and fibrosis; serelaxin treatment reversed this ventricular apoptosis and hypertrophy, but had no effect on fibrosis. In summary, serelaxin reversed diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction by enhancing NO-mediated relaxation in the mouse vasculature and attenuating left ventricular hypertrophy and apoptosis. PMID:28067255

Left cardiac isomerism in the Sonic hedgehog null mouse.

PubMed

Hildreth, Victoria; Webb, Sandra; Chaudhry, Bill; Peat, Jonathan D; Phillips, Helen M; Brown, Nigel; Anderson, Robert H; Henderson, Deborah J

2009-06-01

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a secreted morphogen necessary for the production of sidedness in the developing embryo. In this study, we describe the morphology of the atrial chambers and atrioventricular junctions of the Shh null mouse heart. We demonstrate that the essential phenotypic feature is isomerism of the left atrial appendages, in combination with an atrioventricular septal defect and a common atrioventricular junction. These malformations are known to be frequent in humans with left isomerism. To confirm the presence of left isomerism, we show that Pitx2c, a recognized determinant of morphological leftness, is expressed in the Shh null mutants on both the right and left sides of the inflow region, and on both sides of the solitary arterial trunk exiting from the heart. It has been established that derivatives of the second heart field expressing Isl1 are asymmetrically distributed in the developing normal heart. We now show that this population is reduced in the hearts from the Shh null mutants, likely contributing to the defects. To distinguish the consequences of reduced contributions from the second heart field from those of left-right patterning disturbance, we disrupted the movement of second heart field cells into the heart by expressing dominant-negative Rho kinase in the population of cells expressing Isl1. This resulted in absence of the vestibular spine, and presence of atrioventricular septal defects closely resembling those seen in the hearts from the Shh null mutants. The primary atrial septum, however, was well formed, and there was no evidence of isomerism of the atrial appendages, suggesting that these features do not relate to disruption of the contributions made by the second heart field. We demonstrate, therefore, that the Shh null mouse is a model of isomerism of the left atrial appendages, and show that the recognized associated malformations found at the venous pole of the heart in the setting of left isomerism are likely to arise from the loss of the effects of Shh in the establishment of laterality, combined with a reduced contribution made by cells derived from the second heart field.

A PC parallel port button box provides millisecond response time accuracy under Linux.

PubMed

Stewart, Neil

2006-02-01

For psychologists, it is sometimes necessary to measure people's reaction times to the nearest millisecond. This article describes how to use the PC parallel port to receive signals from a button box to achieve millisecond response time accuracy. The workings of the parallel port, the corresponding port addresses, and a simple Linux program for controlling the port are described. A test of the speed and reliability of button box signal detection is reported. If the reader is moderately familiar with Linux, this article should provide sufficient instruction for him or her to build and test his or her own parallel port button box. This article also describes how the parallel port could be used to control an external apparatus.

Computerized measures of finger tapping: effects of hand dominance, age, and sex.

PubMed

Hubel, Kerry A; Reed, Bruce; Yund, E William; Herron, Timothy J; Woods, David L

2013-06-01

Computerized measures of digit tapping rate were obtained over 3 successive, 10-sec. periods in the right and left index fingers, from a community sample of 1,519 participants (ages 18 to 65 years; 607 men, 912 women). Differences between the dominant and non-dominant hands were found for tapping rate, movement initiation, and button down times, and the decline in tapping rate over the successive, 10-sec. periods. Declines were found in tapping rate in older participants in association with increased intertap variability. Men had higher tapping rates than women in all age ranges. The computerized finger tapping test is an efficient and precise measure of tapping speed and kinetics of potential utility in research and clinical studies of motor performance.

A Jungle in There: Bacteria in Belly Buttons are Highly Diverse, but Predictable

PubMed Central

Hulcr, Jiri; Latimer, Andrew M.; Henley, Jessica B.; Rountree, Nina R.; Fierer, Noah; Lucky, Andrea; Lowman, Margaret D.; Dunn, Robert R.

2012-01-01

The belly button is one of the habitats closest to us, and yet it remains relatively unexplored. We analyzed bacteria and arachaea from the belly buttons of humans from two different populations sampled within a nation-wide citizen science project. We examined bacterial and archaeal phylotypes present and their diversity using multiplex pyrosequencing of 16S rDNA libraries. We then tested the oligarchy hypothesis borrowed from tropical macroecology, namely that the frequency of phylotypes in one sample of humans predicts its frequency in another independent sample. We also tested the predictions that frequent phylotypes (the oligarchs) tend to be common when present, and tend to be more phylogenetically clustered than rare phylotypes. Once rarefied to four hundred reads per sample, bacterial communities from belly buttons proved to be at least as diverse as communities known from other skin studies (on average 67 bacterial phylotypes per belly button). However, the belly button communities were strongly dominated by a few taxa: only 6 phylotypes occurred on >80% humans. While these frequent bacterial phylotypes (the archaea were all rare) are a tiny part of the total diversity of bacteria in human navels (<0.3% of phylotypes), they constitute a major portion of individual reads (∼1/3), and are predictable among independent samples of humans, in terms of both the occurrence and evolutionary relatedness (more closely related than randomly drawn equal sets of phylotypes). Thus, the hypothesis that “oligarchs” dominate diverse assemblages appears to be supported by human-associated bacteria. Although it remains difficult to predict which species of bacteria might be found on a particular human, predicting which species are most frequent (or rare) seems more straightforward, at least for those species living in belly buttons. PMID:23144827

Response-Related Potentials during Semantic Priming: The Effect of a Speeded Button Response Task on ERPs

PubMed Central

van Vliet, Marijn; Manyakov, Nikolay V.; Storms, Gert; Fias, Wim; Wiersema, Jan R.; Van Hulle, Marc M.

2014-01-01

This study examines the influence of a button response task on the event-related potential (ERP) in a semantic priming experiment. Of particular interest is the N400 component. In many semantic priming studies, subjects are asked to respond to a stimulus as fast and accurately as possible by pressing a button. Response time (RT) is recorded in parallel with an electroencephalogram (EEG) for ERP analysis. In this case, the response occurs in the time window used for ERP analysis and response-related components may overlap with stimulus-locked ones such as the N400. This has led to a recommendation against such a design, although the issue has not been explored in depth. Since studies keep being published that disregard this issue, a more detailed examination of influence of response-related potentials on the ERP is needed. Two experiments were performed in which subjects pressed one of two buttons with their dominant hand in response to word-pairs with varying association strength (AS), indicating a personal judgement of association between the two words. In the first experiment, subjects were instructed to respond as fast and accurately as possible. In the second experiment, subjects delayed their button response to enforce a one second interval between the onset of the target word and the button response. Results show that in the first experiment a P3 component and motor-related potentials (MRPs) overlap with the N400 component, which can cause a misinterpretation of the latter. In order to study the N400 component, the button response should be delayed to avoid contamination of the ERP with response-related components. PMID:24516556

Comparative assessment of button cells using a normalized index for potential pollution by heavy metals.

PubMed

Moreno-Merino, Luis; Jiménez-Hernández, Maria Emilia; de la Losa, Almudena; Huerta-Muñoz, Virginia

2015-09-01

Many household batteries worldwide still end up in landfills or are incinerated due to inefficient collection and recycling schemes. Toxic heavy metals from improperly discarded button cells pose a serious risk to human health and the environment, as they can pollute air, soil and water. This paper analyses a series of button cells selected from batteries available on the retail market, and compares their polluting potential. A total of 64 batteries were subjected to chemical analyses of 19 elements - including metals and metalloids - , and energy density measurements. The samples were from four different brands of each of the four most common button cell technologies (alkaline, zinc-air, silver oxide and lithium). An energy-normalized index - the Weighted Potential Pollution Index (WPPI) - was proposed to compare the polluting potential of the different batteries. The higher the battery WPPI score, the greater the content in toxic elements and the lower the energy output. The results of the chemical composition and energy density varied depending on the construction technology of the button cells. However, significant differences in both variables were also found when comparing different brands within the same technology. The differences in WPPI values confirmed the existence of a significant margin to reduce the environmental impact of discarded button cells simply by avoiding the most polluting options. The choice of the battery with the most favourable WPPI produced a reduction in potential pollution of 3-53% for silver oxide batteries, 4-39% for alkaline, 20-28% for zinc-air and 12-26% for lithium. Comparative potential pollution could be assessed when selecting batteries using an energy-normalized index such as WPPI to reduce the environmental impact of improperly disposed button cells. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The floor effect: impoverished spatial memory for elevator buttons.

PubMed

Vendetti, Michael; Castel, Alan D; Holyoak, Keith J

2013-05-01

People typically remember objects to which they have frequently been exposed, suggesting that memory is a by-product of perception. However, prior research has shown that people have exceptionally poor memory for the features of some objects (e.g., coins) to which they have been exposed over the course of many years. Here, we examined how people remember the spatial layout of the buttons on a frequently used elevator panel, to determine whether physical interaction (rather than simple exposure) would ensure the incidental encoding of spatial information. Participants who worked in an eight-story office building displayed very poor recall for the elevator panel but above-chance performance on a recognition test. Performance was related to how often and how recently the person had used the elevator. In contrast to their poor memory for the spatial layout of the elevator buttons, most people readily recalled small distinctive graffiti on the elevator walls. In a more implicit test, the majority were able to locate their office floor and the eighth floor button when asked to point toward these buttons when in the actual elevator, with the button labels covered. However, identification was very poor for other floors (including the first floor), suggesting that even frequent interaction with information does not always lead to accurate spatial memory. These findings have implications for understanding the complex relationships among attention, expertise, and memory.

Identifying predictive factors for long-term complications following button battery impactions: A case series and literature review.

PubMed

Eliason, Michael J; Melzer, Jonathan M; Winters, Jessica R; Gallagher, Thomas Q

2016-08-01

To complement a case series review of button battery impactions managed at our single military tertiary care center with a thorough literature review of laboratory research and clinical cases to develop a protocol to optimize patient care. Specifically, to identify predictive factors of long-term complications which can be used by the pediatric otolaryngologist to guide patient management after button battery impactions. A retrospective review of the Department of Defense's electronic medical record systems was conducted to identify patients with button battery ingestions and then characterize their treatment course. A thorough literature review complemented the lessons learned to identify potentially predictive clinical measures for long-term complications. Eight patients were identified as being treated for button battery impaction in the aerodigestive tract with two sustaining long-term complications. The median age of the patients treated was 33 months old and the median estimated time of impaction in the aerodigestive tract prior to removal was 10.5 h. Time of impaction, anatomic direction of the battery's negative pole, and identifying specific battery parameters were identified as factors that may be employed to predict sequelae. Based on case reviews, advancements in battery manufacturing, and laboratory research, there are distinct clinical factors that should be assessed at the time of initial therapy to guide follow-up management to minimize potential catastrophic sequelae of button battery ingestion. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Intelligent Automatic Right-Left Sign Lamp Based on Brain Signal Recognition System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winda, A.; Sofyan; Sthevany; Vincent, R. S.

2017-12-01

Comfort as a part of the human factor, plays important roles in nowadays advanced automotive technology. Many of the current technologies go in the direction of automotive driver assistance features. However, many of the driver assistance features still require physical movement by human to enable the features. In this work, the proposed method is used in order to make certain feature to be functioning without any physical movement, instead human just need to think about it in their mind. In this work, brain signal is recorded and processed in order to be used as input to the recognition system. Right-Left sign lamp based on the brain signal recognition system can potentially replace the button or switch of the specific device in order to make the lamp work. The system then will decide whether the signal is ‘Right’ or ‘Left’. The decision of the Right-Left side of brain signal recognition will be sent to a processing board in order to activate the automotive relay, which will be used to activate the sign lamp. Furthermore, the intelligent system approach is used to develop authorized model based on the brain signal. Particularly Support Vector Machines (SVMs)-based classification system is used in the proposed system to recognize the Left-Right of the brain signal. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed intelligent Automatic brain signal-based Right-Left sign lamp access control system. The signal is processed by Linear Prediction Coefficient (LPC) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), and the resulting experiment shows the training and testing accuracy of 100% and 80%, respectively.

Drying kinetics and characteristics of combined infrared-vacuum drying of button mushroom slices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salehi, Fakhreddin; Kashaninejad, Mahdi; Jafarianlari, Ali

2017-05-01

Infrared-vacuum drying characteristics of button mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus) were evaluated in a combined dryer system. The effects of drying parameters, including infrared radiation power (150-375 W), system pressure (5-15 kPa) and time (0-160 min) on the drying kinetics and characteristics of button mushroom slices were investigated. Both the infrared lamp power and vacuum pressure influenced the drying time of button mushroom slices. The rate constants of the nine different kinetic's models for thin layer drying were established by nonlinear regression analysis of the experimental data which were found to be affected mainly by the infrared power level while system pressure had a little effect on the moisture ratios. The regression results showed that the Page model satisfactorily described the drying behavior of button mushroom slices with highest R value and lowest SE values. The effective moisture diffusivity increases as power increases and range between 0.83 and 2.33 × 10-9 m2/s. The rise in infrared power has a negative effect on the ΔE and with increasing in infrared radiation power it was increased.

Play it again, Sam: brain correlates of emotional music recognition.

PubMed

Altenmüller, Eckart; Siggel, Susann; Mohammadi, Bahram; Samii, Amir; Münte, Thomas F

2014-01-01

Music can elicit strong emotions and can be remembered in connection with these emotions even decades later. Yet, the brain correlates of episodic memory for highly emotional music compared with less emotional music have not been examined. We therefore used fMRI to investigate brain structures activated by emotional processing of short excerpts of film music successfully retrieved from episodic long-term memory. Eighteen non-musicians volunteers were exposed to 60 structurally similar pieces of film music of 10 s length with high arousal ratings and either less positive or very positive valence ratings. Two similar sets of 30 pieces were created. Each of these was presented to half of the participants during the encoding session outside of the scanner, while all stimuli were used during the second recognition session inside the MRI-scanner. During fMRI each stimulation period (10 s) was followed by a 20 s resting period during which participants pressed either the "old" or the "new" button to indicate whether they had heard the piece before. Musical stimuli vs. silence activated the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, right insula, right middle frontal gyrus, bilateral medial frontal gyrus and the left anterior cerebellum. Old pieces led to activation in the left medial dorsal thalamus and left midbrain compared to new pieces. For recognized vs. not recognized old pieces a focused activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus and the left cerebellum was found. Positive pieces activated the left medial frontal gyrus, the left precuneus, the right superior frontal gyrus, the left posterior cingulate, the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, and the left thalamus compared to less positive pieces. Specific brain networks related to memory retrieval and emotional processing of symphonic film music were identified. The results imply that the valence of a music piece is important for memory performance and is recognized very fast.

Play it again, Sam: brain correlates of emotional music recognition

PubMed Central

Altenmüller, Eckart; Siggel, Susann; Mohammadi, Bahram; Samii, Amir; Münte, Thomas F.

2014-01-01

Background: Music can elicit strong emotions and can be remembered in connection with these emotions even decades later. Yet, the brain correlates of episodic memory for highly emotional music compared with less emotional music have not been examined. We therefore used fMRI to investigate brain structures activated by emotional processing of short excerpts of film music successfully retrieved from episodic long-term memory. Methods: Eighteen non-musicians volunteers were exposed to 60 structurally similar pieces of film music of 10 s length with high arousal ratings and either less positive or very positive valence ratings. Two similar sets of 30 pieces were created. Each of these was presented to half of the participants during the encoding session outside of the scanner, while all stimuli were used during the second recognition session inside the MRI-scanner. During fMRI each stimulation period (10 s) was followed by a 20 s resting period during which participants pressed either the “old” or the “new” button to indicate whether they had heard the piece before. Results: Musical stimuli vs. silence activated the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, right insula, right middle frontal gyrus, bilateral medial frontal gyrus and the left anterior cerebellum. Old pieces led to activation in the left medial dorsal thalamus and left midbrain compared to new pieces. For recognized vs. not recognized old pieces a focused activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus and the left cerebellum was found. Positive pieces activated the left medial frontal gyrus, the left precuneus, the right superior frontal gyrus, the left posterior cingulate, the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, and the left thalamus compared to less positive pieces. Conclusion: Specific brain networks related to memory retrieval and emotional processing of symphonic film music were identified. The results imply that the valence of a music piece is important for memory performance and is recognized very fast. PMID:24634661

Discriminating between intentional and unintentional gaze fixation using multimodal-based fuzzy logic algorithm for gaze tracking system with NIR camera sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naqvi, Rizwan Ali; Park, Kang Ryoung

2016-06-01

Gaze tracking systems are widely used in human-computer interfaces, interfaces for the disabled, game interfaces, and for controlling home appliances. Most studies on gaze detection have focused on enhancing its accuracy, whereas few have considered the discrimination of intentional gaze fixation (looking at a target to activate or select it) from unintentional fixation while using gaze detection systems. Previous research methods based on the use of a keyboard or mouse button, eye blinking, and the dwell time of gaze position have various limitations. Therefore, we propose a method for discriminating between intentional and unintentional gaze fixation using a multimodal fuzzy logic algorithm applied to a gaze tracking system with a near-infrared camera sensor. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the conventional method for determining gaze fixation.

A user's guide for DTIZE an interactive digitizing and graphical editing computer program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, C. C.

1981-01-01

A guide for DTIZE, a two dimensional digitizing program with graphical editing capability, is presented. DTIZE provides the capability to simultaneously create and display a picture on the display screen. Data descriptions may be permanently saved in three different formats. DTIZE creates the picture graphics in the locator mode, thus inputting one coordinate each time the terminator button is pushed. Graphic input devices (GIN) are also used to select function command menu. These menu commands and the program's interactive prompting sequences provide a complete capability for creating, editing, and permanently recording a graphical picture file. DTIZE is written in FORTRAN IV language for the Tektronix 4081 graphic system utilizing the Plot 80 Distributed Graphics Library (DGL) subroutines. The Tektronix 4953/3954 Graphic Tablet with mouse, pen, or joystick are used as graphics input devices to create picture graphics.

Button batteries

MedlinePlus

Swallowing batteries ... These devices use button batteries: Calculators Cameras Hearing aids Penlights Watches ... If a person puts the battery up their nose and breathes it further in, ... problems Cough Pneumonia (if the battery goes unnoticed) ...

Poisoning: First Aid

MedlinePlus

... Plants Foreign bodies such as watch or button batteries How you treat someone who may have been ... have applied medicated patches or swallowed a button battery. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately ...

A voxel-based mouse for internal dose calculations using Monte Carlo simulations (MCNP).

PubMed

Bitar, A; Lisbona, A; Thedrez, P; Sai Maurel, C; Le Forestier, D; Barbet, J; Bardies, M

2007-02-21

Murine models are useful for targeted radiotherapy pre-clinical experiments. These models can help to assess the potential interest of new radiopharmaceuticals. In this study, we developed a voxel-based mouse for dosimetric estimates. A female nude mouse (30 g) was frozen and cut into slices. High-resolution digital photographs were taken directly on the frozen block after each section. Images were segmented manually. Monoenergetic photon or electron sources were simulated using the MCNP4c2 Monte Carlo code for each source organ, in order to give tables of S-factors (in Gy Bq-1 s-1) for all target organs. Results obtained from monoenergetic particles were then used to generate S-factors for several radionuclides of potential interest in targeted radiotherapy. Thirteen source and 25 target regions were considered in this study. For each source region, 16 photon and 16 electron energies were simulated. Absorbed fractions, specific absorbed fractions and S-factors were calculated for 16 radionuclides of interest for targeted radiotherapy. The results obtained generally agree well with data published previously. For electron energies ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 MeV, the self-absorbed fraction varies from 0.98 to 0.376 for the liver, and from 0.89 to 0.04 for the thyroid. Electrons cannot be considered as 'non-penetrating' radiation for energies above 0.5 MeV for mouse organs. This observation can be generalized to radionuclides: for example, the beta self-absorbed fraction for the thyroid was 0.616 for I-131; absorbed fractions for Y-90 for left kidney-to-left kidney and for left kidney-to-spleen were 0.486 and 0.058, respectively. Our voxel-based mouse allowed us to generate a dosimetric database for use in preclinical targeted radiotherapy experiments.

Vascular ring complicates accidental button battery ingestion.

PubMed

Mercer, Ronald W; Schwartz, Matthew C; Stephany, Joshua; Donnelly, Lane F; Franciosi, James P; Epelman, Monica

2015-01-01

Button battery ingestion can lead to dangerous complications, including vasculoesophageal fistula formation. The presence of a vascular ring may complicate battery ingestion if the battery lodges at the level of the ring and its important vascular structures. We report a 4-year-old boy with trisomy 21 who was diagnosed with a vascular ring at the time of button battery ingestion and died 9 days after presentation due to massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding from esophageal erosion and vasculoesophageal fistula formation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Graphical User Interface for a Remote Medical Monitoring System: U.S. Army Medic Recommendations

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

screens. The majority of medics (70%) also wanted a name lis! screen that, when tapped , would go to an individual patient screen. In the name list...button has been pushed. Tapping on thaI button would prompt the user to enter the password. Tapping on the light button would illuminate the screen...a summary of current local weather conditions would be dis- played in the lower ! eft of the screen. In the lower right of this map screen is

Calmodulin binds to inv protein: implication for the regulation of inv function.

PubMed

Yasuhiko, Y; Imai, F; Ookubo, K; Takakuwa, Y; Shiokawa, K; Yokoyama, T

2001-12-01

Establishment of the left-right asymmetry of internal organs is essential for the normal development of vertebrates. The inv mutant in mice shows a constant reversal of left-right asymmetry and although the inv gene has been cloned, its biochemical and cell biological functions have not been defined. Here, we show that calmodulin binds to mouse inv protein at two sites (IQ1 and IQ2). The binding of calmodulin to the IQ2 site occurs in the absence of Ca(2+) and is not observed in the presence of Ca(2+). Injection of mouse inv mRNA into the right blastomere of Xenopus embryos at the two-cell stage randomized the left-right asymmetry of the embryo and altered the patterns of Xnr-1 and Pitx2 expression. Importantly, inv mRNA that lacked the region encoding the IQ2 site was unable to randomize left-right asymmetry in Xenopus embryos, implying that the IQ2 site is essential for inv to randomize left-right asymmetry in Xenopus. These results suggest that calmodulin binding may regulate inv function. Based on our findings, we propose a model for the regulation of inv function by calcium-calmodulin and discuss its implications.

Rotatin is a novel gene required for axial rotation and left-right specification in mouse embryos.

PubMed

Faisst, Anja M; Alvarez-Bolado, Gonzalo; Treichel, Dieter; Gruss, Peter

2002-04-01

The genetic cascade that governs left-right (L-R) specification is starting to be elucidated. In the mouse, the lateral asymmetry of the body axis is revealed first by the asymmetric expression of nodal, lefty2 and pitx2 in the left lateral plate mesoderm of the neurulating embryo. Here we describe a novel gene, rotatin, essential for the correct expression of the key L-R specification genes nodal, lefty and Pitx2. Embryos deficient in rotatin show also randomized heart looping and delayed neural tube closure, and fail to undergo the critical morphogenetic step of axial rotation. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA is predicted to contain at least three transmembrane domains. Our results show a novel key player in the genetic cascade that determines L-R specification, and suggest a causal link between this process and axial rotation.

High current capacity electrical connector

DOEpatents

Bettis, Edward S.; Watts, Harry L.

1976-01-13

An electrical connector is provided for coupling high current capacity electrical conductors such as copper busses or the like. The connector is arranged in a "sandwiched" configuration in which a conductor plate contacts the busses along major surfaces thereof clamped between two stainless steel backing plates. The conductor plate is provided with a plurality of contact buttons affixed therein in a spaced array such that the caps of the buttons extend above the conductor plate surface to contact the busses. When clamping bolts provided through openings in the sandwiched arrangement are tightened, Belleville springs provided under the rim of each button cap are compressed and resiliently force the caps into contact with the busses' contacting surfaces to maintain a predetermined electrical contact area provided by the button cap tops. The contact area does not change with changing thermal or mechanical stresses applied to the coupled conductors.

Button fixation technique for Achilles tendon reinsertion: a biomechanical study.

PubMed

Awogni, David; Chauvette, Guillaume; Lemieux, Marie-Line; Balg, Frédéric; Langelier, Ève; Allard, Jean-Pascal

2014-01-01

Chronic insertional tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon is a frequent and disabling pathologic entity. Operative treatment is indicated for patients for whom nonoperative management has failed. The treatment can consist of the complete detachment of the tendon insertion and extensive debridement. We biomechanically tested a new operative technique that uses buttons for fixation of the Achilles tendon insertion on the posterior calcaneal tuberosity and compared it with 2 standard bone anchor techniques. A total of 40 fresh-frozen cadaver specimens were used to compare 3 fixation techniques for reinserting the Achilles tendon: single row anchors, double row anchors, and buttons. The ultimate loads and failure mechanisms were recorded. The button assembly (median load 764 N, range 713 to 888) yielded a median fixation strength equal to 202% (range 137% to 251%) of that obtained with the double row anchors (median load 412 N, range 301 to 571) and 255% (range 213% to 317%) of that obtained with the single row anchors (median load 338 N, range 241 to 433N). The most common failure mechanisms were suture breakage with the buttons (55%) and pull out of the implant with the double row (70%) and single row (85%) anchors. The results of the present biomechanical cadaver study have shown that Achilles tendon reinsertion fixation using the button technique provides superior pull out strength than the bone anchors tested. Copyright © 2014 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel method to avoid the open-sky condition in penetrating keratoplasty: covered cornea technique.

PubMed

Arslan, Osman S; Unal, Mustafa; Arici, Ceyhun; Cicik, Erdoğan; Mangan, Serhat; Atalay, Eray

2014-09-01

The aim of this study was to present a novel technique to avoid the open-sky condition in pediatric and adult penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Seventy-two eyes of 65 infants and children and 44 eyes of 44 adult patients were operated on using this technique. After trephining the recipient cornea up to a depth of 50% to 70%, the anterior chamber was entered at 1 point. Then, only a 2 clock hour segment of the recipient button was incised, and this segment was sutured to the recipient rim with a single tight suture. The procedure was repeated until the entire recipient button was excised and resutured. The donor corneal button was sutured to the recipient corneal rim. The sutures between the recipient button and the rim were then cut off, and the recipient button was drawn out. None of the patients operated on with this technique developed complications related to the open-sky condition. Visual acuities, graft failure rates, and endothelial cell loss were comparable with the findings of studies performed for conventional PK. The technique described avoids the open-sky condition during the entire PK procedure. Endothelial cell loss rates are acceptable.

Surgical treatment of pectoralis major muscle rupture with adjustable cortical button.

PubMed

Pochini, Alberto de Castro; Rodrigues, Marcus de Souza Barbosa; Yamashita, Larissa; Belangero, Paulo Santoro; Andreoli, Carlos Vicente; Ejnisman, Benno

2018-01-01

To assess the tendon reconstruction technique for total rupture of the pectoralis major muscle using an adjustable cortical button. Prospective study of 27 male patients with a mean age of 29.9 (SD = 5.3 years) and follow-up of 2.3 years. The procedure consisted of autologous grafts taken from the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons and an adjustable cortical button. Patients were evaluated functionally by the Bak criteria. The surgical treatment of pectoralis major muscle tendon reconstruction was performed in the early stages (three weeks) in six patients (22.2%) and in 21 patients (77.8%), in the late stages. Patients operated with the adjustable cortical button technique obtained 96.3% excellent or good results, with only 3.7% having poor results (Bak criteria). Of the total, 85.2% were injured while performing bench press exercises and 14.8%, during the practice of Brazilian jiu-jitsu or wrestling. All weight-lifting athletes had history of anabolic steroid use. The early or delayed reconstruction of ruptured pectoralis major muscle tendons with considerable muscle retraction, using an adjustable cortical button and autologous knee flexor grafts, showed a high rate of good results.

[Autoshaping of a button-push response and eye movement in human subjects].

PubMed

Kimura, H; Fukui, I; Inaki, K

1990-12-01

Two experiments were conducted with human subjects to investigate the similarities and differences between animal and human behaviors under autoshaping procedures. In these experiments, light served as CS, and display on TV served as US. Whether the pushing button response or gazing response to CS could be obtained in human subjects under Pavlovian conditioning procedure was examined. In Experiment 1, uninstructed naive subjects were placed in a room containing a push-button and a TV display. Within the experimental sessions, the push-button was lit for 8 s as CS, and then paired with the display of a soft pornographic program on TV for 10 s. The result indicated that the modeling of pushing button promoted the increase of response probability among the subjects. The trials conducted after the rest period indicated an increase of response probability. In Experiment 2, a 4 cm square translucent panel was lit for 20 s as CS, and then paired with the display of a computer graphic picture on TV for 8 s as US. Some subjects started gazing at the CS for several seconds. These results indicated that some subjects could acquire the gazing response under the autoshaping procedure.

Signing off

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2001-01-01

A new gadget for physics teachers everywhere Recently released onto the market we can now present the Deluxe Remote Control for use by teachers everywhere. It has several innovative features which should help hard pressed teachers organize their lives and their classrooms. At the top of the remote control, easily accessed, are three OFF buttons. These will help the physics teacher reintegrate with society at the end of the day, at weekends and in the holidays. In the important top left position is the 'Teacher Voice OFF' This allows the teacher to speak normally, rather than continue as if addressing a class of 30 across a noisy swimming pool. No less important, two other buttons switch off the teacher's organizing instinct (so that there is no inclination at all to organize any large group of people encountered on holiday into a line) and the teacher's analysing instinct (so that never again will you end up wondering why the waiter asked you that question rather than just ordering the wine). The class control feature allows the teacher to select at will from fully integrated fun, soft and stern modes. Switching time is less than one second, leading to effortless changes of mood in the classroom. In these times when records must be kept up to date teachers will value the 'mark by' feature. Most remotes have featured 'mark by weight' and the very old fashioned 'mark by worth' commands for some time (although this last one, actually evaluating whether a piece of work is good or not, is seldom used). The new breakthrough comes with the 'auto marking' feature for which the anticipated demand is colossal. Most teachers already use their Principal control on existing products. This remote has the normal mute, pause and, important for after-school staff meetings, fast forward functionality. Social interaction is a new concept in physics teacher remote controls. Most teachers have preferred the pause or off settings so these are still provided. The Formal setting is another favourite. Recognizing the need for customer support the What button brings up a help menu explaining the concept of social interaction from first principles. Another set of four buttons controls the class's hands. As you would expect of this top-of-the-range technology it includes hands up, down, on the head and off. Slide controls allow the teacher to set both the volume and tone of the voice (from loud and scary to quiet and caring) And so that even the most clumsy user makes no mistake a set of three buttons makes it quiet clear physics is fun, fun, fun. Today many talk of the possibility of a digital teacher. In prototype models sampling rates are so low that there are long gaps between intervals when the teacher notices what is happening. Although some say this resembles real life practical use remains some way off. However, ... The new breakthrough comes with the 'auto marking' feature for which the anticipated demand is colossal. Philip Britton Head of Physics, Leeds Grammar School, UK

A modified laryngeal tie-forward procedure using metallic implants for treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses.

PubMed

Rossignol, Fabrice; Ouachée, Emilie; Boening, Karl Josef

2012-08-01

To describe a modified laryngeal tie-forward procedure (LTFP) using metallic implants. Retrospective case series. Twenty-seven horses (including 24 race horses) with dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) or palatal instability (PI) diagnosed using high-speed treadmill endoscopy (n = 15), history and resting examination (n = 8), or dynamic endoscopy over ground (n = 4). All horses underwent the modified LTFP. Modifications of the surgical procedure consisted in the use of 3 metallic stents called Suture Button(TM) through which the sutures are threaded and in a tying technique that involved a single knot connecting left and right suture loops (versus tying each separately). Lateral radiographs were taken 24 hours after surgery. Follow-up was obtained by telephone communication with trainers or owners. Surgery was performed without complications on all horses. The 3 metallic buttons were clearly visible on the postoperative radiographic examination. No evidence of suture breakage was observed 24 hours postoperatively based on radiographs. In other aspects, this technique is not very different from that originally described by Ducharme et al; it is an innovation that could offer some advantages to the surgeons and increase suture resistance to pullout from the thyroid cartilage. Our technique was used without complication in a small group of horses and return to performance may be similar to the original technique. © Copyright 2012 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Assessment of dedicated low-dose cardiac micro-CT reconstruction algorithms using the left ventricular volume of small rodents as a performance measure.

PubMed

Maier, Joscha; Sawall, Stefan; Kachelrieß, Marc

2014-05-01

Phase-correlated microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) imaging plays an important role in the assessment of mouse models of cardiovascular diseases and the determination of functional parameters as the left ventricular volume. As the current gold standard, the phase-correlated Feldkamp reconstruction (PCF), shows poor performance in case of low dose scans, more sophisticated reconstruction algorithms have been proposed to enable low-dose imaging. In this study, the authors focus on the McKinnon-Bates (MKB) algorithm, the low dose phase-correlated (LDPC) reconstruction, and the high-dimensional total variation minimization reconstruction (HDTV) and investigate their potential to accurately determine the left ventricular volume at different dose levels from 50 to 500 mGy. The results were verified in phantom studies of a five-dimensional (5D) mathematical mouse phantom. Micro-CT data of eight mice, each administered with an x-ray dose of 500 mGy, were acquired, retrospectively gated for cardiac and respiratory motion and reconstructed using PCF, MKB, LDPC, and HDTV. Dose levels down to 50 mGy were simulated by using only a fraction of the projections. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated as a measure of image quality. Left ventricular volume was determined using different segmentation algorithms (Otsu, level sets, region growing). Forward projections of the 5D mouse phantom were performed to simulate a micro-CT scan. The simulated data were processed the same way as the real mouse data sets. Compared to the conventional PCF reconstruction, the MKB, LDPC, and HDTV algorithm yield images of increased quality in terms of CNR. While the MKB reconstruction only provides small improvements, a significant increase of the CNR is observed in LDPC and HDTV reconstructions. The phantom studies demonstrate that left ventricular volumes can be determined accurately at 500 mGy. For lower dose levels which were simulated for real mouse data sets, the HDTV algorithm shows the best performance. At 50 mGy, the deviation from the reference obtained at 500 mGy were less than 4%. Also the LDPC algorithm provides reasonable results with deviation less than 10% at 50 mGy while PCF and MKB reconstruction show larger deviations even at higher dose levels. LDPC and HDTV increase CNR and allow for quantitative evaluations even at dose levels as low as 50 mGy. The left ventricular volumes exemplarily illustrate that cardiac parameters can be accurately estimated at lowest dose levels if sophisticated algorithms are used. This allows to reduce dose by a factor of 10 compared to today's gold standard and opens new options for longitudinal studies of the heart.

Assessment of dedicated low-dose cardiac micro-CT reconstruction algorithms using the left ventricular volume of small rodents as a performance measure

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

Maier, Joscha, E-mail: joscha.maier@dkfz.de; Sawall, Stefan; Kachelrieß, Marc

2014-05-15

Purpose: Phase-correlated microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) imaging plays an important role in the assessment of mouse models of cardiovascular diseases and the determination of functional parameters as the left ventricular volume. As the current gold standard, the phase-correlated Feldkamp reconstruction (PCF), shows poor performance in case of low dose scans, more sophisticated reconstruction algorithms have been proposed to enable low-dose imaging. In this study, the authors focus on the McKinnon-Bates (MKB) algorithm, the low dose phase-correlated (LDPC) reconstruction, and the high-dimensional total variation minimization reconstruction (HDTV) and investigate their potential to accurately determine the left ventricular volume at different dose levelsmore » from 50 to 500 mGy. The results were verified in phantom studies of a five-dimensional (5D) mathematical mouse phantom. Methods: Micro-CT data of eight mice, each administered with an x-ray dose of 500 mGy, were acquired, retrospectively gated for cardiac and respiratory motion and reconstructed using PCF, MKB, LDPC, and HDTV. Dose levels down to 50 mGy were simulated by using only a fraction of the projections. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated as a measure of image quality. Left ventricular volume was determined using different segmentation algorithms (Otsu, level sets, region growing). Forward projections of the 5D mouse phantom were performed to simulate a micro-CT scan. The simulated data were processed the same way as the real mouse data sets. Results: Compared to the conventional PCF reconstruction, the MKB, LDPC, and HDTV algorithm yield images of increased quality in terms of CNR. While the MKB reconstruction only provides small improvements, a significant increase of the CNR is observed in LDPC and HDTV reconstructions. The phantom studies demonstrate that left ventricular volumes can be determined accurately at 500 mGy. For lower dose levels which were simulated for real mouse data sets, the HDTV algorithm shows the best performance. At 50 mGy, the deviation from the reference obtained at 500 mGy were less than 4%. Also the LDPC algorithm provides reasonable results with deviation less than 10% at 50 mGy while PCF and MKB reconstruction show larger deviations even at higher dose levels. Conclusions: LDPC and HDTV increase CNR and allow for quantitative evaluations even at dose levels as low as 50 mGy. The left ventricular volumes exemplarily illustrate that cardiac parameters can be accurately estimated at lowest dose levels if sophisticated algorithms are used. This allows to reduce dose by a factor of 10 compared to today's gold standard and opens new options for longitudinal studies of the heart.« less

Soft robot design methodology for `push-button' manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paik, Jamie

2018-06-01

`Push-button' or fully automated manufacturing would enable the production of robots with zero intervention from human hands. Realizing this utopia requires a fundamental shift from a sequential (design-materials-manufacturing) to a concurrent design methodology.

MedlinePlus FAQ: Disease or Condition Information

MedlinePlus

... on the Health Topics button on the MedlinePlus homepage. You can also find the Health Topics button ... MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs For Developers U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 ...

Patients with mild cognitive impairment have an abnormal upper-alpha event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) during a task of temporal attention.

PubMed

Caravaglios, Giuseppe; Muscoso, Emma Gabriella; Di Maria, Giulia; Costanzo, Erminio

2015-03-01

There are several evidences indicating that an impairment in attention-executive functions is present in prodromal Alzheimer's disease and predict future global cognitive decline. In particular, the issue of temporal orienting of attention in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease has been overlooked. The present research aimed to explore whether subtle deficits of cortical activation are present in these patients early in the course of the disease. We studied the upper-alpha event-related synchronization/desynchronization phenomenon during a paradigm of temporal orientation of attention. MCI patients (n = 27) and healthy elderly controls (n = 15) performed a task in which periodically omitted tones had to be predicted and their virtual onset time had to be marked by pressing a button. Single-trial responses were measured, respectively, before and after the motor response. Then, upper-alpha responses were compared to upper-alpha power during eyes-closed resting state. The time course of the task was characterized by two different behavioral conditions: (1) a pre-event epoch, in which the subject awaited the virtual onset of the omitted tone, (2) a post-event epoch (after button pressing), in which the subject was in a post-motor response condition. The principal findings are: (1) during the waiting epoch, only healthy elderly had an upper-alpha ERD at the level of both temporal and posterior brain regions; (2) during the post-motor epoch, the aMCI patients had a weaker upper-alpha ERS on prefrontal regions; (3) only healthy elderly showed a laterality effect: (a) during the waiting epoch, the upper-alpha ERD was greater at the level of the right posterior-temporal lead; during the post-motor epoch, the upper alpha ERS was greater on the left prefrontal lead. The relevance of these findings is that the weaker upper-alpha response observed in aMCI patients is evident even if the accuracy of the behavioral performance (i.e., button pressing) is still spared. This abnormal upper-alpha response might represent an early biomarker of the attention-executive network impairment in MCI due to Alzheimer's disease.

Modified Labial Button Technique for Maintaining Occlusion After Caudal Mandibular Fracture/Temporomandibular Joint Luxation in the Cat.

PubMed

Goodman, Alice E; Carmichael, Daniel T

2016-03-01

Maxillofacial trauma in cats often results in mandibular symphyseal separation in addition to injuries of the caudal mandible and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Caudal mandibular and TMJ injuries are difficult to access and stabilize using direct fixation techniques, thus indirect fixation is commonly employed. The immediate goals of fixation include stabilization for return to normal occlusion and function with the long-term objective of bony union. Indirect fixation techniques commonly used for stabilization of caudal mandibular and temporomandibular joint fracture/luxation include maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) with acrylic composite, interarcade wiring, tape muzzles, and the bignathic encircling and retaining device (BEARD) technique. This article introduces a modification of the previously described "labial reverse suture through buttons" technique used by Koestlin et al and the "labial locking with buttons" technique by Rocha et al. In cases with minimally displaced subcondylar and pericondylar fractures without joint involvement, the labial button technique can provide sufficient stabilization for healing. Advantages of the modified labial button technique include ease of application, noninvasive nature, and use of readily available materials. The construct can remain in place for a variable of amount of time, depending on its intended purpose. It serves as an alternative to the tape muzzle, which is rarely tolerated by cats. This technique can be easily used in conjunction with other maxillomandibular repairs, such as cerclage wire fixation of mandibular symphyseal separation. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate a modified labial button technique for maintaining occlusion of feline caudal mandibular fractures/TMJ luxations in a step-by-step fashion.

Effects of contamination by either blood or a hemostatic agent on the shear bond strength of orthodontic buttons

PubMed Central

Alkis, Huseyin; Turkkahraman, Hakan

2013-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effects of contamination by either blood or a hemostatic agent on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic buttons. Methods We used 45 freshly extracted, non-carious, impacted third molars that were divided into 3 groups of 15. Each tooth was etched with 37% phosphoric acid gel for 30 s. Human blood or the blood stopper agent was applied to the tooth surface in groups I and II, respectively. Group III teeth were untreated (controls). Orthodontic buttons were bonded to the teeth using light-curing composite resin. After bonding, the SBS of the button was determined using a Universal testing machine. Any adhesive remaining after debonding was assessed and scored according to the modified adhesive remnant index (ARI). ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey's test was used to determine significant differences in SBS and Fisher's exact test, to determine significant differences in ARI scores among groups. Results ANOVA indicated a significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). The highest SBS values were measured in group III (10.73 ± 0.96 MPa). The SBS values for teeth in groups I and II were significantly lower than that of group III (p < 0.001). The lowest SBS values were observed in group I teeth (4.17 ± 1.11 MPa) (p < 0.001). Conclusions Contamination of tooth surfaces with either blood or hemostatic agent significantly decreased the SBS of orthodontic buttons. When the contamination risk is high, it is recommended to use the blood stopper agent when bonding orthodontic buttons on impacted teeth. PMID:23671834

Smoke alarm tests may not adequately indicate smoke alarm function.

PubMed

Peek-Asa, Corinne; Yang, Jingzhen; Hamann, Cara; Young, Tracy

2011-01-01

Smoke alarms are one of the most promoted prevention strategies to reduce residential fire deaths, and they can reduce residential fire deaths by half. Smoke alarm function can be measured by two tests: the smoke alarm button test and the chemical smoke test. Using results from a randomized trial of smoke alarms, we compared smoke alarm response to the button test and the smoke test. The smoke alarms found in the study homes at baseline were tested, as well as study alarms placed into homes as part of the randomized trial. Study alarms were tested at 12 and 42 months postinstallation. The proportion of alarms that passed the button test but not the smoke test ranged from 0.5 to 5.8% of alarms; this result was found most frequently among ionization alarms with zinc or alkaline batteries. These alarms would indicate to the owner (through the button test) that the smoke alarm was working, but the alarm would not actually respond in the case of a fire (as demonstrated by failing the smoke test). The proportion of alarms that passed the smoke test but not the button test ranged from 1.0 to 3.0%. These alarms would appear nonfunctional to the owner (because the button test failed), even though the alarm would operate in response to a fire (as demonstrated by passing the smoke test). The general public is not aware of the potential for inaccuracy in smoke alarm tests, and burn professionals can advocate for enhanced testing methods. The optimal test to determine smoke alarm function is the chemical smoke test.

The validity, reliability, and utility of the iButton® for measurement of body temperature circadian rhythms in sleep/wake research.

PubMed

Hasselberg, Michael J; McMahon, James; Parker, Kathy

2013-01-01

Changes in core body temperature due to heat transfer through the skin have a major influence on sleep regulation. Traditional measures of skin temperature are often complicated by extensive wiring and are not practical for use in normal living conditions. This review describes studies examining the reliability, validity and utility of the iButton®, a wireless peripheral thermometry device, in sleep/wake research. A review was conducted of English language literature on the iButton as a measure of circadian body temperature rhythms associated with the sleep/wake cycle. Seven studies of the iButtton as a measure of human body temperature were included. The iButton was found to be a reliable and valid measure of body temperature. Its application to human skin was shown to be comfortable and tolerable with no significant adverse reactions. Distal skin temperatures were negatively correlated with sleep/wake activity, and the temperature gradient between the distal and proximal skin (DPG) was identified as an accurate physiological correlate of sleep propensity. Methodological issues included site of data logger placement, temperature masking factors, and temperature data analysis. The iButton is an inexpensive, wireless data logger that can be used to obtain a valid measurement of human skin temperature. It is a practical alternative to traditional measures of circadian rhythms in sleep/wake research. Further research is needed to determine the utility of the iButton in vulnerable populations, including those with neurodegenerative disorders and memory impairment and pediatric populations. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Perceived Conventionality in Co-speech Gestures Involves the Fronto-Temporal Language Network.

PubMed

Wolf, Dhana; Rekittke, Linn-Marlen; Mittelberg, Irene; Klasen, Martin; Mathiak, Klaus

2017-01-01

Face-to-face communication is multimodal; it encompasses spoken words, facial expressions, gaze, and co-speech gestures. In contrast to linguistic symbols (e.g., spoken words or signs in sign language) relying on mostly explicit conventions, gestures vary in their degree of conventionality. Bodily signs may have a general accepted or conventionalized meaning (e.g., a head shake) or less so (e.g., self-grooming). We hypothesized that subjective perception of conventionality in co-speech gestures relies on the classical language network, i.e., the left hemispheric inferior frontal gyrus (IFG, Broca's area) and the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG, Wernicke's area) and studied 36 subjects watching video-recorded story retellings during a behavioral and an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. It is well documented that neural correlates of such naturalistic videos emerge as intersubject covariance (ISC) in fMRI even without involving a stimulus (model-free analysis). The subjects attended either to perceived conventionality or to a control condition (any hand movements or gesture-speech relations). Such tasks modulate ISC in contributing neural structures and thus we studied ISC changes to task demands in language networks. Indeed, the conventionality task significantly increased covariance of the button press time series and neuronal synchronization in the left IFG over the comparison with other tasks. In the left IFG, synchronous activity was observed during the conventionality task only. In contrast, the left pSTG exhibited correlated activation patterns during all conditions with an increase in the conventionality task at the trend level only. Conceivably, the left IFG can be considered a core region for the processing of perceived conventionality in co-speech gestures similar to spoken language. In general, the interpretation of conventionalized signs may rely on neural mechanisms that engage during language comprehension.

Perceived Conventionality in Co-speech Gestures Involves the Fronto-Temporal Language Network

PubMed Central

Wolf, Dhana; Rekittke, Linn-Marlen; Mittelberg, Irene; Klasen, Martin; Mathiak, Klaus

2017-01-01

Face-to-face communication is multimodal; it encompasses spoken words, facial expressions, gaze, and co-speech gestures. In contrast to linguistic symbols (e.g., spoken words or signs in sign language) relying on mostly explicit conventions, gestures vary in their degree of conventionality. Bodily signs may have a general accepted or conventionalized meaning (e.g., a head shake) or less so (e.g., self-grooming). We hypothesized that subjective perception of conventionality in co-speech gestures relies on the classical language network, i.e., the left hemispheric inferior frontal gyrus (IFG, Broca's area) and the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG, Wernicke's area) and studied 36 subjects watching video-recorded story retellings during a behavioral and an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. It is well documented that neural correlates of such naturalistic videos emerge as intersubject covariance (ISC) in fMRI even without involving a stimulus (model-free analysis). The subjects attended either to perceived conventionality or to a control condition (any hand movements or gesture-speech relations). Such tasks modulate ISC in contributing neural structures and thus we studied ISC changes to task demands in language networks. Indeed, the conventionality task significantly increased covariance of the button press time series and neuronal synchronization in the left IFG over the comparison with other tasks. In the left IFG, synchronous activity was observed during the conventionality task only. In contrast, the left pSTG exhibited correlated activation patterns during all conditions with an increase in the conventionality task at the trend level only. Conceivably, the left IFG can be considered a core region for the processing of perceived conventionality in co-speech gestures similar to spoken language. In general, the interpretation of conventionalized signs may rely on neural mechanisms that engage during language comprehension. PMID:29249945

The World Wide Web: A Web Even a Fly Would Love

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryson, E.

Ever since my introduction to the World Wide Web (WWW), it's been love at first byte. Searching on the WWW is similar to being able to go to a public library and allow yourself to be transported to any other book or library around the world by looking at a reference or index and clicking your heels together like Dorothy did in "The Wizard of Oz", only the clicking is done with a computer mouse. During this presentation, we will explore the WWW protocols which allow clients and servers to communicate on the Internet. We will demonstrate the ease with which users can navigate the virtual tidal wave of information available with a mere click of a button. In addition, the workshop will discuss the revolutionary aspects of this network information system and how it's impacting our libraries as a primary mechanism for rapid dissemination of knowledge.

Extension of the PC version of VEPFIT with input and output routines running under Windows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schut, H.; van Veen, A.

1995-01-01

The fitting program VEPFIT has been extended with applications running under the Microsoft-Windows environment facilitating the input and output of the VEPFIT fitting module. We have exploited the Microsoft-Windows graphical users interface by making use of dialog windows, scrollbars, command buttons, etc. The user communicates with the program simply by clicking and dragging with the mouse pointing device. Keyboard actions are limited to a minimum. Upon changing one or more input parameters the results of the modeling of the S-parameter and Ps fractions versus positron implantation energy are updated and displayed. This action can be considered as the first step in the fitting procedure upon which the user can decide to further adapt the input parameters or to forward these parameters as initial values to the fitting routine. The modeling step has proven to be helpful for designing positron beam experiments.

Binge consumption of ethanol during pregnancy leads to significant developmental delay of mouse embryonic brain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sudheendran, Narendran; Bake, Shameena; Miranda, Rajesh C.; Larin, Kirill V.

2014-03-01

Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can be severely detrimental to the development of the brain in fetuses. This study explores the usage of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to the study the effects of maternal consumption of ethanol on brain development in mouse fetuses. On gestational day 14.5, fetuses were collected and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. A swept-source OCT (SSOCT) system was used to acquire 3D images of the brain of ethanol-exposed and control fetuses. The volume of right and left brain ventricles were measured and used to compare between ethanol-exposed and control fetuses. A total of 5 fetuses were used for each of the two groups. The average volumes of the right and left ventricles were measured to be 0.35 and 0.15 mm3 for ethanol-exposed and control fetuses, respectively. The results demonstrated that there is an alcohol-induced developmental delay in mouse fetal brains.

Object representations in ventral and dorsal visual streams: fMRI repetition effects depend on attention and part–whole configuration

PubMed Central

Thoma, Volker; Henson, Richard N.

2011-01-01

The effects of attention and object configuration on the neural responses to short-lag visual image repetition were investigated with fMRI. Attention to one of two object images in a prime display was cued spatially. The images were either intact or split vertically; a manipulation that negates the influence of view-based representations. A subsequent single intact probe image was named covertly. Behavioural priming observed as faster button presses was found for attended primes in both intact and split configurations, but only for uncued primes in the intact configuration. In a voxel-wise analysis, fMRI repetition suppression (RS) was observed in a left mid-fusiform region for attended primes, both intact and split, whilst a right intraparietal region showed repetition enhancement (RE) for intact primes, regardless of attention. In a factorial analysis across regions of interest (ROIs) defined from independent localiser contrasts, RS for attended objects in the ventral stream was significantly left-lateralised, whilst repetition effects in ventral and dorsal ROIs correlated with the amount of priming in specific conditions. These fMRI results extend hybrid theories of object recognition, implicating left ventral stream regions in analytic processing (requiring attention), consistent with prior hypotheses about hemispheric specialisation, and implicating dorsal stream regions in holistic processing (independent of attention). PMID:21554967

78 FR 27995 - Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-13

... fragments, 29 historic ceramic sherds, 1 prehistoric ceramic sherd, 128 unmodified faunal bone fragments, 1 modified deer rib, 3 bone buttons, 4 chipped stone flakes, 2 wooden buttons, 1 historic clay pipe bowl...

Comparison of numeric keyboard and CRT line-labeled buttons for information access. [in computerized, area navigation system for aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, D.

1976-01-01

Test were conducted to determine whether differences in speed and accuracy are experienced when using either line-labeled index buttons or a numeric keyboard for page selection in airborne CRT-display area navigation systems. The experiment was conducted with six airline pilots, each flying the same two simulated RNAV routes. Three pilot subjects used line-labeled buttons adjacent to the CRT screen, while three used a numeric keyboard for page access. The hypothesis of no differences in response times between the two modes of access could not be rejected.

Button battery ingestion: the Greek experience and review of the literature.

PubMed

Amanatidou, Virginia; Sofidiotou, Vassiliki; Fountas, Kostas; Kalostou, Angeliki; Tsamadou, Athina; Papathanassiou, Vassiliki; Neou, Polyxeni

2011-03-01

Foreign body ingestion is a common cause of admission in the pediatric emergency room. In the past, button batteries accounted for less than 2% of the foreign bodies ingested by small children, but in the last 2 decades, they show a rapidly increased frequency. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential risk after button battery ingestion in relation with the clinical manifestations and to perform a treatment-observation protocol in accordance with the international procedure. In a prospective observational analysis from November 2007 through February 2008, 31 cases of button battery ingestion were recorded by the Greek Poison Information Center. The interval between the accidental ingestion and first medical contact ranged from 5 minutes to 10 days. After initial evaluation including clinical examination and radiological localization of the foreign body, all cases were treated as outpatients. Reported complications included "black stools" in 9% and diarrhea in 3% of cases. In 1 case, the battery was endoscopically removed. The role of primary care physicians in informing the public about the potential danger of button battery digestion is crucial. Pediatricians should educate the parents about this hazard, as part of the routine guidelines for childproofing at home. Once again, prolepsis is the best policy.

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

Vuong, A; Chow, J

Purpose: This study investigated the surface dose variation in preclinical irradiation using small animal, when monoenergetic photon beams with energy range from 50 keV to 1.25 MeV were used. Methods: Inhomogeneous, homogeneous and bone-tissue homogeneous mouse phantom based on the same CT image set were used. The homogeneous and bone-tissue homogeneous phantom were created with the relative electron density of all and only bone voxels of the mouse overridden to one, respectively. Monte Carlo simulation based on the EGSnrc-based code was used to calculate the surface dose, when the phantoms were irradiated by a 360° photon arc with energies rangingmore » from 50 keV to 1.25 MeV. The mean surface doses of the three phantoms were calculated. In addition, the surface doses from partial arcs, 45°–315°, 125°–225°, 45°–125° and 225°–315° covering the anterior, posterior, right lateral and left lateral region of the mouse were determined using different photon beam energies. Results: When the prescribed dose at the isocenter of the mouse was 2 Gy, the maximum mean surface doses, found at the 50-keV photon beams, were 0.358 Gy, 0.363 Gy and 0.350 Gy for the inhomogeneous, homogeneous and bone-tissue homogeneous mouse phantom, respectively. The mean surface dose of the mouse was found decreasing with an increase of the photon beam energy. For surface dose in different orientations, the lateral regions of the mouse were receiving lower dose than the anterior and posterior regions. This may be due to the increase of beam attenuation along the horizontal (left-right) axis than the vertical (anterior-posterior) in the mouse. Conclusion: It is concluded that consideration of phantom inhomogeneity in the dose calculation resulted in a lower mean surface dose of the mouse. The mean surface dose also decreased with an increase of photon beam energy in the kilovoltage range.« less

Self-Organization of Temporal Structures — A Possible Solution for the Intervention Problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Lucadou, Walter

2006-10-01

The paper presents an experiment that is a conceptual replication of two earlier experiments which demonstrate entanglement correlations between a quantum physical random process and certain psychological variables of human observers. In the present study button-pushes were used as psychological variables. The button-pushes were performed by the subject with his or her left or right hand in order to "control" (according to the instruction) a random process that could be observed on a display. Each button-push started the next random event which, however, in reality, was independent of the button-pushes. The study consists of three independent sets of data (n = 386) that were gained with almost fee same apparatus in three different experimental situations. The first data set serves as reference. It was an automatic control-run without subjects. The second set was produced mainly by subjects who asked for taking part in a para-psychological experiment and who visited the "Parapsychological Counseling Office" in Freiburg especially for this purpose. Most of them were highly motivated persons who wanted to test their "psi ability". In this case the number of runs could be selected by the subjects before the experimental session. The third set of data (of the same size) was collected during two public exhibitions (at Basel and at Freiburg) where the visitors had the opportunity to participate in a "PK experiment". In this case the number of trials and runs was fixed in advance, but the duration of the experiment was dependent of the speed of button-pushes. The results corroborate the previous studies. The specific way how the subjects pushed the buttons is highly significantly correlated with the independent random process. This correlation shows up for the momentarily generated random events as well as for the previous and the later runs during the experimental session. In a strict sense, only the correlations with the future random events can be interpreted as non-local correlations. The structure of the data, however, allows the conclusion, that all observed correlations can be considered as entanglement-correlations. The number of entanglement-correlations was significantly higher for the highly motivated group (data set 2) than for the unselected group of the exhibition participants (data set 3). The latter, however, where not completely unsuccessful: A subgroup who showed "innovative" behavior also showed significant entanglement-correlations. It could further be shown, that the structure of the matrix of entanglement-correlations is not stable in time and changes if the experiment is repeated. In comparison with previous correlation-experiments, no decline of the effect size was observed. These results are in agreement with the predictions of the "Weak Quantum Theory (WQT)" and the "Model of Pragmatic Information (MPI)". These models interpret the measured correlations as entanglement-correlations within a self-organizing, organizationally closed, psycho-physical system that exist during a certain time-interval (as long as the system is active). The entanglement-correlations cannot be considered as a causal influence (in the sense of a PK-Influence) and thus are called "micro-synchronicity". After a short introduction (1.), the question is discussed how non-local correlations can be created in psycho-physical systems (2.). In chapter (3.) the description of the experimental setting is given and the apparatus (4.) and randomness test of the random event generator (5.) are described. Additionally, an overview of the structure of the data is given (6.) and the analysis methods are described (7.). In chapter (8.) the experimental hypotheses are formulated and the results are reported (9.). After the discussion of the results (10.) the conclusions (11).) of the study are presented.

Disposable Electronic Cigarettes and Electronic Hookahs: Evaluation of Performance

PubMed Central

Williams, Monique; Ghai, Sanjay

2015-01-01

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to characterize the performance of disposable button-activated and disposable airflow-activated electronic cigarettes (EC) and electronic hookahs (EH). Methods: The airflow rate required to produce aerosol, pressure drop, and the aerosol absorbance at 420nm were measured during smoke-outs of 9 disposable products. Three units of each product were tested in these experiments. Results: The airflow rates required to produce aerosol and the aerosol absorbances were lower for button-activated models (3mL/s; 0.41–0.55 absorbance) than for airflow-activated models (7–17mL/s; 0.48–0.84 absorbance). Pressure drop was also lower across button-activated products (range = 6–12mm H2O) than airflow-activated products (range = 15–67mm H20). For 25 of 27 units tested, airflow did not have to be increased during smoke-out to maintain aerosol production, unlike earlier generation models. Two brands had uniform performance characteristics for all parameters, while 3 had at least 1 product that did not function normally. While button-activated models lasted 200 puffs or less and EH airflow-activated models often lasted 400 puffs, none of the models produced as many puffs as advertised. Puff number was limited by battery life, which was shorter in button-activated models. Conclusion: The performance of disposable products was differentiated mainly by the way the aerosol was produced (button vs airflow-activated) rather than by product type (EC vs EH). Users needed to take harder drags on airflow-activated models. Performance varied within models, and battery life limited the number of puffs. Data suggest quality control in manufacturing varies among brands. PMID:25104117

Insertion of Balloon Retained Gastrostomy Buttons: A 5-Year Retrospective Review of 260 Patients

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

Power, Sarah, E-mail: sarahpower28@yahoo.co.uk; Kavanagh, Liam N.; Shields, Mary C.

Radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG) is an established way of maintaining enteral nutrition in patients who cannot maintain nutrition orally. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of primary placement of a wide bore button gastrostomy in a large, varied patient population through retrospective review. All patients who underwent gastrostomy placement from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2009 were identified. 18-Fr gastrostomy buttons (MIC-Key G) were inserted in the majority. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 4.5 years. A total of 260 patients (M:F 140:120, average age 59.2 years) underwent gastrostomy during the study period.more » Overall success rate for RIG placement was 99.6 %, with success rate of 95.3 % for primary button insertion. Indications included neurological disorders (70 %), esophageal/head and neck malignancy (21 %), and other indications (9 %). Major and minor complication rates were 1.2 and 12.8 %, respectively. Thirty-day mortality rate was 6.8 %. One third of patients underwent gastrostomy reinsertion during the study period, the main indication for which was inadvertent catheter removal. Patency rate was high at 99.5 %. The maximum number of procedures in any patient was 8 (n = 2), and the average tube dwell time was 125 days. Primary radiological insertion of a wide bore button gastrostomy is a safe technique, with high success rate, high patency rate, and low major complication rate. We believe that it is feasible to attempt button gastrostomy placement in all patients, once tract length is within limits of tube length. If difficulty is encountered, then a standard tube may simply be placed instead.« less

The joint Simon effect depends on perceived agency, but not intentionality, of the alternative action

PubMed Central

Stenzel, Anna; Dolk, Thomas; Colzato, Lorenza S.; Sellaro, Roberta; Hommel, Bernhard; Liepelt, Roman

2014-01-01

A co-actor's intentionality has been suggested to be a key modulating factor for joint action effects like the joint Simon effect (JSE). However, in previous studies intentionality has often been confounded with agency defined as perceiving the initiator of an action as being the causal source of the action. The aim of the present study was to disentangle the role of agency and intentionality as modulating factors of the JSE. In Experiment 1, participants performed a joint go/nogo Simon task next to a co-actor who either intentionally controlled a response button with own finger movements (agency+/intentionality+) or who passively placed the hand on a response button that moved up and down on its own as triggered by computer signals (agency−/intentionality−). In Experiment 2, we included a condition in which participants believed that the co-actor intentionally controlled the response button with a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) while placing the response finger clearly besides the response button, so that the causal relationship between agent and action effect was perceptually disrupted (agency−/intentionality+). As a control condition, the response button was computer controlled while the co-actor placed the response finger besides the response button (agency−/intentionality−). Experiment 1 showed that the JSE is present with an intentional co-actor and causality between co-actor and action effect, but absent with an unintentional co-actor and a lack of causality between co-actor and action effect. Experiment 2 showed that the JSE is absent with an intentional co-actor, but no causality between co-actor and action effect. Our findings indicate an important role of the co-actor's agency for the JSE. They also suggest that the attribution of agency has a strong perceptual basis. PMID:25140144

The joint Simon effect depends on perceived agency, but not intentionality, of the alternative action.

PubMed

Stenzel, Anna; Dolk, Thomas; Colzato, Lorenza S; Sellaro, Roberta; Hommel, Bernhard; Liepelt, Roman

2014-01-01

A co-actor's intentionality has been suggested to be a key modulating factor for joint action effects like the joint Simon effect (JSE). However, in previous studies intentionality has often been confounded with agency defined as perceiving the initiator of an action as being the causal source of the action. The aim of the present study was to disentangle the role of agency and intentionality as modulating factors of the JSE. In Experiment 1, participants performed a joint go/nogo Simon task next to a co-actor who either intentionally controlled a response button with own finger movements (agency+/intentionality+) or who passively placed the hand on a response button that moved up and down on its own as triggered by computer signals (agency-/intentionality-). In Experiment 2, we included a condition in which participants believed that the co-actor intentionally controlled the response button with a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) while placing the response finger clearly besides the response button, so that the causal relationship between agent and action effect was perceptually disrupted (agency-/intentionality+). As a control condition, the response button was computer controlled while the co-actor placed the response finger besides the response button (agency-/intentionality-). Experiment 1 showed that the JSE is present with an intentional co-actor and causality between co-actor and action effect, but absent with an unintentional co-actor and a lack of causality between co-actor and action effect. Experiment 2 showed that the JSE is absent with an intentional co-actor, but no causality between co-actor and action effect. Our findings indicate an important role of the co-actor's agency for the JSE. They also suggest that the attribution of agency has a strong perceptual basis.

[Different patterns of brain activation between patients of Alzheimer's disease with and without depression: a functional MRI study during emotion Stroop task].

PubMed

Wang, Hai-tao; Jia, Jian-ping

2007-04-03

To examine whether emotional factor influences the depression onset in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Twenty mild AD patients conforming to the of DSM-IV criteria with a clinical dementia rating score of 1.0 were divided into 2 groups: 11 patients without depression (AD group), and 9 patients with depression confirming to the National Institute of Mental Health-dAD criteria with a Cornell scale for depression in dementia score>12 (dAD group), without significant differences in age, gender, educational level, onset duration, and MMSE scores between these 2 groups. Ten age-and gender ratio-matched healthy elderly subjects were used as controls. Emotion Stroop task was performed to these 3 groups: emotion Stroop task images were presented with colored positive or negative emotion words (such as HAPPY or SUICIDE, etc.) at the left part of the image to induce emotional responses and with pure color at the right part of the image. The subjects were asked to press the right button when the ink color of the emotion word was congruent with the color at the right part, and press the left button when the ink color of the word was not congruent with the color at the right part. Neutral words were used in the test of general word task. The reaction time, false ratio, and missing ratio were recorded. Functional MRI (fMRI) was conducted. The behavioral data were analyzed with SPSS 11.0 software and the fMRI data were analyzed with SPM2 software. The emotion Stroop task showed that the reaction time of the normal control group was 848 ms+/-320 ms, significantly shorter than those of the dAD and AD groups (1528 ms+/-302 ms and 1173 ms+/-237 ms respectively, both P<0.01), and the reaction time of the AD group was significantly shorter than that of the dAD group too (P=0.04). The false ratio of the normal control group was 0.5%, significantly lower than those of the AD and dAD groups (7.6% and 9.7% respectively, both P<0.01), and there was not a significant difference between the latter 2 groups (P=0.22). The missing ratio of the normal control group was 0, significantly lower than those of the AD and dAD groups (3.1% and 2.5% respectively, both P<0.01), and there was not a significant difference between the latter 2 groups (P=0.29). The fMRI results showed that the bilateral amygdala, left parietal lobe, and left prefrontal lobe were activated in the normal control group, bilateral parietal lobe were activated in the AD group; and bilateral prefrontal cortex in dAD group. The subtraction of the results of emotion Stroop task and general word task showed the brain function area activation images as follows simple emotion factors activated the right amygdala, left parietal lobe, and bilateral prefrontal cortices and occipital lobes in the normal control group; bilateral parietal lobes and left dorsal lateral frontal cortex in the AD group; and bilateral prefrontal cortices in the dAD group; With quite different brain activation pattern, the dAD patients are more susceptible to the influence of emotional factors than AD patients. Impaired emotional neurocircus and emotional reaction may play an important role in the depression onset in AD.

No turning, a mouse mutation causing left-right and axial patterning defects.

PubMed

Melloy, P G; Ewart, J L; Cohen, M F; Desmond, M E; Kuehn, M R; Lo, C W

1998-01-01

Patterning along the left/right axes helps establish the orientation of visceral organ asymmetries, a process which is of fundamental importance to the viability of an organism. A linkage between left/right and axial patterning is indicated by the finding that a number of genes involved in left/right patterning also play a role in anteroposterior and dorsoventral patterning. We have recovered a spontaneous mouse mutation causing left/right patterning defects together with defects in anteroposterior and dorsoventral patterning. This mutation is recessive lethal and was named no turning (nt) because the mutant embryos fail to undergo embryonic turning. nt embryos exhibit cranial neural tube closure defects and malformed somites and are caudally truncated. Development of the heart arrests at the looped heart tube stage, with cardiovascular defects indicated by ballooning of the pericardial sac and the pooling of blood in various regions of the embryo. Interestingly, in nt embryos, the direction of heart looping was randomized. Nodal and lefty, two genes that are normally expressed only in the left lateral plate mesoderm, show expression in the right and left lateral plate mesoderm. Lefty, which is normally also expressed in the floorplate, is not found in the prospective floor plate of nt embryos. This suggests the possibility of notochordal defects. This was confirmed by histological analysis and the examination of sonic hedgehog, Brachyury, and HNF-3 beta gene expression. These studies showed that the notochord is present in the early nt embryo, but degenerates as development progresses. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that the notochord plays an active role in left/right patterning. Our results suggest that nt may participate in this process by modulating the notochordal expression of HNF-3 beta.

Method Development for the Determination of Free and Esterified Sterols in Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).

PubMed

Hammann, Simon; Vetter, Walter

2016-05-04

Ergosterol is the major sterol in button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) and can occur as free alcohol or esterified with fatty acids (ergosteryl esters). In this study, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode (GC/MS-SIM) was used to determine ergosterol and ergosteryl esters as well as other sterols and steryl esters in button mushrooms. Different quality control measures were established and sample preparation procedures were compared to prevent the formation of artifacts and the degradation of ergosteryl esters. The final method was then used for the determination of ergosterol (443 ± 44 mg/100 g dry matter (d.m.)) and esterified ergosterol (12 ± 6 mg/100 g d.m.) in button mushroom samples (n = 4). While the free sterol fraction was vastly dominated by ergosterol (∼90% of five sterols in total), the steryl ester fraction was more diversified (nine sterols in total, ergosterol ∼55%) and consisted primarily of linoleic acid esters.

Changes in non-volatile taste components of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) during different stages of freeze drying and freeze drying combined with microwave vacuum drying.

PubMed

Pei, Fei; Shi, Ying; Gao, Xingyang; Wu, Fangning; Mariga, Alfred Mugambi; Yang, Wenjian; Zhao, Liyan; An, Xinxin; Xin, Zhihong; Yang, Fangmei; Hu, Qiuhui

2014-12-15

Button mushroom slices were dehydrated using freeze drying (FD) or FD combined with microwave vacuum drying (FMVD), and the non-volatile component profiles were studied. The results showed that the level of non-volatile components in button mushroom firstly increased during sublimation of FD/FMVD process and then fell during desorption in FD process and MVD in FMVD process. Compared to FD products, the contents of soluble sugars and polyols in FMVD products were relatively low, whereas the contents of total free amino acids were significantly higher, close to the level of fresh mushroom. However, there was no significant difference in the contents of 5'-nucleotides and organic acids between FD and FMVD products. The equivalent umami concentration (EUC) values for FD and FMVD products did not differ from fresh, indicating that both drying methods could effectively preserve MSG (monosodium glutamate)-like components in button mushroom. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Active versus passive listening to auditory streaming stimuli: a near-infrared spectroscopy study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remijn, Gerard B.; Kojima, Haruyuki

2010-05-01

We use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess listeners' cortical responses to a 10-s series of pure tones separated in frequency. Listeners are instructed to either judge the rhythm of these ``streaming'' stimuli (active-response listening) or to listen to the stimuli passively. Experiment 1 shows that active-response listening causes increases in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in response to all stimuli, generally over the (pre)motor cortices. The oxy-Hb increases are significantly larger over the right hemisphere than over the left for the final 5 s of the stimulus. Hemodynamic levels do not vary with changes in the frequency separation between the tones and corresponding changes in perceived rhythm (``gallop,'' ``streaming,'' or ``ambiguous''). Experiment 2 shows that hemodynamic levels are strongly influenced by listening mode. For the majority of time windows, active-response listening causes significantly larger oxy-Hb increases than passive listening, significantly over the left hemisphere during the stimulus and over both hemispheres after the stimulus. This difference cannot be attributed to physical motor activity and preparation related to button pressing after stimulus end, because this is required in both listening modes.

Active versus passive listening to auditory streaming stimuli: a near-infrared spectroscopy study.

PubMed

Remijn, Gerard B; Kojima, Haruyuki

2010-01-01

We use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess listeners' cortical responses to a 10-s series of pure tones separated in frequency. Listeners are instructed to either judge the rhythm of these "streaming" stimuli (active-response listening) or to listen to the stimuli passively. Experiment 1 shows that active-response listening causes increases in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in response to all stimuli, generally over the (pre)motor cortices. The oxy-Hb increases are significantly larger over the right hemisphere than over the left for the final 5 s of the stimulus. Hemodynamic levels do not vary with changes in the frequency separation between the tones and corresponding changes in perceived rhythm ("gallop," "streaming," or "ambiguous"). Experiment 2 shows that hemodynamic levels are strongly influenced by listening mode. For the majority of time windows, active-response listening causes significantly larger oxy-Hb increases than passive listening, significantly over the left hemisphere during the stimulus and over both hemispheres after the stimulus. This difference cannot be attributed to physical motor activity and preparation related to button pressing after stimulus end, because this is required in both listening modes.

The role of the temporoparietal junction in implicit and explicit sense of agency.

PubMed

Hughes, Gethin

2018-05-01

The experience of being in control of one's actions and thier outcomes is called the sense of agency. This is a fundamental feature of our human experience, and may underpin important social functions such as morality and responsibility. Sense of agency can be measured explicitly, by asking people to report their experience, or implicitly by recording the perceived time interval between actions and outcomes (intentional binding). The current studies used transcranial direct current stimulation to assess the role of left and right temporoparietal junction in both implicit and explicit sense of agency. Participants were informed that they could control the volume output of the computer with one of two buttons. Participants experienced reduced sense of agency when the outcome was inconsistent with their action. However, binding did not differ between congruent and incongruent action-outcomes. The modulation of explicit agency ratings by action-outcome congruency was significantly reduced by right TPJ stimulation (experiment 1) but not left TPJ stimulation (experiment 2). Implicit agency was not affected in either stimulation condition. These findings are discussed in terms of the possible neural mechanisms of implicit and explicit sense of agency. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experimental analysis of surface finish in normal conducting cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarrebini-Esfahani, A.; Aslaninejad, M.; Ristic, M.; Long, K.

2017-10-01

A normal conducting 805 MHz test cavity with an in built button shaped sample is used to conduct a series of surface treatment experiments. The button enhances the local fields and influences the likelihood of an RF breakdown event. Because of their smaller sizes, compared to the whole cavity surface, they allow practical investigations of the effects of cavity surface preparation in relation to RF breakdown. Manufacturing techniques and steps for preparing the buttons to improve the surface quality are described in detail. It was observed that even after the final stage of the surface treatment, defects on the surface of the cavities still could be found.

Key Aroma Compounds in Lippia dulcis (Dushi Button).

PubMed

Schmitt, Rainer; Cappi, Michael; Pollner, Gwendola; Greger, Veronika

2018-03-14

An aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) applied on aroma extracts prepared from the edible flower Dushi Button ( Lippia dulcis) resulted in the detection of 34 odor-active compounds. The highest flavor dilution (FD) factors were determined for methyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone, an unknown caramel-like compound, and vanillin. Quantitative measurements performed by application of stable isotope dilution assays (SIDA), followed by a calculation of odor activity values (OAVs), resulted in the revelation of 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone, linalool, myrcene, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, methyl 2-methylbutanoate, and ( Z)-3-hexenal as important contributors to the flavor of Dushi Buttons.

Investigations of the historic textiles excavated from Ancient Ainos (Enez - Turkey) by multiple analytical techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akyuz, Sevim; Akyuz, Tanil; Cakan, Banu; Basaran, Sait

2014-09-01

Some metal ornamented textile specimens and a textile button, excavated from Ancient Ainos (Enez - Turkey), have been investigated using FTIR and EDXRF spectrometry, for the purpose of material identification. FTIR spectral results indicated that textiles were made from partially degummed Bombyx mori silk. The IR spectral investigation of the textile button revealed that some cellulose fillings were used inside the button. The EDXRF analysis of the metal ornaments showed that they were silver plated copper. Surface morphology of the textiles and the metal ornaments were investigated by SEM images. It was shown that textile fibers were highly degraded.

Hybrid: Braking

Science.gov Websites

Button Stopped button highlighted subbanner graphic: gray bar STOPPED When the vehicle is stopped engine when additional power is needed. It also acts as a generator, converting energy from the engine or engine instantly when needed. Main stage: See through car with battery, engine, and electric motor

Armpits, Belly Buttons and Chronic Wounds: The ABCs of Our Body Bacteria

MedlinePlus

... Wounds: The ABCs of Our Body Bacteria Inside Life Science View All Articles | Inside Life Science Home Page Armpits, Belly Buttons and Chronic Wounds: ... Other Findings About Our Resident Microbes This Inside Life Science article also appears on LiveScience . Learn about related ...

Movement strategy and performance in a high-volume order picking workstation.

PubMed

Könemann, Reinier; Bosch, Tim; de Looze, Michiel

2012-01-01

The design of a work station generally prescribes a global movement pattern of the operator, but also leaving some degrees of freedom regarding movement strategy. For a specific order picking work station, we studied the movement strategies, the underlying factors and its impact on performance. Eight subjects performed a task comprising, the picking and placing of an object and pressing a button in eight conditions varying in product weight, movement direction (left vs. right), and placing distance. Movements were analyzed and cycle times were obtained from video-recordings. We observed various types of strategy regarding hand use and global placing mode (reaching vs. placing). The different strategies did not show clear relationships with performance (in contrast to the various work place factors). Ergonomically spoken, the fact that the workstation allows movement variation without loss of performance, is favorable.

KSC-2013-2995

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-06-29

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, CNN correspondent John Zarrella counted down for the ceremonial opening of the new "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility. Smoke bellows near a full-scale set of space shuttle twin solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank at the entrance to the exhibit building. Looking on after pressing buttons to mark the opening the new exhibit, are, from the left, Charlie Bolden, NASA administrator, Bob Cabana, Kennedy director, Rick Abramson, Delaware North Parks and Resorts president, and Bill Moore, Delaware North Parks and Resorts chief operating officer. The new $100 million facility includes interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlight the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit formally opened to the public on June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

An evaluation of total and inhalable samplers for the collection of wood dust in three wood products industries.

PubMed

Harper, Martin; Muller, Brian S

2002-10-01

In 1998 the American Conference for Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) proposed size selective sampling for wood dust based on the inhalable fraction. Thus the proposed threshold limit values (TLVs) require the use of a sampler whose performance matches the inhalable convention. The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler has shown good agreement with the inhalable convention under controlled conditions, and the Button sampler, developed by the University of Cincinnati, has shown reasonable agreement in at least one laboratory study. The Button sampler has not been previously evaluated under wood working conditions, and the IOM has been shown to sample more mass than expected when compared to the standard closed-face cassette, which may be due to the collection of very large particles in wood working environments. Some projectile particles may be > 100 microm aerodynamic diameter and thus outside the range of the convention. Such particles, if present, can bias the estimates of concentration considerably. This study is part of an on-going research focus into selecting the most appropriate inhalable sampler for use in these industries, and to examine the impact of TLV changes. This study compared gravimetric analyses (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Method 0500) of side-by-side personal samples using the Button, IOM, and 37 mm closed-face cassette (CFC) under field-use conditions. A total of 51 good sample pairs were collected from three wood products industries involved in the manufacturing of cabinets, furniture, and shutters. Paired t-tests were run on each sample pair using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. The IOM and the CFC measured statistically different concentrations (p < 0.0005, n = 16). The IOM and Button measured statistically different concentrations (p = 0.020, n = 12). The Button and CFC did not measure statistically different concentrations of wood dust (p = 0.098, n = 23). Sampler ratios for IOM/CFC pairs ranged from 1.19-19 (median 3.35). Sampler ratios for IOM/Button pairs ranged from 0.49-163 (median 3.15). Sampler ratios for CFC/Button pairs ranged from 0.36-27 (median 1.2). In all cases, higher ratios were associated with higher concentrations. The median relative difference between the IOM's and CFC's is in accord with prior field studies in woodworking environments, and, taken together, the data imply a conversion factor greater than the 2.5 normally applied to CFC results to approximate inhalable values, as measured by the IOM. Raising the limit values by approximately 50% appears warranted for this particular situation of inhalable wood dust measured by the IOM. The IOM/Button and CFC/Button ratios were unexpectedly low, which may be due to the exclusion of very large particles, collected by the IOM and CFC samplers. Further work is required to explain these results.

Association of PKD2 (polycystin 2) mutations with left-right laterality defects.

PubMed

Bataille, Stanislas; Demoulin, Nathalie; Devuyst, Olivier; Audrézet, Marie-Pierre; Dahan, Karin; Godin, Michel; Fontès, Michel; Pirson, Yves; Burtey, Stéphane

2011-09-01

Mutations in the PKD1 (polycystin 1) and PKD2 (polycystin 2) genes cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Most Pkd2-null mouse embryos present with left-right laterality defects. For the first time, we report the association of ADPKD resulting from a mutation in PKD2 and left-right asymmetry defects. PKD1 and PKD2 were screened for mutations or large genomic rearrangements in 3 unrelated patients with ADPKD presenting with laterality defects: dextrocardia in one and situs inversus totalis in 2 others. A large gene deletion, a single-exon duplication, and an in-frame duplication respectively, were found in the 3 patients. These polymorphisms were found in all tested relatives with ADPKD, but were absent in unaffected related individuals. No left-right anomalies were found in other members of the 3 families. A possible association between heterotaxia and a PKD2 mutation in our 3 patients is suggested by: (1) the existence of laterality defects in Pkd2-null mouse and zebrafish models and (2) detection of a pathogenic PKD2 mutation in the 3 probands, although PKD2 mutations account for only 15% of ADPKD families. The presence of left-right laterality defects should be systematically screened in larger cohorts of patients with ADPKD harboring PKD2 mutations. Copyright © 2011 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

MicroRNA-127 Promotes Mesendoderm Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Targeting Left-Right Determination Factor 2.

PubMed

Ma, Haixia; Lin, Yu; Zhao, Zhen-Ao; Lu, Xukun; Yu, Yang; Zhang, Xiaoxin; Wang, Qiang; Li, Lei

2016-06-03

Specification of the three germ layers is a fundamental process and is essential for the establishment of organ rudiments. Multiple genetic and epigenetic factors regulate this dynamic process; however, the function of specific microRNAs in germ layer differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we established that microRNA-127 (miR-127) is related to germ layer specification via microRNA array analysis of isolated three germ layers of E7.5 mouse embryos and was verified through differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. miR-127 is highly expressed in endoderm and primitive streak. Overexpression of miR-127 increases and inhibition of miR-127 decreases the expression of mesendoderm markers. We further show that miR-127 promotes mesendoderm differentiation through the nodal pathway, a determinative signaling pathway in early embryogenesis. Using luciferase reporter assay, left-right determination factor 2 (Lefty2), an antagonist of nodal, is identified to be a novel target of miR-127. Furthermore, the role of miR-127 in mesendoderm differentiation is attenuated by Lefty2 overexpression. Altogether, our results indicate that miR-127 accelerates mesendoderm differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells through nodal signaling by targeting Lefty2. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

78 FR 32081 - Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries a.s. Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-29

... Injection System WATER INJECTION circuit ON breakter. TCL TQ=min. 60% WATER INJECTION/ON push- Push and hold till amber button. WATER INJECTION signal comes on (on the front control panel) Before throttling back power: WATER INJECTION/OFF push- Push and check amber button. WATER INJECTION signal extinguishes...

Adapting the eButton to the abilities of children for diet assessment

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Dietary assessment is fraught with error among adults and especially among children. Innovative technology may provide more accurate assessments of dietary intake. One recently available innovative method is a camera worn on the chest (called an eButton) that takes images of whatever is in front of ...

Dietary supplementation with white button mushroom augments the protective immune response to Salmonella vaccine in mice

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We previously showed that dietary white button mushrooms (WBM) enhanced natural killer cell activity and that in vitro WBM supplementation promotes maturation and function of dendritic cells (DC). The current study investigated whether WBM consumption would enhance pathogen-specific immune response ...

James Webb Telescope

Science.gov Websites

. solarsystem mobile thumbnail solarystem mobile button Webb will monitor the weather and atmospheres of the mobile thumbnail exoplanets-weather mobile button Webb will search for signs of life-sustaining water on planets beyond our solar system, and help us learn how planets form. blackholes mobile thumbnail

The Haida Button Blanket.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Vesta

In the Haida nation, there are two phratries, Eagle and Raven, divided into a number of clans sharing one or more emblems. These emblems, inherited from the mother's line, adorn the button blankets which are the traditional ceremonial robes that serve to identify the family of the wearer. Written instructions and diagrams guide students in…

Surgical implantation of temperature-sensitive transmitters and data-loggers to record body temperature in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).

PubMed

Adam, D; Johnston, S D; Beard, L; Nicholson, V; Lisle, A; Gaughan, J; Larkin, R; Theilemann, P; Mckinnon, A; Ellis, W

2016-01-01

Under predicted climate change scenarios, koala distribution in Australia is expected to be adversely affected. Recent studies have attempted to identify suitable habitat, based on models of bioclimatic regions, but to more accurately reflect the thermal tolerance and behavioural adaptations of the various regional populations, the koala's response to periods of heat stress will need to be investigated at the individual animal level. To explore the safety and suitability of temperature-sensitive intra-abdominal implants for monitoring core body temperature in the koala. A temperature-sensitive radio transmitter and thermal iButton data-logger, waxed together as a package, were surgically implanted into the abdominal cavity of four captive koalas. In one animal the implant was tethered and in the other three, it was left free-floating. After 3 months, the implants were removed and all four koalas recovered without complications. The tethering of the package in the one koala resulted in minor inflammation and adhesion, so this practice was subsequently abandoned. The free-floating deployments were complication-free and revealed a diurnal body temperature rhythm, with daily ranges of 0.4-2.8°C. The minimum recorded body temperature was 34.2°C and the maximum was 37.7°C. The difference in the readings obtained from the transmitters and iButtons never exceeded 0.3°C. The suitability of the surgical approach was confirmed, from both the animal welfare and data collection points of view. © 2016 Australian Veterinary Association.

Automatic motor task selection via a bandit algorithm for a brain-controlled button

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fruitet, Joan; Carpentier, Alexandra; Munos, Rémi; Clerc, Maureen

2013-02-01

Objective. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on sensorimotor rhythms use a variety of motor tasks, such as imagining moving the right or left hand, the feet or the tongue. Finding the tasks that yield best performance, specifically to each user, is a time-consuming preliminary phase to a BCI experiment. This study presents a new adaptive procedure to automatically select (online) the most promising motor task for an asynchronous brain-controlled button. Approach. We develop for this purpose an adaptive algorithm UCB-classif based on the stochastic bandit theory and design an EEG experiment to test our method. We compare (offline) the adaptive algorithm to a naïve selection strategy which uses uniformly distributed samples from each task. We also run the adaptive algorithm online to fully validate the approach. Main results. By not wasting time on inefficient tasks, and focusing on the most promising ones, this algorithm results in a faster task selection and a more efficient use of the BCI training session. More precisely, the offline analysis reveals that the use of this algorithm can reduce the time needed to select the most appropriate task by almost half without loss in precision, or alternatively, allow us to investigate twice the number of tasks within a similar time span. Online tests confirm that the method leads to an optimal task selection. Significance. This study is the first one to optimize the task selection phase by an adaptive procedure. By increasing the number of tasks that can be tested in a given time span, the proposed method could contribute to reducing ‘BCI illiteracy’.

Wnt/PCP Instructions for Cilia in Left-Right Asymmetry.

PubMed

Wu, Jun; Mlodzik, Marek

2017-03-13

Wnt-Frizzled/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling establishes cell orientation within the epithelial plane, but whether Wnts are instructive or permissive is debated. Reporting in Developmental Cell, Minegishi et al. (2017) uncover an instructive link from Wnt5a/b gradients to PCP-factor-regulated polarized cilia positioning that is essential to mouse embryo left-right asymmetry establishment. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The Button Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armstrong, Charley

2005-01-01

In this article, the author describes The Button Project. It started as a dream, a need to educate future generations about the Holocaust, to teach tolerance, and to remember the past. Under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Peoria, a small band of people joined together with the goal of teaching people about the Holocaust so that it will…

Utility of eButton images for identifying food preparation behaviors and meal-related tasks in adolescents

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Food preparation skills may encourage healthy eating. Traditional assessment of child food preparation employs self- or parent proxy-reporting methods, which are prone to error. The eButton is a wearable all-day camera that has promise as an objective, passive method for measuring child food prepara...

31. VIEW OF A WORKER HOLDING A PLUTONIUM 'BUTTON.' PLUTONIUM, ...

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

31. VIEW OF A WORKER HOLDING A PLUTONIUM 'BUTTON.' PLUTONIUM, A MAN-MADE SUBSTANCE, WAS RARE. SCRAPS RESULTING FROM PRODUCTION AND PLUTONIUM RECOVERED FROM RETIRED NUCLEAR WEAPONS WERE REPROCESSED INTO VALUABLE PURE-PLUTONIUM METAL (9/19/73). - Rocky Flats Plant, Bounded by Indiana Street & Routes 93, 128 & 72, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

"Urgency tip": a portable patient-activated device for objective measurement of urinary urgency.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Hideki; Araki, Isao; Tsuchida, Takayuki; Zakoji, Hidenori; Mikami, Yuki; Takeda, Masayuki; Kiyohiro, Noriaki

2007-03-01

For clinical practice and research of overactive bladder syndrome, it is essential to evaluate urgency symptoms in daily life. We have developed a portable patient-activated device to record bladder sensations. This electronic device is pocket-size and light, with five grading buttons and another button for cancellation.

46 CFR 121.510 - Recommended emergency broadcast instructions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Immediate Danger to Life or Property. (4) Say: “THIS IS (INSERT VESSEL'S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL'S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL'S NAME), (INSERT VESSEL'S CALL SIGN), OVER.” (5) Release the microphone button briefly and... 16 VHF and 2182 kHz on SSB are for emergency and calling purposes only.) (3) Press microphone button...

Harvesting keratolimbal allografts from corneoscleral buttons: a novel application of cyanoacrylate adhesive.

PubMed

Lim, L T; Bhatt, P R; Ramaesh, K

2008-11-01

To describe an alternative and novel technique using cyanoacrylate glue to achieve successful limbal tissue dissection, from an organ culture media stored corneoscleral button, without an artificial anterior chamber. A donor corneoscleral button (leftover from penetrating keratoplasty) was divided into two equal semicircular halves. A thick layer of tissue adhesive (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) was spread on a sterile rubber block (the under surface of the donor punch). One half of the donor corneoscleral rim was placed epithelial side up on the adhesive and allowed to attach firmly to the block. This composite provided stability to the donor rim allowing lamellar dissection of the limbal tissue to be performed without damaging the limbal epithelium. Regular, partial-thickness limbal tissue was obtained. There was no histological evidence of glue or cellular toxicity of the harvested limbal stem cells. This harvested tissue had been grafted successfully in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency also undergoing keratoplasty. Tissue adhesive can be a simple, effective and useful tool in the dissection and harvesting of corneal limbal stem cell allografts from corneoscleral buttons stored in organ culture media.

Enhancing stability of essential oils by microencapsulation for preservation of button mushroom during postharvest

PubMed Central

Alikhani-Koupaei, Majid; Mazlumzadeh, Meisam; Sharifani, Mohamadmehdi; Adibian, Mohamad

2014-01-01

Fresh button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus L.) are sensitive to browning, water loss, and microbial attack. The short shelf-life of mushrooms is an impediment to the distribution and marketing of the fresh product. Essential oils outstand as an alternative to chemical preservatives and their use in foods meets the demands of consumers for natural products. To resolve controlled release of oil and increase in antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, the oil was incorporated into microcapsules. Effects of microcapsulated thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on quality of fresh button mushroom were compared. Physicochemical qualities were evaluated during 15 days of storage at 4 ± 0.5°C. All treatments prevented product weight loss and decrease in polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activities during storage. Color and firmness, microbiological analysis, and total phenolic content caused the least change. With use of microencapsulated oils, mushrooms were within acceptable limits during 10 days of storage. Microencapsulated rosemary oil produced the highest beneficial effects and has potential to improve quality of button mushrooms and extend shelf-life. PMID:25473510

Further miniaturisation of the Thermochron iButton to create a thermal bio-logger weighing 0.3 g.

PubMed

Virens, Josef; Cree, Alison

2018-06-05

Thermochron iButtons are commonly used by thermal biologists to continuously measure body temperature from animals. However, if unmodified, these devices are of a size that limits their use with very small animals. To allow iButtons to be used to study smaller species, methods to miniaturise them by 61% have been previously described. We present a method to reduce iButton mass by a further 71%. The modified devices have a shorter battery life, but the minimum size of vertebrates able to carry the devices is reduced from 28.9 g to 6.6 g, if the arbitrary, yet widely cited, maximum of 5% body mass for attached devices is adhered to. We demonstrate the application of our method by recording surface temperatures of captive and wild skinks and show that captive cockroaches weighing 0.8 g are also able to carry the device. We believe this to be the first time that temperature data have been recorded from an insect in this way. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Aniridia-related keratopathy: Structural changes in naïve and transplanted corneal buttons

PubMed Central

Stenevi, Ulf; Pedrosa Domellöf, Fátima

2018-01-01

Background To study structural changes in naïve and surgically treated corneas of aniridia patients with advanced aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK). Methods and findings Two naïve corneal buttons from patients with advanced ARK submitted to penetrating keratoplasty for the first time, one corneal button from an ARK patient that had undergone a keratolimbal allograft (KLAL), two corneal buttons from ARK patients who had previously undergone centered or decentered transplantation and were now retransplanted and two adult healthy donor control corneas were processed for immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against extracellular matrix components in the stroma and in the epithelial basement membrane (collagen I and IV, collagen receptor α11 integrin and laminin α3 chain), markers of fibrosis, wound healing and vascularization (fibronectin, tenascin-C, vimentin, α-SMA and caveolin-1), cell division (Ki-67) and macrophages (CD68) were used. Naïve ARK, KLAL ARK corneas and transplanted corneal buttons presented similar histopathological changes with irregular epithelium and disruption or absence of epithelial basal membrane. There was a loss of the orderly pattern of collagen lamellae and absence of collagen I in all ARK corneas. Vascularization was revealed by the presence of caveolin-1 and collagen IV in the pannus of all ARK aniridia corneas. The changes observed in decentered and centered transplants were analogous. Conclusions Given the similar pathological features of all cases, conditions inherent to the host seem to play an important role on the pathophysiology of the ARK in the long run. PMID:29889891

Aniridia-related keratopathy: Structural changes in naïve and transplanted corneal buttons.

PubMed

Vicente, André; Byström, Berit; Lindström, Mona; Stenevi, Ulf; Pedrosa Domellöf, Fátima

2018-01-01

To study structural changes in naïve and surgically treated corneas of aniridia patients with advanced aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK). Two naïve corneal buttons from patients with advanced ARK submitted to penetrating keratoplasty for the first time, one corneal button from an ARK patient that had undergone a keratolimbal allograft (KLAL), two corneal buttons from ARK patients who had previously undergone centered or decentered transplantation and were now retransplanted and two adult healthy donor control corneas were processed for immunohistochemistry. Antibodies against extracellular matrix components in the stroma and in the epithelial basement membrane (collagen I and IV, collagen receptor α11 integrin and laminin α3 chain), markers of fibrosis, wound healing and vascularization (fibronectin, tenascin-C, vimentin, α-SMA and caveolin-1), cell division (Ki-67) and macrophages (CD68) were used. Naïve ARK, KLAL ARK corneas and transplanted corneal buttons presented similar histopathological changes with irregular epithelium and disruption or absence of epithelial basal membrane. There was a loss of the orderly pattern of collagen lamellae and absence of collagen I in all ARK corneas. Vascularization was revealed by the presence of caveolin-1 and collagen IV in the pannus of all ARK aniridia corneas. The changes observed in decentered and centered transplants were analogous. Given the similar pathological features of all cases, conditions inherent to the host seem to play an important role on the pathophysiology of the ARK in the long run.

Utility of eButton images for identifying food preparation behaviors and meal-related tasks in adolescents.

PubMed

Raber, Margaret; Patterson, Monika; Jia, Wenyan; Sun, Mingui; Baranowski, Tom

2018-02-24

Food preparation skills may encourage healthy eating. Traditional assessment of child food preparation employs self- or parent proxy-reporting methods, which are prone to error. The eButton is a wearable all-day camera that has promise as an objective, passive method for measuring child food preparation practices. This paper explores the feasibility of the eButton to reliably capture home food preparation behaviors and practices in a sample of pre- and early adolescents (ages 9 to 13). This is a secondary analysis of two eButton pilot projects evaluating the dietary intake of pre- and early adolescents in or around Houston, Texas. Food preparation behaviors were coded into seven major categories including: browsing, altering food/adding seasoning, food media, meal related tasks, prep work, cooking and observing. Inter-coder reliability was measured using Cohen's kappa and percent agreement. Analysis was completed on data for 31 participants. The most common activity was browsing in the pantry or fridge. Few participants demonstrated any food preparation work beyond unwrapping of food packages and combining two or more ingredients; actual cutting or measuring of foods were rare. Although previous research suggests children who "help" prepare meals may obtain some dietary benefit, accurate assessment tools of food preparation behavior are lacking. The eButton offers a feasible approach to food preparation behavior measurement among pre- and early adolescents. Follow up research exploring the validity of this method in a larger sample, and comparisons between cooking behavior and dietary intake are needed.

Fixation of the Achilles tendon insertion using suture button technology.

PubMed

Fanter, Nathan J; Davis, Edward W; Baker, Champ L

2012-09-01

In the operative treatment of Achilles insertional tendinopathy, no guidelines exist concerning which form of fixation of the Achilles tendon insertion is superior. Transcalcaneal drill pin passage does not place any major plantar structures at risk, and the addition of a Krackow stitch and suture button to the fixation technique provides a significant increase in ultimate load to failure in Achilles tendon insertional repairs. Controlled laboratory study. The Achilles tendon insertions in 6 fresh-frozen cadaveric ankles were detached, and transcalcaneal drill pins were passed. Plantar dissection took place to evaluate the drill pin relationship to the plantar fascia, lateral plantar nerve and artery, flexor digitorum longus tendon, and master knot of Henry. The Achilles tendons were then repaired with a double-row suture anchor construct alone or with a suture button and Krackow stitch added to the double-row suture anchor construct. The repairs were then tested to maximum load to failure at 20 mm/min. The mode of failure was recorded, and the mean maximum load to failure was assessed using the Student t test for distributions with equal variance. Transcalcaneal drill pin passage did not place any selected anatomic structures at risk. The mean maximum load to failure for the suture bridge group was 239.2 N; it was 391.4 N for the group with the suture button (P = .014). The lateral plantar artery was the structure placed at greatest risk from drill pin placement, with a mean distance of 22.7 mm (range, 16.5-29.2 mm) between the pin and artery. In this laboratory study, transcalcaneal drill pin passage appeared to be anatomically safe, and the use of suture button technology with a Krackow stitch for Achilles tendon insertional repair significantly increased repair strength. Achilles tendon insertional repair with suture button fixation and a Krackow stitch may facilitate the earlier institution of postoperative rehabilitation and improve clinical outcomes.

Design and validation of a desk-free and posture-independent input device.

PubMed

Lee, Yung-Hui; Su, Mu-Chuan

2008-05-01

This study investigates variations in performance, postures and strains on the hand-arm-shoulder musculature during the operation of a wireless mouse, trackpad and a new input device. The device is held between the flexed index and middle fingers with the palm facing sideways. The buttons and wheels are activated by flexion and/or rolling of the thumb. Eleven males and nine females participated in the study. All subjects performed an aiming task to test the pointing and dragging functions. The results of this study reveal that the new pointing device allowed users to adopt more ergonomic postures and has the advantage of reduced muscular loadings of the upper extremities. Mean (SD) muscular activities (%RVC) using the wireless mouse, the trackpad and the new input device were as follows: trapezius: 3.0 (1.7), 4.4 (2.9) and 1.4 (1.0), and extensor carpi ulnaris: 7.3 (4.4), 14.5 (8.4) and 5.6 (3.1), respectively. The device was used in a variety of hand positions, alternatively. The size of the working area was far greater when the new input device was used than when the two conventional analogues were used. Although reasonable performance was not achieved, the results support recommendations concerning the redesign of the device. The ergonomic efforts in the design of the input device are of heuristic value, providing a basis for future development.

A two-dimensional matrix image based feature extraction method for classification of sEMG: A comparative analysis based on SVM, KNN and RBF-NN.

PubMed

Wen, Tingxi; Zhang, Zhongnan; Qiu, Ming; Zeng, Ming; Luo, Weizhen

2017-01-01

The computer mouse is an important human-computer interaction device. But patients with physical finger disability are unable to operate this device. Surface EMG (sEMG) can be monitored by electrodes on the skin surface and is a reflection of the neuromuscular activities. Therefore, we can control limbs auxiliary equipment by utilizing sEMG classification in order to help the physically disabled patients to operate the mouse. To develop a new a method to extract sEMG generated by finger motion and apply novel features to classify sEMG. A window-based data acquisition method was presented to extract signal samples from sEMG electordes. Afterwards, a two-dimensional matrix image based feature extraction method, which differs from the classical methods based on time domain or frequency domain, was employed to transform signal samples to feature maps used for classification. In the experiments, sEMG data samples produced by the index and middle fingers at the click of a mouse button were separately acquired. Then, characteristics of the samples were analyzed to generate a feature map for each sample. Finally, the machine learning classification algorithms (SVM, KNN, RBF-NN) were employed to classify these feature maps on a GPU. The study demonstrated that all classifiers can identify and classify sEMG samples effectively. In particular, the accuracy of the SVM classifier reached up to 100%. The signal separation method is a convenient, efficient and quick method, which can effectively extract the sEMG samples produced by fingers. In addition, unlike the classical methods, the new method enables to extract features by enlarging sample signals' energy appropriately. The classical machine learning classifiers all performed well by using these features.

Napoleon's Buttons: Teaching the Role of Chemistry in History

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Samet, Cindy; Higgins, Pamela J.

2005-01-01

A course designed on the theme of Napoleon's Buttons, which states that there is a connection between the chemical structure of a compound and its pivotal moments in history affecting the development of society is explained. Students liked the book choice for the course because the focus was not on straight chemistry, but the intersection of…

Designing a Machinery Control System (MCS) Security Testbed

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

IO LAB” button and verify the display looks as follows: 95 Figure F22 . “Ready State” (and start state)of the DIOL as displayed at the HMI...After verification that the HMI screen looks like Figure F22 , click on the “Back to Home Screen” button and return to the HMI “Home” screen as seen

78 FR 66099 - Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-04

... every year (a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the better eye... showing that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the requirement specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b... click the search button. When the new screen appears, click on the blue ``Comment Now!'' button on the...

Peach fruit set and buttoning after spring frost

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A spring frost occurred on 29 Mar. 2015 at the USDA-ARS Byron station after three weeks of blooming when most fruitlets were forming. Due to severe fruitlet drop, the overall fruit set on a scale of 0-9 was substantially reduced, from 5.61 averaged in 2014 to 2.61 in 2015. In addition, buttons (abno...

Mechanical Design of Metal Dome for Industrial Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin-Chee Liu, Thomas; Chen, Li-Wei; Lin, Nai-Pin

2018-02-01

In this paper, the mechanical design of metal domes is studied using finite element analysis. The snap-through behavior of a practical button design that uses a metal dome is found. In addition, the individual click ratio and maximum force for a variety of metal domes are determined. This paper provides guidance on button design for industrial engineers.

Tube support

DOEpatents

Mullinax, Jerry L.

1988-01-01

A tube support for supporting horizontal tubes from an inclined vertical support tube passing between the horizontal tubes. A support button is welded to the vertical support tube. Two clamping bars or plates, the lower edges of one bearing on the support button, are removably bolted to the inclined vertical tube. The clamping bars provide upper and lower surface support for the horizontal tubes.

The Newport Button: The Large Scale Replication Of Combined Three-And Two-Dimensional Holographic Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowan, James J.

1984-05-01

A unique type of holographic imagery and its large scale replication are described. The "Newport Button", which was designed as an advertising premium item for the Newport Corporation, incorporates a complex overlay of holographic diffraction gratings surrounding a three-dimensional holographic image of a real object. The combined pattern is recorded onto a photosensitive medium from which a metal master is made. The master is subsequently used to repeatedly emboss the pattern into a thin plastic sheet. Individual patterns are then die cut from the metallized plastic and mounted onto buttons. A discussion is given of the diffraction efficiencies of holograms made in this particular fashion and of the special requirements of the replication process.

Systemic aspergilloma post aortic root surgery following coronary artery stenting: diagnostic and management dilemma

PubMed Central

Hussein, Nabil; Qamar, Sombul; Abid, Qamar

2015-01-01

Aspergillus infections such as Aspergillus endocarditis were once relatively rare occurrences, however, due to the increased use of intracardiac devices, the incidence has grown. With mortality rates close to 100%, in medically treated cases, it is paramount that early diagnosis and treatment are performed. An immunocompetent aviculturist presented 8 months post aortic root replacement for severe aortic regurgitation with a composite graft, with central crushing chest pain. Investigations confirmed ST elevation inferior myocardial infarction due to stenosis of the origin of the right coronary artery, which was stented. Echocardiogram demonstrated a mobile mass posterior to the left ventricular outflow tract. Following referral to our cardiothoracic surgeons, a polypoidal mass covering the right ostial button was noted along with systemic complications of the disease. Emergency redo aortic valve replacement with a homograft and coronary artery bypass was performed. Histological analysis confirmed A. fumigatus and the patient was started on intravenous voriconazole. PMID:26025972

KSC-2014-3130

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-07-03

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Former NASA astronaut Tom Jones, left, presses the button on a simulated model of an asteroid to mark the grand opening of the new Great Balls of Fire exhibit at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. To his right is Therrin Protze, chief operating officer with Delaware North Parks and Resorts at the visitor complex. Great Balls of Fire shares the story of the origins of our solar system, asteroids and comets and their possible impacts and risks. The 1,500-square-foot exhibit, located in the East Gallery of the IMAX theatre at the visitor complex, features several interactive displays, real meteorites and replica asteroid models. The exhibit is a production of The Space Science Institute's National Center for Interactive Learning. It is a traveling exhibition that also receives funding from NASA and the National Science Foundation. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

SOT: A rapid prototype using TAE windows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stephens, Mark; Eike, David; Harris, Elfrieda; Miller, Dana

1986-01-01

The development of the window interface extension feature of the Transportable Applications Executive (TAE) is discussed. This feature is being used to prototype a space station payload interface in order to demonstrate and assess the benefits of using windows on a bit mapped display and also to convey the concept of telescience, the control and operation of space station payloads from remote sites. The prototype version of the TAE with windows operates on a DEC VAXstation 100. This workstation has a high resolution 19 inch bit mapped display, a keyboard and a three-button mouse. The VAXstation 100 is not a stand-alone workstation, but is controlled by software executing on a VAX/8600. A short scenario was developed utilizing the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) as an example payload. In the scenario the end-user station includes the VAXstation 100 plus an image analysis terminal used to display the CCD images. The layout and use of the prototype elements, i.e., the root menu, payload status window, and target acquisition menu is described.

Brain perfusion SPECT in the mouse: normal pattern according to gender and age.

PubMed

Apostolova, Ivayla; Wunder, Andreas; Dirnagl, Ulrich; Michel, Roger; Stemmer, Nina; Lukas, Mathias; Derlin, Thorsten; Gregor-Mamoudou, Betina; Goldschmidt, Jürgen; Brenner, Winfried; Buchert, Ralph

2012-12-01

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) is a useful surrogate marker of neuronal activity and a parameter of primary interest in the diagnosis of many diseases. The increasing use of mouse models spawns the demand for in vivo measurement of rCBF in the mouse. Small animal SPECT provides excellent spatial resolution at adequate sensitivity and is therefore a promising tool for imaging the mouse brain. This study evaluates the feasibility of mouse brain perfusion SPECT and assesses the regional pattern of normal Tc-99m-HMPAO uptake and the impact of age and gender. Whole-brain kinetics was compared between Tc-99m-HMPAO and Tc-99m-ECD using rapid dynamic planar scans in 10 mice. Assessment of the regional uptake pattern was restricted to the more suitable tracer, HMPAO. Two HMPAO SPECTs were performed in 18 juvenile mice aged 7.5 ± 1.5weeks, and in the same animals at young adulthood, 19.1 ± 4.0 weeks (nanoSPECT/CTplus, general purpose mouse apertures: 1.2kcps/MBq, 0.7mm FWHM). The 3-D MRI Digital Atlas Database of an adult C57BL/6J mouse brain was used for region-of-interest (ROI) analysis. SPECT images were stereotactically normalized using SPM8 and a custom made, left-right symmetric HMPAO template in atlas space. For testing lateral asymmetry, each SPECT was left-right flipped prior to stereotactical normalization. Flipped and unflipped SPECTs were compared by paired testing. Peak brain uptake was similar for ECD and HMPAO: 1.8 ± 0.2 and 2.1 ± 0.6 %ID (p=0.357). Washout after the peak was much faster for ECD than for HMPAO: 24 ± 7min vs. 4.6 ± 1.7h (p=0.001). The general linear model for repeated measures with gender as an intersubject factor revealed an increase in relative HMPAO uptake with age in the neocortex (p=0.018) and the hippocampus (p=0.012). A decrease was detected in the midbrain (p=0.025). Lateral asymmetry, with HMPAO uptake larger in the left hemisphere, was detected primarily in the neocortex, both at juvenile age (asymmetry index AI=2.7 ± 1.7%, p=0.000) and at young adult age (AI=2.4 ± 1.7%, p=0.000). Gender had no effect on asymmetry. Voxel-wise testing confirmed the ROI-based findings. In conclusion, high-resolution HMPAO SPECT is a promising technique for measuring rCBF in preclinical research. It indicates lateral asymmetry of rCBF in the mouse brain as well as age-related changes during late maturation. ECD is not suitable as tracer for brain SPECT in the mouse because of its fast clearance from tissue indicating an interspecies difference in esterase activity between mice and humans. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Tbx5 Buffers Inherent Left/Right Asymmetry Ensuring Symmetric Forelimb Formation

PubMed Central

Nishimoto, Satoko; Kucharska, Anna; Newbury-Ecob, Ruth; Logan, Malcolm P. O.

2016-01-01

The forelimbs and hindlimbs of vertebrates are bilaterally symmetric. The mechanisms that ensure symmetric limb formation are unknown but they can be disrupted in disease. In Holt-Oram Syndrome (HOS), caused by mutations in TBX5, affected individuals have left-biased upper/forelimb defects. We demonstrate a role for the transcription factor Tbx5 in ensuring the symmetric formation of the left and right forelimb. In our mouse model, bilateral hypomorphic levels of Tbx5 produces asymmetric forelimb defects that are consistently more severe in the left limb than the right, phenocopying the left-biased limb defects seen in HOS patients. In Tbx hypomorphic mutants maintained on an INV mutant background, with situs inversus, the laterality of defects is reversed. Our data demonstrate an early, inherent asymmetry in the left and right limb-forming regions and that threshold levels of Tbx5 are required to overcome this asymmetry to ensure symmetric forelimb formation. PMID:27992425

How preschoolers and adults represent their joint action partner's behavior.

PubMed

Sacheli, Lucia Maria; Meyer, M; Hartstra, E; Bekkering, H; Hunnius, S

2017-10-24

We investigated the cognitive mechanisms underlying turn-taking joint action in 42-month-old children (Experiment 1) and adults (Experiment 2) using a behavioral task of dressing a virtual bear together. We aimed to investigate how participants represent a partners' behavior, i.e., in terms of specific action kinematics or of action effects. The bear was dressed by pressing a smaller and a bigger button. In the Action-response task, instructions asked participants to respond to the partner by pressing the same or opposite button; in the Action-effect task they had to respond to the partner's action effect by dressing the bear with the lacking part of the clothing, which in some cases implied pressing the same button and in other cases implied pressing the opposite button. In 50% of the trials, the partner's association between each button and the ensuing effect (dressing the bear with t-shirt or pants) was reversed, while it never changed for participants. Both children and adults showed no effect of physical congruency of actions, but showed impaired performance in the Action-effect task if their partner achieved her effect through a different action-effect association than their own. These results suggest that, when encoding their partner's actions, agents are influenced by action-effect associations that they learnt through their own experience. While interference led to overt errors in children, it caused longer reaction times in adults, suggesting that a flexible cognitive control (that is still in development in young children) is required to take on the partner's perspective.

Automatic food detection in egocentric images using artificial intelligence technology.

PubMed

Jia, Wenyan; Li, Yuecheng; Qu, Ruowei; Baranowski, Thomas; Burke, Lora E; Zhang, Hong; Bai, Yicheng; Mancino, Juliet M; Xu, Guizhi; Mao, Zhi-Hong; Sun, Mingui

2018-03-26

To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm which can automatically detect food items from images acquired by an egocentric wearable camera for dietary assessment. To study human diet and lifestyle, large sets of egocentric images were acquired using a wearable device, called eButton, from free-living individuals. Three thousand nine hundred images containing real-world activities, which formed eButton data set 1, were manually selected from thirty subjects. eButton data set 2 contained 29 515 images acquired from a research participant in a week-long unrestricted recording. They included both food- and non-food-related real-life activities, such as dining at both home and restaurants, cooking, shopping, gardening, housekeeping chores, taking classes, gym exercise, etc. All images in these data sets were classified as food/non-food images based on their tags generated by a convolutional neural network. A cross data-set test was conducted on eButton data set 1. The overall accuracy of food detection was 91·5 and 86·4 %, respectively, when one-half of data set 1 was used for training and the other half for testing. For eButton data set 2, 74·0 % sensitivity and 87·0 % specificity were obtained if both 'food' and 'drink' were considered as food images. Alternatively, if only 'food' items were considered, the sensitivity and specificity reached 85·0 and 85·8 %, respectively. The AI technology can automatically detect foods from low-quality, wearable camera-acquired real-world egocentric images with reasonable accuracy, reducing both the burden of data processing and privacy concerns.

Suture Button Fixation Treatment of Chronic Lisfranc Injury in Professional Dancers and High-Level Athletes.

PubMed

Charlton, Timothy; Boe, Chelsea; Thordarson, David B

2015-12-01

Chronic Lisfranc injury is a subtle and severe injury in high-level athletes, including dancers. This patient population is generally intolerant of intra-articular screw fixation and can develop significant post-traumatic arthritis with potentially career ending complications. Flexible fixation with suture-button devices provides potential restoration of physiologic motion at the joint, with appropriate support for healing that may facilitate return to en pointe activities for dancers. We hypothesized that the suture-button device would restore motion at the Lisfranc joint and allow for return to activities in this particular population without the limitations and complications of rigid fixation. We operated on seven dancers and high-level athletes with diagnosed Lisfranc injuries by installing a suture-button device. All patients had failed conservative management after late presentation. They were allowed to return to sport in 6 months, preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) foot scores were obtained, and patients were followed for a minimum of 15 months. All seven returned to full activities in 6 months, with radiographic evidence of fixation and no complications to date. AOFAS foot scores improved from an average of 65 preoperatively to an average of 97 postoperatively at latest follow-up. It is concluded that flexible fixation with suture-button type device represents a viable alternative to screw fixation or fusion that may allow dancers and athletes to return to previous levels of activity after Lisfranc injury. This case series represents to our knowledge the first application of this device to a unique population that requires flexibility at the Lisfranc joint for performance.

"Hyperstat": an educational and working tool in epidemiology.

PubMed

Nicolosi, A

1995-01-01

The work of a researcher in epidemiology is based on studying literature, planning studies, gathering data, analyzing data and writing results. Therefore he has need for performing, more or less, simple calculations, the need for consulting or quoting literature, the need for consulting textbooks about certain issues or procedures, and the need for looking at a specific formula. There are no programs conceived as a workstation to assist the different aspects of researcher work in an integrated fashion. A hypertextual system was developed which supports different stages of the epidemiologist's work. It combines database management, statistical analysis or planning, and literature searches. The software was developed on Apple Macintosh by using Hypercard 2.1 as a database and HyperTalk as a programming language. The program is structured in 7 "stacks" or files: Procedures; Statistical Tables; Graphs; References; Text; Formulas; Help. Each stack has its own management system with an automated Table of Contents. Stacks contain "cards" which make up the databases and carry executable programs. The programs are of four kinds: association; statistical procedure; formatting (input/output); database management. The system performs general statistical procedures, procedures applicable to epidemiological studies only (follow-up and case-control), and procedures for clinical trials. All commands are given by clicking the mouse on self-explanatory "buttons". In order to perform calculations, the user only needs to enter the data into the appropriate cells and then click on the selected procedure's button. The system has a hypertextual structure. The user can go from a procedure to other cards following the preferred order of succession and according to built-in associations. The user can access different levels of knowledge or information from any stack he is consulting or operating. From every card, the user can go to a selected procedure to perform statistical calculations, to the reference database management system, to the textbook in which all procedures and issues are discussed in detail, to the database of statistical formulas with automated table of contents, to statistical tables with automated table of contents, or to the help module. he program has a very user-friendly interface and leaves the user free to use the same format he would use on paper. The interface does not require special skills. It reflects the Macintosh philosophy of using windows, buttons and mouse. This allows the user to perform complicated calculations without losing the "feel" of data, weight alternatives, and simulations. This program shares many features in common with hypertexts. It has an underlying network database where the nodes consist of text, graphics, executable procedures, and combinations of these; the nodes in the database correspond to windows on the screen; the links between the nodes in the database are visible as "active" text or icons in the windows; the text is read by following links and opening new windows. The program is especially useful as an educational tool, directed to medical and epidemiology students. The combination of computing capabilities with a textbook and databases of formulas and literature references, makes the program versatile and attractive as a learning tool. The program is also helpful in the work done at the desk, where the researcher examines results, consults literature, explores different analytic approaches, plans new studies, or writes grant proposals or scientific articles.

Spicing Things up by Adding Color and Relieving Pain: The Use of "Napoleon's Buttons" in Organic Chemistry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bucholtz, Kevin M.

2011-01-01

For some students, organic chemistry can be a distant subject and unrelated to any courses they have seen in their college careers. To develop a more contextual learning experience in organic chemistry, an additional text, "Napoleon's Buttons: 17 Molecules That Changed History," by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson, was incorporated as a…

Miniature Two-Axis Joystick Controller

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hollow, R.

1983-01-01

Novel movable-button-actuated self-centering controller uses optoelectronics to produce X and Y signals for aircraft control. In addition to be extremely compact, device puts our voltages having high signal-to-noise ratio, especially at critical center position where in many controllers this ratio is poorest. Combination of new saddle-shaped button and positive centering gives "feel" and "breakout" met with pilot approval.

Genome sequence of the button mushroom Agaricus bisporus reveals mechanisms governing adaptation to a humic-rich ecological niche

Treesearch

Emmanuelle Morin; Annegret Kohler; Adam R. Baker; Marie Foulongne-Oriol; Vincent Lombard; Laszlo G. Nagy; Robin A. Ohm; Aleksandrina Patyshakuliyeva; Annick Brun; Andrea L. Aerts; Andrew M. Bailey; Christophe Billette; Pedro M. Coutinho; Greg Deakin; Harshavardhan Doddapaneni; Dimitrios Floudas; Jane Grimwood; Kristiina Hild& #233; n; Ursula K& #252; es; Kurt M. LaButti; Alla Lapidus; Erika A. Lindquist; Susan M. Lucas; Claude Murat; Robert W. Riley; Asaf A. Salamov; Jeremy Schmutz; Venkataramanan Subrananian; Han A.B. W& #246; sten; Jianping Xu; Daniel C. Eastwood; Gary D. Foster; Anton S.M. Sonnenberg; Daniel Cullen; Ronald P. de Vries; Taina Lundell; David S. Hibbett; Bernard Henrissat; Kerry S. Burton; Richard W. Kerrigan; Michael P. Challen; Igor V. Grigoriev; Francis Martin

2012-01-01

Agaricus bisporus is the model fungus for the adaptation, persistence,and growth in the humic-rich leaf-litter environment. Aside from its ecological role, A. bisporus has been an important component of the human diet for over 200 y and worldwide cultivation of the "button mushroom" forms a multibillion dollar...

Don't wear that button out!

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jue, Brian J.; Bice, Michael D.

2013-07-01

As students explore the technological tools available to them for learning mathematics, some will eventually discover what happens when a function button is repeatedly pressed on a calculator. We explore several examples of this, presenting tabular and graphical results for the square root, natural logarithm and sine and cosine functions. Observed behaviour is proven and then discussed in the context of fixed points.

A burr hole button to secure the electrode cable in depth electrode placement. Technical note.

PubMed

Kamiryo, T; Laws, E R

1997-05-01

A simple magnetic resonance imaging-compatible buttonlike device was devised to fix a depth electrode cable securely in the burr hole used for its insertion during surgery for depth electrode placement. The button is tightly fixed in the burr hole and it holds the cable without allowing protrusion or tension on the wound.

Using Buttons to Better Manage Online Presence: How One Academic Institution Harnessed the Power of Flair

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dority Baker, Marcia L.

2013-01-01

This article provides a case study of how the University of Nebraska College of Law and Schmid Law Library use "buttons" to manage Law College faculty members' and librarians' online presence. Since Google is the primary search engine used to find information, it is important that librarians and libraries assist Web site visitors in…

--No Title--

Science.gov Websites

fixme{background-color:#ff0}.container-fluid{padding:0;margin:0}.hp{font-family:Roboto," }.hp-hero-text{position:absolute;text-shadow:1px 1px 1px rgba(150,150,150,1)}.hp-hero h2{color:#fff}.hp -hero button{color:#e3e3e3;font-size:10px;background:transparent;border:none}.hp-hero button:hover,.hp

Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Retrochiasmatic Craniopharyngioma with Fascia Lata Button and Nasoseptal Flap Reconstruction.

PubMed

Kshettry, Varun R; Nyquist, Gurston; Evans, James J

2018-02-01

Surgery for craniopharyngiomas can be challenging due to the involvement of multiple critical neurovascular structures. The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach can provide superior access to suprasellar craniopharyngiomas, particularly with retrochiasmatic extension and significant hypothalamic involvement. We describe the surgical technique used to treat a 30-year-old patient who presented with 4 weeks of worsening vision, fatigue, and memory loss. His vision was counting fingers at 1 feet on the right and 20/800 on the left with a temporal hemianopsia. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated central hypoadrenalism, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism. Imaging showed a large solid and cystic suprasellar mass. The transtubercular approach with removal of the lateral tubercular strut can provide wide bilateral access to the opticocarotid region. The superior intercavernous sinus must be coagulated and ligated. Initial arachnoid dissection is centered at the midline, mobilizing the superior hypophyseal branches to the optic apparatus laterally. The cyst capsule is opened and care is taken to minimize spillage of cyst fluid into the subarachnoid space. Central debulking and then extracapsular dissection is performed under direct visualization using sharp dissection. Reconstruction of the dura is performed with an inlay/onlay fascia lata button that is held together with four sutures that hold the graft edges against the native dural edges. This is followed by vascularized nasoseptal flap reconstruction. No lumbar drain or nonabsorbable packing is required. The patient's vision had dramatic improvement and by 1 week postoperatively was 20/20 with full visual fields. Postoperative diabetes insipidus was managed with nasal desmopressin. Postoperative MRI demonstrated complete removal. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/QQxCNUcq1qg .

Unilateral distalization of a maxillary molar with sliding mechanics: a case report.

PubMed

Keles, Ahmet

2002-06-01

A unilateral Class II relationship could arise due to early loss of an upper second deciduous molar on one side during the mixed dentition period. This would allow the mesial drift of the molars, which may block the eruption of the second premolar. A 15-year 8-month-old male patient presented with a Class II molar relationship on the right, and Class I canine and molar relationship on the left side. His E was extracted when he was 5 years old. The 54 were impacted and the 3 was ectopically positioned due to the space loss from the mesial migration of the 76. In addition 21 1 were in cross-bite. Skeletally he had Class III tendency with low MMPA. He presented with a straight profile and retruded upper lip. For maxillary molar distalization, a newly developed 'Keles Slider' was used. The appliance was composed of one premolar and two molar bands, and the anchorage unit was composed of a wide Nance button. 46 were connected to the Nance button and, therefore, included into the anchorage unit. The point of distal force application was close to the centre of resistance of the 6 and parallel to the occlusal plane. Ni-Ti coil springs were used and 200 g of distal force was applied. Seven months later the space required for eruption of the permanent premolars and canine was regained, and the anterior cross-bite corrected. The appliance was removed and final alignment of the teeth was achieved with fixed appliances. At the end of the second phase treatment Class I molar and canine relationship was achieved on the both sides, the anterior cross-bite was corrected, inter-incisal angle was improved, and ideal overbite and overjet relationship was achieved. The active treatment time was 27 months.

Connections between intraparietal sulcus and a sensorimotor network underpin sustained tactile attention.

PubMed

Goltz, Dominique; Gundlach, Christopher; Nierhaus, Till; Villringer, Arno; Müller, Matthias; Pleger, Burkhard

2015-05-20

Previous studies on sustained tactile attention draw conclusions about underlying cortical networks by averaging over experimental conditions without considering attentional variance in single trials. This may have formed an imprecise picture of brain processes underpinning sustained tactile attention. In the present study, we simultaneously recorded EEG-fMRI and used modulations of steady-state somatosensory evoked potentials (SSSEPs) as a measure of attentional trial-by-trial variability. Therefore, frequency-tagged streams of vibrotactile stimulations were simultaneously presented to both index fingers. Human participants were cued to sustain attention to either the left or right finger stimulation and to press a button whenever they perceived a target pulse embedded in the to-be-attended stream. In-line with previous studies, a classical general linear model (GLM) analysis based on cued attention conditions revealed increased activity mainly in somatosensory and cerebellar regions. Yet, parametric modeling of the BOLD response using simultaneously recorded SSSEPs as a marker of attentional trial-by-trial variability quarried the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). The IPS in turn showed enhanced functional connectivity to a modality-unspecific attention network. However, this was only revealed on the basis of cued attention conditions in the classical GLM. By considering attentional variability as captured by SSSEPs, the IPS showed increased connectivity to a sensorimotor network, underpinning attentional selection processes between competing tactile stimuli and action choices (press a button or not). Thus, the current findings highlight the potential value by considering attentional variations in single trials and extend previous knowledge on the role of the IPS in tactile attention. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/357938-12$15.00/0.

Inferior frontal sensitivity to common speech sounds is amplified by increasing word intelligibility.

PubMed

Vaden, Kenneth I; Kuchinsky, Stefanie E; Keren, Noam I; Harris, Kelly C; Ahlstrom, Jayne B; Dubno, Judy R; Eckert, Mark A

2011-11-01

The left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) exhibits increased responsiveness when people listen to words composed of speech sounds that frequently co-occur in the English language (Vaden, Piquado, & Hickok, 2011), termed high phonotactic frequency (Vitevitch & Luce, 1998). The current experiment aimed to further characterize the relation of phonotactic frequency to LIFG activity by manipulating word intelligibility in participants of varying age. Thirty six native English speakers, 19-79 years old (mean=50.5, sd=21.0) indicated with a button press whether they recognized 120 binaurally presented consonant-vowel-consonant words during a sparse sampling fMRI experiment (TR=8 s). Word intelligibility was manipulated by low-pass filtering (cutoff frequencies of 400 Hz, 1000 Hz, 1600 Hz, and 3150 Hz). Group analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between phonotactic frequency and LIFG activity, which was unaffected by age and hearing thresholds. A region of interest analysis revealed that the relation between phonotactic frequency and LIFG activity was significantly strengthened for the most intelligible words (low-pass cutoff at 3150 Hz). These results suggest that the responsiveness of the left inferior frontal cortex to phonotactic frequency reflects the downstream impact of word recognition rather than support of word recognition, at least when there are no speech production demands. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Simon effect in action: planning and/or on-line control effects?

PubMed

Scorolli, Claudia; Pellicano, Antonello; Nicoletti, Roberto; Rubichi, Sandro; Castiello, Umberto

2015-07-01

Choice reaction tasks are performed faster when stimulus location corresponds to response location (Simon effect). This spatial stimulus-response compatibility effect affects performance at the level of action planning and execution. However, when response selection is completed before movement initiation, the Simon effect arises only at the planning level. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether when a precocious response selection is requested, the Simon effect can be detected on the kinematics characterizing the online control phase of a non-ballistic movement. Participants were presented with red or green colored squares, which could appear on the right, left, above, or below a central cross. Depending on the square's color, participants had to release one of two buttons (right/left), then reach toward and press a corresponding lateral pad. We found evidence of the Simon effect on both action planning and on-line control. Moreover, the investigation of response conflict at the level of previous trials (i.e., n-1), a factor that might determine interference at the level of the current response, revealed a conflict adaptation process across trials. Results are discussed in terms of current theories concerned with the Simon effect and the distinction between action planning and control. Copyright © 2014 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Fixation of unstable type II clavicle fractures with distal clavicle plate and suture button.

PubMed

Johnston, Peter S; Sears, Benjamin W; Lazarus, Mark R; Frieman, Barbara G

2014-11-01

This article reports on a technique to treat unstable type II distal clavicle fractures using fracture-specific plates and coracoclavicular augmentation with a suture button. Six patients with clinically unstable type II distal clavicle fractures underwent treatment using the above technique. All fractures demonstrated radiographic union at 9.6 (8.4-11.6) weeks with a mean follow-up of 15.6 (12.4-22.3) months. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Penn Shoulder Score, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores were 97.97 (98.33-100), 96.4 (91-99), and 95 (90-100), respectively. One patient required implant removal. Fracture-specific plating with suture-button augmentation for type II distal clavicle fractures provides reliable rates of union without absolute requirement for implant removal.

Management of foreign body ingestions in children: button batteries and magnets.

PubMed

Kodituwakku, Ronan; Palmer, Sarah; Paul, Siba Prosad

2017-04-27

Foreign body ingestion and foreign body aspiration commonly affect young children between 6 months and 6 years. A large number of these events remain unwitnessed and asymptomatic while the swallowed foreign body traverses the gastrointestinal tract and is passed in the stool. Recent literature has shown an increase in morbidity associated with button battery and (neomydium) magnet ingestions in children, particularly over the last decade. Early identification and management in a time critical manner is required in cases where button batteries get lodged in the oesophagus or multiple magnets are swallowed. Deaths, although rare, have been reported with these dangerous foreign body ingestions in children where diagnoses were delayed. Nurses through their direct contact with children in different clinical settings play a vital role in managing foreign body ingestions.

Cardiac function in muscular dystrophy associates with abdominal muscle pathology.

PubMed

Gardner, Brandon B; Swaggart, Kayleigh A; Kim, Gene; Watson, Sydeaka; McNally, Elizabeth M

The muscular dystrophies target muscle groups differentially. In mouse models of muscular dystrophy, notably the mdx model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the diaphragm muscle shows marked fibrosis and at an earlier age than other muscle groups, more reflective of the histopathology seen in human muscular dystrophy. Using a mouse model of limb girdle muscular dystrophy, the Sgcg mouse, we compared muscle pathology across different muscle groups and heart. A cohort of nearly 200 Sgcg mice were studied using multiple measures of pathology including echocardiography, Evans blue dye uptake and hydroxyproline content in multiple muscle groups. Spearman rank correlations were determined among echocardiographic and pathological parameters. The abdominal muscles were found to have more fibrosis than other muscle groups, including the diaphragm muscle. The abdominal muscles also had more Evans blue dye uptake than other muscle groups. The amount of diaphragm fibrosis was found to correlate positively with fibrosis in the left ventricle, and abdominal muscle fibrosis correlated with impaired left ventricular function. Fibrosis in the abdominal muscles negatively correlated with fibrosis in the diaphragm and right ventricles. Together these data reflect the recruitment of abdominal muscles as respiratory muscles in muscular dystrophy, a finding consistent with data from human patients.

TGFβ signaling in establishing left-right asymmetry.

PubMed

Shiratori, Hidetaka; Hamada, Hiroshi

2014-08-01

Two TGFβ-related proteins, Nodal and Lefty, are asymmetrically expressed and play central roles in establishing left-right (L-R) asymmetry of our body. Nodal acts as a left-side determinant whereas Lefty restricts Nodal activity to the left side by acting as a feedback inhibitor of Nodal. While the mechanism for symmetry breaking is variable among animals, the pair of Nodal and Lefty has a conserved role in the L-R asymmetry pathway. Function and regulation of Nodal and Lefty have been revealed in the last decades, but in this review we summarize the role of TGFβ-related proteins together with more recent findings. We mainly discuss observations made with mouse embryos, unless indicated otherwise. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Synaptic Plasticity and Memory: New Insights from Hippocampal Left-Right Asymmetries.

PubMed

El-Gaby, Mohamady; Shipton, Olivia A; Paulsen, Ole

2015-10-01

All synapses are not the same. They differ in their morphology, molecular constituents, and malleability. A striking left-right asymmetry in the distribution of different types of synapse was recently uncovered at the CA3-CA1 projection in the mouse hippocampus, whereby afferents from the CA3 in the left hemisphere innervate small, highly plastic synapses on the apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons, whereas those originating from the right CA3 target larger, more stable synapses. Activity-dependent modification of these synapses is thought to participate in circuit formation and remodeling during development, and further plastic changes may support memory encoding in adulthood. Therefore, exploiting the CA3-CA1 asymmetry provides a promising opportunity to investigate the roles that different types of synapse play in these fundamental properties of the CNS. Here we describe the discovery of these segregated synaptic populations in the mouse hippocampus, and discuss what we have already learnt about synaptic plasticity from this asymmetric arrangement. We then propose models for how the asymmetry could be generated during development, and how the adult hippocampus might use these distinct populations of synapses differentially during learning and memory. Finally, we outline the potential implications of this left-right asymmetry for human hippocampal function, as well as dysfunction in memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. © The Author(s) 2014.

Isolation and characterization of Xenopus laevis homologs of the mouse inv gene and functional analysis of the conserved calmodulin binding sites.

PubMed

Yasuhiko, Yukuto; Shiokawa, Koichiro; Mochizuki, Toshio; Asashima, Makoto; Yokoyama, Takahiko

2006-04-01

The homozygous inv (inversion of embryonic turning) mouse mutant shows situs inversus and polycystic kidney disease, both of which result from the lack of the inv gene. Previously, we suggested that inv may be important for the left-right axis formation, not only in mice but also in Xenopus, and that calmodulin regulates this inv protein function. Here, we isolated and characterized two Xenopus laevis homologs (Xinv-1 and Xinv-2) of the mouse inv gene, and performed functional analysis of the conserved IQ motifs that interact with calmodulin. Xinv-1 expresses early in development in the same manner as mouse inv does. Unexpectedly, a full-length Xenopus inv mRNA did not randomize cardiac orientation when injected into Xenopus embryos, which is different from mouse inv mRNA. Contrary to mouse inv mRNA, Xenopus inv mRNA with mutated IQ randomized cardiac orientation. The present study indicates that calmodulin binding sites (IQ motifs) are crucial in controlling the biological activity of both mouse and Xenopus inv proteins. Although mouse and Xenopus inv genes have a quite similar structure, the interaction with calmodulin and IQ motifs of Xenopus inv and mouse inv proteins may regulate their function in different ways.

Effect of dietary supplementation with white button mushrooms on host resistance to influenza infection and immune function in mice

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Previously we showed that mice fed white button mushrooms (WBM) had enhanced immune functions known to help the body’s antiviral defense. In this study, we tested if WBM could afford protection against viral infection. Young (4-mo) and old (22-mo) C57BL/6 mice were fed a diet containing 0, 2 per cen...

Type of Primary Nb₅Si₃ and Precipitation of Nbss in αNb₅Si₃ in a Nb-8.3Ti-21.1Si-5.4Mo-4W-0.7Hf (at.%) Near Eutectic Nb-Silicide-Based Alloy.

PubMed

McCaughey, Conor; Tsakiropoulos, Panos

2018-06-07

The Nb-silicide-based alloy of near eutectic composition (at.%) Nb-21.1Si-8.3Ti-5.4Mo-4W-0.7Hf (alloy CM1) was studied in the cast and heat-treated (1500 °C/100 h) conditions. The alloy was produced in the form of buttons and bars using three different methods, namely arc-melting, arc-melting and suction casting, and optical floating zone (OFZ) melting. In the former two cases the alloy solidified in water-cooled copper crucibles. Buttons and suction-cast bars of different size, respectively of 10 g and 600 g weight and 6 mm and 8 mm diameter, were produced. The OFZ bars were grown at three different growth rates of 12, 60 and 150 mm/h. It was confirmed that the type of Nb₅Si₃ formed in the cast microstructures depended on the solidification conditions. The primary phase in the alloy CM1 was the βNb₅Si₃. The transformation of βNb₅Si₃ to αNb₅Si₃ had occurred in the as cast large size button and the OFZ bars grown at the three different growth rates, and after the heat treatment of the small size button and the suction-cast bars of the alloy. This transformation was accompanied by subgrain formation in Nb₅Si₃ and the precipitation of Nb ss in the large size as cast button and only by the precipitation of Nb ss in the cast OFZ bars. Subgrains and precipitation of Nb ss in αNb₅Si₃ was observed in the small size button and suction-cast bars after the heat treatment. Subgrains formed in αNb₅Si₃ after the heat treatment of the OFZ bars. The partitioning of solutes and in particular of Mo and Ti was key to this phase transformation. Subgrain formation was not necessary for precipitation of Nb ss in αNb₅Si₃, but the partitioning of solutes was essential for this precipitation.

[Desmin content and transversal stiffness of the left ventricle mouse cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle fibers after a 30-day space flight on board "BION-M1" biosatellite].

PubMed

Ogneva, I V; Maximova, M V; Larina, I M

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine the transversal stiffness of the cortical cytoskeleton and the cytoskeletal protein desmin content in the left ventricle cardiomyocytes, fibers of the mouse soleus and tibialis anterior muscle after a 30-day space flight on board the "BION-M1" biosatellite (Russia, 2013). The dissection was made after 13-16.5 h after landing. The transversal stiffness was measured in relaxed and calcium activated state by, atomic force microscopy. The desmin content was estimated by western blotting, and the expression level of desmin-coding gene was detected using real-time PCR. The results indicate that, the transversal stiffness of the left ventricle cardiomyocytes and fibers of the soleus muscle in relaxed and activated states did not differ from the control. The transversal stiffness of the tibialis muscle fibers in relaxed and activated state was increased in the mice group after space flight. At the same time, in all types of studied tissues the desmin content and the expression level of desmin-coding gene did not differ from the control level.

Early development of calcific aortic valve disease and left ventricular hypertrophy in a mouse model of combined dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Le Quang, Khai; Bouchareb, Rihab; Lachance, Dominic; Laplante, Marc-André; El Husseini, Diala; Boulanger, Marie-Chloé; Fournier, Dominique; Fang, Xiang Ping; Avramoglu, Rita Kohen; Pibarot, Philippe; Deshaies, Yves; Sweeney, Gary; Mathieu, Patrick; Marette, André

2014-10-01

This study aimed to determine the potential impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on left ventricular dysfunction and the development of calcified aortic valve disease using a dyslipidemic mouse model prone to developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. When compared with nondiabetic LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100), diabetic LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100)/IGF-II mice exhibited similar dyslipidemia and obesity but developed type 2 diabetes mellitus when fed a high-fat/sucrose/cholesterol diet for 6 months. LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100)/IGF-II mice showed left ventricular hypertrophy versus C57BL6 but not LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100) mice. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed significant reductions in both left ventricular systolic fractional shortening and diastolic function in high-fat/sucrose/cholesterol fed LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100)/IGF-II mice when compared with LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100). Importantly, we found that peak aortic jet velocity was significantly increased in LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100)/IGF-II mice versus LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100) animals on the high-fat/sucrose/cholesterol diet. Microtomography scans and Alizarin red staining indicated calcification in the aortic valves, whereas electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy further revealed mineralization of the aortic leaflets and the presence of inflammatory infiltrates in diabetic mice. Studies showed upregulation of hypertrophic genes (anp, bnp, b-mhc) in myocardial tissues and of osteogenic genes (spp1, bglap, runx2) in aortic tissues of diabetic mice. We have established the diabetes mellitus -prone LDLr(-/-)/ApoB(100/100)/IGF-II mouse as a new model of calcified aortic valve disease. Our results are consistent with the growing body of clinical evidence that the dysmetabolic state of type 2 diabetes mellitus contributes to early mineralization of the aortic valve and calcified aortic valve disease pathogenesis. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

Biomechanics of the Proximal Radius Following Drilling of the Bicipital Tuberosity to Mimic Cortical Button Distal Biceps Repair Technique.

PubMed

Oak, Nikhil R; Lien, John R; Brunfeldt, Alexander; Lawton, Jeffrey N

2018-05-01

A fracture through the proximal radius is a theoretical concern after cortical button distal biceps fixation in an active patient. The permanent, nonossified cortical defect and medullary tunnel is at risk during a fall eliciting rotational and compressive forces. We hypothesized that during simulated torsion and compression, in comparison with unaltered specimens, the cortical button distal biceps repair model would have decreased torsional and compressive strength and would fracture in the vicinity of the bicipital tuberosity bone tunnel. Sixteen fourth-generation composite radius Sawbones models were used in this controlled laboratory study. A bone tunnel was created through the bicipital tuberosity to mimic the exact bone tunnel, 8 mm near cortex and 3.2 mm far cortex, made for the BicepsButton distal biceps tendon repair. The radius was then prepared and mounted on either a torsional or compression testing device and compared with undrilled control specimens. Compression tests resulted in average failure loads of 9015.2 N in controls versus 8253.25 N in drilled specimens ( P = .074). Torsional testing resulted in an average failure torque of 27.3 Nm in controls and 19.3 Nm in drilled specimens ( P = .024). Average fracture angle was 35.1° in controls versus 21.1° in drilled. Gross fracture patterns were similar in compression testing; however, in torsional testing all fractures occurred through the bone tunnel in the drilled group. There are weaknesses in the vicinity of the bone tunnel in the proximal radius during biomechanical stress testing which may not be clinically relevant in nature. In cortical button fixation, distal biceps repairs creates a permanent, nonossified cortical defect with tendon interposed in the bone tunnel, which can alter the biomechanical properties of the proximal radius during compressive and torsional loading.

Field comparison of three inhalable samplers (IOM, PGP-GSP 3.5 and Button) for welding fumes.

PubMed

Zugasti, Agurtzane; Montes, Natividad; Rojo, José M; Quintana, M José

2012-02-01

Inhalable sampler efficiency depends on the aerodynamic size of the airborne particles to be sampled and the wind speed. The aim of this study was to compare the behaviour of three personal inhalable samplers for welding fumes generated by Manual Metal Arc (MMA) and Metal Active Gas (MAG) processes. The selected samplers were the ones available in Spain when the study began: IOM, PGP-GSP 3.5 (GSP) and Button. Sampling was carried out in a welding training center that provided a homogeneous workplace environment. The static sampling assembly used allowed the placement of 12 samplers and 2 cascade impactors simultaneously. 183 samples were collected throughout 2009 and 2010. The range of welding fumes' mass concentrations was from 2 mg m(-3) to 5 mg m(-3). The pooled variation coefficients for the three inhalable samplers were less than or equal to 3.0%. Welding particle size distribution was characterized by a bimodal log-normal distribution, with MMADs of 0.7 μm and 8.2 μm. For these welding aerosols, the Button and the GSP samplers showed a similar performance (P = 0.598). The mean mass concentration ratio was 1.00 ± 0.01. The IOM sampler showed a different performance (P < 0.001). The mean mass concentration ratios were 0.90 ± 0.01 for Button/IOM and 0.92 ± 0.02 for GSP/IOM. This information is useful to consider the measurements accomplished by the IOM, GSP or Button samplers together, in order to assess the exposure at workplaces over time or to study exposure levels in a specific industrial activity, as welding operations.

Anterior capsulotomy with an ultrashort-pulse laser.

PubMed

Tackman, Ramon Naranjo; Kuri, Jorge Villar; Nichamin, Louis D Skip; Edwards, Keith

2011-05-01

To assess the precision of laser anterior capsulotomy compared with that of manual continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC). Asociación Para Evitar La Ceguera en México IAP, Hospital Dr. Luis Sánchez Bulnes, Mexico City, Mexico. Nonrandomized single-center clinical trial. In patients presenting for cataract surgery, the LensAR Laser System was used to create a laser anterior capsulotomy of the surgeon's desired size. Capsule buttons were retrieved and measured and then compared with buttons retrieved from eyes having a manually torn CCC. Deviation from the intended diameter and the regularity of shape were assessed. When removing the capsule buttons at the start of surgery, the surgeon rated the ease of removal on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = required manual capsulorhexis around the whole diameter; 10 = button free floating or required no manual detachment from remaining capsule during removal). The mean deviation from the intended diameter was 0.16 mm ± 0.17 (SD) for laser anterior capsulotomy and 0.42 ± 0.54 mm for CCC (P=.03). The mean absolute deviation from the intended diameter was 0.20 ± 0.12 mm and 0.49 ± 0.47 mm, respectively (P=.003). The mean of the average squared residuals was 0.01 ± 0.03 and 0.02 ± 0.04, respectively (P=.09). The median rating of the ease of removal was 9 (range 5 to 10). Laser anterior capsulotomy created a more precise capsule opening than CCC, and the buttons created by the laser procedure were easy to remove at the beginning of cataract surgery. Copyright © 2011 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aberrant supplementary motor complex and limbic activity during motor preparation in motor conversion disorder

PubMed Central

Voon, V; Brezing, C; Gallea, C; Hallett, M

2014-01-01

Background Conversion disorder is characterized by unexplained neurological symptoms presumed related to psychological issues. The main hypotheses to explain conversion paralysis, characterized by a lack of movement, include impairments in either motor intention or disruption of motor execution, and further, that hyperactive self-monitoring, limbic processing or top-down regulation from higher order frontal regions may interfere with motor execution. We have recently shown that conversion disorder with positive abnormal or excessive motor symptoms was associated with greater amygdala activity to arousing stimuli along with greater functional connectivity between the amgydala and supplementary motor area. Here we studied patients with such symptoms focusing on motor initiation. Methods Subjects performed either an internally or externally generated two-button action selection task in a functional MRI study. Results Eleven conversion disorder patients without major depression and 11 age- and gender-matched normal volunteers were assessed. During both internally and externally generated movement, conversion disorder patients relative to normal volunteers had lower left supplementary motor area (SMA) (implicated in motor initiation) and higher right amygdala, left anterior insula and bilateral posterior cingulate activity (implicated in assigning emotional salience). These findings were confirmed in a subgroup analysis of patients with tremor symptoms. During internally versus externally generated action in CD patients, the left SMA had lower functional connectivity with bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. Conclusion We propose a theory in which previously mapped conversion motor representations may in an arousing context hijack the voluntary action selection system which is both hypoactive and functionally disconnected from prefrontal top-down regulation. PMID:21935985

Aberrant supplementary motor complex and limbic activity during motor preparation in motor conversion disorder.

PubMed

Voon, Valerie; Brezing, Christina; Gallea, Cecile; Hallett, Mark

2011-11-01

Conversion disorder (CD) is characterized by unexplained neurological symptoms presumed related to psychological issues. The main hypotheses to explain conversion paralysis, characterized by a lack of movement, include impairments in either motor intention or disruption of motor execution, and further, that hyperactive self-monitoring, limbic processing or top-down regulation from higher order frontal regions may interfere with motor execution. We have recently shown that CD with positive abnormal or excessive motor symptoms was associated with greater amygdala activity to arousing stimuli along with greater functional connectivity between the amygdala and supplementary motor area. Here we studied patients with such symptoms focusing on motor initiation. Subjects performed either an internally or externally generated 2-button action selection task in a functional MRI study. Eleven CD patients without major depression and 11 age- and gender-matched normal volunteers were assessed. During both internally and externally generated movement, conversion disorder patients relative to normal volunteers had lower left supplementary motor area (SMA) (implicated in motor initiation) and higher right amygdala, left anterior insula, and bilateral posterior cingulate activity (implicated in assigning emotional salience). These findings were confirmed in a subgroup analysis of patients with tremor symptoms. During internally versus externally generated action in CD patients, the left SMA had lower functional connectivity with bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. We propose a theory in which previously mapped conversion motor representations may in an arousing context hijack the voluntary action selection system, which is both hypoactive and functionally disconnected from prefrontal top-down regulation. Copyright © 2011 Movement Disorder Society.

The Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Decision to Rest in the Presence of Fatigue: A Magnetoencephalography Study

PubMed Central

Ishii, Akira; Tanaka, Masaaki; Watanabe, Yasuyoshi

2014-01-01

Adequate rest is essential to avoid fatigue and disruption of homeostasis. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the decision to rest are not well understood. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the neural mechanisms of this decision-making process using magnetoencephalography. Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in decision and control experiments performed in a cross-over fashion. In the decision experiment, participants performed 1,200 reverse Stroop test trials and were intermittently asked to decide whether they wanted to take a rest or continue. In the control experiments, participants performed 1,200 reverse Stroop test trials and were instructed to press a response button intermittently without making any decision. Changes in oscillatory brain activity were assessed using a narrow-band adaptive spatial filtering method. The levels of decrease in theta (4–8 Hz) band power in left Brodmann's area (BA) 31, alpha (8–13 Hz) band power in left BA 10 and BA 9, and beta (13–25 Hz) band power in right BA 46 and left BA 10 were greater in trials when the participant opted to rest (rest trials) than those in control trials. The decrease in theta band power in BA 31 in the rest trials was positively correlated with the subjective level of fatigue after the decision experiment. These results demonstrated that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, frontal pole, and posterior cingulate cortex play a role in the decision to rest in the presence of fatigue. These findings may help clarify the neural mechanisms underlying fatigue and fatigue-related problems. PMID:25303465

Subthalamic nucleus involvement in executive functions with increased cognitive load: a subthalamic nucleus and anterior cingulate cortex depth recording study.

PubMed

Aulická, Stefania Rusnáková; Jurák, Pavel; Chládek, Jan; Daniel, Pavel; Halámek, Josef; Baláž, Marek; Bočková, Martina; Chrastina, Jan; Rektor, Ivan

2014-10-01

We studied the appearance of broadband oscillatory changes (ranging 2-45 Hz) induced by a cognitive task with two levels of complexity. The event-related de/synchronizations (ERD/S) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were evaluated in an executive function test. Four epilepsy surgery candidates with intracerebral electrodes implanted in the ACC and three Parkinson's disease patients with externalized deep brain stimulation electrodes implanted in the STN participated in the study. A Flanker test (FT) with visual stimuli (arrows) was performed. Subjects reacted to four types of stimuli presented on the monitor by pushing the right or left button: congruent arrows to the right or left side (simple task) and incongruent arrows to the right or left side (more difficult complex task). We explored the activation of STN and the activation of the ACC while processing the FT. Both conditions, i.e. congruent and incongruent, induced oscillatory changes in the ACC and also STN with significantly higher activation during incongruent trial. At variance with the ACC, in the STN not only the ERD beta but also the ERD alpha activity was significantly more activated by the incongruent condition. In line with our earlier studies, the STN appears to be involved in activities linked with increased cognitive load. The specificity and complexity of task-related activation of the STN might indicate the involvement of the STN in processes controlling human behaviour, e.g. in the selection and inhibition of competing alternatives.

Spatial coding of object typical size: evidence for a SNARC-like effect.

PubMed

Sellaro, Roberta; Treccani, Barbara; Job, Remo; Cubelli, Roberto

2015-11-01

The present study aimed to assess whether the representation of the typical size of objects can interact with response position codes in two-choice bimanual tasks, and give rise to a SNARC-like effect (faster responses when the representation of the typical size of the object to which the target stimulus refers corresponds to response side). Participants performed either a magnitude comparison task (in which they were required to judge whether the target was smaller or larger than a reference stimulus; Experiment 1) or a semantic decision task (in which they had to classify the target as belonging to either the category of living or non-living entities; Experiment 2). Target stimuli were pictures or written words referring to either typically large and small animals or inanimate objects. In both tasks, participants responded by pressing a left- or right-side button. Results showed that, regardless of the to-be-performed task (magnitude comparison or semantic decision) and stimulus format (picture or word), left responses were faster when the target represented typically small-sized entities, whereas right responses were faster for typically large-sized entities. These results provide evidence that the information about the typical size of objects is activated even if it is not requested by the task, and are consistent with the idea that objects' typical size is automatically spatially coded, as has been proposed to occur for number magnitudes. In this representation, small objects would be on the left and large objects would be on the right. Alternative interpretations of these results are also discussed.

Cardiac remodeling in the mouse model of Marfan syndrome develops into two distinctive phenotypes

PubMed Central

Tae, Hyun-Jin; Marshall, Shannon; Krawczyk, Melissa; Talan, Mark

2015-01-01

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a systemic disorder of connective tissue caused by mutations in fibrillin-1. Cardiac dysfunction in MFS has not been characterized halting the development of therapies of cardiac complication in MFS. We aimed to study the age-dependent cardiac remodeling in the mouse model of MFS FbnC1039G+/− mouse [Marfan heterozygous (HT) mouse] and its association with valvular regurgitation. Marfan HT mice of 2–4 mo demonstrated a mild hypertrophic cardiac remodeling with predominant decline of diastolic function and increased transforming growth factor-β canonical (p-SMAD2/3) and noncanonical (p-ERK1/2 and p-p38 MAPK) signaling and upregulation of hypertrophic markers natriuretic peptides atrium natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide. Among older HT mice (6–14 mo), cardiac remodeling was associated with two distinct phenotypes, manifesting either dilated or constricted left ventricular chamber. Dilatation of left ventricular chamber was accompanied by biochemical evidence of greater mechanical stress, including elevated ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation and higher brain natriuretic peptide expression. The aortic valve regurgitation was registered in 20% of the constricted group and 60% of the dilated group, whereas mitral insufficiency was observed in 40% of the constricted group and 100% of the dilated group. Cardiac dysfunction was not associated with the increase of interstitial fibrosis and nonmyocyte proliferation. In the mouse model fibrillin-1, haploinsufficiency results in the early onset of nonfibrotic hypertrophic cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, independently from valvular abnormalities. MFS heart is vulnerable to stress-induced cardiac dilatation in the face of valvular regurgitation, and stress-activated MAPK signals represent a potential target for cardiac management in MFS. PMID:26566724

Cardiac remodeling in the mouse model of Marfan syndrome develops into two distinctive phenotypes.

PubMed

Tae, Hyun-Jin; Petrashevskaya, Natalia; Marshall, Shannon; Krawczyk, Melissa; Talan, Mark

2016-01-15

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a systemic disorder of connective tissue caused by mutations in fibrillin-1. Cardiac dysfunction in MFS has not been characterized halting the development of therapies of cardiac complication in MFS. We aimed to study the age-dependent cardiac remodeling in the mouse model of MFS FbnC1039G+/- mouse [Marfan heterozygous (HT) mouse] and its association with valvular regurgitation. Marfan HT mice of 2-4 mo demonstrated a mild hypertrophic cardiac remodeling with predominant decline of diastolic function and increased transforming growth factor-β canonical (p-SMAD2/3) and noncanonical (p-ERK1/2 and p-p38 MAPK) signaling and upregulation of hypertrophic markers natriuretic peptides atrium natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide. Among older HT mice (6-14 mo), cardiac remodeling was associated with two distinct phenotypes, manifesting either dilated or constricted left ventricular chamber. Dilatation of left ventricular chamber was accompanied by biochemical evidence of greater mechanical stress, including elevated ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation and higher brain natriuretic peptide expression. The aortic valve regurgitation was registered in 20% of the constricted group and 60% of the dilated group, whereas mitral insufficiency was observed in 40% of the constricted group and 100% of the dilated group. Cardiac dysfunction was not associated with the increase of interstitial fibrosis and nonmyocyte proliferation. In the mouse model fibrillin-1, haploinsufficiency results in the early onset of nonfibrotic hypertrophic cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, independently from valvular abnormalities. MFS heart is vulnerable to stress-induced cardiac dilatation in the face of valvular regurgitation, and stress-activated MAPK signals represent a potential target for cardiac management in MFS.

Adhesion testing device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LaPeyronnie, Glenn M. (Inventor); Huff, Charles M. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

The present invention provides a testing apparatus and method for testing the adhesion of a coating to a surface. The invention also includes an improved testing button or dolly for use with the testing apparatus and a self aligning button hook or dolly interface on the testing apparatus. According to preferred forms, the apparatus and method of the present invention are simple, portable, battery operated rugged, and inexpensive to manufacture and use, are readily adaptable to a wide variety of uses, and provide effective and accurate testing results. The device includes a linear actuator driven by an electric motor coupled to the actuator through a gearbox and a rotatable shaft. The electronics for the device are contained in the head section of the device. At the contact end of the device, is positioned a self aligning button hook, attached below the load cell located on the actuator shaft.

Connected cane: Tactile button input for controlling gestures of iOS voiceover embedded in a white cane.

PubMed

Batterman, Jared M; Martin, Vincent F; Yeung, Derek; Walker, Bruce N

2018-01-01

Accessibility of assistive consumer devices is an emerging research area with potential to benefit both users with and without visual impairments. In this article, we discuss the research and evaluation of using a tactile button interface to control an iOS device's native VoiceOver Gesture navigations (Apple Accessibility, 2014). This research effort identified potential safety and accessibility issues for users trying to interact and control their touchscreen mobile iOS devices while traveling independently. Furthermore, this article discusses the participatory design process in creating a solution that aims to solve issues in utilizing a tactile button interface in a novel device. The overall goal of this study is to enable visually impaired white cane users to access their mobile iOS device's capabilities navigation aids more safely and efficiently on the go.

Is the Go/No-Go Lexical Decision Task Preferable to the Yes/No Task with Developing Readers?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moret-Tatay, Carmen; Perea, Manuel

2011-01-01

The lexical decision task is probably the most common laboratory visual word identification task together with the naming task. In the usual setup, participants need to press the "yes" button when the stimulus is a word and the "no" button when the stimulus is not a word. A number of studies have employed this task with developing readers;…

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

McCracken, Brewster

Through funding from the Department of Energy’s Electricity Delivery and Reliability Office, Pecan Street Inc., in partnership with Austin Energy and Oncor, developed and tested third- party data access platforms and services for Green Button offerings and for other home energy use data providers. As more utilities seek to offer Green Button-compliant data to their customers, the question continually arises of how this data can be used to help customers better manage their energy use.

Hot-Button Issues for Teachers: What Every Educator Needs to Know About Leadership, Testing, Textbooks, Vouchers, and More

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vairo, Philip D.; Marcus, Sheldon; Weiner, Max

2007-01-01

One of the tragedies of American education is that so many teachers do not understand or are unaware of educational issues and how they impact on their profession. There is a gap between teacher perceptions and reality and this book is a first step in closing that gap. Hot-Button Issues for Teachers is a timely, comprehensive book that addresses…

Supplemental Archeological Investigations of Lower Bayou Teche, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-08-01

Ruler end (brass)1 ____ Buckle 1__________ Brass and inlaid shell button 1____ Chain 2 71 Cosmetic cap - gild brass inlaid with shell 1I____ 185...Molded stemnware fragment ____ _____ _____ Unidentified ______ ______1 Perfume/ Cosmetic Bottle Fragment Milk glass 2 Melted Glass Aqua1 Unidentified...major portion of the recovery (n = 122). Other metal artifacts included 2 safety pins, 1 cosmetic cap made of gilt brass inlaid with shell, 3 buttons

Allelopathic effects of the aqueous extract of the leaf and seed of Leucaena leucocephala on three selected weed species

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishak, Muhamad Safwan; Sahid, Ismail

2014-09-01

A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the allelopathic effects of the aqueous extract of the leaf and seed of Leucaena leucocephala. The aqueous extracts were individually tested on three selected weed species, namely goatweed (Ageratum conyzoides), coat buttons (Tridax procumbens) and lilac tasselflower (Emilia sonchifolia). The allelopathic effects of the leaf and seed extracts on germination, shoot length, root length and fresh weight of each of the selected weed species were determined. Germination of goatweed, coat buttons and lilac tasselflower were inhibited by the aqueous extracts of both the leaf and seed of L. leucocephala and was concentration dependent. Different concentrations of the aqueous extracts showed various germination patterns on the selected weeds species. Seedling length and fresh weight of goatweed, coat buttons and lilac tasselflower were reduced in response to respective increasing concentrations of the seed extracts. Maximum inhibition by the aqueous seed extract was observed more on the root rather than the shoot growth. The aqueous seed extract at T3 concentration reduced root length of goatweed, coat buttons and lilac tasselflower by 95%, 86% and 91% (of the control) respectively. The aqueous seed extract showed greater inhibitory effects than that of the aqueous leaf extract.

Modified coaxial wire method for measurement of transfer impedance of beam position monitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Mukesh; Babbar, L. K.; Deo, R. K.; Puntambekar, T. A.; Senecha, V. K.

2018-05-01

The transfer impedance is a very important parameter of a beam position monitor (BPM) which relates its output signal with the beam current. The coaxial wire method is a standard technique to measure transfer impedance of the BPM. The conventional coaxial wire method requires impedance matching between coaxial wire and external circuits (vector network analyzer and associated cables). This paper presents a modified coaxial wire method for bench measurement of the transfer impedance of capacitive pickups like button electrodes and shoe box BPMs. Unlike the conventional coaxial wire method, in the modified coaxial wire method no impedance matching elements have been used between the device under test and the external circuit. The effect of impedance mismatch has been solved mathematically and a new expression of transfer impedance has been derived. The proposed method is verified through simulation of a button electrode BPM using cst studio suite. The new method is also applied to measure transfer impedance of a button electrode BPM developed for insertion devices of Indus-2 and the results are also compared with its simulations. Close agreement between measured and simulation results suggests that the modified coaxial wire setup can be exploited for the measurement of transfer impedance of capacitive BPMs like button electrodes and shoe box BPM.

World Wind 3D Earth Viewing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hogan, Patrick; Maxwell, Christopher; Kim, Randolph; Gaskins, Tom

2007-01-01

World Wind allows users to zoom from satellite altitude down to any place on Earth, leveraging high-resolution LandSat imagery and SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) elevation data to experience Earth in visually rich 3D. In addition to Earth, World Wind can also visualize other planets, and there are already comprehensive data sets for Mars and the Earth's moon, which are as easily accessible as those of Earth. There have been more than 20 million downloads to date, and the software is being used heavily by the Department of Defense due to the code s ability to be extended and the evolution of the code courtesy of NASA and the user community. Primary features include the dynamic access to public domain imagery and its ease of use. All one needs to control World Wind is a two-button mouse. Additional guides and features can be accessed through a simplified menu. A JAVA version will be available soon. Navigation is automated with single clicks of a mouse, or by typing in any location to automatically zoom in to see it. The World Wind install package contains the necessary requirements such as the .NET runtime and managed DirectX library. World Wind can display combinations of data from a variety of sources, including Blue Marble, LandSat 7, SRTM, NASA Scientific Visualization Studio, GLOBE, and much more. A thorough list of features, the user manual, a key chart, and screen shots are available at http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov.

Arthroscopic Latarjet Techniques: Graft and Fixation Positioning Assessed With 2-Dimensional Computed Tomography Is Not Equivalent With Standard Open Technique.

PubMed

Neyton, Lionel; Barth, Johannes; Nourissat, Geoffroy; Métais, Pierre; Boileau, Pascal; Walch, Gilles; Lafosse, Laurent

2018-05-19

To analyze graft and fixation (screw and EndoButton) positioning after the arthroscopic Latarjet technique with 2-dimensional computed tomography (CT) and to compare it with the open technique. We performed a retrospective multicenter study (March 2013 to June 2014). The inclusion criteria included patients with recurrent anterior instability treated with the Latarjet procedure. The exclusion criterion was the absence of a postoperative CT scan. The positions of the hardware, the positions of the grafts in the axial and sagittal planes, and the dispersion of values (variability) were compared. The study included 208 patients (79 treated with open technique, 87 treated with arthroscopic Latarjet technique with screw fixation [arthro-screw], and 42 treated with arthroscopic Latarjet technique with EndoButton fixation [arthro-EndoButton]). The angulation of the screws was different in the open group versus the arthro-screw group (superior, 10.3° ± 0.7° vs 16.9° ± 1.0° [P < .001]; inferior, 10.3° ± 0.8° vs 15.7° ± 0.9° [P < .0001]). The angulation of the EndoButtons was 5.7° ± 0.5°; this was different from that of open inferior screws (P = .003). In the axial plane (level of equator), the arthroscopic techniques resulted in lateral positions (arthro-screw, 1.5 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .001]; arthro-EndoButton, 0 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .0001]) versus the open technique (0.9 ± 0.2 mm medial). At the level of 25% of the glenoid height, the arthroscopic techniques resulted in lateral positions (arthro-screw, 0.3 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .001]); (arthro-EndoButton, 0.7 ± 0.3 mm lateral [P < .0001]) versus the open technique (1.0 ± 0.2 mm medial). Higher variability was observed in the arthro-screw group. In the sagittal plane, the arthro-screw technique resulted in higher positions (55% ± 3% of graft below equator) and the arthro-EndoButton technique resulted in lower positions (82% ± 3%, P < .0001) versus the open technique (71% ± 2%). Variability was not different. This study shows that the position of the fixation devices and position of the bone graft with the arthroscopic techniques are statistically significantly different from those with the open technique with 2-dimensional CT assessment. In the sagittal plane, the arthro-screw technique provides the highest positions, and the arthro-EndoButton technique, the lowest. Overall, the mean position of the bone block with the open Latarjet technique in the axial plane is slightly medial to the joint line, as recommended. Conversely, with the arthroscopic techniques, the bone grafts are more lateral with a slight overhang. The main differences are observed in the dispersion of the values (more extreme positions) with the arthro-screw technique, given the acknowledged limitations. Despite the statistical significance, the clinical significance of these differences is yet unknown. Level III, retrospective comparative study. Copyright © 2018 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL GENE THERAPY: ASSESSING THE RELEVANCE OF PRE-CLINICAL MODELS

PubMed Central

Larochelle, Andre; Dunbar, Cynthia E.

2013-01-01

The modern laboratory mouse has become a central tool for biomedical research with a notable influence in the field of hematopoiesis. Application of retroviral-based gene transfer approaches to mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has led to a sophisticated understanding of the hematopoietic hierarchy in this model. However, the assumption that gene transfer methodologies developed in the mouse could be similarly applied to human HSCs for the treatment of human diseases left the field of gene therapy in a decade-long quandary. It is not until more relevant humanized xenograft mouse models and phylogenetically related large animal species were used to optimize gene transfer methodologies that unequivocal clinical successes were achieved. However, the subsequent reporting of severe adverse events in these clinical trials casted doubts on the predictive value of conventional pre-clinical testing, and encouraged the development of new assays for assessing the relative genotoxicity of various vector designs. PMID:24014892

A Study of Selected Problems in Armor Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-11-01

of external environmental cond~tions on the internal environment of a buttoned-up tank. Another effort was a study of problems in escape and...Test site configuration: Study II ......... ... IV-16 FIG. IVT4. Mean time to lay on target .... ........ .... IV-20 TABLES Chapter III Table III-I...L., and Ton, W. H. Study of the Psychological (and Associated Physiological) Effjcts on a Tank Crew Resulting From Being Buttoned Up, ARI Research

BPM Breakdown Potential in the PEP-II B-factory Storage Ring Collider

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

Weathersby, Stephen; Novokhatski, Alexander; /SLAC

2010-02-10

High current B-Factory BPM designs incorporate a button type electrode which introduces a small gap between the button and the beam chamber. For achievable currents and bunch lengths, simulations indicate that electric potentials can be induced in this gap which are comparable to the breakdown voltage. This study characterizes beam induced voltages in the existing PEP-II storage ring collider BPM as a function of bunch length and beam current.

Consortium Requirements Engineering Guidebook

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

re- quirements among developers or contractors, acquisition managers, and users. A CoRE specification serves as both the test -to and design-to...that are used for the following purposes: (1) the button labeled SELF TEST allows the operator to check the FLMS’s output hardware while the system is...shut down; and (2) the button labeled RESET allows the system to be brought back into normal operation following a shutdown or testing as long as the

An ergonomics study of thumb movements on smartphone touch screen.

PubMed

Xiong, Jinghong; Muraki, Satoshi

2014-01-01

This study investigated the relationships between thumb muscle activity and thumb operating tasks on a smartphone touch screen with one-hand posture. Six muscles in the right thumb and forearm were targeted in this study, namely adductor pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor pollicis longus, first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and extensor digitorum. The performance measures showed that the thumb developed fatigue rapidly when tapping on smaller buttons (diameter: 9 mm compared with 3 mm), and moved more slowly in flexion-extension than in adduction-abduction orientation. Meanwhile, the electromyography and perceived exertion values of FDI significantly increased in small button and flexion-extension tasks, while those of APB were greater in the adduction-abduction task. This study reveals that muscle effort among thumb muscles on a touch screen smartphone varies according to the task, and suggests that the use of small touch buttons should be minimised for better thumb performance.

A wire scanner system for characterizing the BNL energy recovery LINAC beam position monitor system

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

Michnoff R.; Biscardi, C.; Cerniglia, P.

2012-04-15

A stepper motor controlled wire scanner system has recently been modified to support testing of the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Collider-Accelerator department's Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) beam position monitor (BPM) system. The ERL BPM consists of four 9.33 mm diameter buttons mounted at 90 degree spacing in a cube with 1.875 inch inside diameter. The buttons were designed by BNL and fabricated by Times Microwave Systems. Libera brilliance single pass BPM electronic modules with 700 MHz bandpass filter, manufactured by Instrumentation Technologies, will be used to measure the transverse beam positions at 14 locations around the ERL. The wire scannermore » assembly provides the ability to measure the BPM button response to a pulsed wire, and evaluate and calibrate the Libera position measurement electronics. A description of the wire scanner system and test result data will be presented.« less

Archeological Survey and Testing in the Holy Cross Historic District, New Orleans, Louisiana. Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-02-01

467 Table 4 Personal Items from Shovel Tests, 160R130. SURF SURF SURF N15 N5 NO NO $5 S5 1 2 3 W20 El5 E20 W10 E20 EO Bone button, Type B-5 Ceramic...Table 4 . Personal Items from Shovel Tests, 160R130. S15 S20 S20 S25 S25 S30 S30 S30 S32.5 E5 E35 E20 E50 E25 E50 E35 E20 E35 Bone button, Type B-5...1 1 1 7 1 471 Table 4 Personal Items from Shovel Tests, 160R130. S30 S34 S35 S45 S50 TOTAL El0 E35 E30 E30 E55 Bone button, Type B-5 1 1 Ceramic

Paper-based piezoelectric touch pads with hydrothermally grown zinc oxide nanowires.

PubMed

Li, Xiao; Wang, Yu-Hsuan; Zhao, Chen; Liu, Xinyu

2014-12-24

This paper describes a new type of paper-based piezoelectric touch pad integrating zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs), which can serve as user interfaces in paper-based electronics. The sensing functionality of these touch pads is enabled by the piezoelectric property of ZnO NWs grown on paper using a simple, cost-efficient hydrothermal method. A piece of ZnO-NW paper with two screen-printed silver electrodes forms a touch button, and touch-induced electric charges from the button are converted into a voltage output using a charge amplifier circuit. A touch pad consisting of an array of buttons can be readily integrated into paper-based electronic devices, allowing user input of information for various purposes such as programming, identification checking, and gaming. This novel design features ease of fabrication, low cost, ultrathin structure, and good compatibility with techniques in printed electronics, and further enriches the available technologies of paper-based electronics.

Biomechanical evaluation of a transtibial pull-out meniscal root repair: challenging the bungee effect.

PubMed

Cerminara, Anthony J; LaPrade, Christopher M; Smith, Sean D; Ellman, Michael B; Wijdicks, Coen A; LaPrade, Robert F

2014-12-01

A common treatment for posterior meniscal root tears is transtibial pull-out repair, which has been biomechanically reported to restore tibiofemoral contact mechanics to those of the intact knee. Biomechanical data suggest that there is significant displacement of the repaired meniscal root with cyclic loading, which may be responsible for the poor healing and meniscal extrusion demonstrated in some clinical studies. The purpose of this study was to quantify the time-zero displacement of the posterior meniscal root in response to cyclic loading after transtibial pull-out repair and to quantify the individual contributions to displacement of the following: (1) suture elongation, (2) button-bone interface, and (3) meniscus-suture interface. The meniscus-suture interface was hypothesized to result in significantly more displacement than the button-bone interface or suture elongation. Descriptive laboratory study. Transtibial pull-out repair of the posterior medial meniscal root was performed in 6 porcine knees, and cyclic displacement was measured using a loading protocol representative of postoperative rehabilitation. Displacement from (1) suture elongation, (2) the button-bone interface, and (3) the meniscus-suture interface was determined by cyclically loading 6 specimens for each construct using the same loading protocol to determine the contribution of each component to the overall displacement of the repair construct. After 1000 cycles, the repair construct displaced by a mean of 3.28 mm (95% CI, 2.07-4.49). The meniscus-suture component (mean, 2.52 mm; 95% CI, 2.21-2.83) displaced significantly more than the button-bone component (mean, 0.90 mm; 95% CI, 0.64-1.15; P = .006) and suture elongation component (mean, 0.71 mm; 95% CI, 0.36-1.06; P = .006) after 1000 cycles. Displacement of the button-bone and suture elongation components was not significantly different after 1000 cycles (P = .720). There was substantial displacement of the posterior medial meniscal root repaired with the transtibial pull-out technique under a cyclic loading protocol simulating postoperative rehabilitation. The meniscus-suture interface contributed to significantly more displacement than the button-bone interface and suture elongation in the transtibial pull-out repair construct. The results provide a framework for optimizing the transtibial pull-out repair technique. Future studies should focus on improving suture fixation strength within the meniscus-suture interface. © 2014 The Author(s).

Inclusion Behavior During the Electron Beam Button Melting Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellot, J. P.; Defay, B.; Jourdan, J.; Chapelle, P.; Jardy, A.

2012-10-01

The high mechanical performance of alloys developed for the manufacture of turbine disks depend upon the size and the number density of the inclusions. The electron beam button method has been practiced since the 1980s as a technique to quantify the cleanliness of the superalloys as well as to identify the nature and the size of the inclusions. The technique involves melting the sample into a hemispherical water-cooled crucible and the low density inclusions (mainly oxides) are concentrated by a combination of Marangoni and buoyancy forces into an area at the top surface of the button referred to as the raft. We have experimentally studied the behavior of oxide inclusions in special steels using both high definition video and infrared cameras. We have observed the inversion of the Marangoni effect due to the presence of sulfur, which leads to a positive temperature coefficient of the surface tension. A mathematical modeling has been carried out to simulate the turbulent fluid flow associated with the temperature field in the metallic pool of the button. The surface temperature profile has been successfully compared with the measured data. A post-processor numerical tool calculates the inclusion trajectories taking into account the turbulent fluctuation velocity by a stochastic approach. Hence, the behavior of a population of inclusions has been statistically studied, and the dependence of the capture efficiency on the inclusion size has been analyzed.

A predictive model of asymmetric morphogenesis from 3D reconstructions of mouse heart looping dynamics

PubMed Central

Le Garrec, Jean-François; Ivanovitch, Kenzo D; Raphaël, Etienne; Bangham, J Andrew; Torres, Miguel; Coen, Enrico; Mohun, Timothy J

2017-01-01

How left-right patterning drives asymmetric morphogenesis is unclear. Here, we have quantified shape changes during mouse heart looping, from 3D reconstructions by HREM. In combination with cell labelling and computer simulations, we propose a novel model of heart looping. Buckling, when the cardiac tube grows between fixed poles, is modulated by the progressive breakdown of the dorsal mesocardium. We have identified sequential left-right asymmetries at the poles, which bias the buckling in opposite directions, thus leading to a helical shape. Our predictive model is useful to explore the parameter space generating shape variations. The role of the dorsal mesocardium was validated in Shh-/- mutants, which recapitulate heart shape changes expected from a persistent dorsal mesocardium. Our computer and quantitative tools provide novel insight into the mechanism of heart looping and the contribution of different factors, beyond the simple description of looping direction. This is relevant to congenital heart defects. PMID:29179813

Optimized Heart Sampling and Systematic Evaluation of Cardiac Therapies in Mouse Models of Ischemic Injury: Assessment of Cardiac Remodeling and Semi-Automated Quantification of Myocardial Infarct Size.

PubMed

Valente, Mariana; Araújo, Ana; Esteves, Tiago; Laundos, Tiago L; Freire, Ana G; Quelhas, Pedro; Pinto-do-Ó, Perpétua; Nascimento, Diana S

2015-12-02

Cardiac therapies are commonly tested preclinically in small-animal models of myocardial infarction. Following functional evaluation, post-mortem histological analysis is essential to assess morphological and molecular alterations underlying the effectiveness of treatment. However, non-methodical and inadequate sampling of the left ventricle often leads to misinterpretations and variability, making direct study comparisons unreliable. Protocols are provided for representative sampling of the ischemic mouse heart followed by morphometric analysis of the left ventricle. Extending the use of this sampling to other types of in situ analysis is also illustrated through the assessment of neovascularization and cellular engraftment in a cell-based therapy setting. This is of interest to the general cardiovascular research community as it details methods for standardization and simplification of histo-morphometric evaluation of emergent heart therapies. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Effect of voluntary physical activity initiated at age 7 months on skeletal hindlimb and cardiac muscle function in mdx mice of both genders.

PubMed

Ferry, Arnaud; Benchaouir, Rachid; Joanne, Pierre; Peat, Rachel A; Mougenot, Nathalie; Agbulut, Onnik; Butler-Browne, Gillian

2015-11-01

The effects of voluntary activity initiated in adult mdx (C57BL/10ScSc-DMD(mdx) /J) mice on skeletal and cardiac muscle function have not been studied extensively. We studied the effects of 3 months of voluntary wheel running initiated at age 7 months on hindlimb muscle weakness, increased susceptibility to muscle contraction-induced injury, and left ventricular function in mdx mice. We found that voluntary wheel running did not worsen the deficit in force-generating capacity and the force drop after lengthening contractions in either mdx mouse gender. It increased the absolute maximal force of skeletal muscle in female mdx mice. Moreover, it did not affect left ventricular function, structural heart dimensions, cardiac gene expression of inflammation, fibrosis, or remodeling markers. These results indicate that voluntary activity initiated at age 7 months had no detrimental effects on skeletal or cardiac muscles in either mdx mouse gender. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fixating at far distance shortens reaction time to peripheral visual stimuli at specific locations.

PubMed

Kokubu, Masahiro; Ando, Soichi; Oda, Shingo

2018-01-18

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the fixation distance in real three-dimensional space affects manual reaction time to peripheral visual stimuli. Light-emitting diodes were used for presenting a fixation point and four peripheral visual stimuli. The visual stimuli were located at a distance of 45cm and at 25° in the left, right, upper, and lower directions from the sagittal axis including the fixation point. Near (30cm), Middle (45cm), Far (90cm), and Very Far (300cm) fixation distance conditions were used. When one of the four visual stimuli was randomly illuminated, the participants released a button as quickly as possible. Results showed that overall peripheral reaction time decreased as the fixation distance increased. The significant interaction between fixation distance and stimulus location indicated that the effect of fixation distance on reaction time was observed at the left, right, and upper locations but not at the lower location. These results suggest that fixating at far distance would contribute to faster reaction and that the effect is specific to locations in the peripheral visual field. The present findings are discussed in terms of viewer-centered representation, the focus of attention in depth, and visual field asymmetry related to neurological and psychological aspects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rugby injury-associated pseudocyst of the auricle: report and review of sports-associated dermatoses of the ear.

PubMed

Kallini, Joseph R; Cohen, Philip R

2013-02-15

To describe a man with pseudocyst of the auricle, summarize the salient features of this condition, and review other sports-associated dermatoses of the ear. Pseudocyst of the auricle is an intracartilaginous collection of viscous straw-colored fluid typically located in the triangular fossa of the upper half of the auricle. It is usually asymptomatic. It can result in a permanent auricular deformity. A 63-year-old man developed a pseudocyst of the auricle following a traumatic rugby-related injury to his left ear. The lesion has persisted for many years; chronic massage has slightly decreased its size. The etiology of pseudocyst of the auricle has been described as either traumatic or developmental. Our patient developed his pseudocyst after a rugby-related injury. This condition is usually unilateral. Aspirate of the content is usually sterile. Histology shows an intracartilaginous cyst devoid of an epithelial lining. Treatment involves either partial removal of the cartilage or chemical irritation to enhance adhesiveness. Subsequent compression (via button bolsters) minimizes recurrence. Pseudocyst of the auricle is a benign cystic dilatation, which is intracartilaginous, devoid of an epithelial lining, and may be traumatic or non-traumatic in origin. A man with rugby-associated trauma to his left ear developed this condition. Auricular pseudocyst can be added to the list of sports-associated dermatoses of the ear.

A pilot study to investigate the induction and manipulation of learned helplessness in healthy adults.

PubMed

Taylor, Joseph J; Neitzke, Daniel J; Khouri, George; Borckardt, Jeffrey J; Acierno, Ron; Tuerk, Peter W; Schmidt, Matthew; George, Mark S

2014-11-30

Eliminating the controllability of a noxious stimulus may induce a learned helplessness (LH) that resembles aspects of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) promotes resilience in an aversive stimulus model of LH. All 55 participants were told that an undisclosed sequence of button presses would terminate an aversive stimulus on their forearm. In truth, only half had control (+C). The other half had no control (-C). All participants received real (R) or sham (S) left DLPFC rTMS during the paradigm (+C/R, -C/S,+C/S,-C/R). We evaluated the cognitive effects of LH using an anagram task. The LH paradigm successfully reduced perceived control in the -C groups. As predicted, the +C/R and +C/S groups tended to give up less quickly and take less time to solve each anagram than did the -C/S group. Superior anagram performance in the -C/R group approached statistical significance. Our preliminary results suggest that manipulating the controllability of an aversive stimulus may induce an LH effect that manifests as impaired anagram performance. Further research is needed to refine this model and determine if DLPFC rTMS mitigates any LH effects. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A pilot study to investigate the induction and manipulation of learned helplessness in healthy adults

PubMed Central

Taylor, Joseph J.; Neitzke, Daniel J.; Khouri, George; Borckardt, Jeffrey J.; Acierno, Ron; Tuerk, Peter W.; Schmidt, Matthew; George, Mark S.

2014-01-01

Eliminating the controllability of a noxious stimulus may induce a learned helplessness (LH) that resembles aspects of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) promotes resilience in an aversive stimulus model of LH. All 55 participants were told that an undisclosed sequence of button presses would terminate an aversive stimulus on their forearm. In truth, only half had control (+C). The other half had no control (−C). All participants received real (R) or sham (S) left DLPFC rTMS during the paradigm (+C/R, −C/S,+C/S, −C/R). We evaluated the cognitive effects of LH using an anagram task. The LH paradigm successfully reduced perceived control in the −C groups. As predicted, the +C/R and +C/S groups tended to give up less quickly and take less time to solve each anagram than did the −C/S group. Superior anagram performance in the −C/R group approached statistical significance. Our preliminary results suggest that manipulating the controllability of an aversive stimulus may induce a LH effect that manifests as impaired anagram performance. Further research is needed to refine this model and determine if DLPFC rTMS mitigates any LH effects. PMID:25023370

Corneal scarring from laser in situ keratomileusis after epikeratoplasty: Clinical and histopathologic analysis

PubMed Central

Khandelwal, Sumitra S.; Randleman, J. Bradley; Grossniklaus, Hans E.

2015-01-01

A 47-year-old woman required penetrating keratoplasty in the right eye after developing delayed visually significant corneal scarring bilaterally after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in 1997 following epikeratoplasty in 1987. Spectral domain ocular coherence tomography of the left cornea showed a 100 μm lenticule with a LASIK flap posterior to the host Bowman layer at 250 μm. Histopathology and electron microscopy of the right corneal button showed a 120 μm lenticule with a LASIK flap within the lenticule at 100 μm. Clinically significant scarring was present within the LASIK flap interface, within the lenticule stroma, and within the area of the underlying host Bowman layer. There were keratocytes at the junction between the LASIK flap and lenticule stromal bed. Although epikeratoplasty is no longer practiced, post-epikeratoplasty patients may present for refractive surgical options and LASIK carries significant risks for corneal scarring in these individuals, especially when using flap-creating devices that may create thin LASIK flaps. PMID:23506924

Training-related changes in early visual processing of functionally illiterate adults: evidence from event-related brain potentials

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to investigate training-related changes in fast visual word recognition of functionally illiterate adults. Analyses focused on the left-lateralized occipito-temporal N170, which represents the earliest processing of visual word forms. Event-related brain potentials were recorded from 20 functional illiterates receiving intensive literacy training for adults, 10 functional illiterates not participating in the training and 14 regular readers while they read words, pseudowords or viewed symbol strings. Subjects were required to press a button whenever a stimulus was immediately repeated. Results Attending intensive literacy training was associated with improvements in reading and writing skills and with an increase of the word-related N170 amplitude. For untrained functional illiterates and regular readers no changes in literacy skills or N170 amplitude were observed. Conclusions Results of the present study suggest that the word-related N170 can still be modulated in adulthood as a result of the improvements in literacy skills. PMID:24330622

Training-related changes in early visual processing of functionally illiterate adults: evidence from event-related brain potentials.

PubMed

Boltzmann, Melanie; Rüsseler, Jascha

2013-12-13

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to investigate training-related changes in fast visual word recognition of functionally illiterate adults. Analyses focused on the left-lateralized occipito-temporal N170, which represents the earliest processing of visual word forms. Event-related brain potentials were recorded from 20 functional illiterates receiving intensive literacy training for adults, 10 functional illiterates not participating in the training and 14 regular readers while they read words, pseudowords or viewed symbol strings. Subjects were required to press a button whenever a stimulus was immediately repeated. Attending intensive literacy training was associated with improvements in reading and writing skills and with an increase of the word-related N170 amplitude. For untrained functional illiterates and regular readers no changes in literacy skills or N170 amplitude were observed. Results of the present study suggest that the word-related N170 can still be modulated in adulthood as a result of the improvements in literacy skills.

Report order and identification of multidimensional stimuli: a study of event-related brain potentials.

PubMed

Shieh, Kong-King; Shen, I-Hsuan

2004-06-01

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of order of report on multidimensional stimulus identification. Subjects were required to identify each two-dimensional symbol by pushing corresponding buttons on the keypad on which there were two columns representing the two dimensions. Order of report was manipulated for the dimension represented by the left or right column. Both behavioral data and event-related potentials were recorded from 14 college students. Behavioral data analysis showed that order of report had a significant effect on response times. Such results were consistent with those of previous studies. Analysis of event-related brain potentials showed significant differences in peak amplitude and mean amplitude at time windows of 120-250 msec. at Fz, F3, and F4 and of 350-750 msec. at Fz, F3, F4, Cz, and Pz. Data provided neurophysiological evidence that reporting dimensional values according to natural language habits was appropriate and less cognitively demanding.

[Spatiotemporal pattern analysis of event-related potentials elicited by emotional Stroop task].

PubMed

Liu, Qi; Liu, Ling; He, Hui; Zhou, Shu

2007-05-01

To investigate the spatiotemporal pattern of event-related potentials (ERPs) induced by emotional Stroop task. The ERPs of 19 channels were recorded from 13 healthy subjects while performing emotional Stroop task by pressing the buttons representing the colors in which the words denoting different emotions were displayed. A repeated-measures factorial design was adopted with three levels (word valence: positive, neutral and negative). The result of ERP analysis was presented in the form of statistical parametric mapping (SPM) of F value. No significant difference was found in either reaction time or accuracy. The SPM of ERPs suggested significant emotional valence effects in the occipital region (200-220 ms), the left and central frontal regions (270-300 ms), and the bilateral temporal and parietal cortex (560-580 and 620-630 ms, respectively). Processing of task-irrelevant emotional valence information involves the dynamic operation of extensive brain regions. The ERPs are more sensitive than the behavioral indices in emotional evaluation.

A Geant4 evaluation of the Hornyak button and two candidate detectors for the TREAT hodoscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark J.; McGregor, Douglas S.; Roberts, Jeremy A.

2018-05-01

The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminate background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Moreover, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.

Correlation Between Corneal Button Size and Intraocular Pressure During Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Keratoplasty.

PubMed

Choi, Mihyun; Lee, Yong Eun; Whang, Woong-Joo; Yoo, Young-Sik; Na, Kyung-Sun; Joo, Choun-Ki

2016-03-01

To evaluate changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in recipient and donor eyes during femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty (FLAK) and to assess for differences in the diameter of trephinated corneal buttons according to changes in pressure. Twenty porcine whole eyes (recipient model) and 20 porcine-corneoscleral rims (donor model) were prepared, and anterior chamber pressures were measured using a fiberoptic sensing device (Opsens, Quebec, Canada) during the femtosecond laser corneal cutting process. To determine the diameter of corneal buttons, 10 porcine whole eyes (recipient model) and 12 corneoscleral rims (donor model) of each baseline IOP were cut with the femtosecond laser programmed to the following pattern: "vertical side cut"; 1200 μm (depth), 8 mm (diameter). Digital photographs were obtained using microscopy and subsequently analyzed. The IOP (mean ± SD) for the recipient model was 10.2 (±0.9) mm Hg at baseline and ranged from 96.6 (±4.5) to ∼138.4 (±3.8) mm Hg during the corneal cutting process. This shows that the maximum IOP during FLAK increased 13.5 times compared with baseline. In the donor model, the mean pressure elevation from baseline artificial anterior chamber (AAC) pressure to corneal cutting was 15.8 (±5.4) mm Hg. This showed a positive correlation with baseline IOP [correlation coefficient (CC) = 0.827, P = 0.006]. As the baseline IOP in the recipient eye increased, trephinated corneal button size was reduced by up to 3.9% in diameter (CC = -0.945, P = 0.015). In addition, in donor eyes, the diameter was decreased by up to 11.7% as the baseline AAC pressure increased (CC = -0.934, P = 0.006). During the FLAK procedure, the IOP increases in both recipient and donor eyes. The diameter of the trephinated donor and recipient corneal buttons was decreased as the initial baseline IOP increased. Ophthalmic surgeons can determine the AAC pressure based on the baseline IOP in the recipient patient.

A Geant4 evaluation of the Hornyak button and two candidate detectors for the TREAT hodoscope

DOE PAGES

Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark; ...

2018-02-05

The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminatemore » background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Furthermore, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.« less

Revision ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using a suspension button fixation technique.

PubMed

Lee, Gregory H; Limpisvasti, Orr; Park, Maxwell C; McGarry, Michelle H; Yocum, Lewis A; Lee, Thay Q

2010-03-01

Revision ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction remains a challenging problem. The objective of this study was to biomechanically evaluate an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction technique using a suspension button fixation technique that can be used even in the case of ulnar cortical bone loss. An ulnar suspension fixation technique for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction can restore elbow kinematics and demonstrate failure strength comparable to that of currently available techniques. Controlled laboratory study. Nine pairs of cadaveric elbows were dissected free of soft tissue and potted. After simulating ulnar cortical bone loss, ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction was performed in 1 elbow of each pair using palmaris longus autograft and a 30-mm RetroButton suspended from the far (lateralmost) ulnar cortex. A docking technique was used for humeral fixation of the graft. Elbow valgus angle was quantified using a Microscribe 3DLX digitizer at multiple elbow flexion angles. Valgus angle was measured with the ulnar collateral ligament intact, transected, and reconstructed. In addition, load-to-failure testing was performed in 1 elbow of each pair. Release of the ulnar collateral ligament caused a significant increase in valgus angle at each flexion angle tested (P < .002). Reconstructed elbows demonstrated no significant differences in valgus angle from the intact elbow at all flexion angles tested. Load-to-failure tests showed that reconstructed elbows had an ultimate torque (10.3 + or - 5.7 N x m) significantly less than intact elbows (26.4 + or - 10.6 N x m) (P = .001). Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using a suspension button fixation technique reliably restored elbow kinematics to the intact state. Load-to-failure testing demonstrated comparable fixation strength to several historic controls of primary reconstruction techniques despite the simulated ulnar cortical bone loss. Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using a suspension button fixation technique can be considered in the case of ulnar cortical bone loss in a primary or revision setting.

Arthroscopically assisted reduction of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation using a single double-button device: Medium-term clinical and radiological outcomes.

PubMed

Issa, S-P; Payan, C; Le Hanneur, M; Loriaut, P; Boyer, P

2018-02-01

Double-button devices for endoscopic management of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation (ACJD) provide satisfactory short-term functional and radiological results. However, little exists in the literature regarding the long- and medium-term results of these implants, especially regarding the evolution of the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ). Satisfactory and steady long- and medium-term outcomes can be achieved in patients with acute ACJD undergoing endoscopically assisted ACJ repair using a single double-button device. A retrospective single-center study was conducted in patients with acute Rockwood III and IV ACJD treated endoscopically with a single double-button device from October 2008 to October 2010, allowing a minimum 5-year follow-up. Functional evaluation used Constant and Quick-DASH scores. Clinical evidence of dislocation recurrence was combined with bilateral Zanca views to assess coracoclavicular distance. Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis was evaluated on the Paxinos test and Zanca views. Nineteen of the 25 operated patients were seen at a mean 76.9±8.5 months' follow-up. Mean age was 34.4±8.3 years. Mean Constant and Quick-DASH scores were 96.2±5.1 and 0.9±1.6 points, respectively. Four patients had a recurrence of their initial dislocation, 3 of whom had positive Paxinos test, whereas the 15 patients without recurrence had a negative test (p=0.004). Five patients had radiological evidence of ACJ osteoarthritis: all 4 patients with recurrence and 1 without (p=0.001). Long- and medium-term radioclinical outcome of endoscopically assisted management of acute ACJD using a single double-button device seems to be satisfactory and steady over time. Recurrence of the initial dislocation appears to be related to onset of degenerative ACJ arthropathy. Therapeutic type IV-Retrospective case series. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

A walk through the planned CS building. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khorramabadi, Delnaz

1991-01-01

Using the architectural plan views of our future computer science building as test objects, we have completed the first stage of a Building walkthrough system. The inputs to our system are AutoCAD files. An AutoCAD converter translates the geometrical information in these files into a format suitable for 3D rendering. Major model errors, such as incorrect polygon intersections and random face orientations, are detected and fixed automatically. Interactive viewing and editing tools are provided to view the results, to modify and clean the model and to change surface attributes. Our display system provides a simple-to-use user interface for interactive exploration of buildings. Using only the mouse buttons, the user can move inside and outside the building and change floors. Several viewing and rendering options are provided, such as restricting the viewing frustum, avoiding wall collisions, and selecting different rendering algorithms. A plan view of the current floor, with the position of the eye point and viewing direction on it, is displayed at all times. The scene illumination can be manipulated, by interactively controlling intensity values for 5 light sources.

User interface user's guide for HYPGEN

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiu, Ing-Tsau

1992-01-01

The user interface (UI) of HYPGEN is developed using Panel Library to shorten the learning curve for new users and provide easier ways to run HYPGEN for casual users as well as for advanced users. Menus, buttons, sliders, and type-in fields are used extensively in UI to allow users to point and click with a mouse to choose various available options or to change values of parameters. On-line help is provided to give users information on using UI without consulting the manual. Default values are set for most parameters and boundary conditions are determined by UI to further reduce the effort needed to run HYPGEN; however, users are free to make any changes and save it in a file for later use. A hook to PLOT3D is built in to allow graphics manipulation. The viewpoint and min/max box for PLOT3D windows are computed by UI and saved in a PLOT3D journal file. For large grids which take a long time to generate on workstations, the grid generator (HYPGEN) can be run on faster computers such as Crays, while UI stays at the workstation.

A Web Browsing System by Eye-gaze Input

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abe, Kiyohiko; Owada, Kosuke; Ohi, Shoichi; Ohyama, Minoru

We have developed an eye-gaze input system for people with severe physical disabilities, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. This system utilizes a personal computer and a home video camera to detect eye-gaze under natural light. The system detects both vertical and horizontal eye-gaze by simple image analysis, and does not require special image processing units or sensors. We also developed the platform for eye-gaze input based on our system. In this paper, we propose a new web browsing system for physically disabled computer users as an application of the platform for eye-gaze input. The proposed web browsing system uses a method of direct indicator selection. The method categorizes indicators by their function. These indicators are hierarchized relations; users can select the felicitous function by switching indicators group. This system also analyzes the location of selectable object on web page, such as hyperlink, radio button, edit box, etc. This system stores the locations of these objects, in other words, the mouse cursor skips to the object of candidate input. Therefore it enables web browsing at a faster pace.

Investigation of Optically Induced Avalanching in GaAs

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-01

by Bovino , et al 4 to increase the hold off voltage. The button switch design of Fig. 4c has been used by several researchers5 ’ 7 to obtain the...ul Long flashover palh Figure 3b. 434 Optical Jlatlern a. Mourou Switch b. Bovino Switch c. Button Switch Figure 4. Photoconductive Switches...Technology and Devices Laboratory, ERADCOM (by L. Bovino , et. all) 4 • The deposition recipe for the contacts is 1) 50 ANi (provides contact to GaAs

Sealing Penetrating Eye Injuries Using Photoactivated Bonding

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-30

on  corneal tissue. To evaluate inflammation all 15 rabbits will be euthanized with  phenobarbital . The  10 corneoscleral button of tissue will be...will be euthanized with  phenobarbital . The  corneoscleral button of tissue will be removed and divided into portions for paraffin and frozen sections

Study of Psychological (and Associated Physiological) Effects on a Tank Crew Resulting from Being Buttoned Up

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-10-01

should he made for either ixiternal storage or a means of voiding the urinal in a storage container in the compartment’. Development of-Adequate...upper temperature ranges fu- critical components of the M60 tank under desert storage and operational conditions. He found that the Wet Bulb Globe...five-gallon cans on the outside turret bustle racks. If buttoned-up operations for extended periods of time are envisioned, a built-in water storage

Energy Saving in Electric Lighting for the United States Army.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-10-05

these reasons. Avoid devices such as power saving buttons which are to be placed in the sockets of incandescent bulbs. They are merely half-wave...using the button or a long-life bulb. Another device to avoid is the pulse or transient suppressor. This device, essentially a voltage clipper...arranged In a geo- metric pattern. It is used to shield a lamp from Lumen: A unit of light output from a lamp. view at certain angles to avoid glare from

Far Forward Life Support System (FFLSS) Phase II

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-05-01

button will clear audible, flashing , or constant red alarms. Pushing the Config button drops down to the Level 2 menu (bottom line of Figure 8). In...disabled. Again, with testing this audible noise can be disabled. The visual flashing or constant red cannot be disabled. Pushing Return goes back to Level...Calling PLOTPIXEL( x ,y) and PLOTLINE(xl,x2,yl,y2) is as simple as pushing the appropriate bytes (unsigned integers) onto the stack and jumping to the

Dr. David Sawyer, Mickey Mouse and Dr. David Brown attend a ceremony at Ronald McNair Middle School

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

Dr. David Sawyer (left), Superintendent of the Brevard County School District, Mickey Mouse, and Dr. David Brown, a NASA astronaut, attend a tribute to NASA astronaut Ronald McNair held in the gymnasium of Ronald McNair Magnet School in Cocoa, Fla. During the tribute, Walt Disney World presented a portrait of McNair to the school, which had previously been renamed for the fallen astronaut. McNair was one of a crew of seven who lost their lives during an accident following launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986.

The structure of affective action representations: temporal binding of affective response codes.

PubMed

Eder, Andreas B; Müsseler, Jochen; Hommel, Bernhard

2012-01-01

Two experiments examined the hypothesis that preparing an action with a specific affective connotation involves the binding of this action to an affective code reflecting this connotation. This integration into an action plan should lead to a temporary occupation of the affective code, which should impair the concurrent representation of affectively congruent events, such as the planning of another action with the same valence. This hypothesis was tested with a dual-task setup that required a speeded choice between approach- and avoidance-type lever movements after having planned and before having executed an evaluative button press. In line with the code-occupation hypothesis, slower lever movements were observed when the lever movement was affectively compatible with the prepared evaluative button press than when the two actions were affectively incompatible. Lever movements related to approach and avoidance and evaluative button presses thus seem to share a code that represents affective meaning. A model of affective action control that is based on the theory of event coding is discussed.

Investigation of He-W interactions using DiMES on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doerner, R. P.; Rudakov, D. L.; Chrobak, C. P.; Briesemeister, A. R.; Corr, C.; De Temmerman, G.; Kluth, P.; Lasnier, C. J.; McLean, A. G.; Pace, D. C.; Pitts, R. A.; Schmitz, O.; Thompson, M.; Winters, V.

2016-02-01

Tungsten button samples were exposed to He ELMing H-mode plasma in DIII-D using 2.3 MW of electron cyclotron heating power. Prior to the exposures, the W buttons were exposed to either He, or D, plasma in PISCES-A for 2000 s at surface temperatures of 225-850 °C to create a variety of surfaces (surface blisters, subsurface nano-bubbles, fuzz). Erosion was spectroscopically measured from each DiMES sample, with the exception of the fuzzy W samples which showed almost undetectable WI emission. Post-exposure grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering surface analysis showed the formation of 1.5 nm diameter He bubbles in the surface of W buttons after only a single DIII-D (3 s, ˜150 ELMs) discharge, similar to the bubble layer resulting from the 2000 s. exposure in PISCES-A. No surface roughening, or damage, was detected on the samples after approximately 600 ELMs with energy density between 0.04-0.1 MJ m-2.

eButton: A Wearable Computer for Health Monitoring and Personal Assistance

PubMed Central

Sun, Mingui; Burke, Lora E.; Mao, Zhi-Hong; Chen, Yiran; Chen, Hsin-Chen; Bai, Yicheng; Li, Yuecheng; Li, Chengliu; Jia, Wenyan

2014-01-01

Recent advances in mobile devices have made profound changes in people's daily lives. In particular, the impact of easy access of information by the smartphone has been tremendous. However, the impact of mobile devices on healthcare has been limited. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases are still initiated by occurrences of symptoms, and technologies and devices that emphasize on disease prevention and early detection outside hospitals are under-developed. Besides healthcare, mobile devices have not yet been designed to fully benefit people with special needs, such as the elderly and those suffering from certain disabilities, such blindness. In this paper, an overview of our research on a new wearable computer called eButton is presented. The concepts of its design and electronic implementation are described. Several applications of the eButton are described, including evaluating diet and physical activity, studying sedentary behavior, assisting the blind and visually impaired people, and monitoring older adults suffering from dementia. PMID:25340176

A novel wearable smart button system for fall detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Wei; Sun, Xiang; Zhi, Yueyan; Han, Yue; Mao, Hande

2017-05-01

Fall has been the second most cause of accidental injury to death in the world. It has been a serious threat to the physical and mental health of the elders. Therefore, developing wearable node system with fall detecting ability has become increasingly pressing at present. A novel smart button for long-term fall detection is proposed in this paper, which is able to accurately monitor the falling behavior, and sending warning message online as well. The smart button is based on the tri-axis acceleration sensor which is used to collect the body motion signals. By using the statistical metrics of acceleration characteristics, a new SVM classification algorithm with high positive accuracy and stability is proposed so as to classify the falls and activities of daily living, and the results can be real-time displayed on Android based mobile phone. The experiments show that our wearable node system can continuously monitor the falling behavior with positive rate 94.8%.

Stomach curvature is generated by left-right asymmetric gut morphogenesis

PubMed Central

Davis, Adam; Amin, Nirav M.; Johnson, Caroline; Bagley, Kristen; Ghashghaei, H. Troy

2017-01-01

Left-right (LR) asymmetry is a fundamental feature of internal anatomy, yet the emergence of morphological asymmetry remains one of the least understood phases of organogenesis. Asymmetric rotation of the intestine is directed by forces outside the gut, but the morphogenetic events that generate anatomical asymmetry in other regions of the digestive tract remain unknown. Here, we show in mouse and Xenopus that the mechanisms that drive the curvature of the stomach are intrinsic to the gut tube itself. The left wall of the primitive stomach expands more than the right wall, as the left epithelium becomes more polarized and undergoes radial rearrangement. These asymmetries exist across several species, and are dependent on LR patterning genes, including Foxj1, Nodal and Pitx2. Our findings have implications for how LR patterning manifests distinct types of morphological asymmetries in different contexts. PMID:28242610

Stomach curvature is generated by left-right asymmetric gut morphogenesis.

PubMed

Davis, Adam; Amin, Nirav M; Johnson, Caroline; Bagley, Kristen; Ghashghaei, H Troy; Nascone-Yoder, Nanette

2017-04-15

Left-right (LR) asymmetry is a fundamental feature of internal anatomy, yet the emergence of morphological asymmetry remains one of the least understood phases of organogenesis. Asymmetric rotation of the intestine is directed by forces outside the gut, but the morphogenetic events that generate anatomical asymmetry in other regions of the digestive tract remain unknown. Here, we show in mouse and Xenopus that the mechanisms that drive the curvature of the stomach are intrinsic to the gut tube itself. The left wall of the primitive stomach expands more than the right wall, as the left epithelium becomes more polarized and undergoes radial rearrangement. These asymmetries exist across several species, and are dependent on LR patterning genes, including Foxj1 , Nodal and Pitx2 Our findings have implications for how LR patterning manifests distinct types of morphological asymmetries in different contexts. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Auditory perception vs. recognition: representation of complex communication sounds in the mouse auditory cortical fields.

PubMed

Geissler, Diana B; Ehret, Günter

2004-02-01

Details of brain areas for acoustical Gestalt perception and the recognition of species-specific vocalizations are not known. Here we show how spectral properties and the recognition of the acoustical Gestalt of wriggling calls of mouse pups based on a temporal property are represented in auditory cortical fields and an association area (dorsal field) of the pups' mothers. We stimulated either with a call model releasing maternal behaviour at a high rate (call recognition) or with two models of low behavioural significance (perception without recognition). Brain activation was quantified using c-Fos immunocytochemistry, counting Fos-positive cells in electrophysiologically mapped auditory cortical fields and the dorsal field. A frequency-specific labelling in two primary auditory fields is related to call perception but not to the discrimination of the biological significance of the call models used. Labelling related to call recognition is present in the second auditory field (AII). A left hemisphere advantage of labelling in the dorsoposterior field seems to reflect an integration of call recognition with maternal responsiveness. The dorsal field is activated only in the left hemisphere. The spatial extent of Fos-positive cells within the auditory cortex and its fields is larger in the left than in the right hemisphere. Our data show that a left hemisphere advantage in processing of a species-specific vocalization up to recognition is present in mice. The differential representation of vocalizations of high vs. low biological significance, as seen only in higher-order and not in primary fields of the auditory cortex, is discussed in the context of perceptual strategies.

Assessment of flow distribution in the mouse fetal circulation at late gestation by high-frequency Doppler ultrasound.

PubMed

Zhou, Yu-Qing; Cahill, Lindsay S; Wong, Michael D; Seed, Mike; Macgowan, Christopher K; Sled, John G

2014-08-15

This study used high-frequency ultrasound to evaluate the flow distribution in the mouse fetal circulation at late gestation. We studied 12 fetuses (embryonic day 17.5) from 12 pregnant CD1 mice with 40 MHz ultrasound to assess the flow in 11 vessels based on Doppler measurements of blood velocity and M-mode measurements of diameter. Specifically, the intrahepatic umbilical vein (UVIH), ductus venosus (DV), foramen ovale (FO), ascending aorta (AA), main pulmonary artery (MPA), ductus arteriosus (DA), descending thoracic aorta (DTA), common carotid artery (CCA), inferior vena cava (IVC), and right and left superior vena cavae (RSVC, LSVC) were examined, and anatomically confirmed by micro-CT. The mouse fetal circulatory system was found to be similar to that of the humans in terms of the major circuit and three shunts, but characterized by bilateral superior vena cavae and a single umbilical artery. The combined cardiac output (CCO) was 1.22 ± 0.05 ml/min, with the left ventricle (flow in AA) contributing 47.8 ± 2.3% and the right ventricle (flow in MPA) 52.2 ± 2.3%. Relative to the CCO, the flow percentages were 13.6 ± 1.0% for the UVIH, 10.4 ± 1.1% for the DV, 35.6 ± 2.4% for the DA, 41.9 ± 2.6% for the DTA, 3.8 ± 0.3% for the CCA, 29.5 ± 2.2% for the IVC, 12.7 ± 1.0% for the RSVC, and 9.9 ± 0.9% for the LSVC. The calculated flow percentage was 16.6 ± 3.4% for the pulmonary circulation and 31.2 ± 5.3% for the FO. In conclusion, the flow in mouse fetal circulation can be comprehensively evaluated with ultrasound. The baseline data of the flow distribution in normal mouse fetus serve as the reference range for future studies. Copyright © 2014 the American Physiological Society.

Field evaluation of personal sampling methods for multiple bioaerosols.

PubMed

Wang, Chi-Hsun; Chen, Bean T; Han, Bor-Cheng; Liu, Andrew Chi-Yeu; Hung, Po-Chen; Chen, Chih-Yong; Chao, Hsing Jasmine

2015-01-01

Ambient bioaerosols are ubiquitous in the daily environment and can affect health in various ways. However, few studies have been conducted to comprehensively evaluate personal bioaerosol exposure in occupational and indoor environments because of the complex composition of bioaerosols and the lack of standardized sampling/analysis methods. We conducted a study to determine the most efficient collection/analysis method for the personal exposure assessment of multiple bioaerosols. The sampling efficiencies of three filters and four samplers were compared. According to our results, polycarbonate (PC) filters had the highest relative efficiency, particularly for bacteria. Side-by-side sampling was conducted to evaluate the three filter samplers (with PC filters) and the NIOSH Personal Bioaerosol Cyclone Sampler. According to the results, the Button Aerosol Sampler and the IOM Inhalable Dust Sampler had the highest relative efficiencies for fungi and bacteria, followed by the NIOSH sampler. Personal sampling was performed in a pig farm to assess occupational bioaerosol exposure and to evaluate the sampling/analysis methods. The Button and IOM samplers yielded a similar performance for personal bioaerosol sampling at the pig farm. However, the Button sampler is more likely to be clogged at high airborne dust concentrations because of its higher flow rate (4 L/min). Therefore, the IOM sampler is a more appropriate choice for performing personal sampling in environments with high dust levels. In summary, the Button and IOM samplers with PC filters are efficient sampling/analysis methods for the personal exposure assessment of multiple bioaerosols.

Beam Diagnostics of the Compton Scattering Chamber in Jefferson Lab's Hall C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faulkner, Adam; I&C Group Collaboration

2013-10-01

Upcoming experimental runs in Hall C will utilize Compton scattering, involving the construction and installation of a rectangular beam enclosure. Conventional cylindrical stripline-style Beam Position Monitors (BPMs) are not appropriate due to their form factor; therefore to facilitate measurement of position, button-style BPMs are being considered due to the ease of placement within the new beam enclosure. Button BPM experience is limited at JLAB, so preliminary measurements are needed to characterize the field response, and guide the development of appropriate algorithms for the Analog to Digital receiver systems. -field mapping is performed using a Goubau Line (G-Line), which employs a surface wave to mimic the electron beam, helping to avoid problems associated with vacuum systems. Potential algorithms include simplistic 1/r modeling (-field mapping), look-up-tables, as well as a potential third order power series fit. In addition, the use of neural networks specifically the multi-layer Perceptron will be examined. The models, sensor field maps, and utility of the neural network will be presented. Next steps include: modification of the control algorithm, as well as to run an in-situ test of the four Button electrodes inside of a mock beam enclosure. The analysis of the field response using Matlab suggests the button BPMs are accurate to within 10 mm, and may be successful for beam diagnostics in Hall C. More testing is necessary to ascertain the limitations of the new electrodes. The National Science Foundation, Old Dominion University, The Department of Energy, and Jefferson Lab.

Just Out of Reach: On the Reliability of the Action-Sentence Compatibility Effect

PubMed Central

Papesh, Megan H.

2015-01-01

The action-sentence compatibility effect (ACE; Glenberg & Kaschak, 2002), a hallmark finding in Embodied Cognition, implicates the motor system in language comprehension. In the ACE, people process sentences implying movement toward or away from themselves, responding with actions toward or away from their bodies. These processes interact, implying a linkage between linguistic and motor systems. From a theoretical perspective, the ACE has been extremely influential, being widely-cited evidence in favor of embodied cognition. The present study began as an attempt to extend the ACE in a new direction, but eventually became a series of attempts to simply replicate the effect. Across eight experiments, I tested whether the ACE extends to a novel mouse-tracking method and/or is susceptible to higher-order cognitive influences. In three experiments, attempts were made to “disembody” the ACE by presenting participants' names on the computer screen (as in Markman & Brendl, 2005). In each experiment, the ACE could not be disembodied, because the ACE did not occur. In further experiments, the ACE was not observed in reading times, regardless of response mode (mouse movements versus button-presses) or stimuli, including those from the original research. Similarly, no ACE was observed in physical movement times. Bayes Factor analyses of the current experiments, and the previous ACE literature, suggest that the evidence for the ACE is generally weak: Many studies considered as positive evidence actually support the null hypothesis, and very few published results offer strong evidence for the ACE. Implications for the embodiment hypothesis are discussed. PMID:26595844

The role of the sca-1+/CD31- cardiac progenitor cell population in postinfarction left ventricular remodeling.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaohong; Hu, Qingsong; Nakamura, Yasuhiro; Lee, Joseph; Zhang, Ge; From, Arthur H L; Zhang, Jianyi

2006-07-01

Cardiac stem cell-like populations exist in adult hearts, and their roles in cardiac repair remain to be defined. Sca-1 is an important surface marker for cardiac and other somatic stem cells. We hypothesized that heart-derived Sca-1(+)/CD31(-) cells may play a role in myocardial infarction-induced cardiac repair/remodeling. Mouse heart-derived Sca-1(+)/CD31(-) cells cultured in vitro could be induced to express both endothelial cell and cardiomyocyte markers. Immunofluorescence staining and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis indicated that endogenous Sca-1(+)/CD31(-) cells were significantly increased in the mouse heart 7 days after myocardial infarction (MI). Western blotting confirmed elevated Sca-1 protein expression in myocardium 7 days after MI. Transplantation of Sca-1(+)/CD31(-) cells into the acutely infarcted mouse heart attenuated the functional decline and adverse structural remodeling initiated by MI as evidenced by an increased left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, a decreased LV end-diastolic dimension, a decreased LV end-systolic dimension, a significant increase of myocardial neovascularization, and modest cardiomyocyte regeneration. Attenuation of LV remodeling was accompanied by remarkably improved myocardial bioenergetic characteristics. The beneficial effects of cell transplantation appear to primarily depend on paracrine effects of the transplanted cells on new vessel formation and native cardiomyocyte function. Sca-1(+)/CD31(-) cells may hold therapeutic possibilities with regard to the treatment of ischemic heart disease.

Metabolic acidosis increases fibroblast growth factor 23 in neonatal mouse bone

PubMed Central

Culbertson, Christopher D.; Kyker-Snowman, Kelly; Bushinsky, David A.

2012-01-01

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) significantly increases with declining renal function, leading to reduced renal tubular phosphate reabsorption, decreased 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and increased left ventricular hypertrophy. Elevated FGF23 is associated with increased mortality. FGF23 is synthesized in osteoblasts and osteocytes; however, the mechanisms by which it is regulated are not clear. Patients with chronic kidney disease have decreased renal acid excretion leading to metabolic acidosis, which has a direct effect on bone cell activity. We hypothesized that metabolic acidosis would directly increase bone cell FGF23 production. Using cultured neonatal mouse calvariae, we found that metabolic acidosis increased medium FGF23 protein levels as well as FGF23 RNA expression at 24 h and 48 h compared with incubation in neutral pH medium. To exclude that the increased FGF23 was secondary to metabolic acidosis-induced release of bone mineral phosphate, we cultured primary calvarial osteoblasts. In these cells, metabolic acidosis increased FGF23 RNA expression at 6 h compared with incubation in neutral pH medium. Thus metabolic acidosis directly increases FGF23 mRNA and protein in mouse bone. If these results are confirmed in humans with chronic kidney disease, therapeutic interventions to mitigate acidosis, such as bicarbonate administration, may also lower levels of FGF23, decrease left ventricular hypertrophy, and perhaps even decrease mortality. PMID:22647635

Effectiveness of 3 methods of anchorage reinforcement for maximum anchorage in adolescents: A 3-arm multicenter randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Sandler, Jonathan; Murray, Alison; Thiruvenkatachari, Badri; Gutierrez, Rodrigo; Speight, Paul; O'Brien, Kevin

2014-07-01

The objective of this 3-arm parallel randomized clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of temporary anchorage devices (TADs), Nance button palatal arches, and headgear for anchorage supplementation in the treatment of patients with malocclusions that required maximum anchorage. This trial was conducted between August 2008 and February 2013 in 2 orthodontic departments in the United Kingdom. The study included 78 patients (ages, 12-18 years; mean age, 14.2 years) who needed maximum anchorage. Eligibility criteria included no active caries, exemplary oral hygiene, and maximum anchorage required. The primary outcome was mesial molar movement during the period in which anchorage supplementation was required. The secondary outcomes were duration of anchorage reinforcement, number of treatment visits, number of casual and failed appointments, total treatment time, dento-occlusal change, and patients' perceptions of the method of anchorage supplementation. Treatment allocation was implemented by contacting via the Internet the randomization center at the University of Nottingham, Clinical Trials Unit. The randomization was based on a computer-generated pseudo-random code with random permuted blocks of randomly varying size. A research assistant who was blinded to the group allocation recorded all data. The patients were randomly allocated to receive anchorage supplementation with TADs, a Nance button on a palatal arch, or headgear. They were all treated with maxillary and mandibular preadjusted edgewise fixed appliances with 0.022-in slot prescription brackets. They were followed until orthodontic treatment was complete. Seventy-eight patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio among the 3 groups. The baseline characteristics were similar in the groups, and they were treated for an average of 27.4 months (SD, 7.1 months); 71 completed orthodontic treatment. The data were analyzed on a per-protocol basis and showed no differences in the effectiveness of anchorage supplementation between TADs, Nance button palatal arches, and headgear. Compared with headgear, the average mesial movements of the maxillary right molar were 0.62 mm (-0.32 to 1.55 mm) with the Nance and -0.58 mm (-1.53 to 0.36 mm) with TADs; the maxillary left molar was moved -0.09 mm (-1.00 to 0.83 mm) with the Nance and -0.96 mm (-1.89 to -0.04 mm) with the TADs. Peer assessment rating scores were significantly better with the TADs than in the headgear and Nance groups. The patient questionnaires showed that comfort levels on placement of the TADs and the Nance were similar. Headgear was more troublesome and less popular with the patients. There was no difference in the effectiveness between the 3 groups in terms of anchorage support. There were more problems with the headgear and Nance buttons than with the TADs. The quality of treatment was better with TADs. As a result, TADS might be the preferred method for reinforcing orthodontic anchorage in patients who need maximum anchorage. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00995436. The protocol was published on the above site before the trial commencement. The British Orthodontic Society Foundation funded the study and American Orthodontics provided all the TADs and associated equipment. Copyright © 2014 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Long-term, repeated measurements of mouse cortical microflow at the same region of interest with high spatial resolution.

PubMed

Tomita, Yutaka; Pinard, Elisabeth; Tran-Dinh, Alexy; Schiszler, Istvan; Kubis, Nathalie; Tomita, Minoru; Suzuki, Norihiro; Seylaz, Jacques

2011-02-04

A method for long-term, repeated, semi-quantitative measurements of cerebral microflow at the same region of interest (ROI) with high spatial resolution was developed and applied to mice subjected to focal arterial occlusion. A closed cranial window was chronically implanted over the left parieto-occipital cortex. The anesthetized mouse was placed several times, e.g., weekly, under a dynamic confocal microscope, and Rhodamine B-isothiocyanate-dextran was each time intravenously injected as a bolus, while microflow images were video recorded. Left and right tail veins were sequentially catheterized in a mouse three times at maximum over a 1.5 months' observation period. Smearing of the input function resulting from the use of intravenous injection was shown to be sufficiently small. The distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) was thermocoagulated through the cranial window in six mice, and five sham-operated mice were studied in parallel. Dye injection and video recording were conducted four times in this series, i.e., before and at 10 min, 7 and 30 days after sham operation or MCA occlusion. Pixelar microflow values (1/MTT) in a matrix of approximately 50×50 pixels were displayed on a two-dimensional (2-D) map, and the frequency distribution of the flow values was also calculated. No significant changes in microflow values over time were detected in sham-operated mice, while the time course of flow changes in the ischemic penumbral area in operated mice was similar to those reported in the literature. This method provides a powerful tool to investigate long-term changes in mouse cortical microflow under physiological and pathological conditions. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An audiovisual BCI system for assisting clinical communication assessment in patients with disorders of consciousness: a case study.

PubMed

Fei Wang; Yanbin He; Jun Qu; Qiuyou Xie; Qing Lin; Xiaoxiao Ni; Yan Chen; Ronghao Yu; Chin-Teng Lin; Yuanqing Li

2016-08-01

The JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (JFK CRS-R), a behavioral scale, is often used for clinical assessments of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), such as patients in a vegetative state. However, there has been a high rate of clinical misdiagnosis with the JFK CRS-R because patients with severe brain injures cannot provide sufficient behavioral responses. It is particularly difficult to evaluate the communication function in DOC patients using the JFK CRS-R because a higher level of behavioral responses is needed for communication assessments than for many other assessments, such as an auditory startle assessment. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which provide control and communication by detecting changes in brain signals, can be used to evaluate patients with DOC without the need of behavioral expressions. In this paper, we proposed an audiovisual BCI system to supplement the JFK CRS-R in assessing the communication ability of patients with DOC. In the graphic user interface of the BCI system, two word buttons ("Yes" and "No" in Chinese) were randomly displayed in the left and right sides and flashed in an alternating manner. When a word button flashed, its corresponding spoken word was broadcast from an ipsilateral headphone. The use of semantically congruent audiovisual stimuli improves the detection performance of the BCI system. Similar to the JFK CRS-R, several situation-orientation questions were presented one by one to patients with DOC. For each question, the patient was required to provide his/her answer by selectively focusing on an audiovisual stimulus (audiovisual "Yes" or "No"). As a case study, we applied our BCI system in a patient with DOC who was clinically diagnosed as being in a minimally conscious state (MCS). According to the JFK CRS-R assessment, this patient was unable to communicate consistently. However, he achieved a high accuracy of 86.5% in our BCI experiment. This result indicates his reliable communication ability and demonstrates the effectiveness of our system.

Quantification of Collagen Ultrastructure after Penetrating Keratoplasty – Implications for Corneal Biomechanics

PubMed Central

Gardner, Steven J.; Kamma-Lorger, Christina S.; Hayes, Sally; Nielsen, Kim; Hjortdal, Jesper; Sorensen, Thomas; Terrill, Nicholas J.; Meek, Keith M.

2013-01-01

Purpose To quantify long-term changes in stromal collagen ultrastructure following penetrating keratoplasty (PK), and evaluate their possible implications for corneal biomechanics. Methods A pair of 16 mm post-mortem corneo-scleral buttons was obtained from a patient receiving bilateral penetrating keratoplasty 12 (left)/28 (right) years previously. Small-angle x-ray scattering quantified collagen fibril spacing, diameter and spatial order at 0.5 mm or 0.25 mm intervals along linear scans across the graft margin. Corresponding control data was collected from two corneo-scleral buttons with no history of refractive surgery. Wide-angle x-ray scattering quantified collagen fibril orientation at 0.25 mm (horizontal)×0.25 mm (vertical) intervals across both PK specimens. Quantification of orientation changes in the graft margin were verified by equivalent analysis of data from a 13 year post-operative right PK specimen obtained from a second patient in a previous study, and comparison made with new and published data from normal corneas. Results Marked changes to normal fibril alignment, in favour of tangentially oriented collagen, were observed around the entire graft margin in all PK specimens. The total number of meridional fibrils in the wound margin was observed to decrease by up to 40%, with the number of tangentially oriented fibrils increasing by up to 46%. As a result, in some locations the number of fibrils aligned parallel to the wound outnumbered those spanning it by up to five times. Localised increases in fibril spacing and diameter, with an accompanying reduction in matrix order, were also evident. Conclusions Abnormal collagen fibril size and spatial order within the PK graft margin are indicative of incomplete stromal wound remodelling and the long term persistence of fibrotic scar tissue. Lasting changes in collagen fibril orientation in and around PK wounds may alter corneal biomechanics and compromise the integrity of the graft-host interface in the long term. PMID:23861866

Re-Engineering the United States Marine Corps’ Enlisted Assignment Model (EAM)

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-06-01

and Execution button opens the switchboard in Figure 12. This form accesses all of the VBA code that is associated with this form and the code that...the prototype to prompt the user and to inform him of what he is about to do. Each of the buttons that are on these forms is connected to an SQL ...into the field for building a rule are the values 2;3;4;5;6;7. The user can enter an SQL statement that would determine the values or the user could

Aggressive Surgical Resection of Pulmonary Artery Intimal Sarcoma.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Yoko; Shintani, Yasushi; Funaki, Soichiro; Taira, Masaki; Ueno, Takayoshi; Kawamura, Tomohiro; Kanzaki, Ryu; Minami, Masato; Sawa, Yoshiki; Okumura, Meinoshin

2018-05-03

Intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery is a rare and highly malignant neoplasm. We herein report a case of a 30-year-old woman with an extensive right pulmonary artery tumor who underwent an emergent operation. The tumor was aggressively resected with right pneumonectomy and reconstruction of the right ventricle outflow tract and left pulmonary artery. Although the resected margin at the left pulmonary artery was positive, as confirmed by Mouse double minute type 2 homolog staining, she is doing well and remains free of relapse at 16 months after the operation. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Investigation of left and right lateral fluid percussion injury in C57BL6/J mice: In vivo functional consequences

PubMed Central

Schurman, Lesley D.; Smith, Terry L.; Morales, Anthony J.; Lee, Nancy N.; Reeves, Thomas M.; Phillips, Linda L.; Lichtman, Aron H.

2017-01-01

Although rodent models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) reliably produce cognitive and motor disturbances, behavioral characterization resulting from left and right hemisphere injuries remains unexplored. Here we examined the functional consequences of targeting the left versus right parietal cortex in lateral fluid percussion injury, on Morris water maze (MWM) spatial memory tasks (fixed platform and reversal) and neurological motor deficits (neurological severity score and rotarod). In the MWM fixed platform task, right lateral injury produced a small delay in acquisition rate compared to left. However, injury to either hemisphere resulted in probe trial deficits. In the MWM reversal task, left-right performance deficits were not evident, though left lateral injury produced mild acquisition and probe trial deficits compared to sham controls. Additionally, left and right injury produced similar neurological motor task deficits, impaired righting times, and lesion volumes. Injury to either hemisphere also produced robust ipsilateral, and modest contralateral, morphological changes in reactive microglia and astrocytes. In conclusion, left and right lateral TBI impaired MWM performance, with mild fixed platform acquisition rate differences, despite similar motor deficits, histological damage, and glial cell reactivity. Thus, while both left and right lateral TBI produce cognitive deficits, laterality in mouse MWM learning and memory merits consideration in the investigation of TBI-induced cognitive consequences. PMID:28527714

Investigation of left and right lateral fluid percussion injury in C57BL6/J mice: In vivo functional consequences.

PubMed

Schurman, Lesley D; Smith, Terry L; Morales, Anthony J; Lee, Nancy N; Reeves, Thomas M; Phillips, Linda L; Lichtman, Aron H

2017-07-13

Although rodent models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) reliably produce cognitive and motor disturbances, behavioral characterization resulting from left and right hemisphere injuries remains unexplored. Here we examined the functional consequences of targeting the left versus right parietal cortex in lateral fluid percussion injury, on Morris water maze (MWM) spatial memory tasks (fixed platform and reversal) and neurological motor deficits (neurological severity score and rotarod). In the MWM fixed platform task, right lateral injury produced a small delay in acquisition rate compared to left. However, injury to either hemisphere resulted in probe trial deficits. In the MWM reversal task, left-right performance deficits were not evident, though left lateral injury produced mild acquisition and probe trial deficits compared to sham controls. Additionally, left and right injury produced similar neurological motor task deficits, impaired righting times, and lesion volumes. Injury to either hemisphere also produced robust ipsilateral, and modest contralateral, morphological changes in reactive microglia and astrocytes. In conclusion, left and right lateral TBI impaired MWM performance, with mild fixed platform acquisition rate differences, despite similar motor deficits, histological damage, and glial cell reactivity. Thus, while both left and right lateral TBI produce cognitive deficits, laterality in mouse MWM learning and memory merits consideration in the investigation of TBI-induced cognitive consequences. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Mutations in the Katnb1 gene cause left-right asymmetry and heart defects.

PubMed

Furtado, Milena B; Merriner, D Jo; Berger, Silke; Rhodes, Danielle; Jamsai, Duangporn; O'Bryan, Moira K

2017-12-01

The microtubule-severing protein complex katanin is composed two subunits, the ATPase subunit, KATNA1, and the noncatalytic regulatory subunit, KATNB1. Recently, the Katnb1 gene has been linked to infertility, regulation of centriole and cilia formation in fish and mammals, as well as neocortical brain development. KATNB1 protein is expressed in germ cells in humans and mouse, mitotic/meiotic spindles and cilia, although the full expression pattern of the Katnb1 gene has not been described. Using a knockin-knockout mouse model of Katnb1 dysfunction we demonstrate that Katnb1 is ubiquitously expressed during embryonic development, although a stronger expression is seen in the crown cells of the gastrulation organizer, the murine node. Furthermore, null and hypomorphic Katnb1 gene mutations show a novel correlation between Katnb1 dysregulation and the development of impaired left-right signaling, including cardiac malformations. Katanin function is a critical regulator of heart development in mice. These findings are potentially relevant to human cardiac development. Developmental Dynamics 246:1027-1035, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Accelerating cine-MR Imaging in Mouse Hearts Using Compressed Sensing

PubMed Central

Wech, Tobias; Lemke, Angela; Medway, Debra; Stork, Lee-Anne; Lygate, Craig A; Neubauer, Stefan; Köstler, Herbert; Schneider, Jürgen E

2011-01-01

Purpose To combine global cardiac function imaging with compressed sensing (CS) in order to reduce scan time and to validate this technique in normal mouse hearts and in a murine model of chronic myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods To determine the maximally achievable acceleration factor, fully acquired cine data, obtained in sham and chronically infarcted (MI) mouse hearts were 2–4-fold undersampled retrospectively, followed by CS reconstruction and blinded image segmentation. Subsequently, dedicated CS sampling schemes were implemented at a preclinical 9.4 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, and 2- and 3-fold undersampled cine data were acquired in normal mouse hearts with high temporal and spatial resolution. Results The retrospective analysis demonstrated that an undersampling factor of three is feasible without impairing accuracy of cardiac functional parameters. Dedicated CS sampling schemes applied prospectively to normal mouse hearts yielded comparable left-ventricular functional parameters, and intra- and interobserver variability between fully and 3-fold undersampled data. Conclusion This study introduces and validates an alternative means to speed up experimental cine-MRI without the need for expensive hardware. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. PMID:21932360

Epigenomic Reprogramming of Adult Cardiomyocyte-Derived Cardiac Progenitor Cells

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yiqiang; Zhong, Jiang F; Qiu, Hongyu; Robb MacLellan, W.; Marbán, Eduardo; Wang, Charles

2015-01-01

It has been believed that mammalian adult cardiomyocytes (ACMs) are terminally-differentiated and are unable to proliferate. Recently, using a bi-transgenic ACM fate mapping mouse model and an in vitro culture system, we demonstrated that adult mouse cardiomyocytes were able to dedifferentiate into cardiac progenitor-like cells (CPCs). However, little is known about the molecular basis of their intrinsic cellular plasticity. Here we integrate single-cell transcriptome and whole-genome DNA methylation analyses to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the dedifferentiation and cell cycle reentry of mouse ACMs. Compared to parental cardiomyocytes, dedifferentiated mouse cardiomyocyte-derived CPCs (mCPCs) display epigenomic reprogramming with many differentially-methylated regions, both hypermethylated and hypomethylated, across the entire genome. Correlated well with the methylome, our transcriptomic data showed that the genes encoding cardiac structure and function proteins are remarkably down-regulated in mCPCs, while those for cell cycle, proliferation, and stemness are significantly up-regulated. In addition, implantation of mCPCs into infarcted mouse myocardium improves cardiac function with augmented left ventricular ejection fraction. Our study demonstrates that the cellular plasticity of mammalian cardiomyocytes is the result of a well-orchestrated epigenomic reprogramming and a subsequent global transcriptomic alteration. PMID:26657817

Hemisphere Asymmetry of Response to Pharmacologic Treatment in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model.

PubMed

Manousopoulou, Antigoni; Saito, Satoshi; Yamamoto, Yumi; Al-Daghri, Nasser M; Ihara, Masafumi; Carare, Roxana O; Garbis, Spiros D

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine hemisphere asymmetry of response to pharmacologic treatment in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model using cilostazol as a chemical stimulus. Eight-month-old mice were assigned to vehicle or cilostazol treatment for three months and hemispheres were analyzed using quantitative proteomics. Bioinformatics interpretation showed that following treatment, aggregation of blood platelets significantly decreased in the right hemisphere whereas neurodegeneration significantly decreased and synaptic transmission increased in the left hemisphere only. Our study provides novel evidence on cerebral laterality of pharmacologic activity, with important implications in deciphering regional pharmacodynamic effects of existing drugs thus uncovering novel hemisphere-specific therapeutic targets.

Pathophysiology of esophageal impairment due to button battery ingestion.

PubMed

Völker, Johannes; Völker, Christine; Schendzielorz, Philipp; Schraven, Sebastian P; Radeloff, Andreas; Mlynski, Robert; Hagen, Rudolf; Rak, Kristen

2017-09-01

The increased use of button batteries with high energy densities in devices of daily life presents a high risk of injury, especially for toddlers and young children. If an accidental ingestion of a button battery occurs, this foreign body can become caught in the constrictions of the esophagus and cause serious damage to the adjacent tissue layers. The consequences can be ulcerations, perforations with fistula formation and damage to the surrounding anatomical structures. In order to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology after ingestion, we carried out systematic studies on fresh preparations of porcine esophagi. The lithium button battery type CR2032, used most frequently in daily life, was exposed in preparations of porcine esophagi and incubated under the addition of artificial saliva at 37 °C. A total of eight esophagi were analysed by different methods. Measurements of the pH value around the battery electrodes and histological studies of the tissue damage were carried out after 0.5-24 h exposure time. In addition, macroscopic time-lapse images were recorded. Measurements of the battery voltage and the course of the electric current supplemented the experiments. The investigations showed that the batteries caused an electrolysis reaction in the moist environment. The positive electrode formed an acidic and the negative electrode a basic medium. Consequently, a coagulation necrosis at the positive pole, and a deep colliquation necrosis at the minus pole occurred. After an exposure time of 12 h, tissue damage caused by the lye corrosion was observed on the side of the negative electrode up to the lamina muscularis. The corrosion progressed up to the final exposure time of 24 h, but the batteries still had sufficient residual voltage, such that further advancing damage would be expected. Button battery ingestion in humans poses an acute life-threatening danger and immediate endoscopic removal of the foreign body is essential. After only 2 h exposure time, significant damage to the tissue could be detected, which progressed continuously to complete esophageal perforation. The primary prevention of battery ingestion is therefore of particular importance. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transient human auditory cortex activation during volitional attention shifting

PubMed Central

Uhlig, Christian Harm; Gutschalk, Alexander

2017-01-01

While strong activation of auditory cortex is generally found for exogenous orienting of attention, endogenous, intra-modal shifting of auditory attention has not yet been demonstrated to evoke transient activation of the auditory cortex. Here, we used fMRI to test if endogenous shifting of attention is also associated with transient activation of the auditory cortex. In contrast to previous studies, attention shifts were completely self-initiated and not cued by transient auditory or visual stimuli. Stimuli were two dichotic, continuous streams of tones, whose perceptual grouping was not ambiguous. Participants were instructed to continuously focus on one of the streams and switch between the two after a while, indicating the time and direction of each attentional shift by pressing one of two response buttons. The BOLD response around the time of the button presses revealed robust activation of the auditory cortex, along with activation of a distributed task network. To test if the transient auditory cortex activation was specifically related to auditory orienting, a self-paced motor task was added, where participants were instructed to ignore the auditory stimulation while they pressed the response buttons in alternation and at a similar pace. Results showed that attentional orienting produced stronger activity in auditory cortex, but auditory cortex activation was also observed for button presses without focused attention to the auditory stimulus. The response related to attention shifting was stronger contralateral to the side where attention was shifted to. Contralateral-dominant activation was also observed in dorsal parietal cortex areas, confirming previous observations for auditory attention shifting in studies that used auditory cues. PMID:28273110

Correlating bilayer tablet delamination tendencies to micro-environmental thermodynamic conditions during pan coating.

PubMed

Zacour, Brian M; Pandey, Preetanshu; Subramanian, Ganeshkumar; Gao, Julia Z; Nikfar, Faranak

2014-06-01

The objective of this study was to determine the impact that the micro-environment, as measured by PyroButton data loggers, experienced by tablets during the pan coating unit operation had on the layer adhesion of bilayer tablets in open storage conditions. A full factorial design of experiments (DOE) with three center points was conducted to study the impact of final tablet hardness, film coating spray rate and film coating exhaust temperature on the delamination tendencies of bilayer tablets. PyroButton data loggers were placed (fixed) at various locations in a pan coater and were also allowed to freely move with the tablet bed to measure the micro-environmental temperature and humidity conditions of the tablet bed. The variance in the measured micro-environment via PyroButton data loggers accounted for 75% of the variance in the delamination tendencies of bilayer tablets on storage (R(2 )= 0.75). A survival analysis suggested that tablet hardness and coating spray rate significantly impacted the delamination tendencies of the bilayer tablets under open storage conditions. The coating exhaust temperature did not show good correlation with the tablets' propensity to crack indicating that it was not representative of the coating micro-environment. Models created using data obtained from the PyroButton data loggers outperformed models created using primary DOE factors in the prediction of bilayer tablet strength, especially upon equipment or scale transfers. The coating micro-environment experienced by tablets during the pan coating unit operation significantly impacts the strength of the bilayer interface of tablets on storage.

Results of minimal invasive coracoclavicular fixation by double button lift-up system in Neer type II distal clavicle fractures.

PubMed

Dedeoğlu, Süleyman Semih; İmren, Yunus; Çabuk, Haluk; Çakar, Murat; Arslan, Samet Murat; Esenyel, Cem Zeki

2017-01-01

We aimed to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes of indirect fracture reduction performed by coracoclavicular fixation with minimal invasive double button lift-up system in Neer type IIa unstable fractures of distal clavicle. 22 patients with Neer type 2 distal clavicle fracture were enrolled in that prospective study. All patients underwent indirect reduction and osteosynthesis performed by coracoclavicular fixation with minimal invasive double button lift-up system. Postoperative follow-up was carried out clinically and radiologically with plain X-rays and utilization of Constant and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment (ASES) shoulder scores. Mean follow-up time was 15 months. A standard sling was applied for 2 weeks, postoperatively. Rehabilitation program was started on postoperative day 1. Mean age was 39 (range: 21-60), 18 of the patients were male. Right dominant extremity was affected in 14 patients. Mean duration of the surgical intervention was 40 min (range: 30-55 min). Mean union time was found to be 14 weeks (range: 7-21 weeks). Mean postoperative ASES and Constant scores were 79.9 (66.9-88.3) and 82.2 (71-100), respectively. The duration of return to normal daily activities were found to be 4.5 months. Any loss of reduction, AC joint arthrosis, and clavicular shortening were not detected in X-rays. This study has demonstrated that indirect osteosynthesis performed by coracoclavicular fixation with double button lift-up system in the treatment of unstable Neer type IIa fractures of the distal clavicle had successful clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes.

Esophageal lesions following button-battery ingestion in children: Analysis of causes and proposals for preventive measures.

PubMed

Lahmar, J; Célérier, C; Garabédian, E N; Couloigner, V; Leboulanger, N; Denoyelle, F

2018-04-01

To study recent cases of esophageal injury due to button-battery ingestion in children presenting in pediatric ENT emergency departments of the Paris area of France (Île-de-France region), in order to propose appropriate preventive measures. A retrospective descriptive single-center study included all children under 15 years of age, presenting in pediatric ENT emergency departments between January 2008 and April 2014 for button-battery ingestion with esophageal impaction requiring emergency removal. Twenty-two boys and 4 girls, with a median age of 25 months, were included. Twenty-five of the 26 batteries had diameters of 20mm or more. Median esophageal impaction time was 7 hours 30 minutes (range, 2 to 72 hours). The complications rate was 23%. Mean hospital stay cost was €38,751 (range, €5130-119,737). The origin of the battery was known in 23 of the 26 cases: remote control without screw-secured compartment (42.3%), open battery pack (15.4%), children's toy (15.3%), camera (7.7%), watch (1 case) and hearing aid without screw-secured compartment (1 case). Esophageal lesions due to ingestion of button-batteries in children are almost always due to batteries larger than 20mm in diameter, mostly from devices with a poorly protected compartment, or batteries that are not individually packaged. These lesions cause serious complications in a quarter of cases and their management entails high health costs. Legislation requiring screw-secured compartments and individual blisters for batteries could have prevented 69.2% of the ingestions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Comparative Confocal and Histopathological Study of Corneal Changes in Multiple Myeloma.

PubMed

Micali, Antonio; Roszkowska, Anna M; Postorino, Elisa I; Rania, Laura; Aragona, Emanuela; Wylegala, Edward; Nowinska, Anna; Ieni, Antonio; Calimeri, Sebastiano; Pisani, Antonina; Aragona, Pasquale; Puzzolo, Domenico

2017-01-01

Corneal opacities rarely occur in multiple myeloma (MM). Our study correlates the findings of in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), a useful diagnostic tool, with histopathological features of corneal opacities appearing in a patient with MM. Case report. A 53-year-old man developed corneal opacities in both eyes, more pronounced in the left eye. After IVCM examination, he underwent penetrating keratoplasty in the left eye, and the button was processed for light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The diagnosis of MM was made, as confirmed by the elevation of IgGk light chains. IVCM demonstrated hyperreflective areas at the epithelial level, hyperreflective keratocytes of dendritic and lamellar morphology in whole stroma, and hyperreflective endothelial cells. Histopathological examination disclosed many vacuoles in the epithelial cell cytoplasm and a homogenous granular material in the Bowman layer. In stroma, keratocytes of different shape and size, with vesicles laden with an abnormal material, were evident. In Descemet membrane, the posterior nonbanded zone had a honeycomb appearance because of the presence of many roundish spaces among wide-spaced collagen fibers. Endothelial cells demonstrated vesicles filled with a material of uneven electron density. Immunohistochemical analysis showed strong positivity for IgGk light chains in keratocytes and among stromal lamellae. This is the first study describing a correspondence between IVCM features and histopathological alterations observed in corneal opacities in MM. The results of this study improve the current understanding of the pictures obtained by IVCM studies.

The absorption characteristics of the human cornea in ultraviolet-a crosslinking.

PubMed

Koppen, Carina; Gobin, Laure; Tassignon, Marie-José

2010-03-01

With respect to the safety of ultraviolet-A (UVA) crosslinking for the corneal endothelium, an absorption coefficient is used that has been calculated in riboflavin soaked porcine corneas. We aim to validate this value for clinical use by measuring the absorption coefficient for UVA 365 nm in postmortem human corneas after instilling riboflavin on the corneal surface. Corneal thickness was measured in nine pairs of human donor eyes of which one eye was subjected to manual removal of the epithelium, whereas the epithelium of the fellow eye was left intact. Both eyes were instilled with riboflavin 0.1% in dextran 20% on the intact globe. After 20 min, the corneas were rinsed, and a corneoscleral button was trephined. The transmission of the cornea for UVA 365 nm was measured by transillumination, which allows calculation of the absorption coefficient. Measurement of average corneal thickness was 658.5 +/- 51.5 microm when the epithelium was removed, and 758.3 +/- 98.8 microm without epithelial removal. The average transmittance for UVA 365 nm was 12.89 +/- 4.10% with epithelial debridement and 28.52 +/- 4.39% without (P<0.05). The resultant average absorption coefficient is 32 +/- 5 cm when the epithelium is removed and 17 +/- 2 cm when it is left intact (P<0.05). Our results show an absorption coefficient for human corneas that is much lower than the values reported in the literature. This finding may be relevant when considering endothelial safety of the clinical crosslinking treatment.

Crohn’s Disease Successfully Treated With Infliximab in a Patient Receiving Hemodialysis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Chiba, Mitsuro; Tsuda, Satoko; Tsuji, Tsuyotoshi; Nakane, Kunio; Komatsu, Masafumi; Miura, Yoshiko; Ishida, Toshiya; Shibahara, Toru; Nishimoto, Tadashi

2014-01-01

Abstract There is limited information in the use of antitumor necrosis factor α, infliximab, in patients on hemodialysis. In Crohn’s disease (CD), only 3 cases are reported. A 76-year-old man on hemodialysis for renal failure caused by immunoglobulin A nephropathy developed diarrhea and abdominal pains. A marked edema was observed in the pretibia and ankle. An increase of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hypoalbuminemia, hypocholesterolemia, and moderate anemia was found. Ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) found wall thickness in the left colon. Sigmoidoscopy revealed multiple ulcers in the sigmoid colon and noncaseating epithelioid granuloma was found in the biopsy specimen. Barium enema study exhibited collar button signs and longitudinal ulcers in the left colon. A severe form of CD was diagnosed. Metronidazole seemed to decrease CRP but was ineffective in ameliorating diarrhea. Infliximab rather than steroid hormone was chosen for the treatment. Standard induction therapy with infliximab was initiated. Symptoms rapidly improved then disappeared. CD activity index decreased from 747 to a remission level of 134 after 2 infusions of infliximab. Scheduled maintenance infliximab therapy was administered after the induction therapy. Ultrasonography and CT showed a disappearance of the wall thickness of the colon. Adverse reactions were not observed. Infliximab was effective and safe in a patient with CD on hemodialysis. Our case has added additional literature in accordance with previous reports supporting infliximab as effective and safe in patients on hemodialysis. PMID:25101989

User interface customization on Endoscopy Department Mini-PACS and its impact on examination workflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osada, Masakazu; Kaise, Mitsuru; Ozeki, Takeshi; Tsunakawa, Hirofumi; Tsunakawa, Kiyoshi; Takayanagi, Takashi; Suzuki, Nobuaki; Miwa, Jun; Ohta, Yasuhiko; Kanai, Koichi

1999-07-01

We have proposed a new user interface with workflow customization, implemented and evaluted in Endoscopy Department Mini-PACS that has been introduced and routinely used for two years at Toshiba General Hospital. We have set some task at endoscopy image acquisition units during examinations for two different types of user interfaces and compared performance. One is a command-button based operation using a remote control, and another is that with eight graphic buttons which are displayed on a CRT monitor and can be customized. Results of the two-year study show that mean number of input diagnosis codes per examination with graphic and customized interface is significantly greater than that with conventional interface. Also, mean time to complete one upper gastric endoscopy examination with new user interface is about 17 percent less than that with conventional interface. These result suggest that systems with the visualized and customized operation and feedback encourages physicians to use more functions and to compete tasks more efficiently than systems with conventional command-button based user interfaces.

Concepts for multi-IFU robotic positioning systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miziarski, Stan; Brzeski, Jurek; Bland Hawthorn, Joss; Gilbert, James; Goodwin, Michael; Heijmans, Jeroen; Horton, Anthony; Lawrence, Jon; Saunders, Will; Smith, Greg A.; Staszak, Nicholas

2012-09-01

Following the successful commissioning of SAMI (Sydney-AAO Multi-object IFU) the AAO has undertaken concept studies leading to a design of a new instrument for the AAT (Hector). It will use an automated robotic system for the deployment of fibre hexabundles to the focal plane. We have analysed several concepts, which could be applied in the design of new instruments or as a retrofit to existing positioning systems. We look at derivatives of Starbugs that could handle a large fibre bundle as well as modifications to pick and place robots like 2dF or OzPoz. One concept uses large magnetic buttons that adhere to a steel field plate with substantial force. To move them we replace the gripper with a pneumatic device, which engages with the button and injects it with compressed air, thus forming a magnet preloaded air bearing allowing virtually friction-less repositioning of the button by a gantry or an R-Theta robot. New fibre protection, guiding and retraction systems are also described. These developments could open a practical avenue for the upgrade to a number of instruments.

Early event-related brain potentials that reflect interest for content information in the media.

PubMed

Adachi, Shinobu; Morikawa, Koji; Nittono, Hiroshi

2012-03-28

This study investigated the relationship between event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to abridged content information in the media and the subsequent decisions to view the full content. Student volunteers participated in a task that simulated information selection on the basis of the content information. Screenshots of television clips and headlines of news articles on the Web were used as content information for the image condition and the headline condition, respectively. Following presentation of a stimulus containing content information, participants decided whether or not they would view the full content by pressing a select or a reject button. When the select button was pressed, participants were presented with a television clip or a news article. When the reject button was pressed, participants continued on to the next trial, without viewing further. In comparison with rejected stimuli, selected stimuli elicited a larger negative component, with a peak latency of ∼250 ms. The increase in the negative component was independent of the type of visual stimulus. These results suggest that interest toward content information is reflected in early-stage event-related brain potential responses.

Investigation of He–W interactions using DiMES on DIII-D

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

Doerner, R. P.; Rudakov, D. L.; Chrobak, C. P.

Here, tungsten button samples were exposed to He ELMing H-mode plasma in DIII-D using 2.3 MW of electron cyclotron heating power. Prior to the exposures, the W buttons were exposed to either He, or D, plasma in PISCES-A for 2000 s at surface temperatures of 225–850 °C to create a variety of surfaces (surface blisters, subsurface nano-bubbles, fuzz). Erosion was spectroscopically measured from each DiMES sample, with the exception of the fuzzy W samples which showed almost undetectable WI emission. Post-exposure grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering surface analysis showed the formation of 1.5 nm diameter He bubbles in themore » surface of W buttons after only a single DIII-D (3 s, ~150 ELMs) discharge, similar to the bubble layer resulting from the 2000 s. exposure in PISCES-A. No surface roughening, or damage, was detected on the samples after approximately 600 ELMs with energy density between 0.04–0.1 MJ m –2.« less

Investigation of He–W interactions using DiMES on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Doerner, R. P.; Rudakov, D. L.; Chrobak, C. P.; ...

2016-01-22

Here, tungsten button samples were exposed to He ELMing H-mode plasma in DIII-D using 2.3 MW of electron cyclotron heating power. Prior to the exposures, the W buttons were exposed to either He, or D, plasma in PISCES-A for 2000 s at surface temperatures of 225–850 °C to create a variety of surfaces (surface blisters, subsurface nano-bubbles, fuzz). Erosion was spectroscopically measured from each DiMES sample, with the exception of the fuzzy W samples which showed almost undetectable WI emission. Post-exposure grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering surface analysis showed the formation of 1.5 nm diameter He bubbles in themore » surface of W buttons after only a single DIII-D (3 s, ~150 ELMs) discharge, similar to the bubble layer resulting from the 2000 s. exposure in PISCES-A. No surface roughening, or damage, was detected on the samples after approximately 600 ELMs with energy density between 0.04–0.1 MJ m –2.« less

What Orthopaedic Operating Room Surfaces Are Contaminated With Bioburden? A Study Using the ATP Bioluminescence Assay.

PubMed

Richard, Raveesh Daniel; Bowen, Thomas R

2017-07-01

Contaminated operating room surfaces can increase the risk of orthopaedic infections, particularly after procedures in which hardware implantation and instrumentation are used. The question arises as to how surgeons can measure surface cleanliness to detect increased levels of bioburden. This study aims to highlight the utility of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence technology as a novel technique in detecting the degree of contamination within the sterile operating room environment. What orthopaedic operating room surfaces are contaminated with bioburden? When energy is required for cellular work, ATP breaks down into adenosine biphosphate (ADP) and phosphate (P) and in that process releases energy. This process is inherent to all living things and can be detected as light emission with the use of bioluminescence assays. On a given day, six different orthopaedic surgery operating rooms (two adult reconstruction, two trauma, two spine) were tested before surgery with an ATP bioluminescence assay kit. All of the cases were considered clean surgery without infection, and this included the previously performed cases in each sampled room. These rooms had been cleaned and prepped for surgery but the patients had not been physically brought into the room. A total of 13 different surfaces were sampled once in each room: the operating room (OR) preparation table (both pre- and postdraping), OR light handles, Bovie machine buttons, supply closet countertops, the inside of the Bair Hugger™ hose, Bair Hugger™ buttons, right side of the OR table headboard, tourniquet machine buttons, the Clark-socket attachment, and patient positioners used for total hip and spine positioning. The relative light units (RLUs) obtained from each sample were recorded and data were compiled and averaged for analysis. These values were compared with previously published ATP benchmark values of 250 to 500 RLUs to define cleanliness in both the hospital and restaurant industries. All surfaces had bioburden. The ATP RLUs (mean ± SD) are reported for each surface in ascending order: the OR preparation table (postdraping; 8.3 ± 3.4), inside the sterilized pan (9.2 ± 5.5), the inside of the Bair Hugger™ hose (212.5 ± 155.7), supply closet countertops (281.7 ± 236.7), OR light handles (647.8 ± 903.7), the OR preparation table (predraping; 1054 ± 387.5), the Clark-socket attachment (1135.7 ± 705.3), patient positioners used for total hip and spine positioning (1201.7 ± 1144.9), Bovie machine buttons (1264.5 ± 638.8), Bair Hugger™ buttons (1340.8 ± 1064.1), tourniquet machine buttons (1666.5 ± 2144.9), computer keyboard (1810.8 ± 929.6), and the right side of the OR table headboard (2539 ± 5635.8). ATP bioluminescence is a novel method to measure cleanliness within the orthopaedic OR and can help identify environmental trouble spots that can potentially lead to increased infection rates. Future studies correlating ATP bioluminescence findings with microbiology cultures could add to the clinical utility of this technology. Surfaces such as the undersurface of the OR table headboard, Bair Hugger™ buttons, and tourniquet machine buttons should be routinely cleansed as part of an institutional protocol. Although correlation between ATP bioluminescence and clinical infection was not evaluated in this study, it is the subject of future research. Specifically, evaluating microbiology samples taken from these environmental surfaces and correlating them with increased bioburden found with ATP bioluminescence technology can help promote improved surgical cleaning practices.

Adaptive changes in autophagy after UPS impairment in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Shen, Yu-fei; Tang, Yu; Zhang, Xiao-jie; Huang, Kai-xing; Le, Wei-dong

2013-05-01

Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagosome-lysosome pathway (ALP) are the most important machineries responsible for protein degradation in Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study is to investigate the adaptive alterations in autophagy upon proteasome inhibition in dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo. Human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were treated with the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin (5 μmol/L) for 5, 12, or 24 h. The expression of autophagy-related proteins in the cells was detected with immunoblotting. UPS-impaired mouse model of PD was established by microinjection of lactacystin (2 μg) into the left hemisphere of C57BL/6 mice that were sacrificed 2 or 4 weeks later. The midbrain tissues were dissected to assess alterations in autophagy using immunofluorescence, immunoblotting and electron microscopy assays. Both in SH-SY5Y cells and in the midbrain of UPS-impaired mouse model of PD, treatment with lactacystin significantly increased the expression levels of LC3-I/II and Beclin 1, and reduced the levels of p-mTOR, mTOR and p62/SQSTM1. Furthermore, lactacystin treatment in UPS-impaired mouse model of PD caused significant loss of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra, and dramatically increased the number of autophagosomes in the left TH-positive neurons. Inhibition of UPS by lactacystin in dopaminergic neurons activates another protein degradation system, the ALP, which includes both the mTOR signaling pathway and Beclin 1-associated pathway.

Automatic multiple-sample applicator and electrophoresis apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grunbaum, B. W. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

An apparatus for performing electrophoresis and a multiple-sample applicator is described. Electrophoresis is a physical process in which electrically charged molecules and colloidal particles, upon the application of a dc current, migrate along a gel or a membrane that is wetted with an electrolyte. A multiple-sample applicator is provided which coacts with a novel tank cover to permit an operator either to depress a single button, thus causing multiple samples to be deposited on the gel or on the membrane simultaneously, or to depress one or more sample applicators separately by means of a separate button for each applicator.

Assessment of pediatric Malone antegrade continence enema (MACE) complications: Effects of variations in technique.

PubMed

Saikaly, Sami K; Rich, Mark A; Swana, Hubert S

2016-08-01

The Malone antegrade continence enema (MACE) procedure is performed for patients with fecal incontinence and constipation who do not respond to medical therapy. The MACE procedure provides antegrade catheter access to the right colon and allows administration of enemas to help evacuate the bowel regularly. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for surgical complications in children who undergo the MACE procedure. Records from 97 pediatric patients who underwent MACE procedure were reviewed retrospectively. Data collected included age, sex, weight (obese/not obese), stomal location, presence of a permanent button/catheter in the stoma, open vs. laparoscopic surgery, and etiology of fecal incontinence/constipation. The complications reviewed included stomal stenosis, leakage, and stomal site infection. The relationships between the independent variables and complications were assessed using chi-square tests and Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Overall, 66 (68%) patients had at least one complication. Twenty-three (23.7%) patients developed stomal stenosis, and 27 (27.8%) patients had significant stomal leakage. Insertion of a stomal button/catheter device was associated with an increased risk of developing stomal leakage and stomal infection. The presence of a stomal button/catheter was also associated with a decreased risk of stomal stenosis (Figure). The non-intubated, imbricated sub-population, preteen patients (<12 years old) experienced more stomal leakage than teenage patients. In this subgroup, patients with umbilical stomas also experienced more leakage than patients with right lower quadrant (RLQ) stomas. The prevalence rates of stomal complications in our study were consistent with previously reported series. In our study, however, stomal leakage had a higher prevalence in comparison with stomal stenosis. This seems to be related to the heterogeneity of the study group, which contained two variants of the MACE procedure; non-imbricated, intubated MACE and imbricated, non-intubated MACE. The use of stomal buttons in conjunction with MACE has previously been reported without changes in complication rates. We found the use of stomal buttons/catheters to be associated with changes in the prevalence of stomal complications. Stomal complications are common in the MACE procedure. The use of a permanent stomal button/catheter is associated with changes in the rates of stomal complications. While many find an umbilical stomal site is more cosmetically appealing, there is an increased risk of leakage with imbricated, non-intubated stomas. In the non-intubated, imbricated sub-population, the MACE procedure results in a higher risk of stomal leakage in preteen patients in comparison with teenage patients. Copyright © 2016 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Monitoring of Cardiac Remodeling in a Mouse Model of Pressure-Overload Left Ventricular Hypertrophy with [18F]FDG MicroPET.

PubMed

Todica, Andrei; Beetz, Nick L; Günther, Lisa; Zacherl, Mathias J; Grabmaier, Ulrich; Huber, Bruno; Bartenstein, Peter; Brunner, Stefan; Lehner, Sebastian

2018-04-01

This study aims to analyze the left ventricular function parameters, scar load, and hypertrophy in a mouse model of pressure-overload left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy over the course of 8 weeks using 2-deoxy-2-[ 18 F]fluoro-D-glucose ([ 18 F]FDG) micro-positron emission tomography (microPET) imaging. LV hypertrophy was induced in C57BL/6 mice by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Myocardial hypertrophy developed after 2-4 weeks. ECG-gated microPET scans with [ 18 F]FDG were performed 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. The extent of fibrosis was measured by histopathologic analysis. LV function parameters and scar load were calculated using QGS®/QPS®. LV metabolic volume (LVMV) and percentage injected dose per gram were estimated by threshold-based analysis. The fibrotic tissue volume increased significantly from 4 to 8 weeks after TAC (​1.67 vs. 3.91  mm 3 ; P = 0.044). There was a significant increase of the EDV (4 weeks: 54 ± 15 μl, 8 weeks: 79 ± 32 μl, P < 0.01) and LVMV (4 weeks: 222 ± 24 μl, 8 weeks: 276 ± 52 μl, P < 0.01) as well as a significant decrease of the LVEF (4 weeks: 56 ± 17 %, 8 weeks: 44 ± 20 %, P < 0.01). The increase of LVMV had a high predictive value regarding the amount of ex vivo measured fibrotic tissue (R = 0.905, P < 0.001). The myocardial metabolic defects increased within 4 weeks (P = 0.055) but only moderately correlated with the fibrosis volume (R = 0.502, P = 0.021). The increase in end-diastolic volume showed a positive correlation with the fibrosis at 8 weeks (R = 0.763, P = 0.017). [ 18 F]FDG-PET is applicable for serial in vivo monitoring of the TAC mouse model. Myocardial hypertrophy, the dilation of the left ventricle, and the decrease in LVEF could be reliably quantified over time, as well as the developing localized scar. The increase in volume over time is predictive of a high fibrosis load.

Decreased functional brain activation in Friedreich ataxia using the Simon effect task.

PubMed

Georgiou-Karistianis, N; Akhlaghi, H; Corben, L A; Delatycki, M B; Storey, E; Bradshaw, J L; Egan, G F

2012-08-01

The present study applied the Simon effect task to examine the pattern of functional brain reorganization in individuals with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirteen individuals with FRDA and 14 age and sex matched controls participated, and were required to respond to either congruent or incongruent arrow stimuli, presented either to the left or right of a screen, via laterally-located button press responses. Although the Simon effect (incongruent minus congruent stimuli) showed common regions of activation in both groups, including the superior and middle prefrontal cortices, insulae, superior and inferior parietal lobules (LPs, LPi), occipital cortex and cerebellum, there was reduced functional activation across a range of brain regions (cortical, subcortical and cerebellar) in individuals with FRDA. The greater Simon effect behaviourally in individuals with FRDA, compared with controls, together with concomitant reductions in functional brain activation and reduced functional connectivity between cortical and sub-cortical regions, implies a likely disruption of cortico-cerebellar loops and ineffective engagement of cognitive/attention regions required for response suppression. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of unimanual response on pseudoneglect magnitude.

PubMed

McCourt, M E; Freeman, P; Tahmahkera-Stevens, C; Chaussee, M

2001-02-01

Various factors influence the degree of leftward error (pseudoneglect) (Bowers & Heilman, 1980) that typifies the performance of normal subjects in line bisection tasks (Jewell & McCourt, 2000). The results of this experiment show that unimanual responding also exerts a subtle but significant modulating influence on spatial attention, as indexed by the differential magnitude of pseudoneglect. Using a forced-choice tachistoscopic line bisection protocol, 184 subjects (92 male and 92 female) bisected horizontally oriented lines (22.3 degrees wide x 0.39 degrees height) presented to central vision in two conditions, in which bisection responses were executed via button presses using the first two fingers of either the left (LH) or right (RH) hand. Perceived line midpoint deviated significantly leftward of veridical (p <.05) in both conditions. There was no significant influence of subject sex (p >.05). A significant influence of unimanual response was revealed (p <.05) where pseudoneglect magnitude was greater in the LH than the RH condition. The results are interpreted within the framework of the activation-orientation theory of attentional asymmetry. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Detection and quantification of MS lesions using fuzzy topological principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Udupa, Jayaram K.; Wei, Luogang; Samarasekera, Supun; Miki, Yukio; van Buchem, M. A.; Grossman, Robert I.

1996-04-01

Quantification of the severity of the multiple sclerosis (MS) disease through estimation of lesion volume via MR imaging is vital for understanding and monitoring the disease and its treatment. This paper presents a novel methodology and a system that can be routinely used for segmenting and estimating the volume of MS lesions via dual-echo spin-echo MR imagery. An operator indicates a few points in the images by pointing to the white matter, the gray matter, and the CSF. Each of these objects is then detected as a fuzzy connected set. The holes in the union of these objects correspond to potential lesion sites which are utilized to detect each potential lesion as a fuzzy connected object. These 3D objects are presented to the operator who indicates acceptance/rejection through the click of a mouse button. The volume of accepted lesions is then computed and output. Based on several evaluation studies and over 300 3D data sets that were processed, we conclude that the methodology is highly reliable and consistent, with a coefficient of variation (due to subjective operator actions) of less than 1.0% for volume.

Metronome LKM: An open source virtual keyboard driver to measure experiment software latencies.

PubMed

Garaizar, Pablo; Vadillo, Miguel A

2017-10-01

Experiment software is often used to measure reaction times gathered with keyboards or other input devices. In previous studies, the accuracy and precision of time stamps has been assessed through several means: (a) generating accurate square wave signals from an external device connected to the parallel port of the computer running the experiment software, (b) triggering the typematic repeat feature of some keyboards to get an evenly separated series of keypress events, or (c) using a solenoid handled by a microcontroller to press the input device (keyboard, mouse button, touch screen) that will be used in the experimental setup. Despite the advantages of these approaches in some contexts, none of them can isolate the measurement error caused by the experiment software itself. Metronome LKM provides a virtual keyboard to assess an experiment's software. Using this open source driver, researchers can generate keypress events using high-resolution timers and compare the time stamps collected by the experiment software with those gathered by Metronome LKM (with nanosecond resolution). Our software is highly configurable (in terms of keys pressed, intervals, SysRq activation) and runs on 2.6-4.8 Linux kernels.

Real time gesture based control: A prototype development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhargava, Deepshikha; Solanki, L.; Rai, Satish Kumar

2016-03-01

The computer industry is getting advanced. In a short span of years, industry is growing high with advanced techniques. Robots have been replacing humans, increasing the efficiency, accessibility and accuracy of the system and creating man-machine interaction. Robotic industry is developing many new trends. However, they still need to be controlled by humans itself. This paper presents an approach to control a motor like a robot with hand gestures not by old ways like buttons or physical devices. Controlling robots with hand gestures is very popular now-a-days. Currently, at this level, gesture features are applied for detecting and tracking the hand in real time. A principal component analysis algorithm is being used for identification of a hand gesture by using open CV image processing library. Contours, convex-hull, and convexity defects are the gesture features. PCA is a statistical approach used for reducing the number of variables in hand recognition. While extracting the most relevant information (feature) contained in the images (hand). After detecting and recognizing hand a servo motor is being controlled, which uses hand gesture as an input device (like mouse and keyboard), and reduces human efforts.

Top-down suppression of incompatible motor activations during response selection under conflict.

PubMed

Klein, Pierre-Alexandre; Petitjean, Charlotte; Olivier, Etienne; Duque, Julie

2014-02-01

Top-down control is critical to select goal-directed actions in changeable environments, particularly when several options compete for selection. This control system is thought to involve a mechanism that suppresses activation of unwanted response representations. We tested this hypothesis, in humans, by measuring motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in a left finger muscle during motor preparation in an adapted Eriksen flanker task. Subjects reported, by a left or right button-press, the orientation of a left- or right-facing central arrow, flanked by two distractor arrows on each side. Central and peripheral arrows either pointed in the same (congruent trial) or in the opposite direction (incongruent trial). Top-down control was manipulated by changing the probability of congruent and incongruent trials in a given block. In the "mostly incongruent" (MI) blocks, 80% of trials were incongruent, producing a context in which subjects strongly anticipated that they would have to face conflict. In the "mostly congruent" (MC) blocks, 80% of trials were congruent and thus subjects barely anticipated conflict in that context. Thus, we assume that top-down control was stronger in the MI than in the MC condition. Accordingly, subjects displayed a lower error rate and shorter reaction times for the incongruent trials in the MI context than for similar trials in the MC context. More interestingly, we found that top-down control specifically reduced activation of the incompatible motor representation during response selection under high conflict. That is, when the central arrow specified a right hand response, left (non-selected) MEPs became smaller in the MI than in the MC condition, but only for incongruent trials, and this measure was positively correlated with performance. In contrast, MEPs elicited in the non-selected hand during congruent trials, or during all trials in which the left hand was selected, tended to increase more after the imperative signal in the MI than the MC condition. Another important observation was that, overall, MEPs were already strongly suppressed at the onset of the imperative signal and that this effect was particularly pronounced in the MI context. Hence, suppression of motor excitability seems to be a key component of conflict resolution. © 2013.

Aortic Implantation of Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery: Long-Term Outcomes.

PubMed

Mongé, Michael C; Eltayeb, Osama; Costello, John M; Sarwark, Anne E; Carr, Michael R; Backer, Carl L

2015-07-01

Since 1989 all patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery at our institution have been treated with aortic implantation. The purpose of this review was to assess the late outcomes of these patients, especially regarding left ventricular (LV) function and mitral valve insufficiency. Between 1989 and 2014, 36 patients had aortic implantation of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Mean age at surgery was 2.5 ± 5.1 years (median, 0.5 years). Operative strategy included antegrade cold-blood cardioplegia, main pulmonary artery transection, aortic implantation with a large button of pulmonary artery, pulmonary reconstruction with fresh autologous pericardium, and prolonged postoperative inotropic and ventilator support. Mitral regurgitation and LV dysfunction were graded as 0 to 4 (0 = none, 1 = trivial, 1.5 = trivial-mild, 2 = mild, 2.5 = mild-moderate, 3 = moderate, 3.5 = moderate-severe, and 4 = severe). Mean mitral regurgitation grade preoperatively was 2.95 ± 0.95. Mean LV dysfunction grade was 3.14 ± 1.27. Mean cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 49.1 ± 18 minutes (median, 48.5 minutes) and 147.5 ± 45 minutes (median, 139 minutes), respectively. There was no operative or late mortality. Four patients had delayed sternal closure. Mean duration of ventilator support was 11 ± 6.6 days (median, 9 days). Two patients required 3 and 6 days of postoperative extracorporeal mechanical circulatory support. Mean length of stay was 25 ± 18 days (median, 19 days). No patient has required reoperation for supravalvar pulmonary stenosis, coronary stenosis, or mitral valve repair or replacement. Late echocardiographic follow-up shows a mean mitral regurgitation grade of 1.67 ± 1.05 and a mean LV dysfunction grade of 0.23 ± 0.68. Aortic implantation is our procedure of choice for patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. No patient required mitral valve repair or transplant. There was marked improvement of mitral regurgitation grade, return to essentially normal LV function, and no mortality during a 25-year period. Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) on quality and refrigerated storage stability of patties prepared from sutchi catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus).

PubMed

Nayak, Prakash Chandra; Raju, C V; Lakshmisha, I P; Singh, Rajkumar Ratankumar; Sofi, Faisal Rashid

2015-06-01

The ability of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) in changing physical, chemical, microbial and sensory properties of fish patties prepared from sutchi catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) was investigated. Two batches of fresh patties were prepared, one batch was treated with 15 % button mushroom (TP) and other batch was a control (CP) without mushroom. The patties were packed in polythene bags and stored under refrigerated condition (6 ± 2 ºC) without adding any preservatives for the estimation of storage stability. The analyses of patties were conducted at regular intervals of 3 days. The results showed that, Peroxide value, Thiobarbituric acid value, Free fatty acids increased significantly in CP at the end of 12 days whereas the TP was within the acceptable limit up to 16 days. Total volatile base nitrogen and Trimethylamine nitrogen also showed a similar trend. The Total plate count and Aerobic spore formers showed an increasing trend in CP when compared to TP. The sensory scores showed that the overall acceptability of CP were lower than TP, which was acceptable even after 16 days of storage. The present study showed that, the quality and storage stability of TP were observed to be in good condition up to 16 days and started deteriorating 20th day onwards, whereas the CP were acceptable only up to 12 days. Therefore it can be recommended that, addition of 15 % of button mushroom to sutchi catfish patty not only increases the nutritional quality but also increases the shelf life of patties under refrigerated storage.

What Kind of Capsule Endoscope Is Suitable for a Controllable Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope? Experimental Study Using a Porcine Stomach Model for Clinical Application (with Videos)

PubMed Central

Ota, Kazuhiro; Nouda, Sadaharu; Takeuchi, Toshihisa; Iguchi, Munetaka; Kojima, Yuichi; Kuramoto, Takanori; Inoue, Takuya; Shindo, Yasunori; Uesugi, Kenshiro; Fujito, Yoshiaki; Nishihara, Hironori; Ohtsuka, Naotake; Higuchi, Kazuhide

2015-01-01

Background We have been developing the Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope (SPCE) that allows for controllability from outside of the body and real-time observation. What kind of capsule endoscope (CE) is suitable for a controllable SPCE is unclear and a very critical point for clinical application. We compared observing ability of three kinds of SPCEs with different viewing angles and frame rates. Methods Eleven buttons were sewed in an excised porcine stomach. Four examiners controlled the SPCE using PillCamSB2, -ESO2, and -COLON2 (Given Imaging Ltd., Israel), for 10 minutes each with the aim of detecting as many buttons and examining them as closely as possible. The ability to find lesions was assessed based on the number of detected buttons. The SPCE-performance score (SPS) was used to evaluate the ability to examine the lesions in detail. Results The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 detected 11 [interquartile range (IQR): 0], 10.5 (IQR, 0.5), and 8 (IQR, 1.0) buttons, respectively. The SPCE-ESO2 and -COLON2 had a significantly better ability to detect lesions than the -SB2 (p < 0.05). The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 had significantly different SPS values of 22 (IQR, 0), 16.5 (IQR, 1.5), and 14 (IQR, 1.0), respectively (p < 0.05 for all comparisons; SPCE-SB2 vs. -ESO2, -SB2 vs. -COLON2, and -ESO2 vs. -COLON2). Conclusions PillCamESO2 is most suitable in different three CEs for SPCE for examining lesions in detail of the stomach. PMID:26447694

What Kind of Capsule Endoscope Is Suitable for a Controllable Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope? Experimental Study Using a Porcine Stomach Model for Clinical Application (with Videos).

PubMed

Ota, Kazuhiro; Nouda, Sadaharu; Takeuchi, Toshihisa; Iguchi, Munetaka; Kojima, Yuichi; Kuramoto, Takanori; Inoue, Takuya; Shindo, Yasunori; Uesugi, Kenshiro; Fujito, Yoshiaki; Nishihara, Hironori; Ohtsuka, Naotake; Higuchi, Kazuhide

2015-01-01

We have been developing the Self-Propelling Capsule Endoscope (SPCE) that allows for controllability from outside of the body and real-time observation. What kind of capsule endoscope (CE) is suitable for a controllable SPCE is unclear and a very critical point for clinical application. We compared observing ability of three kinds of SPCEs with different viewing angles and frame rates. Eleven buttons were sewed in an excised porcine stomach. Four examiners controlled the SPCE using PillCamSB2, -ESO2, and -COLON2 (Given Imaging Ltd., Israel), for 10 minutes each with the aim of detecting as many buttons and examining them as closely as possible. The ability to find lesions was assessed based on the number of detected buttons. The SPCE-performance score (SPS) was used to evaluate the ability to examine the lesions in detail. The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 detected 11 [interquartile range (IQR): 0], 10.5 (IQR, 0.5), and 8 (IQR, 1.0) buttons, respectively. The SPCE-ESO2 and -COLON2 had a significantly better ability to detect lesions than the -SB2 (p < 0.05). The SPCE-ESO2, -COLON2, and -SB2 had significantly different SPS values of 22 (IQR, 0), 16.5 (IQR, 1.5), and 14 (IQR, 1.0), respectively (p < 0.05 for all comparisons; SPCE-SB2 vs. -ESO2, -SB2 vs. -COLON2, and -ESO2 vs. -COLON2). PillCamESO2 is most suitable in different three CEs for SPCE for examining lesions in detail of the stomach.

Meal Microstructure Characterization from Sensor-Based Food Intake Detection.

PubMed

Doulah, Abul; Farooq, Muhammad; Yang, Xin; Parton, Jason; McCrory, Megan A; Higgins, Janine A; Sazonov, Edward

2017-01-01

To avoid the pitfalls of self-reported dietary intake, wearable sensors can be used. Many food ingestion sensors offer the ability to automatically detect food intake using time resolutions that range from 23 ms to 8 min. There is no defined standard time resolution to accurately measure ingestive behavior or a meal microstructure. This paper aims to estimate the time resolution needed to accurately represent the microstructure of meals such as duration of eating episode, the duration of actual ingestion, and number of eating events. Twelve participants wore the automatic ingestion monitor (AIM) and kept a standard diet diary to report their food intake in free-living conditions for 24 h. As a reference, participants were also asked to mark food intake with a push button sampled every 0.1 s. The duration of eating episodes, duration of ingestion, and number of eating events were computed from the food diary, AIM, and the push button resampled at different time resolutions (0.1-30s). ANOVA and multiple comparison tests showed that the duration of eating episodes estimated from the diary differed significantly from that estimated by the AIM and the push button ( p -value <0.001). There were no significant differences in the number of eating events for push button resolutions of 0.1, 1, and 5 s, but there were significant differences in resolutions of 10-30s ( p -value <0.05). The results suggest that the desired time resolution of sensor-based food intake detection should be ≤5 s to accurately detect meal microstructure. Furthermore, the AIM provides more accurate measurement of the eating episode duration than the diet diary.

Meal Microstructure Characterization from Sensor-Based Food Intake Detection

PubMed Central

Doulah, Abul; Farooq, Muhammad; Yang, Xin; Parton, Jason; McCrory, Megan A.; Higgins, Janine A.; Sazonov, Edward

2017-01-01

To avoid the pitfalls of self-reported dietary intake, wearable sensors can be used. Many food ingestion sensors offer the ability to automatically detect food intake using time resolutions that range from 23 ms to 8 min. There is no defined standard time resolution to accurately measure ingestive behavior or a meal microstructure. This paper aims to estimate the time resolution needed to accurately represent the microstructure of meals such as duration of eating episode, the duration of actual ingestion, and number of eating events. Twelve participants wore the automatic ingestion monitor (AIM) and kept a standard diet diary to report their food intake in free-living conditions for 24 h. As a reference, participants were also asked to mark food intake with a push button sampled every 0.1 s. The duration of eating episodes, duration of ingestion, and number of eating events were computed from the food diary, AIM, and the push button resampled at different time resolutions (0.1–30s). ANOVA and multiple comparison tests showed that the duration of eating episodes estimated from the diary differed significantly from that estimated by the AIM and the push button (p-value <0.001). There were no significant differences in the number of eating events for push button resolutions of 0.1, 1, and 5 s, but there were significant differences in resolutions of 10–30s (p-value <0.05). The results suggest that the desired time resolution of sensor-based food intake detection should be ≤5 s to accurately detect meal microstructure. Furthermore, the AIM provides more accurate measurement of the eating episode duration than the diet diary. PMID:28770206

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

Fu, Wenkai; Ghosh, Priyarshini; Harrison, Mark

The performance of traditional Hornyak buttons and two proposed variants for fast-neutron hodoscope applications was evaluated using Geant4. The Hornyak button is a ZnS(Ag)-based device previously deployed at the Idaho National Laboratory's TRansient REActor Test Facility (better known as TREAT) for monitoring fast neutrons emitted during pulsing of fissile fuel samples. Past use of these devices relied on pulse-shape discrimination to reduce the significant levels of background Cherenkov radiation. Proposed are two simple designs that reduce the overall light guide mass (here, polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), employ silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), and can be operated using pulse-height discrimination alone to eliminatemore » background noise to acceptable levels. Geant4 was first used to model a traditional Hornyak button, and for assumed, hodoscope-like conditions, an intrinsic efficiency of 0.35% for mono-directional fission neutrons was predicted. The predicted efficiency is in reasonably good agreement with experimental data from the literature and, hence, served to validate the physics models and approximations employed. Geant4 models were then developed to optimize the materials and geometries of two alternatives to the Hornyak button, one based on a homogeneous mixture of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA, and one based on alternating layers of ZnS(Ag) and PMMA oriented perpendicular to the incident neutron beam. For the same radiation environment, optimized, 5-cm long (along the beam path) devices of the homogeneous and layered designs were predicted to have efficiencies of approximately 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively. For longer devices, i.e., lengths larger than 25 cm, these efficiencies were shown to peak at approximately 2.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Furthermore, both designs were shown to discriminate Cherenkov noise intrinsically by using an appropriate pulse-height discriminator level, i.e., pulse-shape discrimination is not needed for these devices.« less

Mickey Mouse greets prime ASTP crewmen to Florida's Disney World

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

A space-suited Mickey Mouse character welcomes the prime crewmen of the Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) to Florida's Disney World near Orlando. The crewmen made a side-trip to Disney World during a three-day inspection tour of the Kennedy Space Center. Receiving the Disney World welcome are, left to right, Cosmonaut Valeriy N. Kubasov, engineer on the Soviet crew; Astronaut Donald K. Slayton, docking module pilot of the American crew; Astronaut Vance D. Brand, command module pilot of the American crew; Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet crew; Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander of the American crew; and Cosmonaut Vladimir A. Shatalov, Chief of Cosmonaut Training for the U.S.S.R.

Like/dislike analysis using EEG: determination of most discriminative channels and frequencies.

PubMed

Yılmaz, Bülent; Korkmaz, Sümeyye; Arslan, Dilek Betül; Güngör, Evrim; Asyalı, Musa H

2014-02-01

In this study, we have analyzed electroencephalography (EEG) signals to investigate the following issues, (i) which frequencies and EEG channels could be relatively better indicators of preference (like or dislike decisions) of consumer products, (ii) timing characteristic of "like" decisions during such mental processes. For this purpose, we have obtained multichannel EEG recordings from 15 subjects, during total of 16 epochs of 10 s long, while they were presented with some shoe photographs. When they liked a specific shoe, they pressed on a button and marked the time of this activity and the particular epoch was labeled as a LIKE case. No button press meant that the subject did not like the particular shoe that was displayed and corresponding epoch designated as a DISLIKE case. After preprocessing, power spectral density (PSD) of EEG data was estimated at different frequencies (4, 5, …, 40 Hz) using the Burg method, for each epoch corresponding to one shoe presentation. Each subject's data consisted of normalized PSD values (NPVs) from all LIKE and DISLIKE cases/epochs coming from all 19 EEG channels. In order to determine the most discriminative frequencies and channels, we have utilized logistic regression, where LIKE/DISLIKE status was used as a categorical (binary) response variable and corresponding NPVs were the continuously valued input variables or predictors. We observed that when all the NPVs (total of 37) are used as predictors, the regression problem was becoming ill-posed due to large number of predictors (compared to the number of samples) and high correlation among predictors. To circumvent this issue, we have divided the frequency band into low frequency (LF) 4-19 Hz and high frequency (HF) 20-40 Hz bands and analyzed the influence of the NPV in these bands separately. Then, using the p-values that indicate how significantly estimated predictor weights are different than zero, we have determined the NPVs and channels that are more influential in determining the outcome, i.e., like/dislike decision. In the LF band, 4 and 5 Hz were found to be the most discriminative frequencies (MDFs). In the HF band, none of the frequencies seemed offer significant information. When both male and female data was used, in the LF band, a frontal channel on the left (F7-A1) and a temporal channel on the right (T6-A2) were found to be the most discriminative channels (MDCs). In the HF band, MDCs were central (Cz-A1) and occipital on the left (O1-A1) channels. The results of like timings suggest that male and female behavior for this set of stimulant images were similar. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Systematic assessment of microneedle injection into the mouse cornea

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Corneal intrastromal injection is an important mode of gene-vector application to subepithelial layers. In a mouse model, this procedure is substantially complicated by the reduced corneal dimensions. Furthermore, it may be difficult to estimate the corneal area reached by the volume of a single injection. This study aimed to investigate intrastromal injections into the mouse cornea using different microneedles and to quantify the effect of injecting varying volumes. A reproducible injection technique is described. Methods Forty eyes of 20 129 Sv/J mice were tested. India ink was intrastromally injected using 30° beveled 33 G needles, tri-surface 25° beveled 35 G needles, or hand-pulled and 25° beveled glass needles. Each eye received a single injection of a volume of 1 or 2 μL. Corneoscleral buttons were fixed and flat mounted for computer-assisted quantification of the affected corneal area. Histological assessment was performed to investigate the intrastromal location of the injected dye. Results A mean corneal area of 5.0 ±1.4 mm2 (mean ± SD) and 7.7 ±1.4 mm2 was covered by intrastromal injections of 1 and 2 μL, respectively. The mean percentage of total corneal area reached ranged from 39% to 53% for 1 μL injections, and from 65% to 81% for 2 μL injections. Injections using the 33 G needles tended to provide the highest distribution area. Perforation rates were 8% for 30° beveled 33 G needles and 44% for tri-surface beveled 35 G needles. No perforation was observed with glass needle; however, intrastromal breakage of needle tips was noted in 25% of these cases. Conclusions Intracorneal injection using a 30° beveled 33 G needle was safe and effective. The use of tri-surface beveled 35 G needles substantially increased the number of corneal perforations. Glass needles may break inside the corneal stroma. Injections of 1 μL and 2 μL resulted in an overall mean of 49% and 73% respectively of total corneal area involved. PMID:22716296

Systematic assessment of microneedle injection into the mouse cornea.

PubMed

Matthaei, Mario; Meng, Huan; Bhutto, Imran; Xu, Qingguo; Boelke, Edwin; Hanes, Justin; Jun, Albert S

2012-06-20

Corneal intrastromal injection is an important mode of gene-vector application to subepithelial layers. In a mouse model, this procedure is substantially complicated by the reduced corneal dimensions. Furthermore, it may be difficult to estimate the corneal area reached by the volume of a single injection. This study aimed to investigate intrastromal injections into the mouse cornea using different microneedles and to quantify the effect of injecting varying volumes. A reproducible injection technique is described. Forty eyes of 20 129 Sv/J mice were tested. India ink was intrastromally injected using 30° beveled 33 G needles, tri-surface 25° beveled 35 G needles, or hand-pulled and 25° beveled glass needles. Each eye received a single injection of a volume of 1 or 2 μL. Corneoscleral buttons were fixed and flat mounted for computer-assisted quantification of the affected corneal area. Histological assessment was performed to investigate the intrastromal location of the injected dye. A mean corneal area of 5.0 ± 1.4 mm(2) (mean ± SD) and 7.7 ± 1.4 mm(2) was covered by intrastromal injections of 1 and 2 μL, respectively. The mean percentage of total corneal area reached ranged from 39% to 53% for 1 μL injections, and from 65% to 81% for 2 μL injections. Injections using the 33 G needles tended to provide the highest distribution area. Perforation rates were 8% for 30° beveled 33 G needles and 44% for tri-surface beveled 35 G needles. No perforation was observed with glass needle; however, intrastromal breakage of needle tips was noted in 25% of these cases. Intracorneal injection using a 30° beveled 33 G needle was safe and effective. The use of tri-surface beveled 35 G needles substantially increased the number of corneal perforations. Glass needles may break inside the corneal stroma. Injections of 1 μL and 2 μL resulted in an overall mean of 49% and 73% respectively of total corneal area involved.

METEOSAT studies of clouds and radiation budget

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saunders, R. W.

1982-01-01

Radiation budget studies of the atmosphere/surface system from Meteosat, cloud parameter determination from space, and sea surface temperature measurements from TIROS N data are all described. This work was carried out on the interactive planetary image processing system (IPIPS), which allows interactive manipulationion of the image data in addition to the conventional computational tasks. The current hardware configuration of IPIPS is shown. The I(2)S is the principal interactive display allowing interaction via a trackball, four buttons under program control, or a touch tablet. Simple image processing operations such as contrast enhancing, pseudocoloring, histogram equalization, and multispectral combinations, can all be executed at the push of a button.

20 mm lithium button battery causing an oesophageal perforation in a toddler: lessons in diagnosis and treatment.

PubMed

Soccorso, Giampiero; Grossman, Ole; Martinelli, Massimo; Marven, Sean S; Patel, Kirtik; Thomson, Mike; Roberts, Julian P

2012-08-01

Swallowed button batteries (BB) which remain lodged in the oesophagus are at risk of serious complications, particularly in young children. The authors report a 3-year-old child, who rapidly developed an oesophageal perforation, following the ingestion of a 20-mm lithium BB which was initially mistaken for a coin. A thoracotomy and T-tube management of the perforation led to a positive outcome. BBs (20 mm) in children should be removed quickly and close observation is required as the damage initiated by the battery can lead to a significant injury within a few hours.

Hiroshima neutron fluence on a glass button from near ground zero.

PubMed

Fleischer, R L; Fujita, S; Hoshi, M

2001-12-01

A decorative glass button that was uncovered at a location that is 190 +/- 15 m from directly beneath the atomic explosion at Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 has been scanned for induced fission tracks produced mostly by the thermal neutrons from the bomb due to interactions with the trace uranium that is normally present in silicate glasses. In surveying 4.14 cm2 at 500x magnification, 28 tracks were seen. From a calibration irradiation in a nuclear reactor we infer that the neutron fluence in 1945 was 5.7(+/-1.1) x 10(11) cm(-2); and, allowing for shielding by the structure in which the button was probably located, the free-air (i.e., outside) value is estimated as 1.5(+/-0.5) x 10(12) cm(-2). A limit has been placed on possible fading of the radiation-damage tracks that could increase the fluence by at most a factor of 1.27. The values bracket the calculated value of 9 x 10(11) given in DS86 but are higher than the 3.6 x 10(11) inferred from induced radionuclides for the distance given. The difference is, however, within the observed variability of the two types of results.

Influence of productivity and processing method on physicochemical characteristics of white button mushrooms in Brazil.

PubMed

Zied, Diego Cunha; Penachio, Sara Maciel; Dias, Eustáquio Souza; de Almeida Minhoni, Marli Teixeira; Ferraz, Rafael Augusto; Vieites, Rogério Lopes

2014-11-01

The white button mushroom is the edible fungus most commonly cultivated and commercialized in Brazil and worldwide. This work assesses the productivity of the different strains ABI 07/06 and ABI 06/05 of Agaricus bisporus grown under the conditions normally employed by growers in the southeast of Brazil, and the influence of four different chemical conservation methods on the physicochemical characteristics and storage properties of the fruit bodies. The productivities of strains ABI 07/06 and ABI 06/05 of white button mushrooms were found to be comparable. The colorimetric characteristics and chemical compositions (fat, fiber and protein contents) of the mushroom strains were similar, and these parameters were not influenced significantly by the conservation processes. Texture was negatively affected by all processing methods employed. It was concluded that chemical methods of processing mushrooms were not fully effective and novel alternative technologies should be considered by mushroom processors in Brazil. Some methods of mushroom storage using chemicals such as sodium metabisulfite are harmful to the human organism, so processing using autoclaving may be the best form of conservation of canned mushrooms. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dual-Band Dual-Mode Button Antenna for On-Body and Off-Body Communications.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiu Yin; Wong, Hang; Mo, Te; Cao, Yun Fei

2017-08-01

A dual-band dual-mode button antenna for body centric communications is presented. At the lower band, a spiral inverted-F antenna is designed with omnidirectional radiation pattern for on-body communication. At the upper band, the high-order mode of the inverted-F antenna is utilized together with a metal reflector to realize broadside radiation for off-body communication. For demonstration, a prototype is implemented. The measured peak gains on the phantom at the lower and upper bands are -0.6 and 4.3 dBi, respectively. The antenna operating on the phantom has measured efficiencies of 46.3% at the lower band and 69.3% at the upper band. The issue of specific absorption rate (SAR) is studied. The maximum transmitted power under the SAR regulation of 1.6 W/kg is found to be 26.4 dB·m, which is high enough for body centric communications. In addition, the transmission performance between two proposed antennas mounted on the body is investigated by measuring the transmission loss. With an overall miniaturized size, the robust button antenna could be integrated in clothes and be a potential candidate for wireless body area network applications.

World Wide Web Metaphors for Search Mission Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Norris, Jeffrey S.; Wallick, Michael N.; Joswig, Joseph C.; Powell, Mark W.; Torres, Recaredo J.; Mittman, David S.; Abramyan, Lucy; Crockett, Thomas M.; Shams, Khawaja S.; Fox, Jason M.;

Haptic Stylus and Empirical Studies on Braille, Button, and Texture Display

PubMed Central

Kyung, Ki-Uk; Lee, Jun-Young; Park, Junseok

2008-01-01

This paper presents a haptic stylus interface with a built-in compact tactile display module and an impact module as well as empirical studies on Braille, button, and texture display. We describe preliminary evaluations verifying the tactile display's performance indicating that it can satisfactorily represent Braille numbers for both the normal and the blind. In order to prove haptic feedback capability of the stylus, an experiment providing impact feedback mimicking the click of a button has been conducted. Since the developed device is small enough to be attached to a force feedback device, its applicability to combined force and tactile feedback display in a pen-held haptic device is also investigated. The handle of pen-held haptic interface was replaced by the pen-like interface to add tactile feedback capability to the device. Since the system provides combination of force, tactile and impact feedback, three haptic representation methods for texture display have been compared on surface with 3 texture groups which differ in direction, groove width, and shape. In addition, we evaluate its capacity to support touch screen operations by providing tactile sensations when a user rubs against an image displayed on a monitor. PMID:18317520

Haptic stylus and empirical studies on braille, button, and texture display.

PubMed

Kyung, Ki-Uk; Lee, Jun-Young; Park, Junseok

2008-01-01

This paper presents a haptic stylus interface with a built-in compact tactile display module and an impact module as well as empirical studies on Braille, button, and texture display. We describe preliminary evaluations verifying the tactile display's performance indicating that it can satisfactorily represent Braille numbers for both the normal and the blind. In order to prove haptic feedback capability of the stylus, an experiment providing impact feedback mimicking the click of a button has been conducted. Since the developed device is small enough to be attached to a force feedback device, its applicability to combined force and tactile feedback display in a pen-held haptic device is also investigated. The handle of pen-held haptic interface was replaced by the pen-like interface to add tactile feedback capability to the device. Since the system provides combination of force, tactile and impact feedback, three haptic representation methods for texture display have been compared on surface with 3 texture groups which differ in direction, groove width, and shape. In addition, we evaluate its capacity to support touch screen operations by providing tactile sensations when a user rubs against an image displayed on a monitor.

Voluntary and Involuntary Movements Widen the Window of Subjective Simultaneity.

PubMed

Arikan, B Ezgi; van Kemenade, Bianca M; Straube, Benjamin; Harris, Laurence R; Kircher, Tilo

2017-01-01

Forming a coherent percept of an event requires different sensory inputs originating from the event to be bound. Perceiving synchrony aids in binding of these inputs. In two experiments, we investigated how voluntary movements influence the perception of simultaneity, by measuring simultaneity judgments (SJs) for an audiovisual (AV) stimulus pair triggered by a voluntary button press. In Experiment 1, we manipulated contiguity between the action and its consequences by introducing delays between the button press and the AV stimulus pair. We found a widened window of subjective simultaneity (WSS) when the action-feedback relationship was time contiguous. Introducing a delay narrowed the WSS, suggesting that the wider WSS around the time of an action might facilitate perception of simultaneity. In Experiment 2, we introduced an involuntary condition using an externally controlled button to assess the influence of action-related predictive processes on SJs. We found a widened WSS around the action time, regardless of movement type, supporting the influence of causal relations in the perception of synchrony. Interestingly, the slopes of the psychometric functions in the voluntary condition were significantly steeper than the slopes in the involuntary condition, suggesting a role of action-related predictive mechanisms in making SJs more precise.

Voluntary and Involuntary Movements Widen the Window of Subjective Simultaneity

PubMed Central

Arikan, B. Ezgi; van Kemenade, Bianca M.; Straube, Benjamin; Harris, Laurence R.; Kircher, Tilo

2017-01-01

Forming a coherent percept of an event requires different sensory inputs originating from the event to be bound. Perceiving synchrony aids in binding of these inputs. In two experiments, we investigated how voluntary movements influence the perception of simultaneity, by measuring simultaneity judgments (SJs) for an audiovisual (AV) stimulus pair triggered by a voluntary button press. In Experiment 1, we manipulated contiguity between the action and its consequences by introducing delays between the button press and the AV stimulus pair. We found a widened window of subjective simultaneity (WSS) when the action-feedback relationship was time contiguous. Introducing a delay narrowed the WSS, suggesting that the wider WSS around the time of an action might facilitate perception of simultaneity. In Experiment 2, we introduced an involuntary condition using an externally controlled button to assess the influence of action-related predictive processes on SJs. We found a widened WSS around the action time, regardless of movement type, supporting the influence of causal relations in the perception of synchrony. Interestingly, the slopes of the psychometric functions in the voluntary condition were significantly steeper than the slopes in the involuntary condition, suggesting a role of action-related predictive mechanisms in making SJs more precise. PMID:28835813

Accuracy assessment of land surface temperature retrievals from Landsat 7 ETM + in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica using iButton temperature loggers and weather station data.

PubMed

Brabyn, Lars; Zawar-Reza, Peyman; Stichbury, Glen; Cary, Craig; Storey, Bryan; Laughlin, Daniel C; Katurji, Marwan

2014-04-01

The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are the largest snow/ice-free regions on this vast continent, comprising 1% of the land mass. Due to harsh environmental conditions, the valleys are bereft of any vegetation. Land surface temperature is a key determinate of microclimate and a driver for sensible and latent heat fluxes of the surface. The Dry Valleys have been the focus of ecological studies as they arguably provide the simplest trophic structure suitable for modelling. In this paper, we employ a validation method for land surface temperatures obtained from Landsat 7 ETM + imagery and compared with in situ land surface temperature data collected from four transects totalling 45 iButtons. A single meteorological station was used to obtain a better understanding of daily and seasonal cycles in land surface temperatures. Results show a good agreement between the iButton and the Landsat 7 ETM + product for clear sky cases. We conclude that Landsat 7 ETM + derived land surface temperatures can be used at broad spatial scales for ecological and meteorological research.

Algorithm for Automatic Behavior Quantification of Laboratory Mice Using High-Frame-Rate Videos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nie, Yuman; Takaki, Takeshi; Ishii, Idaku; Matsuda, Hiroshi

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for automatic behavior quantification in laboratory mice to quantify several model behaviors. The algorithm can detect repetitive motions of the fore- or hind-limbs at several or dozens of hertz, which are too rapid for the naked eye, from high-frame-rate video images. Multiple repetitive motions can always be identified from periodic frame-differential image features in four segmented regions — the head, left side, right side, and tail. Even when a mouse changes its posture and orientation relative to the camera, these features can still be extracted from the shift- and orientation-invariant shape of the mouse silhouette by using the polar coordinate system and adjusting the angle coordinate according to the head and tail positions. The effectiveness of the algorithm is evaluated by analyzing long-term 240-fps videos of four laboratory mice for six typical model behaviors: moving, rearing, immobility, head grooming, left-side scratching, and right-side scratching. The time durations for the model behaviors determined by the algorithm have detection/correction ratios greater than 80% for all the model behaviors. This shows good quantification results for actual animal testing.

Mechanisms of left-right asymmetry and patterning: driver, mediator and responder.

PubMed

Hamada, Hiroshi; Tam, Patrick P L

2014-01-01

The establishment of a left-right (LR) organizer in the form of the ventral node is an absolute prerequisite for patterning the tissues on contralateral sides of the body of the mouse embryo. The experimental findings to date are consistent with a mechanistic paradigm that the laterality information, which is generated in the ventral node, elicits asymmetric molecular activity and cellular behaviour in the perinodal tissues. This information is then relayed to the cells in the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) when the left-specific signal is processed and translated into LR body asymmetry. Here, we reflect on our current knowledge and speculate on the following: (a) what are the requisite anatomical and functional attributes of an LR organizer, (b) what asymmetric information is emanated from this organizer, and (c) how this information is transferred across the paraxial tissue compartment and elicits a molecular response specifically in the LPM.

Time left in the mouse.

PubMed

Cordes, Sara; King, Adam Philip; Gallistel, C R

2007-02-22

Evidence suggests that the online combination of non-verbal magnitudes (durations, numerosities) is central to learning in both human and non-human animals [Gallistel, C.R., 1990. The Organization of Learning. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA]. The molecular basis of these computations, however, is an open question at this point. The current study provides the first direct test of temporal subtraction in a species in which the genetic code is available. In two experiments, mice were run in an adaptation of Gibbon and Church's [Gibbon, J., Church, R.M., 1981. Time left: linear versus logarithmic subjective time. J. Exp. Anal. Behav. 7, 87-107] time left paradigm in order to characterize typical responding in this task. Both experiments suggest that mice engaged in online subtraction of temporal values, although the generalization of a learned response rule to novel stimulus values resulted in slightly less systematic responding. Potential explanations for this pattern of results are discussed.

Simultaneous bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures repaired using an endobutton technique: a case report.

PubMed

Dacambra, Mark P; Walker, Richard Ea; Hildebrand, Kevin A

2013-08-23

The simultaneous rupture of both distal biceps tendons is a rare clinical entity that is difficult to treat and can have poor outcomes. A variety of treatment and rehabilitation options exist and have been reported for single sided and staged bilateral repairs, but none have described an approach for acute bilateral ruptures. Repairing distal biceps tendon ruptures using a single anterior incision and a cortical suspensory button technique has become increasingly popular in recent years. We present a report of our surgical approach using an endobutton technique and rehabilitation algorithm for this unusual injury pattern. A 43-year-old Caucasian man presented with acute onset bilateral elbow pain while lifting a large sheet of drywall off the ground. He initially felt a 'pop' on the right and almost immediately felt another on the left after having to quickly shift the weight. He was unable to continue working and sought medical attention. His pain was predominantly in his bilateral antecubital fossae and he had significant swelling and ecchymoses. His clinical examination demonstrated no palpable tendon, a retracted biceps muscle belly, and clear supination weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed and showed bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures with retraction on both sides. After discussion with our patient, we decided that both sides would be repaired using a single anterior incision with endobutton fixation, first his right followed by his left six weeks later. Overall, our patient did very well and had returned to full manual work by our last follow-up at 30 months. Although he was never able to return to competitive recreational hockey and was left with mild lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve dysesthesias on his right, he felt he was at 85% of his premorbid level of function. We describe what we believe to be, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of simultaneous bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures successfully treated with a single-incision endobutton technique, which represents a valid option in managing this difficult problem.

Involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 in carbachol-induced positive inotropic response in mouse isolated left atrium.

PubMed

Hara, Yukio; Ike, Asako; Tanida, Riyo; Okada, Muneyoshi; Yamawaki, Hideyuki

2009-12-01

The mouse heart is expected to have characteristic contractile properties. However, basic information on the function of the mouse heart has not been accumulated sufficiently. In this study, the involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in carbachol (CCh)-induced inotropic response was investigated in mouse isolated left atrium. Influences of CCh and their mechanisms of action on developed tension elicited by electrical stimulation were examined pharmacologically. The presence of COX-2 in atrium was examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. CCh (3 microM for 15 min) produced a biphasic inotropic response: a transient decrease in contractile force followed by a late increase. Atropine suppressed the biphasic inotropic response to CCh. A muscarinic M(3) receptor antagonist, 4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methlpiperidine, inhibited the late positive inotropic action. Blockade of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) or F(2alpha) receptor by 6-isopropoxy-9-oxoxanthene-2-carboxylic acid (AH6809) or 9alpha, 15R-dihydroxy-11beta-fluoro-15-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-16,17,18,19,20-pentanor-prosta 5Z, 13E-dien-1-oic acid (AL8810), respectively, significantly suppressed the positive inotropic response to CCh. A nonselective COX inhibitor, indomethacin, and a selective COX-2 inhibitor, N-[2-(cyclohexyloxy)-4-nitrophenyl]-methanesulfonamide (NS-398) inhibited the positive response. A COX-1 inhibitor, valeroyl salicylate, did not affect the positive response. The positive response was almost completely abolished in the endocardial endothelium-deprived atria. Existence of COX-2 in endocardial endothelium was confirmed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. The present study indicated that the CCh-induced positive inotropic response was mediated by PGs, possibly PGE(2) and PGF(2alpha), released in part from endocardial endothelium. Furthermore, for the first time, we demonstrated that the production of PGs depended in part on COX-2 in endocardial endothelium through the muscarinic M(3) receptor stimulation.

Multi-step EMG Classification Algorithm for Human-Computer Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Peng; Barreto, Armando; Adjouadi, Malek

A three-electrode human-computer interaction system, based on digital processing of the Electromyogram (EMG) signal, is presented. This system can effectively help disabled individuals paralyzed from the neck down to interact with computers or communicate with people through computers using point-and-click graphic interfaces. The three electrodes are placed on the right frontalis, the left temporalis and the right temporalis muscles in the head, respectively. The signal processing algorithm used translates the EMG signals during five kinds of facial movements (left jaw clenching, right jaw clenching, eyebrows up, eyebrows down, simultaneous left & right jaw clenching) into five corresponding types of cursor movements (left, right, up, down and left-click), to provide basic mouse control. The classification strategy is based on three principles: the EMG energy of one channel is typically larger than the others during one specific muscle contraction; the spectral characteristics of the EMG signals produced by the frontalis and temporalis muscles during different movements are different; the EMG signals from adjacent channels typically have correlated energy profiles. The algorithm is evaluated on 20 pre-recorded EMG signal sets, using Matlab simulations. The results show that this method provides improvements and is more robust than other previous approaches.

Real time simulation application to monitor the stability limit of power system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartono, Kuo, Ming-Tse

2017-06-01

If the power system falls into an unsteady state, there will be voltage collapse in which the power system will be separated into small systems. Identifying the stability reserve in conformity with a certain practical operation condition is very important for the system management and operation. In fact, the global power system issue has caused serious outages due to voltage collapse such as in the United States-Canada in August 14, 2003; South London in August 28, 2003; southern Sweden and eastern Denmark in September 23, 2003; and Italy on September 28, 2003, and in Vietnam where power system problem led to power loss on 17 May 2005, 27 December 2006, 20 July 2007, and 10 September 2007. The analysis shows that the phenomenon is related to the loss of system stability. Thus, the operational system as well as the power system designs should be studied related to the issue of the system stability. To study the static stability of the power system, different approximate standards, called pragmatic criteria, were examined. Markovits has investigated the application of the standard of dP/dd to test the stability of the power button and dq/dU to check the voltage stability of the load button [1]. However, the storage stability when calculating standard dP/d d is usually much larger than the reserves when calculating standard dq/dU [1]. This paper presents a method to build a possible operation region in the power plane of load bus which works in comply with the stability limit to evaluate the stability reserve of the power system. This method is used to build a program to monitor the stability reserve of IEEE 39 Bus Power System in real time. To monitor the stability reserve of IEEE 39 nodes power system, articles based on the standard dq/dU was used to calculate the assessment. When using standard dq/dU to check for voltage stability load button, the amount of storage stability can be calculated by the following steps: first, transformed replacement scheme Masonry on the schematic rays of the source and node load stability was examined by using Gaussian elimination algorithm [1, 2, 3], then on the basis of ray diagrams the construction work, allowed domain of spare capacity load capacity in space and storage stability for the load button were determined. The GS-ODT program was built on the basis of Gaussian elimination algorithm and stable domain construction work algorithm for Masonic load button by dQ/dU pragmatic criteria. The GS-ODT program has a simple interface and easy to use with the main function is to identify the allowed domain for the load button and thus can assess visually stable reserve still according to the load capacity of the nodes of the IEEE 39 nodes power system in real-time.

Remembering the past and imagining the future: common and distinct neural substrates during event construction and elaboration

PubMed Central

Addis, Donna Rose; Wong, Alana T.; Schacter, Daniel L.

2007-01-01

People can consciously re-experience past events and pre-experience possible future events. This fMRI study examined the neural regions mediating the construction and elaboration of past and future events. Participants were cued with a noun for 20 seconds and instructed to construct a past or future event within a specified time period (week, year, 5–20 years). Once participants had the event in mind, they made a button press and for the remainder of the 20 seconds elaborated on the event. Importantly, all events generated were episodic and did not differ on a number of phenomenological qualities (detail, emotionality, personal significance, field/observer perspective). Conjunction analyses indicated the left hippocampus was commonly engaged by past and future event construction, along with posterior visuospatial regions, but considerable neural differentiation was also observed during the construction phase. Future events recruited regions involved in prospective thinking and generation processes, specifically right frontopolar cortex and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, respectively. Furthermore, future event construction uniquely engaged the right hippocampus, possibly as a response to the novelty of these events. In contrast to the construction phase, elaboration was characterized by remarkable overlap in regions comprising the autobiographical memory retrieval network, attributable to the common processes engaged during elaboration, including self-referential processing, contextual and episodic imagery. This striking neural overlap is consistent with findings that amnesic patients exhibit deficits in both past and future thinking, and confirms that the episodic system contributes importantly to imagining the future. PMID:17126370

From storage to manipulation: How the neural correlates of verbal working memory reflect varying demands on inner speech.

PubMed

Marvel, Cherie L; Desmond, John E

2012-01-01

The ability to store and manipulate online information may be enhanced by an inner speech mechanism that draws upon motor brain regions. Neural correlates of this mechanism were examined using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Sixteen participants completed two conditions of a verbal working memory task. In both conditions, participants viewed one or two target letters. In the "storage" condition, these targets were held in mind across a delay. Then a probe letter was presented, and participants indicated by button press whether the probe matched the targets. In the "manipulation" condition, participants identified new targets by thinking two alphabetical letters forward of each original target (e.g., f→h). Participants subsequently indicated whether the probe matched the newly derived targets. Brain activity during the storage and manipulation conditions was examined specifically during the delay phase in order to directly compare manipulation versus storage processes. Activations that were common to both conditions, yet disproportionately greater with manipulation, were observed in the left inferior frontal cortex, premotor cortex, and anterior insula, bilaterally in the parietal lobes and superior cerebellum, and in the right inferior cerebellum. This network shares substrates with overt speech and may represent an inner speech pathway that increases activity with greater working memory demands. Additionally, an inverse correlation was observed between manipulation-related brain activity (on correct trials) and test accuracy in the left premotor cortex, anterior insula, and bilateral superior cerebellum. This inverse relationship may represent intensification of inner speech as one struggles to maintain performance levels. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Neural correlates of text-based emoticons: a preliminary fMRI study.

PubMed

Kim, Ko Woon; Lee, Sang Won; Choi, Jeewook; Kim, Tae Min; Jeong, Bumseok

2016-08-01

Like nonverbal cues in oral interactions, text-based emoticons, which are textual portrayals of a writer's facial expressions, are commonly used in electronic device-mediated communication. Little is known, however, about how text-based emoticons are processed in the human brain. With this study, we investigated whether the text-based emoticons are processed as face expressions using fMRI. During fMRI scan, subjects were asked to respond by pressing a button, indicating whether text-based emoticons represented positive or negative emotions. Voxel-wise analyses were performed to compare the responses and contrasted with emotional versus scrambled emoticons and among emoticons with different emotions. To explore processing strategies for text-based emoticons, brain activity in the bilateral occipital and fusiform face areas were compared. In the voxel-wise analysis, both emotional and scrambled emoticons were processed mainly in the bilateral fusiform gyri, inferior division of lateral occipital cortex, inferior frontal gyri, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and parietal cortex. In a percent signal change analysis, the right occipital and fusiform face areas showed significantly higher activation than left ones. In comparisons among emoticons, sad one showed significant BOLD signal decrease in the dACC, the left AIC, the bilateral thalamus, and the precuneus as compared with other conditions. The results of this study imply that people recognize text-based emoticons as pictures representing face expressions. Even though text-based emoticons contain emotional meaning, they are not associated with the amygdala while previous studies using emotional stimuli documented amygdala activation.

Expression profile and distribution of Efhc1 gene transcript during rodent brain development.

PubMed

Conte, Fábio F; Ribeiro, Patrícia A O; Marchesini, Rafael B; Pascoal, Vinícius D B; Silva, Joelcimar M; Oliveira, Amanda R; Gilioli, Rovílson; Sbragia, Lourenço; Bittencourt, Jackson C; Lopes-Cendes, Iscia

2009-09-01

One of the putative causative genes for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is EFHC1. We report here the expression profile and distribution of Efhc1 messenger RNA (mRNA) during mouse and rat brain development. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that there is no difference in the expression of Efhc1 mRNA between right and left hemispheres in both species. In addition, the highest levels of Efhc1 mRNA were found at intra-uterine stages in mouse and in adulthood in rat. In common, there was a progressive decrease in Efhc1 expression from 1-day-old neonates to 14-day-old animals in both species. In situ hybridization studies showed that rat and mouse Efhc1 mRNAs are expressed in ependymal cells of ventricle walls. Our findings suggest that Efhc1 expression is more important during initial phases of brain development and that at this stage it could be involved in key developmental mechanisms underlying JME.

Effect and mechanism of Qishen Yiqi Pills on adriamycin- induced cardiomyopathy in mice.

PubMed

Tong, Jia-Yi; Xu, Yan-Juan; Bian, Ye-Ping; Shen, Xiang-Bo; Yan, Lei; Zhu, Xin-Yi

2013-09-01

To study the effect and probable mechanism of Qishen Yiqi Pills on adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiomyopathy in mice. Sixty-four mice were randomly divided into (1) the ADR group: saline (1 mL/100 g) administered every day by intragavage, ADR (4 mg·kg(-1)) administered to each mouse by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for four weeks; (2) the ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills I group: ADR (4 mg·kg(-1)) administered to each mouse by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for four weeks, and at the beginning of the third week Qishen Yiqi Pills (3.5 mg/100 g) administered by intragavage every day for four weeks; (3) the ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills II group: ADR (4 mg·kg(-1)) administered to each mouse by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for four weeks, and at the same time Qishen Yiqi Pills (3.5 mg/100 g) administered by intragavage every day for four weeks; (4) the control group: saline (1 mL/100 g) administered every day by intragavage, saline (1 mL·kg(-1)) administered to each mouse by intraperitoneal injection twice a week for four weeks. Six weeks later, cardiac function, myocardial pathology, and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were evaluated. 1. The left ventricular diastolic diameter and the left ventricular systolic diameter were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the ADR group, and the cardiac function of both the ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills I group and the ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills II group improved. 2. Myocardial morphologic observation showed that the myocardial fibers were disordered, there was cell edema, and gap widening in the ADR group. The degree of myocardial cell injury was reduced in the ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills I group and ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills II group compared with the ADR group. 3. The expression of Bax in the ADR group was significantly up-regulated, and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated in the ADR group compared with the ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills I group, the ADR + Qishen Yiqi Pills II group, and the control group (P < 0.05). Qishen Yiqi Pills can effectively improve the cardiac function of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy, and the earlier it is used is better. The probable mechanism of action may be the inhibition of the apoptosis of myocardial cells. Copyright © 2013 China Pharmaceutical University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

H+/K+-ATPase-Inhibition Causes Left-Right Aortic Arch Inversion in Mouse Development.

PubMed

Miyachi, Yukihisa

2017-09-01

An organ known as a "node" forms during embryogenesis and plays a vital role in determining laterality in vertebrates. However, according to some reports in vertebrates, left-right patterning may be determined long before the node has developed. In this study, we analyzed left-right asymmetry formation in mammals based on ion-signaling factors, which has never been attempted before. First, a proton pump inhibitor was injected into pregnant mice to investigate whether H + /K + -ATPase is involved in the differentiation of pharyngeal arch arteries during embryonic development. Injection of 30 mg/kg of lansoprazole early in the organogenesis period increased the penetrance of right aortic arch formation by 34% compared to a saline injection. Furthermore, administration of a proton pump inhibitor resulted in strong expression of PI3K/phosphor-AKT, which led to potent inhibition of apoptosis induction factors such as BAD. This could relate to why the right pharyngeal arch arteries, which should have disappeared during differentiation, remained intact. The other important point is that proton pump inhibitors suppressed calcineurin signaling, and Wnt5a expression was significantly higher than in the controls. This research is particularly notable for demonstrating that administration of an H + /K + -ATPase inhibitor could cause dextroposition of the fetal vasculature. Moreover, since previous publications have reported that H + /K + -ATPase plays a role in asymmetry in other species, this article adds important information for developmental biology in that the role of H + /K + -ATPase in asymmetry is conserved in the mouse model, suggesting that rodents are not unique and that a common mechanism may function across vertebrates.

Ivabradine improved left ventricular function and pressure overload-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a transverse aortic constriction mouse model.

PubMed

Yu, Yihui; Hu, Zuoying; Li, Bing; Wang, Zhimei; Chen, Shaoliang

2018-05-22

This study aimed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of ivabradine in preventing cardiac hypertrophy in an established transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model. A total of 56 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into the following seven groups (8 mice per group): sham, TAC model, Iva-10 (10 mg/kg/day ivabradine), Iva-20 (20 mg/kg/day ivabradine), Iva-40 (40 mg/kg/day ivabradine), Iva-80 (80 mg/kg/day ivabradine), and Rap (rapamycin, a positive control). Echocardiography and left ventricular hemodynamics were performed. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Masson's trichome staining, and TUNEL assays were conducted to evaluate cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and apoptosis, respectively. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of proteins related to the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Ivabradine could effectively improve left ventricular dysfunction and hypertrophy induced by TAC in a dose-independent manner. Moreover, no obvious change in heart rate (HR) was observed in the TAC and Rap groups, whereas a significant decrease in HR was found after ivabradine treatment (P < 0.05). Cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and apoptosis induced by TAC were notably suppressed after either rapamycin or ivabradine treatment (P < 0.05). Ivabradine and rapamycin also decreased the expression of PI3K/Akt and mTOR induced by TAC. Ivabradine improved cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis as well as reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway in TAC model mice.

Problems of internalization: a button is a button is-not.

PubMed

Rockwell, Shelley

2014-01-01

Analysts hope to help the patient internalize a relationship with the analyst that contrasts with the original archaic object relation. In this paper, the author describes particular difficulties in working with a patient whose defenses and anxieties were bulimic, her movement toward internalization inevitably undone. Several issues are considered: how does the nonsymbolizing patient come to internalize the analyst's understanding, and when this does not hold, what is the nature of the patient's subsequent methods of dispersal? When the patient can maintain connection to the analyst as a good object, even fleetingly, in the depressive position, the possibility of internalization and symbolic communication is increased. © 2014 The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, Inc.

Pectoralis Major Repair With Unicortical Button Fixation And Suture Tape.

PubMed

Sanchez, Anthony; Ferrari, Marcio B; Frangiamore, Salvatore J; Sanchez, George; Kruckeberg, Bradley M; Provencher, Matthew T

2017-06-01

Although injuries of the pectoralis major muscle are generally uncommon, ruptures of the pectoralis major are occasionally seen in younger, more active patients who participate in weightlifting activities. These injuries usually occur during maximal contraction of the muscle, while in extension and external rotation. In the case of a rupture, operative treatment is advocated especially in young, active patients regardless of the chronicity of the injury. Various surgical techniques for reattachment of the avulsed tendon have been described, but bone tunnel and suture anchor repair techniques are most widely used. In this Technical Note, we present our preferred technique for acute pectoralis major rupture repair involving use of cortical buttons for tendon stump-to-bone fixation.

Free Bone Plug Quadriceps Tendon Harvest and Suspensory Button Attachment for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

PubMed

Todor, Adrian; Caterev, Sergiu; Nistor, Dan Viorel; Khallouki, Youssef

2016-06-01

The most commonly used autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are the bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring tendons. Each has its advantages and limitations. The bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft can lead to more donor-site morbidity, and the hamstring autograft can be unpredictable in size. The quadriceps tendon, with or without a bone block, has been described as an alternative graft source and has been used especially in revision cases, but in recent years, it has attracted attention even for primary cases. We report a technique for harvesting a free bone quadriceps tendon graft and attaching an extracortical button for femoral fixation for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Optics survivability support, volume 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wild, N.; Simpson, T.; Busdeker, A.; Doft, F.

1993-01-01

This volume of the Optics Survivability Support Final Report contains plots of all the data contained in the computerized Optical Glasses Database. All of these plots are accessible through the Database, but are included here as a convenient reference. The first three pages summarize the types of glass included with a description of the radiation source, test date, and the original data reference. This information is included in the database as a macro button labeled 'LLNL DATABASE'. Following this summary is an Abbe chart showing which glasses are included and where they lie as a function of nu(sub d) and n(sub d). This chart is also callable through the database as a macro button labeled 'ABBEC'.

AUTOMATIC HAND COUNTER

DOEpatents

Mann J.R.; Wainwright, A.E.

1963-06-11

An automatic, personnel-operated, alpha-particle hand monitor is described which functions as a qualitative instrument to indicate to the person using it whether his hands are cold'' or hot.'' The monitor is activated by a push button and includes several capacitor-triggered thyratron tubes. Upon release of the push button, the monitor starts the counting of the radiation present on the hands of the person. If the count of the radiation exceeds a predetermined level within a predetermined time, then a capacitor will trigger a first thyratron tube to light a hot'' lamp. If, however, the count is below such level during this time period, another capacitor will fire a second thyratron to light a safe'' lamp. (AEC)

Manifold seal structure for fuel cell stack

DOEpatents

Collins, William P.

1988-01-01

The seal between the sides of a fuel cell stack and the gas manifolds is improved by adding a mechanical interlock between the adhesive sealing strip and the abutting surface of the manifolds. The adhesive is a material which can flow to some extent when under compression, and the mechanical interlock is formed providing small openings in the portion of the manifold which abuts the adhesive strip. When the manifolds are pressed against the adhesive strips, the latter will flow into and through the manifold openings to form buttons or ribs which mechanically interlock with the manifolds. These buttons or ribs increase the bond between the manifolds and adhesive, which previously relied solely on the adhesive nature of the adhesive.

A protocol to study ex vivo mouse working heart at human-like heart rate.

PubMed

Feng, Han-Zhong; Jin, Jian-Ping

2018-01-01

Genetically modified mice are widely used as experimental models to study human heart function and diseases. However, the fast rate of normal mouse heart at 400-600bpm limits its capacity of assessing kinetic parameters that are important for the physiology and pathophysiology of human heart that beats at a much slower rate (75-180bpm). To extend the value of mouse models, we established a protocol to study ex vivo mouse working hearts at a human-like heart rate. In the presence of 300μM lidocaine to lower pacemaker and conductive activities and prevent arrhythmia, a stable rate of 120-130bpm at 37°C is achieved for ex vivo mouse working hearts. The negative effects of decreased heart rate on force-frequency dependence and lidocaine as a myocardial depressant on intracellular calcium can be compensated by using a higher but still physiological level of calcium (2.75mM) in the perfusion media. Multiple parameters were studied to compare the function at the human-like heart rate with that of ex vivo mouse working hearts at the standard rate of 480bpm. The results showed that the conditions for slower heart rate in the presence of 300μM lidocaine did not have depressing effect on left ventricular pressure development, systolic and diastolic velocities and stroke volume with maintained positive inotropic and lusitropic responses to β-adrenergic stimulation. Compared with that at 480bpm, the human-like heart rate increased ventricular filling and end diastolic volume with enhanced Frank-Starling responses. Coronary perfusion was increased from longer relaxation time and interval between beats whereas cardiac efficiency was significantly improved. Although the intrinsic differences between mouse and human heart remain, this methodology for ex vivo mouse hearts to work at human-like heart rate extends the value of using genetically modified mouse models to study cardiac function and human heart diseases. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Refractive index measurement of the mouse crystalline lens using optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Chakraborty, Ranjay; Lacy, Kip D.; Tan, Christopher C.; Park, Han na; Pardue, Machelle T.

2014-01-01

In recent years, there has been a growing interest for using mouse models in refractive development and myopia research. The crystalline lens is a critical optical component of the mouse eye that occupies greater than 50% of the ocular space, and significant increases in thickness with age. However, changes in refractive index of the mouse crystalline lens are less known. In this study, we examined the changes in thickness and refractive index of the mouse crystalline lens for two different strains, wild-type (WT) and a nyx mutant (nob) over the course of normal visual development or after form deprivation. Refractive index and lens thickness measurements were made on ex vivo lens using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Comparison of refractive index measurements on 5 standard ball lenses using the SD-OCT and their known refractive indices (manufacturer provided) indicated good precision (intra-class correlation coefficient, 0.998 and Bland-Altman coefficient of repeatability, 0.116) of the SD-OCT to calculate mouse lens refractive index ex vivo. During normal visual development, lens thickness increased significantly with age for three different cohorts of mice, aged 4 (average thickness from both eyes; WT: 1.78 ± 0.03, nob: 1.79 ± 0.08 mm), 10 (WT: 2.02 ± 0.05, nob: 2.01 ± 0.04 mm) and 16 weeks (WT: 2.12 ± 0.06, nob: 2.09 ± 0.06 mm, p<0.001). Lens thickness was not significantly different between the two strains at any age (p=0.557). For mice with normal vision, refractive index for isolated crystalline lenses in nob mice was significantly greater than WT mice (mean for all ages; WT: 1.42 ± 0.01, nob: 1.44 ± 0.001, p<0.001). After 4 weeks of form deprivation to the right eye using a skull-mounted goggling apparatus, a thinning of the crystalline lens was observed in both right and left eyes of goggled animals compared to their naïve controls (average from both the right and the left eye) for both strains (p=0.052). In form deprived mice, lens refractive index was significantly different between the goggled animals and non-goggled naïve controls in nob mice, but not in WT mice (p=0.009). Both eyes of goggled nob mice had significantly greater lens refractive index (goggled, 1.49 ± 0.01; opposite, 1.47 ± 0.03) compared to their naïve controls (1.45 ± 0.02, p<0.05). The results presented here suggest that there are genetic differences in the crystalline lens refractive index of the mouse eye, and that the lens refractive index in mice significantly increase with form deprivation. Research applications requiring precise optical measurements of the mouse eye should take these lens refractive indices into account when interpreting SD-OCT data. PMID:24939747

Organ dose conversion coefficients based on a voxel mouse model and MCNP code for external photon irradiation.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaomin; Xie, Xiangdong; Cheng, Jie; Ning, Jing; Yuan, Yong; Pan, Jie; Yang, Guoshan

2012-01-01

A set of conversion coefficients from kerma free-in-air to the organ absorbed dose for external photon beams from 10 keV to 10 MeV are presented based on a newly developed voxel mouse model, for the purpose of radiation effect evaluation. The voxel mouse model was developed from colour images of successive cryosections of a normal nude male mouse, in which 14 organs or tissues were segmented manually and filled with different colours, while each colour was tagged by a specific ID number for implementation of mouse model in Monte Carlo N-particle code (MCNP). Monte Carlo simulation with MCNP was carried out to obtain organ dose conversion coefficients for 22 external monoenergetic photon beams between 10 keV and 10 MeV under five different irradiation geometries conditions (left lateral, right lateral, dorsal-ventral, ventral-dorsal, and isotropic). Organ dose conversion coefficients were presented in tables and compared with the published data based on a rat model to investigate the effect of body size and weight on the organ dose. The calculated and comparison results show that the organ dose conversion coefficients varying the photon energy exhibits similar trend for most organs except for the bone and skin, and the organ dose is sensitive to body size and weight at a photon energy approximately <0.1 MeV.

Repeatable noninvasive measurement of mouse myocardial glucose uptake with 18F-FDG: evaluation of tracer kinetics in a type 1 diabetes model.

PubMed

Thorn, Stephanie L; deKemp, Robert A; Dumouchel, Tyler; Klein, Ran; Renaud, Jennifer M; Wells, R Glenn; Gollob, Michael H; Beanlands, Rob S; DaSilva, Jean N

2013-09-01

A noninvasive and repeatable method for assessing mouse myocardial glucose uptake with (18)F-FDG PET and Patlak kinetic analysis was systematically assessed using the vena cava image-derived blood input function (IDIF). Contrast CT and computer modeling was used to determine the vena cava recovery coefficient. Vena cava IDIF (n = 7) was compared with the left ventricular cavity IDIF, with blood and liver activity measured ex vivo at 60 min. The test-retest repeatability (n = 9) of Patlak influx constant K(i) at 10-40 min was assessed quantitatively using Bland-Altman analysis. Myocardial glucose uptake rates (rMGU) using the vena cava IDIF were calculated at baseline (n = 8), after induction of type 1 diabetes (streptozotocin [50 mg/kg] intraperitoneally, 5 d), and after acute insulin stimulation (0.08 mU/kg of body weight intraperitoneally). These changes were analyzed with a standardized uptake value calculation at 20 and 40 min after injection to correlate to the Patlak time interval. The proximal mouse vena cava diameter was 2.54 ± 0.30 mm. The estimated recovery coefficient, calculated using nonlinear image reconstruction, decreased from 0.76 initially (time 0 to peak activity) to 0.61 for the duration of the scan. There was a 17% difference in the image-derived vena cava blood activity at 60 min, compared with the ex vivo blood activity measured in the γ-counter. The coefficient of variability for Patlak K(i) values between mice was found to be 23% with the proposed method, compared with 51% when using the left ventricular cavity IDIF (P < 0.05). No significant bias in K(i) was found between repeated scans with a coefficient of repeatability of 0.16 mL/min/g. Calculated rMGU values were reduced by 60% in type 1 diabetic mice from baseline scans (P < 0.03, ANOVA), with a subsequent increase of 40% to a level not significantly different from baseline after acute insulin treatment. These results were confirmed with a standardized uptake value measured at 20 and 40 min. The mouse vena cava IDIF provides repeatable assessment of the blood time-activity curve for Patlak kinetic modeling of rMGU. An expected significant reduction in myocardial glucose uptake was demonstrated in a type 1 diabetic mouse model, with significant recovery after acute insulin treatment, using a mouse vena cava IDIF approach.

During computing tasks symptomatic female office workers demonstrate a trend towards higher cervical postural muscle load than asymptomatic office workers: an experimental study.

PubMed

Szeto, Grace P Y; Straker, Leon M; O'Sullivan, Peter B

2009-01-01

Do symptomatic female office workers perform computing tasks with higher cervical postural muscle loads (in terms of higher amplitudes and less muscular rest) and more discomfort compared with asymptomatic individuals? Are these differences in postural muscle loads consistent across bilateral (typing) and unilateral (mousing) conditions? an experimental case-control study. 18 symptomatic female office workers and 21 asymptomatic female office workers. Three conditions (typing, mousing, and type-and-mouse) were performed in random order. Muscle load was measured as median amplitude and gap frequency using surface EMG of bilateral cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius. Discomfort was measured using a numerical rating scale. The case group demonstrated 4.3% (95% CI 0.1 to 8.4) higher amplitude during typing and 3.5% (95% CI 0.1 to 6.9) higher amplitude during type-and-mouse in the right cervical erector spinae compared with the control group. There was a similar difference between groups in the left cervical erector spinae which also demonstrated a 1.2 gaps/min (95% CI -2.3 to 0.0) lower frequency during typing. The case group had significantly higher discomfort during all conditions compared with the control group. The case group demonstrated higher median amplitudes and lower gap frequencies than the control group during bilateral conditions (typing and type-and-mouse) compared with unilateral conditions (mousing) for both muscle groups. There was increased amplitude and decreased muscular rest in the cervical erector spinae of office workers performing typing and mousing tasks. These findings may represent a mechanism underlying computer-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Grasp specific and user friendly interface design for myoelectric hand prostheses.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Alireza; Lavranos, Jim; Howe, Rob; Choong, Peter; Oetomo, Denny

2017-07-01

This paper presents the design and characterisation of a hand prosthesis and its user interface, focusing on performing the most commonly used grasps in activities of daily living (ADLs). Since the operation of a multi-articulated powered hand prosthesis is difficult to learn and master, there is a significant rate of abandonment by amputees in preference for simpler devices. In choosing so, amputees chose to live with fewer features in their prosthesis that would more reliably perform the basic operations. In this paper, we look simultaneously at a hand prosthesis design method that aims for a small number of grasps, a low complexity user interface and an alternative method to the current use of EMG as a preshape selection method through the use of a simple button; to enable amputees to get to and execute the intended hand movements intuitively, quickly and reliably. An experiment is reported at the end of the paper comparing the speed and accuracy with which able-bodied naive subjects are able to select the intended preshapes through the use of a simplified EMG method and a simple button. It is shown that the button was significantly superior in the speed of successful task completion and marginally superior in accuracy (success of first attempt).

Mechanism for generation of left isomerism in Ccdc40 mutant embryos

PubMed Central

Sugrue, Kelsey F.

2017-01-01

Leftward fluid flow in the mouse node is generated by cilia and is critical for initiating asymmetry of the left-right axis. Coiled-coil domain containing-40 (Ccdc40) plays an evolutionarily conserved role in the assembly of motile cilia and establishment of the left-right axis. Approximately one-third of Ccdc40lnks mutant embryos display situs defects and here we investigate the underlying mechanism. Ccdc40lnks mutants show delayed induction of markers of the left-lateral plate mesoderm (L-LPM) including Lefty1, Lefty2 and Nodal. Consistent with defective cilia motility compromising fluid flow across the node, initiation of asymmetric perinodal Cerberus like-2 (Cerl2) expression is delayed and then randomized. This is followed by delayed and then randomized asymmetric Nodal expression around the node. We propose a model to explain how left isomerism arises in a proportion of Ccdc40lnks mutants. We postulate that with defective motile cilia, Cerl2 expression remains symmetric and Nodal is antagonized equally on both sides of the node. This effectively reduces Nodal activation bilaterally, leading to reduced and delayed activation of Nodal and its antagonists in the LPM. This model is further supported by the failure to establish Nodal expression in the left-LPM with reduced Nodal gene dosage in Ccdc40lnks/lnks;NodalLacZ/+ mutants causing a predominance of right not left isomerism. Together these results suggest a model where cilia generated fluid flow in the node functions to ensure robust Nodal activation and a timely left-sided developmental program in the LPM. PMID:28182636

Pandemic Flu

MedlinePlus

... Address What's this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Influenza Types Seasonal Avian Swine Variant Pandemic Other Pandemic Influenza Language: English (US) Español Recommend on Facebook Tweet ...

Diarrhea and Swimming

MedlinePlus

... Health International Recreational Water RWIs, Swimmer Hygiene, & Behavioral Science Historical CDC Manuals Health Promotion Materials Brochures Buttons & Banners Fact Sheets Infographics Clean It Up, Swimmers Make a ...

Evaluation of the potential use of probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum 299v in lactic fermentation of button mushroom fruiting bodies.

PubMed

Jabłońska-Ryś, Ewa; Sławińska, Aneta; Radzki, Wojciech; Gustaw, Waldemar

2016-01-01

The available literature does not provide data on the application of probiotic strains in mushroom processing. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential to use the L. plantarum 299v strain with documented probiotic properties in the process of lactic fermentation of button mushroom fruiting bodies (Agaricus bisporus). Fresh button mushroom fruiting bodies and cultures of lactic acid bacteria L. plantarum Ib and a probiotic strain L. plantarum 299v were the material analysed. Sensory evaluation was performed with a 5-point scale, an instrumental method of colour measurement based on the CIA L*a*b* scale, total phenolic compounds were determined with the Folin method, antioxidant properties were assayed with the DPPH radical test, and reducing power was determined using the FRAP method. After a week-long lactic fermentation, the pH value in the samples declined to a level of 3.6 (L. plantarum Ib) and 3.75 (L. plantarum 299v); these values persisted or decreased slightly during the period of maturation of the fermented samples under refrigeration. Fermented mushrooms were assigned high grades in the organoleptic evaluation. The colour analysis revealed significant changes in the values of the L*a*b* parameters in the fermented product, in comparison with fresh mushrooms. Blanching contributed to a significant decrease in the content of total phenolic compounds in the mushroom fruiting bodies and to a decline in antioxidant activity. Mushrooms fermented with the probiotic strain were characterised by higher phenolic compound content and higher antioxidant activity. L. plantarum 299v strain with documented probiotic properties can be applied in fermentation of button mushroom fruiting bodies. Products obtained with the use of both strains were characterised by good sensory properties. The type of strain used in the lactic fermentation of mushroom fruiting bodies had an effect on the phenolic compound content and antioxidant properties of the final product.

Modeling and test of a kinaesthetic actuator based on MR fluid for haptic applications.

PubMed

Yang, Tae-Heon; Koo, Jeong-Hoi; Kim, Sang-Youn; Kwon, Dong-Soo

2017-03-01

Haptic display units have been widely used for conveying button sensations to users, primarily employing vibrotactile actuators. However, the human feeling for pressing buttons mainly relies on kinaesthetic sensations (rather than vibrotactile sensations), and little studies exist on small-scale kinaesthetic haptic units. Thus, the primary goals of this paper are to design a miniature kinaesthetic actuator based on Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid that can convey various button-clicking sensations and to experimentally evaluate its haptic performance. The design focuses of the proposed actuator were to produce sufficiently large actuation forces (resistive forces) for human users in a given size constraint and to offer a wide range of actuation forces for conveying vivid haptic sensations to users. To this end, this study first performed a series of parametric studies using mathematical force models for multiple operating modes of MR fluid in conjunction with finite element electromagnetism analysis. After selecting design parameters based on parametric studies, a prototype actuator was constructed, and its performance was evaluated using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. It measured the actuator's resistive force with a varying stroke (pressed depth) up to 1 mm and a varying input current from 0 A to 200 mA. The results show that the proposed actuator creates a wide range of resistive forces from around 2 N (off-state) to over 9.5 N at 200 mA. In order to assess the prototype's performance in the terms of the haptic application prospective, a maximum force rate was calculated to determine just noticeable difference in force changes for the 1 mm stoke of the actuator. The results show that the force rate is sufficient to mimic various levels of button sensations, indicating that the proposed kinaesthetic actuator can offer a wide range of resistive force changes that can be conveyed to human operators.

Identification and topographic localization of metallic foreign bodies by metal detector.

PubMed

Muensterer, Oliver J; Joppich, Ingolf

2004-08-01

Exact localization of ingested metal objects is necessary to guide therapy. This study prospectively evaluates the accuracy of foreign body (FB) identification and localization by metal detector (MTD) in a systematic topographic fashion. Patients who presented after an alleged or witnessed metal FB ingestion were scanned with an MTD. In case of a positive signal, the location was recorded in a topographic diagram, and radiographs were obtained. The diagnostic accuracy of the MTD scan for FB identification and topographic localization was determined by chi(2) analysis, and concordance was calculated by the McNemar test and expressed as kappa. A total of 70 MTD examinations were performed on 65 patients (age 6 months to 16 years); 5 patients were scanned twice on different days. The majority had swallowed coins and button batteries (n = 41). Of these, 29 items were correctly identified, and 11 of 12 were correctly ruled out (coins and button batteries: sensitivity, 100% [95% Confidence Interval 95% to 100%]; specificity, 91.7% [95% CI 76% to 100%], kappa = 0.94). When all metallic objects were included, 41 of 46 were correctly identified, and 22 of 24 were correctly ruled out (sensitivity, 89.1% [95% CI 80% to 98%]; specificity, 91.7% [95% CI 81% to 100%], kappa = 0.78). Five miscellaneous objects were not identified (sensitivity for items other than coins and button batteries 71% [95% CI 49% to 92%], kappa = 0.56). Localization by MTD was correct in 30 of 41 identified objects (73%). The error rates of junior and senior pediatric surgery residents did not differ significantly (P =.82). Ingested coins and button batteries can be safely and accurately found by metal detector. For these indications, the MTD is a radiation-free diagnostic alternative to conventional radiographs. Other items, however, cannot be ruled out reliably by MTD. In these cases, radiographic imaging is still indicated.

[Outcomes and complications of Tightrope button plate for repairing acromioclavicular dislocation].

PubMed

Zuo, Yong-Xiang; Ma, Zi-Ping

2017-10-25

To study the clinical outcome and complications of Tightrope button plate for repairing acromioclavicular dislocation of Rockwood type III to V. From May 2014 to December 2016, 17 patients with acromioclavicular dislocation of type III-V were treated with Tightrope button plate including 10 males and 7 females with an average age 39.8 years old ranging from 20 to 68 years old. Four patients were treated with arthroscopy and 17 patients were treated with mini-invasive by X-ray assisted. Shoulder function, X-ray and complications after operation were assessed. All patients were followed up for 5 to 23 months with a mean of 10.8 months. All patients got satisfying reduction immediately postoperatively. Among them, 1 case of clavicle end wound foreign body reaction, rupture, effusion, healing after the second suture; 1 case of foreign body granuloma formation at the end of clavicle were resected and removed at 4 months after operation; 3 cases loss reduction(less than 50% of acromioclavicular joint). No coracoid fracture and suture breakage observed. The shoulder mobility was restored in 15 cases at 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively, and the shoulder adhesion in 2 cases was delayed to 5 to 7 months after operation. The Constant scores were improved from 46.9±6.0 preoperatively to 92.7±4.0 at the final follow-up. X-ray evaluation of postoperative coracoclavicular tunnel location, patients' coracoclavicular tunnel with mini-invasive fluoroscopy all closed to the ideal position (across the clavicle vertically through the coracoid base center), while different degree of tunnel position deviation were observed in arthroscopic patients. Tightrope button plate for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation had advantages of minimally invasive, effective, good clinical results, the majority of common complications does not affect efficacy. Small incision X-ray method can provide more satisfactory and reliable tunnel location.

Imaging button battery ingestions and insertions in children: a 15-year single-center review.

PubMed

Pugmire, Brian S; Lin, Tom K; Pentiuk, Scott; de Alarcon, Alessandro; Hart, Catherine K; Trout, Andrew T

2017-02-01

Recent studies have shown an increase in morbidity associated with button battery ingestions in children. To perform a comprehensive, imaging-focused review of all patients with confirmed button battery ingestions/insertions imaged at our institution in the last 15 years. Radiology reports from Jan. 1, 2000, to July 12, 2015, were searched for the terms "battery" and "batteries." Confirmed cases of battery ingestion/insertion for which images were available were reviewed. Cases were reviewed for imaging studies performed, imaging findings, patient demographics, clinical history and management. Two pediatric gastroenterologists reviewed endoscopic images and graded mucosal injuries in selected cases. Two hundred seventy-six cases were reviewed. All patients were imaged with radiography, 19 with fluoroscopy (6.8%), and 4 with CT (1.4%). Batteries retained in the esophagus (n = 27, 9.8%) were larger in diameter on average than those that had passed distally (22.1 ± 3.3 mm vs. 13.7 ± 1.6 mm, P<0.0001). Battery diameter ≥20 mm was associated with esophageal impaction (P<0.0001) and higher grade esophageal injury (P<0.0001). Mean battery diameter was greater for patients with grade 1 or higher mucosal injury than for patients with no mucosal injury (22.1 ± 2.1 mm vs. 14.7 ± 4.5 mm, P<0.0001). Sixteen percent (4/25) of patients with grade ≥1 esophageal injury had batteries in the stomach on initial imaging. Five patients (1.8%) had serious clinical complications (e.g., esophageal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistula). Button batteries >20mm in diameter warrant increased clinical scrutiny due to higher likelihood and severity of injury. Implementation of recent pediatric gastroenterology societal guidelines will likely lead to a substantial increase in the number of CT and MRI examinations.

The Pharmaceutical Capping Process-Correlation between Residual Seal Force, Torque Moment, and Flip-off Removal Force.

PubMed

Mathaes, Roman; Mahler, Hanns-Christian; Vorgrimler, Lothar; Steinberg, Henrik; Dreher, Sascha; Roggo, Yves; Nieto, Alejandra; Brown, Helen; Roehl, Holger; Adler, Michael; Luemkemann, Joerg; Huwyler, Joerg; Lam, Philippe; Stauch, Oliver; Mohl, Silke; Streubel, Alexander

2016-01-01

The majority of parenteral drug products are manufactured in glass vials with an elastomeric rubber stopper and a crimp cap. The vial sealing process is a critical process step during fill-and-finish operations, as it defines the seal quality of the final product. Different critical capping process parameters can affect rubber stopper defects, rubber stopper compression, container closure integrity, and also crimp cap quality. A sufficiently high force to remove the flip-off button prior to usage is required to ensure quality of the drug product unit by the flip-off button during storage, transportation, and until opening and use. Therefore, the final product is 100% visually inspected for lose or defective crimp caps, which is subjective as well as time- and labor-intensive. In this study, we sealed several container closure system configurations with different capping equipment settings (with corresponding residual seal force values) to investigate the torque moment required to turn the crimp cap. A correlation between torque moment and residual seal force has been established. The torque moment was found to be influenced by several parameters, including diameter of the vial head, type of rubber stopper (serum or lyophilized) and type of crimp cap (West(®) or Datwyler(®)). In addition, we measured the force required to remove the flip-off button of a sealed container closure system. The capping process had no influence on measured forces; however, it was possible to detect partially crimped vials. In conclusion, a controlled capping process with a defined target residual seal force range leads to a tight crimp cap on a sealed container closure system and can ensure product quality. The majority of parenteral drug products are manufactured in a glass vials with an elastomeric rubber stopper and a crimp cap. The vial sealing process is a critical process step during fill-and-finish operations, as it defines the seal quality of the final product. An adequate force to remove the flip-off button prior to usage is required to ensure product quality during storage and transportation until use. In addition, the complete crimp cap needs to be fixed in a tight position on the vial. In this study, we investigated the torque moment required to turn the crimp cap and the force required to remove the flip-off button of container closure system sealed with different capping equipment process parameters (having different residual seal force values). © PDA, Inc. 2016.

Left-right dissociation of hippocampal memory processes in mice.

PubMed

Shipton, Olivia A; El-Gaby, Mohamady; Apergis-Schoute, John; Deisseroth, Karl; Bannerman, David M; Paulsen, Ole; Kohl, Michael M

2014-10-21

Left-right asymmetries have likely evolved to make optimal use of bilaterian nervous systems; however, little is known about the synaptic and circuit mechanisms that support divergence of function between equivalent structures in each hemisphere. Here we examined whether lateralized hippocampal memory processing is present in mice, where hemispheric asymmetry at the CA3-CA1 pyramidal neuron synapse has recently been demonstrated, with different spine morphology, glutamate receptor content, and synaptic plasticity, depending on whether afferents originate in the left or right CA3. To address this question, we used optogenetics to acutely silence CA3 pyramidal neurons in either the left or right dorsal hippocampus while mice performed hippocampus-dependent memory tasks. We found that unilateral silencing of either the left or right CA3 was sufficient to impair short-term memory. However, a striking asymmetry emerged in long-term memory, wherein only left CA3 silencing impaired performance on an associative spatial long-term memory task, whereas right CA3 silencing had no effect. To explore whether synaptic properties intrinsic to the hippocampus might contribute to this left-right behavioral asymmetry, we investigated the expression of hippocampal long-term potentiation. Following the induction of long-term potentiation by high-frequency electrical stimulation, synapses between CA3 and CA1 pyramidal neurons were strengthened only when presynaptic input originated in the left CA3, confirming an asymmetry in synaptic properties. The dissociation of hippocampal long-term memory function between hemispheres suggests that memory is routed via distinct left-right pathways within the mouse hippocampus, and provides a promising approach to help elucidate the synaptic basis of long-term memory.

Structure of cortical cytoskeleton in fibers of mouse muscle cells after being exposed to a 30-day space flight on board the BION-M1 biosatellite.

PubMed

Ogneva, I V; Maximova, M V; Larina, I M

2014-05-15

The aim of the work was to analyze changes in the organization of the cortical cytoskeleton in fibers of the mouse soleus muscle, tibialis anterior muscle and left ventricular cardiomyocytes after completion of a 30-day space flight on board the BION-M1 biosatellite (Russia, 2013). The transversal stiffness of the cortical cytoskeleton of the cardiomyocytes and fibers of the skeletal muscles did not differ significantly within the study groups compared with the vivarium control group. The content of beta- and gamma-actin in the membranous fraction of proteins in the left ventricular cardiomyocytes did not differ significantly within all study groups and correlated with the transversal stiffness. A similar situation was revealed in fibers of the soleus muscle and tibialis anterior muscle. At the same time, the content of beta-actin in the cytoplasmic fraction of proteins was found to be decreased in all types of studied tissues compared with the control levels in the postflight group, with lowered beta-actin gene expression rates in the postflight group. After completion of the space flight, the content of alpha-actinin-4 was found to be reduced in the membranous fraction of proteins from the mouse cardiomyocytes, while its content in the cytoplasmic fraction of proteins did not change significantly. Furthermore, gene expression rates of this protein were decreased at the time of dissection (it was started after 13 h after landing). At the same time, the content of alpha-actinin-1 decreased in the membranous fraction and increased in the cytoplasmic fraction of proteins from the soleus muscle fibers. Copyright © 2014 the American Physiological Society.

Lower risk of postinfarct rupture in mouse heart overexpressing beta 2-adrenergic receptors: importance of collagen content.

PubMed

Gao, Xiao-Ming; Dilley, Rodney J; Samuel, Chrishan S; Percy, Elodie; Fullerton, Meryl J; Dart, Anthony M; Du, Xiao-Jun

2002-10-01

This paper addresses whether the enhanced left ventricular (LV) contractility and heart rate, seen in transgenic mice overexpressing beta -adrenergic receptor in the heart, might raise the incidence of LV rupture after myocardial infarct. Transgenic and wild-type mice underwent left coronary artery occlusion. Postinfarct deaths that occurred 1-7 days after surgery were analyzed. Hemodynamics, morphologic parameters, and collagen content in the LV were determined. A significantly lower incidence of LV rupture was observed in transgenic than in wild-type mice 3-5 days after myocardial infarct (2.5 versus 19.7%, p < 0.05), despite a similar infarct size between the two groups and better hemodynamic function in transgenic mouse hearts. Morphologic analysis showed a more severe infarct expansion in wild-type versus transgenic mice or in mice dying of rupture versus those that died of acute heart failure. Collagen content was higher in the LV of sham-operated transgenic than wild-type mice (p < 0.01) with both type I and type III collagen elevated. Such difference in collagen content between transgenic and wild-type mice was maintained in noninfarcted and infarcted LV. In conclusion, transgenic mice overexpressing beta -adrenergic receptor had a lower risk of cardiac rupture during the acute phase after infarction despite the markedly enhanced LV contractility and heart rate. As a hyperdynamic function due to beta-adrenergic activation would likely increase the risk of cardiac rupture and infarct expansion, the lack of rupture in this transgenic mouse model suggests that the interstitial collagen level is a more important factor than functional status in the pathogenesis of rupture and infarct expansion.

Reduced Collagen Deposition in Infarcted Myocardium Facilitates Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Engraftment and Angiomyogenesis for Improvement of Left Ventricular Function

PubMed Central

Dai, Bo; Huang, Wei; Xu, Meifeng; Millard, Ronald W.; Gao, Mei Hua; Hammond, H. Kirk; Menick, Donald R.; Ashraf, Muhammad; Wang, Yigang

2012-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of scar tissue composition on engraftment of progenitor cells into infarcted myocardium. Background Scar tissue formation after myocardial infarction creates a barrier that severely compromises tissue regeneration, limiting potential functional recovery. Methods In vitro: A tricell patch (Tri-P) was created from peritoneum seeded and cultured with induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The expression of fibrosis-related molecules from mouse embryonic fibroblasts and infarcted heart was measured by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In vivo: A Tri-P was affixed over the entire infarcted area 7 days after myocardial infarction in mice overexpressing adenylyl cyclase 6 (AC6). Engraftment efficiency of progenitor cells in hearts of AC6 mice was compared with that of control wild-type (WT) mice using a combination of in vivo bioluminescence imaging, post-mortem ex vivo tissue analysis, and the number of green fluorescent protein–positive cells. Echocardiography of left ventricular (LV) function was performed weekly. Hearts were harvested for analysis 4 weeks after Tri-P application. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts were stimulated with forskolin before an anoxia/reoxygenation protocol. Fibrosis-related molecules were analyzed. Results In AC6 mice, infarcted hearts treated with Tri-P showed significantly higher bioluminescence imaging intensity and numbers of green fluorescent protein–positive cells than in WT mice. LV function improved progressively in AC6 mice from weeks 2 to 4 and was associated with reduced LV fibrosis. Conclusions Application of a Tri-P in AC6 mice resulted in significantly higher induced pluripotent stem cell engraftment accompanied by angiomyogenesis in the infarcted area and improvement in LV function. PMID:22051336

Corneal clouding in Alport syndrome.

PubMed

Herwig, Martina C; Eter, Nicole; Holz, Frank G; Loeffler, Karin U

2011-03-01

Alport syndrome is a hereditary basement membrane disease that typically involves the kidney, the cochlea, and the eyes. Characteristic ocular problems include posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy, lenticonus, and dot-and-fleck retinopathy. A 48-year-old male patient with Alport syndrome presented with corneal and retinal changes. In 2003, he was diagnosed with posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy and received a corneal transplant in his left eye in 2007 because of progressive deterioration in visual acuity. At this time, a lamellar macular hole was diagnosed in his right eye. The removed corneal button was examined by light and electron microscopy and by immunohistochemistry. Histology revealed not only endothelial changes but also a marked irregular thickening of the epithelial basement membrane and of Bowman layer. Alcian blue staining demonstrated an accumulation of mucopolysaccharides in the Bowman layer. The presented changes underline the great variation of ocular disorders related to Alport syndrome. To our knowledge, this is one of the first reports describing histologic corneal findings in Alport syndrome. Only a few cases with accumulation of mucopolysaccharides in the Bowman layer have been described previously, none of them being associated with Alport syndrome. Besides, anterior corneal alterations and corneal clouding seem to be uncommon in patients suffering from Alport syndrome.

Sport expertise: the role of precise timing of verbal-analytical engagement and the ability to detect visual cues.

PubMed

Taliep, Mogammad Sharhidd; John, Lester

2014-01-01

This study proposed that relative timing of high-alpha (10-12 Hz) left (T3) and right (T4) cortical temporal electroencephalographic (EEG) power levels would differentiate performance groups in a reactive sport such as cricket batting. The time course of EEG event-related alpha synchronisation (ERS) and desynchronisation was investigated in two groups (eight skilled and ten less skilled) of right-handed cricket batsmen whilst viewing projected video footage of a bowler delivering a randomised series of 24 deliveries repeated 10 times (total of 240 deliveries). Ball release from the bowler's hand was used as the corresponding reaction cue. Participants were instructed to press one of two buttons on a keypad to identify in-swingers or out-swingers. T3 ERS was significantly greater in skilled batsmen from approximately 1500 ms prior to ball release, but differences reduced close to ball release, reaching nonsignificance by 250 ms. There was no significant difference in T4 between the groups. This study uniquely highlights that the relative timing of the T3 high-alpha ERS state appears to differentiate batting skill groups in a reactive task.

Advanced display object selection methods for enhancing user-computer productivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Osga, Glenn A.

1993-01-01

The User-Interface Technology Branch at NCCOSC RDT&E Division has been conducting a series of studies to address the suitability of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) graphic user-interface (GUI) methods for efficiency and performance in critical naval combat systems. This paper presents an advanced selection algorithm and method developed to increase user performance when making selections on tactical displays. The method has also been applied with considerable success to a variety of cursor and pointing tasks. Typical GUI's allow user selection by: (1) moving a cursor with a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, joystick, touchscreen; and (2) placing the cursor on the object. Examples of GUI objects are the buttons, icons, folders, scroll bars, etc. used in many personal computer and workstation applications. This paper presents an improved method of selection and the theoretical basis for the significant performance gains achieved with various input devices tested. The method is applicable to all GUI styles and display sizes, and is particularly useful for selections on small screens such as notebook computers. Considering the amount of work-hours spent pointing and clicking across all styles of available graphic user-interfaces, the cost/benefit in applying this method to graphic user-interfaces is substantial, with the potential for increasing productivity across thousands of users and applications.

Riot Control Agents

MedlinePlus

... Submit What's this? Submit Button Facts About Riot Control Agents Interim document Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir What riot control agents are Riot control agents (sometimes referred to ...

Nobody Reads Billboards!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Joseph J.; Lotz, Condit

1982-01-01

The authors describe an incidental learning approach using supplementary reading sources such as bumper stickers, t-shirts, and novelty buttons to encourage gifted students' analysis and synthesis skills. (CL)

Rhynchophylline from Uncaria rhynchophylla functionally turns delayed rectifiers into A-Type K+ channels.

PubMed

Chou, Chun-Hsiao; Gong, Chi-Li; Chao, Chia-Chia; Lin, Chia-Huei; Kwan, Chiu-Yin; Hsieh, Ching-Liang; Leung, Yuk-Man

2009-05-22

Rhynchophylline (1), a neuroprotective agent isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Uncaria rhynchophylla, was shown to affect voltage-gated K(+) (Kv) channel slow inactivation in mouse neuroblastoma N2A cells. Extracellular 1 (30 microM) accelerated the slow decay of Kv currents and shifted the steady-state inactivation curve to the left. Intracellular dialysis of 1 did not accelerate the slow current decay, suggesting that this compound acts extracellularly. In addition, the percent blockage of Kv currents by this substance was independent of the degree of depolarization and the intracellular K(+) concentration. Therefore, 1 did not appear to directly block the outer channel pore, with the results obtained suggesting that it drastically accelerated Kv channel slow inactivation. Interestingly, 1 also shifted the activation curve to the left. This alkaloid also strongly accelerated slow inactivation and caused a left shift of the activation curve of Kv1.2 channels heterologously expressed in HEK293 cells. Thus, this compound functionally turned delayed rectifiers into A-type K(+) channels.

Analysis of maternal-zygotic ugdh mutants reveals divergent roles for HSPGs in vertebrate embryogenesis and provides new insight into the initiation of left-right asymmetry.

PubMed

Superina, Simone; Borovina, Antonia; Ciruna, Brian

2014-03-15

Growth factors and morphogens regulate embryonic patterning, cell fate specification, cell migration, and morphogenesis. The activity and behavior of these signaling molecules are regulated in the extracellular space through interactions with proteoglycans (Bernfield et al., 1999; Perrimon and Bernfield 2000; Lander and Selleck 2000; Selleck 2000). Proteoglycans are high molecular-weight proteins consisting of a core protein with covalently linked glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains, which are thought to mediate ligand interaction. Drosophila mutant embryos deficient for UDP-glucose dehydrogenase activity (Ugdh, required for GAG synthesis) exhibit abnormal Fgf, Wnt and TGFß signaling and die during gastrulation, indicating a broad and critical role for proteoglycans during early embryonic development (Lin et al., 1999; Lin and Perrimon 2000) (Hacker et al., 1997). Mouse Ugdh mutants also die at gastrulation, however, only Fgf signaling appears disrupted (Garcia-Garcia and Anderson, 2003). These findings suggested a possible divergence in the requirement for proteoglycans during Drosophila and mouse embryogenesis, and that mammals may have evolved alternative means of regulating Wnt and TGFß activity. To further examine the function of proteoglycans in vertebrate development, we have characterized zebrafish mutants devoid of both maternal and zygotic Ugdh/Jekyll activity (MZjekyll). We demonstrate that MZjekyll mutant embryos display abnormal Fgf, Shh, and Wnt signaling activities, with concomitant defects in central nervous system patterning, cardiac ventricular fate specification and axial morphogenesis. Furthermore, we uncover a novel role for proteoglycans in left-right pattern formation. Our findings resolve longstanding questions into the evolutionary conservation of Ugdh function and provide new mechanistic insights into the initiation of left-right asymmetry. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Myosin Activator Omecamtiv Mecarbil Increases Myocardial Oxygen Consumption and Impairs Cardiac Efficiency Mediated by Resting Myosin ATPase Activity.

PubMed

Bakkehaug, Jens Petter; Kildal, Anders Benjamin; Engstad, Erik Torgersen; Boardman, Neoma; Næsheim, Torvind; Rønning, Leif; Aasum, Ellen; Larsen, Terje Steinar; Myrmel, Truls; How, Ole-Jakob

2015-07-01

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a novel inotropic agent that prolongs systolic ejection time and increases ejection fraction through myosin ATPase activation. We hypothesized that a potentially favorable energetic effect of unloading the left ventricle, and thus reduction of wall stress, could be counteracted by the prolonged contraction time and ATP-consumption. Postischemic left ventricular dysfunction was created by repetitive left coronary occlusions in 7 pigs (7 healthy pigs also included). In both groups, systolic ejection time and ejection fraction increased after OM (0.75 mg/kg loading for 10 minutes, followed by 0.5 mg/kg/min continuous infusion). Cardiac efficiency was assessed by relating myocardial oxygen consumption to the cardiac work indices, stroke work, and pressure-volume area. To circumvent potential neurohumoral reflexes, cardiac efficiency was additionally assessed in ex vivo mouse hearts and isolated myocardial mitochondria. OM impaired cardiac efficiency; there was a 31% and 23% increase in unloaded myocardial oxygen consumption in healthy and postischemic pigs, respectively. Also, the oxygen cost of the contractile function was increased by 63% and 46% in healthy and postischemic pigs, respectively. The increased unloaded myocardial oxygen consumption was confirmed in OM-treated mouse hearts and explained by an increased basal metabolic rate. Adding the myosin ATPase inhibitor, 2,3-butanedione monoxide abolished all surplus myocardial oxygen consumption in the OM-treated hearts. Omecamtiv mecarbil, in a clinically relevant model, led to a significant myocardial oxygen wastage related to both the contractile and noncontractile function. This was mediated by that OM induces a continuous activation in resting myosin ATPase. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

An SSVEP-actuated brain computer interface using phase-tagged flickering sequences: a cursor system.

PubMed

Lee, Po-Lei; Sie, Jyun-Jie; Liu, Yu-Ju; Wu, Chi-Hsun; Lee, Ming-Huan; Shu, Chih-Hung; Li, Po-Hung; Sun, Chia-Wei; Shyu, Kuo-Kai

2010-07-01

This study presents a new steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain computer interface (BCI). SSVEPs, induced by phase-tagged flashes in eight light emitting diodes (LEDs), were used to control four cursor movements (up, right, down, and left) and four button functions (on, off, right-, and left-clicks) on a screen menu. EEG signals were measured by one EEG electrode placed at Oz position, referring to the international EEG 10-20 system. Since SSVEPs are time-locked and phase-locked to the onsets of SSVEP flashes, EEG signals were bandpass-filtered and segmented into epochs, and then averaged across a number of epochs to sharpen the recorded SSVEPs. Phase lags between the measured SSVEPs and a reference SSVEP were measured, and targets were recognized based on these phase lags. The current design used eight LEDs to flicker at 31.25 Hz with 45 degrees phase margin between any two adjacent SSVEP flickers. The SSVEP responses were filtered within 29.25-33.25 Hz and then averaged over 60 epochs. Owing to the utilization of high-frequency flickers, the induced SSVEPs were away from low-frequency noises, 60 Hz electricity noise, and eye movement artifacts. As a consequence, we achieved a simple architecture that did not require eye movement monitoring or other artifact detection and removal. The high-frequency design also achieved a flicker fusion effect for better visualization. Seven subjects were recruited in this study to sequentially input a command sequence, consisting of a sequence of eight cursor functions, repeated three times. The accuracy and information transfer rate (mean +/- SD) over the seven subjects were 93.14 +/- 5.73% and 28.29 +/- 12.19 bits/min, respectively. The proposed system can provide a reliable channel for severely disabled patients to communicate with external environments.

Validation of the Glaucoma Filtration Surgical Mouse Model for Antifibrotic Drug Evaluation

PubMed Central

Seet, Li-Fong; Lee, Wing Sum; Su, Roseline; Finger, Sharon N; Crowston, Jonathan G; Wong, Tina T

2011-01-01

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy, which, if left untreated, leads to blindness. The most common and most modifiable risk factor in glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which can be managed surgically by filtration surgery. The postoperative subconjunctival scarring response, however, remains the major obstacle to achieving long-term surgical success. Antiproliferatives such as mitomycin C are commonly used to prevent postoperative scarring. Efficacy of these agents has been tested extensively on monkey and rabbit models of glaucoma filtration surgery. As these models have inherent limitations, we have developed a model of glaucoma filtration surgery in the mouse. We show, for the first time, that the mouse model typically scarred within 14 d, but when augmented with mitomycin C, more animals maintained lower intraocular pressures for a longer period of time concomitant with prolonged bleb survival to beyond 28 d. The morphology of the blebs following mitomycin C treatment also resembled well-documented clinical observations, thus confirming the validity and clinical relevance of this model. We demonstrate that the antiscarring response to mitomycin C is likely to be due to its effects on conjunctival fibroblast proliferation, apoptosis and collagen deposition and the suppression of inflammation. Indeed, we verified some of these properties on mouse conjunctival fibroblasts cultured in vitro. These data support the suitability of this mouse model for studying the wound healing response in glaucoma filtration surgery, and as a potentially useful tool for the in vivo evaluation of antifibrotic therapeutics in the eye. PMID:21229189

3D perfusion mapping in the intact mouse heart after myocardial infarction using myocardial contrast echocardiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yinbo; Yang, Zequan; French, Brent A.; Hossack, John A.

2005-04-01

An intact mouse model of surgically-induced myocardial infarction (MI) caused by permanent occlusion of the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) coronary artery was studied. Normal mice with no occlusion were also studied as controls. For each mouse, contrast enhanced ultrasound images of the heart were acquired in parallel cross-sections perpendicular to the sternum at millimeter increments. For accurate 3D reconstruction, ECG gating and a tri-axial adjustable micromanipulator were used for temporal and spatial registration. Ultrasound images at steady-state of blood refilling were color-coded in each slice to show relative perfusion. Myocardial perfusion defects and necrosis were also examined postmortem by staining with Phthalo blue and TTC red dyes. Good correlation (R>0.93) in perfused area size was observed between in vivo measurements and histological staining. A 3D multi-slice model and a 3D rendering of perfusion distribution were created and showed a promising match with postmortem results, lending further credence to its use as a more comprehensive and more reliable tool for in vivo assessment of myocardial perfusion than 2D tomographic analysis.

Herbal Extracts That Reduce Ocular Oxidative Stress May Enhance Attentive Performance in Humans.

PubMed

Cho, Hohyun; Kwon, Moonyoung; Jang, Hyojung; Lee, Jee-Bum; Yoon, Kyung Chul; Jun, Sung Chan

2016-01-01

We used herbal extracts in this study to investigate the effects of blue-light-induced oxidative stress on subjects' attentive performance, which is also associated with work performance. We employed an attention network test (ANT) to measure the subjects' work performance indirectly and used herbal extracts to reduce ocular oxidative stress. Thirty-two subjects participated in either an experimental group (wearing glasses containing herbal extracts) or a control group (wearing glasses without herbal extracts). During the ANT experiment, we collected electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) data and measured button responses. In addition, electrocardiogram (ECG) data were collected before and after the experiments. The EOG results showed that the experimental group exhibited a reduced number of eye blinks per second during the experiment and faster button responses with a smaller variation than did the control group; this group also showed relatively more sustained tension in their ECG results. In the EEG analysis, the experimental group had significantly greater cognitive processing, with larger P300 and parietal 2-6 Hz activity, an orienting effect with neural processing of frontal area, high beta activity in the occipital area, and an alpha and beta recovery process after the button response. We concluded that reducing blue-light-induced oxidative stress with herbal extracts may be associated with reducing the number of eye blinks and enhancing attentive performance.

Presentation and management of nasal foreign bodies at a tertiary children's hospital in an American metro area.

PubMed

Scholes, Melissa A; Jensen, Emily L

2016-09-01

To examine rates of otolaryngology intervention in children presenting to our emergency department with nasal foreign bodies, factors associated with otolaryngology involvement, rates of complications, and details on nasal button battery exposure. All patients presenting with a nasal foreign body to Children's Hospital Colorado from 2007 to 2012 were identified. Factors leading to referral to otolaryngology and operative intervention were examined, as well as complications. 102 patients were included. 36 (35%) patients were referred to the otolaryngology clinic, of which 58.9% required operating room intervention. 66 (64.7%) children had their nasal foreign bodies removed in the emergency room, however 30 (45%) of these were removed by an otolaryngology resident or attending physician. Overall, 64.7% of nasal foreign bodies required removal by otolaryngology. Of the 15 objects removed in the operating room, six were button batteries. No septal perforations occurred as a result of nasal button battery exposure. Multivariable logistic regression showed two significant predictors of OR removal: age and disc shaped objects. While emergency department providers are comfortable attempting removal of nasal foreign bodies, there was a high rate of otolaryngology intervention. Based on this data, there is a need to educate emergency room providers on nasal anatomy and techniques for nasal foreign body removal. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A survey of fiber-positioning technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Greg; Brzeski, Jurek; Miziarski, Stan; Gillingham, Peter R.; Moore, Anna; McGrath, Andrew

2004-09-01

A wide range of positioning technologies has been exploited to flexibly configure fiber ends on the focal surfaces of telescopes. The earliest instruments used manual plugging, or glued buttons on the focal plane. Later instruments have used robotic fisherman-round-the-pond probes and articulated armsto position fibres, each probe or arm operated by its own motors, or buttons on fiber ends moved by pick-and-place robotic positioners. A positioner using fiber spines incorporating individual actuators operating over limited patrol areas is currently being manufactured and a derivative proposed for future large telescopes. Other techniques, using independent agents carrying the fiber ends about the focal plane have been prototyped. We describe these various fiber positioning techniques and compare them, listing the issues associated with their implementation, and consider the factors which make each of them suitable for a given situation. Factors considered include: robot geometries; costs; inherent limits to the number of fibers; clustering of targets; serial and parallel positioning and reconfiguration times; adaptability to curved focal surfaces; the virtues of on-telescope versus off-telescope configuration of the field, and suitability for the various telescope foci. The design issues include selection of actuators and encoding systems, counterbalancing, configuration of fiber buttons and their associated grippers, interchanging field plates, and the need for fiber retractors. Finally we consider the competing technologies: fiber and reflective image slicer IFUs, multislit masks and reconfigurable slits.

Refractive index measurement of the mouse crystalline lens using optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Ranjay; Lacy, Kip D; Tan, Christopher C; Park, Han Na; Pardue, Machelle T

2014-08-01

In recent years, there has been a growing interest for using mouse models in refractive development and myopia research. The crystalline lens is a critical optical component of the mouse eye that occupies greater than 50% of the ocular space, and significant increases in thickness with age. However, changes in refractive index of the mouse crystalline lens are less known. In this study, we examined the changes in thickness and refractive index of the mouse crystalline lens for two different strains, wild-type (WT) and a nyx mutant (nob) over the course of normal visual development or after form deprivation. Refractive index and lens thickness measurements were made on ex vivo lenses using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Comparison of refractive index measurements on 5 standard ball lenses using the SD-OCT and their known refractive indices (manufacturer provided) indicated good precision (intra-class correlation coefficient, 0.998 and Bland-Altman coefficient of repeatability, 0.116) of the SD-OCT to calculate mouse lens refractive index ex vivo. During normal visual development, lens thickness increased significantly with age for three different cohorts of mice, aged 4 (average thickness from both eyes; WT: 1.78 ± 0.03, nob: 1.79 ± 0.08 mm), 10 (WT: 2.02 ± 0.05, nob: 2.01 ± 0.04 mm) and 16 weeks (WT: 2.12 ± 0.06, nob: 2.09 ± 0.06 mm, p < 0.001). Lens thickness was not significantly different between the two strains at any age (p = 0.557). For mice with normal vision, refractive index for isolated crystalline lenses in nob mice was significantly greater than WT mice (mean for all ages; WT: 1.42 ± 0.01, nob: 1.44 ± 0.001, p < 0.001). After 4 weeks of form deprivation to the right eye using a skull-mounted goggling apparatus, a thinning of the crystalline lens was observed in both right and left eyes of goggled animals compared to their naïve controls (average from both the right and the left eye) for both strains (p = 0.052). In form deprived mice, lens refractive index was significantly different between the goggled animals and non-goggled naïve controls in nob mice, but not in WT mice (p = 0.009). Both eyes of goggled nob mice had significantly greater lens refractive index (goggled, 1.49 ± 0.01; opposite, 1.47 ± 0.03) compared to their naïve controls (1.45 ± 0.02, p < 0.05). The results presented here suggest that there are genetic differences in the crystalline lens refractive index of the mouse eye, and that the lens refractive index in mice significantly increase with form deprivation. Research applications requiring precise optical measurements of the mouse eye should take these lens refractive indices into account when interpreting SD-OCT data. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Swine Influenza/Variant Influenza Viruses

MedlinePlus

... Address What's this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Influenza Types Seasonal Avian Swine Variant Pandemic Other Information on Swine Influenza/Variant Influenza Virus Language: English (US) Español Recommend ...

Laboratory arc furnace features interchangeable hearths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Armstrong, J. L.; Kruger, O. L.

1967-01-01

Laboratory arc furnace using rapidly interchangeable hearths gains considerable versatility in casting so that buttons or special shaped castings can be produced. It features a sight glass for observation.

49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

49 CFR 38.127 - Sleeping compartments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Intercity Rail Cars and Systems § 38.127 Sleeping compartments. (a...., heating and air conditioning controls, lighting controls, call buttons, electrical outlets, etc.) shall be...

Electrocardiography as a Tool for Validating Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion Procedures in Mice

PubMed Central

Preda, Mihai B; Burlacu, Alexandrina

2010-01-01

This paper evaluates the modifications induced by ischemia and ischemia–reperfusion in mice after permanent or transient, respectively, ligation of the left coronary artery and establishes a correlation among the extent of ischemia, electrocardiograph features, and infarct size. The left coronary artery was ligated 1 mm distal from the tip of the left auricle. Histologic analysis revealed that 30-min ischemia (n = 9) led to infarction involving 9.7% ± 0.5% of the left ventricle, whereas 1-h ischemia (n = 9) resulted in transmural infarction of 16.1% ± 4.6% of the left ventricle. In contrast, 24-h ischemia (n = 8) and permanent ischemia (n = 8) induced similarly sized infarcts (33% ± 2% and 31.8% ± 0.7%, respectively), suggesting ineffective reperfusion after 24-h ischemia. Electrocardiography revealed that ligation of the left coronary artery led to ST height elevation (204 compared with 14 μV) and QTc prolongation (136 compared with 76 ms). Both parameters rapidly normalized on reperfusion, demonstrating that electrocardiography was important for validating correct ligation and reperfusion. In addition, electrocardiography predicted the severity of the myocardial damage induced by ischemia. Our results show that electrocardiographic changes present after 30-min ischemia were reversed on reperfusion; however, prolonged ischemia induced pathologic electrocardiographic patterns that remained even after reperfusion. The mouse model of myocardial ischemia–reperfusion can be improved by using electrocardiography to validate ligation and reperfusion during surgery and to predict the severity of infarction. PMID:21262130

Cyclic loading increases friction and changes cartilage surface integrity in lubricin-mutant mouse knees

PubMed Central

Drewniak, Elizabeth I; Jay, Gregory D; Fleming, Braden C; Zhang, Ling; Warman, Matthew L; Crisco, Joseph J

2012-01-01

Objective To investigate the effects of lubricin gene dosage and cyclic loading on whole joint coefficient of friction and articular cartilage surface integrity in mouse knee joints. Methods Joints from mice with 2 (Prg4+/+), 1 (Prg4+/−), or no (Prg4−/−) functioning lubricin alleles were subjected to 26 hours of cyclic loading using a custom-built pendulum. Coefficient of friction values were measured at multiple time points. Contralateral control joints were left unloaded. Following testing, joints were examined for histologic evidence of damage and cell viability. Results At baseline, the coefficient of friction values in Prg4−/− mice were significantly higher than those in Prg4+/+ and Prg4+/− mice (P < 0.001). Cyclic loading continuously increased the coefficient of friction in Prg4−/− mouse joints. In contrast, Prg4+/− and Prg4+/+ mouse joints had no coefficient of friction increases during the first 4 hours of loading. After 26 hours of loading, joints from all genotypes had increased coefficient of friction values compared to baseline and unloaded controls. Significantly greater increases occurred in Prg4−/− and Prg4+/− mouse joints compared to Prg4+/+ mouse joints. The coefficient of friction values were not significantly associated with histologic evidence of damage or loss of cell viability. Conclusion Our findings indicate that mice lacking lubricin have increased baseline coefficient of friction values and are not protected against further increases caused by loading. Prg4+/− mice are indistinguishable from Prg4+/+ mice at baseline, but have significantly greater coefficient of friction values following 26 hours of loading. Lubricin dosage affects joint properties during loading, and may have clinical implications in patients for whom injury or illness alters lubricin abundance. PMID:21905020

Genital injury

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Common agents used to unblock blood clots within tympanostomy tubes: an ex vivo study and review of literature.

PubMed

Burke, Emily L; Walvekar, Rohan R; Lin, James; Hagan, Joseph; Kluka, Evelyn A

2009-12-01

To determine the efficacy of common solutions used to dissolve blood clots blocking tympanostomy tubes (TTs) of differing lengths and diameters. An ex vivo experimental study. Ear models were built by the study investigator. Tympanostomy tubes were inserted into the models and blocked with blood clots. Test solutions were applied to the blood clots, and time for clearance was recorded via microscopic visual confirmation. Richards T-tube had higher odds of unclogging than collar button tubes (odds ratio: 2.37, 95% confidence intervals 1.02-5.54, p=0.042). Vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide were most effective for Richards T-tubes and collar button tubes, respectively. Common solutions (vinegar and hydrogen peroxide) were more effective than antibiotic drops in clearing blood clot blocking TTs.

Programmable diagnostic devices made from paper and tape.

PubMed

Martinez, Andres W; Phillips, Scott T; Nie, Zhihong; Cheng, Chao-Min; Carrilho, Emanuel; Wiley, Benjamin J; Whitesides, George M

2010-10-07

This paper describes three-dimensional microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (3-D microPADs) that can be programmed (postfabrication) by the user to generate multiple patterns of flow through them. These devices are programmed by pressing single-use 'on' buttons, using a stylus or a ballpoint pen. Pressing a button closes a small space (gap) between two vertically aligned microfluidic channels, and allows fluids to wick from one channel to the other. These devices are simple to fabricate, and are made entirely out of paper and double-sided adhesive tape. Programmable devices expand the capabilities of microPADs and provide a simple method for controlling the movement of fluids in paper-based channels. They are the conceptual equivalent of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) widely used in electronics.

Development of procedures for calculating stiffness and damping properties of elastomers in engineering applications. Part 4: Testing of elastomers under a rotating load. [resonance testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Darlow, M. S.; Smalley, A. J.

1977-01-01

A test rig designed to measure stiffness and damping of elastomer cartridges under a rotating load excitation is described. The test rig employs rotating unbalance in a rotor which runs to 60,000 RPM as the excitation mechanism. A variable resonant mass is supported on elastomer elements and the dynamic characteristics are determined from measurements of input and output acceleration. Five different cartridges are considered: three of these are buttons cartridges having buttons located in pairs, with 120 between each pair. Two of the cartridges consist of 360 elastomer rings with rectangular cross-sections. Dynamic stiffness and damping are measured for each cartridge and compared with predictions at different frequencies and different strains.

Cursor Control Device Test Battery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holden, Kritina; Sandor, Aniko; Pace, John; Thompson, Shelby

2013-01-01

The test battery was developed to provide a standard procedure for cursor control device evaluation. The software was built in Visual Basic and consists of nine tasks and a main menu that integrates the set-up of the tasks. The tasks can be used individually, or in a series defined in the main menu. Task 1, the Unidirectional Pointing Task, tests the speed and accuracy of clicking on targets. Two rectangles with an adjustable width and adjustable center- to-center distance are presented. The task is to click back and forth between the two rectangles. Clicks outside of the rectangles are recorded as errors. Task 2, Multidirectional Pointing Task, measures speed and accuracy of clicking on targets approached from different angles. Twenty-five numbered squares of adjustable width are arranged around an adjustable diameter circle. The task is to point and click on the numbered squares (placed on opposite sides of the circle) in consecutive order. Clicks outside of the squares are recorded as errors. Task 3, Unidirectional (horizontal) Dragging Task, is similar to dragging a file into a folder on a computer desktop. Task 3 requires dragging a square of adjustable width from one rectangle and dropping it into another. The width of each rectangle is adjustable, as well as the distance between the two rectangles. Dropping the square outside of the rectangles is recorded as an error. Task 4, Unidirectional Path Following, is similar to Task 3. The task is to drag a square through a tunnel consisting of two lines. The size of the square and the width of the tunnel are adjustable. If the square touches any of the lines, it is counted as an error and the task is restarted. Task 5, Text Selection, involves clicking on a Start button, and then moving directly to the underlined portion of the displayed text and highlighting it. The pointing distance to the text is adjustable, as well as the to-be-selected font size and the underlined character length. If the selection does not include all of the underlined characters, or includes non-underlined characters, it is recorded as an error. Task 6, Multi-size and Multi-distance Pointing, presents the participant with 24 consecutively numbered buttons of different sizes (63 to 163 pixels), and at different distances (60 to 80 pixels) from the Start button. The task is to click on the Start button, and then move directly to, and click on, each numbered target button in consecutive order. Clicks outside of the target area are errors. Task 7, Standard Interface Elements Task, involves interacting with standard interface elements as instructed in written procedures, including: drop-down menus, sliders, text boxes, radio buttons, and check boxes. Task completion time is recorded. In Task 8, a circular track is presented with a disc in it at the top. Track width and disc size are adjustable. The task is to move the disc with circular motion within the path without touching the boundaries of the track. Time and errors are recorded. Task 9 is a discrete task that allows evaluation of discrete cursor control devices that tab from target to target, such as a castle switch. The task is to follow a predefined path and to click on the yellow targets along the path.

Determining organ dose conversion coefficients for external neutron irradiation by using a voxel mouse model

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiaomin; Xie, Xiangdong; Qu, Decheng; Ning, Jing; Zhou, Hongmei; Pan, Jie; Yang, Guoshan

2016-01-01

A set of fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients has been calculated for neutrons with energies <20 MeV using a developed voxel mouse model and Monte Carlo N-particle code (MCNP), for the purpose of neutron radiation effect evaluation. The calculation used 37 monodirectional monoenergetic neutron beams in the energy range 10−9 MeV to 20 MeV, under five different source irradiation configurations: left lateral, right lateral, dorsal–ventral, ventral–dorsal, and isotropic. Neutron fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients for selected organs of the body were presented in the paper, and the effect of irradiation geometry conditions, neutron energy and the organ location on the organ dose was discussed. The results indicated that neutron dose conversion coefficients clearly show sensitivity to irradiation geometry at neutron energy below 1 MeV. PMID:26661852

Foreign object - inhaled

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... can easily inhale small foods (nuts, seeds, or popcorn) and objects (buttons, beads, or parts of toys) ... foods such as hot dogs, whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, food with bones, or hard candy to children ...

OHD/HL: Presentations

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enter or select the go button to submit request City, St Go Science Research and Collaboration Hydrology River Forecasts, January 2002 AMS Short Course on Quantitative Precipitation Estimation and Forecasting

Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) in Pigs

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... Address What's this? Submit What's this? Submit Button Influenza Types Seasonal Avian Swine Variant Pandemic Other Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) in Pigs Language: English (US) Español ...

Facts about Anencephaly

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... for Prevention Birth Defects are Common, Costly, and Critical Videos & Podcasts Buttons Prevent to Protect PACT Quiz ... front part of the brain (forebrain) and the thinking and coordinating part of the brain (cerebrum). The ...

The NCEP Mission

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code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request Local forecast by "City, St" City , St Go Search NCEP Go Current Hazards Watches/Warnings Outlooks National Current Conditions

45 CFR 73.735-602 - Permissible activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... political management or political campaigns or using official authority or influence to interfere with an... or button; (4) Participate in the nonpartisan activities of a civic, community, social, labor, or...

45 CFR 73.735-602 - Permissible activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... political management or political campaigns or using official authority or influence to interfere with an... or button; (4) Participate in the nonpartisan activities of a civic, community, social, labor, or...

Simultaneous bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures repaired using an endobutton technique: a case report

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Introduction The simultaneous rupture of both distal biceps tendons is a rare clinical entity that is difficult to treat and can have poor outcomes. A variety of treatment and rehabilitation options exist and have been reported for single sided and staged bilateral repairs, but none have described an approach for acute bilateral ruptures. Repairing distal biceps tendon ruptures using a single anterior incision and a cortical suspensory button technique has become increasingly popular in recent years. We present a report of our surgical approach using an endobutton technique and rehabilitation algorithm for this unusual injury pattern. Case presentation A 43-year-old Caucasian man presented with acute onset bilateral elbow pain while lifting a large sheet of drywall off the ground. He initially felt a ‘pop’ on the right and almost immediately felt another on the left after having to quickly shift the weight. He was unable to continue working and sought medical attention. His pain was predominantly in his bilateral antecubital fossae and he had significant swelling and ecchymoses. His clinical examination demonstrated no palpable tendon, a retracted biceps muscle belly, and clear supination weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed and showed bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures with retraction on both sides. After discussion with our patient, we decided that both sides would be repaired using a single anterior incision with endobutton fixation, first his right followed by his left six weeks later. Conclusion Overall, our patient did very well and had returned to full manual work by our last follow-up at 30 months. Although he was never able to return to competitive recreational hockey and was left with mild lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve dysesthesias on his right, he felt he was at 85% of his premorbid level of function. We describe what we believe to be, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of simultaneous bilateral distal biceps tendon ruptures successfully treated with a single-incision endobutton technique, which represents a valid option in managing this difficult problem. PMID:23972255

Gastrostomy feeding tube - bolus

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... jaw muscles. Feeding Your Child With the Gravity Method Your provider will show you the best way ... the button. Feeding Your Child With the Syringe Method Your provider will teach you the best way ...

Drug Facts

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Mercuric oxide poisoning

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Mercuric oxide may be found in some: Button batteries (batteries containing mercury are no longer sold in the ... long-term injury Any person who swallowed a battery will need immediate x-rays to make sure ...

78 FR 60248 - Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 183-Austin, Texas; Notification of Proposed Production Activity...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-01

...; input/output assemblies; electromagnetic interference support walls; bumpers; adhesives; sleeves; rubber... shroud assemblies; mechanism bases; storage; busbars; button dim links; electromagnetic interference fans...

FastStats: Viral Hepatitis

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... Submit What's this? Submit Button NCHS Home Viral Hepatitis Recommend on Facebook Tweet Share Compartir Data are for the U.S. Morbidity Number of new hepatitis A cases: 1,239 (2014) Number of new ...

Ways to measure body temperature in the field.

PubMed

Langer, Franz; Fietz, Joanna

2014-05-01

Body temperature (Tb) represents one of the key parameters in ecophysiological studies with focus on energy saving strategies. In this study we therefore comparatively evaluated the usefulness of two types of temperature-sensitive passive transponders (LifeChips and IPTT-300) and one data logger (iButton, DS1922L) mounted onto a collar to measure Tb in the field. First we tested the accuracy of all three devices in a water bath with water temperature ranging from 0 to 40°C. Second, we evaluated the usefulness of the LifeChips and the modified iButtons for measuring Tb of small heterothermic mammals under field conditions. For this work we subcutaneously implanted 14 male edible dormice (Glis glis) with transponders, and equipped another 14 males with data loggers to simultaneously record Tb and oxygen consumption with a portable oxygen analyzer (Oxbox). In one individual we recorded Tb with both devices and analyzed recorded Tb patterns. LifeChips are able to measure temperature within the smallest range from 25 to 40°C with an accuracy of 0.07±0.12°C. IPTT-300 transponders measured temperature between 10 and 40°C, but accuracy decreased considerably at values below 30°C, with maximal deviations of nearly 7°C. An individual calibration of each transponder is therefore needed, before using it at low Tbs. The accuracy of the data logger was comparatively good (0.12±0.25°C) and stable over the whole temperature range tested (0-40°C). In all three devices, the repeatability of measurements was high. LifeChip transponders as well as modified iButtons measured Tb reliably under field conditions. Simultaneous Tb-recordings in one edible dormouse with an implanted LifeChip and a collar-mounted iButton revealed that values of both measurements were closely correlated. Taken together, we conclude that implanted temperature-sensitive transponders represent an appropriate and largely non-invasive method to measure Tb also under field conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Button battery injuries in the pediatric aerodigestive tract.

PubMed

Ettyreddy, Abhinav R; Georg, Matthew W; Chi, David H; Gaines, Barbara A; Simons, Jeffrey P

2015-12-01

Children with a button battery impaction present with nonspecific symptoms that may account for a delay in medical care. We conducted a retrospective study of the clinical presentation, management, and complications associated with button battery ingestion in the pediatric aerodigestive tract and to evaluate the associated long-term morbidity. We reviewed the medical records of 23 patients who were treated for button battery impaction at our tertiary care children's hospital from Jan. 1, 2000, through July 31, 2013. This population was made up of 14 boys and 9 girls, aged 7 days to 12 years (mean: 4 yr). Patients were divided into three groups based on the site of impaction; there were 9 impactions in the esophagus and 7 each in the nasal cavity and stomach. We compiled information on the type and size of each battery, the duration of the impaction, presenting symptoms, treatment, and outcomes. The mean duration of battery impaction was 40.6, 30.7, and 21.0 hours in the esophagus, nasal cavity, and stomach, respectively. We were able to identify the specific type of battery in 13 cases; 11 of these cases (85%) involved a 3-V 20-mm lithium ion battery, including all cases of esophageal impaction in which the type of battery was identified. The most common presenting signs and symptoms were vomiting (n = 7 [30%]), difficulty feeding (n = 5 [22%]), cough (n = 5), and bloody nasal discharge (n = 5); none of the presenting signs and symptoms predicted the severity of the injury or the outcome. The median length of hospital stay was far greater in the esophageal group (12 days) than in the nasal and stomach groups (1 day each; p = 0.006). Battery impaction in the esophagus for more than 15 hours was associated with a significantly longer postoperative hospital stay than impaction for less than 15 hours (p = 0.04). Esophageal complications included strictures (n = 5), perforation (n = 3), and tracheoesophageal fistula formation (n = 2). Clinicians should consider battery impaction in the upper aerodigestive tract as an emergency that can lead to significant long-term morbidity, and therefore immediate surgical intervention is required.

Low typing endurance in keyboard workers with work-related upper limb disorder

PubMed Central

Povlsen, Bo

2011-01-01

Objective To compare results of typing endurance and pain before and after a standardized functional test. Design A standardized previously published typing test on a standard QWERTY keyboard. Setting An outpatient hospital environment. Participants Sixty-one keyboard and mouse operating patients with WRULD and six normal controls. Main outcome measure Pain severity before and after the test, typing endurance and speed were recorded. Results Thirty-two patients could not complete the test before pain reached VAS 5 and this group only typed a mean of 11 minutes. The control group and the remaining group of 29 patients completed the test. Two-tailed student T test was used for evaluation. The endurance was significantly shorter in the patient group that could not complete the test (P < 0.00001) and the pain levels were also higher in this group both before (P = 0.01) and after the test (P = 0.0003). Both patient groups had more pain in the right than the left hand, both before and after typing. Conclusions Low typing endurance correlates statistically with more resting pain in keyboard and mouse operators with work-related upper limb disorder and statistically more pain after a standardized typing test. As the right hands had higher pain levels, typing alone may not be the cause of the pain as the left hand on a QWERTY keyboard does relative more keystrokes than the right hand. PMID:21637395

The Mouse Heart Attack Research Tool (mHART) 1.0 Database.

PubMed

DeLeon-Pennell, Kristine Y; Iyer, Rugmani Padmanabhan; Ma, Yonggang; Yabluchanskiy, Andriy; Zamilpa, Rogelio; Chiao, Ying Ann; Cannon, Presley; Cates, Courtney; Flynn, Elizabeth R; Halade, Ganesh V; de Castro Bras, Lisandra E; Lindsey, Merry L

2018-05-18

The generation of Big Data has enabled systems-level dissections into the mechanisms of cardiovascular pathology. Integration of genetic, proteomic, and pathophysiological variables across platforms and laboratories fosters discoveries through multidisciplinary investigations and minimizes unnecessary redundancy in research efforts. The Mouse Heart Attack Research Tool (mHART) consolidates a large dataset of over 10 years of experiments from a single laboratory for cardiovascular investigators to generate novel hypotheses and identify new predictive markers of progressive left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) in mice. We designed the mHART REDCap database using our own data to integrate cardiovascular community participation. We generated physiological, biochemical, cellular, and proteomic outputs from plasma and left ventricles obtained from post-MI and no MI (naïve) control groups. We included both male and female mice ranging in age from 3 to 36 months old. After variable collection, data underwent quality assessment for data curation (e.g. eliminate technical errors, check for completeness, remove duplicates, and define terms). Currently, mHART 1.0 contains >888,000 data points and includes results from >2,100 unique mice. Database performance was tested and an example provided to illustrate database utility. This report explains how the first version of the mHART database was established and provides researchers with a standard framework to aid in the integration of their data into our database or in the development of a similar database.

Information for Caregivers

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