40 CFR 53.34 - Test procedure for methods for PM10 and Class I methods for PM2.5.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... linear regression parameters (slope, intercept, and correlation coefficient) describing the relationship... correlation coefficient. (2) To pass the test for comparability, the slope, intercept, and correlation...

Comparison of statistical models to estimate parasite growth rate in the induced blood stage malaria model.

PubMed

Wockner, Leesa F; Hoffmann, Isabell; O'Rourke, Peter; McCarthy, James S; Marquart, Louise

2017-08-25

The efficacy of vaccines aimed at inhibiting the growth of malaria parasites in the blood can be assessed by comparing the growth rate of parasitaemia in the blood of subjects treated with a test vaccine compared to controls. In studies using induced blood stage malaria (IBSM), a type of controlled human malaria infection, parasite growth rate has been measured using models with the intercept on the y-axis fixed to the inoculum size. A set of statistical models was evaluated to determine an optimal methodology to estimate parasite growth rate in IBSM studies. Parasite growth rates were estimated using data from 40 subjects published in three IBSM studies. Data was fitted using 12 statistical models: log-linear, sine-wave with the period either fixed to 48 h or not fixed; these models were fitted with the intercept either fixed to the inoculum size or not fixed. All models were fitted by individual, and overall by study using a mixed effects model with a random effect for the individual. Log-linear models and sine-wave models, with the period fixed or not fixed, resulted in similar parasite growth rate estimates (within 0.05 log 10 parasites per mL/day). Average parasite growth rate estimates for models fitted by individual with the intercept fixed to the inoculum size were substantially lower by an average of 0.17 log 10 parasites per mL/day (range 0.06-0.24) compared with non-fixed intercept models. Variability of parasite growth rate estimates across the three studies analysed was substantially higher (3.5 times) for fixed-intercept models compared with non-fixed intercept models. The same tendency was observed in models fitted overall by study. Modelling data by individual or overall by study had minimal effect on parasite growth estimates. The analyses presented in this report confirm that fixing the intercept to the inoculum size influences parasite growth estimates. The most appropriate statistical model to estimate the growth rate of blood-stage parasites in IBSM studies appears to be a log-linear model fitted by individual and with the intercept estimated in the log-linear regression. Future studies should use this model to estimate parasite growth rates.

Dietary protein intake is associated with lean mass change in older, community-dwelling adults: the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study.

PubMed

Houston, Denise K; Nicklas, Barbara J; Ding, Jingzhong; Harris, Tamara B; Tylavsky, Frances A; Newman, Anne B; Lee, Jung Sun; Sahyoun, Nadine R; Visser, Marjolein; Kritchevsky, Stephen B

2008-01-01

Dietary surveys suggest that many older, community-dwelling adults consume insufficient dietary protein, which may contribute to the age-related loss of lean mass (LM). The objective of the study was to determine the association between dietary protein and changes in total LM and nonbone appendicular LM (aLM) in older, community-dwelling men and women. Dietary protein intake was assessed by using an interviewer-administered 108-item food-frequency questionnaire in men and women aged 70-79 y who were participating in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study (n=2066). Changes in LM and aLM over 3 y were measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between protein intake and 3-y changes in LM and aLM was examined by using multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. After adjustment for potential confounders, energy-adjusted protein intake was associated with 3-y changes in LM [beta (SE): 8.76 (3.00), P=0.004] and aLM [beta (SE): 5.31 (1.64), P=0.001]. Participants in the highest quintile of protein intake lost approximately 40% less LM and aLM than did those in the lowest quintile of protein intake (x+/-SE: -0.501+/-0.106 kg compared with -0.883+/-0.104 kg for LM; -0.400+/-0.058 kg compared with -0.661+/-0.057 kg for aLM; P for trend<0.01). The associations were attenuated slightly after adjustment for change in fat mass, but the results remained significant. Dietary protein may be a modifiable risk factor for sarcopenia in older adults and should be studied further to determine its effects on preserving LM in this population.

Effects of full fat rice bran and defatted rice bran on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs.

PubMed

Casas, Gloria A; Overholt, Martin F; Dilger, Anna C; Boler, Dustin D; Stein, Hans H

2018-06-04

The objective was to test the hypothesis that increasing inclusion levels of full fat rice bran (FFRB) or defatted rice bran (DFRB) are not detrimental to growth or carcass characteristics, longissimus muscle (LM) quality, or fat quality when fed to growing-finishing pigs. A total of 224 barrows and gilts were randomly allotted to 7 treatments, with 4 pigs per pen and 8 pen replicates per treatment. Pigs had an average initial BW of 28.2 ± 4.1 kg and a 3-phase feeding program was used. A basal diet containing corn and soybean meal, 3 diets containing corn, soybean meal, and 10, 20, or 30% FFRB, and 3 diets containing corn, soybean meal, and 10, 20, or 30% DFRB were formulated within each phase. Daily feed allotments and pig BW at the start of the experiment and at the conclusion of each phase were recorded. On the last day of the experiment, 1 pig per pen was harvested and carcass characteristics, LM quality, and fat quality were determined. For the overall experimental period, no effects of dietary treatments were observed for average daily gain. However, average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased (linear, P < 0.05) and gain to feed ratio (G:F) increased (linear, P < 0.05) for pigs fed diets with increasing concentrations of FFRB. In contrast, ADFI increased linearly (P < 0.05) and G:F decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as DFRB was included in the diets. There were no effects of dietary treatments on LM quality. The length of the bellies decreased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) as the inclusion of FFRB or DFRB increased in the diets. The concentration of crude fat in the adipose tissue of pigs increased linearly (P < 0.05) as the concentration of FFRB or DFRB increased in the diets. The concentration of saturated fatty acids in the adipose tissue of pigs fed diets containing FFRB decreased (linear, P < 0.05), whereas the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased (linear, P < 0.05). In contrast, addition of DFRB did not affect the concentration of fatty acids in adipose tissues. In conclusion, 30% FFRB included in diets for growing-finishing pigs may improve G:F without affecting carcass characteristics or LM quality with the exception that PUFA in adipose tissues will increase. However, inclusion of DFRB in diets for growing-finishing pigs will reduce G:F without affecting the LM quality or composition of adipose tissues.

Solution Methods for 3D Tomographic Inversion Using A Highly Non-Linear Ray Tracer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hipp, J. R.; Ballard, S.; Young, C. J.; Chang, M.

2008-12-01

To develop 3D velocity models to improve nuclear explosion monitoring capability, we have developed a 3D tomographic modeling system that traces rays using an implementation of the Um and Thurber ray pseudo- bending approach, with full enforcement of Snell's Law in 3D at the major discontinuities. Due to the highly non-linear nature of the ray tracer, however, we are forced to substantially damp the inversion in order to converge on a reasonable model. Unfortunately the amount of damping is not known a priori and can significantly extend the number of calls of the computationally expensive ray-tracer and the least squares matrix solver. If the damping term is too small the solution step-size produces either an un-realistic model velocity change or places the solution in or near a local minimum from which extrication is nearly impossible. If the damping term is too large, convergence can be very slow or premature convergence can occur. Standard approaches involve running inversions with a suite of damping parameters to find the best model. A better solution methodology is to take advantage of existing non-linear solution techniques such as Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) or quasi-newton iterative solvers. In particular, the LM algorithm was specifically designed to find the minimum of a multi-variate function that is expressed as the sum of squares of non-linear real-valued functions. It has become a standard technique for solving non-linear least squared problems, and is widely adopted in a broad spectrum of disciplines, including the geosciences. At each iteration, the LM approach dynamically varies the level of damping to optimize convergence. When the current estimate of the solution is far from the ultimate solution LM behaves as a steepest decent method, but transitions to Gauss- Newton behavior, with near quadratic convergence, as the estimate approaches the final solution. We show typical linear solution techniques and how they can lead to local minima if the damping is set too low. We also describe the LM technique and show how it automatically determines the appropriate damping factor as it iteratively converges on the best solution. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DE-AC04- 94AL85000.

A laser based frequency modulated NL-OSL phenomenon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, D. R.; Bishnoi, A. S.; Soni, Anuj; Rawat, N. S.; Bhatt, B. C.; Kulkarni, M. S.; Babu, D. A. R.

2015-01-01

The detailed theoretical and experimental approach to novel technique of pulse frequency modulated stimulation (PFMS) method has been described for NL-OSL phenomenon. This method involved pulsed frequency modulation with respect to time for fixed pulse width of 532 nm continuous wave (CW)-laser light. The linearly modulated (LM)-, non-linearly (NL)-stimulation profiles have been generated using fast electromagnetic optical shutter. The PFMS parameters have been determined for present experimental setup. The PFMS based LM-, NL-OSL studies have been carried out on dosimetry grade single crystal α-Al2O3:C. The photo ionization cross section of α-Al2O3:C has been found to be ∼9.97 × 10-19 cm2 for 532 nm laser light using PFMS LM-OSL studies under assumption of first order of kinetic. This method of PFMS is found to be a potential alternative to generate different stimulation profiles using CW-light sources.

Chroma intra prediction based on inter-channel correlation for HEVC.

PubMed

Zhang, Xingyu; Gisquet, Christophe; François, Edouard; Zou, Feng; Au, Oscar C

2014-01-01

In this paper, we investigate a new inter-channel coding mode called LM mode proposed for the next generation video coding standard called high efficiency video coding. This mode exploits inter-channel correlation using reconstructed luma to predict chroma linearly with parameters derived from neighboring reconstructed luma and chroma pixels at both encoder and decoder to avoid overhead signaling. In this paper, we analyze the LM mode and prove that the LM parameters for predicting original chroma and reconstructed chroma are statistically the same. We also analyze the error sensitivity of the LM parameters. We identify some LM mode problematic situations and propose three novel LM-like modes called LMA, LML, and LMO to address the situations. To limit the increase in complexity due to the LM-like modes, we propose some fast algorithms with the help of some new cost functions. We further identify some potentially-problematic conditions in the parameter estimation (including regression dilution problem) and introduce a novel model correction technique to detect and correct those conditions. Simulation results suggest that considerable BD-rate reduction can be achieved by the proposed LM-like modes and model correction technique. In addition, the performance gain of the two techniques appears to be essentially additive when combined.

Intercepted photosynthetically active radiation in wheat canopies estimated by spectral reflectance. [Phoenix, Arizona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hatfield, J. L.; Asrar, G.; Kanemasu, E. T.

1982-01-01

The interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was evaluated relative to greenness and normalized difference (MSS 7-5/7+5) for five planting dates of wheat for 1978-79 and 1979-80 in Phoenix. Intercepted PAR was calculated from a model driven by leaf area index and stage of growth. Linear relationships were found between greenness and normalized difference with a separate model representing growth and senescence of the crop. Normalized difference was a significantly better model and would be easier to apply than the empirically derived greenness parameter. For the leaf area growth portion of the season the model between PAR interception and normalized difference was the same over years, however, for the leaf senescence the models showed more variability due to the lack of data on measured interception in sparse canopies. Normalized difference could be used to estimate PAR interception directly for crop growth models.

Handling Correlations between Covariates and Random Slopes in Multilevel Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bates, Michael David; Castellano, Katherine E.; Rabe-Hesketh, Sophia; Skrondal, Anders

2014-01-01

This article discusses estimation of multilevel/hierarchical linear models that include cluster-level random intercepts and random slopes. Viewing the models as structural, the random intercepts and slopes represent the effects of omitted cluster-level covariates that may be correlated with included covariates. The resulting correlations between…

Human Action Recognition in Surveillance Videos using Abductive Reasoning on Linear Temporal Logic

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-29

help of the optical flows (Lucas 75 and Kanade, 1981). 76 3.2 Atomic Propositions 77 isAt (ti, Oj, Lk)  Object Oj is at location Lk at time...simultaneously at two locations in the same frame. This can 84 be represented mathematically as: 85 isAt (ti, Oj, Lk... isAt (ti, Oj, Lm)  Lk   Lm

Development and proof-of-concept of three-dimensional lung histology volumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathew, Lindsay; Alabousi, Mostafa; Wheatley, Andrew; Aladl, Usaf; Slipetz, Deborah; Hogg, James C.; Fenster, Aaron; Parraga, Grace

2012-03-01

Most medical imaging is inherently three-dimensional (3D) but for validation of pathological findings, histopathology is commonly used and typically histopathology images are acquired as twodimensional slices with quantitative analysis performed in a single dimension. Histopathology is invasive, labour-intensive, and the analysis cannot be performed in real time, yet it remains the gold standard for the pathological diagnosis and validation of clinical or radiological diagnoses of disease. A major goal worldwide is to improve medical imaging resolution, sensitivity and specificity to better guide therapy and biopsy and to one day delay or replace biopsy. A key limitation however is the lack of tools to directly compare 3D macroscopic imaging acquired in patients with histopathology findings, typically provided in a single dimension (1D) or in two dimensions (2D). To directly address this, we developed methods for 2D histology slice visualization/registration to generate 3D volumes and quantified tissue components in the 3D volume for direct comparison to volumetric micro-CT and clinical CT. We used the elastase-instilled mouse emphysema lung model to evaluate our methods with murine lungs sectioned (5 μm thickness/10 μm gap) and digitized with 2μm in-plane resolution. 3D volumes were generated for wildtype and elastase mouse lung sections after semi-automated registration of all tissue slices. The 1D mean linear intercept (Lm) for wildtype (WT) (47.1 μm +/- 9.8 μm) and elastase mouse lung (64.5 μm +/- 14.0 μm) was significantly different (p<.001). We also generated 3D measurements based on tissue and airspace morphometry from the 3D volumes and all of these were significantly different (p<.0001) when comparing elastase and WT mouse lung. The ratio of the airspace-to-lung volume for the entire lung volume was also significantly and strongly correlated with Lm.

Dinuclear metallacycles with single M-O(H)-M bridges [M = Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II)]: effects of large bridging angles on structure and antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions.

PubMed

Reger, Daniel L; Pascui, Andrea E; Foley, Elizabeth A; Smith, Mark D; Jezierska, Julia; Ozarowski, Andrew

2014-02-17

The reactions of M(ClO4)2·xH2O and the ditopic ligands m-bis[bis(1-pyrazolyl)methyl]benzene (Lm) or m-bis[bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]benzene (Lm*) in the presence of triethylamine lead to the formation of monohydroxide-bridged, dinuclear metallacycles of the formula [M2(μ-OH)(μ-Lm)2](ClO4)3 (M = Fe(II), Co(II), Cu(II)) or [M2(μ-OH)(μ-Lm*)2](ClO4)3 (M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II)). With the exception of the complexes where the ligand is Lm and the metal is copper(II), all of these complexes have distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around the metal centers and unusual linear (Lm*) or nearly linear (Lm) M-O-M angles. For the two solvates of [Cu2(μ-OH)(μ-Lm)2](ClO4)3, the Cu-O-Cu angles are significantly bent and the geometry about the metal is distorted square pyramidal. All of the copper(II) complexes have structural distortions expected for the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect. The two cobalt(II) complexes show moderate antiferromagnetic coupling, -J = 48-56 cm(-1), whereas the copper(II) complexes show very strong antiferromagnetic coupling, -J = 555-808 cm(-1). The largest coupling is observed for [Cu2(μ-OH)(μ-Lm*)2](ClO4)3, the complex with a Cu-O-Cu angle of 180°, such that the exchange interaction is transmitted through the dz(2) and the oxygen s and px orbitals. The interaction decreases, but it is still significant, as the Cu-O-Cu angle decreases and the character of the metal orbital becomes increasingly d(x(2)-y(2)). These intermediate geometries and magnetic interactions lead to spin Hamiltonian parameters for the copper(II) complexes in the EPR spectra that have large E/D ratios and one g matrix component very close to 2. Density functional theory calculations were performed using the hybrid B3LYP functional in association with the TZVPP basis set, resulting in reasonable agreement with the experiments.

Finite-horizon differential games for missile-target interception system using adaptive dynamic programming with input constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jingliang; Liu, Chunsheng

2018-01-01

In this paper, the problem of intercepting a manoeuvring target within a fixed final time is posed in a non-linear constrained zero-sum differential game framework. The Nash equilibrium solution is found by solving the finite-horizon constrained differential game problem via adaptive dynamic programming technique. Besides, a suitable non-quadratic functional is utilised to encode the control constraints into a differential game problem. The single critic network with constant weights and time-varying activation functions is constructed to approximate the solution of associated time-varying Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs equation online. To properly satisfy the terminal constraint, an additional error term is incorporated in a novel weight-updating law such that the terminal constraint error is also minimised over time. By utilising Lyapunov's direct method, the closed-loop differential game system and the estimation weight error of the critic network are proved to be uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by using a simple non-linear system and a non-linear missile-target interception system, assuming first-order dynamics for the interceptor and target.

Constructing Graphical Representations: Middle Schoolers' Intuitions and Developing Knowledge about Slope and Y-Intercept

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hattikudur, Shanta; Prather, Richard W.; Asquith, Pamela; Alibali, Martha W.; Knuth, Eric J.; Nathan, Mitchell

2012-01-01

Middle-school students are expected to understand key components of graphs, such as slope and y-intercept. However, constructing graphs is a skill that has received relatively little research attention. This study examined students' construction of graphs of linear functions, focusing specifically on the relative difficulties of graphing slope and…

Implementation of dual-energy technique for virtual monochromatic and linearly mixed CBCTs

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

Li Hao; Giles, William; Ren Lei

Purpose: To implement dual-energy imaging technique for virtual monochromatic (VM) and linearly mixed (LM) cone beam CTs (CBCTs) and to demonstrate their potential applications in metal artifact reduction and contrast enhancement in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Methods: A bench-top CBCT system was used to acquire 80 kVp and 150 kVp projections, with an additional 0.8 mm tin filtration. To implement the VM technique, these projections were first decomposed into acrylic and aluminum basis material projections to synthesize VM projections, which were then used to reconstruct VM CBCTs. The effect of VM CBCT on the metal artifact reduction was evaluated withmore » an in-house titanium-BB phantom. The optimal VM energy to maximize contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for iodine contrast and minimize beam hardening in VM CBCT was determined using a water phantom containing two iodine concentrations. The LM technique was implemented by linearly combining the low-energy (80 kVp) and high-energy (150 kVp) CBCTs. The dose partitioning between low-energy and high-energy CBCTs was varied (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% for low-energy) while keeping total dose approximately equal to single-energy CBCTs, measured using an ion chamber. Noise levels and CNRs for four tissue types were investigated for dual-energy LM CBCTs in comparison with single-energy CBCTs at 80, 100, 125, and 150 kVp. Results: The VM technique showed substantial reduction of metal artifacts at 100 keV with a 40% reduction in the background standard deviation compared to a 125 kVp single-energy scan of equal dose. The VM energy to maximize CNR for both iodine concentrations and minimize beam hardening in the metal-free object was 50 keV and 60 keV, respectively. The difference of average noise levels measured in the phantom background was 1.2% between dual-energy LM CBCTs and equivalent-dose single-energy CBCTs. CNR values in the LM CBCTs of any dose partitioning are better than those of 150 kVp single-energy CBCTs. The average CNR for four tissue types with 80% dose fraction at low-energy showed 9.0% and 4.1% improvement relative to 100 kVp and 125 kVp single-energy CBCTs, respectively. CNRs for low-contrast objects improved as dose partitioning was more heavily weighted toward low-energy (80 kVp) for LM CBCTs. Conclusions: Dual-energy CBCT imaging techniques were implemented to synthesize VM CBCT and LM CBCTs. VM CBCT was effective at achieving metal artifact reduction. Depending on the dose-partitioning scheme, LM CBCT demonstrated the potential to improve CNR for low contrast objects compared to single-energy CBCT acquired with equivalent dose.« less

Intrastorm scale rainfall interception dynamics in a mature coniferous forest stand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iida, Shin'ichi; Levia, Delphis F.; Shimizu, Akira; Shimizu, Takanori; Tamai, Koji; Nobuhiro, Tatsuhiko; Kabeya, Naoki; Noguchi, Shoji; Sawano, Shinji; Araki, Makoto

2017-05-01

Canopy interception of rainfall is an important process in the water balance of forests. The intrastorm dynamics of canopy interception is less well understood than event scale interception. Accordingly, armed with measurements of hourly interception intensity (i) from the field, this study is among the first to examine the differences in canopy interception dynamics between the first and second halves of rainfall events to quantify dynamic storage values for a coniferous forest in Japan. At this site, experimental results demonstrated that: (1) the relationship between interception loss (I) and gross rainfall (GR) at the event scale is better explained by a parabolic curve than a linear relationship, and there is a low correlation between rainfall intensity (gr) and i; (2) the ratio of accumulated i during the first half (IF) to that of gr (GRF) was larger than the second half (IS/GRS), with no significant correlations between potential evaporation during first half (PEF) vs IF or the second half (PES) vs IS; and (3) water storage capacity was similar to the magnitude of maximum I. By emphasizing the comparison between IF and IS, this study concludes that the water storage on tree surface is more important than losses by wet canopy evaporation and splash during rain. This study also adds insights into intrastorm interception dynamics of coniferous forests which are necessary to better model and forecast interception losses.

Lung Mass in Smokers

PubMed Central

Washko, George R.; Kinney, Gregory L.; Ross, James C.; San José Estépar, Raúl; Han, MeiLan K.; Dransfield, Mark T.; Kim, Victor; Hatabu, Hiroto; Come, Carolyn E.; Bowler, Russell P.; Silverman, Edwin K.; Crapo, James; Lynch, David A.; Hokanson, John; Diaz, Alejandro A.

2017-01-01

Rationale and Objective Emphysema is characterized by airspace dilation, inflammation, and irregular deposition of elastin and collagen in the interstitium. Computed tomographic (CT) studies have reported that lung mass (LM) may be increased in smokers, a finding attributed to inflammatory and parenchymal remodeling processes observed on histopathology. We sought to examine the epidemiologic and clinical associations of LM in smokers. Materials and Methods Baseline epidemiologic, clinical, and CT data (n=8,156) from smokers enrolled into the COPDGene Study were analyzed. LM was calculated from the CT scan. Changes in lung function at five-year follow-up were available from 1,623 subjects. Regression analysis was performed to assess for associations of LM with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1 decline. Results Subjects with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 1 COPD had greater LM than either smokers with normal lung function or those with GOLD 2–4 COPD (P<0.001 for both comparisons). LM was predictive of rate of the decline in FEV1 (decline per 100 g, −4.7 ± 1.7 ml/yr, P=0.006). Conclusion Our cross sectional data suggest the presence of a biphasic radiologic remodeling process in smokers: the presence of such non-linearity must be accounted for in longitudinal CT studies. Baseline LM predicts the decline in lung function. PMID:27940230

Design and Processing of a Novel Chaos-Based Stepped Frequency Synthesized Wideband Radar Signal.

PubMed

Zeng, Tao; Chang, Shaoqiang; Fan, Huayu; Liu, Quanhua

2018-03-26

The linear stepped frequency and linear frequency shift keying (FSK) signal has been widely used in radar systems. However, such linear modulation signals suffer from the range-Doppler coupling that degrades radar multi-target resolution. Moreover, the fixed frequency-hopping or frequency-coded sequence can be easily predicted by the interception receiver in the electronic countermeasures (ECM) environments, which limits radar anti-jamming performance. In addition, the single FSK modulation reduces the radar low probability of intercept (LPI) performance, for it cannot achieve a large time-bandwidth product. To solve such problems, we propose a novel chaos-based stepped frequency (CSF) synthesized wideband signal in this paper. The signal introduces chaotic frequency hopping between the coherent stepped frequency pulses, and adopts a chaotic frequency shift keying (CFSK) and phase shift keying (PSK) composited coded modulation in a subpulse, called CSF-CFSK/PSK. Correspondingly, the processing method for the signal has been proposed. According to our theoretical analyses and the simulations, the proposed signal and processing method achieve better multi-target resolution and LPI performance. Furthermore, flexible modulation is able to increase the robustness against identification of the interception receiver and improve the anti-jamming performance of the radar.

Astronaut William Anders Official Portrait

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1967-01-01

This is the official NASA portrait of astronaut William Anders. Anders was commissioned in the air Force after graduation from the Naval Academy and served as a fighter pilot in all-weather interception squadrons of the Air Defense Command. Later he was responsible for technical management of nuclear power reactor shielding and radiation effects programs while at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory in New Mexico. In 1964, Anders was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an astronaut with responsibilities for dosimetry, radiation effects and environmental controls. He was backup pilot for the Gemini XI, Apollo 11 flights, and served as lunar module (LM) pilot for Apollo 8, the first lunar orbit mission in December 1968. He has logged more than 6,000 hours flying time.

Saturn Apollo Program

NASA Image and Video Library

1967-09-09

This is the official NASA portrait of astronaut William Anders. Anders was commissioned in the air Force after graduation from the Naval Academy and served as a fighter pilot in all-weather interception squadrons of the Air Defense Command. Later he was responsible for technical management of nuclear power reactor shielding and radiation effects programs while at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory in New Mexico. In 1964, Anders was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an astronaut with responsibilities for dosimetry, radiation effects and environmental controls. He was backup pilot for the Gemini XI, Apollo 11 flights, and served as lunar module (LM) pilot for Apollo 8, the first lunar orbit mission in December 1968. He has logged more than 6,000 hours flying time.

CSD Fans and Disjointed CSD Bundles: Recovery of The Spatial Sample Locations from CSD Ensembles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marsh, B. D.; Zieg, M. J.

2001-05-01

Volcanic rock captures magmatic time through eruption and quenching, but its spatial connection to the parent magma has been scrambled. It is an aliquot of magma from an unknown position within the magmatic body, and its relation to other coeval and comagmatic samples is also unknown. P-T determinations, although invaluable are not precise enough to arrange successive samples with any real certainty within the magmatic regime. This is a severe limitation in using lavas to infer magma chamber processes. We have developed a technique that allows the relative spatial order of comagmatic samples in the magmatic environment to be recovered. The method rests on a recent advance in CSD analysis. We have been able to show that CSD slope (S) and intercept (I) are linked through a universal relation (Zieg and Marsh, 2001, sub. J. Pet.). The CSDs of all igneous rocks fall on this I-S curve. Moreover, it can also be shown that CSD slope is inversely related to mean crystal size (S=1/Lm) and also that mean crystal size is the product of mean growth rate (G) and solidification time (Dt). That is, Lm = GDt. (The exact form of this growth law is completely arbitrary.). Because the rate of solidification front (SF) advance decreases as it propagates inward, local solidification time increases and so does mean crystal size, but nucleation rate must, in accordance with the universal I-S relation, decrease. The CSD slope thus must decrease systematically inward in the body, and a series of spatially contiguous CSDs thus form a fan. (This solves the mystery of CSD pivot points and of the often noticed correlation between CSD slope and intercept (Marsh et al., 1995 EOS).) A series of fanning CSDs for the Sudbury norite melt sheet match exactly the CSD fan calculated from the I - S relation. CSD slope decreases inward from the margins of the body as Lm increases due to increasing solidification time. Given a set of blind samples from a pluton, the order of the CSDs in a fan determines the relative position of the samples. And the maximum crystal size in each CSD measures the local solidification time, which indicates - through a generalized thermal model (Zieg & Marsh, 2001) - the true position in the body. That similar CSD fans are also found in active magmatic systems can be seen from the CSDs through the active upper SF of Makaopuhi lava lake (Cashman & Marsh, 1988). Here, however, the order of the fan is reversed. The steepest slope (smallest crystals) is deepest in the body, closest to the liquidus. Maximum crystal size and crystallinity decrease inward (increasing depth), and the order of the CSDs in the fan thus give the sample order within the SF. The reverse orders of active SF and pluton CSD fans are reconciled by realizing that the pluton CSD is set at the solidus, which means that the CSD continues to decrease in slope with increasing crystallization until it reaches the limit set by the thermal regime at the exact spatial position of the present solidus. This is a fundamentally important realization. It means that, because SFs reflect a thermal gradient, CSD fans record the progress of SFs. Many comagmatic volcanic suites (e.g., OPD 504B, Atka, Dome Mtn.) also show similar CSD fans. CSDs in comagmatic lava sequences that do not fall into a fan or belong to another fan may represent separate batches of the same parent body or different magmas with different histories. These CSDs often fall into two groups: Those of similar slope and different intercept and those of the same intercept but different slope. We call these disjointed bundles and discuss their interpretation.

The Effects of Low Dose-Rate Ionizing Radiation on the Shapes of Transients in the LM124 Operational Amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buchner, Stephen; McMorrow, Dale; Roche, Nicholas; Dusseau, Laurent; Pease, Ron L.

2008-01-01

Shapes of single event transients (SETs) in a linear bipolar circuit (LM124) change with exposure to total ionizing dose (TID) radiation. SETs shape changes are a direct consequence of TID-induced degradation of bipolar transistor gain. A reduction in transistor gain causes a reduction in the drive current of the current sources in the circuit, and it is the lower drive current that most affects the shapes of large amplitude SETs.

Analysis of baseline, average, and longitudinally measured blood pressure data using linear mixed models.

PubMed

Hossain, Ahmed; Beyene, Joseph

2014-01-01

This article compares baseline, average, and longitudinal data analysis methods for identifying genetic variants in genome-wide association study using the Genetic Analysis Workshop 18 data. We apply methods that include (a) linear mixed models with baseline measures, (b) random intercept linear mixed models with mean measures outcome, and (c) random intercept linear mixed models with longitudinal measurements. In the linear mixed models, covariates are included as fixed effects, whereas relatedness among individuals is incorporated as the variance-covariance structure of the random effect for the individuals. The overall strategy of applying linear mixed models decorrelate the data is based on Aulchenko et al.'s GRAMMAR. By analyzing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which are used separately as outcomes, we compare the 3 methods in identifying a known genetic variant that is associated with blood pressure from chromosome 3 and simulated phenotype data. We also analyze the real phenotype data to illustrate the methods. We conclude that the linear mixed model with longitudinal measurements of diastolic blood pressure is the most accurate at identifying the known single-nucleotide polymorphism among the methods, but linear mixed models with baseline measures perform best with systolic blood pressure as the outcome.

Association between history and physical examination factors and change in lumbar multifidus muscle thickness after spinal manipulation in patients with low back pain

PubMed Central

Koppenhaver, Shane L.; Fritz, Julie M.; Hebert, Jeffrey J.; Kawchuk, Greg N.; Parent, Eric C.; Gill, Norman W.; Childs, John D.; Teyhen, Deydre S.

2012-01-01

Understanding the clinical characteristics of patients with low back pain (LBP) who display improved lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle function after spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) may provide insight into a potentially synergistic interaction between SMT and exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the baseline historical and physical examination factors associated with increased contracted LM muscle thickness one week after SMT. Eighty-one participants with LBP underwent a baseline physical examination and ultrasound imaging assessment of the LM muscle during submaximal contraction before and one week after SMT. The relationship between baseline examination variables and 1-week change in contracted LM thickness was assessed using correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple linear regression. Four variables best predicted the magnitude of increases in contracted LM muscle thickness after SMT. When combined, these variables suggest that patients with LBP, (1) that are fairly acute, (2) have at least a moderately good prognosis without focal and irritable symptoms, and (3) exhibit signs of spinal instability, may be the best candidates for a combined SMT and LSE treatment approach. PMID:22516351

Association between history and physical examination factors and change in lumbar multifidus muscle thickness after spinal manipulation in patients with low back pain.

PubMed

Koppenhaver, Shane L; Fritz, Julie M; Hebert, Jeffrey J; Kawchuk, Greg N; Parent, Eric C; Gill, Norman W; Childs, John D; Teyhen, Deydre S

2012-10-01

Understanding the clinical characteristics of patients with low back pain (LBP) who display improved lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle function after spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) may provide insight into a potentially synergistic interaction between SMT and exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the baseline historical and physical examination factors associated with increased contracted LM muscle thickness one week after SMT. Eighty-one participants with LBP underwent a baseline physical examination and ultrasound imaging assessment of the LM muscle during submaximal contraction before and one week after SMT. The relationship between baseline examination variables and 1-week change in contracted LM thickness was assessed using correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple linear regression. Four variables best predicted the magnitude of increases in contracted LM muscle thickness after SMT. When combined, these variables suggest that patients with LBP, (1) that are fairly acute, (2) have at least a moderately good prognosis without focal and irritable symptoms, and (3) exhibit signs of spinal instability, may be the best candidates for a combined SMT and lumbar stabilization exercise (LSE) treatment approach. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

An at-site flood estimation method in the context of nonstationarity I. A simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gado, Tamer A.; Nguyen, Van-Thanh-Van

2016-04-01

The stationarity of annual flood peak records is the traditional assumption of flood frequency analysis. In some cases, however, as a result of land-use and/or climate change, this assumption is no longer valid. Therefore, new statistical models are needed to capture dynamically the change of probability density functions over time, in order to obtain reliable flood estimation. In this study, an innovative method for nonstationary flood frequency analysis was presented. Here, the new method is based on detrending the flood series and applying the L-moments along with the GEV distribution to the transformed ;stationary; series (hereafter, this is called the LM-NS). The LM-NS method was assessed through a comparative study with the maximum likelihood (ML) method for the nonstationary GEV model, as well as with the stationary (S) GEV model. The comparative study, based on Monte Carlo simulations, was carried out for three nonstationary GEV models: a linear dependence of the mean on time (GEV1), a quadratic dependence of the mean on time (GEV2), and linear dependence in both the mean and log standard deviation on time (GEV11). The simulation results indicated that the LM-NS method performs better than the ML method for most of the cases studied, whereas the stationary method provides the least accurate results. An additional advantage of the LM-NS method is to avoid the numerical problems (e.g., convergence problems) that may occur with the ML method when estimating parameters for small data samples.

Probe-level linear model fitting and mixture modeling results in high accuracy detection of differential gene expression.

PubMed

Lemieux, Sébastien

2006-08-25

The identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from Affymetrix GeneChips arrays is currently done by first computing expression levels from the low-level probe intensities, then deriving significance by comparing these expression levels between conditions. The proposed PL-LM (Probe-Level Linear Model) method implements a linear model applied on the probe-level data to directly estimate the treatment effect. A finite mixture of Gaussian components is then used to identify DEGs using the coefficients estimated by the linear model. This approach can readily be applied to experimental design with or without replication. On a wholly defined dataset, the PL-LM method was able to identify 75% of the differentially expressed genes within 10% of false positives. This accuracy was achieved both using the three replicates per conditions available in the dataset and using only one replicate per condition. The method achieves, on this dataset, a higher accuracy than the best set of tools identified by the authors of the dataset, and does so using only one replicate per condition.

Quantum criticality of the two-channel pseudogap Anderson model: universal scaling in linear and non-linear conductance.

PubMed

Wu, Tsan-Pei; Wang, Xiao-Qun; Guo, Guang-Yu; Anders, Frithjof; Chung, Chung-Hou

2016-05-05

The quantum criticality of the two-lead two-channel pseudogap Anderson impurity model is studied. Based on the non-crossing approximation (NCA) and numerical renormalization group (NRG) approaches, we calculate both the linear and nonlinear conductance of the model at finite temperatures with a voltage bias and a power-law vanishing conduction electron density of states, ρc(ω) proportional |ω − μF|(r) (0 < r < 1) near the Fermi energy μF. At a fixed lead-impurity hybridization, a quantum phase transition from the two-channel Kondo (2CK) to the local moment (LM) phase is observed with increasing r from r = 0 to r = rc < 1. Surprisingly, in the 2CK phase, different power-law scalings from the well-known [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] form is found. Moreover, novel power-law scalings in conductances at the 2CK-LM quantum critical point are identified. Clear distinctions are found on the critical exponents between linear and non-linear conductance at criticality. The implications of these two distinct quantum critical properties for the non-equilibrium quantum criticality in general are discussed.

The X-Ray Luminosity-Mass Relation for Local Clusters of Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanek, Rebecca; Evrard, A.; Boehringer, H.; Schuecker, P.; Nord, B.

2006-12-01

My thesis is centered on investigating scaling relations of galaxy clusters. Focusing on the relationship between soft X-ray luminosity and mass (L-M) for low-redshift clusters of galaxies, I have determined the mean parameters to 5%, and calculated a formal measure of the scatter in the L-M relation. I model the L-M relation with a conditional probability function including a mean power-law scaling relation, L Mpρsc(z), and log-normal scatter in mass at fixed luminosity, σlnM. Convolving with the halo mass function, I compute expected counts in redshift and flux that, after appropriate survey effects are included, are compared to REFLEX survey data. Combining the likelihood analysis with the measured variance in L-T relation from HIFLUGCS, I obtain fit parameters p=1.59+/-0.05, lnL15,0=1.34+/-0.09, and σlnM=0.37+/-0.05 for self-similar redshift evolution (s = 7/6) in a concordance (Ωm=0.3, ΩΛ=0.7, σ8=0.9) universe. I find a substantially (factor 2) dimmer intercept and slightly steeper slope than the values published using hydrostatic mass estimates of the HIFLUGCS sample and show that a Malmquist bias of the X-ray flux-limited sample accounts for this effect. I accommodate the new WMAP constraints with a compromise model with Ωm=0.24, σ8=0.85, and somewhat lower scatter σlnM=0.25. I will also present work in progress from galaxy cluster population statistics in the Millennium Simulation with Gas (MSG), specifically focusing on the scatter and covariance between cluster properties at a fixed epoch.

The relationship between energy expenditure and speed during pedestrian locomotion in birds: a morphological basis for the elevated y-intercept?

PubMed

Halsey, Lewis G

2013-06-01

The slope of the typically linear relationship between metabolic rate and walking speed represents the net cost of transport (NCOT). The extrapolated y-intercept is often greater than resting metabolic rate, thus representing a fixed cost associated with pedestrian transport including body maintenance costs. The full cause of the elevated y-intercept remains elusive and it could simply represent experimental stresses. The present literature-based study compares the mass-independent energetic cost of pedestrian locomotion in birds (excluding those with an upright posture, i.e. penguins), represented by the y-intercept, to a known predictor of cost of transport, hip height. Both phylogenetically informed and non-phylogenetically informed analyses were undertaken to determine if patterns of association between hip height, body mass, and the y-intercept are robust with respect to the method of analysis. Body mass and hip height were significant predictors of the y-intercept in the best phylogenetically-informed and non-phylogenetically informed models. Thus there is evidence that, in birds at least, the elevated y-intercept is a legitimate component of locomotion energy expenditure. Hip height is probably a good proxy of effective limb length and thus perhaps birds with greater hip heights have lower y-intercepts because their longer legs more efficiently accommodate body motion and/or because their limbs are more aligned with the ground reaction forces. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Muscle length alters geometry of arterioles and venules in hamster retractor.

PubMed

Nakao, M; Segal, S S

1995-01-01

We investigated how changes in muscle length (Lm) would alter the geometry of arterioles and venules and whether such an effect would depend on the orientation of microvessels to muscle fibers. The parallel-fibered retractor muscle of anesthetized (pentobarbital sodium, 65 mg/kg) male hamsters (n = 20, 105 +/- 4 g) was exposed and irrigated with physiological saline solution (pH 7.4; 35 degrees C). Sarcomere length (Ls) was measured at x2,400 magnification after topical application (3 min, 10(-5) M) of a fluorescent dye [4-(4-diethylaminostyryl)-N-methylpyridinium iodide]. In vivo Ls at resting Lm (i.e., at Lm = 100%) was 3.00 +/- 0.02 microns. The origin and insertion of the retractor were cut, and the muscle was reflected dorsally while the circulation arising from the ventral surface was preserved. Polystyrene "tendons" were glued to each end of the muscle to control Lm, which was varied in 10% increments from 80 to 130% of in situ Lm; Ls increased linearly (r2 = 0.82) from 2.58 +/- 0.03 to 3.89 +/- 0.07 microns, respectively. Arteriole and venule branches and the centerline of "Y" bifurcations were classified based on orientation angles (theta) with respect to muscle fibers at Lm = 100%; three categories were defined using trigonometry (detailed in the APPENDIX) based on microvessel behavior during changes in Lm: parallel (P), 0 degree < or = theta < or = 32.6 degrees; intermediate (I), 32.6 degrees < theta < 59.4 degrees; and normal (N), 59.4 degrees < or = theta < or = 90 degrees.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Graphing the Model or Modeling the Graph? Not-so-Subtle Problems in Linear IS-LM Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alston, Richard M.; Chi, Wan Fu

1989-01-01

Outlines the differences between the traditional and modern theoretical models of demand for money. States that the two models are often used interchangeably in textbooks, causing ambiguity. Argues against the use of linear specifications that imply that income velocity can increase without limit and that autonomous components of aggregate demand…

Fat Mass Is Positively Associated with Estimated Hip Bone Strength among Chinese Men Aged 50 Years and above with Low Levels of Lean Mass.

PubMed

Han, Guiyuan; Chen, Yu-Ming; Huang, Hua; Chen, Zhanyong; Jing, Lipeng; Xiao, Su-Mei

2017-04-24

This study investigated the relationships of fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM) with estimated hip bone strength in Chinese men aged 50-80 years (median value: 62.0 years). A cross-sectional study including 889 men was conducted in Guangzhou, China. Body composition and hip bone parameters were generated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The relationships of the LM index (LMI) and the FM index (FMI) with bone phenotypes were detected by generalised additive models and multiple linear regression. The associations between the FMI and the bone variables in LMI tertiles were further analysed. The FMI possessed a linear relationship with greater estimated hip bone strength after adjustment for the potential confounders ( p < 0.05). Linear relationships were also observed for the LMI with most bone phenotypes, except for the cross-sectional area ( p < 0.05). The contribution of the LMI (4.0%-12.8%) was greater than that of the FMI (2.0%-5.7%). The associations between the FMI and bone phenotypes became weaker after controlling for LMI. Further analyses showed that estimated bone strength ascended with FMI in the lowest LMI tertile ( p < 0.05), but not in the subgroups with a higher LMI. This study suggested that LM played a critical role in bone health in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men, and that the maintenance of adequate FM could help to promote bone acquisition in relatively thin men.

Transonic Compressor: Program System TXCO for Data Acquisition and On-Line Reduction.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-01

IMONIDAYIYEARIHOUR,IMINISEC) OS16 C ............................................................... (0S17 C 0SiB C Gel dole ond line and convert the...linear curve fits SECON real intercept of linear curve fit (as from CURVE) 65 - . FLOW CHART SUBROUTINE CALIB - - - Aso C’A / oonre& *Go wSAt*irc

Marginal and Random Intercepts Models for Longitudinal Binary Data With Examples From Criminology.

PubMed

Long, Jeffrey D; Loeber, Rolf; Farrington, David P

2009-01-01

Two models for the analysis of longitudinal binary data are discussed: the marginal model and the random intercepts model. In contrast to the linear mixed model (LMM), the two models for binary data are not subsumed under a single hierarchical model. The marginal model provides group-level information whereas the random intercepts model provides individual-level information including information about heterogeneity of growth. It is shown how a type of numerical averaging can be used with the random intercepts model to obtain group-level information, thus approximating individual and marginal aspects of the LMM. The types of inferences associated with each model are illustrated with longitudinal criminal offending data based on N = 506 males followed over a 22-year period. Violent offending indexed by official records and self-report were analyzed, with the marginal model estimated using generalized estimating equations and the random intercepts model estimated using maximum likelihood. The results show that the numerical averaging based on the random intercepts can produce prediction curves almost identical to those obtained directly from the marginal model parameter estimates. The results provide a basis for contrasting the models and the estimation procedures and key features are discussed to aid in selecting a method for empirical analysis.

Noise masking of S-cone increments and decrements.

PubMed

Wang, Quanhong; Richters, David P; Eskew, Rhea T

2014-11-12

S-cone increment and decrement detection thresholds were measured in the presence of bipolar, dynamic noise masks. Noise chromaticities were the L-, M-, and S-cone directions, as well as L-M, L+M, and achromatic (L+M+S) directions. Noise contrast power was varied to measure threshold Energy versus Noise (EvN) functions. S+ and S- thresholds were similarly, and weakly, raised by achromatic noise. However, S+ thresholds were much more elevated by S, L+M, L-M, L- and M-cone noises than were S- thresholds, even though the noises consisted of two symmetric chromatic polarities of equal contrast power. A linear cone combination model accounts for the overall pattern of masking of a single test polarity well. L and M cones have opposite signs in their effects upon raising S+ and S- thresholds. The results strongly indicate that the psychophysical mechanisms responsible for S+ and S- detection, presumably based on S-ON and S-OFF pathways, are distinct, unipolar mechanisms, and that they have different spatiotemporal sampling characteristics, or contrast gains, or both. © 2014 ARVO.

Development and testing of a snow interceptometer to quantify canopy water storage and interception processes in the rain/snow transition zone of the North Cascades, Washington, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Kael A.; Van Stan, John T.; Dickerson-Lange, Susan E.; Lutz, James A.; Berman, Jeffrey W.; Gersonde, Rolf; Lundquist, Jessica D.

2013-06-01

Tree canopy snow interception is a significant hydrological process, capable of removing up to 60% of snow from the ground snowpack. Our understanding of canopy interception has been limited by our ability to measure whole canopy water storage in an undisturbed forest setting. This study presents a relatively inexpensive technique for directly measuring snow canopy water storage using an interceptometer, adapted from Friesen et al. (2008). The interceptometer is composed of four linear motion position sensors distributed evenly around the tree trunk. We incorporate a trunk laser-mapping installation method for precise sensor placement to reduce signal error due to sensor misalignment. Through calibration techniques, the amount of canopy snow required to produce the measured displacements can be calculated. We demonstrate instrument performance on a western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) for a snow interception event in November 2011. We find a snow capture efficiency of 83 ± 15% of accumulated ground snowfall with a maximum storage capacity of 50 ± 8 mm snow water equivalent (SWE). The observed interception event is compared to simulated interception, represented by the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) hydrologic model. The model generally underreported interception magnitude by 33% using a leaf area index (LAI) of 5 and 16% using an LAI of 10. The interceptometer captured intrastorm accumulation and melt rates up to 3 and 0.75 mm SWE h-1, respectively, which the model failed to represent. While further implementation and validation is necessary, our preliminary results indicate that forest interception magnitude may be underestimated in maritime areas.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Preoperative Feeding to Evaluate Intestinal Barrier Function in Neonates Requiring Cardiac Surgery.

PubMed

Zyblewski, Sinai C; Nietert, Paul J; Graham, Eric M; Taylor, Sarah N; Atz, Andrew M; Wagner, Carol L

2015-07-01

To evaluate intestinal barrier function in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery using lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio measurements, and to determine correlations with early breast milk feeding. This was a single-center, prospective, randomized pilot study of 27 term-born neonates (≥ 37 weeks gestation) requiring cardiac surgery who were randomized to 1 of 2 preoperative feeding groups: nil per os (NPO) or trophic (10 mL/kg/day) breast milk feeds. At 3 time points (preoperative [preop], postoperative [postop] day 7, and postop day 14), subjects were administered an oral L/M solution, after which urine L/M ratios were measured using gas chromatography, with higher ratios indicative of increased intestinal permeability. Trends over time in the mean urine L/M ratios for each group were estimated using a general linear mixed model. There were no adverse events related to preoperative trophic feeding. In the NPO group (n = 13), the mean urine L/M ratio was 0.06 at preop, 0.12 at postop day 7, and 0.17 at postop day 14. In the trophic breast milk feeds group (n = 14), the mean urine L/M ratio was 0.09 at preop, 0.19 at postop day 7, and 0.15 at postop day 14. In both groups, L/M ratios were significantly higher at postop day 7 and postop day 14 compared with preop (P < .05). Neonates have increased intestinal permeability after cardiac surgery extending to at least postop day 14. This pilot study was not powered to detect differences in benefit or adverse events comparing the NPO and trophic breast milk feeds groups. Further studies to identify mechanisms of intestinal injury and therapeutic interventions are warranted. Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01475357. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Contributions of lean mass and fat mass to bone mineral density: a study in postmenopausal women.

PubMed

Ho-Pham, Lan T; Nguyen, Nguyen D; Lai, Thai Q; Nguyen, Tuan V

2010-03-26

The relative contribution of lean and fat to the determination of bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women is a contentious issue. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that lean mass is a better determinant of BMD than fat mass. This cross-sectional study involved 210 postmenopausal women of Vietnamese background, aged between 50 and 85 years, who were randomly sampled from various districts in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). Whole body scans, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD were measured by DXA (QDR 4500, Hologic Inc., Waltham, MA). Lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM) were derived from the whole body scan. Furthermore, lean mass index (LMi) and fat mass index (FMi) were calculated as ratio of LM or FM to body height in metre squared (m2). In multiple linear regression analysis, both LM and FM were independent and significant predictors of BMD at the spine and femoral neck. Age, lean mass and fat mass collectively explained 33% variance of lumbar spine and 38% variance of femoral neck BMD. Replacing LM and FM by LMi and LMi did not alter the result. In both analyses, the influence of LM or LMi was greater than FM and FMi. Simulation analysis suggested that a study with 1000 individuals has a 78% chance of finding the significant effects of both LM and FM, and a 22% chance of finding LM alone significant, and zero chance of finding the effect of fat mass alone. These data suggest that both lean mass and fat mass are important determinants of BMD. For a given body size -- measured either by lean mass or height --women with greater fat mass have greater BMD.

Molecular Characterization of a Novel Temperate Sinorhizobium Bacteriophage, ФLM21, Encoding DNA Methyltransferase with CcrM-Like Specificity

PubMed Central

Dziewit, Lukasz; Oscik, Karolina; Bartosik, Dariusz

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT ΦLM21 is a temperate phage isolated from Sinorhizobium sp. strain LM21 (Alphaproteobacteria). Genomic analysis and electron microscopy suggested that ΦLM21 is a member of the family Siphoviridae. The phage has an isometric head and a long noncontractile tail. The genome of ΦLM21 has 50,827 bp of linear double-stranded DNA encoding 72 putative proteins, including proteins responsible for the assembly of the phage particles, DNA packaging, transcription, replication, and lysis. Virion proteins were characterized using mass spectrometry, leading to the identification of the major capsid and tail components, tape measure, and a putative portal protein. We have confirmed the activity of two gene products, a lytic enzyme (a putative chitinase) and a DNA methyltransferase, sharing sequence specificity with the cell cycle-regulating methyltransferase (CcrM) of the bacterial host. Interestingly, the genome of Sinorhizobium phage ΦLM21 shows very limited similarity to other known phage genome sequences and is thus considered unique. IMPORTANCE Prophages are known to play an important role in the genomic diversification of bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The influence of prophages on pathogenic bacteria is very well documented. However, our knowledge of the overall impact of prophages on the survival of their lysogenic, nonpathogenic bacterial hosts is still limited. In particular, information on prophages of the agronomically important Sinorhizobium species is scarce. In this study, we describe the isolation and molecular characterization of a novel temperate bacteriophage, ΦLM21, of Sinorhizobium sp. LM21. Since we have not found any similar sequences, we propose that this bacteriophage is a novel species. We conducted a functional analysis of selected proteins. We have demonstrated that the phage DNA methyltransferase has the same sequence specificity as the cell cycle-regulating methyltransferase CcrM of its host. We point out that this phenomenon of mimicking the host regulatory mechanisms by viruses is quite common in bacteriophages. PMID:25187538

Self-consistent generalized Langevin-equation theory for liquids of nonspherically interacting particles.

PubMed

Elizondo-Aguilera, L F; Zubieta Rico, P F; Ruiz-Estrada, H; Alarcón-Waess, O

2014-11-01

A self-consistent generalized Langevin-equation theory is proposed to describe the self- and collective dynamics of a liquid of linear Brownian particles. The equations of motion for the spherical harmonics projections of the collective and self-intermediate-scattering functions, F_{lm,lm}(k,t) and F_{lm,lm}^{S}(k,t), are derived as a contraction of the description involving the stochastic equations of the corresponding tensorial one-particle density n_{lm}(k,t) and the translational (α=T) and rotational (α=R) current densities j_{lm}^{α}(k,t). Similar to the spherical case, these dynamic equations require as an external input the equilibrium structural properties of the system contained in the projections of the static structure factor, denoted by S_{lm,lm}(k). Complementing these exact equations with simple (Vineyard-like) approximate relations for the collective and the self-memory functions we propose a closed self-consistent set of equations for the dynamic properties involved. In the long-time asymptotic limit, these equations become the so-called bifurcation equations, whose solutions (the nonergodicity parameters) can be written, extending the spherical case, in terms of one translational and one orientational scalar dynamic order parameter, γ_{T} and γ_{R}, which characterize the possible dynamical arrest transitions of the system. As a concrete illustrative application of this theory we determine the dynamic arrest diagram of the dipolar hard-sphere fluid. In qualitative agreement with mode coupling theory, the present self-consistent equations also predict three different regions in the state space spanned by the macroscopic control parameters η (volume fraction) and T* (scaled temperature): a region of fully ergodic states, a region of mixed states, in which the translational degrees of freedom become arrested while the orientational degrees of freedom remain ergodic, and a region of fully nonergodic states.

EGR-1 regulates Ho-1 expression induced by cigarette smoke

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

Chen, Huaqun, E-mail: chenhuaqun@njnu.edu.cn; Wang, Lijuan; Gong, Tao

2010-05-28

As an anti-oxidant molecule, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been implicated in the protection of lung injury by cigarette smoke (CS). The mechanisms regulating its expression have not been defined. In this report, the role of early growth response 1 (EGR-1) in the regulation of Ho-1 expression was investigated. In C57BL/6 mice with CS exposure, HO-1 was greatly increased in bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar inflammatory cells. In primary cultured mouse lung fibroblasts and RAW264.7 cells exposed to cigarette smoke water extract (CSE), an increase in HO-1 protein level was detected. In addition, CSE induced HO-1 expression was decreased in Egr-1more » deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts (Egr-1{sup -/-} MEFs). Nuclear localization of EGR-1 was examined in mouse lung fibroblasts after exposure to CSE. Luciferase reporter activity assays showed that the enhancer region of the Ho-1 gene containing a proposed EGR-1 binding site was responsible for the induction of HO-1. A higher increase of alveolar mean linear intercept (Lm) was observed in lung tissues, and a larger increase in the number of total cells and monocytes/macrophages from bronchial alveolar lavage fluid was found in CS-exposed mice by loss of function of EGR-1 treatment. In summary, the present data demonstrate that EGR-1 plays a critical role in HO-1 production induced by CS.« less

When three traits make a line: evolution of phenotypic plasticity and genetic assimilation through linear reaction norms in stochastic environments.

PubMed

Ergon, T; Ergon, R

2017-03-01

Genetic assimilation emerges from selection on phenotypic plasticity. Yet, commonly used quantitative genetics models of linear reaction norms considering intercept and slope as traits do not mimic the full process of genetic assimilation. We argue that intercept-slope reaction norm models are insufficient representations of genetic effects on linear reaction norms and that considering reaction norm intercept as a trait is unfortunate because the definition of this trait relates to a specific environmental value (zero) and confounds genetic effects on reaction norm elevation with genetic effects on environmental perception. Instead, we suggest a model with three traits representing genetic effects that, respectively, (i) are independent of the environment, (ii) alter the sensitivity of the phenotype to the environment and (iii) determine how the organism perceives the environment. The model predicts that, given sufficient additive genetic variation in environmental perception, the environmental value at which reaction norms tend to cross will respond rapidly to selection after an abrupt environmental change, and eventually becomes equal to the new mean environment. This readjustment of the zone of canalization becomes completed without changes in genetic correlations, genetic drift or imposing any fitness costs of maintaining plasticity. The asymptotic evolutionary outcome of this three-trait linear reaction norm generally entails a lower degree of phenotypic plasticity than the two-trait model, and maximum expected fitness does not occur at the mean trait values in the population. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Evolutionary Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society for Evolutionary Biology.

Genetic covariance components within and among linear type traits differ among contrasting beef cattle breeds.

PubMed

Doyle, Jennifer L; Berry, Donagh P; Walsh, Siobhan W; Veerkamp, Roel F; Evans, Ross D; Carthy, Tara R

2018-05-04

Linear type traits describing the skeletal, muscular, and functional characteristics of an animal are routinely scored on live animals in both the dairy and beef cattle industries. Previous studies have demonstrated that genetic parameters for certain performance traits may differ between breeds; no study, however, has attempted to determine if differences exist in genetic parameters of linear type traits among breeds or sexes. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine if genetic covariance components for linear type traits differed among five contrasting cattle breeds, and to also investigate if these components differed by sex. A total of 18 linear type traits scored on 3,356 Angus (AA), 31,049 Charolais (CH), 3,004 Hereford (HE), 35,159 Limousin (LM), and 8,632 Simmental (SI) were used in the analysis. Data were analyzed using animal linear mixed models which included the fixed effects of sex of the animal (except in the investigation into the presence of sexual dimorphism), age at scoring, parity of the dam, and contemporary group of herd-date of scoring. Differences (P < 0.05) in heritability estimates, between at least two breeds, existed for 13 out of 18 linear type traits. Differences (P < 0.05) also existed between the pairwise within-breed genetic correlations among the linear type traits. Overall, the linear type traits in the continental breeds (i.e., CH, LM, SI) tended to have similar heritability estimates to each other as well as similar genetic correlations among the same pairwise traits, as did the traits in the British breeds (i.e., AA, HE). The correlation between a linear function of breeding values computed conditional on covariance parameters estimated from the CH breed with a linear function of breeding values computed conditional on covariance parameters estimated from the other breeds was estimated. Replacing the genetic covariance components estimated in the CH breed with those of the LM had least effect but the impact was considerable when the genetic covariance components of the AA were used. Genetic correlations between the same linear type traits in the two sexes were all close to unity (≥0.90) suggesting little advantage in considering these as separate traits for males and females. Results for the present study indicate the potential increase in accuracy of estimated breeding value prediction from considering, at least, the British breed traits separate to continental breed traits.

A data-driven approach for evaluating multi-modal therapy in traumatic brain injury

PubMed Central

Haefeli, Jenny; Ferguson, Adam R.; Bingham, Deborah; Orr, Adrienne; Won, Seok Joon; Lam, Tina I.; Shi, Jian; Hawley, Sarah; Liu, Jialing; Swanson, Raymond A.; Massa, Stephen M.

2017-01-01

Combination therapies targeting multiple recovery mechanisms have the potential for additive or synergistic effects, but experimental design and analyses of multimodal therapeutic trials are challenging. To address this problem, we developed a data-driven approach to integrate and analyze raw source data from separate pre-clinical studies and evaluated interactions between four treatments following traumatic brain injury. Histologic and behavioral outcomes were measured in 202 rats treated with combinations of an anti-inflammatory agent (minocycline), a neurotrophic agent (LM11A-31), and physical therapy consisting of assisted exercise with or without botulinum toxin-induced limb constraint. Data was curated and analyzed in a linked workflow involving non-linear principal component analysis followed by hypothesis testing with a linear mixed model. Results revealed significant benefits of the neurotrophic agent LM11A-31 on learning and memory outcomes after traumatic brain injury. In addition, modulations of LM11A-31 effects by co-administration of minocycline and by the type of physical therapy applied reached statistical significance. These results suggest a combinatorial effect of drug and physical therapy interventions that was not evident by univariate analysis. The study designs and analytic techniques applied here form a structured, unbiased, internally validated workflow that may be applied to other combinatorial studies, both in animals and humans. PMID:28205533

A data-driven approach for evaluating multi-modal therapy in traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

Haefeli, Jenny; Ferguson, Adam R; Bingham, Deborah; Orr, Adrienne; Won, Seok Joon; Lam, Tina I; Shi, Jian; Hawley, Sarah; Liu, Jialing; Swanson, Raymond A; Massa, Stephen M

2017-02-16

Combination therapies targeting multiple recovery mechanisms have the potential for additive or synergistic effects, but experimental design and analyses of multimodal therapeutic trials are challenging. To address this problem, we developed a data-driven approach to integrate and analyze raw source data from separate pre-clinical studies and evaluated interactions between four treatments following traumatic brain injury. Histologic and behavioral outcomes were measured in 202 rats treated with combinations of an anti-inflammatory agent (minocycline), a neurotrophic agent (LM11A-31), and physical therapy consisting of assisted exercise with or without botulinum toxin-induced limb constraint. Data was curated and analyzed in a linked workflow involving non-linear principal component analysis followed by hypothesis testing with a linear mixed model. Results revealed significant benefits of the neurotrophic agent LM11A-31 on learning and memory outcomes after traumatic brain injury. In addition, modulations of LM11A-31 effects by co-administration of minocycline and by the type of physical therapy applied reached statistical significance. These results suggest a combinatorial effect of drug and physical therapy interventions that was not evident by univariate analysis. The study designs and analytic techniques applied here form a structured, unbiased, internally validated workflow that may be applied to other combinatorial studies, both in animals and humans.

An R2 statistic for fixed effects in the linear mixed model.

PubMed

Edwards, Lloyd J; Muller, Keith E; Wolfinger, Russell D; Qaqish, Bahjat F; Schabenberger, Oliver

2008-12-20

Statisticians most often use the linear mixed model to analyze Gaussian longitudinal data. The value and familiarity of the R(2) statistic in the linear univariate model naturally creates great interest in extending it to the linear mixed model. We define and describe how to compute a model R(2) statistic for the linear mixed model by using only a single model. The proposed R(2) statistic measures multivariate association between the repeated outcomes and the fixed effects in the linear mixed model. The R(2) statistic arises as a 1-1 function of an appropriate F statistic for testing all fixed effects (except typically the intercept) in a full model. The statistic compares the full model with a null model with all fixed effects deleted (except typically the intercept) while retaining exactly the same covariance structure. Furthermore, the R(2) statistic leads immediately to a natural definition of a partial R(2) statistic. A mixed model in which ethnicity gives a very small p-value as a longitudinal predictor of blood pressure (BP) compellingly illustrates the value of the statistic. In sharp contrast to the extreme p-value, a very small R(2) , a measure of statistical and scientific importance, indicates that ethnicity has an almost negligible association with the repeated BP outcomes for the study.

Development of a ceramic membrane from a lithian spinel, Li1+xMyMn2-yO4 (M=trivalent or tetravalent cations) for a Li ion-selective electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, H.; Venugopal, N.; Rim, T.; Yang, B.; Chung, K.; Ko, T.

2010-12-01

Recently a few lithium containing ceramics are reported as promising cathodes for application in lithium batteries. Among them, a spinel-type lithium manganate (LM) exhibits an exceptionally high ion selectivity at room temperature. Thus, LM could have a great potential as an ion selective membrane material for screening interfering ions from lithium ion for the determination of lithium ion in salt solution. In this study, we developed an ion-selective electrode based on LM as a membrane material and investigated its lithium ion selectivity by varying the content of M in composition. A sol-gel process was successfully applied for preparing LM films without resorting to calcination at a high temperature. The LM thin film-type membranes exhibit a high selectivity for Li ion over other cations, a wide operation detection range of 10-5 ~ 10-2 M, and a fast response time less than 60 s. Furthermore, our result demonstrates a linear potentiometric response over a wide range of lithium concentration, which is compared to that of a lithium ion-selective electrode based on an ionophore. Acknowledgements: This research was supported by a grant from the Development of Technology for Extraction of Resources Dissolved in Sea Water Program funded by Ministry of Land Transport and Maritime Affairs in Korean Government (2010).

Effect of heteroscedasticity treatment in residual error models on model calibration and prediction uncertainty estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ruochen; Yuan, Huiling; Liu, Xiaoli

2017-11-01

The heteroscedasticity treatment in residual error models directly impacts the model calibration and prediction uncertainty estimation. This study compares three methods to deal with the heteroscedasticity, including the explicit linear modeling (LM) method and nonlinear modeling (NL) method using hyperbolic tangent function, as well as the implicit Box-Cox transformation (BC). Then a combined approach (CA) combining the advantages of both LM and BC methods has been proposed. In conjunction with the first order autoregressive model and the skew exponential power (SEP) distribution, four residual error models are generated, namely LM-SEP, NL-SEP, BC-SEP and CA-SEP, and their corresponding likelihood functions are applied to the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model over the Huaihe River basin, China. Results show that the LM-SEP yields the poorest streamflow predictions with the widest uncertainty band and unrealistic negative flows. The NL and BC methods can better deal with the heteroscedasticity and hence their corresponding predictive performances are improved, yet the negative flows cannot be avoided. The CA-SEP produces the most accurate predictions with the highest reliability and effectively avoids the negative flows, because the CA approach is capable of addressing the complicated heteroscedasticity over the study basin.

Effects of Controlled-Release Fertilizer on Leaf Area Index and Fruit Yield in High-Density Soilless Tomato Culture Using Low Node-Order Pinching

PubMed Central

Kinoshita, Takafumi; Yano, Takayoshi; Sugiura, Makoto; Nagasaki, Yuji

2014-01-01

To further development of a simplified fertigation system using controlled-release fertilizers (CRF), we investigated the effects of differing levels of fertilizers and plant density on leaf area index (LAI), fruit yields, and nutrient use in soilless tomato cultures with low node-order pinching and high plant density during spring-summer (SS), summer-fall (SF), and fall-winter (FW) seasons. Plants were treated with 1 of 3 levels of CRF in a closed system, or with liquid fertilizer (LF) with constant electrical conductivity (EC) in a drip-draining system. Two plant densities were examined for each fertilizer treatment. In CRF treatments, LAI at pinching increased linearly with increasing nutrient supply for all cropping seasons. In SS, both light interception by plant canopy at pinching and total marketable fruit yield increased linearly with increasing LAI up to 6 m2·m−2; the maximization point was not reached for any of the treatments. In FW, both light interception and yield were maximized at an LAI of approximately 4. These results suggest that maximizing the LAI in SS and FW to the saturation point for light interception is important for increasing yield. In SF, however, the yield maximized at an LAI of approximately 3, although the light interception linearly increased with increasing LAI, up to 4.5. According to our results, the optimal LAI at pinching may be 6 in SS, 3 in SF, and 4 in FW. In comparing LAI values with similar fruit yield, we found that nutrient supply was 32−46% lower with the CRF method than with LF. In conclusion, CRF application in a closed system enables growers to achieve a desirable LAI to maximize fruit yield with a regulated amount of nutrient supply per unit area. Further, the CRF method greatly reduced nutrient use without decreasing fruit yield at similar LAIs, as compared to the LF method. PMID:25402478

Evaluation of linear regression techniques for atmospheric applications: the importance of appropriate weighting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Cheng; Zhen Yu, Jian

2018-03-01

Linear regression techniques are widely used in atmospheric science, but they are often improperly applied due to lack of consideration or inappropriate handling of measurement uncertainty. In this work, numerical experiments are performed to evaluate the performance of five linear regression techniques, significantly extending previous works by Chu and Saylor. The five techniques are ordinary least squares (OLS), Deming regression (DR), orthogonal distance regression (ODR), weighted ODR (WODR), and York regression (YR). We first introduce a new data generation scheme that employs the Mersenne twister (MT) pseudorandom number generator. The numerical simulations are also improved by (a) refining the parameterization of nonlinear measurement uncertainties, (b) inclusion of a linear measurement uncertainty, and (c) inclusion of WODR for comparison. Results show that DR, WODR and YR produce an accurate slope, but the intercept by WODR and YR is overestimated and the degree of bias is more pronounced with a low R2 XY dataset. The importance of a properly weighting parameter λ in DR is investigated by sensitivity tests, and it is found that an improper λ in DR can lead to a bias in both the slope and intercept estimation. Because the λ calculation depends on the actual form of the measurement error, it is essential to determine the exact form of measurement error in the XY data during the measurement stage. If a priori error in one of the variables is unknown, or the measurement error described cannot be trusted, DR, WODR and YR can provide the least biases in slope and intercept among all tested regression techniques. For these reasons, DR, WODR and YR are recommended for atmospheric studies when both X and Y data have measurement errors. An Igor Pro-based program (Scatter Plot) was developed to facilitate the implementation of error-in-variables regressions.

[Quantitative relationship between gas chromatographic retention time and structural parameters of alkylphenols].

PubMed

Ruan, Xiaofang; Zhang, Ruisheng; Yao, Xiaojun; Liu, Mancang; Fan, Botao

2007-03-01

Alkylphenols are a group of permanent pollutants in the environment and could adversely disturb the human endocrine system. It is therefore important to effectively separate and measure the alkylphenols. To guide the chromatographic analysis of these compounds in practice, the development of quantitative relationship between the molecular structure and the retention time of alkylphenols becomes necessary. In this study, topological, constitutional, geometrical, electrostatic and quantum-chemical descriptors of 44 alkylphenols were calculated using a software, CODESSA, and these descriptors were pre-selected using the heuristic method. As a result, three-descriptor linear model (LM) was developed to describe the relationship between the molecular structure and the retention time of alkylphenols. Meanwhile, the non-linear regression model was also developed based on support vector machine (SVM) using the same three descriptors. The correlation coefficient (R(2)) for the LM and SVM was 0.98 and 0. 92, and the corresponding root-mean-square error was 0. 99 and 2. 77, respectively. By comparing the stability and prediction ability of the two models, it was found that the linear model was a better method for describing the quantitative relationship between the retention time of alkylphenols and the molecular structure. The results obtained suggested that the linear model could be applied for the chromatographic analysis of alkylphenols with known molecular structural parameters.

The perceptual control of goal-directed locomotion: a common control architecture for interception and navigation?

PubMed

Chardenon, A; Montagne, G; Laurent, M; Bootsma, R J

2004-09-01

Intercepting a moving object while locomoting is a highly complex and demanding ability. Notwithstanding the identification of several informational candidates, the role of perceptual variables in the control process underlying such skills remains an open question. In this study we used a virtual reality set-up for studying locomotor interception of a moving ball. The subject had to walk along a straight path and could freely modify forward velocity, if necessary, in order to intercept-with the head-a ball moving along a straight path that led it to cross the agent's displacement axis. In a series of experiments we manipulated a local (ball size) and a global (focus of expansion) component of the visual flow but also the egocentric orientation of the ball. The experimental observations are well captured by a dynamic model linking the locomotor acceleration to properties of both global flow and egocentric direction. More precisely the changes in locomotor velocity depend on a linear combination of the change in bearing angle and the change in egocentric orientation, allowing the emergence of adaptive behavior under a variety of circumstances. We conclude that the mechanisms underlying the control of different goal-directed locomotion tasks (i.e. steering and interceptive tasks) could share a common architecture.

Bayesian Hierarchical Random Intercept Model Based on Three Parameter Gamma Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wirawati, Ika; Iriawan, Nur; Irhamah

2017-06-01

Hierarchical data structures are common throughout many areas of research. Beforehand, the existence of this type of data was less noticed in the analysis. The appropriate statistical analysis to handle this type of data is the hierarchical linear model (HLM). This article will focus only on random intercept model (RIM), as a subclass of HLM. This model assumes that the intercept of models in the lowest level are varied among those models, and their slopes are fixed. The differences of intercepts were suspected affected by some variables in the upper level. These intercepts, therefore, are regressed against those upper level variables as predictors. The purpose of this paper would demonstrate a proven work of the proposed two level RIM of the modeling on per capita household expenditure in Maluku Utara, which has five characteristics in the first level and three characteristics of districts/cities in the second level. The per capita household expenditure data in the first level were captured by the three parameters Gamma distribution. The model, therefore, would be more complex due to interaction of many parameters for representing the hierarchical structure and distribution pattern of the data. To simplify the estimation processes of parameters, the computational Bayesian method couple with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm and its Gibbs Sampling are employed.

Branched Pectic Galactan in Phloem-Sieve-Element Cell Walls: Implications for Cell Mechanics.

PubMed

Torode, Thomas A; O'Neill, Rachel; Marcus, Susan E; Cornuault, Valérie; Pose, Sara; Lauder, Rebecca P; Kračun, Stjepan K; Rydahl, Maja Gro; Andersen, Mathias C F; Willats, William G T; Braybrook, Siobhan A; Townsend, Belinda J; Clausen, Mads H; Knox, J Paul

2018-02-01

A major question in plant biology concerns the specification and functional differentiation of cell types. This is in the context of constraints imposed by networks of cell walls that both adhere cells and contribute to the form and function of developing organs. Here, we report the identification of a glycan epitope that is specific to phloem sieve element cell walls in several systems. A monoclonal antibody, designated LM26, binds to the cell wall of phloem sieve elements in stems of Arabidopsis ( Arabidopsis thaliana ), Miscanthus x giganteus , and notably sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris ) roots where phloem identification is an important factor for the study of phloem unloading of Suc. Using microarrays of synthetic oligosaccharides, the LM26 epitope has been identified as a β-1,6-galactosyl substitution of β-1,4-galactan requiring more than three backbone residues for optimized recognition. This branched galactan structure has previously been identified in garlic ( Allium sativum ) bulbs in which the LM26 epitope is widespread throughout most cell walls including those of phloem cells. Garlic bulb cell wall material has been used to confirm the association of the LM26 epitope with cell wall pectic rhamnogalacturonan-I polysaccharides. In the phloem tissues of grass stems, the LM26 epitope has a complementary pattern to that of the LM5 linear β-1,4-galactan epitope, which is detected only in companion cell walls. Mechanical probing of transverse sections of M x giganteus stems and leaves by atomic force microscopy indicates that phloem sieve element cell walls have a lower indentation modulus (indicative of higher elasticity) than companion cell walls. © 2018 The author(s). All Rights Reserved.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging to predict the body composition of pigs in vivo.

PubMed

Kremer, P V; Förster, M; Scholz, A M

2013-06-01

The objective of the study was to evaluate whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the opportunity to reliably analyze body composition of pigs in vivo. Therefore, the relation between areas of loin eye muscle and its back fat based on MRI images were used to predict body composition values measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). During the study, a total of 77 pigs were studied by MRI and DXA, with a BW ranging between 42 and 102 kg. The pigs originated from different extensive or conventional breeds or crossbreds such as Cerdo Iberico, Duroc, German Landrace, German Large White, Hampshire and Pietrain. A Siemens Magnetom Open was used for MRI in the thorax region between 13th and 14th vertebrae in order to measure the loin eye area (MRI-LA) and the above back fat area (MRI-FA) of both body sides, whereas a whole body scan was performed by DXA with a GE Lunar DPX-IQ in order to measure the amount and percentage of fat tissue (DXA-FM; DXA-%FM) and lean tissue mass (DXA-LM; DXA-%LM). A linear single regression analysis was performed to quantify the linear relationships between MRI- and DXA-derived traits. In addition, a stepwise regression procedure was carried out to calculate (multiple) regression equations between MRI and DXA variables (including BW). Single regression analyses showed high relationships between DXA-%FM and MRI-FA (R 2 = 0.89, √MSE = 2.39%), DXA-FM and MRI-FA (R 2 = 0.82, √MSE = 2757 g) and DXA-LM and MRI-LA (R 2 = 0.82, √MSE = 4018 g). Only DXA-%LM and MRI-LA did not show any relationship (R 2 = 0). As a result of the multiple regression analysis, DXA-LM and DXA-FM were both highly related to MRI-LA, MRI-FA and BW (R 2 = 0.96; √MSE = 1784 g, and R 2 = 0.95, √MSE = 1496 g). Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of MRI-derived images provides exact information about important 'carcass-traits' in pigs and may be used to reliably predict the body composition in vivo.

A parameter estimation algorithm for LFM/BPSK hybrid modulated signal intercepted by Nyquist folding receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Zhaoyang; Wang, Pei; Zhu, Jun; Tang, Bin

2016-12-01

Nyquist folding receiver (NYFR) is a novel ultra-wideband receiver architecture which can realize wideband receiving with a small amount of equipment. Linear frequency modulated/binary phase shift keying (LFM/BPSK) hybrid modulated signal is a novel kind of low probability interception signal with wide bandwidth. The NYFR is an effective architecture to intercept the LFM/BPSK signal and the LFM/BPSK signal intercepted by the NYFR will add the local oscillator modulation. A parameter estimation algorithm for the NYFR output signal is proposed. According to the NYFR prior information, the chirp singular value ratio spectrum is proposed to estimate the chirp rate. Then, based on the output self-characteristic, matching component function is designed to estimate Nyquist zone (NZ) index. Finally, matching code and subspace method are employed to estimate the phase change points and code length. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed algorithm has a better performance. It also has no need to construct a multi-channel structure, which means the computational complexity for the NZ index estimation is small. The simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm.

Practical Session: Simple Linear Regression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clausel, M.; Grégoire, G.

2014-12-01

Two exercises are proposed to illustrate the simple linear regression. The first one is based on the famous Galton's data set on heredity. We use the lm R command and get coefficients estimates, standard error of the error, R2, residuals …In the second example, devoted to data related to the vapor tension of mercury, we fit a simple linear regression, predict values, and anticipate on multiple linear regression. This pratical session is an excerpt from practical exercises proposed by A. Dalalyan at EPNC (see Exercises 1 and 2 of http://certis.enpc.fr/~dalalyan/Download/TP_ENPC_4.pdf).

Daily Suspended Sediment Discharge Prediction Using Multiple Linear Regression and Artificial Neural Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uca; Toriman, Ekhwan; Jaafar, Othman; Maru, Rosmini; Arfan, Amal; Saleh Ahmar, Ansari

2018-01-01

Prediction of suspended sediment discharge in a catchments area is very important because it can be used to evaluation the erosion hazard, management of its water resources, water quality, hydrology project management (dams, reservoirs, and irrigation) and to determine the extent of the damage that occurred in the catchments. Multiple Linear Regression analysis and artificial neural network can be used to predict the amount of daily suspended sediment discharge. Regression analysis using the least square method, whereas artificial neural networks using Radial Basis Function (RBF) and feedforward multilayer perceptron with three learning algorithms namely Levenberg-Marquardt (LM), Scaled Conjugate Descent (SCD) and Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno Quasi-Newton (BFGS). The number neuron of hidden layer is three to sixteen, while in output layer only one neuron because only one output target. The mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2 ) and coefficient of efficiency (CE) of the multiple linear regression (MLRg) value Model 2 (6 input variable independent) has the lowest the value of MAE and RMSE (0.0000002 and 13.6039) and highest R2 and CE (0.9971 and 0.9971). When compared between LM, SCG and RBF, the BFGS model structure 3-7-1 is the better and more accurate to prediction suspended sediment discharge in Jenderam catchment. The performance value in testing process, MAE and RMSE (13.5769 and 17.9011) is smallest, meanwhile R2 and CE (0.9999 and 0.9998) is the highest if it compared with the another BFGS Quasi-Newton model (6-3-1, 9-10-1 and 12-12-1). Based on the performance statistics value, MLRg, LM, SCG, BFGS and RBF suitable and accurately for prediction by modeling the non-linear complex behavior of suspended sediment responses to rainfall, water depth and discharge. The comparison between artificial neural network (ANN) and MLRg, the MLRg Model 2 accurately for to prediction suspended sediment discharge (kg/day) in Jenderan catchment area.

Conference Report on the 4rd International Symposium on Lithium Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabares, F. L.; Hirooka, Y.; Maingi, R.; Mazzitelli, G.; Mirnov, V.; Nygren, R.; Ono, M.; Ruzic, D. N.

2016-12-01

The fourth International Symposium on Liquid Metal Application for Fusion Devices (ISLA-2015) was held on 28-30 September 2015 at Granada, Spain, with growing participation and interest from the community working on general aspects of liquid metal research for fusion energy development. The ISLA symposia remain the largest, and arguably, the most important meetings dedicated to liquid metal application for the magnetic fusion research. Overall, 43 presentations plus 7 posters were given, representing 28 institutions from 12 countries. The latest experimental results from 9 magnetic fusion devices were given in 17 presentations from NSTX and LTX (PPPL, USA), FTU (ENEA, Italy), T-11M (Trinity, RF), T-10 (Kurchatov Institute, RF), TJ-II (CIEMAT, Spain), EAST (ASIPP, China), HT-7 (ASIPP, China), DIII-D (GA, USA), ISTTOK (IPFN, Portugal) and KTM (NNC RK, Kazakhstan). Sessions were devoted to the following: (I) liquid metals (LM) in magnetic confinement experiments (facility overviews), (II) LM in magnetic confinement experiments (topical issues), (III) laboratory experiments, (IV) LM tests in linear plasma devices, (V) LM theory/modeling (VI) LM technology and (VII) a special session on lithium-safety and lithium handling. There were contributions from fusion technology communities including IFMIF and TBM, which provided productive exchanges with physics-oriented magnetic confinement liquid metal research groups. This international workshop will continue on a biennial basis (alternating with the Plasma-Surface Interactions (PSI) Conference), with the next workshop scheduled for Moscow, Russian Federation, in 2017.

Satellite-based prediction of rainfall interception by tropical forest stands of a human-dominated landscape in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nieschulze, Jens; Erasmi, Stefan; Dietz, Johannes; Hölscher, Dirk

2009-01-01

SummaryRainforest conversion to other land use types drastically alters the hydrological cycle in which changes in rainfall interception contribute significantly to the observed differences. However, little is known about the effects of more gradual changes in forest structure and at regional scales. We studied land use types ranging from natural forest over selectively-logged forest to cacao agroforest in a lower montane region in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, and tested the suitability of high-resolution optical satellite imagery for modeling observed interception patterns. Investigated characteristics indicating canopy structure were mean and standard deviation of reflectance values, local maxima, and self-similarity measures based on the grey level co-occurrence matrix and geostatistical variogram analysis. Previously studied and published rainfall interception data comprised twelve plots and median values per land use type ranged from 30% in natural forest to 18% in cacao agroforests. A linear regression model with local maxima, mean contrast and normalized digital vegetation index (NDVI) as regressors was able to explain more than 84% ( Radj2) of the variation encountered in the data. Other investigated characteristics did not prove significant in the regression analysis. The model yielded stable results with respect to cross-validation and also produced realistic values and spatial patterns when applied at the landscape level (783.6 ha). High values of interception were rare and localized in natural forest stands distant to villages, whereas low interception characterized the intensively used sites close to settlements. We conclude that forest use intensity significantly reduced rainfall interception and satellite image analysis can successfully be applied for its regional prediction, and most forest in the study region has already been subject to human-induced structural changes.

Can Collimated Extraterrestrial Signals be Intercepted?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forgan, D. H.

2014-06-01

The Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (OSETI) attempts to detect collimated, narrow-band pulses of electromagnetic radiation. These pulses may either consist of signals intentionally directed at the Earth, or signals between two star systems with a vector that unintentionally intersects the Solar System, allowing Earth to intercept the communication. But should we expect to be able to intercept these unintentional signals? And what constraints can we place upon the frequency of intelligent civilisations if we do? We carry out Monte Carlo Realisation simulations of interstellar communications between civilisations in the Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ) using collimated beams. We measure the frequency with which beams between two stars are intercepted by a third. The interception rate increases linearly with the fraction of communicating civilisations, and as the cube of the beam opening angle, which is somewhat stronger than theoretical expectations, which we argue is due to the geometry of the GHZ. We find that for an annular GHZ containing 10,000 civilisations, intersections are unlikely unless the beams are relatively uncollimated. These results indicate that optical SETI is more likely to find signals deliberately directed at the Earth than accidentally intercepting collimated communications. Equally, civilisations wishing to establish a network of communicating species may use weakly collimated beams to build up the network through interception, if they are willing to pay a cost penalty that is lower than that meted by fully isotropic beacons. Future SETI searches should consider the possibility that communicating civilisations will attempt to strike a balance between optimising costs and encouraging contact between civilisations, and look for weakly collimated pulses as well as narrow-beam pulses directed deliberately at the Earth.

Reading and lexical-decision tasks generate different patterns of individual variability as a function of condition difficulty.

PubMed

Zoccolotti, Pierluigi; De Luca, Maria; Di Filippo, Gloria; Marinelli, Chiara Valeria; Spinelli, Donatella

2018-06-01

We reanalyzed previous experiments based on lexical-decision and reading-aloud tasks in children with dyslexia and control children and tested the prediction of the difference engine model (DEM) that mean condition reaction times (RTs) and standard deviations (SDs) would be linearly related (Myerson et al., 2003). Then we evaluated the slope and the intercept with the x-axis of these linear functions in comparison with previously reported values (i.e., slope of about 0.30 and intercept of about 300 ms). In the case of lexical decision, the parameters were close to these values; by contrast, in the case of reading aloud, a much steeper slope (0.66) and a greater intercept (482.6 ms) were found. Therefore, interindividual variability grows at a much faster rate as a function of condition difficulty for reading than for lexical-decision tasks (or for other tasks reported in the literature). According to the DEM, the slope of the regression that relates means and SDs indicates the degree of correlation among the durations of the stages of processing. We propose that the need for a close coupling between orthographic and phonological processing in reading is what drives the particularly strong relationship between performance and interindividual variability that we observed in reading tasks.

Air - water temperature relationships in the trout streams of southeastern Minnesota’s carbonate - sandstone landscape

USGS Publications Warehouse

Krider, Lori A.; Magner, Joseph A.; Perry, Jim; Vondracek, Bruce C.; Ferrington, Leonard C.

2013-01-01

Carbonate-sandstone geology in southeastern Minnesota creates a heterogeneous landscape of springs, seeps, and sinkholes that supply groundwater into streams. Air temperatures are effective predictors of water temperature in surface-water dominated streams. However, no published work investigates the relationship between air and water temperatures in groundwater-fed streams (GWFS) across watersheds. We used simple linear regressions to examine weekly air-water temperature relationships for 40 GWFS in southeastern Minnesota. A 40-stream, composite linear regression model has a slope of 0.38, an intercept of 6.63, and R2 of 0.83. The regression models for GWFS have lower slopes and higher intercepts in comparison to surface-water dominated streams. Regression models for streams with high R2 values offer promise for use as predictive tools for future climate conditions. Climate change is expected to alter the thermal regime of groundwater-fed systems, but will do so at a slower rate than surface-water dominated systems. A regression model of intercept vs. slope can be used to identify streams for which water temperatures are more meteorologically than groundwater controlled, and thus more vulnerable to climate change. Such relationships can be used to guide restoration vs. management strategies to protect trout streams.

Least median of squares and iteratively re-weighted least squares as robust linear regression methods for fluorimetric determination of α-lipoic acid in capsules in ideal and non-ideal cases of linearity.

PubMed

Korany, Mohamed A; Gazy, Azza A; Khamis, Essam F; Ragab, Marwa A A; Kamal, Miranda F

2018-06-01

This study outlines two robust regression approaches, namely least median of squares (LMS) and iteratively re-weighted least squares (IRLS) to investigate their application in instrument analysis of nutraceuticals (that is, fluorescence quenching of merbromin reagent upon lipoic acid addition). These robust regression methods were used to calculate calibration data from the fluorescence quenching reaction (∆F and F-ratio) under ideal or non-ideal linearity conditions. For each condition, data were treated using three regression fittings: Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), LMS and IRLS. Assessment of linearity, limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ), accuracy and precision were carefully studied for each condition. LMS and IRLS regression line fittings showed significant improvement in correlation coefficients and all regression parameters for both methods and both conditions. In the ideal linearity condition, the intercept and slope changed insignificantly, but a dramatic change was observed for the non-ideal condition and linearity intercept. Under both linearity conditions, LOD and LOQ values after the robust regression line fitting of data were lower than those obtained before data treatment. The results obtained after statistical treatment indicated that the linearity ranges for drug determination could be expanded to lower limits of quantitation by enhancing the regression equation parameters after data treatment. Analysis results for lipoic acid in capsules, using both fluorimetric methods, treated by parametric OLS and after treatment by robust LMS and IRLS were compared for both linearity conditions. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pure thermal sensitisation and pre-dose effect of OSL in both unfired and annealed quartz samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oniya, Ebenezer O.; Polymeris, George S.; Jibiri, Nnamdi N.; Tsirliganis, Nestor C.; Babalola, Israel A.; Kitis, George

2017-06-01

The sensitisation of quartz has attracted much attention since its thorough understanding is important in luminescence studies and dating applications. The present investigation examines the influence of pure thermal activation and predose treatments on the sensitisation of different components of linearly modulated optically stimulated luminescence (LM-OSL) measured at room temperature (RT) thereby eliminating undesired thermal quenching effects. Annealed and unfired quartz samples from Nigeria were used. The OSL measurements were carried out using an automated RISØTL/OSL reader (model-TL/OSL-DA-15). A new approach was adopted to match each of the resolved components of the RT-LM-OSL to respective thermoluminescence (TL) peaks that share the same electron trap and recombination centers. Pure thermal activation and pre-dose treatments respectively affect the sensitisation of all the components of the RT-LM-OSL in a similar manner as the one reported for the 110 °C TL peak but without thermal quenching contributions. Component C4 in annealed samples that was identified to share the same electron trap and recombination centers with the 110 °C TL peak was also proved appropriate for RT-LM-OSL, instead of the initial part of the continuous wave (CW) OSL signal, thus the methods can serve as complementary dating methods.

Predicting Treatment Effect from Surrogate Endpoints and Historical Trials | Division of Cancer Prevention

Cancer.gov

By Stuart G. Baker, 2017 Introduction This software fits a zero-intercept random effects linear model to data on surrogate and true endpoints in previous trials. Requirement:  Mathematica Version 11 or later. |

Genomic-Enabled Prediction Kernel Models with Random Intercepts for Multi-environment Trials.

PubMed

Cuevas, Jaime; Granato, Italo; Fritsche-Neto, Roberto; Montesinos-Lopez, Osval A; Burgueño, Juan; Bandeira E Sousa, Massaine; Crossa, José

2018-03-28

In this study, we compared the prediction accuracy of the main genotypic effect model (MM) without G×E interactions, the multi-environment single variance G×E deviation model (MDs), and the multi-environment environment-specific variance G×E deviation model (MDe) where the random genetic effects of the lines are modeled with the markers (or pedigree). With the objective of further modeling the genetic residual of the lines, we incorporated the random intercepts of the lines ([Formula: see text]) and generated another three models. Each of these 6 models were fitted with a linear kernel method (Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Predictor, GB) and a Gaussian Kernel (GK) method. We compared these 12 model-method combinations with another two multi-environment G×E interactions models with unstructured variance-covariances (MUC) using GB and GK kernels (4 model-method). Thus, we compared the genomic-enabled prediction accuracy of a total of 16 model-method combinations on two maize data sets with positive phenotypic correlations among environments, and on two wheat data sets with complex G×E that includes some negative and close to zero phenotypic correlations among environments. The two models (MDs and MDE with the random intercept of the lines and the GK method) were computationally efficient and gave high prediction accuracy in the two maize data sets. Regarding the more complex G×E wheat data sets, the prediction accuracy of the model-method combination with G×E, MDs and MDe, including the random intercepts of the lines with GK method had important savings in computing time as compared with the G×E interaction multi-environment models with unstructured variance-covariances but with lower genomic prediction accuracy. Copyright © 2018 Cuevas et al.

Genomic-Enabled Prediction Kernel Models with Random Intercepts for Multi-environment Trials

PubMed Central

Cuevas, Jaime; Granato, Italo; Fritsche-Neto, Roberto; Montesinos-Lopez, Osval A.; Burgueño, Juan; Bandeira e Sousa, Massaine; Crossa, José

2018-01-01

In this study, we compared the prediction accuracy of the main genotypic effect model (MM) without G×E interactions, the multi-environment single variance G×E deviation model (MDs), and the multi-environment environment-specific variance G×E deviation model (MDe) where the random genetic effects of the lines are modeled with the markers (or pedigree). With the objective of further modeling the genetic residual of the lines, we incorporated the random intercepts of the lines (l) and generated another three models. Each of these 6 models were fitted with a linear kernel method (Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Predictor, GB) and a Gaussian Kernel (GK) method. We compared these 12 model-method combinations with another two multi-environment G×E interactions models with unstructured variance-covariances (MUC) using GB and GK kernels (4 model-method). Thus, we compared the genomic-enabled prediction accuracy of a total of 16 model-method combinations on two maize data sets with positive phenotypic correlations among environments, and on two wheat data sets with complex G×E that includes some negative and close to zero phenotypic correlations among environments. The two models (MDs and MDE with the random intercept of the lines and the GK method) were computationally efficient and gave high prediction accuracy in the two maize data sets. Regarding the more complex G×E wheat data sets, the prediction accuracy of the model-method combination with G×E, MDs and MDe, including the random intercepts of the lines with GK method had important savings in computing time as compared with the G×E interaction multi-environment models with unstructured variance-covariances but with lower genomic prediction accuracy. PMID:29476023

Efficient Levenberg-Marquardt minimization of the maximum likelihood estimator for Poisson deviates

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

Laurence, T; Chromy, B

2009-11-10

Histograms of counted events are Poisson distributed, but are typically fitted without justification using nonlinear least squares fitting. The more appropriate maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for Poisson distributed data is seldom used. We extend the use of the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm commonly used for nonlinear least squares minimization for use with the MLE for Poisson distributed data. In so doing, we remove any excuse for not using this more appropriate MLE. We demonstrate the use of the algorithm and the superior performance of the MLE using simulations and experiments in the context of fluorescence lifetime imaging. Scientists commonly form histograms ofmore » counted events from their data, and extract parameters by fitting to a specified model. Assuming that the probability of occurrence for each bin is small, event counts in the histogram bins will be distributed according to the Poisson distribution. We develop here an efficient algorithm for fitting event counting histograms using the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for Poisson distributed data, rather than the non-linear least squares measure. This algorithm is a simple extension of the common Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) algorithm, is simple to implement, quick and robust. Fitting using a least squares measure is most common, but it is the maximum likelihood estimator only for Gaussian-distributed data. Non-linear least squares methods may be applied to event counting histograms in cases where the number of events is very large, so that the Poisson distribution is well approximated by a Gaussian. However, it is not easy to satisfy this criterion in practice - which requires a large number of events. It has been well-known for years that least squares procedures lead to biased results when applied to Poisson-distributed data; a recent paper providing extensive characterization of these biases in exponential fitting is given. The more appropriate measure based on the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for the Poisson distribution is also well known, but has not become generally used. This is primarily because, in contrast to non-linear least squares fitting, there has been no quick, robust, and general fitting method. In the field of fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy and imaging, there have been some efforts to use this estimator through minimization routines such as Nelder-Mead optimization, exhaustive line searches, and Gauss-Newton minimization. Minimization based on specific one- or multi-exponential models has been used to obtain quick results, but this procedure does not allow the incorporation of the instrument response, and is not generally applicable to models found in other fields. Methods for using the MLE for Poisson-distributed data have been published by the wider spectroscopic community, including iterative minimization schemes based on Gauss-Newton minimization. The slow acceptance of these procedures for fitting event counting histograms may also be explained by the use of the ubiquitous, fast Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) fitting procedure for fitting non-linear models using least squares fitting (simple searches obtain {approx}10000 references - this doesn't include those who use it, but don't know they are using it). The benefits of L-M include a seamless transition between Gauss-Newton minimization and downward gradient minimization through the use of a regularization parameter. This transition is desirable because Gauss-Newton methods converge quickly, but only within a limited domain of convergence; on the other hand the downward gradient methods have a much wider domain of convergence, but converge extremely slowly nearer the minimum. L-M has the advantages of both procedures: relative insensitivity to initial parameters and rapid convergence. Scientists, when wanting an answer quickly, will fit data using L-M, get an answer, and move on. Only those that are aware of the bias issues will bother to fit using the more appropriate MLE for Poisson deviates. However, since there is a simple, analytical formula for the appropriate MLE measure for Poisson deviates, it is inexcusable that least squares estimators are used almost exclusively when fitting event counting histograms. There have been ways found to use successive non-linear least squares fitting to obtain similarly unbiased results, but this procedure is justified by simulation, must be re-tested when conditions change significantly, and requires two successive fits. There is a great need for a fitting routine for the MLE estimator for Poisson deviates that has convergence domains and rates comparable to the non-linear least squares L-M fitting. We show in this report that a simple way to achieve that goal is to use the L-M fitting procedure not to minimize the least squares measure, but the MLE for Poisson deviates.« less

Performance and stability analysis of gas-injection enhanced natural circulation in heavy-liquid-metal-cooled systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Yeon-Jong

The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance and stability of the gas-injection enhanced natural circulation in heavy-liquid-metal-cooled systems. The target system is STAR-LM, which is a 400-MWt-class advanced lead-cooled fast reactor under development by Argonne National Laboratory and Oregon State University. The primary loop of STAR-LM relies on natural circulation to eliminate main circulation pumps for enhancement of passive safety. To significantly increase the natural circulation flow rate for the incorporation of potential future power uprates, the injection of noncondensable gas into the coolant above the core is envisioned ("gas lift pump"). Reliance upon gas-injection enhanced natural circulation raises the concern of flow instability due to the relatively high temperature change in the reactor core and the two-phase flow condition in the riser. For this study, the one-dimensional flow field equations were applied to each flow section and the mixture models of two-phase flow, i.e., both the homogeneous and drift-flux equilibrium models were used in the two-phase region of the riser. For the stability analysis, the linear perturbation technique based on the frequency-domain approach was used by employing the Nyquist stability criterion and a numerical root search method. It has been shown that the thermal power of the STAR-LM natural circulation system could be increased from 400 up to 1152 MW with gas injection under the limiting void fraction of 0.30 and limiting coolant velocity of 2.0 m/s from the steady-state performance analysis. As the result of the linear stability analysis, it has turned out that the STAR-LM natural circulation system would be stable even with gas injection. In addition, through the parametric study, it has been found that the thermal inertia effects of solid structures such as fuel rod and heat exchanger tube should be considered in the stability analysis model. The results of this study will be a part of the optimized stable design of the gas-injection enhanced natural circulation of STAR-LM with substantially improved power level and economical competitiveness. Furthermore, combined with the parametric study, this research could contribute a guideline for the design of other similar heavy-liquid-metal-cooled natural circulation systems with gas injection.

SSL and LED life prediction and assessment of CCT shift

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

Lall, Pradeep; Sakalaus, Peter; Wei, Junchao

2014-05-27

Solid-state lighting (SSL) products can have a predicted life of 70% lumen output (L70) from 26,000 to 40,000 hours using the LM-80-08 testing standards. Chromaticity shift, correlated color temperature (CCT) and lumen maintenance (LM) will dramatically reduce the nominal life of SSL luminaires. In this work, an off-the-shelf luminaire from Philips (AmbientLED) has been aged in a standard wet hot temperature operating life (WHTOL) of 85% relative humidity and 85°C (85/85) in order to assess reliability of prolonged exposer in a harsh environment. Failure criterion has been derived using the Arrhenius equation from the LM-80-08 standard, as well as themore » 60W LED Lamp test report from an isothermal environment of 45°C. This is a similar luminaire to the test vehicle used in this research. Data characterization between the two data sets has been carried out to determine the luminaires reliability and life under the 85/85 test conditions. This characterization allows for the determination of poor quality luminaire products in the market place. The distribution properties of the shifting mean values of CCT and LM were incorporated into the Bayesian Linear Regression (BLR) to determine the degradation pattern, in order to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of the system due to aging before the end-of-life (EoL).« less

ZnS/diamond composite coatings for infrared transmission applications formed by the aerosol deposition method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Scooter D.; Kub, Fritz J.; Eddy, Charles R.

2013-06-01

The deposition of nano-crystalline ZnS/diamond composite protective coatings on silicon, sapphire, and ZnS substrates, as a preliminary step to coating infrared transparent ZnS substrates from powder mixtures by the aerosol deposition method is presented. Advantages of the aerosol deposition method include the ability to form dense, nanocrystalline lms up to hundreds of microns thick at room temperature and at a high deposition rate on a variety of substrates. Deposition is achieved by creating a pressure gradient that accelerates micrometer- scale particles in an aerosol to high velocity. Upon impact with the target substrate the particles fracture and embed. Continued deposition forms the thick compacted lm. Deposition from an aerosolized mixture of ZnS and diamond powders onto all targets results in linear trend from apparent sputter erosion of the substrate at 100% diamond to formation of a lm with increasing fractions of ZnS. The crossover from abrasion to lm formation on sapphire occurs above about 50% ZnS and a mixture of 90% ZnS and 10% diamond forms a well-adhered lm of about 0.7 μm thickness at a rate of 0.14 μm/min. Resulting lms are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, pro lometry, infrared transmission spectroscopy, and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. These initial lms mark progress toward the future goal of coating ZnS substrates for abrasion resistance.

Component resolved bleaching study in natural calcium fluoride using CW-OSL, LM-OSL and residual TL glow curves after bleaching.

PubMed

Angeli, Vasiliki; Polymeris, George S; Sfampa, Ioanna K; Tsirliganis, Nestor C; Kitis, George

2017-04-01

Natural calcium fluoride has been commonly used as thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeter due to its high luminescence intensity. The aim of this work includes attempting a correlation between specific TL glow curves after bleaching and components of linearly modulated optically stimulated luminescence (LM-OSL) as well as continuous wave OSL (CW-OSL). A component resolved analysis was applied to both integrated intensity of the RTL glow curves and all OSL decay curves, by using a Computerized Glow-Curve De-convolution (CGCD) procedure. All CW-OSL and LM-OSL components are correlated to the decay components of the integrated RTL signal, apart from two RTL components which cannot be directly correlated with either LM-OSL or CW-OSL component. The unique, stringent criterion for this correlation deals with the value of the decay constant λ of each bleaching component. There is only one, unique bleaching component present in all three luminescence entities which were the subject of the present study, indicating that each TL trap yields at least three different bleaching components; different TL traps can indicate bleaching components with similar values. According to the data of the present work each RTL bleaching component receives electrons from at least two peaks. The results of the present study strongly suggest that the traps that contribute to TL and OSL are the same. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Refined Model for Radar Homing Intercepts.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-10-27

Helge Toutenburq, Prior Information in Linear Models ,(Wiley, NY, 1982). 7. F. A. Graybill , Introduction to Matrices with Applications in StatisticF... linear target trajectory model z i = 0 + 1 r i + wi () where w i i=I,..., N is a sequence of uncorrelated zero-mean A noise, the general formula for...z i (i=l,..., N) at r. and a linear regression model 1 z i = a0 + a1 r i + w i =(Al) where wi is the corruption noise; the problem is to estimate a0

Heavy particle decay studies using different versions of nuclear potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santhosh, K. P.; Sukumaran, Indu

2017-10-01

The heavy particle decay from 212-240Pa , 219-245Np , 228-246Pu , 230-249Am , and 232-252Cm leading to doubly magic 208Pb and its neighboring nuclei have been studied using fourteen versions of nuclear potentials. The study has shown that the barrier penetrability as well as the decay half-lives are found to vary with the nuclear potential used. The investigated decay events of the emission of the clusters 22Ne , 24Ne , 26Mg , 28Mg , 32Si and 33Si are not experimentally detected yet but may be detectable in the future. As most of the half-lives predicted are found to lie within the experimental upper limit, T 1/2 < 1030 s, our predictions will be a guide to future experimental design. The GN plots studied are linear for different cluster emissions from different parents with varying slopes and intercepts. Also, it is to be noted that the linearity of the GN plots is unaltered using different nuclear potentials. The universal curve studied ( log10 T 1/2 vs. -ln P for various clusters emitted from various parents shows a linear behavior with the same slope and intercept irrespective of the nuclear potential used.

Environmental enteric dysfunction is associated with poor linear growth and can be identified by host fecal mRNAs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) can be assessed by the lactulose:mannitol (L:M) test. Our objective was to determine if selected host fecal transcripts were correlated with EED, and whether transcripts and clinical characteristics could be used to predict EED in rural African children. Demog...

The importance of radiation for semiempirical water-use efficiency models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boese, Sven; Jung, Martin; Carvalhais, Nuno; Reichstein, Markus

2017-06-01

Water-use efficiency (WUE) is a fundamental property for the coupling of carbon and water cycles in plants and ecosystems. Existing model formulations predicting this variable differ in the type of response of WUE to the atmospheric vapor pressure deficit of water (VPD). We tested a representative WUE model on the ecosystem scale at 110 eddy covariance sites of the FLUXNET initiative by predicting evapotranspiration (ET) based on gross primary productivity (GPP) and VPD. We found that introducing an intercept term in the formulation increases model performance considerably, indicating that an additional factor needs to be considered. We demonstrate that this intercept term varies seasonally and we subsequently associate it with radiation. Replacing the constant intercept term with a linear function of global radiation was found to further improve model predictions of ET. Our new semiempirical ecosystem WUE formulation indicates that, averaged over all sites, this radiation term accounts for up to half (39-47 %) of transpiration. These empirical findings challenge the current understanding of water-use efficiency on the ecosystem scale.

Resistance Exercise Impacts Lean Muscle Mass in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

PubMed

Kogure, Gislaine Satyko; Miranda-Furtado, Cristiana Libardi; Silva, Rafael Costa; Melo, Anderson Sanches; Ferriani, Rui Alberto; De Sá, Marcos Felipe Silva; Dos Reis, Rosana Maria

2016-04-01

This study investigated the effects of progressive resistance training (PRT) on lean muscle mass (LMM) in women with or without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its effects on metabolic factors and concentrations of related steroid hormones. This was a nonrandomized, therapeutic, open, single-arm study. All in all, 45 sedentary women with PCOS and 52 without (non-PCOS), 18-37 yr of age, with body mass indexes (BMI) of 18-39.9 kg·m(-2) of all races and social status, performed PRT three times a week for 4 months. Before and after PRT, the concentrations of hormones and metabolic factors and waist circumference were measured. LMM and total body fat percentage were determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Clinical characteristics, LMM, and fasting glucose were adjusted for confounding covariables and compared using general linear mixed models. Each patient's menstrual history was taken before study enrollment and after PRT. PRT resulted in reduced plasma testosterone and fasting glucose levels. After PRT, the androstenedione concentration increased and the sex hormone-binding globulin concentration decreased in women with PCOS. The waist circumference was reduced (P < 0.01) and the muscle mass index, lean mass (LM)/height2, increased in women with PCOS (P = 0.04). Women with PCOS showed increased muscle mass indexes of appendicular LM/height2 (P = 0.03) and LM/height2 (P < 0.01) compared with the baseline. Total LM and trunk LM were elevated in women with PCOS (P = 0.01) at the baseline and after PRT. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show that resistance exercise alone can improve hyperandrogenism, reproductive function, and body composition by decreasing visceral fat and increasing LMM, but it has no metabolic impact on women with PCOS.

A new chaotic oscillator with free control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chunbiao; Sprott, Julien Clinton; Akgul, Akif; Iu, Herbert H. C.; Zhao, Yibo

2017-08-01

A novel chaotic system is explored in which all terms are quadratic except for a linear function. The slope of the linear function rescales the amplitude and frequency of the variables linearly while its zero intercept allows offset boosting for one of the variables. Therefore, a free-controlled chaotic oscillation can be obtained with any desired amplitude, frequency, and offset by an easy modification of the linear function. When implemented as an electronic circuit, the corresponding chaotic signal can be controlled by two independent potentiometers, which is convenient for constructing a chaos-based application system. To the best of our knowledge, this class of chaotic oscillators has never been reported.

Liquid Assets: Increasing Students' Mathematical Capital.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winter, Mary Jean; Carlson, Ronald J.

2000-01-01

Describes a laboratory-type activity, liquid assets, used to illustrate, develop, or reinforce central concepts in first-year algebra. These include linear function, slope, intercept, and dependent and independent variables. Presents a group activity for collecting data, transition from group to individual activity in plotting data points, and…

Isolating the cow-specific part of residual energy intake in lactating dairy cows using random regressions.

PubMed

Fischer, A; Friggens, N C; Berry, D P; Faverdin, P

2018-07-01

The ability to properly assess and accurately phenotype true differences in feed efficiency among dairy cows is key to the development of breeding programs for improving feed efficiency. The variability among individuals in feed efficiency is commonly characterised by the residual intake approach. Residual feed intake is represented by the residuals of a linear regression of intake on the corresponding quantities of the biological functions that consume (or release) energy. However, the residuals include both, model fitting and measurement errors as well as any variability in cow efficiency. The objective of this study was to isolate the individual animal variability in feed efficiency from the residual component. Two separate models were fitted, in one the standard residual energy intake (REI) was calculated as the residual of a multiple linear regression of lactation average net energy intake (NEI) on lactation average milk energy output, average metabolic BW, as well as lactation loss and gain of body condition score. In the other, a linear mixed model was used to simultaneously fit fixed linear regressions and random cow levels on the biological traits and intercept using fortnight repeated measures for the variables. This method split the predicted NEI in two parts: one quantifying the population mean intercept and coefficients, and one quantifying cow-specific deviations in the intercept and coefficients. The cow-specific part of predicted NEI was assumed to isolate true differences in feed efficiency among cows. NEI and associated energy expenditure phenotypes were available for the first 17 fortnights of lactation from 119 Holstein cows; all fed a constant energy-rich diet. Mixed models fitting cow-specific intercept and coefficients to different combinations of the aforementioned energy expenditure traits, calculated on a fortnightly basis, were compared. The variance of REI estimated with the lactation average model represented only 8% of the variance of measured NEI. Among all compared mixed models, the variance of the cow-specific part of predicted NEI represented between 53% and 59% of the variance of REI estimated from the lactation average model or between 4% and 5% of the variance of measured NEI. The remaining 41% to 47% of the variance of REI estimated with the lactation average model may therefore reflect model fitting errors or measurement errors. In conclusion, the use of a mixed model framework with cow-specific random regressions seems to be a promising method to isolate the cow-specific component of REI in dairy cows.

Inhalation of progesterone inhibits chronic airway inflammation of mice exposed to ozone.

PubMed

Fei, Xia; Bao, Wuping; Zhang, Pengyu; Zhang, Xue; Zhang, Guoqing; Zhang, Yingying; Zhou, Xin; Zhang, Min

2017-05-01

Chronic ozone exposure leads to a model of mice with lung inflammation, emphysema and oxidative stress. Progesterone plays an important role in attenuating the neuroinflammation. We assume that progesterone will reduce the chronic airway inflammation exposed to ozone and evaluate whether combination of progesterone with glucocorticoids results in synergistic effects. C57/BL6 mice were exposed to ozone (2.5ppm, 3h) 12 times over 6 weeks, and were administered with progesterone (0.03 or 0.3mg/L; inhaled) alone or combined with budesonide (BUD) (0.2g/L) after each exposure until the tenth week. Mice were studied 24h after final exposure, cells and inflammatory mediators were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs used for evaluation of glucocorticoids receptors (GR), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) activation. Exposure to ozone resulted in a marked lung neutrophilia. Moreover, in ozone-exposed group, the levels of oxidative stress-related interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, activated NF-κB and p38MAPK, airway inflammatory cells infiltration density, mean linear intercept (Lm) were greatly increased, FEV 25 and glucocorticoids receptors (GR) were markedly decreased. Comparable to BUD, progesterone treatment dose-dependently led to a significant reduction of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, activated NF-κB and p38MAPK, and an increase of FEV 25 and GR. Progesterone combined with BUD resulted in dramatic changes, compared to monotherapy of BUD or progesterone. Therefore, these results demonstrate that chronic ozone exposure has profound airway inflammatory effects counteracted by progesterone and progesterone acts synergistically with glucocorticoids in attenuating the airway inflammation dose-dependently. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

a Comparison Between Two Ols-Based Approaches to Estimating Urban Multifractal Parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Lin-Shan; Chen, Yan-Guang

Multifractal theory provides a new spatial analytical tool for urban studies, but many basic problems remain to be solved. Among various pending issues, the most significant one is how to obtain proper multifractal dimension spectrums. If an algorithm is improperly used, the parameter spectrums will be abnormal. This paper is devoted to investigating two ordinary least squares (OLS)-based approaches for estimating urban multifractal parameters. Using empirical study and comparative analysis, we demonstrate how to utilize the adequate linear regression to calculate multifractal parameters. The OLS regression analysis has two different approaches. One is that the intercept is fixed to zero, and the other is that the intercept is not limited. The results of comparative study show that the zero-intercept regression yields proper multifractal parameter spectrums within certain scale range of moment order, while the common regression method often leads to abnormal multifractal parameter values. A conclusion can be reached that fixing the intercept to zero is a more advisable regression method for multifractal parameters estimation, and the shapes of spectral curves and value ranges of fractal parameters can be employed to diagnose urban problems. This research is helpful for scientists to understand multifractal models and apply a more reasonable technique to multifractal parameter calculations.

A murine model of elastase- and cigarette smoke-induced emphysema.

PubMed

Rodrigues, Rubia; Olivo, Clarice Rosa; Lourenço, Juliana Dias; Riane, Alyne; Cervilha, Daniela Aparecida de Brito; Ito, Juliana Tiyaki; Martins, Milton de Arruda; Lopes, Fernanda Degobbi Tenório Quirino Dos Santos

2017-01-01

To describe a murine model of emphysema induced by a combination of exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) and instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). A total of 38 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (one intranasal instillation of 0.9% saline solution); PPE (two intranasal instillations of PPE); CS (CS exposure for 60 days); and CS + PPE (two intranasal instillations of PPE + CS exposure for 60 days). At the end of the experimental protocol, all animals were anesthetized and tracheostomized for calculation of respiratory mechanics parameters. Subsequently, all animals were euthanized and their lungs were removed for measurement of the mean linear intercept (Lm) and determination of the numbers of cells that were immunoreactive to macrophage (MAC)-2 antigen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12, and glycosylated 91-kDa glycoprotein (gp91phox) in the distal lung parenchyma and peribronchial region. Although there were no differences among the four groups regarding the respiratory mechanics parameters assessed, there was an increase in the Lm in the CS + PPE group. The numbers of MAC-2-positive cells in the peribronchial region and distal lung parenchyma were higher in the CS + PPE group than in the other groups, as were the numbers of cells that were positive for MMP-12 and gp91phox, although only in the distal lung parenchyma. Our model of emphysema induced by a combination of PPE instillation and CS exposure results in a significant degree of parenchymal destruction in a shorter time frame than that employed in other models of CS-induced emphysema, reinforcing the importance of protease-antiprotease imbalance and oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in the pathogenesis of emphysema. Descrever um modelo murino de enfisema induzido por exposição a fumaça de cigarro (FC) e instilação de elastase pancreática porcina (EPP). Trinta e oito camundongos C57BL/6 foram aleatoriamente divididos em quatro grupos: controle (uma instilação intranasal de solução salina a 0,9%); EPP (duas instilações intranasais de EPP); FC (exposição a FC durante 60 dias) e FC + EPP (duas instilações intranasais de EPP + exposição a FC durante 60 dias). No fim do protocolo experimental, todos os animais foram anestesiados e traqueostomizados para o cálculo de parâmetros de mecânica respiratória. Em seguida, todos os animais foram sacrificados e seus pulmões foram removidos para a medição da intercepção linear média (Lm) e a determinação do número de células imunorreativas a antígeno macrofágico (MAC)-2, metaloproteinase da matriz (MMP)-12 e glicoproteína glicosilada de 91 kDa (gp91phox) no parênquima pulmonar distal e na região peribrônquica. Embora não tenha havido diferenças entre os quatro grupos quanto aos parâmetros de mecânica respiratória avaliados, houve aumento da Lm no grupo FC + EPP. O número de células positivas para MAC-2 na região peribrônquica e no parênquima pulmonar distal foi maior no grupo FC + EPP do que nos outros grupos, assim como o foi o número de células positivas para MMP-12 e gp91phox, porém somente no parênquima pulmonar distal. Nosso modelo de enfisema induzido por instilação de EPP e exposição a FC resulta em um grau significativo de destruição parenquimatosa em um período de tempo menor que o empregado em outros modelos de enfisema induzido por FC, o que reforça a importância do desequilíbrio entre proteases e antiproteases e entre oxidantes e antioxidantes na patogênese do enfisema.

Right-Sizing Statistical Models for Longitudinal Data

PubMed Central

Wood, Phillip K.; Steinley, Douglas; Jackson, Kristina M.

2015-01-01

Arguments are proposed that researchers using longitudinal data should consider more and less complex statistical model alternatives to their initially chosen techniques in an effort to “right-size” the model to the data at hand. Such model comparisons may alert researchers who use poorly fitting overly parsimonious models to more complex better fitting alternatives, and, alternatively, may identify more parsimonious alternatives to overly complex (and perhaps empirically under-identified and/or less powerful) statistical models. A general framework is proposed for considering (often nested) relationships between a variety of psychometric and growth curve models. A three-step approach is proposed in which models are evaluated based on the number and patterning of variance components prior to selection of better-fitting growth models that explain both mean and variation/covariation patterns. The orthogonal, free-curve slope-intercept (FCSI) growth model is considered as a general model which includes, as special cases, many models including the Factor Mean model (FM, McArdle & Epstein, 1987), McDonald's (1967) linearly constrained factor model, Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM), Repeated Measures MANOVA, and the Linear Slope Intercept (LinearSI) Growth Model. The FCSI model, in turn, is nested within the Tuckerized factor model. The approach is illustrated by comparing alternative models in a longitudinal study of children's vocabulary and by comparison of several candidate parametric growth and chronometric models in a Monte Carlo study. PMID:26237507

Right-sizing statistical models for longitudinal data.

PubMed

Wood, Phillip K; Steinley, Douglas; Jackson, Kristina M

2015-12-01

Arguments are proposed that researchers using longitudinal data should consider more and less complex statistical model alternatives to their initially chosen techniques in an effort to "right-size" the model to the data at hand. Such model comparisons may alert researchers who use poorly fitting, overly parsimonious models to more complex, better-fitting alternatives and, alternatively, may identify more parsimonious alternatives to overly complex (and perhaps empirically underidentified and/or less powerful) statistical models. A general framework is proposed for considering (often nested) relationships between a variety of psychometric and growth curve models. A 3-step approach is proposed in which models are evaluated based on the number and patterning of variance components prior to selection of better-fitting growth models that explain both mean and variation-covariation patterns. The orthogonal free curve slope intercept (FCSI) growth model is considered a general model that includes, as special cases, many models, including the factor mean (FM) model (McArdle & Epstein, 1987), McDonald's (1967) linearly constrained factor model, hierarchical linear models (HLMs), repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and the linear slope intercept (linearSI) growth model. The FCSI model, in turn, is nested within the Tuckerized factor model. The approach is illustrated by comparing alternative models in a longitudinal study of children's vocabulary and by comparing several candidate parametric growth and chronometric models in a Monte Carlo study. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Acute effects of dynamic exercises on the relationship between the motor unit firing rate and the recruitment threshold.

PubMed

Ye, Xin; Beck, Travis W; DeFreitas, Jason M; Wages, Nathan P

2015-04-01

The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of concentric versus eccentric exercise on motor control strategies. Fifteen men performed six sets of 10 repetitions of maximal concentric exercises or eccentric isokinetic exercises with their dominant elbow flexors on separate experimental visits. Before and after the exercise, maximal strength testing and submaximal trapezoid isometric contractions (40% of the maximal force) were performed. Both exercise conditions caused significant strength loss in the elbow flexors, but the loss was greater following the eccentric exercise (t=2.401, P=.031). The surface electromyographic signals obtained from the submaximal trapezoid isometric contractions were decomposed into individual motor unit action potential trains. For each submaximal trapezoid isometric contraction, the relationship between the average motor unit firing rate and the recruitment threshold was examined using linear regression analysis. In contrast to the concentric exercise, which did not cause significant changes in the mean linear slope coefficient and y-intercept of the linear regression line, the eccentric exercise resulted in a lower mean linear slope and an increased mean y-intercept, thereby indicating that increasing the firing rates of low-threshold motor units may be more important than recruiting high-threshold motor units to compensate for eccentric exercise-induced strength loss. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Symmetrical Curvilinear Cytotoxic Edema Along the Surface of the Brain Stem: A Probable New Magnetic Resonance Imaging Finding of Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis.

PubMed

Khil, Eun Kyung; Lee, A Leum; Chang, Kee-Hyun; Yun, Tae Jin; Hong, Hyun Sook

2015-07-01

Lung cancer is one of the most common neoplasms to appear leptomeningeal metastasis (LM). Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is better diagnostic choice for LM and usually shows focal nodular or diffuse linear enhancement on the leptomeninges along the sulci and tentorium in the brain. We experienced atypical 2 cases of lung cancer in patients who showed unusual brain MRI finding of symmetrical curvilinear or band-like, nonenhancing cytotoxic edema along the surface of the brain stem. This finding is unique and different from the general findings of leptomeningeal metastasis. This unique imaging finding of symmetric curvilinear nonenhancing cytotoxic edema along the brainstem is extremely rare and represents a new presentation of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Introductory Linear Regression Programs in Undergraduate Chemistry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gale, Robert J.

1982-01-01

Presented are simple programs in BASIC and FORTRAN to apply the method of least squares. They calculate gradients and intercepts and express errors as standard deviations. An introduction of undergraduate students to such programs in a chemistry class is reviewed, and issues instructors should be aware of are noted. (MP)

Networking in the Presence of Adversaries

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-12

a topological graph with linear algebraic constraints. As a practical example, such a model arises from an electric power system in which the power...flow is governed by the Kirchhoff law. When an adversary launches an MiM data attack, part of the sensor data are intercepted and substituted with

High linearity current communicating passive mixer employing a simple resistor bias

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rongjiang, Liu; Guiliang, Guo; Yuepeng, Yan

2013-03-01

A high linearity current communicating passive mixer including the mixing cell and transimpedance amplifier (TIA) is introduced. It employs the resistor in the TIA to reduce the source voltage and the gate voltage of the mixing cell. The optimum linearity and the maximum symmetric switching operation are obtained at the same time. The mixer is implemented in a 0.25 μm CMOS process. The test shows that it achieves an input third-order intercept point of 13.32 dBm, conversion gain of 5.52 dB, and a single sideband noise figure of 20 dB.

Contributions of fat mass and fat distribution to hip bone strength in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women.

PubMed

Shao, Hong Da; Li, Guan Wu; Liu, Yong; Qiu, Yu You; Yao, Jian Hua; Tang, Guang Yu

2015-09-01

The fat and bone connection is complicated, and the effect of adipose tissue on hip bone strength remains unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the relative contribution of body fat accumulation and fat distribution to the determination of proximal femur strength in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women. This cross-sectional study enrolled 528 healthy postmenopausal women without medication history or known diseases. Total lean mass (LM), appendicular LM (ALM), percentage of lean mass (PLM), total fat mass (FM), appendicular FM (AFM), percentage of body fat (PBF), android and gynoid fat amount, android-to-gynoid fat ratio (AOI), bone mineral density (BMD), and proximal femur geometry were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Hip structure analysis was used to compute some variables as geometric strength-related parameters by analyzing the images of the hip generated from DXA scans. Correlation analyses among anthropometrics, variables of body composition and bone mass, and geometric indices of hip bone strength were performed with stepwise linear regression analyses as well as Pearson's correlation analysis. In univariate analysis, there were significantly inverse correlations between age, years since menopause (YSM), hip BMD, and hip geometric parameters. Bone data were positively related to height, body weight, LM, ALM, FM, AFM, and PBF but negatively related to AOI and amount of android fat (all P < 0.05). AFM and AOI were significantly related to most anthropometric parameters. AFM was positively associated with height, body weight, and BMI. AFM was negatively associated with age and YSM. AOI was negatively associated with height, body weight, and BMI. AOI positively associated with age and YSM. LM, ALM, and FM had a positive relationship with anthropometric parameters (P < 0.05 for all). PLM had a negative relationship with those parameters. The correlation between LM, ALM, FM, PLM, ALM, age, and YSM was not significant. In multivariate linear regression analysis, the hip bone strength was observed to have a consistent and unchanged positive association with AFM and a negative association with AOI, whereas its association with other variables of body composition was not significant after adjusting for age, years since menopause, height, body weight, and BMI. AFM may be a positively protective effect for hip bone strength while AOI, rather than android fat, shows a strong negative association with hip bone strength after making an adjustment for confounders (age, YSM, height, body weight, and BMI) in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women. Rational weight control and AOI reduction during menopause may have vital clinical significance in decreasing postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Quantifying dominance of intra-storm phase of interception process by small isolated canopies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yerk, Walter; Montalto, Franco

2014-05-01

Precipitation interception by vegetation canopies has long been recognized as a major component of the hydrologic cycle; however, historically most research has been dedicated to closed or sparse canopy forests. The goal of our research was to quantify rainfall partitioning by small isolated canopies in an urban setting. The field experiment involved small forms of four shrub species (Prunus laurocerasus, Cornus sericea, Itea virginica and Hydrangea quercifolia) with crown heights 40 - 80 cm and diameters 35 - 60 cm. Each plant had ten rain gauges to measure throughfall with a sampling frequency of 5 seconds. An on-site automated weather station provided meteorological data. Leaf area index (LAI) was measured by manual counting. We estimated the canopy storage capacities of all four species to be less than 0.5 mm. The obtained data showed statistically significant differences in interception properties among all four species, except between Cornus and Itea. Cumulative interception loss for the period of August-December 2013 was 10% for Cornus, 16% for Itea, 29% for Hydrangea, and 49% for Prunus. The observations revealed a weak relationship between interception abilities and LAI for all four species. Throughfall and precipitation intensities (mm/hr) expressed very strong linear relationship (adjusted coefficients of determination were from 0.80 to 0.95) for the entire range of observed rainfall intensities. For Cornus the ratio of throughfall to precipitation intensity was close to 0.93:1, for Itea it was 0.82:1. The ratios were lesser for Hydrangea (0.65:1), and especially for Prunus (0.48:1). Therefore we show that reduced by the canopy, throughfall intensity results in the bulk of precipitation depth intercepted during the rain events. In contrast, the amount of water stored on the canopy and evaporated between and after rain events contributes minimally to interception. Simulations of potential evaporation based on the Penman-Monteith method showed a large underestimation of evaporation from the wet canopies during the rain events. Approaches other than energy balance models of potential evaporation from a still water surface are being discussed in order to explain large evaporation from within a wet isolated canopy.

Disturbances of automatic gait control mechanisms in higher level gait disorder.

PubMed

Danoudis, Mary; Ganesvaran, Ganga; Iansek, Robert

2016-07-01

The underlying mechanisms responsible for the gait changes in frontal gait disorder (FGD), a form of higher level gait disorders, are poorly understood. We investigated the relationship between stride length and cadence (SLCrel) in people with FGD (n=15) in comparison to healthy older adults (n=21) to improve our understanding of the changes to gait in FGD. Gait data was captured using an electronic walkway system as participants walked at five self-selected speed conditions: preferred, very slow, slow, fast and very fast. Linear regression was used to determine the strength of the relationship (R(2)), slope and intercept. In the FGD group 9 participants had a strong SLCrel (linear group) (R(2)>0.8) and 6 a weak relationship (R(2)<0.8) (nonlinear group). The linear FGD group did not differ to healthy control for slope (p>0.05) but did have a lower intercept (p<0.001). The linear FGD group modulated gait speed by adjusting stride length and cadence similar to controls whereas the nonlinear FGD participants adjusted stride length but not cadence similar to controls. The non-linear FGD group had greater disturbance to their gait, poorer postural control and greater fear of falling compared to the linear FGD group. Investigation of the SLCrel resulted in new insights into the underlying mechanisms responsible for the gait changes found in FGD. The findings suggest stride length regulation was disrupted in milder FGD but as the disorder worsened, cadence control also became disordered resulting in a break down in the relationship between stride length and cadence. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Missile Guidance Law Based on Robust Model Predictive Control Using Neural-Network Optimization.

PubMed

Li, Zhijun; Xia, Yuanqing; Su, Chun-Yi; Deng, Jun; Fu, Jun; He, Wei

2015-08-01

In this brief, the utilization of robust model-based predictive control is investigated for the problem of missile interception. Treating the target acceleration as a bounded disturbance, novel guidance law using model predictive control is developed by incorporating missile inside constraints. The combined model predictive approach could be transformed as a constrained quadratic programming (QP) problem, which may be solved using a linear variational inequality-based primal-dual neural network over a finite receding horizon. Online solutions to multiple parametric QP problems are used so that constrained optimal control decisions can be made in real time. Simulation studies are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness and performance of the proposed guidance control law for missile interception.

Computational Screening of Nanoporous Materials for Hexane and Heptane Isomer Separation

DOE PAGES

Chung, Yongchul G.; Bai, Peng; Haranczyk, Maciej; ...

2017-07-05

Computational high-throughput screening was carried out to assess a large number of experimentally reported metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and zeolites for their utility in hexane isomer separation. Through the paper, we identified many MOFs and zeolites with high selectivity (S L+M > 10) for the group of n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, and 3-methylpentane (linear and monobranched isomers) versus 2,2-dimethylbutane and 2,3-dimethylbutane (dibranched isomers). This group of selective sorbents includes VICDOC (Fe 2(BDP) 3), a MOF with triangular pores that is known to exhibit high isomer selectivity and capacity. For three of these structures, the adsorption isotherms for a 10-component mixture of hexane andmore » heptane isomers were calculated. Subsequent simulations of column breakthrough curves showed that the DEYVUA MOF exhibits a longer process cycle time than VICDOC MOF or MRE zeolite, which are previously reported, high-performing materials, illustrating the importance of capacity in designing MOFs for practical applications. Among the identified candidates, we synthesized and characterized a MOF in a new copper form with high predicted adsorbent capacity (q L+M > 1.2 mol/L) and moderately high selectivity (S L+M ≈ 10). In conclusion, we examined the role of pore shape in hexane isomer separations, especially of triangular-shaped pores. We show through the potential energy surface and three-dimensional siting analyses that linear alkanes do not populate the corners of narrow triangular channels and that structures with nontriangular pores can efficiently separate hexane isomers. Detailed thermodynamic analysis illustrates how differences in the free energy of adsorption contribute to shape-selective separation in nanoporous materials.« less

Computational Screening of Nanoporous Materials for Hexane and Heptane Isomer Separation

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

Chung, Yongchul G.; Bai, Peng; Haranczyk, Maciej

Computational high-throughput screening was carried out to assess a large number of experimentally reported metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and zeolites for their utility in hexane isomer separation. Through the paper, we identified many MOFs and zeolites with high selectivity (S L+M > 10) for the group of n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, and 3-methylpentane (linear and monobranched isomers) versus 2,2-dimethylbutane and 2,3-dimethylbutane (dibranched isomers). This group of selective sorbents includes VICDOC (Fe 2(BDP) 3), a MOF with triangular pores that is known to exhibit high isomer selectivity and capacity. For three of these structures, the adsorption isotherms for a 10-component mixture of hexane andmore » heptane isomers were calculated. Subsequent simulations of column breakthrough curves showed that the DEYVUA MOF exhibits a longer process cycle time than VICDOC MOF or MRE zeolite, which are previously reported, high-performing materials, illustrating the importance of capacity in designing MOFs for practical applications. Among the identified candidates, we synthesized and characterized a MOF in a new copper form with high predicted adsorbent capacity (q L+M > 1.2 mol/L) and moderately high selectivity (S L+M ≈ 10). In conclusion, we examined the role of pore shape in hexane isomer separations, especially of triangular-shaped pores. We show through the potential energy surface and three-dimensional siting analyses that linear alkanes do not populate the corners of narrow triangular channels and that structures with nontriangular pores can efficiently separate hexane isomers. Detailed thermodynamic analysis illustrates how differences in the free energy of adsorption contribute to shape-selective separation in nanoporous materials.« less

A Comparison of Two Approaches for Measuring Educational Growth from CTBS and P-ACT+ Scores.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noble, Julie; Sawyer, Richard

The purpose of the study was to compare two regression-based approaches for measuring educational effectiveness in Tennessee high schools: the mean residual approach (MR), and a more general linear models (LM) approach. Data were obtained from a sample of 1,011 students who were enrolled in 48 high schools, and who had taken the Comprehensive…

Implication of Intrastorm Rainfall-Canopy Interaction on Interception Performance of Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs in Urban Setting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yerk, W.; Montalto, F. A.

2014-12-01

Because of its ability to intercept a portion of rainfall, vegetated canopy has a significant influence on the urban hydrological cycle. In turn, urban watersheds, characterized by large impervious areas, have an enormous and often adverse impact on receiving waters. However, most historical interception research has been dedicated to forest canopies. The goal of our research was to quantify rainfall partitioning by isolated evergreen canopies in an urban setting. Two years of the field experiment involved three exemplars of Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus'Otto Luyken'.) Each plant had ten rain gauges to measure throughfall with a five second sampling frequency. A number of preventive techniques were introduced to minimize the gauges' errors (e.g., splash-in, splash-out and excessive wetting.) Leaf area index was measured manually. We estimated the canopy storage capacity to be less than 0.5 mm. An on-site automated weather station provided meteorological data. Cumulative interception loss for the periods of August-December 2013 and April-July 2014 was 51%. Phenological change did not show a stable pattern of influence on throughfall depths. Measurements in May and July 2014 showed a high variability of stemflow (2-16%) between rain events. Throughfall and precipitation intensities (mm/hr) expressed strong linear relationships (adjusted coefficient of determination R20.79) for the entire range of observed rainfall intensities. The ratio of throughfall to precipitation intensity was 0.49:1. The observations suggest that reduction of throughfall intensity by the canopy during a rainstorm determines the bulk of interception depth. In contrast, the amount of water stored on the canopy and evaporated between and after rain events contributes minimally to interception. Simulations of potential evaporation based on the Penman-Monteith method revealed a serious underestimation of evaporation from the wet canopy surfaces during the rain events. Mechanisms other than heat balance models of potential evaporation from a still water surface are being discussed in order to explain large intrastorm evaporation from within an isolated canopy.

The importance of radiation for semiempirical water-use efficiency models

DOE PAGES

Boese, Sven; Jung, Martin; Carvalhais, Nuno; ...

2017-06-22

Water-use efficiency (WUE) is a fundamental property for the coupling of carbon and water cycles in plants and ecosystems. Existing model formulations predicting this variable differ in the type of response of WUE to the atmospheric vapor pressure deficit of water (VPD). We tested a representative WUE model on the ecosystem scale at 110 eddy covariance sites of the FLUXNET initiative by predicting evapotranspiration (ET) based on gross primary productivity (GPP) and VPD. We found that introducing an intercept term in the formulation increases model performance considerably, indicating that an additional factor needs to be considered. We demonstrate that thismore » intercept term varies seasonally and we subsequently associate it with radiation. Replacing the constant intercept term with a linear function of global radiation was found to further improve model predictions of ET. Our new semiempirical ecosystem WUE formulation indicates that, averaged over all sites, this radiation term accounts for up to half (39–47 %) of transpiration. These empirical findings challenge the current understanding of water-use efficiency on the ecosystem scale.« less

Polymerized laminin-332 matrix supports rapid and tight adhesion of keratinocytes, suppressing cell migration.

PubMed

Kariya, Yoshinobu; Sato, Hiroki; Katou, Naoko; Kariya, Yukiko; Miyazaki, Kaoru

2012-01-01

Laminin-332 (α3ß3γ2) (Lm332) supports the stable anchoring of basal keratinocytes to the epidermal basement membrane, while it functions as a motility factor for wound healing and cancer invasion. To understand these contrasting activities of Lm332, we investigated Lm332 matrices deposited by normal human keratinocytes and other Lm332-expressing cell lines. All types of the cells efficiently deposited Lm332 on the culture plates in specific patterns. On the contrary, laminins containing laminin ß1 and/or γ1 chains, such as Lm511 and Lm311, were not deposited on the culture plates even if secreted into culture medium. The Lm332 deposition was not inhibited by function-blocking antibodies to the α3 and α6 integrins but was inhibited by sodium selenate, suggesting that sulfated glycosaminoglycans on cell surface, e.g. heparan sulfate proteoglycans, might be involved in the process. HEK293 cells overexpressing exogenous Lm332 (Lm332-HEK) almost exclusively deposited Lm332 on the plates. The deposited Lm332 matrix showed a mesh-like network structure as analyzed by electron microscopy, suggesting that Lm332 was highly polymerized. When biological activity was analyzed, the Lm332 matrix rather suppressed the migration of keratinocytes as compared with purified Lm332, which highly promoted the cell migration. The Lm332 matrix supported adhesion of keratinocytes much more strongly and stably than purified Lm332. Integrin α3ß1 bound to the Lm332 matrix at a three times higher level than purified Lm332. Normal keratinocytes prominently showed integrin α6ß4-containing, hemidesmosome-like structures on the Lm332 matrix but not on the purified one. These results indicate that the polymerized Lm332 matrix supports stable cell adhesion by interacting with both integrin α6ß4 and α3ß1, whereas unassembled soluble Lm332 supports cell migration.

A modified weighted function method for parameter estimation of Pearson type three distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Zhongmin; Hu, Yiming; Li, Binquan; Yu, Zhongbo

2014-04-01

In this paper, an unconventional method called Modified Weighted Function (MWF) is presented for the conventional moment estimation of a probability distribution function. The aim of MWF is to estimate the coefficient of variation (CV) and coefficient of skewness (CS) from the original higher moment computations to the first-order moment calculations. The estimators for CV and CS of Pearson type three distribution function (PE3) were derived by weighting the moments of the distribution with two weight functions, which were constructed by combining two negative exponential-type functions. The selection of these weight functions was based on two considerations: (1) to relate weight functions to sample size in order to reflect the relationship between the quantity of sample information and the role of weight function and (2) to allocate more weights to data close to medium-tail positions in a sample series ranked in an ascending order. A Monte-Carlo experiment was conducted to simulate a large number of samples upon which statistical properties of MWF were investigated. For the PE3 parent distribution, results of MWF were compared to those of the original Weighted Function (WF) and Linear Moments (L-M). The results indicate that MWF was superior to WF and slightly better than L-M, in terms of statistical unbiasness and effectiveness. In addition, the robustness of MWF, WF, and L-M were compared by designing the Monte-Carlo experiment that samples are obtained from Log-Pearson type three distribution (LPE3), three parameter Log-Normal distribution (LN3), and Generalized Extreme Value distribution (GEV), respectively, but all used as samples from the PE3 distribution. The results show that in terms of statistical unbiasness, no one method possesses the absolutely overwhelming advantage among MWF, WF, and L-M, while in terms of statistical effectiveness, the MWF is superior to WF and L-M.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Sphincter Regeneration: Role of Laminin Isoforms upon Myogenic Differentiation

PubMed Central

Seeger, Tanja; Hart, Melanie; Patarroyo, Manuel; Rolauffs, Bernd; Aicher, Wilhelm K.; Klein, Gerd

2015-01-01

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are well known for their tri-lineage potential and ability to differentiate in vitro into osteogenic, chondrogenic or adipogenic lineages. By selecting appropriate conditions MSCs can also be differentiated in vitro into the myogenic lineage and are therefore a promising option for cell-based regeneration of muscle tissue such as an aged or damaged sphincter muscle. For the differentiation into the myogenic lineage there is still a need to evaluate the effects of extracellular matrix proteins such as laminins (LM) which are crucial for different stem cell types and for normal muscle function. The laminin family consists of 16 functionally different isoforms with LM-211 being the most abundant isoform of adult muscle tissues. In the sphincter tissue a strong expression of the isoforms LM-211/221, LM-411/421 and LM-511/521 can be detected in the different cell layers. Bone marrow-derived MSCs in culture, however, mainly express the isoforms LM-411 and LM-511, but not LM-211. Even after myogenic differentiation, LM-211 can hardly be detected. All laminin isoforms tested (LM-211, LM-411, LM-511 and LM-521) showed a significant inhibition of the proliferation of undifferentiated MSCs but, with the exception of LM-521, they had no influence on the proliferation of MSCs cultivated in myogenic medium. The strongest cellular adhesion of MSCs was to LM-511 and LM-521, whereas LM-211 was only a weakly-adhesive substrate for MSCs. Myogenic differentiation of MSCs even reduced the interaction with LM-211, but it did not affect the interaction with LM-511 and LM-521. Since during normal myogenesis the latter two isoforms are the major laminins surrounding developing myogenic progenitors, α5 chain-containing laminins are recommended for further improvements of myogenic differentiation protocols of MSCs into smooth muscle cells. PMID:26406476

Dynamics of squirrel monkey linear vestibuloocular reflex and interactions with fixation distance.

PubMed

Telford, L; Seidman, S H; Paige, G D

1997-10-01

Horizontal, vertical, and torsional eye movements were recorded using the magnetic search-coil technique during linear accelerations along the interaural (IA) and dorsoventral (DV) head axes. Four squirrel monkeys were translated sinusoidally over a range of frequencies (0.5-4.0 Hz) and amplitudes (0.1-0.7 g peak acceleration). The linear vestibuloocular reflex (LVOR) was recorded in darkness after brief presentations of visual targets at various distances from the subject. With subjects positioned upright or nose-up relative to gravity, IA translations generated conjugate horizontal (IA horizontal) eye movements, whereas DV translations with the head nose-up or right-side down generated conjugate vertical (DV vertical) responses. Both were compensatory for linear head motion and are thus translational LVOR responses. In concert with geometric requirements, both IA-horizontal and DV-vertical response sensitivities (in deg eye rotation/cm head translation) were related linearly to reciprocal fixation distance as measured by vergence (in m-1, or meter-angles, MA). The relationship was characterized by linear regressions, yielding sensitivity slopes (in deg.cm-1.MA-1) and intercepts (sensitivity at 0 vergence). Sensitivity slopes were greatest at 4.0 Hz, but were only slightly more than half the ideal required to maintain fixation. Slopes declined with decreasing frequency, becoming negligible at 0.5 Hz. Small responses were observed when vergence was zero (intercept), although no response is required. Like sensitivity slope, the intercept was largest at 4.0 Hz and declined with decreasing frequency. Phase lead was near zero (compensatory) at 4.0 Hz, but increased as frequency declined. Changes in head orientation, motion axis (IA vs. DV), and acceleration amplitude produced slight and sporadic changes in LVOR parameters. Translational LVOR response characteristics are consistent with high-pass filtering within LVOR pathways. Along with horizontal eye movements, IA translation generated small torsional responses. In contrast to the translational LVORs, IA-torsional responses were not systematically modulated by vergence angle. The IA-torsional LVOR is not compensatory for translation because it cannot maintain image stability. Rather, it likely compensates for the effective head tilt simulated by translation. When analyzed in terms of effective head tilt, torsional responses were greatest at the lowest frequency and declined as frequency increased, consistent with low-pass filtering of otolith input. It is unlikely that IA-torsional responses compensate for actual head tilt, however, because they were similar for both upright and nose-up head orientations. The IA-torsional and -horizontal LVORs seem to respond only to linear acceleration along the IA head axis, and the DV-vertical LVOR to acceleration along the head's DV axis, regardless of gravity.

Modified Levenberg-Marquardt Method for RÖSSLER Chaotic System Fuzzy Modeling Training

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yu-Hui; Wu, Qing-Xian; Jiang, Chang-Sheng; Xue, Ya-Li; Fang, Wei

Generally, fuzzy approximation models require some human knowledge and experience. Operator's experience is involved in the mathematics of fuzzy theory as a collection of heuristic rules. The main goal of this paper is to present a new method for identifying unknown nonlinear dynamics such as Rössler system without any human knowledge. Instead of heuristic rules, the presented method uses the input-output data pairs to identify the Rössler chaotic system. The training algorithm is a modified Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) method, which can adjust the parameters of each linear polynomial and fuzzy membership functions on line, and do not rely on experts' experience excessively. Finally, it is applied to training Rössler chaotic system fuzzy identification. Comparing this method with the standard L-M method, the convergence speed is accelerated. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Reference standards for lean mass measures using GE dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in Caucasian adults

PubMed Central

Imboden, Mary T.; Swartz, Ann M.; Finch, Holmes W.; Harber, Matthew P.; Kaminsky, Leonard A.

2017-01-01

Body composition assessments commonly focus predominantly on fat mass, however lean mass (LM) measurements also provide useful information regarding clinical and nutritional status. LM measurements help predict health outcomes and diagnose sarcopenia, which has been associated with frailty. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is an established technique used in clinical and research settings to assess body composition including total and regional LM. Currently, there are no reference values available that were derived from GE-Healthcare DXA systems directly for US adults for LM, LM index (LMI), percent LM (%LM), and appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) and it is known that whole-body and regional LM measures differ by DXA manufacturer. Objective To develop reference values by age and sex for LM measures using GE-Healthcare DXA systems. Methods A de-identified sample was obtained from Ball State University’s Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Physical Activity & Health Research Laboratory. DXA scans of 2,076 women and 1,251 men were completed using a GE Lunar Prodigy or iDXA. Percentiles (%ile) were calculated for all variables of interest (LM, LMI, %LM, and ALMI) and a factorial ANOVA was used to assess differences for each variable between 10-year age groups and sex, as well as the interaction between age and sex. Results Men had higher mean total LM, %LM, LMI, and ALMI than women (p<0.01), across all age groups. All LM variables decreased significantly over the 5 decades in men, however in women only total LM, %LM, and ALMI decreased from the youngest to oldest age groups (p<0.01). Conclusion These reference values provide for a more accurate interpretation of GE-Healthcare DXA-derived LM measurements offering clinicians and researchers with an initial resource to aid in the early detection and assessment of LM deficits. PMID:28426779

Identification of LmUAP1 as a 20-hydroxyecdysone response gene in the chitin biosynthesis pathway from the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.

PubMed

Liu, Xiao-Jian; Sun, Ya-Wen; Li, Da-Qi; Li, Sheng; Ma, En-Bo; Zhang, Jian-Zhen

2018-04-01

In Locusta migratoria, we found that two chitin biosynthesis genes, UDP N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene LmUAP1 and chitin synthase gene LmCHS1, are expressed mainly in the integument and are responsible for cuticle formation. However, whether these genes are regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is still largely unclear. Here, we showed the developmental expression pattern of LmUAP1, LmCHS1 and the corresponding 20E titer during the last instar nymph stage of locust. RNA interference (RNAi) directed toward a common region of the two isoforms of LmEcR (LmEcRcom) reduced the expression level of LmUAP1, while there was no difference in the expression of LmCHS1. Meantime, injection of 20E in vivo induced the expression of LmUAP1 but not LmCHS1. Further, we found injection-based RNAi of LmEcRcom resulted in 100% mortality. The locusts failed to molt with no apolysis, and maintained in the nymph stage until death. In conclusion, our preliminary results indicated that LmUAP1 in the chitin biosynthesis pathway is a 20E late-response gene and LmEcR plays an essential role in locust growth and development, which could be a good potential target for RNAi-based pest control. © 2016 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Quantification of trunk and android lean mass using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry compared to magnetic resonance imaging after spinal cord injury.

PubMed

Rankin, Kathleen C; O'Brien, Laura C; Gorgey, Ashraf S

2018-02-20

To determine whether dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may accurately quantify trunk lean mass (LM) after chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate the relationships between trunk LM, visceral adiposity, trunk fat mass and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Cross-sectional design and correlational analysis. Research setting in a medical center. Twenty-two men with motor complete paraplegia (n = 14; T4-T11) and tetraplegia (n = 8; C5-C7) were recruited as part of a clinical trial. Not applicable. Trunk and android LM were measured using DXA. The volume of six trunk muscle groups were then measured using MRI to quantify trunk LM-MRI. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) cross-sectional areas were also measured using MRI. After overnight fast, BMR was evaluated using indirect calorimetry. Trunk LM-DXA (24 ± 3.3 kg) and android LM-DXA (3.6 ± 0.7 kg) overestimated (P < 0.0001) trunk LM-MRI (1.7 ± 0.5 kg). Trunk LM-MRI = 0.088* log (trunk LM-DXA)-0.415; r 2 =0.29, SEE= 0.44 kg, P = 0.007. Trunk LM-MRI = 1.53* android LM-DXA + 0.126; r 2 =0.26, SEE= 0.21 kg, P = 0.018. Percentage trunk LM-MRI was inversely related to VAT (r=-0.79, P < 0.0001) and trunk fat mass (r=-0.83, P < 0.001). Only trunk LM-DXA was related to BMR (r = 0.61, P = 0.002). Persons with tetraplegia have 13% smaller trunk muscle cross-sectional areas (P = 0.036) compared to those with paraplegia. Trunk LM-DXA and android LM-DXA overestimated trunk LM-MRI. Percentage trunk LM-MRI, but not LM-DXA, was inversely related to trunk central adiposity. The findings highlight the importance of exercising trunk LM to attenuate cardio-metabolic disorders after SCI.

Accuracy of Liver Fat Quantification With Advanced CT, MRI, and Ultrasound Techniques: Prospective Comparison With MR Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Kramer, Harald; Pickhardt, Perry J; Kliewer, Mark A; Hernando, Diego; Chen, Guang-Hong; Zagzebski, James A; Reeder, Scott B

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of proton-density fat-fraction, single- and dual-energy CT (SECT and DECT), gray-scale ultrasound (US), and US shear-wave elastography (US-SWE) in the quantification of hepatic steatosis with MR spectroscopy (MRS) as the reference standard. Fifty adults who did not have symptoms (23 men, 27 women; mean age, 57 ± 5 years; body mass index, 27 ± 5) underwent liver imaging with un-enhanced SECT, DECT, gray-scale US, US-SWE, proton-density fat-fraction MRI, and MRS for this prospective trial. MRS voxels for the reference standard were colocalized with all other modalities under investigation. For SECT (120 kVp), attenuation values were recorded. For rapid-switching DECT (80/140 kVp), monochromatic images (70-140 keV) and fat density-derived material decomposition images were reconstructed. For proton-density fat fraction MRI, a quantitative chemical shift-encoded method was used. For US, echogenicity was evaluated on a qualitative 0-3 scale. Quantitative US shear-wave velocities were also recorded. Data were analyzed by linear regression for each technique compared with MRS. There was excellent correlation between MRS and both proton-density fat-fraction MRI (r 2 = 0.992; slope, 0.974; intercept, -0.943) and SECT (r 2 = 0.856; slope, -0.559; intercept, 35.418). DECT fat attenuation had moderate correlation with MRS measurements (r 2 = 0.423; slope, 0.034; intercept, 8.459). There was good correlation between qualitative US echogenicity and MRS measurements with a weighted kappa value of 0.82. US-SWE velocity did not have reliable correlation with MRS measurements (r 2 = 0.004; slope, 0.069; intercept, 6.168). Quantitative MRI proton-density fat fraction and SECT fat attenuation have excellent linear correlation with MRS measurements and can serve as accurate noninvasive biomarkers for quantifying steatosis. Material decomposition with DECT does not improve the accuracy of fat quantification over conventional SECT attenuation. US-SWE has poor accuracy for liver fat quantification.

Analysis of multivariate longitudinal kidney function outcomes using generalized linear mixed models.

PubMed

Jaffa, Miran A; Gebregziabher, Mulugeta; Jaffa, Ayad A

2015-06-14

Renal transplant patients are mandated to have continuous assessment of their kidney function over time to monitor disease progression determined by changes in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Cr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Multivariate analysis of these outcomes that aims at identifying the differential factors that affect disease progression is of great clinical significance. Thus our study aims at demonstrating the application of different joint modeling approaches with random coefficients on a cohort of renal transplant patients and presenting a comparison of their performance through a pseudo-simulation study. The objective of this comparison is to identify the model with best performance and to determine whether accuracy compensates for complexity in the different multivariate joint models. We propose a novel application of multivariate Generalized Linear Mixed Models (mGLMM) to analyze multiple longitudinal kidney function outcomes collected over 3 years on a cohort of 110 renal transplantation patients. The correlated outcomes BUN, Cr, and eGFR and the effect of various covariates such patient's gender, age and race on these markers was determined holistically using different mGLMMs. The performance of the various mGLMMs that encompass shared random intercept (SHRI), shared random intercept and slope (SHRIS), separate random intercept (SPRI) and separate random intercept and slope (SPRIS) was assessed to identify the one that has the best fit and most accurate estimates. A bootstrap pseudo-simulation study was conducted to gauge the tradeoff between the complexity and accuracy of the models. Accuracy was determined using two measures; the mean of the differences between the estimates of the bootstrapped datasets and the true beta obtained from the application of each model on the renal dataset, and the mean of the square of these differences. The results showed that SPRI provided most accurate estimates and did not exhibit any computational or convergence problem. Higher accuracy was demonstrated when the level of complexity increased from shared random coefficient models to the separate random coefficient alternatives with SPRI showing to have the best fit and most accurate estimates.

Release of low molecular weight silicones and platinum from silicone breast implants.

PubMed

Lykissa, E D; Kala, S V; Hurley, J B; Lebovitz, R M

1997-12-01

We have conducted a series of studies addressing the chemical composition of silicone gels from breast implants as well as the diffusion of low molecular weight silicones (LM-silicones) and heavy metals from intact implants into various surrounding media, namely, lipid-rich medium (soy oil), aqueous tissue culture medium (modified Dulbecco's medium, DMEM), or an emulsion consisting of DMEM plus 10% soy oil. LM-silicones in both implants and surrounding media were detected and quantitated using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with atomic emission (GC-AED) as well as mass spectrometric (GC/MS) detectors, which can detect silicones in the nanogram range. Platinum, a catalyst used in the preparation of silicone gels, was detected and quantitated using inductive argon-coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), which can detect platinum in the parts per trillion range. Our results indicate that GC-detectable low molecular weight silicones contribute approximately 1-2% to the total gel mass and consist predominantly of cyclic and linear poly-(dimethylsiloxanes) ranging from 3 to 20 siloxane [(CH3)2-Si-O] units (molecular weight 200-1500). Platinum can be detected in implant gels at levels of approximately 700 micrograms/kg by ICP-MS. The major component of implant gels appears to be high molecular weight silicone polymers (HM-silicones) too large to be detected by GC. However, these HM-silicones can be converted almost quantitatively (80% by mass) to LM-silicones by heating implant gels at 150-180 degrees C for several hours. We also studied the rates at which LM-silicones and platinum leak through the intact implant outer shell into the surrounding media under a variety of conditions. Leakage of silicones was greatest when the surrounding medium was lipid-rich, and up to 10 mg/day LM-silicones was observed to diffuse into a lipid-rich medium per 250 g of implant at 37 degrees C. This rate of leakage was maintained over a 7-day experimental period. Similarly, platinum was also observed to leak through intact implants into lipid-containing media at rates of approximately 20-25 micrograms/day/250 g of implant at 37 degrees C. The rates at which both LM-silicones and platinum have been observed to leak from intact implants could lead to significant accumulation within lipid-rich tissues and should be investigated more fully in vivo.

Modeling coding-sequence evolution within the context of residue solvent accessibility.

PubMed

Scherrer, Michael P; Meyer, Austin G; Wilke, Claus O

2012-09-12

Protein structure mediates site-specific patterns of sequence divergence. In particular, residues in the core of a protein (solvent-inaccessible residues) tend to be more evolutionarily conserved than residues on the surface (solvent-accessible residues). Here, we present a model of sequence evolution that explicitly accounts for the relative solvent accessibility of each residue in a protein. Our model is a variant of the Goldman-Yang 1994 (GY94) model in which all model parameters can be functions of the relative solvent accessibility (RSA) of a residue. We apply this model to a data set comprised of nearly 600 yeast genes, and find that an evolutionary-rate ratio ω that varies linearly with RSA provides a better model fit than an RSA-independent ω or an ω that is estimated separately in individual RSA bins. We further show that the branch length t and the transition-transverion ratio κ also vary with RSA. The RSA-dependent GY94 model performs better than an RSA-dependent Muse-Gaut 1994 (MG94) model in which the synonymous and non-synonymous rates individually are linear functions of RSA. Finally, protein core size affects the slope of the linear relationship between ω and RSA, and gene expression level affects both the intercept and the slope. Structure-aware models of sequence evolution provide a significantly better fit than traditional models that neglect structure. The linear relationship between ω and RSA implies that genes are better characterized by their ω slope and intercept than by just their mean ω.

Synthesis and characterization of n-alkylamino derivatives of vitamin K3: Molecular structure of 2-propylamino-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone and antibacterial activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chadar, Dattatray; Camilles, Maria; Patil, Rishikesh; Khan, Ayesha; Weyhermüller, Thomas; Salunke-Gawali, Sunita

2015-04-01

We would like to introduce eight analogues of n-alkylamino derivatives of vitamin K3 (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) viz, 2-(n-alkylamino)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (where n-alkyl is methyl; LM-1, ethyl; LM-2, propyl; LM-3, butyl; LM-4, pentyl; LM-5, hexyl; LM-6, heptyl; LM-7, octyl; LM-8). All the above analogues have been successfully synthesized from vitamin K3 and characterized using different analytical techniques. Furthermore, in order to understand the mechanistic aspects of formation of LM-1 to LM-8 compounds, we could propose the mechanism. The FT-IR analysis of LM-1 to LM-8 indicate the presence of characteristic band of Nsbnd H group ∼3287-3364 cm-1, the variation was attributed to extensive intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction. The molecular structure of LM-3 compound has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. LM-3 compound crystallises in triclinic space group P1. There were four independent molecules in asymmetric unit cell and their molecular interactions observed via Nsbnd H⋯O, Csbnd H⋯O and π-π stacking of quinonoid rings. Pharmacological potential of all compounds has been evaluated in terms of their antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. All the compounds were active against both the strains while LM-2 was found to be more effective with a minimum inhibition concentration of 0.3125 μg/mL and 0.156 μg/mL respectively.

Back-stepping active disturbance rejection control design for integrated missile guidance and control system via reduced-order ESO.

PubMed

Xingling, Shao; Honglun, Wang

2015-07-01

This paper proposes a novel composite integrated guidance and control (IGC) law for missile intercepting against unknown maneuvering target with multiple uncertainties and control constraint. First, by using back-stepping technique, the proposed IGC law design is separated into guidance loop and control loop. The unknown target maneuvers and variations of aerodynamics parameters in guidance and control loop are viewed as uncertainties, which are estimated and compensated by designed model-assisted reduced-order extended state observer (ESO). Second, based on the principle of active disturbance rejection control (ADRC), enhanced feedback linearization (FL) based control law is implemented for the IGC model using the estimates generated by reduced-order ESO. In addition, performance analysis and comparisons between ESO and reduced-order ESO are examined. Nonlinear tracking differentiator is employed to construct the derivative of virtual control command in the control loop. Third, the closed-loop stability for the considered system is established. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed IGC law in enhanced interception performance such as smooth interception course, improved robustness against multiple uncertainties as well as reduced control consumption during initial phase are demonstrated through simulations. Copyright © 2015 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hourly predictive Levenberg-Marquardt ANN and multi linear regression models for predicting of dew point temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zounemat-Kermani, Mohammad

2012-08-01

In this study, the ability of two models of multi linear regression (MLR) and Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) feed-forward neural network was examined to estimate the hourly dew point temperature. Dew point temperature is the temperature at which water vapor in the air condenses into liquid. This temperature can be useful in estimating meteorological variables such as fog, rain, snow, dew, and evapotranspiration and in investigating agronomical issues as stomatal closure in plants. The availability of hourly records of climatic data (air temperature, relative humidity and pressure) which could be used to predict dew point temperature initiated the practice of modeling. Additionally, the wind vector (wind speed magnitude and direction) and conceptual input of weather condition were employed as other input variables. The three quantitative standard statistical performance evaluation measures, i.e. the root mean squared error, mean absolute error, and absolute logarithmic Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient ( {| {{{Log}}({{NS}})} |} ) were employed to evaluate the performances of the developed models. The results showed that applying wind vector and weather condition as input vectors along with meteorological variables could slightly increase the ANN and MLR predictive accuracy. The results also revealed that LM-NN was superior to MLR model and the best performance was obtained by considering all potential input variables in terms of different evaluation criteria.

Modeling Fire Occurrence at the City Scale: A Comparison between Geographically Weighted Regression and Global Linear Regression.

PubMed

Song, Chao; Kwan, Mei-Po; Zhu, Jiping

2017-04-08

An increasing number of fires are occurring with the rapid development of cities, resulting in increased risk for human beings and the environment. This study compares geographically weighted regression-based models, including geographically weighted regression (GWR) and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR), which integrates spatial and temporal effects and global linear regression models (LM) for modeling fire risk at the city scale. The results show that the road density and the spatial distribution of enterprises have the strongest influences on fire risk, which implies that we should focus on areas where roads and enterprises are densely clustered. In addition, locations with a large number of enterprises have fewer fire ignition records, probably because of strict management and prevention measures. A changing number of significant variables across space indicate that heterogeneity mainly exists in the northern and eastern rural and suburban areas of Hefei city, where human-related facilities or road construction are only clustered in the city sub-centers. GTWR can capture small changes in the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the variables while GWR and LM cannot. An approach that integrates space and time enables us to better understand the dynamic changes in fire risk. Thus governments can use the results to manage fire safety at the city scale.

Modeling Fire Occurrence at the City Scale: A Comparison between Geographically Weighted Regression and Global Linear Regression

PubMed Central

Song, Chao; Kwan, Mei-Po; Zhu, Jiping

2017-01-01

An increasing number of fires are occurring with the rapid development of cities, resulting in increased risk for human beings and the environment. This study compares geographically weighted regression-based models, including geographically weighted regression (GWR) and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR), which integrates spatial and temporal effects and global linear regression models (LM) for modeling fire risk at the city scale. The results show that the road density and the spatial distribution of enterprises have the strongest influences on fire risk, which implies that we should focus on areas where roads and enterprises are densely clustered. In addition, locations with a large number of enterprises have fewer fire ignition records, probably because of strict management and prevention measures. A changing number of significant variables across space indicate that heterogeneity mainly exists in the northern and eastern rural and suburban areas of Hefei city, where human-related facilities or road construction are only clustered in the city sub-centers. GTWR can capture small changes in the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the variables while GWR and LM cannot. An approach that integrates space and time enables us to better understand the dynamic changes in fire risk. Thus governments can use the results to manage fire safety at the city scale. PMID:28397745

The Relationship of Bole Diameters and Crown Widths of Seven Bottomland Hardwood Species

Treesearch

John K. Francis

1988-01-01

Diameters, heights, and eight crown radii per tree were measured on 75 individuals from each of seven bottomland hardwood species in Mississippi. It was determined that the seven species could not be described by a single regression equation. Crown class was tested to see whether it significantly influenced the slope or intercept of the linear relationship. Three of...

Effects of Diffusion Time on Short-Range Hyperpolarized 3He Diffusivity Measurements in Emphysema

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

Gierada, David S.; Woods, Jason C.; Bierhals, Andrew J.

2009-09-28

Purpose: To characterize the effect of diffusion time on short-range hyperpolarized 3He MR diffusion measurements across a wide range of emphysema severity. Materials and Methods: 3He diffusion MR imaging was performed on 19 lungs or lobes resected from 18 subjects with varying degrees of emphysema using 3 diffusion times (1.6 msec, 5 msec, and 10 msec) at constant b value. Emphysema severity was quantified as the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and as the percentage of pixels with ADC higher than multiple thresholds from 0.30-0.55 cm2/sec (ADC index). Quantitative histology (mean linear intercept) was obtained in 10 of the lungmore » specimens from 10 of the subjects. Results: The mean ADCs with diffusion times of 1.6, 5.0, and 10.0 msec were 0.46, 0.40, and 0.37 cm2/sec, respectively (P <0.0001, ANOVA). There was no relationship between the ADC magnitude and the effect of diffusion time on ADC values. Mean linear intercept correlated with ADC (r=0.91-0.94, P<0.001) and ADC index (r=0.78-0.92, P<0.01) at all diffusion times.« less

Water Holding as Determinant for the Elastically Stored Energy in Protein-Based Gels.

PubMed

Pouvreau, Laurice; van Wijlen, Emke; Klok, Jan; Urbonaite, Vaida; Munialo, Claire D; de Jongh, Harmen H J

2016-04-01

To evaluate the importance of the water holding capacity for the elastically stored energy of protein gels, a range of gels were created from proteins from different origin (plant: pea and soy proteins, and animal: whey, blood plasma, egg white proteins, and ovalbumin) varying in network morphology set by the protein concentration, pH, ionic strength, or the presence of specific ions. The results showed that the observed positive and linear relation between water holding (WH) and elastically stored energy (RE) is generic for globular protein gels studied. The slopes of this relation are comparable for all globular protein gels (except for soy protein gels) whereas the intercept is close to 0 for most of the systems except for ovalbumin and egg white gels. The slope and intercept obtained allows one to predict the impact of tuning WH, by gel morphology or network stiffness, on the mechanical deformation of the protein-based gel. Addition of charged polysaccharides to a protein system leads to a deviation from the linear relation between WH and RE and this deviation coincides with a change in phase behavior. © 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®

Exoatmospheric intercepts using zero effort miss steering for midcourse guidance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newman, Brett

The suitability of proportional navigation, or an equivalent zero effort miss formulation, for exatmospheric intercepts during midcourse guidance, followed by a ballistic coast to the endgame, is addressed. The problem is formulated in terms of relative motion in a general, three dimensional framework. The proposed guidance law for the commanded thrust vector orientation consists of the sum of two terms: (1) along the line of sight unit direction and (2) along the zero effort miss component perpendicular to the line of sight and proportional to the miss itself and a guidance gain. If the guidance law is to be suitable for longer range targeting applications with significant ballistic coasting after burnout, determination of the zero effort miss must account for the different gravitational accelerations experienced by each vehicle. The proposed miss determination techniques employ approximations for the true differential gravity effect and thus, are less accurate than a direct numerical propagation of the governing equations, but more accurate than a baseline determination, which assumes equal accelerations for both vehicles. Approximations considered are constant, linear, quadratic, and linearized inverse square models. Theoretical results are applied to a numerical engagement scenario and the resulting performance is evaluated in terms of the miss distances determined from nonlinear simulation.

The change in motor unit firing rates at de-recruitment relative to recruitment is correlated with type I myosin heavy chain isoform content of the vastus lateralis in vivo.

PubMed

Herda, T J; Miller, J D; Trevino, M A; Mosier, E M; Gallagher, P M; Fry, A C; Vardiman, J P

2016-04-01

To investigate the change in motor unit (MU) firing rates (FR) at de-recruitment relative to recruitment and the relation to % type I myosin heavy chain isoform content (type I %MHC) of the vastus lateralis (VL) in vivo. Ten subjects performed a 22-s submaximal isometric trapezoid muscle action that included a linearly increasing, steady force at 50% maximal voluntary contraction, and linearly decreasing segments. Surface electromyographic signals were collected from the VL and were decomposed into constituent MU action potentials trains. A tissue sample from the VL was taken to calculate type I %MHC. The y-intercepts and slopes were calculated for the changes (Δ) in FR at de-recruitment (FRDEREC ) relative to FR at recruitment (FRREC ) vs. FRREC relationship for each subject. Correlations were performed between the y-intercepts and slopes with type I %MHC. The majority of MUs had greater FRDEREC than FRREC . The y-intercepts (r = -0.600, P = 0.067) were not significantly correlated, but the slopes (r = -0.793, P = 0.006) were significantly correlated with type I %MHC. The majority of the motoneuron pool had greater FRDEREC than FRREC , however, individuals with higher type I %MHC had a greater propensity to have MUs with FRREC > FRDEREC as indicated by the slope values. Overall, the contractile properties of the muscle (MHC) could partially explain the differences in MU firing rates at de-recruitment relative to recruitment. Thus, suggesting the fatigability of the muscle influences the alterations in MU firing rates from recruitment to de-recruitment. © 2015 Scandinavian Physiological Society. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Are the average gait speeds during the 10meter and 6minute walk tests redundant in Parkinson disease?

PubMed

Duncan, Ryan P; Combs-Miller, Stephanie A; McNeely, Marie E; Leddy, Abigail L; Cavanaugh, James T; Dibble, Leland E; Ellis, Terry D; Ford, Matthew P; Foreman, K Bo; Earhart, Gammon M

2017-02-01

We investigated the relationships between average gait speed collected with the 10Meter Walk Test (Comfortable and Fast) and 6Minute Walk Test (6MWT) in 346 people with Parkinson disease (PD) and how the relationships change with increasing disease severity. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses determined relationships between 10Meter Walk Test and 6MWT gait speed values for the entire sample and for sub-samples stratified by Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stage I (n=53), II (n=141), III (n=135) and IV (n=17). We hypothesized that redundant tests would be highly and significantly correlated (i.e. r>0.70, p<0.05) and would have a linear regression model slope of 1 and intercept of 0. For the entire sample, 6MWT gait speed was significantly (p<0.001) related to the Comfortable 10 Meter Walk Test (r=0.75) and Fast 10Meter Walk Test (r=0.79) gait speed, with 56% and 62% of the variance in 6MWT gait speed explained, respectively. The regression model of 6MWT gait speed predicted by Comfortable 10 Meter Walk gait speed produced slope and intercept values near 1 and 0, respectively, especially for participants in H&Y stages II-IV. In contrast, slope and intercept values were further from 1 and 0, respectively, for the Fast 10Meter Walk Test. Comfortable 10 Meter Walk Test and 6MWT gait speeds appeared to be redundant in people with moderate to severe PD, suggesting the Comfortable 10 Meter Walk Test can be used to estimate 6MWT distance in this population. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Are the Average Gait Speeds During the 10 Meter and 6 Minute Walk Tests Redundant in Parkinson Disease?

PubMed Central

Duncan, Ryan P.; Combs-Miller, Stephanie A.; McNeely, Marie E.; Leddy, Abigail L.; Cavanaugh, James T.; Dibble, Leland E.; Ellis, Terry D.; Ford, Matthew P.; Foreman, K. Bo; Earhart, Gammon M.

2016-01-01

We investigated the relationships between average gait speed collected with the 10 Meter Walk Test (Comfortable and Fast) and 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) in 346 people with Parkinson disease (PD) and how the relationships change with increasing disease severity. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses determined relationships between 10 Meter Walk Test and 6MWT gait speed values for the entire sample and for sub-samples stratified by Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stage I (n=53), II (n=141), III (n=135) and IV (n=17). We hypothesized that redundant tests would be highly and significantly correlated (i.e. r > 0.70, p < 0.05) and would have a linear regression model slope of 1 and intercept of 0. For the entire sample, 6MWT gait speed was significantly (p<0.001) related to the Comfortable 10 Meter Walk Test (r=0.75) and Fast 10 Meter Walk Test (r=0.79) gait speed, with 56% and 62% of the variance in 6MWT gait speed explained, respectively. The regression model of 6MWT gait speed predicted by Comfortable 10 Meter Walk gait speed produced slope and intercept values near 1 and 0, respectively, especially for participants in H&Y stages II–IV. In contrast, slope and intercept values were further from 1 and 0, respectively, for the Fast 10 Meter Walk Test. Comfortable 10 Meter Walk Test and 6MWT gait speeds appeared to be redundant in people with moderate to severe PD, suggesting the Comfortable 10 Meter Walk Test can be used to estimate 6MWT distance in this population. PMID:27915221

MRI quantification of diffusion and perfusion in bone marrow by intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and non-negative least square (NNLS) analysis.

PubMed

Marchand, A J; Hitti, E; Monge, F; Saint-Jalmes, H; Guillin, R; Duvauferrier, R; Gambarota, G

2014-11-01

To assess the feasibility of measuring diffusion and perfusion fraction in vertebral bone marrow using the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) approach and to compare two fitting methods, i.e., the non-negative least squares (NNLS) algorithm and the more commonly used Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) non-linear least squares algorithm, for the analysis of IVIM data. MRI experiments were performed on fifteen healthy volunteers, with a diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence at five different b-values (0, 50, 100, 200, 600 s/mm2), in combination with an STIR module to suppress the lipid signal. Diffusion signal decays in the first lumbar vertebra (L1) were fitted to a bi-exponential function using the LM algorithm and further analyzed with the NNLS algorithm to calculate the values of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*) and perfusion fraction. The NNLS analysis revealed two diffusion components only in seven out of fifteen volunteers, with ADC=0.60±0.09 (10(-3) mm(2)/s), D*=28±9 (10(-3) mm2/s) and perfusion fraction=14%±6%. The values obtained by the LM bi-exponential fit were: ADC=0.45±0.27 (10(-3) mm2/s), D*=63±145 (10(-3) mm2/s) and perfusion fraction=27%±17%. Furthermore, the LM algorithm yielded values of perfusion fraction in cases where the decay was not bi-exponential, as assessed by NNLS analysis. The IVIM approach allows for measuring diffusion and perfusion fraction in vertebral bone marrow; its reliability can be improved by using the NNLS, which identifies the diffusion decays that display a bi-exponential behavior. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Empirical STORM-E Model. [I. Theoretical and Observational Basis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mertens, Christopher J.; Xu, Xiaojing; Bilitza, Dieter; Mlynczak, Martin G.; Russell, James M., III

2013-01-01

Auroral nighttime infrared emission observed by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument onboard the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite is used to develop an empirical model of geomagnetic storm enhancements to E-region peak electron densities. The empirical model is called STORM-E and will be incorporated into the 2012 release of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). The proxy for characterizing the E-region response to geomagnetic forcing is NO+(v) volume emission rates (VER) derived from the TIMED/SABER 4.3 lm channel limb radiance measurements. The storm-time response of the NO+(v) 4.3 lm VER is sensitive to auroral particle precipitation. A statistical database of storm-time to climatological quiet-time ratios of SABER-observed NO+(v) 4.3 lm VER are fit to widely available geomagnetic indices using the theoretical framework of linear impulse-response theory. The STORM-E model provides a dynamic storm-time correction factor to adjust a known quiescent E-region electron density peak concentration for geomagnetic enhancements due to auroral particle precipitation. Part II of this series describes the explicit development of the empirical storm-time correction factor for E-region peak electron densities, and shows comparisons of E-region electron densities between STORM-E predictions and incoherent scatter radar measurements. In this paper, Part I of the series, the efficacy of using SABER-derived NO+(v) VER as a proxy for the E-region response to solar-geomagnetic disturbances is presented. Furthermore, a detailed description of the algorithms and methodologies used to derive NO+(v) VER from SABER 4.3 lm limb emission measurements is given. Finally, an assessment of key uncertainties in retrieving NO+(v) VER is presented

Body composition in Nepalese children using isotope dilution: the production of ethnic-specific calibration equations and an exploration of methodological issues.

PubMed

Devakumar, Delan; Grijalva-Eternod, Carlos S; Roberts, Sebastian; Chaube, Shiva Shankar; Saville, Naomi M; Manandhar, Dharma S; Costello, Anthony; Osrin, David; Wells, Jonathan C K

2015-01-01

Background. Body composition is important as a marker of both current and future health. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) is a simple and accurate method for estimating body composition, but requires population-specific calibration equations. Objectives. (1) To generate population specific calibration equations to predict lean mass (LM) from BIA in Nepalese children aged 7-9 years. (2) To explore methodological changes that may extend the range and improve accuracy. Methods. BIA measurements were obtained from 102 Nepalese children (52 girls) using the Tanita BC-418. Isotope dilution with deuterium oxide was used to measure total body water and to estimate LM. Prediction equations for estimating LM from BIA data were developed using linear regression, and estimates were compared with those obtained from the Tanita system. We assessed the effects of flexing the arms of children to extend the range of coverage towards lower weights. We also estimated potential error if the number of children included in the study was reduced. Findings. Prediction equations were generated, incorporating height, impedance index, weight and sex as predictors (R (2) 93%). The Tanita system tended to under-estimate LM, with a mean error of 2.2%, but extending up to 25.8%. Flexing the arms to 90° increased the lower weight range, but produced a small error that was not significant when applied to children <16 kg (p 0.42). Reducing the number of children increased the error at the tails of the weight distribution. Conclusions. Population-specific isotope calibration of BIA for Nepalese children has high accuracy. Arm position is important and can be used to extend the range of low weight covered. Smaller samples reduce resource requirements, but leads to large errors at the tails of the weight distribution.

Side of pupillary mydriasis predicts the cognitive prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

PubMed

DE Souza, R L; Thais, M E; Cavallazzi, G; Paim Diaz, A; Schwarzbold, M L; Nau, A L; Rodrigues, G M; Souza, D S; Hohl, A; Walz, R

2015-03-01

Pupils' abnormalities are associated to bad prognosis in traumatic brain injury. We investigated the association between the side of pupil mydriasis and the long-term cognitive performance of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We analyzed the cognitive performance of patients admitted at the intensive care unit with isochoric pupils (IP, n = 28), left mydriasis (LM, n = 10), right mydriasis (RM, n = 9) evaluated in mean 2.5 years after the severe TBI and controls (n = 26) matched for age, sex and education level. Patients and controls had similar scores in the four WAIS-III investigated subtests. In comparison with controls, LM patients had lower scores in Letters and Category Fluency and IP patients in Category Fluency. Among the 10 evaluated memory tests, LM patients had lower scores than controls in eight, RM patients in two and IP in three memory tests. IP and RM were 3.5 to nine times more associated to significant impairment (cognitive scores under the percentile 10 of controls) in six of 16 investigated cognitive tests. LM was six to 15 times more associated to significant impairment in 10 of 16 cognitive tests. The association among the pupil abnormalities and cognitive performances remained significant after the multiple linear regression analysis controlling for age, gender, admission coma Glasgow scale and serum glucose, presence of associated trauma, and cranial computed tomography abnormalities. Side of admission pupil abnormalities may be a useful variable to improve prognostic models for long-term cognitive performance in severe TBI patients. © 2015 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Teamwork and error in the operating room: analysis of skills and roles.

PubMed

Catchpole, K; Mishra, A; Handa, A; McCulloch, P

2008-04-01

To analyze the effects of surgical, anesthetic, and nursing teamwork skills on technical outcomes. The value of team skills in reducing adverse events in the operating room is presently receiving considerable attention. Current work has not yet identified in detail how the teamwork and communication skills of surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses affect the course of an operation. Twenty-six laparoscopic cholecystectomies and 22 carotid endarterectomies were studied using direct observation methods. For each operation, teams' skills were scored for the whole team, and for nursing, surgical, and anesthetic subteams on 4 dimensions (leadership and management [LM]; teamwork and cooperation; problem solving and decision making; and situation awareness). Operating time, errors in surgical technique, and other procedural problems and errors were measured as outcome parameters for each operation. The relationships between teamwork scores and these outcome parameters within each operation were examined using analysis of variance and linear regression. Surgical (F(2,42) = 3.32, P = 0.046) and anesthetic (F(2,42) = 3.26, P = 0.048) LM had significant but opposite relationships with operating time in each operation: operating time increased significantly with higher anesthetic but decreased with higher surgical LM scores. Errors in surgical technique had a strong association with surgical situation awareness (F(2,42) = 7.93, P < 0.001) in each operation. Other procedural problems and errors were related to the intraoperative LM skills of the nurses (F(5,1) = 3.96, P = 0.027). Detailed analysis of team interactions and dimensions is feasible and valuable, yielding important insights into relationships between nontechnical skills, technical performance, and operative duration. These results support the concept that interventions designed to improve teamwork and communication may have beneficial effects on technical performance and patient outcome.

On the design of classifiers for crop inventories

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heydorn, R. P.; Takacs, H. C.

1986-01-01

Crop proportion estimators that use classifications of satellite data to correct, in an additive way, a given estimate acquired from ground observations are discussed. A linear version of these estimators is optimal, in terms of minimum variance, when the regression of the ground observations onto the satellite observations in linear. When this regression is not linear, but the reverse regression (satellite observations onto ground observations) is linear, the estimator is suboptimal but still has certain appealing variance properties. In this paper expressions are derived for those regressions which relate the intercepts and slopes to conditional classification probabilities. These expressions are then used to discuss the question of classifier designs that can lead to low-variance crop proportion estimates. Variance expressions for these estimates in terms of classifier omission and commission errors are also derived.

Insulin lispro 25/75 and insulin lispro 50/50 as starter insulin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: subanalysis of the CLASSIFY randomized trial.

PubMed

Watada, Hirotaka; Imori, Makoto; Li, Pengfei; Iwamoto, Noriyuki

2017-07-28

In Japan, premixed insulins are commonly used as starter insulin for type 2 diabetes. This subpopulation analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of twice-daily LM25 (25% insulin lispro/75% insulin lispro protamine) and LM50 (50% insulin lispro/50% insulin lispro protamine) as starter insulin in Japanese subjects, and compared these results with the whole-trial populations of East Asian subjects. In this subpopulation analysis of an open-label, phase 4, randomized trial (CLASSIFY), Japanese subjects received LM25 (n = 88) or LM50 (n = 84) twice-daily for 26 weeks. The primary outcome was change from baseline at Week 26 in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Results for Japanese subjects were generally similar to those for the whole-trial population. Similar changes from baseline in HbA1c were observed for LM25 and LM50 groups (least squares [LS] mean difference [95% confidence interval] of LM25 - LM50 = 0.13 [-0.16, 0.41]%, 1.42 [-1.75, 4.48] mmol/mol, p = 0.388). More LM50-treated subjects than LM25-treated subjects achieved HbA1c targets of <7.0% (59.5% versus 43.2%; p = 0.034) or ≤6.5% (45.2% versus 28.4%; p = 0.027). The reduction in postprandial blood glucose concentrations after morning and evening meals was statistically significantly greater for LM50 than for LM25. The incidence of both hypoglycemia and treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between treatment groups. Both LM25 and LM50 twice daily appear to be effective and well tolerated as starter insulin, although LM50 might be more effective for Japanese type 2 diabetes patients.

Listeria-vectored vaccine expressing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 30 kDa major secretory protein via the constitutively active prfA* regulon boosts BCG efficacy against tuberculosis.

PubMed

Jia, Qingmei; Dillon, Barbara Jane; Masleša-Galić, Saša; Horwitz, Marcus A

2017-06-19

A potent vaccine against tuberculosis, one of the world's deadliest diseases, is needed to enhance the immunity of people worldwide, most of whom have been vaccinated with the partially effective BCG vaccine. Here we investigate novel live attenuated recombinant Listeria monocytogenes (rLm) vaccines expressing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) 30 kDa major secretory protein (r30/Ag85B) (rLm30) as heterologous booster vaccines in animals primed with BCG. Using three attenuated Lm vectors, rLm Δ actA (LmI), rLm Δ actA Δ inlB (LmII), and rLm Δ actA Δ inlB prfA * (LmIII), we constructed five rLm30 vaccine candidates expressing the r30 linked in-frame to the Lm Listeriolycin O signal sequence and driven by the hly promoter (h30) or linked in-frame to the ActA N-terminus and driven by the actA promoter (a30). All five rLm30 vaccines secreted r30 in broth and macrophages; while rLm expressing r30 via a constitutively active prfA * regulon (rLmIII/a30) expressed the greatest amount of r30 in broth culture, all five rLm vaccines expressed equivalent amounts of r30 in infected macrophages. In comparative studies, boosting BCG-immunized mice with rLmIII/a30 induced the strongest antigen-specific T-cell responses, including splenic and lung polyfunctional CD4+ T-cells expressing the three cytokines of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) ( P < 0.001) and splenic and lung CD8+ T-cells expressing IFN-γ ( P < 0.0001). In mice and guinea pigs, rLmIII/a30 and rLmI/h30 vaccines were generally more potent booster vaccines than r30 in adjuvant and a recombinant adenovirus vaccine expressing r30. In a setting in which BCG alone was highly immunoprotective, boosting mice with rLmIII/a30, the most potent of the vaccines, significantly enhanced protection against aerosolized Mtb ( P <0.01). Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

Proposed algorithm for determining the delta intercept of a thermocouple psychrometer curve

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

Kurzmack, M.A.

1993-07-01

The USGS Hydrologic Investigations Program is currently developing instrumentation to study the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Surface-based boreholes up to 2,500 feet in depth will be drilled, and then instrumented in order to define the water potential field within the unsaturated zone. Thermocouple psychrometers will be used to monitor the in-situ water potential. An algorithm is proposed for simply and efficiently reducing a six wire thermocouple psychrometer voltage output curve to a single value, the delta intercept. The algorithm identifies a plateau region in the psychrometer curve and extrapolates a linear regression back to the initial startmore » of relaxation. When properly conditioned for the measurements being made, the algorithm results in reasonable results even with incomplete or noisy psychrometer curves over a 1 to 60 bar range.« less

[Evaluation of three methods for forensic diatom test].

PubMed

Wang, Yuzhong; Zhao, Jian; Li, Peng; Hu, Sunlin; Wang, Huipin; Wang, Huijun; Liu, Chao

2015-03-01

To compare the efficacy of three methods for forensic diatom test, namely strong acid digestion-centrifuge enrichment-light microscopy (SD-CE-LM), microwave digestion-membrane filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy (MD-ME-SEM), and microwave digestion-membrane filtration-light microscopy (MD-MF-LM). Sixty samples were randomly divided into 3 groups for diatom test using three methods, and the sample preparation time, degree of digestion and recovery rate of diatoms were compared. The sample preparation time was the shortest with MD-MF-LM and the longest with SD-CE-LM (P<0.05). MD-ME-SEM and MD-MF-LM allowed more thorough tissue digestion than SD-CE-LM. MD-ME-SEM resulted in the highest total recovery rate of diatom, followed by MD-MF-LM and then by SD-CE-LM (P<0.05); the recover rate of different diatom species was the highest with MD-ME-SEM, followed by MD-MF-LM and SD-CE-LM (P<0.05). SD-CE-LM has a low recovery rate of diatoms especially for those with lengths shorter than 40 µm or densities less than 1/5. With a high recovery rate and accuracy in diatom test, MD-ME-SEM is suitable for diagnosis of suspected drowning cases. MD-MF-LM is highly efficient, sensitive and convenient for forensic diatom test.

Dynamic Capacity Allocation Algorithms for iNET Link Manager

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-01

algorithm that can better cope with severe congestion and misbehaving users and traffic flows. We compare the E-LM with the LM baseline algorithm (B-LM...capacity allocation algorithm that can better cope with severe congestion and misbehaving users and traffic flows. We compare the E-LM with the LM

Epidemiology of Lentigo Maligna and Lentigo Maligna Melanoma in the Netherlands, 1989-2013.

PubMed

Greveling, Karin; Wakkee, Marlies; Nijsten, Tamar; van den Bos, Renate R; Hollestein, Loes M

2016-10-01

Lentigo maligna (LM) is considered a precursor to LM melanoma (LMM). We assessed trends in LM and LMM incidence rates between 1989 and 2013 in the Netherlands, and estimated the risk of an LMM after LM. Data on newly diagnosed LM and LMM were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and PALGA: Dutch Pathology Registry. Age-standardized incidence rates (European standardized rate), estimated annual percentage changes, and the cumulative incidence of LMM after LM were calculated. Between 1989 and 2013, 10,545 patients were diagnosed with a primary LM and 2,898 with a primary LMM in the Netherlands. The age-standardized incidence rate for LM increased from 0.72 to 3.84 per 100,000 person-years, and for LMM from 0.24 to 1.19 between 1989 and 2013. LM incidence increased from 2002 to 2013 with 6.8% annually, before an even steeper rise in LMM incidence from 2007 to 2013 (estimated annual percentage change: 12.4%). The cumulative incidence of LMM after a primary LM after 25-year follow-up was 2.0% for males and 2.6% for females. The increased incidence of LM and LMM in the Netherlands seems, besides increased awareness and increased histological confirmation of LM, to reflect a true increase. The absolute risk of an LMM (at any location) after a histologically confirmed LM was low (2.0-2.6%). Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

On the stability of the relationship between reference evapotranspiration and single tree transpiration: test and validation over several irrigated tree orchards

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayyoub, Abdellatif; Er-Raki, Salah; Khabba, Saïd; Merlin, Olivier; César Rodriguez, Julio; Ezzahar, Jamal; Bahlaoui, Ahmed; Chehbouni, Abdelghani

2016-04-01

The present work aims to develop a simple approach relating normalized daily sap flow (per unit of leaf area) and daily ET0 (mm/day) calculated by two methods: FAO-Penman-Monteith (FAO-PM) and Hargreaves-Samani (HARG). The data sets used for developing this approach are taken from three experimental sites (olive trees, cv. "Oleaeuropaea L.", olive trees, cv. "Arbequino" and citrus trees cv. "Clementine Afourar") conducted in the Tensift region around Marrakech, Morocco and one experimental site (pecan orchard, cv. "Caryaillinoinensis, Wangenh. K. Koch") conducted in the Yaqui Valley, northwest of Mexico). The results showed that the normalized daily sap flow (volume of transpired water per unit of leaf area) was linearly correlated with ET0 (mm per day) calculated by FAO-PM method. The coefficient of determination (R2) and the slope of this linear regression varied between 0.71 and 0.97 and between 0.30 and 0.35, respectively, depending on the type of orchards. For HARG method, the relationship between both terms is also linear but with less accuracy (R2 =0.7) as expected due to the underestimation of ET0 by this method. Afterward, the validation of the developed linear relationship was performed over an olive orchard ("Oleaeuropaea L.") where the measurements of sap flow were available for another (2004) cropping season. The scatter plot between the normalized measured and estimated sap flow based on FAO-PM method reveals a very good agreement (slope = 1, with R2 = 0.83 and RMSE=0.14 L/m2 leaf area). However, for the estimation of normalized sap flow based on HARG method, the correlation is more scattered with some underestimation (5%). A further validation wasperformed using the measurements of evapotranspiration (ET) by eddy correlation system and the results showed that the correlation between normalized measured ET and estimated normalized sap flow is best when using FAO-PM method (RMSE=0.33 L/m2 leaf area) for estimating ET0 than when using HARG method (RMSE= 0.51 L/m2 leaf area). Finally, the performance of the developed approach was compared to the traditional dual crop coefficient scheme for estimating plant transpiration. Cross-comparison of these two approaches with the measurements data gave satisfactory results with an average value of RMSE equal to about 0.37 mm/day for both approaches.

Contribution of Colonic Fermentation and Fecal Water Toxicity to the Pathophysiology of Lactose-Intolerance

PubMed Central

Windey, Karen; Houben, Els; Deroover, Lise; Verbeke, Kristin

2015-01-01

Whether or not abdominal symptoms occur in subjects with small intestinal lactose malabsorption might depend on differences in colonic fermentation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we collected fecal samples from subjects with lactose malabsorption with abdominal complaints (LM-IT, n = 11) and without abdominal complaints (LM-T, n = 8) and subjects with normal lactose digestion (NLD, n = 15). Lactose malabsorption was diagnosed using a 13C-lactose breath test. Colonic fermentation was characterized in fecal samples at baseline and after incubation with lactose for 3 h, 6 h and 24 h through a metabolomics approach using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fecal water cytotoxicity was analyzed using a colorimetric assay. Fecal water cytotoxicity was not different between the three groups (Kruskall-Wallis p = 0.164). Cluster analysis of the metabolite patterns revealed separate clusters for NLD, LM-T and LM-IT samples at baseline and after 24 h incubation with lactose. Levels of 5-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde were significantly higher in LM-IT and LM-T compared to NLD whereas those of an unidentified aldehyde were significantly higher in LM-IT compared to LM-T and NLD. Incubation with lactose increased short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations more in LM-IT and LM-T compared to NLD. In conclusion, fermentation patterns were clearly different in NLD, LM-IT and LM-T, but not related to differences in fecal water cytotoxicity. PMID:26371036

Contribution of Colonic Fermentation and Fecal Water Toxicity to the Pathophysiology of Lactose-Intolerance.

PubMed

Windey, Karen; Houben, Els; Deroover, Lise; Verbeke, Kristin

2015-09-08

Whether or not abdominal symptoms occur in subjects with small intestinal lactose malabsorption might depend on differences in colonic fermentation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we collected fecal samples from subjects with lactose malabsorption with abdominal complaints (LM-IT, n = 11) and without abdominal complaints (LM-T, n = 8) and subjects with normal lactose digestion (NLD, n = 15). Lactose malabsorption was diagnosed using a (13)C-lactose breath test. Colonic fermentation was characterized in fecal samples at baseline and after incubation with lactose for 3 h, 6 h and 24 h through a metabolomics approach using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fecal water cytotoxicity was analyzed using a colorimetric assay. Fecal water cytotoxicity was not different between the three groups (Kruskall-Wallis p = 0.164). Cluster analysis of the metabolite patterns revealed separate clusters for NLD, LM-T and LM-IT samples at baseline and after 24 h incubation with lactose. Levels of 5-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde were significantly higher in LM-IT and LM-T compared to NLD whereas those of an unidentified aldehyde were significantly higher in LM-IT compared to LM-T and NLD. Incubation with lactose increased short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations more in LM-IT and LM-T compared to NLD. In conclusion, fermentation patterns were clearly different in NLD, LM-IT and LM-T, but not related to differences in fecal water cytotoxicity.

Developmental Course of Impulsivity and Capability from Age 10 to Age 25 as Related to Trajectory of Suicide Attempt in a Community Cohort

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kasen, Stephanie; Cohen, Patricia; Chen, Henian

2011-01-01

Hierarchical linear models were used to examine trajectories of impulsivity and capability between ages 10 and 25 in relation to suicide attempt in 770 youths followed longitudinally: intercepts were set at age 17. The impulsivity measure assessed features of urgency (e.g., poor control, quick provocation, and disregard for external constraints);…

Comparison between light scattering and gravimetric samplers for PM10 mass concentration in poultry and pig houses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cambra-López, María; Winkel, Albert; Mosquera, Julio; Ogink, Nico W. M.; Aarnink, André J. A.

2015-06-01

The objective of this study was to compare co-located real-time light scattering devices and equivalent gravimetric samplers in poultry and pig houses for PM10 mass concentration, and to develop animal-specific calibration factors for light scattering samplers. These results will contribute to evaluate the comparability of different sampling instruments for PM10 concentrations. Paired DustTrak light scattering device (DustTrak aerosol monitor, TSI, U.S.) and PM10 gravimetric cyclone sampler were used for measuring PM10 mass concentrations during 24 h periods (from noon to noon) inside animal houses. Sampling was conducted in 32 animal houses in the Netherlands, including broilers, broiler breeders, layers in floor and in aviary system, turkeys, piglets, growing-finishing pigs in traditional and low emission housing with dry and liquid feed, and sows in individual and group housing. A total of 119 pairs of 24 h measurements (55 for poultry and 64 for pigs) were recorded and analyzed using linear regression analysis. Deviations between samplers were calculated and discussed. In poultry, cyclone sampler and DustTrak data fitted well to a linear regression, with a regression coefficient equal to 0.41, an intercept of 0.16 mg m-3 and a correlation coefficient of 0.91 (excluding turkeys). Results in turkeys showed a regression coefficient equal to 1.1 (P = 0.49), an intercept of 0.06 mg m-3 (P < 0.0001) and a correlation coefficient of 0.98. In pigs, we found a regression coefficient equal to 0.61, an intercept of 0.05 mg m-3 and a correlation coefficient of 0.84. Measured PM10 concentrations using DustTraks were clearly underestimated (approx. by a factor 2) in both poultry and pig housing systems compared with cyclone pre-separators. Absolute, relative, and random deviations increased with concentration. DustTrak light scattering devices should be self-calibrated to investigate PM10 mass concentrations accurately in animal houses. We recommend linear regression equations as animal-specific calibration factors for DustTraks instead of manufacturer calibration factors, especially in heavily dusty environments such as animal houses.

Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis in Colorectal Cancer: The Mayo Clinic Experience.

PubMed

Taylor, Gretchen; Karlin, Nina; Halfdanarson, Thorvardur R; Coppola, Kyle; Grothey, Axel

2018-06-01

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is an uncommon form of metastatic disease in many cancers. There remains a paucity of literature with regard to the course and management of LM in colorectal cancers (CRCs). The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of LM in patients with CRC seen at our institution over a 15-year period, and to describe the clinical course and outcome of these cases. LM in CRC primary cases between 2000 and 2014 were identified in the Mayo Clinic databases. The charts were retrospectively reviewed. Of 17,095 CRC primaries, we identified 10 patients with LM (0.058%) in this 15-year period. Nine cases were included in the analysis. Four had metastatic disease at the time of their initial CRC diagnosis. Median overall survival after CRC diagnosis was 25.7 months (range, 4.7-74.8 months). Median time to diagnosis of LM after CRC diagnosis was 25.3 months (range, 0-68.1 months). All patients had magnetic resonance imaging findings consistent with LM: 3 patients with spinal LM, 5 patients with intracranial LM, and 1 with both. Neurologic symptoms correlated with site of the lesions, with headache, cranial nerve palsy, lower extremity weakness, and gait disturbance among the most frequently reported. However, not all patients had neurologic findings, with LM lesions found incidentally in 2 cases. Seven patients (78%) had palliative radiotherapy for LM. Three patients continued to receive systemic chemotherapy after diagnosis of LM. Median survival after LM diagnosis was 7 weeks (range, 2-39 weeks). LM is an exceedingly rare development in the natural course of CRC. It confers a poor prognosis with limited treatment options. At our institution, most patients had their disease addressed by palliative means, with many receiving radiotherapy to control their neurologic symptoms. Based on our series, supportive care remains a sensible approach to the management of LM in CRC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Quantification of Absolute Fat Mass by Magnetic Resonance Imaging: a Validation Study against Chemical Analysis

PubMed Central

Hu, Houchun H.; Li, Yan; Nagy, Tim R.; Goran, Michael I.; Nayak, Krishna S.

2011-01-01

Objective To develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based approach for quantifying absolute fat mass in organs, muscles, and adipose tissues, and to validate its accuracy against reference chemical analysis (CA). Methods Chemical-shift imaging can accurately decompose water and fat signals from the acquired MRI data. A proton density fat fraction (PDFF) can be computed from the separated images, and reflects the relative fat content on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The PDFF is mathematically closely related to the fat mass fraction and can be converted to absolute fat mass in grams by multiplying by the voxel volume and the mass density of fat. In this validation study, 97 freshly excised and unique samples from four pigs, comprising of organs, muscles, and adipose and lean tissues were imaged by MRI and then analyzed independently by CA. Linear regression was used to assess correlation, agreement, and measurement differences between MRI and CA. Results Considering all 97 samples, a strong correlation and agreement was obtained between MRI and CA-derived fat mass (slope = 1.01, intercept = 1.99g, r2 = 0.98, p < 0.01). The mean difference d between MRI and CA was 2.17±3.40g. MRI did not exhibit any tendency to under or overestimate CA (p > 0.05). When considering samples from each pig separately, the results were (slope = 1.05, intercept = 1.11g, r2 = 0.98, d = 2.66±4.36g), (slope = 0.99, intercept = 2.33g, r2 = 0.99, d = 1.88±2.68g), (slope = 1.07, intercept = 1.52g, r2 = 0.96, d = 2.73±2.50g), and (slope=0.92, intercept=2.84g, r2 = 0.97, d = 1.18±3.90g), respectively. Conclusion Chemical-shift MRI and PDFF provides an accurate means of determining absolute fat mass in organs, muscles, and adipose and lean tissues. PMID:23204926

Implication of Intrastorm Rainfall-Canopy Interaction on Interception Performance of Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs in an Ultra-Urban Setting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yerk, W.; Montalto, F. A.

2015-12-01

Because of its ability to intercept a portion of rainfall, vegetated canopies can play substantial role in modulating the urban hydrological cycle. However, canopy interception research has historically been focused to forest canopies. The goal of our research is to quantify rainfall partitioning by isolated evergreen shrub canopies in an ultra-urban setting. The three year field experiment involved three exemplars of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'.) Ten rain gauges positioned under each plant were used to measure throughfall with a sampling frequency of five seconds. A number of specific techniques were implemented to minimize error associated with the gauges, e.g., splash-in, splash-out and excessive wetting. The cumulative throughfall deficit (i.e., gross precipitation minus throughfall within the canopy projected area and minus stemflow) for the periods of August-December 2013, April-December 2014 and April-July 2015 was 39%. Spatial variability of throughfall was large (coefficient of variation up to 1.5.) Stable areas of preferential throughfall flux were observed. Stemflow showed a high variability (1.4 - 24%) between rain events. The relationship between throughfall and precipitation intensity was strongly linear (adjusted coefficient of determination R2 0.79) throughout the entire range of observed rainfall intensities. The overall ratio of throughfall to precipitation intensity was 0.48:1. The observations suggest that reduction of throughfall intensity by the canopy during a rainstorm determines the aggregate interception depth. In contrast, the amount of water stored on the canopy and evaporated between and after rain events contributes minimally to interception loss. Penman-Monteith estimates of wet canopy evaporation cannot account for the throughfall deficit. Lateral displacement of microdrops beyond the canopy projected area is another phenomenon that will be discussed and most recent observations of an extended gauge network will be presented.

Experimental evidence for negative turgor pressure in small leaf cells of Robinia pseudoacacia L versus large cells of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et W.C. Cheng. 2. Höfler diagrams below the volume of zero turgor and the theoretical implication for pressure-volume curves of living cells.

PubMed

Yang, Dongmei; Li, Junhui; Ding, Yiting; Tyree, Melvin T

2017-03-01

The physiological advantages of negative turgor pressure, P t , in leaf cells are water saving and homeostasis of reactants. This paper advances methods for detecting the occurrence of negative P t in leaves. Biomechanical models of pressure-volume (PV) curves predict that negative P t does not change the linearity of PV curve plots of inverse balance pressure, P B , versus relative water loss, but it does predict changes in either the y-intercept or the x-intercept of the plots depending on where cell collapse occurs in the P B domain because of negative P t . PV curve analysis of Robinia leaves revealed a shift in the x-intercept (x-axis is relative water loss) of PV curves, caused by negative P t of palisade cells. The low x-intercept of the PV curve was explained by the non-collapse of palisade cells in Robinia in the P B domain. Non-collapse means that P t smoothly falls from positive to negative values with decreasing cell volume without a dramatic change in slope. The magnitude of negative turgor in non-collapsing living cells was as low as -1.3 MPa and the relative volume of the non-collapsing cell equaled 58% of the total leaf cell volume. This study adds to the growing evidence for negative P t . © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A new graphic plot analysis for determination of neuroreceptor binding in positron emission tomography studies.

PubMed

Ito, Hiroshi; Yokoi, Takashi; Ikoma, Yoko; Shidahara, Miho; Seki, Chie; Naganawa, Mika; Takahashi, Hidehiko; Takano, Harumasa; Kimura, Yuichi; Ichise, Masanori; Suhara, Tetsuya

2010-01-01

In positron emission tomography (PET) studies with radioligands for neuroreceptors, tracer kinetics have been described by the standard two-tissue compartment model that includes the compartments of nondisplaceable binding and specific binding to receptors. In the present study, we have developed a new graphic plot analysis to determine the total distribution volume (V(T)) and nondisplaceable distribution volume (V(ND)) independently, and therefore the binding potential (BP(ND)). In this plot, Y(t) is the ratio of brain tissue activity to time-integrated arterial input function, and X(t) is the ratio of time-integrated brain tissue activity to time-integrated arterial input function. The x-intercept of linear regression of the plots for early phase represents V(ND), and the x-intercept of linear regression of the plots for delayed phase after the equilibrium time represents V(T). BP(ND) can be calculated by BP(ND)=V(T)/V(ND)-1. Dynamic PET scanning with measurement of arterial input function was performed on six healthy men after intravenous rapid bolus injection of [(11)C]FLB457. The plot yielded a curve in regions with specific binding while it yielded a straight line through all plot data in regions with no specific binding. V(ND), V(T), and BP(ND) values calculated by the present method were in good agreement with those by conventional non-linear least-squares fitting procedure. This method can be used to distinguish graphically whether the radioligand binding includes specific binding or not.

Muscle strength and soft tissue composition as measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in women aged 18-87 years.

PubMed

Madsen, O R; Lauridsen, U B; Hartkopp, A; Sørensen, O H

1997-01-01

Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) offers the possibility of assessing regional soft tissue composition, i.e. lean mass (LM) and fat mass: LM may be considered a measure of muscle mass. We examined age-related differences in LM, percentage fat (%fat) and muscle strength in 100 healthy non-athletic women aged 18-87 years. Relationships between muscle strength and leg LM in 20 elite female weight lifters and in 18 inactive women with previous hip fractures were also studied. The LM and %fat of the whole body, trunk, arms and legs were derived from a whole body DEXA scan. Isokinetic knee extensor strength (KES) and flexor strength (KFS) at 30 degrees.s-1 were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The women aged 71-87 years had 35% lower KES and KFS than the women aged 18-40 years (P < 0.0001). Differences in LM were less pronounced. The LM of the legs, for instance, was 15% lower in the old than in the young women (P < 0.0001). In a multiple regression analysis with age, body mass, height and leg LM or KES as independent variables and KES or leg LM as the dependent variable, age was the most important predictor of KES (r(partial) = -0.74, P < 0.0001). The same applied to KFS. Body mass, not age, was the most important predictor of leg LM (r(partial) = 0.65, P < 0.0001) and of LM at all other measurement sites. The LM measured at different regions decreased equally with increasing age. The KES:leg LM ratio was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.70, P < 0.0001). The weight lifters had significantly higher KES:leg LM ratios than age-matched controls (+ 12%, P < 0.0001) and vice versa for the women with previous hip fractures (-36%, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, from our study it would seem that in healthy nonathletic women, age is a more important determinant of muscle strength than is LM as measured by DEXA. Muscle strengthening exercises and inactivity seem to have a considerably stronger influence on muscle strength than on LM.

Protective effect of Galectin-9 in murine model of lung emphysema: Involvement of neutrophil migration and MMP-9 production

PubMed Central

Horio, Yuko; Ichiyasu, Hidenori; Kojima, Keisuke; Saita, Naoki; Migiyama, Yohei; Iriki, Toyohisa; Fujii, Kazuhiko; Niki, Toshiro; Hirashima, Mitsuomi; Kohrogi, Hirotsugu

2017-01-01

Purpose Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible airflow obstruction and pulmonary emphysema. Persistent inflammation and remodeling of the lungs and airways result in reduced lung function and a lower quality of life. Galectin (Gal)-9 plays a crucial role as an immune modulator in various diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema is unknown. This study investigates whether Gal-9 is involved in pulmonary inflammation and changes in emphysema in a porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced emphysema model. Materials and methods Gal-9 was administered to mice subcutaneously once daily from 1 day before PPE instillation to day 5. During the development of emphysema, lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. Histological and cytological findings, concentrations of chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the BALF, and the influence of Gal-9 treatment on neutrophils were analyzed. Results Gal-9 suppressed the pathological changes of PPE-induced emphysema. The mean linear intercept (Lm) of Gal-9-treated emphysema mice was significantly lower than that of PBS-treated emphysema mice (66.1 ± 3.3 μm vs. 118.8 ± 14.8 μm, respectively; p < 0.01). Gal-9 decreased the number of neutrophils and levels of MMP-9, MMP-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 in the BALF. The number of neutrophils in the BALF correlated significantly with MMPs levels. Interestingly, Gal-9 pretreatment in vitro inhibited the chemotactic activity of neutrophils and MMP-9 production from neutrophils. Furthermore, in Gal-9-deficient mice, PPE-induced emphysema progressed significantly compared with that in wild–type (WT) mice (108.7 ± 6.58 μm vs. 77.19 ± 6.97 μm, respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusions These results suggest that Gal-9 protects PPE-induced inflammation and emphysema by inhibiting the infiltration of neutrophils and decreasing MMPs levels. Exogenous Gal-9 could be a potential therapeutic agent for COPD. PMID:28704475

Technical note: the United States Department of Agriculture beef yield grade equation requires modification to reflect the current longissimus muscle area to hot carcass weight relationship.

PubMed

Lawrence, T E; Farrow, R L; Zollinger, B L; Spivey, K S

2008-06-01

With the adoption of visual instrument grading, the calculated yield grade can be used for payment to cattle producers selling on grid pricing systems. The USDA beef carcass grading standards include a relationship between required LM area (LMA) and HCW that is an important component of the final yield grade. As noted on a USDA yield grade LMA grid, a 272-kg (600-lb) carcass requires a 71-cm(2) (11.0-in.(2)) LMA and a 454-kg (1,000-lb) carcass requires a 102-cm(2) (15.8-in.(2)) LMA. This is a linear relationship, where required LMA = 0.171(HCW) + 24.526. If a beef carcass has a larger LMA than required, the calculated yield grade is lowered, whereas a smaller LMA than required increases the calculated yield grade. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the LMA to HCW relationship against data on 434,381 beef carcasses in the West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) Beef Carcass Research Center database. In contrast to the USDA relationship, our data indicate a quadratic relationship [WTAMU LMA = 33.585 + 0.17729(HCW) -0.0000863(HCW(2))] between LMA and HCW whereby, on average, a 272-kg carcass has a 75-cm(2) (11.6-in.(2)) LMA and a 454-kg carcass has a 96-cm(2) (14.9-in.(2)) LMA, indicating a different slope and different intercept than those in the USDA grading standards. These data indicate that the USDA calculated yield grade equation favors carcasses lighter than 363 kg (800 lb) for having above average muscling and penalizes carcasses heavier than 363 kg (800 lb) for having below average muscling. If carcass weights continue to increase, we are likely to observe greater proportions of yield grade 4 and 5 carcasses because of the measurement bias that currently exists in the USDA yield grade equation.

Evaluating the contribution of differences in lean mass compartments for resting energy expenditure in African American and Caucasian American children.

PubMed

Broadney, M M; Shareef, F; Marwitz, S E; Brady, S M; Yanovski, S Z; DeLany, J P; Yanovski, J A

2018-04-26

Resting energy expenditure (REE), adjusted for total lean mass (LM), is lower in African American (AA) than Caucasian American (CA) children. Some adult studies suggest that AA-CA differences in lean mass compartments explain this REE difference. Similar data are limited in children. To evaluate differences in compartment-specific lean mass between AA and CA children and examine the individual contributions of high-metabolic rate-at-rest trunk lean mass (TrLM) and low-metabolic-rate-at-rest appendicular lean mass (AppLM) for AA-CA differences in REE. We studied a convenience sample of 594 AA (n = 281) and CA (n = 313) children. REE was measured by using indirect calorimetry; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition. ANCOVAs were performed to examine AA-CA differences in TrLM, AppLM and REE. After accounting for age, sex, height, pubertal development, bone mass and adiposity, REE was evaluated adjusting for total LM (model A) and separately adjusting for TrLM and AppLM (model B). African American children had greater adjusted AppLM (17.8 ± 0.2 [SE] vs. 16.0 ± 0.2 kg, p < 0.001) and lower TrLM (17.2 ± 0.2 vs. 17.7 ± 0.2 kg, p = 0.022) than CA children. REE adjusted for total LM was 77 ± 16 kcal/d lower in AA than CA (p < 0.001). However, after accounting separately for AppLM and TrLM, the discrepancy in REE between the groups declined to 28 ± 19 kcal/d (p = 0.14). In the adjusted model, both TrLM (p < 0.001) and AppLM (p < 0.027) were independently associated with REE. In children, AA-CA differences in REE appear mostly attributable to differences in body composition. Lower REE in AA children is likely due to lower TrLM and greater AppLM. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Using air/water/sediment temperature contrasts to identify groundwater seepage locations in small streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karan, S.; Sebok, E.; Engesgaard, P. K.

2016-12-01

For identifying groundwater seepage locations in small streams within a headwater catchment, we present a method expanding on the linear regression of air and stream temperatures. Thus, by measuring the temperatures in dual-depth; in the stream column and at the streambed-water interface (SWI), we apply metrics from linear regression analysis of temperatures between air/stream and air/SWI (linear regression slope, intercept and coefficient of determination), and the daily mean temperatures (temperature variance and the average difference between the minimum and maximum daily temperatures). Our study show that using metrics from single-depth stream temperature measurements only are not sufficient to identify substantial groundwater seepage locations within a headwater stream. Conversely, comparing the metrics from dual-depth temperatures show significant differences so that at groundwater seepage locations, temperatures at the SWI, merely explain 43-75 % of the variation opposed to ≥91 % at the corresponding stream column temperatures. The figure showing a box-plot of the variation in daily mean temperature depict that at several locations there is great variation in the range the upper and lower loggers due to groundwater seepage. In general, the linear regression show that at these locations at the SWI, the slopes (<0.25) and intercepts (>6.5oC) are substantially lower and higher, while the mean diel amplitudes (<0.98oC) are decreased compared to remaining locations. The dual-depth approach was applied in a post-glacial fluvial setting, where metrics analyses overall corresponded to field measurements of groundwater fluxes deduced from vertical streambed temperatures and stream flow accretions. Thus, we propose a method reliably identifying groundwater seepage locations along streambed in such settings.

Leptomeningeal metastases: a RANO proposal for response criteria

PubMed Central

Junck, Larry; Brandsma, Dieta; Soffietti, Riccardo; Rudà, Roberta; Raizer, Jeffrey; Boogerd, Willem; Taillibert, Sophie; Groves, Morris D.; Rhun, Emilie Le; Walker, Julie; van den Bent, Martin; Wen, Patrick Y.; Jaeckle, Kurt A.

2017-01-01

Abstract Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) currently lack standardization with respect to response assessment. A Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) working group with expertise in LM developed a consensus proposal for evaluating patients treated for this disease. Three basic elements in assessing response in LM are proposed: a standardized neurological examination, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) cytology or flow cytometry, and radiographic evaluation. The group recommends that all patients enrolling in clinical trials undergo CSF analysis (cytology in all cancers; flow cytometry in hematologic cancers), complete contrast-enhanced neuraxis MRI, and in instances of planned intra-CSF therapy, radioisotope CSF flow studies. In conjunction with the RANO Neurological Assessment working group, a standardized instrument was created for assessing the neurological exam in patients with LM. Considering that most lesions in LM are nonmeasurable and that assessment of neuroimaging in LM is subjective, neuroimaging is graded as stable, progressive, or improved using a novel radiological LM response scorecard. Radiographic disease progression in isolation (ie, negative CSF cytology/flow cytometry and stable neurological assessment) would be defined as LM disease progression. The RANO LM working group has proposed a method of response evaluation for patients with LM that will require further testing, validation, and likely refinement with use. PMID:28039364

Reference standards for lean mass measures using GE dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in Caucasian adults.

PubMed

Imboden, Mary T; Swartz, Ann M; Finch, Holmes W; Harber, Matthew P; Kaminsky, Leonard A

2017-01-01

To develop reference values by age and sex for LM measures using GE-Healthcare DXA systems. A de-identified sample was obtained from Ball State University's Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Physical Activity & Health Research Laboratory. DXA scans of 2,076 women and 1,251 men were completed using a GE Lunar Prodigy or iDXA. Percentiles (%ile) were calculated for all variables of interest (LM, LMI, %LM, and ALMI) and a factorial ANOVA was used to assess differences for each variable between 10-year age groups and sex, as well as the interaction between age and sex. Men had higher mean total LM, %LM, LMI, and ALMI than women (p<0.01), across all age groups. All LM variables decreased significantly over the 5 decades in men, however in women only total LM, %LM, and ALMI decreased from the youngest to oldest age groups (p<0.01). These reference values provide for a more accurate interpretation of GE-Healthcare DXA-derived LM measurements offering clinicians and researchers with an initial resource to aid in the early detection and assessment of LM deficits.

Prolonged survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in the modern treatment era.

PubMed

Riess, Jonathan W; Nagpal, Seema; Iv, Michael; Zeineh, Michael; Gubens, Matthew A; Ramchandran, Kavitha; Neal, Joel W; Wakelee, Heather A

2014-05-01

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LM) is a severe complication of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) historically associated with poor prognosis. New chemotherapeutic and targeted treatments could potentially affect the natural history of LM. Patients with a pathologic diagnosis of NSCLC with LM treated at Stanford between 2003 and 2011 were identified via institutional databases and medical records. LM was defined by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that was positive for malignant cells or by LM enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium contrast. Retrospective, landmark analyses were performed to estimate survival. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS Enterprise Guide, version 4.3. LM was identified in 30 patients. All cases were adenocarcinoma; 60% of patients had a known or suspected driver mutation. The mean age was 58 years. Of the 30 patients, 67% were women; 70% were nonsmokers; 27% initially presented with LM; 84% received systemic treatment at or after development of LM; and 53% of these patients received modern systemic therapy for their LM, defined as a regimen containing pemetrexed, bevacizumab, or a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Mean overall survival after LM diagnosis was 6 months (95% CI, 3-12). Patients who received modern systemic therapy for LM had decreased hazard of death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.24; P = .007). In this retrospective, single-institution analysis, median survival with LM was higher compared with historical experience. Patients who received modern systemic therapy for their LM had particularly good outcomes. These data provide evidence for improving survival outcomes in the modern treatment era for this difficult-to-treat complication. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Heterologous expression and characterization of two chitinase 5 enzymes from the migratory locust Locusta migratoria.

PubMed

Li, Ying-Long; Song, Hui-Fang; Zhang, Xue-Yao; Li, Da-Qi; Zhang, Ting-Ting; Ma, En-Bo; Zhang, Jian-Zhen

2016-06-01

Insect chitinases are involved in degradation of chitin from the exoskeleton or peritrophic metrix of midgut. In Locusta migratoria, two duplicated Cht5s (LmCht5-1 and LmCht5-2) have been shown to have distinct molecular characteristics and biological roles. To explore the protein properties of the two LmCht5s, we heterologously expressed both enzymes using baculovirus expression system in SF9 cells, and characterized kinetic and carbohydrate-binding properties of purified enzymes. LmCht5-1 and LmCht5-2 exhibited similar pH and temperature optimums. LmCht5-1 has lower Km value for the oligomeric substrate (4MU-(GlcNAc)3 ), and higher Km value for the longer substrate (CM-Chitin-RBV) compared with LmCht5-2. A comparison of amino acids and homology modeling of catalytic domain presented similar TIM barrel structures and differentiated amino acids between two proteins. LmCht5-1 has a chitin-binding domain (CBD) tightly bound to colloidal chitin, but LmCht5-2 does not have a CBD for binding to colloidal chitin. Our results suggested both LmCht5-1 and LmCht5-2, which have the critical glutamate residue in region II of catalytic domain, exhibited chitinolytic activity cleaving both polymeric and oligomeric substrates. LmCht5-1 had relatively higher activity against the oligomeric substrate, 4MU-(GlcNAc)3 , whereas LmCht5-2 exhibited higher activity toward the longer substrate, CM-Chitin-RBV. These findings are helpful for further research to clarify their different roles in insect growth and development. © 2016 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Nonprofit, payload process improvement through lean management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sampson, Melissa

Organizations that are successful and competitive long-term have learned to efficiently utilize their resources, such as money, people, facilities, and time. Over the last half-century, there have been a variety of theories and techniques put forth on how to do this. One recent theory applied in the aerospace industry is Lean Management (LM), which emphasizes a customer focus and a rigorous elimination of activities that do not add value from the customer's perspective. LM has not, until now, been evaluated for small, nonprofit, one-off production organizations (NOPOs). Previous research on LM focused on for-profit companies and large-scale production organizations, producing relatively similar products repetitively (e.g. automobiles, commercial satellites, aircraft, and launch vehicles). One-off production organizations typically create one-of-a-kind products. The purpose of this research is to examine the applicability of LM to a NOPO. LM will improve resource utilization and thereby competitiveness, as well as exploring a new area of knowledge and research. The research methodology consists of conducting case studies, formal and informal interviews, observation and analysis in order to assess whether and how LM may be beneficial. The research focuses on one particular NOPO, BioServe Space Technologies (BST): a nonprofit, payload development organization. Additional NOPOs were interviewed in order to draw more generalized conclusions about LM benefits. The research demonstrates that LM is applicable to NOPOs, thus providing a tool to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Results from this research are guidelines for payload development organizations to implement LM, and highlighting potential LM weaknesses. A major conclusion is that LM needs some minor modifications to be applicable and useful to NOPOs, particularly in terms of value stream mapping. The LM implementation roadmap developed for NOPOs introduces customized metrics, as well as including standard LM ideas. The metrics address efficiency; customer and stakeholder satisfaction; research value; and employee education. LM will improve resource utilization, while retaining the NOPO's hallmarks of adaptability and flexibility.

A comparison of three random effects approaches to analyze repeated bounded outcome scores with an application in a stroke revalidation study.

PubMed

Molas, Marek; Lesaffre, Emmanuel

2008-12-30

Discrete bounded outcome scores (BOS), i.e. discrete measurements that are restricted on a finite interval, often occur in practice. Examples are compliance measures, quality of life measures, etc. In this paper we examine three related random effects approaches to analyze longitudinal studies with a BOS as response: (1) a linear mixed effects (LM) model applied to a logistic transformed modified BOS; (2) a model assuming that the discrete BOS is a coarsened version of a latent random variable, which after a logistic-normal transformation, satisfies an LM model; and (3) a random effects probit model. We consider also the extension whereby the variability of the BOS is allowed to depend on covariates. The methods are contrasted using a simulation study and on a longitudinal project, which documents stroke rehabilitation in four European countries using measures of motor and functional recovery. Copyright 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Structure analysis of turbulent liquid phase by POD and LSE techniques

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

Munir, S., E-mail: shahzad-munir@comsats.edu.pk; Muthuvalu, M. S.; Siddiqui, M. I.

2014-10-24

In this paper, vortical structures and turbulence characteristics of liquid phase in both single liquid phase and two-phase slug flow in pipes were studied. Two dimensional velocity vector fields of liquid phase were obtained by Particle image velocimetry (PIV). Two cases were considered one single phase liquid flow at 80 l/m and second slug flow by introducing gas at 60 l/m while keeping liquid flow rate same. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and Linear stochastic estimation techniques were used for the extraction of coherent structures and analysis of turbulence in liquid phase for both cases. POD has successfully revealed large energymore » containing structures. The time dependent POD spatial mode coefficients oscillate with high frequency for high mode numbers. The energy distribution of spatial modes was also achieved. LSE has pointed out the coherent structured for both cases and the reconstructed velocity fields are in well agreement with the instantaneous velocity fields.« less

Candida sirachaensis sp. nov. and Candida sakaeoensis sp. nov. two anamorphic yeast species from phylloplane in Thailand.

PubMed

Limtong, Savitree; Koowadjanakul, Nampueng; Jindamorakot, Sasitorn; Yongmanitchai, Wichien; Nakase, Takashi

2012-08-01

Three strains (LM008(T), LM068 and LM078(T)), representing two novel yeast species were isolated from the phylloplane of three plant species by an enrichment technique. On the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, and the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene and the internal spacer region, the three strains were assigned as two novel Candida species. Strain LM008(T) was assigned to be Candida sirachaensis sp. nov. (type strain LM008(T) = BCC 47628(T) = NBRC 108605(T) CBS 12094(T)) in the Starmerella clade. Two strains (LM068 and LM078(T)) represent a single species in the Lodderomyces-Spathaspora clade for which the name Candida sakaeoensis sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain LM078(T) = BCC 47632(T) = NBRC 108895(T) = CBS 12318(T).

An interpretation of carbon and sulfur relationships in Black Sea sediments as indicators of environments of deposition

USGS Publications Warehouse

Leventhal, J.S.

1983-01-01

Syngenetic iron sulfides in sediments are formed from dissolved sulfide resulting from sulfate reduction and catabolism of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria. It has been shown that in recent marine sediments deposited below oxygenated waters there is a constant relationship between reduced sulfur and organic carbon which is generally independent of the environment of deposition. Reexamination of data from recent sediments from euxinic marine environments (e.g., the Black Sea) also shows a linear relationship between carbon and sulfur, but the slope is variable and the line intercepts the S axis at a value between 1 and 2 percent S. It is proposed that the positive S intercept is due to watercolumn microbial reduction of sulfate using metabolizable small organic molecules and the sulfide formed is precipitated and accumulates at the sediment-water interface. The variation in slope and intercept of the C to S plots for several cores and for different stratigraphic zones for the Black Sea can be interpreted in relation to thickness of the aqueous sulfide layer or thinness of the oxygen containing layer and to deposition rate, but also may be influenced by availability of iron, and perhaps the type of organic matter (Leventhal, 1979). ?? 1983.

Listeria Monocytogenes: A Model Pathogen Continues to Refine Our Knowledge of the CD8 T Cell Response.

PubMed

Qiu, Zhijuan; Khairallah, Camille; Sheridan, Brian S

2018-06-16

Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm ) infection induces robust CD8 T cell responses, which play a critical role in resolving Lm during primary infection and provide protective immunity to re-infections. Comprehensive studies have been conducted to delineate the CD8 T cell response after Lm infection. In this review, the generation of the CD8 T cell response to Lm infection will be discussed. The role of dendritic cell subsets in acquiring and presenting Lm antigens to CD8 T cells and the events that occur during T cell priming and activation will be addressed. CD8 T cell expansion, differentiation and contraction as well as the signals that regulate these processes during Lm infection will be explored. Finally, the formation of memory CD8 T cell subsets in the circulation and in the intestine will be analyzed. Recently, the study of CD8 T cell responses to Lm infection has begun to shift focus from the intravenous infection model to a natural oral infection model as the humanized mouse and murinized Lm have become readily available. Recent findings in the generation of CD8 T cell responses to oral infection using murinized Lm will be explored throughout the review. Finally, CD8 T cell-mediated protective immunity against Lm infection and the use of Lm as a vaccine vector for cancer immunotherapy will be highlighted. Overall, this review will provide detailed knowledge on the biology of CD8 T cell responses after Lm infection that may shed light on improving rational vaccine design.

Simulation studies of circular muscle contraction, longitudinal muscle shortening, and their coordination in esophageal transport.

PubMed

Kou, Wenjun; Pandolfino, John E; Kahrilas, Peter J; Patankar, Neelesh A

2015-08-15

On the basis of a fully coupled active musculomechanical model for esophageal transport, we aimed to find the roles of circular muscle (CM) contraction and longitudinal muscle (LM) shortening in esophageal transport, and the influence of their coordination. Two groups of studies were conducted using a computational model. In the first group, bolus transport with only CM contraction, only LM shortening, or both was simulated. Overall features and detailed information on pressure and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of mucosal and the two muscle layers were analyzed. In the second group, bolus transport with varying delay in CM contraction or LM shortening was simulated. The effect of delay on esophageal transport was studied. For cases showing abnormal transport, pressure and CSA were further analyzed. CM contraction by itself was sufficient to transport bolus, but LM shortening by itself was not. CM contraction decreased the CSA and the radius of the muscle layer locally, but LM shortening increased the CSA. Synchronized CM contraction and LM shortening led to overlapping of muscle CSA and pressure peaks. Advancing LM shortening adversely influenced bolus transport, whereas lagging LM shortening was irrelevant to bolus transport. In conclusion, CM contraction generates high squeezing pressure, which plays a primary role in esophageal transport. LM shortening increases muscle CSA, which helps to strengthen CM contraction. Advancing LM shortening decreases esophageal distensibility in the bolus region. Lagging LM shortening no longer helps esophageal transport. Synchronized CM contraction and LM shortening seems to be most effective for esophageal transport. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Technical note: Validation of a handheld meter for measuring β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in plasma and serum from dairy cows.

PubMed

Pineda, A; Cardoso, F C

2015-12-01

The use of handheld meters for cow-side tests for β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations in whole blood has become common. The aim of this study was to compare serum BHB (sBHB) and plasma BHB (pBHB) concentrations analyzed using either a "gold standard" enzymatic laboratory method (LM; Randox Laboratories Ltd., Antrim, UK; cat. no. RB1007) or a handheld meter (PX; Precision Xtra, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Alameda, CA). Results from 374 (187 serum and 187 plasma) samples taken from Holstein cows from 11 d before (52 samples) to 5 d after parturition (137 samples) were used for the analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the MIXED, REG, and LOGISTIC procedures of SAS (v9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). A linear mixed model with repeated measures was fitted for LM and PX. Regression and correlation analyses were completed to estimate the relationship and agreement between the 2 methods. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement between LM and PX. Cross-validation by randomly splitting the data in model-building and validation sets was performed to estimate and validate the equation that predicted the LM results using PX. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of PX at different threshold levels. The CCC was 0.74 for pBHB and 0.68 for sBHB. The 95% confidence interval of agreement of the Bland-Altman plot encompassed 96% of the difference between LM and PX for pBHB and 95% for sBHB. The mean difference for pBHB was -0.50±0.25mmol, and that for sBHB was -0.63±0.41mmol. The highest Se and Sp for PX were achieved when the threshold for ketosis was set to 1.8mmol/L for pBHB and 2.1mmol/L for sBHB. The area under the ROC curve was 0.97 for pBHB and 0.96 for sBHB. The negative bias shown by the Bland-Altman plots suggested that PX yielded higher pBHB and sBHB concentrations than the LM. However, the excellent test characteristics and area under the ROC curve close to 1 indicated that PX at the adjusted thresholds was able to accurately classify between samples <1.2mmol/L and those ≥1.2mmol/L based on the gold standard test. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Label-free offline versus online activity methods for nucleoside diphosphate kinase b using high performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Lima, Juliana Maria; Salmazo Vieira, Plínio; Cavalcante de Oliveira, Arthur Henrique; Cardoso, Carmen Lúcia

2016-08-07

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase from Leishmania spp. (LmNDKb) has recently been described as a potential drug target to treat leishmaniasis disease. Therefore, screening of LmNDKb ligands requires methodologies that mimic the conditions under which LmNDKb acts in biological systems. Here, we compare two label-free methodologies that could help screen LmNDKb ligands and measure NDKb activity: an offline LC-UV assay for soluble LmNDKb and an online two-dimensional LC-UV system based on LmNDKb immobilised on a silica capillary. The target enzyme was immobilised on the silica capillary via Schiff base formation (to give LmNDKb-ICER-Schiff) or affinity attachment (to give LmNDKb-ICER-His). Several aspects of the ICERs resulting from these procedures were compared, namely kinetic parameters, stability, and procedure steps. Both the LmNDKb immobilisation routes minimised the conformational changes and preserved the substrate binding sites. However, considering the number of steps involved in the immobilisation procedure, the cost of reagents, and the stability of the immobilised enzyme, immobilisation via Schiff base formation proved to be the optimal procedure.

Resonance Raman study on the structure of the active sites of microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozymes LM2 and LM4.

PubMed

Hildebrandt, P; Greinert, R; Stier, A; Taniguchi, H

1989-12-08

The isozymes 2 and 4 of rabbit microsomal cytochrome P-450 (LM2, LM4) have been studied by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Based on high quality spectra, a vibrational assignment of the porphyrin modes in the frequency range between 100-1700 cm-1 is presented for different ferric states of cytochrome P-450 LM2 and LM4. The resonance Raman spectra are interpreted in terms of the spin and ligation state of the heme iron and of heme-protein interactions. While in cytochrome P-450 LM2 the six-coordinated low-spin configuration is predominantly occupied, in the isozyme LM4 the five-coordinated high-spin form is the most stable state. The different stability of these two spin configurations in LM2 and LM4 can be attributed to the structures of the active sites. In the low-spin form of the isozymes LM4 the protein matrix forces the heme into a more rigid conformation than in LM2. These steric constraints are removed upon dissociation of the sixth ligand leading to a more flexible structure of the active site in the high-spin form of the isozyme LM4. The vibrational modes of the vinyl groups were found to be characteristic markers for the specific structures of the heme pockets in both isozymes. They also respond sensitively to type-I substrate binding. While in cytochrome P-450 LM4 the occupation of the substrate-binding pocket induces conformational changes of the vinyl groups, as reflected by frequency shifts of the vinyl modes, in the LM2 isozyme the ground-state conformation of these substituents remain unaffected, suggesting that the more flexible heme pocket can accommodate substrates without imposing steric constraints on the porphyrin. The resonance Raman technique makes structural changes visible which are induced by substrate binding in addition and independent of the changes associated with the shift of the spin state equilibrium: the high-spin states in the substrate-bound and substrate-free enzyme are structurally different. The formation of the inactive form, P-420, involves a severe structural rearrangement in the heme binding pocket leading to drastic changes of the vinyl group conformations. The conformational differences of the active sites in cytochromes P-450 LM2 and LM4 observed in this work contribute to the understanding of the structural basis accounting for substrate and product specificity of cytochrome P-450 isozymes.

Acute toxicity of ammonia (NH3-N) in sewage effluent to Chironomus riparius: II. Using a generalized linear model

USGS Publications Warehouse

Monda, D.P.; Galat, D.L.; Finger, S.E.; Kaiser, M.S.

1995-01-01

Toxicity of un-ionized ammonia (NH3-N) to the midge, Chironomus riparius was compared, using laboratory culture (well) water and sewage effluent (≈0.4 mg/L NH3-N) in two 96-h, static-renewal toxicity experiments. A generalized linear model was used for data analysis. For the first and second experiments, respectively, LC50 values were 9.4 mg/L (Test 1A) and 6.6 mg/L (Test 2A) for ammonia in well water, and 7.8 mg/L (Test 1B) and 4.1 mg/L (Test 2B) for ammonia in sewage effluent. Slopes of dose-response curves for Tests 1A and 2A were equal, but mortality occurred at lower NH3-N concentrations in Test 2A (unequal intercepts). Response ofC. riparius to NH3 in effluent was not consistent; dose-response curves for tests 1B and 2B differed in slope and intercept. Nevertheless, C. riparius was more sensitive to ammonia in effluent than in well water in both experiments, indicating a synergistic effect of ammonia in sewage effluent. These results demonstrate the advantages of analyzing the organisms entire range of response, as opposed to generating LC50 values, which represent only one point on the dose-response curve.

Does perceived racial discrimination predict changes in psychological distress and substance use over time? An examination among Black emerging adults.

PubMed

Hurd, Noelle M; Varner, Fatima A; Caldwell, Cleopatra H; Zimmerman, Marc A

2014-07-01

We assessed whether perceived discrimination predicted changes in psychological distress and substance use over time and whether psychological distress and substance use predicted change in perceived discrimination over time. We also assessed whether associations between these constructs varied by gender. Our sample included 607 Black emerging adults (53% female) followed for 4 years. Participants reported the frequency with which they had experienced racial hassles during the past year, symptoms of anxiety and depression during the past week, and cigarette and alcohol use during the past 30 days. We estimated a series of latent growth models to test our study hypotheses. We found that the intercept of perceived discrimination predicted the linear slopes of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and alcohol use. We did not find any associations between the intercept factors of our mental health or substance use variables and the perceived discrimination linear slope factor. We found limited differences across paths by gender. Our findings suggest a temporal ordering in the associations among perceived racial discrimination, psychological distress, and alcohol use over time among emerging adults. Further, our findings suggest that perceived racial discrimination may be similarly harmful among men and women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).

Force-velocity property of leg muscles in individuals of different level of physical fitness

PubMed Central

Cuk, Ivan; Mirkov, Dragan; Nedeljkovic, Aleksandar; Kukolj, Milos; Ugarkovic, Dusan; Jaric, Slobodan

2016-01-01

The present study explored the method of testing muscle mechanical properties through the linear force-velocity (F–V) relationships obtained from loaded vertical jumps. Specifically, we hypothesised that the F-V relationship parameters depicting the force, power, and velocity of the tested muscles will differ among individuals of different physical fitness. Strength trained, physically active, and sedentary male participants (N=10+10+10; age 20–29 years) were tested on maximum countermovement and squat jumps where manipulation of external loads provided a range of F and V data. The observed F–V relationships of the tested leg muscles were approximately linear and mainly strong (median correlation coefficients ranged from 0.77 to 0.92; all p < 0.05), independently of either the tested group or the jump type. The maximum power revealed higher values in the strength trained than in the physically active and sedentary participants. This difference originated from the differences in F-intercepts, rather than from the V-intercepts. We conclude that the observed parameters could be sensitive enough to detect the differences among both the individuals of different physical fitness and various jump types. The present findings support using loaded vertical jumps and, possibly, other maximum performance multi-joint movements for the assessment of mechanical properties of active muscles. PMID:27111493

Leishmania dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase LmDAT is important for ether lipid biosynthesis but not for the integrity of detergent resistant membranes.

PubMed

Zufferey, Rachel; Al-Ani, Gada K; Dunlap, Kara

2009-12-01

Glycerolipid biosynthesis in Leishmania initiates with the acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate by a single glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, LmGAT, or of dihydroxyacetonephosphate by a dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase, LmDAT. We previously reported that acylation of the precursor dihydroxyacetonephosphate rather than glycerol-3-phosphate is the physiologically relevant pathway for Leishmania parasites. We demonstrated that LmDAT is important for normal growth, survival during the stationary phase, and for virulence. Here, we assessed the role of LmDAT in glycerolipid metabolism and metacyclogenesis. LmDAT was found to be implicated in the biosynthesis of ether glycerolipids, including the ether lipid derived virulence factor lipophosphoglycan and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins. The null mutant produced longer lipophosphoglycan molecules that were not released in the medium, and augmented levels of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins. In addition, the integrity of detergent resistant membranes was not affected by the absence of the LmDAT gene. Further, our genetic analyses strongly suggest that LmDAT was synthetic lethal with the glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase encoding gene LmGAT, implying that Leishmania expresses only two acyltransferases that initiate the biosynthesis of its cellular glycerolipids. Last, despite the fact that LmDAT is important for virulence the null mutant still exhibited the typical characteristics of metacyclics.

Laminin-521 Protein Therapy for Glomerular Basement Membrane and Podocyte Abnormalities in a Model of Pierson Syndrome.

PubMed

Lin, Meei-Hua; Miller, Joseph B; Kikkawa, Yamato; Suleiman, Hani Y; Tryggvason, Karl; Hodges, Bradley L; Miner, Jeffrey H

2018-05-01

Background Laminin α 5 β 2 γ 1 (LM-521) is a major component of the GBM. Mutations in LAMB2 that prevent LM-521 synthesis and/or secretion cause Pierson syndrome, a rare congenital nephrotic syndrome with diffuse mesangial sclerosis and ocular and neurologic defects. Because the GBM is uniquely accessible to plasma, which permeates endothelial cell fenestrae, we hypothesized that intravenous delivery of LM-521 could replace the missing LM-521 in the GBM of Lamb2 mutant mice and restore glomerular permselectivity. Methods We injected human LM-521 (hLM-521), a macromolecule of approximately 800 kD, into the retro-orbital sinus of Lamb2 -/- pups daily. Deposition of hLM-521 into the GBM was investigated by fluorescence microscopy. We assayed the effects of hLM-521 on glomerular permselectivity by urinalysis and the effects on podocytes by desmin immunostaining and ultrastructural analysis of podocyte architecture. Results Injected hLM-521 rapidly and stably accumulated in the GBM of all glomeruli. Super-resolution imaging showed that hLM-521 accumulated in the correct orientation in the GBM, primarily on the endothelial aspect. Treatment with hLM-521 greatly reduced the expression of the podocyte injury marker desmin and attenuated the foot process effacement observed in untreated pups. Moreover, treatment with hLM-521 delayed the onset of proteinuria but did not prevent nephrotic syndrome, perhaps due to its absence from the podocyte aspect of the GBM. Conclusions These studies show that GBM composition and function can be altered in vivo via vascular delivery of even very large proteins, which may advance therapeutic options for patients with abnormal GBM composition, whether genetic or acquired. Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Nephrology.

Modelling rainfall interception by forests: a new method for estimating the canopy storage capacity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereira, Fernando; Valente, Fernanda; Nóbrega, Cristina

2015-04-01

Evaporation of rainfall intercepted by forests is usually an important part of a catchment water balance. Recognizing the importance of interception loss, several models of the process have been developed. A key parameter of these models is the canopy storage capacity (S), commonly estimated by the so-called Leyton method. However, this method is somewhat subjective in the selection of the storms used to derive S, which is particularly critical when throughfall is highly variable in space. To overcome these problems, a new method for estimating S was proposed in 2009 by Pereira et al. (Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 149: 680-688), which uses information from a larger number of storms, is less sensitive to throughfall spatial variability and is consistent with the formulation of the two most widely used rainfall interception models, Gash analytical model and Rutter model. However, this method has a drawback: it does not account for stemflow (Sf). To allow a wider use of this methodology, we propose now a revised version which makes the estimation of S independent of the importance of stemflow. For the application of this new version we only need to establish a linear regression of throughfall vs. gross rainfall using data from all storms large enough to saturate the canopy. Two of the parameters used by the Gash and the Rutter models, pd (the drainage partitioning coefficient) and S, are then derived from the regression coefficients: pd is firstly estimated allowing then the derivation of S but, if Sf is not considered, S can be estimated making pd= 0. This new method was tested using data from a eucalyptus plantation, a maritime pine forest and a traditional olive grove, all located in Central Portugal. For both the eucalyptus and the pine forests pd and S estimated by this new approach were comparable to the values derived in previous studies using the standard procedures. In the case of the traditional olive grove, the estimates obtained by this methodology for pd and S allowed interception loss to be modelled with a normalized averaged error less than 4%. Globally, these results confirm that the method is more robust and certainly less subjective, providing adequate estimates for pd and S which, in turn, are crucial for a good performance of the interception models.

On Spectral Invariance of Single Scattering Albedo for Weakly Absorbing Wavelengths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshak, Alexander; Knyazikhin, Yuri; Chiu, J. Christine; Wiscombe, Warren J.

2011-01-01

This note shows that for water droplets at weakly absorbing wavelengths, the ratio omega(sub O lambda(r))/omega(sub O lambda(r(sub O)) of two single scattering albedo spectra, omega(sub O lambda(r) and omega(sub O lambda(r (sub O)), is a linear function of omega(sub O lambda(r). The slope and intercept of the linear function are wavelength independent and sum to unity. This relationship allows for a representation of any single scattering albedo omega(sub O lambda(r) via one known spectrum omega(sub O lambda(r(sub O)). The note provides a simple physical explanation of the discovered relationship. In addition to water droplets, similar linear relationships were found for the single scattering albedo of non-spherical ice crystals.

High-Throughput Screening of Compounds for Anti-Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Activity Using Cell-Culture and Cell-Free Models and Infected Animals

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-01

malarial drug),31 curcumin (unpublished results), and a number of other CNS-permeable com- pounds that potently inhibit PrPSc formation in cell culture.32...759-761. (35) Hambright, P. Chemistry of Water Soluble Porphyrins. In The Porphyrin Handbook; Kadish, K. M., Smith, K. M., Guilard, R., Eds.; Academic...No 10 lM Amodiaquine 264 ± 11 No 10 lM Minocycline 276 ± 2 No 10 lM Mefloquine 257 ± 4 No 10 lM Curcumin NAc NA 10 lM NiPCTS 50 ± 3 Yes 10 lM PCTS 56

On the downscaling of actual evapotranspiration maps based on combination of MODIS and landsat-based actual evapotranspiration estimates

USGS Publications Warehouse

Singh, Ramesh K.; Senay, Gabriel B.; Velpuri, Naga Manohar; Bohms, Stefanie; Verdin, James P.

2014-01-01

 Downscaling is one of the important ways of utilizing the combined benefits of the high temporal resolution of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images and fine spatial resolution of Landsat images. We have evaluated the output regression with intercept method and developed the Linear with Zero Intercept (LinZI) method for downscaling MODIS-based monthly actual evapotranspiration (AET) maps to the Landsat-scale monthly AET maps for the Colorado River Basin for 2010. We used the 8-day MODIS land surface temperature product (MOD11A2) and 328 cloud-free Landsat images for computing AET maps and downscaling. The regression with intercept method does have limitations in downscaling if the slope and intercept are computed over a large area. A good agreement was obtained between downscaled monthly AET using the LinZI method and the eddy covariance measurements from seven flux sites within the Colorado River Basin. The mean bias ranged from −16 mm (underestimation) to 22 mm (overestimation) per month, and the coefficient of determination varied from 0.52 to 0.88. Some discrepancies between measured and downscaled monthly AET at two flux sites were found to be due to the prevailing flux footprint. A reasonable comparison was also obtained between downscaled monthly AET using LinZI method and the gridded FLUXNET dataset. The downscaled monthly AET nicely captured the temporal variation in sampled land cover classes. The proposed LinZI method can be used at finer temporal resolution (such as 8 days) with further evaluation. The proposed downscaling method will be very useful in advancing the application of remotely sensed images in water resources planning and management.

Common y-intercept and single compound regressions of gas-particle partitioning data vs 1/T

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pankow, James F.

Confidence intervals are placed around the log Kp vs 1/ T correlation equations obtained using simple linear regressions (SLR) with the gas-particle partitioning data set of Yamasaki et al. [(1982) Env. Sci. Technol.16, 189-194]. The compounds and groups of compounds studied include the polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons phenanthrene + anthracene, me-phenanthrene + me-anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[ a]fluorene + benzo[ b]fluorene, chrysene + benz[ a]anthracene + triphenylene, benzo[ b]fluoranthene + benzo[ k]fluoranthene, and benzo[ a]pyrene + benzo[ e]pyrene (note: me = methyl). For any given compound, at equilibrium, the partition coefficient Kp equals ( F/ TSP)/ A where F is the particulate-matter associated concentration (ng m -3), A is the gas-phase concentration (ng m -3), and TSP is the concentration of particulate matter (μg m -3). At temperatures more than 10°C from the mean sampling temperature of 17°C, the confidence intervals are quite wide. Since theory predicts that similar compounds sorbing on the same particulate matter should possess very similar y-intercepts, the data set was also fitted using a special common y-intercept regression (CYIR). For most of the compounds, the CYIR equations fell inside of the SLR 95% confidence intervals. The CYIR y-intercept value is -18.48, and is reasonably close to the type of value that can be predicted for PAH compounds. The set of CYIR regression equations is probably more reliable than the set of SLR equations. For example, the CYIR-derived desorption enthalpies are much more highly correlated with vaporization enthalpies than are the SLR-derived desorption enthalpies. It is recommended that the CYIR approach be considered whenever analysing temperature-dependent gas-particle partitioning data.

Modulating the light environment with the peach ‘asymmetric orchard’: effects on gas exchange performances, photoprotection, and photoinhibition

PubMed Central

Losciale, Pasquale; Chow, Wah Soon; Corelli Grappadelli, Luca

2010-01-01

The productivity of fruit trees is a linear function of the light intercepted, although the relationship is less tight when greater than 50% of available light is intercepted. This paper investigates the management of light energy in peach using the measurement of whole-tree light interception and gas exchange, along with the absorbed energy partitioning at the leaf level by concurrent measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. These measurements were performed on trees of a custom-built ‘asymmetric’ orchard. Whole-tree gas exchange for north–south, vertical canopies (C) was similar to that for canopies intercepting the highest irradiance in the morning hours (W), but trees receiving the highest irradiance in the afternoon (E) had the highest net photosynthesis and transpiration while maintaining a water use efficiency (WUE) comparable to the other treatments. In the W trees, 29% and 8% more photosystems were damaged than in C and E trees, respectively. The quenching partitioning revealed that the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) played the most important role in excess energy dissipation, but it was not fully active at low irradiance, possibly due to a sub-optimal trans-thylakoid ΔpH. The non-net carboxylative mechanisms (NC) appeared to be the main photoprotective mechanisms at low irradiance levels and, probably, they could facilitate the establishment of a trans-thylakoid ΔpH more appropriate for NPQ. These findings support the conclusion that irradiance impinging on leaves may be excessive and can cause photodamage, whose repair requires energy in the form of carbohydrates that are thereby diverted from tree growth and productivity. PMID:20124356

The evolution of trade-offs: testing predictions on response to selection and environmental variation.

PubMed

Roff, Derek A; Mostowy, Serge; Fairbairn, Daphne J

2002-01-01

The concept of phenotypic trade-offs is a central element in evolutionary theory. In general, phenotypic models assume a fixed trade-off function, whereas quantitative genetic theory predicts that the trade-off function will change as a result of selection. For a linear trade-off function selection will readily change the intercept but will have to be relatively stronger to change the slope. We test these predictions by examining the trade-off between fecundity and flight capability, as measured by dorso-longitudinal muscle mass, in four different populations of the sand cricket, Gryllus firmus. Three populations were recently derived from the wild, and the fourth had been in the laboratory for 19 years. We hypothesized that the laboratory population had most likely undergone more and different selection from the three wild populations and therefore should differ from these in respect to both slope and intercept. Because of geographic variation in selection, we predicted a general difference in intercept among the four populations. We further tested the hypothesis that this intercept will be correlated with proportion macropterous and that this relationship will itself vary with environmental conditions experienced during both the nymphal and adult period. Observed variation in the phenotypic trade-off was consistent with the predictions of the quantitative genetic model. These results point to the importance of modeling trade-offs as dynamic rather than static relationships. We discuss how phenotypic models can incorporate such variation. The phenotypic trade-off between fecundity and dorso-longitudinal muscle mass is determined in part by variation in body size, illustrating the necessity of considering trade-offs to be multi factorial rather than simply bivariate relationships.

Dark adaptation in relation to choroidal thickness in healthy young subjects: a cross-sectional, observational study.

PubMed

Munch, Inger Christine; Altuntas, Cigdem; Li, Xiao Qiang; Jackson, Gregory R; Klefter, Oliver Niels; Larsen, Michael

2016-07-11

Dark adaptation is an energy-requiring process in the outer retina nourished by the profusely perfused choroid. We hypothesized that variations in choroidal thickness might affect the rate of dark adaptation. Cross-sectional, observational study of 42 healthy university students (mean age 25 ± 2.0 years, 29 % men) who were examined using an abbreviated automated dark adaptometry protocol with a 2° diameter stimulus centered 5° above the point of fixation. The early, linear part of the rod-mediated dark adaptation curve was analyzed to extract the time required to reach a sensitivity of 5.0 × 10(-3) cd/m2 (time to rod intercept) and the slope (rod adaptation rate). The choroid was imaged using enhanced-depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). The time to the rod intercept was 7.3 ± 0.94 (range 5.1 - 10.2) min. Choroidal thickness 2.5° above the fovea was 348 ± 104 (range 153-534) μm. There was no significant correlation between any of the two measures of rod-mediated dark adaptation and choroidal thickness (time to rod intercept versus choroidal thickness 0.072 (CI95 -0.23 to 0.38) min/100 μm, P = 0.64, adjusted for age and sex). There was no association between the time-to-rod-intercept or the dark adaptation rate and axial length, refraction, gender or age. Choroidal thickness, refraction and ocular axial length had no detectable effect on rod-mediated dark adaptation in healthy young subjects. Our results do not support that variations in dark adaptation can be attributed to variations in choroidal thickness.

Influence of the contractile properties of muscle on motor unit firing rates during a moderate-intensity contraction in vivo.

PubMed

Trevino, Michael A; Herda, Trent J; Fry, Andrew C; Gallagher, Philip M; Vardiman, John P; Mosier, Eric M; Miller, Jonathan D

2016-08-01

It is suggested that firing rate characteristics of motor units (MUs) are influenced by the physical properties of the muscle. However, no study has correlated MU firing rates at recruitment, targeted force, or derecruitment with the contractile properties of the muscle in vivo. Twelve participants (age = 20.67 ± 2.35 yr) performed a 40% isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the leg extensors that included linearly increasing, steady force, and decreasing segments. Muscle biopsies were collected with myosin heavy chain (MHC) content quantified, and surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the vastus lateralis. The EMG signal was decomposed into the firing events of single MUs. Slopes and y-intercepts were calculated for 1) firing rates at recruitment vs. recruitment threshold, 2) mean firing rates at steady force vs. recruitment threshold, and 3) firing rates at derecruitment vs. derecruitment threshold relationships for each subject. Correlations among type I %MHC isoform content and the slopes and y-intercepts from the three relationships were examined. Type I %MHC isoform content was correlated with MU firing rates at recruitment (y-intercepts: r = -0.577; slopes: r = 0.741) and targeted force (slopes: r = 0.853) vs. recruitment threshold and MU firing rates at derecruitment (y-intercept: r = -0.597; slopes: r = 0.701) vs. derecruitment threshold relationships. However, the majority of the individual MU firing rates vs. recruitment and derecruitment relationships were not significant (P > 0.05) and, thus, revealed no systematic pattern. In contrast, MU firing rates during the steady force demonstrated a systematic pattern with higher firing rates for the lower- than higher-threshold MUs and were correlated with the physical properties of MUs in vivo. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Release of nitric oxide during the T cell-independent pathway of macrophage activation

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

Beckerman, K.P.; Rogers, H.W.; Corbett, J.A.

1993-02-01

Immunodeficient mice are remarkably resistant to Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection. The authors examined the role that nitric oxide (NO) plays in the CB-17/lcr SCID (SCID) response to LM. SCID spleen cells produced large quantities of NO (as measured by nitrite formation) when incubated in the presence of heat-killed LM. NO produced large quantities of nitrite in response to LM, but only in the presence of IFN-[gamma]. The production of NO induced by LM was not affected by neutralizing antibodies to TNF or IL-1. The production of NO was inhibited by addition of either of two inhibitors of NO synthase, N[supmore » G]-monomethyl arginine, or aminoguanidine. In a different situation, NK cells that were stimulated by TNF and Listeria products to release IFN-[gamma] did not produce NO. Macrophages cultured with IFN-[gamma] killed live LM. This increased killing of LM was significantly inhibited by amino-guanidine. In vivo, administration of aminoguanidine resulted in a marked increase in the mortality and spleen bacterial loads of LM-infected SCID or immunocompetent control mice. It is concluded that NO is a critical effector molecule of T cell-independent natural resistence of LM as studied in the SCID mouse, and that the NO-mediated response is essential for both SCID and immunocompetent host to survive after LM infection. 37 refs., 7 figs.« less

Multifunctional Self-Adhesive Fibrous Layered Matrix (FiLM) for Tissue Glues and Therapeutic Carriers.

PubMed

Yoon, Ye-Eun; Im, Byung Gee; Kim, Jung-Suk; Jang, Jae-Hyung

2017-01-09

Tissue adhesives, which inherently serve as wound sealants or as hemostatic agents, can be further augmented to acquire crucial functions as scaffolds, thereby accelerating wound healing or elevating the efficacy of tissue regeneration. Herein, multifunctional adherent fibrous matrices, acting as self-adhesive scaffolds capable of cell/gene delivery, were devised by coaxially electrospinning poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Wrapping the building block PCL fibers with the adherent PVP layers formed film-like fibrous matrices that could rapidly adhere to wet biological surfaces, referred to as fibrous layered matrix (FiLM) adhesives. The inclusion of ionic salts (i.e., dopamine hydrochloride) in the sheath layers generated spontaneously multilayered fibrous adhesives, whose partial layers could be manually peeled off, termed derivative FiLM (d-FiLM). In the context of scaffolds/tissue adhesives, both FiLM and d-FiLM demonstrated almost identical characteristics (i.e., sticky, mechanical, and performances as cell/gene carriers). Importantly, the single FiLM-process can yield multiple sets of d-FiLM by investing the same processing time, materials, and labor required to form a single conventional adhesive fibrous mat, thereby highlighting the economic aspects of the process. The FiLM/d-FiLM offer highly impacting contributions to many biomedical applications, especially in fields that require urgent aids (e.g., endoscopic surgeries, implantation in wet environments, severe wounds).

Dewatering of Chlorella pyrenoidosa using diatomite dynamic membrane: filtration performance, membrane fouling and cake behavior.

PubMed

Zhang, Yalei; Zhao, Yangying; Chu, Huaqiang; Zhou, Xuefei; Dong, Bingzhi

2014-01-01

The diatomite dynamic membrane (DDM) was utilized to dewater Chlorella pyrenoidosa of 2 g dry weight/L under continuous-flow mode, whose ultimate algae concentration ranged from 43 g to 22 g dry weight/L of different culture time. The stable flux of DDM could reach 30 L/m(2) h over a 24 h operation time without backwash. Influences of extracellular organic matters (EOM) on filtration behavior and membrane fouling were studied. The DDM was divided into three sub-layers, the slime layer, the algae layer and the diatomite layer from the outside to the inside of the cake layer based on components and morphologies. It was found that EOM caused membrane fouling by accumulating in the slime and algae layers. The DDM intercepted polysaccharides, protein-like substances, humic-like substances and some low-MW organics. Proteins were indicated the major membrane foulants with increased protein/polysaccharide ratio from the slime layer to the diatomite layer as culture time increased. This method could be applied to subsequent treatment of microalgae coupling technology of wastewater treatment or microalgae harvesting for producing biofuel. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

IL-22 Production Is Regulated by IL-23 During Listeria monocytogenes Infection but Is Not Required for Bacterial Clearance or Tissue Protection

PubMed Central

Graham, Amy C.; Carr, Karen D.; Sieve, Amy N.; Indramohan, Mohanalaxmi; Break, Timothy J.; Berg, Rance E.

2011-01-01

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a gram-positive bacterium that is a common contaminant of processed meats and dairy products. In humans, ingestion of LM can result in intracellular infection of the spleen and liver, which can ultimately lead to septicemia, meningitis, and spontaneous abortion. Interleukin (IL)-23 is a cytokine that regulates innate and adaptive immune responses by inducing the production of IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22. We have recently demonstrated that the IL-23/IL-17 axis is required for optimal recruitment of neutrophils to the liver, but not the spleen, during LM infection. Furthermore, these cytokines are required for the clearance of LM during systemic infection. In other infectious models, IL-22 induces the secretion of anti-microbial peptides and protects tissues from damage by preventing apoptosis. However, the role of IL-22 has not been thoroughly investigated during LM infection. In the present study, we show that LM induces the production of IL-22 in vivo. Interestingly, IL-23 is required for the production of IL-22 during primary, but not secondary, LM infection. Our findings suggest that IL-22 is not required for clearance of LM during primary or secondary infection, using both systemic and mucosal models of infection. IL-22 is also not required for the protection of LM infected spleens and livers from organ damage. Collectively, these data indicate that IL-22 produced during LM infection must play a role other than clearance of LM or protection of tissues from pathogen- or immune-mediated damage. PMID:21347242

Lake Michigan lake trout PCB model forecast post audit (oral presentation)

EPA Science Inventory

Scenario forecasts for total PCBs in Lake Michigan (LM) lake trout were conducted using the linked LM2-Toxics and LM Food Chain models, supported by a suite of additional LM models. Efforts were conducted under the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study and the post audit represents an...

Lake Michigan lake trout PCB model forecast post audit

EPA Science Inventory

Scenario forecasts for total PCBs in Lake Michigan (LM) lake trout were conducted using the linked LM2-Toxics and LM Food Chain models, supported by a suite of additional LM models. Efforts were conducted under the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study and the post audit represents th...

Apollo 9 Mission image - View of the Lunar Module (LM) 3 and Service Module (SM) LM Adapter

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-03-03

View of the Lunar Module (LM) 3 and Service Module (SM) LM Adapter. Film magazine was A,film type was SO-368 Ektachrome with 0.460 - 0.710 micrometers film / filter transmittance response and haze filter, 80mm lens.

Combined analysis of magnetic and gravity anomalies using normalized source strength (NSS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, L.; Wu, Y.

2017-12-01

Gravity field and magnetic field belong to potential fields which lead inherent multi-solution. Combined analysis of magnetic and gravity anomalies based on Poisson's relation is used to determinate homology gravity and magnetic anomalies and decrease the ambiguity. The traditional combined analysis uses the linear regression of the reduction to pole (RTP) magnetic anomaly to the first order vertical derivative of the gravity anomaly, and provides the quantitative or semi-quantitative interpretation by calculating the correlation coefficient, slope and intercept. In the calculation process, due to the effect of remanent magnetization, the RTP anomaly still contains the effect of oblique magnetization. In this case the homology gravity and magnetic anomalies display irrelevant results in the linear regression calculation. The normalized source strength (NSS) can be transformed from the magnetic tensor matrix, which is insensitive to the remanence. Here we present a new combined analysis using NSS. Based on the Poisson's relation, the gravity tensor matrix can be transformed into the pseudomagnetic tensor matrix of the direction of geomagnetic field magnetization under the homologous condition. The NSS of pseudomagnetic tensor matrix and original magnetic tensor matrix are calculated and linear regression analysis is carried out. The calculated correlation coefficient, slope and intercept indicate the homology level, Poisson's ratio and the distribution of remanent respectively. We test the approach using synthetic model under complex magnetization, the results show that it can still distinguish the same source under the condition of strong remanence, and establish the Poisson's ratio. Finally, this approach is applied in China. The results demonstrated that our approach is feasible.

Gravity receptor function in mice with graded otoconial deficiencies.

PubMed

Jones, Sherri M; Erway, Lawrence C; Johnson, Kenneth R; Yu, Heping; Jones, Timothy A

2004-05-01

The purpose of the present study was to examine gravity receptor function in mutant mouse strains with variable deficits in otoconia: lethal milk (lm), pallid (pa), tilted (tlt), mocha (mh), and muted (mu). Control animals were either age-matched heterozygotes or C57BL/6J (abbr. B6) mice. Gravity receptor function was measured using linear vestibular evoked potentials (VsEPs). Cage and swimming behaviors were also documented. Temporal bones were cleared to assess the overall otoconial deficit and to correlate structure and function for lm mice. Results confirmed the absence of VsEPs for mice that lacked otoconia completely. VsEP thresholds and amplitudes varied in mouse strains with variable loss of otoconia. Some heterozygotes also showed elevated VsEP thresholds in comparison to B6 mice. In lm mice, which have absent otoconia in the utricle and a variable loss of otoconia in the saccule, VsEPs were present and average P1/N1 amplitudes were highly correlated with the average loss of saccular otoconia (R = 0.77,p < 0.001). Cage and swimming behavior were not adversely affected in those animals with recordable VsEPs. Most, but not all, mice with absent VsEPs were unable to swim. Some animals were able to swim despite having no measurable gravity receptor response. The latter finding underscores the remarkable adaptive potential exhibited by neurobehavioral systems following profound sensory loss. It also shows that behavior alone may be an unreliable indicator of the extent of gravity receptor deficits.

Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring body composition in young adulthood: the modifying role of offspring sex and birth order.

PubMed

Chaparro, M Pia; Koupil, Ilona; Byberg, Liisa

2017-12-01

To investigate if the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring's body composition in late adolescence and young adulthood varies by offspring birth order and sex. Family cohort study, with data from registers, questionnaires and physical examinations. The main outcome under study was offspring body composition (percentage fat mass (%FM), percentage lean mass (%LM)) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Uppsala, Sweden. Two hundred and twenty-six siblings (first-born v. second-born; average age 19 and 21 years) and their mothers. In multivariable linear regression models, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was positively associated with daughter's %FM, with stronger estimates for first-born (β=0·97, 95 % CI 0·14, 1·80) v. second-born daughters (β=0·64, 95 % CI 0·08, 1·20). Mother's BMI before her first pregnancy was associated with her second-born daughter's body composition (β=1·05, 95 % CI 0·31, 1·79 (%FM)) Similar results albeit in the opposite direction were observed for %LM. No significant associations were found between pre-pregnancy BMI and %FM (β=0·59, 95 % CI-0·27, 1·44 first-born; β=-0·13, 95 % CI-0·77, 0·52 second-born) or %LM (β=-0·54, 95 % CI-1·37, 0·28 first-born; β=0·11, 95 % CI-0·52, 0·74 second-born) for sons. A higher pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with higher offspring %FM and lower offspring %LM in late adolescence and young adulthood, with stronger associations for first-born daughters. Preventing obesity at the start of women's reproductive life might reduce the risk of obesity in her offspring, particularly for daughters.

Temperature and voltage dependence of barrier height and ideality factor in Au/0.07 graphene-doped PVA/n-Si structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altındal Yerişkin, S.; Balbaşı, M.; Demirezen, S.

2017-04-01

In this study, Au/0.07 graphene-doped PVA/n-Si structures were fabricated and current conduction mechanism in these structures were investigated in the temperature range of 80-380 K through forward bias current-voltage ( I- V) measurements. Main electrical parameters were extracted from I-V data. Zero-bias barrier height (\\overline{Φ}_{B0}) and ideality factor (n) were found strong functions of temperature and their values ranged from 0.234 eV and 4.98 (at 80 K) to 0.882 eV and 1.15 (at 380 K), respectively. Φ ap versus q/2k T plot was drawn to obtain an evidence of a Gaussian distribution of the barrier heights (BHs) and it revealed two distinct linear regions with different slopes and intercepts. The mean values of BH ( Φ Bo) and zero-bias standard deviation (σ s ) were obtained from the intercept and slope of the linear regions of this plot as 1.30 eV and 0.16 V for the first region (280-380 K) and 0.74 eV and 0.085 V for the second region (80-240 K), respectively. Thus, the values of \\overline{Φ}_{B0} and effective Richardson constant ( A*) were also found from the intercept and slope of the modified Richardson plot [ln( I s /T 2) - q 2 σ o 2 /2k 2 T 2 vs q/ kT] as 1.31 eV and 130 A/cm2 K2 for the first region and 0.76 eV and 922 A/cm2 K2 for the second region, respectively. The value of A* for the first region was very close to the theoretical value for n-Si (112 A/cm2 K2). The energy density distribution profile of surface states (Nss) was also extracted from the forward bias I-V data by taking into account voltage dependent effective BH (Φe) and n.

Faecal nitrogen excretion as an approach to estimate forage intake of wethers.

PubMed

Kozloski, G V; Oliveira, L; Poli, C H E C; Azevedo, E B; David, D B; Ribeiro Filho, H M N; Collet, S G

2014-08-01

Data from twenty-two digestibility trials were compiled to examine the relationship between faecal N concentration and organic matter (OM) digestibility (OMD), and between faecal N excretion and OM intake (OMI) by wethers fed tropical or temperate forages alone or with supplements. Data set was grouped by diet type as follows: only tropical grass (n = 204), only temperate grass (n = 160), tropical grass plus supplement (n = 216), temperate grass plus supplement (n = 48), tropical grass plus tropical legume (n = 60) and temperate grass with ruminal infusion of tannins (n = 16). Positive correlation between OMD and either total faecal N concentration (Nfc, % of OM) or metabolic faecal N concentration (Nmetfc, % of OM) was significant for most diet types. Exceptions were the diet that included a tropical legume, where both relationships were negative, and the diet that included tannin extract, where the correlation between OMD and Nfc was not significant. Pearson correlation and linear regressions between OM intake (OMI, g/day) and faecal N excretion (Nf, g/day) were significant for all diet types. When OMI was estimated from the OM faecal excretion and Nfc-based OMD values, the linear comparison between observed and estimated OMI values showed intercept different from 0 and slope different from 1. When OMI was estimated using the Nf-based linear regressions, the linear comparison between observed and estimated OMI values showed neither intercept different from 0 nor slope different from 1. Both linear comparisons showed similar R(2) values (i.e. 0.78 vs. 0.79). In conclusion, linear equations are suitable for directly estimating OM intake by wethers, fed only forage or forage plus supplements, from the amount of N excreted in faeces. The use of this approach in experiments with grazing wethers has the advantage of accounting for individual variations in diet selection and digestion processes and precludes the use of techniques to estimate forage digestibility. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Bayesian Recurrent Neural Network for Language Modeling.

PubMed

Chien, Jen-Tzung; Ku, Yuan-Chu

2016-02-01

A language model (LM) is calculated as the probability of a word sequence that provides the solution to word prediction for a variety of information systems. A recurrent neural network (RNN) is powerful to learn the large-span dynamics of a word sequence in the continuous space. However, the training of the RNN-LM is an ill-posed problem because of too many parameters from a large dictionary size and a high-dimensional hidden layer. This paper presents a Bayesian approach to regularize the RNN-LM and apply it for continuous speech recognition. We aim to penalize the too complicated RNN-LM by compensating for the uncertainty of the estimated model parameters, which is represented by a Gaussian prior. The objective function in a Bayesian classification network is formed as the regularized cross-entropy error function. The regularized model is constructed not only by calculating the regularized parameters according to the maximum a posteriori criterion but also by estimating the Gaussian hyperparameter by maximizing the marginal likelihood. A rapid approximation to a Hessian matrix is developed to implement the Bayesian RNN-LM (BRNN-LM) by selecting a small set of salient outer-products. The proposed BRNN-LM achieves a sparser model than the RNN-LM. Experiments on different corpora show the robustness of system performance by applying the rapid BRNN-LM under different conditions.

Murinization of Internalin Extends Its Receptor Repertoire, Altering Listeria monocytogenes Cell Tropism and Host Responses

PubMed Central

Tsai, Yu-Huan; Disson, Olivier; Bierne, Hélène; Lecuit, Marc

2013-01-01

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an invasive foodborne pathogen that leads to severe central nervous system and maternal-fetal infections. Lm ability to actively cross the intestinal barrier is one of its key pathogenic properties. Lm crosses the intestinal epithelium upon the interaction of its surface protein internalin (InlA) with its host receptor E-cadherin (Ecad). InlA-Ecad interaction is species-specific, does not occur in wild-type mice, but does in transgenic mice expressing human Ecad and knock-in mice expressing humanized mouse Ecad. To study listeriosis in wild-type mice, InlA has been “murinized” to interact with mouse Ecad. Here, we demonstrate that, unexpectedly, murinized InlA (InlAm) mediates not only Ecad-dependent internalization, but also N-cadherin-dependent internalization. Consequently, InlAm-expressing Lm targets not only goblet cells expressing luminally-accessible Ecad, as does Lm in humanized mice, but also targets villous M cells, which express luminally-accessible N-cadherin. This aberrant Lm portal of entry results in enhanced innate immune responses and intestinal barrier damage, both of which are not observed in wild-type Lm-infected humanized mice. Murinization of InlA therefore not only extends the host range of Lm, but also broadens its receptor repertoire, providing Lm with artifactual pathogenic properties. These results challenge the relevance of using InlAm-expressing Lm to study human listeriosis and in vivo host responses to this human pathogen. PMID:23737746

Murinization of internalin extends its receptor repertoire, altering Listeria monocytogenes cell tropism and host responses.

PubMed

Tsai, Yu-Huan; Disson, Olivier; Bierne, Hélène; Lecuit, Marc

2013-01-01

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an invasive foodborne pathogen that leads to severe central nervous system and maternal-fetal infections. Lm ability to actively cross the intestinal barrier is one of its key pathogenic properties. Lm crosses the intestinal epithelium upon the interaction of its surface protein internalin (InlA) with its host receptor E-cadherin (Ecad). InlA-Ecad interaction is species-specific, does not occur in wild-type mice, but does in transgenic mice expressing human Ecad and knock-in mice expressing humanized mouse Ecad. To study listeriosis in wild-type mice, InlA has been "murinized" to interact with mouse Ecad. Here, we demonstrate that, unexpectedly, murinized InlA (InlA(m)) mediates not only Ecad-dependent internalization, but also N-cadherin-dependent internalization. Consequently, InlA(m)-expressing Lm targets not only goblet cells expressing luminally-accessible Ecad, as does Lm in humanized mice, but also targets villous M cells, which express luminally-accessible N-cadherin. This aberrant Lm portal of entry results in enhanced innate immune responses and intestinal barrier damage, both of which are not observed in wild-type Lm-infected humanized mice. Murinization of InlA therefore not only extends the host range of Lm, but also broadens its receptor repertoire, providing Lm with artifactual pathogenic properties. These results challenge the relevance of using InlA(m)-expressing Lm to study human listeriosis and in vivo host responses to this human pathogen.

Lmo1656 is a secreted virulence factor of Listeria monocytogenes that interacts with the sorting nexin 6-BAR complex.

PubMed

David, Daryl Jason; Pagliuso, Alessandro; Radoshevich, Lilliana; Nahori, Marie-Anne; Cossart, Pascale

2018-06-15

Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm ) is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis, a rare but fatal disease. During infection, Lm can traverse several physiological barriers; it can cross the intestine and placenta barrier and, in immunocompromised individuals, the blood-brain barrier. With the recent plethora of sequenced genomes available for Lm , it is clear that the complete repertoire of genes used by Lm to interact with its host remains to be fully explored. Recently, we focused on secreted Lm proteins because they are likely to interact with host cell components. Here, we investigated a putatively secreted protein of Lm , Lmo1656, that is present in most sequenced strains of Lm but absent in the nonpathogenic species Listeria innocua. lmo1656 gene is predicted to encode a small, positively charged protein. We show that Lmo1656 is secreted by Lm Furthermore, deletion of the lmo1656 gene (Δ lmo1656 ) attenuates virulence in mice infected orally but not intravenously, suggesting that Lmo1656 plays a role during oral listeriosis. We identified sorting nexin 6 (SNX6), an endosomal sorting component and BAR domain-containing protein, as a host cell interactor of Lmol656. SNX6 colocalizes with WT Lm during the early steps of infection. This colocalization depends on Lmo1656, and RNAi of SNX6 impairs infection in infected tissue culture cells, suggesting that SNX6 is utilized by Lm during infection. Our results reveal that Lmo1656 is a novel secreted virulence factor of Lm that facilitates recruitment of a specific member of the sorting nexin family in the mammalian host. © 2018 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Spaceship Discovery's Crew and Cargo Lander Module Designs for Human Exploration of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benton, Mark G.

2008-01-01

The Spaceship Discovery design was first presented at STAIF 2006. This conceptual design space vehicle architecture for human solar system exploration includes two types of Mars exploration lander modules: A piloted crew lander, designated Lander Module 2 (LM2), and an autonomous cargo lander, designated Lander Module 3 (LM3). The LM2 and LM3 designs were first presented at AIAA Space 2007. The LM2 and LM3 concepts have recently been extensively redesigned. The specific objective of this paper is to present these revised designs. The LM2 and LM3 landers are based on a common design that can be configured to carry either crew or cargo. They utilize a combination of aerodynamic reentry, parachutes, and propulsive braking to decelerate from orbital velocity to a soft landing. The LM2 crew lander provides two-way transportation for a nominal three-person crew between Mars orbit and the surface, and provides life support for a 30-day contingency mission. It contains an ascent section to return the crew to orbit after completion of surface operations. The LM3 cargo lander provides one-way, autonomous transportation of cargo from Mars orbit to the surface and can be configured to carry a mix of consumables and equipment, or equipment only. Lander service life and endurance is based on the Spaceship Discovery conjunction-class Design Reference Mission 2. The LM3 is designed to extend the surface stay for three crew members in an LM2 crew lander such that two sets of crew and cargo landers enable human exploration of the surface for the bulk of the 454 day wait time at Mars, in two shifts of three crew members each. Design requirements, mission profiles, mass properties, performance data, and configuration layouts are presented for the LM2 crew and LM3 cargo landers. These lander designs are a proposed solution to the problem of safely transporting a human crew from Mars orbit to the surface, sustaining them for extended periods of time on the surface, and returning them safely to orbit. They are based on reliable and proven technology and build on an extensive heritage of successful unmanned probes. Safety, redundancy, and abort and rescue capabilities are stressed in the design and operations concepts. The designs share many common features, hardware, subsystems, and flight control modes to reduce development cost.

Sarcopenia and its relationship with bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly European men.

PubMed

Verschueren, S; Gielen, E; O'Neill, T W; Pye, S R; Adams, J E; Ward, K A; Wu, F C; Szulc, P; Laurent, M; Claessens, F; Vanderschueren, D; Boonen, S

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia) and areal bone mineral density (BMD(a)) in middle-aged and elderly community-dwelling European men. Men with sarcopenia had significantly lower BMD(a) and were more likely to have osteoporosis compared with men without sarcopenia. In men, the relationship between reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia) and BMD(a) is unclear. This study aimed to determine this relationship in middle-aged and elderly community-dwelling men. Men aged 40-79 years from the Manchester (UK) and Leuven (Belgium) cohorts of the European Male Ageing Study were invited to attend for assessment including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, from which appendicular lean mass (aLM), fat mass (FM) and whole-body, spine and hip BMD(a) were determined. Relative appendicular skeletal muscle mass (RASM) was calculated as aLM/height². Muscle strength was assessed in subjects from Leuven. Sarcopenia was defined by RASM at <7.26 kg/m² and by the recent definition of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (RASM at <7.26 kg/m(2) plus low muscle function). Linear regression was used to determine the associations between aLM, FM, muscle strength and BMD(a) and logistic regression to determine the association between sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Six hundred seventy-nine men with a mean age of 59.6 (SD = 10.7), contributed data to the analysis; 11.9 % were sarcopenic by the conventional definition. After adjustment for age and centre, aLM, RASM and FM were positively associated with BMD(a). Men with RASM at <7.26 kg/m² had significantly lower BMD(a) compared with those with RASM at ≥7.26 kg/m(2). In a multivariable model, aLM was most consistently associated with BMD(a). Men with sarcopenia were more likely to have osteoporosis compared with those with normal RASM (odds ratio = 3.0; 95 % CI = 1.6-5.8). Sarcopenia is associated with low BMD(a) and osteoporosis in middle-aged and elderly men. Further studies are necessary to assess whether maintaining muscle mass contributes to prevent osteoporosis.

Optimal Interception of a Maneuvering Long-range Missile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

X. Vinh, Nguyen; T. Kabamba, Pierre; Takehira, Tetsuya

2001-01-01

In a Newtonian central force field, the minimum-fuel interception of a satellite, or a ballistic missile, in elliptic trajectory can be obtained via Lawden's theory of primer vector. To secure interception when the target performs evasive maneuvers, a new control law, with explicit solutions, is implemented. It is shown that by a rotation of coordinate system, the problem of three-dimensional interception is reduced to a planar problem. The general case of planar interception of a long-range ballistic missile is then studied. Examples of interception at a specified time, head-on interception and minimum-fuel interception are presented. In each case, the requirement for the thrust acceleration is expressed explicitly as a function of time.

The Best of LM_Net Select, 2001.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Milbury, Peter; Eisenberg, Michael B.; Walker, Michelle

LM_NET, the most successful educational listserv in the world has approximately 15,000 subscribed members from every state in the United States and from over 65 countries. LM_NET covers a wide range of interests, all related to library and information work in education, and interactions on LM_NET result in in-depth treatments of the major…

Use of descriptors of ecosystem functioning for monitoring a national park network: a remote sensing approach.

PubMed

Alcaraz-Segura, Domingo; Cabello, Javier; Paruelo, José M; Delibes, Miguel

2009-01-01

Baseline assessments and monitoring of protected areas are essential for making management decisions, evaluating the effectiveness of management practices, and tracking the effects of global changes. For these purposes, the analysis of functional attributes of ecosystems (i.e., different aspects of the exchange of matter and energy) has advantages over the traditional use of structural attributes, like a quicker response to disturbances and the fact that they are easily monitored through remote sensing. In this study, we described the spatiotemporal patterns of different aspects of the ecosystem functioning of the Spanish national parks and their response to environmental changes between 1982 and 2006. To do so, we used the NOAA/AVHRR-GIMMS dataset of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a linear estimator of the fraction of photosynthetic active radiation intercepted by vegetation, which is the main control of carbon gains. Nearly all parks have significantly changed during the last 25 years: The radiation interception has increased, the contrast between the growing and nongrowing seasons has diminished, and the dates of maximum and minimum interception have advanced. Some parks concentrated more changes than others and the degree of change varied depending on their different environmental conditions, management, and conservation histories. Our approach identified reference conditions and temporal changes for different aspects of ecosystem functioning, which can be used for management purposes of protected areas in response to global changes.

The use and misuse of statistical analyses. [in geophysics and space physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reiff, P. H.

1983-01-01

The statistical techniques most often used in space physics include Fourier analysis, linear correlation, auto- and cross-correlation, power spectral density, and superposed epoch analysis. Tests are presented which can evaluate the significance of the results obtained through each of these. Data presented without some form of error analysis are frequently useless, since they offer no way of assessing whether a bump on a spectrum or on a superposed epoch analysis is real or merely a statistical fluctuation. Among many of the published linear correlations, for instance, the uncertainty in the intercept and slope is not given, so that the significance of the fitted parameters cannot be assessed.

Male Texas Horned Lizards increase daily movements and area covered in spring: A mate searching strategy?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stark, Richard C.; Fox, S. F.; David, M.L.

2005-01-01

Texas Horned Lizards, Phrynosoma cornutum, were tracked using fluorescent powder to determine exact daily movements. Daily linear movements and daily space use were compared between adult males and females. Lizards that traveled the greatest linear distances also covered the largest areas. In Oklahoma, adults emerge from hibernation in late April and early May and mate soon afterward. Males traveled significantly greater distances (and covered significantly larger areas in a day) than females in May but not after May. We propose that males move more and cover more area than females early in the mating season to intercept receptive females. Copyright 2005 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.

15 CFR 742.13 - Communications intercepting devices; software and technology for communications intercepting...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...; software and technology for communications intercepting devices. 742.13 Section 742.13 Commerce and Foreign... Communications intercepting devices; software and technology for communications intercepting devices. (a) License... wire, oral, or electronic communications (ECCNs 5A001.i and 5A980); and for related “software...

A Combined Intervention of Zinc, Multiple Micronutrients, and Albendazole Does Not Ameliorate Environmental Enteric Dysfunction or Stunting in Rural Malawian Children in a Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Wang, Alfred Z; Shulman, Robert J; Crocker, Audrey H; Thakwalakwa, Chrissie; Maleta, Kenneth M; Devaraj, Sridevi; Manary, Mark J; Trehan, Indi

2017-01-01

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and linear growth stunting affect many rural agrarian children in the developing world and contribute to the persistently high rates of stunting that are observed worldwide. Effective interventions to consistently ameliorate EED are lacking. We tested whether a bundle of safe and affordable interventions would decrease EED and stunting over 12-24 wk in a cohort of rural Malawian children 12-35 mo old. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in which the intervention group received a single dose of albendazole and 14 d of zinc at enrollment and after 20 wk. The intervention group also received a daily multiple micronutrient powder throughout the 24 wk of study. The primary outcomes were improvements in EED, as measured by the urinary lactulose-to-mannitol ratio (L:M ratio) from dual-sugar absorption testing, and linear growth. Urinary L:M ratios and anthropometric measurements were evaluated after 12 and 24 wk of intervention and compared with a placebo group that did not receive any of these interventions. A total of 254 children were enrolled at a mean age of 24 mo; 55% were female. Their mean weight-for-age z score was -1.5, and their mean length-for-age z score was -0.9. After 12 and 24 wk of study, increases in the L:M ratio did not differ between the intervention group (0.071 and 0.088 units, respectively) and the placebo group (0.073 and 0.080 units, respectively) (P = 0.87 and 0.19, respectively). Relative changes in length and weight also did not differ significantly between groups at any time point. The combined usage of albendazole, zinc, and a daily multiple micronutrient powder did not decrease EED or stunting in this population of agrarian children 12-35 mo old in rural Malawi. Alternative interventions to improve these diseases should be investigated. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02253095. © 2017 American Society for Nutrition.

Neutrophil elastase-induced elastin degradation mediates macrophage influx and lung injury in 60% O2-exposed neonatal rats.

PubMed

Masood, Azhar; Yi, Man; Belcastro, Rosetta; Li, Jun; Lopez, Lianet; Kantores, Crystal; Jankov, Robert P; Tanswell, A Keith

2015-07-01

Neutrophil (PMNL) influx precedes lung macrophage (LM) influx into the lung following exposure of newborn pups to 60% O2. We hypothesized that PMNL were responsible for the signals leading to LM influx. This was confirmed when inhibition of PMNL influx with a CXC chemokine receptor-2 antagonist, SB-265610, also prevented the 60% O2-dependent LM influx, LM-derived nitrotyrosine formation, and pruning of small arterioles. Exposure to 60% O2 was associated with increased lung contents of neutrophil elastase and α-elastin, a marker of denatured elastin, and a decrease in elastin fiber density. This led us to speculate that neutrophil elastase-induced elastin fragments were the chemokines that led to a LM influx into the 60% O2-exposed lung. Inhibition of neutrophil elastase with sivelestat or elafin attenuated the LM influx. Sivelestat also attenuated the 60% O2-induced decrease in elastin fiber density. Daily injections of pups with an antibody to α-elastin prevented the 60% O2-dependent LM influx, impaired alveologenesis, and impaired small vessel formation. This suggests that neutrophil elastase inhibitors may protect against neonatal lung injury not only by preventing structural elastin degradation, but also by blocking elastin fragment-induced LM influx, thus preventing tissue injury from LM-derived peroxynitrite formation. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Circular and longitudinal muscles shortening indicates sliding patterns during peristalsis and transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation

PubMed Central

Patel, Nirali; Jiang, Yanfen; Mittal, Ravinder K.; Kim, Tae Ho; Ledgerwood, Melissa

2015-01-01

Esophageal axial shortening is caused by longitudinal muscle (LM) contraction, but circular muscle (CM) may also contribute to axial shortening because of its spiral morphology. The goal of our study was to show patterns of contraction of CM and LM layers during peristalsis and transient lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation (TLESR). In rats, esophageal and LES morphology was assessed by histology and immunohistochemistry, and function with the use of piezo-electric crystals and manometry. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve was used to induce esophageal contractions. In 18 healthy subjects, manometry and high frequency intraluminal ultrasound imaging during swallow-induced esophageal contractions and TLESR were evaluated. CM and LM thicknesses were measured (40 swallows and 30 TLESRs) as markers of axial shortening, before and at peak contraction, as well as during TLESRs. Animal studies revealed muscular connections between the LM and CM layers of the LES but not in the esophagus. During vagal stimulated esophageal contraction there was relative movement between the LM and CM. Human studies show that LM-to-CM (LM/CM) thickness ratio at baseline was 1. At the peak of swallow-induced contraction LM/CM ratio decreased significantly (<1), whereas the reverse was the case during TLESR (>2). The pattern of contraction of CM and LM suggests sliding of the two muscles. Furthermore, the sliding patterns are in the opposite direction during peristalsis and TLESR. PMID:26045610

Force-velocity property of leg muscles in individuals of different level of physical fitness.

PubMed

Cuk, Ivan; Mirkov, Dragan; Nedeljkovic, Aleksandar; Kukolj, Milos; Ugarkovic, Dusan; Jaric, Slobodan

2016-06-01

The present study explored the method of testing muscle mechanical properties through the linear force-velocity (F-V) relationships obtained from loaded vertical jumps. Specifically, we hypothesised that the F-V relationship parameters depicting the force, power, and velocity of the tested muscles will differ among individuals of different physical fitness. Strength trained, physically active, and sedentary male participants (N = 10 + 10 + 10; age 20-29 years) were tested on maximum countermovement and squat jumps where manipulation of external loads provided a range of F and V data. The observed F-V relationships of the tested leg muscles were approximately linear and mainly strong (median correlation coefficients ranged from 0.77 to 0.92; all p < 0.05), independently of either the tested group or the jump type. The maximum power revealed higher values in the strength trained than in the physically active and sedentary participants. This difference originated from the differences in F-intercepts, rather than from the V-intercepts. We conclude that the observed parameters could be sensitive enough to detect the differences among both the individuals of different physical fitness and various jump types. The present findings support using loaded vertical jumps and, possibly, other maximum performance multi-joint movements for the assessment of mechanical properties of active muscles.

Recovery of high speed memory scanning after transient global amnesia: a case report.

PubMed

Okura, M; Tomotake, M; Mori, K; Ikuta, T

1996-12-01

We described the case of a 59 year old female with transient global amnesia (TGA) who had been examined neuropsychologically using Sternberg's paradigm and a random number generation (RNG) task on the following day, 1 week and 4 weeks after a TGA episode. The slope value of the linear function, a measure of cognitive memory scanning speed, decreased with time and showed a marked decrease 1 week after TGA, suggesting that the stage of serial and exhaustive scanning recovered within 1 week. The zero-intercept value, on the other hand, increased during 1 week but decreased 4 weeks later and was not related directly to recovery from TGA. The performance in RNG task improved 1 week later, but deteriorated 4 weeks after the episode. Such a change in RNG was in accordance with that of the zero-intercept value, predicting a relationship. It is concluded that the subclinical memory deficit, detected with these tasks, persisted longer than clinical recovery from TGA.

REGRES: A FORTRAN-77 program to calculate nonparametric and ``structural'' parametric solutions to bivariate regression equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rock, N. M. S.; Duffy, T. R.

REGRES allows a range of regression equations to be calculated for paired sets of data values in which both variables are subject to error (i.e. neither is the "independent" variable). Nonparametric regressions, based on medians of all possible pairwise slopes and intercepts, are treated in detail. Estimated slopes and intercepts are output, along with confidence limits, Spearman and Kendall rank correlation coefficients. Outliers can be rejected with user-determined stringency. Parametric regressions can be calculated for any value of λ (the ratio of the variances of the random errors for y and x)—including: (1) major axis ( λ = 1); (2) reduced major axis ( λ = variance of y/variance of x); (3) Y on Xλ = infinity; or (4) X on Y ( λ = 0) solutions. Pearson linear correlation coefficients also are output. REGRES provides an alternative to conventional isochron assessment techniques where bivariate normal errors cannot be assumed, or weighting methods are inappropriate.

15 CFR 742.13 - Communications intercepting devices; software and technology for communications intercepting...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...; software and technology for communications intercepting devices. 742.13 Section 742.13 Commerce and Foreign... Communications intercepting devices; software and technology for communications intercepting devices. (a) License... wire, oral, or electronic communications (ECCNs 5A001.f.1 and 5A980); and for related “software...

Rainfall interception by tree crown and leaf litter: an interactive process

Treesearch

Xiang Li; Qingfu Xiao; Jianzhi Niu; Salli Dymond; E. Gregory McPherson; Natalie van Doorn; Xinxiao Yu; Baoyuan Xie; Kebin Zhang; Jiao Li

2017-01-01

Rainfall interception research in forest ecosystems usually focuses on interception by either tree crown or leaf litter, although the 2 components interact when rainfall occurs. A process-based study was conducted to jointly measure rainfall interception by crown and litter and the interaction between the 2 interception processes for 4 tree species (...

TL-OSL correlation studies of LiMgPO4:Tb,B dosimetric phosphor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, A. K.; Menon, S. N.; Dhabekar, Bhushan; Kadam, Sonal; Chougaonkar, M. P.; Mayya, Y. S.

2012-03-01

The recently synthesized LiMgPO4:Tb,B (LMP) is a highly sensitive Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) phosphor for dosimetric applications. Studies were carried out to assess the correlation between thermoluminescence (TL) and OSL of this phosphor. Measurements like Residual TL (R-TL), Continuous Wave OSL (CW-OSL) and Linearly Modulated OSL (LM-OSL) of LMP were carried out and various curves thus obtained were de-convolved using Computerized Curve Deconvolution (CCD) program. The deconvolution of CW-OSL and LM-OSL curves showed five different first order components in LMP. It was observed that OSL signal of LMP has its origin from five traps having different photo-ionization cross-sections. Same traps were found to be responsible for both TL and OSL in this phosphor. Bleaching decay rates were calculated for each R-TL glow peaks and compared with the decay rates of individual OSL components. The value of decay rates of R-TL and OSL matches well. Experimental verification of presence of individual OSL components using tbleach-tmax method was carried out.

Assessment of the water and energy budget simulation of three land surface models: CLM4.5, CoLM2014, and CoLM2005

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, C.; Lu, H.; Wen, X.

2015-12-01

Land surface model (LSM), which simulates energy, water and momentum exchanges between land and atmosphere, is an important component of Earth System Models (ESM). As shown in CMIP5, different ESMs usually use different LSMs and represent various land surface status. In order to select a land surface model which could be embedded into the ESM developed in Tsinghua University, we firstly evaluate the performance of three LSMs: Community Land Model (CLM4.5) and two different versions of Common Land Model (CoLM2005 and CoLM2014). All of three models were driven by CRUNCEP data and simulation results from 1980 to 2010 were used in this study. Diagnostic data provided by NCAR, global latent and sensible heat flux map estimated by Jung, net radiation from SRB, and in situ observation collected from FluxNet were used as reference data. Two variables, surface runoff and snow depth, were used for evaluating the model performance in water budget simulation, while three variables including net radiation, sensible heat, and latent heat were used for assessing energy budget simulation. For 30 years averaged runoff, global average value of Colm2014 is 0.44mm/day and close to the diagnostic value of 0.75 mm/day, while that of Colm2005 is 0.44mm/day and that of CLM is 0.20mm/day. For snow depth simulation, three models all have overestimation in the Northern Hemisphere and underestimation in the Southern Hemisphere compare to diagnostic data. For 30 years energy budget simulation, at global scale, CoLM2005 performs best in latent heat estimation, CoLM2014 performs best in sensible heat simulation, and CoLM2005 and CoLM2014 make similar performance in net radiation estimation but is still better than CLM. At regional and local scale, comparing to the four years average of flux tower observation, RMSE of CoLM2005 is the smallest for latent heat (9.717 W/m2) , and for sensible heat simulation, RMSE of CoLM2005 (13.048 W/m2) is slightly greater than CLM(10.767 W/m2) but still better than CoLM2014(30.085 W/m2). Our analysis shows that both CoLM 2005 and CoLM 2014 are able to reproduce comparable land surface water and energy fluxes. It implies that the ESM developed in Tsinghua University may use CoLM, a LSM developed and maintained in China, as the land surface component. .

Influence of Landmarks on Wayfinding and Brain Connectivity in Immersive Virtual Reality Environment

PubMed Central

Sharma, Greeshma; Kaushal, Yash; Chandra, Sushil; Singh, Vijander; Mittal, Alok P.; Dutt, Varun

2017-01-01

Spatial navigation is influenced by landmarks, which are prominent visual features in the environment. Although previous research has focused on finding advantages of landmarks on wayfinding via experimentation; however, less attention has been given to identifying the key attributes of landmarks that facilitate wayfinding, including the study of neural correlates (involving electroencephalogram, EEG analyses). In this paper, we combine behavioral measures, virtual environment, and EEG signal-processing to provide a holistic investigation about the influence of landmarks on performance during navigation in a maze-like environment. In an experiment, participants were randomly divided into two conditions, Landmark-enriched (LM+; N = 17) and Landmark-devoid (LM-; N = 18), and asked to navigate from an initial location to a goal location in a maze. In the LM+ condition, there were landmarks placed at certain locations, which participants could use for wayfinding in the maze. However, in the LM- condition, such landmarks were not present. Beyond behavioral analyses of data, analyses were carried out of the EEG data collected using a 64-channel device. Results revealed that participants took less time and committed fewer errors in navigating the maze in the LM+ condition compared to the LM- condition. EEG analyses of the data revealed that the left-hemispheric activation was more prominent in the LM+ condition compared to the LM- condition. The event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) of the theta frequency band, revealed activation in the left posterior inferior and superior regions in the LM+ condition compared to the LM- condition, suggesting an occurrence of an object-location binding in the LM+ condition along with spatial transformation between representations. Moreover, directed transfer function method, which measures information flow between two regions, showed a higher number of active channels in the LM- condition compared to the LM+ condition, exhibiting additional wiring cost associated with the cognitive demands when no landmark was available. These findings reveal pivotal role of the left-hemispheric region (especially, parietal cortex), which indicates the integration of available sensory cues and current memory requirements to encode contextual information of landmarks. Overall, this research helps to understand the role of brain regions and processes that are utilized when people use landmarks in navigating maze-like environments. PMID:28775698

Impact of asthma controller medications on medical and economic resource utilization in adult asthma patients.

PubMed

Lee, Todd A; Chang, Chun-Lan; Stephenson, Judith J; Sajjan, Shiva G; Maiese, Eric M; Everett, Sharlette; Allen-Ramey, Felicia

2010-12-01

To compare asthma-related resource utilization, adherence and costs among adults prescribed asthma controller regimens. Medical and pharmacy claims from a US managed-care claims database were used to identify adults (18-56 years) initiating asthma controller therapy. Patients had 2 years continuous enrollment and ≥ 1 medical claims for asthma (ICD9: 493.xx) (January 2004 - March 2009). Asthma exacerbations, short-acting β-agonist (SABA) fills, adherence (MPR ≥ 0.80) and asthma-related costs were assessed for 1 year after the initial asthma controller medication claim. Separate logistic and negative binomial regression models for monotherapy and combination therapy were developed to examine the impact of controller therapy on outcomes. A total of 28 074 patients [inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) (26.3%), leukotriene modifiers (LM) (23.2%), ICS  +  long acting β-agonist (LABA) (48.5%), ICS + LM (2%)] were included. LM patients had lower odds of ≥ 6 SABA fills (OR(adj) = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73-0.96) and lower rates of asthma exacerbations (RR(adj) = 0.82, 0.75-0.89) vs. ICS patients. Odds of ≥ 6 SABA fills were similar for ICS + LM vs. ICS + LABA (OR(adj) = 1.3, 0.96-1.76); the rate of asthma exacerbations was greater for ICS + LM compared with ICS + LABA (OR(adj) = 1.4, 1.2-1.6). The proportion adherent was greatest for LM (14.9%) and ICS + LABA (4.1%). LM patients had higher unadjusted pharmacy costs, but lower medical costs compared to ICS patients. For combination therapy, ICS + LM had higher unadjusted mean medical and pharmacy costs vs. ICS + LABA. Higher adjusted mean total costs in the post-index period were observed for LM vs. ICS patients ($837 vs. 684) and for ICS + LM vs. ICS + LABA patients ($1223 vs. 873). LM monotherapy was associated with lower medical costs but higher total costs resulting from greater treatment adherence. Conversely, higher costs for ICS + LM resulted from greater exacerbations compared to ICS + LABA despite similar adherence. Higher total costs with LM were due to drug costs. Precise utilization of the medications filled by patients could not be determined.

Efficacy of Supplemental Phonics-Based Instruction for Low-Skilled Kindergarteners in the Context of Language Minority Status and Classroom Phonics Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vadasy, Patricia F.; Sanders, Elizabeth A.

2010-01-01

This study tested the efficacy of supplemental phonics instruction for 84 low-skilled language minority (LM) kindergarteners and 64 non-LM kindergarteners at 10 urban public schools. Paraeducators were trained to provide the 18-week (January-May) intervention. Students performing in the bottom half of their classroom language group (LM and non-LM)…

Comparison of insulin lispro mix 25 with insulin lispro mix 50 as insulin starter in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (CLASSIFY study): Subgroup analysis of a Phase 4 open-label randomized trial.

PubMed

Su, Qing; Liu, Chao; Zheng, Hongting; Zhu, Jun; Li, Peng Fei; Qian, Lei; Yang, Wen Ying

2017-06-01

Premixed insulins are recommended starter insulins in Chinese patients after oral antihyperglycemic medication (OAM) failure. In the present study, we compared the efficacy and safety of insulin lispro mix 25 (LM25) twice daily (b.i.d.) and insulin lispro mix 50 (LM50) b.i.d. as a starter insulin regimen in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had inadequate glycemic control with OAMs. The primary efficacy outcome in the present open-label parallel randomized clinical trial was change in HbA1c from baseline to 26 weeks. Patients were randomized in a ratio of 1:  1 to LM25 (n = 80) or LM50 (n = 76). A mixed-effects model with repeated measures was used to analyze continuous variables. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test with stratification factor was used to analyze categorical variables. At the end of the study, LM50 was more efficacious than LM25 in reducing mean HbA1c levels (least-squares [LS] mean difference 0.48; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.22, 0.74; P < 0.001). More subjects in the LM50 than LM25 group achieved HbA1c targets of <7.0 % (72.4 % vs 45.0 %; P = 0.001) or ≤6.5 % (52.6 % vs 20.0 %; P < 0.001). Furthermore, LM50 was more effective than LM25 at reducing HbA1c in patients with baseline HbA1c, blood glucose excursion, and postprandial glucose greater than or equal to median levels (P ≤ 0.001). The rate and incidence of hypoglycemic episodes and increase in weight at the end of the study were similar between treatment groups. In Chinese patients with T2DM, LM50 was more efficacious than LM25 as a starter insulin. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd and Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.

Molecular and Functional Characterization of cDNAs Putatively Encoding Carboxylesterases from the Migratory Locust, Locusta migratoria

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jianqin; Li, Daqi; Ge, Pingting; Guo, Yaping; Zhu, Kun Yan; Ma, Enbo; Zhang, Jianzhen

2014-01-01

Carboxylesterases (CarEs) belong to a superfamily of metabolic enzymes encoded by a number of genes and are widely distributed in microbes, plants and animals including insects. These enzymes play important roles in detoxification of insecticides and other xenobiotics, degradation of pheromones, regulation of neurodevelopment, and control of animal development. In this study, we characterized a total of 39 full-length cDNAs putatively encoding different CarEs from the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, one of the most severe insect pests in many regions of the world, and evaluated the role of four CarE genes in insecticide detoxification. Our phylogenetic analysis grouped the 39 CarEs into five different clades including 20 CarEs in clade A, 3 in D, 13 in E, 1 in F and 2 in I. Four CarE genes (LmCesA3, LmCesA20, LmCesD1, LmCesE1), representing three different clades (A, D and E), were selected for further analyses. The transcripts of the four genes were detectable in all the developmental stages and tissues examined. LmCesA3 and LmCesE1 were mainly expressed in the fat bodies and Malpighian tubules, whereas LmCesA20 and LmCesD1 were predominately expressed in the muscles and hemolymph, respectively. The injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) synthesized from each of the four CarE genes followed by the bioassay with each of four insecticides (chlorpyrifos, malathion, carbaryl and deltamethrin) increased the nymphal mortalities by 37.2 and 28.4% in response to malathion after LmCesA20 and LmCesE1 were silenced, respectively. Thus, we proposed that both LmCesA20 and LmCesE1 played an important role in detoxification of malathion in the locust. These results are expected to help researchers reveal the characteristics of diverse CarEs and assess the risk of insecticide resistance conferred by CarEs in the locust and other insect species. PMID:24722667

Sequence and functional analysis of intestinal alkaline phosphatase from Lateolabrax maculatus.

PubMed

Wu, Minglin; Wang, Jiaqi; Wang, Zhipeng; Zhao, Jinliang; Hu, Yuting; Chen, Xiaowu

2017-12-01

Alkaline phosphatases (Alps) belong to a class of phosphate transferases that dephosphorylate lipopolysaccharide (LPS), adenosine triphosphate, and nucleotides. In this study, a 1874-base pair (bp) intestinal alp cDNA sequence was cloned from Lateolabrax maculatus and designated as Lm-alpi. It contained a 1611 bp open reading frame which encoded a protein with 537 amino acids. Protein sequence alignment showed that Lm-AlpI shared 29.8-79.8% identity with its homologs. Lm-AlpI catalytic sites contained three metal ion sites (two Zn 2+ and one Mg 2+ ), referring to D73, H184, D348, H349, H352, H464, D389, and H390 residues, which are essential for enzymatic activity and conservation in different organisms. Two predicted disulfide bonds in Lm-AlpI were composed of four cysteines (C152-C214 and C499-C506), which were homologous to those of mammals. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that Lm-AlpI was mainly expressed on the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract, including stomach, intestine, and gastric cecum. Lm-AlpI was mainly located on the plasma membrane of transiently transfected HeLa cells. The mRNA of Lm-alpi was mainly expressed in the intestine, and its expression levels gradually increased after LPS treatment and further increased by 1.81-fold after 48 h. After desalting culture, the relative mRNA expression level of Lm-alpi decreased at 30 and 50 days after hatching (DAH) and then returned to normal levels at 70 DAH. Further experiments demonstrated that the enzyme activity of Lm-AlpI exhibited an expression pattern similar to that of the mRNA expression of Lm-alpi after LPS treatment and desalting culture. This study provided valuable information on the Lm-AlpI functions associated with the mucosal immunity and salinity adaptation of L. maculatus.

Association between low lean mass and low bone mineral density in 653 women with hip fracture: does the definition of low lean mass matter?

PubMed

Di Monaco, Marco; Castiglioni, Carlotta; Di Monaco, Roberto; Tappero, Rosa

2017-12-01

Loss of both muscle and bone mass results in fragility fractures with increased risk of disability, poor quality of life, and death. Our aim was to assess the association between low appendicular lean mass (aLM) defined according to different criteria and low bone mineral density (BMD) in hip-fracture women. Six hundred fifty-three women admitted to our rehabilitation hospital underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry 19.1 ± 4.1 (mean ± SD) days after hip-fracture occurrence. Low aLM was identified according to either Baumgartner's definition (aLM/height 2 less than two standard deviations below the mean of the young reference group) or FNIH criteria: aLM <15.02 kg, or aLM adjusted for body mass index (BMI) <0.512. Low BMD was diagnosed with a T-score <-2.5 at the unfractured femoral neck. Using Baumgartner's definition, the association between low aLM/height 2 and low BMD was significant: χ 2 (1, n = 653) = 8.52 (p = 0.004), but it was erased by adjustments for age and fat mass. Using the FNIH definition the association between low aLM and low BMD was significant: χ 2 (1, n = 653) = 42.5 (p < 0.001), and it was confirmed after adjustment for age and fat mass (p < 0.001). With the FNIH definition based on aLM/BMI ratio the association between low aLM/BMI ratio and low BMD was nonsignificant: χ 2 (1, n = 653) = 0.003 (p = 0.957). The association between low aLM and low BMD in women with hip fracture dramatically depends on the adopted definition of low aLM. FNIH threshold for aLM (<15.02 kg) emerges as a useful tool to capture women with damage of the muscle-bone unit.

Perimysial fibroblasts of extraocular muscle, as unique as the muscle fibers.

PubMed

Kusner, Linda L; Young, Andrew; Tjoe, Steven; Leahy, Patrick; Kaminski, Henry J

2010-01-01

Extraocular muscle (EOM) has a distinct skeletal muscle phenotype. The hypothesis for the study was that fibroblasts support the unique EOM phenotype and that perimysial fibroblasts derived from EOM have properties that distinguish them from fibroblasts derived from other skeletal muscle. Perimysial fibroblasts from leg muscle (LM-Fibro) and EOM (EOM-Fibro) of mice were derived and maintained in culture. EOM- and LM-Fibro were assessed morphologically and for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and Thy-1 immunoreactivity. DNA microarray analysis was performed on LM- and EOM-Fibro grown in conditions that support myoblast differentiation. To assess trophic interactions, co-cultures of myoblasts from established cell lines, CL-EOM and CL-LM with, EOM- or LM-Fibro were performed in direct contact and in a permeable filter support culture. The degree of myotube maturation was assessed by the percentage of myotubes with more than three myonuclei per myotube. EOM- and LM-Fibro cells exhibited distinct morphologies. Both cell types proliferated as a monolayer and expressed vimentin. Fifty-five percent (SD 4.4%) of EOM-Fibro were Thy-1 positive compared with only 24% (SD 4.4%) of LM-Fibro. DNA microarray analysis demonstrated differential expression of structural, immune response, and metabolism-related genes between EOM- and LM-Fibro. Co-cultures demonstrated that mature myotube formation in EOM-derived cell lines was supported to a greater extent by EOM-Fibro than by LM-Fibro, compared with CL-EOM grown with LM-Fibro. Fibroblasts from EOM demonstrate distinct properties that distinguish them from leg muscle-derived fibroblasts. The distinct properties of EOM-Fibro may support the unique EOM phenotype and contribute to their differential involvement in disease.

Leishmania major: genetic heterogeneity of Iranian isolates by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer.

PubMed

Tashakori, Mahnaz; Mahnaz, Tashakori; Kuhls, Katrin; Katrin, Kuhls; Al-Jawabreh, Amer; Amer, Al-Jawabreh; Mauricio, Isabel L; Isabel, Mauricio; Schönian, Gabriele; Gabriele, Schönian; Farajnia, Safar; Safar, Farajnia; Alimohammadian, Mohammad Hossein; Hossein, Alimohammadian Mohammad

2006-04-01

Protozoan parasites of Leishmania major are the causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in different parts of Iran. We applied PCR-based methods to analyze L. major parasites isolated from patients with active lesions from different geographic areas in Iran in order to understand DNA polymorphisms within L. major species. Twenty-four isolates were identified as L. major by RFLP analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) amplicons. These isolates were further studied by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and sequencing of ITS1 and ITS2. Data obtained from SSCP analysis of the ITS1 and ITS2 loci revealed three and four different patterns among all studied samples, respectively. Sequencing of ITS1 and ITS2 confirmed the results of SSCP analysis and showed the potential of the PCR-SSCP method for assessing genetic heterogeneity within L. major. Different patterns in ITS1 were due to substitution of one nucleotide, whereas in ITS2 the changes were defined by variation in the number of repeats in two polymorphic microsatellites. In total five genotypic groups LmA, LmB, LmC, LmD and LmE were identified among L. major isolates. The most frequent genotype, LmA, was detected in isolates collected from different endemic areas of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. Genotypes LmC, LmD and LmE were found only in the new focus of CL in Damghan (Semnan province) and LmB was identified exclusively among isolates of Kashan focus (Isfahan province). The distribution of genetic polymorphisms suggests the existence of distinct endemic regions of L. major in Iran.

Attachment area of fibres from the horns of lateral meniscus: anatomic study with special reference to the positional relationship of anterior cruciate ligament.

PubMed

Fujishiro, Hitomi; Tsukada, Sachiyuki; Nakamura, Tomomasa; Nimura, Akimoto; Mochizuki, Tomoyuki; Akita, Keiichi

2017-02-01

Although studies support the clinical importance of the fibres from the horns of lateral meniscus (LM), few studies have investigated the detailed anatomy. This anatomic study was conducted to analyse the structural details of LM with special reference to (1) the attachment area of the fibres from the anterior and posterior horns and (2) the positional relationship between these fibres and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A total of 24 cadaveric knees were used in the macroscopic investigation, and six knees were used in the histological investigation. Micro-computed tomography analysis was also performed to assess the anatomy of the posteriormost fibre from the posterior horn of LM. Based on the macroscopic investigations, the outer fibres from the anterior horn of LM extended to ACL and seemed to intermingle with ACL fibres. However, the histological investigations showed a distinct border between the fibres and ACL. The inner fibres from the anterior horn of LM attached to the lateral intercondylar tubercle serving as a lateral margin of ACL attachment. Fibres from the posterior horn of LM were separated into anterolateral and posteromedial crura which attached to the posterior aspect of the lateral and medial intercondylar tubercles, respectively. These two crura formed the posterior margin of the ACL attachment, except for the central part of ACL. The outer fibres from the anterior horn of LM adjoined ACL. The inner fibres from the anterior horn of LM and two crura from the posterior horn of LM formed the border of the attachment area of ACL. The distinctive fibre anatomy from LM could provide a surgical landmark during arthroscopic surgery.

A comparative study of FDG PET/CT and enhanced multi-detector CT for detecting liver metastasis according to the size and location.

PubMed

Park, Jung Mi; Kim, Il Young; Kim, Sang Won; Lee, Sang Mi; Kim, Hyun Gi; Kim, Shin Young; Shin, Hyung Chul

2013-04-01

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnosability between (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and enhanced multi-detector CT (MDCT) for the detection of liver metastasis (LM) according to the size and location in liver and to evaluate standard maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of all liver metastatic lesions. One hundred two consecutive patients with malignancy who underwent both FDG PET/CT and MDCT for LM evaluation were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 56 patients with LM were enrolled in this study. LM was confirmed by follow-up imaging studies after at least 6 months or by histopathology. FDG PET/CT and MDCT images were visually analyzed using three-point scale by the consensus of two radiologists and two nuclear medicine physicians. The size and location (central vs. sub-capsular) of the all liver lesions were evaluated using MDCT images. Furthermore, SUVmax of all liver lesions on FDG PET/CT images were calculated. A total of 146 liver lesions were detected by FDG PET/CT and MDCT and 142 of the lesions were diagnosed as LM. The detection rates of MDCT and FDG PET/CT for LM by visual analysis were 77 and 78%, respectively. There was no significant difference of detection rate according to the overall location and size of the lesions. However, FDG PET/CT was more sensitive than MDCT for detecting small and sub-capsular LM. The detection rate of FDG PET/CT for LM was 68% by the cutoff SUVmax of 2.7. Although the diagnosabilities of MDCT and FDG PET/CT for detecting LM were comparable, FDG PET/CT is superior to MDCT for detecting small LM located in the sub-capsular portion of liver.

Visual analog scale (VAS) for assessment of acute mountain sickness (AMS) on Aconcagua.

PubMed

Van Roo, Jon D; Lazio, Matthew P; Pesce, Carlos; Malik, Sanjeev; Courtney, D Mark

2011-03-01

The Lake Louise AMS Self-Report Score (LLSelf) is a commonly used, validated assessment of acute mountain sickness (AMS). We compared LLSelf and visual analog scales (VAS) to quantify AMS on Aconcagua (6962 m). Prospective observational cohort study at Plaza de Mulas base camp (4365 m), Aconcagua Provincial Park, Argentina. Volunteers climbing in January 2009 were enrolled at base camp and ascended at their own pace. They completed the LLSelf, an overall VAS [VAS(o)], and 5 individual VAS [VAS(i)] corresponding to the items of the LLSelf when symptoms were maximal. Composite VAS [VAS(c)] was calculated as the sum of the 5 VAS(i). A total of 127 volunteers consented to the study. Response rate was 52.0%. AMS occurred in 77.3% of volunteers, while 48.5% developed severe AMS. Median (interquartile range, IQR) LLSelf was 4 (3-7). Median (IQR) VAS(o) was 36 mm (23-59). VAS(o) was linear and correlated with LLSelf: slope = 6.7 (95% CI: 4.4-9.0), intercept = 3.0 (95% CI: -10.0-16.1), ρ = 0.71, τ = 0.55, R(2) = 0.45, p < 0.001. Median (IQR) VAS(c) was 29 (13-44). VAS(c) was also linear and correlated with LLSelf: slope = 5.9 (95% CI: 4.9-6.9), intercept = -0.6 (95% CI: -6.3-5.1), ρ = 0.83, τ = 0.68, R(2) = 0.73, p < 0.001. The relationship between the 5 VAS(i) and LLSelf(i) was less significant and less linear than that between VAS(o), VAS(c), and LLSelf. While both VAS(o) and VAS(c) for assessment of AMS appear to be linear with respect to LLSelf, the amount of scatter within the VAS is considerable. The LLSelf remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of AMS. Copyright © 2011 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Semiempirical Theories of the Affinities of Negative Atomic Ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edie, John W.

1961-01-01

The determination of the electron affinities of negative atomic ions by means of direct experimental investigation is limited. To supplement the meager experimental results, several semiempirical theories have been advanced. One commonly used technique involves extrapolating the electron affinities along the isoelectronic sequences, The most recent of these extrapolations Is studied by extending the method to Include one more member of the isoelectronic sequence, When the results show that this extension does not increase the accuracy of the calculations, several possible explanations for this situation are explored. A different approach to the problem is suggested by the regularities appearing in the electron affinities. Noting that the regular linear pattern that exists for the ionization potentials of the p electrons as a function of Z, repeats itself for different degrees of ionization q, the slopes and intercepts of these curves are extrapolated to the case of the negative Ion. The method is placed on a theoretical basis by calculating the Slater parameters as functions of q and n, the number of equivalent p-electrons. These functions are no more than quadratic in q and n. The electron affinities are calculated by extending the linear relations that exist for the neutral atoms and positive ions to the negative ions. The extrapolated. slopes are apparently correct, but the intercepts must be slightly altered to agree with experiment. For this purpose one or two experimental affinities (depending on the extrapolation method) are used in each of the two short periods. The two extrapolation methods used are: (A) an isoelectronic sequence extrapolation of the linear pattern as such; (B) the same extrapolation of a linearization of this pattern (configuration centers) combined with an extrapolation of the other terms of the ground configurations. The latter method Is preferable, since it requires only experimental point for each period. The results agree within experimental error with all data, except with the most recent value of C, which lies 10% lower.

[Characterization of methicillin- and linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. haemolyticus strains in a Spanish hospital].

PubMed

Lozano, Carmen; Aspiroz, Carmen; Gómez-Sanz, Elena; Tirado, Gabriel; Fortuño, Blanca; Zarazaga, Myriam; Torres, Carmen

2013-03-01

Linezolid resistance is mainly due to mutations in the 23S rRNA target. The aim of this study was to characterize linezolid and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE-LM(R)) and S. haemolyticus (SH-LM(R)) strains detected in a Spanish hospital. SE-LM(R) and SH-LM(R) strains obtained in the period June 2009-August 2011 in a second level hospital were recorded along with the epidemiological characteristics of the patients. These strains were typed, and their resistance, phenotype, genotype and the factors determining their virulence were analysed. Linezolid resistance was explained by the presence of G2603T mutation (23S rRNA) and aminoacid changes in L3 and L4 ribosomal proteins. The 25 SE-LM(R) strains belonged to sequence type ST2, presented SCCmec typeIII, and two different PFGE patterns. The two SH-LM(R) strains showed non-typeable SCCmec. SE-LM(R) strains harboured the resistance genes aac(6')-aph(2"), and dfrS1. SH-LM(R) strains contained these genes and the gene erm(C). No lincomycin resistance mechanism was identified in SE-LM(R) strains regardless of showing lincomycin resistance and diminished susceptibility to clindamycin. Linezolid resistance is of concern in hospitals, and requires continued vigilance. Several linezolid resistance mechanisms (mutation in 23S RNAr and amino acid changes in L3 and L4) were identified in this study. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

A novel lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1-cytoglobin axis promotes extravasation of osteosarcoma cells into the lungs.

PubMed

Pongsuchart, Mongkol; Kuchimaru, Takahiro; Yonezawa, Sakiko; Tran, Diem Thi Phuong; Kha, Nguyen The; Hoang, Ngoc Thi Hong; Kadonosono, Tetsuya; Kizaka-Kondoh, Shinae

2018-06-21

Lung metastasis is a major cause of mortality in patients with osteosarcoma (OS). A better understanding of the molecular mechanism of OS lung metastasis may facilitate development of new therapeutic strategies to prevent the metastasis. We have established high- and low-metastatic sublines (LM8-H and LM8-L respectively) from Dunn OS cell line LM8 by using in vivo image-guided screening. Among the genes whose expression was significantly increased in LM8-H compared to LM8-L, the transcription factor lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) was identified as a factor that promotes LM8-H cell extravasation into the lungs. To identify downstream effectors of LEF1 that are involved in OS lung metastasis, 13 genes were selected based on the LM8 microarray data and genome-wide meta-analysis of a public database for OS patients. Among them, the cytoglobin (Cygb) gene was identified as a key effector in promoting OS extravasation into the lungs. CYGB overexpression increased the extravasation ability of LM8-L cells, whereas knocking out the Cygb gene in LM8-H cells reduced this ability. Our results uncovered a novel LEF1-CYGB axis in OS lung metastasis and may open a new avenue for developing therapeutic strategies to prevent OS lung metastasis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A Large Family of AvrLm6-like Genes in the Apple and Pear Scab Pathogens, Venturia inaequalis and Venturia pirina

PubMed Central

Shiller, Jason; Van de Wouw, Angela P.; Taranto, Adam P.; Bowen, Joanna K.; Dubois, David; Robinson, Andrew; Deng, Cecilia H.; Plummer, Kim M.

2015-01-01

Venturia inaequalis and V. pirina are Dothideomycete fungi that cause apple scab and pear scab disease, respectively. Whole genome sequencing of V. inaequalis and V. pirina isolates has revealed predicted proteins with sequence similarity to AvrLm6, a Leptosphaeria maculans effector that triggers a resistance response in Brassica napus and B. juncea carrying the resistance gene, Rlm6. AvrLm6-like genes are present as large families (>15 members) in all sequenced strains of V. inaequalis and V. pirina, while in L. maculans, only AvrLm6 and a single paralog have been identified. The Venturia AvrLm6-like genes are located in gene-poor regions of the genomes, and mostly in close proximity to transposable elements, which may explain the expansion of these gene families. An AvrLm6-like gene from V. inaequalis with the highest sequence identity to AvrLm6 was unable to trigger a resistance response in Rlm6-carrying B. juncea. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR gene expression analyses, of in planta- and in vitro-grown V. inaequalis, has revealed that many of the AvrLm6-like genes are expressed during infection. An AvrLm6 homolog from V. inaequalis that is up-regulated during infection was shown (using an eYFP-fusion protein construct) to be localized to the sub-cuticular stroma during biotrophic infection of apple hypocotyls. PMID:26635823

External contribution to urban air pollution.

PubMed

Grima, Ramon; Micallef, Alfred; Colls, Jeremy J

2002-02-01

Elevated particulate matter concentrations in urban locations have normally been associated with local traffic emissions. Recently it has been suggested that such episodes are influenced to a high degree by PM10 sources external to urban areas. To further corroborate this hypothesis, linear regression was sought between PM10 concentrations measured at eight urban sites in the U.K., with particulate sulphate concentration measured at two rural sites, for the years 1993-1997. Analysis of the slopes, intercepts and correlation coefficients indicate a possible relationship between urban PM10 and rural sulphate concentrations. The influences of wind direction and of the distance of the urban from the rural sites on the values of the three statistical parameters are also explored. The value of linear regression as an analysis tool in such cases is discussed and it is shown that an analysis of the sign of the rate of change of the urban PM10 and rural sulphate concentrations provides a more realistic method of correlation. The results indicate a major influence on urban PM10 concentrations from the eastern side of the United Kingdom. Linear correlation was also sought using PM10 data from nine urban sites in London and nearby rural Rochester. Analysis of the magnitude of the gradients and intercepts together with episode correlation analysis between the two sites showed the effect of transported PM10 on the local London concentrations. This article also presents methods to estimate the influence of rural and urban PM10 sources on urban PM10 concentrations and to obtain a rough estimate of the transboundary contribution to urban air pollution from the PM10 concentration data of the urban site.

Eye movements and manual interception of ballistic trajectories: effects of law of motion perturbations and occlusions.

PubMed

Delle Monache, Sergio; Lacquaniti, Francesco; Bosco, Gianfranco

2015-02-01

Manual interceptions are known to depend critically on integration of visual feedback information and experience-based predictions of the interceptive event. Within this framework, coupling between gaze and limb movements might also contribute to the interceptive outcome, since eye movements afford acquisition of high-resolution visual information. We investigated this issue by analyzing subjects' head-fixed oculomotor behavior during manual interceptions. Subjects moved a mouse cursor to intercept computer-generated ballistic trajectories either congruent with Earth's gravity or perturbed with weightlessness (0 g) or hypergravity (2 g) effects. In separate sessions, trajectories were either fully visible or occluded before interception to enforce visual prediction. Subjects' oculomotor behavior was classified in terms of amounts of time they gazed at different visual targets and of overall number of saccades. Then, by way of multivariate analyses, we assessed the following: (1) whether eye movement patterns depended on targets' laws of motion and occlusions; and (2) whether interceptive performance was related to the oculomotor behavior. First, we found that eye movement patterns depended significantly on targets' laws of motion and occlusion, suggesting predictive mechanisms. Second, subjects coupled differently oculomotor and interceptive behavior depending on whether targets were visible or occluded. With visible targets, subjects made smaller interceptive errors if they gazed longer at the mouse cursor. Instead, with occluded targets, they achieved better performance by increasing the target's tracking accuracy and by avoiding gaze shifts near interception, suggesting that precise ocular tracking provided better trajectory predictions for the interceptive response.

View of the U.S. flag near the Apollo 14 landing site during liftoff

NASA Image and Video Library

1971-02-05

S71-19500 (6 Feb. 1971) --- The Apollo 14 Lunar Module (LM) ascent stage lifts off the lunar surface and the powerful LM engine causes a brief force of wind which scatters gold-colored foil, covering the LM, and disturbs the U.S. flag. This picture was taken from film exposed by the 16mm data acquisition camera - which was mounted inside the LM.

Melatonin and bright-light treatment for rest-activity disruption in institutionalized patients with Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Dowling, Glenna A; Burr, Robert L; Van Someren, Eus J W; Hubbard, Erin M; Luxenberg, Jay S; Mastick, Judy; Cooper, Bruce A

2008-02-01

To test whether the addition of melatonin to bright-light therapy enhances the efficacy in treating rest-activity (circadian) disruption in institutionalized patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Randomized, controlled trial. Two nursing homes in San Francisco, California. Fifty subjects (mean age 86) with AD. Experimental subjects received 1 hour of morning light exposure (> or = 2,500 lux in gaze direction) Monday to Friday for 10 weeks and 5 mg melatonin (LM, n=16) or placebo (LP, n=17) in the evening. Control subjects (n=17) received usual indoor light (150-200 lux). Nighttime sleep variables, day sleep time, day activity, day:night sleep ratio, and rest-activity parameters were determined using actigraphy. Linear mixed models were employed to test the primary study hypotheses. No significant differences in nighttime sleep variables were found between groups. At the end of the intervention, the LM group showed significant improvement in daytime somnolence as indicated by a reduction in the duration of daytime sleep, an increase in daytime activity, and an improvement in day:night sleep ratio. The LM group also evidenced a significant increase in rest-activity rhythm amplitude and goodness of fit to the cosinor model. Light treatment alone did not improve nighttime sleep, daytime wake, or rest-activity rhythm. Light treatment plus melatonin increased daytime wake time and activity levels and strengthened the rest-activity rhythm. Future studies should resolve the question of whether these improvements can be attributed to melatonin or whether the two zeitgebers interact to amplify efficacy.

Melatonin and Bright-Light Treatment for Rest–Activity Disruption in Institutionalized Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

PubMed Central

Dowling, Glenna A.; Burr, Robert L.; Van Someren, Eus J. W.; Hubbard, Erin M.; Luxenberg, Jay S.; Mastick, Judy; Cooper, Bruce A.

2008-01-01

OBJECTIVES To test whether the addition of melatonin to bright-light therapy enhances the efficacy in treating rest–activity (circadian) disruption in institutionalized patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). DESIGN Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING Two nursing homes in San Francisco, California. PARTICIPANTS Fifty subjects (mean age 86) with AD. INTERVENTION Experimental subjects received 1 hour of morning light exposure (≥2,500 lux in gaze direction) Monday to Friday for 10 weeks and 5 mg melatonin (LM, n = 16) or placebo (LP, n = 17) in the evening. Control subjects (n = 17) received usual indoor light (150–200 lux). MEASUREMENTS Nighttime sleep variables, day sleep time, day activity, day:night sleep ratio, and rest–activity parameters were determined using actigraphy. RESULTS Linear mixed models were employed to test the primary study hypotheses. No significant differences in nighttime sleep variables were found between groups. At the end of the intervention, the LM group showed significant improvement in daytime somnolence as indicated by a reduction in the duration of daytime sleep, an increase in daytime activity, and an improvement in day:night sleep ratio. The LM group also evidenced a significant increase in rest–activity rhythm amplitude and goodness of fit to the cosinor model. CONCLUSION Light treatment alone did not improve nighttime sleep, daytime wake, or rest–activity rhythm. Light treatment plus melatonin increased daytime wake time and activity levels and strengthened the rest–activity rhythm. Future studies should resolve the question of whether these improvements can be attributed to melatonin or whether the two zeitgebers interact to amplify efficacy. PMID:18070004

[Canopy interception characteristics of main vegetation types in Liupan Mountains of China].

PubMed

Xu, Li-hong; Shi, Zhong-jie; Wang, Yan-hui; Xiong, Wei; Yu, Peng-tao

2010-10-01

Based on field observation and modeling analysis, this paper studied the canopy interception, interception capacity, and some parameters for interception modeling of main forest types in Liupan Mountains of China. For the test main forest types, the ratio of their canopy interception to precipitation ranged from 8.59% to 17.94%, throughfall was more than 80%, and stemflow ranged from 0.23% to 3.10%. The canopy interception capacity was 0.78-1.88 mm, among which, leaf interception capacity was 0.62-1.63 mm, and stem interception capacity was 0.13-0.29 mm. Conifer forest had a higher canopy interception capacity than broad-leaved forest. The modified model considering the change of leaf area index, which was used in this paper, had a higher simulating precision than the interception model used before. The simulation results for Betula albo-sinensis forest, Pinus armandii forest, Prunus shrub, and Quercus liaotungensis-Tilia paucicostata forest were good, but those for Quercus liaotungensis forest, Pinus tabulaeformis forest, and Acer tetramerum and Euonymus sanguineus shrub were bad, which might be related to the differences in canopy structure, leaf area index, and precipitation characteristics.

The performance of integrated transconductance amplifiers as variable current sources for bio-electric impedance measurements.

PubMed

Smith, D N

1992-01-01

Multiple applied current impedance measurement systems require numbers of current sources which operate simultaneously at the same frequency and within the same phase but at variable amplitudes. Investigations into the performance of some integrated operational transconductance amplifiers as variable current sources are described. Measurements of breakthrough, non-linearity and common-mode output levels for LM13600, NE5517 and CA3280 were carried out. The effects of such errors on the overall performance and stability of multiple current systems when driving floating loads are considered.

Polarized organic light-emitting device on a flexible giant birefringent optical reflecting polarizer substrate.

PubMed

Park, Byoungchoo; Park, Chan Hyuk; Kim, Mina; Han, Mi-Young

2009-06-08

We present the results of a study of highly linear polarized light emissions from an Organic Light-Emitting Device (OLED) that consisted of a flexible Giant Birefringent Optical (GBO) multilayer polymer reflecting polarizer substrate. Luminous Electroluminescent (EL) emissions over 4,500 cd/m(2) were produced from the polarized OLED with high peak efficiencies in excess of 6 cd/A and 2 lm/W at relatively low operating voltages. The direction of polarization for the emitted EL light corresponded to the passing (ordinary) axis of the GBO-reflecting polarizer. Furthermore, the estimated polarization ratio between the brightness of two linearly polarized EL emissions parallel and perpendicular to the passing axis could be as high as 25 when measured over the whole emitted luminance range.

10 CFR Appendixes L-M to Part 50 - [Reserved

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false [Reserved] L Appendixes L-M to Part 50 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION DOMESTIC LICENSING OF PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION FACILITIES Appendixes L-M to Part 50 [Reserved] ...

The acylation state of mycobacterial lipomannans modulates innate immunity response through toll-like receptor 2.

PubMed

Gilleron, Martine; Nigou, Jérôme; Nicolle, Delphine; Quesniaux, Valérie; Puzo, Germain

2006-01-01

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens by professional phagocytes via toll-like receptors (TLR) contributes to controlling chronic M. tuberculosis infection. Lipomannans (LM), which are major lipoglycans of the mycobacterial envelope, were recently described as agonists of TLR2 with potent activity on proinflammatory cytokine regulation. LM correspond to a heterogeneous population of acyl- and glyco-forms. We report here the purification and the complete structural characterization of four LM acyl-forms from Mycobacterium bovis BCG using MALDI MS and 2D (1)H-(31)P NMR analyses. All this biochemical work provided the tools to investigate the implication of LM acylation degree on its proinflammatory activity. The latter was ascribed to the triacylated LM form, essentially an agonist of TLR2, using TLR2/TLR1 heterodimers for signaling. Altogether, these findings shed more light on the molecular basis of LM recognition by TLR.

Experimental variability and data pre-processing as factors affecting the discrimination power of some chemometric approaches (PCA, CA and a new algorithm based on linear regression) applied to (+/-)ESI/MS and RPLC/UV data: Application on green tea extracts.

PubMed

Iorgulescu, E; Voicu, V A; Sârbu, C; Tache, F; Albu, F; Medvedovici, A

2016-08-01

The influence of the experimental variability (instrumental repeatability, instrumental intermediate precision and sample preparation variability) and data pre-processing (normalization, peak alignment, background subtraction) on the discrimination power of multivariate data analysis methods (Principal Component Analysis -PCA- and Cluster Analysis -CA-) as well as a new algorithm based on linear regression was studied. Data used in the study were obtained through positive or negative ion monitoring electrospray mass spectrometry (+/-ESI/MS) and reversed phase liquid chromatography/UV spectrometric detection (RPLC/UV) applied to green tea extracts. Extractions in ethanol and heated water infusion were used as sample preparation procedures. The multivariate methods were directly applied to mass spectra and chromatograms, involving strictly a holistic comparison of shapes, without assignment of any structural identity to compounds. An alternative data interpretation based on linear regression analysis mutually applied to data series is also discussed. Slopes, intercepts and correlation coefficients produced by the linear regression analysis applied on pairs of very large experimental data series successfully retain information resulting from high frequency instrumental acquisition rates, obviously better defining the profiles being compared. Consequently, each type of sample or comparison between samples produces in the Cartesian space an ellipsoidal volume defined by the normal variation intervals of the slope, intercept and correlation coefficient. Distances between volumes graphically illustrates (dis)similarities between compared data. The instrumental intermediate precision had the major effect on the discrimination power of the multivariate data analysis methods. Mass spectra produced through ionization from liquid state in atmospheric pressure conditions of bulk complex mixtures resulting from extracted materials of natural origins provided an excellent data basis for multivariate analysis methods, equivalent to data resulting from chromatographic separations. The alternative evaluation of very large data series based on linear regression analysis produced information equivalent to results obtained through application of PCA an CA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subtype-Specific Tumor-Associated Fibroblasts Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Uterine Leiomyoma.

PubMed

Wu, Xin; Serna, Vanida A; Thomas, Justin; Qiang, Wenan; Blumenfeld, Michael L; Kurita, Takeshi

2017-12-15

Recent genomic studies have identified subtypes of uterine leiomyoma (LM) with distinctive genetic alterations. Here, we report the elucidation of the biological characteristics of the two most prevalent uterine leiomyoma subtypes, MED12-mutant (MED12-LM) and HMGA2-overexpressing (HMGA2-LM) uterine leiomyomas. Because each tumor carries only one genetic alteration, both subtypes are considered to be monoclonal. Approximately 90% of cells in HMGA2-uterine leiomyoma were smooth muscle cells (SMC) with HMGA2 overexpression. In contrast, MED12-LM consisted of similar numbers of SMC and non-SMC, which were mostly tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF). Paradoxically, TAF carried no mutations in MED12, suggesting an interaction between SMC and TAF to coordinate their growth. The higher amount of extracellular matrix in MED12-LM than HMGA2-LM was partially due to the high concentration of collagen-producing TAF. SMC growth in a xenograft assay was driven by progesterone in both uterine leiomyoma subtypes. In contrast, TAF in MED12-LM proliferated in response to estradiol, whereas progesterone had no effect. The high concentration of estrogen-responsive TAF in MED12-LM explains the inconsistent discoveries between in vivo and in vitro studies on the mitogenic effect of estrogen and raises questions regarding the accuracy of previous studies utilizing MED12-LM cell culture. In addition, the differential effects of estradiol and progesterone on these uterine leiomyoma subtypes emphasize the importance of subtypes and genotypes in designing nonsurgical therapeutic strategies for uterine leiomyoma. Cancer Res; 77(24); 6891-901. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.

Cell-Based Screen Identifies Human Interferon-Stimulated Regulators of Listeria monocytogenes Infection

PubMed Central

Eitson, Jennifer L.; Chen, Didi; Jimenez, Alyssa; Mettlen, Marcel; Schoggins, John W.; Alto, Neal M.

2016-01-01

The type I interferon (IFN) activated transcriptional response is a critical antiviral defense mechanism, yet its role in bacterial pathogenesis remains less well characterized. Using an intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) as a model bacterial pathogen, we sought to identify the roles of individual interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in context of bacterial infection. Previously, IFN has been implicated in both restricting and promoting Lm growth and immune stimulatory functions in vivo. Here we adapted a gain-of-function flow cytometry based approach to screen a library of more than 350 human ISGs for inhibitors and enhancers of Lm infection. We identify 6 genes, including UNC93B1, MYD88, AQP9, and TRIM14 that potently inhibit Lm infection. These inhibitors act through both transcription-mediated (MYD88) and non-transcriptional mechanisms (TRIM14). Further, we identify and characterize the human high affinity immunoglobulin receptor FcγRIa as an enhancer of Lm internalization. Our results reveal that FcγRIa promotes Lm uptake in the absence of known host Lm internalization receptors (E-cadherin and c-Met) as well as bacterial surface internalins (InlA and InlB). Additionally, FcγRIa-mediated uptake occurs independently of Lm opsonization or canonical FcγRIa signaling. Finally, we established the contribution of FcγRIa to Lm infection in phagocytic cells, thus potentially linking the IFN response to a novel bacterial uptake pathway. Together, these studies provide an experimental and conceptual basis for deciphering the role of IFN in bacterial defense and virulence at single-gene resolution. PMID:28002492

Lentigo Maligna - Not Always a Face and Neck Disease of the Elderly.

PubMed

Duarte, Ana Filipa; Sousa-Pinto, Bernardo; Barros, Ana Margarida; Haneke, Eckart; Correia, Osvaldo

2018-06-12

Lentigo maligna (LM) is a rare form of in situ melanoma, frequently seen as a large patch in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to assess clinical and dermoscopic features of LM. A retrospective study of LM patients presenting to our center between July 2007 and July 2017 was performed. Demographic data, anatomical location, laterality, diameter, Clark level, Breslow stage, "ABCD" signs and dermoscopic features were registered. Facial versus extrafacial LM were compared. We found 21 LM, of which 12 had an extrafacial location and 9 a facial location. Half of the extrafacial lesions were located on an upper limb. The median age at diagnosis was 63 years (ranging from 38 to 84 years). Most LM cases were female (16/21) with phototype II (13/21). More than half of the patients (11/21) had a history of a skin neoplasm or actinic keratosis. The median diameter found was 6 mm (interquartile range = 4.5 mm), ranging from 1 to 15 mm. Five lesions were invasive (median Breslow depth of 0.2 mm), and 4 of them were extrafacial. In this study LM was more frequently found in an extrafacial location and as a small patch with a 6-mm diameter medium. The epidemiology of LM/LM melanoma might be changing. Full body examination and dermoscopy are of the utmost importance for the diagnosis. Dermatologists should be aware and search for small lesions outside the face and neck, particularly in middle-aged female patients with photo-damaged skin. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Isolation and molecular cytogenetic characterization of a wheat - Leymus mollis double monosomic addition line and its progenies with resistance to stripe rust.

PubMed

Yang, Xiaofei; Li, Xin; Wang, Changyou; Chen, Chunhuan; Tian, Zengrong; Ji, Wanquan

2017-12-01

A common wheat - Leymus mollis (2n = 4x = 28, NsNsXmXm) double monosomic addition line, M11003-4-3-8/13/15 (2n = 44 = 42T.a + L.m2 + L.m3), with stripe rust resistance was developed (where T.a represents Triticum aestivum chromosome, L.m represents L. mollis chromosome, and L.m2/3 represents L. mollis chromosome of homoeologous groups 2 and 3). The progenies of line M11003-4-3-8/13/15 were characterized by cytological observation, specific molecular markers, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Among the progenies, there existed five different types (I, II, III, IV, and V) of chromosome constitution, the formulas of which were 2n = 44 = 42T.a + 1L.m2 + 1L.m3, 2n = 43 = 42T.a + 1L.m2, 2n = 43 = 42T.a + 1L.m3, 2n = 42 = 42T.a, and 2n = 44 = 42T.a + 2L.m2, respectively. Field disease screening showed that types I and III showed high resistance to stripe rust, while types II, IV, and V were susceptible. Leymus mollis was almost immune to stripe rust, whereas the wheat parent, cultivar 7182, was susceptible. Therefore, we concluded that the stripe rust resistance originated from L. mollis. These various lines could be further fully exploited as important disease resistance materials to enrich wheat genetic resources.

Linear regression in astronomy. II

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feigelson, Eric D.; Babu, Gutti J.

1992-01-01

A wide variety of least-squares linear regression procedures used in observational astronomy, particularly investigations of the cosmic distance scale, are presented and discussed. The classes of linear models considered are (1) unweighted regression lines, with bootstrap and jackknife resampling; (2) regression solutions when measurement error, in one or both variables, dominates the scatter; (3) methods to apply a calibration line to new data; (4) truncated regression models, which apply to flux-limited data sets; and (5) censored regression models, which apply when nondetections are present. For the calibration problem we develop two new procedures: a formula for the intercept offset between two parallel data sets, which propagates slope errors from one regression to the other; and a generalization of the Working-Hotelling confidence bands to nonstandard least-squares lines. They can provide improved error analysis for Faber-Jackson, Tully-Fisher, and similar cosmic distance scale relations.

Influence of prolonged static stretching on motor unit firing properties.

PubMed

Ye, Xin; Beck, Travis W; Wages, Nathan P

2016-05-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a stretching intervention on motor control strategy of the biceps brachii muscle. Ten men performed twelve 100-s passive static stretches of the biceps brachii. Before and after the intervention, isometric strength was tested during maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the elbow flexors. Subjects also performed trapezoid isometric contractions at 30% and 70% of MVC. Surface electromyographic signals from the submaximal contractions were decomposed into individual motor unit action potential trains. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between motor unit mean firing rate and recruitment threshold. The stretching intervention caused significant decreases in y-intercepts of the linear regression lines. In addition, linear slopes at both intensities remained unchanged. Despite reduced motor unit firing rates following the stretches, the motor control scheme remained unchanged. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Spatiotemporal assessment of spontaneous metastasis formation using multimodal in vivo imaging in HER2+ and triple negative metastatic breast cancer xenograft models in mice.

PubMed

Fricke, Inga B; De Souza, Raquel; Costa Ayub, Lais; Francia, Giulio; Kerbel, Robert; Jaffray, David A; Zheng, Jinzi

2018-01-01

Preclinical breast cancer models recapitulating the clinical course of metastatic disease are crucial for drug development. Highly metastatic cell lines forming spontaneous metastasis following orthotopic implantation were previously developed and characterized regarding their biological and histological characteristics. This study aimed to non-invasively and longitudinally characterize the spatiotemporal pattern of metastasis formation and progression in the MDA-MB-231-derived triple negative LM2-4 and HER2+ LM2-4H2N cell lines, using bioluminescence imaging (BLI), contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT), fluorescence imaging, and 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG-PET). LM2-4, LM2-4H2N, and MDA-MB-231 tumors were established in the right inguinal mammary fat pad (MFP) of female SCID mice and resected 14-16 days later. Metastasis formation was monitored using BLI. Metabolic activity of primary and metastatic lesions in mice bearing LM2-4 or LM2-4H2N was assessed by [18F]FDG-PET. Metastatic burden at study endpoint was assessed by CT and fluorescence imaging following intravenous dual-modality liposome agent administration. Comparable temporal metastasis patterns were observed using BLI for the highly metastatic cell lines LM2-4 and LM2-4H2N, while metastasis formed about 10 days later for MDA-MB-231. 21 days post primary tumor resection, metastases were detected in 86% of LM2-4, 69% of LM2-4H2N, and 60% of MDA-MB-231 inoculated mice, predominantly in the axillary region, contralateral MFP, and liver/lung. LM2-4 and LM2-4H2N tumors displayed high metabolism based on [18F]FDG-PET uptake. Lung metastases were detected as the [18F]FDG-PET uptake increased significantly between pre- and post-metastasis scan. Using a liposomal dual-modality agent, CT and fluorescence confirmed BLI detected lesions and identified additional metastatic nodules in the intraperitoneal cavity and lung. The combination of complementary anatomical and functional imaging techniques can provide high sensitivity characterization of metastatic disease spread, progression and overall disease burden. The described models and imaging toolset can be implemented as an effective means for quantitative treatment response evaluation in metastatic breast cancer.

Evaluation of sampling, cookery, and shear force protocols for objective evaluation of lamb longissimus tenderness.

PubMed

Shackelford, S D; Wheeler, T L; Koohmaraie, M

2004-03-01

Experiments were conducted to compare the effects of two cookery methods, two shear force procedures, and sampling location within non-callipyge and callipyge lamb LM on the magnitude, variance, and repeatability of LM shear force data. In Exp. 1, 15 non-callipyge and 15 callipyge carcasses were sampled, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) was determined for both sides of each carcass at three locations along the length (anterior to posterior) of the LM, whereas slice shear force (SSF) was determined for both sides of each carcass at only one location. For approximately half the carcasses within each genotype, LM chops were cooked for a constant amount of time using a belt grill, and chops of the remaining carcasses were cooked to a constant endpoint temperature using open-hearth electric broilers. Regardless of cooking method and sampling location, repeatability estimates were at least 0.8 for LM WBSF and SSF. For WBSF, repeatability estimates were slightly higher at the anterior location (0.93 to 0.98) than the posterior location (0.88 to 0.90). The difference in repeatability between locations was probably a function of a greater level of variation in shear force at the anterior location. For callipyge LM, WBSF was higher (P < 0.001) at the anterior location than at the middle or posterior locations. For non-callipyge LM, WBSF was lower (P < 0.001) at the anterior location than at the middle or posterior locations. Consequently, the difference in WBSF between callipyge and non-callipyge LM was largest at the anterior location. Experiment 2 was conducted to obtain an estimate of the repeatability of SSF for lamb LM chops cooked with the belt grill using a larger number of animals (n = 87). In Exp. 2, LM chops were obtained from matching locations of both sides of 44 non-callipyge and 43 callipyge carcasses. Chops were cooked with a belt grill and SSF was measured, and repeatability was estimated to be 0.95. Repeatable estimates of lamb LM tenderness can be achieved either by cooking to a constant endpoint temperature with electric broilers or cooking for a constant amount of time with a belt grill. Likewise, repeatable estimates of lamb LM tenderness can be achieved with WBSF or SSF. However, use of belt grill cookery and the SSF technique could decrease time requirements which would decrease research costs.

Eye movement accuracy determines natural interception strategies.

PubMed

Fooken, Jolande; Yeo, Sang-Hoon; Pai, Dinesh K; Spering, Miriam

2016-11-01

Eye movements aid visual perception and guide actions such as reaching or grasping. Most previous work on eye-hand coordination has focused on saccadic eye movements. Here we show that smooth pursuit eye movement accuracy strongly predicts both interception accuracy and the strategy used to intercept a moving object. We developed a naturalistic task in which participants (n = 42 varsity baseball players) intercepted a moving dot (a "2D fly ball") with their index finger in a designated "hit zone." Participants were instructed to track the ball with their eyes, but were only shown its initial launch (100-300 ms). Better smooth pursuit resulted in more accurate interceptions and determined the strategy used for interception, i.e., whether interception was early or late in the hit zone. Even though early and late interceptors showed equally accurate interceptions, they may have relied on distinct tactics: early interceptors used cognitive heuristics, whereas late interceptors' performance was best predicted by pursuit accuracy. Late interception may be beneficial in real-world tasks as it provides more time for decision and adjustment. Supporting this view, baseball players who were more senior were more likely to be late interceptors. Our findings suggest that interception strategies are optimally adapted to the proficiency of the pursuit system.

Impact of diet on the efficacy of insulin lispro mix 25 and insulin lispro mix 50 as starter insulin in East Asian patients with type 2 diabetes: Subgroup analysis of the Comparison Between Low Mixed Insulin and Mid Mixed Insulin as Starter Insulin For Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (CLASSIFY Study) randomized trial.

PubMed

Chen, Wei; Qian, Lei; Watada, Hirotaka; Li, Peng Fei; Iwamoto, Noriyuki; Imori, Makoto; Yang, Wen Ying

2017-01-01

The pathophysiology of diabetes differs between Asian and Western patients in many ways, and diet is a primary contributor. The present study examined the effect of diet on the efficacy of 25% insulin lispro/75% insulin lispro protamine suspension (LM25) and 50% insulin lispro/50% insulin lispro protamine suspension (LM50) as starter insulin in Chinese and Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control with oral antidiabetic medication. This was a predefined subgroup analysis of a phase 4, open-label, 26-week, parallel-arm, randomized (computer-generated random sequence) trial (21 January 2013 to 22 August 2014). Nutritional intake was assessed from food records kept by participants before study drug administration. Outcomes assessed were changes from baseline in self-monitored blood glucose, 1,5-anhydroglucitol and glycated hemoglobin. In total, 328 participants were randomized to receive twice-daily LM25 (n = 168) or LM50 (n = 160). Median daily nutritional intake (by weight and percentage of total energy) was 230.8 g of carbohydrate (54%), 56.5 g of fat (31%) and 66 g of protein (15%). Improvements in self-monitored blood glucose were significantly greater (P ≤ 0.028) in the LM50 group than in the LM25 group, regardless of nutritional intake. When carbohydrate (by weight or percentage energy) or fat (by weight) intake exceeded median levels, LM50 was significantly more efficacious than LM25 (P ≤ 0.026) in improving 1,5-anhydroglucitol and glycated hemoglobin. Glycemic control improved in both LM25 and LM50 groups, but LM50 was significantly more efficacious under certain dietary conditions, particularly with increased carbohydrate intake. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes Investigation published by Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes (AASD) and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Effects of pea chips on pig performance, carcass quality and composition, and palatability of pork.

PubMed

Newman, D J; Harris, E K; Lepper, A N; Berg, E P; Stein, H H

2011-10-01

Pea chips are produced as a by-product when field peas are processed to produce split peas for human consumption. The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that inclusion of pea chips in diets fed to finishing pigs does not negatively influence pig growth performance, carcass composition, and the palatability of pork. A total of 24 barrows (initial BW: 58.0 ± 6.6 kg) were allotted to 1 of 4 treatments and fed early finishing diets for 35 d and late finishing diets for 35 d. A corn-soybean meal (SBM) control diet and 3 diets containing pea chips were formulated for each phase. Pea chips replaced 33.3, 66.6, or 100% of the SBM in the control diet. Pigs were housed individually, and all pigs were slaughtered at the conclusion of the experiment. Overall, there were no differences (P > 0.11) in final BW, ADFI, and G:F of pigs among treatments, but there was a quadratic response in ADG (P = 0.04), with the smallest value observed in pigs fed the control diet. Dressing percentage linearly decreased (P = 0.04) as pea chips replaced SBM in diets, but there were no differences (P > 0.20) among treatments in HCW, LM area, 10th-rib backfat, lean meat percentage, and marbling. Likewise, pH in loin and ham, drip loss, and purge loss were not influenced (P > 0.13) by treatment. However, there was a quadratic response (P = 0.08) in 24-h pH in the shoulder, with the smallest value present in pigs fed the diet, in which 66.6% of the SBM was replaced by pea chips. Subjective LM color and Japanese color score standard were reduced (quadratic, P = 0.03 and 0.05, respectively) and LM b* values and hue angle were increased (quadratic, P = 0.09 and 0.10, respectively) when pea chips replaced SBM in the diets. Ham L* (quadratic, P = 0.04), a* (linear, P = 0.02), b* (quadratic, P = 0.07), color saturation (linear, P = 0.02), and hue angle (quadratic, P = 0.05) were increased when pea chips replaced SBM. However, there were no differences (P > 0.16) in shoulder and fat color. Moreover, cook loss percentage, shear force, juiciness, and pork flavor of pork chops were not different (P > 0.10) among treatments, but tenderness of pork chops linearly decreased (P = 0.04) as SBM replaced pea chips. It is concluded that all the SBM in diets fed to growing-finishing pigs may be replaced by pea chips without negatively influencing growth performance or carcass composition. However, pigs fed pea chips will have pork chops and hams that are lighter, and chops may be less tender if pigs are fed pea chips rather than corn and SBM.

Effects of anticipated emotional category and temporal predictability on the startle reflex.

PubMed

Parisi, Elizabeth A; Hajcak, Greg; Aneziris, Eleni; Nelson, Brady D

2017-09-01

Anticipated emotional category and temporal predictability are key characteristics that have both been shown to impact psychophysiological indices of defensive motivation (e.g., the startle reflex). To date, research has primarily examined these features in isolation, and it is unclear whether they have additive or interactive effects on defensive motivation. In the present study, the startle reflex was measured in anticipation of low arousal neutral, moderate arousal pleasant, and high arousal unpleasant pictures that were presented with either predictable or unpredictable timing. Linear mixed-effects modeling was conducted to examine startle magnitude across time, and the intercept at the beginning and end of the task. Across the entire task, the anticipation of temporally unpredictable (relative to predictable) pictures and emotional (relative to neutral) pictures potentiated startle magnitude, but there was no interaction between the two features. However, examination of the intercept at the beginning of the task indicated a Predictability by Emotional Category interaction, such that temporal unpredictability enhanced startle potentiation in anticipation of unpleasant pictures only. Examination of the intercept at the end of the task indicated that the effects of predictability and emotional category on startle magnitude were largely diminished. The present study replicates previous reports demonstrating that emotional category and temporal predictability impact the startle reflex, and provides novel evidence suggesting an interactive effect on defensive motivation at the beginning of the task. This study also highlights the importance of examining the time course of the startle reflex. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Is complex allometry in field metabolic rates of mammals a statistical artifact?

PubMed

Packard, Gary C

2017-01-01

Recent reports indicate that field metabolic rates (FMRs) of mammals conform to a pattern of complex allometry in which the exponent in a simple, two-parameter power equation increases steadily as a dependent function of body mass. The reports were based, however, on indirect analyses performed on logarithmic transformations of the original data. I re-examined values for FMR and body mass for 114 species of mammal by the conventional approach to allometric analysis (to illustrate why the approach is unreliable) and by linear and nonlinear regression on untransformed variables (to illustrate the power and versatility of newer analytical methods). The best of the regression models fitted directly to untransformed observations is a three-parameter power equation with multiplicative, lognormal, heteroscedastic error and an allometric exponent of 0.82. The mean function is a good fit to data in graphical display. The significant intercept in the model may simply have gone undetected in prior analyses because conventional allometry assumes implicitly that the intercept is zero; or the intercept may be a spurious finding resulting from bias introduced by the haphazard sampling that underlies "exploratory" analyses like the one reported here. The aforementioned issues can be resolved only by gathering new data specifically intended to address the question of scaling of FMR with body mass in mammals. However, there is no support for the concept of complex allometry in the relationship between FMR and body size in mammals. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Novel Two-Velocity Method for Elaborate Isokinetic Testing of Knee Extensors.

PubMed

Grbic, Vladimir; Djuric, Sasa; Knezevic, Olivera M; Mirkov, Dragan M; Nedeljkovic, Aleksandar; Jaric, Slobodan

2017-09-01

Single outcomes of standard isokinetic dynamometry tests do not discern between various muscle mechanical capacities. In this study, we aimed to (1) evaluate the shape and strength of the force-velocity relationship of knee extensors, as observed in isokinetic tests conducted at a wide range of angular velocities, and (2) explore the concurrent validity of a simple 2-velocity method. Thirteen physically active females were tested for both the peak and averaged knee extensor concentric force exerted at the angular velocities of 30°-240°/s recorded in the 90°-170° range of knee extension. The results revealed strong (0.960

Recurrent bridgehead effects accelerate global alien ant spread.

PubMed

Bertelsmeier, Cleo; Ollier, Sébastien; Liebhold, Andrew M; Brockerhoff, Eckehard G; Ward, Darren; Keller, Laurent

2018-05-22

Biological invasions are a major threat to biological diversity, agriculture, and human health. To predict and prevent new invasions, it is crucial to develop a better understanding of the drivers of the invasion process. The analysis of 4,533 border interception events revealed that at least 51 different alien ant species were intercepted at US ports over a period of 70 years (1914-1984), and 45 alien species were intercepted entering New Zealand over a period of 68 years (1955-2013). Most of the interceptions did not originate from species' native ranges but instead came from invaded areas. In the United States, 75.7% of the interceptions came from a country where the intercepted ant species had been previously introduced. In New Zealand, this value was even higher, at 87.8%. There was an overrepresentation of interceptions from nearby locations (Latin America for species intercepted in the United States and Oceania for species intercepted in New Zealand). The probability of a species' successful establishment in both the United States and New Zealand was positively related to the number of interceptions of the species in these countries. Moreover, species that have spread to more continents are also more likely to be intercepted and to make secondary introductions. This creates a positive feedback loop between the introduction and establishment stages of the invasion process, in which initial establishments promote secondary introductions. Overall, these results reveal that secondary introductions act as a critical driver of increasing global rates of invasions.

The Relationship Between Heart Rate Reserve and Oxygen Uptake Reserve in Heart Failure Patients on Optimized and Non-Optimized Beta-Blocker Therapy

PubMed Central

Carvalho, Vitor Oliveira; Guimarães, Guilherme Veiga; Bocchi, Edimar Alcides

2008-01-01

BACKGROUND The relationship between the percentage of oxygen consumption reserve and percentage of heart rate reserve in heart failure patients either on non-optimized or off beta-blocker therapy is known to be unreliable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the percentage of oxygen consumption reserve and percentage of heart rate reserve in heart failure patients receiving optimized and non-optimized beta-blocker treatment during a treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise test. METHODS A total of 27 sedentary heart failure patients (86% male, 50±12 years) on optimized beta-blocker therapy with a left ventricle ejection fraction of 33±8% and 35 sedentary non-optimized heart failure patients (75% male, 47±10 years) with a left ventricle ejection fraction of 30±10% underwent the treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise test (Naughton protocol). Resting and peak effort values of both the percentage of oxygen consumption reserve and percentage of heart rate reserve were, by definition, 0 and 100, respectively. RESULTS The heart rate slope for the non-optimized group was derived from the points 0.949±0.088 (0 intercept) and 1.055±0.128 (1 intercept), p<0.0001. The heart rate slope for the optimized group was derived from the points 1.026±0.108 (0 intercept) and 1.012±0.108 (1 intercept), p=0.47. Regression linear plots for the heart rate slope for each patient in the non-optimized and optimized groups revealed a slope of 0.986 (almost perfect) for the optimized group, but the regression analysis for the non-optimized group was 0.030 (far from perfect, which occurs at 1). CONCLUSION The relationship between the percentage of oxygen consumption reserve and percentage of heart rate reserve in patients on optimized beta-blocker therapy was reliable, but this relationship was unreliable in non-optimized heart failure patients. PMID:19060991

Genome-wide association analysis to identify genotype × environment interaction for milk protein yield and level of somatic cell score as environmental descriptors in German Holsteins.

PubMed

Streit, M; Reinhardt, F; Thaller, G; Bennewitz, J

2013-01-01

Genotype by environment interaction (G × E) has been widely reported in dairy cattle. If the environment can be measured on a continuous scale, reaction norms can be applied to study G × E. The average herd milk production level has frequently been used as an environmental descriptor because it is influenced by the level of feeding or the feeding regimen. Another important environmental factor is the level of udder health and hygiene, for which the average herd somatic cell count might be a descriptor. In the present study, we conducted a genome-wide association analysis to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that affect intercept and slope of milk protein yield reaction norms when using the average herd test-day solution for somatic cell score as an environmental descriptor. Sire estimates for intercept and slope of the reaction norms were calculated from around 12 million daughter records, using linear reaction norm models. Sires were genotyped for ~54,000 SNP. The sire estimates were used as observations in the association analysis, using 1,797 sires. Significant SNP were confirmed in an independent validation set consisting of 500 sires. A known major gene affecting protein yield was included as a covariable in the statistical model. Sixty (21) SNP were confirmed for intercept with P ≤ 0.01 (P ≤ 0.001) in the validation set, and 28 and 11 SNP, respectively, were confirmed for slope. Most but not all SNP affecting slope also affected intercept. Comparison with an earlier study revealed that SNP affecting slope were, in general, also significant for slope when the environment was modeled by the average herd milk production level, although the two environmental descriptors were poorly correlated. Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Small Molecule p75NTR Ligands Reduce Pathological Phosphorylation and Misfolding of Tau, Inflammatory Changes, Cholinergic Degeneration, and Cognitive Deficits in AβPPL/S Transgenic Mice

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Thuy-Vi V.; Shen, Lin; Griend, Lilith Vander; Quach, Lisa N.; Belichenko, Nadia P.; Saw, Nay; Yang, Tao; Shamloo, Mehrdad; Wyss-Coray, Tony; Massa, Stephen M.; Longo, Frank M.

2014-01-01

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR ) is involved in degenerative mechanisms related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition, p75NTR levels are increased in AD and the receptor is expressed by neurons that are particularly vulnerable in the disease. Therefore, modulating p75NTR function may be a significant disease-modifying treatment approach. Prior studies indicated that the non-peptide, small molecule p75NTR ligands LM11A-31, and chemically unrelated LM11A-24, could block amyloid-β-induced deleterious signaling and neurodegeneration in vitro, and LM11A-31 was found to mitigate neuritic degeneration and behavioral deficits in a mouse model of AD. In this study, we determined whether these in vivo findings represent class effects of p75NTR ligands by examining LM11A-24 effects. In addition, the range of compound effects was further examined by evaluating tau pathology and neuroinflammation. Following oral administration, both ligands reached brain concentrations known to provide neuroprotection in vitro. Compound induction of p75NTR cleavage provided evidence for CNS target engagement. LM11A-31 and LM11A-24 reduced excessive phosphorylation of tau, and LM11A-31 also inhibited its aberrant folding. Both ligands decreased activation of microglia, while LM11A-31 attenuated reactive astrocytes. Along with decreased inflammatory responses, both ligands reduced cholinergic neurite degeneration. In addition to the amelioration of neuropathology in AD model mice, LM11A-31, but not LM11A-24, prevented impairments in water maze performance, while both ligands prevented deficits in fear conditioning. These findings support a role for p75NTR ligands in preventing fundamental tau-related pathologic mechanisms in AD, and further validate the development of these small molecules as a new class of therapeutic compounds. PMID:24898660

Blockade of LAG3 enhances responses of tumor-infiltrating T cells in mismatch repair-proficient liver metastases of colorectal cancer

PubMed Central

Noordam, Lisanne; Sprengers, Dave; Boor, Patrick P. C.; Mancham, Shanta; Menon, Anand G.; Lange, Johan F.; Burger, Pim J. W. A.; Brandt, Alexandra; Galjart, Boris; Kwekkeboom, Jaap; Bruno, Marco J.

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT Purpose: Liver metastasis develops in >50% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and is a leading cause of CRC-related mortality. We aimed to identify which inhibitory immune checkpoint pathways can be targeted to enhance functionality of intra-tumoral T-cells in mismatch repair-proficient liver metastases of colorectal cancer (LM-CRC). Methodology: Intra-tumoral expression of multiple inhibitory molecules was compared among mismatch repair-proficient LM-CRC, peritoneal metastases of colorectal cancer (PM-CRC) and primary CRC. Expression of inhibitory molecules was also analyzed on leukocytes isolated from paired resected metastatic liver tumors, tumor-free liver tissues, and blood of patients with mismatch repair-proficient LM-CRC. The effects of blocking inhibitory pathways on tumor-infiltrating T-cell responses were studied in ex vivo functional assays. Results: Mismatch repair-proficient LM-CRC showed higher expression of inhibitory receptors on intra-tumoral T-cells and contained higher proportions of CD8+ T-cells, dendritic cells and monocytes than mismatch repair-proficient primary CRC and/or PM-CRC. Inhibitory receptors LAG3, PD-1, TIM3 and CTLA4 were higher expressed on CD8+ T-cells, CD4+ T-helper and/or regulatory T-cells in LM-CRC tumors compared with tumor-free liver and blood. Antibody blockade of LAG3 or PD-L1 increased proliferation and effector cytokine production of intra-tumoral T-cells isolated from LM-CRC in response to both polyclonal and autologous tumor-specific stimulations. Higher LAG3 expression on intra-tumoral CD8+ T-cells associated with longer progression-free survival of LM-CRC patients. Conclusion: Mismatch repair-proficient LM-CRC may be more sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors than mismatch repair-proficient primary CRC. Blocking LAG3 enhances tumor-infiltrating T-cell responses of mismatch repair-proficient LM-CRC, and therefore may be a new promising immunotherapeutic target for LM-CRC.

Impacts of a Literacy-Focused Preschool Curriculum on the Early Literacy Skills of Language-Minority Children

PubMed Central

Goodrich, J. Marc; Lonigan, Christopher J.; Farver, Jo Ann M.

2017-01-01

Spanish-speaking language-minority (LM) children are at an elevated risk of struggling academically and display signs of that risk during early childhood. Therefore, high-quality research is needed to identify instructional techniques that promote the school readiness of Spanish-speaking LM children. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention that utilized an experimental curriculum and two professional development models for the development of English and Spanish early literacy skills among LM children. We also evaluated whether LM children's proficiency in one language moderated the effect of the intervention on early literacy skills in the other language, as well as whether the intervention was differentially effective for LM and monolingual English-speaking children. Five hundred twenty-six Spanish-speaking LM children and 447 monolingual English-speaking children enrolled in 26 preschool centers in Los Angeles, CA participated in this study. Results indicated that the intervention was effective for improving LM children's code-related but not language-related English early literacy skills. There were no effects of the intervention on children's Spanish early literacy skills. Proficiency in Spanish did not moderate the effect of the intervention for any English early literacy outcomes; however, proficiency in English significantly moderated the effect of the intervention for Spanish oral language skills, such that the effect of the intervention was stronger for children with higher proficiency in English than it was for children with lower proficiency in English. In general, there were not differential effects of the intervention for LM and monolingual children. Taken together, these findings indicate that high-quality, evidence-based instruction can improve the early literacy skills of LM children and that the same instructional techniques are effective for enhancing the early literacy skills of LM and monolingual children. PMID:28970649

Staged margin-controlled excision (SMEX) for lentigo maligna melanoma in situ.

PubMed

Beveridge, Julie; Taher, Muba; Zhu, Jay; Mahmood, Muhammad N; Salopek, Thomas G

2018-06-24

No consensus exists regarding the best surgical strategy to achieve clear surgical margins while minimizing tissue excision when definitely excising lentigo maligna melanoma in situ (LM). The staged margin controlled excision (SMEX) technique is a modification of the spaghetti technique that allows surgeons to minimize margins and ensure complete excision of LM. Our objectives were twofold: a) to evaluate the effectiveness of SMEX for treatment of LM and b) detail the SMEX technique. A retrospective chart review of adult patients who underwent the SMEX technique for treatment of LM from 2011 to 2016 was conducted. Twenty-four patients were identified with predominantly facial lesions. The mean defect size was 12.1 cm 2 . A mean number of two SMEX procedures, with an average margin of 9 mm, were required to obtain complete excision of the LM. Using SMEX, we achieved 100% clearance of LM over a median follow up period of 18 months, with a range of 1-63 months. SMEX offers a reliable surgical excision method that ensures complete excision of LM in a cosmetically sensitive manner. The recurrence outcomes of SMEX are comparable, if not better, than those of alternative excision techniques in the literature. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Gluco-oligosaccharides synthesized by glucosyltransferases from constitutive mutants of Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain Lm 28.

PubMed

Iliev, I; Vassileva, T; Ignatova, C; Ivanova, I; Haertlé, T; Monsan, P; Chobert, J-M

2008-01-01

To find different types of glucosyltransferases (GTFs) produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain Lm 28 and its mutant forms, and to check the effectiveness of gluco-oligosaccharide synthesis using maltose as the acceptor. Constitutive mutants were obtained after chemical mutagenesis by ethyl methane sulfonate. Lm M281 produced more active GTFs than that obtained by the parental strain cultivated on sucrose. GTF from Lm M286 produced a resistant glucan, based on endo-dextranase and amyloglucosidase hydrolysis. The extracellular enzymes from Lm M286 catalyse acceptor reactions and transfer the glucose unit from sucrose to maltose to produce gluco-oligosaccharides (GOS). By increasing the sucrose/maltose ratio, it was possible to catalyse the synthesis of oligosaccharides of increasing degree of polymerization (DP). Different types of GTFs (dextransucrase, alternansucrase and levansucrase) were produced from new constitutive mutants of Leuc. mesenteroides. GTFs from Lm M286 can catalyse the acceptor reaction in the presence of maltose, leading to the synthesis of branched oligosaccharides. Conditions were optimized to synthesize GOS by using GTFs from Lm M286, with the aim of producing maximum quantities of branched-chain oligosaccharides with DP 3-5. This would allow the use of the latter as prebiotics.

How is rainfall interception in urban area affected by meteorological parameters?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zabret, Katarina; Rakovec, Jože; Mikoš, Matjaž; Šraj, Mojca

2017-04-01

Rainfall interception is part of the hydrological cycle. Precipitation, which hits vegetation, is retained on the leaves and branches, from which it eventually evaporates into the atmosphere (interception) or reaches the ground by dripping from the canopy, falling through the gaps (throughfall) and running down the stems (stemflow). The amount of rainfall reaching the ground depends on various meteorological and vegetation parameters. Rainfall, throughfall and stemflow have been measured in the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia since the beginning of 2014. Manual and automatic measurements are performed regularly under Betula pendula and Pinus nigra trees in urban area. In 2014, there were detected 178 rainfall events with total amount of 1672.1 mm. In average B. pendula intercepted 44% of rainfall and P. nigra intercepted 72% of rainfall. In 2015 we have detected 117 events with 1047.4 mm of rainfall, of which 37% was intercepted by B. pendula and 60% by P. nigra. The effect of various meteorological parameters on the rainfall interception was analysed in the study. The parameters included in the analysis were rainfall rate, rainfall duration, drop size distribution (average drop velocity and diameter), average wind speed, and average temperature. The results demonstrate decreasing rainfall interception with longer rainfall duration and higher rainfall intensity although the impact of the latter one is not statistically significant. In the case of very fast or very slow rainfall drops, the interception is higher than for the mean rain drop velocity values. In the case of P. nigra the impact of the rain drop diameter on interception is similar to the one of rain drop velocity while for B. pendula increasing of drop diameter also increases the interception. As expected, interception is higher for warmer events. This trend is more evident for P. nigra than for B. pendula. Furthermore, the amount of intercepted rainfall also increases with wind although it could be relatively high in case of very low wind speeds.

Brain-controlled functional electrical stimulation therapy for gait rehabilitation after stroke: a safety study.

PubMed

McCrimmon, Colin M; King, Christine E; Wang, Po T; Cramer, Steven C; Nenadic, Zoran; Do, An H

2015-07-11

Many stroke survivors have significant long-term gait impairment, often involving foot drop. Current physiotherapies provide limited recovery. Orthoses substitute for ankle strength, but they provide no lasting therapeutic effect. Brain-computer interface (BCI)-controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a novel rehabilitative approach that may generate permanent neurological improvements. This study explores the safety and feasibility of a foot-drop-targeted BCI-FES physiotherapy in chronic stroke survivors. Subjects (n = 9) operated an electroencephalogram-based BCI-FES system for foot dorsiflexion in 12 one-hour sessions over four weeks. Gait speed, dorsiflexion active range of motion (AROM), six-minute walk distance (6MWD), and Fugl-Meyer leg motor (FM-LM) scores were assessed before, during, and after therapy. The primary safety outcome measure was the proportion of subjects that deteriorated in gait speed by ≥0.16 m/s at one week or four weeks post-therapy. The secondary outcome measures were the proportion of subjects that experienced a clinically relevant decrease in dorsiflexion AROM (≥2.5°), 6MWD (≥20 %), and FM-LM score (≥10 %) at either post-therapy assessment. No subjects (0/9) experienced a clinically significant deterioration in gait speed, dorsiflexion AROM, 6MWT distance, or FM-LM score at either post-therapy assessment. Five subjects demonstrated a detectable increase (≥0.06 m/s) in gait speed, three subjects demonstrated a detectable increase (≥2.5°) in dorsiflexion AROM, five subjects demonstrated a detectable increase (≥10 %) in 6MWD, and three subjects demonstrated a detectable increase (≥10 %) in FM-LM. Five of the six subjects that exhibited a detectable increase in either post-therapy gait speed or 6MWD also exhibited significant (p < 0.01 using a Mann-Whitney U test) increases in electroencephalogram event-related synchronization/desynchronization. Additionally, two subjects experienced a clinically important increase (≥0.16 m/s) in gait speed, and four subjects experienced a clinically important increase (≥20 %) in 6MWD. Linear mixed models of gait speed, dorsiflexion AROM, 6MWD, and FM-LM scores suggest that BCI-FES therapy is associated with an increase in lower motor performance at a statistically, yet not clinically, significant level. BCI-FES therapy is safe. If it is shown to improve post-stroke gait function in future studies, it could provide a new gait rehabilitation option for severely impaired patients. Formal clinical trials are warranted.

Unstable Behavior of Lasers and Other Optical Systems.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-11-27

Isaacs, R.S. Gioggia, S.P. Adams, L.M. Narducci, L.A. Lugiato, Optical Instabilities, R.W. Boyd, M.G. Raymer , L.M. Narducci, Eds. (Cambridge...Instabilities, R.W. Boyd, M.G. Raymer , L.M. Narducci, Eds. (Cambridge University" Press, Cambridge, 1986), p. 34. "The Effect of Modulation in a Bistable System...Books "* " "OPTICAL INSTABILITIES", edited by R.W. Boyd, M.G. Raymer , and L.M. Narducci, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1986. S P.-• 58

Inflight - Apollo X - MSC

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-05-18

S69-34039 (18 May 1969) --- Overall view of activity in the Mission Operations Control Room in the Mission Control Center, Building 30, on the first day of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission. This picture was taken following CSM/LM-S-IVB separation, and prior to LM extraction from the S-IVB. The telecast from the Apollo 10's color TV camera shows the LM still attached to the S-IVB. The CSM is making the docking approach to the LM/S-IVB.

Aggressive venous invasion in the area of carcinoma correlates with liver metastasis as an index of metastasis for invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas.

PubMed

Hamada, Yoshihiro; Nakayama, Yoshifuku

Invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas (IDCP) predominantly causes death through liver metastasis (LM) and peritoneal dissemination with local recurrence. However, whether its venous invasion is from the enlarged carcinoma accompanied by tumor growth, or from a distinct carcinoma group, for which venous invasion is facilitated by proximity to the origin, is unclear. We analyzed the correlation between LM and venous invasion in patients with small IDCP tumors. Of 388 patients who were diagnosed with IDCP, 20 (5.2%) had tumors with diameters <2 cm. The follow-up period of the 20 patients with smaller tumors was 1-24 years. The small-tumor group (n = 20) included 11 men and 9 women, aged 51-80 years. Five died of liver metastasis (LM group, n = 5) and 15 patients (non-LM group, n = 15) were either alive without recurrence (n = 11) or died of peritonitis carcinomatosa following local recurrence, subarachnoid hemorrhage, primary lung cancer, or old age (n = 1 for each cause of death). The LM and non-LM groups did not significantly differ in numbers of venous invasion by the carcinoma in IDCP and non-IDCP area of the pancreas. However, median numbers of invaded veins in the area of IDCP and percentage of invaded vein/total number of vein in IDCP area were significantly higher in the LM group. Among patients with small IDCP tumors, the LM group showed more aggressive venous invasion by IDPC. Patients in whom ≥60% of veins were invaded by IDCP should be prepared for LM. Copyright © 2017 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Outcomes After Orbital Atherectomy of Severely Calcified Left Main Lesions: Analysis of the ORBIT II Study.

PubMed

Lee, Michael S; Shlofmitz, Evan; Shlofmitz, Richard; Sahni, Sheila; Martinsen, Brad; Chambers, Jeffrey

2016-09-01

The ORBIT II trial reported excellent outcomes in patients with severely calcified coronary lesions treated with orbital atherectomy. Severe calcification of the left main (LM) artery represents a complex coronary lesion subset. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of coronary orbital atherectomy to prepare severely calcified protected LM artery lesions for stent placement. The ORBIT II trial was a prospective, multicenter clinical trial that enrolled 443 patients with severely calcified coronary lesions in the United States. The major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate through 2 years post procedure, defined by cardiac death, myocardial infarction (CK-MB >3x upper limit of normal with or without a new pathologic Q-wave) and target-vessel revascularization, was compared in the LM and non-left main (NLM) groups. Among the 443 patients, a total of 10 underwent orbital atherectomy of protected LM artery lesions. At 2 years, there was no significant difference in the 2-year MACE rate in the LM and NLM groups (30.0% vs 19.1%, respectively; P=.36). Cardiac death was low in both groups (0% vs 4.4%, respectively; P=.99). Myocardial infarction occurred within 30 days in both groups (10.0% vs 9.7%, respectively; P=.99). Severe dissection, perforation, persistent slow flow, and persistent no reflow did not occur in the LM group. Abrupt closure occurred in 1 patient in the LM group. Orbital atherectomy for patients with heavily calcified LM coronary artery lesions is safe and feasible. Further studies are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of orbital atherectomy in patients with severely calcified LM artery lesions.

Laminin-111 improves skeletal muscle stem cell quantity and function following eccentric exercise.

PubMed

Zou, Kai; De Lisio, Michael; Huntsman, Heather D; Pincu, Yair; Mahmassani, Ziad; Miller, Matthew; Olatunbosun, Dami; Jensen, Tor; Boppart, Marni D

2014-09-01

Laminin-111 (α1, β1, γ1; LM-111) is an important component of the extracellular matrix that is required for formation of skeletal muscle during embryonic development. Recent studies suggest that LM-111 supplementation can enhance satellite cell proliferation and muscle function in mouse models of muscular dystrophy. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which LM-111 can alter satellite and nonsatellite stem cell quantity following eccentric exercise-induced damage in young adult, healthy mice. One week following injection of LM-111 or saline, mice either remained sedentary or were subjected to a single bout of downhill running (EX). While one muscle was preserved for evaluation of satellite cell number, the other muscle was processed for isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs; Sca-1+CD45-) via FACS at 24 hours postexercise. Satellite cell number was approximately twofold higher in LM-111/EX compared with all other groups (p<.05), and the number of satellite cells expressing the proliferation marker Ki67 was 50% to threefold higher in LM-111/EX compared with all other groups (p<.05). LM-111 also increased the quantity of embryonic myosin heavy chain-positive (eMHC+) fibers in young mice after eccentric exercise (p<.05). Although MSC percentage and number were not altered, MSC proinflammatory gene expression was decreased, and hepatocyte growth factor gene expression was increased in the presence of LM-111 (p<.05). Together, these data suggest that LM-111 supplementation provides a viable solution for increasing skeletal muscle stem cell number and/or function, ultimately allowing for improvements in the regenerative response to eccentric exercise. ©AlphaMed Press.

Metabolic adaptation to the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam.-supplemented diet is related to the modulation of gut microbiota in mice.

PubMed

Gao, Xiaoyu; Xie, Qiuhong; Liu, Ling; Kong, Ping; Sheng, Jun; Xiang, Hongyu

2017-06-01

The aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (LM-A) is reported to have many health beneficial bioactivities and no obvious toxicity, but have mild adverse effects. Little is known about the mechanism of these reported adverse effects. Notably, there has been no report about the influence of LM-A on intestinal microecology. In this study, animal experiments were performed to explore the relationships between metabolic adaptation to an LM-A-supplemented diet and gut microbiota changes. After 8-week feeding with normal chow diet, the body weight of mice entered a stable period, and one of the group received daily doses of 750-mg/kg body weight LM-A by gavage for 4 weeks (assigned as LM); the other group received the vehicle (assigned as NCD). The liver weight to body weight ratio was enhanced, and the ceca were enlarged in the LM group compared with the NCD group. LM-A-supplemented-diet mice elicited a uniform metabolic adaptation, including slightly influenced fasting glucose and blood lipid profiles, significantly reduced liver triglycerides content, enhanced serum lipopolysaccharide level, activated inflammatory responses in the intestine and liver, compromised gut barrier function, and broken intestinal homeostasis. Many metabolic changes in mice were significantly correlated with altered specific gut bacteria. Changes in Firmicutes, Eubacterium rectale/Clostridium coccoides group, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Akkermansia muciniphila, segmented filamentous bacteria, Enterococcus spp., and Sutterella spp. may play an important role in the process of host metabolic adaptation to LM-A administration. Our research provides an explanation of the adverse effects of LM-A administration on normal adult individuals in the perspective of microecology.

Microbial β-Galactosidase of Pediococcus pentosaceus ID-7: Isolation, Cloning, and Molecular Characterization.

PubMed

Lee, Ji-Yeong; Kwak, Mi-Sun; Roh, Jong-Bok; Kim, Kwang; Sung, Moon-Hee

2017-03-28

Pediococcus pentosaceus ID-7 was isolated from kimchi, a Korean fermented food, and it showed high activity for lactose hydrolysis. The β-galactosidase of P. pentosaceus ID-7 belongs to the GH2 group, which is composed of two distinct proteins. The heterodimeric LacLM type of β-galactosidase found in P. pentosaceus ID-7 consists of two genes partially overlapped, lacL and lacM encoding LacL (72.2 kDa) and LacM (35.4 kDa). In this study, Escherichia coli MM294 was used for the production of LacL, LacM, and LacLM. These three types of recombinant proteins were expressed, purified, and characterized. The specific activities of LacLM and LacL were 339 and 31 U/mg, respectively. However, activity was not detected with LacM alone. The optimal pH of LacLM and LacL was pH 7.5 and pH 7.0, and the optimal temperature of LacLM and LacL was 40°C and 50°C, respectively. The optimal temperature changes indicate that LacLM is able to achieve higher activity at a relatively lower temperature. LacLM was strongly activated by Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Zn 2+ , which was not true for LacL. Consistent with this, EDTA strongly inactivated LacLM and LacL, but the presence of reducing agents did not dramatically alter the activity. Taken together, multiple alignment of amino acid sequences and phylogenetic analysis results of LacL and LacM of P. pentosaceus ID-7 suggest the evolution of LacL into LacLM and that the use of divalent metal ions results in higher activity.

Anthropometric and demographic predictors of handgrip strength and lean mass quality in hospitalized individuals.

PubMed

Rossato, Luana T; Barbosa, Cinthia D; Nahas, Paula C; Orsatti, Fábio L; de Oliveira, Erick P

2018-04-01

Low strength and/or lean mass quality are associated with higher hospitalization and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the main demographic and anthropometric predictors of strength and lean mass quality in hospitalized patients. We evaluated 136 patients (18-86 years) of both sexes, admitted in a public hospital. Waist circumference (WC) was measured using an inelastic tape, lean mass (LM) was assessed by bioimpedance, and handgrip strength (HGS) was performed using a dynamometer. Lean mass quality (HGS/LM) was also calculated. We noted that LM predicted 33.1% of HGS, whereas WC was not associated with HGS. Evaluating LM and WC in the same statistical model, WC (β = -0.249, p = 0.001) increased the prediction of HGS by 4.7% when compared to LM alone. Accessing LM, WC, age, and sex in the same model an increase in the prediction of HGS by 7.3% was noted when compared to LM alone, but only LM and sex were significant. In addition, WC predicted the lean mass quality by 4% (β = -0.205, p = 0.016) and when WC, sex, and age were placed in the same model; WC (β = -0.172, p = 0.035) and sex (β = 0.332, p < 0.001) explained the variations in lean mass quality by 15%. The main predictor of lower HGS was lower LM, whereas sex showed a low association. Furthermore, although a low association was found, higher abdominal obesity and sex predicted lower lean mass quality. Copyright © 2018 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Functional compartmentalization of Rad9 and Hus1 reveals diverse assembly of the 9‐1‐1 complex components during the DNA damage response in Leishmania

PubMed Central

Damasceno, Jeziel D.; Obonaga, Ricardo; Santos, Elaine V.; Scott, Alan; McCulloch, Richard

2016-01-01

Summary The Rad9‐Rad1‐Hus1 (9‐1‐1) complex is a key component in the coordination of DNA damage sensing, cell cycle progression and DNA repair pathways in eukaryotic cells. This PCNA‐related trimer is loaded onto RPA‐coated single stranded DNA and interacts with ATR kinase to mediate effective checkpoint signaling to halt the cell cycle and to promote DNA repair. Beyond these core activities, mounting evidence suggests that a broader range of functions can be provided by 9‐1‐1 structural diversification. The protozoan parasite Leishmania is an early‐branching eukaryote with a remarkably plastic genome, which hints at peculiar genome maintenance mechanisms. Here, we investigated the existence of homologs of the 9‐1‐1 complex subunits in L. major and found that LmRad9 and LmRad1 associate with chromatin in response to replication stress and form a complex in vivo with LmHus1. Similar to LmHus1, LmRad9 participates in telomere homeostasis and in the response to both replication stress and double strand breaks. However, LmRad9 and LmHus1‐deficient cells present markedly opposite phenotypes, which suggest their functional compartmentalization. We show that some of the cellular pool of LmRad9 forms an alternative complex and that some of LmHus1 exists as a monomer. We propose that the diverse assembly of the Leishmania 9‐1‐1 subunits mediates functional compartmentalization, which has a direct impact on the response to genotoxic stress. PMID:27301589

Critical roles of myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent proinflammatory cytokine release in early phase clearance of Listeria monocytogenes in mice.

PubMed

Seki, Ekihiro; Tsutsui, Hiroko; Tsuji, Noriko M; Hayashi, Nobuki; Adachi, Keishi; Nakano, Hiroki; Futatsugi-Yumikura, Shizue; Takeuchi, Osamu; Hoshino, Katsuaki; Akira, Shizuo; Fujimoto, Jiro; Nakanishi, Kenji

2002-10-01

Listeria monocytogenes (LM), a facultative intracellular Gram-positive bacterium, often causes lethal infection of the host. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying LM eradication in the early phase of infection. Upon infection with LM, both IL-12 and IL-18 were produced, and then they synergistically induced IFN-gamma production, leading to normal LM clearance in the host. IFN-gamma knockout (KO) mice were highly susceptible to LM infection. IL-12/IL-18 double knockout mice were also highly susceptible. Their susceptibility was less than that of IFN-gamma KO mice, but more than that of single IL-12 or IL-18 KO mice. Mice deficient in myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), an essential adaptor molecule used by signal transduction pathways of all members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, showed an inability to produce IL-12 and IFN-gamma following LM infection and were most susceptible to LM. Furthermore, MyD88-deficient, but not IFN-gamma-deficient, Kupffer cells could not produce TNF-alpha in response to LM in vitro, indicating the importance of MyD88-dependent TNF-alpha production for host defense. As TLR2 KO, but not TLR4 KO, mice showed partial impairment in their capacity to produce IL-12, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha, TLR2 activation partly contributed to the induction of IL-12-mediated IFN-gamma production. These results indicated a critical role for TLRs/MyD88-dependent IL-12/TNF-alpha production and for IL-12- and IL-18-mediated IFN-gamma production in early phase clearance of LM.

Evaluation of Listeria monocytogenes survival and infectivity in non-traditional agricultural waters

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Introduction: Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an enteric bacterium that can be found in environmental reservoirs. Restricted water availability for agriculture has increased interest in surface and reuse water sources which could potentially transmit Lm. Purpose: Persistence and infectivity of Lm re...

Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Records: Maintaining Access to the Knowledge - 13122

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

Montgomery, John; Gueretta, Jeanie; McKinney, Ruth

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) is an integral part of DOE's strategy to ensure that legacy liabilities of former nuclear weapons production sites are properly managed following the completion of environmental cleanup activities. In the area of environmental legacy management, records management is crucial to the protection of health, environmental, and legal interests of the Department and the public. LM is responsible for maintaining long-term surveillance and maintenance (LTS and M) records in performance of its mission. Maintaining access to the knowledge contained in these record collections is one of LM's primary responsibilities. Tomore » fulfill this responsibility, LM established a consolidated records management facility, the LM Business Center (LMBC), to house physical media records and electronic records. A new electronic record keeping system (ERKS) was needed to replace an obsolete system while helping to ensure LM is able to meet ongoing responsibilities to maintain access to knowledge and control the life cycle management of records. (authors)« less

Tripterygium regelii decreases the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol and cholesterol in HepG2 cells.

PubMed

Kang, Myung-Ji; Kwon, Eun-Bin; Yuk, Heung Joo; Ryu, Hyung Won; Kim, Soo-Yeon; Lee, Mi-Kyeong; Moon, Dong-Oh; Lee, Su Ui; Oh, Sei-Ryang; Lee, Hyun-Sun; Kim, Mun-Ock

2017-12-01

In the course of screening to find a plant material decreasing the activity of triacylglycerol and cholesterol, we identified Tripterygium regelii (TR). The methanol extract of TR leaves (TR-LM) was shown to reduce the intracellular lipid contents consisting of triacylglycerol (TG) and cholesterol in HepG2 cells. TR-LM also downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of the lipogenic genes such as SREBP-1 and its target enzymes. Consequently, TR-LM reduced the TG biosynthesis in HepG2 cells. In addition, TR-LM decreased SREBP2 and its target enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is involved in cholesterol synthesis. In this study, we evaluated that TR-LM attenuated cellular lipid contents through the suppression of de novo TG and cholesterol biosynthesis in HepG2 cells. All these taken together, TR-LM could be beneficial in regulating lipid metabolism and useful preventing the hyperlipidemia and its complications, in that liver is a crucial tissue for the secretion of serum lipids.

Refinement of the theory for extracting cell dielectric properties from dielectrophoresis and electrorotation experiments.

PubMed

Lei, U; Sun, Pei-Hou; Pethig, Ronald

2011-12-01

A modified theory is proposed for extracting cell dielectric properties from the peak frequency measurement of electrorotation (ER) and the crossover frequency measurement of dielectrophoresis (DEP). Current theory in the literature is based on the low frequency (DC) approximations for the equivalent cell permittivity and conductivity, which are valid when the measurements are performed in a medium with conductivity less than 1 mS/m. The present theory extracts the cell properties through optimizing an expression for the medium conductivity in terms of the peak ER, or DEP crossover, frequency according to its definition using full expressions of equivalent cell permittivity and conductivity. Various levels of approximation of the theory are proposed and discussed through a scaling analysis. The present theory can extract both membrane and interior properties from the low and the high peak ER, or DEP crossover, frequencies for any medium conductivity provided the peak ER, or DEP crossover, frequency exists. It can be reduced to the linear theory for the low peak ER and DEP crossover frequencies in the literature when the medium conductivity is less than 10 mS/m. However, we can determine the membrane capacitance and conductance via the slope and intercept, respectively, of the straight line fitting of the ER peak and DEP frequency against medium conductivity data according to the linear theory only when the intercept dominates the experimental uncertainty, which occurs when the medium conductivity is less than 1 mS/m in practice.

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

Wiedemeier, Heribert, E-mail: wiedeh@rpi.ed

Correlations of computed Schottky constants (K{sub S}=[V''{sub Zn}][V{sub S}{sup ..}]) with structural and thermodynamic properties showed linear dependences of log K{sub S} on the lattice energies for the Zn-, Cd-, Hg-, Mg-, and Sr-chalcogenides and for the Na- and K-halides. These findings suggest a basic relation between the Schottky constants and the lattice energies for these families of compounds from different parts of the Periodic Table, namely, {Delta}H{sub T,L}{sup o}=-(2.303nRT log K{sub S})+2.303nRm{sub b}+2.303nRTi{sub b}. {Delta}H{sub T,L}{sup o} is the experimental (Born-Haber) lattice energy (enthalpy), n is a constant approximately equal to the formal valence (charge) of the material, m{submore » b} and i{sub b} are the slope and intercept, respectively, of the intercept b (of the log K{sub S} versus {Delta}H{sub L}{sup o} linear relation) versus the reciprocal temperature. The results of this work also provide an empirical correlation between the Gibbs free energy of vacancy formation and the lattice energy. - Graphical abstract: For the Zn-chalcogenides, the quantities n and I{sub e} are 2.007 and 650.3 kcal (2722 kJ), respectively. For the other groups of compounds, they are approximately equal to the formal valences and ionization energies of the metals: Log K{sub S{approx}}-(2.303nRT){sup -1} (0.99{Delta}H{sup o}{sub T,L}-I{sub e}).« less

Selective Effects of Training Against Weight and Inertia on Muscle Mechanical Properties.

PubMed

Djuric, Sasa; Cuk, Ivan; Sreckovic, Sreten; Mirkov, Dragan; Nedeljkovic, Aleksandar; Jaric, Slobodan

2016-10-01

To explore the effects of training against mechanically different types of loads on muscle force (F), velocity (V), and power (P) outputs. Subjects practiced maximum bench throws over 8 wk against a bar predominantly loaded by approximately constant external force (weight), weight plates (weight plus inertia), or weight plates whose weight was compensated by a constant external force pulling upward (inertia). Instead of a typically applied single trial performed against a selected load, the pretest and posttest consisted of the same task performed against 8 different loads ranging from 30% to 79% of the subject's maximum strength applied by adding weight plates to the bar. That provided a range of F and V data for subsequent modeling by linear F-V regression revealing the maximum F (F-intercept), V (V-intercept), and P (P = FV/4). Although all 3 training conditions resulted in increased P, the inertia type of the training load could be somewhat more effective than weight. An even more important finding was that the P increase could be almost exclusively based on a gain in F, V, or both when weight, inertia, or weight-plus-inertia training load were applied, respectively. The inertia training load is more effective than weight in increasing P and weight and inertia may be applied for selective gains in F and V, respectively, whereas the linear F-V model obtained from loaded trials could be used for discerning among muscle F, V, and P.

Air trapping and airflow obstruction in newborn cystic fibrosis piglets.

PubMed

Adam, Ryan J; Michalski, Andrew S; Bauer, Christian; Abou Alaiwa, Mahmoud H; Gross, Thomas J; Awadalla, Maged S; Bouzek, Drake C; Gansemer, Nicholas D; Taft, Peter J; Hoegger, Mark J; Diwakar, Amit; Ochs, Matthias; Reinhardt, Joseph M; Hoffman, Eric A; Beichel, Reinhard R; Meyerholz, David K; Stoltz, David A

2013-12-15

Air trapping and airflow obstruction are being increasingly identified in infants with cystic fibrosis. These findings are commonly attributed to airway infection, inflammation, and mucus buildup. To learn if air trapping and airflow obstruction are present before the onset of airway infection and inflammation in cystic fibrosis. On the day they are born, piglets with cystic fibrosis lack airway infection and inflammation. Therefore, we used newborn wild-type piglets and piglets with cystic fibrosis to assess air trapping, airway size, and lung volume with inspiratory and expiratory X-ray computed tomography scans. Micro-computed tomography scanning was used to assess more distal airway sizes. Airway resistance was determined with a mechanical ventilator. Mean linear intercept and alveolar surface area were determined using stereologic methods. On the day they were born, piglets with cystic fibrosis exhibited air trapping more frequently than wild-type piglets (75% vs. 12.5%, respectively). Moreover, newborn piglets with cystic fibrosis had increased airway resistance that was accompanied by luminal size reduction in the trachea, mainstem bronchi, and proximal airways. In contrast, mean linear intercept length, alveolar surface area, and lung volume were similar between both genotypes. The presence of air trapping, airflow obstruction, and airway size reduction in newborn piglets with cystic fibrosis before the onset of airway infection, inflammation, and mucus accumulation indicates that cystic fibrosis impacts airway development. Our findings suggest that early airflow obstruction and air trapping in infants with cystic fibrosis might, in part, be caused by congenital airway abnormalities.

Exploring the potential of the cosmic-ray neutron method to simultaneously predict soil water and vegetation dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogena, H. R.; Fuchs, H.; Jakobi, J.; Huisman, J. A.; Diekkrüger, B.; Vereecken, H.

2016-12-01

Cosmic-ray neutron soil moisture probes are an emerging technology that rely on the negative correlation between near-surface fast neutron counts and soil moisture content since hydrogen atoms in the soil, which are mainly present as water, moderate the secondary neutrons on the way back to the surface. Any application of this method needs to consider the sensitivity of the neutron counts to additional sources of hydrogen (e.g. above- and below-ground biomass, humidity of the lower atmosphere, lattice water of the soil minerals, organic matter and water in the litter layer, intercepted water in the canopy, and soil organic matter). In this study, we analyzed the effects of temporally changing above- and below-ground biomass and intercepted water in the canopy on the cosmic-ray neutron counts and the calibration parameter N0. For this, two arable fields cropped with winter wheat and sugar beet were instrumented with several cosmic-ray neutron probes and a wireless sensor network with more than 200 in-situ soil moisture sensors. In addition, we measured rainfall interception in the wheat canopy at several locations in the field using totalisators and leaf wetness sensors. In order to track the changes in above- and below-ground biomass, roots and plants were sampled approximately every four weeks and LAI was measured weekly during the growing season. Weekly biomass changes were derived by relating LAI to total biomass. As expected, we found an increasing discrepancy between cosmic-ray-derived and in-situ measured soil moisture during the growing season and a sharp decrease in discrepancy after the harvest. In order to quantify the effect of hydrogen stored in the vegetation on fast neutron intensity, we derived time series of the calibration parameter N0 using a weekly moving-window optimization. We found a linear negative relationship between N0 and total fresh biomass and N0 and intercepted precipitation. Using these relationships for the correction of fast neutron intensity reduced the discrepancy between cosmic-ray-derived and in-situ measured soil moisture. Finally, we investigated the temporal dynamics of the thermal-to-epithermal neutron ratio to explore its potential as a predictor for canopy interception and biomass changes.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Diagnostic and Fat-Grading Accuracy of Low-Flip-Angle Multiecho Gradient-Recalled-Echo MR Imaging at 1.5 T

PubMed Central

Yokoo, Takeshi; Bydder, Mark; Hamilton, Gavin; Middleton, Michael S.; Gamst, Anthony C.; Wolfson, Tanya; Hassanein, Tarek; Patton, Heather M.; Lavine, Joel E.; Schwimmer, Jeffrey B.; Sirlin, Claude B.

2009-01-01

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of four fat quantification methods at low-flip-angle multiecho gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by using MR spectroscopy as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: In this institutional review board–approved, HIPAA-compliant prospective study, 110 subjects (29 with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD, 50 overweight and at risk for NAFLD, and 31 healthy volunteers) (mean age, 32.6 years ± 15.6 [standard deviation]; range, 8–66 years) gave informed consent and underwent MR spectroscopy and GRE MR imaging of the liver. Spectroscopy involved a long repetition time (to suppress T1 effects) and multiple echo times (to estimate T2 effects); the reference fat fraction (FF) was calculated from T2-corrected fat and water spectral peak areas. Imaging involved a low flip angle (to suppress T1 effects) and multiple echo times (to estimate T2* effects); imaging FF was calculated by using four analysis methods of progressive complexity: dual echo, triple echo, multiecho, and multiinterference. All methods except dual echo corrected for T2* effects. The multiinterference method corrected for multiple spectral interference effects of fat. For each method, the accuracy for diagnosis of fatty liver, as defined with a spectroscopic threshold, was assessed by estimating sensitivity and specificity; fat-grading accuracy was assessed by comparing imaging and spectroscopic FF values by using linear regression. Results: Dual-echo, triple-echo, multiecho, and multiinterference methods had a sensitivity of 0.817, 0.967, 0.950, and 0.983 and a specificity of 1.000, 0.880, 1.000, and 0.880, respectively. On the basis of regression slope and intercept, the multiinterference (slope, 0.98; intercept, 0.91%) method had high fat-grading accuracy without statistically significant error (P > .05). Dual-echo (slope, 0.98; intercept, −2.90%), triple-echo (slope, 0.94; intercept, 1.42%), and multiecho (slope, 0.85; intercept, −0.15%) methods had statistically significant error (P < .05). Conclusion: Relaxation- and interference-corrected fat quantification at low-flip-angle multiecho GRE MR imaging provides high diagnostic and fat-grading accuracy in NAFLD. © RSNA, 2009 PMID:19221054

Crystal structure of the Leishmania major peroxidase–cytochrome c complex

PubMed Central

Jasion, Victoria S.; Doukov, Tzanko; Pineda, Stephanie H.; Li, Huiying; Poulos, Thomas L.

2012-01-01

The causative agent of leishmaniasis is the protozoan parasite Leishmania major. Part of the host protective mechanism is the production of reactive oxygen species including hydrogen peroxide. In response, L. major produces a peroxidase, L. major peroxidase (LmP), that helps to protect the parasite from oxidative stress. LmP is a heme peroxidase that catalyzes the peroxidation of mitochondrial cytochrome c. We have determined the crystal structure of LmP in a complex with its substrate, L. major cytochrome c (LmCytc) to 1.84 Å, and compared the structure to its close homolog, the yeast cytochrome c peroxidase–cytochrome c complex. The binding interface between LmP and LmCytc has one strong and one weak ionic interaction that the yeast system lacks. The differences between the steady-state kinetics correlate well with the Lm redox pair being more dependent on ionic interactions, whereas the yeast redox pair depends more on nonpolar interactions. Mutagenesis studies confirm that the ion pairs at the intermolecular interface are important to both kcat and KM. Despite these differences, the electron transfer path, with respect to the distance between hemes, along the polypeptide chain is exactly the same in both redox systems. A potentially important difference, however, is the side chains involved. LmP has more polar groups (Asp and His) along the pathway compared with the nonpolar groups (Leu and Ala) in the yeast system, and as a result, the electrostatic environment along the presumed electron transfer path is substantially different. PMID:23100535

High-Resolution Melting-Curve Analysis of Ligation-Mediated Real-Time PCR for Rapid Evaluation of an Epidemiological Outbreak of Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli ▿

PubMed Central

Woksepp, Hanna; Jernberg, Cecilia; Tärnberg, Maria; Ryberg, Anna; Brolund, Alma; Nordvall, Michaela; Olsson-Liljequist, Barbro; Wisell, Karin Tegmark; Monstein, Hans-Jürg; Nilsson, Lennart E.; Schön, Thomas

2011-01-01

Methods for the confirmation of nosocomial outbreaks of bacterial pathogens are complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Recently, a method based on ligation-mediated PCR (LM/PCR) using a low denaturation temperature which produces specific melting-profile patterns of DNA products has been described. Our objective was to further develop this method for real-time PCR and high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) in a single-tube system optimized in order to achieve results within 1 day. Following the optimization of LM/PCR for real-time PCR and HRM (LM/HRM), the method was applied for a nosocomial outbreak of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and ST131-associated Escherichia coli isolates (n = 15) and control isolates (n = 29), including four previous clusters. The results from LM/HRM were compared to results from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), which served as the gold standard. All isolates from the nosocomial outbreak clustered by LM/HRM, which was confirmed by gel electrophoresis of the LM/PCR products and PFGE. Control isolates that clustered by LM/PCR (n = 4) but not by PFGE were resolved by confirmatory gel electrophoresis. We conclude that LM/HRM is a rapid method for the detection of nosocomial outbreaks of bacterial infections caused by ESBL-producing E. coli strains. It allows the analysis of isolates in a single-tube system within a day, and the discriminatory power is comparable to that of PFGE. PMID:21956981

High-resolution melting-curve analysis of ligation-mediated real-time PCR for rapid evaluation of an epidemiological outbreak of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Woksepp, Hanna; Jernberg, Cecilia; Tärnberg, Maria; Ryberg, Anna; Brolund, Alma; Nordvall, Michaela; Olsson-Liljequist, Barbro; Wisell, Karin Tegmark; Monstein, Hans-Jürg; Nilsson, Lennart E; Schön, Thomas

2011-12-01

Methods for the confirmation of nosocomial outbreaks of bacterial pathogens are complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Recently, a method based on ligation-mediated PCR (LM/PCR) using a low denaturation temperature which produces specific melting-profile patterns of DNA products has been described. Our objective was to further develop this method for real-time PCR and high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) in a single-tube system optimized in order to achieve results within 1 day. Following the optimization of LM/PCR for real-time PCR and HRM (LM/HRM), the method was applied for a nosocomial outbreak of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and ST131-associated Escherichia coli isolates (n = 15) and control isolates (n = 29), including four previous clusters. The results from LM/HRM were compared to results from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), which served as the gold standard. All isolates from the nosocomial outbreak clustered by LM/HRM, which was confirmed by gel electrophoresis of the LM/PCR products and PFGE. Control isolates that clustered by LM/PCR (n = 4) but not by PFGE were resolved by confirmatory gel electrophoresis. We conclude that LM/HRM is a rapid method for the detection of nosocomial outbreaks of bacterial infections caused by ESBL-producing E. coli strains. It allows the analysis of isolates in a single-tube system within a day, and the discriminatory power is comparable to that of PFGE.

Carcinomatous meningitis: Leptomeningeal metastases in solid tumors

PubMed Central

Le Rhun, Emilie; Taillibert, Sophie; Chamberlain, Marc C.

2013-01-01

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) results from metastatic spread of cancer to the leptomeninges, giving rise to central nervous system dysfunction. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma are the most frequent causes of LM among solid tumors in adults. An early diagnosis of LM, before fixed neurologic deficits are manifest, permits earlier and potentially more effective treatment, thus leading to a better quality of life in patients so affected. Apart from a clinical suspicion of LM, diagnosis is dependent upon demonstration of cancer in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or radiographic manifestations as revealed by neuraxis imaging. Potentially of use, though not commonly employed, today are use of biomarkers and protein profiling in the CSF. Symptomatic treatment is directed at pain including headache, nausea, and vomiting, whereas more specific LM-directed therapies include intra-CSF chemotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, and site-specific radiotherapy. A special emphasis in the review discusses novel agents including targeted therapies, that may be promising in the future management of LM. These new therapies include anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors erlotinib and gefitinib in nonsmall cell lung cancer, anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab in breast cancer, anti-CTLA4 ipilimumab and anti-BRAF tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as vermurafenib in melanoma, and the antivascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody bevacizumab are currently under investigation in patients with LM. Challenges of managing patients with LM are manifold and include determining the appropriate patients for treatment as well as the optimal route of administration of intra-CSF drug therapy. PMID:23717798

Interception loss, throughfall and stemflow in a maritime pine stand. II. An application of Gash's analytical model of interception

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loustau, D.; Berbigier, P.; Granier, A.

1992-10-01

Interception, throughfall and stemflow were determined in an 18-year-old maritime pine stand for a period of 30 months. This involved 71 rainfall events, each corresponding either to a single storm or to several storms. Gash's analytical model of interception was used to estimate the sensitivity of interception to canopy structure and climatic parameters. The seasonal cumulative interception loss corresponded to 12.6-21.0% of the amount of rainfall, whereas throughfall and stemflow accounted for 77-83% and 1-6%, respectively. On a seasonal basis, simulated data fitted the measured data satisfactorily ( r2 = 0.75). The rainfall partitioning between interception, throughfall and stemflow was shown to be sensitive to (1) the rainfall regime, i.e. the relative importance of light storms to total rainfall, (2) the climatic parameters, rainfall rate and average evaporation rate during storms, and (3) the canopy structure parameters of the model. The low interception rate of the canopy was attributed primarily to the low leaf area index of the stand.

76 FR 18737 - Defense Transportation Regulation, Part IV

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-05

... III business rules include the elimination of the Domestic and International Local Move (dLM and iLM) and Intra-Country Move (iCM) Tender of Service. Requirements for Domestic Local Moves (dLM) can be met...'' and the 400NG solicitation. In addition, Phase III development efforts will incorporate International...

Genome instability in Novel Lolium multiflorum x L. arundinaceum hybrids

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We have identified a method whereby Lolium multiflorum (Lm) or L. arundinaceum (Fa) genomes are preferentially eliminated through a mitotic loss behavior in interspecific Lm x Fa F1 hybrids,generating either dihaploid Lm lines or Fa lines. The genome instability has been visualized phenotypically an...

Astronaut James Lovell at his position in the Lunar Module

NASA Image and Video Library

1970-04-14

AS13-59-8484 (April 1970) --- Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr., commander, is pictured at his position in the Lunar Module (LM). The Apollo 13 crew of astronauts Lovell; John L. Swigert Jr., command module pilot; and Fred W. Haise Jr., lunar module pilot, relied on the LM as a "lifeboat". The dependence on the LM was caused by an apparent explosion of oxygen tank number two in the Service Module (SM). The LM was jettisoned just prior to Earth re-entry by the Command Module (CM).

Possibilities and testing of CPRNG in block cipher mode of operation PM-DC-LM

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

Zacek, Petr; Jasek, Roman; Malanik, David

2016-06-08

This paper discusses the chaotic pseudo-random number generator (CPRNG), which is used in block cipher mode of operation called PM-DC-LM. PM-DC-LM is one of possible subversions of general PM mode. In this paper is not discussed the design of PM-DC-LM, but only CPRNG as a part of it because designing is written in other papers. Possibilities, how to change or to improve CPRNG are mentioned. The final part is devoted for a little testing of CPRNG and some testing data are shown.

Aging in Thin Metallic Films.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-03-01

NSWC/WOL TR 77-178 SUMMARY This raport gives measurements of changes in the magnetic properties of thin films due to oxidation. Evaporated NiFe ...Fi lm An i sotropy NiFe Thi n Fi lm Th in Fi lm Magnetos triction Magnetic Fi lm Aging - Magnetic Film Anneal ing — ~~~~. A BSTRACT CenhSnu. on r.v...rs• .Id. I nsc•ss y ond Idsnhl~ b block me.eb.r) _ . .—~~ Low magnetostriction NiFe and NiFe based’ ternary films 220A to 340A thick were prepared by

Performance Improvement of Long-Wave Infrared InAs/GaSb Strained-Layer Superlattice Detectors Through Sulfur-Based Passivation

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

14]. The detector material was processed into a variable area diode array (VADA) of square and circular mesa diodes with the size of diode mesa sides...processed as single element detectors with 410 lm 410 lm square mesas having circular apertures ranging in diameter from 25 to 300 lm. The processing was...passivations schemes with perimeter-to-area ratio (P/A) of 1600 cm1 ( mesa side size is 25 lm). Fig. 3. Inverse of the dynamic resistance area product (RdA

ARTIST CONCEPT - APOLLO XI - LUNAR SURFACE

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-07-11

S69-39011 (July 1969) --- TRW Incorporated's artist concept depicting the Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM) descending to the surface of the moon. Inside the LM will be astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. Astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, will remain with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) in lunar orbit. TRW's LM descent engine will brake Apollo 11's descent to the lunar surface. The throttle-able rocket engine will be fired continuously the last 10 miles of the journey to the moon, slowing the LM to a speed of two miles per hour at touchdown. TRW Incorporated designed and built the unique engine at Redondo Beach, California under subcontract to the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Bethpage, New York, the LM prime contractor.

Influence of lactic acid and post-treatment recovery time on the heat resistance of Listeria monocytogenes.

PubMed

Omori, Yasuo; Miake, Kiyotaka; Nakamura, Hiromi; Kage-Nakadai, Eriko; Nishikawa, Yoshikazu

2017-09-18

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lactic acid (LA) with and without organic material at various post-treatment recovery times on the heat resistance of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). LA decreased Lm numbers; however, the effect was remarkably attenuated by the presence of organic matter. Five strains of Lm were treated with LA and the listericidal effects were compared. The effect of LA varied depending on the strain, with ≥3.0% (w/w) LA required to kill the Lm strains in a short time. The heat resistance of Lm treated with LA was examined with respect to the time interval between the acid treatment and the subsequent manufacturing step. The heat resistance of Lm was shown to significantly increase during the post-treatment period. Heat tolerance (D value) increased up to 3.4-fold compared with the non-treated control bacteria. RNA sequencing and RT-PCR analyses suggested that several stress chaperones, proteins controlled by RecA and associated with high-temperature survival, were involved in the mechanism of enhanced heat resistance. These results are applicable to manufacturers when LA and heat treatment methods are utilized for the effective control of Lm in foods. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Helicoidal Organization of Chitin in the Cuticle of the Migratory Locust Requires the Function of the Chitin Deacetylase2 Enzyme (LmCDA2)*

PubMed Central

Yu, Rongrong; Liu, Weimin; Li, Daqi; Zhao, Xiaoming; Ding, Guowei; Zhang, Min; Ma, Enbo; Zhu, KunYan; Li, Sheng; Moussian, Bernard; Zhang, Jianzhen

2016-01-01

In the three-dimensional extracellular matrix of the insect cuticle, horizontally aligned microfibrils composed of the polysaccharide chitin and associated proteins are stacked either parallel to each other or helicoidally. The underlying molecular mechanisms that implement differential chitin organization are largely unknown. To learn more about cuticle organization, we sought to study the role of chitin deacetylases (CDA) in this process. In the body cuticle of nymphs of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria, helicoidal chitin organization is changed to an organization with unidirectional microfibril orientation when LmCDA2 expression is knocked down by RNA interference. In addition, the LmCDA2-deficient cuticle is less compact suggesting that LmCDA2 is needed for chitin packaging. Animals with reduced LmCDA2 activity die at molting, underlining that correct chitin organization is essential for survival. Interestingly, we find that LmCDA2 localizes only to the initially produced chitin microfibrils that constitute the apical site of the chitin stack. Based on our data, we hypothesize that LmCDA2-mediated chitin deacetylation at the beginning of chitin production is a decisive reaction that triggers helicoidal arrangement of subsequently assembled chitin-protein microfibrils. PMID:27637332

Helicoidal Organization of Chitin in the Cuticle of the Migratory Locust Requires the Function of the Chitin Deacetylase2 Enzyme (LmCDA2).

PubMed

Yu, Rongrong; Liu, Weimin; Li, Daqi; Zhao, Xiaoming; Ding, Guowei; Zhang, Min; Ma, Enbo; Zhu, KunYan; Li, Sheng; Moussian, Bernard; Zhang, Jianzhen

2016-11-18

In the three-dimensional extracellular matrix of the insect cuticle, horizontally aligned microfibrils composed of the polysaccharide chitin and associated proteins are stacked either parallel to each other or helicoidally. The underlying molecular mechanisms that implement differential chitin organization are largely unknown. To learn more about cuticle organization, we sought to study the role of chitin deacetylases (CDA) in this process. In the body cuticle of nymphs of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria, helicoidal chitin organization is changed to an organization with unidirectional microfibril orientation when LmCDA2 expression is knocked down by RNA interference. In addition, the LmCDA2-deficient cuticle is less compact suggesting that LmCDA2 is needed for chitin packaging. Animals with reduced LmCDA2 activity die at molting, underlining that correct chitin organization is essential for survival. Interestingly, we find that LmCDA2 localizes only to the initially produced chitin microfibrils that constitute the apical site of the chitin stack. Based on our data, we hypothesize that LmCDA2-mediated chitin deacetylation at the beginning of chitin production is a decisive reaction that triggers helicoidal arrangement of subsequently assembled chitin-protein microfibrils. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Dermoscopic clues to differentiate facial lentigo maligna from pigmented actinic keratosis.

PubMed

Lallas, A; Tschandl, P; Kyrgidis, A; Stolz, W; Rabinovitz, H; Cameron, A; Gourhant, J Y; Giacomel, J; Kittler, H; Muir, J; Argenziano, G; Hofmann-Wellenhof, R; Zalaudek, I

2016-05-01

Dermoscopy is limited in differentiating accurately between pigmented lentigo maligna (LM) and pigmented actinic keratosis (PAK). This might be related to the fact that most studies have focused on pigmented criteria only, without considering additional recognizable features. To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of established dermoscopic criteria for pigmented LM and PAK, but including in the evaluation features previously associated with nonpigmented facial actinic keratosis. Retrospectively enrolled cases of histopathologically diagnosed LM, PAK and solar lentigo/early seborrhoeic keratosis (SL/SK) were dermoscopically evaluated for the presence of predefined criteria. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed and receiver operating characteristic curves were used. The study sample consisted of 70 LMs, 56 PAKs and 18 SL/SKs. In a multivariate analysis, the most potent predictors of LM were grey rhomboids (sixfold increased probability of LM), nonevident follicles (fourfold) and intense pigmentation (twofold). In contrast, white circles, scales and red colour were significantly correlated with PAK, posing a 14-fold, eightfold and fourfold probability for PAK, respectively. The absence of evident follicles also represented a frequent LM criterion, characterizing 71% of LMs. White and evident follicles, scales and red colour represent significant diagnostic clues for PAK. Conversely, intense pigmentation and grey rhomboidal lines appear highly suggestive of LM. © 2015 British Association of Dermatologists.

Surface ozone seasonality under global change: Influence from dry deposition and isoprene emissions at northern mid-latitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clifton, O.; Paulot, F.; Fiore, A. M.; Horowitz, L. W.; Malyshev, S.; Shevliakova, E.; Correa, G. J. P.; Lin, M.

2017-12-01

Identifying the contributions of nonlinear chemistry and transport to observed surface ozone seasonal cycles over land using global models relies on an accurate representation of ozone uptake by vegetation (dry deposition). It is well established that in the absence of ozone precursor emission changes, a warming climate will increase surface ozone in polluted regions, and that a rise in temperature-dependent isoprene emissions would exacerbate this "climate penalty". However, the influence of changes in ozone dry deposition, expected to evolve with climate and land use, is often overlooked in air quality projections. With a new scheme that represents dry deposition within the NOAA GFDL dynamic vegetation land model (LM3) coupled to the NOAA GFDL atmospheric chemistry-climate model (AM3), we simulate the impact of 21st century climate and land use on ozone dry deposition and isoprene emissions. This dry deposition parameterization is a version of the Wesely scheme, but uses parameters explicitly calculated by LM3 that respond to climate and land use (e.g., stomatal conductance, canopy interception of water, leaf area index). The parameterization includes a nonstomatal deposition dependence on humidity. We evaluate climatological present-day seasonal cycles of ozone deposition velocities and abundances with those observed at northern mid-latitude sites. With a set of 2010s and 2090s decadal simulations under a high climate warming scenario (RCP8.5) and a sensitivity simulation with well-mixed greenhouse gases following RCP8.5 but air pollutants held at 2010 levels (RCP8.5_WMGG), we examine changes in surface ozone seasonal cycles. We build on our previous findings, which indicate that strong reductions in anthropogenic NOx emissions under RCP8.5 cause the surface ozone seasonal cycle over the NE USA to reverse, shifting from a summer peak at present to a winter peak by 2100. Under RCP8.5_WMGG, we parse the separate effects of climate and land use on ozone dry deposition vs. isoprene emissions to quantify the impact of each process on surface ozone seasonal cycles and compare to the changes induced by declining anthropogenic NOx emissions (RCP8.5).

Extending the Applicability of the Generalized Likelihood Function for Zero-Inflated Data Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, Debora Y.; Chaffe, Pedro L. B.; Sá, João. H. M.

2018-03-01

Proper uncertainty estimation for data series with a high proportion of zero and near zero observations has been a challenge in hydrologic studies. This technical note proposes a modification to the Generalized Likelihood function that accounts for zero inflation of the error distribution (ZI-GL). We compare the performance of the proposed ZI-GL with the original Generalized Likelihood function using the entire data series (GL) and by simply suppressing zero observations (GLy>0). These approaches were applied to two interception modeling examples characterized by data series with a significant number of zeros. The ZI-GL produced better uncertainty ranges than the GL as measured by the precision, reliability and volumetric bias metrics. The comparison between ZI-GL and GLy>0 highlights the need for further improvement in the treatment of residuals from near zero simulations when a linear heteroscedastic error model is considered. Aside from the interception modeling examples illustrated herein, the proposed ZI-GL may be useful for other hydrologic studies, such as for the modeling of the runoff generation in hillslopes and ephemeral catchments.

Calculation of intercepted runoff depth based on stormwater quality and environmental capacity of receiving waters for initial stormwater pollution management.

PubMed

Peng, Hai-Qin; Liu, Yan; Gao, Xue-Long; Wang, Hong-Wu; Chen, Yi; Cai, Hui-Yi

2017-11-01

While point source pollutions have gradually been controlled in recent years, the non-point source pollution problem has become increasingly prominent. The receiving waters are frequently polluted by the initial stormwater from the separate stormwater system and the wastewater from sewage pipes through stormwater pipes. Consequently, calculating the intercepted runoff depth has become a problem that must be resolved immediately for initial stormwater pollution management. The accurate calculation of intercepted runoff depth provides a solid foundation for selecting the appropriate size of intercepting facilities in drainage and interception projects. This study establishes a separate stormwater system for the Yishan Building watershed of Fuzhou City using the InfoWorks Integrated Catchment Management (InfoWorks ICM), which can predict the stormwater flow velocity and the flow of discharge outlet after each rainfall. The intercepted runoff depth is calculated from the stormwater quality and environmental capacity of the receiving waters. The average intercepted runoff depth from six rainfall events is calculated as 4.1 mm based on stormwater quality. The average intercepted runoff depth from six rainfall events is calculated as 4.4 mm based on the environmental capacity of the receiving waters. The intercepted runoff depth differs when calculated from various aspects. The selection of the intercepted runoff depth depends on the goal of water quality control, the self-purification capacity of the water bodies, and other factors of the region.

Intercepting virtual balls approaching under different gravity conditions: evidence for spatial prediction.

PubMed

Russo, Marta; Cesqui, Benedetta; La Scaleia, Barbara; Ceccarelli, Francesca; Maselli, Antonella; Moscatelli, Alessandro; Zago, Myrka; Lacquaniti, Francesco; d'Avella, Andrea

2017-10-01

To accurately time motor responses when intercepting falling balls we rely on an internal model of gravity. However, whether and how such a model is also used to estimate the spatial location of interception is still an open question. Here we addressed this issue by asking 25 participants to intercept balls projected from a fixed location 6 m in front of them and approaching along trajectories with different arrival locations, flight durations, and gravity accelerations (0 g and 1 g ). The trajectories were displayed in an immersive virtual reality system with a wide field of view. Participants intercepted approaching balls with a racket, and they were free to choose the time and place of interception. We found that participants often achieved a better performance with 1 g than 0 g balls. Moreover, the interception points were distributed along the direction of a 1 g path for both 1 g and 0 g balls. In the latter case, interceptions tended to cluster on the upper half of the racket, indicating that participants aimed at a lower position than the actual 0 g path. These results suggest that an internal model of gravity was probably used in predicting the interception locations. However, we found that the difference in performance between 1 g and 0 g balls was modulated by flight duration, the difference being larger for faster balls. In addition, the number of peaks in the hand speed profiles increased with flight duration, suggesting that visual information was used to adjust the motor response, correcting the prediction to some extent. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here we show that an internal model of gravity plays a key role in predicting where to intercept a fast-moving target. Participants also assumed an accelerated motion when intercepting balls approaching in a virtual environment at constant velocity. We also show that the role of visual information in guiding interceptive movement increases when more time is available. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Estimation of Inertial Parameters of Rigid Body Links of Manipulators.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-01

H AN ET RL. FED 86 UNCLRSSIFIED Al-H-88? NSSI4-8- C -O5OS F/ O 13/13 ML mmmmmmmmuhmhEMENOMONEE 1248 = . I 2.2. 36I W 11111 1.0 112.0 ~ Lm 11111 1111 25l...good match was obtained between joint [lror uesq’pre;Act om the estimated parameters and the joint torques computed A" rn fu~ S. C b.. .:. Massachusetts...value o , which if not zero indicates that linear combination of parameters, vYO, is identifiable. Since K is a function only of the geometry of the

NaK-nitrogen liquid metal MHD converter tests at 30 kw

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cerini, D. J.

1974-01-01

The feasibility of electrical power generation with an ambient temperature liquid-metal MHD separator cycle is demonstrated by tests in which a NaK-nitrogen LM-MHD converter was operated at nozzle inlet pressures ranging from 100 to 165 N/sq cm, NaK flow rates from 46 to 72 kg/sec, and nitrogen flow rates from 2.4 to 3.8 kg/sec. The generator was operated as an eight-phase linear induction generator, with two of the eight phases providing magnetic field compensation to minimized electrical end losses at the generator channel inlet and exit.

Effects of choice white grease or poultry fat on growth performance, carcass leanness, and meat quality characteristics of growing-finishing pigs.

PubMed

Engel, J J; Smith, J W; Unruh, J A; Goodband, R D; O'Quinn, P R; Tokach, M D; Nelssen, J L

2001-06-01

Eighty-four crossbred gilts were used to evaluate the effects of dietary choice white grease (CWG) or poultry fat (PF) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and quality characteristics of longissimus muscle (LM), belly, and bacon of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (initially 60 kg) were fed a control diet with no added fat or diets containing 2, 4, or 6% CWG or PF. Diets were fed from 60 to 110 kg and contained 2.26 g lysine/Mcal ME. Data were analyzed as a 2 x 3 factorial plus a control with main effects of fat source (CWG and PF) and fat level (2, 4, and 6%). Pigs fed the control diet, 2% fat, and 4% fat had greater (P < 0.05) ADFI than pigs fed 6% fat. Pigs fed 6% fat had greater (P < 0.05) gain/feed (G/F) than pigs fed the control diet or other fat levels. Subcutaneous fat over the longissimus muscle from pigs fed CWG had more (P < 0.05) moisture than that from pigs fed PF. Feeding dietary fat (regardless of source or level) reduced (P < 0.05) the amount of saturated fats present in the LM. Similarly, 4 or 6% fat decreased (P < 0.05) the amount of saturated fats and increased unsaturated fats present in the bacon. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed for ADG, dressing percentage, leaf fat weight, LM pH, backfat depth, LM area, percentage lean, LM visual evaluation, LM waterholding capacity, Warner-Bratzler shear and sensory evaluation of the LM and bacon, fat color and firmness measurements, or bacon processing characteristics. Adding dietary fat improved G/F and altered the fatty acid profiles of the LM and bacon, but differences in growth rate, carcass characteristics, and quality and sensory characteristics of the LM and bacon were minimal. Dietary additions of up to 6% CWG or PF can be made with little effect on quality of pork LM, belly, or bacon.

An at-site flood estimation method in the context of nonstationarity II. Statistical analysis of floods in Quebec

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gado, Tamer A.; Nguyen, Van-Thanh-Van

2016-04-01

This paper, the second of a two-part paper, investigates the nonstationary behaviour of flood peaks in Quebec (Canada) by analyzing the annual maximum flow series (AMS) available for the common 1966-2001 period from a network of 32 watersheds. Temporal trends in the mean of flood peaks were examined by the nonparametric Mann-Kendall test. The significance of the detected trends over the whole province is also assessed by a bootstrap test that preserves the cross-correlation structure of the network. Furthermore, The LM-NS method (introduced in the first part) is used to parametrically model the AMS, investigating its applicability to real data, to account for temporal trends in the moments of the time series. In this study two probability distributions (GEV & Gumbel) were selected to model four different types of time-varying moments of the historical time series considered, comprising eight competing models. The selected models are: two stationary models (GEV0 & Gumbel0), two nonstationary models in the mean as a linear function of time (GEV1 & Gumbel1), two nonstationary models in the mean as a parabolic function of time (GEV2 & Gumbel2), and two nonstationary models in the mean and the log standard deviation as linear functions of time (GEV11 & Gumbel11). The eight models were applied to flood data available for each watershed and their performance was compared to identify the best model for each location. The comparative methodology involves two phases: (1) a descriptive ability based on likelihood-based optimality criteria such as the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and the deviance statistic; and (2) a predictive ability based on the residual bootstrap. According to the Mann-Kendall test and the LM-NS method, a quarter of the analyzed stations show significant trends in the AMS. All of the significant trends are negative, indicating decreasing flood magnitudes in Quebec. It was found that the LM-NS method could provide accurate flood estimates in the context of nonstationarity. The results have indicated the importance of taking into consideration the nonstationary behaviour of the flood series in order to improve the quality of flood estimation. The results also provided a general impression on the possible impacts of climate change on flood estimation in the Quebec province.

The morphing of geographical features by Fourier transformation.

PubMed

Li, Jingzhong; Liu, Pengcheng; Yu, Wenhao; Cheng, Xiaoqiang

2018-01-01

This paper presents a morphing model of vector geographical data based on Fourier transformation. This model involves three main steps. They are conversion from vector data to Fourier series, generation of intermediate function by combination of the two Fourier series concerning a large scale and a small scale, and reverse conversion from combination function to vector data. By mirror processing, the model can also be used for morphing of linear features. Experimental results show that this method is sensitive to scale variations and it can be used for vector map features' continuous scale transformation. The efficiency of this model is linearly related to the point number of shape boundary and the interceptive value n of Fourier expansion. The effect of morphing by Fourier transformation is plausible and the efficiency of the algorithm is acceptable.

Using a generalized linear mixed model approach to explore the role of age, motor proficiency, and cognitive styles in children's reach estimation accuracy.

PubMed

Caçola, Priscila M; Pant, Mohan D

2014-10-01

The purpose was to use a multi-level statistical technique to analyze how children's age, motor proficiency, and cognitive styles interact to affect accuracy on reach estimation tasks via Motor Imagery and Visual Imagery. Results from the Generalized Linear Mixed Model analysis (GLMM) indicated that only the 7-year-old age group had significant random intercepts for both tasks. Motor proficiency predicted accuracy in reach tasks, and cognitive styles (object scale) predicted accuracy in the motor imagery task. GLMM analysis is suitable to explore age and other parameters of development. In this case, it allowed an assessment of motor proficiency interacting with age to shape how children represent, plan, and act on the environment.

Ulinastatin Reduces the Resistance of Liver Cancer Cells to Epirubicin by Inhibiting Autophagy

PubMed Central

Shao, Cheng Hao; Li, Gang; Liu, An An; Jing, Wei; Liu, Rui; Zhang, Yi-Jie; Zhou, Ying-Qi; Hu, Xian-Gui; Jin, Gang

2015-01-01

During chemotherapy, drug resistance caused by autophagy remains a major challenge to successful treatment of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to show that ulinastatin (UTI), a trypsin inhibitor, could reduce the resistance of liver cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agent epirubicin (EPI). We achieved this conclusion by analyzing the effect of EPI alone or UTI plus EPI on SMMC-7721 and MHCC-LM3 liver cancer cells. We also generated an EPI-resistant liver cancer cell line (MHCC-LM3er cells), and found that UTI could sensitize the LM3er cells to EPI. Autophagy usually functions to protect cancer cells during chemotherapy. Our study showed that UTI inhibited the autophagy induced by EPI in liver cancer cells, which promoted apoptosis, and therefore, reduced the resistance of the cancer cells to EPI. Further studies showed that the UTI-mediated inhibition on autophagy was achieved by inhibiting transcriptional factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. To verify our results in vivo, we injected MHCC-LM3 liver cancer cells or EPI-resistant LM3er cells into mice, and found that EPI could only effectively inhibit the growth of tumor in MHCC-LM3 cell-injected mice, but not in LM3er cell-injected mice. However, when UTI was also administered, the growth of tumor was inhibited in the MHCC-LM3er cell-injected mice as well. Our results suggest that UTI may be used in combination with anti-cancer drugs, such as EPI, to improve the outcome of cancer therapy. PMID:25815885

Inhibitory effect of a defensin gene from the Andean crop maca (Lepidium meyenii) against Phytophthora infestans.

PubMed

Solis, Julio; Medrano, Giuliana; Ghislain, Marc

2007-08-01

In this study, we report the isolation of a defensin gene, lm-def, isolated from the Andean crop 'maca' (Lepidium meyenii) with activity against the pathogen Phytophthora infestans responsible of late blight disease of the potato and tomato crops. The lm-def gene has been isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate primers corresponding to conserved regions of 13 plant defensin genes of the Brassicaceae family assuming that defensin genes are highly conserved among cruciferous species. The lm-def gene belongs to a small multigene family of at least 10 members possibly including pseudogenes as assessed by genomic hybridization and nucleotide sequence analyses. The deduced mature Lm-Def peptide is 51 amino acids in length and has 74-94% sequence identity with other plant defensins of the Brassicaceae family. The Lm-Def peptide was produced as a fusion protein using the pET-44a expression vector and purified using an immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein (NusA:Lm-Def) exhibited in vitro activity against P. infestans. The NusA:Lm-Def protein caused growth inhibition and hyphal damage at concentration not greater than 0.4 microM. In contrast, the NusA protein alone expressed and purified similarly did not show any activity against P. infestans. Therefore, these results indicate that the lm-def gene isolated from maca belong to the plant defensin family with activity against P. infestans. Its expression in potato, as a transgene, might help to control the late blight disease caused by P. infestans with the advantage of being of plant origin.

A fractal nature for polymerized laminin.

PubMed

Hochman-Mendez, Camila; Cantini, Marco; Moratal, David; Salmeron-Sanchez, Manuel; Coelho-Sampaio, Tatiana

2014-01-01

Polylaminin (polyLM) is a non-covalent acid-induced nano- and micro-structured polymer of the protein laminin displaying distinguished biological properties. Polylaminin stimulates neuritogenesis beyond the levels achieved by ordinary laminin and has been shown to promote axonal regeneration in animal models of spinal cord injury. Here we used confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize its three-dimensional structure. Renderization of confocal optical slices of immunostained polyLM revealed the aspect of a loose flocculated meshwork, which was homogeneously stained by the antibody. On the other hand, an ordinary matrix obtained upon adsorption of laminin in neutral pH (LM) was constituted of bulky protein aggregates whose interior was not accessible to the same anti-laminin antibody. SEM and AFM analyses revealed that the seed unit of polyLM was a flat polygon formed in solution whereas the seed structure of LM was highly heterogeneous, intercalating rod-like, spherical and thin spread lamellar deposits. As polyLM was visualized at progressively increasing magnifications, we observed that the morphology of the polymer was alike independently of the magnification used for the observation. A search for the Hausdorff dimension in images of the two matrices showed that polyLM, but not LM, presented fractal dimensions of 1.55, 1.62 and 1.70 after 1, 8 and 12 hours of adsorption, respectively. Data in the present work suggest that the intrinsic fractal nature of polymerized laminin can be the structural basis for the fractal-like organization of basement membranes in the neurogenic niches of the central nervous system.

Murine lethal milk mutation causes maternal accumulation of zinc in intestine and kidney and reduced zinc transport to milk

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

Dohyeel Lee; Cousins, R.J.

1991-03-15

The lethal milk (Lm) mutation is autosomal recessive in C57BL/6J mice and causes Zn deficiency in pups nursed by Lm dams. The genetic defect may cause a shift in the tissue Zn distribution in Lm dams since their milk has a 34-45% lower Zn concentration than milk of normal (N) dams. To examine tissue Zn distribution and Zn transport to milk and pups, 1 {mu}Ci of {sup 65}Zn was administered ip to lactating N and Lm dams. They also received 800 {mu}g Zn/ml in their drinking water to preclude short term, terminal zinc deficiency in the neonates nursed by Lmmore » dams. {sup 65}Zn content of milk and tissues of dams and tissues of pups was measured. Transport of {sup 65}Zn to milk of Lm dams was about 50% compared to milk of N dams. The percentage of the {sup 65}Zn dose recovered in the intestine, liver, and kidney of N pups nursed by LM dams was markedly lower than those of N pups nursed by N dams. In contrast, the percentage of {sup 65}Zn in the intestine and kidney of Lm dams was about twice that of N dams. The elevated intestinal {sup 65}Zn was paralleled by and elevated metallothionein concentration, but the increased {sup 65}Zn in the kidney was not. The Lm gene defect might limit Zn transport to milk by shifting the Zn distribution in lactating dams to the intestine, kidney, and perhaps other tissues.« less

Further discussions on the relationship between cumulated intercepted solar radiation and crop growth

USGS Publications Warehouse

Demetriades-Shah, T.H.; Fuchs, M.; Kanemasu, E.T.; Flitcroft, I.D.

1994-01-01

A strong correlation exists between intercepted solar radiation and crop growth. We cautioned that many derivations of the functional relationship between solar energy and biomass use cumulated data, and therefore have logical and arithmetic weaknesses. We examined the growth response of plants to solar energy by using rates of change, of both interception and growth. Our analysis revealed that measurements of light interception can only establish the relationship a posteriori. Replacing interception data with normalized random numbers did not change the quality of the relations. Several scientists have contested our views. This article reconfirms the general validity of our analysis and of our conclusions, that it is not possible to determine plant growth on the sole basis of intercepted solar energy.

LM-3: A High-resolution Lake Michigan Mass Balance Water Quality Model

EPA Science Inventory

This report is a user’s manual that describes the high-resolution mass balance model known as LM3. LM3 has been applied to Lake Michigan to describe the transport and fate of atrazine, PCB congeners, and chloride in that system. The model has also been used to model eutrophicat...

Zoledronic acid inhibits vasculogenic mimicry in murine osteosarcoma cell line in vitro.

PubMed

Fu, Dehao; He, Xianfeng; Yang, Shuhua; Xu, Weihua; Lin, Tao; Feng, Xiaobo

2011-06-30

To study the effects of zoledronic acid (ZA) on the vasculogenic mimicry of osteosarcoma cells in vitro. A Three-dimensional culture of LM8 osteosarcoma cells on a type I collagen matrix was used to investigate whether osteosarcoma cells can develop vasculogenic mimicry, and to determine the effects of ZA on this process. In addition, the cellular ultrastructural changes were observed using scanning electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy. The effects of ZA on the translocation of RhoA protein from the cytosol to the membrane in LM8 cells were measured via immunoblotting. ZA inhibited the development of vasculogenic mimicry by the LM8 osteosarcoma cells, decreased microvilli formation on the cell surface, and disrupted the F-actin cytoskeleton. ZA prevented translocation of RhoA protein from the cytosol to the membrane in LM8 cells. ZA can impair RhoA membrane localization in LM8 cells, causing obvious changes in the ultrastructure of osteosarcoma cells and induce cell apoptosis, which may be one of the underlying mechanisms by which the agent inhibits the development of vasculogenic mimicry by the LM8 cells.

Apollo Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Hardware Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Interbartolo, Michael

2009-01-01

This viewgraph presentation reviews basic guidance, navigation and control (GNC) concepts, examines the Command and Service Module (CSM) and Lunar Module (LM) GNC organization and discusses the primary GNC and the CSM Stabilization and Control System (SCS), as well as other CSM-specific hardware. The LM Abort Guidance System (AGS), Control Electronics System (CES) and other LM-specific hardware are also addressed. Three subsystems exist on each vehicle: the computer subsystem (CSS), the inertial subsystem (ISS) and the optical subsystem (OSS). The CSS and ISS are almost identical between CSM and LM and each is designed to operate independently. CSM SCS hardware are highlighted, including translation control, rotation controls, gyro assemblies, a gyro display coupler and flight director attitude indicators. The LM AGS hardware are also highlighted and include the abort electronics assembly and the abort sensor assembly; while the LM CES hardware includes the attitude controller assembly, thrust/translation controller assemblies and the ascent engine arming assemble. Other common hardware including the Orbital Rate Display - Earth and Lunar (ORDEAL) and the Crewman Optical Alignment Sight (COAS), a docking aid, are also highlighted.

Anti-HCV effect of Lentinula edodes mycelia solid culture extracts and low-molecular-weight lignin.

PubMed

Matsuhisa, Koji; Yamane, Seiji; Okamoto, Toru; Watari, Akihiro; Kondoh, Masuo; Matsuura, Yoshiharu; Yagi, Kiyohito

2015-06-19

Lentinula edodes mycelia solid culture extract (MSCE) contains several bioactive molecules, including some polyphenolic compounds, which exert immunomodulatory, antitumor, and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we examined the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of MSCE and low-molecular-weight lignin (LM-lignin), which is the active component responsible for the hepatoprotective effect of MSCE. Both MSCE and LM-lignin inhibited the entry of two HCV pseudovirus (HCVpv) types into Huh7.5.1 cells. LM-lignin inhibited HCVpv entry at a lower concentration than MSCE and inhibited the entry of HCV particles in cell culture (HCVcc). MSCE also inhibited HCV subgenome replication. LM-lignin had no effect on HCV replication, suggesting that MSCE contains additional active substances. We demonstrate here for the first time the anti-HCV effects of plant-derived LM-lignin and MSCE. The hepatoprotective effect of LM-lignin suggests that lignin derivatives, which can be produced in abundance from existing plant resources, may be effective in the treatment of HCV-related diseases. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Lipid nano-bubble combined with ultrasound for anti-keloids therapy.

PubMed

Wang, Xiao Qing; Li, Zhou-Na; Wang, Qi-Ming; Jin, Hong-Yan; Gao, Zhonggao; Jin, Zhe-Hu

2018-03-01

Keloids were characterized by excessive growth of fibrous tissues, and shared several pathological characteristics with cancer. They did put physical and emotional stress on patients in that keloids could badly change appearance of patients. N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4HPR) showed cytotoxic activity on a wide variety of invasive-growth cells. Our work was aim to prepare N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide-loaded lipid microbubbles (4HPR-LM) combined with ultrasound for anti-keloid therapy. 4HPR-loaded liposomes (4HPR-L) were first prepared by film evaporation method, and then 4HPR-LM were manufactured by mixing 4HPR-L and perfluoropentane (PFP) with ultrasonic cavitation method. The mean particle size and entrapment efficiency 4HPR-LM were 113 nm and 95%, respectively. The anti-keloids activity of 4HPR-LM was assessed with BALB/c nude mice bearing subcutaneous xenograft keloids model. 4HPR-LM, combined with ultrasound, could significantly induce apoptosis of keloid fibroblasts in vitro and inhibited growth of keloids in vivo. Thus, 4HPR-LM could be considered as a promising agent for anti-keloids therapy.

Unprotected Left Main Disease: Indications and Optimal Strategies for Percutaneous Intervention.

PubMed

Li, Jun; Patel, Sandeep M; Parikh, Manish A; Parikh, Sahil A

2016-03-01

Although the incidence of left main (LM) coronary artery disease is relatively low in patients undergoing routine angiography, it is a common presentation in patients with acute coronary syndromes. With the current interventional tools and techniques, percutaneous intervention for LM disease has become a viable alternative to the traditional coronary artery bypass grafting. Factors that contribute to the success and appropriateness of percutaneous intervention for LM disease include coronary anatomy and patient-specific factors such as left ventricular function. Multiple considerations should be taken into account prior to intervention, including hemodynamic support if necessary, intravascular imaging to guide therapy, and stent technique. This review provides an overview of the current body of literature to support the use of percutaneous intervention in LM disease and serves as guideline for the interventionalist approaching LM revascularization.

Low driving voltage blue, green, yellow, red and white organic light-emitting diodes with a simply double light-emitting structure.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhensong; Yue, Shouzhen; Wu, Yukun; Yan, Pingrui; Wu, Qingyang; Qu, Dalong; Liu, Shiyong; Zhao, Yi

2014-01-27

Low driving voltage blue, green, yellow, red and white phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with a common simply double emitting layer (D-EML) structure are investigated. Our OLEDs without any out-coupling schemes as well as n-doping strategies show low driving voltage, e.g. < 2.4 V for onset and < 3 V for 1000 cd/m2, and high efficiency of 32.5 lm/W (13.3%), 58.8 lm/W (14.3%), 55.1 lm/W (14.6%), 24.9 lm/W (13.7%) and 45.1 lm/W (13.5%) for blue, green, yellow, red and white OLED, respectively. This work demonstrates that the low driving voltages and high efficiencies can be simultaneously realized with a common simply D-EML structure.

Effectiveness of manual physical therapy to the cervical spine in the management of lateral epicondylalgia: a retrospective analysis.

PubMed

Cleland, Joshua A; Whitman, Julie M; Fritz, Julie M

2004-11-01

Retrospective ex-post facto design. To retrospectively review the management of patients with lateral epicondylalgia, and to compare self-reported outcomes to assess the potential benefit of manual physical therapy to the cervical spine. It has been postulated that dysfunction of the cervical spine may contribute to the symptoms associated with lateral epicondylalgia; however, the literature assessing the effectiveness of manual physical therapy to the cervicothoracic region in this patient population has been inconclusive. Documentation and analysis of outcomes of management strategies focusing on the cervical spine may lead to determining the most effective and efficient clinical practices. Of the 213 charts reviewed, 112 satisfied inclusion-exclusion criteria and were divided into 2 groups: those who received treatment solely directed at the elbow (local management [LM]), or those who received treatment directed at the elbow and cervical manual therapy (LM+C). Telephone follow-up interviews were used to determine the number of successful outcomes. Percentages of successful outcomes in each group were compared using chi-square analysis. An independent samples t test was used to compare the total number of visits per group. Sixty-one of the 112 patients were in the LM group, while 51 received LM+C. Seventy five percent of the patients available for follow-up in the LM group and 80% in the LM+C group reported a successful outcome. Patients in the LM group received a greater number of visits (mean, 9.7; SD, 2.4) than patients in the LM+C group (mean, 5.6; SD, 1.7; P<.01). The results of this retrospective review suggest that most patients had successful outcomes regardless of the inclusion of manual therapy interventions to the cervical spine. The LM+C group achieved the successful long-term outcome in significantly fewer visits.

Patterns and associations between DAPT cessation and 2-year clinical outcomes in left main/proximal LAD versus other PCI: Results from the Patterns of Non-Adherence to Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Stented Patients (PARIS) registry.

PubMed

Chandrasekhar, Jaya; Baber, Usman; Sartori, Samantha; Aquino, Melissa; Tomey, Matthew; Kruckoff, Mitchell; Moliterno, David; Henry, Timothy D; Weisz, Giora; Gibson, C Michael; Iakovou, Ioannis; Kini, Annapoorna; Faggioni, Michela; Vogel, Birgit; Farhan, Serdar; Colombo, Antonio; Steg, P Gabriel; Witzenbichler, Bernhard; Chieffo, Alaide; Cohen, David; Stuckey, Thomas; Ariti, Cono; Pocock, Stuart; Dangas, George; Mehran, Roxana

2017-09-15

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the left main (LM) or proximal left anterior descending artery (pLAD) is considered high-risk as these segments subtend substantial left ventricular myocardial area. We assessed the patterns and associations between dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) cessation and 2-year outcomes in LM/pLAD vs. other PCI from the all-comer PARIS registry. Two-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, definite/probable stent thrombosis or target lesion revascularization. DAPT cessation was predefined as physician-guided permanent discontinuation, temporary interruption, or non-recommended disruption due to non-compliance or bleeding. Of the study population (n=5018), 25.0% (n=1252) underwent LM/pLAD PCI and 75.0% (n=3766) PCI to other segments. Compared to others, LM/pLAD patients presented with fewer comorbidities, less frequent acute coronary syndromes but more multivessel and bifurcation disease treated with greater stent lengths. Two-year adjusted risk of MACE (11.4% vs. 11.6%; HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.90-1.34, p=0.36) was similar between LM/pLAD vs. other patients. DAPT discontinuation was significantly higher (43.3% vs. 39.4%, p=0.01) in LM/pLAD patients with borderline significance for lower disruption (10.0% vs. 14.7%, p=0.059) compared to other patients. DAPT discontinuation was not associated with higher risk of MACE in LM/pLAD (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.34-1.25) or other PCI groups (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47-0.95). LM/pLAD PCI was not an independent predictor of 2-year MACE. Compared to other PCI, patients undergoing LM/pLAD PCI had higher rates of physician recommended DAPT discontinuation, however, discontinuation did not result in greater adverse events. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of the interception of litterfall by the understory on carbon cycling in eucalyptus plantations of South China.

PubMed

Yang, Long; Wang, Jun; Huang, Yuhui; Hui, Dafeng; Wen, Meili

2014-01-01

For the purposes of forest restoration, carbon (C) fixation, and economic improvement, eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urophylla) has been widely planted in South China. The understory of eucalyptus plantations is often occupied by a dense community of the fern Dicranopteris dichotoma, which intercepts tree canopy leaf litter before it reaches the ground. To understand the effects of this interception of litterfall on C cycling in eucalyptus plantations, we quantified the mass of intercepted litter and the influences of litterfall interception on litter decomposition and soil respiration. The total mass of E. urophylla litterfall collected on the understory was similar to that collected by the traditional litter trap method. All of the eucalyptus litterfall is intercepted by the D. dichotoma canopy. Of the litterfall that was intercepted by D. dichotoma, 20-40% and 60-80% was intercepted by the top (50-100 cm) and bottom (0-50 cm) of the understory canopy, respectively. Intercepted litterfall decomposed faster at the bottom of understory canopy (at the base of the plants) than at the top, and decomposition was slower on the soil surface in the absence of understory than on any location in the understory canopy. Soil respiration was highest when both the understory and litter were present and was lowest when both the understory and litter were absent. These results indicate that litterfall interception changed carbon flow between aboveground and belowground through litter decomposition and soil respiration, which changed carbon cycling in eucalyptus plantations. The effects of the understory on litter decomposition and soil respiration should be considered in ecosystem carbon models.

The X-Ray Luminosity-Mass Relation for Local Clusters of Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanek, R.; Evrard, A. E.; Böhringer, H.; Schuecker, P.; Nord, B.

2006-09-01

We investigate the relationship between soft X-ray luminosity and mass for low-redshift clusters of galaxies by comparing observed number counts and scaling laws to halo-based expectations of ΛCDM cosmologies. We model the conditional likelihood of halo luminosity as a lognormal distribution of fixed width, centered on a scaling relation, L~Mpρsc(z), and consider two values for s, appropriate for self-similar evolution or no evolution. Convolving with the halo mass function, we compute expected counts in redshift and flux that, after appropriate survey effects are included, we compare to REFLEX survey data. Counts alone provide only an upper limit on the scatter in mass at fixed luminosity, σlnM<0.4. We argue that the observed, intrinsic variance in the temperature-luminosity relation is directly indicative of mass-luminosity variance and derive σlnM=0.43+/-0.06 from HIFLUGCS data. When added to the likelihood analysis, we derive values p=1.59+/-0.05, lnL15,0=1.34+/-0.09, and σlnM=0.37+/-0.05 for self-similar redshift evolution in a concordance (Ωm=0.3, ΩΛ=0.7, σ8=0.9) universe. The present-epoch intercept is sensitive to power spectrum normalization, L15,0~σ-48, and the slope is weakly sensitive to the matter density, p~Ω1/2m. We find a substantially (factor 2) dimmer intercept and slightly steeper slope than the values published using hydrostatic mass estimates of the HIFLUGCS sample and show that a Malmquist bias of the X-ray flux-limited sample accounts for this effect. In light of new WMAP constraints, we discuss the interplay between parameters and sources of systematic error and offer a compromise model with Ωm=0.24, σ8=0.85, and somewhat lower scatter σlnM=0.25, in which hydrostatic mass estimates remain accurate to ~15%. We stress the need for independent calibration of the L-M relation via weak gravitational lensing.

Aerial surveys adjusted by ground surveys to estimate area occupied by black-tailed prairie dog colonies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sidle, John G.; Augustine, David J.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Miller, Sterling D.; Cully, Jack F.; Reading, Richard P.

2012-01-01

Aerial surveys using line-intercept methods are one approach to estimate the extent of prairie dog colonies in a large geographic area. Although black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) construct conspicuous mounds at burrow openings, aerial observers have difficulty discriminating between areas with burrows occupied by prairie dogs (colonies) versus areas of uninhabited burrows (uninhabited colony sites). Consequently, aerial line-intercept surveys may overestimate prairie dog colony extent unless adjusted by an on-the-ground inspection of a sample of intercepts. We compared aerial line-intercept surveys conducted over 2 National Grasslands in Colorado, USA, with independent ground-mapping of known black-tailed prairie dog colonies. Aerial line-intercepts adjusted by ground surveys using a single activity category adjustment overestimated colonies by ≥94% on the Comanche National Grassland and ≥58% on the Pawnee National Grassland. We present a ground-survey technique that involves 1) visiting on the ground a subset of aerial intercepts classified as occupied colonies plus a subset of intercepts classified as uninhabited colony sites, and 2) based on these ground observations, recording the proportion of each aerial intercept that intersects a colony and the proportion that intersects an uninhabited colony site. Where line-intercept techniques are applied to aerial surveys or remotely sensed imagery, this method can provide more accurate estimates of black-tailed prairie dog abundance and trends

Apollo 9 Mission image - Top view of the Lunar Module (LM) spacecraft from the Command Module (CM)

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-03-03

The Lunar Module (LM) 3 "Spider",still attached to the Saturn V third (S-IVB) stage,is photographed from the Command/Service Module (CSM) "Gumdrop" on the first day of the Apollo 9 Earth-orbital mission. This picture was taken following CSM/LM-S-IVB separation,and prior to LM extraction from the S-IVB. The Spacecraft Lunar Module Adapter (SLA) panels have already been jettisoned. Film magazine was A,film type was SO-368 Ektachrome with 0.460 - 0.710 micrometers film / filter transmittance response and haze filter, 80mm lens.

Saturn Apollo Program

NASA Image and Video Library

1967-01-01

This illustration is the Lunar Module (LM) configuration. The LM was a two part spacecraft. Its lower or descent stage had the landing gear, engines, and fuel needed for the landing. When the LM blasted off the Moon, the descent stage served as the launching pad for its companion ascent stage, which was also home for the two astronauts on the surface of the Moon. The LM was full of gear with which to communicate, navigate, and rendezvous. It also had its own propulsion system, and an engine to lift it off the Moon and send it on a course toward the orbiting Command Module.

Quantifying Leg Movement Activity During Sleep.

PubMed

Ferri, Raffaele; Fulda, Stephany

2016-12-01

Currently, 2 sets of similar rules for recording and scoring leg movement (LM) exist, including periodic LM during sleep (PLMS) and periodic LM during wakefulness. The former were published in 2006 by a task force of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group, and the second in 2007 by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. This article reviews the basic recording methods, scoring rules, and computer-based programs for PLMS. Less frequent LM activities, such as alternating leg muscle activation, hypnagogic foot tremor, high-frequency LMs, and excessive fragmentary myoclonus are briefly described. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Transport of intercepted snow from trees during snow storms

Treesearch

David H. Miller

1966-01-01

Five principal processes by which intercepted snow in trees is removed during snow storms are described and evaluated as far as data permit: vapor flux from melt water, vapor flux from bodies of snow, stem flow and dripping of melt water, sliding of bodies of intercepted snow from branches, and wind erosion and transport of intercepted snow. Further research is...

Attentional Bias to Negative Affect Moderates Negative Affect’s Relationship with Smoking Abstinence

PubMed Central

Etcheverry, Paul E.; Waters, Andrew J.; Lam, Cho; Correa-Fernandez, Virmarie; Vidrine, Jennifer Irvin; Cinciripini, Paul M.; Wetter, David W.

2016-01-01

Objective To examine whether initial orienting (IO) and inability to disengage attention (ITD) from negative affective stimuli moderate the association of negative affect with smoking abstinence during a quit attempt. Methods Data were from a longitudinal cohort study of smoking cessation (N=424). A negative affect modified Stroop was administered one week before and on quit day to measure IO and ITD. Ecological Momentary Assessments were used to create negative affect intercepts and linear slopes for the week before quitting and on quit day. Quit day and long-term abstinence measures were collected. Results Continuation ratio (CR) logit model analyses found significant interactions of pre-quit negative affect slope with pre-quit ITD [OR = .738(.57, .96), p= .02] and quit day negative affect intercept with quit day ITD [OR = .62(.41, 950), p= .03] predicting abstinence. The interaction of pre-quit negative affect intercept and pre-quit IO predicting quit day abstinence was significant [OR = 1.42(1.06, 1.90), p= .02], as was the interaction of quit day negative affect slope and quit day IO predicting long-term abstinence [OR = 1.45(1.02, 2.08), p= .04]. Conclusions The hypothesis that the association of negative affect with smoking abstinence would be moderated by ITD was generally supported. Among individuals with high ITD, negative affect was inversely related to abstinence, but unrelated to abstinence among individuals with lower levels of ITD. Unexpectedly, among individuals with low IO negative affect was inversely related to abstinence, but unrelated to abstinence among individuals with higher levels of ITD. PMID:27505211

Attentional bias to negative affect moderates negative affect's relationship with smoking abstinence.

PubMed

Etcheverry, Paul E; Waters, Andrew J; Lam, Cho; Correa-Fernandez, Virmarie; Vidrine, Jennifer Irvin; Cinciripini, Paul M; Wetter, David W

2016-08-01

To examine whether initial orienting (IO) and inability to disengage (ITD) attention from negative affective stimuli moderate the association of negative affect with smoking abstinence during a quit attempt. Data were from a longitudinal cohort study of smoking cessation (N = 424). A negative affect modified Stroop task was administered 1 week before and on quit day to measure IO and ITD. Ecological Momentary Assessments were used to create negative affect intercepts and linear slopes for the week before quitting and on quit day. Quit day and long-term abstinence measures were collected. Continuation ratio logit model analyses found significant interactions for prequit negative affect slope with prequit ITD, odds ratio (OR) = 0.738 (0.57, 0.96), p = .02, and for quit day negative affect intercept with quit day ITD, OR = 0.62 (0.41, 950), p = .03, predicting abstinence. The Prequit Negative Affect Intercept × Prequit IO interaction predicting quit day abstinence was significant, OR = 1.42 (1.06, 1.90), p = .02, as was the Quit Day Negative Affect Slope × Quit Day IO interaction predicting long-term abstinence, OR = 1.45 (1.02, 2.08), p = .04. The hypothesis that the association of negative affect with smoking abstinence would be moderated by ITD was generally supported. Among individuals with high ITD, negative affect was inversely related to abstinence, but unrelated to abstinence among individuals with lower levels of ITD. Unexpectedly, among individuals with low IO, negative affect was inversely related to abstinence, but unrelated to abstinence among individuals with higher levels of ITD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Intercepting a moving target: On-line or model-based control?

PubMed

Zhao, Huaiyong; Warren, William H

2017-05-01

When walking to intercept a moving target, people take an interception path that appears to anticipate the target's trajectory. According to the constant bearing strategy, the observer holds the bearing direction of the target constant based on current visual information, consistent with on-line control. Alternatively, the interception path might be based on an internal model of the target's motion, known as model-based control. To investigate these two accounts, participants walked to intercept a moving target in a virtual environment. We degraded the target's visibility by blurring the target to varying degrees in the midst of a trial, in order to influence its perceived speed and position. Reduced levels of visibility progressively impaired interception accuracy and precision; total occlusion impaired performance most and yielded nonadaptive heading adjustments. Thus, performance strongly depended on current visual information and deteriorated qualitatively when it was withdrawn. The results imply that locomotor interception is normally guided by current information rather than an internal model of target motion, consistent with on-line control.

Incidence of lentigo maligna in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1970 to 2007.

PubMed

Mirzoyev, Sultan A; Knudson, Richelle M; Reed, Kurtis B; Hou, Jennifer L; Lohse, Christine M; Frohm, Marcus L; Brewer, Jerry D; Otley, Clark C; Roenigk, Randall K

2014-03-01

The incidence of lentigo maligna (LM) may be increasing, but no population-based epidemiologic studies have been performed to our knowledge. We sought to determine the incidence of LM in Olmsted County, Minnesota, along with overall and recurrence-free survival. Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified all adult residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with a first lifetime diagnosis of LM between 1970 and 2007. Medical records were reviewed to determine demographic, clinical, and surgical data, and incidence and survival were calculated. Among 145 patients identified, median (range) age at diagnosis of LM was 70 (33-97) years. Treatment changed over time, with Mohs micrographic surgery becoming available after 1986. No patients died of LM; 5 had local recurrence. Estimated local recurrence-free survival at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years after diagnosis was 98%, 96%, 92%, and 92%, respectively. Overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence of LM among adults was 6.3 per 100,000 person-years, increasing from 2.2 between 1970 and 1989 to 13.7 between 2004 and 2007. Retrospective study design and homogeneous population are limitations. The incidence of LM increased significantly among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, over an extended time frame, with incidence being significantly higher among men than women and increasing with age. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Promising Listeria-Vectored Vaccine Induces Th1-Type Immune Responses and Confers Protection Against Tuberculosis.

PubMed

Yin, Yuelan; Lian, Kai; Zhao, Dan; Tao, Chengwu; Chen, Xiang; Tan, Weijun; Wang, Xiaobo; Xu, Zhengzhong; Hu, Maozhi; Rao, Yan; Zhou, Xiaohui; Pan, Zhiming; Zhang, Xiaoming; Jiao, Xin'an

2017-01-01

Deaths associated with tuberculosis (TB) is rising and accounted for 1.4 million deaths in 2015 many of which were due to drug-resistant bacteria. Vaccines represent an important medical intervention, but the current Bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is not ideal for the protection of teenagers and adults. Therefore, a safe and effective vaccine is urgently needed. In this study, we designed a novel vaccine using an attenuated Listeria monocytogenes strain carrying fusion antigen FbpB-ESAT-6 (rLM) and characterized its safety and protective efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M.tb ) infection in mice. Compared to the wild type strain yzuLM4 and parental strain LMΔ actA/plcB (LM1-2), the virulence of rLM was significantly reduced as judged by its infectious kinetics and LD 50 dose. Further characterization of intravenous immunization showed that prime-boost vaccination significantly increased the levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL-6), and enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) CTLs activity, suggesting that rLM could elicit potent Th1/Th17 responses. More importantly, rLM significantly conferred the protection against M.tb H37Rv challenge. Collectively, our findings indicated that rLM is a novel and useful tool to prevent M.tb infection, and can be potentially be used to boost BCG-primed immunity.

Genome Sequences of Listeria monocytogenes Strains Responsible for Cheese- and Cooked Ham Product-Associated Swiss Listeriosis Outbreaks in 2005 and 2011.

PubMed

Tasara, Taurai; Klumpp, Jochen; Bille, Jacques; Stephan, Roger

2016-03-10

The complete genome sequences of three Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a strains, Lm 3136, Lm 3163, and Lm N1546, which were responsible for listeriosis outbreaks in 2005 and 2011 in Switzerland, are presented here. Copyright © 2016 Tasara et al.

Examining Ecological and Ecosystem Level Impacts of Aquatic Invasive Species in Lake Michigan Using An Ecosystem Productivity Model, LM-Eco

EPA Science Inventory

Ecological and ecosystem-level impacts of aquatic invasive species in Lake Michigan were examined using the Lake Michigan Ecosystem Model (LM-Eco). The LM-Eco model includes a detailed description of trophic levels and their interactions within the lower food web of Lake Michiga...

A novel nitrogen-dependent gene associates with the lesion mimic trait in wheat

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Lesion mimic (LM) refers to hypersensitive reaction-like (HRL) symptoms that appears on leaf tissue in the absence of plant pathogens. In a wheat line P7001, LM showed up on the leaves under the 0 g nitrogen (N) treatment, but disappeared when sufficient N was supplied, suggesting that LM is N-respo...

Utilization of flow cytometry to identify chimeral sectors in leaf tissue of Lolium multiflorum x L. arundinaceum hybrids

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We have identified a method whereby Lolium multiflorum (Lm) or L. arundinaceum (Fa) genomes are preferentially eliminated through a mitotic loss behavior in interspecific Lm x Fa F1 hybrids, generating either dihaploid Lm lines or Fa lines. Flow cytometry, a method for rapidly characterizing optical...

The IS-LM Model: Is There a Connection between Slopes and the Effectiveness of Fiscal and Monetary Policy?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Findlay, David W.

1999-01-01

Offers instructors a presentation of the IS (investment saving)-LM (liquidity preference-money supply) model, suggesting that a number of benefits emerge if the instructor focuses on what determines the size of both the horizontal and vertical distances between the IS curves and between the LM curves. (CMK)

Evaluation of skeletal maturity using maxillary canine, mandibular second and third molar calcification stages.

PubMed

Trakinienė, Giedrė; Smailienė, Dalia; Kučiauskienė, Ainė

2016-08-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the calcification stages of maxillary canine, mandibular second molar, and mandibular third molar can be used for assessment of growth phase. The study group consisted of 274 subjects. Pre-treatment digital panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs of the patients were analysed. The patients' age was ranging from 7 to 19 years. Right maxillary canine, mandibular second molar and third molar were used as a sample. The teeth mineralization was assessed using modification of Gleiser and Hunt method. The skeletal maturation was assessed by the cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) method. A significant association was found between CVM stage 2 and maxillary canine (UC) stage 4, mandibular second molar (LM2) stage 4, and mandibular third molar (LM3) stage 1. CVM stage 3 corresponded with UC stage 5, LM2 stage 5, LM3 stage 2. CVM stage 4 matched with UC stage 5, LM2 stage 6 and LM3 stage 3. The highest correlations between CVM and calcification stages were in the group of the maxillary canine (r = 0.812, P < 0.01) and mandibular second molar (r = 0.824, P < 0.01). Limitation of our study was that the study sample was not very big and the distribution value in the groups was very high, so it was impossible to check more statistical parameters. The calcification stages of UC, LM2, and LM3 as indicators of skeletal maturity could be clinically used with caution, until this method is verified with a larger sample group. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Orthodontic Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

The new GFDL global atmosphere and land model AM2-LM2: Evaluation with prescribed SST simulations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, J.L.; Balaji, V.; Broccoli, A.J.; Cooke, W.F.; Delworth, T.L.; Dixon, K.W.; Donner, L.J.; Dunne, K.A.; Freidenreich, S.M.; Garner, S.T.; Gudgel, R.G.; Gordon, C.T.; Held, I.M.; Hemler, R.S.; Horowitz, L.W.; Klein, S.A.; Knutson, T.R.; Kushner, P.J.; Langenhost, A.R.; Lau, N.-C.; Liang, Z.; Malyshev, S.L.; Milly, P.C.D.; Nath, M.J.; Ploshay, J.J.; Ramaswamy, V.; Schwarzkopf, M.D.; Shevliakova, E.; Sirutis, J.J.; Soden, B.J.; Stern, W.F.; Thompson, L.A.; Wilson, R.J.; Wittenberg, A.T.; Wyman, B.L.

2004-01-01

The configuration and performance of a new global atmosphere and land model for climate research developed at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) are presented. The atmosphere model, known as AM2, includes a new gridpoint dynamical core, a prognostic cloud scheme, and a multispecies aerosol climatology, as well as components from previous models used at GFDL. The land model, known as LM2, includes soil sensible and latent heat storage, groundwater storage, and stomatal resistance. The performance of the coupled model AM2-LM2 is evaluated with a series of prescribed sea surface temperature (SST) simulations. Particular focus is given to the model's climatology and the characteristics of interannual variability related to El Nin??o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). One AM2-LM2 integration was perfor med according to the prescriptions of the second Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP II) and data were submitted to the Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison (PCMDI). Particular strengths of AM2-LM2, as judged by comparison to other models participating in AMIP II, include its circulation and distributions of precipitation. Prominent problems of AM2-LM2 include a cold bias to surface and tropospheric temperatures, weak tropical cyclone activity, and weak tropical intraseasonal activity associated with the Madden-Julian oscillation. An ensemble of 10 AM2-LM 2 integrations with observed SSTs for the second half of the twentieth century permits a statistically reliable assessment of the model's response to ENSO. In general, AM2-LM2 produces a realistic simulation of the anomalies in tropical precipitation and extratropical circulation that are associated with ENSO. ?? 2004 American Meteorological Society.

In Silico Analysis of Usher Encoding Genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Characterization of Their Role in Adhesion and Colonization

PubMed Central

Khater, Fida; Balestrino, Damien; Charbonnel, Nicolas; Dufayard, Jean François; Brisse, Sylvain; Forestier, Christiane

2015-01-01

Chaperone/usher (CU) assembly pathway is used by a wide range of Enterobacteriaceae to assemble adhesive surface structures called pili or fimbriae that play a role in bacteria-host cell interactions. In silico analysis revealed that the genome of Klebsiella pneumoniae LM21 harbors eight chromosomal CU loci belonging to γκп and ϭ clusters. Of these, only two correspond to previously described operons, namely type 1 and type 3-encoding operons. Isogenic usher deletion mutants of K. pneumoniae LM21 were constructed for each locus and their role in adhesion to animal (Intestine 407) and plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) cells, biofilm formation and murine intestinal colonization was investigated. Type 3 pili usher deleted mutant was impaired in all assays, whereas type 1 pili usher deleted mutant only showed attenuation in adhesion to plant cells and in intestinal colonization. The LM21ΔkpjC mutant was impaired in its capacity to adhere to Arabidopsis cells and to colonize the murine intestine, either alone or in co-inoculation experiments. Deletion of LM21kpgC induced a significant decrease in biofilm formation, in adhesion to animal cells and in colonization of the mice intestine. The LM21∆kpaC and LM21∆kpeC mutants were only attenuated in biofilm formation and the adhesion abilities to Arabidopsis cells, respectively. No clear in vitro or in vivo effect was observed for LM21∆kpbC and LM21∆kpdC mutants. The multiplicity of CU loci in K. pneumoniae genome and their specific adhesion pattern probably reflect the ability of the bacteria to adhere to different substrates in its diverse ecological niches. PMID:25751658

Gene therapy of uterine leiomyoma: adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir treatment inhibits growth of human and rat leiomyoma cells in vitro and in a nude mouse model.

PubMed

Salama, S A; Kamel, M; Christman, G; Wang, H Q; Fouad, H M; Al-Hendy, A

2007-01-01

Uterine leiomyomas (LM) affect a high percentage of reproductive-age women. They develop as discrete, well-defined tumors that are easily accessible with imaging techniques--making this disease ideal for localized gene therapy approaches. In this study, we determined the efficacy of adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene transfer in combination with ganciclovir (Ad-TK/GCV) as a potential therapy for LM. Rat ELT-3 LM cells and human LM cells were transfected with different multiplicity of infections (10-100 plaque forming units [PFU]/cell) of Ad-TK and treated with GCV (5, 10, or 20 microg/ml) for 5 days. To test the bystander effect, Ad-TK-transfected ELT-3 cells (100 PFU/cell) or LM cells (10 PFU/cell) were cocultured with corresponding nontransfected cells at increasing percentages and treated with GCV followed by cell counting. In ELT-3 cells transfected with Ad-TK/GCV (10, 20, 50, or 100 PFU/cell), the cell count was reduced by 24, 42, 77, and 87%, respectively, compared with the control cells (transfected with Ad-Lac Z/GCV). Similarly, in LM cells transfected with Ad-TK/GCV (10, 50, or 100 PFU/cell), the cell count was reduced by 31, 62, and 82%, respectively, compared with the control. A strong bystander effect was noted in both ELT-3 and LM cells with significant killing (p = 0.001) at a ratio of infected:uninfected cells of only 1:99 and maximal killing at 1:4. This study demonstrates the potential efficacy of the Ad-TK/GCV gene therapy approach as a viable nonsurgical alternative treatment for uterine LM.

Pathological mechanisms of left main stent failure.

PubMed

Mori, Hiroyoshi; Torii, Sho; Harari, Emanuel; Jinnouchi, Hiroyuki; Brauman, Ryan; Smith, Samantha; Kutys, Robert; Fowler, David; Romero, Maria; Virmani, Renu; Finn, Aloke V

2018-07-15

Despite the increasing use of left main (LM) percutaneous coronary intervention (LM-PCI), there have been no pathological studies devoted to understanding the causes of LM stent failure. We aimed to systematically determine the pathological mechanisms of LM stent failure. From the CVPath Stent registry, a total of 46 lesions were identified to have LM-PCI. Pathologic stent failure (PSF) was defined as stent thrombosis, restenosis and in-stent chronic total occlusion (CTO). Failed and patent LM stented lesions were pathologically assessed to determine predictors of PSF. Malapposition and uncovered struts were numerically greater in the LM ostium, body, and bifurcation while neointimal thickness was relatively greater in bifurcation and proximal circumflex. In this study cohort, half of the lesions (n = 23) showed PSF. Stent thrombosis (ST, n = 18) was the major mode of PSF followed by in-stent CTO (n = 4) and restenosis (n = 1). Failed lesions showed significantly greater prevalence of malapposition >20% of struts/section (65% vs. 13%, P < 0.01), stent struts crossing an ostial side branch >30% of the circumference (48% vs. 13%, P < 0.01) and uncovered struts >30% (57% vs. 18%, P = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, the prevalence of malapposition >20% was the strongest risk factor for PSF (Odds ratio 8.0, 95% confidence interval 1.8-45.4, P < 0.01) followed by struts crossing an ostial side branch >30% (Odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 0.8-24.7, P = 0.09). Our data demonstrate the main pathological predictors for LM stent failure are malapposition and struts crossing an ostial side branch and suggest that imaging-guided PCI may be important. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prognostic factors and clinical outcomes in patients with leptomeningeal metastasis from solid tumors.

PubMed

Waki, Fusako; Ando, Masashi; Takashima, Atsuo; Yonemori, Kan; Nokihara, Hiroshi; Miyake, Mototaka; Tateishi, Ukihide; Tsuta, Koji; Shimada, Yasuhiro; Fujiwara, Yasuhiro; Tamura, Tomohide

2009-06-01

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) occurs in 4-15% of patients with solid tumors. Although the clinical outcomes in cancer patients have been improving recently, no standard treatment for LM has been established as yet. The purpose of this study was to identify the prognostic factors in patients with solid tumors with cytologically proven LM. We retrospectively analyzed a series of 85 consecutive patients with cytologically proven LM who were treated between 1997 and 2005. The primary diseases were as follows; lung cancer (n = 36), breast cancer (n = 33), gastric cancer (n = 8), and others (n = 8). Forty-nine patients had brain metastasis at the time of diagnosis of the LM, and in 51 patients, MRI revealed meningeal dissemination in the brain or spine. The performance status (PS) was 0-1 in 26 patients and 2-4 in 59 patients. Thirty-one patients, including 19 with breast cancer, four with lung cancer, five with gastric cancer and three with other cancers, were treated by intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy. The response rate to the IT was 52% (95% confidence interval (CI): 41.4-62.6%). The median survival was 51 days (range, 3-759 days). A univariate analysis identified breast cancer, good PS (0-1), time to development of the LM (>1 year), and treatment by IT chemotherapy as being associated with a good prognosis, and multivariate analysis identified poor PS (HR: 1.72 (95% CI, 1.04-2.86) P = 0.04) and MRI-proven LM (HR: 1.82 (95% CI, 1.11-2.98) P = 0.02) as being associated with a poor prognosis. In patients with poor prognostic factors, such as poor PS or MRI-proven LM, palliative therapy might be the most suitable treatment strategy.

Infant Nutritional Status, Feeding Practices, Enteropathogen Exposure, Socioeconomic Status, and Illness Are Associated with Gut Barrier Function As Assessed by the Lactulose Mannitol Test in the MAL-ED Birth Cohort.

PubMed

Lee, Gwenyth O; McCormick, Benjamin J J; Seidman, Jessica C; Kosek, Margaret N; Haque, Rashidul; Olortegui, Maribel Paredes; Lima, Aldo A M; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A; Kang, Gagandeep; Samie, Amidou; Amour, Caroline; Mason, Carl J; Ahmed, Tahmeed; Yori, Pablo Peñataro; Oliveira, Domingos B; Alam, Didar; Babji, Sudhir; Bessong, Pascal; Mduma, Estomih; Shrestha, Sanjaya K; Ambikapathi, Ramya; Lang, Dennis R; Gottlieb, Michael; Guerrant, Richard L; Caulfield, Laura E; For The Mal-Ed Network Investigators

2017-07-01

The lactulose mannitol (LM) dual sugar permeability test is the most commonly used test of environmental enteropathy in developing countries. However, there is a large but conflicting literature on its association with enteric infection and host nutritional status. We conducted a longitudinal cohort using a single field protocol and comparable laboratory procedures to examine intestinal permeability in multiple, geographically diverse pediatric populations. Using a previously published systematic review to guide the selection of factors potentially associated with LM test results, we examined the relationships between these factors and mucosal breach, represented by percent lactulose excretion; absorptive area, represented by percent mannitol excretion; and gut barrier function, represented by the L/M ratio. A total of 6,602 LM tests were conducted in 1,980 children at 3, 6, 9, and 15 months old; percent lactulose excretion, percent mannitol excretion, and the L/M ratio were expressed as age- and sex-specific normalized values using the Brazil cohort as the reference population. Among the factors considered, recent severe diarrhea, lower socioeconomic status, and recent asymptomatic enteropathogen infections were associated with decreased percent mannitol excretion and higher L/M ratios. Poorer concurrent weight-for-age, infection, and recent breastfeeding were associated with increased percent lactulose excretion and increased L/M ratios. Our results support previously reported associations between the L/M ratio and factors related to child nutritional status and enteropathogen exposure. These results were remarkably consistent across sites and support the hypothesis that the frequency of these exposures in communities living in poverty leads to alterations in gut barrier function.

Infant Nutritional Status, Feeding Practices, Enteropathogen Exposure, Socioeconomic Status, and Illness Are Associated with Gut Barrier Function As Assessed by the Lactulose Mannitol Test in the MAL-ED Birth Cohort

PubMed Central

Lee, Gwenyth O.; McCormick, Benjamin J. J.; Seidman, Jessica C.; Kosek, Margaret N.; Haque, Rashidul; Olortegui, Maribel Paredes; Lima, Aldo A. M.; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A.; Kang, Gagandeep; Samie, Amidou; Amour, Caroline; Mason, Carl J.; Ahmed, Tahmeed; Yori, Pablo Peñataro; Oliveira, Domingos B.; Alam, Didar; Babji, Sudhir; Bessong, Pascal; Mduma, Estomih; Shrestha, Sanjaya K.; Ambikapathi, Ramya; Lang, Dennis R.; Gottlieb, Michael; Guerrant, Richard L.; Caulfield, Laura E.

2017-01-01

Abstract. The lactulose mannitol (LM) dual sugar permeability test is the most commonly used test of environmental enteropathy in developing countries. However, there is a large but conflicting literature on its association with enteric infection and host nutritional status. We conducted a longitudinal cohort using a single field protocol and comparable laboratory procedures to examine intestinal permeability in multiple, geographically diverse pediatric populations. Using a previously published systematic review to guide the selection of factors potentially associated with LM test results, we examined the relationships between these factors and mucosal breach, represented by percent lactulose excretion; absorptive area, represented by percent mannitol excretion; and gut barrier function, represented by the L/M ratio. A total of 6,602 LM tests were conducted in 1,980 children at 3, 6, 9, and 15 months old; percent lactulose excretion, percent mannitol excretion, and the L/M ratio were expressed as age- and sex-specific normalized values using the Brazil cohort as the reference population. Among the factors considered, recent severe diarrhea, lower socioeconomic status, and recent asymptomatic enteropathogen infections were associated with decreased percent mannitol excretion and higher L/M ratios. Poorer concurrent weight-for-age, infection, and recent breastfeeding were associated with increased percent lactulose excretion and increased L/M ratios. Our results support previously reported associations between the L/M ratio and factors related to child nutritional status and enteropathogen exposure. These results were remarkably consistent across sites and support the hypothesis that the frequency of these exposures in communities living in poverty leads to alterations in gut barrier function. PMID:28719336

Attenuated Listeria monocytogenes vectors overcome suppressive plasma factors during HIV infection to stimulate myeloid dendritic cells to promote adaptive immunity and reactivation of latent virus.

PubMed

Miller, Elizabeth A; Spadaccia, Meredith R; Norton, Thomas; Demmler, Morgan; Gopal, Ramya; O'Brien, Meagan; Landau, Nathaniel; Dubensky, Thomas W; Lauer, Peter; Brockstedt, Dirk G; Bhardwaj, Nina

2015-01-01

HIV-1 infection is characterized by myeloid dendritic cell (DC) dysfunction, which blunts the responsiveness to vaccine adjuvants. We previously showed that nonviral factors in HIV-seropositive plasma are partially responsible for mediating this immune suppression. In this study we investigated recombinant Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) vectors, which naturally infect and potently activate DCs from seronegative donors, as a means to overcome DC dysfunction associated with HIV infection. Monocyte-derived DCs were cocultured with plasma from HIV-infected donors (HIV-moDCs) to induce a dysregulated state and infected with an attenuated, nonreplicative vaccine strain of Lm expressing full length clade B consensus gag (KBMA Lm-gag). Lm infection stimulated cytokine secretion [interleukin (IL)-12p70, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6] and Th-1 skewing of allogeneic naive CD4 T cells by HIV-moDCs, in contrast to the suppressive effects observed by HIV plasma on moDCs on toll-like receptor ligand stimulation. Upon coculture of "killed" but metabolically active (KBMA) Lm-gag-infected moDCs from HIV-infected donors with autologous cells, expansion of polyfunctional, gag-specific CD8(+) T cells was observed. Reactivation of latent proviruses by moDCs following Lm infection was also observed in models of HIV latency in a TNF-α-dependent manner. These findings reveal the unique ability of Lm vectors to contend with dysregulation of HIV-moDCs, while simultaneously possessing the capacity to activate latent virus. Concurrent stimulation of innate and adaptive immunity and disruption of latency may be an approach to reduce the pool of latently infected cells during HIV infection. Further study of Lm vectors as part of therapeutic vaccination and eradication strategies may advance this evolving field.

Midday Depression vs. Midday Peak in Diurnal Light Interception: Contrasting Patterns at Crown and Leaf Scales in a Tropical Evergreen Tree.

PubMed

Ventre-Lespiaucq, Agustina; Flanagan, Nicola S; Ospina-Calderón, Nhora H; Delgado, Juan A; Escudero, Adrián

2018-01-01

Crown architecture usually is heterogeneous as a result of foraging in spatially and temporally heterogeneous light environments. Ecologists are only beginning to identify the importance of temporal heterogeneity for light acquisition in plants, especially at the diurnal scale. Crown architectural heterogeneity often leads to a diurnal variation in light interception. However, maximizing light interception during midday may not be an optimal strategy in environments with excess light. Instead, long-lived plants are expected to show crown architectures and leaf positions that meet the contrasting needs of light interception and avoidance of excess light on a diurnal basis. We expected a midday depression in the diurnal course of light interception both at the whole-crown and leaf scales, as a strategy to avoid the interception of excessive irradiance. We tested this hypothesis in a population of guava trees ( Psidium guajava L.) growing in an open tropical grassland. We quantified three crown architectural traits: intra-individual heterogeneity in foliage clumping, crown openness, and leaf position angles. We estimated the diurnal course of light interception at the crown scale using hemispheric photographs, and at the leaf scale using the cosine of solar incidence. Crowns showed a midday depression in light interception, while leaves showed a midday peak. These contrasting patterns were related to architectural traits. At the crown scale, the midday depression of light interception was linked to a greater crown openness and foliage clumping in crown tops than in the lateral parts of the crown. At the leaf scale, an average inclination angle of 45° led to the midday peak in light interception, but with a huge among-leaf variation in position angles. The mismatch in diurnal course of light interception at crown and leaf scales can indicate that different processes are being optimized at each scale. These findings suggest that the diurnal course of light interception may be an important dimension of the resource acquisition strategies of long-lived woody plants. Using a temporal approach as the one applied here may improve our understanding of the diversity of crown architectures found across and within environments.

Midday Depression vs. Midday Peak in Diurnal Light Interception: Contrasting Patterns at Crown and Leaf Scales in a Tropical Evergreen Tree

PubMed Central

Ventre-Lespiaucq, Agustina; Flanagan, Nicola S.; Ospina-Calderón, Nhora H.; Delgado, Juan A.; Escudero, Adrián

2018-01-01

Crown architecture usually is heterogeneous as a result of foraging in spatially and temporally heterogeneous light environments. Ecologists are only beginning to identify the importance of temporal heterogeneity for light acquisition in plants, especially at the diurnal scale. Crown architectural heterogeneity often leads to a diurnal variation in light interception. However, maximizing light interception during midday may not be an optimal strategy in environments with excess light. Instead, long-lived plants are expected to show crown architectures and leaf positions that meet the contrasting needs of light interception and avoidance of excess light on a diurnal basis. We expected a midday depression in the diurnal course of light interception both at the whole-crown and leaf scales, as a strategy to avoid the interception of excessive irradiance. We tested this hypothesis in a population of guava trees (Psidium guajava L.) growing in an open tropical grassland. We quantified three crown architectural traits: intra-individual heterogeneity in foliage clumping, crown openness, and leaf position angles. We estimated the diurnal course of light interception at the crown scale using hemispheric photographs, and at the leaf scale using the cosine of solar incidence. Crowns showed a midday depression in light interception, while leaves showed a midday peak. These contrasting patterns were related to architectural traits. At the crown scale, the midday depression of light interception was linked to a greater crown openness and foliage clumping in crown tops than in the lateral parts of the crown. At the leaf scale, an average inclination angle of 45° led to the midday peak in light interception, but with a huge among-leaf variation in position angles. The mismatch in diurnal course of light interception at crown and leaf scales can indicate that different processes are being optimized at each scale. These findings suggest that the diurnal course of light interception may be an important dimension of the resource acquisition strategies of long-lived woody plants. Using a temporal approach as the one applied here may improve our understanding of the diversity of crown architectures found across and within environments. PMID:29904391

Examining the canopy interception at a forest field site using cosmic-ray neutron detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreasen, M.; Looms, M.; Christiansen, J. R.; Sonnenborg, T. O.; Stisen, S.; Jensen, K. H.

2017-12-01

Canopy interception, the amount of precipitation captured by the surface of plants and trees, is a key component of the water cycle as it constrains the water flux to the ground below vegetation. Forests have especially high interception capacities and therefore the interception loss often forms a considerable part of the total evapotranspiration. The canopy interception capacity is dependent on the size and structure of the vegetation, and the interception loss can vary substantial in time and space. Measuring the canopy interception loss directly is challenging and current methodologies only represent small areas and rely on indirect approaches. Improving methods to estimate canopy interception loss directly will forward the basic understanding of how vegetation structure interacts with the water cycle and hence prediction of evapotranspiration. The intensity of low-energy neutrons produced by cosmic-rays, measured above the ground surface, is sensitive to the hydrogen content in the upper decimeters of the ground and hence the soil moisture content from a radius of hundreds of meters in the horizontal direction. In order to advance the cosmic-ray neutron (CRN) soil moisture method and extend the application of the CRN method more research has recently focused on the signal of other hydrogen pools on the neutron intensity (e.g., vegetation and canopy interception). A recent study, based on neutron transport modeling, found that the ground level thermal neutron intensity (energy < 1 eV), and as a consequence also the thermal-to-epithermal neutron (T/E) ratio (epithermal energy > 1 eV), increased with increasing canopy interception. In this study, we test whether CRN measurements can be used to provide a direct measure of the canopy interception. Four sets of CR2000/B systems were installed below the canopy in an oak forest stand in Denmark. Each system holds a bare (primarily measuring thermal neutrons) and a moderated detector (primarily measuring epithermal neutrons). The measured T/E ratios are compared to independent canopy interception measurements, obtained from throughfall and precipitation measurements. Furthermore, T/E ratios are related to measurements from leaf wetness sensors, CRN soil moisture estimates, and the biomass density in the canopy derived from a mobile terrestrial laser scanner.

Context effects on smooth pursuit and manual interception of a disappearing target.

PubMed

Kreyenmeier, Philipp; Fooken, Jolande; Spering, Miriam

2017-07-01

In our natural environment, we interact with moving objects that are surrounded by richly textured, dynamic visual contexts. Yet most laboratory studies on vision and movement show visual objects in front of uniform gray backgrounds. Context effects on eye movements have been widely studied, but it is less well known how visual contexts affect hand movements. Here we ask whether eye and hand movements integrate motion signals from target and context similarly or differently, and whether context effects on eye and hand change over time. We developed a track-intercept task requiring participants to track the initial launch of a moving object ("ball") with smooth pursuit eye movements. The ball disappeared after a brief presentation, and participants had to intercept it in a designated "hit zone." In two experiments ( n = 18 human observers each), the ball was shown in front of a uniform or a textured background that either was stationary or moved along with the target. Eye and hand movement latencies and speeds were similarly affected by the visual context, but eye and hand interception (eye position at time of interception, and hand interception timing error) did not differ significantly between context conditions. Eye and hand interception timing errors were strongly correlated on a trial-by-trial basis across all context conditions, highlighting the close relation between these responses in manual interception tasks. Our results indicate that visual contexts similarly affect eye and hand movements but that these effects may be short-lasting, affecting movement trajectories more than movement end points. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In a novel track-intercept paradigm, human observers tracked a briefly shown object moving across a textured, dynamic context and intercepted it with their finger after it had disappeared. Context motion significantly affected eye and hand movement latency and speed, but not interception accuracy; eye and hand position at interception were correlated on a trial-by-trial basis. Visual context effects may be short-lasting, affecting movement trajectories more than movement end points. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

A comparison of the costs of laparoscopic myomectomy and open myomectomy at a teaching hospital in southern Taiwan.

PubMed

Chang, Chi-Chang

2013-06-01

To compare the costs of traditional open myomectomy (OM) with laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of 155 women who underwent traditional open myomectomy (OM) or laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) in a teaching hospital in Taiwan. The total medical service expense and the patient out-of-pocket expense were significantly higher for women who received LM than for women who received OM. However, the operative time and blood loss during surgery were significantly less in women who received LM than in women who received OM. The overall expense is higher for LM than for OM; however, the laparoscopic approach has numerous advantages for patients, including shorter operative time, less blood loss, and a more rapid recovery time. No difference existed in the rate of complications or in the recurrence of disease for the two procedures. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The Apollo 17 mare basalts: Serenely sampling Taurus-Littrow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neal, Clive R.; Taylor, Lawrence A.

1992-01-01

As we are all aware, the Apollo 17 mission marked the final manned lunar landing of the Apollo program. The lunar module (LM) landed approximately 0.7 km due east of Camelot Crater in the Taurus-Littrow region on the southwestern edge of Mare Serenitatis. Three extravehicular activities (EVA's) were performed, the first concentrating around the LM and including station 1 approximately 1.1 km south-southeast of the LM at the northwestern edge of Steno Crater. The second traversed approximately 8 km west of the LM to include stations 2, 3, 4, and 5, and the third EVA traversed approximately 4.5 km to the northwest of the LM to include stations 6, 7, 8, and 9. This final manned mission returned the largest quantity of lunar rock samples, 110.5 kg/243.7 lb, and included soils, breccias, highland samples, and mare basalts. This abstract concentrates upon the Apollo 17 mare basalt samples.

The Apollo 17 mare basalts: Serenely sampling Taurus-Littrow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neal, Clive R.; Taylor, Lawrence A.

1992-12-01

As we are all aware, the Apollo 17 mission marked the final manned lunar landing of the Apollo program. The lunar module (LM) landed approximately 0.7 km due east of Camelot Crater in the Taurus-Littrow region on the southwestern edge of Mare Serenitatis. Three extravehicular activities (EVA's) were performed, the first concentrating around the LM and including station 1 approximately 1.1 km south-southeast of the LM at the northwestern edge of Steno Crater. The second traversed approximately 8 km west of the LM to include stations 2, 3, 4, and 5, and the third EVA traversed approximately 4.5 km to the northwest of the LM to include stations 6, 7, 8, and 9. This final manned mission returned the largest quantity of lunar rock samples, 110.5 kg/243.7 lb, and included soils, breccias, highland samples, and mare basalts. This abstract concentrates upon the Apollo 17 mare basalt samples.

Isolation, Identification, and Culture of Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells.

PubMed

Lokmic, Zerina

2016-01-01

A protocol describing the isolation of foreskin lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and lymphatic malformation lymphatic endothelial cells (LM LECs) is presented herein. To isolate LECs and LM LECs, tissues are mechanically disrupted to make a single-cell suspension, which is then enzymatically digested in dispase and collagenase type II. LECs and LM LECs, in the resulting single-cell suspension, are then sequentially labeled with antibodies recognizing fibroblast and endothelial cell surface antigens CD34 and CD31 and separated from the remaining components in the cell suspension by capture with magnetic beads. Viable LECs and LM LECs are then seeded and expanded on fibronectin-coated flasks. LEC and LM LEC purity is determined immunohistochemically using cell surface markers CD31, CD34, podoplanin, VEGFR-3 and nuclear marker PROX-1. Cells whose purity is >98 % are used for experiments between passage 4 and 6.

Effects of the Interception of Litterfall by the Understory on Carbon Cycling in Eucalyptus Plantations of South China

PubMed Central

Huang, Yuhui; Hui, Dafeng; Wen, Meili

2014-01-01

For the purposes of forest restoration, carbon (C) fixation, and economic improvement, eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urophylla) has been widely planted in South China. The understory of eucalyptus plantations is often occupied by a dense community of the fern Dicranopteris dichotoma, which intercepts tree canopy leaf litter before it reaches the ground. To understand the effects of this interception of litterfall on C cycling in eucalyptus plantations, we quantified the mass of intercepted litter and the influences of litterfall interception on litter decomposition and soil respiration. The total mass of E. urophylla litterfall collected on the understory was similar to that collected by the traditional litter trap method. All of the eucalyptus litterfall is intercepted by the D. dichotoma canopy. Of the litterfall that was intercepted by D. dichotoma, 20–40% and 60–80% was intercepted by the top (50–100 cm) and bottom (0–50 cm) of the understory canopy, respectively. Intercepted litterfall decomposed faster at the bottom of understory canopy (at the base of the plants) than at the top, and decomposition was slower on the soil surface in the absence of understory than on any location in the understory canopy. Soil respiration was highest when both the understory and litter were present and was lowest when both the understory and litter were absent. These results indicate that litterfall interception changed carbon flow between aboveground and belowground through litter decomposition and soil respiration, which changed carbon cycling in eucalyptus plantations. The effects of the understory on litter decomposition and soil respiration should be considered in ecosystem carbon models. PMID:24959853

Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study

PubMed Central

Aldwin, Carolyn M.; Molitor, Nuoo-Ting; Avron, Spiro; Levenson, Michael R.; Molitor, John; Igarashi, Heidi

2011-01-01

We examined long-term patterns of stressful life events (SLE) and their impact on mortality contrasting two theoretical models: allostatic load (linear relationship) and hormesis (inverted U relationship) in 1443 NAS men (aged 41–87 in 1985; M = 60.30, SD = 7.3) with at least two reports of SLEs over 18 years (total observations = 7,634). Using a zero-inflated Poisson growth mixture model, we identified four patterns of SLE trajectories, three showing linear decreases over time with low, medium, and high intercepts, respectively, and one an inverted U, peaking at age 70. Repeating the analysis omitting two health-related SLEs yielded only the first three linear patterns. Compared to the low-stress group, both the moderate and the high-stress groups showed excess mortality, controlling for demographics and health behavior habits, HRs = 1.42 and 1.37, ps <.01 and <.05. The relationship between stress trajectories and mortality was complex and not easily explained by either theoretical model. PMID:21961066

On Spectral Invariance of Single Scattering Albedo for Water Droplets and Ice Crystals at Weakly Absorbing Wavelengths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshak, Alexander; Knyazikhin, Yuri; Chiu, J. Christine; Wiscombe, Warren J.

2012-01-01

The single scattering albedo omega(sub O lambda) in atmospheric radiative transfer is the ratio of the scattering coefficient to the extinction coefficient. For cloud water droplets both the scattering and absorption coefficients, thus the single scattering albedo, are functions of wavelength lambda and droplet size r. This note shows that for water droplets at weakly absorbing wavelengths, the ratio omega(sub O lambda)(r)/omega(sub O lambda)(r (sub O)) of two single scattering albedo spectra is a linear function of omega(sub O lambda)(r). The slope and intercept of the linear function are wavelength independent and sum to unity. This relationship allows for a representation of any single scattering albedo spectrum omega(sub O lambda)(r) via one known spectrum omega(sub O lambda)(r (sub O)). We provide a simple physical explanation of the discovered relationship. Similar linear relationships were found for the single scattering albedo spectra of non-spherical ice crystals.

Interception of spray drift by border structures. Part 1: wind tunnel experiments.

PubMed

De Schampheleire, M; Nuyttens, D; Dekeyser, D; Verboven, P; Cornelis, W; Gabriels, D; Spanoghe, P

2008-01-01

This research investigated the drift-intercepting potential of structures surrounding the field borders, like artificial screens and crops, which are not yet a part of the drift mitigation measures for field crop sprayers in Belgium. Drift-interception experiments were performed in the wind tunnel of the International Centre for Eremology (Ghent University, Belgium) with various interception structures: Artificial screens with heights of 0.5, 0.75 and 1 m and screen open areas of 16, 36 and 63%; a row of plastic Christmas trees with heights of 0.5 and 0.75 m; and a potato canopy. The interception structure was positioned at 1 m from the field border. From the results it was found that type of border structure has a pronounced effect on the drift interception, while the height of the border structure had no significant effect.

Apollo 17 Command/Service modules photographed from lunar module in orbit

NASA Image and Video Library

1972-12-14

AS17-145-22273 (7-19 Dec. 1972) --- In this view, taken from the Lunar Module (LM), the Command and Service Module (CSM) are seen preparing to rendezvous with the LM. Note the reflection of the lunar surface on the CSM. The CSM, is piloted by Ronald E. Evans; while astronauts Eugene A. Cernan, commander; and Harrison W. Schmitt, lunar module pilot, are onboard the LM, following their extravehicular activities (EVA) on the moon's surface. While astronauts Cernan and Schmitt descended in the LM "Challenger" to explore the Taurus-Littrow region of the moon, astronaut Evans remained with the CSM "America" in lunar orbit.

Hardware implementation of an adaptive resonance theory (ART) neural network using compensated operational amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ho, Ching S.; Liou, Juin J.; Georgiopoulos, Michael; Christodoulou, Christos G.

1994-03-01

This paper presents an analog circuit design and implementation for an adaptive resonance theory neural network architecture called the augmented ART1 neural network (AART1-NN). Practical monolithic operational amplifiers (Op-Amps) LM741 and LM318 are selected to implement the circuit, and a simple compensation scheme is developed to adjust the Op-Amp electrical characteristics to meet the design requirement. A 7-node prototype circuit has been designed and verified using the Pspice circuit simulator run on a Sun workstation. Results simulated from the AART1-NN circuit using the LM741, LM318, and ideal Op-Amps are presented and compared.

Modelling subject-specific childhood growth using linear mixed-effect models with cubic regression splines.

PubMed

Grajeda, Laura M; Ivanescu, Andrada; Saito, Mayuko; Crainiceanu, Ciprian; Jaganath, Devan; Gilman, Robert H; Crabtree, Jean E; Kelleher, Dermott; Cabrera, Lilia; Cama, Vitaliano; Checkley, William

2016-01-01

Childhood growth is a cornerstone of pediatric research. Statistical models need to consider individual trajectories to adequately describe growth outcomes. Specifically, well-defined longitudinal models are essential to characterize both population and subject-specific growth. Linear mixed-effect models with cubic regression splines can account for the nonlinearity of growth curves and provide reasonable estimators of population and subject-specific growth, velocity and acceleration. We provide a stepwise approach that builds from simple to complex models, and account for the intrinsic complexity of the data. We start with standard cubic splines regression models and build up to a model that includes subject-specific random intercepts and slopes and residual autocorrelation. We then compared cubic regression splines vis-à-vis linear piecewise splines, and with varying number of knots and positions. Statistical code is provided to ensure reproducibility and improve dissemination of methods. Models are applied to longitudinal height measurements in a cohort of 215 Peruvian children followed from birth until their fourth year of life. Unexplained variability, as measured by the variance of the regression model, was reduced from 7.34 when using ordinary least squares to 0.81 (p < 0.001) when using a linear mixed-effect models with random slopes and a first order continuous autoregressive error term. There was substantial heterogeneity in both the intercept (p < 0.001) and slopes (p < 0.001) of the individual growth trajectories. We also identified important serial correlation within the structure of the data (ρ = 0.66; 95 % CI 0.64 to 0.68; p < 0.001), which we modeled with a first order continuous autoregressive error term as evidenced by the variogram of the residuals and by a lack of association among residuals. The final model provides a parametric linear regression equation for both estimation and prediction of population- and individual-level growth in height. We show that cubic regression splines are superior to linear regression splines for the case of a small number of knots in both estimation and prediction with the full linear mixed effect model (AIC 19,352 vs. 19,598, respectively). While the regression parameters are more complex to interpret in the former, we argue that inference for any problem depends more on the estimated curve or differences in curves rather than the coefficients. Moreover, use of cubic regression splines provides biological meaningful growth velocity and acceleration curves despite increased complexity in coefficient interpretation. Through this stepwise approach, we provide a set of tools to model longitudinal childhood data for non-statisticians using linear mixed-effect models.

Saturn Apollo Program

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-07-20

The first manned lunar landing mission, Apollo 11, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins, remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, named “Eagle’’, carrying astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, landed on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. The LM was a two part spacecraft. Its lower or descent stage had the landing gear, engines, and fuel needed for the landing. When the LM blasted off the Moon, the descent stage served as the launching pad for its companion ascent stage, which was also home for the two astronauts on the surface of the Moon. The LM was full of gear with which to communicate, navigate, and rendezvous. It also had its own propulsion system, and an engine to lift it off the Moon and send it on a course toward the orbiting CM. This photograph shows a close up of the LM on the Lunar surface.

Saturn Apollo Program

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-07-20

The first manned lunar landing mission, Apollo 11, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins, remained in a parking orbit around the Moon, while the LM, named “Eagle’’, carrying astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, landed on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. The LM was a two part spacecraft. Its lower or descent stage had the landing gear, engines, and fuel needed for the landing. When the LM blasted off the Moon, the descent stage served as the launching pad for its companion ascent stage, which was also home for the two astronauts on the surface of the Moon. The LM was full of gear with which to communicate, navigate, and rendezvous. It also had its own propulsion system, and an engine to lift it off the Moon and send it on a course toward the orbiting CM. In this photograph Aldrin is seen near the leg of the LM.

Saturn Apollo Program

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-07-20

The first manned lunar landing mission, Apollo 11, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins, remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, named “Eagle’’, carrying astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, landed on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. The LM was a two part spacecraft. Its lower or descent stage had the landing gear, engines, and fuel needed for the landing. When the LM blasted off the Moon, the descent stage served as the launching pad for its companion ascent stage, which was also home for the two astronauts on the surface of the Moon. The LM was full of gear with which to communicate, navigate, and rendezvous. It also had its own propulsion system, and an engine to lift it off the Moon and send it on a course toward the orbiting CM. Aldrin is pictured here next to the LM on the lunar surface.

Decoding and disrupting left midfusiform gyrus activity during word reading

PubMed Central

Hirshorn, Elizabeth A.; Ward, Michael J.; Fiez, Julie A.; Ghuman, Avniel Singh

2016-01-01

The nature of the visual representation for words has been fiercely debated for over 150 y. We used direct brain stimulation, pre- and postsurgical behavioral measures, and intracranial electroencephalography to provide support for, and elaborate upon, the visual word form hypothesis. This hypothesis states that activity in the left midfusiform gyrus (lmFG) reflects visually organized information about words and word parts. In patients with electrodes placed directly in their lmFG, we found that disrupting lmFG activity through stimulation, and later surgical resection in one of the patients, led to impaired perception of whole words and letters. Furthermore, using machine-learning methods to analyze the electrophysiological data from these electrodes, we found that information contained in early lmFG activity was consistent with an orthographic similarity space. Finally, the lmFG contributed to at least two distinguishable stages of word processing, an early stage that reflects gist-level visual representation sensitive to orthographic statistics, and a later stage that reflects more precise representation sufficient for the individuation of orthographic word forms. These results provide strong support for the visual word form hypothesis and demonstrate that across time the lmFG is involved in multiple stages of orthographic representation. PMID:27325763

Recombinant Listeria monocytogenes as a Live Vaccine Vehicle for the Induction of Protective Anti-Viral Cell-Mediated Immunity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Hao; Slifka, Mark K.; Matloubian, Mehrdad; Jensen, Eric R.; Ahmed, Rafi; Miller, Jeff F.

1995-04-01

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a Gram-positive bacterium that is able to enter host cells, escape from the endocytic vesicle, multiply within the cytoplasm, and spread directly from cell to cell without encountering the extracellular milieu. The ability of LM to gain access to the host cell cytosol allows proteins secreted by the bacterium to efficiently enter the pathway for major histocompatibility complex class I antigen processing and presentation. We have established a genetic system for expression and secretion of foreign antigens by recombinant strains, based on stable site-specific integration of expression cassettes into the LM genome. The ability of LM recombinants to induce protective immunity against a heterologous pathogen was demonstrated with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). LM strains expressing the entire LCMV nucleoprotein or an H-2L^d-restricted nucleoprotein epitope (aa 118-126) were constructed. Immunization of mice with LM vaccine strains conferred protection against challenge with virulent strains of LCMV that otherwise establish chronic infection in naive adult mice. In vivo depletion of CD8^+ T cells from vaccinated mice abrogated their ability to clear viral infection, showing that protective anti-viral immunity was due to CD8^+ T cells.

Decoding and disrupting left midfusiform gyrus activity during word reading.

PubMed

Hirshorn, Elizabeth A; Li, Yuanning; Ward, Michael J; Richardson, R Mark; Fiez, Julie A; Ghuman, Avniel Singh

2016-07-19

The nature of the visual representation for words has been fiercely debated for over 150 y. We used direct brain stimulation, pre- and postsurgical behavioral measures, and intracranial electroencephalography to provide support for, and elaborate upon, the visual word form hypothesis. This hypothesis states that activity in the left midfusiform gyrus (lmFG) reflects visually organized information about words and word parts. In patients with electrodes placed directly in their lmFG, we found that disrupting lmFG activity through stimulation, and later surgical resection in one of the patients, led to impaired perception of whole words and letters. Furthermore, using machine-learning methods to analyze the electrophysiological data from these electrodes, we found that information contained in early lmFG activity was consistent with an orthographic similarity space. Finally, the lmFG contributed to at least two distinguishable stages of word processing, an early stage that reflects gist-level visual representation sensitive to orthographic statistics, and a later stage that reflects more precise representation sufficient for the individuation of orthographic word forms. These results provide strong support for the visual word form hypothesis and demonstrate that across time the lmFG is involved in multiple stages of orthographic representation.

Alectinib salvages CNS relapses in ALK-positive lung cancer patients previously treated with crizotinib and ceritinib.

PubMed

Gainor, Justin F; Sherman, Carol A; Willoughby, Kathryn; Logan, Jennifer; Kennedy, Elizabeth; Brastianos, Priscilla K; Chi, Andrew S; Shaw, Alice T

2015-02-01

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) are an increasingly frequent and devastating complication of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, the optimal management of LM in ALK-positive patients remains poorly understood as these patients have been routinely excluded from clinical trials. We describe four ALK-positive patients with LM who were treated with the next-generation ALK inhibitor alectinib through single-patient, compassionate use protocols at two institutions. All patients had previously been treated with both FDA-approved ALK inhibitors--crizotinib and ceritinib. Patients received alectinib at a starting dose of 600 mg twice daily. Four ALK-positive NSCLC patients with symptomatic leptomeningeal disease were identified. Three of four patients experienced significant clinical and radiographic improvements in LM upon treatment with alectinib. A fourth patient had stable intracranial disease for 4 months before eventual systemic disease progression. Overall, alectinib was well tolerated. One patient required dose reduction due to grade 2 hyperbilirubinemia. Alectinib is active in ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients with LM, including in patients previously treated with crizotinib and ceritinib. Additional prospective studies of alectinib in ALK-positive patients with LM are warranted.

Alectinib Salvages CNS Relapses in ALK-Positive Lung Cancer Patients Previously Treated with Crizotinib and Ceritinib

PubMed Central

Gainor, Justin F.; Sherman, Carol A.; Willoughby, Kathryn; Logan, Jennifer; Kennedy, Elizabeth; Brastianos, Priscilla K.; Chi, Andrew S.; Shaw, Alice T.

2014-01-01

Background Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) are an increasingly frequent and devastating complication of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, the optimal management of LM in ALK-positive patients remains poorly understood as these patients have been routinely excluded from clinical trials. Methods We describe four ALK-positive patients with LM who were treated with the next-generation ALK inhibitor alectinib through single-patient, compassionate use protocols at two institutions. All patients had previously been treated with both FDA-approved ALK inhibitors—crizotinib and ceritinib. Patients received alectinib at a starting dose of 600 mg twice daily. Results Four ALK-positive NSCLC patients with symptomatic leptomeningeal disease were identified. Three of four patients experienced significant clinical and radiographic improvements in LM upon treatment with alectinib. A fourth patient had stable intracranial disease for four months before eventual systemic disease progression. Overall, alectinib was well tolerated. One patient required dose reduction due to grade 2 hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusions Alectinib is active in ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients with LM, including in patients previously treated with crizotinib and ceritinib. Additional prospective studies of alectinib in ALK-positive patients with LM are warranted. PMID:25526238

Liver transplantation for metastatic liver malignancies.

PubMed

Foss, Aksel; Lerut, Jan P

2014-06-01

Liver transplantation is a validated treatment of primary hepatobiliary tumours. Over the last decade, a renewed interest for liver transplantation as a curative treatment of colorectal liver metastasis (CR-LM) and neuro-endocrine metastasis (NET-LM) has developed. The ELTR and UNOS analyses showed that liver transplantation may offer excellent disease-free survival (ranging from 30 to 77%) in case of NET-LM, on the condition that stringent selection criteria are implemented. The interest for liver transplantation in the treatment of CR-LM has been fostered by the Norwegian SECA study. Five-year A 5-year survival rate of 60% could be reached. Despite the high recurrence rate (90%), one-third of patients were disease free following pulmonary surgery for metastases. Liver transplantation will take a more prominent place in the therapeutic algorithm of CR-LM and NET-LM. Larger experiences are necessary to improve knowledge about tumour biology and to refine selection criteria. A multimodal approach adding neo and adjuvant medical treatment to the transplant procedure will be key to bring this oncologic transplant project into the clinical arena. The preserved liver function in these patients will allow a more deliberate access to split liver and living donation for these indications.

World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) 2016 standards for recording and scoring leg movements in polysomnograms developed by a joint task force from the International and the European Restless Legs Syndrome Study Groups (IRLSSG and EURLSSG).

PubMed

Ferri, R; Fulda, S; Allen, R P; Zucconi, M; Bruni, O; Chokroverty, S; Ferini-Strambi, L; Frauscher, B; Garcia-Borreguero, D; Hirshkowitz, M; Högl, B; Inoue, Y; Jahangir, A; Manconi, M; Marcus, C L; Picchietti, D L; Plazzi, G; Winkelman, J W; Zak, R S

2016-10-01

This report presents the results of the work by a joint task force of the International and European Restless Legs Syndrome Study Groups and World Association of Sleep Medicine that revised and updated the current standards for recording and scoring leg movements (LM) in polysomnographic recordings (PSG). First, the background of the decisions made and the explanations of the new rules are reported and then specific standard rules are presented for recording, detecting, scoring and reporting LM activity in PSG. Each standard rule has been classified with a level of evidence. At the end of the paper, Appendix 1 provides algorithms to aid implementation of these new standards in software tools. There are two main changes introduced by these new rules: 1) Candidate LM (CLM), are any monolateral LM 0.5-10 s long or bilateral LM 0.5-15 s long; 2) periodic LM (PLM) are now defined by runs of at least four consecutive CLM with an intermovement interval ≥10 and ≤ 90 s without any CLM preceded by an interval <10 s interrupting the PLM series. There are also new options defining CLM associated with respiratory events. The PLM rate may now first be determined for all CLM not excluding any related to respiration (providing a consistent number across studies regardless of the rules used to define association with respiration) and, subsequently, the PLM rate should also be calculated without considering the respiratory related events. Finally, special considerations for pediatric studies are provided. The expert visual scoringof LM has only been altered by the new standards to require accepting all LM > 0.5 s regardless of duration, otherwise the technician scores the LM as for the old standards. There is a new criterion for the morphology of LM that applies only to computerized LM detection to better match expert visual detection. Available automatic scoring programs will incorporate all the new rules so that the new standards should reduce technician burden for scoring PLMS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gross rainfall amount and maximum rainfall intensity in 60-minute influence on interception loss of shrubs: a 10-year observation in the Tengger Desert.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhi-Shan; Zhao, Yang; Li, Xin-Rong; Huang, Lei; Tan, Hui-Juan

2016-05-17

In water-limited regions, rainfall interception is influenced by rainfall properties and crown characteristics. Rainfall properties, aside from gross rainfall amount and duration (GR and RD), maximum rainfall intensity and rainless gap (RG), within rain events may heavily affect throughfall and interception by plants. From 2004 to 2014 (except for 2007), individual shrubs of Caragana korshinskii and Artemisia ordosica were selected to measure throughfall during 210 rain events. Various rainfall properties were auto-measured and crown characteristics, i.e., height, branch and leaf area index, crown area and volume of two shrubs were also measured. The relative interceptions of C. korshinskii and A. ordosica were 29.1% and 17.1%, respectively. Rainfall properties have more contributions than crown characteristics to throughfall and interception of shrubs. Throughfall and interception of shrubs can be explained by GR, RI60 (maximum rainfall intensities during 60 min), RD and RG in deceasing importance. However, relative throughfall and interception of two shrubs have different responses to rainfall properties and crown characteristics, those of C. korshinskii were closely related to rainfall properties, while those of A. ordosica were more dependent on crown characteristics. We highlight long-term monitoring is very necessary to determine the relationships between throughfall and interception with crown characteristics.

On interception modelling of a lowland coastal rainforest in northern Queensland, Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallace, Jim; McJannet, Dave

2006-10-01

SummaryRecent studies of the water balance of tropical rainforests in northern Queensland have revealed that large fractions of rainfall, up to 30%, are intercepted by the canopy and lost as evaporation. These loss rates are much higher than those reported for continental rainforests, for example, in the Amazon basin, where interception is around 9% of rainfall. Higher interception losses have been found in coastal and mountain rainforests and substantial advection of energy during rainfall is proposed to account for these results. This paper uses a process based model of interception to analyse the interception losses at Oliver Creek, a lowland coastal rainforest site in northern Queensland with a mean annual rainfall of 3952 mm. The observed interception loss of 25% of rainfall for the period August 2001 to January 2004 can be reproduced by the model with a suitable choice of the three key controlling variables, the canopy storage capacity, mean rainfall rate and mean wet canopy evaporation rate. Our analyses suggest that the canopy storage capacity of the Oliver Creek rainforest is between 3.0 and 3.5 mm, higher than reported for most other rainforests. Despite the high canopy capacity at our site, the interception losses can only be accounted for with energy advection during rainfall in the range 40-70% of the incident energy.

Functional Multi-Locus QTL Mapping of Temporal Trends in Scots Pine Wood Traits

PubMed Central

Li, Zitong; Hallingbäck, Henrik R.; Abrahamsson, Sara; Fries, Anders; Gull, Bengt Andersson; Sillanpää, Mikko J.; García-Gil, M. Rosario

2014-01-01

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of wood properties in conifer species has focused on single time point measurements or on trait means based on heterogeneous wood samples (e.g., increment cores), thus ignoring systematic within-tree trends. In this study, functional QTL mapping was performed for a set of important wood properties in increment cores from a 17-yr-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) full-sib family with the aim of detecting wood trait QTL for general intercepts (means) and for linear slopes by increasing cambial age. Two multi-locus functional QTL analysis approaches were proposed and their performances were compared on trait datasets comprising 2 to 9 time points, 91 to 455 individual tree measurements and genotype datasets of amplified length polymorphisms (AFLP), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The first method was a multilevel LASSO analysis whereby trend parameter estimation and QTL mapping were conducted consecutively; the second method was our Bayesian linear mixed model whereby trends and underlying genetic effects were estimated simultaneously. We also compared several different hypothesis testing methods under either the LASSO or the Bayesian framework to perform QTL inference. In total, five and four significant QTL were observed for the intercepts and slopes, respectively, across wood traits such as earlywood percentage, wood density, radial fiberwidth, and spiral grain angle. Four of these QTL were represented by candidate gene SNPs, thus providing promising targets for future research in QTL mapping and molecular function. Bayesian and LASSO methods both detected similar sets of QTL given datasets that comprised large numbers of individuals. PMID:25305041

Functional multi-locus QTL mapping of temporal trends in Scots pine wood traits.

PubMed

Li, Zitong; Hallingbäck, Henrik R; Abrahamsson, Sara; Fries, Anders; Gull, Bengt Andersson; Sillanpää, Mikko J; García-Gil, M Rosario

2014-10-09

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of wood properties in conifer species has focused on single time point measurements or on trait means based on heterogeneous wood samples (e.g., increment cores), thus ignoring systematic within-tree trends. In this study, functional QTL mapping was performed for a set of important wood properties in increment cores from a 17-yr-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) full-sib family with the aim of detecting wood trait QTL for general intercepts (means) and for linear slopes by increasing cambial age. Two multi-locus functional QTL analysis approaches were proposed and their performances were compared on trait datasets comprising 2 to 9 time points, 91 to 455 individual tree measurements and genotype datasets of amplified length polymorphisms (AFLP), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The first method was a multilevel LASSO analysis whereby trend parameter estimation and QTL mapping were conducted consecutively; the second method was our Bayesian linear mixed model whereby trends and underlying genetic effects were estimated simultaneously. We also compared several different hypothesis testing methods under either the LASSO or the Bayesian framework to perform QTL inference. In total, five and four significant QTL were observed for the intercepts and slopes, respectively, across wood traits such as earlywood percentage, wood density, radial fiberwidth, and spiral grain angle. Four of these QTL were represented by candidate gene SNPs, thus providing promising targets for future research in QTL mapping and molecular function. Bayesian and LASSO methods both detected similar sets of QTL given datasets that comprised large numbers of individuals. Copyright © 2014 Li et al.

The observation-based relationships between PM2.5 and AOD over China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xin, Jinyuan; Gong, Chongshui; Liu, Zirui; Cong, Zhiyuan; Gao, Wenkang; Song, Tao; Pan, Yuepeng; Sun, Yang; Ji, Dongsheng; Wang, Lili; Tang, Guiqian; Wang, Yuesi

2016-09-01

This is the first investigation of the generalized linear regressions of PM2.5 and aerosol optical depth (AOD) with the Campaign on atmospheric Aerosol Research-China network over the large high-concentration aerosol region during the period from 2012 to 2013. The map of the PM2.5 and AOD levels showed large spatial differences in the aerosol concentrations and aerosol optical properties over China. The ranges of the annual mean PM2.5 and AOD were 10-117 µg/m3 and 0.12-1.11 from the clean regions to seriously polluted regions, from the almost "arctic" and the Tibetan Plateau to tropical environments. There were significant spatial agreements and correlations between the PM2.5 and AOD. However, the linear regression functions (PM2.5 = A*AOD + B) exhibited large differences in different regions and seasons. The slopes (A) were from 13 to 90, the intercepts (B) were from 0.8 to 33.3, and the correlation coefficients (R2) ranged from 0.06 to 0.75. The slopes (A) were much higher in the north (41-99) than in the south (13-64) because the extinction efficiency of hygroscopic aerosol was rapidly increasing with the increasing humidity from the dry north to the humid south. Meanwhile, the intercepts (B) were generally lower, and the correlation coefficients (R2) were much higher in the dry north than in the humid south. There was high consistency of AOD versus PM2.5 for all sites in three ranges of the atmospheric column precipitable water vapor (PWV). The segmented linear regression functions were y = 84.66x + 9.85 (PWV < 1.0), y = 69.47x + 11.87 (1.0 < PWV < 2.5), and y = 52.37x + 8.59 (PWV > 2.5). The correlation coefficients (R2) were high from 0.64 to 0.70 across China.

Estimation of Stormwater Interception Rate for various LID Facilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, S.; Lee, O.; Choi, J.

2017-12-01

In this study, the stormwater interception rate is proposed to apply in the design of LID facilities. For this purpose, EPA-SWMM is built with some areas of Noksan National Industrial Complex where long-term observed stormwater data were monitored and stormwater interception rates for various design capacities of various LID facilities are estimated. While the sensitivity of stormwater interception rate according to design specifications of bio-retention and infiltration trench facilities is not large, the sensitivity of stormwater interception rate according to local rainfall characteristics is relatively big. As a result of comparing the present rainfall interception rate estimation method which is officially operated in Korea with the one proposed in this study, it will be presented that the present method is highly likely to overestimate the performance of the bio-retention and infiltration trench facilities. Finally, a new stormwater interception rate formulas for the bio-retention and infiltration trench LID facilities will be proposed. Acknowledgement This research was supported by a grant (2016000200002) from Public Welfare Technology Development Program funded by Ministry of Environment of Korean government.

Characterization of antimicrobial lipopeptides produced by Bacillus sp. LM7 isolated from chungkookjang, a Korean traditional fermented soybean food.

PubMed

Lee, Mi-Hwa; Lee, Jiyeon; Nam, Young-Do; Lee, Jong Suk; Seo, Myung-Ji; Yi, Sung-Hun

2016-03-16

A wild-type microorganism exhibiting antimicrobial activities was isolated from the Korean traditional fermented soybean food Chungkookjang and identified as Bacillus sp. LM7. During its stationary growth phase, the microorganism secreted an antimicrobial substance, which we partially purified using a simple two-step procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation and heat treatment. The partially purified antimicrobial substance, Anti-LM7, was stable over a broad pH range (4.0-9.0) and at temperatures up to 80 °C for 30 min, and was resistant to most proteolytic enzymes and maintained its activity in 30% (v/v) organic solvents. Anti-LM7 inhibited the growth of a broad range of Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes, but it did not inhibit lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis. Moreover, unlike commercially available nisin and polymyxin B, Anti-LM7 inhibited certain fungal strains. Lastly, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of Anti-LM7 revealed that it contained eight lipopeptides belonging to two families: four bacillomycin D and four surfactin analogs. These Bacillus sp. LM7-produced heterogeneous lipopeptides exhibiting extremely high stability and a broad antimicrobial spectrum are likely to be closely related to the antimicrobial activity of Chungkookjang, and their identification presents an opportunity for application of the peptides in environmental bioremediation, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PSF reconstruction for Compton-based prompt gamma imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jan, Meei-Ling; Lee, Ming-Wei; Huang, Hsuan-Ming

2018-02-01

Compton-based prompt gamma (PG) imaging has been proposed for in vivo range verification in proton therapy. However, several factors degrade the image quality of PG images, some of which are due to inherent properties of a Compton camera such as spatial resolution and energy resolution. Moreover, Compton-based PG imaging has a spatially variant resolution loss. In this study, we investigate the performance of the list-mode ordered subset expectation maximization algorithm with a shift-variant point spread function (LM-OSEM-SV-PSF) model. We also evaluate how well the PG images reconstructed using an SV-PSF model reproduce the distal falloff of the proton beam. The SV-PSF parameters were estimated from simulation data of point sources at various positions. Simulated PGs were produced in a water phantom irradiated with a proton beam. Compared to the LM-OSEM algorithm, the LM-OSEM-SV-PSF algorithm improved the quality of the reconstructed PG images and the estimation of PG falloff positions. In addition, the 4.44 and 5.25 MeV PG emissions can be accurately reconstructed using the LM-OSEM-SV-PSF algorithm. However, for the 2.31 and 6.13 MeV PG emissions, the LM-OSEM-SV-PSF reconstruction provides limited improvement. We also found that the LM-OSEM algorithm followed by a shift-variant Richardson-Lucy deconvolution could reconstruct images with quality visually similar to the LM-OSEM-SV-PSF-reconstructed images, while requiring shorter computation time.

Movement amplitude on the Functional Re-adaptive Exercise Device: deep spinal muscle activity and movement control.

PubMed

Winnard, A; Debuse, D; Wilkinson, M; Samson, L; Weber, T; Caplan, Nick

2017-08-01

Lumbar multifidus (LM) and transversus abdominis (TrA) show altered motor control, and LM is atrophied, in people with low-back pain (LBP). The Functional Re-adaptive Exercise Device (FRED) involves cyclical lower-limb movement against minimal resistance in an upright posture. It has been shown to recruit LM and TrA automatically, and may have potential as an intervention for non-specific LBP. However, no studies have yet investigated the effects of changes in FRED movement amplitude on the activity of these muscles. This study aimed to assess the effects of different FRED movement amplitudes on LM and TrA muscle thickness and movement variability, to inform an evidence-based exercise prescription. Lumbar multifidus and TrA thickness of eight healthy male volunteers were examined using ultrasound imaging during FRED exercise, normalised to rest at four different movement amplitudes. Movement variability was also measured. Magnitude-based inferences were used to compare each amplitude. Exercise at all amplitudes recruited LM and TrA more than rest, with thickness increases of approximately 5 and 1 mm, respectively. Larger amplitudes also caused increased TrA thickness, LM and TrA muscle thickness variability and movement variability. The data suggests that all amplitudes are useful for recruiting LM and TrA. A progressive training protocol should start in the smallest amplitude, increasing the setting once participants can maintain a consistent movement speed, to continue to challenge the motor control system.

Members of a Large Retroposon Family Are Determinants of Post-Transcriptional Gene Expression in Leishmania

PubMed Central

Cerqueira, Gustavo Coutinho; Smith, Martin; Rochette, Annie; El-Sayed, Najib M. A; Papadopoulou, Barbara; Ghedin, Elodie

2007-01-01

Trypanosomatids are unicellular protists that include the human pathogens Leishmania spp. (leishmaniasis), Trypanosoma brucei (sleeping sickness), and Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease). Analysis of their recently completed genomes confirmed the presence of non–long-terminal repeat retrotransposons, also called retroposons. Using the 79-bp signature sequence common to all trypanosomatid retroposons as bait, we identified in the Leishmania major genome two new large families of small elements—LmSIDER1 (785 copies) and LmSIDER2 (1,073 copies)—that fulfill all the characteristics of extinct trypanosomatid retroposons. LmSIDERs are ∼70 times more abundant in L. major compared to T. brucei and are found almost exclusively within the 3′-untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of L. major mRNAs. We provide experimental evidence that LmSIDER2 act as mRNA instability elements and that LmSIDER2-containing mRNAs are generally expressed at lower levels compared to the non-LmSIDER2 mRNAs. The considerable expansion of LmSIDERs within 3′UTRs in an organism lacking transcriptional control and their role in regulating mRNA stability indicate that Leishmania have probably recycled these short retroposons to globally modulate the expression of a number of genes. To our knowledge, this is the first example in eukaryotes of the domestication and expansion of a family of mobile elements that have evolved to fulfill a critical cellular function. PMID:17907803

Lung Mass in Smokers.

PubMed

Washko, George R; Kinney, Gregory L; Ross, James C; San José Estépar, Raúl; Han, MeiLan K; Dransfield, Mark T; Kim, Victor; Hatabu, Hiroto; Come, Carolyn E; Bowler, Russell P; Silverman, Edwin K; Crapo, James; Lynch, David A; Hokanson, John; Diaz, Alejandro A

2017-04-01

Emphysema is characterized by airspace dilation, inflammation, and irregular deposition of elastin and collagen in the interstitium. Computed tomographic studies have reported that lung mass (LM) may be increased in smokers, a finding attributed to inflammatory and parenchymal remodeling processes observed on histopathology. We sought to examine the epidemiologic and clinical associations of LM in smokers. Baseline epidemiologic, clinical, and computed tomography (CT) data (n = 8156) from smokers enrolled into the COPDGene Study were analyzed. LM was calculated from the CT scan. Changes in lung function at 5 years' follow-up were available from 1623 subjects. Regression analysis was performed to assess for associations of LM with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) and FEV 1 decline. Subjects with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 1 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had greater LM than either smokers with normal lung function or those with GOLD 2-4 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). LM was predictive of the rate of the decline in FEV 1 (decline per 100 g, -4.7 ± 1.7 mL/y, P = 0.006). Our cross-sectional data suggest the presence of a biphasic radiological remodeling process in smokers: the presence of such nonlinearity must be accounted for in longitudinal computed tomographic studies. Baseline LM predicts the decline in lung function. Copyright © 2017 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management's Tribal Interactions - 12513

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

Gil, April; Shafer, David; Elmer, John

2012-07-01

Effective government-to-government interactions with tribal nations and maintaining stakeholder relations with members of tribes are increasingly important to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM). As of October 2011, LM was responsible for long-term surveillance and maintenance of 87 sites and facilities in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico, including some sites on tribal lands. The sites on tribal lands can affect natural resources that are managed or used by tribes, or the sites can potentially affect areas of cultural significance to tribal nations in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Tribes aremore » separate sovereign governments recognized in the U.S. Constitution and are significant stakeholders for LM sites. The tribes are individual nations with diverse histories, cultures, customs, religions, and laws. LM has regular communication with the affected tribes to inform members of issues, to allow the tribe to participate in decision making, to provide technical reviews, and to ensure tribal concerns are addressed. Four LM sites are in the Navajo Nation. Three of those sites contain uranium mill tailings disposal cells regulated under long-term surveillance and maintenance programs that require monitoring and annual inspections. The fourth site was remediated but still has a groundwater plume that LM is responsible for. DOE and LM have worked with the Navajo Nation for almost 30 years on technical issues and to ensure tribal concerns are addressed. (authors)« less

Atypical Uterine Smooth Muscle Tumors: A Retrospective Evaluation of Clinical and Pathologic Features.

PubMed

Maltese, Giuseppa; Fontanella, Caterina; Lepori, Stefano; Scaffa, Cono; Fucà, Giovanni; Bogani, Giorgio; Provenzano, Salvatore; Carcangiu, Maria Luisa; Raspagliesi, Francesco; Lorusso, Domenica

2018-01-01

Clinical characteristics combined with new biomarkers help discriminate between atypical uterine smooth muscle tumors (AUSMT) and leiomyosarcomas (LMS). We retrospectively collected a series of leiomyomas (LM), AUSMT, and LMS. Estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), p16, Ki-67, and p53 expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry. For AUSMT patients, immunohistochemistry evaluations were performed at the time of diagnosis and at recurrences. A total of 27 cases of AUSMT, 22 LM, and 31 LMS were identified. The expression of ER and PR decreased from LM to LMS (ER+: LM 95.5%, AUSMT 88.9%, LMS 41.9%, p < 0.001; PR+: LM 100%, AUSMT 88.9%, LMS 38.2%, p = 0.002). By contrast, p16 and p53 expression increased (p16+: LM 4.5%, AUSMT 40.7%, LMS 45.2%, p = 0.004; p53: LM 9.1%, AUSMT 33.3%, LMS 58.1%, p = 0.001). At a median follow-up of 33.47 months, 40.7% of patients with AUSMT experienced recurrent disease, 6 patients relapsed as AUSMT and 5 as LMS. In univariate analysis was observed that ER status (p = 0.027) and p53 expression (p = 0.015) predicted risk of relapse. Treatment of AUSMT should be centralized in dedicated centers. International collaborations are needed to optimize research strategy, which may lead to the identification of new useful biomarkers and to improvement in the clinical management of this rare disease. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Honokiol bis-dichloroacetate (Honokiol DCA) demonstrates activity in vemurafenib-resistant melanoma in vivo.

PubMed

Bonner, Michael Y; Karlsson, Isabella; Rodolfo, Monica; Arnold, Rebecca S; Vergani, Elisabetta; Arbiser, Jack L

2016-03-15

The majority of human melanomas bears BRAF mutations and thus is treated with inhibitors of BRAF, such as vemurafenib. While patients with BRAF mutations often demonstrate an initial dramatic response to vemurafenib, relapse is extremely common. Thus, novel agents are needed for the treatment of these aggressive melanomas. Honokiol is a small molecule compound derived from Magnolia grandiflora that has activity against solid tumors and hematopoietic neoplasms. In order to increase the lipophilicity of honokiol, we have synthesized honokiol DCA, the dichloroacetate ester of honokiol. In addition, we synthesized a novel fluorinated honokiol analog, bis-trifluoromethyl-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-allylphenyl) methane (hexafluoro). Both compounds exhibited activity against A375 melanoma in vivo, but honokiol DCA was more active. Gene arrays comparing treated with vehicle control tumors demonstrated induction of the respiratory enzyme succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) by treatment, suggesting that our honokiol analogs induce respiration in vivo. We then examined its effect against a pair of melanomas, LM36 and LM36R, in which LM36R differs from LM36 in that LM36R has acquired vemurafenib resistance. Honokiol DCA demonstrated in vivo activity against LM36R (vemurafenib resistant) but not against parental LM36. Honokiol DCA and hexafluoro inhibited the phosphorylation of DRP1, thus stimulating a phenotype suggestive of respiration through mitochondrial normalization. Honokiol DCA may act in vemurafenib resistant melanomas to increase both respiration and reactive oxygen generation, leading to activity against aggressive melanoma in vivo.

Process-based rainfall interception by small trees in Northern China: The effect of rainfall traits and crown structure characteristics

Treesearch

Xiang Li; Qingfu Xiao; Jianzhi Niu; Salli Dymond; Natalie S. van Doorn; Xinxiao Yu; Baoyuan Xie; Xizhi Lv; Kebin Zhang; Jiao Li

2016-01-01

Rainfall interception by a tree's crown is one of the most important hydrological processes in an ecosystem, yet the mechanisms of interception are not well understood. A process-based experiment was conducted under five simulated rainfall intensities (from 10 to 150 mm h−1) to directly quantify tree crown interception and examine the effect...

Victimization, Aggression, and Other Problem Behaviors: Trajectories of Change Within and Across Middle School Grades.

PubMed

Farrell, Albert D; Goncy, Elizabeth A; Sullivan, Terri N; Thompson, Erin L

2018-06-01

This study examined trajectories of victimization and problem behaviors within and across three grades of middle school. Participants were 2,166 adolescents from three urban middle schools in the United States who completed measures of victimization, physical and relational aggression, substance use, and delinquent behavior. Latent curve analyses modeled changes in each construct across 12 waves collected every 3 months. In each case, the best-fitting model required separate linear slopes to represent changes within each grade and a factor representing decreases in the summers. Positive cross-construct correlations were found for intercepts, linear slopes, and measures within waves. The findings suggest strong associations among victimization and problem behaviors, and individual differences in their patterns of change both within and across grades. © 2017 Society for Research on Adolescence.

Mellin Transform-Based Correction Method for Linear Scale Inconsistency of Intrusion Events Identification in OFPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Baocheng; Qu, Dandan; Tian, Qing; Pang, Liping

2018-05-01

For the problem that the linear scale of intrusion signals in the optical fiber pre-warning system (OFPS) is inconsistent, this paper presents a method to correct the scale. Firstly, the intrusion signals are intercepted, and an aggregate of the segments with equal length is obtained. Then, the Mellin transform (MT) is applied to convert them into the same scale. The spectral characteristics are obtained by the Fourier transform. Finally, we adopt back-propagation (BP) neural network to identify intrusion types, which takes the spectral characteristics as input. We carried out the field experiments and collected the optical fiber intrusion signals which contain the picking signal, shoveling signal, and running signal. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively improve the recognition accuracy of the intrusion signals.

The morphing of geographical features by Fourier transformation

PubMed Central

Liu, Pengcheng; Yu, Wenhao; Cheng, Xiaoqiang

2018-01-01

This paper presents a morphing model of vector geographical data based on Fourier transformation. This model involves three main steps. They are conversion from vector data to Fourier series, generation of intermediate function by combination of the two Fourier series concerning a large scale and a small scale, and reverse conversion from combination function to vector data. By mirror processing, the model can also be used for morphing of linear features. Experimental results show that this method is sensitive to scale variations and it can be used for vector map features’ continuous scale transformation. The efficiency of this model is linearly related to the point number of shape boundary and the interceptive value n of Fourier expansion. The effect of morphing by Fourier transformation is plausible and the efficiency of the algorithm is acceptable. PMID:29351344

Office of Legacy Management Decision Tree for Solar Photovoltaic Projects - 13317

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

Elmer, John; Butherus, Michael; Barr, Deborah L.

2013-07-01

To support consideration of renewable energy power development as a land reuse option, the DOE Office of Legacy Management (LM) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) established a partnership to conduct an assessment of wind and solar renewable energy resources on LM lands. From a solar capacity perspective, the larger sites in the western United States present opportunities for constructing solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. A detailed analysis and preliminary plan was developed for three large sites in New Mexico, assessing the costs, the conceptual layout of a PV system, and the electric utility interconnection process. As a result ofmore » the study, a 1,214-hectare (3,000-acre) site near Grants, New Mexico, was chosen for further study. The state incentives, utility connection process, and transmission line capacity were key factors in assessing the feasibility of the project. LM's Durango, Colorado, Disposal Site was also chosen for consideration because the uranium mill tailings disposal cell is on a hillside facing south, transmission lines cross the property, and the community was very supportive of the project. LM worked with the regulators to demonstrate that the disposal cell's long-term performance would not be impacted by the installation of a PV solar system. A number of LM-unique issues were resolved in making the site available for a private party to lease a portion of the site for a solar PV project. A lease was awarded in September 2012. Using a solar decision tree that was developed and launched by the EPA and NREL, LM has modified and expanded the decision tree structure to address the unique aspects and challenges faced by LM on its multiple sites. The LM solar decision tree covers factors such as land ownership, usable acreage, financial viability of the project, stakeholder involvement, and transmission line capacity. As additional sites are transferred to LM in the future, the decision tree will assist in determining whether a solar PV project is feasible on the new sites. (authors)« less

Higher Total Protein Intake and Change in Total Protein Intake Affect Body Composition but Not Metabolic Syndrome Indexes in Middle-Aged Overweight and Obese Adults Who Perform Resistance and Aerobic Exercise for 36 Weeks.

PubMed

Campbell, Wayne W; Kim, Jung Eun; Amankwaah, Akua F; Gordon, Susannah L; Weinheimer-Haus, Eileen M

2015-09-01

Studies assessing the effects of protein supplementation on changes in body composition (BC) and health rarely consider the impact of total protein intake (TPro) or the change in TPro (CTPro) from participants' usual diets. This secondary data analysis assessed the impact of TPro and CTPro on changes in BC and metabolic syndrome (MetS) indexes in overweight and obese middle-aged adults who participated in an exercise training program. Men and women [n = 117; age: 50 ± 0.7 y, body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)): 30.1 ± 0.3; means ± SEs] performed resistance exercise 2 d/wk and aerobic exercise 1 d/wk and consumed an unrestricted diet along with 200-kcal supplements (0, 10, 20, or 30 g whey protein) twice daily for 36 wk. Protein intake was assessed via 4-d food records. Multiple linear regression model and stratified analysis were applied for data analyses. Among all subjects, TPro and CTPro were inversely associated (P < 0.05) with changes in body mass, fat mass (FM), and BMI. Changes in BC were different (P < 0.05) among groups that consumed <1.0 (n = 43) vs. ≥1.0 to <1.2 (n = 29) vs. ≥1.2 g · kg(-1) · d(-1) (n = 45). The TPro group with ≥1.0 to <1.2 g ·: kg(-1) ·: d(-1) reduced FM and %FM and increased percentage of LM (%LM) compared with the lowest TPro group, whereas the TPro group with ≥1.2 g ·: kg(-1) ·: d(-1) presented intermediate responses on changes in FM, %FM, and %LM. The gain in LM was not different among groups. In addition, MetS indexes were not influenced by TPro and CTPro. In conjunction with exercise training, higher TPro promoted positive changes in BC but not in MetS indexes in overweight and obese middle-aged adults. Changes in TPro from before to during the intervention also influenced BC responses and should be considered in future research when different TPro is achieved via diet or supplements. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00812409. © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

Report on the Results of Site Testing to Determine National Register Eligibility for Sites 39GR32, 39GR53, 39LM33 and 39LM39, in the Lake Francis Case Area, South Dakota. Volume 2. Appendices

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

WESTERN STUDIES AUGUSTANA COLLEGE, SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA 57105 ARCHEOLOGICAL CONTRACT SERIES NUMBER 29 VOLUME 2 APPENDICES 1. Location of Sites...Specialist Report - Report on the Soils at Sites 39GR53 and 39LM33, by Dr. Frederick Westin APPENDIX I Location of Sites on UGSG 7.5’ Quadrangle Maps...QUADANGL LOCTIO / (r\\\\ 2~0 SCALE 12000 0~ 1 0IL QUDANL OATO 1PPROXLOMETERA 51ONOU INTRVA 10LNAIN FEET DAU 1S MEILEALEE Location of site 39LM39. J~27 . ~ FIt

Comparative study on interactions between laser and arc plasma during laser-GTA welding and laser-GMA welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Minghua; Xu, Jiannan; Xin, Lijun; Zhao, Zuofu; Wu, Fufa

2016-10-01

This paper describes an investigation on differences in interactions between laser and arc plasma during laser-gas tungsten arc (LT) welding and laser-gas metal arc (LM) welding. The characteristics of LT heat source and LM heat source, such as plasma behavior, heat penetration ability and spectral information were comparably studied. Based on the plasma discharge theory, the interactions during plasma discharge were modeled and analyzed. Results show that in both LT and LM welding, coupling discharge between the laser keyhole plasma and arc happens, which strongly enhance the arc. But, the enhancing effect in LT welding is much more sensitive than that in LM welding when parameters are adjusted.

Separate first- and second-order processing is supported by spatial summation estimates at the fovea and eccentrically.

PubMed

Sukumar, Subash; Waugh, Sarah J

2007-03-01

We estimated spatial summation areas for the detection of luminance-modulated (LM) and contrast-modulated (CM) blobs at the fovea, 2.5, 5 and 10 deg eccentrically. Gaussian profiles were added or multiplied to binary white noise to create LM and CM blob stimuli and these were used to psychophysically estimate detection thresholds and spatial summation areas. The results reveal significantly larger summation areas for detecting CM than LM blobs across eccentricity. These differences are comparable to receptive field size estimates made in V1 and V2. They support the notion that separate spatial processing occurs for the detection of LM and CM stimuli.

Galaxy cluster luminosities and colours, and their dependence on cluster mass and merger state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulroy, Sarah L.; McGee, Sean L.; Gillman, Steven; Smith, Graham P.; Haines, Chris P.; Démoclès, Jessica; Okabe, Nobuhiro; Egami, Eiichi

2017-12-01

We study a sample of 19 galaxy clusters in the redshift range 0.15 < z < 0.30 with highly complete spectroscopic membership catalogues (to K < K*(z) + 1.5) from the Arizona Cluster Redshift Survey, individual weak-lensing masses and near-infrared data from the Local Cluster Substructure Survey, and optical photometry from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We fit the scaling relations between total cluster luminosity in each of six bandpasses (grizJK) and cluster mass, finding cluster luminosity to be a promising mass proxy with low intrinsic scatter σln L|M of only ∼10-20 per cent for all relations. At fixed overdensity radius, the intercept increases with wavelength, consistent with an old stellar population. The scatter and slope are consistent across all wavelengths, suggesting that cluster colour is not a function of mass. Comparing colour with indicators of the level of disturbance in the cluster, we find a narrower variety in the cluster colours of 'disturbed' clusters than of 'undisturbed' clusters. This trend is more pronounced with indicators sensitive to the initial stages of a cluster merger, e.g. the Dressler Schectman statistic. We interpret this as possible evidence that the total cluster star formation rate is 'standardized' in mergers, perhaps through a process such as a system-wide shock in the intracluster medium.

Effects of feeding distillers dried grains with solubles, high-protein distillers dried grains, and corn germ to growing-finishing pigs on pig performance, carcass quality, and the palatability of pork.

PubMed

Widmer, M R; McGinnis, L M; Wulf, D M; Stein, H H

2008-08-01

An experiment was conducted to investigate pig performance, carcass quality, and palatability of pork from pigs fed distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), high-protein distillers dried grains (HPDDG), and corn germ. Eighty-four pigs (initial BW, 22 +/- 1.7 kg) were allotted to 7 dietary treatments with 6 replicates per treatment and 2 pigs per pen. Diets were fed for 114 d in a 3-phase program. The control treatment was based on corn and soybean meal. Two treatments were formulated using 10 or 20% DDGS in each phase. Two additional treatments contained HP-DDG in amounts sufficient to substitute for either 50 or 100% of the soybean meal used in the control treatment. An additional 2 treatments contained 5 or 10% corn germ, which was calculated to provide the same amount of fat as 10 or 20% DDGS. Results showed that for the entire experiment, pig performance was not affected by DDGS or HP-DDG, but final BW increased (linear, P < 0.05) as corn germ was included in the diets. Carcass composition and muscle quality were not affected by DDGS, but LM area and LM depth decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as HP-DDG was added to the diets. Lean meat percentage increased and drip loss decreased as corn germ was included in the diets (quadratic, P < 0.05). There was no effect of DDGS on fat quality except that belly firmness decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as dietary DDGS concentration increased. Including HP-DDG or corn germ in the diets did not affect fat quality, except that the iodine value increased (linear, P < 0.05) in pigs fed HP-DDG diets and decreased (linear, P < 0.05) in pigs fed corn germ diets. Cooking loss, shear force, and bacon distortion score were not affected by the inclusion of DDGS, HP-DDG, or corn germ in the diets, and the overall palatability of the bacon and pork chops was not affected by dietary treatment. In conclusion, feeding 20% DDGS or high levels of HP-DDG to growing-finishing pigs did not negatively affect overall pig performance, carcass composition, muscle quality, or palatability but may decrease fat quality. Feeding up to 10% corn germ did not negatively affect pig performance, carcass composition, carcass quality, or pork palatability but increased final BW of the pigs and reduced the iodine value of belly fat.

Gross rainfall amount and maximum rainfall intensity in 60-minute influence on interception loss of shrubs: a 10-year observation in the Tengger Desert

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhi-Shan; Zhao, Yang; Li, Xin-Rong; Huang, Lei; Tan, Hui-Juan

2016-01-01

In water-limited regions, rainfall interception is influenced by rainfall properties and crown characteristics. Rainfall properties, aside from gross rainfall amount and duration (GR and RD), maximum rainfall intensity and rainless gap (RG), within rain events may heavily affect throughfall and interception by plants. From 2004 to 2014 (except for 2007), individual shrubs of Caragana korshinskii and Artemisia ordosica were selected to measure throughfall during 210 rain events. Various rainfall properties were auto-measured and crown characteristics, i.e., height, branch and leaf area index, crown area and volume of two shrubs were also measured. The relative interceptions of C. korshinskii and A. ordosica were 29.1% and 17.1%, respectively. Rainfall properties have more contributions than crown characteristics to throughfall and interception of shrubs. Throughfall and interception of shrubs can be explained by GR, RI60 (maximum rainfall intensities during 60 min), RD and RG in deceasing importance. However, relative throughfall and interception of two shrubs have different responses to rainfall properties and crown characteristics, those of C. korshinskii were closely related to rainfall properties, while those of A. ordosica were more dependent on crown characteristics. We highlight long-term monitoring is very necessary to determine the relationships between throughfall and interception with crown characteristics. PMID:27184918

A new laryngeal mask supraglottic airway device with integrated balloon line: a descriptive and comparative bench study

PubMed Central

Zhou, YingHai; Jew, Korinne

2016-01-01

Laryngeal masks are invasive devices for airway management placed in the supraglottic position. The Shiley™ laryngeal mask (Shiley™ LM) features an integrated inflation tube and airway shaft to facilitate product insertion and reduce the chance of tube occlusion when patients bite down. This study compared the Shiley LM to two other disposable laryngeal mask devices, the Ambu® AuraStraight™ and the LMA Unique™. Overall device design, tensile strength, flexibility of various structures, and sealing performance were measured. The Shiley LM is structurally stronger and its shaft is more resistant to compression than the other devices. The Shiley LM is generally less flexible than the other devices, but this relationship varies with device size. Sealing performance of the devices was similar in a bench assay. The results of this bench study demonstrate that the new Shiley LM resembles other commercially available laryngeal mask devices, though it exhibits greater tensile strength and lower flexibility. PMID:27843359

Diagnosis of Gestational, Congenital, and Placental Malaria in Colombia: Comparison of the Efficacy of Microscopy, Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction, and Histopathology

PubMed Central

Campos, Ivón M.; Uribe, Mary L.; Cuesta, Carolina; Franco-Gallego, Alexander; Carmona-Fonseca, Jaime; Maestre, Amanda

2011-01-01

The technical capability of different methods to diagnose Plasmodium in maternal peripheral blood, placenta, and umbilical cord blood has not been assessed in Colombia and seldom explored in other malaria-endemic regions. We designed a study to compare the technical and the operational-economical performances of light microscopy (LM), nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), and histopathology (HP). In maternal blood, LM had 41% sensitivity and 100% specificity and in placental blood, 35% and 100%, respectively, compared with nPCR. In placental tissue, LM had 33% sensitivity and 95% specificity; and nPCR 47% and 77%, respectively; compared with HP. Light microscopy had the best operational-economical qualification. We concluded that nPCR and HP performed better compared with LM, but field implementation of these two techniques remains a problem. Therefore, LM is recommended as the gold standard for diagnosis of gestational malaria and placental blood infection in the field. PMID:21633030

A new laryngeal mask supraglottic airway device with integrated balloon line: a descriptive and comparative bench study.

PubMed

Zhou, YingHai; Jew, Korinne

2016-01-01

Laryngeal masks are invasive devices for airway management placed in the supraglottic position. The Shiley™ laryngeal mask (Shiley™ LM) features an integrated inflation tube and airway shaft to facilitate product insertion and reduce the chance of tube occlusion when patients bite down. This study compared the Shiley LM to two other disposable laryngeal mask devices, the Ambu ® AuraStraight™ and the LMA Unique™. Overall device design, tensile strength, flexibility of various structures, and sealing performance were measured. The Shiley LM is structurally stronger and its shaft is more resistant to compression than the other devices. The Shiley LM is generally less flexible than the other devices, but this relationship varies with device size. Sealing performance of the devices was similar in a bench assay. The results of this bench study demonstrate that the new Shiley LM resembles other commercially available laryngeal mask devices, though it exhibits greater tensile strength and lower flexibility.

Larson-Miller Constant of Heat-Resistant Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamura, Manabu; Abe, Fujio; Shiba, Kiyoyuki; Sakasegawa, Hideo; Tanigawa, Hiroyasu

2013-06-01

Long-term rupture data for 79 types of heat-resistant steels including carbon steel, low-alloy steel, high-alloy steel, austenitic stainless steel, and superalloy were analyzed, and a constant for the Larson-Miller (LM) parameter was obtained in the current study for each material. The calculated LM constant, C, is approximately 20 for heat-resistant steels and alloys except for high-alloy martensitic steels with high creep resistance, for which C ≈ 30 . The apparent activation energy was also calculated, and the LM constant was found to be proportional to the apparent activation energy with a high correlation coefficient, which suggests that the LM constant is a material constant possessing intrinsic physical meaning. The contribution of the entropy change to the LM constant is not small, especially for several martensitic steels with large values of C. Deformation of such martensitic steels should accompany a large entropy change of 10 times the gas constant at least, besides the entropy change due to self-diffusion.

Sleep and Movement Differentiates Actions of Two Types of Somatostatin-Expressing GABAergic Interneuron in Rat Hippocampus

PubMed Central

Katona, Linda; Lapray, Damien; Viney, Tim J.; Oulhaj, Abderrahim; Borhegyi, Zsolt; Micklem, Benjamin R.; Klausberger, Thomas; Somogyi, Peter

2014-01-01

Summary Neuropeptides acting on pre- and postsynaptic receptors are coreleased with GABA by interneurons including bistratified and O-LM cells, both expressing somatostatin but innervating segregated dendritic domains of pyramidal cells. Neuropeptide release requires high-frequency action potentials, but the firing patterns of most peptide/GABA-releasing interneurons during behavior are unknown. We show that behavioral and network states differentiate the activities of bistratified and O-LM cells in freely moving rats. Bistratified cells fire at higher rates during sleep than O-LM cells and, unlike O-LM cells, strongly increase spiking during sharp wave-associated ripples (SWRs). In contrast, O-LM interneurons decrease firing during sleep relative to awake states and are mostly inhibited during SWRs. During movement, both cell types fire cooperatively at the troughs of theta oscillations but with different frequencies. Somatostatin and GABA are differentially released to distinct dendritic zones of CA1 pyramidal cells during sleep and wakefulness to coordinate segregated glutamatergic inputs from entorhinal cortex and CA3. PMID:24794095

Apollo 12 Mission image - Modular Equipment Stowage Assemble (MESA) and the Fuel Cask on the Lunar Module (LM)

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-11-19

AS12-48-7034 (19 Nov. 1969) --- A close-up view of a portion of quadrant II of the descent stage of the Apollo 12 Lunar Module (LM), photographed during the Apollo 12 extravehicular activity (EVA). At lower left is the LM's Y footpad. The empty Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) fuel cask is at upper right. The fuel capsule has already been removed and placed in the RTG. The RTG furnishes power for the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) which the Apollo 12 astronauts deployed on the moon. The LM's descent engine skirt is in the center background. The rod-like object protruding out from under the footpad is a lunar surface sensing probe. Astronaut Richard F. Gordon Jr., command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) in lunar orbit while astronauts Charles Conrad Jr., commander; and Alan L. Bean, lunar module pilot, descended in the LM to explore the moon.

Learning LM Specificity for Ganglion Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahumada, Albert J.

2015-01-01

Unsupervised learning models have been proposed based on experience (Ahumada and Mulligan, 1990;Wachtler, Doi, Lee and Sejnowski, 2007) that allow the cortex to develop units with LM specific color opponent receptive fields like the blob cells reported by Hubel and Wiesel on the basis of visual experience. These models used ganglion cells with LM indiscriminate wiring as inputs to the learning mechanism, which was presumed to occur at the cortical level.

Reproducibility of regional DEXA examinations of abdominal fat and lean tissue.

PubMed

Tallroth, Kaj; Kettunen, Jyrki A; Kujala, Urho M

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to develop and test the validity of a new repeatable method to delimit abdominal areas for follow-up of fat mass (FM) and lean tissue mass (LM) in DEXA examinations. 37 male volunteers underwent two DEXA examinations. Total body FM and LM measurements and corresponding abdominal measurements in a carefully defined region were calculated from the first scan. After repositioning of the subjects and a second scan, the delimited region was copied and the abdominal tissues re-calculated. The mean LM of the abdominal area was 2.804 kg (SD 0.556), and the mean FM was 1.026 kg (SD 0.537). The intra-class correlation coefficient for the repeated abdominal LM, FM, and LM/FM ratio measurements was 0.99. The mean difference (bias) for the repeated abdominal LM measurements was -13 g (95% confidence interval (CI) -193.0 to 166.8), and for the repeated abdominal FM measurements it was -35 g (95% CI -178.9 to 108.5). The results indicate that regional DEXA is a sensitive method with excellent reproducibility in the measurements of the abdominal fat and lean tissues. The method may serve as a useful tool for evaluation and follow-up of various dietary and training programmes.

Reproducibility of Regional DEXA Examinations of Abdominal Fat and Lean Tissue

PubMed Central

Tallroth, Kaj; Kettunen, Jyrki A.; Kujala, Urho M.

2013-01-01

Objective The aim of this study was to develop and test the validity of a new repeatable method to delimit abdominal areas for follow-up of fat mass (FM) and lean tissue mass (LM) in DEXA examinations. Methods 37 male volunteers underwent two DEXA examinations. Total body FM and LM measurements and corresponding abdominal measurements in a carefully defined region were calculated from the first scan. After repositioning of the subjects and a second scan, the delimited region was copied and the abdominal tissues re-calculated. Results The mean LM of the abdominal area was 2.804 kg (SD 0.556), and the mean FM was 1.026 kg (SD 0.537). The intra-class correlation coefficient for the repeated abdominal LM, FM, and LM/FM ratio measurements was 0.99. The mean difference (bias) for the repeated abdominal LM measurements was −13 g (95% confidence interval (CI) −193.0 to 166.8), and for the repeated abdominal FM measurements it was −35 g (95% CI −178.9 to 108.5). Conclusions The results indicate that regional DEXA is a sensitive method with excellent reproducibility in the measurements of the abdominal fat and lean tissues. The method may serve as a useful tool for evaluation and follow-up of various dietary and training programmes. PMID:23615566

Fabrication characteristics and hydrogenation behavior of hydrogen storage alloys for sealed Ni-MH batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Ho-Sung; Kim, Jeon Min; Kim, Tae-Won; Oh, Ik-Hyun; Choi, Jeon; Park, Choong Nyeon

2008-08-01

Hydrogen storage alloys based on LmNi4.2Co0.2Mn0.3Al0.3 were fabricated to study the equilibrium hydrogen pressure and electrochemical performance. The surface morphology and structure of the alloys were analyzed by SEM and XRD, and then the hydrogenation behaviors of all alloys were evaluated by PCT and electrochemical half-cell. We studied the hydrogenation behavior of the Lm-based alloy with changes in composition elements such as Mn, Al, and Co and investigated the optimal design for Lm-based alloy in a sealed battery system. As a result of studying the hydrogenation characterization of alloys with the substitution elements, hydrogen storage alloys such as LmNi3.75Co0.15Mn0.5Al0.3 and LmNi3.5Co0.5Mn0.5Al0.5 were obtained to correspond with the characteristics of a sealed battery with a higher capacity, long life cycle, lower internal pressure, and lower battery cost. The capacity preservation rate of LmNi3.5Co0.5Mn0.5Al0.5 was greatly improved to 92.7% (255 mAh/g) at 60 cycles, indicating a low equilibrium hydrogen pressure of 0.03 atm in PCT devices.

Saturn Apollo Program

NASA Image and Video Library

1969-07-20

The Apollo 11 mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins,Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins, remained in a parking orbit around the Moon, while the LM, named “Eagle’’, carrying astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, landed on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. The LM was a two part spacecraft. Its lower or descent stage had the landing gear, engines, and fuel needed for the landing. When the LM blasted off the Moon, the descent stage served as the launching pad for its companion ascent stage, which was also home for the two astronauts on the surface of the Moon. The LM was full of gear with which to communicate, navigate, and rendezvous. It also had its own propulsion system, and an engine to lift it off the Moon and send it on a course toward the orbiting CM. In this photograph, the shadow of one of the Apollo 11 astronauts can be seen (lower left) as the other snaps a shot of the LM on its landing site.

Final Results for the GRC Supporting Technology Development Project for the 110-Watt Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.; Thieme, Lanny G.

2007-01-01

From 1999 to 2006, the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) supported the development of a high-efficiency, nominal 110-We Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) for potential use on NASA missions, including deep space missions, Mars rovers, and lunar applications. Lockheed Martin (LM) was the system integrator for the SRG110, under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). Infinia Corporation (formerly Stirling Technology Company) developed the Stirling convertor, first as a contractor to DOE and then under subcontract to LM. The SRG110 development has been redirected, and recent program changes have been made to significantly increase the specific power of the generator. System development of an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) has now begun, using a lightweight, advanced convertor from Sunpower, Inc. This paper summarizes the results of the supporting technology effort that GRC completed for the SRG110. GRC tasks included convertor extended-duration testing in air and thermal vacuum environments, heater head life assessment, materials studies, permanent magnet aging characterization, linear alternator evaluations, structural dynamics testing, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) characterization, organic materials evaluations, reliability studies, and development of an end-to-end system dynamic model. Related efforts are now continuing in many of these areas to support ASRG development.

Final Results for the GRC Supporting Technology Development Project for the 110-Watt Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.; Thieme, Lanny G.

2007-01-01

From 1999-2006, the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) supported the development of a high-efficiency, nominal 110-We Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) for potential use on NASA missions, including deep space missions, Mars rovers, and lunar applications. Lockheed Martin (LM) was the system integrator for the SRG110, under contract to the Department of Energy (DOE). Infinia Corporation (formerly Stirling Technology Company) developed the Stirling convertor, first as a contractor to DOE and then under subcontract to LM. The SRG110 development has been redirected, and recent program changes have been made to significantly increase the specific power of the generator. System development of an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) has now begun, using a lightweight, advanced convertor from Sunpower, Inc. This paper summarizes the results of the supporting technology effort that GRC completed for the SRG110. GRC tasks included convertor extended-duration testing in air and thermal vacuum environments, heater head life assessment, materials studies, permanent magnet aging characterization, linear alternator evaluations, structural dynamics testing, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) characterization, organic materials evaluations, reliability studies, and development of an end-to-end system dynamic model. Related efforts are now continuing in many of these areas to support ASRG development.

Fog interception by Ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guevara-Escobar, A.; Cervantes-Jiménez, M.; Suzán-Azpiri, H.; González-Sosa, E.; Hernández-Sandoval, L.; Malda-Barrera, G.; Martínez-Díaz, M.

2011-08-01

Interception losses are a major influence in the water yield of vegetated areas. For most storms, rain interception results in less water reaching the ground. However, fog interception can increase the overall water storage capacity of the vegetation and once the storage is exceeded, fog drip is a common hydrological input. Fog interception is disregarded in water budgets of semiarid regions, but for some plant communities, it could be a mechanism offsetting evaporation losses. Tillandsia recurvata is a cosmopolitan epiphyte adapted to arid habitats where fog may be an important water source. Therefore, the interception storage capacity by T. recurvata was measured in controlled conditions and applying simulated rain or fog. Juvenile, vegetative specimens were used to determine the potential upperbound storage capacities. The storage capacity was proportional to dry weight mass. Interception storage capacity (Cmin) was 0.19 and 0.56 mm for rainfall and fog respectively. The coefficients obtained in the laboratory were used together with biomass measurements for T. recurvata in a xeric scrub to calculate the depth of water intercepted by rain. T. recurvata contributed 20 % to the rain interception capacity of their shrub hosts: Acacia farnesiana and Prosopis laevigata and; also potentially intercepted 4.8 % of the annual rainfall. Nocturnal stomatic opening in T. recurvata is not only relevant for CO2 but for water vapor, as suggested by the higher weight change of specimens wetted with fog for 1 h at dark in comparison to those wetted during daylight (543 ± 77 vs. 325 ± 56 mg, p = 0.048). The storage capacity of T. recurvata leaf surfaces could increase the amount of water available for evaporation, but as this species colonise montane forests, the effect could be negative on water recharge, because potential storage capacity is very high, in the laboratory experiments it took up to 12 h at a rate of 0.26 l h-1 to reach saturation conditions when fog was applied.

Fitting rainfall interception models to forest ecosystems of Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Návar, José

2017-05-01

Models that accurately predict forest interception are essential both for water balance studies and for assessing watershed responses to changes in land use and the long-term climate variability. This paper compares the performance of four rainfall interception models-the sparse Gash (1995), Rutter et al. (1975), Liu (1997) and two new models (NvMxa and NvMxb)-using data from four spatially extensive, structurally diverse forest ecosystems in Mexico. Ninety-eight case studies measuring interception in tropical dry (25), arid/semi-arid (29), temperate (26), and tropical montane cloud forests (18) were compiled and analyzed. Coefficients derived from raw data or published statistical relationships were used as model input to evaluate multi-storm forest interception at the case study scale. On average empirical data showed that, tropical montane cloud, temperate, arid/semi-arid and tropical dry forests intercepted 14%, 18%, 22% and 26% of total precipitation, respectively. The models performed well in predicting interception, with mean deviations between measured and modeled interception as a function of total precipitation (ME) generally <5.8% and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency E estimators >0.66. Model fitting precision was dependent on the forest ecosystem. Arid/semi-arid forests exhibited the smallest, while tropical montane cloud forest displayed the largest ME deviations. Improved agreement between measured and modeled data requires modification of in-storm evaporation rate in the Liu; the canopy storage in the sparse Gash model; and the throughfall coefficient in the Rutter and the NvMx models. This research concludes on recommending the wide application of rainfall interception models with some caution as they provide mixed results. The extensive forest interception data source, the fitting and testing of four models, the introduction of a new model, and the availability of coefficient values for all four forest ecosystems are an important source of information and a benchmark for future investigations in this area of hydrology.

Depletion of neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsy specimens from HIV positive patients.

PubMed Central

McCullough, J. B.; Batman, P. A.; Miller, A. R.; Sedgwick, P. M.; Griffin, G. E.

1992-01-01

AIMS: To compare the density of neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsy specimens from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals with that of a control group. METHODS: Neuroendocrine cells in rectal biopsies were identified using an immunohistochemical stain for chromogranin and subsequently quantified using a method of linear intercept. RESULTS: Neuroendocrine cells were found to be significantly decreased in the HIV positive group. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of neuroendocrine cells may contribute to apoptotic bodies seen in this condition. This could be related to infection of these cells with HIV and could contribute to diarrhoeal disease in HIV infection. Images PMID:1624601

Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Cold Smoked Salmon with the Antimicrobial Peptide Salmine.

PubMed

Cheng, Christopher; Arritt, Fletcher; Stevenson, Clinton

2015-06-01

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a major safety concern for smoked salmon producers, as it can survive both the brining and smoking process in cold smoked salmon production. Salmine is a cationic antimicrobial peptide derived from the milt of salmon that has been shown to inhibit the growth of LM in vitro. Commercialization of this peptide would add value to a waste product produced when raising salmon. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-listeria activity of salmine in smoked salmon by measuring the viable counts of LM over time. Cold smoked salmon was treated with a salmine solution or coated with agar or k-carrageenan films incorporating salmine to maintain a high surface concentration of the antimicrobial. Samples were then inoculated with approximately 1.0 × 10(3) cells of LM. The viable counts were then enumerated throughout 4 wk at 4 °C storage. It was found that 5 mg/g salmine delayed the growth of LM on smoked salmon. These samples had significantly (P < 0.05) lower LM counts than on the untreated samples on days 13 and 22. Edible films did not significantly (P > 0.05) improve the antimicrobial efficacy of salmine. The peptide combined with biopolymers also had lower antimicrobial activity in vitro when compared to salmine alone. These results suggest there is potential for salmine to be used as a natural hurdle to inhibit growth of LM due to post process contamination; however, future investigations for extending this effect throughout the shelf life of smoked salmon products are warranted. © 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®

Evaluation of the New Dynamic Global Vegetation Model in CAS-ESM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jiawen; Zeng, Xiaodong; Zhang, Minghua; Dai, Yongjiu; Ji, Duoying; Li, Fang; Zhang, Qian; Zhang, He; Song, Xiang

2018-06-01

In the past several decades, dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) have been the most widely used and appropriate tool at the global scale to investigate vegetation-climate interactions. At the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, a new version of DGVM (IAP-DGVM) has been developed and coupled to the Common Land Model (CoLM) within the framework of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Earth System Model (CAS-ESM). This work reports the performance of IAP-DGVM through comparisons with that of the default DGVM of CoLM (CoLM-DGVM) and observations. With respect to CoLMDGVM, IAP-DGVM simulated fewer tropical trees, more "needleleaf evergreen boreal tree" and "broadleaf deciduous boreal shrub", and a better representation of grasses. These contributed to a more realistic vegetation distribution in IAP-DGVM, including spatial patterns, total areas, and compositions. Moreover, IAP-DGVM also produced more accurate carbon fluxes than CoLM-DGVM when compared with observational estimates. Gross primary productivity and net primary production in IAP-DGVM were in better agreement with observations than those of CoLM-DGVM, and the tropical pattern of fire carbon emissions in IAP-DGVM was much more consistent with the observation than that in CoLM-DGVM. The leaf area index simulated by IAP-DGVM was closer to the observation than that of CoLM-DGVM; however, both simulated values about twice as large as in the observation. This evaluation provides valuable information for the application of CAS-ESM, as well as for other model communities in terms of a comparative benchmark.

Asthma in the vicinity of power stations: II. Outdoor air quality and symptoms

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

Henry, R.L.; Bridgman, H.A.; Wlodarczyk, J.

1991-01-01

To assess longitudinally the effect of living in the vicinity of coal-fired power stations on children with asthma, 99 schoolchildren with a history of wheezing in the previous 12 months were studied for 1 year, using daily diaries and measurements of air quality. The children had been identified in a cross-sectional survey of two coastal areas: Lake Munmorah (LM), within 5 km of two power stations, and Nelson Bay (NB), free from major industry. Daily air quality (sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)), respiratory symptoms, and treatment for asthma were recorded throughout the year. Measurements of SO2 and NOxmore » at LM were well within recommended guidelines although they were several times higher than at NB: maximum daily levels in SO2 (micrograms/m3) were 26 at LM, 11 at NB (standard, 365); yearly average SO2 was 2 at LM, 0.3 at NB (standard, 60); yearly average NOx (micrograms/m3) was 2 at LM, 0.4 at NB (standard, 94). Marked weekly fluctuations occurred in the prevalence of cough, wheezing, and breathlessness, without any substantial differences between LM and NB. Overall, the prevalence of symptoms was low (10% for wheezing, 20% for any symptom). Whether the daily SO2 and NOx levels affected the occurrence of respiratory symptoms was investigated in children at LM using a logistic regression (Korn and Whittemore technique). For these children as a group, air quality measurements were not associated with the occurrence of symptoms.« less

Studies on the concentration dependence of specific rotation of Alpha lactose monohydrate (α-LM) aqueous solutions and growth of α-LM single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vinodhini, K.; Divya Bharathi, R.; Srinivasan, K.

2018-02-01

Lactose is an optically active substance. As it is one of the reducing sugars, exhibits mutarotation in solution when it dissolves in any solvent. In solution, lactose exists in two isomeric forms, alpha-Lactose (α-L) and beta-lactose (β-L) through the mutarotation reaction. Mutarotation produces a dynamic equilibrium between two isomers in a solution and kinetics of this process determines the growth rate of alpha lactose monohydrate (α-LM) crystals. Since no data were available on the specific rotation of aqueous α-LM solutions at different concentrations at 33 °C, the initial experiments were carried out on the specific rotation of aqueous α-LM solutions at different concentrations at 33 °C. The specific rotations of the solutions were decreased with increasing time through the mutarotation reaction. The initial and final (equilibrium) specific rotations of the solutions were determined by using automatic digital polarimeter. The compositions of α and β-L in all prepared solutions were calculated from initial and final optical rotations by the method of Sharp and Doob. The composition of α-L decreased whereas, the composition of β-L increased in solutions with increasing concentration of α-LM at 33 °C. Experimental results revealed that this method could be easily and safely employed to study the dependence of specific rotation of solutions on their concentration. The effect of β-lactose on the morphology of nucleated α-LM single crystals has been studied at different experimental conditions.

Cone Photoreceptor Structure in Patients With X-Linked Cone Dysfunction and Red-Green Color Vision Deficiency.

PubMed

Patterson, Emily J; Wilk, Melissa; Langlo, Christopher S; Kasilian, Melissa; Ring, Michael; Hufnagel, Robert B; Dubis, Adam M; Tee, James J; Kalitzeos, Angelos; Gardner, Jessica C; Ahmed, Zubair M; Sisk, Robert A; Larsen, Michael; Sjoberg, Stacy; Connor, Thomas B; Dubra, Alfredo; Neitz, Jay; Hardcastle, Alison J; Neitz, Maureen; Michaelides, Michel; Carroll, Joseph

2016-07-01

Mutations in the coding sequence of the L and M opsin genes are often associated with X-linked cone dysfunction (such as Bornholm Eye Disease, BED), though the exact color vision phenotype associated with these disorders is variable. We examined individuals with L/M opsin gene mutations to clarify the link between color vision deficiency and cone dysfunction. We recruited 17 males for imaging. The thickness and integrity of the photoreceptor layers were evaluated using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Cone density was measured using high-resolution images of the cone mosaic obtained with adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy. The L/M opsin gene array was characterized in 16 subjects, including at least one subject from each family. There were six subjects with the LVAVA haplotype encoded by exon 3, seven with LIAVA, two with the Cys203Arg mutation encoded by exon 4, and two with a novel insertion in exon 2. Foveal cone structure and retinal thickness was disrupted to a variable degree, even among related individuals with the same L/M array. Our findings provide a direct link between disruption of the cone mosaic and L/M opsin variants. We hypothesize that, in addition to large phenotypic differences between different L/M opsin variants, the ratio of expression of first versus downstream genes in the L/M array contributes to phenotypic diversity. While the L/M opsin mutations underlie the cone dysfunction in all of the subjects tested, the color vision defect can be caused either by the same mutation or a gene rearrangement at the same locus.

Development of an Online Learning Module to Improve Pediatric Residents' Confidence and Knowledge of the Pubertal Examination.

PubMed

Ens, Andrea; Janzen, Katharine; Palmert, Mark R

2017-03-01

Pediatric residents must know how to perform pubertal examinations. The initial objective of this study was to evaluate pediatric resident knowledge and comfort related to the pubertal examination and to determine whether and why these examinations are avoided. The subsequent objective was to develop and assess a learning module (LM) addressing identified education gaps. A learning needs assessment (LNA) was administered to residents in four Canadian pediatric training programs. Identified themes and knowledge gaps were used to develop an online, case-based LM. A randomized assessment of the LM was conducted among residents from nine training programs across Canada. Sixty-four residents completed the LNA. About 52% reported discomfort introducing the pubertal examination, 50% reported a lack of confidence related to the examination, and 56% reported having avoided a warranted examination. Ninety-seven residents participated in the LM assessment. The baseline results were similar to those from the LNA in terms of discomfort, lack of confidence, and avoidance related to pubertal examinations. However, the intervention group showed improvement on a knowledge assessment compared with control group (p < .001). Confidence levels also improved in the intervention group LM (p < .01). Most residents (95%) stated they found the LM to be useful. Residents report being uncomfortable with and avoiding the pubertal examination and have significant knowledge gaps. The online, case-based LM used in this study improved the knowledge and confidence related to this aspect of pediatric care and may be an effective adjunct to pediatric training. Copyright © 2016 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evolutionary renovation of L/M opsin polymorphism confers a fruit discrimination advantage to ateline New World monkeys

PubMed Central

Matsumoto, Yoshifumi; Hiramatsu, Chihiro; Matsushita, Yuka; Ozawa, Norihiro; Ashino, Ryuichi; Nakata, Makiko; Kasagi, Satoshi; Di Fiore, Anthony; Schaffner, Colleen M; Aureli, Filippo; Melin, Amanda D; Kawamura, Shoji

2014-01-01

New World monkeys exhibit prominent colour vision variation due to allelic polymorphism of the long-to-middle wavelength (L/M) opsin gene. The known spectral variation of L/M opsins in primates is broadly determined by amino acid composition at three sites: 180, 277 and 285 (the ‘three-sites’ rule). However, two L/M opsin alleles found in the black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) are known exceptions, presumably due to novel mutations. The spectral separation of the two L/M photopigments is 1.5 times greater than expected based on the ‘three-sites’ rule. Yet the consequence of this for the visual ecology of the species is unknown, as is the evolutionary mechanism by which spectral shift was achieved. In this study, we first examine L/M opsins of two other Atelinae species, the long-haired spider monkeys (A. belzebuth) and the common woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha). By a series of site-directed mutagenesis, we show that a mutation Y213D (tyrosine to aspartic acid at site 213) in the ancestral opsin of the two alleles enabled N294K, which occurred in one allele of the ateline ancestor and increased the spectral separation between the two alleles. Second, by modelling the chromaticity of dietary fruits and background leaves in a natural habitat of spider monkeys, we demonstrate that chromatic discrimination of fruit from leaves is significantly enhanced by these mutations. This evolutionary renovation of L/M opsin polymorphism in atelines illustrates a previously unappreciated dynamism of opsin genes in shaping primate colour vision. PMID:24612406

Leptomeningeal contrast enhancement is associated with progression of cortical atrophy in MS: A retrospective, pilot, observational longitudinal study.

PubMed

Zivadinov, Robert; Ramasamy, Deepa P; Vaneckova, Manuela; Gandhi, Sirin; Chandra, Avinash; Hagemeier, Jesper; Bergsland, Niels; Polak, Paul; Benedict, Ralph Hb; Hojnacki, David; Weinstock-Guttman, Bianca

2017-09-01

Leptomeningeal contrast enhancement (LM CE) has been recently described in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients as a potential in vivo marker of cortical pathology. To investigate the association of LM CE and development of cortical atrophy in 50 MS patients (27 relapsing-remitting (RR) and 23 secondary-progressive (SP)) followed for 5 years. The presence and number of LM CE foci were assessed only at the 5-year follow-up using three-dimensional (3D) fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence obtained 10 minutes after single dose of gadolinium injection on 3T scanner. The percentage change in whole brain, cortical and deep gray matter (GM) volumes, and lesion volume (LV) was measured between baseline and the 5-year follow-up. In total, 25 (50%) of MS patients had LM CE at the 5-year follow-up. Significantly more SPMS patients (12, 85.7%) had multiple LM CE foci, compared to those with RRMS (2, 18.2%) ( p = 0.001). MS patients with LM CE showed significantly greater percentage decrease in total GM (-3.6% vs -2%, d = 0.80, p = 0.006) and cortical (-3.4% vs -1.8%, d = 0.84, p = 0.007) volumes and greater percentage increase in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (vCSF) volume (22.8% vs 9.9%, d = 0.90, p = 0.003) over the follow-up, compared to those without. In this retrospective, pilot, observational longitudinal study, the presence of LM CE was associated with progression of cortical atrophy over 5 years.

Airspace Dimension Assessment with nanoparticles reflects lung density as quantified by MRI

PubMed Central

Jakobsson, Jonas K; Löndahl, Jakob; Olsson, Lars E; Diaz, Sandra; Zackrisson, Sophia; Wollmer, Per

2018-01-01

Background Airspace Dimension Assessment with inhaled nanoparticles is a novel method to determine distal airway morphology. This is the first empirical study using Airspace Dimension Assessment with nanoparticles (AiDA) to estimate distal airspace radius. The technology is relatively simple and potentially accessible in clinical outpatient settings. Method Nineteen never-smoking volunteers performed nanoparticle inhalation tests at multiple breath-hold times, and the difference in nanoparticle concentration of inhaled and exhaled gas was measured. An exponential decay curve was fitted to the concentration of recovered nanoparticles, and airspace dimensions were assessed from the half-life of the decay. Pulmonary tissue density was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results The distal airspace radius measured by AiDA correlated with lung tissue density as measured by MRI (ρ = −0.584; p = 0.0086). The linear intercept of the logarithm of the exponential decay curve correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (ρ = 0.549; p = 0.0149). Conclusion The AiDA method shows potential to be developed into a tool to assess conditions involving changes in distal airways, eg, emphysema. The intercept may reflect airway properties; this finding should be further investigated.

Energy management of three-dimensional minimum-time intercept. [for aircraft flight optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kelley, H. J.; Cliff, E. M.; Visser, H. G.

1985-01-01

A real-time computer algorithm to control and optimize aircraft flight profiles is described and applied to a three-dimensional minimum-time intercept mission. The proposed scheme has roots in two well known techniques: singular perturbations and neighboring-optimal guidance. Use of singular-perturbation ideas is made in terms of the assumed trajectory-family structure. A heading/energy family of prestored point-mass-model state-Euler solutions is used as the baseline in this scheme. The next step is to generate a near-optimal guidance law that will transfer the aircraft to the vicinity of this reference family. The control commands fed to the autopilot (bank angle and load factor) consist of the reference controls plus correction terms which are linear combinations of the altitude and path-angle deviations from reference values, weighted by a set of precalculated gains. In this respect the proposed scheme resembles neighboring-optimal guidance. However, in contrast to the neighboring-optimal guidance scheme, the reference control and state variables as well as the feedback gains are stored as functions of energy and heading in the present approach. Some numerical results comparing open-loop optimal and approximate feedback solutions are presented.

Comparison of structural and least-squares lines for estimating geologic relations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Williams, G.P.; Troutman, B.M.

1990-01-01

Two different goals in fitting straight lines to data are to estimate a "true" linear relation (physical law) and to predict values of the dependent variable with the smallest possible error. Regarding the first goal, a Monte Carlo study indicated that the structural-analysis (SA) method of fitting straight lines to data is superior to the ordinary least-squares (OLS) method for estimating "true" straight-line relations. Number of data points, slope and intercept of the true relation, and variances of the errors associated with the independent (X) and dependent (Y) variables influence the degree of agreement. For example, differences between the two line-fitting methods decrease as error in X becomes small relative to error in Y. Regarding the second goal-predicting the dependent variable-OLS is better than SA. Again, the difference diminishes as X takes on less error relative to Y. With respect to estimation of slope and intercept and prediction of Y, agreement between Monte Carlo results and large-sample theory was very good for sample sizes of 100, and fair to good for sample sizes of 20. The procedures and error measures are illustrated with two geologic examples. ?? 1990 International Association for Mathematical Geology.

Analysis of the lettuce data from the variable pressure growth chamber at NASA Johnson Space Center: A three-stage nested design model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Tze-San

1992-01-01

A model of three-stage nested experimental design was applied to analyze the lettuce data obtained from the variable pressure growth chamber test bed at NASA-Johnson Space Center. From the results of an application of the analysis of variance and covariance on the data set, it was noted that all of the (uncontrollable) factors, Side, Zone, Height and (controllable) PAR (photosynthetically active radiation), had nonhomogeneous effects on the dry weight of the edible biomass of lettuce per pot. Incidentally, the variations accountable to the (uncontrollable) factorial heterogeneities are merely 9 percent and 17 percent of the total variation for both the first and second crop test, respectively. After adjusting for the PAR as a covariate in the no-intercept model, the accountable variations to all the four factors are 94 percent and 92 percent for the first and the second crop test, respectively. With the use of a no-intercept simple linear regression model, the accountable variations to the factor PAR are 92 percent and 90 percent for the first and the second crop test, respectively. Evidently, the (controllable) factor PAR is the dominating one.

Lund-Mackay and modified Lund-Mackay score for sinus surgery in children with cystic fibrosis.

PubMed

Do, Bao Anh; Lands, Larry C; Mascarella, Marco A; Fanous, Amanda; Saint-Martin, Christine; Manoukian, John J; Nguyen, Lily H P

2015-08-01

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) frequently present with severe sinonasal disease often requiring radiologic imaging and surgical intervention. Few studies have focused on the relationship between radiologic scoring systems and the need for sinus surgery in this population. The objective of this study is to evaluate the Lund-Mackay (LM) and modified Lund-Mackay (m-LM) scoring systems in predicting the need for sinus surgery or revision surgery in patients with CF. We performed a retrospective chart review of CF patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) sinus imaging at a tertiary care pediatric hospital from 1995 to 2008. Patient scans were scored using both the LM and m-LM systems and compared to the rate of sinus surgery or revision surgery. Receiver-operator characteristics curves (ROC) were used to analyze the radiological scoring systems. A total of 41 children with CF were included in the study. The mean LM score for patients undergoing surgery was 17.3 (±3.1) compared to 11.5 (±6.2) for those treated medically (p<0.01). For the m-LM, the mean score of patients undergoing surgery was 20.3 (±3.5) and 13.5 (±7.3) for those medically treated (p<0.01). Using a ROC curve with a threshold score of 13 for the LM, the sensitivity was 89.3% (95% CI of 72-98) and specificity of 69.2% (95% CI of 39-91). At an optimal score of 19, the m-LM system produced a sensitivity of 67.7% (95% CI of 48-84) and specificity of 84.6% (95% CI of 55-98). The modified Lund-Mackay score provides a high specificity while the Lund-Mackay score a high sensitivity for CF patients who required sinus surgery. The combination of both radiologic scoring systems can potentially predict the need for surgery in this population. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Observation of the spectrally invariant properties of clouds in cloudy-to-clear transition zones during the MAGIC field campaign

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

Yang, Weidong; Marshak, Alexander; McBride, Patrick J.

2016-12-01

We use the spectrally invariant method to study the variability of cloud optical thickness τ and droplet effective radius reff in transition zones (between the cloudy and clear sky columns) observed from Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR) and Shortwave Array Spectroradiometer-Zenith (SASZe) during the Marine ARM GPCI Investigation of Clouds (MAGIC) field campaign. The measurements from the SSFR and the SASZe are different, however inter-instrument differences of self-normalized measurements (divided by their own spectra at a fixed time) are small. The spectrally invariant method approximates the spectra in the cloud transition zone as a linear combination of definitely clear andmore » cloudy spectra, where the coefficients, slope and intercept, character-ize the spectrally invariant properties of the transition zone. Simulation results from the SBDART (Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer) model demonstrate that (1) the slope of the visible band is positively correlated with the cloud optical thickness τ while the intercept of the near-infrared band has high negative cor-relation with the cloud drop effective radius reff even without the exact knowledge of τ; (2) the above relations hold for all Solar Zenith Angle (SZA) and for cloud-contaminated skies. In observations using redundant measure-ments from SSFR and SASZe, we find that during cloudy-to-clear transitions, (a) the slopes of the visible band de-crease, and (b) the intercepts of the near-infrared band remain almost constant near cloud edges. The findings in simulations and observations suggest that, while the optical thickness decreases during the cloudy-to-clear transition, the cloud drop effective radius does not change when cloud edges are approached. These results sup-port the hypothesis that inhomogeneous mixing dominates near cloud edges in the studied cases.« less

Determination of 21 drugs in oral fluid using fully automated supported liquid extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Valen, Anja; Leere Øiestad, Åse Marit; Strand, Dag Helge; Skari, Ragnhild; Berg, Thomas

2017-05-01

Collection of oral fluid (OF) is easy and non-invasive compared to the collection of urine and blood, and interest in OF for drug screening and diagnostic purposes is increasing. A high-throughput ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of 21 drugs in OF using fully automated 96-well plate supported liquid extraction for sample preparation is presented. The method contains a selection of classic drugs of abuse, including amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, opioids, and benzodiazepines. The method was fully validated for 200 μL OF/buffer mix using an Intercept OF sampling kit; validation included linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, extraction recovery, matrix effects, stability, and carry-over. Inter-assay precision (RSD) and accuracy (relative error) were <15% and 13 to 5%, respectively, for all compounds at concentrations equal to or higher than the lower limit of quantification. Extraction recoveries were between 58 and 76% (RSD < 8%), except for tetrahydrocannabinol and three 7-amino benzodiazepine metabolites with recoveries between 23 and 33% (RSD between 51 and 52 % and 11 and 25%, respectively). Ion enhancement or ion suppression effects were observed for a few compounds; however, to a large degree they were compensated for by the internal standards used. Deuterium-labelled and 13 C-labelled internal standards were used for 8 and 11 of the compounds, respectively. In a comparison between Intercept and Quantisal OF kits, better recoveries and fewer matrix effects were observed for some compounds using Quantisal. The method is sensitive and robust for its purposes and has been used successfully since February 2015 for analysis of Intercept OF samples from 2600 cases in a 12-month period. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Observation of the spectrally invariant properties of clouds in cloudy-to-clear transition zones during the MAGIC field campaign

DOE PAGES

Yang, Weidong; Marshak, Alexander; McBride, Patrick J.; ...

2016-08-11

We use the spectrally invariant method to study the variability of cloud optical thickness τ and droplet effective radius r eff in transition zones (between the cloudy and clear sky columns) observed from Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR) and Shortwave Array Spectroradiometer-Zenith (SASZe) during the Marine ARM GPCI Investigation of Clouds (MAGIC) field campaign. The measurements from the SSFR and the SASZe are different, however inter-instrument differences of self-normalized measurements (divided by their own spectra at a fixed time) are small. The spectrally invariant method approximates the spectra in the cloud transition zone as a linear combination of definitely clearmore » and cloudy spectra, where the coefficients, slope and intercept, characterize the spectrally invariant properties of the transition zone. Simulation results from the SBDART (Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer) model demonstrate that (1) the slope of the visible band is positively correlated with the cloud optical thickness τ while the intercept of the near-infrared band has high negative correlation with the cloud drop effective radius r eff even without the exact knowledge of τ; (2) the above relations hold for all Solar Zenith Angle (SZA) and for cloud-contaminated skies. In observations using redundant measurements from SSFR and SASZe, we find that during cloudy-to-clear transitions, (a) the slopes of the visible band decrease, and (b) the intercepts of the near-infrared band remain almost constant near cloud edges. The findings in simulations and observations suggest that, while the optical thickness decreases during the cloudy-to-clear transition, the cloud drop effective radius does not change when cloud edges are approached. Furthermore, these results support the hypothesis that inhomogeneous mixing dominates near cloud edges in the studied cases.« less

Observation of the Spectrally Invariant Properties of Clouds in Cloudy-to-Clear Transition Zones During the MAGIC Field Campaign

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Weidong; Marshak, Alexander; McBride, Patrick; Chiu, J. Christine; Knyazikhin, Yuri; Schmidt, K. Sebastian; Flynn, Connor; Lewis, Ernie R.; Eloranta, Edwin W.

2016-01-01

We use the spectrally invariant method to study the variability of cloud optical thickness tau and droplet effective radius r(sub eff) in transition zones (between the cloudy and clear sky columns) observed from Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR) and Shortwave Array Spectroradiometer-Zenith (SASZe) during the Marine ARM GPCI Investigation of Clouds (MAGIC) field campaign. The measurements from the SSFR and the SASZe are different, however inter-instrument differences of self-normalized measurements (divided by their own spectra at a fixed time) are small. The spectrally invariant method approximates the spectra in the cloud transition zone as a linear combination of definitely clear and cloudy spectra, where the coefficients, slope and intercept, characterize the spectrally invariant properties of the transition zone. Simulation results from the SBDART (Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer) model demonstrate that (1) the slope of the visible band is positively correlated with the cloud optical thickness t while the intercept of the near-infrared band has high negative correlation with the cloud drop effective radius r(sub eff)even without the exact knowledge of tau; (2) the above relations hold for all Solar Zenith Angle (SZA) and for cloud-contaminated skies. In observations using redundant measurements from SSFR and SASZe, we find that during cloudy-to-clear transitions, (a) the slopes of the visible band decrease, and (b) the intercepts of the near-infrared band remain almost constant near cloud edges. The findings in simulations and observations suggest that, while the optical thickness decreases during the cloudy-to-clear transition, the cloud drop effective radius does not change when cloud edges are approached. These results support the hypothesis that inhomogeneous mixing dominates near cloud edges in the studied cases.

In vivo fascicle length measurements via B-mode ultrasound imaging with single vs dual transducer arrangements.

PubMed

Brennan, Scott F; Cresswell, Andrew G; Farris, Dominic J; Lichtwark, Glen A

2017-11-07

Ultrasonography is a useful technique to study muscle contractions in vivo, however larger muscles like vastus lateralis may be difficult to visualise with smaller, commonly used transducers. Fascicle length is often estimated using linear trigonometry to extrapolate fascicle length to regions where the fascicle is not visible. However, this approach has not been compared to measurements made with a larger field of view for dynamic muscle contractions. Here we compared two different single-transducer extrapolation methods to measure VL muscle fascicle length to a direct measurement made using two synchronised, in-series transducers. The first method used pennation angle and muscle thickness to extrapolate fascicle length outside the image (extrapolate method). The second method determined fascicle length based on the extrapolated intercept between a fascicle and the aponeurosis (intercept method). Nine participants performed maximal effort, isometric, knee extension contractions on a dynamometer at 10° increments from 50 to 100° of knee flexion. Fascicle length and torque were simultaneously recorded for offline analysis. The dual transducer method showed similar patterns of fascicle length change (overall mean coefficient of multiple correlation was 0.76 and 0.71 compared to extrapolate and intercept methods respectively), but reached different absolute lengths during the contractions. This had the effect of producing force-length curves of the same shape, but each curve was shifted in terms of absolute length. We concluded that dual transducers are beneficial for studies that examine absolute fascicle lengths, whereas either of the single transducer methods may produce similar results for normalised length changes, and repeated measures experimental designs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Global canopy interception from satellite observations

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A new methodology for retrieving rainfall interception rates from multi satellite observations is presented. The approach makes use of the daily productof the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) as driving data and applies Gash’s analytical model to derive interception rates at global sc...

Brand Cigarillos: Low Price but High Particulate Matter Levels—Is Their Favorable Taxation in the European Union Justified?

PubMed Central

Wasel, Julia; Boll, Michael; Schulze, Michaela; Mueller, Daniel; Bundschuh, Matthias; Groneberg, David A.; Gerber, Alexander

2015-01-01

Background: Second hand smoke (ETS)-associated particulate matter (PM) contributes considerably to indoor air contamination and constitutes a health risk for passive smokers. Easy to measure, PM is a useful parameter to estimate the dosage of ETS that passive smokers are exposed to. Apart from its suitability as a surrogate parameter for ETS-exposure, PM itself affects human morbidity and mortality in a dose-dependent manner. We think that ETS-associated PM should be considered an independent hazard factor, separately from the many other known harmful compounds of ETS. We believe that brand-specific and tobacco-product-specific differences in the release of PM matter and that these differences are of public interest. Methods: To generate ETS of cigarettes and cigarillos as standardized and reproducible as possible, an automatic second hand smoke emitter (AETSE) was developed and placed in a glass chamber. L&M cigarettes (“without additives”, “red label”, “blue label”), L&M filtered cigarillos (“red”) and 3R4F standard research cigarettes (as reference) were smoked automatically according to a self-developed, standardized protocol until the tobacco product was smoked down to 8 mm distance from the tipping paper of the filter. Results: Mean concentration (Cmean) and area under the curve (AUC) in a plot of PM2.5 against time were measured, and compared. CmeanPM2.5 were found to be 518 μg/m3 for 3R4F cigarettes, 576 μg/m3 for L&M “without additives” (“red”), 448 μg/m3 for L&M “blue label”, 547 μg/m3 for L&M “red label”, and 755 μg/m3 for L&M filtered cigarillos (“red”). AUCPM2.5-values were 208,214 μg/m3·s for 3R4F reference cigarettes, 204,629 μg/m3·s for L&M “without additives” (“red”), 152,718 μg/m3·s for L&M “blue label”, 238,098 μg/m3·s for L&M “red label” and 796,909 μg/m3·s for L&M filtered cigarillos (“red”). Conclusion: Considering the large and significant differences in particulate matter emissions between cigarettes and cigarillos, we think that a favorable taxation of cigarillos is not justifiable. PMID:26258782

The narrow-leaf syndrome: a functional and evolutionary approach to the form of fog-harvesting rosette plants.

PubMed

Martorell, Carlos; Ezcurra, Exequiel

2007-04-01

Plants that use fog as an important water-source frequently have a rosette growth habit. The performance of this morphology in relation to fog interception has not been studied. Some first-principles from physics predict that narrow leaves, together with other ancillary traits (large number and high flexibility of leaves, caudices, and/or epiphytism) which constitute the "narrow-leaf syndrome" should increase fog-interception efficiency. This was tested using aluminum models of rosettes that differed in leaf length, width and number and were exposed to artificial fog. The results were validated using seven species of Tillandsia and four species of xerophytic rosettes. The total amount of fog intercepted in rosette plants increased with total leaf area, while narrow leaves maximized interception efficiency (measured as interception per unit area). The number of leaves in the rosettes is physically constrained because wide-leafed plants can only have a few blades. At the limits of this constraint, net fog interception was independent of leaf form, but interception efficiency was maximized by large numbers of narrow leaves. Atmospheric Tillandsia species show the narrow-leaf syndrome. Their fog interception efficiencies were correlated to the ones predicted from aluminum-model data. In the larger xerophytic rosette species, the interception efficiency was greatest in plants showing the narrow-leaf syndrome. The adaptation to fog-harvesting in several narrow-leaved rosettes was tested for evolutionary convergence in 30 xerophytic rosette species using a comparative method. There was a significant evolutionary tendency towards the development of the narrow-leaf syndrome the closer the species grew to areas where fog is frequently available. This study establishes convergence in a very wide group of plants encompassing genera as contrasting as Tillandsia and Agave as a result of their dependence on fog.

Estimating Vegetation Rainfall Interception Using Remote Sensing Observations at Very High Resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Y.; Zhao, P.; Hong, Y.; Fan, W.; Yan, B.; Xie, H.

2017-12-01

Abstract: As an important compont of evapotranspiration, vegetation rainfall interception is the proportion of gross rainfall that is intercepted, stored and subsequently evaporated from all parts of vegetation during or following rainfall. Accurately quantifying the vegetation rainfall interception at a high resolution is critical for rainfall-runoff modeling and flood forecasting, and is also essential for understanding its further impact on local, regional, and even global water cycle dynamics. In this study, the Remote Sensing-based Gash model (RS-Gash model) is developed based on a modified Gash model for interception loss estimation using remote sensing observations at the regional scale, and has been applied and validated in the upper reach of the Heihe River Basin of China for different types of vegetation. To eliminate the scale error and the effect of mixed pixels, the RS-Gash model is applied at a fine scale of 30 m with the high resolution vegetation area index retrieved by using the unified model of bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF-U) for the vegetation canopy. Field validation shows that the RMSE and R2 of the interception ratio are 3.7% and 0.9, respectively, indicating the model's strong stability and reliability at fine scale. The temporal variation of vegetation rainfall interception loss and its relationship with precipitation are further investigated. In summary, the RS-Gash model has demonstrated its effectiveness and reliability in estimating vegetation rainfall interception. When compared to the coarse resolution results, the application of this model at 30-m fine resolution is necessary to resolve the scaling issues as shown in this study. Keywords: rainfall interception; remote sensing; RS-Gash analytical model; high resolution

Evaporation of impact water droplets in interception processes: Historical precedence of the hypothesis and a brief literature overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunkerley, David L.

2009-10-01

SummaryIntra-storm evaporation depths exceed post-storm evaporation depths in the interception of rainfall on plant canopies. An important fraction of the intra-storm evaporation may involve the small impact (or splash) droplets produced when raindrops, and perhaps gravity drops (drips released from plant parts), collide with wet plant surfaces. This idea has been presented as a new conception by Murakami [Murakami, S., 2006. A proposal for a new forest canopy interception mechanism: splash droplet evaporation. Journal of Hydrology 319, 72-82; Murakami, S., 2007a. Application of three canopy interception models to a young stand of Japanese cypress and interpretation in terms of interception mechanism. Journal of Hydrology 342, 305-319; Murakami, S., 2007b. A follow-up for the splash droplet evaporation hypothesis of canopy interception and remaining problems: why is humidity unsaturated during rainfall? In: Proceedings of the 20th Annual Conference. Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources (in Japanese). < http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jshwr/20/0/20_62/_article>] but was in fact advanced by Dunin [Dunin, F.X., O'Loughlin, E.M., Reyenga, W., 1988. Interception loss from eucalypt forest: lysimeter determination of hourly rates for long term evaluation. Hydrological Processes 2, 315-329] more than 20 years ago. In addition, Dunin et al. considered that canopy ventilation might be enhanced in intense rain. This note draws attention to the historical precedence of the work of Dunin et al. and also presents a short review of literature on impact droplet production, highlighting areas where data are still required for the full exploration of the role of droplet evaporation in canopy interception. Droplet production needs to be properly parameterised and included in models of interception processes and landsurface-atmosphere interactions.

Direct and inverse theorems on approximation by root functions of a regular boundary-value problem

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

Radzievskii, G V

2006-08-31

One considers the spectral problem x{sup (n)}+ Fx={lambda}x with boundary conditions U{sub j}(x)=0, j=1,...,n, for functions x on [0,1]. It is assumed that F is a linear bounded operator from the Hoelder space C{sup {gamma}}, {gamma} element of [0,n-1), into L{sub 1} and the U{sub j} are bounded linear functionals on C{sup k{sub j}} with k{sub j} element of {l_brace}0,...,n- 1{r_brace}. Let P{sub {zeta}} be the linear span of the root functions of the problem x{sup (n)}+ Fx={lambda}x, U{sub j}(x)=0, j=1,...,n, corresponding to the eigenvalues {lambda}{sub k} with |{lambda}{sub k}|<{zeta}{sup n}, and let E{sub {zeta}}(f){sub W{sub p}{sup l}}:=inf{l_brace}||f-g||{sub W{sub p}{supmore » l}}:g element of P{sub {zeta}}{r_brace}. An estimate of E{sub {zeta}}(f){sub W{sub p}{sup l}} is obtained in terms of the K-functional K({zeta}{sup -m},f;W{sub p}{sup l},W{sub p,U}{sup l+m}):= inf{l_brace}||f-x||{sub W{sub p}{sup l}}+{zeta}{sup -m}||x||{sub W{sub p}{sup l}{sup +}{sup m}}:x element of W{sub p}{sup l+m}, U{sub j}(x)=0 for k{sub j}

Rainfall interception of three trees in Oakland, California

Treesearch

Qingfu Xiao; E. Gregory McPherson

2011-01-01

A rainfall interception study was conducted in Oakland, California to determine the partitioning of rainfall and the chemical composition of precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow. Rainfall interception measurements were conducted on a gingko (Ginkgo biloba) (13.5 m tall deciduous tree), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) (8...

Technical note: Assessment of the oxygen pulse and heart rate method using respiration chambers and comparative slaughter for measuring heat production of cattle.

PubMed

Oss, D B; Marcondes, M I; Machado, F S; Tomich, T R; Chizzotti, M L; Campos, M M; Pereira, L G R

2016-11-01

The objective of this study was to assess the oxygen pulse and heart rate (O 2 P-HR) technique using the respiration chamber (RC) and comparative slaughter (CS) methods for measuring the heat production (HP) of crossbred (Holstein × Gyr) yearling bulls. Twenty-four bulls were used. Six bulls were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment as a reference group to estimate the initial empty body weight (BW) and energy content of the remaining animals. The remaining bulls were assigned to a completely randomized design with 3 levels of dry matter intake, with 6 replicates. The levels of dry matter intake were 1.2% of BW, 1.8% of BW and ad libitum, with target orts of 5%. The bulls were fed a diet consisting of 59.6% corn silage and 40.4% concentrate on a dry matter basis. The HP (kcal/BW 0.75 ) was measured using 3 techniques, first using O 2 P-HR, followed by the RC and CS methods. The HP did not differ among assessed techniques, averaging 162.7kcal/BW 0.75 . The intercepts of the linear regressions (mean ± SE) were 64.82±25.515 (H 0 : intercept=0; P=0.024), 33.77±13.418 (H 0 : intercept=0), and 50.02±27.495 (H 0 : intercept=0) for O 2 P-HR versus RC, CS versus RC, and O 2 P-HR versus CS, respectively. The slopes of the linear regressions were 0.59±0.153 (H 0 : slope=1), 0.88±0.081 (H 0 : slope=1), and 0.62±0.155 (H 0 : slope=1) for O 2 P-HR versus RC, CS versus RC, and O 2 P-HR versus CS, respectively. The coefficients of determination were 0.52, 0.90, and 0.52 for O 2 P-HR versus RC, CS versus RC, and O 2 P-HR versus CS, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficients, 0.70 and 0.68, were moderate for O 2 P-HR versus RC and O 2 P-HR versus CS, respectively, but high, 0.90, for CS versus RC. The between-animal coefficient of variation was greater for the O 2 P-HR method (16.6%) compared with RC (7.7%) or CS (6.7%). We conclude that there was an agreement among the HP measurements detected using the assessed methods and that O 2 P-HR is able to predict HP in cattle with great accuracy but only moderate precision. Therefore, the O 2 P-HR method may have limitations in terms of assessing HP in low numbers of replications due to greater between-animal coefficient of variation than either the RC or CS methods. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Information content versus word length in random typing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrer-i-Cancho, Ramon; Moscoso del Prado Martín, Fermín

2011-12-01

Recently, it has been claimed that a linear relationship between a measure of information content and word length is expected from word length optimization and it has been shown that this linearity is supported by a strong correlation between information content and word length in many languages (Piantadosi et al 2011 Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 108 3825). Here, we study in detail some connections between this measure and standard information theory. The relationship between the measure and word length is studied for the popular random typing process where a text is constructed by pressing keys at random from a keyboard containing letters and a space behaving as a word delimiter. Although this random process does not optimize word lengths according to information content, it exhibits a linear relationship between information content and word length. The exact slope and intercept are presented for three major variants of the random typing process. A strong correlation between information content and word length can simply arise from the units making a word (e.g., letters) and not necessarily from the interplay between a word and its context as proposed by Piantadosi and co-workers. In itself, the linear relation does not entail the results of any optimization process.

[From clinical judgment to linear regression model.

PubMed

Palacios-Cruz, Lino; Pérez, Marcela; Rivas-Ruiz, Rodolfo; Talavera, Juan O

2013-01-01

When we think about mathematical models, such as linear regression model, we think that these terms are only used by those engaged in research, a notion that is far from the truth. Legendre described the first mathematical model in 1805, and Galton introduced the formal term in 1886. Linear regression is one of the most commonly used regression models in clinical practice. It is useful to predict or show the relationship between two or more variables as long as the dependent variable is quantitative and has normal distribution. Stated in another way, the regression is used to predict a measure based on the knowledge of at least one other variable. Linear regression has as it's first objective to determine the slope or inclination of the regression line: Y = a + bx, where "a" is the intercept or regression constant and it is equivalent to "Y" value when "X" equals 0 and "b" (also called slope) indicates the increase or decrease that occurs when the variable "x" increases or decreases in one unit. In the regression line, "b" is called regression coefficient. The coefficient of determination (R 2 ) indicates the importance of independent variables in the outcome.

A Family of CSαβ Defensins and Defensin-Like Peptides from the Migratory Locust, Locusta migratoria, and Their Expression Dynamics during Mycosis and Nosemosis

PubMed Central

Zhang, Liwei; Zhang, Pengfei; Zhang, Long

2016-01-01

Insect defensins are effector components of the innate defense system. During infection, these peptides may play a role in the control of pathogens by providing protective antimicrobial barriers between epithelial cells and the hemocoel. The cDNAs encoding four defensins of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, designated LmDEF 1, 3–5, were identified for the first time by transcriptome-targeted analysis. Three of the members of this CSαβ defensin family, LmDEF 1, 3, and 5, were detected in locust tissues. The pro regions of their sequences have little-shared identities with other insect defensins, though the predicted mature peptides align well with other insect defensins. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a completely novel position of both LmDEF 1 and 3, compared to defensins from hymenopterans. The expression patterns of the genes encoding LmDEFs in the fat body and salivary glands were studied in response to immune-challenge by the microsporidian pathogen Nosema locustae and the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae after feeding or topical application, respectively. Focusing on Nosema-induced immunity, qRT-PCR was employed to quantify the transcript levels of LmDEFs. A higher transcript abundance of LmDEF5 was distributed more or less uniformly throughout the fat body along time. A very low baseline transcription of both LmDEFs 1 and 3 in naïve insects was indicated, and that transcription increases with time or is latent in the fat body or salivary glands of infected nymphs. In the salivary glands, expression of LmDEF3 was 20-40-times higher than in the fat body post-microbial infection. A very low expression of LmDEF3 could be detected in the fat body, but eventually increased with time up to a maximum at day 15. Delayed induction of transcription of these peptides in the fat body and salivary glands 5–15 days post-activation and the differential expression patterns suggest that the fat body/salivary glands of this species are active in the immune response against pathogens. The ability of N. locustae to induce salivary glands as well as fat body expression of defensins raises the possibility that these AMPs might play a key role in the development and/or tolerance of parasitic infections. PMID:27556587

Prediction of beef carcass and meat traits from rearing factors in young bulls and cull cows.

PubMed

Soulat, J; Picard, B; Léger, S; Monteils, V

2016-04-01

The aim of this study was to predict the beef carcass and LM (thoracis part) characteristics and the sensory properties of the LM from rearing factors applied during the fattening period. Individual data from 995 animals (688 young bulls and 307 cull cows) in 15 experiments were used to establish prediction models. The data concerned rearing factors (13 variables), carcass characteristics (5 variables), LM characteristics (2 variables), and LM sensory properties (3 variables). In this study, 8 prediction models were established: dressing percentage and the proportions of fat tissue and muscle in the carcass to characterize the beef carcass; cross-sectional area of fibers (mean fiber area) and isocitrate dehydrogenase activity to characterize the LM; and, finally, overall tenderness, juiciness, and flavor intensity scores to characterize the LM sensory properties. A random effect was considered in each model: the breed for the prediction models for the carcass and LM characteristics and the trained taste panel for the prediction of the meat sensory properties. To evaluate the quality of prediction models, 3 criteria were measured: robustness, accuracy, and precision. The model was robust when the root mean square errors of prediction of calibration and validation sub-data sets were near to one another. Except for the mean fiber area model, the obtained predicted models were robust. The prediction models were considered to have a high accuracy when the mean prediction error (MPE) was ≤0.10 and to have a high precision when the was the closest to 1. The prediction of the characteristics of the carcass from the rearing factors had a high precision ( > 0.70) and a high prediction accuracy (MPE < 0.10), except for the fat percentage model ( = 0.67, MPE = 0.16). However, the predictions of the LM characteristics and LM sensory properties from the rearing factors were not sufficiently precise ( < 0.50) and accurate (MPE > 0.10). Only the flavor intensity of the beef score could be satisfactorily predicted from the rearing factors with high precision ( = 0.72) and accuracy (MPE = 0.10). All the prediction models displayed different effects of the rearing factors according to animal categories (young bulls or cull cows). In consequence, these prediction models display the necessary adaption of rearing factors during the fattening period according to animal categories to optimize the carcass traits according to animal categories.

Comparison of detection methods to estimate asexual Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence and gametocyte carriage in a community survey in Tanzania.

PubMed

Mwingira, Felista; Genton, Blaise; Kabanywanyi, Abdu-Noor M; Felger, Ingrid

2014-11-18

The use of molecular techniques to detect malaria parasites has been advocated to improve the accuracy of parasite prevalence estimates, especially in moderate to low endemic settings. Molecular work is time-consuming and costly, thus the effective gains of this technique need to be carefully evaluated. Light microscopy (LM) and rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) are commonly used to detect malaria infection in resource constrained areas, but their limited sensitivity results in underestimation of the proportion of people infected with Plasmodium falciparum. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of missed infections via a community survey in Tanzania, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect P. falciparum parasites and gametocytes. Three hundred and thirty individuals of all ages from the Kilombero and Ulanga districts (Tanzania) were enrolled in a cross-sectional survey. Finger prick blood samples were collected for parasite detection by RDT, LM and molecular diagnosis using quantitative 18S rRNA PCR and msp2 nPCR. Gametocytes were detected by LM and by amplifying transcripts of the gametocyte-specific marker pfs25. Results from all three diagnostic methods were available for a subset of 226 individuals. Prevalence of P. falciparum was 38% (86/226; 95% CI 31.9-44.4%) by qPCR, 15.9% (36/226; 95% CI 11.1-20.7%) by RDT and 5.8% (13/226; 95% CI 2.69- 8.81%) by LM. qPCR was positive for 72% (26/36) of the RDT-positive samples. Gametocyte prevalence was 10.6% (24/226) by pfs25-qRT-PCR and 1.2% by LM. LM showed the poorest performance, detecting only 15% of P. falciparum parasite carriers identified by PCR. Thus, LM is not a sufficiently accurate technique from which to inform policies and malaria control or elimination efforts. The diagnostic performance of RDT was superior to that of LM. However, it is also insufficient when precise prevalence data are needed for monitoring intervention success or for determining point prevalence rates in countrywide surveillance. Detection of gametocytes by PCR was 10-times more sensitive than by LM. These findings support the need for molecular techniques to accurately estimate the human infectious reservoir and hence the transmission potential in a population.

Anti-bacterial immunity to Listeria monocytogenes in allogeneic bone marrow chimera in mice

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

Onoe, K.; Good, R.A.; Yamamoto, K.

1986-06-01

Protection and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.) were studied in allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow chimeras. Lethally irradiated AKR (H-2k) mice were successfully reconstituted with marrow cells from C57BL/10 (B10) (H-2b), B10 H-2-recombinant strains or syngeneic mice. Irradiated AKR mice reconstituted with marrow cells from H-2-compatible B10.BR mice, (BR----AKR), as well as syngeneic marrow cells, (AKR----AKR), showed a normal level of responsiveness to the challenge stimulation with the listeria antigens when DTH was evaluated by footpad reactions. These mice also showed vigorous activities in acquired resistance to the L.m. By contrast, chimeric mice thatmore » had total or partial histoincompatibility at the H-2 determinants between donor and recipient, (B10----AKR), (B10.AQR----AKR), (B10.A(4R)----AKR), or (B10.A(5R)----AKR), were almost completely unresponsive in DTH and antibacterial immunity. However, when (B10----AKR) H-2-incompatible chimeras had been immunized with killed L.m. before challenge with live L.m., these mice manifested considerable DTH and resistance to L.m. These observations suggest that compatibility at the entire MHC between donor and recipient is required for bone marrow chimeras to be able to manifest DTH and protection against L.m. after a short-term immunization schedule. However, this requirement is overcome by a preceding or more prolonged period of immunization with L.m. antigens. These antigens, together with marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells, can then stimulate and expand cell populations that are restricted to the MHC (H-2) products of the donor type.« less

Suppression of immunodeficiency virus-associated neural damage by the p75 neurotrophin receptor ligand, LM11A-31, in an in vitro feline model.

PubMed

Meeker, Rick B; Poulton, Winona; Feng, Wen-hai; Hudson, Lola; Longo, Frank M

2012-06-01

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), produces systemic and central nervous system disease in its natural host, the domestic cat, that parallels the pathogenesis seen in HIV-infected humans. The ability to culture feline nervous system tissue affords the unique opportunity to directly examine interactions of infectious virus with CNS cells for the development of models and treatments that can then be translated to a natural infectious model. To explore the therapeutic potential of a new p75 neurotrophin receptor ligand, LM11A-31, we evaluated neuronal survival, neuronal damage and calcium homeostasis in cultured feline neurons following inoculation with FIV. FIV resulted in the gradual appearance of dendritic beading, pruning of processes and shrinkage of neuronal perikarya in the neurons. Astrocytes developed a more activated appearance and there was an enhanced accumulation of microglia, particularly at longer times post-inoculation. Addition of 10 nM LM11A-31, to the cultures greatly reduced or eliminated the neuronal pathology as well as the FIV effects on astrocytes and microglia. LM11A-31 also, prevented the development of delayed calcium deregulation in feline neurons exposed to conditioned medium from FIV treated macrophages. The suppression of calcium accumulation prevented the development of foci of calcium accumulation and beading in the dendrites. FIV replication was unaffected by LM11A-31. The strong neuroprotection afforded by LM11A-31 in an infectious in vitro model indicates that LM11A-31 may have excellent potential for the treatment of HIV-associated neurodegeneration.

Acaricidal activity against Tetranychus urticae and chemical composition of peel essential oils of three Citrus species cultivated in NE Brazil.

PubMed

Araújo, Claudio Pereira; da Camara, Claudio Augusto Gomes; Neves, Ilzenayde Araújo; Ribeiro, Nicolle de Carvalho; Gomes, Cristianne Araújo; de Moraes, Marcílio Martins; Botelho, Priscilla de Sousa

2010-03-01

The repellency and fumigant toxicities of the peel essential oils of Citrus sinensis var. pêra (LP), C. sinensis var. mimo (LM), and C. aurantium (LL) cultivated in northeast Brazil were evaluated against Tetranychus urticae. Analysis of the oils by GC and GC/MS led to the identification of twenty-eight components, which represented 99.9%, 99.7% and 99.3% of the total constituents of the LP, LM and LL oils, respectively. Limonene was the main component found in all three oils. Other main components were alpha-pinene (1.5% in LP; 1.4% in LM), myrcene (5.7% in LP; 5.9% in LM and 5.6% in LL) and linalool (2.4% in LP; 2.3% in LM and 3.9% in LL). The best repellency action was observed for LM at 2.0%, followed by LL oil and eugenol, both of them at 2.5%. The Citrus oils were less active than eugenol (LC50 = 0.004 microL/L air) and phosphine, which revealed 100% mortality at 2 x 10(-3) g/L (66.7% of the recommended dose). However, the most potent fumigant toxicity was found with LL oil, with an LC50 value of 1.63 microL/L air, followed by the oils from LM and LP with LC50 values of 2.22 microL/L air and 4.63 microL/L air, respectively. The associated fumigant and repellent properties of these Citrus peel oils, particularly those of C. aurantium and C. senensis var. mimo, could be used to advantage for the control of T. urticae.

Assessment of Sex Differences in Body Composition Among Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa.

PubMed

Nagata, Jason M; Golden, Neville H; Peebles, Rebecka; Long, Jin; Murray, Stuart B; Leonard, Mary B; Carlson, Jennifer L

2017-04-01

To compare deficits in fat mass (FM) and lean body mass (LM) among male and female adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) and to identify other covariates associated with body composition. We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of all subjects aged 9-20 years with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition diagnosis of AN and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans after initial evaluation at Stanford between March 1997 and February 2011. From the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans, LM and FM results were converted to age-, height-, sex-, and race-specific Z-scores for age using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reference data. A total of 16 boys and 119 girls with AN met eligibility criteria. The FM Z-score in girls with AN (-3.24 ± 1.50) was significantly lower than that in boys with AN (-2.41 ± .96) in unadjusted models (p = .007). LM was reduced in both girls and boys with AN, but there was no significant sex difference in LM Z-scores. In multivariate models, lower percentage median body mass index was significantly associated with lower FM Z-scores (β = .08, p < .0001) and lower LM Z-score (β = .03, p = .0002), whereas lower whole body bone mineral content Z-score was significantly associated with lower LM Z-score (β = .21, p = .0006). FM deficits in girls were significantly greater than those in boys with AN in unadjusted models; however, the degree of malnutrition appeared to be the primary factor accounting for this difference. There were no significant sex differences in FM or LM in adjusted models. Copyright © 2016 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hybridization between the African clawed frogs Xenopus laevis and Xenopus muelleri (Pipidae) increases the multiplicity of antimicrobial peptides in skin secretions of female offspring.

PubMed

Mechkarska, Milena; Meetani, Mohammed; Michalak, Pawel; Vaksman, Zalman; Takada, Koji; Conlon, J Michael

2012-09-01

Peptidomic analysis was used to compare the distribution of host-defense peptides in norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions from laboratory-generated female F1 hybrids of the common clawed frog Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802) and Mueller's clawed frog Xenopus muelleri (Peters, 1844) with the corresponding distribution in skin secretions from the parent species. A total of 18 peptides were identified in secretions from the hybrid frogs. Eleven peptides (magainin-1, magainin-2, CPF-1, CPF-3, CPF-4, CPF-5, CPF-6, CPF-7, XPF-1, XPF-2, and PGLa) were identified in secretions of both the hybrids and X. laevis. Four peptides (magainin-M1, XPF-M1, CPF-M1, and tigerinin-M1) were previously found in skin secretions of X. muelleri but magainin-M2 and CPF-M2 from X. muelleri were not detected. Three previously undescribed peptides (magainin-LM1, PGLa-LM1, and CPF-LM1) were purified from the secretions of the hybrid frogs that were not detected in secretions from either X. laevis or X. muelleri. Magainin-LM1 differs from magainin-2 from X. laevis by a single amino acid substitution (Gly(13)→Ala) but PGLa-LM1 and CPF-LM1 differ appreciably in structure from orthologs in the parent species. CPF-LM1 shows potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and is hemolytic. The data indicate that hybridization increases the multiplicity of skin host-defense peptides in skin secretions. As the female F1 hybrids are fertile, hybridization may represent an adaptive strategy among Xenopus species to increase protection against pathogenic microorganisms in the environment. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cone Photoreceptor Structure in Patients With X-Linked Cone Dysfunction and Red-Green Color Vision Deficiency

PubMed Central

Patterson, Emily J.; Wilk, Melissa; Langlo, Christopher S.; Kasilian, Melissa; Ring, Michael; Hufnagel, Robert B.; Dubis, Adam M.; Tee, James J.; Kalitzeos, Angelos; Gardner, Jessica C.; Ahmed, Zubair M.; Sisk, Robert A.; Larsen, Michael; Sjoberg, Stacy; Connor, Thomas B.; Dubra, Alfredo; Neitz, Jay; Hardcastle, Alison J.; Neitz, Maureen; Michaelides, Michel; Carroll, Joseph

2016-01-01

Purpose Mutations in the coding sequence of the L and M opsin genes are often associated with X-linked cone dysfunction (such as Bornholm Eye Disease, BED), though the exact color vision phenotype associated with these disorders is variable. We examined individuals with L/M opsin gene mutations to clarify the link between color vision deficiency and cone dysfunction. Methods We recruited 17 males for imaging. The thickness and integrity of the photoreceptor layers were evaluated using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Cone density was measured using high-resolution images of the cone mosaic obtained with adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy. The L/M opsin gene array was characterized in 16 subjects, including at least one subject from each family. Results There were six subjects with the LVAVA haplotype encoded by exon 3, seven with LIAVA, two with the Cys203Arg mutation encoded by exon 4, and two with a novel insertion in exon 2. Foveal cone structure and retinal thickness was disrupted to a variable degree, even among related individuals with the same L/M array. Conclusions Our findings provide a direct link between disruption of the cone mosaic and L/M opsin variants. We hypothesize that, in addition to large phenotypic differences between different L/M opsin variants, the ratio of expression of first versus downstream genes in the L/M array contributes to phenotypic diversity. While the L/M opsin mutations underlie the cone dysfunction in all of the subjects tested, the color vision defect can be caused either by the same mutation or a gene rearrangement at the same locus. PMID:27447086

Rayleigh matches in carriers of inherited color vision defects: the contribution from the third L/M photopigment.

PubMed

Sun, Yang; Shevell, Steven K

2008-01-01

The mother or daughter of a male with an X-chromosome-linked red/green color defect is an obligate carrier of the color deficient gene array. According to the Lyonization hypothesis, a female carrier's defective gene is expressed and thus carriers may have more than two types of pigments in the L/M photopigment range. An open question is how a carrier's third cone pigment in the L/M range affects the postreceptoral neural signals encoding color. Here, a model considered how the signal from the third pigment pools with signals from the normal's two pigments in the L/M range. Three alternative assumptions were considered for the signal from the third cone pigment: it pools with the signal from (1) L cones, (2) M cones, or (3) both types of cones. Spectral-sensitivity peak, optical density, and the relative number of each cone type were factors in the model. The model showed that differences in Rayleigh matches among carriers can be due to individual differences in the number of the third type of L/M cone, and the spectral sensitivity peak and optical density of the third L/M pigment; surprisingly, however, individual differences in the cone ratio of the other two cone types (one L and the other M) did not affect the match. The predicted matches were compared to Schmidt's (1934/1955) report of carriers' Rayleigh matches. For carriers of either protanomaly or deuteranomaly, these matches were not consistent with the signal from the third L/M pigment combining with only the signal from M cones. The matches could be accounted for by pooling the third-pigment's response with L-cone signals, either exclusively or randomly with M-cone responses as well.

Success of ultrasound-guided versus landmark-guided arthrocentesis of hip, ankle, and wrist in a cadaver model.

PubMed

Berona, Kristin; Abdi, Amin; Menchine, Michael; Mailhot, Tom; Kang, Tarina; Seif, Dina; Chilstrom, Mikaela

2017-02-01

The objectives of this study were to evaluate emergency medicine resident-performed ultrasound for diagnosis of effusions, compare the success of a landmark-guided (LM) approach with an ultrasound-guided (US) technique for hip, ankle and wrist arthrocentesis, and compare change in provider confidence with LM and US arthrocentesis. After a brief video on LM and US arthrocentesis, residents were asked to identify artificially created effusions in the hip, ankle and wrist in a cadaver model and to perform US and LM arthrocentesis of the effusions. Outcomes included success of joint aspiration, time to aspiration, and number of attempts. Residents were surveyed regarding their confidence in identifying effusions with ultrasound and performing LM and US arthrocentesis. Eighteen residents completed the study. Sensitivity of ultrasound for detecting joint effusion was 86% and specificity was 90%. Residents were successful with ultrasound in 96% of attempts and with landmark 89% of attempts (p=0.257). Median number of attempts was 1 with ultrasound and 2 with landmarks (p=0.12). Median time to success with ultrasound was 38s and 51s with landmarks (p=0.23). After the session, confidence in both US and LM arthrocentesis improved significantly, however the post intervention confidence in US arthrocentesis was higher than LM (4.3 vs. 3.8, p<0.001). EM residents were able to successfully identify joint effusions with ultrasound, however we were unable to detect significant differences in actual procedural success between the two modalities. Further studies are needed to define the role of ultrasound for arthrocentesis in the emergency department. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

47 CFR 1.20003 - Policies and procedures for employee supervision and control.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... or employee responsible for ensuring that any interception of communications or access to call... to implement the interception of communications or access to call-identifying information; (2) An... description of how long it will maintain its records of each interception of communications or access to call...

Exploring the potential of the cosmic-ray neutron method to measure interception storage dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakobi, Jannis; Bogena, Heye; Huisman, Johan Alexander; Diekkrüger, Bernd; Vereecken, Harry

2017-04-01

Cosmic-ray neutron soil moisture probes are an emerging technology that relies on the negative correlation between near-surface fast neutron counts and soil moisture content. Hydrogen atoms in the soil, which are mainly present as water, moderate the secondary neutrons on the way back to the surface. Any application of this method needs to consider the sensitivity of the neutron counts to additional sources of hydrogen (e.g. above- and below-ground biomass, humidity of the lower atmosphere, lattice water of the soil minerals, organic matter and water in the litter layer, intercepted water in the canopy, and soil organic matter). In this study, we analyzed the effects of canopy-intercepted water on the cosmic-ray neutron counts. For this, an arable field cropped with sugar beet was instrumented with several cosmic-ray neutron probes and a wireless sensor network with more than 140 in-situ soil moisture sensors. Additionally rainfall interception was estimated using a new approach coupling throughfall measurements and leaf wetness sensors. The derived interception storage was used to correct for interception effects on cosmic ray neutrons to enhance soil water content prediction. Furthermore, the potential for a simultaneous prediction of above- and below-ground biomass, soil moisture and interception was tested.

Fog interception by Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) crowns decouples physiology from soil water deficit.

PubMed

Simonin, Kevin A; Santiago, Louis S; Dawson, Todd E

2009-07-01

Although crown wetting events can increase plant water status, leaf wetting is thought to negatively affect plant carbon balance by depressing photosynthesis and growth. We investigated the influence of crown fog interception on the water and carbon relations of juvenile and mature Sequoia sempervirens trees. Field observations of mature trees indicated that fog interception increased leaf water potential above that of leaves sheltered from fog. Furthermore, observed increases in leaf water potential exceeded the maximum water potential predicted if soil water was the only available water source. Because field observations were limited to two mature trees, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to investigate how fog interception influences plant water status and photosynthesis. Pre-dawn and midday branchlet water potential, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured on S. sempervirens saplings exposed to increasing soil water deficit, with and without overnight canopy fog interception. Sapling fog interception increased leaf water potential and photosynthesis above the control and soil water deficit treatments despite similar dark-acclimated leaf chlorophyll fluorescence. The field observations and greenhouse experiment show that fog interception represents an overlooked flux into the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum that temporarily, but significantly, decouples leaf-level water and carbon relations from soil water availability.

The role of stable isotopes in understanding rainfall ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The isotopic composition of water transmitted by the canopy as throughfall or stemflow reflects important hydrologic processes occurring in the canopy. A synthesis of the literature shows that complex spatiotemporal variations of isotopic composition are created by canopy interception. As a whole, the studies suggest a set of controlling factors including fractionation, exchange among liquid and vapor phase water, and spatiotemporal redistribution along varying canopy flowpaths. However, our limited understanding of physical processes and water routing in the canopy limits the ability to discern all details for predicting interception isotope effects. We suggest that the isotopic composition of throughfall and stemflow may be the key to improve our understanding of water storage and transport in the canopy, similar to how isotopic analysis contributed to progress in our understanding of watershed runoff processes. While interception isotope effects have largely been studied under the premise that they are a source of error, previous works also indicate a wide range of possible interactions that intercepted water may have with the canopy and airspace. We identify new research questions that may be answered by stable isotopes as a path forward in examining and generalizing small-scale interception processes that could facilitate integration of interception into watershed ecohydrological concepts. Evaporation from forest canopies (interception loss) is a prominent

The influence of visual motion on interceptive actions and perception.

PubMed

Marinovic, Welber; Plooy, Annaliese M; Arnold, Derek H

2012-05-01

Visual information is an essential guide when interacting with moving objects, yet it can also be deceiving. For instance, motion can induce illusory position shifts, such that a moving ball can seem to have bounced past its true point of contact with the ground. Some evidence suggests illusory motion-induced position shifts bias pointing tasks to a greater extent than they do perceptual judgments. This, however, appears at odds with other findings and with our success when intercepting moving objects. Here we examined the accuracy of interceptive movements and of perceptual judgments in relation to simulated bounces. Participants were asked to intercept a moving disc at its bounce location by positioning a virtual paddle, and then to report where the disc had landed. Results showed that interceptive actions were accurate whereas perceptual judgments were inaccurate, biased in the direction of motion. Successful interceptions necessitated accurate information concerning both the location and timing of the bounce, so motor planning evidently had privileged access to an accurate forward model of bounce timing and location. This would explain why people can be accurate when intercepting a moving object, but lack insight into the accurate information that had guided their actions when asked to make a perceptual judgment. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Practical Guide to Calibration of a GSSHA Hydrologic Model Using ERDC Automated Model Calibration Software - Efficient Local Search

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

use the ERDC software implementation of the secant LM method that accommodates the PEST model independent interface to calibrate a GSSHA...how the method works. We will also demonstrate how our LM/SLM implementation compares with its counterparts as implemented in the popular PEST ...function values and total model calls for local search to converge) associated with Examples 1 and 3 using the PEST LM/SLM implementations

Developing Laryngeal Muscle of Xenopus laevis as a Model System: Androgen-Driven Myogenesis Controls Fiber Type Transformation

PubMed Central

Nasipak, Brian; Kelley, Darcy B.

2014-01-01

The developmental programs that contribute to myogenic stem cell proliferation and muscle fiber differentiation control fiber numbers and twitch type. In this study, we describe the use of an experimental model system—androgen-regulated laryngeal muscle of juvenile clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis—to examine the contribution of proliferation by specific populations of myogenic stem cells to expression of the larynx-specific myosin heavy chain isoform, LM. Androgen treatment of juveniles (Stage PM0) resulted in up-regulation of an early (Myf-5) and a late (myogenin) myogenic regulatory factor; the time course of LM up-regulation tracked that of myogenin. Myogenic stem cells stimulated to proliferate by androgen include a population that expresses Pax-7, a marker for the satellite cell myogenic stem cell population. Since androgen can switch muscle fiber types from fast to slow even in denervated larynges, we developed an ex vivo culture system to explore the relation between proliferation and LM expression. Cultured whole larynges maintain sensitivity to androgen, increasing in size and LM expression. Blockade of cell proliferation with cis-platin prevents the switch from slow to fast twitch muscle fibers as assayed by ATPase activity. Blockade of cell proliferation in vivo also resulted in inhibition of LM expression. Thus, both in vivo and ex vivo, inhibition of myogenic stem cell proliferation blocks androgen-induced LM expression and fiber type switching in juveniles. PMID:21954146

Comparative genomics analyses revealed two virulent Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from ready-to-eat food.

PubMed

Lim, Shu Yong; Yap, Kien-Pong; Thong, Kwai Lin

2016-01-01

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that causes considerable morbidity in humans with high mortality rates. In this study, we have sequenced the genomes and performed comparative genomics analyses on two strains, LM115 and LM41, isolated from ready-to-eat food in Malaysia. The genome size of LM115 and LM41 was 2,959,041 and 2,963,111 bp, respectively. These two strains shared approximately 90% homologous genes. Comparative genomics and phylogenomic analyses revealed that LM115 and LM41 were more closely related to the reference strains F2365 and EGD-e, respectively. Our virulence profiling indicated a total of 31 virulence genes shared by both analysed strains. These shared genes included those that encode for internalins and L. monocytogenes pathogenicity island 1 (LIPI-1). Both the Malaysian L. monocytogenes strains also harboured several genes associated with stress tolerance to counter the adverse conditions. Seven antibiotic and efflux pump related genes which may confer resistance against lincomycin, erythromycin, fosfomycin, quinolone, tetracycline, and penicillin, and macrolides were identified in the genomes of both strains. Whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics analyses revealed two virulent L. monocytogenes strains isolated from ready-to-eat foods in Malaysia. The identification of strains with pathogenic, persistent, and antibiotic resistant potentials from minimally processed food warrant close attention from both healthcare and food industry.

Synthesis, growth, structural and optical studies of a new organic three dimensional framework: 4-(aminocarbonyl)pyridine 4-(aminocarbonyl)pyridinium hydrogen L-malate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vijayalakshmi, A.; Vidyavathy, B.; Peramaiyan, G.; Vinitha, G.

2017-02-01

4-(aminocarbonyl)pyridine 4-(aminocarbonyl)pyridinium hydrogen L-malate [(4ACP)(4ACP).(LM)] a new organic nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal was grown by the slow evaporation method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the [(4ACP)(4ACP).(LM)] crystal belongs to monoclinic crystal system, space group P21/n, with a three dimensional network. Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal (DT) analyses showed that [(4ACP)(4ACP).(LM)] is thermally stable up to 165 °C. The optical transmittance window and the lower cut-off wavelength of [(4ACP)(4ACP).(LM)] were found out by UV-vis-NIR spectral study. The molecular structure of [(4ACP)(4ACP).(LM)] was further confirmed by FTIR spectral studies. The relative dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss were determined as function of frequency and temperature. The third order nonlinear optical property of [(4ACP)(4ACP).(LM)] was studied by the Z-scan technique using a 532 nm diode pumped CW Nd:YAG laser. Nonlinear refractive index, nonlinear absorption coefficient and third order nonlinear susceptibility of the grown crystal were found to be 7.38×10-8 cm2/W, 0.08×10-4 cm/W and 5.36×10-6 esu, respectively. The laser damage threshold value is found to be 1.75 GW/cm2

IFN-γ protects from apoptotic neutrophil-mediated tissue injury during acute Listeria monocytogenes infection.

PubMed

Wang, Guan; Lin, Ang; Han, Qiuju; Zhao, Huajun; Tian, Zhigang; Zhang, Jian

2018-06-23

Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a foodborne Gram-positive intracellular pathogen that can cause listeriosis in humans and animals. Although phagocytes are known to be involved in the response to this infection, the role of neutrophils is not entirely clear. Here, we have demonstrated that soon after LM infection, a large number of IFN-γ-producing neutrophils quickly accumulated in the spleen, blood, and peritoneal cavity. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that neutrophils were an important source of IFN-γ. IFN-γ played a critical protective role against acute LM infection, as demonstrated by the poor survival of Ifng -/- mice. Moreover, IFN-γ promoted bacterial clearance by the neutrophils, thereby inhibiting LM-induced neutrophil apoptosis and spleen damage. In addition to this, IFN-γ could effectively drive macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils, which was accompanied with TGF-β secretion and was involved in protection against tissue injury. Importantly, by phagocytizing apoptotic neutrophils, macrophages obtained myeloperoxidase, an important bactericidal molecule only produced by neutrophils, which further promoted the antibacterial activity of macrophages. These findings demonstrate that neutrophils are an important source of IFN-γ at the early stage of LM infection, which is characterized by both LM elimination and tissue-protective effects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Conditional Stat1 Ablation Reveals the Importance of Interferon Signaling for Immunity to Listeria monocytogenes Infection

PubMed Central

Kernbauer, Elisabeth; Maier, Verena; Stoiber, Dagmar; Strobl, Birgit; Schneckenleithner, Christine; Sexl, Veronika; Reichart, Ursula; Reizis, Boris; Kalinke, Ulrich; Jamieson, Amanda; Müller, Mathias; Decker, Thomas

2012-01-01

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1) is a key player in responses to interferons (IFN). Mutations of Stat1 cause severe immune deficiencies in humans and mice. Here we investigate the importance of Stat1 signaling for the innate and secondary immune response to the intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). Cell type-restricted ablation of the Stat1 gene in naïve animals revealed unique roles in three cell types: macrophage Stat1 signaling protected against lethal Lm infection, whereas Stat1 ablation in dendritic cells (DC) did not affect survival. T lymphocyte Stat1 reduced survival. Type I IFN (IFN-I) signaling in T lymphocytes reportedly weakens innate resistance to Lm. Surprisingly, the effect of Stat1 signaling was much more pronounced, indicating a contribution of Stat1 to pathways other than the IFN-I pathway. In stark contrast, Stat1 activity in both DC and T cells contributed positively to secondary immune responses against Lm in immunized animals, while macrophage Stat1 was dispensable. Our findings provide the first genetic evidence that Stat1 signaling in different cell types produces antagonistic effects on innate protection against Lm that are obscured in mice with complete Stat1 deficiency. They further demonstrate a drastic change in the cell type-dependent Stat1 requirement for memory responses to Lm infection. PMID:22719255

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine's outreach to the public health workforce: 2001–2006

PubMed Central

Cogdill, Keith W.; Ruffin, Angela B.; Stavri, P. Zoë

2007-01-01

Objective: The paper provides an overview of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine's (NN/ LM's) outreach to the public health workforce from 2001 to 2006. Description: NN/LM conducts outreach through the activities of the Regional Medical Library (RML) staff and RML-sponsored projects led by NN/LM members. Between 2001 and 2006, RML staff provided training on information resources and information management for public health personnel at national, state, and local levels. The RMLs also contributed significantly to the Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce collaboration. Methods: Data were extracted from telephone interviews with directors of thirty-seven NN/LM-sponsored outreach projects directed at the public health sector. A review of project reports informed the interviews, which were transcribed and subsequently coded for emergent themes using qualitative analysis software. Results: Analysis of interview data led to the identification of four major themes: training, collaboration, evaluation of outcomes, and challenges. Sixteen subthemes represented specific lessons learned from NN/LM members' outreach to the public health sector. Conclusions: NN/LM conducted extensive information-oriented outreach to the public health workforce during the 2001-to-2006 contract period. Lessons learned from this experience, most notably the value of collaboration and the need for flexibility, continue to influence outreach efforts in the current contract period. PMID:17641766

Intraoperative ultrasound-assisted enucleation of residual fibroids following laparoscopic myomectomy.

PubMed

Hao, Yan; Li, Si-Jing; Zheng, Ping; Wu, Xia; Sheng, Jie; Yuan, Dong-Lan; Zhou, Qi; Wei, Wei; Duan, Ai-Hong; Wu, Qing-Qing; Lu, Dan

2018-05-25

To investigate if intraoperative ultrasounds by laparoscopic and transvaginal ultrasonography (LUS and TVS) could improve enucleating the residual fibroids following laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). From March to December 2016, 78 women with uterine fibroids underwent LM, LUS and TVS were applied to detect residual fibroids and to guide surgeons to enucleate them after the visible fibroids were removed during LM operation. The total number of residual fibroids found by LUS was 140, and the total number found by TVS was 127 following LM (P = 0.03). LUS is statistically superior to TVS in the detection of residual fibroids in the anterior wall (P = 0.004), in the detection of intramural fibroids (P = 0.002), and in the detection of fibroids with a diameter ranging from 0.5 to 1 cm (P = 0.002). According to the total number of enucleated fibroids by LM, patients were divided into three groups (Group 1: 2 to 4, Group 2: 5 to 7 and Group 3: ≥8 fibroid counts). The percentages of patients in each group with residual fibroids at the end of surgery were 22.2%, 51.9% and 66.7% respectively. Both LUS and TVS are beneficial to surgical treatment of fibroids by assisting enucleation of residual fibroids following LM, while LUS is more effective in localizing residual fibroids than TVS. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Linear Multivariable Regression Models for Prediction of Eddy Dissipation Rate from Available Meteorological Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

MCKissick, Burnell T. (Technical Monitor); Plassman, Gerald E.; Mall, Gerald H.; Quagliano, John R.

2005-01-01

Linear multivariable regression models for predicting day and night Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) from available meteorological data sources are defined and validated. Model definition is based on a combination of 1997-2000 Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) data sources, EDR from Aircraft Vortex Spacing System (AVOSS) deployment data, and regression variables primarily from corresponding Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) data. Model validation is accomplished through EDR predictions on a similar combination of 1994-1995 Memphis (MEM) AVOSS and ASOS data. Model forms include an intercept plus a single term of fixed optimal power for each of these regression variables; 30-minute forward averaged mean and variance of near-surface wind speed and temperature, variance of wind direction, and a discrete cloud cover metric. Distinct day and night models, regressing on EDR and the natural log of EDR respectively, yield best performance and avoid model discontinuity over day/night data boundaries.

Review and statistical analysis of the use of ultrasonic velocity for estimating the porosity fraction in polycrystalline materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, D. J.; Swickard, S. M.; Stang, D. B.; Deguire, M. R.

1991-01-01

A review and statistical analysis of the ultrasonic velocity method for estimating the porosity fraction in polycrystalline materials is presented. Initially, a semiempirical model is developed showing the origin of the linear relationship between ultrasonic velocity and porosity fraction. Then, from a compilation of data produced by many researchers, scatter plots of velocity versus percent porosity data are shown for Al2O3, MgO, porcelain-based ceramics, PZT, SiC, Si3N4, steel, tungsten, UO2,(U0.30Pu0.70)C, and YBa2Cu3O(7-x). Linear regression analysis produces predicted slope, intercept, correlation coefficient, level of significance, and confidence interval statistics for the data. Velocity values predicted from regression analysis of fully-dense materials are in good agreement with those calculated from elastic properties.

Relative motion of orbiting satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eades, J. B., Jr.

1972-01-01

The relative motion problem is analyzed, as a linearized case, and as a numerically determined solution to provide a time history of the geometries representing the motion state. The displacement history and the hodographs for families of solutions are provided, analytically and graphically, to serve as an aid to understanding this problem area. Linearized solutions to relative motion problems of orbiting particles are presented for the impulsive and fixed thrust cases. Second order solutions are described to enhance the accuracy of prediction. A method was developed to obtain accurate, numerical solutions to the intercept and rendezvous problem; and, special situations are examined. A particular problem related to relative motions, where the motion traces develop a cusp, is examined in detail. This phenomenon is found to be dependent on a particular relationship between orbital eccentricity and the inclination between orbital planes. These conditions are determined, and, example situations are presented and discussed.

Anomalous-hydrodynamic analysis of charge-dependent elliptic flow in heavy-ion collisions

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

Hongo, Masaru; Hirono, Yuji; Hirano, Tetsufumi

Anomalous hydrodynamics is a low-energy effective theory that captures effects of quantum anomalies. We develop a numerical code of anomalous hydrodynamics and apply it to dynamics of heavy-ion collisions, where anomalous transports are expected to occur. This is the first attempt to perform fully non-linear numerical simulations of anomalous hydrodynamics. We discuss implications of the simulations for possible experimental observations of anomalous transport effects. From analyses of the charge-dependent elliptic flow parameters (vmore » $$±\\atop{2}$$) as a function of the net charge asymmetry A ±, we find that the linear dependence of Δv$$±\\atop{2}$$ ≡ v$$-\\atop{2}$$ - v$$+\\atop{2}$$ on the net charge asymmetry A ± cannot be regarded as a robust signal of anomalous transports, contrary to previous studies. We, however, find that the intercept Δv$$±\\atop{2}$$ (A ± = 0) is sensitive to anomalous transport effects.« less

Anomalous-hydrodynamic analysis of charge-dependent elliptic flow in heavy-ion collisions

DOE PAGES

Hongo, Masaru; Hirono, Yuji; Hirano, Tetsufumi

2017-12-10

Anomalous hydrodynamics is a low-energy effective theory that captures effects of quantum anomalies. We develop a numerical code of anomalous hydrodynamics and apply it to dynamics of heavy-ion collisions, where anomalous transports are expected to occur. This is the first attempt to perform fully non-linear numerical simulations of anomalous hydrodynamics. We discuss implications of the simulations for possible experimental observations of anomalous transport effects. From analyses of the charge-dependent elliptic flow parameters (vmore » $$±\\atop{2}$$) as a function of the net charge asymmetry A ±, we find that the linear dependence of Δv$$±\\atop{2}$$ ≡ v$$-\\atop{2}$$ - v$$+\\atop{2}$$ on the net charge asymmetry A ± cannot be regarded as a robust signal of anomalous transports, contrary to previous studies. We, however, find that the intercept Δv$$±\\atop{2}$$ (A ± = 0) is sensitive to anomalous transport effects.« less

Effects of solvent composition in the normal-phase liquid chromatography of alkylphenols and naphthols

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

Hurtubise, R.J.; Hussain, A.; Silver, H.F.

1981-11-01

The normal-phase liquid chromatographic models of Scott, Snyder, and Soczewinski were considered for a ..mu..-Bondapak NH/sub 2/ stationary phase. n-Heptane:2-propanol and n-heptane:ethyl acetate mobile phases of different compositions were used. Linear relationships were obtained from graphs of log K' vs. log mole fraction of the strong solvent for both n-heptane:2-propanol and n-heptane:ethyl acetate mobile phases. A linear relationship was obtained between the reciprocal of corrected retention volume and % wt/v of 2-propanol but not between the reciprocal of corrected retention volume and % wt/v of ethyl acetate. The slopes and intercept terms from the Snyder and Soczewinski models were foundmore » to approximately describe interactions with ..mu..-Bondapak NH/sub 2/. Capacity factors can be predicted for the compounds by using the equations obtained from mobile phase composition variation experiments.« less

Review and statistical analysis of the ultrasonic velocity method for estimating the porosity fraction in polycrystalline materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, D. J.; Swickard, S. M.; Stang, D. B.; Deguire, M. R.

1990-01-01

A review and statistical analysis of the ultrasonic velocity method for estimating the porosity fraction in polycrystalline materials is presented. Initially, a semi-empirical model is developed showing the origin of the linear relationship between ultrasonic velocity and porosity fraction. Then, from a compilation of data produced by many researchers, scatter plots of velocity versus percent porosity data are shown for Al2O3, MgO, porcelain-based ceramics, PZT, SiC, Si3N4, steel, tungsten, UO2,(U0.30Pu0.70)C, and YBa2Cu3O(7-x). Linear regression analysis produced predicted slope, intercept, correlation coefficient, level of significance, and confidence interval statistics for the data. Velocity values predicted from regression analysis for fully-dense materials are in good agreement with those calculated from elastic properties.

Archimedes' law explains penetration of solids into granular media.

PubMed

Kang, Wenting; Feng, Yajie; Liu, Caishan; Blumenfeld, Raphael

2018-03-16

Understanding the response of granular matter to intrusion of solid objects is key to modelling many aspects of behaviour of granular matter, including plastic flow. Here we report a general model for such a quasistatic process. Using a range of experiments, we first show that the relation between the penetration depth and the force resisting it, transiently nonlinear and then linear, is scalable to a universal form. We show that the gradient of the steady-state part, K ϕ , depends only on the medium's internal friction angle, ϕ, and that it is nonlinear in μ = tan ϕ, in contrast to an existing conjecture. We further show that the intrusion of any convex solid shape satisfies a modified Archimedes' law and use this to: relate the zero-depth intercept of the linear part to K ϕ and the intruder's cross-section; explain the curve's nonlinear part in terms of the stagnant zone's development.

Effects of fatigue on motor unit firing rate versus recruitment threshold relationships.

PubMed

Stock, Matt S; Beck, Travis W; Defreitas, Jason M

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of fatigue on the average firing rate versus recruitment threshold relationships for the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis. Nineteen subjects performed ten maximum voluntary contractions of the dominant leg extensors. Before and after this fatiguing protocol, the subjects performed a trapezoid isometric muscle action of the leg extensors, and bipolar surface electromyographic signals were detected from both muscles. These signals were then decomposed into individual motor unit action potential trains. For each subject and muscle, the relationship between average firing rate and recruitment threshold was examined using linear regression analyses. For the VL, the linear slope coefficients and y-intercepts for these relationships increased and decreased, respectively, after fatigue. For both muscles, many of the motor units decreased their firing rates. With fatigue, recruitment of higher threshold motor units resulted in an increase in slope for the VL. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transcytosis of Listeria monocytogenes across the intestinal barrier upon specific targeting of goblet cell accessible E-cadherin.

PubMed

Nikitas, Georgios; Deschamps, Chantal; Disson, Olivier; Niault, Théodora; Cossart, Pascale; Lecuit, Marc

2011-10-24

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a foodborne pathogen that crosses the intestinal barrier upon interaction between its surface protein InlA and its species-specific host receptor E-cadherin (Ecad). Ecad, the key constituent of adherens junctions, is typically situated below tight junctions and therefore considered inaccessible from the intestinal lumen. In this study, we investigated how Lm specifically targets its receptor on intestinal villi and crosses the intestinal epithelium to disseminate systemically. We demonstrate that Ecad is luminally accessible around mucus-expelling goblet cells (GCs), around extruding enterocytes at the tip and lateral sides of villi, and in villus epithelial folds. We show that upon preferential adherence to accessible Ecad on GCs, Lm is internalized, rapidly transcytosed across the intestinal epithelium, and released in the lamina propria by exocytosis from where it disseminates systemically. Together, these results show that Lm exploits intrinsic tissue heterogeneity to access its receptor and reveal transcytosis as a novel and unanticipated pathway that is hijacked by Lm to breach the intestinal epithelium and cause systemic infection.

Transcytosis of Listeria monocytogenes across the intestinal barrier upon specific targeting of goblet cell accessible E-cadherin

PubMed Central

Nikitas, Georgios; Deschamps, Chantal; Disson, Olivier; Niault, Théodora; Cossart, Pascale

2011-01-01

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a foodborne pathogen that crosses the intestinal barrier upon interaction between its surface protein InlA and its species-specific host receptor E-cadherin (Ecad). Ecad, the key constituent of adherens junctions, is typically situated below tight junctions and therefore considered inaccessible from the intestinal lumen. In this study, we investigated how Lm specifically targets its receptor on intestinal villi and crosses the intestinal epithelium to disseminate systemically. We demonstrate that Ecad is luminally accessible around mucus-expelling goblet cells (GCs), around extruding enterocytes at the tip and lateral sides of villi, and in villus epithelial folds. We show that upon preferential adherence to accessible Ecad on GCs, Lm is internalized, rapidly transcytosed across the intestinal epithelium, and released in the lamina propria by exocytosis from where it disseminates systemically. Together, these results show that Lm exploits intrinsic tissue heterogeneity to access its receptor and reveal transcytosis as a novel and unanticipated pathway that is hijacked by Lm to breach the intestinal epithelium and cause systemic infection. PMID:21967767