Increased cryosurvival of osteosarcoma cells using an amphipathic pH-responsive polymer for trehalose uptake.

PubMed

Mercado, S A; Slater, N K H

2016-10-01

Amphipathic pH-responsive polymers have shown to increase the permeability of cell membranes to trehalose hence improving the cryopreservation of mammalian cells. However, the trafficking of both the polymer and trehalose across the cell membrane has not yet been thoroughly analysed. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect on cryopreservation of the trafficking of the disaccharide trehalose along PP-50, an amphipathic polymer, through an osteosarcoma cell line (SAOS-2). Confocal microscopy analysis confirmed the presence of intracellular labelled trehalose only when incubated in the presence of PP-50. Further analysis confirmed that both trehalose and PP-50 localised in the cytoplasm, accumulated mainly in the perinuclear area. Quantitative analysis of the colocalisation between trehalose and PP-50 showed Pearson and Manders coefficients of 0.862 ± 0.008 and 0.766 ± 0.033, respectively, suggesting a high degree of intracellular colocalisation between these molecules. Cryopreserved cells pre-incubated with trehalose and PP-50 showed increased cryosurvival when compared with cells pre-incubated in the absence of the polymer. PP-50 showed to be directly involved in the uptake of trehalose, a critical characteristic towards use in cryopreservation and biomedical applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigating the effect of poly-l-lactic acid nanoparticles carrying hypericin on the flow-biased diffusive motion of HeLa cell organelles.

PubMed

Penjweini, Rozhin; Deville, Sarah; Haji Maghsoudi, Omid; Notelaers, Kristof; Ethirajan, Anitha; Ameloot, Marcel

2017-07-19

In this study, we investigate in human cervical epithelial HeLa cells the intracellular dynamics and the mutual interaction with the organelles of the poly-l-lactic acid nanoparticles (PLLA NPs) carrying the naturally occurring hydrophobic photosensitizer hypericin. Temporal and spatiotemporal image correlation spectroscopy was used for the assessment of the intracellular diffusion and directed motion of the nanocarriers by tracking the hypericin fluorescence. Using image cross-correlation spectroscopy and specific fluorescent labelling of endosomes, lysosomes and mitochondria, the NPs dynamics in association with the cell organelles was studied. Static colocalization experiments were interpreted according to the Manders' overlap coefficient. Nanoparticles associate with a small fraction of the whole-organelle population. The organelles moving with NPs exhibit higher directed motion compared to those moving without them. The rate of the directed motion drops substantially after the application of nocodazole. The random component of the organelle motions is not influenced by the NPs. Image correlation and cross-correlation spectroscopy are most appropriate to unravel the motion of the PLLA nanocarrier and to demonstrate that the rate of the directed motion of organelles is influenced by their interaction with the nanocarriers. Not all PLLA-hypericin NPs are associated with organelles. © 2017 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Conjugated fatty acids and methane production by rumen microbes when incubated with linseed oil alone or mixed with fish oil and/or malate.

PubMed

Li, Xiang Z; Gao, Qing S; Yan, Chang G; Choi, Seong H; Shin, Jong S; Song, Man K

2015-08-01

We hypothesized that manipulating metabolism with fish oil and malate as a hydrogen acceptor would affect the biohydrogenation process of α-linolenic acid by rumen microbes. This study was to examine the effect of fish oil and/or malate on the production of conjugated fatty acids and methane (CH4 ) by rumen microbes when incubated with linseed oil. Linseed oil (LO), LO with fish oil (LO-FO), LO with malate (LO-MA), or LO with fish oil and malate (LO-FO-MA) was added to diluted rumen fluid, respectively. The LO-MA and LO-FO-MA increased pH and propionate concentration compared to the other treatments. LO-MA and LO-FO-MA reduced CH4 production compared to LO. LO-MA and LO-FO-MA increased the contents of c9,t11-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and c9,t11,c15-conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) compared to LO. The content of malate was rapidly reduced while that of lactate was reduced in LO-MA and LO-FO-MA from 3 h incubation time. The fold change of the quantity of methanogen related to total bacteria was decreased at both 3 h and 6 h incubation times in all treatments compared to the control. Overall data indicate that supplementation of combined malate and/or fish oil when incubated with linseed oil, could depress methane generation and increase production of propionate, CLA and CLnA under the conditions of the current in vitro study. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Structure Activity Relationship Studies of Flavonoids as Potent Inhibitors of Human Platelet 12-hLO, Reticulocyte 15-hLO-1 and Prostate Epithelial 15-hLO-2

PubMed Central

Vasquez-Martinez, Yesseny; Ohri, Rachana V.; Kenyon, Victor; Holman, Theodore R.; Sepúlveda-Boza, Silvia

2007-01-01

Human lipoxygenase (hLO) isozymes have been implicated in a number of disease states and have attracted much attention with respect to their inhibition. One class of inhibitors, the flavonoids, have been shown to be potent lipoxygenase inhibitors but their study has been restricted to those compounds found in nature, which have limited structural variability. We have therefore carried out a comprehensive study to determine the structural requirements for flavonoid potency and selectivity against platelet 12-hLO, reticulocyte 15-hLO-1 and prostate epithelial 15-hLO-2. We conclude from this study that catechols are essential for high potency, that isoflavones and isoflavanones tend to select against 12-hLO, that isoflavans tend to select against 15-hLO-1, but few flavonoids target 15-hLO-2. PMID:17869117

14 CFR Appendix E to Part 420 - Tables for Explosive Site Plan

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

.... Table E-2—Liquid Propellant Explosive Equivalents Propellant combinations Explosive equivalent LO2/LH2 The larger of: 8W2/3 where W is the weight of LO2/LH2, or14% of W. LO2/LH2 + LO2/RP-1 Sum of (20% for LO2/RP-1) + the larger of: 8W2/3 where W is the weight of LO2/LH2, or14% of W. LO2/R-1 20% of W up to...

Quantifying, Visualizing, and Monitoring Lead Optimization.

PubMed

Maynard, Andrew T; Roberts, Christopher D

2016-05-12

Although lead optimization (LO) is by definition a process, process-centric analysis and visualization of this important phase of pharmaceutical R&D has been lacking. Here we describe a simple statistical framework to quantify and visualize the progression of LO projects so that the vital signs of LO convergence can be monitored. We refer to the resulting visualizations generated by our methodology as the "LO telemetry" of a project. These visualizations can be automated to provide objective, holistic, and instantaneous analysis and communication of LO progression. This enhances the ability of project teams to more effectively drive LO process, while enabling management to better coordinate and prioritize LO projects. We present the telemetry of five LO projects comprising different biological targets and different project outcomes, including clinical compound selection, termination due to preclinical safety/tox, and termination due to lack of tractability. We demonstrate that LO progression is accurately captured by the telemetry. We also present metrics to quantify LO efficiency and tractability.

Human CD34(lo)CD133(lo) fetal liver cells support the expansion of human CD34(hi)CD133(hi) hematopoietic stem cells.

PubMed

Yong, Kylie Su Mei; Keng, Choong Tat; Tan, Shu Qi; Loh, Eva; Chang, Kenneth Te; Tan, Thiam Chye; Hong, Wanjin; Chen, Qingfeng

2016-09-01

We have recently discovered a unique CD34(lo)CD133(lo) cell population in the human fetal liver (FL) that gives rise to cells in the hepatic lineage. In this study, we further characterized the biological functions of FL CD34(lo)CD133(lo) cells. Our findings show that these CD34(lo)CD133(lo) cells express markers of both endodermal and mesodermal lineages and have the capability to differentiate into hepatocyte and mesenchymal lineage cells by ex vivo differentiation assays. Furthermore, we show that CD34(lo)CD133(lo) cells express growth factors that are important for human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) expansion: stem cell factor (SCF), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12), and factors in the angiopoietin-like protein family. Co-culture of autologous FL HSCs and allogenic HSCs derived from cord blood with CD34(lo)CD133(lo) cells supports and expands both types of HSCs.These findings are not only essential for extending our understanding of the HSC niche during the development of embryonic and fetal hematopoiesis but will also potentially benefit adult stem cell transplantations in clinics because expanded HSCs demonstrate the same capacity as primary cells to reconstitute the human immune system and mediate long-term hematopoiesis in vivo. Together, CD34(lo)CD133(lo) cells not only serve as stem/progenitor cells for liver development but are also an essential component of the HSC niche in the human FL.

[Effects of different hypoxic training modes on activities of mitochondrial antioxidants and respiratory chain complex in skeletal muscle after exhaustive running in rat].

PubMed

Li, Jie; Zhang, Yao-Bin

2011-02-25

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of hypoxic training on mitochondrial antioxidants and activities of respiratory chain complexes in mitochondria of skeletal muscle in rats. Forty healthy male Wistar rats were randomized to 5 groups (n=8): living low-training low (LoLo), living high-training high (HiHi), living high-training low (HiLo), living low-training high (LoHi), and living high-exercise high-training low (HiHiLo). All the animals were subjected to 5-week training in normoxic (atmospheric pressure=632 mmHg, altitude of about 1 500 m) or hypoxic environment (atmospheric pressure=493 mmHg, simulated altitude of about 3 500 m). Before exhaustive running, the animals stayed in normoxia for 3 d. Skeletal muscles were prepared immediately after exhaustive running. Muscle mitochondria were extracted by differential centrifugation. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to evaluate activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) level and respiratory chain complex (C) I-III activities in muscle homogenate and mitochondria. Results showed that SOD, GSH-Px, CAT activities and MDA level in skeletal muscle homogenate in HiHi and HiHiLo groups were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01) compared with those in LoLo group. Muscle mitochondrial MDA level in HiHi and HiHiLo groups was significantly lower (P<0.01), while activities of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT were remarkably higher (P<0.01) than those in LoLo group. Meanwhile, C I-III activities in HiHi and HiHiLo groups were increased significantly (P<0.01), and C II activity in HiLo group also was increased remarkably (P<0.01) compared with those in LoLo group. These results suggest that HiHiLo might be an ideal hypoxic training mode.

77 FR 50185 - LoCorr Fund Management, LLC and LoCorr Investment Trust; Notice of Application

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-20

... Fund Management, LLC and LoCorr Investment Trust; Notice of Application August 14, 2012. AGENCY.... Applicants: LoCorr Fund Management, LLC (``LFM'' or the ``Adviser'') and LoCorr Investment Trust (the ``Trust... Mary Kay Frech, Branch Chief, at (202) 551-6821 (Division of Investment Management, Office of...

75 FR 56660 - Removal of an Alias of an Existing Specially Designated National Listing

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-16

... has been amended as: LAW, Steven (a.k.a. CHUNG, Lo Ping; a.k.a. LAW, Stephen; a.k.a. LO, Ping Han; a.k.a. LO, Ping Hau; a.k.a. LO, Ping Zhong; a.k.a. LO, Steven; a.k.a. NAING, Htun Myint; a.k.a. NAING...

Quantifying receptor trafficking and colocalization with confocal microscopy.

PubMed

Pike, Jeremy A; Styles, Iain B; Rappoport, Joshua Z; Heath, John K

2017-02-15

Confocal microscopy is a powerful tool for the study of cellular receptor trafficking and endocytosis. Unbiased and robust image analysis workflows are required for the identification, and study, of aberrant trafficking. After a brief review of related strategies, identifying both good and bad practice, custom workflows for the analysis of live cell 3D time-lapse data are presented. Strategies for data pre-processing, including denoising and background subtraction are considered. We use a 3D level set protocol to accurately segment cells using only the signal from fluorescently labelled receptor. A protocol for the quantification of changes to subcellular receptor distribution over time is then presented. As an example, ligand stimulated trafficking of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is shown to be significantly reduced in both AG1478 and Dynasore treated cells. Protocols for the quantitative analysis of colocalization between receptor and endosomes are also introduced, including strategies for signal isolation and statistical testing. By calculating the Manders and Pearson coefficients, both co-occurrence and correlation can be assessed. A statistically significant decrease in the level of ligand induced co-occurrence between EGFR and rab5 positive endosomes is demonstrated for both the AG1478 and Dynasore treated cells relative to a control. Finally, a strategy for the visualisation of co-occurrence is presented, which provides an unbiased alternative to colour overlays. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Discovery of Platelet-Type 12-Human Lipoxygenase Selective Inhibitors by High-Throughput Screening of Structurally Diverse Libraries

PubMed Central

Deschamps, Joshua D.; Gautschi, Jeffrey T.; Whitman, Stephanie; Johnson, Tyler A.; Gassner, Nadine C.; Crews, Phillip; Holman, Theodore R.

2007-01-01

Human lipoxygenases (hLO) have been implicated in a variety of diseases and cancers and each hLO isozyme appears to have distinct roles in cellular biology. This fact emphasizes the need for discovering selective hLO inhibitors for both understanding the role of specific lipoxygenases in the cell and developing pharmaceutical therapeutics. To this end, we have modified a known lipoxygenase assay for high-throughput (HTP) screening of both the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the UC Santa Cruz marine extract library (UCSC-MEL) in search of platelet-type 12-hLO (12-hLO) selective inhibitors. The HTP screen led to the characterization of five novel 12-hLO inhibitors from the NCI repository. One is the potent but non-selective michellamine B, a natural product, antiviral agent. The other four compounds were selective inhibitors against 12-hLO, with three being synthetic compounds and one being α-mangostin, a natural product, caspase-3 pathway inhibitor. In addition, a selective inhibitor was isolated from the UCSC-MEL (neodysidenin), which has a unique chemical scaffold for an hLO inhibitor. Due to the unique structure of neodysidenin, steady-state inhibition kinetics were performed and its mode of inhibition against 12-hLO was determined to be competitive (Ki = 17 µM) and selective over reticulocyte 15-hLO-1 (Ki 15-hLO-1/12-hLO > 30). PMID:17826100

1-Oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol stimulates 5-lipoxygenase activity via a putative (phospho)lipid binding site within the N-terminal C2-like domain.

PubMed

Hörnig, Christina; Albert, Dana; Fischer, Lutz; Hörnig, Michael; Rådmark, Olof; Steinhilber, Dieter; Werz, Oliver

2005-07-22

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalysis is positively regulated by Ca2+ ions and phospholipids that both act via the N-terminal C2-like domain of 5-LO. Previously, we have shown that 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) functions as an agonist for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in stimulating 5-LO product formation. Here we have demonstrated that OAG directly stimulates 5-LO catalysis in vitro. In the absence of Ca2+ (chelated using EDTA), OAG strongly and concentration-dependently stimulated crude 5-LO in 100,000 x g supernatants as well as purified 5-LO enzyme from PMNL. Also, the monoglyceride 1-O-oleyl-rac-glycerol and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol were effective, whereas various phospholipids did not stimulate 5-LO. However, in the presence of Ca2+, OAG caused no stimulation of 5-LO. Also, phospholipids or cellular membranes abolished the effects of OAG. As found previously for Ca2+, OAG renders 5-LO activity resistant against inhibition by glutathione peroxidase activity, and this effect of OAG is reversed by phospholipids. Intriguingly, a 5-LO mutant lacking tryptophan residues (Trp-13, -75, and -102) important for the binding of the 5-LO C2-like domain to phospholipids was not stimulated by OAG. We conclude that OAG directly stimulates 5-LO by acting at a phospholipid binding site located within the C2-like domain.

Impact of a new simplified disability scoring system for adult patients with localized scleroderma.

PubMed

Okiyama, Naoko; Asano, Yoshihide; Hamaguchi, Yasuhito; Jinnin, Masatoshi; Motegi, Sei-Ichiro; Koizumi, Haruka; Hasegawa, Minoru; Ishikawa, Osamu; Sato, Shinichi; Takehara, Kazuhiko; Yamamoto, Toshiyuki; Fujimoto, Manabu; Ihn, Hironobu

2018-04-01

Localized scleroderma (LoS) involves dermal but not internal inflammation and fibrosis. Cosmetic changes often impact quality of life (QOL), however, impairment of activities of daily living (ADL) in LoS patients has not been investigated. To determine what factor(s) are associated with ADL in adult patients with LoS, we performed a retrospective observational study in 177 Japanese adult LoS patients using a novel LoS disability score based on Barthel's indices of ADL: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowels, bladder, toilet use, transfers, mobility and stairs. LoS disability scores increased in proportion to the number of affected body parts but were not correlated to age and duration of illness. The presence of leg lesions significantly impaired ADL of LoS patients compared with lesions on other body parts. Patients treated with systemic medications, who tended to have multiple lesions, presented higher LoS disability scores than those without systemic treatments. Our study proposes that physicians evaluate ADL, not only QOL, in LoS patients. Our findings using LoS disability scoring indicate that multiple affected body parts and leg lesions are risk factors for ADL impairment. © 2018 Japanese Dermatological Association.

Drug-resistant colon cancer cells produce high carcinoembryonic antigen and might not be cancer-initiating cells

PubMed Central

Lee, Hsin-chung; Ling, Qing-Dong; Yu, Wan-Chun; Hung, Chunh-Ming; Kao, Ta-Chun; Huang, Yi-Wei; Higuchi, Akon

2013-01-01

Purpose We evaluated the higher levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) secreted by the LoVo human colon carcinoma cells in a medium containing anticancer drugs. Drug-resistant LoVo cells were analyzed by subcutaneously xenotransplanting them into mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the drug-resistant cells isolated in this study were cancer-initiating cells, known also as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Methods The production of CEA was investigated in LoVo cells that were cultured with 0–10 mM of anticancer drugs, and we evaluated the increase in CEA production by the LoVo cells that were stimulated by anticancer drug treatment. The expression of several CSC markers in LoVo cells treated with anticancer drugs was also evaluated. Following anticancer drug treatment, LoVo cells were injected subcutaneously into the flanks of severe combined immunodeficiency mice in order to evaluate the CSC fraction. Results Production of CEA by LoVo cells was stimulated by the addition of anticancer drugs. Drug-resistant LoVo cells expressed lower levels of CSC markers, and LoVo cells treated with any of the anticancer drugs tested did not generate tumors within 8 weeks from when the cells were injected subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficiency mice. These results suggest that the drug-resistant LoVo cells have a smaller population of CSCs than the untreated LoVo cells. Conclusion Production of CEA by LoVo cells can be stimulated by the addition of anticancer drugs. The drug-resistant subpopulation of LoVo colon cancer cells could stimulate the production of CEA, but these cells did not act as CSCs in in vivo tumor generation experiments. PMID:23818760

Molecular pharmacological profile of the nonredox-type 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor CJ-13,610.

PubMed

Fischer, Lutz; Steinhilber, Dieter; Werz, Oliver

2004-07-01

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) is a crucial enzyme in the synthesis of the bioactive leukotrienes (LTs) from arachidonic acid (AA), and inhibitors of 5-LO are thought to prevent the untowarded pathophysiological effects of LTs. In this study, we present the molecular pharmacological profile of the novel nonredox-type 5-LO inhibitor CJ-13,610 that was evaluated in various in vitro assays. In intact human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), challenged with the Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187, CJ-13,610 potently suppressed 5-LO product formation with an IC(50)=0.07 microm. Supplementation of exogenous AA impaired the efficacy of CJ-13,610, implying a competitive mode of action. In analogy to ZM230487 and L-739.010, two closely related nonredox-type 5-LO inhibitors, CJ-13,610 up to 30 microm failed to inhibit 5-LO in cell-free assay systems under nonreducing conditions, but inclusion of peroxidase activity restored the efficacy of CJ-13,610 (IC(50)=0.3 microm). In contrast to ZM230487 and L-739.010, the potency of CJ-13,610 does not depend on the cell stimulus or the activation pathway of 5-LO. Thus, 5-LO product formation in PMNL induced by phosphorylation events was equally suppressed by CJ-13,610 as compared to Ca(2+)-mediated 5-LO activation. In transfected HeLa cells, CJ-13,610 only slightly discriminated between phosphorylatable wild-type 5-LO and a 5-LO mutant that lacks phosphorylation sites. In summary, CJ-13,610 may possess considerable potential as a potent orally active nonredox-type 5-LO inhibitor that lacks certain disadvantages of former representatives of this class of 5-LO inhibitors.

Y4lO of Rhizobium sp. Strain NGR234 Is a Symbiotic Determinant Required for Symbiosome Differentiation▿

PubMed Central

Yang, Feng-Juan; Cheng, Li-Li; Zhang, Ling; Dai, Wei-Jun; Liu, Zhe; Yao, Nan; Xie, Zhi-Ping; Staehelin, Christian

2009-01-01

Type 3 (T3) effector proteins, secreted by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia with a bacterial T3 secretion system, affect the nodulation of certain host legumes. The open reading frame y4lO of Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234 encodes a protein with sequence similarities to T3 effectors from pathogenic bacteria (the YopJ effector family). Transcription studies showed that the promoter activity of y4lO depended on the transcriptional activator TtsI. Recombinant Y4lO protein expressed in Escherichia coli did not acetylate two representative mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (human MKK6 and MKK1 from Medicago truncatula), indicating that YopJ-like proteins differ with respect to their substrate specificities. The y4lO gene was mutated in NGR234 (strain NGRΩy4lO) and in NGRΩnopL, a mutant that does not produce the T3 effector NopL (strain NGRΩnopLΩy4lO). When used as inoculants, the symbiotic properties of the mutants differed. Tephrosia vogelii, Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Yudou No. 1, and Vigna unguiculata cv. Sui Qing Dou Jiao formed pink effective nodules with NGR234 and NGRΩnopLΩy4lO. Nodules induced by NGRΩy4lO were first pink but rapidly turned greenish (ineffective nodules), indicating premature senescence. An ultrastructural analysis of the nodules induced by NGRΩy4lO revealed abnormal formation of enlarged infection droplets in ineffective nodules, whereas symbiosomes harboring a single bacteroid were frequently observed in effective nodules induced by NGR234 or NGRΩnopLΩy4lO. It is concluded that Y4lO is a symbiotic determinant involved in the differentiation of symbiosomes. Y4lO mitigated senescence-inducing effects caused by the T3 effector NopL, suggesting synergistic effects for Y4lO and NopL in nitrogen-fixing nodules. PMID:19060155

Y4lO of Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234 is a symbiotic determinant required for symbiosome differentiation.

PubMed

Yang, Feng-Juan; Cheng, Li-Li; Zhang, Ling; Dai, Wei-Jun; Liu, Zhe; Yao, Nan; Xie, Zhi-Ping; Staehelin, Christian

2009-02-01

Type 3 (T3) effector proteins, secreted by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia with a bacterial T3 secretion system, affect the nodulation of certain host legumes. The open reading frame y4lO of Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234 encodes a protein with sequence similarities to T3 effectors from pathogenic bacteria (the YopJ effector family). Transcription studies showed that the promoter activity of y4lO depended on the transcriptional activator TtsI. Recombinant Y4lO protein expressed in Escherichia coli did not acetylate two representative mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (human MKK6 and MKK1 from Medicago truncatula), indicating that YopJ-like proteins differ with respect to their substrate specificities. The y4lO gene was mutated in NGR234 (strain NGROmegay4lO) and in NGR Omega nopL, a mutant that does not produce the T3 effector NopL (strain NGR Omega nopLOmegay4lO). When used as inoculants, the symbiotic properties of the mutants differed. Tephrosia vogelii, Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Yudou No. 1, and Vigna unguiculata cv. Sui Qing Dou Jiao formed pink effective nodules with NGR234 and NGR Omega nopL Omega y4lO. Nodules induced by NGR Omega y4lO were first pink but rapidly turned greenish (ineffective nodules), indicating premature senescence. An ultrastructural analysis of the nodules induced by NGR Omega y4lO revealed abnormal formation of enlarged infection droplets in ineffective nodules, whereas symbiosomes harboring a single bacteroid were frequently observed in effective nodules induced by NGR234 or NGR Omega nopL Omega y4lO. It is concluded that Y4lO is a symbiotic determinant involved in the differentiation of symbiosomes. Y4lO mitigated senescence-inducing effects caused by the T3 effector NopL, suggesting synergistic effects for Y4lO and NopL in nitrogen-fixing nodules.

LoWMob: Intra-PAN Mobility Support Schemes for 6LoWPAN

PubMed Central

Bag, Gargi; Raza, Muhammad Taqi; Kim, Ki-Hyung; Yoo, Seung-Wha

2009-01-01

Mobility in 6LoWPAN (IPv6 over Low Power Personal Area Networks) is being utilized in realizing many applications where sensor nodes, while moving, sense and transmit the gathered data to a monitoring server. By employing IEEE802.15.4 as a baseline for the link layer technology, 6LoWPAN implies low data rate and low power consumption with periodic sleep and wakeups for sensor nodes, without requiring them to incorporate complex hardware. Also enabling sensor nodes with IPv6 ensures that the sensor data can be accessed anytime and anywhere from the world. Several existing mobility-related schemes like HMIPv6, MIPv6, HAWAII, and Cellular IP require active participation of mobile nodes in the mobility signaling, thus leading to the mobility-related changes in the protocol stack of mobile nodes. In this paper, we present LoWMob, which is a network-based mobility scheme for mobile 6LoWPAN nodes in which the mobility of 6LoWPAN nodes is handled at the network-side. LoWMob ensures multi-hop communication between gateways and mobile nodes with the help of the static nodes within a 6LoWPAN. In order to reduce the signaling overhead of static nodes for supporting mobile nodes, LoWMob proposes a mobility support packet format at the adaptation layer of 6LoWPAN. Also we present a distributed version of LoWMob, named as DLoWMob (or Distributed LoWMob), which employs Mobility Support Points (MSPs) to distribute the traffic concentration at the gateways and to optimize the multi-hop routing path between source and destination nodes in a 6LoWPAN. Moreover, we have also discussed the security considerations for our proposed mobility schemes. The performance of our proposed schemes is evaluated in terms of mobility signaling costs, end-to-end delay, and packet success ratio. PMID:22346730

LoWMob: Intra-PAN Mobility Support Schemes for 6LoWPAN.

PubMed

Bag, Gargi; Raza, Muhammad Taqi; Kim, Ki-Hyung; Yoo, Seung-Wha

2009-01-01

Mobility in 6LoWPAN (IPv6 over Low Power Personal Area Networks) is being utilized in realizing many applications where sensor nodes, while moving, sense and transmit the gathered data to a monitoring server. By employing IEEE802.15.4 as a baseline for the link layer technology, 6LoWPAN implies low data rate and low power consumption with periodic sleep and wakeups for sensor nodes, without requiring them to incorporate complex hardware. Also enabling sensor nodes with IPv6 ensures that the sensor data can be accessed anytime and anywhere from the world. Several existing mobility-related schemes like HMIPv6, MIPv6, HAWAII, and Cellular IP require active participation of mobile nodes in the mobility signaling, thus leading to the mobility-related changes in the protocol stack of mobile nodes. In this paper, we present LoWMob, which is a network-based mobility scheme for mobile 6LoWPAN nodes in which the mobility of 6LoWPAN nodes is handled at the network-side. LoWMob ensures multi-hop communication between gateways and mobile nodes with the help of the static nodes within a 6LoWPAN. In order to reduce the signaling overhead of static nodes for supporting mobile nodes, LoWMob proposes a mobility support packet format at the adaptation layer of 6LoWPAN. Also we present a distributed version of LoWMob, named as DLoWMob (or Distributed LoWMob), which employs Mobility Support Points (MSPs) to distribute the traffic concentration at the gateways and to optimize the multi-hop routing path between source and destination nodes in a 6LoWPAN. Moreover, we have also discussed the security considerations for our proposed mobility schemes. The performance of our proposed schemes is evaluated in terms of mobility signaling costs, end-to-end delay, and packet success ratio.

Indirubin core structure of glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitors as novel chemotype for intervention with 5-lipoxygenase.

PubMed

Pergola, Carlo; Gaboriaud-Kolar, Nicolas; Jestädt, Nadine; König, Stefanie; Kritsanida, Marina; Schaible, Anja M; Li, Haokun; Garscha, Ulrike; Weinigel, Christina; Barz, Dagmar; Albring, Kai F; Huber, Otmar; Skaltsounis, Alexios L; Werz, Oliver

2014-05-08

The enzymes 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 represent promising drug targets in inflammation. We made use of the bisindole core of indirubin, present in GSK-3 inhibitors, to innovatively target 5-LO at the ATP-binding site for the design of dual 5-LO/GSK-3 inhibitors. Evaluation of substituted indirubin derivatives led to the identification of (3Z)-6-bromo-3-[(3E)-3-hydroxyiminoindolin-2-ylidene]indolin-2-one (15) as a potent, direct, and reversible 5-LO inhibitor (IC50 = 1.5 μM), with comparable cellular effectiveness on 5-LO and GSK-3. Together, we present indirubins as novel chemotypes for the development of 5-LO inhibitors, the interference with the ATP-binding site as a novel strategy for 5-LO targeting, and dual 5-LO/GSK-3 inhibition as an unconventional and promising concept for anti-inflammatory intervention.

Baclofen has opposite effects on escalation of cocaine self-administration: increased intake in rats selectively bred for high (HiS) saccharin intake and decreased intake in those selected for low (LoS) saccharin intake

PubMed Central

Holtz, Nathan A.; Carroll, Marilyn E.

2011-01-01

Rats selectively bred for high saccharin intake (HiS) self-administer more cocaine, escalate their cocaine intake during long access, and reinstate cocaine seeking at higher levels than those bred for low saccharin intake (LoS). The present study was conducted to determine if baclofen, an agonist at the GABAb receptor, has differential effects on the escalation of i.v. cocaine intake and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking in HiS and LoS rats. HiS and LoS rats self-administered cocaine during a 2-h daily short-access (ShA) phase for 3 days and then long-access (LgA) sessions for 21 days followed by a second ShA phase. One group of HiS and LoS rats received i.p. injections of 2.5 mg/kg baclofen (HiS+B and LoS+B, respectively), and other groups of HiS and LoS rats received saline (HiS+Sal and LoS+Sal) before each daily session. In a second experiment, HiS and LoS rats self-administered i.v. cocaine during 2-h sessions for 14 days followed by a 21-day extinction period. Baclofen (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline was administered before saline- or cocaine-primed reinstatement sessions. The HiS+B group escalated their cocaine self-administration and had increased cocaine infusions in the post-LgA ShA phase. The LoS+B group self-administered less cocaine throughout the entire LgA period compared to the LoS+Sal or HiS groups. Baclofen attenuated reinstatement of cocaine seeking in both the HiS and LoS rats with no phenotype differences. Baclofen had opposite effects on cocaine intake in HiS and LoS rats during escalation; HiS increased and LoS decreased intake. These results suggest that treatment effects might vary with individual differences (HiS vs. LoS) and the phase of drug-motivated behavior that is modeled. PMID:21924281

A Generic Authentication LoA Derivation Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Li; Zhang, Ning

One way of achieving a more fine-grained access control is to link an authentication level of assurance (LoA) derived from a requester’s authentication instance to the authorisation decision made to the requester. To realise this vision, there is a need for designing a LoA derivation model that supports the use and quantification of multiple LoA-effecting attributes, and analyse their composite effect on a given authentication instance. This paper reports the design of such a model, namely a generic LoA derivation model (GEA- LoADM). GEA-LoADM takes into account of multiple authentication attributes along with their relationships, abstracts the composite effect by the multiple attributes into a generic value, authentication LoA, and provides algorithms for the run-time derivation of LoA. The algorithms are tailored to reflect the relationships among the attributes involved in an authentication instance. The model has a number of valuable properties, including flexibility and extensibility; it can be applied to different application contexts and support easy addition of new attributes and removal of obsolete ones.

The Regulation of CH4 and N2O fluxes by Wetlands at Landscape Level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soosaar, K.; Maddison, M.; Salm, J. O.; Järveoja, J.; Hansen, R.; Mander, Ü.

2012-04-01

The world's wetlands, despite being only about 5% of the terrestrial landscape, are currently significant net sinks of more than 1 Pg yr-1 of carbon (Mitsch et al 2012). At landscape level wetlands and riparian zones are important regulators of nutrient transport (Zedler 2003). However, they can be also significant hot spots of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Teiter&Mander 2005). Swedish experience shows that the nationally planned wetland creation (12,000 ha) could make a significant contribution to the targeted reduction of N fluxes (up to 27% of the Swedish environmental objective), at an environmental risk equalling 0.04% of the national anthropogenic GHG emission (Thiere et al 2011). Only few studies consider the potential GHG emission throughout both natural and created wetlands. The main objective of this study was to clarify the potential of various wetland ecosystem and riparian zones of northern rural landscapes in regulation of GHG emissions. Monthly-based measurements of GHG emissions using closed chamber method were performed from October 2007 to October 2011 in 47 study sites in Estonia. The study sites cover various wetlands and riparian forests as well as reference areas on automorphic soils. In general, wetlands' drainage was the most significant disturbance factor influencing GHG fluxes, causing significant increase of N2O emission as well as decreasing CH4 emission. However, we also observed significantly high CH4 flux from drained peatlands. In most of the soils with ground/soil water levels deeper than 30 cm from the surface, a significant decrease of CH4 fluxes were detected. The highest CH4 emissions (up to 5060 kg CH4-C ha-1 yr-1) were detected from drained fen grasslands. In the case of N2O, no clear differences were found between colder and warmer periods. Relatively higher N2O fluxes were measured from the drained fen grassland, the fertilized arable land, the riparian forest on automorphic soil, and the drained transition fen forest: median values 4.2, 1.4, 1.1, and 0.9 kg N2O-N ha-1 y-1, respectively. In peatlands, median values of CH4-C were 85.2, 23.7, 0.07 and 0.12 kg ha-1 yr-1, and N2O-N -0.05, -0.01, 0.18 and 0.19 kg ha-1 yr-1, respectively. There were significantly higher emissions of N2O from abandoned and active peat mining areas, whereas CH4 emissions were significantly higher in natural and drained areas. We also found that the buffering capacity of long-term loaded riparian alder forests in agricultural landscapes will decrease over time, which calls for the careful management of these riparian forests. Mitsch, W.J, Zhang, L., Stefanik, K.C., Nahlik, A.M., Anderson, C.J., Bernal, B., Hernandez, M., Song, K. 2012. Creating wetlands: Primary succession, water quality changes, and self-design over 15 years. BioScience in press Zedler, JB. 2003. Wetlands at your service: reducing impacts of agriculture at the watershed scale. Front. Ecol. Environ., 1, pp. 65-72 Teiter, S., Mander, U. 2005. Emission of N2O, N2, CH4, and CO2 from constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and from riparian buffer zones. Ecol. Eng., 25, pp. 528-541 Thiere, G., Stadmark, J., Weisner, SEB. 2011. Nitrogen retention versus methane emission: Environmental benefits and risks of large-scale wetland creation. Ecol. Eng., 37, pp. 6-15

40 CFR 1065.610 - Duty cycle generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... Denote this value as n lo. Take n lo to be warm idle speed if all power points at speeds below the... n lo to calculate reference values for A, B, or C speeds as follows: ER15SE11.030 Example: n lo...

Are Limits of Concern a useful concept to improve the environmental risk assessment of GM plants?

PubMed

Dolezel, Marion; Miklau, Marianne; Heissenberger, Andreas; Reichenbecher, Wolfram

2017-01-01

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has introduced a concept for the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants which foresees the definition of ecological threshold values defining acceptable adverse effects of the GM plant on the environment (Limits of Concern, LoC). We analysed the LoC concept by scrutinising its feasibility with regard to important aspects of the environmental risk assessment. We then considered its relationship with protection goals, the comparative safety assessment and the stepwise testing approach. We finally discussed its usefulness for assessing long-term effects, effects on non-target organisms and species of conservation concern. The LoC concept is a possible approach to introduce ecological thresholds into environmental risk assessment in order to evaluate environmental harm. However, the concept leaves many important aspects open. Thresholds for environmental harm for protection goals need spatial and temporal differentiation from LoCs used for ERA indicators. Regionalisation of LoCs must be provided for as biodiversity levels and protection goals vary across the EU. Further guidance is needed with respect to the consequences, in case LoCs are exceeded and a link needs to be established between environmentally relevant results from the comparative safety assessment and the LoC concept. LoCs for long-term effects have to be evaluated by long-term monitoring. LoCs for non-target organisms need to be discriminated according to the species and parameters assessed. The overall LoC concept is considered useful if LoCs are further specified and differentiated. Although LoCs will finally be determined by political decisions, they should be based on scientific grounds in order to increase confidence in the conclusions on the safety of GM plants.

40 CFR 1065.610 - Duty cycle generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... maximum power at which 50% of maximum power occurs. Denote this value as n lo. Take n lo to be warm idle... representative engine speed, whichever is lower. Use n hi and n lo to calculate reference values for A, B, or C speeds as follows: f nrefA = 0.25 · (n hi − n lo) + n lo Eq. 1065.610-4 f nrefB = 0.50 · (n hi − nnlo...

Hyperforin is a novel type of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor with high efficacy in vivo.

PubMed

Feisst, Christian; Pergola, Carlo; Rakonjac, Marija; Rossi, Antonietta; Koeberle, Andreas; Dodt, Gabriele; Hoffmann, Marika; Hoernig, Christina; Fischer, Lutz; Steinhilber, Dieter; Franke, Lutz; Schneider, Gisbert; Rådmark, Olof; Sautebin, Lidia; Werz, Oliver

2009-08-01

We previously showed that, in vitro, hyperforin from St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) inhibits 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), the key enzyme in leukotriene biosynthesis. Here, we demonstrate that hyperforin possesses a novel and unique molecular pharmacological profile as a 5-LO inhibitor with remarkable efficacy in vivo. Hyperforin (4 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly suppressed leukotriene B(4) formation in pleural exudates of carrageenan-treated rats associated with potent anti-inflammatory effectiveness. Inhibition of 5-LO by hyperforin, but not by the iron-ligand type 5-LO inhibitor BWA4C or the nonredox-type inhibitor ZM230487, was abolished in the presence of phosphatidylcholine and strongly reduced by mutation (W13A-W75A-W102A) of the 5-LO C2-like domain. Moreover, hyperforin impaired the interaction of 5-LO with coactosin-like protein and abrogated 5-LO nuclear membrane translocation in ionomycin-stimulated neutrophils, processes that are typically mediated via the regulatory 5-LO C2-like domain. Together, hyperforin is a novel type of 5-LO inhibitor apparently acting by interference with the C2-like domain, with high effectiveness in vivo.

Multivariate Patterns in the Human Object-Processing Pathway Reveal a Shift from Retinotopic to Shape Curvature Representations in Lateral Occipital Areas, LO-1 and LO-2.

PubMed

Vernon, Richard J W; Gouws, André D; Lawrence, Samuel J D; Wade, Alex R; Morland, Antony B

2016-05-25

Representations in early visual areas are organized on the basis of retinotopy, but this organizational principle appears to lose prominence in the extrastriate cortex. Nevertheless, an extrastriate region, such as the shape-selective lateral occipital cortex (LO), must still base its activation on the responses from earlier retinotopic visual areas, implying that a transition from retinotopic to "functional" organizations should exist. We hypothesized that such a transition may lie in LO-1 or LO-2, two visual areas lying between retinotopically defined V3d and functionally defined LO. Using a rapid event-related fMRI paradigm, we measured neural similarity in 12 human participants between pairs of stimuli differing along dimensions of shape exemplar and shape complexity within both retinotopically and functionally defined visual areas. These neural similarity measures were then compared with low-level and more abstract (curvature-based) measures of stimulus similarity. We found that low-level, but not abstract, stimulus measures predicted V1-V3 responses, whereas the converse was true for LO, a double dissociation. Critically, abstract stimulus measures were most predictive of responses within LO-2, akin to LO, whereas both low-level and abstract measures were predictive for responses within LO-1, perhaps indicating a transitional point between those two organizational principles. Similar transitions to abstract representations were not observed in the more ventral stream passing through V4 and VO-1/2. The transition we observed in LO-1 and LO-2 demonstrates that a more "abstracted" representation, typically considered the preserve of "category-selective" extrastriate cortex, can nevertheless emerge in retinotopic regions. Visual areas are typically identified either through retinotopy (e.g., V1-V3) or from functional selectivity [e.g., shape-selective lateral occipital complex (LOC)]. We combined these approaches to explore the nature of shape representations through the visual hierarchy. Two different representations emerged: the first reflected low-level shape properties (dependent on the spatial layout of the shape outline), whereas the second captured more abstract curvature-related shape features. Critically, early visual cortex represented low-level information but this diminished in the extrastriate cortex (LO-1/LO-2/LOC), in which the abstract representation emerged. Therefore, this work further elucidates the nature of shape representations in the LOC, provides insight into how those representations emerge from early retinotopic cortex, and crucially demonstrates that retinotopically tuned regions (LO-1/LO-2) are not necessarily constrained to retinotopic representations. Copyright © 2016 Vernon et al.

Co-expression of COX-2 and 5-LO in primary glioblastoma is associated with poor prognosis.

PubMed

Wang, Xingfu; Chen, Yupeng; Zhang, Sheng; Zhang, Lifeng; Liu, Xueyong; Zhang, Li; Li, Xiaoling; Chen, Dayang

2015-11-01

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) are important factors in tumorigenesis and malignant progression; however, studies of their roles in glioblastoma have produced conflicting results. To define the frequencies of COX-2 and 5-LO expression and their correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis, tumor tissues from 76 cases of newly diagnosed primary ordinary glioblastoma were examined for COX-2 and 5-LO expression by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of COX-2 and 5-LO and the relationships between the co-expression of COX-2/5-LO and patient age and gender, edema index (EI), Karnofsky Performance Scale and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. COX-2 and 5-LO were expressed in 73.7 % (56/76) and 92.1 % (70/76) of the samples, respectively. Among the clinicopathological characteristics, only age (>60 years) exhibited a significant association with the high expression of COX-2. No statistically significant correlations were found in the 5-LO cohort. A significant positive correlation was revealed between the COX-2 and 5-LO scores (r = 0.374; p = 0.001). The elevated co-expression of COX-2 and 5-LO was observed primarily in the patients over the age of 60 years. Patients with a high expression of COX-2 had a significantly shorter OS (p < 0.01), whereas the immunoexpression of 5-LO was not associated with the OS of patients with glioblastoma. Survival analysis indicated that simultaneous high levels of COX-2 and 5-LO expression were significantly correlated with poor OS and, conversely, that a low/low expression pattern of these two proteins was significantly associated with better OS (p < 0.05). Moreover, the Cox multivariable proportional hazard model showed that a high expression of COX-2, high co-expression of COX-2 and 5-LO, and a high Ki-67 index were significant predictors of shorter OS in primary glioblastoma, independent of age, gender, EI, 5-LO expression and p53 status. The hazard ratios for OS were 2.347 (95 % CI 1.30-4.25, p = 0.005), 1.900 (95 % CI 1.30-2.78, p = 0.001), and 2.210 (95 % CI 1.19-4.09, p = 0.011), respectively. These results suggest that COX-2 and 5-LO play roles in tumorigenesis and the progression of primary glioblastoma and that the co-expression pattern of COX-2/5-LO may be used as an independent prognostic factor in this disease.

Multivariate Patterns in the Human Object-Processing Pathway Reveal a Shift from Retinotopic to Shape Curvature Representations in Lateral Occipital Areas, LO-1 and LO-2

PubMed Central

Vernon, Richard J. W.; Gouws, André D.; Lawrence, Samuel J. D.; Wade, Alex R.

2016-01-01

Representations in early visual areas are organized on the basis of retinotopy, but this organizational principle appears to lose prominence in the extrastriate cortex. Nevertheless, an extrastriate region, such as the shape-selective lateral occipital cortex (LO), must still base its activation on the responses from earlier retinotopic visual areas, implying that a transition from retinotopic to “functional” organizations should exist. We hypothesized that such a transition may lie in LO-1 or LO-2, two visual areas lying between retinotopically defined V3d and functionally defined LO. Using a rapid event-related fMRI paradigm, we measured neural similarity in 12 human participants between pairs of stimuli differing along dimensions of shape exemplar and shape complexity within both retinotopically and functionally defined visual areas. These neural similarity measures were then compared with low-level and more abstract (curvature-based) measures of stimulus similarity. We found that low-level, but not abstract, stimulus measures predicted V1–V3 responses, whereas the converse was true for LO, a double dissociation. Critically, abstract stimulus measures were most predictive of responses within LO-2, akin to LO, whereas both low-level and abstract measures were predictive for responses within LO-1, perhaps indicating a transitional point between those two organizational principles. Similar transitions to abstract representations were not observed in the more ventral stream passing through V4 and VO-1/2. The transition we observed in LO-1 and LO-2 demonstrates that a more “abstracted” representation, typically considered the preserve of “category-selective” extrastriate cortex, can nevertheless emerge in retinotopic regions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Visual areas are typically identified either through retinotopy (e.g., V1–V3) or from functional selectivity [e.g., shape-selective lateral occipital complex (LOC)]. We combined these approaches to explore the nature of shape representations through the visual hierarchy. Two different representations emerged: the first reflected low-level shape properties (dependent on the spatial layout of the shape outline), whereas the second captured more abstract curvature-related shape features. Critically, early visual cortex represented low-level information but this diminished in the extrastriate cortex (LO-1/LO-2/LOC), in which the abstract representation emerged. Therefore, this work further elucidates the nature of shape representations in the LOC, provides insight into how those representations emerge from early retinotopic cortex, and crucially demonstrates that retinotopically tuned regions (LO-1/LO-2) are not necessarily constrained to retinotopic representations. PMID:27225766

Navy Supplement to the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-01

light harpoon landing restraint system LI interference level LI/ LO lock-in/lock-out LIA laser illuminator assembly LIC low-intensity conflict lidar...monitoring system LMSR large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off (ship) LN legalman (USN rating) LND land LNO liaison officer LO locked open; low...observable; lubricating oil fill, transfer and purification LO /LI lock-out/lock-in LO / LO lift-on/lift-off LOA letter of approval; letter of authorization

Navy Supplement to the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-01

rate LI interference level LI/ LO lock-in/lock-out LIA laser illuminator assembly LIC low-intensity conflict lidar laser identification, detection, and...liaison officer LO locked open; low observable; lubricating oil fill, transfer and purification LO /LI lock-out/lock-in LO / LO lift-on/lift-off LOA letter...aid to navigation LOS launch on search; law of the sea; line of sight; line of sound; lubricating oil service, main LOT letter of transmittal LOTS

Advanced oxygen-hydrocarbon rocket engine study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Obrien, C. J.; Ewen, R. L.

1981-01-01

This study identifies and evaluates promising LO2/HC rocket engine cycles, produces a consistent and reliable data base for vehicle optimization and design studies, demonstrates the significance of propulsion system improvements, and selects the critical technology areas necessary to realize an improved surface to orbit transportation system. Parametric LO2/HC engine data were generated over a range of thrust levels from 890 to 6672 kN (200K to 1.5M 1bF) and chamber pressures from 6890 to 34500 kN (1000 to 5000 psia). Engine coolants included RP-1, refined RP-1, LCH4, LC3H8, LO2, and LH2. LO2/RP-1 G.G. cycles were found to be not acceptable for advanced engines. The highest performing LO2/RP-1 staged combustion engine cycle utilizes LO2 as the coolant and incorporates an oxidizer rich preburner. The highest performing cycle for LO2/LCH4 and LO2/LC3H8 utilizes fuel cooling and incorporates both fuel and oxidizer rich preburners. LO2/HC engine cycles permitting the use of a third fluid LH2 coolant and an LH2 rich gas generator provide higher performance at significantly lower pump discharge pressures. The LO2/HC dual throat engine, because of its high altitude performance, delivers the highest payload for the vehicle configuration that was investigated.

Effects of lemongrass oil and citral on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, oxidative stress, and acetaminophen toxicity in rats.

PubMed

Li, Chien-Chun; Yu, Hsiang-Fu; Chang, Chun-Hua; Liu, Yun-Ta; Yao, Hsien-Tsung

2018-01-01

The essential oil from a lemongrass variety of Cymbopogon flexuosus [lemongrass oil (LO)] is used in various food and aroma industry products and exhibits biological activities, such as anticancer and antimicrobial activities. To investigate the effects of 200 LO (200 mg/kg) and 400 LO (400 mg/kg) and its major component, citral (240 mg/kg), on drug-metabolizing enzymes, oxidative stress, and acetaminophen toxicity in the liver, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a pelleted diet and administered LO or citral by gavage for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of feeding, the effects of LO and citral on the metabolism and toxicity of acetaminophen were determined. The results showed that rats treated with 400 LO or citral had significantly reduced hepatic testosterone 6β-hydroxylation and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activities. In addition, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 activity was significantly increased by citral, and Uridine 5'-diphospho (UDP) glucurosyltransferase activity was significantly increased by 400 LO in the rat liver. Treatment with 400 LO or citral reduced lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species levels in the liver. After acetaminophen treatment, however, LO and citral treatment resulted in little or no change in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity and acetaminophen-protein adducts content in the liver. Our results indicate that LO and citral may change the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes and reduce oxidative stress in the liver. However, LO and citral may not affect the detoxification of acetaminophen. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

77 FR 2715 - D'Lo Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Application

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-19

... Storage, LLC; Notice of Application Take notice that on December 29, 2011, D'Lo Gas Storage, LLC (D'Lo... natural gas storage project to be located in Simpson County, Mississippi. Additionally, D'Lo requests a...- discriminatory firm interruptible natural gas storage services and hub services, and a blanket certificate...

Contrast Invariant Interest Point Detection by Zero-Norm LoG Filter.

PubMed

Zhenwei Miao; Xudong Jiang; Kim-Hui Yap

2016-01-01

The Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) filter is widely used in interest point detection. However, low-contrast image structures, though stable and significant, are often submerged by the high-contrast ones in the response image of the LoG filter, and hence are difficult to be detected. To solve this problem, we derive a generalized LoG filter, and propose a zero-norm LoG filter. The response of the zero-norm LoG filter is proportional to the weighted number of bright/dark pixels in a local region, which makes this filter be invariant to the image contrast. Based on the zero-norm LoG filter, we develop an interest point detector to extract local structures from images. Compared with the contrast dependent detectors, such as the popular scale invariant feature transform detector, the proposed detector is robust to illumination changes and abrupt variations of images. Experiments on benchmark databases demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed zero-norm LoG detector in terms of the repeatability and matching score of the detected points as well as the image recognition rate under different conditions.

LPS Increases 5-LO Expression on Monocytes via an Activation of Akt-Sp1/NF-κB Pathways.

PubMed

Lee, Seung Jin; Seo, Kyo Won; Kim, Chi Dae

2015-05-01

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in 5-LO expression on monocytes induced by LPS. Stimulation of THP-1 monocytes with LPS (0~3 µg/ml) increased 5-LO promoter activity and 5-LO protein expression in a concentration-dependent manner. LPS-induced 5-LO expression was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of the Akt pathway, but not by inhibitors of MAPK pathways including the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways. In line with these results, LPS increased the phosphorylation of Akt, suggesting a role for the Akt pathway in LPS-induced 5-LO expression. In a promoter activity assay conducted to identify transcription factors, both Sp1 and NF-κB were found to play central roles in 5-LO expression in LPS-treated monocytes. The LPS-enhanced activities of Sp1 and NF-κB were attenuated by an Akt inhibitor. Moreover, the LPS-enhanced phosphorylation of Akt was significantly attenuated in cells pretreated with an anti-TLR4 antibody. Taken together, 5-LO expression in LPS-stimulated monocytes is regulated at the transcriptional level via TLR4/Akt-mediated activations of Sp1 and NF-κB pathways in monocytes.

Hypoxia-Response Element (HRE)–Directed Transcriptional Regulation of the Rat Lysyl Oxidase Gene in Response to Cobalt and Cadmium

PubMed Central

Li, Wande

2013-01-01

Lysyl oxidase (LO) catalyzes crosslink of collagen, elastin, and histone H1, stabilizing the extracellular matrix and cell nucleus. This enzyme displays dual functions for tumorigenesis, i.e., as a tumor suppressor inactivating the ras oncogene and as a tumor promoter enhancing malignant cell metastasis. To elucidate LO transcriptional regulation, we have cloned the 804 base pair region upstream of the translation start site (ATG) of the rat LO gene with the maximal promoter activity. Computer analysis indicated that at least four hypoxia-response element (HRE) consensuses (5′-ACGTG-3′) exist in the cloned LO promoter. Treatment of rat lung fibroblasts (RFL6) with CoCl2 (Co, 10–100 μM), a chemical hypoxia reagent, enhanced LO mRNA expression and promoter activities. Overexpression of LO was associated with upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α at mRNA levels in cobalt (Co)–treated cells. Thus, LO is a hypoxia-responsive gene. Dominant negative-HIF-1α inhibited LO promoter activities stimulated by Co. Electrophoretic mobility shift, oligonucleotide competition, and in vitro translated HIF-1α binding assays indicated that only one HRE mapped at −387/−383 relative to ATG was functionally active among four consensuses. Site-directed mutation of this HRE significantly diminished the Co-induced and LO promoter-directed expression of the reporter gene. Cadmium (Cd), an inducer of reactive oxygen species, inhibited HIF-1α mRNA expression and HIF-1α binding to the LO gene in Co-treated cells as revealed by RT-PCR and ChIP assays, respectively. Thus, modulation of the HRE activity by Co and Cd plays a critical role in LO gene transactivation. PMID:23161664

Hypoxia-response element (HRE)-directed transcriptional regulation of the rat lysyl oxidase gene in response to cobalt and cadmium.

PubMed

Gao, Song; Zhou, Jing; Zhao, Yinzhi; Toselli, Paul; Li, Wande

2013-04-01

Lysyl oxidase (LO) catalyzes crosslink of collagen, elastin, and histone H1, stabilizing the extracellular matrix and cell nucleus. This enzyme displays dual functions for tumorigenesis, i.e., as a tumor suppressor inactivating the ras oncogene and as a tumor promoter enhancing malignant cell metastasis. To elucidate LO transcriptional regulation, we have cloned the 804 base pair region upstream of the translation start site (ATG) of the rat LO gene with the maximal promoter activity. Computer analysis indicated that at least four hypoxia-response element (HRE) consensuses (5'-ACGTG-3') exist in the cloned LO promoter. Treatment of rat lung fibroblasts (RFL6) with CoCl2 (Co, 10-100 μM), a chemical hypoxia reagent, enhanced LO mRNA expression and promoter activities. Overexpression of LO was associated with upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α at mRNA levels in cobalt (Co)-treated cells. Thus, LO is a hypoxia-responsive gene. Dominant negative-HIF-1α inhibited LO promoter activities stimulated by Co. Electrophoretic mobility shift, oligonucleotide competition, and in vitro translated HIF-1α binding assays indicated that only one HRE mapped at -387/-383 relative to ATG was functionally active among four consensuses. Site-directed mutation of this HRE significantly diminished the Co-induced and LO promoter-directed expression of the reporter gene. Cadmium (Cd), an inducer of reactive oxygen species, inhibited HIF-1α mRNA expression and HIF-1α binding to the LO gene in Co-treated cells as revealed by RT-PCR and ChIP assays, respectively. Thus, modulation of the HRE activity by Co and Cd plays a critical role in LO gene transactivation.

Oxidative stress in elite athletes training at moderate altitude and at sea level.

PubMed

León-López, Josefa; Calderón-Soto, Carmen; Pérez-Sánchez, Matías; Feriche, Belén; Iglesias, Xavier; Chaverri, Diego; Rodréguez, Ferran A

2018-03-24

Using a controlled parallel group longitudinal trial design, we investigated the effects of different training interventions on the prooxidant/antioxidant status of elite athletes: living and training at moderate altitude for 3 (Hi-Hi3) and 4 weeks (Hi-Hi), and for 4 weeks too, living high and training high and low (Hi-HiLo) and living and training at sea level (Lo-Lo). From 61 swimmers, 54 completed the study. Nitrites, carbonyls, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were assessed in plasma. Enzymatic antioxidants glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRd), and non-enzymatic antioxidants total glutathione (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were analysed in the erythrocyte fraction. At the end of the intervention, nitrites levels were similar in all altitude groups but higher than in the Lo-Lo controls (P = .02). Hi-HiLo had greater GPx activity than Hi-Hi and Hi-Hi3 during most of the intervention (P ≤ .001). GRd activity was higher in Lo-Lo than in Hi-Hi at the end of the training camp (P ≤ .001). All groups showed increased levels of LPO, except Lo-Lo, and carbonyls at the end of the study (P ≤ .001). Training at altitude for 3 or 4 weeks drives oxidative stress leading to cellular damage mainly by worsening the antioxidant capacities. The GSSG/GSH ratio appears to be related to perceived exertion and fatigue. The stronger antioxidant defence showed by the Hi-HiLo group suggests an inverse relationship between redox alterations and performance. Further studies are required to investigate the role of oxidative stress in acclimatization, performance, and health.

Lo/Ld phase coexistence modulation induced by GM1.

PubMed

Puff, Nicolas; Watanabe, Chiho; Seigneuret, Michel; Angelova, Miglena I; Staneva, Galya

2014-08-01

Lipid rafts are assumed to undergo biologically important size-modulations from nanorafts to microrafts. Due to the complexity of cellular membranes, model systems become important tools, especially for the investigation of the factors affecting "raft-like" Lo domain size and the search for Lo nanodomains as precursors in Lo microdomain formation. Because lipid compositional change is the primary mechanism by which a cell can alter membrane phase behavior, we studied the effect of the ganglioside GM1 concentration on the Lo/Ld lateral phase separation in PC/SM/Chol/GM1 bilayers. GM1 above 1mol % abolishes the formation of the micrometer-scale Lo domains observed in GUVs. However, the apparently homogeneous phase observed in optical microscopy corresponds in fact, within a certain temperature range, to a Lo/Ld lateral phase separation taking place below the optical resolution. This nanoscale phase separation is revealed by fluorescence spectroscopy, including C12NBD-PC self-quenching and Laurdan GP measurements, and is supported by Gaussian spectral decomposition analysis. The temperature of formation of nanoscale Lo phase domains over an Ld phase is determined, and is shifted to higher values when the GM1 content increases. A "morphological" phase diagram could be made, and it displays three regions corresponding respectively to Lo/Ld micrometric phase separation, Lo/Ld nanometric phase separation, and a homogeneous Ld phase. We therefore show that a lipid only-based mechanism is able to control the existence and the sizes of phase-separated membrane domains. GM1 could act on the line tension, "arresting" domain growth and thereby stabilizing Lo nanodomains. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A double blind randomized clinical trial comparing lingualized and fully bilateral balanced posterior occlusion for conventional complete dentures.

PubMed

Kawai, Yasuhiko; Ikeguchi, Nobuyuki; Suzuki, Asako; Kuwashima, Azusa; Sakamoto, Ryuji; Matsumaru, Yuichi; Kimoto, Suguru; Iijima, Morio; Feine, Jocelyne Sylvia

2017-04-01

A lingualized occlusion (LO) for complete dentures reduces lateral inferences and occlusal force contacts and direction; thus, LO is theorized to be more suitable for patients with compromised ridges than fully bilateral balanced articulation (FBBA). However, no studies have yet provided evidence to support LO in edentate patients with compromised alveolar ridges. The purpose of this study was to compare LO and FBBA in edentulous individuals with compromised ridges. Sixty edentulous individuals were randomly allocated into groups and received dentures with either LO or FBBA. Following delivery, several denture-related satisfaction variables were measured using 100mm visual analogue scales; oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was also assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Sub-group analyses of the effect of moderate and severe mandibular bone loss were also carried out. No significant differences were detected between LO and FBBA with the primary outcome. At 6 months, participants with severely atrophied mandibles and FBBA rated their satisfaction with retention of mandibular dentures significantly lower than those with LO (median LO: 86, FBBA: 58.5, p=0.03). They also had significantly lower OHRQoL for the domain of Pain (median LO: 4, FBBA: 5, p=0.02). General satisfaction and total OHIP scores significantly improved between baseline and 6 months only for the LO subjects with severely atrophied mandibles (satisfaction: p=0.003, OHIP total score: p=0.0007). The results indicate that the LO occlusal scheme with hard resin artificial teeth is more efficient for patients with severely resorbed mandibular ridges. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Systematic review and practice policy statements on urinary tract infection prevention in adults with spina bifida

PubMed Central

Tradewell, Michael; Pariser, Joseph J.; Nimeh, Tony

2018-01-01

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a source of morbidity and healthcare costs in adults with spina bifida (ASB). UTI prevention strategies are often recommended, but the evidence of various approaches remains unclear. We performed a systematic review to inform a best practice policy statement for UTI prevention in ASB. On behalf of the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG.org), we developed an a priori protocol and searched the published English literature for 30 outcomes questions addressing UTI prevention in ASB. The questions spanned the categories of antibiotics, oral supplements, bladder management factors and social support. Where there was little literature in ASB, we included literature from similar populations with neurogenic bladder (NB). Data was abstracted and then reviewed with recommendations made by consensus of all authors. Level of Evidence (LoE) and Grade of Recommendation (GoR) were according to the Oxford grading system. Of 6,433 articles identified by our search, we included 99 publications. There was sufficient evidence to support use of the following: saline bladder irrigation (LoE 1, GoR B), gentamicin bladder instillation (LoE 3, GoR C), single-use intermittent catheterization (IC) (LoE 2, GoR B), hydrophilic catheters for IC (LoE 2, GoR C), intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injection (LoE 3, GoR C), hyaluronic acid (HA) instillation (LoE 1, GoR B), and care coordination (LoE 3, GoR C). There was sufficient evidence to recommend against use of the following: sterile IC (LoE 1, GoR B), oral antibiotic prophylaxis (LoE 2, GoR B), treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (LoE 2, GoR B), cranberry (LoE 2, GoR B), methenamine salts (LoE 1, GoR B), and ascorbic acid (LoE1, GoR B). There was insufficient evidence to make a recommendation for other outcomes. Overall, there are few studies in UTI prevention in the specific population of ASB. Research in populations similar to ASB helps to guide recommendations for UTI prevention in the challenging patient group of ASB. Future studies in UTI prevention specific to ASB are needed and should focus on areas shown to be of benefit in similar populations. PMID:29928619

Supplementation of increasing amounts of linseed oil to dairy cows fed total mixed rations: effects on digestion, ruminal fermentation characteristics, protozoal populations, and milk fatty acid composition.

PubMed

Benchaar, C; Romero-Pérez, G A; Chouinard, P Y; Hassanat, F; Eugene, M; Petit, H V; Côrtes, C

2012-08-01

The effect of linseed oil (LO) supplementation on nutrient digestibility, forage (i.e., timothy hay) in sacco ruminal degradation, ruminal fermentation characteristics, protozoal populations, milk production, and milk fatty acid (FA) profile in dairy cows was investigated. Four ruminally cannulated, primiparous lactating cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design (28-d periods). They were fed a total mixed ration (50:50 forage:concentrate (F:C) ratio [dry matter (DM) basis] without supplementation (control, CTL), or supplemented (wt/wt; DM basis) with LO at 2, 3, or 4%. Supplementation with LO had no effect on DM intake (19 kg/d) and apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients (organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, starch, and gross energy). Ruminal pH, ammonia, and total volatile FA concentrations were not changed by LO supplementation to diets. Extent of changes in volatile FA pattern and effective ruminal degradability of DM of timothy hay were minor. Neither the total numbers nor the genera distribution of protozoa was changed by the addition of increasing amounts of LO to the diet. Milk yield increased linearly (26.1, 27.3, 27.4, and 28.4 kg/d for CTL to LO4, respectively) as the amount of LO added to the diet increased. Milk fat content was not affected by LO supplementation, whereas milk protein content decreased linearly with increasing amounts of LO in the diet. Milk fat proportions of several intermediates of ruminal biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated FA (i.e., trans-10 18:1, trans-11 18:1, cis-9,trans-11 18:2, trans-11,cis-15 18:2, and cis-9,trans-11,cis-15 18:3) increased linearly with LO addition to the diet. The proportion of cis-9,cis-12 18:2 decreased linearly (2.06, 1.99, 1.91, and 1.83% for CTL to LO4, respectively) as the amount of LO in the diet increased. Milk fat content of cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 18:3 increased as the level of LO in the diet increased up to 3% but no further increase was observed when 4% of LO was fed (0.33, 0.79, 0.86, and 0.86% for CTL to LO4, respectively). A similar quadratic response to LO supplementation was also observed for cis-5,cis-8,cis-11,cis-14,cis-17 20:5 and cis-5,cis-7,cis-10,cis-13,cis-16 22:5. The results of the present study show that LO can be safely supplemented up to 4% in forage-based diets of dairy cows to enrich milk with potential health beneficial FA (i.e., n-3 FA) without causing any detrimental effects on rumen function, digestion, and milk production. Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

9 CFR 113.108 - Clostridium Novyi Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... 0.1 International Unit of antitoxin per ml. (ii) Make a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 0.1 Lo... Antitoxin with 0.1 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 0.1 International Unit of Standard...

9 CFR 113.108 - Clostridium Novyi Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... 0.1 International Unit of antitoxin per ml. (ii) Make a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 0.1 Lo... Antitoxin with 0.1 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 0.1 International Unit of Standard...

75 FR 54031 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-03

... below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lo, EPA Region IX, (415) 972- 3959, lo[email protected] Meredith Kurpius, EPA Region 9, Air Quality Assessment Office, to Doris Lo, EPA Region 9, Air Planning... Officer, GBUAPCD, to Doris Lo, EPA Region 9, Air Planning Office, with attachments. The Coso Operating...

9 CFR 113.108 - Clostridium Novyi Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... 0.1 International Unit of antitoxin per ml. (ii) Make a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 0.1 Lo... Antitoxin with 0.1 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 0.1 International Unit of Standard...

9 CFR 113.108 - Clostridium Novyi Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... 0.1 International Unit of antitoxin per ml. (ii) Make a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 0.1 Lo... Antitoxin with 0.1 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 0.1 International Unit of Standard...

Substrate specificity effects of lipoxygenase products and inhibitors on soybean lipoxygenase-1.

PubMed

Wecksler, Aaron T; Garcia, Natalie K; Holman, Theodore R

2009-09-15

Recently, it has been shown that lipoxygenase (LO) products affect the substrate specificity of human 15-LO. In the current paper, we demonstrate that soybean LO-1 (sLO-1) is not affected by its own products, however, inhibitors which bind the allosteric site, oleyl sulfate (OS) and palmitoleyl sulfate (PS), not only lower catalytic activity, but also change the substrate specificity, by increasing the arachidonic acid (AA)/linoleic acid (LA) ratio to 4.8 and 4.0, respectively. The fact that LO inhibitors can lower activity and also change the LO product ratio is a new concept in lipoxygenase inhibition, where the goal is to not only reduce the catalytic activity but also alter substrate selectivity towards a physiologically beneficial product.

Synergism of magnesium deficiency and nickel toxicity in growth and bone development

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

Kenney, M.A.; Dicker, A.; McCoy, H.

1991-03-15

The authors examined effects of Mg level and of Ni in diets of growing rats. Male rats weighing 100 g were fed a diet adequate, low or high in Mg and adequate in other nutrients. After a week, LoMg and HiMg groups were sub-divided and fed 0 or 500 ppm Ni for the remaining 7 weeks. Animals fed LoMg+Ni gained less than half as much weight and ate about 75% as much ration as other groups. Food efficiency was reduced due to added Ni for LoMg. Many measurements related to growth showed this interaction of Mg and Ni, with lowmore » values in LoMg+Ni group, compared with all others. Spleen and thymus wt/g body wt increased in LoMg+Ni, while femurs and vertebrae were lightest, contained the least ash, and withstood the least force before breaking in a 3-point flexure test. However, because femurs of LoMg+Ni rats were small, the calculated breaking stress was greatest. Bones of LoMg rats supported a greater load than those of Ctl or HiMg, but breaking stress of femur was similar at all 3 levels of Mg when Ni was not fed. Overall, the LoMg diet produced little evidence of deficiency except when Ni was added; conversely, dietary Ni was much less toxic with HiMg than with LoMg.« less

9 CFR 113.109 - Clostridium Sordellii Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 1.0 Lo dose is contained in a volume of 1 ml or less. Make a...) Combine 1.0 International Unit Standard Antitoxin with 1.0 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 1...

9 CFR 113.109 - Clostridium Sordellii Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 1.0 Lo dose is contained in a volume of 1 ml or less. Make a...) Combine 1.0 International Unit Standard Antitoxin with 1.0 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 1...

9 CFR 113.109 - Clostridium Sordellii Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 1.0 Lo dose is contained in a volume of 1 ml or less. Make a...) Combine 1.0 International Unit Standard Antitoxin with 1.0 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 1...

9 CFR 113.109 - Clostridium Sordellii Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... which reacts with Lo and L+ doses of Standard Toxin according to their definitions. (ii) Lo dose. The... a dilution of Standard Toxin in which 1.0 Lo dose is contained in a volume of 1 ml or less. Make a...) Combine 1.0 International Unit Standard Antitoxin with 1.0 Lo dose of diluted Standard Toxin and combine 1...

The Sublime Corpse in Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda's Women's Journal "Album Cubano de lo Bueno y lo Bello" (1860)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LaGreca, Nancy

2009-01-01

This article examines Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda's choice to include articles depicting the advanced decay of cadavers, which are simultaneously horrible and awesome, in her women's periodical "Album Cubano de lo Bueno y lo Bello". Background on Avellaneda's biography, women's print culture, and theories of the sublime provide a frame for the…

Electronically Tuned Local Oscillators for the NOEMA Interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattiocco, Francois; Garnier, Olivier; Maier, Doris; Navarrini, Alessandro; Serres, Patrice

2016-03-01

We present an overview of the electronically tuned local oscillator (LO) system developed at the Institut de RadioAstronomie millimetrique (IRAM) for the superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) receivers of the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array interferometer (NOEMA). We modified the frequency bands and extended the bandwidths of the LO designs developed by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) project to cover the four NOEMA LO frequency ranges 82-108.3 GHz (Band 1), 138.6-171.3 GHz (Band 2), 207.7-264.4 GHz (Band 3), and 283-365 GHz (Band 4). The NOEMA LO system employs commercially available MMICs and GaAs millimeter MMICs from NRAO which are micro-assembled into active multiplied chain (AMC) and power amplifier (PA) modules. We discuss the problem of the LO spurious harmonics and of the LO signal directly multiplied by the SIS mixers that add extra noise and lead to detections of unwanted spectral lines from higher order sidebands. A waveguide filter in the LO path is used to reduce the higher order harmonics level of the LO at the output of the final frequency multiplier, thus mitigating the undesired effects and improving the system noise temperature.

Cytochrome P450 and Lipoxygenase Metabolites on Renal Function

PubMed Central

Imig, John D.; Hye Khan, Md. Abdul

2018-01-01

Arachidonic acid metabolites have a myriad of biological actions including effects on the kidney to alter renal hemodynamics and tubular transport processes. Cyclooxygenase metabolites are products of an arachidonic acid enzymatic pathway that has been extensively studied in regards to renal function. Two lesser-known enzymatic pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism are the lipoxygenase (LO) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) pathways. The importance of LO and CYP metabolites to renal hemodynamics and tubular transport processes is now being recognized. LO and CYP metabolites have actions to alter renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. Proximal and distal tubular sodium transport and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis are also significantly influenced by renal CYP and LO levels. Metabolites of the LO and CYP pathways also have renal actions that influence renal inflammation, proliferation, and apoptotic processes at vascular and epithelial cells. These renal LO and CYP pathway actions occur through generation of specific metabolites and cell-signaling mechanisms. Even though the renal physiological importance and actions for LO and CYP metabolites are readily apparent, major gaps remain in our understanding of these lipid mediators to renal function. Future studies will be needed to fill these major gaps regarding LO and CYP metabolites on renal function. PMID:26756638

Modeling the Energy Performance of LoRaWAN

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

LoRaWAN is a flagship Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology that has highly attracted much attention from the community in recent years. Many LoRaWAN end-devices, such as sensors or actuators, are expected not to be powered by the electricity grid; therefore, it is crucial to investigate the energy consumption of LoRaWAN. However, published works have only focused on this topic to a limited extent. In this paper, we present analytical models that allow the characterization of LoRaWAN end-device current consumption, lifetime and energy cost of data delivery. The models, which have been derived based on measurements on a currently prevalent LoRaWAN hardware platform, allow us to quantify the impact of relevant physical and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer LoRaWAN parameters and mechanisms, as well as Bit Error Rate (BER) and collisions, on energy performance. Among others, evaluation results show that an appropriately configured LoRaWAN end-device platform powered by a battery of 2400 mAh can achieve a 1-year lifetime while sending one message every 5 min, and an asymptotic theoretical lifetime of 6 years for infrequent communication. PMID:29035347

Modeling the Energy Performance of LoRaWAN.

PubMed

Casals, Lluís; Mir, Bernat; Vidal, Rafael; Gomez, Carles

2017-10-16

LoRaWAN is a flagship Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology that has highly attracted much attention from the community in recent years. Many LoRaWAN end-devices, such as sensors or actuators, are expected not to be powered by the electricity grid; therefore, it is crucial to investigate the energy consumption of LoRaWAN. However, published works have only focused on this topic to a limited extent. In this paper, we present analytical models that allow the characterization of LoRaWAN end-device current consumption, lifetime and energy cost of data delivery. The models, which have been derived based on measurements on a currently prevalent LoRaWAN hardware platform, allow us to quantify the impact of relevant physical and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer LoRaWAN parameters and mechanisms, as well as Bit Error Rate (BER) and collisions, on energy performance. Among others, evaluation results show that an appropriately configured LoRaWAN end-device platform powered by a battery of 2400 mAh can achieve a 1-year lifetime while sending one message every 5 min, and an asymptotic theoretical lifetime of 6 years for infrequent communication.

Impact of foliage on LoRa 433MHz propagation in tropical environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Khairol Amali; Salleh, Mohd Sharil; Segaran, Jivitraa Devi; Hashim, Fakroul Ridzuan

2018-02-01

LoRa is being considered as one of the promising system for Low-Power-Wide-Area-Network (LPWAN) to support the growth of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Designed to operate in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) bands, LoRa had been tested and evaluated mainly in Europe and US in the 868 MHz and 915 MHz modulation bands. Using chirp spread spectrum technology, LoRa is expected to be robust against degredation. This paper provides some early results in the performance of LoRa signal propagation of 433 MHz modulation in tropical foliage environments.

Analysis of Orthopedic Resident Ability to Apply Levels of Evidence Criteria to Scientific Articles.

PubMed

Grandizio, Louis C; Shim, Stephanie S; Graham, Jove; Costopoulos, Callista; Cush, Gerard; Klena, Joel C

2016-01-01

In the era of evidence-based medicine, understanding study design and levels of evidence (LoE) criteria is an important component of resident education and aids practicing surgeons in making informed clinical decisions. The purpose of this study is to analyze the ability of orthopedic residents to accurately determine LoE criteria for published articles compared with medical students. Basic science article. Geisinger Medical Center (Danville, PA), tertiary referral center. Overall, 25 U.S. orthopedic residents and 15 4th year medical students interviewing for a residency position in orthopedic surgery voluntarily participated and provided baseline demographic information. A total of 15 articles from the American Volume of Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery were identified. Study participants were provided with the article title, the abstract, and the complete methods section. The assigned LoE designation was withheld and access to the LoE criteria used by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery was provided. Each participant was assigned a study type and LoE designation for each article. There were more correct responses regarding the article type (67%) than for LoE designation (39%). For LoE, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.30. The percentage of correct responses for article type and LoE increased with more years of training (p = 0.005 and p = 0.002). Although residents had a higher proportion of correct LoE responses overall than medical students, this difference did not reach statistical significance (42% vs. 35%, p = 0.07). Although improvements in accurately determining both article type and LoE were seen among residents with increasing years of training, residents were unable to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement for determining LoE or article type when compared with medical students. Strategies to improve resident understanding of LoE guidelines need to be incorporated into orthopedic residencies, especially when considering the increased emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Copyright © 2016 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Factors that control catalytic two- versus four-electron reduction of dioxygen by copper complexes.

PubMed

Fukuzumi, Shunichi; Tahsini, Laleh; Lee, Yong-Min; Ohkubo, Kei; Nam, Wonwoo; Karlin, Kenneth D

2012-04-25

The selective two-electron reduction of O(2) by one-electron reductants such as decamethylferrocene (Fc*) and octamethylferrocene (Me(8)Fc) is efficiently catalyzed by a binuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OH)](2+) (D1) {LO is a binucleating ligand with copper-bridging phenolate moiety} in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (HOTF) in acetone. The protonation of the hydroxide group of [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OH)](2+) with HOTF to produce [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OTF)](2+) (D1-OTF) makes it possible for this to be reduced by 2 equiv of Fc* via a two-step electron-transfer sequence. Reactions of the fully reduced complex [Cu(I)(2)(LO)](+) (D3) with O(2) in the presence of HOTF led to the low-temperature detection of the absorption spectra due to the peroxo complex [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OO)] (D) and the protonated hydroperoxo complex [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OOH)](2+) (D4). No further Fc* reduction of D4 occurs, and it is instead further protonated by HOTF to yield H(2)O(2) accompanied by regeneration of [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OTF)](2+) (D1-OTF), thus completing the catalytic cycle for the two-electron reduction of O(2) by Fc*. Kinetic studies on the formation of Fc*(+) under catalytic conditions as well as for separate examination of the electron transfer from Fc* to D1-OTF reveal there are two important reaction pathways operating. One is a rate-determining second reduction of D1-OTF, thus electron transfer from Fc* to a mixed-valent intermediate [Cu(II)Cu(I)(LO)](2+) (D2), which leads to [Cu(I)(2)(LO)](+) that is coupled with O(2) binding to produce [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OO)](+) (D). The other involves direct reaction of O(2) with the mixed-valent compound D2 followed by rapid Fc* reduction of a putative superoxo-dicopper(II) species thus formed, producing D.

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

Kerimova, T. G., E-mail: taira-kerimova@mail.ru; Abdullaev, N. A.; Mamedova, I. A.

The Raman spectra of CdGa{sub 2}S{sub 4x}Se{sub 4(1-x)} alloys (x = 0.1, 0.2, Horizontal-Ellipsis 0.9) are studied. Both the singlemode and double-mode behavior of optical phonons are observed in CdGa{sub 2}S{sub 4x}Se{sub 4(1-x)} alloys. The observed optical mode at 138 cm{sup -1} is independent of the composition. It seems likely that this mode is the 'breathing mode' and is caused by atomic motion in the anion sublattice relative to vacancies. It is shown that the high-frequency modes of symmetry B{sub 1}(LO, TO) and B{sub 2}(LO, TO) are caused by the in-phase motion of atoms in the anion sublattice along themore » tetragonal axis c relative to trivalent Ga atoms. The doubly degenerate symmetry modes E{sub 1}(LO, TO) and E{sub 2}(LO, TO) are caused by the in-phase motion of atoms in the anion sublattice relative to trivalent Ga atoms of the cation sublattice in the xy plane (dipole 2Ga-4C), where C is S, Se. The optical symmetry modes B{sub 3}(LO, TO) and B{sub 4}(LO, TO) are associated with the motion of atoms in the anion sublattice relative to Cd atoms along the tetragonal axis c. The doubly degenerate modes E{sub 3}(LO, TO) and E{sub 4}(LO, TO) are associated with the motion of atoms in the anion sublattice relative to Cd atoms (dipole Cd-4C). The low-frequency modes B{sub 5}(LO, TO) and E{sub 5}(LO, TO) are the analogs of acoustic phonons at the edge of the Brillouin zone of sphalerite.« less

The Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool: responsiveness to change in a pediatric clinical population.

PubMed

Kelsey, Christina E; Torok, Kathryn S

2013-08-01

Lack of agreement on how to accurately capture disease outcomes in localized scleroderma (LS) has hindered the development of efficacious treatment protocols. The LS Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT), consisting of the modified LS Skin Severity Index (mLoSSI) and the LS Damage Index, has potential for use in clinical trials. The goal of this article is to further evaluate the clinical responsiveness of the LoSCAT. Based on the modifiable nature of disease activity versus damage, we expected the mLoSSI to be responsive to change. At 2 study visits, a physician completed the LoSCAT and Physician Global Assessment (PGA) of Disease Activity and of Disease Damage for 29 patients with LS. Spearman correlations were used to examine the relationships between the change in the LoSCAT and the PGA scores. To evaluate contrasted group validity, patients were grouped according to disease activity classification and change scores of groups were compared. Minimal clinically important differences were calculated and compared with the standard error of measurement. Change in the mLoSSI score correlated strongly with change in the PGA of Disease Activity score, whereas change in the LS Damage Index score correlated weakly with change in the PGA of Disease Damage score. The mLoSSI and PGA of Disease Activity exhibited contrasted group validity. Minimal clinically important differences for the activity measures were greater than the respective standard errors of measurement. Only 2 study visits were included in analysis. This study gives further evidence that the LoSCAT, specifically the mLoSSI, is a responsive, valid measure of activity in LS and should be used in future treatment studies. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of dietary replacement of sunflower oil with linseed oil on intramuscular fatty acids of lamb meat.

PubMed

Jerónimo, Eliana; Alves, Susana P; Prates, José A M; Santos-Silva, José; Bessa, Rui J B

2009-11-01

The effect of stepwise replacement of dietary sunflower oil (SO) with linseed oil (LO) on carcass composition, meat colour and fatty acid (FA) composition of intramuscular lipids of lamb meat was investigated. Thirty-six lambs were fed one of four diets consisting of pellets of lucerne with oil (60g/kg): the diet varied in the composition of oil added and were: 100% SO; 66.6% SO plus 33.3% LO; 33.3% SO plus 66.6% LO and 100% LO. The experimental period was 7weeks. Live slaughter weight, hot carcass weight and intermuscular fat percentage of chump and shoulder increased linearly with replacement of SO by LO. Total FA content of longissimus dorsi muscle and polar and neutral lipids were not affected by the treatments. Replacement of SO with LO increased the content of 18:3n-3 and total n-3 long chain (⩾C(20)) PUFA (LC-PUFA) and decreased the 18:2n-6, total n-6 LC-PUFA and 18:2 cis-9, trans-11 in meat lipids. Maximum CLA concentration (42.9mg/100g fresh muscle) was observed with 100% of SO, decreasing linearly by SO with LO replacement. Maximum n-3 LC-PUFA was predicted to be 27mg/100g of fresh muscle at 78% of SO with LO replacement. Considering both CLA and n-3 LC-PUFA, the maximum levels were estimated to be reached at 52% of replacement of SO with LO. The utilization of blends of SO and LO is a good approach for obtaining lamb meat enriched with both CLA and n-3 LC-PUFA.

Liquid Oxygen Propellant Densification Production and Performance Test Results With a Large-Scale Flight-Weight Propellant Tank for the X33 RLV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tomsik, Thomas M.; Meyer, Michael L.

2010-01-01

This paper describes in-detail a test program that was initiated at the Glenn Research Center (GRC) involving the cryogenic densification of liquid oxygen (LO2). A large scale LO2 propellant densification system rated for 200 gpm and sized for the X-33 LO2 propellant tank, was designed, fabricated and tested at the GRC. Multiple objectives of the test program included validation of LO2 production unit hardware and characterization of densifier performance at design and transient conditions. First, performance data is presented for an initial series of LO2 densifier screening and check-out tests using densified liquid nitrogen. The second series of tests show performance data collected during LO2 densifier test operations with liquid oxygen as the densified product fluid. An overview of LO2 X-33 tanking operations and load tests with the 20,000 gallon Structural Test Article (STA) are described. Tank loading testing and the thermal stratification that occurs inside of a flight-weight launch vehicle propellant tank were investigated. These operations involved a closed-loop recirculation process of LO2 flow through the densifier and then back into the STA. Finally, in excess of 200,000 gallons of densified LO2 at 120 oR was produced with the propellant densification unit during the demonstration program, an achievement that s never been done before in the realm of large-scale cryogenic tests.

Optically Sectioned Imaging of Microvasculature of In-Vivo and Ex-Vivo Thick Tissue Models with Speckle-illumination HiLo Microscopy and HiLo Image Processing Implementation in MATLAB Architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suen, Ricky Wai

The work described in this thesis covers the conversion of HiLo image processing into MATLAB architecture and the use of speckle-illumination HiLo microscopy for use of ex-vivo and in-vivo imaging of thick tissue models. HiLo microscopy is a wide-field fluorescence imaging technique and has been demonstrated to produce optically sectioned images comparable to confocal in thin samples. The imaging technique was developed by Jerome Mertz and the Boston University Biomicroscopy Lab and has been implemented in our lab as a stand-alone optical setup and a modification to a conventional fluorescence microscope. Speckle-illumination HiLo microscopy combines two images taken under speckle-illumination and standard uniform-illumination to generate an optically sectioned image that reject out-of-focus fluorescence. The evaluated speckle contrast in the images is used as a weighting function where elements that move out-of-focus have a speckle contrast that decays to zero. The experiments shown here demonstrate the capability of our HiLo microscopes to produce optically-sectioned images of the microvasculature of ex-vivo and in-vivo thick tissue models. The HiLo microscope were used to image the microvasculature of ex-vivo mouse heart sections prepared for optical histology and the microvasculature of in-vivo rodent dorsal window chamber models. Studies in label-free surface profiling with HiLo microscopy is also presented.

Circulating precursor CCR7(lo)PD-1(hi) CXCR5⁺ CD4⁺ T cells indicate Tfh cell activity and promote antibody responses upon antigen reexposure.

PubMed

He, Jing; Tsai, Louis M; Leong, Yew Ann; Hu, Xin; Ma, Cindy S; Chevalier, Nina; Sun, Xiaolin; Vandenberg, Kirsten; Rockman, Steve; Ding, Yan; Zhu, Lei; Wei, Wei; Wang, Changqi; Karnowski, Alexander; Belz, Gabrielle T; Ghali, Joanna R; Cook, Matthew C; Riminton, D Sean; Veillette, André; Schwartzberg, Pamela L; Mackay, Fabienne; Brink, Robert; Tangye, Stuart G; Vinuesa, Carola G; Mackay, Charles R; Li, Zhanguo; Yu, Di

2013-10-17

Follicular B helper T (Tfh) cells support high affinity and long-term antibody responses. Here we found that within circulating CXCR5⁺ CD4⁺ T cells in humans and mice, the CCR7(lo)PD-1(hi) subset has a partial Tfh effector phenotype, whereas CCR7(hi)PD-1(lo) cells have a resting phenotype. The circulating CCR7(lo)PD-1(hi) subset was indicative of active Tfh differentiation in lymphoid organs and correlated with clinical indices in autoimmune diseases. Thus the CCR7(lo)PD-1(hi) subset provides a biomarker to monitor protective antibody responses during infection or vaccination and pathogenic antibody responses in autoimmune diseases. Differentiation of both CCR7(hi)PD-1(lo) and CCR7(lo)PD-1(hi) subsets required ICOS and BCL6, but not SAP, suggesting that circulating CXCR5⁺ helper T cells are primarily generated before germinal centers. Upon antigen reencounter, CCR7(lo)PD-1(hi) CXCR5⁺ precursors rapidly differentiate into mature Tfh cells to promote antibody responses. Therefore, circulating CCR7(lo)PD-1(hi) CXCR5⁺ CD4⁺ T cells are generated during active Tfh differentiation and represent a new mechanism of immunological early memory. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The 15-LO-1/15-HETE system promotes angiogenesis by upregulating VEGF in ischemic brains.

PubMed

Chen, Li; Zhu, Yan-Mei; Li, Yu-Nong; Li, Peng-Yan; Wang, Di; Liu, Yu; Qu, You-Yang; Zhu, Da-Ling; Zhu, Yu-Lan

2017-09-01

Angiogenesis promotes neurobehavioral recovery after cerebral ischemic stroke. 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) is one of the major metabolites of arachidonic acid by 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) and stimulates the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thus, inducing autocrine-mediated angiogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the role of 15-LO/15-HETE system on VEGF expression and angiogenesis in brain ischemia. Rat cerebral arterial vascular endothelial cells were used to set up a cell injury model of oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R), mimicking a condition of brain ischemia. A mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established. Oxygen-glucose deprivation increased cellular expression of 15-LO-1 and VEGF. Transfection of 15-LO-1 siRNA depleted cells of 15-LO-1, and sequentially induced downregulation of VEGF expression; while, incubation of 15-HETE increased the expression of VEGF. Incubation of 15-HETE attenuated the reduction in cell viability induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation, and promoted cell migration, while transfection of 15-LO-1 siRNA showed an opposite effect. In animal experiments, the density of microvessels in hypoxic regions of brains was significantly increased after MCAO, while intracerebroventricular delivery of 15-LO-1 siRNA significantly reduced the density of microvessels, and downregulates VEGF expression. The results indicate that the 15-LO-1/15-HETE system promotes angiogenesis in ischemic brains by upregulation of VEGF, representing a potential target for improving neurobehavioral recovery after cerebral ischemic stroke.

Is length of stay in hospital a stable proxy for injury severity?

PubMed

Cryer, C; Gulliver, P; Langley, J D; Davie, G

2010-08-01

Is length of stay (LoS) in hospital a stable proxy for severity of injury when monitoring time trends in serious injury incidence? To investigate whether LoS metrics (mean, median and proportion exceeding several LoS thresholds) have changed over time for injury diagnoses with known severity. Time series investigation. New Zealand population admitted to hospital for injury and discharged during the period 1989 to 1998. Interpolated median and geometric mean lengths of stay, as well as the proportion of cases that have an LoS greater than or equal to 3, 4, 7 and 14 days in hospital. ICD-9-CM diagnoses that are approximately homogeneous in regard to severity of injury (ICD-HS diagnoses) were identified. Trends were investigated in the LoS statistics for: injury and non-injury diagnoses combined; all injury diagnoses; major body sites of injury; severity strata; and ICD-HS diagnoses. Almost without exception, there was a decline in the LoS statistics over time for all diagnoses, all injury diagnoses, each body site of injury investigated, severity strata, and the ICD-HS diagnoses. Reductions in median and geometric mean LoS over time, as well as reductions in the proportion exceeding selected LoS thresholds, were due to factors other than reductions in the incidence of serious injury; for example, changes in service delivery over time. An LoS threshold should not be used as a proxy for severity of injury if the goal is to monitor time trends in injury incidence.

Length dependence of staircase potentiation: interactions with caffeine and dantrolene sodium.

PubMed

Rassier, D E; MacIntosh, B R

2000-04-01

In skeletal muscle, there is a length dependence of staircase potentiation for which the mechanism is unclear. In this study we tested the hypothesis that abolition of this length dependence by caffeine is effected by a mechanism independent of enhanced Ca2+ release. To test this hypothesis we have used caffeine, which abolishes length dependence of potentiation, and dantrolene sodium, which inhibits Ca2+ release. In situ isometric twitch contractions of rat gastrocnemius muscle before and after 20 s of repetitive stimulation at 5 Hz were analyzed at optimal length (Lo), Lo - 10%, and Lo + 10%. Potentiation was observed to be length dependent, with an increase in developed tension (DT) of 78 +/- 12, 51 +/- 5, and 34 +/- 9% (mean +/- SEM), at Lo - 10%, Lo, and Lo + 10%, respectively. Caffeine diminished the length dependence of activation and suppressed the length dependence of staircase potentiation, giving increases in DT of 65+/-13, 53 +/- 11, and 45 +/- 12% for Lo - 10%, Lo, and Lo + 10%, respectively. Dantrolene administered after caffeine did not reverse this effect. Dantrolene alone depressed the potentiation response, but did not affect the length dependence of staircase potentiation, with increases in DT of 58 +/- 17, 26 +/- 8, and 18 +/- 7%, respectively. This study confirms that there is a length dependence of staircase potentiation in mammalian skeletal muscle which is suppressed by caffeine. Since dantrolene did not alter this suppression of the length dependence of potentiation by caffeine, it is apparently not directly modulated by Ca2+ availability in the myoplasm.

Rheological Characterization as an Alternative Method to Indentation for Determining the Setting Time of Restorative and Endodontic Cements

PubMed Central

Nicholson, Timothy M.; Kahler, Bill

2017-01-01

This study explored an alternative approach using rheology to assess setting time. The following cements were tested: ProRoot® MTA (Dentsply, Tulsa, OK, USA), Biodentine® (Septodont, Saint Maur des Fosses, France), Fuji VII®, FujiVII® EP, and Fuji IX® (from GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), RealSeal SE™ Sealer (SybronEndo, Amersfoort, The Netherlands), AH 26® and AH Plus (both from Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany). Freshly mixed cements were placed into a strain-controlled rheometer (1 rad·s−1 with an applied strain of 0.01%). From measurements of elastic modulus over time, the time taken to reach 90% of the plateau elastic modulus (designated as the setting time) was determined for each cement. In increasing order, the setting times were as follows: Fuji VII EP 3.3 min, Fuji VII 3.6 min, Fuji IX 3.7 min, ProRoot MTA 5.1 min, Biodentine 15.9 min, RealSeal 22.2 min, AH Plus 5933 min, and AH 26 5067 min. However, ProRoot MTA did not yield reliable results. The time to reach the 90% plateau elastic modulus correlates well with the setting time of glass ionomer cements and Biodentine. Using this approach gives much longer setting times for endodontic sealers than previously recognized. PMID:29261125

40 CFR 1065.610 - Duty cycle generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... maximum power at which 50% of maximum power occurs. Denote this value as n lo. Take n lo to be warm idle... representative engine speed, whichever is lower. Use n hi and n lo to calculate reference values for A, B, or C speeds as follows: ER15SE11.030 Example: n lo = 1005 r/min n hi = 2385 r/min f nrefA = 0.25 · (2385...

Trends in lumber processing in the Western United States. Part II: Overrun and lumber recovery factors.

Treesearch

Charles E. Keegan; Todd A. Morgan; Keith A. Blatner; Jean M. Daniels

2010-01-01

This article describes trends in three measures of lumber recovery for sawmills in the western United States: lumber overrun (LO), lumber recovery factor (LRF), and cubic lumber recovery (CLR). All states and regions showed increased LO during the last three decades. Oregon and Montana had the highest LO at 107 and 100 percent, respectively. Alaska had the lowest LO at...

40 CFR 1065.610 - Duty cycle generation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... maximum power at which 50% of maximum power occurs. Denote this value as n lo. Take n lo to be warm idle... representative engine speed, whichever is lower. Use n hi and n lo to calculate reference values for A, B, or C speeds as follows: ER15SE11.030 Example: n lo = 1005 r/min n hi = 2385 r/min f nrefA = 0.25 · (2385...

Rapid shoot-to-root signalling regulates root hydraulic conductance via aquaporins.

PubMed

Vandeleur, Rebecca K; Sullivan, Wendy; Athman, Asmini; Jordans, Charlotte; Gilliham, Matthew; Kaiser, Brent N; Tyerman, Stephen D

2014-02-01

We investigated how root hydraulic conductance (normalized to root dry weight, Lo ) is regulated by the shoot. Shoot topping (about 30% reduction in leaf area) reduced Lo of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) by 50 to 60%. More detailed investigations with soybean and grapevine showed that the reduction in Lo was not correlated with the reduction in leaf area, and shading or cutting single leaves had a similar effect. Percentage reduction in Lo was largest when initial Lo was high in soybean. Inhibition of Lo by weak acid (low pH) was smaller after shoot damage or leaf shading. The half time of reduction in Lo was approximately 5 min after total shoot decapitation. These characteristics indicate involvement of aquaporins. We excluded phloem-borne signals and auxin-mediated signals. Xylem-mediated hydraulic signals are possible since turgor rapidly decreased within root cortex cells after shoot topping. There was a significant reduction in the expression of several aquaporins in the plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) family of both grapevine and soybean. In soybean, there was a five- to 10-fold reduction in GmPIP1;6 expression over 0.5-1 h which was sustained over the period of reduced Lo . © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical Compositions of Ligusticum chuanxiong Oil and Lemongrass Oil and Their Joint Action against Aphis citricola Van Der Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

PubMed

Zhang, Chao; Liu, Runqiang; He, Jun; Ma, Zhiqing; Zhang, Xing

2016-10-12

In order to develop novel botanical insecticides, the joint action of Ligusticum chuanxiong oil (LCO) and lemongrass oil (LO) against Aphis citricola van der Goot was determined systematically indoors and outdoors. The chemical profiles of LCO and LO as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the main compounds from LCO were ( Z )-ligustilide (44.58%) and senkyunolide A (26.92%), and that of LO were geranial (42.16%) and neral (32.58%), respectively. The mixture of LCO and LO showed significant synergy against A. citricola , with a common-toxicity coefficient (CTC) value of 221.46 at the optimal ratio of LCO to LO (4:1, w : w ). Based on the results of solvents and emulsifiers screening, L. chuanxiong oil·Lemongrass oil 20% emulsifiable concentrate (20% LCO·LO EC) was developed, and its stability was confirmed with tests of cold and thermal storage. Field trials indicated that the insecticidal activity of the diluted 20% LCO·LO EC (1000 fold dilution) was comparable to conventional pesticide (20% imidacloprid EC) on A. citricola seven days after application. Thus, the mixture of LCO and LO has the potential to be further developed as a botanical pesticide.

A Digital Backend for the Low Frequency All Sky Monitor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dartez, L. P.

2014-04-01

The Low Frequency All Sky Monitor (LoFASM) is a distributed array of dipole antennas that are sensitive to radio frequencies from 10 to 88 MHz. The primary science goals of LoFASM are the detection and study of low-frequency radio transients, a high priority science goal as deemed by the National Research Council's decadal survey. LoFASM consists of antennas and front-end electronics that were originally developed for the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) by the U.S. Naval Research Lab, the University of New Mexico, Virginia Tech, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. LoFASM, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, will initially consist of four stations, each consisting of 12 dual-polarization dipole antennas. In a single station, RF signals from each of the individual LoFASM dipoles are combined in phase in order to synthesize LoFASM's beam. The LoFASM RF signals are phased up so that the resulting beam is sensitive to radio emission that originates from the zenith and RF signals approaching from the horizon are attenuated. Digitally, this is achieved using a full Stokes 100MHz correlating spectrometer constructed using field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology. In this thesis I will describe the design and usage of the LoFASM Correlator.

G‐LoSA: An efficient computational tool for local structure‐centric biological studies and drug design

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Abstract Molecular recognition by protein mostly occurs in a local region on the protein surface. Thus, an efficient computational method for accurate characterization of protein local structural conservation is necessary to better understand biology and drug design. We present a novel local structure alignment tool, G‐LoSA. G‐LoSA aligns protein local structures in a sequence order independent way and provides a GA‐score, a chemical feature‐based and size‐independent structure similarity score. Our benchmark validation shows the robust performance of G‐LoSA to the local structures of diverse sizes and characteristics, demonstrating its universal applicability to local structure‐centric comparative biology studies. In particular, G‐LoSA is highly effective in detecting conserved local regions on the entire surface of a given protein. In addition, the applications of G‐LoSA to identifying template ligands and predicting ligand and protein binding sites illustrate its strong potential for computer‐aided drug design. We hope that G‐LoSA can be a useful computational method for exploring interesting biological problems through large‐scale comparison of protein local structures and facilitating drug discovery research and development. G‐LoSA is freely available to academic users at http://im.compbio.ku.edu/GLoSA/. PMID:26813336

G-LoSA: An efficient computational tool for local structure-centric biological studies and drug design.

PubMed

Lee, Hui Sun; Im, Wonpil

2016-04-01

Molecular recognition by protein mostly occurs in a local region on the protein surface. Thus, an efficient computational method for accurate characterization of protein local structural conservation is necessary to better understand biology and drug design. We present a novel local structure alignment tool, G-LoSA. G-LoSA aligns protein local structures in a sequence order independent way and provides a GA-score, a chemical feature-based and size-independent structure similarity score. Our benchmark validation shows the robust performance of G-LoSA to the local structures of diverse sizes and characteristics, demonstrating its universal applicability to local structure-centric comparative biology studies. In particular, G-LoSA is highly effective in detecting conserved local regions on the entire surface of a given protein. In addition, the applications of G-LoSA to identifying template ligands and predicting ligand and protein binding sites illustrate its strong potential for computer-aided drug design. We hope that G-LoSA can be a useful computational method for exploring interesting biological problems through large-scale comparison of protein local structures and facilitating drug discovery research and development. G-LoSA is freely available to academic users at http://im.compbio.ku.edu/GLoSA/. © 2016 The Protein Society.

The inhibition of 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) products leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) modulates the inflammatory response and improves cutaneous wound healing.

PubMed

Guimarães, Francielle Rodrigues; Sales-Campos, Helioswilton; Nardini, Viviani; da Costa, Thiago Alvares; Fonseca, Monique Thaís Costa; Júnior, Virmondes Rodrigues; Sorgi, Carlos Artério; da Silva, João Santana; Chica, Javier Emílio Lazo; Faccioli, Lúcia Helena; de Barros Cardoso, Cristina Ribeiro

2018-05-01

To analyze the participation of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) in skin repair, WT wounds were compared to those in 5-LO deficient mice (5-LO -/- ), which presented faster closure and reduced inflammatory infiltrate in the skin, together with increased CD4 regulatory T cells markers in the draining lymph nodes. The 5-LO -/- wounds also had diminished TNF-α, CCL11, CCL7, CCL2, CXCL9, CCR1 and CXCR2 mRNA expression in the lesions, besides differential extracellular matrix remodeling. Furthermore, when cysteinyl leukotriene (cysLT) and leukotriene (LTB 4 ) receptors were antagonized in WT mice, there was a remarkable reduction in TNF-α expression and faster skin healing, similarly to the findings in 5-LO -/- animals. Finally, our results suggested that 5-LO products, in special cysLT and LTB 4 , underline skin inflammation that follows skin injury and their neutralization may be an important strategy to improve cutaneous healing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel One-pot Fabrication of Lab-on-a-Bubble@Ag Substrate without Coupling-agent for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Jizhou; Ou-Yang, Lei; Zhu, Lihua; Zou, Jing; Tang, Heqing

2014-02-01

Through in-situ reduction of silver nitrate without using any coupling-agent, a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was prepared by coating silver on hollow buoyant silica microspheres as a lab on a bubble (LoB). The silver coated LoBs (LoBs@Ag) floated on surface of a solution could provide a very convenient platform for the detection of target molecules in the solution. The LoBs@Ag substrate not only immobilized well-distributed Ag nanoparticles on the surface LoBs, but excluded the interference of coupling agents. This yielded high-resolution SERS spectra with excellent reproducibility. The adsorption of crystal violet (CV) on the LoBs@Ag substrate was investigated by means of SERS combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The LoBs@Ag substrate exhibited a remarkable Raman enhancement effect for CV with an enhancement factor of 6.9 × 108 and wide adaptability from dye, pesticide to bio-molecules. On the basis of this substrate, a simple and sensitive SERS method was proposed for the determination of trace organic pollutants or bio-molecules.

14 CFR 25.1515 - Landing gear speeds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Limitations § 25.1515 Landing gear speeds. (a) The established landing gear operating speed or speeds, V LO... retraction speed, the two speeds must be designated as V LO(EXT) and V LO(RET), respectively. (b) The...

14 CFR 25.1515 - Landing gear speeds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Limitations § 25.1515 Landing gear speeds. (a) The established landing gear operating speed or speeds, V LO... retraction speed, the two speeds must be designated as V LO(EXT) and V LO(RET), respectively. (b) The...

14 CFR 25.1515 - Landing gear speeds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Limitations § 25.1515 Landing gear speeds. (a) The established landing gear operating speed or speeds, V LO... retraction speed, the two speeds must be designated as V LO(EXT) and V LO(RET), respectively. (b) The...

14 CFR 25.1515 - Landing gear speeds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Limitations § 25.1515 Landing gear speeds. (a) The established landing gear operating speed or speeds, V LO... retraction speed, the two speeds must be designated as V LO(EXT) and V LO(RET), respectively. (b) The...

14 CFR 25.1515 - Landing gear speeds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Limitations § 25.1515 Landing gear speeds. (a) The established landing gear operating speed or speeds, V LO... retraction speed, the two speeds must be designated as V LO(EXT) and V LO(RET), respectively. (b) The...

A 60-GHz interferometer with a local oscillator integrated antenna array for divertor simulation experiments on GAMMA 10/PDX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohagura, J.; Yoshikawa, M.; Wang, X.; Kuwahara, D.; Ito, N.; Nagayama, Y.; Shima, Y.; Nojiri, K.; Sakamoto, M.; Nakashima, Y.; Mase, A.

2016-11-01

In conventional multichannel/imaging microwave diagnostics of interferometry, reflectometry, and electron cyclotron emission measurements, a local oscillator (LO) signal is commonly supplied to a receiver array via irradiation using LO optics. In this work, we present a 60-GHz interferometer with a new eight-channel receiver array, called a local oscillator integrated antenna array (LIA). An outstanding feature of LIA is that it incorporates a frequency quadrupler integrated circuit for LO supply to each channel. This enables simple and uniform LO supply to the receiver array using only a 15-GHz LO source and a coaxial cable transmission line instead of using an expensive 60-GHz source, LO optics, and a waveguide transmission line. The new interferometer system is first applied to measure electron line-averaged density inside the divertor simulation experimental module (D-module) on GAMMA 10/PDX tandem mirror device.

A 60-GHz interferometer with a local oscillator integrated antenna array for divertor simulation experiments on GAMMA 10/PDX

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

Kohagura, J., E-mail: kohagura@prc.tsukuba.ac.jp; Yoshikawa, M.; Shima, Y.

In conventional multichannel/imaging microwave diagnostics of interferometry, reflectometry, and electron cyclotron emission measurements, a local oscillator (LO) signal is commonly supplied to a receiver array via irradiation using LO optics. In this work, we present a 60-GHz interferometer with a new eight-channel receiver array, called a local oscillator integrated antenna array (LIA). An outstanding feature of LIA is that it incorporates a frequency quadrupler integrated circuit for LO supply to each channel. This enables simple and uniform LO supply to the receiver array using only a 15-GHz LO source and a coaxial cable transmission line instead of using an expensivemore » 60-GHz source, LO optics, and a waveguide transmission line. The new interferometer system is first applied to measure electron line-averaged density inside the divertor simulation experimental module (D-module) on GAMMA 10/PDX tandem mirror device.« less

A 60-GHz interferometer with a local oscillator integrated antenna array for divertor simulation experiments on GAMMA 10/PDX.

PubMed

Kohagura, J; Yoshikawa, M; Wang, X; Kuwahara, D; Ito, N; Nagayama, Y; Shima, Y; Nojiri, K; Sakamoto, M; Nakashima, Y; Mase, A

2016-11-01

In conventional multichannel/imaging microwave diagnostics of interferometry, reflectometry, and electron cyclotron emission measurements, a local oscillator (LO) signal is commonly supplied to a receiver array via irradiation using LO optics. In this work, we present a 60-GHz interferometer with a new eight-channel receiver array, called a local oscillator integrated antenna array (LIA). An outstanding feature of LIA is that it incorporates a frequency quadrupler integrated circuit for LO supply to each channel. This enables simple and uniform LO supply to the receiver array using only a 15-GHz LO source and a coaxial cable transmission line instead of using an expensive 60-GHz source, LO optics, and a waveguide transmission line. The new interferometer system is first applied to measure electron line-averaged density inside the divertor simulation experimental module (D-module) on GAMMA 10/PDX tandem mirror device.

From Localized Scleroderma to Systemic Sclerosis: Coexistence or Possible Evolution.

PubMed

Dilia, Giuggioli; Michele, Colaci; Emanuele, Cocchiara; Amelia, Spinella; Federica, Lumetti; Clodoveo, Ferri

2018-01-01

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and localized scleroderma (LoS) are two different diseases that may share some features. We evaluated the relationship between SSc and LoS in our case series of SSc patients. We analysed the clinical records of 330 SSc patients, in order to find the eventual occurrence of both the two diseases. Eight (2.4%) female patients presented both the two diagnoses in their clinical histories. Six developed LoS prior to SSc; in 4/6 cases, the presence of autoantibodies was observed before SSc diagnosis. Overall, the median time interval between LoS and SSc diagnosis was 18 (range 0-156) months. LoS and SSc are two distinct clinical entities that may coexist. Moreover, as anecdotally reported in pediatric populations, we suggested the possible development of SSc in adult patients with LoS, particularly in presence of Raynaud's phenomenon or antinuclear antibodies before the SSc onset.

Effect of Propellant Flowrate and Purity on Carbon Deposition in LO2/Methane Gas Generators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bossard, J. A.; Burkhardt, W. M.; Niiya, K. Y.; Braam, F.

1989-01-01

The generation and deposition of carbon was studied in the Carbon Deposition Program using subscale hardware with LO2/Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and LO2/Methane propellants at low mixture ratios. The purpose of the testing was to evaluate the effect of methane purity and full scale injection density on carbon deposition. The LO2/LNG gas generator/preburner testing was performed at mixture ratios between 0.24 and 0.58 and chamber pressures from 5.8 to 9.4 MPa (840 to 1370 psia). A total of seven 200 second duration tests were performed. The LNG testing occurred at low injection densities, similar to the previous LO2/RP-1, LO2/propane, and LO2/methane testing performed on the carbon deposition program. The current LO2/methane test series occurred at an injection density factor of approximately 10 times higher than the previous testing. The high injection density LO2/methane testing was performed at mixture ratios between from 0.23 to 0.81 and chamber pressures from 6.4 to 15.2 MPa (925 to 2210 psia). A total of nine high injection density tests were performed. The testing performed demonstrated that low purity methane (LNG) did not produce any detectable change in carbon deposition when compared to pure methane. In addition, the C* performance and the combustion gas temperatures measured were similar to those obtained for pure methane. Similar results were obtained testing pure methane at higher propellant injection densities with coarse injector elements.

Ocular consequences of blunt trauma in two species of nocturnal raptors (Athene noctua and Otus scops).

PubMed

Seruca, Cristina; Molina-López, Rafael; Peña, Teresa; Leiva, Marta

2012-07-01

  To determine the type, prevalence, and prognosis of ocular and periocular lesions in free-living little owls (LO) and scops owls (SO), injured by blunt trauma.   Medical records from LO and SO with ocular or periocular lesions secondary to blunt trauma were reviewed. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed in all birds. Short protocol electroretinography (ERG) and ocular ultrasound were performed as dictated by the case.   During the study period, a total of 158 LO and 99 SO with blunt trauma were admitted. Among these, 43 LO (27.8%) and 27 SO (27.3%) had ocular or periocular lesions. Bilateral injuries (72.1% LO and 81.5% SO) were more common than unilateral. Common findings in both species were: corneal erosions/superficial ulcers, anterior and posterior uveitis, cataracts, hyphema, posterior synechia, vitreal hemorrhage, and retinal detachment. Electroretinography was performed in 32 LO and eight SO, which had posterior segment lesions or opacity of the transparent media. Normal to nonrecordable b-wave amplitudes were observed. Follow-up was available in 13 LO and 11 SO. Among these, nine LO (14 eyes) and 10 SO (17 eyes) had resolution of the clinical signs following medical treatment.   Ocular lesions are common in LO and SO injured by blunt trauma. Electroretinography is a valuable diagnostic tool to assess the severity of retinal dysfunction secondary to blunt trauma and to determine the response to medical treatment. A complete ophthalmic examination is a determining factor in the early management of trauma in these species. © 2011 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Development of HiLo Microscope and its use in In-Vivo Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Shreyas J.

The functionality of achieving optical sectioning in biomedical research is invaluable as it allows for visualization of a biological sample at different depths while being free of background scattering. Most current microscopy techniques that offer optical sectioning, unfortunately, require complex instrumentation and thus are generally costly. HiLo microscopy, on the other hand, offers the same functionality and advantage at a relatively low cost. Hence, the work described in this thesis involves the design, build, and application of a HiLo microscope. More specifically, a standalone HiLo microscope was built in addition to implementing HiLo microscopy on a standard fluorescence microscope. In HiLo microscopy, optical sectioning is achieved by acquiring two different types of images per focal plane. One image is acquired under uniform illumination and the other is acquired under speckle illumination. These images are processed using an algorithm that extracts in-focus information and removes features and glare that occur as a result of background fluorescence. To show the benefits of the HiLo microscopy, several imaging experiments on various samples were performed under a HiLo microscope and compared against a traditional fluorescence microscope and a confocal microscope, which is considered the gold standard in optical imaging. In-vitro and ex-vivo imaging was performed on a set of pollen grains, and optically cleared mouse brain and heart slices. Each of these experiments showed great reduction in background scattering at different depths under HiLo microscopy. More importantly, HiLo imaging of optically cleared heart slice demonstrated emergence of different vasculature at different depths. Reduction of out-of-focus light increased the spatial resolution and allowed better visualization of capillary vessels. Furthermore, HiLo imaging was tested in an in-vivo model of a rodent dorsal window chamber model. When imaging the same sample under confocal microscope, the results were comparable between the two modalities. Additionally, a method of achieving blood flow maps at different depth using a combination of HiLo and LSI imaging is also discussed. The significance of this combined technique could help categorize blood flow to particular depths; this can help improve outcomes of medical treatments such pulse dye laser and photodynamic therapy treatments.

Phytase supplementation increases bone mineral density, lean body mass and voluntary physical activity in rats fed a low-zinc diet.

PubMed

Scrimgeour, Angus G; Marchitelli, Louis J; Whicker, Jered S; Song, Yang; Ho, Emily; Young, Andrew J

2010-07-01

Phytic acid forms insoluble complexes with nutritionally essential minerals, including zinc (Zn). Animal studies show that addition of microbial phytase (P) to low-Zn diets improves Zn status and bone strength. The present study determined the effects of phytase supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD), body composition and voluntary running activity of male rats fed a high phytic acid, low-Zn diet. In a factorial design, rats were assigned to ZnLO (5 mg/kg diet), ZnLO+P (ZnLO diet with 1500 U phytase/kg) or ZnAD (30 mg/kg diet) groups and were divided into voluntary exercise (EX) or sedentary (SED) groups, for 9 weeks. SED rats were significantly heavier from the second week, and no catch-up growth occurred in EX rats. Feed intakes were not different between groups throughout the study. ZnLO animals had decreased food efficiency ratios compared to both phytase-supplemented (ZnLO+P) and Zn-adequate (ZnAD) animals (P<.01 compared to ZnLO). The ZnLO+P and ZnAD rats ran 56-75 km more total distance than ZnLO rats (P<.05), with the ZnLO+P rats running more kilometers per week than the ZnLO rats by Week 6. In vivo DEXA analyses indicate that rats fed phytase-supplemented diets had higher lean body mass (LBM) than those fed ZnLO diets; and that rats fed the Zn-adequate diets had the highest LBM. Body fat (%) was significantly lower in EX rats and was both Zn- and phytase insensitive. Rats fed phytase-supplemented diets had higher bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA) and BMD than rats fed ZnLO diets; and in rats fed ZnAD diets these indices were the highest. The dietary effects on BMC, BA and BMD were independent of activity level. We conclude that consuming supplemental dietary phytase or dietary Zn additively enhances Zn status to increase BMD, LBM and voluntary physical activity in rats fed a low-Zn diet. While the findings confirm that bone health is vulnerable to disruption by moderate Zn deficiency in rats, this new data suggests that if dietary Zn is limiting, supplemental phytase may have beneficial effects on LBM and performance activity. (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ongoing compression triggered exhumation of the orogenic crust in the Variscan Maures-Tanneron Massif, France - Geological arguments and thermo-mechanical tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerbault, Muriel; Schneider, Julie; Reverso-Peila, Alexandre; Corsini, Michel

2016-04-01

The Maures-Tanneron Massif (MTM), together with Corsica and Sardinia, hosted the South-Eastern Variscan belt and record a continuous evolution from continental collision to exhumation. We present a synthesis of the available geological and geochronogical data that explores the transition from convergence to perpendicular Permean extension in the MTM (at ~ 325 Ma ± 25 My). The migmatitic Internal Zone that composes the Western MTM displays structural clues such as backthrusting and magmatic foliations, and metamorphic data indicating exhumation of deep seated partially molten rocks at an apparent heating rate of 1-2 °C/km/My from ca. 345 Ma to 320 Ma. This suggests vertical advective heat transport during continued N140° convergence (D2 phase). In contrast at the same time, the low grade External zone composing the Eastern part of the MTM recorded exhumation of more conductive patterns at an apparent rate of 0.3-0.6 °C/km/My. It is only from ca. 320 Ma that transcurrent motion dominates in the Internal zone and progressively leaves way to N-S strecthing (D3 phase), indicative of orogenic collapse and extension and in asociation with emplacement of larger volumes of magmatism in the crust. Thermo-mechanical modeling complements this synthesis in order to highlight the conditions under which deep seated HP units could melt and massively start to exhume during maintained convergence (phase D2). Accounting for temperature dependent elasto-visco-plastic rheologies, our models explore the dynamics of an orogenic prism starting from a dis-equilibrated state just after slab break-off or delamination, at ca. 350 Ma. We simulate the development of gravitational instabilities in partially melting crust, a process that is already well known to depend on strain-rate, heat sources and strength layering. In order to reproduce the exhumation patterns of rocks from ~50 km depth over the appropriate time-scale (>20 My) and spatial extent (>100 km), a best fit was obtained with a mean convergence rate of 0.5 cm/yr and no exceptional surface processes. Internal heating has a crucial effect and mostly resulted from the radiogenic decay of stacked felsic crustal units. However alternation with mafic units is also necessary in order to prevent lateral spreading of the orogeny. A low viscosity partially molten (eg. felsic) crust also permits mechanical decoupling of surface deformation from the deeper mantle domains, thus reducing the differences due to either a shallow asthenosphere or a competent mantle lithosphere under the orogeny. A shallow asthenosphere produces too warm and fast exhumation. The bulk viscosity of the partially molten orogenic crust controls the timing of exhumation, pointing to the need for further constraints to link the behaviour at different scales of partially molten crust. The MTM witnesses the typical competition between far-field plate convergence and internal body forces, and we plead for a subsequent progressive evolution of transpression to perpendicular extension (still to be tackled with 3D modeling).

Overexpression of 15-lipoxygenase in the vascular endothelium is associated with increased thymic apoptosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice.

PubMed

Afek, A; Zurgil, N; Bar-Dayan, Y; Polak-Charcon, S; Goldberg, I; Deutsch, M; Kopolovich, J; Keren, G; Harats, D; George, J

2004-01-01

15-Lipoxygenase (15-LO) is a nonheme iron-containing enzyme that catalyzes the peroxidation of fatty acids. Herein, we studied the effect of 15-LO overexpression in the vascular endothelium on thymocyte apoptosis by evaluating thymuses from low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDL-RD) mice and LDL-RD/15-LO mice. Thymuses were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and by TUNEL whereas in vitro studies were carried out by employing freshly isolated thymocytes from the respective mice and evaluation of apoptosis by propidium iodide and annexin V cytometry. The apoptotic index in LDL-RD/15-LO mice was significantly higher than in the LDL-RD mice. In the thymic medulla the difference was smaller, although still significant. Freshly isolated thymus cells from LDL-RD/15-LO mice exhibited a higher rate of spontaneous cell death than controls. Incubation of thymus cells in the presence of the cell-permeable caspase-3 inhibitor DEVD-CMK resulted in a decrease in the frequency of apoptotic cells in LDL-RD/15-LO thymocytes, whereas no effect was evident in control thymocytes. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine causes the increase in apoptosis in both groups. LDL-RD/15-LO mice exhibit increased thymocyte apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. These findings may suggest a role for 15-LO in the natural selection of thymocytes.

Unusually large oilbodies are highly correlated with lower oil content in Brassica napus.

PubMed

Hu, Zhiyong; Wang, Xinfa; Zhan, Gaomiao; Liu, Guihua; Hua, Wei; Wang, Hanzhong

2009-04-01

Rapeseed cultivars exhibit a wide range of oil content in the mature seeds. Little is known about the relationship between the oilbody structures and the differences in oil contents of Brassica napus cultivars. In the present study, the oilbody morphology and its fate during the embryo development and seedling growth in several cultivars with oil contents ranging from 33.4 to 49.8% were studied. Cultivars with low oil contents (LO), some of the oilbodies were in similar size to those in cultivars with high oil content (HO), while some oilbodies in the LO cultivars were several times bigger (over 5.0 microm). These are much larger than the average size of B. napus seed oilbodies that were previously reported (Mantese et al. Ann Bot 97:999-1010, 2006). The oleosin protein levels and oleosin1 gene transcript abundances in the HO cultivars were clearly higher than in the LO cultivars. The shapes of oilbodies were similar during early stages of embryo development in both HO and LO cultivars, while as the embryos matured, the unusually large oilbodies were generated in the LO cells. After germination, the oilbodies in LO cultivars were consumed more slowly than in HO, and the seed germination rates of LO cultivars were less than those of HO cultivars. The low accumulation of oleosins results in the forming of unusually large oilbodies in LO cultivars.

Short communication; Formula for the calculation of ground temperature at 1 M depth in Turkey

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

Tezcan, A.K.

1992-06-01

This paper reports that the formula has been found by using the yearly averages of the temperatures at 1 m depth measured in 193 meteorological stations, distributed all over Turkey. It has thus become possible to determine the regional temperature value at 1 m depth at any point in Turkey, if the latitude, longitude and elevation are known. The values, calculated by the formula, can contribute to geothermal exploration in Turkey by providing values that can be compared with the observed ones, and, by becoming second values for the calculation of geothermal gradients where only single downhole temperatures are available.more » The formula has been evolved by expressing the temperatures as the linear function of latitude (La), longitude (Lo) and elevation (H): T = a + b [center dot] La + c [center dot] Lo + d [center dot] H. The derived four least square equations are a [center dot] n + b [center dot] [Sigma](La) + c [center dot] [Sigma](lo) + d [center dot] [Sigma]H = [Sigma]T a [center dot] [Sigma](La) + b [center dot] [Sigma](La)[sup 2] + c [center dot] [Sigma](La)(Lo) + d [center dot] [Sigma]H(La) =[Sigma]T(La) a [center dot] [Sigma](Lo) + b [center dot] [Sigma](La)(Lo) + c [center dot] [Sigma](Lo)[sup 2] + d [center dot] [Sigma]H(Lo) = [Sigma]T(Lo) a[center dot] [Sigma]H + b [center dot] [Sigma]H(La) + c [center dot] [Sigma](Lo) + d [center dot] [Sigma]H[sup 2] = [Sigma]TH where n is the number of data sets. The calculation of sigma values and the solution of the set of equations have been performed by means of a personal computer. The resulting formula is: T = 57.487 [minus] 1.078 La + 0.102 Lo [minus] 0.00488H where latitude and longitude are expressed in degrees, and elevation in meters. The regional value at Ankara (latitude 39.9[degrees], longitude 32.9[degrees], elevation 894 m) is calculated as 13.5[degrees]C (the measured value at 1 m depth is 14.6[degrees]C) and at Adana.« less

The Localized Scleroderma Skin Severity Index and Physician Global Assessment of Disease Activity: A Work in Progress Toward Development of Localized Scleroderma Outcome Measures

PubMed Central

ARKACHAISRI, THASCHAWEE; VILAIYUK, SOAMARAT; LI, SUZANNE; O’NEIL, KATHLEEN M.; POPE, ELENA; HIGGINS, GLORIA C.; PUNARO, MARILYNN; RABINOVICH, EGLA C.; ROSENKRANZ, MARGALIT; KIETZ, DANIEL A.; ROSEN, PAUL; SPALDING, STEVEN J.; HENNON, TERESA R.; TOROK, KATHRYN S.; CASSIDY, ELAINE; MEDSGER, THOMAS A.

2013-01-01

Objective To develop and evaluate a Localized Scleroderma (LS) Skin Severity Index (LoSSI) and global assessments’ clinimetric property and effect on quality of life (QOL). Methods A 3-phase study was conducted. The first phase involved 15 patients with LS and 14 examiners who assessed LoSSI [surface area (SA), erythema (ER), skin thickness (ST), and new lesion/extension (N/E)] twice for inter/intrarater reliability. Patient global assessment of disease severity (PtGA-S) and Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) were collected for intrarater reliability evaluation. The second phase was aimed to develop clinical determinants for physician global assessment of disease activity (PhysGA-A) and to assess its content validity. The third phase involved 2 examiners assessing LoSSI and PhysGA-A on 27 patients. Effect of training on improving reliability/validity and sensitivity to change of the LoSSI and PhysGA-A was determined. Results Interrater reliability was excellent for ER [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.71], ST (ICC 0.70), LoSSI (ICC 0.80), and PhysGA-A (ICC 0.90) but poor for SA (ICC 0.35); thus, LoSSI was modified to mLoSSI. Examiners’ experience did not affect the scores, but training/practice improved reliability. Intrarater reliability was excellent for ER, ST, and LoSSI (Spearman’s rho = 0.71–0.89) and moderate for SA. PtGA-S and CDLQI showed good intrarater agreement (ICC 0.63 and 0.80). mLoSSI correlated moderately with PhysGA-A and PtGA-S. Both mLoSSI and PhysGA-A were sensitive to change following therapy. Conclusion mLoSSI and PhysGA-A are reliable and valid tools for assessing LS disease severity and show high sensitivity to detect change over time. These tools are feasible for use in routine clinical practice. They should be considered for inclusion in a core set of LS outcome measures for clinical trials. PMID:19833758

BRP-187: A potent inhibitor of leukotriene biosynthesis that acts through impeding the dynamic 5-lipoxygenase/5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) complex assembly.

PubMed

Garscha, Ulrike; Voelker, Susanna; Pace, Simona; Gerstmeier, Jana; Emini, Besa; Liening, Stefanie; Rossi, Antonietta; Weinigel, Christina; Rummler, Silke; Schubert, Ulrich S; Scriba, Gerhard K E; Çelikoğlu, Erşan; Çalışkan, Burcu; Banoglu, Erden; Sautebin, Lidia; Werz, Oliver

2016-11-01

The pro-inflammatory leukotrienes (LTs) are formed from arachidonic acid (AA) in activated leukocytes, where 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) translocates to the nuclear envelope to assemble a functional complex with the integral nuclear membrane protein 5-LO-activating protein (FLAP). FLAP, a MAPEG family member, facilitates AA transfer to 5-LO for efficient conversion, and LT biosynthesis critically depends on FLAP. Here we show that the novel LT biosynthesis inhibitor BRP-187 prevents the 5-LO/FLAP interaction at the nuclear envelope of human leukocytes without blocking 5-LO nuclear redistribution. BRP-187 inhibited 5-LO product formation in human monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide plus N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (IC 50 =7-10nM), and upon activation by ionophore A23187 (IC 50 =10-60nM). Excess of exogenous AA markedly impaired the potency of BRP-187. Direct 5-LO inhibition in cell-free assays was evident only at >35-fold higher concentrations, which was reversible and not improved under reducing conditions. BRP-187 prevented A23187-induced 5-LO/FLAP complex assembly in leukocytes but failed to block 5-LO nuclear translocation, features that were shared with the FLAP inhibitor MK886. Whereas AA release, cyclooxygenases and related LOs were unaffected, BRP-187 also potently inhibited microsomal prostaglandin E 2 synthase-1 (IC 50 =0.2μM), another MAPEG member. In vivo, BRP-187 (10mg/kg) exhibited significant effectiveness in zymosan-induced murine peritonitis, suppressing LT levels in peritoneal exudates as well as vascular permeability and neutrophil infiltration. Together, BRP-187 potently inhibits LT biosynthesis in vitro and in vivo, which seemingly is caused by preventing the 5-LO/FLAP complex assembly and warrants further preclinical evaluation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

LoCoH: Non-parameteric kernel methods for constructing home ranges and utilization distributions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Getz, Wayne M.; Fortmann-Roe, Scott; Cross, Paul C.; Lyons, Andrew J.; Ryan, Sadie J.; Wilmers, Christopher C.

2007-01-01

Parametric kernel methods currently dominate the literature regarding the construction of animal home ranges (HRs) and utilization distributions (UDs). These methods frequently fail to capture the kinds of hard boundaries common to many natural systems. Recently a local convex hull (LoCoH) nonparametric kernel method, which generalizes the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method, was shown to be more appropriate than parametric kernel methods for constructing HRs and UDs, because of its ability to identify hard boundaries (e.g., rivers, cliff edges) and convergence to the true distribution as sample size increases. Here we extend the LoCoH in two ways: ‘‘fixed sphere-of-influence,’’ or r -LoCoH (kernels constructed from all points within a fixed radius r of each reference point), and an ‘‘adaptive sphere-of-influence,’’ or a -LoCoH (kernels constructed from all points within a radius a such that the distances of all points within the radius to the reference point sum to a value less than or equal to a ), and compare them to the original ‘‘fixed-number-of-points,’’ or k -LoCoH (all kernels constructed from k -1 nearest neighbors of root points). We also compare these nonparametric LoCoH to parametric kernel methods using manufactured data and data collected from GPS collars on African buffalo in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Our results demonstrate that LoCoH methods are superior to parametric kernel methods in estimating areas used by animals, excluding unused areas (holes) and, generally, in constructing UDs and HRs arising from the movement of animals influenced by hard boundaries and irregular structures (e.g., rocky outcrops). We also demonstrate that a -LoCoH is generally superior to k - and r -LoCoH (with software for all three methods available at http://locoh.cnr.berkeley.edu).

Development and initial validation of the Localized Scleroderma Skin Damage Index and Physician Global Assessment of disease Damage: a proof-of-concept study

PubMed Central

Vilaiyuk, Soamarat; Torok, Kathryn S.; Medsger, Thomas A.

2010-01-01

Objective. To develop and assess the psychometric properties of the Localized Scleroderma (LS) Skin Damage Index (LoSDI) and Physician Global Assessment of disease Damage (PGA-D). Methods. Damage was defined as irreversible/persistent changes (>6 months) due to previous active disease/complications of therapy. Eight rheumatologists assessed the importance of 17 variables in formulating the PGA-D/LoSDI. LS patients were evaluated by two rheumatologists using both tools to assess their psychometric properties. LoSDI was calculated by summing three scores for cutaneous features of damage [dermal atrophy (DAT), subcutaneous atrophy (SAT) and dyspigmentation (DP)] measured at 18 anatomic sites. Patient GA of disease severity (PtGA-S), Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and PGA-D were recorded at the time of each examination. Results. Thirty LS patients (112 lesions) and nine patient-visit pairs (18 lesions) were included for inter- and intra-rater reliability study. LoSDI and its domains DAT, SAT, DP and PGA-D demonstrated excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability (reliability coefficients 0.86–0.99 and 0.74–0.96, respectively). LoSDI correlated moderately with PGA-D and poorly with PtGA-S and CDLQI. PGA-D correlated moderately with PtGA-S, but poorly with CDLQI. Conclusions. To complete the LS Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT), we developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the LoSDI and PGA-D in addition to the LS Skin Severity Index (LoSSI). These instruments will facilitate evaluation of LS patients for individual patient management and clinical trials. LoSDI and PGA-D demonstrated excellent reliability and high validity. LoSCAT provides an improved understanding of LS natural history. Further study in a larger group of patients is needed to confirm these preliminary findings. PMID:20008472

Quantitative chemical imaging of the intracellular spatial distribution of fundamental elements and light metals in single cells.

PubMed

Malucelli, Emil; Iotti, Stefano; Gianoncelli, Alessandra; Fratini, Michela; Merolle, Lucia; Notargiacomo, Andrea; Marraccini, Chiara; Sargenti, Azzurra; Cappadone, Concettina; Farruggia, Giovanna; Bukreeva, Inna; Lombardo, Marco; Trombini, Claudio; Maier, Jeanette A; Lagomarsino, Stefano

2014-05-20

We report a method that allows a complete quantitative characterization of whole single cells, assessing the total amount of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sodium, and magnesium and providing submicrometer maps of element molar concentration, cell density, mass, and volume. This approach allows quantifying elements down to 10(6) atoms/μm(3). This result was obtained by applying a multimodal fusion approach that combines synchrotron radiation microscopy techniques with off-line atomic force microscopy. The method proposed permits us to find the element concentration in addition to the mass fraction and provides a deeper and more complete knowledge of cell composition. We performed measurements on LoVo human colon cancer cells sensitive (LoVo-S) and resistant (LoVo-R) to doxorubicin. The comparison of LoVo-S and LoVo-R revealed different patterns in the maps of Mg concentration with higher values within the nucleus in LoVo-R and in the perinuclear region in LoVo-S cells. This feature was not so evident for the other elements, suggesting that Mg compartmentalization could be a significant trait of the drug-resistant cells.

Future orbital transfer vehicle technology study. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, E. E.

1982-01-01

Reusable space and ground based LO2/LH2 OTV's, both advanced space engines and aero assist capability were compared. The SB OTV provided advantages in life cycle cost, performance and potential for improvement. An all LO2/LH2 OTV fleet was also compared with a fleet of LO2/.H2 OTV's and electric OTV's. The normal growth technology electric OTV used silicon cells with heavy shielding and argon ion thrusters. In this case, the LO2/LH2 OTV fleet provided a 23% advantage in total transportation cost. An accelerated technology LF2/LH2 OTV provided improvements in performance relative to LO2/.H2 OTV but has higher DDT&E cost which negated its cost effectiveness. The accelerated technology electric vehicle used GaAs cells and annealing but still did not result in the mixed fleet being any cheaper than an all LO2/LH2 OTV fleet. It is concluded that reusable LO2/LH2 OTV's can serve all general purpose cargo roles between LEO and GEO for the forseeable future. The most significant technology for the second generation vehicle would be space debris protection, on orbit propellant storage and transfer and on orbit maintenance capability.

5-Lipoxygenase as an endogenous modulator of amyloid beta formation in vivo

PubMed Central

Chu, Jin; Praticò, Domenico

2010-01-01

Objective The 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzymatic pathway is widely distributed within the central nervous system, and is up-regulated in Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanism whereby it may influence the disease pathogenesis remains elusive. Methods We evaluated the molecular mechanism by which 5-LO regulates Amyloid β (Aβ) formation in vitro and in vivo by pharmacological and genetic approaches. Results Here we show that 5-LO regulates the formation of Aβ by activating the cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), which in turn increases transcription of the γ-secretase complex. Preventing CREB activation by pharmacologic inhibition or dominant negative mutants blocks the 5-LO-dependent elevation of Aβ formation and the increase of γ-secretase mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, 5-LO targeted gene disruption or its in vivo selective pharmacological inhibition results in a significant reduction of Aβ, CREB and γ-secretase levels. Interpretation These data establish a novel functional role for 5-LO in regulating endogenous formation of Aβ levels in the central nervous system. Thus, 5-LO pharmacological inhibition may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. PMID:21280074

Drug-Mediated Intracellular Donation of Nitric Oxide Potently Inhibits 5-Lipoxygenase: A Possible Key to Future Antileukotriene Therapy.

PubMed

Roos, Jessica; Peters, Marcus; Maucher, Isabelle V; Kühn, Benjamin; Fettel, Jasmin; Hellmuth, Nadine; Brat, Camilla; Sommer, Benita; Urbschat, Anja; Piesche, Matthias; Vogel, Anja; Proschak, Ewgenij; Blöcher, René; Buscató, Estella; Häfner, Ann-Kathrin; Matrone, Carmela; Werz, Oliver; Heidler, Juliana; Wittig, Ilka; Angioni, Carlo; Geisslinger, Gerd; Parnham, Michael J; Zacharowski, Kai; Steinhilber, Dieter; Maier, Thorsten J

2018-05-10

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) is the key enzyme of leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis and is critically involved in a number of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, gout, bronchial asthma, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Because 5-LO contains critical nucleophilic amino acids, which are sensitive to electrophilic modifications, we determined the consequences of a drug-mediated intracellular release of nitric oxide (NO) on 5-LO product formation by human granulocytes and on 5-LO-dependent pulmonary inflammation in vivo. Clinically relevant concentrations of NO-releasing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other agents releasing NO intracellularly suppress 5-LO product synthesis in isolated human granulocytes via direct S-nitrosylation of 5-LO at the catalytically important cysteines 416 and 418. Furthermore, suppression of 5-LO product formation was observed in ionophore-stimulated human whole blood and in an animal model of pulmonary inflammation. Here, we report for the first time that drugs releasing NO intracellularly are efficient 5-LO inhibitors in vitro and in vivo at least equivalent to approved 5-LO inhibitors. Our findings provide a novel mechanistic strategy for the development of a new class of drugs suppressing LT biosynthesis by site-directed nitrosylation. The results may also help to better understand the well-recognized anti-inflammatory clinically relevant actions of NO-releasing drugs. Furthermore, our study describes in detail a novel molecular mode of action of NO. Rebound Track: This work was rejected during standard peer review and rescued by Rebound Peer Review (Antioxid Redox Signal 16: 293-296, 2012) with the following serving as open reviewers: Angel Lanas, Hartmut Kühn, Joan Clària, Orina Belton. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 1265-1285.

Does Controlling for Temporal Parameters Change the Levels-of-Processing Effect in Working Memory?

PubMed Central

Loaiza, Vanessa M.; Camos, Valérie

2016-01-01

The distinguishability between working memory (WM) and long-term memory has been a frequent and long-lasting source of debate in the literature. One recent method of identifying the relationship between the two systems has been to consider the influence of long-term memory effects, such as the levels-of-processing (LoP) effect, in WM. However, the few studies that have examined the LoP effect in WM have shown divergent results. This study examined the LoP effect in WM by considering a theoretically meaningful methodological aspect of the LoP span task. Specifically, we fixed the presentation duration of the processing component a priori because such fixed complex span tasks have shown differences when compared to unfixed tasks in terms of recall from WM as well as the latent structure of WM. After establishing a fixed presentation rate from a pilot study, the LoP span task presented memoranda in red or blue font that were immediately followed by two processing words that matched the memoranda in terms of font color or semantic relatedness. On presentation of the processing words, participants made deep or shallow processing decisions for each of the memoranda before a cue to recall them from WM. Participants also completed delayed recall of the memoranda. Results indicated that LoP affected delayed recall, but not immediate recall from WM. These results suggest that fixing temporal parameters of the LoP span task does not moderate the null LoP effect in WM, and further indicate that WM and long-term episodic memory are dissociable on the basis of LoP effects. PMID:27152126

Overexpression of molecular chaperons GRP78 and GRP94 in CD44(hi)/CD24(lo) breast cancer stem cells.

PubMed

Nami, Babak; Ghasemi-Dizgah, Armin; Vaseghi, Akbar

2016-01-01

Breast cancer stem cell with CD44(hi)/CD24(lo) phonotype is described having stem cell properties and represented as the main driving factor in breast cancer initiation, growth, metastasis and low response to anti-cancer agents. Glucoseregulated proteins (GRPs) are heat shock protein family chaperons that are charged with regulation of protein machinery and modulation of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis whose important roles in stem cell development and invasion of various cancers have been demonstrated. Here, we investigated the expression levels of GRP78 and GRP94 in CD44(hi)/CD24(lo) phenotype breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). MCF7, T-47D and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were used. CD44(hi)/CD24(lo) phenotype cell population were analyzed and sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Transcriptional and translational expression of GRP78 and GRP94 were investigated by western blotting and quantitative real time PCR. RESULTS showed different proportion of CD44(hi)/CD24(lo) phenotype cell population in their original bulk cells. The ranking of the cell lines in terms of CD44(hi)/CD24(lo) phenotype cell population was as MCF7

Near-IR Spectroscopy of Luminous LoBAL Quasars at 1 < z < 2.5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulze, Andreas; Schramm, Malte; Zuo, Wenwen; Wu, Xue-Bing; Urrutia, Tanya; Kotilainen, Jari; Reynolds, Thomas; Terao, Koki; Nagao, Tohru; Izumiura, Hideyuki

2017-10-01

We present near-IR spectroscopy of 22 luminous low-ionization broad absorption line quasars (LoBAL QSOs) at redshift 1.3< z< 2.5, with 12 objects at z ˜ 1.5 and 10 at z ˜ 2.3. The spectra cover the rest-frame Hα and Hβ line regions, allowing us to obtain robust black hole mass estimates based on the broad Hα line. We use these data, augmented by a lower-redshift sample from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, to test the proposed youth scenario for LoBALs, which suggests that LoBALs constitute an early short-lived evolutionary stage of quasar activity, by probing for any difference in their masses, Eddington ratios, or rest-frame optical spectroscopic properties compared to normal quasars. In addition, we construct the UV to mid-IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for the LoBAL sample and a matched non-BAL quasar sample. We do not find any statistically significant difference between LoBAL QSOs and non-BAL QSOs in their black hole mass or Eddington ratio distributions. The mean UV to mid-IR SED of the LoBAL QSOs is consistent with non-BAL QSOs, apart from their stronger reddening. At z> 1 there is no clear difference in their optical emission line properties. We do not see particularly weak [O III] or strong Fe II emission. The LoBAL QSOs do not show a stronger prevalence of ionized gas outflows as traced by the [O III] line, compared to normal QSOs of similar luminosity. We conclude that the optical-MIR properties of LoBAL QSOs are consistent with the general quasar population and do not support them to constitute a special phase of active galactic nucleus evolution.

Evaluation of maternal serum hypoxia inducible factor-1α, progranulin and syndecan-1 levels in pregnancies with early- and late-onset preeclampsia.

PubMed

Alici Davutoğlu, Ebru; Akkaya Firat, Asuman; Ozel, Ayşegül; Yılmaz, Nevin; Uzun, Isil; Temel Yuksel, Ilkbal; Madazlı, Riza

2018-08-01

To determine the serum levels of HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 in preeclampsia (PE) and normal pregnancy, and to compare whether these markers demonstrate any difference between early-onset PE (EO-PE) and late-onset PE (LO-PE). This cross-sectional study was conducted on 27 women with EO-PE, 27 women with LO-PE, and 26 healthy normotensive pregnant controls matched for gestational age. Maternal levels of serum HIF-1 α, progranulin, and syndecan-1 were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the control and the PE groups in progranulin (p < .001) and syndecan-1 (p <.001) levels. There were no significant differences in the serum HIF-1 α levels between these groups (p= .069). When PE patients were evaluated by considering subgroups; statistical analysis revealed significant inter-group differences in all biomarkers. Serum progranulin levels were significantly higher in LO-PE compared with the other two groups (EO-PE versus LO-PE and LO-PE versus controls p = .000). Control group presented significantly higher syndecan-1 levels, than EO and LO-PE (p < .001). HIF-1 α levels positively correlated with progranulin levels (r = .439, p= .000). Serum progranulin may have potential to be used as a biomarker for the differentiation of EO-PE and LO-PE. The co-operative action between HIF-1 α and progranulin might play a key role in the pathogenesis of LO-PE. The predominant feature of LO-PE seems to be an inflammatory process, whereas in EO-PE placentation problem seems to be the main pathology.

Does Controlling for Temporal Parameters Change the Levels-of-Processing Effect in Working Memory?

PubMed

Loaiza, Vanessa M; Camos, Valérie

2016-01-01

The distinguishability between working memory (WM) and long-term memory has been a frequent and long-lasting source of debate in the literature. One recent method of identifying the relationship between the two systems has been to consider the influence of long-term memory effects, such as the levels-of-processing (LoP) effect, in WM. However, the few studies that have examined the LoP effect in WM have shown divergent results. This study examined the LoP effect in WM by considering a theoretically meaningful methodological aspect of the LoP span task. Specifically, we fixed the presentation duration of the processing component a priori because such fixed complex span tasks have shown differences when compared to unfixed tasks in terms of recall from WM as well as the latent structure of WM. After establishing a fixed presentation rate from a pilot study, the LoP span task presented memoranda in red or blue font that were immediately followed by two processing words that matched the memoranda in terms of font color or semantic relatedness. On presentation of the processing words, participants made deep or shallow processing decisions for each of the memoranda before a cue to recall them from WM. Participants also completed delayed recall of the memoranda. Results indicated that LoP affected delayed recall, but not immediate recall from WM. These results suggest that fixing temporal parameters of the LoP span task does not moderate the null LoP effect in WM, and further indicate that WM and long-term episodic memory are dissociable on the basis of LoP effects.

High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) Imager

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-09-30

T-3 HCTL!; *WR-EN HCTL@ F- 3 HC7L! ; * HACK H(TL-@ F-4 HCTL!; ]NIiT-HOST 00 HB! F8 HCrL!; DSP-RESET INIT-HOST HCTL@ DUP F-6 HCTh! T-6 HCTU! DSP-IRQB...CONSTANTPS2 PI_HI P2-11 OR 3_-1O OR TG..LO OR CONSTANT PS3 P1I.,O P2_.i OR P3..LO OR TG_.LO OR CONSTANT PS4 PlLO P21-1I OR P3_H1 OR TGIIl OR CONSTANTPS5 P1_LO...CONSTANT PSTATEI PS2 SER-IDLE OR CONSTANT PSTATE2 PS3 SERIDLE OR CONSTANT PSTATE3 PS4 SERIDLE OR CONSTANT PSTATE4 PS5 SERIDLE OR CONSTANT PSTATES PS6

From Localized Scleroderma to Systemic Sclerosis: Coexistence or Possible Evolution

PubMed Central

Emanuele, Cocchiara; Amelia, Spinella; Clodoveo, Ferri

2018-01-01

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and localized scleroderma (LoS) are two different diseases that may share some features. We evaluated the relationship between SSc and LoS in our case series of SSc patients. Methods We analysed the clinical records of 330 SSc patients, in order to find the eventual occurrence of both the two diseases. Results Eight (2.4%) female patients presented both the two diagnoses in their clinical histories. Six developed LoS prior to SSc; in 4/6 cases, the presence of autoantibodies was observed before SSc diagnosis. Overall, the median time interval between LoS and SSc diagnosis was 18 (range 0–156) months. Conclusions LoS and SSc are two distinct clinical entities that may coexist. Moreover, as anecdotally reported in pediatric populations, we suggested the possible development of SSc in adult patients with LoS, particularly in presence of Raynaud's phenomenon or antinuclear antibodies before the SSc onset. PMID:29666638

JHSS Baseline Shaft and Strut (BSS) Model 5653-3 Added Resistance and Powering and Ship Motions, Sea State 6 Random Waves and Regular Waves

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-01

00 CM CM T- T— (OOOk/dM) 9SS ui Ja/wod (Qd) p9J3A!|aa S ( 3d ) 9A|pay3 o CO o CO o ŗ- o CM (lAJdU) peads Janadojd o o o CO o CO o o...8217 o o o o o o o o o LO o LO o LO o LO o LO CO CM CM (OOOl/dL)) J8M0d (Qd) paJaAiiaa S ( 3d ) 9A|109JJ3 t n < U u ed £ LO u o U •<r o a...aseajoui Qd S 3d CM O 00 CO ^t CM JSIW UUIBO SA ges (OOOl/dM) Qd S 3d P9PPV § § o 9 o CM (Wda) pssds jeiiadojd o o o 00 o CO o o CM 1

Loss of 5-lipoxygenase activity protects mice against paracetamol-induced liver toxicity.

PubMed

Pu, Shiyun; Ren, Lin; Liu, Qinhui; Kuang, Jiangying; Shen, Jing; Cheng, Shihai; Zhang, Yuwei; Jiang, Wei; Zhang, Zhiyong; Jiang, Changtao; He, Jinhan

2016-01-01

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the most widely used over-the-counter analgesic and overdosing with paracetamol is the leading cause of hospital admission for acute liver failure. 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalyses arachidonic acid to form LTs, which lead to inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we examined whether deletion or pharmacological inhibition of 5-LO could protect mice against paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity. Both genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of 5-LO in C57BL/6J mice were used to study the role of this enzyme in paracetamol induced liver toxicity. Serum and tissue biochemistry, H&E staining, and real-time PCR were used to assess liver toxicity. Deletion or pharmacological inhibition of 5-LO in mice markedly ameliorated paracetamol-induced hepatic injury, as shown by decreased serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and hepatic centrilobular necrosis. The hepatoprotective effect of 5-LO inhibition was associated with induction of the antitoxic phase II conjugating enzyme, sulfotransferase2a1, suppression of the pro-toxic phase I CYP3A11 and reduction of the hepatic transporter MRP3. In 5-LO(-/-) mice, levels of GSH were increased, and oxidative stress decreased. In addition, PPAR α, a nuclear receptor that confers resistance to paracetamol toxicity, was activated in 5-LO(-/-) mice. The activity of 5-LO may play a critical role in paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity by regulating paracetamol metabolism and oxidative stress. © 2015 The British Pharmacological Society.

What do we know about Late Onset Huntington's Disease?

PubMed

Chaganti, Sai S; McCusker, Elizabeth A; Loy, Clement T

2017-01-01

Although the typical age of onset for Huntington's disease (HD) is in the fourth decade, between 4.4-11.5% of individuals with HD have a late onset (over 60 years of age). Diagnosis of Late onset HD (LoHD) can be missed, due to the perceived low likelihood of HD in the over 60-year-olds. To review the epidemiology, genotype and phenotype of LoHD. We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science (inception-November 2016). Web of Science was then used to search for papers citing identified studies. Content experts were consulted for any additional studies. We included all studies reporting the clinical phenotype of LoHD for more than one participant. 20 studies were identified from a potential list of 1243. Among Caucasian HD cohorts, 4.4-11.5% of individuals have LoHD, and this proportion may be increasing. Proportion of LoHD without a positive family history ranges from 3-68%. 94.4% of reported cases of LoHD had CAG repeat lengths of ≤44. Motor manifestations are the commonest initial presentation, although 29.2% presented with non-motor manifestations as the first clinical feature in one case series. Individuals with LoHD may have slower progression of illness. Cognitive impairment rather than chorea may be the major source of disability in this group. LoHD represents a substantial proportion of new diagnoses of HD and has some unique features. Further characterization of this population will aid clinicians in diagnosis.

The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor RF-22c potently suppresses leukotriene biosynthesis in cellulo and blocks bronchoconstriction and inflammation in vivo.

PubMed

Schaible, Anja M; Filosa, Rosanna; Krauth, Verena; Temml, Veronika; Pace, Simona; Garscha, Ulrike; Liening, Stefanie; Weinigel, Christina; Rummler, Silke; Schieferdecker, Sebastian; Nett, Markus; Peduto, Antonella; Collarile, Selene; Scuotto, Maria; Roviezzo, Fioretina; Spaziano, Giuseppe; de Rosa, Mario; Stuppner, Hermann; Schuster, Daniela; D'Agostino, Bruno; Werz, Oliver

2016-07-15

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalyzes the first two steps in leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis. Because LTs play pivotal roles in allergy and inflammation, 5-LO represents a valuable target for anti-inflammatory drugs. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism, the pharmacological profile, and the in vivo effectiveness of the novel 1,2-benzoquinone-featured 5-LO inhibitor RF-22c. Compound RF-22c potently inhibited 5-LO product synthesis in neutrophils and monocytes (IC50⩾22nM) and in cell-free assays (IC50⩾140nM) without affecting 12/15-LOs, cyclooxygenase (COX)-1/2, or arachidonic acid release, in a specific and reversible manner, supported by molecular docking data. Antioxidant or iron-chelating properties were not evident for RF-22c and 5-LO-regulatory cofactors like Ca(2+) mobilization, ERK-1/2 activation, and 5-LO nuclear membrane translocation and interaction with 5-LO-activating protein (FLAP) were unaffected. RF-22c (0.1mg/kg; i.p.) impaired (I) bronchoconstriction in ovalbumin-sensitized mice challenged with acetylcholine, (II) exudate formation in carrageenan-induced paw edema, and (III) zymosan-induced leukocyte infiltration in air pouches. Taken together, RF-22c is a highly selective and potent 5-LO inhibitor in intact human leukocytes with pronounced effectiveness in different models of inflammation that warrants further preclinical analysis of this agent as anti-inflammatory drug. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Lee, Seung J.; Kim, Chae E.; Yun, Mi R.

Exaggerated levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) co-exist in macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions, and activated macrophages produce MMP-9 that degrades atherosclerotic plaque constituents. This study investigated the effects of HNE on MMP-9 production, and the potential role for 5-LO derivatives in MMP-9 production in murine macrophages. Stimulation of J774A.1 cells with HNE led to activation of 5-LO, as measured by leukotriene B{sub 4} (LTB{sub 4}) production. This was associated with an increased production of MMP-9, which was blunted by inhibition of 5-LO with MK886, a 5-LO inhibitor or with 5-LO siRNA. A cysteinyl-LT{sub 1} (cysLT{sub 1}) receptor antagonist, REV-5901more » as well as a BLT{sub 1} receptor antagonist, U-75302, also attenuated MMP-9 production induced by HNE. Furthermore, LTB{sub 4} and cysLT (LTC{sub 4} and LTD{sub 4}) enhanced MMP-9 production in macrophages, suggesting a pivotal role for 5-LO in HNE-mediated production of MMP-9. Among the MAPK pathways, LTB{sub 4} and cysLT enhanced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK, but not JNK. Linked to these results, a p38 MAPK inhibitor as well as an ERK inhibitor blunted MMP-9 production induced by LT. Collectively, these data suggest that 5-LO-derived LT mediates HNE-induced MMP-9 production via activation of ERK and p38 MAPK pathways, consequently leading to plaque instability in atherosclerosis.« less

Assessment of four calculation methods proposed by the EC for waste hazardous property HP 14 'Ecotoxic'.

PubMed

Hennebert, Pierre; Humez, Nicolas; Conche, Isabelle; Bishop, Ian; Rebischung, Flore

2016-02-01

Legislation published in December 2014 revised both the List of Waste (LoW) and amended Appendix III of the revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC; the latter redefined hazardous properties HP 1 to HP 13 and HP 15 but left the assessment of HP 14 unchanged to allow time for the Directorate General of the Environment of the European Commission to complete a study that is examining the impacts of four different calculation methods for the assessment of HP 14. This paper is a contribution to the assessment of the four calculation methods. It also includes the results of a fifth calculation method; referred to as "Method 2 with extended M-factors". Two sets of data were utilised in the assessment; the first (Data Set #1) comprised analytical data for 32 different waste streams (16 hazardous (H), 9 non-hazardous (NH) and 7 mirror entries, as classified by the LoW) while the second data set (Data Set #2), supplied by the eco industries, comprised analytical data for 88 waste streams, all classified as hazardous (H) by the LoW. Two approaches were used to assess the five calculation methods. The first approach assessed the relative ranking of the five calculation methods by the frequency of their classification of waste streams as H. The relative ranking of the five methods (from most severe to less severe) is: Method 3>Method 1>Method 2 with extended M-factors>Method 2>Method 4. This reflects the arithmetic ranking of the concentration limits of each method when assuming M=10, and is independent of the waste streams, or the H/NH/Mirror status of the waste streams. A second approach is the absolute matching or concordance with the LoW. The LoW is taken as a reference method and the H wastes are all supposed to be HP 14. This point is discussed in the paper. The concordance for one calculation method is established by the number of wastes with identical classification by the considered calculation method and the LoW (i.e. H to H, NH to NH). The discordance is established as well, that is when the waste is classified "H" in the LoW and "NH" by calculation (i.e. an under-estimation of the hazard). For Data Set #1, Method 2 with extended M-factors matches best with the LoW (80% concordant H and non-H by LoW, and 13% discordant for H waste by LoW). This method more correctly classifies wastes containing substances with high ecotoxicity. Methods 1 and 3 have nearly as good matches (76% and 72% concordant H and non-H by LoW, and 13% and 6% respectively discordant for H waste by LoW). Method 2 with extended M-factors, but limited to the M-factors published in the CLP has insufficient concordance (64% concordant H and non-H by LoW, and 50% discordant for H waste by LoW). As the same method with extended M-factors gives the best performance, the lower performance is due to the limited set of M-factors in the CLP. Method 4 is divergent (60% concordant H and non-H by LoW, and 56% discordant for H waste by LoW). For Data Set #2, Methods 2 and 4 do not correctly classify 24 air pollution control residues from incineration 19 01 07(∗) (3/24 and 2/24 respectively), and should not be used, while Methods 3, 1 and 2 with extended M-factors successfully classify 100% of them as hazardous. From the two sets of data, Method 2 with extended M-factors (corresponding more closely to the CLP methods used for products) matches best with the LoW when the LoW code is safely known, and Method 3 and 1 will deviate from the LoW if the samples contain substances with high ecotoxicity (in particular PAHs). Methods 2 and 4 are not recommended. Formally, this conclusion depends on the waste streams that are used for the comparison of methods and the relevancy of the classification as hazardous for ecotoxicity in the LoW. Since the set is large (120 waste streams) and no selection has been made here in the available data, the conclusion should be robust. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Performance Evaluation of Low Cost LoRa Modules in IoT Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daud, Shuhaizar; Shi Yang, Teoh; Asmi Romli, Muhamad; Awang Ahmad, Zahari; Mahrom, Norfadila; Raof, Rafikha Aliana A.

2018-03-01

LoRa is a low power long range wireless communication platform that is designed as an efficient communication platform for small, low powered devices. This makes it very suitable for battery powered devices and IoT implementation. This paper evaluates some low cost LoRa modules available on the market and their suitability, energy efficiency and performance during operation. Two low cost LoRa transceiver from Semtech Industries, the SX1272 and SX1278 were tested for their power consumption and maximum transmission range. This study have evaluated the two LoRa solutions and found that the SX1278 have a better transmission range and uses lower energy compared to the SX1272 thus making it more suitable for embedded implementation as a data gateway.

Multi-documents summarization based on clustering of learning object using hierarchical clustering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mustamiin, M.; Budi, I.; Santoso, H. B.

2018-03-01

The Open Educational Resources (OER) is a portal of teaching, learning and research resources that is available in public domain and freely accessible. Learning contents or Learning Objects (LO) are granular and can be reused for constructing new learning materials. LO ontology-based searching techniques can be used to search for LO in the Indonesia OER. In this research, LO from search results are used as an ingredient to create new learning materials according to the topic searched by users. Summarizing-based grouping of LO use Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering (HAC) with the dependency context to the user’s query which has an average value F-Measure of 0.487, while summarizing by K-Means F-Measure only has an average value of 0.336.

Inhibition of 12/15-LO ameliorates CVB3-induced myocarditis by activating Nrf2.

PubMed

Ai, Feng; Zheng, Jiayong; Zhang, Yanwei; Fan, Taibing

2017-06-25

Cardiac 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) was reported to be markedly up-regulated and involved in the development of heart failure. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation roles in response to oxidative stress. However, the role of 12/15-LO in viral myocarditis (VMC) and its underlying molecular mechanism have not yet been elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that 12/15-LO was up-regulated and Nrf2 was down-regulated in coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-infected mice and cardiac myocytes. Baicalein, the specific inhibitor of 12/15-LO, was employed to investigate the role of 12/15-LO and its underlying mechanism in VMC. We found that baicalein treatment alleviated CVB3-induced VMC mouse models, as demonstrated by less inflammatory lesions in the heart tissues and less CK-MB level. Moreover, baicalein treatment attenuated CVB3-induced inflammatory cytokine production and oxidative stress. Mechanistic analysis suggested that baicalein treatment relieved CVB3-induced reduction of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions. Taken together, our study indicated that inhibition of 12/15-LO ameliorates VMC by activating Nrf2, providing a new therapeutic strategy for the therapy of VMC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Slack length reduces the contractile phenotype of the Swine carotid artery.

PubMed

Rembold, Christopher M; Garvey, Sean M; Tejani, Ankit D

2013-01-01

Contraction is the primary function of adult arterial smooth muscle. However, in response to vessel injury or inflammation, arterial smooth muscle is able to phenotypically modulate from the contractile state to several 'synthetic' states characterized by proliferation, migration and/or increased cytokine secretion. We examined the effect of tissue length (L) on the phenotype of intact, isometrically held, initially contractile swine carotid artery tissues. Tissues were studied (1) without prolonged incubation at the optimal length for force generation (1.0 Lo, control), (2) with prolonged incubation for 17 h at 1.0 Lo, or (3) with prolonged incubation at slack length (0.6 Lo) for 16 h and then restoration to 1.0 Lo for 1 h. Prolonged incubation at 1.0 Lo minimally reduced the contractile force without substantially altering the mediators of contraction (crossbridge phosphorylation, shortening velocity or stimulated actin polymerization). Prolonged incubation of tissues at slack length (0.6 Lo), despite return of length to 1.0 Lo, substantially reduced contractile force, reduced crossbridge phosphorylation, nearly abolished crossbridge cycling (shortening velocity) and abolished stimulated actin polymerization. These data suggest that (1) slack length treatment significantly alters the contractile phenotype of arterial tissue, and (2) slack length treatment is a model to study acute phenotypic modulation of intact arterial smooth muscle. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Stable divalent germanium, tin and lead amino(ether)-phenolate monomeric complexes: structural features, inclusion heterobimetallic complexes, and ROP catalysis.

PubMed

Wang, Lingfang; Roşca, Sorin-Claudiu; Poirier, Valentin; Sinbandhit, Sourisak; Dorcet, Vincent; Roisnel, Thierry; Carpentier, Jean-François; Sarazin, Yann

2014-03-21

Stable germanium(II) and lead(II) amido complexes {LO(i)}M(N(SiMe3)2) (M = Ge(II), Pb(II)) bearing amino(ether)phenolate ligands are readily available using the proteo-ligands {LO(i)}H of general formula 2-CH2NR2-4,6-tBu2-C6H2OH (i = 1, NR2 = N((CH2)2OCH3)2; i = 2, NR2 = NEt2; i = 3, NR2 = aza-15-crown-5) and M(N(SiMe3)2)2 precursors. The molecular structures of these germylenes and plumbylenes, as well as those of {LO(3)}GeCl, {LO(3)}SnCl and of the congeneric {LO(4)}Sn(II)(N(SiMe3)2) where NR2 = aza-12-crown-4, have been determined crystallographically. All complexes are monomeric, with 3-coordinate metal centres. The phenolate systematically acts as a N^O(phenolate) bidentate ligand, with no interactions between the metal and the O(side-arm) atoms in these cases (for {LO(1)}(-), {LO(3)}(-) and {LO(4)}(-)) where they could potentially arise. For each family, the lone pair of electrons essentially features ns(2) character, and there is little, if any, hybridization of the valence orbitals. Heterobimetallic complexes {LO(3)}M(N(SiMe3)2)·LiOTf, where the Li(+) cation sits inside the tethered crown-ether, were prepared by reaction of {LO(3)}M(N(SiMe3)2) and LiOTf (M = Ge(II), Sn(II)). The inclusion of Li(+) (featuring a close contact with the triflate anion) in the macrocycle bears no influence on the coordination sphere of the divalent tetrel element. In association with iPrOH, the amido germylenes, stannylenes and plumbylenes catalyse the controlled polymerisation of L- and racemic lactide. The activity increases linearly according to Ge(II) ≪ Sn(II) ≪ Pb(II). The simple germylenes generate very sluggish catalysts, but the activity is significantly boosted if the heterobimetallic complex {LO(3)}Ge(N(SiMe3)2)·LiOTf is used instead. On the other hand, with 10-25 equiv. of iPrOH, the plumbylenes afford highly active binary catalysts, converting 1000 or 5000 equiv. of monomer at 60 °C within 3 or 45 min, respectively, in a controlled fashion.

Use of indigenous and indigenised medicines to enhance personal well-being: a South African case study.

PubMed

Cocks, Michelle; Møller, Valerie

2002-02-01

An estimated 27 million South Africans use indigenous medicines (Mander, 1997, Medicinal plant marketing and strategies for sustaining the plant supply in the Bushbuckridge area and Mpumalanga Province. Institute for Natural Resources, University of Natal. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa). Although herbal remedies are freely available in amayeza stores, or Xhosa chemists, for self-medication, little is known about the motivations of consumers. According to African belief systems, good health is holistic and extends to the person's social environment. The paper makes a distinction between traditional medicines which are used to enhance personal well-being generally and for cultural purposes, on the one hand, and medicines used to treat physical conditions only, on the other. Drawing on an eight-month study of Xhosa chemists in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, in 1996, the paper identifies 90 medicines in stock which are used to enhance personal well-being. Just under one-third of all purchases were of medicines to enhance well-being. Remedies particularly popular included medicines believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. The protection of infants with medicines which repel evil spirits is a common practice. Consumer behaviours indicate that the range of medicines available is increased by indigenisation of manufactured traditional medicines and cross-cultural borrowing. Case studies confirm that self- and infant medication with indigenous remedies augmented by indigenised medicines plays an important role in primary health care by allaying the fears and anxieties of everyday life within the Xhosa belief system. thereby promoting personal well-being.

15(S)-HETE modulates LTB(4) production and neutrophil chemotaxis in chronic bronchitis.

PubMed

Profita, M; Sala, A; Riccobono, L; Pace, E; Paternò, A; Zarini, S; Siena, L; Mirabella, A; Bonsignore, G; Vignola, A M

2000-10-01

We evaluated the levels of 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [15(S)-HETE] and the expression of 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) mRNA in induced sputum obtained from 10 control and 15 chronic bronchitis subjects. 15(S)-HETE was evaluated by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation followed by specific RIA. 15-LO mRNA expression was determined by primed in situ labeling. The levels of both soluble and cell-associated 15(S)-HETE resulted significantly higher in chronic bronchitis than in control subjects. The percentage of cells expressing 15-LO mRNA was significantly higher in chronic bronchitis than in control subjects (P < 0.01). Double staining for specific cell type markers and 15-LO mRNA showed macrophages and neutrophils positive for 15-LO, whereas similar staining of peripheral blood neutrophils did not show evidence for 15-LO expression, suggesting that expression of 15-LO in neutrophils takes place on migration into the airways. Because 15(S)-HETE inversely correlated with the percentage of neutrophils in sputum of chronic bronchitis subjects, we studied the effect of 15(S)-HETE on leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) production in vitro and evaluated the concentration of LTB(4) in induced sputum and the contribution of LTB(4) to the chemotactic activity of induced sputum samples ex vivo. The results obtained indicate that macrophages and neutrophils present within the airways of chronic bronchitis subjects express 15-LO mRNA; increased basal levels of 15(S)-HETE may contribute to modulate, through the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase metabolites production, neutrophil infiltration and airway inflammation associated with chronic bronchitis.

The CEA-/lo colorectal cancer cell population harbors cancer stem cells and metastatic cells.

PubMed

Yan, Chang; Hu, Yibing; Zhang, Bo; Mu, Lei; Huang, Kaiyu; Zhao, Hui; Ma, Chensen; Li, Xiaolan; Tao, Deding; Gong, Jianping; Qin, Jichao

2016-12-06

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the most commonly used tumor marker in a variety of cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC) for tumor diagnosis and monitoring. Recent studies have shown that colonic crypt cells expressing little or no CEA may enrich for stem cells. Numerous studies have clearly shown that there exist CRC patients with normal serum CEA levels during tumor progression or even tumor relapse, although CEA itself is considered to promote metastasis and block cell differentiation. These seemingly contradictory observations prompted us to investigate, herein, the biological properties as well as tumorigenic and metastatic capacity of CRC cells that express high (CEA+) versus low CEA (CEA-/lo) levels of CEA. Our findings show that the abundance of CEA-/lo cells correlate with poor differentiation and poor prognosis, and moreover, CEA-/lo cells form more spheres in vitro, generate more tumors and exhibit a higher potential in developing liver and lung metastases than corresponding CEA+ cells. Applying RNAi-mediated approach, we found that IGF1R mediated tumorigenic and capacity of CEA-/lo cells but did not mediate those of CEA+ cells. Notably, our data demonstrated that CEA molecule was capable of protecting CEA-/lo cells from anoikis, implying that CEA+ cells, although themselves possessing less tumorigenic and metastatic capacity, may promote metastasis of CEA-/lo cells via secreting CEA molecule. Our observations suggest that, besides targeting CEA molecule, CEA-/lo cells may represent a critical source of tumor progression and metastasis, and should therefore be the target of future therapies.

15-LO/15-HETE mediated vascular adventitia fibrosis via p38 MAPK-dependent TGF-β.

PubMed

Zhang, Li; Li, Yumei; Chen, Minggang; Su, Xiaojie; Yi, Dan; Lu, Ping; Zhu, Daling

2014-02-01

15-Lipoxygenase/15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-LO/15-HETE) is known to modulate pulmonary vascular medial hypertrophy and intimal endothelial cells migration and angiogenesis after hypoxia. However, it is unclear whether 15-HETE affects the adventitia of the pulmonary arterial wall. We performed immunohistochemistry, adventitia fibrosis, pulmonary artery fibroblasts phenotype and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition to determine the role of 15-HETE in hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular adventitia remodeling. Our studies showed that O2 deprivation induced adventitia hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries with ECM accumulation in both humans with pulmonary arterial hypertension and hypoxic rats. Hypoxia induced 15-LO expression in adventitia. With the inhibitor, NDGA depressed the hypoxia induced ECM deposition and 15-LO production in hypoxic rats. Hypoxia up-regulated the expression of α-SMA, type-Ia collagen and fibronectin in cultured fibroblasts, which seemed to be due to the increased 15-LO/15-HETE. Exogenous 15-HETE mediated the ECM and phenotypic alterations of the fibroblasts as well. The 15-LO/15-HETE induced adventitia fibrosis and fibroblasts phenotypic alterations depended on signaling of the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad2/3 pathway. P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPKs) was likely to mediate 15-LO induced TGF-β1 and Smad2/3 activation after hypoxia. The results suggest that adventitia fibrosis is an important event in the hypoxia induced pulmonary arterial remodeling, which relies on 15-LO/15-HETE induced p38 MAPK-dependent TGF-β1/Smad2/3 intracellular signaling systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ontology-Based Annotation of Learning Object Content

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gasevic, Dragan; Jovanovic, Jelena; Devedzic, Vladan

2007-01-01

The paper proposes a framework for building ontology-aware learning object (LO) content. Previously ontologies were exclusively employed for enriching LOs' metadata. Although such an approach is useful, as it improves retrieval of relevant LOs from LO repositories, it does not enable one to reuse components of a LO, nor to incorporate an explicit…

Probing HER2-PUMA and EGFR-PUMA Crosstalks in Aggressive Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

phosphorylation on PUMA properties. REPORTABLE OUTCOMES Peer-reviewed publications: Carpenter, RL. and Lo, H.-W. Hedgehog Pathway and GLI1 Isoforms in...Carpenter R, Lo HW. Hedgehog Pathway and GLI1 Isoforms in Human Cancer. Discovery Medicine 13. 2012. 7. Han W, Lo H-W. Landscape of EGFR signaling

Current Status of The Low Frequency All Sky Monitor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dartez, Louis; Creighton, Teviet; Jenet, Fredrick; Dolch, Timothy; Boehler, Keith; Bres, Luis; Cole, Brent; Luo, Jing; Miller, Rossina; Murray, James; Reyes, Alex; Rivera, Jesse

2018-01-01

The Low Frequency All Sky Monitor (LoFASM) is a distributed array of cross-dipole antennas that are sensitive to radio frequencies from 10 to 88 MHz. LoFASM consists of antennas and front end electronics that were originally developed for the Long Wavelength Array by the U.S. Naval Research Lab, the University of New Mexico, Virginia Tech, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. LoFASM, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, will initially consist of 4 stations, each consisting of 12 dual- polarization dipole antenna stands. The primary science goals of LoFASM will be the detection and study of low-frequency radio transients, a high priority science goal as deemed by the National Research Council’s ASTRO2010 decadal survey. The data acquisition system for the LoFASM antenna array uses Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology to implement a real time full Stokes spectrometer and data recorder. This poster presents an overview of the LoFASM Radio Telescope as well as the status of data analysis of initial commissioning observations.

The Use and Abuse of Limits of Detection in Environmental Analytical Chemistry

PubMed Central

Brown, Richard J. C.

2008-01-01

The limit of detection (LoD) serves as an important method performance measure that is useful for the comparison of measurement techniques and the assessment of likely signal to noise performance, especially in environmental analytical chemistry. However, the LoD is only truly related to the precision characteristics of the analytical instrument employed for the analysis and the content of analyte in the blank sample. This article discusses how other criteria, such as sampling volume, can serve to distort the quoted LoD artificially and make comparison between various analytical methods inequitable. In order to compare LoDs between methods properly, it is necessary to state clearly all of the input parameters relating to the measurements that have been used in the calculation of the LoD. Additionally, the article discusses that the use of LoDs in contexts other than the comparison of the attributes of analytical methods, in particular when reporting analytical results, may be confusing, less informative than quoting the actual result with an accompanying statement of uncertainty, and may act to bias descriptive statistics. PMID:18690384

Optically sectioned in vivo imaging with speckle illumination HiLo microscopy

PubMed Central

Lim, Daryl; Ford, Tim N.; Chu, Kengyeh K.; Mertz, Jerome

2011-01-01

We present a simple wide-field imaging technique, called HiLo microscopy, that is capable of producing optically sectioned images in real time, comparable in quality to confocal laser scanning microscopy. The technique is based on the fusion of two raw images, one acquired with speckle illumination and another with standard uniform illumination. The fusion can be numerically adjusted, using a single parameter, to produce optically sectioned images of varying thicknesses with the same raw data. Direct comparison between our HiLo microscope and a commercial confocal laser scanning microscope is made on the basis of sectioning strength and imaging performance. Specifically, we show that HiLo and confocal 3-D imaging of a GFP-labeled mouse brain hippocampus are comparable in quality. Moreover, HiLo microscopy is capable of faster, near video rate imaging over larger fields of view than attainable with standard confocal microscopes. The goal of this paper is to advertise the simplicity, robustness, and versatility of HiLo microscopy, which we highlight with in vivo imaging of common model organisms including planaria, C. elegans, and zebrafish. PMID:21280920

Optically sectioned in vivo imaging with speckle illumination HiLo microscopy.

PubMed

Lim, Daryl; Ford, Tim N; Chu, Kengyeh K; Mertz, Jerome

2011-01-01

We present a simple wide-field imaging technique, called HiLo microscopy, that is capable of producing optically sectioned images in real time, comparable in quality to confocal laser scanning microscopy. The technique is based on the fusion of two raw images, one acquired with speckle illumination and another with standard uniform illumination. The fusion can be numerically adjusted, using a single parameter, to produce optically sectioned images of varying thicknesses with the same raw data. Direct comparison between our HiLo microscope and a commercial confocal laser scanning microscope is made on the basis of sectioning strength and imaging performance. Specifically, we show that HiLo and confocal 3-D imaging of a GFP-labeled mouse brain hippocampus are comparable in quality. Moreover, HiLo microscopy is capable of faster, near video rate imaging over larger fields of view than attainable with standard confocal microscopes. The goal of this paper is to advertise the simplicity, robustness, and versatility of HiLo microscopy, which we highlight with in vivo imaging of common model organisms including planaria, C. elegans, and zebrafish.

Optically sectioned in vivo imaging with speckle illumination HiLo microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Daryl; Ford, Tim N.; Chu, Kengyeh K.; Mertz, Jerome

2011-01-01

We present a simple wide-field imaging technique, called HiLo microscopy, that is capable of producing optically sectioned images in real time, comparable in quality to confocal laser scanning microscopy. The technique is based on the fusion of two raw images, one acquired with speckle illumination and another with standard uniform illumination. The fusion can be numerically adjusted, using a single parameter, to produce optically sectioned images of varying thicknesses with the same raw data. Direct comparison between our HiLo microscope and a commercial confocal laser scanning microscope is made on the basis of sectioning strength and imaging performance. Specifically, we show that HiLo and confocal 3-D imaging of a GFP-labeled mouse brain hippocampus are comparable in quality. Moreover, HiLo microscopy is capable of faster, near video rate imaging over larger fields of view than attainable with standard confocal microscopes. The goal of this paper is to advertise the simplicity, robustness, and versatility of HiLo microscopy, which we highlight with in vivo imaging of common model organisms including planaria, C. elegans, and zebrafish.

G-LoSA for Prediction of Protein-Ligand Binding Sites and Structures.

PubMed

Lee, Hui Sun; Im, Wonpil

2017-01-01

Recent advances in high-throughput structure determination and computational protein structure prediction have significantly enriched the universe of protein structure. However, there is still a large gap between the number of available protein structures and that of proteins with annotated function in high accuracy. Computational structure-based protein function prediction has emerged to reduce this knowledge gap. The identification of a ligand binding site and its structure is critical to the determination of a protein's molecular function. We present a computational methodology for predicting small molecule ligand binding site and ligand structure using G-LoSA, our protein local structure alignment and similarity measurement tool. All the computational procedures described here can be easily implemented using G-LoSA Toolkit, a package of standalone software programs and preprocessed PDB structure libraries. G-LoSA and G-LoSA Toolkit are freely available to academic users at http://compbio.lehigh.edu/GLoSA . We also illustrate a case study to show the potential of our template-based approach harnessing G-LoSA for protein function prediction.

The CIPM list of recommended frequency standard values: guidelines and procedures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riehle, Fritz; Gill, Patrick; Arias, Felicitas; Robertsson, Lennart

2018-04-01

A list of standard reference frequency values (LoF) of quantum transitions from the microwave to the optical regime has been recommended by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (Comité international des poids et mesures, CIPM) for use in basic research, technology, and for the metrology of time, frequency and length. The CIPM LoF contains entries that are recommended as secondary representations of the second in the International System of Units, and entries that can be used to serve as realizations of the definition of the metre. The historical perspective that led to the CIPM LoF is outlined. Procedures have been developed for updating existing, and validating new, entries into the CIPM LoF. The CIPM LoF might serve as an entry for a future redefinition of the second by an optical transition.

Ecological Risk Assessment of a Metal-Contaminated Area in the Tropics. Tier II: Detailed Assessment.

PubMed

Niemeyer, Júlia Carina; Moreira-Santos, Matilde; Ribeiro, Rui; Rutgers, Michiel; Nogueira, Marco Antonio; da Silva, Eduardo Mendes; Sousa, José Paulo

2015-01-01

This study presents data on the detailed evaluation (tier 2) of a site-specific ecological risk assessment (ssERA) in a former smelter area contaminated with metals (Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil). Combining information from three lines of evidence (LoE), chemical (ChemLoE), ecotoxicological (EcotoxLoE) and ecological (EcoLoE), in the Triad approach, integrated risk values were calculated to rank sites and confirm the potential risk disclosed with tier 1. Risk values were calculated for the habitat and for the retention functions in each sampling point. Habitat function included the ChemLoE calculated from total metal concentrations. The EcotoxLoE was based on reproduction tests with terrestrial invertebrates (Folsomia candida, Enchytraeus crypticus, Eisenia andrei), shoot length and plant biomass (Avena sativa, Brassica rapa). For the EcoLoE, ecological parameters (microbial parameters, soil invertebrate community, litter breakdown) were used to derive risk values. Retention function included the ChemLoE, calculated from extractable metal concentrations, and the EcotoxLoE based on eluate tests with aquatic organisms (Daphnia magna reproduction and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata growth). Results related to the habitat function indicated that the metal residues are sufficient to cause risk to biota, while the low metal levels in extracts and the general lack of toxicity in aquatic tests indicated a high soil retention capacity in most sampling points. Integrated risk of tier 2 showed the same trend of tier 1, suggesting the need to proceed with remediation actions. The high risk levels were related to direct toxicity to organisms and indirect effects, such as failure in the establishment of vegetation and the consequent loss of habitat quality for microorganisms and soil fauna. This study shed some light on the selection of tools for the tier 2 of an ssERA in tropical metal-contaminated sites, focusing on ecological receptors at risk and using available chemical methods, ecological surveys and ecotoxicity tests.

[Modeling of linoleyl hydroxamic acid influence on lipoxygenases in vitro].

PubMed

Skaterna, T D; Kopich, V M; Tserniuk, V M; Kharchenko, O V

2009-01-01

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) (1.13.11.12) demonstrates its activity in membrane-associated state. A system in vitro with increasing quantity of mixed micelle of nonionic detergent Lubrol PX and substrate--linoleic acid (LA) was used for understanding of 5-LO catalytic activity mechanism, which depends on the membrane environment. Physical parameters of micelles with molar ratio LA-Lubrol PX = 0.3:1 and micelles with 5-LO inhibitor--linoleyl hydroxamic acid (LHA), LA and Lubrol PX (0.03:0.3:1) were characterized by gel-filtration method on Sephadex G-200. It was determined, that Stock's radii were 4.83-5.79 nm for micelles with total LA--50-2000 microM and average molecular mass--177 000-212 000 Da. The presence of 10 microM LHA has no influence on physical parameters of the system. Influence of LHA on kinetic parameters of LA oxidation reaction catalized by potato tubers 5-LO in characterized mixed micelle system was also studied. Substrate dependences curves of 5-LO LA oxidation steady-state rates under conditions of the mixed micelle with ratio LA-lubrol PX = 0.3:1, LHA-LA-Lubrol PX = 0.03:0.3:1 and LHA-LA-Lubrol PX = 0.12:0.3:1 were typical of the substrate inhibition. The presence of inhibitor had no effect on the number of additional substrate molecules--LA which contact with enzyme-substrate complex and decreased V(max) essentially. To predict further inhibitor transformation in the cell the influence of 13-hydroperoxy- and 13-hydroxy LHA on potato tubers 5-LO and porcine leucocyte 12-LO was investigated. It was established that LHA oxidized forms displayed as no less effective inhibitors of the analyzed enzymes; 13-hydroperoxy LHA efficiency increased by an order (IC50 was 0.7 microM) for 12-LO. The possibility of 5-LO to oxidize inhibitor LHA under 50 microM phosphatidic acid at pH 5.0 was demonstrated.

Performance characteristics of the ARCHITECT Active-B12 (Holotranscobalamin) assay.

PubMed

Merrigan, Stephen D; Owen, William E; Straseski, Joely A

2015-01-01

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a necessary cofactor in methionine and succinyl-CoA metabolism. Studies estimate the deficiency prevalence as high as 30% in the elderly population. Ten to thirty percent of circulating cobalamin is bound to transcobalamin (holotranscobalamin, holoTC) which can readily enter cells and is therefore considered the bioactive form. The objective of our study was to evaluate the analytical performance of a high-throughput, automated holoTC assay (ARCHITECT i2000(SR) Active-B12 (Holotranscobalamin)) and compare it to other available methods. Manufacturer-specified limits of blank (LoB), detection (LoD), and quantitation (LoQ), imprecision, interference, and linearity were evaluated for the ARCHITECT HoloTC assay. Residual de-identified serum samples were used to compare the ARCHITECT HoloTC assay with the automated AxSYM Active-B12 (Holotranscobalamin) assay (Abbott Diagnostics) and the manual Active-B12 (Holotranscobalamin) Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) (Axis-Shield Diagnostics, Dundee, Scotland, UK). Manufacturer's claims of LoB, LoD, LoQ, imprecision, interference, and linearity to the highest point tested (113.4 pmol/L) were verified for the ARCHITECT HoloTC assay. Method comparison of the ARCHITECT HoloTC to the AxSYM HoloTC produced the following Deming regression statistics: (ARCHITECT(HoloTc)) = 0.941 (AxSYM(HoloTC)) + 1.2 pmol/L, S(y/x) = 6.4, r = 0.947 (n = 98). Comparison to the Active-B12 EIA produced: (ARCHITECT(HoloTC)) = 1.105 (EIA(Active-B12)) - 6.8 pmol/L, S(y/x) = 11.0, r = 0.950 (n = 221). This assay performed acceptably for LoB, LoD, LoQ, imprecision, interference, linearity and method comparison to the predicate device (AxSYM). An additional comparison to a manual Active-B12 EIA method performed similarly, with minor exceptions. This study determined that the ARCHITECT HoloTC assay is suitable for routine clinical use, which provides a high-throughput alternative for automated testing of this emerging marker of cobalamin deficiency.

Ecological Risk Assessment of a Metal-Contaminated Area in the Tropics. Tier II: Detailed Assessment

PubMed Central

Niemeyer, Júlia Carina; Moreira-Santos, Matilde; Ribeiro, Rui; Rutgers, Michiel; Nogueira, Marco Antonio; da Silva, Eduardo Mendes; Sousa, José Paulo

2015-01-01

This study presents data on the detailed evaluation (tier 2) of a site-specific ecological risk assessment (ssERA) in a former smelter area contaminated with metals (Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil). Combining information from three lines of evidence (LoE), chemical (ChemLoE), ecotoxicological (EcotoxLoE) and ecological (EcoLoE), in the Triad approach, integrated risk values were calculated to rank sites and confirm the potential risk disclosed with tier 1. Risk values were calculated for the habitat and for the retention functions in each sampling point. Habitat function included the ChemLoE calculated from total metal concentrations. The EcotoxLoE was based on reproduction tests with terrestrial invertebrates (Folsomia candida, Enchytraeus crypticus, Eisenia andrei), shoot length and plant biomass (Avena sativa, Brassica rapa). For the EcoLoE, ecological parameters (microbial parameters, soil invertebrate community, litter breakdown) were used to derive risk values. Retention function included the ChemLoE, calculated from extractable metal concentrations, and the EcotoxLoE based on eluate tests with aquatic organisms (Daphnia magna reproduction and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata growth). Results related to the habitat function indicated that the metal residues are sufficient to cause risk to biota, while the low metal levels in extracts and the general lack of toxicity in aquatic tests indicated a high soil retention capacity in most sampling points. Integrated risk of tier 2 showed the same trend of tier 1, suggesting the need to proceed with remediation actions. The high risk levels were related to direct toxicity to organisms and indirect effects, such as failure in the establishment of vegetation and the consequent loss of habitat quality for microorganisms and soil fauna. This study shed some light on the selection of tools for the tier 2 of an ssERA in tropical metal-contaminated sites, focusing on ecological receptors at risk and using available chemical methods, ecological surveys and ecotoxicity tests. PMID:26528915

Eomesodermin(lo) CTLA4(hi) Alloreactive CD8+ Memory T Cells Are Associated With Prolonged Renal Transplant Survival Induced by Regulatory Dendritic Cell Infusion in CTLA4 Immunoglobulin-Treated Nonhuman Primates.

PubMed

Ezzelarab, Mohamed B; Lu, Lien; Guo, Hao; Zahorchak, Alan F; Shufesky, William F; Cooper, David K C; Morelli, Adrian E; Thomson, Angus W

2016-01-01

Memory T cells (Tmem), particularly those resistant to costimulation blockade (CB), are a major barrier to transplant tolerance. The transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes) is critical for Tmem development and maintenance, but its expression by alloactivated T cells has not been examined in nonhuman primates. We evaluated Eomes and coinhibitory cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4) expression by alloactivated rhesus monkey T cells in the presence of CTLA4 immunoglobulin, both in vitro and in renal allograft recipients treated with CTLA4Ig, with or without regulatory dendritic cell (DCreg) infusion. In normal monkeys, CD8+ T cells expressed significantly more Eomes than CD4+ T cells. By contrast, CD8+ T cells displayed minimal CTLA4. Among T cell subsets, central Tmem (Tcm) expressed the highest levels of Eomes. Notably, Eomes(lo)CTLA4(hi) cells displayed higher levels of CD25 and Foxp3 than Eomes(hi)CTLA4(lo) CD8+ T cells. After allostimulation, distinct proliferating Eomes(lo)CTLA4(hi) and Eomes(hi)CTLA4(lo) CD8+ T cell populations were identified, with a high proportion of Tcm being Eomes(lo)CTLA4(hi). CB with CTLA4Ig during allostimulation of CD8+ T cells reduced CTLA4 but not Eomes expression, significantly reducing Eomes(lo)CTLA4(hi) cells. After transplantation with CB and rapamycin, donor-reactive Eomes(lo)CTLA4(hi) CD8+ T cells were reduced. However, in monkeys also given DCreg, absolute numbers of these cells were elevated significantly. Low Eomes and high CTLA4 expression by donor-reactive CD8+ Tmem is associated with prolonged renal allograft survival induced by DCreg infusion in CTLA4Ig-treated monkeys. Prolonged allograft survival associated with DCreg infusion may be related to maintenance of donor-reactive Eomes(lo)CTLA4(hi) Tcm.

Mechanism of asymmetric lineshape broadening in GaAs1-xNx Raman spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mialitsin, Aleksej; Fluegel, Brian; Ptak, Aaron; Mascarenhas, Angelo

2012-07-01

Resonance Raman spectroscopy is used to probe the asymmetric broadening of the LO phonon linewidth in a dilute GaAs1-xNx alloy (x=0.41%). Electronic Raman scattering from a broad continuum is observed that gets enhanced concurrently with the LO phonon linewidth under resonance. The Fano interaction between the LO phonon and the electronic continuum is used to develop a model that satisfactorily explains the origin of the asymmetric LO phonon linewidth broadening in this abnormal alloy as arising due to coupling between the discrete and the continuum configurations.

Characterisation of a LoVo subline resistant to a benzoyl mustard derivative of distamycin A (FCE 24517).

PubMed Central

Capolongo, L.; Melegaro, G.; Broggini, M.; Mongelli, N.; Grandi, M.

1993-01-01

Human colon adenocarcinoma cells (LoVo) resistant to the new antitumor agent FCE 24517 [benzoyl-mustard derivative of distamycin A] (LoVo/24517) are resistant to the selecting agent and related molecules as well as to vinblastine, with marginal or no resistance to other antitumour drugs. Treatment with verapamil, tamoxifen, nicergoline or cyclosporin A only partially restores the activity of FCE 24517 against LoVo/24517 cells. Such results suggest that resistance mechanisms possible specific for this class of compounds are operating. Images Figure 2 PMID:8105866

Cryogenic propellant management: Integration of design, performance and operational requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worlund, A. L.; Jamieson, J. R., Jr.; Cole, T. W.; Lak, T. I.

1985-01-01

The integration of the design features of the Shuttle elements into a cryogenic propellant management system is described. The implementation and verification of the design/operational changes resulting from design deficiencies and/or element incompatibilities encountered subsequent to the critical design reviews are emphasized. Major topics include: subsystem designs to provide liquid oxygen (LO2) tank pressure stabilization, LO2 facility vent for ice prevention, liquid hydrogen (LH2) feedline high point bleed, pogo suppression on the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), LO2 low level cutoff, Orbiter/engine propellant dump, and LO2 main feedline helium injection for geyser prevention.

Higgs boson gluon-fusion production beyond threshold in N 3LO QCD

DOE PAGES

Anastasiou, Charalampos; Duhr, Claude; Dulat, Falko; ...

2015-03-18

In this study, we compute the gluon fusion Higgs boson cross-section at N 3LO through the second term in the threshold expansion. This calculation constitutes a major milestone towards the full N 3LO cross section. Our result has the best formal accuracy in the threshold expansion currently available, and includes contributions from collinear regions besides subleading corrections from soft and hard regions, as well as certain logarithmically enhanced contributions for general kinematics. We use our results to perform a critical appraisal of the validity of the threshold approximation at N 3LO in perturbative QCD.

A comparison of thermoregulatory responses to exercise between mass-matched groups with large differences in body fat

PubMed Central

Dervis, Sheila; Coombs, Geoff B.; Chaseling, Georgia K.; Filingeri, Davide; Smoljanic, Jovana

2015-01-01

We sought to determine 1) the influence of adiposity on thermoregulatory responses independently of the confounding biophysical factors of body mass and metabolic heat production (Hprod); and 2) whether differences in adiposity should be accounted for by prescribing an exercise intensity eliciting a fixed Hprod per kilogram of lean body mass (LBM). Nine low (LO-BF) and nine high (HI-BF) body fat males matched in pairs for total body mass (TBM; LO-BF: 88.7 ± 8.4 kg, HI-BF: 90.1 ± 7.9 kg; P = 0.72), but with distinctly different percentage body fat (%BF; LO-BF: 10.8 ± 3.6%; HI-BF: 32.0 ± 5.6%; P < 0.001), cycled for 60 min at 28.1 ± 0.2°C, 26 ± 8% relative humidity (RH), at a target Hprod of 1) 550 W (FHP trial) and 2) 7.5 W/kg LBM (LBM trial). Changes in rectal temperature (ΔTre) and local sweat rate (LSR) were measured continuously while whole body sweat loss (WBSL) and net heat loss (Hloss) were estimated over 60 min. In the FHP trial, ΔTre (LO-BF: 0.66 ± 0.21°C, HI-BF: 0.87 ± 0.18°C; P = 0.02) was greater in HI-BF, whereas mean LSR (LO-BF 0.52 ± 0.19, HI-BF 0.43 ± 0.15 mg·cm−2·min−1; P = 0.19), WBSL (LO-BF 586 ± 82 ml, HI-BF 559 ± 75 ml; P = 0.47) and Hloss (LO-BF 1,867 ± 208 kJ, HI-BF 1,826 ± 224 kJ; P = 0.69) were all similar. In the LBM trial, ΔTre (LO-BF 0.82 ± 0.18°C, HI-BF 0.54 ± 0.19°C; P < 0.001), mean LSR (LO-BF 0.59 ± 0.20, HI-BF 0.38 ± 0.12 mg·cm−2·min−1; P = 0.04), WBSL (LO-BF 580 ± 106 ml, HI-BF 381 ± 68 ml; P < 0.001), and Hloss (LO-BF 1,884 ± 277 kJ, HI-BF 1,341 ± 184 kJ; P < 0.001) were all greater at end-exercise in LO-BF. In conclusion, high %BF individuals demonstrate a greater ΔTre independently of differences in mass and Hprod, possibly due to a lower mean specific heat capacity or impaired sudomotor control. However, thermoregulatory responses of groups with different adiposity levels should not be compared using a fixed Hprod in watts per kilogram lean body mass. PMID:26702025

A comparison of thermoregulatory responses to exercise between mass-matched groups with large differences in body fat.

PubMed

Dervis, Sheila; Coombs, Geoff B; Chaseling, Georgia K; Filingeri, Davide; Smoljanic, Jovana; Jay, Ollie

2016-03-15

We sought to determine 1) the influence of adiposity on thermoregulatory responses independently of the confounding biophysical factors of body mass and metabolic heat production (Hprod); and 2) whether differences in adiposity should be accounted for by prescribing an exercise intensity eliciting a fixed Hprod per kilogram of lean body mass (LBM). Nine low (LO-BF) and nine high (HI-BF) body fat males matched in pairs for total body mass (TBM; LO-BF: 88.7 ± 8.4 kg, HI-BF: 90.1 ± 7.9 kg; P = 0.72), but with distinctly different percentage body fat (%BF; LO-BF: 10.8 ± 3.6%; HI-BF: 32.0 ± 5.6%; P < 0.001), cycled for 60 min at 28.1 ± 0.2 °C, 26 ± 8% relative humidity (RH), at a target Hprod of 1) 550 W (FHP trial) and 2) 7.5 W/kg LBM (LBM trial). Changes in rectal temperature (ΔTre) and local sweat rate (LSR) were measured continuously while whole body sweat loss (WBSL) and net heat loss (Hloss) were estimated over 60 min. In the FHP trial, ΔTre (LO-BF: 0.66 ± 0.21 °C, HI-BF: 0.87 ± 0.18 °C; P = 0.02) was greater in HI-BF, whereas mean LSR (LO-BF 0.52 ± 0.19, HI-BF 0.43 ± 0.15 mg·cm(-2)·min(-1); P = 0.19), WBSL (LO-BF 586 ± 82 ml, HI-BF 559 ± 75 ml; P = 0.47) and Hloss (LO-BF 1,867 ± 208 kJ, HI-BF 1,826 ± 224 kJ; P = 0.69) were all similar. In the LBM trial, ΔTre (LO-BF 0.82 ± 0.18 °C, HI-BF 0.54 ± 0.19 °C; P < 0.001), mean LSR (LO-BF 0.59 ± 0.20, HI-BF 0.38 ± 0.12 mg·cm(-2)·min(-1); P = 0.04), WBSL (LO-BF 580 ± 106 ml, HI-BF 381 ± 68 ml; P < 0.001), and Hloss (LO-BF 1,884 ± 277 kJ, HI-BF 1,341 ± 184 kJ; P < 0.001) were all greater at end-exercise in LO-BF. In conclusion, high %BF individuals demonstrate a greater ΔTre independently of differences in mass and Hprod, possibly due to a lower mean specific heat capacity or impaired sudomotor control. However, thermoregulatory responses of groups with different adiposity levels should not be compared using a fixed Hprod in watts per kilogram lean body mass. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Molecular basis of the specific subcellular localization of the C2-like domain of 5-lipoxygenase.

PubMed

Kulkarni, Shilpa; Das, Sudipto; Funk, Colin D; Murray, Diana; Cho, Wonhwa

2002-04-12

The activation of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) involves its calcium-dependent translocation to the nuclear envelope, where it catalyzes the two-step transformation of arachidonic acid into leukotriene A(4), leading to the synthesis of various leukotrienes. To understand the mechanism by which 5-LO is specifically targeted to the nuclear envelope, we studied the membrane binding properties of the amino-terminal domain of 5-LO, which has been proposed to have a C2 domain-like structure. The model building, electrostatic potential calculation, and in vitro membrane binding studies of the isolated C2-like domain of 5-LO and selected mutants show that this Ca(2+)-dependent domain selectively binds zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine, which is conferred by tryptophan residues (Trp(13), Trp(75), and Trp(102)) located in the putative Ca(2+)-binding loops. The spatiotemporal dynamics of the enhanced green fluorescence protein-tagged C2-like domain of 5-LO and mutants in living cells also show that the phosphatidylcholine selectivity of the C2-like domain accounts for the specific targeting of 5-LO to the nuclear envelope. Together, these results show that the C2-like domain of 5-LO is a genuine Ca(2+)-dependent membrane-targeting domain and that the subcellular localization of the domain is governed in large part by its membrane binding properties.

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

Rizal, Umesh, E-mail: umeshrizal680@gmail.com; Swain, Bibhu P., E-mail: bibhu.s@smit.smu.edu.in; Swain, Bhabani S., E-mail: bsswain@kookmin.ac.kr

Gallium nitride nanowires (GaN-NWs) of diameters ranging from 20 to 80 nm were grown on the p-type Si substrate by Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (TCVD) using Iron (Fe) catalyst via VLS mechanism. Raman and FTIR spectra reveal the presence of broad transverse optic (TO) and longitudinal optic (LO) phonon peak spreads over 500-600 cm{sup −1} and 720 cm{sup −1} respectively. The detail deconvolution of integrated transverse and longitudinal phonon analysis reveals phonon confinement brought out by incorporation of hydrogen atom. The red shifts of TO and LO phonon peak position indicates nanosized effect. I{sub A1(LO)}/I{sub A1(TO)} increases from 0.073 to 1.0 and theirmore » respective fwhm{sub A1(LO)}/fwhm{sub A1(TO)} also increases from 0.71 to 1.31 with increasing H{sub 2} flow rate. E{sub 1}(LO) - E{sub 1}(TO) and A{sub 1}(LO) - A{sub 1}(TO) increases from 173.83 to 190.73 and 184.89 to 193.22 respectively. Apart from this usual TO and LO phonon, we have found Surface Optic (SO) phonon at 671 cm{sup −1} in FTIR spectra. The intensity of PL peak increases with increasing H{sub 2} dilution reveals efficient passivation of defect centre at surface of GaN-NWs.« less

Design and Development of Multi-Transceiver Lorafi Board consisting LoRa and ESP8266-Wifi Communication Module

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azmi, Noraini; Sudin, Sukhairi; Munirah Kamarudin, Latifah; Zakaria, Ammar; Visvanathan, Retnam; Chew Cheik, Goh; Mamduh Syed Zakaria, Syed Muhammad; Abdullah Alfarhan, Khudhur; Badlishah Ahmad, R.

2018-03-01

The advancement of Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS), microcontroller technologies and the idea of Internet of Things (IoT) motivates the development of wireless modules (e.g. WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and LoRa) that are small and affordable. This paper aims to provide detailed information on the development of the LoRaFi board. The LoRaFi 1.0 is a multi-protocol communication board developed by Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sensor Technology (CEASTech). The board was developed for but not limited to monitor the indoor air quality. The board comprises two different wireless communication modules namely, Long-range technology (LoRa) and WiFi (using ESP8266). The board can be configured to communicate either using LoRa or WiFi or both. The board has been tested and the wireless communication operates successfully. Apart from LoRa, WiFi enables data to be forwarded to the cloud/server where the data can be stored for further data analysis. This helps provide users with real-time information on their smartphones or other applications. In the future, researchers will conduct tests to investigate the communication link quality. Newer version with reduced board size and additional wireless communication module will be developed in the future as to increase board flexibility and widen the range of applications that can use the board.

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

Shi, Yang, E-mail: yangshi_xz@126.com; Song, Qingwei; Hu, Dianhe

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and can be induced by chronic HBV infection. The role of HBV-specific immune responses in mediating tumorigenesis and HCC prognosis is debated. The effect of intratumoral microenvironment on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is also unclear. Here, we examined resected tumor tissue from 36 patients with HBV-induced HCC. We categorized study cohort based on ex vivo IL-10 secretion by tumor cells into high IL-10-secreting (Hi10) and low IL-10-secreting (Lo10) groups, and found that the Lo10 group was less sensitive to TLR ligand stimulation. TILs from the Lo10 group contained higher frequencies of HBV-specificmore » IFN-g-producing cells and total IFN-g-producing cells, and possessed higher proliferative capacity. Moreover, the proliferative capacity of TILs from the Hi10 group was negatively correlated with IL-10 secretion from tumor cells. Together, our data demonstrated that low IL-10-producing capacity in HBV-induced HCC tumors is associated with enhanced TIL activity. - Highlights: • We examined intratumoral IL-10 production in HBV-induced HCC. • We grouped HCC tumors into Hi10 and Lo10 groups based on their IL-10 production. • Lo10 groups had better IFN-g response by TILs. • Lo10 groups had better TIL proliferative capacity. • Lo10 group tumor cells were refractory to TLR ligand stimulation.« less

Enhancing LoRaWAN Security through a Lightweight and Authenticated Key Management Approach.

PubMed

Sanchez-Iborra, Ramon; Sánchez-Gómez, Jesús; Pérez, Salvador; Fernández, Pedro J; Santa, José; Hernández-Ramos, José L; Skarmeta, Antonio F

2018-06-05

Luckily, new communication technologies and protocols are nowadays designed considering security issues. A clear example of this can be found in the Internet of Things (IoT) field, a quite recent area where communication technologies such as ZigBee or IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPAN) already include security features to guarantee authentication, confidentiality and integrity. More recent technologies are Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LP-WAN), which also consider security, but present initial approaches that can be further improved. An example of this can be found in Long Range (LoRa) and its layer-two supporter LoRa Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), which include a security scheme based on pre-shared cryptographic material lacking flexibility when a key update is necessary. Because of this, in this work, we evaluate the security vulnerabilities of LoRaWAN in the area of key management and propose different alternative schemes. Concretely, the application of an approach based on the recently specified Ephemeral Diffie⁻Hellman Over COSE (EDHOC) is found as a convenient solution, given its flexibility in the update of session keys, its low computational cost and the limited message exchanges needed. A comparative conceptual analysis considering the overhead of different security schemes for LoRaWAN is carried out in order to evaluate their benefits in the challenging area of LP-WAN.

Compliance with the gluten-free diet: the role of locus of control in celiac disease.

PubMed

Bellini, Anna; Zanchi, Chiara; Martelossi, Stefano; Di Leo, Grazia; Not, Tarcisio; Ventura, Alessandro

2011-03-01

To verify whether subjects with celiac disease (CD) have a different locus of control (LoC) compared with healthy subjects, and to evaluate the relationship between LoC and compliance with a prescribed gluten-free diet (GFD) and quality of life (QoL). We studied 156 subjects on a GFD (mean age, 10 years) and 353 healthy controls (mean age, 12 years). All subjects completed tests on the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale; the subjects with CD also completed a questionnaire to measure compliance with dietary treatment and the disease's impact on QoL. There was no difference in LoC values between patients with CD and controls. Subjects with CD with good dietary compliance had a more internal LoC compared with those who were not compliant (P = .01). Patients who reported a satisfactory QoL had a more internal LoC compared with those who reported negative affects on QoL due to CD (P = .01). Our study confirms the usefulness of the LoC concept for identifying those patients who might be at risk for dietary transgression. Given the enhanced, psychological, and social well being that can result from adherence to a GFD, educational and psychological support can help internalize the LoC in those patients at risk for dietary transgression. Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tamoxifen-loaded lecithin organogel (LO) for topical application: Development, optimization and characterization.

PubMed

Bhatia, Amit; Singh, Bhupinder; Raza, Kaisar; Wadhwa, Sheetu; Katare, Om Prakash

2013-02-28

Lecithin organogels (LOs) are semi-solid systems with immobilized organic liquid phase in 3-D network of self-assembled gelators. This paper attempts to study the various attributes of LOs, starting from selection of materials, optimization of influential components to LO specific characterization. After screening of various components (type of gelators, organic and aqueous phase) and construction of phase diagrams, a D-optimal mixture design was employed for the systematic optimization of the LO composition. The response surface plots were constructed for various response variables, viz. viscosity, gel strength, spreadability and consistency index. The optimized LO composition was searched employing overlay plots. Subsequent validation of the optimization study employing check-point formulations, located using grid search, indicated high degree of prognostic ability of the experimental design. The optimized formulation was characterized for morphology, drug content, rheology, spreadability, pH, phase transition temperatures, and physical and chemical stability. The outcomes of the study were interesting showing high dependence of LO attributes on the type and amount of phospholipid, Poloxamer™, auxillary gelators and organic solvent. The optimized LO was found to be quite stable, easily applicable and biocompatible. The findings of the study can be utilized for the development of LO systems of other drugs for the safer and effective topical delivery. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

9 CFR 113.112 - Clostridium Perfringens Type D Toxoid and Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... of Standard Toxin to contain 10 Lo doses per ml and make a second dilution of Standard Toxin to contain 10 L+ doses per ml. (iii) Combine 1 International Unit of Standard Antitoxin with 10 Lo doses of... 10 Lo doses of diluted Standard Toxin. (v) Neutralize all toxin-antitoxin mixtures at room...

9 CFR 113.112 - Clostridium Perfringens Type D Toxoid and Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... of Standard Toxin to contain 10 Lo doses per ml and make a second dilution of Standard Toxin to contain 10 L+ doses per ml. (iii) Combine 1 International Unit of Standard Antitoxin with 10 Lo doses of... 10 Lo doses of diluted Standard Toxin. (v) Neutralize all toxin-antitoxin mixtures at room...

9 CFR 113.112 - Clostridium Perfringens Type D Toxoid and Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... of Standard Toxin to contain 10 Lo doses per ml and make a second dilution of Standard Toxin to contain 10 L+ doses per ml. (iii) Combine 1 International Unit of Standard Antitoxin with 10 Lo doses of... 10 Lo doses of diluted Standard Toxin. (v) Neutralize all toxin-antitoxin mixtures at room...

9 CFR 113.112 - Clostridium Perfringens Type D Toxoid and Bacterin-Toxoid.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... of Standard Toxin to contain 10 Lo doses per ml and make a second dilution of Standard Toxin to contain 10 L+ doses per ml. (iii) Combine 1 International Unit of Standard Antitoxin with 10 Lo doses of... 10 Lo doses of diluted Standard Toxin. (v) Neutralize all toxin-antitoxin mixtures at room...

Keystone Life Orientation (LO) Teachers: Implications for Educational, Social, and Cultural Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pillay, Jace

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to identify and describe skills, characteristics and support networks needed by keystone Life Orientation (LO) teachers in six Gauteng schools. In this study "keystone" refers to LO teachers who make a positive impact in their schools. A qualitative research design was used to collect data through interviews,…

Impedance methodology: A new way to characterize the setting reaction of dental cements.

PubMed

Villat, Cyril; Tran, Xuan-Vinh; Tran, V X; Pradelle-Plasse, Nelly; Ponthiaux, Pierre; Wenger, François; Grosgogeat, Brigitte; Colon, Pierre

2010-12-01

Impedance spectroscopy is a non-destructive, quantitative method, commonly used nowadays for industrial research on cement and concrete. The aim of this study is to investigate the interest of impedance spectroscopy in the characterization of setting process of dental cements. Two types of dental cements are used in this experiment: a new Calcium Silicate cement Biodentine™ (Septodont, Saint Maur-des Fossés, France) and a glass ionomer cement resin modified or not (Fuji II(®) LC Improved Capsules and Fuji IX(®) GP Fast set Capsules, GC Corp., Tokyo, Japan). The conductivity of the dental cements was determined by impedance spectroscopy measurements carried out on dental cement samples immersed in a 0.1M potassium chloride solution (KCl) in a "like-permeation" cell connected to a potentiostat and a Frequency Response Analyzer. The temperature of the solution is 37°C. From the moment of mixing of powder and liquid, the experiments lasted 2 weeks. The results obtained for each material are relevant of the setting process. For GIC, impedance values are stabilized after 5 days while at least 14 days are necessary for the calcium silicate based cement. In accordance with the literature regarding studies of cements and concrete, impedance spectroscopy can characterize ion mobility, porosity and hardening process of dental hydrogel materials. Copyright © 2010 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

FGF2 modulates cardiac remodeling in an isoform- and sex-specific manner

PubMed Central

Nusayr, Eyad; Sadideen, Doraid Tarek; Doetschman, Tom

2013-01-01

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis are remodeling events that result in mechanical stiffness and pathophysiological changes in the myocardium. Both humans and animal models display a sexual dimorphism where females are more protected from pathological remodeling. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) mediates cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, and protection against cardiac injury, and is made in high molecular weight and low molecular weight isoforms (Hi FGF2 and Lo FGF2, respectively). Although some light has been shed on isoform-specific functions in cardiac pathophysiology, their roles in pathologic cardiac remodeling have yet to be determined. We tested the hypothesis that Lo FGF2 and Hi FGF2 modulate pathological cardiac remodeling in an isoform-specific manner. Young adult male and female mice between 8 and 12 weeks of age of mixed background that were deficient in either Hi FGF2 or Lo FGF2 (Hi KO or Lo KO, respectively) were subjected to daily injections of isoproterenol (Iso) for 4 days after which their hearts were compared to wild-type cohorts. Post-Iso treatment, female Lo KO hearts do not exhibit significant differences in their hypertrophic and fibrotic response, whereas female Hi KO hearts present with a blunted hypertrophic response. In male animals, Lo KO hearts present with an exacerbated fibrotic response and increased α-smooth muscle actin protein expression, whereas Hi KO hearts present with a blunted fibrotic response and increased atrial natriuretic factor protein expression Thus, in female hearts Hi FGF2 mediates cardiac hypertrophy, whereas in male hearts Lo FGF2 and Hi FGF2 display an antithetical role in cardiac fibrosis where Lo FGF2 is protective while Hi FGF2 is damaging. In conclusion, cardiac remodeling following catecholamine overactivation is modulated by FGF2 in isoform- and sex-specific manners. PMID:24244869

Monocyte 15-lipoxygenase gene expression requires ERK1/2 MAPK activity.

PubMed

Bhattacharjee, Ashish; Mulya, Anny; Pal, Srabani; Roy, Biswajit; Feldman, Gerald M; Cathcart, Martha K

2010-11-01

IL-13 induces profound expression of 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) in primary human monocytes. Our studies have defined the functional IL-13R complex, association of Jaks with the receptor components, and the tyrosine phosphorylation of several Stat molecules in response to IL-13. Furthermore, we identified both p38MAPK and protein kinase Cδ as critical regulators of 15-LO expression. In this study, we report an ERK1/2-dependent signaling cascade that regulates IL-13-mediated 15-LO gene expression. We show the rapid phosphorylation/activation of ERK1/2 upon IL-13 exposure. Our results indicate that Tyk2 kinase is required for the activation of ERK1/2, which is independent of the Jak2, p38MAPK, and protein kinase Cδ pathways, suggesting bifurcating parallel regulatory pathways downstream of the receptor. To investigate the signaling mechanisms associated with the ERK1/2-dependent expression of 15-LO, we explored the involvement of transcription factors, with predicted binding sites in the 15-LO promoter, in this process including Elk1, early growth response-1 (Egr-1), and CREB. Our findings indicate that IL-13 induces Egr-1 nuclear accumulation and CREB serine phosphorylation and that both are markedly attenuated by inhibition of ERK1/2 activity. We further show that ERK1/2 activity is required for both Egr-1 and CREB DNA binding to their cognate sequences identified within the 15-LO promoter. Furthermore, by transfecting monocytes with the decoy oligodeoxyribonucleotides specific for Egr-1 and CREB, we discovered that Egr-1 and CREB are directly involved in regulating 15-LO gene expression. These studies characterize an important regulatory role for ERK1/2 in mediating IL-13-induced monocyte 15-LO expression via the transcription factors Egr-1 and CREB.

A n-3 PUFA depletion applied to rainbow trout fry (Oncorhynchus mykiss) does not modulate its subsequent lipid bioconversion capacity.

PubMed

Mellery, Julie; Brel, Jonathan; Dort, Junio; Geay, Florian; Kestemont, Patrick; Francis, David S; Larondelle, Yvan; Rollin, Xavier

2017-01-01

Nutritional strategies are currently developed to produce farmed fish rich in n-3 long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) whilst replacing fish oil by plant-derived oils in aquafeeds. The optimisation of such strategies requires a thorough understanding of fish lipid metabolism and its nutritional modulation. The present study evaluated the fatty acid bioconversion capacity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry previously depleted in n-3 PUFA through a 60-d pre-experimental feeding period with a sunflower oil-based diet (SO) followed by a 36-d experimental period during which fish were fed either a linseed oil-based diet (LO) (this treatment being called SO/LO) or a fish oil-based diet (FO) (this treatment being called SO/FO). These treatments were compared with fish continuously fed on SO, LO or FO for 96 d. At the end of the 36-d experimental period, SO/LO and SO/FO fish recovered >80 % of the n-3 LC-PUFA reported for LO and FO fish, respectively. Fish fed on LO showed high apparent in vivo elongation and desaturation activities along the n-3 biosynthesis pathway. However, at the end of the experimental period, no impact of the fish n-3 PUFA depletion was observed on apparent in vivo elongation and desaturation activities of SO/LO fish as compared with LO fish. In contrast, the fish n-3 PUFA depletion negatively modulated the n-6 PUFA bioconversion capacity of fish in terms of reduced apparent in vivo elongation and desaturation activities. The effects were similar after 10 or 36 d of the experimental period, indicating the absence of short-term effects.

Nonobese Diabetic (NOD) Mice Congenic for a Targeted Deletion of 12/15-Lipoxygenase Are Protected From Autoimmune Diabetes

PubMed Central

McDuffie, Marcia; Maybee, Nelly A.; Keller, Susanna R.; Stevens, Brian K.; Garmey, James C.; Morris, Margaret A.; Kropf, Elizabeth; Rival, Claudia; Ma, Kaiwen; Carter, Jeffrey D.; Tersey, Sarah A.; Nunemaker, Craig S.; Nadler, Jerry L.

2010-01-01

OBJECTIVE 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO), one of a family of fatty acid oxidoreductase enzymes, reacts with polyenoic fatty acids to produce proinflammatory lipids. 12/15-LO is expressed in macrophages and pancreatic β-cells. It enhances interleukin 12 production by macrophages, and several of its products induce apoptosis of β-cells at nanomolar concentrations in vitro. We had previously demonstrated a role for 12/15-LO in β-cell damage in the streptozotocin model of diabetes. Since the gene encoding 12/15-LO (gene designation Alox15) lies within the Idd4 diabetes susceptibility interval in NOD mice, we hypothesized that 12/15-LO is also a key regulator of diabetes susceptibility in the NOD mouse. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We developed NOD mice carrying an inactivated 12/15-LO locus (NOD-Alox15null) using a “speed congenic” protocol, and the mice were monitored for development of insulitis and diabetes. RESULTS NOD mice deficient in 12/15-LO develop diabetes at a markedly reduced rate compared with NOD mice (2.5 vs. >60% in females by 30 weeks). Nondiabetic female NOD-Alox15null mice demonstrate improved glucose tolerance, as well as significantly reduced severity of insulitis and improved β-cell mass, when compared with age-matched nondiabetic NOD females. Disease resistance is associated with decreased numbers of islet-infiltrating activated macrophages at 4 weeks of age in NOD-Alox15null mice, preceding the development of insulitis. Subsequently, islet-associated infiltrates are characterized by decreased numbers of CD4+ T cells and increased Foxp3+ cells. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest an important role for 12/15-LO in conferring susceptibility to autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice through its effects on macrophage recruitment or activation. PMID:17940120

Relationship between CYP1A2 Localization and Lipid Microdomain Formation as a Function of Lipid Composition

PubMed Central

Brignac-Huber, Lauren M.; Reed, James R.; Eyer, Marilyn K.

2013-01-01

Cytochrome P450 (P450) function requires the interaction of P450 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) in membranes, and is frequently studied using reconstituted systems composed solely of phosphatidylcholine. There is increasing evidence that other endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lipids can affect P450 structure, activity, and interactions with CPR. Some of these lipid effects have been attributed to the formation of organized liquid-ordered (lo) domains. The goal of this study was to determine if lo domains were formed in P450 reconstituted systems mimicking the ER membrane. CYP1A2, when incorporated in “ER-like” lipid vesicles, displayed detergent insolubility after treatment with Brij 98 and centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. Lipid probes were employed to identify domain formation in both ER-like vesicles and model membranes known to form lo domains. Changes in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) using an established donor/acceptor FRET pair in both ER-like and model lo-forming systems demonstrated the coexistence of lo- and liquid-disordered domains as a function of cholesterol and sphingomyelin content. Similarly, 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (laurdan), a probe that reports on membrane organization, showed that cholesterol and sphingomyelin increased membrane order. Finally, brominated-phosphatidylcholine allowed for monitoring of the location of both CPR and CYP1A2 within the lo regions of ER-like systems. Taken together, the results demonstrate that ER-like vesicles generate microdomains, and both CYP1A2 and CPR predominantly localize into lo membrane regions. Probe fluorescent responses suggest that lipid microdomains form in these vesicles whether or not enzymes are included in the reconstituted systems. Thus, it does not appear that the proteins are critical for stabilizing lo domains. PMID:23963955

Preferential Generation of 15-HETE-PE Induced by IL-13 Regulates Goblet Cell Differentiation in Human Airway Epithelial Cells.

PubMed

Zhao, Jinming; Minami, Yoshinori; Etling, Emily; Coleman, John M; Lauder, Sarah N; Tyrrell, Victoria; Aldrovandi, Maceler; O'Donnell, Valerie; Claesson, Hans-Erik; Kagan, Valerian; Wenzel, Sally

2017-12-01

Type 2-associated goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion are well known features of asthma. 15-Lipoxygenase-1 (15LO1) is induced by the type 2 cytokine IL-13 in human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) in vitro and is increased in fresh asthmatic HAECs ex vivo. 15LO1 generates a variety of products, including 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), 15-HETE-phosphatidylethanolamine (15-HETE-PE), and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE). In this study, we investigated the 15LO1 metabolite profile at baseline and after IL-13 treatment, as well as its influence on goblet cell differentiation in HAECs. Primary HAECs obtained from bronchial brushings of asthmatic and healthy subjects were cultured under air-liquid interface culture supplemented with arachidonic acid and linoleic acid (10 μM each) and exposed to IL-13 for 7 days. Short interfering RNA transfection and 15LO1 inhibition were applied to suppress 15LO1 expression and activity. IL-13 stimulation induced expression of 15LO1 and preferentially generated 15-HETE-PE in vitro, both of which persisted after removal of IL-13. 15LO1 inhibition (by short interfering RNA and chemical inhibitor) decreased IL-13-induced forkhead box protein A3 (FOXA3) expression and enhanced FOXA2 expression. These changes were associated with reductions in both mucin 5AC and periostin. Exogenous 15-HETE-PE stimulation (alone) recapitulated IL-13-induced FOXA3, mucin 5AC, and periostin expression. The results of this study confirm the central importance of 15LO1 and its primary product, 15-HETE-PE, for epithelial cell remodeling in HAECs.

A novel morphological response of maize (Zea mays) adult roots to heterogeneous nitrate supply revealed by a split-root experiment.

PubMed

Yu, Peng; Li, Xuexian; Yuan, Lixing; Li, Chunjian

2014-01-01

Approximately 35-55% of total nitrogen (N) in maize plants is taken up by the root at the reproductive stage. Little is known about how the root of an adult plant responds to heterogeneous nutrient supply. In this study, root morphological and physiological adaptations to nitrate-rich and nitrate-poor patches and corresponding gene expression of ZmNrt2.1 and ZmNrt2.2 of maize seedlings and adult plants were characterized. Local high nitrate (LoHN) supply increased both lateral root length (LRL) and density of the treated nodal roots of adult maize plants, but only increased LRL of the treated primary roots of seedlings. LoHN also increased plant total N acquisition but not N influx rate of the treated roots, when expressed as per unit of root length. Furthermore, LoHN markedly increased specific root length (m g(-1)) of the treated roots but significantly inhibited the growth of the lateral roots outside of the nitrate-rich patches, suggesting a systemic carbon saving strategy within a whole root system. Surprisingly, local low nitrate (LoLN) supply stimulated nodal root growth of adult plants although LoLN inhibited growth of primary roots of seedlings. LoLN inhibited the N influx rate of the treated roots and did not change plant total N content. The gene expression of ZmNrt2.1 and ZmNrt2.2 of the treated roots of seedlings and adult plants was inhibited by LoHN but enhanced by LoLN. In conclusion, maize adult roots responded to nitrate-rich and nitrate-poor patches by adaptive morphological alterations and displayed carbon saving strategies in response to heterogeneous nitrate supply. © 2013 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.

Chemical composition of matrix-embedded ternary II-VI nanocrystals derived from first- and second-order Raman spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azhniuk, Yu. M.; Hutych, Yu. I.; Lopushansky, V. V.; Prymak, M. V.; Gomonnai, A. V.; Zahn, D. R. T.

2016-12-01

A one- and multiphonon Raman scattering study is performed for an extensive set of CdS1-xSex, Cd1-yZnyS, Cd1-yZnySe, and CdSe1-xTex nanocrystals to investigate the applicability of first- and second-order Raman spectra for the determination of the matrix-embedded ternary nanocrystal composition. For one-mode ternary systems both the LO and 2LO phonon frequencies in the Raman spectra are shown to be a good measure of the nanocrystal composition. For two-mode systems, the approaches based on the difference of the LO phonon frequencies (first-order Raman spectra) or double LO overtone and combination tone frequencies (second-order Raman spectra) as well as on the LO phonon band intensity ratios are analysed. The weak electron-phonon coupling in the II-VI nanocrystals and the polaron constant values for the nanocrystal sublattices are discussed.

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

Nam, Y. B., E-mail: southub@postech.ac.kr; Yun, G. S.; Lee, D. J.

Electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) diagnostic on Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research utilizes quasi-optical heterodyne-detection method to measure 2D (vertical and radial) T{sub e} fluctuations from two toroidally separated poloidal cross section of the plasma. A cylindrical lens local oscillator (LO) optics with optical path length (OPL) 2–2.5 m has been used in the current ECEI system to couple the LO source to the 24 vertically aligned array of ECE detectors. For efficient and compact LO optics employing the Powell lens is proposed so that the OPL of the LO source is significantly reduced from ∼2.0 m to 0.4 mmore » with new optics. The coupling efficiency of the LO source is expected to be improved especially at the edge channels. Results from the optical simulation together with the laboratory test of the prototype optics will be discussed in this paper.« less

Olympus receiver evaluation and phase noise measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Richard L.; Wang, Huailiang; Sweeney, Dennis

1990-01-01

A set of measurements performed by the Michigan Tech Sensing and Signal Processing Group on the analog receiver built by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for propagation measurements using the Olympus Satellite is described. Measurements of local oscillator (LO) phase noise were performed for all of the LOs supplied by JPL. In order to obtain the most useful set of measurements, LO phase noise measurements were made using the complete VPI receiver front end. This set of measurements demonstrates the performance of the receiver from the Radio Frequency (RF) input through the high Intermediate Frequency (IF) output. Three different measurements were made: LO phase noise with DC on the voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) port; LO phase noise with the 11.381 GHz LO locked to the reference signal generator; and a reference measurement with the JPL LOs out of the system.

Resonant tunnelling diode oscillator as an alternative LO for SIS receiver applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blundell, R.; Papa, D. C.; Brown, E. R.; Parker, C. D.

1993-01-01

The resonant tunnelling diode (RTD) oscillator has been demonstrated for the first time as a local oscillator (LO) in a heterodyne receiver. Noise measurements made on a sensitive 200 GHz superconductor-insulator-superconductor receiver using both a multiplied Gunn diode and an RTD oscillator as the LO revealed no difference in receiver noise as a function of oscillator type.

40 CFR 60.759 - Specifications for active collection systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...: Qi = 2 k Lo Mi (e-kt i) (CNMOC) (3.6 × 10−9) where, Qi = NMOC emission rate from the ith section, megagrams per year k = methane generation rate constant, year−1 Lo = methane generation potential, cubic... performed, the default values for k, LO and CNMOC provided in § 60.754(a)(1) or the alternative values from...

The Impacts of Team Learning on the Development of a Learning Organisation: A Cultural Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Chao-Hua; Su, Kun-Shan

2015-01-01

Generalisability of a learning organisation (LO) for cross-cultural applications is doubtful. Some cultural values may be opposed to the nature in a LO which calls for voluntary participation in learning activities by all employees. The study reveals a dynamic analysis of a LO with the sense of the difficulties organisations typically face and how…

South African Teachers' Views on the Inclusion of Spirituality Education in the Subject Life Orientation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacobs, Anne C.

2012-01-01

As part of a larger research project into the practice and effectiveness of Life Orientation (LO), a compulsory subject in South African schools, this study investigated the views that teachers have regarding the constructs spirituality and religion within the context of LO. LO attempts to teach skills, attitudes and values from a holistic…

40 CFR 60.759 - Specifications for active collection systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...: Qi = 2 k Lo Mi (e-kt i) (CNMOC) (3.6 × 10−9) where, Qi = NMOC emission rate from the ith section, megagrams per year k = methane generation rate constant, year−1 Lo = methane generation potential, cubic... performed, the default values for k, LO and CNMOC provided in § 60.754(a)(1) or the alternative values from...

40 CFR 60.759 - Specifications for active collection systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...: Qi = 2 k Lo Mi (e-kt i) (CNMOC) (3.6 × 10−9) where, Qi = NMOC emission rate from the ith section, megagrams per year k = methane generation rate constant, year−1 Lo = methane generation potential, cubic... performed, the default values for k, LO and CNMOC provided in § 60.754(a)(1) or the alternative values from...

77 FR 57451 - Regulations Regarding the Application of Section 172(h) Including Consolidated Groups

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-17

...) and the life consolidated loss from operations (LO) (if any) for that year is treated as a notional ``NOL'' of the group. For this purpose, nonlife consolidated taxable income does not offset any LO, and... allocated on a pro rata basis between the nonlife CNOL and the LO of the group, based on the relative sizes...

75 FR 50700 - Quarterly Listings; Safety Zones, Security Zones, Special Local Regulations, and Drawbridge...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-17

... Morgan City--07-012 New Iberia, LO Safety Zones (Parts 147 and 10/2/2007 165). COTP Morgan City--07-014... Iberia, LO Safety Zones (Parts 147 and 10/11/2007 165). COTP San Francisco Bay 06-013 Carquinez Strait...-0043 Savannah, GA Security zones (Part 165)..... 1/24/2008 USCG-2008-0050 Atchafalaya Bay, LO...

40 CFR 60.759 - Specifications for active collection systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...: Qi = 2 k Lo Mi (e-kt i) (CNMOC) (3.6 × 10−9) where, Qi = NMOC emission rate from the ith section, megagrams per year k = methane generation rate constant, year−1 Lo = methane generation potential, cubic... performed, the default values for k, LO and CNMOC provided in § 60.754(a)(1) or the alternative values from...

The Role of the Sonic Hedgehog Pathway for Prostate Cancer Progression

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

lo ap m in e TS U -t om at id in e...TS U -c yc lo ap m in e D U 14 5- to m at id in e D u1 45 -c yc lo pa m in e Page 8 of 13 (page number not for citation purposes) Molecular Cancer...without matrigels) (B). 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 P C 3- to m at id in e P C 3- cy cl op am in e LN -C A P -t om at id in e LN -C A P -c yc lo ap m in e TS U

Services Specialist Career Ladder AFSC 611X0.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-06-01

REQUEST) 52 INSPECT PERSONNEL FOR COMPLIANCE WITH MILITARY STANDARDS 52 INTERPRET POLICIES OR DIRECTIVES FOR SUBORDINATES 52 MAKE ENTRIES ON AF FORMS 1297...67 DETERMINE SUPPLIES REQUIREMENTS 61 INTERPRET POLICIES OR DIRECTIVES FOR SUBORDINATES 61 SUPERVISE MILITARY PERSONNEL IN AFSCs OTHER THAN 611XO 61...m I w c a- ’- a -- I co 0tz ( I co aI o C)-0 a c Ia)aP"o%. B3 C> LO LO qr cnCD C") C"j LA) (1) t.0C) 0 co CD Lo~ -I c)U- LA CY r) zr U’)L r~- r 𔃺 LO

Development of horn antenna mixer array with internal local oscillator module for microwave imaging diagnostics

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

Kuwahara, D., E-mail: dkuwahar@cc.tuat.ac.jp; Ito, N.; Nagayama, Y.

A new antenna array is proposed in order to improve the sensitivity and complexity of microwave imaging diagnostics systems such as a microwave imaging reflectometry, a microwave imaging interferometer, and an electron cyclotron emission imaging. The antenna array consists of five elements: a horn antenna, a waveguide-to-microstrip line transition, a mixer, a local oscillation (LO) module, and an intermediate frequency amplifier. By using an LO module, the LO optics can be removed, and the supplied LO power to each element can be equalized. We report details of the antenna array and characteristics of a prototype antenna array.

Development of horn antenna mixer array with internal local oscillator module for microwave imaging diagnostics.

PubMed

Kuwahara, D; Ito, N; Nagayama, Y; Yoshinaga, T; Yamaguchi, S; Yoshikawa, M; Kohagura, J; Sugito, S; Kogi, Y; Mase, A

2014-11-01

A new antenna array is proposed in order to improve the sensitivity and complexity of microwave imaging diagnostics systems such as a microwave imaging reflectometry, a microwave imaging interferometer, and an electron cyclotron emission imaging. The antenna array consists of five elements: a horn antenna, a waveguide-to-microstrip line transition, a mixer, a local oscillation (LO) module, and an intermediate frequency amplifier. By using an LO module, the LO optics can be removed, and the supplied LO power to each element can be equalized. We report details of the antenna array and characteristics of a prototype antenna array.

Curcumin suppresses JNK pathway to attenuate BPA-induced insulin resistance in LO2 cells.

PubMed

Geng, Shanshan; Wang, Shijia; Zhu, Weiwei; Xie, Chunfeng; Li, Xiaoting; Wu, Jieshu; Zhu, Jianyun; Jiang, Ye; Yang, Xue; Li, Yuan; Chen, Yue; Wang, Xiaoqian; Meng, Yu; Zhong, Caiyun

2018-01-01

To examine whether curcumin has protective effect on insulin resistance induced by bisphenol A (BPA) in LO2 cells and whether this effect was mediated by inhibiting the inflammatory mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways. LO2 cells were stimulated with BPA in the presence or absence of curcumin for 5 days. Glucose consumption, activation of insulin signaling, MAPKs and NF-κB pathways, levels of inflammatory cytokines and MDA production were analyzed. Curcumin prevented BPA-induced reduction of glucose consumption and suppression of insulin signaling pathway, indicating curcumin alleviated BPA-triggered insulin resistance in LO2 cells. mRNA and proteins levels of TNF-α and IL-6, as well as MDA level in LO2 cells treated with BPA were decreased by curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin downregulated the activation of p38, JNK, and NF-κB pathways upon stimulation with BPA. Inhibition of JNK pathway, but not p38 nor NF-κB pathway, improved glucose consumption and insulin signaling in BPA-treated LO2 cells. Curcumin inhibits BPA-induced insulin resistance by suppressing JNK pathway. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

A TMS Investigation on the Role of Lateral Occipital Complex and Caudal Intraparietal Sulcus in the Perception of Object Form and Orientation.

PubMed

Chouinard, Philippe A; Meena, Deiter K; Whitwell, Robert L; Hilchey, Matthew D; Goodale, Melvyn A

2017-05-01

We used TMS to assess the causal roles of the lateral occipital (LO) and caudal intraparietal sulcus (cIPS) areas in the perceptual discrimination of object features. All participants underwent fMRI to localize these areas using a protocol in which they passively viewed images of objects that varied in both form and orientation. fMRI identified six significant brain regions: LO, cIPS, and the fusiform gyrus, bilaterally. In a separate experimental session, we applied TMS to LO or cIPS while the same participants performed match-to-sample form or orientation discrimination tasks. Compared with sham stimulation, TMS to either the left or right LO increased RTs for form but not orientation discrimination, supporting a critical role for LO in form processing for perception- and judgment-based tasks. In contrast, we did not observe any effects when we applied TMS to cIPS. Thus, despite the clear functional evidence of engagement for both LO and cIPS during the passive viewing of objects in the fMRI experiment, the TMS experiment revealed that cIPS is not critical for making perceptual judgments about their form or orientation.

Application of Lemongrass Oil-Containing Polylactic Acid Films to the Packaging of Pork Sausages.

PubMed

Yang, Hyun-Ju; Song, Kyung Bin

2016-01-01

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable and renewable polymer, which represents a valuable alternative to plastic packaging films, often associated with environmental problems. In this study, we tested the suitability of PLA as a biodegradable packaging film and assessed the antimicrobial activity of lemongrass oil (LO), incorporated into the PLA film in different concentrations. To obtain the optimal physical properties for PLA films, tensile strength, elongation at break, and water vapor permeability were measured under different preparation conditions. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the LO contained in the PLA film against Listeria monocytogenes was investigated by disc diffusion and viable cell count. Among all concentrations tested, 2% LO was the most suitable in terms of antimicrobial activity and physical properties of the PLA film. Based on these results, we used the PLA film containing 2% LO to pack pork sausages; after 12 d of storage at 4℃, the population of inoculated L. monocytogenes in the sausage samples wrapped with the PLA film containing 2% LO was reduced by 1.47 Log CFU/g compared with the control samples. Our data indicate that PLA films containing 2% LO represent a valuable means for antimicrobial sausage packaging.

Application of Lemongrass Oil-Containing Polylactic Acid Films to the Packaging of Pork Sausages

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable and renewable polymer, which represents a valuable alternative to plastic packaging films, often associated with environmental problems. In this study, we tested the suitability of PLA as a biodegradable packaging film and assessed the antimicrobial activity of lemongrass oil (LO), incorporated into the PLA film in different concentrations. To obtain the optimal physical properties for PLA films, tensile strength, elongation at break, and water vapor permeability were measured under different preparation conditions. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the LO contained in the PLA film against Listeria monocytogenes was investigated by disc diffusion and viable cell count. Among all concentrations tested, 2% LO was the most suitable in terms of antimicrobial activity and physical properties of the PLA film. Based on these results, we used the PLA film containing 2% LO to pack pork sausages; after 12 d of storage at 4℃, the population of inoculated L. monocytogenes in the sausage samples wrapped with the PLA film containing 2% LO was reduced by 1.47 Log CFU/g compared with the control samples. Our data indicate that PLA films containing 2% LO represent a valuable means for antimicrobial sausage packaging. PMID:27433114

Complex coacervation of collagen hydrolysate extracted from leather solid wastes and chitosan for controlled release of lavender oil.

PubMed

Ocak, Buğra

2012-06-15

In the world, approximately 600,000 metric tonnes of chromium-containing solid wastes are generated by the leather industry each year. Environmental concerns and escalating landfill costs are becoming increasingly serious problems to the leather industry and seeking solutions to these problems is a prime concern in much research today. In this study, solid collagen-based protein hydrolysate was isolated from chromium-tanned leather wastes and its chemical properties were determined. Microcapsules of collagen hydrolysate (CH) - chitosan (C) crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) containing Lavender oil (LO) were prepared by complex coacervation method. The effects of various processing parameters, including the CH to C ratio, LO content, and GA, on the oil load (%), oil content (%), encapsulation efficiency (%) and release rate of LO from microcapsules were investigated. As the ratio of C present in the CH/C mixture and crosslinking density increased, the release rate of LO from microcapsules slowed down. Optical and scanning electron microscopy images illustrated that the LO microcapsules were spherical in shape. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies confirmed that there was no significant interaction between CH/C complex and LO. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Self-renewal of CD133(hi) cells by IL6/Notch3 signalling regulates endocrine resistance in metastatic breast cancer.

PubMed

Sansone, Pasquale; Ceccarelli, Claudio; Berishaj, Marjan; Chang, Qing; Rajasekhar, Vinagolu K; Perna, Fabiana; Bowman, Robert L; Vidone, Michele; Daly, Laura; Nnoli, Jennifer; Santini, Donatella; Taffurelli, Mario; Shih, Natalie N C; Feldman, Michael; Mao, Jun J; Colameco, Christopher; Chen, Jinbo; DeMichele, Angela; Fabbri, Nicola; Healey, John H; Cricca, Monica; Gasparre, Giuseppe; Lyden, David; Bonafé, Massimiliano; Bromberg, Jacqueline

2016-02-09

The mechanisms of metastatic progression from hormonal therapy (HT) are largely unknown in luminal breast cancer. Here we demonstrate the enrichment of CD133(hi)/ER(lo) cancer cells in clinical specimens following neoadjuvant endocrine therapy and in HT refractory metastatic disease. We develop experimental models of metastatic luminal breast cancer and demonstrate that HT can promote the generation of HT-resistant, self-renewing CD133(hi)/ER(lo)/IL6(hi) cancer stem cells (CSCs). HT initially abrogates oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) generating self-renewal-deficient cancer cells, CD133(hi)/ER(lo)/OXPHOS(lo). These cells exit metabolic dormancy via an IL6-driven feed-forward ER(lo)-IL6(hi)-Notch(hi) loop, activating OXPHOS, in the absence of ER activity. The inhibition of IL6R/IL6-Notch pathways switches the self-renewal of CD133(hi) CSCs, from an IL6/Notch-dependent one to an ER-dependent one, through the re-expression of ER. Thus, HT induces an OXPHOS metabolic editing of luminal breast cancers, paradoxically establishing HT-driven self-renewal of dormant CD133(hi)/ER(lo) cells mediating metastatic progression, which is sensitive to dual targeted therapy.

Low-thrust chemical propulsion system propellant expulsion and thermal conditioning study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merino, F.; Wakabayashi, I.; Pleasant, R. L.; Hill, M.

1982-01-01

Thermal conditioning systems for satisfying engine net positive suction pressure (NPSP) requirements, and propellant expulsion systems for achieving propellant dump during a return-to-launch site (RTLS) abort were studied for LH2/LO2 and LCH4/LO2 upper stage propellant combinations. A state-of-the-art thermal conditioning system employing helium injection beneath the liquid surface shows the lowest weight penalty for LO2 and LCH4. A technology system incorporating a thermal subcooler (heat exchanger) for engine NPSP results in the lowest weight penalty for the LH2 tank. A preliminary design of two state-of-the-art and two new technology systems indicates a weight penalty difference too small to warrant development of a LH2 thermal subcooler. Analysis results showed that the LH2/LO2 propellant expulsion system is optimized for maximum dump line diameters, whereas the LCH4/LO2 system is optimized for minimum dump line diameter (LCH4) and maximum dump line diameter (LO2). The primary uncertainty is the accurate determination of two-phase flow rates through the dump system; experimentation is not recommended because this uncertainty is not considered significant.

Benton Judgment of Line Orientation (JoLO) Test: A Brief and Useful Measure for Assessing Visuospatial Abilities in Manifest, but not Premanifest, Huntington's Disease.

PubMed

Corey-Bloom, Jody; Gluhm, Shea; Herndon, Andrew; Haque, Ameera S; Park, Sungmee; Gilbert, Paul E

2016-01-01

Visuospatial deficits have been described in Huntington's disease (HD); however, the extent of these deficits remains unclear. The Benton Judgment of Line Orientation (JoLO) Test, commonly used to assess visuospatial ability, requires minimal motor involvement. It has demonstrated sensitivity to visuospatial deficits in Parkinson's disease; however, few studies have examined performance on this test in HD. The objective of the current study was to assess visuospatial ability in premanifest and manifest HD using the JoLO. A global cognitive measure, the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), was used to stratify manifest HD patients as mild (DRS ≥129) vs. moderate-severe (DRS ≤128). Fifty mild, 42 moderate-severe, and 30 premanifest HD subjects, as well as 35 matched controls, were administered the JoLO. HD Burden of Pathology (BOP) scores were used as a measure of disease severity. Results revealed that the total manifest HD sample (p <  0.001), in addition to the mild (p = 0.028), and moderate-severe (p <  0.001), but not premanifest, HD subjects scored significantly lower on the JoLO compared to normal controls. Our results suggest that the JoLO is useful for detecting visuospatial deficits across various stages of manifest HD. However, any visuospatial impairment that might be present during the premanifest stage of HD was not detected using the JoLO in the present sample.

Role of the Lipoxygenase Pathway in RSV-induced Alternatively Activated Macrophages Leading to Resolution of Lung Pathology

PubMed Central

Shirey, Kari Ann; Lai, Wendy; Pletneva, Lioubov M.; Karp, Christopher L.; Divanovic, Senad; Blanco, Jorge C. G.; Vogel, Stefanie N.

2013-01-01

Resolution of severe RSV-induced bronchiolitis is mediated by alternatively activated macrophages (AA-Mϕ) that counteract cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-induced lung pathology. Herein, we report that RSV infection of 5-lipoxygenase (LO)−/− and 15-LO−/− macrophages or mice failed to elicit AA-Mϕ differentiation and concomitantly exhibited increased COX-2 expression. Further, RSV infection of 5-LO−/− mice resulted in enhanced lung pathology. Pharmacologic inhibition of 5-LO or 15-LO also blocked differentiation of RSV-induced AA-Mϕ in vitro and, conversely, treatment of 5-LO−/− macrophages with downstream products, lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and resolvin E1 (RvE1), but not leukotriene B4 (LTB4) or LTD4, partially restored expression of AA-Mϕ markers. Indomethacin blockade of COX activity in RSV-infected macrophages increased 5-LO, and 15-LO, as well as arginase-1 mRNA expression. Treatment of RSV-infected mice with indomethacin also resulted not only in enhanced lung arginase-1 mRNA expression and decreased COX-2, but also, decreased lung pathology in RSV-infected 5-LO−/− mice. Treatment of RSV-infected cotton rats with a COX-2-specific inhibitor resulted in enhanced lung 5-LO mRNA and AA-Mϕ marker expression. Together, these data suggest a novel therapeutic approach for RSV that promotes AA-Mϕ differentiation by activating the 5-LO pathway. PMID:24064666

Increasing incidence of late-onset neonatal invasive group B streptococcal infections in Iceland.

PubMed

Óladóttir, Guđrún Lilja; Erlendsdóttir, Helga; Pálsson, Gestur; Björnsdóttir, Erla Soffía; Kristinsson, Karl G; Haraldsson, Ásgeir

2011-08-01

Group B streptococci (GBS) may cause life-threatening invasive infections in infants. The incidence of these infections has been increasing during the last decades. The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiology of neonatal GBS infections to be able to implement therapeutic and preventive measures more effectively. A retrospective case study was conducted in Iceland that included all neonates with positive GBS cultures from blood or cerebrospinal fluid during the period 1975 to 2006. Serotyping of all available GBS isolates was performed. A total of 87 children with 89 infections were included in the study. In all, 53 infants had early-onset (EO) GBS infections (occurring <7 days after birth) and 34 had late-onset (LO) infections (occurring on days 7-90). EO infections increased during the first 3 quartiles of the study period but decreased during the last quartile. LO infections increased throughout the entire study period. GBS was cultured from cerebrospinal fluid in 21 patients; 9 with EO and 12 with LO infections. Premature infants comprised 15 with EO and 14 with LO infections. Eight children died of GBS infection, 7 with EO and 1 with LO infections; no correlation with serotypes was found. Serotype III was most common for both EO (34%) and LO infections (62%). The number of GBS infections increased during the study period. The decrease in EO infections in recent years could be attributed to intrapartum antibiotic treatment. The increasing number of LO infections is a concern.

Acrolein increases 5-lipoxygenase expression in murine macrophages through activation of ERK pathway

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

Kim, Chae E.; Lee, Seung J.; Seo, Kyo W.

2010-05-15

Episodic exposure to acrolein-rich pollutants has been linked to acute myocardial infarction, and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is involved in the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which destabilizes atherosclerotic plaques. Thus, the present study determined the effect of acrolein on 5-LO/leukotriene B{sub 4} (LTB{sub 4}) production in murine macrophages. Stimulation of J774A.1 cells with acrolein led to increased LTB{sub 4} production in association with increased 5-LO expression. Acrolein-evoked 5-LO expression was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of the ERK pathway, but not by inhibitors for JNK and p38 MAPK pathways. In line with these results, acrolein exclusively increased the phosphorylation of ERK amongmore » these MAPK, suggesting a role for the ERK pathway in acrolein-induced 5-LO expression with subsequent production of LTB{sub 4}. Among the receptor tyrosine kinases including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), acrolein-evoked ERK phosphorylation was attenuated by AG1478, an EGFR inhibitor, but not by AG1295, a PDGFR inhibitor. In addition, acrolein-evoked 5-LO expression was also inhibited by inhibition of EGFR pathway, but not by inhibition of PDGFR pathway. These observations suggest that acrolein has a profound effect on the 5-LO pathway via an EGFR-mediated activation of ERK pathway, leading to acute ischemic syndromes through the generation of LTB{sub 4}, subsequent MMP-9 production and plaque rupture.« less

5-Lipoxygenase contributes to PPARγ activation in macrophages in response to apoptotic cells.

PubMed

von Knethen, Andreas; Sha, Lisa K; Kuchler, Laura; Heeg, Annika K; Fuhrmann, Dominik; Heide, Heinrich; Wittig, Ilka; Maier, Thorsten J; Steinhilber, Dieter; Brüne, Bernhard

2013-12-01

Macrophage polarization to an anti-inflammatory phenotype upon contact with apoptotic cells is a contributing hallmark to immune suppression during the late phase of sepsis. Although the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) supports this macrophage phenotype switch, it remains elusive how apoptotic cells activate PPARγ. Assuming that a molecule causing PPARγ activation in macrophages originates in the cell membrane of apoptotic cells we analyzed lipid rafts from apoptotic, necrotic, and living human Jurkat T cells which showed the presence of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) in lipid rafts of apoptotic cells only. Incubating macrophages with lipid rafts of apoptotic, but not necrotic or living cells, induced PPAR responsive element (PPRE)-driven mRuby reporter gene expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages stably transduced with a 4xPPRE containing vector. Experiments with lipid rafts of apoptotic murine EL4 T cells revealed similar results. To verify the involvement of 5-LO in activating PPARγ in macrophages, Jurkat T cells were incubated with the 5-LO inhibitor MK-866 prior to induction of apoptosis, which failed to induce mRuby expression. Similar results were obtained with lipid rafts of apoptotic EL4 T cells preexposed to the 5-LO inhibitors zileuton and CJ-13610. Interestingly, Jurkat T cells overexpressing 5-LO failed to activate PPARγ in macrophages, while their 5-LO overexpressing apoptotic counterparts did. Our results suggest that during apoptosis 5-LO gets associated with lipid rafts and synthesizes ligands that in turn stimulate PPARγ in macrophages. © 2013.

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

Radzihovsky, Leo

Motivated by a realization of imbalanced Feshbach-resonant atomic Fermi gases, we formulate a low-energy theory of the Fulde-Ferrell and the Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) states and use it to analyze fluctuations, stability, and phase transitions in these enigmatic finite momentum-paired superfluids. Focusing on the unidirectional LO pair-density-wave state, which spontaneously breaks the continuous rotational and translational symmetries, we show that it is characterized by two Goldstone modes, corresponding to a superfluid phase and a smectic phonon. Because of the liquid-crystalline ''softness'' of the latter, at finite temperature the three-dimensional state is characterized by a vanishing LO order parameter, quasi-Bragg peaks in themore » structure and momentum distribution functions, and a ''charge''-4, paired-Cooper-pairs, off-diagonal long-range order, with a superfluid-stiffness anisotropy that diverges near a transition into a nonsuperfluid state. In addition to conventional integer vortices and dislocations, the LO superfluid smectic exhibits composite half-integer vortex-dislocation defects. A proliferation of defects leads to a rich variety of descendant states, such as the charge-4 superfluid and Fermi-liquid nematics and topologically ordered nonsuperfluid states, that generically intervene between the LO state and the conventional superfluid and the polarized Fermi liquid at low and high imbalance, respectively. The fermionic sector of the LO gapless superconductor is also quite unique, exhibiting a Fermi surface of Bogoliubov quasiparticles associated with the Andreev band of states, localized on the array of the LO domain walls.« less

Influences of a diet supplemented with linseed oil and antioxidants on quality of equine semen after cooling and cryopreservation during winter.

PubMed

Schmid-Lausigk, Yvonne; Aurich, Christine

2014-04-15

Seasonal changes in the reproductive physiology of stallions contribute to a decrease in the quality of frozen-thawed semen during late winter. Changes in the lipid composition of the sperm plasma membrane may contribute to this phenomenon. In the present study, we have, therefore, investigated the effects of adding linseed oil (LO) in combination with antioxidants to the diet of breeding stallions on the motility and membrane integrity of cooled-stored and cryopreserved semen. Starting in November, the diet of LO stallions (n = 6) but not control (C) stallions (n = 5) was supplemented with LO (100 mL once daily) plus an antioxidant (Myostem Protect; Audevard, Clichy, France) for a total of 84 days. Before (November) and at the end of this period (February), ejaculates were processed for cryopreservation (n = 3 ejaculates per stallion) and cooled shipping at 5 °C. Frozen-thawed and cooled-shipped semen was sent to the laboratory for computer-assisted semen analysis of total motility, progressive motility, and velocity parameters (average path velocity [VAP], curved line velocity [VCL], and straight-line velocity [VSL]) and evaluation of membrane integrity. The quality of frozen-thawed semen decreased (P < 0.05) from November (e.g., total motility LO 69 ± 3% and C 67 ± 3%) to February (total motility: LO 55 ± 4% and C 59 ± 3%) independent of treatment (P > 0.05). A decrease in the velocity parameters VAP, VCL, and VSL was more pronounced in LO stallions than in C stallions (e.g., VSL: November LO 67 ± 1 μm/s, C 64 ± 2 μm/s; February LO 59 ± 2 μm/s, C 63 ± 2 μm/s; interaction month by treatment, P < 0.05). In cooled-stored semen, total motility, progressive motility, and membrane integrity were lower in February than in November (P < 0.001 for all parameters). Supplementation of the diet with LO and antioxidants attenuated this decrease (e.g., Day 1 of cooled storage = 24 hours after semen collection: total motility in November LO 88 ± 1% and C 87 ± 3%; in February LO 83 ± 2% and C 73 ± 11%; interaction month by treatment: P < 0.05). Velocity parameters VAP, VCL, and VSL were significantly lower in February than in November (P < 0.001), but this decrease was not affected by treatment. In summary, dietary supplementation of stallions with LO plus antioxidants attenuated a decline in motility and membrane integrity of cooled-stored stallion semen during winter. This may improve the fertility of cooled-shipped semen. In contrast, the treatment did not counteract the decrease in quality of frozen-thawed semen that occurs in late winter. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Normal Coagulation

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-04

LO TTIN G with vitamin K antagonist...confidential until formal publication.6 F CHAPTER 34 Normal Coagulation 531 SE C T IO N 7 B LEED IN G A N D C LO TTIN G Table 34-1 Procoagulant...formal publication.8 F CHAPTER 34 Normal Coagulation 533 SE C T IO N 7 B LEED IN G A N D C LO TTIN G Figure 34-4 Vitamin K–dependent com-

Integrating Stealth

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

Over the past two decades the United States has revolutionized the war fighting industry with advancements in Low Observable ( LO ) technology and...precision strike capability. Advanced LO weapon systems such as the F-35, F-22 and the B-2 have been developed and portrayed as stealth aircraft. In...Because LO technology is in a physical form, methods can and have been developed to exploit the inherent weaknesses. Additionally, the technological

Neural Responses to Central and Peripheral Objects in the Lateral Occipital Cortex

PubMed Central

Wang, Bin; Guo, Jiayue; Yan, Tianyi; Ohno, Seiichiro; Kanazawa, Susumu; Huang, Qiang; Wu, Jinglong

2016-01-01

Human object recognition and classification depend on the retinal location where the object is presented and decrease as eccentricity increases. The lateral occipital complex (LOC) is thought to be preferentially involved in the processing of objects, and its neural responses exhibit category biases to objects presented in the central visual field. However, the nature of LOC neural responses to central and peripheral objects remains largely unclear. In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a wide-view presentation system to investigate neural responses to four categories of objects (faces, houses, animals, and cars) in the primary visual cortex (V1) and the lateral visual cortex, including the LOC and the retinotopic areas LO-1 and LO-2. In these regions, the neural responses to objects decreased as the distance between the location of presentation and center fixation increased, which is consistent with the diminished perceptual ability that was found for peripherally presented images. The LOC and LO-2 exhibited significantly positive neural responses to all eccentricities (0–55°), but LO-1 exhibited significantly positive responses only to central eccentricities (0–22°). By measuring the ratio relative to V1 (RRV1), we further demonstrated that eccentricity, category and the interaction between them significantly affected neural processing in these regions. LOC, LO-1, and LO-2 exhibited larger RRV1s when stimuli were presented at an eccentricity of 0° compared to when they were presented at the greater eccentricities. In LOC and LO-2, the RRV1s for images of faces, animals and cars showed an increasing trend when the images were presented at eccentricities of 11 to 33°. However, the RRV1s for houses showed a decreasing trend in LO-1 and no difference in the LOC and LO-2. We hypothesize, that when houses and the images in the other categories were presented in the peripheral visual field, they were processed via different strategies in the lateral visual cortex. PMID:26924972

Tribal ethnicity and CYP2B6 genetics in Ugandan and Zimbabwean populations in the UK: implications for efavirenz dosing in HIV infection.

PubMed

Jamshidi, Y; Moreton, M; McKeown, D A; Andrews, S; Nithiyananthan, T; Tinworth, L; Holt, D W; Sadiq, S T

2010-12-01

To determine differences in CYP2B6 loss of function (LoF) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes between Zimbabweans and Ugandans, and within Ugandan populations (Bantu and Nilotic). Genetic epidemiological study enrolling adult black African Ugandan and Zimbabwean patients attending a UK HIV-1 clinic, irrespective of antiretroviral therapy status. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood and the presence of CYP2B6 alleles was determined by direct sequencing of all nine exons of the CYP2B6 gene. Blood was also collected, where appropriate, for determination of efavirenz concentrations. Frequency of SNPs in all patients and LoF haplotype frequencies were calculated. The relationship between the number of LoF haplotype alleles possessed and efavirenz trough concentration (ETC) was determined. Thirty-six Zimbabweans and 74 Ugandans (58 Bantu and 16 Nilotic) were recruited. The definite haplotypes determined were *6, *18, *20 and *27 as LoF and *4 as gain of function. Among those with definite genotypes, the frequency of LoF alleles was 65% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 51-80] of Zimbabweans versus 22% (95% CI: 12-31) of Ugandan Bantus (P = 10(-6)) and versus 39% (95% CI: 14-64) of Ugandan Nilotics (P = 0.09). Among the 19 patients with definite genotype and with available ETCs, log ETCs were associated with a greater number of LoF haplotype alleles [848 ng/mL (n = 12), 1069 ng/mL (n = 4) and 1813 ng/mL (n = 3) for 0, 1 or 2 LoF haplotypes, respectively (P = 0.016)]. Among Zimbabweans, LoF haplotypes constitute the majority of CYP2B6 alleles and are significantly higher in prevalence compared with Ugandans. Frequencies of LoF haplotypes and SNPs in Ugandan Nilotics appear to lie between those of Zimbabweans and Ugandan Bantus. These findings may have relevance to pharmacokinetics and dosing of efavirenz in African populations.

Time-resolved wide-field optically sectioned fluorescence microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dupuis, Guillaume; Benabdallah, Nadia; Chopinaud, Aurélien; Mayet, Céline; Lévêque-Fort, Sandrine

2013-02-01

We present the implementation of a fast wide-field optical sectioning technique called HiLo microscopy on a fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope. HiLo microscopy is based on the fusion of two images, one with structured illumination and another with uniform illumination. Optically sectioned images are then digitally generated thanks to a fusion algorithm. HiLo images are comparable in quality with confocal images but they can be acquired faster over larger fields of view. We obtain 4D imaging by combining HiLo optical sectioning, time-gated detection, and z-displacement. We characterize the performances of this set-up in terms of 3D spatial resolution and time-resolved capabilities in both fixed- and live-cell imaging modes.

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

Khurgin, Jacob B., E-mail: jakek@jhu.edu; Bajaj, Sanyam; Rajan, Siddharth

Longitudinal optical (LO) phonons in GaN generated in the channel of high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) are shown to undergo nearly elastic scattering via collisions with hot electrons. The net result of these collisions is the diffusion of LO phonons in the Brillouin zone causing reduction of phonon and electron temperatures. This previously unexplored diffusion mechanism explicates how an increase in electron density causes reduction of the apparent lifetime of LO phonons, obtained from the time resolved Raman studies and microwave noise measurements, while the actual decay rate of the LO phonons remains unaffected by the carrier density. Therefore, themore » saturation velocity in GaN HEMT steadily declines with increased carrier density, in a qualitative agreement with experimental results.« less

A Study of LoRa: Long Range & Low Power Networks for the Internet of Things

PubMed Central

Augustin, Aloÿs; Yi, Jiazi; Clausen, Thomas; Townsley, William Mark

2016-01-01

LoRa is a long-range, low-power, low-bitrate, wireless telecommunications system, promoted as an infrastructure solution for the Internet of Things: end-devices use LoRa across a single wireless hop to communicate to gateway(s), connected to the Internet and which act as transparent bridges and relay messages between these end-devices and a central network server. This paper provides an overview of LoRa and an in-depth analysis of its functional components. The physical and data link layer performance is evaluated by field tests and simulations. Based on the analysis and evaluations, some possible solutions for performance enhancements are proposed. PMID:27618064

Simulation and Analysis of AUTODIN 2 Network Design

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

BOtfsiriMrtrvooeeiriMrir. «4v4«4«4«4«49> eN 𔄃>KKfw«p’«e«r Hw4iMMivjfsiMe0«4ee«4c*ec» oeeirMTirus^eoeireee eeeiMririMraeoireo’ KK.«e^rv<M(vi#.r »»»»o »o K N. K...responsive. Thus network configurations and conditions can be tested before hardware is modified. However, a body of basic knowledge is required...LOmwOLOoooocomLO • to LO • en m CO - H • • rH • • • OOOOOOCOd-OOOOOOCOCOd- LOLOLOLOOOOOOOtOLO • LO LO .000000 rH

A Study of LoRa: Long Range & Low Power Networks for the Internet of Things.

PubMed

Augustin, Aloÿs; Yi, Jiazi; Clausen, Thomas; Townsley, William Mark

2016-09-09

LoRa is a long-range, low-power, low-bitrate, wireless telecommunications system, promoted as an infrastructure solution for the Internet of Things: end-devices use LoRa across a single wireless hop to communicate to gateway(s), connected to the Internet and which act as transparent bridges and relay messages between these end-devices and a central network server. This paper provides an overview of LoRa and an in-depth analysis of its functional components. The physical and data link layer performance is evaluated by field tests and simulations. Based on the analysis and evaluations, some possible solutions for performance enhancements are proposed.

From Molecular Docking to 3D-Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (3D-QSAR): Insights into the Binding Mode of 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors.

PubMed

Eren, Gokcen; Macchiarulo, Antonio; Banoglu, Erden

2012-02-01

Pharmacological intervention with 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) is a promising strategy for treatment of inflammatory and allergic ailments, including asthma. With the aim of developing predictive models of 5-LO affinity and gaining insights into the molecular basis of ligand-target interaction, we herein describe QSAR studies of 59 diverse nonredox-competitive 5-LO inhibitors based on the use of molecular shape descriptors and docking experiments. These studies have successfully yielded a predictive model able to explain much of the variance in the activity of the training set compounds while predicting satisfactorily the 5-LO inhibitory activity of an external test set of compounds. The inspection of the selected variables in the QSAR equation unveils the importance of specific interactions which are observed from docking experiments. Collectively, these results may be used to design novel potent and selective nonredox 5-LO inhibitors. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Investigation of room temperature UV emission of ZnO films with different defect densities induced by laser irradiation.

PubMed

Zhao, Yan; Jiang, Yijian

2010-08-01

We studied the room temperature UV emission of ZnO films with different defect densities which is fabricated by KrF laser irradiation process. It is shown room temperature UV photoluminescence of ZnO film is composed of contribution from free-exciton (FX) recombination and its longitudinal-optical phonon replica (FX-LO) (1LO, 2LO). With increase of the defect density, the FX emission decreased and FX-LO emission increased dramatically; and the relative strengths of FX to FX-LO emission intensities determine the peak position and intensity of UV emission. What is more, laser irradiation with moderate energy density could induce the crystalline ZnO film with very flat and smooth surface. This investigation indicates that KrF laser irradiation could effectively modulate the exciton emission and surface morphology, which is important for the application of high performance of UV emitting optoelectronic devices. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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

Wollaber, Allan Benton; Park, HyeongKae; Lowrie, Robert Byron

Recent efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop a moment-based, scale-bridging [or high-order (HO)–low-order (LO)] algorithm for solving large varieties of the transport (kinetic) systems have shown promising results. A part of our ongoing effort is incorporating this methodology into the framework of the Eulerian Applications Project to achieve algorithmic acceleration of radiationhydrodynamics simulations in production software. By starting from the thermal radiative transfer equations with a simple material-motion correction, we derive a discretely consistent energy balance equation (LO equation). We demonstrate that the corresponding LO system for the Monte Carlo HO solver is closely related to the originalmore » LO system without material-motion corrections. We test the implementation on a radiative shock problem and show consistency between the energy densities and temperatures in the HO and LO solutions as well as agreement with the semianalytic solution. We also test the approach on a more challenging two-dimensional problem and demonstrate accuracy enhancements and algorithmic speedups. This paper extends a recent conference paper by including multigroup effects.« less

Locomotive syndrome: clinical perspectives

PubMed Central

Ikemoto, Tatsunori; Arai, Young-Chang

2018-01-01

The deterioration of locomotive components, which comprise bones, joints, and intervertebral discs, and muscles and nerves, can lead to symptoms such as pain, limitations in the range of joint mobility, malalignment, impaired balance, and difficulty walking. Locomotive syndrome (LoS) was proposed by the Japanese Orthopedic Association in 2007 as a concept for people who are at a high risk of developing a musculoskeletal ambulation disability attributed to locomotor organs. Although many international articles related to LoS have been published, an international consensus of this concept seems to be lacking. This review article on LoS introduces the concept, the related assessment methods, and the condition’s prevalence based on the most up-to-date literature, and discusses discrimination from frailty and sarcopenia, relevance to musculoskeletal problems, management plan, and future directions. Familiarity with recent evidence would be useful for the health care providers in an aging society to educate individuals with LoS or pre-LoS and to maintain their well-being and prevent them from requiring long-term care. PMID:29750024

A Derivation of the Long-Term Degradation of a Pulsed Atomic Frequency Standard from a Control-Loop Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenhall, C. A.

1996-01-01

The phase of a frequency standard that uses periodic interrogation and control of a local oscillator (LO) is degraded by a long-term random-walk component induced by downconversion of LO noise into the loop passband. The Dick formula for the noise level of this degradation is derived from an explicit solution of an LO control-loop model.

Involvement of RhoGDI2 in the resistance of colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil.

PubMed

Zheng, Zhong; Li, Jianfang; He, Xiangyi; Chen, Xuehua; Yu, Beiqin; Ji, Jun; Zhang, Jianian; Wang, Tingfeng; Gu, Qinlong; Zhu, Zhenggang; Liu, Bingya

2010-01-01

The acquisition of resistance to 5-FU is one of the most prominent obstacles to successful chemotherapy, and the mechanisms underlying the resistance are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to identify novel mediators of 5-FU resistance in colon cancer cells. LoVo colon cancer cells were induced to 5-FU resistance in vitro. The global protein profiles between LoVo and its 5-FU resistant derivative cell line LoVo/5-FU were analyzed by two dimensional gel electrophoresis-based comparative proteomics. The identified proteins expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The cytotoxicity of 5-FU was measured in LoVo/5-FU after knockdown of RhoGDI2 (one of the identified protien). Three differentially expressed proteins were identified. RhoGDI2 and CapG were upregulated, whereas proapoptotic protein Maspin was down-regulated in LoVo/5-FU and validated by Western blotting. Furthermore, knockdown of RhoGDI2 expression by transfection with the RhoGDI2-specific siRNA significantly reduced the resistance to 5-FU in LoVo/5-FU (p < 0.05). These novel data suggest that these differentially expressed proteins may contribute to the development of 5-FU resistance in colon cancer cells.

Large oncosomes contain distinct protein cargo and represent a separate functional class of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles

PubMed Central

Minciacchi, Valentina R.; You, Sungyong; Spinelli, Cristiana; Morley, Samantha; Zandian, Mandana; Aspuria, Paul-Joseph; Cavallini, Lorenzo; Ciardiello, Chiara; Sobreiro, Mariana Reis; Morello, Matteo; Kharmate, Geetanjali; Jang, Su Chul; Kim, Dae-Kyum; Hosseini-Beheshti, Elham; Guns, Emma Tomlinson; Gleave, Martin; Gho, Yong Song; Mathivanan, Suresh; Yang, Wei; Freeman, Michael R.; Di Vizio, Dolores

2015-01-01

Large oncosomes (LO) are atypically large (1-10μm diameter) cancer-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), originating from the shedding of membrane blebs and associated with advanced disease. We report that 25% of the proteins, identified by a quantitative proteomics analysis, are differentially represented in large and nano-sized EVs from prostate cancer cells. Proteins enriched in large EVs included enzymes involved in glucose, glutamine and amino acid metabolism, all metabolic processes relevant to cancer. Glutamine metabolism was altered in cancer cells exposed to large EVs, an effect that was not observed upon treatment with exosomes. Large EVs exhibited discrete buoyant densities in iodixanol (OptiPrepTM) gradients. Fluorescent microscopy of large EVs revealed an appearance consistent with LO morphology, indicating that these structures can be categorized as LO. Among the proteins enriched in LO, cytokeratin 18 (CK18) was one of the most abundant (within the top 5th percentile) and was used to develop an assay to detect LO in the circulation and tissues of mice and patients with prostate cancer. These observations indicate that LO represent a discrete EV type that may play a distinct role in tumor progression and that may be a source of cancer-specific markers. PMID:25857301

An Orientation Dependent Size Illusion Is Underpinned by Processing in the Extrastriate Visual Area, LO1.

PubMed

Mikellidou, Kyriaki; Gouws, André D; Clawson, Hannah; Thompson, Peter; Morland, Antony B; Keefe, Bruce D

2016-01-01

We use the simple, but prominent Helmholtz's squares illusion in which a vertically striped square appears wider than a horizontally striped square of identical physical dimensions to determine whether functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) BOLD responses in V1 underpin illusions of size. We report that these simple stimuli which differ in only one parameter, orientation, to which V1 neurons are highly selective elicited activity in V1 that followed their physical, not perceived size. To further probe the role of V1 in the illusion and investigate plausible extrastriate visual areas responsible for eliciting the Helmholtz squares illusion, we performed a follow-up transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) experiment in which we compared perceptual judgments about the aspect ratio of perceptually identical Helmholtz squares when no TMS was applied against selective stimulation of V1, LO1, or LO2. In agreement with fMRI results, we report that TMS of area V1 does not compromise the strength of the illusion. Only stimulation of area LO1, and not LO2, compromised significantly the strength of the illusion, consistent with previous research that LO1 plays a role in the processing of orientation information. These results demonstrate the involvement of a specific extrastriate area in an illusory percept of size.

Michael acceptor containing drugs are a novel class of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor targeting the surface cysteines C416 and C418.

PubMed

Maucher, Isabelle V; Rühl, Michael; Kretschmer, Simon B M; Hofmann, Bettina; Kühn, Benjamin; Fettel, Jasmin; Vogel, Anja; Flügel, Karsten T; Manolikakes, Georg; Hellmuth, Nadine; Häfner, Ann-Kathrin; Golghalyani, Vahid; Ball, Ann-Katrin; Piesche, Matthias; Matrone, Carmela; Geisslinger, Gerd; Parnham, Michael J; Karas, Michael; Steinhilber, Dieter; Roos, Jessica; Maier, Thorsten J

2017-02-01

Recently, we published that nitro-fatty acids (NFA) are potent electrophilic molecules which inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) by interacting catalytically with cysteine residues next to a substrate entry channel. The electrophilicity is derived from an intramolecular Michael acceptor moiety consisting of an electron-withdrawing group in close proximity to a double bond. The potential of the Michael acceptor moiety to interact with functionally relevant cysteines of proteins potentially renders them effective and sustained enzyme activity modulators. We screened a large library of naturally derived and synthetic electrophilic compounds to investigate whether other types of Michael acceptor containing drugs suppress 5-LO enzyme activity. The activity was measured by assessing the effect on the 5-LO product formation of intact human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. We demonstrated that a number of structurally different compounds were suppressive in the activity assays and showed that Michael acceptors of the quinone and nitro-alkene group produced the strongest inhibition of 5-LO product formation. Reactivity with the catalytically relevant cysteines 416 and 418 was confirmed using mutated recombinant 5-LO and mass spectrometric analysis (MALDI-MS). In the present study, we show for the first time that a number of well-recognized naturally occurring or synthetic anti-inflammatory compounds carrying a Michael acceptor, such as thymoquinone (TQ), the paracetamol metabolite NAPQI, the 5-LO inhibitor AA-861, and bardoxolone methyl (also known as RTA 402 or CDDO-methyl ester) are direct covalent 5-LO enzyme inhibitors that target the catalytically relevant cysteines 416 and 418. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Production of the small heat shock protein Lo18 from Oenococcus oeni in Lactococcus lactis improves its stress tolerance.

PubMed

Weidmann, Stéphanie; Maitre, Magali; Laurent, Julie; Coucheney, Françoise; Rieu, Aurélie; Guzzo, Jean

2017-04-17

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium widely used in cheese and fermented milk production. During fermentation, L. lactis is subjected to acid stress that impairs its growth. The small heat shock protein (sHsp) Lo18 from the acidophilic species Oenococcus oeni was expressed in L. lactis. This sHsp is known to play an important role in protein protection and membrane stabilization in O. oeni. The role of this sHsp could be studied in L. lactis, since no gene encoding for sHsp has been detected in this species. L. lactis subsp. cremoris strain MG1363 was transformed with the pDLhsp18 plasmid, which is derived from pDL278 and contains the hsp18 gene (encoding Lo18) and its own promoter sequence. The production of Lo18 during stress conditions was checked by immunoblotting and the cellular distribution of Lo18 in L. lactis cells after heat shock was determined. Our results clearly indicated a role for Lo18 in cytoplasmic protein protection and membrane stabilization during stress. The production of sHsp in L. lactis improved tolerance to heat and acid conditions in this species. Finally, the improvement of the L. lactis survival in milk medium thanks to Lo18 was highlighted, suggesting an interesting role of this sHsp. These findings suggest that the expression of a sHsp by a L. lactis strain results in greater resistance to stress, and, can consequently enhance the performances of industrial strains. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spice phenolics inhibit human PMNL 5-lipoxygenase.

PubMed

Prasad, N Satya; Raghavendra, R; Lokesh, B R; Naidu, K Akhilender

2004-06-01

A wide variety of phenolic compounds and flavonoids present in spices possess potent antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. We examined whether 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), the key enzyme involved in biosynthesis of leukotrienes is a possible target for the spices. Effect of aqueous extracts of turmeric, cloves, pepper, chili, cinnamon, onion and also their respective active principles viz., curcumin, eugenol, piperine, capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde, quercetin, and allyl sulfide were tested on human PMNL 5-LO activity by spectrophotomeric and HPLC methods. The formation of 5-LO product 5-HETE was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 0.122-1.44 mg for aqueous extracts of spices and 25-83 microM for active principles, respectively. The order of inhibitory activity was of quercetin>eugenol>curcumin>cinnamaldehyde>piperine>capsaicin>allyl sulfide. Quercetin, eugenol and curcumin with one or more phenolic ring and methoxy groups in their structure showed high inhibitory effect, while the non-phenolic spice principle allyl sulfide showed least inhibitory effect on 5-LO. The inhibitory effect of quercetin, curcumin and eugenol was similar to that of synthetic 5-LO inhibitors-phenidone and NDGA. Moreover, the inhibitory potency of aqueous extracts of spice correlated with the active principles of their respective spices. The synergistic or antagonistic effect of mixtures of spice active principles and spice extracts were investigated and all the combinations of spice active principles/extracts exerted synergistic effect in inhibiting 5-LO activity. These findings clearly suggest that phenolic compounds present in spices might have physiological role in modulating 5-LO pathway.

50 CFR 665.121 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... dogtooth tuna Gymnosarda unicolor. Siganidae (Rabbitfish) loloa, lo forktail rabbitfish Siganus aregenteus...) Balistidae. Lo rabbitfishes (Those species not listed as CHCRT) Siganidae. nanue, matamutu, mutumutu...

50 CFR 665.121 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... dogtooth tuna Gymnosarda unicolor. Siganidae (Rabbitfish) loloa, lo forktail rabbitfish Siganus aregenteus...) Balistidae. Lo rabbitfishes (Those species not listed as CHCRT) Siganidae. nanue, matamutu, mutumutu...

50 CFR 665.121 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... dogtooth tuna Gymnosarda unicolor. Siganidae (Rabbitfish) loloa, lo forktail rabbitfish Siganus aregenteus...) Balistidae. Lo rabbitfishes (Those species not listed as CHCRT) Siganidae. nanue, matamutu, mutumutu...

Interobserver reliability of the 'Welfare Quality(®) Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Growing Pigs'.

PubMed

Czycholl, I; Kniese, C; Büttner, K; Beilage, E Grosse; Schrader, L; Krieter, J

2016-01-01

The present paper focuses on evaluating the interobserver reliability of the 'Welfare Quality(®) Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Growing Pigs'. The protocol for growing pigs mainly consists of a Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA), direct behaviour observations (BO) carried out by instantaneous scan sampling and checks for different individual parameters (IP), e.g. presence of tail biting, wounds and bursitis. Three trained observers collected the data by performing 29 combined assessments, which were done at the same time and on the same animals; but they were carried out completely independent of each other. The findings were compared by the calculation of Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficients (RS), Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Smallest Detectable Changes (SDC) and Limits of Agreements (LoA). There was no agreement found concerning the adjectives belonging to the QBA (e.g. active: RS: 0.50, ICC: 0.30, SDC: 0.38, LoA: -0.05 to 0.45; fearful: RS: 0.06, ICC: 0.0, SDC: 0.26, LoA: -0.20 to 0.30). In contrast, the BO showed good agreement (e.g. social behaviour: RS: 0.45, ICC: 0.50, SDC: 0.09, LoA: -0.09 to 0.03 use of enrichment material: RS: 0.75, ICC: 0.68, SDC: 0.06, LoA: -0.03 to 0.03). Overall, observers agreed well in the IP, e.g. tail biting (RS: 0.52, ICC: 0.88; SDC: 0.05, LoA: -0.01 to 0.02) and wounds (RS: 0.43, ICC: 0.59, SDC: 0.10, LoA: -0.09 to 0.10). The parameter bursitis showed great differences (RS: 0.10, ICC: 0.0, SDC: 0.35, LoA: -0.37 to 0.40), which can be explained by difficulties in the assessment when the animals moved around quickly or their legs were soiled. In conclusion, the interobserver reliability was good in the BO and most IP, but not for the parameter bursitis and the QBA.

Time-trial Performance in World-Class Speed Skaters After Chronic Nitrate Ingestion.

PubMed

Richard, Philippe; Koziris, Lymperis P; Charbonneau, Mathieu; Naulleau, Catherine; Tremblay, Jonathan; Billaut, François

2018-05-10

Nitrate supplementation can increase tolerance to high-intensity work rates, however limited data exist on the recovery of performance. We tested whether 5 days of nitrate supplementation could improve repeated time-trial performance in speed skating. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 9 international-level short-track speed skaters ingested one high (juice blend, ~6.5mmol nitrate; HI) or low dose (juice blend, ~1mmol nitrate; LO) per day on days 1-4. After a double dose of either HI or LO on day 5, athletes performed two on-ice 1000-m time trials, separated by 35 min, to simulate competition races. Differences between HI and LO were compared to the smallest practically important difference. Salivary [nitrate] and [nitrite] were higher in HI than LO before the first (nitrate 81%, ES 1.76; nitrite 72%, ES 1.73) and second pursuits (nitrate 81%, ES 1.92; nitrite 71%, ES 1.78). However, there was no difference in performance in the first (LO: 90.92±4.08sec; HI: 90.95±4.06sec, ES 0.01) nor the second time-trial (LO: 91.16±4.06; HI: 91.55±4.40sec, ES 0.09). Plasma [lactate] measured after the trials (LO: 14.8±1.1mM; HI: 14.8±1.2mM, ES 0.01) and at the end of the recovery period (LO: 9.8±2.1mM; HI: 10.2±1.9mM, ES 0.05) was not different between treatments. Five days of a high-dose nitrate supplementation did not change physiological responses and failed to improve single and repeated time-trial performances in world-class short-track speed skaters. These data suggest that nitrate ingestion up to 6.5mmol does not enhance recovery from supra-maximal exercise in world-class athletes.

Monocyte 15-Lipoxygenase Gene Expression Requires ERK1/2 MAPK Activity

PubMed Central

Bhattacharjee, Ashish; Mulya, Anny; Pal, Srabani; Roy, Biswajit; Feldman, Gerald M.; Cathcart, Martha K.

2011-01-01

IL-13 induces profound expression of 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) in primary human monocytes. Our studies have defined the functional IL-13R complex, association of Jaks with the receptor components, and the tyrosine phosphorylation of several Stat molecules in response to IL-13. Furthermore, we identified both p38MAPK and protein kinase Cδ as critical regulators of 15-LO expression. In this study, we report an ERK1/2-dependent signaling cascade that regulates IL-13–mediated 15-LO gene expression. We show the rapid phosphorylation/activation of ERK1/2 upon IL-13 exposure. Our results indicate that Tyk2 kinase is required for the activation of ERK1/2, which is independent of the Jak2, p38MAPK, and protein kinase Cδ pathways, suggesting bifurcating parallel regulatory pathways downstream of the receptor. To investigate the signaling mechanisms associated with the ERK1/2-dependent expression of 15-LO, we explored the involvement of transcription factors, with predicted binding sites in the 15-LO promoter, in this process including Elk1, early growth response-1 (Egr-1), and CREB. Our findings indicate that IL-13 induces Egr-1 nuclear accumulation and CREB serine phosphorylation and that both are markedly attenuated by inhibition of ERK1/2 activity. We further show that ERK1/2 activity is required for both Egr-1 and CREB DNA binding to their cognate sequences identified within the 15-LO promoter. Furthermore, by transfecting monocytes with the decoy oligodeoxyribonucleotides specific for Egr-1 and CREB, we discovered that Egr-1 and CREB are directly involved in regulating 15-LO gene expression. These studies characterize an important regulatory role for ERK1/2 in mediating IL-13–induced monocyte 15-LO expression via the transcription factors Egr-1 and CREB. PMID:20861348

EETs Attenuate Ox-LDL-Induced LTB4 Production and Activity by Inhibiting p38 MAPK Phosphorylation and 5-LO/BLT1 Receptor Expression in Rat Pulmonary Arterial Endothelial Cells.

PubMed

Jiang, Jun-xia; Zhang, Shui-juan; Xiong, Yao-kang; Jia, Yong-liang; Sun, Yan-hong; Lin, Xi-xi; Shen, Hui-juan; Xie, Qiang-min; Yan, Xiao-feng

2015-01-01

Cytochrome P-450 epoxygenase (EPOX)-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), the product of 5-LO, all play a pivotal role in the vascular inflammatory process. We have previously shown that EETs can alleviate oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial inflammation in primary rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAECs). Here, we investigated whether ox-LDL can promote LTB4 production through the 5-LO pathway. We further explored how exogenous EETs influence ox-LDL-induced LTB4 production and activity. We found that treatment with ox-LDL increased the production of LTB4 and further led to the expression and release of both monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). All of the above ox-LDL-induced changes were attenuated by the presence of 11,12-EET and 14,15-EET, as these molecules inhibited the 5-LO pathway. Furthermore, the LTB4 receptor 1 (BLT1 receptor) antagonist U75302 attenuated ox-LDL-induced ICAM-1 and MCP-1/CCL2 expression and production, whereas LY255283, a LTB4 receptor 2 (BLT2 receptor) antagonist, produced no such effects. Moreover, in RPAECs, we demonstrated that the increased expression of 5-LO and BLT1 following ox-LDL treatment resulted from the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Our results indicated that EETs suppress ox-LDL-induced LTB4 production and subsequent inflammatory responses by downregulating the 5-LO/BLT1 receptor pathway, in which p38 MAPK phosphorylation activates NF-κB. These results suggest that the metabolism of arachidonic acid via the 5-LO and EPOX pathways may present a mutual constraint on the physiological regulation of vascular endothelial cells.

2-(4-(Biphenyl-4-ylamino)-6-chloropyrimidin-2-ylthio)octanoic acid (HZ52) – a novel type of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor with favourable molecular pharmacology and efficacy in vivo

PubMed Central

Greiner, C; Hörnig, C; Rossi, A; Pergola, C; Zettl, H; Schubert-Zsilavecz, M; Steinhilber, D; Sautebin, L; Werz, O

2011-01-01

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes (LTs) representing a potential target for pharmacological intervention with inflammation and allergic disorders. Although many LT synthesis inhibitors are effective in simple in vitro test systems, they frequently fail in vivo due to lack of efficacy. Here, we attempted to assess the pharmacological potential of the previously identified 5-LO inhibitor 2-(4-(biphenyl-4-ylamino)-6-chloropyrimidin-2-ylthio)octanoic acid (HZ52). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We evaluated the efficacy of HZ52 in vivo using carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced lethal shock in mice. We also characterized 5-LO inhibition by HZ52 at the cellular and molecular level in comparison with other types of 5-LO inhibitor, that is, BWA4C, ZM230487 and hyperforin. KEY RESULTS HZ52, 1.5 mg·kg−1 i.p., prevented carrageenan-induced pleurisy accompanied by reduced LTB4 levels and protected mice (10 mg·kg−1, i.p.) against PAF-induced shock. Detailed analysis in cell-based and cell-free assays revealed that inhibition of 5-LO by HZ52 (i) does not depend on radical scavenging properties and is reversible; (ii) is not impaired by an increased peroxide tone or by elevated substrate concentrations; and (iii) is little affected by the cell stimulus or by phospholipids, glycerides, membranes or Ca2+. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS HZ52 is a promising new type of 5-LO inhibitor with efficacy in vivo and with a favourable pharmacological profile. It possesses a unique 5-LO inhibitory mechanism different from classical 5-LO inhibitors and seemingly lacks the typical disadvantages of former classes of LT synthesis blockers. PMID:21506958

5-lipoxygenase activation is involved in the mechanisms of chronic hepatic injury in a rat model of chronic aluminum overload exposure

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

Mai, Shaoshan

We previously confirmed that rats overloaded with aluminum exhibited hepatic function damage and increased susceptibility to hepatic inflammation. However, the mechanism of liver toxicity by chronic aluminum overload is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated changes in the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) signaling pathway and its effect on liver injury in aluminum-overloaded rats. A rat hepatic injury model of chronic aluminum injury was established via the intragastric administration of aluminum gluconate (Al{sup 3+} 200 mg/kg per day, 5 days a week for 20 weeks). The 5-LO inhibitor, caffeic acid (10 and 30 mg/kg), was intragastrically administered 1 h after aluminum administration.more » Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to visualize pathological changes in rat liver tissue. A series of biochemical indicators were measured with biochemistry assay or ELISAs. Immunochemistry and RT-PCR methods were used to detect 5-LO protein and mRNA expression in the liver, respectively. Caffeic acid administration protected livers against histopathological injury, decreased plasma ALT, AST, and ALP levels, decreased TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and LTs levels, increased the reactive oxygen species content, and down-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of 5-LO in aluminum overloaded rats. Our results indicate that 5-lipoxygenase activation is mechanistically involved in chronic hepatic injury in a rat model of chronic aluminum overload exposure and that the 5-LO signaling pathway, which associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, is a potential therapeutic target for chronic non-infection liver diseases. - Highlights: • 5-LO signaling contributes to mechanisms of hepatotoxicity of aluminum overload. • Oxidative and inflammatory reaction involve in chonic aluminum hepatotoxicity. • 5-LO inhibitor has a protective effect on aluminum-overload liver injury. • 5-LO signaling is a potential therapeutic target for non-infection liver diseases.« less

EETs Attenuate Ox-LDL-Induced LTB4 Production and Activity by Inhibiting p38 MAPK Phosphorylation and 5-LO/BLT1 Receptor Expression in Rat Pulmonary Arterial Endothelial Cells

PubMed Central

Xiong, Yao-kang; Jia, Yong-liang; Sun, Yan-hong; Lin, Xi-xi; Shen, Hui-juan; Xie, Qiang-min; Yan, Xiao-feng

2015-01-01

Cytochrome P-450 epoxygenase (EPOX)-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), the product of 5-LO, all play a pivotal role in the vascular inflammatory process. We have previously shown that EETs can alleviate oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial inflammation in primary rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAECs). Here, we investigated whether ox-LDL can promote LTB4 production through the 5-LO pathway. We further explored how exogenous EETs influence ox-LDL-induced LTB4 production and activity. We found that treatment with ox-LDL increased the production of LTB4 and further led to the expression and release of both monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). All of the above ox-LDL-induced changes were attenuated by the presence of 11,12-EET and 14,15-EET, as these molecules inhibited the 5-LO pathway. Furthermore, the LTB4 receptor 1 (BLT1 receptor) antagonist U75302 attenuated ox-LDL-induced ICAM-1 and MCP-1/CCL2 expression and production, whereas LY255283, a LTB4 receptor 2 (BLT2 receptor) antagonist, produced no such effects. Moreover, in RPAECs, we demonstrated that the increased expression of 5-LO and BLT1 following ox-LDL treatment resulted from the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Our results indicated that EETs suppress ox-LDL-induced LTB4 production and subsequent inflammatory responses by downregulating the 5-LO/BLT1 receptor pathway, in which p38 MAPK phosphorylation activates NF-κB. These results suggest that the metabolism of arachidonic acid via the 5-LO and EPOX pathways may present a mutual constraint on the physiological regulation of vascular endothelial cells. PMID:26035589

In vitro characterization of CD133lo cancer stem cells in Retinoblastoma Y79 cell line.

PubMed

Nair, Rohini M; Balla, Murali Ms; Khan, Imran; Kalathur, Ravi Kiran Reddy; Kondaiah, Paturu; Vemuganti, Geeta K

2017-11-21

Retinoblastoma (Rb), the most common childhood intraocular malignant tumor, is reported to have cancer stem cells (CSCs) similar to other tumors. Our previous investigation in primary tumors identified the small sized cells with low CD133 (Prominin-1) and high CD44 (Hyaluronic acid receptor) expression to be putative Rb CSCs using flow cytometry (FSC lo /SSC lo /CD133 lo /CD44 hi ). With this preliminary data, we have now utilized a comprehensive approach of in vitro characterization of Y79 Rb cell line following CSC enrichment using CD133 surface marker and subsequent validation to confirm the functional properties of CSCs. The cultured Rb Y79 cells were evaluated for surface markers by flow cytometry and CD133 sorted cells (CD133 lo /CD133 hi ) were compared for CSC characteristics by size/percentage, cell cycle assay, colony formation assay, differentiation, Matrigel transwell invasion assay, cytotoxicity assay, gene expression using microarray and validation by semi-quantitative PCR. Rb Y79 cell line shared the profile (CD133, CD90, CXCR4 and ABCB1) of primary tumors except for CD44 expression. The CD133 lo cells (16.1 ± 0.2%) were FSC lo /SSC lo , predominantly within the G0/G1 phase, formed larger and higher number of colonies with ability to differentiate to CD133 hi cells, exhibited increased invasive potential in a matrigel transwell assay (p < 0.05) and were resistant to Carboplatin treatment (p < 0.001) as compared to CD133 hi cells. The CD133 lo cells showed higher expression of several embryonic stem cell genes (HOXB2, HOXA9, SALL1, NANOG, OCT4, LEFTY), stem cells/progenitor genes (MSI2, BMI1, PROX1, ABCB1, ABCB5, ABCG2), and metastasis related gene- MACC1, when compared to the CD133 hi cells. This study validates the observation from our earlier primary tumor study that CSC properties in Rb Y79 cell line are endowed within the CD133 lo population, evident by their characteristics- i.e. small sized, dormant in nature, increased colony forming ability, differentiation to CD133 hi cells, higher invasiveness potential, drug resistance and primitive gene expression pattern. These findings provide a proof of concept for methodological characterization of the retinoblastoma CSCs with future implications for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Detection of enteropathogens associated with travelers’ diarrhea using a multiplex Luminex-based assay performed on stool samples smeared on Whatman FTA Elute cards

PubMed Central

Lalani, Tahaniyat; Tisdale, Michele D; Maguire, Jason D; Wongsrichanalai, Chansuda; Riddle, Mark S; Tribble, David R

2015-01-01

We evaluated the limits of detection (LoD) for an 11-plex PCR-Luminex assay performed on Whatman FTA Elute cards smeared with stool containing pathogens associated with travelers’ diarrhea. LoDs ranged between 102-105 CFU, PFU or cysts/g for most pathogens except Cryptosporidium. Campylobacter and norovirus LoD increased with prolonged storage of cards. PMID:26072151

A Derivation of the Dick Effect from Control-Loop Models for Periodically Interrogated Passive Frequency Standards

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenhall, Charles A.

1996-01-01

The phase of a frequency standard that uses periodic interrogation and control of a local oscillator (LO) is degraded by a long-term random-walk component induced by downconversion of LO noise into the loop passband. The Dick formula for the noise level of this degradation can be derived from explicit solotions of two LO control-loop models. A summary of the derivations is given here.

A Study of the Relationship between Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTi) and Student Performance on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berkeley-Jones, Catherine Spotswood

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine teacher Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTi) self-ratings and student Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores. The study assessed the relationship between LoTi ratings and TAKS scores of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students as reported in student records at Alamo Heights Independent School…

Transport Properties of Plasmas in Microwave Electrothermal Thrusters

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

pulsars to the cold, dense degenerate quantum electron _2 plasma of a white dwarf...k5. a-0 o0o E~~~ LL.. : Lo ~4)A U U) I .. 53 0 00 (O ( Qf) 0~ l--0 Cl) N’,." • : 0 . 0 0 0 CLo CO o0 tr Calor".trv Grp v’ >1 .-,- If , ,U,7 , 0 o o Co o...8217rt• 1r, 61 (flQ ao’= .2 .2C0 N0 2 2 ~0 00 L.n o. 0 aoOo 0 (V) -0~ LO 0 0 LO 0 L 0 L LO 0 *(-w) Hlua’ F’ig-re 6.2 Plasma Dimensions Grapln Il 62

Object orientation affects spatial language comprehension.

PubMed

Burigo, Michele; Sacchi, Simona

2013-01-01

Typical spatial descriptions, such as "The car is in front of the house," describe the position of a located object (LO; e.g., the car) in space relative to a reference object (RO) whose location is known (e.g., the house). The orientation of the RO affects spatial language comprehension via the reference frame selection process. However, the effects of the LO's orientation on spatial language have not received great attention. This study explores whether the pure geometric information of the LO (e.g., its orientation) affects spatial language comprehension using placing and production tasks. Our results suggest that the orientation of the LO influences spatial language comprehension even in the absence of functional relationships. Copyright © 2013 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Characterization of Polymyxin B Biodistribution and Disposition in an Animal Model

PubMed Central

Manchandani, Pooja; Zhou, Jian; Ledesma, Kimberly R.; Truong, Luan D.; Chow, Diana S.-L.; Eriksen, Jason L.

2015-01-01

Despite dose-limiting nephrotoxicity concerns, polymyxin B has resurged as the treatment of last resort for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and nephrotoxic properties of polymyxin B still are not thoroughly understood. The objective of this study was to provide additional insights into the overall biodistribution and disposition of polymyxin B in an animal model. Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with intravenous polymyxin B (3 mg/kg of body weight). Drug concentrations in the serum, urine, bile, and tissue (brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and skeletal muscle) samples over time were assayed by a validated methodology. Among all the organs evaluated, polymyxin B distribution was highest in the kidneys. The mean renal tissue/serum polymyxin B concentration ratios were 7.45 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.63 to 10.27) at 3 h and 19.62 (95% CI, 5.02 to 34.22) at 6 h postdose. Intrarenal drug distribution was examined by immunostaining. Using a ratiometric analysis, proximal tubular cells showed the highest accumulation of polymyxin B (Mander's overlap coefficient, 0.998) among all cell types evaluated. Less than 5% of the administered dose was recovered in urine over 48 h, but all 4 major polymyxin B components were detected in the bile over 4 h. These findings corroborate previous results that polymyxin B is highly accumulated in the kidneys, but the elimination likely is via a nonrenal route. Biliary excretion could be one of the routes of polymyxin B elimination, and this should be further explored. The elucidation of mechanism(s) of drug uptake in proximal tubular cells is ongoing. PMID:26643340

Hospital variation in allogeneic transfusion and extended length of stay in primary elective hip and knee arthroplasty: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Voorn, Veronique M A; Marang-van de Mheen, Perla J; van der Hout, Anja; So-Osman, Cynthia; van den Akker-van Marle, M Elske; Koopman-van Gemert, Ankie W M M; Dahan, Albert; Vliet Vlieland, Thea P M; Nelissen, Rob G H H; van Bodegom-Vos, Leti

2017-07-20

Outcomes in total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA), such as allogeneic transfusions or extended length of stay (LoS), can be used to compare the performance of hospitals. However, there is much variation in these outcomes. This study aims to rank hospitals and to assess hospital differences of two outcomes in THA and TKA: allogeneic transfusions and extended LoS, and to additionally identify factors associated with these differences. Cross-sectional medical record review study. Data were gathered in 23 Dutch hospitals. 1163 THA and 986 TKA patient admissions. Hospitals were ranked based on their observed/expected (O/E) ratios regarding allogeneic transfusion and extended LoS percentages (extended LoS was defined by postoperative stay >4 days). To assess the reliability of these rankings, we calculated which percentage of the existing variation was based on differences between hospitals as compared with random variation (after adjustment for variation in patient characteristics). Associations between hospital-specific factors and O/E ratios were used to explore potential sources of differences. The variation in O/E ratios between hospitals ranged from 0 to 4.4 for allogeneic transfusion, and from 0.08 to 2.7 for extended LoS. Variation in transfusion could in 21% be explained by hospital differences in THA and 34% in TKA. For extended LoS this was 71% in THA and 78% in TKA. Better performance (low O/E ratios) in transfusion was associated with more frequent tranexamic acid (TXA) use in TKA (R=-0.43, p=0.04). Better performance in extended LoS was associated with more frequent TXA use in THA (R=-0.45, p=0.03) and TKA (R=-0.65, p<0.001) and local infiltration analgesia (LIA) in TKA (R=-0.60, p=0.002). Ranking hospitals based on allogeneic transfusion is unreliable due to small percentages of variation explained by hospital differences. Ranking based on extended LoS is more reliable. Hospitals using TXA and LIA have relatively fewer patients with transfusions and extended LoS. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

PPAR γ is highly expressed in F4/80hi adipose tissue macrophages and dampens adipose-tissue inflammation

PubMed Central

Bassaganya-Riera, Josep; Misyak, Sarah; Guri, Amir J.; Hontecillas, Raquel

2009-01-01

Macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue is a hallmark of obesity. We recently reported two phenotypically distinct subsets of adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) based on the surface expression of the glycoprotein F4/80 and responsiveness to treatment with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ agonist. Hence, we hypothesized that F4/80hi and F4/80lo ATM differentially express PPAR γ. This study phenotypically and functionally characterizes F4/80hi and F4/80lo ATM subsets during obesity. Changes in gene expression were also examined on sorted F4/80lo and F4/80hi ATM by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. We show that while F4/80lo macrophages predominate in adipose tissue of lean mice, obesity causes accumulation of both F4/80lo and F4/80hi ATM. Moreover, accumulation of F4/80hi ATM in adipose tissue is associated with impaired glucose tolerance. Phenotypically, F4/80hi ATM express greater amounts of CD11c, MHC II, CD49b, and CX3CR1 and produce more TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-10 than F4/80lo ATM. Gene expression analyses of the sorted populations revealed that only the F4/80lo population produced IL-4, whereas the F4/80hi ATM expressed greater amounts of PPAR γ, δ, CD36 and toll-like receptor-4. In addition, the deficiency of PPAR γ in immune cells favors expression of M1 and impairs M2 macrophage marker expression in adipose tissue. Thus, PPAR γ is differentially expressed in F4/80hi versus F4/80low ATM subsets and its deficiency favors a predominance of M1 markers in WAT. PMID:19423085

The LoTrach system: its role in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

PubMed

Fletcher, Andrew J W; Ruffell, Alison J; Young, Peter J

2008-01-01

To discuss the development of the LoTrach system in light of current evidence around the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and its practical application in the intensive care setting. VAP causes substantial morbidity and mortality in ventilated patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), increases length of stay in ICU and is extremely costly. Strategies are needed to reduce the risk of VAP. We examine the need for an endotracheal tube (ETT) specifically designed for the critically-ill patient, the development of the LoTrach system from conception to production, and the role of the various components of the system in preventing VAP. Early issues in implementing this revolutionary equipment into ICU are explored and three case studies highlight advantages of this system. The LoTrach system has been designed to facilitate the provision of a number of evidence-based interventions that have been shown to reduce VAP. Pulmonary aspiration is ubiquitous with conventional cuffs but prevented by the cuff of the LoTrach system when held at a constant and safe pressure against the tracheal wall with a cuff pressure controller. Other aspects incorporated in the ETT are aimed at clearing the secretions from the subglottic space, preventing tube occlusion and accidental extubation, and avoiding damage to the airway. In this way the LoTrach system employs a multifactorial approach to the prevention of VAP and the cost savings from LoTrach rather than a standard ETT will be considerable because of an average 3 day reduction in ICU length of stay related to this. It thus has the potential to be a very useful tool in the ICU setting in the prevention of VAP.

Seated limits-of-stability of athletes with disabilities with regard to competitive levels and sport classification.

PubMed

Santos, P B R; Vigário, P S; Mainenti, M R M; Ferreira, A S; Lemos, T

2017-12-01

In this study, we asked whether wheelchair rugby (WR) classification and competitive level influence trunk function of athletes with disabilities, in terms of seated limits-of-stability (LoS). Twenty-eight athletes were recruited from international- and national-level WR teams, with each group exhibiting marked differences in years of sports practice and training volume. Athletes were also distributed into three groups according their classification: low-point (0.5-1.5-point); mid-point (2.0-2.5-point); and high-point (3.0-3.5-point). Athletes were asked to sit on a force platform and to lean the body as far as possible in eight predefined directions. Center of pressure (COP) coordinates were calculated from the ground reaction forces acquired with the force platform. LoS were computed as the area of ellipse adjusted to maximal COP excursion achieved for the eight directions. ANOVAs reveal that LoS were not different when international- and national-level players were compared (P=.744). Nevertheless, LoS were larger in players from the high-point group than from the low-point group (P=.028), with the mid-point group being not different from both (P>.194). In summary, (i) competitive level does not impact LoS measures and (ii) LoS are remarkably distinct when comparing both extremes of the WR classification range. Our results suggest that, as a training-resistant measure, LoS could be a valid assessment of trunk impairment, potentially contributing to the development of an evidence-based WR classification. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Replacement of dietary fish oils by alpha-linolenic acid-rich oils lowers omega 3 content in tilapia flesh.

PubMed

Karapanagiotidis, Ioannis T; Bell, Michael V; Little, David C; Yakupitiyage, Amararatne

2007-06-01

A 20-week feeding trial was conducted to determine whether increasing linolenic acid (18:3n-3) in vegetable oil (VO) based diets would lead to increased tissue deposition of 22:6n-3 in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were supplemented with 3% of either linseed oil (LO), a mixture of linseed oil with refined palm olein oil (PO) (LO-PO 2:1) and a mixture of refined palm olein oil with linseed oil (PO-LO 3:2) or with fish oil (FO) or corn oil (CO) as controls. The PO-LO, LO-PO and LO diets supplied a similar amount of 18:2n-6 (0.5% of diet by dry weight) and 0.5, 0.7 and 1.1% of 18:3n-3, respectively. Increased dietary 18:3n-3 caused commensurate increases in longer-chain n-3 PUFA and decreases in longer-chain n-6 PUFA in the muscle lipids of tilapia. However, the biosynthetic activities of fish fed the LO-based diets were not sufficient to raise the tissue concentrations of 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 to those of fish fed FO. The study suggests that tilapia (O. niloticus) has a limited capacity to synthesise 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 from dietary 18:3n-3. The replacement of FO in the diet of farmed tilapia with vegetable oils could therefore lower tissue concentrations of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, and consequently produce an aquaculture product of lower lipid nutritional value for the consumer.

Longitudinal tracking of subpopulation dynamics and molecular changes during LNCaP cell castration and identification of inhibitors that could target the PSA-/lo castration-resistant cells.

PubMed

Rycaj, Kiera; Cho, Eun Jeong; Liu, Xin; Chao, Hsueh-Ping; Liu, Bigang; Li, Qiuhui; Devkota, Ashwini K; Zhang, Dingxiao; Chen, Xin; Moore, John; Dalby, Kevin N; Tang, Dean G

2016-03-22

We have recently demonstrated that the undifferentiated PSA-/lo prostate cancer (PCa) cell population harbors self-renewing long-term tumor-propagating cells that are refractory to castration, thus representing a therapeutic target. Our goals here are, by using the same lineage-tracing reporter system, to track the dynamic changes of PSA-/lo and PSA+ cells upon castration in vitro, investigate the molecular changes accompanying persistent castration, and develop large numbers of PSA-/lo PCa cells for drug screening. To these ends, we treated LNCaP cells infected with the PSAP-GFP reporter with three regimens of castration, i.e., CDSS, CDSS plus bicalutamide, and MDV3100 continuously for up to ~21 months. We observed that in the first ~7 months, castration led to time-dependent increases in PSA-/lo cells, loss of AR and PSA expression, increased expression of cancer stem cell markers, and many other molecular changes. Meanwhile, castrated LNCaP cells became resistant to high concentrations of MDV3100, chemotherapeutic drugs, and other agents. However, targeted and medium-throughput library screening identified several kinase (e.g., IGF-1R, AKT, PI3K/mTOR, Syk, GSK3) inhibitors as well as the BCL2 inhibitor that could effectively sensitize the LNCaP-CRPC cells to killing. Of interest, LNCaP cells castrated for >7 months showed evidence of cyclic changes in AR and the mTOR/AKT signaling pathways potentially involving epigenetic mechanisms. These observations indicate that castration elicits numerous molecular changes and leads to enrichment of PSA-/lo PCa cells. The ability to generate large numbers of PSA-/lo PCa cells should allow future high-throughput screening to identify novel therapeutics that specifically target this population.

5-Lypoxygenase products are involved in renal tubulointerstitial injury induced by albumin overload in proximal tubules in mice.

PubMed

Landgraf, Sharon Schilling; Silva, Leandro Souza; Peruchetti, Diogo Barros; Sirtoli, Gabriela Modenesi; Moraes-Santos, Felipe; Portella, Viviane Gomes; Silva-Filho, João Luiz; Pinheiro, Carla Silva; Abreu, Thiago Pereira; Takiya, Christina Maeda; Benjamin, Claudia Farias; Pinheiro, Ana Acacia Sá; Canetti, Claudio; Caruso-Neves, Celso

2014-01-01

The role of albumin overload in proximal tubules (PT) in the development of tubulointerstitial injury and, consequently, in the progression of renal disease has become more relevant in recent years. Despite the importance of leukotrienes (LTs) in renal disease, little is known about their role in tubulointerstitial injury. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible role of LTs on tubulointerstitial injury induced by albumin overload. An animal model of tubulointerstitial injury challenged by bovine serum albumin was developed in SV129 mice (wild-type) and 5-lipoxygenase-deficient mice (5-LO(-/-)). The changes in glomerular morphology and nestin expression observed in wild-type mice subjected to kidney insult were also observed in 5-LO(-/-) mice. The levels of urinary protein observed in the 5-LO(-/-) mice subjected or not to kidney insult were lower than those observed in respective wild-type mice. Furthermore, the increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity, a marker of tubule damage, observed in wild-type mice subjected to kidney insult did not occur in 5-LO(-/-) mice. LTB4 and LTD4, 5-LO products, decreased the uptake of albumin in LLC-PK1 cells, a well-characterized porcine PT cell line. This effect correlated with activation of protein kinase C and inhibition of protein kinase B. The level of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-6, increased in mice subjected to kidney insult but this effect was not modified in 5-LO(-/-) mice. However, 5-LO(-/-) mice subjected to kidney insult presented lower macrophage infiltration and higher levels of IL-10 than wild-type mice. Our results reveal that LTs have an important role in tubulointerstitial disease induced by albumin overload.

Longitudinal tracking of subpopulation dynamics and molecular changes during LNCaP cell castration and identification of inhibitors that could target the PSA−/lo castration-resistant cells

PubMed Central

Rycaj, Kiera; Cho, Eun Jeong; Liu, Xin; Chao, Hsueh-Ping; Liu, Bigang; Li, Qiuhui; Devkota, Ashwini K.; Zhang, Dingxiao; Chen, Xin; Moore, John; Dalby, Kevin N.; Tang, Dean G.

2016-01-01

We have recently demonstrated that the undifferentiated PSA−/lo prostate cancer (PCa) cell population harbors self-renewing long-term tumor-propagating cells that are refractory to castration, thus representing a therapeutic target. Our goals here are, by using the same lineage-tracing reporter system, to track the dynamic changes of PSA−/lo and PSA+ cells upon castration in vitro, investigate the molecular changes accompanying persistent castration, and develop large numbers of PSA−/lo PCa cells for drug screening. To these ends, we treated LNCaP cells infected with the PSAP-GFP reporter with three regimens of castration, i.e., CDSS, CDSS plus bicalutamide, and MDV3100 continuously for up to ~21 months. We observed that in the first ~7 months, castration led to time-dependent increases in PSA−/lo cells, loss of AR and PSA expression, increased expression of cancer stem cell markers, and many other molecular changes. Meanwhile, castrated LNCaP cells became resistant to high concentrations of MDV3100, chemotherapeutic drugs, and other agents. However, targeted and medium-throughput library screening identified several kinase (e.g., IGF-1R, AKT, PI3K/mTOR, Syk, GSK3) inhibitors as well as the BCL2 inhibitor that could effectively sensitize the LNCaP-CRPC cells to killing. Of interest, LNCaP cells castrated for >7 months showed evidence of cyclic changes in AR and the mTOR/AKT signaling pathways potentially involving epigenetic mechanisms. These observations indicate that castration elicits numerous molecular changes and leads to enrichment of PSA−/lo PCa cells. The ability to generate large numbers of PSA−/lo PCa cells should allow future high-throughput screening to identify novel therapeutics that specifically target this population. PMID:26871947

PPAR gamma is highly expressed in F4/80(hi) adipose tissue macrophages and dampens adipose-tissue inflammation.

PubMed

Bassaganya-Riera, Josep; Misyak, Sarah; Guri, Amir J; Hontecillas, Raquel

2009-01-01

Macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue is a hallmark of obesity. We recently reported two phenotypically distinct subsets of adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) based on the surface expression of the glycoprotein F4/80 and responsiveness to treatment with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonist. Hence, we hypothesized that F4/80(hi) and F4/80(lo) ATM differentially express PPAR gamma. This study phenotypically and functionally characterizes F4/80(hi) and F4/80(lo) ATM subsets during obesity. Changes in gene expression were also examined on sorted F4/80(lo) and F4/80(hi) ATM by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. We show that while F4/80(lo) macrophages predominate in adipose tissue of lean mice, obesity causes accumulation of both F4/80(lo) and F4/80(hi) ATM. Moreover, accumulation of F4/80(hi) ATM in adipose tissue is associated with impaired glucose tolerance. Phenotypically, F4/80(hi) ATM express greater amounts of CD11c, MHC II, CD49b, and CX3CR1 and produce more TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and IL-10 than F4/80(lo) ATM. Gene expression analyses of the sorted populations revealed that only the F4/80(lo) population produced IL-4, whereas the F4/80(hi) ATM expressed greater amounts of PPAR gamma, delta, CD36 and toll-like receptor-4. In addition, the deficiency of PPAR gamma in immune cells favors expression of M1 and impairs M2 macrophage marker expression in adipose tissue. Thus, PPAR gamma is differentially expressed in F4/80(hi) versus F4/80(low) ATM subsets and its deficiency favors a predominance of M1 markers in WAT.

Effects of anaesthesia on proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of LoVo colon cancer cells in vitro.

PubMed

Xu, Y J; Li, S Y; Cheng, Q; Chen, W K; Wang, S L; Ren, Y; Miao, C H

2016-02-01

Tumour cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis are crucial steps in tumour metastasis. We evaluated the effect of serum from patients undergoing colon cancer surgery receiving thoracic epidural and propofol anaesthesia on colon cancer cell biology. Patients were randomly assigned to receive propofol anaesthesia with a concomitant thoracic epidural (PEA, n = 20) or sevoflurane anaesthesia with opioid analgesia (SGA, n = 20). Venous blood was obtained before induction of anaesthesia and 24 hours postoperatively. The LoVo colon cancer cells were cultured with patient serum from both groups and the effects on proliferation, invasion and apoptosis were measured. Twenty-four hours after surgery, the absorbance value of LoVo cells at 10% serum concentration from PEA was decreased when compared with SGA (0.302 (0.026) vs 0.391 (0.066), p = 0.005). The inhibitory rate of LoVo cells at 10% serum concentration from PEA was higher than that from SGA (p = 0.004) 24 h after surgery. The number of invasive LoVo cells at 10% serum concentration from PEA was reduced when compared with SGA (44 (4) vs 62 (4), p < 0.001). Exposure of LoVo cells to postoperative serum from patients receiving PEA led to a higher luminescence ratio (apoptosis) than those receiving SGA (0.36 (0.04) vs 0.27 (0.05), p < 0.001). Serum from patients receiving PEA for colon cancer surgery inhibited proliferation and invasion of LoVo cells and induced apoptosis in vitro more than that from patients receiving SGA. Anaesthetic technique might influence the serum milieu in a way that affects cancer cell biology and, thereby, tumour metastastasis. © 2015 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

NRL Industrial Chemical Assessment for Hazard, Probability, and Biomarker Prioritization

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-15

AMMONYX AO|AMMONYX DMCD 40|AMMONYX LO |AMPHITOL 20N|AROMOX DM 12D-W|AROMOX DMCD|AROMOX DMMC- W|ATLAS CD 413|CONCO XAL|CYCLOMOX L|DDNO...N,N-DIMETHYL-, N- OXIDE|DODECYLDIMETHYL AMINE OXIDE|EMAL 20N|EMCOL L|EMCOL LO |EMPIGEN OB|LAURAMINE OXIDE|LAURYLAMINE OXIDE|LAURYLDIMETHYLA MINE N...ETHANEDIOL, 2,2,2- TRICHLORO- |FELSULES|HS|HYDRAL|HYD RATE DE CHLORAL|KESSODRATE| LO RINAL|NOCTEC|NORTEC|NY COTON|NYCTON|PHALDRON E|RECTULES|SK-CHLORAL

Non-extensive entropy of modified Gaussian quantum dot under polaron effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bahramiyan, H.; Khordad, R.; Sedehi, H. R. Rastegar

2018-01-01

The effect of electron-phonon (e-p) interaction on the non-extensive Tsallis entropy of a modified Gaussian quantum dot has been investigated. In this work, the LO-phonons, SO-phonons and LO + SO-phonons have been considered. It is found that the entropy increases with enhancing the confinement potential range and depth. The entropy decreases with considering the electron-phonon interaction. The electron-LO + SO-phonon interaction has the largest contribution to the entropy.

Feasibility study of determining axial stress in ferromagnetic bars using reciprocal amplitude of initial differential susceptibility obtained from static magnetization by permanent magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Dongge; Wu, Xinjun

2018-03-01

An electromagnetic method for determining axial stress in ferromagnetic bars is proposed. In this method, the tested bar is under the static magnetization provided by permanent magnets. The tested bar do not have to be magnetized up to the technical saturation because reciprocal amplitude of initial differential susceptibility (RAIDS) is adopted as the feature parameter. RAIDS is calculated from the radial magnetic flux density Br Lo = 0.5 at the Lift-off Lo = 0.5 mm, radial magnetic flux density Br Lo = 1 at the Lift-off Lo = 1 mm and axial magnetic flux density Bz Lo = 1 at the Lift-off Lo = 1 mm from the surface of the tested bar. Firstly, the theoretical derivation of RAIDS is carried out according to Gauss' law for magnetism, Ampere's Law and the Rayleigh relation in Rayleigh region. Secondly, the experimental system is set up for a 2-meter length and 20 mm diameter steel bar. Thirdly, an experiment is carried out on the steel bar to analyze the relationship between the obtained RAIDS and the axial stress. Experimental results show that the obtained RAIDS decreases almost linearly with the increment of the axial stress inside the steel bar in the initial elastic region. The proposed method has the potential to determine tensile axial stress in the slender cylindrical ferromagnetic bar.

Laminarin-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer LoVo cells.

PubMed

Ji, Chen-Feng; Ji, Yu-Bin

2014-05-01

A number of scientific studies have revealed that laminarin has antitumor effects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the apoptosis of LoVo cells and the underlying mechanisms induced by laminarin. LoVo cells were treated with various concentrations of laminarin and fluorescence-inverted microscopy was used to observe the morphology of LoVo cells treated with laminarin. In addition, western blotting was performed to analyze the expression levels of death receptor (DR)4, DR5, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD), caspase-8, caspase-3, Bid and tBid. Flow cytometry was conducted to analyze the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax, and spectrophotometry was performed to quantify the activity of caspases-8, -3, -6 and -7. Following the treatment of LoVo cells with laminarin for 24 h, the expression levels of DR4, DR5, TRAIL, FADD, Bid, tBid and Bax were observed to be upregulated, whereas the expression levels of pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were downregulated. In addition, the activities of casapse-8, -3, -6 and -7 were observed to increase, which was a significant difference when compared with those of the control group. Therefore, laminarin is considered to induce the apoptosis of LoVo cells, which may occur via a DR pathway, suggesting that laminarin may be a potent agent for cancer treatment.

Design of coherent receiver optical front end for unamplified applications.

PubMed

Zhang, Bo; Malouin, Christian; Schmidt, Theodore J

2012-01-30

Advanced modulation schemes together with coherent detection and digital signal processing has enabled the next generation high-bandwidth optical communication systems. One of the key advantages of coherent detection is its superior receiver sensitivity compared to direct detection receivers due to the gain provided by the local oscillator (LO). In unamplified applications, such as metro and edge networks, the ultimate receiver sensitivity is dictated by the amount of shot noise, thermal noise, and the residual beating of the local oscillator with relative intensity noise (LO-RIN). We show that the best sensitivity is achieved when the thermal noise is balanced with the residual LO-RIN beat noise, which results in an optimum LO power. The impact of thermal noise from the transimpedance amplifier (TIA), the RIN from the LO, and the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) from a balanced photodiode are individually analyzed via analytical models and compared to numerical simulations. The analytical model results match well with those of the numerical simulations, providing a simplified method to quantify the impact of receiver design tradeoffs. For a practical 100 Gb/s integrated coherent receiver with 7% FEC overhead, we show that an optimum receiver sensitivity of -33 dBm can be achieved at GFEC cliff of 8.55E-5 if the LO power is optimized at 11 dBm. We also discuss a potential method to monitor the imperfections of a balanced and integrated coherent receiver.

5-Lipoxygenase-Dependent Recruitment of Neutrophils and Macrophages by Eotaxin-Stimulated Murine Eosinophils

PubMed Central

Luz, Ricardo Alves; Xavier-Elsas, Pedro; de Luca, Bianca; Masid-de-Brito, Daniela; Cauduro, Priscila Soares; Gondar Arcanjo, Luiz Carlos; Cordeiro Faria dos Santos, Ana Carolina; de Oliveira, Ivi Cristina Maria; Gaspar-Elsas, Maria Ignez Capella

2014-01-01

The roles of eosinophils in antimicrobial defense remain incompletely understood. In ovalbumin-sensitized mice, eosinophils are selectively recruited to the peritoneal cavity by antigen, eotaxin, or leukotriene(LT)B4, a 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) metabolite. 5-LO blockade prevents responses to both antigen and eotaxin. We examined responses to eotaxin in the absence of sensitization and their dependence on 5-LO. BALB/c or PAS mice and their mutants (5-LO-deficient ALOX; eosinophil-deficient GATA-1) were injected i.p. with eotaxin, eosinophils, or both, and leukocyte accumulation was quantified up to 24 h. Significant recruitment of eosinophils by eotaxin in BALB/c, up to 24 h, was accompanied by much larger numbers of recruited neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages. These effects were abolished by eotaxin neutralization and 5-LO-activating protein inhibitor MK886. In ALOX (but not PAS) mice, eotaxin recruitment was abolished for eosinophils and halved for neutrophils. In GATA-1 mutants, eotaxin recruited neither neutrophils nor macrophages. Transfer of eosinophils cultured from bone-marrow of BALB/c donors, or from ALOX donors, into GATA-1 mutant recipients, i.p., restored eotaxin recruitment of neutrophils and showed that the critical step dependent on 5-LO is the initial recruitment of eosinophils by eotaxin, not the secondary neutrophil accumulation. Eosinophil-dependent recruitment of neutrophils in naive BALB/c mice was associated with increased binding of bacteria. PMID:24723744

Laminarin-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer LoVo cells

PubMed Central

JI, CHEN-FENG; JI, YU-BIN

2014-01-01

A number of scientific studies have revealed that laminarin has antitumor effects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the apoptosis of LoVo cells and the underlying mechanisms induced by laminarin. LoVo cells were treated with various concentrations of laminarin and fluorescence-inverted microscopy was used to observe the morphology of LoVo cells treated with laminarin. In addition, western blotting was performed to analyze the expression levels of death receptor (DR)4, DR5, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD), caspase-8, caspase-3, Bid and tBid. Flow cytometry was conducted to analyze the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax, and spectrophotometry was performed to quantify the activity of caspases-8, -3, -6 and -7. Following the treatment of LoVo cells with laminarin for 24 h, the expression levels of DR4, DR5, TRAIL, FADD, Bid, tBid and Bax were observed to be upregulated, whereas the expression levels of pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were downregulated. In addition, the activities of casapse-8, -3, -6 and -7 were observed to increase, which was a significant difference when compared with those of the control group. Therefore, laminarin is considered to induce the apoptosis of LoVo cells, which may occur via a DR pathway, suggesting that laminarin may be a potent agent for cancer treatment. PMID:24765209

Framework for the quantitative weight-of-evidence analysis of 'omics data for regulatory purposes.

PubMed

Bridges, Jim; Sauer, Ursula G; Buesen, Roland; Deferme, Lize; Tollefsen, Knut E; Tralau, Tewes; van Ravenzwaay, Ben; Poole, Alan; Pemberton, Mark

2017-12-01

A framework for the quantitative weight-of-evidence (QWoE) analysis of 'omics data for regulatory purposes is presented. The QWoE framework encompasses seven steps to evaluate 'omics data (also together with non-'omics data): (1) Hypothesis formulation, identification and weighting of lines of evidence (LoEs). LoEs conjoin different (types of) studies that are used to critically test the hypothesis. As an essential component of the QWoE framework, step 1 includes the development of templates for scoring sheets that predefine scoring criteria with scores of 0-4 to enable a quantitative determination of study quality and data relevance; (2) literature searches and categorisation of studies into the pre-defined LoEs; (3) and (4) quantitative assessment of study quality and data relevance using the respective pre-defined scoring sheets for each study; (5) evaluation of LoE-specific strength of evidence based upon the study quality and study relevance scores of the studies conjoined in the respective LoE; (6) integration of the strength of evidence from the individual LoEs to determine the overall strength of evidence; (7) characterisation of uncertainties and conclusion on the QWoE. To put the QWoE framework in practice, case studies are recommended to confirm the relevance of its different steps, or to adapt them as necessary. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An Orientation Dependent Size Illusion Is Underpinned by Processing in the Extrastriate Visual Area, LO1

PubMed Central

Mikellidou, Kyriaki; Gouws, André D.; Clawson, Hannah; Thompson, Peter; Morland, Antony B.

2016-01-01

We use the simple, but prominent Helmholtz’s squares illusion in which a vertically striped square appears wider than a horizontally striped square of identical physical dimensions to determine whether functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) BOLD responses in V1 underpin illusions of size. We report that these simple stimuli which differ in only one parameter, orientation, to which V1 neurons are highly selective elicited activity in V1 that followed their physical, not perceived size. To further probe the role of V1 in the illusion and investigate plausible extrastriate visual areas responsible for eliciting the Helmholtz squares illusion, we performed a follow-up transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) experiment in which we compared perceptual judgments about the aspect ratio of perceptually identical Helmholtz squares when no TMS was applied against selective stimulation of V1, LO1, or LO2. In agreement with fMRI results, we report that TMS of area V1 does not compromise the strength of the illusion. Only stimulation of area LO1, and not LO2, compromised significantly the strength of the illusion, consistent with previous research that LO1 plays a role in the processing of orientation information. These results demonstrate the involvement of a specific extrastriate area in an illusory percept of size. PMID:27733896

Multigroup Radiation-Hydrodynamics with a High-Order, Low-Order Method

DOE PAGES

Wollaber, Allan Benton; Park, HyeongKae; Lowrie, Robert Byron; ...

2016-12-09

Recent efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop a moment-based, scale-bridging [or high-order (HO)–low-order (LO)] algorithm for solving large varieties of the transport (kinetic) systems have shown promising results. A part of our ongoing effort is incorporating this methodology into the framework of the Eulerian Applications Project to achieve algorithmic acceleration of radiationhydrodynamics simulations in production software. By starting from the thermal radiative transfer equations with a simple material-motion correction, we derive a discretely consistent energy balance equation (LO equation). We demonstrate that the corresponding LO system for the Monte Carlo HO solver is closely related to the originalmore » LO system without material-motion corrections. We test the implementation on a radiative shock problem and show consistency between the energy densities and temperatures in the HO and LO solutions as well as agreement with the semianalytic solution. We also test the approach on a more challenging two-dimensional problem and demonstrate accuracy enhancements and algorithmic speedups. This paper extends a recent conference paper by including multigroup effects.« less

A Simultaneous Discovery: The Case of Johannes Stark and Antonino Lo Surdo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leone, Matteo; Paoletti, Alessandro; Robotti, Nadia

2004-09-01

In 1913 the German physicist Johannes Stark (1874 1957) and the Italian physicist Antonino Lo Surdo (1880 1949)discovered virtually simultaneously and independently that hydrogen spectral lines are split into components by an external electric field. Both of their discoveries ensued from studies on the same phenomenon, the Doppler effect in canal rays, but they arose in different theoretical contexts. Stark had been working within the context of the emerging quantum theory, following a research program aimed at studying the effect of an electric field on spectral lines. Lo Surdo had been working within the context of the classical theory, and his was an accidental discovery. Both discoveries, however, played important roles in the history of physics: Stark’s discovery contributed to the establishment of both the old and the new quantum theories; Lo Surdo’s discovery led Antonio Garbasso (1871 1933)to introduce research on the quantum theory into Italian physics. Ironically, soon after their discoveries, both Stark and Lo Surdo rejected developments in modern physics and allied themselves with the political and racial programs of Hitler and Mussolini.

Three dimensional HiLo-based structured illumination for a digital scanned laser sheet microscopy (DSLM) in thick tissue imaging.

PubMed

Bhattacharya, Dipanjan; Singh, Vijay Raj; Zhi, Chen; So, Peter T C; Matsudaira, Paul; Barbastathis, George

2012-12-03

Laser sheet based microscopy has become widely accepted as an effective active illumination method for real time three-dimensional (3D) imaging of biological tissue samples. The light sheet geometry, where the camera is oriented perpendicular to the sheet itself, provides an effective method of eliminating some of the scattered light and minimizing the sample exposure to radiation. However, residual background noise still remains, limiting the contrast and visibility of potentially interesting features in the samples. In this article, we investigate additional structuring of the illumination for improved background rejection, and propose a new technique, "3D HiLo" where we combine two HiLo images processed from orthogonal directions to improve the condition of the 3D reconstruction. We present a comparative study of conventional structured illumination based demodulation methods, namely 3Phase and HiLo with a newly implemented 3D HiLo approach and demonstrate that the latter yields superior signal-to-background ratio in both lateral and axial dimensions, while simultaneously suppressing image processing artifacts.

Oxygen Compatibility Testing of Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graf, Neil A.; Hudgins, Richard J.; McBain, Michael

2000-01-01

The development of polymer composite liquid oxygen LO2 tanks is a critical step in creating the next generation of launch vehicles. Future launch vehicles need to minimize the gross liftoff weight (GLOW), which is possible due to the 25%-40% reduction in weight that composite materials could provide over current aluminum technology. Although a composite LO2 tank makes these weight savings feasible, composite materials have not historically been viewed as "LO2 compatible." To be considered LO2 compatible, materials must be selected that will resist any type of detrimental, combustible reaction when exposed to usage environments. This is traditionally evaluated using a standard set of tests. However, materials that do not pass the standard tests can be shown to be safe for a particular application. This paper documents the approach and results of a joint NASA/Lockheed Martin program to select and verify LO2 compatible composite materials for liquid oxygen fuel tanks. The test approach developed included tests such as mechanical impact, particle impact, puncture, electrostatic discharge, friction, and pyrotechnic shock. These tests showed that composite liquid oxygen tanks are indeed feasible for future launch vehicles.

An inductorless active mixer using stacked nMOS/pMOS configuration and LO shaping technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Benqing; Chen, Jun; Wang, Xuebing; Chen, Hongpeng

2018-04-01

In this paper, a CMOS active down-conversion mixer is presented for wideband applications. Specifically, a LO generation chain is suggested to convert AC LO signal to shaped trapezoid burst, which reduces the sinusoidal LO power level requirement by the mixer. The current-reuse technique by stacked nMOS/pMOS architecture is used to save the power consumption of the circuit. Moreover, this complementary configuration is also employed to compensate second-order nonlinearity of the circuit. Implemented in a 0.18-μm CMOS process, post-simulations show that, driven by only ‑10 dBm sinusoidal LO signal, the proposed inductorless mixer provides a maximal conversion gain of 15.7 dB and a noise figure (NF) of 9.1-12 dB across RF input frequency range 0.5-1.6 GHz. The IIP3 and IP1dB of 3.5 dBm and ‑4.8 dBm are obtained, respectively. The mixer core only consumes 3.6 mW from a 1.8-V supply.

Nanotwinning and structural phase transition in CdS quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Pragati; Saxena, Nupur; Chandra, Ramesh; Gupta, Vinay; Agarwal, Avinash; Kanjilal, Dinakar

2012-10-01

Nanotwin structures are observed in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies of cubic phase CdS quantum dots in powder form by chemical co-precipitation method. The deposition of thin films of nanocrystalline CdS is carried out on silicon, glass, and TEM grids keeping the substrates at room temperature (RT) and 200°C by pulsed laser ablation. These films are then subjected to thermal annealing at different temperatures. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction results confirm structural phase transitions after thermal annealing of films deposited at RT and 200°C. The variation of average particle size and ratio of intensities in Raman peaks I 2LO/ I 1LO with annealing temperature are studied. It is found that electron-phonon interaction is a function of temperature and particle size and is independent of the structure. Besides Raman modes LO, 2LO and 3LO of CdS at approximately 302, 603, and 903 cm-1 respectively, two extra Raman modes at approximately 390 and 690 cm-1 are studied for the first time. The green and orange emissions observed in photoluminescence are correlated with phase transition.

Nanotwinning and structural phase transition in CdS quantum dots.

PubMed

Kumar, Pragati; Saxena, Nupur; Chandra, Ramesh; Gupta, Vinay; Agarwal, Avinash; Kanjilal, Dinakar

2012-10-23

Nanotwin structures are observed in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies of cubic phase CdS quantum dots in powder form by chemical co-precipitation method. The deposition of thin films of nanocrystalline CdS is carried out on silicon, glass, and TEM grids keeping the substrates at room temperature (RT) and 200°C by pulsed laser ablation. These films are then subjected to thermal annealing at different temperatures. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction results confirm structural phase transitions after thermal annealing of films deposited at RT and 200°C. The variation of average particle size and ratio of intensities in Raman peaks I2LO/I1LO with annealing temperature are studied. It is found that electron-phonon interaction is a function of temperature and particle size and is independent of the structure. Besides Raman modes LO, 2LO and 3LO of CdS at approximately 302, 603, and 903 cm-1 respectively, two extra Raman modes at approximately 390 and 690 cm-1 are studied for the first time. The green and orange emissions observed in photoluminescence are correlated with phase transition.

The PSA−/lo prostate cancer cell population harbors self-renewing long-term tumor-propagating cells that resist castration

PubMed Central

Qin, Jichao; Liu, Xin; Laffin, Brian; Chen, Xin; Choy, Grace; Jeter, Collene; Calhoun-Davis, Tammy; Li, Hangwen; Palapattu, Ganesh S.; Pang, Shen; Lin, Kevin; Huang, Jiaoti; Ivanov, Ivan; Li, Wei; Suraneni, Mahipal V.; Tang, Dean G.

2012-01-01

SUMMARY Prostate cancer (PCa) is heterogeneous and contains both differentiated and undifferentiated tumor cells, but the relative functional contribution of these two cell populations remains unclear. Here we report distinct molecular, cellular, and tumor-propagating properties of PCa cells that express high (PSA+) and low (PSA−/lo) levels of the differentiation marker PSA. PSA−/lo PCa cells are quiescent and refractory to stresses including androgen deprivation, exhibit high clonogenic potential, and possess long-term tumor-propagating capacity. They preferentially express stem cell genes and can undergo asymmetric cell division generating PSA+ cells. Importantly, PSA−/lo PCa cells can initiate robust tumor development and resist androgen ablation in castrated hosts, and harbor highly tumorigenic castration-resistant PCa cells that can be prospectively enriched using ALDH+CD44+α2β1+ phenotype. In contrast, PSA+ PCa cells possess more limited tumor-propagating capacity, undergo symmetric division and are sensitive to castration. Together, our study suggests PSA−/lo cells may represent a critical source of castration-resistant PCa cells. PMID:22560078

Development of Maintenance METRICS to Forecast Resource Demands of Weapon Systems (Parameter Prioritization). Revision A.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-01

LUV ’ ,czL t . . =U =~Q U F- =L U - L’ I -Li =CDM : :< ) -cC :c I -J -L =- LO 0i < i 0 -:CLU Li V) i = L.) LU -l Q0LUF C C-cnr 0...LUJ -n L -L c*-rJ . X : C\\JC\\ -- C -o 0-< c LQOOC*J LO (L)’ I CC\\ LA ’ .J ~j( co LL.<U~ LC Lo LU LU LU LU; LU; LU LU; LU Lo LU LU, LU LUv LU LUr LU...AD-AO97 b92 BOEING AEROSPACE C0 SEATTLE VA PRODUCT SPOIT/,EMV-."¢ I /6 1/3 OVELOPMENT OF MAINTENANCE METRICS TO FORECAST RESOUltCE OEMANOS--ETC(U)

Higgs boson gluon-fusion production in QCD at three loops.

PubMed

Anastasiou, Charalampos; Duhr, Claude; Dulat, Falko; Herzog, Franz; Mistlberger, Bernhard

2015-05-29

We present the cross section for the production of a Higgs boson at hadron colliders at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N^{3}LO) in perturbative QCD. The calculation is based on a method to perform a series expansion of the partonic cross section around the threshold limit to an arbitrary order. We perform this expansion to sufficiently high order to obtain the value of the hadronic cross at N^{3}LO in the large top-mass limit. For renormalization and factorization scales equal to half the Higgs boson mass, the N^{3}LO corrections are of the order of +2.2%. The total scale variation at N^{3}LO is 3%, reducing the uncertainty due to missing higher order QCD corrections by a factor of 3.

Dephasing of LO-phonon-plasmon hybrid modes in n-type GaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallée, F.; Ganikhanov, F.; Bogani, F.

1997-11-01

The relaxation dynamics of coherent phononlike LO-phonon-plasmon hybrid modes is investigated in n-doped GaAs using an infrared time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering technique. Measurements performed for different crystal temperatures in the range 10-300 K as a function of the electron density injected by doping show a large reduction of the hybrid mode dephasing time compared to the bare LO-phonon one for densities larger than 1016 cm-3. The results are interpreted in terms of coherent decay of the LO-phonon-plasmon mixed mode in the weak-coupling regime and yield information on the plasmon and electron relaxation. The estimated average electron momentum relaxation times are smaller than those deduced from Hall mobility measurements, as expected from our theoretical model.

The histopathological and morphometric investigation of the effects of systemically administered boric acid on alveolar bone loss in ligature-induced periodontitis in diabetic rats.

PubMed

Balci Yuce, Hatice; Toker, Hulya; Goze, Fahrettin

2014-11-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemically administered boric acid on alveolar bone loss, histopathological changes and oxidant/antioxidant status in ligature-induced periodontitis in diabetic rats. Forty-four Wistar rats were divided into six experimental groups: (1) non-ligated (NL, n = 6) group, (2) ligature only (LO, n = 6) group, (3) Streptozotocin only (STZ, n = 8) group, (4) STZ and ligature (STZ+LO, n = 8) group, (5) STZ, ligature and systemic administration of 15 mg/kg/day boric acid for 15 days (BA15, n = 8) group and (6) STZ, ligature and systemic administration of 30 mg/kg/day boric acid for 15 days (BA30, n = 8) group. Diabetes mellitus was induced by 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. Silk ligatures were placed at the gingival margin of lower first molars of the mandibular quadrant. The study duration was 15 days after diabetes induction and the animals were sacrificed at the end of this period. Changes in alveolar bone levels were clinically measured and tissues were histopathologically examined. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels and oxidative stress index (OSI) were evaluated. Primary outcome was alveolar bone loss. Seconder outcome (osteoblast number) was also measured. At the end of 15 days, the alveolar bone loss was significantly higher in the STZ+LO group compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in alveolar bone loss between the STZ+LO 15 mg/kg boric acid and STZ+LO 30 mg/kg boric acid groups (p > 0.05). Systemically administered boric acid significantly decreased alveolar bone loss compared to the STZ+LO group (p < 0.05). The osteoblast number in the BA30 group was significantly higher than those of the NL, STZ and STZ+LO groups (p < 0.05). Inflammatory cell infiltration was significantly higher in the STZ+LO group the other groups (p < 0.05). Serum TAS levels were significantly higher in the NL and LO groups than the other groups (p < 0.05). The differences in TOS levels were not found to be significant among all the groups (p > 0.05). The OSI values of the BA30 group were significantly lower than the STZ+LO group (p < 0.05). Also, the differences in serum calcium and magnesium levels were insignificant among the all groups (p > 0.05). Within the limits of this study, it can be suggested that BA, when administered systemically, may reduce alveolar bone loss in the diabetic rat model.

Modelling and Characterisation of Detection Models in WAMI for Handling Negative Information

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-01

behaviour of the multi-stage detectors used in LoFT. This model is then used in a Probabilistic Hypothesis Density Filter (PHD). Unlike most multitarget...Therefore, we decided to use machine learning techniques which could model — and pre- dict — the behaviour of the detectors in LoFT. Because we are using...on feature detectors [8], motion models [13] and descriptor and template adaptation [9]. 2.3.2 State Model The state space of LoFT is defined in 2D

Individualized Next-Generation Biomathematical Modeling of Fatigue and Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-10

the following expression: - lo (Yo;K,?o,p,Vo,y,n0o,1,(p,F) p[Xo;O,k] p[vo;0,r] p[, lo ;0,c] / Lo (yo;K,k,p,r,7,c,,p,a). A numerical algorithm to minimize...Individualized Next-Generation Biomathematical Modeling of Fatigue and Performance Transitions Pulsar Inc. (Daniel Mollicone) Transitioned the Bayesian...forecasting framework developed as part of this grant (Specific Aim 1), so that Pulsar Inc. could initiate the development of a state/trait optimization

Use of Two-Way Time Transfer Measurements to Improve Geostationary Satellite Navigation

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

lo ck E rro r ( m et er s...clock measurement blackouts. 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 -100 -50 0 50 100 GEO Clock Bias Error Time (hours) C lo ck E rro r ( m et er s...20 GEO Clock Bias Error Time (hours) C lo ck E rro r ( m et er s) Filter-Computed Covariance 0 5 10 15 20 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 GEO

Detection of enteropathogens associated with travelers' diarrhea using a multiplex Luminex-based assay performed on stool samples smeared on Whatman FTA Elute cards.

PubMed

Lalani, Tahaniyat; Tisdale, Michele D; Maguire, Jason D; Wongsrichanalai, Chansuda; Riddle, Mark S; Tribble, David R

2015-09-01

We evaluated the limits of detection (LoD) for an 11-plex PCR-Luminex assay performed on Whatman(™) FTA Elute cards smeared with stool containing pathogens associated with travelers' diarrhea. LoDs ranged from 10(2) to 10(5)CFU, PFU, or cysts/g for most pathogens except Cryptosporidium. Campylobacter and norovirus LoDs increased with prolonged storage of cards. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Liquid Propellant Blast Yields for Delta IV Heavy Vehicles

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-07-01

explode simultaneously, up to 1.4 million lb of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen (LO2/ LH2 ) may be involved and at least partially contribute to the...in the third so as to prevent them from contributing to the blast yield. Since the PYRO LO2/ LH2 yield model was originally developed using data from...that mixing interfaces between the LO2 and LH2 tanks for all three CBCs occur simultaneously, then a reasonable argument can be made for all three

Review of Joint Forces Intelligence Command Response to 9/11 Commission

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-23

USJFCOM tasked its subordinate organizations, to include the JFIC, lo provide information in response to the DIA inquiry. The USJFCOM sent lhe tasker...first plane hit the World Trade Center. JFIC started lo set up a Crisis Action Support Cell (CASC). The CASC consisted of a Team Leader, Information...the Poi!MiiiFP Analysis Branch Is a "jack of all trades. master of none". As far as we know, JFIC Is one ·of the few DoD entities attempting lo

Supplemental Enviromnentul Assessment for Control of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Fort Eustis, Virginia

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

lo prevent new nests lium that area and a programmutic permit is being discussed with US Fish und Wildlite Service. n1ese nests also have designated...mgular mail lo : Timothy P, Christensen 733 Mission Snpport Group Civil Engineer Division 1407 Washington Blvd Fort Eustis, VA 23604 Timothy .p...have consulted with city .~taff rcgan.llng this project. Based on this review, the proposal appears lo be consistent with local and rogional plans

A National Level Engagement Strategy: A Framework for Action

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-15

engagement framework that integrates all instruments of natio nal po wer to focus iocrea~ ing l y limitetl resources LO meet the most s ignificant national...ami rc!o.pOn:-.ibilitie:-, to imph::mcnl and execute the nu!ional engagement

Helicopter Maneuverability and Agility Design Sensitivity and Air Combat Maneuver Data Correlation Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-10-01

o n tr o l sy st em St ic ks , m ix in g, S A S , se rv os L an d in g I n te rf ac e - V er ti ca l lo ad s - In pl an e lo ad s E xt...ROUTINE ALPNPlt ,INPUT VARIABLE QFiQWrM »OUTPUT VARIABLE OP1LO ;LOW ANGLE BAP NABE EXP -30.0,30.0,5.0 jLOWER LIBIT. UPPER LIMIT, DELTA ; LOK ANGLE BAP

Investigation of lightweight designs and materials for LO2 and LH2 propellant tanks for space vehicles, phase 2 and phase 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Full size Tug LO2 and LH2 tank configurations were defined, based on selected tank geometries. These configurations were then locally modeled for computer stress analysis. A large subscale test tank, representing the selected Tug LO2 tank, was designed and analyzed. This tank was fabricated using procedures which represented production operations. An evaluation test program was outlined and a test procedure defined. The necessary test hardware was also fabricated.

Effect of highly lipolyzed goat cheese on HL-60 human leukemia cells: antiproliferative activity and induction of apoptotic DNA damage.

PubMed

Yasuda, S; Kuwata, H; Kawamoto, K; Shirakawa, J; Atobe, S; Hoshi, Y; Yamasaki, M; Nishiyama, K; Tachibana, H; Yamada, K; Kobayashi, H; Igoshi, K

2012-05-01

To establish cheese as a dairy product with health benefits, we embarked on examining the multifunctional role of cheeses, especially in the field of cancer prevention. The current study was designed to investigate whether different types of commercial goat cheeses may possess antiproliferative activity, using an HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line as a cancer cell model. Among 11 cheese extracts tested at 500μg/mL, 6 (Crottin de Chavignol, Pouligny Saint-Pierre, Chabichou du Poitou, Valencay, Kavli, and Sainte-Maure de Touraine) resulted in a significant decrease of cell viability, which is consistent with a decrease in viable cell number. Compared with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) value of individual cheeses in cellular proliferation assays, the Pouligny Saint-Pierre extract showed strong inhibition. Incubation of cells in the presence of Pouligny Saint-Pierre extract resulted in induction of cellular morphological changes and apoptotic DNA fragmentation as well as expression of the active form of caspase-3 protein. Based on the quantification of the ratio of free fatty acids to triglycerides in different cheese samples, a significant correlation was detected between lipolytic ripeness and IC(50) values for antiproliferative capacity tested in HL-60 cells. Collectively, these results support a potential role of highly lipolyzed goat cheeses in the prevention of leukemic cell proliferation. Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spatial patterns in the condition index of the wild Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in a macrotidal coastal ecosystem: Influence of tidal processes and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasmi, Sonia; Bernard, Ismaël; Pouvreau, Stéphane; Maurer, Danièle; Schaal, Gauthier; Ganthy, Florian; Cominassi, Louise; Allain, Gwenhael; Sautour, Benoit; David, Valérie

2017-01-01

In macrotidal coastal ecosystems, spatial heterogeneity of the water column properties is induced by both oceanic and continental influences. Hydrodynamic processes generate a land-sea gradient of environmental conditions, affecting the biological performances of sedentary organisms. The aim of the present study is to establish an extensive spatial assessment in the reproductive investment of the wild Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in Arcachon Bay. This is done by looking for a relationship between the Lawrence and Scott condition index (LSCI) and two tidal processes: the immersion level (IL) and the local oceanic flushing time (LoFt). The LSCI of C. gigas was assessed, just before gamete release, at 68 sampling stations in Arcachon Bay. Oyster performance was overall low and spatially variable. Significant differences in the LSCI were detected between the outer and inner bay. Oyster reefs located toward the mouth of the bay exhibited high LSCI (between 9 and 11), while oyster reefs located in inner bay, especially in south-eastern part around the Eyre River, had low LSCI (below 6). Linear modelling allowed to highlight significant effects of both tidal processes IL and LoFt on the obtained LSCI gradient. IL, LoFt explained 33% of the spatial variability observed on LSCI (IL = 3%; LoFt = 17%; LoFt + IL: 13%), 6% were attributed to the intra-station variation (ISv). Thus, high IL and rapid LoFt favor a better development of somatic-gonadal volume, probably because of longer feeding time and higher supply of food from the ocean by tide flows. Disentangling the effects of IL and LoFt on LSCI allowed to describe the spatial pattern in 61% of variability not explained by both tidal factors. A residual gradient directed southeast-northwest highlighted that others factors, independent from IL and LoFt seems to hamper inner bay oyster reproductive performance. Consequently, investigating on the ecological functioning (Eyre influences), trophic potential and anthropogenic pressures of this zone seem crucial on the understanding of C. gigas reproductive pattern in Arcachon Bay.

International consensus conference on open abdomen in trauma.

PubMed

Chiara, Osvaldo; Cimbanassi, Stefania; Biffl, Walter; Leppaniemi, Ari; Henry, Sharon; Scalea, Thomas M; Catena, Fausto; Ansaloni, Luca; Chieregato, Arturo; de Blasio, Elvio; Gambale, Giorgio; Gordini, Giovanni; Nardi, Guiseppe; Paldalino, Pietro; Gossetti, Francesco; Dionigi, Paolo; Noschese, Giuseppe; Tugnoli, Gregorio; Ribaldi, Sergio; Sgardello, Sebastian; Magnone, Stefano; Rausei, Stefano; Mariani, Anna; Mengoli, Francesca; di Saverio, Salomone; Castriconi, Maurizio; Coccolini, Federico; Negreanu, Joseph; Razzi, Salvatore; Coniglio, Carlo; Morelli, Francesco; Buonanno, Maurizio; Lippi, Monica; Trotta, Liliana; Volpi, Annalisa; Fattori, Luca; Zago, Mauro; de Rai, Paolo; Sammartano, Fabrizio; Manfredi, Roberto; Cingolani, Emiliano

2016-01-01

A part of damage-control laparotomy is to leave the fascial edges and the skin open to avoid abdominal compartment syndrome and allow further explorations. This condition, known as open abdomen (OA), although effective, is associated with severe complications. Our aim was to develop evidence-based recommendations to define indications for OA, techniques for temporary abdominal closure, management of enteric fistulas, and methods of definitive wall closure. The literature from 1990 to 2014 was systematically screened according to PRISMA [Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses] protocol. Seventy-six articles were reviewed by a panel of experts to assign grade of recommendations (GoR) and level of evidence (LoE) using the GRADE [Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation] system, and an international consensus conference was held. OA in trauma is indicated at the end of damage-control laparotomy, in the presence of visceral swelling, for a second look in vascular injuries or gross contamination, in the case of abdominal wall loss, and if medical treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome has failed (GoR B, LoE II). Negative-pressure wound therapy is the recommended temporary abdominal closure technique to drain peritoneal fluid, improve nursing, and prevent fascial retraction (GoR B, LoE I). Lack of OA closure within 8 days (GoR C, LoE II), bowel injuries, high-volume replacement, and use of polypropylene mesh over the bowel (GoR C, LoE I) are risk factors for frozen abdomen and fistula formation. Negative-pressure wound therapy allows to isolate the fistula and protect the surrounding tissues from spillage until granulation (GoR C, LoE II). Correction of fistula is performed after 6 months to 12 months. Definitive closure of OA has to be obtained early (GoR C, LoE I) with direct suture, traction devices, component separation with or without mesh. Biologic meshes are an option for wall reinforcement if bacterial contamination is present (GoR C, LoE II). OA and negative-pressure techniques improve the care of trauma patients, but closure must be achieved early to avoid complications.

Human knockouts and phenotypic analysis in a cohort with a high rate of consanguinity

PubMed Central

Saleheen, Danish; Natarajan, Pradeep; Armean, Irina M.; Zhao, Wei; Rasheed, Asif; Khetarpal, Sumeet; Won, Hong-Hee; Karczewski, Konrad J.; O’Donnell-Luria, Anne H.; Samocha, Kaitlin E.; Weisburd, Benjamin; Gupta, Namrata; Zaidi, Mozzam; Samuel, Maria; Imran, Atif; Abbas, Shahid; Majeed, Faisal; Ishaq, Madiha; Akhtar, Saba; Trindade, Kevin; Mucksavage, Megan; Qamar, Nadeem; Zaman, Khan Shah; Yaqoob, Zia; Saghir, Tahir; Rizvi, Syed Nadeem Hasan; Memon, Anis; Mallick, Nadeem Hayyat; Ishaq, Mohammad; Rasheed, Syed Zahed; Memon, Fazal-ur-Rehman; Mahmood, Khalid; Ahmed, Naveeduddin; Do, Ron; Krauss, Ronald M.; MacArthur, Daniel G.; Gabriel, Stacey; Lander, Eric S.; Daly, Mark J.; Frossard, Philippe; Danesh, John; Rader, Daniel J.; Kathiresan, Sekar

2017-01-01

A major goal of biomedicine is to understand the function of every gene in the human genome.1 Loss-of-function (LoF) mutations can disrupt both copies of a given gene in humans and phenotypic analysis of such ‘human knockouts’ can provide insight into gene function. Consanguineous unions are more likely to result in offspring who carry LoF mutations in a homozygous state. In Pakistan, consanguinity rates are notably high.2 Here, we sequenced the protein-coding regions of 10,503 adult participants in the Pakistan Risk of Myocardial Infarction Study (PROMIS) designed to understand the determinants of cardiometabolic diseases in South Asians.3 We identified individuals carrying predicted LoF (pLoF) mutations in the homozygous state, and performed phenotypic analysis involving >200 biochemical and disease traits. We enumerated 49,138 rare (<1 % minor allele frequency) pLoF mutations. These pLoF mutations are predicted to knock out 1,317 genes in at least one participant. Homozygosity for pLoF mutations at PLAG27 was associated with absent enzymatic activity of soluble lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2; at CYP2F1, with higher plasma interleukin-8 concentrations; at TREH, with lower concentrations of apoB-containing lipoprotein subfractions; at either A3GALT2 or NRG4, with markedly reduced plasma insulin C-peptide concentrations; and at SLC9A3R1, with mediators of calcium and phosphate signaling. Finally, APOC3 is a gene which retards clearance of plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and where heterozygous deficiency confers protection against coronary heart disease.4,5 In Pakistan, we now observe APOC3 homozygous pLoF carriers; we recalled these knockout humans and challenged with an oral fat load. Compared with wild-type family members, APOC3 knockouts displayed marked blunting of the usual post-prandial rise in plasma triglycerides. Overall, these observations provide a roadmap for a ‘human knockout project’, a systematic effort to understand the phenotypic consequences of complete disruption of genes in humans. PMID:28406212

Effect of Lipid Sources with Different Fatty Acid Profiles on Intake, Nutrient Digestion and Ruminal Fermentation of Feedlot Nellore Steers

PubMed Central

Fiorentini, Giovani; Carvalho, Isabela P. C.; Messana, Juliana D.; Canesin, Roberta C.; Castagnino, Pablo S.; Lage, Josiane F.; Arcuri, Pedro B.; Berchielli, Telma T.

2015-01-01

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of lipid sources with different fatty acid profiles on nutrient digestion and ruminal fermentation. Ten rumen and duodenal fistulated Nellore steers (268 body weight±27 kg) were distributed in a duplicated 5×5 Latin square. Dietary treatments were as follows: without fat (WF), palm oil (PO), linseed oil (LO), protected fat (PF; Lactoplus), and whole soybeans (WS). The roughage feed was corn silage (600 g/kg on a dry matter [DM] basis) plus concentrate (400 g/kg on a DM basis). The higher intake of DM and organic matter (OM) (p<0.001) was found in animals on the diet with PF and WF (around 4.38 and 4.20 kg/d, respectively). Treatments with PO and LO decreased by around 10% the total digestibility of DM and OM (p<0.05). The addition of LO decreased by around 22.3% the neutral detergent fiber digestibility (p = 0.047) compared with other diets. The higher microbial protein synthesis was found in animals on the diet with LO and WS (33 g N/kg OM apparently digested in the rumen; p = 0.040). The highest C18:0 and linolenic acid intakes occurred in animals fed LO (p<0.001), and the highest intake of oleic (p = 0.002) and C16 acids (p = 0.022) occurred with the diets with LO and PF. Diet with PF decreased biohydrogenation extent (p = 0.05) of C18:1 n9,c, C18:2 n6,c, and total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA; around 20%, 7%, and 13%, respectively). The diet with PF and WF increased the concentration of NH3-N (p<0.001); however, the diet did not change volatile fatty acids (p>0.05), such as the molar percentage of acetate, propionate, butyrate and the acetate:propionate ratio. Treatments PO, LO and with WS decreased by around 50% the concentration of protozoa (p<0.001). Diets with some type of protection (PF and WS) decreased the effects of lipid on ruminal fermentation and presented similar outflow of benefit UFA as LO. PMID:26580282

Isolation of leptospira Serovars Canicola and Copenhageni from cattle urine in the state of ParanÁ, Brazil

PubMed Central

Zacarias, Francielle Gibson da Silva; Vasconcellos, Silvio Arruda; Anzai, Eleine Kuroki; Giraldi, Nilson; de Freitas, Julio Cesar; Hartskeerl, Rudy

2008-01-01

In 2001, 698 urine samples were randomly collected from cattle at a slaughterhouse in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Direct examination using dark field microscopy was carried out immediately after collection. Five putative positive samples were cultured in modified EMJH medium, yielding two positive cultures (LO-14 and LO-10). Typing with monoclonal antibodies revealed that the two isolates were similar to Canicola (LO-14) and Copenhageni (LO-10). Microscopic agglutination test results show that Hardjo is the most common serovar in cattle in Brazil. Rats and dogs are the common maintenance hosts of serovars Copenhageni and Canicola. The excretion of highly pathogenic serovars such as Copenhageni and Canicola by cattle can represent an increasing risk for severe leptospirosis is large populations, mainly living in rural areas. PMID:24031301

Four-Wave-Mixing Oscillations in a simplified Boltzmannian semiconductor model with LO-phonons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamborenea, P. I.; Bányai, L.; Haug, H.

1996-03-01

The recently discovered(L. Bányai, D. B. Tran Thoai, E. Reitsamer, H. Haug, D. Steinbach, M. U. Wehner, M. Wegener, T. Marschner and W. Stolz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 75), 2188 (1995). oscillations of the integrated four-wave-mixing signal in semiconductors due to electron-LO-phonon scattering are studied within a simplified Boltzmann-type model. Although several aspects of the experimental results require a description within the framework of non-Markovian quantum-kinetic theory, our simplified Boltzmannian model is well suited to analyze the origin of the observed novel oscillations of frequency (1+m_e/m_h) hbarω_LO. To this end, we developed a third-order, analytic solution of the semiconductor Bloch equations (SBE) with Boltzmann-type, LO-phonon collision terms. Results of this theory along with numerical solutions of the SBE will be presented.

Liquid Rocket Booster Study. Volume 2, Book 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

The recommended Liquid Rocket Booster (LRB) concept is shown which uses a common main engine with the Advanced Launch System (ALS) which burns LO2 and LH2. The central rationale is based on the belief that the U.S. can only afford one big new rocket engine development in the 1990's. A LO2/LH2 engine in the half million pound thrust class could satisfy STS LRB, ALS, and Shuttle C (instead of SSMEs). Development costs and higher production rates can be shared by NASA and USAF. If the ALS program does not occur, the LO2/RP-1 propellants would produce slight lower costs for and STS LRB. When the planned Booster Engine portion of the Civil Space Transportation Initiatives has provided data on large pressure fed LO2/RP-1 engines, then the choice should be reevaluated.

Temperature dependence of the LO phonon sidebands in free exciton emission of GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, S. J.; Li, G. Q.; Xiong, S.-J.; Che, C. M.

2006-04-01

Temperature-dependent radiative recombination of free excitons involving one or two LO phonons in GaN is investigated in detail. It is found that both phonon sidebands possess asymmetric lineshapes and their energy spacings from the zero-phonon line strongly deviate from the characteristic energy of LO phonons as the temperature increases. Furthermore, the deviation rates of one- and two-phonon sidebands are significantly different. Segall-Mahan [Phys. Rev. 171, 935 (1968)] theory, taking the exciton-photon and exciton-phonon interactions into account, is employed to calculate the sidebands of one or two LO phonons for free excitons in a wide temperature range. Excellent agreement between the theory and experiment is achieved by using only one adjustable parameter, which leads to determination of the effective mass of heavy holes (~0.5m0).

Improving high resolution retinal image quality using speckle illumination HiLo imaging

PubMed Central

Zhou, Xiaolin; Bedggood, Phillip; Metha, Andrew

2014-01-01

Retinal image quality from flood illumination adaptive optics (AO) ophthalmoscopes is adversely affected by out-of-focus light scatter due to the lack of confocality. This effect is more pronounced in small eyes, such as that of rodents, because the requisite high optical power confers a large dioptric thickness to the retina. A recently-developed structured illumination microscopy (SIM) technique called HiLo imaging has been shown to reduce the effect of out-of-focus light scatter in flood illumination microscopes and produce pseudo-confocal images with significantly improved image quality. In this work, we adopted the HiLo technique to a flood AO ophthalmoscope and performed AO imaging in both (physical) model and live rat eyes. The improvement in image quality from HiLo imaging is shown both qualitatively and quantitatively by using spatial spectral analysis. PMID:25136486

Improving high resolution retinal image quality using speckle illumination HiLo imaging.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaolin; Bedggood, Phillip; Metha, Andrew

2014-08-01

Retinal image quality from flood illumination adaptive optics (AO) ophthalmoscopes is adversely affected by out-of-focus light scatter due to the lack of confocality. This effect is more pronounced in small eyes, such as that of rodents, because the requisite high optical power confers a large dioptric thickness to the retina. A recently-developed structured illumination microscopy (SIM) technique called HiLo imaging has been shown to reduce the effect of out-of-focus light scatter in flood illumination microscopes and produce pseudo-confocal images with significantly improved image quality. In this work, we adopted the HiLo technique to a flood AO ophthalmoscope and performed AO imaging in both (physical) model and live rat eyes. The improvement in image quality from HiLo imaging is shown both qualitatively and quantitatively by using spatial spectral analysis.

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

Gu, L. L.; Guo, X. G., E-mail: xgguo@mail.sim.ac.cn; Fu, Z. L.

Strong and sharp photocurrent peak at longitudinal optical (LO) phonon frequency (8.87 THz) is found in GaAs/(Al,Ga)As terahertz quantum-well photodetectors (QWPs). Two mesa-structure terahertz QWPs with and without one-dimensional metal grating are fabricated to investigate the behavior of such photoresponse peak. The experimental and simulation results indicate that the photocurrent peak originates from a two-step process. First, at the LO phonon frequency, a large number of non-equilibrium LO phonons are excited by the incident electromagnetic field, and the electromagnetic energy is localized and enhanced in the thin multi-quantum-well layer. Second, through the Frohlich interaction, the localized electrons are excited tomore » continuum states by absorbing the non-equilibrium LO phonons, which leads to the strong photoresponse peak. This finding is useful for exploring strong light-matter interaction and realizing high sensitive terahertz photodetectors.« less

Optical phonon modes and polaron related parameters in GaxIn1-xP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouarissa, N.; Algarni, H.; Al-Hagan, O. A.; Khan, M. A.; Alhuwaymel, T. F.

2018-02-01

Based on a pseudopotential approach under the virtual crystal approximation that includes the effect of compositional disorder, the optical lattice vibration frequencies and polaron related parameters in zinc-blende GaxIn1-xP have been studied. Our findings showed generally reasonably good accord with data in the literature. Other case, our results are predictions. The composition dependence of longitudinal optical (LO) and transverse optical (TO) phonon modes, LO-TO splittings, Frӧhlich coupling parameter, Debye temperature of LO phonon frequency, and polaron effective mass has been analyzed and discussed. While a non-monotonic behavior has been noticed for the LO and TO phonon frequencies versus Ga concentration x, a monotonic behavior has been observed for the rest of the features of interest. The information derived from this investigation may be useful for optoelectronic technological applications.

Pressure-induced increase of exciton-LO-phonon coupling in a ZnCdSe/ZnSe quantum well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Z. Z.; Liang, X. X.; Ban, S. L.

2003-07-01

The possibility of pressure-induced increase of exciton-LO-phonon coupling in ZnCdSe/ZnSe quantum wells is studied. The ground state binding energies of the heavy hole excitons are calculated using a variational method with consideration of the electron-phonon interaction and the pressure dependence of the parameters. The results show that for quantum wells with intermediate well width, the exciton binding energy and the LO-phonon energy may coincide in the course of pressure increasing, resulting in the increase of exciton-LO-phonon coupling. It is also found that among the pressure-dependent parameters, the influence of the lattice constant is the most important one. The changes of both the effective masses and the dielectric constants have obvious effects on the exciton binding energy, but their influences are counterbalanced.

Multidrug resistance reversal and apoptosis induction in human colon cancer cells by some flavonoids present in citrus plants.

PubMed

Wesołowska, Olga; Wiśniewski, Jerzy; Sroda-Pomianek, Kamila; Bielawska-Pohl, Aleksandra; Paprocka, Maria; Duś, Danuta; Duarte, Noélia; Ferreira, Maria-José U; Michalak, Krystyna

2012-11-26

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells constitutes one of the main reasons for chemotherapy failure. The search for nontoxic modulators that reduce MDR is a task of great importance. An ability to enhance apoptosis of resistant cells would also be beneficial. In the present study, the MDR reversal and apoptosis-inducing potency of three flavonoids produced by Citrus plants, namely, naringenin (1a), aromadendrin (2), and tangeretin (3), and the methylated naringenin derivatives (1b, 1c), have been studied in sensitive (LoVo) and multidrug-resistant (LoVo/Dx) human colon adenocarcinoma cells. Cytotoxicity of methoxylated flavonoids was higher as compared to hydroxylated analogues. Only 3 turned out to inhibit P-glycoprotein, as demonstrated by a rhodamine 123 accumulation assay. It also increased doxorubicin accumulation in LoVo/Dx cells and enabled doxorubicin to enter cellular nuclei. In addition, 3 was found to be an effective MDR modulator in resistant cells by sensitizing them to doxorubicin. Tangeretin-induced caspase-3 activation and elevated surface phosphatidylserine exposure demonstrated its apoptosis-inducing activity in LoVo/Dx cells, while the other flavonoids evaluated were not active. Additionally, 3 was more toxic to resistant rather than to sensitive cancer cells. Its apoptosis-inducing activity was also higher in LoVo/Dx than in LoVo cells. It was concluded that the activity of 3 against multidrug-resistant cancer cells may be enhanced by its apoptosis-inducing activity.

Saikosaponin D disrupts platelet-derived growth factor-β receptor/p38 pathway leading to mitochondrial apoptosis in human LO2 hepatocyte cells: a potential mechanism of hepatotoxicity.

PubMed

Chen, Li; Zhang, Feng; Kong, Desong; Zhu, Xiaojing; Chen, Wenxing; Wang, Aiyun; Zheng, Shizhong

2013-10-25

Herbal hepatotoxicity has been increasingly reported in clinical context, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Saikosaponin D (SSD) is a major component of saikosaponins isolated from Bupleurum falactum, a herb that has been linked to hepatotoxicity. Our current study was to examine the toxic effect of SSD on human hepatocyte LO2 cells and explore the possible mechanism. The results demonstrated that SSD reduced cell viability and led to dramatic morphological alterations in LO2 cells. Hoechst staining and flow cytometry analyses showed that SSD stimulated hepatocyte apoptosis. SSD-treated cells exhibited apparent nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and the apoptotic cells were increased by SSD dose-dependently. Subsequent experiments showed that SSD decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and downregulated Bcl-2 but upregulated Bax. Moreover, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were activated in SSD-treated LO2 cells. These data consistently indicated that SSD stimulated mitochondrial apoptosis in hepatocytes. Mechanistic investigations showed that SSD disrupted p38 signaling and that p38 specific inhibitor SB203580 mimicked the pro-apoptotic effect of SSD. In addition, platelet-derived growth factor-β receptor (PDGF-βR) blocker imatinib reduced p38 phosphorylation and also mimicked the pro-apoptotic effect of SSD in LO2 cells. These data collectively indicated that SSD induced apoptosis by interrupting PDGF-βR/p38 pathway in LO2 hepatocytes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparing health locus of control in patients with Spasmodic Dysphonia, Functional Dysphonia and Nonlaryngeal Dystonia.

PubMed

Haselden, Karen; Powell, Theresa; Drinnan, Mike; Carding, Paul

2009-11-01

Locus of Control (LoC) refers to an individuals' perception of whether they are in control of life events. Health Locus of Control refers to whether someone feels they have influence over their health. Health Locus of Control has not been studied in any depth in voice-disordered patients. The objective of this study was to examine Health Locus of Control in three patient groups: (1) Spasmodic Dysphonia, (2) Functional Dysphonia and (3) a nondysphonic group with Nonlaryngeal Dystonia. LoC was measured and compared in a total of 57 patients using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (diagnostic specific) Form C. Internal, Chance, and Powerful others LoC were measured and comparisons were made using one-way analysis of variance. Contrary to expectations Internal LoC was found to be significantly higher in the Functional Dysphonia group when compared to the other two groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in Chance or Powerful others LoC. The two organic groups, Spasmodic Dysphonia and Nonlaryngeal Dystonia, were more alike in Internal Health Locus of Control than the Functional Dysphonia group. The diagnostic nature of the groups was reflected in their LoC scores rather than their voice loss. These results contribute to the debate about the etiology of Spasmodic Dysphonia and will be of interest to those involved in the psychology of voice and those managing voice-disordered patients.

5-LO inhibition ameliorates palmitic acid-induced ER stress, oxidative stress and insulin resistance via AMPK activation in murine myotubes.

PubMed

Kwak, Hyun Jeong; Choi, Hye-Eun; Cheon, Hyae Gyeong

2017-07-10

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production via the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway contributes to the development of insulin resistance in adipose and hepatic tissues, but the role of LTB4 in skeletal muscle is relatively unknown. Here, the authors investigated the role of LTB4 in C2C12 myotubes in palmitic acid (PA)-induced ER stress, inflammation and insulin resistance. PA (750 μM) evoked lipotoxicity (ER stress, oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance) in association with LTB4 production. 5-LO inhibition reduced all the lipotoxic effects induced by PA. On the other hand, PA did not induce cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), which themselves had no effect on ER stress and inflammation. The beneficial effects of 5-LO suppression from PA-induced lipotoxicity were related with AMPK activation. In ob/ob mice, once daily oral administration of zileuton (50, 100 mg/kg) for 5 weeks improved insulin resistance, increased AMPK phosphorylation, and reduced LTB4 and ER stress marker expression in skeletal muscle. These results show that 5-LO inhibition by either zileuton or 5-LO siRNA protects C2C12 myotubes from PA-induced lipotoxicity, at least partly via AMPK activation, and suggest that the in vivo insulin-sensitizing effects of zileuton are in part attributable to its direct action on skeletal muscle via LTB4 downregulation followed by AMPK activation.

LoRa Scalability: A Simulation Model Based on Interference Measurements

PubMed Central

Haxhibeqiri, Jetmir; Van den Abeele, Floris; Moerman, Ingrid; Hoebeke, Jeroen

2017-01-01

LoRa is a long-range, low power, low bit rate and single-hop wireless communication technology. It is intended to be used in Internet of Things (IoT) applications involving battery-powered devices with low throughput requirements. A LoRaWAN network consists of multiple end nodes that communicate with one or more gateways. These gateways act like a transparent bridge towards a common network server. The amount of end devices and their throughput requirements will have an impact on the performance of the LoRaWAN network. This study investigates the scalability in terms of the number of end devices per gateway of single-gateway LoRaWAN deployments. First, we determine the intra-technology interference behavior with two physical end nodes, by checking the impact of an interfering node on a transmitting node. Measurements show that even under concurrent transmission, one of the packets can be received under certain conditions. Based on these measurements, we create a simulation model for assessing the scalability of a single gateway LoRaWAN network. We show that when the number of nodes increases up to 1000 per gateway, the losses will be up to 32%. In such a case, pure Aloha will have around 90% losses. However, when the duty cycle of the application layer becomes lower than the allowed radio duty cycle of 1%, losses will be even lower. We also show network scalability simulation results for some IoT use cases based on real data. PMID:28545239

LoRa Scalability: A Simulation Model Based on Interference Measurements.

PubMed

Haxhibeqiri, Jetmir; Van den Abeele, Floris; Moerman, Ingrid; Hoebeke, Jeroen

2017-05-23

LoRa is a long-range, low power, low bit rate and single-hop wireless communication technology. It is intended to be used in Internet of Things (IoT) applications involving battery-powered devices with low throughput requirements. A LoRaWAN network consists of multiple end nodes that communicate with one or more gateways. These gateways act like a transparent bridge towards a common network server. The amount of end devices and their throughput requirements will have an impact on the performance of the LoRaWAN network. This study investigates the scalability in terms of the number of end devices per gateway of single-gateway LoRaWAN deployments. First, we determine the intra-technology interference behavior with two physical end nodes, by checking the impact of an interfering node on a transmitting node. Measurements show that even under concurrent transmission, one of the packets can be received under certain conditions. Based on these measurements, we create a simulation model for assessing the scalability of a single gateway LoRaWAN network. We show that when the number of nodes increases up to 1000 per gateway, the losses will be up to 32%. In such a case, pure Aloha will have around 90% losses. However, when the duty cycle of the application layer becomes lower than the allowed radio duty cycle of 1%, losses will be even lower. We also show network scalability simulation results for some IoT use cases based on real data.

Exercise training with weight loss and either a high- or low-glycemic index diet reduces metabolic syndrome severity in older adults.

PubMed

Malin, Steven K; Niemi, Nicole; Solomon, Thomas P J; Haus, Jacob M; Kelly, Karen R; Filion, Julianne; Rocco, Michael; Kashyap, Sangeeta R; Barkoukis, Hope; Kirwan, John P

2012-01-01

The efficacy of combining carbohydrate quality with exercise on metabolic syndrome risk is unclear. Thus, we determined the effects of exercise training with a low (LoGIx)- or high (HiGIx)-glycemic index diet on the severity of the metabolic syndrome (Z-score). Twenty-one adults (66.2±1.1 years; BMI=35.3±0.9 kg/m2) with the metabolic syndrome were randomized to 12 weeks of exercise (60 min/day for 5 days/week at about 85% HRmax) and provided a LoGIx (n=11) or HiGIx (n=10) diet. Z-scores were determined from: blood pressure, triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and waist circumference (WC) before and after the intervention. Body composition, aerobic fitness, insulin resistance, and nonesterfied fatty acid (NEFA) suppression were also assessed. LoGIx and HiGIx diets decreased body mass and insulin resistance and increased aerobic fitness comparably (p<0.05). LoGIx and HiGIx diets decreased the Z-score similarly as each intervention decreased blood pressure, TGs, FPG and WC (p<0.05). The HiGIx diet tended to suppress NEFA during insulin stimulation compared with the LoGIx diet (p=0.06). Our findings highlight that exercise with weight loss reduces the severity of the metabolic syndrome whether individuals were randomized to a HiGIx or a LoGIx diet.

Characterization and Validation of the LT-SYS Copper Assay on a Roche Cobas 8000 c502 Analyzer.

PubMed

Kraus, F Bernhard; Mischereit, Marlies; Eller, Christoph; Ludwig-Kraus, Beatrice

2017-02-01

Validation of the LT-SYS quantitative in vitro copper assay on a Roche Cobas 8000 c502 analyzer and comparison with a BIOMED assay on a Roche Cobas Mira analyzer. Imprecision and bias were quantified at different concentration levels (serum and plasma) over a 20-day period. Linearity was assessed covering a range from 4.08 µmol/L to 33.8 µmol/L. Limit of blank (LoB) and limit of detection (LoD) were established based on a total of 120 blank and low-level samples. The method comparison was based on 58 plasma samples. Within-run imprecision ranged from 0.7% to 1.2% and within-laboratory imprecision from 1.4% to 3.3%. Relative bias for the 2 serum pools with known target values was less than 2.5%. The assay did not deviate from linearity over the tested measuring range. LoB and LoD were 0.12 µmol/L and 0.23 µmol/L, respectively. The method comparison revealed an average deviation of 11.5% (2.016 µmol/L), and the linear regression fit was y = 1.464 + 0.795x. The LT-SYS copper assay characterized in this study showed a fully acceptable performance with good degrees of imprecision and bias, no deviation from linearity in the relevant measuring rangem, and very low LoB and LoD. © American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Unraveling the Rat Intestine, Spleen and Liver Genome-Wide Transcriptome after the Oral Administration of Lavender Oil by a Two-Color Dye-Swap DNA Microarray Approach

PubMed Central

Kubo, Hiroko; Shibato, Junko; Saito, Tomomi; Ogawa, Tetsuo; Rakwal, Randeep; Shioda, Seiji

2015-01-01

The use of lavender oil (LO) – a commonly, used oil in aromatherapy, with well-defined volatile components linalool and linalyl acetate – in non-traditional medicine is increasing globally. To understand and demonstrate the potential positive effects of LO on the body, we have established an animal model in this current study, investigating the orally administered LO effects genome wide in the rat small intestine, spleen, and liver. The rats were administered LO at 5 mg/kg (usual therapeutic dose in humans) followed by the screening of differentially expressed genes in the tissues, using a 4×44-K whole-genome rat chip (Agilent microarray platform; Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA) in conjunction with a dye-swap approach, a novelty of this study. Fourteen days after LO treatment and compared with a control group (sham), a total of 156 and 154 up (≧ 1.5-fold)- and down (≦ 0.75-fold)-regulated genes, 174 and 66 up- (≧ 1.5-fold)- and down (≦ 0.75-fold)-regulated genes, and 222 and 322 up- (≧ 1.5-fold)- and down (≦ 0.75-fold)-regulated genes showed differential expression at the mRNA level in the small intestine, spleen and liver, respectively. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) validation of highly up- and down-regulated genes confirmed the regulation of the Papd4, Lrp1b, Alb, Cyr61, Cyp2c, and Cxcl1 genes by LO as examples in these tissues. Using bioinformatics, including Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), differentially expressed genes were functionally categorized by their Gene Ontology (GO) and biological function and network analysis, revealing their diverse functions and potential roles in LO-mediated effects in rat. Further IPA analysis in particular unraveled the presence of novel genes, such as Papd4, Or8k5, Gprc5b, Taar5, Trpc6, Pld2 and Onecut3 (up-regulated top molecules) and Tnf, Slc45a4, Slc25a23 and Samt4 (down-regulated top molecules), to be influenced by LO treatment in the small intestine, spleen and liver, respectively. These results are the first such inventory of genes that are affected by lavender essential oil (LO) in an animal model, forming the basis for further in-depth bioinformatics and functional analyses and investigation. PMID:26161641

LoRTE: Detecting transposon-induced genomic variants using low coverage PacBio long read sequences.

PubMed

Disdero, Eric; Filée, Jonathan

2017-01-01

Population genomic analysis of transposable elements has greatly benefited from recent advances of sequencing technologies. However, the short size of the reads and the propensity of transposable elements to nest in highly repeated regions of genomes limits the efficiency of bioinformatic tools when Illumina or 454 technologies are used. Fortunately, long read sequencing technologies generating read length that may span the entire length of full transposons are now available. However, existing TE population genomic softwares were not designed to handle long reads and the development of new dedicated tools is needed. LoRTE is the first tool able to use PacBio long read sequences to identify transposon deletions and insertions between a reference genome and genomes of different strains or populations. Tested against simulated and genuine Drosophila melanogaster PacBio datasets, LoRTE appears to be a reliable and broadly applicable tool to study the dynamic and evolutionary impact of transposable elements using low coverage, long read sequences. LoRTE is an efficient and accurate tool to identify structural genomic variants caused by TE insertion or deletion. LoRTE is available for download at http://www.egce.cnrs-gif.fr/?p=6422.

Nanotwinning and structural phase transition in CdS quantum dots

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Nanotwin structures are observed in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies of cubic phase CdS quantum dots in powder form by chemical co-precipitation method. The deposition of thin films of nanocrystalline CdS is carried out on silicon, glass, and TEM grids keeping the substrates at room temperature (RT) and 200°C by pulsed laser ablation. These films are then subjected to thermal annealing at different temperatures. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction results confirm structural phase transitions after thermal annealing of films deposited at RT and 200°C. The variation of average particle size and ratio of intensities in Raman peaks I2LO/I1LO with annealing temperature are studied. It is found that electron-phonon interaction is a function of temperature and particle size and is independent of the structure. Besides Raman modes LO, 2LO and 3LO of CdS at approximately 302, 603, and 903 cm−1 respectively, two extra Raman modes at approximately 390 and 690 cm−1 are studied for the first time. The green and orange emissions observed in photoluminescence are correlated with phase transition. PMID:23092351

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

Chacón, L., E-mail: chacon@lanl.gov; Chen, G.; Knoll, D.A.

We review the state of the art in the formulation, implementation, and performance of so-called high-order/low-order (HOLO) algorithms for challenging multiscale problems. HOLO algorithms attempt to couple one or several high-complexity physical models (the high-order model, HO) with low-complexity ones (the low-order model, LO). The primary goal of HOLO algorithms is to achieve nonlinear convergence between HO and LO components while minimizing memory footprint and managing the computational complexity in a practical manner. Key to the HOLO approach is the use of the LO representations to address temporal stiffness, effectively accelerating the convergence of the HO/LO coupled system. The HOLOmore » approach is broadly underpinned by the concept of nonlinear elimination, which enables segregation of the HO and LO components in ways that can effectively use heterogeneous architectures. The accuracy and efficiency benefits of HOLO algorithms are demonstrated with specific applications to radiation transport, gas dynamics, plasmas (both Eulerian and Lagrangian formulations), and ocean modeling. Across this broad application spectrum, HOLO algorithms achieve significant accuracy improvements at a fraction of the cost compared to conventional approaches. It follows that HOLO algorithms hold significant potential for high-fidelity system scale multiscale simulations leveraging exascale computing.« less

Multiscale high-order/low-order (HOLO) algorithms and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chacón, L.; Chen, G.; Knoll, D. A.; Newman, C.; Park, H.; Taitano, W.; Willert, J. A.; Womeldorff, G.

2017-02-01

We review the state of the art in the formulation, implementation, and performance of so-called high-order/low-order (HOLO) algorithms for challenging multiscale problems. HOLO algorithms attempt to couple one or several high-complexity physical models (the high-order model, HO) with low-complexity ones (the low-order model, LO). The primary goal of HOLO algorithms is to achieve nonlinear convergence between HO and LO components while minimizing memory footprint and managing the computational complexity in a practical manner. Key to the HOLO approach is the use of the LO representations to address temporal stiffness, effectively accelerating the convergence of the HO/LO coupled system. The HOLO approach is broadly underpinned by the concept of nonlinear elimination, which enables segregation of the HO and LO components in ways that can effectively use heterogeneous architectures. The accuracy and efficiency benefits of HOLO algorithms are demonstrated with specific applications to radiation transport, gas dynamics, plasmas (both Eulerian and Lagrangian formulations), and ocean modeling. Across this broad application spectrum, HOLO algorithms achieve significant accuracy improvements at a fraction of the cost compared to conventional approaches. It follows that HOLO algorithms hold significant potential for high-fidelity system scale multiscale simulations leveraging exascale computing.

Enhancement of the security of a practical continuous-variable quantum-key-distribution system by manipulating the intensity of the local oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xiang-Chun; Sun, Shi-Hai; Jiang, Mu-Sheng; Gui, Ming; Zhou, Yan-Li; Liang, Lin-Mei

2014-03-01

In a practical continuous-variable quantum-key distribution (CVQKD), the fluctuations of the local oscillator (LO) not only make the normalization of Bob's measurement outcomes difficult, but also can change the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an imperfect balanced homodyne detector (BHD), which may lead the security of a practical system of CVQKD to be compromised severely. In this paper, we propose that the LO intensity can be manipulated by the legitimate parties, i.e., being tuned and stabilized to a required constant value, to eliminate the impact of LO fluctuations and defeat Eve's potential attack on the LO. Moreover, we show that the secret key rate can be increased over a noisy channel, especially the channels of metropolitan QKD networks, by tuning the intensity of LO and thus the SNR of a practical BHD to an optimal value, and we find that, counterintuitively, the requirement on BHD (i.e., high detection efficiency and low electronic noise) can also be reduced in this case. To realize this manipulation, we give a schematic setup which, thus, can be used to enhance the security of a practical CVQKD system.

Ligand Binding Site Detection by Local Structure Alignment and Its Performance Complementarity

PubMed Central

Lee, Hui Sun; Im, Wonpil

2013-01-01

Accurate determination of potential ligand binding sites (BS) is a key step for protein function characterization and structure-based drug design. Despite promising results of template-based BS prediction methods using global structure alignment (GSA), there is a room to improve the performance by properly incorporating local structure alignment (LSA) because BS are local structures and often similar for proteins with dissimilar global folds. We present a template-based ligand BS prediction method using G-LoSA, our LSA tool. A large benchmark set validation shows that G-LoSA predicts drug-like ligands’ positions in single-chain protein targets more precisely than TM-align, a GSA-based method, while the overall success rate of TM-align is better. G-LoSA is particularly efficient for accurate detection of local structures conserved across proteins with diverse global topologies. Recognizing the performance complementarity of G-LoSA to TM-align and a non-template geometry-based method, fpocket, a robust consensus scoring method, CMCS-BSP (Complementary Methods and Consensus Scoring for ligand Binding Site Prediction), is developed and shows improvement on prediction accuracy. The G-LoSA source code is freely available at http://im.bioinformatics.ku.edu/GLoSA. PMID:23957286

7 CFR 764.51 - Loan application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... the funds requested will be used to facilitate the transition. (c) For a Lo-Doc OL request, the...), (7), (9), and (11) of paragraph (b) of this section. The Agency may require a Lo-Doc applicant to...

7 CFR 764.51 - Loan application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... sustainable agriculture when the funds requested will be used to facilitate the transition. (c) For a Lo-Doc... require a Lo-Doc applicant to submit any other information listed in paragraph (b) of this section as...

Automatic Test, Configuration, and Repair of Cellular Arrays

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-06-01

one cell to loed any good cell that is not walled off by flawed cells. The loading Information which the computer sends to the array may select one...to loed that cell’s loader and function-specificatioi state bits. After the cell is loaded» it« loader state bits may specify which of the cell’s...Mechanism With Options FUNCTION-SPEC, STATE BITS D.OUT INO INI OUTO 0UT1 LOO LO PAGE 99 LOADER TIP BITS CHANGER ill LSTA S.U.IN S.R.IN

Effects of Stress on the Electrical Resistance of Ytterbium and Calibration of Ytterbium Stress Transducers

DTIC Science & Technology

1973-08-01

temperature coefficient of approximately 1.35 x 10~3 .Vac, between 30 and 100OC, and the AREF material had a lower coefficient approximately 0.51 x lo " Q/cfc...The annealed material, also AREF, had a higher coefficient than either of the other two as-rolled foil samples, this being 2.65 x lo " Q/QV...the foil used as gage stock, which is believed Lo be representative of our field gage stock, was 0.50 ± 0.06 kbar. The corresponding yield strain

Space Shuttle - Bringing cryohydrogen technology down to earth. [details of LH2 and LO2 technology and External Tank design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Odom, J. B.

1978-01-01

The External Tank must provide a safe storage container for both LH2 and LO2, a means of maintaining propellant quality in order to meet the engine pump net positive suction pressure requirements, and a structural strong-back for the Space Shuttle system, all at the minimum recurring cost and weight, while maintaining quality and reliability. The present paper summarizes External Tank design features and discusses the advantages of using LH2 and LO2 for the Space Shuttle system.

Environmental Assessment Addressing FTFA07-1174, Repair Approach Lighting System at the North End of Runway 01/19 at Eglin AFB, Florida

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

Jltlaterial.\\’ (EA § 3.3, pages 3- lO to 3-12): Construction and demolition activities associated with the Proposed Action wi ll involve the use of hazardous...impacts will only last during those activities and will not be cumulati vely significant. Considering the use of management actions lo minimize the...potenti al lo r adverse effects on listed species, implementation of the Proposed Action is not anticipated to have signi ticant cumulati ve effects

Proton Therapy Dose Characterization and Verification

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

predefined acceptance criteria. The Calypso System accurately localizes LT and LO patients in the IBA proton therapy vault at the University of Pennsylvania...earlier vet>ions of mdioct.’omio 0 lm. Thcrr ’" Jechnkul 1\\Sues ~nd challenge~ tluu mu.~t be ad~ts:led and rrsolvtd pnor lo Ibm nppllculion for do...IOcmatthch«enter) from a Varian l100linc1!r aecdcmtur (llnac) dirr<ltd plll’nllel lo nn EBTI film ~nd wtchtd bCiwttn slit!• of ••.lhd wurcr1 M. The plwuom

Creating a Learning Culture for Medical Consortia in China.

PubMed

He, Guozhong; Chen, Zimin

In China's recent health care reforms, both individuals and organizations have shown an ever-growing desire and demand for new knowledge and skills. A health care delivery system (HCDS) should explore new ways for creating a learning organization (LO) and should organically combine HCDS culture construction with the LO construction to build a cultural atmosphere that is conducive to the development of the LO. This article describes the implementation phase, characteristics, and realization strategy of an HCDS construction for the ultimate purpose of enhancing HCDS cohesion, solidarity, and sustainable development.

Single-Shot Optical Sectioning Using Two-Color Probes in HiLo Fluorescence Microscopy

PubMed Central

Muro, Eleonora; Vermeulen, Pierre; Ioannou, Andriani; Skourides, Paris; Dubertret, Benoit; Fragola, Alexandra; Loriette, Vincent

2011-01-01

We describe a wide-field fluorescence microscope setup which combines HiLo microscopy technique with the use of a two-color fluorescent probe. It allows one-shot fluorescence optical sectioning of thick biological moving sample which is illuminated simultaneously with a flat and a structured pattern at two different wavelengths. Both homogenous and structured fluorescence images are spectrally separated at detection and combined similarly with the HiLo microscopy technique. We present optically sectioned full-field images of Xenopus laevis embryos acquired at 25 images/s frame rate. PMID:21641327

Experience at the CENAM With Time and Frequency Standards Signals Received by the Global Positioning System (GPS)

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-12-01

ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Centro Nacional de Metrologia , Cenam,Time and Frequency Division,Apdo. Postal 1-100 Centro,C.P. 76900, Queretaro...5.39 x10-" 5.89 x10-" 3.93 x10-" 2.15 x10-l1 1.17 x10-" 7.27 xl0- la MVAR 852 x10-" 8.67 x10-" 9.46 x10-" 1.23 x10-lo x10-lo 1.95 x10-lo

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

Anastasiou, Charalampos; Duhr, Claude; Dulat, Falko

In this study, we compute the gluon fusion Higgs boson cross-section at N 3LO through the second term in the threshold expansion. This calculation constitutes a major milestone towards the full N 3LO cross section. Our result has the best formal accuracy in the threshold expansion currently available, and includes contributions from collinear regions besides subleading corrections from soft and hard regions, as well as certain logarithmically enhanced contributions for general kinematics. We use our results to perform a critical appraisal of the validity of the threshold approximation at N 3LO in perturbative QCD.

Pele Erupting on Lo

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

This image of Jupiter's moon, lo, was taken by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO). Shown here is the most extreme example of the effect of tidal forces as Lo is being pulled by massive Jupiter on one side and by the outer moons Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede on the other. The opposing tidal forces alternately squeeze and stretch its interior, causing the solid surface to rise and fall by about 100 meters. The enormous amount of heat and pressure generated by the resulting friction creates colossal volcanoes and fractures on the surface of this moon.

Rapid white blood cell detection for peritonitis diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Tsung-Feng; Mei, Zhe; Chiu, Yu-Jui; Cho, Sung Hwan; Lo, Yu-Hwa

2013-03-01

A point-of-care and home-care lab-on-a-chip (LoC) system that integrates a microfluidic spiral device as a concentrator with an optical-coding device as a cell enumerator is demonstrated. The LoC system enumerates white blood cells from dialysis effluent of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. The preliminary results show that the white blood cell counts from our system agree well with the results from commercial flow cytometers. The LoC system can potentially bring significant benefits to end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients that are on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Durable and Rechargeable Antimicrobial Textiles

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

N -halamine Precursor Concentration (%) G ra ft in g Y ie ld ( % ) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200...1300 C h lo rin e c o n te n t (p p m ) 80 90 100 110 120 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 Wet Pickup (%) G ra ft in g Y ie ld ( % ) C h lo rin e c o n te n ...temperature ( o C) C h lo rin e c o n te n t (p p m )

Evidence in the learning organization

PubMed Central

Crites, Gerald E; McNamara, Megan C; Akl, Elie A; Richardson, W Scott; Umscheid, Craig A; Nishikawa, James

2009-01-01

Background Organizational leaders in business and medicine have been experiencing a similar dilemma: how to ensure that their organizational members are adopting work innovations in a timely fashion. Organizational leaders in healthcare have attempted to resolve this dilemma by offering specific solutions, such as evidence-based medicine (EBM), but organizations are still not systematically adopting evidence-based practice innovations as rapidly as expected by policy-makers (the knowing-doing gap problem). Some business leaders have adopted a systems-based perspective, called the learning organization (LO), to address a similar dilemma. Three years ago, the Society of General Internal Medicine's Evidence-based Medicine Task Force began an inquiry to integrate the EBM and LO concepts into one model to address the knowing-doing gap problem. Methods During the model development process, the authors searched several databases for relevant LO frameworks and their related concepts by using a broad search strategy. To identify the key LO frameworks and consolidate them into one model, the authors used consensus-based decision-making and a narrative thematic synthesis guided by several qualitative criteria. The authors subjected the model to external, independent review and improved upon its design with this feedback. Results The authors found seven LO frameworks particularly relevant to evidence-based practice innovations in organizations. The authors describe their interpretations of these frameworks for healthcare organizations, the process they used to integrate the LO frameworks with EBM principles, and the resulting Evidence in the Learning Organization (ELO) model. They also provide a health organization scenario to illustrate ELO concepts in application. Conclusion The authors intend, by sharing the LO frameworks and the ELO model, to help organizations identify their capacities to learn and share knowledge about evidence-based practice innovations. The ELO model will need further validation and improvement through its use in organizational settings and applied health services research. PMID:19323819

Object-related activity revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging in human occipital cortex.

PubMed Central

Malach, R; Reppas, J B; Benson, R R; Kwong, K K; Jiang, H; Kennedy, W A; Ledden, P J; Brady, T J; Rosen, B R; Tootell, R B

1995-01-01

The stages of integration leading from local feature analysis to object recognition were explored in human visual cortex by using the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging. Here we report evidence for object-related activation. Such activation was located at the lateral-posterior aspect of the occipital lobe, just abutting the posterior aspect of the motion-sensitive area MT/V5, in a region termed the lateral occipital complex (LO). LO showed preferential activation to images of objects, compared to a wide range of texture patterns. This activation was not caused by a global difference in the Fourier spatial frequency content of objects versus texture images, since object images produced enhanced LO activation compared to textures matched in power spectra but randomized in phase. The preferential activation to objects also could not be explained by different patterns of eye movements: similar levels of activation were observed when subjects fixated on the objects and when they scanned the objects with their eyes. Additional manipulations such as spatial frequency filtering and a 4-fold change in visual size did not affect LO activation. These results suggest that the enhanced responses to objects were not a manifestation of low-level visual processing. A striking demonstration that activity in LO is uniquely correlated to object detectability was produced by the "Lincoln" illusion, in which blurring of objects digitized into large blocks paradoxically increases their recognizability. Such blurring led to significant enhancement of LO activation. Despite the preferential activation to objects, LO did not seem to be involved in the final, "semantic," stages of the recognition process. Thus, objects varying widely in their recognizability (e.g., famous faces, common objects, and unfamiliar three-dimensional abstract sculptures) activated it to a similar degree. These results are thus evidence for an intermediate link in the chain of processing stages leading to object recognition in human visual cortex. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 PMID:7667258

Melanocortin-4 receptor pathway dysfunction in obesity: Patient stratification aimed at MC4R agonist treatment.

PubMed

Ayers, Kristin L; Glicksberg, Benjamin S; Garfield, Alastair S; Longerich, Simonne; White, Joseph A; Yang, Pengwei; Du, Lei; Chittenden, Thomas W; Gulcher, Jeffery R; Roy, Sophie; Fiedorek, Fred; Gottesdiener, Keith; Cohen, Sarah; North, Kari E; Schadt, Eric E; Li, Shuyu D; Chen, Rong; Van der Ploeg, Lex H T

2018-05-02

The hypothalamic melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R)-pathway serves a critical role in regulating bodyweight. Loss of function (LoF) mutations in the MC4R pathway including mutations in the POMC (1), PCSK1, LEPR (2) or the MC4R genes (3) have been shown to be causative of early-onset severe obesity. Through a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of known and predicted LoF variants in the POMC, PCSK1 and LEPR genes, we sought to estimate the number of US individuals with bi-allelic MC4R pathway LoF variants. We predict approximately 650 α-MSH/POMC, 8,500 PCSK1 and 3,600 LEPR homozygous and compound heterozygous individuals in the US, cumulatively enumerating over 12,800 MC4R pathway deficient obese patients. Very few of these have been genetically diagnosed to date. These estimates increase when we include a small subset of less rare variants: β-MSH/POMC, PCSK1 N221D, and a novel PCSK1 LoF variant (T640A). To further define the MC4R pathway and its potential impact on obesity we tested associations between body-mass index (BMI) and LoF mutation-burden in the POMC, PCSK1 and LEPR genes in various populations. We show that the cumulative allele burden in individuals with two or more LoF alleles in one or more genes in the MC4R pathway predisposes to a higher BMI than non-carriers or heterozygous LoF carriers with a defect in only one gene. Our analysis represents a genetically-rationalized study of the hypothalamic MC4R pathway aimed at genetic patient stratification to determine which obese sub-populations should be studied to understand MC4R agonist (e.g., setmelanotide) treatment responsiveness.

Functional characterization of ExFadLO, an outer membrane protein required for exporting oxygenated long-chain fatty acids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PubMed

Martínez, Eriel; Estupiñán, Mónica; Pastor, F I Javier; Busquets, Montserrat; Díaz, Pilar; Manresa, Angeles

2013-02-01

Bacterial proteins of the FadL family have frequently been associated to the uptake of exogenous hydrophobic substrates. However, their outer membrane location and involvement in substrate uptake have been inferred mainly from sequence similarity to Escherichia coli FadL, the first well-characterized outer membrane transporters of Long-Chain Fatty Acids (LCFAs) in bacteria. Here we report the functional characterization of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein (ORF PA1288) showing similarities to the members of the FadL family, for which we propose the name ExFadLO. We demonstrate herein that this protein is required to export LCFAs 10-HOME and 7,10-DiHOME, derived from a diol synthase oxygenation activity on oleic acid, from the periplasm to the extracellular medium. Accumulation of 10-HOME and 7,10-DiHOME in the extracellular medium of P. aeruginosa was abolished by a transposon insertion mutation in exFadLO (ExFadLO¯ mutant). However, intact periplasm diol synthase activity was found in this mutant, indicating that ExFadLO participates in the export of these oxygenated LCFAs across the outer membrane. The capacity of ExFadLO¯ mutant to export 10-HOME and 7,10-DiHOME was recovered after complementation with a wild-type, plasmid-expressed ExFadLO protein. A western blot assay with a variant of ExFadLO tagged with a V5 epitope confirmed the location of ExFadLO in the bacterial outer membrane under the experimental conditions tested. Our results provide the first evidence that FadL family proteins, known to be involved in the uptake of hydrophobic substrates from the extracellular environment, also function as secretion elements for metabolites of biological relevance. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Thymoquinone suppresses migration of LoVo human colon cancer cells by reducing prostaglandin E2 induced COX-2 activation.

PubMed

Hsu, Hsi-Hsien; Chen, Ming-Cheng; Day, Cecilia Hsuan; Lin, Yueh-Min; Li, Shin-Yi; Tu, Chuan-Chou; Padma, Viswanadha Vijaya; Shih, Hui-Nung; Kuo, Wei-Wen; Huang, Chih-Yang

2017-02-21

To identify potential anti-cancer constituents in natural extracts that inhibit cancer cell growth and migration. Our experiments used high dose thymoquinone (TQ) as an inhibitor to arrest LoVo (a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line) cancer cell growth, which was detected by cell proliferation assay and immunoblotting assay. Low dose TQ did not significantly reduce LoVo cancer cell growth. Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that is involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in humans. PGE2 can promote COX-2 protein expression and tumor cell proliferation and was used as a control. Our results showed that 20 μmol/L TQ significantly reduced human LoVo colon cancer cell proliferation. TQ treatment reduced the levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-GSK3β, and β-catenin and thereby inhibited the downstream COX-2 expression. Results also showed that the reduction in COX-2 expression resulted in a reduction in PGE2 levels and the suppression of EP2 and EP4 activation. Further analysis showed that TG treatment inhibited the nuclear translocation of β-catenin in LoVo cancer cells. The levels of the cofactors LEF-1 and TCF-4 were also decreased in the nucleus following TQ treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with low dose TQ inhibited the COX-2 expression at the transcriptional level and the regulation of COX-2 expression efficiently reduced LoVo cell migration. The results were further verified in vivo by confirming the effects of TQ and/or PGE2 using tumor xenografts in nude mice. TQ inhibits LoVo cancer cell growth and migration, and this result highlights the therapeutic advantage of using TQ in combination therapy against colorectal cancer.

Aggressive Surgical Management of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Worth the Effort?: A Multicenter, Prospective, Cohort Study.

PubMed

Harting, Matthew T; Hollinger, Laura; Tsao, Kuojen; Putnam, Luke R; Wilson, Jay M; Hirschl, Ronald B; Skarsgard, Erik D; Tibboel, Dick; Brindle, Mary E; Lally, Pamela A; Miller, Charles C; Lally, Kevin P

2018-05-01

The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) that do not undergo repair, (ii) to identify nonrepair rate by institution, and (iii) to compare institutional outcomes based on nonrepair rate. Approximately 20% of infants with CDH go unrepaired and the threshold to offer surgical repair is variable. Data were abstracted from a multicenter, prospectively collected database. Standard clinical variables, including repair (or nonrepair), and outcome were analyzed. Institutions were grouped based on volume and rate of nonrepair. Preoperative mortality predictors were identified using logistic regression, expected mortality for each center was calculated, and observed /expected (O/E) ratios were computed for center groups and compared by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. A total of 3965 infants with CDH were identified and 691 infants (17.5%) were not repaired. Nonrepaired patients had lower Apgar scores (P < 0.05) and increased incidence of anomalies (P < 0.0001). Low-volume centers ("Lo", n=44 total, < 10 CDH pts/yr) and high-volume centers ("Hi", n = 21) had median nonrepair rates of 19.8% (range 0%-66.7%) and 16.7% (5.1%-38.5%), respectively. High-volume centers were further dichotomized by rate of nonrepair (HiLo = 5.1-16.7% and HiHi = 17.6-38.5%), leaving 3 groups: HiLo, HiHi, and Lo. Predictors of mortality were lower birth weight, lower Apgar scores, prenatal diagnosis, and presence of congenital anomalies. O/E ratios for mortality in the HiLo, HiHi, and Lo groups were 0.81, 0.94, and 1.21, respectively (P < 0.0001). For every 100 CDH patients, HiLo centers have 2.73 (2.4-3.1, 95% confidence interval) survivors beyond expectation. There are significant differences between repaired and nonrepaired CDH infants and significant center variation in rate of nonrepair exists. Aggressive surgical management, leading to a low rate of nonrepair, is associated with improved risk-adjusted mortality.

αMβ₂ integrin activation prevents alternative activation of human and murine macrophages and impedes foam cell formation.

PubMed

Yakubenko, Valentin P; Bhattacharjee, Ashish; Pluskota, Elzbieta; Cathcart, Martha K

2011-03-04

The alternative activation of monocytes by interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-4 is a significant component of the inflammatory response. The consequences of alternative activation in inflammatory diseases remain to be determined. In this report, we explored how integrins, receptors important for monocyte migration to inflammatory sites, regulate IL-13-mediated monocyte activation. We focused on the analysis of 2 proteins, which are upregulated during the alternative activation and are important for the development of atherosclerosis, an oxidative enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) and a scavenger receptor CD36. We found that adhesion of resting monocytes through β(2) integrins and inside-out activation of β(2) integrins by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 did not change IL-13-stimulated 15-LO upregulation; however, preincubation of monocytes with the antibody MEM48, which generates full activation of β(2) integrins, significantly inhibited 15-LO mRNA and protein expression. In contrast, activation of β(1) integrins had no effect on 15-LO expression. Analysis of integrin clustering through α(M), α(L), α(X), and α(D) subunits demonstrated the pivotal role for integrin α(M)β(2) in inhibiting 15-LO expression. IL-13 treatment upregulates 15-LO-dependent CD36 expression on human monocytes; our studies showed that β(2) integrin activation and α(M) integrin clustering significantly inhibited IL-13-dependent CD36 mRNA and protein expression, as well as CD36-related foam cell formation. Moreover, IL-13 stimulation of α(M)-deficient peritoneal macrophages demonstrated an upregulated level of 15-LO induction, CD36 expression, and lipid accumulation as compared with wild-type controls. The adhesion of monocytes/macrophages through activated integrin α(M)β(2) has a regulatory and potential atheroprotective function during the alternative activation of macrophages.

αMβ2 Integrin Activation Prevents Alternative Activation of Human and Murine Macrophages and Impedes Foam Cell Formation

PubMed Central

Yakubenko, Valentin P.; Bhattacharjee, Ashish; Pluskota, Elzbieta; Cathcart, Martha K.

2011-01-01

Rationale The alternative activation of monocytes by IL-13 and IL-4 is a significant component of the inflammatory response. The consequences of alternative activation in inflammatory diseases remain to be determined. Objective In this paper we explored how integrins, receptors important for monocyte migration to inflammatory sites, regulate IL-13-mediated monocyte activation. We focused on the analysis of two proteins, which are upregulated during the alternative activation and are important for the development of atherosclerosis - an oxidative enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) and a scavenger receptor CD36. Methods and Results We found that adhesion of resting monocytes through β2 integrins and inside-out activation of β2 integrins by MCP-1 did not change IL-13-stimulated 15-LO upregulation; however, preincubation of monocytes with the antibody MEM48, which generates full activation of β2 integrins, significantly inhibited 15-LO mRNA and protein expression. In contrast, activation of β1 integrins had no effect on 15-LO expression. Analysis of integrin clustering through αM, αL, αX and αD subunits demonstrated the pivotal role for integrin αMβ2 in inhibiting 15-LO expression. IL-13 treatment upregulates 15-LO-dependent CD36 expression on human monocytes, our studies showed that β2 integrin activation and αM integrin clustering significantly inhibited IL-13-dependent CD36 mRNA and protein expression as well as CD36-related foam cell formation. Moreover, IL-13 stimulation of αM-deficient peritoneal macrophages demonstrated an upregulated level of 15-LO induction, CD36 expression and lipid accumulation as compared to wild type controls. Conclusions The adhesion of monocytes/macrophages through activated integrin αMβ2 has a regulatory and potential athero-protective function during the alternative activation of macrophages. PMID:21252155

Dietary fish oil replacement by linseed oil: Effect on growth, nutrient utilization, tissue fatty acid composition and desaturase gene expression in silver barb (Puntius gonionotus) fingerlings.

PubMed

Nayak, Madhusmita; Saha, Ashis; Pradhan, Avinash; Samanta, Mrinal; Giri, Shiba Shankar

2017-03-01

Silver barb (Puntius gonionotus) is considered a promising medium carp species for freshwater aquaculture in Asia. This study in silver barb was carried out to evaluate the effects of total or partial substitution of dietary fish oil (FO) with linseed oil (LO) on growth, nutrient utilization, whole-body composition, muscle and liver fatty acid composition. Fish (12.1±0.4g of initial body weight) were fed for 60days with five experimental iso-proteinous, iso-lipidic and iso-caloric diets in which FO (control diet) was replaced by 33.3%, 50%, 66.7% and 100% LO. Final weight, weight gain, percent weight gain, SGR decreased linearly (p<0.001) with increasing LO levels in the diets. Dietary LO substitution levels did not significantly (p>0.05) affect the feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and whole body proximate composition. Furthermore, enhanced level of LO increased α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n3) and linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n6) and decreased eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n3) in muscle and liver. To understand the molecular mechanism of long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis, we cloned and characterized the fatty acyl Δ6 desaturase (Δ6 fad) cDNA and investigated its expression in various organs/tissues following replacement of FO with LO in the diet. The full-length Δ6 fad cDNA was 2056bp encoding 444 amino acids and was widely expressed in various organs/tissues. Replacement of FO with LO increased the expression of Δ6 fad mRNA in liver, muscle and intestine but no significant difference was found in the brain. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

LOD 1 VS. LOD 2 - Preliminary Investigations Into Differences in Mobile Rendering Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellul, C.; Altenbuchner, J.

2013-09-01

The increasing availability, size and detail of 3D City Model datasets has led to a challenge when rendering such data on mobile devices. Understanding the limitations to the usability of such models on these devices is particularly important given the broadening range of applications - such as pollution or noise modelling, tourism, planning, solar potential - for which these datasets and resulting visualisations can be utilized. Much 3D City Model data is created by extrusion of 2D topographic datasets, resulting in what is known as Level of Detail (LoD) 1 buildings - with flat roofs. However, in the UK the National Mapping Agency (the Ordnance Survey, OS) is now releasing test datasets to Level of Detail (LoD) 2 - i.e. including roof structures. These datasets are designed to integrate with the LoD 1 datasets provided by the OS, and provide additional detail in particular on larger buildings and in town centres. The availability of such integrated datasets at two different Levels of Detail permits investigation into the impact of the additional roof structures (and hence the display of a more realistic 3D City Model) on rendering performance on a mobile device. This paper describes preliminary work carried out to investigate this issue, for the test area of the city of Sheffield (in the UK Midlands). The data is stored in a 3D spatial database as triangles and then extracted and served as a web-based data stream which is queried by an App developed on the mobile device (using the Android environment, Java and OpenGL for graphics). Initial tests have been carried out on two dataset sizes, for the city centre and a larger area, rendering the data onto a tablet to compare results. Results of 52 seconds for rendering LoD 1 data, and 72 seconds for LoD 1 mixed with LoD 2 data, show that the impact of LoD 2 is significant.

12. DETAIL VIEW OF WEST ABUTMENT AT Lo, SHOWING BRIDGE ...

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

12. DETAIL VIEW OF WEST ABUTMENT AT Lo, SHOWING BRIDGE SEAT, TIMBER PILES, STEEL SILL AND BACKWALL/WlNGWALL BOARDS, LOOKING NORTH - Cottonville Bridge, County Road D-61 at Farmer's Creek, Maquoketa, Jackson County, IA

7 CFR 764.51 - Loan application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... transition. (c) For a Lo-Doc OL request, the applicant must: (1) Be current on all payments to all creditors... require a Lo-Doc applicant to submit any other information listed in paragraph (b) of this section as...

77 FR 26950 - Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; Western Mojave Desert Ozone...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-08

... CONTACT section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lo, Air Planning Office (AIR-2), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, (415) 972-3959, lo[email protected] . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION...

7 CFR 764.51 - Loan application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... plan; and (14) For EM loans, a statement of loss or damage on the appropriate Agency form. (c) For a Lo... require a Lo-Doc applicant to submit any other information listed in paragraph (b) of this section as...

Lysyl oxidase: properties, specificity, and biological roles inside and outside of the cell.

PubMed

Kagan, Herbert M; Li, Wande

2003-03-01

Lysyl oxidase (LO) plays a critical role in the formation and repair of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by oxidizing lysine residues in elastin and collagen, thereby initiating the formation of covalent crosslinkages which stabilize these fibrous proteins. Its catalytic activity depends upon both its copper cofactor and a unique carbonyl cofactor and has been shown to extend to a variety of basic globular proteins, including histone H1. Although the three-dimensional structure of LO has yet to be determined, the present treatise offers hypotheses based upon its primary sequence, which may underlie the prominent electrostatic component of its unusual substrate specificity as well as the catalysis-suppressing function of the propeptide domain of prolysyl oxidase. Recent studies have demonstrated that LO appears to function within the cell in a manner, which strongly modifies cellular activity. Newly discovered LO-like proteins also likely play unique roles in biology. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

LoFEx - A local framework for calculating excitation energies: Illustrations using RI-CC2 linear response theory.

PubMed

Baudin, Pablo; Kristensen, Kasper

2016-06-14

We present a local framework for the calculation of coupled cluster excitation energies of large molecules (LoFEx). The method utilizes time-dependent Hartree-Fock information about the transitions of interest through the concept of natural transition orbitals (NTOs). The NTOs are used in combination with localized occupied and virtual Hartree-Fock orbitals to generate a reduced excitation orbital space (XOS) specific to each transition where a standard coupled cluster calculation is carried out. Each XOS is optimized to ensure that the excitation energies are determined to a predefined precision. We apply LoFEx in combination with the RI-CC2 model to calculate the lowest excitation energies of a set of medium-sized organic molecules. The results demonstrate the black-box nature of the LoFEx approach and show that significant computational savings can be gained without affecting the accuracy of CC2 excitation energies.

Waveform synthesis for imaging and ranging applications

DOEpatents

Doerry, Armin W.; Dudley, Peter A.; Dubert, Dale F.; Tise, Bertice L.

2004-12-07

Frequency dependent corrections are provided for quadrature imbalance and Local Oscillator (LO) feed-through. An operational procedure filters imbalance and LO feed-through effects without prior calibration or equalization. Waveform generation can be adjusted/corrected in a synthetic aperture radar system (SAR), where a rolling phase shift is applied to the SAR's QDWS signal where it is demodulated in a receiver; unwanted energies, such as LO feed-through and/or imbalance energy, are separated from a desired signal in Doppler; the separated energy is filtered from the receiver leaving the desired signal; and the separated energy in the receiver is measured to determine the degree of imbalance that is represented by it. Calibration methods can also be implemented into synthesis. The degree of LO feed-through and imbalance can be used to determine calibration values that can then be provided as compensation for frequency dependent errors in components, such as the QDWS and SSB mixer, affecting quadrature signal quality.

Central adaptations in aerobic circuit versus walking/jogging trained cardiac patients.

PubMed

Goodman, L S; McKenzie, D C; Nath, C R; Schamberger, W; Taunton, J E; Ammann, W C

1995-06-01

This study was done to determine (a) whether in coronary artery disease (CAD) left ventricular (LV) adaptations differed after 6 months of walking/jogging (legs-only, LO) versus aerobic circuit training (arms and legs, AL) versus a control group, and (b) whether a transfer of fitness to the untrained arms in the LO group was related to superior LV adaptations. Peak oxygen uptake for arm and leg ergometry and for cycle ergometry using radionuclide cardiac angiography were performed before and after training. Leg and arm VO2peak increased significantly by 13% in the AL group, and by 13% and 7%, respectively, for the LO group. LV function was greater after training for the LO versus the AL group. Improvements in systolic and diastolic function and a speculated hypervolemia explain these LV adaptations. In CAD patients, walking/jogging produces greater LV function improvements versus circuit training, possibly due to differences in the exercised muscle mass.

Fiber optic Raman sensor to monitor the concentration ratio of nitrogen and oxygen in a cryogenic mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwari, Vidhu S.; Kalluru, Rajamohan R.; Yueh, Fang Y.; Singh, Jagdish P.; St. Cyr, William; Khijwania, Sunil K.

2007-06-01

A spontaneous Raman scattering optical fiber sensor was developed for a specific need of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for long-term detection and monitoring of the purity of liquid oxygen (LO2) in the oxidizer feed line during ground testing of rocket engines. The Raman peak intensity ratios for liquid nitrogen (LN2) and LO2 with varied weight ratios (LN2/LO2) were analyzed for their applicability to impurity sensing. The study of the sensor performance with different excitation light sources has helped to design a miniaturized, cost-effective system for this application. The optimal system response time of this miniaturized sensor for LN2/LO2 measurement was found to be in the range of a few seconds. It will need to be further reduced to the millisecond range for real-time, quantitative monitoring of the quality of cryogenic fluids in a harsh envioronment.

Waveform Synthesizer For Imaging And Ranging Applications

DOEpatents

Dubbert, Dale F.; Dudley, Peter A.; Doerry, Armin W.; Tise, Bertice L.

2004-12-28

Frequency dependent corrections are provided for Local Oscillator (LO) feed-through. An operational procedure filters LO feed-through effects without prior calibration or equalization. Waveform generation can be adjusted/corrected in a synthetic aperture radar system (SAR), where a rolling phase shift is applied to the SAR's QDWS signal where it is demodulated in a receiver, unwanted energies, such as LO feed-through energy, are separated from a desired signal in Doppler; the separated energy is filtered from the receiver leaving the desired signal; and the separated energy in the receiver is measured to determine the degree of imbalance that is represented by it. Calibration methods can also be implemented into synthesis. The degree of LO feed-through can be used to determine calibration values that can then be provided as compensation for frequency dependent errors in components, such as the QDWS and SSB mixer, affecting quadrature signal quality.

Self-referenced continuous-variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yijun; Wang, Xudong; Li, Jiawei; Huang, Duan; Zhang, Ling; Guo, Ying

2018-05-01

We propose a scheme to remove the demand of transmitting a high-brightness local oscillator (LO) in continuous-variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (CV-MDI QKD) protocol, which we call as the self-referenced (SR) CV-MDI QKD. We show that our scheme is immune to the side-channel attacks, such as the calibration attacks, the wavelength attacks and the LO fluctuation attacks, which are all exploiting the security loopholes introduced by transmitting the LO. Besides, the proposed scheme waives the necessity of complex multiplexer and demultiplexer, which can greatly simplify the QKD processes and improve the transmission efficiency. The numerical simulations under collective attacks show that all the improvements brought about by our scheme are only at the expense of slight transmission distance shortening. This scheme shows an available method to mend the security loopholes incurred by transmitting LO in CV-MDI QKD.

Longitudinal optical phonon-plasmon coupled modes of degenerate Al-doped ZnO films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, K.; Hu, Q. C.; Lin, W. W.; Huang, J. K.; Huang, F.

2012-07-01

We have investigated the interaction between carriers and polar phonons by using Raman scattering spectroscopy in highly conductive Al-doped ZnO films grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Different from the longitudinal optical phonon-plasmon coupled modes (LOPPCM) observed in nondegenerate ZnO, an A1(LO)-like mode appears at the low frequency side of the uncoupled A1(LO) mode, and it monotonically shifts to higher frequencies and approaches to the uncoupled A1(LO) mode as Al composition increases. Based on line shape calculations, the A1(LO)-like mode is assigned to the large wave-vector LOPPCM arising from nonconserving scattering dominated by the Al impurity-induced Fröhlich mechanism. Benefiting from the nonmonotonic Al composition dependence of the electron density, it is revealed that the LOPPCM depends mainly on the doping level but not the carrier concentration.

Large differences in peak oxygen uptake do not independently alter changes in core temperature and sweating during exercise.

PubMed

Jay, Ollie; Bain, Anthony R; Deren, Tomasz M; Sacheli, Matthew; Cramer, Matthew N

2011-09-01

The independent influence of peak oxygen uptake (Vo(₂ peak)) on changes in thermoregulatory responses during exercise in a neutral climate has not been previously isolated because of complex interactions between Vo(₂ peak), metabolic heat production (H(prod)), body mass, and body surface area (BSA). It was hypothesized that Vo(₂ peak) does not independently alter changes in core temperature and sweating during exercise. Fourteen males, 7 high (HI) Vo(₂ peak): 60.1 ± 4.5 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; 7 low (LO) Vo(₂ peak): 40.3 ± 2.9 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ matched for body mass (HI: 78.2 ± 6.1 kg; LO: 78.7 ± 7.1 kg) and BSA (HI: 1.97 ± 0.08 m²; LO: 1.94 ± 0.08 m²), cycled for 60-min at 1) a fixed heat production (FHP trial) and 2) a relative exercise intensity of 60% Vo(₂ peak) (REL trial) at 24.8 ± 0.6°C, 26 ± 10% RH. In the FHP trial, H(prod) was similar between the HI (542 ± 38 W, 7.0 ± 0.6 W/kg or 275 ± 25 W/m²) and LO (535 ± 39 W, 6.9 ± 0.9 W/kg or 277 ± 29 W/m²) groups, while changes in rectal (T(re): HI: 0.87 ± 0.15°C, LO: 0.87 ± 0.18°C, P = 1.00) and aural canal (T(au): HI: 0.70 ± 0.12°C, LO: 0.74 ± 0.21°C, P = 0.65) temperature, whole-body sweat loss (WBSL) (HI: 434 ± 80 ml, LO: 440 ± 41 ml; P = 0.86), and steady-state local sweating (LSR(back)) (P = 0.40) were all similar despite relative exercise intensity being different (HI: 39.7 ± 4.2%, LO: 57.6 ± 8.0% Vo(2 peak); P = 0.001). At 60% Vo(2 peak), H(prod) was greater in the HI (834 ± 77 W, 10.7 ± 1.3 W/kg or 423 ± 44 W/m²) compared with LO (600 ± 90 W, 7.7 ± 1.4 W/kg or 310 ± 50 W/m²) group (all P < 0.001), as were changes in T(re) (HI: 1.43 ± 0.28°C, LO: 0.89 ± 0.19°C; P = 0.001) and T(au) (HI: 1.11 ± 0.21°C, LO: 0.66 ± 0.14°C; P < 0.001), and WBSL between 0 and 15, 15 and 30, 30 and 45, and 45 and 60 min (all P < 0.01), and LSR(back) (P = 0.02). The absolute esophageal temperature (T(es)) onset for sudomotor activity was ∼0.3°C lower (P < 0.05) in the HI group, but the change in T(es) from preexercise values before sweating onset was similar between groups. Sudomotor thermosensitivity during exercise were similar in both FHP (P = 0.22) and REL (P = 0.77) trials. In conclusion, changes in core temperature and sweating during exercise in a neutral climate are determined by H(prod), mass, and BSA, not Vo(₂ peak).

Loss of 5‐lipoxygenase activity protects mice against paracetamol‐induced liver toxicity

PubMed Central

Pu, Shiyun; Ren, Lin; Liu, Qinhui; Kuang, Jiangying; Shen, Jing; Cheng, Shihai; Zhang, Yuwei; Jiang, Wei; Zhang, Zhiyong; Jiang, Changtao

2015-01-01

Background and Purpose Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the most widely used over‐the‐counter analgesic and overdosing with paracetamol is the leading cause of hospital admission for acute liver failure. 5‐Lipoxygenase (5‐LO) catalyses arachidonic acid to form LTs, which lead to inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we examined whether deletion or pharmacological inhibition of 5‐LO could protect mice against paracetamol‐induced hepatic toxicity. Experimental Approach Both genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of 5‐LO in C57BL/6J mice were used to study the role of this enzyme in paracetamol induced liver toxicity. Serum and tissue biochemistry, H&E staining, and real‐time PCR were used to assess liver toxicity. Key Results Deletion or pharmacological inhibition of 5‐LO in mice markedly ameliorated paracetamol‐induced hepatic injury, as shown by decreased serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and hepatic centrilobular necrosis. The hepatoprotective effect of 5‐LO inhibition was associated with induction of the antitoxic phase II conjugating enzyme, sulfotransferase2a1, suppression of the pro‐toxic phase I CYP3A11 and reduction of the hepatic transporter MRP3. In 5‐LO−/− mice, levels of GSH were increased, and oxidative stress decreased. In addition, PPAR α, a nuclear receptor that confers resistance to paracetamol toxicity, was activated in 5‐LO−/− mice. Conclusions and Implications The activity of 5‐LO may play a critical role in paracetamol‐induced hepatic toxicity by regulating paracetamol metabolism and oxidative stress. PMID:26398229

Detection of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake-induced landslide surface deformation in Kathmandu using InSAR images from PALSAR-2 data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Hiroshi P.; Une, Hiroshi

2016-03-01

Previous studies reported that the 2015 Gorkha earthquake (Mw 7.8), which occurred in Nepal, triggered landslides in mountainous areas. In Kathmandu, earthquake-induced land subsidence was identified by interpreting local phase changes in interferograms produced from Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2/Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-2 data. However, the associated ground deformation was not discussed in detail. We studied line-of-sight (LoS) changes from InSAR images in the SE area of Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. To obtain the change in LoS caused only by local, short-wavelength surface deformation, we subtracted the change in LoS attributed to coseismic deformation from the original change in LoS. The resulting change in LoS showed that the river terrace was driven to the bottom of the river valley. We also studied the changes in LoS in both ascending and descending InSAR images of the area along the Bishnumati River and performed 2.5D analysis. Removing the effect of coseismic deformation revealed east-west and up-down components of local surface deformation, indicating that the river terrace deformed eastward and subsided on the western riverbank of the river. On the east riverbank, the river terrace deformed westward and subsided. However, in the southern part of the river basin, the river terrace deformed westward and was uplifted. The deformation data and field survey results indicate that local surface deformation in these two areas was not caused by land subsidence but by a landslide (specifically, lateral spread).

77 FR 16447 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-21

...: These technical amendments are effective on March 21, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Lo, EPA Region IX, (415) 972- 3959, lo[email protected] . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Technical Amendment for...

75 FR 11882 - Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-12

... Status, Implementation, United States. Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed project. Rating LO.... Rating LO. EIS No. 20100010, ERP No. D-COE-E39079-NC, Surf City and North Topsail Beach Project, To...

GFEChutes Lo-Fi

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gist, Emily; Turner, Gary; Shelton, Robert; Vautier, Mana; Shaikh, Ashraf

2013-01-01

NASA needed to provide a software model of a parachute system for a manned re-entry vehicle. NASA has parachute codes, e.g., the Descent Simulation System (DSS), that date back to the Apollo Program. Since the space shuttle did not rely on parachutes as its primary descent control mechanism, DSS has not been maintained or incorporated into modern simulation architectures such as Osiris and Antares, which are used for new mission simulations. GFEChutes Lo-Fi is an object-oriented implementation of conventional parachute codes designed for use in modern simulation environments. The GFE (Government Furnished Equipment), low-fidelity (Lo-Fi) parachute model (GFEChutes Lo-Fi) is a software package capable of modeling the effects of multiple parachutes, deployed concurrently and/or sequentially, on a vehicle during the subsonic phase of reentry into planetary atmosphere. The term "low-fidelity" distinguishes models that represent the parachutes as simple forces acting on the vehicle, as opposed to independent aerodynamic bodies. GFEChutes Lo-Fi was created from these existing models to be clean, modular, certified as NASA Class C software, and portable, or "plug and play." The GFE Lo-Fi Chutes Model provides basic modeling capability of a sequential series of parachute activities. Actions include deploying the parachute, changing the reefing on the parachute, and cutting away the parachute. Multiple chutes can be deployed at any given time, but all chutes in that case are assumed to behave as individually isolated chutes; there is no modeling of any interactions between deployed chutes. Drag characteristics of a deployed chute are based on a coefficient of drag, the face area of the chute, and the local dynamic pressure only. The orientation of the chute is approximately modeled for purposes of obtaining torques on the vehicle, but the dynamic state of the chute as a separate entity is not integrated - the treatment is simply an approximation. The innovation in GFEChutes Lo-Fi is to use an object design that closely followed the mechanical characteristics and structure of a physical system of parachutes and their deployment mechanisms. Software objects represent the components of the system, and use of an object hierarchy allows a progression from general component outlines to specific implementations. These extra chutes were not part of the baseline deceleration sequence of drogues and mains, but still had to be simulated. The major innovation in GFEChutes Lo-Fi is the software design and architecture.

Physiological Responses to Prolonged Drought Differ Among Three Oak (Quercus) Species

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, C. E.; Moore, G. W.; Vogel, J. G.; Muir, J. P.

2015-12-01

The physiological response of plants to water stress provides insights into which species may survive in exceptional drought conditions. This study conducted on a remnant post oak savanna site in College Station, Texas, examined how drought affected the physiology of three native oak species. In June 2014, after a period of equal watering, we subjected three year old Quercus shumardii (Shumard oak; SO), Q. virginiana (live oak; LO), and Q. macrocarpa (bur oak; BO) saplings to one of two watering treatments: 1) watered, receiving the equivalent of theaverage precipitation rate and 2) droughted, receiving a 100% reduction in precipitation. We measured predawn (ΨPD) and midday (ΨMD) leaf water potential; midday gas exchange (MGE) parameters including photosynthesis (Al), transpiration (T), stomatal conductance (gsw); and leaf soluble (SS) and non-soluble sugar (NSS) concentrations monthly between June and October 2014. Drought stress responses were evident after only one month of induced drought. Droughted saplings showed reduced ΨPD, ΨMD, and MGE (P ≤ 0.05) in comparison to watered saplings of the same species. LO saplings exhibited greater MGE (P ≤ 0.05) while maintaining similar LWP to their respective watered and droughted BO and SO counterparts. Droughted LO exhibited MGE rates similar to those of watered BO and SO (P ≤ 0.05), while watered LO adjusted its MGE rates to changes in water availability better than BO and LO during short-term drought. Compared to water saplings, droughted saplings had greater leaf SS (P = 0.08) and lower NSS concentrations (P = 0.10), possibly due to the conversion of NSS to SS and other simple compounds and reduced consumption of SS for growth by the droughted saplings. Although SO and BO exhibited similar photosynthesis rates, leaf total sugar (SS+NSS) concentration was greater in SO (P ≤ 0.05). By displaying the greatest average photosynthesis rate (P ≤ 0.05), LO should have accumulated the greatest amount of carbon, but had a low total leaf sugar concentration. LO saplings did however have greater relative height and diameter growth (P ≤ 0.05) than SO and BO, suggesting these species may differ in carbon allocation strategies. Results suggest LO is more likely to withstand drought mortality than BO or SO and may be an ideal species for forest restoration in environments that suffer from drought.

Seamount Hydrothermal Systems as Analogies for Ocean Worlds: Reaction Paths Throughout the Lo'ihi Seamount (Hawaii Archipelago)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milesi, V.; Shock, E.

2018-05-01

Thermodynamic modeling is performed to investigate the possible reaction paths of sea water throughout the Lo'ihi seamount and the associated geochemical supplies of energy that can support autotrophic microbial communities.

77 FR 15293 - Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-15

...-190-20), land at nearest suitable airport Upon display of ELEC:LH ESS PWR LO or ELEC:LH ESS NO PWR (Abnormal procedure 3-190-40), land at nearest suitable airport Upon display of ELEC:RH ESS PWR LO and ELEC...

75 FR 8935 - Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-26

... action. Rating LO. EIS No. 20090384, ERP No. D-NOA-K39124-CA, Fruit Growers Supply Company's Multi... action. Rating LO. Final EISs EIS No. 20090016, ERP No. F-FAA-B40165-MA, New Bedford Regional Airport...

DOD Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-10-05

chemical canister, 3 x 10- 5 1 x 10- 4 1 x 10- 5 3 x 10-3 3 x 10-3 air purifying protective mask will be on hand for escape . ( The M9, M17 or M40...1,2, 3, 4 , 5 8 8 9 ENERGETIC LIQUIDS STATIC TEST STANDS RANGE LAUNCH LO 2 /LH 2 See Note 6 See Note 6 LO 2 /LH 2 + LO 2 /RP-1 Sum of (see...liquids provided they comply with the construction and siting requirements of chapters 5 and 9 , respectively for Hazard Division 1.1. ECM must be sited

Closed-Loop Control of Vortex Formation in Separated Flows with Application to Micro Air Vehicles

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-10-25

ruich. roll, «nd phasgi. innmt.yi of th« wwtg m tnpnap» lo die nnHriiiy fin—n nant flow r 1 faA fhiif—irm ■IIIIUIJ wah gutting fnxjBfju flow wa...a» ■ Altar kernel to predict the retpone of Ihe »nig lo mote complex actuator omul »pails A «oic. of caonvTkn of incrcaaang eornpkxirv were <toa>gard... lo rupracis bit Muctuatioru m puffing condition. The mow robust controller» were «Me to suppre« lift fluctuation» associated with • broadband

Investigation of Hotline Allegation of a Questionable Intelligence Activity Concerning the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), Counter-IED Operations/Intelligence Integration Center (COIC) (REDACTED)

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-04

hlic;hml>nt of the \\.nunter- IF.n OpPr::ltion~l Integration Center (COIC)," COIC Response lO Efficiency Study satd that: DODIG-2014-05511 SIS€R~T...this information can be captured on open source. husiness lnrormation links and then converted into intelligeflce we can use lo Je ve ragt our...collect iutelligence, and was nol authorized lO collect intelligence on U.S. persons. (U/ /~)Furthermore, even if the intentional collecti on on U.S. pe

Research of the application of the Low Power Wide Area Network in power grid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hao; Sui, Hong; Li, Jia; Yao, Jian

2018-03-01

Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies developed rapidly in recent years, but these technologies have not make large-scale applications in different application scenarios of power grid. LoRa is a mainstream LPWAN technology. This paper makes a comparison test of the signal coverage of LoRa and other traditional wireless communication technologies in typical signal environment of power grid. Based on the test results, this paper gives an application suggestion of LoRa in power grid services, which can guide the planning and construction of the LPWAN in power grid.

Neutron matter at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order in chiral effective field theory.

PubMed

Tews, I; Krüger, T; Hebeler, K; Schwenk, A

2013-01-18

Neutron matter presents a unique system for chiral effective field theory because all many-body forces among neutrons are predicted to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N(3)LO). We present the first complete N(3)LO calculation of the neutron matter energy. This includes the subleading three-nucleon forces for the first time and all leading four-nucleon forces. We find relatively large contributions from N(3)LO three-nucleon forces. Our results provide constraints for neutron-rich matter in astrophysics with controlled theoretical uncertainties.

Systemic involvement in localized scleroderma/morphea.

PubMed

Gorkiewicz-Petkow, Anna; Kalinska-Bienias, Agnieszka

2015-01-01

Localized scleroderma (LoSc), also known as morphea, is a rare fibrosing disorder of the skin and underlying tissues. Sclerosis is mainly limited to the skin, but subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and underlying muscles and bone may also be involved. In some cases, systemic manifestation with visceral abnormalities may occur. Several publications have focused on significant aspects of LoSc: genetics, immunity, epidemiology, scoring systems, and unification of classifications. Clinical studies featuring large cohorts with the disease published by various international study groups have been of great value in furthering the diagnostic and therapeutic management of LoSc. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

High-speed continuous-variable quantum key distribution without sending a local oscillator.

PubMed

Huang, Duan; Huang, Peng; Lin, Dakai; Wang, Chao; Zeng, Guihua

2015-08-15

We report a 100-MHz continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) experiment over a 25-km fiber channel without sending a local oscillator (LO). We use a "locally" generated LO and implement with a 1-GHz shot-noise-limited homodyne detector to achieve high-speed quantum measurement, and we propose a secure phase compensation scheme to maintain a low level of excess noise. These make high-bit-rate CV-QKD significantly simpler for larger transmission distances compared with previous schemes in which both LO and quantum signals are transmitted through the insecure quantum channel.

Higgs boson gluon–fusion production at threshold in N 3LO QCD

DOE PAGES

Anastasiou, Charalampos; Duhr, Claude; Dulat, Falko; ...

2014-09-02

We present the cross-section for the threshold production of the Higgs boson at hadron-colliders at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N 3LO) in perturbative QCD. Furthermore, we present an analytic expression for the partonic cross-section at threshold and the impact of these corrections on the numerical estimates for the hadronic cross-section at the LHC. With this result we achieve a major milestone towards a complete evaluation of the cross-section at N 3LO which will reduce the theoretical uncertainty in the determination of the strengths of the Higgs boson interactions.

Numerical Investigation of LO2 and LCH4 Storage Tanks on the Lunar Surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moder, Jeff; Barsi, Stephen; Kassemi, Mohammad

2008-01-01

Currently NASA is developing technologies to enable human exploration of the lunar surface for duration of up to 210 days. While trade studies are still underway, a cryogenic ascent stage using liquid oxygen (LO2) and liquid methane (LCH4) is being considered for the Altair lunar lander. For a representative Altair cryogenic ascent stage, we present a detailed storage analysis of the LO2 and LCH4 propellant tanks on the lunar surface for durations of up to 210 days. Both the LO2 and LCH4 propellant tanks are assumed to be pressurized with gaseous helium at launch. A two-phase lumped-vapor computational fluid dynamics model has been developed to account for the presence of a noncondensable gas in the ullage. The CFD model is used to simulate the initial pressure response of the propellant tanks while they are subjected to representative heat leak rates on the lunar surface. Once a near stationary state is achieved within the liquid phase, multizone model is used to extrapolate the solution farther in time. For fixed propellant mass and tank size, the long-term pressure response for different helium mass fractions in both the LO2 and LCH4 tanks is examined.

Level of evidence in wrist ligament repair and reconstruction research: a systematic review.

PubMed

Andersson, Jonny K; Rööser, Bo; Karlsson, Jón

2018-06-07

There have been numerous studies on surgery of wrist ligament injuries, but a quick assessment reveals few with a high level of evidence (LoE). The primary aim of this study was to categorize the study type and LoE of studies on repair and reconstruction of the scapholunate ligament, the lunotriquetral ligament and the triangular fibrocartilage complex by applying the LoE rating system proposed by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. The secondary aims were to evaluate the journal- and geographic- distribution of the included studies.An electronic literature search of articles published 1985-2016, in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library was carried out in May 2016 and updated in April 2017. Therapeutic studies written in English were included. The PRISMA checklist guided the extraction and reporting of data.A total of 1889 studies were analyzed, of which 362 were included. Three journals represented 40% of the included studies and American authors dominated.Most studies (97%) had low LoE (IV-V). No studies of LoE I-II were found. There is insufficient evidence to recommend one technique over the other in terms of wrist ligament surgery in clinical practice. There is an immense lack of comparison studies with high level of evidence in the area of wrist ligament repair and reconstruction.

Investigating the Features of the M170 in Congenital Prosopagnosia

PubMed Central

Rivolta, Davide; Palermo, Romina; Schmalzl, Laura; Williams, Mark A.

2012-01-01

Face perception generates specific neural activity as early as 170 ms post-stimulus onset, termed the M170 when measured with Magnetoencephalography (MEG). We examined the M170 in six people with congenital prosopagnosia (CP) and 11 typical controls. Previous research indicates that there are two neural generators for the M170 (one within the right lateral occipital area – rLO and one within the right fusiform gyrus – rFG), and in the current study we explored whether these sources reflect the processing of different types of information. Individuals with CP showed face-selective M170 responses within the rLO and right rFG, which did not differ in magnitude to those of the controls. To examine possible links between neural activity and behavior we correlated the CPs’ MEG activity generated within rLO and rFG with their face perception skills. The rLO-M170 correlated with holistic/configural face processing, whereas the rFG-M170 correlated with featural processing. Hence, the results of our study demonstrate that individuals with CP can show an M170 that is within the normal range, and that the M170 in the rLO and rFG are involved in different aspects of face processing. PMID:22416228

Scanning thin-sheet laser imaging microscopy (sTSLIM) with structured illumination and HiLo background rejection.

PubMed Central

Schröter, Tobias J.; Johnson, Shane B.; John, Kerstin; Santi, Peter A.

2011-01-01

We report replacement of one side of a static illumination, dual sided, thin-sheet laser imaging microscope (TSLIM) with an intensity modulated laser scanner in order to implement structured illumination (SI) and HiLo image demodulation techniques for background rejection. The new system is equipped with one static and one scanned light-sheet and is called a scanning thin-sheet laser imaging microscope (sTSLIM). It is an optimized version of a light-sheet fluorescent microscope that is designed to image large specimens (<15 mm in diameter). In this paper we describe the hardware and software modifications to TSLIM that allow for static and uniform light-sheet illumination with SI and HiLo image demodulation. The static light-sheet has a thickness of 3.2 µm; whereas, the scanned side has a light-sheet thickness of 4.2 µm. The scanned side images specimens with subcellular resolution (<1 µm lateral and <4 µm axial resolution) with a size up to 15 mm. SI and HiLo produce superior contrast compared to both the uniform static and scanned light-sheets. HiLo contrast was greater than SI and is faster and more robust than SI because as it produces images in two-thirds of the time and exhibits fewer intensity streaking artifacts. PMID:22254177

High-contrast 3D image acquisition using HiLo microscopy with an electrically tunable lens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philipp, Katrin; Smolarski, André; Fischer, Andreas; Koukourakis, Nektarios; Stürmer, Moritz; Wallrabe, Ulricke; Czarske, Jürgen

2016-04-01

We present a HiLo microscope with an electrically tunable lens for high-contrast three-dimensional image acquisition. HiLo microscopy combines wide field and speckled illumination images to create optically sectioned images. Additionally, the depth-of-field is not fixed, but can be adjusted between wide field and confocal-like axial resolution. We incorporate an electrically tunable lens in the HiLo microscope for axial scanning, to obtain three-dimensional data without the need of moving neither the sample nor the objective. The used adaptive lens consists of a transparent polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane into which an annular piezo bending actuator is embedded. A transparent fluid is filled between the membrane and the glass substrate. When actuated, the piezo generates a pressure in the lens which deflects the membrane and thus changes the refractive power. This technique enables a large tuning range of the refractive power between 1/f = (-24 . . . 25) 1/m. As the NA of the adaptive lens is only about 0.05, a fixed high-NA lens is included in the setup to provide high resolution. In this contribution, the scan properties and capabilities of the tunable lens in the HiLo microscope are analyzed. Eventually, exemplary measurements are presented and discussed.

Curcumin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells by activating the mitochondria apoptotic pathway.

PubMed

Guo, Li-da; Chen, Xue-Jie; Hu, Yu-Hong; Yu, Zhi-Jun; Wang, Duo; Liu, Jing-Ze

2013-03-01

Curcumin, a natural plant extract from Curcuma longa, is known for its anti-carcinogenic and chemopreventive effects on a variety of experimental cancer models. In this study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin and elucidated its mechanism in human colorectal carcinoma cells. Cell viability assay showed that curcumin significantly inhibited the growth of LoVo cells. Curcumin treatment induced the apoptosis accompanied by ultra-structural changes and release of lactate dehydrogenase in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with 0-30 µg/mL curcumin decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and activated the caspase-3 and caspase-9 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Nuclear and annexin V/PI staining showed that curcumin induced the apoptosis of LoVo cells. FACS analysis revealed that curcumin could induce the cell cycle arrest of LoVo cells at the S phase. Furthermore, western blotting analysis indicated that curcumin induced the release of cytochrome c, a significant increase of Bax and p53 and a marked reduction of Bcl-2 and survivin in LoVo cells. Taken together, our results suggested that curcumin inhibited the growth of LoVo cells by inducing apoptosis through a mitochondria-mediated pathway. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

CXCR6 marks a novel subset of T-bet(lo)Eomes(hi) natural killer cells residing in human liver.

PubMed

Stegmann, Kerstin A; Robertson, Francis; Hansi, Navjyot; Gill, Upkar; Pallant, Celeste; Christophides, Theodoros; Pallett, Laura J; Peppa, Dimitra; Dunn, Claire; Fusai, Giuseppe; Male, Victoria; Davidson, Brian R; Kennedy, Patrick; Maini, Mala K

2016-05-23

Natural killer cells (NK) are highly enriched in the human liver, where they can regulate immunity and immunopathology. We probed them for a liver-resident subset, distinct from conventional bone-marrow-derived NK. CXCR6+ NK were strikingly enriched in healthy and diseased liver compared to blood (p < 0.0001). Human hepatic CXCR6+ NK had an immature phenotype (predominantly CD56(bright)CD16-CD57-), and expressed the tissue-residency marker CD69. CXCR6+ NK produced fewer cytotoxic mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines than the non-liver-specific CXCR6- fraction. Instead CXCR6+ NK could upregulate TRAIL, a key death ligand in hepatitis pathogenesis. CXCR6 demarcated liver NK into two transcriptionally distinct populations: T-bet(hi)Eomes(lo)(CXCR6-) and T-bet(lo)Eomes(hi)(CXCR6+); the latter was virtually absent in the periphery. The small circulating CXCR6+ subset was predominantly T-bet(hi)Eomes(lo), suggesting its lineage was closer to CXCR6- peripheral than CXCR6+ liver NK. These data reveal a large subset of human liver-resident T-bet(lo)Eomes(hi) NK, distinguished by their surface expression of CXCR6, adapted for hepatic tolerance and inducible anti-viral immunity.

CC2 oscillator strengths within the local framework for calculating excitation energies (LoFEx).

PubMed

Baudin, Pablo; Kjærgaard, Thomas; Kristensen, Kasper

2017-04-14

In a recent work [P. Baudin and K. Kristensen, J. Chem. Phys. 144, 224106 (2016)], we introduced a local framework for calculating excitation energies (LoFEx), based on second-order approximated coupled cluster (CC2) linear-response theory. LoFEx is a black-box method in which a reduced excitation orbital space (XOS) is optimized to provide coupled cluster (CC) excitation energies at a reduced computational cost. In this article, we present an extension of the LoFEx algorithm to the calculation of CC2 oscillator strengths. Two different strategies are suggested, in which the size of the XOS is determined based on the excitation energy or the oscillator strength of the targeted transitions. The two strategies are applied to a set of medium-sized organic molecules in order to assess both the accuracy and the computational cost of the methods. The results show that CC2 excitation energies and oscillator strengths can be calculated at a reduced computational cost, provided that the targeted transitions are local compared to the size of the molecule. To illustrate the potential of LoFEx for large molecules, both strategies have been successfully applied to the lowest transition of the bivalirudin molecule (4255 basis functions) and compared with time-dependent density functional theory.

Circulating CXCR5+CXCR3+PD-1lo Tfh-like cells in HIV-1 controllers with neutralizing antibody breadth

PubMed Central

Martin-Gayo, Enrique; Cronin, Jacqueline; Hickman, Taylor; Ouyang, Zhengyu; Lindqvist, Madelene; Kolb, Kellie E.; Schulze zur Wiesch, Julian; Cubas, Rafael; Porichis, Filippos; Shalek, Alex K.; van Lunzen, Jan; Haddad, Elias K.; Walker, Bruce D.; Kaufmann, Daniel E.; Lichterfeld, Mathias; Yu, Xu G.

2017-01-01

HIV-1–specific broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) typically develop in individuals with continuous high-level viral replication and increased immune activation, conditions that cannot be reproduced during prophylactic immunization. Understanding mechanisms supporting bnAb development in the absence of high-level viremia may be important for designing bnAb-inducing immunogens. Here, we show that the breadth of neutralizing antibody responses in HIV-1 controllers was associated with a relative enrichment of circulating CXCR5+CXCR3+PD-1lo CD4+ T cells. These CXCR3+PD-1lo Tfh-like cells were preferentially induced in vitro by functionally superior dendritic cells from controller neutralizers, and able to secrete IL-21 and support B cells. In addition, these CXCR3+PD-1lo Tfh-like cells contained higher proportions of stem cell–like memory T cells, and upon antigenic stimulation differentiated into PD-1hi Tfh-like cells in a Notch-dependent manner. Together, these data suggest that CXCR5+CXCR3+PD-1lo cells represent a dendritic cell–primed precursor cell population for PD-1hi Tfh-like cells that may contribute to the generation of bnAbs in the absence of high-level viremia. PMID:28138558

Neurological abnormalities in localized scleroderma of the face and head: a case series study for evaluation of imaging findings and clinical course.

PubMed

Lis-Święty, Anna; Brzezińska-Wcisło, Ligia; Arasiewicz, Hubert

2017-09-01

Localized scleroderma (LoS) of the face and head is often associated with neurological manifestations and/or imaging abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS). We present an analysis of 20 cases of LoS affecting the face and head. The CNS symptoms and/or abnormalities in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were observed in 12 patients (60%). In addition to the mild and unspecific disorders (e.g. headaches), serious neurological complications probably in the course of vasculitis were revealed: epilepsy (in two patients), epilepsy and pyramidal sings (in one patient). Neurological disorders and LoS occurred at the same time (in three patients) or at the course of the disease (nine patients) and no later than 29 years since the onset of the disease. No link between neurological disorders and the LoS clinical morphology, immunological and other laboratory parameters has been established. CNS involvement is not correlated with the clinical course of the facial and head LoS and may occur years after the disease initial symptomatology. Imaging follow-up is not required if there is not any emerging neurological symptom. In some cases, however, both HRCT and MRI are useful for monitoring disease evolution and addressing therapeutic choices.

Sub-1GHz wireless sensing and control instruments for green house farming system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wardana, I. N. K.; Ciptayani, P. I.; Suranata, I. W. A.

2018-01-01

Radio frequency enabled devices was developed to make the data gathering and instruments control process become wirelessly possible for greenhouse. This research used 915 MHz radio frequency band, which is also known as ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical) band. To accomplish the experiments, three main devices was developed. They are node sensors (NoSe), node actuators (NoAc), and gateway. According to communication range test, the devices can transmit flawlessly up to 43 meters in harsh environment (Non-Line of Sight or Non-LoS). The result was increased dramatically in an open field (Line of Sight or LoS ) with maximum range that can be achieved is up to 280 meters. The RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) for LoS and Non-LoS measurements were recorded. The number of transmitted data was approximately 500 samples and transferred approximately every 200 ms. In Non-Los scenario, RSSI ranged from -74 dB to -96 dB with average -82 dB. The better performance was shown in LoS measurement that is RSSI varied from -67 dB to -89 dB with average -76 dB. Based on that results, this technology have a great prospect as an option to greenhouse wireless sensing and controlling technology.

Future orbital transfer vehicle technology study. Volume 2: Technical report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, E. E.

1982-01-01

Missions for future orbit transfer vehicles (1995-2010) are identified and the technology, operations and vehicle concepts that satisfy the transportation requirements are defined. Comparison of reusable space and ground based LO2/LH2 OTV's was made. Both vehicles used advanced space engines and aero assist capability. The SB OTV provided advantages in life cycle cost, performance and potential for improvement. Comparison of an all LO2/LH2 OTV fleet with a fleet of LO2/LH2 OTVs and electric OTV's was also made. The normal growth technology electric OTV used silicon cells with heavy shielding and argon ion thrusters. This provided a 23% advantage in total transportation cost. The impact of accelerated technology was considered in terms of improvements in performance and cost effectiveness. The accelerated technology electric vehicle used GaAs cells and annealing but did not result in the mixed fleet being any cheaper than an all LO2/LH2 OTV fleet. It is concluded that reusable LO2/LH2 OTV's can serve all general purpose cargo roles between LEO and GEO for the forseeable future. The most significant technology for the second generation vehicle would be space debris protection, on-orbit propellant storage and transfer and on-orbit maintenance capability.

Multiscale high-order/low-order (HOLO) algorithms and applications

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

Chacon, Luis; Chen, Guangye; Knoll, Dana Alan

Here, we review the state of the art in the formulation, implementation, and performance of so-called high-order/low-order (HOLO) algorithms for challenging multiscale problems. HOLO algorithms attempt to couple one or several high-complexity physical models (the high-order model, HO) with low-complexity ones (the low-order model, LO). The primary goal of HOLO algorithms is to achieve nonlinear convergence between HO and LO components while minimizing memory footprint and managing the computational complexity in a practical manner. Key to the HOLO approach is the use of the LO representations to address temporal stiffness, effectively accelerating the convergence of the HO/LO coupled system. Themore » HOLO approach is broadly underpinned by the concept of nonlinear elimination, which enables segregation of the HO and LO components in ways that can effectively use heterogeneous architectures. The accuracy and efficiency benefits of HOLO algorithms are demonstrated with specific applications to radiation transport, gas dynamics, plasmas (both Eulerian and Lagrangian formulations), and ocean modeling. Across this broad application spectrum, HOLO algorithms achieve significant accuracy improvements at a fraction of the cost compared to conventional approaches. It follows that HOLO algorithms hold significant potential for high-fidelity system scale multiscale simulations leveraging exascale computing.« less

Multiscale high-order/low-order (HOLO) algorithms and applications

DOE PAGES

Chacon, Luis; Chen, Guangye; Knoll, Dana Alan; ...

2016-11-11

Here, we review the state of the art in the formulation, implementation, and performance of so-called high-order/low-order (HOLO) algorithms for challenging multiscale problems. HOLO algorithms attempt to couple one or several high-complexity physical models (the high-order model, HO) with low-complexity ones (the low-order model, LO). The primary goal of HOLO algorithms is to achieve nonlinear convergence between HO and LO components while minimizing memory footprint and managing the computational complexity in a practical manner. Key to the HOLO approach is the use of the LO representations to address temporal stiffness, effectively accelerating the convergence of the HO/LO coupled system. Themore » HOLO approach is broadly underpinned by the concept of nonlinear elimination, which enables segregation of the HO and LO components in ways that can effectively use heterogeneous architectures. The accuracy and efficiency benefits of HOLO algorithms are demonstrated with specific applications to radiation transport, gas dynamics, plasmas (both Eulerian and Lagrangian formulations), and ocean modeling. Across this broad application spectrum, HOLO algorithms achieve significant accuracy improvements at a fraction of the cost compared to conventional approaches. It follows that HOLO algorithms hold significant potential for high-fidelity system scale multiscale simulations leveraging exascale computing.« less

Sedimentation survey of Lago Loíza, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, July 2009

USGS Publications Warehouse

Soler-López, Luis R.; Licha-Soler, N.A.

2014-01-01

Lago Loíza is a reservoir formed at the confluence of Río Gurabo and Río Grande de Loíza in the municipality of Trujillo Alto in central Puerto Rico, about 10 kilometers (km) north of the town of Caguas, about 9 km northwest of Gurabo, and about 3 km south of Trujillo Alto (fig. 1). The Carraizo Dam is owned and operated by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), and was constructed in 1953 as a water-supply reservoir for the San Juan Metropolitan area. The dam is a concrete gravity structure that is located in a shallow valley and has a gently sloping left abutment and steep right abutment. Non-overflow sections flank the spillway section. Waterways include an intake structure for the pumping station and power plant, sluiceways, a trash sluice, and a spillway. The reservoir was built to provide a storage capacity of 26.8 million cubic meters (Mm3) of water at the maximum pool elevation of 41.14 meters (m) above mean sea level (msl) for the Sergio Cuevas Filtration Plant that serves the San Juan metropolitan area. The reservoir has a drainage area of 538 square kilometers (km2) and receives an annual mean rainfall that ranges from 1,600 to 5,000 millimeters per year (mm/yr). The principal streams that drain into Lago Loíza are the Río Grande de Loíza, Río Gurabo, and Río Cañas. Two other rivers, the Río Bairoa and Río Cagüitas, discharge into the Río Grande de Loíza just before it enters the reservoir. The combined mean annual runoff of the Río Grande de Loíza and the Río Gurabo for the 1960–2009 period of record is 323 Mm3. Flow from these streams constitutes about 89 percent of the total mean annual inflow of 364 Mm3 to the reservoir (U.S. Geological Survey, 2009). Detailed information about Lago Loíza reservoir structures, historical sediment accumulation, and a dredge conducted in 1999 are available in Soler-López and Gómez-Gómez (2005). During July 8–15, 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Caribbean Water Science Center (CWSC), in cooperation with PRASA, conducted a bathymetric survey of Lago Loíza to update the reservoir storage capacity and estimate the reservoir sedimentation rate by comparing the 2009 data with the previous 2004 bathymetric survey data. The purpose of this report is to document the methods used to update and present the results of the reservoir storage capacity, sedimentation rates, and areas of substantial sediment accumulation since 2004.

Estradiol agonists inhibit human LoVo colorectal-cancer cell proliferation and migration through p53.

PubMed

Hsu, Hsi-Hsien; Kuo, Wei-Wen; Ju, Da-Tong; Yeh, Yu-Lan; Tu, Chuan-Chou; Tsai, Ying-Lan; Shen, Chia-Yao; Chang, Sheng-Huang; Chung, Li-Chin; Huang, Chih-Yang

2014-11-28

To investigate the effects of 17β-estradiol via estrogen receptors (ER) or direct administration of ER agonists on human colorectal cancer. LoVo cells were established from the Bioresource Collection and Research Center and cultured in phenol red-free DMEM (Sigma, United States). To investigate the effects of E2 and/or ER selective agonists on cellular proliferation, LoVo colorectal cells were treated with E2 or ER-selective agonists for 24 h and 48 h and subjected to the MTT (Sigma) assay to find the concentration. And investigate the effects of E2 and/or ER selective agonists on cell used western immunoblotting to find out the diversification of signaling pathways. In order to observe motility and migration the wound healing assay and a transwell chamber (Neuro Probe) plate were tased. For a quantitative measure, we counted the number of migrating cells to the wound area post-wounding for 24 h. We further examined the cellular migration-regulating factors urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in human LoVo cells so gelatin zymography that we used and gelatinolytic activity was visualized by Coomassie blue staining. And these results are presented as means ± SE, and statistical comparisons were made using Student's t-test. The structure was first compared with E2 and ER agonists. We then treated the LoVo cells with E2 and ER agonists (10(-8) mol/L) for 24 h and 48 h and subsequently measured the cell viability using MTT assay. Our results showed that treatment with 17β-estradiol and/or ER agonists in human LoVo colorectal cancer cells activated p53 and then up-regulated p21 and p27 protein levels, subsequently inhibiting the downstream target gene, cyclin D1, which regulates cell proliferation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the anti-tumorigenesis effects of 17β-estradiol and/or ER agonists and suggest that these compounds may prove to be a potential alternative therapy in the treatment of human colorectal cancer. These results demonstrate that 17β-estradiol and/or ER agonists downregulate migration-related proteins through the p53 signaling pathway in human LoVo colorectal cancer cells. These findings suggest that p53 plays a critical role in the 17β-estradiol and/or ER agonist-mediated protective activity against colorectal cancer progression. In addition, 17β-estradiol and/or ER agonists dramatically inhibited cell migration and reduced the expression of u-PA, t-PA and MMP-9 as well as MMP-2/9 activity in LoVo cells, which regulate cell metastasis. Moreover, we observed that pretreatment with a p53 inhibitor significantly blocked the anti-migration effects of E2 and/or ER agonists on LoVo cells. That E2 and/or ER agonists may impair LoVo cell migration by modulating migration-related factors via the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Direct ER treatment may prove to be an attractive alternative therapy in the treatment of human colorectal tumors in the future.

Beef heifer growth and reproductive performance following two levels of pasture allowance during the fall grazing period.

PubMed

Bailey, B L; Griggs, T C; Rayburn, E B; Krause, K M

2014-08-01

The objective of this study was to compare heifer growth and reproductive performance following 2 levels of stockpiled fall forage allowance of orchardgrass (30.5%) and tall fescue (14.1%). Spring-born heifers (n = 203 and BW = 246 ± 28.9 kg) of primarily Angus background were allocated to 2 grazing treatments during the fall period (November 12 to December 17 in yr 1, November 7 to January 4 in yr 2, and November 7 to January 14 in yr 3) each replicated 3 times per year for 3 yr. Treatments consisted of daily pasture DM allowance of 3.5% of BW (LO) or daily pasture DM allowance of 7.0% of BW (HI) under strip-grazing management. Throughout the winter feeding period, mixed grass-legume haylage and soybean hulls were fed. Heifers were grazed as 1 group under continuous stocking after the winter period. Heifers in the LO group gained less than heifers in the HI group during the fall grazing period (0.12 vs. 0.40 kg/d; P < 0.0001). For each 1 10 g increase in NDF/kg fall pasture (DM basis), fall ADG decreased 0.14 kg (P = 0.01). During winter feeding, ADG was 0.30 and 0.39 kg/d for LO vs. HI heifers, respectively (P = 0.0008). During the spring grazing period (April 16 to May 24 in yr 1, April 22 to May 26 in yr 2, and April 5 to May 16 in yr 3), LO heifers had numerically greater ADG than HI heifers (1.38 vs. 1.30 kg/d; P = 0.64). Hip height (122.7 vs. 121.4 cm; P = 0.0055), BCS (5.8 vs. 5.6; P = 0.0057), and BW (356 vs. 335 kg; P < 0.0001) at the end of spring grazing was greater for HI than LO heifers. Heifers in the LO group compensated with greater summer ADG than heifers in the HI group (0.74 vs. 0.66 kg/d; P = 0.03). Total ADG from treatment initiation (November) through pregnancy diagnosis (August) was greater for HI than LO heifers (0.61 vs. 0.55 kg/d; P < 0.001) as was BW at pregnancy diagnosis (415 vs. 402 kg; P = 0.0055). Percentage of heifers reaching puberty by the time of AI was 34% for both groups (P = 0.93). Percentage of heifers becoming pregnant to AI tended (P = 0.13) to be greater for HI (44%) than for LO heifers (32%). Fall ADG across treatment groups affected the probability of a heifer becoming pregnant by AI (P = 0.01). Percentage pregnant by natural service (61% for LO vs. 59% for HI; P = 0.80) and final pregnancy rate (74% for LO vs. 77% for HI; P = 0.61) was not different for the 2 groups. These results indicate that altering fall forage allowance may delay the majority of BW gain until late in heifer development without negatively affecting overall pregnancy rates.

Polycythemia Vera

MedlinePlus

... Polycythemia Vera Also known as What Is Polycythemia vera (POL-e-si-THEE-me-ah VAY-rah or VE- ... MY-e-lo-PATH-ik) polycythemia Myeloproliferative (MY-e-lo-pro-LIF-er-ah-tiv) disorder Osler disease Polycythemia rubra vera Polycythemia with chronic cyanosis (SI-ah-NO-sis) ...

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome mimicking mitochondrial disease.

PubMed

Rojnueangnit, Kitiwan; Descartes, Maria

2018-03-01

Later-onset congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (LO-CCHS) does not present only breathing problems but can be present as episodic multiple organs involvement. Our unique case demonstrated LO-CCHS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases and having nontypical polysomnography result.

77 FR 37795 - Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-25

... display of ELEC:LH ESS PWR LO or ELEC:LH ESS NO PWR (Abnormal procedure 3-190-40), land at nearest suitable airport Upon display of ELEC:RH ESS PWR LO and ELEC:RH ESS NO PWR (Abnormal procedure 3-190-45...

75 FR 16787 - Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-02

... improve environmental resources in the project area. Rating LO. EIS No. 20090451, ERP No. D-FHW-F40451-FL..., WA, OR and CA. Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action. Rating LO. EIS No. 20100027, ERP...

USDA APHIS | Wildlife Damage

Science.gov Websites

& Speeches USDA Newsroom Videos Pet Travel Blog Z6_LO4C1BS0LO4EB0AER7MEEI2G47 Error Error Biosecurity ESF11 Farm Bill Horse Protection Hungry Pests Pet Travel Trade Veterinary Accreditation USDA.gov

Combining presentation high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and glucose measurements to rule-out an acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting to emergency department with chest pain.

PubMed

Greenslade, J H; Kavsak, P; Parsonage, W; Shortt, C; Than, M; Pickering, J W; Aldous, S; Cullen, L

2015-03-01

The use of high sensitivity troponin (hs-Tn) may enable early rule out of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain. This study evaluated two approaches to the early rule out of AMI; a combination of a presentation hs-Tn <4ng/L and normal glucose at presentation (dual testing) and a presentation hs-Tn troponin below the limit of detection (LoD). We utilised prospectively collected data on adult patients presenting with suspected ACS in two EDs in Australia and New Zealand. Blood samples were taken on presentation and tested for glucose and high sensitivity troponin I. The primary endpoint was index AMI and the secondary endpoint was 30-day acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the dual testing and LoD approaches. Of the 1412 participants, 182 (12.9%) had index AMI. The LoD and the dual testing approach were 100% sensitive for index AMI. The specificity of the dual testing approach (25.2%) was slightly higher than that of the LoD (20.4%). Sensitivity for ACS was similar for the two approaches (96.5% for dual testing and 98.1% for the LoD). The dual testing and LoD approach identified all patients with index AMI and could be used to reduce the proportion of patients requiring lengthy assessment and inpatient admission. Further investigation is still required to rule out unstable angina pectoris in patients identified as low risk. Copyright © 2014 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acquisition of i.v. cocaine self-administration in adolescent and adult male rats selectively bred for high and low saccharin intake.

PubMed

Perry, Jennifer L; Anderson, Marissa M; Nelson, Sarah E; Carroll, Marilyn E

2007-05-16

Adolescence and excessive intake of saccharin have each been previously associated with enhanced vulnerability to drug abuse. In the present study, we focused on the relationship between these two factors using male adolescent and adult rats selectively bred for high (HiS) and low (LoS) levels of saccharin intake. On postnatal day 25 (adolescents) or 150 (adults), rats were implanted with an intravenous catheter and trained to self-administer cocaine (0.4 mg/kg) using an autoshaping procedure that consisted of two 6-h sessions. In the first 6 h, rats were given non-contingent cocaine infusions at random intervals 10 times per hour, and during the second 6-h session, rats were allowed to self-administer cocaine under a fixed ratio 1 (FR 1) lever-response contingency. Acquisition was defined as a total of at least 250 infusions over 5 consecutive days, and rats were given 30 days to meet the acquisition criterion. Subsequently, saccharin phenotype scores were determined by comparing 24-h saccharin and water consumption in two-bottle tests to verify HiS/LoS status. Adolescent LoS rats had a faster rate of acquisition of cocaine self-administration than adult LoS rats; however, adolescent and adult HiS rats acquired at the same rate. Both HiS and LoS adolescents had significantly higher saccharin phenotype scores than HiS and LoS adults, respectively. Additionally, saccharin score was negatively correlated with the number of days to meet the acquisition criterion for cocaine self-administration, but this was mostly accounted for by the HiS adolescents. These results suggest that during adolescence, compared with adulthood, rats have both an increased avidity for sweets and vulnerability to initiate drug abuse.

Early vs late age at onset frontotemporal dementia and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

PubMed

Seo, Sang Won; Thibodeau, Marie-Pierre; Perry, David C; Hua, Alice; Sidhu, Manu; Sible, Isabel; Vargas, Jose Norberto S; Gaus, Stephanie E; Rabinovici, Gil D; Rankin, Katherine D; Boxer, Adam L; Kramer, Joel H; Rosen, Howard J; Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa; Grinberg, Lea T; Huang, Eric J; DeArmond, Stephen J; Trojanowski, John Q; Miller, Bruce L; Seeley, William W

2018-03-20

To examine clinicopathologic correlations in early vs late age at onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). All patients were clinically evaluated and prospectively diagnosed at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. Two consecutive series were included: (1) patients with a clinically diagnosed FTD syndrome who underwent autopsy (cohort 1) and (2) patients with a primary pathologic diagnosis of FTLD, regardless of the clinical syndrome (cohort 2). These series were divided by age at symptom onset (cutoff 65 years). In cohort 1, 48 (25.3%) were 65 years or older at symptom onset. Pathologic causes of behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) were similar in the early age at onset (EO) and late age at onset (LO) bvFTD groups. In corticobasal syndrome (CBS), however, the most common pathologic substrate differed according to age at onset: progressive supranuclear palsy (42.9%) in LO-CBS and Alzheimer disease (AD; 40.7%) in EO-CBS. In cohort 2, 57 (28.4%) were classified as LO-FTLD. Regarding FTLD major molecular classes, FTLD with transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa was most common in EO-FTLD (44.4%), whereas FTLD-tau (58.3%) was most common in LO-FTLD. Antemortem diagnosis of a non-FTD syndrome, usually AD-type dementia, was more frequent in LO-FTLD than EO-FTLD (19.3% vs 7.7%, p = 0.017). LO-FTLD was also associated with more prevalent comorbid pathologic changes. Of these, moderate to severe AD neuropathologic change and argyrophilic grain disease were overrepresented among patients who received an antemortem diagnosis of AD-type dementia. Patients with FTD and FTLD often develop symptoms after age 65, and age at onset represents an important consideration when making antemortem neuropathologic predictions. © 2018 American Academy of Neurology.

Relationship between boundary layer heights and growth rates with ground-level ozone in Houston, Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haman, C. L.; Couzo, E.; Flynn, J. H.; Vizuete, W.; Heffron, B.; Lefer, B. L.

2014-05-01

Measurements and predictions of ambient ozone (O3), planetary boundary layer (PBL) height, the surface energy budget, wind speed, and other meteorological parameters were made near downtown Houston, Texas, and were used to investigate meteorological controls on elevated levels of ground-level O3. Days during the study period (1 April 2009 to 31 December 2010 for measurements and 15 April 2009 to 17 October 2009 for modeled) were classified into low (LO3) and high ozone (HO3) days. The majority of observed high HO3 days occurred in a postfrontal environment. Observations showed there is not a significant difference in daily maximum PBL heights on HO3 and LO3 days. Modeling results showed large differences between maximum PBL heights on HO3 and LO3 days. Nighttime and early morning observed and modeled PBL heights are consistently lower on HO3 days than on LO3 days. The observed spring LO3 days had the most rapid early morning PBL growth (~350 m h-1) while the fall HO3 group had the slowest (~200 m h-1). The predicted maximum average hourly morning PBL growth rates were greater on HO3 (624 m h-1) days than LO3 days (361 m h-1). Observed turbulent mixing parameters were up to 2-3 times weaker on HO3 days, which indicate large-scale subsidence associated with high-pressure systems (leading to clear skies and weak winds) substantially suppresses mixing. Lower surface layer ventilation coefficients were present in the morning on HO3 days in the spring and fall, which promotes the accumulation of O3 precursors near the surface.

Evaluation of analytical performance of a new high-sensitivity immunoassay for cardiac troponin I.

PubMed

Masotti, Silvia; Prontera, Concetta; Musetti, Veronica; Storti, Simona; Ndreu, Rudina; Zucchelli, Gian Carlo; Passino, Claudio; Clerico, Aldo

2018-02-23

The study aim was to evaluate and compare the analytical performance of the new chemiluminescent immunoassay for cardiac troponin I (cTnI), called Access hs-TnI using DxI platform, with those of Access AccuTnI+3 method, and high-sensitivity (hs) cTnI method for ARCHITECT platform. The limits of blank (LoB), detection (LoD) and quantitation (LoQ) at 10% and 20% CV were evaluated according to international standardized protocols. For the evaluation of analytical performance and comparison of cTnI results, both heparinized plasma samples, collected from healthy subjects and patients with cardiac diseases, and quality control samples distributed in external quality assessment programs were used. LoB, LoD and LoQ at 20% and 10% CV values of the Access hs-cTnI method were 0.6, 1.3, 2.1 and 5.3 ng/L, respectively. Access hs-cTnI method showed analytical performance significantly better than that of Access AccuTnI+3 method and similar results to those of hs ARCHITECT cTnI method. Moreover, the cTnI concentrations measured with Access hs-cTnI method showed close linear regressions with both Access AccuTnI+3 and ARCHITECT hs-cTnI methods, although there were systematic differences between these methods. There was no difference between cTnI values measured by Access hs-cTnI in heparinized plasma and serum samples, whereas there was a significant difference between cTnI values, respectively measured in EDTA and heparin plasma samples. Access hs-cTnI has analytical sensitivity parameters significantly improved compared to Access AccuTnI+3 method and is similar to those of the high-sensitivity method using ARCHITECT platform.

Measuring the Outflow Properties of FeLoBAL Quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dabbieri, Collin; Choi, Hyunseop; MacInnis, Francis; Leighly, Karen; Terndrup, Donald

2018-01-01

Roughly 20 percent of the quasar population shows broad absorption lines, which are indicators of an energetic wind. Within the broad absorption line class of quasars exist FeLoBAL quasars, which show strong absorption lines from the Fe II and Fe III transitions as well as other low-ionization lines. FeLoBALs are of particular interest because they are thought to possibly be a short-lived stage in a quasar's life where it expels its shroud of gas and dust. This means the winds we see from FeLoBALs are one manifestation of galactic feedback. This idea is supported by Farrah et al. (2012) who found an anti correlation between outflow strength and contribution from star formation to the total IR luminosity of the host galaxy when examining a sample of FeLoBAL quasars. We analyze the sample of 26 FeLoBALs from Farrah et al. (2012) in order to measure the properties of their outflows, including ionization, density, column density and covering fraction. The absorption and continuum profiles of these objects are modeled using SimBAL, a program which creates synthetic spectra using a grid of Cloudy models. A Monte-Carlo method is employed to determine posterior probabilities for the physical parameters of the outflow. From these probabilities we extract the distance of the outflow, the mass outflow rate and the kinetic luminosity. We demonstrate SimBAL is capable of modeling a wide range of spectral morphologies. From the 26 objects studied we observe interesting correlations between ionization parameter, distance and density. Analysis of our sample also suggests a dearth of objects with velocity widths greater than or equal to 300 km/s at distances greater than or equal to 100 parsecs.

Lysyl oxidases regulate fibrillar collagen remodelling in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

PubMed

Tjin, Gavin; White, Eric S; Faiz, Alen; Sicard, Delphine; Tschumperlin, Daniel J; Mahar, Annabelle; Kable, Eleanor P W; Burgess, Janette K

2017-11-01

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive scarring disease of the lung with few effective therapeutic options. Structural remodelling of the extracellular matrix [i.e. collagen cross-linking mediated by the lysyl oxidase (LO) family of enzymes (LOX, LOXL1-4)] might contribute to disease pathogenesis and represent a therapeutic target. This study aimed to further our understanding of the mechanisms by which LO inhibitors might improve lung fibrosis. Lung tissues from IPF and non-IPF subjects were examined for collagen structure (second harmonic generation imaging) and LO gene (microarray analysis) and protein (immunohistochemistry and western blotting) levels. Functional effects (collagen structure and tissue stiffness using atomic force microscopy) of LO inhibitors on collagen remodelling were examined in two models, collagen hydrogels and decellularized human lung matrices. LOXL1 / LOXL2 gene expression and protein levels were increased in IPF versus non-IPF. Increased collagen fibril thickness in IPF versus non-IPF lung tissues correlated with increased LOXL1/LOXL2, and decreased LOX, protein expression. β-Aminoproprionitrile (β-APN; pan-LO inhibitor) but not Compound A (LOXL2-specific inhibitor) interfered with transforming growth factor-β-induced collagen remodelling in both models. The β-APN treatment group was tested further, and β-APN was found to interfere with stiffening in the decellularized matrix model. LOXL1 activity might drive collagen remodelling in IPF lungs. The interrelationship between collagen structural remodelling and LOs is disrupted in IPF lungs. Inhibition of LO activity alleviates fibrosis by limiting fibrillar collagen cross-linking, thereby potentially impeding the formation of a pathological microenvironment in IPF. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

The natural dual cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor flavocoxid is protective in EAE through effects on Th1/Th17 differentiation and macrophage/microglia activation.

PubMed

Kong, Weimin; Hooper, Kirsten M; Ganea, Doina

2016-03-01

Prostaglandins and leukotrienes, bioactive mediators generated by cyclooxygenases (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) from arachidonic acid, play an essential role in neuroinflammation. High levels of LTB4 and PGE2 and increased expression of COX and 5-LO, as well as high expression of PGE2 receptors were reported in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Prostaglandins and leukotrienes have an interdependent and compensatory role in EAE, which led to the concept of therapy using dual COX/5-LO inhibitors. The plant derived flavocoxid, a dual COX/5-LO inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, manufactured as a prescription pharmaconutrient, was reported to be neuroprotective in models of transient ischemic stroke and brain injury. The present study is the first report on prophylactic and therapeutic effects of flavocoxid in EAE. The beneficial effects correlate with reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and of COX2 and 5-LO in spinal cords and spleens of EAE mice. The protective mechanisms include: 1. reduction in expression of MHCII/costimulatory molecules and production of proinflammatory cytokines; 2. promotion of the M2 phenotype including IL-10 expression and release by macrophages and microglia; 3. inhibition of Th1 and Th17 differentiation through direct effects on T cells. The direct inhibitory effect on Th1/Th17 differentiation, and promoting the development of M2 macrophages and microglia, represent novel mechanisms for the flavocoxid anti-inflammatory activity. As a dual COX/5-LO inhibitor with antioxidant properties, flavocoxid might be useful as a potential therapeutic medical food agent in MS patients. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Lung cancer tumorigenicity and drug resistance are maintained through ALDH(hi)CD44(hi) tumor initiating cells.

PubMed

Liu, Jing; Xiao, Zhijie; Wong, Sunny Kit-Man; Tin, Vicky Pui-Chi; Ho, Ka-Yan; Wang, Junwen; Sham, Mai-Har; Wong, Maria Pik

2013-10-01

Limited improvement in long term survival of lung cancer patients has been achieved by conventional chemotherapy or targeted therapy. To explore the potentials of tumor initiating cells (TIC)-directed therapy, it is essential to identify the cell targets and understand their maintenance mechanisms. We have analyzed the performance of ALDH/CD44 co-expression as TIC markers and treatment targets of lung cancer using well-validated in vitro and in vivo analyses in multiple established and patient-derived lung cancer cells. The ALDH(hi)CD44(hi) subset showed the highest enhancement of stem cell phenotypic properties compared to ALDH(hi)CD44(lo), ALDH(lo)CD44(hi), ALDH(lo)CD44(lo) cells and unsorted controls. They showed higher invasion capacities, pluripotency genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcription factors expression, lower intercellular adhesion protein expression and higher G2/M phase cell cycle fraction. In immunosuppressed mice, the ALDH(hi)CD44(hi)xenografts showed the highest tumor induction frequency, serial transplantability, shortest latency, largest volume and highest growth rates. Inhibition of sonic Hedgehog and Notch developmental pathways reduced ALDH+CD44+ compartment. Chemotherapy and targeted therapy resulted in higher AALDH(hi)CD44(hi) subset viability and ALDH(lo)CD44(lo) subset apoptosis fraction. ALDH inhibition and CD44 knockdown led to reduced stemness gene expression and sensitization to drug treatment. In accordance, clinical lung cancers containing a higher abundance of ALDH and CD44-coexpressing cells was associated with lower recurrence-free survival. Together, results suggested theALDH(hi)CD44(hi)compartment was the cellular mediator of tumorigenicity and drug resistance. Further investigation of the regulatory mechanisms underlying ALDH(hi)CD44(hi)TIC maintenance would be beneficial for the development of long term lung cancer control.

XYZ-like spectra from Laplace sum rule at N2LO in the chiral limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albuquerque, R.; Narison, S.; Fanomezana, F.; Rabemananjara, A.; Rabetiarivony, D.; Randriamanatrika, G.

2016-12-01

We present new compact integrated expressions of QCD spectral functions of heavy-light molecules and four-quark XY Z-like states at lowest order (LO) of perturbative (PT) QCD and up to d = 8 condensates of the Operator Product Expansion (OPE). Then, by including up to next-to-next leading order (N2LO) PT QCD corrections, which we have estimated by assuming the factorization of the four-quark spectral functions, we improve previous LO results from QCD spectral sum rules (QSSR), on the XY Z-like masses and decay constants which suffer from the ill-defined heavy quark mass. PT N3LO corrections are estimated using a geometric growth of the PT series and are included in the systematic errors. Our optimal results based on stability criteria are summarized in Tables 11-14 and compared, in Sec. 10, with experimental candidates and some LO QSSR results. We conclude that the masses of the XZ observed states are compatible with (almost) pure JPC = 1+±, 0++ molecule or/and four-quark states. The ones of the 1-±, 0-± molecule/four-quark states are about 1.5 GeV above the Yc,b mesons experimental candidates and hadronic thresholds. We also find that the couplings of these exotics to the associated interpolating currents are weaker than that of ordinary D,B mesons (fDD ≈ 10-3f D) and may behave numerically as 1/m¯b3/2 (respectively 1/m¯b) for the 1+, 0+ (respectively 1-, 0-) states which can stimulate further theoretical studies of these decay constants.

Does long-term care insurance affect the length of stay in hospitals for the elderly in Korea?: a difference-in-difference method.

PubMed

Hyun, Kyung-Rae; Kang, Sungwook; Lee, Sunmi

2014-12-21

This study examines the effects of long-term care insurance (LTCI) on the length of stay (LoS) of senior citizens under the national health insurance of Korea. The subjects include 3,903,448 people aged 65 and over as of July 1, 2008 when the LTCI was introduced in Korea. This study uses their panel data which traced the records of medical services and LTCI services for the same people from 2007 to 2010, and applies a difference-in-difference approach on LTCI users from levels 1, 2, and 3 who are the treatment group and non-LTCI users who are the control group. We found that the LoS of LTCI users is 1.27 days greater than that of non-LTCI users, but the LoS of level 1 and level 2 beneficiaries decreases by 8.35 and 2.84 days, respectively, whereas the LTCI does not reduce the LoS of level 3 beneficiaries. The reason why there is an effect on the LoS of level 1 and 2 beneficiaries is that these groups could choose to utilize institutional care services provided by the LTCI, and out-of-pocket costs of institutions are lower than that of hospitals. However, the reason why there is no effect on the LoS of level 3 beneficiaries is that they are not permitted to use the institutional care services in the Korean LTCI policy. Therefore, we recommend a modification in the LTCI system that facilitates the use of long-term care institutional services by level 3 beneficiaries without conflicting Korea's LTCI principle to promote home-based care services instead of the institutional care services.

Longitudinal variations of laryngeal overpressure and voice-related quality of life in spasmodic dysphonia.

PubMed

Yeung, Jeffrey C; Fung, Kevin; Davis, Eric; Rai, Sunita K; Day, Adam M B; Dzioba, Agnieszka; Bornbaum, Catherine; Doyle, Philip C

2015-03-01

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD) is a voice disorder characterized by variable symptom severity and voice disability. Those with the disorder experience a wide spectrum of symptom severity over time, resulting in varied degrees of perceived voice disability. This study investigated the longitudinal variability of AdSD, with a focus on auditory-perceptual judgments of a dimension termed laryngeal overpressure (LO) and patient self-assessments of voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL). Longitudinal, correlational study. Ten adults with AdSD were followed over three time periods. At each, both voice samples and self-ratings of V-RQOL were gathered prior to their scheduled Botox injection. Voice recordings subsequently were perceptually evaluated by eight listeners for LO using a visual analog scale. LO ratings for all-voiced and Rainbow Passage sentence stimuli were found to be highly correlated. However, only the LO ratings obtained from judgments of AV stimuli were found to correlate moderately with self-ratings of voice disability for both the physical functioning and social-emotional subscores, as well as the total V-RQOL score. Based on perceptual judgments, LO appears to provide a reliable means of quantifying the severity of voice abnormalities in AdSD. Variability in self-ratings of the V-RQOL suggest that perceived disability related to AdSD should be actively monitored. Further, auditory-perceptual judgments may provide an accurate index of the potential impact of the disorder on the speaker. Similarly, LO was supported as a simple clinical measure that serves as a reliable index of voice change over time. © 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Boric acid inhibits alveolar bone loss in rats by affecting RANKL and osteoprotegerin expression.

PubMed

Sağlam, M; Hatipoğlu, M; Köseoğlu, S; Esen, H H; Kelebek, S

2014-08-01

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of systemic boric acid on the levels of expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and on histopathologic and histometric changes in a rat periodontitis model. Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into three groups of eight animals each: nonligated (NL); ligature only (LO); and ligature plus treatment with boric acid (BA) (3 mg/kg per day for 11 d). A 4/0 silk suture was placed in a subgingival position around the mandibular right first molars; after 11 d the rats were killed, and alveolar bone loss in the first molars was histometrically determined. Periodontal tissues were examined histopathologically to assess the differences among the study groups. RANKL and OPG were detected immunohistochemically. Alveolar bone loss was significantly higher in the LO group than in the BA and NL groups (p < 0.05). The number of inflammatory infiltrate and osteoclasts in the LO group was significantly higher than that in the NL and BA groups (p < 0.05). The numbers of osteoblasts in LO and BA groups were significantly higher compared with NL group (p < 0.05). There were significantly more RANKL-positive cells in the LO group than in the BA and NL groups (p < 0.05). There was a higher number of OPG-positive cells in the BA group than in the LO and NL groups (p < 0.05). The present study shows that systemic administration of boric acid may reduce alveolar bone loss by affecting the RANKL/OPG balance in periodontal disease in rats. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Establishing an Appropriate Level of Detail (LoD) for a Building Information Model (BIM) - West Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fai, S.; Rafeiro, J.

2014-05-01

In 2011, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) embarked on a comprehensive rehabilitation of the historically significant West Block of Canada's Parliament Hill. With over 17 thousand square meters of floor space, the West Block is one of the largest projects of its kind in the world. As part of the rehabilitation, PWGSC is working with the Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS) to develop a building information model (BIM) that can serve as maintenance and life-cycle management tool once construction is completed. The scale and complexity of the model have presented many challenges. One of these challenges is determining appropriate levels of detail (LoD). While still a matter of debate in the development of international BIM standards, LoD is further complicated in the context of heritage buildings because we must reconcile the LoD of the BIM with that used in the documentation process (terrestrial laser scan and photogrammetric survey data). In this paper, we will discuss our work to date on establishing appropriate LoD within the West Block BIM that will best serve the end use. To facilitate this, we have developed a single parametric model for gothic pointed arches that can be used for over seventy-five unique window types present in the West Block. Using the AEC (CAN) BIM as a reference, we have developed a workflow to test each of these window types at three distinct levels of detail. We have found that the parametric Gothic arch significantly reduces the amount of time necessary to develop scenarios to test appropriate LoD.

Forwarding techniques for IP fragmented packets in a real 6LoWPAN network.

PubMed

Ludovici, Alessandro; Calveras, Anna; Casademont, Jordi

2011-01-01

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are attracting more and more interest since they offer a low-cost solution to the problem of providing a means to deploy large sensor networks in a number of application domains. We believe that a crucial aspect to facilitate WSN diffusion is to make them interoperable with external IP networks. This can be achieved by using the 6LoWPAN protocol stack. 6LoWPAN enables the transmission of IPv6 packets over WSNs based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. IPv6 packet size is considerably larger than that of IEEE 802.15.4 data frame. To overcome this problem, 6LoWPAN introduces an adaptation layer between the network and data link layers, allowing IPv6 packets to be adapted to the lower layer constraints. This adaptation layer provides fragmentation and header compression of IP packets. Furthermore, it also can be involved in routing decisions. Depending on which layer is responsible for routing decisions, 6LoWPAN divides routing in two categories: mesh under if the layer concerned is the adaptation layer and route over if it is the network layer. In this paper we analyze different routing solutions (route over, mesh under and enhanced route over) focusing on how they forward fragments. We evaluate their performance in terms of latency and energy consumption when transmitting IP fragmented packets. All the tests have been performed in a real 6LoWPAN implementation. After consideration of the main problems in forwarding of mesh frames in WSN, we propose and analyze a new alternative scheme based on mesh under, which we call controlled mesh under.

Forwarding Techniques for IP Fragmented Packets in a Real 6LoWPAN Network

PubMed Central

Ludovici, Alessandro; Calveras, Anna; Casademont, Jordi

2011-01-01

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are attracting more and more interest since they offer a low-cost solution to the problem of providing a means to deploy large sensor networks in a number of application domains. We believe that a crucial aspect to facilitate WSN diffusion is to make them interoperable with external IP networks. This can be achieved by using the 6LoWPAN protocol stack. 6LoWPAN enables the transmission of IPv6 packets over WSNs based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. IPv6 packet size is considerably larger than that of IEEE 802.15.4 data frame. To overcome this problem, 6LoWPAN introduces an adaptation layer between the network and data link layers, allowing IPv6 packets to be adapted to the lower layer constraints. This adaptation layer provides fragmentation and header compression of IP packets. Furthermore, it also can be involved in routing decisions. Depending on which layer is responsible for routing decisions, 6LoWPAN divides routing in two categories: mesh under if the layer concerned is the adaptation layer and route over if it is the network layer. In this paper we analyze different routing solutions (route over, mesh under and enhanced route over) focusing on how they forward fragments. We evaluate their performance in terms of latency and energy consumption when transmitting IP fragmented packets. All the tests have been performed in a real 6LoWPAN implementation. After consideration of the main problems in forwarding of mesh frames in WSN, we propose and analyze a new alternative scheme based on mesh under, which we call controlled mesh under. PMID:22346615

An evaluation of two hands-on lab styles for plant biodiversity in undergraduate biology.

PubMed

Basey, John M; Maines, Anastasia P; Francis, Clinton D; Melbourne, Brett

2014-01-01

We compared learning cycle and expository formats for teaching about plant biodiversity in an inquiry-oriented university biology lab class (n = 465). Both formats had preparatory lab activities, a hands-on lab, and a postlab with reflection and argumentation. Learning was assessed with a lab report, a practical quiz in lab, and a multiple-choice exam in the concurrent lecture. Attitudes toward biology and treatments were also assessed. We used linear mixed-effect models to determine impacts of lab style on lower-order cognition (LO) and higher-order cognition (HO) based on Bloom's taxonomy. Relative to the expository treatment, the learning cycle treatment had a positive effect on HO and a negative effect on LO included in lab reports; a positive effect on transfer of LO from the lab report to the quiz; negative impacts on LO quiz performance and on attitudes toward the lab; and a higher degree of perceived difficulty. The learning cycle treatment had no influence on transfer of HO from lab report to quiz or exam; quiz performance on HO questions; exam performance on LO and HO questions; and attitudes toward biology as a science. The importance of LO as a foundation for HO relative to these lab styles is addressed. © 2014 J. M. Basey et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2014 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

GABAergic Transmission in Rat Pontine Reticular Formation Regulates the Induction Phase of Anesthesia and Modulates Hyperalgesia Caused by Sleep Deprivation

PubMed Central

Vanini, Giancarlo; Nemanis, Kriste; Baghdoyan, Helen A.; Lydic, Ralph

2014-01-01

The oral part of the pontine reticular formation (PnO) contributes to the regulation of sleep, anesthesia, and pain. The role of PnO GABA in modulating these states remains incompletely understood. The present study used time to Loss and time to Resumption of Righting Response (LoRR and RoRR) as surrogate measures of loss and resumption of consciousness. This study tested three hypotheses: (1) pharmacologically manipulating GABA levels in rat PnO alters LoRR, RoRR, and nociception; (2) propofol decreases GABA levels in the PnO; and (3) inhibiting GABA synthesis in the PnO blocks hyperalgesia caused by sleep deprivation. Administering a GABA synthesis inhibitor (3-MPA) or a GABA uptake inhibitor (NPA) into rat PnO significantly altered LoRR caused by propofol. 3-MPA significantly decreased LoRR for propofol (−18%). NPA significantly increased LoRR during administration of propofol (36%). Neither 3-MPA nor NPA altered RoRR following cessation of propofol or isoflurane delivery. The finding that LoRR was decreased by 3-MPA and increased by NPA is consistent with measures showing that extracellular GABA levels in the PnO were decreased (41%) by propofol. Thermal nociception was significantly decreased by 3-MPA and increased by NPA, and 3-MPA blocked the hyperalgesia caused by sleep deprivation. The results demonstrate that GABA levels in the PnO regulate the time for loss of consciousness caused by propofol, extend the concept that anesthetic induction and emergence are not inverse processes, and suggest that GABAergic transmission in the PnO mediates hyperalgesia caused by sleep loss. PMID:24674578

GABAergic transmission in rat pontine reticular formation regulates the induction phase of anesthesia and modulates hyperalgesia caused by sleep deprivation.

PubMed

Vanini, Giancarlo; Nemanis, Kriste; Baghdoyan, Helen A; Lydic, Ralph

2014-07-01

The oral part of the pontine reticular formation (PnO) contributes to the regulation of sleep, anesthesia and pain. The role of PnO γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in modulating these states remains incompletely understood. The present study used time to loss and time to resumption of righting response (LoRR and RoRR) as surrogate measures of loss and resumption of consciousness. This study tested three hypotheses: (i) pharmacologically manipulating GABA levels in rat PnO alters LoRR, RoRR and nociception; (ii) propofol decreases GABA levels in the PnO; and (iii) inhibiting GABA synthesis in the PnO blocks hyperalgesia caused by sleep deprivation. Administering a GABA synthesis inhibitor [3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA)] or a GABA uptake inhibitor [nipecotic acid (NPA)] into rat PnO significantly altered LoRR caused by propofol. 3-MPA significantly decreased LoRR for propofol (-18%). NPA significantly increased LoRR during administration of propofol (36%). Neither 3-MPA nor NPA altered RoRR following cessation of propofol or isoflurane delivery. The finding that LoRR was decreased by 3-MPA and increased by NPA is consistent with measures showing that extracellular GABA levels in the PnO were decreased (41%) by propofol. Thermal nociception was significantly decreased by 3-MPA and increased by NPA, and 3-MPA blocked the hyperalgesia caused by sleep deprivation. The results demonstrate that GABA levels in the PnO regulate the time for loss of consciousness caused by propofol, extend the concept that anesthetic induction and emergence are not inverse processes, and suggest that GABAergic transmission in the PnO mediates hyperalgesia caused by sleep loss. © 2014 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

78 FR 3945 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-17

... customers using the CoLo Console \\3\\ during the months of January and February of 2013, provided that such... cabinets continues to exceed the Baseline Number. \\3\\ The ``CoLo Console'' is NASDAQ's web-based ordering...

78 FR 3924 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-17

... ordered by customers using the CoLo Console \\3\\ during the months of January and February of 2013... number of cabinets continues to exceed the Baseline Number. \\3\\ The ``CoLo Console'' is BX's web-based...

78 FR 4184 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-18

... the CoLo Console \\3\\ during the months of January and February of 2013, provided that such cabinets... exceed the Baseline Number. \\3\\ The ``CoLo Console'' is Phlx's web-based ordering tool, and it is the...

A Channelized 2nd IF/LO Downconverter for the E0S Microwave Limb Sounder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LaBelle, Remi C.

2003-01-01

The Earth Observing System (EOS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) is scheduled for launch in 2004 on the EOS Aura spacecraft. The design, assembly and test of the flight 2nd Intermediate Frequency/ Local Oscillator (2nd IF/LO) subsystem for this instrument has been completed and is presented here. The 2nd IF/LO subsystem consists of 5 separate microwave assemblies, 1 for each of the 5 millimeter wave radiometer front ends, providing a total of 33 separate IF channels. Some key requirements of the subsystem are as follows: provide frequency multiplexing of overlapping or closely spaced 1st IF channels while maintaining low ripple in the passbands; generate 19 different 2nd LO frequencies, in the range of 4-20 GHz, with low phase noise and a placement resolution of 400 KHz; downconvert the 1st IF's to a common 2nd IF frequency centered at 900 MHz; minimize cost and schedule by using common designs for the 5 different assemblies wherever possible.

Optical heterodyne detection for cavity ring-down spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Levenson, Marc D.; Paldus, Barbara A.; Zare, Richard N.

2000-07-25

A cavity ring-down system for performing cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) using optical heterodyne detection of a ring-down wave E.sub.RD during a ring-down phase or a ring-up wave E.sub.RU during a ring up phase. The system sends a local oscillator wave E.sub.LO and a signal wave E.sub.SIGNAL to the cavity, preferably a ring resonator, and derives an interference signal from the combined local oscillator wave E.sub.LO and the ring-down wave E.sub.RD (or ring-up wave E.sub.RU). The local oscillator wave E.sub.LO has a first polarization and the ring-down wave E.sub.RD has a second polarization different from the first polarization. The system has a combining arrangement for combining or overlapping local oscillator wave E.sub.LO and the ring-down wave E.sub.RD at a photodetector, which receives the interference signal and generates a heterodyne current I.sub.H therefrom. Frequency and phase differences between the waves are adjustable.

Distribución espacial de órbitas con diferentes grados de caoticidad en modelos autoconsistentes de satélites galácticos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muzzio, J. C.; Mosquera, M.

En trabajos anteriores (Carpintero et al., Cel. Mech. Dynam. Astron. 85, 247, 2003), mostramos que las órbitas caóticas son muy importantes en los satélites galácticos. Sin embargo, los únicos modelos autoconsistentes de los que se disponía para ellos eran los de Heggie-Ramamani, cuya función de distribución depende sólo de la energía por lo que no mostraban diferencias entre las distribuciones de sus órbitas regulares y caóticas. Ahora, mediante una aproximación cuadrupolar, hemos logrado construir modelos autoconsistentes de satélites galácticos con distribuciones de velocidades anisotrópicas (lo que indica que sus funciones de distribución no dependen sólo de la energía) y hemos logrado revelar las diferencias entre las estructuras espaciales de las órbitas de distinta caoticidad.

Everyday attention lapses and memory failures: the affective consequences of mindlessness.

PubMed

Carriere, Jonathan S A; Cheyne, J Allan; Smilek, Daniel

2008-09-01

We examined the affective consequences of everyday attention lapses and memory failures. Significant associations were found between self-report measures of attention lapses (MAAS-LO), attention-related cognitive errors (ARCES), and memory failures (MFS), on the one hand, and boredom (BPS) and depression (BDI-II), on the other. Regression analyses confirmed previous findings that the ARCES partially mediates the relation between the MAAS-LO and MFS. Further regression analyses also indicated that the association between the ARCES and BPS was entirely accounted for by the MAAS-LO and MFS, as was that between the ARCES and BDI-II. Structural modeling revealed the associations to be optimally explained by the MAAS-LO and MFS influencing the BPS and BDI-II, contrary to current conceptions of attention and memory problems as consequences of affective dysfunction. A lack of conscious awareness of one's actions, signaled by the propensity to experience brief lapses of attention and related memory failures, is thus seen as having significant consequences in terms of long-term affective well-being.

a Framework for Architectural Heritage Hbim Semantization and Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brusaporci, S.; Maiezza, P.; Tata, A.

2018-05-01

Despite the recognized advantages of the use of BIM in the field of architecture and engineering, the extension of this procedure to the architectural heritage is neither immediate nor critical. The uniqueness and irregularity of historical architecture, on the one hand, and the great quantity of information necessary for the knowledge of architectural heritage, on the other, require appropriate reflections. The aim of this paper is to define a general framework for the use of BIM procedures for architectural heritage. The proposed methodology consists of three different Level of Development (LoD), depending on the characteristics of the building and the objectives of the study: a simplified model with a low geometric accuracy and a minimum quantity of information (LoD 200); a model nearer to the reality but, however, with a high deviation between virtual and real model (LoD 300); a detailed BIM model that reproduce as much as possible the geometric irregularities of the building and is enriched by the maximum quantity of information available (LoD 400).

Does a Relationship Exist Between Lower Body Power and Balance Scores Among Older Adults?

PubMed

Shim, Andrew; Harr, Brady; Waller, Mike

2018-03-12

Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury and death worldwide. To determine if a relationship exists between lower body power scores and center of pressure (CoP) and limits of stability (LoS) scores. A one-shot case study design (n = 13) was selected for the investigation. All participants were assessed stability scores via computerized posturography to determine CoP and LoS balance scores. Participants stood on a perturbed surface with their eyes open and closed. An experimental stair ramp with a switch mat timing device was used to determine lower body power scores in watts. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.725, p = 0.005) between the posterior (LoS) plane and relative peak power. An intraclass R revealed a strong correlation among the three trials (R = 0.831) performed on the stair ramp. Muscle power output and LoS scores have moderate to strong correlations with balance scores in older adults.

Tritium β decay in chiral effective field theory

DOE PAGES

Baroni, A.; Girlanda, L.; Kievsky, A.; ...

2016-08-18

We evaluate the Fermi and Gamow-Teller (GT) matrix elements in tritiummore » $$\\beta$$-decay by including in the charge-changing weak current the corrections up to one loop recently derived in nuclear chiral effective field theory ($$\\chi$$ EFT). The trinucleon wave functions are obtained from hyperspherical-harmonics solutions of the Schroedinger equation with two- and three-nucleon potentials corresponding to either $$\\chi$$ EFT (the N3LO/N2LO combination) or meson-exchange phenomenology (the AV18/UIX combination). We find that contributions due to loop corrections in the axial current are, in relative terms, as large as (and in some cases, dominate) those from one-pion exchange, which nominally occur at lower order in the power counting. Furthermore, we also provide values for the low-energy constants multiplying the contact axial current and three-nucleon potential, required to reproduce the experimental GT matrix element and trinucleon binding energies in the N3LO/N2LO and AV18/UIX calculations.« less

Consumption of SC45647 and sucralose by rats selectively bred for high and low saccharin intake.

PubMed

Dess, Nancy K; Chapman, Clinton D; Monroe, Derek

2009-03-01

Mammals' affinity for sweet tastes exists alongside dramatic variation among species and individuals in responses to sweeteners. The present paper focused on consumption by Occidental High- (HiS) and Low-Saccharin (LoS)-consuming rats in 23-h 2-bottle tests of 2 sweeteners for which few data from rats are available: SC45647 and sucralose. Every HiS and LoS rat preferred SC45647 to water at every concentration, with HiS rats consuming it more avidly. Most HiS rats preferred sucralose to water at one or more concentrations; some HiS rats and most LoS rats avoided sucralose at every concentration. However, both HiS and LoS rats preferred a sucralose-maltodextrin mixture (Splenda) to water; thus, Splenda's "bulking" ingredient maltodextrin transforms highly variable responses to sucralose into a relatively homogeneous preference for the product. Implications for the study of variation in sweet taste are discussed.

Analytical Model of Large Data Transactions in CoAP Networks

PubMed Central

Ludovici, Alessandro; Di Marco, Piergiuseppe; Calveras, Anna; Johansson, Karl H.

2014-01-01

We propose a novel analytical model to study fragmentation methods in wireless sensor networks adopting the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) and the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for medium access control (MAC). The blockwise transfer technique proposed in CoAP and the 6LoWPAN fragmentation are included in the analysis. The two techniques are compared in terms of reliability and delay, depending on the traffic, the number of nodes and the parameters of the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC. The results are validated trough Monte Carlo simulations. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study that evaluates and compares analytically the performance of CoAP blockwise transfer and 6LoWPAN fragmentation. A major contribution is the possibility to understand the behavior of both techniques with different network conditions. Our results show that 6LoWPAN fragmentation is preferable for delay-constrained applications. For highly congested networks, the blockwise transfer slightly outperforms 6LoWPAN fragmentation in terms of reliability. PMID:25153143

Temperature Effect of Hydrogen-Like Impurity on the Ground State Energy of Strong Coupling Polaron in a RbCl Quantum Pseudodot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Jing-Lin

2016-11-01

We study the ground state energy and the mean number of LO phonons of the strong-coupling polaron in a RbCl quantum pseudodot (QPD) with hydrogen-like impurity at the center. The variations of the ground state energy and the mean number of LO phonons with the temperature and the strength of the Coulombic impurity potential are obtained by employing the variational method of Pekar type and the quantum statistical theory (VMPTQST). Our numerical results have displayed that [InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.] the absolute value of the ground state energy increases (decreases) when the temperature increases at lower (higher) temperature regime, [InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.] the mean number of the LO phonons increases with increasing temperature, [InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.] the absolute value of ground state energy and the mean number of LO phonons are increasing functions of the strength of the Coulombic impurity potential.

Structural limits on force production and shortening of smooth muscle.

PubMed

Siegman, Marion J; Davidheiser, Sandra; Mooers, Susan U; Butler, Thomas M

2013-02-01

This study determined the factors that limit force production and shortening in two smooth muscles having very different relationships between active and passive force as a function of muscle length. The rat anococcygeus muscle develops active force over the range of lengths 0.2-2.0× the optimum length for force production (Lo). Passive tension due to extension of the resting muscle occurs only at lengths exceeding Lo. In contrast, the rabbit taenia coli develops force in the range of lengths 0.4-1.1 Lo, and passive force which is detectable at 0.56 Lo, increases to ~0.45 maximum active force at Lo, and increases sharply with further extension. The anococcygeus muscle can shorten to 0.2 Lo and the taenia coli to 0.4 Lo. Dynamic stiffness and energy usage at short muscle lengths suggest that the limit of shortening in the taenia coli, in contrast to the anococcygeus muscle, is not due to a failure of cross bridge interaction. Phosphorylation of the regulatory myosin light chains in intact muscles decreased to a small extent at short lengths compared to the decrease in force production. The differences in force production and the extent of shortening in the two muscles was maintained even when, following permeabilization, the myosin light chains were irreversibly phosphorylated with ATPγS, indicating that differences in activation played little, if any role. Ultrastructural studies on resting and activated muscles show that the taenia coli, which is rich in connective tissue (unlike the anococcygeus muscle) undergoes marked cellular twisting and contractile filament misalignment at short lengths with compression of the extracellular matrix. As a result, force is not transmitted in the longitudinal axis of the muscle, but is dissipated against an internal load provided by the compressed extracellular matrix. These observations on two very different normal smooth muscles reveal how differences in the relative contribution of active and passive structural elements determine their mechanical behavior, and how this is potentially modified by remodeling that occurs in disease and in response to changes in functional demand.

Effect of sumac extract on serum oxidative status, RANKL/OPG system and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rats

PubMed Central

SAĞLAM, Mehmet; KÖSEOĞLU, Serhat; HATİPOĞLU, Mükerrem; ESEN, Hacı Hasan; KÖKSAL, Ekrem

2015-01-01

Objectives Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is widely used spice which has several properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The purpose of this animal study was to evaluate the effects of sumac extract on levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression, serum oxidative status, and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis. Material and Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were separated into three groups: non-ligated (NL, n=8), ligature only (LO, n=8), and ligature and treated with sumac extract (S, n=8) (20 mg/kg per day for 11 days). A 4/0 silk suture was placed around the mandibular right first molars subgingivally; after 11 days, the rats were sacrificed, and alveolar bone loss was histometrically measured. The detection of RANKL and OPG were immunohistochemically performed. Levels of serum total antioxidant status (TAS)/total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were also analyzed. Results Alveolar bone loss was significantly greater in the LO group compared to the S and NL groups (p<0.05). The number of inflammatory cell infiltrate (ICI) and osteoclasts in the LO group was significantly higher than that of the NL and S groups (p<0.05). The number of osteoblasts in the LO and S groups was significantly higher than that of the NL group (p<0.05). There were significantly more RANKL-positive cells in the LO group than in the S and NL groups (p<0.05). OPG-positive cells were higher in S group than in LO and NL groups (p<0.05). TOS and OSI levels were significantly reduced in S group compared to LO group (P<0.05) and TAS levels were similar in S and NL group (p>0.05). Conclusions The present study showed that systemic administration of sumac extract may reduce alveolar bone loss by affecting RANKL/OPG balance, TOS and OSI levels in periodontal disease in rats. PMID:25760266

Sensing and Control Electronics for Low-Mass Low-Capacitance MEMS Accelerometers

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-05-01

R . Lewis (Analog Devices, Inc.) Spring 2002 Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public...10 −4 10 −3 Minimum noise floor vs frequency Frequency (Hz) N o is e F lo o r (g / r tH z) 10 4 10 5 10 6 10 7 10 8 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Optimum...N o is e F lo o r (u g / r tH z) Noise floor vs channel width at 100 KHz 10 1 10 2 10 3 15 20 25 30 35 40 MOSFET Channel Width (um) N o is e F lo

Environmental Impact Statement for the Modernization and Enhancement of Ranges, Airspace, and Training Areas in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Alaska. Volume 2 - Appendices A through L

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

enhanC;enwnlswonld ~nahle reoJ istk. jolll l training artd ta.~ti 1g to sup pori omergi ng tedwolo~ttt.», respond lo recent balllefiold...The military uses the JPARC to conduct testing and training and lo support joint exercises and mission rehearsals. The JPARC was originally developed...68th Ave. and Elmore Rd.) 4477 Pike’s Landing.Road Anchorage, Alaska 99507-2599 Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 I 0 a.m. to noon and I :00 lo 5:00p.m. I 0

Demonstration of the Replacement of the Dyes and Sulfur in the M18 Red and Violet Smoke Grenades

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-10

usu:tlly require a :t 4 lO 6% correction to nehieve linearity. while less pure materials m3y require a 20 % coiTCCtion. Tbe mole froction of the impurity...purity o(98.5 mol o/o.. ,.,ith a lo ..-.’Cr limit of 98.2 mol % if n correction is applied based on the pbei13Cctin (99.3 mol % Std.). The shape of the...appear to concentrat·e in the melt and prolxt.bly ncc::ount for some T • lowering. lo contmst to the fonnc:r. this m::1tcrial mny not be as good a

Determination of Oversulphated Chondroitin Sulphate and Dermatan Sulphate in unfractionated heparin by (1)H-NMR - Collaborative study for quantification and analytical determination of LoD.

PubMed

McEwen, I; Mulloy, B; Hellwig, E; Kozerski, L; Beyer, T; Holzgrabe, U; Wanko, R; Spieser, J-M; Rodomonte, A

2008-12-01

Oversulphated Chondroitin Sulphate (OSCS) and Dermatan Sulphate (DS) in unfractionated heparins can be identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR). The limit of detection (LoD) of OSCS is 0.1% relative to the heparin content. This LoD is obtained at a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 2000:1 of the heparin methyl signal. Quantification is best obtained by comparing peak heights of the OSCS and heparin methyl signals. Reproducibility of less than 10% relative standard deviation (RSD) has been obtained. The accuracy of quantification was good.

Single-shot optical sectioning using two-color probes in HiLo fluorescence microscopy.

PubMed

Muro, Eleonora; Vermeulen, Pierre; Ioannou, Andriani; Skourides, Paris; Dubertret, Benoit; Fragola, Alexandra; Loriette, Vincent

2011-06-08

We describe a wide-field fluorescence microscope setup which combines HiLo microscopy technique with the use of a two-color fluorescent probe. It allows one-shot fluorescence optical sectioning of thick biological moving sample which is illuminated simultaneously with a flat and a structured pattern at two different wavelengths. Both homogenous and structured fluorescence images are spectrally separated at detection and combined similarly with the HiLo microscopy technique. We present optically sectioned full-field images of Xenopus laevis embryos acquired at 25 images/s frame rate. Copyright © 2011 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analyzing speckle contrast for HiLo microscopy optimization.

PubMed

Mazzaferri, J; Kunik, D; Belisle, J M; Singh, K; Lefrançois, S; Costantino, S

2011-07-18

HiLo microscopy is a recently developed technique that provides both optical sectioning and fast imaging with a simple implementation and at a very low cost. The methodology combines widefield and speckled illumination images to obtain one optically sectioned image. Hence, the characteristics of such speckle illumination ultimately determine the quality of HiLo images and the overall performance of the method. In this work, we study how speckle contrast influence local variations of fluorescence intensity and brightness profiles of thick samples. We present this article as a guide to adjust the parameters of the system for optimizing the capabilities of this novel technology.

Analyzing speckle contrast for HiLo microscopy optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazzaferri, J.; Kunik, D.; Belisle, J. M.; Singh, K.; Lefrançois, S.; Costantino, S.

2011-07-01

HiLo microscopy is a recently developed technique that provides both optical sectioning and fast imaging with a simple implementation and at a very low cost. The methodology combines widefield and speckled illumination images to obtain one optically sectioned image. Hence, the characteristics of such speckle illumination ultimately determine the quality of HiLo images and the overall performance of the method. In this work, we study how speckle contrast influence local variations of fluorescence intensity and brightness profiles of thick samples. We present this article as a guide to adjust the parameters of the system for optimizing the capabilities of this novel technology.

Wide-field two-photon microscopy with temporal focusing and HiLo background rejection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yew, Elijah Y. S.; Choi, Heejin; Kim, Daekeun; So, Peter T. C.

2011-03-01

Scanningless depth-resolved microscopy is achieved through spatial-temporal focusing and has been demonstrated previously. The advantage of this method is that a large area may be imaged without scanning resulting in higher throughput of the imaging system. Because it is a widefield technique, the optical sectioning effect is considerably poorer than with conventional spatial focusing two-photon microscopy. Here we propose wide-field two-photon microscopy based on spatio-temporal focusing and employing background rejection based on the HiLo microscope principle. We demonstrate the effects of applying HiLo microscopy to widefield temporally focused two-photon microscopy.

Health Monitoring of Composite Structures Using Guided Waves

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-20

k  represents the wave number,    represents  the  radial  frequency,  and...elements.      6         (a) (b) 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 0 5 10 15 20 Frequency (MHz) Ph as e Ve lo ci ty ( k m /s ec .) (c) Figure 1: Phase velocity...Frequency (MHz) Ph as e Ve lo ci ty ( k m /s ec .) 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 0 5 10 15 20 Frequency (MHz) Ph as e Ve lo ci ty ( k m /s ec .)  

Prime Contract Awards by Service Category and Federal Supply Classification, Fiscal Years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

SERVICE/VALVES 77 0 0 0 11349 INSPECTION SERVICE’MAINTENANCE SHOP EQ 0 855 0 131 11352 INSPECTIONf SERVICE’IMEASURING TOOLS 0 0 00 H354 INPECTION...INST-RADIO-TV 46 226 254 06 J307: MAINTr-REPAIR OF EQ/RECREATIONAL EQUIP ISO 434 302 347 J3076 MAINY-REPAI OF EQ/ CL EANING EQUIP 106 44 111 62 .1060...VALVES 0 0 40 0 LO4 TECH REP SERVICES /MAINTENANCE SHOP EO 2,294 300 1,212 ISO LO52 TECH REP SERVICES /MEASURING TOOLS NA 161 ,695 3.264 LO3 TECH REP

Contrast-to-noise ratio with different settings in a CBCT machine in presence of different root-end filling materials: an in vitro study.

PubMed

Demirturk Kocasarac, Husniye; Helvacioglu Yigit, Dilek; Bechara, Boulos; Sinanoglu, Alper; Noujeim, Marcel

2016-01-01

To compare the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of multiple acquisition settings for four types of retrograde filling materials in CBCT images taken for endodontic surgery follow-up. 20 maxillary central incisors were endodontically treated and obturated with 4 different root-end filling materials: amalgam, mineral trioxide aggregate, SuperEBA(™) (Harry J Bosworth Company, Skokie, IL) and Biodentine™ (Septodont, Saint-Maur-des-Faussés, France). Teeth were placed in a skull and scanned, one by one, with the Planmeca ProMax(®) 3D Max (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland); at different voltages: 66, 76, 84 and 96 kVp; with low, normal and high resolution and high definition (HD); with and without metal artefact reduction (MAR). Images were analyzed using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) to calculate the CNR. The dose-area product was registered, and the effective dose calculated. No statistically significant difference was noted between the four materials. 84 and 96 kVp with low resolution and the use of MAR-generated images that have statistically better CNR than 66 and 76 kVp with HD, normal and high resolutions and without MAR. The use of low resolution also generated the smallest value of effective dose. The best setting for radiographic follow-up in an endodontic surgery with retrograde filling on the Planmeca ProMax is 96 kVp with low resolution and high MAR; this setting produced one of the lowest effective doses.

Enhanced bioactive properties of BiodentineTM modified with bioactive glass nanoparticles.

PubMed

Corral Nuñez, Camila; Covarrubias, Cristian; Fernandez, Eduardo; Oliveira, Osmir Batista de

2017-01-01

To prepare nanocomposite cements based on the incorporation of bioactive glass nanoparticles (nBGs) into BiodentineTM (BD, Septodent, Saint-Maur-des-Fosses Cedex, France) and to assess their bioactive properties. nBGs were synthesised by the sol-gel method. BD nanocomposites (nBG/BD) were prepared with 1 and 2% nBGs by weight; unmodified BD and GC Fuji IX (GIC, GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were used as references. The in vitro ability of the materials to induce apatite formation was assessed in SBF by X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. BD and nBG/BD were also applied to dentine discs for seven days; the morphology and elemental composition of the dentine-cement interface were analysed using SEM-EDX. One and two percent nBG/BD composites accelerated apatite formation on the disc surface after short-term immersion in SBF. Apatite was detected on the nBG/BD nanocomposites after three days, compared with seven days for unmodified BD. No apatite formation was detected on the GIC surface. nBG/BD formed a wider interfacial area with dentine than BD, showing blockage of dentine tubules and Si incorporation, suggesting intratubular precipitation. The incorporation of nBGs into BD improves its in vitro bioactivity, accelerating the formation of a crystalline apatite layer on its surface after immersion in SBF. Compared with unmodified BD, nBG/BD showed a wider interfacial area with greater Si incorporation and intratubular precipitation of deposits when immersed in SBF.

Properties of Tricalcium Silicate Sealers.

PubMed

Khalil, Issam; Naaman, Alfred; Camilleri, Josette

2016-10-01

Sealers based on tricalcium silicate cement aim at an interaction of the sealer with the root canal wall, alkalinity with potential antimicrobial activity, and the ability to set in a wet field. The aim of this study was to characterize and investigate the properties of a new tricalcium silicate-based sealer and verify its compliance to ISO 6876 (2012). A new tricalcium silicate-based sealer (Bio MM; St Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon), BioRoot RCS (Septodont, St Maure de Fosses, France), and AH Plus (Dentsply, DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany) were investigated. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis was performed. Furthermore, sealer setting time, flow, film thickness, and radiopacity were performed following ISO specifications. pH and ion leaching in solution were assessed by pH analysis and inductively coupled plasma. Bio MM and BioRoot RCS were both composed of tricalcium silicate and tantalum oxide in Bio MM and zirconium oxide in BioRoot RCS. In addition, the Bio MM contained calcium carbonate and a phosphate phase. The inorganic components of AH Plus were calcium tungstate and zirconium oxide. AH Plus complied with the ISO norms for both flow and film thickness. BioRoot RCS and Bio MM exhibited a lower flow and a higher film thickness than that specified for sealer cements in ISO 6876. All test sealers exhibited adequate radiopacity. Bio MM interacted with physiologic solution, thus showing potential for bioactivity. Sealer properties were acceptable and comparable with other sealers available clinically. Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Widefield fluorescence sectioning with HiLo microscopy.

PubMed

Mertz, Jerome; Lim, Daryl; Chu, Kengyeh K; Bozinovic, Nenad; Ford, Timothy

2009-01-01

HiLo microscopy is a widefield fluorescence imaging technique that provides depth discrimination by combining two images, one with non-uniform illumination and one with uniform illumination. We discuss the theory of this technique and a variety of practical implementations in brain-tissue imaging and fluorescence endomicroscopy.

78 FR 6842 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Order Approving a Proposed Rule...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-31

... for the wireless connectivity via the CoLo Console \\6\\ and would be subject to a one-year minimum lock...\\ The ``CoLo Console'' is a web-based ordering tool NASDAQ offers to enable members to place colocation...

78 FR 40527 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-05

... users using the Co-Lo Console \\4\\ on or after July 1, 2013 through August 31, 2013. The reduced fee... reduction in co-location cabinet fees). \\4\\ The ``Co-Lo Console'' is NASDAQ's web-based ordering tool, and...

Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in 12/15-lipoxygenase-induced retinal microvascular dysfunction in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy.

PubMed

Elmasry, Khaled; Ibrahim, Ahmed S; Saleh, Heba; Elsherbiny, Nehal; Elshafey, Sally; Hussein, Khaled A; Al-Shabrawey, Mohamed

2018-05-01

Our earlier studies have established the role of 12/15-lipoxygenase (LO) in mediating the inflammatory reaction in diabetic retinopathy. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. The goal of the current study was to identify the potential role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as a major cellular stress response in the 12/15-LO-induced retinal changes in diabetic retinopathy. We used in vivo and in vitro approaches. For in vivo studies, experimental diabetes was induced in wild-type (WT) mice and 12/15-Lo (also known as Alox15) knockout mice (12/15-Lo -/- ); ER stress was then evaluated after 12-14 weeks of diabetes. We also tested the effect of intravitreal injection of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) on retinal ER stress in WT mice and in mice lacking the catalytic subunit of NADPH oxidase, encoded by Nox2 (also known as Cybb) (Nox2 -/- mice). In vitro studies were performed using human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) treated with 15-HETE (0.1 μmol/l) or vehicle, with or without ER stress or NADPH oxidase inhibitors. This was followed by evaluation of ER stress response, NADPH oxidase expression/activity and the levels of phosphorylated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (p-VEGFR2) by western blotting and immunoprecipitation assays. Moreover, real-time imaging of intracellular calcium (Ca 2+ ) release in HRECs treated with or without 15-HETE was performed using confocal microscopy. Deletion of 12/15-Lo significantly attenuated diabetes-induced ER stress in mouse retina. In vitro, 15-HETE upregulated ER stress markers such as phosphorylated RNA-dependent protein kinase-like ER-regulated kinase (p-PERK), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in HRECs. Inhibition of ER stress reduced 15-HETE-induced-leucocyte adhesion, VEGFR2 phosphorylation and NADPH oxidase expression/activity. However, inhibition of NADPH oxidase or deletion of Nox2 had no effect on ER stress induced by the 12/15-LO-derived metabolites both in vitro and in vivo. We also found that 15-HETE increases the intracellular calcium in HRECs. ER stress contributes to 12/15-LO-induced retinal inflammation in diabetic retinopathy via activation of NADPH oxidase and VEGFR2. Perturbation of calcium homeostasis in the retina might also play a role in linking 12/15-LO to retinal ER stress and subsequent microvascular dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy.

Performance limitations of label-free sensors in molecular diagnosis using complex samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varma, Manoj

2016-03-01

Label-free biosensors promised a paradigm involving direct detection of biomarkers from complex samples such as serum without requiring multistep sample processing typical of labelled methods such as ELISA or immunofluorescence assays. Label-free sensors have witnessed decades of development with a veritable zoo of techniques available today exploiting a multitude of physical effects. It is appropriate now to critically assess whether label-free technologies have succeeded in delivering their promise with respect to diagnostic applications, particularly, ambitious goals such as early cancer detection using serum biomarkers, which require low limits of detection (LoD). Comparison of nearly 120 limits of detection (LoD) values reported by labelled and label-free sensing approaches over a wide range of detection techniques and target molecules in serum revealed that labeled techniques achieve 2-3 orders of magnitude better LoDs. Data from experiments where labelled and label-free assays were performed simultaneously using the same assay parameters also confirm that the LoD achieved by labelled techniques is 2 to 3 orders of magnitude better than that by label-free techniques. Furthermore, label-free techniques required significant signal amplification, for e.g. using nanoparticle conjugated secondary antibodies, to achieve LoDs comparable to labelled methods substantially deviating from the original "direct detection" paradigm. This finding has important implications on the practical limits of applying label-free detection methods for molecular diagnosis.

Scanning thin-sheet laser imaging microscopy (sTSLIM) with structured illumination and HiLo background rejection.

PubMed

Schröter, Tobias J; Johnson, Shane B; John, Kerstin; Santi, Peter A

2012-01-01

We report replacement of one side of a static illumination, dual sided, thin-sheet laser imaging microscope (TSLIM) with an intensity modulated laser scanner in order to implement structured illumination (SI) and HiLo image demodulation techniques for background rejection. The new system is equipped with one static and one scanned light-sheet and is called a scanning thin-sheet laser imaging microscope (sTSLIM). It is an optimized version of a light-sheet fluorescent microscope that is designed to image large specimens (<15 mm in diameter). In this paper we describe the hardware and software modifications to TSLIM that allow for static and uniform light-sheet illumination with SI and HiLo image demodulation. The static light-sheet has a thickness of 3.2 µm; whereas, the scanned side has a light-sheet thickness of 4.2 µm. The scanned side images specimens with subcellular resolution (<1 µm lateral and <4 µm axial resolution) with a size up to 15 mm. SI and HiLo produce superior contrast compared to both the uniform static and scanned light-sheets. HiLo contrast was greater than SI and is faster and more robust than SI because as it produces images in two-thirds of the time and exhibits fewer intensity streaking artifacts. 2011 Optical Society of America

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

Oliva, R.; Ibanez, J.; Cusco, R.

We use Raman scattering to investigate the composition behavior of the E{sub 2h} and A{sub 1}(LO) phonons of In{sub x}Ga{sub 1-x}N and to evaluate the role of lateral compositional fluctuations and in-depth strain/composition gradients on the frequency of the A{sub 1}(LO) bands. For this purpose, we have performed visible and ultraviolet Raman measurements on a set of high-quality epilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy with In contents over a wide composition range (0.25 < x < 0.75). While the as-measured A{sub 1}(LO) frequency values strongly deviate from the linear dispersion predicted by the modified random-element isodisplacement (MREI) model, we showmore » that the strain-corrected A{sub 1}(LO) frequencies are qualitatively in good agreement with the expected linear dependence. In contrast, we find that the strain-corrected E{sub 2h} frequencies exhibit a bowing in relation to the linear behavior predicted by the MREI model. Such bowing should be taken into account to evaluate the composition or the strain state of InGaN material from the E{sub 2h} peak frequencies. We show that in-depth strain/composition gradients and selective resonance excitation effects have a strong impact on the frequency of the A{sub 1}(LO) mode, making very difficult the use of this mode to evaluate the strain state or the composition of InGaN material.« less

A novel device based on smart textile to control heart's activity during exercise.

PubMed

Romagnoli, Marco; Alis, Rafael; Guillen, Javier; Basterra, Javier; Villacastin, J P; Guillen, Sergio

2014-06-01

In recent years, several systems have been developed to control cardiac function during exercise, and some are also capable of recording RR data to provide heart rate variability (HRV) analyses. In this study we compare time between heart beats and HRV parameters obtained with a smart textile system (GOW; Weartech sl., Spain) and an electrocardiogram machine commonly used in hospitals during continuous cycling tests. Twelve cardiology patients performed a 30-min cycling test at stable submaximal intensity. RR interval data were recorded during the test by both systems. 3-min RR segments were taken to compare the time intervals between beats and HRV variables using Bland-Altman analyses and intraclass correlation coefficients. Limits of agreement (LoAs) on RR intervals were stable at around 3 ms (widest LoAs -5.754 to 6.094 ms, tightest LoAs -2.557 to 3.105 ms, medium LoAs -3.638 ± 0.812 to 3.145 ± 0.539 ms). HRV parameters related to short-term change presented wide LoAs (RMSSD -0.17 to 18.41 %, HF -17.64 to 33.21 %, SD1 -0.50 to 17.54 %) as an effect of the error measurement of the GOW system. The GOW system is a valid tool for controlling HR during physical activity, although its use as a clinical tool for HRV cannot be supported.

Extensive shift in placental transcriptome profile in preeclampsia and placental origin of adverse pregnancy outcomes

PubMed Central

Sõber, Siim; Reiman, Mario; Kikas, Triin; Rull, Kristiina; Inno, Rain; Vaas, Pille; Teesalu, Pille; Marti, Jesus M. Lopez; Mattila, Pirkko; Laan, Maris

2015-01-01

One in five pregnant women suffer from gestational complications, prevalently driven by placental malfunction. Using RNASeq, we analyzed differential placental gene expression in cases of normal gestation, late-onset preeclampsia (LO-PE), gestational diabetes (GD) and pregnancies ending with the birth of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns (n = 8/group). In all groups, the highest expression was detected for small noncoding RNAs and genes specifically implicated in placental function and hormonal regulation. The transcriptome of LO-PE placentas was clearly distinct, showing statistically significant (after FDR) expressional disturbances for hundreds of genes. Taqman RT-qPCR validation of 45 genes in an extended sample (n = 24/group) provided concordant results. A limited number of transcription factors including LRF, SP1 and AP2 were identified as possible drivers of these changes. Notable differences were detected in differential expression signatures of LO-PE subtypes defined by the presence or absence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). LO-PE with IUGR showed higher correlation with SGA and LO-PE without IUGR with LGA placentas. Whereas changes in placental transcriptome in SGA, LGA and GD cases were less prominent, the overall profiles of expressional disturbances overlapped among pregnancy complications providing support to shared placental responses. The dataset represent a rich catalogue for potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. PMID:26268791

Prostaglandins inhibit 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein expression and leukotriene B4 production from dendritic cells via an IL-10-dependent mechanism.

PubMed

Harizi, Hedi; Juzan, Monique; Moreau, Jean-François; Gualde, Norbert

2003-01-01

PGs produced from arachidonic acid by the action of cyclooxygenase enzymes play a pivotal role in the regulation of both inflammatory and immune responses. Because leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a product of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway, can exert numerous immunoregulatory and proinflammatory activities, we examined the effects of PGs on LTB4 release from dendritic cells (DC) and from peritoneal macrophages. In concentration-dependent manner, PGE1 and PGE2 inhibited the production of LTB4 from DC, but not from peritoneal macrophage, with an IC50 of 0.04 microM. The same effect was observed with MK-886, a 5-LO-activating protein (FLAP)-specific inhibitor. The decreased release of LTB4 was associated with an enhanced level of IL-10. Furthermore, the inhibition of LTB4 synthesis by PGs was significantly reversed by anti-IL-10, suggesting the involvement of an IL-10-dependent mechanism. Hence, we examined the effects of exogenous IL-10 on the 5-LO pathway. We demonstrate that IL-10 suppresses the production of LTB4 from DC by inhibiting FLAP protein expression without any effect on 5-LO and cytosolic phospholipase A2. Taken together, our results suggest links between DC cyclooxygenase and 5-LO pathways during the inflammatory response, and FLAP is a key target for the PG-induced IL-10-suppressive effects.

Nonlinear Analysis of the Space Shuttle Superlightweight LO2 Tank. Part 2; Behavior Under 3g End-of-Flight Loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Michael P.; Young, Richard D.; Collins, Timothy J.; Starnes, James H.,Jr.

1998-01-01

Results of linear bifurcation and nonlinear analyses of the Space Shuttle super lightweight (SLWT) external liquid-oxygen (LO2) tank are presented for an important end-of-flight loading condition. These results illustrate an important type of response mode for thin-walled shells, that are subjected to combined mechanical and thermal loads, that may be encountered in the design of other liquid-fuel launch vehicles. Linear bifurcation analyses are presented that predict several nearly equal eigenvalues that correspond to local buckling modes in the aft dome of the LO2 tank. In contrast, the nonlinear response phenomenon is shown to consist of a short-wavelength bending deformation in the aft elliptical dome of the LO2 tank that grows in amplitude in a stable manner with increasing load. Imperfection sensitivity analyses are presented that show that the presence of several nearly equal eigenvalues does not lead to a premature general instability mode for the aft dome. For the linear bifurcation and nonlinear analyses, the results show that accurate predictions of the response of the shell generally require a large-scale, high fidelity finite-element model. Results are also presented that show that the SLWT LO2 tank can support loads in excess of approximately 1.9 times the values of the operational loads considered.

Effect of hypohydration on thermoregulatory responses in men with low and high body fat exercising in the heat.

PubMed

Tucker, Matthew A; Caldwell, Aaron R; Butts, Cory L; Robinson, Forrest B; Reynebeau, Haley C; Kavouras, Stavros A; McDermott, Brendon P; Washington, Tyrone A; Turner, Ronna C; Ganio, Matthew S

2017-01-01

It is unclear whether men with low body fat (LO-BF) have impaired thermoregulation during exercise heat stress compared with those with high body fat (HI-BF) when euhydration (EU) is maintained. Furthermore, in LO-BF individuals, hypohydration (HY) impairs thermoregulatory responses during exercise heat stress, but it is unknown whether this occurs in HI-BF counterparts. The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that men with HI-BF have impaired thermoregulatory responses to exercise heat stress and that HY further exacerbates these impairments vs. LO-BF. Men with LO-BF [n = 11, body mass (BM) 73.9 ± 8.5 kg, BF% 13.6 ± 3.8] and HI-BF (n = 9, BM 89.6 ± 6.9 kg, BF% 30.2 ± 4.1), in a randomized crossover design, performed 60 min of upright cycling in a hot environment (40.3 ± 0.4°C, relative humidity 32.5 ± 1.9%) at a metabolic heat production rate of 6 W/kg BM and finished exercise either euhydrated (EU; 0.3 ± 1.2 vs. 0.3 ± 0.9% BM loss) or HY (-2.5 ± 1.1 vs. -1.7 ± 1.5% BM loss). Changes in rectal temperature (ΔT rec ), local sweat rate (ΔLSR), and cutaneous vascular conductance (ΔCVC; % max ) were measured throughout. When EU, LO-BF and HI-BF had similar CVC and LSR responses (P > 0.05); however, LO-BF had a lower ΔT rec vs. HI-BF (0.92 ± 0.35 vs. 1.31 ± 0.32°C, P = 0.021). Compared with EU, HY increased end-exercise ΔT rec in LO-BF (0.47 ± 0.37°C, P < 0.01) but not in HI-BF (-0.06 ± 0.29°C, P > 0.05). HY, compared with EU, did not affect ΔLSR and ΔCVC in either group (P > 0.05). We conclude that, when euhydrated, men with HI-BF have a greater increase in T rec vs. LO-BF but similar CVC and LSR. HY exacerbates increases in T rec in LO-BF but not HI-BF. This is the first known investigation to compare thermoregulatory responses to exercise heat stress between men with high and low body fat (BF) in a physiologically uncompensable environment while simultaneously examining the confounding influence of hydration status. Both groups demonstrated similar sweating and cutaneous vasodilatory responses when euhydrated, despite vast differences in rectal temperature. Furthermore, in contrast to low BF, individuals with high BF demonstrated similar increases in core body temperature when either euhydrated or hypohydrated. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Effect of low vitamin A diets with high-moisture or dry corn on marbling and adipose tissue fatty acid composition of beef steers.

PubMed

Gorocica-Buenfil, M A; Fluharty, F L; Bohn, T; Schwartz, S J; Loerch, S C

2007-12-01

Angus-cross steers (n = 165; 295 +/- 16 kg of BW) were used evaluate the effect of low vitamin A diets with high-moisture corn (HMC) or dry corn (DC) on marbling and fatty acid composition. Steers were allotted to 24 pens (7 steers/pen), such that each pen had the same average initial BW. Treatments were randomly allotted to the pens. The experiment had a completely randomized design, with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: low vitamin A (Lo, no supplemental vitamin A) and HMC (LoHMC); LoDC; high vitamin A (Hi, supplemented with 2,200 IU of vitamin A/kg of DM) and HMC (HiHMC); and HiDC. Diets contained 76% corn, 10% corn silage, 11% protein supplement, and 3% soybean oil (DM basis). Samples of feed ingredients were collected for carotenoid analysis. Blood samples were collected for serum retinol determination. Steers were slaughtered after 145 d on feed. Carcass characteristics and LM composition were determined. Samples from the s.c. fat depot were analyzed for fatty acid composition. High-moisture corn had a greater vitamin A content, based on its carotenoid content, than DC (614 vs. 366 IU/kg of DM, P < 0.01). No vitamin A x corn type interactions were detected for feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, or serum, s.c. fat, or liver retinol concentration. Average daily gain, DMI, and G:F were not affected by vitamin A (P > 0.05). Marbling score and USDA quality grade were greater (P < 0.05) in Lo vs. Hi steers. Hot carcass weight, backfat, and yield grade were not affected by the treatments (P > 0.05). Vitamin A and corn type did not affect LM composition (DM, ash, CP, or ether-extractable fat, P > 0.05). Vitamin A supplementation increased (P < 0.06) serum retinol on d 112 and 145 and increased (P < 0.01) liver retinol at slaughter (Lo = 38.7 vs. Hi = 102.9 mug/g). The s.c. fat retinol concentrations were less (P < 0.01) for Lo (0.8 mug/g) than for Hi (1.4 mug/g) at slaughter. Cell diameter of adipocytes in the i.m. depot was not affected by dietary vitamin A (P > 0.05). A vitamin A x corn type interaction was observed (P < 0.05) for the s.c. fat cellularity. Feeding HMC increased the number of cells per square millimeter when Lo diets were fed (LoHMC = 128 vs. LoDC = 100 cells/mm(2), P < 0.05), but not when Hi diets were fed (HiHMC = 109 vs. HiDC = 111 cells/mm(2), P > 0.05). The CLA content of adipose tissue was not affected by the treatments. Regardless of the corn type used, feeding low vitamin A diets for 145 d to Angus-cross steers increased marbling and quality grade without affecting yield grade, animal health, or performance.

Water Use in Wetland Kalo Cultivation in Hawai`i

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gingerich, Stephen B.; Yeung, Chiu W.; Ibarra, Tracy-Joy N.; Engott, John A.

2007-01-01

Ten cultivation areas (8 windward, 2 leeward) were selected for a kalo water-use study, primarily on the basis of the diversity of environmental and agricultural conditions under which wetland kalo is grown and landowner permission and availability. Flow and water-temperature data were collected at the lo`i complex level and at the individual lo`i level. To ensure that flow and temperature data collected at different lo`i reflect similar irrigation conditions (continuous flooding of the mature crop), only lo`i with crops near the harvesting stage were selected for water-temperature data collection. The water need for kalo cultivation varies depending on the crop stage. In this study, data were collected during the dry season (June-October), when water requirements for cooling kalo approach upper limits. Flow measurements generally were made during the warmest part of the day, and temperature measurements were made every 15 minutes at each site for about a two-month period. Flow and temperature data were collected from kalo cultivation areas on four islands - Kaua`i, O`ahu, Maui, and Hawai`i. The average inflow value for the 19 lo`i complexes measured in this study is 260,000 gallons per acre per day, and the median inflow value is 150,000 gallons per acre per day. The average inflow value for the 17 windward sites is 270,000 gallons per acre per day, and the median inflow value is 150,000 gallons per acre per day. The average inflow value for the two leeward sites is 150,000 gallons per acre per day. The average inflow value measured for six individual lo`i is 350,000 gallons per acre per day, and the median inflow value is 270,000 gallons per acre per day. The average inflow value for the five windward lo`i is 370,000 gallons per acre per day, and the median inflow value is 320,000 gallons per acre per day. The inflow value for the one leeward lo`i is 210,000 gallons per acre per day. These inflow values are consistent with previously reported values for inflow and are significantly higher than values generally estimated for water consumption during kalo cultivation. These measurements of inflow are important for future considerations of water-use requirements for successful kalo cultivation. Of the 17 lo`i complexes where water inflow temperature was measured, only 3 had inflow temperatures that rose above 27 ?C, the threshold temperature above which wetland kalo is more susceptible to fungi and associated rotting diseases. The coldest mean inflow temperature was 20.0 ?C and the warmest inflow temperature was 24.9 ?C. All 15 of the sites where outflow temperatures were measured had some temperatures greater than 27 ?C. Outflow temperatures exceeded 27 ?C between 2.5 percent and about 40 percent of the time. Mean outflow temperatures ranged from 23.0 ?C to 26.7 ?C.

78 FR 61429 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-03

... cabinets ordered by users using the Co-Lo Console \\4\\ on or after October 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013... No. 68624 (Jan. 1, 2013), 78 FR 3945 (Jan. 17, 2013). \\4\\ The ``Co-Lo Console'' is NASDAQ's Web-based...

76 FR 34785 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-14

... receive the waiver of the installation fee: 1. The new cabinet order must be placed in the CoLo Console \\4\\ during the designated period; and \\4\\ The ``CoLo Console'' is a Web-based ordering tool that is utilized...

76 FR 34783 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-14

... receive the waiver of the installation fee: 1. the new cabinet order must be placed in the CoLo Console \\4\\ during the designated period; and \\4\\ The ``CoLo Console'' is Web-based ordering tool that is utilized by...

Learning Organisation Review--A "Good" Theory Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santa, Mijalce

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to perform integrative literature review of the learning organisation (LO) concept, on the basis of the results of the literature review to assess the concept on the principles of "good" theory, and provide future avenues for LO concept clarification and development. Design/methodology/approach: The…

76 FR 44977 - Culturally Significant Objects Imported for Exhibition Determinations: “Nobility and Virtue...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-27

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 7535] Culturally Significant Objects Imported for Exhibition Determinations: ``Nobility and Virtue: Masterpieces of Ming Loyalist Art From the Chih Lo Lou Collection... Loyalist Art from the Chih Lo Lou Collection,'' imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the...

Land Operations in the Year 2020 (LO2020) (Operations terrestres a l’horizon 2020 (LO2020)).

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-03-01

CAPABILITIES Technologies [  ] □ [500-700] n[>70°] 186 APPENDIX 4 to ANNEX V SHORT LISTED TECHNOLOGIES CARACTERISED REGARDING CC 1. top... CARACTERISATION MATRIX techno Legend: no relevance weak relevance good relevance strong relevance 189 KEY TECHNOLOGIES CARACTERISED REGARDING COST (34

Australian Policy Activism in Language and Literacy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lo Bianco, Joseph, Ed.; Wickert, Rosie, Ed.

This book presents the dynamics of language and literacy policy activism in Australia. The introduction is "Activists and Policy" (LoBianco, Wickert). Part 1, "From Policy to Anti-Policy" (LoBianco), sets a frame and overarching context of the pattern of Australian language and literacy policy. Part 2 contains accounts of how…

Pre-Deployment Handbook Papua New Guinea

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

ai M or eh ea d W ea m Ku pi an o A ng or am Te le fo m in Ta la se a G lo uc es te r...rit ai n B ou ga in vi lle C ho is eu l S an ta Y sa be l W oo dl ar k P oc kl in gt on R ee f D ’E nt re ca st ea ux Is la nd s Lo ui si ad e A...rc hi pe la go B is m a rc k A rc h ip e la g o Ta sk ul K ar ka r Lo ng K iw ai U

Final Environmental Assessment: Renovation of Child Development Centers Buildings 3904 and 5510 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-08-28

tmpatn lo tl•• 110 vcor • oodplatn n f uld 0 ol r-.a~ 1�~1 co.bl• Altem.nr v • ONPA) INO pul• ·( Is i•l¥’·1~ 1 1•1 ’""’th’ 1110 dt&U CJ\\ po.d...34Fire~" three or more times. The l!earest fire al11rm pull stat{()n will be acuvated by the nearest employee wh.ile OtheJ$ in the room begin Lo ...assemble children for evacuztion (Yeung Infant. Infant. and Pretoodler rooms will use wireeled evacuation devices). Supersedes SV~C Ols 215-5,9, and lO

Total Control: How the Nazis Countered Unconventional Warfare in the Netherlands During World War Two

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-25

rm) Command nml General Staff Colkgc ut any 1l1hcr go\\cmmcnt agc11c) (Rcl’crcm:cs lo 1h1s s111d) -.hould incllu.k the foregoing ~ lutcmcnt , ) h1ir...4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER I owl Co111rul. I lo \\\\ lhl’ Nu11s Counll’rccJ Unconvcnt1onul Wurlnrc in the dherlund~ Durmg World \\1 nr I...German population control wor"-cd best when 11 was lcn\\t inva:.ivc /\\. police opcrm ion ensured the dcs1ruc11on ot’ an Ang lo -Outd1 unconvcnllonal

2011 AFMS Medical Research Symposium Held in National Harbor, Maryland on August 2-4, 2011. Volume 3: Force Health Protection Track

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-08-01

Exposure 311 -+- Control R=9 JP8 200 mg/m1+ Noise 85dB n= lO JP8 750 mg/m1+ Nohe 85dB n=9 JP815D~ mg!m3+Nohe 85dB n=9...Force Health Protection 24 Results- Study 4: DPOAE DPOAE 1 0 Day Post Exposure Males Control tt=5 • JP8 1000 mglm3 n=S Ml +- Noi5 e lO !db 15...min/h x 6h n=5 B -::.::.~:::r·= lO . . .. ~.·:~· .· . ~>. • .. -~~ .. . ~ ~ . . n ..~ !"-. IL~ ~+,-------,------,,-------~,.-----~~----~ Fnquency

LoC-SERS toward clinical application: quantification of antibiotics in human urine samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hidi, I. J.; Jahn, M.; Weber, K.; Pletz, M. W.; Bocklitz, T. W.; Cialla-May, D.; Popp, J.

2017-02-01

The determination of the concentration of xenobiotics in biological matrix followed by the change of the prescribing procedure plays a major role in the transition from general to personalized medicine. For this contribution, human urine samples collected from healthy volunteers and from patients having urinary tract infection were used as biological matrix to assess the potential and limitation of LoC-SERS to detected levofloxacin and nitroxoline. The determination of both antibiotics at clinically relevant concentrations, 1.38 mM +/- 0.68 mM for levofloxacin and 10-40 µM for nitroxoline, will be presented. For quantification purposes the standard addition method is combined with LoC-SERS.

670 GHz Schottky Diode Based Subharmonic Mixer with CPW Circuits and 70 GHz IF

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chattopadhyay, Goutam (Inventor); Schlecht, Erich T. (Inventor); Lee, Choonsup (Inventor); Lin, Robert H. (Inventor); Gill, John J. (Inventor); Sin, Seth (Inventor); Mehdi, Imran (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A coplanar waveguide (CPW) based subharmonic mixer working at 670 GHz using GaAs Schottky diodes. One example of the mixer has a LO input, an RF input and an IF output. Another possible mixer has a LO input, and IF input and an RF output. Each input or output is connected to a coplanar waveguide with a matching network. A pair of antiparallel diodes provides a signal at twice the LO frequency, which is then mixed with a second signal to provide signals having sum and difference frequencies. The output signal of interest is received after passing through a bandpass filter tuned to the frequency range of interest.

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

Wollaber, Allan Benton; Park, HyeongKae; Lowrie, Robert Byron

Moment-based acceleration via the development of “high-order, low-order” (HO-LO) algorithms has provided substantial accuracy and efficiency enhancements for solutions of the nonlinear, thermal radiative transfer equations by CCS-2 and T-3 staff members. Accuracy enhancements over traditional, linearized methods are obtained by solving a nonlinear, timeimplicit HO-LO system via a Jacobian-free Newton Krylov procedure. This also prevents the appearance of non-physical maximum principle violations (“temperature spikes”) associated with linearization. Efficiency enhancements are obtained in part by removing “effective scattering” from the linearized system. In this highlight, we summarize recent work in which we formally extended the HO-LO radiation algorithm to includemore » operator-split radiation-hydrodynamics.« less

Liquid rocket booster study. Volume 2, book 5, appendix 9: LRB alternate applications and evolutionary growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

The analyses performed in assessing the merit of the Liquid Rocket Booster concept for use in alternate applications such as for Shuttle C, for Standalone Expendable Launch Vehicles, and possibly for use with the Air Force's Advanced Launch System are presented. A comparison is also presented of the three LRB candidate designs, namely: (1) the LO2/LH2 pump fed, (2) the LO2/RP-1 pump fed, and (3) the LO2/RP-1 pressure fed propellant systems in terms of evolution along with design and cost factors, and other qualitative considerations. A further description is also presented of the recommended LRB standalone, core-to-orbit launch vehicle concept.

On a realization of { β}-expansion in QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikhailov, S. V.

2017-04-01

We suggest a simple algebraic approach to fix the elements of the { β}-expansion for renormalization group invariant quantities, which uses additional degrees of freedom. The approach is discussed in detail for N2LO calculations in QCD with the MSSM gluino — an additional degree of freedom. We derive the formulae of the { β}-expansion for the nonsinglet Adler D-function and Bjorken polarized sum rules in the actual N3LO within this quantum field theory scheme with the MSSM gluino and the scheme with the second additional degree of freedom. We discuss the properties of the { β}-expansion for higher orders considering the N4LO as an example.

Development of Thread-compatible Open Source Stack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmermann, Lukas; Mars, Nidhal; Schappacher, Manuel; Sikora, Axel

2017-07-01

The Thread protocol is a recent development based on 6LoWPAN (IPv6 over IEEE 802.15.4), but with extensions regarding a more media independent approach, which - additionally - also promises true interoperability. To evaluate and analyse the operation of a Thread network a given open source 6LoWPAN stack for embedded devices (emb::6) has been extended in order to comply with the Thread specification. The implementation covers Mesh Link Establishment (MLE) and network layer functionality as well as 6LoWPAN mesh under routing mechanism based on MAC short addresses. The development has been verified on a virtualization platform and allows dynamical establishment of network topologies based on Thread’s partitioning algorithm.

LoTi Turns Up the Heat!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moersch, Christopher

2010-01-01

When LoTi was first introduced in 1994 as the Levels of Technology Implementation framework, the intent was to create a tool to help district leadership quantify how teachers were using technology in the classroom. After serving the past 15 years as a research framework, self-reporting technology integration survey, and school improvement model,…

Is the Learning Organisation Still Alive?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pedler, Mike; Burgoyne, John G.

2017-01-01

Purpose: It has recently been suggested that the learning organisation (LO) is dead (Pedler, 2013). The authors make the case here that it is still alive. This paper provides a brief history of LO and organisational learning, follows this with some survey findings, a discussion and an exploration of some related contemporary issues and concludes…

"Keeping Things Straight": The Representation of Sexualities in Life Orientation Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilmot, Mark; Naidoo, Devika

2014-01-01

Heterosexism and heteronormativity are pervasive in the South African society, but to what degree are they present in Life Orientation (LO) textbooks? This question, explored through a content analysis of widely used Grade 10 LO textbooks, was framed by queer theory. The paper quantitatively examines the coverage of sexualities, and qualitatively…

The Application of Learning Organization to Enhance Learning in Singapore Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Retna, Kala S.; Ng, Pak Tee

2016-01-01

The rise of interest in the learning organization (LO) concept attests to the value of learning by individuals and organizations for continuous improvement and adaptability to the ever-changing environment. Although the LO concept originated from business contexts, it was subsequently extended to educational organizations, particularly to schools.…

75 FR 61478 - D'Lo Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Petition

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-05

... Storage, LLC; Notice of Petition September 24, 2010. Take notice that on September 21, 2010, D'Lo Gas Storage, LLC (Petitioner), 1002 East St. Mary Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503, filed in Docket No... determine feasibility of developing the underlying salt dome formation for natural gas storage, all as more...

BabeLO--An Extensible Converter of Programming Exercises Formats

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Queiros, R.; Leal, J. P.

2013-01-01

In the last two decades, there was a proliferation of programming exercise formats that hinders interoperability in automatic assessment. In the lack of a widely accepted standard, a pragmatic solution is to convert content among the existing formats. BabeLO is a programming exercise converter providing services to a network of heterogeneous…

Time to Reframe Politics and Practices in Correctional Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LoBuglio, Stefan

2001-01-01

In this chapter, Stefan LoBuglio discusses the politics and practices of educational programs for adults in correctional facilities. To begin, LoBuglio provides an overview of the field of corrections, including various types of facilities and correctional programs, as well as demographic and educational data on the U.S. incarcerated population…

Relationships Between Career Indecision, Search for Work Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Well-Being in Italian Never-Employed Young Adults

PubMed Central

Viola, Maria Maddalena; Musso, Pasquale; Ingoglia, Sonia; Lo Coco, Alida; Inguglia, Cristiano

2017-01-01

Although different studies have investigated career choices as cognitive acts of decision-making, non-cognitive components also play an important role. The study tries to develop an empirically based model of career decision-making process linking cognitive (search for work self-efficacy - SWSE) and non-cognitive (psychological well-being - PWB) components. In particular, the study investigates, among 148 never-employed Italian young adults, to what extent the relationship between SWSE and career indecision in terms of lack of readiness (LoR) can be explained by their common relationship with PWB. Results highlighted that SWSE is negatively associated with LoR when considered in absence of PWB. However, when PWB was included in one comprehensive model, it was positively associated with SWSE and negatively related to LoR. Moreover, the presence of PWB nullified the negative association between SWSE and LoR, meaning that PWB shares a large extent of variance with these variables. Implications are discussed in the light of theoretical expectations and limitations. PMID:28580024

Department of Defense Prime Contract Awards in Labor Surplus Areas. Fiscal Year 1989

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-01

S0 . 0 L. 4 * Q .0 44C 04A 0 . o L.s LO 2 A L.O : O I *a-C .4 45A 4 V)- C0 LO a- U L. 00 PA08 0 4, LO . . 1 . -4 6- me 4p L .LU L8 L L. m. 0~ C. CU 0...00 4A U- eg-0.a.-I to C L 0 4 i 10 L . -L L 4 L. L3U * ~ C L . 0 (I 0 * -W COL too iL 5.4 -4- 00 0 -4 L. 40 -im0 l ൒-0 1 % A 0fmUS 04 440c0c& onmS...4A 4 La Xm. 0 C 30 C 4. CmU %.. L.L *L A"W 0 00e am me 4..E1 4.44 L.m mL L. 41U..Cu) W4..S 4 . L. AC o % I* . a*B am L4A C- 1 =L -4j O&US 44 L. 0~* -4 0

CD4+ T Cells Coexpressing CD134 (OX40) Harbor Significantly Increased Levels of Human Herpesvirus 6B DNA Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation.

PubMed

Pritchett, Joshua C; Green, Jaime S; Thomm, Angela M; Knox, Konstance K; Verneris, Michael R; Lund, Troy C

2016-12-15

Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) commonly reactivates after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) and is associated with delayed engraftment, fever, rash, and central nervous system dysfunction. Recently, CD134 (OX40) has been implicated as a potential viral entry receptor. We evaluated CD4 + CD134 + / neg-lo and CD8 + CD134 + / neg-lo cells at day 28 after UCBT in 20 subjects with previously documented HHV-6 reactivation and persistent viremia. Analysis of CD4 + CD134 + cells as compared to CD4 + CD134 neg-lo cells showed 0.308 versus 0.129 copies of HHV-6B/cell (P = .0002). CD8 + CD134 +/neg-lo cells contained little to no HHV-6B copies. Following UCBT, CD4 + CD134 + cells harbor significantly increased levels of HHV-6B, suggesting that CD134 (OX40) may facilitate viral entry. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.

Three dimensional HiLo-based structured illumination for a digital scanned laser sheet microscopy (DSLM) in thick tissue imaging

PubMed Central

Bhattacharya, Dipanjan; Singh, Vijay Raj; Zhi, Chen; So, Peter T. C.; Matsudaira, Paul; Barbastathis, George

2012-01-01

Laser sheet based microscopy has become widely accepted as an effective active illumination method for real time three-dimensional (3D) imaging of biological tissue samples. The light sheet geometry, where the camera is oriented perpendicular to the sheet itself, provides an effective method of eliminating some of the scattered light and minimizing the sample exposure to radiation. However, residual background noise still remains, limiting the contrast and visibility of potentially interesting features in the samples. In this article, we investigate additional structuring of the illumination for improved background rejection, and propose a new technique, “3D HiLo” where we combine two HiLo images processed from orthogonal directions to improve the condition of the 3D reconstruction. We present a comparative study of conventional structured illumination based demodulation methods, namely 3Phase and HiLo with a newly implemented 3D HiLo approach and demonstrate that the latter yields superior signal-to-background ratio in both lateral and axial dimensions, while simultaneously suppressing image processing artifacts. PMID:23262684

Ease fabrication of PCR modular chip for portable DNA detection kit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whulanza, Yudan; Aditya, Rifky; Arvialido, Reyhan; Utomo, Muhammad S.; Bachtiar, Boy M.

2017-02-01

Engineering a lab-on-a-chip (LoC) to perform the DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for malaria detection is the ultimate goal of this study. This paper investigates the ability to fabricate an LoC kit using conventional method to achieve the lowest production cost by using existing fabrication process. It has been known that majority of LoC was made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) which in this study was realized through a contact mold process. CNC milling process was utilized to create channel features in the range of 150-250 µm on the mold. Characterization on the milling process was done to understand the shrinkage/contraction between mold to product, roughness and also angle of contact of PDMS surface. Ultimately, this paper also includes analysis on flow measurement and heat distribution of an assembled LoC PCR kit. The results show that the achieved dimension of microchannel is 227 µm wide with a roughness of 0.01 µm. The flow measurement indicates a deviation with simulation in the range of 10%. A heat distribution through the kit is achieved following the three temperature zones as desired.

A local framework for calculating coupled cluster singles and doubles excitation energies (LoFEx-CCSD)

DOE PAGES

Baudin, Pablo; Bykov, Dmytro; Liakh, Dmitry I.; ...

2017-02-22

Here, the recently developed Local Framework for calculating Excitation energies (LoFEx) is extended to the coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) model. In the new scheme, a standard CCSD excitation energy calculation is carried out within a reduced excitation orbital space (XOS), which is composed of localised molecular orbitals and natural transition orbitals determined from time-dependent Hartree–Fock theory. The presented algorithm uses a series of reduced second-order approximate coupled cluster singles and doubles (CC2) calculations to optimise the XOS in a black-box manner. This ensures that the requested CCSD excitation energies have been determined to a predefined accuracy compared tomore » a conventional CCSD calculation. We present numerical LoFEx-CCSD results for a set of medium-sized organic molecules, which illustrate the black-box nature of the approach and the computational savings obtained for transitions that are local compared to the size of the molecule. In fact, for such local transitions, the LoFEx-CCSD scheme can be applied to molecular systems where a conventional CCSD implementation is intractable.« less

Visualization of Membrane Rafts Using a Perylene Monoimide Derivative and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

PubMed Central

Margineanu, Anca; Hotta, Jun-ichi; Van der Auweraer, Mark; Ameloot, Marcel; Stefan, Alina; Beljonne, David; Engelborghs, Yves; Herrmann, Andreas; Müllen, Klaus; De Schryver, Frans C.; Hofkens, Johan

2007-01-01

A new membrane probe, based on the perylene imide chromophore, with excellent photophysical properties (high absorption coefficient, quantum yield (QY) ≈ 1, high photostability) and excited in the visible domain is proposed for the study of membrane rafts. Visualization of separation between the liquid-ordered (Lo) and the liquid-disordered (Ld) phases can be achieved in artificial membranes by fluorescence lifetime imaging due to the different decay times of the membrane probe in the two phases. Rafts on micrometer-scale in cell membranes due to cellular activation can also be observed by this method. The decay time of the dye in the Lo phase is higher than in organic solvents where its QY is 1. This allows proposing a (possible general) mechanism for the decay time increase in the Lo phase, based on the local field effects of the surrounding molecules. For other fluorophores with QY < 1, the suggested mechanism could also contribute, in addition to effects reducing the nonradiative decay pathways, to an increase of the fluorescence decay time in the Lo phase. PMID:17573424

Discovery of a z = 0.65 post-starburst BAL quasar in the DES supernova fields

DOE PAGES

Mudd, Dale; Martini, Paul; Tie, Suk Sien; ...

2017-03-23

In this paper, we present the discovery of a z = 0.65 low-ionization broad absorption line (LoBAL) quasar in a post-starburst galaxy in data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and spectroscopy from the Australian Dark Energy Survey (OzDES). LoBAL quasars are a minority of all BALs, and rarer still is that this object also exhibits broad Fe ii (an FeLoBAL) and Balmer absorption. This is the first BAL quasar that has signatures of recently truncated star formation, which we estimate ended about 40 Myr ago. The characteristic signatures of an FeLoBAL require high column densities, which could be explainedmore » by the emergence of a young quasar from an early, dust-enshrouded phase, or by clouds compressed by a blast wave. Finally, the age of the starburst component is comparable to estimates of the lifetime of quasars, so if we assume the quasar activity is related to the truncation of the star formation, this object is better explained by the blast wave scenario.« less

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

Bolding, Simon R.; Cleveland, Mathew Allen; Morel, Jim E.

In this paper, we have implemented a new high-order low-order (HOLO) algorithm for solving thermal radiative transfer problems. The low-order (LO) system is based on the spatial and angular moments of the transport equation and a linear-discontinuous finite-element spatial representation, producing equations similar to the standard S 2 equations. The LO solver is fully implicit in time and efficiently resolves the nonlinear temperature dependence at each time step. The high-order (HO) solver utilizes exponentially convergent Monte Carlo (ECMC) to give a globally accurate solution for the angular intensity to a fixed-source pure-absorber transport problem. This global solution is used tomore » compute consistency terms, which require the HO and LO solutions to converge toward the same solution. The use of ECMC allows for the efficient reduction of statistical noise in the Monte Carlo solution, reducing inaccuracies introduced through the LO consistency terms. Finally, we compare results with an implicit Monte Carlo code for one-dimensional gray test problems and demonstrate the efficiency of ECMC over standard Monte Carlo in this HOLO algorithm.« less

A High-Order Low-Order Algorithm with Exponentially Convergent Monte Carlo for Thermal Radiative Transfer

DOE PAGES

Bolding, Simon R.; Cleveland, Mathew Allen; Morel, Jim E.

2016-10-21

In this paper, we have implemented a new high-order low-order (HOLO) algorithm for solving thermal radiative transfer problems. The low-order (LO) system is based on the spatial and angular moments of the transport equation and a linear-discontinuous finite-element spatial representation, producing equations similar to the standard S 2 equations. The LO solver is fully implicit in time and efficiently resolves the nonlinear temperature dependence at each time step. The high-order (HO) solver utilizes exponentially convergent Monte Carlo (ECMC) to give a globally accurate solution for the angular intensity to a fixed-source pure-absorber transport problem. This global solution is used tomore » compute consistency terms, which require the HO and LO solutions to converge toward the same solution. The use of ECMC allows for the efficient reduction of statistical noise in the Monte Carlo solution, reducing inaccuracies introduced through the LO consistency terms. Finally, we compare results with an implicit Monte Carlo code for one-dimensional gray test problems and demonstrate the efficiency of ECMC over standard Monte Carlo in this HOLO algorithm.« less

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

Jatmiko, A. T. P.; Puannandra, G. P.; Hapsari, R. D.

Lunar Occultation (LO) is an event where limb of the Moon passing over a particular heavenly bodies such as stars, asteroids, or planets. In other words, during the event, stars, asteroids and planets are occulted by the Moon. When occulted objects contact the lunar limb, there will be a diffraction fringe(s) which can be measured photometrically, until the signal vanishes into noise. This event will give us a valuable information about binarities (of stars) and/or angular diameters estimation (of stars, planets, asteroids) in milliarcsecond resolution, by fitting with theoretical LO pattern. CCDs are common for LO observation because of itsmore » fast read out, and recently are developed for sub-meter class telescope. In this paper, our LO observation attempt of μ Sgr and its progress report are presented. The observation was conducted on July 30{sup th}, 2012 at Bosscha Observatory, Indonesia, using 45cm f/12 GOTO telescope combined with ST-9 XE CCD camera and Bessel B filter. We used drift-scan method to obtain light curve of the star as it was disappearing behind Moon's dark limb. Our goal is to detect binarity (or multiplicity) of this particular object.« less