The Designing of CALM (Computer Anxiety and Learning Measure): Validation of a Multidimensional Measure of Anxiety and Cognitions Relating to Adult Learning of Computing Skills Using Structural Equation Modeling.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McInerney, Valentina; Marsh, Herbert W.; McInerney, Dennis M.

This paper discusses the process through which a powerful multidimensional measure of affect and cognition in relation to adult learning of computing skills was derived from its early theoretical stages to its validation using structural equation modeling. The discussion emphasizes the importance of ensuring a strong substantive base from which to…

The numerical solution of ordinary differential equations by the Taylor series method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silver, A. H.; Sullivan, E.

1973-01-01

A programming implementation of the Taylor series method is presented for solving ordinary differential equations. The compiler is written in PL/1, and the target language is FORTRAN IV. The reduction of a differential system to rational form is described along with the procedures required for automatic numerical integration. The Taylor method is compared with two other methods for a number of differential equations. Algorithms using the Taylor method to find the zeroes of a given differential equation and to evaluate partial derivatives are presented. An annotated listing of the PL/1 program which performs the reduction and code generation is given. Listings of the FORTRAN routines used by the Taylor series method are included along with a compilation of all the recurrence formulas used to generate the Taylor coefficients for non-rational functions.

Multidimensional stability of traveling fronts in combustion and non-KPP monostable equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bu, Zhen-Hui; Wang, Zhi-Cheng

2018-02-01

This paper is concerned with the multidimensional stability of traveling fronts for the combustion and non-KPP monostable equations. Our study contains two parts: in the first part, we first show that the two-dimensional V-shaped traveling fronts are asymptotically stable in R^{n+2} with n≥1 under any (possibly large) initial perturbations that decay at space infinity, and then, we prove that there exists a solution that oscillates permanently between two V-shaped traveling fronts, which implies that even very small perturbations to the V-shaped traveling front can lead to permanent oscillation. In the second part, we establish the multidimensional stability of planar traveling front in R^{n+1} with n≥1.

Multi-Dimensional Asymptotically Stable 4th Order Accurate Schemes for the Diffusion Equation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abarbanel, Saul; Ditkowski, Adi

1996-01-01

An algorithm is presented which solves the multi-dimensional diffusion equation on co mplex shapes to 4th-order accuracy and is asymptotically stable in time. This bounded-error result is achieved by constructing, on a rectangular grid, a differentiation matrix whose symmetric part is negative definite. The differentiation matrix accounts for the Dirichlet boundary condition by imposing penalty like terms. Numerical examples in 2-D show that the method is effective even where standard schemes, stable by traditional definitions fail.

Nonlinear Waves.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-02-01

in Multi- dimensions II, P.M. Santini and A.S. Fokas, preprint INS#67, 1986. The Recursion Operator of the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili Equation and the...solitons, multidimensional inverse problems, Painleve equations , direct linearizations of certain nonlinear wave equations , DBAR problems, Riemann...the Navy is (a) the recent discovery that many of the equations describing ship hydrodynamics in channels of finite depth obey nonlinear equations

Finite element concepts in computational aerodynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, A. J.

1978-01-01

Finite element theory was employed to establish an implicit numerical solution algorithm for the time averaged unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. Both the multidimensional and a time-split form of the algorithm were considered, the latter of particular interest for problem specification on a regular mesh. A Newton matrix iteration procedure is outlined for solving the resultant nonlinear algebraic equation systems. Multidimensional discretization procedures are discussed with emphasis on automated generation of specific nonuniform solution grids and accounting of curved surfaces. The time-split algorithm was evaluated with regards to accuracy and convergence properties for hyperbolic equations on rectangular coordinates. An overall assessment of the viability of the finite element concept for computational aerodynamics is made.

Multidimensional Measurement of Situational Interest in Physical Education: Application of Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garn, Alex C.

2017-01-01

Multidimensional measurement is a common theme in motivation research because many constructs are conceptualized as having an overarching general factor (e.g., situational interest) and specific dimensions (e.g., attention demand, challenge, exploration intention, instant enjoyment, novelty). This review addresses current issues associated with…

From analytical solutions of solute transport equations to multidimensional time-domain random walk (TDRW) algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bodin, Jacques

2015-03-01

In this study, new multi-dimensional time-domain random walk (TDRW) algorithms are derived from approximate one-dimensional (1-D), two-dimensional (2-D), and three-dimensional (3-D) analytical solutions of the advection-dispersion equation and from exact 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D analytical solutions of the pure-diffusion equation. These algorithms enable the calculation of both the time required for a particle to travel a specified distance in a homogeneous medium and the mass recovery at the observation point, which may be incomplete due to 2-D or 3-D transverse dispersion or diffusion. The method is extended to heterogeneous media, represented as a piecewise collection of homogeneous media. The particle motion is then decomposed along a series of intermediate checkpoints located on the medium interface boundaries. The accuracy of the multi-dimensional TDRW method is verified against (i) exact analytical solutions of solute transport in homogeneous media and (ii) finite-difference simulations in a synthetic 2-D heterogeneous medium of simple geometry. The results demonstrate that the method is ideally suited to purely diffusive transport and to advection-dispersion transport problems dominated by advection. Conversely, the method is not recommended for highly dispersive transport problems because the accuracy of the advection-dispersion TDRW algorithms degrades rapidly for a low Péclet number, consistent with the accuracy limit of the approximate analytical solutions. The proposed approach provides a unified methodology for deriving multi-dimensional time-domain particle equations and may be applicable to other mathematical transport models, provided that appropriate analytical solutions are available.

High-Order Central WENO Schemes for Multi-Dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi Equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryson, Steve; Levy, Doron; Biegel, Bryan (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We present new third- and fifth-order Godunov-type central schemes for approximating solutions of the Hamilton-Jacobi (HJ) equation in an arbitrary number of space dimensions. These are the first central schemes for approximating solutions of the HJ equations with an order of accuracy that is greater than two. In two space dimensions we present two versions for the third-order scheme: one scheme that is based on a genuinely two-dimensional Central WENO reconstruction, and another scheme that is based on a simpler dimension-by-dimension reconstruction. The simpler dimension-by-dimension variant is then extended to a multi-dimensional fifth-order scheme. Our numerical examples in one, two and three space dimensions verify the expected order of accuracy of the schemes.

Calcium carbonate nucleation in an alkaline lake surface water, Pyramid Lake, Nevada, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reddy, Michael M.; Hoch, Anthony

2012-01-01

Calcium concentration and calcite supersaturation (Ω) needed for calcium carbonate nucleation and crystal growth in Pyramid Lake (PL) surface water were determined during August of 1997, 2000, and 2001. PL surface water has Ω values of 10-16. Notwithstanding high Ω, calcium carbonate growth did not occur on aragonite single crystals suspended PL surface water for several months. However, calcium solution addition to PL surface-water samples caused reproducible calcium carbonate mineral nucleation and crystal growth. Mean PL surface-water calcium concentration at nucleation was 2.33 mM (n = 10), a value about nine times higher than the ambient PL surface-water calcium concentration (0.26 mM); mean Ω at nucleation (109 with a standard deviation of 8) is about eight times the PL surface-water Ω. Calcium concentration and Ω regulated the calcium carbonate formation in PL nucleation experiments and surface water. Unfiltered samples nucleated at lower Ω than filtered samples. Calcium concentration and Ω at nucleation for experiments in the presence of added particles were within one standard deviation of the mean for all samples. Calcium carbonate formation rates followed a simple rate expression of the form, rate (mM/min) = A (Ω) + B. The best fit rate equation "Rate (Δ mM/Δ min) = -0.0026 Ω + 0.0175 (r = 0.904, n = 10)" was statistically significant at greater than the 0.01 confidence level and gives, after rearrangement, Ω at zero rate of 6.7. Nucleation in PL surface water and morphology of calcium carbonate particles formed in PL nucleation experiments and in PL surface-water samples suggest crystal growth inhibition by multiple substances present in PL surface water mediates PL calcium carbonate formation, but there is insufficient information to determine the chemical nature of all inhibitors.

Calcium Carbonate Nucleation in an Alkaline Lake Surface Water, Pyramid Lake, Nevada, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Reddy, M.M.; Hoch, A.

2012-01-01

Calcium concentration and calcite supersaturation (??) needed for calcium carbonate nucleation and crystal growth in Pyramid Lake (PL) surface water were determined during August of 1997, 2000, and 2001. PL surface water has ?? values of 10-16. Notwithstanding high ??, calcium carbonate growth did not occur on aragonite single crystals suspended PL surface water for several months. However, calcium solution addition to PL surface-water samples caused reproducible calcium carbonate mineral nucleation and crystal growth. Mean PL surface-water calcium concentration at nucleation was 2.33 mM (n = 10), a value about nine times higher than the ambient PL surface-water calcium concentration (0.26 mM); mean ?? at nucleation (109 with a standard deviation of 8) is about eight times the PL surface-water ??. Calcium concentration and ?? regulated the calcium carbonate formation in PL nucleation experiments and surface water. Unfiltered samples nucleated at lower ?? than filtered samples. Calcium concentration and ?? at nucleation for experiments in the presence of added particles were within one standard deviation of the mean for all samples. Calcium carbonate formation rates followed a simple rate expression of the form, rate (mM/min) = A (??) + B. The best fit rate equation "Rate (?? mM/?? min) = -0.0026 ?? + 0.0175 (r = 0.904, n = 10)" was statistically significant at greater than the 0.01 confidence level and gives, after rearrangement, ?? at zero rate of 6.7. Nucleation in PL surface water and morphology of calcium carbonate particles formed in PL nucleation experiments and in PL surface-water samples suggest crystal growth inhibition by multiple substances present in PL surface water mediates PL calcium carbonate formation, but there is insufficient information to determine the chemical nature of all inhibitors. ?? 2011 U.S. Government.

Corrigendum to ;On the computation of the multidimensional Mittag-Leffler function; [Commun. Nonlinear Sci. Numer. Simulat. 53 (2017) 278-287

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortigueira, Manuel D.; Lopes, António M.; Machado, J. A. Tenreiro

2018-02-01

In the paper entitled "On the computation of the multidimensional Mittag-Leffler function" there is an error that originates some misleading nomenclature and results. The phrase in Section 2, page 2, three lines after equation (4), should be written as follows:

Multi-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation analysis using the modified finite element method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Náprstek, J.; Král, R.

2016-09-01

The Fokker-Planck equation (FPE) is a frequently used tool for the solution of cross probability density function (PDF) of a dynamic system response excited by a vector of random processes. FEM represents a very effective solution possibility, particularly when transition processes are investigated or a more detailed solution is needed. Actual papers deal with single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems only. So the respective FPE includes two independent space variables only. Stepping over this limit into MDOF systems a number of specific problems related to a true multi-dimensionality must be overcome. Unlike earlier studies, multi-dimensional simplex elements in any arbitrary dimension should be deployed and rectangular (multi-brick) elements abandoned. Simple closed formulae of integration in multi-dimension domain have been derived. Another specific problem represents the generation of multi-dimensional finite element mesh. Assembling of system global matrices should be subjected to newly composed algorithms due to multi-dimensionality. The system matrices are quite full and no advantages following from their sparse character can be profited from, as is commonly used in conventional FEM applications in 2D/3D problems. After verification of partial algorithms, an illustrative example dealing with a 2DOF non-linear aeroelastic system in combination with random and deterministic excitations is discussed.

A practical nonlocal model for heat transport in magnetized laser plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolaï, Ph. D.; Feugeas, J.-L. A.; Schurtz, G. P.

2006-03-01

A model of nonlocal transport for multidimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamics codes is presented. In laser produced plasmas, it is now believed that the heat transport can be strongly modified by the nonlocal nature of the electron conduction. Other mechanisms, such as self-generated magnetic fields, may also affect the heat transport. The model described in this work, based on simplified Fokker-Planck equations aims at extending the model of G. Schurtz, Ph. Nicolaï, and M. Busquet [Phys. Plasmas 7, 4238 (2000)] to magnetized plasmas. A complete system of nonlocal equations is derived from kinetic equations with self-consistent electric and magnetic fields. These equations are analyzed and simplified in order to be implemented into large laser fusion codes and coupled to other relevant physics. The model is applied to two laser configurations that demonstrate the main features of the model and point out the nonlocal Righi-Leduc effect in a multidimensional case.

SCORE-EVET: a computer code for the multidimensional transient thermal-hydraulic analysis of nuclear fuel rod arrays. [BWR; PWR

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

Benedetti, R. L.; Lords, L. V.; Kiser, D. M.

1978-02-01

The SCORE-EVET code was developed to study multidimensional transient fluid flow in nuclear reactor fuel rod arrays. The conservation equations used were derived by volume averaging the transient compressible three-dimensional local continuum equations in Cartesian coordinates. No assumptions associated with subchannel flow have been incorporated into the derivation of the conservation equations. In addition to the three-dimensional fluid flow equations, the SCORE-EVET code ocntains: (a) a one-dimensional steady state solution scheme to initialize the flow field, (b) steady state and transient fuel rod conduction models, and (c) comprehensive correlation packages to describe fluid-to-fuel rod interfacial energy and momentum exchange. Velocitymore » and pressure boundary conditions can be specified as a function of time and space to model reactor transient conditions such as a hypothesized loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) or flow blockage.« less

On the solution of the generalized wave and generalized sine-Gordon equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ablowitz, M. J.; Beals, R.; Tenenblat, K.

1986-01-01

The generalized wave equation and generalized sine-Gordon equations are known to be natural multidimensional differential geometric generalizations of the classical two-dimensional versions. In this paper, a system of linear differential equations is associated with these equations, and it is shown how the direct and inverse problems can be solved for appropriately decaying data on suitable lines. An initial-boundary value problem is solved for these equations.

Entropy-conservative spatial discretization of the multidimensional quasi-gasdynamic system of equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zlotnik, A. A.

2017-04-01

The multidimensional quasi-gasdynamic system written in the form of mass, momentum, and total energy balance equations for a perfect polytropic gas with allowance for a body force and a heat source is considered. A new conservative symmetric spatial discretization of these equations on a nonuniform rectangular grid is constructed (with the basic unknown functions—density, velocity, and temperature—defined on a common grid and with fluxes and viscous stresses defined on staggered grids). Primary attention is given to the analysis of entropy behavior: the discretization is specially constructed so that the total entropy does not decrease. This is achieved via a substantial revision of the standard discretization and applying numerous original features. A simplification of the constructed discretization serves as a conservative discretization with nondecreasing total entropy for the simpler quasi-hydrodynamic system of equations. In the absence of regularizing terms, the results also hold for the Navier-Stokes equations of a viscous compressible heat-conducting gas.

Nonlinear Waves and Inverse Scattering

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-29

equations include the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili (K-P), Davey-Stewartson (D-S), 2+1 Toda, and Self-Dual Yang-Mills (SDYM) equations . We have uncovered a... Petviashvili Equation and Associated Constraints, M.J. Ablowitz and Javier Villaroel, Studies in Appl. Math. 85, (1991), 195-213. 12. On the Hamiltonian...nonlinear wave equations of physical significance, multidimensional inverse scattering, numer- ically induced instabilities and chaos, and forced

Deterministic multidimensional nonuniform gap sampling.

PubMed

Worley, Bradley; Powers, Robert

2015-12-01

Born from empirical observations in nonuniformly sampled multidimensional NMR data relating to gaps between sampled points, the Poisson-gap sampling method has enjoyed widespread use in biomolecular NMR. While the majority of nonuniform sampling schemes are fully randomly drawn from probability densities that vary over a Nyquist grid, the Poisson-gap scheme employs constrained random deviates to minimize the gaps between sampled grid points. We describe a deterministic gap sampling method, based on the average behavior of Poisson-gap sampling, which performs comparably to its random counterpart with the additional benefit of completely deterministic behavior. We also introduce a general algorithm for multidimensional nonuniform sampling based on a gap equation, and apply it to yield a deterministic sampling scheme that combines burst-mode sampling features with those of Poisson-gap schemes. Finally, we derive a relationship between stochastic gap equations and the expectation value of their sampling probability densities. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A multidimensional subdiffusion model: An arbitrage-free market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guo-Hua; Zhang, Hong; Luo, Mao-Kang

2012-12-01

To capture the subdiffusive characteristics of financial markets, the subordinated process, directed by the inverse α-stale subordinator Sα(t) for 0 < α < 1, has been employed as the model of asset prices. In this article, we introduce a multidimensional subdiffusion model that has a bond and K correlated stocks. The stock price process is a multidimensional subdiffusion process directed by the inverse α-stable subordinator. This model describes the period of stagnation for each stock and the behavior of the dependency between multiple stocks. Moreover, we derive the multidimensional fractional backward Kolmogorov equation for the subordinated process using the Laplace transform technique. Finally, using a martingale approach, we prove that the multidimensional subdiffusion model is arbitrage-free, and also gives an arbitrage-free pricing rule for contingent claims associated with the martingale measure.

An asymptotic preserving multidimensional ALE method for a system of two compressible flows coupled with friction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Del Pino, S.; Labourasse, E.; Morel, G.

2018-06-01

We present a multidimensional asymptotic preserving scheme for the approximation of a mixture of compressible flows. Fluids are modelled by two Euler systems of equations coupled with a friction term. The asymptotic preserving property is mandatory for this kind of model, to derive a scheme that behaves well in all regimes (i.e. whatever the friction parameter value is). The method we propose is defined in ALE coordinates, using a Lagrange plus remap approach. This imposes a multidimensional definition and analysis of the scheme.

Local Equating Using the Rasch Model, the OPLM, and the 2PL IRT Model--or--What Is It Anyway if the Model Captures Everything There Is to Know about the Test Takers?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

von Davier, Matthias; González B., Jorge; von Davier, Alina A.

2013-01-01

Local equating (LE) is based on Lord's criterion of equity. It defines a family of true transformations that aim at the ideal of equitable equating. van der Linden (this issue) offers a detailed discussion of common issues in observed-score equating relative to this local approach. By assuming an underlying item response theory model, one of…

Nonlinear Wave Propagation

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-03-17

scattering problem has intrinsic interest in its own right. A new class of lump type solutions of the multidimensional Kadomtsev - Petviashvili (KP) equation ...solutions associated with the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili equation have more com- plicated interaction properties than the previously known lump...B-3. New Solutions of the Nonstationary Schrödinger and Kadomtsev - Petviashvili Equations , M.J. Ablowitz and J. Villarroel, in Symmetries and

A multidimensional unified gas-kinetic scheme for radiative transfer equations on unstructured mesh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Wenjun; Jiang, Song; Xu, Kun

2017-12-01

In order to extend the unified gas kinetic scheme (UGKS) to solve radiative transfer equations in a complex geometry, a multidimensional asymptotic preserving implicit method on unstructured mesh is constructed in this paper. With an implicit formulation, the CFL condition for the determination of the time step in UGKS can be much relaxed, and a large time step is used in simulations. Differently from previous direction-by-direction UGKS on orthogonal structured mesh, on unstructured mesh the interface flux transport takes into account multi-dimensional effect, where gradients of radiation intensity and material temperature in both normal and tangential directions of a cell interface are included in the flux evaluation. The multiple scale nature makes the UGKS be able to capture the solutions in both optically thin and thick regions seamlessly. In the optically thick region the condition of cell size being less than photon's mean free path is fully removed, and the UGKS recovers a solver for diffusion equation in such a limit on unstructured mesh. For a distorted quadrilateral mesh, the UGKS goes to a nine-point scheme for the diffusion equation, and it naturally reduces to the standard five-point scheme for a orthogonal quadrilateral mesh. Numerical computations covering a wide range of transport regimes on unstructured and distorted quadrilateral meshes will be presented to validate the current approach.

A Multidimensional Model of School Dropout from an 8-Year Longitudinal Study in a General High School Population

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fortin, Laurier; Marcotte, Diane; Diallo, Thierno; Potvin, Pierre; Royer, Egide

2013-01-01

This study tests an empirical multidimensional model of school dropout, using data collected in the first year of an 8-year longitudinal study, with first year high school students aged 12-13 years. Structural equation modeling analyses show that five personal, family, and school latent factors together contribute to school dropout identified at…

Electronic bandstructure of semiconductor dilute bismide structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erucar, T.; Nutku, F.; Donmez, O.; Erol, A.

2017-02-01

In this work electronic band structure of dilute bismide GaAs/GaAs1-xBix quantum well structures with 1.8% and 3.75% bismuth compositions have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements reveal that effective bandgap of the samples decreases approximately 65 meV per bismuth concentration. Temperature dependence of the effective bandgap is obtained to be higher for the sample with higher bismuth concentration. Moreover, both asymmetric characteristic at the low energy tail of the PL and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of PL peak increase with increasing bismuth composition as a result of increased Bi related defects located above valence band (VB). In order to explain composition dependence of the effective bandgap quantitatively, valence band anti-crossing (VBAC) model is used. Bismuth composition and temperature dependence of effective bandgap in a quantum well structure is modeled by solving Schrödinger equation and compared with experimental PL data.

Nonlinear Wave Propagation

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-12-30

Transform for the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili Equation , M.J. Ablowitz , D. Bar Yaacov and A.S. Fokas, to appear in Stud. in Appl. Math. I.N.S. #21 preprint...Benjamin-Ono equation bears many similariti to the multidimensional problem, especially the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili equation . We discuss many of these...appear in Stud. in Appl. Math. I.N.S. #22 preprint, 1982. 67. On the Inverse Scattering Transform for the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili Equation , M.J. Ablowitz

High-Order Semi-Discrete Central-Upwind Schemes for Multi-Dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi Equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryson, Steve; Levy, Doron; Biegel, Bryan (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We present the first fifth order, semi-discrete central upwind method for approximating solutions of multi-dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi equations. Unlike most of the commonly used high order upwind schemes, our scheme is formulated as a Godunov-type scheme. The scheme is based on the fluxes of Kurganov-Tadmor and Kurganov-Tadmor-Petrova, and is derived for an arbitrary number of space dimensions. A theorem establishing the monotonicity of these fluxes is provided. The spacial discretization is based on a weighted essentially non-oscillatory reconstruction of the derivative. The accuracy and stability properties of our scheme are demonstrated in a variety of examples. A comparison between our method and other fifth-order schemes for Hamilton-Jacobi equations shows that our method exhibits smaller errors without any increase in the complexity of the computations.

Multidimensional fractional Schrödinger equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodrigues, M. M.; Vieira, N.

2012-11-01

This work is intended to investigate the multi-dimensional space-time fractional Schrödinger equation of the form (CDt0+αu)(t,x) = iħ/2m(C∇βu)(t,x), with ħ the Planck's constant divided by 2π, m is the mass and u(t,x) is a wave function of the particle. Here (CDt0+α,C∇β are operators of the Caputo fractional derivatives, where α ∈]0,1] and β ∈]1,2]. The wave function is obtained using Laplace and Fourier transforms methods and a symbolic operational form of solutions in terms of the Mittag-Leffler functions is exhibited. It is presented an expression for the wave function and for the quantum mechanical probability density. Using Banach fixed point theorem, the existence and uniqueness of solutions is studied for this kind of fractional differential equations.

Standard Error Estimation of 3PL IRT True Score Equating with an MCMC Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Yuming; Schulz, E. Matthew; Yu, Lei

2008-01-01

A Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method and a bootstrap method were compared in the estimation of standard errors of item response theory (IRT) true score equating. Three test form relationships were examined: parallel, tau-equivalent, and congeneric. Data were simulated based on Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary tests of the Iowa Tests of…

Implicitly causality enforced solution of multidimensional transient photon transport equation.

PubMed

Handapangoda, Chintha C; Premaratne, Malin

2009-12-21

A novel method for solving the multidimensional transient photon transport equation for laser pulse propagation in biological tissue is presented. A Laguerre expansion is used to represent the time dependency of the incident short pulse. Owing to the intrinsic causal nature of Laguerre functions, our technique automatically always preserve the causality constrains of the transient signal. This expansion of the radiance using a Laguerre basis transforms the transient photon transport equation to the steady state version. The resulting equations are solved using the discrete ordinates method, using a finite volume approach. Therefore, our method enables one to handle general anisotropic, inhomogeneous media using a single formulation but with an added degree of flexibility owing to the ability to invoke higher-order approximations of discrete ordinate quadrature sets. Therefore, compared with existing strategies, this method offers the advantage of representing the intensity with a high accuracy thus minimizing numerical dispersion and false propagation errors. The application of the method to one, two and three dimensional geometries is provided.

A SECOND-ORDER DIVERGENCE-CONSTRAINED MULTIDIMENSIONAL NUMERICAL SCHEME FOR RELATIVISTIC TWO-FLUID ELECTRODYNAMICS

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

Amano, Takanobu, E-mail: amano@eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp

A new multidimensional simulation code for relativistic two-fluid electrodynamics (RTFED) is described. The basic equations consist of the full set of Maxwell’s equations coupled with relativistic hydrodynamic equations for separate two charged fluids, representing the dynamics of either an electron–positron or an electron–proton plasma. It can be recognized as an extension of conventional relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD). Finite resistivity may be introduced as a friction between the two species, which reduces to resistive RMHD in the long wavelength limit without suffering from a singularity at infinite conductivity. A numerical scheme based on HLL (Harten–Lax–Van Leer) Riemann solver is proposed that exactlymore » preserves the two divergence constraints for Maxwell’s equations simultaneously. Several benchmark problems demonstrate that it is capable of describing RMHD shocks/discontinuities at long wavelength limit, as well as dispersive characteristics due to the two-fluid effect appearing at small scales. This shows that the RTFED model is a promising tool for high energy astrophysics application.« less

Nonlinear Wave Propagation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-25

dimensional KdV ( Kadomtsev - Petviashvili ) equation [56). Furthermore it has been found that these newly found decaying mode solutions and usual soliton...Ablowitz and R. Haberman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 35, 1185, 1975. 26. S.V. !anakov, "On the Solutions of the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili equation ; Proc. of Symposium...accomplished relates to fluid mechanics, nonlinear optics, multidimensional solitons, Painlev e equations , long time asymptotic solu- tions, new

Investigating Separate and Concurrent Approaches for Item Parameter Drift in 3PL Item Response Theory Equating

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arce-Ferrer, Alvaro J.; Bulut, Okan

2017-01-01

This study examines separate and concurrent approaches to combine the detection of item parameter drift (IPD) and the estimation of scale transformation coefficients in the context of the common item nonequivalent groups design with the three-parameter item response theory equating. The study uses real and synthetic data sets to compare the two…

Nonlinear Waves and Inverse Scattering

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-01

transform provides a linearization.’ Well known systems include the Kadomtsev - Petviashvili , Davey-Stewartson and Self-Dual Yang-Mills equations . The d...which employs inverse scattering theory in order to linearize the given nonlinear equation . I.S.T. has led to new developments in both fields: inverse...scattering and nonlinear wave equations . Listed below are some of the problems studied and a short description of results. - Multidimensional

Nonlinear Problems in Fluid Dynamics and Inverse Scattering

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-05-31

nonlinear Kadomtsev - Petviashvili (KP) equations , have solutions which will become infinite in finite time. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as...40 (November 1992). 4 7. Wave Collapse and Instability of Solitary Waves of a Generalized Nonlinear Kaoiomtsev- Petviashvili Equation , X.P. Wang, M.J...words) The inverse scattering of a class of differential-difference equations and multidimensional operators has been constructed. Solutions of nonlinear

Adaptive Detection and Parameter Estimation for Multidimensional Signal Models

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-04-19

first of Equations (3-3), it follows that H = fH (3-12) p BpP Moreover, with the help of Equations (Al-8) of Appendix I and Equation (3-6). we find that...7-29) 127 Substituting these results, we find that II + ZBSBBZB +Y T- YJ =+ Zi~t ÷ B SBR ZBI By introducing the definitions -t +BS1 ZB V E Y Ct

Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) in Women with Suspected Pre-Eclampsia Prior to 35 Weeks’ Gestation: A Budget Impact Analysis

PubMed Central

Duckworth, Suzy; Seed, Paul T.; Mackillop, Lucy; Shennan, Andrew H.; Hunter, Rachael

2016-01-01

Objective To model the resource implications of placental growth factor (PlGF) testing in women with suspected pre-eclampsia prior to 35 weeks’ gestation as part of a management algorithm, compared with current practice. Methods Data on resource use from 132 women with suspected pre-eclampsia prior to 35 weeks’ gestation, enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study evaluating PlGF measurement within antenatal assessment units within two UK consultant-led maternity units was extracted by case note review. A decision analytic model was developed using these data to establish the budget impact of managing women with suspected pre-eclampsia for two weeks from the date of PlGF testing, using a clinical management algorithm and reference cost tariffs. The main outcome measures of resource use (numbers of outpatient appointments, ultrasound investigations and hospital admissions) were correlated to final diagnosis and used to calculate comparative management regimes. Results The mean cost saving associated with the PlGF test (in the PlGF plus management arm) was £35,087 (95% CI -£33,181 to -£36,992) per 1,000 women. This equated to a saving of £582 (95% CI -552 to -£613) per woman tested. In 94% of iterations, PlGF testing was associated with cost saving compared to current practice. Conclusions This analysis suggests PlGF used as part of a clinical management algorithm in women presenting with suspected pre-eclampsia prior to 35 weeks’ gestation could provide cost savings by reducing unnecessary resource use. Introduction of PlGF testing could be used to direct appropriate resource allocation and overall would be cost saving. PMID:27741259

Addendum to foundations of multidimensional wave field signal theory: Gaussian source function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baddour, Natalie

2018-02-01

Many important physical phenomena are described by wave or diffusion-wave type equations. Recent work has shown that a transform domain signal description from linear system theory can give meaningful insight to multi-dimensional wave fields. In N. Baddour [AIP Adv. 1, 022120 (2011)], certain results were derived that are mathematically useful for the inversion of multi-dimensional Fourier transforms, but more importantly provide useful insight into how source functions are related to the resulting wave field. In this short addendum to that work, it is shown that these results can be applied with a Gaussian source function, which is often useful for modelling various physical phenomena.

Soliton and quasi-periodic wave solutions for b-type Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Manjit; Gupta, R. K.

2017-11-01

In this paper, truncated Laurent expansion is used to obtain the bilinear equation of a nonlinear evolution equation. As an application of Hirota's method, multisoliton solutions are constructed from the bilinear equation. Extending the application of Hirota's method and employing multidimensional Riemann theta function, one and two-periodic wave solutions are also obtained in a straightforward manner. The asymptotic behavior of one and two-periodic wave solutions under small amplitude limits is presented, and their relations with soliton solutions are also demonstrated.

Integral equations in the study of polar and ionic interaction site fluids

PubMed Central

Howard, Jesse J.

2011-01-01

In this review article we consider some of the current integral equation approaches and application to model polar liquid mixtures. We consider the use of multidimensional integral equations and in particular progress on the theory and applications of three dimensional integral equations. The IEs we consider may be derived from equilibrium statistical mechanical expressions incorporating a classical Hamiltonian description of the system. We give example including salt solutions, inhomogeneous solutions and systems including proteins and nucleic acids. PMID:22383857

Bi-Factor MIRT Observed-Score Equating for Mixed-Format Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Guemin; Lee, Won-Chan

2016-01-01

The main purposes of this study were to develop bi-factor multidimensional item response theory (BF-MIRT) observed-score equating procedures for mixed-format tests and to investigate relative appropriateness of the proposed procedures. Using data from a large-scale testing program, three types of pseudo data sets were formulated: matched samples,…

A versatile embedded boundary adaptive mesh method for compressible flow in complex geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Marouf, M.; Samtaney, R.

2017-05-01

We present an embedded ghost fluid method for numerical solutions of the compressible Navier Stokes (CNS) equations in arbitrary complex domains. A PDE multidimensional extrapolation approach is used to reconstruct the solution in the ghost fluid regions and imposing boundary conditions on the fluid-solid interface, coupled with a multi-dimensional algebraic interpolation for freshly cleared cells. The CNS equations are numerically solved by the second order multidimensional upwind method. Block-structured adaptive mesh refinement, implemented with the Chombo framework, is utilized to reduce the computational cost while keeping high resolution mesh around the embedded boundary and regions of high gradient solutions. The versatility of the method is demonstrated via several numerical examples, in both static and moving geometry, ranging from low Mach number nearly incompressible flows to supersonic flows. Our simulation results are extensively verified against other numerical results and validated against available experimental results where applicable. The significance and advantages of our implementation, which revolve around balancing between the solution accuracy and implementation difficulties, are briefly discussed as well.

Evolution of large amplitude Alfven waves in solar wind plasmas: Kinetic-fluid models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nariyuki, Y.

2014-12-01

Large amplitude Alfven waves are ubiquitously observed in solar wind plasmas. Mjolhus(JPP, 1976) and Mio et al(JPSJ, 1976) found that nonlinear evolution of the uni-directional, parallel propagating Alfven waves can be described by the derivative nonlinear Schrodinger equation (DNLS). Later, the multi-dimensional extension (Mjolhus and Wyller, JPP, 1988; Passot and Sulem, POP, 1993; Gazol et al, POP, 1999) and ion kinetic modification (Mjolhus and Wyller, JPP, 1988; Spangler, POP, 1989; Medvedev and Diamond, POP, 1996; Nariyuki et al, POP, 2013) of DNLS have been reported. Recently, Nariyuki derived multi-dimensional DNLS from an expanding box model of the Hall-MHD system (Nariyuki, submitted). The set of equations including the nonlinear evolution of compressional wave modes (TDNLS) was derived by Hada(GRL, 1993). DNLS can be derived from TDNLS by rescaling of the variables (Mjolhus, Phys. Scr., 2006). Nariyuki and Hada(JPSJ, 2007) derived a kinetically modified TDNLS by using a simple Landau closure (Hammet and Perkins, PRL, 1990; Medvedev and Diamond, POP, 1996). In the present study, we revisit the ion kinetic modification of multi-dimensional TDNLS through more rigorous derivations, which is consistent with the past kinetic modification of DNLS. Although the original TDNLS was derived in the multi-dimensional form, the evolution of waves with finite propagation angles in TDNLS has not been paid much attention. Applicability of the resultant models to solar wind turbulence is discussed.

A Mathematical Model for the Exhaust Gas Temperature Profile of a Diesel Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brito, C. H. G.; Maia, C. B.; Sodré, J. R.

2015-09-01

This work presents a heat transfer model for the exhaust gas of a diesel power generator to determine the gas temperature profile in the exhaust pipe. The numerical methodology to solve the mathematical model was developed using a finite difference method approach for energy equation resolution and determination of temperature profiles considering turbulent fluid flow and variable fluid properties. The simulation was carried out for engine operation under loads from 0 kW to 40 kW. The model was compared with results obtained using the multidimensional Ansys CFX software, which was applied to solve the governor equations of turbulent fluid flow. The results for the temperature profiles in the exhaust pipe show a good proximity between the mathematical model developed and the multidimensional software.

Multi-Dimensional Quantum Effect Simulation Using a Density-Gradient Model and Script-Level Programming Techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rafferty, Connor S.; Biegel, Bryan A.; Yu, Zhi-Ping; Ancona, Mario G.; Bude, J.; Dutton, Robert W.; Saini, Subhash (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

A density-gradient (DG) model is used to calculate quantum-mechanical corrections to classical carrier transport in MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) inversion/accumulation layers. The model is compared to measured data and to a fully self-consistent coupled Schrodinger and Poisson equation (SCSP) solver. Good agreement is demonstrated for MOS capacitors with gate oxide as thin as 21 A. It is then applied to study carrier distribution in ultra short MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) with surface roughness. This work represents the first implementation of the DG formulation on multidimensional unstructured meshes. It was enabled by a powerful scripting approach which provides an easy-to-use and flexible framework for solving the fourth-order PDEs (Partial Differential Equation) of the DG model.

High-Order Semi-Discrete Central-Upwind Schemes for Multi-Dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi Equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryson, Steve; Levy, Doron; Biegel, Bran R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We present high-order semi-discrete central-upwind numerical schemes for approximating solutions of multi-dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi (HJ) equations. This scheme is based on the use of fifth-order central interpolants like those developed in [1], in fluxes presented in [3]. These interpolants use the weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) approach to avoid spurious oscillations near singularities, and become "central-upwind" in the semi-discrete limit. This scheme provides numerical approximations whose error is as much as an order of magnitude smaller than those in previous WENO-based fifth-order methods [2, 1]. Thee results are discussed via examples in one, two and three dimensions. We also pregnant explicit N-dimensional formulas for the fluxes, discuss their monotonicity and tl!e connection between this method and that in [2].

Infinitely many symmetries and conservation laws for quad-graph equations via the Gardner method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rasin, Alexander G.

2010-06-01

The application of the Gardner method for the generation of conservation laws to all the ABS equations is considered. It is shown that all the necessary information for the application of the Gardner method, namely Bäcklund transformations and initial conservation laws, follows from the multidimensional consistency of ABS equations. We also apply the Gardner method to an asymmetric equation which is not included in the ABS classification. An analog of the Gardner method for the generation of symmetries is developed and applied to the discrete Korteweg-de Vries equation. It can also be applied to all the other ABS equations.

Restoration of the contact surface in FORCE-type centred schemes I: Homogeneous two-dimensional shallow water equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canestrelli, Alberto; Toro, Eleuterio F.

2012-10-01

Recently, the FORCE centred scheme for conservative hyperbolic multi-dimensional systems has been introduced in [34] and has been applied to Euler and relativistic MHD equations, solved on unstructured meshes. In this work we propose a modification of the FORCE scheme, named FORCE-Contact, that provides improved resolution of contact and shear waves. This paper presents the technique in full detail as applied to the two-dimensional homogeneous shallow water equations. The improvements due to the new method are particularly evident when an additional equation is solved for a tracer, since the modified scheme exactly resolves isolated and steady contact discontinuities. The improvement is considerable also for slowly moving contact discontinuities, for shear waves and for steady states in meandering channels. For these types of flow fields, the numerical results provided by the new FORCE-Contact scheme are comparable with, and sometimes better than, the results obtained from upwind schemes, such as Roes scheme for example. In a companion paper, a similar approach to restoring the missing contact wave and preserving well-balanced properties for non-conservative one- and two-layer shallow water equations is introduced. However, the procedure is general and it is in principle applicable to other multidimensional hyperbolic systems in conservative and non-conservative form, such as the Euler equations for compressible gas dynamics.

Elimination of uncertainty in solving system of multidimensional differential equations in X for identification of silver nanoparticles on fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emelyanov, V. M.; Dobrovolskaya, T. A.; Emelyanov, V. V.

2018-05-01

In the article, an increase of the sensitivity of identification of biologically active metal silver nanoparticles to cancer cells is considered to be based on the results of compiling a system of multidimensional differential equations with respect to X of the ellipses of probabilistic intersection of the spectra of a Raman polarization spectrometer. The nine main peaks of the spectrum of polyester fibers with silver nanoparticles and without them are analyzed with polarization along the X-transverse and Y-along fibers directions. The correlation matrices of the interconnection of peaks of the Raman spectrum are to be introduced into differential equations. During the solution of the system of equations, there is an intersection of the ellipses of the distribution of the statistical data of peak measurements. When checking the solution from the graphical estimation of the intersection of the ellipses of the data distribution of the Raman spectra, there was a 20% error detected in determining the radii of curvature R0 and R1. To eliminate the uncertainty, numerical additive Δ = + 0.34342 is introduced into the differential equation and when solving this system of differential equations with the additive, the accuracy is (-1.42 · 10-14 ÷ 1.94 · 10-15) with the radius of curvature R0 = R1 = 3.458112896121225 at a sufficiently high accuracy of 10-14

Comparison of the Distribution of Unsaturated Fatty Acids at the Sn-2 Position of Phospholipids and Triacylglycerols in Marine Fishes and Mammals.

PubMed

Beppu, Fumiaki; Yasuda, Keiko; Okada, Ayako; Hirosaki, Yoshitsugu; Okazaki, Masako; Gotoh, Naohiro

2017-11-01

Highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) binding at the sn-2 position of phospholipids (PL) becomes a resource for prostaglandin, leukotriene, resolvin, and protectin synthesis. Both triacylglycerol (TAG) and PL synthesis pathways in vivo are via phosphatidic acid; therefore, the distribution of fatty acid species at the sn-2 position must theoretically be the same for TAG and PL if rearrangement does not occur. However, it is known that little HUFA is located at the sn-2 position of TAG in marine mammals. Therefore, distribution of fatty acid species at the sn-2 position of TAG and PL was compared between marine fishes and mammals in this study. The composition of fatty acids binding at the sn-2 or sn-1,3 position of PL and TAG was analyzed via hydrolysis with enzymes and GC-FID. The results showed that 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3, 22:5n-3, and 22:6n-3 were primarily located at the sn-1,3 positions of TAG in marine mammals. Comparison of the binding positions of HUFA and 16:0 in PL and TAG suggested the existence of Lands' cycle in marine fishes and mammals. In conclusion, both marine fishes and mammals condensed HUFA as a source of eicosanoid at the sn-2 position of PL. Furthermore, abundance ratios for 22:5n-3 or 22:6n-3 at the sn-2 position (sn-2 ratio) in TAG and PL (calculated by the equation: [abundance ratio at sn-2 position of TAG]/[abundance ratio at sn-2 position of PL]) was less than 0.35 in marine mammals; however, it was greater than 0.80 in marine fishes. These differences suggested that the HUFA consisted of 22 carbon atoms and had different roles in marine fishes and mammals.

On unstructured grids and solvers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barth, T. J.

1990-01-01

The fundamentals and the state-of-the-art technology for unstructured grids and solvers are highlighted. Algorithms and techniques pertinent to mesh generation are discussed. It is shown that grid generation and grid manipulation schemes rely on fast multidimensional searching. Flow solution techniques for the Euler equations, which can be derived from the integral form of the equations are discussed. Sample calculations are also provided.

MUSTA fluxes for systems of conservation laws

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toro, E. F.; Titarev, V. A.

2006-08-01

This paper is about numerical fluxes for hyperbolic systems and we first present a numerical flux, called GFORCE, that is a weighted average of the Lax-Friedrichs and Lax-Wendroff fluxes. For the linear advection equation with constant coefficient, the new flux reduces identically to that of the Godunov first-order upwind method. Then we incorporate GFORCE in the framework of the MUSTA approach [E.F. Toro, Multi-Stage Predictor-Corrector Fluxes for Hyperbolic Equations. Technical Report NI03037-NPA, Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK, 17th June, 2003], resulting in a version that we call GMUSTA. For non-linear systems this gives results that are comparable to those of the Godunov method in conjunction with the exact Riemann solver or complete approximate Riemann solvers, noting however that in our approach, the solution of the Riemann problem in the conventional sense is avoided. Both the GFORCE and GMUSTA fluxes are extended to multi-dimensional non-linear systems in a straightforward unsplit manner, resulting in linearly stable schemes that have the same stability regions as the straightforward multi-dimensional extension of Godunov's method. The methods are applicable to general meshes. The schemes of this paper share with the family of centred methods the common properties of being simple and applicable to a large class of hyperbolic systems, but the schemes of this paper are distinctly more accurate. Finally, we proceed to the practical implementation of our numerical fluxes in the framework of high-order finite volume WENO methods for multi-dimensional non-linear hyperbolic systems. Numerical results are presented for the Euler equations and for the equations of magnetohydrodynamics.

A Reduced-Order Model for Efficient Simulation of Synthetic Jet Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yamaleev, Nail K.; Carpenter, Mark H.

2003-01-01

A new reduced-order model of multidimensional synthetic jet actuators that combines the accuracy and conservation properties of full numerical simulation methods with the efficiency of simplified zero-order models is proposed. The multidimensional actuator is simulated by solving the time-dependent compressible quasi-1-D Euler equations, while the diaphragm is modeled as a moving boundary. The governing equations are approximated with a fourth-order finite difference scheme on a moving mesh such that one of the mesh boundaries coincides with the diaphragm. The reduced-order model of the actuator has several advantages. In contrast to the 3-D models, this approach provides conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. Furthermore, the new method is computationally much more efficient than the multidimensional Navier-Stokes simulation of the actuator cavity flow, while providing practically the same accuracy in the exterior flowfield. The most distinctive feature of the present model is its ability to predict the resonance characteristics of synthetic jet actuators; this is not practical when using the 3-D models because of the computational cost involved. Numerical results demonstrating the accuracy of the new reduced-order model and its limitations are presented.

The Buckling of a Column on Equally Spaced Deflectional and Rotational Springs

DTIC Science & Technology

1948-03-01

PN)~ - fj! 2(~N)2 0 r-,ee 03151 r=1,3,5 00 00 z PNa PM = 1 rN%N l-1,3,5 r=&3,5 . #O $=-. 2 2 p=l,3,5 p2fc2 -(j)’ ( B16 ) . which is the...berxiuse it always gives a higher buckling~load than doe6 eqvation ( B16 ). In order to obtain the buckling criterioxu for the other modes, equations (Bl...equations (B23) for a given q therefore corresponds to a buckling configuration of q buckles. Equation ( Bl6 ), as previously indicated, corresponds to

Evaluation of intra-articular injection of autologous platelet lysate (PL) in horses with osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint.

PubMed

Tyrnenopoulou, Panagiota; Diakakis, Nikolaos; Karayannopoulou, Maria; Savvas, Ioannis; Koliakos, Georgios

2016-06-01

Regenerative medicine has become one of the most promising therapies of equine osteoarthritis. Platelet lysate (PL) is rich in bioactive proteins and growth factors that play a crucial role in tissue healing. To evaluate the efficacy of intra-articularly injected autologous PL in equine athletes with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Fifteen warmblood geldings aged 8-19 years with osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups; 10 horses received intra-articular injections of PL and 5 of normal saline (controls). Before treatment, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) levels in basal plasma and prepared PL were estimated. Each joint was injected twice within a three-week period. Lameness was evaluated using the American Association of Equine Practitioners grading system, before treatment and 10 days after each intra-articular injection. Horses were examined fortnightly for one year. Radiographic examination was performed six months post-treatment. The generalized estimating equation test was used for statistical analysis. Acceptable levels of PDGF were detected in PLs (mean ± SD: 258.0 ± 52.3 pg/ml). The majority of horses (9/10) responded positively to PL treatment presenting lower lameness grades (p < 0.0005) compared to controls 10 days after the second injection, and returned to normal athletic activity. Radiographs revealed no changes in osteoarthritis lesions six months after treatment. One year post-injections, however, all horses relapsed to their initial degree of lameness. Intra-articularly injected autologous PL is an efficient method for temporarily managing osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in athletic horses.

Efficient High Order Central Schemes for Multi-Dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi Equations: Talk Slides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryson, Steve; Levy, Doron; Biegel, Brian R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This viewgraph presentation presents information on the attempt to produce high-order, efficient, central methods that scale well to high dimension. The central philosophy is that the equations should evolve to the point where the data is smooth. This is accomplished by a cyclic pattern of reconstruction, evolution, and re-projection. One dimensional and two dimensional representational methods are detailed, as well.

Assessing First- and Second-Order Equity for the Common-Item Nonequivalent Groups Design Using Multidimensional IRT

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrews, Benjamin James

2011-01-01

The equity properties can be used to assess the quality of an equating. The degree to which expected scores conditional on ability are similar between test forms is referred to as first-order equity. Second-order equity is the degree to which conditional standard errors of measurement are similar between test forms after equating. The purpose of…

The Multidimensional Solitons in a Plasma: Structure Stability and Dynamics

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-07-20

ax(8 H’ / 8u), (2) into GKP (Generalized Kadomtsev - Petviashvili ) class where of equations , and in the case when 13 4nnT / B 2 << 1 1 1 for 6) < OB= eB...that the soliton elastic collisions can lead to formation of complex structures including the multisoliton bound states. 1. Basic equations Eq. (1) with...scribed by equation 2. Stability of 2D and 3D solutions atu + A(t,u)u =f, f= K 0X Ajudx, (1) To study stability of the GKP equation solutions, we =a 2

On the Goertler Instability in Hypersonic Flows: Sutherland Law Fluids and Real Gas Effects

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-12-01

AFOSR89-0042 and SERC . i are again governed by a set of parabolic partial differential equations and therefore the higher order correction terms in the...which are determined semi-empirically, and for Sutherland’s model the diffusion coefficients D1 1, D12 and D22 are given by = 6 6 6 5p, 5- pl , D 2...molecular weight of A). Consequently, the specific heats are 0e, _ 3 3? (7.23) CV1 -T 2m’ C( pl -Cvl+ We then have c=- 3 1.33, f -= 1.75. (7.24) Cu1 3

Multidimensional integrable systems and deformations of Lie algebra homomorphisms

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

Dunajski, Maciej; Grant, James D. E.; Strachan, Ian A. B.

We use deformations of Lie algebra homomorphisms to construct deformations of dispersionless integrable systems arising as symmetry reductions of anti-self-dual Yang-Mills equations with a gauge group Diff(S{sup 1})

Adjusting powerlifting performances for differences in body mass.

PubMed

Cleather, Daniel John

2006-05-01

It has been established that, in the sports of Olympic weightlifting (OL) and powerlifting (PL), the relationship between lifting performance and body mass is not linear. This relationship has been frequently studied in OL, but the literature on PL is less extensive. In this study, PL performance and body mass, for both men and women, was examined by using data from the International Powerlifting Federation World Championships during 1995-2004. Nonlinear regression was used to apply 7 models (including allometric, polynomial, and power models) to the data. The results of this study indicate that the relationship between PL performance and body mass can be best modeled by the equation y = a - bx(-c), where y is the weight lifted (in kg) in the squat, bench press, or deadlift, x is the body mass of the lifter (in kg), and a, b, and c are constants. The constants a, b, and c are determined by the type of lift (squat, bench press, or deadlift) and the gender of the lifter and were obtained from the regression analysis. Inspection of the plots of raw residuals (actual performance minus predicted performance) vs. body mass revealed no body mass bias to this formula in contrast to research into other handicapping formulas. This study supports previous research that found a bias toward lifters in the intermediate weight categories in allometric fits to PL data.

Estimating enthalpy of vaporization from vapor pressure using Trouton's rule.

PubMed

MacLeod, Matthew; Scheringer, Martin; Hungerbühler, Konrad

2007-04-15

The enthalpy of vaporization of liquids and subcooled liquids at 298 K (delta H(VAP)) is an important parameter in environmental fate assessments that consider spatial and temporal variability in environmental conditions. It has been shown that delta H(VAP)P for non-hydrogen-bonding substances can be estimated from vapor pressure at 298 K (P(L)) using an empirically derived linear relationship. Here, we demonstrate that the relationship between delta H(VAP)and PL is consistent with Trouton's rule and the ClausiusClapeyron equation under the assumption that delta H(VAP) is linearly dependent on temperature between 298 K and the boiling point temperature. Our interpretation based on Trouton's rule substantiates the empirical relationship between delta H(VAP) degree and P(L) degrees for non-hydrogen-bonding chemicals with subcooled liquid vapor pressures ranging over 15 orders of magnitude. We apply the relationship between delta H(VAP) degrees and P(L) degrees to evaluate data reported in literature reviews for several important classes of semivolatile environmental contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorobenzenes, polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins and -furans and illustrate the temperature dependence of results from a multimedia model presented as a partitioning map. The uncertainty associated with estimating delta H(VAP)degrees from P(L) degrees using this relationship is acceptable for most environmental fate modeling of non-hydrogen-bonding semivolatile organic chemicals.

Simulation of Radiowave Propagation in a Dense Urban Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

areas by Equation 2-22. The received signal power in free space can be expressed by the Friis transmission equation as follows: 2 2(4 ) t t r r PG GP...2 2(4 ) r fs t PL P R λ π = = . 2 - 30 In urban propagation applications it is common to use d in place of R for distance from the transmitter...and Bertoni and Ikegami [13]. The basic COST 231 model uses Walfisch-Bertoni results to calculate urban environment propagation prediction along

Anticancer drug-DNA interactions measured using a photoinduced electron-transfer mechanism based on luminescent quantum dots.

PubMed

Yuan, Jipei; Guo, Weiwei; Yang, Xiurong; Wang, Erkang

2009-01-01

A sensing system based on the photoinduced electron transfer of quantum dots (QDs) was designed to measure the interaction of anticancer drug and DNA, taking mitoxantrone (MTX) as a model drug. MTX adsorbed on the surface of QDs can quench the photoluminescence (PL) of QDs through the photoinduced electron-transfer process; and then the addition of DNA will bring the restoration of QDs PL intensity, as DNA can bind with MTX and remove it from QDs. Sensitive detection of MTX with the detection limit of 10 nmol L(-1) and a linear detection range from 10 nmol L(-1) to 4.5 micromol L(-1) was achieved. The dependence of PL intensity on DNA amount was successfully utilized to investigate the interactions between MTX and DNA. Both the binding constants and the sizes of binding site of MTX-DNA interactions were calculated based on the equations deduced for the PL recovery process. The binding constant obtained in our experiment was generally consistent with previous reports. The sensitive and speedy detection of MTX as well as the avoidance of modification or immobilization process made this system suitable and promising in the drug-DNA interaction studies.

What is integrability of discrete variational systems?

PubMed

Boll, Raphael; Petrera, Matteo; Suris, Yuri B

2014-02-08

We propose a notion of a pluri-Lagrangian problem, which should be understood as an analogue of multi-dimensional consistency for variational systems. This is a development along the line of research of discrete integrable Lagrangian systems initiated in 2009 by Lobb and Nijhoff, however, having its more remote roots in the theory of pluriharmonic functions, in the Z -invariant models of statistical mechanics and their quasiclassical limit, as well as in the theory of variational symmetries going back to Noether. A d -dimensional pluri-Lagrangian problem can be described as follows: given a d -form [Formula: see text] on an m -dimensional space (called multi-time, m > d ), whose coefficients depend on a sought-after function x of m independent variables (called field), find those fields x which deliver critical points to the action functionals [Formula: see text] for any d -dimensional manifold Σ in the multi-time. We derive the main building blocks of the multi-time Euler-Lagrange equations for a discrete pluri-Lagrangian problem with d =2, the so-called corner equations, and discuss the notion of consistency of the system of corner equations. We analyse the system of corner equations for a special class of three-point two-forms, corresponding to integrable quad-equations of the ABS list. This allows us to close a conceptual gap of the work by Lobb and Nijhoff by showing that the corresponding two-forms are closed not only on solutions of (non-variational) quad-equations, but also on general solutions of the corresponding corner equations. We also find an example of a pluri-Lagrangian system not coming from a multi-dimensionally consistent system of quad-equations.

What is integrability of discrete variational systems?

PubMed Central

Boll, Raphael; Petrera, Matteo; Suris, Yuri B.

2014-01-01

We propose a notion of a pluri-Lagrangian problem, which should be understood as an analogue of multi-dimensional consistency for variational systems. This is a development along the line of research of discrete integrable Lagrangian systems initiated in 2009 by Lobb and Nijhoff, however, having its more remote roots in the theory of pluriharmonic functions, in the Z-invariant models of statistical mechanics and their quasiclassical limit, as well as in the theory of variational symmetries going back to Noether. A d-dimensional pluri-Lagrangian problem can be described as follows: given a d-form on an m-dimensional space (called multi-time, m>d), whose coefficients depend on a sought-after function x of m independent variables (called field), find those fields x which deliver critical points to the action functionals for any d-dimensional manifold Σ in the multi-time. We derive the main building blocks of the multi-time Euler–Lagrange equations for a discrete pluri-Lagrangian problem with d=2, the so-called corner equations, and discuss the notion of consistency of the system of corner equations. We analyse the system of corner equations for a special class of three-point two-forms, corresponding to integrable quad-equations of the ABS list. This allows us to close a conceptual gap of the work by Lobb and Nijhoff by showing that the corresponding two-forms are closed not only on solutions of (non-variational) quad-equations, but also on general solutions of the corresponding corner equations. We also find an example of a pluri-Lagrangian system not coming from a multi-dimensionally consistent system of quad-equations. PMID:24511254

Compressed Semi-Discrete Central-Upwind Schemes for Hamilton-Jacobi Equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryson, Steve; Kurganov, Alexander; Levy, Doron; Petrova, Guergana

2003-01-01

We introduce a new family of Godunov-type semi-discrete central schemes for multidimensional Hamilton-Jacobi equations. These schemes are a less dissipative generalization of the central-upwind schemes that have been recently proposed in series of works. We provide the details of the new family of methods in one, two, and three space dimensions, and then verify their expected low-dissipative property in a variety of examples.

Mixed-Format Test Score Equating: Effect of Item-Type Multidimensionality, Length and Composition of Common-Item Set, and Group Ability Difference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Wei

2013-01-01

Mixed-format tests containing both multiple-choice (MC) items and constructed-response (CR) items are now widely used in many testing programs. Mixed-format tests often are considered to be superior to tests containing only MC items although the use of multiple item formats leads to measurement challenges in the context of equating conducted under…

Multidimensional discrete compactons in nonlinear Schrödinger lattices with strong nonlinearity management

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

D'Ambroise, J.; Salerno, M.; Kevrekidis, P. G.

The existence of multidimensional lattice compactons in the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the presence of fast periodic time modulations of the nonlinearity is demonstrated. By averaging over the period of the fast modulations, an effective averaged dynamical equation arises with coupling constants involving Bessel functions of the first and zeroth kinds. We show that these terms allow one to solve, at this averaged level, for exact discrete compacton solution configurations in the corresponding stationary equation. We focus on seven types of compacton solutions. Single-site and vortex solutions are found to be always stable in the parametric regimes we examined.more » We also found that other solutions such as double-site in- and out-of-phase, four-site symmetric and antisymmetric, and a five-site compacton solution are found to have regions of stability and instability in two-dimensional parametric planes, involving variations of the strength of the coupling and of the nonlinearity. We also explore the time evolution of the solutions and compare the dynamics according to the averaged equations with those of the original dynamical system. Finally, the possible observation of compactons in Bose-Einstein condensates loaded in a deep two-dimensional optical lattice with interactions modulated periodically in time is also discussed.« less

Multidimensional discrete compactons in nonlinear Schrödinger lattices with strong nonlinearity management

DOE PAGES

D'Ambroise, J.; Salerno, M.; Kevrekidis, P. G.; ...

2015-11-19

The existence of multidimensional lattice compactons in the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the presence of fast periodic time modulations of the nonlinearity is demonstrated. By averaging over the period of the fast modulations, an effective averaged dynamical equation arises with coupling constants involving Bessel functions of the first and zeroth kinds. We show that these terms allow one to solve, at this averaged level, for exact discrete compacton solution configurations in the corresponding stationary equation. We focus on seven types of compacton solutions. Single-site and vortex solutions are found to be always stable in the parametric regimes we examined.more » We also found that other solutions such as double-site in- and out-of-phase, four-site symmetric and antisymmetric, and a five-site compacton solution are found to have regions of stability and instability in two-dimensional parametric planes, involving variations of the strength of the coupling and of the nonlinearity. We also explore the time evolution of the solutions and compare the dynamics according to the averaged equations with those of the original dynamical system. Finally, the possible observation of compactons in Bose-Einstein condensates loaded in a deep two-dimensional optical lattice with interactions modulated periodically in time is also discussed.« less

Multidimensional Solitons in Complex Media with Variable Dispersion: Structure and Evolution

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-07-20

the results of numerical experiments on Kadomtsev - Petviashvili (KP) equation study of structure and evolution of the nonlinear waves Sx described by...the KP equation with 13 = 3 (t,r) are con- at + auaxu + 03’u =K fAjudx, (1) sidered distracting from a concrete type of media. The -o• numerical...0i)(cot 0- mIM). It is well known that cluding the solutions of the mixed "soliton - non-soliton" the ID solutions of the KdV equation with 3 = const

Multi-dimensional multi-species modeling of transient electrodeposition in LIGA microfabrication.

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

Evans, Gregory Herbert; Chen, Ken Shuang

2004-06-01

This report documents the efforts and accomplishments of the LIGA electrodeposition modeling project which was headed by the ASCI Materials and Physics Modeling Program. A multi-dimensional framework based on GOMA was developed for modeling time-dependent diffusion and migration of multiple charged species in a dilute electrolyte solution with reduction electro-chemical reactions on moving deposition surfaces. By combining the species mass conservation equations with the electroneutrality constraint, a Poisson equation that explicitly describes the electrolyte potential was derived. The set of coupled, nonlinear equations governing species transport, electric potential, velocity, hydrodynamic pressure, and mesh motion were solved in GOMA, using themore » finite-element method and a fully-coupled implicit solution scheme via Newton's method. By treating the finite-element mesh as a pseudo solid with an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation and by repeatedly performing re-meshing with CUBIT and re-mapping with MAPVAR, the moving deposition surfaces were tracked explicitly from start of deposition until the trenches were filled with metal, thus enabling the computation of local current densities that potentially influence the microstructure and frictional/mechanical properties of the deposit. The multi-dimensional, multi-species, transient computational framework was demonstrated in case studies of two-dimensional nickel electrodeposition in single and multiple trenches, without and with bath stirring or forced flow. Effects of buoyancy-induced convection on deposition were also investigated. To further illustrate its utility, the framework was employed to simulate deposition in microscreen-based LIGA molds. Lastly, future needs for modeling LIGA electrodeposition are discussed.« less

Does ℏ play a role in multidimensional spectroscopy? Reduced hierarchy equations of motion approach to molecular vibrations.

PubMed

Sakurai, Atsunori; Tanimura, Yoshitaka

2011-04-28

To investigate the role of quantum effects in vibrational spectroscopies, we have carried out numerically exact calculations of linear and nonlinear response functions for an anharmonic potential system nonlinearly coupled to a harmonic oscillator bath. Although one cannot carry out the quantum calculations of the response functions with full molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for a realistic system which consists of many molecules, it is possible to grasp the essence of the quantum effects on the vibrational spectra by employing a model Hamiltonian that describes an intra- or intermolecular vibrational motion in a condensed phase. The present model fully includes vibrational relaxation, while the stochastic model often used to simulate infrared spectra does not. We have employed the reduced quantum hierarchy equations of motion approach in the Wigner space representation to deal with nonperturbative, non-Markovian, and nonsecular system-bath interactions. Taking the classical limit of the hierarchy equations of motion, we have obtained the classical equations of motion that describe the classical dynamics under the same physical conditions as in the quantum case. By comparing the classical and quantum mechanically calculated linear and multidimensional spectra, we found that the profiles of spectra for a fast modulation case were similar, but different for a slow modulation case. In both the classical and quantum cases, we identified the resonant oscillation peak in the spectra, but the quantum peak shifted to the red compared with the classical one if the potential is anharmonic. The prominent quantum effect is the 1-2 transition peak, which appears only in the quantum mechanically calculated spectra as a result of anharmonicity in the potential or nonlinearity of the system-bath coupling. While the contribution of the 1-2 transition is negligible in the fast modulation case, it becomes important in the slow modulation case as long as the amplitude of the frequency fluctuation is small. Thus, we observed a distinct difference between the classical and quantum mechanically calculated multidimensional spectra in the slow modulation case where spectral diffusion plays a role. This fact indicates that one may not reproduce the experimentally obtained multidimensional spectrum for high-frequency vibrational modes based on classical molecular dynamics simulations if the modulation that arises from surrounding molecules is weak and slow. A practical way to overcome the difference between the classical and quantum simulations was discussed.

Non-Commutative Rational Yang-Baxter Maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doliwa, Adam

2014-03-01

Starting from multidimensional consistency of non-commutative lattice-modified Gel'fand-Dikii systems, we present the corresponding solutions of the functional (set-theoretic) Yang-Baxter equation, which are non-commutative versions of the maps arising from geometric crystals. Our approach works under additional condition of centrality of certain products of non-commuting variables. Then we apply such a restriction on the level of the Gel'fand-Dikii systems what allows to obtain non-autonomous (but with central non-autonomous factors) versions of the equations. In particular, we recover known non-commutative version of Hirota's lattice sine-Gordon equation, and we present an integrable non-commutative and non-autonomous lattice modified Boussinesq equation.

Uniform high order spectral methods for one and two dimensional Euler equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cai, Wei; Shu, Chi-Wang

1991-01-01

Uniform high order spectral methods to solve multi-dimensional Euler equations for gas dynamics are discussed. Uniform high order spectral approximations with spectral accuracy in smooth regions of solutions are constructed by introducing the idea of the Essentially Non-Oscillatory (ENO) polynomial interpolations into the spectral methods. The authors present numerical results for the inviscid Burgers' equation, and for the one dimensional Euler equations including the interactions between a shock wave and density disturbance, Sod's and Lax's shock tube problems, and the blast wave problem. The interaction between a Mach 3 two dimensional shock wave and a rotating vortex is simulated.

Multidimensional flamelet-generated manifolds for partially premixed combustion

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

Nguyen, Phuc-Danh; Vervisch, Luc; Subramanian, Vallinayagam

2010-01-15

Flamelet-generated manifolds have been restricted so far to premixed or diffusion flame archetypes, even though the resulting tables have been applied to nonpremixed and partially premixed flame simulations. By using a projection of the full set of mass conservation species balance equations into a restricted subset of the composition space, unsteady multidimensional flamelet governing equations are derived from first principles, under given hypotheses. During the projection, as in usual one-dimensional flamelets, the tangential strain rate of scalar isosurfaces is expressed in the form of the scalar dissipation rates of the control parameters of the multidimensional flamelet-generated manifold (MFM), which ismore » tested in its five-dimensional form for partially premixed combustion, with two composition space directions and three scalar dissipation rates. It is shown that strain-rate-induced effects can hardly be fully neglected in chemistry tabulation of partially premixed combustion, because of fluxes across iso-equivalence-ratio and iso-progress-of-reaction surfaces. This is illustrated by comparing the 5D flamelet-generated manifold with one-dimensional premixed flame and unsteady strained diffusion flame composition space trajectories. The formal links between the asymptotic behavior of MFM and stratified flame, weakly varying partially premixed front, triple-flame, premixed and nonpremixed edge flames are also evidenced. (author)« less

Multi-dimensional Upwind Fluctuation Splitting Scheme with Mesh Adaption for Hypersonic Viscous Flow. Degree awarded by Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., 9 Nov. 2001

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wood, William A., III

2002-01-01

A multi-dimensional upwind fluctuation splitting scheme is developed and implemented for two-dimensional and axisymmetric formulations of the Navier-Stokes equations on unstructured meshes. Key features of the scheme are the compact stencil, full upwinding, and non-linear discretization which allow for second-order accuracy with enforced positivity. Throughout, the fluctuation splitting scheme is compared to a current state-of-the-art finite volume approach, a second-order, dual mesh upwind flux difference splitting scheme (DMFDSFV), and is shown to produce more accurate results using fewer computer resources for a wide range of test cases. A Blasius flat plate viscous validation case reveals a more accurate upsilon-velocity profile for fluctuation splitting, and the reduced artificial dissipation production is shown relative to DMFDSFV. Remarkably, the fluctuation splitting scheme shows grid converged skin friction coefficients with only five points in the boundary layer for this case. The second half of the report develops a local, compact, anisotropic unstructured mesh adaptation scheme in conjunction with the multi-dimensional upwind solver, exhibiting a characteristic alignment behavior for scalar problems. The adaptation strategy is extended to the two-dimensional and axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations of motion through the concept of fluctuation minimization.

Formulation of topical bioadhesive gel of aceclofenac using 3-level factorial design.

PubMed

Singh, Sanjay; Parhi, Rabinarayan; Garg, Anuj

2011-01-01

The objective of this work was to develop bioadhesive topical gel of Aceclofenac with the help of response-surface approach. Experiments were performed according to a 3-level factorial design to evaluate the effects of two independent variables [amount of Poloxamer 407 (PL-407 = X1) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose K100 M (HPMC = X2)] on the bioadhesive character of gel, rheological property of gel (consistency index), and in-vitro drug release. The best model was selected to fit the data. Mathematical equation was generated by Design Expert® software for the model which assists in determining the effect of independent variables. Response surface plots were also generated by the software for analyzing effect of the independent variables on the response. Quadratic model was found to be the best for all the responses. Both independent variable (X1 and X2) were found to have synergistic effect on bioadhesion (Y1) but the effect of HPMC was more pronounced than PL-407. Consistency index was enhanced by increasing the level of both independent variables. An antagonistic effect of both independent variables was found on cumulative percentage release of drug in 2 (Y3) and 8 h (Y4). Both independent variables approximately equally contributed the antagonistic effect on Y3 whereas antagonistic effect of HPMC was more pronounced than PL-407. The effect of formulation variables on the product characteristics can be easily predicted and precisely interpreted by using a 3-level factorial experimental design and generated quadratic mathematical equations.

A multidimensional finite element method for CFD

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pepper, Darrell W.; Humphrey, Joseph W.

1991-01-01

A finite element method is used to solve the equations of motion for 2- and 3-D fluid flow. The time-dependent equations are solved explicitly using quadrilateral (2-D) and hexahedral (3-D) elements, mass lumping, and reduced integration. A Petrov-Galerkin technique is applied to the advection terms. The method requires a minimum of computational storage, executes quickly, and is scalable for execution on computer systems ranging from PCs to supercomputers.

A nonlocal electron conduction model for multidimensional radiation hydrodynamics codes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schurtz, G. P.; Nicolaï, Ph. D.; Busquet, M.

2000-10-01

Numerical simulation of laser driven Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) related experiments require the use of large multidimensional hydro codes. Though these codes include detailed physics for numerous phenomena, they deal poorly with electron conduction, which is the leading energy transport mechanism of these systems. Electron heat flow is known, since the work of Luciani, Mora, and Virmont (LMV) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 1664 (1983)], to be a nonlocal process, which the local Spitzer-Harm theory, even flux limited, is unable to account for. The present work aims at extending the original formula of LMV to two or three dimensions of space. This multidimensional extension leads to an equivalent transport equation suitable for easy implementation in a two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic code. Simulations are presented and compared to Fokker-Planck simulations in one and two dimensions of space.

A second-order cell-centered Lagrangian ADER-MOOD finite volume scheme on multidimensional unstructured meshes for hydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boscheri, Walter; Dumbser, Michael; Loubère, Raphaël; Maire, Pierre-Henri

2018-04-01

In this paper we develop a conservative cell-centered Lagrangian finite volume scheme for the solution of the hydrodynamics equations on unstructured multidimensional grids. The method is derived from the Eucclhyd scheme discussed in [47,43,45]. It is second-order accurate in space and is combined with the a posteriori Multidimensional Optimal Order Detection (MOOD) limiting strategy to ensure robustness and stability at shock waves. Second-order of accuracy in time is achieved via the ADER (Arbitrary high order schemes using DERivatives) approach. A large set of numerical test cases is proposed to assess the ability of the method to achieve effective second order of accuracy on smooth flows, maintaining an essentially non-oscillatory behavior on discontinuous profiles, general robustness ensuring physical admissibility of the numerical solution, and precision where appropriate.

Versatile rogue waves in scalar, vector, and multidimensional nonlinear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shihua; Baronio, Fabio; Soto-Crespo, Jose M.; Grelu, Philippe; Mihalache, Dumitru

2017-11-01

This review is dedicated to recent progress in the active field of rogue waves, with an emphasis on the analytical prediction of versatile rogue wave structures in scalar, vector, and multidimensional integrable nonlinear systems. We first give a brief outline of the historical background of the rogue wave research, including referring to relevant up-to-date experimental results. Then we present an in-depth discussion of the scalar rogue waves within two different integrable frameworks—the infinite nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) hierarchy and the general cubic-quintic NLS equation, considering both the self-focusing and self-defocusing Kerr nonlinearities. We highlight the concept of chirped Peregrine solitons, the baseband modulation instability as an origin of rogue waves, and the relation between integrable turbulence and rogue waves, each with illuminating examples confirmed by numerical simulations. Later, we recur to the vector rogue waves in diverse coupled multicomponent systems such as the long-wave short-wave equations, the three-wave resonant interaction equations, and the vector NLS equations (alias Manakov system). In addition to their intriguing bright-dark dynamics, a series of other peculiar structures, such as coexisting rogue waves, watch-hand-like rogue waves, complementary rogue waves, and vector dark three sisters, are reviewed. Finally, for practical considerations, we also remark on higher-dimensional rogue waves occurring in three closely-related (2  +  1)D nonlinear systems, namely, the Davey-Stewartson equation, the composite (2  +  1)D NLS equation, and the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili I equation. As an interesting contrast to the peculiar X-shaped light bullets, a concept of rogue wave bullets intended for high-dimensional systems is particularly put forward by combining contexts in nonlinear optics.

Application of the method of steepest descent to laminated shield weight optimization with several constraints: Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lahti, G. P.

1971-01-01

The method of steepest descent used in optimizing one-dimensional layered radiation shields is extended to multidimensional, multiconstraint situations. The multidimensional optimization algorithm and equations are developed for the case of a dose constraint in any one direction being dependent only on the shield thicknesses in that direction and independent of shield thicknesses in other directions. Expressions are derived for one-, two-, and three-dimensional cases (one, two, and three constraints). The precedure is applicable to the optimization of shields where there are different dose constraints and layering arrangements in the principal directions.

Valley dynamics of intravalley and intervalley multiexcitonic states in monolayer WS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Jiyong; Bezerra, Andre; Qu, Fanyao

2018-03-01

We present a comprehensive model comprising of a complete set of rate equations, which account for charge transfer among multiexcitonic channels including excitons, trions, and biexcitons, to investigate valley (locked with spin) dynamics in monolayer WS2. The steady-state photoluminescence (PL) spectra, underlying the laser power dependence of excitonic populations, are also determined. Our computed PL for all excitonic states agrees with the experimental data of Paradisanos et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 110, 193102 (2017), 10.1063/1.4983285]. We find that the relative weight of PL, stemmed from different excitonic channels, strongly depends on the laser power even under dynamical conditions. Remarkably, the biexciton channel, having the weakest PL intensity at low laser powers, tends to prevail in PL over other excitonic states as the power strengthens. In addition, by accounting for intervalley scatterings, which enable transfer of excitonic states from one valley to the other, we determine the valley polarization, which strongly depends on intervalley scatterings and the exciton generation rates in the two valleys. On the other hand, the valley polarization for all excitonic channels is found almost independent of the laser power, consistent with experimental measurements as well. Finally, the valley dynamics involving both intra- and intervalley trions is discussed. Our model and numerical outcome should be beneficial to experiments especially featuring the interplay of multiexcitonic channels in, e.g., elucidating experimental data, estimating central excitonic quantities including recombination times and transition rates, and in widening possible new experimental scopes.

Calculation of Mitral Valve Area in Mitral Stenosis: Comparison of Continuity Equation and Pressure Half Time With Two-Dimensional Planimetry in Patients With and Without Associated Aortic or Mitral Regurgitation or Atrial Fibrillation.

PubMed

Sattarzadeh, Roya; Tavoosi, Anahita; Saadat, Mohammad; Derakhshan, Leila; Khosravi, Bakhtyar; Geraiely, Babak

2017-11-01

Accurate measurement of Mitral Valve Area (MVA) is essential to determining the Mitral Stenosis (MS) severity and to achieving the best management strategies for this disease. The goal of the present study is to compare mitral valve area (MVA) measurement by Continuity Equation (CE) and Pressure Half-Time (PHT) methods with that of 2D-Planimetry (PL) in patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis (MS). This comparison also was performed in subgroups of patients with significant Aortic Insufficiency (AI), Mitral Regurgitation (MR) and Atrial Fibrillation (AF). We studied 70 patients with moderate to severe MS who were referred to echocardiography clinic. MVA was determined by PL, CE and PHT methods. The agreement and correlations between MVA's obtained from various methods were determined by kappa index, Bland-Altman analysis, and linear regression analysis. The mean values for MVA calculated by CE was 0.81 cm (±0.27) and showed good correlation with those calculated by PL (0.95 cm, ±0.26 ) in whole population (r=0.771, P<0.001) and MR subgroup (r=0.763, P<0.001) and normal sinus rhythm and normal valve subgroups (r=0.858, P<0.001 and r=0.867, P<0.001, respectively). But CE methods didn't show any correlation in AF and AI subgroups. MVA measured by PHT had a good correlation with that measured by PL in whole population (r=0.770, P<0.001) and also in NSR (r=0.814, P<0.001) and normal valve subgroup (r=0.781, P<0.001). Subgroup with significant AI and those with significant MR showed moderate correlation (r=0.625, P=0.017 and r=0.595, P=0.041, respectively). Bland Altman Analysis showed that CE would estimate MVA smaller in comparison with PL in the whole population and all subgroups and PHT would estimate MVA larger in comparison with PL in the whole population and all subgroups. The mean bias for CE and PHT are 0.14 cm and -0.06 cm respectively. In patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis, in the absence of concomitant AF, AI or MR, the accuracy of CE or PHT method in measuring MVA is nearly equal. But in the presence of significant AI or MR, PHT method is obviously superior to CE and in the presence of AF neither have sufficient accuracy.

Multi-dimensional upwinding-based implicit LES for the vorticity transport equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foti, Daniel; Duraisamy, Karthik

2017-11-01

Complex turbulent flows such as rotorcraft and wind turbine wakes are characterized by the presence of strong coherent structures that can be compactly described by vorticity variables. The vorticity-velocity formulation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations is employed to increase numerical efficiency. Compared to the traditional velocity-pressure formulation, high order numerical methods and sub-grid scale models for the vorticity transport equation (VTE) have not been fully investigated. Consistent treatment of the convection and stretching terms also needs to be addressed. Our belief is that, by carefully designing sharp gradient-capturing numerical schemes, coherent structures can be more efficiently captured using the vorticity-velocity formulation. In this work, a multidimensional upwind approach for the VTE is developed using the generalized Riemann problem-based scheme devised by Parish et al. (Computers & Fluids, 2016). The algorithm obtains high resolution by augmenting the upwind fluxes with transverse and normal direction corrections. The approach is investigated with several canonical vortex-dominated flows including isolated and interacting vortices and turbulent flows. The capability of the technique to represent sub-grid scale effects is also assessed. Navy contract titled ``Turbulence Modelling Across Disparate Length Scales for Naval Computational Fluid Dynamics Applications,'' through Continuum Dynamics, Inc.

Fast and high-order numerical algorithms for the solution of multidimensional nonlinear fractional Ginzburg-Landau equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohebbi, Akbar

2018-02-01

In this paper we propose two fast and accurate numerical methods for the solution of multidimensional space fractional Ginzburg-Landau equation (FGLE). In the presented methods, to avoid solving a nonlinear system of algebraic equations and to increase the accuracy and efficiency of method, we split the complex problem into simpler sub-problems using the split-step idea. For a homogeneous FGLE, we propose a method which has fourth-order of accuracy in time component and spectral accuracy in space variable and for nonhomogeneous one, we introduce another scheme based on the Crank-Nicolson approach which has second-order of accuracy in time variable. Due to using the Fourier spectral method for fractional Laplacian operator, the resulting schemes are fully diagonal and easy to code. Numerical results are reported in terms of accuracy, computational order and CPU time to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed methods and to compare the results with the analytical solutions. The results show that the present methods are accurate and require low CPU time. It is illustrated that the numerical results are in good agreement with the theoretical ones.

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

Helfer, Thomas; Marsh, David J.E.; Clough, Katy

The classical equations of motion for an axion with potential V (φ)= m {sub a} {sup 2} f {sub a} {sup 2} [1−cos (φ/ f {sub a} )] possess quasi-stable, localized, oscillating solutions, which we refer to as ''axion stars''. We study, for the first time, collapse of axion stars numerically using the full non-linear Einstein equations of general relativity and the full non-perturbative cosine potential. We map regions on an ''axion star stability diagram', parameterized by the initial ADM mass, M {sub ADM}, and axion decay constant, f {sub a} . We identify three regions of the parameter space:more » i) long-lived oscillating axion star solutions, with a base frequency, m {sub a} , modulated by self-interactions, ii) collapse to a BH and iii) complete dispersal due to gravitational cooling and interactions. We locate the boundaries of these three regions and an approximate ''triple point' ( M {sub TP}, f {sub TP}) ∼ (2.4 M {sub pl}{sup 2}/ m {sub a} ,0.3 M {sub pl}). For f {sub a} below the triple point BH formation proceeds during winding (in the complex U(1) picture) of the axion field near the dispersal phase. This could prevent astrophysical BH formation from axion stars with f {sub a} || M {sub pl}. For larger f {sub a} ∼> f {sub TP}, BH formation occurs through the stable branch and we estimate the mass ratio of the BH to the stable state at the phase boundary to be O(1) within numerical uncertainty. We discuss the observational relevance of our findings for axion stars as BH seeds, which are supermassive in the case of ultralight axions. For the QCD axion, the typical BH mass formed from axion star collapse is M {sub BH} ∼ 3.4 ( f {sub a} /0.6 M {sub pl}){sup 1.2} M {sub ⊙}.« less

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic cohort (LUMINA): XXVIII. Factors predictive of thrombotic events.

PubMed

Ho, K T; Ahn, C W; Alarcón, G S; Baethge, B A; Tan, F K; Roseman, J; Bastian, H M; Fessler, B J; McGwin, G; Vilá, L M; Calvo-Alén, J; Reveille, J D

2005-10-01

To determine the relationship between the presence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies, hydroxychloroquine use and the occurrence of thrombotic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Four hundred and forty-two SLE patients from the LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature vs Nurture) cohort, a multiethnic (Hispanics from Texas, n = 99 and Puerto Rico, n = 36; African Americans, n = 172; and Caucasians, n = 135) cohort, were studied by generalized estimating equation (GEE) to determine the relationship between antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies (measured as IgG and IgM aPL antibodies and/or the lupus anticoagulant) at enrolment or historically prior to enrolment, hydroxychloroquine use (ever) and the occurrence of thrombotic (central and/or peripheral, arterial and/or venous) events after adjusting for known and possible confounders [socioeconomic-demographic features, smoking, disease activity and damage, serum cholesterol levels, anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein IgG and IgM antibodies, and high-sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein]. Postanalysis correlation between aPL and anticardiolipin (aCL) assays was attempted by performing aCL assays on random samples of patients whose aPL status was known. A number of clinical variables were significant in the univariable analyses; however, in the multivariable GEE analyses, only smoking [odds ratio (OR) 2.777, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.317-5.852] and disease activity as measured by the SLAM (Systemic Lupus Activity Measure) (OR 1.099; 95% CI 1.053-1.147) were significant. In particular, hydroxychloroquine use, which appeared to be protective against thrombotic events in the univariable analyses, was not retained in the multivariable analyses. aPL antibodies were not significant in either analysis. Few additional aPL-positive patients emerged from the validation study. Smoking and disease activity emerged as important determinants in the occurrence of thrombotic events in our patients. Comprehensive treatment strategies should be directed to both smoking cessation and control of disease activity in patients with SLE.

A new (2+1) dimensional integrable evolution equation for an ion acoustic wave in a magnetized plasma

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

Mukherjee, Abhik, E-mail: abhik.mukherjee@saha.ac.in; Janaki, M. S., E-mail: ms.janaki@saha.ac.in; Kundu, Anjan, E-mail: anjan.kundu@saha.ac.in

2015-07-15

A new, completely integrable, two dimensional evolution equation is derived for an ion acoustic wave propagating in a magnetized, collisionless plasma. The equation is a multidimensional generalization of a modulated wavepacket with weak transverse propagation, which has resemblance to nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation and has a connection to Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation through a constraint relation. Higher soliton solutions of the equation are derived through Hirota bilinearization procedure, and an exact lump solution is calculated exhibiting 2D structure. Some mathematical properties demonstrating the completely integrable nature of this equation are described. Modulational instability using nonlinear frequency correction is derived, and the correspondingmore » growth rate is calculated, which shows the directional asymmetry of the system. The discovery of this novel (2+1) dimensional integrable NLS type equation for a magnetized plasma should pave a new direction of research in the field.« less

Solution algorithms for the two-dimensional Euler equations on unstructured meshes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitaker, D. L.; Slack, David C.; Walters, Robert W.

1990-01-01

The objective of the study was to analyze implicit techniques employed in structured grid algorithms for solving two-dimensional Euler equations and extend them to unstructured solvers in order to accelerate convergence rates. A comparison is made between nine different algorithms for both first-order and second-order accurate solutions. Higher-order accuracy is achieved by using multidimensional monotone linear reconstruction procedures. The discussion is illustrated by results for flow over a transonic circular arc.

Andrei Andreevich Bolibrukh's works on the analytic theory of differential equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anosov, Dmitry V.; Leksin, Vladimir P.

2011-02-01

This paper contains an account of A.A. Bolibrukh's results obtained in the new directions of research that arose in the analytic theory of differential equations as a consequence of his sensational counterexample to the Riemann-Hilbert problem. A survey of results of his students in developing topics first considered by Bolibrukh is also presented. The main focus is on the role of the reducibility/irreducibility of systems of linear differential equations and their monodromy representations. A brief synopsis of results on the multidimensional Riemann-Hilbert problem and on isomonodromic deformations of Fuchsian systems is presented, and the main methods in the modern analytic theory of differential equations are sketched. Bibliography: 69 titles.

Variational calculation of macrostate transition rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulitsky, Alex; Shalloway, David

1998-08-01

We develop the macrostate variational method (MVM) for computing reaction rates of diffusive conformational transitions in multidimensional systems by a variational coarse-grained "macrostate" decomposition of the Smoluchowski equation. MVM uses multidimensional Gaussian packets to identify and focus computational effort on the "transition region," a localized, self-consistently determined region in conformational space positioned roughly between the macrostates. It also determines the "transition direction" which optimally specifies the projected potential of mean force for mean first-passage time calculations. MVM is complementary to variational transition state theory in that it can efficiently solve multidimensional problems but does not accommodate memory-friction effects. It has been tested on model 1- and 2-dimensional potentials and on the 12-dimensional conformational transition between the isoforms of a microcluster of six-atoms having only van der Waals interactions. Comparison with Brownian dynamics calculations shows that MVM obtains equivalent results at a fraction of the computational cost.

Multidimensional Profiling of Task Stress States for Human Factors: A Brief Review.

PubMed

Matthews, Gerald

2016-09-01

This article advocates multidimensional assessment of task stress in human factors and reviews the use of the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ) for evaluation of systems and operators. Contemporary stress research has progressed from an exclusive focus on environmental stressors to transactional perspectives on the stress process. Performance impacts of stress reflect the operator's dynamic attempts to understand and cope with task demands. Multidimensional stress assessments are necessary to gauge the different forms of system-operator interaction. This review discusses the theoretical and practical use of the DSSQ in evaluating multidimensional patterns of stress response. It presents psychometric evidence for the multidimensional perspective and illustrative profiles of subjective state response to task stressors and environments. Evidence is also presented on stress state correlations with related variables, including personality, stress process measures, psychophysiological response, and objective task performance. Evidence supports the validity of the DSSQ as a task stress measure. Studies of various simulated environments show that different tasks elicit different profiles of stress state response. Operator characteristics such as resilience predict individual differences in state response to stressors. Structural equation modeling may be used to understand performance impacts of stress states. Multidimensional assessment affords insight into the stress process in a variety of human factors contexts. Integrating subjective and psychophysiological assessment is a priority for future research. Stress state measurement contributes to evaluating system design, countermeasures to stress and fatigue, and performance vulnerabilities. It may also support personnel selection and diagnostic monitoring of operators. © 2016, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

The Impact of Item Position Change on Item Parameters and Common Equating Results under the 3PL Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyers, Jason L.; Murphy, Stephen; Goodman, Joshua; Turhan, Ahmet

2012-01-01

Operational testing programs employing item response theory (IRT) applications benefit from of the property of item parameter invariance whereby item parameter estimates obtained from one sample can be applied to other samples (when the underlying assumptions are satisfied). In theory, this feature allows for applications such as computer-adaptive…

The nonconvex multi-dimensional Riemann problem for Hamilton-Jacobi equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Osher, Stanley

1989-01-01

Simple inequalities for the Riemann problem for a Hamilton-Jacobi equation in N space dimension when neither the initial data nor the Hamiltonian need be convex (or concave) are presented. The initial data is globally continuous, affine in each orthant, with a possible jump in normal derivative across each coordinate plane, x sub i = 0. The inequalities become equalities wherever a maxmin equals a minmax and thus an exact closed form solution to this problem is then obtained.

Framework for analyzing ecological trait-based models in multidimensional niche spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biancalani, Tommaso; DeVille, Lee; Goldenfeld, Nigel

2015-05-01

We develop a theoretical framework for analyzing ecological models with a multidimensional niche space. Our approach relies on the fact that ecological niches are described by sequences of symbols, which allows us to include multiple phenotypic traits. Ecological drivers, such as competitive exclusion, are modeled by introducing the Hamming distance between two sequences. We show that a suitable transform diagonalizes the community interaction matrix of these models, making it possible to predict the conditions for niche differentiation and, close to the instability onset, the asymptotically long time population distributions of niches. We exemplify our method using the Lotka-Volterra equations with an exponential competition kernel.

Nonradiative recombination centers in GaAs:N δ-doped superlattice revealed by two-wavelength-excited photoluminescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dulal Haque, Md.; Kamata, Norihiko; Fukuda, Takeshi; Honda, Zentaro; Yagi, Shuhei; Yaguchi, Hiroyuki; Okada, Yoshitaka

2018-04-01

We use two-wavelength-excited photoluminescence (PL) to investigate nonradiative recombination (NRR) centers in GaAs:N δ-doped superlattice (SL) structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The change in photoluminescence (PL) intensity due to the superposition of below-gap excitation at energies of 0.75, 0.80, 0.92, and 0.95 eV and above-gap excitation at energies of 1.69 or 1.45 eV into the GaAs conduction band and the E- band implies the presence of NRR centers inside the GaAs:N δ-doped SL and/or GaAs layers. The change in PL intensity as a function of the photon number density of below-gap excitation is examined for both bands, which enables us to determine the distribution of NRR centers inside the GaAs:N δ-doped SL and GaAs layers. We propose recombination models to explain the experimental results. Defect-related parameters that give a qualitative insight into the samples are investigated systematically by fitting the rate equations to the experimental data.

Numerical optimization using flow equations.

PubMed

Punk, Matthias

2014-12-01

We develop a method for multidimensional optimization using flow equations. This method is based on homotopy continuation in combination with a maximum entropy approach. Extrema of the optimizing functional correspond to fixed points of the flow equation. While ideas based on Bayesian inference such as the maximum entropy method always depend on a prior probability, the additional step in our approach is to perform a continuous update of the prior during the homotopy flow. The prior probability thus enters the flow equation only as an initial condition. We demonstrate the applicability of this optimization method for two paradigmatic problems in theoretical condensed matter physics: numerical analytic continuation from imaginary to real frequencies and finding (variational) ground states of frustrated (quantum) Ising models with random or long-range antiferromagnetic interactions.

Numerical optimization using flow equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Punk, Matthias

2014-12-01

We develop a method for multidimensional optimization using flow equations. This method is based on homotopy continuation in combination with a maximum entropy approach. Extrema of the optimizing functional correspond to fixed points of the flow equation. While ideas based on Bayesian inference such as the maximum entropy method always depend on a prior probability, the additional step in our approach is to perform a continuous update of the prior during the homotopy flow. The prior probability thus enters the flow equation only as an initial condition. We demonstrate the applicability of this optimization method for two paradigmatic problems in theoretical condensed matter physics: numerical analytic continuation from imaginary to real frequencies and finding (variational) ground states of frustrated (quantum) Ising models with random or long-range antiferromagnetic interactions.

Fractional calculus in hydrologic modeling: A numerical perspective

PubMed Central

Benson, David A.; Meerschaert, Mark M.; Revielle, Jordan

2013-01-01

Fractional derivatives can be viewed either as handy extensions of classical calculus or, more deeply, as mathematical operators defined by natural phenomena. This follows the view that the diffusion equation is defined as the governing equation of a Brownian motion. In this paper, we emphasize that fractional derivatives come from the governing equations of stable Lévy motion, and that fractional integration is the corresponding inverse operator. Fractional integration, and its multi-dimensional extensions derived in this way, are intimately tied to fractional Brownian (and Lévy) motions and noises. By following these general principles, we discuss the Eulerian and Lagrangian numerical solutions to fractional partial differential equations, and Eulerian methods for stochastic integrals. These numerical approximations illuminate the essential nature of the fractional calculus. PMID:23524449

Self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism dimensions and their associations with disordered eating.

PubMed

Bardone-Cone, Anna M

2007-08-01

This study examined the relationship between self-oriented and socially prescribed dimensions of perfectionism (using two measures of perfectionism) and disordered eating assessed across multiple time points in a sample of young women. Study participants (n=406) reported on their levels of perfectionism and on their subsequent patterns of dieting and bulimic symptoms. Self-oriented perfectionism was strongly linked to dietary restraint, whether using the theoretically derived perfectionism dimensions from the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) [Hewitt, P.L., & Flett, G.L. (1991a). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 456-470] or the dimensions derived from the Perfectionism subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) [Garner, D. M., Olmsted, M. P., & Polivy, J. (1983). Development and validation of a multidimensional eating disorder inventory for anorexia nervosa and bulimia. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2, 15-34]. A less clear-cut pattern emerged when bulimic symptoms were investigated, with both self-oriented (MPS and EDI) and socially prescribed perfectionism (MPS) being associated with bulimic symptoms. After controlling for negative affect, only a self-oriented dimension of perfectionism predicted unique variance in bulimic symptoms. What constitutes maladaptive perfectionism, concerns about using EDI-Perfectionism dimensions interchangeably with MPS dimensions, and future directions are discussed.

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

Burge, S.W.

This report describes the theory and structure of the FORCE2 flow program. The manual describes the governing model equations, solution procedure and their implementation in the computer program. FORCE2 is an extension of an existing B&V multidimensional, two-phase flow program. FORCE2 was developed for application to fluid beds by flow implementing a gas-solids modeling technology derived, in part, during a joint government -- industry research program, ``Erosion of FBC Heat Transfer Tubes,`` coordinated by Argonne National Laboratory. The development of FORCE2 was sponsored by ASEA-Babcock, an industry participant in this program. This manual is the principal documentation for the programmore » theory and organization. Program usage and post-processing of code predictions with the FORCE2 post-processor are described in a companion report, FORCE2 -- A Multidimensional Flow Program for Fluid Beds, User`s Guide. This manual is segmented into sections to facilitate its usage. In section 2.0, the mass and momentum conservation principles, the basis for the code, are presented. In section 3.0, the constitutive relations used in modeling gas-solids hydrodynamics are given. The finite-difference model equations are derived in section 4.0 and the solution procedures described in sections 5.0 and 6.0. Finally, the implementation of the model equations and solution procedure in FORCE2 is described in section 7.0.« less

Relationship between Service Quality, Satisfaction, Motivation and Loyalty: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Subrahmanyam, Annamdevula

2017-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to identify and test four competing models with the interrelationships between students' perceived service quality, students' satisfaction, loyalty and motivation using structural equation modeling (SEM), and to select the best model using chi-square difference (??2) statistic test. Design/methodology/approach: The study…

Analytical validation of soluble fms-like tyrosine and placental growth factor assays on B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus automated immunoassay platform.

PubMed

Chan, Siaw Li; Rana, Sarosh; Chinthala, Sireesha; Salahuddin, Saira; Yeo, Kiang-Teck J

2018-01-01

Preeclampsia is one of the leading hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Angiogenic biomarkers such as anti-angiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) and pro-angiogenic factor placental growth factor (PlGF) are involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The aim of this study is to validate the analytical performance of sFlt1 and PlGF on the B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus (ThermoFisher Scientific). We examined K 2 -EDTA plasma samples from 50 patients on B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus, an automated immunoassay platform. QC materials were used to assess intra- and inter-precision of the assay. Lower limit of quantitation and interference studies were determined using pooled patient plasma. The sFlt1 and PlGF assays demonstrated an analytical measuring range of 90-69,000 pg/mL and 11-7000 pg/mL, respectively (r 2  > 0.99). Lower limit of quantitation (20% CV) was interpolated to be 35 pg/mL for sFlt1 and 10 pg/mL for PlGF. Total precision for both assay displayed CVs of <10%. Interference studies showed that both assays were not significantly affected by hemolysis up to an H-index of 1100 for sFlt1 and 300 for PlGF; L- and I-index of 800 and 80 respectively for both assays. The Passing-Bablok regression analysis for sFlt1/PlGF yielded an equation of y = 1.05x + 0.02, and the Bland Altman analysis showed an average bias of 0.84. Plasma levels of sFlt1 and PlGF measured on the B·R·A·H·M·S KRYPTOR Compact Plus platform demonstrate excellent analytical performance and are acceptable as clinical grade assays. Copyright © 2018 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Von Neumann stability analysis of globally divergence-free RKDG schemes for the induction equation using multidimensional Riemann solvers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balsara, Dinshaw S.; Käppeli, Roger

2017-05-01

In this paper we focus on the numerical solution of the induction equation using Runge-Kutta Discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG)-like schemes that are globally divergence-free. The induction equation plays a role in numerical MHD and other systems like it. It ensures that the magnetic field evolves in a divergence-free fashion; and that same property is shared by the numerical schemes presented here. The algorithms presented here are based on a novel DG-like method as it applies to the magnetic field components in the faces of a mesh. (I.e., this is not a conventional DG algorithm for conservation laws.) The other two novel building blocks of the method include divergence-free reconstruction of the magnetic field and multidimensional Riemann solvers; both of which have been developed in recent years by the first author. Since the method is linear, a von Neumann stability analysis is carried out in two-dimensions to understand its stability properties. The von Neumann stability analysis that we develop in this paper relies on transcribing from a modal to a nodal DG formulation in order to develop discrete evolutionary equations for the nodal values. These are then coupled to a suitable Runge-Kutta timestepping strategy so that one can analyze the stability of the entire scheme which is suitably high order in space and time. We show that our scheme permits CFL numbers that are comparable to those of traditional RKDG schemes. We also analyze the wave propagation characteristics of the method and show that with increasing order of accuracy the wave propagation becomes more isotropic and free of dissipation for a larger range of long wavelength modes. This makes a strong case for investing in higher order methods. We also use the von Neumann stability analysis to show that the divergence-free reconstruction and multidimensional Riemann solvers are essential algorithmic ingredients of a globally divergence-free RKDG-like scheme. Numerical accuracy analyses of the RKDG-like schemes are presented and compared with the accuracy of PNPM schemes. It is found that PNPM retrieve much of the accuracy of the RKDG-like schemes while permitting a larger CFL number.

Ultrafast Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Studies of Gallium-Arsenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Matthew Bruce

This thesis concerns the study of ultrafast phenomena in GaAs using time-resolved photoluminescence (PL). The thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter one is an introduction, which discusses the study of ultrafast phenomena in semiconductors. Chapter two is a description of the colliding-pulse mode-locked (CPM) ring dye laser, which is at the heart of the experimental apparatus used in this thesis. Chapter three presents a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of photoluminescence excitation correlation spectroscopy (PECS), the novel technique which is used to time-resolve ultrafast PL phenomena. Chapters 4 and 5 discuss two applications of the PECS technique. In Chapter 4 the variation of PL intensity in In-alloyed GaAs substrate material is studied, while Chapter 5 discusses the variation of carrier lifetimes in ion-damaged GaAs used in photo-conductive circuit elements (PCEs). PECS is a pulse-probe technique that measures the cross correlation of photo-excited carrier populations. The theoretical model employed in this thesis is based upon the rate equation for a simple three-level system consisting of valence and conduction bands and a single trap level. In the limit of radiative band-to-band dominated recombination, no PECS signal should be observed; while in the capture -dominated recombination limit, the PECS signal from the band-to-band PL measures the cross correlation of the excited electron and hole populations and thus, the electron and hole lifetimes. PECS is experimentally investigated using a case study of PL in semi-insulating (SI) GaAs and In -alloyed GaAs. At 77 K, the PECS signal is characteristic of a capture-dominated system, yielding an electron-hole lifetime of about 200 ps. However, at 5 K the behavior is more complicated and shows saturation effects due to the C acceptor level, which is un-ionized at 5 K. As a first application, PECS is used to investigate the large band-to-band PL contrast observed near dislocations in In-alloyed GaAs. It is found that the PL intensity contrast between bright and dark areas correlates with the ratio of the lifetimes measured using PECS in these areas. Thus, the PL intensity contrast is due to the difference in the carrier lifetimes in the different regions. The carrier lifetimes in the bright and dark regions have different temperature dependences. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).

Evaluating the assumption of power-law late time scaling of breakthrough curves in highly heterogeneous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedretti, Daniele

2017-04-01

Power-law (PL) distributions are widely adopted to define the late-time scaling of solute breakthrough curves (BTCs) during transport experiments in highly heterogeneous media. However, from a statistical perspective, distinguishing between a PL distribution and another tailed distribution is difficult, particularly when a qualitative assessment based on visual analysis of double-logarithmic plotting is used. This presentation aims to discuss the results from a recent analysis where a suite of statistical tools was applied to evaluate rigorously the scaling of BTCs from experiments that generate tailed distributions typically described as PL at late time. To this end, a set of BTCs from numerical simulations in highly heterogeneous media were generated using a transition probability approach (T-PROGS) coupled to a finite different numerical solver of the flow equation (MODFLOW) and a random walk particle tracking approach for Lagrangian transport (RW3D). The T-PROGS fields assumed randomly distributed hydraulic heterogeneities with long correlation scales creating solute channeling and anomalous transport. For simplicity, transport was simulated as purely advective. This combination of tools generates strongly non-symmetric BTCs visually resembling PL distributions at late time when plotted in double log scales. Unlike other combination of modeling parameters and boundary conditions (e.g. matrix diffusion in fractures), at late time no direct link exists between the mathematical functions describing scaling of these curves and physical parameters controlling transport. The results suggest that the statistical tests fail to describe the majority of curves as PL distributed. Moreover, they suggest that PL or lognormal distributions have the same likelihood to represent parametrically the shape of the tails. It is noticeable that forcing a model to reproduce the tail as PL functions results in a distribution of PL slopes comprised between 1.2 and 4, which are the typical values observed during field experiments. We conclude that care must be taken when defining a BTC late time distribution as a power law function. Even though the estimated scaling factors are found to fall in traditional ranges, the actual distribution controlling the scaling of concentration may different from a power-law function, with direct consequences for instance for the selection of effective parameters in upscaling modeling solutions.

Optical Kerr Spatiotemporal Dark-Lump Dynamics of Hydrodynamic Origin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baronio, Fabio; Wabnitz, Stefan; Kodama, Yuji

2016-04-01

There is considerable fundamental and applicative interest in obtaining nondiffractive and nondispersive spatiotemporal localized wave packets propagating in optical cubic nonlinear or Kerr media. Here, we analytically predict the existence of a novel family of spatiotemporal dark lump solitary wave solutions of the (2 +1 )D nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Dark lumps represent multidimensional holes of light on a continuous wave background. We analytically derive the dark lumps from the hydrodynamic exact soliton solutions of the (2 +1 )D shallow water Kadomtsev-Petviashvili model, inheriting their complex interaction properties. This finding opens a novel path for the excitation and control of optical spatiotemporal waveforms of hydrodynamic footprint and multidimensional optical extreme wave phenomena.

Optical Kerr Spatiotemporal Dark-Lump Dynamics of Hydrodynamic Origin.

PubMed

Baronio, Fabio; Wabnitz, Stefan; Kodama, Yuji

2016-04-29

There is considerable fundamental and applicative interest in obtaining nondiffractive and nondispersive spatiotemporal localized wave packets propagating in optical cubic nonlinear or Kerr media. Here, we analytically predict the existence of a novel family of spatiotemporal dark lump solitary wave solutions of the (2+1)D nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Dark lumps represent multidimensional holes of light on a continuous wave background. We analytically derive the dark lumps from the hydrodynamic exact soliton solutions of the (2+1)D shallow water Kadomtsev-Petviashvili model, inheriting their complex interaction properties. This finding opens a novel path for the excitation and control of optical spatiotemporal waveforms of hydrodynamic footprint and multidimensional optical extreme wave phenomena.

Excited states of neutral donor bound excitons in GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Callsen, G.; Kure, T.; Wagner, M. R.; Butté, R.; Grandjean, N.

2018-06-01

We investigate the excited states of a neutral donor bound exciton (D0X) in bulk GaN by means of high-resolution, polychromatic photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy. The optically most prominent donor in our sample is silicon accompanied by only a minor contribution of oxygen—the key for an unambiguous assignment of excited states. Consequently, we can observe a multitude of Si0X-related excitation channels with linewidths down to 200 μeV. Two groups of excitation channels are identified, belonging either to rotational-vibrational or electronic excited states of the hole in the Si0X complex. Such identification is achieved by modeling the excited states based on the equations of motion for a Kratzer potential, taking into account the particularly large anisotropy of effective hole masses in GaN. Furthermore, several ground- and excited states of the exciton-polaritons and the dominant bound exciton are observed in the photoluminescence (PL) and PLE spectra, facilitating an estimate of the associated complex binding energies. Our data clearly show that great care must be taken if only PL spectra of D0X centers in GaN are analyzed. Every PL feature we observe at higher emission energies with regard to the Si0X ground state corresponds to an excited state. Hence, any unambiguous peak identification renders PLE spectra highly valuable, as important spectral features are obscured in common PL spectra. Here, GaN represents a particular case among the wide-bandgap, wurtzite semiconductors, as comparably low localization energies for common D0X centers are usually paired with large emission linewidths and the prominent optical signature of exciton-polaritons, making the sole analysis of PL spectra a challenging task.

The nonconvex multi-dimensional Riemann problem for Hamilton-Jacobi equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bardi, Martino; Osher, Stanley

1991-01-01

Simple inequalities are presented for the viscosity solution of a Hamilton-Jacobi equation in N space dimensions when neither the initial data nor the Hamiltonian need be convex (or concave). The initial data are uniformly Lipschitz and can be written as the sum of a convex function in a group of variables and a concave function in the remaining variables, therefore including the nonconvex Riemann problem. The inequalities become equalities wherever a 'maxmin' equals a 'minmax', and thus a representation formula for this problem is obtained, generalizing the classical Hopi formulas.

Relativistic Kinetic Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vereshchagin, Gregory V.; Aksenov, Alexey G.

2017-02-01

Preface; Acknowledgements; Acronyms and definitions; Introduction; Part I. Theoretical Foundations: 1. Basic concepts; 2. Kinetic equation; 3. Averaging; 4. Conservation laws and equilibrium; 5. Relativistic BBGKY hierarchy; 6. Basic parameters in gases and plasmas; Part II. Numerical Methods: 7. The basics of computational physics; 8. Direct integration of Boltzmann equations; 9. Multidimensional hydrodynamics; Part III. Applications: 10. Wave dispersion in relativistic plasma; 11. Thermalization in relativistic plasma; 12. Kinetics of particles in strong fields; 13. Compton scattering in astrophysics and cosmology; 14. Self-gravitating systems; 15. Neutrinos, gravitational collapse and supernovae; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

Four-level conservative finite-difference schemes for Boussinesq paradigm equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolkovska, N.

2013-10-01

In this paper a two-parametric family of four level conservative finite difference schemes is constructed for the multidimensional Boussinesq paradigm equation. The schemes are explicit in the sense that no inner iterations are needed for evaluation of the numerical solution. The preservation of the discrete energy with this method is proved. The schemes have been numerically tested on one soliton propagation model and two solitons interaction model. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed family of schemes has second order of convergence in space and time steps in the discrete maximal norm.

Asymptotic analysis of dissipative waves with applications to their numerical simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagstrom, Thomas

1990-01-01

Various problems involving the interplay of asymptotics and numerics in the analysis of wave propagation in dissipative systems are studied. A general approach to the asymptotic analysis of linear, dissipative waves is developed. It was applied to the derivation of asymptotic boundary conditions for numerical solutions on unbounded domains. Applications include the Navier-Stokes equations. Multidimensional traveling wave solutions to reaction-diffusion equations are also considered. A preliminary numerical investigation of a thermo-diffusive model of flame propagation in a channel with heat loss at the walls is presented.

Numerical study of a stochastic particle algorithm solving a multidimensional population balance model for high shear granulation

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

Braumann, Andreas; Kraft, Markus, E-mail: mk306@cam.ac.u; Wagner, Wolfgang

2010-10-01

This paper is concerned with computational aspects of a multidimensional population balance model of a wet granulation process. Wet granulation is a manufacturing method to form composite particles, granules, from small particles and binders. A detailed numerical study of a stochastic particle algorithm for the solution of a five-dimensional population balance model for wet granulation is presented. Each particle consists of two types of solids (containing pores) and of external and internal liquid (located in the pores). Several transformations of particles are considered, including coalescence, compaction and breakage. A convergence study is performed with respect to the parameter that determinesmore » the number of numerical particles. Averaged properties of the system are computed. In addition, the ensemble is subdivided into practically relevant size classes and analysed with respect to the amount of mass and the particle porosity in each class. These results illustrate the importance of the multidimensional approach. Finally, the kinetic equation corresponding to the stochastic model is discussed.« less

Predicting the Development of Analytical and Creative Abilities in Upper Elementary Grades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gubbels, Joyce; Segers, Eliane; Verhoeven, Ludo

2017-01-01

In some models, intelligence has been described as a multidimensional construct comprising both analytical and creative abilities. In addition, intelligence is considered to be dynamic rather than static. A structural equation model was used to examine the predictive role of cognitive (visual short-term memory, verbal short-term memory, selective…

Paired Comparisons.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-05-01

including multidimensional scaling. Applications have arisen in many areas, but most notably in food technolog, marketing research, and sports ... competition .- An extensive bibliography on paired comparisons by Davidson and Farquhar (1976) contains some 400 references. - Paired comparisons have been...consideration of chess competition . Ford (1957) pro- posed the model independently. Both Zermelo and Ford concentrated on solution of normal equations for

Towards an Entropy Stable Spectral Element Framework for Computational Fluid Dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carpenter, Mark H.; Parsani, Matteo; Fisher, Travis C.; Nielsen, Eric J.

2016-01-01

Entropy stable (SS) discontinuous spectral collocation formulations of any order are developed for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations on hexahedral elements. Recent progress on two complementary efforts is presented. The first effort is a generalization of previous SS spectral collocation work to extend the applicable set of points from tensor product, Legendre-Gauss-Lobatto (LGL) to tensor product Legendre-Gauss (LG) points. The LG and LGL point formulations are compared on a series of test problems. Although being more costly to implement, it is shown that the LG operators are significantly more accurate on comparable grids. Both the LGL and LG operators are of comparable efficiency and robustness, as is demonstrated using test problems for which conventional FEM techniques suffer instability. The second effort generalizes previous SS work to include the possibility of p-refinement at non-conforming interfaces. A generalization of existing entropy stability machinery is developed to accommodate the nuances of fully multi-dimensional summation-by-parts (SBP) operators. The entropy stability of the compressible Euler equations on non-conforming interfaces is demonstrated using the newly developed LG operators and multi-dimensional interface interpolation operators.

Factorizable Schemes for the Equations of Fluid Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sidilkover, David

1999-01-01

We present an upwind high-resolution factorizable (UHF) discrete scheme for the compressible Euler equations that allows to distinguish between full-potential and advection factors at the discrete level. The scheme approximates equations in their general conservative form and is related to the family of genuinely multidimensional upwind schemes developed previously and demonstrated to have good shock-capturing capabilities. A unique property of this scheme is that in addition to the aforementioned features it is also factorizable, i.e., it allows to distinguish between full-potential and advection factors at the discrete level. The latter property facilitates the construction of optimally efficient multigrid solvers. This is done through a relaxation procedure that utilizes the factorizability property.

Optical Kerr spatiotemporal dark extreme waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wabnitz, Stefan; Kodama, Yuji; Baronio, Fabio

2018-02-01

We study the existence and propagation of multidimensional dark non-diffractive and non-dispersive spatiotemporal optical wave-packets in nonlinear Kerr media. We report analytically and confirm numerically the properties of spatiotemporal dark lines, X solitary waves and lump solutions of the (2 + 1)D nonlinear Schr odinger equation (NLSE). Dark lines, X waves and lumps represent holes of light on a continuous wave background. These solitary waves are derived by exploiting the connection between the (2 + 1)D NLSE and a well-known equation of hydrodynamics, namely the (2+1)D Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) equation. This finding opens a novel path for the excitation and control of spatiotemporal optical solitary and rogue waves, of hydrodynamic nature.

A model for the nonlocal transport and the associated distribution function deformation in magnetized laser-plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolaï, Ph.; Feugeas, J.-L.; Schurtz, G.

2006-06-01

We present a model of nonlocal transport for multidimensional radiation magneto hydrodynamic codes. In laser produced plasmas, it is now believed that the heat transfert can be strongly modified by the nonlocal nature of the electron conduction. Nevertheless other mechanisms as self generated magnetic fields may affect heat transport too. The model described in this work aims at extending the formula of G. Schurtz, Ph. Nicolaï and M. Busquet [1] to magnetized plasmas. A system of nonlocal equations is derived from kinetic equations with self-consistent electric and magnetic fields. These equations are analyzed and applied to a physical problem in order to demonstrate the main features of the model.

A kinetic equation with kinetic entropy functions for scalar conservation laws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perthame, Benoit; Tadmor, Eitan

1990-01-01

A nonlinear kinetic equation is constructed and proved to be well-adapted to describe general multidimensional scalar conservation laws. In particular, it is proved to be well-posed uniformly in epsilon - the microscopic scale. It is also shown that the proposed kinetic equation is equipped with a family of kinetic entropy functions - analogous to Boltzmann's microscopic H-function, such that they recover Krushkov-type entropy inequality on the macroscopic scale. Finally, it is proved by both - BV compactness arguments in the one-dimensional case, that the local density of kinetic particles admits a continuum limit, as it converges strongly with epsilon below 0 to the unique entropy solution of the corresponding conservation law.

Canonical forms of multidimensional steady inviscid flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taasan, Shlomo

1993-01-01

Canonical forms and canonical variables for inviscid flow problems are derived. In these forms the components of the system governed by different types of operators (elliptic and hyperbolic) are separated. Both the incompressible and compressible cases are analyzed, and their similarities and differences are discussed. The canonical forms obtained are block upper triangular operator form in which the elliptic and non-elliptic parts reside in different blocks. The full nonlinear equations are treated without using any linearization process. This form enables a better analysis of the equations as well as better numerical treatment. These forms are the analog of the decomposition of the one dimensional Euler equations into characteristic directions and Riemann invariants.

A study of the radiative transfer equation using a spherical harmonics-nodal collocation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capilla, M. T.; Talavera, C. F.; Ginestar, D.; Verdú, G.

2017-03-01

Optical tomography has found many medical applications that need to know how the photons interact with the different tissues. The majority of the photon transport simulations are done using the diffusion approximation, but this approximation has a limited validity when optical properties of the different tissues present large gradients, when structures near the photons source are studied or when anisotropic scattering has to be taken into account. As an alternative to the diffusion model, the PL equations for the radiative transfer problem are studied. These equations are discretized in a rectangular mesh using a nodal collocation method. The performance of this model is studied by solving different 1D and 2D benchmark problems of light propagation in tissue having media with isotropic and anisotropic scattering.

The treatment action campaign and the three dimensions of lawyering: Reflections from the rainbow nation

PubMed Central

Ahmad, Hassan

2013-01-01

The spread and perpetuation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa has hindered the country's social and economic growth after apartheid. This paper documents my experiences while working with the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office and specifically my interactions with the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), an organization which has taken a multi-dimensional approach in order to educate people about HIV/AIDS and attempt to provide access to medicines for millions of South Africans afflicted with the disease. I discuss how TAC has used both traditional and non-traditional methods of advocacy to combat the epidemic and equate access to health care to a social justice issue by empowering marginalized communities. The paper's dual purpose is to applaud TAC's continuous success in combating HIV/AIDS with such a multi-dimensional approach and illustrate how other organizations can utilize such an approach in order to affect social change. To illustrate TAC's approach, I utilize Lucie White's three dimensions of lawyering and equate TAC to a single cause lawyer, signifying that White's characterization of multi-dimensional activism is not limited to individuals, but can rather be applied at the firm level. White's three dimensions include: (a) advocacy through litigation, (b) advocacy in stimulating progressive change, and (c) advocacy as a pedagogic process. From this analysis, I conclude that TAC's multi-dimensional approach and specifically its inherent practice of White's three dimensions has been the root of its success in educating millions about the virus and advocating for access to medicines for those who have contracted HIV. TAC's innovative advocacy has also mobilized a new generation of South African activists who have helped TAC grow into a vibrant and integral organization within the country's post-apartheid culture. Such an example can serve as a framework for future organizations who wish to tackle other challenges that face the country. PMID:23819672

The Treatment Action Campaign and the three dimensions of lawyering: reflections from the rainbow nation.

PubMed

Ahmad, Hassan

2013-03-01

The spread and perpetuation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa has hindered the country's social and economic growth after apartheid. This paper documents my experiences while working with the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office and specifically my interactions with the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), an organization which has taken a multi-dimensional approach in order to educate people about HIV/AIDS and attempt to provide access to medicines for millions of South Africans afflicted with the disease. I discuss how TAC has used both traditional and non-traditional methods of advocacy to combat the epidemic and equate access to health care to a social justice issue by empowering marginalized communities. The paper's dual purpose is to applaud TAC's continuous success in combating HIV/AIDS with such a multi-dimensional approach and illustrate how other organizations can utilize such an approach in order to affect social change. To illustrate TAC's approach, I utilize Lucie White's three dimensions of lawyering and equate TAC to a single cause lawyer, signifying that White's characterization of multi-dimensional activism is not limited to individuals, but can rather be applied at the firm level. White's three dimensions include: (a) advocacy through litigation, (b) advocacy in stimulating progressive change, and (c) advocacy as a pedagogic process. From this analysis, I conclude that TAC's multi-dimensional approach and specifically its inherent practice of White's three dimensions has been the root of its success in educating millions about the virus and advocating for access to medicines for those who have contracted HIV. TAC's innovative advocacy has also mobilized a new generation of South African activists who have helped TAC grow into a vibrant and integral organization within the country's post-apartheid culture. Such an example can serve as a framework for future organizations who wish to tackle other challenges that face the country.

Development of one-equation transition/turbulence models

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

Edwards, J.R.; Roy, C.J.; Blottner, F.G.

2000-01-14

This paper reports on the development of a unified one-equation model for the prediction of transitional and turbulent flows. An eddy viscosity--transport equation for nonturbulent fluctuation growth based on that proposed by Warren and Hassan is combined with the Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model for turbulent fluctuation growth. Blending of the two equations is accomplished through a multidimensional intermittency function based on the work of Dhawan and Narasimha. The model predicts both the onset and extent of transition. Low-speed test cases include transitional flow over a flat plate, a single element airfoil, and a multi-element airfoil in landing configuration. High-speed test casesmore » include transitional Mach 3.5 flow over a 5{degree} cone and Mach 6 flow over a flared-cone configuration. Results are compared with experimental data, and the grid-dependence of selected predictions is analyzed.« less

An improved method for nonlinear parameter estimation: a case study of the Rössler model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Wen-Ping; Wang, Liu; Jiang, Yun-Di; Wan, Shi-Quan

2016-08-01

Parameter estimation is an important research topic in nonlinear dynamics. Based on the evolutionary algorithm (EA), Wang et al. (2014) present a new scheme for nonlinear parameter estimation and numerical tests indicate that the estimation precision is satisfactory. However, the convergence rate of the EA is relatively slow when multiple unknown parameters in a multidimensional dynamical system are estimated simultaneously. To solve this problem, an improved method for parameter estimation of nonlinear dynamical equations is provided in the present paper. The main idea of the improved scheme is to use all of the known time series for all of the components in some dynamical equations to estimate the parameters in single component one by one, instead of estimating all of the parameters in all of the components simultaneously. Thus, we can estimate all of the parameters stage by stage. The performance of the improved method was tested using a classic chaotic system—Rössler model. The numerical tests show that the amended parameter estimation scheme can greatly improve the searching efficiency and that there is a significant increase in the convergence rate of the EA, particularly for multiparameter estimation in multidimensional dynamical equations. Moreover, the results indicate that the accuracy of parameter estimation and the CPU time consumed by the presented method have no obvious dependence on the sample size.

Impact of Violation of the Missing-at-Random Assumption on Full-Information Maximum Likelihood Method in Multidimensional Adaptive Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Han, Kyung T.; Guo, Fanmin

2014-01-01

The full-information maximum likelihood (FIML) method makes it possible to estimate and analyze structural equation models (SEM) even when data are partially missing, enabling incomplete data to contribute to model estimation. The cornerstone of FIML is the missing-at-random (MAR) assumption. In (unidimensional) computerized adaptive testing…

Improved Representation of the Self-Perception Profile for Children through Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arens, A. Katrin; Morin, Alexandre J. S.

2017-01-01

This study illustrates an integrative psychometric framework to investigate two sources of construct-relevant multidimensionality in answers to the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC). Using a sample of 2,353 German students attending Grades 3 to 6, we contrasted: (a) first-order versus hierarchical and bifactor models to investigate…

Computations of M sub 2 and K sub 1 ocean tidal perturbations in satellite elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Estes, R. H.

1974-01-01

Semi-analytic perturbation equations for the influence of M2 and K1 ocean tidal constituents on satellite motion are expanded into multi-dimensional Fourier series and calculations made for the BE-C satellite. Perturbation in the orbital elements are compared to those of the long period solid earth tides.

Construct Validity of the Multidimensional Structure of Bullying and Victimization: An Application of Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsh, Herbert W.; Nagengast, Benjamin; Morin, Alexandre J. S.; Parada, Roberto H.; Craven, Rhonda G.; Hamilton, Linda R.

2011-01-01

Existing research posits multiple dimensions of bullying and victimization but has not identified well-differentiated facets of these constructs that meet standards of good measurement: goodness of fit, measurement invariance, lack of differential item functioning, and well-differentiated factors that are not so highly correlated as to detract…

Effect of Item Response Theory (IRT) Model Selection on Testlet-Based Test Equating. Research Report. ETS RR-14-19

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cao, Yi; Lu, Ru; Tao, Wei

2014-01-01

The local item independence assumption underlying traditional item response theory (IRT) models is often not met for tests composed of testlets. There are 3 major approaches to addressing this issue: (a) ignore the violation and use a dichotomous IRT model (e.g., the 2-parameter logistic [2PL] model), (b) combine the interdependent items to form a…

Addition of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide to soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor ratio > 38 improves prediction of pre-eclampsia requiring delivery within 1 week: a longitudinal cohort study.

PubMed

Sabriá, E; Lequerica-Fernández, P; Lafuente-Ganuza, P; Eguia-Ángeles, E; Escudero, A I; Martínez-Morillo, E; Barceló, C; Álvarez, F V

2018-06-01

Short-term prediction of pre-eclampsia (PE) using the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is characterized by frequent false-positive results. As such, no treatment can be recommended to test-positive patients and multiple measurements are often required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), uric acid and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for prediction of delivery with PE within 1 week in singleton pregnancies with suspected PE and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio > 38. This was a longitudinal prospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies presenting at 24 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks of gestation with clinically suspected PE and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio > 38, enrolled between January 2015 and June 2017. Multiple samples per patient were allowed but were restricted to one sample per gestational week. From 495 enrolled patients, 270 blood samples from 134 patients were ultimately analyzed. By using generalized estimating equations (GEE), the best-fit model was selected for prediction of delivery with PE within 1 week. The predictive value of this model was then assessed using area under the paired-ROC curve (AUC) analysis. The best-fit model included the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, NT-proBNP and the gestational week at the time of the measurement. This combined model was compared with the GEE model based on the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and the gestational week at the time of the measurement (reduced model). The AUC for the combined model was 0.845 (95% CI, 0.787-0.896), which was significantly greater (P = 0.011) than that of the reduced model (0.786 (95% CI, 0.722-0.844)). The addition of NT-proBNP assessment improves the short-term prediction of delivery as a result of PE compared with sFlt-1/PlGF ratio alone, when the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is > 38. This finding should be considered in future research on the assessment of short-term risk of delivery as a result of PE. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Method for the Direct Solve of the Many-Body Schrödinger Wave Equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jerke, Jonathan; Tymczak, C. J.; Poirier, Bill

We report on theoretical and computational developments towards a computationally efficient direct solve of the many-body Schrödinger wave equation for electronic systems. This methodology relies on two recent developments pioneered by the authors: 1) the development of a Cardinal Sine basis for electronic structure calculations; and 2) the development of a highly efficient and compact representation of multidimensional functions using the Canonical tensor rank representation developed by Belykin et. al. which we have adapted to electronic structure problems. We then show several relevant examples of the utility and accuracy of this methodology, scaling with system size, and relevant convergence issues of the methodology. Method for the Direct Solve of the Many-Body Schrödinger Wave Equation.

The Cauchy problem for the Pavlov equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grinevich, P. G.; Santini, P. M.; Wu, D.

2015-10-01

Commutation of multidimensional vector fields leads to integrable nonlinear dispersionless PDEs that arise in various problems of mathematical physics and have been intensively studied in recent literature. This report aims to solve the scattering and inverse scattering problem for integrable dispersionless PDEs, recently introduced just at a formal level, concentrating on the prototypical example of the Pavlov equation, and to justify an existence theorem for global bounded solutions of the associated Cauchy problem with small data. An essential part of this work was made during the visit of the three authors to the Centro Internacional de Ciencias in Cuernavaca, Mexico in November-December 2012.

Proceedings of the NATO-Advanced Study Institute on Computer Aided Analysis of Rigid and Flexible Mechanical Systems Held in Troia, Portugal on 27 Jun-9 Jul, 1993. Volume 2. Contributed Papers

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-07-09

Calculate Oil and solve iteratively equation (18) for q and (l)-(S) forex . 4, Solve the velocity problemn through equation (19) to calculate q and (6)-(10) to...object.oriented models for the database to store the system information f1l. Using OOP on the formalism level is more difficult and a current field of...Multidimensional Physical Systems: Graph-theoretic Modeling, Systems and Cybernetics, vol 21 (1992), 5 .9-71 JV A RELATIONAL DATABASE FOR GENERAL

An analysis of the DuPage County Regional Office of Education physics exam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muehsler, Hans

In 2009, the DuPage County Regional Office of Education (ROE) tasked volunteer physics teachers with creating a basic skills physics exam reflecting what the participants valued and shared in common across curricula. Mechanics, electricity & magnetism (E&M), and wave phenomena emerged as the primary constructs. The resulting exam was intended for first-exposure physics students. The most recently completed version was psychometrically assessed for unidimensionality within the constructs using a robust WLS structural equation model and for reliability. An item analysis using a 3-PL IRT model was performed on the mechanics items and a 2-PL IRT model was performed on the E&M and waves items; a distractor analysis was also performed on all items. Lastly, differential item functioning (DIF) and differential test functioning (DTF) analyses, using the Mantel-Haenszel procedure, were performed using gender, ethnicity, year in school, ELL, physics level, and math level as groupings.

Influence of thermally induced structural and morphological changes, and UV irradiation on photoluminescence and optical absorption behavior of CdS nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osman, M. A.; El-Said, Waleed A.; Othman, A. A.; Abd-Elrahim, A. G.

2016-04-01

Polycrystalline cubic CdS nanoparticles (NPs) with a crystallite size ({{D}\\text{Sch}} ) ~3 nm were synthesized by chemical precipitation method at room temperature. Thermal induced structural and morphological changes have been investigated using x-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, x-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The influence of these changes on optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) characteristics have been studied. It was found that increasing annealing temperature (T a), results in structural phase transitions at 300 and 700 °C, increasing {{D}\\text{Sch}} and red shift of the optical band gap (E\\text{g}\\text{opt} ) due to the improvement in crystallinity. The photoluminescence emission spectrum of nonstoichiometric CdS (Cd-rich) nanopowder reveals emission bands at 365, 397, and 434 nm. Furthermore, PL spectrum of colloidal solution exhibits additional green and red emission bands at 535, 570 and 622 nm. To explain the mechanism of PL emission in CdS NPs, trapping and radiative recombination levels have been identified and the corresponding energy band diagrams are suggested. Annealing process results in an overall enhancement in PL intensity due to the improvement in crystallinity associated with the reduction of nonradiative surface state defects. Irradiation of CdS NPs colloidal solution at UV irradiation dose  <13 J cm-2 leads to the enhancement of PL quantum efficiency and blue shift of E\\text{g}\\text{opt} (i.e. photo-brightening) due to the decrease in the particle size deduced from Brus equation ≤ft({{D}\\text{Brus}}\\right) , This behavior is due to UV irradiation effects such as photopolymerization, the formation of CdSO4 passivation layers due to photooxidation and the reduction in {{D}\\text{Brus}} by photocorrosion process. At UV irradiation dose  <13 J cm-2, PL emission intensity continuously enhances without any change in both E\\text{g}\\text{opt} and {{D}\\text{Brus}} . This behavior is discussed in terms of electron filling model. Boltzmann curve fitting successfully describes the dependence of both {{D}\\text{Brus}} and E\\text{g}\\text{opt} on UV irradiation dose.

Low-discrepancy sampling of parametric surface using adaptive space-filling curves (SFC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Charles; Szu, Harold

2014-05-01

Space-Filling Curves (SFCs) are encountered in different fields of engineering and computer science, especially where it is important to linearize multidimensional data for effective and robust interpretation of the information. Examples of multidimensional data are matrices, images, tables, computational grids, and Electroencephalography (EEG) sensor data resulting from the discretization of partial differential equations (PDEs). Data operations like matrix multiplications, load/store operations and updating and partitioning of data sets can be simplified when we choose an efficient way of going through the data. In many applications SFCs present just this optimal manner of mapping multidimensional data onto a one dimensional sequence. In this report, we begin with an example of a space-filling curve and demonstrate how it can be used to find the most similarity using Fast Fourier transform (FFT) through a set of points. Next we give a general introduction to space-filling curves and discuss properties of them. Finally, we consider a discrete version of space-filling curves and present experimental results on discrete space-filling curves optimized for special tasks.

The Four Faces of Competition: The Development of the Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory

PubMed Central

Orosz, Gábor; Tóth-Király, István; Büki, Noémi; Ivaskevics, Krisztián; Bőthe, Beáta; Fülöp, Márta

2018-01-01

To date, no short scale exists with established factor structure that can assess individual differences in competition. The aim of the present study was to uncover and operationalize the facets of competitive orientations with theoretical underpinning and strong psychometric properties. A total of 2676 respondents were recruited for four studies. The items were constructed based on qualitative research in different cultural contexts. A combined method of exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed. ESEM resulted in a four-factor structure of the competitive orientations and this structure was supported by a series of CFAs on different comprehensive samples. The Multidimensional Competitive Orientation Inventory (MCOI) included 12 items and four factors: hypercompetitive orientation, self-developmental competitive orientation, anxiety-driven competition avoidance, and lack of interest toward competition. Strong gender invariance was established. The four facets of competition have differentiated relationship patterns with adaptive and maladaptive personality and motivational constructs. The MCOI can assess the adaptive and maladaptive facets of competitive orientations with a short, reliable, valid and theoretically underlined multidimensional measure. PMID:29872415

Methodological Measurement Fruitfulness of Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM): New Approaches to Key Substantive Issues in Motivation and Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marsh, Herbert W.; Liem, Gregory Arief D.; Martin, Andrew J.; Morin, Alexandre J. S.; Nagengast, Benjamin

2011-01-01

The most popular measures of multidimensional constructs typically fail to meet standards of good measurement: goodness of fit, measurement invariance, lack of differential item functioning, and well-differentiated factors that are not so highly correlated as to detract from their discriminant validity. Part of the problem, the authors argue, is…

The Integration of Delta Prime (f)in a Multidimensional Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farassat, F.

1999-01-01

Consideration is given to the thickness noise term of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation when the time derivative is taken explicitly. An interpretation is presented of the integral I = function phi(x)delta-prime(f) dx, where it is initially assumed that the absolute value of Del-f is not equal to 1 on the surface f = 0.

Analysis and design of numerical schemes for gas dynamics 1: Artificial diffusion, upwind biasing, limiters and their effect on accuracy and multigrid convergence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jameson, Antony

1994-01-01

The theory of non-oscillatory scalar schemes is developed in this paper in terms of the local extremum diminishing (LED) principle that maxima should not increase and minima should not decrease. This principle can be used for multi-dimensional problems on both structured and unstructured meshes, while it is equivalent to the total variation diminishing (TVD) principle for one-dimensional problems. A new formulation of symmetric limited positive (SLIP) schemes is presented, which can be generalized to produce schemes with arbitrary high order of accuracy in regions where the solution contains no extrema, and which can also be implemented on multi-dimensional unstructured meshes. Systems of equations lead to waves traveling with distinct speeds and possibly in opposite directions. Alternative treatments using characteristic splitting and scalar diffusive fluxes are examined, together with modification of the scalar diffusion through the addition of pressure differences to the momentum equations to produce full upwinding in supersonic flow. This convective upwind and split pressure (CUSP) scheme exhibits very rapid convergence in multigrid calculations of transonic flow, and provides excellent shock resolution at very high Mach numbers.

Nonlinear dynamics of the 3D FMS and Alfven wave beams propagating in plasma of ionosphere and magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belashov, Vasily

We study the formation, structure, stability and dynamics of the multidimensional soliton-like beam structures forming on the low-frequency branch of oscillation in the ionospheric and magnetospheric plasma for cases when beta=4pinT/B(2) <<1 and beta>1. In first case with the conditions omega>{k_{yz}}(2,) v_{x}$<

Multidimensional FEM-FCT schemes for arbitrary time stepping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuzmin, D.; Möller, M.; Turek, S.

2003-05-01

The flux-corrected-transport paradigm is generalized to finite-element schemes based on arbitrary time stepping. A conservative flux decomposition procedure is proposed for both convective and diffusive terms. Mathematical properties of positivity-preserving schemes are reviewed. A nonoscillatory low-order method is constructed by elimination of negative off-diagonal entries of the discrete transport operator. The linearization of source terms and extension to hyperbolic systems are discussed. Zalesak's multidimensional limiter is employed to switch between linear discretizations of high and low order. A rigorous proof of positivity is provided. The treatment of non-linearities and iterative solution of linear systems are addressed. The performance of the new algorithm is illustrated by numerical examples for the shock tube problem in one dimension and scalar transport equations in two dimensions.

Comparative analysis of magnetic resonance in the polaron pair recombination and the triplet exciton-polaron quenching models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mkhitaryan, V. V.; Danilović, D.; Hippola, C.; Raikh, M. E.; Shinar, J.

2018-01-01

We present a comparative theoretical study of magnetic resonance within the polaron pair recombination (PPR) and the triplet exciton-polaron quenching (TPQ) models. Both models have been invoked to interpret the photoluminescence detected magnetic resonance (PLDMR) results in π -conjugated materials and devices. We show that resonance line shapes calculated within the two models differ dramatically in several regards. First, in the PPR model, the line shape exhibits unusual behavior upon increasing the microwave power: it evolves from fully positive at weak power to fully negative at strong power. In contrast, in the TPQ model, the PLDMR is completely positive, showing a monotonic saturation. Second, the two models predict different dependencies of the resonance signal on the photoexcitation power, PL. At low PL, the resonance amplitude Δ I /I is ∝PL within the PPR model, while it is ∝PL2 crossing over to PL3 within the TPQ model. On the physical level, the differences stem from different underlying spin dynamics. Most prominently, a negative resonance within the PPR model has its origin in the microwave-induced spin-Dicke effect, leading to the resonant quenching of photoluminescence. The spin-Dicke effect results from the spin-selective recombination, leading to a highly correlated precession of the on-resonance pair partners under the strong microwave power. This effect is not relevant for TPQ mechanism, where the strong zero-field splitting renders the majority of triplets off resonance. On the technical level, the analytical evaluation of the line shapes for the two models is enabled by the fact that these shapes can be expressed via the eigenvalues of a complex Hamiltonian. This bypasses the necessity of solving the much larger complex linear system of the stochastic Liouville equations. Our findings pave the way towards a reliable discrimination between the two mechanisms via cw PLDMR.

Development of a One-Equation Transition/Turbulence Model

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

EDWARDS,JACK R.; ROY,CHRISTOPHER J.; BLOTTNER,FREDERICK G.

2000-09-26

This paper reports on the development of a unified one-equation model for the prediction of transitional and turbulent flows. An eddy viscosity - transport equation for non-turbulent fluctuation growth based on that proposed by Warren and Hassan (Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 35, No. 5) is combined with the Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model for turbulent fluctuation growth. Blending of the two equations is accomplished through a multidimensional intermittence function based on the work of Dhawan and Narasimha (Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 3, No. 4). The model predicts both the onset and extent of transition. Low-speed test cases include transitional flow overmore » a flat plate, a single element airfoil, and a multi-element airfoil in landing configuration. High-speed test cases include transitional Mach 3.5 flow over a 5{degree} cone and Mach 6 flow over a flared-cone configuration. Results are compared with experimental data, and the spatial accuracy of selected predictions is analyzed.« less

Spectral factorization of wavefields and wave operators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rickett, James Edward

Spectral factorization is the problem of finding a minimum-phase function with a given power spectrum. Minimum phase functions have the property that they are causal with a causal (stable) inverse. In this thesis, I factor multidimensional systems into their minimum-phase components. Helical boundary conditions resolve any ambiguities over causality, allowing me to factor multi-dimensional systems with conventional one-dimensional spectral factorization algorithms. In the first part, I factor passive seismic wavefields recorded in two-dimensional spatial arrays. The result provides an estimate of the acoustic impulse response of the medium that has higher bandwidth than autocorrelation-derived estimates. Also, the function's minimum-phase nature mimics the physics of the system better than the zero-phase autocorrelation model. I demonstrate this on helioseismic data recorded by the satellite-based Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) instrument, and shallow seismic data recorded at Long Beach, California. In the second part of this thesis, I take advantage of the stable-inverse property of minimum-phase functions to solve wave-equation partial differential equations. By factoring multi-dimensional finite-difference stencils into minimum-phase components, I can invert them efficiently, facilitating rapid implicit extrapolation without the azimuthal anisotropy that is observed with splitting approximations. The final part of this thesis describes how to calculate diagonal weighting functions that approximate the combined operation of seismic modeling and migration. These weighting functions capture the effects of irregular subsurface illumination, which can be the result of either the surface-recording geometry, or focusing and defocusing of the seismic wavefield as it propagates through the earth. Since they are diagonal, they can be easily both factored and inverted to compensate for uneven subsurface illumination in migrated images. Experimental results show that applying these weighting functions after migration leads to significantly improved estimates of seismic reflectivity.

Multidimensional computer simulation of Stirling cycle engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, C. A.; Porsching, T. A.; Medley, J.; Tew, R. C.

1990-01-01

The computer code ALGAE (algorithms for the gas equations) treats incompressible, thermally expandable, or locally compressible flows in complicated two-dimensional flow regions. The solution method, finite differencing schemes, and basic modeling of the field equations in ALGAE are applicable to engineering design settings of the type found in Stirling cycle engines. The use of ALGAE to model multiple components of the space power research engine (SPRE) is reported. Videotape computer simulations of the transient behavior of the working gas (helium) in the heater-regenerator-cooler complex of the SPRE demonstrate the usefulness of such a program in providing information on thermal and hydraulic phenomena in multiple component sections of the SPRE.

A third-order computational method for numerical fluxes to guarantee nonnegative difference coefficients for advection-diffusion equations in a semi-conservative form

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakai, K.; Watabe, D.; Minamidani, T.; Zhang, G. S.

2012-10-01

According to Godunov theorem for numerical calculations of advection equations, there exist no higher-order schemes with constant positive difference coefficients in a family of polynomial schemes with an accuracy exceeding the first-order. We propose a third-order computational scheme for numerical fluxes to guarantee the non-negative difference coefficients of resulting finite difference equations for advection-diffusion equations in a semi-conservative form, in which there exist two kinds of numerical fluxes at a cell surface and these two fluxes are not always coincident in non-uniform velocity fields. The present scheme is optimized so as to minimize truncation errors for the numerical fluxes while fulfilling the positivity condition of the difference coefficients which are variable depending on the local Courant number and diffusion number. The feature of the present optimized scheme consists in keeping the third-order accuracy anywhere without any numerical flux limiter. We extend the present method into multi-dimensional equations. Numerical experiments for advection-diffusion equations showed nonoscillatory solutions.

Proceedings of Colloquium on Stable Solutions of Some Ill-Posed Problems, October 9, 1979.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-30

4. In (24] iterative process (9) was applied for calculation of the magnetization of thin magnetic films . This problem is of interest for computer...equation fl I (x-t) -f(t) = g(x), x > 1. (i) Its multidimensional analogue fmX-tK-if(t)dt = g(x), xEA, AnD (2) can be intepreted as the problem of

Examining the Inseparability of Content Knowledge from LSP Reading Ability: An Approach Combining Bifactor-Multidimensional Item Response Theory and Structural Equation Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cai, Yuyang; Kunnan, Antony John

2018-01-01

This study examined the separability of domain-general and domain-specific content knowledge from Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) reading ability. A pool of 1,491 nursing students in China participated by responding to a nursing English test and a nursing knowledge test. Primary data analysis involved four steps: (a) conducting a…

A Robust Absorbing Boundary Condition for Compressible Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loh, Ching Y.; orgenson, Philip C. E.

2005-01-01

An absorbing non-reflecting boundary condition (NRBC) for practical computations in fluid dynamics and aeroacoustics is presented with theoretical proof. This paper is a continuation and improvement of a previous paper by the author. The absorbing NRBC technique is based on a first principle of non reflecting, which contains the essential physics that a plane wave solution of the Euler equations remains intact across the boundary. The technique is theoretically shown to work for a large class of finite volume approaches. When combined with the hyperbolic conservation laws, the NRBC is simple, robust and truly multi-dimensional; no additional implementation is needed except the prescribed physical boundary conditions. Several numerical examples in multi-dimensional spaces using two different finite volume schemes are illustrated to demonstrate its robustness in practical computations. Limitations and remedies of the technique are also discussed.

Multidimensional Multiphysics Simulation of TRISO Particle Fuel

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

J. D. Hales; R. L. Williamson; S. R. Novascone

2013-11-01

Multidimensional multiphysics analysis of TRISO-coated particle fuel using the BISON finite-element based nuclear fuels code is described. The governing equations and material models applicable to particle fuel and implemented in BISON are outlined. Code verification based on a recent IAEA benchmarking exercise is described, and excellant comparisons are reported. Multiple TRISO-coated particles of increasing geometric complexity are considered. It is shown that the code's ability to perform large-scale parallel computations permits application to complex 3D phenomena while very efficient solutions for either 1D spherically symmetric or 2D axisymmetric geometries are straightforward. Additionally, the flexibility to easily include new physical andmore » material models and uncomplicated ability to couple to lower length scale simulations makes BISON a powerful tool for simulation of coated-particle fuel. Future code development activities and potential applications are identified.« less

Substituent effects on the redox states of locally functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes revealed by in situ photoluminescence spectroelectrochemistry.

PubMed

Shiraishi, Tomonari; Shiraki, Tomohiro; Nakashima, Naotoshi

2017-11-09

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with local chemical modification have been recognized as a novel near infrared (NIR) photoluminescent nanomaterial due to the emergence of a new red-shifted photoluminescence (PL) with enhanced quantum yields. As a characteristic feature of the locally functionalized SWNTs (lf-SWNTs), PL wavelength changes occur with the structural dependence of the substituent structures in the modified aryl groups, showing up to a 60 nm peak shift according to an electronic property difference of the aryl groups. Up to now, however, the structural effect on the electronic states of the lf-SWNTs has been discussed only on the basis of theoretical calculations due to the very limited amount of modifications. Herein, we describe the successfully-determined electronic states of the aryl-modified lf-SWNTs with different substituents (Ar-X SWNTs) using an in situ PL spectroelectrochemical method based on electrochemical quenching of the PL intensities analyzed by the Nernst equation. In particular, we reveal that the local functionalization of (6,5)SWNTs induced potential changes in the energy levels of the HOMO and the LUMO by -23 to -38 meV and +20 to +22 meV, respectively, compared to those of the pristine SWNTs, which generates exciton trapping sites with narrower band gaps. Moreover, the HOMO levels of the Ar-X SWNTs specifically shift in a negative potential direction by 15 meV according to an enhancement of the electron-accepting property of the substituents in the aryl groups that corresponds to an increase in the Hammet substituent constants, suggesting the importance of the dipole effect from the aryl groups on the lf-SWNTs to the level shift of the frontier orbitals. Our method is a promising way to characterize the electronic features of the lf-SWNTs.

Shift-connected SIMD array architectures for digital optical computing systems, with algorithms for numerical transforms and partial differential equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drabik, Timothy J.; Lee, Sing H.

1986-11-01

The intrinsic parallelism characteristics of easily realizable optical SIMD arrays prompt their present consideration in the implementation of highly structured algorithms for the numerical solution of multidimensional partial differential equations and the computation of fast numerical transforms. Attention is given to a system, comprising several spatial light modulators (SLMs), an optical read/write memory, and a functional block, which performs simple, space-invariant shifts on images with sufficient flexibility to implement the fastest known methods for partial differential equations as well as a wide variety of numerical transforms in two or more dimensions. Either fixed or floating-point arithmetic may be used. A performance projection of more than 1 billion floating point operations/sec using SLMs with 1000 x 1000-resolution and operating at 1-MHz frame rates is made.

Race and Gender Matter: A Multidimensional Approach to Conceptualizing and Measuring Stress in African American Women

PubMed Central

Woods-Giscombé, Cheryl L.; Lobel, Marci

2008-01-01

Based on prior research and theory, the authors constructed a multidimensional model of stress in African American women comprised of race-related, gender-related, and generic stress. Exposure to and appraisal of these three types of stress were combined into a higher-order global stress factor. Using structural equation modeling, the fit of this stress factor and its ability to predict distress symptoms were examined in 189 socioeconomically diverse African American women aged 21 to 78. Results support the multidimensional conceptualization and operationalization of stress. Race-related, gender-related, and generic stress contributed equally to the global stress factor, and global stress predicted a significant amount of variance in distress symptoms and intensity. This model exhibited better fit than a model without a global stress factor, in which each stress component predicted distress directly. Furthermore, race-related, gender-related, and generic stress did not contribute to distress beyond their representation in the global stress factor. These findings illustrate that stress related to central elements of identity, namely race and gender, cohere with generic stress to define the stress experience of African American women. PMID:18624581

Race and gender matter: a multidimensional approach to conceptualizing and measuring stress in African American women.

PubMed

Woods-Giscombé, Cheryl L; Lobel, Marci

2008-07-01

Based on prior research and theory, the authors constructed a multidimensional model of stress in African American women comprised of race-related, gender-related, and generic stress. Exposure to and appraisal of these three types of stress were combined into a higher-order global stress factor. Using structural equation modeling, the fit of this stress factor and its ability to predict distress symptoms were examined in 189 socioeconomically diverse African American women aged 21 to 78. Results support the multidimensional conceptualization and operationalization of stress. Race-related, gender-related, and generic stress contributed equally to the global stress factor, and global stress predicted a significant amount of variance in distress symptoms and intensity. This model exhibited better fit than a model without a global stress factor, in which each stress component predicted distress directly. Furthermore, race-related, gender-related, and generic stress did not contribute to distress beyond their representation in the global stress factor. These findings illustrate that stress related to central elements of identity, namely race and gender, cohere with generic stress to define the stress experience of African American women. Copyright (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved.

Analysis on the multi-dimensional spectrum of the thrust force for the linear motor feed drive system in machine tools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Xiaojun; Lu, Dun; Ma, Chengfang; Zhang, Jun; Zhao, Wanhua

2017-01-01

The motor thrust force has lots of harmonic components due to the nonlinearity of drive circuit and motor itself in the linear motor feed drive system. What is more, in the motion process, these thrust force harmonics may vary with the position, velocity, acceleration and load, which affects the displacement fluctuation of the feed drive system. Therefore, in this paper, on the basis of the thrust force spectrum obtained by the Maxwell equation and the electromagnetic energy method, the multi-dimensional variation of each thrust harmonic is analyzed under different motion parameters. Then the model of the servo system is established oriented to the dynamic precision. The influence of the variation of the thrust force spectrum on the displacement fluctuation is discussed. At last the experiments are carried out to verify the theoretical analysis above. It can be found that the thrust harmonics show multi-dimensional spectrum characteristics under different motion parameters and loads, which should be considered to choose the motion parameters and optimize the servo control parameters in the high-speed and high-precision machine tools equipped with the linear motor feed drive system.

III Potsdam-V Kiev International Workshop on Nonlinear Processes in Physics. Held in Potsdam, New York on August 1-11, 1991

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-08-01

Bona, Burke, Grundbaum, Hasagawa, Horton, Krichever, Kruskal, Kuznetsov , Lax, McLaughlin, Mikhailov., Rubenchik, Sabatier, Tabor, Zabusky) for their...British Telecom Lab., GB Fibers Oleg Bogoyavlenskij Breaking Solitons Steklov Mathematical Institute USSR Marco Boiti Real and Virtual Multidimensional...Beyond Rutgers University, USA Boris Kupershmidt Relativistic Analogs of Lax Equations Tennessee Space Institute, USA E.A. Kuznetsov Weak MHD Turbulence

High-Maneuverability Airframe: Initial Investigation of Configuration’s Aft End for Increased Stability, Range, and Maneuverability

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

including the interaction effects between the fins and canards. 2. Solution Technique 2.1 Computational Aerodynamics The double-precision solver of a...and overset grids (unified-grid). • Total variation diminishing discretization based on a new multidimensional interpolation framework. • Riemann ... solvers to provide proper signal propagation physics including versions for preconditioned forms of the governing equations. • Consistent and

TIME-DEPENDENT MULTI-GROUP MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RELATIVISTIC RADIATIVE TRANSFER CODE BASED ON SPHERICAL HARMONIC DISCRETE ORDINATE METHOD

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

Tominaga, Nozomu; Shibata, Sanshiro; Blinnikov, Sergei I., E-mail: tominaga@konan-u.ac.jp, E-mail: sshibata@post.kek.jp, E-mail: Sergei.Blinnikov@itep.ru

We develop a time-dependent, multi-group, multi-dimensional relativistic radiative transfer code, which is required to numerically investigate radiation from relativistic fluids that are involved in, e.g., gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei. The code is based on the spherical harmonic discrete ordinate method (SHDOM) which evaluates a source function including anisotropic scattering in spherical harmonics and implicitly solves the static radiative transfer equation with ray tracing in discrete ordinates. We implement treatments of time dependence, multi-frequency bins, Lorentz transformation, and elastic Thomson and inelastic Compton scattering to the publicly available SHDOM code. Our code adopts a mixed-frame approach; the source functionmore » is evaluated in the comoving frame, whereas the radiative transfer equation is solved in the laboratory frame. This implementation is validated using various test problems and comparisons with the results from a relativistic Monte Carlo code. These validations confirm that the code correctly calculates the intensity and its evolution in the computational domain. The code enables us to obtain an Eddington tensor that relates the first and third moments of intensity (energy density and radiation pressure) and is frequently used as a closure relation in radiation hydrodynamics calculations.« less

Multidimensional indexing structure for use with linear optimization queries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bergman, Lawrence David (Inventor); Castelli, Vittorio (Inventor); Chang, Yuan-Chi (Inventor); Li, Chung-Sheng (Inventor); Smith, John Richard (Inventor)

2002-01-01

Linear optimization queries, which usually arise in various decision support and resource planning applications, are queries that retrieve top N data records (where N is an integer greater than zero) which satisfy a specific optimization criterion. The optimization criterion is to either maximize or minimize a linear equation. The coefficients of the linear equation are given at query time. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for constructing, maintaining and utilizing a multidimensional indexing structure of database records to improve the execution speed of linear optimization queries. Database records with numerical attributes are organized into a number of layers and each layer represents a geometric structure called convex hull. Such linear optimization queries are processed by searching from the outer-most layer of this multi-layer indexing structure inwards. At least one record per layer will satisfy the query criterion and the number of layers needed to be searched depends on the spatial distribution of records, the query-issued linear coefficients, and N, the number of records to be returned. When N is small compared to the total size of the database, answering the query typically requires searching only a small fraction of all relevant records, resulting in a tremendous speedup as compared to linearly scanning the entire dataset.

Planck scale boundary conditions and the Higgs mass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holthausen, Martin; Lim, Kher Sham; Lindner, Manfred

2012-02-01

If the LHC does only find a Higgs boson in the low mass region and no other new physics, then one should reconsider scenarios where the Standard Model with three right-handed neutrinos is valid up to Planck scale. We assume in this spirit that the Standard Model couplings are remnants of quantum gravity which implies certain generic boundary conditions for the Higgs quartic coupling at Planck scale. This leads to Higgs mass predictions at the electroweak scale via renormalization group equations. We find that several physically well motivated conditions yield a range of Higgs masses from 127 - 142 GeV. We also argue that a random quartic Higgs coupling at the Planck scale favours M H > 150 GeV, which is clearly excluded. We discuss also the prospects for differentiating different boundary conditions imposed for λ( M pl) at the LHC. A striking example is M H = 127 ± 5 GeV corresponding to λ( M pl) = 0, which would imply that the quartic Higgs coupling at the electroweak scale is entirely radiatively generated.

TRAC-P1: an advanced best estimate computer program for PWR LOCA analysis. I. Methods, models, user information, and programming details

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

Not Available

1978-05-01

The Transient Reactor Analysis Code (TRAC) is being developed at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) to provide an advanced ''best estimate'' predictive capability for the analysis of postulated accidents in light water reactors (LWRs). TRAC-Pl provides this analysis capability for pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and for a wide variety of thermal-hydraulic experimental facilities. It features a three-dimensional treatment of the pressure vessel and associated internals; two-phase nonequilibrium hydrodynamics models; flow-regime-dependent constitutive equation treatment; reflood tracking capability for both bottom flood and falling film quench fronts; and consistent treatment of entire accident sequences including the generation of consistent initial conditions.more » The TRAC-Pl User's Manual is composed of two separate volumes. Volume I gives a description of the thermal-hydraulic models and numerical solution methods used in the code. Detailed programming and user information is also provided. Volume II presents the results of the developmental verification calculations.« less

Non-uniqueness of admissible weak solutions to the Riemann problem for isentropic Euler equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiodaroli, Elisabetta; Kreml, Ondřej

2018-04-01

We study the Riemann problem for multidimensional compressible isentropic Euler equations. Using the framework developed in Chiodaroli et al (2015 Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 68 1157–90), and based on the techniques of De Lellis and Székelyhidi (2010 Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 195 225–60), we extend the results of Chiodaroli and Kreml (2014 Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 214 1019–49) and prove that it is possible to characterize a set of Riemann data, giving rise to a self-similar solution consisting of one admissible shock and one rarefaction wave, for which the problem also admits infinitely many admissible weak solutions.

Item response theory and structural equation modelling for ordinal data: Describing the relationship between KIDSCREEN and Life-H.

PubMed

Titman, Andrew C; Lancaster, Gillian A; Colver, Allan F

2016-10-01

Both item response theory and structural equation models are useful in the analysis of ordered categorical responses from health assessment questionnaires. We highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the item response theory and structural equation modelling approaches to modelling ordinal data, from within a community health setting. Using data from the SPARCLE project focussing on children with cerebral palsy, this paper investigates the relationship between two ordinal rating scales, the KIDSCREEN, which measures quality-of-life, and Life-H, which measures participation. Practical issues relating to fitting models, such as non-positive definite observed or fitted correlation matrices, and approaches to assessing model fit are discussed. item response theory models allow properties such as the conditional independence of particular domains of a measurement instrument to be assessed. When, as with the SPARCLE data, the latent traits are multidimensional, structural equation models generally provide a much more convenient modelling framework. © The Author(s) 2013.

2-3D nonlocal transport model in magnetized laser plasmas.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolaï, Philippe; Feugeas, Jean-Luc; Schurtz, Guy

2004-11-01

We present a model of nonlocal transport for multidimensional radiation magneto-hydrodynamics codes. This model, based on simplified Fokker-Planck equations, aims at extending the formulae of G Schurtz,Ph.Nicolaï and M. Busquet [Phys. Plasmas,7,4238 (2000)] to magnetized plasmas.The improvements concern various points as the electric field effects on nonlocal transport or conversely the kinetic effects on E field. However the main purpose of this work is to generalize the previous model by including magnetic field effects. A complete system of nonlocal equations is derived from kinetic equations with self-consistent E and B fields. These equations are analyzed and simplified in order to be implemented into large laser fusion codes and coupled to other relevent physics. Finally, our model allows to obtain the deformation of the electron distribution function due to nonlocal effects. This deformation leads to a non-maxwellian function which could be used to compute the influence on other physical processes.

The HEUN-SCHRÖDINGER Radial Equation for Dh-Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarasov, V. F.

This article deals with the connection between Schrödinger's multidimensional equation for DH-atoms (D≥1) and the confluent Heun equation with two auxiliary parameters ν and τ, where |1-ν| = o(1) and τ∈ℚ+, which influence the spectrum of eigenvalues, the Coulomb potential and the radial function. The case τ = ν = 1 and D = 3 corresponds to the "standard" form of Schrödinger's equation for a 3H-atom. With the help of parameter ν, e.g., some "quantum corrections" may be considered. The cases 0<τ<1 and τ>1, but â = (n-l-1)τ≥0 is an integer, change the "geometry" of the electron cloud in the atom, i.e. the so-called "exotic" 3H-like atoms arise, where Kummer's function 1F1(-â c; z) has â zeros and the discrete spectrum depends only on Z/(νn) but not on l and τ. Diagrams of the radial functions hat Pnl(r;τ ,ν ) as n≤3 are given.

Langevin dynamics for vector variables driven by multiplicative white noise: A functional formalism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moreno, Miguel Vera; Arenas, Zochil González; Barci, Daniel G.

2015-04-01

We discuss general multidimensional stochastic processes driven by a system of Langevin equations with multiplicative white noise. In particular, we address the problem of how time reversal diffusion processes are affected by the variety of conventions available to deal with stochastic integrals. We present a functional formalism to build up the generating functional of correlation functions without any type of discretization of the Langevin equations at any intermediate step. The generating functional is characterized by a functional integration over two sets of commuting variables, as well as Grassmann variables. In this representation, time reversal transformation became a linear transformation in the extended variables, simplifying in this way the complexity introduced by the mixture of prescriptions and the associated calculus rules. The stochastic calculus is codified in our formalism in the structure of the Grassmann algebra. We study some examples such as higher order derivative Langevin equations and the functional representation of the micromagnetic stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation.

An efficient numerical method for solving the Boltzmann equation in multidimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimarco, Giacomo; Loubère, Raphaël; Narski, Jacek; Rey, Thomas

2018-01-01

In this paper we deal with the extension of the Fast Kinetic Scheme (FKS) (Dimarco and Loubère, 2013 [26]) originally constructed for solving the BGK equation, to the more challenging case of the Boltzmann equation. The scheme combines a robust and fast method for treating the transport part based on an innovative Lagrangian technique supplemented with conservative fast spectral schemes to treat the collisional operator by means of an operator splitting approach. This approach along with several implementation features related to the parallelization of the algorithm permits to construct an efficient simulation tool which is numerically tested against exact and reference solutions on classical problems arising in rarefied gas dynamic. We present results up to the 3 D × 3 D case for unsteady flows for the Variable Hard Sphere model which may serve as benchmark for future comparisons between different numerical methods for solving the multidimensional Boltzmann equation. For this reason, we also provide for each problem studied details on the computational cost and memory consumption as well as comparisons with the BGK model or the limit model of compressible Euler equations.

Trauma Related Guilt Inventory - psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation (TRGI-PL).

PubMed

Popiel, Agnieszka; Zawadzki, Bogdan

2015-01-01

AIM : Although various aspects of guilt are frequent problems of patients suffering from PTSD, they have been included into the diagnostic criteria for PTSD just in the present version DSM-5. Kubany proposed a cognitive conceptualization of guilt in PTSD followed by development of the Trauma Related Guilt Inventory (TRGI). The aim of the paper is to present psychometric properties of the Polish version of the inventory - the TRGI-PL. A Polish adaptation of the Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory was applied to a sample of 280 motor vehicle (MVA) participants (147 females, 133 males of age from 18 to 80 (M=34,93, SD=13,71) within 1-24 months after a MVA (M=10,18, SD=6,23). Validation of the Polish version was done by analyzing the internal structure of the instrument and comparing the emotional and cognitive aspects of guilt assessed by the TRGI with PTSD symptoms, post-traumatic cognitions and responsibility for MVA and subjective agreement with the judgment. The model with four latent factors: Distress, Hindsight-Bias/Responsibility, Wrongdoing and Insufficient Justification scales showed acceptable fit (Satorra-Bentler chi2=518,62, df=203, p<0,01, RMSEA=0,079, CFI=0,96, GFI=0,97), what confirms the four-factor structure of guilt, obtained in the studies on original TRGI version. Reliability coefficients are similar to original version. Correlations with other PTSD measures showed satisfactory convergent and discriminative validity. The Polish adaptation of the Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory is a reliable and valid tool for assessing guilt as a multidimensional phenomenon, comprising emotional and several cognitive characteristics, in trauma survivors.

Modelling gas dynamics in 1D ducts with abrupt area change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Menina, R.; Saurel, R.; Zereg, M.; Houas, L.

2011-09-01

Most gas dynamic computations in industrial ducts are done in one dimension with cross-section-averaged Euler equations. This poses a fundamental difficulty as soon as geometrical discontinuities are present. The momentum equation contains a non-conservative term involving a surface pressure integral, responsible for momentum loss. Definition of this integral is very difficult from a mathematical standpoint as the flow may contain other discontinuities (shocks, contact discontinuities). From a physical standpoint, geometrical discontinuities induce multidimensional vortices that modify the surface pressure integral. In the present paper, an improved 1D flow model is proposed. An extra energy (or entropy) equation is added to the Euler equations expressing the energy and turbulent pressure stored in the vortices generated by the abrupt area variation. The turbulent energy created by the flow-area change interaction is determined by a specific estimate of the surface pressure integral. Model's predictions are compared with 2D-averaged results from numerical solution of the Euler equations. Comparison with shock tube experiments is also presented. The new 1D-averaged model improves the conventional cross-section-averaged Euler equations and is able to reproduce the main flow features.

Compact stochastic models for multidimensional quasiballistic thermal transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vermeersch, Bjorn

2016-11-01

The Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) has proven indispensable in elucidating quasiballistic heat dynamics. The experimental observations of nondiffusive thermal transients, however, are interpreted almost exclusively through purely diffusive formalisms that merely extract "effective" Fourier conductivities. Here, we build upon stochastic transport theory to provide a characterisation framework that blends the rich physics contained within the BTE solutions with the convenience of conventional analyses. The multidimensional phonon dynamics are described in terms of an isotropic Poissonian flight process with a rigorous Fourier-Laplace single pulse response P (ξ → ,s )=1 /[s +ψ(∥ ξ → ∥ )] . The spatial propagator ψ(∥ ξ → ∥ ) , unlike commonly reconstructed mean free path spectra κΣ(Λ) , serves as a genuine thermal blueprint of the medium that can be identified in a compact form directly from the raw measurement signals. Practical illustrations for transient thermal grating and time domain thermoreflectance experiments on respectively GaAs and InGaAs are provided.

Consistent Pl Analysis of Aqueous Uranium-235 Critical Assemblies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fieno, Daniel

1961-01-01

The lethargy-dependent equations of the consistent Pl approximation to the Boltzmann transport equation for slowing down neutrons have been used as the basis of an IBM 704 computer program. Some of the effects included are (1) linearly anisotropic center of mass elastic scattering, (2) heavy element inelastic scattering based on the evaporation model of the nucleus, and (3) optional variation of the buckling with lethargy. The microscopic cross-section data developed for this program covered 473 lethargy points from lethargy u = 0 (10 Mev) to u = 19.8 (0.025 ev). The value of the fission neutron age in water calculated here is 26.5 square centimeters; this value is to be compared with the recent experimental value given as 27.86 square centimeters. The Fourier transform of the slowing-down kernel for water to indium resonance energy calculated here compared well with the Fourier transform of the kernel for water as measured by Hill, Roberts, and Fitch. This method of calculation has been applied to uranyl fluoride - water solution critical assemblies. Theoretical results established for both unreflected and fully reflected critical assemblies have been compared with available experimental data. The theoretical buckling curve derived as a function of the hydrogen to uranium-235 atom concentration for an energy-independent extrapolation distance was successful in predicting the critical heights of various unreflected cylindrical assemblies. The critical dimensions of fully water-reflected cylindrical assemblies were reasonably well predicted using the theoretical buckling curve and reflector savings for equivalent spherical assemblies.

Planning Robot-Control Parameters With Qualitative Reasoning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peters, Stephen F.

1993-01-01

Qualitative-reasoning planning algorithm helps to determine quantitative parameters controlling motion of robot. Algorithm regarded as performing search in multidimensional space of control parameters from starting point to goal region in which desired result of robotic manipulation achieved. Makes use of directed graph representing qualitative physical equations describing task, and interacts, at each sampling period, with history of quantitative control parameters and sensory data, to narrow search for reliable values of quantitative control parameters.

Numerical solutions of Navier-Stokes equations for compressible turbulent two/three dimensional flows in terminal shock region of an inlet/diffuser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, N. S.; Shamroth, S. J.; Mcdonald, H.

1983-01-01

The multidimensional ensemble averaged compressible time dependent Navier Stokes equations in conjunction with mixing length turbulence model and shock capturing technique were used to study the terminal shock type of flows in various flight regimes occurring in a diffuser/inlet model. The numerical scheme for solving the governing equations is based on a linearized block implicit approach and the following high Reynolds number calculations were carried out: (1) 2 D, steady, subsonic; (2) 2 D, steady, transonic with normal shock; (3) 2 D, steady, supersonic with terminal shock; (4) 2 D, transient process of shock development and (5) 3 D, steady, transonic with normal shock. The numerical results obtained for the 2 D and 3 D transonic shocked flows were compared with corresponding experimental data; the calculated wall static pressure distributions agree well with the measured data.

Radiative interactions in multi-dimensional chemically reacting flows using Monte Carlo simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Jiwen; Tiwari, Surendra N.

1994-01-01

The Monte Carlo method (MCM) is applied to analyze radiative heat transfer in nongray gases. The nongray model employed is based on the statistical narrow band model with an exponential-tailed inverse intensity distribution. The amount and transfer of the emitted radiative energy in a finite volume element within a medium are considered in an exact manner. The spectral correlation between transmittances of two different segments of the same path in a medium makes the statistical relationship different from the conventional relationship, which only provides the non-correlated results for nongray methods is discussed. Validation of the Monte Carlo formulations is conducted by comparing results of this method of other solutions. In order to further establish the validity of the MCM, a relatively simple problem of radiative interactions in laminar parallel plate flows is considered. One-dimensional correlated Monte Carlo formulations are applied to investigate radiative heat transfer. The nongray Monte Carlo solutions are also obtained for the same problem and they also essentially match the available analytical solutions. the exact correlated and non-correlated Monte Carlo formulations are very complicated for multi-dimensional systems. However, by introducing the assumption of an infinitesimal volume element, the approximate correlated and non-correlated formulations are obtained which are much simpler than the exact formulations. Consideration of different problems and comparison of different solutions reveal that the approximate and exact correlated solutions agree very well, and so do the approximate and exact non-correlated solutions. However, the two non-correlated solutions have no physical meaning because they significantly differ from the correlated solutions. An accurate prediction of radiative heat transfer in any nongray and multi-dimensional system is possible by using the approximate correlated formulations. Radiative interactions are investigated in chemically reacting compressible flows of premixed hydrogen and air in an expanding nozzle. The governing equations are based on the fully elliptic Navier-Stokes equations. Chemical reaction mechanisms were described by a finite rate chemistry model. The correlated Monte Carlo method developed earlier was employed to simulate multi-dimensional radiative heat transfer. Results obtained demonstrate that radiative effects on the flowfield are minimal but radiative effects on the wall heat transfer are significant. Extensive parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of equivalence ratio, wall temperature, inlet flow temperature, and nozzle size on the radiative and conductive wall fluxes.

Chemistry and Transport in a Multi-Dimensional Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yung, Yuk L.

2004-01-01

Our work has two primary scientific goals, the interannual variability (IAV) of stratospheric ozone and the hydrological cycle of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Our efforts are aimed at integrating new information obtained by spacecraft and aircraft measurements to achieve a better understanding of the chemical and dynamical processes that are needed for realistic evaluations of human impact on the global environment. A primary motivation for studying the ozone layer is to separate the anthropogenic perturbations of the ozone layer from natural variability. Using the recently available merged ozone data (MOD), we have carried out an empirical orthogonal function EOF) study of the temporal and spatial patterns of the IAV of total column ozone in the tropics. The outstanding problem about water in the stratosphere is its secular increase in the last few decades. The Caltech/PL multi-dimensional chemical transport model (CTM) photochemical model is used to simulate the processes that control the water vapor and its isotopic composition in the stratosphere. Datasets we will use for comparison with model results include those obtained by the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), the Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SBUV and SBUV/2), Stratosphere Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE I and II), the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE), the Atmospheric Trace Molecular Spectroscopy (ATMOS) and those soon to be obtained by the Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) mission. The focus of the investigations is the exchange between the stratosphere and the troposphere, and between the troposphere and the biosphere.

A high order cell-centered semi-Lagrangian scheme for multi-dimensional kinetic simulations of neutral gas flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Güçlü, Y.; Hitchon, W. N. G.

2012-04-01

The term 'Convected Scheme' (CS) refers to a family of algorithms, most usually applied to the solution of Boltzmann's equation, which uses a method of characteristics in an integral form to project an initial cell forward to a group of final cells. As such the CS is a 'forward-trajectory' semi-Lagrangian scheme. For multi-dimensional simulations of neutral gas flows, the cell-centered version of this semi-Lagrangian (CCSL) scheme has advantages over other options due to its implementation simplicity, low memory requirements, and easier treatment of boundary conditions. The main drawback of the CCSL-CS to date has been its high numerical diffusion in physical space, because of the 2nd order remapping that takes place at the end of each time step. By means of a modified equation analysis, it is shown that a high order estimate of the remapping error can be obtained a priori, and a small correction to the final position of the cells can be applied upon remapping, in order to achieve full compensation of this error. The resulting scheme is 4th order accurate in space while retaining the desirable properties of the CS: it is conservative and positivity-preserving, and the overall algorithm complexity is not appreciably increased. Two monotone (i.e. non-oscillating) versions of the fourth order CCSL-CS are also presented: one uses a common flux-limiter approach; the other uses a non-polynomial reconstruction to evaluate the derivatives of the density function. The method is illustrated in simple one- and two-dimensional examples, and a fully 3D solution of the Boltzmann equation describing expansion of a gas into vacuum through a cylindrical tube.

On Green's function retrieval by iterative substitution of the coupled Marchenko equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Neut, Joost; Vasconcelos, Ivan; Wapenaar, Kees

2015-11-01

Iterative substitution of the coupled Marchenko equations is a novel methodology to retrieve the Green's functions from a source or receiver array at an acquisition surface to an arbitrary location in an acoustic medium. The methodology requires as input the single-sided reflection response at the acquisition surface and an initial focusing function, being the time-reversed direct wavefield from the acquisition surface to a specified location in the subsurface. We express the iterative scheme that is applied by this methodology explicitly as the successive actions of various linear operators, acting on an initial focusing function. These operators involve multidimensional crosscorrelations with the reflection data and truncations in time. We offer physical interpretations of the multidimensional crosscorrelations by subtracting traveltimes along common ray paths at the stationary points of the underlying integrals. This provides a clear understanding of how individual events are retrieved by the scheme. Our interpretation also exposes some of the scheme's limitations in terms of what can be retrieved in case of a finite recording aperture. Green's function retrieval is only successful if the relevant stationary points are sampled. As a consequence, internal multiples can only be retrieved at a subsurface location with a particular ray parameter if this location is illuminated by the direct wavefield with this specific ray parameter. Several assumptions are required to solve the Marchenko equations. We show that these assumptions are not always satisfied in arbitrary heterogeneous media, which can result in incomplete Green's function retrieval and the emergence of artefacts. Despite these limitations, accurate Green's functions can often be retrieved by the iterative scheme, which is highly relevant for seismic imaging and inversion of internal multiple reflections.

Epidermal growth factor stimulates mouse placental lactogen I but inhibits mouse placental lactogen II secretion in vitro.

PubMed Central

Yamaguchi, M; Ogren, L; Endo, H; Thordarson, G; Kensinger, R; Talamantes, F

1992-01-01

This study was undertaken to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates the secretion of mouse placental lactogen (mPL)-I and mPL-II. Primary cell cultures were prepared from placentas from days 7, 9, and 11 of pregnancy and cultured for up to 5 days. Addition of EGF (20 ng/ml) to the medium resulted in significant stimulation of mPL-I secretion by the second day of culture in cells from days 7 and 9 of pregnancy and significant inhibition of mPL-II secretion by the third or fourth day of culture in cells from days 7, 9, and 11. Dose-response studies carried out with cells from day 7 of pregnancy demonstrated that the minimum concentration of EGF that stimulated mPL-I secretion and inhibited mPL-II secretion was 1.0 ng/ml. EGF did not affect the DNA content of the cells or cell viability, assessed by trypan blue exclusion, nor did it have a general effect on protein synthesis. There are three types of PL-containing giant cells in mouse placental cell cultures: cells that contain either mPL-I or mPL-II and cells that contain both hormones. Immunocytochemical analysis and the reverse hemolytic plaque assay indicated that EGF treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of cells that produce mPL-I, but among the PL cells that contained mPL-I, there was no change in the fraction of cells that contained only mPL-I or the fraction that contained both mPL-I and mPL-II. In contrast, EGF treatment did affect the distribution of mPL-II among PL cells. In control cultures, about 75% of the cells that contained mPL-II also contained mPL-I, but in EGF-treated cultures, all of the cells that contained mPL-II also contained mPL-I. These data suggest that EGF regulates mPL-I and mPL-II secretion at least partly by regulating PL cell differentiation. PMID:1454826

Optimization of Equation of State and Burn Model Parameters for Explosives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergh, Magnus; Wedberg, Rasmus; Lundgren, Jonas

2017-06-01

A reactive burn model implemented in a multi-dimensional hydrocode can be a powerful tool for predicting non-ideal effects as well as initiation phenomena in explosives. Calibration against experiment is, however, critical and non-trivial. Here, a procedure is presented for calibrating the Ignition and Growth Model utilizing hydrocode simulation in conjunction with the optimization program LS-OPT. The model is applied to the explosive PBXN-109. First, a cylinder expansion test is presented together with a new automatic routine for product equation of state calibration. Secondly, rate stick tests and instrumented gap tests are presented. Data from these experiments are used to calibrate burn model parameters. Finally, we discuss the applicability and development of this optimization routine.

Flowfield computation of entry vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prabhu, Dinesh K.

1990-01-01

The equations governing the multidimensional flow of a reacting mixture of thermally perfect gasses were derived. The modeling procedures for the various terms of the conservation laws are discussed. A numerical algorithm, based on the finite-volume approach, to solve these conservation equations was developed. The advantages and disadvantages of the present numerical scheme are discussed from the point of view of accuracy, computer time, and memory requirements. A simple one-dimensional model problem was solved to prove the feasibility and accuracy of the algorithm. A computer code implementing the above algorithm was developed and is presently being applied to simple geometries and conditions. Once the code is completely debugged and validated, it will be used to compute the complete unsteady flow field around the Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE) body.

Use of a residual distribution Euler solver to study the occurrence of transonic flow in Wells turbine rotor blades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henriques, J. C. C.; Gato, L. M. C.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the occurrence of transonic flow in several cascade geometries and blade sections that have been considered in the design of Wells turbine rotor blades. The calculations were performed using an implicit Euler solver for two-dimensional flow. The numerical method uses a multi-dimensional upwind matrix residual distribution scheme formulated on a new symmetrized form of the Euler equations, both in time and in space, that decouples the entropy and the enthalpy equations. Second-order accurate steady-state solutions where obtained using a compact three-point stencil. The results show that unwanted transonic flow may occur in the turbine rotor at relatively low mean-flow Mach numbers.

2D/3D image charge for modeling field emission

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

Jensen, Kevin L.; Shiffler, Donald A.; Harris, John R.

Analytic image charge approximations exist for planar and spherical metal surfaces but approximations for more complex geometries, such as the conical and wirelike structures characteristic of field emitters, are lacking. Such models are the basis for the evaluation of Schottky lowering factors in equations for current density. The development of a multidimensional image charge approximation, useful for a general thermal-field emission equation used in space charge studies, is given and based on an analytical model using a prolate spheroidal geometry. A description of how the model may be adapted to be used with a line charge model appropriate for carbonmore » nanotube and carbon fiber field emitters is discussed. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.4968007]« less

Multigrid Method for Modeling Multi-Dimensional Combustion with Detailed Chemistry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zheng, Xiaoqing; Liu, Chaoqun; Liao, Changming; Liu, Zhining; McCormick, Steve

1996-01-01

A highly accurate and efficient numerical method is developed for modeling 3-D reacting flows with detailed chemistry. A contravariant velocity-based governing system is developed for general curvilinear coordinates to maintain simplicity of the continuity equation and compactness of the discretization stencil. A fully-implicit backward Euler technique and a third-order monotone upwind-biased scheme on a staggered grid are used for the respective temporal and spatial terms. An efficient semi-coarsening multigrid method based on line-distributive relaxation is used as the flow solver. The species equations are solved in a fully coupled way and the chemical reaction source terms are treated implicitly. Example results are shown for a 3-D gas turbine combustor with strong swirling inflows.

2D/3D image charge for modeling field emission

DOE PAGES

Jensen, Kevin L.; Shiffler, Donald A.; Harris, John R.; ...

2017-03-01

Analytic image charge approximations exist for planar and spherical metal surfaces but approximations for more complex geometries, such as the conical and wirelike structures characteristic of field emitters, are lacking. Such models are the basis for the evaluation of Schottky lowering factors in equations for current density. The development of a multidimensional image charge approximation, useful for a general thermal-field emission equation used in space charge studies, is given and based on an analytical model using a prolate spheroidal geometry. A description of how the model may be adapted to be used with a line charge model appropriate for carbonmore » nanotube and carbon fiber field emitters is discussed. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.4968007]« less

Evaluation of more general integrals involving universal associated Legendre polynomials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Yuan; Chen, Chang-Yuan; Tahir, Farida; Dong, Shi-Hai

2017-05-01

We find that the solution of the polar angular differential equation can be written as the universal associated Legendre polynomials. We present a popular integral formula which includes universal associated Legendre polynomials and we also evaluate some important integrals involving the product of two universal associated Legendre polynomials Pl' m'(x ) , Pk' n'(x ) and x2 a(1-x2 ) -p -1, xb(1±x2 ) -p, and xc(1-x2 ) -p(1±x ) -1, where l'≠k' and m'≠n'. Their selection rules are also mentioned.

Temperature-dependent evolution of the wetting layer thickness during Ge deposition on Si(001).

PubMed

Bergamaschini, R; Brehm, M; Grydlik, M; Fromherz, T; Bauer, G; Montalenti, F

2011-07-15

The evolution of the wetting layer (WL) thickness during Ge deposition on Si(001) is analyzed with the help of a rate-equation approach. The combined role of thickness, island volume and shape-dependent chemical potentials is considered. Several experimental observations, such as WL thinning following the pyramid-to-dome transformation, are captured by the model, as directly demonstrated by a close comparison with photoluminescence measurements (PL) on samples grown at three different temperatures. The limitations of the model in describing late stages of growth are critically addressed.

Explicit and implicit compact high-resolution shock-capturing methods for multidimensional Euler equations 1: Formulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yee, H. C.

1995-01-01

Two classes of explicit compact high-resolution shock-capturing methods for the multidimensional compressible Euler equations for fluid dynamics are constructed. Some of these schemes can be fourth-order accurate away from discontinuities. For the semi-discrete case their shock-capturing properties are of the total variation diminishing (TVD), total variation bounded (TVB), total variation diminishing in the mean (TVDM), essentially nonoscillatory (ENO), or positive type of scheme for 1-D scalar hyperbolic conservation laws and are positive schemes in more than one dimension. These fourth-order schemes require the same grid stencil as their second-order non-compact cousins. One class does not require the standard matrix inversion or a special numerical boundary condition treatment associated with typical compact schemes. Due to the construction, these schemes can be viewed as approximations to genuinely multidimensional schemes in the sense that they might produce less distortion in spherical type shocks and are more accurate in vortex type flows than schemes based purely on one-dimensional extensions. However, one class has a more desirable high-resolution shock-capturing property and a smaller operation count in 3-D than the other class. The extension of these schemes to coupled nonlinear systems can be accomplished using the Roe approximate Riemann solver, the generalized Steger and Warming flux-vector splitting or the van Leer type flux-vector splitting. Modification to existing high-resolution second- or third-order non-compact shock-capturing computer codes is minimal. High-resolution shock-capturing properties can also be achieved via a variant of the second-order Lax-Friedrichs numerical flux without the use of Riemann solvers for coupled nonlinear systems with comparable operations count to their classical shock-capturing counterparts. The simplest extension to viscous flows can be achieved by using the standard fourth-order compact or non-compact formula for the viscous terms.

A high-order relativistic two-fluid electrodynamic scheme with consistent reconstruction of electromagnetic fields and a multidimensional Riemann solver for electromagnetism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balsara, Dinshaw S.; Amano, Takanobu; Garain, Sudip; Kim, Jinho

2016-08-01

In various astrophysics settings it is common to have a two-fluid relativistic plasma that interacts with the electromagnetic field. While it is common to ignore the displacement current in the ideal, classical magnetohydrodynamic limit, when the flows become relativistic this approximation is less than absolutely well-justified. In such a situation, it is more natural to consider a positively charged fluid made up of positrons or protons interacting with a negatively charged fluid made up of electrons. The two fluids interact collectively with the full set of Maxwell's equations. As a result, a solution strategy for that coupled system of equations is sought and found here. Our strategy extends to higher orders, providing increasing accuracy. The primary variables in the Maxwell solver are taken to be the facially-collocated components of the electric and magnetic fields. Consistent with such a collocation, three important innovations are reported here. The first two pertain to the Maxwell solver. In our first innovation, the magnetic field within each zone is reconstructed in a divergence-free fashion while the electric field within each zone is reconstructed in a form that is consistent with Gauss' law. In our second innovation, a multidimensionally upwinded strategy is presented which ensures that the magnetic field can be updated via a discrete interpretation of Faraday's law and the electric field can be updated via a discrete interpretation of the generalized Ampere's law. This multidimensional upwinding is achieved via a multidimensional Riemann solver. The multidimensional Riemann solver automatically provides edge-centered electric field components for the Stokes law-based update of the magnetic field. It also provides edge-centered magnetic field components for the Stokes law-based update of the electric field. The update strategy ensures that the electric field is always consistent with Gauss' law and the magnetic field is always divergence-free. This collocation also ensures that electromagnetic radiation that is propagating in a vacuum has both electric and magnetic fields that are exactly divergence-free. Coupled relativistic fluid dynamic equations are solved for the positively and negatively charged fluids. The fluids' numerical fluxes also provide a self-consistent current density for the update of the electric field. Our reconstruction strategy ensures that fluid velocities always remain sub-luminal. Our third innovation consists of an efficient design for several popular IMEX schemes so that they provide strong coupling between the finite-volume-based fluid solver and the electromagnetic fields at high order. This innovation makes it possible to efficiently utilize high order IMEX time update methods for stiff source terms in the update of high order finite-volume methods for hyperbolic conservation laws. We also show that this very general innovation should extend seamlessly to Runge-Kutta discontinuous Galerkin methods. The IMEX schemes enable us to use large CFL numbers even in the presence of stiff source terms. Several accuracy analyses are presented showing that our method meets its design accuracy in the MHD limit as well as in the limit of electromagnetic wave propagation. Several stringent test problems are also presented. We also present a relativistic version of the GEM problem, which shows that our algorithm can successfully adapt to challenging problems in high energy astrophysics.

Shift-Variant Multidimensional Systems.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-05-29

i=0,1,** *N-1 in (3.1), one will get 0() i_0,1,* ,N-1 which is nonnegative due to the Perron - Frobenius Theorem [24]. That is, the A nonnegativity ...and the current input. The state-space model was extended in order to model 2-D discrete LSV systems with support on a causality cone . Subsequently...formulated as a special system of linear equations with nonnegative coefficients whose solution is required to satisfy con- straints like nonnegativity in

Multidimensional Predictors of Fatigue among Octogenarians and Centenarians

PubMed Central

Cho, Jinmyoung; Martin, Peter; Margrett, Jennifer; MacDonald, Maurice; Johnson, Mary Ann; Poon, Leonard W.

2012-01-01

Background Fatigue is a common and frequently observed complaint among older adults. However, knowledge about the nature and correlates of fatigue in old age is very limited. Objective: This study examined the relationship of functional indicators, psychological and situational factors and fatigue for 210 octogenarians and centenarians from the Georgia Centenarian Study. Methods Three indicators of functional capacity (self-rated health, instrumental activities of daily living, physical activities of daily living), two indicators of psychological well-being (positive and negative affect), two indicators of situational factors (social network and social support), and a multidimensional fatigue scale were used. Blocked multiple regression analyses were computed to examine significant factors related to fatigue. In addition, multi-group analysis in structural equation modeling was used to investigate residential differences (i.e., long-term care facilities vs. private homes) in the relationship between significant factors and fatigue. Results Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated that two indicators of functional capacity, self-rated health and instrumental activities of daily living, both positive and negative affect, and social support were significant predictors of fatigue among oldest-old adults. The multiple group analysis in structural equation modeling revealed a significant difference among oldest-old adults based on residential status. Conclusion The results suggest that we should not consider fatigue as merely an unpleasant physical symptom, but rather adopt a perspective that different factors such as psychosocial aspects can influence fatigue in advanced later life. PMID:22094445

Multidimensional predictors of fatigue among octogenarians and centenarians.

PubMed

Cho, Jinmyoung; Martin, Peter; Margrett, Jennifer; MacDonald, Maurice; Johnson, Mary Ann; Poon, Leonard W; Jazwinski, S M; Green, R C; Gearing, M; Woodard, J L; Tenover, J S; Siegler, I C; Rott, C; Rodgers, W L; Hausman, D; Arnold, J; Davey, A

2012-01-01

Fatigue is a common and frequently observed complaint among older adults. However, knowledge about the nature and correlates of fatigue in old age is very limited. This study examined the relationship of functional indicators, psychological and situational factors and fatigue for 210 octogenarians and centenarians from the Georgia Centenarian Study. Three indicators of functional capacity (self-rated health, instrumental activities of daily living, physical activities of daily living), two indicators of psychological well-being (positive and negative affect), two indicators of situational factors (social network and social support), and a multidimensional fatigue scale were used. Blocked multiple regression analyses were computed to examine significant factors related to fatigue. In addition, multi-group analysis in structural equation modeling was used to investigate residential differences (i.e., long-term care facilities vs. private homes) in the relationship between significant factors and fatigue. Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated that two indicators of functional capacity, self-rated health and instrumental activities of daily living, both positive and negative affect, and social support were significant predictors of fatigue among oldest-old adults. The multiple group analysis in structural equation modeling revealed a significant difference among oldest-old adults based on residential status. The results suggest that we should not consider fatigue as merely an unpleasant physical symptom, but rather adopt a perspective that different factors such as psychosocial aspects can influence fatigue in advanced later life. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

A mass, momentum, and energy conserving, fully implicit, scalable algorithm for the multi-dimensional, multi-species Rosenbluth-Fokker-Planck equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taitano, W. T.; Chacón, L.; Simakov, A. N.; Molvig, K.

2015-09-01

In this study, we demonstrate a fully implicit algorithm for the multi-species, multidimensional Rosenbluth-Fokker-Planck equation which is exactly mass-, momentum-, and energy-conserving, and which preserves positivity. Unlike most earlier studies, we base our development on the Rosenbluth (rather than Landau) form of the Fokker-Planck collision operator, which reduces complexity while allowing for an optimal fully implicit treatment. Our discrete conservation strategy employs nonlinear constraints that force the continuum symmetries of the collision operator to be satisfied upon discretization. We converge the resulting nonlinear system iteratively using Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov methods, effectively preconditioned with multigrid methods for efficiency. Single- and multi-species numerical examples demonstrate the advertised accuracy properties of the scheme, and the superior algorithmic performance of our approach. In particular, the discretization approach is numerically shown to be second-order accurate in time and velocity space and to exhibit manifestly positive entropy production. That is, H-theorem behavior is indicated for all the examples we have tested. The solution approach is demonstrated to scale optimally with respect to grid refinement (with CPU time growing linearly with the number of mesh points), and timestep (showing very weak dependence of CPU time with time-step size). As a result, the proposed algorithm delivers several orders-of-magnitude speedup vs. explicit algorithms.

Comparison of long-term outcome between anti-Jo1- and anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients with antisynthetase syndrome.

PubMed

Marie, I; Josse, S; Decaux, O; Dominique, S; Diot, E; Landron, C; Roblot, P; Jouneau, S; Hatron, P Y; Tiev, K P; Vittecoq, O; Noel, D; Mouthon, L; Menard, J-F; Jouen, F

2012-08-01

The aims of the present study were to: compare the characteristics between antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) patients with anti-Jo1 antibody and those with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody. The medical records of 95 consecutive patients with ASS were reviewed. Seventy-five of these patients had anti-Jo1 antibody; the other patients had anti-PL7 (n=15) or anti-PL12 (n=5) antibody. At ASS diagnosis, the prevalence of myalgia (p=0.007) and muscle weakness (p=0.02) was significantly lower in the group of anti-PL7/PL12-positive patients than in those with anti-Jo1 antibody; median value of CK (p=0.00003) was also lower in anti-PL7/PL12 patients. Anti-Jo1 positive patients developed more rarely myositis resolution (21.3% vs. 46.2%); in addition, the overall recurrence rate of myositis was higher in anti-Jo1 positive patients than in patients with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody (65.9% vs. 19.4%). Anti-Jo1-positive patients, compared with those with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody, more often experienced: joint involvement (63.3%vs. 40%) and cancer (13.3% vs. 5%). By contrast, anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients, compared with those with anti-Jo1 antibody, more commonly exhibited: ILD (90% vs. 68%); in anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients, ILD was more often symptomatic at diagnosis, and led more rarely to resolution of lung manifestations (5.6% vs. 29.4%). Finally, the group of anti-PL7/PL12 positive patients more commonly experienced gastrointestinal manifestations related to ASS (p=0.02). Taken together, although anti-Jo1 positive patients with ASS share some features with those with anti-PL7/PL12 antibody, they exhibit many differences regarding clinical phenotype and long-term outcome. Our study underscores that the presence of anti-Jo1 antibody results in more severe myositis, joint impairment and increased risk of cancer. On the other hand, the presence of anti-PL7/PL12 antibody is markedly associated with: early and severe ILD, and gastrointestinal complications. Thus, our study interestingly indicates that the finding for anti-Jo1 and anti-PL7/PL12 antibodies impacts both the long-term outcome and prognosis of patients with ASS. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Self-resonance after inflation: Oscillons, transients, and radiation domination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lozanov, Kaloian D.; Amin, Mustafa A.

2018-01-01

Homogeneous oscillations of the inflaton after inflation can be unstable to small spatial perturbations even without coupling to other fields. We show that for inflaton potentials ∝|ϕ |2n near |ϕ |=0 and flatter beyond some |ϕ |=M , the inflaton condensate oscillations can lead to self-resonance, followed by its complete fragmentation. We find that for nonquadratic minima (n >1 ), shortly after backreaction, the equation of state parameter, w →1 /3 . If M ≪mPl, radiation domination is established within less than an e -fold of expansion after the end of inflation. In this case self-resonance is efficient and the condensate fragments into transient, localised spherical objects which are unstable and decay, leaving behind them a virialized field with mean kinetic and gradient energies much greater than the potential energy. This end-state yields w =1 /3 . When M ˜mPl we observe slow and steady, self-resonance that can last many e -folds before backreaction eventually shuts it off, followed by fragmentation and w →1 /3 . We provide analytical estimates for the duration to w →1 /3 after inflation, which can be used as an upper bound (under certain assumptions) on the duration of the transition between the inflationary and the radiation dominated states of expansion. This upper bound can reduce uncertainties in CMB observables such as the spectral tilt ns, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r . For quadratic minima (n =1 ), w →0 regardless of the value of M . This is because when M ≪mPl, long-lived oscillons form within an e -fold after inflation, and collectively behave as pressureless dust thereafter. For M ˜mPl, the self-resonance is inefficient and the condensate remains intact (ignoring long-term gravitational clustering) and keeps oscillating about the quadratic minimum, again implying w =0 .

A fast semi-discrete Kansa method to solve the two-dimensional spatiotemporal fractional diffusion equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, HongGuang; Liu, Xiaoting; Zhang, Yong; Pang, Guofei; Garrard, Rhiannon

2017-09-01

Fractional-order diffusion equations (FDEs) extend classical diffusion equations by quantifying anomalous diffusion frequently observed in heterogeneous media. Real-world diffusion can be multi-dimensional, requiring efficient numerical solvers that can handle long-term memory embedded in mass transport. To address this challenge, a semi-discrete Kansa method is developed to approximate the two-dimensional spatiotemporal FDE, where the Kansa approach first discretizes the FDE, then the Gauss-Jacobi quadrature rule solves the corresponding matrix, and finally the Mittag-Leffler function provides an analytical solution for the resultant time-fractional ordinary differential equation. Numerical experiments are then conducted to check how the accuracy and convergence rate of the numerical solution are affected by the distribution mode and number of spatial discretization nodes. Applications further show that the numerical method can efficiently solve two-dimensional spatiotemporal FDE models with either a continuous or discrete mixing measure. Hence this study provides an efficient and fast computational method for modeling super-diffusive, sub-diffusive, and mixed diffusive processes in large, two-dimensional domains with irregular shapes.

Balance times of multidimensional quasi-additive potentials for a measure-preserving semiflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Xiongping

2013-12-01

Let \\theta\\colon X\\times{T}\\rightarrow X;\\ (x,t)\\mapsto{x{\\boldsymbol\\cdot} t} , where {T}={Z}_+ or {R}_+ , be a measure-preserving semiflow on a probability space (X,\\mathscr{F},\\mu) and given a d-dimensional measurable potential p\\colon X\\times{T}\\rightarrow{R}^d which is δ-quasi-additive with respect to θ, where δ ⩾ 0 namely, for μ-a.e. x ∈ X and for all s,t\\in{T} , \\begin{equation*}|p(x,t+s)-(p(x,t)+p(x{\\boldsymbol\\cdot} t,s))|\\le\\delta. \\end{equation*} We prove that if there exists a measurable {R}^d -valued function p*(x) such that \\begin{equation*}\\lim_{t\\to\\infty}\\frac{1}{t}p(x,t)=p^*(x)\\tqs for~\\mu-a.e.\\, x\\in X, \\end{equation*} then for μ-a.e. x ∈ X and any ε > 0, there holds the following tight control by p*(x): \\begin{equation*}{\\bf mes}\\left\\{t\\in{T}\\colon|p(x,t)-p^*(x)t|\\le\\varepsilon+ \\delta\\right\\}=\\infty, \\end{equation*} where mes{·} stands for the Lebesgue measure in the real line {R} or the counting measure in {Z} . This can be applied to the study of ergodic forced monotonic circle maps and of the normal numbers.

Structural and Biochemical Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 Inhibition by the Anti-cancer Compound Piperlongumine.

PubMed

Harshbarger, Wayne; Gondi, Sudershan; Ficarro, Scott B; Hunter, John; Udayakumar, Durga; Gurbani, Deepak; Singer, William D; Liu, Yan; Li, Lianbo; Marto, Jarrod A; Westover, Kenneth D

2017-01-06

Glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tumors and is a putative target of the plant compound piperlongumine (PL), which contains two reactive olefins and inhibits proliferation in cancer cells but not normal cells. PL exposure of cancer cells results in increased reactive oxygen species and decreased GSH. These data in tandem with other information led to the conclusion that PL inhibits GSTP1, which forms covalent bonds between GSH and various electrophilic compounds, through covalent adduct formation at the C7-C8 olefin of PL, whereas the C2-C3 olefin of PL was postulated to react with GSH. However, direct evidence for this mechanism has been lacking. To investigate, we solved the X-ray crystal structure of GSTP1 bound to PL and GSH at 1.1 Å resolution to rationalize previously reported structure activity relationship studies. Surprisingly, the structure showed that a hydrolysis product of PL (hPL) was conjugated to glutathione at the C7-C8 olefin, and this complex was bound to the active site of GSTP1; no covalent bond formation between hPL and GSTP1 was observed. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of the reactions between PL and GSTP1 confirmed that PL does not label GSTP1. Moreover, MS data also indicated that nucleophilic attack on PL at the C2-C3 olefin led to PL hydrolysis. Although hPL inhibits GSTP1 enzymatic activity in vitro, treatment of cells susceptible to PL with hPL did not have significant anti-proliferative effects, suggesting that hPL is not membrane-permeable. Altogether, our data suggest a model wherein PL is a prodrug whose intracellular hydrolysis initiates the formation of the hPL-GSH conjugate, which blocks the active site of and inhibits GSTP1 and thereby cancer cell proliferation. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Structural and Biochemical Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 Inhibition by the Anti-cancer Compound Piperlongumine*

PubMed Central

Harshbarger, Wayne; Gondi, Sudershan; Ficarro, Scott B.; Hunter, John; Udayakumar, Durga; Gurbani, Deepak; Singer, William D.; Liu, Yan; Li, Lianbo; Marto, Jarrod A.; Westover, Kenneth D.

2017-01-01

Glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tumors and is a putative target of the plant compound piperlongumine (PL), which contains two reactive olefins and inhibits proliferation in cancer cells but not normal cells. PL exposure of cancer cells results in increased reactive oxygen species and decreased GSH. These data in tandem with other information led to the conclusion that PL inhibits GSTP1, which forms covalent bonds between GSH and various electrophilic compounds, through covalent adduct formation at the C7-C8 olefin of PL, whereas the C2-C3 olefin of PL was postulated to react with GSH. However, direct evidence for this mechanism has been lacking. To investigate, we solved the X-ray crystal structure of GSTP1 bound to PL and GSH at 1.1 Å resolution to rationalize previously reported structure activity relationship studies. Surprisingly, the structure showed that a hydrolysis product of PL (hPL) was conjugated to glutathione at the C7-C8 olefin, and this complex was bound to the active site of GSTP1; no covalent bond formation between hPL and GSTP1 was observed. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of the reactions between PL and GSTP1 confirmed that PL does not label GSTP1. Moreover, MS data also indicated that nucleophilic attack on PL at the C2-C3 olefin led to PL hydrolysis. Although hPL inhibits GSTP1 enzymatic activity in vitro, treatment of cells susceptible to PL with hPL did not have significant anti-proliferative effects, suggesting that hPL is not membrane-permeable. Altogether, our data suggest a model wherein PL is a prodrug whose intracellular hydrolysis initiates the formation of the hPL-GSH conjugate, which blocks the active site of and inhibits GSTP1 and thereby cancer cell proliferation. PMID:27872191

Advanced Concepts in Quantum Mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esposito, Giampiero; Marmo, Giuseppe; Miele, Gennaro; Sudarshan, George

2014-11-01

Preface; 1. Introduction: the need for a quantum theory; 2. Experimental foundations of quantum theory; 3. Waves and particles; 4. Schrödinger picture, Heisenberg picture and probabilistic aspects; 5. Integrating the equations of motion; 6. Elementary applications: 1-dimensional problems; 7. Elementary applications: multidimensional problems; 8. Coherent states and related formalism; 9. Introduction to spin; 10. Symmetries in quantum mechanics; 11. Approximation methods; 12. Modern pictures of quantum mechanics; 13. Formulations of quantum mechanics and their physical implications; 14. Exam problems; Glossary of geometric concepts; References; Index.

Phase coupling in the cardiorespiratory interaction.

PubMed

Bahraminasab, A; Kenwright, D; Stefanovska, A; Ghasemi, F; McClintock, P V E

2008-01-01

Markovian analysis is applied to derive nonlinear stochastic equations for the reconstruction of heart rate and respiration rate variability data. A model of their 'phase' interactions is obtained for the first time, thereby gaining new insights into the strength and direction of the cardiorespiratory phase coupling. The reconstructed model can reproduce synchronisation phenomena between the cardiac and the respiratory systems, including switches in synchronisation ratio. The technique is equally applicable to the extraction of the multi-dimensional couplings between many interacting subsystems.

Kaluza-Klein theories as a tool to find new gauge symmetries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolan, L.

Non-abelian Kaluza-Klein theories are studied with respect to using the invariances of multi-dimensional general relativity to investigate hidden symmetry, such as Kac-Mody Lie algebras, of the four-dimensional Yang-Mills theory. Several properties of the affine transformations on the self-dual set are identified and are used to motivate the Kaluza-Klein analysis. In this context, a system of differential equations is derived for new symmetry transformations which may be extendable to the full gauge theory.

Multidimensional Space-Time Methodology for Development of Planetary and Space Sciences, S-T Data Management and S-T Computational Tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andonov, Zdravko

This R&D represent innovative multidimensional 6D-N(6n)D Space-Time (S-T) Methodology, 6D-6nD Coordinate Systems, 6D Equations, new 6D strategy and technology for development of Planetary Space Sciences, S-T Data Management and S-T Computational To-mography. . . The Methodology is actual for brain new RS Microwaves' Satellites and Compu-tational Tomography Systems development, aimed to defense sustainable Earth, Moon, & Sun System evolution. Especially, extremely important are innovations for monitoring and protec-tion of strategic threelateral system H-OH-H2O Hydrogen, Hydroxyl and Water), correspond-ing to RS VHRS (Very High Resolution Systems) of 1.420-1.657-22.089GHz microwaves. . . One of the Greatest Paradox and Challenge of World Science is the "transformation" of J. L. Lagrange 4D Space-Time (S-T) System to H. Minkovski 4D S-T System (O-X,Y,Z,icT) for Einstein's "Theory of Relativity". As a global result: -In contemporary Advanced Space Sciences there is not real adequate 4D-6D Space-Time Coordinate System and 6D Advanced Cosmos Strategy & Methodology for Multidimensional and Multitemporal Space-Time Data Management and Tomography. . . That's one of the top actual S-T Problems. Simple and optimal nD S-T Methodology discovery is extremely important for all Universities' Space Sci-ences' Education Programs, for advances in space research and especially -for all young Space Scientists R&D!... The top ten 21-Century Challenges ahead of Planetary and Space Sciences, Space Data Management and Computational Space Tomography, important for successfully de-velopment of Young Scientist Generations, are following: 1. R&D of W. R. Hamilton General Idea for transformation all Space Sciences to Time Sciences, beginning with 6D Eukonal for 6D anisotropic mediums & velocities. Development of IERS Earth & Space Systems (VLBI; LLR; GPS; SLR; DORIS Etc.) for Planetary-Space Data Management & Computational Planetary & Space Tomography. 2. R&D of S. W. Hawking Paradigm for 2D Complex Time and Quan-tum Wave Cosmology Paradigm for Decision of the Main Problem of Contemporary Physics. 3. R&D of Einstein-Minkowski Geodesies' Paradigm in the 4D-Space-Time Continuum to 6D-6nD Space-Time Continuum Paradigms and 6D S-T Equations. . . 4. R&D of Erwin Schrüdinger 4D S-T Universe' Evolutional Equation; It's David Bohm 4D generalization for anisotropic mediums and innovative 6D -for instantaneously quantum measurement -Bohm-Schrüdinger 6D S-T Universe' Evolutional Equation. 5. R&D of brain new 6D Planning of S-T Experi-ments, brain new 6D Space Technicks and Space Technology Generalizations, especially for 6D RS VHRS Research, Monitoring and 6D Computational Tomography. 6. R&D of "6D Euler-Poisson Equations" and "6D Kolmogorov Turbulence Theory" for GeoDynamics and for Space Dynamics as evolution of Gauss-Riemann Paradigms. 7. R&D of N. Boneff NASA RD for Asteroid "Eros" & Space Science' Laws Evolution. 8. R&D of H. Poincare Paradigm for Nature and Cosmos as 6D Group of Transferences. 9. R&D of K. Popoff N-Body General Problem & General Thermodynamic S-T Theory as Einstein-Prigogine-Landau' Paradigms Development. ü 10. R&D of 1st GUT since 1958 by N. S. Kalitzin (Kalitzin N. S., 1958: Uber eine einheitliche Feldtheorie. ZAHeidelberg-ARI, WZHUmnR-B., 7 (2), 207-215) and "Multitemporal Theory of Relativity" -With special applications to Photon Rockets and all Space-Time R&D. GENERAL CONCLUSION: Multidimensional Space-Time Methodology is advance in space research, corresponding to the IAF-IAA-COSPAR Innovative Strategy and R&D Programs -UNEP, UNDP, GEOSS, GMES, Etc.

Umbilical Cord Blood Platelet Lysate as Serum Substitute in Expansion of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

PubMed

Shirzad, Negin; Bordbar, Sima; Goodarzi, Alireza; Mohammad, Monire; Khosravani, Pardis; Sayahpour, Froughazam; Baghaban Eslaminejad, Mohamadreza; Ebrahimi, Marzieh

2017-10-01

The diverse clinical applications for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine warrant increased focus on developing adequate culture supplements devoid of animal-derived products. In the present study, we have investigated the feasibility of umbilical cord blood-platelet lysate (UCB-PL) as a standard substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) and human peripheral blood-PL (PB-PL). In this experimental study, platelet concentrates (PC) from UCB and human PB donors were frozen, melted, and sterilized to obtain PL. Quality control included platelet cell counts, sterility testing (viral and microbial), total protein concentrations, growth factor levels, and PL stability. The effects of UCB-PL and PB-PL on hMSCs proliferation and differentiation into osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes were studied and the results compared with FBS. UCB-PL contained high levels of protein content, platelet-derived growth factor- AB (PDGF-AB), and transforming growth factor (TGF) compared to PB-PL. All growth factors were stable for at least nine months post-storage at -70˚C. hMSCs proliferation enhanced following treatment with UCB-PL. With all three supplements, hMSCs could differentiate into all three lineages. PB-PL and UCB-PL both were potent in hMSCs proliferation. However, PB promoted osteoblastic differentiation and UCB-PL induced chondrogenic differentiation. Because of availability, ease of use and feasible standardization of UCB-PL, we have suggested that UCB-PL be used as an alternative to FBS and PB-PL for the cultivation and expansion of hMSCs in cellular therapy. Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.

Synchronization of Combat Power at the Task Force Level: Defining a Planning Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-01

tachments) LOCATION SCT ARTY CAS AH SMOKE MORTAR FASCAM TI ME EST ACTUAL. Current Future LD PL 1 X Atk Porn PL 2 PL3 OBJ X PL 1 LD PL 2 FL3 OBJ PL 2 PL 1...learned in medical school to 138 identify the aorta only to arrive at St. Elsewhere, where they call it "the big blue boy .* Right now the US Army has a

Evaluation of agreement of placental growth factor (PlGF) tests and the soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/PlGF ratio, comparison of predictive accuracy for pre-eclampsia, and relation to uterine artery Doppler and response to aspirin.

PubMed

Navaratnam, Kate; Abreu, Patricia; Clarke, Helen; Jorgensen, Andrea; Alfirevic, Ana; Alfirevic, Zarko

2017-09-11

The objective of this study is to evaluate agreement between PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio tests and compare their predictive accuracy for pre-eclampsia in high-risk women. Also, to examine for associations of abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio with abnormal uterine artery Doppler and platelet response to aspirin. Prospective cohort study, 150 pregnant women at high risk of pre-eclampsia prescribed 75 mg aspirin daily. Uterine artery Dopplers were assessed at 20 +0 -23 +6 weeks. At 33 +0 -35 +6 weeks platelet function aspirin metabolites, PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured. Measures were all pre-eclampsia and pre-eclampsia requiring delivery prior to 37 weeks. Overall percent agreement was 89.3% for PlGF tests but 74.7-78% for PlGF tests and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. AUCs were 0.70-0.75 for prediction of any pre-eclampsia and 0.92-0.99 for preterm pre-eclampsia. We found a significant association between abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and abnormal uterine artery Doppler (χ 2 5.47, p = .019), but no association with platelet response to aspirin (χ 2 0.12, p = .913). There were no associations between suboptimal aspirin adherence and either abnormal angiogenic markers or uterine artery Dopplers (χ 2 0.144, 0.038, p = .704, .846, respectively). There was good agreement between PlGF tests and limited agreement between PlGF tests and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. All tests have heightened predictive accuracy for preterm pre-eclampsia. Abnormal PlGF or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio relates to abnormal uterine artery Doppler but not platelet response to aspirin.

[Identification of male somatotype based on osteometric characteristics of the upper and lower extremities].

PubMed

Zviagin, V N; Sineva, I M

2009-01-01

This osteologic study included examination of 101 skeletons from the collections of the Department of Anthropology, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Sankt-Peterburg). The results were compared with the data obtained by examining materials excavated from grave sites of an Yoshkar-Ola cemetery and from the Isupovo necropole (Kostroma) to evaluate the possibility of identifying human somatotypes from bone remains. Multidimensional discriminative analysis demonstrated that the equation derived by comparing characteristic signs of all long tubular bones of the extremities was of highest diagnostic value for the purpose of the study. Diagnostic equations are proposed for the identification of individual somatotypes based on the analysis of skeletal remains for the use in practical forensic medical examination.

Smooth function approximation using neural networks.

PubMed

Ferrari, Silvia; Stengel, Robert F

2005-01-01

An algebraic approach for representing multidimensional nonlinear functions by feedforward neural networks is presented. In this paper, the approach is implemented for the approximation of smooth batch data containing the function's input, output, and possibly, gradient information. The training set is associated to the network adjustable parameters by nonlinear weight equations. The cascade structure of these equations reveals that they can be treated as sets of linear systems. Hence, the training process and the network approximation properties can be investigated via linear algebra. Four algorithms are developed to achieve exact or approximate matching of input-output and/or gradient-based training sets. Their application to the design of forward and feedback neurocontrollers shows that algebraic training is characterized by faster execution speeds and better generalization properties than contemporary optimization techniques.

Laser dynamics in transversely inhomogeneous plasma and its relevance to wakefield acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pathak, V. B.; Vieira, J.; Silva, L. O.; Nam, Chang Hee

2018-05-01

We present full set of coupled equations describing the weakly relativistic dynamics of a laser in a plasma with transverse inhomogeneity. We apply variational principle approach to obtain these coupled equations governing laser spot-size, transverse wavenumber, curvature, transverse centroid, etc. We observe that such plasma inhomogeneity can lead to stronger self-focusing. We further discuss the guiding conditions of laser in parabolic plasma channels. With the help of multi-dimensional particle in cell simulations the study is extended to the blowout regime of laser wakefield acceleration to show laser as well as self-injected electron bunch steering in plasma to generate unconventional particle trajectories. Our simulation results demonstrate that such transverse inhomogeneities due to asymmetric self focusing lead to asymmetric bubble excitation, thus inducing off-axis self-injection.

Constraints on trait combinations explain climatic drivers of biodiversity: the importance of trait covariance in community assembly.

PubMed

Dwyer, John M; Laughlin, Daniel C

2017-07-01

Trade-offs maintain diversity and structure communities along environmental gradients. Theory indicates that if covariance among functional traits sets a limit on the number of viable trait combinations in a given environment, then communities with strong multidimensional trait constraints should exhibit low species diversity. We tested this prediction in winter annual plant assemblages along an aridity gradient using multilevel structural equation modelling. Univariate and multivariate functional diversity measures were poorly explained by aridity, and were surprisingly poor predictors of community richness. By contrast, the covariance between maximum height and seed mass strengthened along the aridity gradient, and was strongly associated with richness declines. Community richness had a positive effect on local neighbourhood richness, indicating that climate effects on trait covariance indirectly influence diversity at local scales. We present clear empirical evidence that declines in species richness along gradients of environmental stress can be due to increasing constraints on multidimensional phenotypes. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

Chapter 24: Two- and Three-Dimensional Electronic Modeling of Thin-Film Solar Cells

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

Kanevce, Ana; Metzger, Wyatt K

2016-07-22

Modeling can provide physical insight to device operation, help distinguish important material properties from unimportant properties, predict trends, and help interpret experimental data. Numerical modeling is also useful to simulate different electro-optical experiments, in the presence of grain boundaries (GBs) and nonplanar junctions and geometries, and to help interpret data obtained in such experiments. This chapter presents methods for effective multidimensional modeling. The first step in creating a computational model is defining and providing discretization of a 2D area or a 3D volume. Two main approaches to the discretization have been used for studying solar cells: equivalent-circuit modeling and solvingmore » semiconductor equations. The chapter gives some examples of problems that were addressed with 2D or 3D modeling and the knowledge that was gained through them. Multidimensional modeling including GBs and other material variations is necessary to explain the device physics and experimental results present in diverse thin-film technologies.« less

Development of Numerical Tools for the Investigation of Plasma Detachment from Magnetic Nozzles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sankaran, Kamesh; Polzin, Kurt A.

2007-01-01

A multidimensional numerical simulation framework aimed at investigating the process of plasma detachment from a magnetic nozzle is introduced. An existing numerical code based on a magnetohydrodynamic formulation of the plasma flow equations that accounts for various dispersive and dissipative processes in plasmas was significantly enhanced to allow for the modeling of axisymmetric domains containing three.dimensiunai momentum and magnetic flux vectors. A separate magnetostatic solver was used to simulate the applied magnetic field topologies found in various nozzle experiments. Numerical results from a magnetic diffusion test problem in which all three components of the magnetic field were present exhibit excellent quantitative agreement with the analytical solution, and the lack of numerical instabilities due to fluctuations in the value of del(raised dot)B indicate that the conservative MHD framework with dissipative effects is well-suited for multi-dimensional analysis of magnetic nozzles. Further studies will focus on modeling literature experiments both for the purpose of code validation and to extract physical insight regarding the mechanisms driving detachment.

Data-driven Green's function retrieval and application to imaging with multidimensional deconvolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broggini, Filippo; Wapenaar, Kees; van der Neut, Joost; Snieder, Roel

2014-01-01

An iterative method is presented that allows one to retrieve the Green's function originating from a virtual source located inside a medium using reflection data measured only at the acquisition surface. In addition to the reflection response, an estimate of the travel times corresponding to the direct arrivals is required. However, no detailed information about the heterogeneities in the medium is needed. The iterative scheme generalizes the Marchenko equation for inverse scattering to the seismic reflection problem. To give insight in the mechanism of the iterative method, its steps for a simple layered medium are analyzed using physical arguments based on the stationary phase method. The retrieved Green's wavefield is shown to correctly contain the multiples due to the inhomogeneities present in the medium. Additionally, a variant of the iterative scheme enables decomposition of the retrieved wavefield into its downgoing and upgoing components. These wavefields then enable creation of a ghost-free image of the medium with either cross correlation or multidimensional deconvolution, presenting an advantage over standard prestack migration.

A two-dimensional numerical study of the flow inside the combustion chambers of a motored rotary engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, T. I. P.; Yang, S. L.; Schock, H. J.

1986-01-01

A numerical study was performed to investigate the unsteady, multidimensional flow inside the combustion chambers of an idealized, two-dimensional, rotary engine under motored conditions. The numerical study was based on the time-dependent, two-dimensional, density-weighted, ensemble-averaged conservation equations of mass, species, momentum, and total energy valid for two-component ideal gas mixtures. The ensemble-averaged conservation equations were closed by a K-epsilon model of turbulence. This K-epsilon model of turbulence was modified to account for some of the effects of compressibility, streamline curvature, low-Reynolds number, and preferential stress dissipation. Numerical solutions to the conservation equations were obtained by the highly efficient implicit-factored method of Beam and Warming. The grid system needed to obtain solutions were generated by an algebraic grid generation technique based on transfinite interpolation. Results of the numerical study are presented in graphical form illustrating the flow patterns during intake, compression, gaseous fuel injection, expansion, and exhaust.

Direct simulation for the instability and breakup of laminar liquid jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chuech, S. G.; Przekwas, A. J.; Yang, H. Q.; Gross, K. W.

1990-01-01

A direct numerical simulation method is described for predicting the deformation of laminar liquid jets. In the present nonlinear direct simulation, the convective term, which has been discarded in past linear analyses by Rayleigh and others, is included in the hydrodynamic equations. It is shown that only by maintaining full complexity of the nonlinear surface tension term accurate drop formation can be predicted. The continuity and momentum equations in the transient form are integrated on an adaptive grid, conforming the jet and surface wave shape. The equations, which are parabolic in time and elliptic in space, are solved by a TVD scheme with characteristic flux splitting. The results of the present work are discussed and compared with available measurements and other analyses. The comparison shows that among the predictions, the current 1-D direct simulation results agree best with the experimental data. Furthermore, the computer time requirements are much (an order of magnitude) smaller than those of previously reported multidimensional analyses.

Direct simulation for the instability and breakup of laminar liquid jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chuech, S. G.; Przekwas, A. J.; Yang, H. Q.; Gross, K. W.

1990-07-01

A direct numerical simulation method is described for predicting the deformation of laminar liquid jets. In the present nonlinear direct simulation, the convective term, which has been discarded in past linear analyses by Rayleigh and others, is included in the hydrodynamic equations. It is shown that only by maintaining full complexity of the nonlinear surface tension term accurate drop formation can be predicted. The continuity and momentum equations in the transient form are integrated on an adaptive grid, conforming the jet and surface wave shape. The equations, which are parabolic in time and elliptic in space, are solved by a TVD scheme with characteristic flux splitting. The results of the present work are discussed and compared with available measurements and other analyses. The comparison shows that among the predictions, the current 1-D direct simulation results agree best with the experimental data. Furthermore, the computer time requirements are much (an order of magnitude) smaller than those of previously reported multidimensional analyses.

An approximate Riemann solver for magnetohydrodynamics (that works in more than one dimension)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, Kenneth G.

1994-01-01

An approximate Riemann solver is developed for the governing equations of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The Riemann solver has an eight-wave structure, where seven of the waves are those used in previous work on upwind schemes for MHD, and the eighth wave is related to the divergence of the magnetic field. The structure of the eighth wave is not immediately obvious from the governing equations as they are usually written, but arises from a modification of the equations that is presented in this paper. The addition of the eighth wave allows multidimensional MHD problems to be solved without the use of staggered grids or a projection scheme, one or the other of which was necessary in previous work on upwind schemes for MHD. A test problem made up of a shock tube with rotated initial conditions is solved to show that the two-dimensional code yields answers consistent with the one-dimensional methods developed previously.

A two-dimensional numerical study of the flow inside the combustion chamber of a motored rotary engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, T. I-P.; Yang, S. L.; Schock, H. J.

1986-01-01

A numerical study was performed to investigate the unsteady, multidimensional flow inside the combustion chambers of an idealized, two-dimensional, rotary engine under motored conditions. The numerical study was based on the time-dependent, two-dimensional, density-weighted, ensemble-averaged conservation equations of mass, species, momentum, and total energy valid for two-component ideal gas mixtures. The ensemble-averaged conservation equations were closed by a K-epsilon model of turbulence. This K-epsilon model of turbulence was modified to account for some of the effects of compressibility, streamline curvature, low-Reynolds number, and preferential stress dissipation. Numerical solutions to the conservation equations were obtained by the highly efficient implicit-factored method of Beam and Warming. The grid system needed to obtain solutions were generated by an algebraic grid generation technique based on transfinite interpolation. Results of the numerical study are presented in graphical form illustrating the flow patterns during intake, compression, gaseous fuel injection, expansion, and exhaust.

Serum-converted platelet lysate can substitute for fetal bovine serum in human mesenchymal stromal cell cultures.

PubMed

Mojica-Henshaw, Mariluz P; Jacobson, Pam; Morris, Julie; Kelley, Linda; Pierce, Jan; Boyer, Michael; Reems, Jo-Anna

2013-12-01

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is commonly used as a serum supplement for culturing human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs). However, human cells grown in FBS, especially for extended periods, risk potential exposure to bovine immunogenic proteins and infectious agents. To address this issue, we investigated the ability of a novel human platelet serum supplement to substitute for FBS in hMSC cultures. Platelet lysate-serum (PL-serum) was converted from platelet lysate-plasma (PL-plasma) that was manufactured from pooled platelet-rich plasma (PRP) apheresis units. Growth factor levels and the number of residual intact platelets in PL-serum and PL-plasma were compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Proliferation responses of hMSCs cultured in PL-serum, PL-plasma, or FBS were assessed with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, the immunophenotype of harvested hMSCs was evaluated by flow cytometry and tri-lineage differentiation potential was evaluated by assessing adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic development. Selected growth factor levels in PL-serum were not significantly different from PL-plasma (P > 0.05). hMSC cultures supplemented with PL-serum had comparable growth kinetics to PL-plasma, and hMSC yields were consistently greater than with FBS. hMSCs harvested from cultures supplemented with PL-serum, PL-plasma or FBS had similar cell surface phenotypes and maintained tri-lineage differentiation potential. PL-serum, similar to PL-plasma, can substitute for FBS in hMSC cultures. Use of PL-serum, in contrast to PL-plasma, has an added advantage of not requiring addition of a xenogeneic source of heparin, providing a completely xeno-free culture medium. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Recurrent Thrombotic Events: Persistence and Portfolio

PubMed Central

Amory, Colum F.; Levine, Steve R.; Brey, Robin L.; Gebregziabher, Mulugeta; Tuhrim, Stanley; Tilley, Barbara C.; Simpson, Ann-Catherin N.; Sacco, Ralph L.; Mohr, J.P.

2015-01-01

Background There are very limited prospective data on the significance of persistent of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and recurrent thrombo-occlusive events (TOEs). We investigated the prognostic value of (1) two newer aPL assays, (2) an aPL portfolio, and (3) persistent aPL positivity following stroke. Methods 1,770 subjects from the APASS-WARSS study underwent further aPL testing for antibodies to phosphatidylserine (aPS) and β2-glycoprotein-I (anti-β2GPI) from stored sera. Follow-up aPL status was also tested in a subset of subjects. Primary analysis was based on time to any TOE (ischemic stroke, MI, TIA, DVT, PE, or systemic arterial occlusion)/death at 2 years. Cox proportional hazard analyses assessed whether aPL independently related to outcome. Results Persistent anti-β2GPI decreased the time to TOE/death after adjustment for potential confounders (HR=2.86, CI 1.21-6.76, p=0.017). When persistent anti-β2GPI was combined with another persistently positive aPL, time to TOE/death was also reduced (HR=3.79, CI 1.18-12.14, p=0.025). Neither persistent aCL, persistent aPS alone, nor a single positive anti-β2GPI or aPS was associated with decreased time to TOE/death. No single positive aPL, portfolio of baseline aPL, or any persistent aPL increased the rate of TOE/death. Conclusions Rates of TOE/death were not influenced by aPL results at baseline or follow-up. Persistent anti-β2GPI alone and with persistent second aPL were independently associated with decreased time to TOE/death. Persistent aPL, an aPL portfolio, and newer aPL in ischemic stroke patients are not helpful in predicting an increased rate of recurrent TOEs. PMID:26513489

Dynamic Cross-Entropy.

PubMed

Aur, Dorian; Vila-Rodriguez, Fidel

2017-01-01

Complexity measures for time series have been used in many applications to quantify the regularity of one dimensional time series, however many dynamical systems are spatially distributed multidimensional systems. We introduced Dynamic Cross-Entropy (DCE) a novel multidimensional complexity measure that quantifies the degree of regularity of EEG signals in selected frequency bands. Time series generated by discrete logistic equations with varying control parameter r are used to test DCE measures. Sliding window DCE analyses are able to reveal specific period doubling bifurcations that lead to chaos. A similar behavior can be observed in seizures triggered by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Sample entropy data show the level of signal complexity in different phases of the ictal ECT. The transition to irregular activity is preceded by the occurrence of cyclic regular behavior. A significant increase of DCE values in successive order from high frequencies in gamma to low frequencies in delta band reveals several phase transitions into less ordered states, possible chaos in the human brain. To our knowledge there are no reliable techniques able to reveal the transition to chaos in case of multidimensional times series. In addition, DCE based on sample entropy appears to be robust to EEG artifacts compared to DCE based on Shannon entropy. The applied technique may offer new approaches to better understand nonlinear brain activity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular Interactions between (−)-Epigallocatechin Gallate Analogs and Pancreatic Lipase

PubMed Central

Wang, Shihui; Sun, Zeya; Dong, Shengzhao; Liu, Yang; Liu, Yun

2014-01-01

The molecular interactions between pancreatic lipase (PL) and four tea polyphenols (EGCG analogs), like (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (−)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), and (−)-epigallocatechin (EC), were studied from PL activity, conformation, kinetics and thermodynamics. It was observed that EGCG analogs inhibited PL activity, and their inhibitory rates decreased by the order of EGCG>GCG>ECG>EC. PL activity at first decreased rapidly and then slowly with the increase of EGCG analogs concentrations. α-Helix content of PL secondary structure decreased dependent on EGCG analogs concentration by the order of EGCG>GCG>ECG>EC. EGCG, ECG, and EC could quench PL fluorescence both dynamically and statically, while GCG only quenched statically. EGCG analogs would induce PL self-assembly into complexes and the hydrodynamic radii of the complexes possessed a close relationship with the inhibitory rates. Kinetics analysis showed that EGCG analogs non-competitively inhibited PL activity and did not bind to PL catalytic site. DSC measurement revealed that EGCG analogs decreased the transition midpoint temperature of PL enzyme, suggesting that these compounds reduced PL enzyme thermostability. In vitro renaturation through urea solution indicated that interactions between PL and EGCG analogs were weak and non-covalent. PMID:25365042

Cross Spectral Analysis of Acoustic Signals

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-03-01

homogeneous equations involving P 0, o10 and horizontal and vertical components of rio are obtained. If this system is to have a unique solution, the...ate4 where the coordinate system is oriented so that a unit vector is along k,, the first :oordinate of k, we have P1 0 (k) P1 1 (kl) 6(k 2 ) 6(k 3 ) (15...and Pl(r,t) I P 1 1 (kI)eik-(r-tvo) e-iwt dk (16) Here 6 denotes the delta function (that is, the coordinate system is oriented in the direction of

Transfer Functions Via Laplace- And Fourier-Borel Transforms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Can, Sumer; Unal, Aynur

1991-01-01

Approach to solution of nonlinear ordinary differential equations involves transfer functions based on recently-introduced Laplace-Borel and Fourier-Borel transforms. Main theorem gives transform of response of nonlinear system as Cauchy product of transfer function and transform of input function of system, together with memory effects. Used to determine responses of electrical circuits containing variable inductances or resistances. Also possibility of doing all noncommutative algebra on computers in such symbolic programming languages as Macsyma, Reduce, PL1, or Lisp. Process of solution organized and possibly simplified by algebraic manipulations reducing integrals in solutions to known or tabulated forms.

Computer vision-based automated peak picking applied to protein NMR spectra.

PubMed

Klukowski, Piotr; Walczak, Michal J; Gonczarek, Adam; Boudet, Julien; Wider, Gerhard

2015-09-15

A detailed analysis of multidimensional NMR spectra of macromolecules requires the identification of individual resonances (peaks). This task can be tedious and time-consuming and often requires support by experienced users. Automated peak picking algorithms were introduced more than 25 years ago, but there are still major deficiencies/flaws that often prevent complete and error free peak picking of biological macromolecule spectra. The major challenges of automated peak picking algorithms is both the distinction of artifacts from real peaks particularly from those with irregular shapes and also picking peaks in spectral regions with overlapping resonances which are very hard to resolve by existing computer algorithms. In both of these cases a visual inspection approach could be more effective than a 'blind' algorithm. We present a novel approach using computer vision (CV) methodology which could be better adapted to the problem of peak recognition. After suitable 'training' we successfully applied the CV algorithm to spectra of medium-sized soluble proteins up to molecular weights of 26 kDa and to a 130 kDa complex of a tetrameric membrane protein in detergent micelles. Our CV approach outperforms commonly used programs. With suitable training datasets the application of the presented method can be extended to automated peak picking in multidimensional spectra of nucleic acids or carbohydrates and adapted to solid-state NMR spectra. CV-Peak Picker is available upon request from the authors. gsw@mol.biol.ethz.ch; michal.walczak@mol.biol.ethz.ch; adam.gonczarek@pwr.edu.pl Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Screening efficiency of the self-report version of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children in a highly comorbid inpatient sample.

PubMed

Skarphedinsson, Gudmundur; Villabø, Marianne A; Lauth, Bertrand

2015-01-01

The Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) is a widely used self-report questionnaire for the assessment of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with well documented predictive validity of the total score and subscales in internalizing and mixed clinical samples. However, no data exist on the screening efficiency in an inpatient sample of adolescents. To examine the psychometric properties and screening efficiency of the MASC in a high comorbid inpatient sample. The current study used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses to investigate the predictive value of the MASC total and subscale scores for the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-age children-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL), DSM-IV diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and social phobia (SoP) in a highly comorbid inpatient sample of adolescents (11-18 years). The MASC total score predicted any anxiety disorder (AD) and GAD moderately well. Physical symptoms predicted GAD moderately well. Social anxiety and separation anxiety/panic did not predict SoP or SAD, respectively. Physical symptoms and harm avoidance also predicted the presence of major depressive disorder. The findings support the utility of the MASC total score to predict the presence of any AD and GAD. However, the utility of the social anxiety and separation anxiety/panic subscales showed limited utility to predict the presence of SAD and SoP, respectively. The MASC has probably a more limited function in screening for AD among a highly comorbid inpatient sample of severely affected adolescents. Our results should be interpreted in the light of a small, mixed sample of inpatient adolescents.

Decontamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on green onions using pulsed light (PL) and PL-surfactant-sanitizer combinations.

PubMed

Xu, Wenqing; Chen, Haiqiang; Huang, Yaoxin; Wu, Changqing

2013-08-16

Imported green onion has been associated with three large outbreaks in the USA. Contamination has been found on both domestic and imported green onions. The objective of our study was to investigate Escherichia coli O157:H7 inactivation efficacy of pulsed light (PL) as well as its combination with surfactant and/or sanitizers on green onions. Green onions were cut into two segments, stems and leaves, to represent two different matrixes. Stems were more difficult to be decontaminated. Spot and dip inoculation methods were compared and dipped inoculated green onions were found to be more difficult to be decontaminated. Results showed that 5s dry PL (samples were not immersed in water during PL treatment) and 60s wet PL (samples were immersed in water and stirred during PL treatment) treatments provided promising inactivation efficacy (>4log10CFU/g) for spot inoculated stems and leaves. For dip inoculated green onions, 60s wet PL treatment was comparable with 100ppm chlorine washing, demonstrating that PL could be used as an alternative to chlorine. To further increase the degree of microbial inactivation, combined treatments were applied. PL combined with surfactant (SDS) was found to be more effective than single treatments of PL, SDS, chlorine, citric acid, thymol, and hydrogen peroxide, and binary combined treatments of PL with one of those chemicals. Addition of chlorine or hydrogen peroxide to the PL-SDS combination did not further enhanced its microbial inactivation efficacy. The combination of PL and 1000ppm of SDS reduced the E. coli O157:H7 populations dip inoculated on the stems and leaves of green onions by 1.4 and 3.1log10CFU/g, respectively. Our findings suggest that PL could potentially be used for decontamination of E. coli O157:H7 on green onions, with wet PL added with SDS being the most effective PL treatment. © 2013.

Human platelet lysate supplementation of mesenchymal stromal cell delivery: issues of xenogenicity and species variability.

PubMed

Allen, Ashley B; Butts, Emily B; Copland, Ian B; Stevens, Hazel Y; Guldberg, Robert E

2017-10-01

Immunogenicity of fetal bovine serum (FBS) poses a problem for its use in the propagation of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for cell therapy. Human platelet lysate (hPL), an enriched growth factor solution containing mitogenic and angiogenic cues, has potential utility in replacing FBS for human MSC (hMSC) delivery strategies. Despite its potentiation of hMSC number in vitro, little is known concerning its capacity to supplement implanted hMSC-seeded constructs and promote tissue regeneration in vivo. In this study, we tested the effects of incorporating hPL in cell-seeded constructs implanted subcutaneously into immunocompromised rats, investigated in vitro interactions between hPL and rat MSCs (rMSCs) and determined interspecies variability in the PL product [hPL vs rat PL (rPL)] and its effect on cultured MSCs (hPL/hMSCs vs rPL/rMSCs). The overarching aim was to determine the utility of hPL to foster MSC survival in preclinical rodent models. Exposure to hPL-supplemented media resulted in rMSC death, by a process attributable to heat-labile proteins, but not membrane attack complex formation. In the in vitro syngeneic model, the rodent product proved fundamentally distinct from the human product, with rPL having substantially lower growth factor content than hPL. Moreover, contrary to the positive effects of hPL on hMSC expansion, rPL did not reduce rMSC doubling time for the serum concentrations examined. When tested in vivo, hPL did not improve cell survival within hydrogel constructs through 2 weeks postimplantation. In summary, this study highlights the many facets of xenogenicity and interspecies variability that must be considered in the preclinical evaluation of hPL. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Premixed-Gas Flame Propagation in Hele-Shaw Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharif, J.; Abid, M.; Ronney, P. D.

1999-01-01

It is well known that buoyancy and thermal expansion affect the propagation ra and shapes of premixed gas flames. The understanding of such effects is complicated by the large density ratio between the reactants and products, which induces a baroclinic production of vorticity due to misalignment of density and pressure gradients at the front, which in turn leads to a complicated multi-dimensional flame/flow interaction. The Hele-Shaw cell, i.e., the region between closely-spaced flat parallel plates, is probably the simplest system in which multi-dimensional convection is presents consequently, the behavior of fluids in this system has been studied extensively (Homsy, 1987). Probably the most important characteristic of Hele-Shaw flows is that when the Reynolds number based on gap width is sufficiently small, the Navier-Stokes equations averaged over the gap reduce to a linear relation, namely a Laplace equation for pressure (Darcy's law). In this work, flame propagation in Hele-Shaw cells is studied to obtain a better understanding of buoyancy and thermal expansion effects on premixed flames. This work is also relevant to the study of unburned hydrocarbon emissions produced by internal combustion engines since these emissions are largely a result of the partial burning or complete flame quenching in the narrow, annular gap called the "crevice volume" between the piston and cylinder walls (Heywood, 1988). A better understanding of how flames propagate in these volumes through experiments using Hele-Shaw cells could lead to identification of means to reduce these emissions.

A generalized multi-dimensional mathematical model for charging and discharging processes in a supercapacitor

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

Allu, Srikanth; Velamur Asokan, Badri; Shelton, William A

A generalized three dimensional computational model based on unied formulation of electrode- electrolyte-electrode system of a electric double layer supercapacitor has been developed. The model accounts for charge transport across the solid-liquid system. This formulation based on volume averaging process is a widely used concept for the multiphase ow equations ([28] [36]) and is analogous to porous media theory typically employed for electrochemical systems [22] [39] [12]. This formulation is extended to the electrochemical equations for a supercapacitor in a consistent fashion, which allows for a single-domain approach with no need for explicit interfacial boundary conditions as previously employed ([38]).more » In this model it is easy to introduce the spatio-temporal variations, anisotropies of physical properties and it is also conducive for introducing any upscaled parameters from lower length{scale simulations and experiments. Due to the irregular geometric congurations including porous electrode, the charge transport and subsequent performance characteristics of the super-capacitor can be easily captured in higher dimensions. A generalized model of this nature also provides insight into the applicability of 1D models ([38]) and where multidimensional eects need to be considered. In addition, simple sensitivity analysis on key input parameters is performed in order to ascertain the dependence of the charge and discharge processes on these parameters. Finally, we demonstarted how this new formulation can be applied to non-planar supercapacitors« less

THE PLUTO CODE FOR ADAPTIVE MESH COMPUTATIONS IN ASTROPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS

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

Mignone, A.; Tzeferacos, P.; Zanni, C.

We present a description of the adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) implementation of the PLUTO code for solving the equations of classical and special relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (MHD and RMHD). The current release exploits, in addition to the static grid version of the code, the distributed infrastructure of the CHOMBO library for multidimensional parallel computations over block-structured, adaptively refined grids. We employ a conservative finite-volume approach where primary flow quantities are discretized at the cell center in a dimensionally unsplit fashion using the Corner Transport Upwind method. Time stepping relies on a characteristic tracing step where piecewise parabolic method, weighted essentially non-oscillatory,more » or slope-limited linear interpolation schemes can be handily adopted. A characteristic decomposition-free version of the scheme is also illustrated. The solenoidal condition of the magnetic field is enforced by augmenting the equations with a generalized Lagrange multiplier providing propagation and damping of divergence errors through a mixed hyperbolic/parabolic explicit cleaning step. Among the novel features, we describe an extension of the scheme to include non-ideal dissipative processes, such as viscosity, resistivity, and anisotropic thermal conduction without operator splitting. Finally, we illustrate an efficient treatment of point-local, potentially stiff source terms over hierarchical nested grids by taking advantage of the adaptivity in time. Several multidimensional benchmarks and applications to problems of astrophysical relevance assess the potentiality of the AMR version of PLUTO in resolving flow features separated by large spatial and temporal disparities.« less

Multi-dimensional mesoscale simulations of detonation initiation in energetic materials with density-based kinetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, Thomas Luther; Jost, Antoine M. D.; Zhang, Ju; Sridharan, Prashanth; Amadio, Guilherme

2018-03-01

In this work we present multi-dimensional mesoscale simulations of detonation initiation in energetic materials. We solve the reactive Euler equations, with the energy equation augmented by a power deposition term. The reaction rate at the mesoscale is modelled using density-based kinetics, while the deposition term is based on simulations of void collapse at the microscale, modelled at the mesoscale as hot spots. We carry out two- and three-dimensional mesoscale simulations of random packs of HMX crystals in a binder, and show that transition between no-detonation and detonation depends on the number density of the hot spots, the packing fraction, and the post-shock pressure of an imposed shock. In particular, we show that, for a fixed post-shock pressure, there exists a critical value of the number density of hot spots, such that when the number density is below this value a detonation wave will not develop. We highlight the importance of morphology to initiation by comparing with a homogeneous counterpart, and we compare relevant length scales by examining their corresponding power spectra. We also examine the effect of packing fraction and show that at low post-shock pressures there is significant variation in the initiation times, but that this variation disappears as the post-shock pressure is increased. Finally, we compare three-dimensional simulations with the experimental data, and show that the model is capable of qualitatively reproducing the trends shown in the data.

Induction of antiphospholipid antibodies by immunization with synthetic viral and bacterial peptides.

PubMed

Gharavi, E E; Chaimovich, H; Cucurull, E; Celli, C M; Tang, H; Wilson, W A; Gharavi, A E

1999-01-01

We previously induced pathogenic antibodies against anionic phospholipids (PL) in experimental animals by immunization with lipid-free purified human beta2glycoprotein I (beta2GPI). We hypothesized that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are induced by in vivo binding of foreign beta2GPI to self-PL, thus forming an immunogenic complex against which aPL antibodies are produced. If this hypothesis is true, other PL-binding proteins that are products of ubiquitous viral/bacterial agents may also induce aPL. To test this hypothesis, groups of NIH/Swiss mice were immunized with synthetic peptides of viral and bacterial origin that share structural similarity with the putative PL-binding region of beta2GPI. Compared with the control groups, animals immunized with the peptides produced significantly higher levels of aPL and anti-beta2GPI antibodies. These findings demonstrate that some PL-binding viral and bacterial proteins function like beta2GPI in inducing aPL and anti-beta2GPI production, and are consistent with a role for such viral and bacterial proteins in inducing aPL antibody production in humans.

Effects of dietary phospholipid level in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) larvae: growth, survival, plasma lipids and enzymes of lipid metabolism.

PubMed

Niu, J; Liu, Y J; Tian, L X; Mai, K S; Yang, H J; Ye, C X; Zhu, Y

2008-03-01

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary phospholipid (PL) levels in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) larvae with regard to growth, survival, plasma lipids and enzymes of lipid metabolism. Fish with an average weight of 0.4 g were fed diets containing four levels of PL (0, 20, 40 and 80 g kg(-1)dry matter: purity 97%) for 42 days. Final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG) and survival ratio were highest in the 8% PL diet group and mortality was highest in PL-free diet group. We examined the activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) in liver, lecithin-cholesterolacyltransferase (LCAT) in plasma as well as plasma lipids and lipoprotein. LCAT activity showed a decrease of more than two-fold in PL-supplemented diet groups compared with the PL-free diet group. HL activity was highest in the 8% PL diet group and the other three groups showed no difference. LPL activity was significantly higher in the PL-supplemented diet groups than in the PL-free diet group. The dietary intervention significantly increased plasma phospholipids and total cholesterol (TC) levels, and the higher free cholesterol (FC) level contributed to the TC level. However, the fish fed PL exhibited a significantly decreased plasma triglyceride (TG) level. The lipoprotein fractions were also affected significantly by the PL. The PL-supplemented diet groups had significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared with the PL-free diet group, but showed a marked decrease in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The results suggested that PL could modify plasma lipoprotein metabolism and lipid profile, and that the optimal dietary PL level may well exceed 80 g kg(-1) for cobia larvae according to growth and survival.

Opposite beta2-glycoprotein I requirement for the binding of infectious and autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies to cardiolipin liposomes is associated with antibody avidity.

PubMed

Celli, C M; Gharavi, A E; Chaimovich, H

1999-01-12

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) from two different populations (patients with autoimmune or infectious disorders) with cardiolipin (CL) arranged in a defined bilayer. beta2-Glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), an apolipoprotein that plays a critical role in the aPL binding to phospholipids, was quantified by dot blot in purified IgG-aPL samples, further classified according to apparent avidity to CL. In solid-phase assays, beta2GPI increased, preferentially, the binding of low-avidity autoimmune aPL to CL but inhibited the binding of low-avidity syphilitic aPL. In the absence of beta2GPI, both autoimmune and infectious aPL induced the leakage of the entrapped fluorescent probe, carboxyfluorescein (CF), from small unilamellar vesicles containing CL. aPL-induced probe leakage was protein concentration-dependent and characterized by a lag-phase onset of 100-120 min. beta2GPI increased the leakage rate induced by low-avidity autoimmune aPL only and inhibited the leakage induced by all syphilitic aPL. The following conclusions were provided: (1) in the absence of beta2GPI, autoimmune and infectious aPL bind to CL in a bilayer, inducing liposome leakage; (2) the leakage mechanism induced by aPL is suggested to be intravesicular; (3) beta2GPI requirement for phospholipid binding in both solid and fluid phase is associated to aPL avidity; (4) CL alone or the CL-beta2GPI complex are the most likely epitopes for autoimmune aPL; (5) aPL from syphilis patients can only form the CL-aPL complex, supporting that beta2GPI is not (part of) the target epitope.

Immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety of the human rotavirus vaccine RIX4414 (Rotarix™) oral suspension (liquid formulation) when co-administered with expanded program on immunization (EPI) vaccines in Vietnam and the Philippines in 2006-2007.

PubMed

Anh, D D; Carlos, C C; Thiem, D V; Hutagalung, Y; Gatchalian, S; Bock, H L; Smolenov, I; Suryakiran, P V; Han, H H

2011-03-03

Evaluation of immunogenicity and safety of a 2-dose liquid formulation of human rotavirus vaccine, RIX4414 following WHO's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) schedule (0, 1, and 2 months; Month 0 indicates day of enrollment) in Vietnam and the Philippines. Infants aged 6-10 (mean=8.7 ± 1.07 weeks Vietnam) and 5-10 weeks (mean=6.6 ± 1.03 weeks Philippines) received two doses of RIX4414 vaccine (V) and one dose of placebo (PL) or three placebo doses concomitantly with commercially available diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis, hepatitis B and oral poliovirus vaccines. The vaccination schedules were: V-V-PL, V-PL-V and PL-PL-PL (Vietnam); PL-V-V, V-PL-V and PL-PL-PL (Philippines). Anti-rotavirus seroconversion rate was assessed pre-vaccination and post-vaccination (ELISA cut-off=20 U/ml). 375 infants were enrolled in each country. Seroconversion rates at one month post-Dose 2 of RIX4414 were Vietnam 63.3% (95% CI: 54.3-71.6) in V-V-PL group and 81.5% (95% CI: 73.4-88) in V-PL-V group; Philippines 70% (95% CI: 61-78) in PL-V-V group and 59.2% (95% CI: 49.8-68) in V-PL-V group. Frequencies of solicited (8-day post-each dose) and unsolicited symptoms (31-day post-each dose) were similar. Two-doses of rotavirus vaccine administered within the WHO EPI offer flexibility in existing schedule, though both schedules provides good immune responses. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deconvolution of mixtures with high plagioclase content for the remote interpretation of lunar plagioclase-rich regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serventi, Giovanna; Carli, Cristian; Sgavetti, Maria

2016-07-01

Anorthositic rocks are widespread on the lunar surface and have probably been formed by flotation of PL over a magma ocean. A large portion of pristine rocks are characterized by a low Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratio, and have been classified as ferroan anorthosite, and recently, after observation from SELENE Spectral Profiler,pure anorthosites regions with more than 98% PL have been recognized. In this paper, we analyze a set of mixtures with PL content similar to the ferroan anorthosites and to the pure anorthosite regions, using the Origin Software and the Modified Gaussian Model. We consider three plagioclases with varying FeOwt% contents (PL1, PL2 and PL3)andthree mafic end-members (1) 100% orthopyroxene, (2) 56% orthopyroxene and 44% clinopyroxene, and (3) 100% olivine (OL). The spectral parameters considered here are: band depth, band center, band width, c0 (the continuum intercept) and c1 (the continuum offset). Here we have shown that in pyroxene (PX)-bearing mixtures, the PX is distinguishable even in mixtures with only 1% PX and that PX band at ca. 900 nm is always deeper than PL1 band while PL2 and PL3 are deeperthan OPX 900 nm band from 95, 96% PL. In OL-bearing mixtures, OL detection limit is 2% when mixed with PL1, and 3% and 4% if mixed with PL2 and PL3. We also demonstrated how spectral parameters vary with PL%, and, generally, increasing the PL content: (1) 1250 nm band depth decreases when mixed with OL, while it deepens in mixtures with PX; (2) 1250 nm band centers generally move towards longer wavelength for PL1-bearing mixtures, while do not show significant variations considering PL2/PL3-mixtures; (3) 1250 nm band width of PL1 in E1 and E5-mixtures substantially widens while in other mixtures it only slightly varies. Here we also proposed an application to a real case, from Proclus crater, revealing how studying terrestrial analogues is fundamental to infer hypothesis on the mineralogical composition of a planetary surface, but also how the spectral convergence of spectra characterized by different compositions can led to misleading interpretations.

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

Han, Seong-Su, E-mail: seong-su-han@uiowa.edu; Han, Sangwoo; Kamberos, Natalie L.

Highlights: • PL inhibits the proliferation of B-ALL cell lines irrespective of GC-resistance. • PL selectively kills B-ALL cells by increasing ROS, but not normal counterpart. • PL does not sensitize majority of B-ALL cells to DEX. • PL represses the network of constitutively activated TFs and modulates their target genes. • PL may serve as a new therapeutic molecule for GC-resistant B-ALL. - Abstract: Piperlongumine (PL), a pepper plant alkaloid from Piper longum, has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. PL selectively kills both solid and hematologic cancer cells, but not normal counterparts. Here we evaluated the effect of PL onmore » the proliferation and survival of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), including glucocorticoid (GC)-resistant B-ALL. Regardless of GC-resistance, PL inhibited the proliferation of all B-ALL cell lines, but not normal B cells, in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis via elevation of ROS. Interestingly, PL did not sensitize most of B-ALL cell lines to dexamethasone (DEX). Only UoC-B1 exhibited a weak synergistic effect between PL and DEX. All B-ALL cell lines tested exhibited constitutive activation of multiple transcription factors (TFs), including AP-1, MYC, NF-κB, SP1, STAT1, STAT3, STAT6 and YY1. Treatment of the B-ALL cells with PL significantly downregulated these TFs and modulated their target genes. While activation of AURKB, BIRC5, E2F1, and MYB mRNA levels were significantly downregulated by PL, but SOX4 and XBP levels were increased by PL. Intriguingly, PL also increased the expression of p21 in B-ALL cells through a p53-independent mechanism. Given that these TFs and their target genes play critical roles in a variety of hematological malignancies, our findings provide a strong preclinical rationale for considering PL as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, including B-ALL and GC-resistant B-ALL.« less

Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Recurrent Thrombotic Events: Persistence and Portfolio.

PubMed

Amory, Colum F; Levine, Steven R; Brey, Robin L; Gebregziabher, Mulugeta; Tuhrim, Stanley; Tilley, Barbara C; Simpson, Ann-Catherin C; Sacco, Ralph L; Mohr, Jay P

2015-01-01

There are very limited prospective data on the significance of persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and recurrent thrombo-occlusive events (TOEs). We investigated the prognostic value of (1) 2 newer aPL assays, (2) an aPL portfolio and (3) persistent aPL positivity following stroke. A total of 1,770 subjects from the APASS-WARSS study underwent further aPL testing for antibodies to phosphatidylserine (aPS) and anti-β2-glycoprotein-I (anti-β2GPI) from stored sera. Follow-up aPL status was also tested in a subset of subjects. Primary analysis was based on time to any TOE (ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or systemic arterial occlusion)/death at 2 years. Cox proportional hazard analyses assessed whether aPL independently related to outcome. Persistent anti-β2GPI decreased the time to TOE/death after adjustment for potential confounders (hazards ratio (HR) 2.86, 95% CI 1.21-6.76, p = 0.017). When persistent anti-β2GPI was combined with another persistently positive aPL, time to TOE/death was also reduced (HR 3.79, 95% CI 1.18-12.14, p = 0.025). Neither persistent anticardiolipin antibodies nor persistent aPS alone nor a single positive anti-β2GPI nor aPS was associated with decreased time to TOE/death. No single positive aPL, portfolio of baseline aPL or any persistent aPL increased the rate of TOE/death. Rates of TOE/death were not influenced by aPL results at baseline or follow-up. Persistent anti-β2GPI alone, and with persistent second aPL, was independently associated with decreased time to TOE/death. Persistent aPL, an aPL portfolio and newer aPL in ischemic stroke patients are not helpful in predicting an increased rate of recurrent TOEs. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Placental growth factor enhances angiogenesis in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells via PI3K/Akt pathway: Potential implications of inflammation bowel disease

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

Zhou, Yi, E-mail: mondayzy@126.com; Tu, Chuantao, E-mail: tu.chuantao@zs-hospital.sh.cn; Zhao, Yuan, E-mail: zhao.yuan@zs-hospital.sh.cn

Background: Angiogenesis plays a major role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a specific regulator of pathological angiogenesis and is upregulated in the sera of IBD patients. Therefore, the role of PlGF in IBD angiogenesis was investigated here using HIMECs. Methods: The expression of PlGF and its receptors in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMECs) and inflamed mucosa of IBD patients were examined using quantitative PCR and western blot analysis and the role of PlGF in IBD HIMECs was further explored using small interfering RNA (siRNA). The induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine by PlGFmore » in HIMECs was confirmed by ELISA. The capacity of PlGF to induce angiogenesis in HIMECs was tested through proliferation, cell-migration, matrigel tubule-formation assays and its underlying signaling pathway were explored by western blot analysis of ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation. Results: mRNA and protein expression of PlGF and its receptor NRP-1 were significantly increased in IBD HIMECs. Inflamed mucosa of IBD patients also displayed higher expression of PIGF. The production of IL-6 and TNF-α in culture supernatant of HIMECs treated with exogenous recombinant human PlGF-1 (rhPlGF-1) were increased. Furthermore, rhPlGF-1 significantly induced HIMECs migration and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner and knockdown of endogenous PlGF in IBD HIMECs using siRNA substantially reduced these angiogenesis activities. PlGF induced PI3K/Akt phosphorylation in HIMECs and pretreatment of PlGF-stimulated HIMECs with PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) significantly inhibited the PlGF-induced cell migration and tube formation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the pro-inflammatory and angiogenic effects of PlGF on HIMECs in IBD through activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. PlGF/PI3K/Akt signaling may serve as a potential therapeutic target for IBD. - Highlights: • Expression of PlGF and its receptor NRP-1 were significantly increased in IBD HIMECs. • Exogenous rhPlGF-1 treatment significantly induced HIMECs migration and tube formation. • Knockdown of endogenous PlGF in IBD HIMECs using siRNA substantially reduced cell angiogenesis activities. • PlGF induced PI3K/Akt phosphorylation in HIMECs which is required for PIGF-induced cell migration and tube formation.« less

1D kinetic simulations of a short glow discharge in helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Chengxun; Bogdanov, E. A.; Eliseev, S. I.; Kudryavtsev, A. A.

2017-07-01

This paper presents a 1D model of a direct current glow discharge based on the solution of the kinetic Boltzmann equation in the two-term approximation. The model takes into account electron-electron coulomb collisions, the corresponding collision integral is written in both detailed and simplified forms. The Boltzmann equation for electrons is coupled with continuity equations for ions and metastable atoms and the Poisson equation for electric potential. Simulations are carried out self-consistently for the whole length of discharge in helium (from cathode to anode) for cases p = 1 Torr, L = 3.6 cm and p = 20 Torr, L = 1.8 mm, so that pL = 3.6 cm.Torr in both cases. It is shown that simulations based on the kinetic approach give lower values of electron temperature in plasma than fluid simulations. Peaks in spatial differential flux corresponding to the electrons originating from superelastic collisions and Penning ionization were observed in simulations. Different approaches of taking coulomb collisions into account give significantly different values of electron density and electron temperature in plasma. Analysis showed that using a simplified approach gives a non-zero contribution to the electron energy balance, which is comparable to energy losses on elastic and inelastic collisions and leads to significant errors and thus is not recommended.

Placental lactogen secretion during prolonged-pregnancy in the rat: the ovary plays a pivotal role in the control of placental function.

PubMed

Shiota, K; Furuyama, N; Takahashi, M

1991-10-01

The serum of rats at mid-pregnancy contains at least 2 distinct placental lactogen (PL)-like substances tentatively termed placental lactogen-alpha (PL-alpha) and placental lactogen-beta (PL-beta) (Endocrinol Japon 38: 533-540, 1991). We have investigated the secretory patterns of three placental lactogens (PL-alpha, PL-beta and placental lactogen-II) during normal pregnancy and in two prolonged-pregnancy models. Pregnancy was prolonged by the introduction of new corpora lutea by inducing ovulation on day 15 of pregnancy by successive treatments with PMSG (30 IU/rat, sc on day 12) and hCG (10 IU/rat, iv on day 14), and in the second model by progesterone implants on day 15 of pregnancy. During normal pregnancy, each of the 3 PLs exhibited only one secretory peak in the serum; PL-alpha and PL-beta on day 12 and placental lactogen II (PL-II) on day 20. Interestingly, in the rats with new sets of corpora lutea, serum PL-alpha and PL-beta levels began to increase again on day 18 and showed peaks on day 20 for PL-alpha and on day 22 for PL-beta. In this model, the initiation of PL-II secretion was not affected, but high levels were maintained until day 26, when parturition occurred. In rats receiving either PMSG or hCG, the secretory patterns of the PLs were similar to as those during normal pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of pulsed light treatments on inactivation of Salmonella on blueberries and its impact on shelf-life and quality attributes.

PubMed

Cao, Xinang; Huang, Runze; Chen, Haiqiang

2017-11-02

Blueberry have a short shelf life when fully ripe and susceptible to contamination of various pathogens. Our study investigated the effect of pulsed light (PL) on inactivation of Salmonella on blueberries and its impact on shelf-life, quality attributes and health-benefit compounds of blueberries. Dry PL (6J/cm 2 ) and water-assisted PL (samples were agitated in water during PL treatment; 9J/cm 2 ) along with two controls, dry control (untreated) and water-assisted control (water washing without PL), were applied to blueberries with subsequent storages at room temperature (3days) or 5°C (7days). For Salmonella inactivation, dry PL treatment achieved 0.9 and 0.6 log reduction of Salmonella for spot and dip inoculation, respectively; while the water-assisted PL treatment reduced Salmonella by 4.4 log and 0.8 log for spot and dip inoculation, respectively. The water-assisted PL treatment resulted in Salmonella populations significantly lower than the dry control after storage regardless of the storage temperature and inoculation method. Neither dry nor water-assisted PL treatments improved the shelf life of blueberries even though direct inactivation of natural yeasts and molds were achieved. Surface lightness was instantly reduced after both dry and water-assisted PL treatments. Compared with the dry control, the two PL treatments did not reduce the firmness of blueberries. Weight loss was increased for the dry PL treated samples, but not for the water-assisted PL treatment for both storage conditions. Delayed anthocyanins accumulation and reduced total antioxidant activity were induced by both PL treatments at the end of storage at room temperature, while slight enhancement in total phenolics content was achieved by water-assisted PL treatment. In conclusion, the water-assisted PL treatment could effectively decontaminate Salmonella on blueberries while showed minimal or no impact on the shelf-life, quality attributes and health-benefit compounds of blueberries. PL processing parameters need to be further evaluated and optimized before possible application in the blueberry industry. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Semi-Analytic Reconstruction of Flux in Finite Volume Formulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gnoffo, Peter A.

2006-01-01

Semi-analytic reconstruction uses the analytic solution to a second-order, steady, ordinary differential equation (ODE) to simultaneously evaluate the convective and diffusive flux at all interfaces of a finite volume formulation. The second-order ODE is itself a linearized approximation to the governing first- and second- order partial differential equation conservation laws. Thus, semi-analytic reconstruction defines a family of formulations for finite volume interface fluxes using analytic solutions to approximating equations. Limiters are not applied in a conventional sense; rather, diffusivity is adjusted in the vicinity of changes in sign of eigenvalues in order to achieve a sufficiently small cell Reynolds number in the analytic formulation across critical points. Several approaches for application of semi-analytic reconstruction for the solution of one-dimensional scalar equations are introduced. Results are compared with exact analytic solutions to Burger s Equation as well as a conventional, upwind discretization using Roe s method. One approach, the end-point wave speed (EPWS) approximation, is further developed for more complex applications. One-dimensional vector equations are tested on a quasi one-dimensional nozzle application. The EPWS algorithm has a more compact difference stencil than Roe s algorithm but reconstruction time is approximately a factor of four larger than for Roe. Though both are second-order accurate schemes, Roe s method approaches a grid converged solution with fewer grid points. Reconstruction of flux in the context of multi-dimensional, vector conservation laws including effects of thermochemical nonequilibrium in the Navier-Stokes equations is developed.

[Migraine in SLE: role of antiphospholipid antibodies and Raynaud's phenomenon].

PubMed

Annese, Virginia; Tomietto, Paola; Venturini, Paolo; D'Agostini, Serena; Ferraccioli, Gianfranco

2006-01-01

To determine the role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in the development of migraine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 50 unselected SLE patients and 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) controls underwent an interview to define the presence of migraine according to the guidelines of the International Headache Society (1988). Serological tests for aPL were performed in all patients. SLE patients were divided according to positivity for RP and/or aPL into 4 subsets: R-/aPL-, R-/aPL+, R+/aPL- and R+/aPL+. Data were analysed using Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test and U Mann-Whitney test. SLE and RA patients were similar for demographic and clinical features; aPL positivity was found in a greater proportion of SLE patients versus RA controls (68% vs 25%, p=0.0036). 31 of the 50 lupic patients (62%) and 7 of the 20 RA controls (35%) suffered from migraine (OR=3, CI:1-8.9). Among SLE and RA patients, migraine was associated with aPL positivity (p=0.027 and p=0.019). Analysing the combined effect of aPL and RP on migraine, in R+/aPL+ patients we detected an higher frequency of migraine (85.7%) with respect to the patients negative for these two features (27%, p=0.0051, OR=16, CI:2.2-118) and to the patients positive only for aPL (65%, p=0.0031, OR=6.2, CI:1.2-32). Migraine in SLE and RA associates with aPL positivity. The simultaneous presence of RP increases by 2,5 times the probability of having migraine, suggesting that cerebral vasospasm might be more common in patients with peripheral vasospasm, given the presence of aPL.

Development and dissection of diagnostic SNP markers for the downy mildew resistance genes Pl Arg and Pl 8 and maker-assisted gene pyramiding in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

PubMed

Qi, L L; Talukder, Z I; Hulke, B S; Foley, M E

2017-06-01

Diagnostic DNA markers are an invaluable resource in breeding programs for successful introgression and pyramiding of disease resistance genes. Resistance to downy mildew (DM) disease in sunflower is mediated by Pl genes which are known to be effective against the causal fungus, Plasmopara halstedii. Two DM resistance genes, Pl Arg and Pl 8 , are highly effective against P. halstedii races in the USA, and have been previously mapped to the sunflower linkage groups (LGs) 1 and 13, respectively, using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. In this study, we developed high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) maps encompassing the Pl arg and Pl 8 genes and identified diagnostic SNP markers closely linked to these genes. The specificity of the diagnostic markers was validated in a highly diverse panel of 548 sunflower lines. Dissection of a large marker cluster co-segregated with Pl Arg revealed that the closest SNP markers NSA_007595 and NSA_001835 delimited Pl Arg to an interval of 2.83 Mb on the LG1 physical map. The SNP markers SFW01497 and SFW06597 delimited Pl 8 to an interval of 2.85 Mb on the LG13 physical map. We also developed sunflower lines with homozygous, three gene pyramids carrying Pl Arg , Pl 8 , and the sunflower rust resistance gene R 12 using the linked SNP markers from a segregating F 2 population of RHA 340 (carrying Pl 8 )/RHA 464 (carrying Pl Arg and R 12 ). The high-throughput diagnostic SNP markers developed in this study will facilitate marker-assisted selection breeding, and the pyramided sunflower lines will provide durable resistance to downy mildew and rust diseases.

Increased expression of placental growth factor in high-grade endometrial carcinoma

PubMed Central

COENEGRACHTS, LIEVE; SCHRAUWEN, STEFANIE; VAN BREE, RITA; DESPIERRE, EVELYN; LUYTEN, CATHERINE; JONCKX, BART; STASSEN, JEAN MARIE; VERGOTE, IGNACE; AMANT, FRÉDÉRIC

2013-01-01

Placental growth factor (PlGF), a homolog of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), exerts pleiotropic functions in cancer by affecting tumor cells as well as endothelial and inflammatory cells. Moreover, PlGF expression correlates with tumor stage, recurrence, metastasis and patient outcome in different types of cancer. Recently, administration of anti-PlGF therapy reduced tumor growth and metastasis in preclinical tumor models. In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of systemic and local expression of PlGF in primary endometrial carcinomas. PlGF levels in tumor lysates (n=128) and serum (n=88) of patients with primary endometrial cancer were determined using ELISA. PlGF mRNA expression in endometrial carcinoma tissues was quantified by quantitative qRT-PCR. Results were compared to endometrial cancer stage and grade. Systemic PlGF levels were not altered in patients with endometrial cancer (FIGO stage I-II-III) as compared to healthy controls. Only in FIGO stage IV patients, serum PlGF levels were slightly increased. Local PlGF mRNA and protein expression in endometrial tumors progressively increased with tumor grade. In endometrioid carcinomas, PlGF mRNA expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 3 tumors as compared to normal endometrial tissue. PlGF protein expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 2 and 3 carcinomas and in serous carcinomas as compared to normal endometrial tissue. Our study showed that systemic/serum PlGF levels cannot be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker in endometrial cancer. However, the increased local expression of PlGF, primarily in high-grade carcinomas, underscores the possibility for preclinical assessment of anti-PlGF therapy in endometrial cancer. PMID:23232836

Increased expression of placental growth factor in high-grade endometrial carcinoma.

PubMed

Coenegrachts, Lieve; Schrauwen, Stefanie; Van Bree, Rita; Despierre, Evelyn; Luyten, Catherine; Jonckx, Bart; Stassen, Jean Marie; Vergote, Ignace; Amant, Frédéric

2013-02-01

Placental growth factor (PlGF), a homolog of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), exerts pleiotropic functions in cancer by affecting tumor cells as well as endothelial and inflammatory cells. Moreover, PlGF expression correlates with tumor stage, recurrence, metastasis and patient outcome in different types of cancer. Recently, administration of anti-PlGF therapy reduced tumor growth and metastasis in preclinical tumor models. In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of systemic and local expression of PlGF in primary endometrial carcinomas. PlGF levels in tumor lysates (n=128) and serum (n=88) of patients with primary endometrial cancer were determined using ELISA. PlGF mRNA expression in endometrial carcinoma tissues was quantified by quantitative qRT-PCR. Results were compared to endometrial cancer stage and grade. Systemic PlGF levels were not altered in patients with endometrial cancer (FIGO stage I-II-III) as compared to healthy controls. Only in FIGO stage IV patients, serum PlGF levels were slightly increased. Local PlGF mRNA and protein expression in endometrial tumors progressively increased with tumor grade. In endometrioid carcinomas, PlGF mRNA expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 3 tumors as compared to normal endometrial tissue. PlGF protein expression was significantly increased in endometrioid grade 2 and 3 carcinomas and in serous carcinomas as compared to normal endometrial tissue. Our study showed that systemic/serum PlGF levels cannot be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker in endometrial cancer. However, the increased local expression of PlGF, primarily in high-grade carcinomas, underscores the possibility for preclinical assessment of anti-PlGF therapy in endometrial cancer.

A Second Law Based Unstructured Finite Volume Procedure for Generalized Flow Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Majumdar, Alok

1998-01-01

An unstructured finite volume procedure has been developed for steady and transient thermo-fluid dynamic analysis of fluid systems and components. The procedure is applicable for a flow network consisting of pipes and various fittings where flow is assumed to be one dimensional. It can also be used to simulate flow in a component by modeling a multi-dimensional flow using the same numerical scheme. The flow domain is discretized into a number of interconnected control volumes located arbitrarily in space. The conservation equations for each control volume account for the transport of mass, momentum and entropy from the neighboring control volumes. In addition, they also include the sources of each conserved variable and time dependent terms. The source term of entropy equation contains entropy generation due to heat transfer and fluid friction. Thermodynamic properties are computed from the equation of state of a real fluid. The system of equations is solved by a hybrid numerical method which is a combination of simultaneous Newton-Raphson and successive substitution schemes. The paper also describes the application and verification of the procedure by comparing its predictions with the analytical and numerical solution of several benchmark problems.

An extended harmonic balance method based on incremental nonlinear control parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khodaparast, Hamed Haddad; Madinei, Hadi; Friswell, Michael I.; Adhikari, Sondipon; Coggon, Simon; Cooper, Jonathan E.

2017-02-01

A new formulation for calculating the steady-state responses of multiple-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) non-linear dynamic systems due to harmonic excitation is developed. This is aimed at solving multi-dimensional nonlinear systems using linear equations. Nonlinearity is parameterised by a set of 'non-linear control parameters' such that the dynamic system is effectively linear for zero values of these parameters and nonlinearity increases with increasing values of these parameters. Two sets of linear equations which are formed from a first-order truncated Taylor series expansion are developed. The first set of linear equations provides the summation of sensitivities of linear system responses with respect to non-linear control parameters and the second set are recursive equations that use the previous responses to update the sensitivities. The obtained sensitivities of steady-state responses are then used to calculate the steady state responses of non-linear dynamic systems in an iterative process. The application and verification of the method are illustrated using a non-linear Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) subject to a base harmonic excitation. The non-linear control parameters in these examples are the DC voltages that are applied to the electrodes of the MEMS devices.

Placenta Growth Factor in Diabetic Wound Healing

PubMed Central

Cianfarani, Francesca; Zambruno, Giovanna; Brogelli, Laura; Sera, Francesco; Lacal, Pedro Miguel; Pesce, Maurizio; Capogrossi, Maurizio C.; Failla, Cristina Maria; Napolitano, Monica; Odorisio, Teresa

2006-01-01

Reduced microcirculation and diminished expression of growth factors contribute to wound healing impairment in diabetes. Placenta growth factor (PlGF), an angiogenic mediator promoting pathophysiological neovascularization, is expressed during cutaneous wound healing and improves wound closure by enhancing angiogenesis. By using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, we here demonstrate that PlGF induction is strongly reduced in diabetic wounds. Diabetic transgenic mice overexpressing PlGF in the skin displayed accelerated wound closure compared with diabetic wild-type littermates. Moreover, diabetic wound treatment with an adenovirus vector expressing the human PlGF gene (AdCMV.PlGF) significantly accelerated the healing process compared with wounds treated with a control vector. The analysis of treated wounds showed that PlGF gene transfer improved granulation tissue formation, maturation, and vascularization, as well as monocytes/macrophages local recruitment. Platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA levels were increased in AdCMV.PlGF-treated wounds, possibly enhancing PlGF-mediated effects. Finally, PlGF treatment stimulated cultured dermal fibroblast migration, pointing to a direct role of PlGF in accelerating granulation tissue maturation. In conclusion, our data indicate that reduced PlGF expression contributes to impaired wound healing in diabetes and that PlGF gene transfer to diabetic wounds exerts therapeutic activity by promoting different aspects of the repair process. PMID:17003476

Using partially labeled data for normal mixture identification with application to class definition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shahshahani, Behzad M.; Landgrebe, David A.

1992-01-01

The problem of estimating the parameters of a normal mixture density when, in addition to the unlabeled samples, sets of partially labeled samples are available is addressed. The density of the multidimensional feature space is modeled with a normal mixture. It is assumed that the set of components of the mixture can be partitioned into several classes and that training samples are available from each class. Since for any training sample the class of origin is known but the exact component of origin within the corresponding class is unknown, the training samples as considered to be partially labeled. The EM iterative equations are derived for estimating the parameters of the normal mixture in the presence of partially labeled samples. These equations can be used to combine the supervised and nonsupervised learning processes.

Convergence of Spectral Discretizations of the Vlasov--Poisson System

DOE PAGES

Manzini, G.; Funaro, D.; Delzanno, G. L.

2017-09-26

Here we prove the convergence of a spectral discretization of the Vlasov-Poisson system. The velocity term of the Vlasov equation is discretized using either Hermite functions on the infinite domain or Legendre polynomials on a bounded domain. The spatial term of the Vlasov and Poisson equations is discretized using periodic Fourier expansions. Boundary conditions are treated in weak form through a penalty type term that can be applied also in the Hermite case. As a matter of fact, stability properties of the approximated scheme descend from this added term. The convergence analysis is carried out in detail for the 1D-1Vmore » case, but results can be generalized to multidimensional domains, obtained as Cartesian product, in both space and velocity. The error estimates show the spectral convergence under suitable regularity assumptions on the exact solution.« less

A split finite element algorithm for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, A. J.

1979-01-01

An accurate and efficient numerical solution algorithm is established for solution of the high Reynolds number limit of the Navier-Stokes equations governing the multidimensional flow of a compressible essentially inviscid fluid. Finite element interpolation theory is used within a dissipative formulation established using Galerkin criteria within the Method of Weighted Residuals. An implicit iterative solution algorithm is developed, employing tensor product bases within a fractional steps integration procedure, that significantly enhances solution economy concurrent with sharply reduced computer hardware demands. The algorithm is evaluated for resolution of steep field gradients and coarse grid accuracy using both linear and quadratic tensor product interpolation bases. Numerical solutions for linear and nonlinear, one, two and three dimensional examples confirm and extend the linearized theoretical analyses, and results are compared to competitive finite difference derived algorithms.

Technique for Very High Order Nonlinear Simulation and Validation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dyson, Rodger W.

2001-01-01

Finding the sources of sound in large nonlinear fields via direct simulation currently requires excessive computational cost. This paper describes a simple technique for efficiently solving the multidimensional nonlinear Euler equations that significantly reduces this cost and demonstrates a useful approach for validating high order nonlinear methods. Up to 15th order accuracy in space and time methods were compared and it is shown that an algorithm with a fixed design accuracy approaches its maximal utility and then its usefulness exponentially decays unless higher accuracy is used. It is concluded that at least a 7th order method is required to efficiently propagate a harmonic wave using the nonlinear Euler equations to a distance of 5 wavelengths while maintaining an overall error tolerance that is low enough to capture both the mean flow and the acoustics.

HCMM satellite follow-on investigation no. 25. Soil moisture and heat budget evalution in selected European zones of agricultural and environmental interest (TELLUS project)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A simple procedure to evaluate actual evaporation was derived by linearizing the surface energy balance equation, using Taylor's expansion. The original multidimensional hypersurface could be reduced to a linear relationship between evaporation and surface temperature or to a surface relationship involving evaporation, surface temperature and albedo. This procedure permits a rapid sensitivity analysis of the surface energy balance equation as well as a speedy mapping of evaporation from remotely sensed surface temperatures and albedo. Comparison with experimental data yielded promising results. The validity of evapotranspiration and soil moisture models in semiarid conditions was tested. Wheat was the crop chosen for a continuous measurement campaign made in the south of Italy. Radiometric, micrometeorologic, agronomic and soil data were collected for processing and interpretation.

A system of three-dimensional complex variables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, E. Dale

1986-01-01

Some results of a new theory of multidimensional complex variables are reported, including analytic functions of a three-dimensional (3-D) complex variable. Three-dimensional complex numbers are defined, including vector properties and rules of multiplication. The necessary conditions for a function of a 3-D variable to be analytic are given and shown to be analogous to the 2-D Cauchy-Riemann equations. A simple example also demonstrates the analogy between the newly defined 3-D complex velocity and 3-D complex potential and the corresponding ordinary complex velocity and complex potential in two dimensions.

Extension of a System Level Tool for Component Level Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Majumdar, Alok; Schallhorn, Paul

2002-01-01

This paper presents an extension of a numerical algorithm for network flow analysis code to perform multi-dimensional flow calculation. The one dimensional momentum equation in network flow analysis code has been extended to include momentum transport due to shear stress and transverse component of velocity. Both laminar and turbulent flows are considered. Turbulence is represented by Prandtl's mixing length hypothesis. Three classical examples (Poiseuille flow, Couette flow and shear driven flow in a rectangular cavity) are presented as benchmark for the verification of the numerical scheme.

Extension of a System Level Tool for Component Level Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Majumdar, Alok; Schallhorn, Paul; McConnaughey, Paul K. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

This paper presents an extension of a numerical algorithm for network flow analysis code to perform multi-dimensional flow calculation. The one dimensional momentum equation in network flow analysis code has been extended to include momentum transport due to shear stress and transverse component of velocity. Both laminar and turbulent flows are considered. Turbulence is represented by Prandtl's mixing length hypothesis. Three classical examples (Poiseuille flow, Couette flow, and shear driven flow in a rectangular cavity) are presented as benchmark for the verification of the numerical scheme.

Parent formulation at the Lagrangian level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigoriev, Maxim

2011-07-01

The recently proposed first-order parent formalism at the level of equations of motion is specialized to the case of Lagrangian systems. It is shown that for diffeomorphism-invariant theories the parent formulation takes the form of an AKSZ-type sigma model. The proposed formulation can be also seen as a Lagrangian version of the BV-BRST extension of the Vasiliev unfolded approach. We also discuss its possible interpretation as a multidimensional generalization of the Hamiltonian BFV-BRST formalism. The general construction is illustrated by examples of (parametrized) mechanics, relativistic particle, Yang-Mills theory, and gravity.

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

Klimsiak, Tomasz, E-mail: tomas@mat.umk.pl; Rozkosz, Andrzej, E-mail: rozkosz@mat.umk.pl

In the paper we consider the problem of valuation of American options written on dividend-paying assets whose price dynamics follow the classical multidimensional Black and Scholes model. We provide a general early exercise premium representation formula for options with payoff functions which are convex or satisfy mild regularity assumptions. Examples include index options, spread options, call on max options, put on min options, multiply strike options and power-product options. In the proof of the formula we exploit close connections between the optimal stopping problems associated with valuation of American options, obstacle problems and reflected backward stochastic differential equations.

Facile synthesis of S, N co-doped carbon dots and investigation of their photoluminescence properties.

PubMed

Zhang, Yue; He, Junhui

2015-08-21

A facile one-pot approach to prepare photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) was developed through hydrothermal treatment of cysteine and citric acid. The obtained CDs show stable and bright blue emission with a quantum yield of 54% and an average lifetime of 11.61 ns. Moreover, the two-photon induced upconversion fluorescence of the CDs was observed and demonstrated. Interestingly, both down and up conversion fluorescence of the CDs show excitation-independent emission, which is quite different from most of the previously reported CDs. Ultrafast spectroscopy was also employed here to study the photoluminescence (PL) properties of the CDs. After characterization using various spectroscopic techniques, a unique PL mechanism for the as-prepared CDs' fluorescence was proposed accordingly. In addition, the influence of various metal ions on the CD fluorescence was examined and no quenching phenomena were observed. Meanwhile, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were found to be good quenchers of CD fluorescence and their quenching behavior was fitted to the Stern-Volmer equation. This provides new opportunities for fluorescence sensor designs and light energy conversion applications. Finally, the as-prepared CDs were inkjet-printed to form a desirable pattern, which is useful for fluorescent patterns, and anti-counterfeiting labeling.

An Innovative Metal Ions Sensitive “Test Paper” Based on Virgin Nanoporous Silicon Wafer: Highly Selective to Copper(II)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shaoyuan; Chen, Xiuhua; Ma, Wenhui; Ding, Zhao; Zhang, Cong; Chen, Zhengjie; He, Xiao; Shang, Yudong; Zou, Yuxin

2016-11-01

Developing an innovative “Test Paper” based on virgin nanoporous silicon (NPSi) which shows intense visible emission and excellent fluorescence stability. The visual fluorescence quenching “Test Paper” was highly selective and sensitive recognizing Cu2+ at μmol/L level. Within the concentration range of 5 × 10-7 ~50 × 10-7mol/L, the linear regression equation of IPL = 1226.3-13.6[CCu2+] (R = 0.99) was established for Cu2+ quantitative detection. And finally, Cu2+ fluorescence quenching mechanism of NPSi prober was proposed by studying the surface chemistry change of NPSi and metal ions immersed-NPSi using XPS characterization. The results indicate that SiHx species obviously contribute to the PL emission of NPSi, and the introduce of oxidization state and the nonradiative recombination center are responsible for the PL quenching. These results demonstrate how virgin NPSi wafer can serve as Cu2+ sensor. This work is of great significant to promote the development of simple instruments that could realize rapid, visible and real-time detection of various toxic metal ions.

The location of the peroneus longus tendon in the cuboid groove: sonographic study in various positions of the ankle-foot in asymptomatic volunteers.

PubMed

Choo, Hye Jung; Lee, Sun Joo; Huang, Brady K; Resnick, Donald L

2018-04-10

To evaluate the normal location of the peroneus longus tendon (PL) in the cuboid groove in various ankle-foot positions by ultrasonography in asymptomatic volunteers. Ultrasonographic assessment of the PL in the cuboid groove was performed in 20 feet of ten healthy volunteers. Each PL was examined in five ankle-foot positions (i.e., neutral, dorsiflexion, plantar-flexion, supination, and pronation). The PL location was qualitatively categorized as "inside" when the PL was entirely within the cuboid groove, as "overlying" when some part of the PL was perched on the cuboid tuberosity, and as "outside" when the PL was entirely on the cuboid tuberosity. For quantitative evaluation of the PL location, the distance between the PL and the cuboid groove was measured. The width of the cuboid groove was measured in the neutral position. The PL location did not significantly change with changes in the ankle-foot position. Qualitatively, an "overlying" PL was the most common type, regardless of the ankle-foot position. "Inside" PLs were found in only 35, 20, 30, 25, and 35% of feet in neutral, dorsiflexion, plantar-flexion, supination, and pronation positions, respectively. The quantitative PL location was also not significantly different among all ankle-foot positions and it was significantly negatively correlated with the cuboid groove width. In healthy volunteers, 65% or more of the PLs were partially or completely located outside of the cuboid groove, regardless of the ankle-foot position. The PL location relative to the cuboid groove was related to the cuboid groove width.

Construction of a Genetic System for Streptomyces albulus PD-1 and Improving Poly(ε-L-lysine) Production Through Expression of Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin.

PubMed

Xu, Zhaoxian; Cao, Changhong; Sun, Zhuzhen; Li, Sha; Xu, Zheng; Feng, Xiaohai; Xu, Hong

2015-11-01

Poly(ε-L-lysine) (ε-PL) is a novel bioactive polymer secreted by filamentous bacteria. Owing to lack of a genetic system for most ε-PL-producing strains, very little research on enhancing ε-PL biosynthesis by genetic manipulation has been reported. In this study, an effective genetic system was established via intergeneric conjugal transfer for Streptomyces albulus PD-1, a famous ε-PL-producing strain. Using the established genetic system, the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) gene was integrated into the chromosome of S. albulus PD-1 to alleviate oxygen limitation and to enhance the biosynthesis of ε-PL in submerged fermentation. Ultimately, the production of ε-PL increased from 22.7 g/l to 34.2 g/l after fed-batch culture in a 5 L bioreactor. Determination of the oxygen uptake rate, transcriptional level of ε-PL synthetase gene, and ATP level unveiled that the expression of VHb in S. albulus PD-1 enhanced ε-PL biosynthesis by improving respiration and ATP supply. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on enhancing ε-PL production by chromosomal integration of the VHb gene in an ε-PL-producing strain, and it will open a new avenue for ε-PL production.

The Davey-Stewartson Equation on the Half-Plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fokas, A. S.

2009-08-01

The Davey-Stewartson (DS) equation is a nonlinear integrable evolution equation in two spatial dimensions. It provides a multidimensional generalisation of the celebrated nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation and it appears in several physical situations. The implementation of the Inverse Scattering Transform (IST) to the solution of the initial-value problem of the NLS was presented in 1972, whereas the analogous problem for the DS equation was solved in 1983. These results are based on the formulation and solution of certain classical problems in complex analysis, namely of a Riemann Hilbert problem (RH) and of either a d-bar or a non-local RH problem respectively. A method for solving the mathematically more complicated but physically more relevant case of boundary-value problems for evolution equations in one spatial dimension, like the NLS, was finally presented in 1997, after interjecting several novel ideas to the panoply of the IST methodology. Here, this method is further extended so that it can be applied to evolution equations in two spatial dimensions, like the DS equation. This novel extension involves several new steps, including the formulation of a d-bar problem for a sectionally non-analytic function, i.e. for a function which has different non-analytic representations in different domains of the complex plane. This, in addition to the computation of a d-bar derivative, also requires the computation of the relevant jumps across the different domains. This latter step has certain similarities (but is more complicated) with the corresponding step for those initial-value problems in two dimensions which can be solved via a non-local RH problem, like KPI.

Effect of high dietary zinc on plasma ceruloplasmin and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activities in copper-depleted and repleted rats.

PubMed

Panemangalore, M; Bebe, F N

1996-01-01

The effect of moderately high dietary zinc (Zn) on the activities of plasma (PL) ceruloplasmin (CP), and PL and erythrocyte (RBC) copper (Cu), Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined in weanling rats fed Cu-deficient (DEF; < 1 mg Cu/kg), marginal (MAR; 2 mg Cu/kg), or control (CON; 5 mg Cu/kg) copper diets containing normal or high Zn (HZn; 60 mg/kg) for 4 wk and supplemented with oral Cu (CuS; 5 mg/L) in drinking water for 0, 1, 3, or 7 d. PL Cu decreased (67% compared to CON; p < or = 0.05) in the DEF and increased to control level after 3 d of CuS; increased in the MAR group after 1 d of CuS. HZn reduced overall PL Cu by 27% in all groups, but did not alter the linear increase in PL Cu between 0 and 3 d of Cu S. PL CP activity altered concomitantly with PL Cu levels: The time course of increase in CP activity after 0-3 d of CuS was not influenced by HZn in the diet and CP declined in the DEF group by 92%. There was no correlation between dietary Cu level and PL CP. PL SOD activity decreased by 46% (p < or = .05) in the DEF group, increased to control activity after 1 d of CuS and declined slightly after 7 d; MAR diet did not alter PL SOD. HZn diet increased PL SOD activity in all groups by 150%, reduced activity in the DEF and MAR groups by 65 and 37% and delayed the recovery of PL SOD after CuS. RBC SOD declined in the DEF and MAR groups by 56 and 33% (p < or = 0.05) and did not respond to CuS; HZn diet did not influence RBC SOD activity. These data indicate that moderately high Zn in the diet reduces PL Cu, but not PL CP activity or the recovery of PL Cu or CP activity after oral CuS of Cu-deficient rats, modifies the response of PL SOD to dietary Cu, but does not influence RBC SOD activity.

Pathogen-free, plasma-poor platelet lysate and expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Iudicone, Paola; Fioravanti, Daniela; Bonanno, Giuseppina; Miceli, Michelina; Lavorino, Claudio; Totta, Pierangela; Frati, Luigi; Nuti, Marianna; Pierelli, Luca

2014-01-27

Supplements to support clinical-grade cultures of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are required to promote growth and expansion of these cells. Platelet lysate (PL) is a human blood component which may replace animal serum in MSC cultures being rich in various growth factors. Here, we describe a plasma poor pathogen-free platelet lysate obtained by pooling 12 platelet (PLT) units, to produce a standardized and safe supplement for clinical-grade expansion of MSC. PL lots were obtained by combining 2 6-unit PLT pools in additive solution (AS) following a transfusional-based procedure including pathogen inactivation (PI) by Intercept technology and 3 cycles of freezing/thawing, followed by membrane removal. Three PI-PL and 3 control PL lots were produced to compare their ability to sustain bone marrow derived MSC selection and expansion. Moreover, two further PL, subjected to PI or not, were also produced starting from the same initial PLT pools to evaluate the impact of PI on growth factor concentration and capacity to sustain cell growth. Additional PI-PL lots were used for comparison with fetal bovine serum (FBS) on MSC expansion. Immunoregulatory properties of PI-PL-generated MSC were documented in vitro by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mitogen induced proliferation. PI-PL and PL control lots had similar concentrations of 4 well-described growth factors endowed with MSC stimulating ability. Initial growth and MSC expansion by PI-PL and PL controls were comparable either using different MSC populations or in head to head experiments. Moreover, PI-PL and PL control sustained similar MSC growth of frozen/thawed MSC. Multilineage differentiation of PI-derived and PI-PL-derived MSC were maintained in any MSC cultures as well as their immunoregulatory properties. Finally, no direct impact of PI on growth factor concentration and MSC growth support was observed, whereas the capacity of FBS to sustain MSC expansion in basic medium was irrelevant as compared to PL and PI-PL. The replacement of animal additives with human supplements is a basic issue in MSC ex vivo production. PI-PL represents a standardized, plasma-poor, human preparation which appears as a safe and good candidate to stimulate MSC growth in clinical-scale cultures.

Pathogen-free, plasma-poor platelet lysate and expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Supplements to support clinical-grade cultures of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are required to promote growth and expansion of these cells. Platelet lysate (PL) is a human blood component which may replace animal serum in MSC cultures being rich in various growth factors. Here, we describe a plasma poor pathogen-free platelet lysate obtained by pooling 12 platelet (PLT) units, to produce a standardized and safe supplement for clinical-grade expansion of MSC. Methods PL lots were obtained by combining 2 6-unit PLT pools in additive solution (AS) following a transfusional-based procedure including pathogen inactivation (PI) by Intercept technology and 3 cycles of freezing/thawing, followed by membrane removal. Three PI-PL and 3 control PL lots were produced to compare their ability to sustain bone marrow derived MSC selection and expansion. Moreover, two further PL, subjected to PI or not, were also produced starting from the same initial PLT pools to evaluate the impact of PI on growth factor concentration and capacity to sustain cell growth. Additional PI-PL lots were used for comparison with fetal bovine serum (FBS) on MSC expansion. Immunoregulatory properties of PI-PL-generated MSC were documented in vitro by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mitogen induced proliferation. Results PI-PL and PL control lots had similar concentrations of 4 well-described growth factors endowed with MSC stimulating ability. Initial growth and MSC expansion by PI-PL and PL controls were comparable either using different MSC populations or in head to head experiments. Moreover, PI-PL and PL control sustained similar MSC growth of frozen/thawed MSC. Multilineage differentiation of PI-derived and PI-PL-derived MSC were maintained in any MSC cultures as well as their immunoregulatory properties. Finally, no direct impact of PI on growth factor concentration and MSC growth support was observed, whereas the capacity of FBS to sustain MSC expansion in basic medium was irrelevant as compared to PL and PI-PL. Conclusion The replacement of animal additives with human supplements is a basic issue in MSC ex vivo production. PI-PL represents a standardized, plasma-poor, human preparation which appears as a safe and good candidate to stimulate MSC growth in clinical-scale cultures. PMID:24467837

Effective Surface Passivation of InP Nanowires by Atomic-Layer-Deposited Al2O3 with POx Interlayer.

PubMed

Black, L E; Cavalli, A; Verheijen, M A; Haverkort, J E M; Bakkers, E P A M; Kessels, W M M

2017-10-11

III/V semiconductor nanostructures have significant potential in device applications, but effective surface passivation is critical due to their large surface-to-volume ratio. For InP such passivation has proven particularly difficult, with substantial depassivation generally observed following dielectric deposition on InP surfaces. We present a novel approach based on passivation with a phosphorus-rich interfacial oxide deposited using a low-temperature process, which is critical to avoid P-desorption. For this purpose we have chosen a PO x layer deposited in a plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (ALD) system at room temperature. Since PO x is known to be hygroscopic and therefore unstable in atmosphere, we encapsulate this layer with a thin ALD Al 2 O 3 capping layer to form a PO x /Al 2 O 3 stack. This passivation scheme is capable of improving the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency of our state-of-the-art wurtzite (WZ) InP nanowires by a factor of ∼20 at low excitation. If we apply the rate equation analysis advocated by some authors, we derive a PL internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 75% for our passivated wires at high excitation. Our results indicate that it is more reliable to calculate the IQE as the ratio of the integrated PL intensity at room temperature to that at 10 K. By this means we derive an IQE of 27% for the passivated wires at high excitation (>10 kW cm -2 ), which constitutes an unprecedented level of performance for undoped InP nanowires. This conclusion is supported by time-resolved PL decay lifetimes, which are also shown to be significantly higher than previously reported for similar wires. The passivation scheme displays excellent long-term stability (>7 months) and is additionally shown to substantially improve the thermal stability of InP surfaces (>300 °C), significantly expanding the temperature window for device processing. Such effective surface passivation is a key enabling technology for InP nanowire devices such as nanolasers and solar cells.

Effective Surface Passivation of InP Nanowires by Atomic-Layer-Deposited Al2O3 with POx Interlayer

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

III/V semiconductor nanostructures have significant potential in device applications, but effective surface passivation is critical due to their large surface-to-volume ratio. For InP such passivation has proven particularly difficult, with substantial depassivation generally observed following dielectric deposition on InP surfaces. We present a novel approach based on passivation with a phosphorus-rich interfacial oxide deposited using a low-temperature process, which is critical to avoid P-desorption. For this purpose we have chosen a POx layer deposited in a plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (ALD) system at room temperature. Since POx is known to be hygroscopic and therefore unstable in atmosphere, we encapsulate this layer with a thin ALD Al2O3 capping layer to form a POx/Al2O3 stack. This passivation scheme is capable of improving the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency of our state-of-the-art wurtzite (WZ) InP nanowires by a factor of ∼20 at low excitation. If we apply the rate equation analysis advocated by some authors, we derive a PL internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 75% for our passivated wires at high excitation. Our results indicate that it is more reliable to calculate the IQE as the ratio of the integrated PL intensity at room temperature to that at 10 K. By this means we derive an IQE of 27% for the passivated wires at high excitation (>10 kW cm–2), which constitutes an unprecedented level of performance for undoped InP nanowires. This conclusion is supported by time-resolved PL decay lifetimes, which are also shown to be significantly higher than previously reported for similar wires. The passivation scheme displays excellent long-term stability (>7 months) and is additionally shown to substantially improve the thermal stability of InP surfaces (>300 °C), significantly expanding the temperature window for device processing. Such effective surface passivation is a key enabling technology for InP nanowire devices such as nanolasers and solar cells. PMID:28885032

Management of Munitions Constituents in Soil Using Alkaline Hydrolysis: A Guide for Practitioners

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-10-01

Jan -05 Feb-05 Mar-05 Apr-05 R D X (m g) Control Treated distance in meters distance...soil RDX concentration by bay during the field demonstration (PL = post-lime). 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Dec Dec (PL) Jan Mar Apr Apr (PL) Jul Oct (PL) Jan ... Jan (PL) Mar Jun Jun (PL) 2005 2006 2007 R D X C on ce nt ra tio n (m g/ kg ) Bay 2 (control) Bay 4 (limed) Study Date R D X C on ce nt ra tio

Title VI in '76: Review of Projects Funded Under P.L. 91-230 Title VI-B, Education of the Handicapped Act, as Amended by P.L. 93-380 and P.L. 94-142. Fiscal Year 1976.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Florida State Dept. of Education, Tallahassee.

Summarized are 89 projects which served exceptional students in all 67 Florida school districts and were funded during the 1975-76 school year under P.L. 91-230 Title VI B (Education of the Handicapped Act) as ammended by P.L. 93-380 and P.L. 94-142. Projects are divided into the following major areas; Florida Learning Resources System,…

Comparative study of the oxidation of propranolol enantiomers in hepatic and small intestinal microsomes from cynomolgus and marmoset monkeys.

PubMed

Shimizudani, Takeshi; Nagaoka, Kenjiro; Hanioka, Nobumitsu; Yamano, Shigeru; Narimatsu, Shizuo

2010-01-05

Oxidative metabolism of propranolol (PL) enantiomers (R-PL and S-PL) to 4-hydroxypropranolol (4-OH-PL), 5-OH-PL and N-deisopropylpropranolol (NDP) was examined in hepatic microsomes from cynomolgus and marmoset monkeys and in small intestinal microsomes from monkeys and humans. In hepatic microsomes, levels of oxidation activities were similar between the two monkey species, and substrate enantioselectivity (R-PLS-PL) was seen in the formation of NDP in cynomolgus monkeys and humans and in the formation of 5-OH-PL in marmosets. The formation of the three metabolites in cynomolgus monkeys and the formation of NDP in marmosets were biphasic, while the formation of 4-OH-PL in humans was monophasic. From the inhibition experiments using CYP antibodies, CYP2C9 and 2C19 were thought to be involved as N-deisopropylases and CYP2D6 and 3A4 as 4-hydroxylases in human small intestine. Furthermore, CYP1A, 2C and 3A enzymes could be involved in cynomolgus monkeys and CYP2C and 3A enzymes in marmosets. These results indicate that the oxidative profile of PL in hepatic and small intestinal microsomes differ considerably among cynomolgus monkeys, marmosets and humans.

Baseline placental growth factor levels for the prediction of benefit from early aspirin prophylaxis for preeclampsia prevention.

PubMed

Moore, Gaea S; Allshouse, Amanda A; Winn, Virginia D; Galan, Henry L; Heyborne, Kent D

2015-10-01

Placental growth factor (PlGF) levels early in pregnancy are lower in women who ultimately develop preeclampsia. Early initiation of low-dose aspirin reduces preeclampsia risk in some high risk women. We hypothesized that low PlGF levels may identify women at increased risk for preeclampsia who would benefit from aspirin. Secondary analysis of the MFMU High-Risk Aspirin study including singleton pregnancies randomized to aspirin 60mg/d (n=102) or placebo (n=72), with PlGF collected at 13w 0d-16w 6d. Within the placebo group, we estimated the probability of preeclampsia by PlGF level using logistic regression analysis, then determined a potential PlGF threshold for preeclampsia prediction using ROC analysis. We performed logistic regression modeling for potential confounders. ROC analysis indicated 87.71pg/ml as the threshold between high and low PlGF for preeclampsia-prediction. Within the placebo group high PlGF weakly predicted preeclampsia (AUC 0.653, sensitivity/specificity 63%/66%). We noted a 2.6-fold reduction in preeclampsia with aspirin in the high-PlGF group (12.15% aspirin vs 32.14% placebo, p=0.057), but no significant differences in preeclampsia in the low PlGF group (21.74% vs 15.91%, p=0.445). Unlike other studies, we found that high rather than low PlGF levels were associated with an increased preeclampsia risk. Low PlGF neither identified women at increased risk of preeclampsia nor women who benefitted from aspirin. Further research is needed to determine whether aspirin is beneficial in women with high PlGF, and whether the paradigm linking low PlGF and preeclampsia needs to be reevaluated. High-risk women with low baseline PlGF, a risk factor for preeclampsia, did not benefit from early initiation of low-dose aspirin. Copyright © 2015 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Culture Medium Supplements Derived from Human Platelet and Plasma: Cell Commitment and Proliferation Support

PubMed Central

Muraglia, Anita; Nguyen, Van Thi; Nardini, Marta; Mogni, Massimo; Coviello, Domenico; Dozin, Beatrice; Strada, Paolo; Baldelli, Ilaria; Formica, Matteo; Cancedda, Ranieri; Mastrogiacomo, Maddalena

2017-01-01

Present cell culture medium supplements, in most cases based on animal sera, are not fully satisfactory especially for the in vitro expansion of cells intended for human cell therapy. This paper refers to (i) an heparin-free human platelet lysate (PL) devoid of serum or plasma components (v-PL) and (ii) an heparin-free human serum derived from plasma devoid of PL components (Pl-s) and to their use as single components or in combination in primary or cell line cultures. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) primary cultures were obtained from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord. Human chondrocytes were obtained from articular cartilage biopsies. In general, MSC expanded in the presence of Pl-s alone showed a low or no proliferation in comparison to cells grown with the combination of Pl-s and v-PL. Confluent, growth-arrested cells, either human MSC or human articular chondrocytes, treated with v-PL resumed proliferation, whereas control cultures, not supplemented with v-PL, remained quiescent and did not proliferate. Interestingly, signal transduction pathways distinctive of proliferation were activated also in cells treated with v-PL in the absence of serum, when cell proliferation did not occur, indicating that v-PL could induce the cell re-entry in the cell cycle (cell commitment), but the presence of serum proteins was an absolute requirement for cell proliferation to happen. Indeed, Pl-s alone supported cell growth in constitutively activated cell lines (U-937, HeLa, HaCaT, and V-79) regardless of the co-presence of v-PL. Plasma- and plasma-derived serum were equally able to sustain cell proliferation although, for cells cultured in adhesion, the Pl-s was more efficient than the plasma from which it was derived. In conclusion, the cells expanded in the presence of the new additives maintained their differentiation potential and did not show alterations in their karyotype. PMID:29209609

A review of direct numerical simulations of astrophysical detonations and their implications

DOE PAGES

Parete-Koon, Suzanne T.; Smith, Christopher R.; Papatheodore, Thomas L.; ...

2013-04-11

Multi-dimensional direct numerical simulations (DNS) of astrophysical detonations in degenerate matter have revealed that the nuclear burning is typically characterized by cellular structure caused by transverse instabilities in the detonation front. Type Ia supernova modelers often use one- dimensional DNS of detonations as inputs or constraints for their whole star simulations. While these one-dimensional studies are useful tools, the true nature of the detonation is multi-dimensional. The multi-dimensional structure of the burning influences the speed, stability, and the composition of the detonation and its burning products, and therefore, could have an impact on the spectra of Type Ia supernovae. Considerablemore » effort has been expended modeling Type Ia supernovae at densities above 1x10 7 g∙cm -3 where the complexities of turbulent burning dominate the flame propagation. However, most full star models turn the nuclear burning schemes off when the density falls below 1x10 7 g∙cm -3 and distributed burning begins. The deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) is believed to occur at just these densities and consequently they are the densities important for studying the properties of the subsequent detonation. In conclusion, this work reviews the status of DNS studies of detonations and their possible implications for Type Ia supernova models. It will cover the development of Detonation theory from the first simple Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) detonation models to the current models based on the time-dependent, compressible, reactive flow Euler equations of fluid dynamics.« less

Control efficiency and expressions of resistance genes in tomato plants treated with ε-poly-l-lysine against Botrytis cinerea.

PubMed

Sun, Guangzheng; Wang, Han; Shi, Beibei; Shangguan, Nini; Wang, Yang; Ma, Qing

2017-11-01

The antifungal properties and the induction of resistance by ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) were examined to reveal its potential in protecting tomato plants against Botrytis cinerea. As presented herein, ε-PL at 1200mg/L was found to have optimal in vitro antifungal activities, achieving an inhibition rate of 94.96%. In first-year field tests, ε-PL (1200mg/L) had a control effect of up to 79.07% against tomato grey mould. Similar results were obtained in the second year. In greenhouse experiments, ε-PL was observed to effectively reduce leaf infection, with an observed control rate at 89.22%. To define the molecular-genetic mechanisms, we compared the gene expression under four different conditions: sterile water sprayed plants (Control), Botrytis-infected plants (Inf), ε-PL-treated plants (ε-PL) and ε-PL-treated+infected plants (ε-PL+Inf). Quantitative PCR analysis at 36h after inoculation revealed that ε-PL+Inf plants exhibited significant expression and priming of several key Botrytis-induced genes in tomato. The results indicate that ε-PL promoted plant capacity of tomato to activate defense mechanisms upon pathogen attack. In total, these findings revealed that ε-PL should be an excellent biocontrol agent candidate that combined direct antifungal activity against B. cinerea and plant resistance capacity. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Quasi-continuum photoluminescence: Unusual broad spectral and temporal characteristics found in defective surfaces of silica and other materials

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

Laurence, Ted A., E-mail: laurence2@llnl.gov; Bude, Jeff D.; Shen, Nan

2014-02-28

We previously reported a novel photoluminescence (PL) with a distribution of fast decay times in fused silica surface flaws that is correlated with damage propensity by high fluence lasers. The source of the PL was not attributable to any known silica point defect. Due to its broad spectral and temporal features, we here give this PL the name quasi-continuum PL (QC-PL) and describe the features of QC-PL in more detail. The primary features of QC-PL include broad excitation and emission spectra, a broad distribution of PL lifetimes from 20 ps to 5 ns, continuous shifts in PL lifetime distributions with respectmore » to emission wavelength, and a propensity to photo-bleach and photo-brighten. We found similar PL characteristics in surface flaws of other optical materials, including CaF{sub 2}, DKDP, and quartz. Based on the commonality of the features in different optical materials and the proximity of QC-PL to surfaces, we suggest that these properties arise from interactions associated with high densities of defects, rather than a distribution over a large number of types of defects and is likely found in a wide variety of structures from nano-scale composites to bulk structures as well as in both broad and narrow band materials from dielectrics to semiconductors.« less

Mass of a black hole firewall.

PubMed

Abramowicz, M A; Kluźniak, W; Lasota, J-P

2014-03-07

Quantum entanglement of Hawking radiation has been supposed to give rise to a Planck density "firewall" near the event horizon of old black holes. We show that Planck density firewalls are excluded by Einstein's equations for black holes of mass exceeding the Planck mass. We find an upper limit of 1/(8πM) to the surface density of a firewall in a Schwarzschild black hole of mass M, translating for astrophysical black holes into a firewall density smaller than the Planck density by more than 30 orders of magnitude. A strict upper limit on the firewall density is given by the Planck density times the ratio M(Pl)/(8πM).

Studies of Solar Flares and Coronal Loops.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-07-10

i( Tipo + T pl) and equations (5) and (8), we get P (D - w t P = + 0 (9j where 0 = o ’-, +T (k" -B,)- (o fTQ 10R B0 . G!) = ( - 1 ) R p + T ( k...andStegun. 1 . eds. 1970. HandhoolMathemarical Davis. J. M., and Webb. D F 1981. Bull • 4.4S. 13. -21 F!,n,; .ns INew York Do’er). p. 17 Einaudi. G...Sakanaka. P H 19-4. Ph s fIhids. 17, SIX 1951. Proc Ros Sit London. 1. 244. 17. Harsey. K. L. 1981. Bull . 44S. 13. ,90 tiider. C. Einaudi. G. and

Theoretical Study of Operational Limits of High-Speed Quantum Dot Lasers

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-09

esc − vLn,captnL − b1 BnL pL, (1) b1 ∂pL ∂ t = p L QW τLp,esc − vLp,capt pL − b1 BnL pL, (2) for free holes and electrons on the right-hand side of...on the left- hand side of the OCL can be written as follows: pLQW τp,esc = vLp,capt pL + b1 BnL pL. (28) Substituting pLQW/τp,esc−vLp,capt pL = b1 BnL ...pL in (6), we have B2Dn L QW p L QW + b1 BnL pL = wLp,tunn pL,QW1 NS fp − wLp,tunn NS(1 − fp)pLQW. (29) As seen from (29), bimolecular recombination

Luminescence and transient lifetime studies for energy transfer of PbS QD films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Joanna S.; Ullrich, Bruno; Dass, Chandriker K.; Das, Anirban; Wai, Chien M.; Brown, Gail J.; Hendrickson, Joshua R.

2017-08-01

Quantum confined semiconductor materials in colloidal form have drawn great attention in scientific communities due to the size-tunability, which controls their optical properties. PbS quantum dots (QDs) are exciting candidates for quantum optics, particularly due to the control of the QD sizes during the synthetic process enabling the realization of precisely tunable emission properties in the near-infrared region. Differently sized pairs of PbS QDs were deposited onto glass substrates to form thin films using supercritical CO2 (sc-CO2) deposition and solvent deposition methods (SDM). The fluorescence and photoluminescence (PL) spectra obtained from these closely packed films prepared by the sc-CO2 method reveal effective Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between two different sized dots, while the films composed of three different QD sizes show an even more effective FRET from the smallest to the largest ones. Energy transfer can be observed more directly by temporally resolved PL decay of mixed dots. By means of transient lifetime measurements, a mixed PbS film with 3.1 and 4.7 nm QDs was studied for FRET by time correlated single photon counting. The PL peak of the 3.1 nm QDs is quenched with respect to the emission of the 4.7 nm QDs and decays faster, and the best fit for the lifetime (decay constant)-1 is a biexponential decay mode. The long wavelength decay (4.7 nm QDs) is best fit by a mono-exponential equation. More theoretical and experimental work is required for a thorough understanding of the radiative lifetimes of PbS QDs in mixed QD systems.

The effects of energy transfer on the Er3+ 1.54 μm luminescence in nanostructured Y2O3 thin films with heterogeneously distributed Yb3+ and Er3+ codopants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoang, J.; Schwartz, Robert N.; Wang, Kang L.; Chang, J. P.

2012-09-01

We report the effects of heterogeneous Yb3+ and Er3+ codoping in Y2O3 thin films on the 1535 nm luminescence. Yb3+:Er3+:Y2O3 thin films were deposited using sequential radical enhanced atomic layer deposition. The Yb3+ energy transfer was investigated for indirect and direct excitation of the Yb 2F7/2 state using 488 nm and 976 nm sources, respectively, and the trends were described in terms of Forster and Dexter's resonant energy transfer theory and a macroscopic rate equation formalism. The addition of 11 at. % Yb resulted in an increase in the effective Er3+ photoluminescence (PL) yield at 1535 nm by a factor of 14 and 42 under 488 nm and 976 nm excitations, respectively. As the Er2O3 local thickness was increased to greater than 1.1 Å, PL quenching occurred due to strong local Er3+ ↔ Er3+ excitation migration leading to impurity quenching centers. In contrast, an increase in the local Yb2O3 thickness generally resulted in an increase in the effective Er3+ PL yield, except when the Er2O3 and Yb2O3 layers were separated by more than 2.3 Å or were adjacent, where weak Yb3+ ↔ Er3+ coupling or strong Yb3+ ↔ Yb3+ interlayer migration occurred, respectively. Finally, it is suggested that enhanced luminescence at steady state was observed under 488 nm excitation as a result of Er3+ → Yb3+ energy back transfer coupled with strong Yb3+ ↔ Yb3+ energy migration.

A novel water-assisted pulsed light processing for decontamination of blueberries.

PubMed

Huang, Yaoxin; Chen, Haiqiang

2014-06-01

Sample heating and shadowing effect have limited the application of pulsed light (PL) technology for decontamination of fresh produce. In this study, a novel setup using water-assisted PL processing was developed to overcome these limitations. Blueberries inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Salmonella were either treated with PL directly (dry PL treatment) or immersed in agitated water during the PL treatment (wet PL treatment) for 5-60 s. Although both pathogens were effectively inactivated by the dry PL treatments, the appearance of the blueberries was adversely affected and a maximum temperature of 64.8 °C on the blueberry surface was recorded. On the other hand, the visual appearance of blueberries remained unchanged after wet PL treatments and sample heating was significantly reduced. The wet PL treatments were more effective than chlorine washing on inactivating both pathogens. After a 60-s wet PL treatment, the populations of E. coli O157:H7 inoculated on calyx and skin of blueberries were reduced by 3.0 and >5.8 log CFU/g, respectively. Salmonella on blueberry calyx and skin was reduced by 3.6 and >5.9 log CFU/g, respectively. No viable bacterial cells were recovered from the water used in the wet PL treatments, demonstrating that this setup could prevent the risk of cross-contamination during fresh produce washing. Our results suggest that this new water-assisted PL treatment could be a potential non-chemical alternative (residue free) to chlorine washing since it is both more effective and environmentally friendly than chlorine washing. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Piperlongumine decreases cell proliferation and the expression of cell cycle-associated proteins by inhibiting Akt pathway in human lung cancer cells.

PubMed

Seok, Jin Sil; Jeong, Chang Hee; Petriello, Michael C; Seo, Han Geuk; Yoo, Hyunjin; Hong, Kwonho; Han, Sung Gu

2018-01-01

Piperlongumine (PL) is an alkaloid of a pepper plant found in Southeast Asia. PL is known to induce selective toxicity towards a variety of cancer cell types. To explore the possible anti-lung cancer effects of PL, A549 cells were treated with PL (0-40 μM) for 24 h. Alterations in the expression of cell cycle-associated proteins (cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), CDK6 and retinoblastoma (Rb)) and intracellular signaling molecules (extracellular signal receptor-activated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), Akt, p38 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)) were examined in cells following treatment of PL using Western blot analysis. Results showed that proliferation of cells were significantly decreased by PL in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry results demonstrated increased number of cells in G1 phase in PL (40 μM)-treated group. Reactive oxygen species was significantly increased in cells treated with PL at 20-40 μM. The expression of cyclin D1, CDK4, CDK6 and p-Rb were markedly decreased in cells treated with PL at 40 μM. Treatment of cells with PL suppressed phosphorylation of Akt but increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Treatment of PL significantly decreased nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in cells. These results suggest that PL possesses antiproliferative properties in A549 cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soil burial method for plastic degradation performed by Pseudomonas PL-01, Bacillus PL-01, and indigenous bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shovitri, Maya; Nafi'ah, Risyatun; Antika, Titi Rindi; Alami, Nur Hidayatul; Kuswytasari, N. D.; Zulaikha, Enny

2017-06-01

Lately, plastic bag is becoming the most important pollutant for environment since it is difficult to be naturally degraded due to it consists of long hydrocarbon polymer chains. Our previous study indicated that our pure isolate Pseudomonas PL-01 and Bacillus PL-01 could degrade about 10% plastic bag. This present study was aimed to find out whether Pseudomonas PL01 and Bacillus PL01 put a positive effect to indigenous bacteria from marginal area in doing plastic degradation with a soil burial method. Beach sand was used as a representative marginal area, and mangrove sediment was used as a comparison. Plastics were submerged into unsterile beach sand with 10% of Pseudomonas PL-01 or Bacillus PL-01 containing liquid minimal salt medium (MSM) separately, while other plastics were submerged into unsterile mangrove sediments. After 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, their biofilm formation on their plastic surfaces and plastic degradation were measured. Results indicated that those 2 isolates put positive influent on biofilm formation and plastic degradation for indigenous beach sand bacteria. Bacillus PL-01 put higher influent than Pseudomonas PL-01. Plastic transparent was preferable degraded than black and white plastic bag `kresek'. But anyhow, indigenous mangrove soil bacteria showed the best performance in biofilm formation and plastic degradation, even without Pseudomonas PL-01 or Bacillus PL-01 addition. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis complemented the results; there were attenuated peaks with decreasing peaks transmittances. This FTIR peaks indicated chemical functional group changes happened among the plastic compounds after 16 weeks incubation time.

A mechanistic approach on the self-organization of the two-component thermoreversible hydrogel of riboflavin and melamine.

PubMed

Saha, Abhijit; Manna, Swarup; Nandi, Arun K

2007-12-18

The riboflavin (R) and melamine (M) supramolecular complex in the mole ratio of 3:1 (RM31) produces a thermoreversible gel in aqueous medium. The gelation mechanism has been elucidated from morphological investigations using optical, electron, and atomic force microscopy together with time-dependent circular dichroism (CD) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Optical microscopy indicates spherulitic morphology at lower gelation temperature (

Mid-infrared multiple quantum well lasers using digitally-grown aluminum indium arsenic antimonide barriers and strained indium arsenic antimonide wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaughn, Leslie G.

2006-04-01

AlxIn(1-x)AsySb(1-y) quaternary alloys have been used in Type I midwave infrared (MWIR) laser structures as barrier materials with InAs and InAsSb quantum wells. However, growth of these alloys has limited the application because of a large miscibility gap. In this research, quaternary films with compositions well into the miscibility gap (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.50) have been grown for the first time by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) using a digital alloy technique. These films, lattice-matched to GaSb, have been characterized using double crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL). Results indicate uniform, single-phase, and highly crystalline films. Using PL data, the dependence of the quaternary bandgap on composition has been studied and fit to various theoretical models. Combining the quaternary bandgap equation with strain and quantum size effects, the wavelengths for strained InAsSb wells in AlInAsSb quaternary barriers are predicted and compared to measured values generated from PL experiments. The reasonable agreement of these experimental results with the theoretical model supports the assertion that the AlInAsSb/InAsSb material system is Type I and emits in the target wavelength range of 3.3-4.2 mum. PL spectra of AlInAsSb/InAsSb multiple quantum wells exhibit a substantial increase in intensity with increasing quaternary aluminum content. This is presumably due to increasing valence band offset and, therefore, to better hole confinement. A laser with this active region has been fabricated and tested. Under pulsed optical pumping conditions at 50K, the laser emitted light at ˜3.93 mum. Further work has been done using the digital alloy technique to add gallium to the quaternary alloy to produce an AlGaInAsSb quinary alloy lattice-matched to GaSb. This material is of specific interest for mid-infrared lasers because by adding the fifth element, gallium, the range of material properties is extended. There is some indication from PL testing that the addition of the fifth element may contribute to Auger recombination suppression and may lead to higher operating temperatures. DCXRD and TEM of these quinary alloys give results similar to the quaternary alloys. The stable, single-phase growth of these quinary alloys shows promise for improving the performance of MWIR lasers.

Current knowledge in Polypodium leucotomos effect on skin protection.

PubMed

Palomino, Olga María

2015-04-01

This article provides an overview of pharmacology, toxicity, pharmacokinetics and clinical data of Polypodium leucotomos L. (PL). PL aerial part has proven to exert antioxidant, photoprotective and immunomodulatory activities; its mechanism of action is complex and includes several activities: (1) PL diminishes the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS); (2) PL inhibits the photoisomerization of trans-urocanic acid (t-UCA); (3) PL inhibits apoptosis induced by ultraviolet radiation; (4) PL prevents damage to genetic material and (5) PL enhances DNA repair. PL is not mutagenic and does not induce acute or chronic toxicity. Its biological effects have been proved in cell cultures, animal models, murine models and in human beings. Photoprotective activity has been assessed in healthy volunteers as well as in patients suffering from several cutaneous diseases such as vitiligo, psoriasis, idiopathic photodermatosis or melasma. PL results to be an efficient treatment especially for sensitive cutaneous phototypes and adds extra protection when ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure cannot be avoided, such as wide or narrow band UVB phototherapy or treatment with psoralens plus UVA exposure radiation.

Brief Report: Bifactor Modeling of General vs. Specific Factors of Religiousness Differentially Predicting Substance Use Risk in Adolescence

PubMed Central

Kim-Spoon, Jungmeen; Longo, Gregory S.; Holmes, Christopher J.

2015-01-01

Religiousness is important to adolescents in the U.S., and the significant link between high religiousness and low substance use is well known. There is a debate between multidimensional and unidimensional perspectives of religiousness (Gorsuch, 1984); yet, no empirical study has tested this hierarchical model of religiousness related to adolescent health outcomes. The current study presents the first attempt to test a bifactor model of religiousness related to substance use among adolescents (N = 220, 45% female). Our bifactor model using structural equation modeling suggested the multidimensional nature of religiousness as well as the presence of a superordinate general religiousness factor directly explaining the covariation among the specific factors including organizational and personal religiousness and religious social support. The general religiousness factor was inversely related to substance use. After accounting for the contribution of the general religiousness factor, high organizational religiousness related to low substance use, whereas personal religiousness and religious support were positively related to substance use. The findings present the first evidence that supports hierarchical structures of adolescent religiousness that contribute differentially to adolescent substance use. PMID:26043168

An exponential time-integrator scheme for steady and unsteady inviscid flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shu-Jie; Luo, Li-Shi; Wang, Z. J.; Ju, Lili

2018-07-01

An exponential time-integrator scheme of second-order accuracy based on the predictor-corrector methodology, denoted PCEXP, is developed to solve multi-dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations pertaining to fluid dynamics. The effective and efficient implementation of PCEXP is realized by means of the Krylov method. The linear stability and truncation error are analyzed through a one-dimensional model equation. The proposed PCEXP scheme is applied to the Euler equations discretized with a discontinuous Galerkin method in both two and three dimensions. The effectiveness and efficiency of the PCEXP scheme are demonstrated for both steady and unsteady inviscid flows. The accuracy and efficiency of the PCEXP scheme are verified and validated through comparisons with the explicit third-order total variation diminishing Runge-Kutta scheme (TVDRK3), the implicit backward Euler (BE) and the implicit second-order backward difference formula (BDF2). For unsteady flows, the PCEXP scheme generates a temporal error much smaller than the BDF2 scheme does, while maintaining the expected acceleration at the same time. Moreover, the PCEXP scheme is also shown to achieve the computational efficiency comparable to the implicit schemes for steady flows.

Label-free nanoscale characterization of red blood cell structure and dynamics using single-shot transport of intensity equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poola, Praveen Kumar; John, Renu

2017-10-01

We report the results of characterization of red blood cell (RBC) structure and its dynamics with nanometric sensitivity using transport of intensity equation microscopy (TIEM). Conventional transport of intensity technique requires three intensity images and hence is not suitable for studying real-time dynamics of live biological samples. However, assuming the sample to be homogeneous, phase retrieval using transport of intensity equation has been demonstrated with single defocused measurement with x-rays. We adopt this technique for quantitative phase light microscopy of homogenous cells like RBCs. The main merits of this technique are its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of implementation on a conventional microscope. The phase information can be easily merged with regular bright-field and fluorescence images to provide multidimensional (three-dimensional spatial and temporal) information without any extra complexity in the setup. The phase measurement from the TIEM has been characterized using polymeric microbeads and the noise stability of the system has been analyzed. We explore the structure and real-time dynamics of RBCs and the subdomain membrane fluctuations using this technique.

Tetrahedral Finite-Volume Solutions to the Navier-Stokes Equations on Complex Configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frink, Neal T.; Pirzadeh, Shahyar Z.

1998-01-01

A review of the algorithmic features and capabilities of the unstructured-grid flow solver USM3Dns is presented. This code, along with the tetrahedral grid generator, VGRIDns, is being extensively used throughout the U.S. for solving the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations on complex aerodynamic problems. Spatial discretization is accomplished by a tetrahedral cell-centered finite-volume formulation using Roe's upwind flux difference splitting. The fluxes are limited by either a Superbee or MinMod limiter. Solution reconstruction within the tetrahedral cells is accomplished with a simple, but novel, multidimensional analytical formula. Time is advanced by an implicit backward-Euler time-stepping scheme. Flow turbulence effects are modeled by the Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model, which is coupled with a wall function to reduce the number of cells in the near-wall region of the boundary layer. The issues of accuracy and robustness of USM3Dns Navier-Stokes capabilities are addressed for a flat-plate boundary layer, and a full F-16 aircraft with external stores at transonic speed.

On nonlinear evolution of low-frequency Alfvén waves in weakly-expanding solar wind plasmas

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

Nariyuki, Y.

A multi-dimensional nonlinear evolution equation for Alfvén waves in weakly-expanding solar wind plasmas is derived by using the reductive perturbation method. The expansion of solar wind plasma parcels is modeled by an expanding box model, which includes the accelerating expansion. It is shown that the resultant equation agrees with the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin prediction of the low-frequency Alfvén waves in the linear limit. In the cold and one-dimensional limit, a modified derivative nonlinear Schrodinger equation is obtained. Direct numerical simulations are carried out to discuss the effect of the expansion on the modulational instability of monochromatic Alfvén waves and the propagation ofmore » Alfvén solitons. By using the instantaneous frequency, it is quantitatively shown that as far as the expansion rate is much smaller than wave frequencies, effects of the expansion are almost adiabatic. It is also confirmed that while shapes of Alfvén solitons temporally change due to the expansion, some of them can stably propagate after their collision in weakly-expanding plasmas.« less

Development and dissection of diagnostic SNP markers for the downy mildew resistance genes PlArg and Pl8 and maker-assisted gene pyramiding in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Downy mildew, which is caused by fungus Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berlese & de Toni, is one of the most important diseases that affect sunflower production globally. Two downy mildew resistance genes, PlArg and Pl8, were discovered in the late 1980s. Over two decades, PlArg is still effective aga...

Functional Exploration of the Polysaccharide Lyase Family PL6

PubMed Central

Mathieu, Sophie; Henrissat, Bernard; Labre, Flavien; Skjåk-Bræk, Gudmund; Helbert, William

2016-01-01

Alginate, the main cell-wall polysaccharide of brown algae, is composed of two residues: mannuronic acid (M-residues) and, its C5-epimer, guluronic acid (G-residues). Alginate lyases define a class of enzymes that cleave the glycosidic bond of alginate by β-elimination. They are classified according to their ability to recognize the distribution of M- and G-residues and are named M-, G- or MG-lyases. In the CAZy database, alginate lyases have been grouped by sequence similarity into seven distinct polysaccharide lyase families. The polysaccharide lyase family PL6 is subdivided into three subfamilies. Subfamily PL6_1 includes three biochemically characterized enzymes (two alginate lyases and one dermatan sulfatase lyase). No characterized enzymes have been described in the two other subfamilies (PL6_2 and PL6_3). To improve the prediction of polysaccharide-lyase activity in the PL6 family, we re-examined the classification of the PL6 family and biochemically characterized a set of enzymes reflecting the diversity of the protein sequences. Our results show that subfamily PL6_1 includes two dermatan sulfates lyases and several alginate lyases that have various substrate specificities and modes of action. In contrast, subfamilies PL6_2 and PL6_3 were found to contain only endo-poly-MG-lyases. PMID:27438604

Sponge-Like Dressings Based on the Association of Chitosan and Sericin for the Treatment of Chronic Skin Ulcers. II. Loading of the Hemoderivative Platelet Lysate.

PubMed

Mori, Michela; Rossi, Silvia; Ferrari, Franca; Bonferoni, Maria C; Sandri, Giuseppina; Riva, Federica; Tenci, Marika; Del Fante, Claudia; Nicoletti, Giovanni; Caramella, Carla

2016-03-01

Platelet lysate (PL) was loaded into dressings based on chitosan glutamate (CSG) low and high molecular weight, sericin (Ser), and glycine (Gly). A synergic effect of Ser and PL on fibroblast proliferation was proved in vitro. Two different PL loading approaches were considered: the first provided to prepare dressings by freeze-drying a mixture of PL and CSG/Gly/Ser solution, the second approach consisted in the extemporarily loading of PL in the CSG/Gly/Ser freeze-dried dressings. As for the first approach, PL loading did not produce any variation in dressing mechanical properties. Such dressings absorbed a high amount (about 8-fold of dry weight) of phosphate-buffered saline (fluid mimicking wound exudate), forming a gel with pseudoplastic and elastic properties. Platelet-derived growth factor AB assay indicated that neither freeze-drying nor the excipients alter PL growth factor content. As for the second approach, mechanical and rheological properties of the gel formed upon PL absorption enabled to choose a PL loading of about 90 μL/cm(2). Upon contact with fibroblasts, all PL loaded formulations increased the number not only of viable cells but also of those in the proliferative phase. Histological studies effected on human skin strips pointed out the positive effect of PL loaded dressings on dermal matrix reconstruction. Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Esophageal Manometry and Regional Transpulmonary Pressure in Lung Injury.

PubMed

Yoshida, Takeshi; Amato, Marcelo B P; Grieco, Domenico Luca; Chen, Lu; Lima, Cristhiano A S; Roldan, Rollin; Morais, Caio C A; Gomes, Susimeire; Costa, Eduardo L V; Cardoso, Paulo F G; Charbonney, Emmanuel; Richard, Jean-Christophe M; Brochard, Laurent; Kavanagh, Brian P

2018-04-15

Esophageal manometry is the clinically available method to estimate pleural pressure, thus enabling calculation of transpulmonary pressure (Pl). However, many concerns make it uncertain in which lung region esophageal manometry reflects local Pl. To determine the accuracy of esophageal pressure (Pes) and in which regions esophageal manometry reflects pleural pressure (Ppl) and Pl; to assess whether lung stress in nondependent regions can be estimated at end-inspiration from Pl. In lung-injured pigs (n = 6) and human cadavers (n = 3), Pes was measured across a range of positive end-expiratory pressure, together with directly measured Ppl in nondependent and dependent pleural regions. All measurements were obtained with minimal nonstressed volumes in the pleural sensors and esophageal balloons. Expiratory and inspiratory Pl was calculated by subtracting local Ppl or Pes from airway pressure; inspiratory Pl was also estimated by subtracting Ppl (calculated from chest wall and respiratory system elastance) from the airway plateau pressure. In pigs and human cadavers, expiratory and inspiratory Pl using Pes closely reflected values in dependent to middle lung (adjacent to the esophagus). Inspiratory Pl estimated from elastance ratio reflected the directly measured nondependent values. These data support the use of esophageal manometry in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Assuming correct calibration, expiratory Pl derived from Pes reflects Pl in dependent to middle lung, where atelectasis usually predominates; inspiratory Pl estimated from elastance ratio may indicate the highest level of lung stress in nondependent "baby" lung, where it is vulnerable to ventilator-induced lung injury.

Thermal Model of a Current-Carrying Wire in a Vacuum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Border, James

2006-01-01

A computer program implements a thermal model of an insulated wire carrying electric current and surrounded by a vacuum. The model includes the effects of Joule heating, conduction of heat along the wire, and radiation of heat from the outer surface of the insulation on the wire. The model takes account of the temperature dependences of the thermal and electrical properties of the wire, the emissivity of the insulation, and the possibility that not only can temperature vary along the wire but, in addition, the ends of the wire can be thermally grounded at different temperatures. The resulting second-order differential equation for the steady-state temperature as a function of position along the wire is highly nonlinear. The wire is discretized along its length, and the equation is solved numerically by use of an iterative algorithm that utilizes a multidimensional version of the Newton-Raphson method.

A multi-dimensional nonlinearly implicit, electromagnetic Vlasov-Darwin particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Guangye; Chacón, Luis; CoCoMans Team

2014-10-01

For decades, the Vlasov-Darwin model has been recognized to be attractive for PIC simulations (to avoid radiative noise issues) in non-radiative electromagnetic regimes. However, the Darwin model results in elliptic field equations that renders explicit time integration unconditionally unstable. Improving on linearly implicit schemes, fully implicit PIC algorithms for both electrostatic and electromagnetic regimes, with exact discrete energy and charge conservation properties, have been recently developed in 1D. This study builds on these recent algorithms to develop an implicit, orbit-averaged, time-space-centered finite difference scheme for the particle-field equations in multiple dimensions. The algorithm conserves energy, charge, and canonical-momentum exactly, even with grid packing. A simple fluid preconditioner allows efficient use of large timesteps, O (√{mi/me}c/veT) larger than the explicit CFL. We demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency properties of the of the algorithm with various numerical experiments in 2D3V.

Verification of low-Mach number combustion codes using the method of manufactured solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shunn, Lee; Ham, Frank; Knupp, Patrick; Moin, Parviz

2007-11-01

Many computational combustion models rely on tabulated constitutive relations to close the system of equations. As these reactive state-equations are typically multi-dimensional and highly non-linear, their implications on the convergence and accuracy of simulation codes are not well understood. In this presentation, the effects of tabulated state-relationships on the computational performance of low-Mach number combustion codes are explored using the method of manufactured solutions (MMS). Several MMS examples are developed and applied, progressing from simple one-dimensional configurations to problems involving higher dimensionality and solution-complexity. The manufactured solutions are implemented in two multi-physics hydrodynamics codes: CDP developed at Stanford University and FUEGO developed at Sandia National Laboratories. In addition to verifying the order-of-accuracy of the codes, the MMS problems help highlight certain robustness issues in existing variable-density flow-solvers. Strategies to overcome these issues are briefly discussed.

A dimensionally split Cartesian cut cell method for hyperbolic conservation laws

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gokhale, Nandan; Nikiforakis, Nikos; Klein, Rupert

2018-07-01

We present a dimensionally split method for solving hyperbolic conservation laws on Cartesian cut cell meshes. The approach combines local geometric and wave speed information to determine a novel stabilised cut cell flux, and we provide a full description of its three-dimensional implementation in the dimensionally split framework of Klein et al. [1]. The convergence and stability of the method are proved for the one-dimensional linear advection equation, while its multi-dimensional numerical performance is investigated through the computation of solutions to a number of test problems for the linear advection and Euler equations. When compared to the cut cell flux of Klein et al., it was found that the new flux alleviates the problem of oscillatory boundary solutions produced by the former at higher Courant numbers, and also enables the computation of more accurate solutions near stagnation points. Being dimensionally split, the method is simple to implement and extends readily to multiple dimensions.

Molecular relaxation processes of 2-bromopropane in solutions from IR ν(C-Br) band shape analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bratu, I.; Grecu, R.; Constantinescu, R.; Iliescu, T.

1998-03-01

The infrared (C-Br) stretching band profile of 2-bromopropane in pure liquid and in solution was studied. The frequency shifts, described by the Buckingham equation, account for the influence of the polarity and polarizability of the solvents. To evaluate the importance of the last term in the Buckingham equation, which describes the mutual influence of these two effects, a linear multidimensional regression analysis was done. The correlation factor increased when the cross term was considered. The concentration dependence of the FWHH (full width at half height) can be related to the vibrational relaxation processes, among them vibrational dephasing being the most important. More information about mechanisms responsible for the vibrational bandshape can be obtained from the correlation function Φ( t). As a result of modelling the experimental CF with Kubo-Rothschild's model, the modulation of the vibrational frequencies is found to be of intermediate type.

Deep ultraviolet photoluminescence studies of aluminum-rich aluminum gallium nitride and aluminum nitride epilayers and nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nepal, Neeraj

Deep ultraviolet (UV) photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy has been employed to study optical properties of AlGaN alloys, undoped and doped AlN epilayers and nanostructure AlN photonics crystals (PCs). Using a deep UV laser system with an excitation wave length at 197 nm, continuous wave PL, temperature dependent, and time-resolved PL have been carried out on these AlGaN and AlN epilayers and nanostructures. We have measured the compositional and temperature dependence of the energy bandgap of AlxGa1-xN alloys covering the entire alloy range of x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 and fitted with the Varshni equation. Varshni coefficients, alpha and beta, in AlGaN alloys have a parabolic dependence with alloy concentration x. Based on the experimental data, an empirical relation was thus obtained for the energy gap of AlGaN alloys for the entire alloy concentration and at any temperature below 800 K. The exciton localization energy in AlxGa1-xN alloys the entire composition range (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) has been measured by fitting the band edge emission peak energy with the Varshni equation. Deviations of the excitonic emission peak energy from the Varshni equation at low temperatures provide directly the exciton localization energies, ELoc in AlGaN alloys. It was found that ELoc increases with x for x ≤ 0.7, and decreases with x for x ≥ 0.8. The relations between the exciton localization energy, the activation energy, and the emission linewidth have been established. It thus provides three different and independent methods to determine the exciton localization energies in AlGaN alloys. Impurity transitions in AlGaN alloys have also been investigated. Continuous wave (CW) PL spectra of Si and undoped AlGaN alloys reveals groups of impurity transitions that have been assigned to the recombination between shallow donors and an isolated triply charged cation-vacancy (VIII)3-, a doubly charged cation-vacancy-complex (VIII-complex)2- , and a singly charged cation-vacancy-complex (VIII-complex) -1. The energy levels of these deep acceptors in AlxGa 1-xN (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) alloys are pinned to a common energy level in the vacuum. AlGaN alloys predominantly exhibiting the bandedge and (V III-complex)1- transitions possess improved conductivities over those emitting predominantly (VIII)3- and (V III-complex)2- related transitions. These results thus answer the very basic question of high resistivity in Al-rich AlGaN alloys. Acceptor doped AlGaN alloys have been studied by deep UV PL. A PL emission line at 6.02 eV has been observed at 10 K in Mg-doped AlN. It is due to the recombination of an exciton bound to the neutral Mg acceptor (I1) with a binding energy, Ebx of 40 meV, which indicates large activation energy of the Mg acceptor. The observed large binding energy of the acceptor-bound exciton is consistent with relatively large binding energy of the Mg acceptor in AlN. With the energy level of 0.51 eV for Mg dopants in AlN, it is interesting and important to study other suitable acceptor dopants for AlN. Growth and optical studies of Zn-doped AlN epilayers has been carried out. The PL spectra of Zn-doped AlN epilayers exhibited two impurity emission lines at 5.40 and 4.50 eV, which were absent in undoped epilayers. They are assigned respectively, to the transitions of free electrons and electrons bound to triply positively charged nitrogen vacancies (0.90 eV deep) to the Zn0 acceptors. It was deduced that the Zn energy level is about 0.74 eV above the valence band edge, which is about 0.23 eV deeper than the Mg energy level in AlN. Nitrogen vacancies are the compensating defects in acceptor doped AlGaN alloys. A nitrogen vacancy (VN) related emission line was also observed in ion-implanted AlN at 5.87 eV and the energy level of singly charged VN1+ is found at 260 meV below the conduction band. As a consequence of large binding energy of VN 1+ as well as high formation energy, VN1+ in AlN cannot contribute significant n-type conductivity, which is consistent with experimental observation. The temperature dependent PL study of the bandedge emissions in GaN and AlN epilayers up to 800 K has been carried out, which reveals two distinctive activation processes. The first process occurring below Tt = 325 K (Tt = 500 K) for GaN (AlN) is due to the activation of free excitons to free carriers, whereas the second occurring above Tt with an activation energy of 0.29 eV (0.3 eV) for GaN (AlN) is believed to be associated with a higher lying conduction band (Gamma3) at about 0.3 eV above the conduction band minimum (Gamma1). These higher lying bands could affect device performance of GaN and AlN at elevated temperatures. Two-dimensional nanostructured AlN photonic crystals (PCs) with a varying periodicity/diameter down to 150 nm/75 nm have also been studied by deep UV PL. With PCs formation, a 20-fold enhancement in the band edge emission intensity at 208 nm over unpatterned AlN epilayer has been observed. The emission intensity increases with the decrease in the lattice constant of the AlN PCs. AlN PCs represent photonic crystals with highest (shortest) bandgap (wavelength) semiconductors, which open up new opportunities for exploring novel physical phenomena in the artificially structured photonic band gap material systems and their applications, particularly in the area of deep UV as well as nano-photonics.

Platelet lysate as a substitute for animal serum for the ex-vivo expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: present and future.

PubMed

Astori, Giuseppe; Amati, Eliana; Bambi, Franco; Bernardi, Martina; Chieregato, Katia; Schäfer, Richard; Sella, Sabrina; Rodeghiero, Francesco

2016-07-13

The use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) as a cell culture supplement is discouraged by regulatory authorities to limit the risk of zoonoses and xenogeneic immune reactions in the transplanted host. Additionally, FBS production came under scrutiny due to animal welfare concerns. Platelet derivatives have been proposed as FBS substitutes for the ex-vivo expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) since platelet-derived growth factors can promote MSC ex-vivo expansion. Platelet-derived growth factors are present in platelet lysate (PL) obtained after repeated freezing-thawing cycles of the platelet-rich plasma or by applying physiological stimuli such as thrombin or CaCl2.PL-expanded MSCs have been used already in the clinic, taking advantage of their faster proliferation compared with FBS-expanded preparations. Should PL be applied to other biopharmaceutical products, its demand is likely to increase dramatically. The use of fresh platelet units for the production of PL raises concerns due to limited availability of platelet donors. Expired units might represent an alternative, but further data are needed to define safety, including pathogen reduction, and functionality of the obtained PL. In addition, relevant questions concerning the definition of PL release criteria, including concentration ranges of specific growth factors in PL batches for various clinical indications, also need to be addressed. We are still far from a common definition of PL and standardized PL manufacture due to our limited knowledge of the mechanisms that mediate PL-promoting cell growth. Here, we concisely discuss aspects of PL as MSC culture supplement as a preliminary step towards an agreed definition of the required characteristics of PL for the requirements of manufacturers and users.

Cloning of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) synthetase gene from a newly isolated ε-PL-producing Streptomyces albulus NK660 and its heterologous expression in Streptomyces lividans

PubMed Central

Geng, Weitao; Yang, Chao; Gu, Yanyan; Liu, Ruihua; Guo, Wenbin; Wang, Xiaomeng; Song, Cunjiang; Wang, Shufang

2014-01-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL), showing a wide range of antimicrobial activity, is now industrially produced as a food additive by a fermentation process. A new strain capable of producing ε-PL was isolated from a soil sample collected from Gutian, Fujian Province, China. Based on its morphological and biochemical features and phylogenetic similarity with 16S rRNA gene, the strain was identified as Streptomyces albulus and named NK660. The yield of ε-PL in 30 l fed-batch fermentation with pH control was 4.2 g l−1 when using glycerol as the carbon source. The structure of ε-PL was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Previous studies have shown that the antimicrobial activity of ε-PL is dependent on its molecular size. In this study, the polymerization degree of the ε-PL produced by strain NK660 ranged from 19 to 33 L-lysine monomers, with the main component consisting of 24–30 L-lysine monomers, which implied that the ε-PL might have higher antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the ε-PL synthetase gene (pls) was cloned from strain NK660 by genome walking. The pls gene with its native promoter was heterologously expressed in Streptomyces lividans ZX7, and the recombinant strain was capable of synthesizing ε-PL. Here, we demonstrated for the first time heterologous expression of the pls gene in S. lividans. The heterologous expression of pls gene in S. lividans will open new avenues for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of ε-PL synthesis. PMID:24423427

Safety evaluation and lipid-lowering effects of food-grade biopolymer complexes (ε-polylysine-pectin) in mice fed a high-fat diet.

PubMed

Song, Mingyue; Lopez-Pena, Cynthia Lyliam; McClements, David Julian; Decker, Eric Andrew; Xiao, Hang

2017-05-24

ε-Polylysine (ε-PL) is a potent cationic antimicrobial, but its application as a food additive is currently limited because it tends to precipitate with anionic species in food matrices. Previous research has shown that the formation of an electrostatic complex between cationic ε-PL and anionic pectin (P) improved the physical stability of ε-PL while maintaining its antimicrobial activity. However, the impact of complexation on the effects of ε-PL on health is currently unknown. A subchronic toxicity study was therefore carried out to determine the safety of ingested ε-PL-P complexes using high-fat diet-fed male and female mice. After a 13-week dietary treatment with P, ε-PL, or ε-PL-P complexes, no significant toxicological effects were observed on the survival, mean body weight, food consumption, and organ weights of the animals, suggesting that the complexes were safe for oral consumption. Interestingly, the ε-PL-P complexes were found to have several beneficial health effects: suppression of high-fat diet-induced elevation of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, reduction in serum total triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and an increase in fecal excretion of triglycerides. These effects were much stronger in female mice than in male mice. Moreover, the lipid-lowering effects were observed only for the ε-PL-P complexes but not for ε-PL or P alone at the same doses. Overall, our results demonstrate the oral safety of ε-PL-P complexes and their gender-specific lipid-lowering effects in high-fat diet-fed mice, which provide an important basis for the utilization of ε-PL-P complexes in food systems as functional ingredients.

Immobilization of recombinant pectate lyase from Clostridium thermocellum ATCC-27405 on magnetic nanoparticles for bioscouring of cotton fabric.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Soumyadeep; Jagan Mohan Rao, Tingirikari; Goyal, Arun

2017-01-01

Recombinant pectate lyase from family 1 polysaccharide lyase (PL1B) was immobilized on synthesized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) after 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride activation. At 70 mg/mL MNPs 100% binding of 1 mg/mL PL1B was achieved. The immobilized PL1B-MNP displayed activity of 20.3 and 18.2 U/mg against polygalacturonic acid and citrus pectin, respectively, which was higher than the activity of free PL1B, on the same substrates of 17.8 and 16.2 U/mg. The immobilized PL1B-MNP showed 32 fold and 14 fold enhanced thermal stability at 80°C and 90°C, respectively as compared with free PL1B at same temperatures. At high temperature the immobilized PL1B-MNP retained its activity for a longer duration than free PL1B. The immobilized PL1B-MNP could be reused till five cycles and after that it retained 70% of initial activity. It could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture with the help of a magnet. Bioscouring of cotton fabric was carried out with immobilized PL1B-MNP which showed efficient removal of pectin from the fabric surface. The enhanced wettability of fabric resulted in the decrease of the water absorbing time period from 3 min taken by the free PL1B treated fabric to 15 s taken by the immobilized PL1B-MNP treated fabric. As per our knowledge this is the first attempt of bioscouring of coarse cotton fabric by pectinase immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:231-244, 2017. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Detection of anti-PL-12 autoantibodies by ELISA using a recombinant antigen; study of the immunoreactive region

PubMed Central

García-Lozano, J R; González-Escribano, M F; Rodríguez, R; Rodriguez-Sanchez, J L; Targoff, I N; Wichmann, I; Núñez-Roldán, A

1998-01-01

Autoantibodies to aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are highly associated with myositis and detection is important in clinical diagnosis; however, current methods of screening limit its clinical utility. In the present study, alanyl-tRNA synthetase (PL-12) recombinant protein was obtained by immunological screening of a HeLa expression library and used in an ELISA with 22 anti-PL-12 sera, 200 autoimmune sera negative for PL-12 and 100 healthy individual sera. Sensitivity of the method was 95% (21/22) and specificity 100%. Mapping of the immunoreactive region was carried out using three anti-PL-12 sera and different recombinant protein-derived peptides. Results show that the same conformational epitope located within amino acids 730–951 of the PL-12 antigen outside the catalytic region was recognized by the three anti-PL-12 sera tested. We conclude that ELISA using recombinant protein is an effective and useful method for routine screening for anti-PL-12 autoantibodies. PMID:9822271

Antimicrobial Activity of ε-Poly-l-lysine after Forming a Water-Insoluble Complex with an Anionic Surfactant.

PubMed

Ushimaru, Kazunori; Hamano, Yoshimitsu; Katano, Hajime

2017-04-10

ε-Poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) is one of the few homopoly(amino-acid)s occurring in nature. ε-PL, which possesses multiple amino groups, is highly soluble in water, where it forms the antimicrobial polycationic chain (PL n+ ). Although the high water-solubility is advantageous for the use of ε-PL as a food preservative, it has limited the applicability of ε-PL as a biopolymer plastic. Here, we report on the preparation and availability of a water-insoluble complex formed with PL n+ and an anionic surfactant, bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (BEHS - , is also commercialized as AOT) anion. The PL n+ /BEHS - -complex, which is soluble in organic solvents, was successfully used as a coating material for a cellulose acetate membrane to create a water-resistant antimicrobial membrane. In addition, the thermoplastic PL n+ /BEHS - -complex was able to be uniformly mixed with polypropylene by heating, resulting in materials exhibiting antimicrobial activities.

[Enhanced ε-poly-L-lysine production by improving cellular activity during fermentation].

PubMed

Liu, Shengrong; Wu, Qingping; Zhang, Jumei; Yang, Xiaojuan; Cai, Shuzhen

2015-06-04

To assess the effect of cellular activity on ε-poly-1-lysine (ε-PL) biosynthesis and thereby to rationally improve the production, we studied the cellular activity, ε-PL formation and other parameters cross flask fermentation by Streptomyces ahygroscopicus. Laser scanning confocal microscopy and a colorimetric method were used to determine cellular activity using BacLight Live/Dead and 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) as viable stains. To enhance the activity of the cells in the ε-PL production period, yeast extract was added. During ε-PL submerged fermentation in flasks, most cells were active in the growth period (0 - 16 h); cells had metabolic activity in the growth and earlier ε-PL production periods between 0 and 30 h fermentation. Almost no activity was detected after 48 h fermentation when no ε-PL was produced. The improved fermentation achieved 2. 24 g/L ε-PL from 1.04 g/L. Biosynthesis of ε-PL can be boosted by up-regulating cell activity in its production phase.

Antiphospholipid antibodies: Paradigm in transition

PubMed Central

Horstman, Lawrence L; Jy, Wenche; Bidot, Carlos J; Ahn, Yeon S; Kelley, Roger E; Zivadinov, Robert; Maghzi, Amir H; Etemadifar, Masoud; Mousavi, Seyed Ali; Minagar, Alireza

2009-01-01

Objectives This is a critical review of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL). Most prior reviews focus on the aPL syndrome (APS), a thrombotic condition often marked by neurological disturbance. We bring to attention recent evidence that aPL may be equally relevant to non-thrombotic autoimmune conditions, notably, multiple sclerosis and ITP. Organization After a brief history, the recent proliferation of aPL target antigens is reviewed. The implication is that many more exist. Theories of aPL in thrombosis are then reviewed, concluding that all have merit but that aPL may have more diverse pathological consequences than now recognized. Next, conflicting results are explained by methodological differences. The lupus anticoagulant (LA) is then discussed. LA is the best predictor of thrombosis, but why this is true is not settled. Finally, aPL in non-thrombotic disorders is reviewed. Conclusion The current paradigm of aPL holds that they are important in thrombosis, but they may have much wider clinical significance, possibly of special interest in neurology. PMID:19154576

Characterization of Weissella kimchii PL9023 as a potential probiotic for women.

PubMed

Lee, Yeonhee

2005-09-01

From more than 100 lactic acid bacteria, Weissella kimchii PL9023 was selected as producing the most hydrogen peroxide and was characterized as a probiotic for women. W. kimchii PL9023 inhibited the growth and adherence of vaginal isolates of Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae. The surface components involved in adherence of W. kimchii PL9023 to vaginal epithelial cells appeared to be glycoproteins, as determined by susceptibility to proteinase K, heat, or periodate. W. kimchii PL9023 did not produce harmful metabolites or enzymes. The results of this study suggest that W. kimchii PL9023 is a potential probiotic for vaginal health.

Genetic characterization of avian metapneumovirus subtype C isolated from pheasants in a live bird market.

PubMed

Lee, Eun ho; Song, Min-Suk; Shin, Jin-Young; Lee, Young-Min; Kim, Chul-Joong; Lee, Young Sik; Kim, Hyunggee; Choi, Young Ki

2007-09-01

Complete nucleotide sequences of two avian metapneumoviruses (aMPV), designated PL-1 and PL-2, were isolated from pheasants, revealing novel sequences of the first aMPV to be fully sequenced in Korea. The complete genome of both PL-1 and PL-2 was composed of 13,170 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PL-1 belonged to aMPV subtype C, sharing higher homology in deduced amino acid sequence identities with hMPV, rather than with aMPV subtypes A and B. Replication of PL-1 in experimentally re-infected pheasants was confirmed by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chickens and mice were experimentally inoculated with PL-1 to test the replication potential of PL-1 in other species. Although one specimen from the nasal turbinates of an inoculated chicken showed a slight trace of viral replication at 3 days post-infection (dpi), all of the infected mice were negative for aMPV by RT-PCR throughout the experiment, suggesting that PL-1 does not readily infect mammals. This is the first report of the isolation and complete genomic sequence of aMPV subtype C originating from pheasants.

FastFLIM, the all-in-one engine for measuring photoluminescence lifetime of 100 picoseconds to 100 milliseconds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yuansheng; Coskun, Ulas; Liao, Shih-Chu Jeff; Barbieri, Beniamino

2018-02-01

Photoluminescence (PL) refers to light emission initiated by any form of photon excitation. PL spectroscopy and microscopy imaging has been widely applied in material, chemical and life sciences. Measuring its lifetime yields a new dimension of the PL imaging and opens new opportunities for many PL applications. In solar cell research, quantification of the PL lifetime has become an important evaluation for the characteristics of the Perovskite thin film. Depending upon the PL process (fluorescence, phosphorescence, photon upconversion, etc.), the PL lifetimes to be measured can vary in a wide timescale range (e.g. from sub-nanoseconds to microseconds or even milliseconds) - it is challenging to cover this wide range of lifetime measurements by a single technique efficiently. Here, we present a novel digital frequency domain (DFD) technique named FastFLIM, capable of measuring the PL lifetime from 100 ps to 100 ms at the high data collection efficiency (up to 140-million counts per second). Other than the traditional nonlinear leastsquare fitting analysis, the raw data acquired by FastFLIM can be directly processed by the model-free phasor plots approach for instant and unbiased lifetime results, providing the ideal routine for the PL lifetime microscopy imaging.

Innate immune responses of equine monocytes cultured in equine platelet lysate.

PubMed

Naskou, Maria C; Norton, Natalie A; Copland, Ian B; Galipeau, Jacques; Peroni, John F

2018-01-01

Platelet lysate (PL) has been extensively used for the laboratory expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in order to avoid fetal bovine serum (FBS) which has been associated with immune-mediated host reactions and transmission of bovine-origin microbial contaminants. Before suggesting the routine use of PL for MSC culture, we wanted to further investigate whether PL alone might trigger inflammatory responses when exposed to reactive white blood cells such as monocytes. Our objectives were to evaluate the inflammatory profile of equine monocytes cultured with equine PL (ePL) and to determine if ePL can modulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes. In a first experiment, equine monocytes were isolated and incubated with donor horse serum (DHS), FBS, six individual donors ePL or pooled ePL from all horses. In a second experiment, monocytes were stimulated with E. coli LPS in the presence of 1, 5 or 10% DHS and/or pooled ePL. After 6h of incubation, cell culture supernatants were assayed via ELISA for production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) as well as for the anti-inflammatory Interleukin 10 (IL-10). Equine monocytes incubated with pooled ePL produced significantly less TNF-α and significantly more IL-10 than monocytes incubated in FBS. A statistically significant difference was not identified for the production of IL-1β. The second experiment showed that pooled ePL added to LPS-stimulated equine monocytes resulted in a significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-1β production. IL-10 production was not significantly upregulated by the addition of ePL to LPS-stimulated monocytes. Finally, the addition of ePL to LPS-stimulated monocytes in the presence of various concentrations of DHS resulted to statistically significant decrease of TNF-α and IL-1β compared to the control groups. This is the first study to demonstrate that ePL suppresses the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from stimulated equine monocytes. These results encourage further exploration of PL as a homologous media substitute for FBS but also opens the possibility of investigating its use as means to suppress cell-mediated inflammation. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Vorticity and symplecticity in multi-symplectic, Lagrangian gas dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, G. M.; Anco, S. C.

2016-02-01

The Lagrangian, multi-dimensional, ideal, compressible gas dynamic equations are written in a multi-symplectic form, in which the Lagrangian fluid labels, m i (the Lagrangian mass coordinates) and time t are the independent variables, and in which the Eulerian position of the fluid element {x}={x}({m},t) and the entropy S=S({m},t) are the dependent variables. Constraints in the variational principle are incorporated by means of Lagrange multipliers. The constraints are: the entropy advection equation S t = 0, the Lagrangian map equation {{x}}t={u} where {u} is the fluid velocity, and the mass continuity equation which has the form J=τ where J={det}({x}{ij}) is the Jacobian of the Lagrangian map in which {x}{ij}=\\partial {x}i/\\partial {m}j and τ =1/ρ is the specific volume of the gas. The internal energy per unit volume of the gas \\varepsilon =\\varepsilon (ρ ,S) corresponds to a non-barotropic gas. The Lagrangian is used to define multi-momenta, and to develop de Donder-Weyl Hamiltonian equations. The de Donder-Weyl equations are cast in a multi-symplectic form. The pullback conservation laws and the symplecticity conservation laws are obtained. One class of symplecticity conservation laws give rise to vorticity and potential vorticity type conservation laws, and another class of symplecticity laws are related to derivatives of the Lagrangian energy conservation law with respect to the Lagrangian mass coordinates m i . We show that the vorticity-symplecticity laws can be derived by a Lie dragging method, and also by using Noether’s second theorem and a fluid relabelling symmetry which is a divergence symmetry of the action. We obtain the Cartan-Poincaré form describing the equations and we discuss a set of differential forms representing the equation system.

Improvement of ε-poly-L-lysine production through seed stage development based on in situ pH monitoring.

PubMed

Sun, Qi-Xing; Chen, Xu-Sheng; Ren, Xi-Dong; Mao, Zhong-Gui

2015-01-01

Nissin, natamycin, and ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) are three safe, microbial-produced food preservatives used today in the food industry. However, current industrial production of ε-PL is only performed in several countries. In order to realize large-scale ε-PL production by fermentation, the effects of seed stage on cell growth and ε-PL production were investigated by monitoring of pH in situ in a 5-L laboratory-scale fermenter. A significant increase in ε-PL production in fed-batch fermentation by Streptomyces sp. M-Z18 was achieved, at 48.9 g/L, through the optimization of several factors associated with seed stage, including spore pretreatment, inoculum age, and inoculum level. Compared with conventional fermentation approaches using 24-h-old shake-flask seed broth as inoculum, the maximum ε-PL concentration and productivity were enhanced by 32.3 and 36.6 %, respectively. The effect of optimized inoculum conditions on ε-PL production on a large scale was evaluated using a 50-L pilot-scale fermenter, attaining a maximum ε-PL production of 36.22 g/L in fed-batch fermentation, constituting the first report of ε-PL production at pilot scale. These results will be helpful for efficient ε-PL production by Streptomyces at pilot and plant scales.

Bound exciton and free exciton states in GaSe thin slab.

PubMed

Wei, Chengrong; Chen, Xi; Li, Dian; Su, Huimin; He, Hongtao; Dai, Jun-Feng

2016-09-22

The photoluminescence (PL) and absorption experiments have been performed in GaSe slab with incident light polarized perpendicular to c-axis of sample at 10 K. An obvious energy difference of about 34 meV between exciton absorption peak and PL peak (the highest energy peak) is observed. By studying the temperature dependence of PL and absorption spectra, we attribute it to energy difference between free exciton and bound exciton states, where main exciton absorption peak comes from free exciton absorption, and PL peak is attributed to recombination of bound exciton at 10 K. This strong bound exciton effect is stable up to 50 K. Moreover, the temperature dependence of integrated PL intensity and PL lifetime reveals that a non-radiative process, with activation energy extracted as 0.5 meV, dominates PL emission.

A comprehensive analysis of transfection-assisted delivery of iron oxide nanoparticles to dendritic cells.

PubMed

Toki, Shinji; Omary, Reed A; Wilson, Kevin; Gore, John C; Peebles, R Stokes; Pham, Wellington

2013-11-01

Polylysine (PL) has been used to facilitate dendritic cell (DC) uptake of super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this work, we examined the effect of PL on cell toxicity and induction of cell maturation as manifested by the up-regulation of surface molecules. We found that PL became toxic to bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) at the 10 μg/ml threshold. Incubation of BMDCs with 20 μg/ml of PL for 1h resulted in approximately 90% cell death. However, addition of SPIO nanoparticles rescued DCs from PL-induced death as the combination of SPIO with PL did not cause cytotoxicity until the PL concentration was 1000 μg/ml. Prolonged exposure to PL induced BMDC maturation as noted by the expression of surface molecules such as MHC class II, CD40, CCR7 and CD86. However, the combination of SPIO and PL did not induce BMDC maturation at 1h. However prolonged exposure to SPIO nanoparticles induced CD40 expression and protein expression of TNFα and KC. The data suggest that the use of PL to enhance the labeling of DCs with SPIO nanoparticles is a dedicated work. Appropriate calibration of the incubation time and concentrations of PL and SPIO nanoparticles is crucial to the development of MRI technology for noninvasive imaging of DCs in vivo. The authors of this study present detailed data on toxicity and efficiency of polylysine-facilitated uptake of USPIO-s by dendritic cells for cell-specific MR imaging. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Numerical methods of solving a system of multi-dimensional nonlinear equations of the diffusion type

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Agapov, A. V.; Kolosov, B. I.

1979-01-01

The principles of conservation and stability of difference schemes achieved using the iteration control method were examined. For the schemes obtained of the predictor-corrector type, the conversion was proved for the control sequences of approximate solutions to the precise solutions in the Sobolev metrics. Algorithms were developed for reducing the differential problem to integral relationships, whose solution methods are known, were designed. The algorithms for the problem solution are classified depending on the non-linearity of the diffusion coefficients, and practical recommendations for their effective use are given.

Towards sub-optimal stochastic control of partially observable stochastic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruzicka, G. J.

1980-01-01

A class of multidimensional stochastic control problems with noisy data and bounded controls encountered in aerospace design is examined. The emphasis is on suboptimal design, the optimality being taken in quadratic mean sense. To that effect the problem is viewed as a stochastic version of the Lurie problem known from nonlinear control theory. The main result is a separation theorem (involving a nonlinear Kalman-like filter) suitable for Lurie-type approximations. The theorem allows for discontinuous characteristics. As a byproduct the existence of strong solutions to a class of non-Lipschitzian stochastic differential equations in dimensions is proven.

Understanding Core-Collapse Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hix, W. R.; Lentz, E. J.; Baird, M.; Messer, O. E. B.; Mezzacappa, A.; Lee, C.-T.; Bruenn, S. W.; Blondin, J. M.; Marronetti, P.

2010-03-01

Our understanding of core-collapse supernovae continues to improve as better microphysics is included in increasingly realistic neutrino-radiationhydrodynamic simulations. Recent multi-dimensional models with spectral neutrino transport, which slowly develop successful explosions for a range of progenitors between 12 and 25 solar mass, have motivated changes in our understanding of the neutrino reheating mechanism. In a similar fashion, improvements in nuclear physics, most notably explorations of weak interactions on nuclei and the nuclear equation of state, continue to refine our understanding of how supernovae explode. Recent progresses on both the macroscopic and microscopic effects that affect core-collapse supernovae are discussed.

Constraint Preserving Schemes Using Potential-Based Fluxes. I. Multidimensional Transport Equations (PREPRINT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

i,j−∆t nEni ,j , u∗∗i,j =u ∗ i,j−∆t nEni ,j , un+1i,j = 1 2 (uni,j+u ∗∗ i,j ). (2.26) An alternative first-order accurate genuinely multi-dimensional...time stepping is the ex- tended Lax-Friedrichs type time stepping, un+1i,j = 1 8 (4uni,j+u n i+1,j+u n i,j+1+u n i−1,j+u n i,j−1)−∆t nEni ,j . (2.27) 13

Fluid flow and fuel-air mixing in a motored two-dimensional Wankel rotary engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, T. I.-P.; Nguyen, H. L.; Stegeman, J.

1986-01-01

The implicit-factored method of Beam and Warming was employed to obtain numerical solutions to the conservation equations of mass, species, momentum, and energy to study the unsteady, multidimensional flow and mixing of fuel and air inside the combustion chambers of a two-dimensional Wankel rotary engine under motored conditions. The effects of the following engine design and operating parameters on fluid flow and fuel-air mixing during the intake and compression cycles were studied: engine speed, angle of gaseous fuel injection during compression cycle, and speed of the fuel leaving fuel injector.

Fluid flow and fuel-air mixing in a motored two-dimensional Wankel rotary engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shih, T. I.-P.; Nguyen, H. L.; Stegeman, J.

1986-06-01

The implicit-factored method of Beam and Warming was employed to obtain numerical solutions to the conservation equations of mass, species, momentum, and energy to study the unsteady, multidimensional flow and mixing of fuel and air inside the combustion chambers of a two-dimensional Wankel rotary engine under motored conditions. The effects of the following engine design and operating parameters on fluid flow and fuel-air mixing during the intake and compression cycles were studied: engine speed, angle of gaseous fuel injection during compression cycle, and speed of the fuel leaving fuel injector.

Computing Evans functions numerically via boundary-value problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barker, Blake; Nguyen, Rose; Sandstede, Björn; Ventura, Nathaniel; Wahl, Colin

2018-03-01

The Evans function has been used extensively to study spectral stability of travelling-wave solutions in spatially extended partial differential equations. To compute Evans functions numerically, several shooting methods have been developed. In this paper, an alternative scheme for the numerical computation of Evans functions is presented that relies on an appropriate boundary-value problem formulation. Convergence of the algorithm is proved, and several examples, including the computation of eigenvalues for a multi-dimensional problem, are given. The main advantage of the scheme proposed here compared with earlier methods is that the scheme is linear and scalable to large problems.

Investigation of supersonic chemically reacting and radiating channel flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mani, Mortaza; Tiwari, Surendra N.

1988-01-01

The 2-D time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are used to investigate supersonic flows undergoing finite rate chemical reaction and radiation interaction for a hydrogen-air system. The explicit multistage finite volume technique of Jameson is used to advance the governing equations in time until convergence is achieved. The chemistry source term in the species equation is treated implicitly to alleviate the stiffness associated with fast reactions. The multidimensional radiative transfer equations for a nongray model are provided for a general configuration and then reduced for a planar geometry. Both pseudo-gray and nongray models are used to represent the absorption-emission characteristics of the participating species. The supersonic inviscid and viscous, nonreacting flows are solved by employing the finite volume technique of Jameson and the unsplit finite difference scheme of MacCormack. The specified problem considered is of the flow in a channel with a 10 deg compression-expansion ramp. The calculated results are compared with those of an upwind scheme. The problem of chemically reacting and radiating flows are solved for the flow of premixed hydrogen-air through a channel with parallel boundaries, and a channel with a compression corner. Results obtained for specific conditions indicate that the radiative interaction can have a significant influence on the entire flow field.

Foundations of modelling of nonequilibrium low-temperature plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alves, L. L.; Bogaerts, A.; Guerra, V.; Turner, M. M.

2018-02-01

This work explains the need for plasma models, introduces arguments for choosing the type of model that better fits the purpose of each study, and presents the basics of the most common nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma models and the information available from each one, along with an extensive list of references for complementary in-depth reading. The paper presents the following models, organised according to the level of multi-dimensional description of the plasma: kinetic models, based on either a statistical particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo approach or the solution to the Boltzmann equation (in the latter case, special focus is given to the description of the electron kinetics); multi-fluid models, based on the solution to the hydrodynamic equations; global (spatially-average) models, based on the solution to the particle and energy rate-balance equations for the main plasma species, usually including a very complete reaction chemistry; mesoscopic models for plasma-surface interaction, adopting either a deterministic approach or a stochastic dynamical Monte-Carlo approach. For each plasma model, the paper puts forward the physics context, introduces the fundamental equations, presents advantages and limitations, also from a numerical perspective, and illustrates its application with some examples. Whenever pertinent, the interconnection between models is also discussed, in view of multi-scale hybrid approaches.

Stochastic weighted particle methods for population balance equations with coagulation, fragmentation and spatial inhomogeneity

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

Lee, Kok Foong; Patterson, Robert I.A.; Wagner, Wolfgang

2015-12-15

Graphical abstract: -- Highlights: •Problems concerning multi-compartment population balance equations are studied. •A class of fragmentation weight transfer functions is presented. •Three stochastic weighted algorithms are compared against the direct simulation algorithm. •The numerical errors of the stochastic solutions are assessed as a function of fragmentation rate. •The algorithms are applied to a multi-dimensional granulation model. -- Abstract: This paper introduces stochastic weighted particle algorithms for the solution of multi-compartment population balance equations. In particular, it presents a class of fragmentation weight transfer functions which are constructed such that the number of computational particles stays constant during fragmentation events. Themore » weight transfer functions are constructed based on systems of weighted computational particles and each of it leads to a stochastic particle algorithm for the numerical treatment of population balance equations. Besides fragmentation, the algorithms also consider physical processes such as coagulation and the exchange of mass with the surroundings. The numerical properties of the algorithms are compared to the direct simulation algorithm and an existing method for the fragmentation of weighted particles. It is found that the new algorithms show better numerical performance over the two existing methods especially for systems with significant amount of large particles and high fragmentation rates.« less

Fully implicit moving mesh adaptive algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chacon, Luis

2005-10-01

In many problems of interest, the numerical modeler is faced with the challenge of dealing with multiple time and length scales. The former is best dealt with with fully implicit methods, which are able to step over fast frequencies to resolve the dynamical time scale of interest. The latter requires grid adaptivity for efficiency. Moving-mesh grid adaptive methods are attractive because they can be designed to minimize the numerical error for a given resolution. However, the required grid governing equations are typically very nonlinear and stiff, and of considerably difficult numerical treatment. Not surprisingly, fully coupled, implicit approaches where the grid and the physics equations are solved simultaneously are rare in the literature, and circumscribed to 1D geometries. In this study, we present a fully implicit algorithm for moving mesh methods that is feasible for multidimensional geometries. A crucial element is the development of an effective multilevel treatment of the grid equation.ootnotetextL. Chac'on, G. Lapenta, A fully implicit, nonlinear adaptive grid strategy, J. Comput. Phys., accepted (2005) We will show that such an approach is competitive vs. uniform grids both from the accuracy (due to adaptivity) and the efficiency standpoints. Results for a variety of models 1D and 2D geometries, including nonlinear diffusion, radiation-diffusion, Burgers equation, and gas dynamics will be presented.

Potential pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of an endophytic Penicillium species.

PubMed

Gupta, Mahiti; Saxena, Sanjai; Goyal, Dinesh

2015-02-01

Pancreatic lipase (PL) is considered as one of the safest target for diet-induced anti-obesity drug development. Orlistat is the only PL inhibitor approved for anti-obesity treatment till date. In the process of exploration of new PL inhibitors, we have screened culture filtrates of 70 endophytic fungi of medicinal plants using qualitative as well as quantitative in-vitro PL assays. The qualitative assays indicated potential PL inhibition in only three isolates, namely #57 TBBALM, #33 TBBALM and #1 CSSTOT. Only ethyl acetate extracts of the culture filtrates of these isolates exhibited the PL inhibition. #57 TBBLAM ethyl acetate extract of culture filtrate exhibited potential PL inhibition with an IC50 of 3.69 µg/ml which was comparable to the positive control, i.e. Orlistat exhibiting IC50 value of 2.73 µg/ml. Further molecular phylogenetic tools and morphological studies were used to identify the isolate #57 TBBALM as Penicillium species.

How to Personalize Learning in K-12 Schools: Five Essential Design Features

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Dabae

2014-01-01

Personalized learning (PL) is spotlighted as a way to transform K-12 educational systems. PL customizes learning pace, instructional methods, and learning content to individual students. As much as PL sounds promising and complex, little guidance is available to educators and policymakers about how to effectively design PL. Five essential features…

Enhancement of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) production by a novel producer Bacillus cereus using metabolic precursors and glucose feeding.

PubMed

Chheda, Anuj H; Vernekar, Madhavi R

2015-10-01

Epsilon poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) is a homo-biopolymer with approximately 25-30 L-lysine residues. It is a promising natural biopolymer widely used in food and pharmaceutical industry. The present work reports enhanced production of ε-PL with a novel producer Bacillus cereus using amino acids and TCA cycle intermediates in the fermentation medium. Among the various amino acids and TCA cycle intermediates tested 2 mM L-aspartic acid and 5 mM citric acid gave ε-PL yield of 145.5 and 230 mg/L, respectively. A combination of citric acid after 24 h and L-aspartic acid after 36 h improved ε-PL yield from 85 mg/L (control) to 335 mg/L. Glucose feeding strategy along with metabolic precursors was employed which further enhanced ε-PL yield to 565 mg/L. Thus, more than sixfold increase in ε-PL yield was achieved suggesting the potential of Bacillus cereus as a novel ε-PL producer.

Targeting placental growth factor/neuropilin 1 pathway inhibits growth and spread of medulloblastoma

PubMed Central

Snuderl, Matija; Batista, Ana; Kirkpatrick, Nathaniel D.; de Almodovar, Carmen Ruiz; Riedemann, Lars; Walsh, Elisa C.; Anolik, Rachel; Huang, Yuhui; Martin, John D.; Kamoun, Walid; Knevels, Ellen; Schmidt, Thomas; Farrar, Christian T.; Vakoc, Benjamin J.; Mohan, Nishant; Chung, Euiheon; Roberge, Sylvie; Peterson, Teresa; Bais, Carlos; Zhelyazkova, Boryana H.; Yip, Stephen; Hasselblatt, Martin; Rossig, Claudia; Niemeyer, Elisabeth; Ferrara, Napoleone; Klagsbrun, Michael; Duda, Dan G.; Fukumura, Dai; Xu, Lei; Carmeliet, Peter; Jain, Rakesh K.

2013-01-01

SUMMARY Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric malignant brain tumor. Although current therapies improve survival, these regimens are highly toxic and associated with significant morbidity. Here, we report that placental growth factor (PlGF) is expressed in the majority of medulloblastomas independent of their subtype. Moreover, high expression of PlGF receptor neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) correlates with poor overall survival in patients. We demonstrate that PlGF and Nrp1 are required for the growth and spread of medulloblastoma: PlGF/Nrp1 blockade results in direct antitumor effects in vivo, resulting in medulloblastoma regression, decreased metastases, and increased mouse survival. We reveal that PlGF is produced in the cerebellar stroma via tumor-derived Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and show that PlGF acts through Nrp1—and not vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1)—to promote tumor cell survival. This critical tumor-stroma interaction—mediated by Shh, PlGF, and Nrp1 across medulloblastoma subtypes—supports the development of therapies targeting PlGF/Nrp1 pathway. PMID:23452854

Plumbagin suppresses dendritic cell functions and alleviates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

PubMed

Zhang, Kai; Ge, Zhenzhen; Da, Yurong; Wang, Dong; Liu, Ying; Xue, Zhenyi; Li, Yan; Li, Wen; Zhang, Lijuan; Wang, Huafeng; Zhang, Huan; Peng, Meiyu; Hao, Junwei; Yao, Zhi; Zhang, Rongxin

2014-08-15

Plumbagin (PL, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) is a herbal compound derived from medicinal plants of the Droseraceae, Plumbaginaceae, Dioncophyllaceae, and Ancistrocladaceae families. Reports have shown that PL exerts immunomodulatory activity and may be a novel drug candidate for immune-related disease therapy. However, its effects on dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that PL inhibits the differentiation, maturation, and function of human monocyte-derived DCs. PL can also restrict the expression of Th1- and Th17-polarizing cytokines in mDC. In addition, PL suppresses DCs both in vitro and in vivo, as demonstrated by its effects on the mouse DC line DC2.4 and mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), respectively. Notably, PL ameliorated the clinical symptoms of EAE, including central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and demyelination. Our results demonstrate the immune suppressive and anti-inflammatory properties of PL via its effects on DCs and suggest that PL could be a potential treatment for DC-related autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nano-XRF Analysis of Metal Impurities Distribution at PL Active Grain Boundaries During mc-Silicon Solar Cell Processing

DOE PAGES

Bernardini, Simone; Johnston, Steve; West, Bradley; ...

2016-11-14

Metal impurities are known to hinder the performance of commercial Si-based solar cells by inducing bulk recombination, increasing leakage current, and causing direct shunting. Recently, a set of photoluminescence (PL) images of neighboring multicrystalline silicon wafers taken from a cell production line at different processing stages has been acquired. Both band-to-band PL and sub-bandgap PL (subPL) images showed various regions with different PL signal intensity. Interestingly, in several of these regions a reversal of the subPL intensity was observed right after the deposition of the antireflective coating. In this paper, we present the results of the synchrotron-based nano-X-ray fluorescence imagingmore » performed in areas characterized by the subPL reversal to evaluate the possible role of metal decoration in this uncommon behavior. Furthermore, the acquisition of a statistically meaningful set of data for samples taken at different stages of the solar cell manufacturing allows us to shine a light on the precipitation and rediffusion mechanisms of metal impurities at these grain boundaries.« less

Recovery of useful chemicals from palm oil mill wastewater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratanaporn, Yuangsawad; Duangkamol, Na-Ranong; Teruoki, Tago; Takao, Masuda

2017-11-01

A two-step process consisting of pyrolysis of dried sludge and catalytic upgrading of pyrolysed liquid was proposed. Wastewater from a palm oil mill was separated to solid cake and liquid by filtration. The solid cake was dried and pyrolysed at 773 K. Liquid product obtained from the pyrolysis had two immiscible aqueous and oil phases (PL-A and PL-O). Identification of chemicals in PL-A and PL-O indicated that both phases contained various chemicals with unsaturated bonds, such as carboxylic acids and alcohols, however, most of the chemicals could not be identified. Catalytic upgrading of PL-A and PL-O over ZrO2·FeOx were separately performed using a fixed bed reactor at various conditions, T = 513-723 K and mass of catalyst to feed rate = 0.25-10 h. The main components in the liquid products of PL-A upgrading were methanol and acetone whereas they were acetone and phenol in the case of PL-O upgrading. More than 15% of carbon in raw material was deposited on the catalyst. To reduce the carbon deposition, the used catalyst was treated with air at 823 K. This simple treatment could reasonably regenerate the catalyst only for the case of PL-A catalytic upgrading.

Human platelet lysate supports the formation of robust human periodontal ligament cell sheets.

PubMed

Tian, Bei-Min; Wu, Rui-Xin; Bi, Chun-Sheng; He, Xiao-Tao; Yin, Yuan; Chen, Fa-Ming

2018-04-01

The use of stem cell-derived sheets has become increasingly common in a wide variety of biomedical applications. Although substantial evidence has demonstrated that human platelet lysate (PL) can be used for therapeutic cell expansion, either as a substitute for or as a supplement to xenogeneic fetal bovine serum (FBS), its impact on cell sheet production remains largely unexplored. In this study, we manufactured periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) sheets in vitro by incubating PDLSCs in sheet-induction media supplemented with various ratios of PL and FBS, i.e. 10% PL without FBS, 7.5% PL + 2.5% FBS, 5% PL + 5% FBS, 2.5% PL + 7.5% FBS or 10% FBS without PL. Cultures with the addition of all the designed supplements led to successful cell sheet production. In addition, all the resultant cellular materials exhibited similar expression profiles of matrix-related genes and proteins, such as collagen I, fibronectin and integrin β1. Interestingly, the cell components within sheets generated by media containing both PL and FBS exhibited improved osteogenic potential. Following in vivo transplantation, all sheets supported significant new bone formation. Our data suggest that robust PDLSC sheets can be produced by applying PL as either an alternative or an adjuvant to FBS. Further examination of the relevant influences of human PL that benefit cell behaviour and matrix production will pave the way towards optimized and standardized conditions for cell sheet production. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Differentiation of Rat bone marrow Mesenchymal stem cells into Adipocytes and Cardiomyocytes after treatment with platelet lysate.

PubMed

Homayouni Moghadam, Farshad; Tayebi, Tahereh; Barzegar, Kazem

2016-01-01

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotential cells and their therapeutic potency is under intense investigation. Studying the effect of different induction factors on MSCs could increase our knowledge about the differentiation potency of these cells. One of the most important sources of these factors in mammalian body is platelet. Platelet lysate (PL) contains many growth factors and therefore, it can be used as a differentiation inducer. In the present study, the effect of PL on differentiation of rat bone marrow MSCs into cardiomyocytes was studied. To study the differentiation-inducing effect of PL, MSCs were treated with 2.5, 5 and 10% PL. Early results of this study showed that PL in high concentrations (10%) induces adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Therefore, to evaluate differentiation to cardiomyocytes, MSCs were cultured in media containing lower levels of PL (2.5% and 5%) and then cardiomyogenic differentiation was induced by treatment with 5-azacytidine. Differentiation of MSCs was evaluated using direct observation of beating cells, immunostaining and real-time PCR techniques. The results of qPCR showed that treatment with PL alone increased the expression of cardiac alpha actinin (CAA) being predictable by earlier observation of beating cells in PL-treated groups. The results of staining assays against cardiac alpha actinin also showed that there were stained cells in PL-treated groups. The results of the present study showed that PL is a powerful induction factor for differentiation of MSCs into different cell lines such as cardiomyocytes and adipocytes.

Oxidative degradation and non-enzymatic browning due to the interaction between oxidised lipids and primary amine groups in different marine PL emulsions.

PubMed

Lu, F S H; Nielsen, N S; Baron, C P; Jacobsen, C

2012-12-15

Due to the beneficial health effects of marine phospholipids (PL) there is an increasing industrial interest in using them for nutritional applications including emulsified foods. This study was undertaken to investigate both oxidative and hydrolytic stability of marine PL emulsions in relation to the chemical composition of the marine PL used. Moreover, non-enzymatic browning reactions were also investigated. Emulsions were prepared by high pressure homogenizer using different concentrations and sources of marine PL. In some formulations, fish oil was added in order to study the effect of increasing levels of triglycerides in the emulsions. The oxidative and hydrolytic stability of emulsions was investigated through measurement of peroxide value, free fatty acids, and (31)P NMR during storage at 2°C for up to 32 days. The oxidative stability of marine PL emulsions during storage was further investigated through the measurement of secondary volatile compounds by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and dynamic headspace (DHS) connected to gas chromatography (GC-MS). Non-enzymatic browning reactions were investigated through the measurement of Strecker derived volatiles, colour changes and pyrrole content. The results suggested that the oxidative stability of marine PL emulsions was significantly influenced by the chemical composition and the concentration of marine PL used to prepare them. Emulsions with good oxidative stability could be prepared from marine PL of high purity and high content of PL and antioxidant and low TAG content. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Human platelet lysate stimulates high-passage and senescent human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell growth and rejuvenation in vitro.

PubMed

Griffiths, Sarah; Baraniak, Priya R; Copland, Ian B; Nerem, Robert M; McDevitt, Todd C

2013-12-01

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are clinically useful because of their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, but MSC therapies are limited by the loss of self-renewal and cell plasticity associated with ex vivo expansion culture and, on transplantation, increased immunogenicity from xenogen exposure during culture. Recently, pooled human platelet lysate (hPL) has been used as a culture supplement to promote MSC growth; however, the effects of hPL on MSCs after fetal bovine serum (FBS) exposure remain unknown. MSCs were cultured in medium containing FBS or hPL for up to 16 passages, and cell size, doubling time and immunophenotype were determined. MSC senescence was assessed by means of a fluorometric assay for endogenous β-galactosidase expression. MSCs cultured with FBS for different numbers of passages were switched to hPL conditions to evaluate the ability of hPL to "rescue" the proliferative capacity of MSCs. hPL culture resulted in more rapid cell proliferation at earlier passages (passage 5 or earlier) than remove FBS; by day 4, hPL (5%) yielded an MSC doubling time of 1.28 days compared with 1.52 days in 16% FBS. MSCs cultured first in FBS and switched to hPL proliferated more and demonstrated less β-galactosidase production and smaller cell sizes than remove MSCs continuously propagated in FBS. hPL enables rapid expansion of MSCs without adversely affecting immunophenotype. hPL culture of aged and senescent MSCs demonstrated cellular rejuvenation, reflected by decreased doubling time and smaller cell size. These results suggest that expansion of MSCs in hPL after FBS exposure can enhance cell phenotype and proliferative capacity. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Use of platelet lysate for bone regeneration - are we ready for clinical translation?

PubMed Central

Altaie, Ala; Owston, Heather; Jones, Elena

2016-01-01

Current techniques to improve bone regeneration following trauma or tumour resection involve the use of autograft bone or its substitutes supplemented with osteoinductive growth factors and/or osteogenic cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Although MSCs are most commonly grown in media containing fetal calf serum, human platelet lysate (PL) offers an effective alternative. Bone marrow - derived MSCs grown in PL-containing media display faster proliferation whilst maintaining good osteogenic differentiation capacity. Limited pre-clinical investigations using PL-expanded MSCs seeded onto osteoconductive scaffolds indicate good potential of such constructs to repair bone in vivo. In an alternative approach, nude PL-coated scaffolds without seeded MSCs have been proposed as novel regenerative medicine devices. Even though methods to coat scaffolds with PL vary, in vitro studies suggest that PL allows for MSC adhesion, migration and differentiation inside these scaffolds. Increased new bone formation and vascularisation in comparison to uncoated scaffolds have also been observed in vivo. This review outlines the state-of-the-art research in the field of PL for ex vivo MSC expansion and in vivo bone regeneration. To minimise inconsistency between the studies, further work is required towards standardisation of PL preparation in terms of the starting material, platelet concentration, leukocyte depletion, and the method of platelet lysis. PL quality control procedures and its “potency” assessment are urgently needed, which could include measurements of key growth and attachment factors important for MSC maintenance and differentiation. Furthermore, different PL formulations could be tailor-made for specific bone repair indications. Such measures would undoubtedly speed up clinical translation of PL-based treatments for bone regeneration. PMID:26981170

Platelet lysate enhances synovial fluid multipotential stromal cells functions: Implications for therapeutic use.

PubMed

Altaie, Ala; Baboolal, Thomas G; Wall, Owen; Jones, Elena; McGonagle, Dennis

2018-03-01

Although intra-articular injection of platelet products is increasingly used for joint regenerative approaches, there are few data on their biological effects on joint-resident multipotential stromal cells (MSCs), which are directly exposed to the effects of these therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of platelet lysate (PL) on synovial fluid-derived MSCs (SF-MSCs), which in vivo have direct access to sites of cartilage injury. SF-MSCs were obtained during knee arthroscopic procedures (N = 7). Colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F), flow-cytometric phenotyping, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester-based immunomodulation for T-cell and trilineage differentiation assays were performed using PL and compared with standard conditions. PL-enhanced SF-MSC (PL-MSC) proliferation as CFU-F colonies was 1.4-fold larger, and growing cultures had shorter population-doubling times. PL-MSCs and fetal calf serum (FCS)-MSCs had the same immunophenotype and similar immunomodulation activities. In chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation assays, PL-MSCs produced 10% more sulfated-glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) and 45% less Ca ++ compared with FCS-MSCs, respectively. Replacing chondrogenic medium transforming growth factor-β3 with 20% or 50% PL further increased sGAG production of PL-MSCs by 69% and 95%, respectively, compared with complete chondrogenic medium. Also, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium high glucose (HG-DMEM) plus 50% PL induced more chondrogenesis compared with HG-DMEM plus 10% FCS and was comparable to complete chondrogenic medium. This is the first study to assess SF-MSC responses to PL and provides biological support to the hypothesis that PL may be capable of modulating multiple functional aspects of joint resident MSCs with direct access to injured cartilage. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Use of platelet lysate for bone regeneration - are we ready for clinical translation?

PubMed

Altaie, Ala; Owston, Heather; Jones, Elena

2016-02-26

Current techniques to improve bone regeneration following trauma or tumour resection involve the use of autograft bone or its substitutes supplemented with osteoinductive growth factors and/or osteogenic cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Although MSCs are most commonly grown in media containing fetal calf serum, human platelet lysate (PL) offers an effective alternative. Bone marrow - derived MSCs grown in PL-containing media display faster proliferation whilst maintaining good osteogenic differentiation capacity. Limited pre-clinical investigations using PL-expanded MSCs seeded onto osteoconductive scaffolds indicate good potential of such constructs to repair bone in vivo. In an alternative approach, nude PL-coated scaffolds without seeded MSCs have been proposed as novel regenerative medicine devices. Even though methods to coat scaffolds with PL vary, in vitro studies suggest that PL allows for MSC adhesion, migration and differentiation inside these scaffolds. Increased new bone formation and vascularisation in comparison to uncoated scaffolds have also been observed in vivo. This review outlines the state-of-the-art research in the field of PL for ex vivo MSC expansion and in vivo bone regeneration. To minimise inconsistency between the studies, further work is required towards standardisation of PL preparation in terms of the starting material, platelet concentration, leukocyte depletion, and the method of platelet lysis. PL quality control procedures and its "potency" assessment are urgently needed, which could include measurements of key growth and attachment factors important for MSC maintenance and differentiation. Furthermore, different PL formulations could be tailor-made for specific bone repair indications. Such measures would undoubtedly speed up clinical translation of PL-based treatments for bone regeneration.

Amino-modified polystyrene nanoparticles affect signalling pathways of the sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) embryos.

PubMed

Pinsino, Annalisa; Bergami, Elisa; Della Torre, Camilla; Vannuccini, Maria Luisa; Addis, Piero; Secci, Marco; Dawson, Kenneth A; Matranga, Valeria; Corsi, Ilaria

2017-03-01

Polystyrene nanoparticles have been shown to pose serious risk to marine organisms including sea urchin embryos based on their surface properties and consequently behaviour in natural sea water. The aim of this study is to investigate the toxicity pathways of amino polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NH 2 , 50 nm) in Paracentrotus lividus embryos in terms of development and signalling at both protein and gene levels. Two sub-lethal concentrations of 3 and 4 μg/mL of PS-NH 2 were used to expose sea urchin embryos in natural sea water (PS-NH 2 as aggregates of 143 ± 5 nm). At 24 and 48 h post-fertilisation (hpf) embryonic development was monitored and variations in the levels of key proteins involved in stress response and development (Hsp70, Hsp60, MnSOD, Phospho-p38 Mapk) as well as the modulation of target genes (Pl-Hsp70, Pl-Hsp60, Pl-Cytochrome b, Pl-p38 Mapk, Pl-Caspase 8, Pl-Univin) were measured. At 48 hpf various striking teratogenic effects were observed such as the occurrence of cells/masses randomly distributed, severe skeletal defects and delayed development. At 24 hpf a significant up-regulation of Pl-Hsp70, Pl-p38 Mapk, Pl-Univin and Pl-Cas8 genes was found, while at 48 hpf only for Pl-Univin was observed. Protein profile showed different patterns as a significant increase of Hsp70 and Hsp60 only after 48 hpf compared to controls. Conversely, P-p38 Mapk protein significantly increased at 24 hpf and decreased at 48 hpf. Our findings highlight that PS-NH 2 are able to disrupt sea urchin embryos development by modulating protein and gene profile providing new understandings into the signalling pathways involved.

PlGF/VEGFR-1 Signaling Promotes Macrophage Polarization and Accelerated Tumor Progression in Obesity.

PubMed

Incio, Joao; Tam, Josh; Rahbari, Nuh N; Suboj, Priya; McManus, Dan T; Chin, Shan M; Vardam, Trupti D; Batista, Ana; Babykutty, Suboj; Jung, Keehoon; Khachatryan, Anna; Hato, Tai; Ligibel, Jennifer A; Krop, Ian E; Puchner, Stefan B; Schlett, Christopher L; Hoffmman, Udo; Ancukiewicz, Marek; Shibuya, Masabumi; Carmeliet, Peter; Soares, Raquel; Duda, Dan G; Jain, Rakesh K; Fukumura, Dai

2016-06-15

Obesity promotes pancreatic and breast cancer progression via mechanisms that are poorly understood. Although obesity is associated with increased systemic levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), the role of PlGF in obesity-induced tumor progression is not known. PlGF and its receptor VEGFR-1 have been shown to modulate tumor angiogenesis and promote tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and activity. Here, we hypothesized that increased activity of PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling mediates obesity-induced tumor progression by augmenting tumor angiogenesis and TAM recruitment/activity. We established diet-induced obese mouse models of wild-type C57BL/6, VEGFR-1 tyrosine kinase (TK)-null, or PlGF-null mice, and evaluated the role of PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling in pancreatic and breast cancer mouse models and in human samples. We found that obesity increased TAM infiltration, tumor growth, and metastasis in pancreatic cancers, without affecting vessel density. Ablation of VEGFR-1 signaling prevented obesity-induced tumor progression and shifted the tumor immune environment toward an antitumor phenotype. Similar findings were observed in a breast cancer model. Obesity was associated with increased systemic PlGF, but not VEGF-A or VEGF-B, in pancreatic and breast cancer patients and in various mouse models of these cancers. Ablation of PlGF phenocopied the effects of VEGFR-1-TK deletion on tumors in obese mice. PlGF/VEGFR-1-TK deletion prevented weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet, but exacerbated hyperinsulinemia. Addition of metformin not only normalized insulin levels but also enhanced antitumor immunity. Targeting PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling reprograms the tumor immune microenvironment and inhibits obesity-induced acceleration of tumor progression. Clin Cancer Res; 22(12); 2993-3004. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

A clinical evaluation of placental growth factor in routine practice in high-risk women presenting with suspected pre-eclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction.

PubMed

Ormesher, L; Johnstone, E D; Shawkat, E; Dempsey, A; Chmiel, C; Ingram, E; Higgins, L E; Myers, J E

2018-03-13

To evaluate the use of plasma Placental Growth Factor (PlGF), recommended by the recent NICE guidance, in women with suspected pre-eclampsia (PE) and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR). Non-randomised prospective clinical evaluation study in high-risk antenatal clinics in a tertiary maternity unit. PlGF testing was performed in addition to routine clinical assessment in 260 women >20 weeks' gestation with chronic disease (hypertension, renal disease ± diabetes) with a change in maternal condition or in women with suspected FGR to determine the impact on clinical management. Results were revealed and standardised care pathways followed. Outcome of pregnancies with a low PlGF (<12 pg/ml and 13-100 pg/ml), impact on clinical service and the diagnostic accuracy of alternative PlGF cut-offs. 206/260 (79.2%) women had an adverse outcome (PE/birthweight < 10th centile/preterm birth). In our cohort, a low PlGF (<12 pg/ml) was associated with a shorter test-birth interval and universally (100% PPV) with an adverse pregnancy outcome, although 29/61 (47.5%) of women with PlGF < 12 pg/ml continued their pregnancy >14 days. The PlGF result altered clinical management (surveillance or timing of birth) in 196/260 (75.4%) cases. Alternative PlGF thresholds did not significantly improve diagnostic performance. Our evaluation confirms the value of PlGF as a diagnostic tool for placental dysfunction. However, low PlGF in isolation should not trigger iatrogenic delivery. Further research linking placental pathology, maternal disease and maternal PlGF levels is urgently needed before this test can be implemented in routine clinical practice. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Piperlongumine inhibits atherosclerotic plaque formation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by suppressing PDGF receptor signaling

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

Son, Dong Ju; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Kim, Soo Yeon

2012-10-19

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Anti-atherogenic effect of PL was examined using partial carotid ligation model in ApoE KO mice. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer PL prevented atherosclerotic plaque development, VSMCs proliferation, and NF-{kappa}B activation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Piperlongumine reduced vascular smooth muscle cell activation through PDGF-R{beta} and NF-{kappa}B-signaling. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer PL may serve as a new therapeutic molecule for atherosclerosis treatment. -- Abstract: Piperlongumine (piplartine, PL) is an alkaloid found in the long pepper (Piper longum L.) and has well-documented anti-platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties; however, the role of PL in prevention of atherosclerosis is unknown. We evaluated the anti-atherosclerotic potential of PL in an in vivo murinemore » model of accelerated atherosclerosis and defined its mechanism of action in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro. Local treatment with PL significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation as well as proliferation and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-{kappa}B) activation in an in vivo setting. PL treatment in VSMCs in vitro showed inhibition of migration and platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB)-induced proliferation to the in vivo findings. We further identified that PL inhibited PDGF-BB-induced PDGF receptor beta activation and suppressed downstream signaling molecules such as phospholipase C{gamma}1, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 and Akt. Lastly, PL significantly attenuated activation of NF-{kappa}B-a downstream transcriptional regulator in PDGF receptor signaling, in response to PDGF-BB stimulation. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate a novel, therapeutic mechanism by which PL suppresses atherosclerosis plaque formation in vivo.« less

Genetics and mapping of a novel downy mildew resistance gene, Pl(18), introgressed from wild Helianthus argophyllus into cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

PubMed

Qi, L L; Foley, M E; Cai, X W; Gulya, T J

2016-04-01

A novel downy mildew resistance gene, Pl(18), was introgressed from wild Helianthus argophyllus into cultivated sunflower and genetically mapped to linkage group 2 of the sunflower genome. The new germplasm, HA-DM1, carrying Pl(18) has been released to the public. Sunflower downy mildew (DM) is considered to be the most destructive foliar disease that has spread to every major sunflower-growing country of the world, except Australia. A new dominant downy mildew resistance gene (Pl 18) transferred from wild Helianthus argophyllus (PI 494573) into cultivated sunflower was mapped to linkage group (LG) 2 of the sunflower genome using bulked segregant analysis with 869 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Phenotyping 142 BC1F2:3 families derived from the cross of HA 89 and H. argophyllus confirmed the single gene inheritance of resistance. Since no other Pl gene has been mapped to LG2, this gene was novel and designated as Pl (18). SSR markers CRT214 and ORS203 flanked Pl(18) at a genetic distance of 1.1 and 0.4 cM, respectively. Forty-six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers that cover the Pl(18) region were surveyed for saturation mapping of the region. Six co-segregating SNP markers were 1.2 cM distal to Pl(18), and another four co-segregating SNP markers were 0.9 cM proximal to Pl(18). The new BC2F4-derived germplasm, HA-DM1, carrying Pl(18) has been released to the public. This new line is highly resistant to all Plasmopara halstedii races identified in the USA providing breeders with an effective new source of resistance against downy mildew in sunflower. The molecular markers that were developed will be especially useful in marker-assisted selection and pyramiding of Pl resistance genes because of their close proximity to the gene and the availability of high-throughput SNP detection assays.

Cardioprotective activity of placental growth factor combined with oral supplementation of l-arginine in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Luo, Liyun; Chen, Bairong; Huang, Yin; Liang, Zibin; Li, Songbiao; Yin, Yuelan; Chen, Jian; Wu, Wei

2016-01-01

Exogenous administration of placental growth factor (PlGF) stimulates angiogenesis and improves ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and supplementation with l-arginine ameliorates endothelial function. The objective of the present study was to compare the cardioprotective effects of combination therapy of PlGF and l-arginine with those of direct administration of PlGF alone in a rat model of AMI. Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group, normal saline group, l-arginine group, PlGF group, and combination group (PlGF + l-arginine). An AMI rat model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending of coronary arteries. After 4 weeks of postligation treatment, cardiac function, scar area, angiogenesis and arteriogenesis, myocardial endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and collagen I protein content, and plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were studied. Echocardiography, Masson's staining, immunohistochemical analyses, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS), and capillary and arteriole densities were higher in the PlGF group than in the normal saline group ( P <0.01). Scar area, collagen I protein content, and plasma concentration of BNP were decreased in the PlGF group ( P <0.01). Myocardial eNOS protein level was elevated in the l-arginine group and PlGF + l-arginine group ( P <0.01). Compared with the PlGF group, LVEF, LVFS, myocardial eNOS, and capillary and arteriole densities were higher in the combination group ( P <0.01). Scar area, content of collagen I protein, and plasma concentration of BNP were reduced in the combination group ( P <0.01). Exogenous administration of PlGF stimulates angiogenesis and improves cardiac function. l-arginine increases the expression of the eNOS protein. PlGF and l-arginine have a more pronounced, synergistic protective effect on myocardial protection compared with that of exogenous PlGF therapy alone.

Collisional Transfer of Population and Orientation in NaK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolfe, C. M.; Ashman, S.; Huennekens, J.; Beser, B.; Bai, J.; Lyyra, A. M.

2010-03-01

We report current work to study transfer of population and orientation in collisions of NaK molecules with argon and potassium atoms using polarization labeling (PL) and laser- induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. In the PL experiment, a circularly polarized pump laser excites a specific NaK A^1&+circ;(v'=16, J') <- X^1&+circ;(v''=0, J'±1) transition, creating an orientation (non-uniform MJ' level distribution) in both levels. The linearly polarized probe laser is scanned over various 3^1π(v, J'±1) <- A^1&+circ;(v'=16, J') transitions. The probe laser passes through a crossed linear polarizer before detection, and signal is recorded if the probe laser polarization has been modified by the vapor (which occurs when it comes into resonance with an oriented level). Using both spectroscopic methods, analysis of weak collisional satellite lines adjacent to these directly populated lines, as a function of argon buffer gas pressure and cell temperature, allows us to discern separately the effects collisions with argon atoms and potassium atoms have on the population and orientation of the molecule. In addition, code has been written which provides a theoretical analysis of the process, through a solution of the density matrix equations of motion for the system.

Spatial Resolution Versus Data Acquisition Efficiency in Mapping an Inhomogeneous System with Species Diffusion

DOE PAGES

Chen, Fengxiang; Zhang, Yong; Gfroerer, T. H.; ...

2015-06-02

Traditionally, spatially-resolved photoluminescence (PL) has been performed using a point-by-point scan mode with both excitation and detection occurring at the same spatial location. But with the availability of high quality detector arrays like CCDs, an imaging mode has become popular for performing spatially-resolved PL. By illuminating the entire area of interest and collecting the data simultaneously from all spatial locations, the measurement efficiency can be greatly improved. However, this new approach has proceeded under the implicit assumption of comparable spatial resolution. We show here that when carrier diffusion is present, the spatial resolution can actually differ substantially between the twomore » modes, with the less efficient scan mode being far superior. We apply both techniques in investigation of defects in a GaAs epilayer – where isolated singlet and doublet dislocations can be identified. A superposition principle is developed for solving the diffusion equation to extract the intrinsic carrier diffusion length, which can be applied to a system with arbitrarily distributed defects. The understanding derived from this work is significant for a broad range of problems in physics and beyond (for instance biology) – whenever the dynamics of generation, diffusion, and annihilation of species can be probed with either measurement mode.« less

Electrospun silk fibroin fibers for storage and controlled release of human platelet lysate.

PubMed

Pignatelli, Cataldo; Perotto, Giovanni; Nardini, Marta; Cancedda, Ranieri; Mastrogiacomo, Maddalena; Athanassiou, Athanassia

2018-04-17

Human platelet lysate (hPL) is a pool of growth factors and cytokines able to induce regeneration of different tissues. Despite its good potentiality as therapeutic tool for regenerative medicine applications, hPL has been only moderately exploited in this field. A more widespread adoption has been limited because of its rapid degradation at room temperature that decreases its functionality. Another limiting factor for its extensive use is the difficulty of handling the hPL gels. In this work, silk fibroin-based patches were developed to address several points: improving the handling of hPL, enabling their delivery in a controlled manner and facilitating their storage by creating a device ready to use with expanded shelf life. Patches of fibroin loaded with hPL were synthesized by electrospinning to take advantage of the fibrous morphology. The release kinetics of the material was characterized and tuned through the control of fibroin crystallinity. Cell viability assays, performed with primary human dermal fibroblasts, demonstrated that fibroin is able to preserve the hPL biological activity and prolong its shelf-life. The strategy of storing and preserving small active molecules within a naturally-derived, protein-based fibrous scaffold was successfully implemented, leading to the design of a biocompatible device, which can potentially simplify the storage and the application of the hPL on a human patient, undergoing medical procedures such as surgery and wound care. Human platelets lysate (hPL) is a mixture of growth factors and cytokines able to induce the regeneration of damaged tissues. This study aims at enclosing hPL in a silk fibroin electrospun matrix to expand its utilization. Silk fibroin showed the ability to preserve the hPL activity at temperature up to 60 °C and the manipulation of fibroin's crystallinity provided a tool to modulate the hPL release kinetic. This entails the possibility to fabricate the hPL silk fibroin patches in advance and store them, resulting in an easy and fast accessibility and an expanded use of hPL for wound healing. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Placenta-specific drug delivery by trophoblast-targeted nanoparticles in mice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Baozhen; Tan, Lunbo; Yu, Yan; Wang, Baobei; Chen, Zhilong; Han, Jinyu; Li, Mengxia; Chen, Jie; Xiao, Tianxia; Ambati, Balamurali K; Cai, Lintao; Yang, Qing; Nayak, Nihar R; Zhang, Jian; Fan, Xiujun

2018-01-01

Rationale: The availability of therapeutics to treat pregnancy complications is severely lacking, mainly due to the risk of harm to the fetus. In placental malaria, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) accumulate in the placenta by adhering to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) on the surfaces of trophoblasts. Based on this principle, we have developed a method for targeted delivery of payloads to the placenta using a synthetic placental CSA-binding peptide (plCSA-BP) derived from VAR2CSA, a CSA-binding protein expressed on IEs. Methods: A biotinylated plCSA-BP was used to examine the specificity of plCSA-BP binding to mouse and human placental tissue in tissue sections in vitro. Different nanoparticles, including plCSA-BP-conjugated nanoparticles loaded with indocyanine green (plCSA-INPs) or methotrexate (plCSA-MNPs), were administered intravenously to pregnant mice to test their efficiency at drug delivery to the placenta in vivo. The tissue distribution and localization of the plCSA-INPs were monitored in live animals using an IVIS imaging system. The effect of plCSA-MNPs on fetal and placental development and pregnancy outcome were examined using a small-animal high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) imaging system, and the concentrations of methotrexate in fetal and placental tissues were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: plCSA-BP binds specifically to trophoblasts and not to other cell types in the placenta or to CSA-expressing cells in other tissues. Moreover, we found that intravenously administered plCSA-INPs accumulate in the mouse placenta, and ex vivo analysis of the fetuses and placentas confirmed placenta-specific delivery of these nanoparticles. We also demonstrate successful delivery of methotrexate specifically to placental cells by plCSA-BP-conjugated nanoparticles, resulting in dramatic impairment of placental and fetal development. Importantly, plCSA-MNPs treatment had no apparent adverse effects on maternal tissues. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that plCSA-BP-guided nanoparticles could be used for the targeted delivery of payloads to the placenta and serve as a novel placenta-specific drug delivery option. PMID:29774074

Placental growth factor reduces blood pressure in a uteroplacental ischemia model of preeclampsia in non-human primates

PubMed Central

Makris, Angela; Yeung, Kristen R; Lim, Shirlene M; Sunderland, Neroli; Heffernan, Scott; Thompson, John F; Iliopoulos, Jim; Killingsworth, Murray C; Yong, Jim; Xu, Bei; Ogle, Robert F; Thadhani, Ravi; Karumanchi, S. Ananth; Hennessy, Annemarie

2016-01-01

An imbalance in the angiogenesis axis during pregnancy manifests as clinical preeclampsia due to endothelial dysfunction. Circulating sFLT-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) increases and PlGF (placental growth factor) reduces prior to and during disease. We investigated the clinical and biochemical effects of replenishing the reduced circulating PlGF with recombinant human PlGF (rhPlGF) and thus restoring the angiogenic balance. Hypertensive proteinuria was induced in a non-human primate (Papio hamadryas) by uterine artery ligation at 136 days gestation (of an 182 day pregnancy). Two weeks after uteroplacental ischemia (UPI), rhPlGF (rhPlGF, n=3) or normal saline (control, n=4) was administered by subcutaneous injection (100μg/kg/day) for 5 days. Blood pressure (BP) was monitored by intra-arterial radiotelemetry, sFLT-1 and PlGF by ELISA. UPI resulted in experimental preeclampsia evidenced by increased BP, proteinuria and endotheliosis on renal biopsy and elevated sFLT-1. PlGF significantly reduced after UPI. rhPlGF reduced SBP in the treated group (-5.2mmHg+0.8mmHg;from 132.6+6.6mmHg to 124.1+7.6mmHg) compared to an increase in SBP in controls (6.5mmHg+3mmHg; from 131.3+1.5mmHg to 138.6+1.5mmHg). Proteinuria reduced in the treated group (-72.7±55.7mg/mmol) but increased in the control group. Circulating sFLT-1 was not affected by the administration of PlGF, however a reduction in placental sFLT-1 mRNA expression was demonstrated. There was no significant difference in the weights or lengths of the neonates in the rhPlGF or control group, however, this study was not designed to assess fetal safety or outcomes. Increasing circulating PlGF by the administration of rhPlGF improves clinical parameters in a primate animal model of experimental preeclampsia. PMID:27091894

Placental Growth Factor Reduces Blood Pressure in a Uteroplacental Ischemia Model of Preeclampsia in Nonhuman Primates.

PubMed

Makris, Angela; Yeung, Kristen R; Lim, Shirlene M; Sunderland, Neroli; Heffernan, Scott; Thompson, John F; Iliopoulos, Jim; Killingsworth, Murray C; Yong, Jim; Xu, Bei; Ogle, Robert F; Thadhani, Ravi; Karumanchi, S Ananth; Hennessy, Annemarie

2016-06-01

An imbalance in the angiogenesis axis during pregnancy manifests as clinical preeclampsia because of endothelial dysfunction. Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1) increases and placental growth factor (PlGF) reduces before and during disease. We investigated the clinical and biochemical effects of replenishing the reduced circulating PlGF with recombinant human PlGF (rhPlGF) and thus restoring the angiogenic balance. Hypertensive proteinuria was induced in a nonhuman primate (Papio hamadryas) by uterine artery ligation at 136 days gestation (of a 182-day pregnancy). Two weeks after uteroplacental ischemia, rhPlGF (rhPlGF, n=3) or normal saline (control, n=4) was administered by subcutaneous injection (100 μg/kg per day) for 5 days. Blood pressure was monitored by intra-arterial radiotelemetry and sFLT-1 and PlGF by ELISA. Uteroplacental ischemia resulted in experimental preeclampsia evidenced by increased blood pressure, proteinuria, and endotheliosis on renal biopsy and elevated sFLT-1. PlGF significantly reduced after uteroplacental ischemia. rhPlGF reduced systolic blood pressure in the treated group (-5.2±0.8 mm Hg; from 132.6±6.6 mm Hg to 124.1±7.6 mm Hg) compared with an increase in systolic blood pressure in controls (6.5±3 mm Hg; from 131.3±1.5 mm Hg to 138.6±1.5 mm Hg). Proteinuria reduced in the treated group (-72.7±55.7 mg/mmol) but increased in the control group. Circulating levels of total sFLT-1 were not affected by the administration of PlGF; however, a reduction in placental sFLT-1 mRNA expression was demonstrated. There was no significant difference between the weights or lengths of the neonates in the rhPlGF or control group; however, this study was not designed to assess fetal safety or outcomes. Increasing circulating PlGF by the administration of rhPlGF improves clinical parameters in a primate animal model of experimental preeclampsia. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

Antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of ε-poly-L-lysine

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

Ye, Ruosong; Xu, Hengyi; Wan, Cuixiang

Highlights: •Antibacterial activity and mechanism of ε-PL against E. coli O157:H7 was investigated. •Critical inhibitory factors toward the growth of E. coli O157:H7 by ε-PL was analyzed. •Cell membrane integrity and cell morphology of E. coli O157:H7 was affected by ε-PL. •A positive correlation between reactive oxygen species levels and ε-PL concentration in E. coli O157:H7 cells. •ε-PL induced the expression of different genes related to oxidative/redox stress, SOS response, virulence. -- Abstract: ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) is widely used as an antibacterial agent because of its broad antimicrobial spectrum. However, the mechanism of ε-PL against pathogens at the molecular level hasmore » not been elucidated. This study investigated the antibacterial activity and mechanism of ε-PL against Escherichia coli O157:H7 CMCC44828. Propidium monoazide-PCR test results indicated that the threshold condition of ε-PL for complete membrane lysis of E. coli O157:H7 was 10 μg/mL (90% mortality for 5 μg/mL). Further verification of the destructive effect of ε-PL on cell structure was performed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Results showed a positive correlation between reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and ε-PL concentration in E. coli O157:H7 cells. Moreover, the mortality of E. coli O157:H7 was reduced when antioxidant N-acetylcysteine was added. Results from real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) indicated that the expression levels of oxidative stress genes sodA and oxyR were up-regulated 4- and 16-fold, respectively, whereas virulence genes eaeA and espA were down-regulated after ε-PL treatment. Expression of DNA damage response (SOS response) regulon genes recA and lexA were also affected by ε-PL. In conclusion, the antibacterial mechanism of ε-PL against E. coli O157:H7 may be attributed to disturbance on membrane integrity, oxidative stress by ROS, and effects on various gene expressions, such as regulation of oxidative stress, SOS response, and changes in virulence.« less

The effects of human platelet lysate on dental pulp stem cells derived from impacted human third molars.

PubMed

Chen, Bo; Sun, Hai-Hua; Wang, Han-Guo; Kong, Hui; Chen, Fa-Ming; Yu, Qing

2012-07-01

Human platelet lysate (PL) has been suggested as a substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in the large-scale expansion of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). However, the biological effects and the optimal concentrations of PL for the proliferation and differentiation of human DPSCs remain unexplored. We isolated and expanded stem cells from the dental pulp of extracted third molars and evaluated the effects of PL on the cells' proliferative capacity and differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. Before testing, immunocytochemical staining and flow cytometry-based cell sorting showed that the cells derived from human dental pulp contained mesenchymal stem cell populations. Cells were grown on tissue culture plastic or on hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) biomaterials and were incubated with either normal or odontogenic/osteogenic media in the presence or absence of various concentrations of human PL for further investigation. The proliferation of DPSCs was significantly increased when the cells were cultured in 5% PL under all testing conditions (P < 0.05). However, this enhancement was inconsistent when the cells were cultured in 1% PL or in 10% PL; 10% PL significantly inhibited cell proliferation and was therefore excluded from further differentiation testing. Culture medium containing 5% PL also significantly promoted the mineralized differentiation of DPSCs, as indicated by the measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition under mineral-conditioned media (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy and modified Ponceau trichrome staining showed that the cells treated with 5% PL and mineralizing media were highly capable of integrating with the HA/TCP biomaterials and had fully covered the surface of the scaffold with an extensive sheet-like structure 14 d after seeding. In addition, 5% PL showed significantly positive effects on tissue regeneration in two in vivo transplantation models. We conclude that the appropriate concentration of PL enhances the proliferation and mineralized differentiation of human DPSCs both in vitro and in vivo, which supports the use of PL as an alternative to FBS or a nonzoonotic adjuvant for cell culture in future clinical trials. However, the elucidation of the molecular complexity of PL products and the identification of both the essential growth factors that determine the fate of a specific stem cell and the criteria to establish dosing require further investigation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison between a new platelet count drop method PL-11, light transmission aggregometry, VerifyNow aspirin system and thromboelastography for monitoring short-term aspirin effects in healthy individuals.

PubMed

Guan, Jie; Cong, Yulong; Ren, Junwei; Zhu, Yuan; Li, Li; Deng, Xinli; Bai, Jie

2015-01-01

Platelet function has been described by many laboratory assays, and PL-11 is a new point-of-care platelet function analyzer based on platelet count drop method, which counts platelet before and after the addition of agonists in the citrated whole blood samples. The present study sought to compare PL-11 with other three major more established assays, light transmission aggregometry (LTA), VerifyNow™ aspirin system and thromboelastography (TEG), for monitoring the short-term aspirin responses in healthy individuals. Ten healthy young men took 100 mg/d aspirin for 3-day treatment. Platelet function was measured via PL-11, LTA, VerifyNow and TEG, respectively. The blood samples were collected at baseline, 2 hour, 1 day during the aspirin treatment and 1 day, 5 ± 1 days, 8 ± 1 days after the aspirin withdrawal. Moreover, 90 additional healthy subjects were recruited to establish a reference range for PL-11. Platelet function of healthy subjects decreased significantly 2 hours after 100 mg/d aspirin intake and began to recover during 4-6 days after the aspirin withdrawal. Correlations between methods were PL-11 vs. LTA (r = 0.614, p < 0.01); PL-11 vs. VerifyNow (r = 0.829, p < 0.01); PL-11 vs. TEG (r = 0.697, p < 0.001). There was no significant bias between PL-11 and LTA at baseline (bias = 1.94%, p = 0.804) using Bland-Altman analysis, while the data of PL-11 were significantly higher than LTA (bias = 24.02%, p < 0.001) during the aspirin therapy. The reference range for PL-11 in healthy young individuals was from 66.8 to 90.5% (95%CI). When aspirin low-responsiveness was defined as LTA > 20%, the cut-off values for each method were, respectively: PL-11 > 50%, VerifyNow > 533 ARU, TEG > 60.2%. The results of different platelet function assays were uninterchangeable for monitoring aspirin response and correlations among them were also varied. Correlations among PL-11 and other three major assays suggested the ability of PL-11 to assess the treatment effects of aspirin. But a large cohort study is needed to confirm the cut-off value of aspirin response detected by PL-11.

The effects of perfectionism on academic achievement in medical students.

PubMed

Kyeon, Yeong-Gi; Cho, Sung-Myeong; Hwang, Hwyeon-Guk; Lee, Kang-Uk

2010-09-01

The purpose of this study was to explore the differential effects of multi-dimensional perfectionism on academic achievement, depression, engagement, and burnout in medical students. Also, the mediating effects of engagement on perfectionism and academic achievement, as well as the effects of burnout on perfectionism and depression, were examined. Two hundred eight medical students participated, and 167 students completed questionnaires, including the Frost Multi-dimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), Hewitt & Flett Multi-dimensional Perfectionism Scale (HFMPS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Schaufeli Engagement Scale (SES), and Malslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). Academic achievement was measured as the grade point average (GPA) of the previous semester. Data were analyzed by correlation analyses, independent t-tests, and Structural Equation Model (SEM) for path analysis. Adaptive perfectionism (personal standard, self-oriented perfectionism) was associated with GPA (r=0.164, p<0.05; r=0.173, p<0.05) and engagement (r=0.394, p<0.01; r=0.449, p<0.01), and maladaptive perfectionism (parental criticism, concern over mistakes, socially prescribed perfectionism) was associated with depression (r=0.208, p<0.01; r=0.254, p<0.01; r=0.234, p<0.01) and burnout (r=0.218, p<0.01; r=0.236, p<0.01; r=0.280, p<0.01). Engagement had mediating effects on adaptive perfectionism and GPA, and burnout had mediating effects on maladaptive perfectionism and depression. Students who experienced academic failure had lower engagement than those who did not. This study demonstrates that academic achievement and emotional difficulties such as depression are determined by adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, respectively, in medical students.

Upscaling the Coupled Water and Heat Transport in the Shallow Subsurface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sviercoski, R. F.; Efendiev, Y.; Mohanty, B. P.

2018-02-01

Predicting simultaneous movement of liquid water, water vapor, and heat in the shallow subsurface has many practical interests. The demand for multidimensional multiscale models for this region is important given: (a) the critical role that these processes play in the global water and energy balances, (b) that more data from air-borne and space-borne sensors are becoming available for parameterizations of modeling efforts. On the other hand, numerical models that consider spatial variations of the soil properties, termed here as multiscale, are prohibitively expensive. Thus, there is a need for upscaled models that take into consideration these features, and be computationally affordable. In this paper, a multidimensional multiscale model coupling the water flow and heat transfer and its respective upscaled version are proposed. The formulation is novel as it describes the multidimensional and multiscale tensorial versions of the hydraulic conductivity and the vapor diffusivity, taking into account the tortuosity and porosity properties of the medium. It also includes the coupling with the energy balance equation as a boundary describing atmospheric influences at the shallow subsurface. To demonstrate the accuracy of both models, comparisons were made between simulation and field experiments for soil moisture and temperature at 2, 7, and 12 cm deep, during 11 days. The root-mean-square errors showed that the upscaled version of the system captured the multiscale features with similar accuracy. Given the good matching between simulated and field data for near-surface soil temperature, the results suggest that it can be regarded as a 1-D variable.

Global Langevin model of multidimensional biomolecular dynamics.

PubMed

Schaudinnus, Norbert; Lickert, Benjamin; Biswas, Mithun; Stock, Gerhard

2016-11-14

Molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecular processes are often discussed in terms of diffusive motion on a low-dimensional free energy landscape F(). To provide a theoretical basis for this interpretation, one may invoke the system-bath ansatz á la Zwanzig. That is, by assuming a time scale separation between the slow motion along the system coordinate x and the fast fluctuations of the bath, a memory-free Langevin equation can be derived that describes the system's motion on the free energy landscape F(), which is damped by a friction field and driven by a stochastic force that is related to the friction via the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. While the theoretical formulation of Zwanzig typically assumes a highly idealized form of the bath Hamiltonian and the system-bath coupling, one would like to extend the approach to realistic data-based biomolecular systems. Here a practical method is proposed to construct an analytically defined global model of structural dynamics. Given a molecular dynamics simulation and adequate collective coordinates, the approach employs an "empirical valence bond"-type model which is suitable to represent multidimensional free energy landscapes as well as an approximate description of the friction field. Adopting alanine dipeptide and a three-dimensional model of heptaalanine as simple examples, the resulting Langevin model is shown to reproduce the results of the underlying all-atom simulations. Because the Langevin equation can also be shown to satisfy the underlying assumptions of the theory (such as a delta-correlated Gaussian-distributed noise), the global model provides a correct, albeit empirical, realization of Zwanzig's formulation. As an application, the model can be used to investigate the dependence of the system on parameter changes and to predict the effect of site-selective mutations on the dynamics.

Assessing Psycho-social Barriers to Rehabilitation in Injured Workers with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Development and Item Properties of the Yellow Flag Questionnaire (YFQ).

PubMed

Salathé, Cornelia Rolli; Trippolini, Maurizio Alen; Terribilini, Livio Claudio; Oliveri, Michael; Elfering, Achim

2018-06-01

Purpose To develop a multidimensional scale to asses psychosocial beliefs-the Yellow Flag Questionnaire (YFQ)-aimed at guiding interventions for workers with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. Methods Phase 1 consisted of item selection based on literature search, item development and expert consensus rounds. In phase 2, items were reduced with calculating a quality-score per item, using structure equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis on data from 666 workers. In phase 3, Cronbach's α, and Pearson correlations coefficients were computed to compare YFQ with disability, anxiety, depression and self-efficacy and the YFQ score based on data from 253 injured workers. Regressions of YFQ total score on disability, anxiety, depression and self-efficacy were calculated. Results After phase 1, the YFQ included 116 items and 15 domains. Further reductions of items in phase 2 by applying the item quality criteria reduced the total to 48 items. Phase factor analysis with structural equation modeling confirmed 32 items in seven domains: activity, work, emotions, harm & blame, diagnosis beliefs, co-morbidity and control. Cronbach α was 0.91 for the total score, between 0.49 and 0.81 for the 7 distinct scores of each domain, respectively. Correlations between YFQ total score ranged with disability, anxiety, depression and self-efficacy was .58, .66, .73, -.51, respectively. After controlling for age and gender the YFQ total score explained between R2 27% and R2 53% variance of disability, anxiety, depression and self-efficacy. Conclusions The YFQ, a multidimensional screening scale is recommended for use to assess psychosocial beliefs of workers with chronic MSK pain. Further evaluation of the measurement properties such as the test-retest reliability, responsiveness and prognostic validity is warranted.

Revisiting the Fundamental Analytical Solutions of Heat and Mass Transfer: The Kernel of Multirate and Multidimensional Diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Quanlin; Oldenburg, Curtis M.; Rutqvist, Jonny; Birkholzer, Jens T.

2017-11-01

There are two types of analytical solutions of temperature/concentration in and heat/mass transfer through boundaries of regularly shaped 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D blocks. These infinite-series solutions with either error functions or exponentials exhibit highly irregular but complementary convergence at different dimensionless times, td. In this paper, approximate solutions were developed by combining the error-function-series solutions for early times and the exponential-series solutions for late times and by using time partitioning at the switchover time, td0. The combined solutions contain either the leading term of both series for normal-accuracy approximations (with less than 0.003 relative error) or the first two terms for high-accuracy approximations (with less than 10-7 relative error) for 1-D isotropic (spheres, cylinders, slabs) and 2-D/3-D rectangular blocks (squares, cubes, rectangles, and rectangular parallelepipeds). This rapid and uniform convergence for rectangular blocks was achieved by employing the same time partitioning with individual dimensionless times for different directions and the product of their combined 1-D slab solutions. The switchover dimensionless time was determined to minimize the maximum approximation errors. Furthermore, the analytical solutions of first-order heat/mass flux for 2-D/3-D rectangular blocks were derived for normal-accuracy approximations. These flux equations contain the early-time solution with a three-term polynomial in √td and the late-time solution with the limited-term exponentials for rectangular blocks. The heat/mass flux equations and the combined temperature/concentration solutions form the ultimate kernel for fast simulations of multirate and multidimensional heat/mass transfer in porous/fractured media with millions of low-permeability blocks of varying shapes and sizes.

Global Langevin model of multidimensional biomolecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaudinnus, Norbert; Lickert, Benjamin; Biswas, Mithun; Stock, Gerhard

2016-11-01

Molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecular processes are often discussed in terms of diffusive motion on a low-dimensional free energy landscape F ( 𝒙 ) . To provide a theoretical basis for this interpretation, one may invoke the system-bath ansatz á la Zwanzig. That is, by assuming a time scale separation between the slow motion along the system coordinate x and the fast fluctuations of the bath, a memory-free Langevin equation can be derived that describes the system's motion on the free energy landscape F ( 𝒙 ) , which is damped by a friction field and driven by a stochastic force that is related to the friction via the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. While the theoretical formulation of Zwanzig typically assumes a highly idealized form of the bath Hamiltonian and the system-bath coupling, one would like to extend the approach to realistic data-based biomolecular systems. Here a practical method is proposed to construct an analytically defined global model of structural dynamics. Given a molecular dynamics simulation and adequate collective coordinates, the approach employs an "empirical valence bond"-type model which is suitable to represent multidimensional free energy landscapes as well as an approximate description of the friction field. Adopting alanine dipeptide and a three-dimensional model of heptaalanine as simple examples, the resulting Langevin model is shown to reproduce the results of the underlying all-atom simulations. Because the Langevin equation can also be shown to satisfy the underlying assumptions of the theory (such as a delta-correlated Gaussian-distributed noise), the global model provides a correct, albeit empirical, realization of Zwanzig's formulation. As an application, the model can be used to investigate the dependence of the system on parameter changes and to predict the effect of site-selective mutations on the dynamics.

libmpdata++ 1.0: a library of parallel MPDATA solvers for systems of generalised transport equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaruga, A.; Arabas, S.; Jarecka, D.; Pawlowska, H.; Smolarkiewicz, P. K.; Waruszewski, M.

2015-04-01

This paper accompanies the first release of libmpdata++, a C++ library implementing the multi-dimensional positive-definite advection transport algorithm (MPDATA) on regular structured grid. The library offers basic numerical solvers for systems of generalised transport equations. The solvers are forward-in-time, conservative and non-linearly stable. The libmpdata++ library covers the basic second-order-accurate formulation of MPDATA, its third-order variant, the infinite-gauge option for variable-sign fields and a flux-corrected transport extension to guarantee non-oscillatory solutions. The library is equipped with a non-symmetric variational elliptic solver for implicit evaluation of pressure gradient terms. All solvers offer parallelisation through domain decomposition using shared-memory parallelisation. The paper describes the library programming interface, and serves as a user guide. Supported options are illustrated with benchmarks discussed in the MPDATA literature. Benchmark descriptions include code snippets as well as quantitative representations of simulation results. Examples of applications include homogeneous transport in one, two and three dimensions in Cartesian and spherical domains; a shallow-water system compared with analytical solution (originally derived for a 2-D case); and a buoyant convection problem in an incompressible Boussinesq fluid with interfacial instability. All the examples are implemented out of the library tree. Regardless of the differences in the problem dimensionality, right-hand-side terms, boundary conditions and parallelisation approach, all the examples use the same unmodified library, which is a key goal of libmpdata++ design. The design, based on the principle of separation of concerns, prioritises the user and developer productivity. The libmpdata++ library is implemented in C++, making use of the Blitz++ multi-dimensional array containers, and is released as free/libre and open-source software.

libmpdata++ 0.1: a library of parallel MPDATA solvers for systems of generalised transport equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaruga, A.; Arabas, S.; Jarecka, D.; Pawlowska, H.; Smolarkiewicz, P. K.; Waruszewski, M.

2014-11-01

This paper accompanies first release of libmpdata++, a C++ library implementing the Multidimensional Positive-Definite Advection Transport Algorithm (MPDATA). The library offers basic numerical solvers for systems of generalised transport equations. The solvers are forward-in-time, conservative and non-linearly stable. The libmpdata++ library covers the basic second-order-accurate formulation of MPDATA, its third-order variant, the infinite-gauge option for variable-sign fields and a flux-corrected transport extension to guarantee non-oscillatory solutions. The library is equipped with a non-symmetric variational elliptic solver for implicit evaluation of pressure gradient terms. All solvers offer parallelisation through domain decomposition using shared-memory parallelisation. The paper describes the library programming interface, and serves as a user guide. Supported options are illustrated with benchmarks discussed in the MPDATA literature. Benchmark descriptions include code snippets as well as quantitative representations of simulation results. Examples of applications include: homogeneous transport in one, two and three dimensions in Cartesian and spherical domains; shallow-water system compared with analytical solution (originally derived for a 2-D case); and a buoyant convection problem in an incompressible Boussinesq fluid with interfacial instability. All the examples are implemented out of the library tree. Regardless of the differences in the problem dimensionality, right-hand-side terms, boundary conditions and parallelisation approach, all the examples use the same unmodified library, which is a key goal of libmpdata++ design. The design, based on the principle of separation of concerns, prioritises the user and developer productivity. The libmpdata++ library is implemented in C++, making use of the Blitz++ multi-dimensional array containers, and is released as free/libre and open-source software.

Revisiting the Fundamental Analytical Solutions of Heat and Mass Transfer: The Kernel of Multirate and Multidimensional Diffusion

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

Zhou, Quanlin; Oldenburg, Curtis M.; Rutqvist, Jonny

There are two types of analytical solutions of temperature/concentration in and heat/mass transfer through boundaries of regularly shaped 1D, 2D, and 3D blocks. These infinite-series solutions with either error functions or exponentials exhibit highly irregular but complementary convergence at different dimensionless times, t d0. In this paper, approximate solutions were developed by combining the error-function-series solutions for early times and the exponential-series solutions for late times and by using time partitioning at the switchover time, t d0. The combined solutions contain either the leading term of both series for normal-accuracy approximations (with less than 0.003 relative error) or the firstmore » two terms for high-accuracy approximations (with less than 10-7 relative error) for 1D isotropic (spheres, cylinders, slabs) and 2D/3D rectangular blocks (squares, cubes, rectangles, and rectangular parallelepipeds). This rapid and uniform convergence for rectangular blocks was achieved by employing the same time partitioning with individual dimensionless times for different directions and the product of their combined 1D slab solutions. The switchover dimensionless time was determined to minimize the maximum approximation errors. Furthermore, the analytical solutions of first-order heat/mass flux for 2D/3D rectangular blocks were derived for normal-accuracy approximations. These flux equations contain the early-time solution with a three-term polynomial in √td and the late-time solution with the limited-term exponentials for rectangular blocks. The heat/mass flux equations and the combined temperature/concentration solutions form the ultimate kernel for fast simulations of multirate and multidimensional heat/mass transfer in porous/fractured media with millions of low-permeability blocks of varying shapes and sizes.« less

Revisiting the Fundamental Analytical Solutions of Heat and Mass Transfer: The Kernel of Multirate and Multidimensional Diffusion

DOE PAGES

Zhou, Quanlin; Oldenburg, Curtis M.; Rutqvist, Jonny; ...

2017-10-24

There are two types of analytical solutions of temperature/concentration in and heat/mass transfer through boundaries of regularly shaped 1D, 2D, and 3D blocks. These infinite-series solutions with either error functions or exponentials exhibit highly irregular but complementary convergence at different dimensionless times, t d0. In this paper, approximate solutions were developed by combining the error-function-series solutions for early times and the exponential-series solutions for late times and by using time partitioning at the switchover time, t d0. The combined solutions contain either the leading term of both series for normal-accuracy approximations (with less than 0.003 relative error) or the firstmore » two terms for high-accuracy approximations (with less than 10-7 relative error) for 1D isotropic (spheres, cylinders, slabs) and 2D/3D rectangular blocks (squares, cubes, rectangles, and rectangular parallelepipeds). This rapid and uniform convergence for rectangular blocks was achieved by employing the same time partitioning with individual dimensionless times for different directions and the product of their combined 1D slab solutions. The switchover dimensionless time was determined to minimize the maximum approximation errors. Furthermore, the analytical solutions of first-order heat/mass flux for 2D/3D rectangular blocks were derived for normal-accuracy approximations. These flux equations contain the early-time solution with a three-term polynomial in √td and the late-time solution with the limited-term exponentials for rectangular blocks. The heat/mass flux equations and the combined temperature/concentration solutions form the ultimate kernel for fast simulations of multirate and multidimensional heat/mass transfer in porous/fractured media with millions of low-permeability blocks of varying shapes and sizes.« less

Modeling weakly-ionized plasmas in magnetic field: A new computationally-efficient approach

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

Parent, Bernard, E-mail: parent@pusan.ac.kr; Macheret, Sergey O.; Shneider, Mikhail N.

2015-11-01

Despite its success at simulating accurately both non-neutral and quasi-neutral weakly-ionized plasmas, the drift-diffusion model has been observed to be a particularly stiff set of equations. Recently, it was demonstrated that the stiffness of the system could be relieved by rewriting the equations such that the potential is obtained from Ohm's law rather than Gauss's law while adding some source terms to the ion transport equation to ensure that Gauss's law is satisfied in non-neutral regions. Although the latter was applicable to multicomponent and multidimensional plasmas, it could not be used for plasmas in which the magnetic field was significant.more » This paper hence proposes a new computationally-efficient set of electron and ion transport equations that can be used not only for a plasma with multiple types of positive and negative ions, but also for a plasma in magnetic field. Because the proposed set of equations is obtained from the same physical model as the conventional drift-diffusion equations without introducing new assumptions or simplifications, it results in the same exact solution when the grid is refined sufficiently while being more computationally efficient: not only is the proposed approach considerably less stiff and hence requires fewer iterations to reach convergence but it yields a converged solution that exhibits a significantly higher resolution. The combined faster convergence and higher resolution is shown to result in a hundredfold increase in computational efficiency for some typical steady and unsteady plasma problems including non-neutral cathode and anode sheaths as well as quasi-neutral regions.« less

Using Microsensor Technology to Quantify Match Demands in Collegiate Women's Volleyball.

PubMed

Vlantes, Travis G; Readdy, Tucker

2017-12-01

Vlantes, TG and Readdy, T. Using microsensor technology to quantify match demands in collegiate women's volleyball. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3266-3278, 2017-The purpose of this study was to quantify internal and external load demands of women's NCAA Division I collegiate volleyball competitions using microsensor technology and session rating of perceived exertion (S-RPE). Eleven collegiate volleyball players wore microsensor technology (Optimeye S5; Catapult Sports, Chicago, IL, USA) during 15 matches played throughout the 2016 season. Parameters examined include player load (PL), high impact PL, percentage of HI PL, explosive efforts (EEs), and jumps. Session rating of perceived exertion was collected 20 minutes postmatch using a modified Borg scale. The relationship between internal and external load was explored, comparing S-RPE data with the microsensor metrics (PL, HI PL, % HI PL, EEs, and jumps). The setter had the greatest mean PL and highest number of jumps of all positions in a 5-1 system, playing all 6 rotations. Playing 4 sets yielded a mean PL increase of 25.1% over 3 sets, whereas playing 5 sets showed a 31.0% increase in PL. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) across all position groups when examining % HI PL and jumps. Cohen's d analysis revealed large (≥0.8) effect sizes for these differences. Defensive specialists recorded the greatest mean S-RPE values over all 15 matches (886 ± 384.6). Establishing positional load demands allows coaches, trainers, and strength and conditioning professionals to implement training programs for position-specific demands, creating consistent peak performance, and reducing injury risk.

Differentiation of Rat bone marrow Mesenchymal stem cells into Adipocytes and Cardiomyocytes after treatment with platelet lysate

PubMed Central

Homayouni Moghadam, Farshad; Tayebi, Tahereh; Barzegar, Kazem

2016-01-01

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotential cells and their therapeutic potency is under intense investigation. Studying the effect of different induction factors on MSCs could increase our knowledge about the differentiation potency of these cells. One of the most important sources of these factors in mammalian body is platelet. Platelet lysate (PL) contains many growth factors and therefore, it can be used as a differentiation inducer. In the present study, the effect of PL on differentiation of rat bone marrow MSCs into cardiomyocytes was studied. Materials and Methods: To study the differentiation-inducing effect of PL, MSCs were treated with 2.5, 5 and 10% PL. Early results of this study showed that PL in high concentrations (10%) induces adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Therefore, to evaluate differentiation to cardiomyocytes, MSCs were cultured in media containing lower levels of PL (2.5% and 5%) and then cardiomyogenic differentiation was induced by treatment with 5-azacytidine. Differentiation of MSCs was evaluated using direct observation of beating cells, immunostaining and real-time PCR techniques. Results: The results of qPCR showed that treatment with PL alone increased the expression of cardiac alpha actinin (CAA) being predictable by earlier observation of beating cells in PL-treated groups. The results of staining assays against cardiac alpha actinin also showed that there were stained cells in PL-treated groups. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that PL is a powerful induction factor for differentiation of MSCs into different cell lines such as cardiomyocytes and adipocytes. PMID:27047647

Effects of Inflorescence Stem Structure and Cell Wall Components on the Mechanical Strength of Inflorescence Stem in Herbaceous Peony

PubMed Central

Zhao, Daqiu; Han, Chenxia; Tao, Jun; Wang, Jing; Hao, Zhaojun; Geng, Qingping; Du, Bei

2012-01-01

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is a traditional famous flower, but its poor inflorescence stem quality seriously constrains the development of the cut flower. Mechanical strength is an important characteristic of stems, which not only affects plant lodging, but also plays an important role in stem bend or break. In this paper, the mechanical strength, morphological indices and microstructure of P. lactiflora development inflorescence stems were measured and observed. The results showed that the mechanical strength of inflorescence stems gradually increased, and that the diameter of inflorescence stem was a direct indicator in estimating mechanical strength. Simultaneously, with the development of inflorescence stem, the number of vascular bundles increased, the vascular bundle was arranged more densely, the sclerenchyma cell wall thickened, and the proportion of vascular bundle and pith also increased. On this basis, cellulose and lignin contents were determined, PlCesA3, PlCesA6 and PlCCoAOMT were isolated and their expression patterns were examined including PlPAL. The results showed that cellulose was not strictly correlated with the mechanical strength of inflorescence stem, and lignin had a significant impact on it. In addition, PlCesA3 and PlCesA6 were not key members in cellulose synthesis of P. lactiflora and their functions were also different, but PlPAL and PlCCoAOMT regulated the lignin synthesis of P. lactiflora. These data indicated that PlPAL and PlCCoAOMT could be applied to improve the mechanical strength of P. lactiflora inflorescence stem in genetic engineering. PMID:22606025

Enhancement of ε-poly-lysine production in ε-poly-lysine-tolerant Streptomyces sp. by genome shuffling.

PubMed

Zhou, Yong-Peng; Ren, Xi-Dong; Wang, Liang; Chen, Xu-Sheng; Mao, Zhong-Gui; Tang, Lei

2015-09-01

ε-Poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) has been widely used as food additive. However, the self-inhibition of ε-PL on cell growth limits the accumulation of ε-PL in the wild-type strain. Here, we screened ε-PL-tolerant strain of Streptomyces sp. with higher ε-PL productivity by genome shuffling and studied the mechanism for the improvement. The initial mutant library was constructed by diethyl sulfate mutagenesis. After four rounds of protoplast fusion, a shuffled strain F4-22 with 3.11 g/L ε-PL productivity in shake flask, 1.81-fold in comparison with that of parent strain, was obtained. The higher aspartokinase activity was induced in F4-22 whereas no obvious changes have been found in ε-PL synthetic and degrading enzymes which indicated that the upstream reregulation of the precursor lysine synthesis rather than lysine polymerization or ε-PL degradation in shuffled strain accounted for the higher productivity. The activities of key enzymes in the central metabolic pathway were also enhanced in F4-22 which resulted in increased vigor of the strain and in delayed strain lysis during fermentation. These improved properties of shuffled strain led to the success of combining general two-stage fermentation into one-stage one in 5-L bioreactor with 32.7 % more ε-PL production than that of parent strain. The strategy used in this study provided a novel strain breeding approach of producers which suffered from ε-PL-like self-inhibition of the metabolites.

Frequency of palmaris longus absence and its association with other anatomical variations in the Egyptian population.

PubMed

Raouf, Hoda Abdel; Kader, Ghada Abdel; Jaradat, Ahmed; Dharap, Amol; Fadel, Raouf; Salem, Abdel Halim

2013-07-01

The palmaris longus (PL) is one of the most variable muscles in the human body. Racial differences in its variation have been documented. Several studies have attempted to correlate PL absence with other anatomical variations. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of absence of PL, correlate it with gender and body side and to determine its association with other anatomical variations in the Egyptian population. The presence of PL was clinically determined in 386 Egyptians using the standard technique. All subjects were examined for the presence of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) to the fifth finger. Allen's test was done to assess the completeness of the superficial palmar arch (SPA). The overall prevalence of absence of the PL in Egyptian subjects was 50.8%. There was no significant difference in PL absence with regard to the body side but a significant difference was seen as regards gender and when bilateral absence of PL was compared to its unilateral absence. Absence of FDS tendon to the fifth finger was seen in 1.3% subjects. There was no association between the absence of the FDS tendon to the fifth finger and either presence or absence of PL and also between the absence of PL and the incompleteness of SPA in both genders. In conclusion, the prevalence of absence of PL in the Egyptian population represents one of the highest rates of absence to be reported for this muscle, which is significantly different from that in other ethnic groups. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of inflorescence stem structure and cell wall components on the mechanical strength of inflorescence stem in herbaceous peony.

PubMed

Zhao, Daqiu; Han, Chenxia; Tao, Jun; Wang, Jing; Hao, Zhaojun; Geng, Qingping; Du, Bei

2012-01-01

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is a traditional famous flower, but its poor inflorescence stem quality seriously constrains the development of the cut flower. Mechanical strength is an important characteristic of stems, which not only affects plant lodging, but also plays an important role in stem bend or break. In this paper, the mechanical strength, morphological indices and microstructure of P. lactiflora development inflorescence stems were measured and observed. The results showed that the mechanical strength of inflorescence stems gradually increased, and that the diameter of inflorescence stem was a direct indicator in estimating mechanical strength. Simultaneously, with the development of inflorescence stem, the number of vascular bundles increased, the vascular bundle was arranged more densely, the sclerenchyma cell wall thickened, and the proportion of vascular bundle and pith also increased. On this basis, cellulose and lignin contents were determined, PlCesA3, PlCesA6 and PlCCoAOMT were isolated and their expression patterns were examined including PlPAL. The results showed that cellulose was not strictly correlated with the mechanical strength of inflorescence stem, and lignin had a significant impact on it. In addition, PlCesA3 and PlCesA6 were not key members in cellulose synthesis of P. lactiflora and their functions were also different, but PlPAL and PlCCoAOMT regulated the lignin synthesis of P. lactiflora. These data indicated that PlPAL and PlCCoAOMT could be applied to improve the mechanical strength of P. lactiflora inflorescence stem in genetic engineering.

Cognitive dysfunction in antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-negative systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) versus aPL-positive non-SLE patients.

PubMed

Kozora, Elizabeth; Erkan, Doruk; Zhang, Lening; Zimmerman, Robert; Ramon, Glendalee; Ulug, Aziz M; Lockshin, Michael D

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive function of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-negative systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and aPL-positive non-SLE patients. Twenty aPL-negative SLE and 20 aPL-positive non-SLE female patients with no history of overt neuropsychiatric manifestations took standardised cognitive tests of learning and memory, attention and working memory, executive functions, verbal fluency, visuoconstruction, and motor function. The primary outcome measure was an established global cognitive impairment index (CII). Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was also obtained on all patients. Twelve of 20 (60%) of the SLE and 8/20 (40%) of the aPL-positive patients had global cognitive impairment on CII; there were no group differences on CII or on individual measures. Cognitive impairment was not associated with duration of disease, level of disease activity, or prednisone use. No correlations were found between clinical disease factors and cognitive impairment, and neither group showed an association between incidental or major MRI abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction. Both aPL-negative SLE and aPL-positive non-SLE patients, without other overt neuropsychiatric disease, demonstrated high levels of cognitive impairment. No clinical, serologic, or radiologic characteristics were associated with cognitive impairment. Cognitive dysfunction is common in APS and in SLE, but its mechanisms remain unknown.

The effect of Platelet Lysate on osteoblast proliferation associated with a transient increase of the inflammatory response in bone regeneration.

PubMed

Ruggiu, Alessandra; Ulivi, Valentina; Sanguineti, Francesca; Cancedda, Ranieri; Descalzi, Fiorella

2013-12-01

Platelet Lysate (PL) contains a cocktail of growth factors and cytokines, which actively participates in tissue repair and its clinical application has been broadly described. The aim of this study was to assess the regenerative potential of PL for bone repair. We demonstrated that PL stimulation induces a transient increase of the inflammatory response in quiescent human osteoblasts, via NF-kB activation, COX-2 induction, PGE2 production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we showed that long-term PL stimulation enhances proliferation of actively replicating osteoblasts, without affecting their differentiation potential, along with changes of cell morphology, resulting in increased cell density at confluence. In confluent resting osteoblasts, PL treatment induced resumption of proliferation, change in cell morphology and increase of cell density at confluence. A burst of PL treatment (24-h) was sufficient to trigger such processes in both conditions. These results correlated with up-regulation of the proliferative and survival pathways ERKs and Akt and with cell cycle re-activation via induction of CyclinD1 and phosphorylation of Rb, following PL stimulation. Our findings demonstrate that PL treatment results in activation and expansion of resting osteoblasts, without affecting their differentiation potential. Therefore PL represents a good therapeutic candidate in regenerative medicine for bone repair. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid in the paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid of children.

PubMed

Akiyama, Tomoyuki; Hayashi, Yumiko; Hanaoka, Yoshiyuki; Shibata, Takashi; Akiyama, Mari; Tsuchiya, Hiroki; Yamaguchi, Tokito; Kobayashi, Katsuhiro

2017-09-01

We quantified pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal (PL), and 4-pyridoxic acid (PA) in paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from children and investigated the effect of age on the concentrations and CSF-to-serum ratios of these vitamers. Serum and CSF samples prospectively collected from 49 pediatric patients were analyzed. PLP, PL, and PA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, using pre-column derivatization by semicarbazide. Effects of age on these vitamers, the PLP-to-PL ratio, CSF-to-serum PLP ratio, and CSF-to-serum PL ratio were evaluated using correlation analysis. The PLP, PL, and PA concentrations in the serum and CSF were higher at younger ages, except for CSF PA concentrations that were mostly below the limit of detection (<1.2nmol/l). The PLP-to-PL ratios in the serum and CSF correlated positively with age. The CSF-to-serum PLP ratio and CSF-to-serum PL ratio were independent of age. Age-related changes in PLP, PL, and PA in serum and in CSF from pediatric patients and CSF-to-serum ratios of PLP and PL demonstrated in this study will provide valuable information for evaluating PLP supply to the central nervous system from the peripheral blood. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Elevated levels of placental growth factor represent an adaptive host response in sepsis.

PubMed

Yano, Kiichiro; Okada, Yoshiaki; Beldi, Guido; Shih, Shou-Ching; Bodyak, Natalya; Okada, Hitomi; Kang, Peter M; Luscinskas, William; Robson, Simon C; Carmeliet, Peter; Karumanchi, S Ananth; Aird, William C

2008-10-27

Recently, we demonstrated that circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF) are increased in sepsis (Yano, K., P.C. Liaw, J.M. Mullington, S.C. Shih, H. Okada, N. Bodyak, P.M. Kang, L. Toltl, B. Belikoff, J. Buras, et al. 2006. J. Exp. Med. 203:1447-1458). Moreover, enhanced VEGF/Flk-1 signaling was shown to contribute to sepsis morbidity and mortality. We tested the hypothesis that PlGF also contributes to sepsis outcome. In mouse models of endotoxemia and cecal ligation puncture, the genetic absence of PlGF or the systemic administration of neutralizing anti-PlGF antibodies resulted in higher mortality compared with wild-type or immunoglobulin G-injected controls, respectively. The increased mortality associated with genetic deficiency of PlGF was reversed by adenovirus (Ad)-mediated overexpression of PlGF. In the endotoxemia model, PlGF deficiency was associated with elevated circulating levels of VEGF, induction of VEGF expression in the liver, impaired cardiac function, and organ-specific accentuation of barrier dysfunction and inflammation. Mortality of endotoxemic PlGF-deficient mice was increased by Ad-mediated overexpression of VEGF and was blocked by expression of soluble Flt-1. Collectively, these data suggest that up-regulation of PlGF in sepsis is an adaptive host response that exerts its benefit, at least in part, by attenuating VEGF signaling.

Human placental lactogen mRNA and its structural genes during pregnancy: quantitation with a complementary DNA.

PubMed Central

McWilliams, D; Callahan, R C; Boime, I

1977-01-01

A complementary DNA (cDNA) strand was transcribed from human placental lactogen (hPL) mRNA. Based on alkaline sucrose gradient centrifugation, the size of the cDNA was about 8 S, which would represent at least 80% of the hPL mRNA. Previously we showed that four to five times more hPL was synthesized in cell-free extracts derived from term as compared to first trimester placentas. Hybridization of the cDNA with RNA derived from placental tissue revealed that there was about four times more hPL mRNA sequences in total RNA from term placenta than in a comparable quantity of total first trimester RNA. Only background hybridization was observed when the cDNA was incubated with RNA prepared from human kidney. To test if this differential accumulation of hPL mRNA was the result of an amplification of hPL genes, we hybridized the labeled cDNA with cellular DNA from first trimester and term placentas and with DNA isolated from human brain. In all cases, the amount of hPL sequences was approximately two copies per haploid genome. Thus, the enhanced synthesis of hPL mRNA appears to result from a transcriptional activation rather than an amplification of the hPL gene. The increase likely reflects placental differentiation in which the proportion of syncytial trophoblast increases at term. Images PMID:66681

Release of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Poultry Litter Amended with Acidified Biochar

PubMed Central

Doydora, Sarah A.; Cabrera, Miguel L.; Das, Keshav C.; Gaskin, Julia W.; Sonon, Leticia S.; Miller, William P.

2011-01-01

Application of poultry litter (PL) to soil may lead to nitrogen (N) losses through ammonia (NH3) volatilization and to potential contamination of surface runoff with PL-derived phosphorus (P). Amending litter with acidified biochar may minimize these problems by decreasing litter pH and by retaining litter-derived P, respectively. This study evaluated the effect of acidified biochars from pine chips (PC) and peanut hulls (PH) on NH3 losses and inorganic N and P released from surface-applied or incorporated PL. Poultry litter with or without acidified biochars was surface-applied or incorporated into the soil and incubated for 21 d. Volatilized NH3 was determined by trapping it in acid. Inorganic N and P were determined by leaching the soil with 0.01 M of CaCl2 during the study and by extracting it with 1 M KCl after incubation. Acidified biochars reduced NH3 losses by 58 to 63% with surface-applied PL, and by 56 to 60% with incorporated PL. Except for PH biochar, which caused a small increase in leached NH4 +-N with incorporated PL, acidified biochars had no effect on leached or KCl-extractable inorganic N and P from surface-applied or incorporated PL. These results suggest that acidified biochars may decrease NH3 losses from PL but may not reduce the potential for P loss in surface runoff from soils receiving PL. PMID:21655132

Ways of Seeing the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): What Contribution Can Such Practices Make to Social Inclusion?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Judy

1999-01-01

Describes four models of recognition of prior learning (PL): (1) procrustean--PL is made to match predetermined standards; (2) learning and development--PL approximates implicit academic standards; (3) radical--subjective knowledge is recognized as an alternative to dominant forms; and (4) Trojan-horse--PL is seen as socially constructed and…

Floral adaptation and diversification under pollen limitation

PubMed Central

Harder, Lawrence D.; Aizen, Marcelo A.

2010-01-01

Pollen limitation (PL) of seed production creates unique conditions for reproductive adaptation by angiosperms, in part because, unlike under ovule or resource limitation, floral interactions with pollen vectors can contribute to variation in female success. Although the ecological and conservation consequences of PL have received considerable attention in recent times, its evolutionary implications are poorly appreciated. To identify general influences of PL on reproductive adaptation compared with those under other seed-production limits and their implications for evolution in altered environments, we derive a model that incorporates pollination and post-pollination aspects of PL. Because PL always favours increased ovule fertilization, even when population dynamics are not seed limited, it should pervasively influence selection on reproductive traits. Significantly, under PL the intensity of inbreeding does not determine whether outcrossing or autonomous selfing can evolve, although it can affect which response is most likely. Because the causes of PL are multifaceted in both natural and anthropogenically altered environments, the possible outcrossing solutions are diverse and context dependent, which may contribute to the extensive variety of angiosperm reproductive characteristics. Finally, the increased adaptive options available under PL may be responsible for positive global associations between it and angiosperm diversity. PMID:20047878

Adsorption of trace elements from poultry litter by montmorillonite clay.

PubMed

Subramanian, Bhaskaran; Gupta, Gian

2006-01-16

Poultry litter (PL) is used as fertilizer on agricultural lands because of its high nutrient content. However, the litter also contains trace elements such as As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. On land application of PL, these trace elements may be absorbed by crops, leach into groundwater, or enter the aquatic system as run-off. The objective of this research was to study the effect of the addition of montmorillonite clay-mineral (CM) in reducing the release of trace elements from PL. Cd, Cu, and Zn showed significant decreases of 29, 34, and 22%, respectively, in PL aqueous leachate (compared with the control-PL without CM) on mixing with 0.05 g CM but no change in As, Co, and Cr concentrations was observed. Lead showed a significant increase in PL aqueous leachate on mixing with 0.2 g CM but Pb concentration was two orders of magnitude less than in CM aqueous leachate alone. On washing, the settled precipitate (PL+CM) in the centrifuge tubes with water (desorption study) most of the adsorbed metals (Cd 85%, Cu 61%, and Zn 100%) were released. The results of this study show that the addition of CM resulted in significant adsorption of Cd and Cu from PL.

[Enhanced ε-poly-L-lysine production through pH regulation and organic nitrogen addition in fed-batch fermentation].

PubMed

Sun, Qixing; Chen, Xusheng; Ren, Xidong; Zheng, Gencheng; Mao, Zhonggui

2015-05-01

During the production of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) in fed-batch fermentation, the decline of ε-PL synthesis often occurs at middle or late phase of the fermentation. To solve the problem, we adopted two strategies, namely pH shift and feeding yeast extract, to improve the productivity of ε-PL. ε-PL productivity in fermentation by pH shift and feeding yeast extract achieved 4.62 g/(L x d) and 5.16 g/(L x d), which were increased by 27.3% and 42.2% compared with the control ε-PL fed-batch fermentation, respectively. Meanwhile, ε-PL production enhanced 36.95 g/L and 41.32 g/L in 192 h with these two strategies, increased by 27.4% and 42.48% compared to the control, respectively. ε-PL production could be improved at middle or late phase of fed-batch fermentation by pH shift or feeding yeast extract.

Synergistic Antibacterial Effect of the Combination of ε-Polylysine and Nisin against Enterococcus faecalis.

PubMed

Liu, Fang; Liu, Mei; Du, Lihui; Wang, Daoying; Geng, Zhiming; Zhang, Muhan; Sun, Chong; Xu, Xiaoxi; Zhu, Yongzhi; Xu, Weimin

2015-12-01

This study evaluated the antibacterial effect of the combination of ε-polylysine (ε-PL) and nisin against Enterococcus faecalis strains. The combination of ε-PL and nisin showed synergistic antibacterial activity against three Enterococcus strains. Scanning electron microscopy and a membrane permeability assay revealed that the combined treatment with ε-PL and nisin synergistically damaged the cell morphology of E. faecalis strain R612Z1 cells. Both ε-PL and nisin can dissipate the transmembrane electric potential of E. faecalis R612Z1 cells, but these peptides did not affect the transmembrane pH gradient. The combination of ε-PL and nisin can produce a high reactive oxygen species level in E. faecalis R612Z1 cells. The results indicated that the uptake of ε-PL into cells was promoted through nisin and that the combination of ε-PL and nisin could produce a high reactive oxygen species level in E. faecalis R612Z1 cells, leading to cell growth inhibition.

Enhancement of photoluminescence from nanocrystal β-FeSi2/SiO2 composite and relaxation of thermal quenching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maeda, Yoshihito

2017-05-01

We have investigated the thermal quenching behavior of photoluminescence (PL) from β-FeSi2 (β-NC) embedded in Si (β-NC/Si) and SiO2 (β-NC/SiO2). The β-NC/SiO2 composite was prepared directly from the β-NC/Si composite by selective oxidation. In the β-NC/SiO2 composite, we found an increase in the critical temperature, which indicates the relaxation of thermal quenching for PL intensity. Furthermore, we observed a clear PL spectrum including the intrinsic A band PL at 300 K; however, the PL intensity was extremely low. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and photocarrier injection PL (PCI-PL) measurements revealed the reason why the β-NC/Si composites were maintained after oxidation. We discussed the thermal quenching behavior of both samples on the basis of a thermal activation model of holes from valence band wells at the heterointerface and confirmed that this model was appropriate for understanding the thermal quenching of these composites.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a surrogate marker in preeclamptic hypertension.

PubMed

Teixeira, Patrícia Gonçalves; Cabral, Antônio Carlos Vieira; Andrade, Silvia Passos; Reis, Zilma Silveira Nogueira; da Cruz, Lívia Pieroni Barroso; Pereira, Jacqueline Braga; Martins, Breno Oliveira de Barcelos; Rezende, Cezar Alencar de Lima

2008-01-01

To evaluate plasma levels of angiogenic factors and their association with preeclampsia. Twenty-three women with preeclampsia and nine normotensive pregnant women from the Maternity of Hospital das Clínicas of Belo Horizonte/MG-Brazil were assessed by National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group Creteria (NHBPEPWG). The plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Placental growth factor (PlGF) were determined by ELISA assay. Plasma concentration of PlGF was 12-fold lower in preeclampsia versus non preeclampsia pregnancies. An inverse correlation was observed between PlGF plasma levels and mean arterial pressure (MAP); a decrease in 1pg/mL of PlGF resulted in 6.18 mm Hg increase in MAP. These results indicate that PlGF is related to MAP in pregnant women.

A parameterization of the passive layer of a quasigeostrophic flow in a continuously-stratified ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benilov, E. S.

2018-05-01

This paper examines quasigeostrophic flows in an ocean that can be subdivided into an upper active layer (AL) and a lower passive layer (PL), with the flow and density stratification mainly confined to the former. Under this assumption, an asymptotic model is derived parameterizing the effect of the PL on the AL. The model depends only on the PL's depth, whereas its Väisälä-Brunt frequency turns out to be unimportant (as long as it is small). Under an additional assumption-that the potential vorticity field in the PL is well-diffused and, thus, uniform-the derived model reduces to a simple boundary condition. This condition is to be applied at the AL/PL interface, after which the PL can be excluded from consideration.

Placenta growth factor not vascular endothelial growth factor A or C can predict the early recurrence after radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

PubMed

Ho, Ming-Chih; Chen, Chiung-Nien; Lee, Hsinyu; Hsieh, Fon-Jou; Shun, Chia-Tung; Chang, Chi-Lun; Lai, Yeun-Tyng; Lee, Po-Huang

2007-06-08

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the expression of PlGF in tumor tissue and clinical outcomes in HCC patients. Tumor PlGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF-C mRNA were analyzed. Results demonstrated that patients with PlGF expression levels higher than median tended to have early recurrence compared to patients with PlGF expression lower than median (P=.031). In patients with AJCC stage II-III disease, this difference was even more significant (P=.002). In contrast, VEGF-A and VEGF-C could not predict early recurrence-free survival. Since PlGF expression correlated with early recurrence of HCC, PlGF may be an important prognostic indicator in HCC.

CXCR4-antagonist Peptide R-liposomes for combined therapy against lung metastasis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ieranò, Caterina; Portella, Luigi; Lusa, Sara; Salzano, Giuseppina; D'Alterio, Crescenzo; Napolitano, Maria; Buoncervello, Maria; Macchia, Daniele; Spada, Massimo; Barbieri, Antonio; Luciano, Antonio; Barone, Maria Vittoria; Gabriele, Lucia; Caraglia, Michele; Arra, Claudio; De Rosa, Giuseppe; Scala, Stefania

2016-03-01

The chemokine CXCL12 activates CXCR4, initiating multiple pathways that control immune cell trafficking, angiogenesis and embryogenesis; CXCR4 is also overexpressed in multiple tumors affecting metastatic dissemination. While there has been great enthusiasm for exploiting the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis as a target in cancer therapy, to date the promise has yet to be fulfilled. A new class of CXCR4-antagonist cyclic peptides was recently developed and the compound named Peptide R was identified as the most active. With the intent to improve the efficacy and biodistribution of Peptide R, stealth liposomes decorated with Peptide R were developed (PL-Peptide R). In vitro PL-Peptide R efficiently inhibited CXCR4-dependent migration and in vivo it significantly reduced lung metastases and increased overall survival in B16-CXCR4 injected C57BL/6 mice. To evaluate if PL-Peptide R could also be a drug delivery system for CXCR4 expressing tumors, the PL-Peptide R was loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) (PL-Peptide R-DOX). PL-Peptide R-DOX efficiently delivered DOX to CXCR4 expressing cell lines with a consequent decrease in the DOX IC50 efficient dose. In vivo, B16-CXCR4 injected C57BL/6 mice treated with PL-Peptide R-DOX developed fewer lung metastases compared to PL-DOX treated mice. This work provides the proof-of-concept to prevent metastasis by using combined nanomedicine.The chemokine CXCL12 activates CXCR4, initiating multiple pathways that control immune cell trafficking, angiogenesis and embryogenesis; CXCR4 is also overexpressed in multiple tumors affecting metastatic dissemination. While there has been great enthusiasm for exploiting the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis as a target in cancer therapy, to date the promise has yet to be fulfilled. A new class of CXCR4-antagonist cyclic peptides was recently developed and the compound named Peptide R was identified as the most active. With the intent to improve the efficacy and biodistribution of Peptide R, stealth liposomes decorated with Peptide R were developed (PL-Peptide R). In vitro PL-Peptide R efficiently inhibited CXCR4-dependent migration and in vivo it significantly reduced lung metastases and increased overall survival in B16-CXCR4 injected C57BL/6 mice. To evaluate if PL-Peptide R could also be a drug delivery system for CXCR4 expressing tumors, the PL-Peptide R was loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) (PL-Peptide R-DOX). PL-Peptide R-DOX efficiently delivered DOX to CXCR4 expressing cell lines with a consequent decrease in the DOX IC50 efficient dose. In vivo, B16-CXCR4 injected C57BL/6 mice treated with PL-Peptide R-DOX developed fewer lung metastases compared to PL-DOX treated mice. This work provides the proof-of-concept to prevent metastasis by using combined nanomedicine. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06335c

A high-order relativistic two-fluid electrodynamic scheme with consistent reconstruction of electromagnetic fields and a multidimensional Riemann solver for electromagnetism

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

Balsara, Dinshaw S., E-mail: dbalsara@nd.edu; Amano, Takanobu, E-mail: amano@eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp; Garain, Sudip, E-mail: sgarain@nd.edu

In various astrophysics settings it is common to have a two-fluid relativistic plasma that interacts with the electromagnetic field. While it is common to ignore the displacement current in the ideal, classical magnetohydrodynamic limit, when the flows become relativistic this approximation is less than absolutely well-justified. In such a situation, it is more natural to consider a positively charged fluid made up of positrons or protons interacting with a negatively charged fluid made up of electrons. The two fluids interact collectively with the full set of Maxwell's equations. As a result, a solution strategy for that coupled system of equationsmore » is sought and found here. Our strategy extends to higher orders, providing increasing accuracy. The primary variables in the Maxwell solver are taken to be the facially-collocated components of the electric and magnetic fields. Consistent with such a collocation, three important innovations are reported here. The first two pertain to the Maxwell solver. In our first innovation, the magnetic field within each zone is reconstructed in a divergence-free fashion while the electric field within each zone is reconstructed in a form that is consistent with Gauss' law. In our second innovation, a multidimensionally upwinded strategy is presented which ensures that the magnetic field can be updated via a discrete interpretation of Faraday's law and the electric field can be updated via a discrete interpretation of the generalized Ampere's law. This multidimensional upwinding is achieved via a multidimensional Riemann solver. The multidimensional Riemann solver automatically provides edge-centered electric field components for the Stokes law-based update of the magnetic field. It also provides edge-centered magnetic field components for the Stokes law-based update of the electric field. The update strategy ensures that the electric field is always consistent with Gauss' law and the magnetic field is always divergence-free. This collocation also ensures that electromagnetic radiation that is propagating in a vacuum has both electric and magnetic fields that are exactly divergence-free. Coupled relativistic fluid dynamic equations are solved for the positively and negatively charged fluids. The fluids' numerical fluxes also provide a self-consistent current density for the update of the electric field. Our reconstruction strategy ensures that fluid velocities always remain sub-luminal. Our third innovation consists of an efficient design for several popular IMEX schemes so that they provide strong coupling between the finite-volume-based fluid solver and the electromagnetic fields at high order. This innovation makes it possible to efficiently utilize high order IMEX time update methods for stiff source terms in the update of high order finite-volume methods for hyperbolic conservation laws. We also show that this very general innovation should extend seamlessly to Runge–Kutta discontinuous Galerkin methods. The IMEX schemes enable us to use large CFL numbers even in the presence of stiff source terms. Several accuracy analyses are presented showing that our method meets its design accuracy in the MHD limit as well as in the limit of electromagnetic wave propagation. Several stringent test problems are also presented. We also present a relativistic version of the GEM problem, which shows that our algorithm can successfully adapt to challenging problems in high energy astrophysics.« less

Gordan—Capelli series in superalgebras

PubMed Central

Brini, Andrea; Palareti, Aldopaolo; Teolis, Antonio G. B.

1988-01-01

We derive two Gordan—Capelli series for the supersymmetric algebra of the tensor product of two [unk]2-graded [unk]-vector spaces U and V, being [unk] a field of characteristic zero. These expansions yield complete decompositions of the supersymmetric algebra regarded as a pl(U)- and a pl(V)- module, where pl(U) and pl(V) are the general linear Lie superalgebras of U and V, respectively. PMID:16593911

77 FR 74528 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-14

... Equities Rule 7.31(h)(7) To Permit PL Select Orders To Interact With Incoming Orders Larger Than the Size of the PL Select Order December 7, 2012. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \\1\\ of the Securities Exchange... permit PL Select Orders to interact with incoming orders larger than the size of the PL Select Order. The...

The Role of a Platelet Lysate-Based Compartmentalized System as a Carrier of Cells and Platelet-Origin Cytokines for Periodontal Tissue Regeneration.

PubMed

Babo, Pedro S; Cai, Xinjie; Plachokova, Adelina S; Reis, Rui L; Jansen, John A; Gomes, Manuela E; Walboomers, X Frank

2016-10-01

Currently available clinical therapies are not capable to regenerate tissues that are lost by periodontitis. Tissue engineering can be applied as a strategy to regenerate reliably the tissues and function of damaged periodontium. A prerequisite for this regeneration is the colonization of the defect with the adequate cell populations. In this study, we proposed a bilayered system composed of (1) a platelet lysate (PL)-based construct produced by crosslinking of PL proteins with genipin (gPL) for the delivery of rat periodontal ligament cells (rat-PDLCs); combined with (2) an injectable composite consisting of calcium phosphate cement incorporated with PL-loaded poly(d, l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres. This system was expected to promote periodontal regeneration by the delivery of adequate progenitor cells and providing a stable system enriched with adequate cytokines and growth factors for the orchestration of tissue regrowth in periodontal defects. The bilayered system was tested in a three-wall intrabony defect in rats and the healing of periodontal tissue was assessed 6 weeks after surgery. Results showed that the bilayered system was able to promote the regrowth of functional periodontal tissues, both with (cells + gPL) and without the loading of PDLCs (gPL). Significant connective tissue attachment (45.0 ± 15.0% and 64.0 ± 15.0% for gPL and cells + gPL group, respectively) and new bone area (33.8 ± 21% and 21.3 ± 3% for gPL and cells + gPL group, respectively) were observed. Nevertheless, rat PDLCs delivered with gPL construct in the defect area were hardly visible 6 weeks after surgery and did not contribute for the regeneration of new periodontal tissue. Overall, our findings show that the bilayered system promotes the stabilization of PL proteins on the root surface and has a positive effect in the repair of periodontal tissues both in quality and in quantity.

Follicular fluid placental growth factor is increased in polycystic ovarian syndrome: correlation with ovarian stimulation.

PubMed

Tal, Reshef; Seifer, David B; Grazi, Richard V; Malter, Henry E

2014-08-20

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by increased ovarian angiogenesis and vascularity. Accumulating evidence indicates that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is increased in PCOS and may play an important role in these vascular changes and the pathogenesis of this disease. Placental growth factor (PlGF), a VEGF family member, has not been previously characterized in PCOS women. We investigated levels and temporal expression patterns of PlGF and its soluble receptor sFlt-1 (soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase) in serum and follicular fluid (FF) of women with PCOS during controlled ovarian stimulation. This was a prospective cohort study of 14 PCOS women (Rotterdam criteria) and 14 matched controls undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. Serum was collected on day 3, day of hCG and day of oocyte retrieval. FF was collected on retrieval day. PlGF, sFlt-1 and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) protein concentrations were measured using ELISA. Since sFlt-1 binds free PlGF, preventing its signal transduction, we calculated PlGF bioavailability as PlGF/sFlt-1 ratio. Serum PlGF and sFlt-1 levels were constant throughout controlled ovarian stimulation, and no significant differences were observed in either factor in PCOS women compared with non-PCOS controls at all three measured time points. However, FF PlGF levels were increased 1.5-fold in PCOS women compared with controls (p < 0.01). Moreover, FF PlGF correlated positively with number of oocytes retrieved and the ovarian reserve marker anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and negatively with age. In addition, FF sFlt-1 levels were decreased 1.4-fold in PCOS women compared to controls (p = 0.04). PlGF bioavailability in FF was significantly greater (2-fold) in PCOS women compared with non-PCOS controls (p < 0.01). These data provide evidence that FF PlGF correlates with ovarian stimulation and that its bioavailability is increased in women with PCOS undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. This suggests that PlGF may play a role in PCOS pathogenesis and its angiogenic dysregulation.

Human serum and platelet lysate are appropriate xeno-free alternatives for clinical-grade production of human MuStem cell batches.

PubMed

Saury, Charlotte; Lardenois, Aurélie; Schleder, Cindy; Leroux, Isabelle; Lieubeau, Blandine; David, Laurent; Charrier, Marine; Guével, Laëtitia; Viau, Sabrina; Delorme, Bruno; Rouger, Karl

2018-05-02

Canine MuStem cells have demonstrated regenerative efficacy in a dog model of muscular dystrophy, and the recent characterization of human counterparts (hMuStem) has highlighted the therapeutic potential of this muscle-derived stem cell population. To date, these cells have only been generated in research-grade conditions. However, evaluation of the clinical efficacy of any such therapy will require the production of hMuStem cells in compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMPs). Because the current use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) to isolate and expand hMuStem cells raises several ethical, safety, and supply concerns, we assessed the use of two alternative xeno-free blood derivatives: human serum (HS) and a human platelet lysate (hPL). hMuStem cells were isolated and expanded in vitro in either HS-supplemented or hPL-supplemented media and the proliferation rate, clonogenicity, myogenic commitment potential, and oligopotency compared with that observed in FBS-supplemented medium. Flow cytometry and high-throughput 3'-digital gene expression RNA sequencing were used to characterize the phenotype and global gene expression pattern of hMuStem cells cultured with HS or hPL. HS-supplemented and hPL-supplemented media both supported the isolation and long-term proliferation of hMuStem cells. Compared with FBS-based medium, both supplements enhanced clonogenicity and allowed for a reduction in growth factor supplementation. Neither supplement altered the cell lineage pattern of hMuStem cells. In vitro differentiation assays revealed a decrease in myogenic commitment and in the fusion ability of hMuStem cells when cultured with hPL. In return, this reduction of myogenic potential in hPL-supplemented cultures was rapidly reversed by substitution of hPL with HS or fibrinogen-depleted hPL. Moreover, culture of hMuStem cells in hPL hydrogel and fibrinogen-depleted hPL demonstrated that myogenic differentiation potential is maintained in heparin-free hPL derivatives. Our findings indicate that HS and hPL are efficient and viable alternatives to FBS for the preparation of hMuStem cell batches in compliance with GMPs.

A multi-dimensional, energy- and charge-conserving, nonlinearly implicit, electromagnetic Vlasov–Darwin particle-in-cell algorithm

DOE PAGES

Chen, G.; Chacón, L.

2015-08-11

For decades, the Vlasov–Darwin model has been recognized to be attractive for particle-in-cell (PIC) kinetic plasma simulations in non-radiative electromagnetic regimes, to avoid radiative noise issues and gain computational efficiency. However, the Darwin model results in an elliptic set of field equations that renders conventional explicit time integration unconditionally unstable. We explore a fully implicit PIC algorithm for the Vlasov–Darwin model in multiple dimensions, which overcomes many difficulties of traditional semi-implicit Darwin PIC algorithms. The finite-difference scheme for Darwin field equations and particle equations of motion is space–time-centered, employing particle sub-cycling and orbit-averaging. This algorithm conserves total energy, local charge,more » canonical-momentum in the ignorable direction, and preserves the Coulomb gauge exactly. An asymptotically well-posed fluid preconditioner allows efficient use of large cell sizes, which are determined by accuracy considerations, not stability, and can be orders of magnitude larger than required in a standard explicit electromagnetic PIC simulation. Finally, we demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency properties of the algorithm with various numerical experiments in 2D–3V.« less

Generation of anisotropy in turbulent flows subjected to rapid distortion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, Timothy T.; Kurien, Susan; Rubinstein, Robert

2018-01-01

A computational tool for the anisotropic time-evolution of the spectral velocity correlation tensor is presented. We operate in the linear, rapid distortion limit of the mean-field-coupled equations. Each term of the equations is written in the form of an expansion to arbitrary order in the basis of irreducible representations of the SO(3) symmetry group. The computational algorithm for this calculation solves a system of coupled equations for the scalar weights of each generated anisotropic mode. The analysis demonstrates that rapid distortion rapidly but systematically generates higher-order anisotropic modes. To maintain a tractable computation, the maximum number of rotational modes to be used in a given calculation is specified a priori. The computed Reynolds stress converges to the theoretical result derived by Batchelor and Proudman [Quart. J. Mech. Appl. Math. 7, 83 (1954), 10.1093/qjmam/7.1.83] if a sufficiently large maximum number of rotational modes is utilized; more modes are required to recover the solution at later times. The emergence and evolution of the underlying multidimensional space of functions is presented here using a 64-mode calculation. Alternative implications for modeling strategies are discussed.

From Neutron Star Observables to the Equation of State. II. Bayesian Inference of Equation of State Pressures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raithel, Carolyn A.; Özel, Feryal; Psaltis, Dimitrios

2017-08-01

One of the key goals of observing neutron stars is to infer the equation of state (EoS) of the cold, ultradense matter in their interiors. Here, we present a Bayesian statistical method of inferring the pressures at five fixed densities, from a sample of mock neutron star masses and radii. We show that while five polytropic segments are needed for maximum flexibility in the absence of any prior knowledge of the EoS, regularizers are also necessary to ensure that simple underlying EoS are not over-parameterized. For ideal data with small measurement uncertainties, we show that the pressure at roughly twice the nuclear saturation density, {ρ }{sat}, can be inferred to within 0.3 dex for many realizations of potential sources of uncertainties. The pressures of more complicated EoS with significant phase transitions can also be inferred to within ˜30%. We also find that marginalizing the multi-dimensional parameter space of pressure to infer a mass-radius relation can lead to biases of nearly 1 km in radius, toward larger radii. Using the full, five-dimensional posterior likelihoods avoids this bias.

Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein-A and Placental Growth Factor in a Sub-Saharan African Population: A Nested Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Klipstein-Grobusch, Kerstin; Koster, Maria P. H.; Ramamoorthy, Dhivya; Antwi, Edward; Belmouden, Idder; Franx, Arie; Grobbee, Diederick E.; Schielen, Peter C. J. I.

2016-01-01

Background Baseline distributions of pregnancy disorders’ biomarkers PlGF and PAPP-A levels are primarily based on Western European populations of Caucasian ethnicity. Differences in PAPP-A and PlGF concentrations by ethnicity have been observed, with increased levels in Afro-Caribbean, East Asian, and South Asian women. Baseline concentrations of sub-Saharan African women have not been evaluated. Objectives To investigate PlGF and PAPP-A in a sub-Saharan African population and assess the performance of existing reference values of PAPP-A and PlGF. Methods A nested cross-sectional study was conducted in two public hospitals in Accra, Ghana. Out of the original 1010 women enrolled in the cohort, 398 participants were eligible for inclusion with a normotensive singleton gestation and serum samples taken between 56–97 days of pregnancy. PAPP-A and PlGF concentrations were measured with an automated immunoassay. Multiple of the median (MoM) values corrected for gestation and maternal weight for PAPP-A and PlGF were calculated using reference values of a Dutch perinatal screening laboratory based on over 10.000 samples, and PlGF manufacturer reference values, respectively. Results The PAPP-A median MoM was 2.34 (interquartile range (IQR) 1.24–3.97). Median PlGF MoM was 1.25 (IQR 0.95–1.80). Median MoM values for PAPP-A and PlGF tended to be slightly different for various Ghanaian ethnic subgroups. Conclusions PAPP-A and PlGF MoM values appear to be substantially higher in a sub-Saharan African population compared to the Caucasian or Afro-Caribbean MoM values previously reported. The difference suggests the need for a specific correction factor for this population to avoid underestimation of risk for fetal aneuploidies or placental disorders when using PAPP-A and PlGF MoM for screening purposes. PMID:27532602

Optical properties of nearly lattice-matched GaN/(Al,In)N quantum wells

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

Liaugaudas, Gediminas; Jacopin, Gwénolé; Carlin, Jean-François

2016-05-28

We report a systematic study of the photoluminescence (PL) properties of a series of nearly lattice-matched (LM) GaN/(Al,In)N single quantum well (SQW) samples, with well thickness ranging from 1.5 to 5 nm, grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Temperature dependent PL and time-resolved PL measurements reveal similar trends among the studied SQW samples, which also indicate strong localization effects. The observed PL energy behavior, akin to the S-shape, accompanied first by a narrowing and then a broadening of the PL line width with increasing temperature, closely resemble previous observations made on the more established (In,Ga)N/GaN QW system. The similar trends observedmore » in the PL features of those two QW systems imply that the PL properties of LM GaN/(Al,In)N SQW samples are also governed by localized states. The effects of carrier transfer among these localization sites are clearly observed for the 3 nm thick QW, evidenced by an increasing PL intensity in the lower energy spectral window and a concomitant increase in the corresponding PL decay time. Time-resolved data corroborate the picture of strongly localized carriers and also indicate that above a well thickness dependent delocalization temperature carrier distribution across the localized sites reaches thermal equilibrium, as the PL decay times over different spectral regions converge to the same value. Based on the difference between the calculated QW ground state transition energy, obtained using the envelope wave function formalism, and the measured PL energy, a localization energy of at least a few hundreds of meV has been extracted for all of the studied SQW samples. This rather large value also implies that In-related localization effects are more pronounced in the GaN/(Al,In)N system with respect to those in the (In,Ga)N/GaN one for a similar In content.« less

Decreased serum vitamin D levels in early spontaneous pregnancy loss.

PubMed

Hou, W; Yan, X-T; Bai, C-M; Zhang, X-W; Hui, L-Y; Yu, X-W

2016-09-01

Effects of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy have been associated with some adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between vitamin D deficiency in childbearing aged women and pregnancy loss (PL) in the first trimester. This is a cross-sectional study. Plasma was collected from 60 nulliparous women with singleton at 7-9 weeks of gestation (30 with viable gestation and 30 with PL) and 60 non-gravid childbearing aged women (30 with a successful pregnancy history, and 30 with one or more spontaneous first-trimester PL history). Quantitation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 alpha hydroxylase (CYP27B1) was assayed. By pregnancy/non-gravid, normal pregnant women had higher 25(OH)D (49.32 μg/l) and CYP27B1 (82.00 pg/ml) than PL women (34.49 μg/l and 37.87 pg/ml, both P<0.01); the non-gravid women with a successful pregnancy history also had higher 25(OH)D (39.56 μg/l) and CYP27B1 (39.04 pg/ml) than women with PL history (12.30 μg/l and 12.35 pg/ml, both P<0.01). The 96.7% of non-gravid women with PL history and 43.3% of PL women had serum 25(OH)D concentrations below 30 μg/l. There was a strong association between low vitamin D levels and PL (odds ratio 1.71; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-2.4, P<0.001). The regression analyses showed that PL was significantly inversely correlated with 25(OH)D (P<0.01) and CYP27B1 levels (P<0.01). Vitamin D deficiency associated with PL in the first trimester of pregnancy. Decreased serum vitamin D levels among childbearing aged women with the failed clinical pregnancies history may predispose to increased risk for PL.

Synergistic suppression of human breast cancer cells by combination of plumbagin and zoledronic acid In vitro.

PubMed

Qiao, Han; Wang, Ting-yu; Yan, Wei; Qin, An; Fan, Qi-ming; Han, Xiu-guo; Wang, Yu-gang; Tang, Ting-ting

2015-09-01

Zoledronic acid (ZA), a bisphosphonate, is currently used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents to suppress breast cancer cell proliferation or breast cancer-induced osteolysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ZA combined with a natural anticancer compound plumbagin (PL) against human breast cancer cells in vitro. Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231SArfp cells were treated with ZA, PL or a combination of ZA and PL. The cell growth, apoptosis and migration were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was measured using real-time PCR and Western blotting. Synergism was evaluated using Compusyn software, and the combination index (CI) and drug reduction index (DRI) values were determined. PL or ZA alone caused mild cytotoxicity (the IC50 value at 24 h was 12.18 and above 100 μmol/L, respectively). However, the combination of ZA and PL caused a synergistic cytotoxicity (CI=0.26). The DRI values also showed a synergistic effect between PL and ZA, with actual values of 5.52 and 3.59, respectively. Furthermore, PL and ZA synergistically induced apoptosis and inhibited migration of the breast cancer cells. Moreover, the combination of ZA and PL decreased the expression of Notch-1, cleaved PARP, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, and increased the expression of cleaved caspase-3, CDKN1A and ID1. When the breast cancer cells were transfected with specific siRNA against Notch-1, the combination of ZA and PL markedly increased the expression of Bcl-2. Combination of ZA and PL synergistically suppresses human breast cancer MDA-MB-231SArfp cells in vitro. PL can inhibit ZA-induced activation of the Notch-1 signaling pathway and subsequently reduce the expression of Bcl-2, thus potentiating cancer cell apoptosis.

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

Freemark, M.; Comer, M.; Mularoni, T.

We have recently identified and purified from fetal liver a distinct receptor that mediates the effects of placental lactogen (PL) on amino acid transport, glycogen synthesis, and somatomedin production in fetal tissues. At present, the factors that regulate the number and affinity of PL receptors in the fetus are unknown. Since maternal nutrition plays a critical role in fetal metabolism and growth, we have examined the role of nutrition in the regulation of the PL receptor in fetal lambs. Pregnant ewes at 123-126 days gestation were fed ad libitum (FED), fasted for 3 days (FASTED), or fasted for 3 daysmore » and then refed for an additional 3 days (REFED). The ewes were then killed, and the binding of (125I)ovine (o) PL to hepatic microsomes from the fetal lambs was examined. Maternal fasting caused a 60-75% reduction in the specific binding of oPL to fetal liver; the effect of fasting was reversed in part by refeeding. The decrease in oPL binding resulted from an 80% reduction in the number of fetal oPL-binding sites (Scatchard analysis); there were no changes in the affinity of the oPL receptor (Kd, 0.6 nM), the subunit structure of the receptor, or the degree of occupancy of the receptor in vivo by endogenous fetal hormones. The specific bindings of GH (0.6%), PRL (0.3%), and insulin (35%) to fetal liver were not affected by maternal fasting, indicating that caloric restriction exerted a specific effect on oPL binding in the fetus. The number of fetal oPL-binding sites was positively correlated with the fetal liver glycogen content (r = 0.69; P less than 0.01) and the fetal plasma concentrations of glucose (r = 0.68; P less than 0.01) and insulin-like growth factor-I (r = 0.74; P less than 0.001), suggesting a role for the PL receptor in the regulation of fetal carbohydrate metabolism and growth.« less

Validation of the Polish version of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire among women.

PubMed

Brytek-Matera, Anna; Rogoza, Radosław

2015-03-01

In Poland, appropriate means to assess body image are relatively limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). To do so, a sample of 341 females ranging in age from 18 to 35 years (M = 23.09; SD = 3.14) participated in the present study. Owing to the fact that the confirmatory factor analysis of the original nine-factor model was not well fitted to the data (RMSEA = 0.06; CFI = 0.75) the exploratory approach was employed. Based on parallel analysis and minimum average partial an eight-factor structure of the Polish version of the MBSRQ was distinguished. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a factorial structure similar to the original version. The proposed model was tested using an exploratory structural equation modelling approach which resulted in good fit (RMSEA = 0.04; CFI = 0.91). In the present study, the internal reliability assessed by McDonald's ω coefficient amounts from 0.66 to 0.91. In conclusion, the Polish version of the MBSRQ is a useful measure for the attitudinal component of body image assessment.

Control of multidimensional systems on complex network

PubMed Central

Bagnoli, Franco; Battistelli, Giorgio; Chisci, Luigi; Fanelli, Duccio

2017-01-01

Multidimensional systems coupled via complex networks are widespread in nature and thus frequently invoked for a large plethora of interesting applications. From ecology to physics, individual entities in mutual interactions are grouped in families, homogeneous in kind. These latter interact selectively, through a sequence of self-consistently regulated steps, whose deeply rooted architecture is stored in the assigned matrix of connections. The asymptotic equilibrium eventually attained by the system, and its associated stability, can be assessed by employing standard nonlinear dynamics tools. For many practical applications, it is however important to externally drive the system towards a desired equilibrium, which is resilient, hence stable, to external perturbations. To this end we here consider a system made up of N interacting populations which evolve according to general rate equations, bearing attributes of universality. One species is added to the pool of interacting families and used as a dynamical controller to induce novel stable equilibria. Use can be made of the root locus method to shape the needed control, in terms of intrinsic reactivity and adopted protocol of injection. The proposed method is tested on both synthetic and real data, thus enabling to demonstrate its robustness and versatility. PMID:28892493

Personality in general and clinical samples: Measurement invariance of the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire.

PubMed

Eigenhuis, Annemarie; Kamphuis, Jan H; Noordhof, Arjen

2017-09-01

A growing body of research suggests that the same general dimensions can describe normal and pathological personality, but most of the supporting evidence is exploratory. We aim to determine in a confirmatory framework the extent to which responses on the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) are identical across general and clinical samples. We tested the Dutch brief form of the MPQ (MPQ-BF-NL) for measurement invariance across a general population subsample (N = 365) and a clinical sample (N = 365), using Multiple Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA) and Multiple Group Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (MGESEM). As an omnibus personality test, the MPQ-BF-NL revealed strict invariance, indicating absence of bias. Unidimensional per scale tests for measurement invariance revealed that 10% of items appeared to contain bias across samples. Item bias only affected the scale interpretation of Achievement, with individuals from the clinical sample more readily admitting to put high demands on themselves than individuals from the general sample, regardless of trait level. This formal test of equivalence provides strong evidence for the common structure of normal and pathological personality and lends further support to the clinical utility of the MPQ. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Multi-dimensional simulation package for ultrashort pulse laser-matter interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suslova, Anastassiya; Hassanein, Ahmed

2017-10-01

Advanced simulation models recently became a popular tool of investigation of ultrashort pulse lasers (USPLs) to enhance understanding of the physics and allow minimizing the experimental costs for optimization of laser and target parameters for various applications. Our research interest is focused on developing multi-dimensional simulation package FEMTO-2D to investigate the USPL-matter interactions and laser induced effects. The package is based on solution of two heat conduction equations for electron and lattice sub-systems - enhanced two temperature model (TTM). We have implemented theoretical approach based on the collision theory to define the thermal dependence of target material optical properties and thermodynamic parameters. Our approach allowed elimination of fitted parameters commonly used in TTM based simulations. FEMTO-2D is used to simulated the light absorption and interactions for several metallic targets as a function of wavelength and pulse duration for wide range of laser intensity. The package has capability to consider different angles of incidence and polarization. It has also been used to investigate the damage threshold of the gold coated optical components with the focus on the role of the film thickness and substrate heat sink effect. This work was supported by the NSF, PIRE project.

Brief report: Bifactor modeling of general vs. specific factors of religiousness differentially predicting substance use risk in adolescence.

PubMed

Kim-Spoon, Jungmeen; Longo, Gregory S; Holmes, Christopher J

2015-08-01

Religiousness is important to adolescents in the U.S., and the significant link between high religiousness and low substance use is well known. There is a debate between multidimensional and unidimensional perspectives of religiousness (Gorsuch, 1984); yet, no empirical study has tested this hierarchical model of religiousness related to adolescent health outcomes. The current study presents the first attempt to test a bifactor model of religiousness related to substance use among adolescents (N = 220, 45% female). Our bifactor model using structural equation modeling suggested the multidimensional nature of religiousness as well as the presence of a superordinate general religiousness factor directly explaining the covariation among the specific factors including organizational and personal religiousness and religious social support. The general religiousness factor was inversely related to substance use. After accounting for the contribution of the general religiousness factor, high organizational religiousness related to low substance use, whereas personal religiousness and religious support were positively related to substance use. The findings present the first evidence that supports hierarchical structures of adolescent religiousness that contribute differentially to adolescent substance use. Copyright © 2015 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Finite-volume application of high order ENO schemes to multi-dimensional boundary-value problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Casper, Jay; Dorrepaal, J. Mark

1990-01-01

The finite volume approach in developing multi-dimensional, high-order accurate essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) schemes is considered. In particular, a two dimensional extension is proposed for the Euler equation of gas dynamics. This requires a spatial reconstruction operator that attains formal high order of accuracy in two dimensions by taking account of cross gradients. Given a set of cell averages in two spatial variables, polynomial interpolation of a two dimensional primitive function is employed in order to extract high-order pointwise values on cell interfaces. These points are appropriately chosen so that correspondingly high-order flux integrals are obtained through each interface by quadrature, at each point having calculated a flux contribution in an upwind fashion. The solution-in-the-small of Riemann's initial value problem (IVP) that is required for this pointwise flux computation is achieved using Roe's approximate Riemann solver. Issues to be considered in this two dimensional extension include the implementation of boundary conditions and application to general curvilinear coordinates. Results of numerical experiments are presented for qualitative and quantitative examination. These results contain the first successful application of ENO schemes to boundary value problems with solid walls.

Hydroxychloroquine use is associated with lower odds of persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Broder, Anna; Putterman, Chaim

2013-01-01

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) play an active role in the pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Primary prevention in APS may be aimed at decreasing existing elevated aPL levels, or preventing high aPL titers and/or lupus anticoagulant (LAC) from developing in the first place. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been shown in retrospective studies to decrease aPL titers in laboratory studies, and to decrease thrombosis risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated an association between HCQ use and persistent aPL and/or LAC in SLE. We identified all patients over 21 years old with SLE from an urban tertiary care center who had aPL and LAC measured on at least 2 occasions at least 12 weeks apart. We defined the presence of persistent LAC+ and/or at least 1 aPL ≥ 40 U [immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, or IgM] as the main outcome variable. Among 90 patients included in the study, 17 (19%) had persistent LAC+ and/or at least 1 aPL ≥ 40 U. HCQ use was associated with significantly lower odds of having persistent LAC+ and/or aPL ≥ 40 U (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05, 0.79, p = 0.02), adjusted for age, ethnicity, and sex. This is the first study to show that HCQ use is associated with lower odds of having persistently positive LAC and/or aPL. Data from this study provide a basis for the design of future prospective studies investigating the role of HCQ in primary and secondary prevention of APS.

Human Placental Lactogen Induces CYP2E1 Expression via PI 3-Kinase Pathway in Female Human Hepatocytes

PubMed Central

Lee, Jin Kyung; Chung, Hye Jin; Fischer, Liam; Fischer, James; Gonzalez, Frank J.

2014-01-01

The state of pregnancy is known to alter hepatic drug metabolism. Hormones that rise during pregnancy are potentially responsible for the changes. Here we report the effects of prolactin (PRL), placental lactogen (PL), and growth hormone variant (GH-v) on expression of major hepatic cytochromes P450 expression and a potential molecular mechanism underlying CYP2E1 induction by PL. In female human hepatocytes, PRL and GH-v showed either no effect or small and variable effects on mRNA expression of CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4, and 3A5. On the other hand, PL increased expression level of CYP2E1 mRNA with corresponding increases in CYP2E1 protein and activity levels. Results from hepatocytes and HepaRG cells indicate that PL does not affect the expression or activity of HNF1α, the known transcriptional activator of basal CYP2E1 expression. Furthermore, transient transfection studies and Western blot results showed that STAT signaling, the previously known mediator of PL actions in certain tissues, does not play a role in CYP2E1 induction by PL. A chemical inhibitor of PI3-kinase signaling significantly repressed the CYP2E1 induction by PL in human hepatocytes, suggesting involvement of PI3-kinase pathway in CYP2E1 regulation by PL. CYP2E1-humanized mice did not exhibit enhanced CYP2E1 expression during pregnancy, potentially because of interspecies differences in PL physiology. Taken together, these results indicate that PL induces CYP2E1 expression via PI3-kinase pathway in human hepatocytes. PMID:24408518

Comparative analyses of industrial-scale human platelet lysate preparations.

PubMed

Pierce, Jan; Benedetti, Eric; Preslar, Amber; Jacobson, Pam; Jin, Ping; Stroncek, David F; Reems, Jo-Anna

2017-12-01

Efforts are underway to eliminate fetal bovine serum from mammalian cell cultures for clinical use. An emerging, viable replacement option for fetal bovine serum is human platelet lysate (PL) as either a plasma-based or serum-based product. Nine industrial-scale, serum-based PL manufacturing runs (i.e., lots) were performed, consisting of an average ± standard deviation volume of 24.6 ± 2.2 liters of pooled, platelet-rich plasma units that were obtained from apheresis donors. Manufactured lots were compared by evaluating various biochemical and functional test results. Comprehensive cytokine profiles of PL lots and product stability tests were performed. Global gene expression profiles of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) cultured with plasma-based or serum-based PL were compared to MSCs cultured with fetal bovine serum. Electrolyte and protein levels were relatively consistent among all serum-based PL lots, with only slight variations in glucose and calcium levels. All nine lots were as good as or better than fetal bovine serum in expanding MSCs. Serum-based PL stored at -80°C remained stable over 2 years. Quantitative cytokine arrays showed similarities as well as dissimilarities in the proteins present in serum-based PL. Greater differences in MSC gene expression profiles were attributable to the starting cell source rather than with the use of either PL or fetal bovine serum as a culture supplement. Using a large-scale, standardized method, lot-to-lot variations were noted for industrial-scale preparations of serum-based PL products. However, all lots performed as well as or better than fetal bovine serum in supporting MSC growth. Together, these data indicate that off-the-shelf PL is a feasible substitute for fetal bovine serum in MSC cultures. © 2017 AABB.

Human platelet lysate in mesenchymal stromal cell expansion according to a GMP grade protocol: a cell factory experience.

PubMed

Becherucci, Valentina; Piccini, Luisa; Casamassima, Serena; Bisin, Silvia; Gori, Valentina; Gentile, Francesca; Ceccantini, Riccardo; De Rienzo, Elena; Bindi, Barbara; Pavan, Paola; Cunial, Vanessa; Allegro, Elisa; Ermini, Stefano; Brugnolo, Francesca; Astori, Giuseppe; Bambi, Franco

2018-05-02

The use of platelet lysate (PL) for the ex-vivo expansion of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) was initially proposed by Doucet et al. in 2005, as an alternative to animal serum. Moreover, regulatory authorities discourage the use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) or other animal derivatives, to avoid risk of zoonoses and xenogeneic immune reactions. Even if many studies investigated PL composition, there still are some open issues related to its use in ex-vivo MSC expansion, especially according to good manufacturing practice (GMP) grade protocols. As an authorized cell factory, we report our experience using standardized PL produced by Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Meyer Transfusion Service for MSC expansion according to a GMP grade clinical protocol. As suggested by other authors, we performed an in-vitro test on MSCs versus MSCs cultured with FBS that still represents the best way to test PL batches. We compared 12 MSC batches cultured with DMEM 5% PL with similar batches cultured with DMEM 10% FBS, focusing on the MSC proliferation rate, MSC surface marker expression, MSC immunomodulatory and differentiation potential, and finally MSC relative telomere length. Results confirmed the literature data as PL increases cell proliferation without affecting the MSC immunophenotype, immunomodulatory potential, differentiation potential and relative telomere length. PL can be considered a safe alternative to FBS for ex-vivo expansion of MSC according to a GMP grade protocol. Our experience confirms the literature data: a large number of MSCs for clinical applications can be obtained by expansion with PL, without affecting the MSC main features. Our experience underlines the benefits of a close collaboration between the PL producers (transfusion service) and the end users (cell factory) in a synergy of skills and experiences that can lead to standardized PL production.

Antenatal screening for Down syndrome using serum placental growth factor with the combined, quadruple, serum integrated and integrated tests.

PubMed

Wald, Nicholas J; Bestwick, Jonathan P; George, Lynne M; Huttly, Wayne J

2012-01-01

To estimate the value of first or second trimester placental growth factor (PlGF) as an additional antenatal screening marker for Down syndrome. Nested case-control study. Antenatal screening service. 532 Down syndrome pregnancies and 1,155 matched unaffected pregnancies. Stored maternal serum samples (-40°C) were assayed for PlGF. Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the screening performance of PlGF with the Combined, Quadruple, serum Integrated and Integrated tests. Median PlGF levels in affected and unaffected pregnancies and screening performance (detection rates [DR] for specified false-positive rates [FPR] and vice versa). First trimester median PlGF was 15%, 28% and 39% lower in Down syndrome than unaffected pregnancies at 11, 12 and 13 completed weeks' gestation respectively (all p<0.001). Second trimester median PlGF was 31% lower at 14 weeks (p<0.001), and the difference decreased (6% lower at 17 weeks). At a 90% DR with first trimester markers measured at 13 weeks, adding PlGF decreased the FPR from 11.1 to 5.1% using the Combined test, 9.3% to 4.5% using the serum Integrated test, and 3.4% to 1.5% using the Integrated test (or 1.5 to 1.4% with first trimester markers measured at 11 weeks). Adding PlGF to the Quadruple test (measured at 15 weeks) decreased the FPR from 10.0% to 9.6% at a 90% DR. First trimester PlGF measurements improve the performance of antenatal screening for Down syndrome using the Combined, serum Integrated and Integrated tests. Second trimester PlGF measurements are of limited value.

Functional reorganization of visual cortex maps after ischemic lesions is accompanied by changes in expression of cytoskeletal proteins and NMDA and GABA(A) receptor subunits.

PubMed

Zepeda, Angelica; Sengpiel, Frank; Guagnelli, Miguel Angel; Vaca, Luis; Arias, Clorinda

2004-02-25

Reorganization of cortical representations after focal visual cortex lesions has been documented. It has been suggested that functional reorganization may rely on cellular mechanisms involving modifications in the excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission balance and on morphological changes of neurons peripheral to the lesion. We explored functional reorganization of cortical retinotopic maps after a focal ischemic lesion in primary visual cortex of kittens using optical imaging of intrinsic signals. After 1, 2, and 5 weeks postlesion (wPL), we addressed whether functional reorganization correlated in time with changes in the expression of MAP-2, GAP-43, GFAP, GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha1 (GABA(A)alpha1), subunit 1 of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR1), and in neurotransmitter levels at the border of the lesion. Our results show that: (1) retinotopic maps reorganize with time after an ischemic lesion; (2) MAP-2 levels increase gradually from 1wPL to 5wPL; (3) MAP-2 upregulation is associated with an increase in dendritic-like structures surrounding the lesion and a decrease in GFAP-positive cells; (4) GAP-43 levels reach the highest point at 2wPL; (5) NMDAR1 and glutamate contents increase in parallel from 1wPL to 5wPL; (6) GABA(A)alpha1 levels increase from 1wPL to 2wPL but do not change after this time point; and (7) GABA contents remain low from 1wPL to 5wPL. This is a comprehensive study showing for the first time that functional reorganization correlates in time with dendritic sprouting and with changes in the excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission systems previously proposed to participate in cortical remodeling and suggests mechanisms by which plasticity of cortical representations may occur.

The Antimicrobial Mechanism of Action of Epsilon-Poly-l-Lysine

PubMed Central

Hyldgaard, Morten; Mygind, Tina; Vad, Brian S.; Stenvang, Marcel; Otzen, Daniel E.

2014-01-01

Epsilon-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) is a natural antimicrobial cationic peptide which is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) as a food preservative. Although its antimicrobial activity is well documented, its mechanism of action is only vaguely described. The aim of this study was to clarify ε-PL's mechanism of action using Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua as model organisms. We examined ε-PL's effect on cell morphology and membrane integrity and used an array of E. coli deletion mutants to study how specific outer membrane components affected the action of ε-PL. We furthermore studied its interaction with lipid bilayers using membrane models. In vitro cell studies indicated that divalent cations and the heptose I and II phosphate groups in the lipopolysaccharide layer of E. coli are critical for ε-PL's binding efficiency. ε-PL removed the lipopolysaccharide layer and affected cell morphology of E. coli, while L. innocua underwent minor morphological changes. Propidium iodide staining showed that ε-PL permeabilized the cytoplasmic membrane in both species, indicating the membrane as the site of attack. We compared the interaction with neutral or negatively charged membrane systems and showed that the interaction with ε-PL relied on negative charges on the membrane. Suspended membrane vesicles were disrupted by ε-PL, and a detergent-like disruption of E. coli membrane was confirmed by atomic force microscopy imaging of supported lipid bilayers. We hypothesize that ε-PL destabilizes membranes in a carpet-like mechanism by interacting with negatively charged phospholipid head groups, which displace divalent cations and enforce a negative curvature folding on membranes that leads to formation of vesicles/micelles. PMID:25304506

The antimicrobial mechanism of action of epsilon-poly-l-lysine.

PubMed

Hyldgaard, Morten; Mygind, Tina; Vad, Brian S; Stenvang, Marcel; Otzen, Daniel E; Meyer, Rikke L

2014-12-01

Epsilon-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) is a natural antimicrobial cationic peptide which is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) as a food preservative. Although its antimicrobial activity is well documented, its mechanism of action is only vaguely described. The aim of this study was to clarify ε-PL's mechanism of action using Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua as model organisms. We examined ε-PL's effect on cell morphology and membrane integrity and used an array of E. coli deletion mutants to study how specific outer membrane components affected the action of ε-PL. We furthermore studied its interaction with lipid bilayers using membrane models. In vitro cell studies indicated that divalent cations and the heptose I and II phosphate groups in the lipopolysaccharide layer of E. coli are critical for ε-PL's binding efficiency. ε-PL removed the lipopolysaccharide layer and affected cell morphology of E. coli, while L. innocua underwent minor morphological changes. Propidium iodide staining showed that ε-PL permeabilized the cytoplasmic membrane in both species, indicating the membrane as the site of attack. We compared the interaction with neutral or negatively charged membrane systems and showed that the interaction with ε-PL relied on negative charges on the membrane. Suspended membrane vesicles were disrupted by ε-PL, and a detergent-like disruption of E. coli membrane was confirmed by atomic force microscopy imaging of supported lipid bilayers. We hypothesize that ε-PL destabilizes membranes in a carpet-like mechanism by interacting with negatively charged phospholipid head groups, which displace divalent cations and enforce a negative curvature folding on membranes that leads to formation of vesicles/micelles. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Paenibacillus larvae Chitin-Degrading Protein PlCBP49 Is a Key Virulence Factor in American Foulbrood of Honey Bees

PubMed Central

Garcia-Gonzalez, Eva; Poppinga, Lena; Fünfhaus, Anne; Hertlein, Gillian; Hedtke, Kati; Jakubowska, Agata; Genersch, Elke

2014-01-01

Paenibacillus larvae, the etiological agent of the globally occurring epizootic American Foulbrood (AFB) of honey bees, causes intestinal infections in honey bee larvae which develop into systemic infections inevitably leading to larval death. Massive brood mortality might eventually lead to collapse of the entire colony. Molecular mechanisms of host-microbe interactions in this system and of differences in virulence between P. larvae genotypes are poorly understood. Recently, it was demonstrated that the degradation of the peritrophic matrix lining the midgut epithelium is a key step in pathogenesis of P. larvae infections. Here, we present the isolation and identification of PlCBP49, a modular, chitin-degrading protein of P. larvae and demonstrate that this enzyme is crucial for the degradation of the larval peritrophic matrix during infection. PlCBP49 contains a module belonging to the auxiliary activity 10 (AA10, formerly CBM33) family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) which are able to degrade recalcitrant polysaccharides. Using chitin-affinity purified PlCBP49, we provide evidence that PlCBP49 degrades chitin via a metal ion-dependent, oxidative mechanism, as already described for members of the AA10 family. Using P. larvae mutants lacking PlCBP49 expression, we analyzed in vivo biological functions of PlCBP49. In the absence of PlCBP49 expression, peritrophic matrix degradation was markedly reduced and P. larvae virulence was nearly abolished. This indicated that PlCBP49 is a key virulence factor for the species P. larvae. The identification of the functional role of PlCBP49 in AFB pathogenesis broadens our understanding of this important family of chitin-binding and -degrading proteins, especially in those bacteria that can also act as entomopathogens. PMID:25080221

Comparison of triglycerides and phospholipids as supplemental sources of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in piglets.

PubMed

Mathews, Susan A; Oliver, William T; Phillips, Oulayvanh T; Odle, Jack; Diersen-Schade, Deborah A; Harrell, Robert J

2002-10-01

Addition of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to infant formula promotes visual and neural development. This study was designed to determine whether the source of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) affected overall animal health and safety. Piglets consumed ad libitum from 1 to 16 d of age a skim milk-based formula with different fat sources added to provide 50% of the metabolizable energy. Treatment groups were as follows: control (CNTL; no added LCPUFA), egg phospholipid (PL), algal/fungal triglyceride (TG) oils, TG plus PL (soy lecithin source) added to match phospholipid treatment (TG + PL) and essential fatty acid deficient (EFAD). Formulas with LCPUFA provided 0.6 and 0.3 g/100 g total fatty acids as AA and DHA, respectively. CNTL piglets had 40% longer ileal villi than PL piglets (P < 0.03), but the TG group was not different from the CNTL group. Gross liver histology did not differ among any of the formula-fed groups (P > 0.1). Apparent dry matter digestibility was 10% greater in CNTL, TG and TG + PL groups compared with PL piglets (P < 0.002). No differences in alanine aminotransferase were detected among treatments, but aspartate aminotransferase was elevated (P < 0.03) in PL piglets compared with TG + PL piglets. Total plasma AA concentration was greater in the TG group compared with CNTL piglets (P < 0.05). Total plasma DHA concentrations were greater in TG piglets compared with PL (P < 0.06) or CNTL (P < 0.02) piglets. These data demonstrate that the algal/fungal TG sources of DHA and AA may be a more appropriate supplement for infant formulas than the egg PL source based on piglet plasma fatty acid profiles and apparent dry matter digestibilities.

Molecular mechanism of dietary phospholipid requirement of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, fry.

PubMed

Carmona-Antoñanzas, G; Taylor, J F; Martinez-Rubio, L; Tocher, D R

2015-11-01

The phospholipid (PL) requirement in fish is revealed by enhanced performance when larvae are provided PL-enriched diets. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying PL requirement in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, were fed a minimal PL diet and tissue samples from major lipid metabolic sites were dissected from fry and parr. In silico analysis and cloning techniques demonstrated that salmon possess a full set of enzymes for the endogenous production of PL. The gene expression data indicated that major PL biosynthetic genes of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) display lower expression in intestine during the early developmental stage (fry). This is consistent with the hypothesis that the intestine of salmon is immature at the early developmental stage with limited capacity for endogenous PL biosynthesis. The results also indicate that intact PtdCho, PtdEtn and PtdIns are required in the diet at this stage. PtdCho and sphingomyelin constitute the predominant PL in chylomicrons, involved in the transport of dietary lipids from the intestine to the rest of the body. As sphingomyelin can be produced from PtdCho in intestine of fry, our findings suggest that supplementation of dietary PtdCho alone during early developmental stages of Atlantic salmon would be sufficient to promote chylomicron formation. This would support efficient transport of dietary lipids, including PL precursors, from the intestine to the liver where biosynthesis of PtdEtn, PtdSer, and PtdIns is not compromised as in intestine facilitating efficient utilisation of dietary energy and the endogenous production of membrane PL for the rapidly growing and developing animal. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Phosphorus release behaviors of poultry litter biochar as a soil amendment.

PubMed

Wang, Yue; Lin, Yingxin; Chiu, Pei C; Imhoff, Paul T; Guo, Mingxin

2015-04-15

Phosphorus (P) may be immobilized and consequently the runoff loss risks be reduced if poultry litter (PL) is converted into biochar prior to land application. Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the water extractability of P in PL biochar and its release kinetics in amended soils. Raw PL and its biochar produced through 400°C pyrolysis were extracted with deionized water under various programs and measured for water extractable P species and contents. The materials were further incubated with a sandy loam at 20 g kg(-1) soil and intermittently leached with water for 30 days. The P release kinetics were determined from the P recovery patterns in the water phase. Pyrolysis elevated the total P content from 13.7 g kg(-1) in raw PL to 27.1 g kg(-1) in PL biochar while reduced the water-soluble P level from 2.95 g kg(-1) in the former to 0.17 g kg(-1) in the latter. The thermal treatment transformed labile P in raw PL to putatively Mg/Ca phosphate minerals in biochar that were water-unextractable yet proton-releasable. Orthophosphate was the predominant form of water-soluble P in PL biochar, with condensed phosphate (e.g., pyrophosphate) as a minor form and organic phosphate in null. Release of P from PL biochar in both water and neutral soils was at a slower and steadier rate over a longer time period than from raw PL. Nevertheless, release of P from biochar was acid-driven and could be greatly promoted by the media acidity. Land application of PL biochar at soil pH-incorporated rates and frequency will potentially reduce P losses to runoffs and minimize the adverse impact of waste application on aquatic environments. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Nanoscopic diffusion studies on III-V compound semiconductor structures: Experiment and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez Debs, Mariam

The electronic structure of multilayer semiconductor heterostructures is affected by the detailed compositional profiles throughout the structure and at critical interfaces. The extent of interdiffusion across these interfaces places limits on both the processing time and temperatures for many applications based on the resultant compositional profile and associated electronic structure. Atomic and phenomenological methods were used in this work through the combination of experiment and theory to understand the nanoscopic mechanisms in complex heterostructures. Two principal studies were conducted. Tin diffusion in GaAs was studied by fitting complex experimental diffusion profiles to a phenomenological model which involved the diffusion of substitutional and interstitial dopant atoms. A methodology was developed combining both the atomistic model and the use of key features within these experimentally-obtained diffusion profiles to determine meaningful values of the transport and defect reaction rate parameters. Interdiffusion across AlSb/GaSb multi-quantum well interfaces was also studied. The chemical diffusion coefficient characterizing the AlSb/GaSb diffusion couple was quantitatively determined by fitting the observed photoluminescence (PL) peak shifts to the solution of the Schrodinger equation using a potential derived from the solution of the diffusion equation to quantify the interband transition energy shifts. First-principles calculations implementing Density Functional Theory were performed to study the thermochemistry of point defects as a function of local environment, allowing a direct comparison of interfacial and bulk diffusion phenomena within these nanoscopic structures. Significant differences were observed in the Ga and Al vacancy formation energies at the AlSb/GaSb interface when compared to bulk AlSb and GaSb with the largest change found for Al vacancies. The AlSb/GaSb structures were further studied using positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) to investigate the role of vacancies in the interdiffusion of Al and Ga in the superlattices. The PL and PAS experimental techniques together with the phenomenological and atomistic modeling allowed for the determination of the underlying mass transport mechanisms at the nanoscale.

A necrosis-inducing elicitor domain encoded by both symptomatic and asymptomatic Plantago asiatica mosaic virus isolates, whose expression is modulated by virus replication.

PubMed

Komatsu, Ken; Hashimoto, Masayoshi; Maejima, Kensaku; Shiraishi, Takuya; Neriya, Yutaro; Miura, Chihiro; Minato, Nami; Okano, Yukari; Sugawara, Kyoko; Yamaji, Yasuyuki; Namba, Shigetou

2011-04-01

Systemic necrosis is the most destructive symptom induced by plant pathogens. We previously identified amino acid 1154, in the polymerase domain (POL) of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of Plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV), which affects PlAMV-induced systemic necrosis in Nicotiana benthamiana. By point-mutation analysis, we show that amino acid 1,154 alone is not sufficient for induction of necrotic symptoms. However, PlAMV replicons that can express only RdRp, derived from a necrosis-inducing PlAMV isolate, retain their ability to induce necrosis, and transient expression of PlAMV-encoded proteins indicated that the necrosis-eliciting activity resides in RdRp. Moreover, inducible-overexpression analysis demonstrated that the necrosis was induced in an RdRp dose-dependent manner. In addition, during PlAMV infection, necrotic symptoms are associated with high levels of RdRp accumulation. Surprisingly, necrosis-eliciting activity resides in the helicase domain (HEL), not in the amino acid 1,154-containing POL, of RdRp, and this activity was observed even in HELs of PlAMV isolates of which infection does not cause necrosis. Moreover, HEL-induced necrosis had characteristics similar to those induced by PlAMV infection. Overall, our data suggest that necrotic symptoms induced by PlAMV infection depend on the accumulation of a non-isolate specific elicitor HEL (even from nonnecrosis isolates), whose expression is indirectly regulated by amino acid 1,154 that controls replication.

Metabolic analyses of the improved ε-poly-L-lysine productivity using a glucose-glycerol mixed carbon source in chemostat cultures.

PubMed

Zhang, Jian-Hua; Zeng, Xin; Chen, Xu-Sheng; Mao, Zhong-Gui

2018-04-21

The glucose-glycerol mixed carbon source remarkably reduced the batch fermentation time of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) production, leading to higher productivity of both biomass and ε-PL, which was of great significance in industrial microbial fermentation. Our previous study confirmed the positive influence of fast cell growth on the ε-PL biosynthesis, while the direct influence of mixed carbon source on ε-PL production was still unknown. In this work, chemostat culture was employed to study the capacity of ε-PL biosynthesis in different carbon sources at a same dilution rate of 0.05 h -1 . The results indicated that the mixed carbon source could enhance the ε-PL productivity besides the rapid cell growth. Analysis of key enzymes demonstrated that the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, citrate synthase, aspartokinase and ε-PL synthetase were all increased in chemostat culture with the mixed carbon source. In addition, the carbon fluxes were also improved in the mixed carbon source in terms of tricarboxylic acid cycle, anaplerotic and diaminopimelate pathway. Moreover, the mixed carbon source also accelerated the energy metabolism, leading to higher levels of energy charge and NADH/NAD + ratio. The overall improvements of primary metabolism in chemostat culture with glucose-glycerol combination provided sufficient carbon skeletons and ATP for ε-PL biosynthesis. Therefore, the significantly higher ε-PL productivity in the mixed carbon source was a combined effect of both superior substrate group and rapid cell growth.

Anti-phospholipid Antibodies and Smoking: An Overview.

PubMed

Binder, Steven R; Litwin, Christine M

2017-08-01

Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, specifically lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, and anti-β2 glycoprotein-I antibodies. Antiphospholipid syndrome can occur on its own or in association with other autoimmune diseases, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A connection between cigarette smoking and anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) was first reported in the late1980s. Systemic lupus erythematosus patients with aPL are more likely to be smokers than those without aPL. These patients have a particularly high frequency of vascular events. Recently, a potential link between periodontitis, tobacco, and aPL has been proposed. Research has also suggested that periodontitis and Porphyromonas gingivalis infection are associated with citrullination through the action of peptidylarginine deiminase. A strong correlation between smoking and the presence of citrillunated autoantibodies, which are characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis, has also been observed. While many studies have investigated possible links between infection and aPL in patients with autoimmune diseases, the association of smoking with aPL has not been systematically examined. The fact that both aPL and tobacco are risk factors for thrombosis has complicated efforts to evaluate these factors separately. Also, there has been great variability in measurement techniques, and laboratories lack routine methods for differentiating transient and persistent aPL; both of these factors can make interpretation of autoantibody results quite challenging. This review summarizes the clinical evidence supporting a posited link between aPL and smoking, both in patients with a systemic autoimmune disease and in patients with other medical conditions.

Daylight Redirecting Window Films

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-01

58) • Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-140) • National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2007 (P.L. 109-364) • National Defense...Authorization Act for FY 2008 (P.L. 110-181) • National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2009 (P.L. 10-417) • Executive Order 13423 • Executive...green-house gas equivalents based on national averages Green-house- gas-equivalent conversion factor for national level usage. Embedded

77 FR 43879 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Designation of a Longer Period for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-26

... Proposed Rule Change Amending NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(h) To Add a PL Select Order Type July 20, 2012...(h) to add a PL Select Order type. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal... security at a specified, undisplayed price. The PL Select Order would be a subset of the PL Order that...

Layer-by-layer assembled cell instructive nanocoatings containing platelet lysate.

PubMed

Oliveira, Sara M; Santo, Vítor E; Gomes, Manuela E; Reis, Rui L; Mano, João F

2015-04-01

Great efforts have been made to introduce growth factors (GFs) onto 2D/3D constructs in order to control cell behavior. Platelet lysate (PL) presents itself as a cost-effective source of multiple GFs and other proteins. The instruction given by a construct-PL combination will depend on how its instructive cues are presented to the cells. The content, stability and conformation of the GFs affect their instruction. Strategies for a controlled incorporation of PL are needed. Herein, PL was incorporated into nanocoatings by layer-by-layer assembling with polysaccharides presenting different sulfation degrees (SD) and charges. Heparin and several marine polysaccharides were tested to evaluate their PL and GF incorporation capability. The consequent effects of those multilayers on human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) were assessed in short-term cultures. Both nature of the polysaccharide and SD were important properties that influenced the adsorption of PL, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor b (FGFb) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). The sulfated polysaccharides-PL multilayers showed to be efficient in the promotion of morphological changes, serum-free adhesion and proliferation of high passage hASCs (P > 5). These biomimetic multilayers promise to be versatile platforms to fabricate instructive devices allowing a tunable incorporation of PL. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measurement of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid of children.

PubMed

Akiyama, Tomoyuki; Akiyama, Mari; Hayashi, Yumiko; Shibata, Takashi; Hanaoka, Yoshiyuki; Toda, Soichiro; Imai, Katsumi; Hamano, Shin-Ichiro; Okanishi, Tohru; Yoshinaga, Harumi; Kobayashi, Katsuhiro

2017-03-01

We quantified pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal (PL), and 4-pyridoxic acid (PA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children and to investigate the effect of age, sex, epilepsy, and anti-epileptic drug (AED) therapy on these vitamers. CSF samples prospectively collected from 116 pediatric patients were analyzed. PLP, PL, and PA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, using pre-column derivatization by semicarbazide. Effects of age, sex, epilepsy, and AEDs on these vitamers and the PLP/PL ratio were evaluated using multiple linear regression models. The PLP, PL, and PA concentrations were correlated negatively with age and the PLP/PL ratio was correlated positively with age. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the presence of epilepsy was associated with lower PLP concentrations and PLP/PL ratios but sex and AED therapy had no influence on these values. The observed ranges of these vitamers in epileptic and non-epileptic patients were demonstrated. We showed the age dependence of PLP and PL in CSF from pediatric patients. Epileptic patients had lower PLP concentrations and PLP/PL ratios than non-epileptic patients, but it is unknown whether this is the cause, or a result, of epilepsy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Functional synergy of α-helical antimicrobial peptides and traditional antibiotics against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Feng, Q; Huang, Y; Chen, M; Li, G; Chen, Y

2015-01-01

In this study, the antimicrobial activities based on the synergistic effects of traditional antibiotics (imipenem, cefepime, levofloxacin hydrochloride and vancomycin) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs; PL-5, PL-31, PL-32, PL-18, PL-29 and PL-26), alone or in combination, against three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus epidermidis) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) were investigated. In addition, the antimicrobial activity that was based on the synergistic effects of levofloxacin hydrochloride and PL-5 against Staphylococcus aureus in vivo was explored in a mouse infection model. Traditional antibiotics and AMPs showed significant synergistic effects on the antibacterial activities against the different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro. A strong synergistic effect in the PL-5 and levofloxacin hydrochloride combination against Staphylococcus aureus was observed in the mouse infection model in vivo. The mechanism of synergistic action was due to the different targets of AMPs and traditional antibiotics. The combination of AMPs and traditional antibiotics can dramatically enhance antimicrobial activity and may help prevent or delay the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Thus, this combination therapy could be a promising approach to treat bacterial infections, particularly mixed infections and multi-antibiotic-resistant infections, in the clinics.

Carrier concentration dependence of donor activation energy in n-type GaN epilayers grown on Si (1 1 1) by plasma-assisted MBE

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

Kumar, Mahesh; Central Research Laboratory, Bharat Electronics, Bangalore 560 013; Bhat, Thirumaleshwara N.

Highlights: ► The n-type GaN layers were grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. ► The optical characteristics of a donor level in Si-doped GaN were studied. ► Activation energy of a Si-related donor was estimated from temperature dependent PL measurements. ► PL peak positions, FWHM of PL and activation energies are found to be proportional to the cube root of carrier density. ► The involvement of donor levels is supported by the temperature-dependent electron concentration measurements. -- Abstract: The n-type GaN layers were grown by plasma-assisted MBE and either intentionally doped with Si or unintentionally doped. The optical characteristics ofmore » a donor level in Si-doped, GaN were studied in terms of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy as a function of electron concentration. Temperature dependent PL measurements allowed us to estimate the activation energy of a Si-related donor from temperature-induced decay of PL intensity. PL peak positions, full width at half maximum of PL and activation energies are found to be proportional to the cube root of carrier density. The involvement of donor levels is supported by the temperature-dependent electron concentration measurements.« less

Intracellular Drug Bioavailability: Effect of Neutral Lipids and Phospholipids.

PubMed

Treyer, Andrea; Mateus, André; Wiśniewski, Jacek R; Boriss, Hinnerk; Matsson, Pär; Artursson, Per

2018-06-04

Intracellular unbound drug concentrations are the pharmacologically relevant concentrations for targets inside cells. Intracellular drug concentrations are determined by multiple processes, including the extent of drug binding to intracellular structures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipid (PL) levels on intracellular drug disposition. The NL and/or PL content of 3T3-L1 cells were enhanced, resulting in phenotypes (in terms of morphology and proteome) reminiscent of adipocytes (high NL and PL) or mild phospholipidosis (only high PL). Intracellular bioavailability ( F ic ) was then determined for 23 drugs in these cellular models and in untreated wild-type cells. A higher PL content led to higher intracellular drug binding and a lower F ic . The induction of NL did not further increase drug binding but led to altered F ic due to increased lysosomal pH. Further, there was a good correlation between binding to beads coated with pure PL and intracellular drug binding. In conclusion, our results suggest that PL content is a major determinant of drug binding in cells and that PL beads may constitute a simple alternative to estimating this parameter. Further, the presence of massive amounts of intracellular NLs did not influence drug binding significantly.

Harmonic oscillators and resonance series generated by a periodic unstable classical orbit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kazansky, A. K.; Ostrovsky, Valentin N.

1995-01-01

The presence of an unstable periodic classical orbit allows one to introduce the decay time as a purely classical magnitude: inverse of the Lyapunov index which characterizes the orbit instability. The Uncertainty Relation gives the corresponding resonance width which is proportional to the Planck constant. The more elaborate analysis is based on the parabolic equation method where the problem is effectively reduced to the multidimensional harmonic oscillator with the time-dependent frequency. The resonances form series in the complex energy plane which is equidistant in the direction perpendicular to the real axis. The applications of the general approach to various problems in atomic physics are briefly exposed.

Dynamical evolution of spectator systems produced in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazurek, K.; Szczurek, A.; Schmitt, C.; Nadtochy, P. N.

2018-02-01

In peripheral heavy-ion collisions at ultrarelativistic energies, usually only parts of the colliding nuclei effectively interact with each other. In the overlapping zone, a fireball or quark-gluon plasma is produced. The excitation energy of the heavy remnant can range from a few tens to several hundreds of MeV, depending on the impact parameter. The decay of these excited spectators is investigated in this work for the first time within a dynamical approach based on the multidimensional stochastic Langevin equation. The potential of this exploratory work to understand the connection between electromagnetic fields generated by the heavy spectators and measured pion distributions is discussed.

Parallel computing using a Lagrangian formulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, May-Fun; Loh, Ching Yuen

1991-01-01

A new Lagrangian formulation of the Euler equation is adopted for the calculation of 2-D supersonic steady flow. The Lagrangian formulation represents the inherent parallelism of the flow field better than the common Eulerian formulation and offers a competitive alternative on parallel computers. The implementation of the Lagrangian formulation on the Thinking Machines Corporation CM-2 Computer is described. The program uses a finite volume, first-order Godunov scheme and exhibits high accuracy in dealing with multidimensional discontinuities (slip-line and shock). By using this formulation, a better than six times speed-up was achieved on a 8192-processor CM-2 over a single processor of a CRAY-2.

Parallel computing using a Lagrangian formulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, May-Fun; Loh, Ching-Yuen

1992-01-01

This paper adopts a new Lagrangian formulation of the Euler equation for the calculation of two dimensional supersonic steady flow. The Lagrangian formulation represents the inherent parallelism of the flow field better than the common Eulerian formulation and offers a competitive alternative on parallel computers. The implementation of the Lagrangian formulation on the Thinking Machines Corporation CM-2 Computer is described. The program uses a finite volume, first-order Godunov scheme and exhibits high accuracy in dealing with multidimensional discontinuities (slip-line and shock). By using this formulation, we have achieved better than six times speed-up on a 8192-processor CM-2 over a single processor of a CRAY-2.

HIV risk, partner violence, and relationship power among Filipino young women: testing a structural model.

PubMed

Lucea, Marguerite B; Hindin, Michelle J; Kub, Joan; Campbell, Jacquelyn C

2012-01-01

A person's ability to minimize HIV risk is embedded in a complex, multidimensional context. In this study, we tested a model of how relationship power impacts IPV victimization, which in turn impacts HIV risk behaviors. We analyzed data from 474 young adult women (aged 15-31) in Cebu Province, Philippines, using structural equation modeling, and demonstrated good fit for the models. High relationship power is directly associated with increased IPV victimization, and IPV victimization is positively associated with increased HIV risk. We highlight in this article the complex dynamics to consider in HIV risk prevention among these young women.

HIV Risk, Partner Violence, and Relationship Power Among Filipino Young Women: Testing a Structural Model

PubMed Central

LUCEA, MARGUERITE B.; HINDIN, MICHELLE J.; KUB, JOAN; CAMPBELL, JACQUELYN C.

2012-01-01

A person’s ability to minimize HIV risk is embedded in a complex, multidimensional context. In this study, we tested a model of how relationship power impacts IPV victimization, which in turn impacts HIV risk behaviors. We analyzed data from 474 young adult women (aged 15–31) in Cebu Province, Philippines, using structural equation modeling, and demonstrated good fit for the models. High relationship power is directly associated with increased IPV victimization, and IPV victimization is positively associated with increased HIV risk. We highlight in this article the complex dynamics to consider in HIV risk prevention among these young women. PMID:22420674

Evaluating the truth brand.

PubMed

Evans, W Douglas; Price, Simani; Blahut, Steven

2005-03-01

The American Legacy Foundation developed the truth campaign, an aspirational antismoking brand for adolescents. This study tested whether a multidimensional scale, brand equity in truth, mediates the relationship between campaign exposure and youth smoking. We collected brand equity responses from 2,306 youth on a nationally representative telephone survey. Factor analysis indicates that the scale has excellent psychometric properties and effectively measures brand equity. We developed a structural equation model to test the mediation hypothesis. Results show that brand equity mediates the relationship between truth and smoking. Analyses of potential cofounders show this relationship is robust. Behavioral branding (brands about a behavior or a lifestyle) is an important public health strategy.

Effect of perceived social support and dispositional optimism on the depression of burn patients.

PubMed

He, Fei; Zhou, Qin; Zhao, Zhijing; Zhang, Yuan; Guan, Hao

2016-06-01

Burn wounds have a significant impact on the mental health of patients. This study aimed to investigate the impact of perceived social support and dispositional optimism on depression of burn patients. A total of 246 burn patients accomplished the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Revised Life Orientation Test, and Depression Scale. The results revealed that both perceived social support and optimism were significantly correlated with depression. Structural equation modeling indicated that optimism partially mediated the relationship between perceived social support and depression. Implications for prevention of depression in burn patients were discussed. © The Author(s) 2014.

Quantum confinement effects across two-dimensional planes in MoS{sub 2} quantum dots

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

Gan, Z. X.; Liu, L. Z.; Wu, H. Y.

2015-06-08

The low quantum yield (∼10{sup −5}) has restricted practical use of photoluminescence (PL) from MoS{sub 2} composed of a few layers, but the quantum confinement effects across two-dimensional planes are believed to be able to boost the PL intensity. In this work, PL from 2 to 9 nm MoS{sub 2} quantum dots (QDs) is excluded from the solvent and the absorption and PL spectra are shown to be consistent with the size distribution. PL from MoS{sub 2} QDs is also found to be sensitive to aggregation due to the size effect.

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

Hou, Zhentao; Krauss, Todd D.

Addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) to a suspension consisting of either DNA or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) caused significant photoluminescence (PL) brightening from the SWCNTs, while PL quenching to different extents was observed for other surfactant-SWCNT suspensions. PL lifetime studies with high temporal resolution show that addition of DTT mitigates non-radiative decay processes, but also surprisingly increases the radiative decay rate for DNA- and SDS-SWCNTs. There are completely opposite effects on the decay rates found for the other surfactant-SWCNTs and show PL quenching. Here, we propose that the PL brightening results from a surfactant reorganization uponmore » DTT addition. TOC« less

Defects in ZnO nanorods prepared by a hydrothermal method.

PubMed

Tam, K H; Cheung, C K; Leung, Y H; Djurisić, A B; Ling, C C; Beling, C D; Fung, S; Kwok, W M; Chan, W K; Phillips, D L; Ding, L; Ge, W K

2006-10-26

ZnO nanorod arrays were fabricated using a hydrothermal method. The nanorods were studied by scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved PL, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and positron annihilation spectroscopy before and after annealing in different environments and at different temperatures. Annealing atmosphere and temperature had significant effects on the PL spectrum, while in all cases the positron diffusion length and PL decay times were increased. We found that, while the defect emission can be significantly reduced by annealing at 200 degrees C, the rods still have large defect concentrations as confirmed by their low positron diffusion length and short PL decay time constants.

Influence of cysteine doping on photoluminescence intensity from semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurnosov, N. V.; Leontiev, V. S.; Linnik, A. S.; Karachevtsev, V. A.

2015-03-01

Photoluminescence (PL) from semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes can be applied for detection of cysteine. It is shown that cysteine doping (from 10-8 to 10-3 M) into aqueous suspension of nanotubes with adsorbed DNA leads to increase of PL intensity. The PL intensity was enhanced by 27% at 10-3 M cysteine concentration in suspension. Most likely, the PL intensity increases due to the passivation of p-defects on the nanotube by the cysteine containing reactive thiol group. The effect of doping with other amino acids without this group (methionine, serine, aspartic acid, lysine, proline) on the PL intensity is essentially weaker.

Development of an Injectable Calcium Phosphate/Hyaluronic Acid Microparticles System for Platelet Lysate Sustained Delivery Aiming Bone Regeneration.

PubMed

Babo, Pedro S; Santo, Vítor E; Gomes, Manuela E; Reis, Rui L

2016-11-01

Despite the biocompatibility and osteoinductive properties of calcium phosphate (CaP) cements their low biodegradability hampers full bone regeneration. Herein the incorporation of CaP cement with hyaluronic acid (HAc) microparticles loaded with platelet lysate (PL) to improve the degradability and biological performance of the cements is proposed. Cement formulations incorporating increasing weight ratios of either empty HAc microparticles or microparticles loaded with PL (10 and 20 wt%) are developed as well as cements directly incorporating PL. The direct incorporation of PL improves the mechanical properties of the plain cement, reaching values similar to native bone. Morphological analysis shows homogeneous particle distribution and high interconnectivity between the HAc microparticles. The cements incorporating PL (with or without the HAc microparticles) present a sustained release of PL proteins for up to 8 d. The sustained release of PL modulates the expression of osteogenic markers in seeded human adipose tissue derived stem cells, thus suggesting the stimulatory role of this hybrid system toward osteogenic commitment and bone regeneration applications. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

[Use of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in preeclampsia : a monocentric retrospective analysis].

PubMed

Verbeurgt, L; Chantraine, F; De Marchin, J; Minon, J-M; Nisolle, M

2017-09-01

Soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) is an anti-angiogenic factor released in higher amounts in preeclampsia and implicated in endothelial dysfunction. sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is used in the prediction of preeclampsia. An sFlt-1/PlGF ratio inferior to 38 predicts the short-term absence of preeclampsia. A ratio ? 85 (early-onset PE) or ? 110 (late-onset of PE) could diagnose preeclampsia. In this study, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio has been measured in 183 patients. Sixty-seven preeclampsia have been diagnosed preeclamptic at delivery. The median sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was 100.3. The median ratio among women with preeclampsia (N=67) versus no preeclampsia (N=116) was 212.7 versus 35.4. In accordance with this analysis, an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ? 38 has a sensibility of 95,5 % and a specificity of 73.3 %. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 67.4 % and 96.6 %, respectively. These results suggest that sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is helpful in the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Complete genome sequences of two highly divergent Japanese isolates of Plantago asiatica mosaic virus.

PubMed

Komatsu, Ken; Yamashita, Kazuo; Sugawara, Kota; Verbeek, Martin; Fujita, Naoko; Hanada, Kaoru; Uehara-Ichiki, Tamaki; Fuji, Shin-Ichi

2017-02-01

Plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV) is a member of the genus Potexvirus and has an exceptionally wide host range. It causes severe damage to lilies. Here we report on the complete nucleotide sequences of two new Japanese PlAMV isolates, one from the eudicot weed Viola grypoceras (PlAMV-Vi), and the other from the eudicot shrub Nandina domestica Thunb. (PlAMV-NJ). Their genomes contain five open reading frames (ORFs), which is characteristic of potexviruses. Surprisingly, the isolates showed only 76.0-78.0 % sequence identity with each other and with other PlAMV isolates, including isolates from Japanese lily and American nandina. Amino acid alignments of the replicase coding region encoded by ORF1 showed that the regions between the methyltransferase and helicase domains were less conserved than other regions, with several insertions and/or deletions. Phylogenetic analyses of the full-length nucleotide sequences revealed a moderate correlation between phylogenetic clustering and the original host plants of the PlAMV isolates. This study revealed the presence of two highly divergent PlAMV isolates in Japan.

Behavioural and physiological mechanisms of polarized light sensitivity in birds.

PubMed

Muheim, Rachel

2011-03-12

Polarized light (PL) sensitivity is relatively well studied in a large number of invertebrates and some fish species, but in most other vertebrate classes, including birds, the behavioural and physiological mechanism of PL sensitivity remains one of the big mysteries in sensory biology. Many organisms use the skylight polarization pattern as part of a sun compass for orientation, navigation and in spatial orientation tasks. In birds, the available evidence for an involvement of the skylight polarization pattern in sun-compass orientation is very weak. Instead, cue-conflict and cue-calibration experiments have shown that the skylight polarization pattern near the horizon at sunrise and sunset provides birds with a seasonally and latitudinally independent compass calibration reference. Despite convincing evidence that birds use PL cues for orientation, direct experimental evidence for PL sensitivity is still lacking. Avian double cones have been proposed as putative PL receptors, but detailed anatomical and physiological evidence will be needed to conclusively describe the avian PL receptor. Intriguing parallels between the functional and physiological properties of PL reception and light-dependent magnetoreception could point to a common receptor system.

Behavioural and physiological mechanisms of polarized light sensitivity in birds

PubMed Central

Muheim, Rachel

2011-01-01

Polarized light (PL) sensitivity is relatively well studied in a large number of invertebrates and some fish species, but in most other vertebrate classes, including birds, the behavioural and physiological mechanism of PL sensitivity remains one of the big mysteries in sensory biology. Many organisms use the skylight polarization pattern as part of a sun compass for orientation, navigation and in spatial orientation tasks. In birds, the available evidence for an involvement of the skylight polarization pattern in sun-compass orientation is very weak. Instead, cue-conflict and cue-calibration experiments have shown that the skylight polarization pattern near the horizon at sunrise and sunset provides birds with a seasonally and latitudinally independent compass calibration reference. Despite convincing evidence that birds use PL cues for orientation, direct experimental evidence for PL sensitivity is still lacking. Avian double cones have been proposed as putative PL receptors, but detailed anatomical and physiological evidence will be needed to conclusively describe the avian PL receptor. Intriguing parallels between the functional and physiological properties of PL reception and light-dependent magnetoreception could point to a common receptor system. PMID:21282180

Photoluminescence Intermittency and Photo-Bleaching of Single Colloidal Quantum Dot.

PubMed

Qin, Haiyan; Meng, Renyang; Wang, Na; Peng, Xiaogang

2017-04-01

Photoluminescence (PL) blinking of single colloidal quantum dot (QD)-PL intensity switching between different brightness states under constant excitation-and photo-bleaching are roadblocks for most applications of QDs. This progress report shall treat PL blinking and photo-bleaching both as photochemical events, namely, PL blinking as reversible and photo-bleaching being irreversible ones. Most studies on single-molecule spectroscopy of QDs in literature are related to PL blinking, which invites us to concentrate our discussions on the PL blinking, including its brief history in 20 years, analysis methods, competitive mechanisms and different strategies to battle it. In terms of suppression of the PL blinking, wavefunction confinement-confining photo-generated electron and hole within the core and inner portion of the shell of a core/shell QD-demonstrates significant advantages. This strategy yields nearly non-blinking QDs with their emission peaks covering most part of the visible window. As expected, the resulting QDs from this new strategy also show substantially improved anti-bleaching features. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Molecular characterization and physical localization of highly repetitive DNA sequences from Brazilian Alstroemeria species.

PubMed

Kuipers, A G J; Kamstra, S A; de Jeu, M J; Visser, R G F

2002-01-01

Highly repetitive DNA sequences were isolated from genomic DNA libraries of Alstroemeria psittacina and A. inodora. Among the repetitive sequences that were isolated, tandem repeats as well as dispersed repeats could be discerned. The tandem repeats belonged to a family of interlinked Sau3A subfragments with sizes varying from 68-127 bp, and constituted a larger HinfI repeat of approximately 400 bp. Southern hybridization showed a similar molecular organization of the tandem repeats in each of the Brazilian Alstroemeria species tested. None of the repeats hybridized with DNA from Chilean Alstroemeria species, which indicates that they are specific for the Brazilian species. In-situ localization studies revealed the tandem repeats to be localized in clusters on the chromosomes of A. inodora and A. psittacina: distal hybridization sites were found on chromosome arms 2PS, 6PL, 7PS, 7PL and 8PL, interstitial sites on chromosome arms 2PL, 3PL, 4PL and 5PL. The applicability of the tandem repeats for cytogenetic analysis of interspecific hybrids and their role in heterochromatin organization are discussed.

Direct Observation of Electron-Phonon Coupling and Slow Vibrational Relaxation in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskites.

PubMed

Straus, Daniel B; Hurtado Parra, Sebastian; Iotov, Natasha; Gebhardt, Julian; Rappe, Andrew M; Subotnik, Joseph E; Kikkawa, James M; Kagan, Cherie R

2016-10-05

Quantum and dielectric confinement effects in 2D hybrid perovskites create excitons with a binding energy exceeding 150 meV. We exploit the large exciton binding energy to study exciton and carrier dynamics as well as electron-phonon coupling in hybrid perovskites using absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. At temperatures below 75 K, we resolve splitting of the excitonic absorption and PL into multiple regularly-spaced resonances every 40-46 meV, consistent with electron-phonon coupling to phonons located on the organic cation. We also resolve resonances with a 14 meV spacing, in accord with coupling to phonons with mixed organic and inorganic character, and these assignments are supported by density-functional theory calculations. Hot exciton PL and time-resolved PL measurements show that vibrational relaxation occurs on a picosecond timescale competitive with that for PL. At temperatures above 75 K, excitonic absorption and PL exhibit homogeneous broadening. While absorption remains homogeneous, PL becomes inhomogeneous below 75K, which we speculate is caused by the formation and subsequent dynamics of a polaronic exciton.

Uniqueness of thermodynamic projector and kinetic basis of molecular individualism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorban, Alexander N.; Karlin, Iliya V.

2004-05-01

Three results are presented: First, we solve the problem of persistence of dissipation for reduction of kinetic models. Kinetic equations with thermodynamic Lyapunov functions are studied. Uniqueness of the thermodynamic projector is proven: There exists only one projector which transforms any vector field equipped with the given Lyapunov function into a vector field with the same Lyapunov function for a given anzatz manifold which is not tangent to the Lyapunov function levels. Second, we use the thermodynamic projector for developing the short memory approximation and coarse-graining for general nonlinear dynamic systems. We prove that in this approximation the entropy production increases. ( The theorem about entropy overproduction.) In example, we apply the thermodynamic projector to derive the equations of reduced kinetics for the Fokker-Planck equation. A new class of closures is developed, the kinetic multipeak polyhedra. Distributions of this type are expected in kinetic models with multidimensional instability as universally as the Gaussian distribution appears for stable systems. The number of possible relatively stable states of a nonequilibrium system grows as 2 m, and the number of macroscopic parameters is in order mn, where n is the dimension of configuration space, and m is the number of independent unstable directions in this space. The elaborated class of closures and equations pretends to describe the effects of “molecular individualism”. This is the third result.

Fully implicit moving mesh adaptive algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serazio, C.; Chacon, L.; Lapenta, G.

2006-10-01

In many problems of interest, the numerical modeler is faced with the challenge of dealing with multiple time and length scales. The former is best dealt with with fully implicit methods, which are able to step over fast frequencies to resolve the dynamical time scale of interest. The latter requires grid adaptivity for efficiency. Moving-mesh grid adaptive methods are attractive because they can be designed to minimize the numerical error for a given resolution. However, the required grid governing equations are typically very nonlinear and stiff, and of considerably difficult numerical treatment. Not surprisingly, fully coupled, implicit approaches where the grid and the physics equations are solved simultaneously are rare in the literature, and circumscribed to 1D geometries. In this study, we present a fully implicit algorithm for moving mesh methods that is feasible for multidimensional geometries. Crucial elements are the development of an effective multilevel treatment of the grid equation, and a robust, rigorous error estimator. For the latter, we explore the effectiveness of a coarse grid correction error estimator, which faithfully reproduces spatial truncation errors for conservative equations. We will show that the moving mesh approach is competitive vs. uniform grids both in accuracy (due to adaptivity) and efficiency. Results for a variety of models 1D and 2D geometries will be presented. L. Chac'on, G. Lapenta, J. Comput. Phys., 212 (2), 703 (2006) G. Lapenta, L. Chac'on, J. Comput. Phys., accepted (2006)

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence in meso-porous MCM nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Y. C.; Liu, Y. L.; Lee, W. Z.; Wang, C. K.; Shen, J. L.; Cheng, P. W.; Cheng, C. F.; Lin, T. Y.

2004-11-01

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) was exploited to investigate the mechanism of luminescence of MCM (Mobil Composition of Matter)-41 and MCM-48 nanotubes. The PL intensity has a maximum around 40 K. Localization of the carriers involved in the radiative recombination was deduced from the PL decay profiles at various energies. A model based on competition between radiative recombination of localized carriers and nonradiative recombination is suggested to explain the temperature-dependence of PL intensity.

77 FR 34115 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-08

... Equities Rule 7.31(h) To Add a PL Select Order Type June 4, 2012. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the... Change The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(h) to add a PL Select Order type. The... add a PL Select Order type. Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(h)(4), a Passive Liquidity (``PL...

Molecular characterization of the pL40 protein in Leptospira interrogans.

PubMed

Zhao, Wei; Chen, Chun-Yan; Zhang, Xiang-Yan; Lai, Wei-Qiang; Hu, Bao-Yu; Zhao, Guo-Ping; Qin, Jin-Hong; Guo, Xiao-Kui

2009-06-01

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic leptospires. The identification of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) conserved among pathogenic leptospires, which are exposed on the leptospiral surface and expressed during mammalian infection, has become a major focus of leptospirosis research. pL40, a 40 kDa protein coded by the LA3744 gene in Leptospira interrogans, was found to be unique to Leptospira. Triton X-114 fractionation and flow cytometry analyses indicate that pL40 is a component of the leptospiral outer membrane. The conservation of pL40 among Leptospira strains prevalent in China was confirmed by both Western blotting and PCR screening. Furthermore, the pL40 antigen could be recognized by sera from guinea pigs and mice infected with low-passage L. interrogans. These findings indicate that pL40 may serve as a useful serodiagnostic antigen and vaccine candidate for L. interrogans.

Active avoidance requires inhibitory signaling in the rodent prelimbic prefrontal cortex

PubMed Central

Bravo-Rivera, Christian; Rodriguez-Romaguera, Jose; Pagan-Rivera, Pablo A; Burgos-Robles, Anthony; Roman-Ortiz, Ciorana; Quirk, Gregory J

2018-01-01

Much is known about the neural circuits of conditioned fear and its relevance to understanding anxiety disorders, but less is known about other anxiety-related behaviors such as active avoidance. Using a tone-signaled, platform-mediated avoidance task, we observed that pharmacological inactivation of the prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PL) delayed avoidance. Surprisingly, optogenetic silencing of PL glutamatergic neurons did not delay avoidance. Consistent with this, inhibitory but not excitatory responses of rostral PL neurons were associated with avoidance training. To test the importance of these inhibitory responses, we optogenetically stimulated PL neurons to counteract the tone-elicited reduction in firing rate. Photoactivation of rostral (but not caudal) PL neurons at 4 Hz impaired avoidance. These findings suggest that inhibitory responses of rostral PL neurons signal the avoidability of a potential threat and underscore the importance of designing behavioral optogenetic studies based on neuronal firing responses. PMID:29851381

Phase reduction approach to synchronisation of nonlinear oscillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakao, Hiroya

2016-04-01

Systems of dynamical elements exhibiting spontaneous rhythms are found in various fields of science and engineering, including physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, and mechanical and electrical engineering. Such dynamical elements are often modelled as nonlinear limit-cycle oscillators. In this article, we briefly review phase reduction theory, which is a simple and powerful method for analysing the synchronisation properties of limit-cycle oscillators exhibiting rhythmic dynamics. Through phase reduction theory, we can systematically simplify the nonlinear multi-dimensional differential equations describing a limit-cycle oscillator to a one-dimensional phase equation, which is much easier to analyse. Classical applications of this theory, i.e. the phase locking of an oscillator to a periodic external forcing and the mutual synchronisation of interacting oscillators, are explained. Further, more recent applications of this theory to the synchronisation of non-interacting oscillators induced by common noise and the dynamics of coupled oscillators on complex networks are discussed. We also comment on some recent advances in phase reduction theory for noise-driven oscillators and rhythmic spatiotemporal patterns.

QED multi-dimensional vacuum polarization finite-difference solver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carneiro, Pedro; Grismayer, Thomas; Silva, Luís; Fonseca, Ricardo

2015-11-01

The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) is expected to deliver peak intensities of 1023 - 1024 W/cm2 allowing to probe nonlinear Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) phenomena in an unprecedented regime. Within the framework of QED, the second order process of photon-photon scattering leads to a set of extended Maxwell's equations [W. Heisenberg and H. Euler, Z. Physik 98, 714] effectively creating nonlinear polarization and magnetization terms that account for the nonlinear response of the vacuum. To model this in a self-consistent way, we present a multi dimensional generalized Maxwell equation finite difference solver with significantly enhanced dispersive properties, which was implemented in the OSIRIS particle-in-cell code [R.A. Fonseca et al. LNCS 2331, pp. 342-351, 2002]. We present a detailed numerical analysis of this electromagnetic solver. As an illustration of the properties of the solver, we explore several examples in extreme conditions. We confirm the theoretical prediction of vacuum birefringence of a pulse propagating in the presence of an intense static background field [arXiv:1301.4918 [quant-ph

Entropy-stable summation-by-parts discretization of the Euler equations on general curved elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crean, Jared; Hicken, Jason E.; Del Rey Fernández, David C.; Zingg, David W.; Carpenter, Mark H.

2018-03-01

We present and analyze an entropy-stable semi-discretization of the Euler equations based on high-order summation-by-parts (SBP) operators. In particular, we consider general multidimensional SBP elements, building on and generalizing previous work with tensor-product discretizations. In the absence of dissipation, we prove that the semi-discrete scheme conserves entropy; significantly, this proof of nonlinear L2 stability does not rely on integral exactness. Furthermore, interior penalties can be incorporated into the discretization to ensure that the total (mathematical) entropy decreases monotonically, producing an entropy-stable scheme. SBP discretizations with curved elements remain accurate, conservative, and entropy stable provided the mapping Jacobian satisfies the discrete metric invariants; polynomial mappings at most one degree higher than the SBP operators automatically satisfy the metric invariants in two dimensions. In three-dimensions, we describe an elementwise optimization that leads to suitable Jacobians in the case of polynomial mappings. The properties of the semi-discrete scheme are verified and investigated using numerical experiments.

TOUGH3 v1.0

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

PAU, GEORGE; JUNG, YOOJIN; FINSTERLE, STEFAN

2016-09-14

TOUGH3 V1.0 capabilities to simulate multi-dimensional, multi-phase, multi-component, non-isothermal flow and transport in fractured porous media, with applications geosciences and reservoir engineering and other application areas. TOUGH3 V1.0 supports a number of different combinations of fluids and components (updated equation-of-state (EOS) modules from previous versions of TOUGH, including EOS1, EOS2, EOS3, EOS4, EOS5, EOS7, EOS7R, EOS7C, EOS7CA, EOS8, EOS9, EWASG, TMVOC, ECO2N, and ECO2M). This upgrade includes (a) expanded list of updated equation-of-state (EOS) modules, (b) new hysteresis models, (c) new implementation of parallel and solver functionalities, (d) new linear solver options based on PETSc libraries, (e) new automatic buildmore » system that automatically downloads and builds third-party libraries and TOUGH3, (f) new printout in CSV format, (g) dynamic memory allocation, (h) various user features, and (i) bug fixes.« less

Mixed-RKDG Finite Element Methods for the 2-D Hydrodynamic Model for Semiconductor Device Simulation

DOE PAGES

Chen, Zhangxin; Cockburn, Bernardo; Jerome, Joseph W.; ...

1995-01-01

In this paper we introduce a new method for numerically solving the equations of the hydrodynamic model for semiconductor devices in two space dimensions. The method combines a standard mixed finite element method, used to obtain directly an approximation to the electric field, with the so-called Runge-Kutta Discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG) method, originally devised for numerically solving multi-dimensional hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, which is applied here to the convective part of the equations. Numerical simulations showing the performance of the new method are displayed, and the results compared with those obtained by using Essentially Nonoscillatory (ENO) finite difference schemes. Frommore » the perspective of device modeling, these methods are robust, since they are capable of encompassing broad parameter ranges, including those for which shock formation is possible. The simulations presented here are for Gallium Arsenide at room temperature, but we have tested them much more generally with considerable success.« less

Quantum dynamics calculations using symmetrized, orthogonal Weyl-Heisenberg wavelets with a phase space truncation scheme. III. Representations and calculations.

PubMed

Poirier, Bill; Salam, A

2004-07-22

In a previous paper [J. Theo. Comput. Chem. 2, 65 (2003)], one of the authors (B.P.) presented a method for solving the multidimensional Schrodinger equation, using modified Wilson-Daubechies wavelets, and a simple phase space truncation scheme. Unprecedented numerical efficiency was achieved, enabling a ten-dimensional calculation of nearly 600 eigenvalues to be performed using direct matrix diagonalization techniques. In a second paper [J. Chem. Phys. 121, 1690 (2004)], and in this paper, we extend and elaborate upon the previous work in several important ways. The second paper focuses on construction and optimization of the wavelength functions, from theoretical and numerical viewpoints, and also examines their localization. This paper deals with their use in representations and eigenproblem calculations, which are extended to 15-dimensional systems. Even higher dimensionalities are possible using more sophisticated linear algebra techniques. This approach is ideally suited to rovibrational spectroscopy applications, but can be used in any context where differential equations are involved.

Multi-dimensional computer simulation of MHD combustor hydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berry, G. F.; Chang, S. L.; Lottes, S. A.; Rimkus, W. A.

1991-04-01

Argonne National Laboratory is investigating the nonreacting jet gas mixing patterns in an MHD second stage combustor by using a 2-D multiphase hydrodynamics computer program and a 3-D single phase hydrodynamics computer program. The computer simulations are intended to enhance the understanding of flow and mixing patterns in the combustor, which in turn may lead to improvement of the downstream MHD channel performance. A 2-D steady state computer model, based on mass and momentum conservation laws for multiple gas species, is used to simulate the hydrodynamics of the combustor in which a jet of oxidizer is injected into an unconfined cross stream gas flow. A 3-D code is used to examine the effects of the side walls and the distributed jet flows on the non-reacting jet gas mixing patterns. The code solves the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, and a transport equation of a turbulence parameter and allows permeable surfaces to be specified for any computational cell.

Student engagement and its relationship with early high school dropout.

PubMed

Archambault, Isabelle; Janosz, Michel; Fallu, Jean-Sébastien; Pagani, Linda S

2009-06-01

Although the concept of school engagement figures prominently in most school dropout theories, there has been little empirical research conducted on its nature and course and, more importantly, the association with dropout. Information on the natural development of school engagement would greatly benefit those interested in preventing student alienation during adolescence. Using a longitudinal sample of 11,827 French-Canadian high school students, we tested behavioral, affective, cognitive indices of engagement both separately and as a global construct. We then assessed their contribution as prospective predictors of school dropout using factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Global engagement reliably predicted school dropout. Among its three specific dimensions, only behavioral engagement made a significant contribution in the prediction equation. Our findings confirm the robustness of the overall multidimensional construct of school engagement, which reflects both cognitive and psychosocial characteristics, and underscore the importance attributed to basic participation and compliance issues in reliably estimating risk of not completing basic schooling during adolescence.

Computation of multi-dimensional viscous supersonic jet flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Y. N.; Buggeln, R. C.; Mcdonald, H.

1986-01-01

A new method has been developed for two- and three-dimensional computations of viscous supersonic flows with embedded subsonic regions adjacent to solid boundaries. The approach employs a reduced form of the Navier-Stokes equations which allows solution as an initial-boundary value problem in space, using an efficient noniterative forward marching algorithm. Numerical instability associated with forward marching algorithms for flows with embedded subsonic regions is avoided by approximation of the reduced form of the Navier-Stokes equations in the subsonic regions of the boundary layers. Supersonic and subsonic portions of the flow field are simultaneously calculated by a consistently split linearized block implicit computational algorithm. The results of computations for a series of test cases relevant to internal supersonic flow is presented and compared with data. Comparison between data and computation are in general excellent thus indicating that the computational technique has great promise as a tool for calculating supersonic flow with embedded subsonic regions. Finally, a User's Manual is presented for the computer code used to perform the calculations.

Computation of multi-dimensional viscous supersonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buggeln, R. C.; Kim, Y. N.; Mcdonald, H.

1986-01-01

A method has been developed for two- and three-dimensional computations of viscous supersonic jet flows interacting with an external flow. The approach employs a reduced form of the Navier-Stokes equations which allows solution as an initial-boundary value problem in space, using an efficient noniterative forward marching algorithm. Numerical instability associated with forward marching algorithms for flows with embedded subsonic regions is avoided by approximation of the reduced form of the Navier-Stokes equations in the subsonic regions of the boundary layers. Supersonic and subsonic portions of the flow field are simultaneously calculated by a consistently split linearized block implicit computational algorithm. The results of computations for a series of test cases associated with supersonic jet flow is presented and compared with other calculations for axisymmetric cases. Demonstration calculations indicate that the computational technique has great promise as a tool for calculating a wide range of supersonic flow problems including jet flow. Finally, a User's Manual is presented for the computer code used to perform the calculations.

Homogenization of Large-Scale Movement Models in Ecology

USGS Publications Warehouse

Garlick, M.J.; Powell, J.A.; Hooten, M.B.; McFarlane, L.R.

2011-01-01

A difficulty in using diffusion models to predict large scale animal population dispersal is that individuals move differently based on local information (as opposed to gradients) in differing habitat types. This can be accommodated by using ecological diffusion. However, real environments are often spatially complex, limiting application of a direct approach. Homogenization for partial differential equations has long been applied to Fickian diffusion (in which average individual movement is organized along gradients of habitat and population density). We derive a homogenization procedure for ecological diffusion and apply it to a simple model for chronic wasting disease in mule deer. Homogenization allows us to determine the impact of small scale (10-100 m) habitat variability on large scale (10-100 km) movement. The procedure generates asymptotic equations for solutions on the large scale with parameters defined by small-scale variation. The simplicity of this homogenization procedure is striking when compared to the multi-dimensional homogenization procedure for Fickian diffusion,and the method will be equally straightforward for more complex models. ?? 2010 Society for Mathematical Biology.