21 CFR 201.300 - Notice to manufacturers, packers, and distributors of glandular preparations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... function of the human body that they are intended to affect. Since any such representations offering these..., DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS: GENERAL LABELING Specific Labeling Requirements... structure or any function of the body. (b) Manufacturers have heretofore taken advantage of § 201.100...

21 CFR 201.300 - Notice to manufacturers, packers, and distributors of glandular preparations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... function of the human body that they are intended to affect. Since any such representations offering these..., DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS: GENERAL LABELING Specific Labeling Requirements... structure or any function of the body. (b) Manufacturers have heretofore taken advantage of § 201.100...

21 CFR 201.300 - Notice to manufacturers, packers, and distributors of glandular preparations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... function of the human body that they are intended to affect. Since any such representations offering these..., DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) DRUGS: GENERAL LABELING Specific Labeling Requirements... structure or any function of the body. (b) Manufacturers have heretofore taken advantage of § 201.100...

The Teacher as Inventor--Making Small High Schools Work.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kleinfeld, Judith; And Others

Designed to celebrate rural teachers' inventiveness and stimulate teacher thinking about opportunities that small schools offer, this booklet is a collection of ideas and resources that have worked in specific Alaska school settings. An introductory chapter challenges teachers to use small size to advantage. Chapter 2 shows what rural teachers are…

Infertility and Crisis: Self-Discovery and Healing through Poetry Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barney, Anne

1992-01-01

Offers a personal narrative on how the author's own poetry helped her cope with the crisis of infertility, serving as a tool for self-discovery and healing. Suggests that specific advantages of poetry writing within the context of psychotherapy include problem solving; expression of feelings; insight; couple communication; and individual and…

Realistic Specific Power Expectations for Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, Lee S.

2006-01-01

Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) are being considered for a wide range of future NASA space science and exploration missions. Generally, RPS offer the advantages of high reliability, long life, and predictable power production regardless of operating environment. Previous RPS, in the form of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG), have been used successfully on many NASA missions including Apollo, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo. NASA is currently evaluating design options for the next generation of RPS. Of particular interest is the use of advanced, higher efficiency power conversion to replace the previous thermoelectric devices. Higher efficiency reduces the quantity of radioisotope fuel and potentially improves the RPS specific power (watts per kilogram). Power conversion options include Segmented Thermoelectric (STE), Stirling, Brayton, and Thermophotovoltaic (TPV). This paper offers an analysis of the advanced 100 watt-class RPS options and provides credible projections for specific power. Based on the analysis presented, RPS specific power values greater than 10 W/kg appear unlikely.

Performance characterization of a low power hydrazine arcjet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knowles, S. C.; Smith, W. W.; Curran, F. M.; Haag, T. W.

1987-01-01

Hydrazine arcjets, which offer substantial performance advantages over alternatives in geosynchronous satellite stationkeeping applications, have undergone startup, materials compatibility, lifetime, and power conditioning unit design issues. Devices in the 1000-3000 W output range have been characterized for several different electrode configurations. Constrictor length and diameter, electrode gap setting, and vortex strength have been parametrically studied in order to ascertain the influence of each on specific impulse and efficiency; specific impulse levels greater than 700 sec have been achieved.

Single-Case Experimental Designs for the Evaluation of Treatments for Self-Injurious and Suicidal Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rizvi, Shireen L.; Nock, Matthew K.

2008-01-01

Single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) provide a time- and cost-effective alternative to randomized clinical trials and offer significant advantages in terms of internal and external validity. A brief history and primer on SCEDs is provided, specifically for use in suicide intervention research. Various SCED methodologies, such as AB, ABAB,…

Proposals for Standardizing and Improving the Policy of Adding Points on the Entrance Exam

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yuhong, Deng

2013-01-01

This article reviews policies for adding points on the College Entrance Examination. It analyzes the rationales and specific implementation strategies of various policies for adding points on the entrance exam, as well as their advantages and pitfalls. Based on these observations and analysis, the author also offers policy recommendations on the…

Clindamycin phosphate-tretinoin combination gel revisited: status report on a specific formulation used for acne treatment.

PubMed

Del Rosso, James Q

2017-03-01

Topical agents, including retinoids and antibiotics, are commonly used to treat acne vulgaris (AV) and remain as components of acne treatment guidelines. Approved topical combination formulations offer the advantages of established efficacy, decreased frequency of application, and improved convenience for patients. This article discusses both clindamycin phosphate (CP) and tretinoin (Tret) as components of a topical aqueous-based combination gel that has been shown to be effective, safe, and well tolerated for treatment of facial AV. Clinically relevant considerations with use of this treatment are also discussed, including therapeutic advantages and potential limitations.

Process characteristics of the combination of laser beam- and gas metal arc welding

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

Kalla, G.; Neuenhahn, J.; Koerber, C.

1994-12-31

In this presentation, experiences regarding the combination of laser beam-and gas metal arc welding are discussed. The combination of both techniques offers the possibility of using the specific advantages include the deep penetration effect and the concentrated heat input. Additionally, the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process is characterized by several advantages, such as high thermal efficiency and good gap-bridging ability. Beyond these characteristics, the combination leads to additional advantages concerning process, technique, and quality. Improvement of seam quality and properties are of special note. Adaptation of the GMAW parameters reduces the hardness of the seam weld at increasing weldingmore » speed. This is possible by adapting the efficiency of metal deposition and by the suitable choice of wire material composition. Another advantage is an improvement of surface topology. The surface of the weld seam and the connection to the base material are very smooth. This leads to advantages with regard to the fatigue strength of the seam.« less

Offering memorable patient experience through creative, dynamic marketing strategy

PubMed Central

Raţiu, M; Purcărea, T

2008-01-01

Creative, dynamic strategies are the ones that identify new and better ways of uniquely offering the target customers what they want or need. A business can achieve competitive advantage if it chooses a marketing strategy that sets the business apart from anyone else. Healthcare services companies have to understand that the customer should be placed in the centre of all specific marketing operations. The brand message should reflect the focus on the patient. Healthcare products and services offered must represent exactly the solutions that customers expect. The touchpoints with the patients must be well mastered in order to convince them to accept the proposed solutions. Healthcare service providers must be capable to look beyond customer's behaviour or product and healthcare service aquisition. This will demand proactive and far–reaching changes, including focusing specifically on customer preference, quality, and technological interfaces; rewiring strategy to find new value from existing and unfamiliar sources; disintegrating and radically reassembling operational processes; and restructuring the organization to accommodate new typess of work and skill. PMID:20108466

Offering memorable patient experience through creative, dynamic marketing strategy.

PubMed

Purcărea, Victor Lorín; Raţíu, Monica; Purcărea, Theodor; Davila, Carol

2008-01-01

Creative, dynamic strategies are the ones that identify new and better ways of uniquely offering the target customers what they want or need. A business can achieve competitive advantage if it chooses a marketing strategy that sets the business apart from anyone else. Healthcare services companies have to understand that the customer should be placed in the centre of all specific marketing operations. The brand message should reflect the focus on the patient. Healthcare products and services offered must represent exactly the solutions that customers expect. The touchpoints with the patients must be well mastered in order to convince them to accept the proposed solutions. Healthcare service providers must be capable to look beyond customer's behaviour or product and healthcare service aquisition. This will demand proactive and far-reaching changes, including focusing specifically on customer preference, quality, and technological interfaces; rewiring strategy to find new value from existing and unfamiliar sources: disintegrating and radically reassembling operational processes: and restructuring the organization to accommodate new types of work and skill.

Accuracy Improvement in Magnetic Field Modeling for an Axisymmetric Electromagnet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ilin, Andrew V.; Chang-Diaz, Franklin R.; Gurieva, Yana L.; Il,in, Valery P.

2000-01-01

This paper examines the accuracy and calculation speed for the magnetic field computation in an axisymmetric electromagnet. Different numerical techniques, based on an adaptive nonuniform grid, high order finite difference approximations, and semi-analitical calculation of boundary conditions are considered. These techniques are being applied to the modeling of the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket. For high-accuracy calculations, a fourth-order scheme offers dramatic advantages over a second order scheme. For complex physical configurations of interest in plasma propulsion, a second-order scheme with nonuniform mesh gives the best results. Also, the relative advantages of various methods are described when the speed of computation is an important consideration.

Theater Missile Defenses and U.S. Foreign Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

Tactical Missile Defense Initiative, which have as primary objectives the following: (A) The development of deployable and rapidly relocatable...countries as having some form of ballistic missile. Missiles are not only growing in numbers, but also in capabilities. In an even more disturbing trend...are advantageous in that they offer a specific counter to a growing threat that has until now gone unanswered without inherently increasing the

Global Precipitation Measurement. Report 2; Benefits of Partnering with GPM Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stocker, Erich F.; Smith, Eric A. (Editor); Adams, W. James (Editor); Starr, David OC. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

An important goal of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is to maximize participation by non-NASA partners both domestic and international. A consequence of this objective is the provision for NASA to provide sufficient incentives to achieve partner buy-in and commitment to the program. NASA has identified seven specific areas in which substantive incentives will be offered: (1) partners will be offered participation in governance of GPM mission science affairs including definition of data products; (2) partners will be offered use of NASA's TDRSS capability for uplink and downlink of commands and data in regards to partner provided spacecraft; (3) partners will be offered launch support for placing partner provided spacecraft in orbit conditional upon mutually agreeable co-manifest arrangements; (4) partners will be offered direct data access at the NASA-GPM server level rather than through standard data distribution channels; (5) partners will be offered the opportunity to serve as regional data archive and distribution centers for standard GPM data products; and (6) partners will be offered the option to insert their own specialized filtering and extraction software into the GPM data processing stream or to obtain specialized subsets and products over specific areas of interest (7) partners will be offered GPM developed software tools that can be run on their platforms. Each of these incentives, either individually or in combination, represents a significant advantage to partners who may wish to participate in the GPM mission.

Killer artificial antigen-presenting cells: the synthetic embodiment of a ‘guided missile’

PubMed Central

Schütz, Christian; Oelke, Mathias; Schneck, Jonathan P; Mackensen, Andreas; Fleck, Martin

2010-01-01

At present, the treatment of T-cell-dependent autoimmune diseases relies exclusively on strategies leading to nonspecific suppression of the immune systems causing a substantial reduced ability to control concomitant infections or malignancies. Furthermore, long-term treatment with most drugs is accompanied by several serious adverse effects and does not consequently result in cure of the primary immunological malfunction. By contrast, antigen-specific immunotherapy offers the potential to achieve the highest therapeutic efficiency in accordance with minimal adverse effects. Therefore, several studies have been performed utilizing antigen-presenting cells specifically engineered to deplete allo- or antigen-specific T cells (‘guided missiles’). Many of these strategies take advantage of the Fas/Fas ligand signaling pathway to efficiently induce antigen-presenting cell-mediated apoptosis in targeted T cells. In this article, we discuss the advantages and shortcomings of a novel non-cell-based ‘killer artificial antigen-presenting cell’ strategy, developed to overcome obstacles related to current cell-based approaches for the treatment of T-cell-mediated autoimmunity. PMID:20636007

Enhanced Cultivation Of Stimulated Murine B Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sammons, David W.

1994-01-01

Method of in vitro cultivation of large numbers of stimulated murine B lymphocytes. Cells electrofused with other cells to produce hybridomas and monoclonal antibodies. Offers several advantages: polyclonally stimulated B-cell blasts cultivated for as long as 14 days, hybridomas created throughout culture period, yield of hybridomas increases during cultivation, and possible to expand polyclonally in vitro number of B cells specific for antigenic determinants first recognized in vivo.

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry: An Emerging Technology in the Toxicology Laboratory.

PubMed

Zhang, Yan Victoria; Wei, Bin; Zhu, Yu; Zhang, Yanhua; Bluth, Martin H

2016-12-01

In the last decade, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has seen enormous growth in routine toxicology laboratories. LC-MS/MS offers significant advantages over other traditional testing, such as immunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methodologies. Major strengths of LC-MS/MS include improvement in specificity, flexibility, and sample throughput when compared with other technologies. Here, the basic principles of LC-MS/MS technology are reviewed, followed by advantages and disadvantages of this technology compared with other traditional techniques. In addition, toxicology applications of LC-MS/MS for simultaneous detection of large panels of analytes are presented. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Application of linear array imaging techniques to the real-time inspection of airframe structures and substructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, James G.

1995-01-01

Development and application of linear array imaging technologies to address specific aging-aircraft inspection issues is described. Real-time video-taped images were obtained from an unmodified commercial linear-array medical scanner of specimens constructed to simulate typical types of flaws encountered in the inspection of aircraft structures. Results suggest that information regarding the characteristics, location, and interface properties of specific types of flaws in materials and structures may be obtained from the images acquired with a linear array. Furthermore, linear array imaging may offer the advantage of being able to compare 'good' regions with 'flawed' regions simultaneously, and in real time. Real-time imaging permits the inspector to obtain image information from various views and provides the opportunity for observing the effects of introducing specific interventions. Observation of an image in real-time can offer the operator the ability to 'interact' with the inspection process, thus providing new capabilities, and perhaps, new approaches to nondestructive inspections.

PET radiopharmaceuticals for imaging of tumor hypoxia: a review of the evidence

PubMed Central

Lopci, Egesta; Grassi, Ilaria; Chiti, Arturo; Nanni, Cristina; Cicoria, Gianfranco; Toschi, Luca; Fonti, Cristina; Lodi, Filippo; Mattioli, Sandro; Fanti, Stefano

2014-01-01

Hypoxia is a pathological condition arising in living tissues when oxygen supply does not adequately cover the cellular metabolic demand. Detection of this phenomenon in tumors is of the utmost clinical relevance because tumor aggressiveness, metastatic spread, failure to achieve tumor control, increased rate of recurrence, and ultimate poor outcome are all associated with hypoxia. Consequently, in recent decades there has been increasing interest in developing methods for measurement of oxygen levels in tumors. Among the image-based modalities for hypoxia assessment, positron emission tomography (PET) is one of the most extensively investigated based on the various advantages it offers, i.e., broad range of radiopharmaceuticals, good intrinsic resolution, three-dimensional tumor representation, possibility of semiquantification/quantification of the amount of hypoxic tumor burden, overall patient friendliness, and ease of repetition. Compared with the other non-invasive techniques, the biggest advantage of PET imaging is that it offers the highest specificity for detection of hypoxic tissue. Starting with the 2-nitroimidazole family of compounds in the early 1980s, a great number of PET tracers have been developed for the identification of hypoxia in living tissue and solid tumors. This paper provides an overview of the principal PET tracers applied in cancer imaging of hypoxia and discusses in detail their advantages and pitfalls. PMID:24982822

The art in getting flocks and herds to flerds

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Flerds (small ruminants that consistently stay near cattle under free-ranging conditions) offer four distinct advantages over stocking simply flocks and herds to carry out mixed species stocking. One of the main advantages flerds offer is added protection from canine predation, reduced time in loca...

Genome Editing for the Study of Cardiovascular Diseases.

PubMed

Chadwick, Alexandra C; Musunuru, Kiran

2017-03-01

The opportunities afforded through the recent advent of genome-editing technologies have allowed investigators to more easily study a number of diseases. The advantages and limitations of the most prominent genome-editing technologies are described in this review, along with potential applications specifically focused on cardiovascular diseases. The recent genome-editing tools using programmable nucleases, such as zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9), have rapidly been adapted to manipulate genes in a variety of cellular and animal models. A number of recent cardiovascular disease-related publications report cases in which specific mutations are introduced into disease models for functional characterization and for testing of therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in genome-editing technologies offer new approaches to understand and treat diseases. Here, we discuss genome editing strategies to easily characterize naturally occurring mutations and offer strategies with potential clinical relevance.

Advancement of the anterior maxilla by distraction (case report).

PubMed

Karakasis, Dimitri; Hadjipetrou, Loucia

2004-06-01

Several techniques of distraction osteogenesis have been applied for the correction of compromised midface in patients with clefts of the lip, alveolus and palate. This article presents a technique of callus distraction applied in a specific case of hypoplasia of a cleft maxilla with the sagittal advancement of the maxilla thus not affecting velopharyngeal function. The decision to apply distraction osteogenesis for advancement of the anterior maxillary segment in cleft patients offers many advantages.

A look at 15 years of planar thallium-201 imaging

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

Kaul, S.

1989-09-01

Extensive experience has been accumulated over the past 15 years regarding planar thallium-201 imaging. Quantitation of technically superior images provides a high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of CAD. In addition, planar thallium-201 images provide very important prognostic information in different clinical situations. Although single photon emission computerized tomography offers potential theoretical advantages over planar imaging, because of the problems involved in reconstruction, specifically the creation of artifacts, it may not be the ideal imaging modality in all situations. Good quality planar thallium-201 imaging still has an important role in clinical cardiology today. 144 references.

Phase Sensitive Demodulation in Multiphoton Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Walt G.; Piston, David W.; Wachter, Eric A.

2002-06-01

Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy offers advantages in depth of penetration into intact samples over other optical sectioning techniques. To achieve these advantages it is necessary to detect the emitted light without spatial filtering. In this nondescanned (nonconfocal) approach, ambient room light can easily contaminate the signal, forcing experiments to be performed in absolute darkness. For multiphoton microscope systems employing mode-locked lasers, signal processing can be used to reduce such problems by taking advantage of the pulsed characteristics of such lasers. Specifically, by recovering fluorescence generated at the mode-locked frequency, interference from stray light and other ambient noise sources can be significantly reduced. This technology can be adapted to existing microscopes by inserting demodulation circuitry between the detector and data collection system. The improvement in signal-to-noise ratio afforded by this approach yields a more robust microscope system and opens the possibility of moving multiphoton microscopy from the research lab to more demanding settings, such as the clinic.

Domain Specific Language Support for Exascale

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

Sadayappan, Ponnuswamy

Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) offer an attractive path to Exascale software since they provide expressive power through appropriate abstractions and enable domain-specific optimizations. But the advantages of a DSL compete with the difficulties of implementing a DSL, even for a narrowly defined domain. The DTEC project addresses how a variety of DSLs can be easily implemented to leverage existing compiler analysis and transformation capabilities within the ROSE open source compiler as part of a research program focusing on Exascale challenges. The OSU contributions to the DTEC project are in the area of code generation from high-level DSL descriptions, as well asmore » verification of the automatically-generated code.« less

Current evaluation of the tripropellant concept

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zurawski, R. L.

1986-01-01

An analytical study was conducted to determine the specific-impulse advantages of adding metals to conventional liquid-bipropellant systems. These tripropellant systems theoretically offer higher specific impulse and increased propellant density compared with bipropellant systems. Metals considered were Be, Li, and Al. Bipropellant systems were H2/O2, N2H4/N2O4, RP-1/O2, and H2/F2. Thermochemical calculations were performed for sea-level expansion from 6.895-MN/sq. m. (1000-psia) chamber pressure over a wide range of mixture ratios and propellant compositions. Three-dimensional plots characterize the specific impulse of each tripropellant system. Technology issues pertinent to metallized propellant systems are discussed.

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

Chen, Jingguang; Frenkel, Anatoly; Rodriguez, Jose

Synchrotron spectroscopies offer unique advantages over conventional techniques, including higher detection sensitivity and molecular specificity, faster detection rate, and more in-depth information regarding the structural, electronic and catalytic properties under in-situ reaction conditions. Despite these advantages, synchrotron techniques are often underutilized or unexplored by the catalysis community due to various perceived and real barriers, which will be addressed in the current proposal. Since its establishment in 2005, the Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium (SCC) has coordinated significant efforts to promote the utilization of cutting-edge catalytic research under in-situ conditions. The purpose of the current renewal proposal is aimed to provide assistance, andmore » to develop new sciences/techniques, for the catalysis community through the following concerted efforts: Coordinating the implementation of a suite of beamlines for catalysis studies at the new NSLS-II synchrotron source; Providing assistance and coordination for catalysis users at an SSRL catalysis beamline during the initial period of NSLS to NSLS II transition; Designing in-situ reactors for a variety of catalytic and electrocatalytic studies; Assisting experimental set-up and data analysis by a dedicated research scientist; Offering training courses and help sessions by the PIs and co-PIs.« less

Construction of large signaling pathways using an adaptive perturbation approach with phosphoproteomic data.

PubMed

Melas, Ioannis N; Mitsos, Alexander; Messinis, Dimitris E; Weiss, Thomas S; Rodriguez, Julio-Saez; Alexopoulos, Leonidas G

2012-04-01

Construction of large and cell-specific signaling pathways is essential to understand information processing under normal and pathological conditions. On this front, gene-based approaches offer the advantage of large pathway exploration whereas phosphoproteomic approaches offer a more reliable view of pathway activities but are applicable to small pathway sizes. In this paper, we demonstrate an experimentally adaptive approach to construct large signaling pathways from phosphoproteomic data within a 3-day time frame. Our approach--taking advantage of the fast turnaround time of the xMAP technology--is carried out in four steps: (i) screen optimal pathway inducers, (ii) select the responsive ones, (iii) combine them in a combinatorial fashion to construct a phosphoproteomic dataset, and (iv) optimize a reduced generic pathway via an Integer Linear Programming formulation. As a case study, we uncover novel players and their corresponding pathways in primary human hepatocytes by interrogating the signal transduction downstream of 81 receptors of interest and constructing a detailed model for the responsive part of the network comprising 177 species (of which 14 are measured) and 365 interactions.

Medicare Advantage Plans

MedlinePlus

... enrollment Find & compare doctors, hospitals, & other providers Medicare Advantage Plans A type of Medicare health plan offered ... a private company that contracts with Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A and ...

Design of a radio telescope surface segment actuator based on a form-closed eccentric cam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, David R.

2014-07-01

As radio telescopes have reached larger diameters and higher frequencies, it is typically not possible to meet their surface accuracy specifications using passive homology-based designs. The most common solution to this problem in the current generation of large, high-frequency radio telescopes is to employ a system of linear actuators to correct the surface shape of the primary reflector. The exact specifications of active surface actuators vary with the telescope. However, they have many common features, some of which drive their design. In general, these actuators must provide precise and repeatable positioning under significant loads during operation and they must withstand even higher loads for survival conditions. For general safety, they typically must hold position in the event of a power failure and must incorporate position limits, whether electrical, mechanical, or both. Because the number of actuators is generally high for large active surfaces (hundreds or even thousands of actuators), they must also be reliable and of reasonable individual cost. Finally, for maximum flexibility in their installation, they must be compact. This paper presents a concept for an active surface actuator based on a form-closed eccentric cam (kinematically, a Scotch Yoke mechanism). Such a design is limited in stroke, but offers potential advantages in terms of manufacture, compactness, measurement, and survival loading. The paper demonstrates that some of the expected advantages cannot be practically realized, due to dimensions that are driven by survival loading conditions. As a result, this concept is likely to offer an advantage over conventional screw-type actuators only for cases where actuator runaway and stall are the driving considerations.

Exosomes as therapeutic drug carriers and delivery vehicles across biological membranes: current perspectives and future challenges.

PubMed

Ha, Dinh; Yang, Ningning; Nadithe, Venkatareddy

2016-07-01

Exosomes are small intracellular membrane-based vesicles with different compositions that are involved in several biological and pathological processes. The exploitation of exosomes as drug delivery vehicles offers important advantages compared to other nanoparticulate drug delivery systems such as liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles; exosomes are non-immunogenic in nature due to similar composition as body׳s own cells. In this article, the origin and structure of exosomes as well as their biological functions are outlined. We will then focus on specific applications of exosomes as drug delivery systems in pharmaceutical drug development. An overview of the advantages and challenges faced when using exosomes as a pharmaceutical drug delivery vehicles will also be discussed.

Nanoparticle orientation to control RNA loading and ligand display on extracellular vesicles for cancer regression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pi, Fengmei; Binzel, Daniel W.; Lee, Tae Jin; Li, Zhefeng; Sun, Meiyan; Rychahou, Piotr; Li, Hui; Haque, Farzin; Wang, Shaoying; Croce, Carlo M.; Guo, Bin; Evers, B. Mark; Guo, Peixuan

2018-01-01

Nanotechnology offers many benefits, and here we report an advantage of applying RNA nanotechnology for directional control. The orientation of arrow-shaped RNA was altered to control ligand display on extracellular vesicle membranes for specific cell targeting, or to regulate intracellular trafficking of small interfering RNA (siRNA) or microRNA (miRNA). Placing membrane-anchoring cholesterol at the tail of the arrow results in display of RNA aptamer or folate on the outer surface of the extracellular vesicle. In contrast, placing the cholesterol at the arrowhead results in partial loading of RNA nanoparticles into the extracellular vesicles. Taking advantage of the RNA ligand for specific targeting and extracellular vesicles for efficient membrane fusion, the resulting ligand-displaying extracellular vesicles were capable of specific delivery of siRNA to cells, and efficiently blocked tumour growth in three cancer models. Extracellular vesicles displaying an aptamer that binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen, and loaded with survivin siRNA, inhibited prostate cancer xenograft. The same extracellular vesicle instead displaying epidermal growth-factor receptor aptamer inhibited orthotopic breast cancer models. Likewise, survivin siRNA-loaded and folate-displaying extracellular vesicles inhibited patient-derived colorectal cancer xenograft.

Resource efficient data compression algorithms for demanding, WSN based biomedical applications.

PubMed

Antonopoulos, Christos P; Voros, Nikolaos S

2016-02-01

During the last few years, medical research areas of critical importance such as Epilepsy monitoring and study, increasingly utilize wireless sensor network technologies in order to achieve better understanding and significant breakthroughs. However, the limited memory and communication bandwidth offered by WSN platforms comprise a significant shortcoming to such demanding application scenarios. Although, data compression can mitigate such deficiencies there is a lack of objective and comprehensive evaluation of relative approaches and even more on specialized approaches targeting specific demanding applications. The research work presented in this paper focuses on implementing and offering an in-depth experimental study regarding prominent, already existing as well as novel proposed compression algorithms. All algorithms have been implemented in a common Matlab framework. A major contribution of this paper, that differentiates it from similar research efforts, is the employment of real world Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electrocardiography (ECG) datasets comprising the two most demanding Epilepsy modalities. Emphasis is put on WSN applications, thus the respective metrics focus on compression rate and execution latency for the selected datasets. The evaluation results reveal significant performance and behavioral characteristics of the algorithms related to their complexity and the relative negative effect on compression latency as opposed to the increased compression rate. It is noted that the proposed schemes managed to offer considerable advantage especially aiming to achieve the optimum tradeoff between compression rate-latency. Specifically, proposed algorithm managed to combine highly completive level of compression while ensuring minimum latency thus exhibiting real-time capabilities. Additionally, one of the proposed schemes is compared against state-of-the-art general-purpose compression algorithms also exhibiting considerable advantages as far as the compression rate is concerned. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

REUSABLE PROPULSION ARCHITECTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE LOW-COST ACCESS TO SPACE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonometti, J. A.; Dankanich, J. W.; Frame, K. L.

2005-01-01

The primary obstacle to any space-based mission is, and has always been, the cost of access to space. Even with impressive efforts toward reusability, no system has come close to lowering the cost a significant amount. It is postulated here, that architectural innovation is necessary to make reusability feasible, not incremental subsystem changes. This paper shows two architectural approaches of reusability that merit further study investments. Both #inherently# have performance increases and cost advantages to make affordable access to space a near term reality. A rocket launched from a subsonic aircraft (specifically the Crossbow methodology) and a momentum exchange tether, reboosted by electrodynamics, offer possibilities of substantial reductions in the total transportation architecture mass - making access-to-space cost-effective. They also offer intangible benefits that reduce risk or offer large growth potential. The cost analysis indicates that approximately a 50% savings is obtained using today#s aerospace materials and practices.

Should there be both categorical and dimensional criteria for the substance use disorders in DSM-V?

PubMed

Helzer, John E; van den Brink, Wim; Guth, Sarah E

2006-09-01

As discussed in the following literature review, the relative advantages of categorical and dimensional criteria for classifying the substance use disorders (SUDs) have been debated for many years. The scheduled revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) offers an opportunity to re-examine this question. Both categorical and dimensional approaches to diagnosis offer advantages, both may in fact be necessary for a comprehensive taxonomy. One means of resolving debate about the direction to take in revising DSM-V and simultaneously of achieving maximum taxonomic utility is to include both categorical and dimensional criteria in DSM-V. This could be accomplished by first defining a set of categorical criteria, as in the previous editions of the DSM. Corresponding dimensional criteria could then be created using a more empirical methodology. In this paper we review some of the relevant literature, offer a specific proposal for a dimensional component for the DSM-V substance use disorders that also preserves the categorical definitions and suggest areas for additional research relevant the this agenda. There is evidence that alcohol and other forms of substance abuse and dependence are heterogeneous categories and that the SUDs can be conceptualized viably as arrayed along a continuum. Amplifying clinically derived categorical definitions with more empirically derived dimensional components to better capture this variability is a particularly important consideration for a substance use research agenda for DSM-V. It is crucial that a dimensional approach be offered in some form in DSM-V; but it is also vital that any dimensional approach be linked to the categorical definition. The proposal offered herein provides a model for amplifying categorical definitions with a dimensional component in a way that is evolutionary and not disruptive to the existing taxonomy.

Advances in the in Vivo Raman Spectroscopy of Malignant Skin Tumors Using Portable Instrumentation

PubMed Central

Kourkoumelis, Nikolaos; Balatsoukas, Ioannis; Moulia, Violetta; Elka, Aspasia; Gaitanis, Georgios; Bassukas, Ioannis D.

2015-01-01

Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a promising tool for real-time clinical diagnosis of malignant skin tumors offering a number of potential advantages: it is non-intrusive, it requires no sample preparation, and it features high chemical specificity with minimal water interference. However, in vivo tissue evaluation and accurate histopathological classification remain a challenging task for the successful transition from laboratory prototypes to clinical devices. In the literature, there are numerous reports on the applications of Raman spectroscopy to biomedical research and cancer diagnostics. Nevertheless, cases where real-time, portable instrumentations have been employed for the in vivo evaluation of skin lesions are scarce, despite their advantages in use as medical devices in the clinical setting. This paper reviews the advances in real-time Raman spectroscopy for the in vivo characterization of common skin lesions. The translational momentum of Raman spectroscopy towards the clinical practice is revealed by (i) assembling the technical specifications of portable systems and (ii) analyzing the spectral characteristics of in vivo measurements. PMID:26132563

From Bits and Pieces to Whole Phage to Nanomachines: Pathogen Detection Using Bacteriophages.

PubMed

Anany, H; Chou, Y; Cucic, S; Derda, R; Evoy, S; Griffiths, M W

2017-02-28

The innate specificity of bacteriophages toward their hosts makes them excellent candidates for the development of detection assays. They can be used in many ways to detect pathogens, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Whole bacteriophages can carry reporter genes to alter the phenotype of the target. Bacteriophages can act as staining agents or the progeny of the infection process can be detected, which further increases the sensitivity of the detection assay. Compared with whole-phage particles, use of phage components as probes offers other advantages: for example, smaller probe size to enhance binding activity, phage structures that can be engineered for better affinity, as well as specificity, binding properties, and robustness. When no natural binding with the target exists, phages can be used as vehicles to identify new protein-ligand interactions necessary for diagnostics. This review comprehensively summarizes many uses of phages as detection tools and points the way toward how phage-based technologies may be improved.

Breakthrough in chloroplast genetic engineering of agronomically important crops

PubMed Central

Daniell, Henry; Kumar, Shashi; Dufourmantel, Nathalie

2012-01-01

Chloroplast genetic engineering offers several unique advantages, including high-level transgene expression, multi-gene engineering in a single transformation event and transgene containment by maternal inheritance, as well as a lack of gene silencing, position and pleiotropic effects and undesirable foreign DNA. More than 40 transgenes have been stably integrated and expressed using the tobacco chloroplast genome to confer desired agronomic traits or express high levels of vaccine antigens and biopharmaceuticals. Despite such significant progress, this technology has not been extended to major crops. However, highly efficient soybean, carrot and cotton plastid transformation has recently been accomplished through somatic embryogenesis using species-specific chloroplast vectors. This review focuses on recent exciting developments in this field and offers directions for further research and development. PMID:15866001

An evaluation of the automated assay of urinary oestrogens in pregnant women

PubMed Central

Muir, G. G.; Ryan, M.; Conaill, D. U.

1970-01-01

An automated assay suitable for estimating urinary oestrogens in pregnant women has been investigated. Fluorimetry was found to have considerable advantages over colorimetry. The fluorimetric assay was simpler, more precise, more sensitive, and eliminated the need for correction for non-specific chromogens; in the assay of oestriol in pregnant women there was no need for correction for non-specific fluorescence. Spectrofluorimetric and photometric analyses, recoveries, and reproducibility show that the method offers a robust means of providing values for urinary oestrogen in pregnant women on a scale of up to 100 tests a day, the time of the assay being one and a half hours. PMID:5476876

Evolutionary Trails of Plant Group II Pyridoxal Phosphate-Dependent Decarboxylase Genes.

PubMed

Kumar, Rahul

2016-01-01

Type II pyridoxal phosphate-dependent decarboxylase (PLP_deC) enzymes play important metabolic roles during nitrogen metabolism. Recent evolutionary profiling of these genes revealed a sharp expansion of histidine decarboxylase genes in the members of Solanaceae family. In spite of the high sequence homology shared by PLP_deC orthologs, these enzymes display remarkable differences in their substrate specificities. Currently, limited information is available on the gene repertoires and substrate specificities of PLP_deCs which renders their precise annotation challenging and offers technical challenges in the immediate identification and biochemical characterization of their full gene complements in plants. Herein, we explored their evolutionary trails in a comprehensive manner by taking advantage of high-throughput data accessibility and computational approaches. We discussed the premise that has enabled an improved reconstruction of their evolutionary lineage and evaluated the factors offering constraints in their rapid functional characterization, till date. We envisage that the synthesized information herein would act as a catalyst for the rapid exploration of their biochemical specificity and physiological roles in more plant species.

Good things come to those who wait: late first offers facilitate creative agreements in negotiation.

PubMed

Sinaceur, Marwan; Maddux, William W; Vasiljevic, Dimitri; Perez Nückel, Ricardo; Galinsky, Adam D

2013-06-01

Although previous research has shown that making the first offer leads to a distributive advantage in negotiations, the current research explored how the timing of first offers affects the creativity of negotiation agreements. We hypothesized that making the first offer later rather than earlier in the negotiation would facilitate the discovery of creative agreements that better meet the parties' underlying interests. Experiment 1 demonstrated that compared with early first offers, late first offers facilitated creative agreements that better met the parties' underlying interests. Experiments 2a and 2b controlled for the duration of the negotiation and conceptually replicated this effect. The last two studies also demonstrated that the beneficial effect of late first offers was mediated by greater information exchange. Thus, negotiators need to consider the timing of first offers to fully capitalize on the first offer advantage. Implications for our understanding of creativity, motivated information exchange, and timing in negotiations are discussed.

Innovative cellular distance structures from polymeric and metallic threads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wieczorek, F.; Trümper, W.; Cherif, C.

2017-10-01

Knitting allows a high individual adaptability of the geometry and properties of flat-knitted spacer fabrics. This offers advantages for the specific adjustment of the mechanical properties of innovative composites based on highly viscous matrix systems such as bone cement, elastomer or foam and cellular reinforcing structures made from e. g. polymeric monofilaments or metallic wires. The prerequisite is the availability of binding solutions for highly productive production of functional, cellular, self-stabilized spacer flat knitted fabrics as supporting and functionalized structures.

DataSpread: Unifying Databases and Spreadsheets.

PubMed

Bendre, Mangesh; Sun, Bofan; Zhang, Ding; Zhou, Xinyan; Chang, Kevin ChenChuan; Parameswaran, Aditya

2015-08-01

Spreadsheet software is often the tool of choice for ad-hoc tabular data management, processing, and visualization, especially on tiny data sets. On the other hand, relational database systems offer significant power, expressivity, and efficiency over spreadsheet software for data management, while lacking in the ease of use and ad-hoc analysis capabilities. We demonstrate DataSpread, a data exploration tool that holistically unifies databases and spreadsheets. It continues to offer a Microsoft Excel-based spreadsheet front-end, while in parallel managing all the data in a back-end database, specifically, PostgreSQL. DataSpread retains all the advantages of spreadsheets, including ease of use, ad-hoc analysis and visualization capabilities, and a schema-free nature, while also adding the advantages of traditional relational databases, such as scalability and the ability to use arbitrary SQL to import, filter, or join external or internal tables and have the results appear in the spreadsheet. DataSpread needs to reason about and reconcile differences in the notions of schema, addressing of cells and tuples, and the current "pane" (which exists in spreadsheets but not in traditional databases), and support data modifications at both the front-end and the back-end. Our demonstration will center on our first and early prototype of the DataSpread, and will give the attendees a sense for the enormous data exploration capabilities offered by unifying spreadsheets and databases.

DataSpread: Unifying Databases and Spreadsheets

PubMed Central

Bendre, Mangesh; Sun, Bofan; Zhang, Ding; Zhou, Xinyan; Chang, Kevin ChenChuan; Parameswaran, Aditya

2015-01-01

Spreadsheet software is often the tool of choice for ad-hoc tabular data management, processing, and visualization, especially on tiny data sets. On the other hand, relational database systems offer significant power, expressivity, and efficiency over spreadsheet software for data management, while lacking in the ease of use and ad-hoc analysis capabilities. We demonstrate DataSpread, a data exploration tool that holistically unifies databases and spreadsheets. It continues to offer a Microsoft Excel-based spreadsheet front-end, while in parallel managing all the data in a back-end database, specifically, PostgreSQL. DataSpread retains all the advantages of spreadsheets, including ease of use, ad-hoc analysis and visualization capabilities, and a schema-free nature, while also adding the advantages of traditional relational databases, such as scalability and the ability to use arbitrary SQL to import, filter, or join external or internal tables and have the results appear in the spreadsheet. DataSpread needs to reason about and reconcile differences in the notions of schema, addressing of cells and tuples, and the current “pane” (which exists in spreadsheets but not in traditional databases), and support data modifications at both the front-end and the back-end. Our demonstration will center on our first and early prototype of the DataSpread, and will give the attendees a sense for the enormous data exploration capabilities offered by unifying spreadsheets and databases. PMID:26900487

Adding Apples and Oranges: Telecourses Are Both Different and Important.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, Leon C.

1982-01-01

Discusses advantages of offering telecourses at the college level and offers suggestions to make the courses first-rate educational offerings and first-rate learning experiences for students. (Author/JN)

Exploring packaging strategies of nano-embedded thermoelectric generators

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

Singha, Aniket; Muralidharan, Bhaskaran, E-mail: bm@ee.iitb.ac.in; Mahanti, Subhendra D.

2015-10-15

Embedding nanostructures within a bulk matrix is an important practical approach towards the electronic engineering of high performance thermoelectric systems. For power generation applications, it ideally combines the efficiency benefit offered by low dimensional systems along with the high power output advantage offered by bulk systems. In this work, we uncover a few crucial details about how to embed nanowires and nanoflakes in a bulk matrix so that an overall advantage over pure bulk may be achieved. First and foremost, we point out that a performance degradation with respect to bulk is inevitable as the nanostructure transitions to a multimore » moded one. It is then shown that a nano embedded system of suitable cross-section offers a power density advantage over a wide range of efficiencies at higher packing fractions, and this range gradually narrows down to the high efficiency regime, as the packing fraction is reduced. Finally, we introduce a metric - the advantage factor, to elucidate quantitatively, the enhancement in the power density offered via nano-embedding at a given efficiency. In the end, we explore the maximum effective width of nano-embedding which serves as a reference in designing generators in the efficiency range of interest.« less

Patterning and templating for nanoelectronics.

PubMed

Galatsis, Kosmas; Wang, Kang L; Ozkan, Mihri; Ozkan, Cengiz S; Huang, Yu; Chang, Jane P; Monbouquette, Harold G; Chen, Yong; Nealey, Paul; Botros, Youssry

2010-02-09

The semiconductor industry will soon be launching 32 nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology node using 193 nm lithography patterning technology to fabricate microprocessors with more than 2 billion transistors. To ensure the survival of Moore's law, alternative patterning techniques that offer advantages beyond conventional top-down patterning are aggressively being explored. It is evident that most alternative patterning techniques may not offer compelling advantages to succeed conventional top-down lithography for silicon integrated circuits, but alternative approaches may well indeed offer functional advantages in realising next-generation information processing nanoarchitectures such as those based on cellular, bioinsipired, magnetic dot logic, and crossbar schemes. This paper highlights and evaluates some patterning methods from the Center on Functional Engineered Nano Architectonics in Los Angeles and discusses key benchmarking criteria with respect to CMOS scaling.

Expression systems for therapeutic glycoprotein production.

PubMed

Durocher, Yves; Butler, Michael

2009-12-01

There are slightly over 165 recombinant pharmaceuticals currently approved for human use. Another 500 protein candidates are in preclinical and clinical development, about 70% of these being glycosylated proteins. The need for expression systems allowing the efficient manufacturing of high quality glycoproteins is thus becoming imperative. Recent developments with CHO cells, the predominant mammalian expression system, have focused on either increasing cell specific productivity or prolonging the life span of cells in culture that translates to high integrated viable cell densities. These two factors have allowed volumetric productivities in excess of 5 g/L under conditions of controlled nutrient feeding. In addition to glycoengineering strategies, which are offering considerable advantage in producing proteins with enhanced therapeutic properties, several alternative expression systems are being developed for their manufacture, each with their advantages and limitations.

Genetics-based methods for detection of Salmonella spp. in foods.

PubMed

Mozola, Mark A

2006-01-01

Genetic methods are now at the forefront of foodborne pathogen testing. The sensitivity, specificity, and inclusivity advantages offered by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe technology have driven an intense effort in methods development over the past 20 years. DNA probe-based methods for Salmonella spp. and other pathogens have progressed from time-consuming procedures involving the use of radioisotopes to simple, high throughput, automated assays. The analytical sensitivity of nucleic acid amplification technology has facilitated a reduction in analysis time by allowing enriched samples to be tested for previously undetectable quantities of analyte. This article will trace the evolution of the development of genetic methods for detection of Salmonella in foods, review the basic assay formats and their advantages and limitations, and discuss method performance characteristics and considerations for selection of methods.

Comparison Of The Performance Of Hybrid Coders Under Different Configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunasekaran, S.; Raina J., P.

1983-10-01

Picture bandwidth reduction employing DPCM and Orthogonal Transform (OT) coding for TV transmission have been widely discussed in literature; both the techniques have their own advantages and limitations in terms of compression ratio, implementation, sensitivity to picture statistics and their sensitivity to the channel noise. Hybrid coding introduced by Habibi, - a cascade of the two techniques, offers excellent performance and proves to be attractive retaining the special advantages of both the techniques. In the recent times, the interest has shifted over to Hybrid coding, and in the absence of a report on the relative performance specifications of hybrid coders at different configurations, an attempt has been made to colate the information. Fourier, Hadamard, Slant, Sine, Cosine and Harr transforms have been considered for the present work.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted lipid nanoparticles retain self-assembled nanostructures and provide high specificity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Jiali; Scoble, Judith A.; Li, Nan; Lovrecz, George; Waddington, Lynne J.; Tran, Nhiem; Muir, Benjamin W.; Coia, Gregory; Kirby, Nigel; Drummond, Calum J.; Mulet, Xavier

2015-02-01

Next generation drug delivery utilising nanoparticles incorporates active targeting to specific sites. In this work, we combined targeting with the inherent advantages of self-assembled lipid nanoparticles containing internal nano-structures. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting, PEGylated lipid nanoparticles using phytantriol and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-PEG-maleimide amphiphiles were created. The self-assembled lipid nanoparticles presented here have internal lyotropic liquid crystalline nano-structures, verified by synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering and cryo-transmission electron microscopy, that offer the potential of high drug loading and enhanced cell penetration. Anti-EGFR Fab' fragments were conjugated to the surface of nanoparticles via a maleimide-thiol reaction at a high conjugation efficiency and retained specificity following conjugation to the nanoparticles. The conjugated nanoparticles were demonstrated to have high affinity for an EGFR target in a ligand binding assay.Next generation drug delivery utilising nanoparticles incorporates active targeting to specific sites. In this work, we combined targeting with the inherent advantages of self-assembled lipid nanoparticles containing internal nano-structures. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting, PEGylated lipid nanoparticles using phytantriol and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-PEG-maleimide amphiphiles were created. The self-assembled lipid nanoparticles presented here have internal lyotropic liquid crystalline nano-structures, verified by synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering and cryo-transmission electron microscopy, that offer the potential of high drug loading and enhanced cell penetration. Anti-EGFR Fab' fragments were conjugated to the surface of nanoparticles via a maleimide-thiol reaction at a high conjugation efficiency and retained specificity following conjugation to the nanoparticles. The conjugated nanoparticles were demonstrated to have high affinity for an EGFR target in a ligand binding assay. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1-S4. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05200e

Flywheel Energy Storage Technology Workshop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okain, D.; Howell, D.

Advances in recent years of high strength/lightweight materials, high performance magnetic bearings, and power electronics technology has spurred a renewed interest by the transportation, utility, and manufacturing industries in flywheel energy storage (FES) technologies. FES offers several advantages over conventional electrochemical energy storage, such as high specific energy and specific power, fast charging time, long service life, high turnaround efficiency (energy out/energy in), and no hazardous/toxic materials or chemicals are involved. Potential applications of FES units include power supplies for hybrid and electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging stations, space systems, and pulsed power devices. Also, FES units can be used for utility load leveling, uninterruptable power supplies to protect electronic equipment and electrical machinery, and for intermittent wind or photovoltaic energy sources. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a forum to highlight technologies that offer a high potential to increase the performance of FES systems and to discuss potential solutions to overcome present FES application barriers. This document consists of viewgraphs from 27 presentations.

Genome Editing for the Study of Cardiovascular Diseases

PubMed Central

Chadwick, Alexandra C.

2018-01-01

Purpose of Review The opportunities afforded through the recent advent of genome-editing technologies have allowed investigators to more easily study a number of diseases. The advantages and limitations of the most prominent genome-editing technologies are described in this review, along with potential applications specifically focused on cardiovascular diseases. Recent Findings The recent genome-editing tools using programmable nucleases, such as zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9), have rapidly been adapted to manipulate genes in a variety of cellular and animal models. A number of recent cardiovascular disease-related publications report cases in which specific mutations are introduced into disease models for functional characterization and for testing of therapeutic strategies. Summary Recent advances in genome-editing technologies offer new approaches to understand and treat diseases. Here, we discuss genome editing strategies to easily characterize naturally occurring mutations and offer strategies with potential clinical relevance. PMID:28220462

Beyond Fluorescent Proteins: Hybrid and Bioluminescent Indicators for Imaging Neural Activities.

PubMed

Wang, Anqi; Feng, Jiesi; Li, Yulong; Zou, Peng

2018-04-18

Optical biosensors have been invaluable tools in neuroscience research, as they provide the ability to directly visualize neural activity in real time, with high specificity, and with exceptional spatial and temporal resolution. Notably, a majority of these sensors are based on fluorescent protein scaffolds, which offer the ability to target specific cell types or even subcellular compartments. However, fluorescent proteins are intrinsically bulky tags, often insensitive to the environment, and always require excitation light illumination. To address these limitations, there has been a proliferation of alternative sensor scaffolds developed in recent years, including hybrid sensors that combine the advantages of synthetic fluorophores and genetically encoded protein tags, as well as bioluminescent probes. While still in their early stage of development as compared with fluorescent protein-based sensors, these novel probes have offered complementary solutions to interrogate various aspects of neuronal communication, including transmitter release, changes in membrane potential, and the production of second messengers. In this Review, we discuss these important new developments with a particular focus on design strategies.

Exploiting fluorescence for multiplex immunoassays on protein microarrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herbáth, Melinda; Papp, Krisztián; Balogh, Andrea; Matkó, János; Prechl, József

2014-09-01

Protein microarray technology is becoming the method of choice for identifying protein interaction partners, detecting specific proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, or for characterizing protein interactions and serum antibodies in a massively parallel manner. Availability of the well-established instrumentation of DNA arrays and development of new fluorescent detection instruments promoted the spread of this technique. Fluorescent detection has the advantage of high sensitivity, specificity, simplicity and wide dynamic range required by most measurements. Fluorescence through specifically designed probes and an increasing variety of detection modes offers an excellent tool for such microarray platforms. Measuring for example the level of antibodies, their isotypes and/or antigen specificity simultaneously can offer more complex and comprehensive information about the investigated biological phenomenon, especially if we take into consideration that hundreds of samples can be measured in a single assay. Not only body fluids, but also cell lysates, extracted cellular components, and intact living cells can be analyzed on protein arrays for monitoring functional responses to printed samples on the surface. As a rapidly evolving area, protein microarray technology offers a great bulk of information and new depth of knowledge. These are the features that endow protein arrays with wide applicability and robust sample analyzing capability. On the whole, protein arrays are emerging new tools not just in proteomics, but glycomics, lipidomics, and are also important for immunological research. In this review we attempt to summarize the technical aspects of planar fluorescent microarray technology along with the description of its main immunological applications.

Amazon Business And GSA Advantage: A Comparative Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

training for businesses or a customer -ordering guide; however, the site does offer a help center where businesses and users can submit questions...Electronic Offer FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation FAS Federal Acquisition Service FASA Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act FGO Field Grade Officer...component of GSA Advantage, is an online procurement tool that allows customers to request quotes for (1) commercial supplies and services under

Binary vapor cycle method of electrical power generation

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

Humiston, G.F.

1982-04-13

A binary vapor cycle method of electrical power generation is disclosed wherein two refrigerant fluids can be used to operate an apparatus for the generation of mechanical power as well as electrical power generation. This method, which is essentially a dual heat pump system, offers an approach to utilizing the advantages of two different refrigerants within a single apparatus. This advantage is particularly advantageous in the ulitization of low specific energy sources, such as two water sources which exist in close proximity to each other, but at different temperatures. Thus, water, which itself is a heat pump fluid, can bemore » used as a means of transmitting heat energy to a second heat pump fluid, or refrigerant, without incurring the disadvantages of water, or water vapors, as a means to produce power, because of its high specific volume and low saturation pressures at low temperatures. Additionally, since the warm water source of energy most commonly available is in the form of reservoirs, such as the ocean waters, and the utilization of barometric legs to bring the warm water into contact with the process, eliminates the use of expensive heat exchangers, which is the case of ocean water, are subject to fouling and loss of efficiency due to clinging microorganisms.« less

Recent advances in porous nanoparticles for drug delivery in antitumoral applications: inorganic nanoparticles and nanoscale metal-organic frameworks.

PubMed

Baeza, Alejandro; Ruiz-Molina, Daniel; Vallet-Regí, María

2017-06-01

Nanotechnology has provided new tools for addressing unmet clinical situations, especially in the oncology field. The development of smart nanocarriers able to deliver chemotherapeutic agents specifically to the diseased cells and to release them in a controlled way has offered a paramount advantage over conventional therapy. Areas covered: Among the different types of nanoparticle that can be employed for this purpose, inorganic porous materials have received significant attention in the last decade due to their unique properties such as high loading capacity, chemical and physical robustness, low toxicity and easy and cheap production in the laboratory. This review discuss the recent advances performed in the application of porous inorganic and metal-organic materials for antitumoral therapy, paying special attention to the application of mesoporous silica, porous silicon and metal-organic nanoparticles. Expert opinion: The use of porous inorganic nanoparticles as drug carriers for cancer therapy has the potential to improve the life expectancy of the patients affected by this disease. However, much work is needed to overcome their drawbacks, which are aggravated by their hard nature, exploiting the advantages offered by highly the ordered pore network of these materials.

Advanced Dependent Pressure Vessel (DPV) nickel-hydrogen spacecraft cell and battery design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coates, Dwaine; Wright, Doug; Repplinger, Ron

1995-01-01

The dependent pressure vessel (DPV) nickel-hydrogen (NiH2) battery is being developed as a potential spacecraft battery design for both military and commercial satellites. Individual pressure vessel (IPV) NiH2 batteries are currently flying on more than 70 Earth orbital satellites and have accumulated more than 140,000,000 cell-hours in actual spacecraft operation. The limitations of standard NiH2 IPV flight battery technology are primarily related to the internal cell design and the battery packaging issues associated with grouping multiple cylindrical cells. The DPV cell design offers higher specific energy and reduced cost, while retaining the established IPV NiH2 technology flight heritage and database. The advanced cell design offers a more efficient mechanical, electrical and thermal cell configuration and a reduced parts count. The internal electrode stack is a prismatic flat-plate arrangement. The flat individual cell pressure vessel provides a maximum direct thermal path for removing heat from the electrode stack. The cell geometry also minimizes multiple-cell battery packaging constraints by using an established end-plateltie-rod battery design. A major design advantage is that the battery support structure is efficiently required to restrain only the force applied to a portion of the end cell. As the cells are stacked in series to achieve the desired system voltage, this increment of the total battery weight becomes small. The geometry of the DPV cell promotes compact, minimum volume packaging and places all cell terminals along the length of the battery. The resulting ability to minimize intercell wiring offers additional design simplicity and significant weight savings. The DPV battery design offers significant cost and weight savings advantages while providing minimal design risks. Cell and battery level design issues will be addressed including mechanical, electrical and thermal design aspects. A design performance analysis will be presented at both the cell and battery level. The DPV is capable of delivering up to 76 Watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) at the cell level and 70 Wh/kg at the full battery level. This represents a 40 percent increase in specific energy at the cell level and a 60 percent increase in specific energy at the battery level compared to current IPV NiH2 technology.

Should nevirapine be used to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV among women of unknown serostatus?

PubMed Central

Sint, Tin Tin; Dabis, François; Kamenga, Claude; Shaffer, Nathan; de Zoysa, Isabelle F.

2005-01-01

At present, HIV testing and counselling during pregnancy represent the key entry point for women to learn their serostatus and for them to access, if they are HIV-positive, specific interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, the provision and uptake of testing and counselling services are inadequate, and many pregnant women in countries most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic remain unaware of their HIV status. The offer of single-dose nevirapine prophylaxis to women whose HIV status is unknown at the time of delivery has been proposed to circumvent these problems in high-prevalence settings. The potential advantages and disadvantages of three different programme approaches are considered: targeted programmes in which antiretroviral drugs are offered only to women who are known to be HIV-positive; combined programmes in which nevirapine prophylaxis is offered to women whose serostatus remains unknown at the time of delivery despite targeted programme inputs; and universal nevirapine prophylaxis programmes in which HIV testing and counselling are not available and all pregnant women, regardless of their serostatus, are offered nevirapine prophylaxis. PMID:15798847

Advantages of Task-Specific Multi-Objective Optimisation in Evolutionary Robotics.

PubMed

Trianni, Vito; López-Ibáñez, Manuel

2015-01-01

The application of multi-objective optimisation to evolutionary robotics is receiving increasing attention. A survey of the literature reveals the different possibilities it offers to improve the automatic design of efficient and adaptive robotic systems, and points to the successful demonstrations available for both task-specific and task-agnostic approaches (i.e., with or without reference to the specific design problem to be tackled). However, the advantages of multi-objective approaches over single-objective ones have not been clearly spelled out and experimentally demonstrated. This paper fills this gap for task-specific approaches: starting from well-known results in multi-objective optimisation, we discuss how to tackle commonly recognised problems in evolutionary robotics. In particular, we show that multi-objective optimisation (i) allows evolving a more varied set of behaviours by exploring multiple trade-offs of the objectives to optimise, (ii) supports the evolution of the desired behaviour through the introduction of objectives as proxies, (iii) avoids the premature convergence to local optima possibly introduced by multi-component fitness functions, and (iv) solves the bootstrap problem exploiting ancillary objectives to guide evolution in the early phases. We present an experimental demonstration of these benefits in three different case studies: maze navigation in a single robot domain, flocking in a swarm robotics context, and a strictly collaborative task in collective robotics.

Investigation Analysis of Crack Growth Arresting with Fasteners in Hybrid Laminated Skin-Stiffener Joint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeevan Kumar, N.; Ramesh Babu, P.

2018-02-01

In recent years carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP) emerged its increasing demand in aerospace engineering. Due to their high specific strength to weight ratio, these composites offer more characteristics and considerable advantages compared to metals. Metals, unlike composites, offer plasticity effects to evade high stress concentrations during postbuckling. Under compressive load, composite structures show a wide range of damage mechanisms where a set of damage modes combined together might lead to the eventual structural collapse. Crack is one of the most critical damages in fiber composites, which are being employed in primary aircraft structures. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the arrest mechanism of the delamination or crack growth with installation of multiple fasteners when the delamination is embedded in between the skin and stiffener interface.

Computational design of a red fluorophore ligase for site-specific protein labeling in living cells

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

Liu, Daniel S.; Nivon, Lucas G.; Richter, Florian

In this study, chemical fluorophores offer tremendous size and photophysical advantages over fluorescent proteins but are much more challenging to target to specific cellular proteins. Here, we used Rosetta-based computation to design a fluorophore ligase that accepts the red dye resorufin, starting from Escherichia coli lipoic acid ligase. X-ray crystallography showed that the design closely matched the experimental structure. Resorufin ligase catalyzed the site-specific and covalent attachment of resorufin to various cellular proteins genetically fused to a 13-aa recognition peptide in multiple mammalian cell lines and in primary cultured neurons. We used resorufin ligase to perform superresolution imaging of themore » intermediate filament protein vimentin by stimulated emission depletion and electron microscopies. This work illustrates the power of Rosetta for major redesign of enzyme specificity and introduces a tool for minimally invasive, highly specific imaging of cellular proteins by both conventional and superresolution microscopies.« less

Computational design of a red fluorophore ligase for site-specific protein labeling in living cells

DOE PAGES

Liu, Daniel S.; Nivon, Lucas G.; Richter, Florian; ...

2014-10-13

In this study, chemical fluorophores offer tremendous size and photophysical advantages over fluorescent proteins but are much more challenging to target to specific cellular proteins. Here, we used Rosetta-based computation to design a fluorophore ligase that accepts the red dye resorufin, starting from Escherichia coli lipoic acid ligase. X-ray crystallography showed that the design closely matched the experimental structure. Resorufin ligase catalyzed the site-specific and covalent attachment of resorufin to various cellular proteins genetically fused to a 13-aa recognition peptide in multiple mammalian cell lines and in primary cultured neurons. We used resorufin ligase to perform superresolution imaging of themore » intermediate filament protein vimentin by stimulated emission depletion and electron microscopies. This work illustrates the power of Rosetta for major redesign of enzyme specificity and introduces a tool for minimally invasive, highly specific imaging of cellular proteins by both conventional and superresolution microscopies.« less

Neurocomputational Consequences of Evolutionary Connectivity Changes in Perisylvian Language Cortex.

PubMed

Schomers, Malte R; Garagnani, Max; Pulvermüller, Friedemann

2017-03-15

The human brain sets itself apart from that of its primate relatives by specific neuroanatomical features, especially the strong linkage of left perisylvian language areas (frontal and temporal cortex) by way of the arcuate fasciculus (AF). AF connectivity has been shown to correlate with verbal working memory-a specifically human trait providing the foundation for language abilities-but a mechanistic explanation of any related causal link between anatomical structure and cognitive function is still missing. Here, we provide a possible explanation and link, by using neurocomputational simulations in neuroanatomically structured models of the perisylvian language cortex. We compare networks mimicking key features of cortical connectivity in monkeys and humans, specifically the presence of relatively stronger higher-order "jumping links" between nonadjacent perisylvian cortical areas in the latter, and demonstrate that the emergence of working memory for syllables and word forms is a functional consequence of this structural evolutionary change. We also show that a mere increase of learning time is not sufficient, but that this specific structural feature, which entails higher connectivity degree of relevant areas and shorter sensorimotor path length, is crucial. These results offer a better understanding of specifically human anatomical features underlying the language faculty and their evolutionary selection advantage. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Why do humans have superior language abilities compared to primates? Recently, a uniquely human neuroanatomical feature has been demonstrated in the strength of the arcuate fasciculus (AF), a fiber pathway interlinking the left-hemispheric language areas. Although AF anatomy has been related to linguistic skills, an explanation of how this fiber bundle may support language abilities is still missing. We use neuroanatomically structured computational models to investigate the consequences of evolutionary changes in language area connectivity and demonstrate that the human-specific higher connectivity degree and comparatively shorter sensorimotor path length implicated by the AF entail emergence of verbal working memory, a prerequisite for language learning. These results offer a better understanding of specifically human anatomical features for language and their evolutionary selection advantage. Copyright © 2017 Schomers et al.

Size exclusion chromatography with superficially porous particles.

PubMed

Schure, Mark R; Moran, Robert E

2017-01-13

A comparison is made using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) of synthetic polymers between fully porous particles (FPPs) and superficially porous particles (SPPs) with similar particle diameters, pore sizes and equal flow rates. Polystyrene molecular weight standards with a mobile phase of tetrahydrofuran are utilized for all measurements conducted with standard HPLC equipment. Although it is traditionally thought that larger pore volume is thermodynamically advantageous in SEC for better separations, SPPs have kinetic advantages and these will be shown to compensate for the loss in pore volume compared to FPPs. The comparison metrics include the elution range (smaller with SPPs), the plate count (larger for SPPs), the rate production of theoretical plates (larger for SPPs) and the specific resolution (larger with FPPs). Advantages to using SPPs for SEC are discussed such that similar separations can be conducted faster using SPPs. SEC using SPPs offers similar peak capacities to that using FPPs but with faster operation. This also suggests that SEC conducted in the second dimension of a two-dimensional liquid chromatograph may benefit with reduced run time and with equivalently reduced peak width making SPPs advantageous for sampling the first dimension by the second dimension separator. Additional advantages are discussed for biomolecules along with a discussion of optimization criteria for size-based separations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Variable Energy CW Compact Accelerator for Ion Cancer Therapy

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

Johnstone, Carol J.; Taylor, J.; Edgecock, R.

2016-03-10

Cancer is the second-largest cause of death in the U.S. and approximately two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy with the majority of the radiation treatments performed using x-rays produced by electron linacs. Charged particle beam radiation therapy, both protons and light ions, however, offers advantageous physical-dose distributions over conventional photon radiotherapy, and, for particles heavier than protons, a significant biological advantage. Despite recognition of potential advantages, there is almost no research activity in this field in the U.S. due to the lack of clinical accelerator facilities offering light ion therapy in the States. In January, 2013, amore » joint DOE/NCI workshop was convened to address the challenges of light ion therapy [1], inviting more than 60 experts from diverse fields related to radiation therapy. This paper reports on the conclusions of the workshop, then translates the clinical requirements into accelerat or and beam-delivery technical specifications. A comparison of available or feasible accelerator technologies is compared, including a new concept for a compact, CW, and variable energy light ion accelerator currently under development. This new light ion accelerator is based on advances in nonscaling Fixed-Field Alternating gradient (FFAG) accelerator design. The new design concepts combine isochronous orbits with long (up to 4m) straight sections in a compact racetrack format allowing inner circulating orbits to be energy selected for low-loss, CW extraction, effectively eliminating the high-loss energy degrader in conventional CW cyclotron designs.« less

Assessment of simple colorimetric procedures to determine smoking status of diabetic subjects.

PubMed

Smith, R F; Mather, H M; Ellard, G A

1998-02-01

The performance of a simple colorimetric assay for urinary nicotine metabolites to assess smoking status in diabetic subjects (n = 251) was investigated. Several variations of the colorimetric assay and a qualitative extraction procedure were evaluated in comparison with a cotinine immunoassay as the "gold standard." Among these, the best overall performance was achieved with the qualitative test (sensitivity 95%; specificity 100%). The quantitative measurement of total nicotine metabolites performed less well (sensitivity 92%; specificity 97%) but could be improved by incorporating a blank extraction (sensitivity 98%; specificity 98%). Allowance for diuresis appeared to offer no advantage over the other methods. These results support previous findings regarding the use of these colorimetric procedures in nondiabetic subjects and, contrary to other recent observations, their performance was not impaired in diabetic patients.

Medicare program; prohibition of midyear benefit enhancements for Medicare Advantage organizations. Final rule.

PubMed

2008-07-28

This final rule prohibits Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, including organizations offering MA plans to employer and union group health plan sponsors, from making midyear changes to nonprescription drug benefits, premiums, and cost-sharing submitted in their approved bids for a given contract year. This final rule also clarifies that MA organizations offering certain kinds of plans restricted to employer and union group health plan sponsors and not open to general enrollment may continue to offer benefit enhancements as they do currently, through means other than midyear benefit enhancements (MYBEs). Programs of all-inclusive care for elderly (PACE) are not subject to the provisions of this final rule and may continue to offer enhanced benefits as specified in our guidance for PACE plans.

Micromotors for "Chemistry-on-the-Fly".

PubMed

Karshalev, Emil; Esteban-Fernández de Ávila, Berta; Wang, Joseph

2018-03-21

This perspective reviews mobile micro/nanomotor scaffolds for performing "chemistry-on-the-fly". Synthetic nano/micromotors offer great versatility and distinct advantages in diverse chemical applications owing to their efficient propulsion and facile surface functionalization that allow these mobile platforms to move and disperse reactive materials across the solution. Such dynamic microreactors have led to accelerated chemical processes, including organic pollutant degradation, metal chelation, biorecognition, redox chemistry, chemical "writing", and a variety of other chemical transformations. Representative examples of such micromotor-enhanced chemical reactions are discussed, focusing on the specific chemical role of these mobile microreactors. The advantages, gaps and limitations of using micromotors as mobile chemical platforms are discussed, concluding with the future prospects of this emerging field. We envision that artificial nano/micromotors will become attractive dynamic tools for speeding up and enhancing "on-the-fly" chemical reactions.

[Topical therapy of ulcerative colitis].

PubMed

Rogler, G; Beglinger, C; Mottet, C; Seibold, F; Gross, V

2011-11-16

The availability of new topical preparations for the treatment of left sided ulcerative colitis ulcerosa offers a therapy optimization for many patients. Rectal application of steroids and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is associated with fewer side effects and has a higher therapeutic efficacy in mild to moderate-active left-sided colitis as compared to a systemic therapy. Often it is argued that the patients' compliance is insufficient with a rectal therapy. However, with sufficient information on the proven advantages this is usually not the case. The rectal application of drugs in distal ulcerative colitis is suitable also for the maintenance of remission. Therefore the new therapy guidelines recommend topical therapy more than in former times. Subsequently, these manuscripts focussed specifically on the topical therapy of distal colitis, to elucidate that clear treatment advantages are present in daily practice.

You and your manager: reducing workplace stress by creating and maintaining a good relationship.

PubMed

Hills, Laura Sachs

2007-01-01

The relationship a medical practice employee has with his or her practice manager is probably the most important relationship the employee will have at work. No matter what position an employee has in the medical practice, it's to his or her advantage to get along well with the practice manager. This article offers concrete suggestions to medical practice employees to help them establish and cultivate a positive working relationship with their practice managers. It examines different working styles of practice managers and suggests strategies for medical practice employees who want or need different amounts and styles of supervision. It describes five personal characteristics a practice manager expects in employees and two basic rules of thumb for using the practice manager's time efficiently. This article also emphasizes the importance of good communication with the practice manager and offers 12 practical and specific tips for building the employee-practice manager relationship. Finally, this article offers advice to medical practice employees about what to do when they disagree with their practice managers.

Telepsychotherapy and the Therapeutic Relationship: Principles, Advantages, and Case Examples.

PubMed

Kocsis, Barbara J; Yellowlees, Peter

2018-05-01

As the use of technology continues to expand within our mental healthcare system, there has been an increasing interest in conducting psychotherapy online using videoconferencing. Literature pertaining to telepsychotherapy has explored possible drawbacks of this modality on the therapeutic relationship, although several studies have shown that the efficacy of online psychotherapy is equivalent to in-person approaches. Little is written about the potential advantages to the psychotherapeutic relationship when psychotherapy is carried out over videoconferencing. The available literature was reviewed, as were the general principles of telepsychotherapy and the therapeutic relationship, followed by a more in-depth consideration of patient populations for whom telepsychotherapy may offer distinct advantages. The current literature, as well as our own clinical experience, suggests that telepsychotherapy may be effective for a broad range of patients, and it may offer distinct advantages in the building of a trusting psychotherapeutic relationship. Telepsychotherapy offers a novel way to reach and form strong psychotherapeutic relationships with many different types of patients, and it may foster therapeutic intimacy in ways that in-person psychotherapy cannot. More research is needed to further explore this unique modality.

D Modeling of the Archaic Amphoras of Ionia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denker, A.; Oniz, H.

2015-04-01

Few other regions offer such a rich collection of amphoras than the cities of Ionia. Throughout history amphoras of these cities had been spread all over the Mediterranean. Despite their common characteristics, amphora manufacturing cities of Ionia had their own distinctive styles that can be identified. They differed in details of shape and decoration. Each city produced an authentic type of amphora which served as a trademark of itself and enabled its attribution to where it originated from. That's why, amphoras provide important insight into commerce of old ages and yield evidence into ancient sailing routes. Owing to this our knowledge of the ancient trade is profoundly enriched. The following is based on the finds of amphoras which originated from the Ionian cities of Chios, Clazomenai, Lesbos, Miletus, and Samos. Starting from city-specific forms which offer interpretative advantages in provenancing, this article surveys the salient features of the regional forms and styles of the those Ionian cities. 3D modeling is utilized with the aim of bringing fresh glimpses of the investigated amphoras by showing how they originally looked. Due to their virtual indestructibility these models offer interpretative advantages by enabling experimental testing of hypotheses upon the finds without risking them. The 3D models in the following sections were reconstructed from numerous fragments of necks, handles, body sherds and bases. They convey in color- unlike the monochrome drawings which we were accustomed to-the texture, decoration, tint and the vitality of the amphoras of Ionia.

Advanced energy system program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trester, K.

1989-02-01

The objectives of the program are to design, develop and demonstrate a natural-gas-fueled, highly recuperated, 50 kW Brayton-cycle cogeneration system for commercial, institutional, and multifamily residential applications. Marketing studies have shown that this Advanced Energy System (AES), with its many unique and cost-effective features, has the potential to offer significant reductions in annual electrical and thermal energy costs to the consumer. Specific advantages of the system that result in low cost of ownership are high electrical efficiency (30 percent, HHV), low maintenance, high reliability and long life (20 years).

Sol-Gel Processing of MgF₂ Antireflective Coatings.

PubMed

Löbmann, Peer

2018-05-02

There are different approaches for the preparation of porous antireflective λ/4 MgF₂ films from liquid precursors. Among these, the non-aqueous fluorolytic synthesis of precursor solutions offers many advantages in terms of processing simplicity and scalability. In this paper, the structural features and optical performance of the resulting films are highlighted, and their specific interactions with different inorganic substrates are discussed. Due to their excellent abrasion resistance, coatings have a high potential for applications on glass. Using solvothermal treatment of precursor solutions, also the processing of thermally sensitive polymer substrates becomes feasible.

Characterization of Elastic Properties of Interfaces in Composite Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-09-01

ceramic Imatrix composites. These types of composite materials offer the advantages of being lighter, stiffer, stronger, and more resistant to creep and...actual composite materials. śi 3 II. Introduction The advantages offered by metal and ceramic matrix composites for strw, ural aerispace applications...minimum when ( VST /Vs) 2 = 0.8453... This corresponds to a situation analogous to a Rayleigh wave. As the ratio of the displacements increases, the ratio of

Application of miRNAs as Biomarkers of Exposure and Effects ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Of the known epigenetic mechanisms, non-coding RNA and more specifically, microRNA (miRNA), offer the most immediate promise for risk assessment applications because these molecules can serve as excellent biomarkers of toxicity. The advantages of miRNA versus more classical protein toxicity biomarkers include: greater stability and earlier appearance in biofluids that can be obtained by relatively non-invasive approaches; tissue- and/or cell-specific expression patterns; evolutionary conservation in both sequence and function across species; and novel technologies for sensitive and accurate quantification. Further, information on individual miRNA is readily available through databases such as miRBase and others. Thus miRNA biomarkers offer substantial benefits in terms of cost, time, convenience, sensitivity, and specificity when assessing environmental-induced toxicity in model systems or human cohorts. Although this field is rapidly expanding, documented examples include associations of miR-155 with lymphocytic leukemia, miR-122 with liver toxicity; miR-206 with skeletal muscle disease; and miR-208a-3p with cardiac toxicity. Despite their promise, some challenges in using miRNAs as toxicity biomarkers remain, including the need for improved methods for normalizing miRNA measurements, translating findings of biofluid-based miRNA biomarker alterations in experimental models to human health and specific cell/tissue injury, and finally, the need to better defi

Direct fluorescent-dye labeling of α-tubulin in mammalian cells for live cell and superresolution imaging

PubMed Central

Schvartz, Tomer; Aloush, Noa; Goliand, Inna; Segal, Inbar; Nachmias, Dikla; Arbely, Eyal; Elia, Natalie

2017-01-01

Genetic code expansion and bioorthogonal labeling provide for the first time a way for direct, site-specific labeling of proteins with fluorescent-dyes in live cells. Although the small size and superb photophysical parameters of fluorescent-dyes offer unique advantages for high-resolution microscopy, this approach has yet to be embraced as a tool in live cell imaging. Here we evaluated the feasibility of this approach by applying it for α-tubulin labeling. After a series of calibrations, we site-specifically labeled α-tubulin with silicon rhodamine (SiR) in live mammalian cells in an efficient and robust manner. SiR-labeled tubulin successfully incorporated into endogenous microtubules at high density, enabling video recording of microtubule dynamics in interphase and mitotic cells. Applying this labeling approach to structured illumination microscopy resulted in an increase in resolution, highlighting the advantages in using a smaller, brighter tag. Therefore, using our optimized assay, genetic code expansion provides an attractive tool for labeling proteins with a minimal, bright tag in quantitative high-resolution imaging. PMID:28835375

Nanofiber adsorbents for high productivity continuous downstream processing.

PubMed

Hardick, Oliver; Dods, Stewart; Stevens, Bob; Bracewell, Daniel G

2015-11-10

An ever increasing focus is being placed on the manufacturing costs of biotherapeutics. The drive towards continuous processing offers one opportunity to address these costs through the advantages it offers. Continuous operation presents opportunities for real-time process monitoring and automated control with potential benefits including predictable product specification, reduced labour costs, and integration with other continuous processes. Specifically to chromatographic operations continuous processing presents an opportunity to use expensive media more efficiently while reducing their size and therefore cost. Here for the first time we show how a new adsorbent material (cellulosic nanofibers) having advantageous convective mass transfer properties can be combined with a high frequency simulated moving bed (SMB) design to provide superior productivity in a simple bioseparation. Electrospun polymeric nanofiber adsorbents offer an alternative ligand support surface for bioseparations. Their non-woven fiber structure with diameters in the sub-micron range creates a remarkably high surface area material that allows for rapid convective flow operations. A proof of concept study demonstrated the performance of an anion exchange nanofiber adsorbent based on criteria including flow and mass transfer properties, binding capacity, reproducibility and life-cycle performance. Binding capacities of the DEAE adsorbents were demonstrated to be 10mg/mL, this is indeed only a fraction of what is achievable from porous bead resins but in combination with a very high flowrate, the productivity of the nanofiber system is shown to be significant. Suitable packing into a flow distribution device has allowed for reproducible bind-elute operations at flowrates of 2,400 cm/h, many times greater than those used in typical beaded systems. These characteristics make them ideal candidates for operation in continuous chromatography systems. A SMB system was developed and optimised to demonstrate the productivity of nanofiber adsorbents through rapid bind-elute cycle times of 7s which resulted in a 15-fold increase in productivity compared with packed bed resins. Reproducible performance of BSA purification was demonstrated using a 2-component protein solution of BSA and cytochrome c. The SMB system exploits the advantageous convective mass transfer properties of nanofiber adsorbents to provide productivities much greater than those achievable with conventional chromatography media. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Techno-economic requirements for composite aircraft components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palmer, Ray

1993-01-01

The primary reason for use of composites is to save structural weight. A well designed composite aircraft structure will usually save 25-30 percent of a well designed metal structure. The weight savings then translates into improved performance of the aircraft in measures of greater payload, increased flying range or improved efficiency - less use of fuel. Composite materials offer technical advantages. Key technical advantages that composites offer are high stiffness, tailored strength capability, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance. Low thermal expansion properties produce dimensionally stable structures over a wide range of temperature. Specialty resin 'char' forming characteristics in a fire environment offer potential fire barrier application and safer aircraft. The materials and processes of composite fabrication offer the potential for lower cost structures in the near future. The application of composite materials to aircraft are discussed.

Conceptual design and integration of a space station resistojet propulsion assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tacina, Robert R.

1987-01-01

The resistojet propulsion module is designed as a simple, long life, low risk system offering operational flexibility to the space station program. It can dispose of a wide variety of typical space station waste fluids by using them as propellants for orbital maintenance. A high temperature mode offers relatively high specific impulse with long life while a low temperature mode can propulsively dispose of mixtures that contain oxygen or hydrocarbons without reducing thruster life or generating particulates in the plume. A low duty cycle and a plume that is confined to a small aft region minimizes the impacts on the users. Simple interfaces with other space station systems facilitate integration. It is concluded that there are no major obstacles and many advantages to developing, installing, and operating a resistojet propulsion module aboard the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) space station.

Nanocarpets for Trapping Microscopic Particles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noca, Flavio; Chen, Fei; Hunt, Brian; Bronikowski, Michael; Hoenk, Michael; Kowalczyk, Robert; Choi, Daniel

2004-01-01

Nanocarpets that is, carpets of carbon nanotubes are undergoing development as means of trapping microscopic particles for scientific analysis. Examples of such particles include inorganic particles, pollen, bacteria, and spores. Nanocarpets can be characterized as scaled-down versions of ordinary macroscopic floor carpets, which trap dust and other particulate matter, albeit not purposefully. Nanocarpets can also be characterized as mimicking both the structure and the particle-trapping behavior of ciliated lung epithelia, the carbon nanotubes being analogous to cilia. Carbon nanotubes can easily be chemically functionalized for selective trapping of specific particles of interest. One could, alternatively, use such other three-dimensionally-structured materials as aerogels and activated carbon for the purposeful trapping of microscopic particles. However, nanocarpets offer important advantages over these alternative materials: (1) Nanocarpets are amenable to nonintrusive probing by optical means; and (2) Nanocarpets offer greater surface-to-volume ratios.

Who's Looking? Examining the Role of Gender and Rank in Faculty Outside Offers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Meara, KerryAnn; Fink, John; White-Lewis, Damani Khary

2017-01-01

Outside offers, defined as comparable offers of employment at another organization, are means by which faculty determine their relative market worth and increase their salary at their home institution. Despite the career advantages associated with outside offers, little is known about the groups of faculty most likely to receive them. For example,…

Higher Incentive Payments in Medicare Advantage's Pay-for-Performance Program Did Not Improve Quality But Did Increase Plan Offerings.

PubMed

Layton, Timothy J; Ryan, Andrew M

2015-12-01

To evaluate the effects of the size of financial bonuses on quality of care and the number of plan offerings in the Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration. Publicly available data from CMS from 2009 to 2014 on Medicare Advantage plan quality ratings, the counties in the service area of each plan, and the benchmarks used to construct plan payments. The Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration began in 2012. Under the Demonstration, all Medicare Advantage plans were eligible to receive bonus payments based on plan-level quality scores (star ratings). In some counties, plans were eligible to receive bonus payments that were twice as large as in other counties. We used this variation in incentives to evaluate the effects of bonus size on star ratings and the number of plan offerings in the Demonstration using a differences-in-differences identification strategy. We used matching to create a comparison group of counties that did not receive double bonuses but had similar levels of the preintervention outcomes. Results from the difference-in-differences analysis suggest that the receipt of double bonuses was not associated with an increase in star ratings. In the matched sample, the receipt of double bonuses was associated with a statistically insignificant increase of +0.034 (approximately 1 percent) in the average star rating (p > .10, 95 percent CI: -0.015, 0.083). In contrast, the receipt of double bonuses was associated with an increase in the number of plans offered. In the matched sample, the receipt of double bonuses was associated with an overall increase of +0.814 plans (approximately 5.8 percent) (p < .05, 95 percent CI: 0.078, 1.549). We estimate that the double bonuses increased payments by $3.43 billion over the first 3 years of the Demonstration. At great expense to Medicare, double bonuses in the Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration were not associated with improved quality but were associated with more plan offerings. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Systems neuroscience in Drosophila: Conceptual and technical advantages.

PubMed

Kazama, H

2015-06-18

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is ideally suited for investigating the neural circuit basis of behavior. Due to the simplicity and genetic tractability of the fly brain, neurons and circuits are identifiable across animals. Additionally, a large set of transgenic lines has been developed with the aim of specifically labeling small subsets of neurons and manipulating them in sophisticated ways. Electrophysiology and imaging can be applied in behaving individuals to examine the computations performed by each neuron, and even the entire population of relevant neurons in a particular region, because of the small size of the brain. Moreover, a rich repertoire of behaviors that can be studied is expanding to include those requiring cognitive abilities. Thus, the fly brain is an attractive system in which to explore both computations and mechanisms underlying behavior at levels spanning from genes through neurons to circuits. This review summarizes the advantages Drosophila offers in achieving this objective. A recent neurophysiology study on olfactory behavior is also introduced to demonstrate the effectiveness of these advantages. Copyright © 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular testing for clinical diagnosis and epidemiological investigations of intestinal parasitic infections.

PubMed

Verweij, Jaco J; Stensvold, C Rune

2014-04-01

Over the past few decades, nucleic acid-based methods have been developed for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections. Advantages of nucleic acid-based methods are numerous; typically, these include increased sensitivity and specificity and simpler standardization of diagnostic procedures. DNA samples can also be stored and used for genetic characterization and molecular typing, providing a valuable tool for surveys and surveillance studies. A variety of technologies have been applied, and some specific and general pitfalls and limitations have been identified. This review provides an overview of the multitude of methods that have been reported for the detection of intestinal parasites and offers some guidance in applying these methods in the clinical laboratory and in epidemiological studies.

Molecular Testing for Clinical Diagnosis and Epidemiological Investigations of Intestinal Parasitic Infections

PubMed Central

Stensvold, C. Rune

2014-01-01

SUMMARY Over the past few decades, nucleic acid-based methods have been developed for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections. Advantages of nucleic acid-based methods are numerous; typically, these include increased sensitivity and specificity and simpler standardization of diagnostic procedures. DNA samples can also be stored and used for genetic characterization and molecular typing, providing a valuable tool for surveys and surveillance studies. A variety of technologies have been applied, and some specific and general pitfalls and limitations have been identified. This review provides an overview of the multitude of methods that have been reported for the detection of intestinal parasites and offers some guidance in applying these methods in the clinical laboratory and in epidemiological studies. PMID:24696439

Supramolecular biomaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webber, Matthew J.; Appel, Eric A.; Meijer, E. W.; Langer, Robert

2016-01-01

Polymers, ceramics and metals have historically dominated the application of materials in medicine. Yet rationally designed materials that exploit specific, directional, tunable and reversible non-covalent interactions offer unprecedented advantages: they enable modular and generalizable platforms with tunable mechanical, chemical and biological properties. Indeed, the reversible nature of supramolecular interactions gives rise to biomaterials that can sense and respond to physiological cues, or that mimic the structural and functional aspects of biological signalling. In this Review, we discuss the properties of several supramolecular biomaterials, as well as their applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and immunology. We envision that supramolecular biomaterials will contribute to the development of new therapies that combine highly functional materials with unmatched patient- and application-specific tailoring of both material and biological properties.

Advantages of Task-Specific Multi-Objective Optimisation in Evolutionary Robotics

PubMed Central

Trianni, Vito; López-Ibáñez, Manuel

2015-01-01

The application of multi-objective optimisation to evolutionary robotics is receiving increasing attention. A survey of the literature reveals the different possibilities it offers to improve the automatic design of efficient and adaptive robotic systems, and points to the successful demonstrations available for both task-specific and task-agnostic approaches (i.e., with or without reference to the specific design problem to be tackled). However, the advantages of multi-objective approaches over single-objective ones have not been clearly spelled out and experimentally demonstrated. This paper fills this gap for task-specific approaches: starting from well-known results in multi-objective optimisation, we discuss how to tackle commonly recognised problems in evolutionary robotics. In particular, we show that multi-objective optimisation (i) allows evolving a more varied set of behaviours by exploring multiple trade-offs of the objectives to optimise, (ii) supports the evolution of the desired behaviour through the introduction of objectives as proxies, (iii) avoids the premature convergence to local optima possibly introduced by multi-component fitness functions, and (iv) solves the bootstrap problem exploiting ancillary objectives to guide evolution in the early phases. We present an experimental demonstration of these benefits in three different case studies: maze navigation in a single robot domain, flocking in a swarm robotics context, and a strictly collaborative task in collective robotics. PMID:26295151

Concrete volute pumps: technology review and improvement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prunières, R.; Longatte, F.; Catelan, F. X.; Philippot, J. M.

2012-11-01

When pumps need to deliver large water flow rates (typically more than 5 m3.s-1), concrete volute pumps (CVP) offer an interesting alternative to standard vertical wet-pit pumps. One of the major advantages of CVP is its simplicity in terms of design, manufacturability and maintainability. In addition, CVP geometrical arrangement allows to reach high performances in terms of hydraulic and mechanical behaviour. These advantages can be specifically appreciated when such pumps are used in the energy field for Power Plants which need high flow rate and reliability, and can lead to important financial savings over the Plant lifetime compared to vertical wet-pit pumps. Finally, as CVP was for a long time limited to total head rise lower than 30 mWC, it was established through CFD analysis that the addition of guide vanes between the impeller and the volute allows to achieve higher head rise without risk.

SNSPD with parallel nanowires (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ejrnaes, Mikkel; Parlato, Loredana; Gaggero, Alessandro; Mattioli, Francesco; Leoni, Roberto; Pepe, Giampiero; Cristiano, Roberto

2017-05-01

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have shown to be promising in applications such as quantum communication and computation, quantum optics, imaging, metrology and sensing. They offer the advantages of a low dark count rate, high efficiency, a broadband response, a short time jitter, a high repetition rate, and no need for gated-mode operation. Several SNSPD designs have been proposed in literature. Here, we discuss the so-called parallel nanowires configurations. They were introduced with the aim of improving some SNSPD property like detection efficiency, speed, signal-to-noise ratio, or photon number resolution. Although apparently similar, the various parallel designs are not the same. There is no one design that can improve the mentioned properties all together. In fact, each design presents its own characteristics with specific advantages and drawbacks. In this work, we will discuss the various designs outlining peculiarities and possible improvements.

Recent technological advancements in cardiac ultrasound imaging.

PubMed

Dave, Jaydev K; Mc Donald, Maureen E; Mehrotra, Praveen; Kohut, Andrew R; Eisenbrey, John R; Forsberg, Flemming

2018-03-01

About 92.1 million Americans suffer from at least one type of cardiovascular disease. Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death (about 31% of all global deaths). Recent technological advancements in cardiac ultrasound imaging are expected to aid in the clinical diagnosis of many cardiovascular diseases. This article provides an overview of such recent technological advancements, specifically focusing on tissue Doppler imaging, strain imaging, contrast echocardiography, 3D echocardiography, point-of-care echocardiography, 3D volumetric flow assessments, and elastography. With these advancements ultrasound imaging is rapidly changing the domain of cardiac imaging. The advantages offered by ultrasound imaging include real-time imaging, imaging at patient bed-side, cost-effectiveness and ionizing-radiation-free imaging. Along with these advantages, the steps taken towards standardization of ultrasound based quantitative markers, reviewed here, will play a major role in addressing the healthcare burden associated with cardiovascular diseases. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhancing predictive accuracy and reproducibility in clinical evaluation research: Commentary on the special section of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.

PubMed

Bryant, Fred B

2016-12-01

This paper introduces a special section of the current issue of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice that includes a set of 6 empirical articles showcasing a versatile, new machine-learning statistical method, known as optimal data (or discriminant) analysis (ODA), specifically designed to produce statistical models that maximize predictive accuracy. As this set of papers clearly illustrates, ODA offers numerous important advantages over traditional statistical methods-advantages that enhance the validity and reproducibility of statistical conclusions in empirical research. This issue of the journal also includes a review of a recently published book that provides a comprehensive introduction to the logic, theory, and application of ODA in empirical research. It is argued that researchers have much to gain by using ODA to analyze their data. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sub-Shot-Noise Transmission Measurement Enabled by Active Feed-Forward of Heralded Single Photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabines-Chesterking, J.; Whittaker, R.; Joshi, S. K.; Birchall, P. M.; Moreau, P. A.; McMillan, A.; Cable, H. V.; O'Brien, J. L.; Rarity, J. G.; Matthews, J. C. F.

2017-07-01

Harnessing the unique properties of quantum mechanics offers the possibility of delivering alternative technologies that can fundamentally outperform their classical counterparts. These technologies deliver advantages only when components operate with performance beyond specific thresholds. For optical quantum metrology, the biggest challenge that impacts on performance thresholds is optical loss. Here, we demonstrate how including an optical delay and an optical switch in a feed-forward configuration with a stable and efficient correlated photon-pair source reduces the detector efficiency required to enable quantum-enhanced sensing down to the detection level of single photons and without postselection. When the switch is active, we observe a factor of improvement in precision of 1.27 for transmission measurement on a per-input-photon basis compared to the performance of a laser emitting an ideal coherent state and measured with the same detection efficiency as our setup. When the switch is inoperative, we observe no quantum advantage.

Plantibodies in human and animal health: a review.

PubMed

Oluwayelu, Daniel O; Adebiyi, Adebowale I

2016-06-01

Antibodies are essential part of vertebrates' adaptive immune system; they can now be produced by transforming plants with antibody-coding genes from mammals/humans. Although plants do not naturally make antibodies, the plant-derived antibodies (plantibodies) have been shown to function in the same way as mammalian antibodies. PubMed and Google search engines were used to download relevant publications on plantibodies in medical and veterinary fields; the papers were reviewed and findings qualitatively described. The process of bioproduction of plantibodies offers several advantages over the conventional method of antibody production in mammalian cells with the cost of antibody production in plants being substantially lesser. Contrary to what is possible with animal-derived antibodies, the process of making plantibodies almost exclusively precludes transfer of pathogens to the end product. Additionally, plants not only produce a relatively high yield of antibodies in a comparatively faster time, they also serve as cost-effective bioreactors to produce antibodies of diverse specificities. Plantibodies are safe, cost-effective and offer more advantages over animal-derived antibodies. Methods of producing them are described with a view to inspiring African scientists on the need to embrace and harness this rapidly evolving biotechnology in solving human and animal health challenges on the continent where the climate supports growth of diverse plants.

Preliminary Investigation on Life Cycle Inventory of Powder Bed Fusion of Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nyamekye, Patricia; Piili, Heidi; Leino, Maija; Salminen, Antti

Manufacturing of work pieces from stainless steel with laser additive manufacturing, known also as laser sintering or 3D printing may increase energy and material efficiency. The use of powder bed fusion offers advantages to make parts for dynamic applications of light weight and near-net-shape products. Due to these advantages among others, PBF may also reduce emissions and operational cost in various applications. However, there are only few life cycle assessment studies examining this subject despite its prospect to business opportunity. The application of Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) in Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) provides a distinct evaluation of material and energy consumption. LCI offers a possibility to improve knowledge of process efficiency. This study investigates effect of process sustainability in terms of raw material, energy and time consumption with PBF and CNC machining. The results of the experimental study indicated lower energy efficiency in the production process with PBF. This study revealed that specific energy consumption in PBF decreased when several components are built simultaneously than if they would be built individually. This is due to fact that energy consumption per part is lower. On the contrary, amount of energy needed to machine on part in case of CNC machining is lower when parts are done separately.

Remote air pollution measurement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byer, R. L.

1975-01-01

This paper presents a discussion and comparison of the Raman method, the resonance and fluorescence backscatter method, long path absorption methods and the differential absorption method for remote air pollution measurement. A comparison of the above remote detection methods shows that the absorption methods offer the most sensitivity at the least required transmitted energy. Topographical absorption provides the advantage of a single ended measurement, and differential absorption offers the additional advantage of a fully depth resolved absorption measurement. Recent experimental results confirming the range and sensitivity of the methods are presented.

APD in the developing world: is there a future?

PubMed

Correa-Rotter, Ricardo

2002-01-01

Automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) has experienced significant growth in highly developed nations in the last few years, while in developing countries with important social, educational, and financial constraints this treatment modality is, at best, trying to emerge. APD offers advantages that make it popular. Some of these advantages include increased adequacy for some patient groups, enhanced patient well-being and positive changes in lifestyle, as well as a reduction in peritonitis rates attributed to fewer connect-disconnect procedures. The development of APD in developing nations has been very poor mainly due to educational and financial constraints. APD growth as a treatment modality in the developing world requires multiple approaches, some of them general and others related to the specific needs of each nation. There is a need to develop APD research projects and pilot programs to demonstrate the benefits for specific subpopulations. In addition, the development of research and industry-market strategies directed at reducing costs related to this form of treatment are required. The relatively low use of APD in developing nations is primarily influenced by nonmedical factors. Given the financial and educational constraints, APD programs may need to be directed toward specific subpopulations such as young working adults, individuals who require assistance to perform procedures, or patients who require an increased dialysis dose in order to reach adequate clearances.

Specific recognition of hydatid cyst antigens by serum IgG, IgE, and IgA using western blot.

PubMed

Sbihi, Y; Janssen, D; Osuna, A

1997-01-01

Diagnosis of hydatid disease in humans relies on the detection of specific antibodies against antigens of the metacestode from Echinococcus granulosus. The specificity and sensitivity of current immunological techniques based on specific serum IgG rely on the way antigens are purified. We used Western immunoblotting to detect specific IgG, IgE, and IgA antibodies in serum from patients with hydatid disease using either crude antigen preparations (total hydatid fluid), purified fractions enriched in Antigens 5 and B, and glycoproteins from hydatid fluid. Depending on whether crude HF or purified antigen fractions were used, IgG and IgE recognized specifically low-to-medium MW bands between 12 and 42 kDa. IgA recognized specifically 110 kDa band in crude hydatid fluid and in the glycoprotein fraction of hydatid fluid, and a 42 kDa band in all antigen samples used. Besides the advantage of detecting specific IgA in crude hydatid fluid, these results offer the possibility of simplifying future immunological tests if specific secretory IgA can be similarly detected.

Breaking the barriers to commercialization of MEMS: a firm's search for competitive advantage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walsh, Steven T.; Linton, Jonathan D.

1999-08-01

A model of infrastructure development for MEMS manufacturing Technologies is offered. The role of discontinuous innovation in achieving competitive advantage is briefly reviewed. This is followed by the development of a model that describes the stages in the growth of an infrastructure to support Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems infrastructure. We briefly describe how an infrastructure gradually grows to support a new industry, resulting from discontinuous innovation. the model indicates the evolving nature of the actions and investments that firms and governments need to make to support the growth of an immature industry. Consequently, we aim to not only offer a descriptive model, but offer guidance to firms on whether their intentions and resources fit with the state of the industry and to offer policy makers guidance on the timing of different types of support.

Introduction to D-He(3) fusion reactors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vlases, G. C.; Steinhauer, L. C.

1989-01-01

A review and evaluation of D-He(3) fusion reactor technology is presented. The advantages and disadvantages of the D-He(3) and D-T reactor cycles are outlined and compared. In addition, the general design features of D-He(3) tokamaks and field reversed configuration (FRC) reactors are described and the relative merits of each are compared. It is concluded that both tokamaks and FRC's offer certain advantages, and that the ultimate decision as to which to persue for terrestrial power generation will depend heavily on how the physics performance of each of them develops over the next few years. It is clear that the D-He(3) fuel cycle offers marked advantages over the D-T cycle. Although the physics requirements for D-He(3) are more demanding, the overwhelming advantages resulting from the two order of magnitude reduction of neutron flux are expected to lead to a shorter time to commercialization than for the D-T cycle.

Introduction to D-He(3) fusion reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vlases, G. C.; Steinhauer, L. C.

1989-07-01

A review and evaluation of D-He(3) fusion reactor technology is presented. The advantages and disadvantages of the D-He(3) and D-T reactor cycles are outlined and compared. In addition, the general design features of D-He(3) tokamaks and field reversed configuration (FRC) reactors are described and the relative merits of each are compared. It is concluded that both tokamaks and FRC's offer certain advantages, and that the ultimate decision as to which to persue for terrestrial power generation will depend heavily on how the physics performance of each of them develops over the next few years. It is clear that the D-He(3) fuel cycle offers marked advantages over the D-T cycle. Although the physics requirements for D-He(3) are more demanding, the overwhelming advantages resulting from the two order of magnitude reduction of neutron flux are expected to lead to a shorter time to commercialization than for the D-T cycle.

Cumulative Advantage in the Skill Development of STEM Graduate Students: A Mixed-Methods Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feldon, David F.; Maher, Michelle A.; Roksa, Josipa; Peugh, James

2016-01-01

Studies of skill development often describe a process of cumulative advantage, in which small differences in initial skill compound over time, leading to increasing skill gaps between those with an initial advantage and those without. We offer evidence of a similar phenomenon accounting for differential patterns of research skill development in…

DSM-III as a research tool.

PubMed

Treece, C

1982-05-01

The author describes the use of the DSM-III's diagnostic criteria and classification system as a research instrument and discusses some of the advantages and drawbacks of DMS-III for a specific type of study. A rearrangement of the hierarchical order of the DSM-III diagnostic classes is suggested. This rearrangement provides for levels of certainty in analyzing interrater reliability and offers a simplified framework for summarizing group data. When this approach is combined with a structured interview and response format, it provides a flexible way of managing a large classification system for a smaller study without sacrificing standardization.

Advances in chest drain management in thoracic disease

PubMed Central

George, Robert S.

2016-01-01

An adequate chest drainage system aims to drain fluid and air and restore the negative pleural pressure facilitating lung expansion. In thoracic surgery the post-operative use of the conventional underwater seal chest drainage system fulfills these requirements, however they allow great variability amongst practices. In addition they do not offer accurate data and they are often inconvenient to both patients and hospital staff. This article aims to simplify the myths surrounding the management of chest drains following chest surgery, review current experience and explore the advantages of modern digital chest drain systems and address their disease-specific use. PMID:26941971

Sol-Gel Processing of MgF2 Antireflective Coatings

PubMed Central

Löbmann, Peer

2018-01-01

There are different approaches for the preparation of porous antireflective λ/4 MgF2 films from liquid precursors. Among these, the non-aqueous fluorolytic synthesis of precursor solutions offers many advantages in terms of processing simplicity and scalability. In this paper, the structural features and optical performance of the resulting films are highlighted, and their specific interactions with different inorganic substrates are discussed. Due to their excellent abrasion resistance, coatings have a high potential for applications on glass. Using solvothermal treatment of precursor solutions, also the processing of thermally sensitive polymer substrates becomes feasible. PMID:29724064

Impact: a low cost, reconfigurable, digital beamforming common module building block for next generation phased arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paulsen, Lee; Hoffmann, Ted; Fulton, Caleb; Yeary, Mark; Saunders, Austin; Thompson, Dan; Chen, Bill; Guo, Alex; Murmann, Boris

2015-05-01

Phased array systems offer numerous advantages to the modern warfighter in multiple application spaces, including Radar, Electronic Warfare, Signals Intelligence, and Communications. However, a lack of commonality in the underlying technology base for DoD Phased Arrays has led to static systems with long development cycles, slow technology refreshes in response to emerging threats, and expensive, application-specific sub-components. The IMPACT module (Integrated Multi-use Phased Array Common Tile) is a multi-channel, reconfigurable, cost-effective beamformer that provides a common building block for multiple, disparate array applications.

Nanotechnology and textiles engineered by carbon nanotubes for the realization of advanced personal protective equipments

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

Andretta, Antonio, E-mail: Antonio-Andretta@klopman.com; Terranova, Maria Letizia; Lavecchia, Teresa

2014-06-19

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and CNT-based active materials have been used to assemble the gas sensing unit of innovative platforms able to detect toxic atmospheres developing in confined workplaces. The main goal of the project was to realize a full-featured, operator-friendly safety detection and monitoring system based on multifunctional textiles nanotechnologies. The fabricated sensing platform consists of a multiple gas detector coupled with a specifically designed telecommunication infrastructure. The portable device, totally integrated in the workwear, offers several advantages over the conventional safety tools employed in industrial work activities.

[Measurement of human body fat by means of gravimetry. Application of Archimedes' principle].

PubMed

Dettwiler, W; Ribordy, M; Donath, A; Scherrer, J R

1978-12-02

The weighing of the human body under water is an application of Archimedes' law. Fat being lighter than water or than the structures of lean body mass, body fat can be measured by determining the specific gravity of the human body; that is, by underwater weighing. Body fat has been determined in an "ideal" sample of 14 men and 23 women, all aged 20 years. Testing against a reference measure of body fat makes it possible to test the validity of some anthropometric measurements and of some indices of obesity. These indices offer no advantages over anthropometric measurements.

Boomerang flap reconstruction for the breast.

PubMed

Baumholtz, Michael A; Al-Shunnar, Buthainah M; Dabb, Richard W

2002-07-01

The boomerang-shaped latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap for breast reconstruction offers a stable platform for breast reconstruction. It allows for maximal aesthetic results with minimal complications. The authors describe a skin paddle to obtain a larger volume than either the traditional elliptical skin paddle or the extended latissimus flap. There are three specific advantages to the boomerang design: large volume, conical shape (often lacking in the traditional skin paddle), and an acceptable donor scar. Thirty-eight flaps were performed. No reconstruction interfered with patient's ongoing oncological regimen. The most common complication was seroma, which is consistent with other latissimus reconstructions.

Nanotechnology and textiles engineered by carbon nanotubes for the realization of advanced personal protective equipments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andretta, Antonio; Terranova, Maria Letizia; Lavecchia, Teresa; Gay, Stefano; Picano, Alfredo; Mascioletti, Alessandro; Stirpe, Daniele; Cucchiella, Cristian; Pascucci, Eddy; Dugnani, Giovanni; Gatti, Davide; Laria, Giuseppe; Codenotti, Barbara; Maldini, Giorgio; Roth, Siegmar; Passeri, Daniele; Rossi, Marco; Tamburri, Emanuela

2014-06-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and CNT-based active materials have been used to assemble the gas sensing unit of innovative platforms able to detect toxic atmospheres developing in confined workplaces. The main goal of the project was to realize a full-featured, operator-friendly safety detection and monitoring system based on multifunctional textiles nanotechnologies. The fabricated sensing platform consists of a multiple gas detector coupled with a specifically designed telecommunication infrastructure. The portable device, totally integrated in the workwear, offers several advantages over the conventional safety tools employed in industrial work activities.

Electron beam curing — taking good ideas to the manufacturing floor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saunders, C.; Lopata, V.; Barnard, J.; Stepanik, T.

2000-03-01

Acsion is exploiting several emerging electron beam EB applications ranging from composite curing and repair to viscose manufacturing. EB curing of composite structures offers several advantages: significantly reduced curing times; improvements in part quality and performance; reduced environmental and health concerns; improvements in material handling; and reduced overall manufacturing costs compared to thermal curing. The aerospace industry is developing EB technology in all of their market sectors, including military aviation and space products. Some specific products include cryogenic fuel tanks, improved canopy frames for jet aircraft, and the all-composite military aircraft. This paper discusses each of these opportunities.

Animated-simulation modeling facilitates clinical-process costing.

PubMed

Zelman, W N; Glick, N D; Blackmore, C C

2001-09-01

Traditionally, the finance department has assumed responsibility for assessing process costs in healthcare organizations. To enhance process-improvement efforts, however, many healthcare providers need to include clinical staff in process cost analysis. Although clinical staff often use electronic spreadsheets to model the cost of specific processes, PC-based animated-simulation tools offer two major advantages over spreadsheets: they allow clinicians to interact more easily with the costing model so that it more closely represents the process being modeled, and they represent cost output as a cost range rather than as a single cost estimate, thereby providing more useful information for decision making.

A symmetric metamaterial element-based RF biosensor for rapid and label-free detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hee-Jo; Lee, Jung-Hyun; Jung, Hyo-Il

2011-10-01

A symmetric metamaterial element-based RF biosensing scheme is experimentally demonstrated by detecting biomolecular binding between a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and its antibody. The metamaterial element in a high-impedance microstrip line shows an intrinsic S21 resonance having a Q-factor of 55. The frequency shift with PSA concentration, i.e., 100 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, and 1 ng/ml, is observed and the changes are Δf ≈ 20 MHz, 10 MHz, and 5 MHz, respectively. The proposed biosensor offers advantages of label-free detection, a simple and direct scheme, and cost-efficient fabrication.

Ceramic applications in the advanced Stirling automotive engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tomazic, W. A.; Cairelli, J. E.

1977-01-01

The ideal cycle, its application to a practical machine, and the specific advantages of high efficiency, low emissions, multi-fuel capability, and low noise of the stirling engine are discussed. Certain portions of the Stirling engine must operate continuously at high temperature. Ceramics offer the potential of cost reduction and efficiency improvement for advanced engine applications. Potential applications for ceramics in Stirling engines, and some of the special problems pertinent to using ceramics in the Stirling engine are described. The research and technology program in ceramics which is planned to support the development of advanced Stirling engines is outlined.

First-Year Seminar (FYS)--The Advantages That This Course Offers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jaijairam, Paul

2016-01-01

First-Year Seminar (FYS) is an introductory class offered to first-year students to help them acclimate to the college environment, develop effective strategies for studying, and learn techniques that will allow them to swiftly complete small assignments and sizable research projects. In 2014, approximately 80 percent of universities offered FYS,…

Arm position during ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: a review of the evidence and clinical guidelines.

PubMed

Byrd, James B; Brook, Robert D

2014-03-01

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) offers advantages over clinic blood pressure measurement. Supporting the arm at the level of the right atrium has long been standard in clinic blood pressure measurement. In contrast, there is no consensus regarding arm position in the guidelines addressing ABPM. Research studies have used a variety of arm positions during ABPM. Discussed in this review are the merits of ABPM and a review of the several arm positions recommended in ABPM guidelines, suggested by cuff manufacturers, and used in research studies. To address this lack of standardization, a rationale for a clinically reasonable arm position during ABPM is offered. Specifically, the authors recommend advising the patient to keep the arm still and relaxed straight down at the side of the body when the cuff is going to inflate, when safe to do so. ©2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Short Review on Quantum Key Distribution Protocols.

PubMed

Giampouris, Dimitris

2017-01-01

Cryptographic protocols and mechanisms are widely investigated under the notion of quantum computing. Quantum cryptography offers particular advantages over classical ones, whereas in some cases established protocols have to be revisited in order to maintain their functionality. The purpose of this paper is to provide the basic definitions and review the most important theoretical advancements concerning the BB84 and E91 protocols. It also aims to offer a summary on some key developments on the field of quantum key distribution, closely related with the two aforementioned protocols. The main goal of this study is to provide the necessary background information along with a thorough review on the theoretical aspects of QKD, concentrating on specific protocols. The BB84 and E91 protocols have been chosen because most other protocols are similar to these, a fact that makes them important for the general understanding of how the QKD mechanism functions.

Virtual Reality and Serious Games in Neurorehabilitation of Children and Adults: Prevention, Plasticity, and Participation.

PubMed

Deutsch, Judith E; Westcott McCoy, Sarah

2017-07-01

Use of virtual reality (VR) and serious games (SGs) interventions within rehabilitation as motivating tools for task specific training for individuals with neurological conditions are fast-developing. Within this perspective paper we use the framework of the IV STEP conference to summarize the literature on VR and SG for children and adults by three topics: Prevention; Outcomes: Body-Function-Structure, Activity and Participation; and Plasticity. Overall the literature in this area offers support for use of VR and SGs to improve body functions and to some extent activity domain outcomes. Critical analysis of clients' goals and selective evaluation of VR and SGs are necessary to appropriately take advantage of these tools within intervention. Further research on prevention, participation, and plasticity is warranted. We offer suggestions for bridging the gap between research and practice integrating VR and SGs into physical therapist education and practice.

Evaluation and Testing of Commercially-Available Carbon Nanotubes as Negative Electrodes for Lithium Ion Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Britton, Doris L.

2007-01-01

Rechargeable lithium ion (Li-ion) battery technology offers significant performance advantages over the nickel-based technologies used for energy storage for the majority of NASA's missions. Specifically Li-ion technology offers a threefold to fourfold increase in gravimetric and volumetric energy densities and produces voltages in excess of three times the value of typical nickel-based battery systems. As part of the Advanced Battery Technology program at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), a program on the evaluation of anodes for Li-ion cells and batteries was conducted. This study focused on the feasibility of using carbon nanotubes as anodes in Li-Ion cells. Candidate materials from multiple sources were evaluated. Their performance was compared to a standard anode comprised of mesocarbon microbeads. In all cases, the standard MCMB electrode exhibited superior performance. The details and results of the study are presented.

Auditory and visual cortex of primates: a comparison of two sensory systems

PubMed Central

Rauschecker, Josef P.

2014-01-01

A comparative view of the brain, comparing related functions across species and sensory systems, offers a number of advantages. In particular, it allows separating the formal purpose of a model structure from its implementation in specific brains. Models of auditory cortical processing can be conceived by analogy to the visual cortex, incorporating neural mechanisms that are found in both the visual and auditory systems. Examples of such canonical features on the columnar level are direction selectivity, size/bandwidth selectivity, as well as receptive fields with segregated versus overlapping on- and off-sub-regions. On a larger scale, parallel processing pathways have been envisioned that represent the two main facets of sensory perception: 1) identification of objects and 2) processing of space. Expanding this model in terms of sensorimotor integration and control offers an overarching view of cortical function independent of sensory modality. PMID:25728177

A parallel 3-D discrete wavelet transform architecture using pipelined lifting scheme approach for video coding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hegde, Ganapathi; Vaya, Pukhraj

2013-10-01

This article presents a parallel architecture for 3-D discrete wavelet transform (3-DDWT). The proposed design is based on the 1-D pipelined lifting scheme. The architecture is fully scalable beyond the present coherent Daubechies filter bank (9, 7). This 3-DDWT architecture has advantages such as no group of pictures restriction and reduced memory referencing. It offers low power consumption, low latency and high throughput. The computing technique is based on the concept that lifting scheme minimises the storage requirement. The application specific integrated circuit implementation of the proposed architecture is done by synthesising it using 65 nm Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company standard cell library. It offers a speed of 486 MHz with a power consumption of 2.56 mW. This architecture is suitable for real-time video compression even with large frame dimensions.

42 CFR 422.501 - Application requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM Application Procedures and Contracts for Medicare Advantage Organizations § 422.501 Application requirements. (a) Scope. This section sets forth application... offer health insurance or health benefits coverage that meets State-specified standards applicable to MA...

Passive solar design strategies: Remodeling guidelines for conserving energy at home

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

The idea of passive solar is simple, but applying it effectively does require information and attention to the details of design and construction. Some passive solar techniques are modest and low-cost, and require only small changes in remodeler's typical practice. At the other end of the spectrum, some passive solar systems can almost eliminate a house's need for purchased heating (and in some cases, cooling) energy - but probably at a relatively high first cost. In between are a broad range of energy-conserving passive solar techniques. Whether or not they are cost-effective, practical, and attractive enough to offer a market advantage to any individual remodeler depends on very specific factors such as local costs, climate, and market characteristics. Passive Solar Design Strategies: Remodeling Guidelines For Conserving Energy At Home is written to help give remodelers the information they need to make these decisions. Passive Solar Design Strategies is a package in three basic parts: the guidelines contain information about passive solar techniques and how they work, and provides specific examples of systems which will save various percentages of energy; the worksheets offer a simple, fill-in-the-blank method to pre-evaluate the performance of a specific design; and the worked example demonstrates how to complete the worksheets for a typical residence.

Using in vitro models for expression profiling studies on ethanol and drugs of abuse.

PubMed

Thibault, Christelle; Hassan, Sajida; Miles, Michael

2005-03-01

The use of expression profiling with microarrays offers great potential for studying the mechanisms of action of drugs of abuse. Studies with the intact nervous system seem likely to be most relevant to understanding the mechanisms of drug abuse-related behaviours. However, the use of expression profiling with in vitro culture models offers significant advantages for identifying details of cellular signalling actions and toxicity for drugs of abuse. This study discusses general issues of the use of microarrays and cell culture models for studies on drugs of abuse. Specific results from existing studies are also discussed, providing clear examples of relevance for in vitro studies on ethanol, nicotine, opiates, cannabinoids and hallucinogens such as LSD. In addition to providing details on signalling mechanisms relevant to the neurobiology of drugs of abuse, microarray studies on a variety of cell culture systems have also provided important information on mechanisms of cellular/organ toxicity with drugs of abuse. Efforts to integrate genomic studies on drugs of abuse with both in vivo and in vitro models offer the potential for novel mechanistic rigor and physiological relevance.

Heat-pump-centered integrated community energy systems: Systems development, Consolidated Natural Gas Service Company

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, N. R.; Donakowski, T. D.; Foster, R. B.; Sala, D. L.; Tison, R. R.; Whaley, T. P.; Yudow, B. D.; Swenson, P. F.

1980-01-01

The heat actuated heat pump centered integrated community energy system (HAHP-ICES) is described. The system utilizes a gas fired, engine-driven, heat pump and commercial buildings, and offers several advantages over the more conventional equipment it is intended to supplant. The general nonsite specific application assumes a hypothetical community of one 59,000 cu ft office building and five 24 unit, low rise apartment buildings located in a region with a climate similar to Chicago. Various sensitivity analyses are performed and through which the performance characteristics of the HAHP are explored. The results provided the selection criteria for the site specific application of the HAHP-ICES concept to a real world community. The site-specific community consists of: 42 town houses; five 120 unit, low rise apartment buildings; five 104 unit high rise apartment buildings; one 124,000 cu ft office building; and a single 135,000 cu ft retail building.

Molecular method for determining sex of walruses

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fischbach, Anthony S.; Jay, C.V.; Jackson, J.V.; Andersen, L.W.; Sage, G.K.; Talbot, S.L.

2008-01-01

We evaluated the ability of a set of published trans-species molecular sexing primers and a set of walrus-specific primers, which we developed, to accurately identify sex of 235 Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). The trans-species primers were developed for mammals and targeted the X- and Y-gametologs of the zinc finger protein genes (ZFX, ZFY). We extended this method by using these primers to obtain sequence from Pacific and Atlantic walrus (0. r. rosmarus) ZFX and ZFY genes to develop new walrus-specific primers, which yield polymerase chain reaction products of distinct lengths (327 and 288 base pairs from the X- and Y-chromosome, respectively), allowing them to be used for sex determination. Both methods yielded a determination of sex in all but 1-2% of samples with an accuracy of 99.6-100%. Our walrus-specific primers offer the advantage of small fragment size and facile application to automated electrophoresis and visualization.

The randomised controlled trial design: unrecognized opportunities for health sciences librarianship.

PubMed

Eldredge, Jonathan D

2003-06-01

to describe the essential components of the Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) and its major variations; to describe less conventional applications of the RCT design found in the health sciences literature with potential relevance to health sciences librarianship; to discuss the limited number of RCTs within health sciences librarianship. narrative review supported to a limited extent with PubMed and Library Literature database searches consistent with specific search parameters. In addition, more systematic methods, including handsearching of specific journals, to identify health sciences librarianship RCTs. While many RCTs within the health sciences follow more conventional patterns, some RCTs assume certain unique features. Selected examples illustrate the adaptations of this experimental design to answering questions of possible relevance to health sciences librarians. The author offers several strategies for controlling bias in library and informatics applications of the RCT and acknowledges the potential of the electronic era in providing many opportunities to utilize the blinding aspects of RCTs. RCTs within health sciences librarianship inhabit a limited number of subject domains such as education. This limited scope offers both advantages and disadvantages for making Evidence-Based Librarianship (EBL) a reality. The RCT design offers the potential to answer far more EBL questions than have been addressed by the design to date. Librarians need only extend their horizons through use of the versatile RCT design into new subject domains to facilitate making EBL a reality.

Advantages of Science Cubesat and Microsat Deployment Using DSG Deep Space Exploration Robotics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, A.; Rembala, R.; Fulford, P.

2018-02-01

Important scientific missions can be accomplished with cubesats/microsats. These missions would benefit from advantages offered by having an independent cubesat/microsat deployment capability as part of Deep Space Gateway's Deep Space Exploration Robotics system.

Curcumin and 5-Fluorouracil-loaded, folate- and transferrin-decorated polymeric magnetic nanoformulation: a synergistic cancer therapeutic approach, accelerated by magnetic hyperthermia

PubMed Central

Balasubramanian, Sivakumar; Girija, Aswathy Ravindran; Nagaoka, Yutaka; Iwai, Seiki; Suzuki, Masashi; Kizhikkilot, Venugopal; Yoshida, Yasuhiko; Maekawa, Toru; Nair, Sakthikumar Dasappan

2014-01-01

The efficient targeting and therapeutic efficacy of a combination of drugs (curcumin and 5-Fluorouracil [5FU]) and magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, functionalized with two cancer-specific ligands are discussed in our work. This multifunctional, highly specific nanoconjugate resulted in the superior uptake of nanoparticles by cancer cells. Upon magnetic hyperthermia, we could harness the advantages of incorporating magnetic nanoparticles that synergistically acted with the drugs to destroy cancer cells within a very short period of time. The remarkable multimodal efficacy attained by this therapeutic nanoformulation offers the potential for targeting, imaging, and treatment of cancer within a short period of time (120 minutes) by initiating early and late apoptosis. PMID:24531392

Use of bacteriophage cell wall-binding proteins for rapid diagnostics of Listeria.

PubMed

Schmelcher, Mathias; Loessner, Martin J

2014-01-01

Diagnostic protocols for food-borne bacterial pathogens such as Listeria need to be sensitive, specific, rapid, and inexpensive. Conventional culture methods are hampered by lengthy enrichment and incubation steps. Bacteriophage-derived high-affinity binding molecules (cell wall-binding domains, CBDs) specific for Listeria cells have recently been introduced as tools for detection and differentiation of this pathogen in foods. When coupled with magnetic separation, these proteins offer advantages in sensitivity and speed compared to the standard diagnostic methods. Furthermore, fusion of CBDs to differently colored fluorescent reporter proteins enables differentiation of Listeria strains in mixed cultures. This chapter provides protocols for detection of Listeria in food by CBD-based magnetic separation and subsequent multiplexed identification of strains of different serotypes with reporter-CBD fusion proteins.

Curcumin and 5-fluorouracil-loaded, folate- and transferrin-decorated polymeric magnetic nanoformulation: a synergistic cancer therapeutic approach, accelerated by magnetic hyperthermia.

PubMed

Balasubramanian, Sivakumar; Girija, Aswathy Ravindran; Nagaoka, Yutaka; Iwai, Seiki; Suzuki, Masashi; Kizhikkilot, Venugopal; Yoshida, Yasuhiko; Maekawa, Toru; Nair, Sakthikumar Dasappan

2014-01-01

The efficient targeting and therapeutic efficacy of a combination of drugs (curcumin and 5-Fluorouracil [5FU]) and magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, functionalized with two cancer-specific ligands are discussed in our work. This multifunctional, highly specific nanoconjugate resulted in the superior uptake of nanoparticles by cancer cells. Upon magnetic hyperthermia, we could harness the advantages of incorporating magnetic nanoparticles that synergistically acted with the drugs to destroy cancer cells within a very short period of time. The remarkable multimodal efficacy attained by this therapeutic nanoformulation offers the potential for targeting, imaging, and treatment of cancer within a short period of time (120 minutes) by initiating early and late apoptosis.

Noninvasive Imaging of PSMA in prostate tumors with (89)Zr-Labeled huJ591 engineered antibody fragments: the faster alternatives.

PubMed

Viola-Villegas, Nerissa Therese; Sevak, Kuntal K; Carlin, Sean D; Doran, Michael G; Evans, Henry W; Bartlett, Derek W; Wu, Anna M; Lewis, Jason S

2014-11-03

Engineered antibody fragments offer faster delivery with retained tumor specificity and rapid clearance from nontumor tissues. Here, we demonstrate that positron emission tomography (PET) based detection of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in prostatic tumor models using engineered bivalent antibodies built on single chain fragments (scFv) derived from the intact antibody, huJ591, offers similar tumor delineating properties but with the advantage of rapid targeting and imaging. (89)Zr-radiolabeled huJ591 scFv (dimeric scFv-CH3; (89)Zr-Mb) and cysteine diabodies (dimeric scFv; (89)Zr-Cys-Db) demonstrated internalization and similar Kds (∼2 nM) compared to (89)Zr-huJ591 in PSMA(+) cells. Tissue distribution assays established the specificities of both (89)Zr-Mb and (89)Zr-Cys-Db for PSMA(+) xenografts (6.2 ± 2.5% ID/g and 10.2 ± 3.4% ID/g at 12 h p.i. respectively), while minimal accumulation in PSMA(-) tumors was observed. From the PET images, (89)Zr-Mb and (89)Zr-Cys-Db exhibited faster blood clearance than the parent huJ591 while tumor-to-muscle ratios for all probes show comparable values across all time points. Ex vivo autoradiography and histology assessed the distribution of the probes within the tumor. Imaging PSMA-expressing prostate tumors with smaller antibody fragments offers rapid tumor accumulation and accelerated clearance; hence, shortened wait periods between tracer administration and high-contrast tumor imaging and lower dose-related toxicity are potentially realized.

Use of patient specific 3D printed neurovascular phantoms to evaluate the clinical utility of a high resolution x-ray imager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setlur Nagesh, S. V.; Russ, M.; Ionita, C. N.; Bednarek, D.; Rudin, S.

2017-03-01

Modern 3D printing technology can fabricate vascular phantoms based on an actual human patient with a high degree of precision facilitating a realistic simulation environment for an intervention. We present two experimental setups using 3D printed patient-specific neurovasculature to simulate different disease anatomies. To simulate the human neurovasculature in the Circle of Willis, patient-based phantoms with aneurysms were 3D printed using a Objet Eden 260V printer. Anthropomorphic head phantoms and a human skull combined with acrylic plates simulated human head bone anatomy and x-ray attenuation. For dynamic studies the 3D printed phantom was connected to a pulsatile flow loop with the anthropomorphic phantom underneath. By combining different 3D printed phantoms and the anthropomorphic phantoms, different patient pathologies can be simulated. For static studies a 3D printed neurovascular phantom was embedded inside a human skull and used as a positional reference for treatment devices such as stents. To simulate tissue attenuation acrylic layers were added. Different combinations can simulate different patient treatment procedures. The Complementary-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) based High Resolution Fluoroscope (HRF) with 75μm pixels offers an advantage over the state-of-the-art 200 μm pixel Flat Panel Detector (FPD) due to higher Nyquist frequency and better DQE performance. Whether this advantage is clinically useful during an actual clinical neurovascular intervention can be addressed by qualitatively evaluating images from a cohort of various cases performed using both detectors. The above-mentioned method can offer a realistic substitute for an actual clinical procedure. Also a large cohort of cases can be generated and used for a HRF clinical utility determination study.

What Is Medicare?

MedlinePlus

... Savings Account Plans These plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans may also offer prescription drug coverage that follows the same rules ... card . Check all other insurance cards that you use. Call the phone number ...

New Class of Quantum Error-Correcting Codes for a Bosonic Mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michael, Marios H.; Silveri, Matti; Brierley, R. T.; Albert, Victor V.; Salmilehto, Juha; Jiang, Liang; Girvin, S. M.

2016-07-01

We construct a new class of quantum error-correcting codes for a bosonic mode, which are advantageous for applications in quantum memories, communication, and scalable computation. These "binomial quantum codes" are formed from a finite superposition of Fock states weighted with binomial coefficients. The binomial codes can exactly correct errors that are polynomial up to a specific degree in bosonic creation and annihilation operators, including amplitude damping and displacement noise as well as boson addition and dephasing errors. For realistic continuous-time dissipative evolution, the codes can perform approximate quantum error correction to any given order in the time step between error detection measurements. We present an explicit approximate quantum error recovery operation based on projective measurements and unitary operations. The binomial codes are tailored for detecting boson loss and gain errors by means of measurements of the generalized number parity. We discuss optimization of the binomial codes and demonstrate that by relaxing the parity structure, codes with even lower unrecoverable error rates can be achieved. The binomial codes are related to existing two-mode bosonic codes, but offer the advantage of requiring only a single bosonic mode to correct amplitude damping as well as the ability to correct other errors. Our codes are similar in spirit to "cat codes" based on superpositions of the coherent states but offer several advantages such as smaller mean boson number, exact rather than approximate orthonormality of the code words, and an explicit unitary operation for repumping energy into the bosonic mode. The binomial quantum codes are realizable with current superconducting circuit technology, and they should prove useful in other quantum technologies, including bosonic quantum memories, photonic quantum communication, and optical-to-microwave up- and down-conversion.

Fibrillar collagen scoring by second harmonic microscopy: a new tool in the assessment of liver fibrosis.

PubMed

Gailhouste, Luc; Le Grand, Yann; Odin, Christophe; Guyader, Dominique; Turlin, Bruno; Ezan, Frédéric; Désille, Yoann; Guilbert, Thomas; Bessard, Anne; Frémin, Christophe; Theret, Nathalie; Baffet, Georges

2010-03-01

Imaging of supramolecular structures by multiphoton microscopy offers significant advantages for studying specific fibrillar compounds in biological tissues. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the relevance of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) for assessing and quantifying, without staining, fibrillar collagen in liver fibrosis. We first showed the relationship between SHG signal and collagen forms over-produced and accumulated during fibrosis progression. Taking this property into consideration, we developed an innovative method to precisely quantify the fibrosis area in histological slices by scoring of fibrillar collagen deposits (Fibrosis-SHG index). The scoring method was routinely applied to 119 biopsies from patients with chronic liver disease allowing a fast and accurate measurement of fibrosis correlated with the Fibrosis-Metavir score (rho=0.75, p<0.0001). The technique allowed discriminating patients with advanced (moderate to severe) fibrosis (AUROC=0.88, p<0.0001) and cirrhosis (AUROC=0.89, p<0.0001). Taking advantage of its continuous gradation, the Fibrosis-SHG index also allowed the discrimination of several levels of fibrosis within the same F-Metavir stage. The SHG process presented several advantages such as a high reliability and sensitivity that lead to a standardized evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in liver biopsies without staining and pathological examination. Second harmonic microscopy emerges as an original and powerful tool in the assessment of liver fibrosis and offers new possibilities for the evaluation of experimental protocols. We expect that this technology could easily be applicable in the study of other fibro-proliferative pathologies. Copyright (c) 2010 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of nonpolar III-nitride vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with tunnel junction and ITO intracavity contacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonard, J. T.; Young, E. C.; Yonkee, B. P.; Cohen, D. A.; Shen, C.; Margalith, T.; Ng, T. K.; DenBaars, S. P.; Ooi, B. S.; Speck, J. S.; Nakamura, S.

2016-02-01

We report on the lasing of III-nitride nonpolar, violet, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with IIInitride tunnel-junction (TJ) intracavity contacts and ion implanted apertures (IIAs). The TJ VCSELs are compared to similar VCSELs with tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) intracavity contacts. Prior to analyzing device results, we consider the relative advantages of III-nitride TJs for blue and green emitting VCSELs. The TJs are shown to be most advantageous for violet and UV VCSELs, operating near or above the absorption edge for ITO, as they significantly reduce the total internal loss in the cavity. However, for longer wavelength III-nitride VCSELs, TJs primarily offer the advantage of improved cavity design flexibility, allowing one to make the p-side thicker using a thick n-type III-nitride TJ intracavity contact. This offers improved lateral current spreading and lower loss, compare to using ITO and p-GaN, respectively. These aspects are particularly important for achieving high-power CW VCSELs, making TJs the ideal intracavity contact for any III-nitride VCSEL. A brief overview of III-nitride TJ growth methods is also given, highlighting the molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) technique used here. Following this overview, we compare 12 μm aperture diameter, violet emitting, TJ and ITO VCSEL experimental results, which demonstrate the significant improvement in differential efficiency and peak power resulting from the reduced loss in the TJ design. Specifically, the TJ VCSEL shows a peak power of ~550 μW with a threshold current density of ~3.5 kA/cm2, while the ITO VCSELs show peak powers of ~80 μW and threshold current densities of ~7 kA/cm2.

Imaging Transgene Expression with Radionuclide Imaging Technologies1

PubMed Central

Gambhir, SS; Herschman, HR; Cherry, SR; Barrio, JR; Satyamurthy, N; Toyokuni, T; Phelps, ME; Larson, SM; Balaton, J; Finn, R; Sadelain, M; Tjuvajev, J

2000-01-01

Abstract A variety of imaging technologies are being investigated as tools for studying gene expression in living subjects. Noninvasive, repetitive and quantitative imaging of gene expression will help both to facilitate human gene therapy trials and to allow for the study of animal models of molecular and cellular therapy. Radionuclide approaches using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) are the most mature of the current imaging technologies and offer many advantages for imaging gene expression compared to optical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based approaches. These advantages include relatively high sensitivity, full quantitative capability (for PET), and the ability to extend small animal assays directly into clinical human applications. We describe a PET scanner (micro PET) designed specifically for studies of small animals. We review “marker/reporter gene” imaging approaches using the herpes simplex type 1 virus thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) and the dopamine type 2 receptor (D2R) genes. We describe and contrast several radiolabeled probes that can be used with the HSV1-tk reporter gene both for SPECT and for PET imaging. We also describe the advantages/disadvantages of each of the assays developed and discuss future animal and human applications. PMID:10933072

Distance Teaching of Environmental Engineering Courses at the Open University.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porteous, Andrew; Nesaratnam, Suresh T.; Anderson, Judith

1997-01-01

Describes two integrated distance learning environmental engineering degree courses offered by the environmental engineering group of the Open University in Great Britain. Discusses admission requirements for courses, advantages offered by distance learning, professional accreditation, site visits, and tutors. (AIM)

Assessing importance and satisfaction judgments of intermodal work commuters with electronic survey methodology.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-09-01

Recent advances in multivariate methodology provide an opportunity to further the assessment of service offerings in public transportation for work commuting. We offer methodologies that are alternative to direct rating scale and have advantages in t...

The information-anchoring model of first offers: When moving first helps versus hurts negotiators.

PubMed

Loschelder, David D; Trötschel, Roman; Swaab, Roderick I; Friese, Malte; Galinsky, Adam D

2016-07-01

Does making the first offer increase or impair a negotiator's outcomes? Past research has found evidence supporting both claims. To reconcile these contradictory findings, we developed and tested an integrative model-the Information-Anchoring Model of First Offers. The model predicts when and why making the first offer helps versus hurts. We suggest that first offers have 2 effects. First, they serve as anchors that pull final settlements toward the initial first-offer value; this anchor function often produces a first-mover advantage. Second, first offers can convey information on the senders' priorities, which makes the sender vulnerable to exploitation and increases the risk of a first-mover disadvantage. To test this model, 3 experiments manipulated the information that senders communicated in their first offer. When senders did not reveal their priorities, the first-mover advantage was replicated. However, when first offers revealed senders' priorities explicitly, implicitly, or both, a first-mover disadvantage emerged. Negotiators' social value orientation moderated this effect: A first-mover disadvantage occurred when senders faced proself recipients who exploited priority information, but not with prosocial recipients. Moderated mediation analyses supported the model assumptions: Proself recipients used their integrative insight to feign priorities in their low-priority issues and thereby claimed more individual value than senders. The final discussion reviews theoretical and applied implications of the Information-Anchoring Model of First Offers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Does the NASA Constellation Architecture Offer Opportunities to Achieve Multiple Additional Goals in Space?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thronson, Harley; Lester, Daniel

2008-01-01

Every major NASA human spaceflight program in the last four decades has been modified to achieve goals in space not incorporated within the original design goals: the Apollo Applications Program, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station. Several groups in the U.S. have been identifying major future science goals, the science facilities necessary to investigate them, as well as possible roles for augmented versions of elements of NASA's Constellation program. Specifically, teams in the astronomy community have been developing concepts for very capable missions to follow the James Webb Space Telescope that could take advantage of - or require - free-space operations by astronauts and/or robots. Taking as one example, the Single-Aperture Far-InfraRed (SAFIR) telescope with a 10+ m aperture proposed for operation in the 2020 timeframe. According to current NASA plans, the Ares V launch vehicle (or a variant) will be available about the same time, as will the capability to transport astronauts to the vicinity of the Moon via the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and associated systems. [As the lunar surface offers no advantages - and major disadvantages - for most major optical systems, the expensive system for landing and operating on the lunar surface is not required.] Although as currently conceived, SAFIR and other astronomical missions will operate at the Sun-Earth L2 location, it appears trivial to travel for servicing to the more accessible Earth-Moon L1,2 locations. Moreover, as the recent Orbital Express and Automated Transfer Vehicle Missions have demonstrated, future robotic capabilities should offer capabilities that would (remotely) extend human presence far beyond the vicinity of the Earth.

Optical Interconnection Via Computer-Generated Holograms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Hua-Kuang; Zhou, Shaomin

1995-01-01

Method of free-space optical interconnection developed for data-processing applications like parallel optical computing, neural-network computing, and switching in optical communication networks. In method, multiple optical connections between multiple sources of light in one array and multiple photodetectors in another array made via computer-generated holograms in electrically addressed spatial light modulators (ESLMs). Offers potential advantages of massive parallelism, high space-bandwidth product, high time-bandwidth product, low power consumption, low cross talk, and low time skew. Also offers advantage of programmability with flexibility of reconfiguration, including variation of strengths of optical connections in real time.

Deep ultraviolet semiconductor light sources for sensing and security

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shatalov, Max; Bilenko, Yuri; Yang, Jinwei; Gaska, Remis

2009-09-01

III-Nitride based deep ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) rapidly penetrate into sensing market owing to several advantages over traditional UV sources (i.e. mercury, xenon and deuterium lamps). Small size, a wide choice of peak emission wavelengths, lower power consumption and reduced cost offer flexibility to system integrators. Short emission wavelength offer advantages for gas detection and optical sensing systems based on UV induced fluorescence. Large modulation bandwidth for these devices makes them attractive for frequency-domain spectroscopy. We will review present status of DUV LED technology and discuss recent advances in short wavelength emitters and high power LED lamps.

[Contraception during the perimenopause: indications, security, and non contraceptive benefits].

PubMed

Cantero Pérez, P; Klingemann, J; Yaron, M; Irion, N Fournet; Streuli, I

2015-10-28

Although patients' fertility is diminished in the period of perimenopause, they still need efficient contraception. Thorough knowledge of the physiological changes occuring during this period of transition is essential in order to provide optimal care. Until the age of 50, no contraceptive method is specifically considered unsuitable due to age alone. The choice of contraceptive needs to be adapted to the patient, assessing the individual risk factors and favouring the potential non-contraceptive advantages of the method selected. Long-term contraceptive methods (e.g., the copper intrauterine device (IUD), the Mirena IUD or a subcutaneous implant) offer an excellent solution on both levels.

Motion Pattern Encapsulation for Data-Driven Constraint-Based Motion Editing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carvalho, Schubert R.; Boulic, Ronan; Thalmann, Daniel

The growth of motion capture systems have contributed to the proliferation of human motion database, mainly because human motion is important in many applications, ranging from games entertainment and films to sports and medicine. However, the captured motions normally attend specific needs. As an effort for adapting and reusing captured human motions in new tasks and environments and improving the animator's work, we present and discuss a new data-driven constraint-based animation system for interactive human motion editing. This method offers the compelling advantage that it provides faster deformations and more natural-looking motion results compared to goal-directed constraint-based methods found in the literature.

Social Networks and Health.

PubMed

Perdiaris, Christos; Chardalias, Konstantinos; Magita, Andrianna; Mechili, Aggelos E; Diomidous, Marianna

2015-01-01

Nowadays the social networks have been developed into an advanced communications tool, which is important for all people to contact each other. These specific networks do offer lots of options as well as plenty of advantages and disadvantages. The social websites are many in number and titles, such as the facebook, the twitter, the bandoo etc. One of the most important function-mechanisms for the social network websites, are the marketing tools. The future goal is suggested to be the evolution of these programs. The development of these applications, which is going to lead into a new era for the social digital communication between the internet users, all around the globe.

Policies governing the use of lithium batteries in the Navy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bis, R. F.; Barnes, J. A.

1983-01-01

Lithium batteries offer many advantages for Navy systems but may also exhibit undesirable hazardous behavior. Safety problems have been traced to a variety of chemical and physical causes. The Navy has established a central safety office with responsibility for all lithium battery use. Before an item is approved for Navy use, it must pass both a design review and a set of end item tests. These reviews focus on complete systems which include a battery inside the end item. After system approval, specific regulations govern the transportation, storage, and disposal of the unit containing lithium batteries. Each of these areas is discussed in detail.

Applications of QCL mid-IR imaging to the advancement of pathology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sreedhar, Hari; Varma, Vishal K.; Bird, Benjamin; Guzman, Grace; Walsh, Michael J.

2017-03-01

Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) spectroscopic imaging is a novel technique with many potential applications to histopathology. Like traditional Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) imaging, QCL spectroscopic imaging derives biochemical data coupled to the spatial information of a tissue sample, and can be used to improve the diagnostic and prognostic value of assessment of a tissue biopsy. This technique also offers advantages over traditional FT-IR imaging, specifically the capacity for discrete frequency and real-time imaging. In this work we present applications of QCL spectroscopic imaging to tissue samples, including discrete frequency imaging, to compare with FT-IR and its potential value to pathology.

Maximum-performance fiber-optic irradiation with nonimaging designs.

PubMed

Fang, Y; Feuermann, D; Gordon, J M

1997-10-01

A range of practical nonimaging designs for optical fiber applications is presented. Rays emerging from a fiber over a restricted angular range (small numerical aperture) are needed to illuminate a small near-field detector at maximum radiative efficiency. These designs range from pure reflector (all-mirror), to pure dielectric (refractive and based on total internal reflection) to lens-mirror combinations. Sample designs are shown for a specific infrared fiber-optic irradiation problem of practical interest. Optical performance is checked with computer three-dimensional ray tracing. Compared with conventional imaging solutions, nonimaging units offer considerable practical advantages in compactness and ease of alignment as well as noticeably superior radiative efficiency.

Beyond the Natural Proteome: Nondegenerate Saturation Mutagenesis-Methodologies and Advantages.

PubMed

Ferreira Amaral, M M; Frigotto, L; Hine, A V

2017-01-01

Beyond the natural proteome, high-throughput mutagenesis offers the protein engineer an opportunity to "tweak" the wild-type activity of a protein to create a recombinant protein with required attributes. Of the various approaches available, saturation mutagenesis is one of the core techniques employed by protein engineers, and in recent times, nondegenerate saturation mutagenesis is emerging as the approach of choice. This review compares the current methodologies available for conducting nondegenerate saturation mutagenesis with traditional, degenerate saturation and briefly outlines the options available for screening the resulting libraries, to discover a novel protein with the required activity and/or specificity. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Genesis of Cyberscience and its Mathematical Models (CYBERSCIENCE)

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-02-01

Of course, the idea of maintaining a complete development record has other advantages , and has frequently been proposed in the past as a solution to...system development. There is no question that this offers certain advantages . For exam- ple, if systems that satisfy a standard frequently prove...some substantial practical advantages . First, providing wildly 2Unfortunately, this terminology has not been standardized. For example, in the Safety

Development of beam leaded low power logic circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, B. W.; Malone, F.

1972-01-01

The technologies of low power TTL and beam lead processing were merged into a single product family. This family offers the power and thermal advantages of low power(54L), while providing the additional reliability advantages of beam leads. The reduction in the power and heat levels also allows the system designer to take advantage, through beam lead, multichip assemblies, of increased package density to reduce system size and weight.

Field instrumentation, monitoring of drilled shafts for landslide stabilization and development of pertinent design method : executive summary report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-11-01

The use of a row of spaced drilled shafts to stabilize unstable slopes along the highways offers many advantages compared to other slope stabilization techniques. Some of these advantages may include: (1) various construction techniques are available...

Stretching Your Technology Dollar

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Doug

2012-01-01

A school district technology director offers 10 strategies to help schools make the most of their technology dollar. These include using effective budgeting techniques, taking advantage of the buying power of groups, practicing sustainable technology, purchasing the right tool for the right job, taking advantage of free software, using cloud…

Medicare Advantage: options for standardizing benefits and information to improve consumer choice.

PubMed

O'Brien, Ellen; Hoadley, Jack

2008-04-01

The Medicare Advantage (MA) program offers beneficiaries a choice of private health plans as alternatives to the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program. MA plans potentially provide additional value, but as plan choices have proliferated, consumers contemplating their options have had difficulty understanding how they differ. Through "standardization" more consistent types of information and a limited number of dimensions along which plans vary--MA plans could reduce complexity and improve beneficiaries' ability to make informed choices. Such standardization steps would offer more meaningful variation in the health coverage options available to beneficiaries, Medicare officials and their community partners would find it far easier to educate beneficiaries about their health plan choices, and beneficiaries would better understand what they were buying. Standardization might also strengthen the ability of the market-based Medicare Advantage program to incorporate beneficiary preferences.

Advances in the Study of Heart Development and Disease Using Zebrafish

PubMed Central

Brown, Daniel R.; Samsa, Leigh Ann; Qian, Li; Liu, Jiandong

2016-01-01

Animal models of cardiovascular disease are key players in the translational medicine pipeline used to define the conserved genetic and molecular basis of disease. Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are the most common type of human birth defect and feature structural abnormalities that arise during cardiac development and maturation. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a valuable vertebrate model organism, offering advantages over traditional mammalian models. These advantages include the rapid, stereotyped and external development of transparent embryos produced in large numbers from inexpensively housed adults, vast capacity for genetic manipulation, and amenability to high-throughput screening. With the help of modern genetics and a sequenced genome, zebrafish have led to insights in cardiovascular diseases ranging from CHDs to arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. Here, we discuss the utility of zebrafish as a model system and summarize zebrafish cardiac morphogenesis with emphasis on parallels to human heart diseases. Additionally, we discuss the specific tools and experimental platforms utilized in the zebrafish model including forward screens, functional characterization of candidate genes, and high throughput applications. PMID:27335817

Fluorescent immunolabeling of cancer cells by quantum dots and antibody scFv fragment.

PubMed

Zdobnova, Tatiana A; Dorofeev, Sergey G; Tananaev, Piter N; Vasiliev, Roman B; Balandin, Taras G; Edelweiss, Eveline F; Stremovskiy, Oleg A; Balalaeva, Irina V; Turchin, Ilya V; Lebedenko, Ekaterina N; Zlomanov, Vladimir P; Deyev, Sergey M

2009-01-01

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) coupled with cancer-specific targeting ligands are new promising agents for fluorescent visualization of cancer cells. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu (HER2/neu), overexpressed on the surface of many cancer cells, is an important target for cancer diagnostics. Antibody scFv fragments as a targeting agent for direct delivery of fluorophores offer significant advantages over full-size antibodies due to their small size, lower cross-reactivity, and immunogenicity. We have used quantum dots linked to anti-HER2/neu 4D5 scFv antibody to label HER2/neu-overexpressing live cells. Labeling of target cells was shown to have high brightness, photostability, and specificity. The results indicate that construction based on quantum dots and scFv antibody can be successfully used for cancer cell visualization.

41 CFR 102-118.280 - What advantages does the prepayment audit offer my agency?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... prepayment audit offer my agency? 102-118.280 Section 102-118.280 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 118-TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT AND AUDIT Prepayment Audits of Transportation Services Agency Requirements...

Nanocontainers in and onto Nanofibers.

PubMed

Jiang, Shuai; Lv, Li-Ping; Landfester, Katharina; Crespy, Daniel

2016-05-17

Hierarchical structure is a key feature explaining the superior properties of many materials in nature. Fibers usually serve in textiles, for structural reinforcement, or as support for other materials, whereas spherical micro- and nanoobjects can be either highly functional or also used as fillers to reinforce structure materials. Combining nanocontainers with fibers in one single object has been used to increase the functionality of fibers, for example, antibacterial and thermoregulation, when the advantageous properties given by the encapsulated materials inside the containers are transferred to the fibers. Herein we focus our discussion on how the hierarchical structure composed of nanocontainers in nanofibers yields materials displaying advantages of both types of materials and sometimes synergetical effects. Such materials can be produced by first carefully designing nanocontainers with defined morphology and chemistry and subsequently electrospinning them to fabricate nanofibers. This method, called colloid-electrospinning, allows for marrying the properties of nanocontainers and nanofibers. The obtained fibers could be successfully applied in different fields such as catalysis, optics, energy conversion and production, and biomedicine. The miniemulsion process is a convenient approach for the encapsulation of hydrophobic or hydrophilic payloads in nanocontainers. These nanocontainers can be embedded in fibers by the colloid-electrospinning technique. The combination of nanocontainers with nanofibers by colloid-electrospinning has several advantages. (1) The fiber matrix serves as support for the embedded nanocontainers. For example, through combining catalysts nanoparticles with fiber networks, the catalysts can be easily separated from the reaction media and handled visually. This combination is beneficial for the reuse of the catalyst and the purification of products. (2) Electrospun nanofibers containing nanocontainers offer the active agents inside the nanocontainers a double protection by both the fiber matrix and the nanocontainers. Since the polymer of the fibers and the polymer of the nanocontainers have usually opposite polarities, the encapsulated substance, for example, catalysts, dyes, or drugs, can be protected against a large variety of environmental influences. (3) Electrospun nanofibers exhibit unique advantages for tissue engineering and drug delivery that are a structural similarity to the extracellular matrix of biological tissues, large specific surface area, high and interconnected porosity which enhances cell adhesion, proliferation, drug loading, and mass transfer properties, as well as the flexibility in selecting the raw materials. Moreover, the nanocontainer-in-nanofiber structure allows multidrug loading and programmable release of each drug, which are very important to achieve synergistic effects in tissue engineering and disease therapy. The advantages offered by these materials encourage us to further understand the relationship between colloidal properties and fibers, to predict the morphology and properties of the fibers obtained by colloid-electrospinning, and to explore new possible combination of properties offered by nanoparticles and nanofibers.

Global preamplification simplifies targeted mRNA quantification

PubMed Central

Kroneis, Thomas; Jonasson, Emma; Andersson, Daniel; Dolatabadi, Soheila; Ståhlberg, Anders

2017-01-01

The need to perform gene expression profiling using next generation sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) on small sample sizes and single cells is rapidly expanding. However, to analyse few molecules, preamplification is required. Here, we studied global and target-specific preamplification using 96 optimised qPCR assays. To evaluate the preamplification strategies, we monitored the reactions in real-time using SYBR Green I detection chemistry followed by melting curve analysis. Next, we compared yield and reproducibility of global preamplification to that of target-specific preamplification by qPCR using the same amount of total RNA. Global preamplification generated 9.3-fold lower yield and 1.6-fold lower reproducibility than target-specific preamplification. However, the performance of global preamplification is sufficient for most downstream applications and offers several advantages over target-specific preamplification. To demonstrate the potential of global preamplification we analysed the expression of 15 genes in 60 single cells. In conclusion, we show that global preamplification simplifies targeted gene expression profiling of small sample sizes by a flexible workflow. We outline the pros and cons for global preamplification compared to target-specific preamplification. PMID:28332609

Enhancing Computer-Based Lessons for Effective Speech Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hemphill, Michael R.; Standerfer, Christina C.

1987-01-01

Assesses the advantages of computer-based instruction on speech education. Concludes that, while it offers tremendous flexibility to the instructor--especially in dynamic lesson design, feedback, graphics, and artificial intelligence--there is no inherent advantage to the use of computer technology in the classroom, unless the student interacts…

The Online Crit: The Community of Inquiry Meets Design Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barber, Tene C.

2011-01-01

Asynchronous discussion technologies offer the advantage of providing time for reflection essential for higher order cognitive thinking. In the context of a ten-week graphic design foundations course in the Digital Graphic Design program at Vancouver Community College, this advantage provides an avenue for advancing critical discussion of design…

Manananggal - a novel viewer for alternative splicing events.

PubMed

Barann, Matthias; Zimmer, Ralf; Birzele, Fabian

2017-02-21

Alternative splicing is an important cellular mechanism that can be analyzed by RNA sequencing. However, identification of splicing events in an automated fashion is error-prone. Thus, further validation is required to select reliable instances of alternative splicing events (ASEs). There are only few tools specifically designed for interactive inspection of ASEs and available visualization approaches can be significantly improved. Here, we present Manananggal, an application specifically designed for the identification of splicing events in next generation sequencing data. Manananggal includes a web application for visual inspection and a command line tool that allows for ASE detection. We compare the sashimi plots available in the IGV Viewer, the DEXSeq splicing plots and SpliceSeq to the Manananggal interface and discuss the advantages and drawbacks of these tools. We show that sashimi plots (such as those used by the IGV Viewer and SpliceSeq) offer a practical solution for simple ASEs, but also indicate short-comings for highly complex genes. Manananggal is an interactive web application that offers functions specifically tailored to the identification of alternative splicing events that other tools are lacking. The ability to select a subset of isoforms allows an easier interpretation of complex alternative splicing events. In contrast to SpliceSeq and the DEXSeq splicing plot, Manananggal does not obscure the gene structure by showing full transcript models that makes it easier to determine which isoforms are expressed and which are not.

Multi-modality endoscopic imaging for the detection of colorectal cancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wall, Richard Andrew

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging method that is considered the optical analog to ultrasound, using the technique of optical interferometry to construct two-dimensional depth-resolved images of tissue microstructure. With a resolution on the order of 10 um and a penetration depth of 1-2 mm in highly scattering tissue, fiber optics-coupled OCT is an ideal modality for the inspection of the mouse colon with its miniaturization capabilities. In the present study, the complementary modalities laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), which offers information on the biochemical makeup of the tissue, and surface magnifying chromoendoscopy, which offers high contrast surface visualization, are combined with OCT in endoscopic imaging systems for the greater specificity and sensitivity in the differentiation between normal and neoplastic tissue, and for the visualization of biomarkers which are indicative of early events in colorectal carcinogenesis. Oblique incidence reflectometry (OIR) also offers advantages, allowing the calculation of bulk tissue optical properties for use as a diagnostic tool. The study was broken up into three specific sections. First, a dual-modality OCTLIF imaging system was designed, capable of focusing light over 325-1300 nm using a reflective distal optics design. A dual-modality fluorescence-based SMC-OCT system was then designed and constructed, capable of resolving the stained mucosal crypt structure of the in vivo mouse colon. The SMC-OCT instrument's OIR capabilities were then modeled, as a modified version of the probe was used measure tissue scattering and absorption coefficients.

A common framework for greenhouse gas assessment protocols in temperate agroforestry systems: Connecting via GRACEnet

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Agroforestry systems offer many ecosystem benefits, but such systems have previously been marginalized in temperate environments due to overriding economic goals and perceived management complexity. In view of adaptation to a changing climate, agroforestry systems offer advantages that require quan...

The Necessity of Functional Analysis for Space Exploration Programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, A. Terry; Breidenthal, Julian C.

2011-01-01

As NASA moves toward expanded commercial spaceflight within its human exploration capability, there is increased emphasis on how to allocate responsibilities between government and commercial organizations to achieve coordinated program objectives. The practice of program-level functional analysis offers an opportunity for improved understanding of collaborative functions among heterogeneous partners. Functional analysis is contrasted with the physical analysis more commonly done at the program level, and is shown to provide theoretical performance, risk, and safety advantages beneficial to a government-commercial partnership. Performance advantages include faster convergence to acceptable system solutions; discovery of superior solutions with higher commonality, greater simplicity and greater parallelism by substituting functional for physical redundancy to achieve robustness and safety goals; and greater organizational cohesion around program objectives. Risk advantages include avoidance of rework by revelation of some kinds of architectural and contractual mismatches before systems are specified, designed, constructed, or integrated; avoidance of cost and schedule growth by more complete and precise specifications of cost and schedule estimates; and higher likelihood of successful integration on the first try. Safety advantages include effective delineation of must-work and must-not-work functions for integrated hazard analysis, the ability to formally demonstrate completeness of safety analyses, and provably correct logic for certification of flight readiness. The key mechanism for realizing these benefits is the development of an inter-functional architecture at the program level, which reveals relationships between top-level system requirements that would otherwise be invisible using only a physical architecture. This paper describes the advantages and pitfalls of functional analysis as a means of coordinating the actions of large heterogeneous organizations for space exploration programs.

Advantages of computer cameras over video cameras/frame grabbers for high-speed vision applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olson, Gaylord G.; Walker, Jo N.

1997-09-01

Cameras designed to work specifically with computers can have certain advantages in comparison to the use of cameras loosely defined as 'video' cameras. In recent years the camera type distinctions have become somewhat blurred, with a great presence of 'digital cameras' aimed more at the home markets. This latter category is not considered here. The term 'computer camera' herein is intended to mean one which has low level computer (and software) control of the CCD clocking. These can often be used to satisfy some of the more demanding machine vision tasks, and in some cases with a higher rate of measurements than video cameras. Several of these specific applications are described here, including some which use recently designed CCDs which offer good combinations of parameters such as noise, speed, and resolution. Among the considerations for the choice of camera type in any given application would be such effects as 'pixel jitter,' and 'anti-aliasing.' Some of these effects may only be relevant if there is a mismatch between the number of pixels per line in the camera CCD and the number of analog to digital (A/D) sampling points along a video scan line. For the computer camera case these numbers are guaranteed to match, which alleviates some measurement inaccuracies and leads to higher effective resolution.

Information technology for competitive advantage: the case of learning and innovation in behavioural healthcare service.

PubMed

Hsieh, Chang-tseh; Lin, Binshan

2011-01-01

The utilisation of IS/IT could offer a substantial competitive advantage to healthcare service providers through the realisation of improved clinical, financial, and administrative outcomes. In this study, 42 journal articles were reviewed and summarised with respect to identified benefits and challenges of the development and implementation of electronic medical records, tele-health, and electronic appointment reminders. Results of this study help pave the knowledge foundation for management of the behavioural healthcare to learn how to apply state-of-the-art information technology to offer higher quality, clinically proven effective services at lower costs than those of their competitors.

Renewable energy and occupational health and safety research directions: a white paper from the Energy Summit, Denver Colorado, April 11-13, 2011.

PubMed

Mulloy, Karen B; Sumner, Steven A; Rose, Cecile; Conway, George A; Reynolds, Stephen J; Davidson, Margaret E; Heidel, Donna S; Layde, Peter M

2013-11-01

Renewable energy production may offer advantages to human health by way of less pollution and fewer climate-change associated ill-health effects. Limited data suggests that renewable energy will also offer benefits to workers in the form of reduced occupational injury, illness and deaths. However, studies of worker safety and health in the industry are limited. The Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC) Energy Summit held in April 2011 explored issues concerning worker health and safety in the renewable energy industry. The limited information on hazards of working in the renewable energy industry emphasizes the need for further research. Two basic approaches to guiding both prevention and future research should include: (1) applying lessons learned from other fields of occupational safety and health, particularly the extractive energy industry; and (2) utilizing knowledge of occupational hazards of specific materials and processes used in the renewable energy industry. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Functionalized nanoparticle probes for protein detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Do Hyun; Lee, Jae-Seung

2015-05-01

In this Review, we discuss representative studies of recent advances in the development of nanoparticle-based protein detection methods, with a focus on the properties and functionalization of nanoparticle probes, as well as their use in detection schemes. We have focused on functionalized nanoparticle probes because they offer a number of advantages over conventional assays and because their use for detecting protein targets for diagnostic purposed has been demonstrated. In this report, we discuss nanoparticle probes classified by material type (gold, silver, silica, semiconductor, carbon, and virus) and surface functionality (antibody, aptamer, and DNA), which play a critical role in enhancing the sensitivity, selectivity, and efficiency of the detection systems. In particular, the synergistic function of each component of the nanoparticle probe is emphasized in terms of specific chemical and physical properties. This research area is in its early stages with many milestones to reach before nanoparticle probes are successfully applied in the field; however, the substantial ongoing efforts of researchers underline the great promise offered by nanoparticlebased probes for future applications. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Bridging the Gap between HL7 CDA and HL7 FHIR: A JSON Based Mapping.

PubMed

Rinner, Christoph; Duftschmid, Georg

2016-01-01

The Austrian electronic health record (EHR) system ELGA went live in December 2016. It is a document oriented EHR system and is based on the HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA). The HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is a relatively new standard that combines the advantages of HL7 messages and CDA Documents. In order to offer easier access to information stored in ELGA we present a method based on adapted FHIR resources to map CDA documents to FHIR resources. A proof-of-concept tool using Java, the open-source FHIR framework HAPI-FHIR and publicly available FHIR servers was created to evaluate the presented mapping. In contrast to other approaches the close resemblance of the mapping file to the FHIR specification allows existing FHIR infrastructure to be reused. In order to reduce information overload and facilitate the access to CDA documents, FHIR could offer a standardized way to query CDA data on a fine granular base in Austria.

Guidelines for European workplace drug testing in oral fluid.

PubMed

Cooper, Gail; Moore, Christine; George, Claire; Pichini, Simona

2011-05-01

Over the past decade, oral fluid has established itself as a robust testing matrix for monitoring drug use or misuse. Commercially available collection devices provide opportunities to collect and test oral fluid by the roadside and near-patient testing with both clinical and criminal justice applications. One of the main advantages of oral fluid relates to the collection of the matrix which is non-invasive, simple, and can be carried out under direct observation making it ideal for workplace drug testing. Laboratories offering legally defensible oral fluid workplace drug testing must adhere to national and international quality standards (ISO/IEC 17025); however, these standards do not address issues specific to oral fluid testing. The European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS) recognizes the importance of providing best practice guidelines to organizations offering testing and those choosing to use oral fluid drug testing to test their employees. The aim of this paper is to present the EWDTS guidelines for oral fluid workplace drug testing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Reconfigurable Computing As an Enabling Technology for Single-Photon-Counting Laser Altimetry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, Wesley; Hicks, Edward; Pinchinat, Maxime; Dabney, Philip; McGarry, Jan; Murray, Paul

2003-01-01

Single-photon-counting laser altimetry is a new measurement technique offering significant advantages in vertical resolution, reducing instrument size, mass, and power, and reducing laser complexity as compared to analog or threshold detection laser altimetry techniques. However, these improvements come at the cost of a dramatically increased requirement for onboard real-time data processing. Reconfigurable computing has been shown to offer considerable performance advantages in performing this processing. These advantages have been demonstrated on the Multi-KiloHertz Micro-Laser Altimeter (MMLA), an aircraft based single-photon-counting laser altimeter developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center with several potential spaceflight applications. This paper describes how reconfigurable computing technology was employed to perform MMLA data processing in real-time under realistic operating constraints, along with the results observed. This paper also expands on these prior results to identify concepts for using reconfigurable computing to enable spaceflight single-photon-counting laser altimeter instruments.

Business marketing: understand what customers value.

PubMed

Anderson, J C; Narus, J A

1998-01-01

How do you define the value of your market offering? Can you measure it? Few suppliers in business markets are able to answer those questions, and yet the ability to pinpoint the value of a product or service for one's customers has never been more important. By creating and using what the authors call customer value models, suppliers are able to figure out exactly what their offerings are worth to customers. Field value assessments--the most commonly used method for building customer value models--call for suppliers to gather data about their customers firsthand whenever possible. Through these assessments, a supplier can build a value model for an individual customer or for a market segment, drawing on data gathered form several customers in that segment. Suppliers can use customer value models to create competitive advantage in several ways. First, they can capitalize on the inevitable variation in customers' requirements by providing flexible market offerings. Second, they can use value models to demonstrate how a new product or service they are offering will provide greater value. Third, they can use their knowledge of how their market offerings specifically deliver value to craft persuasive value propositions. And fourth, they can use value models to provide evidence to customers of their accomplishments. Doing business based on value delivered gives companies the means to get an equitable return for their efforts. Once suppliers truly understand value, they will be able to realize the benefits of measuring and monitoring it for their customers.

The Flexible Fairness: Equality, Earned Entitlement, and Self-Interest

PubMed Central

Gu, Ruolei; Broster, Lucas S.; Shen, Xueyi; Tian, Tengxiang; Luo, Yue-Jia; Krueger, Frank

2013-01-01

The current study explored whether earned entitlement modulated the perception of fairness in three experiments. A preliminary resource earning task was added before players decided how to allocate the resource they jointly earned. Participants’ decision in allocation, their responses to equal or unequal offers, whether advantageous or disadvantageous, and subjective ratings of fairness were all assessed in the current study. Behavioral results revealed that participants proposed more generous offers and showed enhanced tolerance to disadvantageous unequal offers from others when they performed worse than their presumed “partners,” while the reverse was true in the better-performance condition. The subjective ratings also indicated the effect of earned entitlement, such that worse performance was associated with higher perceived feelings of fairness for disadvantageous unequal offers, while better performance was associated with higher feelings of fairness for advantageous unequal offers. Equal offers were considered “fair” only when earned entitlement was even between two parties. In sum, the perception of fairness is modulated by an integration of egalitarian motivation and entitlement. In addition to justice principles, participants were also motivated by self-interest, such that participants placed more weight on entitlement in the better-performance condition than in the worse-performance condition. These results imply that earned entitlement is evaluated in a self-serving way. PMID:24039867

Offering-level strategy formulation in health service organizations.

PubMed

Pointer, D D

1990-01-01

One of six different strategies must be selected for a health service offering to provide consumers with distinctive value and achieve sustainable competitive advantage in a market or market segment. Decisions must be made regarding objectives sought, market segmentation, market scope, and the customer-value proposition that will be pursued.

48 CFR 52.214-10 - Contract Award-Sealed Bidding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... the solicitation, will be most advantageous to the Government considering only price and the price... quantities less than those specified. The Government reserves the right to make an award on any item for a quantity less than the quantity offered, at the unit prices offered, unless the bidder specifies otherwise...

Tax-exempt private placements: a new opportunity for not-for-profit providers.

PubMed

Ambrose, Jim; Harris, Andrew

2006-08-01

Tax-exempt private placements offer an attractive financing alternative for not-for-profit healthcare providers for which the public debt market is no longer a viable option. They offer the following advantages: Greater flexibility Lower fees. Less paperwork. Fewer players. Shorter time to complete.

Properties, flowback, and wellbore displacement

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

Poulson, D.K.

1981-10-19

Carbon dioxide was introduced as an additive to acid and fracture jobs in 1962. Since then, its use as a well-servicing medium has grown rapidly. This has been due primarily to its excellent flowback properties, although it also offers other advantages. These advantages are described along with methods for making calculations with CO/sub 2/. 7 refs.

Girls in the Education Market: Choice, Competition and Complexity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ball, Stephen J.; Gewirtz, Sharon

1997-01-01

Considers the role of girls' schools in the United Kingdom education market and the positioning and "value" of girls by examining the workings of market forces in education. It reveals that current conditions of competition offer some advantages to girls but that these advantages have to be set against the continuing contradictions and…

Advantages of Social Network Analysis in Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ushakov, K. M.; Kukso, K. N.

2015-01-01

Currently one of the main tools for the large scale studies of schools is statistical analysis. Although it is the most common method and it offers greatest opportunities for analysis, there are other quantitative methods for studying schools, such as network analysis. We discuss the potential advantages that network analysis has for educational…

Managing livestock using animal behavior: mixed-species stocking and flerds.

PubMed

Anderson, D M; Fredrickson, E L; Estell, R E

2012-08-01

Mixed-species stocking can foster sound landscape management while offering economic and ecological advantages compared with mono-species stocking. Producers contemplating a mixed-species enterprise should reflect on several considerations before implementing this animal management strategy. Factors applicable to a particular producer's landscape must be considered together with goals and economic constraints before implementing mixed-species stocking. A major consideration when using mixed-species stocking is how to deal with predation losses, especially among small ruminants. An approach being adopted in some commercial operations capitalizes on using innate animal behaviors to form cohesive groups of two or more livestock species that consistently remain together under free-ranging conditions. These groups are referred to as flerds. The mixing of a flock of sheep and/or goats with a herd of cattle into a flerd has been shown to protect sheep and goats from coyote predation, as well as offering other husbandry advantages. Some of the added advantages include more efficient conversion of forage into animal protein. Creation of flerds, their maintenance and advantages are discussed.

Mass Spectrometry Based Ultrasensitive DNA Methylation Profiling Using Target Fragmentation Assay.

PubMed

Lin, Xiang-Cheng; Zhang, Ting; Liu, Lan; Tang, Hao; Yu, Ru-Qin; Jiang, Jian-Hui

2016-01-19

Efficient tools for profiling DNA methylation in specific genes are essential for epigenetics and clinical diagnostics. Current DNA methylation profiling techniques have been limited by inconvenient implementation, requirements of specific reagents, and inferior accuracy in quantifying methylation degree. We develop a novel mass spectrometry method, target fragmentation assay (TFA), which enable to profile methylation in specific sequences. This method combines selective capture of DNA target from restricted cleavage of genomic DNA using magnetic separation with MS detection of the nonenzymatic hydrolysates of target DNA. This method is shown to be highly sensitive with a detection limit as low as 0.056 amol, allowing direct profiling of methylation using genome DNA without preamplification. Moreover, this method offers a unique advantage in accurately determining DNA methylation level. The clinical applicability was demonstrated by DNA methylation analysis using prostate tissue samples, implying the potential of this method as a useful tool for DNA methylation profiling in early detection of related diseases.

Plasma characterization studies for materials processing

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

Pfender, E.; Heberlein, J.

New applications for plasma processing of materials require a more detailed understanding of the fundamental processes occurring in the processing reactors. We have developed reactors offering specific advantages for materials processing, and we are using modeling and diagnostic techniques for the characterization of these reactors. The emphasis is in part set by the interest shown by industry pursuing specific plasma processing applications. In this paper we report on the modeling of radio frequency plasma reactors for use in materials synthesis, and on the characterization of the high rate diamond deposition process using liquid precursors. In the radio frequency plasma torchmore » model, the influence of specific design changes such as the location of the excitation coil on the enthalpy flow distribution is investigated for oxygen and air as plasma gases. The diamond deposition with liquid precursors has identified the efficient mass transport in form of liquid droplets into the boundary layer as responsible for high growth, and the chemical properties of the liquid for the film morphology.« less

Modification of Encapsulation Pressure of Reverse Micelles in Liquid Ethane

PubMed Central

Peterson, Ronald W.; Nucci, Nathaniel V.; Wand, A. Joshua

2011-01-01

Encapsulation of within reverse micelles dissolved in low viscosity fluids offers a potential solution to the slow tumbling problem presented by large soluble macromolecules to solution NMR spectroscopy. The reduction in effective macromolecular tumbling is directly dependent upon the viscosity of the solvent. Liquid ethane is of sufficiently low viscosity at pressures below 5,000 p.s.i. to offer a significant advantage. Unfortunately, the viscosity of liquid ethane shows appreciable pressure dependence. Reverse micelle encapsulation in liquid ethane often requires significantly higher pressures, which obviates the potential advantages offered by liquid ethane over liquid propane. Addition of co-surfactants or co-solvents can be used to manipulate the minimum pressure required to obtain stable, well-behaved solutions of reverse micelles prepared in liquid ethane. A library of potential additives is examined and several candidates suitable for use with encapsulated proteins are described. PMID:21764613

Modification of encapsulation pressure of reverse micelles in liquid ethane.

PubMed

Peterson, Ronald W; Nucci, Nathaniel V; Wand, A Joshua

2011-09-01

Encapsulation within reverse micelles dissolved in low viscosity fluids offers a potential solution to the slow tumbling problem presented by large soluble macromolecules to solution NMR spectroscopy. The reduction in effective macromolecular tumbling is directly dependent upon the viscosity of the solvent. Liquid ethane is of sufficiently low viscosity at pressures below 5000 psi to offer a significant advantage. Unfortunately, the viscosity of liquid ethane shows appreciable pressure dependence. Reverse micelle encapsulation in liquid ethane often requires significantly higher pressures, which obviates the potential advantages offered by liquid ethane over liquid propane. Addition of co-surfactants or co-solvents can be used to manipulate the minimum pressure required to obtain stable, well-behaved solutions of reverse micelles prepared in liquid ethane. A library of potential additives is examined and several candidates suitable for use with encapsulated proteins are described. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Is the medical world ready for electronic journals?

PubMed

Huth, E J

1992-07-01

New technologies offer new ways to deliver scholarly information, perhaps advantageously compared with paper journals, which have been an accustomed mode of scholarly communication for 300 years. Paper journals offer conveniences in handling and reading, and the economic constraints on their length tend to ensure that this constraint is important. Electronic journals are not yet as easy to use. But paper journals are economically cost effective and these space constraints prevent their publishing information not important to most readers but important to some. Electronic journals offer new advantages for readers, including the capacity to carry more and longer papers, linkages between related documents, and hypertext functions. The editors of The Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials welcome comments on its features and content; these should be sent to Dr. María L. Lebrón, Managing Editor, CCT, AAAS, 1333 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 USA, FAX 202-842-2868.

The Role of Condition-Specific Preference-Based Measures in Health Technology Assessment.

PubMed

Rowen, Donna; Brazier, John; Ara, Roberta; Azzabi Zouraq, Ismail

2017-12-01

A condition-specific preference-based measure (CSPBM) is a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) that is specific to a certain condition or disease and that can be used to obtain the quality adjustment weight of the quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for use in economic models. This article provides an overview of the role and the development of CSPBMs, and presents a description of existing CSPBMs in the literature. The article also provides an overview of the psychometric properties of CSPBMs in comparison with generic preference-based measures (generic PBMs), and considers the advantages and disadvantages of CSPBMs in comparison with generic PBMs. CSPBMs typically include dimensions that are important for that condition but may not be important across all patient groups. There are a large number of CSPBMs across a wide range of conditions, and these vary from covering a wide range of dimensions to more symptomatic or uni-dimensional measures. Psychometric evidence is limited but suggests that CSPBMs offer an advantage in more accurate measurement of milder health states. The mean change and standard deviation can differ for CSPBMs and generic PBMs, and this may impact on incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. CSPBMs have a useful role in HTA where a generic PBM is not appropriate, sensitive or responsive. However, due to issues of comparability across different patient groups and interventions, their usage in health technology assessment is often limited to conditions where it is inappropriate to use a generic PBM or sensitivity analyses.

Activity targets for nanostructured platinum-group-metal-free catalysts in hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells.

PubMed

Setzler, Brian P; Zhuang, Zhongbin; Wittkopf, Jarrid A; Yan, Yushan

2016-12-06

Fuel cells are the zero-emission automotive power source that best preserves the advantages of gasoline automobiles: low upfront cost, long driving range and fast refuelling. To make fuel-cell cars a reality, the US Department of Energy has set a fuel cell system cost target of US$30 kW -1 in the long-term, which equates to US$2,400 per vehicle, excluding several major powertrain components (in comparison, a basic, but complete, internal combustion engine system costs approximately US$3,000). To date, most research for automotive applications has focused on proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), because these systems have demonstrated the highest power density. Recently, however, an alternative technology, hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells (HEMFCs), has gained significant attention, because of the possibility to use stable platinum-group-metal-free catalysts, with inherent, long-term cost advantages. In this Perspective, we discuss the cost profile of PEMFCs and the advantages offered by HEMFCs. In particular, we discuss catalyst development needs for HEMFCs and set catalyst activity targets to achieve performance parity with state-of-the-art automotive PEMFCs. Meeting these targets requires careful optimization of nanostructures to pack high surface areas into a small volume, while maintaining high area-specific activity and favourable pore-transport properties.

Activity targets for nanostructured platinum-group-metal-free catalysts in hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setzler, Brian P.; Zhuang, Zhongbin; Wittkopf, Jarrid A.; Yan, Yushan

2016-12-01

Fuel cells are the zero-emission automotive power source that best preserves the advantages of gasoline automobiles: low upfront cost, long driving range and fast refuelling. To make fuel-cell cars a reality, the US Department of Energy has set a fuel cell system cost target of US$30 kW-1 in the long-term, which equates to US$2,400 per vehicle, excluding several major powertrain components (in comparison, a basic, but complete, internal combustion engine system costs approximately US$3,000). To date, most research for automotive applications has focused on proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), because these systems have demonstrated the highest power density. Recently, however, an alternative technology, hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells (HEMFCs), has gained significant attention, because of the possibility to use stable platinum-group-metal-free catalysts, with inherent, long-term cost advantages. In this Perspective, we discuss the cost profile of PEMFCs and the advantages offered by HEMFCs. In particular, we discuss catalyst development needs for HEMFCs and set catalyst activity targets to achieve performance parity with state-of-the-art automotive PEMFCs. Meeting these targets requires careful optimization of nanostructures to pack high surface areas into a small volume, while maintaining high area-specific activity and favourable pore-transport properties.

Price smarter on the Net.

PubMed

Baker, W; Marn, M; Zawada, C

2001-02-01

Companies generally have set prices on the Internet in two ways. Many start-ups have offered untenably low prices in a rush to capture first-mover advantage. Many incumbents have simply charged the same prices on-line as they do off-line. Either way, companies are missing a big opportunity. The fundamental value of the Internet lies not in lowering prices or making them consistent but in optimizing them. After all, if it's easy for customers to compare prices on the Internet, it's also easy for companies to track customers' behavior and adjust prices accordingly. The Net lets companies optimize prices in three ways. First, it lets them set and announce prices with greater precision. Different prices can be tested easily, and customers' responses can be collected instantly. Companies can set the most profitable prices, and they can tap into previously hidden customer demand. Second, because it's so easy to change prices on the Internet, companies can adjust prices in response to even small fluctuations in market conditions, customer demand, or competitors' behavior. Third, companies can use the clickstream data and purchase histories that it collects through the Internet to segment customers quickly. Then it can offer segment-specific prices or promotions immediately. By taking full advantage of the unique possibilities afforded by the Internet to set prices with precision, adapt to changing circumstances quickly, and segment customers accurately, companies can get their pricing right. It's one of the ultimate drivers of e-business success.

Microstructured fibres: a positive impact on defence technology?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Driscoll, E. J.; Watson, M. A.; Delmonte, T.; Petrovich, M. N.; Feng, X.; Flanagan, J. C.; Hayes, J. R.; Richardson, D. J.

2006-09-01

In this paper we seek to assess the potential impact of microstructured fibres for security and defence applications. Recent literature has presented results on using microstructured fibre for delivery of high power, high quality radiation and also on the use of microstructured fibre for broadband source generation. Whilst these two applications may appear contradictory to one another the inherent design flexibility of microstructured fibres allows fibres to be fabricated for the specific application requirements, either minimising (for delivery) or maximising (for broadband source generation) the nonlinear effects. In platform based laser applications such as infrared counter measures, remote sensing and laser directed-energy weapons, a suitable delivery fibre providing high power, high quality light delivery would allow a laser to be sited remotely from the sensor/device head. This opens up the possibility of several sensor/device types sharing the same multi-functional laser, thus reducing the complexity and hence the cost of such systems. For applications requiring broadband source characteristics, microstructured fibres can also offer advantages over conventional sources. By exploiting the nonlinear effects it is possible to realise a multifunctional source for applications such as active hyperspectral imaging, countermeasures, and biochemical sensing. These recent results suggest enormous potential for these novel fibre types to influence the next generation of photonic systems for security and defence applications. However, it is important to establish where the fibres can offer the greatest advantages and what research still needs to be done to drive the technology towards real platform solutions.

Driver Training Simulator for Backing Up Commercial Vehicles with Trailers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berg, Uwe; Wojke, Philipp; Zöbel, Dieter

Backing up tractors with trailers is a difficult task since the kinematic behavior of articulated vehicles is complex and hard to control. Especially unskilled drivers are overstrained with the complicated steering process. To learn and practice the steering behavior of articulated vehicles, we developed a 3D driving simulator. The simulator can handle different types of articulated vehicles like semi-trailers, one- and two-axle trailers, or gigaliners. The use of a driving simulator offers many advantages over the use of real vehicles. One of the main advantages is the possibility to learn the steering behavior of all vehicle types. Drivers can be given more and better driving instructions like collision warnings or steering hints. Furthermore, the driver training costs can be reduced. Moreover, mistakes of the student do not lead to real damages and costly repairs. The hardware of the simulator consists of a low cost commercial driving stand with original truck parts, a projection of the windshield and two flat panel monitors for the left and right exterior mirrors. Standard PC hardware is used for controlling the driving stand and for generating the realtime 3D environment. Each aspect of the simulation like realistic vehicle movements or generation of different views, is handled by a specific software module. This flexible system can be easily extended which offers the opportunity for other uses than just driver training. Therefore, we use the simulator for the development and test of driver assistance systems.

Diffusion and cellular uptake of drugs in live cells studied with surface-enhanced Raman scattering probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bálint, Štefan; Rao, Satish; Sánchez, Mónica Marro; Huntošová, Veronika; Miškovský, Pavol; Petrov, Dmitri

2010-03-01

An understanding of the mechanisms of drug diffusion and uptake through cellular membranes is critical for elucidating drug action and in the development of effective drug delivery systems. We study these processes for emodin, a potential anticancer drug, in live cancer cells using surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Micrometer-sized silica beads covered by nanosized silver colloids are passively embedded into the cell and used as sensors of the drug. We demonstrate that the technique offers distinct advantages: the possibility to study the kinetics of drug diffusion through the cellular membrane toward specific cell organelles, the detection of lower drug concentrations compared to fluorescence techniques, and less damage imparted on the cell.

Straight-wire appliances: standard versus individual prescription.

PubMed

Farronato, Giampietro; Periti, Giulia; Giannini, Lucia; Farronato, Davide; Maspero, Cinzia

2009-01-01

In this article the individual patient (IP) appliance is described. It consists of 250 options of bracket and band variations as the straight wire appliances. Increasing the bracket capabilities means using an increasing number of brackets, each with a specific design created for a treatment situation. The objective of IP appliance is to eliminate wire bending from orthodontic treatment and improve the treatment results. To manage this technique, a computer software is needed. Internet offers significant possibilities in managing each patient by patient basis. The clinician is required to make the diagnosis and treatment plan before ordering the appliance. Two clinical cases are described with the aim to present the advantages of this technique.

Travel Vaccines Enter the Digital Age: Creating a Virtual Immunization Record

PubMed Central

Wilson, Kumanan; Atkinson, Katherine M.; Bell, Cameron P.

2016-01-01

At present, proof of immunization against diseases such as yellow fever is required at some international borders in concordance with the International Health Regulations. The current standard, the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), has limitations as a paper record including the possibility of being illegible, misplaced, or damaged. We believe that a complementary, digital record would offer advantages to public health and travelers alike. These include enhanced availability and reliability, potential to include lot specific information, and integration with immunization information systems. Challenges exist in implementation, particularly pertaining to verification at border crossings. We describe a potential course for the development and implementation of a digital ICVP record. PMID:26711516

Simplified Identification of mRNA or DNA in Whole Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Almeida, Eduardo; Kadambi, Geeta

2007-01-01

A recently invented method of detecting a selected messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence offers two important advantages over prior such methods: it is simpler and can be implemented by means of compact equipment. The simplification and miniaturization achieved by this invention are such that this method is suitable for use outside laboratories, in field settings in which space and power supplies may be limited. The present method is based partly on hybridization of nucleic acid, which is a powerful technique for detection of specific complementary nucleic acid sequences and is increasingly being used for detection of changes in gene expression in microarrays containing thousands of gene probes.

Controlling ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors with light: principles and potential

PubMed Central

Reiner, Andreas; Levitz, Joshua; Isacoff, Ehud Y.

2014-01-01

Light offers unique advantages for studying and manipulating biomolecules and the cellular processes that they control. Optical control of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors has garnered significant interest, since these receptors are central to signaling at neuronal synapses and only optical approaches provide the spatial and temporal resolution required to directly probe receptor function in cells and tissue. Following the classical method of glutamate photo-uncaging, recently developed methods have added other forms of remote control, including those with high molecular specificity and genetic targeting. These tools open the door to the direct optical control of synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as the probing of native receptor function in intact neural circuits. PMID:25573450

Commentary: Binding Early Offers versus Caps for Medical Malpractice Claims?

PubMed Central

O'Connell, Jeffrey

2007-01-01

Like damages caps, early offer reform promises reduction in the costs of medical liability cases. In contrast to damages caps, early offer reform offers advantages to both claimant and defendant. Under early offer, the defendant would have the option to offer an injured patient periodic payments for the patient's net economic losses as they accrue, but not payments for noneconomic losses (pain and suffering). If an early offer were made and accepted, that would settle the claim. This commentary1 explains how an early offer reform might work and summarizes data from a recent closed claim study of medical malpractice cases in Texas and Florida. The data show widespread opportunities for successful early offers and provide evidence that substantial per case savings would result. PMID:17517116

Pictorial detail and recall in adults and children.

PubMed

Ritchey, G H

1982-03-01

Relatively little research has been done on the role of pictorial detail in memory, and the data that do exist are ambiguous. The issue is important because it touches on our understanding of basic issues such as encoding elaboration and trace distinctiveness. The present study attempts to extend our data base by testing recall of words, outlines, and detailed drawings in third graders, sixth graders, and adults. For a categorized set of items, specific comparisons showed that recall of both detailed drawings and outlines was superior to that of words but that these did not differ from one another. For an uncategorized set of items, specific comparisons showed that outlines were recalled significantly better than pictures and that both of these were recalled better than words. The finding of an advantage in recall for outlines over detailed drawings was quite surprising. A variety of explanations may be offered, but true understanding of this effect will depend on future research.

In vivo tissue engineering of musculoskeletal tissues.

PubMed

McCullen, Seth D; Chow, Andre G Y; Stevens, Molly M

2011-10-01

Tissue engineering of musculoskeletal tissues often involves the in vitro manipulation and culture of progenitor cells, growth factors and biomaterial scaffolds. Though in vitro tissue engineering has greatly increased our understanding of cellular behavior and cell-material interactions, this methodology is often unable to recreate tissue with the hierarchical organization and vascularization found within native tissues. Accordingly, investigators have focused on alternative in vivo tissue engineering strategies, whereby the traditional triad (cells, growth factors, scaffolds) or a combination thereof are directly implanted at the damaged tissue site or within ectopic sites capable of supporting neo-tissue formation. In vivo tissue engineering may offer a preferential route for regeneration of musculoskeletal and other tissues with distinct advantages over in vitro methods based on the specific location of endogenous cultivation, recruitment of autologous cells, and patient-specific regenerated tissues. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure-guided Discovery of Dual-recognition Chemibodies.

PubMed

Cheng, Alan C; Doherty, Elizabeth M; Johnstone, Sheree; DiMauro, Erin F; Dao, Jennifer; Luthra, Abhinav; Ye, Jay; Tang, Jie; Nixey, Thomas; Min, Xiaoshan; Tagari, Philip; Miranda, Les P; Wang, Zhulun

2018-05-15

Small molecules and antibodies each have advantages and limitations as therapeutics. Here, we present for the first time to our knowledge, the structure-guided design of "chemibodies" as small molecule-antibody hybrids that offer dual recognition of a single target by both a small molecule and an antibody, using DPP-IV enzyme as a proof of concept study. Biochemical characterization demonstrates that the chemibodies present superior DPP-IV inhibition compared to either small molecule or antibody component alone. We validated our design by successfully solving a co-crystal structure of a chemibody in complex with DPP-IV, confirming specific binding of the small molecule portion at the interior catalytic site and the Fab portion at the protein surface. The discovery of chemibodies presents considerable potential for novel therapeutics that harness the power of both small molecule and antibody modalities to achieve superior specificity, potency, and pharmacokinetic properties.

Smart linkers in polymer-drug conjugates for tumor-targeted delivery.

PubMed

Chang, Minglu; Zhang, Fang; Wei, Ting; Zuo, Tiantian; Guan, Yuanyuan; Lin, Guimei; Shao, Wei

2016-01-01

To achieve effective chemotherapy, many types of drug delivery systems have been developed for the specific environments in tumor tissues. Polymer-drug conjugates are increasingly used in tumor therapy due to several significant advantages over traditional delivery systems. In the fabrication of polymer-drug conjugates, a smart linker is an important component that joins two fragments or molecules together and can be cleared by a specific stimulus, which results in targeted drug delivery and controlled release. By regulating the conjugation between the drug and the nanocarriers, stimulus-sensitive systems based on smart linkers can offer high payloads, certified stability, controlled release and targeted delivery. In this review, we summarize the current state of smart linkers (e.g. disulfide, hydrazone, peptide, azo) used recently in various polymer-drug conjugate-based delivery systems with a primary focus on their sophisticated design principles and drug delivery mechanisms as well as in vivo processes.

Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP): A Near-Term Approach to Nuclear Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, George R.; Manzella, David H.; Kamhawi, Hani; Kremic, Tibor; Oleson, Steven R.; Dankanich, John W.; Dudzinski, Leonard A.

2009-01-01

Studies over the last decade have shown radioisotope-based nuclear electric propulsion to be enhancing and, in some cases, enabling for many potential robotic science missions. Also known as radioisotope electric propulsion (REP), the technology offers the performance advantages of traditional reactor-powered electric propulsion (i.e., high specific impulse propulsion at large distances from the Sun), but with much smaller, affordable spacecraft. Future use of REP requires development of radioisotope power sources with system specific powers well above that of current systems. The US Department of Energy and NASA have developed an advanced Stirling radioisotope generator (ASRG) engineering unit, which was subjected to rigorous flight qualification-level tests in 2008, and began extended lifetime testing later that year. This advancement, along with recent work on small ion thrusters and life extension technology for Hall thrusters, could enable missions using REP sometime during the next decade.

Selection of specific interactors from phage display library based on sea lamprey variable lymphocyte receptor sequences.

PubMed

Wezner-Ptasinska, Magdalena; Otlewski, Jacek

2015-12-01

Variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) are non-immunoglobulin components of adaptive immunity in jawless vertebrates. These proteins composed of leucine-rich repeat modules offer some advantages over antibodies in target binding and therefore are attractive candidates for biotechnological applications. In this paper we report the design and characterization of a phage display library based on a previously proposed dVLR scaffold containing six LRR modules [Wezner-Ptasinska et al., 2011]. Our library was designed based on a consensus approach in which the randomization scheme reflects the frequencies of amino acids naturally occurring in respective positions responsible for antigen recognition. We demonstrate general applicability of the scaffold by selecting dVLRs specific for lysozyme and S100A7 protein with KD values in the micromolar range. The dVLR library could be used as a convenient alternative to antibodies for effective isolation of high affinity binders.

Cost-effective advertising through TV and newspaper "banner" ads.

PubMed

Gombeski, William R; Taylor, Jan; Krauss, Katie; Medeiros, Clayton

2003-01-01

Banner ads, small strip ads in newspapers used to specifically promote an information piece, were introduced into one newspaper in the Connecticut market in 1999 by Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH). Based on their success, the concept was expanded to six additional newspapers in late 2000 and to TV in the summer of 2001. Between 2000-2002, even as the overall marketing/advertising budget declined 30%, switching advertising dollars from image/display ads to banner ads resulted in consumer awareness of YNHH increasing from 29% to 42%. Perception of YNHH as "the advanced medicine" hospital grew from 22% to 40% during the same period. The specific strategic and operational actions generated since the implementation of the program are detailed and the advantages and disadvantages of this banner advertising approach are discussed. Banner ads may offer an alternative approach for organizations to advertise their products and programs.

(abstract) Studies on AB(sub 5) Metal Hydride Alloys with Sn Additives

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ratnakumar, B. V.; Surampudi, S.; Stefano, S. Di; Halpert, G.; Witham, C.; Fultz, B.

1994-01-01

The use of metal hydrides as negative electrodes in alkaline rechargeable cells is becoming increasingly popular, due to several advantages offered by the metal hydrides over conventional anode materials (such as Zn, Cd) in terms of specific energy environmental cycle life and compatibility. Besides, the similarities in the cell voltage pressure characteristics, and charge control methods of the Ni-MH cells to the commonly used Ni-Cd point to a projected take over of 25% of the Ni-Cd market for consumer electronics by the Ni-MH cells in the next couple of years. Two classes of metal hydrides alloys based on rare earth metals (AB(sub 5)) and titanium (AB(sub 2)) are being currently developed at various laboratories. AB(sub 2) alloys exhibit higher specific energy than the AB(sub 5) alloys but the state of the art commercial Ni-MH cells are predominately manufactured using AB(sub 5) alloys.

[Guidelines in RA treatment: concepts on safety and recommendations using anti-TNF-alpha inhibitors. Grupo de Estudio de Nuevas Terapias de Enfermedades reumáticas (GENTE)].

PubMed

Díaz-Jouanen, Efraín; Abud-Mendoza, Carlos; Garza-Elizondo, Mario Alberto; Medrano-Ramírez, Gabriel; Burgos-Vargas, Rubén; Orozco-Alcalá, José Javier; Pacheco-Tena, César Francisco; Pineda, Carlos; Pozos-Espíndola, Juan Carlos; Ramos-Niembro, Francisco; Robles-San-Román, Manuel; Santana-Sahagún, Jesús Ernesto

2009-01-01

Recommendations for the use of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARD) with both conventional and biological agents in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) must be based on their safety profile, adverse effects, risks, and advantages. With the purpose of presenting the most updated information about the safety of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) antagonists, in this article we summarize the literature published during the last three years about this sort of biological agents in specific clinical situations, such as risk of developing infections, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmunity; as well as their administration to patients who will undergo surgical procedures, pregnant and/or breast-feeding women, and patients who need immunizations. Likewise, in this analysis we offer specific recommendations, based on evidence, for the best anti-TNF-alfa management.

Status of Low Thrust Work at JSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Condon, Gerald L.

2004-01-01

High performance low thrust (solar electric, nuclear electric, variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket) propulsion offers a significant benefit to NASA missions beyond low Earth orbit. As NASA (e.g., Prometheus Project) endeavors to develop these propulsion systems and associated power supplies, it becomes necessary to develop a refined trajectory design capability that will allow engineers to develop future robotic and human mission designs that take advantage of this new technology. This ongoing work addresses development of a trajectory design and optimization tool for assessing low thrust (and other types) trajectories. This work targets to advance the state of the art, enable future NASA missions, enable science drivers, and enhance education. This presentation provides a summary of the low thrust-related JSC activities under the ISP program and specifically, provides a look at a new release of a multi-gravity, multispacecraft trajectory optimization tool (Copernicus) along with analysis performed using this tool over the past year.

Challenges and opportunities for monoclonal antibody therapy in veterinary oncology.

PubMed

Beirão, Breno C B; Raposo, Teresa; Jain, Saurabh; Hupp, Ted; Argyle, David J

2016-12-01

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have come to dominate the biologics market in human cancer therapy. Nevertheless, in veterinary medicine, very few clinical trials have been initiated using this form of therapy. Some of the advantages of mAb therapeutics over conventional drugs are high specificity, precise mode of action and long half-life, which favour infrequent dosing of the antibody. Further advancement in the field of biomedical sciences has led to the production of different forms of antibodies, such as single chain antibody fragment, Fab, bi-specific antibodies and drug conjugates for use in diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This review describes the potential for mAbs in veterinary oncology in supporting both diagnosis and therapy of cancer. The technical and financial hurdles to facilitate clinical acceptance of mAbs are explored and insights into novel technologies and targets that could support more rapid clinical development are offered. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Single measurement of serum 25(OH)D: is classification into month-specific cutpoints useful in accounting for seasonal variation?

PubMed

Saliba, W; Barnett-Griness, O; Rennert, G

2012-09-01

Classification into month-specific cutpoints is used to minimize misclassification associated with single measurement of serum 25(OH)D. This study aims to evaluate this strategy, and to compare it with the widely used classification into overall cutpoints. For this purpose, we studied 69,553 subjects in whom serum 25(OH)D was tested on two different occasions. The level of agreement between the quartiles of the first and second tests was 43.8% between the month-specific quartiles and 43.1% between the overall quartiles. The level of agreement between the quartiles of the two approaches was 80.0% and 94.3% in the first and second test, respectively. The extent of seasonal variation (summer-autumn as compared with winter-spring) of serum 25(OH)D was higher in males and in Jews, inversely associated with baseline levels, body mass index and age, and directly associated with socioeconomic class. The month-specific cutpoint strategy does not seem to offer advantage over the overall cutpoints strategy.

An Onboarding Program for the CT Department.

PubMed

Baldwin, Brandi

2016-01-01

Healthcare organizations compete for employees in the same way television networks compete for new talent. Organizations also compete over experience, knowledge, and skills new employees bring with them. Organizations that can acclimate a new employee into the social and performance aspects of a new job the quickest create a substantial competitive advantage. Onboarding is the term used for orientation or organizational socialization where new employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors to fit in with a new company. Computed tomography (CT) department specific onboarding programs increase the comfort level of new employees by informing them of the supervisor's and the department's expectations. Although this article discusses CT, specifically, an onboarding program could apply to all of imaging. With the high costs that employee turnover incurs, all departments should have an orientation program that helps retain employees as well as prepare new employees for employment. Current personnel are valuable resources for offering appropriate information for successful employment in specific departments. A structured, department specific onboarding program with the full participation and support of current staff will enhance staff retention.

Personalized gene silencing therapeutics for Huntington disease.

PubMed

Kay, C; Skotte, N H; Southwell, A L; Hayden, M R

2014-07-01

Gene silencing offers a novel therapeutic strategy for dominant genetic disorders. In specific diseases, selective silencing of only one copy of a gene may be advantageous over non-selective silencing of both copies. Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in the Huntingtin gene (HTT). Silencing both expanded and normal copies of HTT may be therapeutically beneficial, but preservation of normal HTT expression is preferred. Allele-specific methods can selectively silence the mutant HTT transcript by targeting either the expanded CAG repeat or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in linkage disequilibrium with the expansion. Both approaches require personalized treatment strategies based on patient genotypes. We compare the prospect of safe treatment of HD by CAG- and SNP-specific silencing approaches and review HD population genetics used to guide target identification in the patient population. Clinical implementation of allele-specific HTT silencing faces challenges common to personalized genetic medicine, requiring novel solutions from clinical scientists and regulatory authorities. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Medical Robotic and Tele surgical Simulation Education Research

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-01

training exercises, DVSS = 40, dVT = 65, and RoSS = 52 for skills development. All three offer 3D visual images but use different display technologies...capabilities with an emphasis on their educational skills. They offer unique advantages and capabilities in training robotic sur- geons. Each device has been...evaluate the transfer of training effect of each simulator. Collectively, this work will offer end users and potential buyers a comparison of the value

Novel therapeutic approaches: Rett syndrome and human induced pluripotent stem cell technology

PubMed Central

Gomathi, Mohan

2017-01-01

Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology target screening and discovering of therapeutic agents for the possible cure of human diseases. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) are the right kind of platform for testing potency of specific active compounds. Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine developed between 2,500 and 500 BC, is a science involving the intelligent formulations of herbs and minerals. It can serve as a “goldmine” for novel neuroprotective agents used for centuries to treat neurological disorders. This review discusses limitations in screening drugs for neurological disorders and the advantages offered by hiPSC integrated with Indian traditional system of medicine. We begin by describing the current state of hiPSC technology in research on Rett syndrome (RTT) followed by the current controversies in RTT research combined with the emergence of patient-specific hiPSC that indicate an urgent need for researchers to understand the etiology and drug mechanism. We conclude by offering recommendations to reinforce the screening of active compounds present in the ayurvedic medicines using the human induced pluripotent neural model system for research involving drug discovery for RTT. This integrative approach will fill the current knowledge gap in the traditional medicines and drug discovery. PMID:28447035

Can we estimate biogeochemical uptake rates in sediments from reach-scale data or vice versa?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez-Pinzon, R.; Garayburu-Caruso, V. A.

2017-12-01

Hydrologists and stream ecologists want to understand how reactive transport processes from sub-meter to reach scales aggregate to determine nutrient and carbon export across watersheds. Mesocosm (sub-meter) scale experiments offer the advantage of being tractable and affordable but may be spatially and temporally irrelevant for describing watershed-scale processes. While reach scale experiments sample larger heterogeneities, they provide aggregated information that does not allow for easy detection of hot-spots and hot-moments, and might still be irrelevant for describing watershed processes if they are not conducted under varying flow conditions. We conducted mesocosm (column) and reach-scale experiments along a first-to-eight stream order continuum using nutrient and resazurin tracers to investigate how information collected at the sub-meter scale (mesocosom experiments) compares to that collected at the reach scale, and vice versa. Our work highlights the difficulty of finding useful patterns not only across stream orders (i.e., for the same type of experiment) but also across experiments. Our results offer quantitative perspective on why hydrologists and stream ecologists must depart from the status quo of conducting solute-specific (e.g., only N), site-specific (primarily headwaters) and single-season (mainly summer) experiments to understand controls on nutrient retention.

Generation and analyses of human synthetic antibody libraries and their application for protein microarrays.

PubMed

Säll, Anna; Walle, Maria; Wingren, Christer; Müller, Susanne; Nyman, Tomas; Vala, Andrea; Ohlin, Mats; Borrebaeck, Carl A K; Persson, Helena

2016-10-01

Antibody-based proteomics offers distinct advantages in the analysis of complex samples for discovery and validation of biomarkers associated with disease. However, its large-scale implementation requires tools and technologies that allow development of suitable antibody or antibody fragments in a high-throughput manner. To address this we designed and constructed two human synthetic antibody fragment (scFv) libraries denoted HelL-11 and HelL-13. By the use of phage display technology, in total 466 unique scFv antibodies specific for 114 different antigens were generated. The specificities of these antibodies were analyzed in a variety of immunochemical assays and a subset was further evaluated for functionality in protein microarray applications. This high-throughput approach demonstrates the ability to rapidly generate a wealth of reagents not only for proteome research, but potentially also for diagnostics and therapeutics. In addition, this work provides a great example on how a synthetic approach can be used to optimize library designs. By having precise control of the diversity introduced into the antigen-binding sites, synthetic libraries offer increased understanding of how different diversity contributes to antibody binding reactivity and stability, thereby providing the key to future library optimization. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

An Analysis of Information Assurance Relating to the Department of Defense Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Passive Network

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-03-01

codes speed up consumer shopping, package shipping, and inventory tracking. RFID offers many advantages over bar codes, as the table below shows...sunlight” (Accenture, 2001, p. 4). Finally, one of the most significant advantages of RFID is the advent of anti-collision. Anti-collision allows an...RFID reader to read and/or write to multiple tags at one time, which is not possible for bar codes. Despite the many advantages RFID over bar codes

Rural Policy and the New Regional Economics: Implications for Rural America.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Quigley, John M.

This paper discusses gross economic and demographic trends in rural and urban America during the past 30 years, the kinds of competitive advantages enjoyed by urban and rural regions, and insights offered by the new regional economics concerning exploitation of those advantages. The importance of agriculture has declined in rural areas, while that…

An Item-Driven Adaptive Design for Calibrating Pretest Items. Research Report. ETS RR-14-38

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ali, Usama S.; Chang, Hua-Hua

2014-01-01

Adaptive testing is advantageous in that it provides more efficient ability estimates with fewer items than linear testing does. Item-driven adaptive pretesting may also offer similar advantages, and verification of such a hypothesis about item calibration was the main objective of this study. A suitability index (SI) was introduced to adaptively…

Some Applied Research Concerns Using Multiple Linear Regression Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newman, Isadore; Fraas, John W.

The intention of this paper is to provide an overall reference on how a researcher can apply multiple linear regression in order to utilize the advantages that it has to offer. The advantages and some concerns expressed about the technique are examined. A number of practical ways by which researchers can deal with such concerns as…

Electronic Tutoring: Long Distance and Long Term.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stephenson, Denise R.; Mayberry, Bob

Electronic tutoring can be valuable for writers and should be offered in more university settings, not just in computer labs. Among its advantages is the speed with which commentary can be returned by e-mail. Other advantages were evident in a reciprocal tutoring relationship carried on by two academics in different states. They chose not to edit…

Women's Guide to Overseas Living. Second Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Piet-Pelon, Nancy J.; Hornby, Barbara

This book examines issues critical to women and their families who go abroad to live. In advising how to cope effectively with the problems that arise, the book illuminates the advantages of living overseas and offers practical suggestions and guidelines that help women take advantage of the opportunity to share in another culture. Divided into 13…

Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide Sensors for the Constellation Space Suit Life Support System for Surface Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dietrich, Daniel L.; Paul, Heather L.; Conger, Bruce C.

2009-01-01

This paper presents the findings of the trade study to evaluate carbon dioxide (CO2) sensing technologies for the Constellation (Cx) space suit life support system for surface exploration. The trade study found that nondispersive infrared absorption (NDIR) is the most appropriate high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technology for the CO2 sensor for the Cx space suit. The maturity of the technology is high, as it is the basis for the CO2 sensor in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). The study further determined that while there is a range of commercial sensors available, the Cx CO2 sensor should be a new design. Specifically, there are light sources (e.g., infrared light emitting diodes) and detectors (e.g., cooled detectors) that are not in typical commercial sensors due to cost. These advanced technology components offer significant advantages in performance (weight, volume, power, accuracy) to be implemented in the new sensor. The exact sensor design (light source, transmitting optics, path length, receiving optics and detector) will be specific for the Cx space suit and will be determined by the performance requirements of the Cx space suit. The paper further identifies specifications for some of the critical performance parameters as well as discussing the engineering aspects of implementing the sensor into the Portable Life Support System (PLSS). The paper then presents testing results from three CO2 sensors with respect to issues important to Extravehicular Activity (EVA) applications; stability, humidity dependence and low pressure compatibility. The three sensors include two NDIR sensors, one commercial and one custom-developed by NASA (for a different purpose), and one commercial electrochemical sensor. The results show that both NDIR sensors have excellent stability, no dependence on ambient humidity (when the ambient temperature is above the dew point) and operate in low pressure conditions and after being exposed to a full vacuum. The commercial electrochemical sensor was not suitable for the Cx space suit for surface exploration. Finally, the paper identifies a number of techniques currently under development that offer significant advantages for EVA applications. These include miniaturized, room temperature, solid electrolyte systems and advanced optical detectors.

Fuzzy-neural control of an aircraft tracking camera platform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcgrath, Dennis

1994-01-01

A fuzzy-neural control system simulation was developed for the control of a camera platform used to observe aircraft on final approach to an aircraft carrier. The fuzzy-neural approach to control combines the structure of a fuzzy knowledge base with a supervised neural network's ability to adapt and improve. The performance characteristics of this hybrid system were compared to those of a fuzzy system and a neural network system developed independently to determine if the fusion of these two technologies offers any advantage over the use of one or the other. The results of this study indicate that the fuzzy-neural approach to control offers some advantages over either fuzzy or neural control alone.

In vivo programming of tumor antigen-specific T lymphocytes from pluripotent stem cells to promote cancer immunosurveillance.

PubMed

Lei, Fengyang; Zhao, Baohua; Haque, Rizwanul; Xiong, Xiaofang; Budgeon, Lynn; Christensen, Neil D; Wu, Yuzhang; Song, Jianxun

2011-07-15

Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy has garnered wide attention, but its effective use is limited by the need of multiple ex vivo manipulations and infusions that are complex and expensive. In this study, we show how highly reactive antigen (Ag)-specific CTLs can be generated from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to provide an unlimited source of functional CTLs for adoptive immunotherapy. iPS cell-derived T cells can offer the advantages of avoiding possible immune rejection and circumventing ethical and practical issues associated with other stem cell types. iPS cells can be differentiated into progenitor T cells in vitro by stimulation with the Notch ligand Delta-like 1 (DL1) overexpressed on bone marrow stromal cells, with complete maturation occurring upon adoptive transfer into Rag1-deficient mice. Here, we report that these iPS cells can be differentiated in vivo into functional CTLs after overexpression of MHC I-restricted Ag-specific T-cell receptors (TCR). In this study, we generated murine iPS cells genetically modified with ovalbumin (OVA)-specific and MHC-I restricted TCR (OT-I) by retrovirus-mediated transduction. After their adoptive transfer into recipient mice, the majority of OT-I/iPS cells underwent differentiation into CD8+ CTLs. TCR-transduced iPS cells developed in vivo responded in vitro to peptide stimulation by secreting interleukin 2 and IFN-γ. Most importantly, adoptive transfer of TCR-transduced iPS cells triggered infiltration of OVA-reactive CTLs into tumor tissues and protected animals from tumor challenge. Taken together, our findings offer proof of concept for a potentially more efficient approach to generate Ag-specific T lymphocytes for adoptive immunotherapy. ©2011 AACR.

Pipe dream? Envisioning a grassroots Python ecosystem of open, common software tools and data access in support of river and coastal biogeochemical research (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayorga, E.

2013-12-01

Practical, problem oriented software developed by scientists and graduate students in domains lacking a strong software development tradition is often balkanized into the scripting environments provided by dominant, typically proprietary tools. In environmental fields, these tools include ArcGIS, Matlab, SAS, Excel and others, and are often constrained to specific operating systems. While this situation is the outcome of rational choices, it limits the dissemination of useful tools and their integration into loosely coupled frameworks that can meet wider needs and be developed organically by groups addressing their own needs. Open-source dynamic languages offer the advantages of an accessible programming syntax, a wealth of pre-existing libraries, multi-platform access, linkage to community libraries developed in lower level languages such as C or FORTRAN, and access to web service infrastructure. Python in particular has seen a large and increasing uptake in scientific communities, as evidenced by the continued growth of the annual SciPy conference. Ecosystems with distinctive physical structures and organization, and mechanistic processes that are well characterized, are both factors that have often led to the grass-roots development of useful code meeting the needs of a range of communities. In aquatic applications, examples include river and watershed analysis tools (River Tools, Taudem, etc), and geochemical modules such as CO2SYS, PHREEQ and LOADEST. I will review the state of affairs and explore the potential offered by a Python tool ecosystem in supporting aquatic biogeochemistry and water quality research. This potential is multi-faceted and broadly involves accessibility to lone grad students, access to a wide community of programmers and problem solvers via online resources such as StackExchange, and opportunities to leverage broader cyberinfrastructure efforts and tools, including those from widely different domains. Collaborative development of such tools can provide the additional advantage of enhancing cohesion and communication across specific research areas, and reducing research obstacles in a range of disciplines.

[Health Technology Assessment to evaluate the economic advantage of offering of low-protein diet to pre-dialysis patients in Campania (Italy)].

PubMed

Liguori, Giorgio; Belfiore, Patrizia; Cianciaruso, Bruno; Cirillo, Massimo; Creazzola, Simona; D'Ausilio, Anna; De Santo, Natale Gaspare; La Bella, Gaetana; Parlato, Antonino; Scaletti, Alessandro; Zamparelli, Bruno

2012-01-01

A low-protein diet is well known to slow the progression of chronic renal failure, delay initiation of dialysis, while achieving significant economic benefits. In the context of a Health Technology Assessment (HTA), a budget impact analysis model was implemented to evaluate the economic advantage of offering of low-protein diet to nephropathic patients in Campania (Italy). The implemented model takes into account only the direct costs to the national healthcare system. In particular, costs related to supplying low-protein foods are compared to dialysis costs avoided, in a scenario that evaluates different indices of Numbers Needed to Treat and compliance to treatment. Results indicate that when compliance to treatment is at least 50% and NNT is £ 50, supplying a low-protein diet to all kidney disease patients in the pre-dialysis phase, namely with an estimated Glomerular filtration rate > 45, in Campania (which in the year 2009 were equal to 25,000 subjects), is economically advantageous. In this perspective, the authors argue that distribution of low-protein foods by local pharmacies could be an appropriate choice as it would allow the products to be offered at a discounted price and create a favorable setting for increasing adherence to treatment.

Simulating the impact of medical savings accounts on small business.

PubMed Central

Goldman, D P; Buchanan, J L; Keeler, E B

2000-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To simulate whether allowing small businesses to offer employer-funded medical savings accounts (MSAs) would change the amount or type of insurance coverage. STUDY SETTING: Economic policy evaluation using a national probability sample of nonelderly non-institutionalized Americans from the 1993 Current Population Survey (CPS). STUDY DESIGN: We used a behavioral simulation model to predict the effect of MSAs on the insurance choices of employees of small businesses (and their families). The model predicts spending by each family in a FFS plan, an HMO plan, an MSA, and no insurance. These predictions allow us to compute community-rated premiums for each plan, but with firm-specific load fees. Within each firm, employees then evaluate each option, and the firm decides whether to offer insurance-and what type-based on these evaluations. If firms offer insurance, we consider two scenarios: (1) all workers elect coverage; and (2) workers can decline the coverage in return for a wage increase. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In the long run, under simulated conditions, tax-advantaged MSAs could attract 56 percent of all employees offered a plan by small businesses. However, the fraction of small-business employees offered insurance increases only from 41 percent to 43 percent when MSAs become an option. Many employees now signing up for a FFS plan would switch to MSAs if they were universally available. CONCLUSIONS: Our simulations suggest that MSAs will provide a limited impetus to businesses that do not currently cover insurance. However, MSAs could be desirable to workers in firms that already offer HMOs or standard FFS plans. As a result, expanding MSA availability could make it a major form of insurance for covered workers in small businesses. Overall welfare would increase slightly. PMID:10778824

Simulating the impact of medical savings accounts on small business.

PubMed

Goldman, D P; Buchanan, J L; Keeler, E B

2000-04-01

To simulate whether allowing small businesses to offer employer-funded medical savings accounts (MSAs) would change the amount or type of insurance coverage. Economic policy evaluation using a national probability sample of nonelderly non-institutionalized Americans from the 1993 Current Population Survey (CPS). We used a behavioral simulation model to predict the effect of MSAs on the insurance choices of employees of small businesses (and their families). The model predicts spending by each family in a FFS plan, an HMO plan, an MSA, and no insurance. These predictions allow us to compute community-rated premiums for each plan, but with firm-specific load fees. Within each firm, employees then evaluate each option, and the firm decides whether to offer insurance-and what type-based on these evaluations. If firms offer insurance, we consider two scenarios: (1) all workers elect coverage; and (2) workers can decline the coverage in return for a wage increase. In the long run, under simulated conditions, tax-advantaged MSAs could attract 56 percent of all employees offered a plan by small businesses. However, the fraction of small-business employees offered insurance increases only from 41 percent to 43 percent when MSAs become an option. Many employees now signing up for a FFS plan would switch to MSAs if they were universally available. Our simulations suggest that MSAs will provide a limited impetus to businesses that do not currently cover insurance. However, MSAs could be desirable to workers in firms that already offer HMOs or standard FFS plans. As a result, expanding MSA availability could make it a major form of insurance for covered workers in small businesses. Overall welfare would increase slightly.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy as a method for assessment of interactions between phage displaying antibodies and soluble antigen

PubMed Central

Lagerkvist, Ann Catrin; Földes-Papp, Zeno; Persson, Mats A.A.; Rigler, Rudolf

2001-01-01

Phage display is widely used for expression of combinatorial libraries, not least for protein engineering purposes. Precise selection at the single molecule level will provide an improved tool for generating proteins with complex and distinct properties from large molecular libraries. To establish such an improved selection system, we here report the detection of specific interactions between phage with displayed antibody fragments and fluorescently labeled soluble antigen based on Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS). Our novel strategy comprises the use of two separate fluorochromes for detection of the phage–antigen complex, either with labeled antiphage antibody or using a labeled antigen. As a model system, we studied a human monoclonal antibody to the hepatitis-C virus (HCV) envelope protein E2 and its cognate antigen (rE2 or rE1/E2). We could thus assess the specific interactions and determine the fraction of specific versus background phage (26% specific phage). Aggregation of these particular antigens made it difficult to reliably utilize the full potential of cross-correlation studies using the two labels simultaneously. However, with true monomeric proteins, this will certainly be possible, offering a great advantage in a safer and highly specific detection system. PMID:11468349

Pathway mapping and development of disease-specific biomarkers: protein-based network biomarkers

PubMed Central

Chen, Hao; Zhu, Zhitu; Zhu, Yichun; Wang, Jian; Mei, Yunqing; Cheng, Yunfeng

2015-01-01

It is known that a disease is rarely a consequence of an abnormality of a single gene, but reflects the interactions of various processes in a complex network. Annotated molecular networks offer new opportunities to understand diseases within a systems biology framework and provide an excellent substrate for network-based identification of biomarkers. The network biomarkers and dynamic network biomarkers (DNBs) represent new types of biomarkers with protein–protein or gene–gene interactions that can be monitored and evaluated at different stages and time-points during development of disease. Clinical bioinformatics as a new way to combine clinical measurements and signs with human tissue-generated bioinformatics is crucial to translate biomarkers into clinical application, validate the disease specificity, and understand the role of biomarkers in clinical settings. In this article, the recent advances and developments on network biomarkers and DNBs are comprehensively reviewed. How network biomarkers help a better understanding of molecular mechanism of diseases, the advantages and constraints of network biomarkers for clinical application, clinical bioinformatics as a bridge to the development of diseases-specific, stage-specific, severity-specific and therapy predictive biomarkers, and the potentials of network biomarkers are also discussed. PMID:25560835

Nanodrugs: pharmacokinetics and safety

PubMed Central

Onoue, Satomi; Yamada, Shizuo; Chan, Hak-Kim

2014-01-01

To date, various nanodrug systems have been developed for different routes of administration, which include dendrimers, nanocrystals, emulsions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, micelles, and polymeric nanoparticles. Nanodrug systems have been employed to improve the efficacy, safety, physicochemical properties, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile of pharmaceutical substances. In particular, functionalized nanodrug systems can offer enhanced bioavailability of orally taken drugs, prolonged half-life of injected drugs (by reducing immunogenicity), and targeted delivery to specific tissues. Thus, nanodrug systems might lower the frequency of administration while providing maximized pharmacological effects and minimized systemic side effects, possibly leading to better therapeutic compliance and clinical outcomes. In spite of these attractive pharmacokinetic advantages, recent attention has been drawn to the toxic potential of nanodrugs since they often exhibit in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and genotoxicity. A better understanding of the pharmacokinetic and safety characteristics of nanodrugs and the limitations of each delivery option is necessary for the further development of efficacious nanodrugs with high therapeutic potential and a wide safety margin. This review highlights the recent progress in nanodrug system development, with a focus on the pharmacokinetic advantages and safety challenges. PMID:24591825

Diagnostics Strategies with Electrochemical Affinity Biosensors Using Carbon Nanomaterials as Electrode Modifiers

PubMed Central

Campuzano, Susana; Yáñez-Sedeño, Paloma; Pingarrón, José M.

2016-01-01

Early diagnosis is often the key to successful patient treatment and survival. The identification of various disease signaling biomarkers which reliably reflect normal and disease states in humans in biological fluids explain the burgeoning research field in developing new methodologies able to determine the target biomarkers in complex biological samples with the required sensitivity and selectivity and in a simple and rapid way. The unique advantages offered by electrochemical sensors together with the availability of high affinity and specific bioreceptors and their great capabilities in terms of sensitivity and stability imparted by nanostructuring the electrode surface with different carbon nanomaterials have led to the development of new electrochemical biosensing strategies that have flourished as interesting alternatives to conventional methodologies for clinical diagnostics. This paper briefly reviews the advantages of using carbon nanostructures and their hybrid nanocomposites as electrode modifiers to construct efficient electrochemical sensing platforms for diagnosis. The review provides an updated overview of some selected examples involving attractive amplification and biosensing approaches which have been applied to the determination of relevant genetic and protein diagnostics biomarkers. PMID:28035946

A Brief Survey of Media Access Control, Data Link Layer, and Protocol Technologies for Lunar Surface Communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallett, Thomas M.

2009-01-01

This paper surveys and describes some of the existing media access control and data link layer technologies for possible application in lunar surface communications and the advanced wideband Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DSCDMA) conceptual systems utilizing phased-array technology that will evolve in the next decade. Time Domain Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) are standard Media Access Control (MAC) techniques that can be incorporated into lunar surface communications architectures. Another novel hybrid technique that is recently being developed for use with smart antenna technology combines the advantages of CDMA with those of TDMA. The relatively new and sundry wireless LAN data link layer protocols that are continually under development offer distinct advantages for lunar surface applications over the legacy protocols which are not wireless. Also several communication transport and routing protocols can be chosen with characteristics commensurate with smart antenna systems to provide spacecraft communications for links exhibiting high capacity on the surface of the Moon. The proper choices depend on the specific communication requirements.

European Regional Climate Zone Modeling of a Commercial Absorption Heat Pump Hot Water Heater

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

Sharma, Vishaldeep; Shen, Bo; Keinath, Chris

2017-01-01

High efficiency gas-burning hot water heating takes advantage of a condensing heat exchanger to deliver improved combustion efficiency over a standard non-condensing configuration. The water heating is always lower than the gas heating value. In contrast, Gas Absorption Heat Pump (GAHP) hot water heating combines the efficiency of gas burning with the performance increase from a heat pump to offer significant gas energy savings. An ammonia-water system also has the advantage of zero Ozone Depletion Potential and low Global Warming Potential. In comparison with air source electric heat pumps, the absorption system can maintain higher coefficients of performance in coldermore » climates. In this work, a GAHP commercial water heating system was compared to a condensing gas storage system for a range of locations and climate zones across Europe. The thermodynamic performance map of a single effect ammonia-water absorption system was used in a building energy modeling software that could also incorporate the changing ambient air temperature and water mains temperature for a specific location, as well as a full-service restaurant water draw pattern.« less

Recent insights in the use of nanocarriers for the oral delivery of bioactive proteins and peptides.

PubMed

Batista, Patrícia; Castro, Pedro M; Madureira, Ana Raquel; Sarmento, Bruno; Pintado, Manuela

2018-03-01

Bioactive proteins and peptides have been used with either prophylactic or therapeutic purposes, presenting inherent advantages as high specificity and biocompatibility. Nanocarriers play an important role in the stabilization of proteins and peptides, offering enhanced buccal permeation and protection while crossing the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, preparation of nanoparticles as oral delivery systems for proteins/peptides may include tailored formulation along with functionalization aiming bioavailability enhancement of carried proteins or peptides. Oral delivery systems, namely buccal delivery systems, represent an interesting alternative route to parenteric delivery systems to carry proteins and peptides, resulting in higher comfort of administration and, therefore, compliance to treatment. This paper outlines an extensive overview of the existing publications on proteins/peptides oral nanocarriers delivery systems, with special focus on buccal route. Manufacturing aspects of most commonly used nanoparticles for oral delivery (e.g. polymeric nanoparticles using synthetic or natural polymers and lipid nanoparticles) advantages and limitations and potential applications of nanoparticles as proteins/peptides delivery systems will also be thoroughly addressed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Performance Analysis of TCP Enhancements in Satellite Data Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broyles, Ren H.

1999-01-01

This research examines two proposed enhancements to the well-known Transport Control Protocol (TCP) in the presence of noisy communication links. The Multiple Pipes protocol is an application-level adaptation of the standard TCP protocol, where several TCP links cooperate to transfer data. The Space Communication Protocol Standard - Transport Protocol (SCPS-TP) modifies TCP to optimize performance in a satellite environment. While SCPS-TP has inherent advantages that allow it to deliver data more rapidly than Multiple Pipes, the protocol, when optimized for operation in a high-error environment, is not compatible with legacy TCP systems, and requires changes to the TCP specification. This investigation determines the level of improvement offered by SCPS-TP's Corruption Mode, which will help determine if migration to the protocol is appropriate in different environments. As the percentage of corrupted packets approaches 5 %, Multiple Pipes can take over five times longer than SCPS-TP to deliver data. At high error rates, SCPS-TP's advantage is primarily caused by Multiple Pipes' use of congestion control algorithms. The lack of congestion control, however, limits the systems in which SCPS-TP can be effectively used.

Flexible resources for quantum metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friis, Nicolai; Orsucci, Davide; Skotiniotis, Michalis; Sekatski, Pavel; Dunjko, Vedran; Briegel, Hans J.; Dür, Wolfgang

2017-06-01

Quantum metrology offers a quadratic advantage over classical approaches to parameter estimation problems by utilising entanglement and nonclassicality. However, the hurdle of actually implementing the necessary quantum probe states and measurements, which vary drastically for different metrological scenarios, is usually not taken into account. We show that for a wide range of tasks in metrology, 2D cluster states (a particular family of states useful for measurement-based quantum computation) can serve as flexible resources that allow one to efficiently prepare any required state for sensing, and perform appropriate (entangled) measurements using only single qubit operations. Crucially, the overhead in the number of qubits is less than quadratic, thus preserving the quantum scaling advantage. This is ensured by using a compression to a logarithmically sized space that contains all relevant information for sensing. We specifically demonstrate how our method can be used to obtain optimal scaling for phase and frequency estimation in local estimation problems, as well as for the Bayesian equivalents with Gaussian priors of varying widths. Furthermore, we show that in the paradigmatic case of local phase estimation 1D cluster states are sufficient for optimal state preparation and measurement.

Overview of Serological Techniques for Influenza Vaccine Evaluation: Past, Present and Future

PubMed Central

Trombetta, Claudia Maria; Perini, Daniele; Mather, Stuart; Temperton, Nigel; Montomoli, Emanuele

2014-01-01

Serological techniques commonly used to quantify influenza-specific antibodies include the Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI), Single Radial Haemolysis (SRH) and Virus Neutralization (VN) assays. HI and SRH are established and reproducible techniques, whereas VN is more demanding. Every new influenza vaccine needs to fulfil the strict criteria issued by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in order to be licensed. These criteria currently apply exclusively to SRH and HI assays and refer to two different target groups—healthy adults and the elderly, but other vaccine recipient age groups have not been considered (i.e., children). The purpose of this timely review is to highlight the current scenario on correlates of protection concerning influenza vaccines and underline the need to revise the criteria and assays currently in use. In addition to SRH and HI assays, the technical advantages provided by other techniques such as the VN assay, pseudotype-based neutralization assay, neuraminidase and cell-mediated immunity assays need to be considered and regulated via EMA criteria, considering the many significant advantages that they could offer for the development of effective vaccines. PMID:26344888

Hydrogel Based Biosensors for In Vitro Diagnostics of Biochemicals, Proteins, and Genes.

PubMed

Jung, Il Young; Kim, Ji Su; Choi, Bo Ram; Lee, Kyuri; Lee, Hyukjin

2017-06-01

Hydrogel-based biosensors have drawn considerable attention due to their various advantages over conventional detection systems. Recent studies have shown that hydrogel biosensors can be excellent alternative systems to detect a wide range of biomolecules, including small biochemicals, pathogenic proteins, and disease specific genes. Due to the excellent physical properties of hydrogels such as the high water content and stimuli-responsive behavior of cross-linked network structures, this system can offer substantial improvement for the design of novel detection systems for various diagnostic applications. The other main advantage of hydrogels is the role of biomimetic three-dimensional (3D) matrix immobilizing enzymes and aptamers within the detection systems, which enhances their stability. This provides ideal reaction conditions for enzymes and aptamers to interact with substrates within the aqueous environment of the hydrogel. In this review, we have highlighted various novel detection approaches utilizing the outstanding properties of the hydrogel. This review summarizes the recent progress of hydrogel-based biosensors and discusses their future perspectives and clinical limitations to overcome. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Scientific Library Offers New Training Options | Poster

Cancer.gov

The Scientific Library is expanding its current training opportunities by offering webinars, allowing employees to take advantage of trainings from the comfort of their own offices. Due to the nature of their work, some employees find it inconvenient to attend in-person training classes; others simply prefer to use their own computers. The Scientific Library has been

Back to the Agora: Workable Solutions for Small Urban School Facilities. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lawrence, Barbara Kent

The ancient Athenian "agora" functioned as a marketplace for ideas and commerce and offered an ideal place for teaching and learning. This digest suggests adapting such a model to modern needs and describes successful small schools that have done so while reducing costs. Research shows that small schools offer many advantages for…

Lost in a Giant Database: The Potentials and Pitfalls of Secondary Analysis for Deaf Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kluwin, T. N.; Morris, C. S.

2006-01-01

Secondary research or archival research is the analysis of data collected by another person or agency. It offers several advantages, including reduced cost, a less time-consuming research process, and access to larger populations and thus greater generalizability. At the same time, it offers several limitations, including the fact that the…

Online Teaching: Navigating Its Advantages, Disadvantages and Best Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Asfour, Ahmed

2012-01-01

Many tribal colleges are already offering distance learning. With increased Internet use, it's likely that even more will offer online courses to their tribal members in order to reach a larger student pool. Online education can reach students who care for their immediate and extended families and who have to work. It is also appealing to students…

Student Loans Driving You Crazy? A Borrower's Guide to Direct Consolidation Loans.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Office of Federal Student Aid (ED), Washington, DC.

This booklet describes the Direct Consolidation Loan program students can use to combine one or more student loans into a new loan. Things to consider before seeking a consolidation loan are outlined. Direct consolidation loans offer a number of advantages; they are free, result in one lender and one monthly payment, and offer flexible repayment…

Online Doctoral Writing Groups: Do Facilitators or Communication Modes Make a Difference?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kozar, Olga; Lum, Juliet F.

2015-01-01

Pursuing doctoral study away from one's institution may have logistical advantages but many off-campus doctoral students face challenges in accessing the sorts of training and collegial support offered to their on-campus counterparts. To enhance and maintain the quality of education offered to off-campus and distance PhD candidates, higher…

75 FR 71189 - Medicare Program; Proposed Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-22

... offered in a service area by identifying for non-renewal plans with sustained low enrollment. In our April... seeking to expand their service areas may continue to offer DE SNPs through the 2012 contract. For... Part II Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 42 CFR...

Aspen-triticale alleycropping system: effects of landscape position and fertilizer rate

Treesearch

W.L. Headlee; R.B. Hall; R.S. Jr. Zalesny

2010-01-01

Short-rotation woody crops offer several key advantages over other potential bioenergy feedstocks, particularly with regard to nutrient inputs and biomass storage. However, a key disadvantage is a lack of income for the grower early in the rotation. Alleycropping offers the opportunity to grow annual crops for income while the trees become established.

The Grantwriter's Internet Companion: A Resource for Educators and Others Seeking Grants and Funding.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Susan

This book offers a review of Web sites useful to educational grant writers. Chapter 1, "The Internet Advantage," examines the benefits that the Internet offers grant writers. These benefits include greater accessibility and savings in cost and time. Chapter 2, "Learning To Look: The World of Search Engines," examines strategies for effective use…

Multibrid technology - a significant step to multi-megawatt wind turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegfriedsen, S.; Böhmeke, G.

1998-12-01

To fulfil the significant economic potential for offshore wind energy, it is essential that the largest possible installations must be allowed to come into use. Infrastructure investments for foundations and energy transport are only slightly dependent on the size of the installation, so these costs become proportionally smaller as the installed power output increases. This article puts forward a technologically novel type of development for a drive train design, specifically introduced for a 5 MW installation. The concept is especially suited for offshore application and the components are designed for this purpose. The usual way of modifying onshore plants partially and using them in the sea has been left with the present proposals. The design comprises a single-stage planetary gear, into which the rotor bearing is integrated, and a generator rotating at slow speed. Both components are assembled into a compact unit and are characterized by low wear and complete enclosure. New solutions are also proposed for the cooling of the machinery and the yaw system, offering particular advantages in offshore application. The advantages of the new technology are brought out from system comparisons with both a conventional plant configuration with a multi-stage gear and a high-speed generator, and also a combination with a direct drive generator in the 1·5 MW class. A particular design solution, worked through for a 5 MW installation, is presented and described in detail. At 31 kg kW-1, the specific tower head mass achieves a value that has not previously been realized in this power output class. As a result of the advantages that are brought together by this technology, both investment and operating costs are lowered, particularly for offshore applications. Implementation of this technology can thus provide a further stimulus for progress in wind energy utilization. Copyright

Fiber optics for propulsion control systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baumbick, R. J.

1985-01-01

In aircraft systems with digital controls, fiberoptics has advantages over wire systems because of its inherent immunity to electromagnetic noise (EMI) and electromagnetic pulses (EMP). It also offers a weight benefit when metallic conductors are replaced by optical fibers. To take full advantage of the benefits of optical waveguides, passive optical sensors are also being developed to eliminate the need for electrical power to the sensor. Fiberoptics may also be used for controlling actuators on engine and airframe. In this application, the optical fibers, connectors, etc. will be subjected to high temperature and vibrations. This paper discussed the use of fiberoptics in aircraft propulsion systems together with the optical sensors and optically controlled actuators being developed to take full advantage of the benefits which fiberoptics offers. The requirements for sensors and actuators in advanced propulsion systems are identified. The benefits of using fiberoptics in place of conventional wire systems are discussed as well as the environmental conditions under which the optical components must operate.

Fiberoptics for propulsion control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baumbick, R. J.

1984-01-01

In aircraft systems with digital controls, fiberoptics has advantages over wire systems because of its inherent immunity to electromagnetic noise (EMI) and electromagnetic pulses (EMP). It also offers a weight benefit when metallic conductors are replaced by optical fibers. To take full advantage of the benefits of optical waveguides, passive optical sensors are also being developed to eliminate the need for electrical power to the sensor. Fiberoptics may also be used for controlling actuators on engine and airframe. In this application, the optical fibers, connectors, etc. will be subjected to high temperature and vibrations. This paper discussed the use of fiberoptics in aircraft propulsion systems together with the optical sensors and optically controlled actuators being developed to take full advantage of the benefits which fiberoptics offers. The requirements for sensors and actuators in advanced propulsion systems are identified. The benefits of using fiberoptics in place of conventional wire systems are discussed as well as the environmental conditions under which the optical components must operate.

Scientific Library Offers New Training Options | Poster

Cancer.gov

The Scientific Library is expanding its current training opportunities by offering webinars, allowing employees to take advantage of trainings from the comfort of their own offices. Due to the nature of their work, some employees find it inconvenient to attend in-person training classes; others simply prefer to use their own computers. The Scientific Library has been experimenting with webinar sessions since 2016 and expanded the service in 2017. Now, due to the popularity of webinars, it plans to offer even more webinar training sessions.

Direct fluorescent-dye labeling of α-tubulin in mammalian cells for live cell and superresolution imaging.

PubMed

Schvartz, Tomer; Aloush, Noa; Goliand, Inna; Segal, Inbar; Nachmias, Dikla; Arbely, Eyal; Elia, Natalie

2017-10-15

Genetic code expansion and bioorthogonal labeling provide for the first time a way for direct, site-specific labeling of proteins with fluorescent-dyes in live cells. Although the small size and superb photophysical parameters of fluorescent-dyes offer unique advantages for high-resolution microscopy, this approach has yet to be embraced as a tool in live cell imaging. Here we evaluated the feasibility of this approach by applying it for α-tubulin labeling. After a series of calibrations, we site-specifically labeled α-tubulin with silicon rhodamine (SiR) in live mammalian cells in an efficient and robust manner. SiR-labeled tubulin successfully incorporated into endogenous microtubules at high density, enabling video recording of microtubule dynamics in interphase and mitotic cells. Applying this labeling approach to structured illumination microscopy resulted in an increase in resolution, highlighting the advantages in using a smaller, brighter tag. Therefore, using our optimized assay, genetic code expansion provides an attractive tool for labeling proteins with a minimal, bright tag in quantitative high-resolution imaging. © 2017 Schvartz et al. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Antigen-capture blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on a baculovirus recombinant antigen to differentiate Transmissible gastroenteritis virus from Porcine respiratory coronavirus antibodies.

PubMed

López, Lissett; Venteo, Angel; García, Marga; Camuñas, Ana; Ranz, Ana; García, Julia; Sarraseca, Javier; Anaya, Carmen; Rueda, Paloma

2009-09-01

A new commercially available antigen-capture, blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (antigen-capture b-ELISA), based on baculovirus truncated-S recombinant protein of Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and 3 specific monoclonal antibodies, was developed and evaluated by examining a panel of 453 positive Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCoV), 31 positive TGEV, and 126 negative field sera by using another commercially available differential coronavirus b-ELISA as the reference technique to differentiate TGEV- from PRCoV-induced antibodies. The recombinant S protein-based ELISA appeared to be 100% sensitive for TGEV and PRCoV detection and highly specific for TGEV and PRCoV detection (100% and 92.06%, respectively), when qualitative results (positive or negative) were compared with those of the reference technique. In variability experiments, the ELISA gave consistent results when the same serum was evaluated on different wells and different plates. These results indicated that truncated recombinant S protein is a suitable alternative to the complete virus as antigen in ELISA assays. The use of recombinant S protein as antigen offers great advantages because it is an easy-to-produce, easy-to-standardize, noninfectious antigen that does not require further purification or concentration. Those advantages represent an important improvement for antigen preparation, in comparison with other assays in which an inactivated virus from mammalian cell cultures is used.

Quantum communication complexity advantage implies violation of a Bell inequality

PubMed Central

Buhrman, Harry; Czekaj, Łukasz; Grudka, Andrzej; Horodecki, Michał; Horodecki, Paweł; Markiewicz, Marcin; Speelman, Florian; Strelchuk, Sergii

2016-01-01

We obtain a general connection between a large quantum advantage in communication complexity and Bell nonlocality. We show that given any protocol offering a sufficiently large quantum advantage in communication complexity, there exists a way of obtaining measurement statistics that violate some Bell inequality. Our main tool is port-based teleportation. If the gap between quantum and classical communication complexity can grow arbitrarily large, the ratio of the quantum value to the classical value of the Bell quantity becomes unbounded with the increase in the number of inputs and outputs. PMID:26957600

A practical guide for performing arthrography under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance.

PubMed

Lungu, Eugen; Moser, Thomas P

2015-12-01

We propose a practical approach for performing arthrography with fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance. Different approaches to the principal joints of the upper limb (shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers), lower limb (hip, knee, ankle and foot) as well as the facet joints of the spine are discussed and illustrated with numerous drawings. Whenever possible, we emphasise the concept of targeting articular recesses, which offers many advantages over traditional techniques aiming at the joint space. • Arthrography remains a foremost technique in musculoskeletal radiology • Most joints can be successfully accessed by targeting the articular recess • Targeting the recess offers several advantages over traditional approaches • Ultrasound-guidance is now favoured over fluoroscopy and targeting the recess is equally applicable.

Near-Term Laser Launch Capability: The Heat Exchanger Thruster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kare, Jordin T.

2003-05-01

The heat exchanger (HX) thruster concept uses a lightweight (up to 1 MW/kg) flat-plate heat exchanger to couple laser energy into flowing hydrogen. Hot gas is exhausted via a conventional nozzle to generate thrust. The HX thruster has several advantages over ablative thrusters, including high efficiency, design flexibility, and operation with any type of laser. Operating the heat exchanger at a modest exhaust temperature, nominally 1000 C, allows it to be fabricated cheaply, while providing sufficient specific impulse (~600 seconds) for a single-stage vehicle to reach orbit with a useful payload; a nominal vehicle design is described. The HX thruster is also comparatively easy to develop and test, and offers an extremely promising route to near-term demonstration of laser launch.

Intelligent fault-tolerant controllers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, Chien Y.

1987-01-01

A system with fault tolerant controls is one that can detect, isolate, and estimate failures and perform necessary control reconfiguration based on this new information. Artificial intelligence (AI) is concerned with semantic processing, and it has evolved to include the topics of expert systems and machine learning. This research represents an attempt to apply AI to fault tolerant controls, hence, the name intelligent fault tolerant control (IFTC). A generic solution to the problem is sought, providing a system based on logic in addition to analytical tools, and offering machine learning capabilities. The advantages are that redundant system specific algorithms are no longer needed, that reasonableness is used to quickly choose the correct control strategy, and that the system can adapt to new situations by learning about its effects on system dynamics.

Novel engineered compound semiconductor heterostructures for advanced electronics applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stillman, Gregory E.; Holonyak, Nick, Jr.; Coleman, James J.

1992-06-01

To provide the technology base that will enable SDIO capitalization on the performance advantages offered through novel engineered multiple-lavered compound semiconductor structures, this project has focussed on three specific areas: (1) carbon doping of AlGaAs/GaAs and InP/InGaAs materials for reliable high frequency heterojunction bipolar transistors; (2) impurity induced layer disordering and the environmental degradation of AlxGal-xAs-GaAs quantum-well heterostructures and the native oxide stabilization of AlxGal-xAs-GaAs quantum well heterostructure lasers; and (3) non-planar and strained-layer quantum well heterostructure lasers and laser arrays. The accomplishments in this three year research are reported in fifty-six publications and the abstracts included in this report.

Gradient polymer network liquid crystal with a large refractive index change.

PubMed

Ren, Hongwen; Xu, Su; Wu, Shin-Tson

2012-11-19

A simple approach for preparing gradient polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) with a large refractive index change is demonstrated. To control the effective refractive index at a given cell position, we applied a voltage to a homogeneous cell containing LC/diacrylate monomer mixture to generate the desired tilt angle and then stabilize the LC orientation with UV-induced polymer network. By varying the applied voltage along with the cells' movement, a PNLC with a gradient refractive index distribution is obtained. In comparison with conventional approaches using patterned photomask or electrode, our method offers following advantages: large refractive index change, freedom to design specific index profile, and large panel capability. Potential applications include tunable-focus lenses, prism gratings, phase modulators, and other adaptive photonic devices.

Space Station Mission Planning System (MPS) development study. Volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klus, W. J.

1987-01-01

The process and existing software used for Spacelab payload mission planning were studied. A complete baseline definition of the Spacelab payload mission planning process was established, along with a definition of existing software capabilities for potential extrapolation to the Space Station. This information was used as a basis for defining system requirements to support Space Station mission planning. The Space Station mission planning concept was reviewed for the purpose of identifying areas where artificial intelligence concepts might offer substantially improved capability. Three specific artificial intelligence concepts were to be investigated for applicability: natural language interfaces; expert systems; and automatic programming. The advantages and disadvantages of interfacing an artificial intelligence language with existing FORTRAN programs or of converting totally to a new programming language were identified.

Controlling ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors with light: principles and potential.

PubMed

Reiner, Andreas; Levitz, Joshua; Isacoff, Ehud Y

2015-02-01

Light offers unique advantages for studying and manipulating biomolecules and the cellular processes that they control. Optical control of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors has garnered significant interest, since these receptors are central to signaling at neuronal synapses and only optical approaches provide the spatial and temporal resolution required to directly probe receptor function in cells and tissue. Following the classical method of glutamate photo-uncaging, recently developed methods have added other forms of remote control, including those with high molecular specificity and genetic targeting. These tools open the door to the direct optical control of synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as the probing of native receptor function in intact neural circuits. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sputtering. [as deposition technique in mechanical engineering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spalvins, T.

1976-01-01

This paper primarily reviews the potential of using the sputtering process as a deposition technique; however, the manufacturing and sputter etching aspects are also discussed. Since sputtering is not regulated by classical thermodynamics, new multicomponent materials can be developed in any possible chemical composition. The basic mechanism for dc and rf sputtering is described. Sputter-deposition is described in terms of the unique advantageous features it offers such as versatility, momentum transfer, stoichiometry, sputter-etching, target geometry (coating complex surfaces), precise controls, flexibility, ecology, and sputtering rates. Sputtered film characteristics, such as strong adherence and coherence and film morphology, are briefly evaluated in terms of varying the sputtering parameters. Also described are some of the specific industrial areas which are turning to sputter-deposition techniques.

Cocaine and metabolite concentrations in DBS and venous blood after controlled intravenous cocaine administration

PubMed Central

Ellefsen, Kayla N; da Costa, Jose Luiz; Concheiro, Marta; Anizan, Sebastien; Barnes, Allan J; Pirard, Sandrine; Gorelick, David A; Huestis, Marilyn A

2015-01-01

Background: DBS are an increasingly common clinical matrix. Methods & results: Sensitive and specific methods for DBS and venous blood cocaine and metabolite detection by LC–HRMS and 2D GC–MS, respectively, were validated to examine correlation between concentrations following controlled intravenous cocaine administration. Linear ranges from 1 to 200 µg/l were achieved, with acceptable bias and imprecision. Authentic matched specimens’ (392 DBS, 97 venous blood) cocaine and benzoylecgonine concentrations were qualitatively similar, but DBS had much greater variability (21.4–105.9 %CV) and were lower than in blood. Conclusion: DBS offer advantages for monitoring cocaine intake; however, differences between capillary and venous blood and DBS concentration variability must be addressed. PMID:26327184

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials for Gene Delivery—A Review

DOE PAGES

Riley, Michael; Vermerris, Wilfred

2017-04-28

With the rapid development of nanotechnology in the recent decade, novel DNA and RNA delivery systems for gene therapy have become available that can be used instead of viral vectors. These non-viral vectors can be made of a variety of materials, including inorganic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, liposomes, protein and peptide-based nanoparticles, as well as nanoscale polymeric materials. They have as advantages over viral vectors a decreased immune response, and additionally offer flexibility in design, allowing them to be functionalized and targeted to specific sites in a biological system with low cytotoxicity. The focus of this review is to provide anmore » overview of novel nanotechnology-based methods to deliver DNA and small interfering RNAs into biological systems.« less

CPV cells cooling system based on submerged jet impingement: CFD modeling and experimental validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montorfano, Davide; Gaetano, Antonio; Barbato, Maurizio C.; Ambrosetti, Gianluca; Pedretti, Andrea

2014-09-01

Concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) cells offer higher efficiencies with regard to the PV ones and allow to strongly reduce the overall solar cell area. However, to operate correctly and exploit their advantages, their temperature has to be kept low and as uniform as possible and the cooling circuit pressure drops need to be limited. In this work an impingement water jet cooling system specifically designed for an industrial HCPV receiver is studied. Through the literature and by means of accurate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, the nozzle to plate distance, the number of jets and the nozzle pitch, i.e. the distance between adjacent jets, were optimized. Afterwards, extensive experimental tests were performed to validate pressure drops and cooling power simulation results.

Photocatalytic thin films coupled with polymeric microcapsules for the controlled-release of volatile agents upon solar activation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, L. F.; Marques, J.; Coutinho, P. J. G.; Parpot, P.; Tavares, C. J.

2013-06-01

This work reportson the application of solar-activated photocatalytic thin films that allow the controlled-release of volatile agents (e.g., insecticides, repellents) from the interior of adsorbedpolymericmicrocapsules. In order to standardize the tests, a quantification of the inherent controlled-release of a particular volatile agent is determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy, so that an application can be offered to a wide range of supports from various industrial sectors, such as in textiles (clothing, curtains, mosquito nets). This technology takes advantage of the established photocatalytic property of titanium dioxide (TiO2) for the use as an active surface/site to promote the controlled-release of a specific vapor (volatile agentfrom within the aforementioned microcapsules.

Feathers and fins: non-mammalian models for hair cell regeneration.

PubMed

Brignull, Heather R; Raible, David W; Stone, Jennifer S

2009-06-24

Death of mechanosensory cells in the inner ear results in two profound disabilities: hearing loss and balance disorders. Although mammals lack the capacity to regenerate hair cells, recent studies in mice and other rodents have offered valuable insight into strategies for stimulating hair cell regeneration in mammals. Investigations of model organisms that retain the ability to form new hair cells after embryogenesis, such as fish and birds, are equally important and have provided clues as to the cellular and molecular mechanisms that may block hair cell regeneration in mammals. Here, we summarize studies on hair cell regeneration in the chicken and the zebrafish, discuss specific advantages of each model, and propose future directions for the use of non-mammalian models in understanding hair cell regeneration.

How color enhances visual memory for natural scenes.

PubMed

Spence, Ian; Wong, Patrick; Rusan, Maria; Rastegar, Naghmeh

2006-01-01

We offer a framework for understanding how color operates to improve visual memory for images of the natural environment, and we present an extensive data set that quantifies the contribution of color in the encoding and recognition phases. Using a continuous recognition task with colored and monochrome gray-scale images of natural scenes at short exposure durations, we found that color enhances recognition memory by conferring an advantage during encoding and by strengthening the encoding-specificity effect. Furthermore, because the pattern of performance was similar at all exposure durations, and because form and color are processed in different areas of cortex, the results imply that color must be bound as an integral part of the representation at the earliest stages of processing.

Anisotropic thermal conductivity of thin polycrystalline oxide samples

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

Tiwari, A., E-mail: abhishektiwariiitr@gmail.com; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800; Boussois, K.

2013-11-15

This paper reports about the development of a modified laser-flash technique and relation to measure the in-plane thermal diffusivity of thin polycrystalline oxide samples. Thermal conductivity is then calculated with the product of diffusivity, specific heat and density. Design and operating features for evaluating in-plane thermal conductivities are described. The technique is advantageous as thin samples are not glued together to measure in-plane thermal conductivities like earlier methods reported in literature. The approach was employed to study anisotropic thermal conductivity in alumina sheet, textured kaolin ceramics and montmorillonite. Since it is rare to find in-plane thermal conductivity values for suchmore » anisotropic thin samples in literature, this technique offers a useful variant to existing techniques.« less

The Role of Stent-Grafts in the Management of Aortic Trauma

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

Rousseau, Herve, E-mail: rousseau.h@chu-toulouse.fr; Elaassar, Omar; Marcheix, Bertrand

Stent graft has resulted in major advances in the treatment of trauma patients with blunt traumatic aortic injury (TAI) and has become the preferred method of treatment at many trauma centers. In this review, we provide an overview of the place of stent grafts for the management of this disease. As a whole, TEVAR repair of TAIs offers a survival advantage and reduction in major morbidity, including paraplegia, compared with open surgery. However, endovascular procedures in trauma require a sophisticated multidisciplinary and experienced team approach. More research and development of TAI-specific endograft devices is needed and large, multicenter studies willmore » help to clarify the role of TEVAR compared with open repair of TAI.« less

[E-Learning--an important contribution to general medical training and continuing education?].

PubMed

Ruf, D; Berner, M M; Kriston, L; Härter, M

2008-09-01

There is increasing activity in the development of e-learning modules for general medical training and continuing education. One of the central advantages of e-learning is flexibility regarding time and place of its use. The quality of the available e-learning opportunities varies quite considerably. For users it is often not easy to assess the quality of e-learning modules or to find offers of high quality. This could be a reason for the fact that despite the huge number of e-learning modules still only few students and physicians are using them. This is although e-learning has proven to be as effective as and even more efficient than learning in the classroom or with paper-based materials. This article summarizes the different models of e-learning, how and where to find offers of high quality, advantages of using e-learning, and the effectiveness and efficiency of such offers. In addition problems of e-learning and possibilities to overcome these problems are shown.

The use of current source density as electrophysiological correlates in neuropsychiatric disorders: a review of human studies

PubMed Central

Kamarajan, Chella; Pandey, Ashwini K.; Chorlian, David B.; Porjesz, Bernice

2014-01-01

The use of current source density (CSD), the Laplacian of the scalp surface voltage, to map the electrical activity of the brain is a powerful method in studies of cognitive and affective phenomena. During the last few decades, mapping of CSD has been successfully applied to characterize several neuropsychiatric conditions such as alcoholism, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, childhood/developmental disorders, and neurological conditions (i.e., epilepsy and brain lesions) using electrophysiological data from resting state and during cognitive performance. Use of CSD and Laplacian measures has proven effective in elucidating topographic and activation differences between groups: i) patients with a specific diagnosis vs. healthy controls, ii) subjects at high risk for a specific diagnosis vs. low risk or normal controls, and iii) patients with specific symptom(s) vs. patients without these symptom(s). The present review outlines and summarizes the studies that have employed CSD measures in investigating several neuropsychiatric conditions. The advantages and potential of CSD-based methods in clinical and research applications along with some of the limitations inherent in the CSD-based methods are discussed in the review, as well as future directions to expand the implementation of CSD to other potential clinical applications. As CSD methods have proved to be more advantageous than using scalp potential data to understand topographic and source activations, its clinical applications offer promising potential, not only for a better understanding of a range of psychiatric conditions, but also for a variety of focal neurological disorders, including epilepsy and other conditions involving brain lesions and surgical interventions. PMID:25448264

The Mismatch between the Unmet Need for and Supply of Occupational English Skills: An Investigation of Higher Educated Government Staff in Norway

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hellekjaer, Glenn Ole; Fairway, Tone

2015-01-01

Nordic universities are involved in a global competition against American and UK universities, whose main competitive advantage is their placement in English-speaking countries. The authors argue that Nordic universities need to do more to offset this advantage than merely offer English-Medium (EM) courses to foreign and domestic students. They…

Development of an Active Topical Skin Protectant (aTSP)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-01

therapeutic compounds was clearly needed. Euthymic hairless guinea pigs [Crl:IAF/HA(hr/hr)Br] were selected for development at the USAMRICD. Vapor HD...hairless guinea pig offered several advantages over haired guinea pigs as a cutaneous vesicant animal model. These advantages included greater...the hairless guinea pig model. Many TSP formulations were evaluated and rank ordered. The supply of hairless guinea pigs , however, was interrupted

Attitudes, Perceptions, and Behavioral Intentions of Engineering Workers toward Web 2.0 Tools in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krause, Jaclyn A.

2010-01-01

As Web 2.0 tools and technologies increase in popularity in consumer markets, enterprises are seeking ways to take advantage of the rich social knowledge exchanges that these tools offer. The problem this study addresses is that it remains unknown whether employees perceive that these tools offer value to the organization and therefore will be…

Preparing the Next American Manufacturing Workforce

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taraman, Khalil S.

2010-01-01

Manufacturing has a new face--and the future it offers is exciting. But in order to take advantage of what it offers, one needs a plan and he/she has to know how to execute it. In this article, the author discusses how the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is working to get the message out that the future of advanced manufacturing will…

Georgia on Our Minds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skophammer, Karen

2011-01-01

Oil pastels offer many advantages. They come in a large range of hues, intensities and values, and they lend themselves to blending and shading in a unique way that no other art medium offers. They can be worked and reworked from day to day by the students without the large mess and cleanup time that oil paints require. An artist whose works are a…

The Altered Schaedler Flora: Continued Applications of a Defined Murine Microbial Community

PubMed Central

Wymore Brand, Meghan; Wannemuehler, Michael J.; Phillips, Gregory J.; Proctor, Alexandra; Overstreet, Anne-Marie; Jergens, Albert E.; Orcutt, Roger P.; Fox, James G.

2015-01-01

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota forms a mutualistic relationship with the host through complex and dynamic interactions. Because of the complexity and interindividual variation of the GI microbiota, investigating how members of the microbiota interact with each other, as well as with the host, is daunting. The altered Schaedler flora (ASF) is a model community of eight microorganisms that was developed by R.P. Orcutt and has been in use since the late 1970s. The eight microorganisms composing the ASF were all derived from mice, can be cultured in vitro, and are stably passed through multiple generations (at least 15 years or more by the authors) in gnotobiotic mice continually bred in isolator facilities. With the limitations associated with conventional, mono- or biassociated, and germfree mice, use of mice colonized with a consortium of known bacteria that naturally inhabit the murine gut offers a powerful system to investigate mechanisms governing host–microbiota relationships, and how members of the GI microbiota interact with one another. The ASF community offers significant advantages to study homeostatic as well as disease-related interactions by taking advantage of a well-defined, limited community of microorganisms. For example, quantification and spatial distribution of individual members, microbial genetic manipulation, genomic-scale analysis, and identification of microorganism-specific host immune responses are all achievable using the ASF model. This review compiles highlights associated with the 37-year history of the ASF, including descriptions of its continued use in biomedical research to elucidate the complexities of host-microbiome interactions in health and disease. PMID:26323627

Evidence-based value of subcutaneous surgical wound drainage: the largest systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Kosins, Aaron M; Scholz, Thomas; Cetinkaya, Mine; Evans, Gregory R D

2013-08-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the evidenced-based value of prophylactic drainage of subcutaneous wounds in surgery. An electronic search was performed. Articles comparing subcutaneous prophylactic drainage with no drainage were identified and classified by level of evidence. If sufficient randomized controlled trials were included, a meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model. Fifty-two randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis, and subgroups were determined by specific surgical procedures or characteristics (cesarean delivery, abdominal wound, breast reduction, breast biopsy, femoral wound, axillary lymph node dissection, hip and knee arthroplasty, obesity, and clean-contaminated wound). Studies were compared for the following endpoints: hematoma, wound healing issues, seroma, abscess, and infection. Fifty-two studies with a total of 6930 operations were identified as suitable for this analysis. There were 3495 operations in the drain group and 3435 in the no-drain group. Prophylactic subcutaneous drainage offered a statistically significant advantage only for (1) prevention of hematomas in breast biopsy procedures and (2) prevention of seromas in axillary node dissections. In all other procedures studied, drainage did not offer an advantage. Many surgical operations can be performed safely without prophylactic drainage. Surgeons can consider omitting drains after cesarean section, breast reduction, abdominal wounds, femoral wounds, and hip and knee joint replacement. Furthermore, surgeons should consider not placing drains prophylactically in obese patients. However, drain placement following a surgical procedure is the surgeon's choice and can be based on multiple factors beyond the type of procedure being performed or the patient's body habitus. Therapeutic, II.

Cryogenic reactant storage for lunar base regenerative fuel cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kohout, Lisa L.

1989-01-01

There are major advantages to be gained by integrating a cryogenic reactant storage system with a hydrogen-oxygen regenerative fuel cell (RFC) to provide on-site electrical power during the lunar night. Although applicable to any power system using hydrogen-oxygen RFC's for energy storage, cryogenic reactant storage offers a significant benefit whenever the sun/shade cycle and energy storage period approach hundreds of hours. For solar power installations on the moon, cryogenic reactant storage reduces overall specific mass and meteoroid vulnerability of the system. In addition, it offers synergistic benefits to on-site users, such as availability of primary fuel cell reactants for surface rover vehicles and cryogenic propellants for OTV's. The integration involves processing and storing the RFC reactant streams as cryogenic liquids rather than pressurized gases, so that reactant containment (tankage per unit mass of reactants) can be greatly reduced. Hydrogen-oxygen alkaline RFC's, GaAs photovoltaic (PV) arrays, and space cryogenic processing/refrigeration technologies are assumed to be available for the conceptual system design. Advantages are demonstrated by comparing the characteristics of two power system concepts: a conventional lunar surface PV/RFC power system using pressurized gas storage in SOA filament wound pressure vessels and, that same system with gas liquefaction and storage replacing the pressurized storage. Comparisons are made at 20 and 250 kWe. Although cryogenic storage adds a processing plant (drying and liquefaction) to the system plus 30 percent more solar array to provide processing power, the approximate order of magnitude reduction in tankage mass, confirmed by this analysis, results in a reduction in overall total system mass of approximately 50 percent.

A review of methods to estimate cause-specific mortality in presence of competing risks

USGS Publications Warehouse

Heisey, Dennis M.; Patterson, Brent R.

2006-01-01

Estimating cause-specific mortality is often of central importance for understanding the dynamics of wildlife populations. Despite such importance, methodology for estimating and analyzing cause-specific mortality has received little attention in wildlife ecology during the past 20 years. The issue of analyzing cause-specific, mutually exclusive events in time is not unique to wildlife. In fact, this general problem has received substantial attention in human biomedical applications within the context of biostatistical survival analysis. Here, we consider cause-specific mortality from a modern biostatistical perspective. This requires carefully defining what we mean by cause-specific mortality and then providing an appropriate hazard-based representation as a competing risks problem. This leads to the general solution of cause-specific mortality as the cumulative incidence function (CIF). We describe the appropriate generalization of the fully nonparametric staggered-entry Kaplan–Meier survival estimator to cause-specific mortality via the nonparametric CIF estimator (NPCIFE), which in many situations offers an attractive alternative to the Heisey–Fuller estimator. An advantage of the NPCIFE is that it lends itself readily to risk factors analysis with standard software for Cox proportional hazards model. The competing risks–based approach also clarifies issues regarding another intuitive but erroneous "cause-specific mortality" estimator based on the Kaplan–Meier survival estimator and commonly seen in the life sciences literature.

Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy for explosives detection through difficult (opaque) containers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maskall, Guy T.; Bonthron, Stuart; Crawford, David

2013-10-01

With the continuing threat to aviation security from homemade explosive devices, the restrictions on taking a volume of liquid greater than 100 ml onto an aircraft remain in place. From January 2014, these restrictions will gradually be reduced via a phased implementation of technological screening of Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGs). Raman spectroscopy offers a highly sensitive, and specific, technique for the detection and identification of chemicals. Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS), in particular, offers significant advantages over conventional Raman spectroscopy for detecting and recognizing contents within optically challenging (Raman active) containers. Containers vary enormously in their composition; glass type, plastic type, thickness, reflectance, and pigmentation are all variable and cause an infinite range of absorbances, fluorescence backgrounds, Rayleigh backscattered laser light, and container Raman bands. In this paper we show that the data processing chain for Cobalt Light Systems' INSIGHT100 bottlescanner is robust to such variability. We discuss issues of model selection for the detection stage and demonstrate an overall detection rate across a wide range of threats and containers of 97% with an associated false alarm rate of 0.1% or lower.

New Approaches to Coding Information using Inverse Scattering Transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frumin, L. L.; Gelash, A. A.; Turitsyn, S. K.

2017-06-01

Remarkable mathematical properties of the integrable nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) can offer advanced solutions for the mitigation of nonlinear signal distortions in optical fiber links. Fundamental optical soliton, continuous, and discrete eigenvalues of the nonlinear spectrum have already been considered for the transmission of information in fiber-optic channels. Here, we propose to apply signal modulation to the kernel of the Gelfand-Levitan-Marchenko equations that offers the advantage of a relatively simple decoder design. First, we describe an approach based on exploiting the general N -soliton solution of the NLSE for simultaneous coding of N symbols involving 4 ×N coding parameters. As a specific elegant subclass of the general schemes, we introduce a soliton orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (SOFDM) method. This method is based on the choice of identical imaginary parts of the N -soliton solution eigenvalues, corresponding to equidistant soliton frequencies, making it similar to the conventional OFDM scheme, thus, allowing for the use of the efficient fast Fourier transform algorithm to recover the data. Then, we demonstrate how to use this new approach to control signal parameters in the case of the continuous spectrum.

Chromatic-aberration-corrected diffractive lenses for ultra-broadband focusing

DOE PAGES

Wang, Peng; Mohammad, Nabil; Menon, Rajesh

2016-02-12

We exploit the inherent dispersion in diffractive optics to demonstrate planar chromatic-aberration-corrected lenses. Specifically, we designed, fabricated and characterized cylindrical diffractive lenses that efficiently focus the entire visible band (450 nm to 700 nm) onto a single line. These devices are essentially pixelated, multi-level microstructures. Experiments confirm an average optical efficiency of 25% for a three-wavelength apochromatic lens whose chromatic focus shift is only 1.3 μm and 25 μm in the lateral and axial directions, respectively. Super-achromatic performance over the continuous visible band is also demonstrated with averaged lateral and axial focus shifts of only 1.65 μm and 73.6 μm,more » respectively. These lenses are easy to fabricate using single-step grayscale lithography and can be inexpensively replicated. Furthermore, these devices are thin (<3 μm), error tolerant, has low aspect ratio (<1:1) and offer polarization-insensitive focusing, all significant advantages compared to alternatives that rely on metasurfaces. Lastly, our design methodology offers high design flexibility in numerical aperture and focal length, and is readily extended to 2D.« less

Retrodeformation and muscular reconstruction of ornithomimosaurian dinosaur crania

PubMed Central

Rayfield, Emily J.

2015-01-01

Ornithomimosaur dinosaurs evolved lightweight, edentulous skulls that possessed keratinous rhamphothecae. Understanding the anatomy of these taxa allows for a greater understanding of “ostrich-mimic” dinosaurs and character change during theropod dinosaur evolution. However, taphonomic processes during fossilisation often distort fossil remains. Retrodeformation offers a means by which to recover a hypothesis of the original anatomy of the specimen, and 3D scanning technologies present a way to constrain and document the retrodeformation process. Using computed tomography (CT) scan data, specimen specific retrodeformations were performed on three-dimensionally preserved but taphonomically distorted skulls of the deinocheirid Garudimimus brevipes Barsbold, 1981 and the ornithomimids Struthiomimus altus Lambe, 1902 and Ornithomimus edmontonicus Sternberg, 1933. This allowed for a reconstruction of the adductor musculature, which was then mapped onto the crania, from which muscle mechanical advantage and bite forces were calculated pre- and post-retrodeformation. The extent of the rhamphotheca was varied in each taxon to represent morphologies found within modern Aves. Well constrained retrodeformation allows for increased confidence in anatomical and functional analysis of fossil specimens and offers an opportunity to more fully understand the soft tissue anatomy of extinct taxa. PMID:26213655

GenderMedDB: an interactive database of sex and gender-specific medical literature.

PubMed

Oertelt-Prigione, Sabine; Gohlke, Björn-Oliver; Dunkel, Mathias; Preissner, Robert; Regitz-Zagrosek, Vera

2014-01-01

Searches for sex and gender-specific publications are complicated by the absence of a specific algorithm within search engines and by the lack of adequate archives to collect the retrieved results. We previously addressed this issue by initiating the first systematic archive of medical literature containing sex and/or gender-specific analyses. This initial collection has now been greatly enlarged and re-organized as a free user-friendly database with multiple functions: GenderMedDB (http://gendermeddb.charite.de). GenderMedDB retrieves the included publications from the PubMed database. Manuscripts containing sex and/or gender-specific analysis are continuously screened and the relevant findings organized systematically into disciplines and diseases. Publications are furthermore classified by research type, subject and participant numbers. More than 11,000 abstracts are currently included in the database, after screening more than 40,000 publications. The main functions of the database include searches by publication data or content analysis based on pre-defined classifications. In addition, registrants are enabled to upload relevant publications, access descriptive publication statistics and interact in an open user forum. Overall, GenderMedDB offers the advantages of a discipline-specific search engine as well as the functions of a participative tool for the gender medicine community.

REVIEW ARTICLE: Current trends and future requirements for the mass spectrometric investigation of microbial, mammalian and plant metabolomes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunn, Warwick B.

2008-03-01

The functional levels of biological cells or organisms can be separated into the genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome. Of these the metabolome offers specific advantages to the investigation of the phenotype of biological systems. The investigation of the metabolome (metabolomics) has only recently appeared as a mainstream scientific discipline and is currently developing rapidly for the study of microbial, plant and mammalian metabolomes. The metabolome pipeline or workflow encompasses the processes of sample collection and preparation, collection of analytical data, raw data pre-processing, data analysis and data storage. Of these processes the collection of analytical data will be discussed in this review with specific interest shown in the application of mass spectrometry in the metabolomics pipeline. The current developments in mass spectrometry platforms (GC-MS, LC-MS, DIMS and imaging MS) and applications of specific interest will be highlighted. The current limitations of these platforms and applications will be discussed with areas requiring further development also highlighted. These include the detectable coverage of the metabolome, the identification of metabolites and the process of converting raw data to biological knowledge.

Development of a sensitive and specific indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on a baculovirus recombinant antigen for detection of specific antibodies against Ehrlichia canis.

PubMed

López, Lissett; Venteo, Angel; Aguirre, Enara; García, Marga; Rodríguez, Majosé; Amusátegui, Inmaculada; Tesouro, Miguel A; Vela, Carmen; Sainz, Angel; Rueda, Paloma

2007-11-01

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on baculovirus recombinant P30 protein of Ehrlichia canis and the 1BH4 anticanine IgG monoclonal antibody was developed and evaluated by examining a panel of 98 positive and 157 negative sera using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test as the reference technique. The P30-based ELISA appeared to be sensitive and specific (77.55% and 95.54%, respectively) when qualitative results (positive/negative) were compared with those of the IFA test; the coefficient of correlation (R) between the 2 tests was 0.833. Furthermore, it was possible to establish a mathematical formula for use in comparing the results of both techniques. These results indicate that recombinant P30 antigen-based ELISA is a suitable alternative of the IFA test for simple, consistent, and rapid serodiagnosis of canine ehrlichiosis. Moreover, the use of this recombinant protein as antigen offers a great advantage for antigen preparation in comparison with other techniques in which the whole E. canis organism is used as antigen.

Cognitive representations and cognitive processing of team-specific tactics in soccer.

PubMed

Lex, Heiko; Essig, Kai; Knoblauch, Andreas; Schack, Thomas

2015-01-01

Two core elements for the coordination of different actions in sport are tactical information and knowledge about tactical situations. The current study describes two experiments to learn about the memory structure and the cognitive processing of tactical information. Experiment 1 investigated the storage and structuring of team-specific tactics in humans' long-term memory with regard to different expertise levels. Experiment 2 investigated tactical decision-making skills and the corresponding gaze behavior, in presenting participants the identical match situations in a reaction time task. The results showed that more experienced soccer players, in contrast to less experienced soccer players, possess a functionally organized cognitive representation of team-specific tactics in soccer. Moreover, the more experienced soccer players reacted faster in tactical decisions, because they needed less fixations of similar duration as compared to less experienced soccer players. Combined, these experiments offer evidence that a functionally organized memory structure leads to a reaction time and a perceptual advantage in tactical decision-making in soccer. The discussion emphasizes theoretical and applied implications of the current results of the study.

New drugs for pain management in advanced cancer patients.

PubMed

Mercadante, Sebastiano

2017-04-01

Advanced cancer patients represent a frail population, often requiring aggressive pain management, particularly in the late stage of disease, when untreated pain is one the most important causes of suffering. Areas covered: In the last decade, a series of new analgesics have been introduced in the market to offer additional options amongst existent drugs. The characteristics of these drugs, their efficacy and tolerability are examined on the basis of existent studies. Expert opinion: Although new analgesic preparations have been developed in recent years, no specific drug has provided a better analgesic performance in comparison with others. Some technologies have been developed to increase the safety or decrease the opioid-related adverse effects, with some molecules providing extra-opioid analgesia. However, existing studies did not present relevant advantages over traditional opioids. The new formulations developed to provide a rapid and non-invasive analgesia for breakthrough pain have really changed the approach to this phenomenon, characterized by a specific temporal pattern requiring a short onset, and duration of the analgesic effect. The availability of new drugs, indeed, may enlarge the possibilities of individualizing treatment, according to specific clinical needs and individual response.

Cognitive Representations and Cognitive Processing of Team-Specific Tactics in Soccer

PubMed Central

Lex, Heiko; Essig, Kai; Knoblauch, Andreas; Schack, Thomas

2015-01-01

Two core elements for the coordination of different actions in sport are tactical information and knowledge about tactical situations. The current study describes two experiments to learn about the memory structure and the cognitive processing of tactical information. Experiment 1 investigated the storage and structuring of team-specific tactics in humans’ long-term memory with regard to different expertise levels. Experiment 2 investigated tactical decision-making skills and the corresponding gaze behavior, in presenting participants the identical match situations in a reaction time task. The results showed that more experienced soccer players, in contrast to less experienced soccer players, possess a functionally organized cognitive representation of team-specific tactics in soccer. Moreover, the more experienced soccer players reacted faster in tactical decisions, because they needed less fixations of similar duration as compared to less experienced soccer players. Combined, these experiments offer evidence that a functionally organized memory structure leads to a reaction time and a perceptual advantage in tactical decision-making in soccer. The discussion emphasizes theoretical and applied implications of the current results of the study. PMID:25714486

Developing On-line Exams.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hartsell, Taralynn S.; Yuen, Steve Chi-Yin

2003-01-01

Discusses advantages and limitations of online exams, describes available software tools for creating computer-based tests (CGI, JavaScript, commercial programs, course authoring tools), and offers suggestions for implementation. (JOW)

Is bilingualism losing its advantage? A bibliometric approach

PubMed Central

López-Penadés, Raúl; Buil-Legaz, Lucía; Aguilar-Mediavilla, Eva; Adrover-Roig, Daniel

2017-01-01

This study uses several bibliometric indices to explore the temporal course of publication trends regarding the bilingual advantage in executive control over a ten-year window. These indices include the number of published papers, numbers of citations, and the journal impact factor. According to the information available in their abstracts, studies were classified into one of four categories: supporting, ambiguous towards, not mentioning, or challenging the bilingual advantage. Results show that the number of papers challenging the bilingual advantage increased notably in 2014 and 2015. Both the average impact factor and the accumulated citations as of June 2016 were equivalent between categories. However, of the studies published in 2014, those that challenge the bilingual advantage accumulated more citations in June 2016 than those supporting it. Our findings offer evidence-based bibliometric information about the current state of the literature and suggest a change in publication trends regarding the literature on the bilingual advantage. PMID:28426797

Negotiating for more: the multiple equivalent simultaneous offer.

PubMed

Heller, Richard E

2014-02-01

Whether a doctor, professional baseball manager, or a politician, having successful negotiation skills is a critical part of being a leader. Building upon prior journal articles on negotiation strategy, the author presents the concept of the multiple equivalent simultaneous offer (MESO). The concept of a MESO is straightforward: as opposed to making a single offer, make multiple offers with several variables. Each offer alters the different variables, such that the end result of each offer is equivalent from the perspective of the party making the offer. Research has found several advantages to the use of MESOs. For example, using MESOs, an offer was more likely to be accepted, and the counterparty was more likely to be satisfied with the negotiated deal. Additional benefits have been documented as well, underscoring why a prepared radiology business leader should understand the theory and practice of MESO. Copyright © 2014 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder in Adults: A Review of the Evidence

PubMed Central

Swartz, Holly A.; Swanson, Joshua

2015-01-01

Although pharmacotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder, medication offers only partial relief for patients. Treatment with pharmacologic interventions alone is associated with disappointingly low rates of remission, high rates of recurrence, residual symptoms, and psychosocial impairment. Bipolar-specific therapy is increasingly recommended as an essential component of illness management. This review summarizes the available data on psychotherapy for adults with bipolar disorder. We conducted a search of the literature for outcome studies published between 1995 and 2013 and identified 35 reports of 28 randomized controlled trials testing individual or group psychosocial interventions for adults with bipolar disorder. These reports include systematic trials investigating the efficacy and effectiveness of individual psychoeducation, group psychoeducation, individual cognitive-behavioral therapy, group cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, and integrated care management. The evidence demonstrates that bipolar disorder-specific psychotherapies, when added to medication for the treatment of bipolar disorder, consistently show advantages over medication alone on measures of symptom burden and risk of relapse. Whether delivered in a group or individual format, those who receive bipolar disorder-specific psychotherapy fare better than those who do not. Psychotherapeutic strategies common to most bipolar disorder-specific interventions are identified. PMID:26279641

Defining International Contracting Terms

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-09-01

compensation so that another nation or company can make a sale or export. The Coca - Cola company refused to accept offsets to break into the lucrative Soviet...Union Market. Their main competitor, Pepsi- Cola , broke into this market 15 years earlier by accepting Stolichnaya vodka as a reciprocal purchase, a... advantages over the other available alternatives (personal interviews or a telephone A-2 survey). While personal interviews offer the advantages of a high

Office-based surgery: advantages, disadvantages, and the nurse's role.

PubMed

Anello, S

2000-01-01

Office-based surgery is a growing trend in surgical services offered to many patients, however, it is not without risk. In knowing the facts about office-based surgery, nurses will be able to assist our patients in the most appropriate decisions regarding their surgical care. This article will present the indications, advantages, and limitations of office-based surgery, as well as the nurse's role in this environment.

The Export Trading Company Act of 1982 and the photovoltaics industry: An assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Enfield, S.; Laporta, C.

1983-01-01

The potential advantages of recent export promotion legislation for the U.S. photovoltaics industry were assessed. The provisions of the Export Trading Company Act of 1982 were reviewed and the export trade sector was surveyed to determine what impact the Act is haviang on export company activity. The photovoltaics industry was then studied to determine whether the Act offers particular advantages for promoting its product overseas.

Cross-Training: The Tactical View.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaeter, Margaret

1993-01-01

Discusses the advantages of and problems associated with cross-training. Looks at the issue of remuneration and offers examples of how two companies that cross-train presently pay their employees. (JOW)

Increase Productivity with Volunteers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, Sandra T.

1984-01-01

The advantages of volunteer programs including school business partnerships are described, among which are cutting costs, improving productivity, increasing student achievement, and expanding community support. Hints for successful implementation are offered. (MJL)

Advantages and challenges offered by biofunctional core-shell fiber systems for tissue engineering and drug delivery.

PubMed

Sperling, Laura E; Reis, Karina P; Pranke, Patricia; Wendorff, Joachim H

2016-08-01

Whereas highly porous scaffolds composed of electrospun nanofibers can mimick major features of the extracellular matrix in tissue engineering, they lack the ability to incorporate and release biocompounds (drugs, growth factors) safely in a controlled way. Here, electrospun core-shell fibers (core made from water and aqueous solutions of hydrophilic polymers and the shell from materials with well-defined release mechanisms) offer unique advantages in comparison with those that have helped make porous nanofibrillar scaffolds highly successful in tissue engineering. This review considers the preparation and biofunctionalization of such core-shell fibers as well as applications in various areas, including neural, vascular, cardiac, cartilage and bone tissue engineering, and touches on the topic of clinical trials. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thoracoscopic versus robotic approaches: advantages and disadvantages.

PubMed

Wei, Benjamin; D'Amico, Thomas A

2014-05-01

The overall advantages of thoracoscopy over thoracotomy in terms of patient recovery have been fairly well established. The use of robotics, however, is a newer and less proven modality in the realm of thoracic surgery. Robotics offers distinct advantages and disadvantages in comparison with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Robotic technology is now used for a variety of complex cardiac, urologic, and gynecologic procedures including mitral valve repair and microsurgical treatment of male infertility. This article addresses the potential benefits and limitations of using the robotic platform for the performance of a variety of thoracic operations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assessing the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and training needs related to infant feeding, specifically breastfeeding, of child care providers.

PubMed

Clark, Alena; Anderson, Jennifer; Adams, Elizabeth; Baker, Susan

2008-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and training needs of child care providers on infant feeding practices, specifically breastfeeding. Needs assessment surveys for child care directors and infant room teachers were developed, tested and mailed to the 277 Colorado child care centers licensed to care for infants (< or = 12 months); 1,385 surveys were mailed. A total of 267 surveys were received for an overall response rate of 20%. The majority (79%) of infant room teachers and directors reported low knowledge on ways to adequately store breastmilk and formula. Perceived attitudes on the advantages and disadvantages of breastmilk versus formula as well as behaviors associated with offering working mothers a supportive breastfeeding environment (e.g. breast pumps available at center, offer mothers a place to breastfeed) were also examined. Directors and infant room teachers desired updated infant feeding information for themselves, co-workers and parents. They wanted English and Spanish information regarding breastfeeding, formula feeding and introducing solid foods. Eighty-six percent of directors and 67% of teachers stated they have Internet access at work. Eighty-eight percent of directors and 79% of teachers would be interested in an infant feeding website. According to the results of the needs assessment, child care directors and infant room teachers are in need of current, accessible infant feeding information. Child care directors and infant room teachers desired a website with bilingual and best practice infant feeding information specific to the needs of child care providers.

Biological applications of near-field scanning optical microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moers, Marco H. P.; Ruiter, A. G. T.; Jalocha, Alain; van Hulst, Niko F.; Kalle, W. H. J.; Wiegant, J. C. A. G.; Raap, A. K.

1995-09-01

Near-field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM) is a true optical microscopic technique allowing fluorescence, absorption, reflection and polarization contrast with the additional advantage of nanometer lateral resolution, unlimited by diffraction and operation at ambient conditions. NSOM based on metal coated adiabatically tapered fibers, combined with shear force feedback and operated in illumination mode, has proven to be the most powerful NSOM arrangement, because of its true localization of the optical interaction, its various optical contrast possibilities and its sensitivity down to the single molecular level. In this paper applications of `aperture' NSOM to Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization of human metaphase chromosomes are presented, where the localized fluorescence allows to identify specific DNA sequences. All images are accompanied by the simultaneously acquired force image, enabling direct comparison of the optical contrast with the sample topography on nanometer scale, far beyond the diffraction limit. Thus the unique combination of high resolution, specific optical contrast and ambient operation offers many new direction possibilities in biological studies.

New frontiers of atomic layer etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherpa, Sonam D.; Ranjan, Alok

2018-03-01

Interest in atomic layer etching (ALE) has surged recently because it offers several advantages over continuous or quasicontinuous plasma etching. These benefits include (1) independent control of ion energy, ion flux, and radical flux, (2) flux-independent etch rate that mitigates the iso-dense loading effects, and (3) ability to control the etch rate with atomic or nanoscale precision. In addition to these benefits, we demonstrate an area-selective etching for maskless lithography as a new frontier of ALE. In this paper, area-selective etching refers to the confinement of etching into the specific areas of the substrate. The concept of area-selective etching originated during our studies on quasi-ALE of silicon nitride which consists of sequential exposure of silicon nitride to hydrogen and fluorinated plasma. The findings of our studies reported in this paper suggest that it may be possible to confine the etching into specific areas of silicon nitride without using any mask by replacing conventional hydrogen plasma with a localized source of hydrogen ions.

Standardization of quantum key distribution and the ETSI standardization initiative ISG-QKD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Länger, Thomas; Lenhart, Gaby

2009-05-01

In recent years, quantum key distribution (QKD) has been the object of intensive research activities and of rapid progress, and it is now developing into a competitive industry with commercial products. Once QKD systems are transferred from the controlled environment of physical laboratories into a real-world environment for practical use, a number of practical security, compatibility and connectivity issues need to be resolved. In particular, comprehensive security evaluation and watertight security proofs need to be addressed to increase trust in QKD. System interoperability with existing infrastructures and applications as well as conformance with specific user requirements have to be assured. Finding common solutions to these problems involving all actors can provide an advantage for the commercialization of QKD as well as for further technological development. The ETSI industry specification group for QKD (ISG-QKD) offers a forum for creating such universally accepted standards and will promote significant leverage effects on coordination, cooperation and convergence in research, technical development and business application of QKD.

Human antibody technology and the development of antibodies against cytomegalovirus.

PubMed

Ohlin, Mats; Söderberg-Nauclér, Cecilia

2015-10-01

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that causes chronic infections in a large set of the population. It may cause severe disease in immunocompromised individuals, is linked to immunosenescence and implied to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Modulation of the immune system's abilities to manage the virus represent a highly viable therapeutic option and passive immunotherapy with polyclonal antibody preparations is already in clinical use. Defined monoclonal antibodies offer many advantages over polyclonal antibodies purified from serum. Human CMV-specific monoclonal antibodies have consequently been thoroughly investigated with respect to their potential in the treatment of diseases caused by CMV. Recent advances in human antibody technology have substantially expanded the breadth of antibodies for such applications. This review summarizes the fundamental basis for treating CMV disease by use of antibodies, the basic technologies to be used to develop such antibodies, and relevant human antibody specificities available to target this virus. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Metabolic Engineering of Eukaryotic Microalgae: Potential and Challenges Come with Great Diversity

PubMed Central

Gimpel, Javier A.; Henríquez, Vitalia; Mayfield, Stephen P.

2015-01-01

The great phylogenetic diversity of microalgae is corresponded by a wide arrange of interesting and useful metabolites. Nonetheless metabolic engineering in microalgae has been limited, since specific transformation tools must be developed for each species for either the nuclear or chloroplast genomes. Microalgae as production platforms for metabolites offer several advantages over plants and other microorganisms, like the ability of GMO containment and reduced costs in culture media, respectively. Currently, microalgae have proved particularly well suited for the commercial production of omega-3 fatty acids and carotenoids. Therefore most metabolic engineering strategies have been developed for these metabolites. Microalgal biofuels have also drawn great attention recently, resulting in efforts for improving the production of hydrogen and photosynthates, particularly triacylglycerides. Metabolic pathways of microalgae have also been manipulated in order to improve photosynthetic growth under specific conditions and for achieving trophic conversion. Although these pathways are not strictly related to secondary metabolites, the synthetic biology approaches could potentially be translated to this field and will also be discussed. PMID:26696985

Design of a homogeneous multifunctional supported lipid membrane on layer-by-layer coated microcarriers.

PubMed

Göse, Martin; Pescador, Paula; Reibetanz, Uta

2015-03-09

Key challenges in the development of drug delivery systems are the prevention of serum compartment interaction and the targeted delivery of the cargo. Layer-by-Layer microcarriers offer many advantages due to various options in drug assembly and multifunctional design. Surface modification with a supported lipid membrane enhances biocompatibility, drug protection ability, and specific functionality. However, the integration of functionalized lipids strongly influences the membrane formation and is often accompanied by submicrometer irregularities: The accessibility of underlying polymers to serum components may change the carrier's properties and enhances the susceptibility to opsonization. Therefore, the formation of a tightly assembled multifunctional lipid membrane has been emphasized. A phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine (POPS/POPC) bilayer equipped with phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol-biotin (PE-PEG-Biotin) was used to facilitate a biotin/streptavidin binding site for a variable attachment of an additional function, such as antibodies for specific targeting. Thus, a prefunctionalized carrier where only the outer functionality needs to be replaced without disturbing the underlying structure could be created.

Functional Incompatibility between the Generic NF-κB Motif and a Subtype-Specific Sp1III Element Drives the Formation of the HIV-1 Subtype C Viral Promoter

PubMed Central

Verma, Anjali; Rajagopalan, Pavithra; Lotke, Rishikesh; Varghese, Rebu; Selvam, Deepak; Kundu, Tapas K.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Of the various genetic subtypes of human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), only in subtype C of HIV-1 is a genetically variant NF-κB binding site found at the core of the viral promoter in association with a subtype-specific Sp1III motif. How the subtype-associated variations in the core transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) influence gene expression from the viral promoter has not been examined previously. Using panels of infectious viral molecular clones, we demonstrate that subtype-specific NF-κB and Sp1III motifs have evolved for optimal gene expression, and neither of the motifs can be replaced by a corresponding TFBS variant. The variant NF-κB motif binds NF-κB with an affinity 2-fold higher than that of the generic NF-κB site. Importantly, in the context of an infectious virus, the subtype-specific Sp1III motif demonstrates a profound loss of function in association with the generic NF-κB motif. An additional substitution of the Sp1III motif fully restores viral replication, suggesting that the subtype C-specific Sp1III has evolved to function with the variant, but not generic, NF-κB motif. A change of only two base pairs in the central NF-κB motif completely suppresses viral transcription from the provirus and converts the promoter into heterochromatin refractory to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) induction. The present work represents the first demonstration of functional incompatibility between an otherwise functional NF-κB motif and a unique Sp1 site in the context of an HIV-1 promoter. Our work provides important leads as to the evolution of the HIV-1 subtype C viral promoter with relevance for gene expression regulation and viral latency. IMPORTANCE Subtype-specific genetic variations provide a powerful tool to examine how these variations offer a replication advantage to specific viral subtypes, if any. Only in subtype C of HIV-1 are two genetically distinct transcription factor binding sites positioned at the most critical location of the viral promoter. Since a single promoter regulates viral gene expression, the promoter variations can play a critical role in determining the replication fitness of the viral strains. Our work for the first time provides a scientific explanation for the presence of a unique NF-κB binding motif in subtype C, a major HIV-1 genetic family responsible for half of the global HIV-1 infections. The results offer compelling evidence that the subtype C viral promoter not only is stronger but also is endowed with a qualitative gain-of-function advantage. The genetically variant NF-κB and the Sp1III motifs may be respond differently to specific cell signal pathways, and these mechanisms must be examined. PMID:27194770

Ambient ionisation mass spectrometry for in situ analysis of intact proteins

PubMed Central

Kocurek, Klaudia I.; Griffiths, Rian L.

2018-01-01

Abstract Ambient surface mass spectrometry is an emerging field which shows great promise for the analysis of biomolecules directly from their biological substrate. In this article, we describe ambient ionisation mass spectrometry techniques for the in situ analysis of intact proteins. As a broad approach, the analysis of intact proteins offers unique advantages for the determination of primary sequence variations and posttranslational modifications, as well as interrogation of tertiary and quaternary structure and protein‐protein/ligand interactions. In situ analysis of intact proteins offers the potential to couple these advantages with information relating to their biological environment, for example, their spatial distributions within healthy and diseased tissues. Here, we describe the techniques most commonly applied to in situ protein analysis (liquid extraction surface analysis, continuous flow liquid microjunction surface sampling, nano desorption electrospray ionisation, and desorption electrospray ionisation), their advantages, and limitations and describe their applications to date. We also discuss the incorporation of ion mobility spectrometry techniques (high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry and travelling wave ion mobility spectrometry) into ambient workflows. Finally, future directions for the field are discussed. PMID:29607564

Advanced rechargeable sodium batteries with novel cathodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Distefano, S.; Ratnakumar, B. V.; Bankston, C. P.

1989-01-01

Various high energy density rechargeable batteries are being considered for future space applications. Of these, the sodium-sulfur battery is one of the leading candidates. The primary advantage is the high energy density (760 Wh/kg theoretical). Energy densities in excess of 180 Wh/kg were realized in practical batteries. Other technological advantages include its chemical simplicity, absence of self-discharge, and long cycle life possibility. More recently, other high temperature sodium batteries have come into the spotlight. These systems can be described as follow: Na/Beta Double Prime-Al2O3/NaAlCl4/Metal Dichloride Sodium/metal dichloride systems are colloquially known as the zebra system and are currently being developed for traction and load leveling applications. The sodium-metal dichloride systems appear to offer many of the same advantages of the Na/S system, especially in terms of energy density and chemical simplicity. The metal dichloride systems offer increased safety and good resistance to overcharge and operate over a wide range of temperatures from 150 to 400 C with less corrosion problems.

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

None

Argonne National Laboratory researchers have invented a technology for recovering oil and refined petroleum products from bodies of water. Oleo Sponge offers several key advantages over the technologies and techniques that are currently used to combat this problem.

Observing principles of medical ethics during family planning services at Tehran urban healthcare centers in 2007.

PubMed

Motevallizadeh, Saeed; Malek Afzali, Hossein; Larijani, Bagher

2011-01-01

Family planning has been defined in the framework of mothers and children plan as one of Primary Healthcare (PHC) details. Besides quantity, the quality of services, particularly in terms of ethics, such as observing individuals' privacy, is of great importance in offering family planning services. A preliminary study to gather information about the degree of medical ethics offered during family planning services at Tehran urban healthcare centers. A questionnaire was designed for study. In the first question regarding informed consent, 47 clients who were advised about various contraception methods were asked whether advantages and disadvantages of the contraceptive methods have been discussed by the service provider. Then a certain rank was measured for either client or method in 2007. Finally, average value of advantage and disadvantage for each method was measured. In questions about autonomy, justice and beneficence, yes/no answers have been expected and measured accordingly. Health care providers have stressed more on the advantages of pills and disadvantages of tubectomy and have paid less attention to advantages of injection ampoules and disadvantages of pills in first time clients. While they have stressed more on the advantages and disadvantages of tubectomy and less attention to advantages of condom and disadvantages of vasectomy in second time clients. Clients divulged their 100% satisfaction in terms of observing turns and free charges services. Observance degree of autonomy was 64.7% and 77.3% for first time and second- time clients respectively. Applying the consultant's personal viewpoint for selecting a method will breach an informed consent for first and second time clients. System has good consideration to justice and no malfeasance.

Hierarchically nanostructured materials for sustainable environmental applications

PubMed Central

Ren, Zheng; Guo, Yanbing; Liu, Cai-Hong; Gao, Pu-Xian

2013-01-01

This review presents a comprehensive overview of the hierarchical nanostructured materials with either geometry or composition complexity in environmental applications. The hierarchical nanostructures offer advantages of high surface area, synergistic interactions, and multiple functionalities toward water remediation, biosensing, environmental gas sensing and monitoring as well as catalytic gas treatment. Recent advances in synthetic strategies for various hierarchical morphologies such as hollow spheres and urchin-shaped architectures have been reviewed. In addition to the chemical synthesis, the physical mechanisms associated with the materials design and device fabrication have been discussed for each specific application. The development and application of hierarchical complex perovskite oxide nanostructures have also been introduced in photocatalytic water remediation, gas sensing, and catalytic converter. Hierarchical nanostructures will open up many possibilities for materials design and device fabrication in environmental chemistry and technology. PMID:24790946

Materials Advances for Next-Generation Ingestible Electronic Medical Devices.

PubMed

Bettinger, Christopher J

2015-10-01

Electronic medical implants have collectively transformed the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, but have many inherent limitations. Electronic implants require invasive surgeries, operate in challenging microenvironments, and are susceptible to bacterial infection and persistent inflammation. Novel materials and nonconventional device fabrication strategies may revolutionize the way electronic devices are integrated with the body. Ingestible electronic devices offer many advantages compared with implantable counterparts that may improve the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies ranging from gastrointestinal infections to diabetes. This review summarizes current technologies and highlights recent materials advances. Specific focus is dedicated to next-generation materials for packaging, circuit design, and on-board power supplies that are benign, nontoxic, and even biodegradable. Future challenges and opportunities are also highlighted. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Invisible and almost invisible orthodontic appliances].

PubMed

Baron, Pascal

2014-03-01

Patient demand for invisible esthetic orthodontic appliances is steadily increasing. Two types of orthodontic appliances have a high rate of patient acceptance. The lingual technique has continually evolved by offering both prefabricated brackets or custom-made brackets. The various techniques have been improved over time, and the results are better than ever. Thermoplastic aligners are an alternative to lingual devices and their use is rapidly growing. Their specific properties make it easier to assess their indications and limitations. A review of the literature, the development of these systems and a presentation of some clinical examples of treated cases will help us to provide some of the basics for understanding each of these two types of appliances and to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of each system. © EDP Sciences, SFODF, 2014.

Applications of Microbial Enzymes in Food Industry.

PubMed

Raveendran, Sindhu; Parameswaran, Binod; Ummalyma, Sabeela Beevi; Abraham, Amith; Mathew, Anil Kuruvilla; Madhavan, Aravind; Rebello, Sharrel; Pandey, Ashok

2018-03-01

The use of enzymes or microorganisms in food preparations is an age-old process. With the advancement of technology, novel enzymes with wide range of applications and specificity have been developed and new application areas are still being explored. Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi and their enzymes are widely used in several food preparations for improving the taste and texture and they offer huge economic benefits to industries. Microbial enzymes are the preferred source to plants or animals due to several advantages such as easy, cost-effective and consistent production. The present review discusses the recent advancement in enzyme technology for food industries. A comprehensive list of enzymes used in food processing, the microbial source of these enzymes and the wide range of their application are discussed.

Hierarchically Nanostructured Materials for Sustainable Environmental Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Zheng; Guo, Yanbing; Liu, Cai-Hong; Gao, Pu-Xian

2013-11-01

This article presents a comprehensive overview of the hierarchical nanostructured materials with either geometry or composition complexity in environmental applications. The hierarchical nanostructures offer advantages of high surface area, synergistic interactions and multiple functionalities towards water remediation, environmental gas sensing and monitoring as well as catalytic gas treatment. Recent advances in synthetic strategies for various hierarchical morphologies such as hollow spheres and urchin-shaped architectures have been reviewed. In addition to the chemical synthesis, the physical mechanisms associated with the materials design and device fabrication have been discussed for each specific application. The development and application of hierarchical complex perovskite oxide nanostructures have also been introduced in photocatalytic water remediation, gas sensing and catalytic converter. Hierarchical nanostructures will open up many possibilities for materials design and device fabrication in environmental chemistry and technology.

Multiple Application Propfan Study (MAPS): Advanced tactical transport

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newton, F. C.; Liebeck, R. H.; Mitchell, G. H.; Mooiweer, A.; Platte, M. M.; Toogood, T. L.; Wright, R. A.

1986-01-01

This study was conducted to ascertain potential benefits of a propfan propulsion system application to a blended wing/body military tactical transport. Based on a design cruise Mach no. of 0.75 for the design mission, the results indicate a significant advantage in various figures of merit for the propfan over those of a comparable technology turbofan. Although the propfan has a 1.6 percent greater takeoff gross weight, its life cycle cost is 5.3 percent smaller, partly because of a 27 percent smaller specific fuel consumption. When employed on alternate missions, the propfan configuration offers significantly improved flexibility and capability: an increase in sea level penetration distance of more than 100 percent, or in time-on-station of 24 percent, or in deployment payload of 38 percent.

The value of closed-circuit rebreathers for biological research

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pyle, Richrad L.; Lobel, Phillip S.; Tomoleoni, Joseph

2016-01-01

Closed-circuit rebreathers have been used for underwater biological research since the late 1960s, but have only started to gain broader application within scientific diving organizations within the past two decades. Rebreathers offer certain specific advantages for such research, especially for research involving behavior and surveys that depend on unobtrusive observers or for a stealthy approach to wildlife for capture and tagging, research that benefits from extended durations underwater, and operations requiring access to relatively deep (>50 m) environments (especially in remote locations). Although many institutions have been slow to adopt rebreather technology within their diving programs, recent developments in rebreather technology that improve safety, standardize training requirements, and reduce costs of equipment and maintenance, will likely result in a trend of increasing utilization of rebreathers for underwater biological research.

Carbon composites in space vehicle structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mayer, N. J.

1974-01-01

Recent developments in the technology of carbon or graphite filaments now provide the designer with greatly improved materials offering high specific strength and modulus. Besides these advantages are properties which are distinctly useful for space applications and which provide feasibility for missions not obtainable by other means. Current applications include major and secondary structures of communications satellites. A number of R & D projects are exploring carbon-fiber application to rocket engine motor cases, advanced antenna systems, and space shuttle components. Future system studies are being made, based on the successful application of carbon fibers for orbiting space telescope assemblies, orbital transfer vehicles, and very large deployable energy generation systems. Continued technology development is needed in analysis, material standards, and advanced structural concepts to exploit the full potential of carbon filaments in composite materials.

Nanoparticles for cancer gene therapy: Recent advances, challenges, and strategies.

PubMed

Wang, Kui; Kievit, Forrest M; Zhang, Miqin

2016-12-01

Compared to conventional treatments, gene therapy offers a variety of advantages for cancer treatment including high potency and specificity, low off-target toxicity, and delivery of multiple genes that concurrently target cancer tumorigenesis, recurrence, and drug resistance. In the past decades, gene therapy has undergone remarkable progress, and is now poised to become a first line therapy for cancer. Among various gene delivery systems, nanoparticles have attracted much attention because of their desirable characteristics including low toxicity profiles, well-controlled and high gene delivery efficiency, and multi-functionalities. This review provides an overview on gene therapeutics and gene delivery technologies, and highlight recent advances, challenges and insights into the design and the utility of nanoparticles in gene therapy for cancer treatment. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Applications of Microbial Enzymes in Food Industry

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Summary The use of enzymes or microorganisms in food preparations is an age-old process. With the advancement of technology, novel enzymes with wide range of applications and specificity have been developed and new application areas are still being explored. Microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi and their enzymes are widely used in several food preparations for improving the taste and texture and they offer huge economic benefits to industries. Microbial enzymes are the preferred source to plants or animals due to several advantages such as easy, cost-effective and consistent production. The present review discusses the recent advancement in enzyme technology for food industries. A comprehensive list of enzymes used in food processing, the microbial source of these enzymes and the wide range of their application are discussed. PMID:29795993

Soluble polymer conjugates for drug delivery.

PubMed

Minko, Tamara

2005-01-01

The use of water-soluble polymeric conjugates as drug carriers offers several possible advantages. These advantages include: (1) improved drug pharmacokinetics; (2) decreased toxicity to healthy organs; (3) possible facilitation of accumulation and preferential uptake by targeted cells; (4) programmed profile of drug release. In this review, we will consider the main types of useful polymeric conjugates and their role and effectiveness as carriers in drug delivery systems.: © 2005 Elsevier Ltd . All rights reserved.

The advantages of the high voltage solar array for electric propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sater, B. L.

1973-01-01

The high voltage solar array offers improvements in efficiency, weight, and reliability for the electric propulsion power system. Conventional power processes and problems associated with ion thruster operation using SERT 2 experience are discussed and the advantages of the HVSA concept for electric propulsion are presented. Tests conducted operating the SERT 2 thruster system in conjunction with HVSA are reported. Thruster operation was observed to be normal and in some respects improved.

NE Won't Return to Pre-Recession Employment until 2015, but Region's "Education" Advantage Could Offer "Economic" Advantage

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gittell, Ross

2012-01-01

The New England states continue to experience slow growth and slow recovery of the jobs lost in the 2008 to 2009 recession. The main reason for this is the continued weakness in global and U.S. economic conditions. The U.S. and New England economies continue to be affected by the weak European economy and sovereign debt crisis and by weakness in…

Advantage, Absence of Advantage, and Disadvantage Among Scientists and Engineers

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

Nancy DiTomaso

2008-09-23

DiTomaso talks about survey data on the career experiences of 3,200 scientists and engineers from 24 major companies. Her survey findings indicate that most people who do well in their careers and make significant contributions to their organizations get assistance from others in their workplace in many forms, including offering opportunities such as good projects, providing resources that make good performance more likely, and opening up networking possibilities.

Electrophysiological explorations of the bilingual advantage: evidence from a Stroop task.

PubMed

Coderre, Emily L; van Heuven, Walter J B

2014-01-01

Bilinguals have been shown to exhibit a performance advantage on executive control tasks, outperforming their monolingual counterparts. Although a wealth of research has investigated this 'bilingual advantage' behaviourally, electrophysiological correlates are lacking. Using EEG with a Stroop task that manipulated the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) of word and colour presentation, the current study addressed two facets of the bilingual advantage. The possibility that bilinguals experience superior conflict processing relative to monolinguals (a 'conflict-specific advantage') was investigated by comparing behavioural interference effects as well as the amplitude of the Ninc, a conflict-related ERP component occurring from approximately 300-500 ms after the onset of conflict. In contrast, the hypothesis that bilinguals experience domain-general, conflict-independent enhancements in executive processing (a 'non-conflict-specific advantage') was evaluated by comparing the control condition (symbol strings) between groups. There was some significant, but inconsistent, evidence for a conflict-specific bilingual advantage. In contrast, strong evidence emerged for a non-conflict-specific advantage, with bilinguals demonstrating faster RTs and reduced ERP amplitudes on control trials compared to monolinguals. Importantly, when the control stimulus was presented before the colour, ERPs to control trials revealed group differences before the onset of conflict, suggesting differences in the ability to ignore or suppress distracting irrelevant information. This indicates that bilinguals experience superior executive processing even in the absence of conflict and semantic salience, and suggests that the advantage extends to more efficient proactive management of the environment.

Terahertz (THZ) Imaging

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

work in image processing for CWD and other security-related imaging with visual, x - ray , infrared and millimeter wave imagery was seen as a jumping-off...advantage of the fact that, unlike x - rays which offer only magnitude information, THz offers phase information. as well. While the magnitude contains...perspective are analyzed, specially compared with X - ray process tomography system. 5. Gregory, I.S.; Tribe, W.R.; Cole, B.E.; Baker, C.; Evans, M.J

Current Models of Investor State Dispute Settlement Are Bad for Health: The European Union Could Offer an Alternative

PubMed Central

McKee, Martin; Stuckler, David

2017-01-01

In this commentary, we endorse concerns about the health impact of the trans-pacific partnership (TPP), paying particular attention to its mechanisms for investor state dispute settlement. We then describe the different, judge-led approach being advocated by the European Commission team negotiating the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, arguing that, while not perfect, it offers significant advantages. PMID:28812799

A revolutionary approach to health care cost control: leveraging the power of Web-enabled employee "consumerism".

PubMed

Rozzi, M V

2001-09-01

The confluence of two trends--health care "consumerism" and employee self-service benefits programs--offers employers a promising opportunity for health care cost control. To take advantage of this opportunity, employers must take a fresh look at the health care cost dilemma and find ways to simultaneously offer employees a new kind of benefit and implement more effective cost-control measures.

Necessary Ingredients for Good Team Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colman, Clyde H.; Budahl, Leon

1973-01-01

Team teaching should not be adopted wholesale without first being tested for its real advantages. After listing disadvantages and possible pitfalls, the authors offer procedural suggestions that can lead to teaching ecstasy.'' (Editor)

Graduate Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eng, Jacqueline; And Others

1991-01-01

Discusses the advantages of getting graduate degrees in pharmaceutical sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and respiratory therapy. Looks at the cost of education, degrees offered, research and clinical options, availability of programs, and career options. (JOW)

42 CFR 422.156 - Compliance deemed on the basis of accreditation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM Quality Improvement § 422...) through (3) of this chapter for MA organizations that offer prescription drug benefit programs. (c...

Bacteriophage lambda: The path from biology to theranostic agent.

PubMed

Catalano, Carlos E

2018-03-13

Viral particles provide an attractive platform for the engineering of semisynthetic therapeutic nanoparticles. They can be modified both genetically and chemically in a defined manner to alter their surface characteristics, for targeting specific cell types, to improve their pharmacokinetic features and to attenuate (or enhance) their antigenicity. These advantages derive from a detailed understanding of virus biology, gleaned from decades of fundamental genetic, biochemical, and structural studies that have provided mechanistic insight into virus assembly pathways. In particular, bacteriophages offer significant advantages as nanoparticle platforms and several have been adapted toward the design and engineering of "designer" nanoparticles for therapeutic and diagnostic (theranostic) applications. The present review focuses on one such virus, bacteriophage lambda; I discuss the biology of lambda, the tools developed to faithfully recapitulate the lambda assembly reactions in vitro and the observations that have led to cooptation of the lambda system for nanoparticle design. This discussion illustrates how a fundamental understanding of virus assembly has allowed the rational design and construction of semisynthetic nanoparticles as potential theranostic agents and illustrates the concept of benchtop to bedside translational research. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials> Protein and Virus-Based Structures Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials> Nucleic Acid-Based Structures. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in diagnosis and characterization of focal hepatic lesions.

PubMed

Molins, Inés Gómez; Font, Juan Manuel Fernández; Alvaro, Juan Carrero; Navarro, Jose Luís Lledó; Gil, Marta Fernández; Rodríguez, Conrado M Fernández

2010-12-28

The extensive use of imaging techniques in differential diagnosis of abdominal conditions and screening of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatic diseases, has led to an important increase in identification of focal liver lesions. The development of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) opens a new window in the diagnosis and follow-up of these lesions. This technique offers obvious advantages over the computed tomography and magnetic resonance, without a decrease in its sensitivity and specificity. The new second generation contrast agents, due to their intravascular distribution, allow a continuous evaluation of the enhancement pattern, which is crucial in characterization of liver lesions. The dual blood supply in the liver shows three different phases, namely arterial, portal and late phases. The enhancement during portal and late phases can give important information about the lesion's behavior. Each liver lesion has a different enhancement pattern that makes possible an accurate approach to their diagnosis. The role of emerging techniques as a contrast-enhanced three-dimensional US is also discussed. In this article, the advantages, indications and technique employed during CEUS and the different enhancement patterns of most benign and malignant focal liver lesions are discussed.

Nucleation of Super-Critical Carbon Dioxide in a Venturi Nozzle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarrahbashi, Dorrin; Pidaparti, Sandeep; Ranjan, Devesh

2015-11-01

The supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycle combines the primary advantages of the ideal Brayton and Rankine cycles by utilizing CO2 above its critical pressure. In addition to single phase and small back work ratios, supercritical fluids offer other advantages, e.g. heat transfer augmentation and low specific volume. Pressure reduction at the entrance of the compressor may cause homogenous nucleation, vapor production, and collapse of bubbles due to operation near the saturation conditions. Transient behavior of the flow after nucleation may cause serious issues in operation of the cycle and affect the materials used in design. The flow of S-CO2 through a venturi nozzle near the critical point has been studied. A transient compressible 3D Navier-Stokes solver, coupled with continuity, and energy equation has been used. Developed FIT libraries based on a piecewise biquintic spline interpolation of Helmholtz energy have been integrated with OpenFOAM to model S-CO2 properties. The mass fraction of vapor created in the venturi has been calculated using homogeneous equilibrium model (HEM). The flow conditions that lead to nucleation have been investigated. The sensitivity of nucleation to the inlet pressure and temperature, flow rate, and venturi profile has been shown.

Assessing female sexual arousal with the labial thermistor: response specificity and construct validity.

PubMed

Prause, N; Heiman, J R

2009-05-01

The labial thermistor offers several potential psychometric advantages over existing measures of female sexual response; however, the thermistor lacked data to support these presumed advantages, especially with respect to its discriminant validity. In this study, both the labial thermistor was worn simultaneously with the vaginal photoplethysmograph as women viewed films. They also indicated their level of subjective sexual arousal using a lever. The labial thermistor discriminated sexual from nonsexual arousing stimuli and was sensitive to different levels of sexual arousal. The correspondence of the instrument with subjective sexual arousal, measured using a continuous lever, was lower during the mildly arousing sexual film and higher during the maximally sexual arousing film. One woman reported that the labial thermistor was very uncomfortable, while others indicated no or mild discomfort from each instrument. The vaginal photoplethysmograph largely replicated the effects documented by the labial thermistor, although it did not discriminate sexual stimuli of different intensity nor correspond with women's continuous lever responses as closely during the more arousing stimulus. Difficulties recording simultaneously with these instruments are noted. The labial thermistor adequately discriminates between generally arousing and sexually arousing stimuli, increasing its utility as a measure for between-subject study designs.

Islet xenotransplantation from genetically engineered pigs.

PubMed

Nagaraju, Santosh; Bottino, Rita; Wijkstrom, Martin; Hara, Hidetaka; Trucco, Massimo; Cooper, David K C

2013-12-01

Pigs have emerged as potential sources of islets for clinical transplantation. Wild-type porcine islets (adult and neonatal) transplanted into the portal vein have successfully reversed diabetes in nonhuman primates. However, there is a rapid loss of the transplanted islets on exposure to blood, known as the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR), as well as a T-cell response that leads to rejection of the graft. Genetically modified pig islets offer a number of potential advantages, particularly with regard to reducing the IBMIR-related graft loss and protecting the islets from the primate immune response. Emerging data indicate that transgenes specifically targeted to pig β cells using an insulin promoter (in order to maximize target tissue expression while limiting host effects) can be achieved without significant effects on the pig's glucose metabolism. Experience with the transplantation of islets from genetically engineered pigs into nonhuman primates is steadily increasing, and has involved the deletion of pig antigenic targets to reduce the primate humoral response, the expression of transgenes for human complement-regulatory and coagulation-regulatory proteins, and manipulations to reduce the effect of the T-cell response. There is increasing evidence of the advantages of using genetically engineered pigs as sources of islets for future clinical trials.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in diagnosis and characterization of focal hepatic lesions

PubMed Central

Molins, Inés Gómez; Font, Juan Manuel Fernández; Álvaro, Juan Carrero; Navarro, Jose Luís Lledó; Gil, Marta Fernández; Rodríguez, Conrado M Fernández

2010-01-01

The extensive use of imaging techniques in differential diagnosis of abdominal conditions and screening of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatic diseases, has led to an important increase in identification of focal liver lesions. The development of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) opens a new window in the diagnosis and follow-up of these lesions. This technique offers obvious advantages over the computed tomography and magnetic resonance, without a decrease in its sensitivity and specificity. The new second generation contrast agents, due to their intravascular distribution, allow a continuous evaluation of the enhancement pattern, which is crucial in characterization of liver lesions. The dual blood supply in the liver shows three different phases, namely arterial, portal and late phases. The enhancement during portal and late phases can give important information about the lesion’s behavior. Each liver lesion has a different enhancement pattern that makes possible an accurate approach to their diagnosis. The role of emerging techniques as a contrast-enhanced three-dimensional US is also discussed. In this article, the advantages, indications and technique employed during CEUS and the different enhancement patterns of most benign and malignant focal liver lesions are discussed. PMID:21225000

The Steris Reliance EPS endoscope processing system: a new automated endoscope reprocessing technology.

PubMed

2007-01-01

In this Evaluation, we examine whether the Steris Reliance EPS--a flexible endoscope reprocessing system that was recently introduced to the U.S. market--offers meaningful advantages over "traditional" automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs). Most AERs on the market function similarly to one another. The Reliance EPS, however, includes some unique features that distinguish it from other AERs. For example, it incorporates a "boot" technology for loading the endoscopes into the unit without requiring a lot of endoscope-specific connectors, and it dispenses the germicide used to disinfect the endoscopes from a single-use container. This Evaluation looks at whether the unique features of this model make it a better choice than traditional AERs for reprocessing flexible endoscopes. Our study focuses on whether the Reliance EPS is any more likely to be used correctly-thereby reducing the likelihood that an endoscope will be reprocessed inadequately-and whether the unit possesses any design flaws that could lead to reprocessing failures. We detail the unit's advantages and disadvantages compared with other AERs, and we describe what current users have to say. Our conclusions will help facilities determine whether to select the Reliance EPS.

A comparison of the validity of GHQ-12 and CHQ-12 in Chinese primary care patients in Manchester.

PubMed

Pan, P C; Goldberg, D P

1990-11-01

The present study compares the efficacy of the GHQ-12 and the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ-12) in Cantonese speaking Chinese primary-care patients living in Greater Manchester, using relative operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. We did not find that the Chinese version offered any advantage over the conventional version of the GHQ in this population. Stepwise discriminant analysis however confirmed the value of individual items in the former pertaining to specific somatic symptoms and interpersonal relationships in differentiating cases from non-cases. Information biases, arising from the lack of a reliability study on the second-stage case identifying interview and the unique linguistic characteristics of the Chinese language may have affected the overall validity indices of the questionnaires. The study also examines the effects of using different criteria to define a case, and shows that with increasing levels of severity, there is an improvement in the diagnostic performance of the two questionnaires as reflected by areas under ROC curves and traditional validity indices. Possible explanations of these findings are discussed. The scoring method proposed by Goodchild & Duncan-Jones (1985) when used on these questionnaires had no demonstrable advantage over the conventional scoring method.

The 2018 GaN power electronics roadmap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amano, H.; Baines, Y.; Beam, E.; Borga, Matteo; Bouchet, T.; Chalker, Paul R.; Charles, M.; Chen, Kevin J.; Chowdhury, Nadim; Chu, Rongming; De Santi, Carlo; Merlyne De Souza, Maria; Decoutere, Stefaan; Di Cioccio, L.; Eckardt, Bernd; Egawa, Takashi; Fay, P.; Freedsman, Joseph J.; Guido, L.; Häberlen, Oliver; Haynes, Geoff; Heckel, Thomas; Hemakumara, Dilini; Houston, Peter; Hu, Jie; Hua, Mengyuan; Huang, Qingyun; Huang, Alex; Jiang, Sheng; Kawai, H.; Kinzer, Dan; Kuball, Martin; Kumar, Ashwani; Boon Lee, Kean; Li, Xu; Marcon, Denis; März, Martin; McCarthy, R.; Meneghesso, Gaudenzio; Meneghini, Matteo; Morvan, E.; Nakajima, A.; Narayanan, E. M. S.; Oliver, Stephen; Palacios, Tomás; Piedra, Daniel; Plissonnier, M.; Reddy, R.; Sun, Min; Thayne, Iain; Torres, A.; Trivellin, Nicola; Unni, V.; Uren, Michael J.; Van Hove, Marleen; Wallis, David J.; Wang, J.; Xie, J.; Yagi, S.; Yang, Shu; Youtsey, C.; Yu, Ruiyang; Zanoni, Enrico; Zeltner, Stefan; Zhang, Yuhao

2018-04-01

Gallium nitride (GaN) is a compound semiconductor that has tremendous potential to facilitate economic growth in a semiconductor industry that is silicon-based and currently faced with diminishing returns of performance versus cost of investment. At a material level, its high electric field strength and electron mobility have already shown tremendous potential for high frequency communications and photonic applications. Advances in growth on commercially viable large area substrates are now at the point where power conversion applications of GaN are at the cusp of commercialisation. The future for building on the work described here in ways driven by specific challenges emerging from entirely new markets and applications is very exciting. This collection of GaN technology developments is therefore not itself a road map but a valuable collection of global state-of-the-art GaN research that will inform the next phase of the technology as market driven requirements evolve. First generation production devices are igniting large new markets and applications that can only be achieved using the advantages of higher speed, low specific resistivity and low saturation switching transistors. Major investments are being made by industrial companies in a wide variety of markets exploring the use of the technology in new circuit topologies, packaging solutions and system architectures that are required to achieve and optimise the system advantages offered by GaN transistors. It is this momentum that will drive priorities for the next stages of device research gathered here.

Respiratory care management information systems.

PubMed

Ford, Richard M

2004-04-01

Hospital-wide computerized information systems evolved from the need to capture patient information and perform billing and other financial functions. These systems, however, have fallen short of meeting the needs of respiratory care departments regarding work load assessment, productivity management, and the level of outcome reporting required to support programs such as patient-driven protocols. The respiratory care management information systems (RCMIS) of today offer many advantages over paper-based systems and hospital-wide computer systems. RCMIS are designed to facilitate functions specific to respiratory care, including assessing work demand, assigning and tracking resources, charting, billing, and reporting results. RCMIS incorporate mobile, point-of-care charting and are highly configurable to meet the specific needs of individual respiratory care departments. Important and substantial benefits can be realized with an RCMIS and mobile, wireless charting devices. The initial and ongoing costs of an RCMIS are justified by increased charge capture and reduced costs, by way of improved productivity and efficiency. It is not unusual to recover the total cost of an RCMIS within the first year of its operation. In addition, such systems can facilitate and monitor patient-care protocols and help to efficiently manage the vast amounts of information encountered during the practitioner's workday. Respiratory care departments that invest in RCMIS have an advantage in the provision of quality care and in reducing expenses. A centralized respiratory therapy department with an RCMIS is the most efficient and cost-effective way to monitor work demand and manage the hospital-wide allocation of respiratory care services.

Detection of cell and tissue surface antigens using up-converting phosphors: a new reporter technology.

PubMed

Zijlmans, H J; Bonnet, J; Burton, J; Kardos, K; Vail, T; Niedbala, R S; Tanke, H J

1999-02-01

A novel luminescent reporter for the sensitive detection of antigens in tissue sections or on cell membranes is described. It consists of submicron-size phosphor crystals (0.2-0.4 microm), which are surface labeled with avidin or antibodies and capable of binding specifically to antigens on intact cells or in tissue sections. These phosphor reporters exhibit two-photon, anti-Stokes luminescence by up-converting infrared to visible light and are named Up-converting Phosphor Technology (UPT). They typically consist of yttriumoxysulfides doped with two different lanthanides exhibiting photostable, strong emission in the visible (blue, green, and red) upon excitation in the infrared. This report describes the conjugation of phosphor particles to NeutrAvidin with the subsequent use of this conjugate in a model system consisting of prostate-specific antigen in tissue sections and the CD4 membrane antigen on human lymphocytes. An epi-illumination fluorescence microscope was adapted to provide near-IR excitation using a xenon lamp for visualization of the visible emission. Advantages of UPT are (i) permanent, strong, anti-Stokes emission of discrete wavelengths; (ii) unmatched contrast in biological specimens due to the absence of autofluorescence upon excitation with IR light; (iii) simultaneous detection of multiple target analytes; and (iv) low-cost microscope modifications. The new methodology has not only high potential value in diagnostic pathology as described here, but may offer advantages for the detection of proteins or nucleic acids when applied to molecular biology, genomic research, virology, and microbiology. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Advances in HPLC-ICP-MS interface techniques for metal speciation

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

Hill, S.J.

The relentless demand for lower detection limits is increasingly coupled to the requirement for elemental speciation. This is particularly true in environmental and clinical fields where total levels are often insufficient for mobility and toxicity studies. This demand for both qualitative and quantitative data on the individual species present in complex samples has led to the development of various interfaces to couple some form of chromatography, usually gas chromatography (GC) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to an element specific detector. Today inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry is often employed since it offers excellent detection limits, element specific information (including isotopicmore » data) and the potential for multi-element studies. Ms presentation will concentrate on HPLC couplings although the advantages and disadvantages of both GC and HPLC couplings to ICP-MS will be discussed. Particular attention will be given to the optimization of both the chromatography and detection systems. Details will be presented of several successful HPLC interface designs and ways of facilitating high levels of a range of organic solvents (e.g. methanol and THF) in the HPLC mobile phase will be highlighted. The advantages of using a sheath gas and practical ways of achieving this will also be discussed. Finally the use of isotope dilution analysis in conjunction with HPLC-ICP-MS will be outlined. In all cases the impact of using the most appropriate approach will be demonstrated using both environmental and clinical samples.« less

Fuel Cells: Power System Option for Space Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaneeth, M.; Mohanty, Surajeet

2012-07-01

Fuel Cells are direct energy conversion devices and, thereby, they deliver electrical energy at very high efficiency levels. Hydrogen and Oxygen gases are electrochemically processed, producing clean electric power with water as the only by product. A typical, Fuel Cell based power system involve a Electrochemical power converter, gas storage and management systems, thermal management systems and relevant control units. While there exists different types of Fuel cells, Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells are considered as the most suitable one for portable applications. Generally, Fuel Cells are considered as the primary power system option in space missions requiring high power ( > 5kW) and long durations and also where water is a consumable, such as manned missions. This is primarily due to the advantage that fuel cell based power systems offer, in terms of specific energy. Fuel cells have the potential to attain specific energy > 500Wh/kg, specific power >500W/kg, energy density > 400Whr/L and also power density > 200 W/L. This apart, a fuel cell system operate totally independent of sun light, whereas as battery based system is fully dependent on the same. This uniqueness provides added flexibility and capabilities to the missions and modularity for power system. High power requiring missions involving reusable launch vehicles, manned missions etc are expected to be richly benefited from this. Another potential application of Fuel Cell would be interplanetary exploration. Unpredictable and dusty atmospheres of heavenly bodies limits sun light significantly and there fuel cells of different types, eg, Bio-Fuel Cells, PEMFC, DMFCs would be able to work effectively. Manned or unmanned lunar out post would require continuous power even during extra long lunar nights and high power levels are expected. Regenerative Fuel Cells, a combination of Fuel Cells and Electrolysers, are identified as strong candidate. While application of Fuel Cells in high power requiring missions is well established, as exemplified in Apollo and Space Shuttles, use in low power missions for science probes/rovers form a relatively newer area. Low power small fuel cells of this class are expected to bring in lot of operational convenience and freedom on onboard / extra terrestrial environment. Technological improvisations in the area, especially with regard to miniaturisation, and extra capabilities that the system offers, make it a strong candidate. The paper outlines features of fuel cells power systems, different types and their potential application scenarios, in the present context. It elucidates the extra capabilities and advantages, due to fuel cells, for different missions. Specific case analyses are also included.

Open Data, Open Specifications and Free and Open Source Software: A powerful mix to create distributed Web-based water information systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arias, Carolina; Brovelli, Maria Antonia; Moreno, Rafael

2015-04-01

We are in an age when water resources are increasingly scarce and the impacts of human activities on them are ubiquitous. These problems don't respect administrative or political boundaries and they must be addressed integrating information from multiple sources at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Communication, coordination and data sharing are critical for addressing the water conservation and management issues of the 21st century. However, different countries, provinces, local authorities and agencies dealing with water resources have diverse organizational, socio-cultural, economic, environmental and information technology (IT) contexts that raise challenges to the creation of information systems capable of integrating and distributing information across their areas of responsibility in an efficient and timely manner. Tight and disparate financial resources, and dissimilar IT infrastructures (data, hardware, software and personnel expertise) further complicate the creation of these systems. There is a pressing need for distributed interoperable water information systems that are user friendly, easily accessible and capable of managing and sharing large volumes of spatial and non-spatial data. In a distributed system, data and processes are created and maintained in different locations each with competitive advantages to carry out specific activities. Open Data (data that can be freely distributed) is available in the water domain, and it should be further promoted across countries and organizations. Compliance with Open Specifications for data collection, storage and distribution is the first step toward the creation of systems that are capable of interacting and exchanging data in a seamlessly (interoperable) way. The features of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) offer low access cost that facilitate scalability and long-term viability of information systems. The World Wide Web (the Web) will be the platform of choice to deploy and access these systems. Geospatial capabilities for mapping, visualization, and spatial analysis will be important components of these new generation of Web-based interoperable information systems in the water domain. The purpose of this presentation is to increase the awareness of scientists, IT personnel and agency managers about the advantages offered by the combined use of Open Data, Open Specifications for geospatial and water-related data collection, storage and sharing, as well as mature FOSS projects for the creation of interoperable Web-based information systems in the water domain. A case study is used to illustrate how these principles and technologies can be integrated to create a system with the previously mentioned characteristics for managing and responding to flood events.

Competitive Advantage of PET/MRI

PubMed Central

Jadvar, Hossein; Colletti, Patrick M.

2013-01-01

Multimodality imaging has made great strides in the imaging evaluation of patients with a variety of diseases. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is now established as the imaging modality of choice in many clinical conditions, particularly in oncology. While the initial development of combined PET/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) was in the preclinical arena, hybrid PET/MR scanners are now available for clinical use. PET/MRI combines the unique features of MRI including excellent soft tissue contrast, diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging, fMRI and other specialized sequences as well as MR spectroscopy with the quantitative physiologic information that is provided by PET. Most evidence for the potential clinical utility of PET/MRI is based on studies performed with side-by-side comparison or software-fused MRI and PET images. Data on distinctive utility of hybrid PET/MRI are rapidly emerging. There are potential competitive advantages of PET/MRI over PET/CT. In general, PET/MRI may be preferred over PET/CT where the unique features of MRI provide more robust imaging evaluation in certain clinical settings. The exact role and potential utility of simultaneous data acquisition in specific research and clinical settings will need to be defined. It may be that simultaneous PET/MRI will be best suited for clinical situations that are disease-specific, organ-specific, related to diseases of the children or in those patients undergoing repeated imaging for whom cumulative radiation dose must be kept as low as reasonably achievable. PET/MRI also offers interesting opportunities for use of dual modality probes. Upon clear definition of clinical utility, other important and practical issues related to business operational model, clinical workflow and reimbursement will also be resolved. PMID:23791129

Competitive advantage of PET/MRI.

PubMed

Jadvar, Hossein; Colletti, Patrick M

2014-01-01

Multimodality imaging has made great strides in the imaging evaluation of patients with a variety of diseases. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is now established as the imaging modality of choice in many clinical conditions, particularly in oncology. While the initial development of combined PET/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) was in the preclinical arena, hybrid PET/MR scanners are now available for clinical use. PET/MRI combines the unique features of MRI including excellent soft tissue contrast, diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging, fMRI and other specialized sequences as well as MR spectroscopy with the quantitative physiologic information that is provided by PET. Most evidence for the potential clinical utility of PET/MRI is based on studies performed with side-by-side comparison or software-fused MRI and PET images. Data on distinctive utility of hybrid PET/MRI are rapidly emerging. There are potential competitive advantages of PET/MRI over PET/CT. In general, PET/MRI may be preferred over PET/CT where the unique features of MRI provide more robust imaging evaluation in certain clinical settings. The exact role and potential utility of simultaneous data acquisition in specific research and clinical settings will need to be defined. It may be that simultaneous PET/MRI will be best suited for clinical situations that are disease-specific, organ-specific, related to diseases of the children or in those patients undergoing repeated imaging for whom cumulative radiation dose must be kept as low as reasonably achievable. PET/MRI also offers interesting opportunities for use of dual modality probes. Upon clear definition of clinical utility, other important and practical issues related to business operational model, clinical workflow and reimbursement will also be resolved. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

House Calls in Private Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whittington, Ronaele

1985-01-01

Relates the experiences of a social worker in private practice who offered house calls as an ongoing setting for counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and families. Describes advantages and disadvantages, liability, and target populations. (JAC)

Understanding medicare

MedlinePlus

Medicare advantage (MA) plans provide the same benefits as Part A, Part B, and part D. This means you are covered ... and hospital care as well as prescription drugs. MA plans are offered by private insurance companies provided ...

48 CFR 873.111 - Acquisition strategies for health-care resources.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... offerors, releases proprietary information, or otherwise gives any offeror a competitive advantage (see FAR... have to improve upon or meet, as appropriate, in order to remain competitive. (ii) Posting offered...

Shoulder Joint For Protective Suit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kosmo, Joseph J.; Smallcombe, Richard D.

1994-01-01

Shoulder joint allows full range of natural motion: wearer senses little or no resisting force or torque. Developed for space suit, joint offers advantages in protective garments for underwater work, firefighting, or cleanup of hazardous materials.

Pultruded composites using soy-based polyurethane resin.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-07-01

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites offer inherent advantages over traditional materials with regard to high strength-to-weight ratio, design flexibility, corrosion resistance, low maintenance, and extended service life. FRP materials can be us...

Skimmers

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

These devices used for recovering spilled oil from the water's surface may be self-propelled, used from shore, or operated from vessels. Different types offer advantages and drawbacks depending on the type of oil, sea conditions during cleanup, and debris.

Bipolar and Monopolar Lithium-Ion Battery Technology at Yardney

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, P.; Flynn, J.; Reddy, T.

1996-01-01

Lithium-ion battery systems offer several advantages: intrinsically safe; long cycle life; environmentally friendly; high energy density; wide operating temperature range; good discharge rate capability; low self-discharge; and no memory effect.

Loop Diuretics in the Treatment of Hypertension.

PubMed

Malha, Line; Mann, Samuel J

2016-04-01

Loop diuretics are not recommended in current hypertension guidelines largely due to the lack of outcome data. Nevertheless, they have been shown to lower blood pressure and to offer potential advantages over thiazide-type diuretics. Torsemide offers advantages of longer duration of action and once daily dosing (vs. furosemide and bumetanide) and more reliable bioavailability (vs. furosemide). Studies show that the previously employed high doses of thiazide-type diuretics lower BP more than furosemide. Loop diuretics appear to have a preferable side effect profile (less hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and possibly less glucose intolerance). Studies comparing efficacy and side effect profiles of loop diuretics with the lower, currently widely prescribed, thiazide doses are needed. Research is needed to fill gaps in knowledge and common misconceptions about loop diuretic use in hypertension and to determine their rightful place in the antihypertensive arsenal.

Versatile retraction mechanics: Implant assisted en-masse retraction with a boot loop.

PubMed

Philip, Pramod; Jose, Nidhin Philip

2015-03-01

The purpose of this paper is to explain the versatility offered by the use of arch wires with boot loops in retraction mechanics while taking direct anchorage from mini-screws. The materials include the mini screws placed at the appropriate location and retraction arches made of 0.019 X 0.025 SS with boot loops placed distal to the lateral incisors. Mini screw provides a stable anchorage for enmasse retraction of the anterior teeth with the help of a boot loop using sliding and/or loop mechanics. The arch wires with boot loops have a definite advantage over the soldered/crimpable hooks because of the versatility it offers during the process of retraction. An innovative approach combining the advantages of absolute anchorage using mini implants and a retraction arch with boot loop is presented here.

Bariatric surgery: assessing opportunities for value innovation.

PubMed

Tarantino, David P; Smith, Darlene B

2005-03-01

Obesity has been increasing over the past two decades, and the amount of medical and media attention given to bariatric surgery as a promising option for morbidly obese individuals is growing. The growth of bariatric surgery also has been attributed to improved surgical technique, the increase in surgeons trained in laparoscopic procedures, as well increased public awareness with celebrities having successfully undergone surgery. The number of surgeons and hospitals offering bariatric services is increasing. How then does a surgeon or a hospital develop a competitive strategy? The first step is to understand the health-care industry. The key forces are rivalry among present competitors, and the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers. While bariatric surgery currently is in a growth phase, time and competition will force practitioners to compete on the basis of price, unless they find true competitive advantage. Value innovation, is a means of creating new marketing space by looking across the conventionally defined boundaries of business--across substitute industries, across strategic groups, across buyer groups, across complementary product and service offerings, and across the functional-emotional orientation of an industry. One can compete by offering similar services focusing primarily on cost efficiencies as the key to profitability. Alternatively, one can break free from the pack by innovating and focusing on delivering superior value to the customer. As the market for bariatric surgery becomes increasingly overcrowded, profitable growth is not sustainable without developing a clear differential advantage in the market. Value innovation allows you to develop that advantage.

New techniques for imaging and analyzing lung tissue.

PubMed Central

Roggli, V L; Ingram, P; Linton, R W; Gutknecht, W F; Mastin, P; Shelburne, J D

1984-01-01

The recent technological revolution in the field of imaging techniques has provided pathologists and toxicologists with an expanding repertoire of analytical techniques for studying the interaction between the lung and the various exogenous materials to which it is exposed. Analytical problems requiring elemental sensitivity or specificity beyond the range of that offered by conventional scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis are particularly appropriate for the application of these newer techniques. Electron energy loss spectrometry, Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and laser microprobe mass analysis each offer unique advantages in this regard, but also possess their own limitations and disadvantages. Diffraction techniques provide crystalline structural information available through no other means. Bulk chemical techniques provide useful cross-checks on the data obtained by microanalytical approaches. It is the purpose of this review to summarize the methodology of these techniques, acknowledge situations in which they have been used in addressing problems in pulmonary toxicology, and comment on the relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach. It is necessary for an investigator to weigh each of these factors when deciding which technique is best suited for any given analytical problem; often it is useful to employ a combination of two or more of the techniques discussed. It is anticipated that there will be increasing utilization of these technologies for problems in pulmonary toxicology in the decades to come. Images FIGURE 3. A FIGURE 3. B FIGURE 3. C FIGURE 3. D FIGURE 4. FIGURE 5. FIGURE 7. A FIGURE 7. B FIGURE 8. A FIGURE 8. B FIGURE 8. C FIGURE 9. A FIGURE 9. B FIGURE 10. PMID:6090115

Hybrid boosters for future launch vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dargies, E.; Lo, R. E.

There is a striking similarity in the design of the US Space Transportation System, the European ARI-ANE 5P and the Japanese II-II: they all use a high energy cryogenic core stage along with two large solid propellant rocket boosters (SRB's) in order to provide for a high lift-off thrust level. Prior to last years disasters with Challenger and Titan it was widely held that SRB's were cheap, uncomplicated and safe. Even before the revelation by these accidents of severe safety hazards, shuttle operations demonstrated that the SRB's were by no means as cheap as reusable systems ought to be. In addition, they became known as sources of considerable environmental pollution. In contrast, hybrid rocket propulsion systems offer the following potential advantages: • much higher savety level (TNT equivalent almost zero, shut-down capability in case of ignition failure of one unit, inert against unbonding) • choice of non-toxic propellant combinations • equal or higher specific performance For these reasons, system analysis were carried out to examine hybrids as potential alternative to SRB's. Various analytical tools (mass- and performance models, trajectory simulation etc.) were developed for parametrical studies of hybrid propulsion systems. Special attention was devoted to the well-known primary concern of hybrids: geometrical design of the solid fuel grain and regression rate of the ablating surface. Experimental data were used as input wherever possible. In 1985 first studies were carried out to find possible fields of application for hybrid rocket engines. A mass model and a performance model for hybrid rocket motors were developed, taking into account the peculiarities of hybrid combustion as there are i.e. low regression rate and shifting mixture ratio during operation. After some analytical work was done, hybrids proved to be a promising alternative to SRB's. Compared with solids, hybrids offer many advantages.

The Altered Schaedler Flora: Continued Applications of a Defined Murine Microbial Community.

PubMed

Wymore Brand, Meghan; Wannemuehler, Michael J; Phillips, Gregory J; Proctor, Alexandra; Overstreet, Anne-Marie; Jergens, Albert E; Orcutt, Roger P; Fox, James G

2015-01-01

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota forms a mutualistic relationship with the host through complex and dynamic interactions. Because of the complexity and interindividual variation of the GI microbiota, investigating how members of the microbiota interact with each other, as well as with the host, is daunting. The altered Schaedler flora (ASF) is a model community of eight microorganisms that was developed by R.P. Orcutt and has been in use since the late 1970s. The eight microorganisms composing the ASF were all derived from mice, can be cultured in vitro, and are stably passed through multiple generations (at least 15 years or more by the authors) in gnotobiotic mice continually bred in isolator facilities. With the limitations associated with conventional, mono- or biassociated, and germfree mice, use of mice colonized with a consortium of known bacteria that naturally inhabit the murine gut offers a powerful system to investigate mechanisms governing host-microbiota relationships, and how members of the GI microbiota interact with one another. The ASF community offers significant advantages to study homeostatic as well as disease-related interactions by taking advantage of a well-defined, limited community of microorganisms. For example, quantification and spatial distribution of individual members, microbial genetic manipulation, genomic-scale analysis, and identification of microorganism-specific host immune responses are all achievable using the ASF model. This review compiles highlights associated with the 37-year history of the ASF, including descriptions of its continued use in biomedical research to elucidate the complexities of host-microbiome interactions in health and disease. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Electrochemical Ultracapacitors Using Graphitic Nanostacks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marotta, Christopher

2012-01-01

Electrochemical ultracapacitors (ECs) have been developed using graphitic nanostacks as the electrode material. The advantages of this technology will be the reduction of device size due to superior power densities and relative powers compared to traditional activated carbon electrodes. External testing showed that these materials display reduced discharge response times compared to state-of-the-art materials. Such applications are advantageous for pulsed power applications such as burst communications (satellites, cell phones), electromechanical actuators, and battery load leveling in electric vehicles. These carbon nanostructures are highly conductive and offer an ordered mesopore network. These attributes will provide more complete electrolyte wetting, and faster release of stored charge compared to activated carbon. Electrochemical capacitor (EC) electrode materials were developed using commercially available nanomaterials and modifying them to exploit their energy storage properties. These materials would be an improvement over current ECs that employ activated carbon as the electrode material. Commercially available graphite nanofibers (GNFs) are used as precursor materials for the synthesis of graphitic nanostacks (GNSs). These materials offer much greater surface area than graphite flakes. Additionally, these materials offer a superior electrical conductivity and a greater average pore size compared to activated carbon electrodes. The state of the art in EC development uses activated carbon (AC) as the electrode material. AC has a high surface area, but its small average pore size inhibits electrolyte ingress/egress. Additionally, AC has a higher resistivity, which generates parasitic heating in high-power applications. This work focuses on fabricating EC from carbon that has a very different structure by increasing the surface area of the GNF by intercalation or exfoliation of the graphitic basal planes. Additionally, various functionalities to the GNS surface will be added that can exhibit pseudocapacitance. This pseudocapacitance exhibits faradaic (charge transfer) properties that can further increase the overall relative and volumetric capacitance of the material. A process is also proposed to use GNF as a precursor material to fabricate GNS that will be used as EC electrodes. This results in much better electrical conductivity than activated carbon. This is advantageous for high-pulsed-power applications to reduce parasitic heating. Larger average pore size allows more complete electrolyte wetting (faster charge transfer kinetics). These properties contribute to a lowered equivalent series resistance (ESR), increased specific power, shorter charging times, and decreased parasitic heating. The high density of basal plane edges provides nucleation sites for activation (addition of hydrophilic functional groups) that facilitate electrolyte wetting, and will contribute to pseudocapacitance.

Moisturizing alcohol hand gels for surgical hand preparation.

PubMed

Jones, R D; Jampani, H; Mulberry, G; Rizer, R L

2000-03-01

With the use of novel formulary technology, unique moisturizing hand gels have been developed that offer significant advantages in perioperative and other health care settings. These advantages include the time-saving capabilities of a waterless formulation, the persistence and effectiveness of a surgical scrub, and the moisturization and protective properties of a lotion. Extensive laboratory and clinical studies, involving in vivo antimicrobial activity against resident and transient flora, skin moisturization on normal and dry skin, and compatibility with latex gloves, have supported these advantages. Nondrying alcohol hand gels can be used for antiseptic hand washing, hand scrubs between procedures (i.e., reentry scrubs), brushless surgical scrubs, moisturizers, and glove-donning aids.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Health Care Accreditation Mod-els.

PubMed

Tabrizi, Jafar S; Gharibi, Farid; Wilson, Andrew J

2011-01-01

This systematic review seeks to define the general advantages and disadvan-tages of accreditation programs to assist in choosing the most appropriate approach. Systematic search of SID, Ovid Medline & PubMed databases was conducted by the keywords of accreditation, hospital, medical practice, clinic, accreditation models, health care and Persian meanings. From 2379 initial articles, 83 articles met the full inclusion criteria. From initial analysis, 23 attributes were identified which appeared to define advantages and disadvantages of different accreditation approaches and the available systems were compared on these. Six systems were identified in the international literature including the JCAHO from USA, the Canadian program of CCHSA, and the accreditation programs of UK, Australia, New Zealand and France. The main distinguishing attributes among them were: quality improve-ment, patient and staff safety, improving health services integration, public's confi-dence, effectiveness and efficiency of health services, innovation, influence global standards, information management, breadth of activity, history, effective relationship with stakeholders, agreement with AGIL attributes and independence from government. Based on 23 attributes of comprehensive accreditation systems we have defined from a systematic review, the JCAHO accreditation program of USA and then CCHSA of Can-ada offered the most comprehensive systems with the least disadvantages. Other programs such as the ACHS of Australia, ANAES of France, QHNZ of New Zealand and UK accredita-tion programs were fairly comparable according to these criteria. However the decision for any country or health system should be based on an assessment weighing up their specific objec-tives and needs.

Additive manufacturing of tunable lenses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlichting, Katja; Novak, Tobias; Heinrich, Andreas

2017-02-01

Individual additive manufacturing of optical systems based on 3D Printing offers varied possibilities in design and usage. In addition to the additive manufacturing procedure, the usage of tunable lenses allows further advantages for intelligent optical systems. Our goal is to bring the advantages of additive manufacturing together with the huge potential of tunable lenses. We produced tunable lenses as a bundle without any further processing steps, like polishing. The lenses were designed and directly printed with a 3D Printer as a package. The design contains the membrane as an optical part as well as the mechanical parts of the lens, like the attachments for the sleeves which contain the oil. The dynamic optical lenses were filled with an oil. The focal length of the lenses changes due to a change of the radius of curvature. This change is caused by changing the pressure in the inside of the lens. In addition to that, we designed lenses with special structures to obtain different areas with an individual optical power. We want to discuss the huge potential of this technology for several applications. Further, an appropriate controlling system is needed. Wéll show the possibilities to control and regulate the optical power of the lenses. The lenses could be used for illumination tasks, and in the future, for individual measurement tasks. The main advantage is the individuality and the possibility to create an individual design which completely fulfills the requirements for any specific application.

Novel, Solvent-Free, Single Ion-Conductive Polymer Electrolytes

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

tetrahedron structure wherein no hydrogen is present. The main advantage of the use of LiBOB salt is the high ionic conductivity at low-ambient...In addition to its plasticizing effect, the LiBOB salt offers other important advantages such as: no risk of production of harmful gases and/or...6 to the (120) reflection. Increase of CP concentration up to 1:0.5 salt -to-additive ratio in the SiO2-containing PE is followed by a

Slotted Polyimide-Aerogel-Filled-Waveguide Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodriguez-Solis, Rafael A.; Pacheco, Hector L.; Miranda, Felix A.; Meador, Mary Ann B.

2013-01-01

This presentation discussed the potential advantages of developing Slotted Waveguide Arrays using polyimide aerogels. Polyimide (PI) aerogels offer great promise as an enabling technology for lightweight aerospace antenna systems. PI aerogels are highly porous solids possessing low density and low dielectric permittivity combined with good mechanical properties. For slotted waveguide array applications, there are significant advantages in mass that more than compensate for the slightly higher loss of the aerogel filled waveguide when compared to state of practice commercial waveguide.

The Kra Canal: An Analysis of a Foreign Policy Alternative for the United States Navy in the Indian Ocean

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-03-01

construction and operation of the canal. The minimal advantages offered by the canal over the existing passages through the Malay Peninsula-Indonesian...was analyzed with respect to the advantages and costs that would result from U.S. participa- tion in the construction and operation of the canal. The...Present Status of the Canal -------------- 28 3. Motivating Factors for the Canal ..........- 31 4. Construction ----------------------------- 34 5

Computerized Production Process Planning. Volume 2. Benefit Analysis.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-11-01

advantage , in the long term, Systems 2 and 3 will return greater economic benefits . Plots of the cumulative present value of the cash flow by year are...is economically viable for large parts manufac- turers and does offer significant advantages over Systems I and 2 in terms of intangible benefits ...AD-RI51 996 COMPUTERIZED PRODUCTION PROCESS PLANNING VOLUME 2 i/1.. BENEFIT ANRLYSIS(U) IIT RESEARCH INST CHICRGO IL SH H HU ET AL. NOV 76 DAAHNi-76

Determination of a Jet Fuel Metal Deactivator by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-01

bonded phase chromatography (Reference 2). 73 AFWAL-TR-82-2128 Bonded phase packings offer distinct advantages over other packings: a. Irreversible...were then oven dried and placed in a dessicator for cooling and storage until use. The bottles were subsequently silanized with "Glas-TREET" ( Alltech ... advantages of a loop injector are: (1) The volume injected is far more repeatable since a fixed volume loop has a constant volume and is flushed with a

Occam’s Quantum Strop: Synchronizing and Compressing Classical Cryptic Processes via a Quantum Channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahoney, John R.; Aghamohammadi, Cina; Crutchfield, James P.

2016-02-01

A stochastic process’ statistical complexity stands out as a fundamental property: the minimum information required to synchronize one process generator to another. How much information is required, though, when synchronizing over a quantum channel? Recent work demonstrated that representing causal similarity as quantum state-indistinguishability provides a quantum advantage. We generalize this to synchronization and offer a sequence of constructions that exploit extended causal structures, finding substantial increase of the quantum advantage. We demonstrate that maximum compression is determined by the process’ cryptic order-a classical, topological property closely allied to Markov order, itself a measure of historical dependence. We introduce an efficient algorithm that computes the quantum advantage and close noting that the advantage comes at a cost-one trades off prediction for generation complexity.

Occam's Quantum Strop: Synchronizing and Compressing Classical Cryptic Processes via a Quantum Channel.

PubMed

Mahoney, John R; Aghamohammadi, Cina; Crutchfield, James P

2016-02-15

A stochastic process' statistical complexity stands out as a fundamental property: the minimum information required to synchronize one process generator to another. How much information is required, though, when synchronizing over a quantum channel? Recent work demonstrated that representing causal similarity as quantum state-indistinguishability provides a quantum advantage. We generalize this to synchronization and offer a sequence of constructions that exploit extended causal structures, finding substantial increase of the quantum advantage. We demonstrate that maximum compression is determined by the process' cryptic order--a classical, topological property closely allied to Markov order, itself a measure of historical dependence. We introduce an efficient algorithm that computes the quantum advantage and close noting that the advantage comes at a cost-one trades off prediction for generation complexity.

Decoupling structural and environmental determinants of sap velocity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caylor, K. K.; Dragoni, D.

2007-12-01

Characterization of transpiration based on the water use of individual tress has the advantage of preserving vital information on the plant-environment functional links and flux partitioning between species and landscape areas. Whole-tree transpiration has been estimated by means of sap velocity probes, which offer the dual advantages of practicality and repeatability. However, the assumptions underlying the technique require careful verification in order to determine total sap flow from point-based estimates of sap velocity. Our work presents a novel theoretical framework for the study of individual tree sap flow that incorporates both spatial and temporal variability in sap velocities. The instantaneous sap velocity at any point in the radial profile of xylem tissue is defined as the product of two components: (1) a time-invariant sap velocity distribution linked to the species- specific anatomical and structural properties of the conducting xylem, and (2) a time-varying term linked to the dynamics of the atmospheric water demand and available soil moisture. The separation of structural and temporal variation in sap velocity observations provides a direct mechanism for investigating how sap flow is governed by variation in environmental conditions as well as a means for comparing characteristic rates of plant water use among individuals of varying size. Most critically, this approach allows for a consistent and physically meaningful method for extrapolating point observations of sap velocity across the entire depth of conducting xylem. Experimental evidence supports our theoretical framework in the case of a population of sugar maples in a mixed deciduous forest, where observations were taken from a wide range of tree sizes, under varying soil water availability and atmospheric transpiration demand. We have also applied our approach to a small homogeneous sample of dwarf apple trees in a managed orchard, with favorable results. While these results require further confirmation in order to be generalized, they nevertheless offer the basis to improve both the specific sampling strategies used to estimate whole-tree transpiration using sap velocity probes as well as methods employed to upscale water use of individual trees to larger scales for evaluation of landscape water balance.

Patient-specific instruments: advantages and pitfalls

PubMed Central

Hafez, Mahmoud A.; Moholkar, Kirti

2017-01-01

Patient-specific instruments (PSI) aim to improve the accuracy of total knee replacement (TKR) based on computer-assisted preoperative planning. In this work, the authors describe the advantages and pitfalls of PSI based on their clinical experience. The main conclusion of this work is that PSI has direct impact on the logistical and technical features of TKR with some advantages and pitfalls. PMID:29227785

Field emitter displays for future avionics applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Susan K.; Jones, Gary W.; Zimmerman, Steven M.; Blazejewski, Edward R.

1995-06-01

Field emitter array-based display technology offers CRT-like characteristics in a thin flat-panel display with many potential applications for vehicle-mounted, crew workstation, and helmet-mounted displays, as well as many other military and commercial applications. In addition to thinness, high brightness, wide viewing angle, wide temperature range, and low weight, field emitter array displays also offer potential advantages such as row-at-a-time matrix addressability and the ability to be segmented.

Social network of an internationally connected nurse leader.

PubMed

Benton, David

2016-03-01

Over the past decade, there has been a proliferation of social media sites offering the opportunity for colleagues to connect with each other locally, nationally and internationally. Meanwhile, nurses have been increasingly using social network analytical techniques to look at team functioning and communication pathways. This article uses the author's LinkedIn social network to illustrate how analysis can offer insights into the connections, and how the results can be used to professional advantage.

From enumeration districts to output areas: experiments in the automated creation of a census output geography.

PubMed

Martin, D

1997-01-01

This article briefly reviews the advantages of using separate geographies for census enumeration and output, and explains how a geographical information system is being used for the planning of enumeration districts for the 1997 Census Test. Experimental work is described which offers the potential to automatically create a new output geography, formed from aggregations of unit postcodes, and which offers control over output area population and boundaries.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed SWMM5 Model Data Analysis and Future Recommendations

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-07-01

comprehensive inventory of data inconsistencies without a source data inventory. To solve this problem, MCWD needs to develop a detailed, georeferenced, GIS...LMCW models, USACE recommends that MCWD keep the SWMM5 models separated instead of combining them into one comprehensive SWMM5 model for the entire...SWMM5 geometry. SWMM5 offers three routing methods: steady flow, kinematic wave, and dynamic wave. Each method offers advantages and disadvantages and

Enabling Professionalism: The Master Technician Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wimmer, Doris K.

1988-01-01

Describes Virginia's Master Technician Program, which offers a comprehensive coordinated curriculum in electronics/electromechanical technology that spans high school and community college levels of instruction. Highlights innovations of the project, curriculum design, advantages, and future projections. (DMM)

Your Medicare Benefits

MedlinePlus

... health plans include all Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Cost Plans, and Demonstration/Pilot Programs. PACE plans can be offered by public or private entities and provide Part D and other benefits in addition to Part A and Part B ...

Evaluation of continuity detail for precast prestressed girders.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-08-01

The construction of highway bridges using precast prestressed concrete (PSC) girders is considered one of the most : economical construction alternatives because of the advantages they offer (e.g. reducing formwork and rapid construction). : Construc...

Performance Assessment of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) Pavements

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-09-01

Abstract : Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) is a new technology that was introduced in Europe in 1995. WMA offers several advantages over : conventional asphalt concrete mixtures, including: reduced energy consumption, reduced emissions, improved or more unifo...

Performance assessment of warm mix asphalt (WMA) pavements.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-09-01

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) is a new technology that was introduced in Europe in 1995. WMA offers several advantages over : conventional asphalt concrete mixtures, including: reduced energy consumption, reduced emissions, improved or more uniform : binder...

METABOLOMICS IN SMALL FISH TOXICOLOGY AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS

EPA Science Inventory

Although lagging behind applications targeted to human endpoints, metabolomics offers great potential in environmental applications, including ecotoxicology. Indeed, the advantages of metabolomics (relative to other 'omic techniques) may be more tangible in ecotoxicology because...

The Role of the Network in Automated Acquisitions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madden, Mary A.

1980-01-01

This examination of the acquisitions services offered by networks, the not-for-profit bibliographic services, stresses significant characteristics inherent in their structure and functions, and contrasts advantages and disadvantages for individual libraries. (Author/RAA)

Chemical Strips Anodic Film From Aluminum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eichinger, Eric C.

1993-01-01

Phosphoric acid solution offers advantages over other stripping solutions. More effective than other strippers and safer to use. Relatively environmentally benign, phosphoric acid stripper ceases its chemical attack so less process control is needed in its use.

OUT Success Stories: Solar Roofing Shingles

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Johnson, N.

2000-08-01

Thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells are now doubling as rooftop shingles. PV shingles offer many advantages. The energy generated from a building's PV rooftop shingles can provide power both to the building and the utility's power grid.

Routine health insurance data for scientific research: potential and limitations of the Agis Health Database.

PubMed

Smeets, Hugo M; de Wit, Niek J; Hoes, Arno W

2011-04-01

Observational studies performed within routine health care databases have the advantage of their large size and, when the aim is to assess the effect of interventions, can offer a completion to randomized controlled trials with usually small samples from experimental situations. Institutional Health Insurance Databases (HIDs) are attractive for research because of their large size, their longitudinal perspective, and their practice-based information. As they are based on financial reimbursement, the information is generally reliable. The database of one of the major insurance companies in the Netherlands, the Agis Health Database (AHD), is described in detail. Whether the AHD data sets meet the specific requirements to conduct several types of clinical studies is discussed according to the classification of the four different types of clinical research; that is, diagnostic, etiologic, prognostic, and intervention research. The potential of the AHD for these various types of research is illustrated using examples of studies recently conducted in the AHD. HIDs such as the AHD offer large potential for several types of clinical research, in particular etiologic and intervention studies, but at present the lack of detailed clinical information is an important limitation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Training the Internist for Primary Care: A View From Nevada

PubMed Central

Kurtz, Kenneth J.

1982-01-01

The recent establishment of primary care residencies at the University of Nevada School of Medicine has raised important questions about local priorities in the training of physicians to provide primary care for adults. Because the amount of money available for health care training is decreasing, these questions also have national importance. Primary care internal medicine, not synonymous with general internal medicine, offers distinct advantages to patients over family practice adult care and primary care offered by internist subspecialists. The University of Nevada has a singular opportunity to organize a strong primary care internal medicine residency, but national problems of internal medicine emphasis exist. Nationwide changes in internal medicine residency programs (ongoing) and American Board of Internal Medicine nationalization of the fledgling primary care internal medicine fellowship movement are suggested. Specifically proposed is an extra year for primary care training with a single examination after four years, producing general internists with a primary care “minor.” Alternately, and ideally, there would be a full two-year primary care fellowship with a separate internal medicine primary care subspecialty board examination. Either of the above options would provide necessary training and academic credibility for primary care internists, and would redirect internal medicine certification and training. PMID:7072246

Training the internist for primary care: a view from Nevada.

PubMed

Kurtz, K J

1982-01-01

The recent establishment of primary care residencies at the University of Nevada School of Medicine has raised important questions about local priorities in the training of physicians to provide primary care for adults. Because the amount of money available for health care training is decreasing, these questions also have national importance. Primary care internal medicine, not synonymous with general internal medicine, offers distinct advantages to patients over family practice adult care and primary care offered by internist subspecialists. The University of Nevada has a singular opportunity to organize a strong primary care internal medicine residency, but national problems of internal medicine emphasis exist. Nationwide changes in internal medicine residency programs (ongoing) and American Board of Internal Medicine nationalization of the fledgling primary care internal medicine fellowship movement are suggested. Specifically proposed is an extra year for primary care training with a single examination after four years, producing general internists with a primary care "minor." Alternately, and ideally, there would be a full two-year primary care fellowship with a separate internal medicine primary care subspecialty board examination. Either of the above options would provide necessary training and academic credibility for primary care internists, and would redirect internal medicine certification and training.

Development of an LC-MS based enzyme activity assay for MurC: application to evaluation of inhibitors and kinetic analysis.

PubMed

Deng, Gejing; Gu, Rong-Fang; Marmor, Stephen; Fisher, Stewart L; Jahic, Haris; Sanyal, Gautam

2004-06-29

An enzyme activity assay, based on mass spectrometric (MS) detection of specific reaction product following HPLC separation, has been developed to evaluate pharmaceutical hits identified from primary high throughput screening (HTS) against target enzyme Escherichia coli UDP-N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanine ligase (MurC), an essential enzyme in the bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway, and to study the kinetics of the enzyme. A comparative analysis of this new liquid chromatographic-MS (LC-MS) based assay with a conventional spectrophotometric Malachite Green (MG) assay, which detects phosphate produced in the reaction, was performed. The results demonstrated that the LC-MS assay, which determines specific ligase activity of MurC, offers several advantages including a lower background (0.2% versus 26%), higher sensitivity (> or = 10 fold), lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) (0.02 microM versus 1 microM) and wider linear dynamic range (> or = 4 fold) than the MG assay. Good precision for the LC-MS assay was demonstrated by the low intraday and interday coefficient of variation (CV) values (3 and 6%, respectively). The LC-MS assay, free of the artifacts often seen in the Malachite Green assay, offers a valuable secondary assay for hit evaluation in which the false positives from the primary high throughput screening can be eliminated. In addition, the applicability of this assay to the study of enzyme kinetics has also been demonstrated. Copyright 2004 Elsevier B.V.

Manipulating heat shock protein expression in laboratory animals.

PubMed

Tolson, J Keith; Roberts, Stephen M

2005-02-01

Upregulation of heat shock proteins (Hsps) has been observed to impart resistance to a wide variety of physical and chemical insults. Elucidation of the role of Hsps in cellular defense processes depends, in part, on the ability to manipulate Hsp expression in laboratory animals. Simple methods of inducing whole body hyperthermia, such as warm water immersion or heating pad application, are effective in producing generalized expression of Hsps. Hsps can be upregulated locally with focused direct or indirect heating, such as with ultrasound or with laser or microwave radiation. Increased Hsp expression in response to toxic doses of xenobiotics has been commonly observed. Some pharmacologic agents are capable of altering Hsps more specifically by affecting processes involved in Hsp regulation. Gene manipulation offers the ability to selectively increase or decrease individual Hsps. Knockout mouse strains and Hsp-overexpressing transgenics have been used successfully to examine the role of specific Hsps in protection against hyperthermia, chemical insults, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Gene therapy approaches also offer the possibility of selective alteration of Hsp expression. Some methods of increasing Hsp expression have application in specialized areas of research, such cold response, myocardial protection from exercise, and responses to stressful or traumatic stimuli. Each method of manipulating Hsp expression in laboratory animals has advantages and disadvantages, and selection of the best method depends upon the experimental objectives (e.g., the alteration in Hsp expression needed, its timing, and its location) and resources available.

Flight instruments and helmet-mounted SWIR imaging systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Tim; Green, John; Jacobson, Mickey; Grabski, Greg

2011-06-01

Night vision technology has experienced significant advances in the last two decades. Night vision goggles (NVGs) based on gallium arsenide (GaAs) continues to raise the bar for alternative technologies. Resolution, gain, sensitivity have all improved; the image quality through these devices is nothing less than incredible. Panoramic NVGs and enhanced NVGs are examples of recent advances that increase the warfighter capabilities. Even with these advances, alternative night vision devices such as solid-state indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) focal plane arrays are under development for helmet-mounted imaging systems. The InGaAs imaging system offers advantages over the existing NVGs. Two key advantages are; (1) the new system produces digital image data, and (2) the new system is sensitive to energy in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrum. While it is tempting to contrast the performance of these digital systems to the existing NVGs, the advantage of different spectral detection bands leads to the conclusion that the technologies are less competitive and more synergistic. It is likely, by the end of the decade, pilots within a cockpit will use multi-band devices. As such, flight decks will need to be compatible with both NVGs and SWIR imaging systems. Insertion of NVGs in aircraft during the late 70's and early 80's resulted in many "lessons learned" concerning instrument compatibility with NVGs. These "lessons learned" ultimately resulted in specifications such as MIL-L-85762A and MIL-STD-3009. These specifications are now used throughout industry to produce NVG-compatible illuminated instruments and displays for both military and civilian applications. Inserting a SWIR imaging device in a cockpit will require similar consideration. A project evaluating flight deck instrument compatibility with SWIR devices is currently ongoing; aspects of this evaluation are described in this paper. This project is sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Purification and Kinetics of Higher Plant NADH:Nitrate Reductase.

PubMed

Campbell, W H; Smarrelli, J

1978-04-01

Squash cotyledon (Cucurbita pepo L.) NADH:nitrate reductase (NR) was purified 150-fold with 50% recovery by a single step procedure based on the affinity of the NR for blue-Sepharose. Blue-Sepharose, which is prepared by direct coupling of Cibacron blue to Sepharose, appears to bind squash NR at the NADH site. The NR can be purified in 2 to 3 hours to a specific activity of 2 mumol of NADH oxidized/minute * milligram of protein. Corn (Zea mays L.) leaf NR was also purified to a specific activity of 6.9 mumol of NADH oxidized/minute * milligram of protein using a blue-Sepharose affinity step. The blue-Sepharose method offers the advantages of a rapid purification of plant NR to a high specific activity with reasonable recovery of total activity.The kinetic mechanism of higher plant NR was investigated using these highly purified squash and corn NR preparations. Based on initial velocity and product inhibition studies utilizing both enzymes, a two-site ping-pong mechanism is proposed for NR. This kinetic mechanism incorporates the concept of the reduced NR transferring electrons from the NADH site to a physically separated nitrate site.

High-resolution community profiling of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

PubMed

Schlaeppi, Klaus; Bender, S Franz; Mascher, Fabio; Russo, Giancarlo; Patrignani, Andrea; Camenzind, Tessa; Hempel, Stefan; Rillig, Matthias C; van der Heijden, Marcel G A

2016-11-01

Community analyses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) using ribosomal small subunit (SSU) or internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequences often suffer from low resolution or coverage. We developed a novel sequencing based approach for a highly resolving and specific profiling of AMF communities. We took advantage of previously established AMF-specific PCR primers that amplify a c. 1.5-kb long fragment covering parts of SSU, ITS and parts of the large ribosomal subunit (LSU), and we sequenced the resulting amplicons with single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. The method was applicable to soil and root samples, detected all major AMF families and successfully discriminated closely related AMF species, which would not be discernible using SSU sequences. In inoculation tests we could trace the introduced AMF inoculum at the molecular level. One of the introduced strains almost replaced the local strain(s), revealing that AMF inoculation can have a profound impact on the native community. The methodology presented offers researchers a powerful new tool for AMF community analysis because it unifies improved specificity and enhanced resolution, whereas the drawback of medium sequencing throughput appears of lesser importance for low-diversity groups such as AMF. © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

IgY antibodies in human nutrition for disease prevention.

PubMed

Müller, Sandra; Schubert, Andreas; Zajac, Julia; Dyck, Terry; Oelkrug, Christopher

2015-10-20

Oral administration of preformed specific antibodies is an attractive approach against infections of the digestive system in humans and animals in times of increasing antibiotic resistances. Previous studies showed a positive effect of egg yolk IgY antibodies on bacterial intoxications in animals and humans. Immunization of chickens with specific antigens offers the possibility to create various forms of antibodies. Research shows that orally applied IgY's isolated from egg yolks can passively cure or prevent diseases of the digestive system. The use of these alternative therapeutic drugs provides further advantages: (1) The production of IgY's is a non-invasive alternative to current methods; (2) The keeping of chickens is inexpensive; (3) The animals are easy to handle; (4) It avoids repetitive bleeding of laboratory animals; (5) It is also very cost effective regarding the high IgY concentration within the egg yolk. Novel targets of these antigen specific antibodies are Helicobacter pylori and also molecules involved in signaling pathways in gastric cancer. Furthermore, also dental caries causing bacteria like Streptococcus mutans or opportunistic Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients are possible targets. Therefore, IgY's included in food for human consumption may be able to prevent or cure human diseases.

Systematic identification of latent disease-gene associations from PubMed articles.

PubMed

Zhang, Yuji; Shen, Feichen; Mojarad, Majid Rastegar; Li, Dingcheng; Liu, Sijia; Tao, Cui; Yu, Yue; Liu, Hongfang

2018-01-01

Recent scientific advances have accumulated a tremendous amount of biomedical knowledge providing novel insights into the relationship between molecular and cellular processes and diseases. Literature mining is one of the commonly used methods to retrieve and extract information from scientific publications for understanding these associations. However, due to large data volume and complicated associations with noises, the interpretability of such association data for semantic knowledge discovery is challenging. In this study, we describe an integrative computational framework aiming to expedite the discovery of latent disease mechanisms by dissecting 146,245 disease-gene associations from over 25 million of PubMed indexed articles. We take advantage of both Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) modeling and network-based analysis for their capabilities of detecting latent associations and reducing noises for large volume data respectively. Our results demonstrate that (1) the LDA-based modeling is able to group similar diseases into disease topics; (2) the disease-specific association networks follow the scale-free network property; (3) certain subnetwork patterns were enriched in the disease-specific association networks; and (4) genes were enriched in topic-specific biological processes. Our approach offers promising opportunities for latent disease-gene knowledge discovery in biomedical research.

Systematic identification of latent disease-gene associations from PubMed articles

PubMed Central

Mojarad, Majid Rastegar; Li, Dingcheng; Liu, Sijia; Tao, Cui; Yu, Yue; Liu, Hongfang

2018-01-01

Recent scientific advances have accumulated a tremendous amount of biomedical knowledge providing novel insights into the relationship between molecular and cellular processes and diseases. Literature mining is one of the commonly used methods to retrieve and extract information from scientific publications for understanding these associations. However, due to large data volume and complicated associations with noises, the interpretability of such association data for semantic knowledge discovery is challenging. In this study, we describe an integrative computational framework aiming to expedite the discovery of latent disease mechanisms by dissecting 146,245 disease-gene associations from over 25 million of PubMed indexed articles. We take advantage of both Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) modeling and network-based analysis for their capabilities of detecting latent associations and reducing noises for large volume data respectively. Our results demonstrate that (1) the LDA-based modeling is able to group similar diseases into disease topics; (2) the disease-specific association networks follow the scale-free network property; (3) certain subnetwork patterns were enriched in the disease-specific association networks; and (4) genes were enriched in topic-specific biological processes. Our approach offers promising opportunities for latent disease-gene knowledge discovery in biomedical research. PMID:29373609

Possibilities for specific utilization of material properties for an optimal part design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beier, T.; Gerlach, J.; Roettger, R.; Kuhn, P.

2017-09-01

High-strength, cold-formable steels offer great potential for meeting cost and safety requirements in the automotive industry. In view of strengths of up to 1200 MPa now attainable, certain aspects need to be analysed and evaluated in advance in the development process using these materials. In addition to early assessment of crash properties, it is also highly important to adapt the forming process to match the material potential. The steel making companies have widened their portfolios of cold-rolled dual-phase steels well beyond the conventional high-strength steels. There are added new grades which offer a customized selection of high energy absorption, deformation resistance or enhanced cold-forming properties. In this article the necessary components for material modelling for finite element simulation are discussed. Additionally the required tests for material model calibration are presented and the potentials of the thyssenkrupp Steel material data base are introduced. Besides classical tensile tests at different angles to rolling direction and the forming limit curve, the hydraulic bulge test is now available for a wide range of modern steel grades. Using the conventional DP-K®60/98 and the DP-K®700Y980T with higher yield strength the method for calibrating yield locus, hardening and formability is given. With reference to the examples of an A-pillar reinforcement and different crash tests the procedure is shown how the customer can evaluate an optimal steel grade for specific requirements. Although the investigated materials have different yield strengths, no large differences in the forming process between the two steel grades can be found. However some advantages of the high-yield grade can be detected in crash performance depending on the specific boundary and loading conditions.

Nanosilver conductive ink: A case study for evaluating the potential risk of nanotechnology under hypothetical use scenarios.

PubMed

Martin, David P; Melby, Nicolas L; Jordan, Shinita M; Bednar, Anthony J; Kennedy, Alan J; Negrete, Maria E; Chappell, Mark A; Poda, Aimee R

2016-11-01

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are being incorporated into a variety of consumer products due to unique properties that offer a variety of advantages over bulk materials. Understanding of the nano-specific risk associated with nano-enabled technologies, however, continues to lag behind research and development, registration with regulators, and commercialization. One example of a nano-enabled technology is nanosilver ink, which can be used in commercial ink-jet printers for the development of low-cost printable electronics. This investigation utilizes a tiered EHS framework to evaluate the potential nano-specific release, exposure and hazard associated with typical use of both nanosilver ink and printed circuits. The framework guides determination of the potential for ENM release from both forms of the technology in simulated use scenarios, including spilling of the ink, aqueous release (washing) from the circuits and UV light exposure. The as-supplied ink merits nano-specific consideration based on the presence of nanoparticles and their persistence in environmentally-relevant media. The material released from the printed circuits upon aqueous exposure was characterized by a number of analysis techniques, including ultracentrifugation and single particle ICP-MS, and the results suggest that a vast majority of the material was ionic in nature and nano-specific regulatory scrutiny may be less relevant. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Recent Trends in Salmonella Outbreaks and Emerging Technology for Biocontrol of Salmonella Using Phages in Foods: A Review.

PubMed

Oh, Jun-Hyun; Park, Mi-Kyung

2017-12-28

Salmonella is one of the principal causes of foodborne outbreaks. As traditional control methods have shown less efficacy against emerging Salmonella serotypes or antimicrobialresistant Salmonella , new approaches have been attempted. The use of lytic phages for the biocontrol of Salmonella in the food industry has become an attractive method owing to the many advantages offered by the use of phages as biocontrol agents. Phages are natural alternatives to traditional antimicrobial agents; they have proven effective in the control of bacterial pathogens in the food industry, which has led to the development of different phage products. The treatment with specific phages in the food industry can prevent the decay of products and the spread of bacterial diseases, and ultimately promotes safe environments for animal and plant food production, processing, and handling. After an extensive investigation of the current literature, this review focuses predominantly on the efficacy of phages for the successful control of Salmonella spp. in foods. This review also addresses the current knowledge on the pathogenic characteristics of Salmonella , the prevalence of emerging Salmonella outbreaks, the isolation and characterization of Salmonella -specific phages, the effectiveness of Salmonella -specific phages as biocontrol agents, and the prospective use of Salmonella -specific phages in the food industry.

Femtosecond laser direct writing of monocrystalline hexagonal silver prisms

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

Vora, Kevin; Kang, SeungYeon; Moebius, Michael

Bottom-up growth methods and top-down patterning techniques are both used to fabricate metal nanostructures, each with a distinct advantage: One creates crystalline structures and the other offers precise positioning. Here, we present a technique that localizes the growth of metal crystals to the focal volume of a laser beam, combining advantages from both approaches. We report the fabrication of silver nanoprisms—hexagonal nanoscale silver crystals—through irradiation with focused femtosecond laser pulses. The growth of these nanoprisms is due to a nonlinear optical interaction between femtosecond laser pulses and a polyvinylpyrrolidone film doped with silver nitrate. The hexagonal nanoprisms have bases hundredsmore » of nanometers in size and the crystal growth occurs over exposure times of less than 1 ms (8 orders of magnitude faster than traditional chemical techniques). Electron backscatter diffraction analysis shows that the hexagonal nanoprisms are monocrystalline. The fabrication method combines advantages from both wet chemistry and femtosecond laser direct-writing to grow silver crystals in targeted locations. The results presented in this letter offer an approach to directly positioning and growing silver crystals on a substrate, which can be used for plasmonic devices.« less

Utilization of robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty for soft tissue protection.

PubMed

Sultan, Assem A; Piuzzi, Nicolas; Khlopas, Anton; Chughtai, Morad; Sodhi, Nipun; Mont, Michael A

2017-12-01

Despite the well-established success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), iatrogenic ligamentous and soft tissue injuries are infrequent, but potential complications that can have devastating impact on clinical outcomes. These injuries are often related to technical errors and excessive soft tissue manipulation, particularly during bony resections. Recently, robotic-arm assisted TKA was introduced and demonstrated promising results with potential technical advantages over manual surgery in implant positioning and mechanical accuracy. Furthermore, soft tissue protection is an additional potential advantage offered by these systems that can reduce inadvertent human technical errors encountered during standard manual resections. Therefore, due to the relative paucity of literature, we attempted to answer the following questions: 1) does robotic-arm assisted TKA offer a technical advantage that allows enhanced soft tissue protection? 2) What is the available evidence about soft tissue protection? Recently introduced models of robotic-arm assisted TKA systems with advanced technology showed promising clinical outcomes and soft tissue protection in the short- and mid-term follow-up with results comparable or superior to manual TKA. In this review, we attempted to explore this dimension of robotics in TKA and investigate the soft tissue related complications currently reported in the literature.

Specular Reflection of Sunlight from Earth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varnai, T.; Marshak, A.

2018-02-01

The Deep Space Gateway vantage point offers advantages in observing specular reflection from water surfaces or ice crystals in clouds. Such data can give information on clouds and atmospheric aerosols, and help test algorithms of future exoplanet characterization.

Discouraging Cheating

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fogg, Richard

1976-01-01

The suggestions offered in this article are about what to do with students who cheat and to discuss in a deeper way than usually occurs the various possible consequences of cheating and to compare them with the advantages of cheating. (Author/RK)

Computer Information Retrieval for Journalists.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodewald, Pam

1989-01-01

Discusses the use of computer information retrieval (on-line electronic search methods). Examines advantages and disadvantages of on-line searching versus manual searching. Offers questions to help in the decision to purchase and use on-line searching with students. (MS)

How Telecommuting Transforms Work.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hequet, Marc

1994-01-01

Looks at the advantages--increased productivity and compliance with federal clean air regulations--and disadvantages--cost of setting up telecommunications and distractions at home--of telecommuting and the management issues involved. Offers suggestions for setting up a telecommuting program. (JOW)

MDOT implementation plan for GPS technology in planning, design, and construction delivery

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-13

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology offers advantages to transportation agencies in the planning, design and construction stages of project delivery. This research study will develop a guide for Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) ...

Phase I development of an aesthetic, precast concrete bridge rail.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-02-01

Precast concrete bridge rail systems offer several advantages over traditional cast-in-place rail designs, including reduced construction : time and costs, installation in a wide range of environmental conditions, easier maintenance and repair, impro...

Potential of vegetable oils for lubricants

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Vegetable oils offer significant advantages in terms of resource renewability, biodegradability, and comparable performance properties to petroleum-based products. The petroleum-based lubricants render unfavorable impact on the environment. With the growing environmental concerns, seed oils are find...

Semi-Automated Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic System for Inspecting Tires

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-07-01

A nondestructive tire-testing system has been developed using the pulse-echo ultrasonic technique, which offers substantial advantages over all other physical nondestructive-testing methods and shows promise of reducing the cost of production-tire in...

Hygrothermal effects on durability and moisture kinetics of fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-06-01

Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites offer many advantages over conventional materials for : applications in the marine and civil infrastructure areas. Their increasing widespread use emphasizes the : need to predict their performance over long ...

METHODS FOR PEROXIDES

EPA Science Inventory

The application of ozone as an alternative disinfectant for drinking water treatment has received increased attention in recent years. Ozone offers advantages for water treatment such as removal of taste and odor compounds, some dissolved inorganics and even color, which makes i...

Privacy Enhancements for Inexact Biometric Templates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratha, Nalini; Chikkerur, Sharat; Connell, Jonathan; Bolle, Ruud

Traditional authentication schemes utilize tokens or depend on some secret knowledge possessed by the user for verifying his or her identity. Although these techniques are widely used, they have several limitations. Both tokenand knowledge-based approaches cannot differentiate between an authorized user and an impersonator having access to the tokens or passwords. Biometrics-based authentication schemes overcome these limitations while offering usability advantages in the area of password management. However, despite its obvious advantages, the use of biometrics raises several security and privacy concerns.

Tomographic quantum cryptography: equivalence of quantum and classical key distillation.

PubMed

Bruss, Dagmar; Christandl, Matthias; Ekert, Artur; Englert, Berthold-Georg; Kaszlikowski, Dagomir; Macchiavello, Chiara

2003-08-29

The security of a cryptographic key that is generated by communication through a noisy quantum channel relies on the ability to distill a shorter secure key sequence from a longer insecure one. For an important class of protocols, which exploit tomographically complete measurements on entangled pairs of any dimension, we show that the noise threshold for classical advantage distillation is identical with the threshold for quantum entanglement distillation. As a consequence, the two distillation procedures are equivalent: neither offers a security advantage over the other.

The role of EVA on Space Shuttle. [experimental support and maintenance activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carson, M. A.

1974-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to present the history of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) through the Skylab Program and to outline the expected tasks and equipment capabilities projected for the Space Shuttle Program. Advantages offered by EVA as a tool to extend payload capabilities and effectiveness and economic advantages of using EVA will be explored. The presentation will conclude with some guidelines and recommendations for consideration by payload investigators in establishing concepts and designs utilizing EVA support.

Materials for pharmaceutical dosage forms: molecular pharmaceutics and controlled release drug delivery aspects.

PubMed

Mansour, Heidi M; Sohn, Minji; Al-Ghananeem, Abeer; Deluca, Patrick P

2010-09-15

Controlled release delivery is available for many routes of administration and offers many advantages (as microparticles and nanoparticles) over immediate release delivery. These advantages include reduced dosing frequency, better therapeutic control, fewer side effects, and, consequently, these dosage forms are well accepted by patients. Advances in polymer material science, particle engineering design, manufacture, and nanotechnology have led the way to the introduction of several marketed controlled release products and several more are in pre-clinical and clinical development.

Materials for Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Molecular Pharmaceutics and Controlled Release Drug Delivery Aspects

PubMed Central

Mansour, Heidi M.; Sohn, MinJi; Al-Ghananeem, Abeer; DeLuca, Patrick P.

2010-01-01

Controlled release delivery is available for many routes of administration and offers many advantages (as microparticles and nanoparticles) over immediate release delivery. These advantages include reduced dosing frequency, better therapeutic control, fewer side effects, and, consequently, these dosage forms are well accepted by patients. Advances in polymer material science, particle engineering design, manufacture, and nanotechnology have led the way to the introduction of several marketed controlled release products and several more are in pre-clinical and clinical development. PMID:20957095

The Military Survivor Benefit Plan: How Much Does It Benefit the Retiree?

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-12-01

advantages . Chapter V offers conclusions and recommendations. 4 I II. What is the Survivor Benefit Plan This chapter briefly traces military survivor...basis, founded upon the relation of parties to each other, either pecuniary or of blood or affinity, to expect some benefit or advantage from the...AFIT/GOR/SM/79D-9 THE MILITARY SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN: HOW MUCH DOES IT BENEFIT THE RETIREE THESIS AFIT/GOR/SM /79D-9 Thomas L. Wade Captain USAF ,zkC

Plasma filtering techniques for nuclear waste remediation

DOE PAGES

Gueroult, Renaud; Hobbs, David T.; Fisch, Nathaniel J.

2015-04-24

Nuclear waste cleanup is challenged by the handling of feed stocks that are both unknown and complex. Plasma filtering, operating on dissociated elements, offers advantages over chemical methods in processing such wastes. The costs incurred by plasma mass filtering for nuclear waste pretreatment, before ultimate disposal, are similar to those for chemical pretreatment. However, significant savings might be achieved in minimizing the waste mass. As a result, this advantage may be realized over a large range of chemical waste compositions, thereby addressing the heterogeneity of legacy nuclear waste.

Experiences Gained Creating a Biophysics Major at a Predominately Undergraduate Institution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Link, Justin; Herbert, Steven

2014-03-01

Xavier University, a liberal arts predominately undergraduate institution (PUI) located in Cincinnati, OH, implemented a Biophysics major in the Department of Physics in spring 2012. The program is built upon foundational physics courses and is unique due to the possible selection of upper-division courses that students elect to take towards their undergraduate degree. A capstone course is offered to bring all prior knowledge in the fundamental sciences together to approach complex problems in biology. Due to the flexibility of the program, it serves students well who are interested in pursuing advanced degrees in Biophysics or Biomedical Engineering. It also offers students interested in the health professions an alternate path towards medical school which can be advantageous in the application process. This session will express some of the advantages and challenges to creating such a program at a liberal arts PUI and discuss the capstone course within the major.

Atom Interferometry for Detection of Gravitational Waves: Progress and Prospects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hogan, Jason

2015-04-01

Gravitational wave astronomy promises to provide a new window into the universe, collecting information about astrophysical systems and cosmology that is difficult or impossible to acquire by other methods. Detector designs based on atom interferometry offer a number of advantages over traditional approaches, including access to conventionally inaccessible frequency ranges and substantially reduced antenna baselines. Atomic physics techniques also make it possible to build a gravitational wave detector with a single linear baseline, potentially offering advantages in cost and design flexibility. In support of these proposals, recent progress in long baseline atom interferometry has enabled observation of matter wave interference with atomic wavepacket separations exceeding 10 cm and interferometer durations of more than 2 seconds. These results are obtained in a 10-meter drop tower incorporating large momentum transfer atom optics. This approach can provide ground-based proof-of-concept demonstrations of many of the technical requirements of both terrestrial and satellite gravitational wave detectors.

Hilbert-Curve Fractal Antenna With Radiation- Pattern Diversity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nessel, James A.; Miranda, Felix A.; Zaman, Afroz

2007-01-01

A printed, folded, Hilbert-curve fractal microwave antenna has been designed and built to offer advantages of compactness and low mass, relative to other antennas designed for the same operating frequencies. The primary feature of the antenna is that it offers the advantage of radiation-pattern diversity without need for electrical or mechanical switching: it can radiate simultaneously in an end-fire pattern at a frequency of 2.3 GHz (which is in the S-band) and in a broadside pattern at a frequency of 16.8 GHz (which is in the Ku-band). This radiation-pattern diversity could be utilized, for example, in applications in which there were requirements for both S-band ground-to-ground communications and Ku-band ground-to-aircraft or ground-to-spacecraft communications. The lack of switching mechanisms or circuitry makes this antenna more reliable, easier, and less expensive to fabricate than it otherwise would be.

Virtual Reality in Pediatric Psychology.

PubMed

Parsons, Thomas D; Riva, Giuseppe; Parsons, Sarah; Mantovani, Fabrizia; Newbutt, Nigel; Lin, Lin; Venturini, Eva; Hall, Trevor

2017-11-01

Virtual reality (VR) technologies allow for controlled simulations of affectively engaging background narratives. These virtual environments offer promise for enhancing emotionally relevant experiences and social interactions. Within this context, VR can allow instructors, therapists, neuropsychologists, and service providers to offer safe, repeatable, and diversifiable interventions that can benefit assessments and learning in both typically developing children and children with disabilities. Research has also pointed to VR's capacity to reduce children's experience of aversive stimuli and reduce anxiety levels. Although there are a number of purported advantages of VR technologies, challenges have emerged. One challenge for this field of study is the lack of consensus on how to do trials. A related issue is the need for establishing the psychometric properties of VR assessments and interventions. This review investigates the advantages and challenges inherent in the application of VR technologies to pediatric assessments and interventions. Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Experimental plug and play quantum coin flipping.

PubMed

Pappa, Anna; Jouguet, Paul; Lawson, Thomas; Chailloux, André; Legré, Matthieu; Trinkler, Patrick; Kerenidis, Iordanis; Diamanti, Eleni

2014-04-24

Performing complex cryptographic tasks will be an essential element in future quantum communication networks. These tasks are based on a handful of fundamental primitives, such as coin flipping, where two distrustful parties wish to agree on a randomly generated bit. Although it is known that quantum versions of these primitives can offer information-theoretic security advantages with respect to classical protocols, a demonstration of such an advantage in a practical communication scenario has remained elusive. Here we experimentally implement a quantum coin flipping protocol that performs strictly better than classically possible over a distance suitable for communication over metropolitan area optical networks. The implementation is based on a practical plug and play system, developed by significantly enhancing a commercial quantum key distribution device. Moreover, we provide combined quantum coin flipping protocols that are almost perfectly secure against bounded adversaries. Our results offer a useful toolbox for future secure quantum communications.

Pharmaceutical cocrystals: the coming wave of new drug substances.

PubMed

Brittain, Harry G

2013-02-01

Solid crystalline phases containing two cocrystallized components offer a new development pathway whereby one can potentially improve the physical characteristics (i.e., equilibrium solubility, dissolution rate, solid-state stability, etc.) of a drug substance that exhibits a profile that is less than desirable. In this commentary, the topic of pharmaceutical cocrystals will be briefly explored, and a short exposition of the solubility and dissolution rate advantages that have been realized in various systems will be provided. The Guidance for Industry document recently proposed by United States Food and Drug Administration will be outlined, and its requirements explained. Finally, the subset of pharmaceutical cocrystals that consist of a drug substance and a salt of that substance (termed a salt cocrystal) will be examined to illustrate this additional class of pharmaceutical cocrystals that may offer significant scientific and regulatory advantages. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Passive millimeter-wave concealed weapon detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinclair, Gordon N.; Anderton, Rupert N.; Appleby, Roger

2001-02-01

A method of detecting weapons concealed under clothing using passive millimeter wave imaging is described. The optical properties of clothing are discussed and examples given of the spectral reflectivity and transmission. The transmission tends to be constant from 60 to 150 GHz above which it decreases for some clothing materials. The transmission of a cotton T-shirt is typically 95% and of a leather jacket up to 85% at lower frequencies. A model is presented for calculating the contrast of a metallic concealed weapon when hidden under clothing and it indicates contrasts as large as 200 K can be realized outdoors. The advantages of real time over static frame imagery are discussed. It is concluded that real time imagery offers considerable advantages as weapons can be very varied in size, position and orientation and movement offers vital clues to the human observer which aid the recognition process.

Wide-awake Anesthesia No Tourniquet Trapeziometacarpal Joint Prosthesis Implantation.

PubMed

Müller, Camillo Theo; Christen, Thierry; Heidekruger, Paul I; Lamouille, Jessie; Raffoul, Wassim; McKee, Daniel; Lalonde, Donald H; Durand, Sébastien

2018-04-01

Wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) hand surgery is a rapidly growing in popularity. WALANT has been used by hand surgeons when operating on bones, tendons, ligaments, nerve entrapments. We offer a case report of the first case in the literature describing WALANT technique when performing trapeziometacarpal joint arthroplasty with prosthesis implantation. We offer technical points on how to perform this procedure and the advantages that are associated with using WALANT for prosthesis arthroplasty.

Ileal Entrapment within a Paracaecal Hernia Mimicking Acute Appendicitis

PubMed Central

Birchley, David

2009-01-01

Presented is a case of incarcerated paracaecal hernia mimicking acute appendicitis. The clinical scenario highlights the need for a high index of suspicion in the management of patients with localised peritonism even in the absence of obstructive symptoms and the presence of normal laboratory markers of inflammation.Whilst computed tomography might offer a pre-operative diagnosis, in such a low-risk patient laparoscopy offers the combined advantages of immediate diagnosis and definitive treatment of acute pathology. PMID:19317924

Novel conformal organic antireflective coatings for advanced I-line lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deshpande, Shreeram V.; Nowak, Kelly A.; Fowler, Shelly; Williams, Paul; Arjona, Mikko

2001-08-01

Flash memory chips are playing a critical role in semiconductor devices due to increased popularity of hand held electronic communication devices such as cell phones and PDAs (personal Digital Assistants). Flash memory offers two primary advantages in semiconductor devices. First, it offers flexibility of in-circuit programming capability to reduce the loss from programming errors and to significantly reduce commercialization time to market for new devices. Second, flash memory has a double density memory capability through stacked gate structures which increases the memory capability and thus saves significantly on chip real estate. However, due to stacked gate structures the requirements for manufacturing of flash memory devices are significantly different from traditional memory devices. Stacked gate structures also offer unique challenges to lithographic patterning materials such as Bottom Anti-Reflective Coating (BARC) compositions used to achieve CD control and to minimize standing wave effect in photolithography. To be applicable in flash memory manufacturing a BARC should form a conformal coating on high topography of stacked gate features as well as provide the normal anti-reflection properties for CD control. In this paper we report on a new highly conformal advanced i-line BARC for use in design and manufacture of flash memory devices. Conformal BARCs being significantly thinner in trenches than the planarizing BARCs offer the advantage of reducing BARC overetch and thus minimizing resist thickness loss.

Development of a new fluorescent probe: 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-(4'-aminophenyl)-4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza- s-indacence for the determination of trace nitrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Mengling; Wang, Hong; Zhang, Xian; Zhang, Hua-shan

2004-03-01

A new fluorescent probe, 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-(4'-aminophenyl)-4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza- s-indacence (TMABODIPY) has been developed for the determination of trace nitrite in terms of the reaction of nitrite with TMABODIPY first in acidic solution and then in alkaline solution to form diazotate, a stable and highly fluorescent reagent. The method offered the advantage of specificity, sensitivity and simplicity. The linear calibration range for nitrite was 8-300 nmol l -1 s with a 3 σ detection limit of 0.65 nmol l -1. The proposed method has been applied to monitor the trace nitrite in drinking water and vegetable without extraction.

Low temperature fabrication of magnesium phosphate cement scaffolds by 3D powder printing.

PubMed

Klammert, Uwe; Vorndran, Elke; Reuther, Tobias; Müller, Frank A; Zorn, Katharina; Gbureck, Uwe

2010-11-01

Synthetic bone replacement materials are of great interest because they offer certain advantages compared with organic bone grafts. Biodegradability and preoperative manufacturing of patient specific implants are further desirable features in various clinical situations. Both can be realised by 3D powder printing. In this study, we introduce powder-printed magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) structures, accompanied by a neutral setting reaction by printing farringtonite (Mg(3)(PO(4))(2)) powder with ammonium phosphate solution as binder. Suitable powders were obtained after sintering at 1100°C for 5 h following 20-40 min dry grinding in a ball mill. Depending on the post-treatment of the samples, compressive strengths were found to be in the range 2-7 MPa. Cytocompatibility was demonstrated in vitro using the human osteoblastic cell line MG63.

Design and development of reactive injectable and settable polymeric biomaterials.

PubMed

Page, Jonathan M; Harmata, Andrew J; Guelcher, Scott A

2013-12-01

Injectable and settable biomaterials are a growing class of therapeutic technologies within the field of regenerative medicine. These materials offer advantages compared to prefabricated implants because of their ability to be utilized as part of noninvasive surgical procedures, fill complex defect shapes, cure in situ, and incorporate cells and other active biologics. However, there are significant technical barriers to clinical translation of injectable and settable biomaterials, such as achieving clinically relevant handling properties and benign reaction conditions. This review focuses on the engineering challenges associated with the design and development of injectable and chemically settable polymeric biomaterials. Additionally, specific examples of the diverse chemistries utilized to overcome these challenges are covered. The future translation of injectable and settable biomaterials is anticipated to improve patient outcomes for a number of clinical conditions. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., a Wiley Company.

The Boom in 3D-Printed Sensor Technology

PubMed Central

Xu, Yuanyuan; Wu, Xiaoyue; Guo, Xiao; Kong, Bin; Zhang, Min; Qian, Xiang; Mi, Shengli; Sun, Wei

2017-01-01

Future sensing applications will include high-performance features, such as toxin detection, real-time monitoring of physiological events, advanced diagnostics, and connected feedback. However, such multi-functional sensors require advancements in sensitivity, specificity, and throughput with the simultaneous delivery of multiple detection in a short time. Recent advances in 3D printing and electronics have brought us closer to sensors with multiplex advantages, and additive manufacturing approaches offer a new scope for sensor fabrication. To this end, we review the recent advances in 3D-printed cutting-edge sensors. These achievements demonstrate the successful application of 3D-printing technology in sensor fabrication, and the selected studies deeply explore the potential for creating sensors with higher performance. Further development of multi-process 3D printing is expected to expand future sensor utility and availability. PMID:28534832

[Expandable stents and composite prosthesis].

PubMed

Baldeyrou, P

1999-11-01

Today, numerous expandable and mixed silicone metallic stents for trachea and bronchi are available. Among the many technical propositions, Nitinol is a new alloy with promising potential, offering the advantage of shape memory. The right stent is the one which best meets the needs of the individual stenotic situation as evaluated by endoscopy and CT. Sufficient experience has been acquired only with the Dumon stent, giving exact information about its qualities and possible complications. The new stents are thinner. Some can be inserted under fluoroscopic and fibroscopic control. They are presumed to produce fewer complications an provide answers to some still unresolved questions such as dyskinesia or stenosis on short bronchi. They appear to be more easily inserted on the tracheo-bronchial tree. More experience is needed to satisfactorily identify specific indications and contraindications. A prospective registry will be important to obtain comparative information more quickly.

Herbal medicines for the management of opioid addiction: safe and effective alternatives to conventional pharmacotherapy?

PubMed

Ward, Jeanine; Rosenbaum, Christopher; Hernon, Christina; McCurdy, Christopher R; Boyer, Edward W

2011-12-01

Striking increases in the abuse of opioids have expanded the need for pharmacotherapeutic interventions. The obstacles that confront effective treatment of opioid addiction - shortage of treatment professionals, stigma associated with treatment and the ability to maintain abstinence - have led to increased interest in alternative treatment strategies among both treatment providers and patients alike. Herbal products for opioid addiction and withdrawal, such as kratom and specific Chinese herbal medications such as WeiniCom, can complement existing treatments. Unfortunately, herbal treatments, while offering some advantages over existing evidence-based pharmacotherapies, have poorly described pharmacokinetics, a lack of supportive data derived from well controlled clinical trials, and severe toxicity, the cause for which remains poorly defined. Herbal products, therefore, require greater additional testing in rigorous clinical trials before they can expect widespread acceptance in the management of opioid addiction.

AAV-Mediated Gene Transfer to Dorsal Root Ganglion.

PubMed

Yu, Hongwei; Fischer, Gregory; Hogan, Quinn H

2016-01-01

Transferring genetic molecules into the peripheral sensory nervous system to manipulate nociceptive pathophysiology is a powerful approach for experimental modulation of sensory signaling and potentially for translation into therapy for chronic pain. This can be efficiently achieved by the use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) in conjunction with nociceptor-specific regulatory transgene cassettes. Among different routes of delivery, direct injection into the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) offers the most efficient AAV-mediated gene transfer selectively into the peripheral sensory nervous system. Here, we briefly discuss the advantages and applications of intraganglionic microinjection, and then provide a detailed approach for DRG injection, including a list of the necessary materials and description of a method for performing DRG microinjection experiments. We also discuss our experience with several adeno-associated virus (AAV) options for in vivo transgene expression in DRG neurons.

Implications of protein- and Peptide-based nanoparticles as potential vehicles for anticancer drugs.

PubMed

Elzoghby, Ahmed O; Elgohary, Mayada M; Kamel, Nayra M

2015-01-01

Protein-based nanocarriers have gained considerable attention as colloidal carrier systems for the delivery of anticancer drugs. Protein nanocarriers possess various advantages including their low cytotoxicity, abundant renewable sources, high drug-binding capacity, and significant uptake into the targeted tumor cells. Moreover, the unique protein structure offers the possibility of site-specific drug conjugation and tumor targeting using various ligands modifying the surface of protein nanocarriers. In this chapter, we highlight the most important applications of protein nanoparticles (NPs) for the delivery of anticancer drugs. We examine the various techniques that have been utilized for the preparation of anticancer drug-loaded protein NPs. Finally, the current chapter also reviews the major outcomes of the in vitro and in vivo investigations of surface-modified tumor-targeted protein NPs. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Use of Neutron Analysis Techniques for Detecting The Concentration And Distribution of Chloride Ions in Archaeological Iron

PubMed Central

Watkinson, D; Rimmer, M; Kasztovszky, Z; Kis, Z; Maróti, B; Szentmiklósi, L

2014-01-01

Chloride (Cl) ions diffuse into iron objects during burial and drive corrosion after excavation. Located under corrosion layers, Cl is inaccessible to many analytical techniques. Neutron analysis offers non-destructive avenues for determining Cl content and distribution in objects. A pilot study used prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) and prompt gamma activation imaging (PGAI) to analyse the bulk concentration and longitudinal distribution of Cl in archaeological iron objects. This correlated with the object corrosion rate measured by oxygen consumption, and compared well with Cl measurement using a specific ion meter. High-Cl areas were linked with visible damage to the corrosion layers and attack of the iron core. Neutron techniques have significant advantages in the analysis of archaeological metals, including penetration depth and low detection limits. PMID:26028670

[Physicians conscience and Zeitgeist].

PubMed

Helmchen, H

2015-03-01

According to Luhmann conscience is understood as a value-neutral function for forming identity. Its background is biological in nature but receives its values from the normative context of family and society. In an evolutionary perspective group congruent behavior could offer a survival advantage that will be stabilized by an emotional bonding to a group. This bonding makes the individual dependent on the sociocultural context, including its normative content and its change.This influence becomes clear in different individual as well as time-dependent judgments of a specific moral problem in multicultural societies and with changes of the zeitgeist. Such influences are illustrated by numerous examples and lead to the question whether at all and by which criteria changes of conscience will be recognized by the person concerned. This article aims at a sensitization for questions of formation and vulnerability of the conscience.

Aptahistochemistry in diagnostic pathology: technical scrutiny and feasibility.

PubMed

Bukari, Bakhtiar A; Citartan, Marimuthu; Ch'ng, Ewe Seng; Bilibana, Mawethu P; Rozhdestvensky, Timofey; Tang, Thean-Hock

2017-05-01

Antibodies have been the workhorse for diagnostic immunohistochemistry to specifically interrogate the expression of certain protein to aid in histopathological diagnosis. This review introduces another dimension of histochemistry that employs aptamers as the core tool, the so-called aptahistochemistry. Aptamers are an emerging class of molecular recognition elements that could recapitulate the roles of antibodies. The many advantageous properties of aptamers suited for this diagnostic platform are scrutinized. An in-depth discussion on the technical aspects of aptahistochemistry is provided with close step-by-step comparison to the more familiarized immunohistochemical procedures, namely functionalization of the aptamer as a probe, antigen retrieval, optimization with emphasis on incubation parameters and visualization methods. This review offers rationales to overcome the anticipated challenges in transition from immunohistochemistry to aptahistochemistry, which is deemed feasible for an average diagnostic pathology laboratory.

Access to Care: The Physician's Perspective

PubMed Central

Ruckle, Janessa E; Sultan, Omar S; Kemble, Stephen

2011-01-01

Private practice physicians in Hawai‘i were surveyed to better understand their impressions of different insurance plans and their willingness to care for patients with those plans. Physician experiences and perspectives were investigated in regard to reimbursement, formulary limitations, pre-authorizations, specialty referrals, responsiveness to problems, and patient knowledge of their plans. The willingness of physicians to accept new patients from specific insurance company programs clearly correlated with the difficulties and limitations physicians perceive in working with the companies (p < 0.0012). Survey results indicate that providers in private practice were much more likely to accept University Health Alliance (UHA) and Hawai‘i Medical Services Association (HMSA) Commercial insurance than Aloha Care Advantage and Aloha Quest. This was likely related to the more favorable impressions of the services, payments, and lower administrative burden offered by those companies compared with others. PMID:21308645

Access to care: the physician's perspective.

PubMed

Tice, Alan; Ruckle, Janessa E; Sultan, Omar S; Kemble, Stephen

2011-02-01

Private practice physicians in Hawaii were surveyed to better understand their impressions of different insurance plans and their willingness to care for patients with those plans. Physician experiences and perspectives were investigated in regard to reimbursement, formulary limitations, pre-authorizations, specialty referrals, responsiveness to problems, and patient knowledge of their plans. The willingness of physicians to accept new patients from specific insurance company programs clearly correlated with the difficulties and limitations physicians perceive in working with the companies (p<0.0012). Survey results indicate that providers in private practice were much more likely to accept University Health Alliance (UHA) and Hawaii Medical Services Association (HMSA) Commercial insurance than Aloha Care Advantage and Aloha Quest. This was likely related to the more favorable impressions of the services, payments, and lower administrative burden offered by those companies compared with others. Hawaii Medical Journal Copyright 2011.

Knowledge acquisition for case-based reasoning systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riesbeck, Christopher K.

1988-01-01

Case-based reasoning (CBR) is a simple idea: solve new problems by adapting old solutions to similar problems. The CBR approach offers several potential advantages over rule-based reasoning: rules are not combined blindly in a search for solutions, solutions can be explained in terms of concrete examples, and performance can improve automatically as new problems are solved and added to the case library. Moving CBR for the university research environment to the real world requires smooth interfaces for getting knowledge from experts. Described are the basic elements of an interface for acquiring three basic bodies of knowledge that any case-based reasoner requires: the case library of problems and their solutions, the analysis rules that flesh out input problem specifications so that relevant cases can be retrieved, and the adaptation rules that adjust old solutions to fit new problems.

Gain-Framed Messages Do Not Motivate Sun Protection: A Meta-Analytic Review of Randomized Trials Comparing Gain-Framed and Loss-Framed Appeals for Promoting Skin Cancer Prevention

PubMed Central

O’Keefe, Daniel J.; Wu, Daisy

2012-01-01

Persuading people to undertake actions to prevent skin cancer is an important public health challenge. A number of studies have compared the effectiveness of gain-framed and loss-framed appeals in this domain, often expecting gain-framed appeals to be more persuasive. A meta-analytic review (k = 33, N = 4,168), however, finds no significant difference in the persuasiveness of gain- and loss-framed appeals for encouraging skin cancer prevention. This conclusion is unaffected by differences in the specific protective action advocated or by differences in the kind of outcomes invoked. But the results offer an intimation that men might be more susceptible to framing variations in this domain—with loss-framed appeals potentially having a persuasive advantage. PMID:22829794

Radial turbine cooling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roelke, Richard J.

1992-01-01

Radial turbines have been used extensively in many applications including small ground based electrical power generators, automotive engine turbochargers and aircraft auxiliary power units. In all of these applications the turbine inlet temperature is limited to a value commensurate with the material strength limitations and life requirements of uncooled metal rotors. To take advantage of all the benefits that higher temperatures offer, such as increased turbine specific power output or higher cycle thermal efficiency, requires improved high temperature materials and/or blade cooling. Extensive research is on-going to advance the material properties of high temperature superalloys as well as composite materials including ceramics. The use of ceramics with their high temperature potential and low cost is particularly appealing for radial turbines. However until these programs reach fruition the only way to make significant step increases beyond the present material temperature barriers is to cool the radial blading.

Localised carcinoma of the prostate: a paradigm of uncertainty.

PubMed Central

Sandhu, S. S.; Kaisary, A. V.

1997-01-01

The incidence and prevalence of prostate cancer is increasing. A number of aetiological factors including age, race, family history and diet have been implicated. The majority of patients present with disease which is amenable only to palliation. Digital rectal examination, serum prostate-specific antigen and transrectal ultrasound can lead to a prostatic biopsy. Transrectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, bone scan and a chest X-ray are used for staging. The management of localised cancer is shrouded in uncertainty. Three options exist, watchful waiting, radiotherapy, and radical total prostatectomy. The published data are inadequate for a valid comparison of these, and none has been shown to offer an advantage. Surgery, and to a lesser degree radiotherapy, have a significant morbidity. It is hoped that through better understanding our management of this disease will improve. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 33 PMID:9519179

Gain-framed messages do not motivate sun protection: a meta-analytic review of randomized trials comparing gain-framed and loss-framed appeals for promoting skin cancer prevention.

PubMed

O'Keefe, Daniel J; Wu, Daisy

2012-06-01

Persuading people to undertake actions to prevent skin cancer is an important public health challenge. A number of studies have compared the effectiveness of gain-framed and loss-framed appeals in this domain, often expecting gain-framed appeals to be more persuasive. A meta-analytic review (k = 33, N = 4,168), however, finds no significant difference in the persuasiveness of gain- and loss-framed appeals for encouraging skin cancer prevention. This conclusion is unaffected by differences in the specific protective action advocated or by differences in the kind of outcomes invoked. But the results offer an intimation that men might be more susceptible to framing variations in this domain--with loss-framed appeals potentially having a persuasive advantage.

Two-Photon Infrared Resonance Can Enhance Coherent Raman Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Traverso, Andrew J.; Hokr, Brett; Yi, Zhenhuan; Yuan, Luqi; Yamaguchi, Shoichi; Scully, Marlan O.; Yakovlev, Vladislav V.

2018-02-01

In this Letter we present a new technique for attaining efficient low-background coherent Raman scattering where the Raman coherence is mediated by a tunable infrared laser in two-photon resonance with a chosen vibrational transition. In addition to the traditional benefits of conventional coherent Raman schemes, this approach offers a number of advantages including potentially higher emission intensity, reduction of nonresonant four-wave mixing background, preferential excitation of the anti-Stokes field, and simplified phase matching conditions. In particular, this is demonstrated in gaseous methane along the ν1 (A1) and ν3 (T2) vibrational levels using an infrared field tuned between 1400 and 1600 cm-1 and a 532-nm pump field. This approach has broad applications, from coherent light generation to spectroscopic remote sensing and chemically specific imaging in microscopy.

Detection of water contamination from hydraulic fracturing wastewater: a μPAD for bromide analysis in natural waters.

PubMed

Loh, Leslie J; Bandara, Gayan C; Weber, Genevieve L; Remcho, Vincent T

2015-08-21

Due to the rapid expansion in hydraulic fracturing (fracking), there is a need for robust, portable and specific water analysis techniques. Early detection of contamination is crucial for the prevention of lasting environmental damage. Bromide can potentially function as an early indicator of water contamination by fracking waste, because there is a high concentration of bromide ions in fracking wastewaters. To facilitate this, a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) has been developed and optimized for the quantitative colorimetric detection of bromide in water using a smartphone. A paper microfluidic platform offers the advantages of inexpensive fabrication, elimination of unstable wet reagents, portability and high adaptability for widespread distribution. These features make this assay an attractive option for a new field test for on-site determination of bromide.

Protein detection through different platforms of immuno-loop-mediated isothermal amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pourhassan-Moghaddam, Mohammad; Rahmati-Yamchi, Mohammad; Akbarzadeh, Abolfazl; Daraee, Hadis; Nejati-Koshki, Kazem; Hanifehpour, Younes; Joo, Sang Woo

2013-11-01

Different immunoassay-based methods have been devised to detect protein targets. These methods have some challenges that make them inefficient for assaying ultra-low-amounted proteins. ELISA, iPCR, iRCA, and iNASBA are the common immunoassay-based methods of protein detection, each of which has specific and common technical challenges making it necessary to introduce a novel method in order to avoid their problems for detection of target proteins. Here we propose a new method nominated as `immuno-loop-mediated isothermal amplification' or `iLAMP'. This new method is free from the problems of the previous methods and has significant advantages over them. In this paper we also offer various configurations in order to improve the applicability of this method in real-world sample analyses. Important potential applications of this method are stated as well.

Home advantage in the Winter Olympics (1908-1998).

PubMed

Balmer, N J; Nevill, A M; Williams, A M

2001-02-01

We obtained indices of home advantage, based on the medals won by competing nations, for each event held at the Winter Olympics from 1908 to 1998. These indices were designed to assess home advantage while controlling for nation strength, changes in the number of medals on offer and the performance of 'non-hosting' nations. Some evidence of home advantage was found in figure skating, freestyle skiing, ski jumping, alpine skiing and short track speed skating. In contrast, little or no home advantage was observed in ice hockey, Nordic combined, Nordic skiing, bobsled, luge, biathlon or speed skating. When all events were combined, a significant home advantage was observed (P = 0.029), although no significant differences in the extent of home advantage were found between events (P > 0.05). When events were grouped according to whether they were subjectively assessed by judges, significantly greater home advantage was observed in the subjectively assessed events (P = 0.037). This was a reflection of better home performances, suggesting that judges were scoring home competitors disproportionately higher than away competitors. Familiarity with local conditions was shown to have some effect, particularly in alpine skiing, although the bobsled and luge showed little or no advantage over other events. Regression analysis showed that the number of time zones and direction of travel produced no discernible trends or differences in performance.

Recognizing the Effects of Language Mode on the Cognitive Advantages of Bilingualism.

PubMed

Yu, Ziying; Schwieter, John W

2018-01-01

For bilinguals, it is argued that a cognitive advantage can be linked to the constant management and need for conflict resolution that occurs when the two languages are co-activated (Bialystok, 2015). Language mode (Grosjean, 1998, 2001) is a significant variable that defines and shapes the language experiences of bilinguals and consequently, the cognitive advantages of bilingualism. Previous work, however, has not sufficiently tested the effects of language mode on the bilingual experience. In this brief conceptual analysis, we discuss the significance of language mode in bilingual work on speech perception, production, and reading. We offer possible explanations for conflicting findings and ways in which future work should control for its modulating effects.

A visual short-term memory advantage for objects of expertise

PubMed Central

Curby, Kim M.; Glazek, Kuba; Gauthier, Isabel

2014-01-01

Visual short-term memory (VSTM) is limited, especially for complex objects. Its capacity, however, is greater for faces than for other objects, an advantage that may stem from the holistic nature of face processing. If the holistic processing explains this advantage, then object expertise—which also relies on holistic processing—should endow experts with a VSTM advantage. We compared VSTM for cars among car experts to that among car novices. Car experts, but not car novices, demonstrated a VSTM advantage similar to that for faces; this advantage was orientation-specific and was correlated with an individual's level of car expertise. Control experiments ruled out accounts based solely on verbal- or long-term memory representations. These findings suggest that the processing advantages afforded by visual expertise result in domain-specific increases in VSTM capacity, perhaps by allowing experts to maximize the use of an inherently limited VSTM system. PMID:19170473

Decision-making under risk and ambiguity in low-birth-weight pigs.

PubMed

Murphy, Eimear; Kraak, Lynn; van den Broek, Jan; Nordquist, Rebecca E; van der Staay, Franz Josef

2015-03-01

Low birth weight (LBW) in humans is a risk factor for later cognitive, behavioural and emotional problems. In pigs, LBW is associated with higher mortality, but little is known about consequences for surviving piglets. Alteration in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in LBW pigs suggests altered emotionality, but no behavioural indicators have been studied. Decision-making under uncertain conditions, e.g., risk or ambiguity, is susceptible to emotional influences and may provide a means of assessing long-term effects of LBW in piglets. We tested LBW (N = 8) and normal-birth-weight (NBW; N = 8) male pigs in two decision-making tasks. For decision-making under risk, we developed a simple two-choice probabilistic task, the Pig Gambling Task (PGT), where an 'advantageous' option offered small but frequent rewards and a 'disadvantageous' option offered large but infrequent rewards. The advantageous option offered greater overall gain. For decision-making under ambiguity, we used a Judgement Bias Task (JBT) where pigs were trained to make an active response to 'positive' and 'negative' tone cues (signalling large and small rewards, respectively). Responses to ambiguous tone cues were rated as more or less optimistic. LBW pigs chose the advantageous option more often in later blocks of the PGT, and were scored as less optimistic in the JBT, than NBW pigs. Our findings demonstrate that LBW pigs have developed different behavioural strategies with respect to decision-making. We propose that this is guided by changes in emotionality in LBW piglets, and we provide behavioural evidence of increased negative affect in LBW piglets.

Researcher and Author Profiles: Opportunities, Advantages, and Limitations

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Currently available online profiling platforms offer various services for researchers and authors. Opening an individual account and filling it with scholarly contents increase visibility of research output and boost its impact. This article overviews some of the widely used and emerging profiling platforms, highlighting their tools for sharing scholarly items, crediting individuals, and facilitating networking. Global bibliographic databases and search platforms, such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, are widely used for profiling authors with indexed publications. Scholarly networking websites, such as ResearchGate and Academia.edu, provide indispensable services for researchers poorly visible elsewhere on the Internet. Several specialized platforms are designed to offer profiling along with their main functionalities, such as reference management and archiving. The Open Researcher and Contributor Identification (ORCID) project has offered a solution to the author name disambiguation. It has been integrated with numerous bibliographic databases, platforms, and manuscript submission systems to help research managers and journal editors select and credit the best reviewers, and other scholarly contributors. Individuals with verifiable reviewer and editorial accomplishments are also covered by Publons, which is an increasingly recognized service for publicizing and awarding reviewer comments. Currently available profiling formats have numerous advantages and some limitations. The advantages are related to their openness and chances of boosting the researcher impact. Some of the profiling websites are complementary to each other. The underutilization of various profiling websites and their inappropriate uses for promotion of ‘predatory’ journals are among reported limitations. A combined approach to the profiling systems is advocated in this article. PMID:28960025

FEL for the polymer processing industries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, Michael J.

1997-05-01

Polymers are everywhere in modern life because of their unique combination of end-use functionalities, ease of processing, recycling potential and modest cost. The physical and economic scope of the infrastructure committed to present polymers makes the introduction of entirely new chemistry unlikely. Rather, the breadth of commercial offerings more likely to shrink in the face of the widening mandate for recycling, especially of packaging. Improved performance and new functionality must therefore come by routes such as surface modification. However they must come with little environmental impact and at painfully low cost. Processing with strongly absorbed light offers unique advantages. The journal and patent literatures disclose a number of examples of benefits that can be achieved, principally by use of excimer lasers or special UV lamps. Examples of commercialization are few, however, because of the unit cost and maximum scale of existing light sources. A FEL, however, offers unique advantages: tunability to the optimum wavelength, potential for scale up to high average power, and a path to attractively low unit cost of light. A business analysis of prospective applications defines the technical and economic requirements a FEL for polymer surface processing must meet. These are compared to FEL technology as it now stands and as it is envisioned.

MetNetAPI: A flexible method to access and manipulate biological network data from MetNet

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Convenient programmatic access to different biological databases allows automated integration of scientific knowledge. Many databases support a function to download files or data snapshots, or a webservice that offers "live" data. However, the functionality that a database offers cannot be represented in a static data download file, and webservices may consume considerable computational resources from the host server. Results MetNetAPI is a versatile Application Programming Interface (API) to the MetNetDB database. It abstracts, captures and retains operations away from a biological network repository and website. A range of database functions, previously only available online, can be immediately (and independently from the website) applied to a dataset of interest. Data is available in four layers: molecular entities, localized entities (linked to a specific organelle), interactions, and pathways. Navigation between these layers is intuitive (e.g. one can request the molecular entities in a pathway, as well as request in what pathways a specific entity participates). Data retrieval can be customized: Network objects allow the construction of new and integration of existing pathways and interactions, which can be uploaded back to our server. In contrast to webservices, the computational demand on the host server is limited to processing data-related queries only. Conclusions An API provides several advantages to a systems biology software platform. MetNetAPI illustrates an interface with a central repository of data that represents the complex interrelationships of a metabolic and regulatory network. As an alternative to data-dumps and webservices, it allows access to a current and "live" database and exposes analytical functions to application developers. Yet it only requires limited resources on the server-side (thin server/fat client setup). The API is available for Java, Microsoft.NET and R programming environments and offers flexible query and broad data- retrieval methods. Data retrieval can be customized to client needs and the API offers a framework to construct and manipulate user-defined networks. The design principles can be used as a template to build programmable interfaces for other biological databases. The API software and tutorials are available at http://www.metnetonline.org/api. PMID:21083943

MECHANISTIC DOSIMETRY MODELS OF NANOMATERIAL DEPOSITION IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT

EPA Science Inventory

Accurate health risk assessments of inhalation exposure to nanomaterials will require dosimetry models that account for interspecies differences in dose delivered to the respiratory tract. Mechanistic models offer the advantage to interspecies extrapolation that physicochemica...

28 CFR 36.301 - Eligibility criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., privileges, advantages, or accommodations being offered. (b) Safety. A public accommodation may impose legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operation. Safety requirements must be based on... provision of auxiliary aids, barrier removal, alternatives to barrier removal, and reasonable modifications...

The School Store of the New Millennium: The E-School Store.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yohon, Teresa; Gallegos, Jack L.

2000-01-01

Discusses the advantages of having an online school store including ease of access, longer hours, and reduced and/or flexible staffing. Offers suggestions for starting an online store including selection of an Internet service provider.(JOW)

Does the Open Door Include the Physically Handicapped?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tuscher, James; Fox, Gary C.

1971-01-01

Though the community college offers many advantages to the physically handicapped because of its diversified programs and extensive counseling services, a recent survey found that too few community colleges provide the necessary architectural modifications to make them accessible. (NF)

Metabolomics in Small Fish Toxicology: Assessing the Impacts of Model EDCs

EPA Science Inventory

Although lagging behind applications targeted to human endpoints, metabolomics offers great potential in environmental applications, including ecotoxicology. Indeed, the advantages of metabolomics (relative to other ‘omic techniques) may be more tangible in ecotoxicology because...

Managing livestock using animal behavior: Mixed-species stocking and flerds

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Mixed-species stocking can foster sound landscape management while offering economic and ecological advantages compared to mono-species stocking. Producers contemplating a mixed-species enterprise should reflect on several considerations before implementing this animal management strategy. Factors...

Overview of lunar-based astronomy.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, H. J.

The Moon offers both significant advantages and drawbacks for astronomy. Recognition of these characteristics can clarify the objectives toward which developments should be directed and can help to inhibit premature or excessive selling of lunar developments on the basis of astronomy.

Damage detection and repair methods for GFRP bridge decks : [summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-01-01

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) decks offer : advantages as replacements for worn steel bridge : decks because of their high strength-to-weight : ratio and fast installation time. However, before : GFRP decks can be put into service, methods : ...

Screening of natural oil basestocks for lubricant applications

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Natural oils offer significant advantages, such as resource renewability, biodegradability, and performance properties, compared to petroleum-based products. Their amphiphilic character makes them excellent lubricant candidates. The wide use of vegetable oils is restricted due to low thermo-oxidativ...

Long-wavelength VCSELs: Power-efficient answer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapon, Eli; Sirbu, Alexei

2009-01-01

The commercialization of long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) is gaining new momentum as the telecoms market shifts from long-haul applications to local and access networks. These small, power-efficient devices offer several advantages over traditional edge-emitters.

Models for Deploying Open Source and Commercial Software to Support Earth Science Data Processing and Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yetman, G.; Downs, R. R.

2011-12-01

Software deployment is needed to process and distribute scientific data throughout the data lifecycle. Developing software in-house can take software development teams away from other software development projects and can require efforts to maintain the software over time. Adopting and reusing software and system modules that have been previously developed by others can reduce in-house software development and maintenance costs and can contribute to the quality of the system being developed. A variety of models are available for reusing and deploying software and systems that have been developed by others. These deployment models include open source software, vendor-supported open source software, commercial software, and combinations of these approaches. Deployment in Earth science data processing and distribution has demonstrated the advantages and drawbacks of each model. Deploying open source software offers advantages for developing and maintaining scientific data processing systems and applications. By joining an open source community that is developing a particular system module or application, a scientific data processing team can contribute to aspects of the software development without having to commit to developing the software alone. Communities of interested developers can share the work while focusing on activities that utilize in-house expertise and addresses internal requirements. Maintenance is also shared by members of the community. Deploying vendor-supported open source software offers similar advantages to open source software. However, by procuring the services of a vendor, the in-house team can rely on the vendor to provide, install, and maintain the software over time. Vendor-supported open source software may be ideal for teams that recognize the value of an open source software component or application and would like to contribute to the effort, but do not have the time or expertise to contribute extensively. Vendor-supported software may also have the additional benefits of guaranteed up-time, bug fixes, and vendor-added enhancements. Deploying commercial software can be advantageous for obtaining system or software components offered by a vendor that meet in-house requirements. The vendor can be contracted to provide installation, support and maintenance services as needed. Combining these options offers a menu of choices, enabling selection of system components or software modules that meet the evolving requirements encountered throughout the scientific data lifecycle.